bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transient T cell expansion, activation, and proliferation in therapeutically vaccinated SIV+ macaques treated with N-803
Authors: Harwood Olivia E. , Balgeman Alexis J. , Weaver Abigail J. , Ellis-Connell Amy L. , Weiler Andrea M. , Erickson Katrina N. , Matschke Lea M. , Golfinos Athena E. , Vezys Vaiva , Skinner Pamela J. , Safrit Jeffrey T. , Edlefsen Paul T. , Reynolds Matthew R. , Friedrich Thomas C. , O’Connor Shelby L.
Published: July 2022

Vaccine strategies aimed at eliciting HIV-specific CD8+ T cells are one major target of interest in HIV functional cure strategies. We hypothesized that CD8+ T cells elicited by therapeutic vaccination during antiretroviral therapy (ART) would be recalled and boosted by treatment with the IL-15 superagonist N-803 after ART discontinuation. We intravenously immunized four SIV+ Mauritian cynomolgus macaques (MCM) receiving ART with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), modified vaccinia virus Ankara strain (MVA), and recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd-5) vectors all expressing SIVmac239 Gag. Immediately after ART cessation, these animals received three doses of N-803. Four control animals received no vaccines or N-803. The vaccine regimen generated a high magnitude of Gag-specific CD8+ T cells that were proliferative and biased toward an effector memory phenotype. We then compared cells elicited by vaccination (Gag-specific) to cells elicited by SIV infection and unaffected by vaccination (Nef-specific). We found that N-803 treatment enhanced both the frequencies of bulk and proliferating antigen-specific CD8+ T cells elicited by vaccination and the antigen-specific CD8+ T cells elicited by SIV infection. In sum, we demonstrate that a therapeutic heterologous prime-boost-boost (HPBB) vaccine can elicit antigen-specific effector memory CD8+ T cells that are boosted by N-803.
Rational synthesis of total damage during vitrification: modelling and experimental validation of osmotic, temperature, and cytotoxic damage in sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) oocytes
Authors: Olver Dominic J , Heres Pablo , Paredes Estefania , Benson James D
Published: July 2022

Sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) oocytes are an important species for aquaculture and as a model species for multiple scientific fields. Despite their importance, methods of cryopreserved biobanking of oocytes are currently not possible. Optimized cryoprotectant loading may enable vitrification methods of cryopreservation and thus long-term storage of oocytes. Determining an optimized protocol requires membrane characteristics and models of damage associated with the vitrification loading protocol, namely osmotic, temperature, and cytotoxic damage. We present and experimentally evaluated state-of-the-art models alongside our novel models. We experimentally verify the damage models throughout time at difference treatment intensities. Osmotic damage experiments consisted of hypertonic solutions composed of seawater supplemented with NaCl or sucrose and hypotonic solutions composed of seawater diluted with deionized water. Treatment times ranged from 2 to 30 minutes. To test temperature damage (in particular chill injury), oocytes were exposed to 1.7 °C, 10 °C, and 20 °C (control) for exposure times ranging from 2 to 90 minutes. Cytotoxicity was investigated by exposing oocytes to solutions of Me2SO for exposure times ranging from 2 to 30 minutes. We identify appropriate models and use these to search for an optimal loading protocol, namely the time dependent osmotic damage model (for osmotic damage), the temperature dependent model (for temperature damage), and the external molality Arrhenius power model (for cytotoxicity). We combined these models to estimate total damage during a cryopreservation loading protocol and performed a exhaustive grid search for optimal loading for a given goal intracellular cryoprotectant concentration. Given our fitted models, we find sea urchin oocytes can only be loaded to 0.13 Me2SO v/v with a 50% survival, For reference, levels for vitrification are approximately 0.45 v/v. Our synthesis of damages is the first of its kind, and enables a fundamentally novel approach to modelling survival for cells in general.
Plant-specific armadillo repeat kinesin directs organelle transport and microtubule convergence to promote tip growth
Authors: Kanda Asaka , Otani Kento , Ueda Takashi , Takahashi Taku , Motose Hiroyasu
Published: July 2022

