bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CYP1B1 converts procarcinogens into genotoxins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Kannan Akaash , Perpetua Nicholas , Dolan Michael , Fasullo Michael
Published: July 2021

CYP1B1 activates many chemical carcinogens into potent genotoxins, and allelic variants are risk factors in lung, breast, and prostate cancer. However, genetic instability phenotypes incurred by CYP1B1-activated metabolites have been investigated for only few compounds. In this study, we expressed human CYP1B1 in yeast strains that measure DNA damage-associated toxicity and frequencies of chromosomal translocations and mutations. DNA damage-associated toxicity was measured in a rad4 rad51 strain, defective in both DNA excision and recombinational repair. Frequencies of chromosomal translocations were measured in diploid yeast strains containing two his3 fragments, and mutation frequencies were measured by selecting for canavanine resistance (CanR) in haploid strains. These strains were exposed to benzo[a]pyrene dihydrodiol (BaP-DHD), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and the heterocyclic aromatic amines, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ). We observed that AFB1, BaP-DHD, IQ, and MeIQx conferred toxicity in the DNA repair mutant expressing CYP1B1. Translocation frequencies increased eight-fold and three-fold after exposure to 50 μM AFB1 and 33 μM BaP-DHD respectively. Only a two-fold increase in mutation frequency was observed after exposure to 50 μM AFB1. However, a robust DNA damage response was observed after AFB1 exposure, as measured by the induction of the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, Rnr3. While CYP1B1-mediated activation of BaP-DHD and heterocyclic aromatic amines was expected, strong activation of AFB1 was not. These studies demonstrate that CYP1B1-mediated activation of carcinogens does not only activate compounds to become mutagens but also can convert compounds to become potent recombinagens.
Probing and Perturbing Riboswitch Folding Using a Fluorescent Base Analogue
Authors: Hoeher Janson E. , Sande Natalie E. , Widom Julia R.
Published: July 2021

Riboswitches are mRNA segments that regulate gene expression in response to ligand binding. The Class I preQ1riboswitch consists of a stem-loop and an adenine-rich single-stranded tail (“L3”), which adopt a pseudoknot structure upon binding of the ligand preQ1. We inserted 2-aminopurine (2-AP), a fluorescent analogue of adenine (A), into the riboswitch at six different positions within L3. Here, 2-AP functions both as a spectroscopic probe and as a “mutation” that reveals how alteration of specific A residues impacts the riboswitch. Using fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, we found that 2-AP decreases the affinity of the riboswitch for preQ1at all labeling positions tested, though modified and unmodified variants undergo the same global conformational changes at sufficiently high preQ1concentration. 2-AP substitution is most detrimental to ligand binding at sites proximal to the ligand-binding pocket, while distal labeling sites exhibit the largest impacts on the stability of the L3 domain in the absence of ligand. Insertion of multiple 2-AP residues does not induce significant additional disruptions. Our results show that interactions involving the A residues in L3 play a critical role in ligand recognition by the preQ1riboswitch, and that 2-AP substitution exerts complex and varied impacts on this riboswitch.
Evolution of Learning in Technology Adoption: The case of the U.S. Soybean Seed Industry
Authors: Ilin Cornelia , Shi Guanming
Published: July 2021

This paper examines how the evolution of learning affects technology adoption. We use a sequential adoption model that accounts for differences between forward-looking adopters, who consider future impacts of their learning, and myopic adopters, who only consider past learning. We apply the analysis to three panels of U.S. soybean farmers representing different stages of the genetically modified (GM) seed technology diffusion path. We show that uncertainty is considerably reduced over time due to increased learning efficiency. Our results indicate that a forward-looking model fits the early adopters and early majority stages better, while both models perform equally well in the laggard stage.

JEL classification

D83, Q31, Q33, Q16
The beneficial effect of chronic muscular exercise on muscle fragility is increased by Prox1 gene transfer in dystrophic mdx muscle
Authors: Monceau Alexandra , Delacroix Clément , Lemaitre Mégane , Revet Gaelle , Furling Denis , Agbulut Onnik , Klein Arnaud , Ferry Arnaud
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Greater muscle fragility is thought to cause the exhaustion of the muscle stem cells during successive degeneration/repair cycles, leading to muscle wasting and weakness in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Chronic voluntary exercise can partially reduce the susceptibility to contraction induced-muscle injury, i.e., muscle fragility, as shown by a reduced immediate maximal force drop following lengthening contractions, in the dystrophic mdx mice. Here, we studied the effect of Prospero-related homeobox factor 1 gene (Prox1) transfer (overexpression) on fragility in chronically exercised mdx mice, because Prox1 promotes slower type fibres in healthy mice and slower fibres are less fragile in mdx muscle.

