bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cryo-EM structures of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 spike
Authors: Stalls Victoria , Lindenberger Jared , Gobeil Sophie M-C. , Henderson Rory , Parks Rob , Barr Maggie , Deyton Margaret , Martin Mitchell , Janowska Katarzyna , Huang Xiao , May Aaron , Speakman Micah , Beaudoin Esther , Kraft Bryan , Lu Xiaozhi , Edwards Robert J , Eaton Amanda , Montefiori David C. , Williams Wilton , Saunders Kevin O. , Wiehe Kevin , Haynes Barton F. , Acharya Priyamvada
Published: April 2022

The BA.2 sub-lineage of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has gained in proportion relative to BA.1. As differences in spike (S) proteins may underlie differences in their pathobiology, here we determine cryo-EM structures of a BA.2 S ectodomain and compare these to previously determined BA.1 S structures. BA.2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) mutations induced remodeling of the internal RBD structure resulting in its improved thermostability and tighter packing within the 3-RBD-down spike. In the S2 subunit, the fusion peptide in BA.2 was less accessible to antibodies than in BA.1. Pseudovirus neutralization and spike binding assays revealed extensive immune evasion while defining epitopes of two RBD-directed antibodies, DH1044 and DH1193, that bound the outer RBD face to neutralize both BA.1 and BA.2. Taken together, our results indicate that stabilization of the 3-RBD-down state through interprotomer RBD-RBD packing is a hallmark of the Omicron variant, and reveal differences in key functional regions in the BA.1 and BA.2 S proteins.
Hepatobiliary organoids derived from leporids support the replication of hepatotropic lagoviruses
Authors: Kardia Egi , Fakhri Omid , Pavy Megan , Mason Hugh , Huang Nina , Smertina Elena , Estes Mary K. , Strive Tanja , Frese Michael , Hall Robyn N.
Published: April 2022

Lagoviruses, family Caliciviridae, are some of the most virulent vertebrate viruses known. They infect leporids, i.e., rabbits (Oryctolagus spp.), hares (Lepus spp.) and cottontails (Sylvilagus spp.) and rapidly kill over 95% of susceptible animals. Pathogenic lagoviruses are hepatotropic and induce a fulminant hepatitis that typically leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation within 24–72 hours of infection. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms governing this extreme phenotype and other aspects of the fundamental biology of these viruses are poorly understood due to a lack of cell culture systems. Here, we report on a robust and reliable ex vivo model for the cultivation of hepatotropic lagoviruses. We show that three rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) variants, RHDV1, RHDV2 and RHDVa-K5, replicate in monolayer cultures derived from rabbit hepatobiliary organoids. Viral replication was demonstrated by a (i) increase in viral RNA levels of greater than one log10 over a 23-hour period, (ii) detection of viral structural and non-structural proteins, and (iii) detection of double-stranded RNA viral replication intermediates. Furthermore, we generated hepatobiliary organoids from a feral cat (Felis domesticus), a wild mouse (Mus musculus) and a European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) and showed that monolayer cultures derived from the cat and mouse organoids were not permissive for lagovirus infection, while those derived from the hare organoids only supported replication of RHDV2, recapitulating the species tropism that has been observed with these viruses. Our organoid culture system will facilitate future studies into the molecular biology of lagoviruses, which will have considerable import for the conservation of endangered leporid species in Europe and North America and the biocontrol of overabundant rabbit populations in Australia and New Zealand.
A new microfluidic device for simultaneous detection of enzyme secretion and elongation of a single hypha
Authors: Itani Ayaka , Shida Yosuke , Ogasawara Wataru
Published: April 2022

Fungal cells perform enzyme secretion and elongation by exocytosis in the apical region. The widespread branching of hyphae and the inability to control environmental conditions over long periods make it difficult to observe and analyze single hyphae with conventional assays. Therefore, although hyphal morphology is closely linked to productivity, no real-time measurements of morphology and exoenzymes have been carried out. In this study, a microfluidic system was developed to compartmentalize a single hypha germinated from a single spore. This allowed detailed observation of a single hypha and provided new insights, such as the fact that enlarged vacuoles inhibit nuclear movement. Furthermore, a cellulase detection assay based on subtle differences in molecular polarity was developed to detect hyphal growth and enzyme secretion in real-time using Trichoderma reesei, a potent cellulase-producing hypha, as a model. When the fluorescence from the detection assay was compared with the GFP fluorescence intensity using a strain fused with cellulase CBHI and GFP, a strong correlation was observed. As T. reesei secretes a series of cellulases, these results prove that the extracellular enzymes can be measured in real time. This microfluidic system has enabled real-time visualization and analysis of cellular heterogeneity, hyphal and enzyme dynamics associated with carbon source exchange, and quantitative dynamics of gene expression. The technology can be applied to a wide range of other biosystems exhibiting similar polar cell growth, from bioenergy production to human health.

