Search Results (48)

As sustainable development gains importance, corporate ESG performance has become a key factor in investment decisions and long-term business growth. Drawing on upper echelon theory and stakeholder theory, this study examines the impact of executives with overseas backgrounds on ESG performance using data from A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2010 to 2022. The findings show that: (1) Executives with overseas backgrounds significantly enhance ESG performance; (2) this effect operates through three main channels—promoting corporate green technology innovation, improving the quality of corporate internal control, and enhancing the level of corporate risk-taking—while digital transformation positively moderates the relationship; (3) the effect is more pronounced in non-polluting, manufacturing, capital-intensive, and technology-intensive firms. This study clarifies the internal mechanisms by which executive backgrounds influence ESG outcomes and offers insights into enhancing ESG practices to support China’s “dual carbon” goals. Full article

Background: Since the massive outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Korea in 2010–2011, cloven-hoofed livestock have been immunized with serotype O and A vaccines across the country. Other serotypes of FMD vaccines were stockpiled in overseas FMD vaccine factories as antigen banks. Once a manufacturing facility has been established in South Korea, the overseas antigen banks will be replaced by domestic one. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the commercial potential of the previously developed SAT2 vaccine candidate (SAT2 ZIM-R). Methods: The optimal condition was determined at various virus concentrations, infection times, and pH levels, resulting in 0.01 MOI for SAT2 ZIM-R for 24 h infection at a pH of 7.5. Results: When the SAT2 ZIM-R virus was produced in flasks from 40 to 1000 mL in fivefold increments, all scales of production yielded > 7.0 µg/mL of antigens. Using a bioreactor, 5.6 µg/mL of antigens was recovered from a 1 L viral culture. The optimal conditions of viral inactivation kinetics were determined to be 1 mM of binary ethyleneimine (BEI) treatment at 26 °C for 24 h, with approximately 91% of the antigen being retained after virus inactivation. When the SAT2 ZIM-R experimental vaccine was administered twice to pigs, the neutralizing antibody titer increased approximately 500-fold after booster immunization. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the antigen productivity, viral inactivation kinetics, and immunogenicity of the SAT vaccine strain in pigs. In the future, the SAT2 ZIM-R vaccine may be a useful candidate vaccine for a domestic antigen bank. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the response accuracy and quality of three AI chatbots—GPT-4.0, Claude-2, and Llama-2—in answering multiple-choice questions in prosthodontic and restorative dentistry. Methods: A total of 191 text-based multiple-choice questions were selected from the prosthodontic and restorative dentistry sections of the United States Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) (n = 80) and the United Kingdom Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) (n = 111). These questions were inputted into the chatbots, and the AI-generated answers were compared with the official answer keys to determine their accuracy. Additionally, two dental specialists independently evaluated the rationales accompanying each chatbot response for accuracy, relevance, and comprehensiveness, categorizing them into four distinct ratings. Chi-square and post hoc Z-tests with Bonferroni adjustment were used to analyze the responses. The inter-rater reliability for evaluating the quality of the rationale ratings among specialists was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa (κ). Results: GPT-4.0 (65.4%; n = 125/191) demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of correctly answered multiple-choice questions when compared to Claude-2 (41.9%; n = 80/191) (p < 0.017) and Llama-2 (26.2%; n = 50/191) (p < 0.017). Significant differences were observed in the answer accuracy among all of the chatbots (p < 0.001). In terms of the rationale quality, GPT-4.0 (58.1%; n = 111/191) had a significantly higher proportion of “Correct Answer, Correct Rationale” than Claude-2 (37.2%; n = 71/191) (p < 0.017) and Llama-2 (24.1%; n = 46/191) (p < 0.017). Significant differences were observed in the rationale quality among all of the chatbots (p < 0.001). The inter-rater reliability was very high (κ = 0.83). Conclusions: GPT-4.0 demonstrated the highest accuracy and quality of reasoning in responding to prosthodontic and restorative dentistry questions. This underscores the varying efficacy of AI chatbots within specialized dental contexts. Full article

