bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designer Benzodiazepines Gidazepam and Desalkygidazepam (Bromonordiazepam): What Do We Know?
Authors: Maskell Peter D , Wilson Gemma , Manchester Kieran R
Published: January 2023

Designer benzodiazepines are one of the primary new psychoactive substance (NPS) threats around the world, being found in large numbers in postmortem, driving under the influence of drugs and drug-facilitated sexual assault cases. Even though when compared to many other NPS types, such as opioids and cathinones, there are relatively few designer benzodiazepines being monitored. Recently, a new NPS benzodiazepine has been reported in Europe, the USA and Canada, desalkygidazepam, also known as bromonordiazepam. This substance is a metabolite of the prodrug gidazepam, a drug licensed for use in Ukraine and Russia under the name Gidazepam IC®. In the paper, we review what is currently known about the use, pharmacology and analytical detection of gidazepam, its metabolite desalkygidazepam and their other possible metabolites.
Ovarian goiter detected during post-operative follow-up of papillary thyroid cancer: a case report
Authors: Murayama Daisuke , Toda Soji , Okubo Yoichiro , Hayashi Hiroyuki , Iwasaki Hiroyuki
Published: January 2023

A 70-year-old female without any past medical history underwent total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) (pT3bN1aM0 pStage II). Her post-operative thyroglobulin (Tg) level remained high (around 100 ng/mL), which increased to 366 ng/mL 5 years after surgery. Computed tomography revealed metastasis to the left III and right Vb and VI lymph nodes and an incidental ovarian tumor. Transvaginal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging suspected malignancy, resulting in total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexal resection. A pathological diagnosis of ovarian goiter with no malignancy was then established. For lymph node metastasis of PTC, right neck dissection and left III lymph node resection were performed. Post-operative blood examination showed a significant decrease in the Tg level (5.9 ng/mL). In conclusion, systemic imaging or I-131 remnant ablation should be performed after total thyroidectomy, as evident in the present case in which Tg levels did not decrease after total thyroidectomy.
Climate change and energy transition impact on employment transition in the Ghanaian energy sector
Authors: Kusi-Appiah Francisca , Essandoh Afia Serwaa
Published: January 2023

The measures put in place by energy policymakers and regulators to reduce CO2 emissions encourage the switch from fossil fuels to the use of low-carbon fuels, particularly renewables. The research starts with a detailed content analysis of the climate change policies of Ghana within the electricity sector as well as a doctrinal analysis of the laws passed to implement climate change policies. The article then examines the energy transition measures implemented in Ghana over the years even though Ghana has just launched its National Energy Transition (NET) Framework. The article confirms that Ghana has implemented a variety of measures to promote energy transition although Ghana did not have a comprehensive energy transition policy. The research shows that fossil fuels dominate the electricity market but the patronage of renewables is vigorously promoted. In the wake of the transition from fossil fuel to low-carbon, the subsistence of the employment of workers in the energy sector comes under immense pressure with some employees becoming redundant. Employing empirical research methods, this article examines the employment transition during the energy transition, particularly in the electricity sector of Ghana. This article corroborates the fact that the introduction of renewables has created new jobs in the electricity sector but there is no clear link between the gradual energy transition from 2011 to 2021 on employment losses. In addition, the research shows that more women were employed in the electricity sector within the period installed renewable energy capacity increased although there is no direct link between the two. The article concludes that the new NET Framework will vigorously promote renewables in the energy sector but fossil fuels will provide the majority of the jobs in the Ghanaian energy sector for a while, therefore capacity building is needed to accelerate a sustainable employment transition during the energy transition.
Psychologically informed health care
Authors: Dekker Joost , Sears Samuel F , Åsenlöf Pernilla , Berry Katherine
Published: January 2023

The term “psychologically informed health care” refers to the comprehensive integration of psychological principles into health care. Psychologically informed health care has the potential to lead to a transformation of care, resulting in truly transdisciplinary care. To facilitate its future development, we discuss key characteristics of this approach. These include the direct mode (psychologists assessing and treating patients themselves) and indirect mode (psychologists working through other health care providers) of integrating psychological principles into healthcare; the range of health domains targeted using this approach; transdisciplinary care, transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries; and the positioning of care. We describe a framework for transdisciplinary care, which we refer to as the Framework for Catalytic Collaboration. This framework comprises six dimensions: setting, disciplines, patients/clients, mode of psychological care, primary components of care, and primary targets of care. We also provide four brief illustrations of psychologically informed health care. Finally, we discuss future directions, including the need for professional recognition of the indirect mode, financing of the indirect mode, cross-disciplinary training and trans-disciplinary research.
Cultural adaptations to a telephone genetic counseling protocol and booklet for Latina breast cancer survivors at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
Authors: Gómez-Trillos Sara , Graves Kristi D , Fiallos Katie , Schwartz Marc D , Peshkin Beth N , Hamilton Heidi , Sheppard Vanessa B , Vadaparampil Susan T , Campos Claudia , Cupertino Ana Paula , Alzamora Maria C , Lynce Filipa , Hurtado-de-Mendoza Alejandra
Published: January 2023

