Financial Implications Research Articles

The impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment in Arab economies

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Arab economies. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the pooled ordinary least squares estimator, alongside panel static techniques, two-stage least squares estimation and the system generalized method of moments estimator, to ensure robust results. The analysis is based on a panel data set from 18 Arab countries over the period 2017–2022. Findings The study reveals a significant negative relationship between COVID-19 and FDI inflows and outflows. Higher infection rates lead to substantial reductions in FDI activity, highlighting the pandemic’s disruptive effect on the region’s investment landscape. Government responses, including lockdown measures and fiscal stimulus, are crucial in shaping FDI dynamics, with varying impacts across different sectors and economic contexts. Practical implications The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the need for effective pandemic preparedness, strategic economic growth initiatives, exchange rate management and labor market reforms. These measures are essential to foster FDI and ensure economic stability in Arab economies. Originality/value This study is the first to examine the impact of COVID-19 on FDI in Arab economies, addressing a significant research gap. It contributes to the broader discourse on the pandemic’s economic effects by offering comprehensive insights into how the crisis has affected FDI flows. By incorporating a range of COVID-19 pandemic indicators, analyzing government response impacts and exploring sectoral and economic heterogeneity, this research enriches our understanding of the multifaceted financial implications of the pandemic.

Research Progress on the Structure and Function, Immune Escape Mechanism, Antiviral Drug Development Methods, and Clinical Use of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro

The three-year COVID-19 pandemic ‘has’ caused a wide range of medical, social, political, and financial implications. Since the end of 2020, various mutations and variations in SARS-CoV-2 strains, along with the immune escape phenomenon, have emerged. There is an urgent need to identify a relatively stable target for the development of universal vaccines and drugs that can effectively combat both SARS-CoV-2 strains and their mutants. Currently, the main focus in treating SARS-CoV-2 lies in disrupting the virus’s life cycle. The main protease (Mpro) is closely associated with virus replication and maturation and plays a crucial role in the early stages of infection. Consequently, it has become an important target for the development of SARS-CoV-2-specific drugs. This review summarizes the recent research progress on the novel coronavirus’s main proteases, including the pivotal role of Mpro in the virus’s life cycle, the structure and catalytic mechanism of Mpro, the self-maturation mechanism of Mpro, the role of Mpro in virus immune escape, the current methods of developing antiviral drugs targeting Mpro, and the key drugs that have successfully entered clinical trials. The aim is to provide researchers involved in the development of antiviral drugs targeting Mpro with systematic and comprehensive information.

Innovators and transformers: envisioning a revolution in middle mile logistics with extended range cargo drones

PurposeThis paper investigates the integration of middle mile drones (MMD) into logistics operations, addressing two key questions: (1) What are the drivers, financial implications and upcoming innovations associated with integrating drones into MM logistics? and (2) What challenges need to be overcome for successful implementation of drones in MM logistics?Design/methodology/approachThe study combines expertise from an industry professional with over ten years of experience in drone operations and logistics applications, along with insights gained from discussions with 33 industry executives.FindingsThe research identifies several unique advantages of integrating drones into MM logistics, including their potential to improve operational efficiency in challenging environments. However, significant challenges related to scalability, evolving airframe designs and operational constraints remain. Early-stage use cases demonstrate the viability of MMD technologies in lower-risk logistics environments, but broader implementation requires overcoming the identified challenges.Research limitations/implicationsAs MMD logistics is a nascent field, the study is exploratory and based on early-stage use cases and expert discussions. The limited scope of practical implementations may restrict the generalizability of the findings. Future research should focus on larger-scale operations and empirical studies of MMD integration in diverse logistics contexts.Practical implicationsThe findings offer valuable insights for practitioners related to the costs, benefits and challenges of integrating drones into logistics operations and for policymakers related to societal implications, workforce development, privacy and safety concerns, and environmental impact.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the evolving understanding of drone applications in MM logistics by presenting early use cases and identifying both challenges and opportunities for MMD technology and offers a foundation for future research and practice in this emerging domain.

Epidemiology of gastrointestinal parasites of dogs in four districts of central Ethiopia: Prevalence and risk factors.

