bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and Characterization of Calcium Binding Protein, Spermatid Associated 1 (CABS1) in Selected Human Tissues and Fluids
Authors: Reyes-Serratos E. , Santos J. Ramielle L. , Puttagunta L. , Lewis S. , Watanabe M. , Gonshor A. , Buck R , Befus A.D. , Marcet-Palacios M.
Published: July 2023

Calcium binding protein, spermatid associated 1 (CABS1) is a protein most widely studied in spermatogenesis. However, mRNA for CABS1 has been found in numerous tissues, albeit with little information about the protein. Previously, we identified CABS1 mRNA and protein in human salivary glands and provided evidence that in humans CABS1 contains a heptapeptide near its carboxyl terminus that has anti-inflammatory activities. Moreover, levels of an immunoreactive form of CABS1 were elevated in psychological stress. To more fully characterize human CABS1 we developed additional polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to different sections of the protein and used these antibodies to characterize CABS1 in an overexpression cell lysate, human salivary glands, saliva, serum and testes using western blot, immunohistochemistry and bioinformatics approaches exploiting the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. CABS1 appears to have multiple molecular weight forms, consistent with its recognition as a structurally disordered protein, a protein with structural plasticity. Interestingly, in human testes, its cellular distribution differs from that in rodents and pigs, and includes Leydig cells, primary spermatogonia, Sertoli cells and developing spermatocytes and spermatids, Geodata suggests that CABS1 is much more widely distributed than previously recognized, including in the urogenital, gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, as well as in the nervous system, immune system and other tissues. Much remains to be learned about this intriguing protein.
Unravelling the novel genetic diversity and marker-trait associations of corn leaf aphid resistance in wheat using microsatellite markers
Authors: Yadav Jayant , Jasrotia Poonam , Jaglan Maha Singh , Sareen Sindhu , Kashyap Prem Lal , Kumar Sudheer , Yadav Surender Singh , Singh Gyanendra , Singh Gyanendra Pratap
Published: July 2023

The study was conducted to identify novel simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with resistance to corn aphid (CLA),Rhopalosiphum maidisL. in 48 selected bread wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) and wild wheat (Aegilopsspp. &T. dicoccoides) genotypes during two consecutive cropping seasons (2018-19 and 2019-20). A total of 51 polymorphic markers containing 143 alleles were used for the analysis. The frequency of the major allele ranged from 0.552 (Xgwm113) to 0.938 (Xcfd45, Xgwm194andXgwm526), with a mean of 0.731. Gene diversity ranged from 0.116 (Xgwm526) to 0.489 (Xgwm113), with a mean of 0.354. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value for the SSR markers ranged from 0.107 (Xgwm526) to 0.370 (Xgwm113) with a mean of 0.282. The results of the STRUCTURE analysis revealed the presence of four main subgroups in the populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that the between-group difference was around 37% of the total variation contributed to the diversity by the whole germplasm, while 63% of the variation was attributed between individuals within the group. A general linear model (GLM) was used to identify marker-trait associations, which detected a total of 23 and 27 significant new marker-trait associations (MTAs) at the p < 0.01 significance level during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 crop seasons, respectively. The findings of this study have important implications for the identification of molecular markers associated with CLA resistance. These markers can increase the accuracy and efficiency of aphid-resistant germplasm selection, ultimately facilitating the transfer of resistance traits to desirable wheat genotypes.
Identification of Periostin as a critical niche for myofibroblast dynamics and fibrosis during tendon healing
Authors: Ackerman Jessica E. , Adjei-Sowah Emmanuela , Korcari Antonion , Muscat Samantha N. , Nichols Anne E.C. , Buckley Mark R. , Loiselle Alayna E.
Published: July 2023

