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There is no uniform methodology adopted worldwide for Shariah equity screening. The purpose of this research paper is to suggest reforms required to improve Shariah screening methodologies used for equities using Dow Jones Islamic Market Index, which is the world’s first such methodology adopted.

This research uses a qualitative research methodology that goes beyond analysing secondary data on the subject matter. It includes conducting semi-structured interviews with selected subject matter experts to gain insights into the practical issues associated with existing Shariah screening methodologies. The aim is to identify areas for potential reforms that can be implemented in the future. By combining secondary data analysis with first-hand perspectives from experts, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Shariah screening, contributing to the development of practical and effective reforms.

The study recommends the inclusion of additional filters in Shariah screening methodologies to promote stocks that are not only Shariah-compliant but also socially responsible. It suggests that while a certain level of Shariah non-compliance threshold may be tolerated during the initial screening stage, over time, this accepted threshold should gradually decrease. The ultimate goal is to achieve 0% thresholds for Shariah-compliant equities. By advocating for stricter criteria and a progressive reduction in non-compliance tolerance, the study highlights the importance of continuously improving and refining Shariah screening practices to ensure higher levels of compliance and alignment with Shariah principles.

It is anticipated that the findings of this research provides original insights and contributions to existing knowledge. It offers novel perspectives, innovative approaches and solutions to address specific areas in need of reform. By focusing on enhancing the effectiveness and standardisation of Shariah-compliant investment practices, the research brings fresh perspectives and adds value to the field. Its unique contribution lies in identifying and addressing emerging challenges and proposing improvements in Shariah screening methodologies.

This paper aims to obtain a calculation method by hand without iteration.

This paper adopts strains as known quantities to solve the internal forces and deformations of the section, simplifies the deflection curve of the column and obtains nomograms that can calculate the bearing capacity and reinforcement of circular reinforced concrete (RC) columns by hand.

Nomograms include five variables: mechanical reinforcement ratio, relative normal force, dimensionless bending moment, slenderness ratio and ultimate dimensionless curvature. Nomograms corresponding to all classes of concrete have been drawn, and their dimensionless form makes them widely applicable. The calculation results of nomograms are compared and analysed with numerical calculation results, and the difference is within 5%, meeting the engineering requirements.

Calculating the bearing capacity of compression bending components requires considering second-order effects. Therefore, the calculation of the bearing capacity of circular RC columns requires iterative calculation, as it includes dual nonlinearity of material and geometry, and the two are coupled with each other. To calculate the bearing capacity of the section adopting ordinary concrete, it is necessary to solve the transcendental equation iteratively. For high-strength concrete, it can only be solved by numerical integration. A fast calculation method by hand is proposed in this paper.

Burnout is defined as the syndrome that causes emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduction in personal achievement, and concerns people-oriented professions. This study explores the impact of burnout on the health, social and family life of mental health nurses.

A qualitative method with face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interviews was implemented with 16 mental health nurses working in Athens, Greece.

Nursing staff experience emotional exhaustion intensely due to stress since psychiatric patients require constant contact and communication and increased needs that workers have to meet. Regarding the feeling of personal achievement, they evaluated their performance positively and were satisfied with the effectiveness of the care provided. Regarding depersonalisation, the interviewees stated that they do experience it; however, in their majority they express that they do not wish to distance themselves from their duties. Their social and family life is not significantly affected and communication and support from family members is highly rated.

The research has focused on samples of nurses without mentioning their specialisation, while few studies in Greece have focused on the phenomenon in mental health nurses using qualitative research methods. This study aimed to fill this gap in the literature by examining burnout syndrome using a qualitative methodology.

This study aims to explore how multinational lead buyers can play an active role in ensuring worker voices in garment supplier factories where workers have limited space to raise their voices, and how buyers’ involvement increases the possibilities of worker voices mitigating barriers to social dialogues and enhancing mutual interests of buyers and workers in garment factories.

Using a qualitative research approach and multiple embedded case study method, this study considered buyer−supplier dyads as the unit of analysis, i.e. two multinational lead buyers and their four corresponding suppliers in the garment industry of Bangladesh. Focus group discussion and key informant in-depth interviews were techniques applied to collect factory-level data, and within and cross-case analysis techniques were applied to develop an overall understanding.

