bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Board of directors effect on environmental, social and governance performance in publicly traded non-financial firms
Authors: Sepulveda-Nuñez Ma Dolores Del Carmen , Fong Reynoso Carlos , Llamosas-Rosas Irving
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of the board of directors (BoD) structure on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in publicly traded non-financial firms from the perspective of agency theory, with investors as the principal, the management team as the agent, the BoD as an information system that reduces information asymmetries between them and ESG performance as a shareholder’s expectation.

Design/methodology/approach

Sample data is cross-sectional as of January 2023 and includes 1,695 non-financial firms listed in 59 stock markets across 54 countries. Data were sourced from the FactSet Research Systems database. The generalized least squares method was used to run quadratic and exponential models to assess the research hypotheses.

Findings

Results revealed that board size, independence, age, gender diversity and participation on other corporate boards have a nonlinear relationship with ESG performance. Board tenure is the only BoD attribute for which a nonlinear association is not found. This study found that firms with larger boards and more female board members tend to exhibit a stronger commitment to ESG performance. In contrast, companies with a board of directors consisting of independent members, advanced age, service on other corporate boards and CEO duality may struggle to prioritize positive ESG outcomes.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the academic discussion on BoD–ESG by examining nonlinear relationships among a large sample of publicly traded firms; providing results that could be applied internationally; using ESG data that is based on the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board's materiality framework, which identifies key ESG factors for investors; emphasizing the significance of diversity and inclusion within the decision-making bodies of public companies, thereby improving their ESG performance; and supporting the agency theory perspective and suggesting that the effect of board structure on ESG may reflect the board's focus on investors’ best interests.
Two Brothers Organic Farms: building shared value in a competitive market
Authors: Laddha Seema , Bose Vatsala
Published: June 2024

Learning outcomes

After completion of the case study, students will be able to understand organic farming challenges in India, analyze Two Brothers Organic Farms’ (TBOF) value chain for creating shared values, evaluate marketing mix and product development strategies, explore social media’s impact on marketing and explore and propose strategies for long-term sustainability in the organic farming industry.

Case overview/synopsis

The case study revolves around the entrepreneurial journey of Ajinkya and Satyajit Hange, two brothers who transitioned from successful banking careers to pursue their passion for organic farming. Establishing TBOF in Pune, India, the duo faced challenges in introducing organic produce to a market resistant to change. With a commitment to regenerative agriculture, they implemented innovative farming practices, including desi cow rearing, multicropping and indigenous seeds. The narrative unfolds the brothers’ strategic roles, where Ajinkya manages crop production, and Satyajit focuses on marketing. Emphasizing a trusted brand built on quality, they expanded their product portfolio (Figure 2), reaching 52 countries through direct marketing and word of mouth. As the organic food industry surged postpandemic, TBPF faced challenges in meeting rising demand. The case study discusses the organic farming sector in India, underscoring the brothers’ efforts to combat harmful agro-inputs. The dilemmas lie in navigating the niche organic market, supply–demand imbalances and the need for sustainable business processes. The case study aims to explore the strategic decisions and dilemmas encountered by TBOF, offering insights into the complexities of sustainable entrepreneurship in the Indian organic farming sector.

Complexity academic level

This case study should be used in marketing and management classes at the undergraduate level. Applicable concepts include artificial intelligence, social media, content and information.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
Employee development programs as catalysts for suicide prevention and organizational change
Authors: Bilderback Stephanie
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper explores the critical role of employee development programs (EDPs) in preventing workplace suicides, as underscored by 2019 statistics from the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. It identifies various industries with elevated suicide rates. It considers both work-related stressors, like fear of failure and autonomy loss, and external factors, like family or financial issues, as contributing factors. The paper advocates for EDPs to enhance employee-organization relationships, promoting engagement and positive change. Through skills training, coaching and job enrichment, EDPs intend to address employee concerns, offering support and contributing to suicide prevention.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the role of EDPs in preventing employee suicides, a concern highlighted by the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics data on rising suicide rates. It uses the interpersonal theory of suicide to underline the urgency of addressing this global issue empirically. The paper proposes that EDPs, through skills training, coaching and job enrichment, can tackle underlying job satisfaction issues, fostering positive organizational change and enhancing employee well-being. It advocates for EDPs as a means to not only improve workplace dynamics but also potentially save lives.

Findings

This study finds that EDPs are vital in preventing suicides in organizational settings. EDPs address factors affecting job satisfaction and mental well-being, potentially leading to suicidal behavior. These programs enhance employee engagement and motivation by incorporating skill training, coaching and job enrichment. The study emphasizes the need for EDPs to promote positive organizational change and to improve employee well-being, thereby contributing to suicide prevention and fostering healthier employer-employee relationships, leading to broader social and mental health benefits.

