bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting Tumor Mutational Burden Cutoff: Multi-Study Replicability in Immunotherapy
Authors: Jaljuli Iman , Whiting Karissa , Rosenbaum Evan , Qin Li-Xuan
Published: January 2025

PURPOSE

Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB) is a crucial biomarker for predicting the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. However, ongoing debates about the optimal cutoff significantly impact the clinical application of immunotherapy. The purpose of our study is to comprehensively evaluate TMB cutoffs for predicting immunotherapy outcomes across multiple studies, considering both cancer type and outcome endpoint, using statistically principled approaches.

METHODS

We analyzed data from PredictIO, curated through a PubMed search for studies involving immune checkpoint blockade treatment in the adjuvant setting, excluding those involving combinations with chemotherapy, targeted treatment, or radiation. The included studies, published between January 2015 and June 2022, required tumor sequencing data from whole exomes or targeted gene panels for TMB assessment. Outcome endpoints included clinical benefit rate (CBR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). CBR was defined as the rate of complete response, partial response, or stable disease lasting at least six months, according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. OS and PFS were defined as the interval from treatment initiation to death and disease progression, respectively. TMB was uniformly derived from tumor sequencing data, representing the count of nonsynonymous mutations relative to the target sequencing size. TMB cutoffs were evaluated for outcome associations using study replicability analysis, alongside individual-study analysis and random-effects meta-analysis for comparison.

RESULTS

The data provided sufficient evidence of replicable outcome associations for specific TMB cutoffs in melanoma, lung cancer, and bladder cancer. The FDA-recommended cutoff of 10 mutations per megabase showed replicable associations in melanoma for OS (p-value < 0.01) and CBR (p-value < 0.01), though more replicable cutoffs were identified for the latter. Lower cutoffs of 4 and 2 were found to be replicable in lung cancer for CBR (p-value = 0.04) and in bladder cancer for OS (p-value < 0.01), respectively. No cutoff was deemed replicable for the other cancer type and outcome combinations, due to no association, inadequate power, or insufficient data.

CONCLUSION

A pan-cancer cutoff of 10 mutations per megabase may not be optimal for predicting immunotherapy outcomes. Further studies are needed to determine appropriate cutoffs specific to cancer types and outcomes through statistically principled replicability analyses.
Food pairing independently associated with cardiometabolic traits beyond dietary patterns across western and eastern populations
Authors: Deng Qiufeng , Sun Yuhao , Gu Mingxia , Fu Jingxiang , Xu Fengzhe , Jiao Yuwen , Zhou Yan , Ma Beining , Liu Lu , Wang Xiuchao , Dong Quanbin , Wu Tingting , Zou Huayiyang , Shi Jing , Wang Yifeng , Sheng Yanhui , Tang Liming , Sun Wei , Li An , Hu Shixian , Zheng Jusheng , He Yan , Zhou Hongwei , Wu Wei , Kong Xiangqing , Chen Lianmin
Published: January 2025

Cardiometabolic health is closely linked to diet. Both specific food choices and dietary indices are commonly used to guide cardiometabolic protection strategies. However, the balance between foods may also significantly impact cardiometabolic health.

Here, we explore the balance and imbalance in long-term dietary food intake to quantify food pairing patterns (FPs), providing insights beyond conventional dietary indices and single-food intake frequencies. Using data from our GGMP (n = 6,994) and the NHANES (n = 7,350) cohorts, we observed that long-term food pairing patterns are independent of single food intake frequency and dietary indices. We identified 1,759 and 306 cardiometabolic-related long-term food pairing patterns from two cohorts (FDR < 0.05), respectively. Notably, around 80% of these pairing foods not individually associated with cardiometabolic traits, and food pairing pattern associations with cardiometabolic traits at hyper food group level were consistent across Eastern and Western populations. Besides, mediation analysis revealed that 72.7% of long-term food pairing patterns affected cardiometabolic traits through 31 microbial genera, withClostridiumsensustricto1playing a predominant role. Moreover, multi-step mediation analysis found that microbes mediated the impact of long-term food pairing patterns on cardiometabolic traits primarily through their metabolic pathways, such as pyruvate fermentation to propanoate and ergothioneine biosynthesis pathways.