From February 2022 to April 2023, a cross-sectional study on dog gastrointestinal parasites was conducted in Bishoftu, Dukem, Addis Ababa, and Sheno, Central Ethiopia, with the aim of estimating the prevalence and evaluating risk factors. A total of 701 faecal samples were collected and processed using floatation and McMaster techniques. In dogs that were investigated, the overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 53.1% (372/701). Nematode (28.2%), cestode (8.4%), and protozoan (5.6%) parasite infections were detected in dogs in both single (42.2%) and combined (10.8%) infections. With respective prevalences of 16%, 9.8%, 5%, 3.9%, and 3.1% Ancylostoma spp., Toxocara canis, Dipylidium caninum, Giardia spp., and Taenia/Echinococcus spp. were the most common parasites. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was significantly higher (P<0.05) in female dogs (73.8%, OR = 0.4), adult dogs (55.3%, OR = 0.4), dogs that were given raw food (57.9%, OR = 2.7), and dogs kept free outdoor (60.9%, OR = 2.4). The incidence of gastrointestinal parasites was also higher in dogs with diarrheal faecal consistency (89.1%, OR = 9.1) and dogs from highland areas (62.1%, OR = 1.8). In contrast, statistically significant variation in the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was not recorded among dogs of different breeds. The current study found that dogs in the studied locations had a high overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites. In conclusion, gastrointestinal parasites in dogs have the potential to pose a serious threat to public health, so addressing this issue requires a unified approach. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct detailed epidemiological and genetic research on dog parasites in vast study regions across various agro-ecologies zones and seasons in Ethiopia. Additionally, it is crucial to raise public awareness of the prevalence, effects on public health, and financial implications of dog gastrointestinal parasites in Ethiopia.

A Comprehensive Approach to Reducing Patient Safety Indicators (PSI-90).

PSI-90, a composite measure comprising ten indicators, reflects the quality of care during hospital stays. The Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP), a Centers for Medicare and Medical Services (CMS) program, assesses hospital performance based on quality measures, including PSI-90, with financial implications for poor performers. To evaluate PSI events, establish workflows for accurate documentation, and foster collaboration across clinical and administrative teams, with the ultimate objective of reducing PSI events. Essential actions involved designating a PSI nurse reviewer and a quality physician advisor, securing the involvement of executive leadership, adopting computer-assisted coding technology, and promoting teamwork among Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI), coding, and Health Information Management (HIM) teams. The collaborative efforts yielded a 45% reduction in PSI events, leading to estimated cost avoidance of $1.4 million, and exemption from HACRP penalties. Lessons learned encompassed the importance of executive leadership support, data-driven decision-making, and ongoing education. This study shows the significance of collaboration, leadership support, and data utilization in PSI reduction efforts. Furthermore, it shows benefit of a surgical quality officer in advancing patient safety, aligning with ACS recommendations.

Optimizing costs and sustainability for gamma knife radiosurgery: A cost and breakeven analysis at India's largest neurosurgery centre.

Establishing and maintaining gamma knife facility incurs significant costs, mandating healthcare institutions to meticulously assess financial implications for sustainability. This study explores the financial implications of setting up and operating a Gamma Knife facility, with an aim to ascertain user charges for achieving breakeven. The study was conducted from January to June 2019 at the largest neurosurgery centre of an Institute of National Importance (INI), in Delhi, India. Applying both Traditional and Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TD-ABC) methodologies, capital and operating expenses were calculated. (1US$ = INR 70.4 -Average value for the year 2019). The average cost per gamma knife radio surgery procedure was calculated to be US $2,469 (INR 1,73,832), with major costs attributed to machinery & equipment (43.6%), followed by manpower (32.5%), electricity (9.67%), equipment maintenance (8.61%) etc. The initial investment to establish a Gamma Knife facility is significantly higher with an MRI unit (Model A) at US $ 9,836,423 (INR 69,24,84,164) compared to one without (Model B) at US $7,294,986 (INR 51,35,66,988). Currently, the patient has to pay US $1,065 (INR 75,000) for a gamma knife radio surgery, which poses a challenge for achieving breakeven since the variable cost for the same is US $1,367 (INR 96,239) per procedure. The study serve as a tool for strategic planning, pricing adjustments, and enhancing operational efficiencies, thus ensuring that such high-end technologies can be sustainably integrated into the public healthcare landscape of a developing country like India.

