bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The times they are K+-changin’: bringing the potassium curriculum out of the 20th century
Authors: Hoenig Melanie P. , Lecker Stewart H. , William Jeffrey H.
Published: December 2023

Purpose of review

Although most of the current medical education literature has focused on teaching strategies, little attention has been devoted to selecting appropriate course content. Despite elegant descriptions of physiologic mechanisms in recent decades, medical school curricula and students continue to rely on outdated textbooks and certification examination study aids composed to fit an antiquated exam blueprint.

Recent findings

Advances in our understanding of potassium physiology offer multiple examples of key concepts that deserve to be included in the modern-day renal physiology curriculum, including the relationship of potassium to blood pressure and the potassium ‘switch’, the aldosterone paradox, and novel pharmacologic agents that target dietary potassium absorption and potassium handling in the kidney.

Key advances in our understanding and application of renal physiology to patient care have not been readily integrated into the nephrology curriculum of medical students. Difficult questions remain regarding when new concepts are sufficiently established to be introduced to medical students in the preclinical years.
Emergency Department Usage Patterns Among Pediatric Victims of Gun Violence and Physical Assault
Authors: Bernardin Mary Elizabeth , Cutler Keven O.
Published: December 2023

Objective

Violent injuries are a common reason for pediatric emergency department (ED) visits, with gun violence being the leading cause of violent death among children. The objective of this study was to assess for patterns of pediatric ED usage that are associated with future ED visits for violent injuries.

Methods

This case-control study included youths aged 6 to 19 years who presented to a pediatric ED over a 3-year period due to a physical assault (PA) or their first known gunshot wound (GSW). We compared them with age-, race-, and sex-matched youths presenting for nonviolent medical complaints. All previous ED visits were coded as (1) injuries due to a previous PA, (2) mental/behavioral health visits, (3) sexual/reproductive health visits, (4) sexual assault, or (5) concerns for child abuse. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify patterns of previous ED usage associated with future ED visits for injuries related to PA and/or GSW.

Results

The PA and GSW groups used the ED for previous PAs, mental/behavioral health, sexual/reproductive health, sexual assault, and/or child abuse concerns on average 4 to 8 times as often as the control group. Previous ED visits for mental/behavioral health (odds ratio [OR] 5), sexual/reproductive health (OR 3), sexual assault (OR 9), and prior PA (OR 8) were predictive of a future ED visit for PA. Male sex (OR 6) and previous ED visits for PA (OR 5) were predictive of a future ED visit for GSW. Two percent of the PA group and 9% of the GSW group returned to the ED with a subsequent GSW in the following 16 to 40 months.

Conclusions

Emergency department visits due to interpersonal violence, mental/behavioral health, sexual/reproductive health, and sexual assault are associated with recurrent ED visits for violent injuries. Awareness of patterns of ED usage may aid in identifying patients at high risk for violence and increase opportunities for preventative interventions.
18F-FDG PET/MRI for Diagnosis and Treatment Efficacy Evaluation of Spinal Sarcoidosis
Authors: Kaseb Ashjan , Bessac Darejan , Frantzen Lea , Herber Mathilde , Poindron Vincent , Imperiale Alessio
Published: December 2023

Spinal cord sarcoidosis (SCS) is an uncommon disease with estimated incidence of 0.4% in patients with systemic sarcoidosis. Spinal cord sarcoidosis typically manifests late in the disease course and significantly contributes to patient morbidity. Therefore, early SCS diagnosis and prompt initiation of therapy are crucial. Herein, we report the case of a 51-year-old man with symptomatic SCS managed by 18F-FDG PET/MRI, allowing diagnosis and treatment efficacy evaluation of spine involvement. We believe that the increasing clinical availability of hybrid PET/MRI devices will offer new opportunities for optimal management of patients with uncommon severe sarcoidosis localizations, such as nervous system.
18F-FDG PET/CT Versus 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT in a Case of Isolated Nodal-Type Follicular Dendritic Cell Sarcoma
Authors: Li Zhuoyuan , Qiu Lin , Xu Tingting , Su Dan , Chen Yue
Published: December 2023

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma is a rare low-grade sarcoma originating from mesenchymal dendritic cells. We presented 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT findings in a 32-year-old woman with pathologically confirmed nodal-type follicular dendritic cell sarcoma. In this case, follicular dendritic cell sarcoma demonstrated lower uptake with FAPI than FDG.
Absorption and birefringence study for reduced optical losses in diamond with high nitrogen-vacancy concentration
Authors: Luo Tingpeng , Hahl Felix A. , Langer Julia , Cimalla Volker , Lindner Lukas , Vidal Xavier , Haertelt Marko , Blinder Remi , Onoda Shinobu , Ohshima Takeshi , Jeske Jan
Published: December 2023

