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The objective of this comparative quantitative study is to examine hypotheses regarding the impact of asset management and intellectual capital (IC) on the financial performance of the construction sector in the ASEAN-5 throughout 2019–2022 with enterprise resource planning (ERP) as a mediator variable.

A final sample of 65 construction industries listed on stock exchanges during 2019 and 2022 in ASEAN-5 (Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore) was selected using the purposive sampling method. This research employs market-to-book value (MBV) as a measure of IC. The study also used path analysis, the Sobel test and analysis of variance test (ANOVA).

The findings demonstrate that asset management, intellectual capital and ERP have a significant and favorable impact on return on asset (ROA). Additionally, the asset management and IC of the ERP display weak and substantial outcomes. The implementation of ERP was also shown not to operate as a mediating factor. The ANOVA results on financial performance indicate significant differences for the year 2019. Furthermore, the use of various ERP software types demonstrates a comparable impact on enhancing financial performance.

This is the first study that utilizes ERP to mediate management asset and IC on financial performance. The ASEAN-5 construction sector is representative of developing nations' economic condition, offering the possibility to avoid the global economic collapse in 2023 and recover despite economic volatility.

This chapter approaches issues of ecospirituality through Gender and the Environment analytical lenses. We propose the need to actively queer human/Nature relations and understandings by exploring studies related to ecospirituality, Earth relations, and gender dynamics. The chapter considers ecospirituality as ritual practices, material cultures, codified ethics, and/or cosmological structures related to a category of “the sacred,” which influence how various gendered and sexed bodies interact with the non-human world. Here, we propose that ecospiritual categories can shape the ways that humans conceive of their humanness and their sexed and gendered bodies. Within the context of religion/Nature interactions white evangelical masculinist subcultures in the United States are considered as an example that demonstrates the paradoxical characteristics of the gender binary and human/Nature dualisms. The chapter proceeds to offer queered ecologies as alternative narratives that can assist the larger Gender and Environment discourse in better understanding ecospiritual practices and worldviews, and how the latter can contribute to prosustainable lifeways as a viable alternative to masculinist hegemonies that are continuing to predominate the ways that many humans – especially those in the Global North – understand and relate to the natural world at great cost to life on the planet.

Ethnoracial categories and classifications can change over time, sometimes leading to increased social mobility for marginalized groups or nonelites. These ethnoracial changes are often attributed to emulation, where nonelites adopt the elite's social, cultural, and political characteristics and values. In some cases, however, nonelites experience ethnoracial shifts and upward mobility without emulating elites, which events can help explain. I argue that the type of event, whether endogenous or exogenous, affects the ability of elites to enforce their preferred ethnoracial hierarchy because it will determine the strategy – either insulation or absorption – they can pursue to maintain their power. I examine this phenomenon by comparing the cases of Irish social mobility in 17th-century Barbados and Montserrat. Findings suggest that endogenous events allow elites to reinforce their preferred ethnoracial hierarchy through insulation, whereas exogenous events constrain elites to employ absorption, which maintains their power but results in hierarchical shifts. Events are thus critical factors in ethnoracial shifts.

The purpose of this research is to examine the dynamics of news coverage within Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) nations, aiming to uncover patterns and critical factors influencing political and economic development policies. By providing a comprehensive overview of macro-level and sector-level economic trends reported by member country newspapers, the study seeks to understand problem-driven analysis schemes and proposed solutions to challenges. Additionally, it aims to evaluate the economic implications of political decisions as portrayed in news coverage, scrutinize the promotion of meaningful dialog and assess the role of news in encouraging coherence among stakeholders for effective pursuit of economic development goals within the BRICS nations.

This qualitative research involves conducting a content analysis on 11 newspapers, each published by a BRICS member country, including established and recent members. The current study analyzes the national interests, economic implications of media frames, leaders’ statements and geopolitical contexts in light of the coverage of the newspapers under study and the BRICS' inclusion of new members from a political economy perspective.

