bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Healthcare presentations with self-harm and the association with COVID-19: an e-cohort whole-population-based study using individual-level linked routine electronic health records in Wales, UK, 2016 - March 2021
Authors: DelPozo-Banos Marcos , Lee Sze Chim , Friedmann Yasmin , Akbari Ashley , Torabi Fatemeh , Lloyd Keith , Lyons Ronan A , John Ann
Published: August 2021

Background

Multi-setting population-based studies on healthcare service presentations with self-harm covering the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic are yet to be published.

Aims

Ascertain changes across settings in healthcare service presentations with self-harm during Waves 1 and 2 of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

E-cohort study using individual-level linked routine healthcare data from Wales, UK, 2016-March 2021. We measured weekly proportion of self-harm contacts and people who self-harmed in contact with general practice (GP), emergency department (ED) and hospital admissions. We modelled weekly trends using linear regression and generalised estimated equations, quantifying time differences using difference-in-difference (DiD).

Results

We included 3,552,210 Welsh residents aged ≥10 years. Counts of self-harm presentations across settings was at a minimum at the start of stay-at-home restrictions during both waves and recovered compared to previous years in 3-5 months. Those who self-harmed in April 2020 were more likely to be seen in GP compared to other settings and previous years – mean rate of OR=1.2, although actual numbers fell. The proportion of self-harm ED contacts admitted to hospital dropped from June 2020 (1.9 [1.5-2.3] pp/month). Self-harm and COVID-19 infection had a bidirectional effect – self-harm history had OR=1.4 [1.2-1.6] and incidence had DiD=1.1 [0.8-1.4].

Conclusions

Those that self-harmed and sought help during the COVID-19 pandemic potentially encountered stringent criteria for hospitalisation, particularly in Wave 2, while in Wave 1 they preferentially presented to GP. Reductions in contacts likely resulted in unmet healthcare needs which may later emerge placing further burden on individuals and healthcare services.

Relevance statement

This study provides novel findings on how the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to curb its spread affected self-harm healthcare service presentations. To our knowledge no other population-based studies in the UK have linked routinely collected general practice (GP), emergency department (ED) and hospital admission data covering Waves 1 and 2 of the pandemic.

Reductions in presentations with self-harm during the pandemic may be the result of those not requiring ED care or hospitalisation avoiding seeking help during the pandemic as often as before. Those that did seek help potentially encountered more stringent criteria for hospitalisation, particularly during Wave 2. This likely resulted in unmet healthcare needs which may later emerge placing further burden on individuals and healthcare services. Measures should be put in place to ensure that those who self-harm receive appropriate assessment and intervention.
Altered increase in STAT1 expression and phosphorylation in severe COVID-19
Authors: Rincon-Arevalo Hector , Aue Arman , Ritter Jacob , Szelinski Franziska , Khadzhynov Dmytro , Zickler Daniel , Stefanski Luisa , Lino Andreia C. , Körper Sixten , Eckardt Kai-Uwe , Schrezenmeier Hubert , Dörner Thomas , Schrezenmeier Eva V.
Published: August 2021

The interferon pathway represents a key antiviral defense mechanism and is being considered as a therapeutic target in COVID-19. Both, substitution of interferon and blocking interferon signaling through JAK STAT inhibition to limit cytokine storms have been proposed. However, little is known so far about possible abnormalities in STAT signaling in immune cells during SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the current study, we investigated downstream targets of interferon signaling, including STAT1, pSTAT1 and 2 and IRF1, 7 and 9 by flow cytometry in 30 patients with COVID-19, 17 with mild and 13 with severe infection. We report an upregulation of STAT1 and IRF9 in mild and severe COVID-19 cases, which correlated with the IFN-signature assessed by Siglec-1 (CD169) expression on peripheral monocytes. Most interestingly, Siglec-1 and STAT1 in CD14+ monocytes and plasmablasts showed lower expression among severe COVID-19 cases compared to mild cases. Contrary to the baseline whole protein STAT1 expression, the phosphorylation of STAT1 was enhanced in severe COVID-19 cases, indicating a dysbalanced JAK STAT signaling that fails to induce transcription of interferon stimulated response elements (ISRE). This abnormality persisted after IFN-α and IFN-γ stimulation of PBMCs from patients with severe COVID-19. The data suggest impaired STAT1 transcriptional upregulation among severely infected patients which may represent a potential predictive biomarker and may allow stratification of patients for certain interferon-pathway targeted treatments.
Topological changes in telechelic micelles: flowers versus stars
Authors: Baulin Vladimir A.
Published: August 2021

