bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring measures to increase detection of malaria cases through reactive case detection in a Southern Province of Zambia-like Setup: A modelling study
Authors: Chiziba Chilochibi , Silal Sheetal
Published: July 2024

Introduction

In Zambia, malaria prevalence varies spatially, posing challenges for intervention strategies. Asymptomatic and clinical carriers not accessing healthcare further complicate efforts, necessitating reactive case detection (RCD) to target undetected infections. However, operational hurdles, such as resource shortages and logistical complexities—including shortages of community health workers (CHWs), difficulties reaching residents, and limitations in malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs)—hinder RCD’s effectiveness. Identifying effective improvement measures given circumstances that may lead to deficient intervention outcomes may improve the situation.

Methods

A mathematical model of malaria transmission conforming to Zambia’s low transmission areas defined as areas with an incidence of fewer than 200 malaria cases per 1,000 population per year was developed to simulate RCD using parameters and data from published articles. We explored the impact of literature-identified challenges on RCD performance in malaria detection and potential strategies to enhance detection rates. The examined factors and improvement measures included increasing CHWs, adjusting reaction time, RDT sensitivity, and implementing focal mass drug administration (fMDA).

Results

Simulation findings suggest that a shortage of CHWs and limited availability of RDTs have the highest negative impact on RCD compared to other challenges. In scenarios where CHWs or RDT availability for RCD were reduced by 50%, annual malaria cases were predicted to increase by approximately 17%. Only the incorporation of fMDA as an improvement measure succeeded in countering the situation. Increasing CHWs to offset RCD inefficiencies caused by limited RDT sensitivity or difficulties in finding individuals resulted in fewer cases than improving reaction time or increasing the screening radius.

Conclusions

Participation of CHWs is voluntary and primarily motivated by informal incentives, often provided by donors. Finding sustainable means to ensure the sufficient availability of CHWs may guarantee continued RCD contributions towards maintaining stable malaria prevalence and elimination. More research is required to explore the application of RCD in archetypical transmission areas suitable for RCD as improvement measures to the identified challenges hindering RCD. Furthermore, archetype-based targeting of interventions, including RCD, may also be explored to inform the optimisation of intervention resource allocation to overcome the widening gap in malaria funding.
Racism and health and wellbeing among children and youth - an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Priest Naomi , Lim Chiao Kee , Doery Kate , Lawrence Jourdyn A. , Zoumboulis Georgia , King Gabriella , Lamisa Dewan , He Fan , Wijesuriya Rushani , Mateo Camila M. , Chong Shiau , Truong Mandy , Perry Ryan , King Paula Toko , Paki Natalie Paki , Joseph Corey , Pagram Dot , Lekamge Roshini Balasooriya , Mikolajczak Gosia , Darnett Emily , Trenerry Brigid , Jha Shloka , Masunga Joan Gakii , Paradies Yin , Kelly Yvonne , Karlsen Saffron , Guo Shuaijun
Published: July 2024

Background

Evidence of racism’s health harms among children and youth is rapidly increasing, though attention to impacts on physical health and biomarker outcomes is more emergent. We performed a systematic review of recent publications to examine the association between racism and health among children and youth, with a meta-analysis of the specific relationships between racism and physical health and biomarkers.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature search using four databases: Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, and ERIC. Four inclusion criteria were used to identify eligible studies: (1) exposure was experiences of racism, (2) outcome was health and wellbeing, (3) quantitative methods were used to estimate the association between racism and health outcomes, and (4) the effect size of associations between racism and health and wellbeing was reported for participants aged 0-24 years. Correlation coefficients were used to report the pooled effect size for each outcome indicator.

Results

There were 463 eligible studies included in the screening process, with 42 studies focusing on physical health or biomarker outcomes. Random-effects meta-analysis found minimal to moderate positive associations between racism and C-reactive protein, Interleukin 6, body mass index (BMI), obesity, systolic blood pressure, salivary cortisol, asthma, and somatic symptoms. There were marginal positive associations between racism and Tumour Necrosis Factor-α, cortisol collected via saliva, urine and hair, BMI-z score, and diastolic blood pressure, with imprecise estimates and wide confidence intervals.

Conclusions

Racism is associated with negative physical health and biomarker outcomes that relate to multiple physiological systems and biological processes in childhood and adolescence. This has implications for health and wellbeing during childhood and adolescence and future chronic disease risk. Collective and structural changes to eliminate racism and create a healthy and equitable future for all children and youth are urgently required.

HIGHLIGHTS

Racism impacts foundations for optimal health and development for children, youth and their caregivers.

Evidence shows racism is associated with inflammation, cortisol, weight status, blood pressure, asthma and somatic symptoms in children and youth.

Future research needs to prioritise systemic racism and its impact on child and youth health.

