bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of COVID-19 on financial structure and performance of Islamic banks: a comparative study with conventional banks in the GCC countries
Authors: El-Chaarani Hani , Ismail Tariq H. , El-Abiad Zouhour , El-Deeb Mohamed Samy 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThe aim of this paper has twofold: (1) to explain and compare the financial evolution of Islamic and conventional banking sector in the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) to explore the key success factors that might affect Islamic and conventional banks performance before and mainly during COVID-19 pandemic period.Design/methodology/approachOrbis Bank Focus database and annual financial reports are used to collect financial information of Islamic and conventional banks in GCC countries over four years: 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Descriptive statistics, T-test, multiple regression, and 2SLS and GMM models are employed to analyze the financial structure and performance of Islamic and conventional banks before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period.FindingsResults of this study reveal that (1) there is a significant difference between Islamic banks and conventional banks during the crisis of COVID-19, where the conventional banks have presented a higher level of financial performance and financial liquidity than their Islamic counterparts, (2) conventional banks have revealed higher capacity to manage their financial risk during the crisis period, and (3) a high level of non-performing loan, high inflation rate and high percentage of non-important cost have a negative impact on the financial performance of Islamic banks mainly during the pandemic period of COVID-19. However, the result indicates that a high level of liquidity risk increased the performance of Islamic banks but this impact falls sharply during the pandemic period.Originality/valueThis study provides information that supports investors, regulators and executive managers in GCC countries. A well-structured balance sheet would improve the financial performance and risk management of the banking sector in GCC countries, especially in times of crisis and pandemics.
The influence of institutions on early-stage entrepreneurial activity: a comparison between men and women in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Aljarodi Abdullah , Thatchenkery Tojo , Urbano David 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
To date, insufficient research has been conducted on gender differences in entrepreneurial activity among entrepreneurs in developing countries. This study aims to analyse the influences of formal and informal institutional factors on entrepreneurial activity among men and women in the context of Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach
This research involves a quantitative analysis of recently collected primary data. Hypotheses are formulated and tested using the Mann–Whitney U test and a binomial logistic regression analysis. Also, the present study draws on institutional economics as a framework to explore how formal and informal institutional factors influence whether Saudi Arabian men and women become entrepreneurs.

Findings
The results revealed that compared to the effects of formal institutional factors, the effects of informal institutional factors are more reliable predictors of women’s entrepreneurship behaviour. Specifically, women are more likely than men to be stereotyped and more likely to benefit from networking.

Practical implications
Regarding policy implications, this study suggests several checks for different institutions to increase entrepreneurship among each gender.

Originality/value
The findings presented here advance entrepreneurial research by empirically examining factors that influence men’s and women’s desires to become entrepreneurs in a fast-growing emerging economy. The findings show a substantial shift in the institutional environment and indicate an extremely collectivist society. This study provides a basis for future studies on factors within the institutional environment and their impacts on whether men and women become entrepreneurs in Eastern nations. Regarding policy implications, this study suggests several ways for different institutions to increase entrepreneurship among each gender.
Property taxation: the encouraging factors for payment among the taxpayers
Authors: Abdullah Shardy , Abdul Wahab Muhammad Rosmizan , Abdul Razak Arman , Hanafi Mohd Hanizun 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this study was identifying factors that encourage property tax payment among property owners, specifically from the residential property segment within the Malaysian context. This aim is derived from existing evidence which clearly indicates a steady annual increase in property tax arrears from non-complying property owners as reported by the local governments (LGs).

Design/methodology/approach
This research was conducted using a survey method where a questionnaire was used as the research instrument in garnering the necessary study data. The collected data was analyzed through quantitative means towards gleaning study findings to fulfil the set objectives. The analyses used within this study were reliability analysis, descriptive analysis and factor analysis.

Findings
Research findings indicate that there are five factors that encourage property tax payment, namely, the proactive action capability of LGs; stimulation of payment; quality of staff and service; reliable tax foundation and governance; and smart expenditure. The identification of these factors has the potential to act as a mitigation mechanism for LGs to alleviate the issue of property tax arrears.

Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study may be used by LGs in developing a comprehensive action plan to encourage property owners to pay taxes. The study findings are exploratory in nature, based on the locality of the LG selected in this study, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). As such, the findings may not be considered as a generalization of the property tax situation throughout Malaysia as study data was only collected from the administrative region of MBPP. However, these findings can still be used as a basis in establishing similar studies within other LGs which demonstrate similar characteristics with MBPP.

