bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longevity of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody in Health Care Workers: 6-Months Follow Up
Authors: Brant-Zawadzki Michael , Fridman Deborah , Robinson Philip A. , German Randy , Shapiro Arell , Breit Marcus , Wilton Stacy , Burke Elmira , Bock Jason R. , Hara Junko
Published: August 2021

The prevalence and longevity of acquired immunity to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in health care workers (HCWs) is of great interest, especially with the roll-out of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2. Determining such immunity may enhance knowledge about susceptibility of HCWs to COVID-19, frequency of vaccine administration, and degree of workplace risk, and may also support enactment of better workplace policies and procedures.

The present study reports on 6-months follow-up serosurveillance to determine the longevity of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in HCWs.

Sub-sample (n=35) of the original serosurveillance in HCWs (n = 3,458) with baseline, 8-week, and 6-month blood sampling were analyzed. Information on job duties, location, COVID-19 symptoms, polymerase chain reaction test history, travel since January 2020, and household contacts with COVID-19 was collected.

Of 35 subjects, 13 were seropositive at baseline and maintained positivity at 8-week follow-up, with 3 losing positivity at 6-month follow-up. Among 22 subjects who were seronegative at baseline and seropositive at 8-week follow-up, all but one maintained positivity at 6-month follow-up. There was no significant effect of all factors (e.g., age, gender, job duties) examined at the .05 level on seropositivity at 6-month follow-up. The observed antibody longevity was 7.0+/-0.6 months for seropositive subjects (n=13), and 4.5+/-0.8 months for those seronegative subjects (n=22), at baseline. The longest duration of seropositivity observed in this cohort was 7.9 months (236 days).

With reported COVID-19-related symptoms up to 4.7 months prior to baseline blood sampling, possibly longer antibody presence is suggested. Similarly, seropositivity at 6-month follow-up further suggests greater antibody longevity than observed in this study.
Multiscale modeling of tumor adaption and invasion following anti-angiogenic therapy
Authors: Cess Colin G. , Finley Stacey D.
Published: August 2021

In order to promote continued growth, a tumor must recruit new blood vessels, a process known as tumor angiogenesis. Many therapies have been tested that aim to inhibit tumor angiogenesis, thus starving the tumor of nutrients and preventing tumor growth. However, many of these therapies have been unsuccessful and can paradoxically further tumor development by leading to increased local tumor invasion and metastasis. In this study, we use agent-based modeling to examine how hypoxic and acidic conditions following anti-angiogenic therapy can influence tumor development. Under these conditions, we find that cancer cells experience a phenotypic shift to a state of higher survival and invasive capability, spreading further away from the tumor into surrounding tissue. Although anti-angiogenic therapy alone promotes tumor cell adaptation and invasiveness, we find that augmenting chemotherapy with anti-angiogenic therapy improves chemotherapeutic response and delays the time it takes for the tumor to regrow. Overall, we use computational modeling to explain the behavior of tumor cells in response to anti-angiogenic treatment in the dynamic tumor microenvironment.
Epitopedia: identifying molecular mimicry between pathogens and known immune epitopes
Authors: Balbin Christian A , Nunez-Castilla Janelle , Stebliankin Vitalii , Baral Prabin , Sobhan Masrur , Cickovski Trevor , Mondal Ananda Mohan , Narasimhan Giri , Chapagain Prem , Mathee Kalai , Siltberg-Liberles Jessica
Published: August 2021

Upon infection, foreign antigenic proteins stimulate the host’s immune system to produce antibodies targeting the pathogen. These antibodies bind to regions on the antibody called epitopes. Structural similarity (molecular mimicry) of epitopes between an infecting pathogen and host proteins or other pathogenic proteins the host has previously encountered can impact the host immune response to the pathogen and may lead to cross-reactive antibodies. The ability to identify potential regions of molecular mimicry in a pathogen can illuminate immune effects which are especially important to pathogen treatment and vaccine design. Here we present Epitopedia, a software pipeline that facilitates the identification of regions that may exhibit potential three-dimensional molecular mimicry between an antigenic pathogen protein and known immune epitopes as catalogued by the immune epitope database (IEDB). Epitopedia is open-source software released under the MIT license and is freely available on GitHub, including a Docker container with all other software dependencies preinstalled. We performed an analysis describing how various secondary structure states, identity between pentapeptide pairs, and identity between the parent sequences of pentapeptide pairs affects RMSD. We found that pentapeptides pairs in a helical conformation had considerably lower RMSD values than those in Extended or Coil conformations. We also found that RMSD is significantly increased when pentapeptide pairs are from non-homologous sequences.
Extrinsic KRAS signaling shapes the pancreatic microenvironment through fibroblast reprogramming
Authors: Velez-Delgado Ashley , Donahue Katelyn L. , Brown Kristee L. , Du Wenting , Irizarry-Negron Valerie , Menjivar Rosa E. , Lasse Opsahl Emily L. , Steele Nina G. , The Stephanie , Lazarus Jenny , Sirihorachai Veerin R. , Yan Wei , Kemp Samantha B. , Kerk Samuel A. , Bollampally Murali , Lima Fatima , Lyssiotis Costas A. , Rao Arvind , Crawford Howard C. , Bednar Filip , Frankel Timothy L. , Zhang Yaqing , Pasca di Magliano Marina
Published: August 2021

