bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supply chain disruptions in the fast-moving consumer goods industry
Authors: Kudakwashe Tazvivinga , Pooe David 
Published: December 2024

Background: The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry is a key sector in the South African economy. In this context, designing disruption-management strategies for a robust supply chain has become a critical worldwide issue that is still under-explored in the FMCG industry.Objectives: The study investigated the supply-chain disruptions in the South African FMCG industrySetting: The study was conducted mainly among the supermarket chains, hypermarkets or super stores, department stores, pharmacy chains, general dealers and speciality stores across South Africa.Method: This was an exploratory qualitative study that employed interviews as the data-collection method. Twenty supply chain professionals were purposely selected on the basis of their experience and expertise in supply chain management within the FMCG industry. Thematic analysis was used as a method for data analysis.Results: Six main themes emerged from the primary data and these included competitive market environment, geopolitics, automated distribution centres, natural disasters, rise of nationalistic sentiments and acute skills shortages.Conclusion: The findings pointed to many uncertainties in the South African FMCG and retail industry and the study proposed possible resilient strategies to counter these disruptions.Contribution: The first of the study’s suggested practical contributions is a framework for supply chain disruptions in the FMCG industry.
Playing with languages through languages
Authors: Jacobsen Susanne Karen , Löbl Stephanie Kim 
Published: December 2024

This paper presents and discusses multilingual workshops developed and tested in the project Tværsproglighed ilæreruddannelsen (Plurilingual Approaches to Teacher Education) focused on the development of plurilingual approaches in teacher education in Denmark. We discuss the guiding principles underlying the joint teaching of English and French in teacher education. Our aim was to involve all our students and to ensure the development of a genuine plurilingual gaze and for them to take an additive approach (Holmen 2019) by not only teaching the students together, but also organisingthem in a manner which necessitated interdisciplinary collaboration. Furthermore, we consider the implications of a plurilingual approach to language learning with undergraduate students in teacher education, Danish lower secondary pupils, and their teachers. We exemplify how the inclusion of artefacts such as LEGO inspired by playful learning (Händel et al. 2021) in the development of multilingual activities promoted a willingness for undergraduate students and lower secondary pupils to participate. Our choice of LEGO had two main purposes: to inspire students to design their own activities for a given target group, focusing on a playful approach to learning, and to get students to focus less on themselves and to engage their entire linguistic repertoire.
Influence of Transformational Leadership on Performance: Does Organizational Culture Matter? Evidence from Deposit Taking Saccos in Kenya
Authors: Njoki Catherine , K’Obonyo Peter , Muindi Florence , Rucha Kingsford 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: The general purpose of this study is to establish the influence of Transformational Leadership on Performance of Deposit Taking SACCOs in Nairobi city County, Kenya and more specifically establish the role of Organizational Culture on the relationship between transformational leadership and performance of the SACCOs.
Methodology: The research philosophy embraced by this study was positivism. The research design used was descriptive research design with Census Survey employed on the forty (40) deposit taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) in Nairobi City County, Kenya (SASRA, 2019). The study relied on primary data that was collected using close-ended structured questionnaires.
Findings: The results obtained from this study reveal that transformational leadership has a significant influence on performance of DTSACCOs which is in line with transformational leadership theory that transformational leaders are able to articulate organizational goals and objectives in a bid to achieve the set objectives in organizations. At the same note, Organizational Culture was found to have a significant moderating role on the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational performance. The limitations of this study is that data was collected from at a snap short (one point in time) and hence limiting comparison.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends that policy makers grow the overall sustainability, competitiveness, attractiveness and performance of the deposit taking SACCOs industry by developing legislative framework that strengthens the culture of SACCOs for efficient and effectiveness in their performance. Further it recommends that SACCO leaders cultivate suitable cultures that promote attainment of organizational goals.
Feel the Burn, Heal the Burn: Job Crafting and Burnout Among Occupational Therapy Professionals
Authors: Lynner Brittany , Stoa Rosalyn , Fisher Gwenith , del Pozo Erika , Lizerbram Ryan 
Published: December 2024

