Commercial Profit Research Articles

THE INFLUENCE OF GREEN BANKING IMPLEMENTATION, ISLAMIC SOCIAL REPORTING AND COVID-19 CRISIS ON PROFITABILITY WITH BANK SIZE AS A MODERATING VARIABLE IN ISLAMIC GENERAL BANK PERIOD 2016-2023

This study uses bank size as a moderating variable to examine the effects of the Covid-19 crisis, Islamic social reporting, and the deployment of green banking on profitability in Indonesian Islamic commercial banks. In this work, panel data regression and moderated regression analysis are used as data analysis methods. Eleven Indonesian Islamic commercial banks that were registered with the OJK between 2016 and 2023 used as the study's sample. The study's findings show that Islamic commercial banks' profitability is significantly and favorably impacted by ISR. Profitability (ROE) is significantly impacted negatively by the Covid-19 situation, but not ROA. In the meantime, Islamic commercial banks' profitability is unaffected by green banking. The association between green banking and profitability may be moderated by the moderating variable of bank size. This research highlights how crucial risk management, responsibility, and openness are in a period of unpredictable economic times. In the context of Islamic banking, the impact of ISR procedures and reactions to financial crises like COVID-19 is quite significant. Islamic banks should see an improvement in their financial performance in the future by strengthening their ISR management and comprehending the implications of green banking.

Bank-specific and Macroeconomic Determinants of Commercial Banks Profitability in Kenya

This study focuses and examines the impact of bank-specific factors and macroeconomic determinants on the financial performance of commercial banks listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) during the period spanning from 2011 to 2020. The research is anchored on transaction cost economic theory with financial panel data methodology. In the pursuit of study objective, the study employed pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation method combined with fixed effect model to account for individual-specific characteristics that may not be directly observable but are likely to impact the dependent variable. The research findings reveal that bank assets, bank capital and debt ratio have a positive impact on bank profitability while bank concentration has a negative effect. Notably, inflation rate, lending rate and tax rate were insignificant in relation to rate of return on equity among the selected banks in NSE. The study recommends that banks should prioritize efficient capital allocation and diversify their business lines and offerings. Therefore, banks should give thought to the implementation of strategic asset management as a means to optimize their asset allocation, as it can contribute to increased profitability through diversification and efficient asset utilization.

Exploring sustainable food supply chain management practices to enhance food security

Background: The food industry faces longstanding challenges in meeting sustainability practices within its supply chain, often prioritising commercial obligations and profit motives. However, there is a growing recognition of the critical role that sustainable food supply chain management (SFSCM) practices play in enhancing food security.Objectives: This study aims to establish the significance of SFSCM practices in enhancing food security. Furthermore, the study explores approaches to reduce challenges against implementation of SFSCM practices.Method: The study employed a qualitative approach and used stratified and purposive sampling techniques to interview 22 participants from a population of 9 gatekeeper institutions within the Zimbabwean food industry.Results: The findings highlighted several essential SFSCM practices covering waste management, logistics optimisation, water and energy conservation, employing qualified individuals, carbon emission reduction, corporate social responsibility, cost reduction, pricing efficiency, fair food distribution and continuous consumer taste surveys. Approaches to reduce SFSCM implementation challenges were also identified, and these include stakeholder communication plans, capacity building programmes, integrating sustainability into mission statements, budget allocation, lobbying for government support, and fostering collaborative engagements. Open information sharing was also emphasised.Conclusion: It is concluded that the adoption of identified SFSCM practices by food producers, intermediaries, suppliers, consumers and other stakeholders can significantly enhance food security and minimise hunger in nations.Contribution: This article contributes to the understanding of addressing SFSCM implementation challenges and provides valuable insights into the importance of sustainable practices in improving food security within the Zimbabwean food industry and the world at large.

Attitudes towards Maternal Immunisation of Polish Mothers: A Cross-Sectional, Non-Representative Study.

