bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Astrocytes Control Recent and Remote Memory Strength by Affecting the Recruitment of the CA1→ACC Projection to Engrams
Authors: Refaeli Ron , Kreisel Tirzah , Groysman Maya , Goshen Inbal
Published: October 2023

Recent and remote memories are encoded throughout the brain in ‘Engrams’: cell ensembles formed during acquisition, and upon their reactivation, a specific memory can be recalled. The maturation of engrams from recent to remote time points involves the recruitment of CA1 neurons projecting to the anterior cingulate cortex (CA1→ACC). Various modifications to CA1 astrocytes, to the Gq- or Gi-GPCR pathways, during memory acquisition were shown to affect recent and remote recall in seemingly contradictory ways. To address the inconsistency, we applied transgenic approaches for ensemble identification, CLARITY, retro-AAV virus for circuit mapping, and chemogenetics in astrocytes for functional investigation. We manipulated the activity of either Gq- or Gi-pathways in CA1 astrocytes during memory acquisition and tagged cFos+ engram cells and CA1→ACC cells during recent and remote recall in the same animals. The behavioral results were coupled with changes in the recruitment of CA1→ACC projection cells to the engram, demonstrated by the number of CA1→ACC projecting cells in the engram as well as the number of axons projecting from the CA1 engram toward the ACC: Gq pathway activation in astrocytes caused enhancement of recent recall alone and was accompanied by earlier recruitment of CA1→ACC projecting cells to the engram. In contrast, when activating the Gi pathway in astrocytes during acquisition, only remote recall was impaired, and CA1→ACC projecting cells were not recruited during remote memory. Finally, we provide a simple working model, hypothesizing that astrocytes control behavioral performance by targeting the CA1→ACC projection. Specifically, that Gq- and Gi-pathway activation affect memory differently, but do so by modulating the same mechanism. These findings illuminate the importance of astrocytes in the acquisition of fear memory and their implications on recent and remote recall.
Proteome birthdating reveals age-selectivity of protein ubiquitination
Authors: Meadow Michael E. , Broas Sarah , Hoare Margaret , Alimohammadi Fatemeh , Welle Kevin A. , Swovick Kyle , Hryhorenko Jennifer R. , Martinez John C. , Biashad Seyed Ali , Seluanov Andrei , Gorbunova Vera , Buchwalter Abigail , Ghaemmaghami Sina
Published: October 2023

Within a cell, proteins have distinct and highly variable half-lives. As a result, the molecular ages of proteins can range from seconds to years. How the age of a protein influences its environmental interactions is a largely unexplored area of biology. To investigate the age-selectivity of cellular pathways, we developed a methodology termed “proteome birthdating” that barcodes proteins based on their time of synthesis. We demonstrate that this approach provides accurate measurements of protein turnover kinetics without the requirement for multiple kinetic time points. As a first use case of the birthdated proteome, we investigated the age distribution of the human ubiquitinome. Our results indicate that the vast majority of ubiquitinated proteins in a cell consist of newly synthesized proteins and that these young proteins constitute the bulk of the degradative flux through the proteasome. Rapidly ubiquitinated nascent proteins are enriched in cytosolic subunits of large protein complexes. Conversely, proteins destined for the secretory pathway and vesicular transport have older ubiquitinated populations. Our data also identified a smaller subset of very old ubiquitinated cellular proteins that do not appear to be targeted to the proteasome for rapid degradation. Together, our data provide an age census of the human ubiquitinome and establish proteome birthdating as a robust methodology for investigating the protein age-selectivity of diverse cellular pathways.

Significance Statement

Cellular proteins have widely different ages - whereas some have been recently synthesized, others have existed in the cell for days or even years. How a protein’s age influences its functions and interactions is largely unknown because it is difficult to globally differentiate proteins based on their time of synthesis. To address this challenge, we developed an analytical method named “proteome birthdating” that can partition cellular proteins into multiple discernible age groups. As an example application, we used proteome birthdating to examine the protein age-selectivity of the ubiquitin proteasome system, a major protein degradation pathway in eukaryotes. Our results show that proteins destined for degradation by this pathway consist of either particularly young or particularly old proteins, with the former being the predominant population. Together, our results establish proteome birthdating as a useful approach for analyzing the turnover of proteins and investigating the functional consequences of their age.
Hierarchical replay of multi-regional sequential spiking associated with working memory
Authors: Huang Ermeng , Xu Da , Zhu Huangao , Chen Zhaoqin , Chen Yulei , Zhang Xiaoxing , Li Chengyu T.
Published: October 2023