Tendon injuries are a major clinical problem, with poor patient outcomes caused by abundant scar tissue deposition during healing. Myofibroblasts play a critical role in the initial restoration of structural integrity after injury. However, persistent myofibroblast activity drives the transition to fibrotic scar tissue formation. As such, disrupting myofibroblast persistence is a key therapeutic target. While myofibroblasts are typically defined by the presence of αSMA+ stress fibers, αSMA is expressed in other cell types including the vasculature. As such, modulation of myofibroblast dynamics via disruption of αSMA expression is not a translationally tenable approach. Recent work has demonstrated that Periostin-lineage (PostnLin) cells are a precursor for cardiac fibrosis-associated myofibroblasts. In contrast to this, here we show that PostnLincells contribute to a transient αSMA+ myofibroblast population that is required for functional tendon healing, and that Periostin forms a supportive matrix niche that facilitates myofibroblast differentiation and persistence. Collectively, these data identify the Periostin matrix niche as a critical regulator of myofibroblast fate and persistence that could be targeted for therapeutic manipulation to facilitate regenerative tendon healing.
An mTOR/RNA pol I axis shapes chromatin architecture in response to fasting
Authors: Al-Refaie Nada , Padovani Francesco , Binando Francesca , Hornung Johanna , Zhao Qiuxia , Towbin Benjamin D. , Cenik Elif Sarinay , Stroustrup Nicholas , Schmoller Kurt M. , Cabianca Daphne S.
Published: July 2023

Chromatin architecture is a fundamental mediator of genome function. Fasting is a major environmental cue across the animal kingdom. Yet, how it impacts on 3D genome organization is unknown. Here, we show that fasting induces a reversible and large-scale spatial reorganization of chromatin inC. elegans. This fasting-induced 3D genome reorganization requires inhibition of the nutrient-sensing mTOR pathway, a major regulator of ribosome biogenesis. Remarkably, loss of transcription by RNA Pol I, but not RNA Pol II nor Pol III, induces a similar 3D genome reorganization in fed animals, and prevents the restoration of the fed-state architecture upon restoring nutrients to fasted animals.

Our work documents the first large-scale chromatin reorganization triggered by fasting and reveals that mTOR and RNA Pol I shape genome architecture in response to nutrients.
Extracting herbicide and antibiotic natural products from a plant-microbe interaction system
Authors: Pan Shiyu , Li Xiaojie , Pan Chao , Li Jixiao , Fan Siting , Zhang Liner , Du Kehan , Du Zhiying , Zhang Jiayu , Huang Han , Li Jie , Zhang Heqian , Huang Jiaquan , Qin Zhiwei
Published: July 2023

Plants and their associated microbes live in complicated, changeable, and unpredictable environments. They usually interact with each other in many ways by proceeding in multi-dimensional, multi-scale and multi-level coupling manners, leading to challenges of the co-existence of randomness and determinism, or continuity and discreteness. Gaining a deeper understanding of these diverse interaction mechanisms can facilitate the development of new data mining theories and methods for complex systems, new coupled modelling for the system with different spatiotemporal scales and functional properties, or even universal theory of information and information interactions. In this study, we use a “close-loop” model to present a plant-microbe interaction system and describe the probable functions from the microbial natural products. Specifically, we report a rhizosphere species,Streptomyces ginsengnesisG7, which produces polyketide lydicamycins and other active metabolites. Interestingly, these distinct molecules have the potential to function both as antibiotics and herbicides for crop protection. Detailed laboratory experiments combined with comprehensive bioinformatics analysis allow us to rationalise a model for this specific plant-microbe interaction process. Our work reveals the benefits of exploring otherwise neglectable resources for the identification of novel functional molecules and provides a good reference to better understand the system biology in the complex ecosystems.
Post-occupancy assessment of student housing facilities in an educational campus: case study of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur, India
Authors: Kumar Meenal , Khan Smita
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study attempts to conduct a post-occupancy assessment of the primary technical, functional and behavioral features in a student housing facility at the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology campus in Nagpur, India to see if the students are satisfied with the residential hostel's environs and facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study reviews knowledge areas pertinent to the technical, functional and behavioral performance of student housing facilities by looking at the body of accessible literature. Even though the literature review gave a thorough overview of the broad issues, it was essential to learn about the situation as it is and addresses the specific issues brought up to undertake a thorough evaluation, just as every in-depth study depends on a reliable methodology. Therefore, a methodology appropriate for the research was developed, which helped in identifying relevant attributes for the questionnaire to be used for the survey. This aided in analyzing the building's performance evaluation through the sole users of the hostel which are the students. The survey data is analyzed by statical methods using SPSS software to identify the key determinants of satisfaction in students' residential hostels and if these are affected by the gender of the students.

