bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CRISPR screens reveal genetic determinants of PARP inhibitor sensitivity and resistance in prostate cancer
Authors: Tsujino Takuya , Takai Tomoaki , Hinohara Kunihiko , Gui Fu , Tsutsumi Takeshi , Bai Xiao , Miao Chenkui , Feng Chao , Gui Bin , Sztupinszki Zsofia , Simoneau Antoine , Xie Ning , Fazli Ladan , Dong Xuesen , Azuma Haruhito , Choudhury Atish D. , Mouw Kent W. , Szallasi Zoltan , Zou Lee , Kibel Adam S. , Jia Li
Published: April 2022

Prostate cancer (PCa) harboring BRCA1/2 mutations is often exquisitely sensitive to PARP inhibition. However, genomic alterations in other DNA damage response genes have not been consistently predictive of clinical response to PARP inhibitors (PARPis). Here, we perform genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens in BRCA1/2-proficient PCa cell lines and identify novel genes whose loss has a profound impact on PARPi sensitivity and resistance. Specifically, MMS22L deletion, frequently observed (up to 14%) in PCa, renders cells hypersensitive to PARPis by disrupting RAD51 loading required for homologous recombination repair, although this response is TP53-dependent. Unexpectedly, loss of CHEK2 confers resistance rather than sensitivity to PARPis in PCa cells through increased expression of BRCA2, a target of CHEK2-TP53-E2F7-mediated transcriptional repression. Combined PARP and ATR inhibition overcomes PARPi resistance caused by CHEK2 loss. Our findings may inform the use of PARPis beyond BRCA1/2-deficient tumors and support reevaluation of currently used biomarkers for PARPi treatment in PCa.
Evaluation of Long-Short Term Memory Networks for M/EEG Source Imaging with Simulated and Real EEG Data
Authors: Hecker Lukas , Maschke Moritz , Rupprecht Rebekka , Tebartz van Elst Ludger , Kornmeier Jürgen
Published: April 2022

1

Magneto- and electroencephalography (M/EEG) are widespread techniques to measure neural activityin-vivoat a high temporal resolution but relatively low spatial resolution. Locating the sources underlying the M/EEG poses an inverse problem, which is itself ill-posed. In recent years, a new class of source imaging methods was developed based on artificial neural networks. We present a long-short term memory (LSTM) network to solve the M/EEG inverse problem. It integrates low computational cost, exploitation of both the coarse spatial but also the excellent temporal information from the EEG, input flexibility and robustness to noise. We compared the LSTM network with classical inverse solutions using both simulation data and real EEG data, recorded in epileptic patients during intracranial stimulation. The LSTM network shows higher accuracy on multiple metrics and for varying numbers of neural sources, compared to classical inverse solutions but also compared to our alternative architecture without integration of temporal information. The performance of the LSTM network regarding its robustness to noise and low localization errors renders it a promising inverse solution to be considered in future source localization studies and for clinical applications.
Moss functional traits are important drivers for moss and underlying soil bacterial communities: evidence from a chronosequence in an Icelandic glacier forefield
Authors: Klarenberg Ingeborg J. , Keuschnig Christoph , Salazar Alejandro , Benning Liane G. , Vilhelmsson Oddur
Published: April 2022

Mosses are among the first colonizing organisms after glacier retreat and can develop into thick moss mats during later successional stages. They are key players in N2fixation through their microbiome, which is an important process for nutrient build-up during primary succession. How these moss-microbe interactions develop during succession is not well-studied and is relevant in the light of climate change and increased glacier retreat.

We examined how the bacterial communities associated with two moss species of the genusRacomitriumand the underlying substrate, as well as moss traits and nitrogen fixation, develop along a successional gradient in the glacier forefield of Fláajökull in southeast Iceland. In addition, tested whether moss functional traits, such as total carbon (TC) and nitrogen contents (TN) are drivers of moss and underlying soil bacterial communities.

Although time since deglaciation did not affect TN and moisture content, TC and shoot length increased with time since deglaciation. Moss and underlying soil bacterial communities were distinct. While the soil bacterial community structure was driven by the time since deglaciation and moss C/N ratios, the moss bacterial community structure was linked to time since deglaciation and moss moisture content. Moss N2-fixation rates were linked to bacterial community composition andnifHgene abundance rather than moss TN or time since deglaciation. This was accompanied by a shift from autotrophic to heterotrophic diazotrophs.

