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Article
Publication date: 28 December 2021

Neda Mahami, Nasim Abedimanesh, Somayyeh Asghari, Kosar Mohammadnejad, Mohammad Reza Eskandari, Zivar Nejadebrahimi, Hassan Ahangar, Keivan Nedaei, Mojtaba Fathi, Ehsan Noori and Behrooz Motlagh

This study aims to evaluate the effects of betanin on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and Sirtuin6 (SIRT6) gene expression as well as the tumour necrosis…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the effects of betanin on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and Sirtuin6 (SIRT6) gene expression as well as the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) cytokine release in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy controls.

Design/methodology/approach

PBMCs isolated from whole blood of 50 patients with CAD and 48 healthy subjects aged 45 to 60 years were treated with 10 and 20 µM of betanin for 24 h. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess gene expression levels of AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT6. The supernatants of the cultured cells were used to assess the IL-6 and TNF-α protein levels by ELISA.

Findings

Treatment with both doses of betanin significantly increased AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT6 expression in PBMCs of CAD patients compared to control non-treated cells (p < 0.05). In PBMCs of healthy subjects, only treatment with high dose of betanin showed significant increase in AMPK (p = 0.007), SIRT1 (p = 0.013) and SIRT6 (p = 0.024) expression compared to control non-treated cells. Betanin (20 µM) also significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in the culture supernatants of the CAD patients compared to control non-treated cells (p < 0.001).

Originality/value

Betanin could enhance AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT6 gene expressions in PBMCs and represent a useful complementary treatment to reduce the proinflammatory status accompanied with CAD.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 52 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2023

Sakti Ranjan Dash, Maheswar Sethi and Rabindra Kumar Swain

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of working capital management (WCM) on profitability under different financial conditions (constraint/unconstraint) and WCM…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of working capital management (WCM) on profitability under different financial conditions (constraint/unconstraint) and WCM policy (aggressive/conservative). Furthermore, the study investigates the existence of optimal working capital levels under different financial conditions and WCM policy.

Design/methodology/approach

Two-step system generalized method of moments and fixed effect models are used to analyze the data collected from Prowess database from 2011 to 2020 for a sample of 1,104 Indian manufacturing companies.

Findings

The study finds an inverted U-shaped relationship between working capital and profitability in all financial conditions and working capital policy. This finding advocates the existence of an optimal level of working capital that equates the costs and benefits of holding working capital to maximize the companies’ profitability. However, holding working capital beyond the optimal level negatively affects profitability. Companies under financial constraints with aggressive working capital policies have the lowest optimal cash conversion cycle (CCC). Furthermore, the relationship of working capital with profitability and the optimal CCC varies owing to firm age and industry group.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that incorporates the impact of working capital on firm’s performance from both financial constraint (unconstraint) and aggressive (conservative) working capital policy perspectives in the Indian context. Furthermore, this study also contributes in terms of reflecting the effect of firm age and industry in determining the optimum CCC of the firms.

Details

Journal of Indian Business Research, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1755-4195

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 August 2023

Abdullah Bugshan, Faisal Alnori and Husam Ananzeh

This paper examines the influence of Shariah compliance (SC) on firms' net working capital (NWC) target and adjustment speed.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper examines the influence of Shariah compliance (SC) on firms' net working capital (NWC) target and adjustment speed.

Design/methodology/approach

The study samples of non-financial firms taken from six Gulf Cooperation countries between 2005 and 2019 and employs static and dynamic models to answer the present study research questions.

Findings

The outcomes of the study indicate that SC is one of the major determinants of the decision made by the corporation regarding their NWC. More specifically, enterprises that are compliant with restrictions within Shariah are seen to have laid targets of their NWC at a level that exceeds that of enterprises that are not compliant. Furthermore, compared to conventional firms, they seem to have higher speed when adjusting to meet set NWC targets. Submission to Islamic laws limits the choices from which an enterprise can outsource capital from existing funding instruments. Therefore, they experience a higher expected cost of bankruptcy. That being the case, such financial managers should readily maintain and adjust to higher NWC targets to meet current corporate needs, alleviate the risk of bankruptcy and lower dependency on expensive external funding options.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the influence of SC on firms' NWC target and adjustment speed.

Details

International Journal of Emerging Markets, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-8809

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 January 2020

Hawraa Alateya and Alireza Ahangar Asr

This study is an attempt to estimate the influence of the presence of cavities on the stability of slopes in earth dams under rapid drawdown conditions. The purpose of this paper…

Abstract

Purpose

This study is an attempt to estimate the influence of the presence of cavities on the stability of slopes in earth dams under rapid drawdown conditions. The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of different factors, such as the diameter and location of cavities, in addition to their existence effects.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of finite element simulation models were developed using PLAXIS 2D finite element software to analyse the stability of slopes in earth dams while considering various effects from cavities in the subsoil under rapid drawdown conditions.