Tip growth is essential for plant growth and reproduction. However, it remains elusive how highly polarized tip-growing cells coordinate the organization of intracellular components. Here, we show that plant-specific armadillo-repeat containing kinesin, MpARK, mediates organelle transport and microtubule convergence in tip growing rhizoids in the early diverging land plantMarchantia polymorpha. MpARK is required for anterograde transport of organelles to maintain their position. Furthermore, MpARK participates in the formation of microtubule foci at the rhizoid apex to stabilize growth direction. MpARK-dependent rhizoid growth is essential for plant anchorage and soil holding capacity. Thus, ARK might be a principal organelle transporter and intracellular organizer in the primitive rooting cells for the adaptation to terrestrial environments. Our findings suggest that ARK is functionally comparable to canonical anterograde kinesins in animals and fungi.
An RNA binding protein, RNP1A, works with Contractility Kit proteins to facilitate macropinocytosis
Authors: Liu Yinan , Leng Jessica , Nguyen Ly TS , Robinson Douglas N.
Published: July 2022

Cell shape regulation is important for many biological processes. Some cell shape regulating proteins harbor mechanoresponsive properties that enable them to sense and respond to mechanical cues, allowing for cell adaptation. InDictyostelium discoideum, mechanoresponsive network proteins include Cortexillin I and IQGAP1, which assemble in the cytoplasm into macromolecular complexes, which we term Contractility Kits.In vivofluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy revealed that Cortexillin I also interacts with an RNA-binding protein, RNP1A. Thernp1Aknockdown cells have reduced cell growth rate, reduced adhesion, defective cytokinesis, and a gene expression profile that indicatesrnp1Aknockdown cells shift away from the vegetative growth state. RNP1A binds to transcripts encoding proteins involved in macropinocytosis. One of these, DlpA, facilitates macropinosome maturation, similar to RNP1A. Loss of different CK proteins leads to macropinocytotic defects characterized by reduced macropinocytotic crown size. RNP1A interacts with IQGAP1in vivoand has cross-talk with IQGAP1 during macropinocytosis. Overall, RNP1A contributes to macropinocytosis, in part through interacting with transcripts encoding macropinocytotic proteins likedlpA, and does so in coordination with the Contractility Kit proteins.
“Remote adipose tissue-derived stromal cells of patients with lung adenocarcinoma generate a similar malignant microenvironment of the lung stromal counterpart”
Authors: De Falco Elena , Bordin Antonella , Menna Cecilia , Dhori Xhulio , Rosa Paolo , Rendina Erino , Ibrahim Mohsen , Calogero Antonella
Published: July 2022

Cancer alters both local and distant tissue by influencing the microenvironment. In this regard, the interplay with the stromal fraction is considered critical as this latter can either foster or hamper the progression of the disease. Accordingly, the modality by which tumor may alter distant niches of stromal cells is still unclear, expecially at early stages. In this short report we attempt to better understand the biology of this cross talk. In our “autologous stromal experimental setting”, we found that remote adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (mediastinal AMSC) obtained from patients with lung adenocarcinoma sustain proliferation and clonogenic ability of A549 and human primary lung adenocarcinoma cells similarly to the autologous stromal lung counterpart (LMSC). This effect is not observed in lung benign diseases as the hamartochondroma. This finding was validated by conditioning benign AMSC with supernatants from LAC up to 21 days. The new reconditioned media of the stromal fraction so obtained, was able to increase cell proliferation of A549 cells at 14 and 21 days similarly to that derived from AMSC of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The secretome generated by remote AMSC revealed overlapping to the corresponding malignant microenvironment of the autologous local LMSC. Among the plethora of 80 soluble factors analysed by arrays, a small pool of 5 upregulated molecules including IL1-β, IL-3, MCP-1, TNF-α and EGF, was commonly shared by both malignant-like autologous A- and LMSC derived microenvironments vs those benign. The bioinformatic analysis both revealed that these proteins were strictly and functionally interconnected to the lung fibrosis and proinflammation and that miR-126, 101, 486 and let-7-g were their main targets. Accordingly, we found that in lung cancer tissues and blood samples from the same set of patients here employed, miR-126 and miR-486 displayed the highest expression levels in tissue and blood, respectively.
The LH-DH module of the bacterial replicative helicases is the common binding site for DciA and other helicase loaders
Authors: Cargemel Claire , Marsin Stéphanie , Noiray Magali , Legrand Pierre , Bounoua Halil , Li de la Sierra-Gallay Inès , Walbott Hélène , Quevillon-Cheruel Sophie
Published: July 2022

