bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frontline maintenance olaparib therapy for BRCA/HRD-positive advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: real-world data analysis in matched population
Authors: Rumyantsev Alexey A. , Glazkova Elena V. , Tikhomirova Tatiana E. , Pokataev Ilya A. , Ignatova Ekaterina O. , Knyazev Rostislav I. , Tyulyandina Alexandra S. , Tjulandin Sergey A.
Published: October 2024

Background

introduction of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors to clinical practice remarkably improved outcomes for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. We conducted this study to evaluate efficacy of frontline maintenance olaparib therapy in BRCA-mutated and/or HRD-positive EOC patients in real-world practice setting.

Patients and methods

we enrolled patients with FIGO stage III-IV high-grade serous or endometrioid EOC with BRCA1/2 mutations and/or HRD-positive status with complete or partial response to frontline therapy, who were treated in 2014-2024. Main objective of this trial was to compare progression-free survival (PFS) of HRD+/BRCA-mutant advanced EOC patients treated with or without maintenance olaparib in well-balanced treatment arms. Cardinality matching was considered to ensure balancing of the study arms with 1:1 ratio of patients in trial arms. The groups were balanced according to the presence of residual tumor after initial treatment, platinum-free interval duration after frontline therapy, secondary local therapy for recurrent disease, treatment with platinum drugs for relapse and subsequent bevacizumab. The primary endpoint of the study was PFS.

Results

cardinality matching with 1:1 ratio resulted in 282 matched patients for the analysis. Groups were well balanced in all baseline characteristics. Median age in both treatment arms was 50 years with no differences in patients’ age, surgical outcomes, prevalence of BRCA-mutated or HRD-positive disease and response to initial platinum-based therapy. With a median follow up of 37.2 mo. median PFS was 38.0 in the olaparib arm and 13.7 mo. in the control arm, respectively (HR 0.32; 95% CI 0.23-0.43; p<0.001). Estimated 3-year PFS was 50.9% and 11.5%, respectively. Median PFS2 was 49.5 mo. in the olaparib arm compared to 34.3 mo. in the control arm (HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.39-0.85; p=0.005).

Conclusion

this study confirms the benefits of olaparib maintenance therapy in patients with HRD- -positive and/or BRCA-mutated advanced EOC in real-world setting.

Highlights

Using cardinality matching two cohorts of patients after frontline therapy were made (treated with maintenance olaparib vs not);

Median PFS was 38.0 in the olaparib arm and 13.7 mo. in the control arm, respectively (HR 0.32; 95% CI 0.23-0.43; p<0.001);

This data confirms efficacy of maintenance olaparib for BRCA/HRD-positive advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in routine clinical practice.
Estimated dietary intakes of vitamin A5
Authors: Bohn Torsten , Despotovic Marta , Vahid Farhad , Rühl Ralph
Published: October 2024

A new vitamin concept, termed vitamin A5, was recently identified. Furthermore, dietary recommendations in the range of 1,1 (0,5 – 1,8) mg vitamin A5 / day were suggested by an international expert consortium. The ensuing question arises as to the current daily dietary intake amounts in the Western civilization. Addressing this answer included calculating the intake based on known amounts of vitamin A5 in frequently consumed food items of the human diet high in this vitamin as well as the known daily dietary intake amounts of those selected food components in Westernized countries. Regarding food items, amounts of vitamin A5 in the form of provitamin A5 (i.e. 9-cis-beta-carotene (9CBC)), the predominant form in the diet, were found to range from 0,1 to 39 µg 9CBC / g for individual fruits and vegetables, with highest concentrations in leafy vegetables. The average intake amounts of vitamin A5 in adults of the general population following a Western lifestyle in Europe, averaged 0,9 with a range of 0,5 (for Austria) – 1,3 (for Italy) mg 9CBC / day. Furthermore, based on our calculations, large parts, i.e. ∼ 2/3rd of the population are low, even too low (<1.1 mg/day), in daily vitamin A5 intake. In addition to the importance of nudging the population towards a regrettably non-well accepted higher intake of fruits and vegetables, an additional fortification and supplementation of vitamin A5 could be considered, similar as to other micronutrients that are low a Westernized diet.
Differential clearance rate of proteins encoded on a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine in muscle and lymph nodes
Authors: Kanechi Reo , Shishido Tatsuya , Tachikawa Mana , Nishimura Tomohiro , Sawada Akihito , Okade Hayato , Ishikawa Daisuke , Yamaguchi Hitoshi , Araki Marito
Published: October 2024

