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Market Structure, ESG Performance and Corporate Efficiency: Insights from Brazilian Publicly Traded Companies
Get PDFYesUsing a sample of Brazilian listed companies during 2010-2019, the study investigates the endogeneity and the directional cause-effect relationship between firm efficiency, market structure and firms’ ESG performance under a Stochastic Structural Relationship Programming (SSRP) model. Also, comprehensive market structure indicators are used. The efficiency is estimated under a two-stage network Data Envelopment Analysis (NDEA) model. Our empirical evidence is threefold. First, our evidence indicates that firms with better environmental performance are more efficient, whereas lower ESG performance and poorer corporate governance practices are associated with a higher level of efficiency. Second, our findings suggest that market structure measures (i.e., competition and market power) have heterogeneous impacts on various ESG indexes. Specifically, higher market competition is associated with better overall ESG performance and environmental performance but worse corporate governance performance, although market power can only enhance the environmental and governance performance of firms. Third, the two market structure proxies employed in this study are significantly attributed to firm efficiency. Our findings provide practical implications for various stakeholders and suggest avenues for future studies that can build on our evidence
Investigation into the development of novel lanthanide-based luminescent colorants for application to textiles and paper materials
Get PDFYesThis article describes the synthesis and application of lanthanide-based luminophores for visualisation under short wavelength ultraviolet (UV) activation (typically 254 nm). Luminophores are chemical compounds which re-emit light of longer wavelength than typical fluorescence and phosphorescence, following photoexcitation, because of efficient energy transfer from the ligands to the lanthanide ion emission levels. The luminophores described in this article are all derived from europium and terbium metal complexes and cover the complete colour gamut. Selection of appropriate ligands allows for water solubility or water insolubility (if required pigment or disperse “dye” applications). Similar to dyeing or printing processes, the anionic complexes can be applied to polyamide fibres or to cellulosic fibres, whereas dispersions of the non-ionic complexes are suitable for polyester or cellulose acetate fibre application. The water-soluble derivatives are also suitable for ink-jet printing and the water-insoluble derivatives are suitable for lithographic or intaglio paper printing. The novel complexes are excited by radiation below 300 nm and thus cannot be activated by sunlight (the earth's atmosphere prevents light below about 300 nm reaching the surface). Accordingly, the photo-stability of the dyed materials and prints obtained is excellent. These materials could be used in security marking applications, for example bank-notes and passports, where they could replace the current fluorophores that are rendered visible under near UV light (typically 365 nm) illumination but exhibit relatively poor photo-stability. The development of an RGB (red, green and blue) colour palette for inkjet printing based on these innovative luminophores will significantly support the design of digitally printed security features.The research was part funded by Inovink Ltd and theWorshipful Company of Clothworkers of the City of London
Achieving Food Supply Chain Resilience during Natural Disasters through Industry 5.0 enablers - Empirical insights based on an FsQCA approach
Get PDFYesThe purpose of this research is to establish the necessary and sufficient conditions for food safety and security during pandemic outbreaks, focusing on the case of COVID-19 to ensure resilience of the food supply chain. The study emphasises on the complexity theory of fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), to establish a result-driven definition of Industry 5.0 (I5.0) during and post pandemics. The results of this study revealed that a combination of conditions derived from pandemic policy related reforms and I5.0 enablers will assist manufacturers and suppliers in establishing food safety and security during and post the COVID-19 era in a developing economy. Food safety and security being the goal, based on a survey of 140 food companies, this study provides insights to manufacturers and policymakers to enable selective implementation of I5.0 enabling technologies and pandemic policies
Developing a simple risk metric for the effect of sport-related concussion and physical pain on mental health
Get PDFYesRisk factors associated with depression in athletes include biological sex, physical pain, and history of sport-related concussion (SRC). Due to the well-documented benefits of sport and physical activity on mental health, athletes and non-athletes were recruited to assess any differences. Beyond this, athletes were also grouped by sport-type (contact/non-contact sports) due to the increased prevalence of pain and SRC in contact sports. To our knowledge, there has been no research on how these factors influence the likelihood of depression. In the current study, 144 participants completed a short survey on the above factors and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Sixty-two of these reported a history of concussion. Logistic regression revealed all the above predictors to be significantly associated with the depression scale. Individuals that had previously sustained SRC, were experiencing greater physical pain and females were more likely to display poor mental health. However, we provide further evidence for the benefits of engaging in sport and physical activity as those that took part in sport were less likely to report depression. Therefore, this study provides a simple risk metric whereby sportspeople can make a better informed choice of their sporting participation, making their own cost/reward judgement
Challenges in using a Mixed-Method approach to explore the relationship between big data analytics capabilities and market performance
No full textNoThis case study is based on a research study that examined the relationship between big data analytics capability and market performance. The study investigated the intervening role of disruptive business models and the contingency role of competitive intensity on the relationship between big data analytics capability and market performance using both qualitative and quantitative methods. This case-study will focus on the qualitative and quantitative methods utilised including NVivo and IBM SPSS to conduct qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis. You will learn the factors to consider when conducting a mixed-methods study and develop the ability to apply similar analytical techniques to your research context
Eccentric compression behavior of Steel-FRP composite bars RC columns under coupling action of chloride corrosion and load
