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To identify key determinants of Green HRM: evidence from the United Nations
Get PDFPurpose: This study aims to discover key driving factors towards the implementation of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) in the United Nations (UN) in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach: As a mixed method, we collected quantitative and qualitative data sets from Human Resource (HR) practitioners or experts in the UN in South Korea. While the survey data was analysed by employing the Consistent Fuzzy Preference Relations (CFPR) method, the qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis. Findings: Among HR practice, organisation, HR initiative and leadership dimensions, green recruitment from HR practice is deemed the most vital determinant of GHRM. This study concluded that HR practice including recruitment, and training and development is the most vital one towards GHRM. Research limitations/implications: Albeit this research lacks a sample size due to limited accessibility for collecting data sets, HR specialists in the UN can refer to our findings to establish a strategic plan as an initial step. Originality/value: By employing thematic analysis and the CFPR regarded as one of the Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods, HR practice including green recruitment is the most crucial one towards the implementation of GHRM in the UN in South Korea
Impact of Autolysed Brewer’s Yeast and Soluble Dried Yeast Extract on Growth Performance and Mucosal Health of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Parr
Get PDFYeast-based feed additives have emerged as promising functional feed additives (FFAs) to promote sustainable aquaculture development through enhanced gut health and immune modulation in fish. The present study evaluated the impact of autolysed brewer’s yeast (ABY) and soluble dried yeast extract (SDYE) in improving the intestinal and skin histology, immune response, and intestinal microbiome of Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar) over a 9-week feeding trial. Three experimental diets were produced: a control diet, a diet supplemented with ABY at 2.5 g/kg, and a diet supplemented with SDYE at 2.5 g/kg. These diets were administered to triplicate tanks of Atlantic salmon. The yeast-supplemented diets, especially ABY, improved intestinal mucosal fold length, lamina propria width, microvilli density, and intestinal goblet cell counts, as well as skin goblet cell counts. The yeast additives had no detrimental effects on the fish haematology, with no significant differences in haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell counts, and white blood cell counts among the treatment groups. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of il-1β and muc-2 in fish fed the ABY diet, indicating enhanced immune function and potentially mucosal protection. Intestinal microbiota analysis revealed Firmicutes as the most dominant phylum in all groups, followed by Actinobacteriota. Distinct bacterial community shifts were observed between the treatment groups, with a significant increase in the relative abundance of taxa such as Staphylococcus in yeast-supplemented diets and a significant decrease in Streptococcus and Weissella. Collectively, these findings suggest that the yeast additives, especially ABY, enhance gut health and immune function without compromising growth performance
Evaluating sediment storage time for improved management of river basin pollution
Get PDFExcess fine sediment supply and associated contaminants can have detrimental effects on water quality and river ecology, with sediment deposition on, and subsequent infiltration into, streambed substrate impacting riverine habitats. Significant research has assessed the magnitude, controls, and impacts of fine sediment in river channels. Assessment of the associated time scales, however, across these three domains has received less attention due in part to the complexity of river basin sediment dynamics. Fallout radionuclides (FRNs) applied as particle tracers in aquatic ecosystems can address this challenge. Herein, this research aimed to evaluate sediment storage time through application and development of FRN tools for improved management of legacy and contemporary river basin pollution. For this purpose, the application of FRNs as sediment residence/storage time tracers was reviewed and challenges, opportunities and research needs were highlighted. Drawing upon identified research gaps, the variability of FRNs in river channels was assessed and fine sediment and associated contaminant storage and turnover were then evaluated in the channel of the River Avon, Devon, UK. Furthermore, the controls on the 7Be distribution were investigated in the River Fal, UK, for improved evaluation of storage times. Findings emphasised the role of local channel characteristics, physico-chemical processes and the magnitude and frequency of floods in controlling the distribution of FRNs, and consequently, sediment storage times and turnover. In addition, changes in dominant sediment sources were revealed as a key control on the occurrence of particulate contaminants, highlighting the synergistic effects between sediment sources, river flow and channel morphology in controlling the transport, deposition and resuspension of sediment-associated contaminants. This study demonstrates that FRN technology offers improved understanding of fine sediment and associated contaminant storage and turnover in river channel systems, which is vital to aid sediment management, river restoration and to tackle the global challenge of siltation and associated pollution
