bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The heterogeneous effect of leverage on firm performance: a quantile regression analysis
Authors: Ghardallou Wafa 
Published: January 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to look at the effect of financial leverage on the performance of Saudi listed companies. It particularly proposes to examine the heterogeneity of this relationship depending on firm profitability and firm size.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a sample of 120 nonfinancial companies listed on the Tadawul stock exchange during the period 2017–2020. Data is obtained from the companies’ financial reports. This study uses the system GMM and the quantile regression. The first methodology examines the effect of leverage decisions on firm performance, whereas the second one tests the heterogeneity of this relationship.

Findings
GMM results demonstrate the adverse effect of leverage on firm performance in terms of return on assets, return on equities and Tobin’s Q. Besides, quantile regression results show that this relationship is heterogeneous. Particularly, leverage seems to have a greater adverse effect on the performance of high-profitable firms than low-profitable firms. Moreover, leverage has a negative effect in larger firms, whereas the influence becomes negative in smaller ones.

Originality/value
This study is unique in that it approaches the capital structure issue from a different perspective, where the leverage decision is distinctly considered at various levels of firm profitability and firm size. In addition, the majority of the existing studies is carried out in developed countries. However, the results might not apply to emerging countries given the specificity of their institutional structure. In this regard, Saudi Arabia has a distinctive business climate characterized by the absence of corporate tax and an illiquid bond market.
Exploring the impact of digital work on work–life balance and job performance: a technology affordance perspective
Authors: Duan Sophia Xiaoxia , Deng Hepu , Wibowo Santoso 
Published: January 2023

PurposeDigital technologies have been transforming the traditional workplace and reshaping how work is designed, performed and managed in organizations. This makes understanding digital work and its impact on job performance critically important. This study investigates the impact of digital work on job performance in organizations from the perspective of technology affordance.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive review of the related literature has been conducted, leading to the development of a conceptual model for exploring the impact of digital work on job performance from the perspective of technology affordance. Such a model is then tested and validated using structural equation modelling on the survey data collected in Australia.FindingsThe study shows that the use of digital technologies significantly improves coordination and knowledge sharing between individuals, leading to better work–life balance and improved job performance. Furthermore, the study reveals that the use of digital technologies that can enhance communication and decision-making does not significantly influence work–life balance and job performance in digital work.Originality/valueThis study presents a comprehensive investigation of the impact of digital work on job performance in organizations from the perspective of technology affordance. It explores the changing role of digital work in transforming existing working practices in organizations, and how different technology affordances in digital work can be actualized for improving work–life balance and job performance in a digitalized working environment.
Business interest associations in the USA and Europe: evaluation of digital marketing techniques applied on their websites and social networks
Authors: Ponzoa José M. , Gómez Andrés , Arilla Ramón 
Published: January 2023

Purpose
This study aims to develop a proprietary indicator to measure the digital presence of the institutions: the digital presence index.

Design/methodology/approach
This research delves into how nonprofit institutions, specifically business interest associations (BIAs), have developed their internet presence by applying essential digital marketing techniques. To this end, and using big data mining tools, this study analyzes the tracking by internet users of 102 BIAs, with their respective websites in 36 countries in Europe and the USA. In addition, the presence and activity of the institutions included in this study on social networks are considered.

Findings
This research serves as a basis for discussing the current gap between social reality and the digitalization of institutions. In this sense, conclusions are drawn on the importance of managerial profiles in decision-making on digitization and the necessary knowledge that, together with Web and social network managers, they must have to articulate the means and techniques that promote the internet presence of the organizations they manage.

Originality/value
Conclusions are drawn according to the geographical scope of the BIAs, and an argument is made about the difficulties of connection and loss of prominence of this type of institutions among their different target audiences, especially among the youngest and most digitized.
Impact of social media participation on female entrepreneurs towards their digital entrepreneurship intention and psychological empowerment
Authors: Chakraborty Uttam , Biswal Santosh Kumar 
Published: January 2023

Purpose
The use of social media is becoming increasingly important for entrepreneurial marketing as a way to gain psychological empowerment through female entrepreneurship. The participation of female entrepreneurs on social media has witnessed an increasing trend. The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of social media participation on female entrepreneurs towards digital entrepreneurship intention and their psychological empowerment.

Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study integrates the Stimulus–Organism–Response framework with uses and gratification theory to understand and determine a theoretical framework in understanding the importance of social media for female entrepreneurship in the contemporary digital era. To ensure internal consistency of the latent constructs, this study determines Cronbach’s alpha for all the variables. Further, exploratory factor analysis is performed to ensure the unidimensionality of the latent constructs. Structural equation modelling is performed to test the theoretical framework.