The results of this study reveal that the opportunities for workers to voice their concerns through social dialogue in garment supplier factories are limited due to various obstacles. Similarly, the role of multinational lead buyers in addressing these issues is found to be less than ideal. This study also shows that buyers can take short-term and long-term initiatives to ensure social dialogues. Moreover, this study presents how social dialogues can meet the expectations of multinational buyers and their garment suppliers.

While this study focuses exclusively on the garment industry, similar scenarios also exist across a multitude of other industries. Thus, future research could extend this study’s scope to various sectors, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the general state of worker voices in Bangladesh. This study stands to make significant contributions to literature in the fields of global value chains, human relations and international business. It will pose critical perspectives on how upstream value chain suppliers can fortify worker rights through social dialogue, and elucidate the means and motives for lead buyers to play a more active role in this endeavour.

This study is distinct in its approach, integrating buyer−supplier roles to pave the way for enhanced worker voice opportunities through social dialogue in garment supplier factories.

This paper aims to address weight-based bullying as a persistent issue among adolescents. Fat phobia, rooted in societal biases against overweight individuals, leads to social exclusion and discrimination, negatively impacting mental health and equality. Educational settings suffer from the profound effects of fat phobia, creating a toxic atmosphere that distracts from learning and marginalizes students who don't conform to traditional physical norms.

This paper combines historical analysis, literature review and critical discourse analysis. It examines the historical roots of fat phobia, explores the impact of societal influences, analyzes contemporary educational practices and the use of popular culture as a innovative tool.

Leveraging popular culture in anti-fat phobia education effectively challenges stereotypes. Educators empower students to critically analyze media depictions, encouraging empathy and inclusivity. Current events serve as critical teaching tools, sparking discussions on intersecting discrimination forms and equity.

This paper emphasizes the urgent need to comprehensively address fat phobia in education, advocating for a shift in societal attitudes toward body diversity. Popular culture can serve as an educational tool to create inclusive classrooms where all students are valued and free from weight-based discrimination.

This paper emphasizes the urgent need to comprehensively address fat phobia in education, advocating for a shift in societal attitudes toward body diversity. Popular culture can serve as an educational tool to create inclusive classrooms where all students are valued and free from weight-based discrimination.

The originality and value of this paper lie in its multi-faceted approach to examining weight-based discrimination, its historical context, practical educational strategies, and the innovative use of popular culture as a tool for promoting inclusivity and empathy.

The transformative impact of digital innovations on education has reshaped academic landscapes, affecting both instructional methods and evaluation systems. This study delves into the realm of distance education, exploring the intricate dynamics of digital access, equity and inclusivity, with a particular focus on their influence on learning outcomes.

A comprehensive survey involving 360 participants was conducted to gather data on various facets of the digital learning environment. Descriptive statistics illuminated participants' perceptions, while digital access disparities were analyzed through a chi-square test. Structural equation modelling (SEM) assessed direct relationships, mediation and moderation analyses and elucidated the nuanced influence of demographic parameters.

Descriptive analysis revealed generally positive perceptions of digital learning, with some variability in aspects like accessibility of learning materials and Internet connectivity. Digital access disparities were evident across demographic parameters, highlighting significant associations with gender, education, income, geographic location, religious affiliation and field of study. SEM indicated robust positive associations between digital access and learning outcomes, strategies for enhancing equity and inclusivity and their combined impact on overall academic success.

This study contributes original insights by comprehensively analyzing the interplay of digital access, equity and inclusivity in distance education and their impact on learning outcomes. The research unveils nuanced disparities across demographic dimensions, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. The study’s integration of SEM, mediation and moderation analyses adds a sophisticated layer to the understanding of these relationships.

This study aims to examine the transaction costs (TCs) involved in searching for a business case to adopt specific walling innovations by housing developers and the influence of these TCs on their adoption outcomes. This is against the backdrop that innovation adoption, like any new venture, is failure-prone but necessary for countries to reap the full benefits of technological innovation in residential developments, especially when these innovations are also green. Moreover, this issue is understudied.

