bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethical financial management: code of ethics quality and the cost of debt
Authors: Petruzzella Felice , Giakoumelou Anastasia , Raimo Nicola , Marrone Arcangelo , Vitolla Filippo 
Published: February 2025

PurposeThe growing focus on corporate ethics, driven by a series of high-profile corporate scandals, has highlighted the necessity for companies to adopt high-quality ethical codes, thereby drawing significant attention from academic literature. Under the lens of agency theory, this study aims to investigate the impact of the quality of ethical codes on the cost of debt.Design/methodology/approachA scoring model was used to assess the quality of ethical codes across 110 listed firms within the S&P 500 index. Subsequently, a linear regression model was employed to examine the influence of ethical code quality on the cost of debt.FindingsThe findings reveal a negative relationship between the quality of ethical codes and the cost of debt. This suggests that companies demonstrating a stronger ethical commitment, as evidenced by the adoption of high-quality ethical codes, gain financial benefits through more favorable financing conditions.Practical implicationsThis study offers valuable practical implications for firms. By demonstrating the negative relationship between high-quality ethical codes and the cost of debt, it provides firms with a compelling incentive to develop such codes. In this regard, this study emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the conscientious and effective implementation of ethical codes over their mere formal adoption.Originality/valueThis study makes significant contributions to the academic literature. Firstly, it enhances knowledge regarding ethical code quality by conducting an in-depth analysis of a diverse sample of leading US-listed companies. Secondly, it highlights the financial advantages associated with the development of high-quality ethical codes. Thirdly, it broadens the application of agency theory to explain the complex relationship between ethical code quality and the cost of debt.
Projects benefit realisation through sustainable innovation: drivers and challenges
Authors: Paravano Alessandro , Locatelli Giorgio , Trucco Paolo 
Published: February 2025

PurposeProjects are increasingly becoming the key means of benefits realisation through sustainable innovation. Yet, the literature has predominantly focused on the “sustainability of projects”, emphasising traditional project short-term success metrics like time, cost and quality. This narrow perspective falls short of explaining how organisations should leverage sustainable innovation to generate broader project benefits. Our research addresses this gap by taking the recent “sustainability by project” conceptualisation. We answer the questions: (RQ1) “How do projects realise benefits through sustainable innovation?” and (RQ2) What are the drivers and challenges for organisations developing these projects?”Design/methodology/approachThe empirical context is the European Space Economy. We performed a single case study regarding the European Space Agency Business application program, which aims to foster sustainable innovation to realise the benefits to society. Following a grounded theory approach, we conducted and analysed 44 interviews with managers and triangulated them with secondary data.FindingsWe build a theoretical framework explaining how projects realise benefits through sustainable innovation. We found that the drivers for benefits realisation are (1) envisioning a common sustainable future and (2) opening to the project ecology. Challenges are (1) struggling to take off sustainable innovation and (2) having a short-sighted view of the future. We also identified the practices and conditions managers consider antecedents of the drivers and challenges.Practical implicationsManagers may implement the identified practices to activate key drivers and navigate challenges in achieving project benefits through sustainable innovation. Policymakers could utilise these insights to shape policies that foster a project ecology conducive to sustainable innovation and long-term benefit realisation.Originality/valueOur paper contributes to reconciling sustainable innovation and project benefit realisation. We offer a new empirical-grounded perspective to pivot from the “sustainability of projects” toward the “sustainability by projects”, showing the drivers and challenges for project benefits realisation.
Streamers and viewers in live-streaming e-commerce: a social learning perspective
Authors: Hao Shuaikang , Chen Hao 
Published: February 2025

PurposeThe prevalence of live-streaming e-commerce leads to massive impulse purchases. Based on social learning theory, this study proposes a research model to explore the effect of streamers and viewers on impulsive buying by influencing consumers’ certainty perception.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a questionnaire (N = 285) to collect data and conducts a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis to examine our research hypotheses.FindingsOur results indicate that streamers and viewers improve product demand certainty and product quality certainty, but their effects on streamer quality certainty vary. In addition, product quality certainty is positively associated with impulsive buying, whereas streamer quality certainty and product demand certainty show a negative effect. Streamers can only drive impulse purchases by increasing product quality certainty, but the influence of viewers on consumers’ impulsive buying is fully mediated by product quality certainty and streamer quality certainty.Originality/valueOur findings contribute to the literature on live-streaming e-commerce (LSE) by identifying the differential effects of streamers and viewers on impulsive buying. In addition, we broaden the area of certainty research in the LSE field to include product quality certainty, streamer quality certainty and product demand certainty and evaluate these certainty aspects as three psychological mechanisms that drive consumers’ impulse purchases.
Females’ perception on the safety levels of urban alleys in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
Authors: Xu Tengyun , Aziz Faziawati Abdul , Ujang Norsidah , Shahidan Mohd Fairuz , Hasna Mohd Fabian , Safar Mohamed , Aiblu Aymen 
Published: February 2025