Originality/value
In the Malaysian scenario, the focus of the previous studies on property tax arrears revolves around actions that have been taken by LGs to encourage the payment of property tax. However, in this study, the determination of encouraging factors is no longer referred to LG perspectives but was investigated from the taxpayer dimension. This approach allows new mitigating ideas to be developed and adds value in the context of a different perspective towards establishing a more practicable action plan in reducing property tax arrears.
Antecedents of customer loyalty in Islamic banking: evidence from Tanzania
Authors: Tegambwage Amani Gration , Kasoga Pendo Shukrani 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
This study aims to examine the association between relationship quality, service quality, customer satisfaction, switching barriers and Islamic banking customer loyalty using evidence from Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach
This study used correlational research design to test the hypotheses. Completed questionnaires were received from 572 Islamic bank customers in three major cities of Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Zanzibar).

Findings
There is a significant positive relationship between relationship quality, service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. Switching barriers have an insignificant effect on customer loyalty. Further, the four antecedents contribute differentially to customer loyalty, with service quality having the most significant contribution.

Practical implications
The findings of the study can help managers of Islamic banks build and maintain customer loyalty through high service quality, high customer satisfaction and high-quality bank–customer relationships and attain a competitive advantage that would enable Islamic banks to grow and succeed in a competitive banking environment.

Originality/value
This study provides new insights on Islamic banking consumer loyalty by comparing the levels of contributions of the customer loyalty antecedents in a single study. This knowledge would enable Islamic banks to identify antecedents that have the highest contribution to customer loyalty and where best to target marketing attention and limited corporate resources.
Knowledge sharing in project work: the dynamic interplay of knowledge domains and skills
Authors: Li Shuyang , Martins Jorge Tiago , Vasconcelos Ana Cristina , Peng Guochao 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
This study aims to illuminate the currently poorly understood inflow of knowledge originating from project managers across the value chain of construction projects. The primary purpose is to identify the domains of knowledge that project managers’ need to share in their management activities, the skills they need to develop in their sharing practices and how these relate to each other across different phases of a construction project.

Design/methodology/approach
Knowledge domains, skills and the relationships between them were identified following an inductive methodology, a combination of grounded theory and case study, and through the analysis of semi-structured interviews with 21 project managers and participants within a single construction project.

Findings
The outcome is a novel framework that theorizes the dynamic interplay between knowledge domains and the skills that facilitate knowledge sharing (KS) for successful project work throughout the construction project.

Originality/value
The combined effects of task heterogeneity, knowledge interdependencies and temporariness require paying increased attention to how knowledge domains and KS skills impact project performance. This paper addresses gaps in developing an integrative understanding of the nature of the domains of knowledge that need to be shared in a project context, the key skills contributing to KS and more importantly, how they evolve and are interpreted and reinterpreted throughout the project and assist KS practice in projects.
Corporate governance and stakeholder capitalism
Authors: Shahrokhi Manuchehr , Parhizgari Ali M. , Hashemijoo Mohammad , Okafor Collins E. , Nishikawa Yuka , Dastan Alireza 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThe authors revisit the inquiry into the primacy of shareholders vis-à-vis stakeholders that has been debated since 19th Century. The authors consider B-business firms as the closest groups of firms that have considerable similarities to stakeholders' firms. The authors model the impact of being certified as stakeholders (B-business) firms in a worldwide environment.Design/methodology/approachEmploying daily returns data of B-corporations in a global setting during 2010–2021, the authors quantify and compare the firms' performance in the pre- and post-certified periods, measure the effect of their environmental social governance (ESG) scores on their performance and gauge the entire results on a standardized approach that yields easy interpretation.FindingsSubject to some caveats arising from limited coverage and the lack of data on proper control variables, the findings, based on the statistical significance of the estimated coefficients, do not indicate any changes in B-corporations' performance in their post-certification dates. Notwithstanding that, market factor appears to be the driving force consistently.Originality/valuePrior studies on B-corporations are overwhelmingly qualitative. The current study is the first study that evaluate performance of B-corporations' returns at firm level with daily data.
Customer integration and customer value: contingency roles of innovation capabilities and supply chain network complexity
Authors: Fianko Alexander Otchere , Essuman Dominic , Boso Nathaniel , Muntaka Abdul Samed 
Published: February 2022

