bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supramolecular architectures in multicomponent crystals of imidazole-based drugs and trithiocyanuric acid
Authors: Ben Anna , Hoelm Marta , Chęcińska Lilianna
Published: July 2024

The structures of three multicomponent crystals formed with imidazole-based drugs, namely metronidazole, ketoconazole and miconazole, in conjunction with trithiocyanuric acid are characterized. Each of the obtained adducts represents a different category of crystalline molecular forms: a cocrystal, a salt and a cocrystal of salt. The structural analysis revealed that in all cases, the N—H...N hydrogen bond is responsible for the formation of acid–base pairs, regardless of whether proton transfer occurs or not, and these molecular pairs are combined to form unique supramolecular motifs by centrosymmetric N—H...S interactions between acid molecules. The complex intermolecular forces acting in characteristic patterns are discussed from the geometric and energetic perspectives, involving Hirshfeld surface analysis, pairwise energy estimation, and natural bond orbital calculations.
Unpacking the financial attributes of blue-chip non-fungible tokens (NFTs) against traditional and digital assets
Authors: Havidz Shinta Amalina Hazrati , Santoso Maria Divina , Alexander Theodore , Caroline Caroline
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to identify the financial attributes of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as safe havens, hedges or diversifiers against traditional (stock indices, foreign exchange, gold and government bonds) and digital (Bitcoin and Ethereum) assets.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantile via moments was utilized, and the data spanned from 20 September 2021 to 31 January 2022. The authors incorporated feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) and difference-generalized method of moments (diff-GMM) as the robustness check.

Findings

Overall, NFTs offer strongly safe havens, hedging and diversifier attributes against cryptocurrencies, while weak properties for traditional assets. The specific findings are: (1) Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) serves as a strong hedge for Bitcoin during market rise; (2) Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) serves as a strong safe haven against Bitcoin during market bull; (3) Crypto punk (CP) provides strong safe havens properties for gold during market turmoil while serving as a strong hedge against gold and Bitcoin on average and (4) the three blue-chip NFTs are powered by Ethereum blockchain, thus serving as a diversifier against Ethereum.

Practical implications

Bitcoin investors are suggested to include NFTs in their investment portfolio to mitigate the losses when Bitcoin falls. Meanwhile, the inclusion of crypto punk is advised for risk-averse investors who invest in gold. NFTs are powered by the Ethereum blockchain, indicating co-movement among them and thus, serve as diversifiers. Policymakers and regulators are suggested to watch closely over NFTs' great development and restructure the existing policies and thus, stabilization of asset markets can be achieved.

Originality/value

The originality aspects are: (1) focusing on the three blue-chip NFTs (i.e. BAYC, MAYC and CP) that are categorized as the largest NFTs by floor market capitalization; (2) testing the NFT attributes (safe havens, hedges or diversifiers) against traditional and digital assets, a.k.a., cryptocurrencies and (3) panel setting on 14 countries with the highest NFT users.
Mediating impact of integrated reporting on audit quality and market reactions in Africa: evidence from South Africa
Authors: Bagonza Amon , Chen Yan , Rech Frederik
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating impact of integrated reporting on the relationship between audit quality and market reactions in Africa using South Africa as a sample.

Design/methodology/approach

The study sample size consists of 119 firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The study was carried out for the period 2011–2019. Market reactions were proxy by share price and adjusted market returns. The authors controlled for the effects of market reactions by using other firm specifics like operating income, assets, leverage and return on assets and thereafter carried out robustness checks included under additional analysis.

Findings

Results from the study showed that integrated reporting partially mediates the relationship between audit quality and market reactions. Moreover, audit quality has a positive significant impact on market reactions in the form of the share price. The results were obtained in addition to a robustness check using adjusted market returns as a proxy for market reactions.

Practical implications

Regulators and standard setters in other countries should make integrated reporting mandatory. This study not only informs the public and investors about the organization’s business performance but also reveals auditor assurances that enchase market confidence in the company.

Social implications

Exploring the mediating impact of integrated reporting on the relationship between audit quality and market reactions yields valuable insights. Integrated reporting, which combines financial and non-financial information, influences how investors perceive and react to audit quality. Understanding this interplay could shed light on the broader implications for corporate transparency and accountability.

Originality/value

The authors are the first to conduct such a study in an emerging economy. Hence, the authors used integrated reporting as a new variable in the study of audit quality and market reactions. Furthermore, the authors used adjusted market returns under robustness checks to check if audit quality has an impact on market reactions.
Unlocking organizational success in the hotel industry: the power of social exchange in HR practices
Authors: Khassawneh Osama , Mohammad Tamara , Bourini Islam , Behery Mohamed
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of specific human resources (HR) practices (leadership, employee relations, employee safety, rewards and incentives and career opportunities) on organizational performance in the context of the Middle Eastern market, with a specific focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hotel sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive research methodology was used for this study. Two distinct questionnaires were crafted: one targeting 338 hotel employees who completed the HR practices survey, and the other for 109 general hotel managers who completed the organizational performance survey. All respondents were from five-star hotel establishments in the UAE. To validate the hypotheses, a multidimensional approach was adopted. This paper first applied factor analysis to understand correlations and groupings among the factors. This paper then undertook validity assessment by examining factor loadings, average variance extracted and the reliability values for all parameters. Discriminant validity was also carefully evaluated.

