bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The hippocampus pre-orders movements for skilled action sequences
Authors: Yewbrey Rhys , Kornysheva Katja
Published: April 2024

Plasticity in the subcortical motor basal ganglia-thalamo-cerebellar network plays a key role in the acquisition and control of long-term memory for new procedural skills, from the formation of population trajectories controlling trained motor skills in the striatum to the adaptation of sensorimotor maps in the cerebellum. However, recent findings demonstrate the involvement of a wider cortical and subcortical brain network in the consolidation and control of well-trained actions, including an area traditionally associated with declarative memory – the hippocampus. Here, we probe which role these subcortical areas play in skilled motor sequence control, from sequence feature selection during planning to their integration during sequence execution. An fMRI dataset collected after participants learnt to produce four finger sequences entirely from memory with high accuracy over several days was examined for both changes in BOLD activity and their informational content in subcortical regions of interest. Although there was a widespread activity increase in effector-related striatal, thalamic and cerebellar regions, the associated activity did not contain information on the motor sequence identity. In contrast, hippocampal activity increased during planning and predicted the order of the upcoming sequence of movements. Our findings show that the hippocampus pre-orders movements for skilled action sequences, thus contributing to the higher-order control of skilled movements. These findings challenge the traditional taxonomy of episodic and procedural memory and carry implications for the rehabilitation of individuals with neurodegenerative disorders.
Insulin signaling accelerates the anterograde movement of Rab4 vesicles in axons through Klp98A/KIF16B recruitment via Vps34-PI3Kinase
Authors: Singh Kamaldeep , Das Semanti , Sutradhar Sabyasachi , Howard Jonathon , Ray Krishanu
Published: April 2024

Rab4 GTPase organizes endosomal sorting essential for maintaining the balance between recycling and degradative pathways. Rab4 localizes to many cargos whose transport in neurons is critical for regulating neurotransmission and neuronal health. Furthermore, elevated Rab4 levels in the CNS are associated with synaptic atrophy and neurodegeneration inDrosophilaand humans, respectively. However, how the transport of Rab4-associated vesicles is regulated in neurons remains unknown. Usingin vivotime-lapse imaging ofDrosophilalarvae, we show that activation of insulin signaling via Dilp2 and dInR increases the anterograde velocity, run length, and flux of Rab4 vesicles in the axons. Molecularly, we show that activation of neuronal insulin signaling further activates Vps34, elevates the levels of PI(3)P on Rab4-associated vesicles, recruits Klp98A (a PI(3)P-binding kinesin-3 motor) and activates their anterograde transport. Together, these observations delineate the role of insulin signaling in regulating axonal transport and synaptic homeostasis.

Highlights

Dilp2-mediated insulin signaling activates anterograde transport of Rab4 vesicles

Vps34 regulates anterograde velocity, run length and flux of Rab4 vesicles

Local PI(3)P signaling on Rab4 vesicles regulates their motility in the axons

PI(3)P production upon acute insulin stimulation recruits Klp98A on Rab4 vesicles
Antibody-free time-resolved terbium luminescence assays designed for cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5)
Authors: Heier Jason L. , Boselli Dylan J. , Parker Laurie L.
Published: April 2024

Novel time-resolved terbium luminescence assays were developed for CDK5 and CDK2 by designing synthetic substrates which incorporate phospho-inducible terbium sensitizing motifs with kinase substrate consensus sequences. Substrates designed for CDK5 showed no phosphorylation by CDK2, opening the possibility for CDK5-specific assay development for selective drug discovery.
Floquet engineering Higgs dynamics in time-periodic superconductors
Authors: Kuhn Tobias , Sothmann Björn , Cayao Jorge
Published: April 2024

Higgs modes emerge in superconductors as collective excitations of the order-parameter amplitude when periodically driven by electromagnetic radiation. In this work, we develop a Floquet approach to study Higgs modes in superconductors under time-periodic driving, where the dynamics of the order parameter is captured by anomalous Floquet Green's functions. We show that the Floquet description is particularly powerful as it allows one to exploit the time-periodic nature of the driving, thus considerably reducing the complexity of the time-dependent problem. Interestingly, the Floquet approach is also enlightening because it naturally offers a physical explanation for the renormalized steady-state order parameter as a result of photon-assisted transitions between Floquet sidebands. We demonstrate the usefulness of Floquet engineering Higgs modes in time-periodic s-wave superconductors.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
McDIPPER: A novel saturation-based
3+1D
initial-state model for heavy ion collisions
Authors: Garcia-Montero Oscar , Elfner Hannah , Schlichting Sören
Published: April 2024

