bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A meiotic midbody structure in mouse oocytes acts as a barrier for nascent translation to ensure developmental competence
Authors: Jung Gyu Ik , Londoño-Vásquez Daniela , Park Sungjin , Skop Ahna R. , Balboula Ahmed Z. , Schindler Karen 
Published: November 2022

AbstractSuccessful embryo development is dependent upon maternally deposited components. During egg formation, developmental competence is acquired through regulated translation of maternal mRNA stores. In addition, egg precursors undergo two rounds of chromosome segregation, each coupled to an asymmetric cytokinesis that produces two non-functional polar bodies. In somatic cells, cytokinesis produces two daughter cells and one midbody remnant (MBR), a signaling organelle assembled from the midbody (MB), which first appears in Telophase. MBs contain transcription and translation factors, and epigenetic modifiers. Once MBs mature to MBRs by abscission, they can be subsequently phagocytosed by another cell and influence cellular function or fate. Although the significance of MBs is elucidated in several cell types like neurons, cancer cells and stem cells, the presence and function of MBs in gametes and their roles in reproductive fitness are unknown. Here, we examined the formation and regulation of meiotic midbodies (mMB) in mouse oocytes. We find that although mouse oocyte mMBs contain analogous structures to somatic MBs, they also have a unique cap-like structure composed of the centralspindlin complex, and that cap formation depends upon an asymmetric microtubule abundance in the egg compared to the polar body. Furthermore, our results show that mMBs are translationally active ribonucleoprotein granules, supported by detection of ribosomes, polyadenylated mRNAs and nascent translation. Finally, by pharmacological and laser ablation-based approaches, we demonstrate that the mMB cap is a barrier to prevent translated products from leaving the egg and escaping into the polar body. Crucially, this barrier is critical for successful early embryonic development. Here, we document an evolutionary adaptation to the highly conserved process of cytokinesis in mouse oocytes and describe a new structure and new mechanism by which egg quality and embryonic developmental competence are regulated.
Locations, city connectivity and innovation zones in China: a dynamic perspective of knowledge community
Authors: Du Juana , Krusekopf Charles 
Published: November 2022

Purpose
This study aims to examine two innovation zones in China, including the Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-city, to gain a comprehensive understanding of city locations attributes and its relationship to inward foreign direct investment (FDI) from multinational enterprises (MNEs) in innovation zones embedded in nonhub cities in China.

Design/methodology/approach
This research incorporates two site visits and in-depth interviews with 39 personnel working with innovation zones. Thematic analysis is used to analyze interview data and documents.

Findings
The results highlight that cities can use innovation zones as a strategy to build high scale knowledge community precincts to connect MNEs and other global actors. As an important institutional feature of city locations, innovation zones increase within-city connectivity and connect cities in global networks resulting in cross-city connectivity to attract FDI from MNEs. From a dynamic knowledge community perspective, this research also compares active and passive approaches toward building knowledge communities and identifies several elements of knowledge communities within innovation zones in China.

Research limitations/implications
The research results could be further explored in other institutional and economic contexts, to understand the interplay of city locations, FDI and innovation zones, and the dynamics of building knowledge communities.

Practical implications
This research has several implications for policymakers and administrators who work with municipal economic development and the development and enhancement of innovation zones. It offers recommendations for MNEs to consider where to make foreign investments and the advantages innovation zones may offer to support FDI.

Originality/value
This research contributes to the literature related to economic development and how nonhub cities can attract FDI and join global networks. It offers empirical insights drawn from two successful innovation zones located in nonhub cities in China.
Governance and social responsibility: what factors impact corporate performance in a small banking-oriented country?
Authors: Neves Maria Elisabete , Proença Catarina , Cancela Beatriz 
Published: November 2022

Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the corporate governance and corporate social responsibility (CSR) determinants of the Portuguese listed companies’ performance, considering a different point of view by managers, shareholders and other external stakeholders and investors.

Design/methodology/approach
To achieve this aim, the authors have used a sample of 34 nonfinancial listed companies in Euronext Lisbon between 2015 and 2020. The authors use the panel data methodology to test the hypotheses formulated according to the literature review, specifically the generalized method of moments (GMM) system estimation model proposed by Arellano and Bond (1991).

