Major Clients Research Articles

Lonza to make ADCs for a major client

Lonza to make ADCs for a major client

Acceptance of the Internet-Based Sharing Nursing Service among caregivers of elderly with chronic diseases

BackgroundIn China, Internet-Based Sharing Nursing Service (IBSNS) is a new mode of nursing service delivery that has been in practice for over five years, which enables nurses to provide care at clients’ home. However, the acceptance and associated factors of IBSNS among caregivers of elderly with chronic diseases who are the major clients of the service were unclear.AimTo explore the acceptance of IBSNS and its associated factors among Chinese caregivers of elderly patient with chronic diseases based on the modified Technology Acceptance Model (mTAM).MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2023 to March 2023. Caregivers of hospitalized elderly with chronic diseases were recruited using convenience sampling method from three hospitals in Beijing, China. Data were obtained from self-reports of participants. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data.ResultsA total of 65.1% of the caregivers had neutral to weakly positive behavioral intention of IBSNS use. The mTAM model was supported with good model fit. Perceived ease of use was positively associated with perceived usefulness. Both perceived usefulness and perceived security were positively associated with attitude, consequently, attitude was associated with behavioral intention.ConclusionsImproving the ease of use, security, and usefulness may be helpful to increase the positive attitude towards IBSNS and behavioral intention of using IBSNS, which provides valuable insights that can help healthcare providers improve the integration of technology in patient care, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and more efficient healthcare systems.

Time management as the growth factor of small manufacturing enterprises

The article deals with small manufacturing enterprises as a point of an industry economic growth which potentially outpaces the average growth rate of the industry and the GDP growth rate that makes it possible to increase the share of gross production product in the general structure of small business of Russia. As one of the reserves of growth of such enterprises the author presents implementation of corporate time management technologies which allow the administration of the enterprises to increase the time for solving the tasks facilitating the economic growth: working with the major clients and contracts, searching for new financial sources, introduction of new capacities, development of new products, formation and development of new management teams. The author suggests the structure of a corporate time management standard which regulates the issues of managing meetings, calendars, operational tasks, work communications. The article contains description of the method of implementation of corporate time management at the example of a small manufacturing enterprise of the instrumentation industry.

Mutations in nucleotide metabolism genes bypass proteasome defects in png-1/NGLY1-deficient Caenorhabditis elegans.

The conserved SKN-1A/Nrf1 transcription factor regulates the expression of proteasome subunit genes and is essential for maintenance of adequate proteasome function in animal development, aging, and stress responses. Unusual among transcription factors, SKN-1A/Nrf1 is a glycoprotein synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). N-glycosylated SKN-1A/Nrf1 exits the ER and is deglycosylated in the cytosol by the PNG-1/NGLY1 peptide:N-glycanase. Deglycosylation edits the protein sequence of SKN-1A/Nrf1 by converting N-glycosylated asparagine residues to aspartate, which is necessary for SKN-1A/Nrf1 transcriptional activation of proteasome subunit genes. Homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the peptide:N-glycanase (NGLY1) gene cause NGLY1 deficiency, a congenital disorder of deglycosylation. There are no effective treatments for NGLY1 deficiency. Since SKN-1A/Nrf1 is a major client of NGLY1, the resulting proteasome deficit contributes to NGLY1 disease. We sought to identify targets for mitigation of proteasome dysfunction in NGLY1 deficiency that might indicate new avenues for treatment. We isolated mutations that suppress the sensitivity to proteasome inhibitors caused by inactivation of the NGLY1 ortholog PNG-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans. We identified multiple suppressor mutations affecting 3 conserved genes: rsks-1, tald-1, and ent-4. We show that the suppressors act through a SKN-1/Nrf-independent mechanism and confer proteostasis benefits consistent with amelioration of proteasome dysfunction. ent-4 encodes an intestinal nucleoside/nucleotide transporter, and we show that restriction of nucleotide availability is beneficial, whereas a nucleotide-rich diet exacerbates proteasome dysfunction in PNG-1/NGLY1-deficient C. elegans. Our findings suggest that dietary or pharmacological interventions altering nucleotide availability have the potential to mitigate proteasome insufficiency in NGLY1 deficiency and other diseases associated with proteasome dysfunction.

