bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute muscle damage as a metabolic response to rapid weight loss in wrestlers
Authors: Lukic-Sarkanovic Mirka , Roklicer Roberto , Trivic Tatjana , Manojlovic Marko , Gilic Barbara , Milovancev Aleksandra , Rossi Carlo , Bianco Antonino , Carraro Attilio , Cvjeticanin Milica , Drid Patrik
Published: March 2024

Study aim: Dietary and non-dietary weight loss methods are highly prevalent among combat sports athletes (CSA). Most CSA undergo rapid weight loss (RWL) usually a week before the competition to reduce their body mass and thus compete in the lowest weight category possible. The objective of the study was to distinguish the impact of high-intensity sport-specific training (HISST) combined with RWL (phase 1 – P1) on muscle damage markers as well as the effects of HISST alone (phase 2 – P2).

Material and methods: This crossover study was carried out on 12 male wrestlers. It consisted of initial measurement (IM), high-intensity training combined with RWL of 5% (P1), and high-intensity training without RWL (P2). After each phase, muscle damage markers were measured, including myoglobin, aldolase, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase.

Results: A substantial increase in analyzed biomarkers was evident in both phases (P1 and P2). However, higher levels of almost all biomarkers were observed in the phase that included RWL compared to the second phase, with a greater significance level.

Conclusions: Our study revealed that 5% RWL combined with HISST impacted the assessed biomarkers to a greater extent than HISST alone, thus providing strong evidence of the influence of RWL on muscular damage in wrestlers. In order to minimize the adverse health-related effects induced by weight reduction, coaches and athletes should use caution when considering weight management methods.
Community-Based Social Economy – Social Capital and Civic Participation in Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development
Authors: Mandrysz Witold
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the importance of a strong relationship between social economy entities and their socio-institutional ecosystem. The article focuses on pointing out the importance of adequate diagnosis and the use of social capital existing in the community for the development and success of social economy initiatives. Draws attention to the importance of cooperation of these initiatives with local institutions, social organizations and representatives of local businesses as well as the level of their rooting in the minds of members of the community. The first part of the text referrers to the concept of co-production and Community-based social economy. The second part of the article presents the relation between the concept of social capital and community development and discusses the relation between the level of existing social capital in the given community and the possible development of the social economy entities operating there. The last part of the article presents practical examples of social economy entities operating in Poland, which are very often described as a ‘good practices’ of the practical implementation of different types of the idea of Social Economy. The conclusions underline that there is a need for strong rootedness and cooperation between social economy entities and the community in which it operates, based on shared values, aims and understanding of community needs and problems – building a specific space/position in the eco-system. This requires extensive relationships of social economy entities, both with individuals, public institutions and organizations operating in the local environment as well as with local values, norms, and traditions. To achieve such rootedness in case of entities that are usually established based on an external (usually institutional) decision with the strong financial support it seems to be necessary to use community work procedures as an implementation methodology. Due to the high degree of complexity of these types of projects and the need to mobilize large forces and resources, we may assume that the level of engagement of community members towards activities within a particular project usually determines its effectiveness.
The Collaborative Economy through the Lens of Sustainable Tourism. A Regional-Centric View
Authors: Treapăt Laurenţiu-Mihai , Stan Sergiu Octavian , Viţelar Alexandra , Anghel Lucian
Published: March 2024

Nowadays the tourism industry faces major changes given the vast possibilities for the development of a collaborative economy in tourism that brings forth a new marketplace where consumers rely on each other-changing renting, swapping, and sharing their accommodation locations. The purpose of the present paper is to answer one of the most important challenges of the City of Brașov in Romania, which is the management of the touristic offer. The paper provides a quantitative-qualitative research approach that analyzes - based on semi-structured surveys with the users of collaborative platforms - the perception of travelers concerning the development of collaborative tourism in Brasov County. The management of touristic offer should take into account the pressure that this new type of renting may be exerting on the local economy, especially considering unfair competition on other segments of the tourist market and the change in the physiognomy of the cities of Brașov County.
Challenges of the Managerial Decision in the Context of the Economic Crisis Induced by the Effects of COVID-19
Authors: Stan Sergiu Octavian
Published: March 2024

