bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expeditionary Surgeons: Essential to Surgical Leadership in World War II and Today
Authors: Cannon Jeremy W
Published: December 2023

This presidential address, given during the Annual Symposium of the Excelsior Surgical Society of the American College of Surgeons, explores the origins of the expeditionary surgeon. The essential traits of such a surgeon-leader are defined using examples from history and are then used to examine the leadership of Edward D Churchill during World War II as the prototypical expeditionary surgeon. In the future, identifying key military surgical leaders as expeditionary surgeons would serve our nation’s interests well in preserving our fighting force on the battlefield. Consideration should be given to formally training and designating such surgical leaders for the military and other austere settings.
Infant and Young Child Feeding in the Context of HIV: An Exploration of Barriers in Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Augustino Goodluck , Anaeli Amani , Sunguya Bruno F.
Published: December 2023

Background

Ensuring optimal nutrition through early breastfeeding is vital for infant mental development and overall health. HIV infections complicate decisions regarding exclusive breastfeeding, jeopardizing effective infant and young child feeding, which affects nutrition and health outcomes. Recognizing the lack of evidence on barriers to infant feeding in the context of HIV in Tanzania, this study was conducted to explore individual, household, and community obstacles in the Ilala district, Dar es Salaam.

Methods

The study used a hospital-based qualitative approach, focusing on HIV-positive mothers with infants aged 3-6 months in Dar es Salaam city. This involved reviewing mothers’ files, conducting interviews with them, and interviewing Reproductive and Child Health clinics (RCH) and community healthcare providers. In total, 27 In-depth interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached, and thematic analysis was used to analyze collected data.

Findings

The study identified various barriers to exclusive breastfeeding, encompassing individual factors like work schedules, postpartum depression, and breast conditions. On the household level, barriers included limited access to resources, family influence, and HIV status disclosure reluctance due to stigma. In the community, low retention in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs plays a pivotal role in hindering exclusive breastfeeding support for HIV-positive mothers.

Conclusion and Recommendations

HIV-positive mothers face diverse barriers ranging from individual, household, and community-based barriers. Policies supporting breastfeeding, early detection of postnatal depression and breast problems, and peer support for young mothers are of paramount importance. Food insecurity and HIV stigma should be tackled through income-generating activities, family involvement in PMTCT programs, and awareness campaigns. Community-based counselors play a crucial role in supporting HIV-positive mothers in their exclusive breastfeeding journey to improve PMTCT care retention.
Somatostatin interneurons control the timing of developmental desynchronization in cortical networks
Authors: Mòdol Laura , Moissidis Monika , Marín Oscar
Published: December 2023

Synchronous neuronal activity is a hallmark of the early developing brain. In the mouse cerebral cortex, activity decorrelates during the second week of postnatal development, progressively acquiring the characteristic pattern of sparse coding underlying the integration of multidimensional sensory information. The maturation of inhibition seems critical for this process, but the specific types of interneurons involved in this crucial transition of network activity in the developing cortex remain unknown. Using in vivo volumetric and longitudinal two-photon calcium imaging during the period that precedes the change from highly synchronous to decorrelated activity, we identify somatostatin-expressing (SST+) interneurons as critical modulators of this switch. Modulation of the activity of SST+ cells accelerates or delays the decorrelation of cortical network activity, a process that involves regulating the degree of maturation of parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons. SST+ cells critically link sensory inputs with local circuits controlling the neural dynamics in the developing cortex while modulating the integration of other interneurons into nascent cortical circuits.
Improving Veteran Access to Integrated Management of Back Pain (AIM-Back): Updated Statistical Analysis Plan for this Embedded Pragmatic, Cluster Randomized
Authors: Coffman Cynthia J. , North Rebecca , George Steven Z. , Hastings Susan N.
Published: December 2023

The Improving Veteran Access to Integrated Management of Back Pain (AIM-Back) pragmatic, embedded, cluster-randomized trial is ongoing with enrollment starting in February 2020 and projected to end in first quarter of 2024. The 3 -month follow up rate of primary outcome data collected as part of an AIM-Back clinical follow-up visit in the electronic health record has been lower than anticipated. At the recommendation of AIM-Back monitoring partners an updated statistical analysis plan was generated. The updated analysis plan allows for use of survey data to augment the follow up rate for the primary outcomes collected in the electronic health record. This updated statistical analysis plan was created and approved prior to completing enrollment and described in this paper.
Self-Management Competence in Depressed In-Patients: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Schnierer Nadja , Reinhard Iris , Wagner-Dörr Johanna , Nater Urs M. , Bender Matthias , Wehmeier Peter M.
Published: December 2023

Background

Studies suggest that good self-management is associated with better coping with chronic mental conditions. However, an encompassing assessment of the relationship between depression and self-management competence is lacking.