Findings

The results found that there is a direct correlation between leadership, employee relations and career opportunities, with boosted organizational performance. Contrary to prevalent assumptions, the data showed no discernible link between employee safety, rewards and incentives and the actual performance of organizations. The results highlight the crucial role of social exchange in interpreting the indirect relationship between HR practices and organizational performance. This insight offers a fresh perspective on the often-discussed 'black box' in HR research.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study lies in its intricate exploration of human resource management practices within a region experiencing swift socioeconomic transformations due to factors such as the significant expatriate presence and economic diversification. By underlining the significance of social exchange as a mediating factor, this research significantly contributes to the ongoing dialogue on HR-performance relationships, offering insights for both theoretical and practical applications in HR activities formulation in the context of the UAE.
Marine information-seeking behaviours and AI chatbot impact on information discovery
Authors: Subaveerapandiyan A. , Vijay Kumar R. , Prabhu S.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This research investigates students’ information-seeking behaviours at the Indian Maritime University (IMU) and assesses the impact of AI chatbots on their marine science knowledge and awareness. The study aims to provide insights into the role of AI-driven solutions in enhancing knowledge sharing and the challenges faced in using AI tools for marine information retrieval.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a stratified random sampling method, encompassing 152 respondents from IMU’s B.Sc. in Nautical Science and B. Tech in Marine Engineering programs. Data collection involved a structured electronic survey questionnaire. The analysis encompassed descriptive statistics using SPSS.

Findings

Information needs were met through diverse channels, with 57.9% of respondents using AI-driven chatbots for marine information retrieval. AI significantly recommended research papers (61.8%). The chatbot positively impacted marine science awareness and knowledge, with a mean satisfaction rating of approximately 3.3. Challenges included insufficient access to AI tools, data privacy concerns and accuracy issues.

Originality/value

This study contributes original insights into the information-seeking behaviours of marine students at IMU and the impact of AI chatbots on their knowledge and awareness. It highlights the multifaceted nature of marine information retrieval, the effectiveness of AI-driven solutions in enhancing knowledge sharing and the challenges that need to be addressed for the broader adoption of AI tools in this context.
Fostering teachers’ readiness for leadership roles: the dynamic interplay among positive school culture, affective-identity motivation to lead and teacher optimism
Authors: Yang Min , Thien Lei Mee
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study delves into the less-explored domain of teachers’ readiness for leadership roles by investigating the direct and indirect relationships between positive school culture and teachers' readiness for leadership roles through affective-identity motivation to lead, and teacher optimism.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed partial least squares structural equation modelling (WPLS-SEM) for data analysis. The data were gathered from 424 elementary school teachers who do not hold any leadership positions in Xi’an, China. A total of 391 samples were used after sampling weight adjustments.

Findings

There is a significant and positive direct relationship between positive school culture and teachers’ readiness for leadership roles. Affective-identity motivation to lead and teacher optimism emerged as significant mediators in this dynamic.

Practical implications

This study complements and expands on the study of the relationship between positive school culture, affective-identity motivation to lead, teacher optimism and teachers' readiness for leadership role. This research has established a theoretical framework for school stakeholders to cultivate future teacher leaders.

Originality/value

These findings provide valuable theoretical insights into educational leadership literature and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing teachers in assuming leadership roles, particularly in the context of Asian societies.
Stakeholder pressure and SMEs sustainability information disclosures: why perceived benefits and sustainability knowledge matter
Authors: Appiah-Kubi Elias
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Sustainability research has become important than ever, due to the visible effects of business operations on the environment, and the increasing green consciousness among the various stakeholder groups. These stakeholder groups mount pressure on organizations, to inculcate sustainable practices in their operations. In light of the stakeholder-resource-based view, this paper aims to examine the direct effect of stakeholder pressure on sustainability information disclosures. The mediation effect of perceived benefits in the nexus amidst stakeholder pressure and sustainability information disclosures was also assessed. Lastly, the paper assessed the moderation effect of sustainability knowledge in the nexus between perceived benefits and sustainability information disclosures.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is quantitative in nature. Structured questionnaire was deployed as the data collection tool. Small and Medium Enterprises in Ghana formed the population. Data set from 258 Ghanaian small and medium enterprises was analyzed by the use of structural equation modeling.

