bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Wear Still a Concern in TKA With Contemporary Conventional and Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene Tibial Inserts in the Mid- to Long-Term?
Authors: Asher Devin P. , Wright Jennifer L. , Hall Deborah J. , Lundberg Hannah J. , Van Citters Douglas W. , Jacobs Joshua J. , Levine Brett R. , Pourzal Robin
Published: May 2024

Background

Modern literature has brought into question if wear of tibial inserts made from conventional or highly-crosslinked polyethylene (HXL PE) is still a factor limiting longevity of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the mid- to long-term. It is the objective of this study to determine: 1) most common causes of mid- to long-term TKA failure, 2) the prevalence of delamination, and 3) the medial/lateral linear wear rates of conventional and HXL PE tibial inserts retrieved in the mid- to long-term.

Methods

A tibial insert retrieval cohort of 107 inserts (79 conventional, 28 HXL PE) with a minimum timein situof 6.5 years (mean 11.7±4) was studied. Failure causes were determined from chart-review, delamination presence was assessed microscopically, and medial/lateral linear wear was determined by minimal thickness changes measured with a dial-indicator.

Results

The most common mid-to long-term etiologies for failure were instability (44.9%), PE wear 15%), aseptic loosening (14%) and infection (13.1%). Delamination occurred in 70% of inserts (72.1% conventional, 64.3% HXLPE). Gross material loss due to delamination appeared to be the underlying reason for at least 33.3% of cases exhibiting instability. Of the cases removed for infection, 75% exhibited no histopathological hallmarks of acute infection. The medial/lateral wear rates were 0.054/0.051 (conventional) and 0.014/0.011 (HXL) mm/year, respectively.

Conclusions

Polyethylene wear still appears to be a major primary and secondary cause for TKA revision in the mid- to long-term. Wear may manifest as destabilizing delamination or as continuous release of fine wear particles potentially resulting in inflammatory responses and subsequent failure.
Large-scale integration of omics and electronic health records to identify potential risk protein biomarkers and therapeutic drugs for cancer prevention and intervention
Authors: Li Qing , Song Qingyuan , Chen Zhishan , Choi Jungyoon , Moreno Victor , Ping Jie , Wen Wanqing , Li Chao , Shu Xiang , Yan Jun , Shu Xiao-ou , Cai Qiuyin , Long Jirong , Huyghe Jeroen R , Pai Rish , Gruber Stephen B , Casey Graham , Wang Xusheng , Toriola Adetunji T. , Li Li , Singh Bhuminder , Lau Ken S , Zhou Li , Wu Chong , Peters Ulrike , Zheng Wei , Long Quan , Yin Zhijun , Guo Xingyi
Published: May 2024

Identifying risk protein targets and their therapeutic drugs is crucial for effective cancer prevention. Here, we conduct integrative and fine-mapping analyses of large genome-wide association studies data for breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, and characterize 710 lead variants independently associated with cancer risk. Through mapping protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) for these variants using plasma proteomics data from over 75,000 participants, we identify 365 proteins associated with cancer risk. Subsequent colocalization analysis identifies 101 proteins, including 74 not reported in previous studies. We further characterize 36 potential druggable proteins for cancers or other disease indications. Analyzing >3.5 million electronic health records, we uncover five drugs (Haloperidol, Trazodone, Tranexamic Acid, Haloperidol, and Captopril) associated with increased cancer risk and two drugs (Caffeine and Acetazolamide) linked to reduced colorectal cancer risk. This study offers novel insights into therapeutic drugs targeting risk proteins for cancer prevention and intervention.
Abscisic acid and GIGANTEA signalling converge to regulate the recruitment of CONSTANS to theFTpromoter and activate floral transition
Authors: Test Alice Robustelli , Perrella Giorgio , Colanero Sara , Landoni Beatrice , Sutti Aldo , Krukowski Paolo Korwin , Vellutini Elisa , Castorina Giulia , Galbiati Massimo , Martignago Damiano , Kaiserli Eirini , Tonelli Chiara , Conti Lucio
Published: May 2024

Plants align flowering with optimal seasonal conditions to increase reproductive success. This process depends on modulating signalling pathways that respond to diverse environmental and hormonal inputs, thereby regulating the transition to flowering at the shoot apical meristem. InArabidopsis, long-day photoperiods (LDs) stimulate the transcription ofFLOWERING LOCUS T(FT), encoding the main florigenic signal.FTactivation is mediated by the transcriptional regulator CONSTANS (CO), which binds to the CO responsive elements (COREs) located in the proximalFTpromoter region. The phytohormone abscisic acid also (ABA) contributes toFTactivation together with GIGANTEA (GI) to regulate drought escape (DE). Whether CO is a target of ABA and GI actions for the regulation ofFTis, however, unknown. Here we report that ABA and its signalling components promote CO recruitment to the COREs, without causing clear effects on the diel pattern of CO protein accumulation. We also found that GI promotes CO recruitment to the COREs region, and that CO recruitment is required for the accumulation of RNAPol II at theTRANSCRIPTION START SITEofFT. Finally, we show that GI and ABA signalling pathways are largely epistatic in the control of flowering time, suggesting their involvement in the same molecular process. Taken together, these observations suggest that varying water deficit conditions modulate CO recruitment andFTexpression, thus dictating DE strategies inArabidopsis.