During the initiation step of bacterial genome replication, replicative helicases depend on specialized proteins for their loading onto oriC. DnaC and DnaI were the first loaders characterized. However, most bacteria do not contain any of these genes, which are domesticated phage elements that replaced the ancestral and unrelated loader gene dciA several times during evolution. To understand how DciA assists the loading of DnaB, we determined the crystal structure of the complex from Vibrio cholerae, in which two VcDciAs interact with a dimer of VcDnaB, without changing its canonical structure. Our data showed that the VcDciA binding site on VcDnaB is the conserved module formed by the linker helix LH of one monomer and the determinant helix DH of the second one. Interestingly, DnaC from Escherichia coli also targets this module onto EcDnaB. Thanks to their common target site, we showed that VcDciA and EcDnaC could be functionally interchanged in vitro, despite sharing no structural similarities. This is a milestone in understanding the mechanism employed by phage helicase loaders to hijack bacterial replicative helicases during evolution.
The association between public pension fund characteristics and pension accounting choices
Authors: Xu Guoquan , Liu Fang-Chun , Hsu Hsiao-Tang , Lin Jerry
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The choice of accounting methods is critical in measuring the performance and sustainability of a public defined benefit pension (DBP) plan, and such measurement has an impact on the effectiveness of the entire pension system. Prior literature rarely discusses the choice and rationale of the accounting assumptions for public DBP plans. This study fills the gap by investigating whether crucial plan characteristics, including operational performance, financial health, sponsor fiscal stress, and audit quality, are associated with the accounting assumptions of public DBP plans.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes 1,170 plan-years from the intersection of the Center for Retirement Research and public DBPs' annual financial reports for the years 2001–2013. This study develops regression models to examine the relationship between the characteristics of public DBP practices and DBP accounting choices.

Findings

The empirical results show that the public DBPs that have better investment performance, higher funding status, less fiscal stress, and that are audited by Big 4 accounting firms are more likely to adopt conservative accounting choices.

Originality/value

The study documents the impact of crucial pension plan characteristics on public DBP managers' accounting choices, which were not extensively discussed in pension literature. The findings help us understand the rationale for employing different accounting treatments in the context of public pension fund practices. In addition, the study sheds light on policy implications for the future reform of public pension regulations.
Towards a relational approach for understanding the multiplicity of sitting activities
Authors: Sharif Ahlam Ammar
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims at unpacking the multiplicity of the sitting activity in public spaces through the lens of actor-network theory. In line with previous urban research focussing on outdoor activities, such empirical investigation aims to show the importance of the physical aspects of spaces, including seating, in supporting sitting activities as a way of encouraging the use of public space.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts the overlap between actor–network theory and affordances. It utilises ethnographic research involving frequent users in Dahiyat Al Hussein Park in Amman-Jordan. Data were gathered on the different seat–user relations and the translated sitting activity networks.

Findings

Analysis demonstrates different cases of alignment, misalignment and realignment between what is intended and experienced, and where these relations are maintained, disrupted or changed. These findings reveal the multiplicity of sitting activities; this is significant for understanding how they are maintained.

Originality/value

The research suggests a new way of conceptualising the relationship between the physical environment and users and an approach for examining sitting activities. Some studies have applied actor–network theory and/or the concept of “affordance” by highlighting relations between the object and its user and how they create sitting activities. However, only few studies have problematised the multiplicity of sitting when considering seating uses.
Team Around Me: a case coordination model for clients experiencing multiple disadvantage
Authors: Wright Scarlett A.A. , Campbell Lucy , Harries Morgan
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to present a case study about the Team Around Me (TAM) model of case coordination which was developed by Fulfilling Lives Islington and Camden (FLIC) as an action experiment. The model is a standardised tool for running case conferences for clients experiencing multiple disadvantage (MD).

Design/methodology/approach

Deploying a case study approach, this study explores why a TAM-coordinated approach is beneficial for people experiencing MD.

Findings

The authors explore why the need for effective case coordination is integral for clients experiencing MD, and how current structures fail to facilitate effective case management. The authors put forward an argument for the four core principles underpinning the TAM model: strengths-based, action-focussed, systems thinking and client involvement. The barriers to embedding and upscaling this approach are discussed, alongside the obstacles presented by the wider system that prevent wider implementation.

Originality/value

The TAM model is a new approach to case conferences, designed and upscaled by FLIC, and has since been adopted across two London boroughs, and training has reached services across the UK. This paper highlights the need for innovative approaches to case coordination that centre client involvement, promote a strengths-based approach and recognise system blockages as a key barrier to client progress.
The impact of authentic leadership on project success: the mediating effect of organizational learning and innovation
Authors: Nawaz Ahsan , Tian Robert
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The study exemplifies authentic leadership (AL) and relates it to project success (PS) with the mediating variables of organizational learning (OL) and organizational innovation (OL). None of the existing studies on AL and PS have worked on the mediation of OL and OI on these factors. So far, this paper tries to fill gap between these factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is done by testing the hypothesis by utilizing the approach of deduction. The tool of data collection utilized is a survey. The methods of data collection involved qualitative techniques as primary approaches of investigation. The study population involves multinational and national companies/organizations working directly or indirectly for CPEC projects. A total of 295 questionnaires were used to gather data from top-level and middle–level management from private or government sector companies working individually or collaboratively on CPEC projects. Out of 295 questionnaires, 35 were rejected for being incomplete, and 260 were further analyzed for research purposes. SPSS and AMOS-21 statistical packages were used for analysis or correlation among variables.

