bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathways Associated with Positive Sepsis Survival Outcomes in African American/Black and Non-Hispanic White UTI Patients
Authors: Kapp Kathryn L. , Choi Min Ji , Bai Kun , Du Liping , Yende Sachin , Kellum John A. , Angus Derek C. , Peck-Palmer Octavia M. , Robinson Renã A. S.
Published: July 2023

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common cause of sepsis worldwide. Annually, over 60,000 US deaths can be attributed to sepsis secondary to UTIs, and African American/Black adults have higher incidence and case-fatality rates more so than Non-Hispanic White adults. Molecular-level factors that may help partially explain differences in sepsis survival outcomes between African American/Black and Non-Hispanic White adults are not clear. In this study, patient samples (N = 166) from the Protocolized Care for Early Septic Shock (ProCESS) cohort were analyzed using discovery-based plasma proteomics. Patients had sepsis secondary to UTIs and were stratified according to self-identified racial background and sepsis survival outcomes. Proteomics results suggest patient heterogeneity across mechanisms driving survival from sepsis secondary to UTIs. Differentially-expressed proteins (N = 122, FDR-adjusted p < 0.05) in Non-Hispanic White sepsis survivors were primarily in immune system pathways, while differentially-expressed proteins (N = 47, FDR-adjusted p < 0.05) in African American/Black patients were mostly in metabolic pathways. However, in all patients, regardless of racial background, there were 16 differentially-expressed proteins in sepsis survivors involved in translation initiation and shutdown pathways. These pathways are potential targets for prognostic intervention. Overall, this study provides information about molecular factors that may help explain disparities in sepsis survival outcomes among African American/Black and Non-Hispanic White patients with primary UTIs.
Exosomal circVMA21 derived from adipose-derived stem cells alleviates sepsis-induced acute kidney injury by targeting miR-16-5p
Authors: He Yuexian , Li Xiaoyue , Huang Bolun , Yang Yiyu , Luo Nandu , Song Wenxiu , Huang Bo
Published: July 2023

Background

Exosome from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs-Exo) has been shown to inhibit the progression of human diseases, including sepsis-related acute kidney injury (AKI). CircVMA21 is considered to be an important regulator for sepsis-related AKI. However, whether ADSCs-Exo affected sepsis-induced AKI by delivering circVMA21 is not clear.

Methods

ADSCs was identified by alizarin red staining, oil red O staining, and flow cytometry. ADSCs-Exo was authenticated by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, and inflammation cytokine levels were determined by ELISA. Lactate production was assessed using Lactate Acid Content Assay Kit. The expression levels of aerobic glycolysis-related markers, circVMA21 and miR-16-5p were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were employed to detect RNA interaction. Animal experiments were used to evaluate the role of ADSCs-Exo on renal function and cell injury in LPS-induced AKI mice model.

Results

ADSCs-Exo inhibited LPS-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis, inflammation and aerobic glycolysis. Knockdown of exosomal circVMA21 derived from ADSCs enhanced HK-2 cell injury induced by LPS. In terms of mechanism, circVMA21 could serve as sponge for miR-16-5p. Besides, miR-16-5p inhibitor reversed the promotion effect of Exo-sh-circVMA21 on LPS-induced cell injury. In addition, ADSCs-Exo protected LPS-induced AKI in mice by increasing circVMA21 expression and decreasing miR-16-5p expression.

Conclusion

Exosomal circVMA21 derived by ADSCs relieved LPS-induced AKI through targeting miR-16-5p, which provided a potential molecular target for treating sepsis-related AKI.
Mild therapeutic hypothermia reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury following Zone 1 REBOA in a swine hemorrhagic shock model
Authors: Yang Zhao , Jianxin Gao , Chengcheng Li , Guogeng Song , Yi Shan
Published: July 2023

Background

Resuscitative balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is an endovascular hemostasis method used for the management of traumatic abdominal and pelvic hemorrhages. However, REBOA-associated ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) complication limits its blocking time. We hypothesized that mild therapeutic hypothermia (TH) would relieve IRI caused by prolonged zone 1 REBOA.

Methods

Ten pigs were anesthetized, intubated, and subsequently struck with the experimental sliding-chamber ballistic gun to inflict liver damage. Animals were randomized to hypothermia (60 min of Zone 1 REBOA with external cooling for 180 min, n = 5) or control (60 min of Zone 1 REBOA with no external cooling, n = 5). Physiological and laboratory parameters were monitored and assessed. Distal organs were obtained for histologic analysis.