Oncogenic KRAS is the hallmark mutation of human pancreatic cancer and a driver of tumorigenesis in genetically engineered mouse models of the disease. While the tumor cell-intrinsic effects of oncogenic Kras expression have been widely studied, its role in regulating the extensive pancreatic tumor microenvironment is less understood. Using a genetically engineered mouse model of inducible and reversible oncogenic Kras expression and a combination of approaches that include mass cytometry and single cell RNA sequencing, we have discovered that non-cell autonomous (i.e., extrinsic) oncogenic KRAS signaling reprograms pancreatic fibroblasts, activating an inflammatory gene expression program. As a result, fibroblasts become a hub of extracellular signaling, mediating the polarization and function of pro-tumorigenic myeloid cells while also preventing tissue repair. Our study provides fundamental new knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the formation of the fibroinflammatory stroma in pancreatic cancer and highlights stromal pathways with the potential to be exploited therapeutically.
Subsurface Hydrocarbon Degradation Strategies in Low- and High-Sulfate Coal Seam Communities Identified with Activity-Based Metagenomics
Authors: Schweitzer Hannah , Smith Heidi , Barnhart Elliott P. , McKay Luke , Gerlach Robin , Cunningham Alfred B. , Malmstrom Rex R. , Goudeau Danielle , Fields Matthew W.
Published: August 2021

Environmentally relevant metagenomes and BONCAT-FACS derived translationally active metagenomes from Powder River Basin coal seams were investigated to elucidate potential genes and functional groups involved in hydrocarbon degradation to methane in coal seams with high- and low-sulfate levels. An advanced subsurface environmental sampler allowed the establishment of coal-associated microbial communities underin situconditions for metagenomic analyses from environmental and translationally active populations. Metagenomic sequencing demonstrated that biosurfactants, aerobic dioxygenases, and anaerobic phenol degradation pathways were present in active populations across the sampled coal seams. In particular, results suggested the importance of anaerobic degradation pathways under high-sulfate conditions with an emphasis on fumarate addition. Under low-sulfate conditions, a mixture of both aerobic and anaerobic pathways were observed but with a predominance of aerobic dioxygenases. The putative low-molecular weight biosurfactant, lichysein, appeared to play a more important role compared to rhamnolipids. The methods used in this study—subsurface environmental samplers in combination with metagenomic sequencing of both total and translationally active metagenomes—offer a deeper and environmentally relevant perspective on community genetic potential from coal seams poised at different redox conditions broadening the understanding of degradation strategies for subsurface carbon.

One Sentence Summary

Identifying hydrocarbon degradation strategies across different redox conditions via metagenomic analysis of environmental and translationally active (BONCAT-FACS) samples from subsurface coal beds.
An efficient and robust HPLC method to determine the sialylation levels of human epithelial cells
Authors: Kim Hyo Jeong , Schweiker Stephanie , Powell Katie , Levonis Stephan M
Published: August 2021

Sialyltransferase, an enzyme responsible for attaching sialic acid to the cell surface, is reported to play a key role in cancer, making sialyltransferase a potent therapeutic target in drug development for cancer. Hence, this paper aimed to develop a simple method to detect and quantify sialic acids in cancer cells. An efficient method was developed using a reverse-phase ion-pairing HPLC-UV using triisopropanolamine as the ion-pairing agent with a C18 column. Neu5Ac was successfully eluted with the retention time 6.344 min with a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The proposed method was validated appropriately according to the AOAC guidelines (2013). This work demonstrates that the proposed method is not only relatively simple but also cost and time effective compared to pre-existing methods to successfully determine both free and protein-bound Neu5Ac in a complex cancer cell matrix. Furthermore, by applying the proposed method, a statistically significant decrease was observed for both HeLa and HuCCT1 cell lines with the application of deoxycholic acid – a known sialyltransferase inhibitor. Hence, the proposed method may be applicable to evaluate the effectiveness of sialyltransferase inhibitors.
A tetrameric assembly of saposin A: increasing structural diversity in lipid transfer proteins
Authors: Shamin Maria , Spratley Samantha J. , Graham Stephen C. , Deane Janet E.
Published: August 2021

