bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing indoor particle exposure using mobile air purifiers - experimental and numerical analysis
Authors: Tobisch Adrian , Springsklee Lukas , Schäfer Lisa-Franziska , Sussmann Nico , Lehmann Martin J. , Weis Frederik , Zöllner Raoul , Niessner Jennifer
Published: July 2021

Aerosol particles are one of the main routes of transmission of COVID-19. Mobile air purifiers are used to reduce the risk of infection indoors. We focus on an air purifier which generates a defined volumetric air flow through a highly efficient filter material. We investigate the transport of aerosol particles from an infected dummy equipped with an aerosol generator to receiving thermal dummies. For analysis, we use up to 12 optical particle counters to monitor the particle concentration with high spatial resolution. Based on the measurement data, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is set up and validated. The experimental and numerical methods are used to investigate how the risk of infection suggested by the particle exposure in an exemplary lecture hall can be reduced by a clever choice of orientation of the air purifier. The particle concentration at head height deviates by 13 % for variations of location and orientation. Finally, CFD simulation was used to monitor the particle fates. The steady simulation results fit quite well to the experimental findings and provide additional information about particle path and for assessing comfort level due to air flow.

Practical implications

Different installation locations and operating conditions of the air purifier are evaluated and the use of thermal dummies mimics the conditions of practical use cases. The measurement results show the integral particle mass over time in the “faces of the dummies”, representing the potentially inhaled particle load of persons present in the room. At an air change per hour of 5, the cumulated PM1 mass at head level was reduced by 75 %, independently of the location of the infected dummy, compared to the “natural decay” case showing that filtration is an effective means of reducing aerosol particle concentrations. It turns out that obstructing the outlet stream of the air purifier may be particularly advantageous.
A Novel Hypothalamic Factor, Neurosecretory Protein GM, Causes Fat Deposition in Chicks
Authors: Kato Masaki , Iwakoshi-Ukena Eiko , Furumitsu Megumi , Ukena Kazuyoshi
Published: July 2021

We recently discovered a novel cDNA encoding the precursor of a small secretory protein, neurosecretory protein GM (NPGM), in the mediobasal hypothalamus of chickens. Although our previous study showed that subcutaneous infusion of NPGM for 6 days increased body mass in chicks, the chronic effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of NPGM remains unknown. In this study, chronic i.c.v. infusion of NPGM for 2 weeks significantly increased body mass, water intake, and the mass of abdominal fat in chicks, whereas NPGM did not affect food intake, muscle mass, or blood glucose concentration. Morphological analyses revealed that fat accumulation occurred in both liver and abdominal fat. These results indicate that NPGM may participate in fat storage in chicks.
Population colonization history influences behavioral responses of European starlings in personality tests
Authors: Rodriguez Alexandra , Hausberger Martine , Le Quilliec Patricia , Clergeau Philippe , Henry Laurence
Published: July 2021

To understand the processes involved in biological invasions, the genetic, morphological, physiological and behavioral characteristics of invasive populations need to be understood.

Many invasive species have been reported to be flying species. In birds, both invaders and migrants encounter novel situations, therefore one could expect that both groups might react similarly to novelty.

Here we analyzed the behavioral responses of individuals from three populations of European starlingSturnus vulgaris: a population settled for centuries in a rural region, a population that recently colonized an urban area, and a population of winter migrant birds. We conducted a social isolation test, a novel environment test, a novel food test and a novel object test to explore their reactions towards novelty. We identified and characterized different behavioral profiles for each test.

The group of migratory adults appeared to be less anxious in social isolation than the group of urban young. Urban and migrant groups entered the novel environment sooner than rural birds. Shy, bold and intermediate individuals were observed in all three groups when presented with novel food. Finally, the proportion of shy individuals which did not touch the novel object was higher than the proportion of bold individuals in the rural group. Our study emphasizes that neophilia or boldness present in migrant and invasive populations may facilitate the occupation of novel habitats. Our analysis also suggests that mixed reactions of neophobia ensure behavioral flexibility in a gregarious invasive species.

Significant statement

In this paper, we show that an invasive species like European starling,Sturnus vulgaris, presents an important flexibility in neophobia and in reaction towards social isolation. These variations depend on the settlement history of populationseven when the birds had been wild-caught as nestlings and hand-raised in standard conditions. This is significant because it highlights possible scenarios of colonization processes.

We believe that this manuscript is appropriate for publication by Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology because it places individuals’ behavior in the core mechanisms of an ecological phenomenom as biological invasions. Our manuscript enlarges the paradigms related to the ways of coping with novelty in animals.

This manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
Age- and sex-related topological organisation of human brain functional networks and their relationship to cognition
Authors: Foo Heidi , Thalamuthu Anbupalam , Jiang Jiyang , Koch Forrest , Mather Karen A. , Wen Wei , Sachdev Perminder S.
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Age and sex associated with changes in functional brain network topology and cognition in large population of older adults have been poorly understood. We explored this question further by examining differences in 11 resting-state graph theory measures with respect to age, sex, and their relationships with cognitive performance in 17,127 UK Biobank participants (mean=62.83±7.41 years).

METHODS

Brain connectivity toolbox was used to derive the graph theory measures that assessed network integration, segregation, and strength. Multiple linear regression was performed the relationship between age, sex, cognition, and network measures. Subsequently, multivariate analysis was done to further examine the joint effect of the network measures on cognitive functions.

RESULTS

Age was associated with an overall decrease in the effectiveness of network communication (i.e. integration) and loss of functional specialisation (i.e. segregation) of specific brain regions. Sex differences were also observed, with women showing more efficient networks which were less segregated than in men (FDR adjusted p<.05). Age-related changes were also more apparent in men than women, which suggests that men may be more vulnerable to cognitive decline with age. Interestingly, while network segregation and strength of limbic network were only nominally associated with cognitive performance, the network measures collectively were significantly associated with cognition (FDR adjusted p≤.002). This may imply that individual measures may be inadequate to capture much of the variance in neural activity or its output and need further refinement.

CONCLUSION

The complexity of the functional brain organisation may be shaped by an individual’s age and sex, which ultimately may influence cognitive performance of older adults. Age and sex stratification may be used to inform clinical neuroscience research to identify older adults at risk of cognitive dysfunction.
IQD1 involvement in hormonal signaling and general defense responses againstBotrytis cinerea
Authors: Barda Omer , Levy Maggie
Published: July 2021

IQ Domain 1 (IQD1) is a novel calmodulin-binding protein inA. thaliana, which was found to be a positive regulator of glucosinolate (GS) accumulation and plant defense responses against insects. We demonstrate here that the IQD1 overexpressing line (IQD1OXP) is more resistant also to the necrotrophic fungusBotrytis cinerea, whereas an IQD1 knockout line (iqd1-1) is much more sensitive. Furthermore, we show that IQD1 is upregulated by Jasmonic acid (JA) and downregulated by Salicylic acid (SA). Comparison of whole transcriptome expression betweeniqd1-1and wild type revealed a substantial downregulation of genes involved in plant defense and hormone regulation. Further examination revealed a marked reduction of SA/JA signaling and increase in ethylene signaling genes in theiqd1-1line. Moreover, quantification of SA, JA and abscisic acids inIQD1OXPandiqd1-1lines compared to WT showed a significant reduction in endogenous JA levels in the knockout line simultaneously with increased SA levels. Epistasis relations betweenIQD1OXPand mutants defective in plant-hormone signaling indicated that IQD1 acts upstream or parallel to the hormonal pathways (JA/ET and SA) in defense response againstB. cinereaand in regulating GS accumulation and it is dependent on JAR1 controlling indole glucosinolate accumulation. As a whole, our results suggest that IQD1 is an important defensive protein againstBotrytis cinereainA. thalianaand is integrated into several important pathways such as plant microbe perception and hormone signaling.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

IQD1 is involved in glucosinolate accumulation and in general defense responses. JA activates IQD1 that acts upstream or parallel to JA/ET and SA signaling pathway while controlling glucosinolate accumulation and defense againstBotrytis cinereaand it is dependent on JAR1 controlling indole glucosinolate accumulation.
The evolutionary origins of primate scleral coloration
Authors: Mearing Alex S. , Burkart Judith M. , Dunn Jacob , Street Sally E. , Koops Kathelijne
Published: July 2021