Managerial decisions have a particularly important role in organizational life. Often the organization survives and develops due to good decisions, made by managers at the right time. There are also times when the lack of an adequate managerial response, at the right time and at the right time, can lead the organization to a less desired direction of development, or even to the bankruptcy of the organization. To understand which of the decisions are the most efficient and appropriate to the development of their organizations, managers must first know the fundamentals of decision management. The purpose of this article is primarily to present the main features of the decision-making process, as well as the particularities and specificities of the decision. Secondly, the emphasis will be on the presentation of theoretical notions on the identification of the characteristics of organizations in a process of change, in a world subject to the phenomenon of globalization. The typologies of decisions in conditions of certainty and uncertainty will be analyzed, according to how aspects related to the management of decisions in conditions of risk will be discussed. Thirdly, the opportunity to manage organizational change through projects will be discussed, as they will play the role of real vehicles of change. The case study presented in this article highlights an approach focused on a comparative analysis, between the modalities of managerial response to the economic and financial crisis in 2010-2012 and the managerial response to the crisis generated by COVID-19, as it was felt during the year 2020. The idea behind this comparative approach between responses and managerial actions in the two types of crises is that there is a common action pattern of these managers. It is also desired to identify distinct elements and particularities of the economic-financial crisis from 2010-2012, as well as distinct elements related to the particularities of the crisis induced by the effects of COVID-19. In the concluding part of this chapter, we want to highlight some possible types of business lessons that could be learned for the future by Romanian managers from the crisis induced by COVID-19, as well as identifying possible directions for action for the future.
The Impact of Cultural Intelligence on Multinational Leadership: A Semantic Review
Authors: Paiuc Dan
Published: March 2024

Never before the need to function efficiently in multicultural contexts has been more apparent than today as, in our global and interconnected world, cultural intelligence (CQ) has become the central pillar of efficient leadership. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to critically analyze the specific literature on cultural intelligence and its modeling role for performant leadership and to identify gaps or inconsistencies of research employing this concept to contribute to its revamping. Based on a systematic review, we have structured this article into four directions of conceptual clarification, which could improve the current notions and applicability of CQ. The first two sections investigate and present the existing conflicting definitions and models of culture and cultural intelligence and move towards the common ground in our new challenging economic context. The third direction particularly questions the validity of the actual cultural intelligence scales and will try to point the need to develop new adapted measuring tools. The last one focuses on the limitations and new influencing factors of the link between cultural intelligence and efficient leadership, considering that globalization, the digital revolution, immigration, circular economy, or artificial intelligence are shaping a new operating business model. Our conceptual research is based on a systematic approach to literature and a critical analysis of the main concepts and ideas dealing with cultural intelligence. The findings, regrouped around inconsistencies, show that the new economic reality might impact the existing academic theories regarding the link between cultural intelligence and multinational leadership. The research limits are bordered by emotional intelligence (EQ), an individual parameter, and main leadership success factors. However, our present work will develop an understanding of the cultural intelligence impact on multinational leadership and opens the gate for future research questions and challenges arising from this study’s findings.
Technological Determinism vs. Social Shaping of Technology. The Influence of Activity Trackers on User’s Attitudes
Authors: Țicău Iulia Ruxandra , Hadad Shahrazad
Published: March 2024

Technology and its influence upon society have turned into a controversial topic in today’s fast-developing world, where advances in innovation are continuous, fast, and complex. The relationship between technology and society has become an increasing interest for many researchers, trying to explore and clarify this connection. This article focuses on the psychological impact of technology, expressed through activity tracking devices, upon user’s attitudes towards pursuing an active lifestyle. To conduct the analysis, users’ registered behavioral changes after engaging with technological devices are explored, by examining academic literature reports studies, supplemented by experimental material written by the users themselves on publicly available websites. The study proposes a deductive research design, by constructing its analysis on a relevant theoretical framework, that of Technological Determinism theory, which advocates that technology can influence society, however without being affected by humans. Nevertheless, the results of the research show that the relationship between technology and society is not that linear, as influences coming from the social environment usually interact and impact the way technology is used. This determines the consideration of an additional theoretical concept to the analysis, that of Social Shaping of Technology, and changes the dynamics of exploring the topic. Conclusions demonstrate that the relationship between user and technology can be characterized as a double-way approach, with complex and ambiguous attributes, where both forces interact and can lead to positive and constructive behavioral outcomes but also to critical and hard to control mental conditions.
From Traditional to Online Methods for Generating Business Ideas
Authors: Bezhovski Zlatko , Janevski Zoran , Apasieva Tamara Jovanov , Temjanovski Riste
Published: March 2024

