bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ecoploring the green gems
Authors: Chaudhary Karishma , Singh Pragya , Verma Deepak
Published: September 2023

Supplementary materials

Services Marketing: People Technology Strategy (Eighth Edition) By Pearson, Authored by Wirtz Jochen, Lovelock Christopher, Chatterjee Jayanta, 2017; Service-Marketing: Text and Cases (Second Edition) By Pearson, Authored by Harsh Verma, 2011.

Social implications

Students will gain an understanding of business models, which has a positive impact on the environment.

Learning outcomes

This case study intends to help learners understand the concept of segmentation, targeting and positioning (STP) in the case of services. The idea of services is different from that of a product as in services; intangible elements dominate the value creation. By exploring the practical scenarios faced by the protagonist, in this case, readers would enhance their problem-solving abilities in similar situations.

Case overview/synopsis

Prerna is the founder of Ecoplore, an aggregator cum booking platform for eco-hotels. It onboards hotels only if they are made up of vernacular architecture and maintains at least 33% of greenery on its premises. Listed properties also harvested rainwater, used renewable source of energy, used sustainable options instead of single use plastic, composted organic waste. Most of these properties grow vegetables, fruits and herbs, and the visitors enjoy homemade organic meals. Ecoplore is the only aggregator platform to visit and verify these eco-hotels directly. Ecoplore is an early-stage startup; all customer queries were handled by Prerna, on-call or through a chat box. It included interacting with prospective clients, understanding their requirements, suggesting the most suited options and booking the eco-hotels. Prerna had to spend most of the time interacting with clients. Over time, she comprehended that only a few prospective clients became Ecoplore’s customers, and the conversion rate was low of owing to various reasons like ticket size, clients' age and psychology.

Complexity academic level

For students: This case is aptly designed for marketing students pursuing Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration courses to understand and apply STP theory and service marketing concepts.

Subject code

CCS 3: Entrepreneurship.
Vodafone Ghana – being good by doing good under Patricia Obo-Nai’s leadership
Authors: Agnihotri Arpita , Bhattacharya Saurabh
Published: September 2023

Social implications

Case explains how female leaders are more concerned about social issues the industry in which they operate could resolve. Obo-Nia, CEO of Vodafone Ghana, showed concern for resolving the digital divide in Africa and offered a collaborative solution. The case also suggests how female CEOs invest in strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) that could create a competitive advantage for firms. The case also discusses gender diversity issues in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) field and how Vodafone Ghana’s CEO tried to enhance gender diversity in the telecommunication sector and Vodafone. Obo-Nai did not emphasize gender diversity from a CSR perspective but believed in a business case for gender diversity, as an increase in participation of women in the STEM workforce could help the telecommunication sector innovate faster and resolve the digital divide challenge while also empowering women working from the informal sector.

Learning outcomes

What is the significance of a digital divide and the societal role of the telecommunication sector; Why female CEOs are more concerned about CSR and how CSR makes not charity but business case; Why female CEOs are more inclined toward collaborative strategies and how stakeholders are involved in collaborative strategies for reducing the digital divide; Exploring various strategies for enhancing gender diversity in the STEM field and the significance of gender diversity in the STEM field.

Case overview/synopsis

The case is about the challenges faced by Patricia Obo-Nai, the first female CEO of Vodafone Ghana, to bridge the digital divide in Africa while doing so in a profitable manner. Obo-Nai was an engineer by profession and won several awards as she rose to the post of CEO in Vodafone Ghana in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she took several corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, such as making internet service freely available in certain schools and universities so that education could continue. Obo-Nai also emphasized gender diversity within Vodafone and urged other telecommunication players to focus on gender diversity from a social responsibility perspective because it was essential for innovation. Under Obo-Nai’s leadership, Vodafone itself launched several new products. She called for a multistakeholder collaborative approach to bridge the digital divide and to make 4G internet affordable in Africa. Obo-Nai collaborated with competitors like MTN Ghana to enhance Vodafone Ghana’s roaming services.

Complexity academic level

This case is intended for undergraduate or graduate-level business and management courses, especially international business and society, CSR and leadership courses. Graduate students in public policy may also find the case compelling.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject codes

CCS5: International Business; CCS10: Public Sector Management
Amounee, a case for micro entrepreneurship: giving voice to the artisans of the Indian handicrafts industry
Authors: Anil Kanwal , Misra Anil , Bal Ruchika
Published: September 2023

Social implications

The case projects how a women-led social enterprise provides livelihoods through a digitally operated unique micro-entrepreneurship model for the rural artisans of the Indian handicrafts industry, thus bringing about social change through economic empowerment of the community.

Learning outcomes

To understand how women entrepreneurship is contributing towards livelihood generation and rural artisan empowerment in India. To understand the make-up of a for-profit social enterprise in the Indian Handicrafts Industry, its challenges and solutions through innovative business. To present the mindset and journey of a woman social entrepreneur. To present and understand the growth and scaling up of such unique social ventures. To understand a unique form of the micro entrepreneurship model being built through digital platforms.