How does millisecond-scale neural activity mediate behaviors over seconds? We recorded brain-wide activity in mice performing an olfactory working-memory task to decipher cross-region organization of activity. Spike-correlograms revealed millisecond within- and cross-region spike couplings, more prominent among neurons encoding similar memories. Spike coupling linked neurons into motifs of chains, single loops, and nested loops, especially among hippocampal and prefrontal-cortex neurons. Direction of spike coupling and activity chains was in line with that of memory-associated activity waves. Intriguingly, activity motifs were replayed before and after task performance, and during inter-trial intervals. Motifs were hierarchically organized, with progressively increasing time constants and the number of participating neurons. Thus, hierarchically organized and replayed cross-region spiking motifs are modulated on demand during delay period to mediate perceptual working memory.

One Sentence Summary

Nested activity motifs of chains, single loops, and nested loops, with progressively increasing time constants and number of participating neurons, are hierarchically organized and replayed to mediate perceptual working-memory maintenance.
Impact of sampling site on diagnostic test accuracy of RT-PCR in diagnosing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection since the emergence of omicron: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Saal-Bauernschubert Lena , Wagner Carina , Fomenko Alexey , Dähne Theo , Bora Ana-Mihaela , Janka Heidrun , Stangl Stephanie , Skoetz Nicole , Weibel Stephanie
Published: October 2023

Nasopharyngeal sampling (NP) is the routine standard for SASR-CoV-2 detection using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In this systematic review, we assessed diagnostic test accuracy of alternative sampling sites compared to NP for RT-PCR testing of Omicron (sub)-variants.

We systematically searched for studies from January 2022 until February 2023 investigating any type of respiratory sample for RT-PCR in people with suspected, known, or known absence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection. Data were pooled for each comparison using the bivariate model, sensitivity and specificity was estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Risk of bias was assessed with QUADAS-2 tool, certainty of evidence with GRADE.

We included three cohort-type cross-sectional studies (1,003 participants). Saliva versus NP sampling in three studies showed a sensitivity of 92% (95% CI 87% to 96%) and a specificity of 94% (95% CI 83% to 98%). AN versus NP sampling in one study showed a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI 82% to 95%) and a specificity of 99% (95% CI 95% to 100%). Certainty of evidence for sensitivity and specificity of both comparisons was low to very low.

Based on the current very low- to low-certainty evidence, we are uncertain about accuracy of different sampling sites for RT-PCR.
Characterising phagocytes and measuring phagocytosis from liveGalleria mellonellalarvae
Authors: Campbell Jennie S. , Bebes Attila , Pradhan Arnab , Yuecel Raif , Brown Al , Wakefield James G.
Published: October 2023

Over the last 20 years, the larva of the greater waxmoth,Galleria mellonella, has rapidly increased in popularity as anin vivomammalian replacement model organism for the study of human pathogens. Despite this, experimental readouts of response to infection are generally limited to observing the melanisation cascade – where the organism turns black as part of the systemic immune response – and quantifying larval death over time. As an invertebrate,Galleriaharbour an innate immune system comprised of both humoral components and a repertoire of innate immune cells – termed hemocytes. Though information on subtypes of hemocytes exist, there are conflicting reports on their exact number and function. Flow cytometry has previously been used to assayGalleriahemocytes, but protocols include both centrifugation and fixation - physical methods which have the potential to affect hemocyte morphology prior to analysis. Here, we present a method for live hemocyte analysis by flow cytometry, revealing thatGalleriahemocytes constitute only a single resolvable population, based on relative size or internal complexity. Using fluorescent zymosan particles, we extend our method to show that up to 80% of theGalleriahemocyte population display phagocytic capability. Finally, we demonstrate that the developed assay reliably replicatesin vitrodata, showing that cell wall β-1,3-glucan masking byCandida albicanssubverts phagocytic responses. As such, our method provides a new tool with which to rapidly assess phagocytosis and understand live infection dynamics inGalleria.
The “milky ways”: emerging sustainable business models for sustainable value creation in the dairy industry
Authors: Cantele Silvia , Signori Paola
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the components of sustainable business models (SBMs) in the dairy industry, in relation to firm-relevant organisational features (size, ownership structure and production process) and through the lenses of the business model framework and the sustainable value exchange matrix (SVEM). This contribution proposes a taxonomy of emerging SBMs and sustainable value creation in the dairy industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This research makes use of a multiple case study approach, with cases selected in collaboration with industry experts. The selected firms are highly committed to sustainability transition. Results are drawn from qualitative data obtained from in-depth interviews and secondary sources. The interpretation phases, initially based on open coding, have been enriched by applying the components of business models (BMs) frameworks and the SVEM, and the analyses have been enhanced through an additional interpretative workshop with experts.