Results

At 180 min, compared with the control, the hypothermia animals exhibited significantly increased pH and significantly reduced lactate (Lac), hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) (all p < 0.05). The change of Lac from 0 to 180 min in hypothermia animals was less than that in the control (p = 0.02). The total bleeding in the control group was significantly less than the hypothermia (p < 0.01). In the hypothermia group, PT at 120 and 180 min was significantly longer than that at baseline (all p < 0.05). Compared with the control, animals in hypothermia group showed slighter pathological injury of the distal organs and significantly lower overall injury score (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Mild TH during prolonged Zone 1 REBOA offered extraordinary distal organ preservation, and decreased metabolic acidosis.
Anatomic Criterion for Clinically Relevant Apical Prolapse in Urogynecology Populations
Authors: Oh Sumin , Shin E. Kyung , Lee So Yeon , Kim Min Ju , Lee Youjoung , Jeon Myung Jae
Published: July 2023

Importance

Despite recognition of the critical role of the apex in vaginal support, there is no consensus on the anatomic criteria for clinically relevant apical prolapse.

Objective

The aim of this study was to define an optimal anatomic criterion for clinically relevant apical prolapse.

Study Design

This retrospective cohort study included 3,690 patients who had visited a tertiary hospital for ambulatory urogynecologic care. Vaginal bulge symptom was defined as a response of “somewhat,” “moderately,” or “quite a bit” to Question 3 on the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for a vaginal bulge symptom and apical support (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification point C and C/total vaginal length [TVL]).

Results

Both point C and the C-to-TVL ratio (C/TVL) had excellent performance for predicting vaginal bulge symptoms (area under the curve, 0.917 and 0.927, respectively). The optimal cutoffs were −3.0 for C and −0.50 for C/TVL. When we analyzed the data set according to the TVL, there was a significant difference in the cutoffs for C, whereas those for C/TVL had little difference. There was no difference in the cutoffs of C and C/TVL according to hysterectomy status.

Conclusions

The C/TVL is more appropriate than point C as a measure to define an anatomic criterion for clinically relevant apical prolapse. Descent of the vaginal apex beyond the halfway point of the vagina could be considered as an anatomic threshold for clinically relevant apical prolapse. This finding needs to be validated in nonurogynecology populations.
Long-term evolution of proliferating cells using the eVOLVER platform
Authors: García-Ruano Daniel , Jain Akanksha , Heins Zachary J. , Wong Brandon G. , Yimer Wolle Ezira , Khalil Ahmad S. , Coudreuse Damien
Published: July 2023

Experimental evolution using fast-growing unicellular organisms is a unique strategy for deciphering the principles and mechanisms underlying evolutionary processes as well as the architecture and wiring of basic biological functions. Over the past decade, this approach has benefited from the development of powerful systems for the continuous control of the growth of independently evolving cultures. While the first devices compatible with multiplexed experimental evolution remained challenging to implement and required constant user intervention, the recently developed eVOLVER framework represents a fully automated closed-loop system for laboratory evolution assays. However, it remained difficult to maintain and compare parallel evolving cultures in tightly controlled environments over long periods of time using eVOLVER. Furthermore, a number of tools were lacking to cope with the various issues that inevitably occur when conducting such long-term assays. Here we present a significant upgrade of the eVOLVER framework, providing major modifications of the experimental methodology, hardware and software as well as a new stand-alone protocol. Altogether, these adaptations and improvements make the eVOLVER a versatile and unparalleled set-up for long-term experimental evolution.
Scaling Self-Supervised Learning for Histopathology with Masked Image Modeling
Authors: Filiot Alexandre , Ghermi Ridouane , Olivier Antoine , Jacob Paul , Fidon Lucas , Camara Axel , Mac Kain Alice , Saillard Charlie , Schiratti Jean-Baptiste
Published: July 2023