The use of diamond colour centres such as the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre is increasingly enabling quantum sensing and computing applications. Novel concepts like cavity coupling and readout, laser-threshold magnetometry and multi-pass geometries allow significantly improved sensitivity and performance via increased signals and strong light fields. Enabling material properties for these techniques and their further improvements are low optical material losses via optical absorption of signal light and low birefringence. Here, we study systematically the behaviour of absorption around 700 nm and birefringence with increasing nitrogen- and NV-doping, as well as their behaviour during NV creation via diamond growth, electron beam irradiation and annealing treatments. Absorption correlates with increased nitrogen doping yet substitutional nitrogen does not seem to be the direct absorber. Birefringence reduces with increasing nitrogen doping. We identify multiple crystal defect concentrations via absorption spectroscopy and their changes during the material processing steps and thus identify potential causes of absorption and birefringence as well as strategies to fabricate chemical vapour deposition diamonds with high NV density yet low absorption and low birefringence.

This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Diamond for quantum applications’.
Alterations of adult prefrontal circuits induced by early postnatal fluoxetine treatment mediated by 5-HT7 receptors
Authors: De Stasi Angela Michela , de San Martin Javier Zorrilla , Soto Nina , Aguirre Andrea , Olusakin Jimmy , Lourenço Joana , Gaspar Patricia , Bacci Alberto
Published: December 2023

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a key role in high-level cognitive functions and emotional behaviors, and PFC alterations correlate with different brain disorders including major depression and anxiety. In mice, the first two postnatal weeks represent a critical period of high sensitivity to environmental changes. In this temporal window, serotonin (5- HT) levels regulate the wiring of PFC cortical neurons. Early life insults and postnatal exposure to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (FLX) affect PFC development leading to depressive and anxiety-like phenotypes in adult mice. However, the mechanisms responsible for these dysfunctions remain obscure. We found that postnatal FLX exposure (PNFLX) results in reduced overall firing, and high-frequency bursting of putative pyramidal neurons (PNs) of deep layers of the medial PFC (mPFC) of adult mice in vivo. Ex-vivo, patch-clamp recordings revealed that PNFLX abolished high-frequency firing in a distinct subpopulation of deep-layer mPFC PNs, which transiently express the serotonin transporter SERT. SERT+ and SERT- PNs exhibit distinct morpho-functional properties. Genetic deletion of 5-HT7Rs prevented the PNFLX-induced reduction of PN firingin vivoand pharmacological 5-HT7R blockade precluded altered firing of SERT+ PNsin vitro. This indicates a pivotal role of this 5-HTR subtype in mediating 5-HT-dependent maturation of PFC circuits that are susceptible to early-life insults. Overall, our results suggest potential novel neurobiological mechanisms, underlying detrimental neurodevelopmental consequences induced by early-life alterations of 5-HT levels.
Distance-AF: Modifying Predicted Protein Structure Models by Alphafold2 with User-Specified Distance Constraints
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhang Zicong , Kagaya Yuki , Terashi Genki , Zhao Bowen , Xiong Yi , Kihara Daisuke
Published: December 2023

The three-dimensional structure of a protein plays a fundamental role in determining its function and has an essential impact on understanding biological processes. Despite significant progress in protein structure prediction, such as AlphaFold2, challenges remain on those hard targets that Alphafold2 does not often perform well due to the complex folding of protein and a large number of possible conformations. Here we present a modified version of the AlphaFold2, called Distance-AF, which aims to improve the performance of AlphaFold2 by including distance constraints as input information. Distance-AF uses AlphaFold2’s predicted structure as a starting point and incorporates distance constraints between amino acids to adjust folding of the protein structure until it meets the constraints. Distance-AF can correct the domain orientation on challenging targets, leading to more accurate structures with a lower root mean square deviation (RMSD). The ability of Distance-AF is also useful in fitting protein structures into cryo-electron microscopy maps.
Study on the scale-forming mechanism of magnesium phosphate by polyepoxysuccinic acid based on solution conductivity method
Authors: Feng Huihong , Zhao Jianxiang , Hou Jiarui , Feng Huixia
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of polyepoxysuccinic acid sodium (PESA), a green antiscalant, on the nucleation, crystallization and precipitation of magnesium phosphate.

