2821 research outputs found
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Infant feeding issues related to gastrointestinal conditions: assessment and management
No full textGastrointestinal conditions that can cause feeding issues in infants – such as colic, gastroesophageal reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease, cow’s milk protein allergy and lactose intolerance – can be challenging to differentiate because of symptom overlap. This article describes these conditions, outlining similarities and differences, and details how to conduct a comprehensive assessment of infants with feeding issues related to gastrointestinal conditions to support their accurate diagnosis and timely management. The importance of developing positive relationships with parents and working in partnership with them to help them understand their child’s condition and manage their child’s symptoms is emphasised
Effect of cross-linkers on the processing of lignin/polyamide precursors for carbon fibres
Full text linkThis work reports the use of cross-linkers in bio-based blends from hydroxypropyl-modified lignin (TcC) and a bio-based polyamide (PA1010) for possible use as carbon fibre precursors,
which, while minimising their effects on melt processing into filaments, assist in cross-linking components during the subsequent thermal stabilisation stage. Cross-linkers included a highly sterically
hindered aliphatic hydrocarbon (Perkadox 30, PdX), a mono-functional organic peroxide (Triganox
311, TnX), and two different hydroxyalkylamides (Primid® XL-552 (PmD 552) and Primid® QM-1260
(PmD 1260)). The characterisation of melt-compounded samples of TcC/PA1010 containing PdX and
TnX indicated considerable cross-linking via FTIR, DSC, DMA and rheology measurements. While
both Primids showed some evidence of cross-linking, it was less than with PdX and TnX. This was
corroborated via melt spinning of the melt-compounded chips or pellet-coated TcC/PA1010, each
with cross-linker via a continuous, sub-pilot scale, melt-spinning process, where both Primids
showed better processability. With the latter technique, while filaments could be produced, they
were very brittle. To overcome this, melt-spun TcC/PA1010 filaments were immersed in aqueous
solutions of PmD 552 and PmD 1260 at 80 °C. The resultant filaments could be easily thermally
stabilised and showed evidence of cross-linking, producing higher char residues than the control
filaments in the TGA experiments
An empirical investigation of the relationship between integration, dynamic capabilities and performance in supply chains
Full text linkThis research aimed to develop an empirical understanding of the relationships between integration,
dynamic capabilities and performance in the supply chain domain, based on which, two conceptual
frameworks were constructed to advance the field. The core motivation for the research was that, at
the stage of writing the thesis, the combined relationship between the three concepts had not yet
been examined, although their interrelationships have been studied individually.
To achieve this aim, deductive and inductive reasoning logics were utilised to guide the qualitative
study, which was undertaken via multiple case studies to investigate lines of enquiry that would
address the research questions formulated. This is consistent with the author’s philosophical
adoption of the ontology of relativism and the epistemology of constructionism, which was considered
appropriate to address the research questions. Empirical data and evidence were collected, and
various triangulation techniques were employed to ensure their credibility. Some key features of
grounded theory coding techniques were drawn upon for data coding and analysis, generating two
levels of findings. These revealed that whilst integration and dynamic capabilities were crucial in
improving performance, the performance also informed the former. This reflects a cyclical and
iterative approach rather than one purely based on linearity. Adopting a holistic approach towards
the relationship was key in producing complementary strategies that can deliver sustainable supply
chain performance.
The research makes theoretical, methodological and practical contributions to the field of supply
chain management. The theoretical contribution includes the development of two emerging
conceptual frameworks at the micro and macro levels. The former provides greater specificity, as it
allows meta-analytic evaluation of the three concepts and their dimensions, providing a detailed
insight into their correlations. The latter gives a holistic view of their relationships and how they are
connected, reflecting a middle-range theory that bridges theory and practice. The methodological
contribution lies in presenting models that address gaps associated with the inconsistent use of
terminologies in philosophical assumptions, and lack of rigor in deploying case study research
methods. In terms of its practical contribution, this research offers insights that practitioners could
adopt to enhance their performance. They can do so without necessarily having to forgo certain
desired outcomes using targeted integrative strategies and drawing on their dynamic capabilities
Contextualising African studies: challenges and the way forward
No full textIn uncertain times, the focus on advanced economies overshadows the often-overlooked contributions of African economies. However, it is crucial not to underestimate Africa's paramount importance in the global economy. With a diverse economy shaped by historical, social, and cultural changes, Africa offers a rich and compelling narrative.
Presenting ten exciting chapters delving into the socio-cultural aspects of African contexts and their profound impact on regional, national, and international business, Contextualising African Studies lays the foundation for a comprehensive exploration of Africa's business landscape. Examining contemporary issues, the authors shed new light on the intricate relationship between businesses, societies, and economics across various African societies. From researchers seeking fresh insights to business practitioners and policymakers, this edited text is a vital resource detailing the intricate workings of business and economics in Africa.
