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Identifying the metaverse value recipe(s) affecting customer engagement and well-being in retailing
Get PDFFollowing the increasing interest of retailers in engaging with their consumers using digital channels and platforms, this study uses affordance theory and Leroi-Werelds\u27 value typologies as a theoretical lens to identify recipes (i.e., combinations) of positive and negative affordances that facilitate or impede their interactions with the metaverse in the retail context. More specifically, the study aims to unveil the complex interplay between different value dimensions influencing customer engagement in the metaverse and their impact on customers\u27 well-being. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was used to analyse data from Australian consumers. This research deviates from earlier studies that have focused on the identification of positive drivers of customer engagement, considering instead the trade-offs between positive and negative factors and investigating their impact on customer engagement and subjective well-being in a technology-centric context. The study reveals numerous pertinent ‘value recipes’ that contribute to our existing knowledge regarding the factors that affect customer engagement and subjective well-being in the metaverse. The theoretical contribution of this study lies in the development of several affordance combinations that can explain engagement and well-being in customer-metaverse interactions. From a practical standpoint, the findings suggest guidelines for successfully infusing the metaverse into the retail landscape
Preharvest methyl jasmonate application delays cell wall degradation and upregulates phenolic metabolism and antioxidant activities in cold stored raspberries
Get PDFThe effects of preharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA) spray application on the physicochemical quality, metabolism of phenolics, and cell wall components in raspberries were investigated during a 10-day cold storage period. MeJA spray reduced firmness loss, decay incidence, and weight loss, while maintained higher levels of soluble solids content, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and flavonoids in raspberries. Furthermore, MeJA application resulted in increased total pectin and protopectin levels, as well as lowered water-soluble pectin, and activities of pectin methyl esterase, polygalacturonase and cellulase enzymes. Additionally, MeJA treatment upregulated the phenylpropanoid pathway, leading to higher endogenous phenolics and activities of phenylalanine-ammonia lyase and shikimate dehydrogenase. In conclusion, preharvest MeJA spray application could be adopted to enhance the storage potential of cold-stored raspberries for 10 days by maintaining higher firmness, assuring better physicochemical quality, and increasing phenolic metabolism, while reducing cell wall hydrolysis
Through the looking glass; midwifery students\u27 experience of ethical issues: A feminist explanatory case study
Get PDFBackground: The ethical component in midwifery education is governed by international professional values, codes, and ethical principles. The aim of midwifery education is to encourage students to develop a lifelong commitment to ethical practice within their midwifery role and scope. However, little evidence is available on the experiences of midwifery students and how they navigate ethical issues in maternity systems. Aim: To present a case study from a midwifery students\u27 perspective that demonstrates observed ethical issues and to provide analysis of the ethical issues identified. Design: A Single explanatory case study design with a feminist lens applied. Explanatory case studies present the ‘how and why’ of a phenomenon and contributes to understanding phenomena in a holistic and real-life context. Setting: This project was set at a West Australian university from which pre-registration midwifery courses are delivered. Participants: A solitary case study is presented from a midwifery students\u27 clinical placement. Methods: Ethics were approved 2023-04805. Edith Cowan University HREC. The source of data for this case study was direct observation by the primary author (Priya, 2021) and the Joanna Briggs Methods for Case study reporting guide followed. Thematic analysis with a feminist lens was applied to the data. Results: Three themes were generated ‘Through the looking glass; observing ethical issues’; ‘Whose body Is It? The Erosion of Maternal Consent’ and ‘Relational care versus defensive practice’. These themes explain the antecedents and consequences of the ethical issues identified by the midwifery student, the findings are supported by ethical theory and midwifery philosophy to highlight some of the underlying causes that contribute to ethical issues. Conclusion: Midwifery students experience ethical distress when they observe ethical issues and are powerless to support birth people in a way that aligns with midwifery philosophy of relational, woman-centred care. Further research is required to better understand how midwifery students may be better supported to foster ethical care
Coming of age with, in and on social media: A critique of how politicians are responding to children’s social media engagement
No full textWorld-first laws to ban social media for children under 16 passed in Australia in late November, 2024, and so we celebrate the 18th birthday of the Journal of Children and Media (JOCAM) at an important juncture. Facebook opened its membership to anyone (ostensibly) over the age of 13 in 2006, at about the same time as JOCAM was founded, but the ramifications for children and families were not yet envisaged
Septo-optic dysplasia and gastroschisis: Trends in birth prevalence and association with maternal age
Get PDFThis study aims to describe the risk factors and trends in birth prevalence of septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) and gastroschisis between 1980 and 2023. This descriptive, population-based study of SOD and gastroschisis used Western Australian Register of Developmental Anomalies data from 1980 to 2023. Birth prevalence was calculated using Midwives Notification System data for all births after 20 weeks gestation. Relative risk (RR) for SOD and gastroschisis showed risk by maternal age. SOD and gastroschisis occurred in 99 and 391 cases respectively (no dual diagnoses), with a birth prevalence of 1.41 and 3.71 per 10,000 respectively (from 2010 to 2019), and have been stable since 2010. For the study period, younger maternal age (under 25 years old) increased the risk of SOD and gastroschisis (RR, 3.28 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.13–5.00]; RR, 4.50 [95% CI 3.68–5.49] respectively). From 2010 to 2023, median maternal age increased for SOD and gastroschisis by 4.8 years (p = 0.044) to 27.0 and by 2.8 years (p \u3c 0.001) to 25.5, respectively. Mothers living in areas of greater socioeconomic disadvantage had higher risk (RR, 1.81 [95% CI 1.14–2.88] in SOD and RR, 1.41 [95% CI 1.06–1.86] in gastroschisis), independent of maternal age. Premature birth was more common in children with SOD and gastroschisis. Conclusion: While younger mothers are more likely to have a child with either SOD or gastroschisis, maternal age at birth is higher than reported in the literature and is rising. This is probably attributable to the rising age of mothers at delivery, and further research into risk factors beyond maternal age is recommended. (Table presented.