Findings
Data analysis confirms the significant effect of social media participations on female entrepreneurs towards their digital entrepreneurship intention which further affects their psychological empowerment.

Originality/value
The practical contributions of this study highlight the importance of female entrepreneurship which is essential for attaining self-reliance by reducing the socio-economic barriers. Further, female entrepreneurs’ participation in social media communities enhances the levels of empowerment.
How AI encourages consumers to share their secrets? The role of anthropomorphism, personalisation, and privacy concerns and avenues for future research
Authors: Kronemann Bianca , Kizgin Hatice , Rana Nripendra , K. Dwivedi Yogesh 
Published: January 2023

Purpose
This paper aims to explore the overall research question “How can artificial intelligence (AI) influence consumer information disclosure?”. It considers how anthropomorphism of AI, personalisation and privacy concerns influence consumers’ attitudes and encourage disclosure of their private information.

Design/methodology/approach
This research draws upon the personalisation-privacy paradox (PPP) and privacy calculus theory (PCT) to address the research question and examine how AI can influence consumer information disclosure. It is proposed that anthropomorphism of AI and personalisation positively influence consumer attitudes and intentions to disclose personal information to a digital assistant, while privacy concerns negatively affect attitude and information disclosure.

Findings
This paper develops a conceptual model based on and presents seven research propositions (RPs) for future research.

Originality/value
Building upon PPP and PCT, this paper presents a view on the benefits and drawbacks of AI from a consumer perspective. This paper contributes to literature by critically reflecting upon on the question how consumer information disclosure is influenced by AI. In addition, seven RPs and future research areas are outlined in relation to privacy and consumer information disclosure in relation to AI.
A politics of suffering: Anarchism and embodiment in the life of Voltairine de Cleyre
Authors: Golder Lauren J. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAmerican anarchist‐feminist Voltairine de Cleyre created a radical vision of liberation informed by her experiences of chronic illness, depression, poverty and misogyny. This article traces the connections between de Cleyre's embodied experiences and her theorisations of anarchism. Drawing on feminist and disability theories, it argues that de Cleyre's suffering led her to an empathetic vision of anarchism which prioritised freedom from suffering, highlighting the role of embodiment in social movements and political theory. Anarchism provided de Cleyre both a means to understand her own pain as well as its remedy.
Mapping non‐conventional atmospheric drinking‐water harvesting opportunities in Central Eurasia: The case of Kazakhstan
Authors: Srymbetov Tamerlan , Jetybayeva Albina , Dikhanbayeva Dinara , Rojas‐Solórzano Luis 
Published: January 2023