Primate gaze following behaviors are of great interest to evolutionary scientists studying social cognition. The ability of an organism to determine a conspecific’s likely intentions from their gaze direction may confer an advantage to individuals in a social group. This advantage could be cooperative and/or competitive. Humans are unusual in possessing depigmented sclerae whereas most other extant primates, including the closely related chimpanzee, possess dark scleral pigment. The origins of divergent scleral morphologies are currently unclear, though human white sclerae are often assumed to underlie our hyper-cooperative behaviors. Here, we use phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) analyses with previously generated species-level scores of proactive prosociality, social tolerance (both n=15 primate species), and conspecific lethal aggression (n=108 primate species) to provide the first quantitative, comparative test of three complementary hypotheses. The cooperative eye [M. Tomasello, B. Hare, H. Lehmann, J. Call, J. Hum. Evol. 52, 314–320 (2007)] and self-domestication [B. Hare, Annu. Rev. Psychol. 68, 155-186 (2017)] explanations predict white sclerae to be associated with cooperative, rather than competitive, environments. The gaze camouflage hypothesis [H. Kobayashi, S. Kohshima, J. Hum. Evol. 40, 419-435 (2001)] predicts that dark scleral pigment functions as gaze direction camouflage in competitive social environments. We show that white sclerae in primates are associated with increased cooperative behaviors whereas dark sclerae are associated with reduced cooperative behaviors and increased intra-specific lethal aggression. Our results lend support to all three hypotheses of scleral evolution, suggesting that primate scleral morphologies evolve in relation to variation in social environment.
N-VEGF, the autoregulatory arm of VEGF-A
Authors: Katsman Marina , Azriel Aviva , Horev Guy , Reizel Yitzhak , Levi Ben-Zion
Published: July 2021

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a secreted protein that stimulates angiogenesis in response to hypoxia. Under hypoxic conditions, a non-canonical long isoform called L-VEGF is concomitantly expressed with VEGF-A. Once translated, L-VEGF it is proteolytically cleaved to generate N-VEGF and VEGF-A. Interestingly, while VEGF-A is secreted and affects the surrounding cells, N-VEGF is mobilized to the nucleus. This suggests that N-VEGF participates in transcriptional response to hypoxia. In this study, we performed a series of complementary experiments to examine the functional role of N-VEGF. Strikingly, we found that the mere expression of N-VEGF followed by its hypoxia-independent mobilization to the nucleus was sufficient to induce key genes associated with angiogenesis, such as Hif1alpha, VEGF-A isoforms, as well as genes associated with cell survival under hypoxia. Complementarily, when N-VEGF was genetically depleted, key hypoxia-induced genes were downregulated and cells were significantly susceptible to hypoxia-mediated apoptosis. This is the first reports of N-VEGF serving as an autoregulatory arm of VEGF-A. Further experiments will be needed to determine the role of N-VEGF in cancer and embryogenesis.
Differences in the number of de novo mutations between individuals are due to small family-specific effects and stochasticity
Authors: Goldmann Jakob M. , Hampstead Juliet E. , Wong Wendy S.W. , Wilfert Amy B. , Turner Tychele N. , Jonker Marianne A. , Bernier Raphael , Huynen Martijn A. , Eichler Evan E. , Veltman Joris A. , Maxwell George L. , Gilissen Christian
Published: July 2021

The number of de novo mutations (DNMs) in the human germline is correlated with parental age at conception, but this explains only part of the observed variation. We investigated whether there is a family-specific contribution to the number of DNMs in offspring. The analysis of DNMs in 111 dizygotic twin pairs did not identify a substantial family-specific contribution. This result was corroborated by comparing DNMs of 1669 siblings to those of age-matched unrelated offspring following correction for parental age. In addition, by modeling DNM data from 1714 multi-offspring families, we estimated that the family-specific contribution explains ∼5.2% of the variation in DNM number. Furthermore, we found no substantial difference between the observed number of DNMs and those predicted by a stochastic Poisson process. We conclude that there is a small family-specific contribution to DNM number and that stochasticity explains a large proportion of variation in DNM counts.
Study on corrosion fatigue behavior and mechanism of 6005A aluminum alloy and welded joint
Authors: Sun Xiaoguang , Xu Xuexu , Wang Zihan , Liu Zhiyong
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the corrosion fatigue behavior and mechanism of 6005A aluminum alloy and welded joint.

Design/methodology/approach

Electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) were adopted to characterize the microstructure of 6005A aluminum alloy and welded joint. Through potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and corrosion fatigue experiments, the corrosion fatigue behavior and mechanism of 6005A aluminum alloy base metal and welded joint were studied.

Findings

The results show that the corrosion fatigue crack initiation of 6005A aluminum alloy base metal and welded joint is mainly caused by the preferential anodic dissolution and hydrogen concentration in the areas with inclusions and welding defects.

Originality/value

The research is an originality study on the corrosion fatigue behavior and mechanism of 6005A aluminum alloy and welded joint.
Failure analysis of a commercially pure titanium tube in an air conditioner condenser
Authors: Li Zhong , Yang Xiaojia , Liu Jing , Liu Zhiyong , Li Xiaogang , Tingting Yan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the failure reasons and failure mechanism of the commercially pure titanium air conditioning condenser.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, chemical analysis, metallographic observation, visual examination and scanning electron microscope examination, corrosion products analysis and working conditions analysis were adopted for determining the reasons for the failure of the condenser.

