bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine waning in Mexico
Authors: Hernandez-Suarez Carlos , Murillo-Zamora Efren
Published: April 2022

1.

We use survival analysis to analyze the decay in the protection induced by eight vaccines using data from 44, 006 patients from the IMSS public health system in Mexico, including only previously vaccinated, confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive with a PCR test. We analyze three groupings: all data, complete vs. incomplete dose and less than 60 years or older. We found that a Weibull distribution fits very well the complete dose data. Only three vaccines still had 30% of their initial strength after 32 weeks. In two-dose vaccines, we found that the average protection time of a complete dose increases 2 to 3 times compared to that of an incomplete dose.
PERMISSIVE OMICRON BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH BINDING OR NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODIES TO ANCESTRAL SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Williams Erin , Colson Jordan , Valiathan Ranjini , Carreño Juan Manuel , Krammer Florian , Hoffer Michael , Pallikkuth Suresh , Pahwa Savita , Andrews David
Published: April 2022

Background

Breakthrough infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) has occurred in populations with high vaccination rates. These infections are due to sequence variation in the spike protein leading to a reduction in protection afforded by the current vaccines, which are based on the original Wuhan-Hu-1 strain, or by natural infection with pre-Omicron strains.

Methods

In a longitudinal cohort study, pre-breakthrough infection sera for Omicron breakthroughs (n=12) were analyzed. Assays utilized include a laboratory-developed solid phase binding assay to recombinant spike protein, a commercial assay to the S1 domain of the spike protein calibrated to the World Health Organization (WHO) standard, and a commercial solid-phase surrogate neutralizing activity (SNA) assay. All assays employed spike protein preparations based on sequences from the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain. Participant demographics and clinical characteristics were captured.

Results

Pre-breakthrough binding antibody (bAB) titers ranged from 1:800-1:51,200 for the laboratory-developed binding assay, which correlated well and agreed quantitatively with the commercial spike S1 domain WHO calibrated assay. SNA was detected in 10/12 (83%) samples.

Conclusions

Neither high bAB nor SNA were markers of protection from Omicron infection/re-infection. Laboratory tests with antigen targets based on Wuhan-Hu-1 may not accurately reflect the degree of immune protection from variants with significant spike protein differences. Omicron breakthrough infections are likely due to high sequence variation of the spike protein and reflect incomplete immune protection from previous infection with strains that preceded Omicron or with vaccinations based on the original Wuhan-Hu-1 strain.
From menarche to menopause: the impact of reproductive factors on the metabolic profile of over 65,000 women
Authors: Clayton Gemma L , Borges Maria Carolina , Lawlor Deborah A
Published: April 2022

We explored the relation between age at menarche, parity and age at natural menopause with 249 metabolic traits, measured using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), in up to 65,487 UK Biobank women using multivariable regression (MV), Mendelian randomization (MR) and a male negative control (parity only). Older age of menarche was related to a less atherogenic metabolic profile in MV and MR, which was largely attenuated when accounting for adult body mass index. In MV, higher parity related to complex changes in lipoprotein-related traits; these were not observed in male negative controls and were imprecisely estimated in MR. In MV and MR, older age at natural menopause was related to lower concentrations of inflammation markers, but inconsistent results were observed for LDL-related traits due to chronological age-specific effects. Our findings support a role of reproductive traits on later life metabolic profile and provide insights into identifying novel markers for the prevention of adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in women.

Summary box

What is new?

Markers of women’s reproductive health are associated with several common chronic conditions. Whilst some attempts have been made to explore the extent to which these associations are causal, metabolites could act as mediators of the relationship between reproductive markers and chronic diseases.

Older age of menarche was related to a less atherogenic metabolic profile in multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization, however, this was largely attenuated when accounting for adult body mass index.

In multivariable regression, higher parity related to complex changes in lipoprotein-related traits. Whilst these were not observed in male negative controls, suggesting a potential causal effect in females, they were not replicated in the Mendelian randomization, possibly due to imprecise estimates.

Older age at natural menopause was related to lower concentrations of inflammation markers in both multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization. Consistent results were observed for LDL-related traits when stratified by chronological age.

Implications

Given that the age at menarche results were largely attenuated to the null when accounting for adult BMI, it is likely that age at menarche itself may not causally relate to the metabolic profile.

