bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring the role of potential knowledge sources for the fuzzy-front end of the new product development (NPD) – bridging the knowledge gaps
Authors: Bashir Naheed 
Published: April 2023

PurposeDrawing on open innovation and knowledge-based view, this study was initiated by investigating the fact that despite the growing literature on external knowledge being important for bridging the knowledge gap across the new product development (NPD) processes, gaps exist to explore as to what are the potential knowledge sources and their contribution for the Fuzzy-Front end (FFE-) (i.e. idea-generation) phase of the NPD process?Design/methodology/approachThirty-seven open-ended interviews with the NPD managers in large firms from the Chemicals and Electronic industries have been conducted to collect the data following thematic analysis into NVIvo 12.FindingsThe findings reveal customers, suppliers and external research organizations are the potential knowledge sources. Each of the sources delivers distinct knowledge for FFE of the NPD process. The empirical analysis of this study demonstrates that each of the potential knowledge sources though bridges the knowledge gap that innovative firms seek for the FFE of the NPD process, however collaboration with such sources incurs significant costs, risks, resources, capabilities and management practices which differs noticeably among different kinds of knowledge sources.Practical implicationsManagers must need assessing not just the gains but also the pains associated with each of the knowledge source before deciding to make additional investments in terms of resources and capabilities dedicated to learning from them while considering any of these for the FFE.Originality/valueThis new conceptualization of FFE offers a better theoretical and practical rationale for how and what types of different sources of knowledge can bridge the knowledge gaps for the FFE of NPD processes provided that innovative firms have necessary resources to entail a successful collaboration.
Investigating gamification services of university libraries in China
Authors: Zhou Lei , Yang Yanni 
Published: April 2023

Purpose
This study aims to analyze the construction of gamification service in university libraries in China and to help university libraries improve service and user experience.

Design/methodology/approach
This study took 147 university libraries in China as research object, analyzed the gamification services announced by these libraries on official websites, Weibo, WeChat and other platforms during the period from July 1, 2021 to August 20, 2022, and investigated the gamification services from the four aspects of functions, forms, game elements and mechanisms.

Findings
The results show that the gamification service of university library in China is often used in the popularization of scientific and cultural knowledge, information literacy education, reading promotion, library service promotion and library entrance education. Questions and answers, points contests, passing the game level and treasure hunting are common forms of games. At the same time, many gamification services combine game elements such as points, leaderboards and grades with the game mechanism to enhance readers’ participation.

Originality/value
This study investigates gamification services of university libraries in China and provides suggestions for optimizing gamification services, which can provide reference for libraries in China and other countries.
Pilot evaluation of the electronic monitoring scheme in the UK
Authors: Churchman James William , Baron Susan , Carr Michelle , Orr Donna 
Published: April 2023

Purpose
Following research into the application of Electronic Monitoring (EM), Criminal Justice Order (2016) no. 954 was published, which introduced EM for offenders leaving custody in England and Wales (Ministry of Justice, 2016). EM was later extended to include those subjected to release on temporary licence (ROTL). The purpose of this study is to be the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to evaluate a pilot project using EM during the ROTL process. The outcome allowed for recommendations to be made regarding the continued use of EM within the open prison estate.

Design/methodology/approach
This is a qualitative research project involving semi-structured interviews with staff and residents. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis which resulted in exploration of 4 themes and 11 sub-themes and recommendations for future research/practice.

Findings
Results demonstrated that both staff and residents evaluated the use of EM as helpful with regard to evidencing compliance with ROTL conditions. In addition, staff also found it helpful for providing additional reassurance to victims and providing evidence for ROTL breaches.

Practical implications
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this was the first qualitative evaluation of EM relating to the ROTL process. The evaluation improves understanding of the value of EM for policymakers and the Ministry of Justice, especially in terms of the ROTL process. The recommendations made in this paper evidence the value of EM use in the future.

Originality/value
This evaluation supports continued use of EM and its integration into policy and procedures for residents subject to temporary licence. This paper concluded that consistent and reliable use of EM may contribute to victim reassurance and reduce recidivism of residents during ROTL, subsequently increasing the public’s perception of safety.
Sustainability and firm performance: the role of environmental, social and governance disclosure and green innovation
Authors: Khanchel Imen , Lassoued Naima , Baccar Ines 
Published: April 2023