ARCT-154, a recently approved self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) vaccine, has been shown in clinical trials to induce higher levels of neutralizing antibodies and sustain them for a longer time than the conventional mRNA vaccine BNT162b2. However, the scientific evidence explaining this superiority remain elusive. Hence, we explored the temporal changes in spike protein and replicase components following a single dose of ARCT-154 vaccination in mice. The encoded spike protein reached its highest level approximately 3 days after vaccination and quickly disappeared from the rectus femoris muscle, the injection site. Although the spike protein levels also peaked at an early time point in the lymph nodes, it remained detectable 28 days after the vaccination and then disappeared by 44 days after the vaccination. Expression of nsP1, nsP2 and nsP4 was observed in the injected muscle and/or the lymph nodes for up to 15 days post-vaccination. These data suggest that prolonged expression of spike proteins in lymph nodes may, if not entirely, be responsible for the induction of higher and prolonged levels of neutralizing antibodies by the saRNA vaccine.
Cigarette smoke impairs the endocytotic process inSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Shukla Aditya , Sarkar Srimonti , Sil Alok Kumar
Published: October 2024

The accumulation of misfolded proteins inside the cells has been considered to be an important contributor to the development of cigarette smoke-mediated diseases. Since endocytosis plays a crucial role in protein trafficking and clearance, impaired endocytosis may contribute to cigarette smoke-mediated protein accumulation. Therefore, the current study investigated the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on the endocytosis process in yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. The current study showed that treatment of cells with CSE caused reduced uptake of FM4-64 stain, indicating impaired endocytosis. Further analysis revealed that CSE treatment resulted in a defect in the recruitment of proteins involved in endocytosis. Also, aberrant actin morphology was found upon CSE treatment, which might interfere with vesicle budding from the membrane. Moreover, the current study showed that the PI4,5P2 level in the plasma membrane in CSE treated cells is reduced due to the failed translocation of MSS4 kinase to the membrane. This reduced PI4,5P2 results in aberrant actin morphology. Thus, the current study demonstrates that CSE treatment causes endocytosis defects and provides insight into this defective endocytosis.
Diversity and characteristics of the oral microbiome influenced by race and ethnicity
Authors: Wang Qingguo , Wang Bing-Yan , Williams She’Neka , Xie Hua
Published: October 2024

Periodontitis disproportionately affects racial/ethnic populations. Besides social determinants contributing to disparities in periodontal health, variations of oral microbial communities may also be a key factor influencing oral immune responses. To characterize the oral microbiome from different racial/ethnic populations, we collected 161 dental plaque samples from African Americans (AAs), Caucasian Americans (CAs), and Hispanic Americans (HAs) with clinical gingival health or biofilm-induced gingivitis on an intact periodontium. Using metagenomic sequencing, we found significant difference in diversity and abundance of microbial taxa in the dental plaque samples from AA, CA, and HA groups and unique microbial species that can only be detected in a particular racial/ethnic group. Moreover, we revealed racial/ethnic associated variations in functional potential of the oral microbiome, showing that diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistant genes were greater in the oral microbiome of the AAs than those in CAs or HAs, and that the AAs exhibited higher levels of genes involving in modification of glycoconjugates, oligo- and polysaccharides. These findings indicate more complex and higher virulence potential oral microbiome in AA and HA populations, which likely contributes to higher prevalence of periodontitis in AAs and HAs.

Importance

Recognizing the variations in the oral microbiome among racial/ethnic populations offers insight into the microbial determinants contributing to oral health disparities. In the study presented here, we found a higher level of bleeding on probing (BOP), an indicator of tissue inflammatory response, in the AA group, which is correspondence with a more complex oral microbiome detected in this group. Our observations suggest that the variations of the oral microbiome associated with racial/ethnic backgrounds may directly relate to their virulence potential including their abilities to induce host immune responses and to resist antibiotic treatment. Therefore, these finding can be a stepping stone for developing precision medicine and personalized periodontal prevention/treatment and for reducing oral health disparities.
Capabilities to create new value for business sustainability: a retailer case study from Malaysia
Authors: Chan Cassandra Yi Rong , Zailani Suhaiza
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The lack of a direct link between business value and sustainability is a critical roadblock to truly embedding sustainability in business strategies. Before launching the sustainability journey, every organisation should answer the question: “What value would this strategy offer our organisation?” Conversely, when organisations are opportunistic toward quick profits, the negative consequences of one domain spill over to another. The desire to produce more may result in overproduction, overconsumption or environmental pollution.

Design/methodology/approach

To give a complete analysis of sustainable capabilities, this study combines current theoretical understanding from past literature, followed by exploratory interviews and a thorough case study. The case study ventured into uncharted territories, unveiling an exciting new sphere of value catalysed by the mechanisms of sustainable co-creation. Additionally, it exposed thought-provoking motives driving supply chain actors’ unwavering commitment to ethical decision-making, even amidst towering challenges.