Methods

This study assesses the relationship between depressiveness and self-management competence in a sample of 83 depressed in-patients. Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) was used to assess depressiveness. The Self-Management Self-Test (SMST) was used to assess self-management competence. Patient surveys took place at the time of hospital admission (T1) and at the time of hospital discharge or approximately 4 to 6 weeks after (T2).

Results

Self-management competence correlated negatively with depressiveness at T1. Four out of five specific dimensions of self-management competence correlated inversely with depressiveness at T1. Self-management competence differed depending on the severity of the depressive syndrome and was higher the lower the severity of the depressive syndrome was. In the course of clinical treatment, self-management competence increased. Change of self-management competence during clinical treatment was not dependent on the sociodemographic variables gender or age. Change of self-management competence during clinical treatment predicted the change of depressiveness between hospital admission and discharge (T2 vs. T1) as well as depressiveness at T2.

Limitations

Sample size was relatively small. The SMST is a relatively new psychometric instrument that has not yet found widespread use in clinical research.

Conclusion

Our findings offer clinical evidence that in depressed in-patients, self-management competence and depressiveness are associated constructs. These results suggest that self-management competence may be a valuable resource in the treatment of depressive disorders.
Conserved Cardiovascular Network: Bioinformatics Insights into Genes and Pathways for EstablishingCaenorhabditis elegansas an Animal Model for Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Ray Ashwini Kumar , Priya Anjali , Malik Md. Zubbair , Thanaraj Thangavel Alphonse , Singh Alok Kumar , Mago Payal , Ghosh Chirashree , Shalimar  , Tandon Ravi , Chaturvedi Rupesh
Published: December 2023

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a collective term for disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The molecular events and biochemical pathways associated with CVD are difficult to study in clinical settings on patients andin vitroconditions. Animal models play a pivotal and indispensable role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) research.Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode species, has emerged as a prominent experimental organism widely utilised in various biomedical research fields. However, the specific number of CVD-related genes and pathways within theC. elegansgenome remains undisclosed to date, limiting its in-depth utilisation for investigations. In the present study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of genes and pathways related to CVD within the genomes of humans andC. elegansthrough a systematic bioinformatic approach.

A total of 1113 genes inC. elegansorthologous to the most significant CVD-related genes in humans were identified, and the GO terms and pathways were compared to study the pathways that are conserved between the two species. In order to infer the functions of CVD-related orthologous genes inC. elegans, aPPI network was constructed. Orthologous gene PPI network analysis results reveal the hubs and important KRs:pmk-1, daf-21, gpb-1, crh-1, enpl-1, eef-1G, acdh-8, hif-1, pmk-2,andaha-1 in C. elegans.Modules were identified for determining the role of the orthologous genes at various levels in the created network. We also identified 9 commonly enriched pathways between humans andC. eleganslinked with CVDs that include autophagy (animal), the ErbB signalling pathway, the FoxO signalling pathway, the MAPK signalling pathway, ABC transporters, the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and metabolic pathways. This study provides the first systematic genomic approach to explore the CVD-associated genes and pathways that are present inC. elegans,supporting the use ofC. elegansas a prominent animal model organism for cardiovascular diseases.
Neural circuits underlying context-dependent competition between defensive actions inDrosophilalarva
Authors: Lehman Maxime , Barré Chloé , Hasan Md Amit , Flament Benjamin , Autran Sandra , Dhiman Neena , Soba Peter , Masson Jean-Baptiste , Jovanic Tihana
Published: December 2023

To ensure their survival, animals must be able to respond adaptively to threats within their environment. However, the precise neural circuit mechanisms that underlie such flexible defensive behaviors remain poorly understood. Using neuronal manipulations, machine-learning-based behavioral detection, Electron Microscopy (EM) connectomics and calcium imaging inDrosophilalarva, we have mapped the second-order interneurons differentially involved in the competition between different defensive actions and the main pathways to the motor side putatively involved in inhibiting startle-type behaviors and promoting escape behaviors in a context dependent manner. We found that mechanosensory stimulation modulates the nociceptive escape sequences and inhibits C-shape bends and Rolls in favor of startle-like behaviors. This suggests a competition between mechanosensory-induced startle responses and escape behaviors. Structural and functional connectivity revealed that the second order interneurons receive their main input from projection neurons that integrate mechanosensory and nociceptive stimuli. The analysis of their postsynaptic connectivity in EM revealed that they make indirect connections to the pre-motor and motor neurons. Finally, we identify a pair of descending neurons that could promote modulate the escape sequence and promote startle behaviors. Altogether, these results characterize the pathways involved in the Startle and Escape competition, modulated by the sensory context.
Mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy profiles of red and pink Rhododendron flower petals establish them as rich sources of bioactive secondary metabolites
Authors: Shagun Shagun , Lingwan Maneesh , Masakapalli Shyam Kumar
Published: December 2023

