Abstract
This study investigates the determinants of green entrepreneurship from the perspectives of leadership, culture, and creativity. We prove that environmental leadership of top managers ...positively influences green entrepreneurship directly, and it also positively affects green entrepreneurship indirectly via green creativity. Furthermore, environmental organizational culture cannot directly influence green entrepreneurship, but it can indirectly affect green entrepreneurship through green creativity positively. In addition, we verify that green creativity plays a partial mediator role on the relationship between environmental leadership of top managers and green entrepreneurship, as well as a full mediator role on the relationship between environmental organizational culture and green entrepreneurship. Moreover, we demonstrate that both of proactiveness and risk‐taking propensity of top managers moderate the positive relationship between green creativity and green entrepreneurship. The results suggest enterprises to improve environmental leadership of top managers, environmental organizational culture, and green creativity to improve green entrepreneurship. Additionally, firms must develop top managers' proactiveness and risk‐taking propensity to increase the extent of the positive relationship between green creativity and green entrepreneurship.
Low-fat meat products always have harder texture, lower juiciness, and worse flavor. Due to their higher water-holding, water absorption, and organic molecule absorption, chia seeds (CHIA) have been ...applied in powders, nutrition bars, breads, and cookies. Hence, the objectives of this study were to: (1) analyze the nutritional compositions in CHIA; and (2) look for the possible application of CHIA on restructured ham-like products. CHIA has high amounts of α-linolenic acid, crude polysaccharides, and also contains essential amino acids, minerals, and polyphenols. Regarding processing properties of CHIA, a combination of CHIA and carrageenan (CA) increased (p<0.05) production yield of restructured ham-like products. A scanning electron microscope observation indicated that CHIA and CA addition can assist an emulsification in this ham-like product. Addition of 0.5% CA and 1.0% CHIA in this ham-like product showed the similar overall acceptance as products with added fat. Following storage at 4°C, higher (p<0.05) purge and centrifugation losses, as well as hardness of this ham-like product can be improved by adding CHIA and CA. CHIA addition also resulted in lower (p<0.05) lipid and protein oxidation, especially a 1.0% addition. In summary, due to both nutritional addition and improvements on physicochemical and sensorial properties of restructured ham-like products, CHIA seeds have great potential on the development of healthy and good-quality meat products.
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•Chia seeds (CHIA) have high amounts of α-linolenic acid and crude polysaccharides.•CHIA is a good daily supplement for achieving the daily reference intakes of essential amino acids and minerals.•Rutin and hesperidin are the major flavonoids in CHIA.•CHIA addition can improve processing properties of restructured ham-like products.•CHIA addition retards lipid/protein oxidation of restructured ham-like products on storage (4°C).
Metabolic disorders are prevalent worldwide and have recently become public health problems recently. Previous studies have proposed different body composition indices for predicting future ...cardiovascular risks. We hypothesized an association among fat-to-muscle ratio (FMR), metabolic syndrome (MetS), hypertension (HTN), prediabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and cardiovascular risk in an adult population. A total of 66829 eligible subjects composed of 34182 males and 32647 females aged 20 years or older were obtained from health examinations in the Tri-Service General Hospital from 2011 to 2017. The body composition indices included fat and muscle mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. A multivariable regression model was performed in a large population-based cross-sectional study. FMR was significantly associated with MetS, prediabetes, DM and HTN in all models of both genders. Based on quartile analysis, higher FMR had higher predictive ability for adverse health outcomes. The association between different definitions of MetS and the Framingham risk score was analyzed, and FMR-incorporated MetS was more useful for predicting higher Framingham risk scores than traditional definitions. FMR was a useful indicator for the presence of adverse cardiometabolic risks. Compared to traditional definition of MetS, FMR-incorporated MetS had a greater ability to predict incident cardiovascular risks. FMR seemed to be a simple and effective index for the early prevention and management of cardiometabolic events.
