bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Essential functions of mosquito ecdysone importers in development and reproduction
Authors: Hun Lewis V. , Okamoto Naoki , Imura Eisuke , Maxson Roilea , Bittar Riyan , Yamanaka Naoki
Published: September 2021

The primary insect steroid hormone ecdysone requires a membrane transporter to enter its target cells. Although an organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) named Ecdysone Importer (EcI) serves this role in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and most likely in other arthropod species, this highly conserved transporter is apparently missing in mosquitoes. Here we report three additional OATPs that facilitate cellular incorporation of ecdysone in Drosophila and the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti. These additional ecdysone importers (EcI-2, 3, and 4) are dispensable for development and reproduction in Drosophila, consistent with the predominant role of EcI. In contrast, in Aedes, EcI-2 is indispensable for ecdysone-mediated development, whereas EcI-4 is critical for vitellogenesis induced by ecdysone in adult females. Altogether, our results indicate unique and essential functions of these additional ecdysone importers in mosquito development and reproduction, making them attractive molecular targets for species- and stage-specific control of ecdysone signaling in mosquitoes.
Nanodomain-mediated lateral sorting drives polarization of the small GTPase ROP2 in the plasma membrane of root hair cells
Authors: Fiona Fuchs Vanessa Aphaia , Denninger Philipp , Župunski Milan , Jaillais Yvon , Engel Ulrike , Grossmann Guido
Published: September 2021

Formation of root hairs involves the targeted recruitment of the cellular growth machinery to the root hair initiation domain (RHID), a specialized site at the plasma membrane (PM) of trichoblast cells. Early determinants in RHID establishment are small GTPases of the Rho-of-plants (ROP) protein family, which are required for polarization of downstream effectors, membrane modification and targeted secretion during tip growth. It remains, however, not fully understood how ROP GTPases themselves are polarized. To investigate the mechanism underlying ROP2 recruitment, we employed Variable Angle Epifluorescence Microscopy (VAEM) and exploited mCitrine fluorophore blinking for single molecule localization, particle tracking and super-resolved imaging of the trichoblast plasma membrane. We observed the association of mCit-ROP2 within distinct membrane nanodomains, whose polar occurrence at the RHID was dependent on the presence of the RopGEF GEF3, and found a gradual, localized decrease of mCit-ROP2 protein mobility that preceded polarization. We provide evidence for a step-wise model of ROP2 polarization that involves (i) an initial non-polar recruitment to the plasma membrane via interactions with anionic phospholipids, (ii) ROP2 assembly into membrane nanodomains independent of nucleotide-binding state and, sub-sequently, (iii) lateral sorting into the RHID, driven by GEF3-mediated localized reduction of ROP2 mobility.
Another step towards understanding evolutionary changes inBruggmanniellaTavares, 1909 group (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae, Asphondyliini)
Authors: Garcia Carolina de Almeida , Lamas Carlos José Einicker , Urso-Guimarães Maria Virginia
Published: September 2021

An update of the delimitation of the genusBruggmanniellabased on phylogenetic analysis using morphological data is presented. We included the seven new species ofBruggmannielladescribed between 2019 and 2020, and discuss some aspects of the evolutionary changes among the closely related generaBruggmanniella, Pseudasphondylia, andIlliciomyia. Bruggmanniellais confirmed here as a monophyletic Neotropical lineage, divergent from the Asian species. The phylogenetic reconstruction hypothesized here reinforces the pertinence of the genusOdontokerosto house all species occurring in the Oriental/Palearctic region underBruggmanniella. The delimitation ofBruggmanniella, the geographical distribution, and niche occupation are discussed.
Applying Historical Data in a Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Model Can Reduce the Number of Control Rats Required for Calculation of The Relative Potency of Insulin Analogues
Authors: Nielsen Emilie Prang , Andersen Søren , Brand Christian Lehn , Ditlevsen Susanne
Published: September 2021

This paper examines how to reduce the number of control animals in preclinical hyperinsulemic glucose clamp studies if we make use of information on historical studies. A data set consisting of 59 studies in rats to investigate new insulin analogues for diabetics, collected in the years 2000 to 2015, is analysed. A simulation experiment is performed based on a carefully built nonlinear mixed-effects model including historical information, comparing results (for the relative log-potency) with the standard approach ignoring previous studies. We find that by including historical information in the form of the mixed-effects model proposed, we can to remove between 23% and 51% of the control rats in the two studies looked closely upon to get the same level of precision on the relative log-potency as in the standard analysis. How to incorporate the historical information in the form of the mixed-effects model is discussed, where both a meta approach as well as a Bayesian approach are suggested. The conclusions are similar for the two approaches, and therefore, we conclude that the inclusion of historical information is beneficial in regard to using fewer control rats.
LRP-1 Commands Two Parallel Signalling Mechanisms to Support Constitutive Tumour Cell Motility in the Absence of Blood Supply
Authors: Chang Cheng , Tang Xin , Mosallaei Daniel , Chen Mei , Woodley David T. , Schönthal Axel H. , Li Wei
Published: September 2021