Collective and structural changes are urgently needed to eliminate racism.
Genome-wide fine-mapping improves identification of causal variants
Authors: Wu Yang , Zheng Zhili , Thibaut Loic , Goddard Michael E. , Wray Naomi R. , Visscher Peter M. , Zeng Jian
Published: July 2024

Fine-mapping refines genotype-phenotype association signals to identify causal variants underlying complex traits. However, current methods typically focus on individual genomic segments without considering the global genetic architecture. Here, we demonstrate the advantages of performing genome-wide fine-mapping (GWFM) and develop methods to facilitate GWFM. In simulations and real data analyses, GWFM outperforms current methods in error control, mapping power and precision, replication rate, and trans-ancestry phenotype prediction. For 48 well-powered traits in the UK Biobank, we identify causal variants that collectively explain 17% of the SNP-based heritability, and predict that fine-mapping 50% of that would require 2 million samples on average. We pinpoint a known causal variant, as proof-of-principle, at FTO for body mass index, unveil a hidden secondary variant with evolutionary conservation, and identify new missense causal variants for schizophrenia and Crohn disease. Overall, we analyse 600 complex traits with 13 million SNPs, highlighting the efficacy of GWFM with functional annotations.
Using the basic reproduction ratio to quantify transmission and identify data gaps for epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus
Authors: Gubbins Simon
Published: July 2024

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) is an arbovirus transmitted byCulicoidesbiting midges that has recently emerged in Europe. Here, the basic reproduction ratio (R0) was used to quantify the transmission of EHDV and its dependence on temperature for cattle and deer. Using data from the published literature the parameters needed to calculateR0were estimated with Bayesian methods to incorporate uncertainty in the calculations. The Sobol method of sensitivity analysis was used to determine the parameters having the greatest influence onR0and, hence, to identify important data gaps. Depending on the strain the maximumR0for EHDV varied from 0.7 to 2.5 in cattle and 1.3 to 4.3 in deer. The maximumR0occurred at temperatures between 22 and 25 °C, while the lowest temperature at whichR0exceeded one was between 16 and 20 °C. The sensitivity analysis identified the threshold temperature for virus replication, the probability of transmission from host to vector and the vector to host ratio as the most important parameters influencingR0. Furthermore, there are only limited data on EHDV in European deer species and on transmission in wildlife and at the livestock/wildlife interface. These data gaps should be the focus of future research.
The role of stomatin-like protein (STOML) inPlasmodium falciparum
Authors: Verhoef Julie M.J. , Bekkering Ezra T. , Boshoven Cas , Hannon Megan , Proellochs Nicholas I. , Spruijt Cornelia G. , Kooij Taco W.A.
Published: July 2024

Members of theStomatin,Prohibitin,Flotillin andHflK/C (SPFH) protein family form large membrane anchored or spanning complexes and are involved in various functions in different organelles. The human malaria causing parasitePlasmodium falciparumharbors four SPFH proteins, including prohibitin 1 and 2, prohibitin-like protein (PHBL), and stomatin-like protein (STOML) which all localize to the parasite mitochondrion. In the murine model parasitePlasmodium berghei,STOMLhas been shown to be essential and to localize to puncta on mitochondrial branching points in oocyst stages. In this study, we investigate the function of STOML in the human malaria parasite,P. falciparum. We show that deletion ofSTOMLcauses a significant growth defect and slower asexual blood-stage (ABS) development, while sexual-stage development remains unaffected. Parasites lackingSTOMLwere not more sensitive to respiratory chain targeting drugs, rendering a function of STOML in respiratory chain assembly unlikely. Epitope tagging of endogenous STOML revealed a distinct punctate localization on branching points and endings of the ABS mitochondrial network. STOML resides in a large protein complex and pulldown experiments identified a zinc dependent metalloprotease, FtsH, as a likely interaction partner. The predicted AlphaFold structure of STOML shows high similarity with the bacterial HflK/C, which has been shown to form a large vault like structure around the bacterial FtsH hexamers. Combined, our results suggest that a similar STOML-FtsH complex localized to specific loci ofP. falciparummitochondria facilitate the parasite’s asexual blood-stage development.
Shared environments complicate the use of strain-resolved metagenomics to infer microbiome transmission
Authors: Debray Reena , Dickson Carly C. , Webb Shasta E. , Archie Elizabeth A. , Tung Jenny
Published: July 2024