IMPORTANCE

Hyphal morphology and productivity of filamentous fungi are linked by exocytosis. Conventional assay methods make it difficult to observe and analyze single hyphae. Here, a robust and high-performance microfluidic system was developed to compartmentalize single hyphae germinated from a single spore, enabling their long-term observation. Using the potent cellulase-producing fungus Trichoderma reesei, the system made it possible to visualize and analyze cell heterogeneity, hyphae, enzyme dynamics, and quantitative gene expression dynamics associated with carbon source exchange. The technique can be immediately extended to various other biosystems exhibiting similar polar cell growth and is expected to contribute significantly to the elucidation of filamentous fungi production systems.
Antibiotic-producing Micrococcales govern the microbiome that inhabits the fur of two- and three-toed sloths
Authors: Rojas-Gätjens Diego , Valverde-Madrigal Katherine S. , Rojas-Jimenez Keilor , Pereira Reinaldo , Avey-Arroyo Judy , Chavarría Max
Published: April 2022

Sloths have a dense coat on which insects, algae, and fungi coexist in a symbiotic relationship. This complex ecosystem requires different levels of control, however, most of these mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated the bacterial communities inhabiting the hair of two- (Choloepus Hoffmani) and three-toed (Bradypus variegatus) sloths and evaluated their potential for producing antibiotic molecules capable of exerting control over the hair microbiota. The analysis of 16S rRNA amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) revealed that the communities in both host species are dominated by Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes. The most abundant genera were Brevibacterium, Kocuria/Rothia, Staphylococcus, Rubrobacter, Nesterenkonia, and Janibacter. In addition, we isolated nine strains of Brevibacterium and Rothia able to produce substances that inhibited the growth of common mammalian pathogens. The analysis of the biosynthetic gene clusters (BCGs) of these nine isolates suggests that the pathogen-inhibitory activity could be mediated by the presence of siderophores, terpenes, beta-lactones, Type III polyketide synthases (T3PKS), ribosomally synthesized, and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), non-alpha poly-amino acids (NAPAA) like e-Polylysin, ectoine or nonribosomal peptides (NRPs). Our data suggest that Micrococcales inhabiting sloth hair could have a role in controlling microbial populations in that habitat, improving our understanding of this highly complex ecosystem.
Photoperiod modulates mu-opioid receptor availability in brown adipose tissue
Authors: Sun Lihua , Aarnio Richard , Herre Erika Atencio , Kärnä Salli , Palani Senthil , Virtanen Helena , Liljenbäck Heidi , Virta Jenni , Honkaniemi Aake , Oikonen Vesa , Han Chunlei , Laurila Sanna , Bucci Marco , Helin Semi , Yatkin Emrah , Nummenmaa Lauri , Nuutila Pirjo , Tang Jing , Roivainen Anne
Published: April 2022

Photoperiod drives metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT), and affects food intake and weight gain in mammals. Sympathetic innervation in BAT controls thermogenesis and facilitates physiological adaption to seasons, but the exact mechanism remains elusive. Previous studies show that the central opioid signaling tunes BAT heating and the brain muopioid receptor (MOR) levels have seasonal patterns. It is hence intriguing to know whether the peripheral MOR signaling shows seasonal variation. Here, we examined the effect of photoperiod on BAT MOR availability using [11C]carfentanil positron emission topography (PET). Adult rats (n = 9) were repeatedly imaged under changing photoperiods which simulates the local seasons. Long photoperiod downregulated MOR availability in BAT, while MOR availability in the muscles was unaffected. We confirmed the expression of MOR in BAT and muscle using immunofluorescence imaging. We conclude that photoperiod causally affects MOR availability in BAT, and sympathetic innervation of BAT may influence thermogenesis via the peripheral MOR system.

Significance of the study

Photoperiod impacts the metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) with the exact mechanism still unclear. The current study shows that photoperiod causally affects the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) levels in BAT, with longer photoperiod leading to lower MOR availability. This possibly indicates down-regulated innervation during bright seasons. Immunofluorescence staining data reveal expression of MOR in both brain and peripheral tissues, drawing attention to the under-investigated peripheral MOR system. Also, the study highlights the feasibility of [11C]carfentanil PET in studying the peripheral MOR signaling.
Recycling of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) kits
Authors: Liu Weina , Stellacci Francesco
Published: April 2022