The study uses a qualitative design and focuses on the early adopting developers in Ghana. The original theoretical framework integrates theories on entrepreneurial opportunity discovery and TC economics. The authors interviewed 12 developers and 13 industry stakeholders purposively identified. The authors analysed and triangulated the resulting transcripts using thematic analysis techniques.

The authors identified two types of early adopters who attempted eight types of walling innovations. Most efforts (71%) were partially successful or failed. The range of TCs identified differed by the adopter type, technology and knowledge coordination strategy. Although the common TCs that were consequential were associated with monitoring and supervision, construction, additional learning, acquiring specialised skills, design change and dispute resolutions, their influence on adoption outcomes is very nuanced.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is among the first to link TCs with innovation adoption outcomes by housing developers in discovering profitable opportunities to adopt specific walling innovations. The findings and theoretical framework lay a foundation for in-depth analyses of the entrepreneurship of innovation adoption in residential real estate. The exploratory work will generate further interest in this area.

The study aimed to address how recruits perceive their roles and develop professional identities during in-classroom and in-field training.

This study explored the professional identity formation process by analysing asynchronous surveys with recruits from 13 municipal police departments in British Columbia, Canada. The participants were surveyed twice: after classroom-based training following Block I at the British Columbia Police Academy (BCPA) and after their departmental field training following Block II.

The analysis revealed that police recruits lacking public safety experience transformed their occupation and lifestyle. The training at the police academy helped develop recruits' muscle memory as they applied their knowledge to the situation through hands-on practice. Moreover, teamwork at the police academy and during field training allowed recruits to form their police identity. The study was conducted between 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus revealing how the recruits learnt effectively whilst facing continuous challenges and adjusting.

This study relied solely on the respondents' language in text-based answers; therefore, it was not possible to ask follow-up questions or seek clarification. Consequently, several inputs were excluded from the analysis. This would not have been the case if a quantitative method, where answers can be selected accurately, had been used.

This study demonstrates that police recruits acquire diverse competencies and skill sets through rigorous formal requirements, nuanced informal aspects and comprehensive training at the BCPA and during field training, all of which pivotal in shaping their professional identities.

This paper aims to explore the determinants of the level of minibonds issued by companies. In doing so, it discusses the importance of minibonds in providing a market-based funding source. In the empirical analysis, special attention is paid to the study of the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

The analysis is carried out through an econometric approach, on the basis of a high-quality empirical dataset related to the Italian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The reference period covers the recent pandemic. From a theoretical point of view, a regression model is implemented, including a multicollinearity analysis and an outlier detection procedure.

The results of the study indicate that factors such as leverage, cash flow, firm collaterals and seniority can explain the amount of minibonds issued. These findings provide valuable insights into the drivers of minibond issuance and highlight the potential benefits of minibonds as a funding option for Italian SMEs.

Importantly, results highlight relevant managerial implications at two levels. On one side, we carry on a managerial discussion about the worthiness of accessing the minibonds market; on the other side, we give insights on the managerial implications related to the features of the companies issuing minibonds.

The paper investigates an innovative financial instrument that has been introduced recently and has not yet been studied in depth. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first contribution assessing the main drivers for minibonds issuance level, which is a timely and relevant managerial research topic. In addition, this study also takes into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on minibond issuance, making the analysis appropriate for explaining the current economic context.

This paper aims to identify why hotel employees in the Egyptian context accept the extreme job duties resulting from hosting too many mega sporting events and what outcomes they experience as a result.

The empirical data is based on semi-structured interviews with 36 hotel employees working in reservations, front desk and events management roles in four 4-star hotels located in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Thematic analysis was subsequently used to determine the main ideas in the interview transcripts.

The findings show that hotel employees accept the extreme job duties resulting from hosting mega sporting events for the following four reasons: linking pay with performance, difficulty finding alternative jobs, proving their occupational identity and being subject to patriotism. Furthermore, this paper highlights that the engagement of hotel employees in extreme work conditions during such mega-sporting events might be detrimental to their mental health, resulting in increased cronyism and gender bias among them.

This paper is a pioneering study to specifically investigate how hosting mega sporting events influences the extremity of work conditions for hospitality sector employees. Prior studies (to the best of the authors’ knowledge) have not theorised and empirically analysed this specific topic, especially in under-researched settings, such as developing countries in the global south.