Findings

This study claims the positive impact of AL on PS while the OI and OL play a mediating role.

Practical implications

This study will add significant literature related to project management. These outcomes gave data on the primary systems of project management that are utilized in the projects or in various organizations to assess the accomplishment of the project with AL, OL and OI.

Originality/value

It has gained popularity in the world of management researchers due to its uniqueness and desirability. This study of AL and PS has been comprehensively deliberate to find the variables that affect them. The idea is to analyze the possible effects of OL and innovation on authentic leaders and the overall PS in the China–Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC).
Islamic religiosity and consumer ethnocentrism in post-Arab Spring countries
Authors: Karoui Sedki , Belaid Samy , Khemakhem Romdhane
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Religious tendencies have increased in post-Arab Spring countries, raising the question of whether this geopolitical event has affected consumers' orientations towards foreign products, including those that have positive country-of-origin image. This paper investigates the effect of Islamic religiosity on the relationship between consumer ethnocentrism and buying intention towards products from a developed country (France) in an Arab Spring country (Tunisia).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was lunched and data was collected from 492 Tunisian consumers living in both rural and urban areas. Research hypotheses were tested using a Partial Least Square- Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) method.

Findings

Tunisian consumers do not associate their ethnocentric feelings towards French products with their Islamic religiosity. Results show that both highly and moderately religious Tunisians trust French products because of their high country-of-origin image and their potential social connotations.

Originality/value

The results of this paper contribute to the literature that focuses on understanding consumption behaviours in developing countries in the aftermath of geopolitical events such as the Arab Spring.
Fortune favours the digitally mature: the impact of digital maturity on the organisational resilience of SME retailers during COVID-19
Authors: Robertson Jeandri , Botha Elsamari , Walker Bernard , Wordsworth Russell , Balzarova Michaela
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Organisational resilience and digital maturity both explain how some organisations are better able to cope with unexpected disruptions. However, research exploring the relationship between these two concepts, and their role in addressing exogenous shocks, remains sparse. This study first aimed to compare digitally mature SME retailers’ organisational resilience with that of digitally less mature SME retailers and then investigate further how their digital maturity impacted their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt an explanatory two-phase mixed-method research design, with online surveys from 79 SME retailers in South Africa, followed by interviews.

Findings

Digitally mature SMEs exhibited higher levels of organisational resilience, specifically with respect to situational awareness, management of keystone vulnerabilities and adaptive capacity. The authors also demonstrate that digital leadership is a greater driver of organisational resilience than digital capabilities.

Practical implications

The authors suggest ways for SME retailers to develop their digital maturity, particularly their digital leadership, to increase their organisational resilience.

Originality/value

This paper makes a case for SME retailers to focus on building their digital maturity to better cope with and learn from unexpected events. In particular, digital maturity is positively associated with SME retailers’ innovation and creativity and their devolved and responsive decision-making.
Structuring the scattered literature on algorithmic profiling in the case of unemployment through a systematic literature review
Authors: Haug Kristian Bloch
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This article examines the overlooked literature on algorithmic profiling in public employment services (APPES) in the field of public administration. More specifically, it aims to provide an overview and connections to identify directions for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the existing literature, this article conducts the first systematic literature review on APPES. Through inductive coding of the identified studies, the analysis identifies concepts and themes, and the relationships among them.

Findings

The literature review shows that APPES constitutes an emerging field of research encompassed by four strands and associated research disciplines. Further, the data analysis identifies 23 second-order themes, five dimensions and ten interrelationships, thus suggesting that the practices and effects of algorithmic profiling are multidimensional and dynamic.

Research limitations/implications

The findings demonstrate the importance of future research on APPES undertaking a holistic approach. Studying certain dimensions and interrelationships in isolation risks overlooking mutually vital aspects, resulting in findings of limited relevance. A holistic approach entails considering both the technical and social effects of APPES.

