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Intra-African Entrepreneurship and the Socio-economic Integration of Migrant Businesses in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
No full textWhile there is a plethora of literature about migrants and their economic activities, there is a dearth of information about intra-African migrants. Nevertheless, intra-African migrant entrepreneurship is theoretically gaining momentum and is noted as a critical driver for economic development and poverty alleviation on the African continent. Some African countries have become more attractive than others due to advanced infrastructure and high economic growth and have experienced a surge in immigration. However, increased migration on the African continent has sparked xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks on migrants, creating unfavourable environments for migrant entrepreneurship. The Eastern Cape Province in South Africa is perceived as a home to a growing number of intra-African migrant entrepreneurs. Hence, this chapter examines the socio-economic integration of migrant businesses in the Eastern Cape Province to ascertain the challenges and opportunities these emigrant entrepreneurs face. Particular attention is given to the role they play in promoting economic development and social integration. A cross-sectional research design is adopted involving qualitative data collection as well as analysis. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews with a sample of nine intra-African migrant entrepreneurs (n = 9) from three towns Alice, Fort Beaufort, and Middledrift. These towns are selected due to the high poverty level and high concentration of small migrant businesses by purposive sampling. Given this, the study has noticed a significant increase in intra-African migration, with many African countries becoming both sending and receiving countries. The research found a wide range of factors that influence the socio-economic integration of intra-African migrant businesses, including access to finance, language proficiency, and cultural factors. Moreover, safety, permits, and a sense of belonging are considered to be impediments. This study concludes that there is a need for a better understanding of the role that migrant entrepreneurship plays in promoting economic development and social integration in the region. Intra-African migration and entrepreneurship are here to stay, and the movements of people driving economic activity across the continent should not be ignored but embraced by all
Acute frailty services: results of a national day of care survey
No full textIntroductionOlder people living with frailty are at high risk of emergency hospital admission and often have complex care needs which may not be adequately met by conventional models of acute care. This has driven the introduction of adaptations to acute care pathways designed to improve outcomes in this patient group. The identification of differences in the organisational approach to frailty may highlight opportunities for quality improvement.MethodsThe Society for Acute Medicine Benchmarking audit is a national service evaluation which uses a single day-of-care methodology to record patient and organisational level data. All acute hospitals in the United Kingdom are eligible to participate. Emergency admissions referred to acute medical services between 00:00 and 23:59 on Thursday 23rd June 2022 were recorded. Information on the structure and operational design of acute frailty services was collected. The use of a validated frailty assessment tool, clinical frailty scale within the first 24 h of admission, assessment by an acute frailty service and clinical outcomes were reported in patients aged 70 year and above. A mixed effect generalised linear model was used to determine factors associated same-day discharge without overnight stay in patients with frailty.ResultsA total of 152 hospitals participated. There was significant heterogeneity in the operational design and staffing model of acute frailty services. The presence of an acute frailty unit was reported in 57 (42.2%) hospitals. The use of validated frailty assessment tools was reported in 117 (90.0%) hospitals, of which 107 (91.5%) used the clinical frailty scale. Patient-level data were recorded for 3604 patients aged 70 years and above. At the patient level, 1626 (45.1%) were assessed using a validated tool during the admission process. Assessment by acute frailty services was associated with an increased likelihood of same-day discharge (adjusted OR 1.55, 95%CI 1.03- 2.39).ConclusionThere is significant variation in the provision of acute frailty services. Frailty-related policies and services are common at the organisational level but implemented inconsistently at the patient level. Older people with frailty or geriatric syndromes assessed by acute frailty services were more likely to be discharged without the need for overnight bed-based admission
Dimensions of living with emetophobia