Overall, our results suggest that there is little lateral transfer between moss and soil bacterial communities and that moss traits and time since deglaciation affect moss and soil bacterial community structure. In addition, moss N2-fixation rates are determined by bacterial community structure, rather than moss traits or time since deglaciation.
Tree diversity effects on productivity depend on mycorrhizae and life strategies in a temperate forest experiment
Authors: Dietrich Peter , Ferlian Olga , Huang Yuanyuan , Luo Shan , Quosh Julius , Eisenhauer Nico
Published: April 2022

Tree species are known to predominantly interact either with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. However, there is a knowledge gap whether these mycorrhizae differently influence biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships and whether a combination of both can increase community productivity. In 2015, we established a tree-diversity experiment by growing tree communities with varying species-richness levels (1, 2, or 4 species), and either with AM or EM tree species, or a combination of both. We investigated basal area and annual basal area increment from 2015 to 2020 as proxy for community productivity. We found significant positive relationships between tree species richness and community productivity, which strengthened over time. Further, AM and EM tree species differently influenced productivity; however, there was no overyielding when AM and EM trees grew together. EM tree communities were characterized by low productivity in the beginning, but an increase of increment over time, and showed overall strong biodiversity effects. For AM tree communities the opposite was true. While young trees did not benefit from the presence of the other mycorrhizal type, dissimilar mechanisms underlying BEF relationships in AM and EM trees indicate that maximizing tree and mycorrhizal diversity may increase ecosystem functioning in the long run.
Spatiotemporal proximity labeling tools to track GlcNAc sugar-modified functional protein hubs during cellular signaling
Authors: Liu Yimin , Nelson Zachary M. , Reda Ali , Fehl Charlie
Published: April 2022

A fundamental mechanism that all eukaryotic cells use to adapt to their environment is dynamic protein modification with monosaccharide sugars. In humans, O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is rapidly added to and removed from diverse protein sites as a response to fluctuating nutrient levels, stressors, and signaling cues. Two aspects remain challenging for tracking functional O-GlcNAc events with chemical strategies: spatial control over subcellular locations and time control during labeling. The objective of this study was to create intracellular proximity labeling tools to identify functional changes in O-GlcNAc patterns with spatiotemporal control. We developed a labeling strategy based on the TurboID proximity labeling system for rapid protein biotin conjugation that we directed to O-GlcNAc protein modifications inside cells, a set of tools we called “GlycoID.” Localized variants to the nucleus and cytosol, nuc-GlycoID and cyt-GlycoID, labeled O-GlcNAc proteins and their interactomes in subcellular space. Labeling during insulin as well as serum stimulation revealed functional changes in O-GlcNAc proteins as soon as 30 minutes of signaling. We demonstrated using proteomic analysis that the GlycoID strategy captured O-GlcNAcylated “activity hubs” consisting of O-GlcNAc proteins and their associated protein-protein interactions. The ability to follow changes in O-GlcNAc hubs during physiological events like insulin stimulation poises these tools to be used for determining mechanisms of glycobiological cell regulation. Our functional O-GlcNAc datasets in human cells will be a useful resource for O-GlcNAc-driven mechanisms.

Abstract Figure
Automated detection of sow posture changes with millimeter-wave radars and deep learning
Authors: Dore Alexandre , Lihoreau Mathieu , Bailly Jean , Billon Yvon , Bompa Jean-François , Ricard Edmond , Henry Dominique , Canario Laurianne , Aubert Hervé
Published: April 2022

Automated behavioural monitoring is increasingly required for animal welfare and precision agriculture. In pig farming, detailed analyses of sow activity are essential to identify and reduce the risks of piglets being crushed during postural changes of their mothers. Here we introduce a new, non-invasive, fast and accurate method for monitoring sow behaviour based on millimeter-wave radars and deep learning analysis. We used our method to predict postural changes in crated sows and distinguish the dangerous one that lie down abruptly from those that lie down carefully using transient postures. Two radars were placed on a metal backing above the head and the upper part of the back of each of ten sows to monitor their activity during 5 hours. We analysed the radar data with a convolutional neural network and identified five postures. The average sensitivity was 96.9% for standing, 90.8% for lying, 91.4% for nursing, 87.6% for sitting, but only 11.9% for kneeling. However, the average specificity and accuracy were greater than 92% for the five postures. Interestingly, two of the ten sows occasionally moved directly from standing to lying, without using the transient postures sitting and kneeling, thereby displaying risky behaviours for their piglets. Our radar-based classifier is more accurate, faster and require less memory than current computer vision approaches. Using more sows will improve the algorithm performance and facilitate future applications for large scale deployment in animal farming.

Highlights

Automated behavioural analysis is a major challenge for precision farming.

We developed automated detection of lactating sow postures with radars and deep learning.

We identified five postures, including transitions risky for the piglets.

Our method is accurate, fast and requires less memory than computer vision.