Findings

Our empirical lens reveals the hidden mechanics of resource sharing and the genesis of newfound value, illuminating previously obscure corners of the sustainability field. Moreover, it sheds light on retailers striving to cultivate green retail supply chains. It delivers an actionable framework that bolsters business sustainability and fuels competitive edge, which is vital in the rapidly evolving landscapes of emerging economies.

Originality/value

This study offers insights into the sustainable value-creation mechanism in ALPHA, a Malaysian retailer, uncovering how supply chain actors’ business activities generate economic, social and environmental performance.
Intelligent identification of risks in construction contract clauses based on semantic reasoning
Authors: Zhou Hong , Zhou Li , Gao Binwei , Huang Wen , Huang Wenlu , Zuo Jian , Zhao Xianbo
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The number of construction dispute cases has surged in recent years. The effective exploration and management of risks associated with construction contracts helps to directly enhance the overall project performance. The existing approaches to identify the risks associated with construction project contracts have a heavy reliance on manual review techniques, which are inefficient and highly restricted by personnel experience. The existing intelligent approaches only work for the contract query and storage. Hence, it is necessary to improve the intelligence level for contract risk management. This study aims to propose a novel method for the intelligent identification of risks in construction contract clauses based on natural language processing.

Design/methodology/approach

This proposed method can formalize the linguistic logic and semantic information of contract clauses into multiple triples and transform the structural processing results of general clauses in a construction contract into rights and interests rules for risk review. In addition, the core semantic information of special clauses in a construction contract, rights and interests rules are used for semantic conflict detection. Finally, this study achieves the intelligent risk identification of construction contract clauses.

Findings

The method is verified by selecting several construction contracts that had been applied in engineering contracting as a corpus. The results showed a high level of accuracy and applicability of the proposed method.

Originality/value

This novel method can identify the risks in contract clauses with complex syntactic structures and realize rule extension according to the semantic relation network of the ontology. It can support efficient contract review and assist the decision-making process in contract risk management.
Navigating complex riskscapes: the Koudiet Eddraouch GIS substation project in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Shrivastava Ravindra
Published: October 2024

Learning outcomes

Risk identification and qualitative assessment are the learning outcomes.

Case overview/synopsis

The Bharat Bijlee Construction Limited (BBCL) was one of the largest construction companies operating in the power sector in India. After successfully completing a few projects in the Middle East, BBCL decided to expand its presence into African region. The BBCL was awarded a $85m contract for three sub-station projects to modernise Algeria’s power grid system by the “Shariket Karhaba Koudiet Eddraouch Spa”, a state-owned company in charge of power generation, transmission and distribution in Algeria.

The project, which is the first of BBCL in Saharan region in Algeria’s, presents many unique situations that company had never encountered before, including sand dunes, severe weather, remote locations, supply chain & logistics, strict contractual deadlines and a high level of construction risk. The project manager for BBCL was sceptic about how well his company would perform under the present project circumstances. How could he better align himself with the client, the various on-site local contractors and the numerous suppliers spread around the world?

The case emphasises the identification of various project risks that the project manager might encounter in the project. What do the PESTLE and ASCE frameworks for risk identification each represent, and how are they helpful for the project team in understanding various risks? How should the project’s qualitative risk assessment be conducted? And how can a heat map be a better tool for comprehending the criticality of each risk in the project?

Complexity academic level

Undergraduate and post graduate courses in project management, civil engineering and architecture domain.

Supplementary material

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 2: Built Environment.
Monetary discounts, metaphoric communication and mass prestige based branding: a comprehensive assessment
Authors: Das Manish , Jebarajakirthy Charles , M.S. Balaji , Saha Victor , Paul Mrinal Kanti , Sivapalan Achchuthan
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of price discounts and how to communite such discounts for masstige brands. While a price discount might encourage potential (first time) customers seeking higher status to buy a masstige brand, it might deter existing (repeat) customers from purchasing the brand due to a decline in perceived status. Such paradoxical effect of price discounts on masstige brand’s purchase requires a detail investigation into whether masstige brands should offer price discounts and if so, how to communicate such discounts. Current research investigates this phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

Four experimental studies were executed. Study 1 investigated the impact of monetary discount (absent vs. present) on the purchase intention of masstige brands for different customer types (potential vs. existing). Study 2 investigated the mediating role of perceived status. Study 3 examined the effectiveness of metaphoric communication of monetary discounts (absent vs present) on masstige brand’s purchase. Study 4 tested the moderating effect of customers’ need for cognition.

Findings

Overall, monetary discounts positively affect purchase intention of masstige brand; however, the effect is negative for existing customers and positive for potential customers owing to differences in perceived status these customer groups experience (positive for potential and negative for existing customers). Metaphoric communications of monetary discounts restrict the declining purchase intention and status perception of existing customers besides keeping the potential customers’ purchase intention intact.