Telephone genetic counseling (TGC) is accepted as standard clinical care for people seeking hereditary cancer risk assessment. TGC has been shown to be non-inferior to in-person genetic counseling, but trials have been conducted with a predominantly highly educated, non-Hispanic White population. This article describes the process of culturally adapting a TGC protocol and visual aid booklet for Spanish-preferring Latina breast cancer survivors at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. The adaptation process included two phases. Phase 1 involved a review of the literature and recommendations from an expert team including community partners. Phase 2 included interviews and a pilot with the target population (n = 14) to collect feedback about the adapted protocol and booklet following steps from the Learner Verification and Revision Framework. We describe the adaptation process and report the main adaptations following the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based Interventions (FRAME). Adaptations in Phase 1 were responsive to the target population needs and characteristics (e.g., delivered in Spanish at an appropriate health literacy level, addressing knowledge gaps, targeting cultural values). Phase 2 interviews were crucial to refine details (e.g., selecting words) and to add components to address GCT barriers (e.g., saliva sample video). Cultural adaptations to evidence-based TGC protocols can increase the fit and quality of care for historically underserved populations. As TGC visits become routine in clinical care, it is crucial to consider the needs of diverse communities to adequately promote equity and justice in cancer care.
PATTERN AND CHARACTERISTICS OF DRUSEN SUBTYPES IN CHINESE AND INDIAN POPULATIONS IN SINGAPORE
Authors: Takahashi Kengo , Song Youngseok , Cheong Kai Xiong , Fenner Beau J. , Teo Kelvin Yi Chong , Chee Miao Li , Li Hengtong , Tham Yih-Chung , Cheung Chui Ming Gemmy , Cheng Ching-Yu , Wong Tien Yin , Yanagi Yasuo , Tan Anna C. S.
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

To report the pattern and characteristics of drusen subtypes in Asian populations and the association with choroidal thickness.

Methods:

This is the cross-sectional analysis of the population-based cohort study. Two thousand three hundred and fifty-three eyes of 1,336 Chinese and Indian participants aged older than 50 years, eyes with best-corrected visual acuity better than 20/60, and without other retinal diseases were recruited. Pachydrusen, reticular pseudodrusen, soft and hard drusen were graded on both color fundus photographs, and optical coherence tomography imaging with automated segmentation yielding and measurements of choroidal thickness.

Results:

Nine hundred and fifty-five Chinese and 381 Indians were included in the final analysis. The pattern of pachydrusen, soft drusen, hard drusen, and reticular pseudodrusen was 14.0%, 3.7%, 12.5%, and 0.2%, respectively. Mean choroidal thickness was the thickest in eyes with pachydrusen (298.3 μm; 95% confidence interval: 290.5–306.1), then eyes with hard (298.1 μm; 95% confidence interval: 290.6–305.5) and soft drusen (293.7 μm; 95% confidence interval: 281.9–305.4) and thinnest in eyes without drusen (284.6 μm; 95% confidence interval: 280.5–288.7). Systemic associations of the various drusen subtypes also differed.

Conclusion:

Patterns, characterization and choroidal thickness of drusen subtypes, and their associations provide insights into the Asian phenotypic spectrum of age-related macular degeneration and the underlying pathogenesis.
Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Extracellular Vesicles Improve Wound Closure and Angiogenesis in Diabetic Mice
Authors: Wang Jiang-Wen , Zhu Yuan-Zheng , Ouyang Jing-Ying , Nie Jia-Ying , Wang Zhao-Hui , Wu Shu , Yang Juan-Min , Yi Yang-Yan
Published: January 2023

Background:

Currently, there is a lack in therapy that promotes the reepithelialization of diabetic wounds as an alternative to skin grafting. Here, the authors hypothesized that extracellular vesicles from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC-EVs) could accelerate wound closure through rescuing the function of keratinocytes in diabetic mice.

Methods:

The effect of ADSC-EVs on the biological function of human keratinocyte cells was assayed in vitro. In vivo, 81 male severe combined immune deficiency mice aged 8 weeks were divided randomly into the extracellular vesicle–treated diabetes group (n = 27), the phosphate-buffered saline–treated diabetes group (n = 27), and the phosphate-buffered saline–treated normal group (n = 27). A round, 8-mm-diameter, full-skin defect was performed on the back skin of each mouse. The wound closure kinetics, average healing time, reepithelialization rate, and neovascularization were evaluated by histological staining.

