bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential use of Sodium Butyrate (SB) as an anti-virulence agent againstVibrio choleraetargeting ToxT virulence protein
Authors: Kundu Sushmita , Das Suman , Maitra Priyanka , Halder Prolay , Koley Hemanta , Mukhopadhyay Asish K. , Miyoshi Shin-ichi , Dutta Shanta , Chatterjee Nabendu Sekhar , Bhattacharya Sushmita
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

Cholera, a diarrhoeal disease caused by gram-negative bacteriumVibrio choleraeremains a global health threat in developing countries owing to its high transmissibility and increase in antibiotic resistance. The current issue is to overcome the problem of resistance by antimicrobial therapy. There is a need for alternative strategies with an emphasis on anti-virulent approaches to alter the outcome of bacterial infections.Vibrio choleraecauses cholera by secreting virulence factors in the intestinal epithelial cells. Virulence factors help in cholera toxin production and colonisation during infection. Here, we show that sodium butyrate (SB), a small molecule, had no effect on bacterial viability but was effective in suppressing the virulence attributes ofV. cholerae. The production of cholera toxin (CT) was downregulated in a standardV. choleraeEl Tor strain and two clinical isolates when grown in presence of sodium butyrate. Analysis of mRNA and protein levels further demonstrated that sodium butyrate reduced the expression of the ToxT-dependent virulence genes liketcpAandctxAB. DNA-protein interaction assays conducted at cellular (ChIP) and inin vitroconditions (EMSA) indicated that sodium butyrate weakens the binding between ToxT and its downstream promoter DNA, likely by blocking DNA binding. Furthermore, the efficacy of sodium butyrate was confirmed by showing its anti-virulence activity and tissue damage recovery in animal models. Collectively, these findings suggest that sodium butyrate (SB) has the potential to be developed as an anti-virulence agent againstV. choleraein place of conventional antibiotics or as an adjunctive therapy to combat cholera.

IMPORTANCE

The world has been facing an upsurge in cholera cases since 2021 with a similar trend continuing into 2022 with over 29 countries reporting cholera outbreaks (World Health Organization 16 December 2022 Disease Outbreak News; Cholera – Global situation). Treatment of cholera involves oral rehydration therapy coupled with antibiotics to reduce the duration of the illness. However, over the last few years, there has been indiscriminate use of antibiotics that contributed largely to the reservoir of antibiotic-resistant strains. In this study, we have addressed the problem of antibiotic resistance by targeting virulence factors. The screening of several compounds led to the identification of a small molecule, sodium butyrate that inhibits the virulence cascade inV. cholerae. We demonstrated that (i) sodium butyrate intervened with ToxT protein-DNA binding and subsequently affected the expression of ToxT-regulated virulence genes (ctxABandtcpA) (ii) Sodium Butyrate is a potential therapeutic candidate for development of novel antimicrobial agents.
Aquaporin 1 confers apoptosis resistance in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells from the SU5416 hypoxia rat model
Authors: Yun Xin , Niedermeyer Shannon , Andrade Manuella Ribas , Jiang Haiyang , Suresh Karthik , Kolb Todd , Damarla Mahendra , Shimoda Larissa A.
Published: October 2023