PurposeThis study aims to understand females’ perception on the safety level of urban alleys in Bukit Bintang area, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and thus identify the common safety features present in the alleys.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a quantitative approach, based on the descriptive analysis of the safety data, the mean and median were calculated to identify the alleys with higher safety levels and to extract their common features.FindingsThese alleys had certain safety features in common, such as open views, high walls or buildings on both sides, a sense of community or business presence, adequate lighting, human and vehicle presence, safety facilities, cleanliness and moderate greenery.Originality/valueThe study identified these features as key contributors to improved safety levels, which in turn enhance the perception of safety among female users. The findings might assist policymakers or urban planners in managing and building urban alleys in a more effective and safe manner.
Improving Resolution of Near Surface Structure Imaging Based on Elastic Full Waveform Inversion
Authors: Wang Yihao , Xue Zhiwen , Bradford John , Gase Andrew 
Published: February 2025

AbstractEstimating structure of pyroclastic deposits plays an important role in the interpretation of volcanic geology and evaluation of potential hazard. We aim to invert near surface seismic data to produce high‐resolution images of pyroclastic density current deposits resulting from the 18 May 1980 volcanic eruption at Mount St. Helens, Washington, USA. Elastic full waveform inversion is a popular data fitting method used to estimate seismic properties of the earth. Due to the great challenges in the convergence of elastic full waveform inversion when inverting high‐frequency and complex near‐surface land seismic data, we develop a specific workflow to improve the resolution of velocity models that progress from traveltime inversion and surface wave inversion to full elastic full waveform inversion. The final inverted models include fine‐scale feature structures that compare favourably to an adjacent outcrop. The final data fitting shows significant improvement with normalized waveform misfit decreasing from 1 to 0.4.
Effect of Comprehensive Individualised Interventions on the Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Single‐Centre Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhao Qi , Fan Xiangxiu , Ma Shujuan , Lin Ge , Gong Fei 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of comprehensive individualised interventions on the clinical outcomes of patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF), as few studies have evaluated their effectiveness.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingTertiary hospital, from June 2016 to December 2022.PopulationOverall, 1546 patients with RIF underwent endometrial biopsy during implantation.MethodsThe comprehensive individualised interventions were conducted on the basis of the endometrial histological dating, endometrial CD138 count, endometrial immune‐cell proportion and endometrial microbiota testing.Main Outcome MeasuresCumulative ongoing pregnancy rate (cOPR).ResultsThe median number of failed transfer cycles was 3 (range, 2–12), and the cOPR was 58.0%. The rates of window of implantation (WOI) displacement, CD138 positivity, imbalanced endometrial immune‐cell proportion, endometrial microbiota testing, multiple factors and unexplained RIF were 34.0%, 9.3%, 7.5%, 4.1%, 32.4% and 12.7%, respectively. The cOPRs of the individualised frozen embryo transfers in patients having RIF with WOI displacement, WOI CD138 positivity, imbalanced endometrial immune‐cell proportion, endometrial microbiota testing, multiple factors and unexplained RIF were 64.1%, 57.6%, 55.1%, 38%, 64.2% and 34.5%, respectively. After adjusting for basic characteristics through logistic regression analysis, the cOPRs of the WOI displacement group, WOI CD138 positive group and immune‐cell proportion imbalanced group remained higher than that of the unexplained RIF group. However, the cOPR was comparable between the endometrial microbiota testing and unexplained RIF groups.ConclusionComprehensive individualised interventions may improve clinical outcomes for patients with RIF, warranting further investigation.
Association of Zona Pellucida Gene Variants With Female Infertility: A Retrospective Genetic Analysis
Authors: Sa Sha‐wei , Wang Li‐li , Ma Qian‐hong 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTObjectiveWe investigated the clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of patients with zona pellucida (ZP) gene variants undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment, to identify variants associated with female infertility.DesignRetrospective study.SettingUniversity‐based reproductive medicine centre.PopulationTwelve patients in whom only empty follicles or degenerated oocytes were retrieved after controlled ovulation stimulation and for whom no successful pregnancies were achieved after ART treatment.MethodsNext‐generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing were performed on DNA obtained from peripheral blood of the patients. The VCF files generated by the Genome Analysis Toolkit were functionally annotated using SnpEff with reference to the refSeq, gnomAD, dbSNP, InhouseSNP, ClinVar and dbNSFP databases.Main Outcome MeasuresAmerican College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) annotation of the SnpEff results was performed using InterVar.ResultsWe identified 14 ZP variants, including eight novel variants. These included heterozygous variants in ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3. These findings contribute to the understanding of ZP gene variants and their roles in the diagnosis of an abnormal ZP.ConclusionsZP gene variants are associated with female infertility, which can potentially affect ART outcomes. Therefore, ZP gene variant screening should be performed in female patients experiencing ART failure with pertinent clinical and laboratory indicators to guide personalised treatment and enhance fertility outcomes. However, further research is required to confirm the functional impact of these variants.
Pesticide regulatory homogeneity and firms' import decisions: Evidence from EU‐Swiss agri‐food trade
Authors: Fiankor Dela‐Dem Doe , Shingal Anirudh 
Published: February 2025