Results:

In vitro, ADSC-EVs improved proliferation, migration, and proangiogenic potential, and inhibited the apoptosis of human keratinocyte cells by suppressing Fasl expression with the optimal dose of 40 μg/mL. In vivo, postoperative dripping of ADSC-EVs at the dose of 40 μg/mL accelerated diabetic wound healing, with a 15.8% increase in closure rate and a 3.3-day decrease in average healing time. ADSC-EVs improved reepithelialization (18.2%) with enhanced epithelial proliferation and filaggrin expression, and suppressed epithelial apoptosis and Fasl expression. A 2.7-fold increase in the number of CD31-positive cells was also observed.

Conclusion:

ADSC-EVs improve diabetic wound closure and angiogenesis by enhancing keratinocyte-mediated reepithelialization and vascularization.

Clinical Relevance Statement:

ADSC-EVs could be developed as a regenerative medicine for diabetic wound care.
Admission maximum amplitude–reaction time ratio: Association between thromboelastography values predicts poor outcome in injured children
Authors: Abou Khalil Elissa , Gaines Barbara A. , Morgan Katrina M. , Leeper Christine M.
Published: January 2023

INTRODUCTION

Thromboelastography (TEG)-derived maximum amplitude–reaction time (MA-R) ratio that accounts for both hypocoagulable and hypercoagulable changes in coagulation is associated with poor outcomes in adults. The relationship between these TEG values and outcomes has not been studied in children.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study, a level I pediatric trauma center database was queried for children younger than 18 years who had a TEG assay on admission between 2016 and 2020. Demographics, injury characteristics, and admission TEG values were recorded. The MA-R ratio was calculated and divided into quartiles. Main outcomes included mortality, transfusion within 24 hours of admission, and thromboembolism. A logistic regression model was generated adjusting for age, Injury Severity Score, injury mechanism, admission shock, and Glasgow Coma Scale.

RESULTS

In total, 657 children were included, of which 70% were male and 75% had blunt mechanism injury. The median (interquartile range) age was 11 (4–14) years, the median (interquartile range) Injury Severity Score was10 (5–22), and in-hospital mortality was 7% (n = 45). Of these patients, 17% (n = 112) required transfusion. Most R and MA values were within normal limits. On unadjusted analysis, the lowest MA-R ratio quartile was associated with increased mortality (15% vs. 4%, 5%, and 4%, respectively; p < 0.001) and increased transfusion need (26% vs. 12%, 16%, and 13%, respectively; p = 0.002) compared with higher quartiles. In the logistic regression models, a low MA-R ratio was independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 4.4 [1.9–10.2]) and increased need for transfusion within 24 hours of admission (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.0 [1.2–3.4]) compared with higher MA-R ratio. There was no association between MA-R ratio and venous thromboembolic events (venous thromboembolic event rate by quartile: 4%, 2%, 1%, and 3%).

CONCLUSION

Although individual admission TEG values are not commonly substantially deranged in injured children, the MA-R ratio is an independent predictor of poor outcome. Maximum amplitude–reaction time ratio may be a useful prognostic tool in pediatric trauma; validation is necessary.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.
Greater spatial access to care is associated with lower mortality for emergency general surgery
Authors: McCrum Marta L. , Allen Chelsea M. , Han Jiuyin , Iantorno Stephanie E. , Presson Angela P. , Wan Neng
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND

Emergency general surgery (EGS) diseases are time-sensitive conditions that require urgent surgical evaluation, yet the effect of geographic access to care on outcomes remains unclear. We examined the association of spatial access with outcomes for common EGS conditions.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of twelve 2014 State Inpatient Databases, identifying adults admitted with eight EGS conditions, was performed. We assessed spatial access using the spatial access ratio (SPAR)—an advanced spatial model that accounts for travel distance, hospital capacity, and population demand, normalized against the national mean. Multivariable regression models adjusting for patient and hospital factors were used to evaluate the association between SPAR with (a) in-hospital mortality and (b) major morbidity.

RESULTS

A total of 877,928 admissions, of which 104,332 (2.4%) were in the lowest-access category (SPAR, 0) and 578,947 (66%) were in the high-access category (SPAR, ≥1), were analyzed. Low-access patients were more likely to be White, male, and treated in nonteaching hospitals. Low-access patients also had higher incidence of complex EGS disease (low access, 31% vs. high access, 12%; p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (4.4% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.05). When adjusted for confounding factors, including presence of advanced hospital resources, increasing spatial access was protective against in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.94–0.97; p < 0.001). Spatial access was not significantly associated with major morbidity.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to demonstrate that geospatial access to surgical care is associated with incidence of complex EGS disease and that increasing spatial access to care is independently associated with lower in-hospital mortality. These results support the consideration of spatial access in the development of regional health systems for EGS care.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiologic; Level III.
Perampanel: Medical Alternative for Essential Tremor?
Authors: Díaz-Feliz Lola , Feliz-Feliz Cici , Del Val Javier , Ruiz-López Marta , García-Ruiz Pedro J.
Published: January 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of perampanel in patients with refractory essential tremor (ET).

