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Unleashing innovation and impact : collection of teaching materials for entrepreneurial education and approaches and good practices for teaching “Entrepreneurship”
No full textHigher education has long been considered central to the development of the future professional workforce, economic planning and social policy. However, it is relatively recent that entrepreneurship has established legitimacy among university-based disciplines across the world and in Europe. The European Commission first referred to the importance of entrepreneurship education in the 2003 Green Paper on Entrepreneurship in Europe (Bacigalupo et al., 2016). This document outlined the importance of developing the entrepreneurial capacity of European citizens and organisations as a key objective. In 2006, the European Commission further identified ‘a sense of initiative and entrepreneurship’ as one of the eight pillar competencies necessary to develop a knowledge-based society. Moreover, there is a growing awareness that entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and attitudes can be learned and that, in turn, this may lead to the diffusion of entrepreneurial mindsets and culture, potentially benefiting both individuals and society at large (Bacigalupo et al., 2016). Empirical evidence supporting the assumption that skills relevant to successful entrepreneurship can be taught (Gorman et al., 1997; Solomon et al., 1994) goes back to the nineties, when entrepreneurship education was still in its infancy.peer-reviewe
What determines performance satisfaction in mountain ultra marathon runners? An exploration of coping, resilience, and mental toughness
Get PDFSubjective perceptions of performance form an integral part of an athlete’s ability to self-regulate behaviour during competitive events. In cases where an athlete perceives performance is not going as well as expected, they may apply additional coping strategies to get back on track. If coping strategies employed are perceived as being effective, post-race performance satisfaction will consequently increase. However, research findings hint that the relationship between coping effectiveness and performance satisfaction may be influenced by other higher-order psychological factors, such as mental toughness (MT) and resilience. The purpose of this study was to test new hypotheses regarding possible interactive effects that MT and resilience have upon coping effectiveness in predicting performance satisfaction. A sample of 47 mountain ultra-marathon runners completed one assessment of MT and two assessments of resilience before competing in the Madeira Island Ultra Trail (MIUT 115). Post-race, participants completed measures of coping effectiveness, coping frequency, and performance satisfaction. The results revealed that coping effectiveness had a positive and significant relationship with performance satisfaction under increasing levels of MT and resilience; no significant relationship emerged when MT and resilience were low. From a within-race perspective, coping frequency had a linear trend across time for those who were satisfied with their race performance, whereas a quadratic relationship was revealed for those who were less satisfied with their performance. A second purpose of the study was to briefly examine coping strategy effectiveness and performance satisfaction from a qualitative perspective. Applied implications are discussed.peer-reviewe
Demystifying AI for early AF detection : enhancing diagnostic transparency across modalities
Get PDFThis article explores using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect atrial fibrillation (AF) early, highlighting its potential to revolutionise cardiology. It reviews numerous studies demonstrating AI’s superior accuracy to traditional methods, particularly in leveraging electrocardiography data from various sources like smart devices and chest radiographs. A key concern addressed is the ‘black box’ nature of some AI algorithms, emphasising the critical need for transparency to build clinician confidence and ensure ethical patient care. It concludes by advocating for policy changes and further research to enhance AI algorithm transparency and integration into clinical practice.peer-reviewe
Generation Z and work efficiency : identifying barriers and factors limiting professional effectiveness
Get PDFPURPOSE: The aim of this article is to identify the most significant factors limiting
effectiveness and job satisfaction among representatives of Generation Z, as well as to
analyze the relationship between these difficulties and the broader context of young
employees’ functioning.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study employed a quantitative approach using an
online survey (CAWI) targeting individuals born between 1995 and 2012. The research
sample included 110 respondents. Additionally, a narrative literature review and correlation
analysis of the results were conducted. Four groups of factors were analyzed: physical
environment, social environment, task organization, and attitude and psychophysical
condition.FINDINGS: The most problematic factor identified was procrastination, strongly associated
with a lack of consistency in task execution. Other challenges included technological
distractions and low motivation to work. Among the four categories of factors,
psychophysical and attitudinal aspects posed the greatest challenges. Correlation analysis
also revealed a link between low efficiency and the absence of goals, poor quality of breaks,
and disorganized workspace. Factors such as sleep duration, commuting, or social
disturbances showed no significant relationship with efficiency.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings suggest the need for a personalized approach to
managing young employees, taking into account their motivation, work organization, and
mental condition. Adjusting the work environment and leadership styles may enhance this
group’s professional effectiveness and engagement.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study fills a knowledge gap regarding internal limitations affecting
Generation Z in the workplace. It highlights that not only external factors but also attitudes
and psychophysical condition play a key role in determining effectiveness. The approach
used enables practical application of the results in HR and management fields.peer-reviewe
Behavioral economics and consumer behavior : "understanding the mind of the modern consumer"
No full textThis book, "Behavioral Economics and Consumer Behavior: Understanding the Mind of the Modern Consumer," provides a comprehensive exploration of how behavioral economics sheds light on real-world consumer choices. It delves into the interdisciplinary nature of the field, integrating insights from economics, psychology, sociology, neuroscience, information theory, and machine learning to understand human decision-making.