Research limitations/implications

This research is confined to a particular country limiting the gneralisability of the study’s findings. Furthermore, this research is cross-sectional in nature.

Practical implications

The findings of this research provide valuable insights and actionable recommendations for masstige brands to effectively leverage price discounts, especially in the emerging markets.

Originality/value

To date, a question of whether or not masstige brands should offer price discounts and if so, how to communicate such discounts remain opaque. This is the pioneering study exploring this phenomenon.
Age-inclusive hospitality and tourism: navigating the metaverse travel with avatar
Authors: Hao Fei , Back Ki-Joon , Chon Kaye Kye Sung Kye-Sung
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of virtual tours on the engagement and travel intentions of older adults, emphasizing the role of emotional and informative content. It aims to enhance travel confidence and reduce stress among older travelers, fostering inclusive tourism through advanced avatar technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Using two between-subjects experiments, this research compares the effects of emotion-driven and knowledge-centric virtual tours on older adults. It explores the mediating role of travel confidence and stress reduction, along with the moderating influence of positive psychological cues on engagement and travel intentions.

Findings

The results highlight the potential of technology in promoting inclusive tourism. Emotionally engaging virtual tours significantly increase travel intentions among older adults by boosting confidence and alleviating stress, with positive psychological cues enhancing these effects.

Practical implications

This study offers valuable insights for tourism industry stakeholders by suggesting the development of avatar-based virtual tours tailored to the emotional and cognitive needs of older travelers. This approach could create more accessible and satisfying tourism experiences for older travelers.

Originality/value

This study extends the socioemotional selectivity theory to the realm of metaverse travel, providing a novel perspective on the emotional and cognitive engagement of older adults in the metaverse. This underscores the importance of inclusive technology in addressing the needs of older travelers.
Succession planning practices and succession success in family-owned businesses: the role of leadership style as internal branding mechanism
Authors: Coffie Isaac Sewornu , Müller Re-an , Marfo Mensah , Ocloo Elikem Chosniel , de Klerk Natasha
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Although leadership style plays a critical role in succession planning practices and succession success, empirical examination of its influence on the relationship between succession planning and success of succession in family-owned SMEs has received little attention in the literature. This study examines the interactive effect of the various types of leadership styles as internal branding mechanisms on the success of succession in family-owned SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

We analyzed the data from 124 managers/CEOs of family-owned SMEs that have at least transitioned beyond one incumbent leader using SPSS Version 29.

Findings

The result shows that succession planning practices are positively associated with succession success. It further shows that leaders who brand themselves as transformational and participatory leaders have a positive, significant interactive effect on the relationship between succession planning activities and succession success. The positive relationship between succession planning activities and succession success is dampened when managers rely too heavily on a transactional leadership style. Both autocratic and laissez-faire types of leadership have no significant interactive effect on the relationship.

Originality/value

The study is distinct from past studies. Until now, knowledge about the interactive effect of the various leadership styles as internal branding mechanisms on the relationship between succession planning practices like coaching, mentoring, job rotation and training and succession success in family-owned businesses remains limited. Theoretically, the study is pioneering in the sense that it is among the first studies that extends internal branding to succession planning in family-owned businesses. The study enlightened our understanding of how the various leadership styles and internal branding mechanism influence succession success in family-owned SMEs.
AI empowered academia: a fuzzy prioritization framework for academic challenges
Authors: Gupta Sanjay , Kaur Supreet , Gupta Meenu , Singh Tejinderpal
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is progressively reshaping the dynamics of human interaction, communication, lifestyle, education and professional endeavors. The purpose of the study is to comprehend and address the barriers which are impeding the implementation of Generative AI Technologies, such as ChatGPT in the educational landscape.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model to analyze the responses gathered from 149 academicians belonging to the northern states of India.

Findings

The study established that the three most important criteria that influence the adoption of generative AI in the education sector are Risk of Academic Integrity, Risk of biased outcomes and Erosion of Critical Thinking.

Research limitations/implications

The present study was confined to Fuzzy AHP to extract the critical criteria influencing the decision-making. Various other techniques such as PF-Delphi and PF-CoCoSo can be used further. The results provide significant inputs for future research to understand the effect of adoption of Generative AI in different contexts including both opportunities and the challenges faced by them.

Practical implications

The study will be beneficial to various stakeholders including students, educators, society and policymakers as the study will highlight the importance of AI tools, introduce the various challenges associated with and explain the use of these tools as productivity-enhancing tools.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, the present study is a novice as the use of AI in Academia is unexplored and the major criteria influencing the choices have yet been undiscovered.
When knowledge workers meet AI? The double-edged sword effects of AI adoption on innovative work behavior
Authors: Dong Xueyan , Tian Yuxin , He Mingming , Wang Tienan
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption on knowledge workers' innovative work behaviors (IWB), as well as the mediating role of stress appraisal and the moderating role of individual learning abilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed the questionnaire results of 313 knowledge workers, and data analysis was conducted by using SPSS 25.0, SPSS 25.0 macro-PROCESS and AMOS 28.0.

