Search results
1 – 10 of 94Arthur Rocha-Gomes, Juliana Dara Silva, Thais Angélica Morais, Amanda Rosa da Costa Ferreira, Viviane Cristina Costa, Amanda Escobar Teixeira, Mayara Rodrigues Lessa, Alexandre Alves da Silva, Nísia Andrade Villela Dessimoni-Pinto and Tania Regina Riul
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nutritional effects in Wistar rats of supplementation with stand-alone saturated fatty acid (SFA) or monounsaturated fatty acid…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nutritional effects in Wistar rats of supplementation with stand-alone saturated fatty acid (SFA) or monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), the replacement of SFA by MUFA and the combination of both (SFA + MUFA) over a long period of time (13 weeks).
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 30 Wistar rats were used and randomly assigned to receive (n = 6): control – lab chow; lard (L20%) – lab chow with added lard (20%); olive oil (O20%) – lab chow with added olive oil (20%); lard replacement with olive oil (L20% –O20%) – during six weeks lab chow with added lard (20%) replaced by lab chow with added olive oil (20%) given during the past seven weeks of the trial; lard combination with olive oil (L10% + O10%) – lab chow with added lard (10%) and olive oil (10%). Food and caloric intake, weight gain, food and energy efficiency, body mass index, bone mineral composition and blood biochemistry were evaluated.
Findings
All diets with added fatty acids showed higher energy intake (p < 0.001), weight gain (p = 0.01), accumulation of adipose tissue (p = 0.02) and food and energy efficiency (p = 0.01) compared to the control group. All groups exhibited higher levels of blood triglycerides compared to the control group (p = 0.02). In addition, the L10% + O10% group developed hyperglycemia (p < 0.001); the L group showed higher amounts of non- high density lipoprotein (HDL-c) (p = 0.04); and the L20%−O20% group exhibited high levels of the triglyceride/HDL-c ratio (p = 0.04) in relation to the control.
Originality/value
These results indicate that regardless of the fatty acid type, consumption in large quantities of fatty acids for long periods of time can cause obesity and dyslipidemia.
Details
Keywords
Russell Ashmore and Neil Carver
– The purpose of this paper is to review policy or guidance on the implementation of Section 5(4) written by NHS mental health trusts in England and health boards in Wales.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review policy or guidance on the implementation of Section 5(4) written by NHS mental health trusts in England and health boards in Wales.
Design/methodology/approach
A Freedom of Information request was submitted to all trusts in England (n=57) and health boards in Wales (n=7) asking them to provide a copy of any policy or guidance on the implementation of Section 5(4). Documents were analysed using content analysis. Specific attention was given to any deviations from the national Mental Health Act Codes of Practice.
Findings
In total, 41 (67.2 per cent) organisations had a policy on the implementation of Section 5(4). There was a high level of consistency between local guidance and the Mental Health Act Codes of Practice. There were however; different interpretations of the guidance and errors that could lead to misuse of the section. Some policies contained useful guidance that could be adopted by future versions of the national Codes of Practice.
Research limitations/implications
The research has demonstrated the value of examining the relationship between national and local guidance. Further research should be undertaken on the frequency and reasons for any reuse of the section.
Practical implications
Greater attention should be given to considering the necessity of local policy, given the existence of national Codes of Practice.
Originality/value
This is the only research examining the policy framework for the implementation of Section 5(4).
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for empirically studying knowledge creation (KC) with phenomenological approach and propose that understanding interaction as…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for empirically studying knowledge creation (KC) with phenomenological approach and propose that understanding interaction as play conceptualized by Hans-Georg Gadamer allows examining KC starting from the idea of a human being interacting in the events of co-creation. The presented framework is used to examine KC in a community of librarians and teachers collaborating to promote children’s joy of reading.
Design/methodology/approach
An ethnographic approach is applied to investigate knowledge-creating interaction in a working community. The triangulated data consist of ethnographic observations and video recordings of the community’s gatherings, its members’ interviews and produced documents.
Findings
The phenomenological conceptions of temporality of a human being and play are suitable for understanding being in the knowledge-creating interaction, as they give means to understand the meaningfulness of the past experiences, but promote an open attitude toward the future possibilities in a way which promotes KC. Studying interactive events allows understanding how KC can be examined as a collective accomplishment. The playful mode of being in the event was seen as a way to use the limited time available for interaction effectively.
Research limitations/implications
The empirical study was conducted in one community, and further research is needed to test the developed approach in other contexts.
Practical implications
The results may be utilized to develop organizational circumstances, which promote KC by acknowledging the meaningfulness of interaction.
Originality/value
The study presents a novel way to conceptualize and examine KC as an experience and an event with phenomenological approach.