We present a new three-dimensional resolved model for the initial state of ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions, based on the k⊥-factorized color glass condensate (CGC) hybrid approach. The framework responds to the need for a rapidity-resolved initial-state Monte Carlo event generator which can deposit the relevant conserved charges (energy, charge, and baryon densities) both in the midrapidity and forward (backward) regions of the collision. This event-by-event generator computes the gluon and (anti-) quark phase-space densities using the IP-Sat model, from where the relevant conserved charges can be computed directly. In the present work we have included the leading-order contributions to the light flavor parton densities. As a feature, the model can be systematically improved in the future by adding next-to-leading-order calculations (in the CGC hybrid framework) and extending to lower energies by including subeikonal corrections to the channels included. We present relevant observables, such as the eccentricities and flow decorrelation, as tests of this new approach.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Analysis of parton distributions in a pion with Bézier parametrizations
Authors: Kotz Lucas , Courtoy Aurore , Nadolsky Pavel , Olness Fredrick , Ponce-Chavez Maximiliano
Published: April 2024

We explore the role of parametrizations for nonperturbative QCD functions in global analyses, with a specific application to extending a phenomenological analysis of the parton distribution functions (PDFs) in the charged pion realized in the xFitter fitting framework. The parametrization dependence of PDFs in our pion fits substantially enlarges the uncertainties from the experimental sources estimated in the previous analyses. We systematically explore the parametrization dependence by employing a novel technique to automate generation of polynomial parametrizations for PDFs that makes use of Bézier curves. This technique is implemented in a ++ module that is included in the xFitter program. Our analysis reveals that the sea and gluon distributions in the pion are not well disentangled, even when considering measurements in leading-neutron deep inelastic scattering. For example, the pion PDF solutions with a vanishing gluon and large quark sea are still experimentally allowed, which elevates the importance of ongoing lattice and nonperturbative QCD calculations, together with the planned pion scattering experiments, for conclusive studies of the pion structure.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Renormalons and power corrections in pseudo- and quasi-GPDs
Authors: Braun Vladimir M. , Koller Maria , Schoenleber Jakob
Published: April 2024

High-order behavior of the perturbative expansion for short-distance observables in QCD is intimately related to the contributions of small momenta in the corresponding Feynman diagrams and this correspondence provides one with a useful tool to investigate power-suppressed nonperturbative corrections. We use this technique to study the structure of power corrections to parton quasi- and pseudo-GPDs which are used in lattice calculations of generalized parton distributions. As the main result, we predict the functional dependence of the leading power corrections to quasi(pseudo)-GPDs on x variable for nonzero skewedness parameter ξ. The kinematic point x=±ξ turns out to be special. We find that the nonperturbative corrections to quasi-GPDs at this point are suppressed by the first power of the hard scale only. These contributions come from soft momenta and have nothing to do with the known UV renormalon in the Wilson line. We also show that power corrections can be strongly suppressed by the normalization procedure.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
95 GeV Higgs boson in the Georgi-Machacek model
Authors: Chen Ting-Kuo , Chiang Cheng-Wei , Heinemeyer Sven , Weiglein Georg
Published: April 2024

CMS and ATLAS have reported small excesses in the search for low-mass Higgs bosons in the diphoton decay channel at exactly the same mass, 95.4 GeV. These searches rely on improved analysis techniques, enhancing in particular the discrimination against the Z→e+e− background. In models beyond the Standard Model (SM) that extend the Higgs sector with triplets, doubly charged Higgs bosons are predicted which can contribute substantially to the diphoton decay rate of a light Higgs boson. The Georgi-Machacek (GM) Model is of particular interest in this context, since despite containing Higgs triplets it preserves the electroweak ρ-parameter to be 1 at the tree level. We show that within the GM model, a Higgs boson with a mass of ∼95  GeV with a diphoton decay rate as observed by CMS and ATLAS can be well-described. We discuss the diphoton excess in conjunction with an excess in the bb¯ final state observed at LEP and an excess observed by CMS in the ditau final state, which have been found at comparable masses with local significances of about 2σ and 3σ, respectively. The presence of a Higgs boson at about 95 GeV within the GM model would imply good prospects of the searches for additional light Higgs bosons. In particular, the observed excess in the diphoton channel would be expected to be correlated in the GM model with a light doubly charged Higgs boson in the mass range between 100 and 200 GeV, which motivates dedicated searches in upcoming LHC Runs.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Axion sourcing in dense stellar matter via
CP
-violating couplings
Authors: Anzuini Filippo , Gómez-Bañón Antonio , Pons José A. , Melatos Andrew , Lasky Paul D.
Published: April 2024

