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This chapter focuses on the contextual conditions around which entrepreneurship is a positive option for individuals on the autism spectrum. Drawing on omnibus and discrete context (Johns, 2006) and on research on other forms for neurodiversity and entrepreneurship, this chapter explains the who, what, where, when, and why of entrepreneurship and autism. Aimed at encouraging future scholarship in this under-research area, the chapter underlines the connections between entrepreneurship and common characteristics of individuals on the spectrum, issues of motivation and self-efficacy, the option of social entrepreneurship, and the importance of formal and informal support networks.

The purpose of this essay is to explore the opportunities and challenges that early-career researchers (ECRs) face when they seek to contribute to academic knowledge production through research activities “other than” those directly focused on making progress with their own, to-be-published, research papers in a context associated with the “publish or perish” (PoP) mentality.

Drawing broadly on the notion of technologies of humility (Jasanoff, 2003), this reflective essay develops upon the experiences of the authors in organizing and participating in a series of nine workshops undertaken between June 2013 and April 2021, as well as the arduous process of writing this paper itself. Retrospective accounts, workshop materials, email exchanges and surveys of workshop participants provide the key data sources for the analysis presented in the paper.

The paper shows how the organization of the workshops is intertwined with the building of a small community of ECRs and exploration of how to address the perceived limitations of a “gap-spotting” approach to developing research ideas and questions. The analysis foregrounds how the workshops provide a seemingly valuable research experience that is not without contradictions. Workshop participation reveals tensions between engagement in activities “other than” working on papers for publication and institutionalized pressures to produce publication outputs, between the (weak) perceived status of ECRs in the field and the aspiration to make a scholarly contribution, and between the desire to develop a personally satisfying intellectual journey and the pressure to respond to requirements that allow access to a wider community of scholars.

Our analysis contributes to debates about the ways in which seemingly valuable outputs are produced in academia despite a pervasive “publish or perish” mentality. The analysis also shows how reflexive writing can help to better understand the opportunities and challenges of pursuing activities that might be considered “unproductive” because they are not directly related to to-be-published papers.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of titanium oxide (TiO₂) filler on the abrasive wear properties of bamboo fiber reinforced epoxy composites (BFRCs) using a Taguchi approach. The study aims to enhance the abrasive wear resistance of these composites by introducing TiO₂ filler as a potential reinforcement, thus contributing to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials.

This study focuses on the fabrication of epoxy/bamboo composites infused with TiO₂ particles within the Wt.% range of 0–8 Wt.% using hand layup techniques. The resulting composites were subjected to wear testing according to ASTM G99-05 standards. Statistical analysis of the wear results was carried out using the Taguchi design of experiments (DOE). Additionally, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the influential control factors impacting the specific wear rate (SWR) and coefficient of friction (COF).

The study illuminates how integrating TiO₂ filler enhances abrasive wear in epoxy/bamboo composites. Statistical analysis of SWR highlights abrasive grit size (grit) as the most influential factor, followed by normal load, Wt.% of TiO₂ and sliding distance. Analysis of the COF identifies normal load as the primary influential factor, followed by grit, Wt.% of TiO₂ and sliding distance. The Taguchi predictive model closely aligns with experimental results, validating its reliability. The morphological study revealed significant differences between the unfilled and TiO₂-filled composites. The inclusion of TiO₂ improved wear resistance, as evidenced by reduced surface damage and wear debris.

This research paper aims to integrate TiO₂ filler and bamboo fibers to create an innovative hybrid composite material. TiO₂ micro and nanoparticles show promise as filler materials, contributing to improved tribological properties of epoxy composites. The utilization of Taguchi’s DOE and ANOVA for statistical analysis provides valuable guidance for academic researchers and practitioners in optimizing control variables, especially in the context of natural fiber reinforced composites.

This manuscript addresses the emerging tension between healthcare providers and regulatory authorities as the delivery of healthcare transitions from Volume-based Healthcare to Value-based Healthcare (VBH). In Volume-based healthcare, the more patients a doctor sees, the more money she makes. The more expensive drugs and treatments the doctor provides, the more money she makes. In VBH, keeping patients healthy with a focus on patient outcomes offers the potential to deliver improved healthcare outcomes along with cost reduction. In Volume-based Healthcare, there is an incentive to induce referrals and offer remuneration seeking referrals subjecting healthcare providers to Fraud and Abuse and Antikickback regulations. In VBH, there is no incentive to do more to achieve more income. The problem is: where do you draw the line between helping providers and patients by offering services and goods that achieve quality and cost reduction without running afoul of the law. This emerging tension is exacerbated by the emergence of social determinants of healthcare (SDOH) that have more to do with the quality of one’s healthcare than direct clinical care, medicines and medical devices.

This manuscript is based entirely on a narrative review and secondary research. No primary research has been conducted.

VBH offers the potential to achieve The Triple Aim: improve patient healthcare outcomes; enhance patient access to healthcare and satisfaction; and reduce costs. SDOH such as poverty, food deserts, crime, education, homelessness, transportation and more have more of an impact on the quality of one’s healthcare than direct clinical healthcare. Healthcare marketers can move beyond just selling goods and services to offering value that addresses the SDOH that stand in the way of achieving good health.

This emerging approach to healthcare delivery is relatively new. Government has set the theme for this transformation by announcing a “regulatory sprint toward value-based healthcare”. The regulatory authorities like the Department of Justice, The Office of Inspector General (OIG) and State Attorneys General recognize that Fraud and Abuse and Antikickback can be obstacles to providing VBH. This new approach to healthcare delivery formally launched in January 2021 so there is little research on strategy and marketing guidance.