AbstractCountry‐specific variations in food standards often reflect national regulatory traditions, but they also disrupt trade by increasing associated costs and limiting market access. Aligning such standards between countries should reduce or eliminate the additional market access costs and enhance trade. Yet, whereas evidence abounds on the trade effects of country‐specific public mandatory food standards, relatively little is known about the trade effects of regulatory homogeneity across countries. Exploiting the EU–Swiss trade relationship and data on maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides, we assess the channels that explain the effects of regulatory homogeneity of standards on agri‐food imports. Estimating a reduced‐form gravity model, we find that similarity in Swiss‐EU MRLs on a product‐pesticide pair increases Swiss product‐level imports from the EU by 10%. This consists of a 7.7% increase in the average import value per product per firm, a 1.4% increase in the number of product varieties imported and a 0.6% increase in the number of importing firms. Regulatory homogeneity also increases import volumes by 9.4% and decreases import prices by 1.6%. Accounting for firm heterogeneity, we find more pronounced trade effects for smaller firms. These findings are confirmed in firm‐product level estimations, where we also find that the import‐enhancing effects increase with increasing regulatory heterogeneity. Our results imply that even with mutual recognition, there remains a preference for imports that align with domestic standards. In terms of policy implications, our findings show that regulatory homogeneity enhances food security by increasing product variety and lowering prices.
Quantitative food allergen risk assessment: Evolving concepts, modern approaches, and industry implications
Authors: Liu Wenfeng , Yang Qian , Wang Zhongliang , Wang Jian , Min Fangfang , Yuan Juanli , Tong Ping , Li Xin , Wu Yong , Gao Jinyan , Chen Hongbing 
Published: February 2025

AbstractFood safety is crucially linked to the food system, ensuring safe production, handling, and distribution to protect public health. Food allergy has been considered as a public health and food safety issue. Despite being widely regarded as a prevailing strategy for managing food allergies, strict food avoidance faces challenges due to allergen cross‐contact in the food supply chain and the potential for inaccurate allergen labeling. Hence, a scientific approach to assess allergen risk in this context is imperative. In this review, a novel approach to managing food allergies, referred to as quantitative food allergen risk assessment, is presented. This discussion covered the evolving concepts and modern analytical approaches. Moreover, this review delves into the current application of quantitative food allergen risk assessment. Finally, a valuable tool for food allergen risk assessment in the food industry, Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling (VITAL), was introduced. The establishment of a globally harmonized and standardized quantitative food allergen risk assessment framework could facilitate the promotion of international harmonization of allergen labeling, support food allergic consumers in making safe food choices, and safeguard the health of allergic individuals across various regions and ethnicities. The implementation of food allergen risk assessment could ensure both food supply chain safety and guide the establishment of acceptable allergen cross‐contact levels, enhancing food safety and bolstering the integrity and sustainability of the food system.
Phylosymbiosis and Parallel Geographical Patterns in the Gut Microbiota of Desert‐Dwelling Amphibians and Reptiles
Authors: Zhu Wei , Chang Liming , Zhao Chunlin , Cai Bo , Sui Lulu , Shen Cheng , Li Hanqi , Wang Bin , Jiang Jianping 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTVariation patterns in gut microbial diversity among host species and populations offer valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying environment–host–microbiome interactions. However, the extent to which host phylogeny and geography drive these variation patterns in animal gut microbiota remains an open question. Amphibians and reptiles are important models to address this issue. Using 194 gut microbial samples of three amphibian and four reptile species inhabiting the Tarim Desert, we demonstrated phylosymbiosis in these animals, which was associated with heterogeneous selection and dispersal limitation. In interpopulation comparisons, Bufotes pewzowi and Teratoscincus przewalskii exhibited geography‐dependent variations in their gut microbiota, particularly in relation to longitude and annual precipitation. These geographical patterns were linked to the heterogeneous selection of microbiota. Interestingly, the microbiota of B. pewzowi and T. przewalskii showed parallel variations with longitude, suggesting common selective pressures on amphibian and reptile microbiota. Finally, we found host genetic background did not account for the geographical pattern in their gut microbiota, even though it was also associated with geographical factors. This suggested environment–microbe interaction as a potential and independent ecological pathway mediating the associations between the environment and animals. Overall, these findings extend our understanding of variation patterns in gut microbiota and shed light on the underlying mechanisms.
Germinated/fermented legume flours as functional ingredients in wheat‐based bread: A review
Authors: Chinma Chiemela Enyinnaya , Ezeocha Vanessa Chinelo , Adedeji Olajide Emmanuel , Jolayemi Olusola Samuel , Onwuka Queeneth Ijeoma , Ilowefah Muna Abdulsalam , Adebo Janet Adeyinka , Rosell Cristina M. , Bamidele Oluwaseun Peter , Adebo Oluwafemi Ayodeji 
Published: February 2025