Methods

We recruited patients from our movement disorders clinic with the diagnosis of severe refractory ET, and perampanel 4 mg at night was initiated.

Assessments were conducted at baseline and after 1 month of treatment with perampanel 4 mg/d. Details about tolerance and effectiveness were collected. Clinical evaluation was conducted with the Fahn-Tolosa-Marín scale, and statistical analysis was carried out with Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test.

Results

This study included 18 patients with severe ET (11 females, 7 males; mean age: 75.1 ± 12.03 years; mean duration of ET: 17.4 ± 17.03 years). Perampanel significantly improved patients' average score with refractory ET (P ≤ 0.0001). This improvement has been occasionally quite relevant. However, a proportion of patients did not tolerate perampanel because of several adverse effects including dizziness, ataxia, irritability, and instability.

Conclusions

Perampanel had a markedly positive antitremor effect in patients with ET and could be an alternative treatment. However, this drug is not devoid of adverse effects.
Bioturbation and the δ56Fe signature of dissolved iron fluxes from marine sediments
Authors: van de Velde Sebastiaan J. , Dale Andrew W. , Arndt Sandra
Published: January 2023

We developed a reaction-transport model capable of tracing iron isotopes in marine sediments to quantify the influence of bioturbation on the isotopic signature of the benthic dissolved (DFe) flux. By fitting the model to published data from marine sediments, we calibrated effective overall fractionation factors for iron reduction (–1.3‰), oxidation (+0.4‰), iron-sulfide precipitation (+0.5‰) and dissolution (−0.5‰) and pyrite precipitation (−0.7‰) that agree with literature values. Results show that for bottom-water oxygen concentrations greater than 50 µM, higher bioturbation increased the benthic DFe flux and itsδ56Fe signature. By contrast, for oxygen concentrations less than 50 µM, higher bioturbation decreased the benthic DFe flux and itsδ56Fe signature. The expressed overall fractionation of the benthic DFe flux relative to theδ56Fe of the iron oxides entering the sediment ranges from −1.67‰ to 0.0‰. On a global scale, the presence of bioturbation increases sedimentary DFe release from approximately 70 G mol DFe yr−1to approximately 160 G mol DFe yr−1and decreases theδ56Fe signature of the DFe flux.
Unwilling or unable? Using three-dimensional tracking to evaluate dogs' reactions to differing human intentions
Authors: Völter Christoph J. , Lonardo Lucrezia , Steinmann Maud G. G. M. , Ramos Carolina Frizzo , Gerwisch Karoline , Schranz Monique-Theres , Dobernig Iris , Huber Ludwig
Published: January 2023

The extent to which dogs (
Canis familiaris
) as a domesticated species understand human intentions is still a matter of debate. The unwilling–unable paradigm has been developed to examine whether nonhuman animals are sensitive to intentions underlying human actions. In this paradigm, subjects tended to wait longer in the testing area when presented with a human that appeared willing but unable to transfer food to them compared to an unwilling (teasing) human. In the present study, we conducted the unwilling–unable paradigm with dogs using a detailed behavioural analysis based on machine-learning driven three-dimensional tracking. Throughout two preregistered experiments, we found evidence, in line with our prediction, that dogs reacted more impatiently to actions signalling unwillingness to transfer food rather than inability. These differences were consistent through two different samples of pet dogs (total
n
= 96) and they were evident also in the machine-learning generated three-dimensional tracking data. Our results therefore provide robust evidence that dogs distinguish between similar actions (leading to the same outcome) associated with different intentions. However, their reactions did not lead to any measurable preference for one experimenter over the other in a subsequent transfer phase. We discuss different cognitive mechanisms that might underlie dogs’ performance in this paradigm.
Streptomyces macrolidinus sp. nov., a novel soil actinobacterium with potential anticancer and antimalarial activity
Authors: Kanchanasin Pawina , Sripreechasak Paranee , Suriyachadkun Chanwit , Supong Khomsan , Pittayakhajonwut Pattama , Somphong Achiraya , Tanasupawat Somboon , Phongsopitanun Wongsakorn
Published: January 2023

A novel actinomycete, strain RY43-2T, belonging to the genus

Streptomyces

, was isolated from a peat swamp forest soil collected from Rayong Province, Thailand. The strain was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained ll-diaminopimelic. Ribose and glucose were detected in its whole-cell hydrolysates. The strain contained anteiso-C15:0, iso-C14:0 and iso-C16:0 as the predominant fatty acids, and MK-9(H4), MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) as the major menaquinones. The phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, three unidentified ninhydrin-positive phospholipids and two unidentified phospholipids. Strain RY43-2T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene similarity to