Vaccination protects pregnant women against dangerous infectious diseases and contributes to disease prevention for the child until their vaccination schedule begins. Vaccination behaviour is related to attitudes concerning vaccine prevention. This cross-sectional, non-representative study was conducted among Polish mothers using a diagnostic survey. We used the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) Scale. The author's questionnaire included questions concerning experiences with adult and maternal vaccinations, as well as sociodemographic data. Among the 375 respondents, more than half (n = 208, 55.47%) received at least one vaccine during pregnancy. The majority of respondents had a university education (n = 356, 94.93%). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of receiving vaccines during pregnancy between respondents with and without a healthcare education (p = 0.230). A logistic regression model indicated that women who were vaccinated outside pregnancy for COVID-19 (OR 4.61, 2.60-8.22) and influenza (OR 7.14, 3.58-14.25) were statistically significantly more likely to be vaccinated during pregnancy. There were statistically significant differences between women who were vaccinated during pregnancy and those who did not receive maternal immunisation in three subscales of the VAX Scale: Mistrust of Vaccine Benefit, Concerns about Commercial Profiteering, and Preference for Natural Immunity (p < 0.001). The most frequently indicated reason for a woman's decision to be vaccinated was concern for the health and safety of the unborn child (n = 196, 94.23%). In contrast, women who were not vaccinated reported fear for the health and safety of the unborn child (n = 88, 52.69%). A key point may be to contribute to the vaccinology education of healthcare professionals, who play an important role in pregnant women's decision to be vaccinated. However, our results may be disrupted because the majority of the women in our study had a university education.

High‐abundance and low‐cost anodes for sodium‐ion batteries

AbstractNowadays, sodium‐ion batteries are considered the most promising large‐scale energy storage systems (EESs) due to the low cost and wide distribution of sodium sources as well as the similar working principle to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Therefore, screening suitable materials with high abundance, low cost, and excellent reliability and modified with different strategies based on them is the key point for the development of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). In addition, the ideal anodes with high abundance, and low cost elements also greatly influence the cost of SIB systems, determining the large‐scale application. Herein, recent advances in carbon, iron, manganese, and phosphorus‐based anodes of various types, such as hard carbon, iron oxides, manganese oxides, and red phosphorus, are highlighted. The various sodium storage mechanisms and structure‐function properties for these four types of materials are summarized and analyzed in detail. Considering the commercial profits that the EESs can bring and their suitability for mass electrode manufacturing, the participation of high‐abundance and low‐cost elements such as Fe, Mn, C, and P is convincing and encouraging.

Innovating the recycling of silicon-based solar panels with an eco-friendly alkaline leaching process

As the accumulation of waste from solar panels and solar scraps rapidly increases, recycling these materials has become increasingly critical. Unfortunately, the complexity of disassembling solar panels often renders the recycling process unprofitable due to the low value of the recovered products, resulting in high service fees. Although numerous studies have sought to simplify the disassembly process and enhance the purity of the recovered products, these solutions often involve costly, toxic, and complex methods. In response, we introduce an innovative green recycling technique using a straightforward alkaline leaching process. This method allows for efficient recycling and refining of solar cells, yielding high-purity SiO2 (99.994 %) at a recycling rate of 92.74 % and generating green hydrogen. A preliminary cost analysis indicates that this process holds substantial commercial potential and high profitability. The proposed technique offers a new pathway towards making renewable energy sources more sustainable and economically feasible.

Painting the Past in the 19th Century: Materials, Methods, and Perspectives in Watercolour Replicas

This study focuses on the material characterisation of a collection of 19th-century watercolour replicas that reproduce ancient Egyptian mural paintings and illuminated decorations from medieval manuscripts. Non-contact analyses, including macro-X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and fibre-optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), were employed to examine the composition of the painting materials, particularly the pigments. The findings are contextualised through archival research into 19th-century technical sources on historical painting and illuminating practices, as well as contemporaneous pigment catalogues that reported commercial prices. Ultimately, this research aimed to explore whether 19th-century artists engaged with historical material practices beyond mere visual representation in their depictions of historical subjects. The results obtained from the replicas of medieval illuminations are groundbreaking, as they challenge prevailing scholarly assumptions. Notably, the use of pigments such as minium and ultramarine blue, which were held in high regard during the Middle Ages, along with the use of chalk in the preparation of the support, suggest that, in an industrialised world where engagement with material culture was increasingly driven by commercial profit, some academic circles still sought to explore and preserve selected historical material practices in the art of painting.

Analisis Rekonsiliasi Fiskal terhadap Perhitungan Pajak Penghasilan pada PT Dwi Putra Karya Sukses

In the Astra International company, there is a reconciliation phenomenon in the asset depreciation section where there are different depreciation methods for commercial financial statements compared to fiscal financial statements research objectives: 1. To find out the calculation of Fiscal Reconciliation at PT Dwiputra Karya Sukses 2. To find out the calculation of taxes payable at PT Dwiputra Karya Sukses 3. To find out the calculation of the comparison of commercial profit and fiscal profit The type of research method used by the author is descriptive qualitative method. According to Bogdan and Biklen in Sugiyono (2020: 7) descriptive qualitative research methods are data collection in the form of words or pictures, so they do not emphasize numbers. By doing the right Fiscal Reconciliation, PT Dwiputra Karya Sukses can see the comparison between Taxable Income (PKP), namely before making a fiscal correction of Rp. 52,777,780 and after Fiscal Correction of Rp. 52,607,673. the difference in Taxable Income (PKP) also results in differences in Income Tax Payable that will be paid. The amount of income tax before fiscal correction is Rp. 5,808,555 and the amount of income tax after fiscal correction is Rp. 4,665,952. There is a difference in income tax payable of Rp. 1,142,603. Fiscal reconciliation of commercial financial statements is closely related to each other. Because it starts from revenue and expenses to the preparation of fiscal profit and loss and ends in income tax that must be paid by the company.