Urgency and severity of climate change impacts have become increasingly prominent, making the enhancement of corporate climate risk disclosure (CCRD) a shared demand among regulators, investors, and the general public. From the perspective of irrational behavioral traits, this paper utilizes a sample of A-share-listed companies in China from 2008 to 2022 to empirically examine the impact of executives’ overseas experiences on CCRD and its underlying mechanisms. To measure firm-level climate risk disclosure, we employ machine learning-based textual analysis techniques and match the constructed disclosure indicators with firms’ financial data. The results demonstrate that executives with overseas experience significantly enhance the level of CCRD, and this effect remains consistent after a series of robustness tests. This effect operates through the dual paths of “climate attention allocation enhancement” and “management myopia mitigation”. Moreover, the positive impact of overseas experience is more pronounced among firms in climate-sensitive industries and regions with lower climate awareness. A further analysis of executive overseas experience characteristics shows that executives with experience in developed economies and those with international educational backgrounds exhibit a stronger influence in promoting CCRD. Additionally, an investigation into the economic consequences demonstrates that executives with overseas experiences not only improve firms’ ESG performances but also help reduce ESG rating discrepancies, reinforcing the beneficial role of overseas exposure in corporate governance. The findings not only provided micro-level empirical evidence for the effectiveness of talent recruitment policies in emerging economies but also yielded critical policy implications for regulatory bodies to refine climate disclosure frameworks and enable enterprises to leverage opportunities in low-carbon transition. Full article

Background/Objectives: With the globalization of companies, the cross-cultural adjustment of expatriates working overseas is becoming an increasingly important topic. However, little research has been carried out on the brain, which is the source of the ability to adapt. Methods: Therefore, we conducted a pilot study on 10 expatriates working for Japanese local subsidiaries in the United States to analyze the relationship between their gray matter volume (GMV) measured by the Gray Matter Brain Healthcare Quotient and their cross-cultural adjustment and lifestyle. Results: As a result, in a partial correlation analysis controlled for demographic variables, there was a significant correlation between whole-brain GMV and general adjustment. A relationship was also shown between the local GMV of the default mode network and central executive network and interaction adjustment. Conclusions: This is the first pilot study to clarify the relationship between expatriates’ brain structure and cross-cultural adjustment, suggesting the effectiveness of a biological approach in cross-cultural adjustment research. Full article

Chinese Qilou Architecture Heritage (CQAH) serves commercial and residential functions, integrates Southeast Asian and local Chinese architectural features, and is a unique testimony to modern commerce and culture of the overseas Chinese hometown. Since the 1990s, the academic community has conducted extensive research on CQAH. This paper utilizes CiteSpace 6.4.R1 as the research tool and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) as the core database, with “Qilou” as the core keyword and “Chinese Qilou Architecture” and “Qilou District” as the research themes. After a rigorous data collection procedure, 491 documents were obtained and subjected to visual analysis. The results show that research on CQAH is most prevalent in the field of architectural science and engineering, primarily focusing on four key issues: the distribution area and historical origin of Qilou, differences in regional characteristics of Qilou architecture, conservation and renewal of the Qilou historic district in urban development, and cultural inheritance and spatial activation. The research can be divided into four stages: exploration of basic features and historical background, exploration of architectural origins and development motives, cultural heritage protection and adaptive use, diversified perspectives, and multidisciplinary integration. Correspondingly, this paper also proposes four priority research directions for the future. This study provides theoretical support and practical reference for the conservation of CQAH and offers new methods and perspectives for the study of the future sustainable development of Qilou. Full article

Background/Objectives: The patient monitoring system is a critical tool commonly used in hospitals, making it essential to assess caregivers’ user requirements and satisfaction with its usability. In intensive care units (ICUs), the usability of these systems is closely linked to the work efficiency of key users, such as nurses, and directly impacts patient safety and treatment outcomes. This study evaluates the usability of patient monitoring systems in intensive care units (ICUs), focusing on user requirements and satisfaction among nurses, the primary users. Usability is directly linked to work efficiency and patient safety, with post-marketing surveillance (PMS) data from overseas, highlighting issues such as unrecognized alarms, leading to worsened patient conditions. Methods: This study involved 22 ICU nurses who had used the system for over a year, assessing usability through testing, satisfaction surveys, the Health-ITUES, and eye-tracking analysis. Results: The results showed a high success rate (94%) and positive satisfaction scores (4.15, SD = 0.88), with a Health-ITUES score of 4.13 (SD = 0.78). Eye tracking revealed that some functions, including alarms, were overlooked or not recognized. Conclusions: Recommendations include improving the interface for alarm messages and recording deletion functions to enhance user satisfaction and patient safety. Full article