Streptomyces misionensis

JCM 4497T (98.9 %) and

Streptomyces lichenis

LCR6-01T (98.9 %). The draft genome of RY43-2T was 6.7 Mb with 6078 coding sequences with an average G+C content of 70.8 mol%. Genomic analysis revealed that the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values based on blast (ANIb) and MUMmer (ANIm) between strain RY43-2T and

S. misionensis

JCM 4497T were 80.1 and 86.1%, respectively. The ANIb and ANIm values between strain RY43-2T and

S. lichenis

LCR6-01T were 77.0 and 85.5%, respectively. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization values were 25.2 and 23.0% in comparison with the draft genomes of

S. misionensis

JCM 4497T and

S. lichenis

LCR6-01T, respectively. The results of taxonomic analysis suggested that strain RY43-2T represented a novel species of the genus

Streptomyces

for which the name Streptomyces macrolidinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RY43-2T (=TBRC 7286T=NBRC 115640T). Strain RY43-2T exhibited antimicrobial activity against

Enterococcus faecium

ATCC 51559, Colletotrichum capsici BMGC 106 and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides BMGC 107 with the minimum inhibitory concentration values of 25.0, 12.5, and 6.25 µg ml−1. It also exhibited potent antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 with IC50 of 0.0031 µg ml−1. In addition, it showed cytotoxicity against Vero, KB, MCF-7 and NCI-H187 with IC50 values of 0.0347, 6.15, 3.36 and 0.0352 µg ml−1, respectively.
The transcriptional changes underlying the flowering phenology shift in response to climate warming
Authors: Komoto Hideyuki , Hata Yuki , Kyozuka Junko , Kajita Yui , Toyama Hironori , Nagahama Ai , Satake Akiko
Published: January 2023

Climate warming is causing shifts in key life-history events, such as flowering time. To assess the impacts of climate warming on flowering phenology, it is crucial to understand the transcriptional changes of genes underlying the phenological shifts. Here, we comprehensively explore genes that contribute to the flowering phenology shifts under climate warming by monitoring the latitudinal gradient of seasonal expression dynamics of 293 flowering-time genes in a perennial herb,Arabidopsis halleri. Through transplant experiments conducted at northern, southern, and subtropical study sites in Japan, we have demonstrated that the flowering period was shortened with decreasing latitude and ultimately, the plants lost the opportunity to flower in subtropical climates. The key transcriptional changes underlying the shift in flowering phenology and the loss of flowering opportunity were the diminished expression of floral pathway integrator genes and genes in the gibberellin synthesis and aging pathways, all of which are suppressed by increased expression ofFLOWERING LOCUS C, a central repressor of flowering. These results suggest that the upper-temperature threshold beyond which plants cannot reproduce in response to warming is governed by a relatively small number of genes that suppress reproduction in the absence of winter cold.
Cell-free Chromatin Immunoprecipitation to detect molecular pathways in Physiological and Disease States
Authors: Jang Moon K. , Markowitz Tovah E. , Andargie Temesgen E. , Apalara Zainab , Kuhn Skyler , Agbor-Enoh Sean
Published: January 2023

Patient monitoring is a cornerstone in clinical practice to define disease phenotypes and guide clinical management. Unfortunately, this is often reliant on invasive and/or less sensitive methods that do not provide deep phenotype assessments of disease state to guide treatment. This paper examined plasma cell-free DNA chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (cfChIP-seq) to define molecular gene sets in physiological and heart transplant patients taking immunosuppression medications. We show cfChIP-seq reliably detect gene signals that correlate with gene expression. In healthy controls and in heart transplant patients, cfChIP-seq reliably detected housekeeping genes. cfChIP-seq identified differential gene signals of the relevant immune and non-immune molecular pathways that were predominantly downregulated in immunosuppressed heart transplant patients compared to healthy controls. cfChIP-seq also identified tissue sources of cfDNA, detecting greater cell-free DNA from cardiac, hematopoietic, and other non-hematopoietic tissues such as the pulmonary, digestive, and neurological tissues in transplant patients than healthy controls. cfChIP-seq gene signals were reproducible between patient populations and blood collection methods. cfChIP-seq may therefore be a reliable approach to provide dynamic assessments of molecular pathways and tissue injury associated to disease.
Corrosion behavior of a five-layer Al alloy composite plate in NaCl solution
Authors: Zhou Dejing , Wang Mingyang , Ji Yuanyuan , Liu Zhe , Gao Zhiming , Hu Wenbin , Guo Yuhua
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the electrochemical corrosion behavior of a five-layer Al alloy composites (4343/4047/3003/4047/4343) with a thickness of 0.2 mm in NaCl solution.