All eleven newspapers emphasize the significance of the BRICS Summit and its role in shaping economic and geopolitical dynamics. They consistently highlight the cooperative and multilateral nature of BRICS, focusing on collaboration among member nations. All newspapers emphasize the importance of the BRICS Summit as a key event in global geopolitics. For instance, they discuss the 2023 BRICS Summit in South Africa as a focal point for member countries to discuss various global issues. Each newspaper discusses BRICS' role in advocating for equitable global governance and challenging Western dominance in international affairs. Economic aspects, such as trade, financial cooperation and economic growth within BRICS, are mentioned in the coverage of all eleven newspapers, underlining the economic dimension of the group. All eleven newspapers explore the expansion of BRICS and its implications, including differing member opinions and the introduction of new member countries. However, The Buenos Aires Times (Argentina) provides an in-depth focus on Argentina’s admission to BRICS and its significance, reflecting its unique perspective as a potential member. All newspapers recognize the media’s role in shaping awareness and discourse related to BRICS, but The Buenos Aires Times specifically focuses on Argentina’s perspective and how it informs its readers about global developments. Also, unlike other newspapers, The Buenos Aires Times mentions domestic political factors, including presidential elections in Argentina and opposition to Argentina’s BRICS membership, which impact the country’s stance. The newspapers' coverage of BRICS reflects their national interests, priorities and perspectives. While geopolitical and economic aspects are prominent, the depth of analysis, the emphasis on specific economic trends and the extent of problem-driven analysis vary. These diverse viewpoints provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of BRICS and its global impact. When comparing the 11 newspapers' coverage of BRICS-related topics, it’s evident that each publication brings its unique perspective and priorities to the forefront.

While this research provides valuable insights into news patterns and their influence on political and economic development in BRICS nations, certain limitations should be acknowledged. The study’s scope primarily relies on newspaper coverage, potentially omitting perspectives from other media sources.

The practical implications of this research are profound. Policymakers can leverage insights to craft informed strategies, and businesses and investors can gain a nuanced understanding of economic trends and media practitioners refine their coverage. The findings promote cross-cultural understanding within BRICS nations, encouraging cooperation. Global stakeholders can navigate the political-economic landscape more adeptly. Ultimately, the research provides actionable knowledge, facilitating effective decision-making, enhancing collaboration and contributing to the sustainable development and stability of the BRICS countries and the broader international community.

This research carries significant social implications by encouraging a deeper comprehension of the interplay between news media, politics and economics in BRICS nations. It promotes informed civic discourse, enabling citizens to critically engage with socio-political issues. By uncovering the media’s influence, the study contributes to media literacy, empowering the public to make informed decisions. Additionally, the research enhances cross-cultural understanding, potentially mitigating biases and stereotypes. Ultimately, it strengthens the social fabric by encouraging a more informed and engaged citizenry, capable of contributing positively to the political and economic development of their respective nations within the BRICS framework.

This research contributes originality and value by offering a nuanced exploration of news patterns in BRICS nations, going beyond surface-level analysis. By focusing on macro- and sector-level economic trends, the study provides a unique perspective on the interplay between media narratives and economic development. The examination of problem-driven analysis and proposed solutions adds depth, offering insights into policy implications. Evaluating the economic implications of political decisions through news coverage enhances understanding. Furthermore, the research’s emphasis on promoting meaningful dialog and assessing the role of news in stakeholder coherence contributes distinctive insights, enhancing the broader understanding of the interconnections between media, politics and economic development in the BRICS context.

The Children's Hearings System is a Scottish welfare-based tribunal-based system in which decisions are made about the care and protection of children in conflict with the law and/or in need of additional care and protection. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the rapid implementation of a virtual Children's Hearings System. This system, which operated as the sole mechanism through which decisions were made between March and July 2020, continued to be used alongside in-person and hybrid Hearing formats for the duration of the pandemic. Early research into the use of virtual Hearings identified that their use presented significant barriers to participation, particularly in relation to the impacts of digital literacy and digital poverty. However, much of this research focused upon the experiences of adult participants in Hearings and failed to capture the experiences of children. In this chapter, we present findings from a qualitative study designed to explore the impact of virtual Hearings upon the participation and rights of children. In doing so, we demonstrate that virtual Hearings acted as both a barrier and facilitator of children's participation.

This study aims to examine the scope and contribution of Forensic Clinical Psychology (FCP) advice from the National Crime Agency (NCA) to criminal investigations in the UK to address the gap in current knowledge and research.

The 36 FCP reports reviewed were written between 2017 and 2021. They were analysed using Toulmin’s (1958) application of pertinent arguments to the evaluation process. The potential utility of the reports was analysed in terms of the advice provided.

Most of the reports involved murder and equivocal death. The reports focused primarily on understanding the offender’s psychopathology, actions, motivation and risk to self and others using a practitioner model of case study methodology. Out of the 539 claims, grounds were provided for 99% of the claims, 91% had designated modality, 62% of the claims were potentially verifiable and 57% of the claims were supported by a warrant and/or backing. Most of the reports provided either moderate or high insight into the offence/offender (92%) and potential for new leads (64%).

The advice provided relied heavily on extensive forensic clinical and investigative experience of offenders, guided by theory and research and was often performed under considerable time pressure. Flexibility, impartiality, rigour and resilience are essential prerequisites for this type of work.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to systematically evaluate forensic clinical psychology reports from the NCA. It shows the pragmatic, dynamic and varied nature of FCP contributions to investigations and its potential utility.