bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brief Report: Trends in Hospital Readmissions Among Adults With and Without HIV in the United States, 2010–2020
Authors: Zhu Xianming , Patel Eshan U. , Berry Stephen A. , Grabowski Mary K. , Abraham Alison G. , Althoff Keri N. , Quinn Thomas C. , Gebo Kelly A. , Tobian Aaron A.R. 
Published: December 2024

Background:
Although 30-day hospital readmission is a widely followed quality measure, there are limited US nationwide data to evaluate its trends among people with HIV (PWH) and the sex disparity over time. We describe the 30-day all-cause unplanned readmission trends among PWH and people without HIV (PWoH) in the United States.

Setting:
Adult participants in the 2010–2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database, which weighted represents all US hospitalizations each year.

Methods:
We defined index admission and unplanned readmission using the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services criteria. Overall and sex-specific readmission risks were tabulated among the index admissions from adult PWH and PWoH each year in the 2010–2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Random effect linear and Poisson regressions were used to estimate risk difference and annual percentage change of the trend. We added a spline in 2015 and additionally stratified the analysis by age and patient's zip code median household income. All analyses were weighted to generate national estimates.

Results:
Approximately 140,000 index admissions from PWH and 25 million from PWoH were included each year. For PWoH between 2010 and 2020, annual readmission risk was stable at ∼12%. For PWH, readmission risk was stable at ∼22% during 2010–2015 and decreased from 22.0% in 2016 to 20.1% in 2020 (RD= −1.60 [95% CI: −2.24,−0.95]). Nonpregnant female PWH continued to have higher readmission risk than male PWH for all subgroups and all years. Nonpregnant female PWH <40 years had no reduction in readmission risk between 2016 and 2020 (RD= −0.45 [95% CI: −2.43, 1.53]).

Conclusions:
There remains strong need for readmission reduction interventions focusing on PWH, especially for young female PWH.
Metastatic Prostate Carcinoma to the Ankle Seen on Bone Scintigraphy and Extended Field-of-View PSMA PET/CT
Authors: Hod Nir , Shrem Noa Shani , Levin Daniel 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
We describe a rare case of metastatic prostate carcinoma to the heel. Bone scintigraphy revealed high uptake simulating fractures. Standard PSMA PET/CT was negative. As PSA elevated, extended field-of-view PET/CT revealed ankle uptake with virtually identical spatial distribution and intensity of both tracers. Histopathology confirmed ankle metastases of prostate carcinoma, which retrospectively was the inaugural manifestation of the metastatic skeletal disease. This case highlights the need to consider peripheral limb bone metastases in patients with biochemical recurrence. In case of focal symptoms or unexplained bone scan findings, the PSMA acquisition coverage should be extended to include the respective body part.
Superscan in First Posttherapeutic 177Lu-PSMA Scan
Authors: Calderon Tobar Merve Nida , Yilmaz Farise , Perktaş Lütfü 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This case highlights the effectiveness of 177Lu-PSMA therapy in a 70-year-old man with castration-resistant prostate cancer who has extensive skeletal metastases in posttherapeutic whole-body imaging. A 70-year-old man with extensive skeletal metastases underwent 4 cycles of 177 Lu-PSMA-617 therapy. A whole-body 177Lu-PSMA scan after the first cycle showed diffuse skeletal lesions, with minimal PSMA uptake in the kidneys and salivary glands. A whole-body scan after the fourth cycle of 177Lu-PSMA showed a complete response of skeletal metastases with normal PSMA uptake in the kidneys and salivary glands. According to RECİP 1.0, the patient was considered a complete response.
Exposure to neodymium blunts the hypoxic ventilatory response in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas)
Authors: Nykamp Natalie M. , McGeer James C. , Leonard Erin M. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIn hypoxia, the initial response in vertebrates is hyperventilation, known as the Hypoxic Ventilatory Response (HVR), which is a physiological reflex that allows fish to maintain adequate oxygen uptake. The severity of hypoxia in aquatic ecosystems is growing due to anthropogenic impacts. This is a concern with the recent evidence that metals can affect the ability of fishes to mount the HVR, potentially impacting survival. As Rare Earth Elements (REEs) increase in demand with the shift to a low-carbon economy, there is a critical need to understand their environmental consequences. Neodymium (Nd) is used in green technology and is one of the most critical REEs. Here, we investigate whether exposure to Nd will blunt the HVR in a toxicological model, the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). The fathead minnow will be exposed to hypoxia and Nd, and the ventilation rate will be observed and compared to controls to determine if there is a blunt in the HVR when the fish are exposed to both hypoxia and Nd. Nd caused a 31% decrease in the HVR and Nd accumulation in the gills was below the detection limit (LOD: 0.0681 µg/L). Toxicity testing with REEs during this time of economic growth is imperative for the protection of aquatic life in Canada.
Transformational leadership, ESG performance, corporate reputation and competitive advantage: a serial mediation model
Authors: Korankye Benard , Hao Yunhong , Borah Prasad Siba , Odai Leslie Afotey , Ahakwa Isaac 
Published: December 2024