Our data suggest that balance between dietary foods is broadly associated with cardiometabolic traits by modulating gut microbial functionalities, in contrast to the lower occurrence when considering individual foods in isolation. These results offer a novel perspective for designing personalized dietary strategies beyond present dietary indices to enhance cardiometabolic health.
ABA-induced MYB transcriptional module regulates the differentiation trajectory of chickpea exodermis
Authors: Jo Leonardo , Kluck Rianne , Buti Sara , Holbein Julia , Chhillar Himanshu , Ding Pingtao , Franke Rochus Benni , Kajala Kaisa
Published: January 2025

Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates plant responses to stress and influences the differentiation of root barrier cell types, such as the endodermis and exodermis. Despite the importance of the exodermis in limiting water and solute fluxes, its regulation remains poorly understood in legumes. Here, we characterize the ABA-induced suberization and lignification of root tissues across eight galegoid legumes. Chickpea exhibited suberin deposition specifically in the outermost cortex, forming a functional apoplastic barrier. Transcriptomics of chickpea roots revealed ABA-induced programs that were temporally separated, specifically, a rapid program with the general ABA response, and a delayed program of suberin biosynthesis. We identified putative MYB transcription factors that link the ABA response to the suberin biosynthesis in chickpea. Single-cell RNA-seq of chickpea roots uncovered putative cell-type-specific regulatory networks, suggesting that ABA-induced suberization in the exodermis is mediated by the canonical ABA signaling inducing the expression of suberin-regulating MYBs.
Semaphorin7A and PD-L1 cooperatively drive immunosuppression during mammary involution and breast cancer
Authors: Elder Alan M , Fairchild Heather R , Kines Kelsey T , Cozzens Lauren M , Becks Alexandria R , Lyons Traci R
Published: January 2025

Postpartum mammary gland remodeling after a pregnancy/lactation cycle is characterized by mechanisms of immunosuppression. Here we show that SEMA7A promotes PD-L1 expression in immune cells of the mammary tissue during involution. These same phenotypes are mimicked in the microenvironment of SEMA7A-expressing tumors, which partially respond to αPD-1/αPD-L1 treatments in vivo. However, cells that remain after treatment are enriched for SEMA7A expression. Therefore, we tested a novel monoclonal antibody that directly targets SEMA7A-expressing tumors, in part, by reducing SEMA7A-mediated upregulation of PD-L1. In vivo, the SEMA7A monoclonal antibody also reduces tumor growth or promotes complete regression of mouse mammary tumors, reduces the immunosuppressive phenotypes in the tumor microenvironment and restores cytotoxic T cells suggesting that SEMA7A may be a candidate for a novel immune-based therapy for breast cancer patients.
Early Noise Exposure and Changes in Medial Olivocochlear Strength Alters Auditory Pathway Development
Authors: Castagna Valeria C. , Boero Luis E. , Di Guilmi Mariano N. , Fuchs Paul A. , Lauer Amanda M. , Elgoyhen Ana Belén , Gomez-Casati Maria Eugenia
Published: January 2025

Periodic spontaneous activity is a key feature of developing sensory systems, essential for the formation and refinement of neural circuits. Before the onset of hearing in altricial mammals, cochlear inner hair cells exhibit spontaneous electrical activity that activates primary afferents to propagate into the central nervous system. This activity, modulated by the medial olivocochlear efferent feedback via α9α10 nicotinic cholinergic receptors present in inner hair cells, is crucial for auditory system maturation. In this study, we examined the impact of sound exposure at levels below those causing hair cell damage during the critical developmental period by using genetically modified mice - α9 knockout and α9 knock-in models - with either absent or enhanced cholinergic activity. We further assessed how varying levels of medial olivocochlear feedback interact with early-age noise exposure to affect auditory development. Our findings reveal that both increased and absent olivocochlear activity result in altered auditory sensitivity at the onset of hearing and affect ribbon synapse number and morphology. Additionally, early exposure to loud noise caused long lasting changes in the inner ear of wild-type and α9 knockout mice, underscoring the heightened vulnerability during early development. In contrast, mice with enhanced cholinergic activity were protected from these changes. Overall, this work highlights the critical role of medial olivocochlear modulation in proper auditory system development and indicates that early noise exposure can interfere with normal cochlear maturation, resulting in pronounced long-term effects.
The Association between Proteomic Aging Clocks and the Risk of Cancer in Midlife Individuals
Authors: Wang Shuo , Rao Zexi , Li Aixin , Blaes Anne H. , Blaha Michael J. , Coresh Josef , Dubin Ruth , Deo Rajat , Joshu Corinne E. , Marshall Catherine Handy , Pankow James S. , Rotter Jerome I. , Thyagarajan Bharat , Whelton Seamus P. , Ganz Peter , Guan Weihua , Platz Elizabeth A. , Prizment Anna
Published: January 2025

Background

To measure the aging process before a cancer diagnosis, we developed the first cancer-specific proteomic aging clock (CaPAC) and examined its association with cancer risk in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) and Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) studies.

Methods

Using the SomaScan assay, ARIC measured 4,712 proteins in plasma samples collected in 1990-92 from 3,347 participants who developed cancer over follow-up until 2015 and 7,487 who remained cancer-free, all aged 46-70. We constructed CaPAC0 using elastic net regression among two-thirds randomly selected cancer-free participants (N=4,991, training set) and calculated age acceleration for CaPAC0 (CaPAA0) as residuals of CaPAC0 on chronological age in all remaining ARIC participants. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the risk of overall, obesity-related, smoking-related, and the most common cancers (prostate, lung, breast, colorectal) with CaPAA0 using a case-cohort design. We replicated the analysis in 3,893 MESA participants aged 46-70 at Exam 1 (456 incident cancer).