Case overview/synopsis

The objective of writing this case is to bring out a case of women entrepreneurship in the craft-based industry in India. This case seeks to emphasise on the following learning themes in the area of entrepreneurship: Women entrepreneurship: trials and tribulations. Micro entrepreneurship/rural artisan empowerment. Livelihood generation and upliftment of the rural artisans and revival of dying art and crafts in the Indian craft-based industry. The novel ecommerce and data analytics experience being skilfully incorporated by small enterprises to their vantage and making both the seller’s as well as the buyer’s experience unique. The case highlights how the unique business models of social entrepreneurship through the use of technology bring the digital experience to rural India. Social entrepreneurship. The case narrates the story of a budding social entrepreneur Megha Das who is a textile designer by profession and showcases her journey towards the creation of unique digital platforms which transf

Complexity academic level

The case has been targeted to be taught in Masters level course in business management/administration, entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, development studies, gender studies, design, etc. Its watered-down version can also be taught in under graduate programs in commerce, business management, business administration, fashion and textile designing, entrepreneurship, development studies, gender studies, etc.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CCS 3: Entrepreneurship.
Generation Z's attitudes toward virtual tourism: the impact of implicit and explicit attitudes
Authors: Rodrigues Paula , Sousa Ana , Pinto Borges Ana
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the implicit and explicit attitudes of Generation Z (Gen Z) individuals toward the experience of visiting and getting to know traditional or virtual museums.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies were conducted. The first study assesses the implicit attitudes of Gen Z individuals through Implicit Association Tests (IAT) toward the experience of visiting traditional versus virtual museums. Considering the results of the study one, the second study proposes and validates a conceptual model through PLS-SEM approach about the explicit attitudes of this generation toward virtual museums.

Findings

In the first study, it was found that virtual museums are more successful at engaging and immersing participants than traditional museums for Gen Z. The second study emphasized the significance of meeting Gen Z expectations and ensuring effortless access to information in virtual experiences as this can lead to increased satisfaction and inspiration among this generation.

Originality/value

The originality of this study lies in its focus on Gen Z's attitudes toward virtual museums and the use of both implicit and explicit attitude measures to gain a comprehensive understanding of these attitudes. An interesting aspect emerges from the implicit attitudes displayed by Gen Z, indicating their preference for virtual museums as more captivating compared to traditional ones.
Lost in the middle – a pragmatic approach for ERP managers to prioritize known vulnerabilities by applying classification and regression trees (CART)
Authors: Mathieu Richard G. , Turovlin Alan E.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Cyber risk has significantly increased over the past twenty years. In many organizations, data and operations are managed through a complex technology stack underpinned by an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as systemanalyse programmentwicklung (SAP). The ERP environment by itself can be overwhelming for a typical ERP Manager, coupled with increasing cybersecurity issues that arise creating periods of intense time pressure, stress and workload, increasing risk to the organization. This paper aims to identify a pragmatic approach to prioritize vulnerabilities for the ERP Manager.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying attention-based theory, a pragmatic approach is developed to prioritize an organization’s response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) National Vulnerability Database (NVD) vulnerabilities using a Classification and Regression Tree (CART).

Findings

The application of classification and regression tree (CART) to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s National Vulnerability Database identifies prioritization unavailable within the NIST’s categorization.

Practical implications

The ERP Manager is a role between technology, functionality, centralized control and organization data. Without CART, vulnerabilities are left to a reactive approach, subject to overwhelming situations due to intense time pressure, stress and workload.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is original and has not been published elsewhere, nor is it currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. CART has previously not been applied to the prioritizing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Does local vs. national government ownership, and auditor choice matter for audit pricing? Evidence from China
Authors: Semba Hu Dan , Wu Lefei
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The Chinese data setting allows researchers to explore the influence of local versus national (central) government ownership on companies. This study aims to examine the influence of government ownership (local versus national) and auditor choice (choosing larger or smaller firms) on audit pricing in China.

Design/methodology/approach

This study executed three panel data regressions to examine the two hypotheses using 19,626 observations from 2009 to 2017 in the Chinese data setting. This study also uses the Sobel test to investigate the moderating effect of auditor choice.

Findings

This study first examines whether choosing a large audit firm positively influences audit pricing and whether listed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) charge less audit fees to audit firms after controlling for various variables. However, the interaction influence of government ownership and audit firm size on audit pricing is positive, suggesting that a large audit firm charges a client company more, even if the client is an SOE. More importantly, when we divide SOEs into national- and local-SOEs, the results of the influence of auditor choice, government ownership and the interaction of government ownership on audit pricing are consistent (plus, minus, plus), and audit firms charge local-SOEs less than national-SOEs. Furthermore, from the additional analysis, this study finds that the strong auditor type has a moderate effect on the case of local-SOEs on audit pricing and local-SOEs choose smaller auditors.