Saposins are lipid transfer proteins required for the degradation of sphingolipids in the lysosome. These small proteins bind lipids by transitioning from a closed, monomeric state to an open conformation exposing a hydrophobic surface that binds and shields hydrophobic lipid tails from the aqueous environment. Saposins form a range of multimeric assemblies to encompass these bound lipids and present them to hydrolases in the lysosome. This lipid-binding property of human saposin A has been exploited to form lipoprotein nanodiscs suitable for structural studies of membrane proteins. Here we present the crystal structure of a unique tetrameric assembly of murine saposin A produced serendipitously, following modifications of published protocols for making lipoprotein nanodiscs. The structure of this new saposin oligomer highlights the diversity of tertiary arrangement that can be adopted by these important lipid transfer proteins.
Stop codon recoding is widespread in diverse phage lineages and has the potential to regulate translation of late stage and lytic genes
Authors: Borges Adair L. , Lou Yue Clare , Sachdeva Rohan , Al-Shayeb Basem , Jaffe Alexander L. , Lei Shufei , Santini Joanne M. , Banfield Jillian F.
Published: August 2021

The genetic code is a highly conserved feature of life. However, some “alternative” genetic codes use reassigned stop codons to code for amino acids. Here, we survey stop codon recoding across bacteriophages (phages) in human and animal gut microbiomes. We find that stop codon recoding has evolved in diverse clades of phages predicted to infect hosts that use the standard code. We provide evidence for an evolutionary path towards recoding involving reduction in the frequency of TGA and TAG stop codons due to low GC content, followed by acquisition of suppressor tRNAs and the emergence of recoded stop codons in structural and lysis genes. In analyses of two distinct lineages of recoded virulent phages, we find that lysis-related genes are uniquely biased towards use of recoded stop codons. This convergence supports the inference that stop codon recoding is a strategy to regulate the expression of late stage genes and control lysis timing. Interestingly, we identified prophages with recoded stop codons integrated into genomes of bacteria that use standard code, and hypothesize that recoding may control the lytic-lysogenic switch. Alternative coding has evolved many times, often in closely related lineages, indicating that genetic code is plastic in bacteriophages and adaptive recoding can occur over very short evolutionary timescales.
Crossover patterning through kinase-regulated condensation and coarsening of recombination nodules
Authors: Zhang Liangyu , Stauffer Weston , Zwicker David , Dernburg Abby F.
Published: August 2021

Meiotic recombination is highly regulated to ensure precise segregation of homologous chromosomes. Evidence from diverse organisms indicates that the synaptonemal complex (SC), which assembles between paired chromosomes, plays essential roles in crossover formation and patterning. Several additional “pro-crossover” proteins are also required for recombination intermediates to become crossovers. These typically form multiple foci or recombination nodules along SCs, and later accumulate at fewer, widely spaced sites. Here we report that in C. elegans CDK-2 is required to stabilize all crossover intermediates and stabilizes interactions among pro-crossover factors by phosphorylating MSH-5. Additionally, we show that the conserved RING domain proteins ZHP-3/4 diffuse along the SC and remain dynamic following their accumulation at recombination sites. Based on these and previous findings we propose a model in which recombination nodules arise through spatially restricted biomolecular condensation and then undergo a regulated coarsening process, resulting in crossover interference.
The standalone and resource-bundling effects of government and nongovernment institutional support on early internationalizing firms’ performance
Authors: Faroque Anisur R. , Sultana Hafiza , Ahmed Jashim Uddin , Ahmed Farhad Uddin , Rahman Mahabubur
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the individual and joint effects of institutional support by government and nongovernment institutions on early internationalizing firms’ (EIFs) performance. It also investigated the moderating impact of firm age and size on the institutional support-firms’ export performance relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 705 EIFs in the apparel industry of Bangladesh and analyzed with hierarchical regression.

Findings

The positive influence of institutional support on exporting firms’ financial performance is stronger for the joint effect of government and nongovernment assistance than the individual impact. Firms’ size positively moderates the impact of individual government and nongovernment assistance, while age positively moderates their resource-bundling effect.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest the necessity of integrating resources from diverse but complementary sources of institutional support for superior export performance. The findings also show the presence of the liability of smallness and liability of newness in the standalone and joint influence of institutional support, respectively.