Tumour cells often face the stress of ischemic (nutrient paucity and hypoxia) environment and must act self-sufficient to migrate toward the nearest blood supply or die. The mechanism that supports the constitutive motility of tumour cells under stress is poorly understood. We and others have previously shown that the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1) plays a critical role in tumour cell migration and invasion in vitro and tumour formation in mice. Herein we show that depletion of LRP-1 completely abolishes the self-supported and serum-independent tumour cell motility. More intriguingly, we demonstrate that LRP-1 commands the full tumour cell motility by connecting with two independent cell surface signalling pathways. First, LRP-1 mediates secreted Hsp90α signalling via the “Hsp90α > LRP-1 receptor autocrine loop” for a half of tumour cell motility. Second, LRP1 stabilizes constitutively activated EGFR signalling that contributes the other half of tumour cell motility. Only combined inhibitions of the secreted Hsp90α autocrine and the EGFR signalling reproduces the effect of LRP1 down-regulation on constitutive tumour cell motility. This study reveals a novel mechanism of how tumour cells migrate in the absence of blood support.
Cysteine induces mitochondrial reductive stress in glioblastoma through hydrogen peroxide production
Authors: Noch Evan K , Palma Laura , Yim Isaiah , Barnett Daniel , Walsh Alexander , Bhinder Bhavneet , Benedetti Elisa , Krumsiek Jan , Gurvitch Justin , Khwaja Sumaiyah , Elemento Olivier , Cantley Lewis C.
Published: September 2021

Glucose and amino acid metabolism are critical for glioblastoma (GBM) growth, but little is known about the specific metabolic alterations in GBM that are targetable with FDA-approved compounds. To investigate tumor metabolism signatures unique to GBM, we interrogated The Cancer Genome Atlas for alterations in glucose and amino acid signatures in GBM relative to other human cancers and found that GBM exhibits the highest levels of cysteine and methionine pathway gene expression of 32 human cancers. Treatment of patient-derived GBM cells with the FDA-approved cysteine compound N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduce GBM cell growth and mitochondrial oxygen consumption, which was worsened by glucose starvation. Mechanistic experiments revealed that cysteine compounds induce rapid mitochondrial H2O2 production and reductive stress in GBM cells, an effect blocked by oxidized glutathione, thioredoxin, and redox enzyme overexpression. These findings indicate that GBM is uniquely susceptible to NAC-driven reductive stress and could synergize with glucose-lowering treatments for GBM.
Successful Application of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology in Prediction and Monitoring of the Second Wave of COVID-19 in India with Fragmented Sewerage Systems- A Case Study of Jaipur (India)
Authors: Arora Sudipti , Nag Aditi , Kalra Aakanksha , Sinha Vikky , Meena Ekta , Saxena Samvida , Sutaria Devanshi , Kaur Manpreet , Pamnani Tamanna , Sharma Komal , Saxena Sonika , Shrivastava Sandeep K , Gupta A. B. , Li Xuan , Jiang Guangming
Published: September 2021

The present study tracked the city-wide dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome-corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in the wastewater from nine different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Jaipur during second wave of COVID-19 out-break in India. A total of 164 samples were collected weekly between February 19th and June 8th, 2021. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 47.2% (52/110) influent samples and 37% (20/54) effluent samples. The increasing percentage of positive influent samples correlated with the city’s increasing active clinical cases during the second wave of COVID-19 in Jaipur. Furthermore, WBE based evidence clearly showed early detection of about 20 days (9/9 samples reported positive on April 20th, 2021) prior to the maximum cases & maximum deaths reported in the city on May 8th, 2021. The present study further observed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in treated effluents at the time window of maximum active cases in the city even after tertiary disinfection treatments of UV & Chlorine. The average genome concentration in the effluents and removal efficacy of six commonly used treatments; Activated Sludge Treatment + Chlorine disinfection (ASP + Cl2), Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) with Ultraviolet radiations disinfection (MBBR + UV), MBBR + Chlorine (Cl2), Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) and SBR + Cl2 were compared with removal efficacy of SBR + Cl2 (81.2%)> MBBR + UV (68.8%) > SBR (57.1%) > ASP (50%) > MBBR + Cl2(36.4%). The study observed the trends & prevalence of four genes (E, RdRp, N, and ORF1ab gene) based on two different kits and found that prevalence of N> ORF1ab >RdRp> E gene, suggested that the effective genome concentration should be calculated based on the presence/absence of multiple genes. Hence, it is imperative to say that using a combination of different detection genes (E, N, RdRp & ORF1ab genes) reduce false positives in WBE.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