Findings

The authors related the BMs characteristics of some typical dairy firms transitioning to sustainability, using SBM components and taxonomies emerging in the literature, based on the formalisation of sustainability practices, the scope of operations, and the degree of integration of the three dimensions of sustainable value. These findings led to the discovery of three types of SBM in this dairy industry, referred to as “Milky Ways”.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the scant literature on sustainability in dairy firms, highlighting the different paths followed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives and large companies in remoulding their business models towards sustainability and thus achieving sustainable value creation.
Comparing the Harrod-Domar, Solow and Ramsey growth models and their implications for economic policies
Authors: Le-Van Cuong , Tran-Nam Binh
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The principal aim of this paper is to review three basic theoretical growth models, namely the Harrod-Domar model, the Solow model and the Ramsey model, and examine their implications for economic policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes a positivist research framework that emphasizes the causal relationships between the variables in each of the three models. Mathematical methods are employed to formulate and examine the three models under study. Since the paper is theoretical, it does not use any empirical data although numerical illustrations are provided whenever they are appropriate.

Findings

The Harrod-Domar model explains why countries with high rates of saving may also enjoy high rate of economic growth. Both the Solow and Ramsey models can be used to explain the medium-income trap. The paper examines the impact of Covid shocks on the macroeconomy. While the growth rate can be recovered, it may not always possible to recover the output level.

Research limitations/implications

For the Harrod-Domar model, the public spending decreases the private consumption at the period 1, but there is no change in the capital stock and hence the production in subsequent periods. For the Ramsey model with AK production function, both the private consumption and the outputs will be lowered. In both the Harrod-Domar and Ramsey models with Cobb-Douglas production function, if the debt is not high and the interest rate is sufficiently low, it is better to use public debt for production rather than for consumption. If the country borrows to recover the Total Factor Productivity after the Covid pandemic, both the Harrod-Domar and Ramsey models with Cobb-Douglas production function show that the rate of growth is higher for the year just after the pandemic but is the same as before the pandemic.

Practical implications

The economy can recover the growth rate after a Covid shock, but the recovery process will generally take many periods.

Social implications

This paper focuses on economic implications and does not aim to examine social implications of policy changes or Covid-type shock.

Originality/value

The paper provides a comparison of three basic growth models with respect to public spending, public debts and repayments and Covid-type shocks.
Can people with disabilities obtain income by using skills learned from vocational trainings? Evidence from mainland China
Authors: Li Wei , Ni Tianran , Zhang Yi , Wang Daan , Parrado Salvador
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of vocational training programs for people with disabilities on their income.

Design/methodology/approach

It conducted a multinomial regression analysis of 10,469 survey responses from 31 provincial administrative areas in mainland China.

Findings

It finds the following antecedents all influence the trainees’ self-reported income, including their perception of the quality of the program, the training subject, the degree of consistency between their current job and this subject, their employment sector, their motivation and access to training resources and the geographical location of the program.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are not representative of people with disabilities across mainland China because the respondents were not randomly sampled.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that to increase the income of people with disabilities, the training can be designed according to the needs of employers by teaching subjects relevant to the needs of the labor market, reaching out to motivated trainees and enhancing the quality of training. Training institutions, employers and governments are recommended to work together to integrate class-based learning with workplace-based learning and practices. More training resources can be devoted to the self-employed people with disabilities or those who operate in the informal sector and are in less-developed areas.

Social implications

The improvement of employment opportunities and income of people with disabilities supports the safeguarding of their social economic rights and the building of an inclusive society.

Originality/value

Few studies have empirically explored and explained the effects of vocational training programs on people with disabilities’ income. This article fills this gap by assessing the performance of China's vocational training programs funded by the Federation of Disabled Persons at all levels.
Enhancing firm innovativeness through HRM practices: the mediating role of innovation capability
Authors: Iddris Faisal , Mensah Philip Opoku , Adjanor-Doku Charlotte , Yaa Akyiaa Ellis Florence
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the influence of human resource management (HRM) practices on the level of innovativeness observed within the service sector of Ghana, taking into account the potential mediating role of innovation capability.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used a quantitative methodology to fulfill the study's objectives. A Web-based survey questionnaire was designed to gather data from a sample of 168 respondents, selected through a convenient sampling technique. The proposed model was tested using the Process Macro Model 4 by Hayes in SPSS version 26.