Results

CaPAC0 was correlated with chronological age in ARIC and MESA (r=0.82 and 0.86, respectively). In both ARIC and MESA, CaPAA0 was significantly (p<0.05) associated with the risk of overall [HRs per 5-years=1.08 and 1.23, respectively], smoking-related [HRs=1.30 and 1.54, respectively], and lung cancers [HRs=1.54 and 1.94, respectively]. CaPAA0 was also significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk in ARIC [HR=1.31], but not in MESA. CaPAA0 was not associated with obesity-related, breast, or prostate cancers.

Conclusion

CaPAA0 was associated with several types of cancer with the strongest association observed for lung cancer risk.
Psychological distress and compliance with sanitary measures during the Covid-19 pandemic: effect modification by participant gender and socioeconomic characteristics, an IPD meta-analysis.
Authors: Hecker Irwin , Wallez Solene , Scarlett Honor , Ayuso-Mateos Jose Luis , Bryant Richard , Caggiu Giulia , Conflitti Claudia , Gemes Katalin , Haro Josep Maria , Lorant Vincent , Mediavilla Roberto , Mittendorffer-Rutz Ellenor , Monistrol-Mula Anna , Monzio-Compagnoni Matteo , Petri-Romao Papoula , Pinucci Irene , Sijbrandij Marit , Stoffers-Winterling Jutta , Walter Henrik , Mary-Krause Murielle , Melchior Maria
Published: January 2025

Background: This study aims to understand how individuals’ psychological distress is related to compliance with COVID-19 sanitary measures. In addition, we explored whether gender and socioeconomic status (i.e educational level and employment status) modify the relationship between psychological distress and compliance with COVID-19 sanitary measures. Methods: Data from four European cohort studies (n=13,635), were analysed using an Individual Participant Data (IPD) meta-analytic approach. Mixed effect models were employed to examine associations between mental health difficulties and compliance with sanitary measures as well as the interaction with socioeconomic status. Models were additionally stratified by gender to capture gender-specific patterns. Results: We found a significant positive association between mental health difficulties and compliance with sanitary measures in women, while amongst men the association was also significant but negative. Moreover, there was a statistically significant interaction between participants’ educational level and mental health difficulties amongst men only, indicating even lower compliance levels amongst those with only primary schooling. Conclusion: The association between psychological distress and compliance with sanitary measures  is unclear - positive for women, negative for male. Men experiencing mental health difficulties, especially those with lower educational attainment, exhibited lower compliance with sanitary measures.
Unsupervised Ensemble Learning for Efficient Integration of Pre-trained Polygenic Risk Scores
Authors: Gao Chenyin , Tubbs Justin D. , Han Yi , Guo Min , Li Sijia , Ma Erica , Luo Dailin , Smoller Jordan W. , Lee Phil H. , Duan Rui
Published: January 2025

The growing availability of pre-trained polygenic risk score (PRS) models has enabled their integration into real-world applications, reducing the need for extensive data labeling, training, and calibration. However, selecting the most suitable PRS model for a specific target population remains challenging, due to issues such as limited transferability, data het-erogeneity, and the scarcity of observed phenotype in real-world settings. Ensemble learning offers a promising avenue to enhance the predictive accuracy of genetic risk assessments, but most existing methods often rely on observed phenotype data or additional genome-wide association studies (GWAS) from the target population to optimize ensemble weights, limiting their utility in real-time implementation. Here, we present theUNsupervised enSemble PRS(UNSemblePRS), an unsupervised ensemble learning framework, that combines pre-trained PRS models without requiring phenotype data or summaries from the target population. Unlike traditional supervised approaches, UNSemblePRS aggregates models based on prediction concordance across a curated subset of candidate PRS models. We evaluated UNSemblePRS using both continuous and binary traits in the All of Us database, demonstrating its scalability and robust performance across diverse populations. These results underscore UNSemblePRS as an accessible tool for integrating PRS models into real-world contexts, offering broad applicability as the availability of PRS models continues to expand.
CHOPOFF: symbolic alignments enable fast and sensitive CRISPR off-target detection
Authors: Labun Kornel , Rio Oline , Tjeldnes Håkon , Swirski Michał , Komisarczuk Anna Zofia , Haapaniemi Emma , Valen Eivind
Published: January 2025

CRISPR/Cas is a revolutionary technology for genome editing. Although hailed as a potential cure for a wide range of genetic disorders, CRISPR/Cas translation faces severe challenges due to unintended off-target editing. Predicting these off-targets are difficult and necessitates trade-offs between speed and sensitivity, and we show that some tools fail to recover even those they claim to be able to find Here, we develop the original concept of symbolic alignments to efficiently identify off-targets without sacrificing sensitivity. We also introduce data structures that allow near-instant alignment-free probabilistic ranking of guides based on their off-target counts. Implemented in the tool CHOPOFF, these innovations support mismatches, bulges and genomic sequence variation for personalized genomes while outperforming state-of-the-art methods in both speed and accuracy.

