bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Ancestral Balanced Inversion Polymorphism Confers Global Adaptation
Authors: Kapun Martin , Mitchell Esra Durmaz , Kawecki Tadeusz J. , Schmidt Paul , Flatt Thomas
Published: February 2023

Since the pioneering work of Dobzhansky in the 1930s and 1940s, many chromosomal inversions have been identified but how they contribute to adaptation remains poorly understood. InDrosophila melanogaster, the widespread inversion polymorphismIn(3R)Payneunderpins latitudinal clines in fitness traits on multiple continents. Here, we use single-individual whole-genome sequencing, transcriptomics and published sequencing data to study the population genomics of this inversion on four continents: in its ancestral African range and in derived populations in Europe, North America, and Australia. Our results confirm that this inversion originated in sub-Saharan Africa and subsequently became cosmopolitan; we observe marked monophyletic divergence of inverted and non-inverted karyotypes, with some substructure among inverted chromosomes between continents. Despite divergent evolution of this inversion since its out-of-Africa migration, derived non-African populations exhibit similar patterns of long-range linkage disequilibrium between the inversion breakpoints and major peaks of divergence in its center, consistent with balancing selection and suggesting that the inversion harbors alleles that are maintained by selection on several continents. Using RNA-seq we identify overlap between inversion-linked SNPs and loci that are differentially expressed between inverted and non-inverted chromosomes. Expression levels are higher for inverted chromosomes at low temperature, suggesting loss of buffering or compensatory plasticity and consistent with higher inversion frequency in warm climates. Our results suggest that this ancestrally tropical balanced polymorphism spread around the world and became latitudinally assorted along similar but independent climatic gradients, always being frequent in subtropical/tropical areas but rare or absent in temperate climates.
Remodeling of the Ribosomal Quality Control and Protein Translation by a Viral Ubiquitin Deconjugase
Authors: Liu Jiangnan , Nagy Noemi , Aguilar-Alonso Francisco , Esteves Francisco , Ayala-Torres Carlos , Xu Shanshan , Masucci Maria G.
Published: February 2023

The strategies adopted by viruses to reprogram the protein translation and quality control machineries to promote infection are poorly understood. Here, we discovered that the viral ubiquitin deconjugase (vDUB) encoded in the large tegument protein of Epstein- Barr virus (EBV) regulates ribosomal stress responses. The vDUB participates in protein complexes that include the ubiquitin ligases ZNF598 and LTN1 and the UFM1 ligase UFL1. Upon ribosomal stalling, the vDUB counteracts the ubiquitination of 40S ribosome subunits, inhibits the degradation of translation-stalled polypeptides by the proteasome, and prevents UFMylation of the 60S particle, which impairs the ER-phagy- dependent clearance of stalled products. Inhibition of the ribosome quality control activates a GCN2-dependent integrated stress response that decreases global protein translation while promoting the readthrough of stall-inducing mRNAs. The vDUB enhances viral mRNAs translation and virus release during productive infection, pointing to a pivotal role in cell reprogramming that enables virus production and underlies the pathogenesis of EBV-associated cancers and autoimmune diseases.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY
A Drug Repurposing Approach Reveals Targetable Epigenetic Pathways inPlasmodium vivaxHypnozoites
Authors: Maher S. P. , Bakowski M. A. , Vantaux A. , Flannery E. L. , Andolina C. , Gupta M. , Antonova-Koch Y. , Argomaniz M. , Cabrera-Mora M. , Campo B. , Chao A. T. , Chatterjee A. K. , Cheng W. T. , Chuenchob E. , Cooper C. A. , Cottier K. , Galinski M. R. , Harupa-Chung A. , Ji H. , Joseph S. B. , Lenz T. , Lonardi S. , Matheson J. , Mikolajczak S. A. , Moeller T. , Orban A. , Padín-Irizarry V. , Pan K. , Péneau J. , Prudhomme J. , Roesch C. , Ruberto A. A. , Sabnis S. S. , Saney C. L. , Sattabongkot J. , Sereshki S. , Suriyakan S. , Ubalee R. , Wang Y. , Wasisakun P. , Yin J. , Popovici J. , McNamara C. W. , Joyner C. J. , Nosten F. , Witkowski B. , Le Roch K. G. , Kyle D. E.
Published: February 2023