Methods

mdx mice received or not Prox1 transfer into the tibialis anterior muscle and performed voluntary running into a wheel during 1 month. We also performed Prox1 transfer in sedentary mdx mice. In situ maximal force production of the muscle in response to nerve stimulation was assessed before, during and after 10 lengthening contractions. Molecular and cellular parameters were also evaluated.

Results

Interestingly, Prox1 transfer reduced the force drop following lengthening contractions in exercised mdx mice (p < 0.05 to 0.01), but not in sedentary mdx mice. It also increased the muscle expression of Myh7 (p < 0.001), MHC-2x (p < 0.01) and Trpc1 (p < 0.01), whereas it reduced that one of Myh4 (p < 0.001) and MHC-2b (p < 0.01) in exercised mdx mice. Moreover, Prox1 transfer decreased the maximal force (p < 0.01) before lengthening contraction in exercised mdx mice (p < 0.01), and reduced muscle weight (p < 0.0001) despite increased Mstn expression (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the beneficial effect of Prox1 transfer on muscle fragility is only observed in chronically exercised mdx mice. Thus, Prox1 transfer combined to chronic exercise have the potential to substantially slow the progression of the dystrophic disease in the long term.
Herd immunity induced by COVID-19 vaccination programs and suppression of epidemics caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in China
Authors: Liu Hengcong , Zhang Juanjuan , Cai Jun , Deng Xiaowei , Peng Cheng , Chen Xinghui , Yang Juan , Wu Qianhui , Chen Xinhua , Chen Zhiyuan , Zheng Wen , Viboud Cécile , Zhang Wenhong , Ajelli Marco , Yu Hongjie
Published: July 2021

Background

To allow a return to a pre-COVID-19 lifestyle, virtually every country has initiated a vaccination program to mitigate severe disease burden and control transmission. However, it remains to be seen whether herd immunity will be within reach of these programs.

Methods

We developed a data-driven model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission for China, a population with low prior immunity from natural infection. The model is calibrated considering COVID-19 natural history and the estimated transmissibility of the Delta variant. Three vaccination programs are tested, including the one currently enacted in China and model-based estimates of the herd immunity level are provided.

Results

We found that it is unlike to reach herd immunity for the Delta variant given the relatively low efficacy of the vaccines used in China throughout 2021, the exclusion of underage individuals from the targeted population, and the lack of prior natural immunity. We estimate that, assuming a vaccine efficacy of 90% against the infection, vaccine-induced herd immunity would require a coverage of 93% or higher of the Chinese population. However, even when vaccine-induced herd immunity is not reached, we estimated that vaccination programs can reduce SARS-CoV-2 infections by 53-58% in case of an epidemic starts to unfold in the fall of 2021.

Conclusions

Efforts should be taken to increase population’s confidence and willingness to be vaccinated and to guarantee highly efficacious vaccines for a wider age range.
Professionalisation of accounting in developing countries: 25 years of research
Authors: Yapa Prem W. Senarath
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper to systematically review and critique research on professional accounting development published in English during the last two-and-a-half decades. This paper focusses on developing countries (DCs) and suggests a future research agenda. In recent decades, many DCs have undergone reforms in the professionalisation of accounting (PA).

Design/methodology/approach

Extant research articles are selected from major accounting journals between 1995 and 2020 for the review. A conceptual analysis of the selected literature is presented to evaluate the focus and scope of existing work.

Findings

Previous empirical research on DCs has focused on the state and political ideology, religion and Sharia law, racial/class discrimination, colonialism and closure (e.g. the monopolisation of accounting work). Also, a complex set of globalisation, political, economic, and social contexts. In particular, a strong tradition of British accounting associations providing accounting qualifications in DCs is noted. Future research should aim to examine such issues as the politics of decolonisation, domination, neoliberalism, competition from Western professional associations, accounting in state-owned organisations, government accounting reforms, and social and environmental accounting issues.

Research limitations/implications

This paper covers only PA research in high-ranked English language accounting journals and chapters of a monograph. Accounting research published in other languages and lower-ranked journals could be imperative sources as well but not included in this study.