Availability

The CHOPOFF is available at https://github.com/JokingHero/CHOPOFF.jl
H→Zγ
decay and
CP
violation
Authors: Hernández-Juárez A. I. , Gaitán R. , Martinez R.
Published: January 2025

This study examines the impact of CP-violation on the signal strength μZγ, which was reported as 2.2±0.7 by the LHC. We obtain constraints on the real and absorptive parts of the CP-violating form factor h3Zγ and find that they are less than 1.15 GeV. Additionally, we revisit the leading order Standard Model (SM) contributions to the H→Zγ decay and calculate contributions to h3Zγ from flavor-changing neutral current (FCNC) complex couplings mediated by the

Z

and H bosons. By using the current bounds on such couplings, we find that the FCNC contribution to h3Zγ with top and charm quarks in the loop is of order 10−5  GeV. While in a model with new quarks that preserves the SM predictions on Higgs decays, the CP-violating form factor h3Zγ can be of order 10−1  GeV and could explain the excess on the signal strength μZγ.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Dynamic generation of superflow in a fermionic ring through phase imprinting
Authors: Chen Ke-Ji , Yi Wei , Wu Fan
Published: January 2025

We study the dynamic generation of persistent current by phase imprinting fermionic atoms in a ring geometry at zero temperature. Mediated by the pairing interaction, the Fermi condensate dynamically acquires a quantized current by developing azimuthal phase slips, as well as density and pairing-order-parameter depletions. Resorting to the Bogolioubov–de Gennes formalism, we investigate the time evolution of the transferred total angular momentum and the quantized superfluid current throughout the phase-imprinting process. This enables a detailed self-consistent analysis of the impact of interaction, as well as different initial pairing states, on the superflow formation, in contrast to previous theoretical analysis based on the Gross-Pitaevskii equation with artificially imposed phases. In particular, we show that, as the interaction strength increases, the azimuthal density distribution becomes less susceptible to the phase imprinting potential, leading to a smaller quantized current under the same imprinting parameters. Our results offer microscopic insights into the dynamic development of superflow in the phase-imprinting process, and are helpful for the ongoing experimental effort.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
The antecedents of online teaching anxiety among university lecturers in Thailand: a mixed-methods investigation
Authors: Aba Shaar Mohammed Yassin Mohd , Waluyo Budi , Rofiah Nur Lailatur , Singhasuwan Phanit , Tongumpa Kanyarat
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The study examined the antecedents of lecturers' online teaching anxiety and analyzed their relationships with variables such as gender, age, education, teaching experience and faculty.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a mixed-methods design, the study involved 115 university lecturers through surveys and 15 through semi-structured interviews, with data analyzed via mixed-methods approaches.

Findings

Personal matters and digital literacy caused the lowest anxiety, teaching methods and classroom management triggered moderate anxiety, and teaching context and health factors provoked the highest. Female lecturers experienced greater health-related anxiety due to prolonged screen time. Education lecturers reported lower anxiety than science lecturers, whose laboratory-based content was harder to adapt to online teaching.

Originality/value

Lecturers' online teaching anxiety stemmed from six factors: digital literacy, teaching context, teaching methods, class management, health and personal matters. Institutional and social support have been identified as crucial for improving well-being and reducing anxiety.
From tactical to strategic sustainability communication: a qualitative study on corporations in Türkiye
Authors: Aksoy Zeynep , Misci Kip Sema
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to examine the extent to which companies internalize, adopt and communicate the issue of sustainability. With this aim, research questions address companies’ approaches to sustainable development goals (SDGs), the extent to which the concept of sustainability is reflected in the goals, vision, mission and values of the organizations and the interrelationship between corporate identities, SDGs, sustainability projects and communication activities of the companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis is employed on the sustainability reports, websites, social media accounts, media releases and news of the corporations listed in BIST Sustainability Index (2020) in Türkiye. The typology of sustainability communication processes (Newig et al., 2013) is utilized for data analysis to reveal an overall picture of the companies’ approach to sustainability communication.

Findings

Research findings demonstrated that only 11 companies internalize, adopt and communicate the issue of sustainability. A total of 32 companies make no mention of sustainability in their vision, mission, purpose or values. It is observed that few companies establish their entire communication on sustainability strategy. Although some of the companies’ purpose of existence is sustainability, and they manage valuable projects, their approach to communication is still tactical. The study reveals that most of the companies take a tactical approach to sustainability and fewer adopt strategic actions and communications.

