2821 research outputs found
Sort by
Torrens imperatives for SADC fast-track land reform programmes
No full textThe most successful economies are underpinned and characterised by very clear governance of acquisition, disposal, and transferability of land or, as it is properly called in law – real property. This article examines the evolving post-apartheid land governance practices under the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) fast-track land reform programmes for their potential to enhance land’s utility in framing economic development in concerned states. It shows a worrying potential diminution of land’s utility as real property as a direct consequence of insufficient consideration to ensure that agricultural land contributes optimally to the national treasury. The article recommends the integration into the SADC’s fast-track land reform programmes of the Torrens system for protecting land’s utility as the foundation and cornerstone of powerful and successful economies. The benefits for SADC states would be endless. They include the nurturing of an in-built resilience of SADC economies to withstand the ruthless vagaries of World Trade Organization- (WTO) sponsored trade liberalisation practices in the increasingly deeply integrated world economy. Failure to adopt and implement the Torrens principles on the recognition and protection of land titles would be suicidal for the agrarian economies of the SADC because it would either lower significantly or, in some cases, wipe out altogether land’s potential to make a meaningful and consistent contribution to the national treasury. Consequently, land’s potential to contribute optimally to the nurturing and development of national economies of affected SADC states would be severely curtailed and, in some cases, hindered from generation to generation
The impact of frailty and geriatric syndromes on metrics of acute care performance: results of a national day of care survey
Full text linkBackground. Frailty is associated with a range of adverse clinical outcomes in the acute hospital setting. We sought to
determine whether frailty and related factors affected clinical processes such as time to assessment during emergency
hospital admission within the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.
Methods. The Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking Audit (SAMBA) is an annual cross-sectional day of care
survey. SAMBA 2022 was conducted on Thursday 23rd June 2022. We assessed whether the Clinical Frailty Scale
(CFS) and presence of a geriatric syndrome affected performance against nationally recognised clinical quality
indicators based on time to initial assessment and time to consultant review. CFS was graded into robust (CFS1-
3), mild (CFS 4-5), moderate (CFS 6), severe (CFS7-8) and terminal illness (CFS 9). Plausible values were created
for missing variables using multi-level multiple imputation. The association was described using mixed effect
generalised linear models adjusting for initial National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) and time of arrival.
Findings. A total of 152 hospitals provided patient level data relating to 7248 emergency medical admissions. Patients
with mild, moderate and severe frailty were less likely to be assessed within 4 h of arrival (adjusted OR, mild 0.79,
95% CI 0.68–0.96, moderate 0.67 95% CI 0.53–0.84, severe, 0.75 95% CI 0.58–0.96, terminally ill 0.59 95% CI
0.23–1.43) and less likely to be achieve the clinical quality indicator for consultant review (adjusted OR, mild 0.69 95%
CI 0.58–0.83, moderate 0.55 95% CI 0.44–0.70, severe 0.54 95% CI 0.41–0.69, terminally ill 0.76 95% CI 0.42–1.5).
Patients with geriatric syndromes were also less likely to be assessed within 4 h of arrival (adjusted OR 0.66 95% CI
0.56–0.76) or by a consultant within the recommended time frame (adjusted OR 0.45 95% CI 0.39–0.51). The difference was partially explained by differential use of SDEC pathways. Sub-group analysis of 5148 patients assessed
outside of SDEC areas demonstrated patients with geriatric syndromes (adjusted OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.60–0.83), but
not frailty defined by CFS were less likely to be assessed within 4 h of arrival. Moderate and severe frailty and the
presence of a geriatric syndrome were associated with a decreased likelihood of achieving the consultant review
standard (moderate, adjusted OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59–0.94, severe adjusted OR 0.75 95% CI 0.58–0.96, geriatric
syndrome adjusted OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.50–0.6
A qualitative study of the experiences of care home managers during the COVID-19 pandemic in England: implications for future practice
Full text linkRationale and Aim: The term ‘care home’ refers to residential facilities in the UK that
offer permanent residential care for the elderly. Care homes were severely impacted
by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the elderly and the frail were at a greater risk than the
general population of being unable to recover from infection in a care home setting.