Practical implications

Firms need to bundle resources obtained from the government (unrequited) and nongovernment (reciprocal) institutional support to overcome the liability of smallness they might encounter while availing of support from only one source.

Originality/value

Distinguishing between government and nongovernment institutional support, this paper sheds light on exporting firms’ resource-bundling mechanism for these two sources of support in the backdrop of an emerging economy. It also offers fresh insights into the critical role of the liabilities of newness and smallness in early internationalization, especially with regard to the home-country institutional environment.
Characterisation of the drivers of environmental management system implementation
Authors: Oladinrin Olugbenga Timo , Ojo Lekan Damilola
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The detrimental impacts of the construction industry activities, namely, toxicity of cement and concrete to the health of construction workers and the general public, have been reported in previous studies. Several environmental management measures were put in place by international organisations to reduce these impacts on humans and the entire ecosystem. Sadly, such environmental management measures are not widely embraced in the construction industry of developing countries. This contributes to the poor quality of life of construction stakeholders, amongst other outcomes. Therefore, this study investigated the drivers to facilitate an environmental management system (EMS) in the Nigerian construction industry (NCI).

Design/methodology/approach

questionnaires retrieved from construction professionals in the micro, small, medium and large enterprises were used to conduct both descriptive and inferential statistics, namely, mean score, standard deviation, Kruskal–Wallis H test, post hoc test and factor analysis.

Findings

The analyses show that the drivers of EMS implementation in the NCI could be grouped into intellectual enhancement strategies, documentation and cultural strategies, and motivation and tracking strategies. The study concluded that training and education of relevant stakeholders, tracking compliance levels of organisations and recognising firms acting in compliance with stipulated “environmental” policy are essential. It was recommended that the collaboration of all construction stakeholders be upheld to aid EMS implementation in the NCI.

Originality/value

This paper investigated the drivers of EMS with the opinions of construction professionals in the mainstream of the NCI through survey using to ensure wide coverage of respondents. Investigating the view of construction professionals in the micro, small, medium and large enterprises helped determine possible significant differences. Thus, practical implications of the study were also provided in a systematic manner.
Seeking reliable services: a case of natural gas distribution utility
Authors: Asia Narpat , Paliwal Pramod , Shukla Yupal
Published: August 2021

Learning outcomes

The learning outcome of this paper are as follows: enabling students to learn about business and marketing issues of the natural gas distribution industry. To expose students to organizational processes aimed at finding solutions to customer issues. To make them appreciate the aspects of service quality and SERVQUAL model. To make the students aware of the significance of market research for problem-solving. How to use market research findings to address the customer issues? Enabling the students to learn how cross-functional teams contribute to addressing marketing and customer issues. Students should appreciate how to study towards creating a customer-centric organization with an organization-wide commitment including that from the top leadership.

Case overview/synopsis

Abhay Shankar, Sr. Manager-Customer Service at Reliable Gas Company Limited a state government piped natural gas (PNG) distribution utility whose customer service department is concerned about the provision of best service to its PNG domestic customers. Domestic customers are low volume but largest in numbers and are considered to be a tough, demanding customer segment. A general opinion among the marketing team of the company is that they are trying their best to serve its customers and that their efforts are no less than their private sector counterpart global gas customer service efforts. Abhay is in dilemma on what to do to improve customer services?

Complexity academic level

Masters students.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS: 8 Marketing.
Same storm, different boats! The impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of school communities
Authors: O’Toole Catriona , Simovska Venka
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the functioning of education systems in a multitude of ways. In Ireland schools closed on March 12th and remained closed for the remainder of the academic year. During this time educators engaged with students, families and colleagues in new and diverse ways. The purpose of this study was to explore educators' experiences during the closures, particularly regarding the impact of the pandemic on the wellbeing of students, school staff and wider school communities.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of one-to-one interviews, lasting approximately one hour, were conducted in July 2020 with 15 education professionals online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Participants occupied various roles (classroom teacher, school leader, special educational needs coordinator, etc.) and worked in a diverse range of communities in Ireland. Qualitative data from interviews were transcribed and emergent themes identified through an inductive followed by deductive analytic approach.

Findings

The interviews highlighted the central role that schools play in supporting their local communities and the value teachers place on their relationships with students and families. Many teachers and school leaders found themselves grappling with new identities and professional boundaries as they worked to support, care for and connect with the students and families they serve. There was considerable concern expressed regarding the plight of vulnerable or marginalised students for whom the school ordinarily offered a place of safety and security.