CTI Integration in Contact Centers: A Comparative Analysis of Security, Scalability, and Challenges in Legacy vs. Cloud-Based Systems

AIM: Scope of this work aims to explore the integration of Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) in both legacy and cloud-based contact center systems, examining security challenges and integration methods for achieving robust Computer Telephony Integration implementations. Study Design: This study provides a comparative analysis of techniques, methodologies, and integration challenges associated with CTI in legacy on-premises systems and modern cloud-based solutions, with a particular focus on security considerations in both contexts. Place and Duration of Study: This study is based on a review of contact centers in retail versus mid-sized tech companies, focusing on solutions implemented between 2018 and 2024. Methodology: This study compares Computer Telephony Integration in both legacy and cloud-based contact center systems, focusing on integration processes, security concerns, scalability, challenges, and feature differences. It uses a combination of key evaluation criteria (covering core components, flexibility, security practices, and scalability), case studies, financial implications, and a feature comparison matrix to explore CTI integration in traditional on-premises environments versus modern cloud-based solutions. Security has been the primary concern, and this included encryption, authentication and compliance with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Results: The study found that cloud-based contact centers offer more flexible and scalable integration options, leveraging modern APIs, cloud-native services, and omnichannel support. Legacy systems, while reliable, face challenges in scalability and integration, requiring complex middleware and custom solutions. Security is a significant concern for both environments; however, cloud solutions are enhanced by regular updates, improved compliance standards, and centralized management. Data encryption, secure voice protocols, and authentication were identified as the foundation for security for all types of Computer Telephony Integrations in either category of systems. In addition, the study found that cloud-based systems are being accelerated as more flexible and economically viable solutions are being demanded. A unique contribution of this study is the development of a security-focused comparative framework for this integration in legacy and cloud-based contact centers. By analyzing security practices, scalability challenges, and integration methodologies, this study bridges a critical knowledge gap, offering practitioners a comprehensive guide to CTI decision-making. Conclusion: Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) plays a critical role in modern contact centers. While legacy systems continue to serve their purpose, cloud-based solutions offer superior flexibility, scalability, and security. Organizations must prioritize robust security practices when implementing them, regardless of the platform. Future research should focus on advancing AI-enhanced security frameworks to address evolving threats, evaluating hybrid CTI models that integrate legacy and cloud components, and testing the impact of real-time analytics on customer satisfaction. Such advancements will ensure data privacy, regulatory compliance, and the continuous improvement of customer engagement and operational efficiency.

Conservation-led palaeolimnology: a review of applied palaeolimnology and lessons to improve accessibility and value to conservation practice

AbstractThe integration of palaeolimnology into conservation practice is crucial for effective ecosystem management and restoration. Palaeoecological data provide a unique long-term perspective on key ecological challenges and enable decision makers to better understand pre-disturbance conditions, natural system dynamism and responses to change. Despite this there exist well-recognised accessibility issues and a clear research-implementation gap, in particular, poor communication and lack of understanding of conservation practitioners’ constraints. This study evaluates the accessibility and value of palaeolimnological research to conservation practice by interrogating 60 key applied research papers identified via a rigorous pre-screening process to ensure relevance. The papers were assessed on the use of best practice accessibility criteria, from knowledge-exchange literature, and conservation-practitioner feedback was gathered on the value of conservation recommendations made within the papers. Despite widespread recognition of the importance of accessible research, our review reveals that essential accessibility criteria are inconsistently applied. Although there has been an increase in accessibility practices over time, co-production practices (including co-authorship, co-design of research, and linkage to relevant environmental legislation), showed no significant increase, despite being advocated for by the research community. Practitioner review highlighted the need for research to provide clear, actionable recommendations, and papers that detailed specific management or restoration guidance were particularly well-received, as were those that considered financial implications and summarised their findings more clearly. Equally, many papers were criticised for overly technical language and poor expression, generic suggestions, and a lack of practical consideration in their recommendations. The study highlights the importance of improving accessibility and co-production of knowledge to ensure that research outputs are accessible, relevant, and feasible to guide conservation efforts. To enhance the relevance and impact of applied palaeolimnology, we propose five key recommendations: (1) situate recommendations within existing practice and knowledge; (2) consider the practicalities for practitioners, including material and socio-economic aspects; (3) use clear and simple language; (4) employ easy-to-interpret diagrams and bullet points for recommendations; and (5) improve accessibility of older work. These recommendations are key in helping palaeolimnology progress towards a ‘gold standard’ of applied research, where it can be employed to greater effect to support conservation practice.

