bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Average Blood Glucose Values Based on Fructosamine Values
Authors: de Oliveira Andrade Luis Jesuino , Vinhaes Bittencourt Alcina Maria , Moreno de Brito Luiz Felipe , de Oliveira Luís Matos , Matos de Oliveira Gabriela Correia
Published: July 2021

Introduction

The fructosamine is originated of the glycation of plasmatic proteins, especially albumin, in addition to immunoglobulins and proteins diverse. It constitutes an alternative biomarker of glycemic control when glycated hemoglobin is not indicated for this purpose.

Objective

To define the mathematical relationship between fructosamine and average glucose values.

Method

The study comprised the laboratorial data collected of 1227 diabetic subjects (type 1 and type 2). Fructosamine levels obtained at the end of three weeks and measured were compared with the average glucose levels of the three previous weeks. The average glucose levels were determined by the weighted mean of the daily fasting capillary glucose results performed during the study period, and the plasma glucose taken at the time of the fructosamine.

Results

A total of 9,450 glucoses were performed. Linear regression analysis between the fructosamine and average glucose levels showed that each increase of 1.0 µmol/L in fructosamine increase 0.5mg/dL in the average glucose levels as evidenced in the equation forward: Average glucose levels = 0.5157 x Fructosamine - 20. According to the coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.353492, P < 0.006881), making it possible to calculate the estimated average glucose according to the frutosamine values.

Conclusion

Fructosamine levels can be expressed as average glucose levels for assessing the metabolic control of diabetic patients.
Global protein responses of multi-drug resistant plasmid containing Escherichia coli to ampicillin, cefotaxime, imipenem and ciprofloxacin
Authors: Margalit Anatte , Carolan James C. , Walsh Fiona
Published: July 2021

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multi-drug resistance (MDR) in pathogenic bacteria are frequently mediated by plasmids. However, plasmids do not exist in isolation but rather require the bacterial host interaction in order to produce the AMR phenotype. This study aimed to utilise mass spectrometry-based proteomics to reveal the plasmid and chromosomally derived protein profile of Escherichia coli under antimicrobial stress. This was achieved by comparing the proteomes of E. coli containing the MDR pEK499 plasmid, under ampicillin, cefotaxime, imipenem or ciprofloxacin stress with the proteomes of these bacteria grown in the absence of antimicrobial. Our analysis identified statistically significant differentially abundant proteins common to groups exposed to the β-lactam antimicrobials but not ciprofloxacin, indicating a β-lactam stress response to exposure from this class of drugs, irrespective of β-lactam resistance or susceptibility. These include ecotin and free methionine-R-sulfoxide reductase. These data also identified distinct differences in the cellular response to each β-lactam. Data arising from comparisons of the proteomes of ciprofloxacin-treated E. coli and controls detected an increase in the relative abundance of proteins associated with ribosomes, translation, the TCA-cycle and several proteins associated with detoxification and a decrease in the relative abundances of proteins associated with stress response, including oxidative stress. We identified changes in proteins associated with persister formation in the presence of ciprofloxacin but not the β-lactams. The plasmid proteome differed across each treatment and did not follow the pattern of antimicrobial – AMR protein associations. For example, a relative increase in the amount of blaCTX-M-15 in the presence of cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin but not the other β-lactams, suggesting regulation of the blaCTX-M-15 protein production. The proteomic data from the this study provided novel insights into the proteins produced from the chromosome and plasmid under different antimicrobial stresses. These data also identified novel proteins not previously associated with AMR or antimicrobials responses in pathogens, which may well represent potential targets of AMR inhibition.
Activity networks and the temporality of urban space: the case of a cul-de-sac square
Authors: Sharif Ahlam Ammar
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study draws on recent actor-network theory (ANT) literature to provide a nuanced understanding of the effect of time on activity networks in urban spaces. It investigates the role of time in multiplying these networks and producing urban change, which is limited in similar ANT-related research.

Design/methodology/approach

This ethnographic study of a cul-de-sac square within a housing project in the suburb of Dahiyat Al-Hussein in Amman, Jordan, documents the changes in its activity networks when comparing the 1990s with 2019. Data were collected through interviews and site observations covering the two time periods to investigate the different activities that occurred constantly over time, which reflect the temporal network stabilisation within the square.