Successful application of WBE with prediction of 14-20 days for COVID-19 in Jaipur

A comparison of SARS-CoV-2 RNA removal efficacy of 9 WWTPs was investigated

SBR showed better performance than MBBR with SARS-CoV-2 RNA removal from wastewater

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in effluents even after UV and Chlorine disinfection

Using a combination of different detection genes reduce false positives in WBE
Spiritual and mental health of teenagers in Hong Kong and in mainland China under the impact of COVID-19
Authors: Leung Chi Hung , Mu Yan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The rates of emotional distress have risen in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed the emotional distress of adolescents and young adults in Hong Kong and mainland China in the first year of the pandemic and tested whether spirituality was a protective factor against this emotional distress.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional data were collected in two samples of students aged 17–25 in Hong Kong (N = 503) and 13–20 in mainland China (N = 649). Participants completed the Spiritual Health and Life Orientation Measure (SHALOM) to evaluate their spiritual health (personal-communal, environmental and transcendental domains) and the short form of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) to assess their emotional distress.

Findings

Based on the DASS-21 scores, there was a high rate of adolescents and young adults categorized as showing extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in both Hong Kong and mainland China. Structural equation modeling showed that in both the Hong Kong and mainland China samples the personal and communal and environmental domains of spiritual health were significantly and negatively correlated with all three forms of emotional distress. However, transcendental spiritual health was uncorrelated with psychological distress in Hong Kong and positively correlated with psychological distress in mainland China.

Research limitations/implications

The high rate of severe emotional distress in this sample of adolescents and young adults under COVID-19, and the fact that not all aspects of spiritual health protected again psychological distress are cause for concern, with implications for government, education systems and students.

Originality/value

Healthy spirituality can be found among youths who are upbeat, self-confident, optimistic and constructive and have also been shown to have a higher quality of life in the form of mental, physical and psychological health. The present study is the first study to examine the spiritual and mental health of high school and university students under the impact of COVID-19 in mainland China and in Hong Kong.
Minimising plate waste at hotel breakfast buffets: an experimental approach through persuasive messages
Authors: Cozzio Claudia , Tokarchuk Oksana , Maurer Oswin
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how hotel guests can be nudged for more active engagement in hospitality plate waste prevention and moderation at buffets, through designing effective persuasive interventions. Plate waste is a main sustainability challenge, and it is considered one of the major drivers of food waste in the hospitality sector, whose operations generate excessive amounts of waste. The hospitality industry, featured by all-you-can-eat buffet-style settings, is somehow encouraging consumers to increase the amount of food ordered or taken and not been eaten.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reports a field experiment conducted in a real hotel setting, where persuasive interventions were targeted to consumers at the croissants buffet, when guests were making their selections. The research tests the persuasiveness of functional and experiential appeal messages to nudge hotel guests towards a more active engagement in avoiding plate waste. Each single treatment was carried out for three weeks in varying sequence.

Findings

The findings are based on 63 rounds of data collections and show the superiority of experiential appeal messages in positively influencing guests’ behaviour. This implies that appropriate messages can persuade tourists to avoid plate waste in buffet-style settings, especially if these messages are grounded in participatory cues with an emphasis on altruistic values.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies that empirically tests the effectiveness of different persuasive interventions in a real consumption setting, thus measuring actual behaviours which have been rarely studied. This study further contributes to the identification of concrete communication tools that can help to mitigate plate waste generation.
Smart shopping: the adoption of grocery shopping apps
Authors: Bruwer Lee-Andra , Madinga Nkosivile Welcome , Bundwini Nqobile
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the key factors influencing the adoption of grocery shopping and to examine the moderating effect of education between antecedents of the adoption of grocery shopping apps and user attitude and intention to purchase.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the relationship between the latent variables: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude and intention to use grocery shopping apps. Partial least squares multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA) was used to examine the moderating effect of education. A total of 305 grocery shopping apps users were surveyed using a structural questionnaire.