PurposeGiven the competitiveness of the business environment globally, environmental, social and governance (ESG), which represents a sustainable development framework that integrates environmental, social and corporate governance factors, has become an increasingly recognized concept in emerging markets. In the case of Ghana, its implementation is influenced by several factors, including leadership.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the resource-based view theory, higher-order theory and stakeholder theory, we developed and evaluated a serial mediation model to explain how ESG performance and corporate reputation can connect transformational leadership to enhance competitive advantage. Utilizing the Process Macro model 6 in SPSS, data were collected from 340 senior managers/executives and middle-level managers from European multinational firms operating in Ghana.FindingsThe results indicate that transformational leadership positively affects ESG performance. Enhanced ESG performance, in turn, leads to improved corporate reputation, which subsequently results in a stronger competitive advantage.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to European multinational firms operating in Ghana, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to other contexts or regions.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that organizations aiming to strengthen their competitive advantage should prioritize transformational leadership practices that foster ESG initiatives, as these are critical drivers of corporate reputation and market positioning.Originality/valueThis study provides new insights into the interwovenness between ESG performance and leadership in enhancing corporate reputation and competitive advantage within the context of emerging markets.
Lean Six Sigma financial performance in China and the United States: an international comparative empirical study
Authors: Li Na 
Published: December 2024

PurposeDespite the global success of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) operations, they are frequently criticised for failing to improve a company’s financial performance. This study investigated and contrasted the financial advantages of LSS, Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and Lean Six Sigma 4.0 (LSS4.0) practices in China and the United States.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted statistical analyses using online databases. We applied regression analysis to quantitatively analyse 32,813 responding organisation data from 3,691 A-share manufacturing companies in China and 5,931 responding organisation data from 570 publicly traded manufacturing firms in the United States.FindingsThis study discovered the following findings: (1) American companies are paying less attention to LSS, which is gradually becoming more important in Chinese business strategy. (2) There is a strong positive relationship between LSS implementation and financial performance in China. Nonetheless, the financial impact of LSS is less significant in post-industrial countries such as the United States. (3) There is compelling evidence in the Chinese context for the significant impact of higher LSS maturity levels on the financial performance of publicly traded manufacturing firms. However, the financial benefits of higher LSS maturity levels in the United States are less pronounced. (4) Despite frequent discussions in China and the United States, implementing I4.0 and related technologies has yet to yield the desired results, particularly in the United States. (5) LSS4.0 significantly improves organisational financial performance.Originality/valueThis study explored the impact of LSS, I4.0 and LSS4.0 on financial performance and conducted an international comparative study from a big data perspective.
How HRM practices influence the organizational commitment of knowledge workers: the role of job crafting
Authors: Wojtczuk-Turek Agnieszka 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThe article aims to discuss relationships between human resource management (HRM) and organizational commitment (OC). Using the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study investigates the mediating role of job crafting in the relationship between HRM and organizational commitment.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on data from 450 knowledge workers representing companies of various sizes from the knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) sector in Poland. Respondents completed the questionnaires using the computer-assisted telephone interview. I conducted the statistical verification of the mediation analyses using SEM with Amos ver. 28.FindingsThe findings show that HRM practices are positively related to organizational commitment. Statistical analysis confirmed that job crafting mediates relationships between HRM practices and organizational commitment.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has two limitations, i.e. its cross-sectional design and the use of self-reported questionnaire data.Originality/valueThe study is the first to explore the mediating mechanism (through job crafting) between HRM and organizational commitment in the context of KIBS companies in Poland. According to the results, HRM is an important antecedent of job crafting and organizational commitment.
Implications for improving evacuation safety in primary school corridors: a video-based analysis on evacuees’ speed and density
Authors: Bahmani Homa , Ao Yibin , Yang Dujuan , Wang Dongpo , Li Mingyang , Long Yi , Peng Panyu 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThis study aims to enhance evacuation safety and efficiency measures in primary school corridors by considering the impact of adult guidance and evacuation graphical signs on evacuation speed and density by considering different visibility conditions and corridor design.Design/methodology/approachThe experiment setup involved ten carefully designed drills exploring the evacuation behavior of 6–7-year-old students in a primary school, varying factors such as adult guidance, smoke conditions and graphical evacuation signs. Kinovea software was employed for data extraction to transform video footage into frames, facilitating meticulous manual tallies of children’s movements in designated sub-areas during the drills. The research utilized statistical tests, a generalized linear model and curve-fitting techniques to analyze the extracted data.FindingsThe findings highlight the vital role of adult guidance in expediting evacuations, emphasizing the importance of trained personnel during emergencies. Additionally, graphical evacuation signs were identified as powerful tools for enhancing evacuation speed during low visibility, as they provide clear visual cues to guide evacuees effectively. Signage and adult guidance are beneficial when the classrooms’ gates opening to the passage are far from each other. In contrast, in areas with close and multiple exits, guidance strategies, especially those involving adults, are more effective in reducing population density during evacuations.Originality/valueThese findings have practical implications for improving emergency preparedness, guiding the design of primary school corridors and informing evacuation protocols. School administrators, architects and emergency planners can utilize these findings to inform the development of safety protocols, enhance evacuation guidance strategies and improve the design of primary school corridors. Further research can expand on these findings by exploring their applicability in diverse educational settings and evaluating the real-world implementation of evacuation measures.
How does anthropomorphism promote consumer responses to social chatbots: mind perception perspective
Authors: Li Baoku , Yao Ruoxi , Nan Yafeng 
Published: December 2024

