bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Size matters: optimal mask diameter and box size for single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy
Authors: Moriya Toshio , Adachi Naruhiko , Kawasaki Masato , Yamada Yusuke , Shinoda Akira , Koiwai Kotaro , Yumoto Fumiaki , Senda Toshiya
Published: August 2020

Recently it has been demonstrated that single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) at 200 keV is capable of determining protein structures, including those smaller than 100 kDa, at sub-3.0 Å resolutions, without using significant defocus or a phase plate. However, the majority of near-atomic resolution cryo-EM structures has been determined using 300 keV. Consequently, many typical parameter settings for the cryo-EM computational image processing steps, especially those associated with the contrast transfer function, are based on the accumulated experience of 300 kV cryo-EM. We have therefore revised these parameters, established theoretical bases for criteria to find an optimal mask diameter and box size for a given dataset irrespective of acceleration voltage or protein size, and proposed a protocol. Considering the defocus distributions of the datasets, merely optimizing the mask diameters and box sizes yielded meaningful resolution improvements for the reconstruction of < 200 kDa proteins using 200 kV cryo-EM.
Calling small variants with universality and Bayesian-frequentist hybridism
Authors: Zhao Xiaofei , Hu Allison , Wang Sizhen , Wang Xiaoyue
Published: August 2020

The accuracy of variant calling is crucially important in clinical settings, as the misdiagnosis of a genetic disease such as cancer can compromise patient survival. Although many variant callers were developed, variant-calling accuracy is still insufficient for clinical applications.

Here we describe UVC, a method for calling small variants of germline or somatic origin. By combining contrary assumptions with sublation, we found two principles to improve variant calling. First, we discovered the following power-law universality: allele fraction is inversely proportional to the cubic root of variant-calling error rate. Second, we found that zero inflation can combine Bayesian and frequentist models of sequencing bias.

We evaluated UVC with other state-of-the-art variant callers by considering a variety of calling modes (germline, somatic, tumor-only, and cell-free DNA with unique molecular identifiers (UMIs)), sequencing platforms (Illumina, BGI, and IonTorrent), sequencing types (whole-genome, whole-exome, and PCR-amplicon), human reference genomes (hg19, hs37d5, and GRCh38), aligners (BWA and NovoAlign), and representative sequencing depths and purities for both tumor and normal. UVC generally outperformed other germline variant callers on the GIAB germline truth sets. UVC strongly outperformed other somatic variant callers on 192 scenarios ofin silicomixtures simulating 192 combinations of tumor/normal sequencing depths and tumor/normal purities. UVC strongly outperformed other somatic variant callers on the GIAB somatic truth sets derived from physical mixture and on the SEQC2 somatic reference sets derived from the breast-cancer cell-line HCC1395. UVC achieved 100% concordance with the manual review conducted by multiple independent researchers on a Qiagen 71-gene-panel dataset derived from 16 patients with colon adenoma. Additionally, UVC outperformed Mageri and smCounter2, the state-of-the-art UMI-aware variant callers, on the tumor-only datasets used for publishing these two variant callers. Performance is measured by using sensitivity-specificity trade off for all called variants. The improved variant calls generated by UVC from previously published UMI-based sequencing data are able to provide additional biological insight about DNA damage repair.

UVC enables highly accurate calling of small variants from a variety of sequencing data, which can directly benefit patients in clinical settings. UVC is open-sourced under the BSD 3-Clause license athttps://github.com/genetronhealth/uvcandquay.io/genetronhealth/gcc-6-3-0-uvc-0-6-0-441a694.
Deviation of Dyar’s rule in the post-embryonic development in millipedes – a comprehensive analysis
Authors: Bhakat Somnath
Published: August 2020

Dyar’s value on the basis of length and width of nine polydesmid and 15 non-polydesmid millipede species were calculated. The value of polydesmid millipede ranged from 1.50 to 1.78 and that of non-polydesmid millipede ranged from 1.08 to 1.45. Weight progression factor was determined for nine species of millipede (two polydesmid and seven non-polydesmids). The result showed that the mean weight progression factor in polydesmid is 2.54 while that of non-polydesmid is 1.95. Both the results showed that Dyar’s value in polydesmida is significantly higher compared to that of non-polydesmida. In polydesmida, the number of stadium is only eight with higher Dyar’s value (mean 1.61) while in non-polydesmida, where number of stadium is more than eight have lower Dyar’s value (mean 1.23). As in other arthropods, Dyar’s value is inversely proportional to the number of stadium in millipede.