The traditional methods for generating venture ideas are in use for more than 70 years in the business, while the development of information and communication technologies (ICT) opened new opportunities for generating and harvesting business ideas, available to entrepreneurs of any kind. Our initial research discovered that there is a missing link in the academic literature between the traditional and the emerging online methods for generating business ideas and therefore, in this paper, we study the traditional and online sources and methods in parallel. The purpose of our study is to improve the venture idea creation process from an applicable perspective, and to add to the existing ideation literature by (1) identifying and classifying the sources of ideas to create the necessary link between the onsite and online access to idea sources; (2) explaining the traditional methods for generating business idea trough their dominant features in order to (3) further identify and elaborate the online sources and ideation methods trough these features and link them to the known traditional approaches. The sources, methods, and tools we examine and elaborate in this paper could be used for both, generating ideas for traditional and online business models. Hence, our findings have practical and applicable value for the first step in the entrepreneurial process. Additionally, our study could be used as a starting point for further research in the field of online ideation, a field that needs to be yet, more extensively, addressed by practitioners and research scholars.
Cultural Intelligence as a Core Competence of Inclusive Leadership
Authors: Paiuc Dan
Published: March 2024

We live and work in a fast-paced multicultural world where change is becoming a new constant. In this context, in which racially and ethnically diverse companies are 35% more likely to perform better, inclusive leadership’s role becomes crucial. Knowing to handle and fructify diversity and inclusion (DI) is now crucial for any multicultural businesses’ expansion and development. On the other hand, cultural intelligence (CQ) refers to relating and working effectively and efficiently in culturally diverse situations. The purpose of this paper is to study and present a systematic bibliometric literature review focusing on cultural intelligence as a core enabler of inclusive leadership (IL). Our findings, rooted in the Web of Science Core Collection database and powered by VOSviewer bibliometric software, demonstrate that cultural intelligence is not only a main competence for both multinational leadership and global management but also a primary facilitator of inclusive leadership. Concretely, this research visually indicates a comprehensive direct link of the fields relating to CQ on one side and the ones related to multicultural and inclusive leadership on the other side. The bibliometric analysis is supposed to provide a solid reference for practitioners and researchers in multinational inclusive leadership’s new needed competencies
Market Risk Management - Modeling the Distribution of Losses Using Romanian Securities
Authors: Zwak-Cantoriu Maria-Cristina , Anghel Lucian Claudiu , Ermiş Simona
Published: March 2024

Market risk with its major components, such as the risk of interest rate instruments, currency risk, and risk related to stock and commodity investigations, represents the risk of losses in balance sheet and off-balance sheet positions, resulting from negative market price movements. Portfolios of instruments traded for short-term profits, called trading portfolios, are exposed to market risk or risk of loss, resulting from changes in the prices of instruments, such as stocks, bonds, and currencies. This paper, through theoretical and empirical methods, assesses risk by using the probability distribution of daily variations in government bond yields. Long-term government securities in most cases have a higher return due to the higher level of risk assumed regarding changes in risk factors such as interest rates, which, when raised above a certain threshold, cause a price decrease, which illustrates the price sensitivity to long-term bonds. Using Value at Risk as the main element for determining the maximum possible loss on investment in a trading book, as well as statistical tests to measure the similarity between two or more distributions such as the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Anderson -Darling or Chi-squared, we identified the most representative theoretical probabilistic distribution both for the value of losses and for the frequency of risk events. At the same time, the most used distributions to manage the market risk by advanced methods and, of course, the distributions used in this paper, were Weibull and Pareto (including the generalized form), as well as other distributions, because they better capture the asymmetry in queues and the presence of thick tails. Modeling the distribution of losses requires choosing from a set of probable distributions, the one with the highest log-likelihood.
An Analysis of the Effects of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on Vietnamese Enterprises
Authors: Vuong Khanh Tuan , Mansori Shaheen
Published: March 2024

The objective of this empirical study is to analyze the role of the industrial revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) on Vietnamese enterprises. The IR4.0, which relates to the breakthrough of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, has brought about changes in the manufacturing industry and had a significant impact on Vietnamese enterprises. A review of previous studies combined with secondary data has been applied for analyzing and supporting the evidence of the impact of IR4.0 on Vietnamese enterprises. The analysis has provided evidence that aside from its beneficial opportunities, the IR4.0 will create many challenges for Vietnamese enterprises, impacting management, operations, and the manufacturing sector. The concept of IR4.0 and its impact on enterprises and economies should be considered and the IR4.0 will accelerate the process of technological innovation. This is derived from the nature of the IR4.0, which is based on digital technology and integrates all intelligent technologies. It is evident from the data analysis and the synthesized information that Vietnamese enterprises in IR4.0 have advantages and opportunities to access the new technologies. In adapting to the requirements stemming from this revolution, enterprises should increase their investment in applying new technologies to take opportunities into the current market. Due to this issue, Vietnamese enterprises need to change and be innovative in their overall strategy, adapt and make good use of the benefits and opportunities, provide solutions to the new challenges, and achieve the competitive advantages within the IR4.0. Based on the outcomes of this study, management practitioners and researchers can refer to and apply these findings for future in-depth studies of how IR4.0 is affecting Vietnamese enterprises and make relevant recommendations.
Dimensions of Successful Succession. The Case of Turago Star
Authors: Motoc Adrian
Published: March 2024

