bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fostering entrepreneurial orientation as a source of sustainable competitive advantage: role of external environment
Authors: Kapur Inakshi , Tyagi Pallavi
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The ability to create and sustain competitive advantages depends on cultivating employee’s capabilities. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) can foster an organisation-wide culture of exploring new opportunities and creating new learnings. Sustainable competitive advantages should be based on long-term behavioural changes rather than ad hoc adjustments made for short-term gains, enabling employees to become a source of unique and inimitable advantages. This study aims to explore how each external environment impacts the dimensions of EO. The study also introduces environmental jolts as a dimension of the external environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors considered a sample of 39 organisations in IT companies from India to study the external environment’s effect on their EO. Using covariance-based structural equation modelling, the authors measured the impact of external environment variables on EO. A total of 250 responses were found suitable for analysis.

Findings

Certain crucial factors were identified through an extensive analysis of the relationships between individual factors of the external environment and EO. Technological opportunities showed a strong positive association with all factors of EO, whereas dynamism of the environment had a positive relationship with innovativeness and proactiveness. Environmental jolts showed a negative impact on innovativeness and risk-taking propensity.

Research limitations/implications

EO has been developed and researched extensively in the Western context as a unidimensional construct. In the present study, the relationship between the external environment factors and each dimension of EO has been analysed individually, thus following a multidimensional approach. Moreover, environment jolts as a factor of the external environment have been introduced, and their effect on the dimension of EO has been studied. Finally, the implications of encouraging entrepreneurial behaviours to develop sustainable competitive advantages have been discussed.

Originality/value

The research explores the multidimensionality of the EO construct and also introduces environmental jolts as a dimension of the external environment.
Universities as sustainability agents! Does green campus ensure green intellectual capital? A quantitative approach to the triggering role of green knowledge sharing and green innovation
Authors: Ali Ayesha
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This article aims to explore the concept of green campus (GC) being implemented in Pakistan’s universities in order to attain green intellectual capital (GIC).

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were collected from the 20 public sector universities in the Punjab province, Pakistan. Data analysis was conducted by using SPSS and MPLUS software.

Findings

Results confirm that green practices help universities to attain GIC. Further, the results also confirm the mediating role of green knowledge sharing (GKS) and green innovation (GI).

Research limitations/implications

The data were gathered from public sector universities in Pakistan. Hence, the findings of the present study may not be generalized to the private universities, other sectors or countries.

Practical implications

This study provides insights regarding the implementation of GC paradigm from technological perspective. This can enhance the information exchange among sustainability practitioners in order to introduce innovative solutions for addressing sustainability challenges.

Social implications

This study has developed a transdisciplinary policy framework that provides guidelines for higher education institutions in Pakistan to attain GI and IC.

Originality/value

The originality lies in framing GC as a generator of GIC while also establishing a strong link between IC, economy and the environment by demonstrating how environmental sustainability initiatives influence economic gains through enhanced reputation, cost reduction and stakeholder engagement. This study has developed a theoretical framework based on resource-based theory, which supports the notion that GCs will lead to GIC by developing GKS and GI.
From risk minimisation to trust building: an empirical study on blockchain technology in digital payment system
Authors: Pandey Vasant , Kushwaha Gyaneshwar Singh
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediator role of blockchain technology (BT) in developing the trust among the users of digital payment (DP).

Design/methodology/approach

The research is of conclusive in nature. Purposive convenience sampling method was used to collect the data through a structured questionnaire. Statistical software Smart PLS 4 and SPSS 26 is used for the analysis of 540 valid responses.

Findings

This study concludes that resulting model is capable to predict the mediating role of BT in framing the trust. It also identified that all the factors (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, social norms and facilitating conditions) examined were found to have significant influence on the adoption of DP system.

Research limitations/implications

This study uses variables that influences human behaviour in DP adoption. In future the work can be extended to check the moderating effect of BT on trust towards DP system.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates a key driver of towards DP. In addition, it highlights the pivotal role of BT in developing trust in both current and future adoption of DPs.
An examination of Malaysian companies’ SDG reporting: does the corporate governance-level mechanisms matter?
Authors: Qaderi Sumaia Ayesh
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Sustainable development goals (SDGs) have been attracting ever considerable attention from practice and academia, but the relationship between board characteristics and SDGs reporting remains unclear, especially in emerging countries. This paper empirically aims to the impact of board characteristics on SDGs reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on stakeholder-agency theory, this study used data from 572 firm-year observations between 2017 and 2023 from top Malaysian-listed companies.

Findings

The result of feasible generalized least squares regression indicates that larger, more independent boards are associated with increased SDG disclosure. This suggests that well-structured boards can positively influence decision-making by reducing information asymmetries and agency conflicts. On the other hand, the results reveal that board activity insignificantly impacts the disclosure of SDGs. The findings are robust to robustness analyses and endogeneity checks.