Originality/value

Research on the differences between local and national government ownership is limited. This study adds empirical results from this perspective. In particular, the findings suggest a further audit pricing research direction to consider the influence of client companies’ ownership types and auditor choice, especially in countries with planned economies.
Corporate carbon emissions data for equity and bond portfolios
Authors: Swinkels Laurens , Markwat Thijs
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To better understand the impact of choosing a carbon data provider for the estimated portfolio emissions across four asset classes. This is important, as prior literature has suggested that Environmental, Social and Governance scores across providers have low correlation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors compare carbon data from four data providers for developed and emerging equity markets and investment grade and high-yield corporate bond markets.

Findings

Data on scope 1 and scope 2 is similar across the four data providers, but for scope 3 differences can be substantial. Carbon emissions data has become more consistent across providers over time.

Research limitations/implications

The authors examine the impact of different carbon data providers at the asset class level. Portfolios that invest only in a subset of the asset class may be affected differently. Because “true” carbon emissions are not known, the authors cannot investigate which provider has the most accurate carbon data.

Practical implications

The impact of choosing a carbon data provider is limited for scope 1 and scope 2 data for equity markets. Differences are larger for corporate bonds and scope 3 emissions.

Originality/value

The authors compare carbon accounting metrics on scopes 1, 2 and 3 of corporate greenhouse gas emissions carbon data from multiple providers for developed and emerging equity and investment grade and high yield investment portfolios. Moreover, the authors show the impact of filling missing data points, which is especially relevant for corporate bond markets, where data coverage tends to be lower.
Managerial incentives for ESG in the financial services industry: direct and indirect association between ESG and executive compensation
Authors: Lee Jooh , Koh Kyungyeon (Rachel) , Shim Eunsup Daniel
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study investigates the empirical association between environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) performance and top executive compensation in the US financial services industry. Considering that financial firms can inflict systemic shocks across the economy, it has been argued that they must conduct ethical and sustainable business in accordance with ESG principles. This study examines whether ESG efforts are beneficial to managers.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use CEO compensation and ESG performance ratings data for all US financial firms (SIC 6000–6799) from 2015 to 2019. Employing fixed effects regressions, the authors test whether lagged ESG performance is related to CEO compensation, after controlling for other firm characteristics such as size, financial performance, leverage and CEO stock ownership.

Findings

The authors find that lagged ESG ratings are strongly associated with all forms of compensation. An increase of one standard deviation in the composite ESG rating is associated with a 14%–16% increase in the total pay. Among the three ESG pillars, only S (social) and G (governance) exhibit persistent and significant associations with both short- and long-term executive pay. The authors also document the significant moderating effects of ESG on the relationships among firm performance, size, leverage, ownership and executive pay, identifying how ESG is associated with compensation.

Originality/value

The authors conclude that managers receive ESG incentives implicitly and explicitly. The novel finding of direct and indirect associations between ESG and top executive compensation contributes to the growing ESG literature on the financial sector and ongoing debate about the explicit inclusion of ESG targets in compensation design.
Fragmentation of Technology Ownership and Acquisition Strategy of Firms
Authors: Asija Aman , Moreira Solon , Ringov Dimo , Soares Thiago J.
Published: September 2023

This paper examines how the fragmented ownership of complementary intellectual property (IP) rights affects firms’ acquisition behaviour. We theorize that as the ownership of complementary IP rights fragments, the rate at which a focal firm engages in technology acquisitions will increase. Our predictions suggest that firms will expand their IP portfolios through acquisitions as a strategy to continue innovating when the ownership over strategic IP becomes exceedingly spread among technology holders. Furthermore, we propose that this positive relationship between fragmentation and acquisitions will be stronger for firms whose patent portfolios hold relatively less value compared to their peers, owing primarily to their diminished control over strategic IP. Using a unique longitudinal dataset from the biopharmaceutical industry, we find empirical support for our hypotheses.
The politics of social status: economic and cultural roots of the populist right
Authors: Gidron Noam , Hall Peter A.
Published: September 2023

This paper explores the factors that have recently increased support for candidates and causes of the populist right across the developed democracies, especially among a core group of working‐class men. In the context of debates about whether the key causal factors are economic or cultural, we contend that an effective analysis must rest on understanding how economic and cultural developments interact to generate support for populism. We suggest that one way to do so is to see status anxiety as a proximate factor inducing support for populism, and economic and cultural developments as factors that combine to precipitate such anxiety. Using cross‐national survey data from 20 developed democracies, we assess the viability of this approach. We show that lower levels of subjective social status are associated with support for right populist parties, identify a set of economic and cultural developments likely to have depressed the social status of men without a college education, and show that the relative social status of those men has declined since 1987 in many of the developed democracies. We conclude that status effects provide one pathway through which economic and cultural developments may combine to increase support for the populist right.
Abortion patients' decision making about where to obtain out‐of‐state care following Texas' 2021 abortion ban
Authors: White Kari , Arey Whitney , Whitfield Brooke , Dane'el Asha , Dixon Laura , Potter Joseph E. , Ogburn Tony , Beasley Anitra D.
Published: September 2023

Objective

To assess pregnant Texans' decisions about where to obtain out‐of‐state abortion care following the September 2021 implementation of Senate Bill 8 (SB8), which prohibited abortions after detectable embryonic cardiac activity.