Highlight

ABA and GIGANTEA signalling promoteFLOWERING LOCUS T(FT) transcriptional activation by regulating the binding of the transcription factor CONSTANS to the proximalFTpromoter.
mTOR inhibition in Q175 Huntington’s disease model mice facilitates neuronal autophagy and mutant huntingtin clearance
Authors: Stavrides Philip , Goulbourne Chris N. , Peddy James , Huo Chunfeng , Rao Mala , Khetarpal Vinod , Marchionini Deanna M. , Nixon Ralph A. , Yang Dun-Sheng
Published: May 2024

Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by expansion of the polyglutamine stretch in huntingtin protein (HTT) resulting in hallmark aggresomes/inclusion bodies (IBs) composed of mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) and its fragments. Stimulating autophagy to enhance mHTT clearance is considered a potential therapeutic strategy for HD. Our recent evaluation of the autophagic-lysosomal pathway (ALP) in human HD brain reveals upregulated lysosomal biogenesis and relatively normal autophagy flux in early Vonsattel grade brains, but impaired autolysosome clearance in late grade brains, suggesting that autophagy stimulation could have therapeutic benefits as an earlier clinical intervention. Here, we tested this hypothesis by crossing the Q175 HD knock-in model with our autophagy reporter mouse TRGL (Thy-1-RFP-GFP-LC3) to investigatein vivoneuronal ALP dynamics. In the Q175 and/or TRGL/Q175 mice, mHTT was detected in autophagic vacuoles and also exhibited high level colocalization with autophagy receptors p62/SQSTM1 and ubiquitin in the IBs. Compared to the robust lysosomal pathology in late-stage human HD striatum, ALP alterations in Q175 models are also late-onset but milder that included a lowered phospho-p70S6K level, lysosome depletion and autolysosome elevation including more poorly acidified autolysosomes and larger-sized lipofuscin granules, reflecting impaired autophagic flux. Administration of a mTOR inhibitor to 6-mo-old TRGL/Q175 normalized lysosome number, ameliorated aggresome pathology while reducing mHTT-, p62- and ubiquitin-immunoreactivities, suggesting beneficial potential of autophagy modulation at early stages of disease progression.
Not so griddy: Internal representations of RNNs path integrating more than one agent
Authors: Redman William T. , Acosta Francisco , Acosta–Mendoza Santiago , Miolane Nina
Published: May 2024

Success in collaborative and competitive environments, where agents must work with or against each other, requires individuals to encode the position and trajectory of themselves and others. Decades of neurophysiological experiments have shed light on how brain regions [e.g., medial entorhinal cortex (MEC), hippocampus] encode the self’s position and trajectory. However, it has only recently been discovered that MEC and hippocampus are modulated by the positions and trajectories of others. To understand how encoding spatial information of multiple agents shapes neural representations, we train a recurrent neural network (RNN) model that captures properties of MEC to path integrate trajectories of two agents simultaneously navigating the same environment. We find significant differences between these RNNs and those trained to path integrate only a single agent. At the individual unit level, RNNs trained to path integrate more than one agent develop weaker grid responses, stronger border responses, and tuning for therelativeposition of the two agents. At the population level, they develop more distributed and robust representations, with changes in network dynamics and manifold topology. Our results provide testable predictions and open new directions with which to study the neural computations supporting spatial navigation.
Healthy human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes exhibit sex dimorphism even without the addition of hormones
Authors: Givens Sophie E. , Andebrhan Abygail A. , Schmuck Eric G. , Renaud Aimee , Abrahante Juan E. , Stanis Noah , Dutton James R. , Ogle Brenda M.
Published: May 2024

