scholarly journals Able but not willing? Exploring divides in digital versus physical payment use in China

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley D. Lloyd ◽  
Mario Antonioletti ◽  
Terence M. Sloan
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
National Study ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Demographics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – China is the world’s largest user market for digital technologies and experiencing unprecedented rates of rural-urban migration set to create the world’s first “urban billion”. This is an important context for studying nuanced adoption behaviours that define a digital divide. Large-scale studies are required to determine what behaviours exist in such populations, but can offer limited ability to draw inferences about why. The purpose of this paper is to report a large-scale study inside China that probes a nuanced “digital divide” behaviour: consumer demographics indicating ability to pay by electronic means but behaviour suggesting lack of willingness to do so, and extends current demographics to help explain this. Design/methodology/approach – The authors report trans-national access to commercial “Big Data” inside China capturing the demographics and consumption of millions of consumers across a wide range of physical and digital market channels. Focusing on one urban location we combine traditional demographics with a new measure that reflecting migration: “Distance from Home”, and use data-mining techniques to develop a model that predicts use behaviour. Findings – Use behaviour is predictable. Most use is explained by value of the transaction. “Distance from Home” is more predictive of technology use than traditional demographics. Research limitations/implications – Results suggest traditional demographics are insufficient to explain “why” use/non-use occurs and hence an insufficient basis to formulate and target government policy. Originality/value – The authors understand this to be the first large-scale trans-national study of use/non-use of digital channels within China, and the first study of the impact of distance on ICT adoption.

scholarly journals Assessing the drivers of the regional digital divide and their impact on eGovernment services: evidence from a South American country

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Pazmiño-Sarango ◽  
Mijail Naranjo-Zolotov ◽  
Frederico Cruz-Jesus
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Measurement Scale ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Digital Development

PurposeThe paper explores the main drivers of the regional-level digital divide in Ecuadorian cities and the extent to which the information and communication technology (ICT) adoption by citizens influences local-level policymakers' decisions to develop eGovernment services.Design/methodology/approachThe paper used an exploratory approach. The authors empirically assessed the provision of eGovernment services in each of the 36 Ecuadorian local governments following the Local Online Service Index (LOSI) measurement scale proposed by the United Nations, and then evaluated the drivers of the eGovernment divide at a local level. Ordinary least squares regression analysis was used.FindingsThe findings indicate that the digital divide is driven by income and education disparities, and that eGovernment availability is driven by ICT use. It appears that proper attention to technology use by its citizens is not being given by local-level policymakers in Ecuador when they devise their eGovernment strategy.Research limitations/implicationsBecause the data were available at different levels of aggregation, there may be some inaccuracy of the indicators and lack of generalizability. Researchers are encouraged to test this hypotheses with data at lower levels of aggregation and from different latitudes to provide a comparative view between countries.Practical implicationsThe paper includes implications for policymakers and local authorities regarding how the limitations on eGovernment development may be mitigated.Originality/valueThis study fulfils the need to assess digital development and its impact on eGovernment services at a city level in a developing country.

Fracking for shale gas in the UK: property and investment issues

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 505-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Jones ◽  
Daphne Comfort ◽  
David Hillier
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Property Values ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Large-scale shale gas reserves have recently been identified under many parts of the UK. Development pressure for detailed exploration and possibly the exploitation of these reserves by hydraulic fracturing, popularly described as fracking is growing rapidly and seems to have UK Government support. With this in mind the purpose of this paper is to offer a general review of the possible development of shale gas reserves by fracking within the UK and to explore a number of the property and investment issues associated with such development. Design/methodology/approach – The briefing note begins with an outline of the characteristics of shale oil and the fracking process and of the initial developments within the UK and discusses some of the property and investment issues associated with such developments. The note is based upon information drawn from the internet sources, principally national and local governments, property, financial and environmental organisations and on visits to a small number of sites of exploratory fracking. Findings – The paper identifies a wide range of potential environmental impacts associated with the development of shale gas reserves by fracking and reveals growing awareness in the UK that such development could have a major impact on property values, on the availability of mortgages and on property insurance. At the same time the paper also suggests that financial institutions are increasingly taking steps to minimise risks to their investments and reputation from potential environmental impacts. Practical implications – The paper suggests a number of issues property managers and consultants will need to address in monitoring the impact of shale gas development by fracking on property values and it offers some guidelines to investment managers. Originality/value – This paper provides an accessible review of the development of shale gas resources by fracking within the UK and as such it will be of value to a range of property and investment management professionals and to students pursuing property and investment courses.

scholarly journals Potentiating Effect of Mandelate and Lactate on Chemically Induced Germination in Members of Bacillus cereus Sensu Lato