In humans and other social animals, social partners have more similar microbiomes than expected by chance, suggesting that social contact transfers microorganisms. Yet, social microbiome transmission can be difficult to identify based on compositional data alone. To overcome this challenge, recent studies have used information about microbial strain sharing (i.e., the shared presence of highly similar microbial sequences) to infer transmission. However, the degree to which strain sharing is influenced by shared traits and environments among social partners, rather than transmissionper se, is not well understood. Here, we first use a fecal microbiota transplant dataset to show that strain sharing can recapitulate true transmission networks under ideal settings when donor-recipient pairs are unambiguous and recipients are sampled shortly after transmission. In contrast, in gut metagenomes from a wild baboon population, we find that demographic and environmental factors can override signals of strain sharing among social partners. We conclude that strain-level analyses provide useful information about microbiome similarity, but other facets of study design, especially longitudinal sampling and careful consideration of host characteristics, are essential for inferring the underlying mechanisms.
Multipath projection stereolithography (MPS) for 3D printing microfluidic devices
Authors: Geffert Zachary J. , Xiong Zheng , Grutzmacher Jenna , Wilderman Maximilian , Mohammadi Ali , Filip Alex , Li Zhen , Soman Pranav
Published: July 2024

Although many lab-on-chip applications require inch-sized devices with microscale feature resolution, achieving this via current 3D printing methods remains challenging due to inherent tradeoffs between print resolution, design complexity, and build sizes. Inspired by microscopes that can switch objectives to achieve multiscale imaging, we report a new optical printer coined as Multipath Projection Stereolithography (MPS) specifically designed for printing microfluidic devices. MPS is designed to switch between high-resolution (1×mode, ∼10µm) and low-resolution (3× mode, ∼30µm) optical paths to generate centimeter sized constructs (3cm × 6cm) with a feature resolution of ∼10µm. Illumination and projection systems were designed, resin formulations were optimized, and slicing software was integrated with hardware with the goal of ease of use. Using a test-case of micromixers, we show user-defined CAD models can be directly input to an automated slicing software to define printing of low-resolution features via the 3× mode with embedded microscale fins via 1× mode. A new computational model, validated using experimental results, was used to simulate various fin designs and experiments were conducted to verify simulated mixing efficiencies. New 3D out-of-plane micromixer designs were simulated and tested. To show broad applications of MPS, multi-chambered chips and microfluidic devices with microtraps were also printed. Overall, MPS can be a new fabrication tool to rapidly print a range of lab-on-chip applications.
A Field-Deployable Arsenic Sensor IntegratingBacillus Megateriumwith CMOS Technology
Authors: Hu Chelsea Y. , McManus John , Aghlmand Fatemeh , Larsson Elin , Emami Azita , Murray Richard M.
Published: July 2024

Bacteria innately monitor their environment by dynamically regulating gene expression to respond to fluctuating conditions. Through synthetic biology, we can harness this natural capability to design cell-based sensors.Bacillus megaterium, a soil bacterium, stands out due to its remarkable heavy metal tolerance and sporulation ability, making it an ideal candidate for heavy metal detection with low transportation costs. However, challenges persist: the synthetic biology toolkit for this strain is underdeveloped and conventional whole-cell sensors necessitate specialized laboratory equipment to read the output. In our study, we genetically modifiedB. megateriumfor arsenic detection, establishing a detection threshold below the EPA recommendation of 10 ppb for drinking water in both vegetative cell form and spore form. Additionally, we integrated both engineeredB. megateriumliving cells and spores with CMOS chip for field-deployable arsenic detection. We show that the limit of detection of our integrated sensor is applicable in soil and air arsenic contamination testing. As a proof of concept, this work paves the way for deploying our sensor in resource-limited settings, ensuring real-time arsenic detection in challenging environments.

Abstract Figure
The Evolution and Epidemiology of H3N2 Canine Influenza Virus After 20 Years in Dogs
Authors: Wasik Brian R. , Damodaran Lambodhar , Maltepes Maria A. , Voorhees Ian E.H. , Leutenegger Christian M. , Newbury Sandra , Moncla Louise H. , Dalziel Benjamin D. , Goodman Laura B. , Parrish Colin R.
Published: July 2024

The H3N2 canine influenza virus (CIV) emerged from an avian reservoir in Asia around 2004. As the virus has now been circulating entirely among dogs for 20 years, we here update our understanding of the evolution of virus in its new host. As a host-switched virus, H3N2 CIV will also reveal any host-adaptive changes arising during thousands of infections within its new host, and our analysis showed that the virus has evolved at a constant rate. CIV was first introduced into North America in 2015 from Korea, and we specifically examined the epidemiology of the virus among dogs in North America since then, including local outbreaks, regional die-outs, and repeated reintroduction from Asia. The H3N2 CIV now appears endemic only in China after dying out in South Korea around 2017. Virus lineages circulating in China appear to have seeded the most recent US outbreaks – with 2 or 3 introductions into North America during the past 3 years. Combining clinical reports, diagnostic testing data, and analysis of viral genomes we show that the virus spreads rapidly among dogs in kennels and shelters in different regions – likely dying out locally after all those animals become infected and immune. The overall epidemic therefore requires longer-distance dispersal of virus to initiate outbreaks in new locations. Patterns of spread in the USA may select viruses most adapted to those dense populations, which may lack the properties required for efficient long-distance transfers to other dog populations that would keep the virus in prolonged circulation.

