11913 research outputs found
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Leadership, knowledge management capability (KMC) and process innovation in African SMEs during and after the crisis
Full text linkPurpose – This paper aims to examine the relationships between leadership, knowledge management
capability (KMC) and process innovation during (and after) the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors adopted a qualitative method with an interpretivist
approach. The empirical data was collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 participants –
6 from Ghana and 14 from Nigeria. The data analysis followed Gioia’s recommendations for qualitative
rigour.
Findings – This study found that the capacity to manage knowledge and innovate are just as important to
the success of organisations in turbulent times as are the qualities of its leaders. It further explores how
middle managers may encourage knowledge sharing within an organisation and how an alignment
between an organisation’s internal resources and existing opportunities ties into innovative outcomes.
Originality/value – This paper highlights how the interplay between KMC, leadership and organisational
culture (OC) can result in process innovation and how such a relationship can foster business
performance in a crisis. This paper is a pioneering study focusing on the relationship between leadership
effectiveness, OC, KMC and process innovation in Africa.
Keywords: Leadership, Knowledge management, Process innovation, SMEs, Africa
Paper type: Research pape
Manifestations of Post-COVID Syndrome in Healthcare Workers in Northeast England
Full text linkPost-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) is a common outcome of severe COVID-19 infection; however, less is known about PCS following mild COVID-19. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are more susceptible to acquiring COVID-19 and potentially suffering physical and psychological morbidity secondary to their role. We surveyed HCWs at four hospitals in northeast England at two timepoints during the pandemic, assessing physical and psychophysiological symptoms of PCS, alongside associated factors, whilst also testing for COVID-19 status by SARS-CoV-2 serology and reviewing evidence of infection from previous PCR nasopharyngeal swabs. Of the 379 participants at baseline and 250 HCWs recruited 18 months later, 46% and 64% (respectively) had evidence of previous COVID-19, with no significant associations between COVID-19 status or demographics and symptom scores or self-described PCS. Depression and fatigue were more common later in the pandemic. Furthermore, 20% self-described having PCS, 34% of whom had no evidence of previous COVID-19. Scores for fatigue, pain, mobility, anxiety, and depression were significantly worse in the PCS group compared to those without ongoing symptoms. Significant proportions of HCWs continued to suffer debilitating symptoms during the later pandemic period, although a significant minority had no evidence of previous COVID-19 infection, suggesting that other factors may be involved in their symptomatology
Teaching Illustration in the Age of Generative AI
Full text linkAccording to Klaus Schwab, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is characterised in part by AI and machine learning (Schwab, 2017). Importantly, he proposes ‘4IR’ as distinct from previous industrial revolutions due to its “velocity”. This paper chronicles the introduction of AI into teaching and learning on an illustration degree programme from 2020 to 2024. During this time, AI developed rapidly and some students who were unaware of its potential in 2020 now express concerns about its impact. Some used AI in their projects, while others regard it with scepticism. This paper explains the selection process used to evaluate the AI tools and recounts how students responded to its inclusion in teaching and learning. Based on experience gained from the study, it proposes an AI monitoring and implementation process that can be used by other courses, and outlines the challenges and opportunities faced by higher education at a time of rapid change
Motivational Interviewing (MI) in obesity care: Cultivating person-centered and supportive clinical conversations to reduce stigma: a narrative review
Full text linkThe Impact of FinTech Integration on the Accessibility and Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions: A Case Study Approach
No full textThis chapter investigates the impact of FinTech integration on the accessibility and sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) using a case study approach and secondary data. The chapter examines how the use of FinTech solutions by MFIs have enhanced the accessibility of microfinance services by the poor and financially excluded individuals and groups. The chapter also evaluates the potential impact of FinTech integration on the financial sustainability and operational efficiency of MFIs. The chapter identifies key challenges of microfinance-FinTech integration such as high initial investment costs, cybersecurity risks, regulatory complexities, and the potential for over- indebtedness. This investigation provides insights into the opportunities and challenges that MFIs face in adopting FinTech solutions to achieve their aim of enhancing financial inclusion and long- term sustainability in the evolving digital landscape
Entrepreneurial Learning in Women Engaged in Interconnected Selling: Understanding the How.
