The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) continues to drastically affect healthcare throughout the world. To date, no approved treatment regimen or vaccine is available to effectively attenuate or prevent the infection. Therefore, collective and multidisciplinary efforts are needed to identify new therapeutics or to explore effectiveness of existing drugs and drug-like small molecules against SARS-CoV-2 for lead identification and repurposing prospects. This study addresses the identification of small molecules that specifically bind to any of the three essential proteins (RdRp, 3CL-protease and helicase) of SARS-CoV-2. By applying computational approaches we screened a library of 4574 compounds also containing FDA-approved drugs against these viral proteins. Shortlisted hits from initial screening were subjected to iterative docking with the respective proteins. Ranking score on the basis of binding energy, clustering score, shape complementarity and functional significance of the binding pocket was applied to identify the binding compounds. Finally, to minimize chances of false positives, we performed docking of the identified molecules with 100 irrelevant proteins of diverse classes thereby ruling out the non-specific binding. Three FDA-approved drugs showed binding to 3CL-protease either at the catalytic pocket or at an allosteric site related to functionally important dimer formation. A drug-like molecule showed binding to RdRp in its catalytic pocket blocking the key catalytic residues. Two other druglike molecules showed specific interactions with helicase at a key domain involved in catalysis. This study provides lead drugs or drug-like molecules for further in vitro and clinical investigation for drug repurposing and new drug development prospects.
PurposeThis paper aims to demonstrate the turnover intentions (TIs) among the academic faculty of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan through their motivation and commitment toward the concerned institution. It inspects the relationship of dimensions of motivation including an absence of motivation (AM), extrinsic motivation (ExM) and intrinsic motivation (InM) with the dimensions of commitment including affective commitment (AC), continuous commitment (CC) and normative commitment (NC) and finally the academic's TIs.Design/methodology/approachThe paper used the self-determination theory (SDT), the theory of organizational commitment (OC) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) for its proposed model. A sample of 500 academics, working under higher education commission recognized public and private universities in Punjab Pakistan. A structural equation modeling (SEM) conducted for analysis using an algorithm, bootstrapping and blindfolding techniques.FindingsThe outcomes of the research are attention-grabbing, as no direct relationship has been observed between the dimensions of motivation and TIs except InM. The dimensions of commitments are mediating the relationship between motivation and TIs with high significance value. The results reveal a significant adverse effect on TIs through two dimensions of commitment.Research limitations/implicationsAs it is the case of a developing country like Pakistan therefore the finding cannot generalize to developed countries.Practical implicationsThe findings of this research may lead the policymakers and practitioners of HEIs and controlling body to retain their competent teachers.Social implicationsThis research can help the private sector to develop strategies about the retention of their competent teachers within the institutions that not just value the institution but also will be much beneficial for the students and society.Originality/valueThis paper is identifying how motivation is related to TIs and the role of commitment in it at HEIs. Still, no research has been conducted considering this avenue of SDT, OC and TPB
Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of attitude and adoption intention of Islamic banking among the potential customers in Pakistan. The conceptual framework is investigating the influence of salient beliefs (consisting of personal factors and external factors) and theory of planned behavior (TPB) construct, i.e. attitude and social influence on Islamic banking adoption intentions. Design/methodology/approach To realize the objective of the research, 500 questionnaires were distributed among the potential customers of Islamic banking in Pakistan. A purposive sampling technique was used; 375 questionnaires were returned, whereas only 300 were used for analysis. To test the model, structural equation modeling was conducted by using an algorithm and bootstrapping techniques, and the most important factor is identified through the importance performance map analysis model. Findings The findings of the research revealed that the attitude has immense importance. It is a strong determinant of Islamic banking adoption intention among potential customers. Second, it is fully mediating the relation of cost benefits, reputation and support for business and the adoption intentions of Islamic banking. However, attitude is partially mediating the relation of religious obligations, social influence and the criterion variable. Research limitations/implications This research is articulating literature by incorporating external and personal factors along with TPB’s constructs, i.e. attitude and social influence and tested the attitude as an intervening variable to explain the relation with adoption intention of Islamic banking. The unfolding results spring up a broad spectrum to policymakers and practitioners of Islamic banking by suggesting the push and pull strategies. Originality/value Numerous studies conducted to find the influencing factors of adoption intention of Islamic banking, but this research is identifying the determinant of attitude along with adoption intentions. This research is contributing to the existing research by taking reputation (brand image), cost benefits and government support along with religiosity, which is an important factor but is ignored in previous research. Theoretically, this research is contributing to the TPB by giving a scenario of salient beliefs along with attitude and social influence because beliefs play an important role in building the adoption intention of the subject.
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