Originality/value

In Türkiye, research on sustainability involves either optimistic evaluations of governmental organizations or limited case studies on specific SDGs, particular sectors or social media analyses. This research exposes the holistic picture of sustainability and communication among the companies listed in the BIST Sustainability Index. The results of the holistic approach suggest that organizations should improve their communication about sustainability and communication for sustainability to activate their publics.
A TVD WAF scheme based on an accurate Riemann solver to simulate compressible two-phase flows
Authors: Zeidan Dia , Qadi El Idrissi Abdelmjid
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to propose a robust total variation diminishing (TVD) weighted average flux (WAF) finite volume scheme for investigating compressible gas–liquid mixture flows.

Design/methodology/approach

This study considers a two-phase flow composed of a liquid containing dispersed gas bubbles. To model this two-phase mixture, this paper uses a homogeneous equilibrium model (HEM) defined by two mass conservation laws for the two phases and a momentum conservation equation for the mixture. It is assumed that the velocity is the same for the two phases, and the density of phases is governed by barotropic laws. By applying the theory of hyperbolic equations, this study establishes an exact solution of the Riemann problem associated with the model equations, which allows to construct an exact Riemann solver within the first-order upwind Godunov scheme as well as a robust TVD WAF scheme.

Findings

The ability and robustness of the proposed TVD WAF scheme is validated by testing several two-phase flow problems involving different wave structures of the Riemann problem. Simulation results are compared against analytical solutions and other available numerical methods as well as experimental data in the literature. The proposed approach is much superior to other strategies in terms of the accuracy and ability of reconstruction.

Originality/value

The novelty of this work lies in its methodical extension of a TVD WAF scheme implementing an exact Riemann solver developed for compressible two-phase flows. Furthermore, other novelty lies on the quantitative calculation of different Riemann problem two-phase flows. Simulation results involve the verification of the constructed methods on the exact solutions of HEM without any restriction of variables.
“Exploring barriers towards green personal care products purchase: an integrated ISM-MICMAC approach”
Authors: Luthra Chhavi , Deshwal Pankaj , Kushwah Shiksha , Gokarn Samir
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The demand for green personal care products (GPPs) has been growing globally due to increasing health-care concerns. However, the purchase rate of these products among consumers remains low. This study aims to identify and model the key barriers to the purchase of GPPs.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, the study used innovation resistance theory (IRT) as a framework to identify key barriers to the purchasing of GPPs. The barriers were identified through a systematic literature review and validated by industry and academia experts. Furthermore, using interpretive structural modelling and Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée a un Classement, the study identifies the interrelationships among the barriers and categorizes them based on their driving and dependence power.

Findings

The findings reveal that limited availability, improper labelling standard and certification, poor performance of products and lack of government regulations are key barriers to the purchase of GPPs.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to the existing literature on green purchase behaviour. Furthermore, it informs marketing strategies to overcome the identified barriers and increase the purchase of GPPs.

Originality/value

This study is the foremost empirical study that identifies and analyses the industry specific barriers to GPPs based on experts’ input and under the purview of IRT.
Probabilistic modeling of uncertainties in reliability analysis of mid- and high-strength steel pipelines under hydrogen-induced damage
Authors: Yang Shiyuan , Meng Debiao , Díaz Andrés , Yang Hengfei , Su Xiaoyan , Jesus Abilio M.P. de
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Transporting hydrogen through natural gas pipelines in blended compositions has been proven to be a highly feasible solution in the short term. However, under hydrogen-rich environments, steel structures are prone to hydrogen-induced damage (HID). Additionally, uncertainties in various parameters can significantly impact the performance evaluation of hydrogen pipelines. Efficient reliability and sensitivity analyses of medium- to high-strength steel pipelines considering HID have become a challenge. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This study first establishes reliability analysis models for medium- to high-strength steels, represented by X65 and X80. In these models, the effect of HID is expressed by reduced stress, and its statistical parameters are calculated. Then, a highly efficient enhanced first order reliability method (FORM) is proposed for pipeline reliability analysis. This method overcomes the oscillation and convergence issues of traditional FORM when dealing with certain problems and can compute negative reliability indices. The proposed reliability analysis method is applied to solve the constructed reliability models. Finally, a reliability sensitivity analysis is conducted on the models to identify the key variables affecting the reliability of medium- to high-strength steel pipelines under HID.

Findings

First, two reliability analysis examples are used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed enhanced FORM. Then, using this method to solve the constructed reliability models for X65 and X80 steel pipelines under HID reveals that, for both types of steel, the reliability indices decrease significantly when considering HID compared to cases without HID. The decline is more pronounced for X80 steel than for X65 steel. As internal pressure increases, the reliability of both steels drops sharply, showing a concave parabolic trend. Moreover, the reliability sensitivity analysis shows that at a pressure of 10 MPa, for both X80 and X65, internal pressure, pipeline wall thickness and model error are the top three factors influencing reliability. As internal pressure increases, its influence becomes stronger, while the impact of other variables diminishes. Notably, for X80 steel, the presence of hydrogen amplifies the effect of internal pressure on pipeline reliability compared to when HID is not considered, but for X65, this trend is reversed.