Radars thus hold considerable promises for high through-put recording of livestock activity.
Do orexin/hypocretin neurons track sensory, cognitive, or motor information?
Authors: Bracey Eva , Aravind Aditi , Grujic Nikola , Peleg-Raibstein Daria , Burdakov Denis
Published: April 2022

Activation of hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin neurons (HONs) is a neural substrate of arousal. HONs activate during sensory stimuli, and are thus thought to regulate arousal according to sensory input. Here, we measured body movements occurring during sound cues or associated reward outcomes, and used an encoding model to ask whether HONs indeed specialize in tracking certain features, or multiplex diverse types of features. Although some single HONs multiplexed feature combinations, during the cue period the overall HON signal primarily tracked body movements. This persisted across cues signaling different reward probabilities, and substantially diverged from reward-probability tracking in concurrently-recorded VTA dopamine neurons. In contrast, during reward outcome, HONs predominantly signaled the presence or absence of reward, and not body movements, nor surprise or reward prediction error. These results describe an unexpectedly specialized and flexible logic of HON activation, suggesting a role for HONs in tracking actions and subsequent reinforcements.
Human blood plasma proteins modeling and binding affinities with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol active metabolites: In silico approach
Authors: Rathod Shravan B. , Soni Jinal C. , Verma Priyanshu , Rawat Yogita , Periwal Neha , Arora Pooja , Sood Vikas , Mansuri Mohmedyasin F.
Published: April 2022

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a key psychotropic constituent of cannabis sativa. It is also known as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). Previous study suggested that owing to its high lipophilicity, it piles up in adipose tissue and it is disseminated into blood stream for prolonged time. Research suggests that numerous diseases such as multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, epilepsy, schizophrenia, osteoporosis, cancer, glaucoma and cardiovascular disorders can be treated using this substance. However, apart from having therapeutic potential, many studies have reported detrimental outcomes along with addiction of Δ9-THC for short-term and long-term consumption. Thus, in this study, we determined the binding affinities of Δ9-THC and its two active metabolites, 11-Hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-Δ9-THC) and 8beta,11-dihydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (8β,11-diOH-Δ9-THC) with 401 human blood plasma proteins using molecular docking analysis. Results show that Δ9-THC has greater binding potential with plasma proteins as compared to other two metabolites. Overall, ADGRE5, ALB, APOA5, APOD, CP, PON1 and PON3 proteins showed the highest binding affinities with three cannabis metabolites.
In-cell penetration selection—mass spectrometry produces noncanonical peptides for antisense delivery
Authors: Schissel Carly K. , Farquhar Charlotte E. , Loas Andrei , Malmberg Annika B. , Pentelute Bradley L.
Published: April 2022

Peptide-mediated delivery of macromolecules in cells has significant potential therapeutic benefits, but no therapy employing cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) has reached the market after 30 years of investigation due to challenges in the discovery of new, more efficient sequences. We developed a method for in-cell penetration selection-mass spectrometry (in-cell PS-MS) to discover peptides from a synthetic library capable of delivering macromolecule cargo to the cytosol. This method was inspired by recent in vivo selection approaches for cell-surface screening, with an added spatial dimension resulting from subcellular fractionation. A representative peptide discovered in the cytosolic extract, Pep1a, is nearly 100-fold more active toward antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) delivery compared to a sequence identified from a whole cell extract, which includes endosomes. Pep1a is composed of D-amino acids and two non-α-amino acids. Pulse-chase and microscopy experiments revealed that while the PMO-Pep1a conjugate is likely taken up by endosomes, it can escape to localize to the nucleus. In-cell PS-MS introduces a means to empirically discover unnatural synthetic peptides for subcellular delivery of therapeutically relevant cargo.
Understanding community level influences on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in England
Authors: Joshi Chaitanya , Ali Arif , ÓConnor Thomas , Chen Li , Jahanshahi Kaveh
Published: April 2022

Understanding and monitoring the major influences on SARS-CoV-2 prevalence is essential to inform policy making and devise appropriate packages of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Through evaluating community level influences on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and their spatiotemporal variations in England, this study aims to provide some insights into the most important risk parameters. We used spatial clusters developed in Jahanshahi and Jin, 2021 as geographical areas with distinct land use and travel patterns. We also segmented our data by time periods to control for changes in policies or development of the disease over the course of the pandemic. We then used multivariate linear regression to identify influences driving infections within the clusters and to compare the variations of those between the clusters. Our findings demonstrate the key roles that workplace and commuting modes have had on some of the sections of the working population after accounting for several interrelated influences including mobility and vaccination. We found communities of workers in care homes and warehouses and to a lesser extent textile and ready meal industries and those who rely more on public transport for commuting tend to carry a higher risk of infection across all residential area types and time periods.
Overexpressing eukaryotic elongation factor 1 alpha (eEF1A) proteins to promote corticospinal axon repair after injury
Authors: Romaus-Sanjurjo Daniel , Saikia Junmi M. , Kim Hugo J. , Tsai Kristen M. , Le Geneva Q. , Zheng Binhai
Published: April 2022