Findings
The main results point out that the determinants of the corporate performance vary depending on the dependent variable considered. From the managers’ perspective, the existence of an audit committee and expenses with the environment increase costs and reduce results, negatively influencing corporate performance, but the company’s maturity adds synergies in resource management and positively influences performance. Shareholders consider that gender diversity and board independence positively influence performance, whereas, for external stakeholders and long-term investors, gender diversity and the social responsibility committee harm the performance of Portuguese companies. However, environmental and social expenditures have a positive effect, showing that the market’s perception is that, in the long run, it is essential to eradicate poverty and protect the environment.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first one to analyze corporate governance and CSR determinants on the performance of listed Portuguese companies. This study shows that in a small banking-oriented country, there is still a long way to go in terms of increasing social responsibility and governance among different stakeholders. It is essential to promote actions that lead to effective governance and awareness of social responsibility.
Ritual-based redesign of routines: an experimental approach in the restaurant industry
Authors: Cozzio Claudia , Furlan Andrea 
Published: November 2022

Purpose
This study aims to investigate the impact of the innovative ritual-based redesign of a routine in the challenging context of the dining-out sector, characterized by low employee commitment and high turnover.

Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a mixed methods experimental design. This study focuses on a field experiment in a real restaurant centered on the restaurant’s welcome entrée routine. The routine is first observed as it happens, after which it is redesigned as a ritual.

Findings
The ritual-based redesign of the routine enhances employee sharing of the purpose of the routine and reduces the variability of the execution time of the routine, which increases group cohesion among the restaurant staff. Besides the positive impact on the routine’s participants, the ritual-based redesign has a beneficial effect on the performance of the routine by increasing the enjoyment of the end-consumers at the restaurant.

Research limitations/implications
The ritual-based redesign of routines is a powerful managerial tool that bonds workers into a solidary community characterized by strong and shared values. This allows guidance of the behavior of new and existing employees in a more efficient and less time-consuming way.

Originality/value
Rituals have been traditionally analyzed from the customer perspective as marketing tools. This research investigates the employees’ perspective, leveraging ritual-based redesign as a managerial tool for increasing cohesion among workers.
Determinants of SMEs’ performance: amalgamation of entrepreneurial, market and brand orientations
Authors: Ismail Ahmed Rageh , Mohamad Bahtiar 
Published: November 2022

PurposeScholars and practitioners alike are paying attention to entrepreneurial orientation (EO) as an antecedent of the financial performance of SMEs. Other factors foster and improve SMEs' financial performance. This paper aims to shed the light on other two different strategic orientations that may help enhance SMEs' financial performance in addition to EO, namely; market orientation (MO) and brand orientation (BO).Design/methodology/approachThe three different important strategic orientations are explored through two different studies. The first study was conducted to determine the different effects of the three orientations on SMEs' financial performance. Data were collected using a questionnaire among a convenient sample (131) of business owners/managers, and next PLS-SEM was used for data analysis. The financial performance of firms in the second study is hypothesized to be an outcome of a combination of different strategic orientations; therefore, the fsQCA method is applied to explore the causal recipes of those orientations.FindingsThe paper concluded that the three different strategic orientations are collectively, of paramount importance to strategic managers of SMEs.Originality/valueThe brand, market and EOs have been discussed discretely in previous studies and this study attempted to provide managers/owners of SMEs with a holistic view of the three different orientations and the amalgamation among them to be beneficial for better financial performance.
The role of data sharing in survey dropout: a study among scientists as respondents
Authors: Fichtner Urs Alexander , Horstmeier Lukas Maximilian , Brühmann Boris Alexander , Watter Manuel , Binder Harald , Knaus Jochen 
Published: November 2022

PurposeOne of the currently debated changes in scientific practice is the implementation of data sharing requirements for peer-reviewed publication to increase transparency and intersubjective verifiability of results. However, it seems that data sharing is a not fully adopted behavior among researchers. The theory of planned behavior was repeatedly applied to explain drivers of data sharing from the perspective of data donors (researchers). However, data sharing can be viewed from another perspective as well: survey participants. The research questions (RQs) for this study were as follows: 1 Does data sharing increase participant's nonresponse? 2 Does data sharing influence participant's response behavior? The purpose of this paper is to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachTo answer the RQs, a mixed methods approach was applied, consisting of a qualitative prestudy and a quantitative survey including an experimental component. The latter was a two-group setup with an intervention group (A) and a control group (B). A list-based recruiting of members of the Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg was applied for 15 days. For exploratory data analysis of dropouts and nonresponse, we used Fisher's exact tests and binary logistic regressions.FindingsIn sum, we recorded 197 cases for Group A and 198 cases for Group B. We found no systematic group differences regarding response bias or dropout. Furthermore, we gained insights into the experiences our sample made with data sharing: half of our sample already requested data of other researchers or shared data on request of other researchers. Data repositories, however, were used less frequently: 28% of our respondents used data from repositories and 19% stored data in a repository.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, their study is the first study that includes researchers as survey subjects investigating the effect of data sharing on their response patterns.
The footprints of Russia–Ukraine war on the intraday (in)efficiency of energy markets: a multifractal analysis
Authors: Aslam Faheem , Slim Skander , Osman Mohamed , Tabche Ibrahim 
Published: November 2022