Originality/value

This paper’s novelty stems from its exploration of EDPs as a strategy for preventing employee suicide. It offers a unique perspective by linking EDPs to suicide prevention, focusing on enhancing job satisfaction and mental well-being. Using the interpersonal theory of suicide, the paper not only underscores the global importance of suicide but also identifies high-risk occupations. It argues for EDPs as a proactive measure in organizations, presenting a new approach to employee suicide prevention with broad implications for organizational practices and employee welfare worldwide.
Combining methodologies for textual data analysis
Authors: Hamiot Jean-Yves
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the interface of research methodology paradigms (which are commonly conventionally perceived as being juxtaposed when conducting research) through the application of textual analytical software.

Design/methodology/approach

The argument develops matrices and applies these to the human resource (HR) context of individual and career group sense-making so as to better understand the inherent career dynamics and sense-making in a sample derived from a French media agency context.

Findings

The paper’s findings comprise a range of insights from the respondent managers (n = 26). The results suggest that a better understanding of methodologies facilitates the development of theories based on textual data analysis.

Research limitations/implications

The limits of the approach are important. Indeed, it is necessary to make compromises and arrangements with epistemological orthodoxy. Indeed, at first and to be able to process the data with the Alceste© and Tropes©, the interviews were recorded, transcribed and considered as “definitive”. This potentially contradicts the methods of collecting data prescribed by the thematic analysis or the method of cognitive maps. These two interpretive approaches imply a process of co-construction of the results that would not theoretically rely solely on a recording.

Practical implications

It provides insights on how, and to what extent, can data analytical software packages facilitate a better understanding of paradigm (interpretive-positivistic) interoperation and commensurability.

Social implications

Importantly, the study provides a novel means by which to study the important HR issue of career perception and trajectory.

Originality/value

The methodology-driven approach shows that there is potent scope to map and develop valuable and complementary data perspectives on research issues by interfacing paradigms and textual data analysis tools.
Measuring the production performance indicators for metal-mechanic industry: an LDA modeling approach
Authors: Restrepo Jorge Aníbal , Giraldo Emerson Andres , Vanegas Juan Gabriel
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study proposes a novel method to improve the accuracy of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) estimation in the metallurgical industry. This is achieved by modeling the frequency and severity of stoppage events as random variables.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of 80,000 datasets from a metal-mechanical firm (2020–2022) was performed using the loss distribution approach (LDA) and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). The data were further adjusted with a product price index to account for inflation.

Findings

The variance analysis revealed supporting colleagues (59.8% of variance contribution), food breaks (29.8%) and refreshments (9.0%) as the events with the strongest influence on operating losses.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a more rigorous approach to operational risk management and OEE measurement in the metal-mechanical sector. The developed algorithm supports the establishment of risk management guidelines and facilitates targeted OEE improvement efforts.

Originality/value

This research introduces a novel OEE estimation method specifically for the metallurgical industry, utilizing LDA and MCS to improve accuracy compared to existing techniques.
Organizational culture, generational involvement and entrepreneurial orientation components: a replication study
Authors: Ferrari Angélica , Mucci Daniel Magalhães , Beck Franciele
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to adopt a replication strategy based on Cherchem (2017), and hence this study investigates how generational involvement moderates the relationship between organizational culture and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in Brazilian family businesses, disentangling each of the EO dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed a survey with 107 Brazilian family businesses operating in the textile and clothing industries. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SmartPLS-SEM).

Findings

The results for the direct paths indicate that clan and hierarchical cultures are positively related to EO. As for the moderating effect, only one generation of the family involved in management tends to stimulate a stronger relationship between the clan culture and the EO. In contrast, when multiple generations exist, the positive relationship between the EO hierarchical culture becomes stronger. Furthermore, this study found different relationships between organizational culture and each of the EO dimensions (proactiveness, innovativeness, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness and autonomy) and differences in the moderating effect of generational involvement.

Originality/value

Unlike the findings of Cherchem (2017), the authors observed that, in addition to clan culture, hierarchical culture can also act as an enhancer of entrepreneurial strategies. On the other hand, generational involvement influences the relationship between organizational culture and the level of EO (and its dimensions), reinforcing those internal family characteristics that can foster entrepreneurial strategies in family businesses, whose findings align with Cherchem (2017). Moreover, it contributes to the investigation of each of the dimensions of EO separately.
Developing Muslim-friendly hospital practices: understanding the key drivers
Authors: Harun Shariff , Ahmad Ibrahim , Shafie Shahrin , Choirisa Septi Fahmi Fahmi , Rizkalla Nosica
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the appropriate components and sub-components of Muslim-friendly hospital practices that comply with Islamic medical ethics and Sharia requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review procedure based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses publication standards was used to analyse and identify the precise components and sub-components of Muslim-friendly hospital practices from 239 shortlisted papers.