Findings

The results indicated that the presence of cavities and an increase in the diameter of cavities decreased the stability of the upstream face dramatically for all examined locations in a horizontal direction; however, this effect was less on the downstream side. The results also showed that variations in the location of cavities in the horizontal direction have a greater effect on the stability than those in the vertical direction. The results revealed that increasing shear strength parameters of embankment does not reduce the influence of cavities on stability when those cavities are in critical locations.

Originality/value

A numerical model has been developed to simulate the effects of cavities on the stability of slopes in water-retaining structures/earth dams. The stability of earth dam slopes on upstream and downstream sides under rapid drawdown conditions considering various cavity effects, including their existence, diameter and location, were numerically analysed.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 37 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 October 2017

Filipe Sardo and Zélia Serrasqueiro

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between firms’ intellectual capital (IC), financial performance (FP) and market value (MV) as well as the relationship…

2658

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between firms’ intellectual capital (IC), financial performance (FP) and market value (MV) as well as the relationship between ownership concentrations on IC performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A large sample of non-financial listed firms belonging to 14 countries in Western Europe, for the period between 2004 and 2015, was investigated using the GMM system (1998) dynamic estimator and the effect of lagged explanatory variables on firm’s FP and MV.

Findings

The results reveal that IC is an important resource for firms’ value creation. Human capital is found to be a key factor of firms’ wealth. Results show that capital employed efficiency positively impacts on firms’ FP in the short run. The impact of IC components on firms’ MV may not be immediate. The structural capital positively affects firms’ FP in the long run. Also, the results reveal that ownership concentration and owners’ management involvement constrain firms’ IC performance.

Originality/value

The current study contributes to IC research by exploring a large sample of firms across countries in Western Europe using econometric modeling. Considering that the effect of IC on firms’ FP needs time to be realized, thus to be measured, the effect of lagged explanatory variables on performance was tested, using dynamic panel estimators, specifically the GMM system (1998) dynamic estimator.

Details

Journal of Intellectual Capital, vol. 18 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1469-1930

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2022

Shuana Zafar Nasir, David Bamber and Nasir Mahmood

The purpose of this research is to investigate faculties' perceptions of emotional intelligence about job performance (task and contextual performance (TP and CP)) in the higher…

1067

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate faculties' perceptions of emotional intelligence about job performance (task and contextual performance (TP and CP)) in the higher education sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employed an explanatory research design method. A quantitative design approach is adopted by implementing a survey-based study. Quantitative data have been collected anonymously from faculty members (n = 277) working in different higher educational institutes in Saudi Arabia.

Findings

The research findings revealed a positive relationship between others' emotions appraisal and use of emotions with CP, whilst all the dimensions of emotional intelligence, namely self-emotions appraisal (SEA), others' emotions appraisal (OEA), use of emotions (UOE) and regulation of emotions (ROE) revealed a significant positive relationship with the TP. Nevertheless, the research supports the argument that emotional intelligence is considered an essential contributor to faculty members' job performance.

Practical implications

This research study provides empirical support for the argument that emotional intelligence is a direct driver for enhancing job performance through the appraisal, use and regulation of emotions. In terms of practical implications, the research findings will encourage higher education institutions to take specific actions that will help to enhance awareness of and build emotional intelligence skills amongst faculty staff.

Originality/value

This study is the first that has sought to investigate the impact of emotional intelligence on employees' performance in the Saudi Arabian higher education sector. Additionally, this study has developed a new psychometric scale that is useful in the higher education sector.

Details

Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, vol. 10 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2051-6614

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 December 2018

M. Khojaste-Sarakhsi, Seyed Hassan Ghodsypour, S.M.T. Fatemi Ghomi and H. Dashtaki-Hesari

The purpose of this paper is to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of energy efficiency improvement of Iran building sector and develop strategies…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of energy efficiency improvement of Iran building sector and develop strategies based on them and finally prioritize these strategies according to experts’ judgments. This SWOT analysis is developed based on a detailed study in Iran energy market along with consulting with several energy specialists and has not been conducted before.

Design/methodology/approach

Since SWOT analysis is not capable to rank the developed strategies, analytical network process method is applied to prioritize them according to experts’ judgments. Results are compared with the results of the hierarchical network process (AHP).

Findings

Numerical results show that modification of the energy tariff system is the most important strategy. Besides this strategy, four other ones are related to the role of government in Iran energy market, while the remaining ones can be accomplished by domestic or international companies. They are about worn out appliances, inefficient buildings and inefficient lighting systems.

Originality/value

The SWOT analysis and the developed strategies can provide an insight into the improvement of buildings’ energy efficiency in Iran and some similar countries. All the developed strategies have two sides. One is the regulatory and supporting role of the government and the other is about the investment and implementation considerations. As most of the required rules have been established, the ground is prepared for domestic or international investors to start or develop their energy-related businesses in Iran market.

