Kogila Vani Annammala, Anand Nainar, Abdul Rahim Mohd Yusoff, Zulkifli Yusop, Kawi Bidin, Rory Peter Dominic Walsh, William H. Blake, Faizuan Abdullah, Dhinesh Sugumaran and Khuneswari Gopal Pillay
Although there have been extensive studies on the hydrological and erosional impacts of logging, relatively little is known about the impacts of conversion into agricultural…
Abstract
Although there have been extensive studies on the hydrological and erosional impacts of logging, relatively little is known about the impacts of conversion into agricultural plantation (namely rubber and oil palm). Furthermore, studies on morphological impacts, sediment-bound chemistry and forensic attribution of deposited sediment to their respective sources are scarcer. This chapter introduces the potential for using the multi-proxy sediment fingerprinting technique in this context. Featuring pilot projects in two major flood-prone river systems in Malaysia, the studies explore application of geochemistry-based sediment source ascription. The geochemical signatures of sediment mixtures on floodplains were compared to sediments from upstream source tributaries. The tributaries were hypothesised to have different geochemical signatures in response to dominant land management. The first case study took place in the Segama River system (4,023 km2) of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo where a mixture of primary forest, logged-forests and oil palm plantations were predominant. The second case study was in the Kelantan River Basin (13,100 km2) with two major tributaries (Galas River and Lebir River) where logged-forests and rubber and oil palm plantations are dominant land-uses. Both case studies demonstrated the applicability of this method in ascribing floodplain deposited sediment to their respective upstream sources. Preliminary results showed that trace elements associated with fertilisers (e.g. copper and vanadium) contribute to agricultural catchment signatures. Alkaline and alkaline-earth elements were linked to recently established oil palm plantations due to soil turnover. Mixing model outputs showed that contributions from smaller, more severely disturbed catchment are higher than those from larger but milder disturbed catchments. This method capitalises on flood events to counter its adverse impacts by identifying high-priority sediment source areas for efficient and effective management.
Details
Keywords
Bang Nam Jeon and Se Young Ahn
An improved investment environment and aggressive foreign direct investment (FDI) liberalization strategies have enabled Asian countries, such as Korea and Vietnam, to attract…
Abstract
An improved investment environment and aggressive foreign direct investment (FDI) liberalization strategies have enabled Asian countries, such as Korea and Vietnam, to attract sharply increased FDI inflows and multinational corporations (MNCs) during the 1990s. Indonesia, however, has suffered from stagnated FDI inflows and, in particular, continued divestment since late 1998. In this paper, we report the survey results of recent changes in attitudes toward foreign MNCs perceived by government officials and business leaders in these three Asian countries, and investigate the major individual attribute determinants of their assessment of foreign investments using econometric tools. We also discuss policy implications of these findings for host‐country FDI policy makers and the international business community.
Details
Keywords
H. Blake, S. Lee, T. Stanton and T. Gorely
Increasing physical activity (PA) is an international public health priority. This study aims to assess the impact of an environmental stair‐use intervention using “point of…
Abstract
Purpose
Increasing physical activity (PA) is an international public health priority. This study aims to assess the impact of an environmental stair‐use intervention using “point of decision” prompts with varying messages in an NHS workplace in the UK.
Design/methodology/approach
Observational data were collected using a covert method (infra‐red sensors) in an interrupted time‐series design over an eight‐week period. Intervention consisted of posters displaying encouraging messages in the entrance to two stairways of an acute NHS hospital. The hospital site is a public building accessible to patients, staff (n=∼7,000), students and the general public. Questionnaires (n=221) assessed employee self‐reports of and attitudes towards stair‐use.
Findings
Following 24‐hour observational counts (n=143,514) no statistically significant differences were seen in either stair climbing or descent on either stairway through the introduction and removal of promotional posters. A number of determinants and barriers to stair‐use were identified. Posters were reported as “seen” by a low proportion of respondents (7‐25 per cent) and only a small number felt encouraged to use the stairs as a result of the prompts (25‐37 per cent of those who “saw” them, 3‐18 per cent of total sample).
Research limitations/implications
The study evaluates the impact of a stair‐use intervention in a public hospital building, a setting within which research investigations have to date been limited. More research is needed to further investigate determinants and barriers to stair‐use and the impact of different message types and locations of “point‐of‐decision” prompts in a hospital setting.
Practical implications
Environmental interventions to increase stair‐use in this setting may be best placed within a comprehensive workplace programme including health education and multi‐component interventions.
Originality/value
“Point of decision” prompts are inexpensive as a long‐term intervention. As part of a large‐scale workplace health campaign, encouraging even a small percentage of employees to use the stairs in organisations of this size is of significance to workplace health promoters.
Details
Keywords
The public health argument for developing and maintaining workplace wellness programmes in organisations is well‐documented, particularly within the healthcare sector which aims…
Abstract
Purpose
The public health argument for developing and maintaining workplace wellness programmes in organisations is well‐documented, particularly within the healthcare sector which aims to “set the example” for workplace health. However, workplace wellness also makes good business sense, since it is established that investing in employee health can reduce absenteeism, improve job satisfaction and productivity and enhance corporate image. Organisations often place workplace wellness low in their priorities. The purpose of this paper is to present the case for an initial resource investment and top‐level support to pump‐prime a financially sustainable, and even profitable, programme.
Design/methodology/approach
A discussion is presented based on academic literature and practical applications from the authors' experiences in practice.
Findings
The authors use their own in‐house scheme, “Q‐active” as a case example based in an NHS Trust setting, to demonstrate how such schemes can be developed and successfully implemented and maintained in practice. The paper presents the use of the Business Healthcheck Tool for developing a business case for such schemes.