Originality/value

This literature review contributes by connecting the existing literature across different research approaches and disciplines.
Why cyberloafing can be socially learned in the workplace: the role of employees' perceived certainty of formal and informal sanctions
Authors: Wu Jinnan , Song Mengmeng , Zoghbi-Manrique-de-Lara Pablo , Jiang Hemin , Guo Shanshan , Zhang Wenpei
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study investigated why employees' cyberloafing behavior is affected by their coworkers' cyberloafing behavior. By integrating social learning theory and deterrence theory, the authors developed a model to explain the role of employees' perceived certainty of formal and informal sanctions in understanding the effect of coworkers' cyberloafing behavior on employees' cyberloafing behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a survey that involved a two-stage data collection process (including 293 respondents) to test our developed model. Mplus 7.0 was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results revealed that employees' cyberloafing was positively affected by their coworkers' cyberloafing both directly and indirectly. The indirect effect of coworkers' cyberloafing on employees' cyberloafing was mediated by the employees' perceived certainty of formal and informal sanctions on cyberloafing. Employees' perceived certainty of formal and informal sanctions were found to mediate the relationship both separately (each type of sanctions mediates the relationship individually) and in combination (the two types of sanctions form a serial mediation effect).

Originality/value

The study reveals an important mechanism – employees’ perceived certainty of formal and informal sanctions – that underlies the relationship between coworkers' cyberloafing and employees' cyberloafing, thus, contributing to the cyberloafing literature. It also demonstrates the importance of negative reinforcement (perceived sanctions) in the social learning process, which contributes to the literature on social learning theory because previous studies have primarily focused on the role of positive reinforcement. Lastly, the study reveals a positive relationship between employees' perceived certainty of formal sanctions and informal sanctions, which has important implications for deterrence theory.
Self-regulation, self-confidence, and academic achievement on assessment conceptions: an investigation study of pre-service teachers
Authors: Al-Haddad Sana Saeed , Afari Ernest , Khine Myint Swe , Eksail Fuad Ali Ahmed
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study examined the conceptions of assessment and its relationship to self-regulation and self-confidence among pre-service teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were 278 pre-service students attending a teacher's college in Bahrain. This study employed the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to investigate the relationships among the observed variables.

Findings

The results revealed that the conceptions of assessment had positively impacted the academic achievements of students who were accountable. In addition, the conceptions that made schools accountable had a positive relationship with academic achievement, whereas students who ignored the assessment, received a negative effect on self-regulation.

Research limitations/implications

The generalization of the results to other populations in Bahrain should be made with caution since this study involved a relatively small number of students from Bahrain. Policymakers might be encouraged to consider students' appropriate response to their conceptions of assessment when assessments are being developed.

Originality/value

This study might encourage educators and policymakers in Bahrain to develop strategies to further improve students' self-confidence, self-regulation, and academic achievement.
Board gender diversity and environmental disclosure: evidence from the banking sector
Authors: Buallay Amina , Alhalwachi Layla
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between board gender diversity and environmental disclosure (ED) in the banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Data pooled from Bloomberg database on 2,116 banks from the period of 2007 to 2016 ends up with 7,951 observations. Panel regression model that include random effects was used to test study hypothesis.

Findings

The findings showed that when female board members were between 21% and 50%, it had a significant positive effect on the ED disclosure. Furthermore, the results showed that bank located in non-OPEC countries have better gender diversity in their board and greater ED than non-OPEC countries. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the board diversity and ED are better in banks that are located in countries that ranked 26–50 in oil production.

Originality/value

Although findings of this research clearly discussed the importance of board diversity in enhancing ED, the results of this study give us a crucial signal as a wake-up call for regulators to start considering women quota on board for higher ED.
The reader as subjective entropy: a novel analysis of multimodal readability
Authors: Hovious Amanda S. , O'Connor Brian C.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the viability of transinformation analysis as a multimodal readability metric. A novel approach was called for, considering that existing and established readability metrics are strictly used to measure linguistic complexity. Yet, the corpus of multimodal literature continues to grow, along with the need to understand how non-linguistic modalities contribute to the complexity of the reading experience.

Design/methodology/approach

In this exploratory study, think aloud screen recordings of eighth-grade readers of the born-digital novel Inanimate Alice were analyzed for complexity, along with transcripts of post-oral retellings. Pixel-level entropy analysis served as both an objective measure of the document and a subjective measure of the amount of reader information attention. Post-oral retelling entropy was calculated at the unit level of the word, serving as an indication of complexity in recall.