Originality/value

While PA has been explored in a variety of locations and from different perspectives in Western countries, a review in DCs was lacking.
LIDAR altimeter conception for HERA spacecraft
Authors: Dias Nicole Gomes , Nadal Arribas Beltran , Gordo Paulo , Sousa Tiago , Marinho João , Melicio Rui , Amorim António , Michel Patrick
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to report the first iteration on the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Engineering Model altimeter named HELENA. HELENA is a Time of Flight (TOF) altimeter that provides time-tagged distances and velocity measurements. The LIDAR can be used for support near asteroid navigation and provides scientific information. The HELENA design comprises two types of technologies: a microchip laser and low noise sensor. The synergies between these two technologies enable developing a compact instrument for range measurements of up to 14 km. Thermal-mechanical and radiometric simulations of the HELENA telescope are reported in this paper. The design is subjected to vibrational, static and thermal conditions, and it was possible to conclude by the results that the telescope is compliant with the random vibration levels, the static load and the operating temperatures.

Design/methodology/approach

The Asteroid Impact & Deflection Assessment (AIDA) is a collaboration between the NASA DART mission and ESA Hera mission. The aim scope is to study the asteroid deflection through a kinetic collision. DART spacecraft will collide with Didymos-B, while ground stations monitor the orbit change. HERA spacecraft will study the post-impact scenario. The HERA spacecraft is composed by a main spacecraft and two small CubeSats. HERA will monitor the asteroid through cameras, radar, satellite-to-satellite doppler tracking, LIDAR, seismometry and gravimetry.

Findings

The HELENA design comprises two types of technologies: a microchip laser and low noise sensor. The synergies between these two technologies enable developing a compact instrument for range measurements of up to 14 km.

Originality/value

In this paper is reported the first iteration on the LIDAR Engineering Model altimeter named HELENA. HELENA is a TOF altimeter that provides time-tagged distances and velocity measurements. The LIDAR can be used for support near asteroid navigation and provides scientific information. The HELENA design comprises two types of technologies: a microchip laser and low noise sensor. The synergies between these two technologies enable developing a compact instrument for range measurements of up to 14 km.
Indispensable components of creativity, innovation, and FMCG companies' competitive performance: a resource-based view (RBV) of the firm
Authors: Valaei Naser , Rezaei Sajad , Bressolles Gregory , Dent Michael M.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

A total of 210 valid paper-and-pencil questionnaires were received from fast-moving consumer goods/small and medium-sized enterprises (FMCG-SMEs) to empirically test the proposed model. Structural equation modelling approach was performed to assess the model fit, measurement and structural models for exogenous and endogenous constructs, and test of nonlinearity.

Design/methodology/approach

In the hyper-competitive world, while the essence of strategy making is often focussed on environmental and market-based analysis or the structure of the market, the important role of resources and capabilities in determining firm performance and overall strategy formulation within SMEs begs attention. Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, organisational improvisation theory and componential theory of creativity, the purpose of this research is to look beyond the determinants of creativity, innovation and proposes a theoretical model investigating organisations formative performance in strategy formulation.

Findings

The results imply that intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, creativity-related processes and expertise as the firm's capabilities positively influence improvisational creativity, and creativity-related processes and expertise also positively impact on compositional creativity. Surprisingly, intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are not conducive to compositional creativity, and the relationships between extrinsic motivation and improvisational creativity as well as improvisational creativity and performance are nonlinear. Furthermore, both improvisational creativity and compositional creativity are found to be predictors of innovation in FMCG-SMEs.

Practical implications

Thus, organisations and specifically FMCG-SMEs can increase the level of improvisational creativity if they formulate strategies to motivate employees both intrinsically and extrinsically, and further, they can boost the level of compositional creativity in their companies through hiring and nurturing experts.

Originality/value

Less attention has been paid to motivation, creativity, innovation, performance and strategy linkages as the prominent source of competitive advantages among FMCG-SMEs, especially in developing countries. Theoretically, through introducing extrinsic motivation as the predictors of improvisational creativity and innovation, from strategic management perspectives, the empirical findings of this research illustrate that resources and capabilities (RBV) lead to improved competitive performance within the FMCG-SMEs. This study also provides empirical evidence for the nonlinear nature of the relationship between motivation and creativity.
Drivers, barriers and performance outcomes of sustainable packaging: a systematic literature review
Authors: Afif Karima , Rebolledo Claudia , Roy Jacques
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the cross-disciplinary literature on the drivers, barriers and performance outcomes of sustainable packaging to understand the current state of research in this field and identify research opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review is conducted within no time limit. TheMethodi Ordinatiomethodology was applied that resulted in retaining 48 relevant and high impact articles published in 26 academic journals with various scopes.