Design/methodology/approach

The conductivity method was used to investigate the maximum relative supersaturation of magnesium phosphate across various PESA dosages. Subsequently, a magnesium phosphate scale was prepared using the static scale inhibition method (GB/T16632-1996) and then analyzed via scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

The findings showed that PESA extends the induction period of magnesium phosphate crystallization, reduces crystal growth rate and elevates the solution’s relative supersaturation. Notably, PESA exerts a low dosage effect on inhibition of the magnesium phosphate scale, with the optimal dosage identified at 10 mL. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that PESA dispenses a dispersing effect on the magnesium phosphate scale, generating numerous concave, convex and deeper pores on the scale particles’ surface, and thereby significantly enhancing the surface area, especially when using an antiscalant with variable dosages.

Originality/value

This study sheds new light on the impact of PESA, a green antiscalant, on the crystallization and precipitation of magnesium phosphate, thus paving the way for the development of enhanced and eco-friendly scale inhibition strategies in future applications.
Hot corrosion behavior of hot isostatic pressing treated TiC/GTD222 composite fabricated by selective laser melting
Authors: Lv Yuting , Liu Yaojie , Wang Rui , Yu Hongyao , Bi Zhongnan , Liu Guohao , Sun Guangbao
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to design a novel TiC/GTD222 nickel-based high-temperature alloy with excellent hot corrosion resistance by incorporating appropriate amounts of C, Al and Ti elements into GTD222 alloy.

Design/methodology/approach

The composite material was prepared using the selective laser melting (SLM) technology, followed by a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) treatment. Subsequently, the composite underwent a hot corrosion test in a 75% Na2SO4 + 25% NaCl mixed salt environment at 900 °C.

Findings

The HIP-SLMed TiC/GTD222 composite exhibits a relatively low weight loss rate. First, the addition of alloying elements facilitates the formation of multiple protective oxide films rich in Al, Ti and Cr. These oxide films play a crucial role in enhancing the material’s resistance to hot corrosion. Second, the HIP treatment results in a reduction of grain size in the composite and an increased number of grain boundaries, which further promote the formation of protective films.

Originality/value

The hot corrosion behavior of the TiC/GTD222 nickel-based composite material prepared through SLM and HIP processing has not been previously studied. This research provides a new approach for designing nickel-based superalloys with excellent hot corrosion resistance.
Research on the corrosion resistance and the passive film growth of Ni-based superalloy surface treated by ultrasonic impact
Authors: Jiang Hairui , Guan Jianjun , Zhao Yan , Yang Yanhong , Qu Jinglong
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the corrosion resistance of superalloys subjected to ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT). The passive film growth on the superalloys’ surface is analyzed to illustrate the corrosion mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

Electrochemical tests were used to investigated the corrosion resistance of GH4738 superalloys with different UIT densities. The microstructure was compared before and after the corrosion tests. The passive film characterization was described by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) tests.

Findings

The compressive residual stress and corrosion resistance of the specimens significantly increased after UIT. The order of corrosion resistance is related to the UIT densities, i.e. 1.96 s/mm2 > 1.71 s/mm2 > 0.98 s/mm2 > as-cast. The predominant constituents of the passive films are TiO2, Cr2O3, MoO3 and NiO. The passive film on the specimen with 1.96 s/mm2 UIT density has the highest volume fraction of Cr2O3 and MoO3, which is the main reason for its superior corrosion resistance.

Originality/value

This study provides quantitative corrosion data for GH4738 superalloys treated by ultrasonic impact. The corrosion mechanism is explained by the passive film’s characterization.
Farmers' willingness to pay for smart farming technologies: evidence from a smart drip irrigation technology in North China
Authors: Tao Hui , Xiong Hang , You Liangzhi , Li Fan
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Smart farming technologies (SFTs) can increase yields and reduce the environmental impacts of farming by improving the efficient use of inputs. This paper is to estimate farmers' preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for a well-defined SFT, smart drip irrigation (SDI) technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) among 1,300 maize farmers in North China to understand their WTP for various functions of SDI using mixed logit (MIXL) models.

Findings

The results show that farmers have a strong preference for SDI in general and its specific functions of smart sensing and smart control. However, farmers do not have a preference for the function of region-level agronomic planning. Farmers' preferences for different functions of SDI are heterogeneous. Their preference was significantly associated with their education, experience of being village cadres and using computers, household income and holding of land and machines. Further analysis show that farmers' WTP for functions facilitated by hardware is close to the estimated prices, whereas their WTP for functions wholly or partially facilitated by software is substantially lower than the estimated prices.

Practical implications

Findings from the empirical study lead to policy implications for enhancing the design of SFTs by integrating software and hardware and optimizing agricultural extension strategies for SFTs with digital techniques such as videos.