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a deadly condition that arises from increased pulmonary vascular resistance due to contraction and remodeling of the pulmonary arteries. The structural changes that occur in the pulmonary arteries include thickening of the medial (smooth muscle) layer resulting from increased proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. The mechanisms underlying apoptosis resistance in PAH are not fully understood. In cancer cells, high expression of aquaporin 1 (AQP1), a water channel, is associated with apoptosis resistance. We previously showed functional AQP1 protein was expressed in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and was upregulated in pre-clinical models of pulmonary hypertension. Whether AQP1 controls susceptibility of PASMCs to apoptosis in pre-clinical models of PAH is unknown. In this study, we used PASMCs isolated from control rats and rats exposed to SU5416 plus hypoxia (SuHx) to test the role of AQP1 in modulating apoptosis in PASMCs. We found that elevated levels of AQP1 in PASMCs from pulmonary hypertensive rats were necessary for resistance to apoptosis, and that apoptosis resistance could be conferred by increasing expression of AQP1 in PASMCs from control rats. Moreover, in exploring the downstream pathways involved, we found AQP1 levels influence the expression of Bcl-2, with enhanced AQP1 levels corresponding to increased Bcl-2 expression, resulting in reductions in the ratio of BAX to Bcl-2 as are typically associated with apoptosis resistance. These early results provide a mechanism by which AQP1 can regulate PASMC fate and suggest further investigation could provide additional clues regarding whether AQP1-mediated apoptosis resistance contributes to PAH development or progression and whether AQP1 might be a suitable target for therapy.
Chromosomal copy number variations in miscarriages and the geneic counseling of recurrent pregnancy loss
Authors: Hu Hui , Li Jin , Duan Jie , Yu Li , Ye Guangming , Gao Na , Yang Na , Qiu Xueping , Jin Xin , Sheng Shuyang , Cheng Yating , Zhang Yuanzhen , Ma Jianhong , Zheng Fang
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study was to explore the copy number variations (CNVs) associated with miscarriage. A total of 662 specimens of aborted embryonic tissue and 54 samples from peripheral blood were collected. Next generation sequencing for CNV analysis was performed to determine the type and clinical significance of possible CNVs, and relevant medical records were collected. Autosomal trisomy, both single and multiple, was the most common abnormality (207 cases, 63.5% of abnormalities). Trisomy 16 was the most frequent single trisomy, followed by trisomy 22, trisomy 15 and trisomy 21. The rate of chromosomal abnormalities of fetuses in early pregnancy (65.4%) was higher than that of fetuses in middle pregnancy (16.4%). There were 82 pregnant women with recurrent abortion, and the embryo with pathogenic CNVs was conceived in 62 (76%) cases, while the embryo with variants of unknown significance (VUS) in 12 (15%) cases. Among the 27 couples with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), there were 4 (14.8%) couples with CNV abnormal in both partners, 16 (59.3%) couples with CNV abnormal only in the women, and 7 (25.9%) couples with CNV abnormal only in the men. These retrospective analyses of CNV-seq results provided a reference for genetic counseling of the relationship between VUS and RPL.
Self-report inaccuracy in the UK Biobank: Impact on inference and interplay with selective participation
Authors: Schoeler Tabea , Pingault Jean-Baptiste , Kutalik Zoltán
Published: October 2023

While the use of short self-report measures is common practice in biobank initiatives, such phenotyping strategy is inherently prone to reporting errors. In this work, we aimed to explore challenges related to self-report errors for biobank-scale research.

We derived a reporting error score (RESUM) for n=73,129 UK Biobank (UKBB) participants, capturing inconsistent self-reporting in time-invariant phenotypes across multiple measurement occasions. We then performed genome-wide association scans on RESUM, applied downstream analyses (LD Score Regression and Mendelian Randomization, MR), and compared its properties to a previously studied participation behaviour (UKBB participation propensity). The results were then used in extended analyses (simulations, inverse probability and variance weighting) to explore patterns and propose possible corrections for biases induced by reporting error and/or selective participation. Finally, to assess the impact of reporting error on SNP effects and trait heritability, we improved phenotype resolution for 15 self-report measures and inspected the changes in genomic findings.

Reporting error was present in the UKBB across all 33 assessed, time-invariant, measures, with repeatability levels as low as 11% (e.g., inconsistent recall of childhood sunburns). We found that reporting error was not independent from UKBB participation, evidenced by their negative genetic correlation (rg= -0.90), their shared causes (e.g., education, income, intelligence; assessed in MR) and the loss in self-report accuracy following participation bias correction. Depending on where reporting error occurred in the analytical pipeline, its impact ranged from reduced power (e.g., for gene-discovery) to biased effect estimates (e.g., if present in the exposure variable) and attenuation of genome-wide quantities (e.g., 20% relativeh2-attenuation for self-reported childhood height).

Our findings highlight that both self-report accuracy and selective participation are competing biases and sources of poor reproducibility for biobank-scale research. Implementation of approaches that aim to enhance phenotype resolution while ensuring sample representativeness are therefore essential when working with biobank data.
Transforming the performance of runners with AI-driven training planning and daily adaptivity
Authors: Nilsson LC , Södergård O , Rogestedt J , Mattson CM , Larsen FJ
Published: October 2023

Balancing intense training with adequate recovery is key for optimal athlete performance. While insufficient or excessive training can adversely impact performance, advancements in wearable technology facilitate more effective monitoring of training and readiness level. This study combined data from Garmin watches and a 9-item questionnaire (Readiness Advisor) application to evaluate the readiness during a 39-day long training period. Two groups were studied: one with daily adaptive modifications of the training according to their readiness level and another with a static regimen where no changes were made regardless of readiness level. Results indicated that the adaptive group maintained a more consistent readiness score and showed improved physiological responses and better performance metrics. In contrast, the static group displayed non-significant improvements. This suggests that adaptive training plans, driven by individualized data and AI analytics, can significantly enhance performance outcomes and physiological adaptations for runners.
Bacterial cell surface nanoenvironment requires a specialized chaperone to activate a peptidoglycan biosynthetic enzyme
Authors: Delerue Thomas , Chareyre Sylvia , Anantharaman Vivek , Gilmore Michael C. , Popham David L. , Cava Felipe , Aravind L. , Ramamurthi Kumaran S.
Published: October 2023

