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Empowering Leadership Navigating the Employee’s Entrepreneurial Orientation Through Work Uncertainty: Evidence from Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Get PDFThis research investigates the impacts of empowering leadership (EL) on work uncertainty (WU) and employee’s entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and its dimensions (risk-taking, pro-activeness, and innovativeness). Furthermore, this study also exploring the intervening role of work uncertainty in the connection between empowering leadership and entrepreneurial orientation and its dimension. The data (n=271) were gathered from individuals employing in hospitality and tourism industry of Pakistan by utilizing a time-lag research approach. Using AMOS software for data analysis, findings suggested that empowering leadership is meaningfully related with work uncertainty and individual’s entrepreneurial orientation. Similarly, work uncertainty mediates the relationship between empowering leadership and entrepreneurial orientation and its dimensions. This study suggests that empowering leadership can be an effective tool for encouraging employee’s entrepreneurial orientation. Therefore, managers and leaders of hospitality and tourism sector, who aim to achieve employee’s entrepreneurial orientation need to induce empowering leadership in their organization. The article bridges the gap relating to factors
Empowering Leadership Navigating the Employee’s Entrepreneurial Orientation and antecedents that impact individual’s entrepreneurial orientation in a time lag research design. This research is one of the pioneer studies which examining, how empowered leadership affects entrepreneurial orientation, with employing work uncertainty as a mediating role. The practitioners of tourism and hospitality industry such as investors, managers, employees and other stakeholders, will find this study quite useful as well
Post-trafficking trajectories and experiences of Romanian women sexually exploited in the UK: Multiple voices and perspectives
Get PDFSex trafficking remains a significant form of exploitation worldwide and has long been regarded as a major human rights violation. In the last 4 years, Romania has often been in the top five countries of origin for sex trafficking in the UK according to Home Office figures. To date, there is a lack of knowledge of experiences of Romanian women being trafficked to the UK and their post-trafficking experiences, with this research focusing upon these gaps. Although there is great concern over the well-being of women who have experienced sex trafficking, gaps remain in the literature concerning their post-trafficking trajectories, the short- and long-term outcomes of the experience, and how sex trafficking impacts victims' and survivors' lives. While the focus remains on their vulnerability and possible re-victimisation, there is a limited exploration of agency and resilience in the narratives on sex trafficking.
Using a feminist research framework and semi-structured in-depth interviews, the voices of Romanian survivors of sex trafficking, alongside practitioner and key informant experiences of working in the anti-trafficking field, were captured and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Sex trafficking trajectories were identified and explored.
The analysis found similarities in survivors’ stories but also unique and particular post-trafficking trajectories. Professional participants described trajectories in binary terms as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, evidencing preconceived perceptions and beliefs about sex work. Survivors encountered many challenges post-trafficking: psychological effects, trauma, anxiety, and struggled to achieve economic independence. Past vulnerabilities were exacerbated by the trafficking experience. Trust and lack of trust were perceived to contribute to or hinder recovery. Survivors who experienced supportive and authentic relationships with NGO staff, authorities and family members, reported positive impact on their well-being and recovery. Survivors conceptualised motherhood positively and it offered a source of hope for those living with their children. Migration before and after trafficking remains a complex element of survivors’ experiences, with both strengths and risks identified.