The book challenges the traditional economic assumption of the "rational agent," proposing instead that consumers are influenced by cognitive biases, emotions, and social factors, leading to "predictably irrational" behavior. It traces the historical foundations of behavioral economics, acknowledging pioneers like Adam Smith, and detailing the groundbreaking work of Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky on Prospect Theory, as well as Richard Thaler's contributions to Nudge Theory.
Core concepts such as prospect theory, various cognitive biases (e.g., anchoring, loss aversion, present bias, sunk cost fallacy, mental accounting), and heuristics (e.g., satisficing, availability heuristic) are thoroughly explained. The text also examines traditional models of consumer behavior and analyzes internal psychological, external sociocultural, and situational influences on consumer choices.
Furthermore, the book explores the practical applications of behavioral economics in marketing strategy, including behavioral pricing, promotional offers leveraging scarcity and social proof, personalization, gamification, and emotion-based marketing. It extends its scope to public policy and product design, demonstrating how nudges can guide decisions for societal benefit and how behavioral insights optimize user experiences. The book concludes by addressing future directions, including the role of AI and big data, and critically examines the ethical implications of behavioral interventions.peer-reviewe
Vehicle ramming as a form of terrorist attack threatening public safety
Get PDFPURPOSE: This article examines terrorism on a global scale, focusing on the challenges of
defining the phenomenon and the increasing threat posed by vehicle ramming attacks. The
purpose of the study is to explore how vehicle ramming impacts public safety and to identify
effective safeguards against such tactics.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Employing a mixed-method approach, the research
combines quantitative analysis of terrorist attack data from 1970 to 2019 with qualitative
assessments of definitional issues and the operational characteristics of vehicle ramming.
Methodologies include analogical reasoning, cause-and-effect analysis, and both de-ductive
and inductive approaches to synthesize insights from a variety of sources.FINDINGS: The findings indicate that despite numerous attempts by international institutions
and scholars to establish a universal definition of terrorism, significant ambiguities remain.
Furthermore, the analysis reveals a marked increase in both the frequency and lethality of
vehicle ramming attacks, with particularly severe incidents observed in Europe during 2016–
2017, thereby supporting the hypothesis that these attacks are effective due to their low
preparation requirements and minimal risk of detection.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: In practical terms, the study underscores the urgent need for
enhanced urban security measures, such as physical barriers and improved surveillance
systems, to mitigate the threat to public spaces.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The originality of this research lies in its focus on vehicle ramming as a
distinct and emergent terrorist tactic, providing novel insights that bridge gaps in existing
literature on terrorism and public safety.peer-reviewe
Incidence and survival of neuroendocrine neoplasia in the Maltese islands - a population-based study
Get PDFIntroduction:
The global incidence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) is increasing
worldwide, however most studies are based on cancer-registry data, with
different data collection methods, making it difficult for cross-country
comparisons. Our study aims to analyze the incidence and survival of NENs in
a well-defined population of the Maltese islands based on histological and
radiological data.Methods:
A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed histologically or radiologically
with NEN at Mater Dei Hospital, the only central national service hospital in
Malta, between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2020, was performed.
