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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 22 November 2024

Aino Heiskanen and Toni Ryynänen

It is suggested that the detrimental externalities of intensive livestock production can be reduced by manufacturing animal proteins with cellular agriculture technologies. This…

Abstract

Purpose

It is suggested that the detrimental externalities of intensive livestock production can be reduced by manufacturing animal proteins with cellular agriculture technologies. This study explores consumer attitudes towards cultured proteins based on representative Finnish survey data (n = 1,452).

Design/methodology/approach

Sum variables from the principal component analysis were utilized in the cluster analysis to identify potential consumer groups of cultured proteins in Finland. A regression analysis was used to find out the explanatory factors of positive first reaction, willingness to taste, willingness to use and support for the establishment of a national cultured meat sector.

Findings

Most of the respondents (72%) would taste cultured products, but attitudes of optimists (n = 516), moderates (n = 479) and sceptics (n = 457) differ in terms of the environment, livestock farming and cultured proteins. Most optimists (77%), almost quarter (23%) of moderates and less than a fifth (18%) of sceptics support cultured proteins. The environmental concerns are shared by optimists and moderates, whereas moderates and sceptics tend to be more suspicious. Positive attitudes are significantly influenced by social norms and respondents' beliefs regarding their global and national benefits. Major concerns pertain to anticipated dictation force of big companies, negative effects on Finnish agriculture, product attributes, use of genetically modified organisms and experienced (un)naturalness of cultured foods.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of Finnish consumers' attitudes towards cultured proteins. The identification of potential consumer segments and the elucidation of their attitudes are relevant, given the anticipated acceleration in the development of cultured foods.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 126 no. 13
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 February 2025

Poonam Mehta

The interconnection between humans and animal has raised the concept of one health (OH) framework. The framework works at local, regional, national and global level with the aim…

Abstract

Purpose

The interconnection between humans and animal has raised the concept of one health (OH) framework. The framework works at local, regional, national and global level with the aim to improve public health. However, while covering the OH approach, the knowledge of indigenous communities has not been given much attention. Despite of the fact that indigenous communities are living closely to ecosystem, their exceptional knowledge on OH has not been utilised. The present study has reviewed different studies to explore the prominent role of indigenous knowledge between the relationship of OH framework and public wellbeing.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study is a narrative review which has included different quantitative and qualitative studies conducted in the area of OH field in concern to public health and indigenous knowledge. The present study has included the literature which is published in English language from the year 2001–2024 conducted in developed and developing countries.

Findings

On the basis of prevailing literature in the area, the present study has framed a model to integrate the OH with indigenous knowledge to improve public health. The model explains the concept of public wellbeing which is deeply rooted in the knowledge of indigenous communities associated with animal and veterinary care, ecological aspect, culture, religion, language, healing and wellness, food and nutrition practices.

Research limitations/implications

After considering the literature prevailing in concern to OH, it has been determined that OH approach is more prominent in scientific environment and laboratory equipment. The discipline of OH requires an inclusion from the researchers of social sciences and various behavioural fields. The present study has offered different factors which may act as an entry point for researchers to explore the field. Further, the study has suggested validating a comprehensive model offered by present study in empirical manner to improve public health.

Originality/value

The present study has highlighted the relevance of indigenous knowledge for promoting OH principles in public wellbeing. Also, the study has offered a model which can be utilised by future researchers to explore the relationship between OH, indigenous knowledge and public wellbeing.

Details

Journal of Integrated Care, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1476-9018

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 October 2023

Ahmed Shuhaiber, Khaled Saleh Al-Omoush and Ayman Abdalmajeed Alsmadi

This study aims to empirically examine the impact of perceived risks, optimism and financial literacy on trust and the perceived value of cryptocurrencies. It will also examine…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to empirically examine the impact of perceived risks, optimism and financial literacy on trust and the perceived value of cryptocurrencies. It will also examine the impact of trust on the perceived value of cryptocurrencies.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach is followed. A questionnaire was designed to collect data from 308 respondents in Jordan. The Structural Equation Modeling – Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) method was used to evaluate the research model and test hypotheses.

Findings

The results of PLS algorithm analysis showed that perceived risks negatively impact the optimism and trust in cryptocurrencies. This study revealed that while financial literacy minimizes the perceived risks, it serves to enhance optimism and improve the perception of the value of cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, the findings of this study show that optimism plays a significant role in trust and perceived value.

Originality/value

This study provides new insights into the literature on cryptocurrencies adoption, blockchain theory, the theory of trust in financial systems, the role of the optimism factor and the perception of the value of cryptocurrencies. It also provides important practical implications for different stakeholders.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 54 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 January 2025

Kamal Gulati, Julie Davies and Angel Rajan Singh

The purpose of this paper is to understand the non-clinical challenges of physicians in northern India and to re-imagine an alternative scenario of hybrid professional medical…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the non-clinical challenges of physicians in northern India and to re-imagine an alternative scenario of hybrid professional medical management and leadership where physicians enact roles as strategic boundary spanners.