The present study also affirmed Enders’ hypothesis in favour of adaptive importance of Dyar’s rule. Deviations from Dyar’s constant in these two group also support Crossby’s growth rule. The variation of Dyar’s value in these two groups of millipede is related to the development time and habitat utilization. The variation of weight progression factor in these two groups is also linked to the development time as observed in other arthropods.
MRE11 is crucial for malaria transmission and its absence affects expression of interconnected networks of key genes essential for life
Authors: Guttery David S. , Ramaprasad Abhinay , Ferguson David J. P. , Zeeshan Mohammad , Pandey Rajan , Brady Declan , Holder Anthony A. , Pain Arnab , Tewari Rita
Published: August 2020

TheMeioticRecombination 11 protein (MRE11) plays a key role in DNA damage response and maintenance of genome stability. However, little is known about its function during development of the malaria parasitePlasmodium. Here, we present a functional, ultrastructural and transcriptomic analysis ofPlasmodiumMRE11 during its life-cycle in both mammalian and mosquito vector hosts. Genetic disruption ofPlasmodium berghei mre11(PbMRE11) results in significant retardation of oocyst development in the mosquito midgut associated with cytoplasmic and nuclear degeneration, along with concomitant ablation of sporogony and subsequent parasite transmission. Further, absence of PbMRE11 results in significant transcriptional downregulation of genes involved in key interconnected biological processes that are fundamental to all eukaryotic life including ribonucleoprotein biogenesis, spliceosome function and iron-sulphur cluster assembly. Overall, our study provides a comprehensive functional analysis of MRE11’s role inPlasmodiumdevelopment during the mosquito stages and offers a potential target for therapeutic intervention during malaria parasite transmission.
Dynamic hormone control of stress and fertility
Authors: Zavala Eder , Voliotis Margaritis , Zerenner Tanja , Tabak Joël , Walker Jamie J , Li Xiao Feng , Terry John R , Lightman Stafford L , O’Byrne Kevin , Tsaneva-Atanasova Krasimira
Published: August 2020

Neuroendocrine axes display a remarkable diversity of dynamic signalling processes relaying information between the brain, endocrine glands, and peripheral target tissues. These dynamic processes include oscillations, elastic responses to perturbations, and plastic long term changes observed from the cellular to the systems level. While small transient dynamic changes can be considered physiological, larger and longer disruptions are common in pathological scenarios involving more than one neuroendocrine axes, suggesting that a robust control of hormone dynamics would require the coordination of multiple neuroendocrine clocks. The idea of apparently different axes being in fact exquisitely intertwined through neuroendocrine signals can be investigated in the regulation of stress and fertility. The stress response and the reproductive cycle are controlled by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis, respectively. Despite the evidence surrounding the effects of stress on fertility, as well as of the reproductive cycle on stress hormone dynamics, there is a limited understanding on how perturbations in one neuroendocrine axis propagate to the other. We hypothesize that the links between stress and fertility can be better understood by considering the HPA and HPG axes as coupled systems. In this manuscript, we investigate neuroendocrine rhythms associated to the stress response and reproduction by mathematically modelling the HPA and HPG axes as a network of interlocked oscillators. We postulate a network architecture based on physiological data and use the model to predict responses to stress perturbations under different hormonal contexts: normal physiological, gonadectomy, hormone replacement with estradiol or corticosterone (CORT), and high excess CORT (hiCORT) similar to hypercortisolism in humans. We validate our model predictions against experiments in rodents, and show how the dynamic responses of these endocrine axes are consistent with our postulated network architecture. Importantly, our model also predicts the conditions that ensure robustness of fertility to stress perturbations, and how chronodisruptions in glucocorticoid hormones can affect the reproductive axis’ ability to withstand stress. This insight is key to understand how chronodisruption leads to disease, and to design interventions to restore normal rhythmicity and health.
Cortical activity evoked by voice pitch changes: a combined fNIRS and EEG study
Authors: Steinmetzger Kurt , Megbel Esther , Shen Zhengzheng , Andermann Martin , Rupp André
Published: August 2020