Importance: Burnout is common among occupational therapy professionals and associated with poor health and well-being, absenteeism, turnover, and exit from the profession. This study identified specific job titles, job characteristics, and resources related to burnout.
Objective: To identify specific aspects of occupational therapy jobs related to burnout and to investigate job crafting as one approach for reducing burnout.
Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Participants: Four hundred occupational therapy professionals from 45 states across the United States.
Outcomes and Measures: This study investigated the relative importance of job demands (e.g., workload, emotional labor, role ambiguity), job resources (e.g., professional identity, autonomy, perceived support), and burnout and examined job crafting as a strategy for reducing burnout.
Results: Burnout varied across occupational therapy positions and practice areas and was most strongly associated with excessive workload. Occupational therapy professionals who engaged in job crafting reported less burnout. Several positive job resources, including meaningful work, job involvement, and perceived organizational support, were also associated with job crafting.
Conclusions and Relevance: This study identified specific occupational therapy roles, settings, and job characteristics related to burnout and job crafting behaviors that may help reduce burnout.
Plain-Language Summary: Burnout is common among occupational therapy professionals and is associated with poor health and well-being, absenteeism, turnover, and people leaving the profession. This study identifies occupational therapy positions, practice areas, and work conditions at most risk for burnout and highlights job resources that can prevent and mitigate burnout. The study found that burnout varied across occupational therapy positions and practice areas and was most strongly associated with excessive workload. Recommendations to address burnout include engaging in job crafting, optimizing job demands and resources, and fostering meaningful work to reduce burnout.
Evaluating Approaches Employed by the Ministry of Finance in Tanzania to Enhance the Effectiveness of On-Job Training Programs
Authors: Mwageni Moses Romward , Mushi Andrew Abia 
Published: December 2024

This paper evaluates the approaches employed by the Ministry of Finance in its on-the-job training programs using a qualitative approach. Specifically, the paper intended to; investigate the approaches employed by the Ministry of Finance in the design, implementation, and management of its on-job training initiatives, to assess the extent to which knowledge and skills acquired through OJT programs are successfully applied to employees' daily roles and responsibilities and to examine challenges and barriers faced by the Ministry of Finance in implementing OJT programs. The theory which was adopted in the paper is Human capital theory which suggests that investments in employee training and development can improve their productivity and skills, benefiting both the individual and the organization. The target population for this study was the 550 Ministry of Finance Employees at the headquarter. A case study research design was adopted, with a combination of random and purposive sampling techniques yielding a sample of 55 respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and documentary reviews, and analyzed using both quantitative and content analysis methods. The findings reveal that the Ministry has employed several strategies in designing, implementing, and managing these training programs. These strategies include tailoring training to specific job roles and career paths (90% of respondents), promoting continuous professional development (90% of respondents), offering leadership development programs (85% of respondents), providing performance-based training incentives (85% of respondents), integrating emerging technologies (82% of respondents), fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and promoting diversity and inclusion in training initiatives (75% of respondents). Employees have largely applied the skills and knowledge gained from these trainings; however, their effectiveness is often hindered by challenges such as limited managerial support, lack of time, insufficient feedback and recognition, and inadequate resources. Moreover, the overall effectiveness of the Ministry’s on-the-job training implementation is constrained by factors including time constraints, difficulties in identifying skills gaps, resource limitations, resistance to change, and a lack of training infrastructure. In conclusion, while the Ministry of Finance has demonstrated a commitment to implementing on-the-job training programs, the paper recommends that management should focus on ensuring the allocation of adequate financial resources, conducting effective training needs assessments to accurately identify skills gaps, and hiring more qualified and adequate professional trainers to enhance the effectiveness of these programs.
Assessing future ice-sheet variability for long-term safety of deep geological repositories
Authors: Liakka Johan , Lord Natalie S. , Kennedy-Asser Alan , Lunt Daniel J. , Williams Charles J. R. , Näslund Jens-Ove 
Published: December 2024