During the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) kits have been used as a common diagnosing method, with daily worldwide usage in the millions. It is well known that at the beginning of the pandemic there was a shortage of PCR kits. So far, the ecosystem of PCR kit is linear use, that is kits are produced, used one-time, and disposed in biolab wastes. Here we show that, to mitigate the risk of future shortages, it is possible to envision recyclable PCR kits, based on a more sustainable use of nucleic acid resources. A PCR kit is mainly composed of primers, nucleotides, and enzymes. In the case of a positive test, the free nucleotides are polymerized onto the primers to form longer DNA strands. Our approach depolymerizes such strands keeping the primers and regenerating the nucleotides, i.e., returning the nucleic acid materials to the original state. The polymerized long DNA strands are hydrolyzed into nucleotides monophosphates that are then phosphorylated in triphosphates using a method that is a development of a recently published one. We used oligonucleotides with 3’-terminal phosphorothioate (PS) backbone modification as non-hydrolysable PCR primers, so to undergo the recycling process unchanged. We have successfully recycled both PCR primers (∼65% yield for 4-PS modification, and ∼40% yield for 2-PS modification) and nucleotides (∼75% yield). We demonstrate that the method allows for direct re-use of the PCR kits. We also show that the recycled primers can be isolated and then added to end point or quantitative PCR. This recycling approach provides a new path for circularly reusing PCR nucleic acids.
Effects of seasonal changes on the carbon dynamics in mixed coniferous forests
Authors: Gao Tong , Song Xinyu , Ren Yunze , Liu Hui , Dong Xibin
Published: April 2022

We characterized seasonal changes in the residual rate and mass-loss rate of litter, as well as the carbon release dynamics of litter and soil, in mixed coniferous forests in the Xiaoxinganling region by conducting a controlled freeze–thaw experiment. The carbon release rate and mass-loss rate of litter at two levels of decomposition (undecomposed and semi-decomposed) were measured during four seasons: the unfrozen season, freeze–thaw season, frozen season, and thaw season. The temperature was higher, the mass-loss rate was faster, and the overall mass-loss rate of litter was higher in the unfrozen season than in the other three seasons; litter organic carbon increased and soil organic carbon increased due to the strong carbon sequestration capacity of plants. The temperature fluctuated above and below 0°C during the freeze–thaw season, which results in the physical breakage of the undecomposed litter and increases in the mass-loss rate. This leads to increases in the organic carbon of undecomposed litter and decreases in the soil organic carbon of undecomposed litter; the opposite patterns were observed for changes in the organic carbon of semidecomposed litter and soil organic carbon. There was noticeable mass loss of litter during the frozen season, and the rate of mass loss of litter during the thaw season was the lowest. Litter organic carbon decreased and soil organic carbon increased in both seasons. The organic carbon of undecomposed litter was highest in the thaw season, followed by the freeze–thaw season, frozen season, and unfrozen season. The organic carbon of semi-decomposed litter was highest in the frozen season, followed by the thaw season, freeze–thaw season, unfrozen season to freeze–thaw season, frozen season, thaw season, and unfrozen season. After freeze–thaw treatment, the organic carbon in deadfall soil was highest in the unfrozen season, freeze–thaw season, frozen season, thaw season to unfrozen season, frozen season, thaw season, and freeze–thaw season. The findings of this study provide new insights into the material cycling process under freeze–thawing, as well as information on the effect of seasonal freeze–thaws on the forest carbon cycle.
Allele specific PCR for a major marker of levamisole resistance in Haemonchus contortus
Authors: Antonopoulos Alistair , Doyle Stephen R. , Bartley David J. , Morrison Alison A. , Kaplan Ray , Howell Sue , Neveu Cedric , Busin Valentina , Devaney Eileen , Laing Roz
Published: April 2022

Haemonchus contortus is a haematophagous parasitic nematode that infects small ruminants and causes significant animal health concerns and economic losses within the livestock industry on a global scale. Treatment primarily depends on broad-spectrum anthelmintics, however, resistance is established or rapidly emerging against all major drug classes. Levamisole (LEV) remains an important treatment option for parasite control, as resistance to LEV is less prevalent than to members of other major classes of anthelmintics. LEV is an acetylcholine receptor (AChR) agonist that, when bound, results in paralysis of the worm. Numerous studies implicated the AChR sub-unit, ACR-8, in LEV sensitivity and in particular, the presence of a truncated acr-8 transcript or a deletion in the acr-8 locus in some resistant isolates. Recently, a single non-synonymous SNP in acr-8 conferring a serine-to-threonine substitution (S168T) was identified that was strongly associated with LEV resistance. Here, we investigate the role of genetic variation at the acr-8 locus in a controlled genetic cross between the LEV susceptible MHco3(ISE) and LEV resistant MHco18(UGA 2004) isolates of H. contortus. Using single worm PCR assays, we found that the presence of S168T was strongly associated with LEV resistance in the parental isolates and F3 progeny of the genetic cross surviving LEV treatment. We developed and optimised an allele-specific PCR assay for the detection of S168T and validated the assay using laboratory isolates and field samples that were phenotyped for LEV resistance. In the LEV-resistant field population, a high proportion (>75%) of L3 encoded the S168T variant, whereas the variant was absent in the susceptible isolates studied. These data further support the potential role of acr-8 S168T in LEV resistance, with the allele-specific PCR providing an important step towards establishing a sensitive molecular diagnostic test for LEV resistance.
The RNA-RNA interactome between a phage and its satellite virus reveals a small RNA differentially regulates gene expression across both genomes
Authors: Dunham Drew T. , Angermeyer Angus , Seed Kimberley D.
Published: April 2022