Radical cure ofPlasmodium vivaxmalaria must include elimination of quiescent ‘hypnozoite’ forms in the liver; however, the only FDA-approved treatments are contraindicated in many vulnerable populations. To identify new drugs and drug targets for hypnozoites, we screened the Repurposing, Focused Rescue, and Accelerated Medchem (ReFRAME) library and a collection of epigenetic inhibitors againstP. vivaxliver stages. From both libraries, we identified inhibitors targeting epigenetics pathways as selectively active againstP. vivaxandP. cynomolgihypnozoites. These include DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors as well as several inhibitors targeting histone post-translational modifications. Immunofluorescence staining ofPlasmodiumliver forms showed strong nuclear 5-methylcystosine signal, indicating liver stage parasite DNA is methylated. Using bisulfite sequencing, we mapped genomic DNA methylation in sporozoites, revealing DNA methylation signals in most coding genes. We also demonstrated that methylation level in proximal promoter regions as well as in the first exon of the genes may affect, at least partially, gene expression inP. vivax. The importance of selective inhibitors targeting epigenetic features on hypnozoites was validated using MMV019721, an acetyl-CoA synthetase inhibitor that affects histone acetylation and was previously reported as active againstP. falciparumblood stages. In summary, our data indicate that several epigenetic mechanisms are likely modulating hypnozoite formation or persistence and provide an avenue for the discovery and development of improved radical cure antimalarials.

One-Sentence Summary

Drug repurposing screens reveal several epigenetic inhibitors as active againstP. vivaxhypnozoites demonstrating that epigenetic pathways play a central role in hypnozoite quiescence.
Central bank digital currency and bank earnings management using loan loss provisions
Authors: Ozili Peterson K.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the role of central bank digital currency (CBDC) in bank earnings management and focus on how CBDC activity might influence banks to engage in accrual earnings management using loan loss provisions (LLPs) and the implications for earnings quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used conceptual discourse analysis to explain the role of CBDC in bank earnings management.

Findings

Banks will use accruals, such as LLPs, to manage earnings when CBDC-induced bank disintermediation leads to a reduction in bank deposits, a reduction in bank lending and a likely reduction in reported earnings. Bank managers will mitigate the reduction in reported earnings by lowering discretionary LLPs to increase reported earnings.

Originality/value

The recent emergence of CBDC in the digital currency universe has led to increased research interest on the role of CBDC in corporations and society. This study contributes to the literature by focusing on banks, and examining the effect of CBDC on bank earnings management.
Examining the impact of reasonable accommodation appraisals on New Zealand managers' attitudes toward hiring people with disability
Authors: D'Souza Oliver Nelson , Kuntz Joana R.C.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Managers are responsible for implementing reasonable accommodation (RA) for people with disabilities (PwD). Yet, little is known about the extent to which managerial views of RA shape attitudes toward PwD. The study draws on conservation of resources (COR) and job demands and resources (JD-R) theories to examine the relationship between managerial views of RA availability and implementation ease on attitudes towards hiring PwD.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 162 full-time managers at a large New Zealand (NZ) healthcare organisation completed an online survey. Moderated multiple regressions were conducted to test the main effects and interactions between perceptions of RA process and attitudes towards hiring PwD.

Findings

The study results indicate that line managers held positive attitudes towards hiring PwD when they viewed RA implementation as easy, particularity around the provision of flexible work arrangements.

Research limitations/implications

This study shows the importance of gaging managers' views of RA processes to understand their attitudes toward PwD and highlights potential linkages between managerial perspectives on RA, PwD experiences in the organisation and the effectiveness of disability support and inclusion initiatives.

Practical implications

RA availability from the organisation is insufficient to elicit positive managerial attitudes toward hiring PwD. Policies and procedures that reduce RA implementation complexity are expected to foster positive managerial attitudes toward PwD and improve employment outcomes for this employee group.

Originality/value

This study is the first to test how managerial attitudes towards hiring PwD are influenced by views of RA availability from the organisation and of RA implementation ease. It also provides a multidimensional measure that captures managerial views of RA availability from the organisation and RA implementation ease.
Should I Go or Should I Stay: job hopping in Malaysia small medium enterprise (SME) service sectors
Authors: Siew Jia Fang , Wong Siew Chin , Lim Chui Seong
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationships between learning opportunities, person-organization fit, self-directedness career attitude and job hopping among generation Y employees in Malaysian small medium enterprise (SME) service sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

Research data was gathered from a sample of 203 generation Y employees from SME service sectors in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modelling is used to perform the data analysis in the present study.

Findings

The results demonstrated that person-organization fit and self-directedness career attitude correlates significantly with job hopping among generation Y employees. However, there is no significant relationship between learning opportunities and job hopping.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides an empirical framework for explaining the job hopping among generation Y employees in SME service based on the review of related careers.