Although protein synthesis is hypothesized to have a pivotal role in axonal repair after central nervous system (CNS) injury, the role of core components of the protein synthesis machinery has not been examined. Notably, some elongation factors possess non-canonical functions that may further impact axonal repair. Here, we examined whether overexpressing eukaryotic elongation factor 1 alpha (eEF1A) proteins enhances the collateral sprouting of corticospinal tract (CST) neurons after unilateral pyramidotomy, along with the underlying molecular mechanisms. Compared with axonal regeneration from injured neurons, axonal sprouting from uninjured neurons occurs spontaneously after injury and may represent a more accessible form of axonal repair for clinical translation. We found that overexpressing eEF1A1, eEF1A2 or both proteins in CST neurons increased the levels of pS6, an indicator for mTOR activity, in neuronal somas. In contrast, the levels of pSTAT3 and pAKT were not increased. Strikingly, overexpressing eEF1A2 alone, but neither eEF1A1 alone nor both factors simultaneously, increased protein synthesis and actin rearrangement in CST neurons. While eEF1A1 overexpression only slightly enhanced CST sprouting across the midline into the denervated side in the cervical spinal after pyramidotomy, eEF1A2 overexpression substantially enhanced this sprouting. Surprisingly, co-overexpression of both eEF1A1 and eEF1A2 led to a sprouting phenotype similar to wild-type controls, suggesting an antagonistic effect of overexpressing both proteins. These data provide the first evidence that overexpressing a core component of the translation machinery, eEF1A2, enhances CST sprouting, likely by a combination of increased protein synthesis, mTOR signaling and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement.
Critical race theory, counter-accounting, and the emancipatory potential of counter-stories
Authors: Twyford Erin Jade , Tanima Farzana Aman , George Sendirella
Published: April 2022

Purpose

In this paper, the authors explore racialisation through human-centric counter-accounts (counter-stories) to bring together critical race theory (CRT) and counter-accounting.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilise CRT to demonstrate the emancipatory role of counter-stories in (re)telling racialized narratives, specifically the narrative of asylum seekers who arrive by sea and are subjected to the inhumane and oppressive nature of the Australian government's policy of offshore immigration detention.

Findings

Counter-stories, as tools of accountability, can make visible oppressive forces and the hidden practices of racialized social practices and norms.

Research limitations/implications

This paper emphasises that we are not in a post-racial world, and racialisation remains a fundamental challenge. We must continue to refute race as an ontological truth and strive to provide a platform for counter-stories that can spark or drive social change. This requires allies, including academics, to give that platform, support their plight, and offer avenues for change.

Originality/value

The authors introduce CRT as a theoretical tool for examining racialisation, opening space for a more critical confluence of accounting and race with potentially wide-reaching implications for our discipline. The paper also contributes to the limited accounting literature concerning asylum seekers, particularly in the use of counter-stories that offer a way of refuting, or challenging, the majoritarian/dominant narratives around asylum-seeking.
Prediction of hysteresis losses by an advanced vector hysteresis stop model with threshold surfaces
Authors: Xiao Xiao , Müller Fabian , Nell Martin Marco , Hameyer Kay
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The ordinary vector hysteresis stop model with constant threshold values is not able to prohibit the hysteretic property after the saturation correctly. This paper aims to develop an improved vector hysteresis stop model with threshold surfaces. This advanced anisotropic vector hysteresis stop model can represent the magnetic saturation properties and the hysteresis losses under alternating and rotating magnetizations.

Design/methodology/approach

By integrating anhysteretic surfaces into the elastic element of a vector hysteresis stop model, the anisotropy of the permeability of an electrical steel sheet can be represented. Instead of the commonly used constant threshold value for plastic elements of the hysteresis model, threshold surfaces are applied to the stop hysterons. The threshold surfaces can be derived directly from measured alternating major loops of the material sample. By saturated polarization, the constructed threshold surfaces are vanishing. In this way, the reversible magnetic flux density is in the same direction of the applied magnetic flux density. Thus, the saturation properties are satisfied.

Findings

Analyzing the measurements of the electrical steel sheets sample obtained from a rotational single sheet tester shows that the clockwise (CW) and counter-CW (CCW) rotational hysteresis losses decrease by saturated flux density. At this state, instead of the domain wall motion, the magnetization rotation is dominant in the material. As a result, the hysteresis losses, which are related to the domain wall motion, are vanished near the saturation. In one stop operator, the plastic element represents the hysteresis part of the model. Integrating threshold surface into the plastic element, the hysteresis part can be modified to zero near the saturation to represent the saturation properties.