Findings

The results indicated that all the factors considered in the framework were significant in predicting the intention to use the grocery shopping apps. The findings show that education has no significant impact on any relationship.

Practical implications

A better understanding of the factors that affect the acceptance of mobile grocery shopping apps is important for developing better strategic management plans.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to research the adoption of grocery shopping apps in a developing country, as well as the first to focus on consumers in South Africa.
Leader negative mood and employee-instigated incivility: the role of mood contagion
Authors: Emirza Sevgi , Öztürk Engin Bağış
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Given the harmful effects of workplace incivility and the calls for revealing the antecedents of instigated incivility, this study examines how employee-instigated incivility unfolds as a result of negative mood contagion from leaders to employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon affective events theory, the authors hypothesized that leader negative mood is contagious and has an indirect relationship with employee-instigated incivility through employee negative mood. For hypothesis testing, data were collected from 243 leader-employee dyads and tested using bootstrapped mediation analysis.

Findings

As hypothesized, leader negative mood was associated with employee-instigated incivility indirectly through employee negative mood. This finding supports that negative mood of the leader is contagious and might unintendedly trigger employee-instigated incivility toward other at work.

Research limitations/implications

Given the cross-sectional design of this study, causal inferences could not be drawn. The direction of relationships between the variables is based on the theoretical assumptions, rather than a test of the causal ordering of the variables.

Originality/value

This study advances the limited literature on the antecedents of employee-instigated incivility by demonstrating the impact of negative mood experienced by leaders on uncivil behaviors of employees.
Accounting students' perceptions of work–life balance, accounting career image and intention to pursue accounting careers
Authors: Hatane Saarce Elsye , Emerson Bernard , Soesanto Olievia , Gunawan Ruth Arum , Semuel Hatane
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discover the impact of work–life balance on the intention to pursue accounting careers through accounting career image.

Design/methodology/approach

The study managed to collect 693 closed questionnaires, using the five-point Likert Scale, from accounting students in several universities in Java, Sulawesi and Kalimantan, as the three most densely populated islands in Indonesia. The research model is analysed using partial least square method as a part of structural equation modelling.

Findings

There are positive and significant influences between work–life balance and the intention to pursue accounting career when supported by accounting career image. The positive perception of accounting career image motivates accounting students to pursue accounting careers. Accounting students argue that attaining a balance between work and personal life can improve positive perceptions of accounting careers, which drive them to pursue a career in accounting. Work–life balance is an essential factor due to the fact that it can, directly and indirectly, affect the intention to pursue accounting careers. In addition, positive image of accounting profession is found to be able to strengthen the positive influence of the work–life balance to pursue accounting careers.

Research limitations/implications

Further studies can continue along the line of this study as the intention to choose an accounting career can change from time to time. In addition, the generational difference may create a discrepancy in perception and orientation in choosing accounting careers. Therefore, future studies should consider a broader scope and more updated objects.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that working experience is an essential part for accounting students in choosing accounting careers, and so higher education institutions need to consider including field work-practice in their curriculums. Companies are also expected to prioritise work–life balance since it will motivate accounting students to choose an accounting career.

Originality/value

This study investigates the link between work–life balance and decisions to pursue accounting careers through accounting students' perceptions in Indonesia. This study combines the influences of work–life balance and accounting career image on the intention to pursue accounting careers in one model, in which accounting career image is the mediating variable in the indirect link of work–life balance.
Mobile investment technology adoption among investors
Authors: Fan Lu
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine investors' internal characteristics, including investment literacy, risk tolerance and familiarity with mobile financial services, as antecedents of mobile investment technology adoption among American investors.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the 2018 National Financial Capability Study and its supplemental Investor Survey, this study examined antecedents, including investors' internal characteristics, in relation to mobile investment technology adoption. Nested logistic regression analyses were performed for adopting mobile apps for investment decisions and for investment trading.