PurposeThis paper aims to determine whether financial performance is affected in firms adopting separately or jointly two sustainability tools (green innovation and environmental, social and governance reporting (ESG)).Design/methodology/approachThe empirical study examines a sample of 211 S&P 500 firms over the 2011 to 2019 period and uses the quantile estimation method.FindingsThe results show that two dimensions of ESG disclosure (the social and governance dimensions) and green innovation positively affect financial performance. This result suggests that sustainability tools have a strong financial impact. The positive relationship between green innovation and financial performance is detected at the 10th quantile up to the 70th quantile. This finding suggests that financial performance needs a moderate investment in green innovation. When considering the joint effect of ESG disclosure and green innovation, our findings show that the positive impact of some ESG disclosure dimensions (social and governance) on financial performance is more observable with a moderate investment in green innovation.Originality/valueThis study highlights the prominent role of sustainability tools in financial performance. Despite the contributions of the literature, to our knowledge, the relationship between these tools and financial performance is not yet comprehensively investigated. Sustainability is less studied from the social movement perspective. This paper is among the few to study the effect of ESG reporting on financial performance in a world of green innovation.
High performance assembly of complex structural parts in special environments – research on space manipulator assisted module docking method
Authors: Liu Yang , Chen Ziyu , Gao Jie , Gan Shuai , Kang Erlong 
Published: April 2023

Purpose
Compared with the robotic manipulation in structured environment, high performance assembly of complex parts in extreme special environment is facing great challenges because of the uncertainty in the environment, and the decline of the control accuracy of the robot and the sensor accuracy. The assembly and construction of the space station is a typical case. An important step in the construction of the space station is the module positioning and docking with the auxiliary of the space manipulator. The operation of the manipulator is faced with many problems, such as low sensing information accuracy, large end position deviation and the requirement of weak impact in the docking process. The purpose of this paper is to design a docking method at the strategy level to effectively solve the problems that may be faced in the docking process.

Design/methodology/approach
Inspired by the research of robotic high-precision compliant assembly, this paper introduces the concept of Attractive Region in Environment (ARIE) into the space manipulator–assisted module docking. The contact configuration space of the docking mechanism and the existence of ARIE are systematically analyzed. The docking strategy based on ARIE framework is proposed, in which the impedance control is used to ensure the weak impact during the docking process.

Findings
For the androgynous peripheral spacecraft docking mechanism, a large range of attractive region exists in the high-dimensional contact configuration space. The docking strategy based on ARIE framework can be designed according to the geometric characteristics of the constraint region and the structural characteristics of the docking mechanism. The virtual models and the simulation environment are established, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is preliminarily verified.

Originality/value
Based on the research results of robotic precision compliant manipulation, in this paper, the theory of ARIE is first systematically applied to the analysis of spacecraft docking problem and the design of docking scheme. The effectiveness of the proposed docking method is preliminarily verified for the requirements of large position tolerance and weak impact. The research results will provide theoretical support and technical reference for the assembly and construction of space station and other space manipulator operations.
Dimensional accuracy and impact resistance of 3D printed clay reinforced with scrap polymer powder
Authors: Mele Mattia , Campana Giampaolo , Pisaneschi Gregorio , De Martino Luciano , Ricciarelli Michele 
Published: April 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to give an insight into relevant aspects of 3D printing of clay paste enhanced with scrap polymer powder which have not been investigated by previous studies. Specifically, the geometrical features of the deposited lines, dimensional accuracy of benchmarks and mechanical properties of printed parts are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, the 3D printer is used to deposit lines of the paste under various combinations of material composition and process parameters. 3D scanning is used to measure their dimensional and geometrical errors. The results are elaborated through statistics to highlight the role of material and processing conditions. Then, four benchmark parts are printed using materials with different percentages of polymer powder. The parts are scanned after each step of the post-processing to quantify the effects of printing, drying and melting on dimensional accuracy. Finally, drop weight tests are carried out to investigate the impact resistance of specimens with different powder contents.

Findings
It is found that the quality of deposition varies with the printing speed, nozzle acceleration and material composition. Also, significant differences are observed at the ends of the lines. Materials with 10 Wt.% and 40 Wt.% of powder exhibit relevant shape variations due to the separation of phases. Accuracy analyses show significant deformations of parts at the green state due to material weight. This effect is more pronounced for higher powder contents. On the other hand, the polymer reduces shrinkage during drying. Furthermore, the impact test results showed that the polymer caused a large increase in impact resistance as compared to pure clay. Nonetheless, a decrease is observed for 40 Wt.% due to the higher amount of porosities.

Research limitations/implications
The results of this study advance the knowledge on the 3D printing of clay paste reinforced with a scrap polymer powder. This offers a new opportunity to reuse leftover powders from powder bed fusion processes. The findings presented here are expected to foster the adoption of this technique reducing the amount of waste powder disposed of by additive manufacturing companies.