AbstractDrinking water scarcity is becoming an urgent problem worldwide, and it affects developing and developed countries alike. Kazakhstan is not an exception and has its primary sources of drinking water (groundwater, rivers, and lakes) continuously depleted and polluted; moreover, the country will be close to its exploitation limits within the following decades. However, modern technologies allow us to harvest drinking water from unintegrated sources, like the atmosphere. Therefore, it is crucial to research which non‐conventional technologies can be used to obtain drinking water from unintegrated sources for the country, considering the cost, viability of use through the year, and local climate conditions. Thus, the present assessment was performed for the 14 demographic regions in Kazakhstan and two city‐states, and a map depicting the most feasible technology for each region is presented, including their levelized cost per liter. Seven mature technologies were found to be feasible in Kazakhstani year‐round climates. However, Air AW3 technology and Artificial Glaciers (AG) were the most cost‐effective for family‐size and village‐size solutions, respectively. The water provided via utility pipelines proved to be the most cost‐effective manner, when available, to supply drinking water at a family‐size scale, but found a less expensive competitor in the AG technology for village‐size solutions. Moreover, the lack of utility water pipelines in some Kazakhstani regions, principally countryside rural areas, makes it vital to deploy and implement these alternative water‐harvesting technologies to guarantee the future water security of these regions.
Effect of different storage conditions on the stability and safety of almonds
Authors: Rodrigues Paula , Jelassi Arij , Kanoun Elifa , Sulyok Michael , Correia Paula , Ramalhosa Elsa , Pereira Ermelinda Lopes 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAlmond production in Portugal is of great importance for the economy of their main producing areas. However, the contamination of these nut fruits with fungi and mycotoxins poses a significant risk to food safety and security. This work intended to evaluate the influence of storage conditions on the microbial and mycotoxin stability and safety of almonds throughout long‐term storage. Two almond varieties—Lauranne and Guara—were submitted to three different storage conditions, namely, 4°C with noncontrolled relative humidity (RH), 60% RH at 25°C, and 70% RH at 25°C, for a storage period of 9 months. Samples were collected after 0, 3, 6, and 9 months of storage and analyzed for microbial loads (aerobic mesophiles, yeasts, and molds), mold incidence and diversity, and mycotoxin contamination. In total, 26 species were identified belonging to 6 genera: Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Penicillium, Paecilomyces, and Talaromyces. For the variety Guara, mycotoxins related to Aspergillus sect. Flavi, such as aflatoxins, averufin, versicolorin C, and norsolorinic acid, were detected only after 9 months of storage at 70% and 60% RH. Penicillium mycotoxins, such as quinolactacin A and roquefortine C, were also detected. For the variety Lauranne, Penicillium mycotoxins were detected, such as citrinin, quinolactacins A and B, roquefortines C and D, cyclopenin, cyclopenol, penitrem A, viridicatin, and viridicatol. Mycotoxins related to Aspergillus, such as aspulvinone E, flavoglaucin, paspalin, asperglaucide, asperphenamate, cyclo(L‐Pro‐L‐Tyr), and cyclo(L‐Pro‐L‐Val), were also detected.Practical Application(Optional, for JFS Research Articles ONLY) The quality of almonds depends on the storage period and the RH and temperature at which they are stored. Storage of almonds at 60% RH at 25°C is a good storage condition to maintain the stability and safety of nuts in terms of microbial and mycotoxin contaminations.
Circular RNA, circular RARS, promotes aerobic glycolysis of non‐small‐cell lung cancer by binding with LDHA
Authors: Li Haoran , Huang Qi , Guo Haifa , Chen Xiuyuan , Li Xiao , Qiu Mantang 
Published: January 2023

AbstractPurposeAccumulating evidence has highlighted the critical roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aims to unveil the roles of circRARS (circular RARS) (hsa_circ_0001551) in NSCLC.MethodsQuantitative real‐time PCR was used to determine the expression of circRARS in NSCLC tissues and cells. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to determine the prognostic value of circRARS expression. CCK8, transwell, and wound healing assays were used to assess the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of NSCLC cells. RNA pull‐down, cell fraction, glucose consumption, lactate production, and lactate dehydrogenase activity assays were conducted to explore the potential mechanisms of circRARS in NSCLC.ResultscircRARS is upregulated in NSCLC tissues and positively correlated with smoking status, lymph node metastasis, and higher tumor stages. NSCLC patients with high expression of circRARS have poor overall survival. Functional assays demonstrated that circRARS accelerated the proliferation, invasion, and migration of NSCLC cells in vitro. The cell fraction suggested that circRARS mainly accumulated in cytoplasm and the RNA pull‐down assay showed lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) could bind with circRARS. Furthermore, circRARS positively regulates LDHA activity and LDHA expression at the transcription level. Moreover, downregulated circRARS decreases glucose consumption and lactate production and compromises aerobic glycolysis in NSCLC cells. Finally, rescue assays showed circRARS could promote NSCLC cell proliferation by regulating LDHA activity.ConclusionThis study shows that circRARS can promote glycolysis and tumor progression in NSCLC by regulating LDHA.
ALAS1 associated with goat kidding number trait was regulated by the transcription factor ASCL2 to affect granulosa cell proliferation
Authors: Li Wentao , Li Kunyu , He Xiaoyun , Jiang Yanting , Lan Rong , Hong Qionghua , Liu Yufang , Chu Mingxing 
Published: January 2023