Rhododendron petals are considered high-value owing to their commercial utility, national/state flower status in certain countries, and bioactive potential from recent studies. Profiling and quantitative analysis of the bioactive metabolites would evaluate if they can be natural sources. This study is focused on comprehensive profiling of secondary metabolites in the petals of Red and Pink Rhododendron flowers (R. arboreumandR. campanulatum) using Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS/MS) and Proton-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) Spectroscopy. The profiling highlighted the presence of secondary metabolites belonging to phenolic acids and flavonoids. Specifically, the flowers are rich in promising bioactive molecules such as quinic acid, chlorogenic acid (3-O-caffeoyl quinic acid), protocatechuic acid, coumaroyl quinic acids, catechin, epigallocatechin, and shikimic acid. The profiles are correlated with the metabolic pathways which reflected the activity of shikimic acid, phenolic acid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. These metabolites are well reported for their bioactive potential as anti-oxidative, anti-viral, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, etc. While the quantitative and multivariate analysis showed variations in the levels of phenolic acids and flavonoids, it is established that red and pink Rhododendron flower petals are a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals of interest to the phytochemical Industry.
Loss minimization based optimal frequency selection for low frequency transmission lines using telegrapher’s method
Authors: Anand Mukul , Chatterjee Debashis , Goswami Swapan Kumar
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to obtain the optimal frequency for low-frequency transmission lines while minimizing losses and maintaining the voltage stability of low-frequency systems. This study also emphasizes a reduction in calculations based on mathematical approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

Telegrapher’s method has been used to reduce large calculations in low-frequency high-voltage alternating current (LF-HVac) lines. The static compensator (STATCOM) has been used to maintain voltage stability. For optimal frequency selection, a modified Jaya algorithm (MJAYA) for optimal load flow analysis was implemented.

Findings

The MJAYA algorithm performed better than other conventional algorithms and determined the optimum frequency selection while minimizing losses. Voltage stability was also achieved with the proposed optimal load flow (OLF), and statistical analysis showed that the proposed OLF reduces the frequency deviation and standard error of the LF-HVac lines.

Originality/value

The optimal frequency for LF-HVac lines has been achieved, Telegrapher’s method has been used in OLF, and STATCOM has been used in LF-HVac transmission lines.
The relationship between various social work environment elements and hybrid worker well-being
Authors: Lindeberg Peter , Saunila Minna , Lappalainen Pia , Ukko Juhani , Rantanen Hannu
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Work environments are undergoing a transition and COVID-19 accelerated this change. Prior studies have associated various physical, digital and social work environment elements with occupational well-being. However, holistic approaches to the social work environment to compare the effects of the different elements have received less attention. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of various social work environment elements with hybrid worker well-being. The findings help organizations design their work environments and cultures for the post-COVID era.

Design/methodology/approach

The study builds on a quantitative survey with 1,057 respondents. The respondents were randomly selected, the answers were anonymous and the results were based on regression analysis.

Findings

The analysis indicated that working methods and practices, leadership and management practices, organizational communality and social interaction associate with hybrid worker well-being. Organizational values, reward systems and organizational structures yield no association with hybrid worker well-being.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is in that it investigates elements of the social work environment, presents a research model that examines the relationship of social work environment elements with hybrid worker well-being and provides new empirical data on their implications in a comparative manner.
Organisational digital capability: a cross-country review of guidance
Authors: Wall Tony , Ngo Nga , Nguyễn Hữu Chúc , Lan Phạm Ngọc , Knight Sarah
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Digital transformation continues to rapidly progress in higher education globally, spanning all aspects of higher education operations, values and culture. Despite expanding literature, guidance remains focussed on emergency application during pandemic lockdowns and/or on single organisational case studies. Digital transformation frameworks that move beyond these foci are heavily criticised for being commercially contextualised (outside of higher education) and are often too narrowly conceptualised. The purpose of this paper is to review the most common framework currently used in the UK, which takes a strategic and organisational perspective on digital transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a technical review article that summarises key guidance for organisational digital capability and then reflects on its application in the UK (a developed economy and higher education system) and in Vietnam (one of the fastest-growing economies with a developing higher education committed to digital transformation) as an initial attempt to explore its applicability beyond the UK context. Vietnam has been chosen as a reference context, given its significant current digital transformation policy reform at the national level and as a collaboration partner with the UK in its digital transformation.