Design/methodology/approach

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, polarization curve and morphology analyses were used to study the corrosion behavior of the Al alloy composites from cross-sectional and plane directions.

Findings

The corrosion resistance of the surface from the plane direction was higher than that from the cross sections. Si-enrich particles were observed in the outer 4047/4343 layer, and AlFeCuMnBi phases were identified in the core 3003 layer. The galvanic coupling between the Si-enrich particle and the Al matrix accelerated the dissolution Al matrix.

Originality/value

This work lays the experimental foundation for corrosion mechanism of the Al alloy composite plate.
Beverley-Anne Joseph: cheers to the perseverance of an entrepreneur
Authors: Urban Boris , Townsend Stephanie Althea
Published: January 2023

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this study are as follows:▪ evaluate the difficulties of entry-level women entrepreneurs in the South African farming industry;▪ appreciate the entrepreneurial journey of a women entrepreneur in the farming industry;▪ assess the role of networking and support programmes in prompting women entrepreneurs in South Africa;▪ understand the role of diversification in building a sustainable business in today’s COVID-19-affected economic environment;▪ make an informed decision regarding how COVID-19 had negatively affected the farming industry; and▪ critically evaluate which options are available for women entrepreneurs to overcome the negative effects of COVID-19 and remain sustainable businesses.

Case overview/synopsis

In April 2021, managing director and co-owner Beverley-Anne Joseph, was considering the long-term business strategy options for Zelpy, her hop farm business outside George, a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. As the first black woman hop farmer in Africa, she had run a successful business supplying hops to South African Breweries (SAB), a subsidiary of the global conglomerate Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev). To date, her hop farming business had not been impacted by the South African Government’s COVID-19 lockdowns that impacted the sale of alcoholic beverages. However, it had given her a wake-up call as to the risk of having most of her eggs in one basket. She now had to consider how to diversify her farming business to minimise risk.

Complexity academic level

MBA, Masters in Management, Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Executive Education short courses.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
A discussion of digital transition impact on facility management of hospital buildings
Authors: Pedral Sampaio Rodrigo , Aguiar Costa António , Flores-Colen Inês
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the discussion of the following questions: How can the digital transition improve the management of the operation and maintenance of infrastructure in health-care facilities? What is the legacy for facility management (FM) teams in this post-COVID-19 management of hospital buildings?

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a literature review, this paper analyses and categorises existing research on the digital challenges for FM from 2011 until 2021 by conducting a qualitative and quantitative method of bibliometric analysis and discussing the status of digital transition impact on FM of the hospital buildings.

Findings

The trends and challenges of building information modelling, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things identified and discussed in this paper aim to be as comprehensive as possible to grasp the situation of digital transition in the FM industry in the hospital buildings context. Regarding digital maturity, the limited number of publications highlights that control and management systems cannot fully manage the entire operational phase of hospital buildings. Giving intelligence to buildings will undoubtedly be the future. So making buildings reactive, interactive and immersive is an inevitable transformation for intelligent hospital building systems. Thus, the added value of digitalisation will help facility managers to overcome the issues pointed out in this paper to deal with the growing health demands and enable them to mitigate the impacts of a new and future pandemic.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is classifying and unifying facility managers' tendencies regarding high-level information management issues, which are lacking in the literature, with a focus on the approaches with potential and higher impact on FM in the hospital building context and the related steps that should be considered regarding data collection and data structures. These tendencies provide a set of new intelligent approaches and tools, which will increase the efficiency of processes, significantly impacting the potential of optimisation. Also, these trends can improve planning and management of scope, costs, environment and safety in the value chain of projects and assets, thus creating a more resilient and sustainable industry for facility managers in this post-COVID-19 management for hospital buildings.
Corporate social responsibility, corporate reputation and intention to apply for a job: evidence from students in an emerging economy
Authors: Tien Thanh Pham , Thu Ha Nguyen , Thi Hong Ngoc Pham , Thuy Ha Le Thi
Published: January 2023

Purpose

High-quality workforce is the most important source for competitive advantage, and thus all organizations attempt to attract and recruit young talents. This study aims to examine the relationships between corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate reputation and intention to apply for a job in young individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

For empirical analysis, this study uses data collected from final-year students and fresh graduates in a developing city. This study uses structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the research model.

Findings

CSR is found to be positively and directly associated with intention to apply for a job. CSR is also positively and indirectly associated with intention to apply through the mediation of corporate reputation.

Practical implications

This study underscores the importance of CSR practices in enhancing corporate reputation and attracting talented young candidates. Accordingly, organizations can gain their competitive edge in a highly competitive environment.

Social implications

This study suggests that organizations should be more concerned about CSR practices for the sake of corporate reputation as well as community development.