The varied healthcare providers such as hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and contractual healthcare networks such as Accountable Care Organizations and Clinically Integrated Networks are just beginning to move forward on this new paradigm.

Social implications are huge. SDOH provide a real-world context in attempting to achieve improved healthcare. Take the example of an older patient with Type 2 diabetes along with a number of additional comorbidities such as obesity, depression, and more. The patient needs insulin for her diabetes, but she is homeless and lives under a bridge. What good is the best doctor, best hospital, best medicines if the patient is homeless.

The research on this healthcare delivery transition is just beginning to emerge.

This opinion letter explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in addressing the growing needs of ageing populations, highlighting key advancements and challenges associated with their application in eldercare. By analysing recent technological developments, practical applications and ethical considerations, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of how AI and robotics could transform eldercare systems.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, this opinion letter incorporates findings from current research on robotics and AI in care for the elderly, with an emphasis on recent technical developments as well as ethical issues.

The study shows that AI and robotics can have a massive impact in improving the quality of life of elderly persons by assisting them in health assessment, dosing of drugs, encouraging interactions and hence reducing the centralized pressure on healthcare centres. However, moral issues such as privacy, depersonalization of care and disparity in accessing such technologies in the socio-economic setup are huge barriers that have to be surmounted in order to provide optimal solutions for eldercare.

The novelty of this analysis is evident in its use of AI and robotics as not only potential solutions in technologies to bring better health and social communications to elderly people but also in coming up with a critical discussion of privacy and access issues, as well as several encouraging views for future eldercare.

The global economic downturn has greatly impacted the construction industry and architectural design firms (ADFs). Social media, however, provides a strategic avenue to enhance the visibility and resilience of ADFs. This paper aims to develop a framework integrating social media as an innovative marketing approach for mitigating the impacts of the global economic downturn on ADFs in Egypt.

A qualitative and quantitative research approach was designed to accomplish four objectives. The literature review examined the global economic downturn and marketing ADFs. Three case studies investigated the role of social media in marketing ADFs during economic uncertainties. A survey questionnaire was conducted with a representative sample of ADFs to assess their perception and application of social media as a marketing approach. Based on the above, the research developed a framework integrating social media as a novel approach for marketing ADFs in Egypt to alleviate the impacts of the global economic downturn.

The research explored the causes and impacts of the global economic downturn, focusing on marketing strategies and the use of social media in promoting ADFs. Case studies demonstrated that ADFs that utilized social media effectively succeeded in navigating the economic downturn and enhancing market performance, reputation and profitability. Data analysis highlighted “generating leads” as the top marketing strategy, followed by “attracting potential clients.” “Instagram” emerged as the most widely used platform, with “analytics and reporting” identified as the most impactful tool. However, “limited resources” was recognized as the primary challenge in implementing successful social media marketing for ADFs in Egypt.

This research developed a practical framework to navigate the impacts of the global economic downturn on ADFs in Egypt based on the findings of a literature review, case studies and a survey questionnaire. The framework practically detailed the objectives of the framework’s functions, activities, tools and techniques, involved personnel, needed resources and implementation mechanisms.

The research examined the causes and impacts of the global economic downturn, with a focus on how ADFs in Egypt use social media as a marketing tool and identified the implementation challenges. The study, which fills a gap in construction literature, developed a framework to help ADFs mitigate the global economic downturn effects. The framework offers a practical solution to improve the resilience and marketing of ADFs in Egypt by providing new insights into the architecture and construction sectors and adding significant value to existing knowledge.

Drawing on sustainable career theory as a framework, our study aims to explore how Asian international students studying in a UK-based University Business School view their employability, career aspirations, and career resources.

A total of 128 participants provided 602 voice-recorded reflective diary insights over six weeks while studying a mandatory employability module in a postgraduate Master’s programme at a UK-based Russell Group University Business School. The reflective diary insights addressed employability (weeks 1 and 3), aspirations (weeks 2 and 5), and career resources (weeks 4 and 6). Thematic analysis was conducted before theme and code prevalence were counted to compare changes between the two time points for each topic.

Employability includes skills, experiences and qualifications (theme 1), challenges (theme 2), and career ownership (theme 3). Aspirations include intrinsic motivators (theme 4), extrinsic motivators (theme 5), and person-organisation fit (theme 6). Career resources include people (theme 7), knowledge (theme 8) and signalling (theme 9). Time influences the interplay of person and contextual dimensions across the two timespans with different effects between and within themes.

Theoretically, our study advances the empirical validation of sustainable career theory, as well as integrating graduate employability and career development streams into higher education research. Methodologically, it underscores the underutilised potential of diary studies in the field. Practically, it offers insights for lecturers, university career advisors, and employers to holistically address the employability, aspirations, and career resources of international students.

This study aims to examine how being part of a WhatsApp community of doctoral researchers over a five-year period influences the author’s well-being, learning and professional development.

This study adopts a digital autoethnographic approach, using the author’s own contributions to a WhatsApp group of doctoral researchers as data.

For the researcher, WhatsApp plays a significant and positive role in fostering community. The group engenders a sense of connection in a “backstage” community, where feelings can be shared honestly and reassurance received, thus supporting well-being. In this community, it is easy to seek advice about research. It also provides a low-stakes environment in which to learn how to offer advice to others, the experience of doing so contributing to professional development as a doctoral supervisor.

The insights gained will be useful for doctoral researchers considering the potential value of peer support and also for those supporting and supervising them.

This paper provides a rare glimpse into a peer-led WhatsApp community of doctoral researchers. It adds to the literature that uses rhizome theory as a theoretical lens, showing how rhizomatic principles and ideas around assemblages can be helpful in analysing multiple aspects of WhatsApp groups and other similar online communities.