bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legitimacy and women entrepreneurs in masculinised industries: a postfeminist perspective
Authors: Essers Caroline , McAdam Maura , Ossenkop Carolin
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper explores the ways women entrepreneurs in male-dominated industries do identity work in order to gain legitimacy. In particular, we consider such identity work as a process being prompted by their direct environment, while demonstrating the gendered structural power relations in these women’s entrepreneurial contexts. We use a postfeminist lens to show how, in their quest for more legitimacy, they seem to be interpellated by postfeminist discourse.

Design/methodology/approach

We have used a narrative approach to show how women entrepreneurs in masculinised contexts do identity work to acquire legitimacy, and moreover use a postfeminist perspective to reflect on this identity work as to demonstrate how these Dutch businesswomen consider their agency in specific feminist terms within these men-dominated industry environments.

Findings

We present empirical data of ten women entrepreneurs in the Netherlands and how they discursively and subjectively make sense of their surrounding gendered contexts, in order to illustrate how local gender regimes and individual actions may conspire to constrain as well as stimulate these women’s entrepreneurship. By reflecting on three different ways of identity work through a postfeminist lens, we show how these women are interpellated by postfeminist discourses when trying to gain legitimacy.

Research limitations/implications

The rather small sample does not allow us to generalise our findings to the whole population of women entrepreneurs in men-dominated contexts, yet this was not our goal anyway.

Practical implications

Such a reflection might help policy makers and such women themselves realise how, after all, gender inequality is still persistant in the entrepreneurship field and drawing on postfeminism does not necessarily help to support these women entrepreneurs' work–life balance.

Social implications

Our findings underline the importance of a more gender inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem, in which women entrepreneurs in both masculinised ánd feminised sectors are seen and treated as legitimate entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

Postfeminism, to our knowledge, has hardly been applied to women entrepreneurs' experiences in men-dominated environments, and is in itself still a rather new field in entrepreneurship studies.
From the Great Wall to great workflow: lean six sigma in Chinese listed companies
Authors: Yang Kunyu , Wu Qiong , Cormican Kathryn
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The efficiency-enhancing and performance-boosting benefits of lean six sigma (LSS) practices have been advocated in both academia and industry. However, their mediating and moderating effects remain unclear and the impact of LSS practices is underdeveloped in the Chinese context. Therefore, by focusing on publicly listed companies in China, this study aims to investigate whether, how and when LSS practices link to organizations’ innovation and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 66 Chinese publically listed companies spanning a period of 25 years (2000–2024) was analyzed using the difference-in-difference method which compared the changes in outcomes over time between a treatment group and a control group.

Findings

This research found that LSS practices are positively related to firm-level outcomes including innovation and financial performance. The authors also confirm the mediating effect of operational capability on these relationships. Moreover, the empirical evidence suggests that implementing the quality management systems (QMS) standard, ISO 9001, moderates the relationships between LSS practices and innovation and financial performance such that these relationships are stronger for firms in organizations with higher maturity levels in implementing the standard.

Practical implications

This study sheds light on LSS theory and offers valuable recommendations for lean managers on how to leverage LSS practices to improve their innovation and performance capabilities.

Originality/value

This research provides novel insights into the influence of LSS practices on firm-level outcomes such as the level of innovation and financial performance. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to theoretically propose and empirically validate how and when LSS practices influence firm outcomes by introducing the mediating mechanism of operational capability and the boundary condition of QMS standards.
Conceptual model for facultative symbiosis between sustainable construction and nature-based solutions in the training of engineers in Chile
Authors: Valdes Hugo , Correa Christian , Suarez Cristian , Laurens Arredondo Luis Alberto , Hurtado Espinosa Mariela Faviola , Vera-Puerto Ismael L. , Zagal Myrna , Arias Carlos A.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Develop a conceptual model for the training of Chilean engineers in the construction field that considers the facultative symbiosis between sustainable construction (SC) and nature-based solutions (NBS).

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to develop conceptual model for the training of Chilean engineers in the construction field that considers the facultative symbiosis between sustainable construction (SC) and nature-based solutions (NBS). Bibliographic data linked to the complete collection of 7,163 articles published between 2011 and 2022 were extracted from Web of Science and Scopus for BA utilizing VOSviewer software.

Findings

A conceptual model for the education of engineers in SC and NBS was developed, based on Bloom’s taxonomy, initial knowledge and cross-cutting skills. This model includes four thematic clusters: green project management, green building, sustainable materials and bioengineering. Its development began with competencies and activities defined in systematic literature review (SLR), which were validated by engineering program directors and rated in the survey as “extremely important,” “very important” or “important.”