Improving the KYC Onboarding Process Using Business Process Re-Engineering: A Case Study of a Foreign Bank in Indonesia

The Know-Your-Customer (KYC) onboarding component in the customer acquisition process became an issue in an Indonesian branch of a prominent global bank. In 2023, the branch received a significant complaint from one of its major clients, noting the inefficiency of its KYC onboarding process, thus garnering attention from local senior management. From 2019 to 2023, there was a steady increase in client dissatisfaction rate and the number of new clients dropping their requests during the KYC onboarding stage. This research aims to identify the pain points in Magnolia Bank’s KYC onboarding process and propose solutions using the Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) approach. Fifteen respondents, including 10 bank employees and 5 corporate clients, were interviewed. Thematic analysis of interview results was conducted and it revealed three major pain points of the process: difficulty in document submission, challenges in requirements, and communication issues. The root cause of these pain points were then analyzed using the fishbone diagram, from which three root causes were discovered: inadequate technology infrastructure, lack of transparency in the process, and insufficient guidance that clients receive from the bank. The BPR approach was taken to fix the problems, the project focused on improving the guidance to clients, enhancing technology infrastructure, and developing a system for clients to track their onboarding progress. The proposed business solution for this research is for Magnolia Bank to develop a dedicated KYC onboarding platform, allowing prospective clients to submit the requirements directly, experience a one-window communication system, and track their KYC onboarding status.

Discovery of indazole inhibitors for heat shock protein 90 as anti-cancer agents

A series of indazole analogs, derived from the B,C-ring-truncated scaffold of deguelin, were designed to function as C-terminal inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and investigated as novel antitumor agents against HER2-positive breast cancer. Among the synthesized compounds, compound 12d exhibited substantial inhibitory effects in trastuzumab-sensitive (BT474) and trastuzumab-resistant (JIMT-1) breast cancer cells, with IC50 values of 6.86 and 4.42 μM, respectively. Notably, compound 12d exhibited no cytotoxicity in normal cells. Compound 12d markedly downregulated the expression of the major HSP90 client proteins in both cell types, attributing its cytotoxicity to the destabilization and inactivation of HSP90 client proteins. Molecular docking studies using the homology model of an HSP90 homodimer demonstrated that inhibitor 12d fit nicely into the C-terminal domain, boasting a higher electrostatic complementary score than ATP.In vivo pharmacokinetic study indicated the high oral bioavailability of compound 12 d at F = 66.9 %, while toxicological studies indicated its negligible impact on hERG channels and CYP isozymes. Genotoxicity tests further confirmed its safety profile. The findings collectively position compound 12d as a promising candidate for further development as an antitumor agent against HER2-positive breast cancer.

Acetylation of the yeast Hsp40 chaperone protein Ydj1 fine-tunes proteostasis and translational fidelity.

Proteostasis, the maintenance of cellular protein balance, is essential for cell viability and is highly conserved across all organisms. Newly synthesized proteins, or "clients," undergo sequential processing by Hsp40, Hsp70, and Hsp90 chaperones to achieve proper folding and functionality. Despite extensive characterization of post-translational modifications (PTMs) on Hsp70 and Hsp90, the modifications on Hsp40 remain less understood. This study aims to elucidate the role of lysine acetylation on the yeast Hsp40, Ydj1. By mutating acetylation sites on Ydj1's J-domain to either abolish or mimic constitutive acetylation, we observed that preventing acetylation had no noticeable phenotypic impact, whereas acetyl-mimic mutants exhibited various defects indicative of impaired Ydj1 function. Proteomic analysis revealed several Ydj1 interactions affected by J-domain acetylation, notably with proteins involved in translation. Further investigation uncovered a novel role for Ydj1 acetylation in stabilizing ribosomal subunits and ensuring translational fidelity. Our data suggest that acetylation may facilitate the transfer of Ydj1 between Ssa1 and Hsp82. Collectively, this work highlights the critical role of Ydj1 acetylation in proteostasis and translational fidelity.

Bridging Communication Gaps in Crisis: A Case Study of Remote Interpreting in the Middle East During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study investigates the perceptions of remote interpreters regarding the impact of the transfer of interpreting mode from on-site mode to online mode. The study utilized an online survey and disseminated it online via online platforms, targeting interpreters in Middle Eastern countries. The survey collected information about the primary mode of remote interpreting practice, the frequency of interpreting services during COVID-19, the leading interpreting platforms, and major remote interpreting clients. It also gathered information about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on interpreting services, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on interpreting services, and recommendations for the future of remote interpreting during global crises and emergencies. The study found that most interpreting services are via Zoom, Telephone, and Kudo. Moreover, the major clients for remote interpreting were healthcare providers and international organizations. On the other hand, the study revealed that the main impacts of COVID-19 on interpreting were the transition to remote interpreting services, cancellations and postpones of interpreting events, economic impact (a decline in income), security, data privacy, and confidentiality. Moreover, the main challenges were technological limitations, lack of non-verbal communication, and physical and mental health. The study recommends that it is imperative to develop resilient systems that efficiently integrate remote interpreting into crisis response strategies.