No full textPurpose This paper aims to present an examination of selected literature about the lived experiences of those with emetophobia. Its intention is to inform further empirical enquiry and subsequent approaches to treatment and care aimed at inclusive support for sufferers. To that end, it is important to bring the sufferers' narrative into public and professional domains. Design/methodology/approach A systematic search of multiple databases using the search engine Discover@bolton and grey literature was undertaken to obtain evidence about the lived experiences of people with emetophobia. The search terms used were "emetophobia" and combinations of associated topic phrases using Boolean operators (AND / OR): "Emetophobia" OR "fear of vomiting" OR "fear of being sick", Emetophobia AND "lived experiences" and finally Emetophobia OR "fear of vomiting" OR "fear of being sick" AND "lived experiences". Eight papers were included in the review and five items of grey literature. Findings Several themes were identified in this literature including fear, escape and avoidance, other influences, consequences and medicalisation. The findings reveal that the experiences of those with emetophobia are subsumed beneath a focus on diagnosis and treatment. When it comes to understanding the actual lived experience of a person with emetophobia, the evidence presents the reader with what treatment may work and how they might respond to it, but largely omits the voice of the individual with emetophobia. This signals a need to undertake enquiry to bring this to the fore and so inform ways of greater inclusive practice for the public and professionals alike. Research limitations/implications The evidence reviewed in this paper can be noted for the limited discussion about the individual's lived experience of emetophobia. Gaining insight into this would contribute to raising awareness in a wider public arena and inform carers and healthcare professionals' understanding. It would also display the importance of an individual context and health journey. Practical implications Knowing this can inform approaches to helping an individual either to live with the phobia and manage its impact on daily living (positive rather than maladaptive coping mechanisms) or to overcome it with or without adjunct medical treatment (if this is possible). Social implications Knowing based on contemporary empirical enquiry will inform policy and guideline development. Whatever course is taken, it must contribute to steps being taken towards achieving a better quality of life for individual sufferers. The findings of this paper likewise inform the need for further study into the individual lived experience of emetophobia. Originality/value This paper is original in having identified a need to bring empirical evidence of the lived experience of sufferers with emetophobia into the public and professional domain
Harnessing the capabilities of machine learning for enhanced cybersecurity and protection against digital threats
No full textAs breaches get smarter and more frequent, machine learning and cybersecurity are effective defenses. The beginning emphasizes the necessity for better cyberattack protections in today's IT environment. Modern dangers are so complex that trying new methods is crucial. Machine learning, known for its self-learning, is a formidable partner in this effort. It discusses the study's objectives and the importance of comparing the new and old methods. We discuss the dataset settings, assessment metrics, ablation experiments, and experimental setup used to evaluate the recommended technique in the methods section. Trustworthy and repeatable outcomes come from well-designed experiments. A variety of cyber threat scenarios are carefully assembled to provide educators with a thorough practice environment. The recommended approach has an accuracy score of 0.85, whereas standard methods average 0.72. The recommended approach has 0.78 memory, compared to 0.65 for existing methods. The proposed approach outperforms the best method, which has an F1 score of 0.68. The strategy works since the ROC AUC value is 0.92, substantially higher than 0.78 for standard methods. This evidence often reveals that the proposed technology performs better than others, reducing phony warnings and preventing internet threats
Exploring the influence of information sharing on cybersecurity via social media platforms
No full textThe internet has revolutionized the way people communicate, access data, and engage with one another, and has led to online information sharing on social media platforms which has a huge impact on our society. Over the years, there have been numerous concerns about the impact that sharing of information has on user, data and information security. This research work investigates user?s perception of security in terms of information sharing on various social media platforms. A quantitative analysis was carried out amongst the post-graduate students of Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow. Data was collected using a questionnaire with eight (8) sections, which was administered online to capture information about users? behaviours related to their information sharing, perception of the sensitivity of data they share, control over privacy settings, and their trust level in social media platforms. Findings from this research has shown that Postgraduate students of Glasgow Caledonian University exchange all sort of personal and general information over social media platforms. However, they do not perceive these platforms to be highly secured, as there are concerns emerging regarding the security and trustworthiness of these platforms. This conclusively shows there is a high level of awareness amongst these social media users regarding privacy settings and security features provided by social media platforms
AI and IoT for proactive disaster management A comprehensive review and future directions