Findings

The guidance highlights six core areas to consider for digital capability: information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, content and information, research and innovation, communication, learning, teaching and assessment and organisational digital culture. Although the framework is normative, findings suggest it is sufficiently open-ended to enable its users to determine practical steps to drive digital transformation. However, complementary tools are suggested to deal with the rapidly developing digital transformation policy context of Vietnam.

Originality/value

This is the first time a review has been conducted from the perspective of different countries, with a view to supporting leaders, managers and policymakers in the UK, Vietnam and other Association of South Eastern Nations (ASEAN) networks in their own digital transformation transitions.
Entropy generation analysis for convective flow of aqua Ag-CuO hybrid nanofluid adjacent to a warmed down-pointing rotating vertical cone
Authors: Berrehal Hamza , Karami Roshanak , Dinarvand Saeed , Pop Ioan , Chamkha Ali
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to study numerically the flow, heat transfer, and entropy generation of aqueous copper oxide-silver hybrid nanofluid over a down-pointing rotating vertical cone, with linear surface temperature (LST) and linear surface heat flux (LSHF), in the presence of a cross-magnetic field. In industrial applications, such as oil and gas plants, food industries, steel factories and nuclear packages, the real bodies may contain nonorthogonal walls and variable cross-section three-dimensional forms which this issue can clarify the importance of selective geometry in the present research.

Design/methodology/approach

The mass-based scheme is accomplished for the simulation, and the entropy generation and Bejan number will be analyzed in conjunction with the aforementioned model. It has been hypothesized that two types of boundary conditions (LST and LSHF) as well as five nanoparticle shapes (sphere, brick, cylinder, platelet and disk) present a collection of crucial results. The overseeing PDEs are changed over completely to the dimensionless ODEs, and these are solved by Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg approach combined with a shooting methodology for certain values of physical parameters.

Findings

Subsequent to the fantastic compromise of the computational outcomes with past reports, the outcomes are introduced to conduct the investigation of the hydrodynamics/thermal boundary layers, the skin friction and the Nusselt number, as well as entropy generation and Bejan number. A state of hybrid nanofluid, which exhibits a remarkable increase in heat transfer in comparison to the states of mono-nanofluid and regular fluid, has been found to have the highest Nusselt number; however, the skin friction values should always be taken into account and managed. The entropy generation improves with the mass of the second nanoparticle (silver), while the opposite pattern is exhibited for the Bejan number. Furthermore, the lowest value of entropy generation number belongs to the cylindrical shape of nanoparticles in the LST case. In final, a significant accomplishment of the current study is the accurate output of the mass-based scheme for an entropy analysis problem.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, for the first time, in this study, a new development of natural convective flow of a hybrid nanofluid about the warmed (LST and LSHF) and down-pointing rotating vertical cone by the mass-based algorithm has been presented. The applied methodology considers the masses of base fluid (water) and nanoparticles (Ag and CuO) as an alternative to the first and second nanoparticles volume fraction. Indeed, the combination use of the Tiwari–Das nanofluid model and the mass-based hybridity algorithm for the entropy generation analysis can be the main novelty of this work.
Does board’s green theme training promote green innovation? A view from resource dependence perspective: Indonesian evidence
Authors: Asni Nur , Dianawati Wiwiek
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The study has practical implications for decision-makers in that increasing board competence and expertise through training on environmental issues will promote green policy-making.

Design/methodology/approach

This study included 655 firm-year observations from companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange between 2017 and 2021. Panel data regression analysis is used to investigate the hypotheses. Additionally, a robustness test is conducted to validate the consistency of the primary test results.

Findings

The results demonstrate that green theme training from the board of directors, board of commissioners and independent commissioners has a positive and significant impact on the implementation of green innovation at each level of the board. This result is aligned with the robustness test performed.

Research limitations/implications

This study is restricted by the fact that the only data sources used to examine the board’s green training are publication reports and other reports that disclose the board’s training activities. Therefore, future research can be done by considering other methods, such as surveys to trace green training followed by the board. Additional research may also examine green theme training in the corporate governance structure from a different theoretical angle, such as agency theory and human capital theory.