Computational pathology is revolutionizing the field of pathology by integrating advanced computer vision and machine learning technologies into diagnostic workflows. It offers unprecedented opportunities for improved efficiency in treatment decisions by allowing pathologists to achieve higher precision and objectivity in disease classification, tumor microenvironment description and identification of new biomarkers. However, the potential of computational pathology in personalized medicine comes with significant challenges, particularly in annotating whole slide images (WSI), which is time-consuming, costly and subject to inter-observer variability. To address these challenges, Self-Supervised Learning (SSL) has emerged as a promising solution to learn representations from histology patches and leverage large volumes of unlabelled WSI. Recently, Masked Image Modeling (MIM) as a SSL framework has emerged and is now considered to outperform purely contrastive learning paradigms. In this work, we therefore explore the application of MIM to histology using iBOT, a self-supervised transformer-based framework. Through a wide range of 17 downstream tasks over seven cancer indications, both at the slide and patch levels, we provide recommendations on the pre-training of large models for histology data using MIM. First, we demonstrate that in-domain pre-training with iBOT outperforms both ImageNet pre-training and a model pre-trained with a purely contrastive learning objective, MoCo v2. Second, we show that Vision Transformers (ViT) models, when scaled appropriately, have the capability to learn pan-cancer representations that benefit a large variety of downstream tasks. Finally, our iBOT ViT-Base model (80 million parameters), pre-trained on more than 40 million histology images from 16 different cancer types, achieves state-of-the-art performance in most weakly-supervised WSI classification tasks compared to other SSL frameworks available in the literature. This paves the way for the development of a foundation model for histopathology. Our code, models and features are publicly available athttps://github.com/owkin/HistoSSLscaling.
Lipidomic analysis reveals differences in the extent of remyelination in the brain and spinal cord
Authors: Mohotti Nishama De Silva , Kobayashi Hiroko , Williams Jenna M. , Binjawadagi Rashmi , Evertsen Michel P. , Christ Ethan G. , Hartley Meredith D.
Published: July 2023

During demyelination, lipid-rich myelin debris is released in the central nervous system (CNS) and must be phagocytosed and processed before new myelin can form. Although myelin comprises over 70% lipids, relatively little is known about how the CNS lipidome changes during demyelination and remyelination. In this study, we obtained a longitudinal lipidomic profile of the brain, spinal cord, and serum using a genetic mouse model of demyelination, known asPlp1-iCKO-Myrfmice. This model has distinct phases of demyelination and remyelination over the course of 24 weeks, in which loss of motor function peaks during demyelination. Using principal component analysis (PCA) and volcano plots, we have demonstrated that the brain and spinal cord have different remyelination capabilities and that this is reflected in different lipidomic profiles over time. We observed that plasmalogens (ether-linked phosphatidylserine and ether-linked phosphatidylcholine) were elevated specifically during the early stages of active demyelination. In addition, we identified lipids in the brain that were altered when mice were treated with a remyelinating drug, which may be CNS biomarkers of remyelination. The results of this study provide new insights into how the lipidome changes in response to demyelination, which will enable future studies to elucidate mechanisms of lipid regulation during demyelination and remyelination.
Redox-dependent condensation and cytoplasmic granulation by human ssDNA binding protein 1 delineate roles in oxidative stress response
Authors: Harami Gábor M. , Pálinkás János , Kovács Zoltán J. , Jezsó Bálint , Tárnok Krisztián , Harami-Papp Hajnalka , Hegedüs József , Mahmudova Lamiya , Kucsma Nóra , Tóth Szilárd , Szakács Gergely , Kovács Mihály
Published: July 2023

Human single-stranded DNA binding protein 1 (hSSB1/NABP2/OBFC2B) plays central roles in the repair of DNA breaks and oxidized DNA lesions. Here we show that hSSB1 undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) that is redox-dependent and requires the presence of single-stranded DNA or RNA, features that are distinct from those of LLPS by bacterial SSB. hSSB1 nucleoprotein droplets form under physiological ionic conditions, in response to treatment resulting in cellular oxidative stress. hSSB1’s intrinsically disordered region (IDR) is indispensable for LLPS, whereas all three cysteine residues of the oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB) fold are necessary to maintain redox-sensitive droplet formation. Proteins interacting with hSSB1 show selective enrichment inside hSSB1 droplets, suggesting tight content control and recruitment functions for the condensates. While these features appear instrumental for genome repair, we also detected hSSB1 condensates in the cytoplasm in response to oxidative stress in various cell lines. hSSB1 condensates colocalize with stress granules, implying unexplored extranuclear roles in cellular stress response. Our results suggest novel, condensation-linked roles for hSSB1, linking genome repair and cytoplasmic defense.
Competitive Microarray Screening Reveals Functional Ligands for the DHX15 RNA G-quadruplex
Authors: Prestwood Peri R. , Yang Mo , Lewis Grace V. , Balaratnam Sumirtha , Yazdani Kamyar , Schneekloth John S.
Published: July 2023

RNAs are increasingly considered valuable therapeutic targets, and in turn the development of methods to identify and validate both RNA targets and RNA-binding compounds is more important than ever. In this study, we utilized a bioinformatic approach to identify a hairpin-containing RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) in the 5′UTR ofDHX15mRNA. By using a competitive small molecule microarray (SMM) approach, we identified a compound that specifically binds to theDHX15rG4 with a KDof 12.6 ± 1 µM. This rG4 directly impacts translation of aDHX15reporter mRNAin vitro, and binding of our compound (F1) to the structure inhibits translation up to 57% with an IC50of 22.9 ± 3.8 µM. The DHX15 protein is an “undruggable” helicase associated with several types of cancer progression, and our data represent the first published effort to target the rG4 inDHX15mRNA to inhibit its translation. Overall, our work is informative for the development of novel small molecule cancer therapeutics for RNA targets starting from target identification.