Findings

Seven key drivers are identified and defined: the integrative and collaborative supply chain, environmental capabilities and resources, market-based instruments, cost reduction, consumer pressure, competitive advantage, and regulatory pressure. Three main barriers are identified and defined: cost/benefit ambiguity, additional costs and complex trade-offs between packaging requirements. The review shows that the drivers and barriers to packaging sustainability are contingent on the firm size. Sustainable packaging positively affects the environmental, social and economic performance; however, its operational performance requires a proactive and integrated supply chain. The results highlight the importance of integrated packaging decisions at three different levels to improve packaging sustainability: vertical and horizontal integration, upstream and downstream integration, and product-packaging integration. The authors developed research propositions and provided insightful directions for future research.

Originality/value

Most studies focus on specific drivers, barriers and outcomes of sustainable packaging, while this paper brings them together to build a comprehensive framework. The latter provides a deeper understanding of the factors that incentivize or deter firms from pursuing sustainable packaging and its performance outcomes.
What determines consumption of nutritious foods by the urban poor in Africa?
Authors: Chege Christine G. Kiria , Namazzi Stella , Mutua Mercy M. , Onyango Kevin Omondi , Jager Matthias
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Malnutrition remains a big public health issue especially in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to analyze factors that influence consumption of nutrient-rich foods among children aged 6–59 months and women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in the urban informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya, and Kampala, Uganda. This study uses multicomposite soft porridge as an example of a nutritious product.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 574 households from urban informal settlements in Kampala and Nairobi. A systematic random sampling approach was used to select respondents, and interviews were conducted on their sociodemographics, porridge consumption and purchase behavior. Probit regression models were used for the analysis.

Findings

Results indicate that households with access to nutrition information are more likely to consume porridge with diversified ingredients, compared to households without nutrition information. Additionally, consumption of fortified porridge flour has a lower probability of consuming porridge flour with diversified ingredients.

Practical implications

The evidence echoes the need for increased dissemination of nutrition information, which will trigger willingness to pay and consumption of nutritious foods. Further, it underpins the need for processor-level interventions to avail these foods at affordable prices for the benefit of low-income consumers.

Originality/value

This is among the first papers assessing factors that influence consumption of nutritious and diversified soft porridge by children aged 6–59 months and women aged 15–49 in the informal settlements of East Africa.
Risk early warning of food safety using novel long short-term memory neural network integrating sum product based analytic hierarchy process
Authors: Geng Zhiqiang , Liang Lingling , Han Yongming , Tao Guangcan , Chu Chong
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Food safety risk brought by environmental pollution seriously threatens human health and affects national economic and social development. In particular, heavy metal pollution and nutrient deficiency have caused regional diseases. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to present a risk early warning method of food safety considering environmental and nutritional factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel risk early warning modelling method based on the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network integrating sum product based analytic hierarchy process (AHP-SP) is proposed. The data fuzzification method is adopted to overcome the uncertainty of food safety detection data and the processed data are viewed as the input of the LSTM. The AHP-SP method is used to fuse the risk of detection data and the obtained risk values are viewed as the expected output of the LSTM. Finally, the proposed method is applied on one group of sterilized milk data from a food detection agency in China.

Findings

The experimental results show that compared with the back propagation and the radial basis function neural networks, the proposed method has higher accuracy in predicting the development trend of food safety risk. Moreover, the causal factors of the risk can be figured out through the predicted results.

Originality/value

The proposed modelling method can achieve accurate prediction and early warning of food safety risk, and provide decision-making basis for the relevant departments to formulate targeted risk prevention and control measures, thereby avoiding food safety incidents caused by environmental pollution or nutritional deficiency.
Start-ups' innovation processes and performance in the food industry: a stochastic frontier analysis
Authors: Matricano Diego , Candelo Elena , Sorrentino Mario
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The food industry has always been supplier dominated, characterised by low research intensity, product line extensions and me-too products. However, recent changes have led new firms operating in the food industry to invest in research and development (R&D) activities in order to introduce innovations into the market and achieve superior performance. This paper aims to verify whether these changes are noteworthy by investigating whether and which innovation-related factors (investments in R&D activities, qualified scientists/engineers and holding a patent) can affect the performance of food start-ups.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 108 innovative start-ups operating in the food industry in Italy was selected, and a stochastic frontier analysis was carried out. This methodology was chosen because of the factorisation of the error term, which is divided into a unilateral component (revealing the inefficiency of the statistical model) and a symmetric component (revealing random gaps).

Findings

Statistical elaborations provide two interesting results. One concerns the error term (only random inefficiency affects results) and the other relates to innovation-related factors. Only investments in R&D activities positively affect the performance of innovative start-ups in the Italian food industry.