IMPORTANCE

Viruses occasionally jump into new hosts to cause epidemics and may spread widely due to movement of humans or animals, or their viruses, with profound consequences for global health. The emergence and epidemiology of new epidemic viruses in companion animals provides a model for understanding disease dynamics and evolution. The H3N2 canine influenza virus arose from an avian virus, and infected dogs provide many opportunities for human exposure. H3N2 CIV transmission is dominated by fast-moving outbreaks within dense populations in animal shelters or kennels, while sustaining the epidemic likely requires movement of virus to more distant dog populations. Viral spread within North Americahas only been sustained for a few years at a time after which the virus dies out. The epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of this virus in this structured host population shows how an acute respiratory pathogen can emerge and spread in a new host and population.
Genetic Foundations of Neurophysiological and Behavioural Variability Across the Lifespan
Authors: da Silva Castanheira Jason , Poli Jonathan , Hansen Justine Y , Misic Bratislav , Baillet Sylvain
Published: July 2024

Neurophysiological brain activity underpins cognitive functions and behavioural traits. Here, we sought to establish to what extent individual neurophysiological traits spontaneously expressed in ongoing brain activity are primarily driven by genetic variation. We also investigated whether changes in such neurophysiological features observed across the lifespan are supported by longitudinal changes in cortical gene expression. We studied the heritability of neurophysiological traits from task-free brain activity of monozygotic and dizygotic twins as well as non-related individuals recorded with magnetoencephalography. We found that these traits were more similar between monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins, and that these heritable core dynamical properties of brain activity are predominantly influenced by genes involved in neurotransmission processes. These genes are expressed in the cortex along a topographical gradient aligned with the distribution of major cognitive functions and psychological processes. Our data also show that the impact of these genetic determinants on cognitive and psychological traits increases with age. These findings collectively highlight the persistent genetic influence across the lifespan on neurophysiological brain activity that supports individual cognitive and behavioural traits.
Boson sampling with ultracold atoms in a programmable optical lattice
Authors: Robens Carsten , Arrazola Iñigo , Alt Wolfgang , Meschede Dieter , Lamata Lucas , Solano Enrique , Alberti Andrea
Published: July 2024

Sampling from a quantum distribution can be exponentially hard for classical computers and yet could be performed efficiently by a noisy intermediate-scale quantum device. A prime example of a distribution that is hard to sample is given by the output states of a linear interferometer traversed by N identical boson particles. Here, we propose a scheme to implement such a boson-sampling machine with ultracold atoms in a polarization-synthesized optical lattice. We experimentally demonstrate the basic building block of such a machine by revealing the Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of two bosonic atoms in a four-mode interferometer. To estimate the sampling rate for large N, we develop a theoretical model based on a master equation that accounts for particle losses, but does not include technical errors. Our results show that atomic samplers have the potential to achieve a quantum advantage over today's best supercomputers with N≳40.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Self-regulation and panic buying: examining the brake mechanism effect on fear of missing out
Authors: Anisimova Tatiana , Billore Soniya , Kitchen Philip
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Extant research indicates that fear of missing out (FoMO) caused by the negative influence of media and word-of-mouth (WOM) leads to panic buying and generates a negative impact on consumer well-being. However, the mechanism that can minimise or abort this impact remains understudied. Therefore, in this study, we examine how consumer self-regulation functions as a brake mechanism to intervene with the negative influences of media and WOM on FoMO.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a representative sample in Australia. Hypotheses were tested by applying generalised structural equation modelling (GSEM), and analysis was conducted using the statistical software Stata 17.

Findings

Self-regulation is negatively influenced by media channels and WOM but is positively influenced by media content. Consumer self-regulation acts as a brake mechanism for FoMO. Panic buying, which is triggered by FoMO, has a significant impact on negative emotional well-being.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the study are associated with the survey data collection.

Practical implications

We extend the knowledge of how self-regulation works as a brake mechanism for the complex FoMO construct consisting of a perception of missing out accompanied by irrational behaviours. Self-regulation emerges as a brake mechanism for FoMO. Hence, if self-regulation is practiced at the inception of the media and WOM exposure, it can counteract FoMO and potentially abort its’ impact on panic buying.

Social implications

From a practical perspective, policymakers could help emotionally vulnerable individuals better engage in self-control practices through support programmes and workshops aimed at assisting the public in coping with overwhelming and intense adverse emotions experienced during and following various crises. Vulnerable cohorts, particularly the younger generation who are arguably more susceptible to FoMO, need to be studied more thoroughly in the marketing domain.

