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Structural mentoring barriers are policies, practices and cultural norms that collectively disadvantage marginalized groups and perpetuate disparities in mentoring. This study aims to better understand structural mentoring barriers at the postdoctoral training stage, which has a direct impact on faculty diversity and national efforts to retain underrepresented groups in research careers.

A diverse sample of postdoctoral scholars (“postdocs”) from across the USA were asked to participate in focus groups to discuss their training experiences. The authors conducted five 90-min focus groups with 32 biomedical postdocs, including 20 (63%) women and 15 (47%) individuals from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups (URG).

A social-ecological framework was used to categorize both the upstream and downstream manifestations of structural mentoring barriers, as well as mentoring barriers, overall. Notable structural barriers included: academic politics and scientific hierarchy; inequalities resulting from mentor prestige; the (over) reliance on one mentor; the lack of formal training for academic and non-academic careers; and the lack of institutional diversity and institutional mentor training. To overcome these barriers, postdocs strongly encouraged developing a network or team of mentors and recommended institutional interventions that create more comprehensive professional development, mentorship and belonging.

For postdoctoral scientists, structural mentoring barriers can permeate down to institutional, interpersonal and individual levels, impeding a successful transition to an independent research career. This work provides strong evidence for promoting mentorship networks and cultivating a “mentoring milieu” that fosters a supportive community and a strong culture of mentorship at all levels.

In a time of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation, critical thinking has become the most important skill for discerning false, incomplete, and outdated information and communication online. The study examines the effects of personal (gender, age, ethnicity, religiosity, and Big Five personality traits) and positional inequalities (education, occupational status, language proficiency) on critical thinking digital skills (CTDS) among generations X, Y, and Z.

An online survey was conducted among 1,495 Israeli Jews between the ages of 18 and 57, belonging to the X, Y, and Z generations.

The findings show that CTDS among Gen X were significantly lower, by a large margin, than those of the younger generations, while Gen Z reported the highest level of these skills. Multivariate analysis indicated different effect patterns of personal and positional categorical variables on CTDS. We found that the contribution of personal demographic inequalities (gender, age, ethnicity and religiosity) to the explained variance in CTDS was most pronounced in Gen Y, compared to Gen X and Gen Z. The contribution of Big Five personality traits and positional social inequalities (education, occupational status and language proficiency) to explaining CTDS was similar between Gen X and Gen Y, but much less pronounced among Gen Z.

Understanding the intergenerational differences in CTDS is crucial for tailoring educational approaches, promoting inclusivity, and harnessing the diverse strengths of each generation to navigate an ever-evolving digital landscape successfully.

First of its kind, this study combines Generational Cohort Theory with Resources and Appropriation Theory to identify which inequalities may hinder the acquisition of one of today’s most vital skills among three generations.

The study aims to examine the association between virtual communication effectiveness (VCE), leadership effectiveness (LE) and the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in the post-pandemic era.

A survey was conducted among 305 employees in the Indian IT sector using an online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using reliability, validity and moderated regression analysis.

The findings reveal that VCE is a significant predictor of LE. EI plays a significant moderating role between VCE and LE.

This study establishes the role of EI in pre-empting LE. Furthermore, it results in the advancement of improved tools for the selection, training and development of leadership talent. Research on virtual communication (VC) and EI enhances our understanding of effective leadership. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present research is one of the first to link and standardize various practices of VC, and EI to increase LE in the post-pandemic era.

The concept of “participation” has become a buzzword in contemporary public governance models. However, despite the broad and significant interest, defining participation remains a debated topic. The aim of the current study was to explore how participants perceived and interpreted the meaning and scope of participation.

This study is part of a four-year (2019–2022) longitudinal research project investigating stakeholder participation in the context of developing and establishing a strategic regional plan in Region Skåne in southern Sweden. The research project has a qualitative approach and uses interviews with different stakeholder groups such as municipal politicians and public officials and a survey as empirical material.

The authors developed a participation spectrum including eight types of participation: to be open, to be informed, to be listened to, to discuss, to be consulted, to give and take, to collaborate and to co-create. The authors also identified four different purposes of participation: creating a joint network, creating a joint understanding, creating a joint effort and creating a joint vision. The spectrum and the purposes were related through four characteristics of participation, i.e. involvement, interaction, influence and empowerment.