Graphical Abstract
Systematic analysis of the sphingomyelin synthase family inC. elegans
Authors: Guzman Gaelen G. , Farley Scotland , Kyle Jennifer E. , Bramer Lisa M. , Hoeltzl Sandra , van den Dikkenberg Joep , Holthuis Joost C. M. , Tafesse Fikadu G.
Published: July 2023

Sphingomyelin (SM) is a major component of mammalian cell membranes and particularly abundant in the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers. Its production is catalyzed by SM synthases SMS1 and SMS2, which interconvert phosphatidylcholine and ceramide to diacylglycerol and SM in the Golgi and at the plasma membrane, respectively. As the lipids participating in this reaction fulfill both structural and signaling functions, SMS enzymes have considerable potential to influence diverse important cellular processes. The nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansis an attractive model for studying both animal development and human disease. The organism contains five SMS homologues but none of these have been characterized in any detail. Here, we carried out the first systematic analysis of SMS family members inC. elegans. Using heterologous expression systems, genetic ablation, metabolic labeling and lipidome analyses, we show thatC. elegansharbors at least three distinct SM synthases and one ceramide phosphoethanolamine (CPE) synthase. Moreover,C. elegansSMS family members have partially overlapping but also unique subcellular distributions and together occupy all principal compartments of the secretory pathway. Our findings shed light on crucial aspects of sphingolipid metabolism in a valuable animal model and opens avenues for exploring the role of SM and its metabolic intermediates in organismal development.
Inversion model for extracting chemically resolved depth profiles across liquid interfaces of various configurations from XPS data: PROPHESY
Authors: Ozon Matthew , Tumashevich Konstantin , Lin Jack J. , Prisle Nønne L.
Published: July 2023

PROPHESY, a technique for the reconstruction of surface-depth profiles from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data, is introduced. The inversion methodology is based on a Bayesian framework and primal-dual convex optimization. The acquisition model is developed for several geometries representing different sample types: plane (bulk sample), cylinder (liquid microjet) and sphere (droplet). The methodology is tested and characterized with respect to simulated data as a proof of concept. Possible limitations of the method due to uncertainty in the attenuation length of the photo-emitted electron are illustrated.
To boldly go where no one has gone before: a critical realist approach to space accounting
Authors: Modell Sven
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how critical realism can be mobilised as a meta-theory, or philosophical under-labourer, for research on space accounting and how this may further inquiries into the known as well as the unknown implications of space exploration and commercialisation.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that applies critical realism to the field of space accounting using cost management in space contracts as an illustrative example.

Findings

Adopting a naturalised version of critical realism that recognises the complex interplay between natural and social realities, the author nuances the distinction between intransitive and transitive objects of knowledge and advances a framework that may be used as a starting point for a transfactual mode of reasoning. The author then applies this mode of reasoning to the topic of cost management in the space sector and illustrates how it may enhance our insights into what causes cost overruns in space contracts.

Research limitations/implications

By adopting a naturalised version of critical realism, the author establishes a philosophical framework that can support the broadly based, inter-disciplinary research agenda that has been envisaged for research on space accounting and possibly inform policy development.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to apply a critical realist perspective to space accounting and lays a philosophical foundation for future research on the topic.
Surface characteristic of corroded cold-formed thin-walled steel in industrial environments
Authors: Fan Li , Nie Biao
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the evolution law of surface characteristic of corroded cold-formed thin-walled steel in industrial environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Five test specimens sourced from cold-formed thin-walled C-shaped steel that have been in service for three years in actual industrial environments were subjected to surface characteristic test. The surface characteristic of corroded hot-rolled steel and cold-formed steel were compared and analyzed. The relationship between the surface morphology parameters and the average corrosion depth was established.

Findings

The evolution law of the surface morphology of corroded cold-formed thin-walled steel and corroded hot-rolled steel was similar. The frequency histogram of corrosion depth was mainly single peak with high values on the middle and low values on both sides. The corrosion depth conformed to the normal distribution. The roughness average height and the root mean square of surface height gradually increased linearly with increasing the average corrosion depth.