Compact objects such as neutron stars and white dwarfs can source axionlike particles and QCD axions due to CP-violating axion-fermion couplings. The magnitude of the axion field depends on the stellar density and on the strength of the axion-fermion couplings. We show that even CP-violating couplings one order of magnitude smaller than existing constraints source extended axion field configurations. For axionlike particles, the axion energy is comparable to the magnetic energy in neutron stars with inferred magnetic fields of the order of 1013  G and exceeds by more than one order of magnitude the magnetic energy content of white dwarfs with inferred fields of the order of 104  G. On the other hand, the energy stored in the QCD axion field is orders of magnitude lower due to the smallness of the predicted CP-violating couplings. It is shown that the sourced axion field can polarize the photons emitted from the stellar surface, and stimulate the production of photons with energies in the radio band.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Distinguishing the low-lying vector beauty-charm meson via polarization analysis
Authors: Geng Yiqi , Cao Mingqi , Zhu Ruilin
Published: April 2024

To distinguish the low-lying vector beauty-charm meson, we systematically study the Bc*→Bc+γ, Bc*→ℓ+νℓ, and Bc(*)→J/ψ+nh processes within effective theory by the helicity decomposition method. The significant difference of polarization asymmetry in Bc(*)→J/ψ+nh indicates a general law in vector-to-vector and pseudoscalar-to-vector transition processes, which can be tested in current and future LHC experiments. In the end, we discuss the experiment search and discovery potential for the low-lying vector beauty-charm meson.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Cut structures and an observable singularity in the three-body threshold dynamics: The
Tcc+
case
Authors: Wang Jun-Zhang , Lin Zi-Yang , Zhu Shi-Lin
Published: April 2024

The three-body threshold effect, the distinctive and intriguing nonperturbative dynamics in the low-energy hadron-hadron scattering, has acquired compelling significance in the wake of the recent observation of the double-charm tetraquark Tcc+. This dynamics is characterized by the emergence of singular points and branch cuts within the interaction potential, occurring when the on-shell condition of the mediated particle is satisfied. The presence of these potential singularities indicates that the system is no longer Hermitian and also poses intractable challenges in obtaining exact solutions for dynamical scattering amplitudes. In this work, we develop a complex scaled Lippmann-Schwinger equation as an operation of analytical continuation of the T matrix to resolve this problem. Through a practical application to the DD*→DD* process, we reveal complicated cut structures of the three-body threshold dynamics in the complex plane, primarily stemming from the one-pion exchange. Notably, our methodology succeeds in reproducing the Tcc+ structure, in alignment with the quasibound pole derived from the complex scaling method within the Schrödinger equation framework. More remarkably, after solving the on-shell T matrix on the positive real axis of momentum plane, we find an extra new structure in the DD* mass spectrum, which arises from a right-hand cut at a physical pion mass and should be observable in lattice QCD simulations and future high-energy experiments.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Demonstrating quantum computation for quasiparticle band structures
Authors: Ohgoe Takahiro , Iwakiri Hokuto , Kohda Masaya , Ichikawa Kazuhide , Nakagawa Yuya O. , Valencia Hubert Okadome , Koh Sho
Published: April 2024

Understanding and predicting the properties of solid-state materials from first principles has been a great challenge for decades. Owing to the recent advances in quantum technologies, quantum computations offer a promising way to achieve this goal. Here, we demonstrate the first-principles calculation of a quasiparticle band structure on actual quantum computers. This is achieved by hybrid quantum-classical algorithms in conjunction with qubit-reduction and error-mitigation techniques. Our demonstration will pave the way to practical applications of quantum computers.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions among Chilean secondary vocational students
Authors: Torres-Ortega Jorge , Loyola-Campos Javier , Ibarra-Pérez Davor , Hernández-Muñoz Valentina
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to determine the effect of a set of factors (attitude toward entrepreneurship, perceived behavioral control or entrepreneurial self-efficacy, previous experience, internal locus of control and entrepreneurial alertness) on the entrepreneurial intentions of Chilean secondary vocational school students.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was sent to all secondary-level students from four Chilean vocational schools (3,052 students). A total of 1,644 valid questionnaires were received. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The results show that attitude toward entrepreneurship and perceived behavioral control positively and significantly impact the students’ entrepreneurial intentions, but not the previous experience.

Research limitations/implications

Since this research was carried out in a specific reality, the results may lack generalizability. Also, the proposed model requires further development through the incorporation of other factors. It is then suggested to replicate this study in other countries as well as to incorporate new variables and test new relationships.