These results, particularly for parity and age at menopause, could contribute to identifying novel markers for the prevention of adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in women and/or methods for accurate risk prediction. For example, consistent with other studies, higher parity was associated with unfavourable (e.g. higher number of particles and lipid content in VLDL and higher glycine) changes in the metabolic profile. Similarly, older age at menopause was related to higher lipid content in HDL particles and lower systemic inflammation, as proxied by GlycA.
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 spike G446S potentiates HLA-A*24:02-restricted T cell immunity
Authors: Motozono Chihiro , Toyoda Mako , Tan Toong Seng , Hamana Hiroshi , Aritsu Yoshiki , Miyashita Yusuke , Oshiumi Hiroyuki , Nakamura Kimitoshi , Okada Seiji , Udaka Keiko , Kitamatsu Mizuki , Kishi Hiroyuki , Ueno Takamasa
Published: April 2022

Although the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is resistant to neutralizing antibodies, it retains susceptibility to cellular immunity. Here, we characterized vaccine-induced T cells specific for various SARS-CoV-2 variants and identified HLA-A*24:02-restricted CD8+ T cells that strongly suppressed Omicron BA.1 replication. Mutagenesis analyses revealed that a G446S mutation, located just outside the N-terminus of the cognate epitope, augmented TCR recognition of this variant. In contrast, no enhanced suppression of replication was observed against cells infected with the prototype, Omicron BA.2, and Delta variants that express G446. The enhancing effect of the G446S mutation was lost when target cells were treated with inhibitors of tripeptidyl peptidase II, a protein that mediates antigen processing. These results demonstrate that the G446S mutation in the Omicron BA.1 variant affects antigen processing/presentation and potentiates antiviral activity by vaccine-induced T cells, leading to enhanced T cell immunity towards emerging variants.
Evolution of self-sustained circadian rhythms requires seasonal change of daylight
Authors: Seki Motohide , Ito Hiroshi
Published: April 2022

Abstracts

Self-sustained oscillation is a fundamental property of circadian rhythms and has been repeatedly tested since the early days of circadian research, resulting in the discovery of almost all organisms possessing self-sustained circadian oscillations. However, the evolutionary advantage of self-sustainability has been only speculatively discussed. In this theoretical study, we sought the environmental constraints and selection pressure that drive the acquisition or degeneration of self-sustainability through the process of evolution. We considered a random gene regulatory network dynamics under light cycles and optimized the network structure using an evolutionary algorithm. By designing the fitness function in the evolutionary algorithm, we investigated the environmental conditions that led to the evolution of the self-sustained oscillators. Then, we found that (i) networks showing self-sustained oscillation under constant light conditions are much rarer than those showing damped oscillation and hourglass-type behaviour, and (ii) among several types of fitness-based optimization, networks with self-sustainability property have a markedly high fitness score, especially when we assume that a network has to generate a constantly periodic expression profile regardless of day length. This study was the first to show that seasonality facilitated the evolution of the self-sustained circadian clock, which was consistent with empirical records.
Ocular tropism of SARS-CoV-2 with retinal inflammation through neuronal invasion in animal models
Authors: Jeong Gi Uk , Kwon Hyung-Jun , Moon Hyun Woo , Yoon Gun Young , Shin Hye Jin , Chae Ji Soo , Kim Seong-Jun , Lee In-Chul , Ahn Dae-Gyun , Kim Kyun-Do , Mahalingam Suresh , Kwon Young-Chan
Published: April 2022

Although ocular manifestations are commonly reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is currently no consensus on ocular tropism of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To investigate this, we infected K18-hACE2 mice with SARS-CoV-2 using various routes. We observed ocular manifestation and retinal inflammation with cytokine production in the eyes of intranasally (IN) infected mice. An intratracheal (IT) injection resulted in virus spread from the lungs to the brain and eyes via trigeminal and optic nerves. Ocular and neuronal invasion were confirmed by an intracerebral (IC) infection. Notably, eye-dropped (ED) virus did not infect the lungs and was undetectable with time. Using infectious SARS-CoV-2-mCherry clones, we demonstrated the ocular and neurotropic distribution of the virus in vivo by a fluorescence-imaging system. Evidence for the ocular tropic and neuroinvasive characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed in wild-type Syrian hamsters. Our data provides further understanding of the viral transmission; SARS-CoV-2 clinical characteristics; and COVID-19 control procedures.

SARS-CoV-2 can spread from the respiratory tract to the brain and eyes via trigeminal and optic nerves in animal models. This ocular tropism of SARS-CoV-2 through neuronal invasion likely causes ocular manifestation and retinal inflammation.

