bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of ownership structure on social and environmental reporting in Nigeria: the moderating role of intellectual capital disclosure
Authors: Baba Bello Usman , Baba Usman Aliyu 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to examine the effect of ownership structure variables on social and environmental disclosure practice in Nigeria. The paper also investigates the moderating impact of intellectual capital disclosure on the relationship between ownership structure elements, social and environmental disclosure.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopted the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) disclosure framework to extract social and environmental disclosure information from corporate social and environmental reports of 80 companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The study spanned from 2012–2017. Management ownership, foreign ownership, block ownership and dispersed ownership are considered as determinants of social and environmental disclosure. A multiple regression analysis was used to test the relationships specified in the study.

Findings
The result of the descriptive analysis has shown evidence of a low-level disclosure of social and environmental information in corporate reports (annual reports and corporate social and environmental reports) of companies. From the regression analysis, block ownership, foreign ownership and dispersed ownership are found to enhance the disclosure of social and environmental information in the corporate report of companies. However, management ownership was found to be insignificantly related to social and environmental disclosure. The result also revealed that intellectual capital disclosure has a significant positive effect on the relationship between management ownership, foreign ownership and dispersed ownership, social and environmental disclosure. However, intellectual capital disclosure does not moderate the relationship between block ownership, social and environmental disclosure.

Originality/value
This paper is the first to empirically examine the moderating effect of intellectual capital disclosure on ownership structure variables, social and environmental disclosure. The result of the study offer researchers a better understanding of the impact of ownership structure variables on social and environmental disclosure. The findings are useful to researchers, corporate managers, policymakers and regulatory bodies.
Person–job fit and job involvement: the curvilinear effect and the moderating role of goal orientation
Authors: Ju Dong , Yao Jingjing , Ma Li 
Published: March 2021

PurposeJob involvement is an important predictor of how well employees perform and feel at work. However, despite fruitful findings, little is known about how person–job (P–J) fit affects job involvement.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a cross-sectional design and collected data from 375 employees and 50 managers. Multivariate regression was applied to test the moderated curvilinear model.FindingsThis study found an invertedU-shaped relationship between P–J fit and job involvement. For employees with a strong performance goal orientation, maximum job involvement occurred at a higher level of P–J fit, whereas for employees with a strong learning goal orientation, maximum job involvement occurred at a moderate level of P–J fit.Practical implicationsManagers should be aware that solely maximizing fit may not constantly yield positive outcomes, and that ignoring differences in employee needs and goals may be counterproductive.Originality/valueThe study challenges the conventional wisdom that a high P–J fit is always productive by showing that a high fit may sometimes jeopardize job involvement, particularly for certain employees.
Echoes down the corridor. Experiences and perspectives of library and information science education (LISE) during COVID-19 through an African lens
Authors: Ocholla Dennis N. 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in enormous challenges, but also presented opportunities that have notable implications for the future. The aim of this paper is to explore and discuss the experiences, perspectives, challenges and opportunities of Library and Information Science Educators (LISE) during the pandemic. The aim is articulated in the following three research questions: How is the COVID-19 pandemic experienced by LISE and in research? What are the perceptions formed during the period? And what are the challenges and opportunities?Design/methodology/approachThis is an interpretivist qualitative study informed by disaster management theories. The study involved the content analysis of existing literature with a focus on COVID-19 and higher education, particularly LISE, in conjunction with an open-ended email questionnaire that was sent to selected LIS educators/faculty/staff from major LIS Schools from eight sub-Saharan African countries. The author used personal experiences and observation to supplement the data and the interpretation.FindingsResults show more similarities than differences in how the COVID-19 pandemic is experienced and perceived, as well as the challenges and opportunities that it brings to the sector. As a whole, political factors are most pronounced, meaning that administration and decision-making need more attention in the sector. Also notable is that opportunities are mostly linked to technological factors, which will determine the “new normal” for LISE in the future. Almost all the narratives focused on the middle level of (during) the disaster life cycle, which is understandable as the complete cycle of the disaster is yet to come, likely when COVID-19 ceases to be a threat.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample was small, as related studies focus more on COVID-19 and higher education, with hardly any focusing on LISE. The COVID-19 pandemic has not ended, so the disaster management life cycle cannot be fully exploited. Furthermore, the author’s categorization of responses within PEST was largely judgmental.Practical implicationsNew research, teaching and learning developmental paths have been created for LISE. The study provides practical reflection on the effects of COVID-19 on the sector and HEIs that can inform discourse and responses to the pandemic.Originality/valueThe study explores a new research domain in LISE and due to limited research in the domain brings together important voices/narratives – based on their experiences – of LIS educators in Africa on the research area. Further, it proposes the future of LISE under COVID-19 within the 4IR framework.
Tackling COVID-19 from below: civic participation among online neighbourhood network users during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Waeterloos Cato , De Meulenaere Jonas , Walrave Michel , Ponnet Koen 
Published: March 2021