Practical implications

In practice, the study has implications for decision-makers in that increasing board competence and expertise through training on environmental issues will be able to promote green policy-making.

Originality/value

This study concentrates on Indonesia with two-board governance characteristics: the board of directors and the board of commissioners. Several scholars have examined the board of directors in light of resource dependence theory. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no research has explained the supervisory board within the context of two-board governance. In addition, the authors have not found research that analyzes board training activities related to the environment.
Facilitation or inhibition? research on the double-edged sword effect of peer abusive supervision on bystander proactive behavior
Authors: Chen Hao , Wang Jiajia , Bao Jiaying , Zhang Zihan , Li Jingya
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Based on the Cognitive Appraisal Theory of Stress, this study aims to reveal the mechanism of peer abusive supervision on bystander proactive behavior through two different paths: bystander assertive impression management motivation and bystander defensive impression management motivation. Besides, the moderating effects of bystander uncertainty tolerance on the two paths are also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, 438 employees and their direct leaders from eight Chinese companies were surveyed in a paired survey at three time points, and the empirical data was analyzed using Mplus 7.4 software.

Findings

Peer abusive supervision leads bystanders to develop assertive impression management motivation and, thus, to exhibit more proactive behaviors. At the same time, peer abusive supervision also causes bystanders to develop defensive impression management motivation, which reduces the frequency of performing proactive behaviors. In addition, this study finds that bystander uncertainty tolerance plays a moderating role in influencing bystander assertive impression management motivation and bystander defensive impression management motivation in response to peer abusive supervision.

Originality/value

Starting from the bystander perspective, this study verifies the double-edged sword effect of peer abusive supervision on bystander proactive behavior as well as the mechanism of differentiated effects through cognitive appraisal, which broadens the scope of the research on abusive supervision, and deepens the academic understanding and development of the Cognitive Appraisal Theory of Stress. At the same time, it also provides new ideas for organizations to reduce the negative effects of workplace abusive behavior.
Examining the consumption of oil on total factor productivity and CO2 emissions: an analysis of highly oil-consuming countries
Authors: Ansari Mohd Arshad , Ahmad Mohammad Rais , Kumar Pushp , Yadav Arvind Kumar , Ritu Rajveer Kaur
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of oil consumption on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and total factor productivity (TFP) in highly oil-consuming countries of the world from 1995 to 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) are applied.

Findings

FMOLS and DOLS models reveal that oil consumption, human capital, population, trade openness and nonrenewable energy have a significant positive effect on CO2 emissions. While information and communication technology (ICT), as proxied by mobile and natural resources, has a significant negative effect on CO2 emissions. In the case of TFP, oil consumption, ICT and natural resources have a significant positive effect on the TFP. On the other hand, trade openness, population, human capital and nonrenewable energy have a significant negative effect on TFP. The results of this study can help to provide policy recommendations to reduce CO2 emissions in studied highly oil-consuming countries of the world.

Originality/value

Due to the threat to sustainable development, climate change has become a major topic for debate around the world. The influence of oil consumption on CO2 emission and TFP is less known in the available literature. Another significance of this study is that many researchers considered aggregate energy consumption to study this relationship, but the authors have studied the effect of energy consumption, particularly from oil in the top oil-consuming countries, which is a significant shortcoming of the present research.
Research on optimal carbon emissions in the production decision of the coal-fired power plant
Authors: Dou Yadong , Zhang Xiaolong , Chen Ling
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The coal-fired power plants have been confronted with new operation challenge since the unified carbon trading market was launched in China. To make the optimal decision for the carbon emissions and power production has already been an important subject for the plants. Most of the previous studies only considered the market prices of electricity and coal to optimize the generation plan. However, with the opening of the carbon trading market, carbon emission has become a restrictive factor for power generation. By introducing the carbon-reduction target in the production decision, this study aims to achieve both the environmental and economic benefits for the coal-fired power plants to positively deal with the operational pressure.

Design/methodology/approach

A dynamic optimization approach with both long- and short-term decisions was proposed in this study to control the carbon emissions and power production. First, the operation rules of carbon, electricity and coal markets are analyzed, and a two-step decision-making algorithm for annual and weekly production is presented. Second, a production profit model based on engineering constraints is established, and a greedy heuristics algorithm is applied in the Gurobi solver to obtain the amounts of weekly carbon emission, power generation and coal purchasing. Finally, an example analysis is carried out with five generators of a coal-fired power plant for illustration.