Findings

This study found that AI adoption has a double-edged sword effect on knowledge workers' IWB. Specifically, AI adoption can promote IWB by enhancing knowledge workers' challenging stress appraisal, while inhibiting IWB by fostering their hindering stress appraisal. Moreover, individual learning ability significantly moderated the relationship between AI adoption and stress appraisal, which further influenced IWB.

Originality/value

This study integrates the conflicting findings of previous studies and proposes a comprehensive theoretical model based on the theory of cognitive appraisal of stress. This study enriches the research on AI in the field of knowledge management, especially extending the understanding of the relationship between AI adoption and knowledge workers’ IWB by unraveling the psychological mechanisms and behavior outcomes of users' technology usage. Additionally, we provide new insights and suggestions for organizations to seek the cooperation and support of employees in introducing new technologies or driving intelligent transformation.
For the sake of my job security: examining the effect of age-based stereotype threat on older workers’ knowledge hiding
Authors: Duan Yongjia , Liu Huihua , Wang Zhenyuan , Tse Herman H.M.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Organizations can greatly benefit from the transfer of knowledge from older employees to younger generations. However, older workers often hesitate to share their expertise with their younger colleagues. Grounded in conservation of resources theory and the stereotype threat framework, this study aims at examining the negative impact of age-based stereotype threat on organizational knowledge management.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a moderated mediation model and collected data from 219 older workers with a time-lagged design to explore the effect of age-based stereotype threat on older workers’ knowledge hiding.

Findings

The results showed that age-based stereotype threat could lead to knowledge hiding behaviors among older workers due to increased job insecurity, and leader-member exchange can potentially mitigate these effects.

Originality/value

The findings underscore the detrimental effect of age-based stereotype threat on organizational knowledge management and suggest that organizations should foster an age-inclusive environment to facilitate effective intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Antecedents the adoption of tour itineraries from smart travel apps: an integration of experiential consumption theory and innovation resistance theory
Authors: Khan Salman , Mehmood Shafaqat
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study investigate the antecedents the adoption of tour itineraries from smart travel apps. Travelers are progressively expanding their smart travel planning applications to organize their trip-related activities. With the help of these apps, users achieve their favorite tour itineraries and choose their preferred destinations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aimed to examine the results of smart tour itineraries on travelers and elucidate the motivations for their continual use and why travel experts are increasingly using smart tour itineraries. Innovation resistance and experiential consumption theories were used in this study. SmartPLS 3.2.8 was used to consider 682 valid samples using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

This analysis identified the following crucial factors: usage, value, risk and traditional barriers. Moreover, utilitarian and hedonic values significantly affected barriers. Finally, theoretical and practical suggestions are presented along with future research directions.

Originality/value

This study encompasses the tender of innovation resistance theory to travel itineraries by integrating experiential consumption theory in the context of smart tourism apps.
The relationship between self-serving leadership and employees’ expediency: a moderated mediation model
Authors: Yuan Xiaolong , Yang Yongyong , Wang Feng , Ding Qian , Deng Mianlin , Shi Wendian , Zhao Xudong
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Drawing upon social information processing theory, this study investigates the correlation between self-serving leadership and employee expediency. It also explores the mediating effect of self-interest motivation and the moderating effect of trait mindfulness.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 147 part-time MBA students were enlisted to participate in a scenario experiment (Study 1), and 291 valid employee questionnaires were collected through a multiple-time point survey (Study 2). SPSS 23.0, MPLUS 8.0 and PROCESS programs were used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses.

Findings

Study 1 illustrated a positive correlation between self-serving leadership and employee expediency. It also identified self-interest motivation as a mediating factor in the correlation between self-serving leadership and expediency. Study 2 replicated the results obtained in Study 1 and expanded upon them by demonstrating that trait mindfulness moderates the association between self-serving leadership and self-interest motivation. Additionally, trait mindfulness moderates the indirect effect of self-serving leadership on expediency.

Practical implications

This research argues that organizations should take steps to prevent self-serving leadership in order to reduce employee expediency. Furthermore, it is advisable to provide ethics training to employees who exhibit high trait mindfulness, as they show increased sensitivity to self-serving leadership and are more likely to engage in unethical behavior.