Originality/value

The findings reveal how COVID-19 has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and the central role of schools in promoting the health and wellbeing of all its members.
Charity and debt behaviors comparison: perception of low-income households
Authors: Arsyianti Laily Dwi , Kassim Salina
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate low-income households in Indonesia with regard to their perspective on charity-giving and its comparison with acquiring debt behavior as their tendencies on taking and giving behaviors toward monetary form. The research framework is seen from the Islamic perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Theory of social production function and theory of planned behavior are used as a theoretical framework. A total of 98.89% of the distributed questionnaires were collected and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Behavior of giving charity and acquiring debt are compared according to the given determinants.

Findings

Under the given Islamic framework, charity is found to be not confined to the donor’s wealth. It is rather centered on religiosity and faith. Subjective norm does not influence intention toward charity. Hence, it only depends on consideration and awareness of a person toward regular giving of charity. Unlike debt that is confined by a person’s wealth, the intention to take debt consecutively of low-income households are also affected by their attitudes, significant others and experiences.

Research limitations/implications

Respondents are residents of six Indonesian territories that represent West, Middle and East Indonesia.

Practical implications

Findings are useful for social, as well as microfinance practitioners who are interested in the financial education on low-income households and study their perspective and behavior.

Social implications

This paper indirectly contributes to changing the perspective of society about charity-giving, especially in philanthropy subject. This paper is also highly recommended for regulator’s input on financial education, as well as for practitioners, consultants and educators.

Originality/value

Charity basically can assist low-income households experiencing financial hardship, which may be the consequence of consecutive taking debt. Most of the studies on charity-giving focus on high-income households, likewise the debt behavior. Charity-giving in voluntary form is also not widely discussed in view of behavior, specifically in Asian countries like Indonesia.
Customer expectations of unattended grocery delivery services: mapping forms and determinants
Authors: Olsson John , Osman Mary Catherine , Hellström Daniel , Vakulenko Yulia
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In the rapidly growing e-grocery segment, unattended delivery is an emerging practice with the potential to offer a superior delivery experience. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the body of knowledge for unattended grocery delivery services by empirically identifying and describing the forms and determinants of customer expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study of potential early adopters was conducted to explore customer expectations of unattended grocery delivery services. Empirical data collected from direct observations and semi-structured interviews with ten Swedish households were coded and put through a single-case as well as a cross-case analysis revealing emerging patterns from which propositions were formed.

Findings

The iteration of theory and data in the case study resulted in a conceptual model of service expectations and determinants, containing six propositions. The study reveals a clear pattern that consumers expect to save time, gain flexibility and benefit from the ease of use of the service, while they predict sufficient security. Moreover, consumers’ desire open access features from retailers and service providers, integrated product returns service and nondescript hardware designs. The findings suggest that these service expectations are determined by personal needs, technology literacy and situational factors. The identified personal needs are stress reduction, limiting social interaction and increasing spare time.

Research limitations/implications

To support further theory development, this study presents six propositions for the types, forms and determinants of customer expectations of unattended grocery delivery.

Practical implications

This study provides managers with up-to-date insights into customer expectations and offers guidance in designing and developing unattended grocery delivery services.

Originality/value

This study contains the first in-depth analysis of customer expectations of unattended grocery delivery services, which are increasingly used for last mile e-grocery delivery.
Management Control Systems and Innovation: a levers of control analysis in an innovative company
Authors: Barros Rúben Silva , Ferreira Ana Maria Dias Simões da Costa
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Building on the growing body of research that has addressed management control systems and innovation, the purpose of this study is to assess the extent and nature of the use of controls in an innovative setting and how they work together unveiling the relationships and tensions amongst the Simons’ levers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study resorts to an in-depth and single case study in a company that has both a strong orientation to innovation and stable control practices in place. Evidence was collected from 32 interviews, visits to the company and internal documentation.

Findings

At the case company, it was possible to find the presence of controls according to all the levers of control. Likewise, joint effects of controls used according to interactive and beliefs approaches and diagnostic and boundary controls showed a consistent reinforcement that push the organization in a single direction. Signs of some countervailing reinforcement between these pairs were also detected, creating tensions. This in general shows that innovation can be weighed against the necessity of goal achievement taking place within fields in which the company can exploit the effort developed.