Findings

Contrary to expectation, the study revealed that the effect of stakeholder pressure on sustainability information disclosures is positive, but statistically insignificant. The nexus between stakeholder pressure and sustainability information disclosures was revealed to be fully mediated by perceived benefits. Lastly, sustainability knowledge was revealed to positively moderate the relationship amidst perceived benefits and sustainability information disclosures.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to sustainability literature by demonstrating how stakeholder pressure influences sustainability information disclosures in the context of small and medium enterprises in an emerging economy.
Readers' advisory vs reference: a difference of stance
Authors: Lawrence E.E. , Sharpe Virginia
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine how we ought to distinguish between reference and readers' advisory (RA) service, given the latter’s turn toward a whole collection approach. In other words, the paper answers this question: If both reference and RA librarians aim to meet patrons’ information needs and may theoretically do so using the same materials, then how are we to differentiate the two services conceptually?

Design/methodology/approach

In this conceptual paper, we posit that we can distinguish between RA and reference using Louise Rosenblatt’s theory of the aesthetic transaction. With this theory in hand, we can redefine the service distinction in terms of the stance – aesthetic or efferent – that the patron expects to take toward the material they seek.

Findings

On our account, the reader’s desired stance becomes a kind of hermeneutical lens through which a library worker may productively evaluate plausible pathways and materials. An aesthetic lens is characteristic of RA; it makes features of potential aesthetic transactions between a particular reader and a particular text (or genre or author’s oeuvre) salient.

Originality/value

The proposed account constitutes a novel application of Rosenblattian response theory, one that grounds and refines the going view that RA’s proper focus is on supporting a particular sort of experience rather than providing particular sorts of texts. This theoretical emendation also better aligns the service distinction with contemporary conceptualizations of RA as a “whole collection” service. Important practical and philosophical implications follow from the new account.
What drives the price behavior of US sustainable stocks?
Authors: Ahmed Walid M.A.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the key drivers of US sustainable stock price movements in both the short and long term, deploying a rich collection of variables corresponding to green finance, investor attention and sentiment, market fear and uncertainty, macroeconomic variables, common market risk factors, commodity markets and the carbon emission market.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is based on two main methodologies. First, the elastic net penalized regression is utilized to select the factors most influential on the price formation of sustainable stocks. Second, short- and long-run dynamics of the chosen factors are examined using the dynamic simulations of the autoregressive distributed lag (DYNARDL) model.

Findings

Of 32 candidate variables, the elastic net chooses US renewable energy, European sustainable stock market, EU ETS emission allowances, public attention to sustainable finance, gold and European renewable energy as the most contributing factors to the price behavior of sustainable stocks. The DYNARDL estimation results reveal that US renewable energy, European sustainable stock market and EU ETS emission allowances are important determinants in the short and long term, while public attention (European renewable energy) tends to affect sustainable stock prices only in the short (long) run.

Practical implications

The corresponding short- and long-run effects of US renewable energy, EU ETS emission allowances and European sustainable stocks on US sustainable stock prices should induce policymakers to keep the price behavior of these factors under systematic review. The formulation of policy measures could serve to safeguard the sustainable stock market from the price vagaries in these influential markets.

Originality/value

Relevant literature often focuses on the reaction of sustainable stocks to mainstream assets and risk proxies, limiting analysis to a few factors and providing an incomplete understanding of the drivers behind sustainable stock prices. More comprehensive research is needed due to the lack of studies on the determinants of sustainable stock prices and the growing global demand for these investments. This paper aims to address this gap by examining the potential explanatory power of 32 candidate factors representing key players in the global economic and financial landscape.
Model selection for long-term load forecasting under uncertainty
Authors: Thangjam Aditya , Jaipuria Sanjita , Dadabada Pradeep Kumar
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a systematic model selection procedure for long-term load forecasting (LTLF) for ex-ante and ex-post cases considering uncertainty in exogenous predictors.

Design/methodology/approach

The different variants of regression models, namely, Polynomial Regression (PR), Generalised Additive Model (GAM), Quantile Polynomial Regression (QPR) and Quantile Spline Regression (QSR), incorporating uncertainty in exogenous predictors like population, Real Gross State Product (RGSP) and Real Per Capita Income (RPCI), temperature and indicators of breakpoints and calendar effects, are considered for LTLF. Initially, the Backward Feature Elimination procedure is used to identify the optimal set of predictors for LTLF. Then, the consistency in model accuracies is evaluated using point and probabilistic forecast error metrics for ex-ante and ex-post cases.

Findings

From this study, it is found PR model outperformed in ex-ante condition, while QPR model outperformed in ex-post condition. Further, QPR model performed consistently across validation and testing periods. Overall, QPR model excelled in capturing uncertainty in exogenous predictors, thereby reducing over-forecast error and risk of overinvestment.