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alistair H. Bishop
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Cereus ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Clostridium Sporogenes ◽  
Specific Chemical ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ph Range ◽  
Significant Discovery ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Endospores of the genus Bacillus can be triggered to germinate by a limited number of chemicals. Mandelate had powerful additive effects on the levels and rates of germination produced in non-heat-shocked spores of Bacillus anthracis strain Sterne, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus thuringiensis when combined with l-alanine and inosine. Mandelate had no germinant effect on its own but was active with these germinants in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations higher than 0.5 mM. The maximum rate and extent of germination were produced in B. anthracis by 100 mM l-alanine with 10 mM inosine; this was equaled by just 25% of these germinants when supplemented with 10 mM mandelate. Half the maximal germination rate was produced by 40% of the optimum germinant concentrations or 15% of them when supplemented with 0.8 mM mandelate. Germination rates in B. thuringiensis were highest around neutrality, but the potentiating effect of mandelate was maintained over a wider pH range than was germination with l-alanine and inosine alone. For all species, lactate also promoted germination in the presence of l-alanine and inosine; this was further increased by mandelate. Ammonium ions also enhanced l-alanine- and inosine-induced germination but only when mandelate was present. In spite of the structural similarities, mandelate did not compete with phenylalanine as a germinant. Mandelate appeared to bind to spores while enhancing germination. There was no effect when mandelate was used in conjunction with nonnutrient germinants. No effect was produced with spores of Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium sporogenes, or C. difficile. IMPORTANCE The number of chemicals that can induce germination in the species related to Bacillus cereus has been defined for many years, and they conform to specific chemical types. Although not a germinant itself, mandelate has a structure that is different from these germination-active compounds, and its addition to this list represents a significant discovery in the fundamental biology of spore germination. This novel activity may also have important applied relevance given the impact of spores of B. cereus in foodborne disease and B. anthracis as a threat agent. The destruction of spores of B. anthracis, for example, particularly over large outdoor areas, poses significant scientific and logistical problems. The addition of mandelate and lactate to the established mixtures of l-alanine and inosine would decrease the amount of the established germinants required and increase the speed and level of germination achieved. The large-scale application of “germinate to decontaminate” strategy may thus become more practicable.

Analytical redefinition of DOL and managerial investment decisions

2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 734-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoram Kroll ◽  
David Yechiam Aharon
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Production Level ◽  
Fixed Cost ◽  
Theoretical Formulation ◽  
Optimal Production ◽  
Demand Shocks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Operating Leverage ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop alternative analytical measures for the degree of operating leverage (DOL) that reflect the impact of uncertain demand shocks in the product's market on optimal production levels, sales and profits of the firm. Design/methodology/approach – The elasticity measures are constructed according to a theoretical formulation of optimal production level that corresponds to demand shocks for given predetermined levels of fixed cost. Findings – The paper suggests two main findings. First, the analytical marginal DOL is at least twice the traditional DOL depending on the structure of the shock, the production function and demand's elasticity. The traditional DOL is equal to the measure only when large-scale negative demand prompts the firm to abandon production. Second, the paper also provides an analytical measure of DOL in terms of elasticity of profit to sales rather than to production level. Both theoretically and empirically elasticity of profit to sales can be better measured and better reflects risk. Research limitations/implications – This paper should be extended to encompass multiple shocks on demand and supply while investigating the empirical multi variants distribution of the shocks. Practical implications – The model can be used by managers who are well informed about the fixed and variable costs of their firm. The model determines the mean profit- risk trade off which is an important factor in all investment decision problems. Originality/value – Surprisingly and according to the best knowledge, this paper is the first attempt in the literature for alternative analytical DOLs’ formulations that is coherent with basic economic theories of optimal production level under risk.

Application of eco-friendly natural dye obtained from Spathodea campanulata on silk using combination of mordants

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kumaresan
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Potassium Dichromate ◽  
Ferrous Sulphate ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Natural Dye ◽  
Alkaline Media ◽  
Silk Fabric ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
New Research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extract the eco-friendly natural dye obtained from the flower of Spathodea campanulata and apply on silk fabric using combination of mordants. The fastness properties of the flower of Spathodea campanulata dyed silk fabric have been studied using different combination (1:3, 1:1 and 3:1) of various mordants, such as myrobolan: nickel sulphate, myrobolan: aluminium sulphate, myrobolan: potassium dichromate, myrobolan: ferrous sulphate and myrobolan: stannous chloride. The wash, rub, light and perspiration fastness of the dyed samples have been evaluated. Design/methodology/approach – For dyeing there are three methods are used. They are Pre mordanting, Simultaneous mordanting and Post mordanting methods. Dyed silk materials are tested by using wash fastness, rub fastness, light and perspiration fastness methods. Findings – It is found that Spathodea campanulata dye can be successfully used for the dyeing of silk to obtain a wide range colours by using various combinations of mordants. With regards to colour fastness, test samples exhibit excellent fastness to washing, rubbing, except for pre-mordanting using myrobolan: potassium dichromate combination; and good to excellent fastness to perspiration in both acidic and alkaline media. Originality/value – Availability of literature related to this work is not available. The study of combination of mordants of this natural dye on silk is a new research work and the large scale preparation is definitely very useful to the society.