Bacillus subtilisspores are produced inside the cytosol of a mother cell. Spore surface assembly requires the SpoVK protein in the mother cell, but its function is unknown. Here, we report that SpoVK is a dedicated chaperone from a distinct higher-order clade of AAA+ ATPases that activates the peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase MurG during sporulation, even though MurG does not normally require activation by a chaperone during vegetative growth. MurG redeploys to the spore surface during sporulation, where we show that the local pH is reduced and propose that this change in cytosolic nanoenvironment necessitates a specific chaperone for proper MurG function. Further, we show that SpoVK participates in a developmental checkpoint in which improper spore surface assembly inactivates SpoVK, which leads to sporulation arrest. The AAA+ ATPase clade containing SpoVK includes other dedicated chaperones involved in secretion, cell-envelope biosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism, suggesting that such fine-tuning might be a widespread feature of different subcellular nanoenvironments.
Outcome and life expectancy associated with novel subgroups of atrial fibrillation: a data-driven cluster analysis
Authors: Yu Yuefeng , Li Jiang , Sun Ying , Yu Bowei , Tan Xiao , Wang Bin , Lu Yingli , Wang Ningjian
Published: October 2023

Aim

This study aimed to develop a refined classification of atrial fibrillation (AF) according to comprehensive risk factors to identify patients at high-risk for poor prognosis and their life expectancy.

Method

A total of 7,391 participants aged 40-69 with AF at baseline, from UK Biobank, were classified into five clusters, based on seven clustering variables including age and six risk factor categories (metabolic disease, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, renal/immune-mediated disease, mental health disease, acute illness). Difference in the risk of death and major complications, as well as reductions in life expectancy, among clusters were estimated. Replication was done in 2,399 participants with newly diagnosed AF within two years after baseline.

Results

Five distinct AF clusters were identified: acute illness-related, mental health-related, cardiovascular disease-related, immune-and-renal disease-related, and respiratory-and- metabolic disease-related AF. Patients with respiratory-and-metabolic disease-related AF had the highest risk of death, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and cerebral ischemic stroke, while those with acute illness-related AF had the lowest corresponding risk. In addition, compared with individuals with acute illness-related AF, those with respiratory-and- metabolic disease-related and mental health-related AF had the top 2 greatest loss of life expectancy. Furthermore, genetic variants for AF had different effect among the five clusters. Replication analysis confirmed the result stability.

Conclusion

A novel AF classification was developed, which provided insights into varying life expectancy and risks of death and complications among AF subgroups with distinct characteristics. It offers a practical approach for identifying high-risk patients, which might help to tailor precise interventions for AF management.
Macau: a society with no political party – based on the comparison with Hong Kong
Authors: Lou Shenghua , Tang Chunlin
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper attempts to explain the phenomenon that Macau has a parliament (Legislative Assembly) and mass suffrage but no political parties.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the development process of “parliament – mass suffrage – political party” in Hong Kong and Macau and tries to explain why Macau does not have a party using comparative research methods.

Findings

The political party development of Hong Kong and Macau was influenced by both the (former) colonial power and China, and whether there were political parties in these two regions was the result of the game between China and the (former) colonial power. China hoped to limit the development of party politics in the two regions. Since Britain felt reluctant to cooperate with China, political parties in Hong Kong developed. At the same time, Portugal chose to defer to China, which led Macau not to have a political party.

Originality/value

Existing studies have yet to explain why there are no political parties in Macau, and this paper is the first attempt to do so.
Assessing the informational credibility of conspiracy theories: online discussion about the Nord Stream damage
Authors: Savolainen Reijo
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To elaborate the picture of credibility assessment by examining how participants of online discussion evaluate the informational credibility of conspiracy theories.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive quantitative analysis and qualitative content analysis of 2,663 posts submitted to seven Reddit threads discussing a conspiracy operation, that is, the damage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022. It was examined how the participants of online discussion assess the credibility of information constitutive of conspiracy theories speculating about (1) suspected actors responsible for the damage, (2) their motives and (3) the ways in which the damage was made. The credibility assessments focussed on diverse sources offering information about the above three factors.