Findings

The results show that the joint information of the multiple markets of carbon, electricity and coal determines the real profitability of power production, which can assist the plants to optimize their production and increase the profits. The case analyses demonstrate that the carbon emission is reduced by 2.89% according to the authors’ method, while the annual profit is improved by 1.55%.

Practical implications

As an important power producer and high carbon emitter, coal-fired power plants should actively participate in the carbon market. Rather than trade blindly at the end of the agreement period, they should deeply associate the prices of carbon, electricity and coal together and realize optimal management of carbon emission and production decision efficiently.

Originality/value

This paper offers an effective method for the coal-fired power plant, which is struggling to survive, to manage its carbon emission and power production optimally.
Examining the impact of environmental and organizational priorities on sustainability performance in service industries
Authors: Morgan Yun-Chen , Fok Lillian , Zee Susan
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study examines the direct and indirect effects of organizational environmental orientation (EO)/culture, quality management practices (QMP) and sustainability experience (SE) on the relationship between organizational green practices (GP) and the triple bottom line (TBL) of sustainability performance (SuP).

Design/methodology/approach

To test the seven hypotheses, a structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The responses of 365 managers from various USA businesses in the service industries were analyzed using IBM SPSS and structural equation modeling (SEM)-AMOS.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that positive SuP in the economic, environmental and social dimensions and organizational GP can be improved by a strong culture of EO, effective QMP and substantial SE.

Practical implications

This research fills the gap in existing research between important organizational and environmental priorities and SuP. Consequently, the study provides managers with important strategic guidance: for environmental practices to achieve profitability and sustainability success, companies must promote an environmental-mindful culture and strategically invest in integrated QM systems.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first that explores how organizational environmental culture and QMP affect directly and indirectly the relationship between GP and SuP. These results provide empirical evidence to support the claim that environmental culture and QMP have significant direct and indirect effects on the relationship between GP and SuP dimensions.
On the effect of COVID-19 and policy uncertainty on the stock market: evidence from India
Authors: Adil Masudul Hasan , Haider Salman
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The present study empirically examines the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and policy uncertainty on stock prices in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, the authors use the daily data by applying the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, which tests the short- and long-run relationship between stock price and its covariates.

Findings

The study finds that increased uncertainty has adverse short- and long-run effects on stock prices, while the vaccine index has favorable effects on stock market recovery.

Practical implications

From investors' perspectives, volatility in the Indian stock market has negative repercussions. Therefore, to protect investors' sentiments, policymakers should be concerned about the uncertainty induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and similar other uncertainty prevailing in the financial markets.

Originality/value

This study used the news-based COVID-19 index and vaccine index to measure recent pandemic-induced uncertainty. The result carries some policy implications for an emerging economy like India.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-03-2023-0244
Strategic knowledge, IT capabilities and innovation ambidexterity: role of business process performance
Authors: Yoshikuni Adilson Carlos , Dwivedi Rajeev , Dwivedi Yogesh K.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The research aims to identify the impacts of strategic knowledge (SK) and information technology capabilities (ITC) on innovation ambidexterity (IAM) through business process performance (BPP).

Design/methodology/approach

The research framework is developed based on the theoretical grounding of resource orchestration (RO) (SK and ITC) impacts on IAM. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was used to test the research framework on a sample of 441 responses from Brazilian firms.

Findings

The results suggest that SK and ITC facilitate BPP, resulting in IAM. The findings also suggested differences in path coefficients in the SK and ITC of the business value generation process framework under environmental turbulence (ET). Finally, a strong SK of ITC is especially important in enabling BPP and IAM in large firms. Another case of most manufacturing and service firms demonstrated that both SK and ITC are essential to impacting IAM through BPP mediation.

Practical implications

The findings provide insight into how professionals can think and plan carefully to align SK and ITC for achieving balanced innovation and improving BPP in the dynamic business environment.

Originality/value

The study establishes a relationship between SK, ITC, BPP and IAM. The study developed novel constructs of SK and ITC and tested them, which gives new insight and links among the constructs.
The role of project owners' and potential backers' implicit social ties in crowdfunding project success
Authors: Gupta Jayesh Prakash , Li Hongxiu , Kärkkäinen Hannu , Mukkamala Raghava Rao
Published: December 2023

Purpose

In this study, the authors sought to investigate how the implicit social ties of both project owners and potential backers are associated with crowdfunding project success.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on social ties theory and factors that affect crowdfunding success, in this research, the authors developed a model to study how project owners' and potential backers' implicit social ties are associated with crowdfunding projects' degrees of success. The proposed model was empirically tested with crowdfunding data collected from Kickstarter and social media data collected from Twitter. The authors performed the test using an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model with fixed effects.