Findings

The study’s outcomes indicate that there is no statistically significant correlation between HRM practices and firm innovativeness. However, the mediating role of innovation capability was observed to fully account for the relationship between human HRM practices and firm innovativeness. Additionally, a positive and significant association was identified between HRM practices and innovation capability, as well as between innovation capability and firm innovativeness.

Research limitations/implications

It is important to note that the findings are limited to the perspective of employees within the service sector of Ghana. Therefore, future research could explore the manufacturing and/or extraction industries in Ghana to obtain a more comprehensive understanding. Furthermore, a larger sample size could be considered in future studies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study presents a novel examination of the hypothesized model within the Ghanaian context, providing valuable insights into the relationship between HRM practices, innovation capability and firm innovativeness.
Bank efficiency and competition: bibliometric analysis of concepts and emerging issues
Authors: Doku James Ntiamoah , Nabieu Gladys A.A.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study provides a bibliometric analysis of bank efficiency and competition over the past years (from 1993 to 2022) to (1) discover the past and current state of knowledge on bank competition and efficiency, (2) identify leading and authoritative journals and scholars who made significant contributions to the distribution of knowledge and impact, (3) identify nations that made a significant contribution and impact to the literature and (4) identify the structure of collaboration that exists between scholars in the areas of bank competition and efficiency and key thematic areas.

Design/methodology/approach

A total number of 868 documents made up of articles, reviews, book chapters, book and conference papers from the Scopus database were gathered. This study used a bibliometric analytic approach.

Findings

The number of documents on bank competitiveness and efficiency has increased significantly, as have their total publications, citations and national output. Additionally, the most esteemed and prestigious academic journals of eminent academics who have had a significant impact on the dissemination of knowledge on bank efficiency and competition literature champion papers on banking efficiency and competition. In terms of citation performance and collaborative efforts, the United States tops the developed countries, led by China, which is also the most productive. Additionally, single-country publications predominate in the literature, with China ranking first among the top five countries with corresponding authors. While the Lerner index, H-statistic, concentration index and market power were used to measure bank competitive behaviour, the data envelopment analysis approach predominates efficiency estimation techniques that are linked to cost, profit or revenue, scale, technical and productivity indexes.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to offer bibliometric evidence of both bank competition and efficiency. It also offers proof of the distribution of knowledge and intellectual structure of the concepts and concerns in bank competition and efficiency.
Investigating the factors influencing food waste behavior in the Egyptian society
Authors: Adel Ahmed M. , Dai Xin , Roshdy Rana S.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

It is globally recognized that food waste has significant economic, social and environmental impacts. This study endeavors to identify the individuals' underlying factors that affect food waste behavior in a social context in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

Due to the scarcity of research illustrating food waste in a social context, a qualitative research paradigm is employed. In-depth semi-structured interviews are conducted with 18 Egyptian households to report their experiences, thoughts and feelings while eating in a social context.

Findings

Based on thematic analysis using grounded theory procedures, eight main elements affecting creation and reduction of food waste in social contexts are identified. Additionally, the authors investigate the role of emotions in social dining contexts. A key finding is that food waste in social events is inevitable and is the acceptable norm in the Egyptian culture. Thus, the first step to reduce food waste is paying more attention to change culture. Persuading people with the negative consequences of food waste issue on behalf of their cultural values will be more challenging and may require more innovative approaches.

Originality/value

Although food waste issue is one of the contemporary issues in the world, very little is known about how social food consumption leads to food waste behavior. This study employs social influence theory and the collectivistic culture orientation to investigate the unanswered question of why food gets wasted in social meal context.
Sympathy or shock: how transgression diagnosticity impacts consumer perceptions and intentions regarding person-brands
Authors: Matthews A. Lynn , Luebke Sarah S.F.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Moral transgressions committed by person-brands can negatively impact consumers through the transgression’s diagnosticity (severity, centrality and consistency). This paper aims to test how a transgression’s centrality and consistency impact important consumer perceptions and behavioral intentions toward a person-brand, holding constant the transgression in question. These outcomes are crucial for person-brands to understand how to minimize and manage the impact of a given transgression.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses three online consumer experiments to manipulate transgression diagnosticity via centrality and consistency and identifies the resulting impact on consumer-brand identification, trustworthiness and consumer digital engagement intentions through PROCESS models.