Originality/value

Results confirm the relevance of investments in R&D activities for Italian start-ups aiming to achieve superior performance in the food industry. These results confirm relevant changes are occurring in what was a supplier-dominated industry and disclose how start-ups should master the dynamics of innovation and allow for speculation on future industry trends.
QUICKSERV: a service quality assessment tool for the quick-service restaurant industry
Authors: Mendocilla Mario , Miravitlles Matamoros Paloma , Matute Jorge
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically develop and validate a practical, consistent and specific scale to assess perceived service quality at the service encounter at quick-service restaurants (QSRs).

Design/methodology/approach

Development and validation of the scale involved a five-stage process. Data were collected from 430 customers of a QSR belonging to an international brand located in Barcelona. Surveys were applied immediately after the service encounter, using the face-to-face method. The scale development procedure involved exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.

Findings

The results suggest a specific and parsimonious measurement scale, whose structure comprises 14 items in four dimensions. In contrast to previous studies, this study identified the appropriateness of splitting the interaction quality dimension into two single dimensions, one focusing on the interaction time and other on staff–customer interaction. Furthermore, these indicate that a speedy service, pleasant treatment and food quality are the most valued attributes in QSR.

Practical implications

This scale is a useful instrument to administer and assure service quality standards within QSR management systems. Its practical approach and short survey length ease data collection, considering that customers spend short amounts of time in this type of restaurant. Furthermore, it could also be used by franchisors and restaurant operators as a tool to monitor continuing compliance with service quality standards.

Originality/value

The resulting scale introduces a novel four-factor structure with high goodness of fit to effectively measure customers' perceived service quality in QSRs, where the ease of use and speed of gathering client responses are a key factor for successful implementation.
How macroeconomic indicators influence gold price management
Authors: A Liya , Qin Qian , Kamran Hafiz Waqas , Sawangchai Anusara , Wisetsri Worakamol , Raza Mohsin
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study purposes to measure the influencing relations between macroeconomic indicators and the prices of gold. Further study measures several factors with the gold price in the context of the United States.

Design/methodology/approach

The secondary data are collected to measure relationship and fluctuation of gold prices the data collected from the website world development indicators (WDI) for the period of 31 years 1990–2019. This paper uses different econometric analysis such as analytical unit root test for stationary of data, descriptive statistical analysis for description of data, correlation coefficient test for measuring the inter correlation, and ordinary least square regression analysis for determine the impact of dependent and independents variables. In this research paper, gross domestic product (GDP), inflation rate (IR), unemployment rate (UR), real interest rate (RIR), gross national product (GNP), standard trade value (STV) are included in macroeconomic indicators and consider as independent. The gold prices are considered as dependent variable.

Findings

This study's overall results show an important and optimistic association between GDP, IR and STV with the gold price. Moreover, the RIR shows negative and does not show significant relation with the gold prices.

Originality/value

Since several economic crises were included during the data selection studied in this research paper, data error may be present, resulting in the instability of the overall data. However, the study still hopes to find the guiding role of these macro gold price factors in the price of gold from the limited data set. The basic scope of research is that research is limited in the United States.
Impact of multiple soil conservation practices on rice yields and chemical fertiliser use in China
Authors: Yang Zhihai , Yin Ning , Mugera Amin William , Wang Yumeng
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper analysed survey data of 715 rice-producing households in China to assess the determinants of adoption of five mutually exclusive soil conservation practices (SCPs) and their impact on rice yield and chemical fertiliser use.

Design/methodology/approach

The multinomial endogenous treatment effects model was used to account for selection bias and endogeneity arising from both observed and unobserved heterogeneity.

Findings

Farms that adopted SCPs as a package experienced an increase in rice yield and decrease in chemical fertiliser use. Adoption of SCPs as a package led to a 12.0% increase in yield and 15.2% decrease in chemical fertiliser use; these results have policy implications for the non-point source pollution control in the agricultural sector. In contrast, adoption of straw retention only significantly reduced yield by 4.9% and increased chemical fertiliser use by 18.1%.

Originality/value

The authors evaluate and compare multi-type of SCPs, such as straw retention, deep tillage and use of organic fertiliser, separately or in combination, and their impacts on smallholder farmers’ rice yield and chemical fertiliser usage.
Effect of customer cooperative behavior on reverse logistics outsourcing performance in the construction industry – A partial least squares structural equation modeling approach
Authors: Nguyen Duy Tai , Rameezdeen Raufdeen , Chileshe Nicholas , Coggins Jeremy
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of Australian construction firms' cooperative behavior on reverse logistics outsourcing performance (RLOP).