Originality/value

The role of self-regulation has been studied thinly in marketing literature, particularly in relation to offsetting irrational consumer behaviours. The originality of our study is that it extends and broadens the understanding of the role of self-regulation in the context of pandemics and addresses the inconclusive evidence of the impact of self-regulation on FoMO.
Determinants for the desirability of public-private partnership mode in infrastructure development
Authors: Zhou Zhengyi
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper studies the determinants for the desirability of the public-private partnership (PPP) mode in infrastructure development.

Design/methodology/approach

The author manually collects data on over 12,000 PPP projects in China, and regard the successful transition and abnormal termination as signals for the mode’s desirability and undesirability, respectively. Then, guided by relevant theories in the literature, the author investigates the impact of various project characteristics on the projects’ successful transition and abnormal termination.

Findings

First, execution-stage projects in industries where government support is indispensable, or where quality improvement is more important than cost reduction, face higher likelihood of abnormal termination. But such negative effects are mitigated if state-owned enterprises (SOEs) participate in the social party. Second, the structure of social party matters. The participation by private firms in the social party increases the termination likelihood, while the decentralization of the social party decreases it. Third, pre-execution projects with government payment or subsidies are more likely to enter into the execution stage.

Practical implications

Regulations on participation by SOEs in PPPs, such as policy [2023 No. 115] announced by State Council, should take industrial heterogeneity into consideration.

Originality/value

Using a large sample, the author empirically tests the seminal PPP-related theories in the literature. The author also uncovers some unique stylized facts about PPPs in China, especially the impact of SOE participation in the social party on PPP survival.
Unraveling the relationship between sustainability and returns: a multi-attribute utility analysis
Authors: Escobar-Anel Marcos , Jiao Yiyao
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to establish an analytical framework to help investors accommodate their environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) preferences. The analytical solutions were complemented by empirical analyses to shed light on their benefits and tractability.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes an expected multi-attribute utility analysis for ESG investors in which stocks can be treated as more green or less green (brown) than the market, represented by an index, all modeled in a one-factor structure. The solution is found via the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation with proper treatment of various sources of risk. For the empirical analysis, we use the RepRisk Rating of US stocks from 2010 to 2020 to select companies that are representative of various ESG ratings.

Findings

This study finds closed-form solutions for optimal allocations, wealth and value functions. Our empirical analysis reveals drastic increases in wealth allocation toward high-rated ESG stocks for ESG-sensitive investors, even as the overall level of pecuniary satisfaction remains unchanged.

Originality/value

This study broadens the existing analytical framework by introducing a market portfolio along with green and brown stocks. As by-products, we first demonstrate that investors do not need to reduce their pecuniary satisfaction to increase green investment. Second, we propose a parameterization to capture investors' preferences for green assets over brown or market assets, independent of asset performance.
Crash and jackpot probability anomalies in the Chinese stock market
Authors: Fang Yi , Niu Hui
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Investigation of the anomalies associated with crashes and jackpots in the Chinese stock market.

Design/methodology/approach

We propose a logit model to predict the events of crashes and jackpots in the Chinese stock market. The model introduces a new variable of the price-to-sales ratio and takes into account the market states, Up and Down.

Findings

The anomalies associated with crashes and jackpots are not related to variations in economic conditions, but are associated with limits to arbitrage. High-liquidity stocks have strong mispricing effects. The institutions’ speculative trading will push liquid stock prices further away from their fundamentals but avoid buying illiquid stocks with a higher probability of price crashes and jackpots.

Originality/value

We propose a logit model to predict the extreme events of both crash and jackpot in the Chinese stock market. Our model effectively disentangles from CRASHP and JACKP. Compared with the traditional model, it substantially enhances in-sample and out-sample predictions. Based on the predictions of the extreme events, we find two strong and robust pricing effects associated with ex ante CRASHP and JACKP in the Chinese stock market.
Influence of platform governance and community diversity on users' value co-creation in sharing platform? Insights from China
Authors: Xiao Liang , Ke Tongping
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Instant crowdsourcing logistics (ICL) platform is an emerging business model in the field of logistics services. Crowdsourcees’ active participation in platform value co-creation is the key to success for this business model. This study aims to explore the influence of platform governance mechanisms on crowdsourcees’ participation in value co-creation on the platform.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on governance theory, this study constructed a model of the influence of platform governance mechanisms on crowdsourcees’ value co-creation intentions and discussed the role of community diversity in this model. The survey data of 319 collected from crowdsourcees on China’s well-known ICL platform were analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation model.

Findings

The results showed that platform governance mechanisms have a significant influence on crowdsourcees’ value co-creation intentions. Among them, the impact of the welfare resource support mechanism is the largest, followed by the reputation reward and punishment mechanism, while the price coordination mechanism has the least impact. Community diversity has a significant positive moderating effect on the welfare resource support mechanism and crowdsourcees’ value co-creation intentions, but not between other governance mechanisms and crowdsourcees’ value co-creation intentions.