Originality/value
This study offers some important insights into the relations between process conditions and the geometry of the deposited lines. This is of practical relevance to toolpath planning. The dimensional analyses allow for understanding the role of each post-processing step on the dimensional error. Also, the comparison with previous findings highlights the role of part dimensions. The present research explores, for the first time, the impact resistance of parts produced by this technology. The observed enhancement of this property with respect to pure clay may open new opportunities for the application of this manufacturing process.
Bill George: Guiding two decades of the authentic leadership movement
Authors: Leavy Brian 
Published: April 2023

Purpose
Over the last two decades Bill George has been researching the basic ingredients of authentic leadership through one of the most extensive empirical studies of leadership ever undertaken. He and his team have extended their research to include both international and rising generation leaders and parlayed their findings into a development process aimed at helping current and aspiring leaders to become both more authentic and effective. His latest book, True North: Leading Authentically in Today’s Workplace (Emerging Leader Edition), is co-authored with Zach Clayton.

Design/methodology/approach
Interview with authors Bill George, former CEO of Medtronic, and Zach Clayton, CEO of Three Ships, conducted by Brian Leavy, Emeritus Professor of Strategy at Dublin City University Business School, a Strategy &Leadership contributing editor and author of the S&L masterclass, “ Effective leadership today – character, not just competence.

Findings
Authentic leaders engender trust and develop genuine connections, which enables them to motivate people to achieve high levels of performance.

Practical implications
“I believe the hardest person you will ever have to lead is yourself.” -- Bill George

Originality/value
“The authors interviewed hundreds of CEOs and found that the self-awareness that they develop in the process of self-discovery is the most essential determinant of their effectiveness as a leader.”
Do seed dispersal strategies reflect adaptation to environmental variability?
Authors: Van Den Elzen Courtney L. , Sigman Nathan , Emery Nancy C. 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Dispersal is one of the primary mechanisms by which organisms adapt to spatial and temporal variation in the environment. Theory predicts that increasing spatiotemporal variation drives selection for offspring dispersal away from their natal habitat and one another. However, due to inherent difficulties in measuring dispersal in plant systems, there are few empirical tests of the extent to which this hypothesis can explain variation in seed dispersal strategies.

In this study, we characterized and compared the dispersal patterns of three closely related plant species that segregate across gradients in spatiotemporal variation in seasonal wetlands.

We tracked individual seeds as they dispersed in their natural habitats to measure seed dispersal distance (the distance travelled from the maternal plant) and inter‐seed spread (distances between dispersed seeds) and to identify the plant traits causing within‐species variation in seed dispersal. We also evaluated the seed traits causing within‐species variation in seed flight distance and terminal velocity in a wind tunnel and a drop tube, respectively.

We found that average seed dispersal distance was lowest in the species that occupies the most spatiotemporally variable habitat, contradicting our predictions; however, inter‐seed spread was lowest in the species from the least variable habitat, which aligned with our expectations.

The maternal plant and seed traits explaining intraspecific variation in seed dispersal varied among species as well as the method used to measure dispersal potential. Two traits had non‐intuitive effects on dispersal, including pappus size, which reduced seed flight distance in two of the focal taxa.

Overall, our results indicate that the differences we detected in seed dispersal among three closely related plant taxa can be only partially explained by current patterns of environmental variability in their respective habitats and that the traits driving within‐species variation in seed dispersal can evolve rapidly and change with the environmental context in which they are measured.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Effects of long‐term mowing on leaf‐ and root‐associated bacterial community structures are linked to functional traits in 11 plant species from a temperate steppe
Authors: Bai Ren , Hu Hang‐Wei , Zhou Meng , Sheng Jun , Xiong Chao , Guo Yumeng , Yuan Yujia , Hou Longyu , Zhang Wen‐Hao , Bai Wenming 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Long‐term mowing can cause morphological stuntedness of plants, thus reducing grassland productivity and exacerbating grassland degradation. Although plant microbiomes can enhance plant resistance against disturbance, considerable uncertainty exists regarding how mowing and mowing‐induced plant trait plasticity affect plant microbiomes in natural grasslands.

Here we examined the responses of leaf/root‐associated bacterial (LAB/RAB) communities of 11 dominant herbaceous perennials (six replicates per species) to a 17‐year mowing treatment in a temperate grassland. We also measured leaf/root physiological and morphological traits, and analysed the relationships among mowing practice, bacterial community structures and leaf/root trait parameters.

We found that both leaf and root functional traits showed interspecific variations (variations across different plant species), while only the leaf traits exhibited intraspecific variation (treatment‐induced variations within plant species) between the treatments. Similarly, the LAB community structure was more sensitive to mowing but less influenced by host species identity, compared to the RAB community. The RAB community structure was primarily shaped by host species identity, while mowing was a secondary influencing factor.