The social care crisis in the UK has been widely discussed in recent years. However,
the pandemic uncovered both long-standing problems and some new ones associated
with social care services. Hence, this study set out to undertake a qualitative
investigation examining the lived experiences of care home managers during the
COVID-19 pandemic in England and the implications for their development and
approaches to future practice in social care.
Methodology: This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach informed by
an interpretivist research paradigm. Due to the large amount of responsibility and the
need for care home managers to remain on site due to the pandemic, the methodology
involved semi-structured interviews conducted online to promote participation and
handle logistical preparations. The study included 12 care home managers from
across England, working in both publicly financed and privately owned facilities of
diverse sizes.
Findings and Conclusion: The managerial and administrative tasks of care home
managers were significantly altered by the pandemic. Uncertainty about how things
should work, the inefficiency of current processes and the motivation to act out of
concern for workers’ safety all indicate a lack of knowledge. Due to the lack of available
care home staff (such as care staff, nurses and catering assistants), the managers
had to take on additional responsibilities, such as filling in for other personnel and performing administrative tasks related to policy management. The managers
disclosed their personal struggles in this area. The substantial knowledge asymmetry
and ambiguity surrounding regulation and rapidly changing guidance was difficult to
manage and share and enforce such guidance at care home level. Managers are
considered knowledge brokers who spread information and ensure learning for both
staff and residents’ families, and they are considered able to motivate employees by
addressing their specific requirements. They are also increasingly required to use
more digital resources to perform their duties, as digitalisation is a growing trend. This
influx of new initiatives and new ways of working coincided with severely decreased
financing, scarce resources and a severe staff shortage. The managers identified
significant levels of stress, worry and exhaustion, as well as structural obstacles to
education, future development and growth.
Recommendations: Five recommendations were made in this study: an undertaking
to improve human resources support to meet care home managers’ needs, the
establishment of Communities of Practice (CoPs), a strengthening of the care home
managers’ voice within the sector, enhancing of authentic multiorganisational
partnerships and a true identification of healthcare system resilience (genuine
preparedness)
Design and implementation of an optimized mask RCNN model for liver tumour prediction and segmentation
Full text linkLiver tumour segmentation is a challenging task
due to the wide diversity in size, position, depth, and proximity
to surrounding organs. This research uses the state-of-the-art
model of Mask R-CNN model with the ResNet-50 architecture
as the backbone. The suggested methodology leverages the Mask
Region-Convolutional Neural Network approach to accurately
identify liver tumors by identifying tumour location. To address
variations of the liver and CT scan images with different
parameters. The normalized CT images are then fed into the
RESNET-50 model to extract relevant features. Subsequently,
the liver tumor are segmented using the Mask R-CNN
algorithm. The experimental dataset used in this study consists
of one hundred and thirty CT scans obtained from various
hospitals and nursing homes, which are freely accessible on the
LiTS web page. The suggested algorithm is trained on
transformed CT image slices. The results demonstrate that the
proposed Mask RCNN system, with its innovative connections,
surpasses state-of-the-art methods in identifying liver tumor,
achieving a remarkable DSC value of 0.97%. This technique has
the potential to significantly contribute to early and precise
diagnosis of liver tumor in the field of biotechnology, potentially
saving many patients' lives
Machine learning based microfluidic sensing device for viscosity measurements
Full text linkA microfluidic sensing device utilizing fluid–structure interactions and machine learning algorithms is
demonstrated. The deflection of microsensors due to fluid flow within a microchannel is analysed using
machine learning algorithms to calculate the viscosity of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. Newtonian
fluids (glycerol/water solutions) within a viscosity range of 5–100 cP were tested at flow rates of 15–105 mL
h−1 (γ = 60.5–398.4 s−1
) using a sample volume of 80–400 μL. The microsensor deflection data were used
to train machine learning algorithms. Two different machine learning (ML) algorithms, support vector
machine (SVM) and k-nearest neighbour (k-NN), were employed to determine the viscosity of unknown
Newtonian fluids and whole blood samples. An average accuracy of 89.7% and 98.9% is achieved for
viscosity measurement of unknown solutions using SVM and k-NN algorithms, respectively. The intelligent
microfluidic viscometer presented here has the potential for automated, real-time viscosity measurements
for rheological studies
Games-based learning in Business Management Programmes – a reflective analysis of students’ experience.