No full textIn our rapidly evolving digital landscape, the threat of natural disasters looms large, necessitating innovative solutions for effective disaster management. Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) presents a transformative approach to addressing these challenges. However, despite the potential benefits, the field needs more comprehensive resources that explore the full extent of AI and IoT applications in disaster management.AI and IoT for Proactive Disaster Management fills that gap by examining how AI and IoT can revolutionize disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. It offers a deep dive into AI frameworks, IoT infrastructures, and the synergy of these technologies in predicting and managing natural disasters. By showcasing cutting-edge research and practical applications, this book equips readers with the knowledge and tools to harness AI and IoT for more efficient and effective disaster management strategies.Targeted at undergraduate and postgraduate students, academicians, research scholars, industry professionals, and technology enthusiasts, this book serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the intersection of AI, IoT, and disaster management. It offers insights into emerging trends, ethical considerations, and best practices, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in leveraging technology to mitigate the impact of natural disasters
Social Innovation and the Financial Risk of EMNCs - The Contingent Role of Institutional Legitimacy
No full textThis paper examines the influence of social innovation on financial risk of emerging economy multinational corporations (EMNCs). Traditionally, research has focussed on Western MNCs' and their financial performance implications. However, the growing involvement of EMNCs in social innovation-albeit in environments characterized by institutional voids-and its effects on financial risk necessitate an in-depth examination. Drawing on stakeholder theory, we explored how EMNCs balance their social innovation initiatives with financial risks. To this end, we first examine how social innovation reduces the financial risk of EMNCs. Second, we examine the association between excessive social innovation and EMNCs' financial risk. In addition, borrowing insights from institutional theory, we assess the role played by institutional legitimacy in this process, acknowledging institutional legitimacy's potential to mitigate the financial risks associated with social innovation in emerging economies. We test our hypotheses based on data drawn from 90 EMNCs in 14 emerging economies, applying a panel regression model with robust standard errors and a rigorous robustness propensity score matching test. Our findings show that social innovation reduces EMNC financial risk, and challenge the assertions made regarding the potential negative implications of excessive social innovation on financial risk. Our results also demonstrate the intricate moderating effects of institutional legitimacy in balancing social innovation, excessive social innovation, and EMNC financial risk. Finally, we proffer critical implications for managers and policymakers in emerging economies
Insights and challenges of working with perfectionism in sport
No full textPerfectionism is complex and ambiguous. However, there is little known about the experiences of sport psychology practitioners when working with perfectionistic athletes. This article presents a commentary on my personal insights when working with perfectionism and the challenges that I have faced. Here, I also draw on the literature from my work and from others to help illustrate these challenges. Recommendations for sport psychology practitioners in conducting these specific challenges are then presented. The article ends by outlining a personal reflection of working with perfectionistic athletes, followed by recommendations for good practice
The Hummingbird Project year 2: decreasing distress and fostering flourishing in a pragmatic pre-post study
No full textMulti-component Positive Psychology Interventions (mPPIs) in secondary schools have been shown to improve mental health outcomes for young people. The Hummingbird Project mPPI is a six-week program of workshops designed to introduce a variety of positive psychology (PP) concepts to secondary school-aged children in schools to improve well-being, resilience, and hope. The effects on mental distress, however, were not explored. The current study, therefore, was designed to replicate the effects of the Hummingbird Project mPPI on positive mental health and to also explore the effects on symptoms of mental distress. Secondary school-aged children (N = 614; mean age = 11.46 years) from a sample of secondary schools located across the North West of England (N = 7) participated in the study; the majority of children were in Year 7 (94%). The PP concepts explored included happiness, hope, resilience, mindfulness, character strengths, growth mindset, and gratitude. The results showed significant improvements associated with the mPPI in well-being (as measured by the World Health Organization Well-Being Index; WHO-5), hope (as measured by the Children?s Hope Scale; CHS), and symptoms of mental distress (as measured by the Young Person?s Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation; YP-CORE) from pre- to post-intervention. While acknowledging the limits due to pragmatic concerns regarding the implementation of a control group, the effectiveness of the Hummingbird Project mPPI on well-being was replicated alongside reducing the symptoms of mental distress. Future evaluation, however, will need to implement more robust designs and consider follow-up duration to assess the longer-term effects of the Hummingbird Project mPPI
Violence against LGBTI+ childhoods in education: fictional narratives for queer pedagogies
No full textGiven 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