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Tourism dependent small states : innovation, adaptation and the search for balance
Get PDFTourism-dependent small states offer valuable insights into sustainability,
resilience, cultural identity and crisis management. With limited resources, fragile ecosystems,
and undiversified economies, these states face challenges that amplify global tourism debates.
This short contribution synthesises small state theory, tourism development theories, the
sustainability framework, the cultural preservation and identity framework and crisis
management strategies. It does so in order to highlight how small states provide scalable
solutions for global tourism challenges, offering lessons in adaptive governance, sustainable
tourism development and cultural resilience. Insights from Barbados, Bhutan, Dominica, Fiji,
Maldives, Malta, Palau, Samoa and Seychelles illustrate innovative policies in high-value
tourism, environmental conservation, cultural protection and disaster resilience. Their
experiences challenge conventional tourism growth models, emphasising sustainability over
mass expansion.peer-reviewe
The role of CFOs on the boards of Maltese listed entities : implications for corporate governance
Get PDFThis paper examines the role of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) on the boards of Maltese Listed
Entities (MLEs). The paper explores how the corporate boards of MLEs prefer to involve CFOs and evaluates
the views of board members about the benefits and drawbacks of CFO participation. The study analyzes
the broader implications for corporate governance, including the perspectives of directors, managers, and
shareholders. Methodology: We adopted a mixed-method approach using semi-structured interviews with
10 board members (BMs) and 16 CFOs from MLEs. In addition, we collected written responses from three
BMs and two CFOs, resulting in a total of 31 participants. Results: MLEs tend to favor CFOs as regular board
attendees rather than full board members, aiming to ensure robust financial oversight while preserving
the independence of managerial oversight. Factors such as the financial literacy of the board and the
complexity of the business influence this preference. Boards sometimes appoint CFOs following cooling-off periods, and participants expressed concerns about potential conflicts between current and former
CFOs, as well as the challenge of balancing board duties with operational responsibilities. Nevertheless,
participants viewed CFO board participation positively. Participants believe CFOs contribute to strategic
alignment, deeper managerial insight, and enhanced shareholder confidence when they participate on
boards. While small shareholders expressed minimal concern, institutional investors placed a stronger
value on CFO involvement. Originality / value: This study fills a gap in the corporate governance literature
by examining the specific contributions and oversight roles of CFOs within the boards of Multinational
Listed Entities (MLEs), an area that has received limited academic attention. Practical implications:
The findings guide MLEs and other listed firms in designing CFO involvement in board processes and
balancing effective financial oversight with good governance practices. Theoretical implications: This
study contributes to corporate governance theory by illustrating how CFOs play a distinctive role in board
structures, particularly in contexts where companies must balance financial expertise with administrative
independence. It deepens understanding of how CFO involvement shapes decision-making dynamics,
strategic oversight, and the evolution of governance models in smaller capital markets.peer-reviewe
Modern logistical solutions in Polish e-commerce : economic drivers and a case study analysis
Get PDFPURPOSE: The aim of this article is to analyze modern logistic solutions employed in ecommerce in Poland, using the Zalando platform as a case study, with a particular emphasis
on their impact on customer service levels and the economic conditions underpinning
industry growth. The analysis focuses on how logistic solutions influence cost-effectiveness,
customer satisfaction, and the competitiveness of enterprises.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study employs secondary data analysis (desk research)
and a diagnostic survey conducted via a structured questionnaire. The research involved 250
users of the Zalando platform. The analysis included an assessment of the cost-effectiveness
of logistic solutions and their significance in the context of customer purchasing decisions.FINDINGS: Logistics represents a strategic element of competitive advantage for e-commerce
firms, and its modernization translates into greater operational efficiency and cost
reduction—benefiting both companies and customers. Solutions such as automation, delivery
personalization, and return process optimization not only enhance the shopping experience
but also minimize transaction costs. The study revealed that a lack of customer awareness
regarding the logistical backend may lead to undervaluation of solutions that substantially
improve a company's economic efficiency. Companies should strive to develop transparent
communication regarding the economic value of the logistic solutions implemented.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Optimized logistics in e-commerce has a direct impact on lowering