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) are a valuable cell type for studying human cardiac health and diseasein vitro. However, it is not known whether hiPSC-CM display sex dimorphism and therefore whether sex should be incorporated as a biological variable inin vitrostudies that include this cell type. To date, the vast majority of studies that utilize hiPSC-CM do not include both male and female sex nor stratify results based on sex because it is challenging to amass such a cohort of cells. Here we generated three female and three male hiPSC-lines from adult left ventricular cardiac fibroblasts as a resource for studying sex differences inin vitrocardiac models. We used this resource to generate hiPSC-CM and maintained them in basal media without exogenous hormones. Functional assessment of CM showed enhanced calcium handling in female-derived hiPSC-CM relative to male. Bulk RNA sequencing revealed over 300 differentially expressed genes (DEG) between male and female hiPSC-CM. Some of the DEG are X and Y-linked genes and many are implicated in cardiac health and disease including potassium channels which could account for net differences in calcium handling shown here. Gene ontology analysis of DEG showed distinct differences in pathways related to cardiac pathology including cell-cell adhesion, metabolic processes, and response to ischemic stress. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex as a variable when conducting studies to evaluate aspects of human cardiac health and disease related to cardiomyocyte function.
Medical care needs and experiences of LGBTQ populations in Japan
Authors: Otani Hiroyuki , Morita Tatsuya , Kim Hongja , Aso Kaori , Yuasa Misuzu , Kashiwagi Hideyuki , Oya Kiyofumi , Naito Akemi Shirado
Published: May 2024

This study comprehensively examines the medical needs and experiences of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) population—also referred to as sexual minorities—in Japan. It aims to bridge the existing gap in understanding the experiences of LGBTQ populations in accessing healthcare, and inform future healthcare reforms. In November 2022, a cross-sectional, web-based, anonymous survey was conducted targeting LGBTQ populations across Japan who had previously visited a medical institution. Participants were recruited through a private, web-based, survey company. Inclusion criteria included being 20 years old or above, having a record of medical visits, and experiencing distress or discomfort related to gender identity, gender, or sexual orientation. Survey items were developed based on previous research and preliminary interviews, to assess demographic characteristics, experiences with medical care, and preferences for end-of-life care. A total of 103 respondents with a diverse demographic profile from across Japan participated in the survey. Among sexual minorities whose gender identity differed from their birth assignment, significant challenges were reported, including distressful experiences related to assigned hospital rooms and difficulties accessing certain medical departments. LGBTQ individuals with non-heterosexual orientations also faced barriers to partner involvement in medical decision-making and care. This study underscores the need for healthcare reforms to address the challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals in Japan. Healthcare providers should create a more equitable and affirming healthcare system for all individuals, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Deep homology and developmental constraint underlie the replicated evolution of grass awns
Authors: Erin Patterson L , Dana MacGregor R , Michelle Heeney M , Joseph Gallagher P , Devin O'Connor L , Benedikt Nuesslein , Bartlett Madelaine E
Published: May 2024

Replicated trait evolution can provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the evolution of biodiversity. One example of replicated evolution is the awn, an organ elaboration in grass inflorescences. Awns are likely homologous to leaf blades. We hypothesized that awns have evolved repeatedly because a conserved leaf blade developmental program is continuously activated and suppressed over the course of evolution, leading to the repeated emergence and loss of awns. To evaluate predictions arising from our hypothesis, we used ancestral state estimations, comparative genetics, anatomy, and morphology to trace awn evolution. In line with our predictions, we discovered that awned lemmas that evolved independently share similarities in anatomy and developmental trajectory. In addition, in two species with independently derived awns and differing awn morphologies (Brachypodium distachyonandAlopecurus myosuroides), we found that orthologs of the YABBY transcription factor geneDROOPING LEAFare required for awn initiation. Our analyses of awn development inBrachypodium distachyon,Alopecurus myosuroides, andHolcus lanatusalso revealed that differences in the relative expansion of awned lemma compartments can explain diversity in awn morphology at maturity. Our results show that developmental conservation can underlie replicated evolution, and can potentiate the evolution of morphological diversity.
Linear β-1,2-glucans trigger immune hallmarks and disease resistance in plants
Authors: Fuertes-Rabanal María , Largo-Gosens Asier , Fischer Alicia , Munzert Kristina S. , Carrasco-López Cristian , Sánchez-Vallet Andrea , Engelsdorf Timo , Mélida Hugo
Published: May 2024

Immune responses in plants are triggered by molecular patterns or elicitors, recognized by plant pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Such molecular patterns arise from host-pathogen interactions and the response cascade activated after their perception is known as pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). Glucans have emerged as key players in PTI, but certain glucans’ ability to stimulate defensive responses in plants remains understudied. This work focused on identifying novel glucan oligosaccharides acting as molecular patterns. The ability of various microorganism-derived glucans to prompt PTI responses was tested, revealing that specific microbial-derived glucans, such as short linear β-1,2-glucans, trigger this response in plants by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, MAP kinase phosphorylation, and differential expression of defence-related genes inArabidopsis thaliana. Pretreatments with β-1,2-glucan trisaccharide (B2G3) improved Arabidopsis defence against bacterial and fungal infections in a hypersusceptible genotype. The knowledge generated was then transferred to the monocotyledonous model species maize and wheat, confirming that these plants also respond to β-1,2-glucans, with increased ROS production and improved protection against fungal infections following B2G3 pretreatments. In summary, as with other β-glucans, plants perceive β-1,2-glucans as warning signals and stimulate defence responses against phytopathogens.