Rice yield and heading date are two distinct traits controlled by quantitative trait loci （QTLs）. The dissection of molecular mechanisms underlying rice yield traits is important for developing ...high-yielding rice varieties. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of Ghd8, a major QTL with pleiotropic effects on grain yield, heading date, and plant height. Two sets of near isogenic line populations were developed for the cloning of GhdS. Ghd8 was narrowed down to a 20-kb region containing two putative genes, of which one encodes the OsHAP3 subunit of a CCAAT-box binding protein （HAP complex）; this gene was regarded as the Ghd8 candidate. A complementary test confirmed the identity and pleiotropic effects of the gene; interestingly, the genetic effect of Ghd8 was dependent on its genetic background. By regulating Ehdl, RFT1, and Hd3a, Ghd8 delayed flowering under long-day conditions, but promoted flowering under short-day conditions. Ghd8 up-regulated MOC1, a key gene controlling tillering and branching; this increased the number of tillers, primary and secondary branches, thus producing 50% more grains per plant. The ectopic expression of Ghd8 in Arabidopsis caused early flowering by 10 d-a situation similar to the one observed by its homolog AtHAP3b, when compared to wild-type under long-day conditions; these findings indicate the conserved function of Ghd8 and AtHAP3b in flowering in Arabidopsis. Our results demonstrated the important roles of Ghd8 in rice yield formation and flowering, as well as its opposite functions in flowering between rice and Arabidopsis under long-day conditions.
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the origins of the two types of green innovations: proactive and reactive green innovations.Design methodology approach - In order to satisfy the ...essence of the triangulation in methodology, this study applies a hybrid research method which includes both qualitative and quantitative research to discuss the origins of green innovations based on the two following stages. First, the study uses inductive logic from the perspectives of case study research and grounded theory to build the research framework and selects AU Optronics Corp. (AUO), the worldwide top three manufacturer in the TFT-LCD industry, as the research object. Second, the study utilizes a questionnaire survey method to test the research framework proposed in the first stage.Findings - This study divides green innovations into two types: proactive and reactive green innovations, because their origins are different. The results show that both of the internal origins - environmental leadership, environmental culture, and environmental capability and the external origins - the environmental regulations and the environmentalism of investors and clients - can generate reactive green innovation. However, only the internal origins can facilitate proactive green innovation. This study suggests that companies should invest their resources in cultivating the internal origins rather than the external origins.Originality value - The paper provides insights into what origins cause proactive and reactive green innovations by means of hybrid research method - qualitative and quantitative research - in Taiwan. This study builds up a theory about the origins of the two types of green innovations.
Podocyte dysfunction is a detrimental feature in diabetic nephropathy, with loss of nephrin integrity contributing to diabetic podocytopathy. MicroRNAs (miRs) reportedly modulate the ...hyperglycemia-induced perturbation of renal tissue homeostasis. This study investigated whether regulation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) actions and nephrin acetylation by miR-29 contributes to podocyte homeostasis and renal function in diabetic kidneys. Hyperglycemia accelerated podocyte injury and reduced nephrin, acetylated nephrin, and miR-29a levels in primary renal glomeruli from streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Diabetic miR-29a transgenic mice had better nephrin levels, podocyte viability, and renal function and less glomerular fibrosis and inflammation reaction compared with diabetic wild-type mice. Overexpression of miR-29a attenuated the promotion of HDAC4 signaling, nephrin ubiquitination, and urinary nephrin excretion associated with diabetes and restored nephrin acetylation. Knockdown of miR-29a by antisense oligonucleotides promoted HDAC4 action, nephrin loss, podocyte apoptosis, and proteinuria in nondiabetic mice. In vitro, interruption of HDAC4 signaling alleviated the high glucose-induced apoptosis and inhibition of nephrin acetylation in podocyte cultures. Furthermore, HDAC4 interference increased the acetylation status of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9Ac), the enrichment of H3K9Ac in miR-29a proximal promoter, and miR-29a transcription in high glucose-stressed podocytes. In conclusion, hyperglycemia impairs miR-29a signaling to intensify HDAC4 actions that contribute to podocyte protein deacetylation and degradation as well as renal dysfunction. HDAC4, via epigenetic H3K9 hypoacetylation, reduces miR-29a transcription. The renoprotective effects of miR-29a in diabetes-induced loss of podocyte integrity and renal homeostasis highlights the importance of post-translational acetylation reactions in podocyte microenvironments. Increasing miR-29a action may protect against diabetic podocytopathy.