Findings

The survey results were examined to determine the level of satisfaction with the selected performance aspects, and the major determinants governing it. The findings concluded that most of the technical and functional determinants of satisfaction in hostels are identified the same by both genders, except for some of the attributes in behavioral elements. The research looked at how well key success elements in the student housing facility had been implemented.

Research limitations/implications

Research is carried out in CFTI only wherein architecture is one of the branches.

Originality/value

Planning professionals, architects, housing managers and facility managers involved in the design, construction and management of student housing facilities might benefit from feedback from a post-occupancy evaluation. The post-occupancy study can therefore aid in continually enhancing the standard and effectiveness of the facilities for planning, constructing, managing and maintaining student residential housing.
A behavioural perspective of organic wine production decisions: an application to the Spanish wine industry
Authors: Depetris Chauvin Nicolas , Marta Fernández-Olmos , Hu Wenbo , Malorgio Giulio
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Using the behavioural perspective as a theoretical complement of rational models, this paper examines factors that influence the decision of producing organic wines.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a quantitative analysis of 687 wineries belonging to Denomination of Origin in Spain, the authors empirically examine the sequential relationships between manager's personality and winery and institutional level factors, on organic wine production activity and winery export performance.

Findings

This paper investigates the direct and indirect sequential relationships between wineries' factors including an organic production activity and two dimensions of export performance, namely: volume-based and value-based performance. The results of a sequential model provide evidence that openness to experience, a manager's personality trait, has a positive causal relationship with organic wine production.

Practical implications

This paper offers richer insights into the factors leading wine production managers to change from conventional to organic production methods. Specifically, the study shows that wine production managers are susceptible to make decisions to whether produce organic wine or not that may not be consistent with the current theoretical models based on economic efficiency (i.e. comparing costs and benefits). Instead, these decisions are, in part, based on their personality traits. Future research could study how the functional attribute affects the willingness to produce organic wines.

Originality/value

This study contributes to a new strategic implication of organic wine production activity and export performance linkage in behavioural and traditional theoretical perspectives. These findings are valuable for policy makers in the wine sector, as they can better inform and guide policies directed to identify organic production support programs.
Does the belief of farmers on land as God influence the adoption of smart farming technologies?
Authors: Vasan M. , Yoganandan G.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Artificial Intelligence-based smart farming technologies have brought impressive changes in farming. This paper aims at exploring the farmers’ intention to adopt smart farming technologies (SFT). Also, the authors intend to know how far the belief of farmers on land as God influences their decision to adopt SFT.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were gathered from 500 farmers chosen purposively. A well-crafted survey instrument was employed to amass data from farmers for measuring their adoption of SFT. As the authors sought to measure the farmers’ behavioural intention (BI) towards the adoption of SFT, the technology acceptance model developed by Davis (1989) came in handy, including perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEU) and BI. The authors have adopted this model as it was considered a superior model. The items on the attitude of confidence (AC) were adapted from Adrian et al. (2005). Survey instruments of Thompson and Higgins (1991) and Compeau and Higgins (1995) were also referred to finalize the statements relating to attitude towards use. Moreover, the authors developed items relating to the perceived belief of land as God based on frequent interaction with the farmers.

Findings

The study results divulged that attitude to use (AU) is directly influenced by the rural farmers’ PU, PEU and AC. Similarly, this investigation has observed behaviour intention directly influenced by the AU of farmers. It is observed that AU was the most influential variable, which ultimately influenced the BI to use SFT.

Research limitations/implications

This study has an important limitation in the form of representing only the culture, belief and value system of farmers in India.

Practical implications

The outcome of this study will facilitate the policymakers to draw suitable policy measures keeping the sensitivities of the farmers in mind in their technology adoption drive. The agricultural officers can encourage farmers to take logical decisions by supplying adequate information in a time-bound manner. Marketers can make suitable adjustments in their sales and promotion activities that focus on farmers.

Social implications

The belief of farmers on land as God has a small yet unmissable influence on farmers’ AU and BI in their technology adoption decision. Based on the above evidence, the authors recommend that marketers fine-tune their product design, product packaging and promotional activities keeping the belief and sensitivities of farmers at the core of their marketing campaign.