Findings

The participants assessed the credibility of information by drawing on four main criteria: plausibility of arguments, honesty in argumentation, similarity to one's beliefs and provision of evidence. Most assessments were negative and indicated doubt about the informational believability of conspiracy theories about the damage. Of the information sources referred to in the discussion, the posts submitted by fellow participants, television programmes and statements provided by governmental organizations were judged most critically, due to implausible argumentation and advocacy of biased views.

Research limitations/implications

As the study focuses on a sample of posts dealing with conspiracy theories about a particular event, the findings cannot be generalized to concern the informational credibility conspiracy narratives.

Originality/value

The study pioneers by providing an in-depth analysis of the nature of credibility assessments by focussing on information constitutive of conspiracy theories.
Addressing soft skill gaps in the digital employment market: the case of Spanish students in a technology-based university
Authors: Ramos-Monge Elva , Fox Paul , Garcia-Piquer Alvaro
Published: October 2023

Purpose

In today's ever-evolving digital job market, soft skills are increasingly important for university students to succeed in their future careers. This study identifies the soft skills that universities should prioritize the most due to their significance in the digital employment market.

Design/methodology/approach

Using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, this study analyzed 226 student writings that described their experiences of failure in academic, personal and professional settings. Zero-shot classification was utilized to identify the presence of soft skills and sentiment analysis was used to determine the expressed sentiment toward these skills.

Findings

The findings suggest that students are most deficient in social intelligence, stress management and self-intelligence skills, which are essential soft skills for success in academic and professional environments and for the transition to the digital employment market.

Research limitations/implications

The article acknowledges limitations related to the writing proficiency of resumes from a few non-English speaking students and the potential influence of students' emotional states on the content of their writings.

Practical implications

The study provides valuable insights into the soft skills that are mostly lacking among university students and their significance in the digital employment market.

Originality/value

The study highlights the importance of universities in promoting and practicing essential soft skills and sheds light on the issue of soft skill deficiency among university students. Educators can use these insights to develop strategic proposals aimed at promoting the acquisition of key soft skills among students. The study provides valuable insights into the soft skills that are mostly lacking among university students and their significance in the digital employment market.
The role of employee loyalty in online reputation: evidence from tourism and hospitality sector
Authors: Yao Yanbo , Han Tian-Yu , Bi Jian-Wu
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Online employee reviews have a substantial impact on employee recruitment, retention and the overall perception of a company’s image, making them a crucial element of its online reputation. Consequently, these reviews play a vital role in shaping the company’s competitiveness in the talent market. This study aims to investigate the role of employee loyalty in online reputation in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected online reviews posted by 334,428 employees across 173 companies in the tourism and hospitality sector. Then, this study proposed a method for measuring employee loyalty toward the company through text comments. Furthermore, the role of employee loyalty in online reputation through regression models was analyzed.

Findings

Employee loyalty is positively associated with the closed-form evaluations, and the length and readability of open-ended comments is directly and positively associated with review helpfulness and is indirectly associated with review helpfulness through employee online reviews. Employees’ perception of job instability has a significant moderating effect on the above relationships.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the literature on loyalty in the tourism and hospitality industry, online reputation and employee risk perception. These findings offer a more profound understanding of the extra-role behaviors demonstrated by loyal employees, provide a theoretical foundation for the formation of a company’s online reputation and contribute to helping the tourism and service industry better address risk events. These conclusions provide valuable insights for companies in the fields of human resource management and online reputation management.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to reveal the impact of employee loyalty on the company’s online reputation and provides important theoretical and practical implications for management.
Opening the black box of capabilities to renew the organizational and business know-how of franchises
Authors: Burlaud Alexandra , Simon Fanny
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between capabilities and renewal of organizational and business know-how in franchise networks.

Design/methodology/approach

This work uses a comparative case study of adaptive, absorptive and innovative capabilities to investigate knowledge renewal in 16 franchise networks.

Findings

The findings show that adaptive and innovative capabilities complement each other to foster know-how renewal. Furthermore, networks without internal R&D need to mobilize adaptive, absorptive and innovative capabilities to renew both organizational and business know-how. The findings also highlight that the three capabilities are interconnected.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this research could provide insights for franchise networks to regenerate their knowledge base and ensure their long-term survival.

Originality/value

The underlying capabilities that explain organizational and business know-how renewal in franchises have not been investigated.
Physical and social isolation in various places of work
Authors: Aidla Anne , Poltimäe Helen , Rõigas Kärt , Kindsiko Eneli , Metsmaa Els Maria
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse perceived physical and social isolation and how they are linked in various places of work.