Originality/value

This study is among the early attempts to examine the direct and indirect relationships between CSR, corporate reputation and intention to apply for a job in a developing city. The findings add to the growing literature suggesting that CSR may help organizations achieve competitive advantage regarding the attraction of prospective young talents.
Can sports-based corporate social responsibility performance reflect firms' market values and risks? Intertemporal evidence from Taiwan iSports corporate award-winning firms
Authors: Lu Huei-Fu
Published: January 2023

Purpose

With the growing popularity of sports in Taiwan, the Sports Administration under the Ministry of Education introduced the Taiwan iSports Corporate Award campaign. This emphasised sports for employees and assisted in developing and supporting corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the sports industry through collaboration with firms, thereby enhancing their corporate image, facilitating the recruitment of high-quality employees and highlighting healthy human resources and brand value. Can sports-based CSR performance reflect firms' market values and reduce their market risks? This study regards Taiwan iSports Corporate Award announcements as important sports-based CSR disclosures and incorporates financial econometrics to examine the relationship between the announcement of sports-based CSR performance and firms' market values and risks.

Design/methodology/approach

An event study is conducted to clarify the reactions of the Taiwan iSports Corporate Award announcement event on the abnormal returns of award-winning firms during the 2016–2021 period, and a regression discontinuity design (RDD) model is employed to verify the robustness of the empirical results using the event study method.

Findings

Taiwan iSports Corporate Award announcements are not significantly reflected in the positive abnormal returns of award-winning firms. No causal relationship is found between the two. However, there are signs of relatively less systematic risks when investing in award-winning firms than in the market.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence and managerial implications for Taiwan iSports Corporate Award-winning firms. It effectively enables business operators, sponsors or investors to understand the reactions of announcing sports-based CSR performance on the financial market and provides references for corporate organizations' CSR and sustainable development.
Organizational flexibility and pioneering behavior: the indirect effect of market dynamism in tourism firms
Authors: De la Gala-Velasquez Bernardo Ramón Dante , Hurtado-Palomino Americo , Chavez Zirena Elbia Myreyle
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the moderating role of market dynamism in the relationship between organizational flexibility and pioneering behavior in tourism firms in Arequipa, Peru. This study aims to delve into the antecedents of pioneering orientation understood as a strategic stance that favors the creation and launch of new products in the market.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study involved the analysis, using partial least squares regression, of 306 surveys administered to mangers of tourism enterprises. Mediation has also been examined using the bootstrapping method.

Findings

The results show that organizational flexibility has a positive impact on pioneering behavior, while market dynamism positively mediates this relationship.

Practical implications

This work provides interesting theoretical and empirical contributions for the management of firms in the tourism sector. Firms should develop capabilities to reconfigure their processes and products to adequately implement and exploit innovations generated in their organizations. In addition, tourism enterprises should improve their performance by creating new products and/or services, aligned with changes in customers' purchasing and consumption habits.

Originality/value

This study aims to elaborate on the background of pioneering orientation understood as a strategic stance that favors the creation and launch of new products in the market. This study also proposes that market dynamism is a factor to be considered in improving this relationship.
Working in a smart home environment: examining the impact on productivity, well-being and future use intention
Authors: Marikyan Davit , Papagiannidis Savvas , F. Rana Omer , Ranjan Rajiv
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a big impact on organisations globally, leaving organisations with no choice but to adapt to the new reality of remote work to ensure business continuity. Such an unexpected reality created the conditions for testing new applications of smart home technology whilst working from home. Given the potential implications of such applications to improve the working environment, and a lack of research on that front, this paper pursued two objectives. First, the paper explored the impact of smart home applications by examining the factors that could contribute to perceived productivity and well-being whilst working from home. Second, the study investigated the role of productivity and well-being in motivating the intention of remote workers to use smart home technologies in a home-work environment in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. For data collection, 528 smart home users working from home during the pandemic were recruited. Collected data were analysed using a structural equation modelling approach.

Findings

The results of the research confirmed that perceived productivity is dependent on service relevance, perceived usefulness, innovativeness, hedonic beliefs and control over environmental conditions. Perceived well-being correlates with task-technology fit, service relevance, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude to smart homes, innovativeness, hedonic beliefs and control over environmental conditions. Intention to work from a smart home-office in the future is dependent on perceived well-being.

Originality/value

The findings of the research contribute to the organisational and smart home literature, by providing missing evidence about the implications of the application of smart home technologies for employees' perceived productivity and well-being. The paper considers the conditions that facilitate better outcomes during remote work and could potentially be used to improve the work environment in offices after the pandemic. Also, the findings inform smart home developers about the features of technology which could improve the developers' application in contexts beyond home settings.
Pandemic sociomaterial bricolage: how vulnerable communities used social media to tackle the COVID-19 crisis
Authors: Pinto Fernando , Macadar Marie Anne , Pereira Gabriela Viale
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This research was conducted to understand how vulnerable communities used social media (SM) tools to face the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Affected by the lack of information and the absence of effective public policies, residents from slums in the city of Rio de Janeiro displayed new and unexpected uses to SM tools to tackle the health and socio-economic impacts of the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology consisted of a qualitative, exploratory study, combining a series of in-depth interviews with the analysis of various posts, containing videos and texts, extracted from SM during the first six months of the pandemic. The data were collected in the context of 10 different communities in Rio de Janeiro city.