Therapeutic applications of synthetic gene/genetic circuits: a patent review.

A significant limitation of numerous current genetic engineering therapy approaches is their limited control over the strength, timing, or cellular context of their therapeutic effect. Synthetic gene/genetic circuits are synthetic biology approaches that can control the generation, transformation, or depletion of a specific DNA, RNA, or protein and provide precise control over gene expression and cellular behavior. They can be designed to perform logical operations by carefully selecting promoters, repressors, and other genetic components. Patent search was performed in Espacenet, resulting in 38 selected patents with 15 most frequent international classifications. Patent embodiments were categorized into applications for the delivery of therapeutic molecules, treatment of infectious diseases, treatment of cancer, treatment of bleeding, and treatment of metabolic disorders. The logic gates of selected genetic circuits are described to comprehensively demonstrate their therapeutic applications. Synthetic gene circuits can be customized for precise control of therapeutic interventions, leading to personalized therapies that respond specifically to individual patient needs, enhancing treatment efficacy and minimizing side effects. They can be highly sensitive biosensors that provide real-time therapy by accurate monitoring various biomarkers or pathogens and appropriately synthesizing a therapeutic molecule. Synthetic gene circuits may also lead to the development of advanced regenerative therapies and to implantable biodevices that produce on-demand bioactive molecules. However, this technology faces challenges for commercial profitability. The genetic circuit designs need adjustments for specific applications, and may have disadvantages like toxicity from multiple regulators, homologous recombination, context dependency, resource overuse, and environmental variability.

Stylization of history and heritage commodification: The linguistic landscape of refabricated historical streets in Chinese cities

This paper examines the linguistic landscape of refurbished historical streets to reveal the semiotic construction of antiquity and commodification of heritage. Based on signage data collected from four historical blocs in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Ningbo in East China, this study reveals how Chinese semiotic artifacts contribute to stylizing antiquity and reinvigorating the space of consumption. Results suggest that the fabricated historical streets sustain the tourism rhetoric of cultural pride and commercial profit by appealing to history, tradition, exoticism, and nostalgia. The study problematizes orchestrated heritage tourism and points to the use of English as potentially subversive in the Chinese linguistic landscape.

Population, Land, and the Development of the Commodity Economy: Evidence from Qing Dynasty China

Population growth exacerbates the pressure on land carrying capacity, affecting the sustainability of agricultural production, and also impacts non-agricultural industries. This paper utilizes grain price data from southern China during the Qing Dynasty (1776–1910) to examine the impact of population and land pressure on the development of the commodity economy under the “involution” of smallholder agriculture. This study finds that under conditions of stagnant technological advancement and limited natural resources, population growth during the Qing Dynasty created significant “Malthusian” population pressure. This pressure on land first resulted in the over-concentration of agricultural labor and saturation of the farming population. Surplus labor, unable to be absorbed by agriculture, shifted to non-agricultural sectors, engaging in the transportation and trade of grain. The pressure on land carrying capacity facilitated the cultivation and processing of cash crops, and product trade was supported by efficient waterway transportation. These activities generated commercial profits that alleviated survival pressures and promoted the prosperity of the commodity economy. However, this prosperity did not accompany significant productivity improvements; instead, it was a product of “involution” agriculture under high population density pressures.

The Impact of Fintech Development on Commercial Banks' Profitability

Fintech is the creative application of technology in developing and delivering financial products and services. Studying its impact on the banking sector, mainly commercial banks, is interesting. Using panel data of 210 Chinese commercial banks from 2011-2018, fixed effects estimation was used to examine the impact of Fintech development on banks' profitability. The findings indicate that Fintech development is significantly and negatively related to bank performance, i.e., Fintech development significantly weakens bank performance. The results are robust to using different Fintech and bank profitability indicators based on endogeneity analysis. On this basis, the heterogeneity factor of the above relationship is also investigated, and it is found that loose monetary policy weakens the negative effect of Fintech on bank profitability. Moreover, for commercial banks with solid monopoly power, the negative impact of Fintech on their performance is mitigated accordingly.