The different patterns of LAB and RAB communities in response to mowing could be specifically explained by the inter/intraspecific variations of the related leaf and root traits. The LAB community was strongly correlated with the leaf traits which exhibited mowing‐induced plasticity (intraspecific variation), with the correlations with nitrogen resorption efficiency and above‐ground dry weight being the greatest. The root traits were important indicators of bacterial community structure in the root compartment across the hosts, rather than between the treatments. Root tissue density showed the strongest interspecific variation, and was identified as an overwhelming driver of the RAB community. The shifts in LAB/RAB communities under mowing were largely attributed to the increased proportions of Actinobacteria. The high mowing sensitivity of the LAB community was associated with the enrichment of soil‐derived Actinobacteria in leaves under mowing. Actinobacteria were also the main keystone taxa in the bacterial community networks under mowing.

Our results demonstrate that the magnitude of plant‐associated microbial community response to long‐term mowing is plant compartment and trait variation dependent, and advance our understanding of the leaf/root microbiome‐trait relationships in complex plant communities.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Towards environmentally friendly finfish farming: A potential for mussel farms to compensate fish farm effluents
Authors: Kotta Jonne , Stechele Brecht , Barboza Francisco R. , Kaasik Ants , Lavaud Romain 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAquaculture is seen as a possible solution to meet the rising demand for fish but only if the sector reduces its use of wild fish in feed as well as its environmental impacts. The cultivation of extractive species along with fish farming (the integrated multi‐trophic aquaculture system) has a potential to mitigate the adverse environmental effects of fish farming. The dynamic energy budget (DEB) modelling is a powerful tool to be used in different aquaculture settings to achieve the Blue Growth goals set by the commission.This study explored the potential of mussel for bioremediation at finfish farms to develop environmentally sustainable finfish farming solutions in the eutrophic Baltic Sea region.The study integrated the DEB models of blue musselsMytilus edulis/trossulusand rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykissand a regional hydrodynamic‐biogeochemical model to explore the potential of mussel farming to fully compensate nutrient discharges from finfish farms.The DEB models demonstrated that despite suboptimal mussel growth conditions (low salinity), mussel farming has a potential to fully compensate for the discharge of nutrients from fish farms and thereby provide a solution for sustainable fish farming in the Baltic Sea region.Synthesis and applications. As such fish farming may become a necessary enabler of economically sustainable mussel farming in the region. Mussel farming facilitates finfish farming licensing whereas finfish farming covers some costs of mussel farming thereby increasing the economic feasibility of this activity in the region.
On the relative importance of resource availability and habitat connectivity as drivers of soil biodiversity in Mediterranean ecosystems
Authors: Lopezosa Paula , Berdugo Miguel , Morales‐Márquez Jimmy , Pastor Estrella , Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Bonet Andreu , Wang Juntao , Singh Brajesh K. , Soliveres Santiago 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Soil biota influences nutrient cycling and climate regulation and represents an important fraction of global biodiversity, yet we know very little about how this soil biota responds to habitat fragmentation and degradation of habitat quality.

We studied the response of different soil trophic groups (microbes and soil fauna), and their trophic structure, to changes in their habitat derived from forest long‐term management and extensive tree die‐off in a Mediterranean ecosystem. Specifically, we evaluated changes in (i) habitat size, (ii) habitat resource availability and heterogeneity and (iii) habitat connectivity. To do this, we sampled the soil biota of 43 holm oak trees (and five open interspaces) differing in size, quality, heterogeneity, connectivity and the effect of die‐off (healthy or affected). We sorted soil biota by trophic group and related their richness to habitat characteristics.

Seven of the 12 trophic groups evaluated increased their species richness with soil organic carbon content, which was the most frequently selected driver of soil biota (both microbial and faunal richness). Habitat connectivity positively affected the richness of larger organisms (fauna) and plant attributes (richness, productivity and specific leaf area) also showed significant but contrasting effects depending on the group evaluated.

Due to the idiosyncratic responses of different groups, the entire trophic structure (microbes and fauna) was affected by a more complex set of factors than most trophic groups in isolation, including interactions between habitat size and resource availability or connectivity. A major factor influencing habitat resource availability was the die‐off of the dominant tree species (drastically altering tree productivity). We found weaker and more negative relationships between trophic groups under trees suffering from die‐off than beneath healthy trees, particularly between microbial rather than faunal groups.

Synthesis. We provide a comprehensive assessment of the response of key members of the soil food web to habitat fragmentation and tree die‐off (landscape‐level plant–soil interactions), illustrating the major role of soil carbon, habitat connectivity and tree die‐off in driving soil biodiversity and trophic structure.