Findings

The findings demonstrate the profound effect time has on the stability of activity networks related to playing, observing, walking, vending and their interrelations. Their overlaps and conflicts with each other and with other networks in the space were observed. Unpacking the stability of activity networks and their interrelations demonstrates the change in their actor relations and temporalities over time. This is significant in understanding urban change.

Originality/value

The study investigates the importance of time in recognising and extending the multiplicity of urban activities, which suggests new ways of understanding urban change. This exploration highlights new possibilities for creating more adaptable spaces according to residents' long-term needs.
Multilayer DS-MAC with game theory optimization
Authors: S. Radha , Bala G. Josemin , P. Nagabushanam
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Energy is the major concern in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for most of the applications. There exist many factors for higher energy consumption in WSNs. The purpose of this work is to increase the coverage area maintaining the minimum possible nodes or sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper has proposed multilayer (ML) nodes deployment with distributed MAC (DS-MAC) in which nodes listen time is controlled based on communication of neighbors. Game theory optimization helps in addressing path loss constraints while selecting path toward base stations (BS).

Findings

The simulation is carried out using NS-2.35, and it shows better performance in ML DS-MAC compared to random topology in DS-MAC with same number of BS. The proposed method improves performance of network in terms of energy consumption, network lifetime and better throughput.

Research limitations/implications

Energy consumption is the major problem in WSNs and for which there exist many reasons, and many approaches are being proposed by researchers based on application in which WSN is used. Node mobility, topology, multitier and ML deployment and path loss constraints are some of the concerns in WSNs.

Practical implications

Game theory is used in different situations like countries whose army race, business firms that are competing, animals generally fighting for prey, political parties competing for vote, penalty kicks for the players in football and so on.

Social implications

WSNs find applications in surveillance, monitoring, inspections for wild life, sea life, underground pipes and so on.

Originality/value

Game theory optimization helps in addressing path loss constraints while selecting path toward BS.
Learning as cognition: a developmental process for organizational learning
Authors: E. Carpenter Rob
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The aim of this article is to present a viewpoint from learning as individual and group cognition for the benefit of organization learning scholarship.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual viewpoint of the author.

Findings

The results demonstrate that perspective of intentionality is important for understanding how learning as cognition develops into organizational learning.

Practical implications

Organizations that recognize perspective as the agency by which learning as cognition develops organizational learning have a better opportunity to remain competitive.

Originality/value

This paper provides a basis to advance understanding on how perspective influences learning as cognition as a developmental process for organizational learning.
Three-dimensional computational study in a corrugated pipe inserted system filled with phase change material
Authors: Akbal Ömer , Öztop Hakan F. , Abu-Hamdeh Nidal H.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to make a three-dimensional computational analysis of melting in corrugated pipe inserted system filled with phase change material (PCM). The system was heated from the inner pipe, and temperature of the outer pipe was lower than that of inner pipe. Different geometrical ratio cases and two different temperature differences were tested for their effect on melting time.

Design/methodology/approach

A computational analysis through a pipe with corrugated pipe filled with PCM is analyzed. Finite volume method was applied with the SIMPLE algorithm method to solve the governing equations.

Findings

The results indicate that the geometrical parameters can be used to control the melting time inside the heat exchanger which, in turn, affect the energy efficiency. The fastest melting time is seen in Case 4 at the same temperature difference which is the major observation of the current work.

Originality/value

Originality of this work is to perform a three-dimensional analysis of melting of PCM in a corrugated pipe inserted pipe.
Hospital disaster resilience: development of an assessment tool using expert panel and fuzzy analytical network process
Authors: Fallah-Aliabadi Saeed , Ostadtaghizadeh Abbas , Fatemi Farin , Ardalan Ali , Rezaei Esmaeil , Raadabadi Mehdi , Heydari Ahad
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Resilient hospitals have the vital role in reducing mortality, severity of injuries by providing required emergency services during accidents and disasters. This study aims to identify and prioritize key indicators on hospital resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. The draft of the indicators obtained from the systematic review of the previous study was finalized, with three expert panel sessions and 14 experts in resilience fields. The outputs of these sessions were divided into three domains including constructive resilience, infrastructural resilience and administrative resilience, 17 sub-domains and 71 indicators. Then fuzzy analytic network process method was used to weight and prioritize the final indicators of hospital disaster resilience.