Design/methodology/approach

In this qualitative study, 30 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with men and women physicians and thematically analysed.

Findings

Physicians reported that they were unprepared formally for mainly ad hoc non-clinical responsibilities. Findings identified a range of six types of aspirational, willing, incidental, ambivalent, agnostic and actively resistant behaviours among physicians who were expected to undertake administrative, rather than strategic leadership tasks.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study makes a novel theoretical contribution to the dearth of literature on medical leadership in a low-middle income South Asian country. By examining physicians’ views on their non-clinical responsibilities, this study highlights the strategic potential for developing physicians formally as professional hybrid managers and leaders who effectively bridge medical and managerial domains beyond the current scenario of physicians operating as untrained administrators.

Details

Leadership in Health Services, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-1879

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 December 2024

I-Shuo Chen

We explored the mechanism underlying the associations between different home stressors and job performance. We investigated whether challenge and hindrance home stressors are…

Abstract

Purpose

We explored the mechanism underlying the associations between different home stressors and job performance. We investigated whether challenge and hindrance home stressors are related to leisure crafting and thereby to job performance. We also examined whether key resources amplify the positive association between leisure crafting and job performance.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted a three-wave time lag study to investigate a group of employees (n = 534) in Taiwan. We evaluated challenge/hindrance home stressors and key resources at Time 1, leisure crafting one week later, i.e. at Time 2 and manager-rated job performance an additional three months later, i.e. at Time 3.

Findings

Challenge home stressors were associated with improved leisure crafting, thereby benefiting job performance; hindrance home stressors had the opposite effect. Additionally, openness to experience strengthened the positive association between leisure crafting and job performance.

Practical implications

Organizations may support employees’ efforts to promote/mitigate challenge/hindrance home stressors. They may also encourage employees to be open to life experiences that can amplify the contributions of leisure crafting to job performance.

Originality/value

The questions of whether and how home stressors are related to individuals’ work remain controversial in the literature. We offer new insights into how these stressors can contribute to or impede job performance, thereby extending our knowledge of the role of home stressors in job performance.

Details

Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2051-6614

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 January 2025

Yongqiang Gao, Yaohan Cai and Shanta Banik

Brand crises are widespread in the marketplace and how consumers perceive and respond to such crises is crucial for brand survival. This paper aims to elucidate the critical role…

Abstract

Purpose

Brand crises are widespread in the marketplace and how consumers perceive and respond to such crises is crucial for brand survival. This paper aims to elucidate the critical role of brand age in shaping consumers’ negative responses to competence-related versus ethics-related crises, with a particular focus on the Eastern cultural context. In addition, the roles of information diagnosticity and culture are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

In a series of four studies conducted across China and the USA, the authors use a rigorous between-subject experimental design to delve into the dynamics of how the interplay between brand age and brand crisis impacts consumers’ negative responses, specifically negative word-of-mouth and boycott tendency, toward brands perceived as guilty.

Findings

Results show that brand age helps mitigate the negative responses of consumers in competence-related crises, yet exacerbates such reactions in ethics-related crises. In addition, information diagnosticity mediates the interactive effect of brand crisis and brand age on consumers’ negative responses. However, the results of the cross-cultural comparison study suggest that brand age exaggerates consumers’ negative responses to ethics-related brand crises only in Eastern cultures, but not in the Western contexts.

Research limitations/implications

The research reveals the dual-edged impact of brand age during crises, enriches the literature that draws on information diagnosticity within the hierarchical restrictive schema theory. It also clarifies the boundary mechanisms related to cultural differences.

Practical implications

The findings of this research provide meaningful implications for brand managers by communicating the oldness of a brand may serve to buffer negative consumer responses to competence-related crises but can exacerbate the consequences of ethics-related crises.

Originality/value

This research offers a novel perspective on the nuanced influence of brand age on consumers’ adverse reactions to brand crises. It clarifies why emphasizing the oldness of brands in Eastern-culture markets is effective in mitigating competence-related crises but often counterproductive for ethics-related crises.

Details

European Journal of Marketing, vol. 59 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0309-0566

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 2 December 2024

Fabio Dovigo

This chapter presents an international review of the experiences of children and parents regarding care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic profoundly impacted children and…

Abstract

This chapter presents an international review of the experiences of children and parents regarding care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic profoundly impacted children and families, magnifying the influence of governmental policies, socio-economic disparities and cultural contexts on children's experiences and exacerbating global inequalities. Vulnerable families faced increased challenges affecting children's rights and well-being, while the transition to digital learning highlighted the critical need for equitable access to technology. Despite extensive documentation of these challenges, research focusing on the pandemic's impact on young children's development, well-being, socialization and learning opportunities, as well as the experiences of parents/carers, remains limited. This scarcity stems from the pandemic's constraints on research activities, requiring reliance on online methods and the increased burdens on parents/carers, making participation in research more challenging.