Purpose
Prior research assumes that customer integration enhances customer value. However, the mechanisms and conditions under which customer integration contributes to customer value are less understood. This study aims to draw insight from the resource-based view (RBV) to conceptualize customer integration as an input resource that triggers product and process innovation capabilities to enhance customer value. The study further draws on the contingent RBV to examine supply chain network complexity (SCNC) conditions under which customer integration contributes to customer value through product and process innovation capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach
This study’s conceptual framework is tested on primary data from 335 firms in Ghana. PROCESS and ordinary least square regression analyses were used to test the study hypotheses. Additional analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling and two-stage least square regression analysis.

Findings
This study finds that, beyond the significant direct positive association between customer integration and customer value, product and process innovation capabilities mediate the association between customer integration and customer value. Evidence further shows that the indirect associations between customer integration and customer value through product and process innovations are strengthened when SCNC increases.

Originality/value
This research validates the presumed relationship between customer integration and customer value and provides theoretical arguments and empirical evidence to demonstrate how process and product innovation capabilities uniquely and in interaction with SCNC transform this relationship.
Homocysteine levels correlate with velocimetric parameters in patients with erectile dysfunction undergoing penile duplex ultrasound
Authors: Salvio Gianmaria , Ciarloni Alessandro , Cordoni Simone , Cutini Melissa , Delli Muti Nicola , Finocchi Federica , Firmani Francesca , Giovannini Lara , Perrone Michele , Balercia Giancarlo 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIntroductionHyperhomocysteinemia may contribute to the development of endothelial dysfunction and, consequently, atherosclerosis, a systemic disease involving the vessels that may affect the cavernous arteries leading to vasculogenic erectile dysfunction. Our study aims therefore to explore the relationship between homocysteine levels and velocimetric parameters detected by basal penile duplex ultrasound such as peak systolic velocity and flaccid penile acceleration in patients with erectile dysfunction.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted collecting clinical, metabolic, hormonal, and instrumental (basal penile duplex ultrasound) data in patients affected by vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.ResultsData of 126 subjects affected by erectile dysfunction were collected. Mean age was 52.1 ± 12.6 years, whereas mean body mass index was 25.6 ± 4.0 kg/m2. Basal penile duplex ultrasound showed peak systolic velocity values of 13.1 ± 2.9 cm/s and mean flaccid penile acceleration of 2.28 ± 0.70 m/s2, with a strong correlation among these two parameters (r = 0.690; p < 0.001). Frankly pathological values of peak systolic velocity and flaccid penile acceleration were detected in 39.7% and 4.8% of the subjects examined, respectively. Mean homocysteine levels were 14.9 ± 9.5 μmol/l. Homocysteine values >15 μmol/l were found in 26% of the subjects with erectile dysfunction. Peak systolic velocity values and homocysteine levels showed an inverse correlation (r = –0.213; p = 0.03). Similarly, flaccid penile acceleration values were inversely correlated to homocysteine levels (r = –0.199; p = 0.05). In addition, an inverse correlation was found between both peak systolic velocity and flaccid penile acceleration and body mass index, atherogenic lipid pattern, and age. Homocysteine and metabolic parameters showed no significant correlations.ConclusionHyperhomocysteinemia is highly prevalent in erectile dysfunction patients. The results of our study show that homocysteine levels correlate with velocimetric parameters assessed by basal penile duplex ultrasound, confirming the role of hyperhomocysteinemia in the genesis of erectile dysfunction of arterial origin.
A new method for detecting sticky rice in ancient mortar based on ELISA
Authors: Zhang Di , Wu Meng , Zhu Hui , Zhang Bingjian , Zhu Longguan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAs a common organic additive in organic–inorganic composite mortar, sticky rice significantly augments the strength, toughness, and waterproof properties of the mortar. In China, sticky rice mortar has been used for more than 1,500 years. However, the traditional iodine‐starch method cannot achieve quantitative detection, and the colour of the mortar itself interferes with detection results, causing failures in detecting trace amounts of sticky rice in cultural relic samples. In this paper, we present a new approach where extracting and purifying protein from sticky rice and subsequently the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used to recognize sticky rice in the mortar. The studies performed showed that the ELISA detection limit based on sticky rice is two orders of magnitude lower than that of the iodine‐starch method and can identify traces of sticky rice in mortar.