PurposeThis paper examines the impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine on the intraday efficiency of four major energy markets, namely, diesel oil, Brent oil, light oil and natural gas.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) to high-frequency returns (30-min intervals) for the period from October 21, 2021, to May 20, 2022. The data sample of 5,141 observations is divided into two sub-samples, before and after the invasion of 24th February 2022. Additionally, the magnitude of long memory index is employed to investigate the presence of herding behavior around the invasion period.FindingsResults confirm the presence of multifractality in energy markets and reveal significant changes of multifractal strength due to the invasion, indicating a decline of intraday efficiency for oil markets. Surprisingly, the natural gas market, being the least efficient before the invasion, turns out to be more efficient after the invasion. The findings also suggest that investors in these energy markets are likely to show herding, more prominently after the invasion.Practical implicationsThe multifractal patterns, in particular the long memory property of energy markets, can help investors develop profitable investment strategies. Furthermore, the improved efficiency observed in the natural gas market, after the invasion, highlights its unique traits and underlying complexity.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt to assess the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on the efficiency of global commodity markets. This is quite important because the adverse effects of the war on financial markets may potentially cause destabilizing outcomes and negative effects on social welfare on a global scale.
Breaking down the components of the competition‐colonization trade‐off: New insights into its role in diverse systems
Authors: Ferzoco Ilia Maria C. , McCauley Shannon J. 
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Performance trade‐offs between competition and colonization can be an important mechanism facilitating regional coexistence of competitors. However, empirical evidence for this trade‐off is mixed, raising questions about the extent to which it shapes diverse ecological communities. Here, we outline a framework that can be used to improve empirical tests of the competition‐colonization trade‐off.

We argue that tests of the competition‐colonization trade‐off have been diverted into unproductive paths when dispersal mode and/or competition type have been inadequately defined. To generate comparative predictions of associations between dispersal and competitive performance, we develop a conceptual trait‐based framework that clarifies how dispersal mode and type of competitor shape this trade‐off at the stage of dispersal and establishment in a variety of systems. Our framework suggests that competition‐colonization trade‐offs may be less common for passively dispersing organisms when competitive dominants are those best able to withstand resource depletion (competitive response), and for active dispersers when traits for dispersal performance are positively associated with resource pre‐emption (competitive effect).

The framework presented here is designed to provide common ground for researchers working in different systems in order to prompt more effective assessment of this performance trade‐off and its role in shaping community structure. By delineating key system properties that mediate the trade‐off between competitive and colonization performance and their relationship to individual‐level traits, researchers in disparate systems can structure their predictions about this trade‐off more effectively and compare across systems more clearly.
Density‐dependent plasticity in territoriality revealed using social network analysis
Authors: Webber Quinn M. R. , Dantzer Ben , Lane Jeffrey E. , Boutin Stan , McAdam Andrew G. 
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Territories are typically defined as spatially exclusive areas that are defended against conspecifics. Given the spatial nature of territoriality, it is inherently density dependent, but the economics of territoriality also depend on the distribution and abundance of defended resources. Our objectives were to assess the effects of changing population density and food availability on individually based territorial phenotypes.

We developed a novel analytical framework that bridges spatially explicit territories with social network analysis to model density‐dependent territorial phenotypes. Using the outputs from our data pipeline, we modelled plasticity in territory size and territory intrusion rates in a long‐term study population of North American red squirrels Tamiasciurus hudsonicus. Red squirrels defend year‐round territories around a central hoard (midden) of white spruce Picea glauca cones. Importantly, white spruce is a masting species that produces large cone crops every 4–7 years (i.e. mast years) in our study area interspersed with non‐mast years when few cones are produced. In the spring following mast years, populations are approximately double in size, but are lower in the spring of non‐mast years.