Findings

The study revealed that Sharia compliance prescription, Islamic infrastructure, Islamic medical practices, compassion and support, competencies of Islamic medical services, conducive Islamic surroundings, reasonable and convenience services and Islamic work culture are important elements that need to be in practice by Muslim-friendly hospital providers.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on studies conducted between January 2010 to August 2022 from the Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. This study contributes to the literature through the identification of eight main components and 53 sub-components that were found to be the core and essential determinants in the establishment of the Muslim-friendly hospital practices framework.

Practical implications

The proposed Muslim-friendly hospital practices framework are envisaged to motivate policymakers in Malaysia and Indonesia as well as other Muslim countries to implement the proposed framework through a greater number of supportive legislative measures as well as practical promotion and education policies to further enhance the market.

Originality/value

The number of health-care providers contemplating the integration of Islamic or Muslim-friendly practices into their strategic plans and daily operations is continuously increasing. However, the dearth of studies that provide conclusive evidence of the correct determinants of Muslim-friendly hospital practices that ensure strict Islamic medical ethics and Sharia-compliant service delivery standards had created an impediment that needs to be addressed urgently.
Exploring volunteers’ role in healthcare service ecosystems: value co-creation, self-adjustment and re-humanisation
Authors: Di Pietro Laura , Ungaro Veronica , Renzi Maria Francesca , Edvardsson Bo
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The paper investigates how the engagement of a group of actors (the volunteers), previously unexplored in service ecosystems literature, contributes to generating new co-creation activities and well-being outcomes in the healthcare service ecosystem (HSE). Moreover, the study analyses how the provision and integration of volunteers’ resources help to explain the HSE self-adjustment favouring the re-humanisation of service.

Design/methodology/approach

The article zooms in on the volunteers’ activities in an HSE. A qualitative approach is adopted, and an empirical investigation is grounded in data gathered from Kids Kicking Cancer (KKC) Italia, a volunteer association operating in the paediatric oncology ward of Italian hospitals. Data are collected and triangulated through in-depth interviews, volunteers’ diaries and observations. The analysis is conducted by adopting an interpretative thematic analysis technique.

Findings

The study provides a conceptual framework explaining how volunteers’ value co-creation activities influence the HSE’s self-adjustment by leading to a re-humanisation of services. The paper also contributes to the state of knowledge by identifying seven categories of volunteers’ value co-creation activities, two of which are completely new in the literature (co-responsibility and empowerment).

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the service research literature by identifying empirically grounded value co-creation activities extending the understanding of self-adjustment and re-humanisation of the service ecosystem.
Geopolitical risk and banking performance: evidence from emerging economies
Authors: Adel Nabil , Naili Maryem
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study delves into the critical issue of banks' stability and profitability, which are crucial elements for fostering economic growth and preserving depositor confidence. Specifically, we scrutinize the impact of geopolitical risks on the profitability and solvency of banks operating in emerging economies across the Middle East and Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a two-step Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach, we analyze a comprehensive dataset comprising 125 banks spanning 13 emerging economies in the Middle East and Africa, covering the period from 2003 to 2019.

Findings

Our study reveals a significant sensitivity of Middle Eastern banks to geopolitical risks, wherein effective anticipation or adaptation to these risks positively influences bank performance. Conversely, the impact of geopolitical risk on African banking profitability appears inconclusive and statistically insignificant. These nuanced findings underscore the complex interplay between geopolitical dynamics and financial performance in diverse regional contexts, with implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders.

Practical implications

Our findings underscore the need for nuanced policy responses and risk management strategies tailored to the unique challenges posed by geopolitical dynamics in emerging markets. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of continued research efforts to deepen our understanding of these complex interactions and inform more effective decision-making in the financial sector.

Originality/value

Amidst growing recognition of the importance of geopolitical risks in financial markets, empirical studies exploring their precise impact on bank performance remain scarce. This study fills this gap by offering a pioneering investigation into the influence of geopolitical risks on bank profitability and solvency, using advanced econometric techniques and a substantial, diverse sample of banks in emerging economies across the Middle East and Africa.
DeepFake the menace: mitigating the negative impacts of AI-generated content
Authors: Lyu Siwei
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Recent years have witnessed an unexpected and astonishing rise of AI-generated (AIGC), thanks to the rapid advancement of technology and the omnipresence of social media. AIGCs created to mislead are more commonly known as DeepFakes, which erode our trust in online information and have already caused real damage. Thus, countermeasures must be developed to limit the negative impacts of AIGC. This position paper aims to provide a conceptual analysis of the impact of DeepFakes considering the production cost and overview counter technologies to fight DeepFakes. We will also discuss future perspectives of AIGC and their counter technology.

Design/methodology/approach

We summarize recent developments in generative AI and AIGC, as well as technical developments to mitigate the harmful impacts of DeepFakes. We also provide an analysis of the cost-effect tradeoff of DeepFakes.