Micellization and morphology of spherical telechelic micelles formed by tri-block copolymers with short solvophobic end blocks at low concentrations is discussed within scaling argumentsand Single Chain Mean Field Theory (SCMFT). In ultra-dilute regime, individual telechelic polymer chains can exist in solution in two distinct states: open linear chain conformation with two free ends and closed loop conformation, when two ends are connected by the effective attraction between two solvophobic ends. At concentrations below gelation point, closed loops tend to form micelles comprised mostly of loops in flower-like micelles, while linear polymers in open conformations tend to form star-shaped aggregates with one hydrophobic dangling end. Resulting two kinds of micelles have remarkably different topology and dimensions, while the transition between them can be driven by the entropy, namely conformation changes between domination of the looped and linear conformations. The transition between two types of micelles lies in a narrow interaction parameters range. Thus, these topological micelles are very sensitive to the changes in external environment and they can serve as a very sensitive stimuli-responsive smart materials.

Graphical TOC Entry
O-GlcNAcylation is essential for rapid Pomc expression and cell proliferation in corticotropic tumor cells
Authors: Massman Logan J , Pereckas Michael , Zwagerman Nathan T , Olivier-Van Stichelen Stephanie
Published: August 2021

Pituitary adenomas have a staggering 16.7% lifetime prevalence and can be devastating in many patients due to profound endocrine and neurologic dysfunction. To date, no clear genomic or epigenomic markers correlates with their onset or severity. Herein, we investigate the impact of the O-GlcNAc post-translational modification in their etiology. Found in over 5000 human proteins to date, O-GlcNAcylation dynamically regulates proteins in critical signaling pathways, and its deregulation is involved in cancers progression and endocrine diseases such as diabetes.

In this study, we demonstrate that O-GlcNAcylation enzymes were upregulated, particularly in aggressive ACTH-secreting tumors, suggesting a role for O-GlcNAcylation in pituitary adenoma etiology. In addition to the demonstration that O-GlcNAcylation was essential for their proliferation, we show that the endocrine function of pituitary adenoma is also dependent on O-GlcNAcylation. In corticotropic tumors, hyper-secretion of the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived hormone ACTH leads to Cushing’s disease, materialized by severe endocrine disruption and increased mortality. We demonstrate that Pomc mRNA is stabilized in an O-GlcNAc-dependent manner in response to corticotropic-stimulating hormone (CRH). By impacting Pomc mRNA splicing and stability, O-GlcNAcylation contributes to this new mechanism of fast hormonal response in corticotropes. Thus, this study stresses the essential role of O-GlcNAcylation in ACTH-secreting adenomas’ pathophysiology, including cellular proliferation and hypersecretion.
Humanoid robots are perceived as an evolutionary threat
Authors: Wei Zhengde , Chen Ying , Ren Jiecheng , Yi Piao , Zhang Pengyu , Zha Rujing , Qiu Bensheng , Zhang Daren , Bi Yanchao , Han Shihui , Zhang Xiaochu
Published: August 2021

Studying how we perceive humanoid robots will provide insights for a deeper understanding of human-robot interaction. Our ideas about humanoid robots are mainly informed by science fiction, and humanoid robots are generally described as an evolutionary threat in science fiction that has not been tested. The preparedness model has emphasized that the fear module is automatically activated by evolutionary threats, and its underlying neural circuit is centered on the amygdala. We hypothesized that if humanoid robots are perceived as an evolutionary threat even though humanoid robots are manmade, modern objects, we would expect to observe a monocular advantage for humanoid robots and an amygdala response to unconsciously presented humanoid robots that were previously only evident in evolutionary threats. Here, we observed a monocular advantage for the perception of humanoid robots the same as an evolutionary threat (i.e., snakes). Our neuroimaging analysis indicated that unconscious presentation of humanoid robot vs. human images led to significant amygdala activation. Despite a positive humanoid robot-related association had been established by associative learning (as evidenced by results of successfully weakening the negative implicit attitude to humanoid robots and enhancing functional connectivity between the amygdala and hippocampus), the amygdala could still automatically and quickly detect humanoid robots. Our results reveal that processing of information about humanoid robots displays automaticity with regard to recruitment of visual pathway and amygdala activation. Our findings that humans apparently perceive humanoid robots as an evolutionary threat may help inform redefinition of human-robot interaction and robot ethics.
Thermal optimization of a high-heat-load double-multilayer monochromator
Authors: Brumund Philipp , Reyes-Herrera Juan , Morawe Christian , Dufrane Thomas , Isern Helena , Brochard Thierry , Sánchez del Río Manuel , Detlefs Carsten
Published: August 2021