Originality/value

This study expands the existing research on the ethical outcomes of self-serving leadership and contributes to a deeper understanding of the negative aspects of trait mindfulness.
Fashionable altruism: the marketing of fashion-based social enterprise
Authors: Hewitt Jon , Parker Lukas , McQuilten Grace , Bigolin Ricarda
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to understand how fashion-based social enterprises (FSEs) navigate the marketing communications of fashion products alongside those of their social mission. The authors use the theoretical lens of Consumer culture theory, Collin Campbell’s “Romantic ethic” and the work of Eva Illouz to explore how FSEs weave the emotional appeals of fashion consumption with those of contributing to a greater social cause. The melding of these theoretical approaches to consumer behaviour enables a thorough analysis of FSE marketing strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 founders, marketing directors and managers of FSEs. Open-ended questions were used, and key themes were established through inductive analysis.

Findings

The findings show that FSEs use a form of brand storytelling in their marketing communications; they view their social mission as a unique selling point; FSEs could further incorporate product quality/aesthetic value into brand storytelling; and they could sharpen brand storytelling by further engaging with the positive emotional responses they elicit from consumers.

Originality/value

This research has both theoretical and practical implications in that FSEs that focus on explicit altruistic messaging at the expense of aesthetic hedonism may limit their appeal to mainstream fashion consumers. Accordingly, a promising approach may be to effectively incorporate and link the positive emotional responses of both altruistic and aesthetic value. This approach could similarly apply to other areas of social enterprise retail marketing, particularly for those seeking to attract consumers beyond ethical shoppers.
The involvement of multiple ABC transporters in daunorubicin efflux in Streptomyces coeruleorubidus
Authors: Dong Jianxin , Ning Jiali , Tian Yu , Li Han , Chen Hua , Guan Wenjun
Published: October 2024

Streptomyces genus produces a large number of antibiotics, which are always synthesized by specific biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). To resist autotoxicity, transporters encoded by genes located within BGC occasionally pump antibiotic along with transporter encoded by gene located outside BGC. Daunorubicin is an anthracycline antibiotic biosynthesized by Streptomyces species, playing a crucial role in the treatment of leukaemia. In existing studies, only one two‐component ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporter, encoded by drrA1‐drrB1 (abbreviated as drrAB1) and located within the daunorubicin BGC, has been proven to extrude daunorubicin. In this work, two other two‐component ABC transporters, encoded by drrAB2 and drrAB3 and located outside the cluster, were found to play the complementary role in daunorubicin efflux in S. coeruleorubidus. Disruption of three drrABs resulted in a 94% decrease in daunorubicin production. Furthermore, drrAB2 is regulated by the TetR family regulator DrrR1, responding to the intracellular accumulation of daunorubicin and suggesting its role in stress response and self‐resistance. Although the homologues of DrrAB1 are only found in three anthracycline BGCs, the homologues of DrrAB2 and DrrAB3 are spread in many Streptomyces strains which do not contain any known anthracycline BGC. This indicates that DrrAB2 and DrrAB3 may recognize and extrude a broader range of substrates besides daunorubicin, thus playing a more extensive role in cellular detoxification.
Norm modification and the responsibility to protect: Towards a four‐pillar framework
Authors: Peak Thomas
Published: October 2024

The Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) faces intense contestation. Within a rapidly evolving world order, this is only likely to increase. And absent substantive norm modification to (re‐)establish genuine consensus over the meaning of the norm, RtoP faces imminent weakening. This paper suggests one such avenue of modification: reimagining RtoP's structure across four pillars instead of the existing three. It disaggregates the existing third pillar across two pillars: a new fourth‐pillar which contains the last resort use of collective force, in‐line with the UN Charter, and a third‐pillar which retains the existing non‐forcible dimensions of the international responsibility to respond. This new four‐pillar RtoP poses three distinct advantages. It increases the potential for peaceful international responses to mass atrocity by addressing the wide‐spread tendency to conflate the entire international responsibility to respond with the last‐resort use of force; it opens broader space for reconciling divergent global perspectives on the use of force, highlighting the collective and last‐resort nature of legitimate military enforcement; and it resolves additional points of contestation over RtoP including whether the pillars are sequential or mutually reinforcing.
A missense mutation in the tyrosinase gene explains acromelanism in domesticated canaries
Authors: Guimarães‐Moreira Margarida , Marques Cristiana I. , Afonso Sandra , Lacerda Beatriz , Carneiro Miguel , Araújo Pedro M.
Published: October 2024