Findings

Administrative resilience, logistic and financial management and strategic outsourcing agreement allocated the highest weight as domain, sub-domains and indicators, respectively. The weight of each sub-domain and indicator was also determined.

Originality/value

Investigating the weight of domains, sub-domains and indicators shows the importance of managerial and operational issues in hospital resilience. By using the indicators and relative weights, a tool for measuring hospital disaster resilience can be created in further studies. The output of these assessments is effective in promoting safety and increasing awareness of hospital managers and health policymakers.
Psychometric development and validation of ostracism experience scale (OES): across sample of young adults from Pakistan
Authors: Shahzad Beenish , Aqeel Muhammad , Naseer Hifza , Khan Muhammad Abdullah , Fawad Nimra , Tahreem Amna
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Ostracism is being socially ignored or excluded by others. Ostracism leads to serious psychological distress and health issues in the young adults being ostracized. However, there are no psychometrically designed instruments to measure this phenomenon in young adults. This study aims to develop a scale that measures ostracism efficiently and establishes the scale’s psychometric properties.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design used for the study is “a mixed-method study using non-experimental research with an exploratory sequential approach and instrument development design.” For the formation of the item pool, theoretical evidence was collected and focus group discussions were conducted. Afterward, content validity was established with the help of subject matter experts, followed by Velicer’s minimum average partial method and maximum likelihood factor analysis to form the instrument’s factorial structure.

Findings

Velicer’s minimum average partial method and maximum likelihood factor analysis made two factors as follows: ostracism experience and psychological effect. The instrument developed has a high value of alpha reliability i.e. a = 0.97 and a = 0.96, a = 0.92 for the subscales, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The sample used for the research was enough to run the analysis, but future studies can go for a more extensive and more diverse sample. The sample was based solely on university students. The current research focused only on the target of the phenomenon, and the whole research process was conducted online because of the Covid-19 pandemic going on. The scale developed can be used in several settings to find out if the individual is being ostracized or not.

Practical implications

The scale’s most important implication is in the colleges and universities where young adults are found and face this problem daily. Likewise, psychologists can also use it in clinical settings. The other important implication of this scale is that it is opening a route to future research as different variables can be studied in ostracism such as depression, physical health and anxiety.

Social implications

Ostracism is a hidden evil in societies that is not usually talked about. When people are not given equal importance in groups or settings, it leads to serious psychological issues in those individuals. This scale will in the identification of the problem that will lead to a proper solution to this evil.

Originality/value

This work is original and not copied from anywhere. The research was conducted with the sole purpose of developing a scale on the ostracism experiences in young adults. The data is collected in the form of online surveys. The current scale is an attempt at developing a more reliable and valid scale that can be used in social settings.
Strategic supplier relationships and supply chain resilience: Is digital transformation that precludes trust beneficial?
Authors: Faruquee Murtaza , Paulraj Antony , Irawan Chandra Ade
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role that communication, trust and digital transformation can play in the relationship between joint problem-solving and supply chain resilience. More specifically, the authors try to examine the possibility of digital transformation as a replacement for trust within a joint problem-solving context.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey instrument was developed and administrated to manufacturing firms within the United Kingdom and the United States. Based on data collected from 291 senior managers, multiple linear regressions were conducted through a customized process model to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results point to the actual impact of digital transformation being far more complicated than the initial benefits that it appears to bring within a supply chain. Thus, technology is only effective when applied within the right context. The authors showcase that the trio of digital transformation, trust and joint problem-solving can be highly valuable to establish supply chain resilience and that further investigation on the interrelationships between these concepts is warranted.