Data Source

In‐depth telephone interviews with Texas residents ≥15 years of age who obtained out‐of‐state abortion care after SB8's implementation.

Study Design

This qualitative study explored participants' experiences identifying and contacting abortion facilities and their concerns and considerations about traveling out of state. We used inductive and deductive codes in our thematic analysis describing people's decisions about where to obtain care and how they evaluated available options.

Data Collection

Texas residents self‐referred to the study from flyers we provided to abortion facilities in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. We also enrolled participants from a concurrent online survey of Texans seeking abortion care.

Principal Findings

Participants (n = 65) frequently obtained referral lists for out‐of‐state locations from health‐care providers, and a few received referrals to specific facilities; however, referrals rarely included the information people needed to decide where to obtain care. More than half of the participants prioritized getting the soonest appointment and often contacted multiple locations and traveled further to do so; others who could not travel further typically waited longer for an appointment. Although the participants rarely cited state abortion restrictions or cost of care as their main reason for choosing a location, they often made sacrifices to lessen the logistical and economic hardships that state restrictions and out‐of‐state travel costs created. Informative abortion facility websites and compassionate scheduling staff solidified some participants' facility choice.

Conclusions

Pregnant Texans made difficult trade‐offs and experienced travel‐related burdens to obtain out‐of‐state abortion care. As abortion bans prohibit more people from obtaining in‐state care, efforts to strengthen patient navigation are needed to reduce care‐seeking burdens as this will support people's reproductive autonomy.
GSK‐3β activation mediates apolipoprotein E4‐associated cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A multicenter, cross‐sectional study
Authors: Gao Yang , Yu Haitao , Liu Yanchao , Xu Zhipeng , He Benrong , Liu Honghai , Wang Yuying , Zhang Yao , Liang Yi , Yang Ying , Zheng Jie , Wang Jian‐Zhi
Published: September 2023

Aim

Both the activation of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) and the presence of ApoE ε4 genotype have been found to respectively correlate with cognitive decline in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), who further show a high incidence of developing Alzheimer's disease. However, the relationship between ApoE ε4 and GSK‐3β in the cognitive impairment of T2DM patients remains unclear.

Methods

ApoE genotypes and platelet GSK‐3β level were measured in 1139 T2DM patients recruited from five medical centers in Wuhan, China. Cognitive functions were assessed by Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). The association and the relationships among apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotypes, GSK‐3β activity and cognitive function were analyzed by regression and mediating effect analyses, respectively.

Results

T2DM patients with ApoE ε4 but not ApoE ε2 haplotype showed poorer cognitive function and elevated platelet GSK‐3β activity, when using ApoE ε3 as reference. The elevation of GSK‐3β activity was positively correlated the diabetes duration, as well as plasma glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and glucose levels. Moreover, correlation and regression analysis also revealed significant pairwise correlations among GSK‐3β activity, ApoE gene polymorphism and cognitive function. Lastly, using Baron and Kenny modeling, we unveiled a mediative role of GSK‐3β activity between ApoE ε4 and cognitive impairment.

Conclusion

We reported here that the upregulation of GSK‐3β activity mediates the exacerbation of cognitive impairment by ApoE ε4‐enhanced cognitive impairment in T2DM patients, suggesting GSK‐3β inhibitors as promising drugs for preserving cognitive function in T2DM patients, especially to those with ApoE ε4 genotype.
New deep learning‐based methods for visualizing ecosystem properties using environmental DNA metabarcoding data
Authors: Lamperti Letizia , Sanchez Théophile , Si Moussi Sara , Mouillot David , Albouy Camille , Flück Benjamin , Bruno Morgane , Valentini Alice , Pellissier Loïc , Manel Stéphanie
Published: September 2023