Graphical Abstract
GeneticsMakie.jl: A versatile and scalable toolkit for visualizing locus-level genetic and genomic data
Authors: Kim Minsoo , Vo Daniel D. , Kumagai Michi E. , Jops Connor T. , Gandal Michael J.
Published: April 2022

With the continued deluge of results from genome-wide association and functional genomic studies, it has become increasingly imperative to quickly combine and visualize different layers of genetic and genomic data within a given locus to facilitate exploratory and integrative data analyses. While several tools have been developed to visualize locus-level genetic results, the limited speed, scalability, and flexibility of current approaches remains a significant bottleneck. Here, we present a Julia package GeneticsMakie.jl for high-performance genetics and genomics-related data visualization that enables fast, simultaneous plotting of hundreds of association results along with multiple relevant genomic annotations. Leveraging the powerful plotting and layout utilities from Makie.jl facilitates the customization and extensibility of every component of a plot, enabling generation of publication-ready figures. The GeneticsMakie.jl package is open source and distributed under the MIT license via GitHub (https://github.com/mmkim1210/GeneticsMakie.jl). The GitHub repository contains installation instructions as well as examples and documentation for built-in functions.
Trophoblast and blood vessel organoid cultures recapitulate the role of WNT2B in promoting intravillous vascularization in human intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy
Authors: Zhao Xiaoya , Zhang Zhenwu , Luo Yurui , Ye Qinying , Shi Shuxiang , He Xueyang , Zhu Jing , Zhu Qian , Zhang Duo , Xia Wei , Zhang Yiqin , Jiang Linlin , Cui Long , Ye Yinghui , Xiang Yangfei , Hu Junhao , Zhang Jian , Lin Chao-Po
Published: April 2022

Tubal ectopic pregnancy (TEP), a pregnancy complication caused by aberrant implantation in fallopian tubes, accounts for 9-13% pregnancy-related deaths. The lack of models for human TEP hampers the understanding of its pathological mechanisms. Here, we employed multiple models to investigate the crosstalk between human trophoblast development and intravillous vascularization. We found that the severity of TEP, the size of placental villi, and the depth of trophoblast invasion are correlated with the extent of intravillous vascularization. We identified a key pro-angiogenic factor secreted by trophoblasts, WNT2B, that promotes villous vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and vascular network expansion. In an organoid coculture model consisting of trophoblast organoids and blood vessel organoids, knockdown of WNT2B in trophoblast organoids compromises their pro-angiogenic effect on the development of blood vessel organoids. These organoid-based models reveal an important role for WNT-mediated angiogenesis in pregnancies and could be employed to investigate the commutations between trophoblasts and endothelial/endothelial progenitor cells.
MetaRelSubNetVis: Referenceable network visualizations based on integrated patient data with group-wise comparison
Authors: Auer Florian , Mayer Simone , Kramer Frank
Published: April 2022

Motivation

Networks are a common data structure to describe relations among biological entities. Enriched with information to specify the entities or their connections, they provide a solid foundation for data-dependent visualization. When such annotations overlap, for example in a protein-protein interaction network that is enriched with patient-specific expressions, visualization is reliant on user interaction. Thereby, effective and reliable exchange of visualization parameters between collaborators is crucial to the communication within workflows.

Results

Here, we introduce MetaRelSubNetVis, a web-based tool that allows users to interactively apply group-wise visualizations to networks augmented with patient data. Our application can visually reflect patient-specific attributes for single patients or in a comparative context. Furthermore, we improved upon the exchange of network visualizations by providing unambiguous links that result in the same visual markup. Our work provides new prospects in interacting with and collaborating on network data, especially with respect to the exchange and integration of network visualizations.

Contact

florian.auer@informatik.uni-augsburg.de
The DNA replication initiation protein DnaD is recruited to a specific strand of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome origin
Authors: Winterhalter Charles , Pelliciari Simone , Stevens Daniel , Fenyk Stepan , Marchand Elie , Cronin Nora B , Soultanas Panos , Costa Tiago R. D. , Ilangovan Aravindan , Murray Heath
Published: April 2022