Practical implications

This research offers significant implications for companies, practitioners and stakeholders, seeking to enhance their commitment to SDG implementation. In addition, the findings provide valuable insights for policymakers to encourage companies to diversify their composition boards and to promote strong, complementary governance mechanisms that align management behavior with sustainable business objectives.

Social implications

The findings can enhance SDG reporting quality by improving materiality assessment disclosures. This increased transparency and accountability will empower corporate stakeholders to better evaluate the reporting entity’s underlying processes. Enhanced corporate SDG reporting aligns with Malaysia’s commitment to implementing the UN SDGs and transitioning to a sustainable future.

Originality/value

The findings offer fresh insights into a previously unexplored topic and highlight the important role of the corporate board in addressing and improving the corporate SDGs reporting of listed firms in Malaysia.
How is it going to end? Negative workplace gossip about coworkers, compensatory ethics and gossipers helping behavior toward coworkers
Authors: Zhao Hongdan , Ma Yunshuo
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Drawing upon compensatory ethics theory, this study explored the underlying mechanisms through which gossipers engaged in helping behavior as a form of compensation after initiating negative workplace gossip.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a two-wave field study of 394 Chinese employees, this study tests theoretical hypotheses using path analysis and bootstrapping methods.

Findings

The findings suggested that negative workplace gossip positively influenced the gossipers’ helping behavior through moral self-image and guilt. Moreover, moral reflectiveness not only positively moderated the impacts of negative workplace gossip on moral self-image and guilt but also positively moderated the mediating effects of moral self-image and guilt in the relationship between negative workplace gossip and helping behavior.

Originality/value

These results enrich the theoretical research on negative workplace gossip, offer new perspectives for studying this phenomenon and provide a theoretical basis and decision-making reference for management practices.
Ricoeur’s triple mimesis as a hermeneutic of the ethnographer’s work in CCO
Authors: Jojczyk Joanne , Lambotte Francois , Christophe Christel
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This article explores the interpretive process of ethnographic research within the framework of Communicative Constitution of Organization (CCO) approaches. Specifically, it examines the role of Ricoeur’s triple mimesis as a hermeneutic tool in making sense of the extensive data gathered during a three-year ethnographic study of a cultural event, “Le Grand Huit,” part of the Mons 2015 European Capital of Culture initiative.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employs a filmed ethnographic methodology to capture the participatory processes of the “Le Grand Huit” project. The study is guided by CCO principles, focusing on communication events as the central unit of analysis. The interpretive framework of Ricoeur’s triple mimesis is utilized to navigate and textualize the complex data collected, including fieldnotes, interviews and video footage.

Findings

The study demonstrates how the process of textualizing ethnographic data through Ricoeur’s triple mimesis – prefiguration, configuration and refiguration – unpacks the interpretative process of CCO ethnographers. The narrative construction not only aids in data interpretation but also establishes the authority of the ethnographic account by making the researcher’s biases and preunderstandings explicit.

Originality/value

This article contributes to CCO scholarship by providing a methodological tool that integrates hermeneutic phenomenology into ethnographic research. It addresses the often-criticized vagueness of ethnographic methods and emphasizes the importance of reflexivity in legitimizing scientific knowledge. The application of Ricoeur’s triple mimesis offers a novel approach to understanding the constitutive role of communication in organizing processes.
Research on ultrasonic detection method for weld defects based on complex synergetic convolutional calculation
Authors: Zhang Rui , Dong Zehua , Zhang Yanjun , Fu Liuhu , Bai Qiaofeng
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a new ultrasonic detection method for stainless steel weld defects based on complex synergetic convolutional calculation to solve two problems in the ultrasonic detection of austenitic stainless steel weld defects. These include ignoring the nonlinear information of the imaginary part in the complex domain of the signal and the correlation information between the amplitude of the real part and phase of the imaginary part and subjective dependence of diagnosis model parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

An ultrasonic detection method for weld defects based on complex synergetic convolution calculation is proposed in this paper to address the above issues. By mapping low-density, 1D detection samples to a complex domain space with high representation richness, a multi-scale and multilevel complex synergetic convolution calculation model (CSCC) is designed to match and transform samples to mine amplitude changes, phase shifts, weak phase angle changes and amplitude-phase correlation features deeply from the detection signal. This study proposed an Elite Sine-Cosine Sobol Sampling Dung Beetle Optimization Algorithm, and the detection model CSCC achieves global adaptive matching of key hyperparameters in 19 dimensions. Finally, a regulative complex synergetic convolutional calculation model is constructed to achieve high-performance detection of weld defects.

Findings

Through experiments on a self-developed Taiyuan intelligent detection and information processing weld defect dataset, the results show that the method achieves a detection accuracy of 92% for five types of weld defects: cracks, porosity, slag inclusion and unfused and unwelded components, which represent an average improvement of 11% relative to comparable models. This method is also validated with the PhysioNet electrocardiogram public dataset, which achieves better detection performance relative to the other models.