Practical implications

Entrepreneurship education programs at the secondary level should emphasize changing/stimulating adolescents’ attitudes toward entrepreneurship as well as improving their confidence in their entrepreneurial abilities.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that provide empirical evidence about the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions in adolescents, particularly in Latin America, and with a large sample.
How supervisor and coworker ostracism influence employee outcomes: the role of organizational dehumanization and organizational embodiment
Authors: Brison Noémie , Huyghebaert-Zouaghi Tiphaine , Caesens Gaëtane
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This research aims to investigate the mediating role of organizational dehumanization in the relationships between supervisor/coworker ostracism and employee outcomes (i.e., increased physical strains, decreased work engagement, increased turnover intentions). Moreover, this research explores the moderating role of supervisor’s organizational embodiment and coworkers’ organizational embodiment in these indirect relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study (N = 625) surveying employees from various organizations while using online questionnaires was conducted.

Findings

Results highlighted that, when considered together, both supervisor ostracism and coworker ostracism are positively related to organizational dehumanization, which, in turn, detrimentally influences employees’ well-being (increased physical strains), attitudes (decreased work engagement) and behaviors (increased turnover intentions). Results further indicated that the indirect effects of supervisor ostracism on outcomes via organizational dehumanization were stronger when the supervisor was perceived as highly representative of the organization. However, the interactive effect between coworker ostracism and coworkers’ organizational embodiment on organizational dehumanization was not significant.

Originality/value

This research adds to theory by highlighting how and when supervisor and coworker ostracism relate to undesirable consequences for both employees and organizations. On top of simultaneously considering two sources of workplace ostracism (supervisor/coworkers), this research adds to extant literature by examining one underlying mechanism (i.e., organizational dehumanization) explaining their deleterious influence on outcomes. It further examines the circumstances (i.e., high organizational embodiment) in which victims of supervisor/coworker ostracism particularly rely on this experience to form organizational dehumanization perceptions.
Health-care encounters without interpreters: a qualitative study of the impact of user fees on interpretation in Danish health services
Authors: Michaëlis Camilla , Lindell Johanna Falby Falby , Hansen Cæcilie , Krasnik Allan , Reventlow Susanne , Nørredam Marie , Lutterodt Melissa , Davidsen Annette Sofie
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Following the introduction of user fee for interpreting in Danish health care, a considerable decrease in interpreter services has been shown. This study aims to explore the experiences of language minority patients with health-care encounters when an interpreter was needed but not present.

Design/methodology/approach

Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 language minority patients with limited Danish proficiency. All interviews were conducted with interpreters in the participants’ native language. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach.

Findings

Most participants experienced communication difficulties and difficulties participating actively in their own health care. The experience of unresolved language barriers led to a high degree of uncertainty and left the participants with unanswered health concerns. Participants expressed a reluctance to seek health care, which consequently limited the utilization of health care services.

Research limitations/implications

Although the findings only represent a small sample of patients, the results still reveal major challenges that minority-language patients encounter when seeking health care. Future studies should explore, if the intention of the law is met through the user fees.

Practical implications

Despite having the same entitlements as native Danish-speaking patients, minority-language patients experienced difficulties accessing and using health care services due to the user fee and unresolved language barriers. The study elucidates patient perspectives and points to important ways of improving the quality of health care.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no investigation into the communicative consequences of the introduction of the user fee for interpreting services exists. Thus, this study seeks to address that gap.
Attachment and adjustment in expatriate reactions to the 2011 Tohoku disasters
Authors: Padrón-Hernández Ivar
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to develop an extended social attachment model for expatriates, integrating a multiple stakeholder perspective, to understand evacuation decisions during disasters.

Design/methodology/approach

Through interviews with 12 Tokyo-based expatriates who experienced the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters, this study collects the lived experiences of a diverse set of expatriates. This data is analyzed abductively to map relevant evacuation factors and to propose a reaction typology.

Findings

While the 2011 Tohoku disasters caused regional destruction and fears of nuclear fallout, Tokyo remained largely unscathed. Still, many expatriates based in Tokyo chose to leave the country. Evacuation decisions were shaped by an interplay of threat assessment, location of attachment figures and cross-cultural adjustment. The study also discusses the influence of expatriate types.

Practical implications

Disaster planning is often overlooked or designed primarily with host country nationals in mind. Expatriates often lack the disaster experience and readiness of host country nationals in disaster-prone regions in Asia and beyond, and thus might need special attention when disaster strikes. This study provides advice for how to do so.

Originality/value

By unpacking the under-researched and complex phenomenon of expatriate reactions to disasters, this study contributes to the fields of international human resource and disaster management. Specifically, seven proposition on casual links leading to expatriate evacuation are suggested, paving the way for future research.
What drives to adopt Islamic banking products and services: is it shariah compliance or convenience?
Authors: Jamshed Kazi Md , Uluyol Burhan
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The main issue is whether customers prefer convenience over Shariah compliance or the opposite when they decide their Islamic banking needs. The purpose of this paper is to explore why customers adopt Islamic banking products and services: Shariah compliance or convenience?