operational costs and enhancing the profitability of the business. Improvements in customer
service, automation, and the development of green logistics can serve as tools for enhancing
customer experiences while also reducing costs. The implementation of such solutions fosters
long-term growth in the economic value of enterprises.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This article combines empirical approaches with an analysis of the
economic aspects of logistics in e-commerce, providing new insights into the cost-effectiveness of modern solutions and their influence on consumer behavior.peer-reviewe
Change management and value-assessment systems in built heritage assets : a case study for Malta, Europe
Get PDFPURPOSE: The objective of this study is to examine how changing priorities and values affect
heritage preservation within the urban sprawl in Malta.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research method employed included a survey
distributed across the different demographics (age, occupation, gender, racial origin,
religious affiliation, education, geographical) in Malta.FINDINGS: The results were analysed using Friedman’s ranking test and Exploratory Factor
Analysis. The preliminary results reported here suggest that the analysis of transformations
in value systems, across the last decade, is essential to inform the creation of adequate
policies for sustainable management of heritage, and to allow wider public engagement in
formulating such policy decisions.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Shifts occurring in urban areas have been impacting the
architectural and cultural legacy of different towns and cities in Malta, Europe. Heritage
preservation often has to compete with other priorities, ranging from social, cultural,
environmental, economic and sustainability concerns. Conventional heritage management
practices have traditionally focused on preventing change.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: More recent paradigms have recognised the need to incorporate the
transformative nature of heritage and people’s engagement with it. Heritage as a societal
and cultural phenomenon may benefit from heritage management utilising value-assessment
systems to achieve a careful equilibrium of values, supporting appropriate decision-making
processes to safeguard historic buildings or archaeological sites.The research work disclosed in this publication is funded by the
Tertiary Education Scholarships Scheme (Malta).peer-reviewe
Teacher conceptual challenges in emotional education : key issues in supporting student social competence in pre-service and in-service teacher development
Get PDFThe development of students’ social competence is a key goal in emotional education, yet teachers may face conceptual challenges that hinder effective implementation. This conceptual review is particularly relevant for pre-service and in-service teacher education, highlighting challenges that teachers face in implementing emotional education effectively. This review identifies five misunderstandings shaping teacher perceptions: (1) conflating social acceptance with close friendship; (2) overgeneralising distinct social skills; (3) focusing on interpersonal behaviour while overlooking intrapersonal processes; (4) encouraging social participation without sufficient skill readiness; and (5) neglecting emotional foundations essential for social learning. The interpretative framework draws on theoretical literature and thematic analysis of interviews with 15 educators, illustrated through examples from elementary and secondary education, bridging theory and classroom practice. This review aligns with a body of research that takes a reflective and critical perspective on social and emotional education, seeking ways to refine it and adopt a more holistic approach to students. By integrating conceptual and practice-based insights, it contributes to the emotional education field and provides a foundational model to support future research and advance understanding of social competence development.peer-reviewe
The contribution of signal detection in promoting safety, quality and efficacy of medical devices
Get PDFIntroduction: The safety, quality, and efficacy of medical devices are
crucial to advancing patient care and public health. Signal
detection and management is vital for identifying potential
safety concerns but may encounter challenges such as
variability in data collection, and biases in reporting
practices.Aim: To determine the contribution of signal detection in
promoting safe, good quality and effective medical devices
with a primary focus on maintaining a patient-centric
approach.peer-reviewe
Rethinking the Blue Economy : Integrating social science for sustainability and justice