Findings

Findings confirmed that transinformation analysis is a viable multimodal readability metric. Inanimate Alice is an objectively complex document, creating a subjectively complex reading experience for the participants. Readers largely attended to the linguistic mode of the story, effectively reducing the amount of information they processed. This was also evident in the brevity and below average complexity of their post-oral retellings, which relied on recall of the linguistic mode. There were no significant group differences among the readers.

Originality/value

This is the first study that uses entropy to analyze multimodal readability.
Regional green economy and community impact on global sustainability
Authors: Gunay Samet , Kurtishi-Kastrati Selma , Krsteska Kristina
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of regional green economies and communities on global sustainability. This study attempts to show if the empirical results align with the regional sustainable development policy and practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical analyses are conducted through time-varying correlations, structural break tests and volatility modeling. As a public health indicator, the community variable is proxied by the daily COVID-19 cases.

Findings

According to the results, the US green economy and global sustainability relationship exhibit a greater variety than that of Europe and Asia regions. Volatility modeling reveals that green economies are significant variables for each region in accounting for the changes in global sustainability. Europe and Asia have the highest and lowest effects in this interaction, respectively. The results are consistent with the carbon emission statistics of the regions studied and the government’s efforts to promote sustainable development. Furthermore, this study supports the efforts of the European Union to tackle climate and environmental issues, as well as create a resource-efficient economy and truly prosperous society.

Originality/value

This study presents empirical findings concerning global sustainability by providing evidence from three regions. The outcomes on the extent of regional contribution to global sustainability may lead the policymakers to develop new strategies in the management of turmoil periods such as a pandemic.
Examining the role of gender on family business entrepreneurial intention: influence of government support and technology usage
Authors: Chaudhuri Sumana , Agrawal Amit Kumar , Chatterjee Sheshadri , Hussain Zahid
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of government support and technology usage on family business entrepreneurial intention. The paper also investigates the moderating impacts of gender on the family business entrepreneurial intention with its two predictors.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper has used both resource-based view and dynamic capability view theory as well as literature on family business entrepreneurship to develop the theoretical model. Later, the theoretical model has been validated using structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) with respondents from Indian family business enterprises. This study has used a purposeful and convenience sampling approach.

Findings

This study has shown the significance of technology usage as well as government support to improve the family business enterprise. The study highlights that there is a moderating impact of gender on the relationship between government support and technology usage with entrepreneurial intention in family business.

Research limitations/implications

This study adds value towards body of literature in entrepreneurship, gender, and business, as well as family business literature. The study shows how gender acts as a moderator in case of family business entrepreneurship. The study is cross sectional in nature and has limited number of respondents from India. Thus, the findings cannot be generalizable.

Originality/value

This study is a unique study as it investigates the influence of both government support as well as technology usage by the family business firms for entrepreneurial intention. The proposed theoretical model has a high predictive power which makes the model effective. Moreover, this study also examines the moderating impacts of gender on entrepreneurial intention in the family business which adds value to the existing body of knowledge.
Exploring the phenomenon of HR analytics: a study of challenges, risks and impacts in 40 large companies
Authors: Cayrat Charles , Boxall Peter
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to respond to questions being raised about the challenges, risks and impacts of Human Resource Analytics (HRA). Based on a study of 40 companies, it discusses the implications of HRA for practitioners, praxis and practices in HRM and adds to this a concern with whether HRA is enhancing mutuality in employment relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an abductive approach, the authors analyzed data from semistructured interviews with an HRA leader or specialist in 40 large organizations.

Findings

While wrestling with the challenge of data quality and integration, the practice of descriptive analytics is widely adopted in these companies and the majority can demonstrate improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of HR activities through predictive analytics. The analytical competence of HR specialists is an ongoing issue. While much more research is needed, the companies in the authors’ sample demonstrated some valuable examples of mutual gains from HRA.

Practical implications

Education in HRA must not only help to raise quantitative competencies among HR specialists but should also help them to ask critical questions about the theoretical propositions and subjective data points being built into HRA. Boundary spanning is important to enable effective HRA and processes for employee voice to be improved. Arguably, the time has come for a more formalized data analytics' strategy in large organizations.

Originality/value

This paper provides evidence on how HRA is being implemented in large companies, including how HRA leaders are managing its challenges and risks and the impacts it is having on business and employee outcomes.
The relationship between mental and physical health: a longitudinal analysis with British student
Authors: Jansen Megan , Chapman Chloe , Richardson Thomas , Elliott Peter , Roberts Ron
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Previous studies in the field have highlighted a bidirectional link between mental health and physical health. Students may be at a higher risk of both mental and physical health problems because of unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and the commencement of university occurring at the same mean age of onset for many psychiatric disorders. This study aims to examine how physical health variables influence changes in mental health symptoms, and vice versa, over time, in a sample of British undergraduate students.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal design over a one-year time period. A national sample of 430 British undergraduate students completed measures of mental health and physical health online at up to four time-points across their first two years of university.

