bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blockchain adoption and operational performance: A secondary data analysis on effects and contingencies
Authors: Culot Giovanna , Podrecca Matteo , Nassimbeni Guido 
Published: May 2024

PurposeThis study analyzes the performance implications of adopting blockchain to support supply chain business processes. The technology holds as many promises as implementation challenges, so interest in its impact on operational performance has grown steadily over the last few years.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on transaction cost economics and the contingency theory, we built a set of hypotheses. These were tested through a long-term event study and an ordinary least squares regression involving 130 adopters listed in North America.FindingsCompared with the control sample, adopters displayed significant abnormal performance in terms of labor productivity, operating cycle and profitability, whereas sales appeared unaffected. Firms in regulated settings and closer to the end customer showed more positive effects. Neither industry-level competition nor the early involvement of a project partner emerged as relevant contextual factors.Originality/valueThis research presents the first extensive analysis of operational performance based on objective measures. In contrast to previous studies and theoretical predictions, the results indicate that blockchain adoption is not associated with sales improvement. This can be explained considering that secure data storage and sharing do not guarantee the factual credibility of recorded data, which needs to be proved to customers in alternative ways. Conversely, improvements in other operational performance dimensions confirm that blockchain can support inter-organizational transactions more efficiently. The results are relevant in times when, following hype, there are signs of disengagement with the technology.
Mitigating the bullwhip effect through supply chain ESG transparency: roles of digitalization and signal strength
Authors: Wu Lin , Wang Miao , Kumar Ajay , Choi Tsan-Ming 
Published: May 2024

PurposeThe call for supply chain transparency (SCT), especially the environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspect, is getting increasingly louder. Based on the signaling theory, our study investigates the operational benefit of supply chain transparency in terms of ESG (SCT-ESG). To further clarify the signaling process, the moderating roles of digitalization of the firm and signal strength are also examined.Design/methodology/approachLongitudinal secondary data from multiple databases are matched and analyzed using ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions to validate the proposed hypotheses.FindingsResults suggest that with SCT-ESG, firms have a weakened disparity between production variance and demand variance, and the supply chain experiences a reduced bullwhip effect. Further, digitalization of the focal company and signal strength reinforce the negative effect of SCT-ESG on the bullwhip effect.Originality/valueThe study integrates the SCT and ESG literature through SCT-ESG, extending benefits of ESG disclosure to the supply chain context. It extends the application of the signaling theory in OSCM by including contextual factors of digitalization and signal strength.
From public to market use: a historical perspective on the changes in health data collection and use in France from 1930 to the present
Authors: Brakni Malik , Gorge Hélène , Ozcaglar-Toulouse Nil 
Published: May 2024

Purpose
This study aims to understand the progressive marketization of health data collection and use, through a study of its historical development in France, from the 1930s to the present day.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected a set of legal, institutional, political and media data. These came from the INA (National Audiovisual Institute), the French national newspaper websites and the websites legifrance.gouv.fr and vie-publique.fr. The authors then conducted a thematic content analysis.

Findings
The study results highlight the changes in the health-care system related to the increased use of data in France over three major periods. The first period – 1930s to 1980s – is marked by the creation of the French social security system to collect large sets of data to better manager people’s health care. The second period – 1980s to 2000s – is characterized by the adoption and assimilation of tools to manage patient data through several national and European regulations. The last period – 2000s to the present – saw the introduction of measures in favor of the digitalization of health care, and consequently of data, in parallel with the advancement of digital technologies in general. The institutional dynamics in healthcare have evolved with the nature of the actors and their practices, in connection with new perceptions about health data.

Originality/value
This research sheds light on the historical transformation of health data collection and use in France, revealing the involvement of diverse stakeholders, the discourses driving data development and the need for regulation. It exposes the dual nature of health data collection and use, initially sanctioned by the state and public entities but later exploited for private interests.
Young adults’ perceived social isolation and e-impulse buying on social commerce platforms: linking roles of perceived stress and hedonic browsing
Authors: Jabutay Felicito Angeles , Limpachote Tan 
Published: May 2024

Purpose
This paper aims to explore the pathways connecting perceived social isolation, perceived stress, hedonic browsing and e-impulse buying in social commerce.

Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical model was proposed. Data from 394 young adults was analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships in the model.

Findings
Perceived social isolation is associated with elevated levels of perceived stress and engagement in hedonic browsing. Young consumers often turn to hedonic browsing as a coping mechanism for stress, and both stress and hedonic browsing play significant roles in fostering impulsive purchases. Perceived stress fully mediates the influence of perceived social isolation on hedonic browsing. Conversely, hedonic browsing partially mediates the impact of perceived stress on e-impulse buying.