Numerous studies have investigated the cortical representation and time course of responses to auditory signals with and without pitch. However, little is known regarding the responses evoked by pitch changes. To study the spatial as well as temporal characteristics of cortical activity elicited by voice pitch changes, combined functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG) data were obtained from normal-hearing listeners presented with continuous vowel sequences in which the prosodic contours either varied between the individual vowels or were the same throughout. The fNIRS topographies and the EEG source reconstructions indicated additional right-hemispheric activity anterior to the primary auditory cortex and in the superior temporal sulcus for sequences with variable prosody. Additionally, the time courses of the fNIRS signals showed that activity was more sustained in response to sequences with changing prosodic contours. The EEG data revealed a similar pattern for the P2 amplitude, which was smaller during the second half for blocks with fixed prosody, whereas the P1 was consistently larger for sequences with variable prosody. Moreover, the sources of the P2, but not the P1, were lateralised to the right, suggesting that the hemispheric asymmetry in the processing of voice pitch changes develops over time.
Designing enhanced labeling information to increase consumer willingness to pay for genetically modified foods
Authors: Zhan Jintao , Ma Yubei , Deng Pengcheng , Li Yinqiu , Xu Meng , Xiong Hang
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The regulations for qualitative genetically modified (GM) food labeling do not effectively eliminate the information asymmetries pertaining to the consumption of GM products. China's GM food labeling law requires the presentation of certain categories of GM products on GMO labels on packages. Such information is invaluable for understanding whether the disclosure of more information on GM foods can help alleviate information asymmetry while reducing consumer fear and risk perceptions of GM foods, and thus cause changes in their behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to explore the heterogeneity of consumer preferences for enhanced GM food labeling, how consumer preferences are influenced by labeling information, and how these preferences vary in different consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

Both descriptive statistics and econometric techniques, including the multivariate ordered Probit model, were applied to a sample of 566 urban consumers in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. All respondents were divided into two groups: people who would definitely not buy GM foods before selecting enhanced labeling information (“consumer group 1”, sample size 282) and people who would definitely not object to buying GM foods before selecting enhanced labeling information (“consumer group 2”, sample size 274).

Findings

The findings suggest that urban consumers have a preference for different types of enhanced labeling information about GM foods, that such a preference significantly influences their willingness to pay for GM foods, that there exists a large difference in the preferences of different consumer groups, and that enhanced GM food labeling information has a greater impact on those consumers who would not accept GM foods.

Originality/value

This research identifies the GM information disclosures that most affect consumer preferences and how these preferences vary across different segments of consumers, which is a current gap in the literature. The study has demonstrated that enhanced labels of GM foods with diverse information would not alter a consumer's WTP for GM foods who does not perceive the value of information from the enhanced labels, but change positively consumers with uncertainty willingness to pay before disclosure.
Why competitive productivity sometimes goes too far: a multilevel evolutionary model of “karoshi”
Authors: Timming Andrew R.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to outline an innovative multilevel conceptual model capable of explaining “karoshi” (death from overwork) and its relationship to molecular-, micro-, meso- and macro-competitive productivity (CP).

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model, grounded in the evolutionary biological, psychological, organizational and sociological literatures, is provided.

Findings

Karoshi is a function of molecular (genetic), micro (individual), meso (organizational) and macro (cultural) evolutionary forces. It is also demonstrated to be a function of time, geography, agri-climate and cultural and ethnic homogeneity.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is purely theoretical and its theoretically informed hypotheses are not tested empirically. As such, further data-driven research is indicated. Additional analyses are also needed to further unpack the recursive nature of the relationship between karoshi and CP and the subtle differences between genetic evolution and cultural and organizational evolution.

Practical implications

Karoshi-related deaths are a public health epidemic and increasingly a major obstacle to sustainable CP. As such, organizations can leverage these analyses to help them implement interventions aimed at reducing incidents of work-related deaths, not only in Japan, but across the world.

Originality/value

This multilevel conceptual framework makes a unique contribution to the cross-cultural and strategic management literatures. More specifically, it constitutes a new and innovative contribution to one’s current understanding of CP by uniquely integrating biology, psychology, organization studies and cultural studies into one overarching model.
Different status reevaluation period and communication styles for top-tier and bottom-tier customers in multi-tier loyalty programs
Authors: Chang Woojung
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how to design a firm’s customer demotion policy and communication styles differently for customers demoted from top-tier and bottom-tier to promote their willingness to restore lost status and loyalty intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Four scenario-based experiments were conducted in the customer demotion context of an airline’s hierarchical loyalty program. A total of 796 customers recruited from a survey panel participated in the study.

Findings

The results reveal that customers in top-tier demotion significantly increase their willingness to restore lost status and loyalty intentions when a short evaluation period (vs a long evaluation period) is given. Further, customers in bottom-tier demotion improve their willingness to restore and, in turn, their loyalty intentions more with a gain-focused communication style than with a loss-focused communication style. Willingness to restore lost status plays a mediating role in the process by which an appropriate match between demotion type and evaluation period type/communication styles leads to higher loyalty intentions.