No full textNoIn order to investigate the eccentric compression behaviors of steel-FRP composite bar (SFCB) reinforced concrete (RC) columns subjected to chloride corrosion, the mechanical experiments of chloride corroded SFCBs and SFCBs RC eccentric compression columns were conducted. The effect of reinforcement type and ratio, eccentricity, slenderness, stress level and corrosion duration on bearing capacity, deformation, crack and failure pattern were investigated. The results showed that the strength retention ratio of reinforcement decreases with the increase of corrosion duration, the ultimate strengths of steel rebar, SFCB and FRP rebar decreased by 12.2%, 9.9% and 3.6%, respectively, when compared with those of uncorroded counterparts. With the increase of steel content of reinforcement, the load bearing capacity of eccentric compression RC column increases while the deformation decreases gradually. The load bearing capacity of corroded steel, SFCB and FRP RC columns maximally decreased by 16.6%, 12.4% and 7.2%, respectively, when compared with those of uncorroded counterparts. Based on the simplified materials constitutive relations and reasonable basic assumptions, formulae for discriminate failure mode, moment magnification factor and bearing capacity were developed. The predicted failure pattern, moment magnification factor and bearing capacity are in good agreement with the test results, confirming the validity of the proposed formulae, the results can be used as a reference for engineering application.High-End Foreign Experts Project of Ministry of Science and Technology, China (G2022014054L), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (BK20201436), the Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Construction System (2018ZD047, 2021ZD06), the Science and Technology Project of Gansu Construction System (JK2021-19), the Opening Foundation of Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of PrefabricatedBuilding and Intelligent Construction (2021), the Science and Technology Cooperation Fund Project of Yangzhou City and Yangzhou University (YZ2022194, YZU212105), the Science and Technology Project of Yangzhou Construction System (2022ZD03, 202204), the Nantong Jianghai (226) talents project, the Blue Project Youth Academic Leader of Colleges and Universities in Jiangsu Province (2020)
Dyadic perspectives on loneliness and social isolation among people with dementia and spousal carers: findings from the IDEAL programme
Get PDFYesThis study aims to investigate the impact of self and partner experiences of loneliness and social isolation on life satisfaction in people with dementia and their spousal carers.
We used data from 1042 dementia caregiving dyads in the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) programme cohort. Loneliness was measured using the six-item De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale and social isolation using the six-item Lubben Social Network Scale. Data were analysed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model framework.
Self-rated loneliness was associated with poorer life satisfaction for both people with dementia and carers. The initial partner effects observed between the loneliness of the carer and the life satisfaction of the person with dementia and between social isolation reported by the person with dementia and life satisfaction of the carer were reduced to nonsignificance once the quality of the relationship between them was considered.
Experiencing greater loneliness and social isolation is linked with reduced life satisfaction for people with dementia and carers. However, having a positive view of the quality of the relationship between them reduced the impact of loneliness and social isolation on life satisfaction. Findings suggest the need to consider the experiences of both the person with dementia and the carer when investigating the impact of loneliness and social isolation. Individual interventions to mitigate loneliness or isolation may enhance life satisfaction for both partners and not simply the intervention recipient.‘Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life: living well with dementia. The IDEAL study’ was funded jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through grant ES/L001853/2. ‘Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life: a longitudinal perspective on living well with dementia. The IDEAL-2 study’ is funded by Alzheimer’s Society, grant number 348, AS-PR2-16- 001
Methods and approaches to facilitate inclusion of the views, perspectives and preferences of people with moderate-to-severe dementia in research: a mixed-methods systematic review
Get PDFYesThe perspectives of people with moderate-to-severe dementia are rarely directly elicited in research studies.
Objectives: This systematic review will explore methods and approaches for including the perspectives and preferences of people with moderate-to-severe dementia in research.
Methods: AgeLine, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Social Policy and Practice and Web of Science were searched until June 16 2022. Study quality was assessed using the 16-item Quality Assessment Tool. We described specific communication tools, reviewed the evidence for their effectiveness and considered their strengths and limitations. We examined the more general communication skills and techniques applied to support the use of these tools using thematic synthesis. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO CRD42019130386 and the review was conducted and reported according to PRISMA guidelines.
Results: Seven studies reported in 11 publications were included. In these studies five specific communication tools were used: Talking Mats, Augmentative and Alternative Communication Flexiboard, generic photographs in combination with a preference placement board, consultation ballot and personalised communication prescriptions. Each tool identified had advantages and disadvantages depending on dementia severity, verbal or physical ability, expense, researcher training requirements and ease of use. Thematic synthesis identified five general approaches to optimising communication that were employed to support use of the tools: ensuring conversations are individual and person-centred, managing external influences, engaging others, creating structure and facilitation skills.
Conclusion: All tools had some utility and there was no clear evidence to support the recommendation of any one specific tool; therefore, researchers are advised to select the tool most appropriate to their context.
Implications for Practice: The findings offer general guidance for researchers and practitioners on how to facilitate communication with people with moderate-to-severe dementia.Alzheimer's Society. Grant Number: AS-PR2-16-001. National Institute for Health and Care Research. Grant Number: ES/L001853/2. UK Research and Innovation. Grant Number: ES/L001853/
How do weather risks in Canada and the United States affect global commodity prices? Implications for the decarbonisation process
Get PDFYesGiven that the probability of extreme weather has been dramatically increasing, this study contributes to the existing literature by bridging the relation between weather risks and global commodity prices with a secondary dataset (e.g., weather risks of Canada and the United States, agricultural raw materials price, gold price, and crude oil price). The results from the vector autoregression model and impulse response functions show that rising weather risks increase the price of agricultural raw materials and gold. However, the negative impact of weather risks on the crude oil price is found. Finally, the paper discusses the findings' potential implications (e.g., developing decarbonised supply chains) for decreasing weather risks' effects on commodity market uncertainties