Climate change and environmental pollution pose urgent global challenges that critically affect economic and social development. Corporate green innovation has emerged as a pivotal driver of coordinated environmental and economic progress. However, the existing research has predominantly focused on the effects of media coverage pertaining to corporations themselves in regard to corporate decisions, providing limited insight into the effects of media coverage on environmental protection. Thus, this study aims to investigate the governance effect of the media and its influence on corporate green innovation. Utilizing fixed-effect models, which involves analyzing data from various secondary sources, this study focused on Chinese manufacturing companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2008 to 2019. The results revealed that media coverage of environmental protection had a positive impact on corporate green innovation. In addition, this study found that industry turbulence enhanced the connection between media coverage of environmental protection and green innovation, whereas factor market development and managers’ overseas experience weakened this relationship. Recognizing the role that the media plays in promoting green innovation can empower companies to effectively address environmental challenges and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rapid DNA instruments are gaining interest in the forensic community as a means of generating DNA profile information more quickly than standard laboratory workflows, and they have the potential to be carried out in decentralized structures of the main laboratory, such as in French overseas territories, where no laboratory facilities are installed. Although this system has been shown to be effective in analyzing rich traces (such as blood) sampled on a swab, it has the disadvantage of consuming the entire swab for analysis. Since it is impossible to double the sampling from very few blood stains, we designed a subsampling protocol of the main swab for analysis on RapidHIT ID^® instruments. Methods: Two volumes of blood (10 µL and 150 µL) from four individuals were applied to a regular Copan flocked swab and then subsampled by three different operators using a Copan mini (subungual) flocked swab to recover a portion of the biological material. Results:The analysis of the mini swabs allows us to obtain a complete genetic profile regardless of the initial volume, with a better genetic profile intensity associated with a higher initial volume deposited on the regular swab. Conclusions: Therefore, this study presents a novel, effective, and adaptable subsampling method that has the potential to significantly improve forensic DNA analysis, particularly in remote or decentralized settings. It offers a flexible solution to current limitations of RapidHIT ID^® technology and paves the way for future advancements in genetic forensic science. Full article

Company boards play a critical role in ESG leadership by shaping strategy, ensuring accountability, and driving sustainability practices. However, ineffective board structures can hinder ESG goals, making the identification of board attributes that enhance ESG outcomes essential. Using data from 1931 A-share listed companies between 2009 and 2022, this study investigates how board characteristics, such as independence, independent directors’ overseas experience, board size, and gender diversity, affect environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. The analysis reveals that the combined influence of board characteristics positively impacts ESG outcomes. Among individual attributes, board independence and independent directors with overseas education backgrounds significantly enhance ESG ratings, emphasizing the value of independent oversight and global perspectives. In contrast, board size and gender diversity show no significant impact, suggesting that simply increasing board size or representation does not necessarily improve ESG performance. Unlike prior studies focusing on isolated board characteristics, this research comprehensively analyzes how various attributes influence ESG outcomes. This study fills a critical gap in the ESG literature by addressing these complex dynamics. It offers actionable insights for policymakers and corporate governance reformers to improve business practices’ accountability, transparency, and sustainability. Full article

Background: Singapore’s adult vaccination coverage is suboptimal, and this can be attributed to a lack of vaccination recommendations and misconceptions. Studies have explored pharmacists’ vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviour overseas but limited information about pharmacists in Singapore is available. This study aims to investigate pharmacists’ vaccination knowledge, attitudes towards providing vaccination services, and their educational needs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on pharmacists in various practice settings using an anonymous online survey. Results: Pharmacists’ vaccination knowledge (median: 2; IQR: 1–3), confidence in providing vaccination services (median: 6; IQR: 5–8), and frequency of providing vaccination services (median: 2; IQR: 1–3) were only average. However, 74.3% of pharmacists agreed that they play an important role as vaccine advocates. Apparent differences in knowledge level (p = 0.008), confidence level (p = 0.001), attitude (p < 0.001), and the frequency of educating patients (p = 0.001) and recommending vaccinations (p < 0.001) were observed among pharmacists from different practice settings. The main barriers identified were discomfort with giving injections (38.5%) and a lack of skills or knowledge (28.3%) at the point of survey. Conclusions: Pharmacists see the importance of their role as vaccine advocates. However, their vaccination knowledge, confidence in providing vaccination services, and practice behaviours are only average due to inadequate training. Continuous professional education is required to increase pharmacists’ readiness to provide vaccination services. Full article