Genome replication is a fundamental biological activity shared by all organisms. Chromosomal replication proceeds bidirectionally from origins, requiring the loading of two helicases, one for each replisome. The molecular mechanisms for helicase loading at bacterial chromosome origins (oriC) are unclear. Here we investigated the essential DNA replication initiation protein DnaD in the model organism Bacillus subtilis. A set of DnaD residues required for ssDNA binding was identified, and photo-crosslinking revealed that this ssDNA binding region interacts preferentially with one strand of oriC. Biochemical and genetic data support the model that DnaD recognizes a new single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) motif located in oriC (DnaD Recognition Element, “DRE”). Considered with cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging of full length DnaD, we propose that the location of the DRE within the oriC orchestrates strand-specific recruitment of helicase to achieve bidirectional DNA replication. These findings significantly advance our mechanistic understanding of bidirectional replication from a bacterial chromosome origin.
Lithium-induced ciliary lengthening sparks Arp2/3 complex-dependent endocytosis
Authors: Bigge Brae M , Avasthi Prachee
Published: April 2022

Ciliary length is highly regulated across cell types, but this tight regulation can be disrupted by lithium, which causes ciliary elongation across cell types and organisms. Here, we use the powerful ciliary model Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to investigate the mechanism behind lithium-induced ciliary elongation. Protein synthesis is not required for lengthening, and the target of lithium is GSK3, which has substrates that can influence membrane dynamics. Further, in addition to elongation of the microtubule core, ciliary assembly requires a supply of ciliary membrane. To test if the membrane for ciliary lengthening could be from the Golgi or the cell body plasma membrane, we treated cells with either Brefeldin A or Dynasore respectively. Cilia were able to elongate normally with Brefeldin treatment, but Dynasore treatment resulted in defective lengthening. Genetic or acute chemical perturbation of the Arp2/3 complex, which is required for endocytosis in these cells, blocks lithium-induces ciliary lengthening. Finally, we looked at filamentous actin in lithium-treated cells and found an increase in Arp2/3 complex-and endocytosis-dependent puncta near the base of cilia. Blocking endocytosis by inhibiting the Arp2/3 complex or dynamin, confirmed by visual loss of endocytic structures, prevents lithium-induced ciliary elongation. We previously reported that endocytosis was required for early ciliary assembly from zero length, and here, we demonstrate that endocytosis is also required for ciliary elongation from steady state length. Thus, we hypothesize that lithium-induced ciliary elongation occurs through a mechanism that involves a supply of additional ciliary membrane through endocytosis.
Sustainable embodied experience in the built environment: reinterpreting architectural history through embodied cognition
Authors: Lee Sanghee
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Architectural history is the fundamental resource that informs the essence of architecture and design thinking; however, education does not appear to link history to design thinking. A study of architectural history textbooks reveals the inadequacy of relying on the modern paradigm and architecture's typology of styles and periods. Instead, conceptual metaphor theory is recommended as the framework for understanding architectural history from an experiential approach. This study aims to complement architectural history by a new understanding of embodied cognition in generating paradigm change.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviewed architectural history through changing body metaphors in terms of embodied experience. The study examined three different metaphorical structures of the body – nature, machine and neural network – projected on the built environment and experienced in accordance with three periods of architectural history, which are categorized as before modern, modern and after modern.

Findings

As a result of the case study, ancient pyramids can attain more empirical meaning as playful spaces than abstract forms, Greek temples as social spaces than symbolic spaces, medieval churches as atmospheric spaces than visually-centric spaces, modern residential buildings as unsustainable machines and contemporary parks as raising awareness of sustainable environment.

Originality/value

Therefore, this article contributes to understandings and knowledge of how built environments are experienced from the perspective of a neural network, to the development of a pedagogical alternative to traditional architectural history, to linking architectural history to design and practice to re-establish the importance and vitality of architectural history and finally to creating a sustainable didactic.
Are Italian consumers of canned tuna fish sensitive to environmentally sustainable product attributes?
Authors: Forleo Maria Bonaventura , Romagnoli Luca , Palmieri Nadia
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The study aims to provide important insights into environmental attributes that are relevant to consumer's choices in purchasing canned tuna fish, and how much these attributes and socio-demographic individual characteristics relate to the frequency of consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey of 251 Italians was carried out. Socio-demographic variables and environmental attributes of the product that consumers pay attention to were considered in a two-step analysis: a cluster analysis used to create a segmentation of people's profiles that are further characterised; a binary logistic regression to assess the significance of attributes in relation to the frequency of canned tuna consumption.