Originality/value

This method provides a theoretical basis and technical reference for developing and applying intelligent, efficient and accurate ultrasonic defects detection technology.
Effects of decade‐long grazing exclusion and wind erosion reduction on community temporal stability in a semi‐arid grassland
Authors: Song Jian , Zheng Mengmei , Jiang Lin , Wang Haidao , Zhang Qingshan , Ru Jingyi , Zhang Jiajia , Feng Jiayin , Qiu Xueli , Wan Shiqiang
Published: January 2025

Ecological restoration can help rehabilitate degraded grasslands and mitigate desertification and wind erosion. Grazing exclusion (GE), a prominent restoration practice, in conjunction with wind erosion reduction (WR) can have profound impacts on the long‐term stability of grassland plant communities. However, this area remains underexplored, which poses challenges for developing policies that support sustainable grassland management.

This study, part of a decade‐long (2010–2019) field experiment, investigated the effects of GE and WR on the temporal stability of plant communities in a semi‐arid grassland on the Mongolian Plateau, China. The study also explored the underlying regulatory mechanisms driving these stability dynamics.

Over the 10‐year period, GE increased total community cover by restoring the cover of tall‐stature species, which resulted in sub‐canopy light limitation and a reduction in the richness of short‐stature species and the overall community. Despite species loss due to GE, species asynchrony remained unaffected. In contrast, GE improved the population stability of tall‐stature species, contributing to a marginal increase in community temporal stability (CTS). Wind erosion reduction stimulated total community cover by enhancing the cover of both tall‐ and short‐stature species. However, WR decreased the richness of short‐stature species and the overall community. Exacerbated water stress, resulting from increased cover of short‐stature species under WR, suppressed CTS. In addition, the elevated soil nitrogen (N) concentration associated with WR further diminished CTS by reducing the temporal stability of short‐stature species.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings highlight that while GE supports the recovery of dominant tall‐stature species and promotes their population stability, grassland communities recovering after WR face challenges such as water deficit and excessive N enrichment, leading to long‐term stability loss. Furthermore, the loss of short‐stature species under both GE and WR may disrupt grassland trophic relationships and destabilize food webs. Future sustainable management strategies should incorporate periodic or rotational grazing to alleviate sub‐canopy light limitation, enhance soil N uptake, and reduce water demands, which could help maintain the temporal stability of temperate grassland communities.
WHEN WE WERE ALMOST MODERN? Theory, methods and politics in The Centre for Environmental Studies, 1966–1975
Authors: Molina Julian , Burrows Roger
Published: January 2025

This article re‐examines the history of the UK Centre for Environmental Studies (CES) between 1966 and 1975. Using archival materials and interviews, the article details the role of the CES in attempts to ‘modernize’ urban and regional research and working relationships between the academy and government. The CES is probably best known, by readers of this journal, as the initial editorial base for the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research (IJURR) and for its role in incubating radical urbanism. However, as we show, these activities sat alongside important early developments in both computational social science and radical experiments in the use of the social sciences in policymaking, in ways that have, hitherto, not been well understood. The article is not intended as an exercise in nostalgia but, rather, one that gestures towards what Mark Fisher termed a ‘hauntological’ form of analysis; to quote Fisher, ‘[w]hen the present has given up on the future’ there is value in listening ‘for the relics of the future in the unactivated potentials of the past’.
Prolonged Ovarian Stimulation Does Not Worsen Neonatal Outcomes After Fresh Embryo Transfers
Authors: Wu Jing , Ju Ying , Dong Jie , Zhang Hengde , Xiao Xifeng , Wang Xiaohong
Published: January 2025

Objective

To investigate the relationship between prolonged ovarian stimulation and neonatal outcomes after autologous fresh embryo transfer (fET).

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting

University‐affiliated centres.

Population

3529 patients underwent autologous in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles between August 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022, with a live singleton birth after fET.

Methods

Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between prolonged ovarian stimulation and neonatal outcomes. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to evaluate independent effects.

Main Outcome Measures

Neonatal outcomes.

Results

Multivariate regression showed no significant association between simulation duration and birthweight (adjusted β: 4.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −13.86 to 22.23; p = 0.6494) or gestational age (GA) (adjusted β: −0.01, 95% [CI]: −0.09 to 0.06; p = 0.7403) Categorical analysis of neonatal outcomes, including low birthweight (LBW) (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.94, 95% [CI]: 0.70 to 1.25; p = 0.6501), macrosomia (adjusted OR: 0.95, 95% [CI]: 0.78 to 1.16; p = 0.6294), small for gestational age (SGA) (adjusted OR: 0.95, 95% [CI]: 0.75 to 1.19; p = 0.6465), large for gestational age (LGA) (adjusted OR: 1.02, 95% [CI]: 0.85 to 1.21; p = 0.8542) and preterm (adjusted OR: 0.93, 95% [CI]: 0.77 to 1.11; p = 0.4191), revealed no associations with stimulation duration. PSM analysis confirmed these findings.