Phage satellites exhibit various regulatory mechanisms to manipulate phage gene expression to the benefit of the satellite. While small RNAs (sRNAs) are well documented as regulators of prokaryotic gene expression, they have not been shown to play a regulatory role in satellite-phage conflicts. Vibrio cholerae encodes the phage inducible chromosomal island-like element (PLE), a phage satellite, to defend itself against the lytic phage ICP1. Here we use Hi-GRIL-seq to identify a complex RNA-RNA interactome between PLE and ICP1. Both inter- and intragenome RNA interactions were detected, headlined by the PLE-encoded trans-acting sRNA, SviR. SviR regulates both PLE and ICP1 gene expression uniquely, decreasing translation of ICP1 targets and affecting PLE mRNAs processing. The striking conservation of SviR across all known PLEs suggests the sRNA is deeply rooted in the PLE-ICP1 conflict and implicates sRNAs as unidentified regulators of phage-satellite interactions.
Business strategy typologies: do the board of commissioners and audit committee concern about prospector-type strategies?
Authors: Herusetya Antonius , Suryadinata Mariska
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The study aims to provide new evidence on the relationship between the board of commissioners (BOCs) and audit committee (AC) as a primary corporate governance structure toward business strategy typologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use logistic regression analyses with a sample of industrial companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2012–2018. Data of the BOC and AC are hand-collected from the annual reports and analyzed using the content analysis.

Findings

The study finds evidence that the effectiveness of the BOC is more likely to have a positive association with the prospector strategies. The authors also find that the AC's effectiveness is more likely to associate negatively with prospector strategies. As the board monitoring system, the findings appear to disclose that the BOC and ACs following the prospector strategies are more likely to focus on achieving the entity's strategy than monitoring financial reporting and internal control functions compared with the defender strategies.

Practical implications

The results have significant practical implications to help explain that despite the corporate governance mechanisms that are likely to exist, prospectors are still likely to have weaker internal control and less likely to remediate material weaknesses (MWs) than defenders due to their specific business strategy related attributes.

Originality/value

The study extends the studies on the corporate governance mechanism using the BOC and the AC's roles in business strategy setting from the strategic management literature using Miles and Snow's (1978; 2003) framework.
Celebrity endorsement using different types of new media and advertising formats
Authors: Uribe Rodrigo , Buzeta Cristian , Manzur Enrique , Celis Martina
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effectiveness (ad attitude, brand attitude and purchase intention) of celebrity endorsement in the form of explicit vs embedded advertising in the context of different new media (digital and social media).

Design/methodology/approach

An online experiment was conducted using a 2 (digital media vs social media) × 2 (explicit vs embedded celebrity endorsement) between-subjects design. Participants (n = 137) were exposed to a fictitious piece of online branded content using celebrity endorsement. Four experimental treatments were generated as the authors manipulated the new media and the explicitness of the celebrity endorsement in the ad piece.

Findings

The main result highlights that using social media (vs digital media) enhances celebrity endorsement's indirect influence on purchase intention via the serial mediating role of ad attitude and brand attitude, regardless of the explicitness of the message. In terms of the message format, no differences were observed.

Research limitations/implications

The differential power of using celebrities across different new media to promote brands suggests the importance of interactivity in the context of celebrity endorsement. Additionally, the absence of differences in terms of message formats would show that the presence of the celebrity per se has a powerful effect.

Practical implications

Firms using new media to deliver their brand communication, including celebrity endorsements, can better understand the different capabilities of social media and digital media.

Originality/value

In the context in which empirical research equates new media with social media, this study provides an examination of celebrity endorsement assuming the complexity of the celebrity endorsement ion the current scenario: different types of new media and different types of message formats.
I can see the opportunity that you cannot! A nexus between individual entrepreneurial orientation, alertness, and access to finance
Authors: Bilal Ahmad Raza , Fatima Tehreem , Iqbal Sajid , Imran Muhammad Kashif
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how alertness enable small and medium scale enterprise (SME) owners to leverage their individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) such as risk-taking, pro-activity, innovation, passion and perseverance in a better way to recognize opportunities for financial resources as compared to their counterparts who are not alert. Moreover, it elaborates on the mediating role of opportunity recognition of financial resources between IEO and SMEs’ access to finance (AF).