Research limitations/implications

These findings can help utilities to align model selection strategies with their risk tolerance.

Originality/value

To propose the systematic model selection procedure in this study, the consistent performance of PR, GAM, QPR and QSR models are evaluated using point forecast accuracy metrics Mean Absolute Percentage Error, Root Mean Squared Error and probabilistic forecast accuracy metric Pinball Score for ex-ante and ex-post cases considering uncertainty in the considered exogenous predictors such as RGSP, RPCI, population and temperature.
The impact of sensory modulation in acute mental health units: an organisational case study analysis
Authors: Azuela Gilbert , Sutton Daniel , Van Kessel Kirsten
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Sensory modulation intervention involves using calming and grounding sensory stimuli to support coping with distress and intense emotions. Evaluating the impact of sensory modulation is challenging in inpatient settings due to the numerous variables influencing outcomes in ward environments. This study aims to determine the impact of sensory modulation across all organisational levels including service users, staff confidence and attitudes, ward climate and seclusion events.

Design/methodology/approach

Organisational case studies were conducted in two Aotearoa New Zealand inpatient mental health services, using qualitative and quantitative data to explore the effects of a sensory modulation programme.

Findings

Results showed that sensory modulation enhanced staff knowledge and confidence in fostering therapeutic relationships and reducing restrictive practices, positively impacted ward climate and provided service users with sensory strategies to use in everyday life.

Practical implications

The findings captured the complexity of implementation and impact of sensory modulation programmes at individual, group and organisational levels. It is important to recognise the influencing factors and impact of sensory modulation across all levels of service delivery.

Originality/value

Organisational case study methodology offered a unique approach to evaluating the impact of sensory modulation within inpatient mental health services. Data analysis suggests that in addition to managing acute service user distress, sensory modulation impacts broader staff, team and service level outcomes.
Quality assurance of science and technology universities in Bangladesh: a catalyst for sustainable employment during the 4IR
Authors: Alam Md Jahangir , Ogawa Keiichi , Ahsan Abu Hossain Muhammad
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to report the quality of Bangladesh's science and technology universities (STUs) in ensuring sustainable employment of graduates during the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) by assessing their vigilance in skill development activities and exploring students’ perspectives on the university.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used mixed methods: a close-ended five-point Likert scale questionnaire to understand students’ perspectives and a thematic analysis of the interviews of students, faculties, policymakers and relevant stakeholders. The data was collected through a random sampling method where 1,000 university students took part in the quantitative analysis along with other respondents for the qualitative portion. The analysis was done with a 99% confidence level and a 4.5% margin of error.

Findings

Bangladesh's STUs still have a long way to go to ensure quality education and generate sustainable employment for their graduates. The universities' preparation to comprehend the 4IR is not at the expected level. In addition, despite students' favourable perception of universities as providers of qualified labour, there is a significant mismatch between supply and demand.

Research limitations/implications

This research has some limitations regarding time and resources. Due to the limited number of responses from a few universities, this study's findings might only apply to some of the STUs of other countries. This study provided several recommendations for providing quality education to the STUs of Bangladesh.

Practical implications

The findings of this study indicate that there is still a crucial gap between the initiatives of STUs and the employment market, which prevents graduates from offering the necessary skills to achieve sustainable employment. The findings also support the idea of significant changes in the approach of these universities to address the mentioned issues.

Social implications

This study suggests collaboration among social actors, relevant stakeholders, STU authorities, education experts and government officials to ensure a demand-based curriculum for the students. The relevant stakeholders should come forward to ensure advanced technologies and internet connectivity in the STUs.

Originality/value

The data set used in this study is significantly large and varies in the number of institutions, departments and socioeconomic backgrounds of the students, faculties, policymakers and various stakeholders. Furthermore, the capacity of scientific and technology institutions to guarantee sustainable employment through quality assurance in education has also not been recently evaluated in Bangladesh.
A proposal for a balanced scorecard for the water utilities sector to address the United Nations sustainable development goals
Authors: Saraiva Helena I.B. , Alves Maria do Céu , Gabriel Vítor M.S. , Chinthana Kuruppu Sanjaya
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the technical, social and moral aspects of accounting through the implementation of a novel balanced scorecard (BSC) that addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation – within the Portuguese water utilities sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel research design is adopted, using actor network theory (ANT) as a broad approach to frame the study. ANT emphasizes the importance of ever-evolving networks of relationships and how concepts such as the BSC are just as important in structuring social practice. A set of expert interviews was conducted with stakeholders in the water utilities sector in Portugal, which led to the iterative development of a context-relevant BSC proposal and associated indicators.