Design/methodology/approach

A nationwide study was conducted involving 3,352 Estonian office workers in spring 2021. Physical isolation was measured in terms of what proportion of time a person works away from co-workers (0%, 1%–25%, 26%–50%, 51%–75%, more than 75%). Social isolation diverged into two factors: lack of contacts and lack of meaningful connections. The different places of work the authors considered in the study included working from home with and without a dedicated room and different types of offices (private office, shared-cell office, activity-based office and open-plan offices of various sizes).

Findings

The results show that the negative consequences of physical isolation in the form of perceiving social isolation start to show when a person works 51% of the time or more away from others. However, the authors revealed the dual nature of social isolation in that when a person experiences a lack of contacts, the connections they do have with their colleagues are actually more meaningful.

Originality/value

The originality of the study comes from the fact that the authors uncovered the paradoxical nature of social isolation. This reveals itself in various places of work depending on the conditions at home and the type of office. Therefore, the authors move away from the simplified distinction of home vs office and take into account the level of physical isolation (what amount of time a person actually works away from colleagues).
Is the success of working from home a matter of configuration? – a comparison between the USA and Germany using PLS-SEM
Authors: Voll Kyra , Pfnür Andreas
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The world of work is constantly changing. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced working from home, and there is an increasing demand for flexibility regarding the workplace. There is little empirical evidence on the mechanisms and factors that influence employee outcomes, such as productivity and turnover intention, at the workplace and at home. In addition, it is unclear whether the workplace characteristics that influence employee outcomes vary between different nations due to country-specific circumstances. The paper aims to address these two issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The research model applied in this study is based on the job demands-resources (JD-R) and environmental demands-resources models using German (n = 429) and USA (n = 507) survey samples. Partial least squares structural equation modelling is used to analyse the influence of workplace characteristics (isolation, family–work interference, equipment/facilities and skill variety) on employee outcomes (satisfaction, burnout, productivity and turnover intention). Additionally, a multi-group analysis is used to explore group differences in the factors influencing satisfaction, burnout, productivity and turnover intention between employees in Germany and the USA.

Findings

The results reveal that significant determinants of productivity and turnover intention include isolation, family–work interference, equipment/facilities and skill variety. Isolation and equipment/facilities are identified as the most important demands and resources of the home workplace. Some significant differences are found between Germany and the USA. The positive effect of isolation on burnout is significantly stronger in the USA than in Germany, whereas the positive effect of family–work inference on burnout is stronger in Germany than in the USA. The negative effects visible for the relations between burnout and satisfaction, and satisfaction and turnover intention are stronger in Germany than in the USA. The positive effect of burnout on turnover intention is stronger in the USA compared to Germany.

Originality/value

The study adds empirical evidence to the JD-R theory by analysing the influence of the home workplace characteristics on employee outcomes in different countries for the first time using a multi-group analysis. In addition, the study reveals new insights into the differences between the knowledge workforces in Germany and the USA by uncovering how key factors influence employee outcomes such as productivity and turnover intention, partially carried by varying length of experience in work from home between both of these countries. Insights from this study can support corporate real estate managers to make better decisions on the design of employees’ home workplaces and the integration of work from home into the company’s workspace concept.
Performance evaluation of commercial bank branches in dynamic competitive conditions: a network DEA model with serial and cross-shared resources
Authors: Shabani Pejman , Akbarpour Shirazi Mohsen
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate commercial bank branches' performance in dynamic and competitive conditions where decision-making units (DMUs) seek a greater proportion of shared resources as it happens in the real world. By introducing the concepts of cross-shared and serial-shared resources, the authors have emphasized the role of evaluation results of past periods on branches' total efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a new mixed-integer data envelopment analysis (MI-DEA) model has been proposed to evaluate the performance of a dynamic network in the presence of cross-shared and serial-shared resources.

Findings

The proposed model helps bank managers to find the source of inefficiencies and establish a connection between the results of the periodic performance of the DMUs and the distribution of serial and cross-shared resources. The results show that the weighting coefficients of the periods do not significantly affect the overall efficiency of commercial bank branches, unlike desirable and undesirable intermediates.