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding provides an efficient approach for documenting biodiversity patterns in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The complexity of these data prevents current methods from extracting and analyzing all the relevant ecological information they contain, and new methods may provide better dimensionality reduction and clustering. Here we present two new deep learning‐based methods that combine different types of neural networks (NNs) to ordinate eDNA samples and visualize ecosystem properties in a two‐dimensional space: the first is based on variational autoencoders and the second on deep metric learning. The strength of our new methods lies in the combination of two inputs: the number of sequences found for each molecular operational taxonomic unit (MOTU) detected and their corresponding nucleotide sequence. Using three different datasets, we show that our methods accurately represent several biodiversity indicators in a two‐dimensional latent space: MOTU richness per sample, sequence α‐diversity per sample, Jaccard's and sequence β‐diversity between samples. We show that our nonlinear methods are better at extracting features from eDNA datasets while avoiding the major biases associated with eDNA. Our methods outperform traditional dimension reduction methods such as Principal Component Analysis, t‐distributed Stochastic Neighbour Embedding, Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling and Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection for dimension reduction. Our results suggest that NNs provide a more efficient way of extracting structure from eDNA metabarcoding data, thereby improving their ecological interpretation and thus biodiversity monitoring.
IRS scrutiny and corporate innovation
Authors: Goldman Nathan , Lampenius Niklas , Radhakrishnan Suresh , Stenzel Arthur , de Almeida Jose Elias Feres
Published: September 2023

The IRS administers tax laws enacted by Congress. As part of the IRS's duties, they often consider taxpayers' financial statements to help ensure accurate tax reporting and payments. We posit that enhanced financial statement disclosures of tax information under FASB Interpretation Number 48 (FIN 48) lead to more IRS scrutiny and alter the incentives for corporate innovation. Using patent applications as a measure of corporate innovation, we employ a difference‐in‐differences research design with publicly listed US firms as the treatment group and privately held US firms not subject to the disclosure requirements as the control group. We find robust evidence that, following the onset of FIN 48, the number of patent applications by publicly listed firms decreased between 15.4% and 24.3% relative to private firms. This decline in patent applications is attributable to incremental innovation, suggesting that firms lower innovation related to projects with tax benefits that are more likely to be scrutinized by the taxing authorities. These findings suggest that there are real effects of IRS scrutiny and, in particular, real effects of tax disclosures under FIN 48 on corporate innovation.
Factors to be considered as part of a holistic assessment for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A scoping review
Authors: Reid Natasha , Kent Nykola , Hewlett Nicole , Bagley Kerryn , Tsang Tracey W. , Goldsbury Sarah , Williams Robyn , Akison Lisa , Holland Lorelle , Vanderpeet Chelsea , Doyle Michael , Boaden Nirosha , Hayes Nicole
Published: September 2023

We undertook a scoping review to identify the factors outside of current fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) diagnostic criteria to be considered as part of a holistic assessment process. This included physical, social, cultural, mental health and wellbeing factors to inform targeted recommendations and supports to improve outcomes for individuals with FASD. Evidence from this review will be used to inform the revision of the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD. Six electronic databases were searched. Studies were eligible if they included factors outside of the diagnostic criteria that cover dysmorphology, growth restriction, neurodevelopmental impairments. Data charting and content analysis were performed to synthesize the results. One hundred twenty‐one studies were included that spanned 12 key areas These included physical health, sleep, adverse postnatal experiences, substance use/other risk‐taking behaviors, contact with the criminal justice system, mental health, First Nations cultural considerations, transition to adult roles, involvement with the out‐of‐home care system, feeding and eating, strengths/interests/external resources and incontinence. Areas to be considered as part of a holistic assessment and diagnostic process spanned individual, family, and system level factors. Results provide guidance for clinicians on the wide range of factors that could influence long‐term health, development, and wellbeing for individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD. In practice, this guidance can be used to inform an individualized assessment process to facilitate tailored recommendations and supports to best meet the complex needs of individuals living with FASD and their families.
Sex differences in endocannabinoid tone in a pilot study of cannabis use disorder and acute cannabis abstinence
Authors: Martin Erin L. , Baker Nathaniel L. , Sempio Cristina , Christians Uwe , Klawitter Jost , McRae‐Clark Aimee L.
Published: September 2023

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) presents differently in men and women, particularly in symptoms of cannabis withdrawal. Novel pharmacotherapeutic interventions for CUD, such as those that target the endocannabinoid (eCB) system, must be developed in a manner consistent with these sex differences. The present pilot study sought to prospectively assess sex differences in cannabis withdrawal in a small sample of adults with moderate‐to‐severe CUD and to determine if withdrawal was associated with peripheral eCB and eCB congener tone. Men and women (n = 5/sex) completed 2 weeks of study participation separated by 1 month; in the latter week, participants abstained from cannabis use. Each week, participants attended in‐person laboratory visits during which blood was drawn repeatedly to assess plasma eCB and eCB congener tone. Participants also completed multiple daily ambulatory assessments to assess cannabis use and withdrawal symptoms. As anticipated, women reported a greater increase in withdrawal symptoms during the abstinent week [Δ = 9.4 (SE = 1.1); p < 0.001] than men [Δ = 1.2 (SE = 1.2); p = 0.35]. Sex differences in levels of the eCB N‐arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA), as well as the eCB congeners stearoylethanolamide (SEA) and linoleylethanolamide (LEA), were evident during abstinence at the morning time point only (p's < 0.05). LEA was associated with withdrawal symptom expression in both sexes [β = 0.16 (SE = 0.09)] and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) [β = 0.22 (SE = 0.13)] and 2‐arachidonoylglycerol (2‐AG) [β = 0.32 (SE = 0.15)] were associated with withdrawal symptoms in women only. Pharmacotherapeutic development for CUD should consider evident sex differences in eCB and eCB congener tone during abstinence and their associations with cannabis withdrawal, as eCB‐based interventions may produce differential effects by sex.
Clinical management of external cervical resorption: A systematic review
Authors: Bardini Giulia , Orrù Cristiano , Ideo Francesca , Nagendrababu Venkateshbabu , Dummer Paul , Cotti Elisabetta
Published: September 2023