Originality/value

The results of this work demonstrate that the presented vector hysteresis stop model allows simulation of anisotropic hysteresis effects, alternating and rotating hysteresis losses. The parameters of the hysteresis model are determined by comparing the measured and modeled minor loops in different alternating magnetization directions. With the identified parameters, the proposed model is excited with rotated excitations in CW and CCW directions. The rotated hysteresis losses, derived from the model, are then compared with those experimentally measured. The modified vector stop model can significantly improve the accuracy of representing hysteresis saturations and losses.
Direct and interaction effects of formal and informal institutions on interorganizational conflicts: evidence from Chinese firms
Authors: Wang Jiangang , Liu Fanghong
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of formal and informal institutional factors (i.e. marketization and guanxi culture) on interorganizational conflicts (IOCs) and their interaction effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on IOC literature and an institution-based view, the authors use a sample of 12,022 Chinese firms from the World Bank’s Investment Climate Survey. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results suggest that guanxi culture has U-shaped effects, but marketization does not negatively affect IOCs. Furthermore, a low level of marketization weakens the U-shaped effect of guanxi culture on IOCs. A moderate level of guanxi culture can enable marketization to reduce IOCs.

Practical implications

This study provides a better understanding of the management of IOCs. Managers should fully understand the differential effects of the institutional environment in different regions and their interactions by adopting different response strategies.

Originality/value

This study enriches the literature on IOCs’ antecedents and contextual factors by examining the institutions’ direct and interaction effects on IOCs.
Employing multiple delivery partners: demonstrating success through an event case study
Authors: Bradbury Trish , Bhattacharya Sam
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the efficacy of using sport-specific specialist multiple delivery partners (MDPs) contracted by the World Masters Games 2017 Limited (WMG2017) local organising committee (LOC) to deliver their event’s sport programme. Using the experiences and perspectives gained through this novel MDP approach, the objective of this research is to ascertain the benefits and challenges when using MDPs, propose recommendations and develop an MDP model to guide future event organisers who wish to engage MDPs.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory qualitative case study collected data via 23 semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analysed using NVivo11. Participants were purposively recruited from the 28 MDPs contracted by the LOC to deliver the Games sport programme and from the 7 LOC Executive Team members.

Findings

Interviewees highly commend the use of MDPs and provide constructive but minimal advice for future event organisers. Findings indicate that contracting external specialists with the required capability is vital for success, as are open communication, tools and practices to aid consistency and flexibility to allow the MDPs to utilise their expertise.

Originality/value

There is little specific literature on using MDPs by any type or size of event. As this mode of delivery could become more popular, certainly in second-tier events like the WMG, this study provides recommendations for future event organisers through findings on the efficacy, benefits and challenges of employing MDPs to deliver an event.
Does organizational form really matter to investment firms?
Authors: Han XiaoXiao , Lazrak Skander , Trabelsi Samir
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the organizational form of an investment management firm affects the performance of the mutual funds under its operation. More explicitly, this study aims to test whether funds managed by publicly listed firms achieve different risk-adjusted performance when compared with funds operated by privately held investment firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses Jensen's alpha to measure funds’ performance based on the Carhart’s (1997) benchmarks and market timing factors. The researchers test the relation between fund performance and organizational form using regressions. It alleviates the reverse causality and endogeneity using propensity score matching (PSM) methodology. The study investigates the difference in performance of funds managed by public firms on the post- vs pre- initial public offering (IPO) basis. Alternatively, this study tests the performance change post-public listing of the parent firm. It computes the difference for a matched sample of funds managed by private firms that were likely to go public but did not. The researchers match funds using PSM methodology.

Findings

This paper provides robust evidence that publicly traded management companies administer relatively under-performing mutual funds in comparison to those managed by privately held firms. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that confirms that organizational decision is endogenous to performance. The study finds that after a privately held company goes public, the performance of their mutual funds and the performance of the matched group funds, whose companies remained private at the same time, tends to decline, compared with companies prior to the public offering. However, the decline in mutual fund performance is larger for the companies who chose to pursue their IPO.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study to the literature is twofold. First, while there is a wealth of literature on the impact of ownership structures on corporate performance, there are very few studies focused on mutual fund markets, despite the evidence that supports a generally mixed effect. This study confirms that the performance of mutual funds managed by publicly traded investments firms is lower than that of funds managed by privately held firms. Second, the organizational decision (private vs public) is not exogenous but depends on the actual funds’ performance.
Impact of COVID-19 on tourism image, commitment and ownership: a longitudinal comparison
Authors: Balakrishnan Janarthanan , Sambasivan Murali
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the change in the relationship of cognitive destination image, affective destination image, destination psychological commitment and destination psychological ownership with intention to visit destination because of COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The research followed a longitudinal design with 424 samples collected in two phases (t1 – before COVID-19; t2 – during COVID-19). The hypotheses were analysed using structural equation modelling, and the difference between the models (before and during COVID-19) was estimated using multi-group analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that destination psychological ownership and affective destination image share higher significant relationships with intention to visit destination even during COVID-19.