Originality/value

This study offers new insights into the predicting factors of job hopping among generation Y employees in the Malaysian context specifically.
Cyber terrorism cases and stock market valuation effects
Authors: Smith Katherine Taken , Smith Lawrence Murphy , Burger Marcus , Boyle Erik S.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Cyber terrorism poses a serious technology risk to businesses and the economies they operate in. Cyber terrorism is a digital attack on computers, networks or digital information systems, carried out to coerce people or governments to further the social or political objectives of the attacker. Cyber terrorism is costly in terms of impaired operations and damaged assets. Cyber terrorism harms a firm’s reputation, thereby negatively affecting a firm’s stock market valuation. This poses grave worries to company management, financial analysts, creditors and investors. This study aims to evaluate the effect of cyber terrorism on the market value of publicly traded firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Financial information was obtained on business firms that were featured in news stories as targets of cyber terrorism. The firm’s stock price was recorded for 1, 3 and 7 days before and after the news article. Percentage changes in the firm’s stock price were compared to percentage changes in the Dow Jones Index to ascertain whether the firm’s stock price went up or down matching the market overall.

Findings

Results indicate that stock prices are significantly negatively affected by news of cyber terrorist attacks on companies. In all three time periods after the cyber terrorist attack, there was a significant negative decline in the stock value relative to the Dow Jones Index. Thus, the market valuation of the firm is damaged. As a result, the shareholders and institutions are financially damaged. Furthermore, exposed system vulnerability may lead to loss of business from consumers who have reduced confidence in the firm’s operations.

Practical implications

This paper examines the risks posed by cyber terrorism, including its impact on individual business firms, which in turn affect entire national economic systems. This makes clear the high value of cybersecurity in safeguarding computer systems. Taking steps to avoid being a victim of cyber terrorism is an important aspect of cybersecurity. Preventative steps are normally far less costly than rebuilding an information system after a cyber terrorist attack.

Originality/value

This study is original in examining the effect of cyber terrorism on the stock value of a company.
Construction and evaluation of a domain-specific knowledge graph for knowledge discovery
Authors: Nguyen Huyen , Chen Haihua , Chen Jiangping , Kargozari Kate , Ding Junhua
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate a method of building a biomedical knowledge graph (KG).

Design/methodology/approach

This research first constructs a COVID-19 KG on the COVID-19 Open Research Data Set, covering information over six categories (i.e. disease, drug, gene, species, therapy and symptom). The construction used open-source tools to extract entities, relations and triples. Then, the COVID-19 KG is evaluated on three data-quality dimensions: correctness, relatedness and comprehensiveness, using a semiautomatic approach. Finally, this study assesses the application of the KG by building a question answering (Q&A) system. Five queries regarding COVID-19 genomes, symptoms, transmissions and therapeutics were submitted to the system and the results were analyzed.

Findings

With current extraction tools, the quality of the KG is moderate and difficult to improve, unless more efforts are made to improve the tools for entity extraction, relation extraction and others. This study finds that comprehensiveness and relatedness positively correlate with the data size. Furthermore, the results indicate the performances of the Q&A systems built on the larger-scale KGs are better than the smaller ones for most queries, proving the importance of relatedness and comprehensiveness to ensure the usefulness of the KG.

Originality/value

The KG construction process, data-quality-based and application-based evaluations discussed in this paper provide valuable references for KG researchers and practitioners to build high-quality domain-specific knowledge discovery systems.
How do COVID-19 preventive measures build corporate reputation: focus on the hospitality industry in Tanzania
Authors: Amani David
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The study investigated the strategic contribution of COVID-19 preventive measures in building corporate reputation in the hospitality industry when mediated with ethical branding.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypothesized model was developed and tested using a cross-sectional research design among 404 customers of hospitality organizations (i.e. hotels and restaurants). The collected data were analyzed quantitatively using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results showed that COVID-19 preventive measures are important drivers in building or rebuilding corporate reputation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also showed that ethical branding acts as a mediator between COVID-19 preventive measures and corporate reputation.

Research limitations/implications

The study used a nonprobability sampling technique, i.e. convenience sampling and a cross-sectional survey research design. It is therefore necessary to be careful when generalizing the findings.

Practical implications

The study recommends that managers in hospitality organizations should ensure proper and effective compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures during service delivery. Among others, the study highlighted areas for further study to include an investigation using a longitudinal approach to observe behavioral changes toward COVID-19 preventive measures and their consequences on the overall corporate reputation of the hospitality industry. This recommendation is based on the fact that, currently, new cases and mortality rates have decreased considerably. As a result, customers in the hospitality industry have started to have different opinions about complying with COVID-19 preventive measures.