AbstractRefined wheat breads are consumed throughout the world as an energy‐dense staple food. The consumption of refined wheat bread has raised concerns among health‐conscious consumers. This has partly stimulated research interest in the inclusion of functional ingredients such as germinated/fermented legume flour in the development of nutritious and healthy breads to drive innovations in the bakery industry and overcome sustainability problems. Nevertheless, the inclusion of germinated/fermented legume flours cannot be a direct replacement of refined wheat, because processing requirements must be met. This critical review analyzes the impact of germinated/fermented legume flour on the rheological characteristics, nutritional quality, health‐promoting, and technological properties of wheat‐based bread for improved nutrition and health, identifying current challenges. The macroconstituent changes and the increasing enzyme activity produced during germination/fermentation influence the functionality of wheat dough and the resultant bread quality. Substitution of up to 20% germinated legume flour caused detrimental effects on technological properties of the bread, whereas better technological properties were recorded with up to 20% fermented legume flour. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to provide detailed insight on this observation. Germinated/fermented legume flour could serve as a functional ingredient for the development of nutritious and healthy breads. In fact, breads containing germinated/legume flour are rich in quality protein, dietary fiber, micronutrients, phytochemicals, and bioactive constituents and low in glycemic index with improved sensory properties compared to 100% wheat bread. Nonetheless, information on the bioavailability of nutrients in breads containing germinated/fermented legumes using in vivo studies and profiling the metabolites therein are scarce in the literature.
StratPal: An R package for creating stratigraphic paleobiology modelling pipelines
Authors: Hohmann Niklas , Jarochowska Emilia 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

The fossil record is an important source of information to understand biological processes that take place over timescales not accessible to human observation or experiments. Fossil data are not a perfect reflection of past biological change, but a joint expression of stratigraphic, ecological, evolutionary and taphonomic effects. Stratigraphic paleobiology is a field dedicated to identifying these effects and accounting for them.

We present StratPal, a R package in which stratigraphic, ecological, evolutionary and taphonomic modules can be combined into modelling pipelines for stratigraphic paleobiology.

We describe the types of data that can be modified and transformed using this approach and briefly discuss potential extensions.

As working examples, we show how the pipeline can be used to model clustering of last occurrences at hiatuses and condensation surfaces, leading to artefactual ‘extinction events’ caused by stratigraphic gaps.
Cross‐asset time‐series momentum strategy: A new perspective
Authors: Xu Dezhong , Li Bin , Singh Tarlok , Park Jung Chul 
Published: February 2025

AbstractWe propose a new investment strategy, the improved cross‐asset time‐series momentum (I‐XTSM) strategy, to predict future returns and make investments. Using data on 25 investment portfolios and common commodities for the period from January 1990 to December 2023, we find that the I‐XTSM strategy increases profitability substantially in the stock market and avoids momentum collapse effectively. We also document that its profitability is driven by the predictive power of the industrial metal assets' past signals. Even after considering transaction costs and market exposure, the I‐XTSM demonstrates superior performance and explains the excess profits of other momentum strategies.