Conclusions

Prolonged ovarian stimulation does not appear to increase adverse neonatal outcomes in singleton newborns after autologous fET.
Molecular Mechanisms of circKIF4A in Breast Cancer Progression
Authors: Liu Haoyong , Zeng Lingdiao , Chen Huaxiang , Xu Lixue , Wang Chuntong , Cui Dandan , Li Jing , Chen Caozhen
Published: January 2025

Aim

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide, necessitating continued research into its molecular mechanisms. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their role in various cancers, including BC. This study explores the role of circRNA kinesin family member 4A (circKIF4A) in BC progression and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods

BC cell lines were cultured, and circKIF4A expression was knocked down. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed using the Cell Counting Kit‐8, colony formation assay, and Transwell assays. The expression of circKIF4A, miR‐874‐3p, and glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase domain‐containing 5 (GDPD5) was quantified using qRT‐PCR and Western blot analysis. Subcellular fractionation was performed to localize circKIF4A within the cell. The interactions between circKIF4A and miR‐874‐3p, as well as between miR‐874‐3p and GDPD5, were evaluated using RNA pull‐down and dual‐luciferase assays. Rescue experiments were conducted with miR‐874‐3p inhibition or GDPD5 overexpression to confirm the mechanistic pathway.

Results

circKIF4A was found to be upregulated in BC cells. Its knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. circKIF4A acts as a sponge for miR‐874‐3p, reducing its expression. miR‐874‐3p targets and suppresses GDPD5, a key regulator in BC cell growth. Silencing miR‐874‐3p or overexpressing GDPD5 reversed the tumor‐suppressive effects of circKIF4A knockdown.

Conclusion

circKIF4A promotes BC cell proliferation and invasiveness by regulating the miR‐874‐3p/GDPD5 axis. These findings highlight a potential therapeutic target in BC and contribute to the understanding of circRNA involvement in cancer progression.
The Belt and Road Initiative and Urban Entrepreneurship: Evidence From the Opening Policy From China
Authors: Xiong Ding , Zhong Xin , Sun Kai , Zhao Sirui
Published: January 2025

Entrepreneurship is a vital source of high‐quality employment in China and is crucial in advancing Chinese‐style modernization. Using panel data from 281 prefecture‐level cities in China from 2003 to 2021, this study employs difference‐in‐differences and double machine learning models to examine the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on entrepreneurship. The research findings are as follows: The BRI implementation significantly enhances entrepreneurship at city and provincial levels, with results remaining robust across various tests. The BRI promotes entrepreneurship through industrial innovation, digital trade development, and economic agglomeration. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the BRI's positive effects on entrepreneurship are more pronounced in small and medium‐sized cities and central and western regions. Furthermore, the BRI exhibits significant spatial spillover effects, stimulating entrepreneurship in neighboring cities. The initiative also effectively reduces relative disparities in entrepreneurship across regions, particularly between eastern, central, and western areas, thus promoting coordinated regional development. Additionally, triple‐difference results indicate that the BRI's positive effects on urban industrial innovation are mainly concentrated in manufacturing sectors such as energy, equipment, and information technology. This study complements the BRI's effects and provides policy implications for narrowing regional entrepreneurship gaps and promoting high‐quality full employment in China.
LHPP‐P38 MAPK/ERK‐ETS1 Axis Negative Feedback Signaling Restrains Progression in Breast Cancer
Authors: Liu Xu , Yu Deyang , Yu Zhen , Su Sisi , Jiang Meixia , Zhao Chunbo
Published: January 2025

Invasion and metastasis are major causes of mortality in breast cancer (BRCA) patients. LHPP, known for its tumor‐suppressive effects, has an undefined role in BRCA. We found reduced LHPP protein in BRCA tissues, with lower levels correlating with poor patient outcomes. In vitro studies show LHPP inhibits BRCA cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and stemness. In vivo xenograft models support LHPP's role in curbing tumorigenesis and lung metastasis. Mechanistically, LHPP interacts with ERK and P38 MAPK, leading to their dephosphorylation and suppression of the MAPK pathway. We also reveal ETS1, a MAPK effector, repressing LHPP mRNA transcription, suggesting a LHPP‐P38 MAPK/ERK‐ETS1 negative feedback loop as a key regulatory mechanism in controlling BRCA invasion and metastasis.
Physiological condition drives ecological functions of two highly abundant and widespread dung beetles of South American pasturelands
Authors: Correa César M. A. , de Oliveira Pedro Lucas Moreira , de Cerqueira Leonardo Vilas‐Boas M. P. , González‐Tokman Daniel , Abot Alfredo R. , Salomão Renato Portela
Published: January 2025

Physiological condition plays a pivotal role on the interaction between individuals and the environment, consequently being related to the ecological functions that organisms provide. Body dry mass, fat and muscle mass have been proved to affect the way in which organisms behave, as the depletion of nutrients in their body affect the strategies that they present.