Highlights

We describe a new group of glycans present in the extracellular matrices of some plant-interacting microorganisms that are sensed by host surveillance systems and enhance the plant’s natural resistance to disease.
Semi-automated vs. manual: Comparative study of cell culture counting methods using validation parameters
Authors: Ramm Selina , Odefey Ulrich , Frahm Björn , Pein-Hackelbusch Miriam
Published: May 2024

Determining cell density and cell viability is fundamental for any cell cultivation process. In addition to the manual counting method using hemocytometers, (semi-)automated methods offer advantages such as lower variability and shortened analysis times. However, these methods should provide at least comparable results to the manual method, which is why a comparison of methods is essential. We conducted a dilution series experimental design according to ISO 20391-2:2019 and compared two cell counting methods based on validation parameters aligned with the ICH Q2(R1) guideline. Regarding specificity and linearity, the manual (hemocytometer) and semi-automated (Countstar BioTech®) method exhibited similar results in the two evaluated characteristics total cell density and cell viability of CHO-K1 cells. Regarding repeatability of determining total cell density, the semi-automated method achieved significant (α= 0.05) better results with average relative standard deviations of < 6 %, than the manual method with average relative standard deviations of > 9 %. Concerning repeatability of the cell viability measurement, no significant difference between the two methods were shown. These results show the suitabililty of the dilution series experimental design. For the applied example, they indicate that the investigated semi-automated method is an appropriate alternative to the manual method.
Long Terminal Repeats of Gammaretroviruses Retain Stable Expression After Integration Retargeting or Knock-In into the Restrictive Chromatin of Lamina-Associated Domains
Authors: Miklík Dalibor , Slavková Martina , Kučerová Dana , Mekadim Chahrazed , Mrázek Jakub , Hejnar Jiří
Published: May 2024

Retroviruses integrate their genomes into the genomes of infected host cells and form a genetic platform for stable gene expression. Epigenetic silencing can, however, hamper the expression of integrated provirus. As gammaretroviruses (γRVs) preferentially integrate into sites of active promoters and enhancers, the high expression activity of γRVs can be attributed to the integration preference. Long terminal repeats (LTRs) of some γRVs were shown to act as potent promoters for gene expression. Here, we investigate the capacity of different γRV LTRs to drive stable expression inside a non-preferred epigenomic environment using diverse retroviral vectors and CRISPR-Cas9-directed vector knock-in. We demonstrate that different γRV LTRs are either rapidly silenced or long-term active with active proviral population prevailing under normal and retargeted integration. In addition, we show that lamina-associated domains (LADs) can be targeted by CRISPR-Cas9 for vector insertion leading to γRV LTR-driven long-term stable gene expression. Alternatively to established γRV systems, the LTRs of feline leukemia virus and koala retrovirus are capable of driving stable, albeit intensity-diverse, transgene expression in LADs. Altogether, we show that despite the occurrence of rapid silencing events, the majority of γRV LTRs can drive stable expression after retrovirus integration or CRISPR-Cas9-directed knock-in outside of the preferred chromatin landscape.
AxoDen: An algorithm for the automated quantification of axonal density in defined brain regions
Authors: Sandoval Ortega Raquel Adaia , Li Emmy , Joseph Oliver , A. Dufour Pascal , Corder Gregory
Published: May 2024

The rodent brain contains 70,000,000+ neurons interconnected via complex axonal circuits with varying architectures. Neural pathologies are often associated with anatomical changes in these axonal projections and synaptic connections. Notably, axonal density variations of local and long-range projections increase or decrease as a function of the strengthening or weakening, respectively, of the information flow between brain regions. Traditionally, histological quantification of axonal inputs relied on assessing the mean fluorescence intensity within a rectangle placed in the brain region-of-inter-est. Despite yielding valuable insights, this conventional method is notably susceptible to background fluorescence, post-acquisition adjustments, and inter-researcher variability. Additionally, it fails to account for the non-uniform innervation across brain regions, thus overlooking critical data such as innervation percentages and axonal distribution patterns. In response to these challenges, we introduce AxoDen, an open-source semi-automated platform designed to increase the speed and rigor of axon quantifications for basic neuroscience discovery. AxoDen processes user-defined brain regions-of-interests incorporating dynamic thresholding of grayscales-transformed images to facilitate binarized pixel measure-ments. Thereby AxoDen segregates the image content into signal and non-signal categories, effectively eliminating background interference and enabling the exclusive measurement of fluorescence from axonal projections. AxoDen provides detailed and accurate representations of axonal density and spatial distribution. AxoDen’s advanced yet user-friendly platform enhances the reliability and efficiency of axonal density analysis and facilitates access to unbiased high-quality data analysis with no technical background or coding experience required. AxoDen is freely available to everyone as a valuable neuroscience tool for dissecting axonal innervation patterns in precisely defined brain regions.
Probing the dependence of transcription factor regulatory modes on promoter features
Authors: Guharajan Sunil , Parisutham Vinuselvi , Brewster Robert C.
Published: May 2024