Findings

This study found that objective and subjective investment knowledge, experience using mobile banking for payments and money transfers, and certain ownerships of investment vehicles (such as whole-life insurance policies and ETFs) were significant determinants of mobile investment decision-making. On the other hand, subjective investment literacy, risk tolerance, familiarity with mobile financial services, and portfolio value, as well as certain types of investment vehicles were significantly associated with mobile investment trading.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to examine investors' investment literacy, risk tolerance and familiarity with mobile financial services as investors' internal characteristics in relation to mobile investment technology adoption. The diffusion of innovations theory and related concepts provide theoretical support for this study. The findings provide new insights into mobile investing as an emerging FinTech subject and provide implications for practitioners and FinTech developers, as well as contribute to the literature of mobile investment service adoption among retail investors.
Financial development and natural resources nexus in Egypt: the role of clean energy sources and foreign direct investment
Authors: Ibrahiem Dalia M. , Sameh Rasha
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Achieving the goals of the sustainable development strategy and Egypt’s vision 2030 depends mainly on the existence of sources of funds. And since Egypt faces a great challenge in obtaining finance, then analyzing the drivers of financial development is a vital issue and there is a persistent need to shed light on the key obstacles for it. Thus, this paper aims to empirically assess the impact of natural resources, foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows, education and clean energy sources on financial development in Egypt using the data of the 1971–2014 period.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses auto-regressive distributed lag and Toda-Yamomoto approaches to fulfill the purpose.

Findings

Empirical results signify that all variables except natural endowments stimulate financial development which can suggest the presence of the natural resources curse in Egypt. Moreover, the feedback effect between financial development and FDI is recognized. Clean energy sources cause financial development and natural endowments. Financial development causes natural endowments and FDI leads to the deployment of more clean energy resources.

Practical implications

Several crucial policy implications are suggested based upon these results as improving the quality and quantity of education and encouraging both domestic and foreign investors by providing several incentives. Moreover, the government has to enhance green finance through financing solar energy projects and other environmentally friendly projects.

Originality/value

It is the first research for Egypt that explores natural resource-financial development nexus using time series analysis according to our information, and two important variables are included in the model which is clean energy sources and FDI. Then, although several studies examined the impact of financial development on clean energy no empirical study before assessed the impact of clean energy on financial development.
Does renewable energy policy increase energy intensity? Evidence from the ECOWAS region
Authors: Moustapha Maman Ali M. , Yu Qian , Danqauh Benjamin Adjei
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess how the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) renewable energy policy (EREP) affects energy intensity using the difference-in-difference (DID) and the propensity score matching methods (PSM). Based on the current debates on renewable energy policies (REP) and due to the fact that energy efficiency has been a challenge for ECOWAS member states. The authors set up a framework to assess the EREP effect on energy intensity.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the DID and PSM approaches the paper assesses the effect of EREP on energy intensity. The following three different paths are considered: Path 1 tests the EREP effect on electricity access. Path 2 tests the use of renewable energy sources as a factor to enhance the energy intensity. Path 3 tests whether or not use of renewable energy deployment has the potential to raise the total percentage of primary energy supply. The principle is to investigate if and to what extend the EREP increases the energy intensity.

Findings

The results indicate that EREP has a significantly positive effect on increasing the percentage of energy intensity in ECOWAS member states that has implemented the policy, resulting for a large percentage of the population to electricity access in treated groups. Empirical estimation results largely corroborate the three paths’ hypotheses. The result indicated that the EREP has increased the percentage of electricity access throughout the region.

Originality/value

The paper explores a more appropriate framework to examine the effect of EREP and enriches the literature on the impact of REP by combining a policy evaluation approach (PSM-DID) method. This paper is the first to the knowledge to estimate the EREP effect by using a non-parametric approach. The majority of previous studies have focused on using case studies, exploratory analysis approaches and econometric methods.
“Doing one's work” in entrepreneurship studies: interpellation, distraction, disruption and transformation
Authors: Martinez Dy Angela
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper takes seriously the feminist adage that “the personal is political” by critically exploring my experiences as an early career scholar of gender and entrepreneurship studies to offer vital context for the contributions of my work and future research agenda, in light of the current historical moment of interconnected political, public health and environmental calamity.

Design/methodology/approach

The author presents reflections on her positionality, philosophical and political commitments, and theorises from her experiences of racist distraction and intersectional marginality in contemporary academia, considering their implications for incoming and aspiring gender and entrepreneurship scholars whose research agendas are still in development.

Findings

Racism functions as a persistent distraction from overall research agendas and activities, and delimits the lane of perceived contributions. However, collectively challenging it in work and study presents a vehicle by which intellectual and affective experiences of academic work may be enriched, and a spacious and expansive legacy of critical scholarship built that will be resonant for years to come.