Originality/value

This study provides initial insights into understanding farmers' preferences and WTP for specific functions of SFTs with a DCE.
Exploring the impact of collaboration on eco-innovation in SMEs: a contribution to the business modes of innovation framework
Authors: Alcalde-Heras Henar , Carrillo Carrillo Francisco
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can effectively collaborate for eco-innovation using the business modes of innovation framework to emphasise three types of collaboration: “science, technology, and innovation” (STI), “learning by doing, using, and interacting” (DUI)-Vertical and DUI-Horizontal.

Design/methodology/approach

This analysis uses data from 838 SMEs in the Basque Country (2018–2020) to evaluate the effects of the three types of collaboration on eco-innovation. The authors employ a propensity score-based method to address potential bias associated with endogeneity in innovation studies.

Findings

The findings suggest that DUI-Vertical collaboration has a positive relationship with the development of product, process and marketing eco-innovation. Furthermore, DUI-horizontal collaboration is the most effective collaboration mode for SMEs, positively impacting their overall eco-innovation portfolio. Finally, STI collaboration is positively associated with product eco-innovation.

Practical implications

Policymakers should support SMEs by designing programmes that facilitate collaboration between competing firms to stimulate eco-innovation, but potential challenges of coopetition must be addressed. Rather than a generic, one-size-fit-all approach, SMEs' managers should identify the most appropriate partners corresponding to their specific eco-innovation goal, ensuring a more effective and targeted. Collaboration between science partners and SMEs should be reinforced by approximating the SMEs' needs more effectively.

Originality/value

This study contributes twofold. Firstly, the authors investigate whether the STI and DUI modes of innovation are determinant factors in the introduction of various types of eco-innovation. Secondly, the authors contribute to the literature on business modes of innovation by differentiating between DUI-Vertical (i.e. suppliers, customers and consultancy) and DUI-Horizontal (i.e. competitors) collaboration, thus highlighting the complexity of DUI collaboration forms.
Charting the course: a framework for networking across the selling ecosystem
Authors: Burchett Molly R. , Epler Rhett T. , Pappas Alec , Butler Timothy D. , Rouziou Maria , Bolander Willy , Lussier Bruno
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the notion of thin crossing points from a social network perspective and to outline the concrete networking strategies that enable salespeople to foster mutually valuable resource exchange (i.e. to thin crossing points) across a selling ecosystem.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors integrate extant theoretical perspectives to advance a conceptual framework of sales-related networking across three key actors in a selling ecosystem: intraorganizational selling actors and actors in customers and external partner organizations.

Findings

Thin crossing points are defined as figurative transaction points at the boundary between organizations or organizational subunits at which actors engage in mutually valuable resource exchange in the process of value cocreation. To thin crossing points with key ecosystem actors, salespeople must adapt networking strategies considering the time and trust constraints inherent in a network relationship. Such constraints inform the most advantageous network centralities (degree, eigenvector and betweenness) and actions to impact key network properties (tie strength, contact diversity) that enable salespeople to efficiently develop social capital and thus to optimally thin crossing points across a selling ecosystem.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first social network-based exploration of salespeople’s role in thinning crossing points with key ecosystem actors. It advances a novel conceptual framework of sales-related networking strategies that foster social capital development and optimally thin crossing points across a selling ecosystem.
Impact of governmental social media campaigns on citizens’ attitudes towards Kuwait’s vision 2035
Authors: Alhaimer Rashed
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the attitudes of the Kuwaiti public towards governmental campaigns on social media (GCSM) regarding the country’s Vision 2035. Specifically, it investigates the effect of GCSM on three attitudinal dimensions (i.e. cognitive, emotional and behavioural).

Design/methodology/approach

This study is designed using random sampling. Responses from 630 social media users were obtained using a survey questionnaire (Appendix). The results of data analysis indicate that GCSM had a positive impact on the attitudes of participants towards Vision 2035.

Findings

Based on the findings, recommendations are outlined to increase the efficiency of GCSM. This study is unique because no other study has examined the attitudes of Kuwaiti citizens towards GCSM or investigated the effects of these campaigns on citizens’ attitudes in terms of cognitive, emotional and behavioural components. The results can assist decision makers in identifying the effectiveness of such campaigns and taking measures accordingly.

Originality/value

This research provides a new evaluation of the role of virtual campaigns in Kuwait. It highlights the crucial and increasing role of virtual campaigns on citizens’ attitudes Towards Kuwait’s Vision 2035, and it found that virtual campaigns should be used as an addendum to conventional political campaigns in Kuwait.
“It is competence first”: executives navigating gender equality targets and meritocracy in technology companies
Authors: Bairoh Susanna
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how executives in technology companies relate to targets for gender equality, especially pertaining to top management.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws on 19 interviews of CEOs, senior line managers and HR directors in ten technology companies operating in Finland. The method is (reflexive) thematic analysis.