Finite-element analysis is used to study the thermal deformation of a multilayer mirror due to the heat load from the undulator beam at a low-emittance synchrotron source, specifically the ESRF-EBS upgrade beamline EBSL-2. The energy bandwidth of the double-multilayer monochromator is larger than that of the relevant undulator harmonic, such that a considerable portion of the heat load is reflected. Consequently, the absorbed power is non-uniformly distributed on the surface. The geometry of the multilayer substrate is optimized to minimize thermally induced slope errors. We distinguish between thermal bending with constant curvature that leads to astigmatic focusing or defocusing and residual slope errors. For the EBSL-2 system with grazing angles θ between 0.2 and 0.4°, meridional and sagittal focal lengths down to 100 m and 2000 m, respectively, are found. Whereas the thermal bending can be tuned by varying the depth of the `smart cut', it is found that the geometry has little effect on the residual slope errors. In both planes they are 0.1–0.25 µrad. In the sagittal direction, however, the effect on the beam is drastically reduced by the `foregiveness factor', sin(θ). Optimization without considering the reflected heat load yields an incorrect depth of the `smart cut'. The resulting meridional curvature in turn leads to parasitic focal lengths of the order of 100 m.
How leader contingent reward behavior impacts employee work engagement and turnover intention: the moderating role of age
Authors: Laulié Lyonel , Pavez Ignacio , Martínez Echeverría Javier , Cea Pablo , Briceño Jiménez Gabriel
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore employee age as a moderating factor in the relationship between leader contingent reward behavior (CRB) and work engagement. In doing so, the authors seek to provide a more nuanced understanding of the mediating role of work engagement in the negative effect of leader CRB on turnover intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used online surveys among a sample of employees of a retail company in Chile to capture individual perceptions about supervisor CRB, work engagement and turnover intention. To test the authors’ hypotheses, they modeled a first-stage moderated mediation effect using Hayes’ Process macro.

Findings

The authors’ results confirm the hypothesis that the negative effect of leader CRB on employee turnover intention is partially mediated by employee work engagement. Interestingly, age was a significant moderator of the mediation effect only for individuals working at headquarters, but not for employees working in stores.

Originality/value

This study expands current knowledge about how the leadership–engagement relationship can predict organizational outcomes, including age as a boundary condition. Following the job demands-resources theory, the authors also prove that conceptualizing leader CRB as a job resource can benefit the integration of leadership and work engagement research. The authors’ findings may help organizational researchers and practitioners acknowledge contextual differences in understanding the combined effects of leadership styles and work engagement.
The Phoenix Project: Remediation of a Cybersecurity Crisis at the University of Virginia
Authors: Nelson Ryan , Wright Ryan
Published: August 2021

This case was designed to facilitate discussion of how a cyberattack was remediated by a major public university. Students are challenged to think through how to best manage the remediation project, including the application of best practices such as risk management, stakeholder management, communication plans, outsourcing/procurement management, and cyberattack remediation. The Phoenix Project was a success from multiple perspectives, and as such provides a useful example of how to manage an unplanned, mission-critical project well.
Retention Modeling at Scholastic Travel Company (A)
Authors: Ovchinnikov Anton , Scholar Scotiabank
Published: August 2021

This case, along with its B case (UVA-QA-0865), is an effective vehicle for introducing students to the use of machine-learning techniques for classification. The specific context is predicting customer retention based on a wide range of customer attributes/features. The specific techniques could include (but are not limited to): regressions (linear and logistic), variable selection (forward/backward and stepwise), regularizations (e.g., LASSO), classification and regression trees (CART), random forests, graduate boosted trees (xgboost), neural networks, and support vector machines (SVM).

The case is suitable for an advanced data analysis (data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence) class at all levels: upper-level business undergraduate, MBA, EMBA, as well as specialized graduate or undergraduate programs in analytics (e.g., masters of science in business analytics [MSBA] and masters of management analytics [MMA]) and/or in management (e.g., masters of science in management [MScM] and masters in management [MiM, MM]).