Design/methodology/approach

A three-wave time-lagged survey from a stratified sample of 271 small and medium scale business owners in Pakistan was conducted and the data were analysed using PROCESS models 1 and 4.

Findings

The findings grounded in the theory of Action Regulation, signify that the IEO of small and medium scale business owners helps them attain financial resources through opportunity recognition capacity which is an action characteristic. Moreover, the IEO of SME owners, coupled with entrepreneurial alertness (EA; a cognitive pre-action state), amplifies their ability to recognize opportunities for financial resource availability.

Originality/value

This is one of the initial studies to test the IEO scale, including passion and perseverance. Moreover, it has added to the individual-level antecedents of AF in small and medium scale businesses through the role of EA and opportunity recognition.
Is green customer integration always a facilitator for green product innovation?: A conflict-based view
Authors: Chen Jiawen , Liu Linlin
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Although the facilitating role of green customer integration in business-to-business (B2B) markets has been highlighted in some green product innovation literature, analysis of the difficulties it can pose is still an underdeveloped field. This paper extends the conflict-based view and examines the effect of green customer integration on customer–firm conflicts and thereby investigates the influence of conflict on green product innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts a questionnaire survey. Ordinary Least Square regression and structural equation model with Maximum Likelihood Estimation are applied to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that green customer information integration is positively related to cognitive conflict, whereas green customer process integration has an inverted U-shaped relationship with cognitive conflict and a positive relationship with affective conflict. Moreover, green product innovation is promoted by cognitive conflict and is damaged by affective conflict.

Originality/value

This study highlights the conflict-related factors that play a role in firm–customer collaboration for green product innovation in B2B markets. It also reveals the potential dark side of green customer integration by explicitly delineating its effects on conflicts.
Numerical investigation and prediction of phase separation in diverging T-junction
Authors: Ejaz Faheem , Pao William , Ali Hafiz Muhammad
Published: April 2022

Purpose

In plethora of petroleum, chemical and heat transfer applications, T-junction is often used to partially separate gas from other fluids, to reduce work burden on other separating equipment. The abundance of liquid carryovers from the T-junction side arm is the cause of production downtime in terms of frequent tripping of downstream equipment train. Literature review revealed that regular and reduced T-junctions either have high peak liquid carryovers (PLCs) or the liquid appears early in the side arm [liquid carryover threshold (LCT)]. The purpose of this study is to harvest the useful features of regular and reduced T-junction and analyze diverging T-junction having upstream and downstream pipes.

Design/methodology/approach

Volume of fluid as a multiphase model, available in ANSYS Fluent, was used to simulate air–water slug flow in five diverging T-junctions for eight distinct velocity ratios. PLCs and LCT were chosen as key performance indices.

Findings

The results indicated that T (0.5–1) and (0.8–1) performed better as low liquid carryovers and high LCT were achieved having separation efficiencies of 96% and 94.5%, respectively. These two diverging T-junctions had significantly lower PLCs and high LCT when compared to other three T-junctions. Results showed that the sudden reduction in the side arm diameter results in high liquid carryovers and lower LCT. Low water and air superficial velocities tend to have low PLC and high LCT.

Research limitations/implications

This study involved working fluids air and water but applies to other types of fluids as well.

Practical implications

The novel T-junction design introduced in this study has significantly higher LCT and lower PLC. This is an indication of higher phase separation performance as compared to other types of T-junctions. Because of lower liquid take-offs, there will be less frequent downstream equipment tripping resulting in lower maintenance costs. Empirical correlations presented in this study can predict fraction of gas and liquid in the side arm without having to repeat the experiment.

Social implications

Maintenance costs and production downtime can be significantly reduced with the implication of diverging T-junction design.

Originality/value

The presented study revealed that the diameter ratio has a significant impact on PLC and LCT. It can be concluded that novel T-junction designs, T2 and T3, achieved high phase separation; therefore, it is favorable to use in the industry. Furthermore, a few limitations in terms of diameter ratio are also discussed in detail.
Teacher leadership and the Turkish context: the impact of the structural characteristics of the school and teacher leadership culture
Authors: Gülmez Deniz
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the structural characteristics of the school and teacher leadership culture on teacher leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

The correlational research model used the research. The predictors of teacher leadership were identified using hierarchical regression analysis provided by 447 K-12 teachers.