Full text linkGames-based learning constitutes integrating games into learning experiences to create effective learning environments by applying some common characteristics which improve intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Using an exploratory study design and reflexive thematic analysis, this paper shares insights from a research study conducted between September 2021-April 2023, to co-evaluate the effectiveness of a co-created games-based learning application, for formative assessment of learning on a business undergraduate programme. Potential benefits of games-based learning in higher education institutions (HEI) include introduction of a structured rewards system and goals in a fun and focused way into learning that can act as a powerful motivator to enhance engagement and promote participative interaction It offers an alternative opportunity to HEIs to redefine learner experience by re-evaluating contemporary pedagogies.
Findings from this study indicate, application of games-based learning as a pedagogical intervention, can improve learning experience of students on business management programmes by allowing students to take ownership of learning. The co-created application piloted in this study, helped students to recall contents learned and track their performance through instant feedback received upon completion of a game. It also supported students in identifying weaknesses in their grasp of knowledge related to particular topics within a module and motivated them to work on areas of improvements. A key challenge identified by the students was expectation of a variety of games within GBL approaches to keep intrinsically motivated to use such applications for learning
Multidimensional framework for analysing factors influencing Digital Natives' attitude towards luxury brands on social media; a comprehensive examination of digital marketing strategy
Full text linkThe last decade has seen a tremendous growth by the luxury brand industry as
luxury brands have expanded and have been adopted all over the world. Due to
its expansion marketing opportunities are presented by the accelerating demand
for luxury brands, specifically by the specific demographic group of young
consumers who are known as “Digital Native” population (Sandra, et al, 2022).
On the other hand, in the recent years the luxury brand industry has also been
strongly affected by the rapid evolution of digital technology and the internet.
Social media has become a platform in which users and companies can develop
a strong communication with each other, while brands can use different strategies
to influence their customer’s attitude and purchase behaviour. Drawing upon the
research framework, this study aims to examine the multidimensional factors that
influence Digital Native’s attitude towards luxury brands on social media. Utilizing
a multidimensional framework, the research focuses on factors, such as
parasocial relationship, influencer marketing and E-WOM as key factors
contributing to a comprehensive examination of digital marketing strategy,
especially in relation to brand image, attitude, and purchase intention.
Given the intrinsic link between Digital Native’s attitudes towards luxury brands
and their experiences in the digital realm, this study holds significance for luxury
brands seeking to capitalize on the digital native demographic. The research
highlights the impact of influencers in shaping attitudes and underscores the
importance of effective digital marketing strategies, including online presence,
content creation and influencer collaborations.
The study employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and
qualitative methods. The sample consists of social media-heavy users,
predominantly university students which is involves in Digital Native’s category in
this study. Data analysis incorporates statistical techniques to unveil the
significant role of social media influencers in creating parasocial relationships,
establishing credibility as opinion leaders, and influencing E-WOM, ultimately
impacting Digital Natives’ attitudes and purchase intentions. Through an in-depth
literature review and mixed method methodology, the research identifies and
explores multidimensional factors influencing attitudes toward luxury brands on
social media.