The New Frontiers in African Business and Society series pioneers innovative reflections on the intricate interplay between business and society in Africa's emerging economy. Distinguished scholars contribute their expertise, offering crucial answers to the continent's challenges while uncovering new avenues of research and forging pathways forward
Personality and attitudinal predictors of Sportspersonship in recreational sport
Full text linkRespect and fair treatment among competitors is necessary for maintaining quality and enjoyment in sporting competitions. Yet despite the existence of rules and expectations, many athletes choose to violate such sporting norms. The present study examined whether individual differences in Sportspersonship within recreational sports could be explained by personality and sport-related attitudes. Ultimate Frisbee players (N =828) completed an online survey consisting of personality (Dark triad, HEXACO-60 and Sportspersonship), demographic and attitudinal questionnaires. Psychopathy was associated with low Sportspersonship, whereas Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness and Openness to Experience predicted greater Sportspersonship. Additionally, participants holding positive attitudes about the conduct of other players and the efficacy of self-governed regulation displayed higher Sportspersonship. Positive associations between personality traits and Sportspersonship may be attributed to positive views towards cooperation and enjoyment of the experience, whereas negative associations between Psychopathy and Sportspersonship are likely to be linked to the callous and risk-taking nature of such individuals
Who chooses when one does not choose? Notes about the team as a group in analysis of the vocational
Full text linkThis paper draws on the author’s experiences as a co-supervisor at the project “Building a process of choosing when ‘to choose’ is not an available verb” between 2009 and 2011. It was an Analysis of the Vocational project in which undergraduate interns in psychology led groups in educational and care settings on choosing. The author discusses two cases about the facilitators’ choices –recruiting new facilitators and the leave of one of them. As it is shown, facilitators make choices according to contexts and pushes from different institutions, such as universities, services, team, gender and race, psychology as a science and a job, and power relations in the city. This critical essay is limited by the more than ten years splitting experience from writing. Nonetheless, this paper can contribute to training psychologists, teachers, and educators
Violence against LGBTI+ childhoods in education: fictional narratives for queer pedagogies
Full text linkGiven the oppressive conditions present in educational spaces and the increasing lethal violence against the LGBTI+ population, it seems essential to consider the school as a place of production of living. We understand that violence and its effects are not ontologically connected to dissident bodies, but rather, we recognize their disruptive force against social norms. Therefore, we seek to make visible ways of being that emerge in the pedagogical process when intersected by oppressions and violence. To do this, we believe that telling dissident stories is an effort against the hegemonic narrative of the victorious group. The present article performs a narrative exercise based on the image of children and adolescents who establish other ways not only of performing but also of ensuring gender recognition in the school environment, thus announcing a queer pedagog
An ontology-guided approach to process formation and coordination of demand-driven collaborations
Full text linkDemand shocks and fluctuations underscore the need for new approaches to coordinate collaboration between firms to scale up production. This paper proposes an approach to formalise product and process requirements via a collaboration ontology and applies semantic reasoning techniques for process formation. Our approach contributes to production research by providing flexibility in coordinating firms engaged in demand-driven collaboration. The proposed approach has four core dimensions: (1) The Collaboration ontology builds on a set of product assembly requirements, process steps, their input/output resources and semantic rules; (2) the ontology reasoner derives resource dependencies between the steps; (3) the java tool interprets resource dependencies as possible transitions in Business Process Management Notation (BPMN); (4) a workflow engine exe-cutes the generated product assembly process. The approach and the ontology were validated in an industrial aerospace tendering scenario demonstrating its practical relevance for firms seeking demand-driven collaborations to react to production changes. Finally, we position and explain our contributions to the body of knowledge in collaborative production engineering
Emotional intelligence in preregistration nurse education
No full textEmotional intelligence (EI) is considered essential to nursing practice, but it is unclear how best to support
nursing students to develop EI skills. This article details a literature review that was undertaken to explore
EI in preregistration nurse education and to identify effective methods for developing nursing students’
EI skills. A total of 12 articles were included in the review, from which data were extracted, compared
and categorised. Three main areas were identified regarding EI in preregistration nurse education: EI
constructs, EI components and EI teaching methods.
The review found that a range of EI constructs and components may be included in nurse education
curricula, meaning that there is often inconsistency in the approaches used. Classroom teaching
methods were primarily used, alongside online methods and experiential methods such as simulation-based learning. The findings of the review suggest there is a need for greater consistency in the EI
constructs and components used in preregistration nurse education, as well as further research to determine which EI teaching methods are most effective
Achieving sustainability by rectifying challenges in IoT-based smart cities
No full textIt has become mandatory for traditional cities to be converted into smart cities for the benefit of giving citizens a better lifestyle. The large amounts of people migrating toward smart cities have increased the requirements of a sustainable smart city with the assistance of cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as active sensors and smartphones. When implementing these cloud applications that are IoT-based, there are several challenges including security and privacy of data in the devices and satisfaction with the smart services provided. Previous research done revealed that the primary challenge was privacy and security, while current research emphasizes on the security of the smart devices and the awareness and satisfaction of customers with them. In this paper, we used a qualitative and quantitative approach to attain sustainability. Under the qualitative analysis, we proposed a five-layer smart city framework based on IoT, making use of various technologies such as fog computing, Artificial Intelligence, edge computing, Machine Learning, actuators, cloud computing, Deep Learning, sensors. In the quantitative analysis, we carried out a smart city survey to gather knowledge about the citizens’ level of satisfaction and awareness. The study was carried out on a minimal scale because of limited resources and time; however, it still provides a possible solution to the issues encountered