scholarly journals Evaluating undergraduate research conferences as vehicles for novice researcher development

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Kneale ◽  
Andrew Edwards-Jones ◽  
Helen Walkington ◽  
Jennifer Hill
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Conference ◽  
Researcher Development ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to focus on the undergraduate research conference as its sphere of study and investigate the impact of significance of participation and socialisation in such activities on student attitudes and professional development. Using situated learning to theoretically position the undergraduate research conference as an authentic learning context, connection is also made with the concept of graduate attributes. Design/methodology/approach The Vitae (2014) Researcher Development Framework (RDF) is used to provide a template for charting the experiences and development of undergraduate students as researchers. This can be applied to short-term activities and programmes and to long-term career plans. The insights from 90 undergraduate students participating in three national undergraduate research conferences were obtained through interviews, and thematically analysed to map the students’ skills development against the RDF criteria. Findings Three main aspects of undergraduate research conference participation were considered particularly important by the students: the value of paper presentations, the value of poster presentations and the value of the overall conference experience. Within these themes, participants identified a wide range of skills and attributes they felt they had developed as a result of either preparing for or participating in the conferences. The majority of these skills and attributes could be mapped against the different domains of the RDF, using a public engagement lens for comparing actual with expected developmental areas. Research limitations/implications This research helps undergraduate research conference organisers construct programme content and form it in such a way that students’ skill development can be maximised prior to, and during, the course of an event. Learning developers can also use these findings to help understand the support needs of students preparing to deliver papers at such conferences. So far, little empirical research has examined students’ skills development within the undergraduate research conference arena. Originality/value The outcomes of this study show the diversity of the skills that students developed and the value of the conference format for offering networking practice and enhancing the communication skills which employers value.

scholarly journals In VivoEfficacy of Anuran Trypsin Inhibitory Peptides against Staphylococcal Skin Infection and the Impact of Peptide Cyclization

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 2113-2121 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Malik ◽  
O. N. Silva ◽  
I. C. M. Fensterseifer ◽  
L. Y. Chan ◽  
R. J. Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Cyclic Peptide ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Inhibitory Activities ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTStaphylococcus aureusis a virulent pathogen that is responsible for a wide range of superficial and invasive infections. Its resistance to existing antimicrobial drugs is a global problem, and the development of novel antimicrobial agents is crucial. Antimicrobial peptides from natural resources offer potential as new treatments against staphylococcal infections. In the current study, we have examined the antimicrobial properties of peptides isolated from anuran skin secretions and cyclized synthetic analogues of these peptides. The structures of the peptides were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, revealing high structural and sequence similarity with each other and with sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFTI-1). SFTI-1 is an ultrastable cyclic peptide isolated from sunflower seeds that has subnanomolar trypsin inhibitory activity, and this scaffold offers pharmaceutically relevant characteristics. The five anuran peptides were nonhemolytic and noncytotoxic and had trypsin inhibitory activities similar to that of SFTI-1. They demonstrated weakin vitroinhibitory activities againstS. aureus, but several had strong antibacterial activities againstS. aureusin anin vivomurine wound infection model. pYR, an immunomodulatory peptide fromRana sevosa, was the most potent, with complete bacterial clearance at 3 mg · kg−1. Cyclization of the peptides improved their stability but was associated with a concomitant decrease in antimicrobial activity. In summary, these anuran peptides are promising as novel therapeutic agents for treating infections from a clinically resistant pathogen.

Buyer-assisted lean intervention in supplier firms: a supplier development approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imranul Hoque
Keyword(s):  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Capability Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Production Capability ◽  
Lean Tools ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how buyer-assisted lean intervention in garment supplier factories affects garment suppliers' productivity and production capability development.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a qualitative research approach and a lean intervention design, a multiple case study method was adopted for this study. Quantitative data on productivity performance and qualitative data on production capability development were collected from a Danish buyer and their four corresponding garment suppliers. Collected data were analysed using standard lean measurement tools and qualitative data analysis techniques.FindingsThis study demonstrates that buyer-assisted lean intervention is a useful strategy for garment suppliers to enhance their productivity and production capability. However, suppliers need to select the right lean tools, ensure seriousness and commitment to lean initiatives, substantial involvement of top management and workers, arrange formal and informal training, provide performance-based financial/non-financial incentives and nurture a learning culture to facilitate suppliers' production capability development.Research limitations/implicationsThis study implemented few lean tools in a single sewing line in four supplier factories for a short intervention duration. Thus, there is a scope for future studies to investigate the impact of the lean intervention on a large scale.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study might bring new insights to the management of buyer and supplier firms concerning how buyers could involve in suppliers' lean intervention initiatives and what suppliers need to ensure to develop production capability.Originality/valueFor the first time, this study engaged a buyer in suppliers' lean intervention initiatives to improve productivity and production capability in the garment industry of a developing country.