Originality/value

The study is among new endeavors to investigate drivers that can rebuild and sustain the corporate reputation of hospitality organizations during a pandemic like COVID-19.
To speak up or remain silent: the double-edged effects of trust and felt trust
Authors: Huang Yung-Kuei , Chuang Ning-Kuang , Kwok Linchi
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Guided by the social exchange theory, this study aims to examine the mediating relationship among trust in employee, felt trust, and trust in supervisor, and these trust-related factors’ direct and indirect effects on frontline hotel employees’ customer-focused voice and silence.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey questionnaires were distributed to collect 307 valid paired supervisor–employee responses from 32 hotels in Taiwan. Structured equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

First, treating trust-related variables as two-dimensional constructs (reliance and disclosure), the results confirmed that reliance-based trust in employee increases trust in supervisor through felt trust. Second, supervisor trust in employee was generally stronger than employee felt trust. Third, while felt reliance and disclosure-based trust in supervisor were found to promote customer-focused voice and discourage silence, such opposite effects on voice and silence were not observed for reliance-based trust in employee, felt disclosure and reliance-based trust in supervisor. Fourth, indirect effects of trust in employee and felt trust on voice and silence through trust in supervisor received partial support.

Practical implications

This study provides business insights into managing frontline hotel employees’ voice/silence behaviors through trusting relationships.

Originality/value

This study verified employee felt trust as a mediating mechanism in their trusting relationships with supervisors as well as supervisors’ roles in initiating trust in vertical dyads. Using a two-dimensional trust measure, our analysis illustrated the differential effects of trust-related variables on customer-focused voice and silence, shedding light on the double-edged effects of felt trust and trust in supervisor as well as the conceptual distinction between voice and silence.
Detriments of exploitative leadership in the hotel industry: role of conspiracy beliefs and forgiveness climate
Authors: Fatima Tasneem , Majeed Mehwish
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the indirect relationship between exploitative leadership (EL) and psychological distress through emotional complexity. This study also predicted that belief in organizational conspiracy theories moderates the association between EL and emotional complexity. Furthermore, forgiveness climate acts as a boundary condition between emotional complexity and psychological distress.

Design/methodology/approach

The respondents of this time-lagged study (N = 325) were working in five-star and four-star hotels in three cities located in Pakistan, namely, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore. Data were collected through the questionnaire.

Findings

Results revealed that exploitative leaders cause emotional complexity among hotel employees, enhancing their psychological distress. The study further showed that hotel employees who believe in organizational conspiracy theories are more likely to experience emotional complexity under an exploitative leader. Additionally, the perceived forgiveness climate moderates the relationship between emotional complexity and psychological distress.

Practical implications

Hotel managers should avoid hiring those candidates for leadership positions who have a tendency to engage in exploitative behavior. Managers should maintain regular communication with hotel workers to minimize beliefs in organizational conspiracy theories. Managers should also develop a forgiveness climate to minimize psychological distress among hotel employees.

Originality/value

It is one of the few studies investigating the negative consequences of EL, particularly in the hospitality industry. This study has also identified the underlying causes of psychological distress among hotel workers.
The role of strong ties in empowering women entrepreneurs in collectivist contexts
Authors: Bastian Bettina Lynda , Wood Bronwyn P. , Ng Poh Yen
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study examines what social ties within collectivist settings mean for women's venturing and how these ties support women in gaining empowerment through their ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

Thirteen in-depth semi-structured interviews with women entrepreneurs located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were conducted to examine the influence of social ties in their ventures.

Findings

The findings reveal that women in this context, contrary to most reported findings in the extant literature, both rely more on and find strong ties more conducive than weak ties in most of their entrepreneurial behaviours and activities. Results also show how the UAE's collectivist cultural norms shape social networks and inform individual decision-making, resource acquisition, well-being and self-efficacy as well as enhance women's empowerment through entrepreneurship. The women entrepreneurs were found to leverage their social ties for both power and action throughout their entrepreneurial journey consistent with their culture.

Originality/value

A conceptual model, derived from the results of a qualitative study, illustrating the relationships between women entrepreneurs' use of social ties and the empowering capacities of venturing within a collectivist cultural context is developed. Based on these findings, the authors discuss the implications for policymakers and recommend avenues for future research, and research designs, on women entrepreneurs in collectivist contexts.
The influence of strategic flexibility on SME performance: is business model innovation the missing link?
Authors: Bashir Makhmoor
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of strategic flexibility on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) performance, and how such effects are mediated by business model innovation (BMI).