Research limitations/implications

The mitigation of DeepFakes call for multi-disciplinary research across the traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Practical implications

Government and business sectors need to work together to provide sustainable solutions to the DeepFake problem.

Social implications

The research and development in counter-technologies and other mitigation measures of DeepFakes are important components for the health of future information ecosystem and democracy.

Originality/value

Unlike existing reviews in this topic, our position paper focuses on the insights and perspective of this vexing sociotechnical problem of our time, providing a more global picture of the solutions landscape.
Too good to be true! Paid parental leave for 5 years
Authors: Lin Jasmin , Chiu Haohsuan Holly
Published: June 2024

Research methodology

This case study is built from secondary data such as news articles, regulations and videos. Several drafts of the case study with a teaching note were tested in the classroom setting and shared in a case writing conference. The case was revised based on feedback from students and roundtable discussions from the conference.

Case overview/synopsis

Mrs Hsu, the Deputy Director of the National Taxation Bureau’s Nantou County Branch in Taiwan, faced a dilemma in June 2021. One of her employees, Mrs Chiang, had requested to return to work after taking several years of parental leave since August 2017. This long absence had put a strain on colleagues, who either had to cover for her or work with temporary replacements. While Mrs Chiang’s actions were legal and protected by her government employee role, her decision to take another leave immediately after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine raised eyebrows. Her peers accused her of using her frontline worker status to gain early vaccine access and other work benefits. Mrs Hsu, upon reviewing Mrs Chiang’s employment history, pondered her next steps concerning Mrs Chiang’s new leave request.

Complexity academic level

This case would be appropriate for a course in Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior or Gender, Family and Work, especially with the topic of Employment Rights/Legal Protections (in HR), and/or Justice and Ethics (in OB).
Mechanical, water absorption and thermal properties of kenaf fiber composite hybridized with Acacia concinna pods powder
Authors: Pachappareddy Chiranjeevi , Padhy Chinmaya Prasad , Pendyala Srinivas
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the mechanical, thermal and water absorption (WA) properties of kenaf fiber (KF) composites hybridized with powdered Acacia concinna pods (ACP).

Design/methodology/approach

Kenaf fiber reinforced epoxy polymer hybrid composite was fabricated using several weight percentages of ACP powder as filler (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%), both with and without chemically altering the fiber mat. 6 Wt.% NaOH was used in distilled water to treat KF mat chemically. The hand layup technique is used to produce ASTM-compliant KF hybrid laminates. Tensile, flexural and IZOD impact strengths were tested on the generated hybrid composites and their thermal and WA characteristics. Scanning electron microscope fractography revealed that fiber pulling-out, debonding and cracking were the main ways composites fractured.

Findings

The investigation findings reveal that the tensile, flexural and impact strengths increased when ACP fillers were added up to 4, 6 and 8 Wt.%, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the hybrid composite is thermally stable up to 215°C. WA experiments reveal that KF mat composites treated with 0 Wt.% ACP filler had less WA than those not treated with ACP filler. The treated KF with 4% filler hybrid composite demonstrated improved interfacial bonding between the reinforcement and matrix compared to other combinations.

Originality/value

Although filler made of A. concinna is inexpensive, lightweight, renewable, totally or partially recyclable and biodegradable, its potential application in hybridizing composites is yet to be investigated. Hybridizing the KF mat with ACP filler in an epoxy matrix produced novel hybrid composites. Evaluations have been conducted on the effects of ACP filler on the mechanical, thermal and WA characteristics of composites.
‘You’re just a Guinea pig’: Exploring the barriers and impacts of living with long COVID‐19: A view from the undiagnosed
Authors: Mullard Jordan , Mir Ghazala , Herbert Chantal , Evans Sophie ,   LOCOMOTION Consortium
Published: June 2024

The COVID‐19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on ethnically minoritised and other marginalised communities, yet little is known about the impacts of long COVID‐19 (LC) on this group. Living with LC takes its toll both physically, emotionally and financially and even more so when a diagnosis is hard to come by. By using qualitative interviews centring the view of undiagnosed and marginalised communities already classed as ‘underserved’ in the medical literature, we show the range of barriers and impacts faced by these groups in the UK, and the strategies of resilience they use. Whether trapped on a ‘diagnostic odyssey’ at the level of primary care, struggling to maintain employment and businesses, or managing family commitments, we argue many minoritised communities are caught in a liminal space of misrecognition, invalidation and ambiguity. We show how these impacts are generated by tensions and challenges in the process and categorisation of diagnosis, and how this effects the daily lives of many individuals already on the receiving end of health inequity. We also offer some examples and suggestions for best practices.
Contribution of MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry and machine learning including deep learning techniques for the detection of virulence factors of Clostridioides difficile strains
Authors: Godmer Alexandre , Giai Gianetto Quentin , Le Neindre Killian , Latapy Valentine , Bastide Mathilda , Ehmig Muriel , Lalande Valérie , Veziris Nicolas , Aubry Alexandra , Barbut Frédéric , Eckert Catherine
Published: June 2024