Findings

The results indicated that TA2 titanium pipe perforation failure is caused by the synergistic effect of crevice corrosion and deposit corrosion. The corrosion processes can be divided into three steps.

Originality/value

This research is an originality study on the failure case of a commercially pure titanium air conditioning condenser. This study makes up for the shortage of titanium alloy failure cases and also gives the result of the failure reason and failure mechanism for titanium, which has an engineering significance.
Investigations of improved cooling effectiveness for ramp film cooling with compound angle film cooling jets
Authors: Vasu Devan Nair Girija Kumari Krishna Anand , Kanjikoil Mahali Parammasivam
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the film cooling effectiveness (FCE) and mixing flow characteristics of the flat surface ramp model integrated with a compound angled film cooling jet.

Design/methodology/approach

Three-dimensional numerical simulation is performed on a flat surface ramp model with Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes approach using a finite volume solver. The tested model has a fixed ramp angle of 24° and a ramp width of two times the diameter of the film cooling hole. The coolant air is injected at 30° along the freestream direction. Three different film hole compound angles oriented to freestream direction at 0°, 90° and 180° were investigated for their performance on-ramp film cooling. The tested blowing ratios (BRs) are in the range of 0.9–2.0.

Findings

The film hole oriented at a compound angle of 180° has improved the area-averaged FCE on the ramp test surface by 86.74% at a mid-BR of 1.4% and 318.75% at higher BRs of 2.0. The 180° film hole compound angle has also produced higher local and spanwise averaged FCE on the ramp test surface.

Originality/value

According to the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to investigate the ramp film cooling with a compound angle film cooling hole. The improved ramp model with a 180° film hole compound angle can be effectively applied for the end-wall surfaces of gas turbine film cooling.
Studying the deployment of high-lift devices by using dynamic immersed boundaries
Authors: Capizzano Francesco , Sucipto Triyantono
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a research effort towards the comprehension of the unsteady phenomena due to the deployment of high-lift devices at approach/landing conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The work starts from a preexisting platform based on an immersed boundary (IB) method whose capabilities are extended to study compressible and viscous flows around moving/deforming objects. A hybrid Lagrangian-Eulerian approach is designed to consider the motion of multiple bodies through a fixed Cartesian mesh. That is, the cells’ volumes do not move in space but rather they observe the solid walls crossing themselves. A dynamic discrete forcing makes use of a moving least-square procedure which has been validated by simulating well-known benchmarks available for rigid body motions. Partitioned fluid-structure interactions (FSI) strategies are explored to consider aeroelastic phenomena. A shared platform, between the aerodynamic and the structural solvers, fulfils the loads’ transfer and drives the sequence of the operating steps.

Findings

The first part of the results is devoted to a basic two-dimensional study aiming at evaluating the accuracy of the method when simple rigid motions are prescribed. Afterwards, the paper discusses the solution obtained when applying the dynamic IB method to the rigid deployment of a Krueger-flap. The final section discusses the aeroelastic behaviour of a three-element airfoil during its deployment phase. A loose FSI coupling is applied for estimating the possible loads’ downgrade.

Research limitations/implications

The IB surfaces are allowed to move less than one IB-cell size at each time-step de-facto restricting the Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) based on the wall velocity to be smaller than unity. The violation of this constraint would impair the explicit character of the method.

Practical implications

The proposed method improves automation in FSI numerical analysis and relaxes the human expertise/effort for meshing the computational domain around complex three-dimensional geometries. The logical consequence is an overall speed-up of the simulation process.

Originality/value

The value of the paper consists in demonstrating the applicability of dynamic IB techniques for studying high-lift devices. In particular, the proposed Cartesian method does not want to compete with body-conforming ones whose accuracy remains generally superior. Rather, the merit of this research is to propose a fast and automatic simulation system as a viable alternative to classic multi-block structured, chimaera or unstructured tools.
Applications of multi-agent systems from the perspective of construction management: A literature review
Authors: Xiang Liqun , Tan Yongtao , Shen Geoffrey , Jin Xin
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The applications of multi-agent systems (MASs) are considered to be among the most promising paradigms for detailed investigations and reliable problem-solving methods, and MAS applications make it possible for researchers and practitioners to better understand complex systems. Although a number of prior studies have been conducted to address complex issues that arise from construction projects, few studies have summarised the applications and discussed the capacity of MASs from the perspective of construction management. To fill the gap, this paper provides a comprehensive literature review of MAS applications from the perspective of construction management.