Originality/value

The reduction in the standard deviation of corrosion depth, the maximum corrosion depth, the roughness average height and the root mean square of surface height of the cold-formed thin-walled steel was smaller than those of the hot-rolled steel.
A scheduling model of civil aircraft maintenance stand based on spatiotemporal constraints
Authors: Liu Guihang , Guo Runxia , Chen Jiusheng
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Maintenance stands are the most valuable maintenance resources and provide the necessary maintenance space and maintenance facilities for aircraft maintenance. To expand the maintenance market, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) urgently need to achieve a reasonable schedule between aircraft maintenance requirements and maintenance stand capability to improve aircraft maintenance continuity and reduce the risk of scratching due to aircraft movement. This study aims to design a maintenance stand scheduling (MSS) model based on spatiotemporal constraints to solve the problem of maintenance stand schedules.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the problem of maintenance stand schedules, this study introduces mixed-integer programming algorithm to design the MSS model on the basis of classical hybrid flow shop structure. When designing the optimization objective function of MSS modeling, the spatiotemporal constraints are mainly considered. Specifically, first, the spatial constraints between maintenance stands are fully considered so that more aircraft can be parked in the workshop. Second, the optimization objective is designed to minimize the number of aircraft movements by defining multiple maintenance capabilities of the stand. Finally, a solution based on spatiotemporal constraints is proposed in the solving process.

Findings

A set of MRO production data from Guangzhou is used as a test data set to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MSS model.

Originality/value

The types of maintenance stands are defined and divided into four categories: fixed stand, temporary stand, half-body stand and engine ground test stand, which facilitates optimal modeling; a new scheduling model is designed considering both temporal constraints and spatial constraints, which can improve both the utilization of maintenance stand and safety (reduce the risk of scratching between aircraft).
Breaking the glass ceiling: gender equality practices in a Japanese bank
Authors: Hosoda Masahiro , Nagano Shima
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the mechanism of the relationships between financial and non-financial outcomes and gender equality through a case study of a Japanese bank that has consistently pursued gender equality.

Design/methodology/approach

A single case study was adopted to explore the outcomes of promoting gender equality. Primary data were collected from 12 semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed by rereading and coding the interview responses coded to generate themes.

Findings

Through governance reform in Company A, women have been placed in top management positions and the number of female managers has increased, allowing frontline intentions to be reflected in decision-making. The increased number of female managers has led to a decrease in female turnover, men taking parental leave, improved training of female managers and the recruitment of excellent new graduates. The appropriate allocation of jobs to female managers and employees also meets customer needs and has led to increased sales. Finally, involvement of female employees in product development in male-dominated workplaces brings women’s experiences and perspectives to product development, resulting in the development of products that are favoured by customers.

Originality/value

This study determined the mechanism behind the relationships between financial and non-financial outcomes and gender equality, based on agency, upper echelons, resource dependence, institutional and social role theories. It also contributes to gender equality research methodology by providing compelling qualitative stories of gender equality outcomes to increase a company’s commitment to promoting gender equality.
Resilient higher educational institutions in a world of digital transformation
Authors: Gull Maryam , Parveen Shazia , Sridadi Ahmad Rizki
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Resilient higher education institutions can endure, develop and compete in the face of ambiguous, challenging and pandemic situations. In a world of digital transformation, organizational resilience is crucial. Prior research has paid less attention to achieving organizational resilience. This study aims to use the digital capability theory to address this research gap and determine adaptive culture’s direct and indirect influence on organizational resilience. The impact of adaptive culture on organizational resilience is being investigated via the underlying mechanism of digital transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was gathered using a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire with convenience sampling techniques from higher educational institutions in South Asia’s context. The direct and indirect effects were analyzed using SEM from 294 teaching faculty members.

Findings

The findings show a significant positive association between the study’s constructs. The association between adaptive culture and organizational resilience was partially mediated by digital transformation. The findings provide important insights for policymakers, academics and higher education institutions in developing adaptable cultures to achieve organizational resilience, primarily through digital transformation.

Originality/value

Few research studies have investigated a direct relationship among the constructs of the study to the best of the authors’ knowledge. It is the first study to investigate the role of digital transformation as the underlying mechanism between adaptive culture and organizational resilience. Theoretical contributions, practical implications and future research directions have all been presented.
Network optimization for optimal product mix decisions in a graphite mining production process
Authors: Karunamuni Karunamunige Sandun Madhuranga , Ekanayake Ekanayake Mudiyanselage Kapila Bandara , Dharmapriya Subodha , Kulatunga Asela Kumudu
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a novel general mathematical model to find the optimal product mix of commercial graphite products, which has a complex production process with alternative sub-processes in the graphite mining production process.

Design/methodology/approach

The network optimization was adopted to model the complex graphite mining production process through the optimal allocation of raw graphite, byproducts, and saleable products with comparable sub-processes, which has different processing capacities and costs. The model was tested on a selected graphite manufacturing company, and the optimal graphite product mix was determined through the selection of the optimal production process. In addition, sensitivity and scenario analyses were carried out to accommodate uncertainties and to facilitate further managerial decisions.