Originality/value

This study documents the collective use of controls in a context in which innovation is needed and how the combination of the levers of control with their inner workings and tensions allow the company to have a corporate environment of innovation that is friendly.
New technology and tourism industry innovation: evidence from audio-visual patented technologies
Authors: Pantano Eleonora , Stylidis Dimitrios
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Patenting behaviour in the tourism sector has received little academic attention due to a wider belief that innovation in tourism commonly involves improving the services in ways that are hardly patentable. This paper aims to address this oversight by focusing on patent analysis as means to evaluate the innovation trends in tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on an analysis of historical series of patents worldwide from 1996 to 2016, this paper explores the trends in the tourism sector by focusing on audio-visual technologies. The study used an evaluation of the 8,785 emerging patents, in terms of co-occurrences, applying hierarchical cluster analysis, factor analysis and multidimensional scaling.

Findings

The findings suggest that there is a gradually increasing interest in innovation in tourism, which is growing faster than most of the other sectors explored here such as transportation and pharmaceuticals. The outputs also reveal the inventive effort of tourism industry in new technologies for developing utility models for tourists.

Originality/value

The study contributes to tourism theory and practice by offering an overview of current/future applications of new technologies in tourism along with future trends, and mapping the main areas that these technologies might affect.
Exchanging knowledge in the TMT to realize more innovation opportunities: what can family firms do?
Authors: Rondi Emanuela , Rovelli Paola
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence that family firms’ top management team (TMT) behavior and characteristics exert on their innovation opportunity realization.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a survey addressed to a representative sample of Italian firms. The analyzed sample consists of 237 firms, 120 of which are family firms. A series of ordinary least squares models were used to test the four hypotheses.

Findings

Family firms realize fewer innovation opportunities than non-family firms. This result is fully mediated by the knowledge exchange in the TMT as follows: in family firms, the TMT exchanges less knowledge than in non-family firms, which drives their lower realization of innovation opportunities. In family firms TMT, the increase in the non-family members positively influences the TMT knowledge exchange, but only when the time the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) spends in searching for innovation opportunities outside the firm is low. The more the CEO search increases, the more this positive influence decreases, up to the point it becomes negative.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to the literature on innovation, knowledge management and organizational design in family firms. Nevertheless, data were collected at a single point in time and in a single country.

Practical implications

The study suggests family firms on how to foster the realization of innovation opportunities. A greater TMT knowledge exchange allows to realize more innovation opportunities and the TMT characteristics emerged as the drivers of this TMT knowledge exchange. As such, family firms should examine the interaction of their TMT composition in terms of non-family and family members with the effort that the CEO deploys to search for innovation opportunities outside the firm.

Originality/value

Empirical investigation of the link between family ownership, absorptive capacity and innovation performance by considering TMT behavior and characteristics.
Modeling the dynamical ethnic processes in multinational society
Authors: Tursyngaliyeva Gulim , Sagindykov Kakim , Konyrkhanova Assem , Niyazova Rozamgul , Sydykova Ainur
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The problem of ethnic conflicts and unrest is at the forefront in a diverse world today. This paper aims to identify ways of resolving social conflicts and establishing a balanced way of taking into account the diverse interests of a multinational society.

Design/methodology/approach

Modeling of dynamical ethnic processes in the Republic of Kazakhstan was based on the Parson's sociological scheme and the Nash equilibrium theory. The model consists of differential equations describing the development of four ethnic subsystems: political system, economic system, societal community and Institute of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan. This model allows investigating how the interests of various ethnic groups change over time and identifying the states of equilibrium in which the interests of all groups are satisfied.

Findings

The results of computer simulation showed that one of the solutions to the problem of social stability is establishing social equilibrium. For this, the Institute of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK Institute) must take changes that occur within ethnic groups into account. The proposed model can reveal states of equilibrium with respect to positive and negative dynamic processes that exist between different ethnic groups.

Originality/value

The proposed model can be used to predict changes in social behavior and find balance between ethnic subsystems in the research on ethnic processes in multinational countries to early detect conflicts of interest and crisis situations. Future studies will benefit from expanding the range of subsystems that can affect alterations in the ethnic community.
The concept of money laundering: a quest for legal definition
Authors: Korejo Muhammad Saleem , Rajamanickam Ramalinggam , Md. Said Muhamad Helmi
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the concept of money laundering and explores the evolution and expansion of criminalization of predicate offences to the money laundering within the international anti-money laundering (AML) regime over the time. It proposes how to limit the size and scope of predicate offences in designing a balanced legal definition.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper opted a content analysis focussed on the criminalization aspect of offences to money laundering in the international AML regime under the United Nations Conventions (Vienna, Palermo and Corruption Convention) and Financial Action Task Force Standards.