Research limitations/implications

This study extends the research stream on customer demotion by examining how to execute customer demotion to mitigate its detrimental effects and facilitate demoted customers’ approach motivation and behavioral intentions, a critical but understudied topic that has been ignored by researchers.

Practical implications

Managers are advised to offer customized customer status evaluation periods and communication styles for top-tier and bottom-tier demoted customers to effectively promote their willingness to restore lost status and loyalty intentions.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to explore the possible varying effects of differential demotion policy and communication style on different tiers of customers.
Career calling: women STEM graduates in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Kemp Linzi J. , Ahmad Norita , Pappalardo Lucia , Williams Alison
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate career choices by female graduates from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to determine factors that influenced their entry, abandonment or persistence of STEM careers.

Design/methodology/approach

Life history narratives were collected from a sample group of employed citizens and expatriate women (all STEM graduates) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Content of interview transcripts was analyzed for emergent themes of influence on these participants career decisions.

Findings

Four significant themes of calling were found: gift of intellect, belief in a faith, shared community and meaning of work. A typology of calling was constructed to reflect these themes influences on the entry, abandonment or persistence of women in a STEM career.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study were from a small sample of women in a particular country. The implication is to extend this study to a larger number of participants and to other countries to generalize the results.

Practical implications

Insight into career decisions of female STEM graduates impacts on employee recruitment and retention policies within those professions.

Originality/value

Research originality is evident, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, as this is the first study to explore the influence of calling for careers of STEM women working in the Middle East North Africa region.
Successful restaurant crowdfunding: the role of linguistic style
Authors: Koh Yoon , Lee Minwoo , Kim Jaewook , Yang Yun (Yvonne)
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Crowdfunding can be an effective fundraising vehicle to independent restaurants to overcome fundraising limitations due to its small-size and high risk. A few studies have identified contents of communication for successful crowdfunding, yet missing is on how to say. The purpose of this paper is to investigate linguistics styles that are effective in pitches in restaurant crowdfunding.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzed 500 restaurant crowdfunding projects listed on Kickstarter.com that is one of the most popular crowdfunding platforms with sizable restaurant projects. By text analysis, this study identifies four linguistic categories – concrete, precise, interactive and language with low psychological distancing – from the project descriptions. A binominal linear regression analysis identified effective language styles that increases success of restaurant crowdfunding.

Findings

Drawing on the language expectancy theory and uncertainty reduction theory, this study found that project descriptions that are concrete and delivering stories with fewer usage of first person pronouns are likely to succeed in restaurant fundraising. Interactive style was counter-effective while preciseness of language did not affect funding success significantly. Findings further reveal the roles of non-linguistic attributes shown in the project pitches.

Research limitations/implications

Despite the increasing practice of restaurant crowdfunding and good matches with small- and medium-sized restaurants’ needs, scant research has been conducted. Notably absent from the research is work on linguistic styles that are effective in restaurant crowdfunding. This study extends the prior literature by investigating how restaurant entrepreneurs should communicate with potential crowdfunders to make crowdfunding successful in the restaurant context. Simply knowing what are important does not provide holistic help to restaurant entrepreneurs; they also should know how to communicate well.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are important for restaurant entrepreneurs who need to present their projects and communicate effectively with potential investors online. Based on the study’s findings, crowdfunding platforms could enhance their project posting systems by developing algorithm that automatically measures language cues embedded in a project description and providing suggestions to improve persuasiveness of languages to maximize funding success for restaurant projects.

Originality/value

Scant research has been conducted in the restaurant crowdfunding; prior crowdfunding literature has focused on the projects other than restaurants such as technology, design and film. This study is the first that uncovers the role of the linguistic styles for the specific context of restaurant crowdfunding. This study sheds the light on the critical communication strategies used by small-sized restaurant entrepreneurs on crowdfunding platform.
Performance management in logistics outsourcing: a study on sugar-energy industry
Authors: Simon Alexandre , Scheidl Herbert , Campos Renan Stenico , Matana Gleison
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper analyzes managerial practices currently used for outsourced logistics activities in mechanized cutting, loading and transportation (CLT) of sugarcane in a Brazilian company using performance-based logistics contracts (PBL) as reference.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology draws on literature review, design of an analysis model, small group meetings with academics/industry professionals and practical application through a case study. The model is based on PBL and its construction involved choosing the analysis axes, defining evaluation items and respective measurement scale and the means and sources of data collection.