Transcription Factors (TFs) are often classified as activators or repressors, yet these context-dependent labels are inadequate to predict quantitative profiles that emerge across different promoters. The regulatory interplay between a TFs function and promoter features can be complex due to the lack of systematic genetic control in the natural cellular environment. To address this, we use a library ofE. colistrains with precise control of TF copy number. We measure the quantitative regulatory input-output function of 90 TFs on synthetic promoters that isolate the contributions of TF binding sequence, location, and basal promoter strength to gene expression, uncovering TF specific regulatory principles. We infer that many of these TFs function by stabilizing RNA polymerase at the promoter, a property we see for both activating and repressing TFs. We develop a thermodynamic model that predicts stabilizing TFs have a specific quantitative relationship with promoters of differential strength. We test this prediction using synthetic promoters spanning over 100-fold range in basal expression levels and confirm that stronger promoters have lower fold-change for stabilizing TFs, whereas non-stabilizing TFs do not exhibit this relationship, indicating a conserved mechanism of transcription control across distinct TFs. This work demonstrates that understanding the intrinsic mechanisms of TF function is central to decoding the relationship between sequence and gene expression.
Jet-Origin Identification and Its Application at an Electron-Positron Higgs Factory
Authors: Liang Hao , Zhu Yongfeng , Wang Yuexin , Che Yuzhi , Ruan Manqi , Zhou Chen , Qu Huilin
Published: May 2024

To enhance the scientific discovery power of high-energy collider experiments, we propose and realize the concept of jet-origin identification that categorizes jets into five quark species (b,c,s,u,d), five antiquarks (b¯,c¯,s¯,u¯,d¯), and the gluon. Using state-of-the-art algorithms and simulated νν¯H,H→jj events at 240 GeV center-of-mass energy at the electron-positron Higgs factory, the jet-origin identification simultaneously reaches jet flavor tagging efficiencies ranging from 67% to 92% for bottom, charm, and strange quarks and jet charge flip rates of 7%–24% for all quark species. We apply the jet-origin identification to Higgs rare and exotic decay measurements at the nominal luminosity of the Circular Electron Positron Collider and conclude that the upper limits on the branching ratios of H→ss¯,uu¯,dd¯ and H→sb,db,uc,ds can be determined to 2×10−4 to 1×10−3 at 95% confidence level. The derived upper limit for H→ss¯ decay is approximately 3 times the prediction of the standard model.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Do workplace digitalisation and group diversity matter in linking innovative culture to employee engagement?
Authors: Hooi Lai Wan , Chan Ai Joo
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Drawing on the Job Demands-Resource (JD-R) model, this paper examines innovative culture as the antecedent to employee engagement (EE), taking workplace digitalisation as the mediator and group diversity as the moderator on the workplace digitalisation–EE relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model is tested using structural equation modelling, based on 256 online survey data representing the management-level executives of Selangor/Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysian companies.

Findings

Our findings support that innovative culture directly affects EE and indirectly through workplace digitalisation. Besides, group diversity moderates the workplace digitalisation–EE relationship.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that organisations can enhance EE in a diversity-oriented digital setting by cultivating an innovative culture to facilitate employees’ perception and acceptance of workplace digitalisation.

Originality/value

Our findings enrich the interdisciplinary literature on how innovative culture, employees’ perception and acceptance of workplace digitalisation and group diversity intersect in reshaping EE.
Does organizational culture influence gender microaggressions in the workplace? A grounded theory approach
Authors: Priya P. , Sreejith S.S.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This article adds to the existing literature by identifying persistent sociocultural norms that influence organizational culture as facilitators of gendered microaggressions experienced by women in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from 25 women employees in the Indian banking and finance sector following an unstructured interview. Grounded theory was utilized to establish that organizational culture, which in turn is reinforced by gender microaggressions, contributes to its prevalence.

Findings

Gender microaggressions manifest in the form of Alienation, Opportunity Denial, Invisible Restrictions and Sexual Innuendos. The relationship between organizational culture and gender microaggressions is cyclical, reinforcing and strengthening each other.