Design/methodology/approach

Web of Science and Scopus are the most commonly used international databases in conducting the literature reviews. A total of 86 relevant papers published in SCI-Expanded, SSCI and Ei Compendex journals related to the application of MASs from the perspective of construction management are selected to be analysed and discussed in this paper.

Findings

Based on the 86 collected publications, the utilisations of MASs to support the management of the supply chain and the improvement of project performance are identified from the perspective of construction management, the characteristics and barriers of current MAS applications are analysed, a framework for developing agent-based models to address complex problems is proposed, and future research directions of MAS applications are discussed.

Originality/value

This review can serve as a useful reference for scholars to enhance their understanding of the current research and guide future research on MASs. The proposed framework can help build agent-based models to address complex problems in construction management.
Rhetorically speaking: on white preservice teachers’ failure to imagine an anti-racist English education
Authors: Toliver S.R. , Hadley Heidi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to identify how white preservice teachers’ inability to imagine an equitable space for Black and Brown children contributes to the ubiquity of whiteness in English education. Further, the authors contend that the preservice teachers’ responses mirror how the larger field of English education fails to imagine Black and Brown life.

Design/methodology/approach

Using abolitionist teaching as a guide, the authors use reflexive thematic analysis to examine the rhetorical moves their preservice teachers made to defer responsibility for anti-racist teaching.

Findings

The findings show preservice teachers’ rhetorical moves across three themes: failure to imagine Black and Brown humanity, failure to imagine a connection between theory and practice, and failure to imagine curriculum and schooling beyond whiteness.

Originality/value

By highlighting how preservice teachers fail to imagine spaces for Black and Brown youth, this study offers another pathway through which teacher educators, teachers and English education programs can assist their faculty and students in activating their imaginations in the pursuit of anti-racist, abolitionist teaching.
An inquiry into the achievements in health outcomes of Bangladesh: role of health expenditure, income, governance and female education
Authors: Sultana Tahmina , Ahmed Faroque , Tareque Mohammad
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Bangladesh is applauded for its achievement in various health and social outcomes though criticized for its failure in properly dealing with governance issues. The purpose of this paper is intends to see how the health outcomes (in case of life expectancy, under-five mortality and adolescent fertility) are impacted by health expenditure (both public and private), per capita income in presence of overall governance and female education. This paper assumes that rapid progress in female education reflects the Bangladeshis’ social responsiveness to change.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses autoregressive distributed lag technique to estimate the models with data ranges from 1990 to 2016 under two different scenarios.

Findings

This study has found that all the explanatory variables exert significant impact on health outcomes. Furthermore, public health expenditure is augmented with a composite governance issue, and this enhances robustness as well as statistical significance of the models. These suggest that the governance issues play a very crucial role to achieve the expected health outcomes. Female secondary enrolment ratio appears with improved coefficients in terms of sign and magnitude for all the health indicators.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the existing literature showing econometric evidence that highlights the importance of governance and female education in improving health outcomes of Bangladesh apart from health expenditure and per capita gross domestic product.
Synergistic lubrication effect of antioxidant and low content ZDDP on PFPE grease
Authors: Qi Penghao , Wang Shijian , Li Jing , Li Yue , Dong Guangneng
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to reduce the use of Zinc dialkyl dithiophosphates (ZDDP) and improve the frictional properties and thermal oxidation stability of Perfluoropolyether (PFPE) grease by adding antioxidant additives. The addition of antioxidants can reduce the consumption of ZDDP as an antioxidant, thus improving the anti-wear efficiency of ZDDP and reducing the excess phosphorus element in the grease.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, an antioxidant with good comprehensive performance was selected from several antioxidants by tribological tests and high-temperature tests. Then, the effect of its combination additive with ZDDP on PFPE grease was investigated. The anti-wear property, anti-friction property, thermal oxidation stability and extreme pressure property of greases containing different proportions of ZDDP and antioxidant were tested by four-ball tester and synchronous thermal analyzer (STA). The effects of additives on properties of grease were analyzed by SEM, EDS, LSCM, XPS and FT-IR.

Findings

The research shows that 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) can be used as an antioxidant in combined additives to reduce the antioxidant reactions of ZDDP, thus improving the anti-wear efficiency of ZDDP and further enhancing the anti-wear performance of the grease. Moreover, BHT and ZDDP have a synergistic effect on the high temperature performance of the PFPE grease due to their different antioxidant mechanisms.