Originality/value

This article provides original insights by demonstrating the positive influence of PU, PEU and AC on technology adoption by farmers. This research is the first of a kind linking the belief of farmers on land as God with smart farming technology adoption in farming.
Comparative effects of relational mechanisms and formal contracts on alliance success
Authors: Li Linwei , Wang Gang , Che Mi , Pei Yun-Long
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The research is aimed at investigating how relational mechanisms and formal contracts affect alliance success under constructive and destructive conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

While relational mechanisms and formal contracts are widely used in strategic alliances to manage a variety of issues among partners, recent research has indicated that effects of these governance mechanisms may change in distinct contexts. Adopting the lens of new institutional economics, this study provides insights on the comparative and interactive effects of relational mechanisms and formal contracts on alliance success, and the differential contingency effects of two types of inter-partner conflict, i.e. constructive and destructive conflict, on the above relationships. The authors use hierarchical multivariate regression analyses through a survey dataset of 392 alliance firms in China with the approach of two key informants.

Findings

The empirical results confirm that relational mechanisms have a stronger positive effect on alliance success than formal contracts and these two governance mechanisms complement each other in driving alliance success. When facing a high level of constructive conflict, partner firms rely to a greater extent on relational mechanisms than on formal contracts to achieve alliance success. When a high level of destructive conflict exists, partner firms depend more heavily on formal contracts than on relational mechanisms to achieve alliance success. Moreover, the complementary effect of the two governance mechanisms is much stronger when partner firms face high constructive conflict than when they face high destructive conflict.

Originality/value

This study discloses the comparative and interactive effects of relational mechanisms and formal contracts on alliance success in distinct contexts by identifying the moderating roles of constructive and destructive conflict.
Future cooperation at work emerges when apologies are sincere: the importance of forgiveness and trust restoration
Authors: Dahiya Rinki
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The present study examines the nexus between workplace relationship conflict, perceived sincere apology, interpersonal forgiveness, trust restoration and future cooperation at work after a trust violation episode has occurred.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for the analysis were collected from 226 employees using scenarios and survey methods and quantitative techniques were applied to analyze the data.

Findings

The results show that perceived sincerity of apology serves as a mediating variable in the link between workplace relationship conflict and interpersonal forgiveness. Interpersonal forgiveness is found to be positively related to future cooperation at work with the mediating role of trust restoration.

Practical implications

The findings of the study have practical implications for strategy makers, human resource managers and practitioners interested in stimulating future cooperation at work after a trust violation episode has occurred. The study advocates that sincere apology and interpersonal forgiveness serve as an important link to recovering from trust violation damages and cultivating future cooperation at work after a relationship conflict has occurred.

Originality/value

The findings of the present study bring new insights on the role played by sincere apology and interpersonal forgiveness in facilitating trust restoration and future cooperation at work after a relationship conflict episode has occurred.
Determining the impact of technological modernization and management capabilities on user satisfaction and trust in library services
Authors: Khan Asad Ullah , Rafi Muhammad , Zhang Zhiqiang , Khan Asad
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Dynamic technologies have revolutionized human socio-economic activities, including health care, higher education, business and improved customer service in academic sectors. Leveraging the latest technology leads to high productivity, confidence, improved management skills, satisfactory performance and innovative academic services. In the era of technocentrism, the purpose of this paper is to find out whether useful technologies and competent user managers support users in the use of resources, increasing research productivity and improving academic library services.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on primary data collected from students at universities in the provincial capital using a printed research questionnaire. The authors followed the Likert scale for instrument development and contacted service professionals prior to distribution to test the applicability. Based on the technology acceptance model, this study established a conceptual model with multiple associated hypotheses to test the suitability of the research model. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling software for path analysis and model development.

Findings

The results of this study show that technological advances greatly accelerate the use of library resources, strengthen management skills, improve user performance and ultimately enhance academic performance and services. In addition to deploying and leveraging technology, expert leadership has also had a positive impact on improving user productivity and maintaining proactive academic library services.

Practical implications

The TAM-based theoretical model will prove to be a useful tool in the future for delivering technology, improving management skills, promoting the use of library resources, increasing user productivity and providing advanced library services.