Practical implications

The results have indicated the role of destination psychological ownership in building a sustainable campaign towards the visit intention even during a crisis.

Originality/value

The study contributes to understanding the difference of tourists intention to visit destination before and during COVID-19 from the lens of various theories such as psychological ownership, psychological commitment and destination image.
Ultrathin film formation under combined effect of surface roughness and surface force for elastohydrodynamic lubrication of point contact problems
Authors: Abd Alsamieh Mohamed
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the combined effect of surface force, solvation and Van der Waals forces and surface topography parameters of amplitude and wavelength on the formation of ultrathin films for elastohydrodynamic lubrication of point contact problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The Newton–Raphson technique is used to simultaneously solve the Reynolds’ film thickness including surface roughness and elastic deformation, surface force of solvation and Van der Waals forces and load balance equations. Different values of surface amplitude and wavelength were simulated in addition to the load variation.

Findings

The simulation results revealed that roughness effects are important as the film thickness decreases. The oscillation in the pressure and film thickness is due to the combined action of the solvation force and surface topography parameters. The limiting values of the surface topography parameters of the amplitude and wavelength varied and depended on the load. For different values of wavelength and load, amplitude values up to 0.25 nm have no effect on ultrathin film formation.

Originality/value

The combined effect of the surface force and surface roughness on the formation of ultrathin films was evaluated for elastohydrodynamic lubrication of point contact problems under different operating conditions of load and surface topography parameters of amplitude and wavelength. The limited surface topography parameters of the amplitude and wavelength are shown and analyzed.
Toward a resilient supply chain model: critical role of knowledge management and dynamic capabilities
Authors: Irfan Irfan , Sumbal Muhammad Saleem Ullah Khan , Khurshid Faisal , Chan Felix T.S.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Recent research has highlighted the beneficial role of supply chain resilience for ensuring efficient production and business processes. The purpose of this study is to explore enablers of supply chain resilience. In particular, the authors examine whether and how dynamic capabilities and knowledge management can help firms develop a resilient supply chain in times of high disruption and uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

A single longitudinal case study design was adopted. Data was collected over 8 years from a Pakistani textile producer and supplier through semi-structured interviews and was analyzed through NVivo to generate codes and themes that contributed to the development of the supply chain resilience model.

Findings

The analysis of case study shows that our focal firm strategically acquired, transferred and integrated market knowledge by investing in digital technologies and idiosyncratic resources and consequently developed a supply chain model that was resilient in addressing logistics and delivery challenges in uncertain & critical times.

Research limitations/implications

The study brings together three main research streams of organizational theory, namely supply chain, knowledge management and dynamic capabilities, and proposes a nuanced resilient supply chain model.

Practical implications

By applying the research findings, managers can adjust, develop and adopt supply chain resilience to address market volatilities, thereby creating value and longevity in their supply chain operations. However, the findings are context specific and should be applied cautiously.

Originality/value

The outcomes provide early hints on how companies in emerging economies can adopt and integrate novel digital technologies, and overhaul their organizational routines to facilitate knowledge management and develop dynamic capabilities, and consequently enhance the resilience of their supply chain operations.
Financial development and entrepreneurship: insights from Africa
Authors: Ajide Folorunsho M. , Ojeyinka Titus Ayobami
Published: April 2022

Purpose

One of the main obstacles to the flourishment of African entrepreneurship is financial constraint. Existing studies on the nexus between entrepreneurship and financial development are inconclusive, while the position of African economies remains unknown. The purpose of this paper is to empirically study the impact of financial development on entrepreneurship in Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes data of 20 selected countries in Africa over a period of 2006–2017. International Monetary Fund (IMF) data on broad-based financial development were combined with World Bank Entrepreneurship database. This study uses system generalized methods of moments (system GMM) technique and the recently developed dynamic panel threshold based on dynamic panel GMM.