The process of succession is influenced not just by market values, but also by familial bonds. During this case's investigation, it was discovered that sibling rivalry appears to be the source of interpersonal conflict, which is the outcome of a lack of communication over time. It would eventually have an impact on the efficiency of company succession procedures. Successor preparation entails more than just gaining information, insight, and talent. If successors are to have the legitimacy required to run a company, they must gain credibility with both internal and external stakeholders. To have a successful succession, one must first grasp the various traits that are required. This study is based on a single case analysis, primary data being collected through interviews with the family members and correlated with secondary data sources. It further analyses the direct and indirect influences of the critical success factors on the succession process out of which recommendations and an implementation plan emerge. Taking into account both internal and external factors affecting the succession process in a family business, it is suggested that, to be successful, they must recognize this challenge and address it by implementing governance structures that establish clear procedures to consider when family and business conflicts and misunderstandings arise. Such institutions must be in place before the situations they govern occur.
Sustainability and Financing: “The American Way of Life”-Switching Gears Towards a Sustainable Approach
Authors: Ciuciuc Victor
Published: March 2024

The financialization of society has generated an ethos based on the desire for profit without ethical limits worldwide, leading to the destruction of natural ecosystems and cultures, and poverty and inequality. Moreover, the financial lack of control has led to the crisis of the system itself, not only economically but also environmentally, because financial capitalism is not sustainable, since it needs to grow indefinitely to maintain itself. Naturally, this is not feasible for the simple fact that we live in a closed system, with limits that cannot be surpassed, which is Earth. Therefore, the grounds of this article rely upon the following hypothesis: the strategy against financial capitalism and consumer society resides in the transformation of the “American way of life” into a sustainable lifestyle. First and foremost, the present article aims to describe and offer an in-depth perspective about what, in the specialized literature, is known under the name of “The American way of life”. Our main goal is to pinpoint some of its key features and try to offer, for each one of them, a sustainable counterpart. Hence, a systematic literature review of the subject matter has been carried out with a search for information in various media such as books, magazines, newspapers, and web pages. The main topics pondered were: political and economic news; critical philosophical thinking with capitalism; the history of ecology and current proposals; and conferences of international institutions related to sustainable development. Therefore, the article is structured as follows: the first part of the article aims to review the current situation, based on recent informative data, books on the main theme as well as documents from international organizations. Thus, an analysis of the role of culture in civilization is being carried out, focusing on the cultural model of capitalist civilization and the reasons for its crisis, throughout the literature review. Secondly, we try to explain why there is a global need to move towards sustainable development by analyzing the possibilities of evolution. Finally, we try to advocate for a sustainable-oriented paradigm of doing business, one that can help us redirect and reconfigure our business effort of growing and expanding, underpinning research and practice of sustainability and development. It is therefore essential to adopt a core framework for practice and research on human-environmental systems, to bridge gaps between science and practice – on one hand, and social, ecological, professional sciences - on the other hand.
Teachers’ Attitudes and Insurance Curriculum: Empirical Evidence from Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Ajemunigbohun Sunday Stephen , Banjo Kudirat Adeola
Published: March 2024

Education is the most veritable and viable option for national development and redress. Its existence guarantees the nation’s building and sustenance. This study evaluated the effects of teachers’ attitudes on insurance curriculum in senior secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive research design cum survey method. A structured questionnaire was employed for data gathering. The questionnaire consisted of the research variables such as teachers’ personalities, teachers’ perceptions, teachers’ learning capacities, and insurance curriculum. The study adopted a multistage sampling technique. A sample size of 147 was drawn from teachers in Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. Research hypotheses were tested using simple regression techniques. The study confirmed the strategic influence of teachers’ attitudes on insurance curriculum in Lagos State. The study contributed significantly to knowledge by adding to the growing literature in teachers’ attitudes and insurance curriculum. School administrators are advised to move swiftly in their quest to provide enlightenment insurance curriculum to teachers in senior secondary schools in Nigeria. Schools Administrators in collaboration with teachers should endeavor to continually drive insurance curriculum awareness and thus ensure to entrench insurance in their respective curricula.
Enhancing Customer Retention in Manufacturing SMEs through Supply Chain Innovative Practices
Authors: Israel Baraka
Published: March 2024