The teaching note for the case contains the pedagogy and the analyses, alongside the detailed explanations of the various techniques and their implementations in R (code provided in Exhibits and supplementary files). Python code, as well as the spreadsheet implementation in XLMiner, are available upon request.
Lesser Antilles Lines: The Island of San Huberto (A)
Authors: Gelly James V. , Pfeifer Phillip E.
Published: August 2021

In this case, the situation is a classic duopoly. Two shipping firms are in a price war over the market for containerized shipping to and from a small Caribbean island. The case presents a table of contributions to both firms as a function of their prices. This table serves as a basis by which the class can explore the concepts of Nash equilibrium, price leadership, and prisoner’s dilemma. It is also available with the case as a student spreadsheet (QA-0355X). See also “Lesser Antilles Lines (B)” (UVA-QA-0641) and “Lesser Antilles Lines (C)” (UVA-QA-0670).
Danville Airlines
Authors: Mead Jenny , Wicks Andrew C.
Published: August 2021

This case presents the dilemma faced by Danville Airlines’ management when one of its best pilots is found to have the inherited gene for Huntington’s disease. Although he inevitably will develop the physically and mentally debilitating disease, the pilot, who has yet to experience symptoms, does not want to step down from his position. Danville Airlines explores the complicated issues of employee rights versus public safety, employee rights to privacy, and genetic testing and its effects on employees and management.
Strategic improvisation: an introductory conceptual framework
Authors: Mamédio Diórgenes Falcão , Cunha Miguel Pina e , Meyer Jr Victor
Published: August 2021

Purpose

By exploring “what is strategic improvisation in organizations?” the authors respond to advances in strategic improvisation (SI) conceptualization with an emphasis on the challenges of combining unplanned but deliberate responses to relentlessly changing environments, in which strategy becomes increasingly improvised.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrative review was conducted with the potential to develop new theoretical approaches to research problems. This literature review resulted in an introductory SI framework.

Findings

The authors propose a SI conceptual framework combining foundation, structuration and capillarization. While foundations comprise extemporaneity, novelty and intentionality, considered as triggers for the manifestation of SI, in this study structuration refers to the combination of a minimal structure and a reassessment process in response to unexpected situations. Capillarization means interaction patterns characterized as spontaneous, dynamic and collaborative. This framework leads to the definition of SI as an impromptu deliberate action stream, combining unplanned responses with intentional actions sustaining the convergence of strategy and operation, to integrate and reconfigure resources at the strategic level.

Practical implications

SI in practice considers reconfiguring the internal and external forces to deal with unexpected events and impromptu deliberate responses to face rapidly changing environments. This would enable practitioners and managers to prepare for eventualities that evolve dynamically and spontaneously, and unpredictable imminent global crises.

Originality/value

The authors conducted the first study mapping improvisation as a strategic organizational level phenomenon. SI is recognized as operating across levels, from the tactical and functional to the strategic.
How do personal values help to build generation Y’s entrepreneurial intentions? The role of gender differences
Authors: Ettis Saïd Aboubaker
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which personal values affect entrepreneurial intentions and the extent to which this relationship depends on gender among the millennial generation.

Design/methodology/approach

This relationship was examined using the list of values (LOV). Based on a sample of 600 respondents born between 1977 and 1994, a self-administered online questionnaire was conducted.

Findings

The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach demonstrated that Generation Y members who give higher priority to self-direction, social affiliation and hedonic orientation values have greater entrepreneurial intentions. Across gender, the PLS-multigroup analysis (MGA) approach reveals that self-direction values enhance entrepreneurial intention for Generation Y females but not for males. Social affiliation values improve entrepreneurial intention for Generation Y males but not for females. Hedonic orientation values rise entrepreneurial intentions for both Generation Y males and females similarly. The findings give also a ranking of the nine LOV.

Research limitations/implications

Across-cultural comparisons are lacking in this research. This study only focuses on the value–intention relationship. Future research could study the value–attitude–behavior.

Practical implications

The results provide implications to all agents concerned by promoting new enterprises and feminine entrepreneurship regarding the implementation of personal values in fostering the venture creation process and stimulation of people to become business owners.

Originality/value

Little is known about the role of personal values in venture creation. The findings provide support for the role personal values play in building entrepreneurial intentions. The focus here was on Generation Y. The generation that faces problems of unemployment, job loss and poverty specifically in the time of crises of the COVID-19 pandemic. The value-based entrepreneurship approach is a proliferating field of research as the world seeks to rebuild economies.
MHD convective process due to rotation of cylinders and movement of a wavy wall of two-sided wavy enclosures with radiation
Authors: Ahmed Sameh E. , Alhazmi Muflih
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study the mixed convective process due to various dynamics, namely, inner rotating cylinders and upper-wavy wall movement for the first time.

Design/methodology/approach

The Galerkin finite element method together with the characteristic-based split scheme is applied to solve the governing system.