Findings

Previous studies on the role of executives in promoting gender equality provide somewhat mixed results: while their role is vital, senior leaders may not be inclined to support gender equality targets and measures. Drawing on critical feminist theorizing, this study identifies three ways in which the executives in technology companies related to gender equality targets: endorsing, negotiating and resisting. However, all these responses were constrained by the executives’ assumption that their companies are meritocratic. The study illustrates how executives’ narrow understanding of gender equality and reliance on the presumably well-working systems, combined with underlying doubts about the competence of women, hinder the advancement of women to top management.

Originality/value

While previous studies have evaluated targets to increase the number/percentage of women, both in certain “ideal case” companies and in terms of their effectiveness more broadly, this study discusses how technology company executives navigate these targets in relation to women's assumed “competence”.
Recognizing emotions in restaurant online reviews: a hybrid model integrating deep learning and a sentiment lexicon
Authors: Liu Jun , Hu Sike , Mehraliyev Fuad , Zhou Haiyue , Yu Yunyun , Yang Luyu
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to establish a model for rapid and accurate emotion recognition in restaurant online reviews, thus advancing the literature and providing practical insights into electronic word-of-mouth management for the industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study elaborates a hybrid model that integrates deep learning (DL) and a sentiment lexicon (SL) and compares it to five other models, including SL, random forest (RF), naïve Bayes, support vector machine (SVM) and a DL model, for the task of emotion recognition in restaurant online reviews. These models are trained and tested using 652,348 online reviews from 548 restaurants.

Findings

The hybrid approach performs well for valence-based emotion and discrete emotion recognition and is highly applicable for mining online reviews in a restaurant setting. The performances of SL and RF are inferior when it comes to recognizing discrete emotions. The DL method and SVM can perform satisfactorily in the valence-based emotion recognition.

Research limitations/implications

These findings provide methodological and theoretical implications; thus, they advance the current state of knowledge on emotion recognition in restaurant online reviews. The results also provide practical insights into intelligent service quality monitoring and electronic word-of-mouth management for the industry.

Originality/value

This study proposes a superior model for emotion recognition in restaurant online reviews. The methodological framework and steps are elucidated in detail for future research and practical application. This study also details the performances of other commonly used models to support the selection of methods in research and practical applications.
Urbanization and modern renewable energy consumption among East African community (EAC) countries: an empirical analysis
Authors: Nabaweesi Jennifer , Kaawaase Twaha Kigongo , Buyinza Faisal , Adaramola Muyiwa Samuel , Namagembe Sheila , Nkote Isaac Nabeta
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Modern renewable energy is crucial for environmental conservation, sustainable economic growth and energy security, especially in developing East African nations that heavily use traditional biomass. Thus, this study aims to examine urbanization and modern renewable energy consumption (MREC) in East African community (EAC) while controlling for gross domestic product (GDP), population growth, foreign direct investment (FDI), industrialization and trade openness (TOP).

Design/methodology/approach

This study considers a balanced panel of five EAC countries from 1996 to 2019. Long-run dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares estimations were used to ascertain the relationships while the vector error-correction model was used to ascertain the causal relationship.

Findings

Results show that urbanization, FDI, industrialization and TOP positively affect MREC. Whereas population growth and GDP reduce MREC, the effect for GDP is not that significant. The study also found a bidirectional causality between urbanization, FDI, TOP and MREC in the long run.

Practical implications

Investing in modern renewable energy facilities should be a top priority, particularly in cities with expanding populations. The governments of the EAC should endeavor to make MREC affordable among the urban population by creating income-generating activities in the urban centers and sensitizing the urban population to the benefits of using MREC. Also, the government may come up with policies that enhance the establishment of lower prices for modern renewable energy commodities so as to increase their affordability.

Originality/value

MREC is a new concept in the energy consumption literature. Much of the research focuses on renewable energy consumption including the use of traditional biomass which contributes to climate change negatively. Besides, the influence of factors such as urbanization has not been given significant attention. Yet urbanization is identified as a catalyst for MREC.
On working from home in European countries
Authors: Jerbashian Vahagn , Vilalta-Bufí Montserrat
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The authors analyzed the evolution of working from home (WFH) within industries in 12 European countries in the period 2008–2017 and studied its relationship with information and communication technologies (ICT).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used data from the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) to document the trends and levels of WFH within industries in 12 European countries. The authors further used the EU-KLEMS database and a difference-in-difference approach to study whether the fall in prices of ICT is associated with a higher share of employees who work from home in industries that depend more on ICT relative to industries that depend less.