Findings

The selected graphite mining company mines approximately 400 metric tons of raw graphite per month to produce ten types of graphite products. According to the optimum solution obtained, the company should produce only six graphite products to maximize its total profit. In addition, the study demonstrated how to reveal optimum managerial decisions based on optimum solutions.

Originality/value

This study has made a significant contribution to the graphite manufacturing industry by modeling the complex graphite mining production process with a network optimization technique that has yet to be addressed at this level of detail. The sensitivity and scenario analyses support for further managerial decisions.
Wage dispersion and firm performance: evidence from Kazakhstan
Authors: Yergabulova Aigerim , Alpysbayeva Dinara , Subramanian Venkat
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to explore within-firm vertical pay inequality and its relation to firm size and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using firm-level microdata for Kazakhstan, the authors measure within-firm pay inequality as the wage differential between the top- and the bottom-level job occupations. The authors carry out their analysis based on panel regression models.

Findings

The authors find that within-firm pay inequality increases as firms grow. Further, they identify that this trend is mainly driven by top-occupation workers receiving more significant wage increases compared to lower-level workers as firms expand. Once the authors address concerns about endogeneity, they find that pay inequality is negatively associated with firm performance.

Practical implications

Developing strategies and policies that prioritize fairness and transparency in compensation practices is crucial during the expansion process of firms. By actively discouraging rent-seeking behavior, firms can create a work environment that promotes productivity and sustainability, ultimately leading to improved firm performance. The research findings highlight the importance of implementing context-specific interventions, recognizing that different environments may require tailored approaches to address pay inequality effectively.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the study of within-firm pay inequality, firm size and performance in an emerging economy, an area that has been largely overlooked in previous empirical research. The contrasting findings show the importance of the structural and industrial characteristics of emerging markets that contribute to broader and deeper impact of pay inequality compared to developed economies.
Odd couples: reconciling academic and operational cultures for whole-institution sustainability governance at universities
Authors: Robinson John , Alhakim Andi Darell , Ma Grace , Alam Monisha , Brando Fernanda da Rocha , Braune Manfred , Brown Michelle , Côté Nicolas , Espinosa Denise Crocce Romano , Garza Ana Karen , Gorman David , Hajer Maarten , Madden John , Melnick Rob , Metras John , Newman Julie , Patel Rutu , Raven Rob , Sergienko Kenneth , Smith Victoria , Tariq Hoor , van der Lem Lysanne , Wong Christina Nga Jing , Wiek Arnim
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore barriers and pathways to a whole-institution governance of sustainability within the working structures of universities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on multi-year interviews and hierarchical structure analysis of ten universities in Canada, the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil, the UK and The Netherlands. The paper addresses existing literature that championed further integration between the two organizational sides of universities (academic and operations) and suggests approaches for better embedding sustainability into four primary domains of activity (education, research, campus operations and community engagement).

Findings

This research found that effective sustainability governance needs to recognise and reconcile distinct cultures, diverging accountability structures and contrasting manifestations of central-coordination and distributed-agency approaches characteristic of the university’s operational and academic activities. The positionality of actors appointed to lead institution-wide embedding influenced which domain received most attention. The paper concludes that a whole-institution approach would require significant tailoring and adjustments on both the operational and academic sides to be successful.

Originality/value

Based on a review of sustainability activities at ten universities around the world, this paper provides a detailed analysis of the governance implications of integrating sustainability into the four domains of university activity. It discusses how best to work across the operational/academic divide and suggests principles for adopting a whole institution approach to sustainability.
Islamic economics and finance instructional leadership and curriculum practices: a case study of selected public universities in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ibrahim Mohamed Abdeltawab , Abdullah Arnida , Ismail Ismi Arif , Asimiran Soaib
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the instructional leadership practices implemented by academic professionals and leaders to enhance the curriculum of Islamic economics and finance (IEF) in two public universities in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a qualitative approach, using a case study methodology that focused on two meticulously chosen universities in Saudi Arabia. A total of 21 academics from two public universities in Saudi Arabia who worked in IEF schools were selected for semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The findings showed that two universities in Saudi Arabia that offer degrees in IEF exhibited limited instructional leadership. The findings indicate four apparent barriers that may explain the lack of involvement in instructional leadership and fair practices in the IEF curriculum at Saudi Arabian universities. According to this study, a positive collegial climate in Saudi universities’ IEF promotes shared instructional leadership.

Research limitations/implications

The use of a limited qualitative method and small sample of respondents in this study may not provide enough evidence to generalise the findings to all universities and higher education schools in Saudi Arabia. Although a case study was used to describe IEF curriculum management and implementation at the two universities, caution should be exercised when applying these findings to other institutions.