Firms have realised that they cannot compete successfully in a marketplace without considering their customers. The impact of Supply Chain Innovative Practices (SCIPs) on customer retention in manufacturing SMEs is not well recognized. This paper aims to examine the extent to which manufacturing SMEs embrace SCIPs and their impact on customer retention. A simple random sampling technique and cross-sectional research design were used. Data were collected from 168 SME owners in Mwanza-Tanzania using a questionnaire survey to test the relevance of transactional cost theory in ascertaining the impact of SCIPs on customer retention. To determine the relationship between SCIPs and customer retention, Multiple Linear Regression was used. The study spotted e-supply chain, customisation, just in time, collaborative SC, reverse logistics, SC configurations, green supply chain, outsourcing and cross-docking as the most SCIPs adopted in manufacturing SMEs. The spotted SCIPs showed a positive link and significant impact on customer retention in Tanzania’s manufacturing SMEs. Only reverse logistics had a non-significant impact. SCIPs are important tools for customer retention. Therefore, all actors along the supply chain of manufacturing SMEs should aim at adopting SCIPs to improve performance, satisfy and retain customers. The study enriches the literature by documenting the role of SCIPs in customer retention in manufacturing SMEs.
Pondering Digitalization: An Exploratory Study on Organizational Capitalization of Digital Media for Disclosing CSR
Authors: Dinu Elena , Ciuciuc Victor Emanuel , Moldoveanu Ion , Stoica Valentin
Published: March 2024

The goal of this study had as a premise a perceived gap of knowledge regarding the use of digital media and platforms by Romanian organizations with the purpose to disclose corporate social responsibility (CSR) information. In the context of the ever-increasing digitalization process, the research aimed to explore the current situation within the organizational setting to provide evidence on the type of media and content used and with a view to identifying possible trends. To objectively assess the situation, the study employed models developed by various researchers to measure CSR disclosure on corporate websites, Facebook and Twitter accounts. The results of the study indicate that the selected Romanian companies make limited use of online media for the purpose to reveal CSR. They rather prefer corporate websites and Facebook accounts to communicate such information to stakeholders, while Twitter is rarely utilized. The findings point to the fact that education and social development are the areas of CSR where Romanian companies mostly contribute, but, at the same time, they signal that the advantages and advances availed by systemic digitalization are yet to be properly exploited against the backdrop of CSR disclosure.
Human Resources Strategies & Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Literature Review
Authors: Plater Queenie C. , Frazier Marquise D. , Talbert Patricia Y. , Davis Vivian H. , Talbert Payton S.
Published: March 2024

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been the most devastating public health crisis since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1920. COVID-19 has impacted every human being and operational system throughout the land. The pandemic has caused challenging times for businesses, financial markets, government agencies, and academia. One area frequently overlooked is COVID-19’s impact implications for workplaces, working practices, and Human Resource Management (HRM) operationalization. This literature review aims to identify best practices implemented for the sustainability of Human Resources (HR) functions and the survival of institutions in the age of a dynamic public health crisis. This is an effective approach to better understand the disruptions caused by COVID-19 on HRM and examine how this pandemic has impacted organizations. The findings obtained focus on four main pillars: (1) recruitment, retention, and the Great Resignation, (2) employee well-being and wellness, (3) remote work options, practices, and professionalism, and (4) HR practitioners’ leadership development. These have continued to be salient themes interwoven throughout many articles. These findings suggest that talent and having the most experienced, operationalized, and professional individuals as part of one’s organization are paramount to its success. Upskilling is imperative, and all stakeholders must be open to the inevitability of change as change is constant.
Succession Management: A Proficient Resource in Organisational Sustainability?
Authors: Odiachi Joyce M. , Sulaimon Abdul-Hameed A. , Kuye Owolabi L.
Published: March 2024

The competitive business environment has made it imperative for organisations who desire to remain relevant put forward survival strategies. This study explores the effect of succession management on three dimensions of organizational sustainability among insurance industry employees in Nigeria. Data was collected from a sample of employees from selected companies. The study utilised structural equation modelling (SEM) to test the hypothesized model of succession management and organisational sustainability as separate but related processes. Looking at the three dimensions of sustainability (environmental integrity, economic prosperity and social sustainability) and how they impact succession management, the findings indicate that succession management has a significant relationship with organisational sustainability across all three dimensions. The study concludes that insurance companies comprehend the inherent potential of a robust and active succession management programme in the drive for organisational sustainability. The study further discusses the theoretical implications of the relationship.
Collaborative Synergies for Elevated Destination Experiences: A Model of Cooperation between Hotel Companies, DMOs, and Local Stakeholders
Authors: Prevolšek Denis , Kukurin Željko , Golja Tea
Published: March 2024