Determinants of SME Internationalisation in developing economies: An In-depth analysis of the Sri Lankan Market
Get PDFThis research explores how internationalisation intersects with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) when considering the global economy. The focus of the research is on the ways in which SMEs engage in internationalisation, particularly through exporting, and examines the role of government policies in supporting this process. The study highlights a noticeable research gap related to the barriers encountered by SMEs in underdeveloped economies and the service sector. These areas have received little attention in existing literature, which are focussed on developed nations and considering manufacturing firms.Through a case study of Sri Lanka, this research aims to evaluate the barriers towards internationalisation and the effectiveness of government policies in supporting SMEs in the process of exporting with a focus on the service sector SMEs. The aim of the research is ‘to explore the factors affecting the internationalisation process of SMEs in the Sri Lankan market.’ In order to achieve this, the researcher cover 4 research objectives; To identify internal and external barriers that hinder export-related activities in Sri Lankan SMEs; To understand how Government support affects the export propensity in the Sri Lankan SMEs; To understand whether the perceived barriers differ between manufacturing and service sector firms; To understand how COVID-19 affected Sri Lankan SMEs. To achieve the mentioned research objectives, the research will use a mixed methods approach. An exploratory qualitative method is employed followed by a confirmatory quantitative method to ensure reliability and validity in the data. The researcher uses a pragmatic paradigm of inquiry with an epistemological view to address the research aims and objectives. The qualitative phase involves in-depth semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders of SMEs in Sri Lanka, while the quantitative phase includes surveys and statistical analysis to validate the findings. The study provides key findings relating to policy, social, practise and recommendations for future research.Moreover, the study also highlights the key challenges faced by SMEs in developing countries, including economies of scale, financial constraints, technological obsolescence, skilled labour shortages, and inadequate government support and information. By addressing these barriers, the researcher seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the unique obstacles that SMEs in underdeveloped economies encounter taking Sri Lanka as the context. To effectively address the current crisis in Sri Lanka, it is essential to thoroughly understand the specific challenges that exporters face and identify any gaps in government support. By doing so, targeted measures can be developed to enhance support for exporters, which can play a significant role in stabilising the country\u27s economy.Additionally, the study also examines the impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the export activities of SMEs in the Sri Lankan market, considering the significant economic disruptions caused by the pandemic and the post pandemic economic downturn. COVID19 was a significant factor to consider in the context of this research as it coincided with many phases of the research specially the data collection phases. Hence the responses from the participants are coloured by their experiences of exporting during COVID19. Therefore, it was necessary to embrace this unexpected context as an integral part of the study. However, this also provided the researcher some unique perspectives, valuable insights, and contributions. Using a mixed-methods approach, the researcher aims to provide a holistic analysis of the issues at hand. The study highlights the significant role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Sri Lankan market. SMEs contribute substantially to GDP and employment, especially in rural areas. However, Sri Lankan SMEs face several challenges when it comes to exporting. These challenges include financial constraints, lack of specialised expertise, regulatory barriers, and market volatility. These challenges limit the growth potential of SMEs and hinder their ability to compete globally. Additionally, many SMEs in Sri Lanka are family-owned, which affects their management practices. This often leads to conservative decision-making and a reluctance to adopt innovative practices. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these challenges, highlighting the need for stronger contingency planning, supply chain diversification, and increased government support for resilience and recovery.The study also offers a comprehensive analysis of the export barriers that SMEs in Sri Lanka encounter. It provides valuable insights into the specific challenges within a developing country context. Similarly, the study enhances our understanding of the factors that influence SMEs\u27 propensity to export. It emphasises the impact of traditional family business dynamics on internationalisation efforts. It also recognises the potential of young, educated managers to drive innovation and growth, which signals a positive trend in overcoming traditional barriers. The findings of this study significantly contribute to the discourse on SME internationalisation strategies and, the study also provides actionable policy recommendations that can better support SMEs in enhancing their export readiness and capacity. The