Findings

When comparing the evaluation results with PBL recommendations, it is possible to see that there are still many improvement opportunities. In contracting axis, decision-making process was poor-rated due to the absence of strategic considerations to support outsourcing decision. Procurement, contract and implementation are in intermediate level. Performance management is the most mature axis. However, quality analysis showed intermediate level. In relationship axis, the most relevant gap is the lack of expectations alignment. Remaining items showed intermediate levels of compliance but still need focusing on communication, establishing a structured relationship management development.

Originality/value

This study contributes first to develop an analysis model based on PBL to evaluate the level of relationship integration between company and logistics service provider, and second, to apply the model to an empirical case in a CLT company operation. As a result, the analysis model presents guidelines for the company, not to just contract/rent equipment and manpower but hire results.
Development of an efficient steel truss system using CFS sections: a comparative study with a hot-rolled steel truss
Authors: Dar Mohammad Adil , Subramanian N. , Baniya Manmohan Gupta , Anbarasu M. , Carvalho Hermes , Dar A.R.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the performance of efficient cold-formed steel (CFS) sections in building a truss system. A comparative study was performed comparing trusses built with cold-formed and hot-rolled sections.

Design/methodology/approach

Medium-scale specimens were fabricated and tested under monotonic loading. Closed CFS sections (tubular sections) were adopted as compression members of the truss, against the open sections (angle sections) in the hot-rolled steel truss. While as open sections (angle sections) were adopted as tension members in both these cases, the performance assessment was made on the basis of the peak loads carried by the trusses, the vertical deflections and the failure modes exhibited.

Findings

The results of this study indicated that the overall strength, strength-to-weight ratio and overall convenience in terms of cost and fabrication, in the CFS truss was better than that of the hot-rolled one. Also, the judicious utilization of steel which has limited reserves can be achieved.

Originality/value

Cold-formed and hot-rolled sections are widely used in the steel structures. There are advantages and disadvantages in using each of these configurations, discussed in this work. The advantages are widely known by the scientific community; however, few studies are developed with the purpose of quantifying the gains of each solution. Thus, this work emerges with great innovation, with regard to the experimental evaluation of the trusses' behavior composed of different structural sections.
Negative outcomes of ICT use at work: meta-analytic evidence and the role of job autonomy
Authors: Karimikia Hadi , Singh Harminder , Joseph Damien
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Individuals can improve their task performance by using information and communications technology (ICT). However, individuals who use ICT may also suffer from negative outcomes, such as burnout and anxiety, which lead to poorer performance and well-being. While researchers have studied the positive outcomes of ICT use in the aggregate, the same has not been done for negative outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a meta-analysis of 52 studies to examine the relationship between ICT use and negative outcomes, and the influence of job autonomy on ICT use and the negative outcomes of ICT use. Job autonomy is relevant because a higher level of job autonomy allows individuals to decide how, how often and when they will use ICT that is causing negative outcomes for their work.

Findings

The results of the meta-analysis revealed that ICT use increased negative job outcomes and that, unexpectedly, autonomy exacerbated this effect.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study point to the prevalence of negative outcomes from ICT use among individuals. Researchers should study how users may potentially restrict the value that organizations may be able to obtain from the implementation of new systems, especially whether individual-level negative outcomes could coalesce into a collective resistance. There also needs to be further research into the motivating and inhibiting roles of autonomy in enhancing ICT use, while mitigating its negative impacts simultaneously.

Originality/value

The study provides an aggregate analysis of the negative impacts of ICT use among individuals and the role of autonomy in the relationship.
Agricultural commercialization and food security: an ex-ante approach
Authors: Bolarinwa Olufemi D. , Oehmke James F. , Moss Charles B.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The lack of theoretical and pragmatic way of measuring agricultural commercialization has been responsible for the inconsistent results for the impact of agricultural commercialization on household welfare. This study makes use of an input-based market participation approach that utilizes household preplanting production decision to stratify farming households according to production orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study estimates a system of input and consumer demand equations. It augments traditional input and consumer demand equations with an additional variable based on an endogenous switch, which measures the probability of being a commercial farming household. Empirical evidence suggests that market orientation is an important determinant of the level of traded input and hence, market participation. Predicted probabilities obtained from the endogenous switch are used to stratify households into subsistence and commercial agricultural households.

Findings

Results of the relative effect of commercial agriculture on the level of household food security support the claim that production orientation does affect the relationship between the relative share of food expenditure to the household total expenditures and the logarithm of household expenditure for this part of sub-Saharan Africa.