Originality/value

This research provides its readers with an extensive understanding of the salient research themes, trends and patterns for engineering education in SC and NBS. Furthermore, this research contributes to the development of clear guidelines for the rapid updating of training programs.
Managing peer groups in family business centers: directors’ sensemaking practices
Authors: Tessema Kedir Assefa , Reilly Sue
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study examines how executive directors of family business centers deploy sensemaking to create psychologically safe environments while engaging members in peer group activities.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with five executive directors from four different family business centers in the USA. The study also draws on document analysis.

Findings

The findings reveal that these directors navigate a complex and uncertain environment where the need for member engagement and the need for a safe environment sometimes contradict each other. Their sensemaking draws on both cognitive and social processes to accomplish meaning-making, often involving a cyclical process of noticing, discernment and enactment. This effort is, at times, constrained by the directors’ inability to gather cues due to their commitment to maintaining confidentiality and privacy within peer groups, limiting their ability to directly observe discussions. Despite this constraint, sensemaking enhances the directors’ capability to foster safe and engaging environments, though the challenge of balancing members’ needs for confidentiality with a safe and productive engagement environment remains a continuous reality.

Practical implications

This study highlights the crucial role of sensemaking leadership in family business networks, requiring directors to balance individual and group needs. Leadership development should focus on enhancing this sensemaking ability. Family business centers must be designed with flexibility and adaptability to accommodate evolving needs. This involves attentive observation, balanced programs, psychological safety and continuous learning. These findings extend to any peer group requiring high trust, emphasizing the leader’s role in creating a safe and engaging environment that balances individual needs with collective goals.

Originality/value

This study makes several original contributions to the literature. First, it extends existing knowledge on sensemaking by exploring its application in a previously under-researched context: how executive directors navigate complexity and uncertainty within family business networks. Second, it examines how sensemaking informs the ongoing challenge of balancing peer groups’ need for a safe engagement environment with the need for productive engagement, an area that has not been explicitly addressed in prior research. By shedding light on these under-explored aspects of sensemaking, this study offers valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners involved in family business networks and peer group management.
The effect of forensic accounting drivers on social distrust trauma to the accounting profession
Authors: Khanaki Ali Mohammad , Farzinfar Ali Akbar , Safari Gerayli Mehdi , Arabzadeh Meysam
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to contribute to the accounting knowledge literature by presenting the framework of forensic accounting drivers and evaluation of its identified factors on social distrust trauma contexts in the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE).

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted mixed, both inductive and deductive approach to develop an integrated framework, validate its practicability and verify its effectiveness in selected firms listed on the TSE, respectively. In developing the framework and implementation procedure, the study used an exploratory data collection (qualitative) approach to review the phenomenon of the shadow accounting functions. Then, in the second phase, this study tested the research hypothesis through a partial least squares process. The population of the study is made up of all financial managers and heads of the accounting department of capital market companies in Iran. Presently, there are 185 companies (TSE). From this, a sample of 100 companies was selected which are all in the TSE. As suggested by Niles (2006), a minimum sample size of 10% of the population is generally acceptable. A questionnaire survey was adopted in obtaining primary data for this study. Therefore, based on Cochran sampling techniques, 405 questionnaires were returned and became the basis of analysis.

Findings

Based on the mixed method of this study, the result in the qualitative part provides the forensic accounting framework of the existence of three categories; there are six components and 39 themes during 13 interviews. In the quantitative section, the results of the study showed that forensic accounting has a negative and significant effect on the trauma of social mistrust in the accounting profession.

Originality/value

This paper has created a framework that provides empirical evidence for an approach for future research to examine further issues of forensic accounting work. Moreover, this paper, through the provided framework, developed propositions showing relationships between the professionalism level, the legislation infrastructure and the quality of services, particularly in relation to forensic accounting, which helps to develop the protection of shareholders in the future.
Negotiating shared responsibility for sustainable urban development: pronouns and in-here-ness as rhetorical resources
Authors: Ahlström Karin , Lindell Eva , Stier Jonas
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This article explores how issues of shared responsibility are discursively negotiated within the realm of managing collaborative efforts between organizational actors for sustainable urban development abiding to the agenda 2030.

Design/methodology/approach

The research explored shared responsibility as localized, micro-discursive negotiations within and between local organizations in Sweden.

Findings

Analysis displays how speakers’ use of rhetorical resources vacillates along two continuums: the who responsible for sustainability and the discursive construction of agency. This shows that the position where the actors share responsibility, that is when the actors are constructed as both able and willing to take responsibility and as sharing a collective identity, is continuously being negotiated in communication.

Originality/value

The article contributes to literature on collaborative ways of organizing and managing complex public challenges. With a focus on the discursive construction of shared responsibility, the concept of in-here-ness is introduced to denote accepted and assumed responsibility, which may shift through the use of pronouns: from a narrow “I” or “we” of stakeholders to a wider “we” of collaborating parties. The article further contributes to the empirical field of sustainable development at the municipal level.
A preliminary test of ChatGPT’s ESG literacy
Authors: Gao Wei , Ju Ming
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Motivated by recent research on the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the interplay of financial activities and ESG issues, we examine ChatGPT’s ability to assist the public, investors, corporate boards, shareholders and companies with ESG-related issues.