Originality/value

The results provide references for ICL platform to develop a targeted governance mechanism to enhance the positive role of community diversity and reduce the negative impact.
Demystifying the time varying linkage among ESG compliant, fintech and artificial intelligence stocks
Authors: Tabassum Sabia , Dhillon Lakhwinder Kaur , Yadav Miklesh Prasad , Khan Khaliquzzaman , Saifi Mohd Afzal , Zulfikar Zehra
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the time-varying dynamic connectedness among environmental, social and governance (ESG)-compliant firms, Fintech-based firms and artificial intelligence (AI) firm’s stocks.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the spillover from globally leading companies that systematically follow ESG reporting and standards into their financial books to top AI-based and Fintech-based companies, we use the daily observation extending from December 31, 2019 to October 9, 2023. For the empirical investigation, Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) model and Baruník and Křehlík (2018) model are employed.

Findings

An intriguing observation is found for both recipient and transmission as Northrop Grumman remains the least shock transmitter and receiver among all constituent markets irrespective of two different used models. On this note, Northrop Grumman can be classified among the safest stock comparatively which has to be held in short, medium and long run to mitigate the risk.

Originality/value

After extensive existing literature review and to the best of the authors knowledge, it is a novel study that examines the dynamic connectedness among ESG, Fintech and AI stocks covering two unprecedented events like the COVID-19 outbreak and the Russia–Ukraine invasion.
Promoting proactive helping behaviour: the role of positive psychological capital and emotional self-control
Authors: van Tonder Estelle , Petzer Daniel J. , Fullerton Sam
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Customers’ proactive helping behaviours involving personal initiative taking may present an effective solution for assisting other customers in avoiding harmful brands. Accordingly, this study aims to propose a model explaining the role of positive psychological capital (self-efficacy and optimism) in influencing customers’ proactive helping behaviours involving personal initiative taking. The study additionally provides greater clarity regarding the moderating effect of emotional self-control within the suggested model.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from 256 respondents in South Africa, who reported on their perceptions and the degree to which they engage in proactive helping behaviours to assist other customers in avoiding harmful brands. Hypotheses were tested using regression analysis.

Findings

General self-efficacy and social optimism influence customers’ proactive helping behaviours. Emotional self-control moderates the indirect effect of general self-efficacy on customers’ proactive helping behaviours through social optimism.

Research limitations/implications

Greater insight is obtained into the interplay between factors representing a positive psychological state and self-control of negative emotions and these factors’ effect on customers’ proactive helping behaviours involving personal initiative taking.

Originality/value

The research extends knowledge of proactive helping behaviours involving personal initiative taking to assist other customers in avoiding harmful brands and subsequently provides a baseline for further research in this regards. Practically, the research is useful to social agents of society concerned with promoting responsible purchasing practices.
Oil price uncertainty and corporate cash policy: does Islamic financial development matter?
Authors: Bugshan Abdullah
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the impact of oil price uncertainty on corporate cash holdings. Moreover, it examines whether the effect of oil price volatility differs between Shariah-compliant corporations (SCCs) and non-Shariah-compliant corporations (NSCs). It also explores the role of Islamic financial development in the home countries of these corporations in this relationship

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilizes a sample of non-financial firms listed in eight emerging economies, for the period between 2013 and 2019. A static, ordinary least squares, and dynamic, Generalized Method of Moments models have been employed to test the hypotheses of the study.

Findings

The findings reveal that, on average, high oil price uncertainty influences both SCCs and NSCs. However, SCCs are more severely affected than NSCs. Notably, during periods of high oil price uncertainty, SCCs reserve more cash than their NSC counterparts. Additionally, the Islamic financial development of the country moderates the severity of the impact of oil price uncertainty on SCCs. Further analysis suggests that the impact of oil price uncertainty is more pronounced for firms operating in oil-exporting countries.

Research limitations/implications

Corporate managers should build a liquidity strategy that allows them to deal with oil price uncertainty. Also, the findings of the study highlight the importance for Islamic financial development of Islamic countries. The improved Islamic financial development of the country improves access to capital markets for shariah compliant firms and hence, reduces their need for holding excessive large amount of cash asset.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the growing literature on the effects of oil price uncertainty on corporate cash holding policy by highlighting the roles of Shariah compliance status and Islamic financial development in this relationship. It is the first to explore the joint relationship between oil price uncertainty, Shariah compliance, and corporate cash holding policy.
Does typicality matter in zero-waste apparel design? Exploring consumers' aesthetic preferences and purchase intentions
Authors: Michaelson Dawn M. , Kim Boowon , Chattaraman Veena
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study examines whether design typicality and the communication of the zero-waste concept as a sustainable practice impact consumers’ aesthetic preferences and purchase intentions for zero-waste apparel.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a 2 (dress design: typical vs atypical) × 2 (dress length: long vs short) × 2 (zero-waste concept communication: present vs absent) mixed factorial experimental design with an online survey of 137 female consumers, ages 19–34.