Design/methodology/approach

Using convenience sampling, 310 respondents’ data were collected through online survey. For testing the fit and hypotheses of the proposed model, AMOS 25 software and Smart-PLS 4.0 software have been used.

Findings

Attitude, Islamic value and convenience have significant determinants of Islamic banking products and services. Shariah compliance has no direct or indirect influence on neither intention nor actual behaviour to adopt Islamic banking services. Furthermore, gender has no such differential effect on the adoption.

Practical implications

Managers and marketers of Islamic banks may benefit from the findings of this study, which demonstrate fresh insights regarding the factors which help in strategy formulations to promote Islamic banking services.

Originality/value

The growth of Islamic banks, branches and windows is remarkable in both Muslim-majority and Muslim-minority countries in the world. This paper postulates the behavioural finance studies in Islamic banking and finance research stream by extending the theory of planned behaviour of Ajzen (1985) as all the three new constructs (Islamic value, convenienc and Shariah compliance) are statistically fit for further studies. However, only Islamic value and convenience are the two significant factors which drive customers to take decision in the proposed model. This study gives insights to the bankers and authority about the consumer behaviour.
Why does leadership non-contingent punishment lead to bystander workplace deviance behavior? – Dual path perspective of cognition and affection
Authors: Wang Liang , Chen Hao
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Based on the cognition-affection personality system theory, this study constructs and tests a mediation model of leadership non-contingent punishment on bystander workplace deviance behavior through bystander affective rumination and bystander psychological contract violation, as well as a chain mediation effect of bystander affective rumination and bystander psychological contract violation, and explores the moderation role of bystander performance pressure in this model.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes 454 employees and their colleagues from several Chinese enterprises as the research subjects and conducts a paired survey at three-time points using Mplus 7.4 to analyze the empirical data.

Findings

The research results are as follows: Bystander affective rumination and bystander psychological contract violation play a mediation role between leadership non-contingent punishment and bystander workplace deviance behavior, respectively. Bystander affective rumination and bystander psychological contract violation play a chain mediation role in the positive role of leadership non-contingent punishment on bystander workplace deviance behavior. Bystander performance pressure moderates the chain mediation path by enhancing the positive role of leadership non-contingent punishment on bystander affective rumination.

Originality/value

This study comprehensively explores the internal path of the impact of leadership non-contingent punishment on bystander workplace deviance behavior from the perspective of bystanders through dual paths of cognition and affection. It enriches the result variables of leadership non-contingent punishment, expands existing research on the mediation mechanism of leadership non-contingent punishment and deepens the understanding of the mechanism of leadership non-contingent punishment. At the same time, it has practical guidance significance to promote the suppression of leadership non-contingent punishment in organizations, reduce the occurrence of employee workplace deviance behavior, help employees better integrate into the organization and build a harmonious organizational environment.
“After god is police”: lived experiences of rural police officers in Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Cleghorn Leah , Harry Casandra , Cummings Chantelle
Published: April 2024

Purpose

In Trinidad and Tobago, there is significant reliance on the traditional and centralized police service to engage in crime response and suppression in urban and rural areas. In this regard, policing scholarship has largely focused on the impact of policing within urban areas, producing a gap in knowledge on what policing rural spaces entails. Despite this, there is some understanding that policing rural spaces can engender diverse challenges and calls for variability in policing strategies. The current study examines the lived experiences of police officers stationed in rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the descriptive phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven police officers stationed in rural communities throughout the country.

Findings

Interviewees narrated the importance of community dynamics and community-specific needs in shaping their roles and functions when operating in and serving these communities. Three major themes were identified: (1) network activity in policing; (2) engagement in localistic and service-oriented approaches and (3) community-specific challenges.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that while there is an emphasis on traditional law enforcement responsibilities, in the rural context, police responsibilities and duties are constantly being redefined, reframed and broadened to meet the contextual community and geographic-specific diversities and demands.
Racialized organizations, strategies, and structures: a case study
Authors: Macaulay Charles D.T. , Keaton Ajhanai C.I.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper explores organization-level racialized work strategies for maintaining racialized organizations (Ray, 2019). It focuses on intentional actions to maintain dominant racial norms, demonstrating how work strategies are informed by dominant racial structures that maintain racial inequities.

Design/methodology/approach

We compiled a chronological case study (Yin, 2012) based on 168 news media articles and various organizational documents to examine responses to athlete protests at the University of Texas at Austin following the death of George Floyd. Gioiaet al.’s (2013) method uncovered how dominant racial norms inform organizational behaviors.

Findings

The paper challenges institutional theory neutrality and identifies several racialized work strategies that organizations employ to maintain racialized norms and practices. The findings provide a framework for organizations to interrogate their strategies and their role in reproducing dominant racial norms and inequities.