Design/methodology/approach

We conduct a preliminary test of ChatGPT’s knowledge of ESG by feeding ChatGPT with questions from three sources: Bloomberg, Corporate Finance Institute and Alison.com. We compare ChatGPT-4o mini to random guessing, Google’s Gemini and ChatGPT-4o. We test ChatGPT-4o mini’s familiarity with Bloomberg terminal functions related to ESG.

Findings

We find ChatGPT’s accuracy is 100% on Bloomberg questions. We also find that ChatGPT-4o mini’s performance is slightly better than that of Gemini and ChatGPT-4o. However, we document that ChatGPT-4o mini sometimes fabricates non-existing functions, which is evidence of hallucinations, a built-in flaw of ChatGPT. Lastly, we show that ChatGPT-4o mini can analyze Bloomberg terminal screen images, assess companies’ actual ESG reports and draft CEO compensation contracts with integrated ESG metrics.

Originality/value

Our study is the first attempt to test ChatGPT’s knowledge in the domain of ESG. Our findings suggest the potential use of ChatGPT by the public to educate themselves on ESG issues, by investors to integrate ESG in portfolio construction, by corporate boards to incorporate ESG metrics in CEO compensation contracts, by companies to file ESG reports to regulators, by ESG-conscious shareholders to engage the management, etc.
Information access and environmental justice: a librarian’s responsibility
Authors: Durodolu Oluwole Olumide , Oladokun Bolaji David
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of libraries in stimulating access to information concerning environmental justice issues. This study also provides valuable insights into libraries’ contributions to addressing environmental justice concerns and informs strategies for maximizing their impact in this critical area.

Design/methodology/approach

In conducting this study the role of academic librarians at the Federal University of Technology Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, using a descriptive design and qualitative research method. The population for this study consists of academic librarians who were chosen due to their expertise in information access and their potential impact on environmental justice initiatives within the academic community. Data were collected through focus group discussions with the participating academic librarians.

Findings

The findings of this study underscore the critical role of addressing information disparities within the context of environmental justice, emphasizing the transformative potential of information access in empowering communities. The analysis reveals a consensus among respondents regarding the multifaceted role of librarians in addressing environmental justice. Librarians are perceived not only as information custodians but also as active contributors to community engagement, awareness and social change. This study identifies both challenges and opportunities for libraries to enhance awareness of environmental justice issues among their patrons. While existing resources related to environmental justice in the library’s collection are generally viewed positively, there is consensus among participants that there is room for improvement. Finally, this study acknowledges gaps in the current collection regarding information on environmental justice. It underscores the need for up-to-date multimedia resources focusing on local issues and representing diverse perspectives.

Research limitations/implications

Collaboration with scholars from diverse fields such as environmental science, sociology and public policy could enrich the understanding of the complex intersections between information access, environmental justice and librarianship.

Practical implications

Librarians have a responsibility to promote information access and environmental justice by curating relevant resources, promoting information literacy, engaging with communities, advocating for change, addressing digital access and equity issues, fostering cultural competence and collaborating with other stakeholders.

Originality/value

This study presents a compelling and forward-thinking perspective that underscores the critical role of librarians in addressing environmental challenges and fostering social equity.
Female leadership and environmental, social and governance performance. Empirical evidence from France
Authors: Paolone Francesco , Bitbol-Saba Nathalie , Gasbarro Daniele , Nicolò Giuseppe
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the extent to which the presence of women in governance and top management positions is likely to affect corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. This study also examines the interaction effect between female leadership and cultural leadership in the boardroom.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical quantitative paper covers a sample of French-listed non-financial companies from 2018 to 2022 (925 firm-year observations). France is the European Union pioneer of non-financial reporting and gender equality policies. A fixed-effect panel regression analysis was estimated to unveil the links between the presence of women in governance and top management positions and ESG performance.

Findings

Results show that appointing more women on the board of directors and executive team is conducive to higher ESG performance. Nevertheless, the interaction effect between female and cultural leadership does not impact ESG performance.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the accounting and corporate governance literature on gender diversity and ESG performance by investigating female leadership in both directorship and top executive roles.
Recent innovations in Baculovirus‐insect cell expression Systems for Therapeutic Protein Production
Authors: Hwang Hyunjoo , Kim Minkue , Kim Yerin , Hinterdorfer Peter , Lee Jeong Hwan , Ko Kisung
Published: December 2024