Abstract. In many regions considered for deep geological repositories (DGR) for nuclear waste, repeated glaciations could occur within the time frame relevant to their long-term post-closure safety (up to 1 million years; Myr). Ice sheets can affect the long-term safety of a DGR by elevating the hydrostatic pressure at DGR depth, altering groundwater flow and chemistry, influencing the frequency and severity of earthquakes, and causing surface bedrock erosion. Therefore, DGR safety assessments must account for uncertainties in future ice-sheet variability, including the timing, frequency and duration of ice sheets at the DGR site. Using coupled ice sheet-climate models to constrain uncertainties in ice-sheet variability over the next 1 Myr is not feasible due to the long timescales involved and substantial computational requirements. Instead, we propose a simplified methodology to assess future ice-sheet variability at potential DGR sites using reconstructions of past ice sheets and global simulations of future climate change. The simulations are conducted using a conceptual climate model driven by changes in insolation and atmospheric CO2 concentrations resulting from anthropogenic emissions. The model is calibrated with 500 000 years (500 kyr) of climate proxy data inferred from deep-ocean sediments. Applying this methodology to the planned Swedish DGR site intended for disposal of spent nuclear fuel in Forsmark suggests that the onset of the next glaciation at the site will not occur until 100 kyr after present, even in the absence of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. However, anthropogenic emissions have the potential to delay the next glaciation in Forsmark by several hundred thousand additional years. Following the initial glaciation, our results suggest that the frequency and duration of subsequent glaciations in Forsmark resemble those observed over the last 800 kyr. Considering uncertainties in anthropogenic emissions and future climate evolution, a wide range of possible future glacial developments is identified. At the extremes of this uncertainty range – developments with a low likelihood of occurrence but relevant for evaluating the robustness of the DGR – we find that Forsmark could experience ice-sheet coverage for nearly half of the next 1 Myr or remain almost entirely ice-free throughout this period. The proposed methodology is easy to implement and applicable to any potential DGR site with a recorded history of glaciations.
On the use of lithogenic tracer measurements in aerosols to constrain dust deposition fluxes to the ocean southeast of Australia
Authors: Hird Claudia , Perron Morgane M. G. , Holmes Thomas M. , Meyerink Scott , Nielsen Christopher , Townsend Ashley T. , de Caritat Patrice , Strzelec Michal , Bowie Andrew R. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract. Australia contributes a significant amount of dust-borne nutrients (including iron) to the Southern Ocean, which can stimulate marine primary productivity. A quantitative assessment of the variability in dust fluxes from Australia to the surrounding ocean is therefore important for investigating the impact of atmospheric deposition on the Southern Ocean's carbon cycle. In this study, lithogenic trace metals (aluminium, iron, thorium, and titanium) contained in aerosols collected between 2016 and 2021 from kunanyi / Mount Wellington in lutruwita / Tasmania (Australia) were used to estimate dust deposition fluxes. Lithogenic fluxes were calculated using each tracer individually, as well as an average using all four tracers. This latter approach enabled an assessment of the uncertainty associated with flux calculations using only individual tracers. Elemental ratios confirmed the lithogenic nature of each tracer in aerosols when compared with both Australian soil samples and the average Earth's upper continental crust. Lithogenic flux estimates showed annual dust deposition maxima during the austral summer, following the Australian dust storm season, and annual minimum deposition flux over winter. The data provided here will help to constrain model estimates of Southern Hemisphere atmospheric deposition fluxes and their subsequent impact on global ocean biogeochemical cycles.
Uncovering soil compaction: performance of electrical and electromagnetic geophysical methods
Authors: Carrera Alberto , Peruzzo Luca , Longo Matteo , Cassiani Giorgio , Morari Francesco 
Published: December 2024

Abstract. Monitoring soil structure is of paramount importance due to its key role in the critical zone as the foundation of terrestrial life. Variations in the arrangement of soil components significantly influence its hydro-mechanical properties and therefore its impact on the surrounding ecosystem. In this context, soil compaction resulting from inappropriate agricultural practices not only affects soil ecological functions, but also decreases the water-use efficiency of plants by reducing porosity and increasing water loss through superficial runoff and enhanced evaporation. In this study, we compared the ability of electric and electromagnetic geophysical methods, i.e., electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) method, to assess the effects caused by both heavy plastic soil deformations generated by a super-heavy vehicle and the more common tractor tramlines on silty-loam soils. We then tested correlations between geophysical response and soil variables (i.e., penetration resistance, bulk density, and volumetric water content on collected samples) at different homogeneous areas defined by k-means clustering. This work is intended to be a contribution to clarify expectations about the use of geophysical techniques to rapidly investigate soil compaction at various spatial scales, dissecting their suitability and limitations. It also aims to contribute to the methodological optimization of agrogeophysical acquisitions and data processing in order to obtain accurate soil models through a non-invasive approach. Electrical prospecting has finer spatial resolution and allows a tomographic approach, requiring higher logistic demands and the need for ground galvanic contact. On the other hand, contactless electromagnetic induction methods can be quickly used to define the distribution of electrical conductivity in the shallow subsoil in an easier way. In general, compacted soil portions are imaged as high-electrical-conductivity anomalies relative to the context. Results, validated with traditional soil characterization, show the pros and cons of both techniques and how differences in their spatial resolution heavily influence the ability to characterize compacted areas with good confidence.
Reshaping Intellectual Property Scholarship from Within
Authors: Yu Peter K. 
Published: December 2024

Written for the Fourth Race + IP Symposium, this Article calls for efforts to reshape intellectual property scholarship from within. Specifically, it discusses the need to develop a deeper understanding of the creators' intrinsic motivations, the inequalities of creativity and innovation within the national border, and underexplored scholarship within the intellectual property field, such as critical race intellectual property and comparative intellectual property law
“People Would Just Say, ‘That Doesn’t Exist’”: An Analysis of the Experiences of Racialized International Students as Settler Colonial, Racial, and Gendered Violence
Authors: Park Hijin , Francis Margot 
Published: December 2024