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected in the form of surveys from 200 SMEs located in Saudi Arabia. The collected data were analyzed with structural equation modeling using Amos 23.

Findings

The results highlighted that strategic flexibility has a direct and significant influence on SME performance. Moreover, BMI partially mediates the relationship between strategic flexibility and SME performance.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study suggest that managers should be made aware that strategic flexibility can be an important driver for BMI which in turn would enhance SME performance. This study argues that the perks of strategic flexibility are irrespective of firm size. Furthermore, BMI can help improve the performance of SMEs by unlocking new opportunities for value creation and value capture

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is one of the first to test the relationship between strategic flexibility and SME performance through BMI.
Understanding the determinants of adoption of mHealth services among older women’s perspective in Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Mohammad Zahedul , Khanam Liza
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors affecting adoption of mHealth services among the older women in Bangladesh. As this portion of the total population is rapidly increasing in Dhaka City.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the technology acceptance model as a theoretical framework, this study introduces perceived reliability, price value and technology anxiety as new factor reflecting the user’s reliability, beliefs and monetary concerns in the acceptance of mHealth services. A structured survey was conducted to collect the required data from convenience sampling of 271 mHealth end users from Dhaka city in Bangladesh.

Findings

The study confirmed that perceived usefulness, perceived reliability; price value and technology anxiety had a significant impact on mHealth adoption. Ease of use did not influence on the adoption of mHealth services.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to investigate the determinant of mHealth adoption among older Women. Moreover, the insights from this study could benefit mHealth services providers and policymakers in implementing more effective marketing strategies to increase the acceptability of mHealth services.
How advertising claims affect sports consumers' purchase intention of badminton rackets? The role of regulatory fit
Authors: Ni Ying-Lien , Kuo Che-Chun , Chang Wen Hsin , Wu Chia-Huei , Chen Lung Hung
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Regulatory focus theory suggests that regulatory fit influences individuals' decisions. However, little is known regarding the effect of regulatory fit on sports consumers' purchase intention. Accordingly, the authors extend the concept of regulatory fit to the sports context to understand how advertising claims affect amateur badminton players' purchase intention of badminton rackets.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 200 amateur badminton players participated in this study. These participants were randomly assigned to the promotion-prime advertising claim or prevention-prime advertising claim condition.

Findings

Authors’ findings demonstrate that the experience fit between personal regulatory focus in the sports context and advertising claims induces higher purchase intention. This finding corresponds with expectations based on regulatory focus theory.

Originality/value

The present study extends and strengthens knowledge of personal regulatory focus in the sports context and thus shows marketers how to communicate with target customers to precisely sell sports products using the regulatory fit strategy.
Understanding faculty acceptance of online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: a Saudi Arabian case study
Authors: Madani Haider , Adhikari Ajay , Hodgdon Christopher
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to leverage the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology framework developed by Venkatesh et al. (2003) to explore the factors influencing faculty willingness and acceptance of online teaching at a major Saudi Arabian university as we move to a post-COVID-19 new normal.

Design/methodology/approach

We surveyed business school faculty from a major Saudi Arabian university that transitioned to online learning because of the COVID-19 lockdown. We used partial least square structural equation modeling to examine the factors that impact faculty satisfaction and behavioral intention to continue using online teaching in the future.

Findings

The results of the study indicated that when faculty perceive that e-learning improves their teaching performance and effectiveness (performance expectancy) and find that online teaching tools are relatively easy to use (effort expectancy), then they are more open to considering online teaching and using digital tools even after the pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

The study uses a Saudi Arabian sample, so the results of the study may not be generalizable to other countries. The study was cross-sectional in nature; a longitudinal design would help in uncovering more stable relationships and enabling us to draw stronger conclusions. Lastly, the sample size for the study was relatively small, resulting in a loss of power in statistical testing. Notwithstanding these limitations, our study contributes to a greater understanding and appreciation of faculty acceptance of online teaching as we progress to a post-COVID-19 new normal. As such, it should be useful to educators, institutions and policymakers as they seek to reimagine business education going forward.

Originality/value

The present study is one of the first scholarly studies to focus on exploring e-learning acceptance in a business school from a faculty perspective, considering the natural experiment that forced institutions to move to online teaching irrespective of their prior acceptance or experience with this teaching modality.
Involvement of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) in takaful in Sri Lanka: an extension of theory of planned behaviour
Authors: Rifas Abi Huraira , Ab Rahman Asmak , Buang Ahmad Hidayat , Abdul Talib Muzalwana
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the factors affecting micro, small and medium entrepreneurs’ (MSMEs) behavioural intention to participate in takaful schemes in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a quantitative approach using primary data from a questionnaire. Out of 470 questionnaires, 432 were collected (91.91%) from MSMEs in Kalmunai business region in Sri Lanka. The data obtained were analysed using partial least square-structural equation modelling.