In this study, we used two dung beetle species as a model to test the effects of individual traits and physiological condition on the ecosystem services provided by them (e.g., dung removal and soil excavation). To attain this goal, we used Dichotomius nisus and D. bos, which are widespread species that inhabit South American pasturelands and are considered important for the ecosystem functioning of these regions.

The beetles were collected from introduced pastures (Urochloa spp.) in the Brazilian Cerrado biome, and the functions performed by the individuals were evaluated in the laboratory, with females and males in buckets filled with soil.

Our results show that individuals with higher amounts of fat mass performed less ecosystem functions. Furthermore, dung beetles with more muscle removed more dung and soil during their activities. Lastly, these patterns were sex and species dependent.

Our study provides evidence that individual physiological condition affects ecological functions provided by dung beetles. Thus, the integration of animal condition may allow a deeper understanding of the physiological basis of the ecosystem services provided by dung beetles, as well as an individual perspective on the contribution of their ecological services.
Hematologic Complications of Pregnancy
Authors: Patel Payal Bharatkumar , Patel Nidhi , Hedges Madeline A. , Benson Ashley E. , Tomer Arjun , Lo Jamie O. , Shatzel Joseph J.
Published: January 2025

Hematologic complications are common in pregnancy and can significantly impact both maternal and fetal health. Recognizing and treating these complications can be challenging due to the limited evidence available to guide clinical consultants. Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent hematologic issue in pregnancy and often occurs due to increased maternal blood volume and the nutritional demands of the growing fetus. Thrombocytopenia is the second most commonly occurring hematologic issue in pregnancy and can be associated with increased blood loss and complications during childbirth. However, the most common type of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy is gestational thrombocytopenia, which does not typically require clinical management. Thus, it is important to distinguish gestational thrombocytopenia from other etiologies of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy that require immediate treatment, including immune thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, preeclampsia, and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet levels) syndrome. Other important hematologic conditions in pregnancy include non‐inherited anemias, such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia and aplastic anemia, as well as inherited anemias, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, which may require specialized management to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes. Additionally, bleeding disorders, such as von Willebrand disease and hemophilia, pose unique challenges in pregnancy, especially around the time of delivery, due to the risk of excessive bleeding. Lastly, thromboembolic disorders, such as venous thromboembolism (VTE), remain the leading cause of mortality in pregnancy in developed countries. Pregnancy‐related hormonal changes, venous stasis, and hypercoagulability contribute to an increased thromboembolic risk, further exacerbated by additional risk factors such as obesity or a prior personal or family history of VTE. This review aims to summarize current guidelines and management of the most common hematologic disorders in pregnancy.
Machine Learning Algorithms to Address the Polarity and Stigma of Mental Health Disclosures on Instagram
Authors: Merayo Noemí , Ayuso‐Lanchares Alba , González‐Sanguino Clara
Published: January 2025

This research explores the social response to disclosures and conversations about mental health on social media, which is a pioneering and innovative approach. Unlike previous studies, which focused predominantly on psychopathological aspects, this study explores how communities react to conversations about mental health on Instagram, one of the favourite social media platforms among young people, breaking new ground not only in the Spanish context, but also on a global scale, filling a gap in international research. The study created a novel corpus by collecting and labelling comments on Instagram posts related to celebrity mental health disclosures, categorising them by polarity (positive, negative, neutral) and stigma. Additionally, the research implements machine learning algorithms to detect stigma and polarity in mental health disclosures on Instagram. While traditional techniques like Support Vector Machine (SVM) and RF (Random Forest) displayed decent performance with lower computational loads, advanced deep learning and BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representation from Transformers) algorithms achieved outstanding results. In fact, BERT models achieve around 96% accuracy in polarity and stigma detection, while deep learning models achieve 80% for polarity and 87% for stigma, very high accuracy metrics. This research contributes significantly to understanding the impact of mental health discussions on social media, offering insights that can reduce stigma and raise awareness. Artificial intelligence can be used for more responsible use of social media and effective management of mental health problems in digital environments.
Ethnic Inequity in the Current Approach to H. pylori Testing and Treatment: Linked Data Cohort Analysis
Authors: Teng Andrea , Hildred Erin , Stanley James , Inns Stephen , McLeod Melissa
Published: January 2025

Background

As seen globally, there are up to sixfold differences in gastric cancer mortality by ethnicity in Aotearoa New Zealand, and H. pylori is the major modifiable risk factor. This study investigates whether current H. pylori testing and treatment approaches are equitable.