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the aim, a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from construction firms in Australia. Following this, the study used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze 173 responses for testing seven hypotheses that are related to the positive effects of cooperative behavior on RLOP.

Findings

The results indicate that three dimensions of customer cooperative behavior (cooperation, commitment and planning) positively influence RLOP in different ways. Cooperation only directly affects RLOP while planning only has an indirect influence on RLOP. Commitment affects RLOP both directly and indirectly.

Originality/value

This is the first study examining empirically antecedents of RLOP in the construction industry. Additionally, it reveals the mediating role of cooperation. Cooperation fully mediates the relationship between planning and RLOP, and partially mediates the relationship between commitment and RLOP.
Empowering leadership and innovative work behavior: the mediating effects of climate for initiative and job autonomy in Moroccan SMEs
Authors: Hassi Abderrahman , Rohlfer Sylvia , Jebsen Simon
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to explore the role of empowering leadership, organizational climate for initiative and job autonomy in spurring innovative work behavior (IWB).

Design/methodology/approach

This study resorted to the structural equation modeling technique along the Bayesian estimation approach to analyze the mediating role of the organizational climate for initiative and job autonomy in the empowering leadership-IWB link in data gathered from CEOs, middle managers and non-managerial employees of 444 small and medium enterprises in Morocco.

Findings

The findings revealed that empowering leadership is a prerequisite of IWB as subordinates, who are empowered by their leaders, demonstrate IWB. Further, organizational climate for initiative and job autonomy mediate the empowering leadership-IWB link.

Practical implications

This research has demonstrated that firms and organizational leaders who seek to make their middle managers innovative in their job should adopt empowering leadership practices, build an organizational climate that is favorable for initiative-taking and grant middle managers with autonomy in the way they carry out their tasks.

Originality/value

This paper extends our understanding on the mechanisms linking empowering leadership and IWB by testing the mediating effects of organizational climate for initiative and job autonomy.
A performance measurement model for the housekeeping services in healthcare facilities
Authors: Ginthotavidana Sandunika Sasuli Chiranthi , Waidyasekara Kapugama Geeganage Anuradha Samarajeewa
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a customised model to measure the performance of housekeeping (HK) services in Sri Lankan health-care facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory sequential mixed approach was adopted in the study to collect and analyse data. A case study strategy was adopted in the initial phase to explore the current HK practices, and to determine the applicable key performance indicators (KPIs) found through literature. Semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection method in the selected case studies. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the next phase to verify the validity of case study findings. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. One sample t-test was used to identify significant KPIs and to formulate the customised performance measurement (PM) model.

Findings

The study identified and ranked 46 KPIs, which can be used to measure the performance of HK divisions of health-care facilities, in balanced scorecard perspectives. The findings also revealed that the KPIs determined using the model have a significant impact on implementing effective health-care HK services and could be used to measure both real and subjective cleanliness.

Practical implications

The developed model can be used for numerous PM requirements in health-care setups in both developing and developed countries. The KPIs determined using this model can be presented in quality audits and government inspections as proof of effective HK management. The HK managers of the health-care sector can effectively monitor the performance of their divisions using the proposed PM model and this model can be customised to match the other facilities management service divisions.

Originality/value

Many studies focus on overall health-care PM. This study expands the knowledge on HK PM in the health-care sector by presenting a collection of performance indicators centred on HK function.
Behavioral data assists decisions: exploring the mental representation of digital-self
Authors: Zhang Yixin , Cui Lizhen , He Wei , Lu Xudong , Wang Shipeng
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The behavioral decision-making of digital-self is one of the important research contents of the network of crowd intelligence. The factors and mechanisms that affect decision-making have attracted the attention of many researchers. Among the factors that influence decision-making, the mind of digital-self plays an important role. Exploring the influence mechanism of digital-selfs’ mind on decision-making is helpful to understand the behaviors of the crowd intelligence network and improve the transaction efficiency in the network of CrowdIntell.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors use behavioral pattern perception layer, multi-aspect perception layer and memory network enhancement layer to adaptively explore the mind of a digital-self and generate the mental representation of a digital-self from three aspects including external behavior, multi-aspect factors of the mind and memory units. The authors use the mental representations to assist behavioral decision-making.

Findings

The evaluation in real-world open data sets shows that the proposed method can model the mind and verify the influence of the mind on the behavioral decisions, and its performance is better than the universal baseline methods for modeling user interest.