Findings

The findings revealed that teacher leadership was found to be influenced by school structural factors and teacher leadership culture. While the complexity and formalization sub-dimensions of the structural characteristics are variables that explain teacher leadership, the centralization sub-dimension did not play a significant role. Professional cooperation and administrator support, both sub-dimensions of teacher leadership culture, were found to explain teacher leadership.

Originality/value

In the literature, teacher leadership have been studied enormously from past to present. It is seen that teacher leadership is affected by school culture and structure. From this point of view, this study focused on the context in which teacher leadership behaviors emerged.
Career resilience and professional attitudes of tourism practitioners in China under the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Li Zhi-Fei , Zhao Jia-Wei , Deng Shengliang
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper investigates the current psychological state of Chinese tourism practitioners and their career resilience during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It empirically examines the effects of COVID-19 on Chinese tourism practitioners' professional attitudes and their career belief in the future. The study is intended to guide enterprises and governments to design effective strategies/policies to deal with the effect of this unfavorable environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of 442 tourism practitioners in 313 tourism enterprises in China. The data were collected via a targeted online survey based on a well-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using statistical procedures including multilevel regression analysis.

Findings

The study results show that Chinese tourism practitioners have strong career resilience in the face of current turbulent time. After testing, the model shows that career beliefs and social support have a significant positive impact on the professional attitudes of tourism practitioners, and that career resilience has a partial mediating effect on their career beliefs, social support and professional attitude.

Originality/value

This study enriches the existing literature on career belief, social support and career resilience. It provides a new interpretation on how career belief and social support impact career resilience and thus shape tourism practitioners' professional attitudes during pandemics.
Funding higher education through waqf: a lesson from Malaysia
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Ab Rahman Asmak
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the importance of waqf in financing higher educational institutions (HEIs) and its potential as an alternative source of generating additional funds for the HEIs, and discourses on waqf practice, fundraising, waqf management and utilisation of waqf income for the development of higher education in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the information gathered through interviews with 12 participants who are actively engaged in waqf in different capacities. The participants can easily be classified into three expert groups; personnel of waqf-based universities, personnel of the respective State Islamic Religious Councils (SIRCs) and waqf practitioners. In addition, archival records, relevant documents and library sources have been used in the research.

Findings

The study learnt that waqf in Malaysia is centralised and exclusively controlled by the SIRCs, which are, as a rule, sole trustees of all categories of awqaf in the respective states; hence, any form of private trusteeship is considered illegal. It is a prerequisite for the establishment of a waqf fund to obtain permission from the respective SIRCs, and bring it under the purview of the council prior to setting up a waqf. The ministry of higher education has taken some initiatives to encourage HEIs to use waqf as an alternative source of generating funds. Subsequently, numerous public universities have set up waqf funds and developed a comprehensive mechanism for raising the fund through traditional and modern methods and technologies. A major chunk of the waqf funds is collected in the form of cash, but the amount falls short of reaching critical mass to enable the waqf to become self-sustaining. The study found that the universities also involved themselves in various social welfare programmes, especially in health care, and some income-generating projects besides seeking support from the waqf fund for their academic and educational activities.

Practical implications

The paper brings out the fact that waqf offers the best features as an alternative fiscal instrument to finance projects of public good, including higher education at three selected waqf-based universities in Malaysia.

Social implications

The study’s findings will be helpful to the ummah in general and Malaysia in particular. It can help policymakers, legislators and academicians in formulating new strategies for the common good and sensitize the countries facing a huge fiscal deficit and lack of development to the viability and potential of waqf as a catalyst for progress and economic activity.

Originality/value

The paper shares the experience of Malaysia’s waqf-based universities, waqf fundraising, management and income utilisation. It accentuates the fact that waqf can help finance academic activities at universities and sheds light on some useful examples of waqf-based universities founded in earlier periods of Islamic civilisation.
Engineering students’ agency beliefs and career goals to engage in sustainable development: differences between first-year students and seniors
Authors: France Jared , Milovanovic Julie , Shealy Tripp , Godwin Allison
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the differences in first-year and senior engineering students’ engineering agency beliefs and career goals related to sustainable development. The authors also sought to understand how topics related to sustainable development in engineering courses affect senior engineering students’ goals to address these issues in their careers. This work provides evidence of how students’ agency beliefs may be shaped by higher education, which is essential to workforce development.

Design/methodology/approach

Findings stem from two national surveys of engineering first-year (Sustainability and Gender in Engineering, n = 7,709) and senior students (Student Survey about Career Goals, College Experiences, n = 4,605). The authors compared both groups using pairwise testing by class standing.

Findings

The results indicate that undergraduate studies tend to reinforce students’ engineering agency beliefs to improve their quality of life and preserve the environment. Significantly more senior students selected career goals to address environmental issues compared to first-year students. In general, students undervalue their roles as engineers in addressing issues related to social inequities. Those topics are rarely addressed in engineering courses. Findings from this work suggest discussing sustainability in courses positively impact setting career goals to address such challenges.