Practical implications
Businesses can use the findings to develop effective marketing strategies that entice customers to purchase on social commerce platforms. Moreover, the findings offer valuable insights for young consumers, providing them with an understanding of the complexities of impulsive buying in social commerce. This knowledge can empower them to make informed decisions and exercise enhanced control over their purchasing habits. Furthermore, the findings could be used as a basis for developing targeted interventions to reduce unnecessary purchases, particularly during challenging times that necessitate social isolation.

Originality/value
This study offers new empirical insights into the ways in which perceived social isolation, perceived stress and hedonic browsing contribute to the heightened prevalence of e-impulse buying in social commerce.
Apex predators can structure ecosystems through trophic cascades: Linking the frugivorous behaviour and seed dispersal patterns of mesocarnivores
Authors: Burgos Tamara , Escribano‐Ávila Gema , Fedriani Jose M. , González‐Varo Juan P. , Illera Juan Carlos , Cancio Inmaculada , Hernández‐Hernández Javier , Virgós Emilio 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Current global change scenarios demand knowledge on how anthropogenic impacts affect ecosystem functioning through changes in food web structure. Frugivorous mesocarnivores are a key link in trophic cascades because, while their abundance and behaviour are usually controlled by apex predators, they can provide high‐quality seed‐dispersal services to plant communities. Thus, the recent rewilding of large carnivores worldwide can trigger cascading effects for plants.

We investigated the top‐down effects of an apex predator (Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus) on seed‐dispersal services mediated by two mesocarnivore species (red fox Vulpes vulpes and stone marten Martes foina) at the plant community level by comparing areas with and without lynx in a Mediterranean mountain range in Southern Spain.

We collected scats of mesocarnivores (n = 1575) to assess frugivory and seed dispersal of 15 plant species over two consecutive fruiting seasons and two habitat types (open and forest). Specifically, we assessed the effect of lynx presence on (i) seed occurrence and fleshy‐fruit biomass per scat, (ii) number of scats containing seeds and (iii) diversity of dispersed seeds.

The quantity and diversity of dispersed seeds drastically decreased under predation risk for both mesocarnivore's species. Seed dispersal by stone martens was negatively affected by the presence of lynx, with a marked reduction in the number of scats with seeds (93%) and the diversity of dispersed seeds (46%). Foxes dispersed 68% fewer seeds in open habitats when coexisting with lynx, probably leading to differential contributions to seed‐dispersal effectiveness among habitats.

