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Myth 4: The more, the merrier – the road to freedom and well-being is paved with endless choices
No full textThis chapter challenges the widely held belief that more consumer choices lead to better outcomes. This chapter explores how the proliferation of options, while seemingly empowering, can actually lead to decision paralysis, dissatisfaction and unsustainable consumption patterns. The myth is rooted in classical economic theories that equate more choice with freedom and personal satisfaction, but psychological and sociological research demonstrates the opposite: having too many choices can overwhelm individuals, making them less likely to make sustainable decisions. The authors trace the origins of this myth to neoliberal ideologies and market-driven economic models that have promoted individual choice as the key to societal progress. However, they argue that the abundance of choices often leads to overconsumption and waste, exacerbating environmental degradation. In the context of sustainable consumption, the chapter shows that providing consumers with endless green product options does not necessarily result in more sustainable outcomes. Drawing on the work of scholars such as Barry Schwartz and Sheena Iyengar, the chapter dispels the myth by illustrating the concept of ‘choice overload’ and its negative psychological and environmental impacts. It explores the idea of setting limits on consumption to achieve greater well-being and societal equity. The authors provide examples from sectors such as food, tourism and clothing, where limiting choices can lead to more sustainable practices. The chapter concludes with policy recommendations for simplifying decision-making environments and promoting sustainable consumption through regulation, such as capping the number of product options and encouraging more mindful consumer behaviour
From soil to solution: Bacillus-driven biodegradation of agricultural plastics
No full textThe widespread use of plastic mulch films in modern agriculture has led to significant plastic and microplastic pollution in soils. This chapter examines the potential of Bacillus species as biological agents for degrading conventional plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable alternatives, including polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA). It outlines the ecological impacts of plastic mulching and highlights traits of Bacillus, exploring their ecological resilience, enzyme abilities (including lipases, esterases and cutinases), and adaptability in bioremediation. Environmental factors influencing degradation, such as soil pH, temperature, humidity, and additives, are examined. Strategies to enhance efficacy, such as biostimulation, bioaugmentation and synthetic biology, are presented. The chapter also addresses challenges, including slow degradation rates, microplastics (MPs) residues and regulatory gaps. Future directions involving the use of AI-driven tools for microbial community design, metabolic modeling, and real-time soil monitoring for sustainable plastic waste management in agriculture are also discussed
Mentoring programme standards and accreditation
No full textChapter two provides an overview of the professional standards and accreditations that underpin the practice of mentoring. We begin with the core criterion set out in European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) Global International Standards for Mentoring and Coaching Programmes (ISMCP) which offers a framework for developing and implementing mentoring and coaching programmes within organisational contexts. We outline core elements including programme purpose, design, participant recruitment, matching, training, communication, support, and evaluation. We also present EMCC Global standards and accreditation frameworks for both training provider Quality Awards as well as individual accreditations in mentoring, coaching, supervision and programme management. We explore how these can be integrated within the design and delivery of mentoring programmes. Finally, we draw from the twenty-two case studies in Chapters four to nine to consider the practice implications of these standards and accreditation requirements as benchmarks for equipping mentoring programme managers with the required knowledge, skills, and capabilities to develop best practice in mentoring and programme delivery
The influence of rating scale formats on customer evaluation and perceived review helpfulness: empirical evidence from field and experimental studies
Full text linkPurpose
This study explores the relationship between different rating scale formats (a five-point scale and a ten-point scale) used to evaluate hotel experiences and their effects on systematic differences in review ratings and perceived review helpfulness.
Design/methodology/approach
We conducted field research and two experimental studies to test our proposed hypotheses. In the field research, we examined how different rating scales relate to systematic differences in the distribution of review ratings by analyzing online reviews from Expedia.com (a five-point rating format) and Booking.com (a ten-point rating format). The results of Experiment 1 confirmed the systematic differences. In Experiment 2, we examined how the different rating scales systematically affect perceptions of review helpfulness and the mediating effects of perceived review credibility.