The study rests on a single case, and so the results have limited transferatibility.

Researching participation in terms of the participants' perceptions contributes a new perspective to the existing literature, which has commonly focussed on the organizers' perceptions of participation. Moreover, in order to clarify what participation meant to the participants, the study puts emphasis on untangling this from the why question of participation.

With an emphasis on the moderating impact of trust, this study examines determinants influencing the purchase intentions of young consumers in augmented reality (AR) shopping platforms. This research study aims to pinpoint essential elements, including the enjoyment dimensions (i.e. entertainment, visual appeal and hedonic component) and practicality dimensions [i.e. informativeness, navigation and perceived usefulness (PU)], that are imperative in influencing young consumers’ purchase intentions in AR-based shopping platforms.

The present study used a quantitative approach grounded in the stimulus-organism-response model and the extended technology acceptance model, which analysed purchase intention among the youth using AR shopping platforms. One hundred seventy-two samples were gathered through self-administered questionnaires and underwent partial least squares structural equation modelling analysis to predict the relationships between the proposed variables.

The results of the current study suggested the independent variables (e.g. entertainment, visual appeal, informativeness and navigation) had a significant impact on hedonic components and PU. Furthermore, both hedonic components and PU had a significant and positive influence on purchase intention. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that hedonic components and PU in relation to purchase intention were not moderated by trust.

The developed research framework is significant for understanding the perceptions of shopping behaviour among young consumers in the Borneo region of Malaysia. This is one of the few studies that explored the interplay between enjoyment and practicality’s dimensions on purchase intention via AR shopping platforms in the less explored region of Malaysia. Hence, this study plays a pivotal role in contributing to the existing marketing and technology management literature. Moreover, it holds practical importance for business operators and marketers as it aids in decision-making and strategic planning for the future direction of businesses in the young consumer market.

Owing to the limitations of traditional infectious disease dynamic systems in accurately encapsulating the nuances of China’s dynamic epidemic prevention policies and considering the varying sensitivity of local governments to the unfolding of public health emergencies (PHEs), this paper introduces a novel infectious disease dynamic system.

This system, rooted in the distinct characteristics of infectious diseases and nuanced prevention and control measures, leverages a learning model for enhanced precision. It intricately incorporates factors such as the infectivity in sealed and controlled areas and the role of asymptomatic patients, thereby refining the dynamics of isolation, sealing, control and the transition from asymptomatic to confirmed cases. Employing the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) parameter estimation approach significantly augments the accuracy in pinpointing the valid parameters of disease spread. Empirical analysis was meticulously carried out, using data from the Shanghai epidemic from 1 Mar 2022 to 1 Jul 2022.

This analysis not only illuminates the profound impact of control efforts on the trajectory of the epidemic but also underscores the pivotal role of social distancing in curbing the rapid transmission of infectious diseases. Furthermore, it reveals that an accelerated detection rate during the swift spread and peak of the epidemic paradoxically leads to a surge in confirmed cases and a consequent strain on medical resources, thereby impeding the pace of medical intervention.

A stage-wise dissection of the Shanghai epidemic and comparative analyses against the evolution profiles in ASEAN countries elucidates the five stages of PHE risk evolution in alignment with the crisis lifecycle theory. These stages encompass hidden transmission, multi-point dissemination, multi-chain parallelism, rapid spread, fluctuation rebound and multi-community spread, each presenting unique challenges and dynamics in the control and management of the epidemic.

