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When do female directors curb corporate ESG controversies? Evidence from the USA
No full textGlobal concerns regarding sustainability and gender equality prompt corporations to restructure their operations. In response to the stakeholders' pressure, they have increasingly started prioritizing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This shift towards sustainability pushes them to pursue stakeholders’ legitimacy. Consequently, corporations have initiated appointing more female directors to boards to mitigate ESG controversies. The literature reveals that board gender diversity improves corporate sustainability performance. However, there is still a need to clarify when female directors have the most positive effect on corporate behavior. To this end, we aim to investigate when specifically female directors curb corporate ESG controversies. Interestingly, we find that they mitigate ESG controversies when acting as independent directors, not executive ones. Additionally, their impact in curbing ESG controversies is significant in firms with sustainability-linked compensation policies, weak governance mechanisms, and those that belong to environmentally sensitive industries. The mechanism analysis reveals that female independent directors mitigate ESG controversies by enhancing transparency through their effective monitoring. The results of our study are robust to endogeneity regarding reverse causality, industry, and time-fixed effects. Our results offer several contributions to the governance and sustainability literature by documenting the significant role of female directors in addressing sustainability issues
Impact of using supplemented thylakoids derived from spinach for 12 weeks of high-intensity functional training on adipo-myokines in obese males
No full textObjective
This randomized controlled study investigated the independent and combined effects of High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) and spinach-derived thylakoid supplementation on adipo-myokines, glycemic control, and lipid profiles in obese males. To compare the effects of HIFT alone, thylakoid supplementation (Thyl) alone, and their combination (HIFT+Thyl) on circulating adipokines (CTRP-2, CTRP-9, GDF-8, GDF-15), insulin resistance, and lipid profiles in obese adult males.
Methods
A total of 68 participants who were obese with BMI: 32.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to four groups ( n = 17 in each group): thylakoid supplementation (Thyl), HIFT + Placebo High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT), HIFT + thylakoid supplementation (HIFT+Thyl), and control+Placebo group (C). The training groups (HIFT and HIFT+Thyl) completed a 12-week program of three 60-min sessions per week. Participants in the Thyl and HIFT+Thyl groups dissolved and consumed 5 g/day of spinach extract high in thylakoids (or placebo) for 12 weeks. Baseline and post-intervention measurements included circulating C1Q/TNF or TGF- β related proteins (CTRP-2, CTRP-9, GDF-8, GDF-15), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, plasma glucose, and insulin), lipid profile (HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [TC]), and body composition (BMI, fat mass [FM], and fat-free mass [FFM]). Randomization was performed using a block randomization method with allocation concealment.
Results
There were significant group × time interactions for all variables (all p < 0.001): CTRP-9 ( η 2 = 0.6), CTRP-2 ( η 2 = 0.7), GDF-8 ( η 2 = 0.8), GDF-15 ( η 2 = 0.4), BMI ( η 2 = 0.45), FM ( η 2 = 0.42), HDL-C ( η 2 = 0.37), LDL-C ( η 2 = 0.34), TC ( η 2 = 0.46), TG ( η 2 = 0.66), insulin ( η 2 = 0.78), glucose ( η 2 = 0.5), and HOMA-IR ( η 2 = 0.7). Compared with baseline, all interventions (HIFT, Thyl, and HIFT+Thyl) significantly decreased adipokine levels (CTRP-9, CTRP-2, GDF-8, GDF-15), BMI, fat mass, LDL-C, TC, TG, insulin, glucose, and HOMA-IR, while increasing HDL-C (all p < 0.05). Post-hoc between-group comparisons showed that HIFT+Thyl resulted in significantly greater improvements in all adipo-myokines, lipid profile, glycemic and insulin control, and body fat compared to Thyl alone (all p < 0.05). HIFT and HIFT+Thyl showed comparable reductions in BMI, fat mass, and improvements in lipid profile and insulin sensitivity.
Conclusion
These findings indicate that HIFT combined with spinach-derived thylakoid supplementation significantly decreases circulating adipo-myokines and improves insulin resistance and lipid profiles in obese adults, suggesting a promising lifestyle intervention for obesity management and cardiometabolic disease prevention. Further research is warranted to explore long-term effects and underlying mechanisms.