Originality/value

In 2020, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was reinvigorated within sporting and corporate domains. However, many organizations engaged in performativity, sparking criticism about meaningful change in organizational contexts. Our case study examines how one organization responded to athlete activists’ BLM-fueled demands, revealing specific racialized work strategies that maintain structures of racism. As organizations worldwide disrupt and discuss oppressive structures such as racism, we demonstrate how organizational leadership, while aware of policies and practices of racism, may choose not to act and actively maintain such structures.
Sustainability on the horizon? An investigation into sustainable banking practices in an emerging economy
Authors: Sani Kareem Folohunso , Gbadamosi Ayantunji , Al-Abdulrazak Rula R.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate sustainability practices in the banking industry, focusing on a developing economy. It uses the triple-bottom-line framework to answer the following research question: how do banks in Nigeria conceptualise sustainability, and what role does it play in their banking practices?

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a social constructivist approach in its exploration of banking sustainability practices in an emerging economy, and the research design is a purpose-based (exploratory) approach. The qualitative data was collected from 33 bank personnel from various bank units and departments through semi-structured interviews to achieve the research objective.

Findings

The study reveals a lack of sustainability policies and programmes, as banks focus mainly on profitability. It uncovers unfair treatments of bank workers through casualisation, low wages and work overload. It indicates that most banks in developing countries ignore environmental considerations, as they still carry out paper-based transactions and use diesel-powered generators, which cause various negative environmental impacts. It also confirms that governments and banks in the country are not doing enough to propagate sustainable practices and banks have also not taken advantage of the sustainability concept to promote their brands; instead, they consider it as requiring additional operational costs.

Practical implications

The findings demonstrate the need for banks to see sustainability from a marketing point of view and adopt sustainable practices to create additional value that will improve their brand image and enhance their competitiveness.

Originality/value

The importance of sustainability in the banking industry in emerging economies is considered a viable means of contributing to the overall development goals of the United Nations as the world tries to preserve the environment. It also highlights the consequences of inaction or unsustainable banking practices.
Strategic communication & corporate sustainability within global supply chains
Authors: Prieto Leon , Phipps Simone T.A. , Robertson Melva , Reynolds Stacey
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The article aims to explore the transformative journey of AcmeTech Manufacturing, a fictional company influenced by real-life events, from environmental negligence to adopting sustainable and responsible business practices. By examining AcmeTech's strategic communication and sustainability initiatives, the study seeks to highlight the importance of integrating sustainability within global supply chains and the role of strategic communication in building stakeholder trust and achieving corporate sustainability goals.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts a case study methodology, focusing on AcmeTech Manufacturing as a representative example. The case study approach allows for an in-depth exploration of AcmeTech's challenges, strategies and outcomes in its pursuit of corporate sustainability. Drawing from real-life events, the study delves into the company's transformation, its commitment to transparent communication and its efforts to incorporate sustainable practices within its global supply chains.

Findings

AcmeTech Manufacturing, once criticized for its environmental negligence, has embarked on a comprehensive sustainability journey. Recognizing the erosion of stakeholder trust due to past actions, the company has prioritized transparent and strategic communication of its sustainability efforts. AcmeTech's commitment extends beyond internal changes, emphasizing the importance of its global supply chains in its overall environmental impact. By adopting a Cooperative Advantage approach, rooted in the philosophy of ubuntu, AcmeTech not only addresses its environmental challenges but also strives to become a leader in sustainable manufacturing practices.

Originality/value

The article offers a unique perspective by combining the concepts of strategic communication and corporate sustainability within the context of global supply chains. Using the fictional case of AcmeTech Manufacturing, influenced by real-world scenarios, the study introduces the Cooperative Advantage approach, rooted in the African philosophy of ubuntu. This approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of all stakeholders, promoting a people-centered strategy to sustainability, making the article a novel contribution to the discourse on corporate sustainability.
Non‐violent resistance treatment for parenting stress and parent–child interaction in parents of adolescents with anorexia nervosa: A pilot study
Authors: Meijer Irene G. , Stapersma Luuk , Terpstra Leonieke , van der Mandele Joost P. , Utens Elisabeth M. W. J.
Published: April 2024