Employing the PRISMA 2020 method for a literature review, this chapter aggregates international research findings on the subject, examining the impacts of COVID-19 on health and well-being, knowledge of the pandemic, effects on learning, educational strategies, online activity engagement and collaboration with Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services. It concludes with a synthesis of insights and recommendations drawn from the reviewed literature.

The chapter contributes to a comprehensive framework for understanding the pandemic's impact on young children and their families, emphasising the importance of targeted interventions, equitable resource distribution and ongoing support for the ECEC sector to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and future crises.

Article
Publication date: 20 December 2024

Yao-Chen Kuo

The factors contributing to skilled labor shortages in the construction industry are investigated based on relevant global literature. The potential factors are collected…

Abstract

Purpose

The factors contributing to skilled labor shortages in the construction industry are investigated based on relevant global literature. The potential factors are collected, organized and subjected to expert evaluation to determine their inter-relationships. The identified factors are integrated to determine both direct and indirect impacts, clarifying their relative importance.

Design/methodology/approach

Apart from literature reviews, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method was employed to elucidate influential relationships among the factors. Intuitive assessments and DEMATEL with and without the shortage factors were used to compare the impact of various factors on skilled labor shortages.

Findings

Significant differences were observed between considering only direct effects and both direct and indirect effects. Factors identified through comprehensive evaluation were prioritized; poor overall wages, poor overall welfare and lack of retirement income security and unclear career path owing to lack of prospects and talent plans were the three important factors identified.

Research limitations/implications

The disparity between construction companies and key stakeholders, such as government agencies, public sector clients, pre-project planners, designers and consulting engineers, stems from differing priorities concerning skilled labor in the construction industry. In this study, evaluations of most experts from construction companies and the gap ratio for data reliability were implemented for the analysis. In the future, more experts from government agencies, and other groups should be included while focusing on the shortage in individual trades of skilled workers. In addition, the proposed measures require further evaluation for interactive influence and effectiveness.

Originality/value

The interactive relationship among the factors influencing skilled labor shortages is explored to determine measures to alleviate their influence. This can aid policymakers in identifying effective solutions.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 27 November 2024

Inês Amaral, Ana Marta M. Flores and Eduardo Antunes

As younger generations navigate a blended reality, their interaction with digital content and apps is marked by multitasking. Gender intersects with media and individual…

Abstract

As younger generations navigate a blended reality, their interaction with digital content and apps is marked by multitasking. Gender intersects with media and individual preferences, shaping how people navigate digital realms. This chapter investigates how young adults perceive personal digital experiences, analysing them based on various socio-demographic factors. Using a quantitative approach, a survey was conducted with 1,500 young adults in Portugal in October 2021. The sample was representative of the population distribution by sex, age and region. Statistical analysis revealed correlations between digital behaviours and socio-demographic factors such as gender, sexual orientation and parenthood status. Results indicated significant differences in agreement levels among different groups, highlighting areas such as online harassment, content creation, social interaction and digital intimacy. The findings challenge assumptions of homogeneity in generational technology usage and underscore the importance of considering diverse demographic perspectives in digital research. This chapter sheds light on the interplay between technology, identity and social connections, emphasising the relevance of gender in digital platform studies.

Details

Young Adulthood Across Digital Platforms
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83753-525-5

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 October 2024

Wenjing Wu, Ning Zhao, Liang Zhang and Yuhang Wu

This paper aims to investigate the problem of adaptive bipartite tracking control in nonlinear networked multi-agent systems (MASs) under the influence of periodic disturbances…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the problem of adaptive bipartite tracking control in nonlinear networked multi-agent systems (MASs) under the influence of periodic disturbances. It considers both cooperative and competitive relationships among agents within the MASs.

Design/methodology/approach

In response to the inherent limitations of practical systems regarding transmission resources, this paper introduces a novel approach. It addresses both control signal transmission and triggering conditions, presenting a two-bit-triggered control method aimed at conserving system transmission resources. Additionally, a command filter is incorporated to address the problem of complexity explosion. Furthermore, to model the uncertain nonlinear dynamics affected by time-varying periodic disturbances, this paper combines Fourier series expansion and radial basis function neural networks. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through simulation results.

Findings

Based on neural networks and command filter control method, an adaptive two-bit-triggered bipartite control strategy for nonlinear networked MASs is proposed.

Originality/value

The proposed control strategy effectively addresses the challenges of limited transmission resources, nonlinear dynamics and periodic disturbances in networked MASs. It guarantees the boundedness of all signals within the closed-loop system while also ensuring effective bipartite tracking performance.

Details

Robotic Intelligence and Automation, vol. 44 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2754-6969

Keywords

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