Research limitations/implications

As in the case of all generalized method of moments studies, the results depend on the robustness of the instruments. However, search for better instruments may run afoul of Leamer's ad hoc specification search with nonexperimental data.

Originality/value

This paper is original in its formulation of an endogenous switch between subsistence and commercial agriculture. This switch is estimated as a latent variable following a logit form.
An empirical examination of the moderating role of age and gender in consumer mobile banking use: a cross-national, quantitative study
Authors: Merhi Mohamad , Hone Kate , Tarhini Ali , Ameen Nisreen
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Despite the benefits of mobile banking services in an increasingly digitised world, adoption rates remain unsatisfactory. The present cross-national study examines age- and gender-dependent variations of consumer intentions and use of mobile banking services.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyses consumer mobile banking use by integrating factors such as with trust, security and privacy and it examines the effects of these factors among two demographic factors including age and gender. 897 Lebanese and British mobile banking users completed a survey. Data was analysed by partial least squares-structural equations modelling.

Findings

Consumer behavioural intention was significantly moderated by age through its relationship with facilitating conditions and trust among Lebanese respondents, and performance expectancy, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation, price value and habit among their British counterparts. As for gender, a significant moderating effect was evidenced in the Lebanese, but not the British sample, on the level of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, price value and perceived security.

Originality/value

The findings provide evidence of the applicability of the new factors proposed in this research. The reflection of the influence of these demographic factors in a cross-national context provides insights into mobile banking adoption variation between different countries.
Money-laundering risk and preventive measures in Pakistan
Authors: Jaffery Irfan Hassan , Mughal Riffat Abdul Latif
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of anti-money laundering/combating of financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures in Pakistan. Key variables of AML/CFT regulations of Pakistan are used. This study explores the impact of customer due diligence, record keeping, wire transfers, correspondent banking, reporting of transactions, new technology and internal controls/compliance/trainings on money-laundering risk.

Design/methodology/approach

Data is collected with the help of questionnaires developed in light of Financial Actions Task Force (FATF) recommendations and the AML/CFT regulations of Pakistan.

Findings

Results show that customer due diligence, correspondent banking and new technology may help control money-laundering risk in Pakistan, whereas impact of record keeping, wire transfers and reporting of transactions did not have an effect on money-laundering risk. This study suggests a better implementation of these measures.

Research limitations/implications

The current study was limited to Pakistani banks. For more conclusive results, future studies should replicate similar studies in other countries.

Practical implications

Findings of this study may help the State Bank of Pakistan in taking measures to simplify the process of implementing FATF rules and regulations regarding AML/CFT, regular monitoring and trainings to the staff of banks and development finance institutions in customer due diligence, correspondent banking and new technology. Further, it helps to take appropriate measures in resolving banks-specific issues related to AML/CFT.

Social implications

Effective AML/CFT control measures would strengthen socio-economic growth in a country. Further, formalization, compliance and integrity would eliminate money laundering risk. It would create an economy that works with equity and promotes transparency.

Originality/value

This research paper supports implementation of AML/CFT regulations, proper monitoring and novel supervision of banks.
Analysis of enablers on the successful implementation of green manufacturing for Irish SMEs
Authors: Ghadimi Pezhman , O'Neill Shane , Wang Chao , Sutherland John W.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify a comprehensive list of main enablers of successful implementation of green manufacturing (GM) practices in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Based on the inputs from Irish SMEs' experts, a validated conceptual hierarchy model of the identified enablers is developed to analyse and prioritise the most dominant ones.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a questionnaire survey responded by various professionals in Irish manufacturing SMEs. Experts' opinions were analysed using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) to distinguish the mutual influences amongst the nine identified enablers.

Findings

The findings revealed that from the Irish SMEs' perspective, strong green supply chain relations are the outcome of successfully implementing GM and not a driver of the other enablers. Furthermore, lower manufacturing costs are found to arise as a result of GM practices in SMEs.

Practical implications

It is discussed that emulating the actions of larger companies will not necessarily yield the same results for SMEs. Innovation will become a cornerstone of remaining competitive in a sustainable environment, which is facilitated by closer green supply chain relations.

Originality/value

The reported findings in this article contribute to theory and practice of GM and SMEs research domains by systematically identified, classified and ranked enablers in a conceptual hierarchal model from the perspective of Irish SMEs. This research lays the foundations for further analysis of the GM practices enablers in a time when UN mandates and EU regulations are increasingly impacting SMEs all around Europe and especially Ireland.
Imagining Niklas Luhmann as a “change manager”: scrum as an example of a closed system for the self-organized stabilization of corporate agility
Authors: Lies Jan
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Systems theory is frequently discussed. The aim of the contribution is to elaborate what is to be advised with the idea of closed systems regarding change management.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows Niklas Luhmann and his so-called “autopoietic turn.” It provides a profound theoretic basis, from which the needs and requirements of the post-heroic management emerge. The implications of this specific approach to change management are demonstrated by means of the contemporary example of scrum. The applied method is literature review.