Details
Keywords
Emil Lucian Crisan, Madalina Dan, Ioana Natalia Beleiu, Eugenia Ciocoiu and Paula Beudean
In literature, it is recognized that there is no universal set of critical success factors (CSFs) applicable to all projects. The goal of this research is to validate a…
Abstract
Purpose
In literature, it is recognized that there is no universal set of critical success factors (CSFs) applicable to all projects. The goal of this research is to validate a theoretical model which considers that CSFs’ influence on project success (PS) is configurational, that CSFs combine to influence PS.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors proposed a theoretical framework which operationalizes CSFs considering contingency and institutional theories' terms, as external contingencies, organizational resources and project strategies, which influence PS. The framework is validated through a qualitative approach on 18 social projects implemented by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Based on the conducted semistructured interviews with NGO managers or project managers, 91 instances when CSFs combine to influence PS were identified.
Findings
The dominant path reveals the combination of CSFs in terms of strategies adopted to face contingencies (70 instances), another as resources which moderate managers' strategies (14 instances), and in seven instances positive contingencies and resources combine and influence the PS. The results reveal that CSFs combine in reactive and dynamic ways to influence PS.
Originality/value
The research contributes to the vast literature on projects' success by adopting a different perspective. Configurational theory explains project management and projects' complexity better than the traditional approaches, which have a rather correlational perspective.
Details
Keywords
Filzah Md Isa, Shaista Noor, Goh Wei Wei, Sharifah Diyana Binti Syed Hussain, Hairunnisa Mohamad Ibrahim and Muhd Afiq Syazwan Ahmdon
Malaysia is considered to be a relatively young country as compared to other older countries such as Japan, China and Australia in terms of the ageing population. However, until…
Abstract
Purpose
Malaysia is considered to be a relatively young country as compared to other older countries such as Japan, China and Australia in terms of the ageing population. However, until 2035, Malaysia will be in the ageing group countries as 15% of the entire population will be above 60 years of age. This situation is quite alarming as more and more ageing care centres will be required to fulfill the ongoing demands of the ageing population. The elderly care centres in Malaysia are categorised as public (sponsored by the government), private, and charity based that comes under religious centres. Currently, there are about 365 registered elderly care centres working in the main states of Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak, two states of the East Malaysia. Due to the importance of ageing population issues, the present study is conducted to explore the demographics facet of Malaysian’s elderly care centres. The main reason behind that lies on the fact that many of these centres are still labelled as being not well equipped and lacking behind in trained staff, equipment and also suffering from severe financial constraints but some still capable of working on a sustainability basis.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative Research Strategy has been adopted, and 28 centres throughout Malaysia are included in this study. About 18 Operators from different centres and 15 caregivers were interviewed to get the holistic view of ageing care and facilities in their respective centres.
Findings
The results highlight that the majority of centres are not receiving any financial help from the government, and few centres are doing small business such as supplying consumable medical and non-medical items and providing renting and rehabilitation centres facilities to sustain. The caregivers are facing issues such as excess workload, less salary, peer conflicts and non-cooperative centre leadership.
Originality/value
The present study may help to provide useful information to the policymakers, which enables them to formulate the strategies for ageing care centres in Malaysia. As this study provides insight of components that have an impact on the overall wellbeing of elderly care centres, hence, it could help the care services providers to act as a rising star for Malaysian’s social life comfort.
Details
Keywords
Klara Johanna Winkler, Elena Bennett and Hannah R. Chestnutt
For a university to be a prime mover for sustainability transformation, all units of the university should contribute. However, organizational change in educational institutions…
Abstract
Purpose
For a university to be a prime mover for sustainability transformation, all units of the university should contribute. However, organizational change in educational institutions is often studied by examining specific domains such as research or operation in isolation. This results in a less-than-complete picture of the potential for university-wide change. In contrast, this paper aims to examine the network of social relations that determine the diffusion and sustainability of change efforts across a university. The authors use McGill University (Canada) as a model system to study the network of actors concerned with sustainability to learn how this network influences the penetration of sustainability throughout the university.
Design/methodology/approach
To explore the existing social structure, the authors use an innovative approach to illuminate the influence of social structure on organizational change efforts. Using a mixed methods approach combining social network analysis with qualitative interview data, the authors examine the influence of the social structure on sustainability transformation at McGill University. The authors conducted 52 interviews between January and April 2019 with representatives of different sustainability groups at the university across six domains (research, education, administration, operations, connectivity and students).
Findings
The authors find that McGill University has a centralized system with a low density. The network is centralized around the Office of Sustainability. The limited cross-domain interaction appears to be a result of differences in motivation and priorities. This leads to a network that has many actors but only a limited number of connections between them. The quality of the relationships is often utilitarian, with only a few relationships aiming for support and mutual growth.