Materials and Methods

The study design was a retrospective cohort analysis of linked administrative health data. Laboratory testing data and pharmacy dispensing were linked to the Northern region health user population dataset (1.9 million) from 2015 to 2018. We investigated an individual's first test for H. pylori. Regression analyses compared ethnic differences in rates of H. pylori testing, infection, treatment, and retesting, adjusted for age, sex, and calendar year.

Results

Ethnic inequities were present across the clinical pathway. Compared to sole‐European, testing rates were lowest in Māori (OR 0.69) and Pacific (OR 0.81) and highest in Middle‐Eastern/Latin‐American/African (MELAA) (OR 2.21) and Asian (OR 2.02). Positivity rates were highest in MELAA (RR 2.96, 39%) and Pacific (RR 2.84, 38%) followed by Asian (RR 1.93, 26%) and Māori (RR 1.71, 23%). Treatment rates were similar for Asian (HR 1.05), MELAA (HR 1.03), and Māori (HR 0.98) compared to sole‐European but lower in Pacific (HR 0.90). Māori and Pacific were half as likely to be retested as sole‐European.

Conclusions

Despite the higher prevalence of H. pylori and gastric cancer, Māori and Pacific are relatively underserved with lower rates of testing and treatment than sole‐European. Improved guidelines and the consistent application of these along with an equity‐focused test and treat program are likely to be particularly beneficial for Māori and Pacific in addressing inequities.
Liver‐to‐spleen ratio obtained from gadoxetate disodium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging predicts intrahepatic recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Notake Tsuyoshi , Shimizu Akira , Kubota Koji , Kitagawa Noriyuki , Sugenoya Shinsuke , Yoshizawa Takahiro , Sakai Hiroki , Hayashi Hikaru , Tomida Hidenori , Yamazaki Shiori , Hayashi Shigeki , Yamada Akira , Fujinaga Yasunari , Soejima Yuji
Published: January 2025

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether parameters obtained from gadoxetate disodium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB‐MRI) could predict intrahepatic tumor recurrence in patients who underwent curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

This study included 208 patients who underwent EOB‐MRI before hepatectomy for HCC. The mean signal intensity of the liver (L20) and spleen (S20) was obtained from preoperative EOB‐MRI, and liver‐to‐spleen ratio (LSR) was calculated from these values as: LSR = L20/S20. The association of LSR value with intrahepatic recurrence of HCC after curative hepatectomy was analyzed.

Results

Intrahepatic recurrence in the remnant liver developed in 111 (53%) patients during the median follow‐up period of 52.0 (range, 7.0–134.9) months after hepatectomy. Cumulative incidence of intrahepatic recurrence was significantly higher in patients with low LSR (<2.0) than in those with high LSR (≥2.0) (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, low LSR was identified as an independent predictor of intrahepatic recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–2.72; p = 0.002), together with multiple tumors, macroscopic vascular invasion, and high‐grade fibrosis of the background liver. Subgroup analysis according to the time of recurrence (within 1 year or more) revealed that low LSR was significantly associated with late recurrence (hazard ratio, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.40–3.94; p = 0.001), but not with early recurrence.

Conclusions

Low LSR was an independent risk factor of intrahepatic recurrence after curative hepatectomy for HCC, and was especially associated with late recurrence developing more than 1 year after curative hepatectomy.
In vivo efficacy of a stabilized Vitamin C‐based serum at pH 6 on some ageing facial signs of women of different ages and phototypes
Authors: Isoir‐Ingrez Muriel , Veriato Anna , Figueiredo Sara , Cornillon Céline , Hassler Sandra , Wang Pamella H. , Simonnet Jean‐Thierry
Published: January 2025

Objective

To assess, clinically and instrumentally, the efficacy of a stabilized 12% Vitamin C (VC)‐based serum (pH 6) on skin photoageing of women of various age and phototype.

Materials and Methods

Eighty women, with Phototypes I to VI, of various age (45–70y) living in Mauritius, participated in an open, uncontrolled study. After a two‐week period of washout, they applied the Vitamin C‐based serum twice a day for 2 months onto their whole face as well as a hydrating cream every evening to ensure a comparable skin hydration level in all subjects. At set time intervals (D0, D immediate, D14, D28 and D56), a local dermatologist graded eight facial signs by visual or tactile assessments, using a 0–9 structured scale. At each time interval, the facial skin was imaged by standardized technique (Colorface™) and through echography (Dermascan™) to record its thickness and density. Skin elasticity was recorded by a the Cutometer® device under a controlled suctional stress. A questionnaire was filled out by all subjects recording their self‐assessments of the serum's effects and several organoleptic properties.

Results

Compared with the baseline values (D0), the skin of all subjects showed progressive and significant changes in glow, tone evenness, radiance, firmness, softness and smoothness, associated with a reduction in fine lines. Deep wrinkles, only observed on 26 subjects, were found to be reduced. Self‐assessments corresponded well with both clinical and instrumental results and indicated excellent skin tolerance. Ultrasound recordings exhibited significantly thicker and denser skin at D56.