PurposeBenefiting from the development and innovation of artificial intelligence and affective computing technology, social chatbots that integrate cognitive analysis and affective social services have flooded into the consumer market. For cognition and emotion-oriented tasks, social chatbots do not always receive positive consumer responses. In addition, consumers have a contradictory attitude toward the anthropomorphism of chatbots. Therefore, from the perspective of mind perception and the two dimensions of social judgment, this research explores the mechanism of consumer responses to anthropomorphic interaction styles when social chatbots complete different service tasks.Design/methodology/approachThis paper utilizes three behavior experimental designs and survey methods to collect data and the ANOVA, t-test and bootstrap analysis methods to verify the assumed hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that when the service task type of a social chatbot is cognition-oriented, compared to a warm anthropomorphic interaction style, a competent anthropomorphic interaction style can improve consumer responses more effectively. During this process, agent-mind perception plays a mediating role. When the service task type of a social chatbot is emotion-oriented, compared with a competent anthropomorphic conversation style, a warm anthropomorphic conversation style can improve consumer responses. Experience-mind perception mediates this influencing relationship.Originality/valueThe research results theoretically enrich the relevant research on the anthropomorphism of social chatbots and expand the application of the theory of mind perception in the fields of artificial intelligence and interactive marketing. Our findings provide theoretical guidance for the anthropomorphic development and design of social chatbots and the practical management of service task scenarios.
The welfare impact of financial inclusion: does the source of financing matter? A GMM and channel analysis
Authors: Agyekum Francis , Reddy Krishna , Shen Yun , Wallace Damien 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThis study investigates how finance contributes to socioeconomic development through an inclusive financial system and the impact of financial inclusion programs pursued by non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, we leverage a rich, nationally representative household survey (ICPSR, 2014) from 17 Ghanaian MFIs (1,629 households), sponsored by the World Bank, to analyze microfinance impacts using a generalized method of moment (GMM) and channel analysis.FindingsOur findings reveal a statistically significant positive impact of donor-funded financial inclusion projects on targeted households’ welfare, regardless of implementing agency (donor, government or microfinance institution). The channel analysis further suggests that credit unions and savings and loan (S&L) institutions may be particularly effective conduits for delivering these welfare gains through financial inclusion programs. These findings hold valuable insights for funders seeking to maximize the welfare impact of such interventions: credit unions and S&Ls may be preferential channels for delivering financial inclusion programs aimed at improving household well-being.Research limitations/implicationsThe poverty-reducing impact of informal non-bank financial intermediaries like credit unions and susu groups highlights the need for policies that integrate these institutions into the formal financial system. Therefore, donor-funded initiatives should not rely solely on local government implementation. Since the focus of this study is on Ghana, we caution readers to exercise caution when generalizing the findings to other jurisdictions.Practical implicationsThe World Bank/IMF-backed financial sector reform in Ghana has many important implications for financial inclusion and welfare impacts which are rare in other jurisdictions. Our finding has policy implications for agencies that wish to translate financial inclusion into significant economic inclusion, especially in middle- and low-income countries (LICs) where the COVID-19 pandemic and the global impact of the recent war in Ukraine could exacerbate the exclusion gap.Originality/valueThe focus of this study is to understand if MFIs, funded by different sources, can contribute to inclusive growth and welfare. This research employs channel analysis, considering that donor and government programs are often channeled through community-based NBFIs and offer key contributions to the existing body of knowledge on financial inclusion and household welfare. This study extends the current literature by providing a deeper understanding of the role of each NBFI type in deepening financial inclusion and improving household welfare and allows policymakers, donors and governments to target inclusion efforts for maximum impact.
Innovating with impact: CEO attributes and their influence on firm innovation in Australia
Authors: Shen Yun , Wallace Damien , Ramiah Vikash , Reddy Krishna 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThis study examines the influence of CEO characteristics on firm innovation within the Australian market, using R&D expenditure as a proxy for innovation. The aim is to analyze how factors such as CEO gender, educational background and dual roles (CEO-chairman) impact firms' R&D investment across various industries.Design/methodology/approachPanel and Tobit regression models are employed to assess the relationship between CEO characteristics and R&D expenditure. The study controls for endogeneity and applies firm-level control variables to ensure robustness, examining CEO traits like gender, educational qualifications and CEO-chairman duality.FindingsThe study reveals that CEO gender and educational level significantly impact firm innovation, particularly R&D expenditure, compared to other characteristics like CEO-chairman duality. Female CEOs and those with PhD degrees are associated with higher R&D spending, with variations across industries such as basic materials and healthcare.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited by its focus on Australian firms and the time span of 2006–2016. Additionally, mixed results for CEO-chairman duality and CEO location may reduce the generalizability of the findings across all industries on the ASX.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the importance of gender diversity and CEO education in driving firm innovation. Companies aiming to enhance competitiveness and performance through R&D activities, especially in industry-specific contexts, should consider these CEO characteristics.Originality/valueThis study provides novel insights by analyzing the impact of CEO characteristics, such as gender and education level, on firm innovation in the underexplored Australian market. By using R&D expenditure as a proxy for innovation and employing both panel and Tobit regression models, it highlights the significance of CEO traits, particularly in specific industries. The findings emphasize the stronger influence of CEO gender and educational level compared to CEO-chairman duality and location, offering valuable implications for gender diversity and industry-specific innovation strategies in enhancing firm competitiveness.
Ownership structure and market competition in the Gulf cooperation council
Authors: AbdulBasith AbdulQuddoos , Al-Fayoumi Nedal 
Published: December 2024

Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of sector market competition on the ownership structure of publicly listed firms in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors employed the system-Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model for panel data, utilizing over 93,000 data points from 6,215 firm-years across six GCC countries from 2010 to 2020.

Findings
The results reveal a statistically significant negative relationship between total block holders and institutional ownership for both Herfindahl–Hirschman and Tobin’s-Q competition proxies. This finding suggests that companies operating in monopolistic or oligarchic sectors are likely to attract block holder investors. Moreover, various firm- and country-level factors, including return on assets, growth, size, gross domestic product and political crisis, also exhibit significant relationships with specific ownership variables.

Practical implications
Investigating the influence of competition on block holders’ ownership in the GCC region may provide new insights into the role of competitive markets in fostering economic development, promoting investor protection and shareholder rights, enhancing market efficiency and competitiveness and implementing effective reform policies and strategies.

Originality/value
Despite the significant contribution of GCC countries to global oil commodities, limited market competition research has been conducted in these markets. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the impact of various firm-, industry-, and country-level factors on firm ownership structure in the GCC region, focusing on the influence of market competition.
Influence tactics and marketing channel relationship management
Authors: Dang-Van Thac , Nguyen Ninh , Pervan Simon , Nguyen Hoang Viet , Saleem Muhammad Abid 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThis study investigates how rational, coercive and emotional influence tactics affect key factors in managing relationships between marketing channel members, i.e. knowledge transfer, relational capital and channel conflict management.Design/methodology/approachA three-way time-lagged sample data were obtained from purchase managers of 559 firms across industries in Vietnam. Structural equation modeling was adopted to analyze the data and test hypotheses in the research model.FindingsThe results indicate that rational tactics positively affect knowledge transfer, relational capital and channel conflict management. However, coercive tactics have a contrasting effect and emotional tactics have a mixed impact on these three factors. Moreover, knowledge transfer and relational capital mediate the link between influence tactics and channel conflict management.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the extant literature by clarifying the mechanism through which different types of influence tactics affect the key factors in marketing channel relationship management. The findings highlight various tactics managers can use to foster knowledge transfer, relational capital and channel conflict management.