Our study reveals a novel trophic cascade from apex predators to plant communities. The behavioural responses of frugivorous mesocarnivores to predation risk and the reduction in the intensity of their faecal deposition pattern are probably related to their lower abundance when co‐occurring with apex predators. While rewilding apex predators is a successful conservation tool, attention should be paid to cascading effects across food webs, particularly where frugivore megafauna is missing and mesocarnivores provide unique services to plants.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Effect of a biomimetic pathogen adsorbing device on inflammatory biomarkers in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Schmieszek Jan , Fuehner Thomas , Renger Isabelle , Welte Tobias , Menne Jan , Fuge Jan , van't Klooster Maria P. , Paul Andrea , Siegert Alina , Borchina Dan‐Nicolae , Falk Christine S. , Kielstein Jan T. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIntroductionThe Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity blood filter eliminate bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins from blood stream.MethodsThis is a prospective multicenter observational biomarker trial in PCR‐positive SARS‐CoV‐2 patients with acute respiratory failure. Biomarkers were sequentially tested at three time points.ResultsForty‐two patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 detected by PCR with acute respiratory failure were included. When receiving hemoperfusion treatment, 27 (64%) patients were on mechanical ventilation, 41 (98%) patients were treated in the ICU. The 3‐month survival was 52%. After one hemoperfusion treatment cycle, D‐dimer (p = 0.014), hemoglobin (p = 0.003) and LDH (p = 0.001) concentrations were significantly reduced 4 days after treatment. From the multiplex assay IL‐1b, CXCL8/ IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐13, IL‐15, CCL11/Eotaxin, G‐CSF, and CXCL10/IP‐10 were significantly reduced 1 h after treatment, however not 4 days later.ConclusionHemoperfusion with Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity Filter in patients with severe COVID‐19 can transiently reduce several inflammatory biomarkers in the blood.
How do phytophagous insects affect phyllosphere fungi? Tracking fungi from milkweed to monarch caterpillar frass reveals communities dominated by fungal yeast
Authors: Oono Ryoko , Chou Vanessa , Irving Mari 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSince a significant proportion of plant matter is consumed by herbivores, a necessary adaptation for many phyllosphere microbes could be to survive through the guts of herbivores. While many studies explore the gut microbiome of herbivores by surveying the microbiome in their frass, few studies compare the phyllosphere microbiome to the gut microbiome of herbivores. High‐throughput metabarcode sequencing was used to track the fungal community from milkweed (Asclepias spp.) leaves to monarch caterpillar frass. The most commonly identified fungal taxa that dominated the caterpillar frass after the consumption of leaves were yeasts, mostly belonging to the Basidiomycota phylum. While most fungal communities underwent significant bottlenecks and some yeast taxa increased in relative abundance, a consistent directional change in community structure was not identified from leaf to caterpillar frass. These results suggest that some phyllosphere fungi, especially diverse yeasts, can survive herbivory, but whether herbivory is a key stage of their life cycle remains uncertain. For exploring phyllosphere fungi and the potential coprophilous lifestyles of endophytic and epiphytic fungi, methods that target yeast and Basidiomycota fungi are recommended.
Association of sarcopenia with the long‐term risk of atrial fibrillation: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Tang Yiyang , Liu Zhenghui , Chen Qin , Juaiti Mukamengjiang , Yu Zaixin , Liang Benhui , Zha Lihuang 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe relationship between sarcopenia and the long‐term risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. This study recruited a large prospective Caucasian cohort from the UK Biobank. Participants were assessed at baseline with handgrip strength and muscle mass and were categorized into groups of non‐sarcopenia, probable sarcopenia, and confirmed sarcopenia. Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used to explore the association between sarcopenia and the incidence of AF. The genetic predisposition of AF was assessed by polygenic risk score. Sensitivity analyses were performed to validate the results. A total of 384,433 participants with a median age of 58 years and 54.3% women were enrolled in this study. There were 24,007 cases of new‐onset AF over a median follow‐up of 12.56 years. The groups of non‐sarcopenia, probable sarcopenia, and confirmed sarcopenia accounted for 22,290 (6.1%), 1665 (9.2%), and 52 (11.9%) cases, respectively. Compared with the non‐sarcopenia group, participants with probable sarcopenia or confirmed sarcopenia had an 8% (95% CI, 1.03–1.14) or 61% (95% CI, 1.23–2.12) higher risk of AF incidence. The findings remained robust in multiple sensitivity analyses, such as subgroup analysis and further adjustment of genetic predisposition. Notably, the association between sarcopenia and a high AF risk was more pronounced in younger participants, women, and those with valvular heart disease. In conclusion, sarcopenia was associated with a high long‐term risk of AF in Caucasians, supporting sarcopenia as a new independent risk factor of AF.
Evaluation of trial reintroductions of two extinct in the wild reptile species on Christmas Island
Authors: Emery J‐P. , Hollanders M. , Valentine L. , Tiernan B. , Retallick K. , Cogger H. , Woinarski J. C. Z. , Mitchell N. J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractConservation reintroductions play a vital role in the recovery of threatened species, and clear goals and objectives are essential for evaluating their effectiveness. In this study, we assessed short‐term success (<18 months) of trial reintroductions of the Extinct in the Wild blue‐tailed skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and Lister's gecko (Lepidodactylus listeri) on Christmas Island. Our evaluation criteria focused on body condition, reproduction, habitat suitability, survival and population growth. In 2018 and 2019, 170 C. egeriae and 160 L. listeri were translocated from a local captive breeding facility to a 2600 m2 outdoor fenced enclosure designed to exclude a predatory snake. Despite body condition declining immediately following release for both species, it had improved by 6 months post‐release. We also detected successful reproduction in both species. Apparent survival was high for C. egeriae but low for L. listeri, and population growth was only evident in C. egeriae. We were unable to determine whether low survival of L. listeri in the release site was due to high post‐release dispersal (beyond the exclosure) or mortality. Both species selected habitats that contained high rock and log cover and avoided areas with low ground cover. Appropriate assessment criteria, as utilized in this study, enable objective and timely evaluations of reintroduction success, thereby facilitating the improvement and refinement of reintroduction protocols. Our study showed that C. egeriae can establish (in the short‐ to medium‐term) in a site from which a principal threat has been excluded and undergo rapid population growth, whereas under current conditions L. listeri cannot. However, we also demonstrate that such medium‐term success may not lead to long‐term success, as the rapid increase in C. egeriae population was reversed between 29 and 31 months after release because the barrier used to exclude an invasive predator, the wolf snake (Lycodon capucinus), was breached.