The study provides recommendations for UK and Romanian policy on law enforcement, immigration and sex work. It also highlights good practices for professionals working with victims and survivors of trafficking in both countries
Evaluation of Socio-Cultural Impact on Supply Chain Integration: the role of trust and leadership among grocery supplies in Ghana
Get PDFWhile prior studies on the link between cultural factors and supply chain integration produce conflicting outcomes, this study set out to explore the indirect (moderating) role of trust and leadership in the quest to clear the confusion in extant literature. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, limited or no study so far has been conducted to explore the moderating role of trust and leadership in the relationship between socio-cultural factors and integration in the supply chain. Thus, it is necessary to understand how trust and leadership could moderate the relationship between socio-cultural factors such as national culture, cross-cultural differences, organizational culture, and openness to diversity as a determinant of SCI. A review of existing literature was conducted to achieve this objective, and gaps were identified. A conceptual framework with six main hypotheses was developed based on the gaps identified. To validate the model, a well-structured questionnaire was designed and piloted, and data was gathered from 511 senior managers of grocery businesses in Ghana. The hypothesized model was validated with PLS-SEM. The study concludes that all the socio-cultural factors (organizational culture, national culture, cross-culture, and openness to diversity) are important in the quest to improve supply chain integration. Trust and Leadership do not just support integration but serve as an avenue to reap superior integration along the supply chain. Based on the findings, this study concludes that socio-cultural factors, trust, and leadership are inevitable in achieving supply chain integration, particularly in the grocery industry in emerging markets like Ghana. The study contributes to the extant literature by examining the drivers of SCI in the context of the food manufacturing sector. This study contributes to understanding the effect of socio-cultural dimensions on SCI while inspiring a small amount of academic research in food manufacturing. The study contributes to filling the gap by combining Dynamic Capability Theory (DCT) and Relational View theories (RVT) to understand the phenomena under study
Molecular pathways in the brain affected by the Alzheimer’s disease-related transcription factor REST
No full textAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting primarily the older population and is becoming more and more relevant in an ageing society. AD patients experience severe neurological symptoms and progressive decline of neuronal functions. Despite active research on the disease and its origin, the effect of existing treatments is, to this day, relatively low in preventing further progression of the disease and cure the cumbersome effects of the disease on memory. The RE1-silencing transcription factor
(REST) is a protein that has been described as having a neuroprotective role in the brain, among other roles. The brain level of REST increases in old age, but not in AD patients. The exact role of REST in regulating molecular pathways in the brain remains largely understudied, and an innovative approach is to investigate the potential neuroprotective pathways associated with REST, with the objective to identify target points for future treatments against AD.
A mouse model genetically modified to lack neuronal REST at the adult stage, named conditional knockout (cKO), has previously been generated by the first supervisor of this project. This model is extremely valuable to study the action of REST on the brain, by comparing mice lacking REST to a healthy group of control mice. The aim of this project has been to comprehensively investigate the molecular and cellular pathways impacted by the REST protein in the brain, to possibly identify links to memory preservation or its decline in AD. For this approach, a wide combination of technologies was used, such as Western blot, proteomics, immunohistochemistry, RNA-seq and chromatin immunoprecipitation.
RNA-seq and proteomic analyses, including gene ontology, gene set enrichment and protein-protein interaction analyses indicate that the absence of REST decreases genes and proteins associated with neuronal and synaptic activity and protection processes (for instance decrease in postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptor activity and overall efficiency of the neuron connections in the cKO mice). Simultaneously it seems to up-regulate genes and proteins involved in immune/inflammatory responses in the brain, similarly to
observations made in the brain of AD patients. Indeed, the data points towards an increase in processes such as adaptive and humoral immune responses. In addition to these findings, data collected suggest the alteration of pathways related to learning and memory processes, protein/peptide clearance mechanisms in the cKO mouse brain (among others, clearance of amyloid-beta) and a dysfunctional mitochondrial activity. Certain of these findings were taken further and validated in western blot and immunohistochemistry experiments. These findings from the cKO model underline the importance of the role of REST in several brain functions with strong relevance to AD, especially the ones connected to memory and learning, as well as emphasis on the potential of this cKO model within research on AD. Further research about the REST protein can therefore have promising potentials for a better understanding of the memory decline in AD potentially contributing to future treatment strategies and complementing other treatments through the possible identification of new therapeutic targets