Findings

The authors found that project owners' implicit social ties (specifically, their social media activities, degree centrality and betweenness centrality) are significantly and positively associated with crowdfunding projects' degrees of success. Meanwhile, potential project backers' implicit social ties (their social media activities and degree centrality) are negatively associated with crowdfunding projects' degrees of success. The authors also found that project size moderates the effects of project owners' social media activities on projects' degrees of success.

Originality/value

This work contributes to the literature on crowdfunding by investigating how the implicit social ties of both potential backers and project owners on social media are associated with crowdfunding project success. This study extends the previous research on social ties' roles in explaining crowdfunding project success by including implicit social ties, while the literature explored only explicit social ties.
Personal use of smartphones in the workplace and work–life conflict: a natural quasi-experiment
Authors: Whelan Eoin , Turel Ofir
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Prior research has extensively examined how bringing technology from work into the non-work life domain creates conflict, yet the reverse pathway has rarely been studied. The purpose of this study is to bridge this gap and examine how the non-work use of smartphones in the workplace affects work–life conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from three literature streams: technostress, work–life conflict and role boundary theory, the authors theorise on how limiting employees' ability to integrate the personal life domain into work, by means of technology use policy, contributes to stress and work–life conflict. To test this model, the authors employ a natural experiment in a company that changed its policy from fully restricting to open smartphone access for non-work purposes in the workplace. The insights gained from the experiment were explored further through qualitative interviews.

Findings

Work–life conflict declines when a ban on using smartphones for non-work purposes in the workplace is revoked. This study's results show that the relationship between smartphone use in the workplace and work–life conflict is mediated by sensed stress. Additionally, a post-hoc analysis reveals that work performance was unchanged when the smartphone ban was revoked.

Originality/value

First, this study advances the authors' understanding of how smartphone use policies in the workplace spill over to affect non-work life. Second, this work contributes to the technostress literature by revealing how, in specific situations, engagement with ICT can reduce distress and strain.
Monetary policy in practice: do central banks respond to movements in exchange rate and credit growth?
Authors: Le Hai , Nguyen Phuong
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study examines the importance of exchange rate and credit growth fluctuations when designing monetary policy in Thailand. To this end, the authors construct a small open economy New Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model. The model encompasses several essential characteristics, including incomplete financial markets, incomplete exchange rate pass-through, deviations from the law of one price and a banking sector. The authors consider generalized Taylor rules, in which policymakers adjust policy rates in response to output, inflation, credit growth and exchange rate fluctuations. The marginal likelihoods are then employed to investigate whether the central bank responds to fluctuations in the exchange rate and credit growth.

Design/methodology/approach

This study constructs a small open economy DSGE model and then estimates the model using Bayesian methods.

Findings

The authors demonstrate that the monetary authority does target exchange rates, whereas there is no evidence in favor of incorporating credit growth into the policy rules. These findings survive various robustness checks. Furthermore, the authors demonstrate that domestic shocks contribute significantly to domestic business cycles. Although the terms of trade shock plays a minor role in business cycles, it explains the most significant proportion of exchange rate fluctuations, followed by the country risk premium shock.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt at exploring the relevance of exchange rate and credit growth fluctuations when designing monetary policy in Thailand.
Is “luxury” simply a marketing gimmick? Evaluating value in the experiencescapes of developed and developing countries
Authors: Karri Rohan
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Luxury as a construct warrants an assessment of entities promoting themselves as luxurious offerings. Therefore, this study attempts to evaluate the experiencescapes of luxury trains operating in developed and developing countries to assess the presence of luxury values in the elements affecting tourists' experiences and immersion.

Design/methodology/approach

Two different types of luxury trains were selected from across developed and developing countries for a holistic assessment of the experiencescapes. Through netnography and hermeneutic interpretation, this study analyzes 218 experiential descriptions on Tripadvisor from luxury trains of Australia, UK, Peru and India.

Findings

Although luxury trains in both the regions entailed financial, functional, social and individual value, they struggled to offer these values in conjunction. While the positioning of luxury trains in developing countries under the “inaccessible luxury” segment is exaggerated, developed countries were also found to struggle with customer service and management.