Reinforcements in the face of ongoing threats: a case study from a critically small carnivore population
Authors: McLennan E. A. , Cheng Y. , Farquharson K. A. , Grueber C. E. , Elmer J. , Alexander L. , Fox S. , Belov K. , Hogg C. J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractReinforcements are a well‐established tool for alleviating small population pressures of inbreeding and genetic diversity loss. Some small populations also suffer from specific threats that pose a discrete selective pressure, like diseases. Uncertainty about reinforcing diseased populations exists, as doing so may increase disease prevalence and disrupt potential adaptive processes. However, without assisted gene flow, isolated populations are at high risk of extinction. Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) are a useful case study to test whether reinforcements can alleviate small‐population pressures where there is an ongoing disease pressure. We investigated demographic, genome‐wide and functional genetic diversity, and disease consequences of reinforcing a small population (<20 animals) that was severely impacted by devil facial tumour disease. Released animals from one source population successfully bred with incumbent individuals, tripling the population size, improving genome‐wide and functional diversity and introducing 26 new putatively functional alleles, with no common alleles lost and no increase in disease prevalence. Results suggest, in the case of Tasmanian devils, reinforcements can alleviate small‐population pressures without increasing disease prevalence. Because no common functional alleles were lost, it is likely that any adaptive processes in response to the disease may still occur in the reinforced population, perhaps even with greater efficiency due to reduced genetic drift (due to larger population size). Our study is presented as a comprehensive worked example of the IUCN's guidelines for monitoring reinforcements, to showcase the value of genetic monitoring in a richly monitored system and provide realistic approaches to test similar questions in other taxa.
Crop type rather than production method determines functional trait composition of insect communities on arable land in boreal agricultural landscapes
Authors: Toivonen Marjaana , Huusela Erja , Hyvönen Terho , Järvinen Ari , Kuussaari Mikko 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
To understand the potential consequences of arable land use changes for insect conservation and ecosystem functioning, it is fundamental to know how insect species with different functional traits respond to crop choice and production method.
This study examined the effects of crop type and production method on functional traits of butterfly, bumblebee and carabid beetle communities using species abundance data from 78 fields in Southern Finland. Surrounding landscape composition was also accounted for. The studied traits were associated with dispersal capacity, habitat or diet specialization and phenology—the key determinants modifying species responses to agricultural disturbances and land use changes.
Butterfly habitat breadth was narrowest and wingspan shortest in long‐term fallows. Fallows also supported the highest share of butterflies overwintering in early development stages and bumblebees with late‐emerging queens. The tongue length of bumblebees was longest in organic oat fields, probably due to flowering weeds with long corolla.
For carabid beetles, the proportion of poor flyers and carnivores was highest in perennial crops and fallows. Carabid beetles overwintering as adults were relatively more abundant in organic than in conventional production, probably due to more intensive tillage in organic fields.
In all insect groups, poor dispersers and/or specialists decreased with increasing arable land cover in the surrounding landscape.
Increasing the area of long‐term fallows and perennial crops and enhancing within‐field plant diversity while maintaining landscape heterogeneity would promote insect species sensitive to agricultural disturbances and land use changes and their associated ecosystem services in boreal farmland.
Second stage land certification and land rental market in northern Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfay Menasbo Gebru , Araya Girmay Berhe 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe establishment of secured and easily transferable land use rights is a key component of rural development and poverty reduction pathways in many underdeveloped countries. In this study, we use balanced panel data collected from 407 farm households between 2009/10 and 2014/15 production seasons and apply difference‐in‐difference approach to examine impact of second‐stage land certification on tenure security, participation and extent of participation in the land rental market. Our finding shows that second‐stage land certification has helped to boost tenure security of smallholder farmers. However, the differences in difference results show that the second stage land certification has not yet started to influence farm households’ participation in the land rental market. This could probably be due to the fact that the program is at its early stage of implementation and may warrant further scrutiny with additional time.
The economic value of curbside recycling as a club good and as a public good: A case study of Morgantown and Monongalia County, West Virginia
Authors: Hwang Julian J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn Morgantown, West Virginia, curbside recycling is available to residents who reside within the city limits. However, residents in Monongalia County who reside outside the Morgantown city limits are expected to bring their recyclables to a drop‐off site which discourages people from recycling in general. Moreover, there exists a disparity between residents within and outside the Morgantown city limits in terms of rights to have access to curbside recycling. This study presents the economic value of curbside recycling at the County level. Furthermore, the paper presents a framework and empirical analysis that separate the value of the improved program as a club good and the value of the program as a public good, using a survey data from Morgantown and Monongalia County in collaboration with a local waste and recycling service provider.