Originality/value

The paper argues that although racism will doubtlessly continue to cause immense distraction, it presents an invitation to create positive social change, through collectivising with a community that aims to shape a liveable, equitable and imaginative academic future.
A bi-level mathematical model for logistic management considering the evolutionary game with environmental feedbacks
Authors: Ghasemi Peiman , Goodarzian Fariba , Gunasekaran Angappa , Abraham Ajith
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper proposed a bi-level mathematical model for location, routing and allocation of medical centers to distribution depots during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The developed model has two players including interdictor (COVID-19) and fortifier (government). Accordingly, the aim of the first player (COVID-19) is to maximize system costs and causing further damage to the system. The goal of the second player (government) is to minimize the costs of location, routing and allocation due to budget limitations.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of evolutionary games with environmental feedbacks was used to develop the proposed model. Moreover, the game continues until the desired demand is satisfied. The Lagrangian relaxation method was applied to solve the proposed model.

Findings

Empirical results illustrate that with increasing demand, the values of the objective functions of the interdictor and fortifier models have increased. Also, with the raising fixed cost of the established depot, the values of the objective functions of the interdictor and fortifier models have raised. In this regard, the number of established depots in the second scenario (COVID-19 wave) is more than the first scenario (normal COVID-19 conditions).

Research limitations/implications

The results of the current research can be useful for hospitals, governments, Disaster Relief Organization, Red Crescent, the Ministry of Health, etc. One of the limitations of the research is the lack of access to accurate information about transportation costs. Moreover, in this study, only the information of drivers and experts about transportation costs has been considered. In order to implement the presented solution approach for the real case study, high RAM and CPU hardware facilities and software facilities are required, which are the limitations of the proposed paper.

Originality/value

The main contributions of the current research are considering evolutionary games with environmental feedbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and location, routing and allocation of the medical centers to the distribution depots during the COVID-19 outbreak. A real case study is illustrated, where the Lagrangian relaxation method is employed to solve the problem.
Developing human resource for the digitization of logistics operations: readiness index framework
Authors: Gupta Anchal , Singh Rajesh Kr , Gupta Shivam
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify factors that are important for logistics organizations from the perspective of manpower readiness for digitization of logistics operations. The study also prioritizes the identified factors and also evaluates the readiness index of manpower for the digitalization of logistics processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The factors for manpower readiness are identified through literature review and analysis of a case study. Three major categories of factors are identified. These are organizational, behavioural and technological factors. Under these three major categories of factors, 18 sub-factors are identified. Thereafter, with experts' inputs, the factors are prioritized using Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Further, a case illustration of an Indian logistics company has been taken to understand the current processes, technical capabilities, manpower skills and organization culture. After the case analysis and expert inputs, the manpower readiness index has been evaluated by using graph theory matrix approach (GTMA).

Findings

The prioritization of manpower readiness factors has been done using Fuzzy AHP. Organizational factors are found to be the most important factors which require quick attention. Sub-factors that are most important for building competencies in the logistics sector are providing the right training on functional skill development (0.129), top management support and commitment for digitalization (0.117), and organizational culture for process digitalization (0.114), etc. Finally, framework for evaluation of manpower readiness index for logistics operations in the digital age has been illustrated for a case company.

Practical implications

Indian logistics companies can benchmark their readiness index with respect to the best in the industry. Based on the readiness index, logistics companies can analyse their position, gaps from best and worst and can also identify potential areas for improvement.

Originality/value

The novelty of the study lies in the development of a framework for manpower readiness for digitalization in the logistics sector. In literature, this field is very less researched and provides the scope for developing strategies for improving manpower competencies for Industry 4.0. Logistics companies can improve their performance by making their manpower ready based on results obtained for readiness index.
Do participants in the bond market care about corporate social responsibility? Evidence from China
Authors: Hu Jun , Long Wenbin , Wang Yu , Zhou Linzi
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Using a sample of listed Chinese companies that issued bonds from 2010 to 2019, the authors empirically test the link between CSR and corporate bond pricing, and the mechanism and channels behind this link.

Design/methodology/approach

This study systematically examines whether and how corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects the corporate bond market in China.

Findings

Firms with better CSR have higher corporate bond credit ratings and lower corporate bond yield spreads. These associations remain stable in robustness checks, including checks that use regional typhoon disaster as an instrumental variable. The effects of CSR are more significant for firms with a worse information environment and for those operating in high-risk environments. Better CSR is associated with less earnings management, fewer financial restatements and less analyst forecast divergence. In addition, the effects of CSR are more pronounced after the 2013 market-oriented reform and when issuers are non-state-owned enterprises.