Product responsibility in the digital age: The impact of the EPR regulation on Hungarian SMEs and the online commerce sector

In this research, we employed multivariate statistical methods to investigate the perspectives of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) concerning the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation and their apprehensions related to EPR compliance. The EPR regulation, which places the responsibility of waste management on producers, has significant financial and administrative implications, particularly for SMEs. A sample of 114 businesses was randomly selected, and the collected data underwent comprehensive analysis. Our findings highlight that a notable proportion of businesses (44.7%) possess knowledge of the EPR regulation’s provisions, whereas only a marginal fraction (1.8%) lacks sufficient familiarity. We also explored the interplay between opinions on the EPR regulation and concerns regarding its financial and administrative implications. Our results establish a significant correlation between EPR regulation opinions and concerns, with adverse opinions prominently influencing concerns, particularly regarding financial burdens and administrative workloads. These outcomes, derived from the application of multivariate statistical techniques, provide valuable insights for enhancing the synergy between environmental regulations and business practices. EPR regulation significantly affects SMEs in terms of financial, administrative, and legal obligations, thus our study highlights that policymakers may need to consider additional support mechanisms to alleviate the regulatory burden on SMEs, fostering a more effective and sustainable implementation of the EPR regulation.

Optimizing Business Process through Fault-Tolerant Scheduling in Cloud Environments: A Comparative Study

The fault tolerance study carried out in this research explores Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) to improve cloud computing dependability and functionality. Being an integral part of the rage for business operations, cloud-computing fundamentals of resource provisioning and fault tolerance have a bearing on the overall cost-dynamics, ROI and OpEx. Reliability covers such issues as hardware failures, configuration problems and other network issues that may have financial implications and even lead to revenue loss, and failure to meet service level agreement (SLA). The work develops a novel GAN-BiLSTM model for the accurate prediction of faults and the enhancement of recovery management, resulting in resource efficiency and cost of capital reduction (CapEx). Evaluation criteria involve deadline guarantee ratio, average task delay, and system scalability, confirming that the proposed model has better financial performance than DPSO and ANFIS. Cutting wastage of resources and increasing energy capacity in a system, the model displays attractive cost reduction and operating effectiveness for cloud service providers. In the simulation, important results of the model are demonstrated in the business continuity, financial risk reduction as well as maintaining accurate and resourceful service in high demand situations. All these developments have placed the fault tolerant systems powered by machine learning as indispensable instruments that can also enhance profitability, resources utilisation and sustainable competitiveness in the cloud computing business.

Management optimization in pet friendly restaurants in Bogotá

Introduction: This research project focuses on presenting a case study of entrepreneurship about a pet-friendly restaurant in the La Candelaria neighborhood of Bogotá, which will offer food services for pets (cats and dogs). Key factors such as location, target market, competition, legal considerations and financial implications will be analyzed. The objective pursued is to investigate the background and costs of these restaurants from a business administration perspective. Scientific management and total quality theories were applied to improve efficiency and profitability. Methodology: It is a quantitative approach that includes a survey directed at pet owners in the center of Bogotá. Initial and fixed costs are analyzed, as well as variable costs per dish, and monthly income is estimated based on daily sales. The results were graphed for greater representation of the data. A search on the topic was carried out in databases such as Scopus and Google Scholar for publications made in the last five years (2029-2023), to check the existence of articles on the topic and assume them as references to this study. Results: Preliminary results indicate a significant demand for pet-friendly restaurants, especially among socioeconomic strata 2 and 3. In addition, pet owners show a willingness to pay prices in line with the gastronomic offer and demand additional services for their pets. Conclusion: Investing in a pet-friendly restaurant in the center of Bogotá is presented as a viable and profitable opportunity due to the growing demand for gastronomic experiences that include pets. The application of scientific management and total quality principles can improve the efficiency and profitability of these businesses

Attention to biodiversity and stock returns

Our study empirically explores how public interest in biodiversity influences the financial performance of novel investment solutions that specifically promote biodiversity. We consider three distinct metrics capturing public attention to biodiversity: the daily Google Search Volume index for “biodiversity”, the daily media coverage of biodiversity, and the daily visits to the “biodiversity” page on Wikipedia. We also use the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) as quasi-natural experiment. Our econometric analyses reveal a positive association between attention to biodiversity and excess stock returns on biodiversity stock indices. This suggests a growing investor preference for companies with the lowest biodiversity footprints when attention to biodiversity is particularly intense. These fresh insights offer important financial and policy implications.