The production of recombinant glycoproteins is pivotal for numerous therapies targeting human diseases, forming a cornerstone of the medical industry. The baculovirus‐insect cell system has emerged as a leading method for producing high‐value therapeutic glycoproteins. This system has several advantages, including rapid cultivation of insect cells, high production yields, and relatively straightforward post‐translational processing. Insect cells, being eukaryotic, have functional glycosylation pathways, offering a significant advantage over prokaryotic cells which lack these capabilities. These advantages are particularly promising for the expression and testing of post‐translational processing in de novo proteins, which are newly developed and extensively researched through AI‐based computational methods. However, challenges remain, particularly with expression levels and glycosylation modifications, which need to be addressed to optimize protein production. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the baculovirus‐insect cell expression system, highlighting progress in insect cell utilization, expression optimization, glycosylation modifications, and the production of therapeutic proteins.
Does increased broadband internet penetration improve the quality of investors' information about local firms?
Authors: Brown Anna Bergman , Tu Zhiyuan
Published: December 2024

This study documents that greater availability of residential high‐speed broadband internet in the area around a firm's headquarters is associated with an improvement in the quality of analysts' information, and the information efficiency of stock prices, for local firms. These results are driven by firms in areas with two and fewer local broadband providers, consistent with these firms benefiting more from additional information dissemination by locals. Increased internet penetration is also positively associated with locals producing more stock tweets about local firms. Our study provides evidence that increased broadband penetration is associated with positive information externalities for local firms.
How did investigations into spontaneous human combustion influence alcohol medicine? An examination of the medical and literary discussions that brought the two together
Authors: Smith Iain , Lock Pam
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

The presence of sections or chapters on spontaneous human combustion in more than half of the key texts in English on the action of alcohol on the body and mind in the first half of the nineteenth century demonstrates the seriousness with which it was considered. We aimed to chart discussions about the links between spontaneous human combustion and spirit drinking in medical texts and representations in fiction through three key chronological periods from 1804 to 1900.

Methods

A contextual analysis using eighteenth‐ and nineteenth‐century historical, literary and medical sources to chart and reflect on public and medical discourses.

Findings and Conclusions

The development of new theories about the action of alcohol on the body and mind appears to have been influenced by the now‐discredited eighteenth‐ and nineteenth‐century idea that the phenomenon of human combustion, spontaneous or not, was linked to spirit drinking. As an extreme example of the consequences of heavy drinking, spontaneous human combustion was used to underpin early theories on the clinical chemistry of alcohol.
I was wrong about theory
Authors: McGranahan Carole
Published: December 2024

Theory occupies a central, if curious place in contemporary anthropology. It is needed and valuable, enabling the articulation and use of insights from field research. But it is also feared at times as hard, and also used in exclusionary ways. In this commentary, I review how my understanding of and relationship to theory have changed over time, primarily through an understanding of ethnography as always already theoretical. After considering what theory and ethnography are, as well as the importance of story to theory, I then offer 10 lessons I've learned that shape my theoretical practice.
Novel Membrane Designed Polyether Sulfone Filter Reduces Filtration Membrane Obstruction Rate in Drop‐Type With Adjustable Concentrator Cell‐Free and Concentrated Ascites Reinfusion Therapy (DC‐CART)
Authors: Inui Keita , Yamada Yosuke , Aomura Daiki , Sonoda Kosuke , Harada Makoto , Hashimoto Koji , Kamijo Yuji
Published: December 2024

Background

In cell‐free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART), filtration membrane obstruction during the ascites processing step is an important clinical problem. A novel membrane designed polyether sulfone filter (n‐PES) was developed to reduce filter membrane obstruction. However, no clinical studies have compared the performance of n‐PES filters with that of conventional filters. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether n‐PES filters reduce membrane obstruction compared to conventional polyethylene (PE) filters during CART ascites processing.

Methods

This was a single‐center, retrospective, observational, controlled cohort study. We compared ascites processing records from the drop‐type with adjustable concentrator CART (DC‐CART) sessions that used n‐PES filters with those that used conventional PE filters. The primary outcome was the occurrence rate of membrane obstruction. Propensity score matching was used to assemble DC‐CART sessions with comparable baseline ascites characteristics.

Results

Among the 173 DC‐CART sessions, 31 sessions using n‐PES filters and 31 using PE filters with similar propensity scores were included in the analysis. The rate of filter membrane obstruction was significantly lower in the n‐PES group than in the PE group (p = 0.049). Additionally, the total treatment time was significantly shorter for the n‐PES group (p = 0.006). No sessions experienced issues with the processing procedure.