Findings

Among attributes that respondents pay attention to when purchasing canned tuna, the country of origin is the aspect most considered, while other characteristics with a higher content of environmental sustainability received minimal attention. Three clusters emerged: the smallest one, insensitive to sustainability issues; an intermediate group which is mindful of sustainability attributes; and the biggest cluster which is “sustainability inconsistent.” Moreover, respondents who reported concerns about the environmental impacts of tuna production are less likely to consume the product than other consumers; attention paid to the method of farming, the presence of children and a young age show willingness to consume tuna.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on canned tuna consumption by focusing on the attention that consumers pay to environmental product attributes in their purchasing choices. The relevance of this topic might be envisaged in relation to several environmental issues associated with tuna production and consumption, and to the economics and strategies of the tuna industry, being canned tuna among the most internationally traded seafood products.
Evolutionary game of government safety supervision for prefabricated building construction using system dynamics
Authors: Zhang Yuebin , Yi Xin , Li Shuangshuang , Qiu Hui
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to reduce the construction safety accidents of prefabricated building (PB) projects, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of safety supervision by government departments, and provide theoretical reference for improving the safety supervision system of PB construction.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the information asymmetry between government supervision departments and construction contractors and the interactive relationship between the two parties under bounded rationality, we propose an evolutionary game model for the construction safety dynamic supervision of PBs and analyze the evolutionary strategy of the game. The system dynamics (SD) method is used to simulate and analyze the evolutionary game process under a dynamic supervision strategy and the adjustment of external variables.

Findings

The cost difference between the government's strong and weak supervision, the construction contractor's additional expenditure for strengthening safety management, and other factors affect system stability. The government can dynamically adjust the penalties based on the construction contractor's subjective willingness to ignore safety management and further adjust their rate of change based on the completion of the supervision goals to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of construction safety supervision.

Originality/value

This study makes contributions in two areas. Through a combination of SD and an evolutionary game, it provides new insights into the strategic choice of the main body related to PB construction safety. Additionally, considering the nonlinear characteristics of construction safety supervision, it provides useful universal suggestions for PB construction safety.
The relationship between empowering leadership and project performance: a resource perspective
Authors: Zheng Junwei , Gu Yu , Zhang Zhenduo , Xie Hongtao , Li Peikai , Li Hongyang
Published: April 2022

Purpose

While existing literature emphasizes the importance of empowerment in construction projects, the working mechanisms of empowering leadership in the project context are unclear. Based on conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study aimed to examine the relationship between empowering leadership and project performance, highlighting the mediation roles of creative self-efficacy and leadermember exchange and the moderation role of perceived overqualification.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from 287 project members in different projects and tested the integrated conceptual model through moderated mediation analysis with bootstrapping strategy.

Findings

The results revealed that empowering leadership was positively related to project performance through creative self-efficacy and leader–member exchange. Perceived overqualification served as significant moderator.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the understanding of empowering leadership in projects by verifying and extending the resource acquisition and investment process in the project context. The results of this study also demonstrated that creative belief and social exchange facilitate the effectiveness of project members' task efforts and outcomes and that perceived overqualification might not exert a detrimental effect on project performance.
Flexible working in the public sector – a case of inflexibility: senior managers' experiences
Authors: Ballantine Joan Amanda , Wall Tony , Ward Anne Marie
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The public sector is often considered the vanguard in terms of the availability and promotion of flexible working arrangements (FWAs). Despite this, little is known about how senior managers in the public sector engage with FWAs. This paper aims to address this gap, reporting on a number of issues, including the reality of FWAs, the existence of a flexibility stigma and whether this is gendered, and the drivers influencing the uptake of FWAs.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretical insights of flexibility stigma from the literature and data from semi-structured interviews with senior managers in the Northern Ireland Civil Service explore the realities of FWAs at this level.

Findings

The findings indicate a decoupling between the rhetoric and reality of FWAs, with few senior managers availing of such arrangements. The authors also identify a complex web of issues that constrain senior managers' agency in shaping a positive culture of FWAs at senior management level in the Civil Service, including an inherent resistance to flexibility, a lack of visible role models and negative perceptions around progression. The findings also indicate deeply held perceptions among senior males and females that availing of FWAs is associated with a flexibility stigma. These perceptions were confirmed by the small number of senior females with caring responsibilities who were availing of FWAs.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides senior managers and human resource practitioners with insights into the difficulties associated with wide-scale FWA availability and use at senior levels of the Civil Service.

Originality/value

The findings of the study offer valuable insights into the experience of senior managers in the public sector as they engage with FWAs. The study, therefore, contributes to the limited literature in this area.
Deep neural network prediction for effective thermal conductivity and spreading thermal resistance for flat heat pipe
Authors: Kim Myeongjin , Moon Joo Hyun
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to introduce a deep neural network (DNN) to estimate the effective thermal conductivity of the flat heat pipe with spreading thermal resistance.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 2,160 computational fluid dynamics simulation cases over up to 2,000 W/mK are conducted to regress big data and predict a wider range of effective thermal conductivity up to 10,000 W/mK. The deep neural networking is trained with reinforcement learning from 10–12 steps minimizing errors in each step. Another 8,640 CFD cases are used to validate.