Price Anchoring Effect’s Implications on Marketing with the 6-STEPPS Framework.

The anchoring effect is a psychological effect in which providing an external anchor value in a context can influence an individual’s perception of the actual value. In business and economics, this effect is transformed into the Price Anchoring effect where businesses attempt to use this psychological process to manipulate customer’s perception of appropriate and preferable prices for a product. A case study analyzed the financial implications of this effect, by posing external anchor values to experimental units, and then questioning them about the appropriate prices of a product, the experimenters found that the price anchoring effect can allow businesses to influence their consumer’s perceptions of appropriate pricing, thus implying increases profitability. The explanations to price anchoring effects vary, some of them relate to the 6-STEPPS principles of marketing, being Social Currency, Trigger, Emotions, Public, Practical Value, and Stories. By combining the uses of the 6-STEPPS principles and the price anchoring effect, businesses could also succeed in marketing.

The Impact of Schedule Compression Techniques on Construction Project Timelines: A Case Study in Basrah, Iraq

Introduction Project managers always compete to finish their projects on time. However, certain circumstances force them to use schedule compression techniques - such as activity crashing, overlapping, and method substitution, to address unplanned delays. Methods These techniques offer practical means to accelerate project timelines; however, their degree of effectiveness can vary widely across different projects and contexts. Nevertheless, such circumstances make compressing construction project schedules an important consideration for avoiding financial losses and protecting stakeholders' interests. Results The paper aims to evaluate the effect of schedule compression techniques on a construction project located in one of Basrah’s oil fields in Iraq. A case study approach is followed for discussing time-cost trade-offs, challenges, and outcomes with such techniques, including their financial implications, strategies for mitigating risks, and the management of resources. Conclusion The results provide insights that are useful in the optimisation of project schedules while ensuring that constraints for cost, safety, and operation are met.

Perceived climate risk and stock prices: An empirical analysis of pricing effects.

Increasing awareness of climate change and its potential consequences on financial markets has led to interest in the impact of climate risk on stock returns and portfolio composition, but few studies have focused on perceived climate risk pricing. This study is the first to introduce perceived climate risk as an additional factor in asset pricing models. The perceived climate risk is measured based on the climate change sentiment of the Twitter dataset with 16 million unique tweets in the years 2010-2019. One of the main advantages of our proxy is that it allows us to capture both physical and transition climate risks. Our results show that perceived climate risk is priced into Standard and Poor's 500 (S&P 500) Index stock returns and is robust when different asset-pricing models are used. Our findings have implications for market participants, as understanding the relationship between perceived climate risk and asset prices is crucial for investors seeking to navigate the financial implications of climate change and for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable financing and mitigate the potential damaging effects of climate risk on financial markets, and a pricing model that accurately incorporates perceived climate risk can facilitate this understanding.

Confirmation Bias in Decision-making: Implications in Finance, Business, and Digital Media

Confirmation bias is the tendency to look for supporting evidence for an established belief. Many applications of confirmation bias occur in people's lives unconsciously, resulting in poor decision-making as they become unable to evaluate the situation objectively. It can also perpetuate false beliefs, increase group polarization, and make people more vulnerable to manipulation. Understanding and mitigating this bias is crucial for improving rational decision-making across various fields. This study examines three applications of confirmation bias in the real world by extrapolating from case studies and experiments. In finance, investors and traders are influenced by confirmation bias to make suboptimal investments and trades. In marketing, consumers are influenced by advertisements and brand loyalty to have a product fit their expectations. In digital media, confirmation bias reinforces echo chambers, promoting group polarization. Finally, the study provides policy recommendations to reduce the effect of confirmation bias, such as improving transparency in marketing and promoting partisan dialogue. It is not enough that society is aware of the problems confirmation bias poses, people should act to reduce the impact of the bias in the economy and online.