The reviews of cold case homicides are infrequently referenced within either procedural guides or scholarly outputs. However, boundaries for the review are imperative to ascertain the most productive use of resources, aligned with the case’s chance of eventual resolution. The purpose of the study is to identify the boundaries established by police forces within England and Wales for their reviews of cold cases. Due to the lack of guidance, forces have created their own methods which may result in ineffective review processes and strategies. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the boundaries of the review process through 13 semi-structured interviews with cold case detectives and a seven-month observation period (analysed simultaneously using an inductive Thematic Analysis), the following boundaries were identified before the review commences: the Terms of Reference (which provide a framework for the review based on live homicide review criteria), the identification of the review type (either a full or thematic review) and justification of the case’s prioritisation. This study provides initial evidence that there is an interconnectedness of procedures underpinning the reviews of cold cases, with the Terms of Reference dictating the type of review to be conducted, which is subsequently influenced by the case’s prioritisation. This study provides an important insight into the boundaries of reviews, and recognises the challenges for their implementation, attributed primarily to available resources and the number of cases that a force is responsible for. Important recommendations are proposed for the ongoing practice of cold case reviews to provide areas of evaluation and improved practice.

The reviews of cold case homicides are infrequently referenced within either procedural guides or scholarly outputs. However, boundaries for the review are imperative to ascertain the most productive use of resources, aligned with the case’s chance of eventual resolution. The purpose of the study is to identify the boundaries established by police forces within England and Wales for their reviews of cold cases. Due to the lack of guidance, forces have created their own methods which may result in ineffective review processes and strategies. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the boundaries of the review process through 13 semi-structured interviews with cold case detectives and a seven-month observation period (analysed simultaneously using an inductive Thematic Analysis), the following boundaries were identified before the review commences: the Terms of Reference (which provide a framework for the review based on live homicide review criteria), the identification of the review type (either a full or thematic review) and justification of the case’s prioritisation. This study provides initial evidence that there is an interconnectedness of procedures underpinning the reviews of cold cases, with the Terms of Reference dictating the type of review to be conducted, which is subsequently influenced by the case’s prioritisation. This study provides an important insight into the boundaries of reviews, and recognises the challenges for their implementation, attributed primarily to available resources and the number of cases that a force is responsible for. Important recommendations are proposed for the ongoing practice of cold case reviews to provide areas of evaluation and improved practice.

The reviews of cold case homicides are infrequently referenced within either procedural guides or scholarly outputs. However, boundaries for the review are imperative to ascertain the most productive use of resources, aligned with the case’s chance of eventual resolution. The purpose of the study is to identify the boundaries established by police forces within England and Wales for their reviews of cold cases. Due to the lack of guidance, forces have created their own methods which may result in ineffective review processes and strategies. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the boundaries of the review process through 13 semi-structured interviews with cold case detectives and a seven-month observation period (analysed simultaneously using an inductive Thematic Analysis), the following boundaries were identified before the review commences: the Terms of Reference (which provide a framework for the review based on live homicide review criteria), the identification of the review type (either a full or thematic review) and justification of the case’s prioritisation. This study provides initial evidence that there is an interconnectedness of procedures underpinning the reviews of cold cases, with the Terms of Reference dictating the type of review to be conducted, which is subsequently influenced by the case’s prioritisation. This study provides an important insight into the boundaries of reviews, and recognises the challenges for their implementation, attributed primarily to available resources and the number of cases that a force is responsible for. Important recommendations are proposed for the ongoing practice of cold case reviews to provide areas of evaluation and improved practice.

The reviews of cold case homicides are infrequently referenced within either procedural guides or scholarly outputs. However, boundaries for the review are imperative to ascertain the most productive use of resources, aligned with the case’s chance of eventual resolution. The purpose of the study is to identify the boundaries established by police forces within England and Wales for their reviews of cold cases. Due to the lack of guidance, forces have created their own methods which may result in ineffective review processes and strategies. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the boundaries of the review process through 13 semi-structured interviews with cold case detectives and a seven-month observation period (analysed simultaneously using an inductive Thematic Analysis), the following boundaries were identified before the review commences: the Terms of Reference (which provide a framework for the review based on live homicide review criteria), the identification of the review type (either a full or thematic review) and justification of the case’s prioritisation. This study provides initial evidence that there is an interconnectedness of procedures underpinning the reviews of cold cases, with the Terms of Reference dictating the type of review to be conducted, which is subsequently influenced by the case’s prioritisation. This study provides an important insight into the boundaries of reviews, and recognises the challenges for their implementation, attributed primarily to available resources and the number of cases that a force is responsible for. Important recommendations are proposed for the ongoing practice of cold case reviews to provide areas of evaluation and improved practice.