CMercury: Finding Returns in Precision Marketing

This case stems from a 2019 scenario at Caspar Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a rapidly growing digital marketing and automation service provider in India. CEO Jacob faced concern after presenting to a major client, Pragati, the founder of Villuvia.com, one of India’s top online jewellery brands. While email marketing had been a core strategy since the beginning, its return on investment had dwindled compared to social media advertising, exacerbated by a recent overhaul introducing a new digital marketing team. They excelled in social media but were new to email marketing software. Caspar Technologies unveiled cMercury, an AI-based technology to streamline email marketing campaigns. Although initial tests showed promise, it came at a five-fold cost compared to traditional email management software, which demanded extensive manual intervention. Jacob considered offering Villuvia a discount for the festive season but awaited Pragati’s decision. This would determine whether their budget would be allocated to email marketing, social media, or offline expansion. This case allows students to delve into email marketing intricacies, assess metrics and make quantitative evaluations. It also presents a platform for qualitative discussions on managerial dilemmas, like evaluating the digital team’s capabilities, prioritizing customer acquisition or retention and gauging the long-term viability of AI-powered email communication.

GENERATIONAL SHIFTS IN WARFARE: THE EMERGENCE OF NON-STRATEGIC FORCES IN PAKISTAN

The nature of warfare has transformed tremendously in the 21st century fundamentally revolving around non-kinetic ideation. The concept of war is getting back to basics by defying the adversary clandestinely. The employment of indirect war tactics without resorting to hot wars against adversaries has produced unprecedented strategic yields. Numerous reasons may be attributed to this new war paraphernalia including the cost of war, entry of technology into the battlefield, the precedence of cognitive domain over physical domain in war, the aristocratic global order and above all the internal fault lines of some states which have ushered a new strategic era in global politics. The emergence of non-strategic forces for strategic purposes has also altered the dynamics of modern warfare. This Article will discuss the generational shifts in warfare with main focus on Pakistan as its major client. The article has also explored some areas of significance for strategists to counter 5GW against Pakistan in a cognitive and non-strategic domain

Minimizing Defects in Radiator Grille Upper Garnish Parts using Six Sigma (DMAIC) at PT. AAS

To achieve quality improvement, companies must align their production processes with customer needs, control production costs effectively, and maintain product quality. This approach enhances customer satisfaction, increases market share, and boosts profitability. PT. AAS, an automotive company specializing in injection molding and painting, relies on resin as its primary raw material to produce car parts for major clients like Hyundai, Suzuki, and Astra. To dominate the market, PT. AAS must prioritize delivering quality products on time to earn customer trust and secure continuous orders. Initially, the QC data for the injection molding area showed a high defect rate of approximately 17.5% for the Garnish Radiator Grille Upper part, from December 2022 to May 2023. Prior to implementing the Six Sigma method, PT. AAS had a DPMO (Defects Per Million Opportunities) value of 58,177, equivalent to a 3.10 Sigma level. After applying the Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) process, the DPMO decreased to 17,991, resulting in a 3.60 Sigma level. This suggests that PT. AAS currently operates at a 4 Sigma level, with a strong potential to reach 5 or even 6 Sigma by addressing the root causes of rejection. The fishbone analysis highlights the need for action across all departments, including Management. Key areas to focus on include Material, ensuring the correct resin delivery to the Injection Molding station; Machine, verifying proper machine settings and utilizing the 5S methodology; Environment, optimizing room temperature and ventilation; and Man, providing training to enhance operators' knowledge and sense of responsibility.

The presence of local CEO, clan culture and audit pricing: Evidence from China

This paper examines whether the presence of local CEOs affects audit risk assessment and audit fees. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms, we find that firms managed by local CEOs pay lower audit fees and stronger clan culture weakens the relationship between the presence of local CEOs and audit fees. We show that the presence of local CEOs is associated with lower performance volatility and higher accounting information quality. Moreover, the firms managed by local CEOs are more likely to have local major clients. These findings suggest that lower business and audit risks are reasons for auditors charging lower audit fees to firms managed by local CEOs. Our results are robust after conducting a variety of endogeneity tests. Overall, our findings suggest that CEO locality is an important non-contractual factor affecting audit pricing.