Findings

High-diagnosticity transgressions lower consumer digital engagement intentions regarding the person-brand and their endorsed products. This effect is serially mediated by consumer-brand identification, as predicted by social identity theory, and by perceived trustworthiness of the person-brand.

Practical implications

Person-brands should emphasize the nondiagnostic nature of any transgressions in which they are involved, including a lack of centrality and consistency with their brand, and guard against the appearance of diagnostic transgressions.

Originality/value

This paper shows that transgression diagnosticity impacts consumer engagement through the pathway of consumer-brand identification and trustworthiness. It also manipulates aspects of diagnosticity that can be influenced by the person-brand (centrality and consistency) while holding the transgression constant. As such, this paper extends the literature on transgressions, on person-branding strategy, and on social identity theory.
Strategies of unicorn startups: how these positive deviants compare to early-stage and Fortune 500 ventures
Authors: Meek Shelby , Cowden Birton J.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to begin to explore the strategic priorities of unicorn ventures as pursuers of market disruption. This study approaches this task by drawing on the positive deviance concept for studying outliers with the intent of understanding the strategic priorities of these ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a comparison study of the priorities of 75 unicorn ventures, 37 early-stage ventures and 45 Fortune 500 organizations. The authors use computer-aided text analysis to conduct within-sample and between-sample means comparison tests of 12,487 newswires from 2022.

Findings

Where early-stage ventures emphasize their mission, and Fortune 500 companies emphasize financial results, unicorn ventures, occupy the middle of the spectrum, balancing their priorities between pursuing market disruption and achieving financial results. These high-growth outliers indicate their priorities by using significantly less positive tone, affective and prosocial language, and focusing less on corporate social responsibility initiatives, compared to early-stage ventures (and using more of this language compared to Fortune 500 ventures). An additional finding emphasizes that public Fortune 500 companies focus significantly more on money than their topic of interest.

Originality/value

This work has implications for understanding the strategic priorities of entrepreneurial ventures in different development stages. The results suggest that unicorn ventures actively work to balance their startup mission, which allows them to experience high-growth and achieve market disruption, with the financial demands of venture capital investors. This novel conclusion demonstrates the value of using positively deviant outlier cases, such as unicorn ventures, as a viable sample for studying market disruption.
Enabling the circular economy in the digital transformation era: evidence from an emerging country
Authors: Al-Khatib Ayman Wael
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Recently, the concept of the circular economy (CE) has witnessed significant momentum in academic and professional circles. However, there is a dearth of research that studies the enabling factors of the CE in the era of digital transformation. The existing research aimed to identify the impact of Industry 4.0 readiness on the CE in manufacturing firms operating in Jordan, as well as to identify the mediating role of the industrial Internet of things and big data analytics.

Design/methodology/approach

For this work objectives, 380 questionnaires were analyzed. Convergent validity and discriminant validity tests were performed through partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) in the Smart-PLS programme. Data reliability was confirmed. A bootstrapping technique was used to analyze the data and then hypothesis testing was performed.

Findings

The results indicate that Industry 4.0 readiness, industrial Internet of things (IIoT) and big data analytics positively enable CE, also the IIoT and big data analytics positively mediate the nexus between Industry 4.0 readiness and CE.

Practical implications

This study promotes the idea of focusing on Industry 4.0 readiness to enhance CE in the Jordanian manufacturing sector and knowing the effect of IIoT and big data analytics in this relationship.

Originality/value

This research developed a theoretical model to understand how Industry 4.0 readiness might enhance the CE in manufacturing firms by invoking the IIoT and big data analytics as mediating constructs in the relationship between Industry 4.0 readiness and CE. This paper offers new theoretical and practical contributions that add value to industry 4.0 and CE literature by testing these constructs' mediation models in the manufacturing sector.
Cooperative governance mechanisms for personal information security: an evolutionary game approach
Authors: Sun Yong , Zhang Ya-Feng , Wang Yalin , Zhang Sihui
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the cooperative governance mechanisms for personal information security, which can help enrich digital governance research and provide a reference for the formulation of protection policies for personal information security.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper constructs an evolutionary game model consisting of regulators, digital enterprises and consumers, which is combined with the simulation method to examine the influence of different factors on personal information protection and governance.

Findings

The results reveal seven stable equilibrium strategies for personal information security within the cooperative governance game system. The non-compliant processing of personal information by digital enterprises can damage the rights and interests of consumers. However, the combination of regulatory measures implemented by supervisory authorities and the rights protection measures enacted by consumers can effectively promote the self-regulation of digital enterprises. The reputation mechanism exerts a restricting effect on the opportunistic behaviour of the participants.