Social implications

In this paper, the problems related to PFPE grease are studied, which has a certain guiding effect on the industrial application of fluorine grease and the related formulation design.

Originality/value

In this paper, the properties of PFPE grease under different lubricating condition were studied. The synergistic lubrication effect of antioxidant and ZDDP are discussed. It provides experimental and theoretical support for reducing the content of ZDDP and improving the performance of additives.
Examining investors' sentiments, behavioral biases and investment decisions during COVID-19 in the emerging stock market: a case of Pakistan stock market
Authors: Parveen Shagufta , Satti Zoya Wajid , Subhan Qazi Abdul , Riaz Nishat , Baber Samreen Fahim , Bashir Taqadus
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on investors' sentiments, behavioral biases and investment decisions in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have assessed investors' behaviors and sentiments and the stock market overreaction during COVID-19 using a questionnaire and collected data from 401 investors trading in the PSX.

Findings

Results of structural equation modeling revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected investors' behaviors, investment decisions and trade volume. It created feelings of fear and uncertainty among market participants. Evidence suggests that behavioral heuristics and biases, including representative heuristic, anchoring heuristic, overconfidence bias and disposition effect, negatively influenced investors' decisions at the PSX.

Research limitations/implications

This study will contribute to behavioral finance literature in the context of developing countries as it has revealed the impact of COVID-19 on the emerging stock market, and its results are generalizable to other emerging stock markets.

Practical implications

The findings of this study will help academicians, researchers and policymakers of developing countries. Academicians can formulate new behavioral models that can depict the solutions of dealing with an uncertain situation like COVID-19. Policymakers like the Securities Exchange Commission and the PSX can formulate crisis management strategies based on behavioral finance concepts to cope with situations like COVID-19 in the future and help lessen investors' losses in the stock markets. The role of the Securities Exchange Commission is crucial as it regulates the financial markets. It can arrange workshops to educate investors to manage their decisions during crisis time and focus on the best use of irrational and rational decision-making at the same time using Lo (2004) adaptive market hypothesis.

Originality/value

The novelty of the paper is that the authors have introduced overconfidence and disposition effect as mediators that create a connection between representative and anchoring heuristics and investment decisions using primary data collected from investors (institutional and retail) to demonstrate the presence of psychological biases during COVID-19, and it has been done for the first time according to authors' knowledge. It is a contribution and addition to the behavioral finance literature in the context of developing countries' stock markets and their efficiency.
Neo-liberalism translated into preconditions for women entrepreneurs – two contrasting cases
Authors: Tillmar Malin , Ahl Helene , Berglund Karin , Pettersson Katarina
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Contrasting two countries with different gender regimes and welfare states, Sweden and Tanzania, this paper aims to analyse how the institutional context affects the ways in which a neo-liberal reform agenda is translated into institutional changes and propose how such changes impact the preconditions for women’s entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses document analysis and previous studies to describe and analyse the institutions and the institutional changes. This paper uses Scandinavian institutional theory as the interpretative framework.

Findings

This study proposes that: in well-developed welfare states with a high level of gender equality, consequences of neo-liberal agenda for the preconditions for women entrepreneurs are more likely to be negative than positive. In less developed states with a low level of gender equality, the gendered consequences of neo-liberal reforms may be mixed and the preconditions for women’s entrepreneurship more positive than negative. How neo-liberalism impacts preconditions for women entrepreneurs depend on the institutional framework in terms of a trustworthy women-friendly state and level of gender equality.

Research limitations/implications

The study calls for bringing the effects on the gender of the neo-liberal primacy of market solutions out of the black box. Studying how women entrepreneurs perceive these effects necessitates qualitative ethnographic data.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates why any discussion of the impact of political or economic reforms on women’s entrepreneurship must take a country’s specific institutional context into account. Further, previous studies on neo-liberalism have rarely taken an interest in Africa.
Security, sustainability and supply chain collaboration in the humanitarian space
Authors: Larson Paul D.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

To extend humanitarian supply chain relationships beyond logistics concerns of delivery, quality and cost. As humanitarian actors continue to face increasing numbers of natural disasters, armed conflicts and attacks on aid workers, security (risk) and sustainability are issues of growing importance. Aiming to inspire discussion, the paper concludes with a research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper inspired by relevant statistics, news reports and academic literature.

Findings

Worldwide natural disasters and armed conflicts are on the rise. So are deliberate attacks on aid workers. Thus, humanitarian supply chain design must include considerations of security and sustainability. Agencies have several options for integrating matters of security and sustainability with the delivery of aid, from being reactive to creating internal solutions to forming proactive relationships with security and sustainability experts.