Get PDFTo fulfill the Blue Economy’s promise of sustainable and just ocean use, its scientific foundation must more fully integrate the social sciences. Drawing on insights from real-world scientific networking initiatives, we identify three key contributions of the social sciences and propose a strategy to redefine the Blue Economy. This strategy anchors knowledge in societal challenges and emphasizes co-creation, the science-policy interface, knowledge integration, and the values of accountability and care.This article is based upon work from COST Action CA22122 “Rethinking the Blue Economy: Socio-Ecological Impacts and Opportunities” (RethinkBlue), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). All authors acknowledge the role of the RethinkBlue COST Action in inspiring the writing of the manuscript, and thank the members of the RethinkBlue COST Action for engaging in the collective research effort. J.P. acknowledges Slovenian Research Agency (P5-0453) to support the writing of the manuscript. S.V. acknowledges the financial support from EQUALSEA (Transformative adaptation towards ocean equity) project, under the European Horizon 2020 Program, ERC Consolidator (Grant Agreement # 101002784) funded by the European Research Council, also the support of the Earth Commission and Future Earth. J.J.P.-F. acknowledges the financial support from THINKINAZUL program and the support by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, with funding from the European Union Next Generation EU (PRTR-C17.I1) and the Government of the Canary Islands. C.P.-C. received financial support from Xunta de Galicia “Axudas de apoio á etapa de formación posdoutoral” (grant ED481B-2021/095) and Xunta de Galicia “Axudas para completar á etapa de formación posdoutoral” (grant ED481D-2024/021). D.C. acknowledges the support of Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ-UIP-2020-02-2238).peer-reviewe
Managers’ skills in periods of crisis : the case of proximity to armed conflict
Get PDFPURPOSE: The skillful use of selectivity and market timing by investment fund managers is an
important determinant of fund results. This is especially important in times of crisis, as
making the right decisions can help minimize losses. The aim of the research is to find out
whether investment fund managers skillfully use market timing during crisis periods.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The Treynor-Mazuy model for Polish market equity funds
was used for the study. The choice of the Polish market was related to the proximity of the
armed conflict, a crisis that has a powerful impact on the capital market. In addition, the
stability of the results obtained during crisis periods was examined.FINDINGS: The results obtained for Polish market equity funds indicate that managers use a
different strategy during crisis periods.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results obtained will help the investor make the appropriate
investment decision in times of crisis.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The added value of the work is the examination of the application of
management skills in periods of crisis and the stability of the obtained results.peer-reviewe
Synthesis of graphene oxide : a refined approach
Get PDFThe conventional method for preparing graphene oxide (GO) relies on the use of corrosive acids namely concentrated H2SO4, HNO3, and H3PO4 as well as aggressive oxidizing agents such as KMnO4 and KClO4. The application of heat further exacerbates the preparation, promoting the release of harmful acidic NOx and ClO2 fumes. The formation of the by-product Mn2O7 could also increase the risk of explosion. A safe(r) and shorter method of preparation of GO has been a challenge for many researchers. This study presents a method of preparing GO, that reduces risks by eliminating the need for heating and shortening the oxidation step. This method utilises mixtures of concentrated H2SO4 and KMnO4 with graphite thus eliminating the release of toxic fumes.
Characterization studies revealed that the graphite precursor with an average lateral flake size of 15.06 ±1.87 µm was successfully oxidized to GO and subsequently exfoliated to thinner sheets. The resulting GO exhibited a reduced average lateral sheet size of 10.22 0.62 µm and comprised approximately 10 layers, indicating that the precursor material is polycrystalline. Comprehensive XPS analysis revealed that the oxygen content and chemical states of carbon in the synthesized GO was comparable to that of commercially available GO, with similar distribution of oxygen functionalities. In the in-house produced GO, the predominant functional group was found to be the C-O bond corresponding to the epoxy group, followed by the ester and acid anhydride functional groups. Furthermore, the decrease in the percentage of sp2 hybridized carbon in GO to 45.52 %—measured using X-ray induced Auger spectroscopy—confirms the successful oxidation of the precursor, which initially exhibited 80.21 % sp2 character in graphite.peer-reviewe
Artificial intelligence and the future of radiation science : automation, personalisation, and ethical considerations
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) is transforming radiation science by automating complex
processes, personalising treatment, and enhancing diagnostic precision. In radiation
oncology, AI-driven tools optimise treatment planning, reduce exposure, and improve
patient outcomes through data-informed decision-making. These innovations allow
clinicians to focus more on critical reasoning and patient-centred care rather than
repetitive tasks. Yet, as automation deepens, concerns about transparency,
accountability, and the loss of human oversight grow. This paper examines how AI learns
from vast datasets to guide diagnosis and therapy, its role in automating and
personalising care, and the ethical challenges that accompany its clinical role. Balancing
innovation with human judgment remains essential to ensure AI continues to advance
medicine responsibly.peer-reviewe