Clinical Trial Registration
https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/69048 , identifier (IRCT20151228025732N77)
The effect of a nutrition education programme on dietary intake and nutrition knowledge of trained young swimmers
No full textBackground: Nutrition is an important component for the developing swimmer and may be important to determine future success in the sport. Education is a key driver of facilitating changes in nutritional behaviour, but little is known about how this applies in practice among trained young swimmers. The purpose of this study therefore was to explore the impact of a nutrition education programme on dietary intake and nutrition knowledge in trained young swimmers. Fifteen participants aged 16 ± 3 years completed a 21-week education programme delivered via seven presentations and meal planning support. Energy, carbohydrate (CHO), protein, fibre, calcium, and iron intake were estimated in eight participants using the remote food photography method, alongside assessment of nutrition knowledge in fourteen participants using the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire, which were both conducted prior to and following the intervention. Results: There was no change in energy, protein, or fibre intake following the intervention. Absolute CHO intake (p = 0.021), iron (p = 0.016), and calcium intake (p = 0.022) were significantly lower following the intervention. Nutrition knowledge was significantly greater following the intervention (57.21 ± 15.86% vs. 72.14 ± 12.44%; p = 0.004) with greater nutrition knowledge positively associated with greater dietary fibre intake (β = 0.50, p = 0.007). Conclusions: These findings highlight the complex nature of facilitating changes in dietary intake in young swimmers and suggest that improvements in knowledge do not always translate to improved dietary practices
The bad, the very bad and the ugly: towards an integrated model of dark leadership
No full textPurpose
Over the last decade, there has been a growing interest in the effects of bad leadership on organisations and employees. In part, this can be seen as being associated with the continuing emergence of corporate scandals and high-profile cases of mistreatment of employees. In this paper, we present a systematic review and critique of the literature that explores dark leadership over the last 24 years.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach adopted employed a systematic literature review followed by an analysis of the key themes, findings and gaps in the literature.
Findings
The literature is diverse and often confusing, with multiple terms, conceptualisations, absence of shared theoretical underpinning and measurement scales for similar phenomena. We identify the major gaps and challenges within the literature and conclude by presenting a potential model that integrates the dark leadership literature within a clear theoretical framework.
Research limitations/implications
The review has the limitation that papers not matching the search criteria may have been missed. However, the risk was ameliorated by using a broad range of search terms.
Practical implications
Developing a clear understanding of the nature and consequences of dark leadership will be of value to organisations in terms of being able to develop strategies that avoid its emergence and negative consequences.
Social implications
Bringing attention to the nature and consequences of dark leadership may lead to actions to avoid its emergence or reduce its impact. This in turn could lead to reduced damage to the well-being of employees in organisations.
Originality/value
The paper integrates over 20 years of literature, providing a clear framework for future research and highlighting how personality traits, specifically the dark triad, act as foundational antecedents of dark leadership behaviours
Translanguaging in Welsh early years traditional storytelling activities
No full textWith an increased interest on how heritage languages might be supported in educational contexts globally we suggest here that translanguaging offers one potential practical solution. Originating in Wales, translanguaging is positioned as an intentional pedagogical practice endorsed by the Welsh government, and explored in situ here. Focusing on the beginning of a storytelling activity about the Welsh collection of stories – The Mabinogion – in a new entrant classroom in Mid-Wales, we reveal the translanguaging practices that are embedded in a rich multimodal environment that creates a sense of belonging and identity. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the systematics of translanguaging as fluid, multimodal practices of meaning making co-produced between children and teacher during the Welsh traditional storytelling activity
Unlocking coevolution and inclusive innovations: dynamics of marginalised agents in immature innovation systems