A logic model of the implementation of a regional workforce strategy in positive behavioural support

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Noone ◽  
Alison Branch ◽  
Melissa Sherring
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Logic Model ◽  
Competency Framework ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Behavioural Support ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose Positive behavioural support (PBS) as a framework for delivering quality services is recognised in important policy documents (CQC, 2020; NICE, 2018), yet there is an absence in the literature on how this could be implemented on a large scale. The purpose of this paper is to describe a recent implementation of a workforce strategy to develop PBS across social care and health staff and family carers, within the footprint of a large integrated care system. Design/methodology/approach A logic model describes how an initial scoping exercise led to the production of a regional workforce strategy based on the PBS Competence Framework (2015). It shows how the creation of a regional steering group was able to coordinate important developmental stages and integrate multiple agencies into a single strategy to implement teaching and education in PBS. It describes the number of people who received teaching and education in PBS and the regional impact of the project in promoting cultural change within services. Findings This paper demonstrates a proof of concept that it is possible to translate the PBS Competency Framework (2015) into accredited courses. Initial scoping work highlighted the ineffectiveness of traditional training in PBS. Using blended learning and competency-based supervision and assessment, it was possible to create a new way to promote large-scale service developments in PBS supported by the governance of a new organisational structure. This also included family training delivered by family trainers. This builds on the ideas by Denne et al. (2020) that many of the necessary building blocks of implementation already exist within a system. Social implications A co-ordinated teaching and education strategy in PBS may help a wide range of carers to become more effective in supporting the people they care for. Originality/value This is the first attempt to describe the implementation of a framework for PBS within a defined geographical location. It describes the collaboration of health and social care planners and a local university to create a suite of courses built around the PBS coalition competency framework.

Trust, efficacy and ethicacy when testing prisoners for COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Lambert ◽  
Dean Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Current System ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
Power Relationships ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Large Scale Testing ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus and subsequent COVID-19 illness has had a major impact on all levels of society internationally. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on prison staff and prisoners in England and Wales is unknown. Testing for COVID-19 both asymptomatic and symptomatic, as well as for antibodies, to date, has been minimal. The purpose of this paper is to explore the widespread testing of COVID-19 in prisons poses philosophical and ethical questions around trust, efficacy and ethicacy. Design/methodology/approach This paper is both descriptive, providing an overview of the widespread testing of COVID-19 in prisoners in England and Wales, and conceptual in that it discusses and argues the issues associated with large-scale testing. This paper provides a discussion, using comparative studies, of the issues associated with large-scale testing of prisoners across the prison estate in England and Wales (120 prisons). The issues identified in this paper are contextualised through the lens of COVID-19, but they are equally transferrable to epidemiological studies of any pandemic. Given the prevalence of COVID-19 globally and the lack of information about its spread in prisons, at the time of writing this paper, there is a programme of asymptomatic testing of prisoners. However, there remains a paucity of data on the spread of COVID-19 in prisons because of the progress with the ongoing testing programme. Findings The authors argue that the widespread testing of prisoners requires careful consideration of the details regarding who is included in testing, how consent is gained and how tests are administered. This paper outlines and argues the importance of considering the complex nuance of power relationships within the prison system, among prisoner officers, medical staff and prisoners and the detrimental consequences. Practical implications The widespread testing of COVID-19 presents ethical and practical challenges. Careful planning is required when considering the ethics of who should be included in COVID-19 testing, how consent will be gained, who and how tests will be administered and very practical challenges around the recording and assigning of COVID-19 test kits inside the prison. The current system for the general population requires scanning of barcodes and registration using a mobile number; these facilities are not permitted inside a prison. Originality/value This paper looks at the issues associated with mass testing of prisoners for COVID-19. According to the authors’ knowledge, there has not been any research that looks at the issues of testing either in the UK or internationally. The literature available details countries’ responses to the pandemic rather and scientific papers on the development of vaccines. Therefore, this paper is an original review of some of the practicalities that need to be addressed to ensure that testing can be as successful as possible.

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