Findings

This paper provides how the criminalization of money laundering has evolved and its definition expanded over the time. The international definition is widely drafted with wide range of predicate offences from proceeds of drug money to corruption, including terrorist financing and terrorist acts; however, the two phenomena – money laundering and terrorist financing are quiet distinct apart. This continual expansion of predicate offences quite leads legality issues such as over-criminalization and conflict with principles of criminal law. This paper suggests an approach to limit the size and scope of predicate offences to money laundering.

Practical implications

This paper includes implications for the development of a balanced approach in defining predicate offences through a qualitative limitation approach consistent with the minimalist theory of penalization of criminal law.

Originality/value

This paper attains an identified issue how the legal definition of the money laundering offence can be improved while considering rule of law and principles of criminal law concerns.
Opportunities for academic smart libraries in the Caribbean
Authors: Duncan Adrian St. Patrick
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper hinged on the concept of smart libraries and their development for the furtherance of information access, dissemination and information resources and services delivery in Caribbean libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

To conduct this research, the literature of smart libraries and technologically driven and their application in libraries were reviewed by examining existing literature on information and communication technologies and technology in libraries.

Findings

The literature highlighted that this technological advancement is not yet fully on stream in academic libraries of the Caribbean owing to the lack of financial, technological and organizational resources. It further outlined that certain aspects of library automation are fostered through the inclusion of technology.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is that only academic libraries of the Caribbean region were assessed. Other regions should be explored in future research.

Originality/value

The concept of smart libraries is an emerging issue with limited scope for scrutiny; a systematic and extensive review of recent research on smart in libraries is unavailable. This paper presents an overview of smart libraries or technologically driven libraries, its findings for potential research opportunities and development for academic libraries. In addition, it will build on the body of knowledge that is presently non-existent on smart libraries in the Caribbean.
Omani graduates’ English communication skills: employers’ perspectives
Authors: Al Riyami Thuraya Khalifa
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore employers’ views on the current English communication skills of higher education institutions (HEIs) graduates in Oman and to identify the workplace communication challenges encountered by graduates of these institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a mixed-methods approach. In the first phase of the study, a questionnaire was distributed to 50 employers in different government and private sectors. In the second phase of the study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 employers to get clarification on some of the issues that were raised in the questionnaire and get the employers’ opinions about how to improve the communication skills of Omani graduates and what initiatives HEIs can take to achieve that.

Findings

The study revealed that Omani graduates encounter many challenges in the workplace, including low proficiency in English, lack of research skills and persuasive skills and inappropriate use of language during meetings and events.

Research limitations/implications

HEIs should foster a relationship with the job market through continuous meetings to seek their feedback on English courses so that they can improve them to cater to specific job requirements.

Originality/value

The higher education system in Oman has achieved substantial growth in terms of quantity, including the number of institutions, enrolled students, hired teachers and specialisations. This growth of HEIs highlights the necessity of preparing Omani citizens who are capable of participating in the ongoing development in Oman and to this end, English communication skills are critical.
m-Government experience: a qualitative study in India
Authors: Kumar Rajiv , Mukherjee Arindam , Sachan Amit
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand and interpret the fundamental meanings attached to consumer behavior through m-Government (m-Gov) experience and to derive insights. The study explores the extent to which the emergence of m-Gov is able to change citizens established behavior of accessing government services primarily focusing on experience as an important driver.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used qualitative methods, and data were collected using semi-structured interviews of m-Gov users. Participants were identified through purposive sampling. Themes are identified from the collected data using thematic analysis.

Findings

The study reveals that m-Gov experience is highly satisfying since it meets citizens' expectations. The findings highlight that in many aspects, m-Gov services provide improved experiences compared to the traditional government and conventional e-Government (e-Gov) services (accessing public services from computers and laptop). The study also reveals a few negative experiences with m-Gov services, like limitations in the use of mobile devices due to their small screen size and high memory consumption, etc.

Research limitations/implications

The qualitative method used in this study focuses clearly on unearthing depth and richness of understanding rather than the breadth of generalization. The sample size is apt for drawing reasonable conclusions. Scholars and information systems researchers may use some insights for future research.

Practical implications

m-Gov services in a developing economy like India is a new and emerging area for managers. The findings about the elements of m-Gov experience and how the experience influences citizens' acceptance decisions will benefit managers and policymakers in implementing m-Gov services or projects.