Enterprise green innovation (EGI) has become an essential measure for manufacturing enterprises to achieve sustainable development, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) may become a new driving solution. This study empirically analyzes the impact and internal transmission mechanism of AI on EGI of Chinese manufacturing listed enterprises from 2010 to 2022. Research has found that (1) AI significantly impacts EGI, and this basic conclusion has passed various endogeneity and robustness tests. (2) The mechanism test results indicate that enterprise technological capability, innovation investment, and executives’ environmental awareness significantly mediate between AI and EGI. (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that the significant positive impact of AI on EGI is only established in enterprises with overseas backgrounds, large-scale, highly competitive regional markets, and low-carbon pilot cities. The above conclusions have contributed essentially to the literature on EGI and AI. Full article

Sustainable development, epitomized by green innovation, is increasingly emerging as a pivotal force propelling economic ecosystems and environmental conservation efforts. It plays a vital role in addressing the environmental challenges epitomized by the Kuznets curve conundrum. As a pivotal theoretical determinant in fostering green innovation practices within firms, the extent of influence and the underlying mechanism of top executives’ educational backgrounds have not been adequately examined through empirical research. This study investigates the influence of executives’ educational attainment on corporate green innovation, examining the relationship from the perspectives of risk assumption and corporate social responsibility. The results of our analysis are as follows: (1) there is a significant positive correlation between the educational level of executives and the incidence of green technological innovation within firms. (2) Executives with overseas backgrounds make a substantial contribution to both green technological and green management innovation. (3) The examination of mediation effects reveals that risk bearing plays a partial mediation role in the process through which executives’ educational background influences green technological innovation. Additionally, corporate social responsibility functions as a partial mediation factor. Full article

The challenge of balancing economic and social benefits has emerged as a critical issue for corporate sustainable development. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are key considerations for enterprises aiming to enhance both social and economic benefits simultaneously. Based on the upper echelons theory, differences in cognitive foundations and values brought about by top management team heterogeneity can influence corporate decisions. Taking A-share listed companies in China from 2011 to 2022 as samples, we construct a two-way fixed-effects model by firm and year to explore the impact of top management team heterogeneity on corporate ESG performance, and we introduce top management incentives as a moderating variable to further analyze the underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that the gender heterogeneity, functional background heterogeneity, and overseas background heterogeneity of top management teams have significant positive impacts on corporate ESG performance, and monetary compensation incentives and control incentives to top management teams play a positive moderating role, while equity incentives exhibits a negative moderating effect. These findings remain robust across alternative measures of corporate ESG ratings and monetary and control incentives, and through the SYS-GMM model test and instrumental variable approach to address endogeneity. This research contributes to the literature on corporate ESG by validating and extending the understanding of how top management team characteristics affect organizational outcomes, and it provides practical guidance for enhancing corporate ESG practices. The implications of this study suggest that to enhance corporate ESG performance, enterprises should prioritize the promotion of top management team heterogeneity and tailor their incentive mechanisms accordingly. Full article

With the proposal of “peak carbon and carbon neutrality”, the attention given to sustainable development has been increasing both at home and abroad. Starting from the background of “dual-carbon”, this paper empirically analyzes the relationship between corporate ESG performance and total factor productivity through a fixed-effect model using the data of A-share listed companies in China from 2011 to 2021, and introduces the CEOs’ overseas experience as a moderator variable (the CEOs’ overseas experience is binary, and CEO performance is irrelevant) to analyze the mechanism of the impact of ESG performance on total factor productivity. The study found that good ESG performance of enterprises can significantly promote the improvement of total factor productivity, and CEOs’ overseas experience can positively regulate the promotion effect of ESG performance on enterprises’ total factor productivity. The conclusions of this paper provide theoretical support and practical references for guiding enterprises to practice ESG concepts, improving total factor productivity, realizing comprehensive green transformation, and upgrading and promoting high-quality economic and social development, as well as high-level construction of the ecological environment. Full article