Findings

A novel BSC architecture to achieve UN SDG 6 is proposed through a unique engagement between professionals and academics. The BSC, and the specific definition of indicators for an entire sector (water), contribute to bridging business processes with the common good to improve life and planetary conditions. Ultimately, the study discusses how the technical aspects of accounting can be enhanced to achieve social and moral imperatives. The paper also reflects on the limitations of broadening existing technical practices.

Originality/value

There is a burgeoning literature on how organizations are engaging with the UN SDG agenda. However, there is a dearth of studies on how management control systems are currently addressing, or can potentially contribute to measuring and managing specific UN SDGs such as Clean Water and Sanitation. This study makes a unique contribution to the literature by developing a novel BSC solution to SDG 6 measurement and management using a novel practitioner-led approach. Ultimately, our study highlights how accounting can be broadened to enhance technical practices while also serving a moral and social purpose.
Hotel’s customer empowerment, environmental corporate social responsibility, and online customer value co-creation to attain sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Authors: Badar (Imran) Sarah , Waheed Ajmal , Tanveer Arifa , Fayyaz Hina
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The hotel customers are conscious of the deteriorating environmental conditions and demand for online immersions. Hotels lack an exciting shift in customer behavior for augmented customer re-patronage intention (CRPI) especially in developing countries. This study aims to apply customer-dominant service logic (CDSL) to comprehend customers’ life-sphere contributing to some of the vital United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs). In this essence, CDSL grasps the impact of customer empowerment (CE) and environmental corporate social responsibility (Env CSR) on customer re-patronage intention (C-RPI) with the mediating and moderating effects in Pakistan’s four- and five-star hotels.

Design/methodology/approach

A deductive approach is followed in which an online survey of 400 hotel customers was conducted using purposive and snowball sampling techniques to understand the practice of C-RPI and UN SDGs.

Findings

This study reveals that executing the UN SDGs in the hotel industry eventually boosts CE and Env CSR, further enhancing online customer value cocreation (O-CVCC) resulting in C-RPI. Both CE and Env CSR gain a complimentary/partial mediation by O-CVCC on C-RPI is also reported. Moreover, sensation seeking moderates the relationship between CE and O-CVCC. Yet, customer commitment does not moderate the relationship between O-CVCC and C-RPI.

Originality/value

This study highlights that C-RPI (i.e. SDG 11) enhances when Env CSR is taken care of (i.e. SDG 13), customers are empowered (i.e. SDG 5 and SDG 17) and cocreated online (i.e. SDG 9). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first studies to empirically test the approaches in the hotel industry contributing to SDG 5, 9, 11, 13 and 17.
No slowdown of growing season extension with warming in a permafrost‐affected meadow on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Yan Zhengjie , Wang Tao , Ding Jinzhi , Wang Xiaoyi , Fu Yongshuo H. , Li Juan , Xu Jinfeng , Xu Chaoyi , Jiang Lili , Wang Shiping , He Jinsheng , Piao Shilong
Published: July 2024

The Tibetan Plateau holds the world's largest alpine permafrost and is undergoing an acceleration of warming. Phenological shifts over alpine permafrost in a warmer world have been little studied and are greatly underrepresented in current syntheses.

Here, we conducted seasonal and gradient temperature‐controlled experiments in a permafrost‐affected meadow to evaluate how warming drives shifts in spring and autumn phenology, and associated growing‐season length at both community and species levels.

We found that there is no sign of slowdown in spring advance with warming under a higher year‐around warming treatment, aligning with a future medium warming scenario. Although spring advance led to an advance in autumn senescence according to spring‐only warming experiments, the advance could not offset the delay due to concurrent warming. As a result, year‐around warming significantly delayed autumn senescence, although there was a deceleration in delay with warming under high temperature treatment than under the low one.

This finding can be attributed to the possibility that winter warming is insufficient to reduce chilling accumulation, which would not delay spring phenology and then lead to a non‐slowdown in spring phenological advancement. Taken together, there is no slowdown in an extension of growing season length with warming under a higher year‐around warming treatment, with an increase of length by 9 and 21 days at the end of this century under a CO2 stabilization and medium warming scenarios, respectively.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that a continued growing season extension at least under the medium warming scenario would help permafrost‐affected meadow ecosystems to mitigate permafrost carbon release on the Tibetan Plateau.
Environmental Regulation and Access to Credit
Authors: Dang Viet A. , Gao Ning , Yu Tiancheng
Published: July 2024