Findings

The authors show that WFH has increased almost everywhere and that there is significant heterogeneity across industries. The authors provide evidence that the fall in prices of ICT is associated with a higher share of employees who work from home in industries that depend more on ICT relative to industries that depend less. This result also holds within age, gender and occupation groups. While the authors find no significant differences among gender and occupation groups, the positive association between the fall in ICT prices and WFH increases with age.

Originality/value

This paper has two main contributions: First, it reports that WFH has increased in European countries in the period 2008–2017. Second, it provides new explorations about the relationship between ICT and WFH by using the price variation of ICT.
Stakeholders' perception of organization: an attribution and fairness perspective
Authors: Di Maddaloni Francesco , Derakhshan Roya
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The study emphasizes the importance of human perception in engaging stakeholders and sheds light on the way the often “disregarded” actors (i.e. local communities) make sense of an organization's behavior at the corporate, project and individual level.

Design/methodology/approach

Departing from the normative stance of stakeholder theory, this conceptual paper aims to unfold the benefits of a more holistic and inclusive organizational approach to stakeholders. The conceptual framework is elucidated through the lens of attribution theory, which points to communication as the source of stakeholders' attributional processes and thus their perception of fairness.

Findings

Focusing the authors’ attention on construction and infrastructure projects, this research suggests that early transparent and informative communication with local community stakeholders motivates them to perceive fairness, from both the process of decision-making (distributive) and the outcome of decisions (procedural), as well as the way in which they are treated (interactional). Such communications lead to less biased attributions as they reduce the influence of personal beliefs in achieving a conscious and non-biased attribution mode.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors adopt attribution theory as their lens with which to interpret the process whereby individuals attempt to make sense of an organization's behavior. Focusing on secondary stakeholder engagement such as local community, the authors’ conceptualization shapes both a framework highlighting communication as the mediator for shaping human perceptions, and a process model to guide project organizations and practitioners to embrace an inclusive approach toward the often-disregarded stakeholders, which is aimed at enhancing their perception of fairness at the corporate, project and individual levels. The authors highlight the need for organization to provide clear and transparent communication to a broader range of stakeholders, such as those that have had little to say in the decision-making process (the often-disregarded voices). By seeking collaboration rather than manipulation, a project organization might promote stakeholders' non-biased perception of fairness, in terms of both the process and outcome of the project.
Sustainable tourism concept: tourist satisfaction and destination loyalty
Authors: Kusumah Echo Perdana
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to look into and evaluate a sustainability-based destination loyalty model that takes into account how people perceive the urban destination in alignment with represented concept of sustainable tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a convenience sampling technique, 414 questionnaires were sent out to nonresident tourists (outside Bandung city) in Indonesia using online survey platforms and analyzed with the structural equation model method.

Findings

Socioeconomic image, cultural image and environmental image all have a beneficial effect on tourists’ satisfaction levels. Furthermore, tourist satisfaction has a direct impact on destination loyalty. When it comes to tourists’ loyalty to a particular destination, only the degree to which they were satisfied moderated the influence of socioeconomic, cultural and environmental images.

Research limitations/implications

The research sample exclusively comprised tourists hailing from Indonesia, a developing nation. Subsequent studies may evaluate tourists from various nations to obtain a more precise comprehension of the tourist population.

Practical implications

Authorities and destination organizations should periodically examine tourists to get a feel for how they feel about a destination’s sustainability, so they can adjust policies as needed to keep tourism there viable over the long term.

Originality/value

This study aims to fill a significant gap in the existing literature by examining the impact of sustainable practices and initiatives on tourists’ satisfaction to an urban destination. The examination of the relationship between efforts to promote sustainability and destination loyalty can offer valuable insights for destination managers and policymakers who aim to improve long-term tourist relationships.
Service robot anthropomorphism on consumer usage intention: curvilinear and linear effect
Authors: Yang Maosheng , Li Juan , Feng Lei , Chen Shih-Chih , Tseng Ming-Lang
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This research proposes and examines a theoretical model grounded in anthropomorphism theory considering the curvilinear and linear relationships between service robot anthropomorphism and consumer usage intention and explores the mediating effect of perceived risk.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the developed model, two complementary studies are designed. In Study 1, multi-time data of 511 participants show that service robot anthropomorphism inverts U-shaped (curvilinear) relationship on consumer usage intention and perceived risk mediates this curvilinear relationship. In Study 2, multi-source data of 460 volunteers are used to confirm the findings of Study 1 and examine that consumer empathy moderates the complex nonlinear effect of service robot anthropomorphism on perceived risk, and the indirect curvilinear effect of service robot anthropomorphism on consumer usage intention through perceived risk.

Findings

This research provides preliminary and yet important findings on how service robot anthropomorphism most likely is positively associated with consumer usage intention, i.e. the positively influence mechanism of service robot anthropomorphism on consumer usage intention.