Originality/value

Based on primary data collected from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa degree students, this study provides an insight into the actual state of technology used to improve academic performance for the first time. In addition, the study also explores executive collaboration to improve employee and user efficiency and service reform in academic libraries.
Impacts of monetary policy on housing prices in five emerging economies during the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Nguyen Trung Ba , Le Chon Van
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the dynamic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and government policy on real house price indices in five emerging economies, namely, Brazil, China, Thailand, Turkey and South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the local projection method with a panel data set of these countries spanning from January 2020 to July 2021.

Findings

The number of COVID-19 confirmed positive cases raised housing prices, whereas government containment measures reduced them. Both conventional and unconventional monetary policy implemented by central banks to cope with the COVID-19 helped increase housing prices. These effects were strengthened by the US monetary policy via globalized financial markets.

Originality/value

First, while previous researches typically concentrated on developed countries, the authors investigate emerging economies where proportionally more people were badly affected by the pandemic. Second, a panel data set of five emerging economies enabled the authors to examine the dynamic effects of the COVID-19 crisis on housing prices. Third, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the influences of easing monetary policy on housing prices in emerging economies during the pandemic.
Analysing gender differences in academic performance and labour market outcomes of engineering graduates: evidence from India
Authors: Choudhury Itishree , Singh Seema
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Participation of women in engineering education is considerably low in India, although it is increasing in recent years. Also, engineering is primarily treated as a male-dominated profession, and the authors do not find many women in this sector. What factors contribute to this significant gender differences in engineering education and labour market in India? In this context, this study aims to examine the factors that explain the gender variations in academic performance and labour market outcomes (placement and earnings) of engineering graduates in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on primary survey data from fourth-year engineering students in Delhi, collected in 2018–2019, with a total sample size of 3186. The study uses Ordinary least square method (OLS) and Heckman selection model to analyse gender differences in academic performance and labour market outcomes of engineering graduates, respectively.

Findings

The study finds that academic performance of male students is around 10.4% more than female students. However, this difference is heavily influenced by various socioeconomic and institutional factors. Interestingly, 3% of female engineering graduates have received more job offers than males, which contradicts the common belief that women engineers face job discrimination in the labour market in India. However, the authors find that male engineers earn around 7% more than female engineers shows the evidence of pro-male gender wage inequality in earnings. The findings support that there is a considerable variation in academic performance and earnings between male and female engineering graduates.

Originality/value

While the authors find some literature in the area of gender difference in the academic performance and labour market among university graduates in India, studies in the field of engineering education are sparse. In a context where fewer women are found in the field of engineering education along with low participation in the labour market, the findings of this study significantly contribute to the policy making.
Trust and distrust in buyer–supplier relationships: an exploratory experimental study
Authors: Chen Jie , Lewis Michael
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Although trust and distrust as distinct phenomena are of increasing interest to operations and supply chain management (OSCM) scholars, they have been inconsistently conceptualized and there is a lack of evidence regarding the distinctiveness of their respective antecedents. This study, therefore, focuses on one of the most widely accepted dimensions of trust, benevolence, to help more fully analyse (supplier) trust and distrust (in a buyer) and explore the effects of relational norms and structural power as specific antecedents.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a scenario-based role-playing experimental method. The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results that while relational norms increase supplier trust, power asymmetry can simultaneously generate supplier distrust, support the coexistence of supplier trust and distrust in a buyer–supplier relationship.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to explore the antecedents of supplier trust and distrust in a buyer. It demonstrates that supplier trust and distrust can coexist when the relationship is characterized by relational norms and asymmetrical power. This opens important questions for future trust–distrust research.
Prisoners with reduced criminal responsibility stand out based on their rates of hospitalisation during their sentences
Authors: Törölä Miisa , Rautanen Mika
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Globally, health problems are very common among prisoners. A mental state examination aims to help in recognising psychiatric problems among offenders and the possible association of these psychiatric issues with their committed crime. The legal-medical term “reduced criminal responsibility” refers to a weakened sense of reality and the ability to control one’s behaviour because of compromised mental health and without an evaluated need for forensic psychiatric hospitalisation. However, little is known about the actual need for the health care of prisoners with reduced criminal responsibility (PRCR). The purpose of this study was to explore treatment-related visits to prison by PRCR in Finland.

Design/methodology/approach

The research data comprise information on PRCR’s treatment-related visits and that of a matched control group (n = 222). Descriptive cross-tabulation with X²- and nonparametric Mann–Whitney U-tests and Cox regression analyses are applied.