Parenting a child with anorexia nervosa (AN) is highly stressful, and the struggles around eating have a large impact on family functioning. Parents get involved in conflicts with their child and/or accommodate to the eating disorder symptoms. Non‐violent resistance (NVR) offers an additional treatment option for these families. NVR aims at helping parents effectively deal with their child's (self‐)destructive behaviour and their own helplessness, by non‐violent and non‐escalating means. In our pilot, we examined whether NVR was helpful in reducing stress and improve parent–child interaction. In six parents, it was found that parenting stress was significantly reduced at post‐assessment and at 3‐month follow‐up. For parent–child interaction, a non‐significant trend was found for improvement. Change in body mass index of the adolescents was not associated with the decrease in parenting stress. Although preliminary, the results of this pilot suggest that NVR can be a feasible treatment alternative for families of adolescents with AN.
Innovation and Financial Disclosure
Authors: CHEN HUI , LIANG PIERRE JINGHONG , PETROV EVGENY
Published: April 2024

We examine how financial disclosure policy affects a firm manager's strategy to innovate within a two‐period bandit problem featuring two production methods: an old method with a known probability of success, and a new method with an unknown probability. Exploring the new method in the first period provides the manager with decision‐useful information for the second period, thus creating a real option that is unavailable under exploiting the old known production method. Voluntary disclosure of the firm's financial performance provides the manager with another option to potentially conceal initial failure from the market. The interaction of these two options determines the manager's incentive to explore. In equilibrium, a myopic manager who cares about the interim market price may over‐ or under‐explore compared to the optimal exploration strategy that maximizes firm value. Our analysis shows that firms operating in an environment with voluntary disclosure early in the trial stage and mandated requirement later are most motivated to explore, while firms subject to early mandated disclosure and late voluntary disclosure are least likely to do so. We also provide empirical predictions about the link between the disclosure environment and the intensity and efficiency of corporate innovation.
Institutional credibility and land investment: Evidence from new‐round land certification program in China
Authors: Zhang Hao , Ren Guangcheng , Feng Shuyi
Published: April 2024

The article examines the impact of the credibility of land institutions on households' land investment in the context of the new‐round land certification program in China. Specifically, we first build a theoretical framework differentiating effects of households' perceived credibility regarding land use right, transfer right and mortgage right on investment. Then, a two‐step control function (2SCF) approach which controls for the endogeneity of households' perceived credibility is applied to the data collected from 487 households in Jiangsu province of China in 2017. Results show that households' perceived credibility of land transfer right has a significantly positive effect on both households' labor‐intensive and capital‐intensive investment. Credibility of land mortgage right has a significantly negative effect on households' capital‐intensive investment. However, credibility regarding land use right does not significantly affect households' land investment we focused on. Policies strengthening land transfer right credibility, improving land mortgage right and encouraging households to apply credits to farm activities, may play an important role in enhancing soil‐improving land investment.
Crystallization behavior and compatibility analysis of palm kernel stearin/anhydrous milk fat blends and application
Authors: Su Yi , Chai Xiu‐hang , Tan Chin‐Ping , Liu Yuan‐fa
Published: April 2024

In this paper, the compatibility, phase behavior, and crystallization properties of the binary blends of palm kernel stearin (PKS) and anhydrous milk fat (AMF) were investigated by analyzing the solid fat content (SFC), thermal properties, polymorphism, and microstructure, with the aim of providing theoretical guidance for the blending of oils. The results showed that the PKS content primarily determined the SFC trend of the binary blends. However, the binary blends demonstrated poor miscibility and eutectic behavior was predominantly observed in the system, particularly at higher temperatures. Only α and β′ forms appeared in this blended system. Simultaneously, the addition of PKS elevated the liquid phase transition temperature of the binary blends, considerably significantly increased their crystallization rate when the addition of PKS was more than 20% and increased the density and size of the fat crystals. Finally, the mixing design optimization method was used to get the most suitable ratio of the binary blends in the refrigerated cream system with PKS:AMF to be 0.914:0.086. The cream prepared with the above binary blends was indeed superior in overrun and firmness and had high stability.

Practical Application

Some fats with special advantages are often limited in their wide application because of their poor crystallization ability. In this paper, the crystallization ability of fats is improved, and their application scenarios are increased through the combination of fats, so as to provide reference for the production of special fats for food.
Gluten‐free pasta as an alternative in the diet of patients with celiac disease
Authors: Norma Vázquez‐Mata , García‐Zepeda Rodrigo Antonio , Mitzy Belén Ontiveros‐Higareda , Morales‐Guerrero Josefina Consuelo
Published: April 2024