Findings

The main outcomes revealed that the direction of the rotation of the cylinders, radius and locations of the rotating shapes are beneficial controlling elements for the enhancement of heat transfer. Also, for all the considered cases, values of the Bejan number indicate that the fluid friction irreversibility is dominance compared to the heat transfer irreversibility. Further, average values of the heat transfer entropy, fluid friction entropy and total entropy are minimized in the case of fixed cylinders regardless of the cylinder radius.

Originality/value

The authors are interested in the mixed convection case due to regular boundaries and hence this simulation purposes a first attempt to examine the mixed convective flow due to irregular wavy boundaries. This study considered various dynamics, namely, inner rotating cylinders and wavy-lid driven wall which makes it more attractive to the readers. Various cases based on radius of the cylinder and direction of the rotations together with several locations of the rotating shapes are taken into account which makes the current simulation is comprehensive. Various studies presented in this field are made by commercial software and these treatments need special conditions (having limitation) but the current solution methodology is based on a finite element method home-code. Various important impacts, are, also, examined, namely, inclined geometry, inclined magnetic field, thermal radiation and heat generation/absorption. The entropy of the current complex system is analyzed based on the second law of thermodynamics.
The local meshless collocation method for solving 2D fractional Klein-Kramers dynamics equation on irregular domains
Authors: Abbaszadeh Mostafa , Pourbashash Hossein , Khaksar-e Oshagh Mahmood
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to propose a new numerical method for solving non-linear partial differential equations on irregular domains.

Design/methodology/approach

The main aim of the current paper is to propose a local meshless collocation method to solve the two-dimensional Klein-Kramers equation with a fractional derivative in the Riemann-Liouville sense, in the time term. This equation describes the sub-diffusion in the presence of an external force field in phase space.

Findings

First, the authors use two finite difference schemes to discrete temporal variables and then the radial basis function-differential quadrature method has been used to estimate the spatial direction. To discrete the time-variable, the authors use two different strategies with convergence orders

O(τ1+γ) and

O(τ2−γ) for 0 < γ < 1. Finally, some numerical examples have been presented to show the high accuracy and acceptable results of the proposed technique.

Originality/value

The proposed numerical technique is flexible for different computational domains.
A cost-minimizing approach to eliminating the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions at institutions of higher education
Authors: Timmons David S. , Weil Benjamin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Many institutions of higher education have committed to carbon neutrality. Given this goal, the main economic issue is minimizing cost. As for society as a whole, dominant decarbonization strategies are renewable electricity generation, electrification of end uses and energy efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to describe the optimum combination of strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

There are four questions for eliminating the primary institutional greenhouse gas emissions: how much renewable electricity to produce on-site; where and at what price to purchase the balance of renewable electricity required; how to heat and cool buildings without fossil fuels; and how much to invest in energy efficiency. A method is presented to minimize decarbonization costs by equating marginal costs of the alternates.

Findings

The estimated cost of grid-purchased carbon-free energy is the most important benchmark, determining both the optimal level of campus-produced renewable energy and the optimum efficiency investment. In the context of complete decarbonization, greater efficiency investments may be justified than when individual measures are judged only by fossil-fuel savings.

Practical implications

This paper discusses a theoretically ideal plan and implementation issues such as purchasing carbon-free electricity, calculating marginal costs of conserved energy, nonmarginal cost changes, uncertainty about achieving efficiency targets, and dynamic pricing. The principles described in this study can be used to craft a cost-minimizing decarbonization strategy.

Originality/value

While previous studies discuss decarbonization strategies, there is little economic guidance on which strategies are optimal, on how to combine strategies to minimize cost or how to identify a preferred path to decarbonization.
A bibliometric analysis of mobile learning in the education sector
Authors: Khan Farheen Mujeeb , Gupta Yuvika
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to contribute to literature on mobile learning (m-learning) by proposing four research clusters whereby scholars can expand m-learning research to facilitate effective learning experiences for students.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviews student-centric literature on m-learning since 2010 and presents insights on m-learning while applying well-established bibliometric techniques. Consequently, 722 articles published in the past decade were evaluated by identifying key research areas, most influential authors, countries, journals and organisations. Most influential studies based on number of citations were also examined.

Findings

Through article co-citation analysis, four clusters representing m-learning literature were identified: concept of m-learning, application of m-learning in education, designing framework for model learning/acceptance and emerging technologies.