The effect of oral colchicine and vitamin K1 on bone metabolism in patients with diabetes mellitus: A post-hoc analysis of a 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial with \u3csup\u3e18\u3c/sup\u3eF-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography
Get PDFPurpose: Diabetes mellitus (DM) confers an increased risk of fracture. Fracture risk stratification techniques are imperfect, and preventative therapies are sparse. We aimed to describe features associated with a dysfunctional bone metabolism determined by 18F-Sodium Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography (18F-NaF PET) in patients with DM and test the effects of vitamin K1 and colchicine therapy on vertebral 18F-NaF activity. Methods: This is a post-hoc analysis of a 2 × 2 factorial randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Participants aged 50–80 with DM underwent 18F-NaF PET/CT imaging at baseline, 3 months of therapy with vitamin K1 (10mg/daily) or placebo, and colchicine (0.5 mg/day) or placebo and repeat 18F-NaF PET/CT. The 18F-NaF vertebral mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) and the CT estimated bone mineral density (BMD) (in Hounsfield units) was evaluated from thoracic vertebra. Results: In total, 149 individuals (66.4 % male, mean age 65.5 ± 6.8 years) were included. Male sex (β −1.421, 95 % CI [−1.826, −1.016], p \u3c 0.001), duration of DM in years (−0.021 [−0.039, −0.002], p = 0.030) and CT estimated vertebral BMD (0.011 [0.006, 0.015], p \u3c 0.001) were independently associated with the SUVmean. The change in the SUVmean was similar between vitamin K1 or placebo groups (−0.07 ± 0.64 v 0.07 ± 0.69, p = 0.20). Participants receiving colchicine therapy had a greater reduction in the SUVmean, compared with placebo (−0.12 ± 0.72 v 0.11 ± 0.60, p = 0.039). Conclusion: 18F-NaF PET may be a useful measure of vertebral bone metabolism in people with DM. Three months of oral colchicine reduced the 18F-NaF vertebral SUVmean, whereas Vitamin K1 had no effect. The findings should be considered hypothesis generating. Trial Registration: www.anzctr.org.au (ACTRN12616000024448)
Where’s my tweed jacket with leather elbow patches? The challenges of aging gracefully in higher education
Get PDFThis paper presents an examination of one veteran academics’ experience in higher education. Via an autoethnographic reflection of a two-decade career, the work-related situations that impact on job enjoyment and challenge motivation to bring enthusiasm year-after-year are discussed. Veteran academics have seen higher education transform dramatically during their tenure and the pressure points that impact on wellbeing are discussed and aligned to contemporary research. In response to the challenges associated with aging in higher education, this paper examines how veteran academics need to prioritize self-care and explores ways that universities can maximize the accumulated knowledge and pedagogical skillset of these individuals toward the end of their careers
Iron deficiency in young Australian children: A hidden health crisis demanding urgent action
No full textFactors influencing the adoption of artificial intelligence systems: A systematic literature review
Get PDFPurpose: Despite the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to increase revenue, reduce costs and enhance performance, their adoption by organisations has fallen short of expectations, leading to unsuccessful implementations. This paper aims to identify and elucidate the factors influencing AI adoption at both the organisational and individual levels. Developing a conceptual model, it contributes to understanding the underlying individual, social, technological, organisational and environmental factors and guides future research in this area. Design/methodology/approach: The authors have conducted a systematic literature review to synthesise the literature on the determinants of AI adoption. In total, 90 papers published in the field of AI adoption in the organisational context were reviewed to identify a set of factors influencing AI adoption. Findings: This study categorised the factors influencing AI system adoption into individual, social, organisational, environmental and technological factors. Firm-level factors were found to impact employee behaviour towards AI systems. Further research is needed to understand the effects of these factors on employee perceptions, emotions and behaviours towards new AI systems. These findings led to the proposal of a theory-based model illustrating the relationships between these factors, challenging the assumption of independence between adoption influencers at both the firm and employee levels. Originality/value: This study is one of the first to synthesise current knowledge on determinants of AI adoption, serving as a theoretical foundation for further research in this emerging field. The adoption model developed integrates key factors from both the firm and individual levels, offering a holistic view of the interconnectedness of various AI adoption factors. This approach challenges the assumption that factors at the firm and individual levels operate independently. Through this study, information systems researchers and practitioners gain a deeper understanding of AI adoption, enhancing their insight into its potential impacts