Practical implications

Manufacturing firms that aim to adopt new technologies should not consider advanced digital technologies as an alternative to trust. While digital transformation can improve resource sharing and integration, governance mechanisms–such as trust–will remain the cornerstones of strategic supplier relationships. Therefore, supply chain partners must strive to achieve a balance between trust and the right type of digital technology.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the growing literature focusing on the role that digital transformation can play in developing supply chain capabilities. It adds an early empirical insight on the role of technology and governance in joint problem-solving and supply chain resilience.
Changing patterns of individual performance appraisal systems for civil service in European Union countries: toward a developmental or an incentivizing model
Authors: Hajnal Gyorgy , Staronova Katarina
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to examine whether the incentivizing type of performance appraisal (typical of New Public Management) has indeed been superseded by a post-New Public Management (NPM), developmental type of performance appraisal in European Civil Services.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review lead to a unidimensional, twofold typology: incentivizing (NPM) and developmental (post-NPM) performance appraisal. The empirical basis of the research is two surveys conducted among top civil servants in 18 European countries.

Findings

First, there are crucial discrepancies between performance appraisal systems in contemporary European central government administrations and current theorizing on performance appraisal. Contrary to our expectations developed on the basis of the latter, “developmental” and “incentivizing” do not seem to be two distinct types of performance appraisal; rather, they are two independent dimensions, defining altogether four different types of performance appraisal systems.

Practical implications

The authors results give orientation to policymakers and public service managers to engage in designing or applying performance appraisal systems, in particular by identifying assailable presumptions underlying many present-time reform trends.

Social implications

Citizens and communities are direct stakeholders in the development of public service performance appraisal both as possible or actual employees of public service organizations and as recipients of public services.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a new fourfold typology of performance appraisal systems: incentivizing, developmental, symbolic and want-it-all.
Institutional pressures influencing environmental management accounting adoption by Malaysian local governments
Authors: Che Ku Kassim Che Ku Hisam , Adnan Noor Liza , Ali Roziani
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Because of the heightened environmental awareness of the public, local governments (LGs) are being pressured to improve on the extent and quality of environmental disclosures (EDs) provided in an array of reporting media. The lack of an accounting tool to identify, measure and report EDs has propelled the infusion of environmental management accounting (EMA) to support the reporting practices. This paper aims to examine the institutional pressures influencing EMA adoption by Malaysian LGs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the consensus approach, a self-administered questionnaire survey is conducted on accountants in LGs in Peninsular Malaysia. The items in the questionnaire are based on the findings of prior studies on EMA adoption.

Findings

The results suggest that coercive isomorphism from the state government is perceived to be the influential institutional factor placing intense pressures on LGs to adopt EMA.

Research limitations/implications

The results solidify the potential role of the state government in any public policy changes which could further stimulate and promote the adoption of EMA.

Originality/value

Insufficient empirical evidence on the adoption of EMA in LGs within a developing country’s perspective contributes to a limited understanding on the development of environmental-related practices in different economic stages and environment as well as within the public sector’s perspective.
The role of entrepreneurial orientation in crisis management: evidence from family firms in enterprising communities
Authors: Boers Börje , Henschel Thomas
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and understand how family firms manage a crisis by applying a processual and longitudinal perspective. The objective is to find out how crisis management is approached by family firms in Sweden, Scotland and Germany, using entrepreneurial orientation (EO) as an analytical lens. Further, this paper investigates the role of the owning family in creating and solving a crisis in family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows a processual and longitudinal case study approach. Cases are drawn from Germany, Scotland and Sweden. Data collection is based on a combination of interviews with archival data such as annual reports and press clippings.

Findings

The results show that all studied firms had high levels of autonomy combined with high risk-taking. It is noteworthy, that these dimensions also help to overcome the crisis. Risk-taking and proactiveness can be useful for addressing the crisis. Under certain circumstances, even innovativeness can help to develop new offers. Autonomy is considered central in family firms and only extraordinary circumstances can be owning families make willing to compromise on it. The EO-dimensions are not all relevant at all times. Rather, family firms will emphasize the dimensions during the consecutive stages differently.

Originality/value

This study compares case companies from Germany, Scotland and Sweden and how EO contributes to their crisis management by taking a longitudinal and processual perspective. Its originality lies in the in-depth studies of companies from three countries.
Ten years of the Journal of Islamic Marketing: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Hassan Mohammad Kabir , Alshater Muneer Maher , Rashid Mamunur , Hidayat Sutan Emir
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study the performance of the Journal of Islamic Marketing (JIMA). This study identifies the influential scientific actors and identifies the major dimensions and themes of the journal.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a bibliometric method. A total of 483 articles and 27 reviews of the journal were collected from the Scopus database. This paper analyses the data using RStudio, VOSviewer and Microsoft Excel. Analyses were divided into three main categories: general performance indicators, citations analysis and cross-dimensional keywords analysis.