Background and Purpose

As outlined in the National Tourism Development Strategy until 2030, Croatia aims to provide higher value, innovative, sustainable, and authentic tourist experiences. There is a need to examine how the main tourism stakeholders can contribute to the transformation of traditional and commodified tourism products into premium-class offerings that add value throughout the entire value chain. It is important for premium-class hotels to take additional steps in improving their offerings to positively impact the entire destination and enhance service quality. This paper aims to: explore initiatives for promoting innovation in premium-class experiences within destinations focusing the cooperation between on hotel companies and DMOs; identify anticipated trends influencing the future of the tourism industry, and assess the future prospects of premium-class hotels in Croatia.

Design/Methodology/Approach

The methodology incorporated both quantitative and qualitative approaches, driven by the structured nature of the questions in the online survey that target sales and/or marketing directors of hotel companies that have premium-class hotels in their portfolio. Suitable statistical methods were employed to conduct the analysis for the quantitative portion of the data. Content analysis was utilized to analyze the open-ended questions. For this purpose, the MAXQDA software for coding, categorizing, and exploring patterns within the data.

Originality/value

This study represents one of the pioneering investigations into the essential initiatives that hotel companies need to undertake in order to orchestrate the development of a destination that relies on its premium-class experiences. Furthermore, the study examines the role of supporting institutions such as destination management organizations (DMOs) in facilitating this process. A conceptual model to improve the development of the premium hotel segment and destination at the same time, pursued by the responsible practices and initiatives of the hotel companies and strong partnerships with DMO and the local community, is proposed.
The Mediating Role of Innovation Capabilities on the Relationship between Dynamic Capabilities and Firm Competitive Performance
Authors: Kareem Mohanad Ali , Kummitha Harshavardhan Reddy , Kolloju Naveen
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to better understand the relationship between dynamic capabilities and firm competitive performance, and how innovation capabilities, specifically (a) product capability and (b) process capability, may play a mediating role in this relationship.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Simple Random Sampling technique was adopted to choose SMEs to collect data based on information obtained from Hungarian SMEs associations. A total of 565 completed questionnaires were obtained, with response rate of 65.50%. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used with AMOS 24 to assess the reliability and validity; and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was additionally used to assess the dependability of the scales. The proposed model was put to the test using structured equation modelling (SEM).

Results

The study results show that dynamic capacities have a significant direct effect on innovation capabilities: product capability and process capability. The study also proves that both product capability and process capability have a significant impact on a firm’s competitive performance.

Conclusion

The study concludes that the relationship between dynamic capabilities and competitive firm performance is partially mediated by innovation capabilities. The study suggests that before enhancing product innovation capability, entrepreneurs should consider reorganizing and reallocating resources into process innovation capability. This study contributes to our understanding of the mediating mechanism of innovation capabilities through which dynamic capabilities enhance firm competitiveness performance.
Muckrakıng Through the Novel: Upton Sınclaır’s the Jungle and the Early Hıstory of Human Resources Management
Authors: Man Fuat
Published: March 2024

Background and Purpose

This study is based on the assumption that the novel, which is a modern narrative form, reflects the canon of the period in which it was written. In this context, the study tries to show how human resources management practices were carried out in large-scale industrial units in a period when the human resources management function was not specialized, with The Jungle novel by Upton Sinclair.

Design/Methodology/Approach:

The study is based on a typology that Bruce E. Kaufman used while describing the early history of US HRM. Kaufman lists fourteen factors that characterize early HRM. One of them is the revealing activities of the Progressive movement. Therefore, the novel is considered here as a means of disclosure. Designed on this basis, the study analyses The Jungle novel around the following themes: the foreman’s empire, child labour, occupational health and safety, wages, job insecurity, career, and the blue-collar/white-collar divide.

Results

The novel shows that although the scale of manufacturing units grew in the early 1900s, human management practices were not yet institutionalized and specialized. Therefore, HRM routines are carried out with the arbitrary attitude of foremen, wages are below the natural wage level, child labour is widely used, and there is a working life full of risks in terms of occupational health and safety.