Details

International Journal of Energy Sector Management, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6220

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 August 2024

Rumeysa Bilgin

Recently, machine learning (ML) methods gained popularity in finance and accounting research as alternatives to econometric analysis. Their success in high-dimensional settings is…

Abstract

Purpose

Recently, machine learning (ML) methods gained popularity in finance and accounting research as alternatives to econometric analysis. Their success in high-dimensional settings is promising as a cure for the shortcomings of econometric analysis. The purpose of this study is to prove further the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) efficiency and firm performance using ML methods.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the double selection, partialing-out and cross-fit partialing-out LASSO estimators to analyze the IC efficiency’s linear and nonlinear effects on firm performance using a sample of 2,581 North American firms from 1999 to 2021. The value-added intellectual capital (VAIC) and its components are used as indicators of IC efficiency. Firm performance is measured by return on equity, return on assets and market-to-book ratio.

Findings

The findings revealed significant connections between IC measures and firm performance. First, the VAIC, as an aggregate measure, significantly impacts both firm profitability and value. When the VAIC is decomposed into its breakdowns, it is revealed that structural capital efficiency substantially affects firm value, and capital employed efficiency has the same function for firm profitability. In contrast to the prevalent belief in the area, human capital efficiency’s impact is found to be less important than the others. Nonlinearities are also detected in the relationships.

Originality/value

As ML tools are most recently introduced to the IC literature, only a few studies have used them to expand the current knowledge. However, none of these studies investigated the role of IC as a determinant of firm performance. The present study fills this gap in the literature by investigating the effect of IC efficiency on firm performance using supervised ML methods. It also provides a novel approach by comparing the estimation results of three LASSO estimators. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that has used LASSO in IC research.

Details

Journal of Modelling in Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1746-5664

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 August 2021

Angélica Pigola, Pedro Victor De Santi, Priscila Rezende da Costa and Jose Storopoli

The authors examined intellectual capital (IC) components, namely human, structural and relational capital, on firm performance (FP) and innovation performance (IP), while also…

Abstract

Purpose

The authors examined intellectual capital (IC) components, namely human, structural and relational capital, on firm performance (FP) and innovation performance (IP), while also examining the role of knowledge management (KM) in this context.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a meta-analysis using 81 studies from 2006 to 2020 using bivariate analysis, meta-analytic structure equation modeling (MASEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to study IC components on FP and IP.

Findings

The MASEM results show that IC affects positively on FP, but not in a significant level and affects positively and significantly on IP. The findings also reveal that the moderation effect of KM affects positively on FP but not on IP. Additionally, the fsQCA analysis shows that KM and its multidimensional role has a positive impact on FP and IP and has a potential to be consistent as a dynamic component for IC.

Research limitations/implications

The results may be limited by different statistical biases and inverse causality issues or associated with contextualities related to the studies of the sample selected by our criteria.

Practical implications

Managers can identify the appropriate IC elements and act accordingly. The study suggests that mobilizing human, structural, relational and knowledge capital must begin from the firms' birth and continue further during firms' stages of the business.

Social implications

IC is the bridge of evolution for future societies. Knowing how its components impact all levels of corporate environment indirectly influences how societies build up their social bases and policies to fulfill new professional generations.

Originality/value

By using the MASEM and fsQCA, the authors have more detailed insights into the multidimensional context of KM in IC components on firm and innovation performance identifying configurations of intangible resources.

Details

Journal of Intellectual Capital, vol. 23 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1469-1930

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 August 2024

Izra Berakon, Amin Wibowo, Nurul Indarti, Nor Nabilla Muhammad and Rizaldi Yusfiarto

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the efficiency model on firms performance. The authors also strive to test the compatibility of the efficiency models of…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the efficiency model on firms performance. The authors also strive to test the compatibility of the efficiency models of Sharia and non-Sharia manufacturing firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The samples are manufacturing industry firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2021. This study used 68 firms, with details of 34 Sharia while the remaining 34 were non-Sharia. The data were analyzed using generalized least square (GLS) to test the entire formulated hypothesis. Moreover, current research provides robustness tests to gain more valid and reliable results.

Findings

The results demonstrated that cost efficiency (CE), human capital efficiency (HCE) and capital intensity (CI) affect the firm’s performance. The efficiency model is more appropriate to be applied to the manufacturing Sharia firms in Indonesia. The results are robust even though the feasible GLS and panel-corrected standards errors models are added and a split sample is applied based on certain firm characteristics.

Practical implications

This research can bridge the theory and practice that exist in companies. The authors proposed an efficiency model that can maximize firm performance profits. Moreover, it turns out that the efficiency model is more relevant to be applied to Sharia firms in Indonesia. Furthermore, the research findings have several implications notably for theoretical development, global enterprises and practitioners.

Originality/value

This study expands the literature and discussion about the efficiency model by formulating and investigating CE, HCE and CI on the firm performance which previous studies have rarely elaborated on and tested. In addition, the authors divided the sample into two groups (Sharia and non-Sharia firms) to ensure the compatibility of the implementation of the efficiency model on firm performance.

Details

Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-0817

Keywords

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