Originality/value

This is the first study on gender microaggressions to be conducted in the banking and finance sector.
Examining the influence of continuance performance management on turnover intention: exploring the mediating effects of employee motivation and job autonomy – a practical study in the banking industry in Dubai
Authors: Qureshi Tahir Masood , Ghadi Mohammed Yasin , Sindhu Mahwish
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Continuous performance management is an emerging global phenomenon adopted by the human resources management discipline that is decentralizing the way performance management is traditionally executed within organizations. This study aims to examine the impact of continuous performance management (CPM) on turnover intention in the banking sector in Dubai and to identify the mediating roles of employee motivation and job autonomy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used surveys to collect primary data from 375 employees at 15 banks operating in Dubai to explore the relationships among CPM, employee motivation, turnover intention, as well as perceived job autonomy. Through a robust analytical methodology that included exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, multiple regression and parallel mediation analysis using the Hayes process macro, not only were the factor structures validated, but the relationships between the constructs were also uncovered. This comprehensive research process helped the present study delve into the depths of the study’s subject matter, thereby enhancing the value of the study to the extant literature which given the multicultural orientation, further contributed to the comprehensiveness of the conceptual relationship between the variables.

Findings

From the findings, the current study concludes that the key predictors of employee motivation, job autonomy and turnover intention in the banking sector among employees were CPM factors. In addition, based on the findings from the Hays process macro parallel mediation analysis, the current study identified the mediation effect of employee motivation and job autonomy between CPM and turnover intention. With the confirmation of all the research hypotheses, the output from this study is valuable to HR academicians and practitioners seeking to understand CPM and how to implement performance management drivers for the purpose of employee development and retention.

Originality/value

This paper’s originality lies in its examination of the burgeoning trend of CPM within the unique context of the GCC banking sector, a sector-specific focus that offers fresh insights into the adoption and impact of CPM in a regional context.
Exploratory and exploitative linkages and innovative activity in the offshore renewable energy sector
Authors: Barrett Shane , Crowley Frank , Doran Justin , O'Connor Mari
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper examines the relationship between open innovation (measured by exploratory and exploitative linkages) and firm-level innovative activity in the offshore renewable energy (ORE) sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A unique, purpose-built survey that targeted firms operating in the ORE sector and its supply chain was used. The data provides novel insights into the research activities and networking capabilities of an industry in its infant stages of development. Regression models are used to estimate the relationship between firm-level external linkages and innovative activity.

Findings

Exploratory linkages are positively related to more innovative activity. This relationship is subject to diminishing returns, distinguishing the ORE sector from other sectors. Collaborating with suppliers and accessing scientific journals are conducive to research and development (R&D) activity and process innovation, whilst collaborating with customers is associated with the decision to introduce new products and processes.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence of a positive, but curvilinear, relationship between external knowledge linkages and innovative activity, adding novel insights into the relationship between open innovation (OI) strategies, research and innovation outcomes for firms predominantly in the introductory stages of the technological life cycle with limited commercialisation experience. The nuanced finding that specific linkages matter for certain research and innovation (R&I) outcomes adds deeper complexity to March’s (1991) framework, where tailoring certain exploratory or exploitative linkages to specific innovation activities is important.
Beyond averages: quantile regression explorations of sustainability practices and firm value
Authors: Buallay Amina , AlAjmi Jasim Yusuf , Fadhul Sayed , Papoutsi Aikaterini
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the association between corporate sustainability disclosures and firm performance and value.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected data from 694 manufacturing companies operating in 34 countries between 2007 and 2019, yielding 6,181 firm-year observations. This study employs a dual-model framework to analyze the influence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and Tobin's Q ratio. Two sets of control variables, firm- and country-specific, were incorporated to account for potential confounding factors. To validate the robustness of the findings, we utilized a battery of econometric techniques, including traditional ordinary least squares (OLS), firm-fixed effects, quantile regression, and instrumental variables-generalized method of moments (IV-GMM), applied to both the pooled and firm-fixed effects models.

Findings

The findings are contradictory: there is a negative relationship between sustainability disclosure and operating performance and return on equity, but a positive relationship between sustainability disclosure and firm value. The negative correlation is consistent with agency theory and the positive correlation is consistent with the legitimacy and shareholder theories. These results are robust to performance measures and estimation methods.

Research limitations/implications

Short-term profit shouldn't deter sustainability. It boosts legitimacy, reputation, efficiency, and long-term market value. Investors must look beyond profitability ratios, embracing ESG metrics. Firms should see sustainability as strategic investment, not cost. Patience pays off: long-term gains await. Regulation can guide balanced growth, prioritizing both shareholders and societal well-being.

Originality/value

This study is the first to adopt a firm’s fixed-effect quantile regression, which provides deep insights into the role of sustainability disclosure in meeting stakeholders’ expectations.
Social media impact on sustainable intention and behaviour: a comparative study between university students in Malaysia and Indonesia
Authors: Mohamad Saleh Mohamad Saifudin , Mehellou Ali , Huang Miao , Briandana Rizki
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The use of social media for sustainable information is important since it has the potential to influence people’s intentions and behaviour towards sustainability. As previous studies on social media and sustainable development have primarily focussed on Western viewpoints, this study presents a comprehensive Asian perspective by investigating the impact of social media on sustainable intention and behaviour amongst Malaysian and Indonesian undergraduate university students.