Video game streaming (VGS) is emerging as an extremely popular, highly interactive, inordinately subscribed and very dynamic form of digital media. Incorporated environmental elements, gratifications and user pre-existing attitudes in VGS, this paper presents the development of an extended model of uses and gratification theory (EUGT) for predicting users' behavior in novel technological context.

The proposed model was empirically tested in VGS context due to its popularity, interactivity and relevance. Data collected from 308 VGS users and structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the hypotheses. Multi-model comparison technique was used to assess the explanatory power of EUGT.

The findings confirmed three significant types elements in determining VGS viewers' engagement, including gratifications (e.g. involvement), environmental cues (e.g. medium appeal) and user predispositions (e.g. pre-existing attitudes). The results revealed that emerging technologies provide potential opportunities for new motives and gratifications, and highlighted the significant of pre-existing attitudes as a mediator in the gratification-uses link.

This study is one of its kind in tackling the criticism on UGT of considering media users too rational or active. The study achieved this objective by considering environmental impacts on user behavior which is largely ignored in recent UGT studies. Also, by incorporating users pre-existing attitudes into UGT framework, this study conceptualized and empirically verified the higher explanatory power of EUGT through a novel multi-modal approach in VGS. Compared to other rival models, EUGS provides a more robust explanation of users' behavior. The findings contribute to the literature of UGT, VGS and users' engagement.

This study aims to examine how an educational intervention, using the lens of the LEADS framework, can influence the development of primary care doctors’ leadership skills in Aceh, Indonesia. In order to persevere in the face of inadequate resources and infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote settings of low- and middle‐income countries, physicians require strong leadership skills. However, there is a lack of information on leadership development in these settings.

This study applied an educational intervention consisting of a two-day workshop. The authors evaluated the impact of the workshop on participants’ knowledge and skill by combining quantitative pre- and post-intervention questionnaires (based on Levels 1 and 2 of Kirkpatrick’s model) with qualitative post-intervention in-depth interviews, using a phenomenological approach and thematic analysis.

The workshop yielded positive results, as evidenced by participants’ increased confidence to apply and use the information and skills acquired during the workshop. Critical success factors were as follows: participants were curiosity-driven; the use of multiple learning methodologies that attracted participants; and the use of authentic scenarios as a critical feature of the program.

The intervention may offer a preliminary model for improving physician leadership skills in rural and remote settings by incorporating multiple teaching approaches and considering local cultural norms.

Our study aimed to verify the role of the digital economy in economic growth in Egypt and the availability of the technological capabilities of the business sector for digital transformation, based on the negative impact of the epidemic on all economic sectors in the world in general and Egypt in particular.

This was verified based on the standard Error correction package modeling (VECM) study and analysis using Xlstat 2023 and EViews 10.

The results of the study conducted during the period (1996–2022) showed that there is a co-integration relationship in the short and long term between the impact of the digital economy and economic growth. We found a positive, statistically significant relationship between the variables of mobile phone subscriptions and Internet use that had a strong positive effect. At the same time, trade openness hurt economic growth in the short term. In the long run, both mobile phone subscriptions and trade openness had a significant positive effect, and the speed of adjustment toward equilibrium was very severe, estimated at 4.7 years (1/0.21).

The work is limited to the economies of Egypt, which is part of Africa. We suggest conducting further research on evidence from other emerging and developed economies.

The results are of great importance to policymakers in Egypt as an African country, as the estimation results were positive between the digital economy and economic growth in the Egyptian economy, and this is consistent with the endogenous growth model of economic growth, which assumes that knowledge is the main driver of economic growth.

The paper documents the importance of the digital economy in boosting economic growth, which impacts social life more than the traditional digital economy, especially in times of crisis.

Based on the existing literature, this paper identified various research gaps. First, no consensus has been reached on the concept of the digital economy, and its index system is inadequate. While existing literature concentrates on examining the influence of ICT on economic development in terms of the number of Internet users, fixed broadband Internet users and mobile subscribers. These measures cannot adequately capture the broader implications of the digital economy. Furthermore, research has largely investigated the significance of digitalization in economic development and reached ambiguous conclusions.