results of this study are intended to offer valuable insights for policymakers and contribute to the growth of SMEs in emerging economies. Furthermore, the study underscores that informational and marketing barriers represent significant internal obstacles, whereas procedural, task, environmental and governmental barriers constitute the primary external challenges affecting the internationalisation process of SMEs in Sri Lanka. Additionally, the study also identifies a notable deficiency in government support, which adversely influences the export propensity of these enterprises. It was also observed that the COVID19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the export capacity of Sri Lankan SMEs. By understanding and addressing the barriers to internationalisation in underdeveloped economies, this research aims to inform more effective government policies and support mechanisms that can enhance the export propensity of SMEs globally. The study also underscores the importance of service sector industries in the process of exporting and aims to understand how the identified barriers affect the service sector SMEs differently. In conclusion, this research highlights the importance of exporting to drive economic growth in developing nations and emphasises the critical role of tailored government support in enabling SMEs to overcome global challenges and thrive in international markets
Intervention strategies to prevent mental health problems and improve resilience in employed parents from conception until the child is 5 years of age: a scoping review
Get PDFAim: To understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to the effectiveness of intervention strategies targeting working pregnant women, and their partners, for the prevention of mental health problems (depression, anxiety) and improving resilience, from conception until the child is 5 years of age. Methods: A scoping review was conducted searching Pubmed (including Medline), Embase, Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus. Inclusion criteria were based on population (employed parents), context (from -9 months to 5 years postpartum) and concept (mental health problems, resilience and prevention/ preventative interventions). Results: Of the 17,699 papers screened, 3 full text papers were included. Studies focused on intervention strategies for working parents which showed a relationship with a reduction in mental health problems (depression and/or anxiety). The intervention strategies extracted from the literature referred to ‘social support’. Social support provided by both the social and the work environment correlated with prenatal stress and depressive symptoms in the postpartum period, and supports a healthy work-family balance. Conclusion: Social support seems to have a positive association with the reduction of mental health problems. However, there are still important gaps in the literature such as a lack of RCT designs to test effectiveness of interventions and systematic reviews. Findings from this study may provide a roadmap for future research to close these gaps in knowledge
A micro-computed tomographic evaluation of dentine thicknesses of first molar roots: A review of the literature with illustrative cases
Get PDFThin dentinal walls of first molars can significantly impact the success and outcomes of endodontic procedures, including root canal treatment. Root canal treatment is commonly performed on first molars, which are prone to decay due to their early eruption and complex occlusal structure. The treatment entails a series of mechanical and chemical disinfection techniques where the root canal spaces are enlarged and can be compromised by perforations leading to infection, inflammation, and eventual tooth loss. The thinner the dentine, the greater the likelihood of perforation. ‘Danger zones’ have been identified as the distal aspect of mesial/mesiobuccal roots and the mesial aspect of distal roots. Knowledge of dentine thickness patterns in dental roots and understanding factors that influence dentine thickness can help reduce the risk of perforation and improve treatment outcomes. This literature review gives an overview of various aspects of the dentine thickness of the maxillary and mandibular first permanent molar. The content is supported by illustrative micro-CT images and clinical cases. Treating physicians should take note that variations in dentine thicknesses have been reported between sexes, with aging and among populations, but unfortunately no studies on dentine thickness could be found specifically for the South African context
A discussion on the Involvement of Somalia\u27s children in Armed Conflict
Get PDFThis paper discusses the issue of children’s involvement in armed conflict across the historically war-torn country of Somalia. This serious breach of a child’s rights is often kept ‘under the radar’ and needs voice. Here, the immediate, short term impacts are explored in addition to the life-long consequences for a child currently involved in armed conflict and for those who have had previous experience of it. Drawing on the work of a London-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Peace Direct, this article highlights the key challenges faced by those who attempt to tackle the problem and offers a thought-provoking, locally-led concept that has been effective and influential. It is recognised that being culturally aware and utilising local expertise are essential components for tackling this issue
How do human-induced environmental stressors shape the distribution, physiology, and behaviour of the Lemur leaf frog?