Keeping the scale from tipping: Bolstering the sustainability of Indonesia’s data center industry development

The Indonesian government has demonstrated a keen interest in the digital economy. In order to further reinforce its digital economy, Indonesia has identified the data center industry as a key target for growth. The article employs a qualitative research method to elucidate potential avenues for enhancing the sustainability of Indonesia's data center industry. The article commences with an examination of Indonesia's digital economy potential and its correlation with the data center industry. In light of the projected growth of the digital industry and internet penetration, as evidenced by the 2030 estimates, the necessity for the establishment of data centers is becoming increasingly apparent. Subsequently, an analysis of the industry's financial implications is presented, with a particular focus on its considerable water and electricity consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions. The aforementioned matter could impact Indonesia's progress in reducing its carbon footprint, not to mention other potential repercussions in numerous sectors. Domestically, Indonesia can pursue sustainable development through engaging with relevant domestic actors and promoting the wider use of renewable energy where it is deemed appropriate and feasible. Finally, with international cooperation, Indonesia can leverage its experience in ASEAN and engage with other states that are poised to develop their own data center industry.

Machine Learning WTI Crude Oil Price Predictions

Energy commodity price forecasts have always been quite important to a lot of market participants. To tackle the problem, our analysis looks at West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices on a daily basis. The sample under inquiry covers 10 years, from April 4, 2014 to April 3, 2024, and the price series under analysis has major financial implications. Here, Gaussian process regression methods are developed using Bayesian optimization techniques and cross–validation processes, and the resulting strategies are utilized to provide price projections. The relative root mean square error of 2.2743% indicates that our empirical prediction approach produces reasonably accurate price estimates for the out-of-sample assessment period of April 19, 2022–April 3, 2024. Models of price predictions give investors and governments the information they need to make wise choices about the crude oil market.

The financial effects of Nigeria's new tax regime on small and medium businesses: prospects and challenges

The new tax regime introduced in Nigeria in 2023 seeks to boost revenue generation and stimulate economic growth. Despite its objectives, the financial implications for small businesses remain unclear. This study investigates the impact of the new tax policies on small businesses in Nigeria, employing a mixed-methods approach. Findings reveal a combination of positive and negative outcomes, including higher tax burdens, diminished profitability, and enhanced tax compliance.

International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology: Paternal Nutrient Supply: Impacts on Physiological and Whole Animal Outcomes in Offspring.

Recent evidence suggests that environmental factors experienced by sires can be transmitted through the ejaculate (seminal plasma + sperm) into the female reproductive tract, influencing fertilization, embryo development, and postnatal offspring outcomes. This concept is termed paternal programming. In rodents, sire nutrition was shown to directly alter offspring outcomes through sperm epigenetic signatures, DNA damage/oxidative stress, cytokine profiles, and/or the seminal microbiome. Response variables impacted in rodent models, including adiposity, muscle mass, metabolic responses, and reproductive performance, could have major productivity and financial implications for producers if these paternal programming responses are also present in ruminant species. However, a paucity of data exist regarding paternal programming in ruminants. The limited data in the literature mainly point to alterations in sperm epigenome as a result of sire diet or environment. Global nutrition has been implicated in ruminant models to alter seminal cytokine profiles, which could subsequently alter the uterine environment and immune response to mating. Several reports indicate that embryo development and epigenetic signatures can be impacted by sire plane of nutrition and inclusion of specific feed ingredients into diets (polyunsaturated fatty acids, folic acid, and rumen protected methionine). Models of sheep nutrition indicate that addition of rumen protected methionine can impact DNA methylation and offspring performance characteristics extending to the F3 generation, and that divergent planes of sire nutrition can cause altered hormone profiles and insulin/glucose metabolism in offspring. There are almost unlimited opportunities for discovery in this area, but researchers are encouraged to target critical questions such as whether and the extent to which paternal programming effects are present in common management scenarios, the mechanisms by which paternal programming is inherited in ruminants, and whether the effects of paternal nutrition interact with those of maternal nutrition to influence offspring physiology, whole animal outcomes, and herd or flock productivity.