We predicted that territory size and intrusion rates would decrease as resource abundance, and consequently population density, increased. By contrast, as resource abundance decreased via depletion, and therefore density decreased, territories should increase in size and intrusions should also increase.

As we expected, individual territory size and territorial intrusions were negatively density dependent, such that increased density after mast years resulted in smaller territories and fewer intrusions. When considering between‐individual variation in plasticity across a density gradient, individuals responded differently to changes in population density within their lifetime.

Our results show that territory size and intrusion rates display negative density dependence. When food becomes available in the autumn of a mast year and density in spring of the following year increases, territories shrink in size to effectively a small area around the midden. While our findings for red squirrels are unique compared to other systems, they serve as a reminder that the direction and strength of fundamental ecological relationships can depend on the nature of the system.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities shaped by host‐plant affect the outcome of plant–soil feedback in dryland restoration
Authors: Medeiros Adler Santana , Scaloppi Julie Christine , Damasceno Edjane Silva , Goto Bruno Tomio , Vieira Daniela Cristine Mascia , Socolowski Fábio , Rodrigues Renato Garcia , Yano‐Melo Adriana Mayumi 
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Plant inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be a useful tool to overcome challenges in dry forest restoration. However, advances are still needed to guide choices regarding soil origin and inoculum production methods, since outcomes can vary due to plant–soil feedbacks (PSF). We evaluate how soil origin and host plant used for inoculum production affect AMF community and therefore the plant biomass accumulation and functional traits.

In the conditioning phase, we investigated whether soils originating from a recovered area (Quarry) and a vegetation fragment (Caatinga) would have their AMF communities modified due to the growth of Sorghum bicolor (used for inoculum production) and Senna uniflora (used in Brazilian semiarid restoration). In the feedback phase, we compared the performance of four plants species growing on a degraded soil and inoculated or not by a mixture of AMF isolates in comparison to soil inoculum prepared from the conditioning phase.

The inoculum from Caatinga presented seven times more AMF species compared to that from the Quarry, which presented ruderal and stress tolerant species. The soil inoculum conditioned by S. uniflora, regardless of origin, presented greater evenness compared to the soil inoculum produced with S. bicolor and promoted 33% more plant biomass compared to the control without inoculation. Root colonization by AMF increased PSF and decreased plant investment in functional traits such as specific root length (SRL) and specific leaf area (SLA).

Our results demonstrate the importance of adopting strategies that preserve local adaptation of inoculants produced. The use of native plant for propagation of native AMF in the conditioning phase provided more positive responses for Mesosphaerum suaveolens and Rhaphiodon echinus than inoculated with introduced AMF isolates. This is probably due to the interaction of inoculated plants with responsive AMF present in the soil.

Synthesis and applications. Our study shows that conditioning field‐collected soil with Senna uniflora and using it for inoculation can be a simple technique to promote biomass accumulation for other native herbaceous species. This preserves the compatibility between the soil inoculum produced with native AMF and native plants, representing an important tool for restoration programs.
Prairie strips reduce fecal indicator bacteria concentrations in simulated runoff
Authors: Craig Andrew J. , Rehmann Chris R. , Alt Laura M. , Schulte Lisa A. , Soupir Michelle L. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractVegetative filter strips (VFS) have shown promising results in reducing the downstream transport of many agroecosystem contaminants. A recently developed type of VFS, prairie strips, has been shown to significantly reduce the impact of corn and soybean production systems on water quality in terms of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus losses. This study assessed potential additional benefits of prairie strips to include the reduction of pathogens. To assess the impact of prairie strips on manure‐laden agricultural runoff, we utilized a physical model of prairie strips in a laboratory flume to conduct highly controlled overland flow experiments. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus concentration reductions of up to 45% and 65% were observed for runoff and infiltration flows, respectively, while mass load reductions of up to 65% were observed for surficial runoff flows. The degree of concentration or mass load reductions was dependent on the residence time of the flow within the strip and the partitioning of overland flow running onto the strip to infiltration and runoff flows. Based on our results and a review of the literature, we developed a design method to provide guidance on the width of prairie strip buffer needed to achieve a user‐defined reduction of fecal bacteria concentration.