Findings

This contribution seeks to understand the relevance of closed systems within change management. Especially, the meaning of indirect strategies of control as a requirement for change management will be shown. That means Luhmann emphasizes the pessimism of traditional change management. The findings emphasize the meaning of self-organizing systems predicating by means of observation, which configurates corporate agility.

Research limitations/implications

Systems theory often suffers from lack of empirical evidence, as systems are multi-complex. As an alternative, in this study, a literature-based discussion of the contemporary agile project management technique “scrum” is used.

Practical implications

The meaning of power in management shifts from formal to informal or soft power, e.g. the ability to promote self-binding processes. Thus, closed systems emphasize the need to look for alternatives for change management.

Originality/value

Characterizing Luhmann as a hidden champion of contemporary management as modern management tools like hackathons or crowdsourcing also benefit from closed systems.
A transformative supply chain response to COVID-19
Authors: Mollenkopf Diane A. , Ozanne Lucie K. , Stolze Hannah J.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This research employs a transformative service lens to examine the role of the supply chain ecosystem in ensuring the health and safety of employees and customers as a well-being outcome during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper examining the response of the supply chain to the current food crisis caused by the pandemic.

Findings

Based on the service-dominant logic (SDL) paradigm, the COVID-19 examination of the supply chain ecosystem provides a foundation for further research employing a transformative lens.

Research limitations/implications

The COVID-19 situation is primarily explored from a Western, educated, industrialised, rich and democratic (WEIRD) societies’ context. Future research should explore the applicability of the transformative service lens to other societies.

Practical implications

The conceptual discussion and research agenda provide direction for researchers, practitioners and policymakers towards a transformative supply chain ecosystem.

Originality/value

This research includes the well-being of employees and customers in the service supply chain outcome measures, draws supply chain management into the TSR domain, while also solidifies a service ecosystem perspective of supply chain management.
Impact of firm-level attributes on listed real estate company performance
Authors: Haran Martin Edward , Lo Daniel , McCord Michael , Davis Peadar , Lim Lay Cheng
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the extent to which company-specific attributes including market capitalisation, capital structure and investment focus impact upon the performance of European listed real estate companies. Enhanced understanding of firm-level performance drivers is important for investors in order to diversify their investment portfolios and to mitigate company-specific risks at different points in the real estate cycle.

Design/methodology/approach

The study centres on six key listed European real estate markets selected on the basis of market capitalisation, diversity, transparency and maturity. A series of statistical tests are undertaken using EPRA and Bloomberg data for the period of 2007–2017 using 113 listed property companies, all of whom were contemporaneous constituents of EPRA indices in this period. A series of customised performance indices were constructed to evaluate firm-level performance attributes.

Findings

Firm-level attributes collectively account for more variation of risk-adjusted return than sector-level attributes over the investigation period. The impact of firm-specific attributes on performance varies significantly from country to country attributable to the contrasting cyclical property market trends in the pre– and post–Global Financial Crisis period. REITs outperformed non-REITs on a risk-adjusted basis attributed to the strong performance of “niche” market entrants allied with stronger regulatory structure. Finally, the findings showcase that sector specialist firms outperform diversified companies inferring that investors should seek to attain diversification through portfolio-based approaches rather than firm-level strategies.

Practical implications

The results have implications for real estate companies aiming to raise capital internally for growth as higher return on equity in general signals reduced cost of capital. Secondly, the findings should be of practical use to multinationals specialising in international real estate trading in designing their business plans in general and formulating cross-country investment strategies in particular. Last but not least, a more refined conceptualisation of corporate-level performance drivers should complement existing professional practices in relation to business/company appraisal.