Practical implications

IEF schools in Saudi universities need to leverage their positive, collaborative and relationship-building environments to develop activities that promote shared instructional leadership.

Originality/value

The research findings can offer valuable insights and examples for school leaders to develop instructional activities and promote the concept of “shared instructional leadership”. This approach involves delegating responsibilities and actions to others to enhance the IEF curriculum’s quality. Policymakers and university officials can use these findings to enhance strategic policies.
Linking green supply chain management practices and behavioural intentions: the mediating role of customer satisfaction
Authors: Karim Rashed Al , Rabiul Md Karim , Kawser Sakia
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The present research investigates the effects of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices on customer behavioural intentions (e.g. word of mouth [WOM], willingness to pay [WTP] and revisit intention [RI]) and the mediating role of customer satisfaction (CS) in the hospitality industry in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied a convenience sampling approach to distribute questionnaires and collect opinions from 404 customers who stayed in Bangladesh's five- and four-star hotels. SmartPLS was applied to examine the proposed hypothesised model.

Findings

GSCM practices have positive and significant impacts on CS and behavioural intentions of customers' WOM, WTP and RI. Additionally, CS mediates the association between GSCM practices and three behavioural intentions.

Practical implications

To boost their hotel's financial performance, hoteliers should allocate more resources to improving environmental sustainability practices in supply chain management.

Originality/value

This study's novel contribution to the literature rests in the findings regarding the mediating effect of CS. This adds value to the theory of planned behaviour. Another unique contribution of this study is that it combines three behavioural intentions (willingness to pay, RI and WOM).
Practice Briefing Negotiation strategies and their impact on real estate investment disposal processes
Authors: Wiegelmann Thomas , Falcão Horacio
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The practice briefing aims to provide real estate professionals and negotiators with a superior understanding of negotiation process design to maximise real estate disposition outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the aforementioned objective.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an expert opinion piece that merges the practical anecdotal knowledge from a real estate expert and a professional negotiator. This opinion piece results from the identification of an underappreciated pattern that the two experts uncovered while discussing several real estate disposition cases, namely the importance of designing a negotiation process to maximize the positive impact of real estate disposition strategies.

Findings

Proactively crafting a negotiation process and matching the same to leverage the chosen real estate disposition strategy, instead of relying on a standard negotiation approach across the board, enhances the odds of negotiating superior outcomes.

Practical implications

In this practice briefing, real estate professionals and even negotiators of other assets can become more aware of the plurality of value drivers, consider the most attractive potential buyers, then use these two variables to craft the optimum disposition strategy for their asset, as well as match a negotiation process out of four main possibilities: 1-to-1, 1-to-few, closed-to-many and open-to-many.

Originality/value

The originality comes from demonstrating based on the authors' expert opinion how negotiation process is an important variable in real estate transactions, and how the parties can shape the negotiation process to their conditions, variables and preferences.
Artificial intelligence in interactive marketing: a conceptual framework and research agenda
Authors: Peltier James W. , Dahl Andrew J. , Schibrowsky John A.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming consumers' experiences and how firms identify, create, nurture and manage interactive marketing relationships. However, most marketers do not have a clear understanding of what AI is and how it may mutually benefit consumers and firms. In this paper, the authors conduct an extensive review of the marketing literature, develop an AI framework for understanding value co-creation in interactive buyer–seller marketing relationships, identify research gaps and offer a future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first conduct an extensive literature review in 16 top marketing journals on AI. Based on this review, an AI framework for understanding value co-creation in interactive buyer–seller marketing relationships was conceptualized.

Findings

The literature review led to a number of key research findings and summary areas: (1) an historical perspective, (2) definitions and boundaries of AI, (3) AI and interactive marketing, (4) relevant theories in the domain of interactive marketing and (5) synthesizing AI research based on antecedents to AI usage, interactive AI usage contexts and AI-enabled value co-creation outcomes.

Originality/value

This is one of the most extensive reviews of AI literature in marketing, including an evaluation of in excess or 300 conceptual and empirical research. Based on the findings, the authors offer a future research agenda, including a visual titled “What is AI in Interactive Marketing? AI design factors, AI core elements & interactive marketing AI usage contexts.”
Let the people know, and the country will be safe: FOI models in South Africa and Zimbabwe
Authors: Mojapelo Makutla
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Democratic countries all over the world are embarking on initiatives to empower citizens through public participation. One of the tools used by countries to promote public participation is the enactment and implementation of freedom of information (FOI) legislation, as it is the case with South Africa and Zimbabwe. Despite having legislation reaffirming the need for people’s right to know, practices in South Africa and Zimbabwe indicate the opposite. The purpose of this study is to explore FOI models in South Africa and Zimbabwe, with a view to recommend ways in which people’s right to know can be promoted.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study used interviews to collect the data from 12 FOI experts in South Africa and Zimbabwe, who were selected through the snowball sampling technique. Data collected through interviews were supplemented by the data collected through document analysis.