Findings

Experimental, simulational and theoretical approaches are used to validate the DNN estimation for the same independent variables. The results from the two approaches show a good agreement with each other. In addition, the DNN method required less time when compared to the CFD.

Originality/value

The DNN method opens a new way to secure data while predicting in a wide range without experiments or simulations. If these technologies can be applied to thermal and materials engineering, they will be the key to solve thermal obstacles that many longing to overcome.
From immigrants to local entrepreneurs: understanding the effects of migration on entrepreneurship in a highly informal country
Authors: Muñoz-Mora Juan Carlos , Aparicio Sebastian , Martinez-Moya Diego , Urbano David
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Motivated by a lack of evidence regarding the effect of migration on entrepreneurship in a highly informal country, such as Colombia, this paper has a twofold purpose. First, it explores how Venezuelan immigration affects entrepreneurial activity in Colombian regions. Second, it intends to shed light on this relationship, by distinguishing between formal and informal sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

With a sample of 1,776,063 individuals, from the Labor Survey Gran Encuesta Integrada de Hogares (GEIH) from the Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE), the authors employ an instrumental variable approach to account for the selection of immigrants into locations with more or less desirable conditions.

Findings

The results suggest Venezuelan immigration positively influences self-employment and own-account workers, but negatively affects employers. However, once these immigrants proliferate in the informal sector, the effects increase.

Originality/value

This paper brings new insights into the intersection between immigration, unofficial economies, and entrepreneurship. First, while the prior literature focuses on migration from developing to developed countries, migratory flows between developing economies and its effects on local entrepreneurial activity remain unexplored. Second, although informality is mostly common in developing countries, little (albeit growing) evidence of its role in the relationship between migration and entrepreneurship research exists. Finally, the authors bring together these two phenomena to enhance our understanding of different types of entrepreneurial activities when immigration and informality take place. Policy implications are derived from these insights.
We must deter, but not without trust: a case of formalising informal micro-entrepreneurs in Pakistan
Authors: Shahid Muhammad Shehryar , Ejaz Lalarukh , Ali Kiran
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The policy approach in Pakistan with regard to combating the informal economy has remained quite myopic and skewed in its reliance on measures informed by the rational economic-actor theory as opposed to the social-actor approach. Thus, this study attempts to evaluate and synthesise the two alternative policy approaches and formulate a more theoretically integrative understanding of the subject.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors gather data from 600 micro-entrepreneurs operating in the retail and wholesale sector of Lahore, Pakistan, which is then analysed using an ordered logit regression technique.

Findings

In contrast to more developed countries, the finding here is that higher perceived penalties have a highly significant and positive impact on the level of formality of Pakistani micro-entrepreneurs. The perceived risk of detection, meanwhile, has only a moderately significant impact on the micro-entrepreneurs level of formality. Likewise, the level of vertical and horizontal trust has a positive but moderately significant impact on the level of formality. Nonetheless, both the vertical and horizontal trust exhibit a very significant moderating effect on the relationship between the use of penalties and the level of formality, that is, the higher the level of trust that the micro-entrepreneurs have in the state and other businesses, the lower is the effectiveness of punitive measures.

Practical implications

Deterrence is an effective way to enhance the level of formality in the case of the Pakistani context. Nonetheless, the authors imply that without building trust, this overreliance on punitive and detective measures can actually be counter-productive. A combined and congruent (not sequential) use of voluntary compliance measures is thus warranted.

Originality/value

It is a unique attempt to evaluate and synthesise the global policy theorisations in a non-mainstream and antagonistic climate, such as Pakistan.
Determinants of blockchain adoption as decentralized business model by Spanish firms – an innovation theory perspective
Authors: Hashimy Loha , Jain Geetika , Grifell-Tatjé Emili
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Large attention surrounds identifying the meaningful blockchain business model on financial services, while a little focus about non-financial organizations and solutions in terms of how the blockchain business model can affect the organization and bring more value. To address the complex structure of businesses that have public goods, it is important to develop sustainable blockchain-based business models.