Practical implications

Because market participants can incorporate firms' CSR into their decision-making, establishing an effective channel for communicating CSR between issuers and market participants will enhance the effects of CSR.

Social implications

Researchers need to attend to the mechanisms behind the link between CSR and corporate bond pricing, and to the characteristics of strong environmental contingency in emerging markets, specifically the periods and scenarios in which the effects of CSR change.

Originality/value

This study provides systemic evidence that CSR benefits corporate bond pricing through both informational and reputational channels and that the effects of CSR vary by time and firm. These findings enrich the literatures on both the economic consequences of CSR and the determinants of corporate bond pricing, and provide a plausible explanation for mixed findings on the effects of CSR in previous studies.
QoS aware web service selection using orthogonal array learning on fruit fly optimization approach
Authors: Chandra Manik , Niyogi Rajdeep
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to solve the web service selection problem using an efficient meta-heuristic algorithm. The problem of selecting a set of web services from a large-scale service environment (web service repository) while maintaining Quality-of-Service (QoS), is referred to as web service selection (WSS). With the explosive growth of internet services, managing and selecting the proper services (or say web service) has become a pertinent research issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, to address WSS problem, the authors propose a new modified fruit fly optimization approach, called orthogonal array-based learning in fruit fly optimizer (OL-FOA). In OL-FOA, they adopt a chaotic map to initialize the population; they add the adaptive DE/best/2mutation operator to improve the exploration capability of the fruit fly approach; and finally, to improve the efficiency of the search process (by reducing the search space), the authors use the orthogonal learning mechanism.

Findings

To test the efficiency of the proposed approach, a test suite of 2500 web services is chosen from the public repository. To establish the competitiveness of the proposed approach, it compared against four other meta-heuristic approaches (including classical as well as state-of-the-art), namely, fruit fly optimization (FOA), differential evolution (DE), modified artificial bee colony algorithm (mABC) and global-best ABC (GABC). The empirical results show that the proposed approach outperforms its counterparts in terms of response time, latency, availability and reliability.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors have developed a population-based novel approach (OL-FOA) for the QoS aware web services selection (WSS). To justify the results, the authors compared against four other meta-heuristic approaches (including classical as well as state-of-the-art), namely, fruit fly optimization (FOA), differential evolution (DE), modified artificial bee colony algorithm (mABC) and global-best ABC (GABC) over the four QoS parameter response time, latency, availability and reliability. The authors found that the approach outperforms overall competitive approaches. To satisfy all objective simultaneously, the authors would like to extend this approach in the frame of multi-objective WSS optimization problem. Further, this is declared that this paper is not submitted to any other journal or under review.
Tribological investigations of trimethylolpropane trioleate bio-based lubricants
Authors: Kathamore Pramod S. , Bachchhav Bhanudas D.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The screening of lube oil performance prior to field trials is the most significant for the formulation of novel lubricants. This paper aims to investigate the efficacy of trimethylolpropane trioleate oil (TMPTO) based lubricants with different additives.

Design/methodology/approach

In this endeavor, initially five lubricating blends along-with TMPTO based oil with variable additives were evaluated for their tribological performances using ASTM standards. Out of these, the top three best-performing oils were further investigated for possible physical or chemical synergies among lube oils, additives and ball surface using SEM. The molecule structures of TMPTO based lube oils were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Findings

The wear preventive and extreme pressure characteristics of different TMPTO based samples were evaluated and compared for compatibility and synergy of additives. Morphological analysis of SEM images was used to understand the wear behavior of the worn surfaces.

Practical implications

Further investigation of TMPTO oil on its oxidation stability at high temperature and pressure to make it technologically competitive and commercially viable metal-working lubricant is suggested.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the tribo-effects of TMPTO to be rendered as a suitable lubricant for metal-cutting operations. The surface morphology of the worn-out surface significantly demonstrates the effect of loading conditions.
Risk governance: exploring the role of organisational culture
Authors: Hassan Mostafa Kamal , Abdulkarim Mustafa Elkasih , Ismael Hazem Ramadan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the association between organisational culture (OC) and the extent to which risk governance (RG) practices are implemented in Qatar.

Design/methodology/approach

It relies on the institutional theory and OC perspectives to generate testable hypotheses and explain the empirical findings, using data from 85 Qatari firms collected based on questionnaires. It also applies ordinary least squares regression to examine the associations between five OCs (innovation, outcome orientation, attention to detail, team orientation and tight versus loose control) and the level of implementing RG practices, whilst controlling for the presence of internal audit (IA), firm size, listing status, type (private/government) and sector (financial/non-financial).