Findings

Islamic marketing establishes itself as an industry of its own, not as a cohort of Islamic finance. This study finds that JIMA played an active role in that respect. Islamic marketing has been primarily an Asian-dominated industry. Malaysia has led the development and publication of resources on Islamic marketing, followed by recent initiatives in Indonesia, Iran and Pakistan. There are also unique cases of Islamic marketing growth in non-Asian Muslim-minority countries, including the USA, the UK and Australia. Finally, loyalty, religiosity, halal food and intention of the Muslim consumers are the key dimensions covered by JIMA authors. This paper expects that JIMA will cater to the growing needs of Islamic marketing in diversified sectors, Islamic social marketing analytics, post-purchase attributes and multidimensional integration of Islamic marketing research in the dominance of diverse leadership styles and ownership structures.

Originality/value

The study provides an objective evaluation of the journal’s progress through a decade of its operation; it highlights the achievements and discusses the progress and contribution of the journal to the scientific community.
How to make use of team knowledge variety? The role of power disparity
Authors: Yao Jin , Liu Xinmei , He Wenxin
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Based on the social dominance theory, this study aims to theorize the moderating effect of power disparity in the impact of team knowledge variety on team creativity and further to verify team open communication as the mediating mechanism of the aforementioned interactive effect.

Design/methodology/approach

The multisource (team members and their team leaders) and longitudinal (separated by four months) survey data were collected from 67 research and development teams in China to test the research model. The authors used multiple regression analyses to validate all the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Results reveal that team knowledge variety has a more positive impact on team creativity when teams have lower power disparity. Besides, team open communication is significantly and positively related to team creativity and mediates the interactive effect of team knowledge variety and team power disparity on team creativity.

Originality/value

This study reconciles the mixed findings in the previous study and provides new insights regarding the functionality of team knowledge variety. By identifying team power disparity as a moderator in shaping the effects of team knowledge variety, the authors extend the research that explores the moderators of the team knowledge variety–team creativity relationship, and make comprehensive consideration of the coexistence of multiple diversities within teams (i.e. knowledge variety and power disparity) and their joint effects on team creativity. Besides, this research identifies team open communication as an important underlying mechanism in transmitting the interactive effects of two different types of diversities on team creativity, thus offering new insights on how teams can perform creatively.
Refugees starting a business: experiences of barriers and needs in the Netherlands
Authors: Nijhoff Karijn
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Recent refugees in the Netherlands face barriers on the road to starting their own business. Few studies have looked at barriers specific to recent refugees. In this article, these barriers are analysed through the eyes of support programmes that aim to help recent refugees to become an entrepreneur.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiences of seven support programmes were explored using in-depth interviews to evaluate how the approaches were supporting recent refugees. The programmes were mostly private initiatives with public funding, focused on local support for recent refugees. They were first interviewed in 2017, followed by in-depth interviews in 2018. Their narratives were used to gain in-depth impressions of the route recent refugees have to follow to start a business.

Findings

The results strongly suggest that the most prominent obstacles recent refugees face are connected to the political-institutional context of Dutch society. National provisions and the local implementation of these provisions have created a complicated web that is hard to untangle for newcomers. Language skills and network formation are additional barriers.

Research limitations/implications

These barriers are not overcome by using traditional education and training programmes focused around skills and motivation of the potential entrepreneur. Support programmes should focus on support to understand or overcome the bureaucratic complexity. The trainings should also increase language skills and offer support in network formation.

Originality/value

The empirical data in this study reveal that the focus of training programmes may have to shift to overcome barriers in the political-institutional context.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the COVID-19 pandemic: organizational and managerial implications
Authors: Carroll Archie B.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: First, to provide an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic and its holistic impacts and implications for organizations and management. Second, to report what organizations have been doing via their corporate social responsibilities about the pandemic. Research implications for academics are offered.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken in this article was to survey the literature and news reports about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to summarize results. Further, the approach was to analyze these findings using my four-part CSR construct examining economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic impacts, implications, and responsibilities.