Design/methodology/approach

This study offers the first qualitative research that uses an integrated technological, environmental and organizational (TOE) framework with technology acceptance theory (TAM) to study the adoption of blockchain technology by Spanish firms.

Findings

The results of the paper discuss how that competitive pressure, competence, top management support and relative advantage have a positive impact on intention to adopt blockchain technology while complexity affects the intention to adopt the technology negatively. Contrary to many adoption studies, the findings show that intention to adopt negatively impacts adoption and outline the effect of blockchain on business model elements on the macroeconomic level.

Originality/value

The key contribution of this study lies in providing a comprehensive understanding of the environmental, technological and organizational factors that impact the intention to adopt blockchain that eventually affects adoption.
Wireless information technology competency and transformational leadership in supply chain management: implications for innovative capability
Authors: Eng Teck-Yong , Mohsen Kholoud , Wu Lin-Chih
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The present study conceptualizes and examines the interplay of transformational leadership, ambidexterity and wireless information technology (IT) competency for enhancing innovative capability.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing primarily on the knowledge-based and dynamic capabilities view theory, the present study explored supply chains of a large global apparel company and their effect on innovative capability through a mixed methods approach.

Findings

The results show that transformational leaders strongly influence the development of ambidexterity and enhance radical innovative capability through wireless IT competency.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study suggest that supply chain integration through transformational leadership and wireless IT competency can promote simultaneous exploration and exploitation to enhance innovation.

Practical implications

The growth of cloud and/or virtual supply chains facilitated by digital wireless communications and Internet technology is advancing logistics and supply chain innovations. With increasing global competition, digitalized supply chains and ever-growing environmental uncertainty, leadership traits, especially transformational leadership and ambidextrous leaders, can be major contributing factors for successful development of wireless IT competency to support innovative capability.

Originality/value

Wireless IT competency facilitates knowledge integration particularly for combining prior internal knowledge of exploitative innovation with new external knowledge to develop explorative innovation.
Social-technical network effects in open source software communities: understanding the impacts of dependency networks on project success
Authors: Wu Jiang , Huang Xiao , Wang Bin
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To better understand the success of an open source software (OSS) project, this study aims to examine the role of social dependency networks (i.e. social and technical dependencies) in online communities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on dependencies using three network metrics – degree centrality, betweenness centrality and closeness centrality – in developer and module networks. A longitudinal analysis from the projects hosted at Sourceforge.net is conducted to examine the effects of social and technical networks on the success of OSS projects. To address our research questions, we have constructed research models to investigate the social network effects in developer networks, the technical network effects in module networks, and the social-technical network effects in both types of networks.

Findings

The results reveal nonlinear relationships between degree centrality in both social and technical networks and OSS success, highlighting the importance of a moderate level of degree centrality in team structure and software architecture. Meanwhile, a moderate level of betweenness centrality and a lower level of closeness centrality between developers lead to a higher chance of OSS project success.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to consider the network metrics in both module networks of the technical sub-system and developer networks of the social sub-system to better understand their influences on project success.
Examining the interconnectedness and early warning signals of systemic risks of shadow banks: an application to the Indian shadow bank crisis
Authors: Chaturvedi Anurag , Singh Archana
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The paper models the financial interconnectedness and systemic risk of shadow banks using Granger-causal network-based measures and takes the Indian shadow bank crisis of 2018–2019 as a systemic event.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs pairwise linear Granger-causality tests adjusted for heteroskedasticity and return autocorrelation on a rolling window of weekly returns data of 52 financial institutions from 2016 to 2019 to construct network-based measures and calculate network centrality. The Granger-causal network-based measure ranking of financial institutions in the pre-crisis period (explanatory variable) is rank-regressed with the ranking of financial institutions based on maximum percentage loss suffered by them during the crises period (dependent variable).

Findings

The empirical result demonstrated that the shadow bank complex network during the crisis is denser, more interconnected and more correlated than the tranquil period. The closeness, eigenvector, and PageRank centrality established the systemic risk transmitter and receiver roles of institutions. The financial institutions that are more central and hold prestigious positions due to their incoming links suffered maximum loss. The shadow bank network also showed small-world phenomena similar to social networks. Granger-causal network-based measures have out-of-sample predictive properties and can predict the systemic risk of financial institutions.

Research limitations/implications

The study considers only the publicly listed financial institutions. Also, the proposed measures are susceptible to the size of the rolling window, frequency of return and significance level of Granger-causality tests.