Big Data in online education

From classifying learners to predicting learner behaviour, the application of Big Data in online education has been vast. Besides the potential benefits of Big Data in education, it is necessary to critically engage with some ethical and social challenges that Big Data presents to the field of online learning. The increasing use of big data by large institutional actors and corporations raises questions not only about data privacy and ownership, but whether this data is used to genuinely improve learner and teacher online learning experiences, or primarily for commercial profits and institutional benefits. When addressing ethical concerns regarding the use of Big Data in education, critiques often follow a reasoning that is in line with corporate interests and neoliberal logic of marketization of education. Given the importance of the pursuit for democratic online education, the need for critical perspectives in the field is ever-more essential. This research tries to critically address the role and impact of Big Data on labour relations and economic fairness in online education by examining both corporate and institutional data practices in online learning. The study puts forward a provisional theory of the use of Big Data in two large online learning platforms (Coursera and Blackboard) using critical grounded theory. The core category of Exploitation of the learning community, the three constituent concepts; the Vendor-Institutional Complex, Use of learner generated value for profit, and the Behavioral monitoring and engineering; and the sustaining category, the Magic Trick, were the foundational blocks for developing an emancipatory theory that addressed ethical issues of economic fairness regarding the use of big data in online education.

Deposit insurance system and commercial bank profitability: A quasi-natural experiment based on the deposit insurance regulations

This article examines the profitability of commercial banks in China, specifically focusing on the impact and processes of the deposit insurance system on banks` profitability. The consequences and underlying mechanisms are explored using a difference-in-difference model based on financial data from listed banks in China from 2007 to 2022. The findings indicate that implementing the deposit insurance regulation can promote commercial bank profitability. The positive effects are achieved by enhancing their risk-taking, liquidity, and growth ability. The findings is conducive to enhance the banking industry's growth and improve the financial services provided to the real economy.

A Fair Investment Environment: The Impact of the Shadow Economy, the Harshness of the Courts Against Corrupt Officials, Tax Pressure and Restrictions on Business

Creating a fair investment environment is crucial for economic growth and attracting domestic and foreign investors. The purpose of this study is to find out how the shadow economy, harshness of courts against corrupt officials, tax pressure, and restrictions on business affect the fair investment environment. Therefore, two economic-mathematical models are built using multiple least squares regression analysis, in which the outcome variables are: in model 1 ‒ control over corruption, which is a component of the Global Governance Index; in model 2 ‒ the European Business Association’s Investment Attractiveness Index. The composition of the factor attributes in both models is the same: Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International; level of shadow economy according to the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine; the number of criminal cases in courts under the article “Acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an undue benefit by an official” using open data from the Unified State Register of Court Decisions; total tax and fee rate, which reflects taxes and mandatory payments as a percentage of commercial profit, determined by the World Bank Group methodology; assessment of “Starting Business” by Doing Business, according to the methodology of the World Bank Group. The modeling is based on the example of Ukraine for 2012‒2022. Calculations based on Model 1 show that restrictions on business have the greatest impact on the corruption control indicator (a 10% reduction in restrictions leads to a 3-point reduction in the need to control corruption), the shadow economy and tax pressure have an average impact (a one-point increase in them will increase the level of corruption by 0.4 points). The harshness of the courts against corrupt officials has the least impact (most corruption cases in Ukraine do not reach the courts). Calculations based on Model 2 show that the complexity of starting a business exerts the greatest impact on investment attractiveness (if it decreases by 15%, investment attractiveness will increase by almost 1 unit). The average impact is exerted by the increase in the shadow economy (a 10% increase in the shadow economy leads to a rise in investment attractiveness by 0.4 units). The insignificant impact is exerted by the tax burden and judicial punishment of corrupt officials.

Factors influencing commercial bank profitability in Iraq: A quantile regression approach

This study aims to empirically examine the influence of bank-specific determinants, macroeconomic factors, and governance factors on profitability in Iraq’s banking industry. In addition, bank-specific and macroeconomic determinants were included in the analysis. In terms of governance, the average of corruption control and rule of law was used. Different pre-estimation tests were used to check the properties of the data. The method of moment quantile regression was used as the baseline model. The PCSE and FGLS techniques were used for robustness checks. A sample of balanced panel data consisting of nine commercial banks listed on the Iraq stock exchange from 2012 to 2021 was selected. The results suggested that liquidity and total debt to total shareholders’ equity ratios have a significant positive relationship with ROA. Inflation and openness negatively impact bank profitability only at the 50th and 90th quantiles. Institutional governance appeared to be a positive and significant contributor to bank profitability. The findings suggest that a certain level of liquidity is required for a continuous increase in ROA. Moreover, institutional governance emerged as a noteworthy and positive factor influencing bank profitability.