AbstractALAS1 is a member of the α‐oxoamine synthase family, which is the first rate‐limiting enzyme for heme synthesis and is important for maintaining intracellular heme levels. In the ovary, ALAS1 is associated with the regulation of ovulation‐related mitochondrial P450 cytochromes, steroid metabolism, and steroid hormone production. However, there are few studies on the relationship between ALAS1 and reproductive traits in goats. In this study, a mutation located in the promoter region of ALAS1 (g.48791372C>A) was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the kidding number of Yunshang black goats. Specifically, the mean kidding number in the first three litters and the kidding numbers of all three litters were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in individuals with the CA genotype or AA genotype than in those with the CC genotype. To further investigate the regulatory mechanism of ALAS1, the expression of ALAS1 in goat ovarian tissues with different genotypes was verified by real‐time quantitative PCR. The results showed that the expression of ALAS1 was significantly higher in the ovaries of individuals with AA genotype than those with AC and CC genotypes (p < 0.01), and the expression trend of transcription factor ASCL2 was consistent with ALAS1. Additionally, the ALAS1 g.48791372C>A mutation created a new binding site for the transcription factor ASCL2. The luciferase activity assay indicated that the mutation increased the promoter activity of ALAS1. Overexpression of the transcription factor ASCL2 induced increased expression of ALAS1 in goat granulosa cells (p < 0.05). The opposite trend was shown for the inhibition of ASCL2 expression. The results of real‐time quantitative PCR, EdU and Cell Counting Kit‐8 assays indicated that the transcription factor ASCL2 increased the proliferation of goat granulosa cells by mediating the expression of ALAS1. In conclusion, the transcription factor ASCL2 positively regulated the transcriptional activity and expression levels of ALAS1, altering granulosa cell proliferation and the kidding number in goats.
Drinking Wine with Friends: Plato's Lesson for Contemporary Democratic Theory
Authors: Trimçev Eno 
Published: January 2023

AbstractDemocratic theory tells us that citizens should be engaged, informed, passionate, reasonable, willing to speak up, ready to listen, and militant but also restrained. Yet we are rarely told how they might achieve this. The challenge is particularly relevant for theories that distinguish between the liberal and democratic principles of our regime with their contradictory ideals of citizenship. This article draws on Plato's reflections on drinking wine with friends in the Laws to argue that the political psychology suggested therein fits the complex ideal of citizenship in a liberal democracy. Furthermore, it shows how extrapolitical and even disreputable social practices can not only help prepare citizens for political life but also enable them to deal with the inequalities that inevitably contaminate it. Weaving together law, contestation, reason, and passion, the Platonic account articulates the psychological burdens of citizenship in a liberal democracy and suggests ways to cope with them.
Exotic animal cafés in Japan: A new fashion with potential implications for biodiversity, global health, and animal welfare
Authors: Sigaud Marie , Kitade Tomomi , Sarabian Cécile 
Published: January 2023

AbstractWildlife trade is a multibillion‐dollar industry and concerns not only the exploitation of animals for their body parts but is also largely fueled by the demand for exotic pets. We document, in Japan, a recent phenomenon closely related to the pet trade and rapidly spreading in Asia: the display of exotic animals in a café/bar context. We surveyed 142 exotic animal cafés (EACs) by visiting their website and/or social media accounts. We recorded every available exotic animal species, their status based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and Appendix according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We compared the CITES Appendix‐listed species imported in Japan during 1975–2019 to the species present in EACs. Most EACs opened in major cities between 2015 and 2017 under the label “owl café.” We recorded 3793 individuals belonging to 419 different species in 137 EACs active in 2019. The most numerous exotic animals were birds (62% – owls 40%) but reptiles (21%), mammals (15%) and to a lesser extent, amphibians (2%) were also found. A total of 403 individuals belonged to 52 threatened species. The majority (60%) of the species identified were CITES‐listed (Appendix I: 53 individuals, 9 species; Appendix II:2482 individuals, 235 species and Appendix III:16 individuals, 6 species). While most species present in EACs are mainly imported as “captive bred” in Japan, we found 30 species that were mainly imported as “wild‐caught,” “ranched” or “farmed.” The increase of importations of owl species is concomitant with the openings of EACs, reflecting the demand for owls in Japan. We argue that these EACs promoted through social media: (1) might have consequences for biodiversity as they encourage the purchase of exotic animals and represent a pool of potentially invasive species with their pathogens; (2) present a risk of pathogen transmission due to frequent close interactions with consumers; and (3) raise serious concerns about animal welfare.
Motivating relational organizing behavior for biodiversity conservation
Authors: Jones Megan S. , Niemiec Rebecca M. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAs biodiversity loss and climate change accelerate, more people worldwide are engaging in conservation behaviors to “do their part.” Yet, individual behavior change alone is insufficient for the large‐scale, rapid change needed to address these crises. Relational organizing, which involves individuals reaching out to others in their social network, can enhance the speed and scale of conservation behavior change and address the complex, collective action nature of many conservation problems. However, many people practicing conservation behaviors in their own lives do not engage in relational organizing about conservation issues. Here, we suggest this may be the result of specific social‐psychological factors inhibiting people from reaching out to others. We summarize the evidence and offer a research and practice agenda to prioritize (1) understanding the social‐psychological barriers that prevent relational organizing, and (2) addressing these barriers through targeted outreach interventions to help scale and accelerate community action for conservation.