Findings

It was found that the COVID-19 pandemic has had important impacts and implications for most spheres or sectors of the business world. Employees, consumers and communities have been the most significantly affected, but other stakeholder groups in societies are being impacted as well. The global pandemic is putting CSR to the test, and the emerging evidence supports the idea that many companies are striving to reset their CSR thinking and initiatives to accommodate this crisis and to meet what the public expects of them.

Originality/value

Much of this paper involved reporting findings that have appeared in the literature and news. The originality involved interpreting and analyzing stakeholders affected, and how managers have been responding to these challenges. Strategic recommendations are offered.
Positive and negative affect during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine in Portugal
Authors: Santos Eulalia , Ratten Vanessa , Diogo Ana , Tavares Fernando
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly around the world and Portugal is no exception. Positive and negative effects are extremely important in individual's life experiences and in particular in the context of the quarantine, in which it is important to maintain the balance between favorable and unfavorable situations. The purpose of this paper is to study in depth the intensity of the affect during the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal and to validate a scale of positive and negative affect in the context of quarantine and confinement.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used is of a quantitative nature, based on a questionnaire survey to measure the intensity of the affects and to analyze some sociodemographic variables. The sample consists of 726 individuals of age 18 years or older, who were in Portugal during the quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

The results show that respondents were concerned, anxious, well-disposed and impatient. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis applied to affects produced a latent structure with two factors: negative affect and positive affect. The affect scale has adequate convergent and discriminant validity and good internal consistency, with negative affect being experienced by individuals with greater intensity compared to positive affect.

Originality/value

It is hoped that this study contributes to an increase in the scientific knowledge in the field of the affects in the context of delicate situations such as the pandemic COVID-19 so that health professionals can intervene to improve individual’s well-being. This is an important way to provide better health policy that considers in more depth individual wellbeing and emotions during times of crisis. Limitations and suggestions for future research are also stated that highlight the importance of understanding emotional states of individuals during crisis events.
Dwelling within the fourth industrial revolution: organizational learning for new competences, processes and work cultures
Authors: Ivaldi Silvia , Scaratti Giuseppe , Fregnan Ezio
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to address the relevance and impact of the fourth industrial revolution through a theoretical and practical perspective. The authors present both the results of a literature review, highlighting the new competences required in innovative workplaces and a pivotal case, which explores challenges and skill models diffused in industry 4.0, describing the role of proper organizational learning processes in shaping new work cultures.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper aims to enhance the discussion around the 4.0 industrial revolution addressing both a theoretical framework, valorizing the existing scientific contributes and the situated knowledge, embedded in a concrete organizational context in which the fourth industrial revolution is experienced and practiced.

Findings

The findings acquired through the case study endorse what the scientific literature highlights about the impact, the new competences and the organizational learning paths. The conclusions address the agile approach to work as the more suitable way to place humans at the center of technological progress.

Research limitations/implications

The paper explores a specific organizational context, related to a high-tech multinational company, whose results illustrate the empirical evidence sustaining transformations in the working, professional and organizational cultures necessary to face the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution. The research was conducted with the managers of an international company and this a specific and limited target, even though relevant and interesting.

Practical implications

The paper connects the case with the general scenario, this study currently faces, to suggest hints and coordinates for crossing the unfolding situation and finding suitable matching between technological evolution and the development of new work and professional cultures and competences.

Social implications

Due to the acceleration that the COVID-19 has impressed to the use of digital technologies and remote connexion, the paper highlights some ambivalences that the quick evolution of the new technologies entails in relation to work and social conditions.

Originality/value

The opportunity to match both a literature analysis and an in-depth situated case study enhances the possibility to achieve a more articulated and complex view of the viral changes generated in the current context by the digitalization process.
Understanding environmental tweets of for-profits and nonprofits and their effects on user responses
Authors: Shin Sumin , Ki Eyun-Jung
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Organizations are communicating with the public about their thoughts and behaviors relevant to the environment via social networking sites. The purpose of this paper is to explore for-profit and nonprofit organizations' Twitter messages to understand their environment-related messages and their influences on the publics' responses.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a content analysis adopting four message classification systems: environmental message orientation, message specificity, message framing, and environmental issue. Guided by attribution theory, this study also explored how the organization's environmental messages influence social media (Twitter) user responses, likes, retweets, and replies.