Findings

Respondents rated typical zero-waste design dresses significantly higher than atypical dresses for aesthetic preferences and purchase intentions. Further, the zero-waste design concept did not affect this typicality-based preference or purchase intention for zero-waste dresses. They also demonstrated greater overall aesthetic preferences for long than short zero-waste dresses. Design typicality moderated this effect such that aesthetic preferences and purchase intentions were greater for long than short-length dresses when the zero-waste dress design was typical. When the design was atypical, purchase intentions were greater for short than long dresses.

Research limitations/implications

Typicality is critical in consumers’ aesthetic preferences and purchase intentions for zero-waste apparel.

Originality/value

The study focused on zero-waste dress typicality as a critical factor in consumers’ preference formation and purchase intentions. Additionally, it investigated dress length preferences within typical and atypical designs.
Technological management capabilities as a pathway toward green production and green competitive advantage
Authors: Waqas Muhammad , Meng Qingfeng , Khan Syed Abdul Rehman , Hussain Kramat
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Organizations' technological management capabilities (TMC) have emerged as a powerful tool to enable manufacturing firms to deal with environmental issues. This empirical investigation aims to introduce and validate a novel conceptual framework that seeks to uncover the latent relationships among the selected constructs of this study. Organizational TMC could enhance green production (GP) and reinforce the green competitive advantage (GCA) among manufacturing firms. Therefore, this research investigates the role of TMC of firms such as artificial intelligence capability (AIC), big data analytics capability (BDAC) and Internet of things capability (IOTC) in reshaping green innovation (RGI), employee development (ED), GP and GCA.

Design/methodology/approach

The Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling was proposed to test and validate this research’s conceptual model using 463 valid responses from manufacturing under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) umbrella.

Findings

Our statistical findings confirmed that TMCs such as AIC, BDAC and IOTC supported the GP and CGA. ED and RGI positively correlated to GP. The hypotheses testing results also confirmed the mediating role of ED, RGI and GP and the moderating role of green firm innovativeness capability (GFIC) in the underdeveloped context of the manufacturing industry under the CPEC.

Originality/value

Moreover, the statistical findings of this study extend the existing literature by validating the possible direct, indirect/mediation and indirect/moderation relationship between TMC and GCA.
Pricing decision of service systems based on the combined effect of multiple customer psychology
Authors: Jiang Tao , Zhang Zitong
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Customers will develop a stronger desire to purchase when more people are waiting in line for service due to the herding effect. However, this also leads to longer queue times, causing customers to experience a waiting patience time. This study examines these two psychological aspects of delay-sensitive customers in service systems, considering both homogeneous and heterogeneous customer scenarios to explore the optimal pricing strategy for service providers.

Design/methodology/approach

Using queueing theory, we construct and optimally solve the customer's service utility function and the service provider's service revenue function. Further, the model is extended to account for heterogeneous customers, solving the utility and revenue functions accordingly.

Findings

Results show that service revenue increases with the intensity of herding behavior and the length of patience time. If customers have low herding intensity and short patience time, the service provider only needs to serve a portion of the customers. For heterogeneous customers, if a large proportion exhibits high herding intensity, the service provider should focus on serving them. Otherwise, the service provider should serve all high-intensity herding customers while striving to attract low-intensity herding customers.

Originality/value

This paper considers the combined utility of multiple customer psychology and examines homogeneous and heterogeneous customers. The findings provide valuable managerial insights for service providers' pricing and service strategies.
A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of green procurement
Authors: Wang Lan , Song Hua , Yang Yudong , Han Mengwei
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Previous literature reviews mainly focus on green supply chain, however, there is surprisingly little effort made in the systematic literature review to focus on a specific function of green supply chain, i.e. green procurement (GP). Regarding research methodology, most reviews are qualitative and inductive generalizations. Quantitative methods such as bibliometrics have started to be applied in recent years. This paper responds to this trend by counting the largest amount of literature with 238 articles in the last 24 years from 2000 to 2023 to visually analyze different theoretical perspectives and research topics into a comprehensive framework and identify future research directions and opportunities in the GP field.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on CiteSpace and in-depth content analysis, this paper attempts to visually analyze 238 valid papers to identify key literature and analyze the evolution of research hot spots and frontier development trends.