Research limitations/implications

There are numerous opportunities for research in the areas of security, sustainability and supply chain relationships.

Practical implications

Through advocacy and supply chain relationships, humanitarian agencies can enhance security for aid workers and civilians affected by conflict and disasters. Looking to the future, they can also make a positive difference on issues of sustainability.

Social implications

There is an opportunity to enlarge the “humanitarian space” – and increase security for aid workers and civilians, especially in areas of armed conflict. In the long term, aid agencies can also help eliminate social problems such as gender inequality.

Originality/value

This appears to be among the first papers to discuss matters of security and sustainability in the context of humanitarian supply chain collaboration.
A conceptual framework model for an effective cold food chain management in sustainability environment
Authors: Turan Cansu , Ozturkoglu Yucel
Published: July 2021

Purpose

There is a large number of perishable foodstuffs produced, stored, distributed and delivered daily around the world. Almost all except for root vegetables are sensitive products to temperature. Thus, adopting uninterrupted and appropriate logistics activities with predetermined range of temperature from production site until end-user is critical for ensuring required quality and safety. If a mistake is made during either transport or storage, it not only becomes risky for human health, but also generates huge food waste for the environment and negative economic impact for food providers. Therefore, this study aims to identify all potential factors affecting the cold chain performance in the food industry and to design a framework that includes these factors. This framework is also a roadmap for managers, food providers and logistics parties for sustainable cold chain management.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering, tangible and intangible potential criteria, the ultimate goal of this study is to identify potential criteria affecting cold food chain performance and propose a conceptual framework including 12 main criteria. Next, the importance order of each criterion and the causal relationships between them are determined. In this study, this relationship among criteria is analyzed by using fuzzy Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach because of its ability to solve complex problems by ensuring causal relationship among factors, additionally to determine importance order. Finally, suggestions for administrative implications are presented.

Findings

Fuzzy DEMATEL was used to explain the causal link and importance order among identified drivers. The analysis shows that five criteria (C1, C3, C8, C9 and C12) belong to cause (influential) groups and remaining seven criteria belong to effect (influenced) groups. The highest influential criterion is staff (C8) and is followed by technical issues (C9) as the second most influential factor. Additionally, top three most important factors are traceability (C7), staff (C8) and cold transportation (C5). According to the numerical results of fuzzy DEMATEL implementations, suggestions for managerial implementations are presented.

Practical implications

The main contribution of the study is to propose meaningful suggestions for managerial implications about sustainable cold chain in food industry for businesses and to examine causal relations between criteria and to rank criteria in descending importance order.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that focuses on determining the potential criteria affecting cold supply chain performance both theoretically and empirically in the sustainability environment. What are the enablers that affect the cold food supply chain stages is the research question of this study.
The mediating effects of program loyalty in loyalty rewards programs: an experimental design in coffee shops
Authors: Başgöze Pınar , Atay Yaprak , Metin Camgöz Selin , Hanks Lydia
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of reward structure on the customer's value perception of the program, loyalty to the program and loyalty to the firm.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (type of reward) x 2 (timing of redemption) between subjects experimental design was conducted. In addition, the indirect effect of the customer's value perception of the program on loyalty to the firm via loyalty to the program is tested with Hayes and Preacher's mediation procedure.

Findings

Study results indicated that type of reward has a positive impact on the perceived value of a loyalty program. Program loyalty mediates the relationship between the perceived value of the loyalty program and customer loyalty, as well as the relationship between type of reward and customer loyalty.

Originality/value

The findings of this study demonstrate the importance of the type and timing of loyalty program rewards on customer perceptions of the value of the loyalty program. In addition, this study is a step forward in providing a deep understanding of the impact of such perceptions on loyalty. These findings fill a number of research gaps and provide tangible guidance for practitioners.
Role of key performance indicators on agile transformation of performance management in research institutes towards innovative commercial agriculture
Authors: Abeysiriwardana Prabath Chaminda , Jayasinghe-Mudalige Udith Krishantha
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are in use to determine how and the extent to which the business objectives of an organization are achieved. This paper aims to evaluate the contribution of a research institute in terms of KPIs to support its process of decision-making towards, etc., innovation, sustainability and improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

In light of this, a systemic review was conducted on a set of relevant scholarly studies to identify the trends which shed light on the possible critical success factors to be effectively used in research institutes in association with the development of commercial agriculture. It examines whether, and if so how KPIs that are highly associated with those critical success factors are disruptive in research culture in an institute with certain organization design to promote research on innovative commercial agriculture.