Findings

This study revealed that the extension model of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) can be effectively applied to behavioural intentions towards a takaful scheme by MSMEs. Out of eight hypotheses, seven were significant, including: attitude towards behavioural intention; subjective norm; perceived behavioural control; knowledge; religiosity; income; trust in takaful as a significant influence. However, awareness of intention was not found to be significant.

Practical implications

This study suggests advantages for takaful providers in Sri Lanka, especially marketing departments, for enhancing sale of products, refurbishing marketing strategies and understanding the purchasing motivation of business entrepreneurs. This study guides takaful companies as to where they should concentrate to enhance market penetration.

Originality/value

Previous studies have concentrated on only three factors which comprise TPB. This paper’s main contribution is on the uniqueness of the Muslim minority context in a pluralistic context, providing a marketing model for takaful operators based on the different relevant dimensions.
The phenomenon of trade-based money laundering (TBML) – a critical review in Sri Lankan context
Authors: Sivaguru Dinesh , Tilakasiri Kamal
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Money laundering (ML) has become a significant challenge all over the world today. Trade-based money laundering (TBML) is a type of ML that poses a hazard to any country. In recent years, developed and developing countries have pursued liberal policies for international financial markets. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) defines TBML as the process of concealing criminal earnings and shifting value through trade transactions in an attempt to justify their illicit origins. As international financial markets have improved ML controls, criminals have turned to the trade sector as a new venue, raising trade risks. The purpose of this study is to highlight the danger posed by TBML and the initiatives that should be taken to prevent such.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of publicly available reports, case studies, secondary data and literature on TBML from a variety of Sri Lankan and international contexts comprised the methodology. However, due to the dearth of literature on TBML details/information in the Sri Lankan context, international case studies have been analyzed. More critically, there are no precise estimates of TBML or defined protocols for collecting and maintaining TBML data. As a result, the FATF potential TMBL typologies were analyzed, and typical TBML procedures were examined to identify viable treats for Sri Lanka.

Findings

The study found that TBML has a significant effect on the economy and, as a result, social conflicts. Sri Lanka has the potential for TBML, and ML through financial institutions was identified as a major risk. Literature, on the other hand, shows that a large quantity of money has been laundered using TBML in Sri Lanka. The geographical location entices criminals to wash their illicit gains, and so the country has potential danger from South Asian countries. However, because of the sociopolitical climate in Sri Lanka, criminals are constantly looking for ways to profit illegally. Relaxing rules to promote foreign investment may encourage launderers to use their illicit proceeds. The government needs to take great care when dealing with this particularly delicate issue.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the complexity of financial crimes, this study had a number of limitations, as do many others. The data used for this study was sourced from publicly available information and the TBML has been clearly defined or understood due to the fact that the complexity of the methods used by criminals. As a result, the number of local instances reported on TMBL is quite small, hence this study relied on international case studies.

Originality/value

This research on TBML in Sri Lanka is original. It is anticipated that the findings and contribution of the study would help the stakeholders develop TBML prevention measures.
Why do people not attend public library programs in the current digital age? A mix method study in Hong Kong
Authors: Lu Shan Shan , Tian Ruwen , Chiu Dickson K.W.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the characteristics of the current situation of library programs and explore the possible reasons behind the low participation in Hong Kong. It focuses on the development of library programs in the era of digital technology, which can lead to discussion and reflections on the further development of library programs with innovative technology services.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied a mixed-method research approach to investigate the current situation of library programming and the reasons for low participation in Hong Kong. The first part analyzes the characteristics of library programs offered by the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) through data collection from the HKPL website. The second part of this study investigated the reasons behind the low participation in library programs through quantitative research through an online survey.

Findings

The findings show that current library programs were dominated by reading activities and children's programs to a great extent, which both users and non-users are not very interested in. Further, most respondents expressed more interest in cultural and leisure events and hands-on activities (especially new technologies related) than traditional library programming. Many lapsed and non-users chose not to attend the library programs for boredom and uselessness. As a result, there is a need for HKPL to adjust its services to stay relevant to the needs and interests of local communities.