Research limitations/implications

The authors focus on the regulation of digital enterprises and do not consider the involvement of malicious actors such as hackers, and the authors will continue to focus on the game when assessing the governance of malicious actors in subsequent research.

Practical implications

This study's results enhance digital governance research and offer a reference for developing policies that protect personal information security.

Originality/value

This paper builds an analytical framework for cooperative governance for personal information security, which helps to understand the decision-making behaviour and motivation of different subjects and to better address issues in the governance for personal information security.
Breaking the mold: how customer perceived innovativeness sets restaurants apart
Authors: Hussain Khalid , Afzaal Asma , Al Balushi Maha Khamis , Junaid Muhammad
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The intense competition among restaurant brands made it difficult to retain and engage customers. Service innovation can play a vital role to serve this purpose, however, restaurant brands' efforts to bringing innovativeness may not yield desired results unless customers perceive them innovative. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the role of customer perceived innovativeness (CPRI) in enhancing brand love and evangelism among customers. This study compares these effects between fast-food and continental restaurants to offer deeper insights.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 303 customers of fast-food and continental restaurants through self-administered structured questionnaire. The reliability and validity were established through confirmatory factor analysis. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling and multi-group SEM with MPlus.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that menu, experiential and promotional innovativeness dimensions of CPRI positively influence brand love. The effects of CPRI dimensions transcend to brand evangelism dimensions, i.e. brand purchase intension, positive brand referrals and oppositional brand referrals via brand love. The multi-group analysis showed that continental restaurants' menu innovativeness strongly impacts brand love and evangelism while promotional innovativeness matters more in the context of fast-food restaurants.

Practical implications

This study helps restaurant managers in devising tailor made strategies for fast-food and continental restaurants by focusing on the relevant attributes to bring innovation.

Originality/value

This research is one of the pioneering studies to investigate the relationship of CPRI with brand evangelism through the mediating role of brand love. This study also marks an initial attempt to compare fast-food and continental restaurants in the context of CPRI.
Nurturing green creativity in women intrapreneurs through green HRM: testing moderated mediation model - a step toward Saudi Vision 2030
Authors: Iram Tahira , Bilal Ahmad Raza , Saeed Tariq , Liaquat Faiza
Published: October 2023

Purpose

In 2016, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) initiated Saudi Vision 2030, an ambitious plan to lessen the country's dependency on fossil fuels and increase economic diversification. The Vision 2030 framework strives to establish a thriving economy, a vibrant society and an ambitious nation. This study aims to investigate the role of green service innovation (SI) and green work engagement (WE) in mediating the nexus between green human resource management (HRM) and green creativity (GC) under conditional role of spiritual leadership (SL).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was done of 300 female intrapreneurs working in the organization within Saudi Arabia. This study has collected data via stratified random sampling technique. The framework was tested using PLS-SEM software.

Findings

The findings reveal that WE fully intervenes the nexus between green HRM and GC. Moreover, SL positively moderates the nexus between green HRM and SI.

Originality/value

Thus, based on findings, it is recommended that female intrapreneurs prioritize environmentally responsible operations to gain and sustain competitive edge over rivals in Saudi competitive market.
Investigation on the new reliability issues of PCB in 5G millimeter wave application
Authors: He Xiao , Huang Lijuan , Xiao Meizhen , Yu Chengyong , Li En , Shao Weiheng
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the new technical demands and reliability challenges to printed circuit board (PCB) designs, materials and processes when the transmission frequency increases from Sub-6 GHz in previous generations to millimeter (mm) wave in fifth-generation (5G) communication technology.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach involves theoretical analysis and actual case study by various characterization techniques, such as a stereo microscope, metallographic microscope, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, focused ion beam, high-frequency structure simulator, stripline resonator and mechanical test.

Findings

To meet PCB signal integrity demands in mm-wave frequency bands, the improving proposals on copper profile, resin system, reinforcement fabric, filler, electromagnetic interference-reducing design, transmission line as well as via layout, surface treatment, drilling, desmear, laminating and electroplating were discussed. And the failure causes and effects of typical reliability issues, including complex permittivity fluctuation at different frequencies or environments, weakening of peel strength, conductive anodic filament, crack on microvias, the effect of solder joint void on signal transmission performance and soldering anomalies at ball grid array location on high-speed PCBs, were demonstrated.