This review investigated whether any therapeutic options influenced the outcome of treatment for teeth with external cervical resorption. Out of 870 articles identified by an electronic search, 60 clinical case reports and six case series were included. No randomised clinical trials were found. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute's tools. External surgical intervention was the preferred method of accessing the lesions. Removal of resorptive tissue was most often achieved mechanically. Bioactive endodontic cements were the preferred materials for restoring teeth. The outcome measures were based on clinical and radiographic parameters. Of the cases included in the review, no specific treatment approach had a superior outcome in relation to Heithersay's classification. Furthermore, due to the absence of randomised clinical trials, and the low level of evidence associated with case reports/case series, it was not possible to define the optimum clinical treatment for external cervical resorption.
Eosinophils—from cradle to grave
Authors: Jesenak Milos , Diamant Zuzana , Simon Dagmar , Tufvesson Ellen , Seys Sven F. , Mukherjee Manali , Lacy Paige , Vijverberg Susanne , Slisz Tomas , Sediva Anna , Simon Hans‐Uwe , Striz Ilja , Plevkova Jana , Schwarze Jurgen , Kosturiak Radovan , Alexis Neil E. , Untersmayr Eva , Vasakova Martina Koziar , Knol Edward , Koenderman Leo
Published: September 2023

Over the past years, eosinophils have become a focus of scientific interest, especially in the context of their recently uncovered functions (e.g. antiviral, anti‐inflammatory, regulatory). These versatile cells display both beneficial and detrimental activities under various physiological and pathological conditions. Eosinophils are involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases which can be classified into primary (clonal) and secondary (reactive) disorders and idiopathic (hyper)eosinophilic syndromes. Depending on the biological specimen, the eosinophil count in different body compartments may serve as a biomarker reflecting the underlying pathophysiology and/or activity of distinct diseases and as a therapy‐driving (predictive) and monitoring tool. Personalized selection of an appropriate therapeutic strategy directly or indirectly targeting the increased number and/or activity of eosinophils should be based on the understanding of eosinophil homeostasis including their interactions with other immune and non‐immune cells within different body compartments. Hence, restoring as well as maintaining homeostasis within an individual's eosinophil pool is a goal of both specific and non‐specific eosinophil‐targeting therapies. Despite the overall favourable safety profile of the currently available anti‐eosinophil biologics, the effect of eosinophil depletion should be monitored from the perspective of possible unwanted consequences.
Intense pulsed light treatment in meibomian gland dysfunction: Past, present, and future
Authors: Fineide Fredrik , Magnø Morten S. , Khan Ayyad Zartasht , Chen Xiangjun , Vehof Jelle , Utheim Tor P.
Published: September 2023

Dry eye disease is a highly prevalent condition, which can substantially impair quality of life, work productivity, and vision. It is considered an inflammatory disease and the most common cause is meibomian gland dysfunction. Despite many treatment alternatives being available, including artificial tears, warm compresses, antibiotics, and anti‐inflammatory therapy, lasting treatment effects are rare. Over the last two decades, intense pulsed light therapy, after being well established in dermatology, has been gradually introduced to the field of ophthalmology to treat meibomian gland dysfunction. The purpose of the current article is to critically review the clinical studies assessing the use of intense pulsed light to treat meibomian gland dysfunction published to date. The vast majority of the included studies demonstrated improved symptoms and signs, although the degree of efficacy and its duration varied greatly depending on concomitant treatment, number of treatment sessions, and other factors. Several possible mechanisms of action concerning disease propagation and treatment efficacy are discussed. There is still a need for larger, randomised, longitudinal studies to define the most efficacious treatment regime and to predict which patients may benefit the most. More studies are needed on implementing biochemical analyses and machine learning algorithms. Such studies may prove beneficial in predicting treatment effects, defining optimal treatment regimens, and furthering our understanding of the mechanisms of action.
Editorial: Less is more for colorectal cancer diagnosis – FIT leads the way
Authors: Logan Robert P. H. , Hamilton William
Published: September 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Crooks et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17632
Letter: Muscle thickness measurement using ultrasound—A step closer to the use of body composition analysis in the management of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Tassone Daniel , Hartley Imogen , Ding Nik Sheng
Published: September 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Nguyen et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17607
Does global value chain participation improve firm productivity? A study of selectedASEANdeveloping countries
Authors: Baek Youngmin , Urata Shujiro
Published: September 2023