No full textThis study shows how entrepreneurial knowledge is accumulated and applied by women engaged in selling, by integrating selling as a concrete experience, comprising six distinct phases, into the Kolb experiential learning cycle. Utilising qualitative diary studies, 12 women direct sellers recorded diaries over a six-month period, resulting in over 70 distinct diary entries. These were analysed thematically to understand how the selling experience influenced the participants’ development of entrepreneurial skills. Specifically, a definition of interconnected selling (IS) as personal selling of products and/or services while being part of a peer support network enables us to capture the social dimension of learning, which is often ignored when using Kolb’s cycle. The findings from this study show that vicarious learning from peers enabled the women to improve their selling practices, while customer interactions necessitated the development of entrepreneurial skills like people management and innovation. The study thus situates IS as a concrete experience in the EL discourse and paves the way for the exploration of other entrepreneurial practices as concrete experiences which may lead to EL, especially in women who are thought to prefer confidence-building learning mechanisms
Flexipill: A novel 3D printed personalised analgesic polypill with diverse targeted drug release approaches.
No full textIn recent years, considerable attention has been directed towards three-dimensional printing (3D printing) as a promising technique for personalising medications, particularly in the development of personalised polypills. Among the various 3D printing technologies, fused deposition modelling (FDM) has gathered significant attention due to its cost-effectiveness and simplicity. Nonetheless, FDM was not without its limitations, notably the elevated printing temperatures and limited drug-loading capacities. Furthermore, personalised polypill production required the printing process to be conducted at the point of care, which encountered significant resistance from regulatory authorities for widespread application.
In this study, an analgesic polypill was formulated with a novel design that allowed for post-printing customisation according to individual patient needs. This polypill was composed of units containing either paracetamol, ibuprofen, or caffeine. The paracetamol component, aside from possessing taste-masking attributes, was designed to exhibit a high drug load of up to 55% and could be printed at a comparatively lower temperature of 100°C. The ibuprofen formulation was developed with gastroprotective properties, reducing its dissolution rate in an acidic gastric medium to less than 1% after 24 hours. Lastly, the caffeine formulation exhibited immediate release, with 84% of the drug being released within the first 30 minutes
Human tolerogenic dendritic cell subtypes exert divergent effects on induction of cytotoxic CD4 + T cells
Full text linkTolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDC) are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. The methods for producing therapeutic tolDC vary widely, with little being known about the commonalities and differences of distinct cell products in terms of their regulatory actions on CD4+ T cells. We compared human monocyte-derived tolDC generated with vitamin D3 alone or in combination with dexamethasone. We found marked differences in the surface expression of HLA-DR and immune regulatory molecules, but also found commonalities, e.g. a strongly reduced capacity to produce interleukin-12 and a concomitant decreased ability to induce interferon-γ secretion by allogeneic CD4+ T cells. To gain a deeper understanding of how these tolDC types exert their regulatory effects, we co-cultured them with CD4+ T cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients or healthy controls and analysed the gene expression profile and function of the responding T cells. We found that tolDC generated with vitamin D3 alone, but not in combination with dexamethasone, induced potent cytotoxic activity in the responding CD4+ T cells as demonstrated by an enhanced cytotoxic gene signature, increased levels of intracellular granzyme B, and superior cytotoxic activity towards myeloid and B cells. These data identify cytotoxicity as an atypical CD4+ T helper cell effector function induced by some but not all tolDC types, with implications for their individual clinical applications
Developing Foundation Model for Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) from midlife
Full text linkSports Journalists and Online Harms: Effective Protection Practices and Policies
No full textThis chapter will critically investigate the worrying trend of online harms encountered by contemporary sports journalists in the United Kingdom. Rather than using abuse, hate or violence, this work utilises harms which allows us to take a broader approach to how the internet impacts upon sports journalists’ practices and behaviours both in personal and professional ways. It draws on previous literature which illustrates that women journalists in particular face a disproportionate amount of online harms which includes abuse, but also harassment and sexual advances. It considers a range of triggers that exacerbate online harms such as the type of news story in question or the time in which the story is released. The chapter will explore and critique a range of practices and policies enforced by sports media organisations designed to effectively support and protect the workforce against online harms. It will conclude by offering a series of recommendations aimed at sports media organisations to most effectively safeguard sports journalists from current and future online harms