We show that climate priorities codified in regulations significantly impact firms’ access to credit, especially long‐term credit, an important financial resource required for achieving business viability and sustainability goals. Following the implementation of a prominent cap‐and‐trade programme aimed at controlling nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the United States (the NOx Budget Trading Program, NBP), manufacturers experienced decreased debt maturity structures, driven by reduced access to long‐maturity debt, but did not alter their use of short‐term debt or trade credit. The NBP's effect on long‐term credit is more pronounced for firms with higher degrees of electricity intensity, financial constraints, information frictions or rollover risk. It ultimately led to deteriorating firm value and operating performance. Increased energy costs and elevated operating leverage explain firms’ reduced access to long‐term credit. Our findings highlight the potential unintended consequences of policy instruments designed to boost a specific aspect of sustainability and the complex nature of managing corporate financial and sustainability goals.
HRM Algorithms: Moderating the Relationship between Chaotic Markets and Strategic Renewal
Authors: Vaillant Yancy , Vendrell‐Herrero Ferran , Bustinza Oscar F. , Xing Yijun
Published: July 2024

HRM algorithms can profoundly impact organizations in the digital economy era. In the face of turbulent and complex market conditions, strategic renewal is regarded as one of the most important organizational mechanisms for dealing with market uncertainty and a turbulent environment. However, the existing research remains elusive about the relationship between market‐level conditions and firm‐level strategic renewal. Our paper addresses this important gap by examining the potential enhancement of agile strategic renewal in high‐uncertainty environments through the implementation of HRM algorithms. Drawing on Chaos Theory, we argue that HRM algorithms have the potential to support the self‐organization capacity of a workforce, supporting better alignment with changing environments. Using covariance‐based structural equation modelling on a survey of over 500 Spanish firms, our findings provide partial support for the modelled hypotheses by showing that the use of HRM algorithms positively moderates the relationship between market turbulence and strategic renewal, but does not appear to moderate the relationship between market complexity and strategic renewal. The study contributes to our understanding of the importance of adopting internal business analytics systems to stimulate agility and align the workforce more effectively with changing environments, but also highlights their less substantive role in deciphering complex external factors.
Involvement of bacteria in the development of fungal infections in the Colorado potato beetle
Authors: Kryukov Vadim Yu. , Kosman Elena , Slepneva Irina , Vorontsova Yana L. , Polenogova Olga , Kazymov Gleb , Alikina Tatyana , Akhanaev Yuriy , Sidorenko Darya , Noskov Yury A. , Krivopalov Anton , Kabilov Marsel R. , Yaroslavtseva Olga
Published: July 2024

Entomopathogenic fungi may interact with insects’ symbiotic bacteria during infection. We hypothesized that topical infection with Beauveria bassiana may alter the microbiota of the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) and that these modifications may alter the course of mycoses. We used a model with two concentrations of conidia: (1) high concentration that causes rapid (acute) pathogenesis with fast mortality followed by bacterial decomposition of insects; (2) lower concentration that leads to prolonged pathogenesis ending in conidiation on cadavers. The fungal infections increased loads of enterobacteria and bacilli on the cuticle surface and in hemolymph and midgut, and the greatest increase was detected during the acute mycosis. By contrast, stronger activation of IMD and JAK–STAT signaling pathways in integuments and fat body was observed during the prolonged mycosis. Relatively stable (nonpathogenic) conditions remained in the midgut during both scenarios of mycosis with slight changes in bacterial communities, the absence of mesh and stat expression, a decrease in reactive oxygen species production, and slight induction of Toll and IMD pathways. Oral administration of antibiotic and predominant CPB bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae, Lactococcus, Pseudomonas) led to minor and mainly antagonistic effects in survival of larvae infected with B. bassiana. We believe that prolonged mycosis is necessary for successful development of the fungus because such pathogenesis allows the host to activate antibacterial reactions. Conversely, after infection with high concentrations of the fungus, the host's resources are insufficient to fully activate antibacterial defenses, and this situation makes successful development of the fungus impossible.
Sources of seasonal water supply forecast uncertainty during snow drought in the Sierra Nevada
Authors: Boardman Elijah N. , Renshaw Carl E. , Shriver Robert K. , Walters Reggie , McGurk Bruce , Painter Thomas H. , Deems Jeffrey S. , Bormann Kat J. , Lewis Gabriel M. , Dethier Evan N. , Harpold Adrian A.
Published: July 2024

Uncertainty attribution in water supply forecasting is crucial to improve forecast skill and increase confidence in seasonal water management planning. We develop a framework to quantify fractional forecast uncertainty and partition it between (1) snowpack quantification methods, (2) variability in post‐forecast precipitation, and (3) runoff model errors. We demonstrate the uncertainty framework with statistical runoff models in the upper Tuolumne and Merced River basins (California, USA) using snow observations at two endmember spatial resolutions: a simple snow pillow index and full‐catchment snow water equivalent (SWE) maps at 50 m resolution from the Airborne Snow Observatories. Bayesian forecast simulations demonstrate a nonlinear decrease in the skill of statistical water supply forecasts during warm snow droughts, when a low fraction of winter precipitation remains as SWE. Forecast skill similarly decreases during dry snow droughts, when winter precipitation is low. During a shift away from snow‐dominance, the uncertainty of forecasts using snow pillow data increases about 1.9 times faster than analogous forecasts using full‐catchment SWE maps in the study area. Replacing the snow pillow index with full‐catchment SWE data reduces statistical forecast uncertainty by 39% on average across all tested climate conditions. Attributing water supply forecast uncertainty to reducible error sources reveals opportunities to improve forecast reliability in a warmer future climate.
From anticipation to action: A RCT on mental imagery exercises in daily life as a motivational amplifier for individuals with depressive symptoms
Authors: Bär Andreas , Heininga Vera E. , Lemmens Lotte H. J. M. , Renner Fritz
Published: July 2024