Originality/value

This research provides preliminary and yet important findings on how service robot anthropomorphism most likely is positively associated with consumer usage intention, i.e. the positively influence mechanism of service robot anthropomorphism on consumer usage intention.
Farmers' coping strategies to artisanal small-scale mining activities: welfare improvement or deterioration in Asutifi North District of Ghana?
Authors: Mabe Franklin Nantui , Issifu Seiba , Wongnaa Camillus Abawiera
Published: December 2023

Purpose

In Ghana, legal and illegal artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) activities have attracted the attention of the general populace and academia with varied opinions. This study examined how adopting the coping strategies for ASM operations affected the welfare of farm households.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were solicited from respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire. This paper used the endogenous treatment effect model to quantitatively estimate whether or not farmers who adopt coping strategies for activities of ASM have improved or deteriorated welfare.

Findings

The results revealed that households adopted coping strategies such as diversification, social networking, land reclamation, borrowing, dependence on the market for food and resettlement in other communities. The endogenous treatment effect model results show that households that adopted land reclamation and social networking had improved welfare regarding consumption expenditure and food security compared to non-adopters. Conversely, diversification was associated with lower consumption expenditures and high food insecurity among adopters.

Practical implications

This paper recommends that farm households in mining communities form cooperatives and farmer-based organizations to ensure improved access to joint resources for enhanced capacity to cope with ASM-induced shocks. There is a need for government and civil society organizations to encourage and support land reclamation measures.

Originality/value

This paper covers a broader perspective and deploys more than one welfare proxy, which has not been considered before in previous studies.
Transparency and budget savings in public procurement: evidence from Thailand’s Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST)
Authors: Saelawong Tippatrai , Yomnak Torplus , Chaiwat Thanee , Poopunpanich Siwat , Sutuktis Charoen
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study evaluates the effect of transparency measures on public procurement efficiency, focusing on Thailand’s Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST). This study aims to understand its impact on the country’s public infrastructure procurement practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses Thailand’s government construction procurement data, focusing on budgetary savings and CoST process participation. Budgetary savings are this study dependent variable, while the main intervention variable is the adoption of the CoST data disclosure standard. This study uses multiple linear regression, fixed-effects model and propensity score matching with the logit model for a comprehensive analysis.

Findings

This study shows that using the CoST data disclosure leads to notable budget savings in Thai public construction procurement. With CoST’s introduction, the savings rose by Baht 9.6m, and even with added controls, the savings remained significant at around Baht 3.3m. The savings consistently stay near 5% across different models. The propensity score matching method confirms these results, consistent with factors such as open bidding and agency categorisation.

Research limitations/implications

This study might not capture all benefits, especially non-financial ones. Thailand’s unique context and potential biases in data sources also need consideration.

Practical implications

CoST evidence backs Thailand’s procurement transparency. This study recommends broadening CoST, streamlining online platforms and promoting digital public engagement. Training stakeholders and partnering with state-owned enterprises and local agencies is vital to align with CoST and mitigate risks.

Originality/value

This study shows a clear link between transparency from information disclosure and budget efficiency in public procurement, using data from Thailand. It highlights the potential of transparency measures in developing countries.
The influence of dispositional traits on Generation Z's intention to purchase sustainable clothing
Authors: Antunes Sofia Salvado , Bairrada Cristela Maia , Garrido Susana
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Aim of this study is to examine how environmental concern and perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE) mediate the effect of consumer optimism and pessimism on Generation Z's intention to purchase sustainable clothes.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered to 247 Gen Z students using a quantitative methodology. Structural equation modeling was used for hypothesis testing.

Findings

The examination of findings provides support for the idea that both optimism and pessimism have a direct impact on environmental concerns and perceived consumer effectiveness. Additionally, it reveals that environmental concerns and perceived consumer effectiveness play a positive role in influencing sustainable clothing purchases.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first marketing studies to explore the relationship between personality traits, environmental concerns and the intention to purchase sustainable clothing, providing insight into their relationship.

Research limitations/implications

Some methodological limitations impact the contributions of this cross-sectional investigation. It only tested a few variables predicting the intention to purchase sustainable clothing.

Practical implications

This research provides decision-makers, including marketers, with insights on leveraging dispositional traits to increase consumers' purchase intention of sustainable clothing.

Results

Environmental concerns and PCE have a positive effect on sustainable clothing purchases, which are influenced by both optimism and pessimism.
How supervisor ostracism affects employee turnover intention: the roles of employee cynicism and job embeddedness
Authors: Cheng Chun
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the direct influence of supervisor ostracism on employee turnover intention and the mediating roles of employee cynicism and job embeddedness.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys were conducted to collect data in 3 waves, and 211 samples were finally obtained. The hypothesised relationships were tested using hierarchical multiple regression analyses and ProClin bootstrapping.