Practical implications

By emphasizing on areas within the control of the service providers, short-haul luxury trains can be a better fit in developing countries. Better usability testing and employee training should be undertaken to improve the functional values of luxury in long-haul luxury trains of developed countries.

Originality/value

This article not only assesses the validity of luxury trains' positioning but also provides new insights into the nature of the tourist immersion process. Having extensively discussed experiences in the backdrop of luxury, it contributes to the progression of literature on luxury trains, experiencescapes and immersion.
How to assess the intellectual capital of firms in uncertain times: a systematic literature review and a proposed model for practical adoption
Authors: Cosa Marcello , Pedro Eugénia , Urban Boris
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Intellectual capital (IC) plays a crucial role in today’s volatile business landscape, yet its measurement remains complex. To better navigate these challenges, the authors propose the Integrated Intellectual Capital Measurement (IICM) model, an innovative, robust and comprehensive framework designed to capture IC amid business uncertainty. This study focuses on IC measurement models, typically reliant on secondary data, thus distinguishing it from conventional IC studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis across Web of Science, Scopus and EBSCO Business Source Ultimate in February 2023. This yielded 2,709 IC measurement studies, from which the authors selected 27 quantitative papers published from 1985 to 2023.

Findings

The analysis revealed no single, universally accepted approach for measuring IC, with company attributes such as size, industry and location significantly influencing IC measurement methods. A key finding is human capital’s critical yet underrepresented role in firm competitiveness, which the IICM model aims to elevate.

Originality/value

This is the first SLR focused on IC measurement amid business uncertainty, providing insights for better management and navigating turbulence. The authors envisage future research exploring the interplay between IC components, technology, innovation and network-building strategies for business resilience. Additionally, there is a need to understand better the IC’s impact on specific industries (automotive, transportation and hospitality), Social Development Goals and digital transformation performance.
Dialogue embedded synectics model of teaching: a hybrid model for promotion of creativity
Authors: Sahoo Pravat Kumar , Pany Sesadeba , Mohanty Sankar Prasad , Dash Kalpana Rani , Rana Saikalyani
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the effect of the dialogue embedded synectics model of teaching on the creative thinking of students.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design of the study was a nonequivalent control group design of quasi experimental research. This study collected data from 80 students in the seventh grade from two different government schools in Bathinda, Punjab, India, which were selected using a random method. The subjects of experimental group were taught by the investigator using the dialogue embedded synectics model of teaching and the subjects of control group were taught by their teacher using the traditional teaching method, i.e. the Herbartian method. The data collections were done using the creative thinking test developed by Baqer Mehdi (1995). The data analysis techniques used t-test.

Findings

Key finding indicates that the dialogue embedded synectics model of teaching is effective in enhancing the creative thinking of students as compared to the traditional method.

Originality/value

The present work is unique in terms of development of an innovative pedagogy, i.e. the dialogue embedded synectics model of teaching, which has the potential to encourage students' creative thinking, a key concern for society in the 21st century. Therefore, it is suggested to conduct similar type of studies on this innovative pedagogy and this model of teaching may be used by teachers for enhancing creative thinking of seventh class students.
Leading for growth: a daily investigation of affiliation resources provided by the leader and nonwork mastery
Authors: Stein Maie , Begemann Vanessa , Gregersen Sabine , Vincent-Höper Sylvie
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Although nonwork mastery generates personal resources and improves employee well-being and performance, employees must invest personal resources to experience mastery during nonwork time. Drawing on conservation of resources theory and resource exchange perspectives, the purpose of this study is to examine the role of day-to-day provisions of affiliation resources by the leader in generating the personal resources necessary for employees to engage in nonwork mastery.

Design/methodology/approach

Daily diary data were collected from 198 employees (768 days). The proposed model was tested using Bayesian multilevel path analysis.

Findings

The results showed that on days when employees perceived that their leader provided more affiliation resources, they reported higher self-esteem and work engagement and, in turn, experienced higher levels of mastery. Furthermore, employees in high-quality (vs low-quality) leader–member exchange (LMX) relationships benefitted more from the affiliation resources provided by their leader in terms of work engagement.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that leaders can actively manage their employees' daily experience and functioning through seemingly ordinary demonstrations of warmth, care, and positive regard.

Originality/value

This study highlights the important role of leaders in improving employee daily work and nonwork experience and functioning and sheds light on the tangible resource provisions in the work context and the associated personal resources that account for daily variations in mastery. By distinguishing between daily affiliation resources and general perceptions of LMX relationship quality, this study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the implications that resource provisions by the leader have for employees.