A growing body of scholarship reveals that racialized international students in the West are disproportionately vulnerable to exploitation and violence on and off university and college campuses, and in public and private spaces. This harm may be due to the actions of individuals (such as landlords, employers, fellow international students, non-international student classmates, professors, strangers, and members of their ethnic communities), as well as the policies and inaction of institutions and governments. These institutional and systemic factors include precarious immigration status and visa and immigration requirements, unregulated homestay programs, unregulated tuition fees, and the intersections of racism, sexism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. This paper draws on interviews with racialized international students and university employees who provide services to international students at a comprehensive university in Ontario, Canada, and argues that the everyday and structural violence the students may face is best understood as constitutive of the violence of White settler colonialism.
EVALUATION OF THE NAVIGATION AND PATTERN-TECHNOLOGIES EFFICACY IN THE TREATMENT OF PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
Authors: Bukina V. V. , Shchuko A. G. , Yur'eva T. N. , Borisova A. V. , Samsonov D. Yu. 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: to evaluate the structural changes of the retina after panretinal laser coagulation of the retina in single coagulate mode, pattern and navigation technologies with lasers of different wavelengths and exposures. Materials and methods of research. A prospective study included two main stages, 78 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with the proliferative stage of diabetic retinopathy, who underwent panretinal laser coagulation (PRC). 4 groups of patients were formed. At the first stage, the quality of coagulate formation, structural changes in the surrounding retina and changes in light sensitivity before and after laser coagulation were evaluated. At the second stage, the efficacy of retinal laser coagulation was studied depending on the laser coagulation technology. Optical coherence tomography RTVue XR Avanti (Optovue, USA), Canon was included in the diagnostic examination. The structural changes of the retina were evaluated before and after laser exposure. A study of the light sensitivity of the central parts of the retina was conducted using the Octopus 900 HAAG-STREIT perimeter (Switzerland). The severity of the pain syndrome at the time of the operation was assessed using a visual analog scale 30 minutes after the operationResults. The formation of a full-fledged chorioretinal scar was observed with all types of laser exposure. It has been proven that a laser with a wavelength of 577 nm with an exposure of 20 ms has a minimal damaging effect, as evidenced by the absence of damage to the outer boundary membrane, outer segments of photoreceptors according to OCT data, as well as the absence of depression of average light sensitivity. According to the results of the pain perception study, it was found that patients who underwent coagulation on the Navilas 577s laser system in automatic mode (exposure of 20 msec) practically did not experience pain.Conclusions. An assessment of the structural changes in the retina revealed the least damaging effect on the retinal tissue of laser coagulation with a wavelength of 577 nm with an exposure of 20 msec using pattern and navigation technologies, which allowed the photosensitivity of the peripheral parts of the retina to be maintained at the initial level. When using pattern and navigation technologies, the side effects of surgery (pain, glare,) are not pronounced, which makes panretinal laser coagulation comfortable and increases the patient's commitment to this type of treatment.
IMMUNOGLOBULIN SUPERFAMILY CELL ADHESION MOLECULES IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19
Authors: Karachenova A. M. , Romanova E. N. 
Published: December 2024

The aim of the research. To assess the content of intercellular adhesion molecules from the immunoglobulin superfamily: ICAM-1, ICAM-2, ICAM-3, NCAM, VCAM-1, PECAM-1 in patients with COVID-19-associated lung damage and to identify the presence of a relationship between their concentration and the severity of the process.Materials and methods. The study included 200 patients with COVID-19-associated lung damage 1 month after discharge from monohospitals in Chita. Patients were divided into groups of 50 people, depending on the degree of lung damage based on the results of computed tomography: Group 1 (CT-1); Group 2 (CT-2); Group 3 (CT-3); Group 4 (CT-4). The study included patients iwhose diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using polymerase chain reaction. The control group included 56 relatively healthy individuals who had not previously suffered from coronavirus infection or other acute respiratory diseases in the past 3 months. All study groups were comparable in terms of gender and age. The content of intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, ICAM-2, ICAM-3, NCAM, VCAM-1, PECAM-1) in blood serum was determined by immunochemical analysis.Results. As a result of the work, an increased content of intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, ICAM2, ICAM-3, NCAM, VCAM-1, PECAM-1) was revealed in the studied groups of patients with COVID-19associated lung damage compared to the control group. Significant differences were also found between groups of patients with different levels of lung damage according to CT data, when studying some intercellular adhesion molecules.Conclusion. The levels of intercellular adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily in the blood, which are markers of pathological activation of the endothelium, reflect the severity of lung tissue damage against the background of coronavirus infection, including during the convalescence period.