The findings reveal the substantial influence of social media influencers in shaping
parasocial relationships, serving as credible opinion leaders, and driving E-WOM
which all these three factors will incorporate digital native’s attitude and a lead to
purchase intention of luxury brand through the effect of social media, and social
media influencers.
This research study contributes to the consumer behaviour literature by offering
a comprehensive framework to elucidate the psychological factors influencing
Digital Natives’ attitudes. The implications of these findings extend to luxury
brands seeking to develop more effective and targeted digital marketing
strategies, with a focus on social media marketing and influencer marketing.
Ultimately, this study provides valuable insights that can guid luxury brands in
navigating the complex digital landscape and engaging with the discerning Digital
Natives demographics
The impact of entrepreneurial leadership and international explorative-exploitative learning on the performance of international new ventures
No full textIn this study, we propose entrepreneurial leadership as an important enabler of emerging market international new venture growth (EINVs) and investigate how and when it enhances EINVs. We examined this by considering international explorative and exploitative learning as key mediators and gender diversity of senior management as an important contingency variable. By using survey data from 110 EINVs in Pakistan, the results indicate that international explorative and exploitative learning mediate the effect of entrepreneurial leadership on the international performance of EINVs. Furthermore, the moderation analysis revealed that the positive impact of entrepreneurial leadership on international explorative and exploitative learning is conditioned on the gender diversity of senior management. The implications of the findings are discussed
Electronic prescription service for improved healthcare delivery
No full textThe aim of this research paper is to explore the potential of machine learning techniques in predicting the utilization of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) and Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) items to categorize General Practitioner (GP) practices based on their usage patterns. The study utilized raw data related to dispensaries, EPS, and eRD acquired from the National Health Service online medical database. To achieve this objective, exploratory data analysis was conducted on the dataset, which was then split into a training set and a testing set. Various machine learning algorithms, including linear regression, decision tree regression, and random forest regression, were applied to the training set to develop a predictive model. The models were evaluated using measurements such as the “Score”, “Mean Squared Error (MSE)”, “Mean Absolute Error (MAE)”, “Sqrt Mean Absolute Error (MAE)” and “Coefficient of determination (R^2)”. The study found that the machine learning models developed were effective in predicting EPS utilisation and could categorize GP practices based on their usage patterns. This categorization could help identify high-utilization practices, leading to more efficient resource allocation and ultimately improved healthcare delivery. The results also indicate the potential for machine learning techniques to predict the utilization of other healthcare services and could pave the way for more personalized and targeted healthcare services in the future
A review of social media marketing on digital savvy brand shoppers
Full text linkSocial Media (SM) has recently become a platform and a tool for both individuals and companies to communicate in a virtual platform. E-retails is another virtual platform where creates cybernetic communication between brands and customers. Companies create effective marketing strategy through both platforms to influence their customer behavior. On the other hand, digital savvy customers who prefer to take the advantage of saving time and have a convenience shopping experience, buying their desired products through e-shopping is another fact that makes digital marketers to implement new strategies to communicate with their customers. Thus, social media has become an effective tool to create an interaction to influence digital savvy shoppers. The purpose of this paper is to examine different aspects of social media as a tool that can develop marketing strategies and how they influence individuals who prefer to buy products through e-retails. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the impact of social media marketing on digital savvy brand shoppers. The scope of this review encompasses various literature reviews that has been done to illustrate a framework design to represent the impacts that social media has on a specific target audience. The research methodology used for this review involves a systematic literature review of relevant academic and industry publications. The contribution of this paper lies in providing insights into the effectiveness of social media marketing strategies for engaging digital savvy brand shoppers and improving brand loyalty. The findings of this paper represent how social media can influence e-shoppers and have impact on their decision-making process. On the other hand, the findings suggest that social media marketing can enhance brand awareness and influence consumer purchase decision through advertising, user-generated content, and social media influencers. The review also identifies key challenges and limitations of social media marketing for digital savvy brand shoppers