Originality/value

Given the urgent need for safety evaluation studies on hydrogen transport through natural gas pipelines, this research provides new insights by constructing reliability models for X65 and X80 pipeline steels under HID and introducing an enhanced FORM method. The results of the reliability and sensitivity analyses of the models offer valuable insights and serve as a reference for engineering design.
Aligning corporate social responsibility with artificial intelligence in healthcare in the context of the post-COVID-19 recovery: a viewpoint
Authors: Gagliardi Anna Roberta , Tomaselli Gianpaolo
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study explores how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and artificial intelligence (AI) can be combined in the healthcare industry during the post-COVID-19 recovery phase. The aim is to showcase how this fusion can help tackle healthcare inequalities, enhance accessibility and support long-term sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a viewpoint approach, the study leverages existing literature and case studies to analyze the intersection of CSR and AI. It investigates AI’s capabilities in predictive analytics, telemedicine and resource management within the framework of CSR principles.

Findings

Integrating AI and CSR can profoundly enhance healthcare delivery by ensuring equitable access, optimizing resource allocation and fostering trust through transparency and ethical standards. This synergy benefits public health and enhances the corporate image and long-term viability of healthcare organizations.

Research limitations/implications

The study is conceptual and relies on existing literature and case studies. Future research should empirically test the proposed models and frameworks in diverse healthcare settings to validate and refine these insights.

Practical implications

The insights from this study can be directly applied by healthcare organizations to develop policies and practices that integrate AI and CSR. This integration can promote ethical standards, enhance operational efficiency and, most importantly, improve patient outcomes.

Social implications

Integrating AI and CSR in the healthcare sector carries consequences. It plays a role in promoting fairness among patients, bridging gaps in healthcare services, and boosting trust and independence through the clear and responsible use of AI technologies. This highlights the groundbreaking impact of this research within the healthcare industry.

Originality/value

This paper offers a viewpoint perspective on the strategic alignment of AI and CSR, presenting a novel approach to creating resilient healthcare systems in the post-COVID-19 era. It provides healthcare managers and policymakers with valuable insights on leveraging AI within CSR frameworks to achieve sustainable healthcare solutions, thereby contributing significantly to the field.
The impact of product evaluation on appreciative engagement in social free sampling: a persuasion knowledge model perspective
Authors: Liao Junyun , Ye Yaohua , Li Fengyan , He Kai
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Social free sampling (SFS) campaigns are an increasingly popular marketing practice in which firms provide trial users with free sampling products and collect posted trial reports from trial users on social commerce sites to attract prospective consumers. This paper aims to examine how trial users’ product evaluation in SFS influence appreciative reader engagement by utilizing the persuasion knowledge model (PKM).

Design/methodology/approach

To test our theoretical framework, 3,427 trial reports were collected from an SFS site and analyzed using Poisson regression models.

Findings

SFS evaluation is negatively associated with readers’ appreciative engagement. We also found that higher emotional intensity in SFS reports or higher reputation of the trial user mitigates the negative effect of the product evaluation. However, when the trial report with stronger emotional intensity is written by a trial user with a high reputation, the negative impact of the SFS evaluation on appreciative engagement becomes more pronounced.

Research limitations/implications

Although extant research has acknowledged product rating bias in product trial reports, limited empirical studies have examined the impact of product ratings on reader engagement. This empirical study bridges the voids of product rating bias in the social free sampling literature and provides important managerial implications for the emerging social free sampling.

Practical implications

Brands should be careful of the negative effect of high product rating and this negative effect can be mitigated by inviting users of high reputation.

Originality/value

This study is among the first ones that examine the effect of SFS product evaluation on appreciative engagement and provide a nuanced understanding of how product evaluation, user reputation and emotion intensity jointly shape reader engagement.
Risk spillover across Chinese industries: novel evidence from multilayer connectedness networks
Authors: Jin Xiu , Yu Jinming , Liu Yueli , Chen Na
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Previous research has predominantly concentrated on examining risk spillovers through single-layer networks, neglecting the multi-related and multilayer network characteristics of the economic system. This study constructs multilayer connectedness networks, including return, volatility and extreme risk layers, to systematically analyze the risk spillovers across Chinese industries at the system and industry levels.

Design/methodology/approach

Previous studies have constructed multilayer networks using Diebold and Yilmaz’s (2012) approach or the time-varying parameter vector autoregressive (TVP-VAR) connectedness model. In this study, we employ the TVP-VAR-extended joint connectedness approach, which improves these methods and captures risk spillovers more accurately.