PurposeFollowing the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many forms of bottom-up civic action emerged as ways to collectively “flatten the curve” and tackle the crisis. In this paper, the authors examine to what extent local online and offline social integration contributes to civic participation, above and beyond typical predictors such as news consumption and civic talk.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was administered among 7,137 users of the online neighbourhood network (ONN) Hoplr in Flanders (i.e. the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) from 8 May to 18 May 2020. Regression analyses were used to examine how local social integration, in addition to news consumption, civic talk and political antecedents, predict different types of civic participation.FindingsThe results show consistent positive associations between news consumption, civic talk and civic participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the role of political antecedents varied across different forms of civic participation. Further, the results point to the importance of both offline and online local social integration in explaining civic participation.Originality/valueThis study provides much-needed insight in the societal and democratic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results confirm the importance of local social integration in explaining civic participation, while also advancing theoretical understanding of more established predictors of civic participation, such as news consumption and interpersonal communication.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available athttps://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-08-2020-0379.
Towards a Supply Chain 4.0 on the post-COVID-19 pandemic: a conceptual and strategic discussion for more resilient supply chains
Authors: Frederico Guilherme F. 
Published: March 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to present a grounded and strategic discussion regarding Supply Chain 4.0 as a management system orientation for the post-COVID-19 period as well as propose some research directions thereof.

Design/methodology/approach
For the development of this paper, some theoretical insights were provided based on the literature related to Supply Chain and Industry 4.0. A discussion regarding the constructs of Supply Chain 4.0 on the context of the post-COVID-19 outbreak is developed as well.

Findings
The discussion, herein, shows that the disruptive technologies might play a crucial role to become supply chains more responsive and resilient to sudden events such as COVID-19. Then a Supply Chain 4.0 is a transformational strategic orientation to be considered on the aspect of supply chain management for the post-pandemic period. Some research questions are proposed at the end of this paper with the aim to further address this subject.

Research limitations/implications
This paper provides timely insights for researchers and practitioners which might imply on the further research deployments and practical applications although it demands future empirical studies to validate the propositions herein presented.

Practical implications
Practitioners can be benefited from this paper on having new insights and a strategic direction on regards supply chain management for the post-pandemic period with focus on a technology-driven strategy for supply chains.

Originality/value
This paper is unique because it brings an unexplored relationship between Supply Chain 4.0 and COVID-19 pandemic. It also significantly contributes to new directions and views for the supply chain management field from these challenging and difficult times of coronavirus global outbreak.
Knowledge management capabilities and organizational agility as liaisons of business performance
Authors: Rafi Nosheen , Ahmed Alia , Shafique Imran , Kalyar Masood Nawaz 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThe aim of this current study is to investigate the effects of knowledge management capabilities – knowledge infrastructure capability and knowledge processing capability – on organizational agility and business performance. This study also examines organizational agility as an underlying mechanism between knowledge management capabilities and business performance relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from one hundred and sixty-nine organizations. Partial least squared (PLS)–based structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was employed to test the study hypotheses. The analysis was performed in WarpPLS 6.0 software.FindingsResults revealed that both dimensions of knowledge management capabilities positively influence organizational agility and business performance. In addition to the direct effect, knowledge management capabilities also have an indirect effect on business performance mediated through organizational agility.Research limitations/implicationsThis study attempts to develop an integrated framework to conceptualize a capability–capacity–performance relationship, where it suggests that knowledge management capabilities are important organization-level capabilities which facilitate organizations to develop necessary capacities i.e. organizational agility to successfully perform business activities.Practical implicationsThe findings help the managers to understand the contribution of knowledge management capabilities towards business performance. The findings imply that business performance can be enhanced by development of a culture - enabled by a knowledge-oriented structure and technology – that encourages knowledge sharing among employees because when employees are not sharing information, they are prone to repeating the same mistakes which they and other people have already committed. Likewise, strategies such as mentoring cross training, business process empowerment and technical training programs allow employees to gain business knowledge and foster organizational agility.Originality/valueNovelty of this study is to develop and empirically test an integrated framework of a capability–capacity–performance relationship. It suggests that knowledge management capabilities (firm capability) enable organizations to develop organizational agility (firm capacity) which in turn enhances performance.
The dark side of rocks: An underestimated high‐quality food resource in river ecosystems
Authors: Guo Fen , Bunn Stuart E. , Brett Michael T. , Hager Hannes , Kainz Martin J. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Algae are generally a high‐quality diet source because they provide essential compounds to aquatic consumers. In forested stream ecosystems, the availability of high‐quality algae is low compared to terrestrial organic matter, which may constrain the dietary transfer of essential compounds to consumers. However, there could be other overlooked high‐quality resource pools that provide essential compounds to consumers in river ecosystems.