Research limitations/implications

The study compares results from two distinct surveys, conveyed at different periods. Nonetheless, the sample size and national spread of respondents across US colleges and universities are robust to offer relevant insights on sustainable development in engineering education.

Practical implications

Adapting engineering curriculum by ensuring that engineering students are prepared to confront global problems related to sustainable development in their careers will have a positive societal impact.

Social implications

This study highlights shortcomings of engineering education in promoting social and economic sustainability as related to the engineering field. Educational programs would benefit from emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development. This approach could increase diversity in engineering education and the industry, and by ripple effect, benefit the communities and local governance.

Originality/value

This work is a first step toward understanding how undergraduate experiences impact students’ engineering agency beliefs and career goals related to sustainability. It explores potential factors that could increase students’ engineering agency and goals to make a change through engineering.
Go digital: can the money-gift function promote the use of e-wallet apps?
Authors: Lim Xin-Jean , Ngew Phillip , Cheah Jun-Hwa , Cham Tat Huei , Liu Yide
Published: April 2022

Purpose

One of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic is that using an e-wallet – a contactless process – rather than a payment terminal is an intuitively safer option. This study is grounded in cognitive absorption theory and investigates how the use of the money-gift function influences the intention to continue using an e-wallet app.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a cross-sectional approach, a structured questionnaire was designed and distributed to the target respondents in Malaysia through social media platforms. The data were collected with purposive sampling and a total of 350 eligible responses were analyzed with partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Cognitive absorption significantly influenced the perceptions of e-wallet apps (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness). The intention to continue using an e-wallet app was positively predicted by attitude and subjective well-being. Furthermore, this study found that the path between attitude and the intention to continue use was mediated by subjective well-being, whereas perceived security moderated the path between cognitive absorption and perceptions of an e-wallet app.

Practical implications

The results offer much-needed broad guidance for e-wallet service providers. In particular, the findings reveal how implementing money-gift functions promotes various positive outcomes that influence the intention to continue using an e-wallet app.

Originality/value

Previous research on e-wallets considered only the basic characteristics of an e-wallet app when studying continuous usage. Few studies have empirically examined the innovative function of money gifts. Therefore, this study is among the first to offer empirical insights into how immersion and cognitive interaction with the money-gift function can influence user perceptions and behavior toward e-wallet apps.
The social capital accumulation in the contemporary era
Authors: Chan Gloria Hongyee
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Traditionally, demographic factors have been recognized as important factors of social capital accumulation. Owing to the differences in social structure and relationships resulted from the Internet development, the social capital accumulation mechanism is likely different. Hence, this study investigated the significance of the demographic factors and the Internet-related factors (Internet mobilization, collective identity, and digital literacy) of social capital accumulation nowadays, so as to understand the factors contributing to social capital accumulation nowadays, and reflect upon the applicability of traditional social capital accumulation mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

There were 1,747 participants aged between 13 and 30 taking part in this quantitative study. Correlation analysis was performed to find out the relationship of participants' demographic background and Internet-related factors with offline and online social capital. Structural equation modeling, hierarchical regression analysis, and mediation analysis was performed to investigate how these factors were related to the social capital accumulated from the Internet.

Findings

Results showed that demographic background and engagement in Internet activities affected the acquisition of social capital from the Internet. Digital literacy displayed the largest mediating effect on online social capital accumulation. Corresponding implications were discussed.

Originality/value

Informed by the literature and theories of social capital, this study investigates the mechanism of online social capital accumulation by exploring its contributing factors.
Thematic evolution of coronavirus disease: a longitudinal co-word analysis
Authors: Khazaneha Mahdiyeh , Tajedini Oranus , Esmaeili Omid , Abdi Mehdi , Khasseh Ali Akbar , Sadatmoosavi Ali
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Using science mapping analysis approach and co-word analysis, the present study explores and visualizes research fields and thematic evolution of the coronavirus. Based on this method, one can get a picture of the real content of the themes in the mentioned thematic area and identify the main minor and emerging themes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted based on co-word science mapping analysis under a longitudinal study (from 1988 to 2020). The collection of documents in this study was further divided into three subperiods: 1988–1998, 1999–2009 and 2010–2020. In order to perform science mapping analysis based on co-word bibliographic networks, SciMAT was utilized as a bibliometric tool. Moreover, WoS, PubMed and Scopus bibliographic databases were used to download all records.