Conclusion

This is the first study to demonstrate that an n‐PES filter reduces the incidence of filter membrane obstruction in clinical CART sessions using human ascites. The n‐PES filter may reduce the burden on the medical staff performing CART.
Moving the logic of sustainability towards flourishing‐for‐all
Authors: Guimarães‐Costa Nuno , Schmidt Géraldine , Schulz Klaus‐Peter , Waddock Sandra
Published: December 2024

Flourishing‐for‐all as emerged as a concept to respond to the apparent lack of capacity to translate the sustainability discourse into actual practices conducive to more sustainable societies. In this special issue, we assert that flourishing‐for‐all addresses the gap identified in the sustainability discourse that still needs conversion into practice, and that processes for catalyzing this necessary transformation need to be identified and implemented. The eight papers in this special issue address flourishing‐for‐all from different ontological, epistemological, and methodological perspectives, demonstrating a wide interest in the topic, and the shared belief that both academia and practice must go beyond sustainability to embrace flourishing‐for‐all. They bring to the fore three important features of a flourishing‐for‐all approach: First, it allows for a more profound analysis of systemic sustainability‐related problems; secondly, it highlights new relationships among the problem‐related variables; thirdly, it extends the repertory and reach of possible solutions.
Semaglutide protects against diabetes‐associated cardiac inflammation via Sirt3‐dependent RKIP pathway
Authors: Lin Kaibin , Wang Ai , Zhai Changlin , Zhao Yun , Hu Huilin , Huang Dong , Zhai Qiwei , Yan Yan , Ge Junbo
Published: December 2024

Background and Purpose

Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs) exert cardiovascular benefits in diabetic patients, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Semaglutide, a novel long‐acting GLP‐1RA, has shown a reduced risk of cardiovascular events. Based on these results, we investigated the therapeutic potential of semaglutide in diabetic cardiomyopathy and sought to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Experimental Approach

Mice with diabetes induced by high‐fat diet/streptozotocin were treated with semaglutide. The mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effects of semaglutide were analysed using animal and cell experiments.

Key Results

In diabetic mice, semaglutide alleviated metabolic disorders, ameliorated myocardial fibrosis, improved cardiac function, antagonized oxidative stress and suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis. More significantly, semaglutide attenuated cardiac inflammation through restoring Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) expression and inhibiting downstream TANK‐binding kinase 1 (TBK1)‐NF‐κB pathway. Meanwhile, decreased RKIP expression and activated TBK1‐NF‐κB signalling pathway were also found in tissues from human diabetic hearts. RKIP deficiency exacerbated cardiac inflammation and offset the cardioprotective effect of semaglutide in diabetic mice. Moreover, semaglutide also restored the expression level of Sirtuin 3(Sirt3), which served as a modulator against cardiac inflammation by regulating RKIP‐dependent pathway. In diabetic mice, RKIP deficiency abolished the cardioprotective benefits conferred by the Sirt3 activator honokiol. We also found that cAMP/PKA signalling, rather than glucose lowering, contributed to the anti‐inflammatory effect of semaglutide through Sirt3‐dependent RKIP pathway.

Conclusions and Implications

Semaglutide exerted cardioprotective effects against diabetic heart failure by alleviating cardiac inflammation through Sirt3‐dependent RKIP signalling pathway.
Facial pressure beneath a cavesson noseband adjusted to different tightness levels during standing and chewing
Authors: Clayton Hilary M. , Murray Rachel , Williams Jane M. , Walker Vicki , Fisher Mark , Fisher Diane , Nixon Jane , Mackechnie‐Guire Russell
Published: December 2024

Background

Noseband adjustment should avoid discomfort and allow some jaw movement.

Objectives

To determine pressure beneath a cavesson noseband at five tightness levels during standing and chewing. It was hypothesised that increased noseband tightness is associated with increases in nasal and mandibular pressures while standing and chewing, accompanied by increases in eye temperature and blink rate.

Study design

Experimental.

Methods

Eight highly‐trained dressage horses wore a snaffle bridle with their own bit. Pressure mats over the nasal bones and beneath the mandibular rami recorded sub‐noseband pressures (50 Hz) for five tightness levels (2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5, 0.0 finger‐equivalents from loosest to tightest) measured using a taper gauge during quiet standing and chewing a treat. Eye temperature and blink rate were recorded synchronously. Data were analysed using Friedmans two‐way ANOVA with Wilcoxon post hoc tests and Bonferroni adjustment for repeated measures. Significance level p ≤ 0.01.

Results

During standing, total force increased from (mean ± SD) 5.8 ± 4.4 N (nasal) and 12.3 ± 8.2 N (mandibular) at 2.0 finger‐equivalents to 45.1 ± 24.9 N (nasal) and 70.7 ± 25.7 N (mandibular) at 0.0‐finger‐equivalents. Forces and pressures were higher on the mandibles than nasal bones although differences did not always reach statistical significance. Horses willingly ingested and chewed a treat at all noseband tightness levels generating forces ~100 N and pressure >40 kPa without increases in eye temperature or blink rate that would suggest discomfort. Post hoc tests indicated significantly higher pressure for 0.0 finger‐equivalents than 2.0 finger‐equivalents (p < 0.01).

Main limitations

Small sample size. Nosebands always tested from loosest to tightest.