Originality/value

The PCB reliability problem is the leading factor to cause failures of PCB assemblies concluded from statistical results on the failure cases sent to our laboratory. The PCB reliability level is very essential to guarantee the reliability of the entire equipment. In this paper, the summarized technical demands and reliability issues that are rarely reported in existing articles were discussed systematically with new perspectives, which will be very critical to identify potential reliability risks for PCB in 5G mm-wave applications and implement targeted improvements.
The response of gold to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lu Zhaoying , Tanizaki Hisashi
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how the gold return and its volatility respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Stochastic volatility (SV) models are conducted to examine the response of gold to the number of new confirmed cases and deaths.

Findings

The results indicate that an increase in the change rate of the number of COVID-19 infections or fatalities leads to heightened volatility in gold prices. Moreover, the results suggest that gold volatility is more sensitive to the impacts from high-income countries than by those from middle- and low-income countries. In addition, the asymmetric effect is detected in the gold price volatility, which is contrary to the typical asymmetric effect seen in the stock market. Furthermore, the results remain robust after accounting for the US dollar and the volatility index in relation to gold returns.

Practical implications

This study presents whether and to what extent gold is incorporated in the information related to the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Originality/value

This study augments the existing literature by exploring how the number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities influences gold prices. In addition, it examines the day-of-the-week and asymmetric effects that may contribute to the volatility of gold prices. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the evolution of gold has not yet been investigated using SV models.
Rethinking the role of middle management for the new world of work
Authors: Leavy Brian
Published: October 2023

Purpose

McKinsey partners, Bill Schaninger, Bryan Hancock and Emily Field are championing the premise that the need for a fundamental rethink of the role of middle management in today’s organizations is now more urgent than ever.

Design/methodology/approach

So what should the new blueprint be for middle management as the crucial link between the executive level and the front line S&L interviewer Prof Brian Leavy asks the authors of Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work.

Findings

Companies with top quartile management practices can have more than three times the return to shareholders than other companies.

Practical implications

Because of middle managers’ proximity to the front line, they have a helpful, realistic perspective on how new tools like generative AI should be adopted throughout the organization.

Originality/value

The authors found that middle managers deliver the most value to the organization when they can serve as coaches, connectors, talent managers and strategists. For senior leaders to truly put middle managers at the forefront, they must give managers space to grow and the license to manage in a way that works for them and their team.
Driving growth, productivity and engagement through “good jobs strategy”
Authors: Leavy Brian
Published: October 2023

Purpose

An interview with Zeynep Ton, a professor of practice in the operations management group at MIT Sloan School of Management, about er latest book, The Case for Good Jobs: How Great Companies Bring Dignity, Pay & Meaning to Everyone’s Work.

Design/methodology/approach

She believes that leaders can either view their employees as a cost to be minimized, invest little in them and operate with high turnover, or they can see them as drivers of profitability and growth—investing heavily in them, designing their work for high productivity and contribution and therefore operating with low turnover.-- “the good jobs strategy.”

Findings

The secret sauce of good jobs strategy is four operational choices—focus and simplify, standardize and empower, cross-train and operate with slack—that improve productivity and contribution and make that higher investment possible.

Practical implications

The competitive costs of low people investment are even higher than the poor operational execution costs.

Originality/value

By making the work better and increasing pay, companies can better attract and keep their talent and enforce high standards, which improve execution and service, uplifting revenue. Few have examined this important topic more closely than Zeynep Ton, a professor of practice in the operations management group at MIT Sloan School of Management, best-selling author of The Good Jobs Strategy: How the Smartest Companies Invest in Employees to Lower Costs and Boost Profits.
Machine Learning and the Re‐Enchantment of the Administrative State
Authors: Sarid Eden , Ben‐Zvi Omri
Published: October 2023

Machine learning algorithms present substantial promise for more effective decision‐making by administrative agencies. However, some of these algorithms are inscrutable, namely, they produce predictions that humans cannot understand or explain. This trait is in tension with the emphasis on reason‐giving in administrative law. The article explores this tension, advancing two interrelated arguments. First, providing adequate reasons is a significant facet of respecting individuals’ agency. Incorporating inscrutable algorithmic predictions into administrative decision‐making compromises this normative ideal. Second, as a long‐term concern, the use of inscrutable algorithms by administrative agencies may generate systemic effects by gradually reducing the realm of the humanly explainable in public life, a phenomenon Max Weber termed ‘re‐enchantment’. As a result, the use of inscrutable machine learning algorithms might trigger a special kind of re‐enchantment, making us comprehend less rather than more of shared human experience, and consequently altering the way we understand the administrative state and experience public life.
Brief report: Characterization of electronic cigarette use among patients of a comprehensive cancer center
Authors: Robinson Jason D. , Kypriotakis George , Karam‐Hage Maher , Cui Yong , Beneventi Diane , Blalock Janice A. , Minnix Jennifer A. , Cinciripini Paul M.
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives

We provide an initial characterization of e‐cigarette use among adult cancer patients.