Clostridioides difficile (CD) infections are defined by toxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB) along with the binary toxin (CDT). The emergence of the ‘hypervirulent’ (Hv) strain PR 027, along with PR 176 and 181, two decades ago, reshaped CD infection epidemiology in Europe. This study assessed MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS) combined with machine learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) to identify toxigenic strains (producing TcdA, TcdB with or without CDT) and Hv strains. In total, 201 CD strains were analysed, comprising 151 toxigenic (24 ToxA+B+CDT+, 22 ToxA+B+CDT+ Hv+ and 105 ToxA+B+CDT−) and 50 non‐toxigenic (ToxA−B−) strains. The DL‐based classifier exhibited a 0.95 negative predictive value for excluding ToxA−B− strains, showcasing accuracy in identifying this strain category. Sensitivity in correctly identifying ToxA+B+CDT− strains ranged from 0.68 to 0.91. Additionally, all classifiers consistently demonstrated high specificity (>0.96) in detecting ToxA+B+CDT+ strains. The classifiers' performances for Hv strain detection were linked to high specificity (≥0.96). This study highlights MALDI‐TOF MS enhanced by ML techniques as a rapid and cost‐effective tool for identifying CD strain virulence factors. Our results brought a proof‐of‐concept concerning the ability of MALDI‐TOF MS coupled with ML techniques to detect virulence factor and potentially improve the outbreak's management.
CEO gender and responses to shareholder activism
Authors: Jackson Scott C. , Rennekamp Kristina M. , Steenhoven Blake A.
Published: June 2024

Recent literature finds that firms led by female CEOs are more likely to be targeted by activist shareholders and that female CEOs are more likely to cooperate with activist shareholders' requests. Our study complements this literature by using two controlled experiments and a series of semi‐structured interviews with CEOs and CFOs to investigate how a CEO's response to shareholder activism influences investors' reactions and whether these reactions differ depending on the gender of the CEO or on how their response is explained. In the first experiment, we find that investors evaluate a firm as less attractive when a female CEO uses an uncooperative response rather than a cooperative response to shareholder activism, absent any explanation for the CEO's response. Conversely, investors evaluate a firm as less attractive when a male CEO uses a cooperative response rather than an uncooperative response. In the second experiment, where there is an added explanation for the CEO response, we find that investors react more positively to a female CEO's uncooperative response when the explanation is more communal (vs. agentic). Our interviews with CEOs and CFOs provide insights into how the gender of firms' leadership may play a role when activist shareholders target firms. Our results collectively suggest that investors rely on gender stereotypes when evaluating the responses of male and female executives to shareholder activism and that these evaluations affect their investment judgments. Our results also suggest a potential alternative explanation for the finding that female CEOs are more likely to cooperate with activist shareholders than are male CEOs. Rather than inherent differences in the management styles of male and female CEOs, responses to activist shareholders may be driven, at least in part, by managers anticipating that they will be penalized by investors for deviating from gender‐stereotypical behavior.
Patient recall of intensive care delirium: A qualitative investigation
Authors: la Cour Kirstine N. , Andersen‐Ranberg Nina C. , Mortensen Camilla , Poulsen Lone M. , Mathiesen Ole , Egerod Ingrid , Collet Marie
Published: June 2024

Background

Many patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience delirium. Understanding the patient perspective of delirium is important to improve care and reduce suffering. The aim of our study was to investigate the subjective patient experience of delirium, delirium‐related distress, and delirium management in ICU.

Methods

Our study had a qualitative multicenter design applying individual interviews and thematic analysis. Participants were critically ill adult patients that were determined delirium positive according to validated delirium screening tools during ICU admission. The interviews were conducted after ICU discharge when patients were delirium‐free as assessed by the “Rapid clinical test for delirium” (4AT) and able to participate in an interview.

Results

We interviewed 30 patients choosing the main themes deductively: Delirium experience; Delirium related distress; and Delirium management. Despite variations in recollection detail, ICU survivors consistently reported delirium‐related distress during and after their ICU stay, manifesting as temporal confusion, misinterpretations, and a sense of distrust towards ICU staff. Delusions were characterized by a blend of factual and fictional elements. Impaired short‐term memory hindered communication and intensified feelings of isolation, neglect, and loss of control.