Findings

Combined with the visualization results and the content analysis of key references, we identify key literature and examine the evolution of research hotspots and frontier development trends. The bibliometric analysis mainly includes knowledge mapping to identify key themes, co-occurrence and clustering analysis of keywords, cooperation networks in researchers' countries. An overall GP research model is presented and our research suggests future avenues for GP research, such as low carbon, digitalization, servitization and ecosystem perspectives.

Originality/value

Firstly, in terms of time and volume of literature, we have counted the most comprehensive and up-to-date literature in the field of GP research, which is conducive to further expanding and enriching GP research. Secondly, this study clearly describes the theoretical evolution of GP research from bilateral and multilateral to ecosystem perspectives, and constructs a new and comprehensive research framework of “driver-practice-outcome”. Thirdly, based on the bibliometric analysis results, our research suggests future avenues for GP research, such as low-carbon, digitalization, servitization, and ecosystem perspectives, which can contribute to expanding our understanding of GP development.
Spontaneous regression of primary cutaneous diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, leg type: A case series and review of the literature
Authors: Winkler Manuel , Albrecht Jana Dorothea , Sauer Christian , Kordaß Theresa , Guenova Emmanuella , Livingstone Elisabeth , Wobser Marion , Mitteldorf Christina , Géraud Cyrill , Nicolay Jan Peter
Published: July 2024

Primary cutaneous diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, leg type (PCDLBCL, LT) is a subtype of cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma with unfavorable prognosis usually requiring aggressive polychemotherapy for disease control. Only single cases of spontaneous regression of PCDLBCL, LT are reported in the literature, peaking 3 months post‐biopsy following a clinical history of no longer than 1 year. Here, we report the first case of a spontaneously relapsing and remitting PCDLBCL, LT with complete regression after a clinical history of more than 9 years and thus an atypically indolent clinical course. The female patient presented with recurrent erythematous, non‐ulcerated, non‐raised plaques of the right lower leg for 6 years. Pathological workup and exclusion of a systemic disease confirmed the diagnosis of PCDLBCL, LT. Due to the history of repeated spontaneous remission, no therapy was initiated. Nine years after first occurrence the patient presented with complete clinical remission lasting for 64 months. We retrospectively identified four additional PCDLBCL, LT patients with spontaneous remission lasting up to 53 months. Our data provide evidence for a distinct PCDLBCL, LT patient subgroup that clinicians should be aware of and warrants a watch‐and‐wait treatment regime.
International Biological Flora: Trapa natans†
Authors: Palm Natalie , Franzaring Jürgen , Schweiger Andreas H.
Published: July 2024

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Trapa natans L. (water caltrop and water chestnut) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the International Biological Flora: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, conservation and global heterogeneity.

The water caltrop is an annual herbaceous hydrophyte rooted in the sediment of water bodies, forming flexuous underwater stems that create a buoyant, light‐capturing leaf rosette at the water surface. The submerged stem nodes additionally bear linear leaves. These are replaced by photosynthetically active, pinnately branched structures and unbranched adventitious roots early on, which complement previously established roots on the hypocotyl, altogether facilitating anchorage, nutrient and water absorption, aeration and capture of subsurface irradiance. Solitary flowers pollinated primarily through autogamy and incidentally through entomophily give rise to a fully developed edible single‐seeded drupe with two to four barbed horns. Fruits are dispersed with the help of hydrochory, epizoochory and anthropochory.

Throughout its lowland, global temperate, subtropical and tropical distribution in Eurasia and Africa, the thermophilic macrophyte is found in shallow, sun‐exposed, nutrient‐rich freshwater bodies with low‐velocity flows and steady water levels. These offer slightly acidic to mildly basic conditions. The accompanying soft substrate is usually characterized by a high organic matter content. Regularly co‐occurring with other macrophytes, some of which are also of conservation concern, such as those in rare stands of the association Trapetum natantis in Europe, the water caltrop has at times been outcompeted, though it may form monodominant stands, due to several competitive features.

Formerly widespread in Europe, T. natans is today recognized as a rare, strictly protected macrophyte. It has been introduced to Australia and North America; on the latter continent, its naturalization, spread and aggressive overgrowth have led to extensive control efforts. Having been used as a crop since Neolithic times, it is still exploited in Asia for means of food production, phytoremediation, ornamental purposes, medication and alternative uses.
Preaching in Counter‐Reformation Malta: Don Ignazio Saverio Mifsud (1739–54)
Authors: Ciappara Frans
Published: July 2024

This is a study of Don Ignazio Saverio Mifsud's sermons in Maltese, which he delivered between 1739 and 1754. It is divided into three parts. The first discusses Mifsud's sources. The second concentrates on the structure of the sermons and on their themes, emphasising the development of the sermon from the homily through the thematic sermon through the epideictic. Mifsud had the ability to move from one genre to another, inculcating in his listeners love of virtue and hatred of vice. Lastly, the article examines the rhetorical techniques Mifsud used in addressing the people.