Conclusions

Mandibular pressure exceeded nasal pressure and values at both sites increased with noseband tightness. Horses accepted high noseband pressures when chewing a treat with a cavesson adjusted from 0.0 to 2.0 finger‐equivalents. Blink rate and eye temperature suggest horses were not distressed when chewing at 2.0 to 0.0 finger‐equivalents tightness.
The impact of environmental protection on urbanization
Authors: Wu Shang‐Fen , Lee Cheng‐Te
Published: December 2024

This paper develops a small open Harris‐Todaro model with intersectoral capital mobility and the negative externality of pollution to analyze the effects of the pollution tax on urbanization and GDP. We demonstrate that an increase in the pollution tax leads to a decrease in the level of urbanization. Furthermore, we show that if the ratio of the production value of manufactured goods to GDP is smaller than the ratio of the production value of agricultural goods to GDP, then a rise in the pollution tax results in an increase in GDP.
Attention To Detail and Cyber Skill: Associated Beyond General Intelligence in Cyber‐Soldier Conscripts
Authors: Albinsson Pär‐Anders , Lif Patrik
Published: December 2024

We explore the potential of attention to detail as a component in the selection of conscripts for the cyber track in the Swedish Armed Forces. To measure attention to detail, we adapted the embedded figures test and administered it to conscripts as part of the extended mustering. We report results from a conscript selection with 97 test participants of which 56 continued to become cyber soldiers, finishing their training the following year. Attention to detail showed little correlation with the cognitive‐ability components of the mustering test battery, suggesting that attention to detail is unlikely to be strongly associated with general intelligence for this population. Attention to detail was the only cognitive‐ability component of the mustering test battery that showed a significant predictive relationship with practical post‐training cyber skill (R2 = 0.10). Therefore, we believe that it could be a useful additional component in the selection process.
ITGB4/BNIP3 Activates Autophagy and Reduces MHC‐I Expression to Mediate Tumour Immune Escape in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Zhou Xianfei , Yang Fan , Huang Luoshun , Ling Yisheng , Xing Renwei , Lu Jie , Nie Hanqiu
Published: December 2024

This study attempted to identify the relevant pathways involved in autophagy activation of pancreatic cancer and explore the mechanisms underlying immune evasion. Western blot (WB) was used to detect the expression of ITGB4, BNIP3, autophagy‐related proteins and MHC‐I. Co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) was used to verify the binding mode of ITGB4 and BNIP3. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of MHC‐I on the cell membrane. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe cell autophagy. Confocal microscopy was used to observe the co‐localisation relationship between MHC‐I and autophagosomes in cells. ELISA was used to detect the level of lactate dehydrogenase and granzyme B in a tumour cell‐CD8+ T‐cell co‐culture system. Mouse syngeneic transplant tumour model and orthotopic tumour model were constructed and treated with PD‐1 monoclonal antibody to observe tumour growth. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of ITGB4 and BNIP3 in tumour tissues. WB was used to determine the expression of autophagy‐related proteins. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of MHC‐I on cell membranes and the proportion of CD3+ and CD8+ cells. The results of Co‐IP experiments showed that ITGB4 could bind to BNIP3. It was observed under confocal microscopy that activating ITGB4/BNIP3 could promote the phagocytosis of MHC‐I by autophagosomes. Finally, the subcutaneous tumour transplantation and orthotopic tumour experiments in mice demonstrated the downregulation of ITGB4 significantly improved the therapeutic effect of PD‐1 antibodies on pancreatic cancer. In pancreatic cancer cells, autophagy is positively correlated with the ITGB4‐BNIP3 complex protein expression level. Autophagy diminishes the protein expression of MHC‐I, thereby promoting immune escape in pancreatic cancer cells.
Can Emotionally Intelligent Mental Health Nurse Leaders Influence Workforce Sustainability? A Scoping Review
Authors: Johnson Whitney , Searby Adam , Alexander Louise
Published: December 2024

Due to a global shortage of nursing staff, there is renewed attention on the impact of leadership and management styles on the sustainability of the nursing workforce. Emotional intelligence (EI), the ability to manage both your own emotions and to perceive and understand the emotions of others, has been implicated as a nursing management style impacting reduced turnover and greater nurse wellbeing. Despite these promising findings, there is a dearth of research on the role of emotionally intelligent leadership on the retention of mental health nurses. This scoping review aimed to (1) explore whether the findings from EI leadership in general nursing settings can be contextualised to mental health nurse leaders and (2) whether emotional intelligent leadership can influence the retention of mental health nurses. We used Arksey and O'Malley's framework to conduct this scoping review, locating 987 papers in our initial search. After screening, 30 papers remained; most methodologies were quantitative (n = 20), followed by qualitative (n = 8) and mixed methods (n = 2). This review found that while this concept has been studied extensively in the general nursing context, there is a lack of research into EI as a leadership style in mental health nursing. Where EI was the dominant leadership style, turnover intention was lower. However, despite showing promise in other settings, because of distinct differences between nursing contexts and workforce characteristics, it is difficult to state that emotionally intelligent leadership would be effective in mental health settings. There is therefore an urgent need identified to explore leadership styles in mental health settings to determine whether they impact retention and turnover, which will have significant implications for organisations, staff and consumers. We recommend that mental health nurse leaders be provided with EI training and education to ensure that they are equipped to provide the necessary support and leadership to sustain and grow the mental health nursing workforce.
Service Users' Participation in Mental Health Nursing Education: Quasi‐Experimental Design With Blended Learning Model.
Authors: Joung Jaewon , Ahn Suyoun , Shin Soyoung
Published: December 2024