Conclusion

The ICU survivors in our study recalled delirium as an unpleasant and frightening experience, often leading to delirium‐related distress during and after their ICU stay, indicating the necessity for enhanced assessment and treatment.
Factors influencing treatment decisions in permanent mature teeth with irreversible pulpitis: a questionnaire‐based study
Authors: Alfaisal Y , Idris G , Peters OA , Peters CI , Zafar S
Published: June 2024

Background

Decision‐making in dentistry is a complex process, and this study evaluated factors that influence dentists' approaches in permanent mature teeth with irreversible pulpitis.

Methods

An online questionnaire was distributed to a group of dental practitioners. The questionnaire surveyed dentists' opinions about the management of vital permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis including a case scenario.

Results

Data from 262 respondents were analysed. Barriers to perform vital pulp therapy (VPT) included presuming it an inappropriate long‐term treatment (29.7%), lack of knowledge, insufficient access to materials, inadequate training and lack of confidence. Patient's preference (79.44%) and tooth restorability (91%) were the most frequently reported factors influencing treatment decisions. Dentists aged 25–35 years and who have 1–5 years of experience ranked extraction as a more successful treatment (P = 0.008; P = 0.003, respectively). Non‐Australian graduates ranked pulpotomy to be a more successful procedure (P = 0.007), and public sector/hospital practitioners favoured extraction more than practitioners from other sectors (P = 0.003). Postgraduates/specialists preferred pulpotomy (P = 0.012) more than general dentists. Participants' clinical approaches for the management of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: root canal treatment (45.0%), indirect pulp capping (22.9%), direct pulp capping (15.8%), pulpotomy (17.1%) and extraction (6.3%).

Conclusions

Female, more experienced, overseas‐educated dentists and endodontists preferred VPT for irreversible pulpitis in permanent mature teeth more than other participants. © 2024 Australian Dental Association.
Do veterans with risky substance use (RSU) use distinct pain treatment modalities?
Authors: Meshberg‐Cohen Sarah , Gilstad‐Hayden Kathryn , Martino Steve , Lazar Christine M. , Sellinger John , Rosen Marc I.
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives

Risky substance use (RSU) is common among people with chronic pain and is associated with worse pain treatment outcomes. Nonopioid treatment is recommended, but it is unknown whether people with RSU use different or fewer pain treatment modalities. This study describes use of different pain treatments by veterans with and without RSU and those receiving versus not receiving opioid medication.

Methods

Veterans (N = 924) who filed service‐connected disability claims related to musculoskeletal conditions and rated their pain four or higher on the Numeric Rating Scale, reported on 25 different pain services in the preceding 90 days. Recent RSU was identified via Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Test (ASSIST) cutoffs and/or nail sample toxicology.

Results

Overall, RSU was not associated with number of provider‐delivered or self‐delivered pain modalities. Over‐the‐counter medications (71%), self‐structured exercise (69%), and nonopioid prescription medications (38%) were the most used modalities. Veterans receiving prescribed opioids (8.4%) were more likely to see primary care, receive injections, and attend exercise and/or meditation classes, compared to those without opioid prescriptions.

Discussion and Conclusions

Opioid and nonopioid pain treatment utilization did not differ based on RSU, and those prescribed opioids were more likely to engage in other nonopioid pain treatments. Regardless of RSU, veterans appear willing to try provider‐delivered (58%) and self‐delivered (79%) pain treatment.

Scientific Significance

In this first‐ever evaluation of 25 different pain treatment modalities among veterans with and without RSU, people with RSU did not use less treatment modalities.
Sexual health in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease – The paediatric gastroenterologists' point of view
Authors: Anafy Adi , Cohen Shlomi , Matar Manar , Shouval Dror S. , Shamir Raanan , Weintraub Yael
Published: June 2024

Aim

Although sexual health (SH) impairment and sexually transmitted infections (STI) are occasionally encountered in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), paediatric gastroenterologists (PedGI) do not often discuss these issues. Literature about SH in the paediatric IBD population is limited. We aimed to assess PedGI knowledge and common practice related to sexual advice and STI workups in patients with IBD.

Methods

A questionnaire comprising 25 questions addressing sexual activity in youth, SH, recommendations, and workup for STI in adolescents with IBD was sent to all registered PedGI in Israel.

Results

Fifty‐two physicians completed the questionnaire (27 males,52%). Only 50% correctly predicted the mean age that Israeli youth start practicing sex. Seventy‐five per cent responded that providers should discuss sexual activity with their patients, but only 19% do so, most often in response to a patient's query. Ninety six percent answered that they do not have enough knowledge about SH in IBD. Finally, only 2% obtain rectal swabs for STI in patients with refractory proctitis.