Findings

An OC of “tight control”, the presence of an IA and being a private firm are significantly associated with implementing RG practices. An OC of teamwork is negatively associated with RG practices.

Practical implications

Policymakers and corporate managers are encouraged to set guidelines governing the formation of cohesive cooperative teams within organisations. They must develop strategies that promote the “risk culture” as a major component of OC. Policymakers should also monitor the culture and institutional forces behind the successful implementation of RG that involves the collaboration of employees at different organisational levels.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is novel because it empirically examines the OC–RG relationship in an emerging market economy (Qatar).
Stakeholder pressure as a driver of risk management practices in public administrations
Authors: Schäfer Fabienne-Sophie , Hirsch Bernhard , Nitzl Christian
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Drawing upon new institutional theory and blame avoidance theory, this paper aims to examine how stakeholder pressure has an impact on the implementation and use of risk management practices in public administrations. Furthermore, this paper investigates whether top management support mediates this proposed relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a survey among public financial managers of German municipalities and federal agencies. Data from 136 questionnaires were used to evaluate the model.

Findings

The results indicate that top management support fully mediates the relationship between stakeholder pressure and risk management practices. This finding suggests that top management support is crucial for the successful implementation of accounting techniques, such as risk management, in public administrations.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on subjective answers by public financial managers. Moreover, this study is based solely on German data. Hence, future research could use a mixed-method approach and data from other countries.

Originality/value

This paper examines whether stakeholder pressure exerts an impact on the sophistication of public risk management practices.
Is COVID-19 a turning point in stopping global sourcing? Differentiating between declining continental and increasing transcontinental sourcing
Authors: Koerber Thomas , Schiele Holger
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This research aims to investigate the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic (C19, Corona) on trends of transcontinental sourcing as an extreme form of global sourcing. This study starts by observing that the sideward movement of international trade in the past decade can be differentiated into an increase in transcontinental sourcing and a relative decline of intra-EU sourcing. By differentiating between continental and transcontinental sourcing, this study gains insights into global sourcing trends and conducts a fine-grained analysis of the impact of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

After analysing Eurostat statistics, the authors conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with companies from multiple industry sectors affected by a high share of transcontinental suppliers. Using the Gioia method, data from the interviews were structured. By examining the identified motives, challenges and solutions, the authors analyse the impact of COVID-19 on transcontinental sourcing.

Findings

The COVID-19 pandemic seems not to represent a turning point stopping global sourcing. The authors did not find evidence for a trend reversal. Most of the interviewed companies share the opinion that transcontinental sourcing will remain important or slightly increase in the future. Based on the analysis of their specific motives for transcontinental sourcing, it became clear that factors supportive as well as detrimental to transcontinental sourcing are levelling each other out.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study explicitly differentiating between continental and transcontinental sourcing as different types of global sourcing. While in European sourcing, a decreasing trend is already evident, as shown by our data analysis, there is a lack of investigations addressing transcontinental sourcing. In this study, the authors concentrated on motives, challenges and solutions of transcontinental sourcing. Extending beyond the immediate COVID-19 impact assessment, findings suggest that purchasing would benefit from treating transcontinental, remote sourcing as a distinct process from continental sourcing, particularly intra-EU-sourcing.
Product development management complexity: emerging challenges and the role of senior leadership
Authors: Pavanelli Stefanovitz Juliano , Lopes de Sousa Jabbour Ana Beatriz
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present and discuss factors that affect the current complexity of new product development processes in the appliance sector, exploring their influence on the repositioning of senior Research & Development (R&D) executives in terms of both knowledge and leadership management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is built on an illustrative real case which is analyzed based on the conceptual foundations of the role of senior R&D executives, vis-a-vis industry specialists’ reflections on new requirements for such managers due to the current complexity of new product development processes.

Findings

The paper proposes an integrative framework that links emerging trends in product development complexity with a new enhanced approach required for senior R&D management. In addition, this paper raises new skills to equip the current and future generations of R&D managers, taking into account the need to reposition the knowledge management skills of senior R&D executives.

Practical implications

This paper sheds light on the skills desirable for senior R&D executives to be prepared for the new complexity involved in new product development processes, such as soft skills related to people management practices; technical skills related to portfolio management, project management and systems engineering; and conceptual skills related to the own, teach, learn and delegate strategy.

Originality/value

This paper blends academic and practical experience to shed light on emerging issues within R&D organizations and to point out the value of real impact research to open new research avenues.