Originality/value

As mobile learning (m-learning) has undergone an evolution from being an emerging field to a significant teaching and research tool, it is pertinent to explore and identify the trends of m-learning research.
Antecedent of lack of proficiency and the need for an automated financial plan for the course entrepreneurship creativity and innovation
Authors: Thottoli Mohammed Muneerali
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyze antecedents of students’ lack of proficiency (in preparing financial statements, cash flow statements, cost volume profit analysis and budgeting) and the need for an automated financial plan (AFP) for the course entrepreneurship creativity and innovation within Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in Oman.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a set of four instrument items containing questionnaires to measure the variables in this study. A cross-sectional study was carried out at various universities and colleges in Oman during the year 2020, comprising 174 students from different majors. The results were analyzed using structural equation modelling-partial least squares.

Findings

The findings of the study suggest that the students in the universities and colleges should be educated and facilitated to enable them to gain more knowledge in finance/accounting through an AFP and, thus, warrants preparation of fair financial estimation for their innovative business project. A majority of students strongly support the need for implementing an AFP for their compulsory course, entrepreneurship creativity and innovation in HEIs in Oman.

Research limitations/implications

This research is restricted to AFPs for the students in Oman who study the course entrepreneurship creativity and innovation. It is recommended that future study may extend to automated business plans for the students to improve their practical knowledge pertinent to the readiness of Omani students, as well as to give material transformation of internal environments in HEIs.

Practical implications

Unique AFP for university and college students for their compulsory course, entrepreneurship creativity and innovation provide important resources for policymakers responsible for HEIs, allowing them to improve the quality of preparing a financial plan for their innovative business ideas and new business start-ups.

Originality/value

There has been little discussion about the need for an AFP for the students who study the course entrepreneurship creativity and innovation. This study analyzes accounting standards as antecedents about students’ lack of proficiency towards an AFP for the course entrepreneurship creativity and innovation of universities and colleges in Oman which tries to fill this gap in the existing research. Hence, this study is considered as a novel approach that has not been broadly discussed in the earlier research.
The ethical implications of 4IR
Authors: Peckham Jeremy Burford
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the ethical implications of the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), for humanity. It proposes a virtues approach to resolving ethical dilemmas.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a review of the relevant literature and empirical evidence for how AI is impacting individuals and society. It uses a taxonomy of human attributes against which potential harms are evaluated.

Findings

The technologies of the 4IR are being adopted at a fast pace, posing numerous ethical dilemmas. This study finds that the adoption of these technologies, driven by an Enlightenment view of progress, is diminishing key aspects of humanity – moral agency, human relationships, cognitive acuity, freedom and privacy and the dignity of work. The impact of AI algorithms is also shown, in particular, is shown to be distorting the view of reality and threatening democracy, in part due to the asymmetry of power between Big Tech and users. To enable humanity to be masters of technology, rather than controlled by it, a virtues-based approach should be used to resolve ethical dilemmas, rather than utilitarian ethics.

Research limitations/implications

Further investigation is required to provide more empirical evidence of the harms to humanity of some 4IR technologies cited, such as virtual and augmented reality, manipulative algorithms and toy robots on children and adults and the reality of re-skilling where jobs are lost through automation.

Practical implications

This paper provides a framework for evaluating the impact of some 4IR technologies of humanity and an approach to resolving ethical dilemmas.

Social implications

Most of the concerns surrounding 4IR technologies, and in particular AI, tend to focus on human rights issues. This paper shows that there are other significant harms to what it means to be a human being from 4IR technologies that will have a profound impact on society if not adequately addressed.

Originality/value

The author is not aware of any other work that uses taxonomy of AI applications and their different impacts on humanity. The proposal to use virtues as a means to resolve ethical dilemmas is also novel in regard to AI.
Job evaluation as a mechanism for achieving the fairness of a wage structure in the administrative system: theoretical perspectives
Authors: El Balshy Suzan Abd El Moneim , Ismael Mamdouh
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present a theoretical framework which reveals the relationship between job evaluation (JE) and the development of fair wage structure from the organizational justice (OJ) perspective. It focuses on analyzing the dimensions of job-based pay structure and the use of multifaceted construct of OJ (procedures, distribution and interaction) to determine how the perceived justice of JE's multi-levels construct contributes to achieve the fairness of wage structure.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts an analytical descriptive approach in terms of explaining the perspectives and viewpoints related to the analysis. This paper is based on examining a theoretical framework provided by the authors based on a theoretical review of literature and a set of empirical evidences.

Findings

The design of a hierarchical wage structure counts on the multidimensional approach of JE which consists of three dimensions (processes, outcomes and social system). In addition, the determination of wage structure fairness is dependent on the assessment of the perceived justice of: JE's procedures, wages distribution and management's treatment with its employees.