Findings

The following findings emerged: financial development does not spur entrepreneurship in Africa; there is a threshold at which financial development improves the level of African entrepreneurship; and the tendency of financial development to improve the level of entrepreneurship is conditioned on conducive business regulation and strong institutional quality at a specific threshold value.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that examines the impact of financial development on entrepreneurship in Africa. This study shows that the financial development relies on the effectiveness of regulatory environment to extend loan and other financial services to new firm entrants. In addition, the results of this study reveal that the assumption of linearity in the nexus between finance and entrepreneurship is not tenable for the case of Africa. Therefore, policymakers should keep on developing African financial system to accelerate the pace of entrepreneurship development.
Tourism industry at times of crisis: a bibliometric approach and research agenda
Authors: Sampaio Carlos , Farinha Luís , Sebastião João Renato , Fernandes António
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented global turmoil and a halt on international tourism. This study aims to evaluate the scientific literature about tourism crisis and disasters and depicts how this research stream evolved in the face of economic, security, health, environmental or trust crises, further providing insights about a research agenda on this stream.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses bibliometric methods and topic models, specifically latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) methods to evaluate the nature and course of the tourism crises and disasters scientific literature. Data from 2,810 documents were retrieved from the Web of Science database and were used to perform the analysis.

Findings

The results show an increase of tourism crises and disasters scientific literature departing from 2010, and a surge in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, themes such as tourism competitiveness, tourism demand, crisis management, perceived risk, natural disasters and destination recovery are among the most relevant themes in the research line, showing that the effect of economic and financial crises on tourism industry, sustainable tourism and tourism demand are set to be among the most relevant in the upcoming years.

Research limitations/implications

This study fills a void in the tourism literature by providing a roadmap to understand the past, present and future of the tourism crises and disasters research line and the avenues for future research in this field, including methods, in the period post-COVID-19.

Originality/value

Previous studies on tourism crises and disasters were focused on literature review and on the relationship between crises and disasters and the tourism industry. This study uses a set of methods unused before in the research stream, namely, a combination of bibliometric methods and LDA methods, to provide a road map for the present state-of-the-art of tourism crises and disasters research and promising future research lines.
Developing and implementing a digital formulation informed risk management framework in mental health and learning disability services
Authors: Doyle Michael , Garnham Mike , Carter Sharon , Ventress Mike
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Risk assessment is a fundamental part of clinical practice in mental health and learning disability services in the UK. Most services use a tool or framework to structure their clinical judgments, but there does not appear to be a consensus on which risk assessment tool should be used. This paper aims to describe the development, implementation and evaluation of an evidence-based formulation informed risk management (FIRM) framework in mental health and LD services.

Design/methodology/approach

The development of FIRM and evaluation was based on the model for improvement, with an emphasis on co-production broken down into three distinct yet interdependent phases of co-production: co-design, co-create and co-deliver. Following the implementation of the FIRM framework, a post-implementation survey was distributed to a sample of clinical staff to capture experiences in the first three months post-implementation.

Findings

The three co-production stages were pivotal for successful implementation in clinical practice. The key ingredients for success seemed to be acknowledging human factors and varied responses to change, communication, engagement and involvement of stakeholders. Early evaluation post-implementation demonstrated the benefits in terms of confidence in use, formulation of risk, risk management and communication. Further quality improvement initiatives are underway to evaluate impact up to 12 months post-implementation and to improve the quality of FIRM in practice. Future research is planned to look at enhancing personalised risk assessment and management.

Originality/value

This paper describes and demonstrates the value of co-production with clinicians and stakeholders in service development. The FIRM has improved the clinical practice of risk assessment, formulation and management and use of digital technology.
Trade-based money laundering and informal remittance services: implications on the sustainability of the balance of payments of a small open economy
Authors: Jayasekara Sisira Dharmasri
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to discuss the consequences of trade-based money laundering (TBML) and informal remittance services on the sustainability of the position of balance of payments and net foreign assets of a small open economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a case study design using facts related to TBML and informal remittance services on the balance of payment and net foreign assets of Sri Lanka.

Findings

The contextual analysis reveals that the growth of the informal economy promotes informal remittance services in Sri Lanka. The policy decision to peg local currency to US dollars as a result of a shortage of foreign exchange had forced people to use informal channels for different purposes. The unclear and vague customer due diligence process of the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime also has forced people to use informal remittance services. Criminals especially drug traffickers have grabbed the promoted informal remittance services to transfer proceeds from Sri Lanka to overseas drug suppliers. On the other hand, systematic deficiencies in monitoring and regulation of movement of fund transfers and merchandise across borders provide opportunities for criminals to use different TBML techniques to transfer funds. These limitations force policymakers and regulators to think of developing a comprehensive payment ecosystem to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. Therefore, the global initiative is required to move towards a payment ecosystem from a recommendation-based AML/CFT regime to reduce global crimes.