Encouraging engagement in rewarding or pleasant activities is one of the most important treatment goals for depression. Mental imagery exercises have been shown to increase the motivation for planned behaviour in the lab but it is unclear whether this is also the case in daily life. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of mental imagery exercises on motivation and behaviour in daily life. Participants with depressive symptoms (N = 59) were randomly assigned to a group receiving mental imagery (MI) exercises or a control group receiving relaxation (RE) exercises via study phones. We employed an experience sampling design with 10 assessments per day for 10 days (three days baseline, four days with two exercises per day and three days post‐intervention). Data was analysed using t‐tests and multilevel linear regression analyses. As predicted, MI exercises enhanced motivation and reward anticipation during the intervention phase compared to RE. However, MI did not enhance active behaviour or strengthen the temporal association from reward anticipation (t‐1) to active behaviour (t). Mental imagery exercises can act as a motivational amplifier but its effects on behaviour and real‐life reward processes remain to be elucidated.
Optimizing anticoagulation therapy for in‐hospital patients on direct oral anticoagulants: a single‐centre modified Delphi study
Authors: Capiau Andreas , De Vleeschauwer Justine , De Backer Tine , Gevaert Sofie , Randon Caren , Mehuys Els , Boussery Koen , Somers Annemie
Published: July 2024

Aims

The management of patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) during hospitalization is a common challenge in clinical practice. Although bridging is generally not recommended, too often DOACs are switched to parenteral therapy with low molecular weight heparins. Our objectives were to update a local guideline for perioperative DOAC management and to develop a guideline for the anticoagulation management in non‐surgical patients regarding temporary DOAC discontinuation.

Methods

We executed a two‐step modified Delphi study in a 1000‐bed university hospital in Belgium. The Delphi questionnaires were developed based on a literature review and a telephone survey of prescribers. Two expert panels were established: one dedicated to perioperative DOAC management and the other to DOAC management in non‐surgical patients. Both panels completed two rounds, commencing with an individual and online round, followed by a face‐to‐face group session.

Results

After the two‐round Delphi process, the updated perioperative guideline on DOAC management included reasons for delaying the resumption of DOACs following surgery, such as oral intake not possible, the probability of re‐intervention within 3 days, and insufficient haemostasis (e.g. active clinically significant haematoma, haemorrhagic drains or wounds). Furthermore, a guideline for non‐surgical hospitalized patients was developed, outlining possible reasons for interrupting DOAC therapy. Both guidelines offer clear anticoagulation therapy strategies corresponding to the identified scenarios.

Conclusions

We have updated and developed guidelines for DOAC management in surgical and non‐surgical patients during hospitalization, which aim to support prescribers and to enhance targeted prescription review by hospital pharmacists.
Building evidence on safety of endovascular thrombectomy for patients under anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists
Authors: Gao Li , Sun Xiaowei , Li Peiying
Published: July 2024

A recent study by Brian Mac Grory and colleagues investigated the safety of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) among patients under vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) use within 7 days prior to hospital admission. Through this retrospective, observational cohort study, they found prior VKA use did not increase the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) overall. However, recent VKA use with a presenting international normalized ratio (INR) > 1.7 was associated with a significantly increased risk of sICH. Future large‐scale randomized controlled trials should be conducted to further clarify the effects and feasibility of EVT therapy in ischemic stroke patients under anticoagulation.
Eye of the beholder: Neural synchrony of dynamically changing relations between parent praise and child affect
Authors: Li Ying , Halleck Talia Q. , Evans Laura , Bassuk Paras Bhagwat , de la Paz Leiana , Demir‐Lira Ö. Ece
Published: July 2024

In this study, we aimed to determine the role of parental praise and child affect in the neural processes underlying parent‐child interactions, utilizing functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning. We characterized the dynamic changes in interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) between parents and children (4–6 years old, n = 40 dyads) during a cognitively challenging task. We then examined how changes in parent‐child INS are influenced by parental feedback and child affect. Parent‐child INS showed a quadratic change over time, indicating a decelerated decline during the interaction period. The relationship of parental praise, in the form of positive feedback, to change in INS was contingent upon the child's positive affect during the task. The highest levels of INS were observed when praise was present and child affect was positive. The left temporo‐parietal regions of the child and the right dorsolateral prefrontal and right temporo‐parietal regions of the parent demonstrated the strongest INS. The dynamic change in INS during the interaction was associated with children's independent performance on a standardized test of visuospatial processing. This research, leveraging fNIRS hyperscanning, elucidates the neural dynamics underlying the interaction between parent praise and child positive affect, thereby contributing to our broader understanding of parent‐child dynamics.