Acromelanism is a form of albinism observed in several vertebrate species. In mammals, acromelanism is known to be caused by mutations in the tyrosinase gene (TYR) that induce a temperature‐sensitive behavior of melanin synthesis, resulting in a characteristic hair color gradient. In birds, several phenotypes consistent with acromelanism have been reported, but their genetic basis remains unknown. This study aimed to identify the genetic basis of an acromelanistic phenotype in domesticated canaries known as pearl and test whether it is caused by the same molecular mechanism described for mammals. To do this, we compared the genomes of pearl and non‐pearl canaries and searched for potentially causative genetic mutations. Our results suggest that the pearl phenotype is caused by a mutation in the TYR gene encoding a TYR‐P45H missense substitution. Our findings further suggest that reports of acromelanism in other bird species might be explained by TYR mutations.
Anti‐factor Xa and activated partial thromboplastin time strategies for unfractionated heparin dosing after HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device implantation
Authors: Feng Iris , Kurlansky Paul A. , Powley Tanner R. , Hynds Melissa A. , Yang Christine G. , Eisenberger Andrew , Hastie Jonathan M. , Sutherland Lauren D. , Yuzefpolskaya Melana , Colombo Paolo C. , Sayer Gabriel T. , Uriel Nir Y. , Naka Yoshifumi , Takeda Koji
Published: October 2024

Background

No clear guidelines exist for perioperative anticoagulation management after durable left ventricular assist device insertion. In this study, we sought to compare outcomes between anti‐factor Xa (FXa) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in monitoring unfractionated heparin (UFH) dosing after HeartMate 3 (HM3) insertion.

Methods

This is a single‐center retrospective review of patients who received UFH after HM3 insertion between 01/2020–12/2022. Post‐operative UFH dose was titrated by aPTT goal 45–60 sec (n = 53) or FXa goal 0.1–0.2 U/mL (n = 59). Baseline differences between cohorts were balanced by inverse probability treatment weighting.

Results

At baseline, unadjusted FXa patients were more likely to be white (47.5% vs. 35.8%, p < 0.001), INTERMACS 1–2 (69.5% vs. 47.2%, p = 0.013), have history of coronary artery disease (66.1% vs. 43.4%, p = 0.026), and lower eGFR (54.1 vs. 63.7 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.029) compared to the aPTT group. After adjusting for several bleeding/thrombosis risk factors, 97.5% of FXa and 91.0% of aPTT patients reached therapeutic levels with comparable UFH duration and maximum dose. Moreover, in‐hospital mortality (2.5% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.842), major bleeding events (4.2% vs. 9.2%, p = 0.360), and thromboembolic events (21.8% vs. 10.1%, p = 0.151) remained without significant differences between FXa and aPTT cohorts. There was a high degree of variability in FXa (r2 = 0.20) and aPTT (r2 = 0.22) values for any given UFH dose.

Conclusions

No differences in frequency of bleeding or thromboembolic events were observed in this study between FXa versus aPTT cohorts after HM3 implantation. More longitudinal studies are warranted to determine whether or not one assay is superior to the other.
The Immigration‐Related Political Ideology Scale: Development, factor structure, and validity evidence
Authors: Schwartz Seth J. , Duque Maria , Sahbaz Sumeyra , Gladfelter Carolina Scaramutti , Cisco Mia , Nehme‐Kotocavage Lea , Vo Duyen H. , Alpysbekova Aigerim , Montero‐Zamora Pablo , Ertanir Beyhan , Coninck David De , Bogado Natalia , Schildkraut Deborah J.
Published: October 2024

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate the Immigration‐Related Political Ideology Scale (IRPIS), designed to measure diverse political perspectives on immigration among US voters. The IRPIS was developed following a series of focus groups and refined through a systematic item‐generation process involving expert panels. The scale was validated using a two‐step factor analysis with a nationally representative sample of 1292 US voters, divided into exploratory (n = 632) and confirmatory (n = 660) sub‐samples. The exploratory factor analysis identified seven distinct factors: conservative views, welcoming attitudes, world regions, flexibility, assimilationist expectations, multicultural expectations, and undocumented immigrant rights. Confirmatory factor analysis provided an acceptable fit (CFI = .901; RMSEA = .050), and the scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas ranging from .89 to .97). Inter‐factor correlations varied, with strong links observed among welcoming attitudes, flexibility, and multicultural expectations (r’s > .80), confirming a polarization between liberal and conservative stances on immigration. These findings suggest that the IRPIS is the first scale specifically designed to assess immigration‐related political orientations in a polarized US context. This tool has important implications for political strategy and policymaking, especially in the context of rising immigration rates and political polarization.