Originality/value

Scant studies explored the reasons behind non-users of public library programs, especially in Asia. This research contributes to the literature by analyzing and proposing the characteristics of the current situation of library programs and exploring the possible reasons behind the low participation in Hong Kong.
Integrating knowledge management and dynamic capabilities through TISM modeling and meta-analysis
Authors: Bindra Sunali , Bhardwaj Rohit , Dhir Sanjay
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the interaction between knowledge management (KM) and dynamic capabilities (DCs) to identify the factors that attribute to their integration. The amalgamation of the DC and KM will result in a firm’s superior performance. This study will, therefore, use meta-analysis to identify the factors and use the “total interpretive structural modelling (TISM)” to establish the hierarchy and inter-relationships concerning the identified factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The research in this paper uses an exploratory design. This entails reviewing the literature on KM and DCs by adopting a scientific methodology, i.e. meta-analysis. A structural interpretive framework has been developed based upon the identified factors. Further, TISM modelling has been used to develop a classified arrangement of these factors to validate the framework.

Findings

Overall, 15 factors related to KM and DCs, based upon 220 empirical studies have been identified. The validated framework, based upon heterogeneous factors, describes how the interactions between KM and DCs can facilitate a competitive advantage.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes towards the discussion of how efficient management of knowledge is defining the DCs of firms for improved innovation and performance. It provides practitioners with an insight into the directional linkages towards the competitive performance based on the interactions of KM and DCs. For researchers, the study could serve as an initial outline for interpretation of the linkages and theory building concerning KM and DCs, as the proposed framework draws upon scientific review and expert interpretations.

Originality/value

The framework is the result of the qualitative modelling technique based upon the heterogeneous factors derived out of the meta-analysis. It will provide meaningful insight into the field of KM and DCs. The derived framework shall help corroborate the opinion of experts with the literature in the field of strategy and management.
Caregiver burden interventions in speech–language pathology: A systematic review
Authors: Badesha Maneetpal , Thayanantha Abiramy , Shune Samantha , Namasivayam‐MacDonald Ashwini
Published: February 2023

Background

Previous research has demonstrated that many caregivers of care recipients with communication and swallowing impairments suffer from caregiver burden. Existing research sheds light on the presence of burden and various predicting factors, but little information on interventions to reduce caregiver burden.

Aims

To determine how speech–language pathologists (SLPs) address caregiver burden in clinical practice.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and 1898 unique articles were assessed for eligibility from nine electronic databases. Only 11 studies carried out a caregiver burden intervention involving an SLP. Details of the interventions were extracted per the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) guidelines.

Main Contribution

Results of the review revealed that SLP‐led caregiver burden interventions can be effective in reducing burden. Multiple aspects of the intervention approaches, such as multidisciplinary care and targeting emotional burden, are discussed. Demographic factors, such as gender and socio‐economic status (SES), are also taken into consideration.

Conclusions & Implications

This review suggests that SLPs can be effective at reducing caregiver burden through interventions involving caregivers across the lifespan and continuum of care.

What This Paper Adds

What is already known on this subject

Previous research has demonstrated that many caregivers of care recipients with communication and swallowing impairments suffer from caregiver burden. These caregivers range from parents of young children to spouses of individuals with dementia. However, it is unclear if and how SLPs address caregiver burden in clinical practice.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

Using the RTSS, details of various caregiver burden interventions involving SLPs were identified. This review revealed that SLP‐led caregiver burden interventions can be effective in reducing emotional and financial burden, as well as play a part in improving care–recipient outcomes.

What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?

This systematic review demonstrates that efforts to reduce caregiver burden within SLP practice may yield benefits for both caregivers and care recipients. It provides clinicians with a preliminary resource to help consider caregiver burden interventions that best suit the needs of the caregivers and their care recipients.
Novel genetic modules encoding high‐level antibiotic‐free protein expression in probiotic lactobacilli
Authors: Dey Sourik , Blanch‐Asensio Marc , Balaji Kuttae Sanjana , Sankaran Shrikrishnan
Published: February 2023

Lactobacilli are ubiquitous in nature, often beneficially associated with animals as commensals and probiotics, and are extensively used in food fermentation. Due to this close‐knit association, there is considerable interest to engineer them for healthcare applications in both humans and animals, for which high‐performance and versatile genetic parts are greatly desired. For the first time, we describe two genetic modules in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum that achieve high‐level gene expression using plasmids that can be retained without antibiotics, bacteriocins or genomic manipulations. These include (i) a promoter, PtlpA, from a phylogenetically distant bacterium, Salmonella typhimurium, which drives up to 5‐fold higher level of gene expression compared to previously reported promoters and (ii) multiple toxin‐antitoxin systems as a self‐contained and easy‐to‐implement plasmid retention strategy that facilitates the engineering of tuneable transient genetically modified organisms. These modules and the fundamental factors underlying their functionality that are described in this work will greatly contribute to expanding the genetic programmability of lactobacilli for healthcare applications.
A hierarchical approach for estimating state‐specific mortality and state transition in dispersing animals with incomplete death records
Authors: Hodel Florian H. , Behr Dominik M. , Cozzi Gabriele , Ozgul Arpat
Published: February 2023