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that produces inflammation in the gut mucosa, affecting nutrient digestion and absorption. CD affects 0.3% to 1.0% of the world's population and only 15% have a clinical diagnosis. The only effective treatment is a gluten‐free diet. The objective of this study was to develop a dough for gluten‐free pasta prepared with mixtures of flours from corn, amaranth, soy, and rice. According to the FAO standard of 1975, the resultant mixtures should have a protein content greater than 11.0% and a chemical rating of not less than 70. Three mixtures were obtained: corn‒soy (81‐19), corn‒rice‒soy (48‐37‐15), and corn‒rice‒amaranth (49‐32‐14). To improve the handling of the pasta and its physical characteristics (sedimentation, degree of absorption, and cracked shaped pasta) compared to a control (commercial) gluten‐free pasta, carboxymethylcellulose, an emulsifier (distilled monoglycerides), and egg albumin were added at concentrations of 0.3, 0.5, and 5.0%, respectively. The corn flour was pregelatinized, and the extrusion was repeated twice. The experimental pasta had a protein content of 14.0%, which was higher than the commercial pasta (4.5%), and a gluten content of less than 20 mg/kg which, according to the Codex Alimentarius International Food Standard (2015), it is considered gluten‐free. The corn‒rice‒soy pasta obtained had an acceptance and liking similar to a commercial brand. This pasta may widen the gluten‐free products commercially available to CD patients in Mexico, which nowadays is limited and expensive.

Practical Application

Raw materials available in our country were selected to promote their consumption and diversify the ingredients used in the production of gluten‐free products. The pasta obtained presented a higher nutritional content than a commercial gluten‐free pasta and was comparable to that of a pasta made with wheat.
Elucidation of heavy metal content, phenolic profiles, and antioxidant activities of kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) and arugula (Brassica eruca L.) grown in urban gardens in Istanbul
Authors: Amanpour Armin , Coskun Beril , Kanmaz Hilal , Turan Busra Kaya , Soylu Meltem , Celik Fatma , Hayaloglu Ali Adnan
Published: April 2024

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two distances: close (0–10 m) and far (60 m) from the heavy traffic roadside, at three different cultivation sites (MS: Mevlanakapi–Silivrikapi, SB: Silivrikapi–Belgradkapi, and BY: Belgradkapi–Yedikule kapi) along the road line. First, the phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and physicochemical properties in kale and arugula vegetables were examined. Second, heavy metal concentrations in vegetables, soil, and irrigated water were investigated. In both vegetables, the highest total phenolic content was detected in samples obtained from far distance in SB site (3880.3 mg/kg) for kale and in BY site (1459.9 mg/kg) for arugula, whereas the lowest content was found at the close distance in MS site for both kale (448.5 mg/kg) and arugula (586.4 mg/kg). The antioxidant activity values [mg Trolox/kg (dw)] ranged from 366.74 to 586.10 and 2349.00 to 3757.4 for kale and from 520.00 to 945.60 and 3323.00 to 5814.70 for arugula in 2,2′‐azino‐bis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl methods, respectively. The levels of Cd and Hg in kale and arugula and Fe content in arugula exceeded FAO/WHO permissible limits, making them unsafe for human consumption. Meanwhile, the Pb content in kale and arugula and Fe content in kale were observed to be within acceptable limits set by FAO/WHO. In the irrigated water, the Pb value was below the permissible limit, whereas the Cd value was above it and no Hg and Fe were detected. In the soil samples, the Pb and Fe values were below the limit, whereas the Cd and Hg values were higher.
Alterations in peripheral T‐ and B‐cell subsets in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Wu Jialing , Zhang Xi , Lin Shen , Wei Qiujing , Lin Zhiming , Jin Ou , Gu Jieruo
Published: April 2024

Objectives

To determine the alteration of peripheral T and B cell subsets in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to evaluate their correlation with the progression of SSc.

Methods

We recruited 47 SSc patients and 45 healthy controls (HCs) in this study. Demographic and clinical data were then collected. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportions of 44 different T and B cell subsets in circulating blood.

Results

The proportion of total B cells (p = .043) decreased in SSc patients, together with similar frequencies of total T cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells in both groups. Several subsets of T and B cells differed significantly between these two groups. Follicular helper T cells‐1 (Tfh1) (p < .001), helper T cells‐1 (Th1) (p = .001), regulatory T cells (Treg) (p = .004), effector memory CD8+ T cells (p = .041), and cytotoxic T cells‐17 (Tc17) (p = .01) were decreased in SSc patients. Follicular helper T cells‐2 (Tfh2) (p = .001) and, helper T cells‐2 (Th2) (p = .001) levels increased in the SSc group. Regulatory B cells (Breg) (p = .015) were lower in the SSc group, together with marginal zone (MZ) B cells (p < .001), memory B cells (p = .001), and non‐switched B cells (p = .005). The modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) correlated with helper T cells‐17 (Th17) (r = −.410, p = .004), Tfh1 (r = −.321, p = .028), peripheral helper T cells (Tph) (r = −.364, p = .012) and plasma cells (r = −.312, p = .033).

Conclusions

The alterations in T and B cells implied immune dysfunction, which may play an essential role in systemic sclerosis.