Originality/value

This paper presents the following factors: (1) A new mixed-integer network data envelopment analysis model is developed under dynamic competitive conditions. (2) For the first time in DEA models, the concept of cross-shared resources is proposed to consider shared resources between DMUs. (3) All controllable, uncontrollable, desirable and undesirable outputs in the model are considered with the possibility to transfer to the next periods. (4) A case study is given for the performance evaluation of 38 branches of an Iranian commercial bank from 2016 to 2020.
The impact of virtual reality and biological sex on the promotion of tourist destinations: effects on destination image, place attachment, and behavioural intention
Authors: Melo Miguel , Gonçalves Guilherme , Jorge Filipa , Losada Nieves , Barbosa Luís , Teixeira Mário Sérgio , Bessa Maximino
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to generate knowledge of the impact of different virtual reality (VR) set-ups in tourism promotion regarding destination image, place attachment and behavioural intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a comparative study of the impact of different visualisation technologies (video, immersive VR and multisensory immersive VR) to promote tourism destinations. The study’s dependent variables are destination image, place attachment and behaviour intention.

Findings

Results show that VR content impacts these variables. Multisensory immersive VR is the preferred content type for destination promotion. It is also evidenced that female participants scored each variable higher than male participants. Males reported higher scores on the video set-up for destination image and place attachment. Behavioural intention reported higher values in the video when compared to immersive VR in both sexes.

Practical implications

This paper concludes that there is a preference towards multisensory set-ups, which suggests that incorporating audiovisual and sensory elements can significantly enhance the effectiveness of VR experiences in attracting and engaging potential tourists.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the scarce body of knowledge regarding the impact of different VR factors on tourism promotion, including the multisensory VR component.
Democratizing Islamic home financing and reimagining fractional homeownership model: a conceptual framework via big data and blockchain technology
Authors: Mohd Yusof Rosylin , Zainuddin Zaemah , Musaddad Hafirda Akma Bt , Harun Siti Latipah , Abdul Rahim Mohd Aamir Adeeb
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a model for democratization of Islamic home financing to tackle the issue of sustainability of homeownership affordability.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework and fractional equity model (FEM) are developed to incorporate big data analytics, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in an ecosystem for affordability and sustainability of homeownership via the proposed financing model. In addition, the FEM adopts the simulation approach to show its validity in terms of liquidity when compared with traditional home financing. In this regard, this paper is focused on developing and demonstrating the feasibility of a new financing model, rather than testing specific hypotheses or relationships. This is to propose the democratization model for Islamic Home Financing that will not benefit the prospective home buyers without compromising the profitability of the financial institutions.

Findings

The findings indicate that the proposed end-to-end solution within the financing ecosystem can lead to more efficient matching market between the buyers and sellers of houses, reduced transaction costs, greater transparency and enhanced efficiency which in the end could lead to lower costs of owning homes and sustained financial resilience among house owners. The findings indicate that the FEM model is able to increase homeownership with more elements of liquidity, marketability and sustainability for homebuyers.

Research limitations/implications

This research highlights the potential of big data and blockchain technology in democratizing Islamic home financing and evidence that the transfer of ownership is possible through tokenization. However, this will require a mature financing environment to adapt the technology for practical application.

Practical implications

The model proposes a solution to propagate shared prosperity among stakeholders such as the house buyers/owners, sellers, investors as well the government agencies. The proposed FEM model provides alternative home financing that is more marketable, flexible and sustainable for households/buyers and financiers.

Social implications

It is hoped that with the proposed financing ecosystem to promote affordability and sustainability of homeownership via big data analytics, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology can lead to greater financial resilience for homeowners which can then be translated to enhanced well-being, increased productivity and can further promote economic growth.

Originality/value

This research is a concept paper based on academic research and industry collaboration with a technology provider.
The role and evolution of knowledge network-based intellectual capital in the corporate university
Authors: Chen Yunqi , Zhou Liqing , Wang Yichu
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the knowledge network-based intellectual capital of corporate universities and its co-evolution process with knowledge management activities.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory and multiple case study was conducted, investigating three Chinese corporate universities. Grounded theory was used for data analysis.

Findings

This paper finds that the intellectual capital of corporate universities comprises teacher network capital, knowledge process capital and knowledge ba. The steering wheel model is established through the synergistic interaction and promotion among these three types of intellectual capital. The interaction between intellectual capital and the knowledge network within corporate universities constructs the intellectual capital network, which plays the roles of coordinator, knowledge gatekeeper and innovation bridge. The intellectual capital of corporate universities is characterized by sequential inertia. Moreover, the intellectual capital and intellectual capital network are aligned with knowledge management activities at each stage of corporate university development, interacting and following the principles of ladder evolution.