Originality/value

This study provides a new theoretical contribution in studying the relationship between JE and the design of fair wage structure. This contribution can be regarded as a theoretical foundation for conducting some empirical and comparative studies in the future. The study affords directive mechanisms to policymakers in order to enhance the fairness of the wage structure across the state.
An integrated framework for the measurement of halal good manufacturing practices on the case of SMEs in the food sector
Authors: Lestari Fitra , Kurniawan Rahmad , Arifin Johar , Yasir Muhammad , Muhammad Saleh Mawardi , Akbarizan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Nowadays, the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in Indonesia with the product’s need for halal certification is limited. The purpose of this paper is to measure the integrated framework of Halal Good Manufacturing Practices (HGMP) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to discover the effect of its performance in the food sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This research conducted focus group discussion in 2 locations with 8 experts and 73 SMEs in the food sector at 2 Indonesian Government agencies.

Findings

The study indicated 6 variables and 40 indicators on HGMP and its implementation in each agency. Two agencies in this research were categorized as poor, which indicated the need to increase the implementation of HGMP. For the SMEs’ business process policy, there were significantly different variables in the building, employee, storage and maintenance.

Research limitations/implications

The implementation of the HGMP is examined in this research based on government regulation. It has not been thoroughly tested based on consumer responses. Furthermore, it can consider consumer satisfaction in the halal framework of GMP.

Practical implications

Government agencies in Indonesia can measure the implementation of HGMP in food sector SMEs and guide SMEs to achieve halal quality standards.

Originality/value

This research provides an integrated framework for measuring HGMP in SMEs guided by the Indonesian Government’s agency in meeting the standard of halal products.
On the relationship between policy uncertainty and sustainable investing
Authors: Shaikh Imlak
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In recent times, sustainable investment gaining much attention within the investors’ community and it is broadly driven by environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. This study aims to examine the ESG-based sustainability index and economic policy uncertainty (EPU).

Design/methodology/approach

Corporate sustainability assessment procedure yields Dow Jones sustainability indexes (DJSIUS) and ESG compliant firms become a member of such indexes. To uncover the effects of policy uncertainty as follows: the study considers EPU index, equity market policy uncertainty index, economic and political events for the period 2000–2017. The authors present the study using a conditional volatility framework.

Findings

The correlation between the DJSIUS and policy uncertainty appears to be negative and statistically significant. It is apparent from the results that policy uncertainty does contain important ESG factors that explain the sustainable investment in US firms. Moreover, the stock market boom, credit crunch, Lehman collapse and fiscal crises have shown significant adverse effects on the sustainability index. More importantly, it is seen that investors’ sustainable investing considers presidential election years for portfolio planning; the uncertainty associated with the election years has also shown a negative impact on the sustainable returns.

Practical implications

First, sustainability is essential for the long-term stakeholders’ wealth maximization under governments’ policy uncertainty such as constrained resources, demographic and climate-change-policy, societal expectations, public-policies, regulatory structure. Second, EPU creates new opportunities and risks for sustainable firms and sustainable investing.

Originality/value

The study is novel in which the authors present the effects of uncertainty on socially responsible investing.
Episodic memories of wilderness experiences foster sustainable leadership style transformation
Authors: van Droffelaar Boy
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This research evaluates (1) work situations prompting participants to recall memories of a wilderness-based leadership training program, (2) the content of such memories, and (3) the leadership attitudes and behaviors inspired by those memories.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative content analysis of semi-structured interviews was performed with 36 leaders who had participated in a wilderness leadership transformation program in the past (on average six years before).

Findings

The findings suggest that, at moments with emotional pressure and psychological stress, episodic memories of wilderness experiences have a positive influence on actual leadership style. Memories involved moments of solitude, a deep connection with nature, and peer-to-peer counseling. The interviewees regularly relived their emotion-laden wilderness experiences, acquiring direction and guidance. Simultaneously, episodic memories of nature immersion promoted an enduring transformation of their leadership styles.

Research limitations/implications

The findings cannot be blindly generalized as referring to all leaders. The leaders in this study are a subset of leaders who are inclined towards personal growth and leadership development. It is challenging to motivate leaders unkeen on changing to achieve better leadership.

Practical implications

This study indicates that the inclusion of emotional concepts to address the root causes of learning among leaders might be the most promising way to innovate leadership development.