Findings

The results suggested that supervisor ostracism was positively related to employee turnover intention and that employee cynicism and job embeddedness played mediating roles. The analysis further confirmed that employee cynicism and job embeddedness played serial, double-mediating roles between supervisor ostracism and employee turnover intention.

Practical implications

This study helps understand the influence of supervisor ostracism on employee turnover intention, mitigating undesirable consequences that lead to employee turnover intention.

Originality/value

This study refines the knowledge on workplace ostracism, explores the impact of supervisor ostracism on employee turnover intention from different perspectives and reveals the relationship between them. It integrated cultural factors in a Chinese context, providing a further reference for local management practices.
Using multilevel mentoring as a situated learning approach to enhance the professional development of teachers in higher education
Authors: Owusu-Agyeman Yaw
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Scholarly studies on mentoring have mostly focused on traditional mentor–mentee relationships, with little or no emphasis on how institutionalized mentoring activities that include different pedagogical approaches could be used to enhance the professional development of academics. To address this knowledge gap, this article examines how an institutionalized multilevel mentoring program could be used to enhance the professional development of early-career academics and academics in designated groups in a South African university.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for the study were gathered from 18 mentees and 2 program administrators using semi-structured interviews. The data gathered were assessed by way of thematic analysis that involved a detailed process of identifying, analyzing, organizing, describing and reporting the themes that were developed from the data set.

Findings

The findings revealed that when mentees participate in different mentoring and professional development activities that are structured based on different pedagogies, they can engage in higher-order thinking processes and develop multidisciplinary experiences within an expanded professional learning community. Enabled by the situated learning setting, mentees can negotiate the meaning of their professional practice within a professional community and comprehend the nuanced pedagogical approaches including scaffolding learning used by mentors to shape their career trajectory and guide them to secure promotions.

Originality/value

The current study contributes to the scholarly discourse on situated learning by showing that mentoring could be planned and implemented as a pedagogical endeavor with diverse learning activities and structured as a form of professional development program within a professional community.
One size doesn’t always fit all: professional perspectives of serious incident management systems in mental healthcare
Authors: Wood David Phillip , Robinson Catherine A. , Nathan Rajan , McPhillips Rebecca
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The need to develop effective approaches for responding to healthcare incidents for the purpose of learning and improving patient safety has been recognised in current national policy. However, research into this topic is limited. This study aims to explore the perspectives of professionals in mental health trusts in England about what works well and what could be done better when implementing serious incident management systems.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. In total, 15 participants were recruited, comprising patient safety managers, serious incident investigators and executive directors, from five mental health trusts in England. The interview data were analysed using a qualitative-descriptive approach to develop meaningful themes. Quotes were selected and presented based on their representation of the data.

Findings

Participants were dissatisfied with current systems to manage serious incidents, including the root cause analysis approach, which they felt were not adequate for assisting learning and improvement. They described concerns about the capability of serious incident investigators, which was felt to impact on the quality of investigations. Processes to support people adversely affected by serious incidents were felt to be an important part of incident management systems to maximise the learning impact of investigations.

Originality/value

Findings of this study provide translatable implications for mental health trusts and policymakers, informed by insights into how current approaches for learning from healthcare incidents can be transformed. Further research will build a more comprehensive understanding of mechanisms for responding to healthcare incidents.
Feeling good about teamwork: the roles of personality and manifest needs
Authors: Schaffer Bryan S. , Manegold Jennifer G.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the link between the Big Five personality traits and self-efficacy for teamwork, positioning manifest needs as intervening variables. The primary purpose of the analyses is to further develop some of the key variables contributing to team performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Relationships were tested with conditional process analysis. The sample includes 315 students from a large university. Likert measures were used to operationalize survey items, which are based on existing scales in the literature.

Findings

Each of the Big Five dimensions are related to teamwork self-efficacy (TSE), with manifest needs having significant mediating effects. For example, conscientiousness displayed a positive relationship to TSE, with both the need for affiliation and the need for power acting as significant intervening variables. Such relationships for each personality dimension are discussed fully in the paper.

Practical implications

High functioning teams need members who share a level of self-efficacy for engaging in teamwork. Leaders who must form their teams may find it useful to consider TSE, and the individual attributes that contribute to this important construct. The authors’ examination of the roles of both personality and manifest needs should offer some essential tools for this objective.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to our understanding of the relationship between personality and TSE by investigating manifest needs as process variables.