Findings

General physical health and energy and fatigue predicted more severe depression, anxiety, stress and poorer general mental health over time. Depression and stress predicted poorer physical functioning over time. Greater anxiety predicted poorer general health and more severe pain over time. General mental health was not predictive of general physical health. Overall, poor general physical health appears to exacerbate mental health symptoms in students to a greater extent than mental health problems lead to a deterioration in physical health.

Originality/value

This study adds a longitudinal design to a field that is usually cross-sectional, as well as a lack of consideration of how this relationship may differ within student samples. Early interventions should integrate physical and mental well-being rather than focus on any single health-related behaviour.
Barriers and facilitators to adoption of e-learning in higher education institutions of Pakistan during COVID-19: perspectives from an emerging economy
Authors: Qazi Muhammad Arsam , Sharif Muhammad Aiyaz , Akhlaq Ather
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Integrating e-learning into higher education institutions (HEIs) is a complex process. Several universities had tried to impart learning online, especially amid the spread of COVID-19. However, they failed miserably due to the many barriers to online learning platforms’ delivery and acceptance. This study aims to explore the barriers and facilitators in adopting e-learning in HEIs of Pakistan by taking the perspective of key stakeholders involved in the management and administration of HEIs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors recruited participants using purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were conducted from a variety of participants, including academicians, administrators and information technology (IT) personnel. Data recorded was transcribed into verbatim and then analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings

The analysis identified barriers and facilitators to the e-learning implementation. Barriers included lack of resources and training, lack of infrastructure, inadequate e-learning policies, absence of positive mindset among teachers and students and reservations and concerns about e-learning of parents and teachers. By contrast, facilitators included prior training and awareness (provided by HEIs regarding e-learning), the assistance of government and regulatory bodies (in terms of policy and training on e-learning), the role of IT (in development and implementation of online learning system) and good computer knowledge and skills of students and faculty. Moreover, respondents believed that teaching subjects online requires the availability of proper and complete gadgets, but these were hardly available due to high demand. Finally, the academicians and administrators believed that e-learning is indispensable in health emergencies such as COVID-19 and similar events ahead.

Originality/value

For the HEIs to sustain and grow, the adoption of e-learning is fundamental. Therefore, the government should provide the essential infrastructure for the HEIs to deploy e-learning modules, train faculty and ensure the availability of necessary equipment (e.g. network) and gadgets to faculty and students. From a theoretical perspective, the study provides a framework for similar future studies in other emerging markets, whereas practical implications of the study can assist the governments and HEIs of emerging markets in implementing the e-learning modes of education in times of health emergencies, such as COVID-19.
A new interval-valued fuzzy multi-objective approach for project time–cost–quality trade-off problem with activity crashing and overlapping under uncertainty
Authors: Mahdavi-Roshan Pouyan , Mousavi Seyed Meysam
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Most projects are facing delays, and accelerating the pace of project progress is a necessity. Project managers are responsible for completing the project on time with minimum cost and with maximum quality. This study provides a trade-off between time, cost, and quality objectives to optimize project scheduling.

Design/methodology/approach

The current paper presents a new resource-constrained multi-mode time–cost–quality trade-off project scheduling model with lags under finish-to-start relations. To be more realistic, crashing and overlapping techniques are utilized. To handle uncertainty, which is a source of project complexity, interval-valued fuzzy sets are adopted on several parameters. In addition, a new hybrid solution approach is developed to cope with interval-valued fuzzy mathematical model that is based on different alpha-levels and compensatory methods. To find the compatible solution among conflicting objectives, an arithmetical average method is provided as a compensatory approach.