No full textInnovation system research is frequently organised around formal institutions, such as universities, research centres, government agencies, and established firms, that operate within well-resourced and institutionalised environments. This structural focus often excludes marginalised actors—frequently found in developing countries—such as informal entrepreneurs, smallholder producers, and community-based organisations. These groups typically lack the institutional support, capabilities, or formal recognition necessary to engage meaningfully in mainstream innovation processes. This study develops an agent-based model (ABM) to explore how an inclusive/exclusive system can emerge from the interactions between marginalised and conventional heterogeneous agents, focusing on coalition formation and the dynamic accumulation of capabilities. Extending previous ABMs of inclusive innovation systems, the model introduces a unified opportunity structure and simulates learning-by-doing, using, and interacting as mechanisms through which marginalised agents build innovation capacity. Drawing on empirical features of immature innovation systems, we analyse baseline and experimental scenarios to explore the conditions that enable broader inclusion in innovation networks. The results highlight the critical role of institutional scaffolding, knowledge-sharing mechanisms, and alignment between agent capabilities and the directionality of innovation opportunities. This work contributes to the literature by showing how coevolutionary processes shape long-term participation and systemic inclusion. Policy implications centre on designing targeted STI interventions and developing structured learning environments to foster more inclusive and resilient innovation ecosystems
Multi-recycling of different concrete products: Effects on recycled aggregate’s physical characteristics and compressive strength
No full textThe utilisation of recycled aggregate from construction and demolition waste (CDW) as a replacement for fine and coarse natural aggregate has been increasing in recent years. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and limitations of multiple recycling of concrete aggregates, which represents a novel contribution in understanding the extent to which CDW can be repeatedly reused. This research aims to reduce the amount of construction waste sent to landfill and reduce carbon emissions. An experimental investigation was carried out on eleven randomly selected natural aggregate concrete products available on the market. The parent concrete was used to create the first-generation recycled concrete aggregates by crushing with a hammer. Within the concrete products happened to have two different fibre-reinforced composites and one manufactured aggregate were examined as well. The investigation assessed the aggregate morphology, density and particle size distribution through three recycling cycles. The investigation found that increasing the number of recycling cycles for all types of aggregates increased the angularity, the volume of coarse aggregates and water absorption while fine particles was reduced giving way to mortar paste and the compressive strength of each subsequent concrete was reduced. By the end of the third recycling cycle, all aggregates turned into 80 % cement paste. The rate of physical and mechanical performance change decreased with each cycle but did not settle by the third cycle, thus a conclusive conclusion could not be formed, although the trend was noticed. The decrease was asymptotic with the number of recycling cycles. It was also discovered that the multiple recycling procedure replaced 80 % of the parent aggregate volume by the third recycling cycle and, for mixes containing fibres, it damaged 98 % of the fibres resulting in a full loss of fibre performance. These findings demonstrate that it is only possible to recycle concrete by a finite number of times before significant deterioration in quality occurs, limiting its long-term reuse potential
Life cycle cost and carbon footprint analysis of CuO–Al2O3/water hybrid nanofluids in thermoelectric vaccine refrigerators
No full textThis study investigates the application of a CuO–Al 2 O 3 /water hybrid nanofluid as a coolant in thermoelectric vaccine refrigerators, aiming to enhance heat dissipation from the Peltier module’s hot side. A 35-L cooling cabinet was utilised, and experimental comparisons were made using water and a 2% CuO–Al 2 O 3 /water hybrid nanofluid. Results show that the vaccine cabinet reaches the target temperature of 4 °C in 990 s with nanofluid, compared to 1200 s with water. The system’s energy consumption was reduced by 18.3%, and carbon emissions decreased by 12.3% over a 15-year lifespan, highlighting its environmental benefits. Despite similar coefficients of performance (COP), the nanofluid system demonstrates enhanced efficiency, shorter cooling times, and long-term sustainability advantages. These findings support the adoption of hybrid nanofluids in thermoelectric cooling applications for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly refrigeration systems
Chinese Surrealism in the 1980s: an overview
No full textDuring the 1980s, the manifold reception of Surrealism in China witnessed art collectives and individuals drawing from different aspects of western and Latin American Surrealism as well as the movement’s interest in African and Oceanic Art. At this juncture, I posit that it is the Surrealist notion of desire, in all its guises – political, physical and metaphysical, repressed during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) – whose outpouring underpins a broad range of Surrealist activity. There were of course other concerns directly contingent upon the historical circumstances of the 1980s in an atmosphere where unspoken red lines were regularly crossed. Surrealism was unique in its ability to negotiate the delicate politics of the 1980s compared with other modernisms. It would have been impossible to convey any form of critical socio-political message through a realist medium whilst abstract art worried government officials about hidden messages. Realism was too tangible whilst abstraction was too intangible, so the hazy musings of unconscious desire engendered freedom of artistic expression