Conclusion

If certain changes in some skin facial signs (skin tone and related items, firmness, sagging…) are linked to the high concentration of VC, a complementary impact of increased skin hydration remains possible due to the glycerol present in the serum and hydrating cream. These significant performance results in vivo showed that a very acidic medium (∼pH 3) is not a prerequisite to an efficient VC cosmetic formula, as has long been accepted in the cosmetics industry. Such a low pH can fragilize the skin equilibrium over time. As second originality, the studied formula seemed to fit all phototypes.
Clinical efficacy of OS‐01 peptide formulation in reducing the signs of periorbital skin aging
Authors: Zonari Alessandra , Brace Lear E. , Li Fanghua , Harder Nathaniel H. O. , Harker Claire , Jacob Carolyn , Kaufman Joely , Chilukuri Suneel , Oliveira Carolina R. , Boroni Mariana , Carvalho Juliana L.
Published: January 2025

Background

The aging of the skin, particularly around the periorbital region, is a complex process characterized by the accumulation of senescent cells, decreased collagen production, and reduced skin elasticity, leading to visible signs such as fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging.

Objective

This study investigates the efficacy of a novel topical formulation, OS‐01 EYE, containing the senomorphic peptide, OS‐01, along with other active ingredients, in improving the skin around the eyes.

Methods

A 12‐week clinical study was conducted with 22 participants who applied OS‐01 EYE twice daily. Assessments included bioinstrumental measurements of skin hydration, barrier function, firmness, and elasticity, as well as expert photographs grading fine lines, wrinkles, under‐eye puffiness, and dark circles.

Results

After 12 weeks of product use, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) decreased by 17.33%, hydration increased by 32.49%, skin firmness improved by 10.19%, and elasticity increased by 25.58%, compared to baseline, which was all statistically significant. Expert grading revealed a decrease in fine lines and wrinkles, under‐eye puffiness, and dark circles over the study period. Furthermore, subjective assessments showed that 95.46% of participants reported improvements in overall appearance.

Conclusion

The OS‐01 EYE formulation was found to be safe and effective in mitigating the visible signs of aging in the periorbital region, making it a potent treatment option for enhancing periorbital skin health, function, and appearance.
Development of (W,Ti,Ta)C/CaF2 nano‐self‐lubricating cermet tool and its dual lubrication cutting mechanism
Authors: Yi Mingdong , Zhao Long , Zhang Zhihui , Yu Yansong , Bao Yunchu , Wang Jiaxiang , Shan Ting , Zhang Jingjie , Chen Hui , Chen Zhaoqiang , Xiao Guangchun , Xu Chonghai
Published: January 2025

A (W,Ti,Ta)C/CaF2 nano‐self‐lubricating cermet tool was prepared by spark plasma coupling high‐frequency induction sintering (SP–HF sintering) process. Under the optimal sintering parameters, nano CaF2 was uniformly distributed within the matrix grain, forming an intragranular nanostructure. When the content of nano CaF2 is 5 vol.%, the flexural strength, hardness, and fracture toughness of (W,Ti,Ta)C/CaF2 nano‐self‐lubricating cermet tool were 1134 ± 28 MPa, 18.97 ± 0.22 GPa, and 8.52 ± 0.16 MPa·m1/2, respectively. The antifriction mechanism in turning of Cr12 steel was studied with nano solid lubricating technology and minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) technology. The results showed that nano CaF2 diffused into the internal friction zone during the cutting process to form a lubricating film, and the MQL technology provided a lubrication effect in the external friction zone. The combination of solid lubrication and minimum quantity lubrication reduced the cutting force, cutting temperature, metamorphic layer thickness, and oxidation degree. The dual lubrication mode significantly improved the wear resistance of the tool. Under the conditions of cutting speed vc = 300 m/min, back engagement ap = 0.15 m/min, and feed rate f = 0.102 mm/r, the tool life was about 15 000 m, and the stable wear stage was effectively extended. The surface roughness of the workpiece within the effective cutting distance was about 0.630 µm.
Prenatal exposure to particulates and anthropometry through 9 years of age in a birth cohort
Authors: Trees Ian R. , Saha Abhisek , Putnick Diane L. , Clayton Priscilla K. , Mendola Pauline , Sundaram Rajeshwari , Yeung Edwina H.
Published: January 2025

Background

Previous research observed links between prenatal air pollution and risk of childhood obesity but the timing of the exposure is understudied. Aim: We examined prenatal particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) exposure and child anthropometry.

Materials & Methods

Children's body mass index z‐scores (zBMI) at 0–3 (N = 4370) and 7–9 (n = 1191) years were derived from reported anthropometry at paediatric visits. We ran linear mixed models for six windows, adjusting for maternal, child, and neighbourhood factors.