Methods

Data were collected between November 2020 and August 2022 at a comprehensive cancer center.

Results

Relatively few (4.59%) of the assessed patients (n = 47,117) reported ever using e‐cigarettes. Over one‐third of current e‐cigarette users reported being current combustible cigarette users.

Discussion and Conclusions

These data suggest that e‐cigarette use is uncommon but associated with other tobacco use among adult cancer patients.

Scientific Significance

This is among the first comprehensive surveys of adult cancer patient e‐cigarette use that details the types of e‐cigarette and other tobacco products used by this population.
Does Environmental, Social and Governance Performance Lessen Analyst Optimistic Bias: Evidence from China*
Authors: Wang Zaifeng , Xing Tiancai
Published: October 2023

We examine how analysts respond to non‐financial information about environmental, social responsibility, and corporate governance (ESG) performance and find good ESG performance lessens analysts' optimistic bias. We verify the mediating role of financial transparency that superior ESG performance decreases the level of information asymmetry between firms and analysts and improves financial transparency, thus weakening optimistic bias. Analysts' optimistic bias rises with increased institutional holdings and diminishes with heightened economic policy uncertainty. Social responsibility makes a larger reducing effect on analyst optimistic bias than corporate governance and environmental protection. Our findings have important implications for encouraging firms to emphasize ESG performance and improving stock market efficiency.
How does economic policy uncertainty respond to permanent and transitory shocks?
Authors: Funashima Yoshito
Published: October 2023

The widely used economic policy uncertainty index relies on newspaper reports' word count and may be influenced by media coverage biases. This empirical study explores the response of the economic policy uncertainty index to permanent and transitory shocks, which are identified using a structural vector autoregressive model. We find an overreaction in the economic policy uncertainty index to a permanent shock, suggesting media reporting's temporary overeagerness. Specifically, we demonstrate that the index responds negatively and transiently to a permanent shock, followed by reversed, prolonged responses. However, the negative and transient effects of a transitory shock on the index are milder.
Effects of partial passive ownership in a successive endogenous timing game with R&D spillovers
Authors: Xu Lili , Zhang Yidan , Lee Sang‐Ho
Published: October 2023

This study explores the effect of partial passive ownership (PPO) in a successive two‐round endogenous timing game wherein firms choose research and development (R&D) investments in the first round and then subsequently choose quantities in the second round. We show that each firm prefers to be a quantity leader independent of the timing of R&D decisions, but the welfare‐inferior Cournot competition is an equilibrium of an endogenous production timing game. Moreover, we discover that the equilibrium of an endogenous R&D timing game crucially depends on the PPO level and R&D spillovers rate, while the R&D timing coordination may not be socially desirable unless both are low or high. Our findings suggest that the R&D leadership position of a PPO holder can play an anticompetitive role in the coordination of R&D competition with higher R&D spillovers rates and PPO levels.
The Parenting Sense of Competence scale: Updating a classic
Authors: Gilmore Linda , Cuskelly Monica
Published: October 2023

Background

The Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) is a self‐report measure of parenting efficacy and satisfaction that is widely used by researchers and clinicians in many countries. Despite its popularity, there have been some criticisms of the instrument. The aims of the current study were to identify and address shortcomings of the PSOC and to produce a revised measure that reflected the original constructs and that demonstrated robust psychometric properties.

Methods

The researchers examined the original PSOC and proposed changes to overcome identified issues. A sample of 3056 Australian mothers provided data for the revised instrument's factor structure and psychometric analyses.

Results

We identified a number of problems with the original instrument, including factorial inconsistency, and multipart or potentially ambiguous questions. Of particular concern was the fact that all negatively worded items load onto one subscale and all positively worded questions load onto the other subscale. In addressing these issues, we produced a 16‐item instrument (the Parenting Sense of Competence–Revised; PSOC‐R) with strong internal consistency, excellent test–retest reliability and good evidence of construct validity including factorial validity and criterion‐related validity.

Conclusions

The PSOC‐R maintains the intent of the original measure in assessing parenting Efficacy (10 items) and Satisfaction (6 items). It represents improvements in item construction including reductions in complexity, with no multipart items and a lower reading level requirement than previously. Data across four child age groups enhance the instrument's clinical utility.