This paper examines the impact of local firms’ participation in global value chains (GVCs) on productivity by considering three different patterns of GVC participation. We conducted a DID‐PSM estimation involving three countries, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, and 17 manufacturing sectors in 2009 and 2015 in a panel framework. We found an endogenous relationship between firm productivity and GVC participation: firms that enter GVCs have high productivity before participating in the GVCs (selection effect), and only Indonesian firms that entered GVCs had high productivity growth after joining GVCs (learning effect). These two effects were only found for firms that both import intermediate goods and export output and not for firms that only either import or export. We also found that indirect exporting does not improve a local firm's productivity. Several recommendations are made to help firms and governments facilitate the participation of firms in GVCs.
Understanding the link between subsidiary CEOs and corporate social responsibility in emerging markets: Moderating role of social capital
Authors: Ferraris Alberto , Golgeci Ismail , Arslan Ahmad , Santoro Gabriele
Published: September 2023

This paper analyzes the interlink among managerial experience, capabilities, and social capital in relation to corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of multinational enterprises' (MNEs) subsidiaries in an emerging market context. Based on the empirical sample of 104 subsidiaries of 28 Italian MNEs operating in India, we found that CEO managerial capabilities are positively associated with CSR activities. However, interestingly, our findings also show that subsidiary CEO (managerial) experience is negatively associated with CSR activities in emerging markets. Therefore, our study is one of the few that highlights the negative repercussions of experience in the context of CSR activities in emerging markets. Moreover, our findings show that while social capital alleviates the negative influences of CEO experience on CSR activities, it does not enhance the role of CEO managerial capabilities in CSR activities. As such, our study contributes to research on business ethics with a focus on sustainable development in business.
Blinatumomab differentially modulates peripheral blood and bone marrow immune cell repertoire: A Campus ALL study
Authors: Ocadlikova Darina , Lussana Federico , Fracchiolla Nicola , Bonifacio Massimiliano , Santoro Lidia , Delia Mario , Chiaretti Sabina , Pasciolla Crescenza , Cignetti Alessandro , Forghieri Fabio , Grimaldi Francesco , Corradi Giulia , Zannoni Letizia , De Propris Stefania , Borleri Gian Maria , Tanasi Ilaria , Vadakekolathu Jayakumar , Rutella Sergio , Guarini Anna Rita , Foà Robin , Curti Antonio ,   the Campus ALL
Published: September 2023

Blinatumomab is the first bi‐specific T‐cell engager approved for relapsed or refractory B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B‐ALL). Despite remarkable clinical results, the effects of blinatumomab on the host immune cell repertoire are not fully elucidated. In the present study, we characterized the peripheral blood (PB) and, for the first time, the bone marrow (BM) immune cell repertoire upon blinatumomab treatment. Twenty‐nine patients with B‐ALL received blinatumomab according to clinical practice. Deep multiparametric flow cytometry was used to characterize lymphoid subsets during the first treatment cycle. Blinatumomab induced a transient redistribution of PB effector T‐cell subsets and Treg cells with a persistent increase in cytotoxic NK cells, which was associated with a transient upregulation of immune checkpoint receptors on PB CD4 and CD8 T‐cell subpopulations and of CD39 expression on suppressive Treg cells. Of note, BM immune T‐cell subsets showed a broader post‐treatment subversion, including the modulation of markers associated with a T‐cell‐exhausted phenotype. In conclusion, our study indicates that blinatumomab differentially modulates the PB and BM immune cell repertoire, which may have relevant clinical implications in the therapeutic setting.
Navigating entangled terrain: The Supreme Court's impact and the dismissal powers of human rights tribunals
Authors: Said David
Published: September 2023

The human rights justice system is a politically and legally complex area to navigate with legislative changes and judicial decisions shaping the administration and governance of human rights policies. This article provides a comprehensive examination of the complexities and intricacies of this system by measuring the impact of judicial rulings on the discretionary decision‐making of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (HRTO). The impact of the Supreme Court of Canada's relevant jurisprudence inFigliolaandPenneron the HRTO's discretionary powers to dismiss claims pursuant to section 45.1 of the Ontario Human Rights Code is measured by examining the outcomes of decisions made by the Tribunal. The article presents new empirical data on all early dismissal decisions (N = 1479) from 2008 to 2021 and demonstrates the effects of the Supreme Court's rulings inFigliolaandPenner. The findings in this article reveal that bothFigliolaandPennerhad significant impacts on the Tribunal's discretionary decision‐making powers.
YTHDF2 promotes gallbladder cancer progression and gemcitabine resistance via m6A‐dependent DAPK3 degradation
Authors: Bai Xuesong , Chen Jiemin , Zhang Wenqin , Zhou Shengnan , Dong Liangbo , Huang Jianhao , He Xiaodong
Published: September 2023