Findings
We found that a five-point rating scale had a relatively high ratio of extremely positive and negative review ratings than a ten-point rating scale, which was confirmed in a follow-up experimental study. Our additional experimental study shows that ratings made on a ten-point rating scale were perceived as more helpful than those on a five-point scale, an effect mediated by the perceived credibility of the ratings.
Originality/value
This study is among the first to demonstrate the systematic effects of various review rating systems on review ratings and their perceived helpfulness. Our findings highlight the important role that rating scale formats play in consumer evaluations and the perceived helpfulness of online reviews
A comparison of match demands using ball-in-play versus whole-match data in the 2023 Super Rugby Américas champion team
No full textRugby union is a high-intensity, intermittent sport with varying positional demands. Whole-match (WM) global navigation satellite system (GNSS) analysis may underestimate peak physical outputs. This study compared match demands in Super Rugby Américas using ball-in-play (BiP) versus WM data to better inform conditioning strategies, with positional demands considered as secondary context. GNSS data were collected from 35 professional players of the 2023 Super Rugby Américas champion team across 14 matches. Metrics included total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR), accelerations (ACC), and high-metabolic-load distance (HMLD), reported in absolute and relative terms. Linear mixed models assessed differences between BiP and WM while accounting for positional group (forwards and backs). BiP phases exhibited significantly greater relative demands than WM. TD·min⁻¹ was ~2.5 times higher during BiP (114.9 ± 7.7 vs 47.5 ± 4.1 m·min⁻¹; p < 0.001). Similar patterns were observed for ACC·min⁻¹ (0.8 ± 0.1 vs 0.2 ± 0.03 accelerations·min⁻¹), HSR·min⁻¹ (15.4 ± 2.6 vs 3.7 ± 0.5 m·min⁻¹), and HMLD·min⁻¹ (27.9 ± 3.7 vs 7.0 ± 0.8 m·min⁻¹; all p < 0.001). Within this BiP–WM comparison, backs demonstrated greater TD, ACC, HSR, and HMLD than forwards (p < 0.001). Overall, BiP analysis better reflects match demands and highlights the importance of aligning conditioning programmes with BiP-derived per-minute intensity profiles. Positional differences may guide emphasis within this BiP-focused framework, rather than distinct exercise selection, to better prepare players for the most demanding phases of match play
Gender gaps as unknowns or un-knowings? Engendering development and disasters in an extractivist landscape
No full textDespite the dominance of ‘smart economics’, what we know about women’s poverty remains limited, and what we know about other areas of women’s lives, and deaths, even more so. More and better gendered data is often presented as a way to improve policy response. This article questions whether the real problem is that policymakers do not know, or whether they do not want to know, highlighting a distinction between the unknown and un-knowing. It takes a disasters lens to engendering to provide a new perspective on an old issue. The article highlights how the current neoliberal model’s extractivist logic creates the environmental conditions that produce ‘natural’ hazards, and the human conditions – gender and other inequalities – that produce vulnerabilities, which, combined, create disasters. Disaster Risk Creation is built into the global socio-economic system as an integral component, not accidental by-product. If a gender approach operates within this extractivist paradigm, it runs the risk of furthering extractivism, depleting the resources of women – for what and whose gain? The article argues that, if they are to have any legitimacy, Gender and Development and Gender and Disasters should focus on questioning ideas of development and disasters, as much as promoting gender
Testing practices and applications of flywheel resistance technologies - implications for performance assessment and injuries from a survey study
No full textThis study explores current practices and applications associated with flywheel resistance technologies in performance assessment, asymmetry, and injury risk. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, and medical professionals. The findings showed that monitoring and testing frequency among practitioners (n = 42) is low, with 70% (n = 29) conducting it less than once a month. Monitoring and testing are crucial for adjusting training modalities, allowing practitioners to make informed decisions to condition athlete performance. Currently, practitioners reported using 2.38±0.87 familiarization sessions and 29.0±21.8 (range: 3–75) maximal intent repetitions. It is recommended to continuously assess both reliability to ensure the data remains reliable and valid, as the actual familiarization period can be influenced by various factors. The flywheel squat was the most commonly used exercise (89.9% with rotary encoders), while practitioners suggested hamstring-focused exercises (e.g., straight leg hip extensions) as having high potential for injury risk assessment. The most commonly used metrics for monitoring and testing include: 1)eccentric(E) peak power, 2)concentric(C) peak power, and 3)the E: C ratio. Overall, the findings suggest that flywheel testing is still underexplored in practice; there is a clear need for standardized, evidence-based protocols to bridge the gap between its potential and current implementation. Future research directions should focus on: (i)testing reliability at higher moments of inertia (> 0.15 kg·m²), (ii)evaluating the feasibility of assessing asymmetry via flywheel, (iii)investigating predictive links between flywheel metrics and field performance, and (iv)developing validated assessment protocols for a broader range of exercises
The prospective developments of artificial intelligence in the domain of knowledge management: challenges and opportunities
No full textAs organisations increasingly embrace digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionise knowledge management (KM). This chapter explores the evolving role of AI in KM, analysing the transformative potential of AI technologies like machine learning, natural language processing and automation in enhancing the creation, sharing and utilisation of knowledge within organisations. The chapter also delves into the challenges businesses face when integrating AI into KM systems, as well as the opportunities that AI presents to streamline processes, drive innovation and enable smarter decision-making. The chapter will address both the technical and human aspects of AI in KM, proposing strategies to maximise AI’s benefits while mitigating risks such as data privacy concerns, algorithmic biases and resistance to change. By synthesising current trends and future projections, the chapter will provide insights into how AI can shape the future of KM across industries
Understanding how to develop an effective role-modelling character education programme in Saudi Arabia
Full text linkGlobal citizenship education (GCE) has been placed as a target within UNESCO’s SDG 4 – Quality Education, and although GCE and education for sustainable development (ESD) are highly interlinked, a detailed interpretation of what this means in a formal educational setting is limited. It can be argued character education (CE) could be one of the mediums to provide students with the appropriate skills for a sustainable future, as CE involves developing moral values to allow individuals to feel responsible for creating an equitable future for society. Countries in the GCC are developing new long-term development plans and reforms to align with the Sustainable Development Goals, including education. Thus, this paper examines the best methods for implementing a role-modelling character education programme in Saudi Arabia to help nurture children and young adolescents’ moral values, considering the Islamic cultural and pedagogical context in the region. This is based on the findings from a qualitative study that used 14 interviews and three focus groups with 17 participants, including parents, students, consultants, and teachers
Numerical analysis of seasonal temperature variations in an indirect solar water heating system in a continental climate
No full textThis paper presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of an indirect solar water heating (SWH) system designed for the continental climate of Central Asia. Detailed Python models were developed to simulate the dynamic thermal behavior of key components, including a flat-plate solar collector and a stratified storage tank with an immersed coil heat exchanger, coupled with hydraulic and control strategies. The models were validated against experimental data and TRNSYS simulations, showing good agreement in major thermal performance indicators. The validated framework was applied to assess seasonal performance under typical meteorological conditions (solar irradiance, ambient temperature, wind speed) for five representative cities: Almaty, Astana, Atyrau, Tashkent, and Ashgabat. Results reveal pronounced seasonal variations: in summer, high solar input leads to collector efficiencies and tank temperatures above 60 °C, enabling domestic hot water supply without auxiliary heating. In winter and autumn, lower solar availability requires supplementary electric heating. The simulations accurately capture thermal stratification, thermocline formation, and pump control behavior, offering detailed insights into transient energy storage and delivery dynamics. Overall, the proposed framework provides a reliable and flexible tool for analyzing and optimizing indirect SWH systems under diverse climatic conditions, supporting their broader deployment in continental regions