Word – of – Mouth Communication and Brand Equity: Analysis of a Health Service Organisation

This study investigated the effects of word-of-mouth on brand equity. The major clients of Clinix healthcare were the population having them picked from the headquarters and branches in Lagos, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used for the study with a convenience sampling technique with a total sample size of 250 respondents. A structured questionnaire was distributed to respondents having established the instrument’s reliability with a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.733. Construct validity and content validity were established through expert opinion. A regression technique was used in analyzing the data in order to reveal the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variables with aid of statistical tools using SPSS version 20. The study found that word of mouth was proven to have a significant effect on brand image, brand loyalty, and brand preference. Also, according to the result of the analysis, Clinix healthcare has a strong brand image making consumers more likely to patronize and recommend the brand always. Also, Word of mouth had positive and significant effects on brand image and brand preference, with no significant effect on brand leadership (R2=0.140). This indicates that word of mouth significantly invokes brand loyalty, brand image building, and the desirability of consumers. It is recommended that Healthcare and other health service organizations should build on customers ‘preferences to optimize performance and attract organizational goodwill. The study suggested that further studies can examine the influence of word–of–mouth on organizational performance

Induced green innovation of suppliers: The “green power” from major customers

In the context of green development, the major challenge is to incentivize companies as key players to participate in green innovation. This paper focuses on the market incentive mechanism for green innovation to investigate whether major customers with green development concepts can enhance the green innovation of upstream suppliers, which means the “green power” from major customers. The research is based on paired data of Chinese A-share listed companies and their major clients from 2009 to 2018. The findings show that: (1) Major customers with green development concepts can enhance the green innovation of upstream suppliers, and this conclusion remains robust after a series of tests. (2) The study also identifies the influence mechanisms, which include: (a increasing the purchase amount to green suppliers, and (b providing green innovation-related resource support to upstream suppliers. (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that major customers with green development concepts can significantly drive the green innovation of private and smaller suppliers to a greater extent. (4) The induced green innovation of suppliers from major accounts is more significant in samples with high customer concentration. This research identifies the “green power” from major customers as an important market mechanism for incentivizing green innovation. The conclusions of this paper will lead to some policy implications for the promotion of green innovation and the construction of green supply chains.

Office level contagion: impact of a non-timely filing by a major busy season client

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the busy season contagion effects on other clients of the Big 4 auditor’s local office associated with the non-timely (NT) filing(s) by large accelerated filer (LAF) client(s) of the office. Specifically, the authors examine the influence such events have on the audit quality and timeliness of other clients of that office.Design/methodology/approachUsing panel data of annual NT filings of LAF clients between 2006 and 2019, the authors apply the ordinary least squares regression technique to model audit reporting lag (ARL) and the logistic regression technique to model the probability of restatements.FindingsControlling for audit firm, industry and year-fixed effects, the authors find that a LAF NT filing reduces audit quality and audit timeliness of other clients of the office, as measured by restatement risk and ARL. The impact on ARL is most pronounced on the medium and small clients within the office. The deteriorated audit quality is observed for medium clients.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study have practical implications for auditors and regulators. They reveal the contagion effect in the auditor’s local office with the NT LAF client. The main limitation of the study is the lack of staffing utilization data to allow for drawing conclusions on causality.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to document the contagion effect of NT filings of LAF clients conducted at the auditor’s local office level.

Public procurement practice to enhance technology and innovation development in Ethiopian construction industry

Effectively utilizing public procurement as a tool to enhance different practices in construction industry needs detail investigation of each stage of the procurement. This would help to devise appropriate intervention strategies; hence, this study is aimed at investigating the practice of using public procurement to enhance technology and innovation development in the context of Ethiopia. A structured questionnaire was developed to evaluate the practice using a 5-point Likert scale. Major public clients and higher-grade consultants and contractors were selected for the survey. In addition, semi-structured interview was conducted to get detail insight about the practice. While mean score and T-test were used for the quantitative data analysis, the interview data was analyzed thematically focusing on specific objective of the study. The findings indicate that the public procurement practice is poor in promoting technology and innovation. The major attributes to the poor performance are associated with the shortfalls in the role of procuring entity at each stage of the procurement and suitability of the public procurement provisions. Considering the major attributes to the poor performance, a framework is suggested to improve the practice. The findings will be helpful to the public clients and regulatory bodies in indicating the potential intervention area.

Syria 2.0? Czy Birma w dalekowschodniej polityce Federacji Rosyjskiej odegra podobną rolę do Syrii w bliskowschodniej strategii Kremla?

The intensification of Russia-Myanmar relations has been one of the the unexpected consequences of Russo-Ukrainian war. For Russian Federation Burma/ Myanmar used to be a secondary partner, important only due to being the major client of the military-industrial complex. Global (semi)isolation of Russia changed these calculations, upgrading the importance of Myanmar in Russia’s foreign policy. For Naypyidaw these relations have been important since the last coup (1 February 2021), in the aftermath of the putsch Moscow became the biggest international protector of Burmese generals. Due to these two reasons Russia-Myanmar relations have reached the unprecedented high level, unseen in history of this bilateral relations.