Originality/value

This study is one of the early attempts to explore the m-Gov experience. The research is important as experience affects users' attitude, a precursor to behavioral intention, which in turn, influences their behavior.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-10-2020-0482
Appraising social work curriculum in India: learners’ perspective
Authors: Simon Richi
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the social work curriculum as perceived by the learners of the master’s degree programme. The study compares the perception as held by students’ originating from the same and different faculties regarding the curricular aspects of social work education in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative approach. It is a case study-based paper whereby the participants were selected using multi-phase sampling, universities were selected using purposive sampling and 106 students were selected using quota sampling. Semi-structured online interviews were taken using an interview guide and transcribed. Inter-coder reliability was tested using Cohen’s kappa. The paper used grounded theory to analyse data.

Findings

The study suggests a significant difference in the perception of curriculum between those originating from the same discipline and other faculty. It was found that the learners perceive the curriculum to be obsolete in addressing contemporary concerns and needs serious reframing.

Research limitations/implications

As the study uses the case study method, it has been limited to four universities of Madhya Pradesh state of India to analyse the cases effectively. Further, only the domain of social work has been explored in the study. Thus, the results may lack generalizability. Further studies can also be conducted to test the propositions suggested. Even similar studies can be carried out with other disciplines. Also, the study being cross-sectional leaves scope for future comparative and longitudinal studies.

Practical implications

The paper presents some interesting perceptions of the student community, which can be used for redesigning and revising the social work curriculum. Such appraisals if done by every educational institute can bring significant reforms in the present education system of India and make it at par with the global standards and responsive to the contemporary needs of the society. Further, with such training, social workers can be true change agents.

Social implications

The study can play a significant role in the redesigning of social work education in India. Thus, directly or indirectly benefit the entire society.

Originality/value

The paper addresses the concern to include the current student community in curriculum design to ensure quality curriculum.
An exploratory study of participants’ fit perceptions of customized garments
Authors: Guo Siming , Istook Cynthia L.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore participants’ fit perceptions of customized garments and investigate the factors that affected the customized fit.

Design/methodology/approach

Because different patternmaking methods generate varied fit results, eight customized dresses were developed for four fit models aged 18–25 using two different made-to-measure (MTM) systems (Gerber AccuMark and Telestia Creator). The authors designed a questionnaire to assess the fit of the final garments on each of the four models. A total of 12 participants (four fit models and eight experts) attended a live evaluation meeting and completed the questionnaire. The quantitative and qualitative data of the participants’ fit perceptions were collected and analyzed.

Findings

The authors compared the fit outputs of the two MTM systems and determined the fit issues from the participants’ perceptions. The results showed that the participants evaluated the customized fit mainly according to the ease, seam placement and wrinkle occurrence. The majority of fit models and experts preferred Dress B created using Telestia Creator to Dress A developed using Gerber AccuMark. The participants’ fit perceptions also revealed that many factors, such as the MTM systems, participants’ fit preferences, models’ body characteristics, fabric and ease, impacted the fit results. In addition, the experts perceived more fit issues than the models.

Originality/value

The fit output comparison of the two MTM systems could be valuable for pattern makers to use the systems. The research results would also be useful for apparel companies to conduct a fit evaluation and improve their customization processes.
Finding psychopaths in white-collar jobs: a review of the evidence and why it matters
Authors: Boddy Clive Roland , Taplin Ross , Sheehy Benedict , Murphy Brendon
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Influential research has posited that empirical investigation provides no evidence for the existence of white-collar/successful psychopaths. The purpose of this current paper is to review evidence for their existence and report on new, primary research that examines ethical outcomes associated with their presence.

Design/methodology/approach

Leading psychopathy researchers called for research using samples of white-collar workers to explore workplace psychopathy. Therefore, the authors undertook a two-stage research process to examine this. Firstly, a structured literature review sought evidence for “corporate psychopaths”, “white-collar psychopaths” and “successful psychopaths” in existing literature. Secondly, original research was undertaken among 261 Australian workers to examine this further.

Findings

Findings indicate that white-collar psychopaths exist. Where they have been found not to exist, investigation reveals that the samples used were inadequate for the purpose of attempting to find them.

Practical implications

Although there is an inconsistent nomenclature, white-collar, industrial, successful, organisational, workplace or corporate psychopaths do exist and are found in white-collar workplaces.

Social implications

Their existence is important because findings indicate that they have a significant, ethically malign and long-lasting impact on employee well-being and organisational ethical outcomes.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is perhaps the first paper to specifically examine the literature for evidence of whether white-collar psychopaths exist. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is also the first paper to determine that corporate psychopaths are linked with aggressive humour, gender discrimination, fake corporate social responsibility and reduced communications integration.