Evaluating Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Risk at Health Melasin Preston and Burnley: Promoting Lifestyle Changes, Enhancing Healthcare Management, and Providing Hands-On Experience for Students
Get PDFBackground: Community health events such as Health Melas are critical in identifying undiagnosed health conditions and promoting public health. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Health Melas in evaluating diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Preston and Burnley. It also explores the dual benefits of these events in enhancing healthcare management and providing practical training for students. Methods: The Health Mela 2024, a collaborative effort between the National Forum for Health and Well-being (NFHW) and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) School of Medicine and Dentistry, was conducted in Preston on April 13 and in Burnley on May 11. A total of 170 participants in Preston and 71 in Burnley utilised the health screening facilities at the health mela. Data analysis was performed on 149 complete datasets in Preston and 56 in Burnley. Participants underwent assessments, including anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and blood biochemistry. We gathered student feedback through a comprehensive questionnaire to evaluate how the health Melas have influenced their practical experience. Results: Out of the 205 participants analysed, 64 were healthy,48 had previously diagnosed conditions, and 93 were newly diagnosed with conditions including obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Specifically, 20 participants were newly identified as obese, 41 had dyslipidaemia, 20 had hypertension, and 12 had diabetes. High diabetes risk was noted in 37 participants, and elevated CVD risk was found in 36 participants. All newly diagnosed individuals were referred to their General Practitioners (GPs) for further management. Students reported significant improvements in clinical skills and community health understanding. Conclusion: The Health Melas in Preston and Burnley successfully identified many undiagnosed diabetes and CVD cases, underscoring the importance of community health screenings. These events facilitated the early detection and management of chronic conditions and provided invaluable hands-on experience for students. Future initiatives should incorporate long-term follow-up and leverage technology to enhance the sustainability and impact of community health interventions
An investigation of the reproducibility of a self-selected natural feet position when standing: Implications for the assessment of upright standing posture
Get PDFBackground
Photogrammetry is often used to evaluate standing static postural alignment. Patients are often instructed to self-select a natural feet position but it's unclear whether this position can be consistently replicated across repeated assessments.
Objective
To determine whether people can replicate a self-selected natural feet position in upright standing across three sessions on different days.
Design
Between days test-retest reliability.
Setting
University laboratory.
Methods
Three variables – Base of Support (BoS), Foot Width (FW), Feet Opening Angle (FOA) – were measured from foot tracings of 150 participants (18–30 years) using established procedures. BoS data were assessed for systematic bias (Analysis of Variance), and absolute (Coefficient of Variation - CV%) and relative (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient - ICC) reliability.
Results
There was systematic bias in the BoS data across the three testing sessions. The CV% for the BoS data was 15.2%. The ICC (95% CI) for the BoS data was 0.84 (0.79–0.87). There were moderate-large correlations between the BoS and both FOA and FW respectively within each session.
Conclusion
If clinicians want to allow patients to use their self-selected natural feet position for repeated photogrammetric assessment of their static postural alignment it would be better to standardise the position of the feet, for example, by creating a tracing of a patient's self-selected natural feet position
Towards Improved Vulnerability Management in Digital Environments: A Comprehensive Framework for Cyber Security Enhancement
Get PDFThis study aimed at developing a comprehensive framework that enhances cyber security and improves vulnerability management in a digital environment. The study reviewed the challenges of vulnerability management in digital environments, with a focus on cyber-physical power systems (CPPS). Through a comprehensive literature review, existing Cyber Security frameworks like NIST, ISO 27001, and ISA/IEC 62443 were evaluated based on their applicability to CPPS. Key vulnerabilities and threat vectors unique to the integration of operational technology and information technology in CPPS were identified. The dual role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing Cyber Security defences while enabling sophisticated AI-driven attacks was explored. Gaps in current frameworks, such as the lack of standardized AI integration and real-time threat detection capabilities, were highlighted. The study synthesized its findings to propose a comprehensive framework that addresses these gaps such as providing guidelines for secure AI adoption and offering strategies to mitigate emerging cyber threats effectively. The study recommended developing AI-specific security protocols, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensuring continuous framework updates to match the evolving cyber threat landscape. This research aimed to strengthen Cyber Security resilience in critical digital infrastructures