Originality/value

In general, the authors use the behaviors of the digital-self to mine and explore its mind, which is used to assist the digital-self to make decisions and promote the transaction in the network of CrowdIntell. This work is one of the early attempts, which uses neural networks to model the mental representation of digital-self.
Analysing the interrelationship of knowledge creation and diffusion challenges of renewable energy technologies development in Iran
Authors: Fartash Kiarash , Ghorbani Amir , Khayatian Mohammadsadegh , Elyasi Mahdi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims at identifying knowledge creation and diffusion challenges and explaining their causal relationship in renewable energy technologies in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

By reviewing literature of renewable energy technologies development, key knowledge creation and diffusion challenges are extracted. Then, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method is used to investigate the cause-effect relationships as well as the influence structure of aforementioned challenges in Iran.

Findings

The results indicate that lack of specialized higher education and research institutions (C4), limited international product development and technological cooperation with international pioneer firms (C8), insufficient international research interactions of institutions and academic research centres (C6), tight and temporary subsidies to domestic institutes (C13), limited and non-systematic government grants (C14), insufficient tax incentives with low impact on investment (C12), weak enforcement of intellectual property rights (C5), low number and relatively poor performance of NGOs and scientific and trade associations (C19) and the limited number of conferences, workshops, meetings and specialized journals (C15) are among the most instrumental challenges of knowledge creation and diffusion of renewable energy technologies development in Iran.

Originality/value

This paper identifies knowledge creation and diffusion challenges of renewable energy technologies development in Iran, which is applicable for other developing countries. It also analyses the interrelationship and causal effect between challenges which is a neglected issue in the literature and has beneficial theoretical and policy implications.
How workplace bullying affects nurses’ well-being? The roles of burnout and passive avoidant leadership
Authors: Islam Talat , Ali Muhammad , Jamil Saqib , Ali Hafiz Fawad
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate individual-related consequences of workplace bullying among the health-care section. Specifically, this study examined the mediating role of burnout between workplace bullying and nurses’ well-being. Moreover, passive avoidant leadership is examined as a conditional variable between workplace bullying and burnout.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected data from 314 nurses working in various hospitals through a questionnaire-based survey using Google Form in two waves.

Findings

Structural equation modeling confirmed the negative effect of workplace bullying on nurses’ well-being, whereas burnout mediates this relationship. In addition, passive avoidant leadership was identified as a conditional variable that strengthens the positive association between workplace bullying and burnout.

Research limitations/implications

Although data for the study were collected in two waves, still cross-sectional design limits causality.

Practical implications

This study suggests management to focus on developing and implementing counter-bullying rules to avoid the adverse consequences of workplace bullying (e.g. capital loss, recruitment costs, burnout, well-being, etc.). In addition, leaders/supervisors must be trained to fulfill their responsibilities to reduce negative consequences.

Originality/value

Studies on workplace bullying in high-power distance cultures are scant. Therefore, drawing upon conservation of resource theory, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that has investigated the moderating role of passive avoidant leadership on the association between workplace bullying and burnout.
Closed supply network modelling for end-of-life ship remanufacturing
Authors: Chhetri Prem , Nikkhah Mahsa Javan , Soleimani Hamed , Shahparvari Shahrooz , Shamlou Ashkan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper designs an optimal closed-loop supply chain network with an integrated forward and reverse logistics to examine the possibility of remanufacturing end-of-life (EoL) ships.

Design/methodology/approach

Explanatory variables are used to estimate the number of EoL ships available in a closed-loop supply chain network. The estimated number of EoL ships is used as an input in the model and then it is solved by a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model of the closed-loop supply chain network to minimise the total logistic costs. A discounted payback period formula is developed to calculate the length of time to recoup an investment based on the investment's discounted cash flows. Existing ship wrecking industry clusters in the Western region of India are used as the case study to apply the proposed model.

Findings

The MILP model has optimised the total logistics costs of the closed-loop supply network and ascertained the optimal number and location of remanufacturing for building EoL ships. The capital and variable costs required for establishing and operating remanufacturing centres are computed. To remanufacture 30 ships a year, the discounted payback period of this project is estimated to be less than two years.

Practical implications

Ship manufacturing businesses are yet to re-manufacture EoL ships, given high upfront capital expenditure and operational challenges. This study provides management insights into the costs and benefits of EoL ship remanufacturing; thus, informing the decision-makers to make strategic operational decisions.