Research Highlights

The level of interpersonal neural synchrony between parents and children dynamically varies during a cognitively challenging (tangram) task.

The left temporo‐parietal regions of the child and the right dorsolateral prefrontal and right temporo‐parietal regions of the parent demonstrate the strongest parent‐child neural synchrony.

The relationship between parental praise (positive feedback) and parent‐child neural synchrony is contingent upon child positive affect during the task.

Change in parent‐child neural synchrony relates to children's performance on an independent visuospatial processing measure.
Risk factors of death or chronic renal replacement therapy requirements in patients with thrombotic microangiopathies without ADAMTS‐13 deficiency
Authors: Uriol‐Rivera Miguel G. , Andrade Bernardo López , Bonet Antonio Mas , Mulet Aina Obrador , Ruiz Carmen Ballester , Parraga Leonor Periañez , Lumbreras Javier , Rota José Ignacio Ayestarán , Servalos Mireia Ferreruela , Balaguer Joana Ferrer , Ferreres Lucio Pallares , Valles María Jose Picado , Valero Rosa María Ruíz de Gopegui , Sanchez Susana Tarongi , Martin Ana Garcia , Garcia Juan Rodríguez , Cobo Cristina Gomez , Ramis‐Cabrer Daniel ,   the Son Espases Multidisciplinary Team for the management of Thrombotic Microangiopathy
Published: July 2024

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and multisystem organ dysfunction, is a life‐threatening disease. Patients with TMA who do not exhibit a severe ADAMTS‐13 deficiency (defined as a disintegrin‐like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motif no. 13 activity ≥10%: TMA‐13n) continue to experience elevated mortality rates. This study explores the prognostic indicators for augmented mortality risk or necessitating chronic renal replacement therapy (composite outcome: CO) in TMA‐13n patients. We included 42 TMA‐13n patients from January 2008 to May 2018. Median age of 41 years and 60% were female. At presentation, 62% required dialysis, and 57% warranted intensive care unit admission. CO was observed in 45% of patients, including a 9‐patient mortality subset. Multivariate logistic regression revealed three independent prognostic factors for CO: early administration of eculizumab (median time from hospitalization to eculizumab initiation: 5 days, range 0–19 days; odds ratio [OR], 0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02–0.94), presence of neuroradiological lesions (OR, 6.67; 95% CI, 1.12–39.80), and a PLASMIC score ≤4 (OR, 7.39; 95% CI, 1.18–46.11). In conclusion, TMA‐13n patients exhibit a heightened risk of CO in the presence of low PLASMIC scores and neuroradiological lesions, while early eculizumab therapy was the only protective factor.
A single‐day polychemotherapy regimen with proteasome inhibitor combinations for relapsed/refractory myeloma in the era of novel therapies
Authors: Li Eric Wenlong , Jones Esther , Bryant Christian , King Tracy , Talaulikar Dipti , Ng Jun Yen , Bryant Adam , Ridha Zainab , Doo Nicole Wong , Menzies Anna , Ling Silvia , Ho Shir Jing , Abadir Edward , Vanguru Vinay , Joshua Douglas , Ho P. Joy
Published: July 2024

PCAB (prednisone, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, carmustine) is a single‐day regimen previously used for induction and now in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). We retrospectively analysed the outcomes of 85 patients from five Australian centres. These included 30 patients (35.3%) who received PCAB with one additional agent (bortezomib most frequently). Median age of the patients was 65 years (37–80), with a median of four (1–8) prior lines of therapy. ORR was 37% (CR 4.9%). Median progression free survival and overall survival were 4.4 months (95% CI 3.5–6.7) and 7.4 months (95% CI 6.4–10.2), respectively. Extramedullary disease (EMD) was associated with shorter survival. Grade 3 or 4 cytopenia and febrile neutropenia occurred in 76.2% and 39.1%, respectively, with six (7.1%) treatment‐related mortalities. Median inpatient stay was 3.3 days/28‐day cycle (IQR 0.6–13), and for patients who died, a median of 20.2% of days alive were spent inpatient (IQR 6.4–39.1%). Three patients were successfully bridged to CAR T‐cell therapy using PCAB, despite being penta‐exposed and having EMD. PCAB may be considered as a useful salvage therapy amongst other polychemotherapy regimens in late relapse. Further studies is warranted to investigate and define its role as a bridging therapy to novel therapeutics.