Conclusion

Sexual issues and recommendations are not routinely discussed by the majority of PedGI in paediatric IBD clinics. Providers should obtain more knowledge in the field and initiate discussion of these issues with adolescent patients with IBD.
Union strategies in conflict: A comparative study of strike fund institutionalisation and infrastructural resources
Authors: Messina Ignacio , Las Heras Jon
Published: June 2024

This article unveils the establishment or rejection of strike funds as a tangible organisational tool towards union renewal. Despite strike funds being a necessary and recurring instrument in the organisation of strikes, they have seldom been theorised as a distinct (infrastructural) power resource fundamental to understanding unions’ readiness and preparation for industrial conflict. Institutionalised strike funds, supported by union dues, provide economic support to strikers, reinforce their collective identity, legitimise a more confrontational position towards collective bargaining and may garner support from the broader community. Additionally, strike funds may serve as tools to attract members and shape narratives that can influence corporate positions and public opinion during labour disputes. Through a comparative analysis of 10 confederal unions in Spain, we illustrate the different strategic views that unions may hold with respect to them. Crucially, we find that the presence or absence of strike funds reflects the specific political position a union adopts concerning industrial conflict and how they may possibly articulate them with other power resources. Hence, the institutionalisation of strike funds involves a complex union renewal process, which is also influenced by a comparative learning process between unions. Finally, we also explain the flourishing of different strike funds during the last decades that derive from a spillover effect between counterpower and radical unions.
Circadian time‐dependent effects of experimental colitis on theophylline disposition and toxicity
Authors: Yang Yi , Wu Pengcheng , Guo Juntao , Pan Zhixi , Lin Shubin , Zeng Wanying , Wang Cunchuan , Dong Zhiyong , Wang Shuai
Published: June 2024

Background and purpose

Drug disposition undergoes significant alteration in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet circadian time‐dependency of these changes remains largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to determine the temporal effects of experimental colitis on drug disposition and toxicity.

Experimental Approach

RNA‐sequencing was used to screen genes relevant to colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate in mice. Liver microsomes and pharmacokinetic analysis were used to analyze the activity of key enzymes. Dual luciferase assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) were employed to elucidate regulatory mechanisms.

Key Results

RNA sequencing analysis revealed that colitis markedly influenced expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Specifically, a substantial down‐regulation of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 was observed in livers of mice with colitis at Zeitgeber Time 8 (ZT8), with no significant changes detected at ZT20. At ZT8, the altered expression corresponded to diminished metabolism and enhanced incidence of hepato‐cardiac toxicity of theophylline, a substrate specifically metabolized by these enzymes. A combination of assays, integrating liver‐specific Bmal1 knockout and targeted activation of BMAL1 showed that dysregulation in CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 during colitis was attributable to perturbed BMAL1 functionality. Luciferase reporter and ChIP assays collectively substantiated the role of BMAL1 in regulating Cyp1a2 and Cyp2e1 transcription through its binding affinity to E‐box‐like sites.

Conclusion and implication

Our findings establish a strong link between colitis and chronopharmacology, shedding light on how IBD affects drug disposition and toxicity over time. This research provides a theoretical foundation for optimizing drug dosage in patients with IBD.
The effects of nurse practitioner scope of practice laws on diabetic health care costs
Authors: Wallace Alexandra , Bhai Moiz , Hughes Danny R.
Published: June 2024

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients require regular monitoring and preventive care from healthcare professionals to avoid costly and potentially life‐threatening complications. One approach for expanding access to primary care for diabetic patients is to change scope of practice laws for nurse practitioners to allow full practice authority (FPA). We find that state‐level implementation of FPA reduces total health care costs for diabetics by approximately 20% in urban areas and reduces rural usage of advanced medical services for diabetics by about 10%. However, we see no effects of FPA on primary care claims, high A1c tests, or diabetic debridements.
A novel echocardiographic parameter considering left ventricular afterload during V‐A ECMO support
Authors: Sato Kei , Heinsar Silver , Chan Jonathan , Farah Samia M. , Wildi Karin , Obonyo Nchafatso G. , Liu Keibun , Ainola Carmen , Sato Noriko , Abbate Gabriella , Wilson Emily S. , Bouquet Mahé , Hyslop Kieran , Passmore Margaret R. , Ijuin Shinichi , Ro Sun Kyun , Fior Gabriele , Gandini Lucia , Lundon Brooke , Platts David G. , Suen Jacky Y. , Bassi Gianluigi Li , Fraser John F.
Published: June 2024

Background

Left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI) and cardiac power index (CPI) account for the haemodynamic load of the left ventricle and are promising prognostic values in cardiogenic shock. However, accurately and non‐invasively measuring these parameters during veno‐arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V‐A ECMO) is challenging and potentially biased by the extracorporeal circulation. This study aimed to investigate, in an ovine model of cardiogenic shock, whether Pressure‐Strain Product (PSP), a novel speckle‐tracking echocardiography parameter, (1) can correlate with pressure‐volume catheter‐based LVSWI and CPI, and (2) can be load‐independent during the flow modification of V‐A ECMO.