The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, also called 2019-nCoV) causes different morbidity risks to individuals in different age groups. This study attempts ...to quantify the age-specific transmissibility using a mathematical model.
An epidemiological model with five compartments (susceptible-exposed-symptomatic-asymptomatic-recovered/removed SEIAR) was developed based on observed transmission features. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases were divided into four age groups: group 1, those ≤ 14 years old; group 2, those 15 to 44 years old; group 3, those 45 to 64 years old; and group 4, those ≥ 65 years old. The model was initially based on cases (including imported cases and secondary cases) collected in Hunan Province from January 5 to February 19, 2020. Another dataset, from Jilin Province, was used to test the model.
The age-specific SEIAR model fitted the data well in each age group (P < 0.001). In Hunan Province, the highest transmissibility was from age group 4 to 3 (median: β
= 7.71 × 10
; SAR
= 3.86 × 10
), followed by group 3 to 4 (median: β
= 3.07 × 10
; SAR
= 1.53 × 10
), group 2 to 2 (median: β
= 1.24 × 10
; SAR
= 6.21 × 10
), and group 3 to 1 (median: β
= 4.10 × 10
; SAR
= 2.08 × 10
). The lowest transmissibility was from age group 3 to 3 (median: β
= 1.64 × 10
; SAR
= 8.19 × 10
), followed by group 4 to 4 (median: β
= 3.66 × 10
; SAR
= 1.83 × 10
), group 3 to 2 (median: β
= 1.21 × 10
; SAR
= 6.06 × 10
), and group 1 to 4 (median: β
= 7.20 × 10
; SAR
= 3.60 × 10
). In Jilin Province, the highest transmissibility occurred from age group 4 to 4 (median: β
= 4.27 × 10
; SAR
= 2.13 × 10
), followed by group 3 to 4 (median: β
= 1.81 × 10
; SAR
= 9.03 × 10
).
SARS-CoV-2 exhibits high transmissibility between middle-aged (45 to 64 years old) and elderly (≥ 65 years old) people. Children (≤ 14 years old) have very low susceptibility to COVID-19. This study will improve our understanding of the transmission feature of SARS-CoV-2 in different age groups and suggest the most prevention measures should be applied to middle-aged and elderly people.
This paper discusses the influence of firms' greenwash on their consumers' green purchase behaviour and explores the mediation roles of their green brand image and their consumers' green brand ...loyalty. This study focuses on Taiwanese consumers who have purchase experience of green products. This study uses structural equation modelling (SEM) to obtain empirical results. The results demonstrate that firms' greenwash negatively influences their consumers' green purchase behaviour. Besides, this research proves that firms' greenwash is negatively related to both their green brand image and their consumers' green brand loyalty that would positively affect their consumers' green purchase behaviour. This paper also verifies that firms' green brand image and their consumers' green brand loyalty partially mediate the negative relationship between their greenwash and their consumers' green purchase behaviour. It means that firms' greenwash does not only have a direct negative effect on their consumers' green purchase behaviour, but also has an indirect negative effect on it via their green brand image and their consumers' green brand loyalty. Thus, this research suggests that firms should decrease their greenwash behaviours and increase their green brand image and their consumers' green brand loyalty to enhance their consumers' green purchase behaviour.
This study extends the research literature by exploring the relations among green organizational identity (GOI), green shared vision (GSV), green product development performance (GPDP), and ...organizational citizenship behavior for the environment (OCBE). Hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling from a sample of 475 valid questionnaire respondents. The two main findings were as follows: (1) Positive effects for GOI and GSV between OCBE and GPDP and (2) Positive effects of OCBE for GPDP. The results further indicate that the relations among the GOI, GSV, and GPDP were partially mediated by the OCBE; the results point that the OCBE acts as mediator between GOI, GSV, and GPDP. After further examining the collecting data, we found (3) the relationship between GOI and GPDP is completely mediated by OCBE and (4) the relationship between GSV and GPDP is partially mediated by OCBE. These findings indicate that OCBE is critical in the GPDP of companies. Therefore, companies must develop the GOI and GSV to strengthen their OCBE and intensify their GPDP.
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