Findings

In the context of the pandemic, people combined different uses of SM not only to inform themselves and communicate with others but also to articulate and execute fundraising and food donation strategies within vulnerable communities. Accordingly, this SM use is characterized by improvisation, learning by doing and building resilience, which are all constructs related to the concept of bricolage. Users had no specific SM knowledge, and adjusted these technological tools to emergent new activities in practice, which is characteristic of sociomaterial process. In addition to emphasizing the importance of context for the emergence of the phenomenon, this work also highlights reliability, validity and authority as characteristics related to the citizen-led participation approach that was observed.

Research limitations/implications

Future research can develop approaches based on pandemic sociomaterial bricolage (PSB) aspects, which could guide governments and practitioners on building innovative solutions for the use of SM by the population, especially in emergency situations.

Originality/value

This study proposes a framework, termed PSB, to represent SM usage promoted by the pandemic context, which emerged from the triangulation of empirical data and an analysis based on the concepts of bricolage and sociomateriality.
Knowledge co-creation with multiple stakeholders: the case of SMEs in China
Authors: Zhang Yue , Wang Shanshan , Akram Tayyaba , Hong Yuxiang
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China leverage their strengths to engage stakeholders in knowledge co-creation processes and get mutual benefit via knowledge-based view (KBV).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on KBV, the authors conduct a multiple-case study of five SMEs in China to embrace the knowledge co-creation practice using semi-structured interview, organizational documents and onsite observation.

Findings

This study highlights how SMEs leverage their strengths to engage stakeholder to co-create knowledge and practice for the better capturing and utilization of external and internal knowledge. The authors identify three processes of knowledge co-creation for SMEs based on knowledge sharing, knowledge integration and knowledge application in the B2B context. This study finds that SMEs engage their stakeholders in knowledge sharing by building and maintaining trust. The knowledge integration process was driven by the owner’s openness. Mutual learning facilitates the knowledge application process of SMEs.

Research limitations/implications

This study relies on a limited number of case studies and considers only firms’ perspective to analyze the SMEs co-create knowledge with their stakeholders. Further studies could examine the challenge of knowledge co-creation in multiple stakeholders’ relationships in B2B contexts, i.e. in relation to product and service innovation with complexity and uncertainly.

Practical implications

Managers need to make choices when designing knowledge co-creation process in collaborative product development activities. The use of online and offline approaches can help balance requirements in terms of joint problem-solving across firms, the efficiency of knowledge co-creation and effective of knowledge leakage.

Originality/value

The conceptualization of knowledge co-creation as knowledge sharing and knowledge integration and knowledge application extends existing perspective on knowledge co-creation as either a transfer of knowledge or as revealing the novel situation of pertinent knowledge with entirely assimilate it. The findings point to the complexity of knowledge co-creation as a process influenced by stakeholder engagement, perspectives on knowledge, trust of multiple stakeholders, openness of firm boundaries and mutual learning of SMEs with their stakeholders.
The effect of state-level corruption on performance and risk of financial institutions
Authors: Murdock Maryna , Ngo Thanh , Richie Nivine
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of public corruption on the performance and risk of financial institutions domiciled in the USA..

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Public Integrity Section Reports to proxy corruption. The analysis is performed by bank size and includes robustness checks for omitted variables and endogeneity concerns.

Findings

The results show that a corrupt environment is associated with lower bank performance without a reduction in risk. Larger banks tend to underestimate the increase in credit risk. Small- and medium-size banks seek to “re-capture” returns in corrupt districts by reducing their liquidity.

Research limitations/implications

The implication of this research is that financial institutions do not thrive in corrupt environments and are unlikely to participate in corrupt practices. Overall, this study documents the tangible harm inflicted by corrupt practices.

Practical implications

A practical implication is that banks may attempt to re-capture lower returns resulting from corrupt environments by extending more risky loans, specifically, commercial real estate loans.

Social implications

This study demonstrates the costly impact of corruption on large and small banks. While larger banks report higher share of non-performing loans, smaller banks show an increase in the provision for loan and lease losses, suggesting that smaller banks may be more risk averse.

Originality/value

Prior studies investigate corruption in US firms while excluding financial institutions. This study fills this gap by investigating the effect of public corruption on the performance and risk of financial institutions domiciled in the USA.