Originality/value

The present study makes a novel contribution to relevant literature by examining leadership transformation through episodic remembrance of leaders' experiences in nature.
Fooling ourselves and others: confirmation bias and the trustworthiness of qualitative research – Part 2 (cross-examining the dismissals)
Authors: McSweeney Brendan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and critique ways in which the threats from confirmation bias have been rejected.

Design/methodology/approach

Dismissals of the existence of, or threats from, confirmation bias are identified from a review of literature across a very wide range of disciplines. The dismissals are robustly examined.

Findings

The dismissals are categorised as: (1) radical scepticism (2) consequentialism: and (3) denial. Each type of dismissal, it is argued, is flawed.

Originality/value

The three-fold structuring of confirmation bias dismissal is novel. In addition to drawing from organisation, management and wider social science literature, the article also uses arguments and examples from the creative arts.
Capital expenditure deviations in a fragmented municipal context – the case of the Swedish municipal water and sewerage sector
Authors: Haraldsson Mattias
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore whether and how external, political, financial and governance factors influence capital expenditure deviations in the Swedish municipal water and sewerage sector and to capture the consequences of municipal organisational fragmentation.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data analysis of 238 municipalities and 1,190 observations of capital expenditure deviations over five years (2013–2017).

Findings

Apart from a low overall on average execution rate of 69%, the Swedish municipal water and sewerage sector seems generally sensitive to external stakeholder pressure for budget compliance, but not to the political power situation. Further, political signalling incentives generally do not influence capital expenditure deviations in the contexts of municipal corporations and cooperations, which supports the idea that these governance forms insulate the organisation from general stakeholder pressure and political control.

Practical implications

The practical implication is that large and constant capital expenditure deviations call for change in regulation and governance of the municipal sector. However, in countries such as Sweden, where externalising services to municipal corporations and cooperations is significant, this discussion needs to address the consolidated level of the municipality. Otherwise, a large share of the investment budget will be unscrutinised. More closely related to the Swedish water and sewerage sector, the risks associated with a constantly low execution rate should be analysed and addressed.

Originality/value

First, this paper contributes to the knowledge of aggregated capital expenditure deviations in general and specifically within the municipal water and sewerage sector. Second, analysing the municipal governance landscape adds further insights and suggestions on why budget performance varies. The results especially highlight that the governance forms of corporations and cooperations change the relation to political signalling incentives.
We live in cloud computing world, without using it in our libraries
Authors: Loghmani Khozani Maryam , Behzadi Hassan , Nowkarizi Mohsen , Shafiee Neizar Fatemeh
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the views of librarians in Iran academic libraries about the extent of their familiarity, application and knowledge of the cloud computing in libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a survey research. The statistical population of research consisted of librarians working in five universities in northeastern Iran. The sample (83 librarian) selected by using random sampling method.

Findings

The findings showed that in 2019 librarians familiar with cloud computing was low, but their use of cloud computing services was moderate. Also the findings showed that the item of providing enough computers in the library had the lowest effect on promoting the use of cloud computing and the items. Cloud computing training for librarians and users and broadband Internet were best strategies offered by librarians to promote the use of cloud computing.

Originality/value

Cloud computing has received less attention from librarians and researchers. However, based on the results of the present study, the broader use of cloud computing in libraries requires specialized and trained staff. Librarians need to broaden their knowledge in this technology.
Opportunities and limitations of public blockchain-based supply chain traceability
Authors: Bischoff Oliver , Seuring Stefan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Blockchain technology is provoking significant disruptions, thereby affecting supply chain management. This study endeavoured to advance research regarding blockchain-based supply chain traceability by identifying the opportunities and limitations that accompany the adoption of public blockchains. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to contribute to contemporary supply chain research by an assessment of blockchain technology and its linkages to traceability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is conceptual. The authors summarised the relevant literature on the concepts of supply chain traceability, conceptualised key elements exclusive to the public blockchain and highlighted opportunities and limitations in implementing traceability using blockchains.

Findings

Incompatibilities were identified between general traceability and the public blockchain. However, when embracing the blockchain's privacy model, the blockchains can support information exchange in supply chains where vulnerability towards third parties, the confidentiality of information, or the privacy of participants are concerns. Furthermore, the public blockchain can support areas of supply chains where institutional interest is lacking.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers in an international supply chain management journal to critically analyse the intersection of specific blockchain characteristics and supply chain traceability requirements. The authors thereby add to the discussion of designs for a disintermediated, peer-to-peer models and guide researchers and practitioners alike in exploring the application of disruptive change from blockchain technologies. By setting focus on the privacy model, the paper identifies the potential application and future research approaches to exploit the elementary strength of the blockchain.