Effects of Negative Interest Rates on Stability and Profitability of Commercial Banks

The article examines the impact of the European Central Bank's (ECB) negative interest rate policy (NIRP) on commercial banks in Europe. It traces the historical context of the policy back to the financial market and banking crises, which eroded trust among banks, leading to liquidity issues and economic downturns. To counteract this, the ECB introduced negative interest rates in 2014, aiming to stimulate the economy.The research question focuses on how NIRP affects banks' annual reports, particularly concerning total assets, credit and risk volumes, proprietary trading, profits, and stability. The hypothesis suggests that NIRP significantly increases risks in bank profitability and stability. Analysis spanning from 2014 to 2022 compares negative interest rate changes with bank balance sheet and profit/loss account developments.Economic theory predicts that negative interest rates decrease bank profits but increase lending activity. Statistical analysis confirms a correlation between NIRP and increased credit risk volume, as well as a shift from bonds to shares in proprietary trading. However, there is no statistical evidence linking NIRP with profit and profitability declines.In conclusion, while NIRP does lead to a significant increase in credit risk volume, it does not halt falling profits and profitability. Therefore, the hypothesis that NIRP increases risks for commercial banks' profitability and stability holds true, posing a threat to financial stability.

The Application of Value-Based Intermediation Through Waqf in Islamic Banking

The Islamic financial industry has experienced an exponential transformation that has contributed greatly to the national economic growth. Malaysian Islamic finance is considered one of the most comprehensive Islamic financial systems in the world. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has introduced a new concept of Value-Based Intermediation (VBI). This banking practice focuses on profit and supports social values for a sustainable economy, community, and environment. This study discusses the involvement of Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad in waqf development, focusing on business activities in line with VBI. This qualitative study applied document analysis and semi-structured interviews and found that Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad is an Islamic banking institution that bases its existence on commercial profits and is able to implement activities related to waqf development, such as cash waqf collection and waqf project financing consistent with VBI.

The evolution of lameness on North American dairies: Addressing current industry challenges and exploring new and existing approaches to reduce lameness

Lameness is a key issue on commercial dairy farms, impacting productivity, profitability, sustainability, and overall welfare. As the causes of the disorder are multifactorial the persistence of lameness requires more complex approaches that take into account the existing knowledge we have on risk factors and management strategies and couples these with more novel ap­proaches to the issue. With hoof lesions being the source of the overwhelming majority of lameness cases, improving our understanding of what makes for a successful hoof trimming strategy on farms is a first step in addressing lameness. Howev­er, it is our ability to detect and provide early intervention that is proving increasingly vital to overall success in reducing on-farm lameness. Technology, especially when integrated with existing sources of routinely collected herd data, is one such emerging tool that may hold considerable promise for earlier, more accurate, and low labor lameness detection to allow for earlier intervention. Stakeholders, such as hoof trimmers, vet­erinarians, and nutritionists, can serve as effective and trusted facilitators of the adoption of new lameness management prac­tices and technologies, highlighting the need for their involve­ment in the industry pursuit for lower lameness prevalence.

Transaction Monitoring Effect on Profitability of Commercial Banks in Kenya

Commercial banks' performance is fundamental to the economy as providers of financial services. In offering this service, commercial banks are exposed to a range of risks that negatively affect financial position and ultimately influence profitability. Profitability is indicative of a bank's stability and potential for growth. Enhancing commercial banks' profitability contributes to shareholder return on investment. In June 2018, five banks were fined a total of Kshs. 392 million by the Central Bank of Kenya for breaching anti-money laundering regulations. Consequently, banks had to invest resources to improve their anti-money laundering measures. Consequently, raising operational and compliance overheads. This study sought to determine the effect of transaction monitoring on profitability of commercial banks in Kenya. The research employed an explanatory research design. The targeted population comprised all the thirty-nine regulated commercial banks as of December 31, 2021. The study period was eight (8) years (2014 to 2021). Respondents were chosen through purposive sampling. Primary data was gathered using structured questionnaires, while secondary data was derived from audited financial reports of commercial banks and the annual banking supervision report from the Central Bank of Kenya. Subsequently, the collected data underwent analysis employing descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The research results disclosed that transaction monitoring positively and significantly influenced commercial banks profitability. Consequently, bank managers should incorporate transaction monitoring into their operations to augment the overall efficacy to detect and report potentially suspicious activities, and to strengthen operational controls.