Originality/value

A significant contribution of this paper lies in applying the concept of intellectual capital within the fourth-stage ecosystem to a broader range of knowledge networks. By exploring the dynamics and network of intellectual capital in corporate universities, especially the role of intellectual capital networks and the synergy between intellectual capital and knowledge management activities, this study enriches the existing research on knowledge management and intellectual capital of corporate universities. Furthermore, it advances the development of knowledge management promotion in corporate universities from a new perspective of intellectual capital.
Stabilizing or destabilizing: the effect of institutional investors on stock return volatility in an emerging market
Authors: Batra Shallu , Yadav Mahender , Jindal Ishu , Saini Mohit , Kumar Pankaj
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of institutional investors and their classes on the stock return volatility of an emerging market. The paper also determines the moderating role of firm size, crisis and turnover on such relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The study covers nonfinancial companies of the Bombay Stock Exchange-100 index that are listed during the study period. The study uses fixed effects and systematic generalized method of moments estimators to look over the association between institutional investors and firms’ stock return volatility.

Findings

The study provides evidence that institutional investors destabilize the Indian stock market. It indicates that institutional investors do not engage in management activities; they earn short-term gains depending on information efficiency. Pressure-insensitive institutional investors have a significant positive relation with stock return volatility, while pressure-sensitive institutional investors do not. The study also reflects that pressure-sensitive institutional investors are underweighted in India, which jointly represents an insignificant nonlinear association between institutional ownership and stocks’ volatility. Furthermore, outcomes reveal that the intersection effect of the crisis, firm size and turnover is positively and significantly related to such relationships.

Research limitations/implications

The outcomes encourage initiatives that keep track of institutional investors in the Indian stock market. To control the destabilizing effect of pressure-insensitive institutional investors, regulators should follow strict regulations on their trading patterns. Moreover, it guides the potential researchers that they should also take into account the impact of other classes of ownership structure or what type of ownership can help in stabilizing or destabilizing the Indian stock market.

Originality/value

Abundant literature studies the relationship between institutional ownership and firm performance in the Indian context. From the standpoint of making management decisions, the return and volatility of stock returns are both different aspects. However, this study examines the effect of institutional ownership and its groups on the volatility of stock return using the panel data estimator, which was previously not discussed in the literature.
Governance and modern renewable energy consumption in the East African Community (EAC): a dynamic panel CS-ARDL approach
Authors: Nabaweesi Jennifer , Kaawaase Twaha Kigongo , Buyinza Faisal , Adaramola Muyiwa S. , Namagembe Sheila , Nkote Isaac
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of governance on the consumption of modern renewable energy in the East African Community (EAC), controlling for economic growth, trade openness and foreign direct investment (FDI).

Design/methodology/approach

The study relied on secondary data sourced from the World Development Indicators, World Governance Indicators and the International Energy Agency (IEA) for the EAC from 1996 to 2019. A panel Cross-Sectional Augmented Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) model and second-generation panel data models were employed in the analysis.

Findings

The findings indicate that poor governance and inadequate FDI are significantly responsible for the low level of modern renewable energy consumption (MREC) in the EAC. On the other hand, trade openness significantly enhances MREC, while GDP per capita has no significant effect on MREC.

Originality/value

The consumption of modern renewable energy sources (excluding the traditional use of biomass) and its determinants, as most studies focus on renewable energy consumption as a whole. The study also employed the panel CS-ARDL model and second-generation panel data models.
When ethnography meets scientific aspiration: a comparative exploration of ethnography in anthropology and accounting
Authors: Deng Claire
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing methodological discussions surrounding the adoption of ethnographic approaches in accounting by undertaking a comparative analysis of ethnography in anthropology and ethnography in qualitative accounting research. By doing so, it abductively speculates on the factors influencing the distinct characteristics of ethnography in accounting and explores their implications.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a comparative approach, organizing the comparison using Van Maanen’s (2011a, 2011b) framework of field-, head- and text-work phases in ethnography. Furthermore, it draws on the author’s experience as a qualitative researcher who has conducted ethnographic research for more than a decade across the disciplines of anthropology and accounting, as well as for non-academic organizations, to provide illustrative examples for the comparison.

Findings

This paper finds that ethnography in accounting, when compared to its counterpart in anthropology, demonstrates a stronger inclination towards scientific aspirations. This is evidenced by its prevalence of realist tales, a high emphasis on “methodological rigour”, a focus on high-level theorization and other similar characteristics. Furthermore, the scientific aspiration and hegemony of the positivist paradigm in accounting research, when leading to a change of the evaluation criteria of non-positivist research, generate an impoverishment of interpretive and ethnographic research in accounting.