We conducted a field study along a subalpine river continuum in Austria to identify the nutritional role of a ‘hidden’ food resource for aquatic consumers; the biofilms growing on the underside of rocks (dark biofilms). Dark and light (i.e. upper surface of rocks) biofilms and invertebrates were collected, and their fatty acid (FA) composition was analysed.

Compared with light biofilms, dark biofilms contained greater proportions of bacterial FA, long‐chain saturated FA (biomarkers of terrestrial plants) and oleic acid (18:1ω9; a fungal biomarker), but a lower proportion of algal FA, especially omega‐3 polyunsaturated FA (ω3 PUFA). The ω3 PUFA composition in dark biofilms was strongly correlated with that in light biofilms. Furthermore, the overall FA profiles of dark biofilms were significantly associated with invertebrate FA profiles. Strong correlations were also observed between invertebrates and dark biofilms for bacterial FA and the ω3 PUFA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5ω3).

Synthesis. This field study demonstrates that dark biofilms are a high‐quality resource pool for invertebrates in river ecosystems that is often overlooked. Similar to light biofilms, dark biofilms provide physiologically important FA and bacterial FA for stream invertebrates. However, these high‐quality resources are threatened by increasing human disturbances to river ecosystems. Future research is required to better understand how the quality of both dark and light biofilms changes in response to human disturbance, and how this affects dietary energy transfer to upper trophic consumers, including fish and humans.
Population‐specific resilience of Halophila ovalis seagrass habitat to unseasonal rainfall, an extreme climate event in estuaries
Authors: Webster Chanelle L. , Kilminster Kieryn L. , Sánchez Alarcón Marta , Bennett Katherine , Strydom Simone , McNamara Sian , Lavery Paul S. , McMahon Kathryn M. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Extreme climate events are predicted to alter estuarine salinity gradients exposing habitat‐forming species to more frequent salinity variations. The intensity and duration of these variations, rather than the mean salinity values ecosystems are exposed to, may be more important in influencing resilience but requires further investigation.

Precipitation, including the frequency, intensity and timing of occurrence, is shifting due to climate change. A global analysis on the timing of rainfall in estuarine catchments was conducted. In 80% of the case studies, the maximum daily rainfall occurred in the dry season at least once over the 40‐year period and could be classified as an extreme event.

We selected an estuary in southwestern Australia and investigated the effects of an extreme rainfall event in 2017 resulting in an excess discharge of freshwater on seagrass Halophila ovalis. Adapting an approach applied for marine heatwaves using salinity data, we quantified metrics and characterised the event along the estuarine gradient. We assessed seagrass resilience by calculating resistance times based on the comparisons of biomass and leaf density data prior to, and during the event, and recovery times through assessment against historical condition.

Where salinity is historically more variable, reductions in biomass were lower (higher resistance via plasticity in salinity tolerance) and meadows recovered within 9–11 months. Where salinity is historically more stable, loss of biomass was greatest (low resistance) post‐event and recovery may exceed 22 months, and potentially due to the rapid decline in salinity (−3 PSU/day).