Findings

The results show that almost every PRCR had at least one treatment-related visit during their sentences. Visits to a psychiatric hospital for prisoners, to the prison hospital and especially to a civil hospital are more common among PRCR. The need for treatment appears significantly earlier in their sentences.

Originality/value

These findings demonstrate the PRCR’s greater need for access to health services and the need for further development between the Health Care Services for Prisoners, Prison and Probation Service of Finland and public health and social services in Finland. More exploration of the medical reasons and locational distribution of the vast amount of civil hospitalisation is needed.
Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF in a population of older adults in prison: measuring quality of life in a carceral setting
Authors: Archuleta Adrian J. , Prost Stephanie Grace , Golder Seana
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Valid and reliable measurement is critical to the assessment and evaluation of health interventions. However, few scholars have examined the psychometric properties of “gold standard” measures in carceral settings, and no research has explored the reliability, validity and factor structure of the 26-item World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) BREF among older adults incarcerated in prison, a large and growing population marked by substantial chronic and life-limiting illness. This study aims to examine the reliability, validity and factor structure of the WHOQOL-BREF.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data from a large-scale study with older adults (age 45+) incarcerated in a Midwestern state were used (N = 499). Floor and ceiling effects were examined, as was the reliability of the measure (Cronbach's alpha). The structural validity of a four-factor and second-order four-factor model of the WHOQOL-BREF was examined using confirmatory factor analysis. Model data fit was examined using chi-square, standardized root mean square residual, comparative fit indices, Akaike information criterion and the Bayesian Information Criterion. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were also used to assess validity.

Findings

Results indicate adequate construct validity and reliability for the WHOQOL-BREF using the current sample. Model-data fit indexes also reveal adequate structure of the measure relative to other older adult samples. Non-random data and item exclusion are noteworthy limits, and future researchers are encouraged to co-conceptualize and operationalize life quality with older adults who are incarcerated.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF among older adults incarcerated in prison.
Linking big data analytics capability and sustainable supply chain performance: mediating role of innovativeness, proactiveness and risk taking
Authors: Tipu Syed Awais Ahmad , Fantazy Kamel
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Drawing on the dynamic capability view (DCV), the current study aims to examine the mediating effects of entrepreneurial orientation (EO), in terms of innovativeness, proactiveness and risk taking, on the relationships between big data analytics (BDA) capability and sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by questionnaire survey from 300 manufacturing organizations. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings showed that innovativeness and proactiveness fully mediated the link between BDA capability and SSCP. However, risk taking only partially mediated the relationship between BDA capability and SSCP. There was also a negative relationship between BDA and risk taking.

Research limitations/implications

Given that the current study focused on the manufacturing sector, future research is needed to compare different sectors and cultural contexts. Further exploration is also needed into the dimension of risk taking in terms of the role of risk taking in linking BDA capability with SSCP in different cultural settings.

Practical implications

Technology may not increase the risk taking capability. Organizations may be creative and proactive but may remain risk averse despite having access to big data. Organizations need a more balanced approach to dynamically integrate and reconfigure the organizations' BDA and EO capabilities in order to enhance SSCP.

Originality/value

The role of EO in mediating the relationship between BDA capability and SSCP has not been studied before. The current study aimed to address the gap and contribute to the existing debate on better understanding the factors that are needed by organizations to effectively employ technology to enhance SSCP. Untapped areas for future research are also identified.
How economic policy uncertainty affects foreign direct investment inflows: implications for the post-Covid-19 pandemic period
Authors: Phan Nghi Huu , Bui Van Do , Nguyen Loan Thi Quynh
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study investigates the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on the inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI), specifically focusing on two components of FDI: greenfield investment and cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As). The objective is to analyze how EPU influences these two types of FDI differently. It further investigates how this impact varies during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from various sources such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Policy uncertainty index and the World Bank database to create a sample covering 213 countries from 2003 to 2020. The research objective was accomplished by utilizing the panel ordinary least squares (OLS) with fixed effects estimator.