Findings

At the system level, the risk spillover across industries exhibits distinct network structures and dynamic evolution behaviors across different layers. During extreme events, the intensity, scope and speed of risk spillovers increase markedly across all layers, with volatility and extreme risk layers demonstrating greater sensitivity to crises. At the industry level, industrial and optional consumption typically serve as risk transmitters, while medicine and health, as well as financial real estate, tend to be risk receivers across three layers. Moreover, industrial, optional consumption and materials exhibit significant systemic importance.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to apply multilayer networks with return, volatility and extreme risk layers to systematically examine risk spillovers between Chinese industries.
How supervisor thriving at work affect subordinates’ well-being and behavior: integrating job demands-resources and crossover theory
Authors: Guan Xiaoyu , Frenkel Stephen J. , Yu Haibo
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Drawing on crossover research and job demands-resources (JD-R) theory, this study aims to explore the transfer process on thriving at work between supervisors and subordinates and consequences for subordinate behaviors and well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of questionnaire surveys were conducted to collect data in three time-lags and multiple sources; The final sample comprised 62 supervisors matched with 315 subordinates. A multilevel path model was specified to test the hypothesized structural relationships in our model using Mplus.

Findings

This study finds that supervisor thriving at work leads to role overload among subordinates, which in turn results in subordinate burnout and supervisor-directed deviance behavior. In addition, arising from role overload, supervisor thriving at work diminishes subordinate thriving at work.

Practical implications

Since supervisor thriving at work may have negative consequences for subordinates, organizations should monitor and evaluate the impact of leadership on team dynamics regularly to address any negative effects that may arise from thriving leadership.

Originality/value

Overall, our study shows how supervisor thriving at work exerts a negative rather than positive effect on subordinates with adverse consequences for supervisors and the organization. This dark side of workplace thriving serves as a foundation for future work.
Top executives’ military experience and the firm internationalisation process: the moderating role of managerial discretion
Authors: Ding Zhenkuo , Chen Zhipeng , Huang Sheng
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of top executives’ military experience on the internationalisation process of firms, as well as the boundary conditions of this impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested using 8,759 imbalanced panel samples in 1,718 China’s A-share listed firms.

Findings

The findings show that the military experience of top executives has a positive impact on the internationalisation process (scope, speed and rhythm) of firms. The managerial discretion strengthens the influence of top executives’ military experience on the internationalisation scope and speed but weakens its influence on the internationalisation rhythm.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature by testing the relationships that among military experience of top executives, firm internationalisation process and managerial discretion. The authors also help practitioners to become aware of the importance that the military experience of top executives have on firm internationalisation process, and managerial discretion can exert contingent influence on this relationship.
Risk factors in Vietnamese financial stock returns
Authors: Quy Duong Le
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The exclusion of financial stocks in well-known asset pricing models is problematic because they play an essential role not only in capital markets but also in the entire economy. This study aims to present evidence on risk factors affecting the expected returns of financial stocks in the context of a frontier emerging market such as Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on data of 81 Vietnamese financial firms from 2011 to 2023, the authors perform the CAPM, three-factor, five-factor, and six-factor models of Fama and French (1993, 2015, 2018). Because provision could be an essential implication of default risk level, the authors build the provision factor by creating a zero-investment strategy that is long on financial stocks with low provision rates and short on high provision rate stocks. The effectiveness of asset pricing models is evaluated using regression analysis, the GRS test of Gibbons et al. (1989), the redundancy test of Fama and French (2018) and the cross-sectional test of Fama and MacBeth (1973).

Findings

Although size and value risk premiums are prevalent in Vietnamese financial stocks, other firm-specific factors such as profitability, investment and momentum are not priced in financial stock returns. Empirical results document that provision is a relevant risk factor to financial stock returns. The three-factor model of Fama and French (1993) augmented with provision and turnover factors outperforms other models in explaining financial stock returns. Robustness tests lend further credibility to the findings.

Originality/value

This paper makes three key contributions. First, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine risk factors that are priced in Vietnamese financial stocks. Second, the authors highlight the relevance of provision in financial stock pricing. Finally, it is not only an out-of-sample test for the prominent Fama-French asset pricing models but also contributes to investment strategies in Vietnamese financial stocks.
Government policy as a learning journey: developmental history of the Brazilian “Diesel Crisis”
Authors: Altman Ferreira Paulo Sergio , Reis João Pedro
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how conflicting factors create tensions that hinder the development of effective policies. It specifically focuses on the broken connections between government policies and social-economic sectors. The study intends to explain how differing and often opposing interests in creating government policy influence the learning process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a research methodology that combines developmental work research as a framework with historical case studies for collecting data. The process starts by identifying a problem and challenges related to the Brazilian “Diesel Crisis”. Following this, an analysis of the activity system was undertaken to uncover contradictions and tensions related to policy development.