Research limitations/implications

This study was designed to discuss the implications of TBML and informal remittance services on the balance of payments and net foreign assets in a small open economy. The structure and size of the economy, the strength of the overall economy and the AML/CFT regime will play an important role in controlling criminal activities and combating money laundering of an economy; hence, the impact of TBML and informal remittance services will vary accordingly across the countries

Originality/value

This paper is an original work done by the authors, which discusses the implications of TBML and informal remittance services on the balance of payments and net foreign assets of an emerging market context.
Facilitating free and paid vaccine acceptance in Malaysia: effectiveness of vaccine and fear of COVID-19
Authors: Lee Soon Li
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine how demographic and psychological predictors of free and paid vaccine acceptance operate within an infectious environment. The psychological predictors were derived from the protection motivation theory (PMT), including the appraised effectiveness of vaccine in containing the pandemic and the fear of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

A representative data set that consists of responses from 2,850 Malaysians was used in this study. Multi-level modelling was used to analyse the data.

Findings

Results indicated that the acceptance of free and paid vaccination did not differ by region. This suggests that the effects of the included psychological predictors on vaccine acceptance are independent from the environment. Malaysians are more likely to endorse both free and paid vaccination when it is perceived as effective in controlling the pandemic. When the vaccine is deemed as an effective preventive of COVID-19, Malaysians tend to seek free vaccination. Although fear of COVID-19 did significantly predict the endorsement of vaccination, it is a weaker predictor than the perceived effectiveness of vaccine.

Originality/value

This research used a large representative data set and the PMT framework in addressing vaccine acceptance in Malaysia.
Busy boards and accounting conservatism – an Australian perspective
Authors: Le Quyen , Vafaei Alireza , Ahmed Kamran , Kutubi Shawgat
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the association between busy directors on corporate boards and accounting conservatism.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a sample of 500 firms listed on the Australian Security Exchange from 2004 to 2019. The busyness of non-executive directors is proxied by three indicators. For accounting conservatism, the authors use both conditional and unconditional accounting conservatism via asymmetric timeliness of earnings, accrual-based loss recognition, cumulative total accruals and book-to-market ratio. The authors cluster the standard errors at the firm level to compensate for potential residuals’ dependency and heteroscedasticity, in addition to analysing the main models using year and industry fixed effects (Petersen, 2009). Separately, the authors look at the impact of female busy directors on firms’ adoption of conservative accounting methods. Both propensity score matching analyses and Heckman (1979) two-stage approach systematically address endogeneity issues.

Findings

The presence of busy directors on boards leads to greater unconditional conservatism and less conditional conservatism. The relationships between busy female directors with both conditional and unconditional conservatism remain consistent with the main findings.

Practical implications

This paper provides useful insights for shareholders, regulators and accounting standards setters to better evaluate busy directors’ effectiveness in monitoring firms’ financial reporting quality. Directors and the companies themselves can refer to the authors’ findings to decide the best structure for their boards and committees, considering their specific monitoring requirements. Given that no mandatory restriction has been legislated, improved policies or new ones will ensure that busy directors can effectively fulfil their duties.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the broader research theme by examining the influence of directors’ quality on financial reporting conservatism. It also contributes to the ongoing debate in the corporate finance literature regarding the experience and busyness hypotheses of directors with multiple directorships. Additionally, this research adds value to gender diversity research by finding evidence that female busy directors follow the same pattern of reporting conservatism as male busy directors.
A tech takeover: Alibaba and the transforming work culture of the South China Morning Post
Authors: Shum Holy Hoi-ki
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The influx of mainland capital to different media sectors in Hong Kong has been commonly seen throughout the last decade (Leung, 2019). While the changes in ownership have been shaping the ecology of Hong Kong’s media industry, the rapid development of digital technology such as the internet and social media has also been important in the industry’s transformation. This study aims to investigate how and to what extent technology has shaped the Hong Kong media work culture.

Design/methodology/approach

Alibaba, the powerful e-commerce conglomerate, has sought to advance its development in the media industry and leverage its technological expertise by acquiring the century-old Hong Kong English-language newspaper, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in 2016. This essay, by using the SCMP as a case study, focuses on the workers and their use of technologies in their daily work practices, which offers an alternative lens to investigate the influence of a Chinese tech ownership in transforming a Hong Kong media outlet’s culture.

Findings

This case study illustrates how the implementation of Alibaba work culture at the SCMP through technological application remained minimal over the four years following this Chinese tech giant’s acquisition, whereas a Silicon Valley-style start-up culture and techno-organisational gaze were profoundly found at this workplace and received both acceptance and resistance by the employees.

Originality/value

This study results in a revealing unique type of techno-organisational culture change that deviates from the previous Chinese organisational studies within and outside the Chinese contexts.