Nursing students' negative perceptions of and reduced interest in individuals experiencing mental health challenges could lead to problems such as deteriorating quality of mental health nursing and lack of competent, qualified mental health nurses. Promoting changes and developments in mental health nursing education for greater effectiveness is pivotal. This study aimed to develop, introduce and validate a blended learning service user involvement programme for mental health nursing education—the first of its kind in South Korea. This study is reported according to TREND guidelines. The experimental group's scores for attitudes and empathy with individuals experiencing mental health challenges increased significantly after taking the 6‐week service user involvement class. The experimental group achieved higher scores for knowledge of mental health nursing, satisfaction, and confidence in performance than the control group, which attended a traditional‐style class. However, no significant difference was found between groups in changes in attitudes towards and empathy with individuals experiencing mental health challenges. The service user involvement class could improve some students' knowledge of mental health nursing and confidence, but providing the course in a single semester is not sufficient to improve students' attitudes towards and empathy with individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Therefore, an appropriate approach to more systematic long‐term planning should be developed, and public perception should be improved. Additionally, long‐term studies should evaluate the sustainability and progression of changes in attitudes and empathy over time. We recommend developing mental health nursing education programmes with diverse designs and structures.
Phase relations in the Bi2O3–Mn2O3–M2O3 (MFe, Al, and Ga) pseudoternary systems
Authors: Škapin Srečo D. , Golobič Amalija , Spreitzer Matjaž , Suvorov Danilo
Published: December 2024

This study establishes the subsolidus phase relations in the Bi₂O₃–Mn₂O₃–M₂O₃ (M = Fe, Al, and Ga) systems at 770°C in an oxidizing air environment, with a specific focus on identifying of phase stability and extension of solid solubility of new solid solutions. The pseudoternary nature of these systems is influenced by the presence of both Mn3⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ oxidation states in mullite Bi2Mn4O10‐based phases and Mn4+ in sillenite Bi12MnO20‐based phases. Our findings reveal that the addition of M₂O₃ (where M = Fe, Al, and Ga) in small amounts (up to 1.5 mol%) to Bi₂O₃ promotes the formation of the γ‐Bi₂O₃ phase. However, with increased M₂O₃ addition (up to 7 mol%), isomorphous sillenite compounds Bi₂₅MO₃₉ are formed. These findings clearly show differences between the two phases, γ‐Bi2O3 and sillenite Bi₂₅MO₃₉ which have been largely incorrectly defined in the past. In contrast, in the binary system Bi2O3–Mn2O3 the γ‐Bi2O3 was not identified. The sillenite compounds Bi12MnO20 and Bi25MO39 exhibit solid solubility in all three systems M = Fe, Al, and Ga over the entire composition range. Additionally, the perovskite phase BiFeO₃ exhibits an extended solid solubility, incorporating up to 32 at% of Mn as a substitution for Fe however the perovskite‐type BiGaO3 and BiAlO3 were not confirmed in the investigated systems. In the investigated systems, the mullite‐type Bi2Mn4O10 and Bi2M4O9 (M = Fe, Al, and Ga) form solid solutions with various compositional extensions, which depends on the difference of ionic size of M atoms (Fe, Al, and Ga) in comparison of Mn size. Based on experimental results, the three phase diagrams of the Bi₂O₃–Mn₂O₃–M₂O₃ (M = Fe, Al, and Ga) systems were constructed.
Fabrication and mechanical properties of 2D Cf/SiC composites by joint process of vacuum bag molding, PIP, and RMI
Authors: Zhang Tong , Chen Jianjun , Chen Hao , Ahmad Zahoor , Zhu Hongliang
Published: December 2024