Moral attentiveness as a boundary condition: Servant leadership and the impact of supervisor affiliation on pro‐group unethical behavior
Authors: Ouyang Yang , Qu Yuanmei (Elly) , Hu Hua , Yang Mengxi 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBased on social exchange theory, this research aims to develop and test a model in which supervisor affiliation mediates the impact of servant leadership on employees’ pro‐group unethical behavior a highly competitive intergroup environment. Using a sample of 239 employees from 39 groups in four foreign‐owned engineering enterprises, we found that supervisor affiliation mediated the positive relationship between servant leadership and employees’ pro‐group unethical behavior. Our results also revealed that employees’ moral attentiveness weakened the positive impact of supervisor affiliation on pro‐group unethical behavior. The current study contributes to business ethics research by advancing our understanding of antecedents of pro‐group unethical behavior as well as how servant leadership leads to employees’ unethical behaviors. Implications for theory, practice, and directions for future research are discussed.
Birth during the Covid‐19 pandemic: What childbearing people in the United States needed to achieve a positive birth experience
Authors: Combellick Joan L. , Basile Ibrahim Bridget , Julien Tamika , Scharer Kirsten , Jackson Kierra , Kennedy HP 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID pandemic exposed many inadequacies in the maternity care system in the United States. Maternity care protocols put in place during this crisis often did not include input from childbearing people or follow prepandemic guidelines for high‐quality care. Departure from standard maternity care practices led to unfavorable and traumatic experiences for childbearing people. This study aimed to identify what childbearing people needed to achieve a positive birth experience during the pandemic.MethodsThis mixed‐methods, cross‐sectional study was conducted among individuals who gave birth during the COVID pandemic from 3/1/2020 to 11/1/2020. Participants were sampled via a Web‐based questionnaire that was distributed nationally. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were analyzed. Thematic and content analyses of qualitative data were based on narrative information provided by participants. Qualitative and convergent quantitative data were reported.ResultsParticipants (n = 707) from 46 states and the District of Columbia completed the questionnaire with 394 contributing qualitative data about their experiences. Qualitative findings reflected women's priorities for (a) the option of community birth, (b) access to midwives, (c) the right to an advocate at birth, and (d) the need for transparent and affirming communication. Quantitative data reinforced these findings. Participants with a midwife provider felt significantly better informed. Those who gave birth in a community setting (at home or in a freestanding birth center) also reported significantly higher satisfaction and felt better informed. Participants of color (BIPOC) were significantly less satisfied and more stressed while pregnant and giving birth during the pandemic.ConclusionsHigh‐quality maternity care places childbearing people at the center of care. Prioritizing the needs of childbearing people, in COVID times or otherwise, is critical for improving their experiences and delivering efficacious and safe care.
United States community births increased by 20% from 2019 to 2020
Authors: MacDorman Marian F. , Barnard‐Mayers Ruby , Declercq Eugene 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundAnecdotal and emerging evidence suggested that the 2020 COVID‐19 pandemic may have influenced women's attitudes toward community birth. Our purpose was to examine trends in community births from 2019 to 2020, and the risk profile of these births.MethodsRecently released 2020 birth certificate data were compared with prior years’ data to analyze trends in community births by socio‐demographic and medical characteristics.ResultsIn 2020, there were 71 870 community births in the United States, including 45 646 home births and 21 884 birth center births. Community births increased by 19.5% from 2019 to 2020. Planned home births increased by 23.3%, while birth center births increased by 13.2%. Increases occurred in every US state, and for all racial and ethnic groups, particularly non‐Hispanic Black mothers (29.7%), although not all increases were statistically significant. In 2020, 1 of every 50 births in the United States was a community birth (2.0%). Women with planned home and birth center births were less likely than women with hospital births to have several characteristics associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including teen births, smoking during pregnancy, obesity, and preterm, low birthweight, and multiple births. More than two‐thirds of planned home births were self‐paid, compared with one‐third of birth center and just 3% of hospital births.ConclusionsIt is to the great credit of United States midwives working in home and birth center settings that they were able to substantially expand their services during a worldwide pandemic without compromising standards in triaging women to optimal settings for safe birth.