Unbiased mortality estimates are fundamental for testing ecological and evolutionary theory as well as for developing effective conservation actions. However, mortality estimates are often confounded by dispersal, especially in studies where dead‐recovery is not possible. In such instances, missing individuals (i.e. individuals with unobserved time of death) may have died or permanently emigrated from a study area, making inferences about their fate difficult. Mortality before and during dispersal, as well as the decision to disperse, usually depend on a suite of individual, social and environmental covariates, which in turn can be used to draw conclusions about the fate of missing individuals.

Here, we propose a Bayesian hierarchical model that takes into account time‐varying covariates to estimate transitions between life‐history states and mortality in each state using mark‐resighting data with missing individuals. Specifically, our framework estimates mortality rates in two states (resident and dispersing state) by treating the fate of missing individuals as a latent (i.e. unobserved) variable that is statistically inferred based on information from individuals with a known fate and given the individual, social and environmental conditions at the time of disappearance. Our model also estimates rates of state transition (i.e. emigration) to assess whether a missing individual was more likely to have died or survived due to unobserved emigration from the study area.

We used simulations to check the validity of our model and assessed its performance with data of varying degrees of uncertainty. Our modelling framework provided accurate mortality and emigration estimates for simulated data of different sample sizes, proportions of missing individuals, and resighting intervals. Variation in sample size appeared to affect the precision of estimated parameters the most.

Our approach offers a solution to estimating unbiased mortality of both resident and dispersing individuals as well as the probability of emigration using mark‐resighting data with incomplete death records. Conditional on the availability of data on known‐fate individuals and relevant time‐varying covariates, our model can reconstruct the fate (death or emigration) of missing individuals. The modularity of our framework allows mortality analyses to be tailored to a variety of species‐specific life histories.
Anti‐inflammatory effects of the prostacyclin analogue iloprost in an in vitro model of inflamed human dental pulp cells
Authors: Wahyudi Rahman , Seang Sonntana , Everts Vincent , Osathanon Thanaphum , Limjeerajarus Chalida Nakalekha
Published: February 2023

Iloprost's anti‐inflammatory effects on human dental pulp stem cells (HDPCs) are currently unknown. We hypothesized that iloprost could downregulate the expression of inflammatory‐related genes and protein in an inflamed HDPC in vitro model. To induce inflammation, the HDPCs were treated with a cocktail of interleukin‐1 beta, interferon‐gamma, and tumour necrosis alpha, at a ratio of 1:10:100. Iloprost (10−6 M) was then added or not to the cultures. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) mRNA expression were assessed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. IL‐6 protein expression was assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The results were analysed using one‐way ANOVA or the Kruskal–Wallis test. The cytokine cocktail induced more robust IL‐6 expression than LPS treatment. Iloprost slightly, yet significantly, downregulated IL‐6 and IL‐12 mRNA expression. These findings suggest that iloprost might be used as a beneficial component in vital pulp therapy.
Ovipositional behaviour and larval performance ofTrichoferus campestris(Faldermann) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on cut branches of four North American tree species
Authors: Haynes A. Grace , Streifel Marissa A. , Ambourn Angie K. , Aukema Brian H.
Published: February 2023

Velvet longhorned beetleTrichoferus campestris(Faldermann) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is native to Asia. It is reported to be polyphagous in its native range, but hosts have not been screened in its introduced range in the United States.

We conducted choice and no‐choice host experiments. For choice assays, gravidT. campestrisoviposited freely on cut branches of four tree species:Juglans nigra,Malus domestica,Acer saccharum, andPinus strobus. We investigated oviposition between apple branches with and without cankers. Half of the choice trials underwent winter temperatures.

For no‐choice assays, eggs were placed on cut branches of these same four species. Half of these branches were later dissected to measure larval development. The rest were exposed to winter temperatures andT. campestrisemergence was quantified.

Overall,Trichoferus campestrisoviposition and development occur more readily onJ. nigraandM. domesticathan onA. saccharumorP. strobus. The insect oviposited more on cankered than uncankered apple wood. Cold exposure during an overwintering period benefitted insect development in adults.

The insect's high degree of polyphagy and ability to reproduce in dry wood has likely facilitated its establishment in multiple locales around the world.