Findings

The study highlighted some important aspects of commercial agriculture that showed strong links with possible critical success factors that could be used to develop a possible KPI set for a research institute. The salient features in a model performance management system with such KPIs of a research institute having strategical contribution for commercial agriculture are further elaborated.

Originality/value

This manuscript is a conceptual piece that advocates research institutes geared towards commercial agriculture development to begin using KPIs as part of research culture to evaluate their success. The paper suggests that commercial agriculture – perhaps, especially in developing countries – faces many challenges and using KPIs could help diagnose when and why essential processes break down. This study shows possible avenues of KPI use in research institutes that have not been very well discussed or discussed meagerly that have high potential to be integrated into successful KPIs towards innovative commercial agriculture.
Developing supply chain risk management capabilities by aligning strategies: integrating Triple-A model
Authors: Ahmed Waqar , Rashidi Muhammad Zaki
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Risk is primarily managed by developing the right strategies. Effective alignment of lean and agile strategies is always challenging for practitioners to create firm’s competitiveness. The purpose of this study is to comprehend the behavior of these fundamental supply chain (SC) strategies by using the Triple-A framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Sample data is collected from 257 SC professionals serving in manufacturing firms through a self-administered structured questionnaire. The statistical technique used to perform hypotheses testing is structural equation modeling.

Findings

This study discloses a few critical attributes of lean and agile strategies while attempting to create strategic alignment and gain maximum benefits out of it. One of the key findings is that a lean strategy finds it challenging to create adaptability. However, better alignment among the market priorities and operational capabilities may improve risk management capabilities.

Practical implications

This study posits various vital insights for strategy-makers. For instance, it is advised to the operations managers that lean resources are usually never capable of adopting change but can be aligned with the market changes to create a SC risk management capability for the firm.

Originality/value

This is an original research with various useful insights for SC operations strategy-makers and academic researchers as it reveals a key empirical evidence of past vital concepts.
International evidence of changing assurance practices for carbon emissions disclosures
Authors: Datt Rina , Prasad Pranil , Vitale Connie , Prasad Krishan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The market for the assurance of carbon emissions disclosures is showing intensive growth. However, due to the largely voluntary nature of carbon reporting and assurance, there are currently no clear standards or guidelines and little is known about it. The purpose of this paper is to examine the reporting and assurance practices for carbon emissions disclosures.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides evidence on this market, with a sample that includes 13,419 firm-year observations across 58 countries between 2010 and 2017 from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) database.

Findings

The results show that the demand for carbon emissions reporting comes mainly from North America, the UK and Japan. Recently, markets such as South Africa have also shown increased demand for carbon reporting. The data also shows that more firms are seeking assurance for their carbon emissions reports. Legitimacy, stakeholder and institutional theories are used to explain the findings of this study.

Research limitations/implications

The results have important implications for firms that produce carbon emissions disclosures, assurance service providers, legislators, regulators and the users of the reports and there should be more specific disclosure guidelines for level and scope of reporting.

Originality/value

Amongst the firms that do provide assurance on their carbon emissions reports, a majority do so using specialist assurance providers, with only limited assurance being provided. The results further show that a myriad of assurance frameworks is being used to assure the carbon emissions disclosures.
Predictors of binge eating: relevance of BMI, emotional eating and sensivity to environmental food cues
Authors: Černelič-Bizjak Maša , Guiné Raquel P.F.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Understanding humans’ food intake practices is helpful in reducing health problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between eating behaviours and binge eating and to examine the influence of sex and weight status on these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of seventy-eight participants (39 with overweight; mean age: 38.1 ± 6.3 years; body mass index [BMI]: 25 ± 5.7 kg/m2) underwent measurements of binge eating, eating styles and body compositions. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to predict binge eating as a function of eating styles and demographic variables.

Findings

Women presented higher levels of binge eating symptomatology and emotional eating than men. The analysis showed that age and gender did not emerge as important predictors of binge eating. In contrast, emotional and external eating and BMI were found to be important predictors of binge eating. The results indicate that higher emotional and external eating behaviour with higher BMI are important risk factors for binge eating in a non-clinical sample.

Originality/value

In this study, BMI was used as a causal factor rather than a consequence of deregulation of eating behaviour. An individual’s tendency to binge eat may be determined by BMI, emotional eating and sensitivity to environmental food stimuli. Understanding sex differences and causal relationships between eating behaviours is critical for the prevention and treatment of obesity and related health problems and for proper dietary management.