Originality/value
Workplace wellness schemes are financially viable and can become a vital part of a large organisations' infrastructure embedded within policies and internal “health culture”.
Details
Keywords
Fiona Yu, Alana Cavadino, Lisa Mackay, Kim Ward, Anna King and Melody Smith
Limited evidence exists regarding a group of nurses' physical activity patterns and association with resilience. Less is known about the physical activity health paradox in nurses…
Abstract
Purpose
Limited evidence exists regarding a group of nurses' physical activity patterns and association with resilience. Less is known about the physical activity health paradox in nurses (the positive health effects of leisure time physical activity vs the negative health effects of occupational physical activity). This study aimed to explore the profiles of intensive care nurses' physical activity behaviours and associations with resilience, following a developed study-specific job demands–recovery framework.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study was conducted with intensive care unit (ICU) nurses to explore their physical activity profiles and associations with resilience. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25 (CD-RISC 25) was used to assess resilience, and accelerometry was utilised to record participants' four-day activity (two workdays, two non-workdays). Hierarchical cluster analysis was employed to define groups of nurses by activity behaviours.
Findings
Participants (N = 93) were classified as low actives (n = 19), standers (n = 36), sitters (n = 31) and movers (n = 7). During two 12-h shifts, movers had the highest mean level of dynamic standing and the lowest mean level of sitting. During two non-workdays, movers had the highest mean level of walking as well as the lowest mean level of sitting and sleep time.
Originality/value
The uniqueness of this study was that it analysed ICU nurses' physical activity profiles and associations with resilience using identified clusters. However, the small number of participants limited this study's ability to determine significant relationships between resilience and the grouped physical activity profiles.
Details
Keywords
Yann Baup, Benedicte Vignal and Guillaume Bodet
Despite preventive efforts from some companies to offer some sport and physical activity (SPA) to their employees, French participation rates remain very low, which limit impacts…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite preventive efforts from some companies to offer some sport and physical activity (SPA) to their employees, French participation rates remain very low, which limit impacts in terms of health and economic benefits. The aim of this study was to better understand the factors influencing SPA participation in the workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study was conducted based on an electronic questionnaire survey disseminated to 24 companies based in France that offered SPA to their employees. An independent sample t-test was conducted to explore the differences between the most common facilitating and constraining factors, in relation to “being a sporty person” self-perception, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) level and demographic information. Predictors of SPA in the workplace were determined using a binomial logistic regression.
Findings
A total of 1,318 employees completed the survey, of which 60% were women, mostly highly educated and white collar. “Being a sporty person,” self-perception has been a predictor of SPA participation in the workplace.
Practical implications
More multicomponent work-based interventions, including incidental physical activity, might be necessary to increase participation and overcome time constraint.
Originality/value
Although SPA participation in the workplace is considered to promote numerous positive organizational and individual consequences, this is the first study to assess the associations between facilitating and constraining factors of SPA participation in the workplace setting and physical self-perception.
Details
Keywords
Sunaina Chetan Kuknor and Shubhasheesh Bhattacharya
This paper aims to investigate the relationship between inclusive leadership (IL) and organizational inclusion (OI) in literature and explores the contribution of IL and OI in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the relationship between inclusive leadership (IL) and organizational inclusion (OI) in literature and explores the contribution of IL and OI in human resources development (HRD).
Design/methodology/approach
The systematic literature review was undertaken from peer-reviewed journals. In total, 68 articles were critically analyzed to be included in the review highlighting the relationship between IL and OI.
Findings
The paper provides insights into leader behaviors that foster IL and how it differs from other styles of leadership. The paper also proposes a theoretical model to show the relationship between IL and OI.
Practical implications
The study will facilitate creating awareness in practitioners and academicians who think inclusion is mostly concerned with disabled learners, which is misleading. The paper will help the concerned stakeholders to formulate HRD practices to foster an inclusive culture at work.
Originality/value
The paper explores an area less researched and is among the few review papers investigating through the relationship between IL and OI and how they impact HRD practices in an organizational set-up.
Details
Keywords
From what was said in the previous article on this subject, it is obvious that a new profession has arisen in consequence of the passing of the Food and Drugs Acts, and of the…
Abstract
From what was said in the previous article on this subject, it is obvious that a new profession has arisen in consequence of the passing of the Food and Drugs Acts, and of the fact that their execution is now compulsory on all the local authorities legally concerned with the matter. This profession, under the fostering influence of certain scientific and academic bodies, now includes a considerable number of individuals who, in their general culture and education, as well as in their special scientific qualifications, are at least on a par with the members of the older so‐called “learned” professions. In the course of the early development of the analytical profession, as a body, the old Society of Public Analysts was a most potent influence for good, and did, and still does under another but unfortunate name, very excellent work in collecting and publishing any additions that are made to our scientific knowledge of matters connected with the analysis and adulteration of food by the scattered workers in this country and abroad.
In his mycological observations Browne isolated and studied the inverting power of torulae and two Monilia (named “nigra” and “fusca,” respectively). The presence of fungi such as…
Abstract
In his mycological observations Browne isolated and studied the inverting power of torulae and two Monilia (named “nigra” and “fusca,” respectively). The presence of fungi such as Penicillium was noted and their possible importance emphasized. Some interesting points were made with regard to sources of infection and consequent prevention of deterioration of raw cane sugars. These advances by Owen and Browne have apparently initiated the return of interest to the molds, and the recent work of Amons, Blake, the Kopeloffs, Church, and van der Bijl has dealt with some aspect of the activity of molds in sugar.