Detailed clinical, histopathological and radiological data was obtained. Patients
were followed up till 31st December 2024 or death, whichever came first. Ageand
sex-adjusted standardized incidence rates (SIRs), prevalence and mortality
rates were calculated.peer-reviewe
Non-anthropocentric posthumanism and the stakes of relationality
Get PDFThis paper examines the ontological underpinnings of non-anthropocentric posthumanism through an analysis of the work of Jane Bennett and Rosi Braidotti. I argue that their commitment to relational holism tacitly undermines their stated commitment to individuals by subordinating them to their relations. Drawing on Graham Harman’s Object-Oriented Ontology and Jacques Derrida’s commitment to a “Leibnizianism without God,” I propose a model of “non-relationist relationality” that preserves the radical alterity and individuality of entities while enabling contingent interactions.peer-reviewe
Unsettling generic borders : the merveilleux, the fantastic and the Gothic in George Sand’s L’Homme de neige
Get PDFThe title of George Sand’s 1858 novel, L’Homme de neige, was the author’s third and final choice after a series of revisions. The initial title, Christian Waldo, was intended to refer to the eponymous hero, an intriguing and charismatic errant artist. However Sand, in her letter dated November 1857 to Charles-Edmond, the editor of La Presse, proposed changing it to a “titre plus alléchant” (535)—Le Château des étoiles—which she associated with the fantastical, the whimsical and the bizarre, while not excluding ludic overtones.1 The final title alteration to L’Homme de neige, referring to the mysterious nickname assigned to the novel’s villain, was linked to pragmatic considerations, namely to accommodate a different publisher, the Revue des Deux Mondes, after La Presse was suspended due to legal sanctions.2 These three divergent titles, which Pascale Auraix-Jonchière aptly terms “la titrologie fluctuante mais féconde du roman” (“Du château neuf” 368), are indicative of both the editorial strategies of the time as well as the generic tensions which dynamize this highly hybrid text. By centering our attention on the hero-artist’s itinerant quest of origins, the original title Christian Waldo evokes the picaresque and legendary genres. Le Château des étoiles on the other hand, conjures the realm of the fantastic and the fairy-tale merveilleux, and Auraix-Jonchière points out La Princesse Belle-Étoile, written by Marie- Catherine Le Jumel de Barneville, Baroness d'Aulnoy, as a possible intertext (Fabrique des contes 44). On the other hand, the published title, L’Homme de neige, chosen at a very late stage of writing, carries Gothic resonances, due to its focus on the quasi-diabolical villain and his uncanny spectral pallor. It is in line with the tradition of eponymous Gothic villains such as Ann Radcliffe’s The Italian (1796) and Matthew Lewis’ The Monk (1796). [excerpt]peer-reviewe
Evaluating student understanding of core pharmacokinetic concepts
Get PDFBoth educators and graduates have expressed concern about a perceived pharmacology knowledge gap that includes difficulty applying fundamental principles to clinical and research problems. Consequently, we sought to determine the extent to which current students can explain the meaning of, and appropriately apply, a subset of core concepts, and to identify any misconceptions arising from the responses. Of the twenty-four pharmacology core concepts arising from the recent international collaboration, four pharmacokinetic concepts were chosen, namely drug bioavailability, drug clearance, volume of distribution, and steady-state concentration. A total of 318 students from 11 universities across seven countries chose to participate in this study. Expert analysts identified the essential elements for each concept, then independently assessed each student's response. Teams of two experts compared their evaluations to reach a consensus and grouped misconceptions thematically. For each core concept, less than 30% of students provided responses that encompassed all essential elements. Participants found drug clearance most challenging, generally conflating it with the rate of elimination, whereas they demonstrated a better understanding of drug bioavailability. There were 34 misconception themes coded in a total of 813 statements, with volume of distribution and drug clearance producing the highest numbers (13 and 12, respectively). Overall, results suggest that students found it easier to apply the concept than to explain its meaning, which might reflect the shift from didactic to active learning approaches. These findings may be useful for educators who are developing introductory pharmacokinetic courses by providing conceptual focus and revealing common misconceptions to explicitly address.peer-reviewe