Findings

The results demonstrate that countries that experience more EPU observe a decrease in FDI inflows. The authors also observe that FDI inflows have reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the findings show that the impact of EPU is different between two components of FDI during the Covid-19 period. Specifically, the authors find that when uncertainty is trigged by the health crisis, there is an increase in FDI inflows in the form of cross-border M&As only. One possible reason is that cross-border M&As investors may take advantage of institutional quality (such as corruption) as an “efficient grease” to quickly expedite the entry process, which ultimately leads to a rise in cross-border M&As investment.

Originality/value

Overall, the study attempts to demonstrate empirical evidence about how EPU affects FDI inflows with an up-to-date dataset. In addition, the authors illustrate the significance of breaking down total FDI inflows into two sub-categories when examining the relationship between EPU and FDI. Third, the authors prove that the influence of EPU on FDI inflows differ significantly among different types of FDI components.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2023-0114
Exploring the adoption decisions of mobile health service users: a behavioral reasoning theory perspective
Authors: Lee Jung-Chieh , Chen Li , Zhang Hengrui
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To improve the frequency of adoption of mobile health services (MHSs) by users (consumers), it is critical to understand users' MHS adoption behaviors. However, the literature primarily focuses on MHS adoption-related factors and lacks consideration of the joint impacts of reasons for (RF) and reasons against (RA) on users' attitudes and adoption behaviors regarding MHSs. To fill this gap, this study integrates behavioral reasoning theory (BRT) and protective motivation theory (PMT) to develop a research model by uncovering the reasoning process of personal values, RF and RA, adoption attitudes and behavior toward MHSs. In particular, health consciousness (HC) is selected as the value. Comparative advantage, compatibility and perceived threat severity are considered the RF subconstructs; value barriers, risk barriers and tradition and norm barriers are deemed the RA subconstructs.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 281 responses were collected to examine the model with the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method.

Findings

The results show that HC positively affects attitude through RA and RF. Additionally, RF partially mediates the relationship between HC and adoption behavior. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of user adoption behavior in MHS and provides practical guidance for the health services industry.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing MHS literature by understanding the joint influences of personal values, RF and RA on user attitude, which eventually determines users' adoption decisions regarding MHSs.
Research on influencing factors and governance of disinformation dissemination on science and technology topics: an empirical study on the topic of “metaverse”
Authors: Wang Xu , Feng Xin , Zhao Jingyi
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The online Question and Answer community is full of a large number of science and technology topics, the discussion and dissemination of which play an important role in promoting the popularization of new technologies and cultivating public enthusiasm for science. However, the spread of false information and rumors weakens the community's positive effect, making the community more difficult for people to obtain useful information on such topics. Research on the influencing factors and governance of the spread of false information on science and technology topics has become the key to the spread of popular science.

Design/methodology/approach

Therefore, this paper uses the Elaboration Likelihood Model as the theoretical framework to examine the role of the factors influencing the spread of false information on science and technology topics in Zhihu community on the information persuasion and the impact on public behavior attitude from the core path and the edge path. This paper compiles a crawler program to capture 12,893 response information under the “Metaverse” topic in Zhihu community as an empirical sample and uses text mining and conducts visual correlation analysis to explore the key factors affecting the persuasive transmission path of information on science and technology topics.

Findings

The research finds that the content specialization, content consistency and content coherence of science and technology topics affect personal judgment from the aspect of information content through the core path and have a positive correlation with information persuasion; the number of comments, the length of the text and the publishing authors' influence from the edge image characteristics through the edge path are positively correlated with the information persuasion. Then, from the perspective of topic platform, government and topic participants, this paper puts forward a general plan to improve the information persuasion of science and technology topics so as to deal with false information.

Originality/value

Compared with the small data set of the traditional questionnaire survey, the research based on community empirical big data is more reliable. The model takes into account the attitude and behavior of users and is more suitable for the research on the transmission path of scientific and technological information in the internet era. This research provides a direction for analyzing the text characteristics and development trends of information in the field of science and technology and is conducive to promoting the optimization of the network information environment and building a good ecology, with the spread of rumors about science and technology topics curbed and the governance of false information strengthened.
Expatriate academics: what have we known for four decades? A systematic literature review
Authors: Przytula Sylwia
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The main objective of this paper is twofold: to analyse the progress of a research stream concerning expatriate academics in the last four decades and to make recommendations for further studies in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the systematic literature review (SLR) concerning expatriate academics was applied. The search embraced the period from 1980–2022. The review was performed in two interdisciplinary electronic databases: Web of Science and Scopus. The selection process of papers was conducted in steps, as recommended by the PRISMA protocol. The total pool of articles received after the exclusion criteria was 110. The content of each paper was thus extracted and categorised in Excel file: author, year of publication, tittle of article, journal, theory applied, research method, sample size, country/field of investigation.