Originality/value

This paper provides critical insights from a comparative perspective, highlighting the marginalized position of ethnography in accounting research. By understanding the mechanisms of marginalization, the paper commits to reflexivity and advocates for meaningful changes within the field.
The transformation of conventional microfinance into Islamic microfinance in Bangladesh: proposed Shariah-based model(s)
Authors: Mia Md Aslam
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Despite being a Muslim-dominated country, Bangladesh has widely embraced traditional microfinance since its inception in the mid-1970s. However, Islamic microfinance, which has a lot to offer to the poor, is still in its infancy and has yet to gain momentum in the country. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the importance of Islamic microfinance and propose alternative Shariah-compliant microfinance models in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the desk research method, which relies on existing literature to collect secondary data on key concerns of traditional microfinance programs. In addition, institutional-level secondary data were also collected from the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) of Bangladesh. Guided by the Maqasid-al-Shariah, this study then proposes several Islamic microfinance models to overcome selected challenges faced by the microfinance industry in Bangladesh.

Findings

This study suggested three composite Shariah-compliant microfinance models, which are likely to help the underprivileged and thus ensure the achievement of the sustainable development goals in Bangladesh. The first model explained how the operational strategy of incumbent microfinance institutions (MFIs) could be restructured, while the second proposed the organizational strategies for establishing a new MFI. The third model used the notion of Sadaqah (charity) to address the multiple borrowing issues of the industry. Meanwhile, the successful transformation of the conventional microfinance industry to an Islamic one is dependent on the effective collaboration between the regulatory authorities, practitioners and MFIs.

Originality/value

Albeit the paucity of literature on the topic, the findings of this study will guide policymakers/practitioners in designing relevant microfinance models to help transform conventional microfinance into Islamic microfinance in Bangladesh.
Simulation of temperature profile in fused filament fabrication 3D printing method
Authors: Mosleh Nastaran , Esfandeh Masoud , Dariushi Soheil
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Temperature is a critical factor in the fused filament fabrication (FFF) process, which affects the flow behavior and adhesion of the melted filament and the mechanical properties of the final object. Therefore, modeling and predicting temperature in FFF is crucial for achieving high-quality prints, repeatability, process control and failure prediction. This study aims to investigate the melt deposition and temperature profile in FFF both numerically and experimentally using different Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene single-strand specimens. The process parameters, including layer thickness, nozzle temperature and build platform temperature, were varied.

Design/methodology/approach

COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to perform numerical simulations of fluid flow and heat transfer for the printed strands. The polymer melt/air interface was tracked using the coupling of continuity equation, equation of motion and the level set equation, and the heat transfer equation was used to simulate the temperature distribution in the deposited strand.

Findings

The numerical results show that increasing the nozzle temperature or layer thickness leads to an increase in temperature at points close to the nozzle, but the bed temperature is the main determinant of the overall layer temperature in low-thickness strands. The experimental temperature profile of the deposited strand was measured using an infrared (IR) thermal imager to validate the numerical results. The comparison between simulation and observed temperature at different points showed that the numerical model accurately predicts heat transfer in the three-dimensional (3D) printing of a single-strand under different conditions. Finally, a parametric analysis was performed to investigate the effect of selected parameters on the thermal history of the printed strand.

Originality/value

The numerical results show that increasing the nozzle temperature or layer thickness leads to an increase in temperature at points close to the nozzle, but the bed temperature is the main determinant of the overall layer temperature in low-thickness strands. The experimental temperature profile of the deposited strand was measured using an IR thermal imager to validate the numerical results. The comparison between simulation and observed temperature at different points showed that the numerical model accurately predicts heat transfer in the 3D printing of a single-strand under different conditions. Finally, a parametric analysis was performed to investigate the effect of selected parameters on the thermal history of the printed strand.
“They don’t take notes!” Tensions perceived by first-line workers in an action research project
Authors: Lebesby Kristin , Benders Jos
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to emphasize the importance of taking into account the perspectives of prospective participants and identifying potential tensions in action research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reflects on a (participatory) action research (AR) project in which the first author was involved as an embedded researcher. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, field notes and observed project activities. The authors conducted a thematic analysis.

Findings

This paper thematically categorized four types of tensions between both groups. These were tensions connected to: internal facilitators giving guidance, project goals, top-down expectations and unfamiliarity with AR working formats.

Practical implications

Quintessential to AR is giving the less privileged a voice. For this to work, gaining a good understanding of their perspectives is crucial.

Originality/value

This paper challenges the implicit assumption that prospective participants of AR projects are always willing to participate.