Results

PM10 exposure across pregnancy and at multiple windows was associated with higher zBMI in both early and middle childhood. For instance, one interquartile range increase in PM10 exposure during the first 2 weeks of pregnancy was associated with higher zBMI at 0–3 (0.05, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.10) and 7–9 (0.14, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.23). PM2.5 exposure during the final 2 weeks of gestation was associated with higher zBMI at 7–9 years (B: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.22).

Conclusion

Even at low levels of air pollution, prenatal PM10 exposure was associated with higher zBMI in childhood.
CEOs With a Financial Background and Corporate Risk‐Taking
Authors: Wei Dianlong , Luo Chunhua , Lu Jinjing
Published: January 2025

This study assesses the effect of CEOs' financial background characteristics on corporate risk‐taking. Although previous studies have extensively examined how CEOs' financial background characteristics influence firm behavior, few have focused on their effects on corporate risk‐taking. Using a sample of 26,084 firm‐year observations of 3468 listed firms in China between 2008 and 2020, we examine whether CEOs' background characteristics, particularly having a financial background, affect corporate risk‐taking. We find that a CEO with a financial background tends to adopt higher levels of corporate risk‐taking. Moreover, our findings suggest that these CEOs increase corporate risk‐taking by alleviating financing constraints, fostering the integration of industrial and financial capital, and promoting the financialization of enterprises. Overall, our findings contribute to the literature on the relationship between executives' financial backgrounds and corporate risk‐taking by offering insights from the perspective of CEOs' experience. These results have important implications for firms in terms of executive selection, management team optimization, and fostering greater integration between industry and finance.
Neuroactive steroid exposure impacts neurodevelopment: Comparison of human and rodent placental contribution
Authors: Vacher Claire‐Marie , Tsompanidis Alex , Firestein Morgan R. , Penn Anna A.
Published: January 2025

The placenta is a fetal endocrine organ that secretes many neuroactive factors, including steroids, that play critical roles in brain development. The study of the placenta‐brain axis and the links between placental function and brain development represents an emerging research area dubbed “neuroplacentology.” The placenta drives many circulating fetal steroids to very high levels during gestation. Recent studies have highlighted the critical role of placental steroids in shaping specific brain structures and behaviors. This review uses a cross‐species framework to discuss the genomic factors, in‐utero environmental changes, and placental conditions that alter placental steroidogenesis, leading to changes in early developmental trajectories relevant for psychiatric conditions such as autism, in a sex‐linked manner.
Voxel‐Based Morphometry and Subfield Volumetry Analysis Reveal Limbic System Involvement in Tinnitus
Authors: Lee Sekwang , Pyun Sung‐Bom , Sim Youngbo , Um Sangwon , Tae Woo‐Suk , Nam Eui‐Cheol
Published: January 2025

Background and Purpose

Tinnitus is a condition in which individuals perceive sounds, such as ringing or buzzing, without any external source. Although the exact cause is not fully understood, recent studies have indicated the involvement of nonauditory brain structures, including the limbic system. We aimed to compare the volumes of specific brain structures between patients with tinnitus and controls.

Methods

Voxel‐based morphometry and subfield volumetry were applied to analyze the brain structures of 53 patients with tinnitus and 52 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. The volumes of the amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus were measured and compared between the groups.

Results

Patients with tinnitus had larger volumes in the whole amygdala, basal nucleus, right lateral nucleus, and left paralaminar nucleus compared with controls. In addition, the subiculum head, left fimbria, and left presubiculum head in the hippocampus were larger in patients with tinnitus. No differences were found in the total thalamic volume or thalamic subnuclei between groups. The gray matter volumes in the thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus were significantly high in the tinnitus group. The cortical thicknesses of both of the marginal branches of the cingulate sulcus, the left superior parietal lobule, and the left subparietal sulcus were also high in the tinnitus group.

Conclusions

These findings indicate the involvement of the limbic system in tinnitus, and enhance our understanding of the condition. The subfield volumetry technique used in this study may aid in identifying the structural differences associated with specific neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Taking Academic Ownership of the Supply Chain Emissions Discourse
Authors: Wieland Andreas , Creutzig Felix
Published: January 2025

The climate crisis requires a focus on supply chain emissions—both upstream and downstream. Although supply chain emissions typically account for the majority of a company's greenhouse gas emissions, the discipline of supply chain management (SCM) has yet to fully engage in this discourse, leaving substantial research opportunities untapped. This editorial calls upon SCM scholars to take responsibility and actively engage in the study of supply chain emissions by proposing a comprehensive research agenda. The authors explore emerging corporate interventions aimed at reducing supply chain emissions. They develop a framework categorizing these interventions as either collaborative or authoritative, targeting behavioral or operational changes. Based on this framework, research opportunities within SCM are then discussed, following four different styles of theorizing—propositional, processual, perspectival and provocative—to promote theoretical advancements. By embracing this research agenda, the SCM discipline can play a critical role in the supply chain emissions discourse and have a strong societal impact.