Practical implications

Supervisors and financial regulators can use the proposed measures to monitor the development of systemic risk and swiftly identify and isolate contagious financial institutions in the event of a crisis. Also, it is helpful to policymakers and researchers of an emerging economy where bilateral exposures' data between financial institutions are often not present in the public domain, plus there is a gap or delay in financial reporting.

Originality/value

The paper is one of the first to study systemic risk of shadow banks using a financial network comprising of commercial banks and mutual funds. It is also the first one to study systemic risk of Indian shadow banks.
A research on digital learning system based on multiplayer online animation game
Authors: Liu Liping , Li Mingchao , Ji Shanshan
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This research explores the appropriateness of using a digital learning system based on a multiplayer online animated game in firefighting education and training. Use of the game improved learning was effective. It can increase learners' understanding of the taught content and their willingness to learn.

Design/methodology/approach

The research applies digital learning based on a multiplayer online animated game coupled with 3D and virtual reality (VR) technology. To verify the effectiveness of this approach, participants were divided into two groups, an experimental group (using the game) and a control group (not using the game). T-tests were used to compare the learning of the two groups.

Findings

Firefighting knowledge was significantly better among the experimental group than the control group. Learning was explored in three different domains: basic firefighting knowledge, fire extinguisher operation and fire source identification; the latter two showed statistically significant differences. After learners acquired knowledge from multimedia, the addition of a VR exercise effectively helped them to remember what they learned and increased their understanding of the taught content.

Originality/value

The approach proposed in this study applies digital learning via a multiplayer online animated game to explore the appropriateness of such games in firefighting education and training. Use of the game improved learning and was effective. It can not only increase learners' understanding of the taught content, but also their willingness to learn.
Assessing behavioral intentions of solar energy usage through value-belief-norm theory
Authors: Awais Muhammad , Fatima Tayyba , Awan Tahir Mumtaz
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate people pro-environmental behavior toward solar energy in Pakistan. Solar energy is perceived as environment friendly because it does not need any fossil fuel and is free of greenhouse gas emission. Hence current research used to employ value-belief-norm theory with regard to solar energy to recognize people's interest for solar energy. Further this study also makes an effort for extend of value-belief-norm framework via using social norm as being a predictor of pro-environmental behavior and personal norm.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows positivism philosophy based on quantitative in nature. Proposed hypothesis was tested through deductive research approach. Data was collected through survey method. Further general public was selected as population and non-probability convenience sampling technique was used for data collection. A total 1,000 online questionnaire were sent through different mediums on Internet, out of which 624 responses were received. Further this study used Smart-Pls 3 software for the analysis of data.

Findings

The results show that all hypothesis were approved except one. Furthermore, social norm was discovered as a positive indicator of personal norm, and pro-environmental behavior. Also, personal norm was found as mediating the relation between social norm and people's pro-environment behavior toward solar energy.

Practical implications

This research also adds to the existing research in field of environmental sustainability. Furthermore, it would prove to be a rational document for policymakers and the government to develop strategies to overcome environment and energy related issues.

Originality/value

This study identifies the people's pro-environmental behavior toward solar energy by applying value-belief-norm theory in context of Pakistan, to overcome energy related environmental issues.
The relationship of fast food consumption with sociodemographic factors, body mass index and dietary habits among university students
Authors: Arslan Nurgul , Aslan Ceylan Jiyan , Hatipoğlu Abdulkerim
Published: April 2022

Purpose

University students are one of the vulnerable groups in terms of having nutritional problems due to their lifestyle and social environment. This study aims to determine the consumption of fast food among university students and evaluate factors that may impact it, such as sociodemographic factors, body mass index (BMI) or nutritional habits.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted among a random sample of 184 university students (47.8% men and 52.2% women) with a mean age of 21.1 ± 2.0 years. The survey included students’ sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, nutritional habits and fast-food consumption. Chi-square test, t-test and binary logistic regression analysis were used depending on the characteristics of the data.

Findings

Results indicated that 39.7% of the students consumed fast food at least once in 15 days and preferred these foods for taste, workload and social activity. Consumption of fast food occurred at an earlier age in men (%13.6) and the portions were higher than portions of vegetables (p = 0.001). By using regression analysis, a statistically significant relationship was found between the frequency of fast-food consumption and age, gender, economic status, BMI, the amount of vegetables consumed daily and the habit of eating breakfast (p < 0.05).

Research limitations/implications

It is planned to reach more students in the study. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, transportation to students became difficult or could not be reached.

Originality/value

This study is one of the rare studies examining students’ orientation to fast food. The number of studies in this field in Turkey is limited.