Findings

The interval-valued fuzzy sets approach proposed in this paper is denoted to be scalable, efficient, generalizable and practical in project environments. The results demonstrated that the crashing and overlapping techniques improve time–cost–quality trade-off project scheduling model. Also, interval-valued fuzzy sets can properly manage expressions of the uncertainty of projects which are realistic and practical. The proposed mathematical model is validated by solving a medium-sized dataset an adopted case study. In addition, with a sensitivity analysis approach, the solutions are compared and the model performance is confirmed.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a new continuous-based, resource-constrained, and multi-mode model with crashing and overlapping techniques simultaneously. In addition, a new hybrid compensatory solution approach is extended based on different alpha-levels to handle interval-valued fuzzy multi-objective mathematical model of project scheduling with influential uncertain parameters.
Common delivery or fast delivery: optimal pricing decisions of online retailers with rebate policy
Authors: Yu Lei , Bai Yang , He Yi
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The confirmation of receipt of orders by consumers means that the online retailer actually receives the payments on many retail platforms (e.g. Taobao). In order to recoup funds as soon as possible, the retailer will take steps (e.g. improving the level of delivery and adopting a rebate policy) to encourage consumers to confirm receipt earlier. It is significant for the retailer to identify an appropriate strategy and determine the optimal product price. To address the above issues, this paper examines and compares the pricing strategies and profits under different strategies to show some managerial insights for the retailer's decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors discuss four models, i.e. adopting common delivery and offering consumers no rebates, adopting common delivery and offering rebates, adopting fast delivery and offering no rebates and adopting fast delivery and offering rebates, which the retailer may consider. Under different models, consumer utility and firm's profit structure are disparate. After comparing the retailer's profits under four models, the optimal strategy, profit and product price are obtained.

Findings

Some interesting results are as follows. When the cost of fast delivery is not very high, improving the level of delivery would bring more profit to the retailer and create a positive impact on consumers. Interestingly, our results also show that offering proper rebates to stimulate consumers to confirm receipt early only serves to improve the profit only when the motivation of consumers to confirm the receipt is very low. Moreover, the authors find that a higher level of delivery services can promote the implementation of the rebate policy to improve the retailer's earnings.

Originality/value

This paper is the first study on the transaction mode of retail platforms and the problem of confirming receipt by a model-based method.
Evidence-based policing and police receptivity to research: evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Lin Kenghui , Sidebottom Aiden , Wortley Richard
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how evidence-based policing (EBP) is understood by police officers and citizens in Taiwan and the influence of police education on police recruit's receptivity to research evidence in policing.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a cross-sectional design that includes Taiwanese police officers (n = 671) and a control group of Taiwanese criminology undergraduate students (n = 85). A research instrument covering five themes is developed, and after a pilot test the final scale remains 14 items.

Findings

The analysis suggests that police officers in Taiwan generally hold a positive view towards the role of research and researchers in policing, more so than is often observed in similar studies conducted in Western countries. Receptivity to research was found to be significantly higher among the non-police sample compared to the police sample. Moreover, time spent in police education was significantly associated with lower levels of receptivity to research.

Originality/value

The paper makes two original contributions to the literature on police officer receptivity to research. It is the first paper to (1) empirically examine police officers' openness to, and use of research in an Asian setting and (2) to compare police officers' receptivity to research with those of a relevant non-police group.
Revisiting Uzawa–Lucas with public human capital spending and productivity heterogeneity
Authors: Nguyen Quoc Hung
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to study the effects of public human capital spending on growth under the presence of financial frictions and productivity heterogeneity. In addition, this paper derives and discusses growth-maximizing policy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper constructs a tractable human capital–based growth model. There a continuum of heterogeneous entrepreneurs who own private firms, accumulate personal wealth and face collateral borrowing constraints. The representative worker accumulates human capital by using his own efforts, the existing human capital stock and human capital–related public services. The government finances public spending by taxing capital income. This paper then focuses its analysis on the balanced growth path equilibrium of the economy model.

Findings

This paper finds that public human capital spending financed by capital income taxation yields strictly higher growth than when the spending is absent. In addition, it shows that the growth-maximizing capital income tax rate is higher when the idiosyncratic firm productivity distribution is more heavy tailed.

Originality/value

This paper embraces and then explores the effects of productivity heterogeneity and financial frictions into an otherwise conventional human capital–based endogenous growth model. This paper also differs from the conventional endogenous growth framework by incorporating the productive role of public services in the process of accumulating human capital. Therefore, it can address the effects of public spending on growth.
Preparing for business travel: how HR managers can plan for the bounce back
Authors: Buckley Simone
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to convey the different ways in which HR managers can prepare their staff for the return to business travel.

Design/methodology/approach

The author has based her findings on years of firsthand experience in the field of business travel expense management.

Findings

This paper proposes that HR teams should shape travel policy for success and maintain clear communication with teams, which are the surefire ways to prepare teams for the return of business travel.

Originality/value

This paper provides value for HR managers who are dealing with employees who are perhaps anxious about making business trips for the first time since the pandemic.