Findings

In this study, strategic diagrams were demonstrated for the coronavirus research for a chronological period to assess the most relevant themes. Each diagram depended on the sum of documents linked to each research topic. In the first period (1988–1998), the most centralizations were on virology and evaluation of coronavirus structure and its structural and nonstructural proteins. In the second period (1999–2009), with due attention to high population density in eastern Asia and the increasing number of people affected with the new generation of coronavirus (named severe acute respiratory syndrome virus or SARS virus), publications have been concentrated on “antiviral activity.” In the third period (2010–2020), there was a tendency to investigate clinical syndromes, and most of the publications and citations were about hot topics like “severe acute respiratory syndrome,” “coronavirus” and “respiratory tract disease.” Scientometric analysis of the field of coronavirus can be regarded as a roadmap for future research and policymaking in this important area.

Originality/value

The originality of this research can be considered in two ways. First, the strategic diagrams of coronavirus are drawn in four thematic areas including motor cluster, basic and transversal cluster, highly developed cluster and emerging and declining cluster. Second, COVID-19 is mentioned as a hot topic of research.
Judicial hellholes and other differential characteristics: is state-level legal risk reflected in audit fee pricing?
Authors: Hansen James C. , Murray Susan M. , Park Sang Hyun , Shin Nari
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of state-level legal risk on audit fee pricing in the USA. This study hypothesizes that auditors are more likely to charge higher audit fees to clients headquartered in states with higher legal risk in terms of probability of being sued, expected size of damages allocated to the auditors and breadth of third parties able to claim damages.

Design/methodology/approach

This study hypothesizes that higher state-level legal risk leads to higher audit fees. To test this, this study estimates ordinary least squares regressions of audit fees for 56,576 company years from 2001 to 2018 with the three measures of state legal risk and other factors known to affect audit fees.

Findings

This study finds that state-level legal risk is positively associated with audit fee pricing for two of three measures. Interestingly, the third measure, breadth of third parties able to claim damages, is negatively associated with audit fees.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper fulfills an identified need and is the first study to comprehensively test the association between state-level differentials in legal risk and audit fees.
Examining potential biases related to brokers' cooperative commission in multi-unit residential investments
Authors: Rodriguez David
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Investors often utilize brokers to assist them in property acquisitions. These brokers are compensated through a cooperative commission, or bonus, that is publicized on the listing service. The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between advertised compensation packages and selling price, time-on-market and listing characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine variables likely to influence earnings of the buyers' broker, this study utilizes multiple and logistic regressions. Given the range of prices found in the 196,276 listings, the data was sorted on listing price and then split into ten, approximately equal, deciles.

Findings

The explanatory power of models with cooperative commission as the dependent variable was highest in the lowest deciles with type of financing, size and distressed status being highly significant. When comparing list- to selling price the average was 96.1%. As cooperative commission increased, the higher priced parcels sold at a higher price relative to list price. This potentially justifies higher cooperative commissions or exemplifies the principal-agent problem where effort is based on potential earnings. Fixed bonuses were used predominately for parcels under $62,234, likely to provide a minimum earnings amount. However, surrounding the median, it seems they may differentiate a property.

Practical implications

This research provides insight for practitioners on the impact of different variables, including cooperative commissions, on sale price and time-on-market. For example, cooperative commission increased for properties in the outer deciles implying that agents may be compensating for suspected difficulty. Additionally, the seasonality findings imply that agents can determine when to list and when to provide a fixed bonus to solicit attention. Results also suggest that practitioners will find it beneficial to market at an appropriate price rather than list high to create negotiating room.

Originality/value

This paper follows only one paper that covered a similar topic. However, this paper uses twenty years of multi-unit property listings from a major US city from 1996 to 2015. The focus on multi-unit properties is an effort to focus on a more sophisticated group of buyers that may be more experienced and make decisions more rationally.
Examining leadership skills, behaviors, and effective communication for virtual IT project managers
Authors: Cripe Krisda Matmuang , Burleigh Cheryl
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to discover the best practices used by information technology (IT) project managers to determine what leadership skills, behaviors, communication tools and techniques are needed to lead and communicate effectively with virtual IT project teams.

Design/methodology/approach

In this qualitative case study, data was gathered by semistructured interviews from ten successful IT project managers from Northern California who had more than ten years of experience managing virtual teams (VTs) with growing and profitable IT companies in Silicon Valley, California.

Findings

IT project managers and leaders may consider building personal relationships with team members at the beginning of each project to foster a sense of camaraderie and common ground for the successful outcome and desired results. Maintaining cohesive team relationships to gain their trust and confidence may require additional coaching, mentoring, collaborating, recognizing their accomplishments, providing technical training, and understanding different cultures and local laws that relate to VTs to manage projects successfully to move projects forward in sustaining business, and assure customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

Findings from this study may assist IT project managers and leaders in building trust and rapport, increasing efficiency and developing effective lines of communication within their virtual IT teams.