Clinical and biomechanical characteristics of responders and non-responders to insoles in individuals with excessive foot pronation during walking
Get PDFThis study aimed to identify the clinical and biomechanical factors of subjects with excessive foot pronation who are not responsive (i.e., “non-responders”) to medially wedged insoles to increase knee adduction external moment. Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, forefoot-shank alignment, passive hip stiffness, and midfoot passive resistance of 25 adults with excessive bilateral pronation were measured. Also, lower-limb angles and external moments were computed during walking with the participants using control (flat surface) and intervention insoles (arch support and 6º medial heel wedge). A comparison between “responders” (n = 34) and “non-responders” (n = 11) was conducted using discrete and continuous analyses. Compared with the responders, the non-responders had smaller forefoot varus (p = 0.014), larger midfoot passive internal torque peak (p = 0.005), and stiffness measured by the torsimeter (p = 0.022). During walking, non-responders had lower angle peaks for forefoot eversion (p = 0.001), external forefoot rotation (p = 0.037), rearfoot eversion (p = 0.022), knee adduction (p = 0.045), and external hip rotation (p = 0.022) and higher hip internal rotation angle peak (p = 0.026). Participants with small forefoot varus alignment, large midfoot passive internal torque, stiffness, small knee valgus, hip rotated internally, and foot-toed-in during walking did not modify the external knee adduction moment ("non-responders"). Clinicians are advised to interpret these findings with caution when considering the prescription of insoles. Further investigation is warranted to fully comprehend the response to insole interventions among individuals with specific pathologies, such as patellofemoral pain and knee osteoarthritis (OA)
Pots and Pans, Books and Stories, Apps and Tablets - The Power of Digital in Young Children's Pre-school Settings
Get PDFThis work in progress builds on the work on ‘Small CCI’ working with children below the age of 5. The purpose of this study was to compare children's engagement and experience with three classroom activities over a three-week period. Eight children aged three and four years old took part in each activity (learning on tablet devices, free play in the home corner, and story time with their teacher) each week and were asked to complete a pre and post-test Smileyometer to rate each activity for fun, followed by a ‘This or That’ at the end of each session. The children's engagement was also measured by the research team using the Leuven scale. The results indicate that children of this age range can complete these evaluation tools. The children indicated that for all weeks they found the learning on the tablet devices the most fun and every child ranked the tablet activity as the best each week using the ‘This or That’ method. The researchers marked engagement the highest on the tablet devices for two of the three weeks. We note these results as unsurprising but suggest that they help us to understand the power of digital when considered in such settings and propose that researchers need to adjust for this when evaluating digital products with children of this age
TOWARDS IMPROVED THREAT MITIGATION IN DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS: A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR CYBERSECURITY ENHANCEMENT
Get PDFIn today's digital landscape, cybersecurity has become a critical concern due to the increasing sophistication of cyber threats. Traditional cybersecurity measures are often inadequate against evolving attacks, necessitating the development of comprehensive and adaptive threat mitigation frameworks. This study aims to address this gap by proposing a robust cybersecurity framework that integrates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and blockchain to enhance threat detection, response, and recovery capabilities. The framework adopts a layered defense mechanism, real-time monitoring, and proactive threat hunting to provide a holistic approach to cybersecurity. By examining current methodologies and identifying their limitations, this research highlights the necessity for enhanced threat mitigation strategies. Through a mixed-methods approach involving online surveys and literature review, the study develops a flexible, scalable, and adaptive framework capable of countering sophisticated cyber threats. Key recommendations include adopting advanced technologies, continuous training, enhancing threat intelligence sharing, implementing a layered defense strategy, and conducting regular security audits. This comprehensive framework aims to improve organizational resilience, ensuring the safety and integrity of digital environments in the face of an ever-evolving cyber threat landscape