Findings

The analysis showed that for-profits' messages tend to discuss their green products and manufacturing processes with specific numeric evidence, while nonprofits are disposed to describe a severely degraded environment. In addition, the study revealed that tweets yield a high number of likes and replies when the organizations are for-profits and the messages emphasize green products.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study showed that the green message categorization systems are applicable to the social media context. But, this study focused on Twitter only. Future studies need to examine various social media platforms.

Practical implications

The study findings recommend communication practitioners use substantive green messages highlighting actual pro-environmental performances. Also, practitioners might need to make a linkage between the discussed environmental issue and the organization (e.g. a water issue by a wildlife-related nonprofit, an energy issue by a home appliance manufacturer, an air pollution issue by a bicycle company). In addition, regarding the message specificity, infographics can be present specific information that audiences can readily understand because it is described visually.

Originality/value

Scholars investigated environmental messages in advertising and cautioned that environmental messages that are not substantive or specific can cause audiences to perceive the messages as greenwashing. However, these previous studies focused on conventional media, and they have not been replicated in the age of social media. Thus, it is important to explore the current status of organizational environmental messages on social media.
The mixed spin-3/2 and spin-2 Blume-Capel model by renormalization group approach
Authors: El Kihel Karima , Saadi Hasnae , Aharrouch Rachid , El Antari Abdelmoumen , Hachem Nabil , Madani Mohamed , El Bouziani Mohammed
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The authors investigate the magnetic properties of a mixed spin-3/2 and spin-2 Blume-Capel model on square and cubic lattices with two different single-ion anisotropies.

Design/methodology/approach

To study the critical behavior of a mixed spin-3/2 and spin-2 system, the authors have used a real space renormalization group approximation and specifically the Migdal-Kadanoff technique. The authors give the phase diagrams for two different cases: (1) on the (Δ/|J|, 1/|J|) plane with ΔA = ΔB = Δ, and (2) on the (ΔA/|J|, 1/|J|) and (ΔB/|J|, 1/|J|) planes for selected values of ΔB/|J| and ΔA/|J|, respectively.

Findings

The phase diagrams obtained show that the system exhibits both second- and first-order phase transitions as well as tricritical points for some values of the anisotropies. Moreover, using the variation of the free energy and its derivative at low temperatures, the authors have seen the appearance of first-order transitions at very low temperatures.

Originality/value

Few investigations of mixed spin-3/2 and spin-2 systems with crystal field have been realized. For this reason, the authors use the renormalization group approach to complete the work done on these systems. In absence of an exact solution, this contributes to the synthesis of the approximation results on mixed spins models.
What constitutes quality to students in higher education? An empirical investigation of course-level student expectations
Authors: Tóth Zsuzsanna , Bedzsula Bálint Péter
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and interpret the critical quality attributes of core educational services at the course level both with student and lecturer involvement. Significant differences between the viewpoints of these two directly involved stakeholder groups are also demonstrated to provide a better understanding of student expectations.

Methodology

Students of quality management courses were invited to collect those attributes that could have an impact on their perceived educational service quality. The compiled list of 23 characteristics has been formed on the basis of a four-point Likert scale-based questionnaire. With approximately 360 responses, thorough statistical analyses have been executed to investigate whether any significant differences could be detected between the quality attributes perceived by the different student segments. A group of lecturers has also been invited to fulfil the same questionnaire to compare their viewpoints with those of the students.

Findings

The results allow us to identify critical quality attributes which may be used in all platforms and interactions with students. The conclusions can be implemented on the course level to adjust the plan-do-check-act-based improvement of courses in which lecturers are directly interested.

Originality

As the new generation of students increasingly regard themselves as customers, they have become more aware of how they are taught and how they participate in the learning process. Institutionalizing this approach may contribute to the shaping of the organizational quality culture by emphasizing student focus and may result in the identification of best practices and standardization of processes at the course level.
Financial internationalization of emerging country multinationals: evidence from India
Authors: Jamaleh Mariam , Shukla Abha
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Financial internationalization is of particular importance to emerging country firms. Its significance arises from the impact of institutional void and related agency problems (common to emerging markets) on the internationalization path of these firms. Building on concepts from international finance, agency theory and institutional theory, this paper aims to examine the main aspects of financial internationalization by emerging country multinationals, namely, cross-listing, foreign ownership and foreign independent directors.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper follows a multiple case study approach which is a good fit for the exploratory nature of this research. The interest is to examine the context-driven financial internationalization of each case firm and replicate the firm-level information to find a common strategy.