Findings

The study concluded that the key role players need to make efforts to ensure that the right to know, which is associated with FOI, is being realised in both countries. FOI legislation, in both countries, is imprecise and needs to be revised to ensure effective implementation.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates that FOI is a necessary tool for people to be involved in decision-making in government. People’s rights to know can be achieved by successfully implementing FOI legislation.
The value of capturing diverse perspectives when setting decision triggers for threatened species management
Authors: Hilton Mairi , Walsh Jessica C. , Maloney Richard F. , Hansen Nicole A. , Cook Carly N.
Published: July 2023

Conservation practitioners commonly work together in management teams, contributing expertise to the planning and decision‐making associated with threatened species management. These groups may include individuals with different perspectives around if, when and how to implement management. Yet, rarely do we consider the value of discussion in shaping these perspectives, and thus management.

Decision triggers can be used to formalise decisions around management and encourage teams to explore these decisions proactively. Previous research has identified how individual experts set decision triggers but there are no accepted approaches for capturing the expertise that exists across management teams when setting decision triggers. To address this gap, we developed an approach to formalise team deliberations about when and how to intervene if a decline in the condition of a threatened species were to be observed.

Using a modified Delphi process, individual experts within a threatened species management team were asked to independently set trigger points and assign actions for the species. Then, as a group, experts discussed anonymised responses, enabling us to understand how group dynamics influenced the decision‐making process. Experts had the opportunity to update their responses based on the group discussion, providing a rationale to support their decisions. We tested the approach with experts from teams managing threatened species across conservation organisations in Australia and New Zealand.

We found that experts often updated their responses to incorporate issues raised by the group, demonstrating a willingness to integrate the perspectives of other team members. Experts tended to become more cautious after discussing their responses, setting additional trigger points and actions, and triggering actions sooner.

Synthesis and applications: Our approach provides a structured process to formally integrate the range of perspectives and experience of groups of experts when setting trigger points and actions. This can help to address common biases that arise during unstructured decision‐making, and ensure decision‐making processes are transparent.
Agency, the Family and the Patriarchal State in Archival Documentation of Australian Second World War Brides
Authors: Hughes Karen , Elder Catriona
Published: July 2023

This article examines the intersecting social circumstances of Australian women's intimate, international relationships with American and other foreign allied servicemen during the Second World War, including their experiences of romance, marriage, divorce and subsequent child‐maintenance USA. We explore how the widely varying, often highly personalised, perceptions of the women's raced, classed and ethnic status, across differing legal systems, could impact not only immigration eligibility, but, especially in the case of Indigenous women, the fundamental right to marry. Immigration laws and local authorities worked in discretionary ways, shaped by a range of considerations and interactions, including class, race and gender to limit non‐white people's mobility and freedom. We demonstrate how this unprecedented larger‐scale experience of international and interracial marriage unsettles feminist arguments that underplay the intersection of issues of race, ethnicity and class with gender in the impact of the Second World War and set the scene for subsequent social changes driven by the logics of race inequality. Enlarging on earlier scholarship, we see the Second World War as a site for the ignition of changes in women's economic, cultural and political status, related here not so much to their work experiences, but to their personal and romantic lives, and also transnational raced experiences of exclusion, agency and shared knowledges.
The impact of lipid degradation on fingerprint quality on fired firearm cartridges
Authors: Goulart Cristiano O. L. , Nascentes Clésia C. , Costa Letícia M.
Published: July 2023

The recovery of identifiable fingerprints from fired cartridge cases is challenging. Therefore, the characterization of chemical modifications and their effects on fingerprint integrity post‐firing is essential. In this study, the primary fingerprint lipids, including myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, squalene, and cholesterol in fired and unfired cartridges, were extracted with acetonitrile, followed by derivatization using N,O‐Bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 1% trimethylchlorosilane (BSTFA/1%TMCS). Squalane was used as the internal standard, and all quantifications were performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry using a triple‐quadrupole mass filter. All lipids identified in the unfired cartridges were also detected in the fired cartridges, and statistical analysis using Student's t‐test and F tests was performed with a 95% confidence level. The concentration of lipids in the unfired cartridges was found to be similar to that detected in the fired cartridges, except for squalene, the recovery of which was 28% lower in the fired cartridges.