Design/methodology/approach

A campus-wide online survey was conducted with 953 students from Malaysia and Indonesia. The researchers collected data through an online questionnaire and a two-week quantitative survey of undergraduate students in Malaysia and Indonesia. Quantitative data were analysed by SmartPLS software and comparative studies were conducted.

Findings

The result of the survey indicated that Facebook and Instagram were mainly used by Malaysian students to obtain and communicate about sustainability information, whilst Instagram was mainly used by Indonesian students. The findings also discovered that social media usage and social media effectiveness and usefulness are statistically significant predictors of sustainable intention amongst the students in Malaysia and Indonesia. Sustainable intention is also a statistically significant predictor of sustainable behaviour amongst the students. Additionally, this study also found that Malaysian students appeared to have a high level of the effect of sustainable intention on sustainable behaviour and the effect of the effectiveness and usefulness of social media to sustainable intention compared to Indonesian students. On the contrary, their use of social media related to sustainable behaviour was relatively low compared to Indonesian students.

Originality/value

Overall, the findings can contribute to the presently scant empirical works that focus on social media’s influence on sustainability and sustainable development. Furthermore, the findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge related to sustainability communication and sustainable education, particularly in terms of the use of social media in the learning and teaching process. Future research could focus on studying postgraduate students and university students from other Asian countries. Moreover, using qualitative methods like in-depth interviews or focus group discussion and applying other theories might unveil further results.
Impact of female CFO board membership on firm investment efficiency: does institutional gender parity matter? Evidence from emerging economies
Authors: Ali Ashiq , Khan Munir
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study analyzes how possessing female chief financial officers (CFOs) on boards in emerging economies impacts on firm investment efficiency and addresses overinvestment and underinvestment tendencies of firms based on this aspect. The study draws from resource-based and stakeholder theories. Additionally, it explores how institutional gender parity influences this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a two-step system generalized method of moment (GMM) estimation technique to test its hypotheses. Data span from 2010 to 2021 and cover firms in emerging economies. The approach addresses endogeneity and accounts for unobserved heterogeneity in the data.

Findings

The study’s results support the hypothesis that firms with female CFO decrease overinvestment and underinvestment tendencies, indicating improved investment efficiency. This effect is more pronounced in emerging economies with higher gender parity and support for female leadership.

Practical implications

The study’s findings suggest fostering gender parity and female leadership in emerging economies to maximize the benefits of female CFO board membership. Policymakers should advocate for corporate governance practices and gender parity through supportive policies to advance economic outcomes and competitiveness.

Originality/value

This study advances existing literature by highlighting the positive outcomes of having female CFOs on boards in emerging economies. It emphasizes gender diversity’s importance in leadership and advocates for inclusive institutional frameworks.
The determinants of Takaful insurance financial stability: the moderating role of Shari’ah Supervisory Board
Authors: BenSaid Yosra Ridha , Quttainah Majdi Anwar
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the board of directors effectiveness (BODE), financial determinants, Takaful-specific determinants and the Takaful firms’ financial stability are related to the Shari’ah Supervisory Board’s quality (SCQ).

Design/methodology/approach

Using hierarchical regression analysis, the authors examine the determinants of financial stability of Takaful insurance and the authors test the moderator role of SCQ over 2016–2022 on a sample of 19 listed Takaful firms in 10 countries in the Middle East and South Asia region.

Findings

The findings reveal that SCQ negatively moderates the positive relationship between BODE, the Takaful model, diversification strategy, solvency, liquidity and Takaful financial stability. Shari’ah governance plays a crucial role in improving the financial soundness and the Shari’ah compliance of Takaful insurance.

Research limitations/implications

This paper includes two main limitations. The results are restricted to the Middle East region and South Asia and may not be generalized to other areas. The study presents data from only 19 Takaful firms.

Practical implications

This kind of investigation is of immense relevance to enhance the understanding of governance and soundness of Takaful companies. Furthermore, it serves as a guide to the recruitment of Shari’ah board members, the choice of Takaful model and appropriate strategy to increase its financial stability.