Originality/value

The design of an optimal close loop supply chain network coupled with a Bayesian network approach and discounted payback period formula for the collection and remanufacturing of EoL ships provides a new integrated perspective to ship manufacturing.
Individual investors' responses to mutual fund fire sales and sell-side analysts' price-correcting revisions
Authors: Jiang Jinglin , Wang Weiwei
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper investigates individual investors' responses to stock underpricing and how their trading decisions are affected by analysts' forecasts and recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study uses mutual fund fire sales as an exogenous source that causes stock underpricing and analysts' forecasts and recommendations as price-correcting information. The study further uses regression analysis to examine individual investors' responses to fire sales and how their responses vary with price-correcting information.

Findings

The authors first show that individual investors respond to mutual fund fire sales by significantly decreasing net buys, and this effect appears to be prolonged. Next, the authors find that the decrease of net buys diminishes following analysts' price-correcting earnings forecast revisions and stock recommendation changes. Hence, the authors suggest that individual investors are not “wise” enough to recognize flow-driven underpricing; however, this response is weakened by analysts' price-correcting information.

Originality/value

There is an ongoing debate in the literature about whether individual investors should be portrayed as unsophisticated traders or informed traders who can predict future returns. The authors study a unique information event and provide new evidence related to both perspectives. Overall, our evidence suggests that the “unsophisticated traders” perspective is predominant, whereas a better information environment significantly reduces individual investors' information disadvantage. This finding could be of interest to both academic researchers and regulators.
An investigation of employee perception of micro-corporate social responsibility and societal behavior: a moderated-mediated model
Authors: Mahmud Appel , Ding Donghong , Ali Zulqurnain
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The micro-level research investigating employees' attitudinal, behavioral and psychological reactions to corporate social responsibility (CSR) has recently been expanded within CSR literature. Based on two interrelated social psychological theories, such as the theory of social information processing and the theory of social learning, this study examines the impact of perceived CSR–community (PCSRc; a micro-CSR area) on societal behavior (SB; a micro-level social work) at the employee level of analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

This study recruited 440 bank employees of Bangladesh through a survey method and ran structural equation modeling to test the proposed measurement model and structural relationships in AMOS.

Findings

The study's outcomes report that PCSRc is positively related to SB and CSR engagement (CSRe). CSRe is also positively related to SB, and CSRe mediates the association of PCSRc and SB. CSR positivity (CSRp) moderates the direct relationship between PCSRc and CSRe and the indirect connection between PCSRc and SB via CSRe such that these relationships are significant when CSRp is high as compared to low.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on highly educated employees' perception of micro-CSR initiative on micro-level social behavior in a newly emerging market context such as Bangladesh only.

Practical implications

This study's outcomes guide policymakers to adopt CSR policy and its implementation strategies, accordingly, to employees' attitudinal, behavioral and psychological reactions to CSR.

Social implications

This research can be used to steer the behavior of employees within society. It will eventually also have a positive influence on the perception of society toward the organization.

Originality/value

This study's originality is to find CSRe as a new intervening mechanism and CSRp as a new boundary condition of organizational CSR and employees' behavioral outcomes in the micro-CSR literature. The first study investigates the connections of three micro-constructs together, such as a micro (individual)-level analysis, a micro-CSR area and a micro-level social work setting.
Kaizen event process quality: towards a phase-based understanding of high-quality group problem-solving
Authors: Franken José C.M. , van Dun Desirée H. , Wilderom Celeste P.M.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

As a problem-solving tool, the kaizen event (KE) is underutilised in practice. Assuming this is due to a lack of group process quality during those events, the authors aimed to grasp what is needed during high-quality KE meetings. Guided by the phased approach for structured problem-solving, the authors built and explored a measure for enriching future KE research.

Design/methodology/approach

Six phases were used to code all verbal contributions (N = 5,442) in 21 diverse, videotaped KE meetings. Resembling state space grids, the authors visualised the course of each meeting with line graphs which were shown to ten individual kaizen experts as well as to the filmed kaizen groups.

Findings

From their reactions to the graphs the authors extracted high-quality KE process characteristics. At the end of each phase, that should be enacted sequentially, explicit group consensus appeared to be crucial. Some of the groups spent too little time on a group-shared understanding of the problem and its root causes. Surprisingly, the mixed-methods data suggested that small and infrequent deviations (“jumps”) to another phase might be necessary for a high-quality process. According to the newly developed quantitative process measure, when groups often jump from one phase to a distant, previous or next phase, this relates to low KE process quality.

Originality/value

A refined conceptual model and research agenda are offered for generating better solutions during KEs, and the authors urge examinations of the effects of well-crafted KE training.