As estuaries become more hydrologically variable, these metrics provide a baseline for retrospective and future comparisons. Our results suggest seagrass resilience to hyposalinity is population specific. This understanding enables more accurate predictions about ecological responses to climate change and identifies which populations may ‘future proof’ ecosystem resilience.

Synthesis. Following an extreme rainfall event, we found seagrass populations that are exposed to variable salinities recovered while those from a stable salinity environment were unable to recover within the study time frame. These findings expand upon existing evidence, derived primarily from other ecosystems, that show new sources of resilience may be uncovered by accounting for between‐population variation.
Modelling spatial patterns in host‐associated microbial communities
Authors: Ruuskanen Matti O. , Sommeria‐Klein Guilhem , Havulinna Aki S. , Niiranen Teemu J. , Lahti Leo 
Published: March 2021

SummaryMicrobial communities exhibit spatial structure at different scales, due to constant interactions with their environment and dispersal limitation. While this spatial structure is often considered in studies focusing on free‐living environmental communities, it has received less attention in the context of host‐associated microbial communities or microbiota. The wider adoption of methods accounting for spatial variation in these communities will help to address open questions in basic microbial ecology as well as realize the full potential of microbiome‐aided medicine. Here, we first overview known factors affecting the composition of microbiota across diverse host types and at different scales, with a focus on the human gut as one of the most actively studied microbiota. We outline a number of topical open questions in the field related to spatial variation and patterns. We then review the existing methodology for the spatial modelling of microbiota. We suggest that methodology from related fields, such as systems biology and macro‐organismal ecology, could be adapted to obtain more accurate models of spatial structure. We further posit that methodological developments in the spatial modelling and analysis of microbiota could in turn broadly benefit theoretical and applied ecology and contribute to the development of novel industrial and clinical applications.
Global analysis of the apple fruit microbiome: are all apples the same?
Authors: Abdelfattah Ahmed , Freilich Shiri , Bartuv Rotem , Zhimo V. Yeka , Kumar Ajay , Biasi Antonio , Salim Shoshana , Feygenberg Oleg , Burchard Erik , Dardick Christopher , Liu Jia , Khan Awais , Ellouze Walid , Ali Shawkat , Spadaro Davide , Torres Rosario , Teixido Neus , Ozkaya Okan , Buehlmann Andreas , Vero Silvana , Mondino Pedro , Berg Gabriele , Wisniewski Michael , Droby Samir 
Published: March 2021

SummaryWe present the first worldwide study on the apple (Malus × domestica) fruit microbiome that examines questions regarding the composition and the assembly of microbial communities on and in apple fruit. Results revealed that the composition and structure of the fungal and bacterial communities associated with apple fruit vary and are highly dependent on geographical location. The study also confirmed that the spatial variation in the fungal and bacterial composition of different fruit tissues exists at a global level. Fungal diversity varied significantly in fruit harvested in different geographical locations and suggests a potential link between location and the type and rate of postharvest diseases that develop in each country. The global core microbiome of apple fruit was represented by several beneficial microbial taxa and accounted for a large fraction of the fruit microbial community. The study provides foundational information about the apple fruit microbiome that can be utilized for the development of novel approaches for the management of fruit quality and safety, as well as for reducing losses due to the establishment and proliferation of postharvest pathogens. It also lays the groundwork for studying the complex microbial interactions that occur on apple fruit surfaces.
Students with special educational needs and cooperative learning in the ordinary classroom: some learnings from teaching practice
Authors: Perlado Lamo de Espinosa Ignacio , Muñoz Martínez Yolanda , Torrego Seijo Juan Carlos 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis article presents the results of a study to determine the strategies used by teachers to include students with special educational needs in regular classrooms, primarily using Cooperative Learning strategies. It aims to identify the factors of inclusive learning in order to enhance the participation and learning of all students in the classroom and in their cooperative teams. A qualitative case study was carried out in the context of the teachers participating in a postgraduate course ‘expert in cooperative learning’ offered by the University of Alcalá (Spain), over a period of six years (2011–2017), involving the participation of 176 professional teachers. All the participants attended an annual university continuous training course on cooperative learning. Document analysis, in‐depth interviews and a questionnaire designedad hocwere used. The conclusions include the importance of cooperative work in facilitating inclusive education, with a variety of different strategies used to respond to all students' needs, and those with special educational needs in particular, and the coordination required between teachers and special educational needs specialists to implement those strategies.