Originality/value

This research studies the financial stability of Takaful insurance and the moderating role of SCQ, unlike the majority of other works that focus on financial performance.
Quality education through teacher-student relationships: implementing social-emotional learning in teacher development
Authors: Lapidot-Lefler Noam , Israeli Roni
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Recently, the pace of pedagogical change in the field of social-emotional learning (SEL) has increased worldwide; hence, there is a greater need to understand and promote social-emotional elements in education systems. The purpose of this study was to explore the implementation of SEL content and practices in the curricula of teacher-education courses while being mindful of the principles underlying teacher–student relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative methodology, data were collected from 55 students enrolled in three courses taught at a college in Israel. The participants wrote reflections on their SEL experiences, which were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings

The students’ responses revealed various practices and themes that significantly affected their personal and professional development, among them, the relationships in the classroom, both among the preservice students themselves and between them and the teaching staff. The participants also noted that the SEL components of the course influenced the quality of learning and the development of a professional identity that is actively attuned to elements of SEL.

Research limitations/implications

By introducing SEL early in the preservice stage, preservice teachers learn to create safe and supportive environments for their future students, thus improving students’ academic achievements, behavior and well-being.

Originality/value

The study underscores the importance of embedding SEL in the teacher-education curricula and its influence on both preservice teachers’ learning experience and the formulation of their image as future teachers while highlighting the significant role of teacher–student relationships in promoting healthy personal and professional development.
The evolution of sustainable building rating tools: a systematic literature review
Authors: Zeng Qinghao , Pishdad Pardis
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This research aims to analyze the evolution of sustainable building rating tools in the United States of America over approximately 30 years. It analyzes the shift from addressing purely environmental concerns to embracing a holistic approach that includes economic and social considerations.

Design/methodology/approach

By conducting a comprehensive literature review and analysis, this research systematically examines the differences among sustainable building rating tools (SBRTs). It establishes a decision-making support framework for stakeholders based on existing literature, standards and emerging trends.

Findings

Expected findings include insights into the evolution and distinctions among SBRTs. The research is expected to reveal the progression of SBRTs from purely focusing on environmental dimensions to exploring a broader scope that includes economic and social dimensions. The decision-making support framework and forward-looking perspective aim to guide stakeholders in tool selection and offer insights for future developments.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of this research primarily centers on SBRTs, which originated in the United States of America, thereby excluding famous global tools such as BREEAM and CASBEE. Therefore, the research outcomes are particularly appropriate to the context of the United States of America. In addition, specific indicators within the general indicators system are not entirely independent of each other, leading to interrelationships between different indicators during the evaluation process. Moreover, in terms of data availability, the early versions of various SBRTs suffered from information gaps, potentially introducing ambiguity in the description of specific indicators, which could influence the weighting results.

Originality/value

This research contributes original perspectives by offering a nuanced understanding of the dynamic nature of sustainable building practices. The decision-making support framework adds practical value, assisting stakeholders in selecting diverse certification options. It also contributes to the original body of knowledge by providing insights for future developments in sustainable building practices and certifications.
Guidelines for estimating occupancy from autocorrelated camera trap detections
Authors: Goldstein Benjamin R. , Jensen Alex J. , Kays Roland , Cove Michael V. , McShea William J. , Rooney Brigit , Kierepka Elizabeth M. , Pacifici Krishna
Published: May 2024

Site occupancy models (SOMs) are a common tool for studying the spatial ecology of wildlife. When observational data are collected using passive monitoring field methods, including camera traps or autonomous recorders, detections of animals may be temporally autocorrelated, leading to biased estimates and incorrectly quantified uncertainty. We presently lack clear guidance for understanding and mitigating the consequences of temporal autocorrelation when estimating occupancy models with camera trap data.

We use simulations to explore when and how autocorrelation gives rise to biased or overconfident estimates of occupancy. We explore the impact of sampling design and biological conditions on model performance in the presence of autocorrelation, investigate the usefulness of several techniques for identifying and mitigating bias and compare performance of the SOM to a model that explicitly estimates autocorrelation. We also conduct a case study using detections of 22 North American mammals.

We show that a join count goodness‐of‐fit test previously proposed for identifying clustered detections is effective for detecting autocorrelation across a range of conditions. We find that strong bias occurs in the estimated occupancy intercept when survey durations are short and detection rates are low. We provide a reference table for assessing the degree of bias to be expected under all conditions. We further find that discretizing data with larger windows decreases the magnitude of bias introduced by autocorrelation. In our case study, we find that detections of most species are autocorrelated and demonstrate how larger detection windows might mitigate the resulting bias.

Our findings suggest that autocorrelation is likely widespread in camera trap data and that many previous studies of occupancy based on camera trap data may have systematically underestimated occupancy probabilities. Moving forward, we recommend that ecologists estimating occupancy from camera trap data use the join count goodness‐of‐fit test to determine whether autocorrelation is present in their data. If it is, SOMs should use large detection windows to mitigate bias and more accurately quantify uncertainty in occupancy model parameters. Ecologists should not use gaps between detection periods, which are ineffective at mitigating temporal structure in data and discard useful data.