Get PDFThe Lemur leaf frog (Agalychnis lemur) is a critically endangered species of anuran whose survival is increasingly threatened by human-induced environmental stressors, such as habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change. This study investigates how those stressors shape the physiology, distribution, and behaviour of the species through combinations of physiological and distributional modelling and a behavioural trial. The study uses a novel approach into understanding how future risk posed by climate change could impact Lemur leaf frogs. By using field spatial data combined with physiological mechanistic modelling, the study is able to predict how Lemur leaf frogs body temperature and geographical range could change by 2100. The distributional modelling component explored the species’ future habitat and distribution by 2100 under three climate pathways. The model was parameterised by using future climate prediction. Results indicated a potential increase in suitable habitats by the end of the century. Habitat suitability was highest in regions with stable, warm temperatures (28-29°C) and high but evenly distributed precipitation (monthly average of 358.33mm). The physiological aspect of this study offers a crucial assessment of how land use, not captured in MaxEnt models, may impact the species by manipulating canopy cover to capture pristine and edge habitats. Modelling local climate in a current population with, future predicted air temperature and precipitation levels, this study shows how frogs inhabiting microhabitats with less canopy cover experience significantly higher body temperatures compared to denser canopy levels, pushing them further from their minimum critical temperature toward their preferred thermal range. This shift could support range expansion as the climate becomes more suitable, though caution is needed regarding proximity to temperatures where activity costs may arise. In the behavioural trial, the introduction of a new plant into the species habitat resulted in reduced activity levels, avoidance of the modified area, and lasting changes in spatial preference for nocturnal activity even after the plant’s removal. Despite these shifts, some established diurnal refuge choice remained consistent, suggesting a degree of behavioural resilience. Overall, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how Lemur leaf frogs will react to different types of habitats and hopes to contribute to a broader understanding of amphibian behavioural ecology and explores the idea of combining physiological and distributional modelling outputs to gain a better understanding on how Lemur leaf frogs may experience the world by 2100
The Discovery of p62-dependent Processing Bodies
Get PDFThe cellular degradation process autophagy can be a selective process during which, cellular components, such as excess proteins, can be marked for degradation by the post translational modification ubiquitination. Proteins that act as selective autophagy receptors can recognise the ubiquitinated substrates and target them to the selective autophagy pathway, facilitating their degradation and thereby mediating cellular homeostasis. The selective autophagy receptor Sequestome 1 (p62) undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form p62 bodies to mediate the autophagic degradation of ubiquitinated proteins. At the time of this research, it was unknown whether p62 could exist in a differential droplet form to p62 bodies. Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules such as stress granules and processing-bodies (PBs) also form through LLPS. Persistent RNP granules have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, in particular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. This research found that during proteotoxic, endotoxic or oxidative stress, p62 bodies can transform into PBs through the sequential movement of RNA binding proteins into basal p62 bodies, thus identifying a novel droplet form of p62. The presence of p62 was therefore found to be required for the formation of these structures, hence these structures represented a novel form of RNP granule and were termed p62-dependent PBs (pd-PBs). This research also found that pd-PBs were able to recruit essential components of the NLRP3 inflammasome and therefore facilitate NLRP3 inflammasome formation and activation. This novel route to NLRP3 inflammasome activation through pd-PBs, which are formed during proteotoxic stress such as experienced 11in NDDs, provides a novel mechanism of proteotoxicity-induced neuroinflammation in NDDs. Previously, p62 had been reported to negatively regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome and therefore, this study has suggested a novel role of p62 in the positive regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, through the formation of pd-PBs. This dual role of p62 could act to regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome to maintain cellular homeostasis
Role of nurses and allied health professionals in hepatology and the challenges faced when navigating a career pathway
Get PDFHepatology specialist nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs), including dietitians and physiotherapists, are essential members of the multidisciplinary team, delivering person-centred care from prevention through to advanced disease. Their contributions support lifestyle intervention, symptom management and care coordination, improving patient outcomes and service efficiency. Despite this, roles remain underfunded, inconsistently embedded and often overlooked in workforce planning. This article outlines the impact and challenges facing hepatology nurses and AHPs, drawing on UK service examples that demonstrate improved quality of life, reduced admissions, recompensation and cost savings. Barriers include limited access to structured training, protected time and clearly defined career pathways. To address this, the article proposes practical, system-wide actions. These include embedding enhanced and advanced roles within all hepatology services; developing national AHP competencies and nurse- and AHP-specific quality standards; and securing sustainable funding to support new roles and career progression. Formal integration of nurses and AHPs into workforce planning, service design, guideline development and research is essential. A national/international training programme is urgently needed to provide a consistent foundation for hepatology nurses and AHP practice. Now is the time to move beyond pockets of good practice and establish a nationally supported, sustainable approach that ensures equitable access to multidisciplinary hepatology expertise across all services. Strengthening the hepatology nurse and AHP workforce is critical to meeting the growing complexity and burden of liver disease