N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal modification in eukaryotic RNA and involved in the carcinogenesis of various malignancies. However, the functions and mechanisms of m6A in gallbladder cancer (GBC) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role and underlying mechanism of the RNA‐binding protein YT521‐B homology domain‐containing family protein 2 (YTHDF2), an m6A reader, in GBC. Herein, we detected that YTHDF2 was remarkably upregulated in GBC tissues compared to normal gallbladder tissues. Functionally, YTHDF2 overexpression promoted the proliferation, tumor growth, migration, and invasion of GBC cells while inhibiting the apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, YTHDF2 knockdown induced opposite results. Mechanistically, we further investigated the underlying mechanism by integrating RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP‐seq), m6A‐modified RIP‐seq, and RNA sequencing, which revealed that death‐associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK3) is a direct target of YTHDF2. YTHDF2 binds to the 3′‐UTR of DAPK3 mRNA and facilitates its degradation in an m6A‐dependent manner. DAPK3 inhibition restores the tumor‐suppressive phenotype induced by YTHDF2 deficiency. Moreover, the YTHDF2/DAPK3 axis induces the resistance of GBC cells to gemcitabine. In conclusion, we reveal the oncogenic role of YTHDF2 in GBC, demonstrating that YTHDF2 increases the mRNA degradation of the tumor suppressor DAPK3 in an m6A‐dependent way, which promotes GBC progression and desensitizes GBC cells to gemcitabine. Our findings provide novel insights into potential therapeutic strategies for GBC.
High‐dose rate endorectal brachytherapy for rectal cancer: A state‐of‐the‐art review
Authors: Cheng Tian , Peng Ran , Qu Ang , Wang Hao
Published: September 2023

Rectal cancer is a common malignancy that requires multidisciplinary treatment. By utilizing the dose–response relationship in rectal cancer radiotherapy, increasing the radiotherapy dose can improve clinical complete remission rates. High‐dose rate endorectal brachytherapy (HDREBT) is a novel technique that delivers high doses of radiotherapy directly to the tumor via an endorectal applicator, sparing the adjacent normal tissues from excessive radiation exposure. HDREBT includes contact X‐ray brachytherapy and high‐dose‐rate intracavitary brachytherapy. We introduce the latest developments in applicators and imaging techniques for HDREBT in rectal cancer and summarize the current evidence on the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of HDREBT as a neoadjuvant, definitive, or palliative treatment option for all stages of rectal cancer patients. We also discuss the potential advantages and challenges of HDREBT in achieving organ preservation and improving the quality of life of rectal cancer patients. HDREBT has shown promising results in achieving high complete response rates, enabling nonoperative management, improving organ preservation rates, and providing effective palliation in rectal cancer patients. More studies are needed to optimize its dose and fractionation schemes in different clinical scenarios.
Anthropogenic disturbance driving population decline of a dominant tree in East Asia evergreen broadleaved forests over the last 11,000 years
Authors: Qin Sheng‐Yuan , Zuo Zheng‐Yu , Xu Shuang‐Xiu , Liu Jie , Yang Feng‐Mao , Luo Ya‐Huang , Ye Jun‐Wei , Zhao Yao , Rong Jun , Liu Bing , Ma Peng‐Fei , Li De‐Zhu
Published: September 2023

Current biodiversity loss is generally considered to have been caused by anthropogenic disturbance, but it is unclear when anthropogenic activities began to affect biodiversity loss. One hypothesis suggests it began with the Industrial Revolution, whereas others propose that anthropogenic disturbance has been associated with biodiversity decline since the early Holocene. To test these hypotheses, we examined the unique vegetation of evergreen broadleaved forests (EBLFs) in East Asia, where humans have affected landscapes since the early Holocene. We adopted a genomic approach to infer the demographic history of a dominant tree (Litsea elongata) of EBLFs. We used Holocene temperature and anthropogenic disturbance factors to calculate the correlation between these variables and the historical effective population size of L. elongata with Spearman statistics and integrated the maximum‐entropy niche model to determine the impact of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance on fluctuation in its effective population size. We identified 9 well‐defined geographic clades for the populations of L. elongata. Based on the estimated historical population sizes of these clades, all the populations contracted, indicating persistent population decline over the last 11,000 years. Demographic history of L. elongata and human population change, change in cropland use, and change in irrigated rice area were significantly negatively correlated, whereas climate change in the Holocene was not correlated with demographic history. Our results support the early human impact hypothesis and provide comprehensive evidence that early anthropogenic disturbance may contribute to the current biodiversity crisis in East Asia.