Public Significance Statement

The present study validates the Immigration‐Related Political Ideology Scale (IRPIS) using a nationally representative sample of 1292 US voters. Immigration remains a highly polarizing issue, with deeply entrenched ideological differences influencing policy preferences and public discourse. Exploratory factor analysis identified seven distinct factors and confirmed a clear polarization between liberal and conservative views on immigration. The IRPIS represents a critical tool for research, political strategy, and policymaking.
Analysis of the transformation of demand willingness for housing reverse mortgages in China based on a scenario simulation experiment
Authors: Han Wei , Zhang Bo
Published: October 2024

As the population rapidly ages, Housing Reverse Mortgages (HRMs) have emerged as a valuable addition to the multilevel pension insurance system, helping to alleviate the pressure on pension financing. However, the HRM market in China faces challenges due to the limited financial literacy among middle‐aged and elderly residents; there is a “cognitive bias” toward understanding the mechanisms and benefits of HRMs leading to “insufficient effective demand.” This study empirically investigates the likelihood of changing the “demand willingness” for an HRM through a scenario‐simulation experiment focused on HRM‐related information disclosure. The findings include: (1) Up to 46.78% of the subjects' attitudes toward adopting HRMs shifted from “unwilling” to “willing” after receiving disclosed information, indicating that cognitive bias significantly impacts the insufficient effective demand for these housing products. The information disclosure experiment can correct the inadequate financial literacy to a certain extent, thereby significantly enhancing the potential demand willingness. (2) After the experiment, subjects with strong motives to bequeath their property to family members (referred to as “strong bequest motives”) significantly changed their willingness to adopt HRMs (“demand willingness”). This suggests that a clear, comprehensive promotional strategy can better align middle‐aged and elderly residents' perceptions of the role of HRMs in protecting inheritances, reducing the impact of bequest‐related considerations on their financial decisions. (3) Participants initially exhibiting lower financial literacy also demonstrated notable shifts in their demand willingness postexperiment. Access to easily understood, high‐quality information appears to help older individuals recognize the potential benefits of HRMs, mitigating the negative effects of cognitive limitations on their decision‐making. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing financial literacy and promoting a better understanding of HRMs among middle‐aged and elderly individuals, which may effectively manage the challenges associated with an aging population and the pressures on pension financing.
Publics' Expectation Toward Ethical Leadership and Ethical Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Evidence From the U.S. and South Korea
Authors: Park Keonyoung , Rim Hyejoon
Published: October 2024

Despite continuous academic attempts to investigate the relationship between public expectations of ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, little research has demonstrated the subliminal process of the relationship. This study focuses on the publics' power distance perceptions as a key driver to lead individuals to prioritize CSR, mediated by the expectations of corporate ethical leadership. To further understand the mechanism and the way power distance perception influences public attitudes toward CSR operations, this study suggests a theoretical model illustrating the relationships among power distance perception, expectancy of ethical leadership, expectancy of ethical CSR, and willingness to support socially responsible companies. A cross‐national survey was conducted to provide empirical evidence from the United States (U.S.) and South Korea. Given that strategic approaches of CSR prioritize meeting public expectations toward corporate social roles, this study provides meaningful implications on public relations practice and CSR scholarship by demonstrating how public expectations of corporate ethical operations are shaped and how these expectations influence the public evaluation of corporate behaviors.
The effects of social exclusion on distributive fairness judgements and cooperative behaviour
Authors: Sun Qian , Molenmaker Welmer E. , Liu Yongfang , van Dijk Eric
Published: October 2024

In this article, we investigate how being socially excluded (vs. included) affects people's distributive fairness judgements and their willingness to cooperate with others in subsequent interactions. For this purpose, we conducted three experiments in which we assessed individual differences in having experienced being socially excluded (Experiment 1, N = 164), and manipulated social exclusion (Experiment 2, N = 120; Experiment 3, N = 492). We studied how this impacted fairness judgements of three different outcome distributions (disadvantageous inequality, advantageous inequality, and equality) both within‐participants (Experiments 1 and 2) and between‐participants (Experiment 3). To assess behavioural consequences, we then also assessed participants' cooperation in a social dilemma game. Across the three experiments, we consistently found that social exclusion impacted fairness judgements. Compared to inclusion, excluded participants judged disadvantageous inequality as more unfair and advantageous inequality as less unfair. Moreover, compared to socially included participants, socially excluded participants were more willing to cooperate after experiencing advantageous rather than disadvantageous inequality, and feelings of acceptance served as a mediator in these associations.
Switching costs in transient technology use: Panel evidence from Kenyan maize production
Authors: Chen Maolong , Hu Chaoran , Myers Robert J.
Published: October 2024

The idea of switching costs and how they affect agricultural technology adoption has received little attention in the literature. We employ a dynamic switching model to show that switching costs generally discourage the adoption of new technologies by farmers, but the extent of the effect depends on the level of switching costs, as well as farmer perceptions and foresight. We provide an empirical strategy to identify switching costs and estimate their effects on adoption under different farmers’ perceptions about adoption uncertainty. An application to hybrid seed adoption in Kenya confirms the existence of switching costs. The correlated‐random‐effects probit results suggest there is heterogeneity in dominant farmer types across agro‐ecological zones in Kenya. Area‐specific policies are suggested to promote technology adoption in different environments.