Cultural adaptations of group CBT for depressed clients from diverse backgrounds: A systematic review

Abstract Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is considered a frontline treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) and is recommended as a preferred option in many Western healthcare settings. CBT has proven effective for clients from the majority population in Western countries, but to meet the needs of diverse clients it may require adaptation. The benefits of culturally adapted group CBT (CA-GCBT) for clients from diverse backgrounds remains uncertain. The objective of this review is to systematically identify, evaluate, and integrate the existing empirical literature on CA-GCBT for depressed clients from diverse backgrounds. A comprehensive search was conducted in April 2021 across various databases, including, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cinahl, Academic Search, and APA PsycArticle. Quantitative studies meeting the inclusion criteria resulted in a total of ten articles being included in the review. Results from the analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms following CA–GCBT in nine out of the ten studies, with one study providing descriptive results. Additionally, improvements were observed in dysfunctional beliefs, functioning, and quality of life ratings. These findings suggest promising outcomes for racially minoritised clients in Western countries and racial majority clients in non-Western countries. Adaptations in CA-GCBT primarily focus on modifying the group delivery, therapy content, staffing, processes, and client-specific factors. Overall, CA-GCBT shows promise as a treatment for depressed clients from diverse backgrounds. However, further evaluation is necessary to establish its efficacy in clinical practice more robustly, to identify which adaptations are most effective for specific populations and to explore the experiences of implementing or attending such group interventions. Key learning aims (1) To explore the benefits of CA-GCBT for depressed clients from diverse backgrounds. Although CBT is a frontline treatment for MDD and often delivered in group format, it remains unclear whether CA-GCBT is beneficial. (2) To summarise findings about the benefits of CA-GCBT for racially minoritised clients in Western countries and racial majority clients in non-Western countries. (3) To outline the modifications made to common CBT group approaches to enhance cultural responsiveness for clients from diverse backgrounds. (4) To provide support to therapists, healthcare services, and broader healthcare structures seeking to implement evidence-based knowledge when adapting group CBT for diverse cultural groups. This enables them to modify existing group CBT protocols or consider specific CA-GCBT interventions.

Winds of change: How street‐level bureaucrats actively represent minority clients by influencing majority clients—The context of LGB Israeli teachers

AbstractThe literature dealing with representative bureaucracy emphasizes the role that minority street‐level bureaucrats may play when, directly and indirectly, they actively represent clients with whom they share a common identity. My study goes further, contributing to the implementation literature, by examining why and how these street‐level bureaucrats use their discretion to shape non‐minority clients' attitudes toward minorities. I explore this phenomenon empirically through interviews with 36 Israeli lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) teachers. I analyze the traditional methods they routinely adopt, such as exposing students to information about minorities, encouraging open discussions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) issues in the classroom, and entrepreneurially developing and introducing innovative learning programs. I illustrate how they respond to ad hoc cases (e.g., protecting LGBTQ+ clients or taking advantage of outside events to promote understanding of relevant issues) and the approach of leading by example.

Client and staff perceptions of the integration of trauma informed care and specialist posttraumatic stress disorder treatment in residential treatment facilities for substance use: A qualitative study.

Comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among people seeking residential treatment for substance use disorders (SUD). We examined client and staff perceptions of the relationship between trauma and SUDs, and the integration of trauma-informed care (TIC) and specialist-delivered treatment for PTSD in residential alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment facilities. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with frontline staff (n=20) and clients (n=18) in two residential AOD treatment facilities in Queensland, Australia. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and shared client and staff data was analysed using thematic analysis. Major staff and client themes emerged: PTSD was perceived as an underlying cause of SUD, where AOD is used to cope with and avoid PTSD and related symptoms (Theme 1). Residential facilities were perceived to provide a safe and supportive environment for clients (Theme 2). Psychoeducation on SUD and PTSD was also highlighted to normalise experiences associated with comorbid SUD/PTSD and promote help-seeking pathways for specialist PTSD treatment. Concurrent treatment of SUD and PTSD in the residential setting was sought after and was perceived to enhance treatment outcomes (Theme 3). Staff saw the need for implementing TIC into the organisation and perceived TIC as a multi-faceted and consistent approach of service delivery. Both clients and staff perceive comorbid SUD/PTSD as a challenge in residential treatment, that may be overcome through integrating TIC and PTSD treatment in residential treatment facilitates for substance use. Organisational and practical implications are discussed.