Explore the vast range of titles available.

A thorough assessment of the phylogenetic diversity and community structure of halophilic archaea from three halite-crystal salts, processed from two separated saline systems of Southern Tunisia has been performed using culture dependent and independent methods targeting different regions of 16S rRNA gene sequences including DGGE, 16S rRNA clone libraries and Illumina Miseq sequencing. Two samples, CDR (red halite-crystal salts) and CDW (white halite-crystal salts), were collected from Chott-Eljerid and one sample CDZ (white halite-crystal salts) from Chott Douz. Fourteen isolates were identified as Halorubrum, Haloferax, Haloarcula, and Halogeometricum genera members. Culture-independent approach revealed a high diversity of archaeal members present in all samples, represented by the Euryarchaeal phylum and the dominance of the Halobacteria class. Nanohaloarchaea were also identified only in white halite samples based on metagenomic analysis. In fact, a total of 61 genera were identified with members of the Halorhabdus, Halonotius, Halorubrum, Haloarcula, and unclassified. Halobacteriaceae were shared among all samples. Unexpected diversity profiles between samples was observed where the red halite crust sample was considered as the most diverse one. The highest diversity was observed with Miseq approach, nevertheless, some genera were detected only with 16S rRNA clone libraries and cultured approaches.

Purpose This study aims to develop a unique methodology to construct a bank’s financial technology (Fintech) score, which captures the degree of digitalization of a bank’s operations. Using the Fintech score as the proxy, this study investigates the effect of Fintech on the operating performance of the top largest Islamic bank. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used measures the link between the degree of digitization of a bank and its operational performance. This study applies the three-degree polynomial of regression to the largest Islamic bank in which the explanatory variable is the natural logarithm of Fintech score, and the response variable is common operating performance measure. To check the sensitivity of the estimates to the sample size and assumptions’ violation, this study has applied Bootstrapping and Bayesian processes to the three-degree polynomial regressions. Findings The study estimates from 2007 to 2021 show that the relationship between the operating performance of the Islamic banks and the Fintech is nonlinear and strongly significant: operating returns increase with the increasing level of Fintech, whereas the operating returns decrease with the increasing Fintech variance. At an aggregate level, this study attributes a significant rise in internet coverage to the emergence of Fintech in the Middle East region. Originality/value This study constructs an implicit measure of Fintech that measures the adoption of Fintech by the bank and, consequently, offers the technology to their customers for higher use satisfaction. This study finds that Fintech is linked to the operating performance in a nonlinear fashion, in which Fintech and Fintech variance have the opposite effect on operating performance: Fintech increases the operating profitability, whereas Fintech variance decreases the operating profitability of a bank.