Findings

The findings suggest that financial internationalization by emerging country multinationals starts mainly as these firms plan to enter advanced country markets. It is a dynamic process that entails interaction between financial internationalization and real internationalization, as well as among different aspects of financial internationalization. Cross-listing comprises the first stage of the process. Then, foreign ownership, particularly foreign institutional investments, would increase gradually in response to advances in financial and factor markets. Recruiting foreign independent directors seems to be adopted last, possibly out of fear of losing control of strategic decisions.

Originality/value

This paper presents a unique perspective that delineates different stages of the process of financial internationalization by emerging country multinationals. This complements the efforts to explain the distinct path of internationalization followed by these firms and supplements scarce literature by including emerging multinationals from India where the matter has not yet attracted proper attention.
Significant sensors and parameters in assessment of dysarthric speech
Authors: M. Dhanalakshmi , T. Nagarajan , P. Vijayalakshmi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Dysarthria is a neuromotor speech disorder caused by neuromuscular disturbances that affect one or more articulators resulting in unintelligible speech. Though inter-phoneme articulatory variations are well captured by formant frequency-based acoustic features, these variations are expected to be much higher for dysarthric speakers than normal. These substantial variations can be well captured by placing sensors in appropriate articulatory position. This study focuses to determine a set of articulatory sensors and parameters in order to assess articulatory dysfunctions in dysarthric speech.

Design/methodology/approach

The current work aims to determine significant sensors and parameters associated using motion path and correlation analyzes on the TORGO database of dysarthric speech. Among eight informative sensor channels and six parameters per channel in positional data, the sensors such as tongue middle, back and tip, lower and upper lips and parameters (y, z, φ) are found to contribute significantly toward capturing the articulatory information. Acoustic and positional data analyzes are performed to validate these identified significant sensors. Furthermore, a convolutional neural network-based classifier is developed for both phone-and word-level classification of dysarthric speech using acoustic and positional data.

Findings

The average phone error rate is observed to be lower, up to 15.54% for positional data when compared with acoustic-only data. Further, word-level classification using a combination of both acoustic and positional information is performed to study that the positional data acquired using significant sensors will boost the performance of classification even for severe dysarthric speakers.

Originality/value

The proposed work shows that the significant sensors and parameters can be used to assess dysfunctions in dysarthric speech effectively. The articulatory sensor data helps in better assessment than the acoustic data even for severe dysarthric speakers.
Tourists’ perceptions of urban space: a computer vision approach
Authors: Zhang Kun , Zhang Jinyi , Li Chunlin , Jiao Yan , Wang Ying
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to conduct an empirical investigation of differing perceptions of nine types of urban space and nine visual elements among tourists in destination using a computer vision (CV) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study was extracted from YFCC 100 M dataset. Nine types of urban space in Beijing were initially identified using a scene recognition model. Subsequently, a semantic segmentation model was applied, which yielded substantial evidence relating to nine visual elements that were used to elicit differing perceptions among tourists from different continents.

Findings

Tourists from three continents had different perceptions about corridors, old buildings, overlooks and traffic spaces, reflecting their cultural convention. Asians, Europeans and North Americans diversely gazed at the landscape element of buildings, foliage, sky and people in urban space. All those provided evidence to contribute to the tourist gaze theory's construction.

Originality/value

This study firstly depicted how tourists perceive the tourism symbol of urban space. The novel approach of employing two CV models offer methodological insights to tourism research relevant to visual perception.
Zorba the Greek’s tourism worldmaking: gendering Cretan place identity and Greek memory through film
Authors: Tzanelli Rodanthi , Koutoulas Dimitris
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Drawing on the discursive properties of placemaking theory, this paper discusses the development of film tourism in Crete from the release of the award-winning Zorba the Greek (dir. Michael Cacoyannis, ZG) to date. The approach is “genealogical,” seeking to explain how ZG-inspired tourism on Crete ended up being more than about the film itself owing to historical contingency.