Findings

For almost three decades this topic was almost absent in the literature of the subject. The most active publication period started from 2009 and since then there have been two “waves” of published articles devoted to expatriate academics: 2009–2014 and 2017–2021. The significant number of studies appeared in Journal of Global Mobility followed by Personnel Review, IJHRM, Higher Education. The thematic analysis revealed six themes which have been already researched on expatriates academics: (1) motives, (2) adjustment, (3) job factors and work outcomes, (4) academic missions, (5) academic career, (6) women and men in academia.

Practical implications

Practitioners and university management might find this article useful as the article allows to manage this pool of international academics more efficiently with mutual benefits for expatriates and organisations. This study may assist the university authorities to develop systemic approach to attract foreign academics; adjust the same in work and culture domain through effective training; support in organisational, financial and career field; create the performance criteria of expatriate work related to three missions: research, teaching and service; introduce metrics and indicators to evaluate the contribution and work outcomes of foreign scientists into the host university.

Originality/value

This review shows that there are many new perspectives and models through which the academic expatriation can be analysed. This paper gives an insight into the academic literature on academics expatriates. The paper is innovative and has contributed to research by doing an SLR in a new area (academic expats) and tackling all the areas that has been covered by academic research so far. New research directions have been recommended for future research, to open the field further.
Influencing factors on the intention of sharing heritage tourism experience in social media
Authors: Lin Zhiqi , Rasoolimanesh S. Mostafa
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Combining technology acceptance model and the theory of planned behavior, this study aims to analyze influencing factors on intention of sharing heritage tourism experience in social media from technological, psychological and experience perspectives. The moderating effects of age and gender are also tested.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies a quantitative method using online questionnaires. A total number of 323 questionnaires are collected. The data are analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling to assess measurement and structural models and multi-group analysis to compare differences among age and gender groups.

Findings

The results of this study indicate that subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and tourism experience significantly and positively influence the intention of sharing heritage tourism experience in social media, while the effects of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and attitude are non-significant. Results reveal the differences in antecedents of sharing heritage tourism experience in social media between males and females and between younger and older tourists.

Originality/value

Developing a model integrating technology acceptance model and theory of planned behavior, this paper analyzes the intention of sharing heritage tourism experience in social media through technological, psychological and tourism experience perspectives. Besides, heterogeneous comparisons between younger and older tourists and between males and females offer significant academic and practical insights.
Privacy and anti-surveillance advocacy: the role/challenge of issue salience
Authors: Oduro-Marfo Smith
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The proliferation of surveillance-enhancing laws, policies and technologies across African countries deepens the risk of privacy rights breaches, as well as the risks of adverse profiling and social sorting. There is a heightened need for dedicated advocacy and activism to consistently demand accountability and transparency from African states, governments and their allies regarding surveillance. The purpose of this paper is to understand the issue frames that accompany anti-surveillance and privacy advocacy in Ghana and the related implications.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative and interpretivist approach, the author focuses on three different surveillance-oriented incidents/programs in Ghana and analyzes the frames underpinning the related advocacy and narratives of various non-state actors.

Findings

Privacy and anti-surveillance advocacy in Ghana tends to be less framed in the context of privacy rights and is more driven by concerns about corruption and value for money. Such pecuniary emphasis is rational per issue salience calculations as it elevates principles of economic probity, transparency and accountability and pursues a high public shock value and resonance.

Practical implications

Economics-centered critiques of surveillance could be counterproductive as they create a low bar for surveillance promoters and sustains a culture of permissible statist intrusions into citizens’ lives once economic virtues are satisfied.

Originality/value

While anti-surveillance and privacy advocacy is budding across African countries, little is known about its nature, frames and modus compared to such advocacy in European and North American settings. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is likely the first paper or one of the first dedicated fully to anti-surveillance and advocacy in Africa.