The structural integrity of continuous carbon fiber‐reinforced silicon carbide (Cf/SiC) composites is often compromised by carbon fiber damage during high‐temperature sintering, nonuniform fiber distribution, and the brittleness of the ceramic matrix, which limits their broader application. This study reported an innovative approach of vacuum bagging combined with thermal press curing, followed by precursor infiltration and pyrolysis (PIP) and reaction melt infiltration (RMI), densification to fabricate a Cf/SiC composite with remarkable properties. The pyrolytic carbon (PyC)/boron nitride (BN) double interface layers were deposited to the Cf via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Results revealed that vacuum bagging combined with thermal press curing effectively eliminated bond‐line defects, while the PyC/BN interface layer further improved the toughening of Cf. The combination of vacuum bagging and thermal press curing showed optimal strength of 330 ± 30 MPa and 7.4 ± 0.5 MPa m1/2, representing increases of 50% and 47%, respectively. The failure mechanisms responsible for the mechanical behavior are gained through macro and microanalysis. This work provides a high‐performance, economical, and convenient process for enhancing the mechanical performance of Cf/SiC composites, providing valuable insights for the development of ceramic matrix composites.
Dielectric behavior of point defects on ferroelectric films for different substrate strains by phase–field simulations
Authors: Song Yu , Wang Jing , Huang Houbing
Published: December 2024

Relaxor films constructed by doping point defects are widely applied in various fields, including nanoelectromechanical systems, capacitive energy storage, and pyroelectric energy conversion. Despite their broad utility, the underlying mechanisms by which point defects affect the dielectric properties of these films under varying substrate strains remain insufficiently understood. This work employs a phase–field model to explore the influence of point defects on the domain structure and dielectric properties of BaTiO3 and Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 films, with a comparative analysis of their respective responses to different substrate strains. Our results reveal that the domain sizes in both BaTiO3 and Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 films decrease with doping, leading to a transition into a relaxor state. Notably, Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 exhibits a dielectric peak at a lower doping concentration and a more pronounced reduction in dielectric constant, which can be attributed to its smaller domain size and greater susceptibility to phase transitions. As substrate strain increases from −4% to 4%, the dielectric constant initially rises, peaking at zero strain. Moreover, compared with Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, the BaTiO3 relaxor films display a higher dielectric constant, due to a larger proportion of noninitial phases and a more uniform phase structure. These findings provide valuable theoretical insights into the manipulation of substrate strain as a strategy to tailor the dielectric properties of relaxor films.
On Lateness: The Ethics of Running Behind Schedule in General Practice
Authors: Armitage Richard C.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

GPs, at least in the United Kingdom, often run behind schedule in their clinics. This lateness is an inherently ethical problem due to the negative consequences it generates.

Methods

The paper outlines these negative consequences, attempts to classify the major reasons for such lateness, explores the ethical status of each of these reasons, and offers suggestions for how the negative consequences might be managed.

Findings and Discussion

The major reasons for lateness can be classified as GP‐related, patient‐related, and third party‐related. The major negative consequences of lateness in general practice might be classified as the potential disturbance to quality and safe care, the dissatisfaction of and inconvenience to subsequent patients, and the disruption of timely care. These negative consequences must be burdened by some party—either the patient who is related to the reason for the lateness, or other patients who are not. While a strict equality approach to managing such lateness does not consider patients’ clinical needs, GPs compensating by actively ‘catching up’ in their clinics threatens quality and safety of care. The paper argues for minimising the negative consequences of lateness for all parties, while simultaneously promoting equity with regard to patients’ clinical needs. The ethical status of each major reason for lateness in general practice is explored, and suggestions are offered for how each might be managed to minimise the negative consequences and promote equity.
Two‐Year Clinical Evaluation of Enamel Wear Antagonistic to Polished and Glazed Monolithic Zirconia Endocrowns
Authors: Badawy Hayam , Abo El‐Farag Shaimaa , Attia Ahmed
Published: December 2024

Objective

To assess the effect of chairside adjustment and polishing on the clinical performance of zirconia endocrowns and digitally calculate the opposing enamel wear.

Materials and Methods

A total of 20 participants received zirconia endocrowns on their endodontically treated lower first molars. All endocrowns were fabricated using CAD/CAM technology. According to the occlusal adjustments needed for the restorations, patients were divided into two groups: Group ZG with 10 glazed monolithic zirconia endocrowns and Group ZP with 10 adjusted and polished zirconia endocrowns. Bonded endocrowns were evaluated clinically and radiographically for 24 months following modified FDI criteria. Wear of the antagonistic enamel was calculated at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months using an intraoral scanner and Geomagic software.

Results

The overall survival rate of the 20 endocrowns was 100%, according to the Kaplan–Meier survival method. None of the endocrowns were replaced during the follow‐up. After 2 years, polished zirconia caused enamel wear (0.422 ± 0.130 mm3), while glazed zirconia caused enamel wear (0.491 ± 0.105 mm3), with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.108).

Conclusion

Both glazed and polished monolithic zirconia endocrowns showed comparable enamel wear after a 2‐year clinical follow‐up, with no significant difference.

Clinical Significance

Glazing or intra‐oral polishing could be applied to monolithic zirconia endocrowns with minimal antagonist enamel wear.