Conclusion

When the narrative of the novel about human management is read in parallel with the academic studies describing the period, the parallelism between the two narratives shows why the novels can be used as material for academic studies.
Olympism in School and Competitive Anxiety: Its Influence on Participants and Their Perceptions
Authors: Lara-Bocanegra Alejandro , Rocío Bohórquez M.
Published: March 2024

Anxiety is one of the most widespread mental health disorders worldwide. It is prevalent throughout the life cycle and appears in multiple contexts, such as sports.In line with the idea of sport as a means of promoting integral health, the Andalusian Olympic Foundation promotes Olympic values through the “Olympism in School” programme. This programme, developed in two phases – theoretical and practical (including a “Mini Olympics”) – aims to improve the psychological development of participants through sporting competition. In order to demonstrate whether the management of factors such as competitive anxiety was achieved through this programme, 153 children aged 10-13 completed a socio-demographic data questionnaire and the SAS-2 questionnaire after participating in sporting events. The results showed that the participants endured intermediate levels of competitive anxiety (with greater weight given to the worry factor) and that the anxiety was greater in children not used to competition or who did not usually enjoy it. These findings indicate that competition is a factor related to anxiety in children and that strategies for managing the impact of the competitive context are necessary to enable enjoyment and healthy participation.
A Study on Various Causes of Low Frequency Components in Common Mode Voltage of a Space Vector Pulse Width Modulated Three– Phase Quasi–Z–Source H–Bridge Inverter Fed from a Three–Phase Diode Bridge Rectifier
Authors: Nanda Debalina , Syam Prasid , Mukherjee Kaushik
Published: March 2024

The presence of low frequency components in the common mode voltage can cause harmful electromagnetic interference. A critical study on various causes of low frequency components in the common mode voltage of a space vector pulse width modulated Quasi–Z– source three–phase H–bridge voltage source inverter fed from a three–phase diode bridge rectifier is presented in this paper. The Quasi–Z–source network is utilized in boosting the rectified dc voltage which increases the overall voltage gain. The study considers the effect of boosting on the low frequency components. The input three-phase diode bridge rectifier has its influence in modulating the instantaneous common mode voltage and contributes low frequency components. The unbalanced three-phase supply can contribute additionally ac supply frequency component in the common mode voltage. The major contribution of this paper is the analytical, simulated and experiment-based study on various causes of the low frequency common mode voltages due to the combined action of the input non-ideal three phase grid, the front-end diode bridge rectifier as well as the load-end Z-source H-bridge three-phase inverter feeding a three-phase inductive load, while operated through a space vector pulse width modulation strategy.
Psychometric evaluation of the Polish version of the Questionnaire of Attitudes of Healthcare Workers towards Reporting of Clinical Adverse Events (P-RoCAES)
Authors: Majkut Michalina , Majda Anna , Barzykowski Krystian
Published: March 2024

Aim. The purpose of the study was psychometric evaluation of the Polish version of the Questionnaire of Attitudes of Healthcare Workers towards Reporting of Clinical Adverse Events (P-RoCAES), based on an adaptation of the Reporting of Clinical Adverse Events Scale (RoCAES) by Wilson B., Bekker H.L., Fylan F.

Material and methods. A total of 101 participants took part in the study, 41.4% of whom were internal medicine nurses, the remaining percentage were nursing students. In addition to the P-RoCAES, the Author’s Survey Questionnaire, the Justice Sensitivity Inventory, the Moral Feelings Scale, the Perceived Stress at Work Scale were used.

Results. P-RoCAES reliability (internal consistency: Cronbach’s alpha 0.82; McDonald’s omega 0.80) and theoretical relevance for questions from the Author’s Survey Questionnaire were found. Convergent relevance with sensitivity to justice, feelings in moral situations, work stress perception were not proven. Confi rmatory factor analysis did not provide a reinforcement of the 5-dimensional factor structure of the original RoCAES.

Conclusions. The P-RoCAES achieved satisfactory psychometric properties in validation to Polish conditions, enabling to be used in research of attitudes towards adverse events among medical professionals and students, in order to educate and promote reporting culture for maintaining patient safety in healthcare. Despite possible limitations, the P-RoCAES should be considered an objective, valid, reliable tool.
Relationship Between Attitude Towards Vaccination Against COVID-19 and Socialdemographic, Health-Related and Psychological Parameters Among Unvaccinated Hospital Employees in Latvia
Authors: Lielšvāgere-Endele Sintija , Koļesņikova Jeļena , Nauzere Linda , Millere Inga
Published: March 2024