Originality/value

The research integrates EPRA and Bloomberg data sets to create a series of bespoke index constructs to measure the impact of firm-specific attributes on European listed real estate companies. Additionally, the authors construct a Herfindahl Index (H.I.) to further the debate on the impacts of diversification within the listed real estate sector. This serves to further heighten investor understanding of investment allocation and portfolio optimisation strategies for the listed real estate sector given the increasingly diverse range of investment opportunities within emerging sub-markets.
Perinatal mental health amongst refugee and asylum-seeking women in the UK
Authors: Giscombe Tkaya , Hui Ada , Stickley Theodore
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Refugee and asylum-seeking women are particularly vulnerable to experiencing mental health difficulties during the perinatal period, with social factors compounding these experiences. Research is limited into the mental health needs of perinatal women who are refugees or seeking asylum. The purpose of this paper is to examine the best available international evidence on this topic and to discuss the findings with relevance to the UK context.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified population, intervention, comparison, outcome was used to formulate the research question and search strategy. Databases searched were: cumulative index of nursing and allied health literature, Medline, PsychINFO, Web of Science and Scopus. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis framework, results were screened against an inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each study underwent a quality assessment in which they were appraised using the mixed methods appraisal tool.

Findings

Eight papers were retrieved, and a thematic analysis was conducted. Two major themes were identified: mental health needs and social influences. Refugees and asylum seekers are likely to have experienced trauma as reasons for migration. Post-migration stressors, including hostility and dispersal from social networks, lead to cumulative trauma. These each add to the mental health needs of perinatal refugee and asylum-seeking women that cannot be ignored by policymakers, health and social care services or professionals.

Originality/value

Refugee and asylum-seeking women are particularly vulnerable to mental health difficulties in the perinatal period. Stressors accumulated pre-, during and post-migration to the host country exacerbate mental distress. In the UK, the treatment of this population may be detrimental to their mental health, prompting the need for greater critical awareness of the socioecological environment that refugee or asylum-seeking women experience.
Optimal currency hedge and the carry trade
Authors: Filipozzi Fabio , Harkmann Kersti
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the efficiency of different hedging strategies for an investor holding a portfolio of foreign currency bonds.

Design/methodology/approach

The simplest strategies of no hedge and fully hedged are compared with the more sophisticated strategies of the ordinary least squares (OLS) approach and the optimal hedge ratios found by the dynamic conditional correlation-generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity approach.

Findings

The sophisticated hedging strategies are found to be superior to the simple strategies because they lower the portfolio risk in domestic currency terms and improve the Sharpe ratios for multi-asset portfolios. The analyses also show that both the OLS and dynamic hedging strategies imply holding a limited carry position by being long in high-yielding currencies but short in low-yielding currencies.

Originality/value

The performance of multi-currency portfolios is examined using more realistic assumptions than in the previous literature, including a weekly frequency and a constraint of no short selling. Furthermore, carry trades are shown to be part of an optimal portfolio.
The impact of personality, morphotype and shore height on temperature‐mediated behavioural responses in the beadlet anemone Actinia equina
Authors: Maskrey Daniel K. , Sneddon Lynne U. , Arnold Kathryn E. , Wolfenden David C. C. , Thomson Jack S.
Published: August 2020

Between‐individual variation in behavioural phenotype, termed personality, is an important determinant of how populations cope with acute environmental fluctuation related to climate change.

Personality in the beadlet sea anemone Actinia equina is linked to genetically distinct morphotypes, which are associated with different heights on the shore. In the intertidal zone, high‐shore environments experience more environmental fluctuation due to longer periods of exposure, and animals adapted to live in these environments are predicted to deal more effectively with environmental perturbation than their low‐shore counterparts.

We collected beadlet anemones of two different morphotypes from three different shore heights. We investigated variation in two behaviours at three different temperatures and in a temporal control treatment where the temperature was not changed: startle response time, the time it took an anemone to re‐extend its tentacles after a threatening stimulus, and immersion response time, the time to re‐extend tentacles after simulated tidal immersion. These behaviours reflect risk‐taking and allow individuals to be categorized as bold, shy or intermediate based upon response times.

Both behaviours showed significant changes as the temperature increased. For immersion response, the morphotype associated with the low‐shore‐lengthened response times at high temperatures. For startle response, all animals lengthened their response times at high temperatures but animals collected from the low‐shore lengthened theirs to the greatest degree. At the individual level, although control individuals exhibited temporal changes in their response times, a clear effect of temperature was present in both behaviours. Shy and bold individuals became more intermediate at higher temperatures in immersion response (this effect was present to a lesser degree in control individuals), while intermediate individuals raised their response times at higher temperatures for startle response.

Given that prolonged tentacle retraction reduces foraging opportunities and can negatively impact respiratory efficiency, our data suggest that some individuals within a single population of A. equina, particularly those associated with the lower shore, may exhibit less effective behavioural responses to temperature shifts than others. These findings demonstrate that acute temperature changes influence risk‐taking, and could have profound short and long‐term implications for survival in the face of climate change.