Findings

The key results of the study focus on the learning process of public policy by (1) spotting gaps between government policies and socio-economic areas, (2) finding potential sources for a learning path and shared growth, (3) identifying various conflicting interests in the development of government policy, (4) creating learning possibilities in a complex and diverse environment and (5) offering solutions for resolving conflicting relationships in government policy development.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of recognizing the complicated social setting where public policy learning takes place, emphasizing the duality of collaboration and conflicting interests among different government bodies, policymakers and community members as they use tools and rules to reach their objectives.
Using gene expression programming to investigate the effect of infill sandwich panels on the response modification factor of moment-resisting reinforced concrete frames
Authors: Azhdari Niloufar , Hashemi Seyed Shaker , Ezzi Saber , Sadeghi Kabir , Fazeli Abdoreza
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Ongoing research indicates that structures with infill panels manifest distinct seismic responses, necessitating further investigation. This study aims to introduce a novel methodology for determining the response modification factor (RMF) of reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frames and investigate the impact of infill sandwich panels on these structures.

Design/methodology/approach

Using SAP2000 software, 84 RC frames were meticulously designed and analyzed, followed by the development of a predictive model using genetic programming and GeneXpro Tools software to calculate the RMF values. The results underscore the efficacy of gene expression programming (GEP) in determining the RMF of RC moment-resisting frames.

Findings

The study’s results reveal that the variations in the yield stress of longitudinal reinforcements within the range of 340 to 400 MPa and changes in the design base acceleration have a minimal impact on the RMF value. For RC moment-resisting frames with infill sandwich panels, the RMF value decreases as the span length to storey height ratio (L/H) increases, while it increases with a higher number of storeys. Conversely, for RC frames without infill sandwich panels, the RMF decreases with an increase in the number of storeys. However, no consistent pattern emerges for the RMF with changes in the L/H ratio, highlighting the nonuniform effect of altering this ratio on RMF.

Originality/value

The proposed formula in this study is very effective in predicting the RMF and can assist engineers in the seismic design of RC structures.
Subordinate tree species diversity explains carbon stock better than dominant tree diversity after decades of forest rewilding
Authors: Zhai Kaiyan , Yin Pan , Revillini Daniel , Chen Xinli , Liu Shengen , Lou Yilai , Zhang Weidong , Wang Silong , Zhou Guiyao , Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel
Published: January 2025

Forest rewilding is expected to help support nature restoration and mitigate climate change by promoting soil carbon (C) stocks. Increases in biodiversity after decades of rewilding may affect forest soil C stocks; however, the relative contribution of subordinate and dominant tree species diversity to soil C stocks after decades of forest rewilding remains poorly understood.

Here, we conducted a standardized field survey to investigate how subordinate (i.e. rarer) and dominant (i.e. more common) tree species diversity (determined based on basal area) correlate with multiple aspects of soil C stocks (i.e. total soil C stock, dissolved organic C, microbial residue C, and microbial respiration) after 31 years of the establishment of a forest plantation in a subtropical ecosystem.

We found that both subordinate and dominant tree species diversity were positively correlated with soil C stock, dissolved organic C, microbial residue C, and microbial respiration. Meanwhile, tree functional traits (e.g. the proportion of N‐fixing taxa) among subordinate species were positively correlated with bacterial residue C. Strikingly, subordinate tree species diversity explained a larger portion of variation in soil C stock compared with the diversity of dominant tree species. Structural equation model (SEM) further suggested that subordinate plant biodiversity influenced soil C stocks via its influence on plant traits.

Synthesis and applications. Our work provides new insights on the crucial role of subordinate tree species diversity in supporting C stocks after decades‐long rewilding of a subtropical forest. Therefore, the preservation of the rarer subordinate plant species is fundamental to develop sustainable forest management strategies, and for policymakers to promote climate change mitigating ecosystem services.
Recovery of milk fat from waste ice cream through ethanol‐induced emulsion destabilisation
Authors: Lee Changhoon , Garcia Rafael A , Bumanlag Lorelie P , Liang Chen
Published: January 2025

The ice cream industry generates considerable waste due to stringent quality standards and food safety regulations, creating resource recovery opportunities. This study aimed to develop an efficient method for recovering high‐purity fat from ice cream wastes using ethanol‐induced emulsion destabilisation. Ice cream was treated with varying ethanol concentrations (0%–50% w/w in water) and incubated at different temperatures. Increased ethanol and temperature accelerated the separation of melted ice cream into phases (transparent liquid, continuous fat and opaque solid). Notably, 25% ethanol facilitated complete fat separation as a highly pure (>93%) phase, with the fat content exceeding 98% on a dry basis. Fat quality remained intact, as neither ethanol nor temperature affected fat hydrolysis or oxidation, based on peroxide value, free fatty acid levels and p‐anisidine results. The recovered fat represented about 50% of the original fat content in the ice cream, reducing waste and enhancing by‐product value.