Methods

Nine Dorset‐cross ewes (51 ± 4 kg) were included. After cardiogenic shock was induced, full support V‐A ECMO (X L/min based on 60 mL/kg/min) commenced. At seven time points during 24‐h observation, echocardiographic parameters as well as pressure‐volume catheter‐based LVSWI and CPI were simultaneously measured with X and following X‐1 L/min of ECMO flow. PSP was calculated by multiplying global circumferential strain or global radial strain, and mean arterial pressure, for PSPcirc or PSPrad, respectively.

Results

PSPcirc showed a stronger correlation with LVSWI (correlation coefficient, CC = .360, p < .001) and CPI (CC = .283, p < .001) than other echocardiographic parameters. The predictability of PSPcirc for pressure‐volume catheter‐based LVSWI (AUC .82) and CPI (AUC .80) was also higher than other echocardiographic parameters. No statistically significant differences were identified between the two ECMO flow variations in PSPcirc (p = .558).

Conclusions

A novel echocardiographic parameter, PSP, may non‐invasively predict pressure‐volume catheter‐based LVSWI and CPI in a load‐independent manner in a cardiogenic shock supported by V‐A ECMO.
A special section: Contributions of family science to anti‐racism efforts
Authors: Sterrett‐Hong Emma M.
Published: June 2024

Concomitant with a growing recognition of demographic shifts toward greater racial/ethnic diversity in the United States and widespread depictions of racial injustice, desires for increased racial/ethnic tolerance and inclusivity have been expressed in various sectors of U.S. society, including education, healthcare, and business. However, the literature on effective strategies and interventions for advancing anti‐racism, or efforts to reduce racial/ethnic injustice, is minimal and underdeveloped. The family science field, characterized by rich theories on human systems and interactions, strategies for changing interpersonal dynamics, and the recognition that perceived knowledge is dependent on sociopolitical location, has much to offer the study of strategies to actualize increased racial/ethnic equity. The articles in this special section demonstrate potential contributions family science can make to the endeavor for racial/ethnic equity, through presenting theoretical, empirical, and practice innovations and findings steeped in the family science orientation toward addressing systems, cycles, and change.
Prognostic roles of dysregulated METTL3 protein expression in cancers and potential anticancer value by inhibiting METTL3 function
Authors: Zhao Rong , Chen Jiaping , Wang Yangwei , Xiao Han , Mei Peiyuan , Lin Wei , Diao Mingxin , He Shiwen , Liao Yongde , Meng Wangyang
Published: June 2024

Background

Many studies have demonstrated the relationship between METTL3 protein expression and clinical outcomes in various cancers and elucidated the mechanism by which METTL3 disrupts the behavior of cancer cells. Here, we attempted to define the prognostic value of METTL3 protein in patients with cancer via systematic analysis and explored the potential effect of inhibiting METTL3 using its specific inhibitor.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science databases for studies that elucidated the prognostic value of METTL3 protein expression in all cancer types and then calculated the pooled hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals for the overall survival (OS) of all cancer types and subgroups. Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset were used to study METTL3 mRNA expression in cancers. Further, the effects of a METTL3‐specific inhibitor were studied in cancer cells via the colony formation assay, the cell proliferation assay, and apoptosis detection.

Results

Meta‐analysis of the 33 cohorts in 32 studies (3666 patients in total) revealed that higher METTL3 protein expression indicated poor OS in the majority of cancers. Bioinformatics analysis of METTL3 mRNA expression and cancer prognosis did not show the extremely prominent prognostic value of METTL3 mRNA. Nevertheless, the METTL3‐specific inhibitor attenuated cell proliferation and cell cloning formation and promoted apoptosis.

Conclusions

METTL3 protein expression is associated with poor prognosis in most cancer types and could be a biomarker for OS. Further, METTL3 inhibition might be a potential treatment strategy for cancers.
Collective sustainability competences of universities as a nested institutional space
Authors: Nokkala Terhi , Lehtonen Markku , Lehtonen Anna , Trenc Josep Espluga , Mykrä Niina , Heikkinen Hannu , Lopez Ana Prades
Published: June 2024

Sustainability action at universities is complex and requires engaging multiple competences that reside on different levels outside and inside the organisation. In addition to individual competences, social communities also possess collective resources and characteristics that do not translate into a sum of individual abilities. Based on a qualitative small‐n comparative study of four universities in Spain, Portugal, Finland and Romania, this paper explores the concept of collective sustainability competences as enablers and constraints of sustainability action at universities. Drawing from institutional theory and nestedness in organisations, the article poses the following research question: How can the collective sustainability competences of universities be conceptualised? The article develops a conceptual understanding of regulative, normative and cultural‐cognitive elements of collective sustainability competences as a nested institutional space. In so doing, the article contributes to the discussion on the capacity of universities to act as key organisations in sustainability transitions.