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination of healthcare workers has a critical role in protecting them, the patients, and society. The aim of this study was to explore attitude factors related to COVID-19 vaccination of unvaccinated hospital employees in Latvia. Data were collected from March to May 2021 among the employees of nine hospitals. Overall, 355 respondents took part in the online survey. The respondents in this group ranged from 19 to 71 years old. The results of the hierarchical multiple regression found that sex, previous influenza vaccination, and psychological parameters, are related to more of an attitude of denial regarding vaccination among unvaccinated hospital employees. In conclusion, our study suggests that respondents without previous influenza vaccination, and having concern about the speed of vaccine production, distrust in recommendations of specialists, belief about not being a risk group, belief that the vaccine does not protect oneself and others, belief that COVID-19 is made up, and vaccines are a threat, are related to a more negative attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination.
Observation of Automated Management Use of Self-Sampling Kits
Authors: Gavars Didzis , Gulbis Egīls , Gavars Mikus , Stašulāns Jānis , Gavars Valdis , Grundmane Justīne , Stašulāne Anna
Published: March 2024

In the current times of ever-growing prevalence of infectious diseases, it is requisite to explore ways to provide the safest and most effective medical care for our patients. The aim of this study is to explain how the issues raised by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were addressed by the E. Gulbis Laboratory in Latvia. The study looks back on the goal to introduce an automated and effective solution for the management of self-collected samples. The study is primarily aimed to formulate the conclusions about the data and use of automation in the self-sample kit collection. Results were collected from 18 automated (contactless) sample collection devices used by E. Gulbis Laboratory. Sixty-four thousand two hundred fifty-seven (64,257) saliva kits for SARSCoV-2 PCR testing were employed. It was found that 3.92% of them were positive (SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA found in saliva sample). The average processing time in automated devices located in the capital city was 11.13 hours, in the suburbs — 15.52 hours, rest of the country — 17.60 hours. The average age of patients that choose an automatic device to hand in their saliva sample kits was 33.94 years. These results suggest that by using the automated device, patient contacts are decreased, and direct communication with medical staff is excluded, which reduces the risk of infection during processing. Automated devices make sample kit distribution available 24 hours. They save workforce resources in the laboratory that are already very limited, especially during a pandemic period.
Working Temperature’s Influence on the Lifepo4 Battery Generated Power
Authors: Issa F. , Diaconu E.M. , Ardeleanu M.N.
Published: March 2024

The battery needed to store electricity is an essential element of a photovoltaic energy production system. The place where this system element is located, during its operation, will thermally influence the way the battery works. The specialized literature presents studies on the influence of temperature on the electrical working capacity of the battery, but through this scientific paper we want to study a concrete case of a LiFePO4 battery and quantify the influence of temperature differences in the working space on the differences in the energy capacities generated by the same battery. The experimental setup allowed recording the temperature of the space where the battery is placed for a long time, so we ensured that the temperature of the battery is approximately equal to that of the working space, just like in a real case of a photovoltaic system. The monitoring of the electric power of the battery in operation was carried out only during its discharge, by imposing a constant discharge current simultaneously with the recording of the voltage at the battery terminals throughout this cycle. At the end of the experiments, we associated the average temperatures during the discharge cycles with the average powers discharged by the battery in each thermal frame. The quantification was achieved by relating the power differences generated to the temperature differences of the different thermal situations experienced. The importance of this study resides into the highlighting of importance to maintain an optimal temperature for the space where the batteries are stored, having as technical effect the maintaining the power’s functioning optimal rate of these. The design of a photovoltaic system must be oriented to a long term calculus regarding power’s rate depending by battery’s working space temperature.
A Review of Recent Control Trchniques of Virtual Synchronous Machine for Renewable Energy
Authors: Nourelhouda Djaraf , Daili Yacine , Harrag Abdelghani
Published: March 2024

Increased distributed generation (DG) integration into power system via power electronic devices results in a reduction in the total equivalent inertia of power grid utility, which lead to serve frequency stability and performance degradation of the power system. To facilitate the penetration of DG into the power grid utility, improved control schemes of the power electronics converter based DG are required to improve the system stability when it is dominated by DG based inverter. A virtual synchronous generator (VSG ) approach is suggested, which consists in controlling the static power converter to mimic the essential dynamic behavior of the conventional synchronous generator.

The main objective of this paper is to review the most recent topologies of virtual inertia control. Along this work, a detail description of each topology is presented. In addition, VSG control equations given voltage and frequency control is explained in detail. The VSG problems and future research on VSG control are discussed.
Monitoring A Fluid Circuit: A Comparison between Arduino UNO and PIC
Authors: Perjaru C. , Preduşcă G. , Avram Miruna , Radu M. , Stănescu C.
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this project is to design an electrical circuit for measuring specific parameters, such as liquid level and engine RPM, to monitor a fluid circuit. The project involves a comparison between the Arduino Uno development platform and the PIC16 development platform. The devices utilized include a level sensor, motor potentiometer, ultrasonic sensor (HC-SR04), submersible pump, a 4x20 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) with an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuits) interface, and various connection cables.