Originality/value
This study brings together social network analysis, sustainability transformation and higher education in a new way. It also illustrates the complexity of guiding a large organization, such as a university, toward a sustainability transformation. Furthermore, it reveals the importance of considering each part of the university as part of an interconnected network rather than as isolated components.
Details
Keywords
Daniel Ashagrie Tegegne, Daniel Kitaw Azene and Eshetie Berhan Atanaw
This study aims to design a multivariate control chart that improves the applicability of the traditional Hotelling T2 chart. This new type of multivariate control chart displays…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to design a multivariate control chart that improves the applicability of the traditional Hotelling T2 chart. This new type of multivariate control chart displays sufficient information about the states and relationships of the variables in the production process. It is used to make better quality control decisions during the production process.
Design/methodology/approach
Multivariate data are collected at an equal time interval and are represented by nodes of the graph. The edges connecting the nodes represent the sequence of operation. Each node is plotted on the control chart based on their Hotelling T2 statistical distance. The changing behavior of each pair of input and output nodes is studied by the neural network. A case study from the cement industry is conducted to validate the control chart.
Findings
The finding of this paper is that the points and lines in the classic Hotelling T2 chart are effectively substituted by nodes and edges of the graph respectively. Nodes and edges have dimension and color and represent several attributes. As a result, this control chart displays much more information than the traditional Hotelling T2 control chart. The pattern of the plot represents whether the process is normal or not. The effect of the sequence of operation is visible in the control chart. The frequency of the happening of nodes is recognized by the size of nodes. The decision to change the product feature is assisted by finding the shortest path between nodes. Moreover, consecutive nodes have different behaviors, and that behavior change is recognized by neural network.
Originality/value
Modifying the classical Hotelling T2 control chart by integrating with the concept of graph theory and neural network is new of its kind.
Details
Keywords
Mosab I. Tabash, Umar Farooq, Mahmoud Al-Rdaydeh, Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Faryan and Ghaleb A. El Refae
This study aims to explore the impact of energy investment on economic growth. Specifically, the study investigates the impact of energy consumption, foreign investment…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of energy investment on economic growth. Specifically, the study investigates the impact of energy consumption, foreign investment, infrastructure development, tax revenue, human capital, international tourism revenue and trade volume on economic growth.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the aim, the authors sample the 24-years (1996–2019) financial statistics of BRICS countries. Given the econometric recommendations supplemented by the Johnsen cointegration test, the current study uses the fully modified ordinary least square model for regression analysis and checks the robustness through robust least square model.
Findings
The statistical analysis shows a direct impact of energy investment on economic growth. In addition, the statistical results indicate a positive impact of energy consumption, foreign investment, infrastructure development, tax revenue, human capital and trade volume on economic growth.
Research limitations/implications
The results present practical implications for policymakers regarding the adequate investment in energy production that can further promote the economic growth in BRICS countries. Policy officials should enhance the volume of renewable energy production, foreign investment and tax revenue. Additionally, it is equally suggested to policymakers regarding the development of infrastructure and human capital to ensure economic growth.
Originality/value
This study supplements the novel and robust evidence on investment in energy-leading economic growth.
Details
Keywords
Kafayat Amusa and Mutiu Abimbola Oyinlola
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between government expenditure and economic growth in Botswana over the period 1985‒2016. The study employed the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between government expenditure and economic growth in Botswana over the period 1985‒2016. The study employed the auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach in investigating the nexus. The study makes the argument that the effectiveness of public spending should be assessed not only against the amount of the expenditure but also by the type of the expenditure. The empirical findings showed that aggregate expenditure has a negative short-run and positive long-run effect on economic growth. When expenditure is disaggregated, both forms of expenditures have a positive short-run effect on economic growth, whereas only a long-run positive impact of recurrent expenditure is observed. The study suggests the need to prioritize scarce resources in productive recurrent and development spending that enables increased productivity.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examined the effectiveness of government spending in Botswana, within an ARDL framework from 1985 to 2016. To achieve this, the analysis is carried out on both an aggregate and disaggregated level. Government spending is divided into recurrent and development expenditures.
Findings
This study examined the effectiveness of government spending in Botswana, within an ARDL framework from 1985 to 2016. To achieve this, the analysis hinged on both the aggregate and disaggregated levels. The results of the aggregate analysis suggest that total public expenditure has a negative impact on economic growth in the short run; however, its impact becomes positive over the long run. On disaggregating government spending, the results show that both recurrent and development expenditures have a significant positive short-run impact on growth; however, in the long run, the significant positive impact is only observed for recurrent expenditure.
Practical implications
The results provide evidence of the diverse effects of government expenditure in the country. In the period under investigation, 73 percent of total government expenditure in Botswana was recurrent in nature, whereas 23 percent was related to development. From the results, it can be observed that although the recurrent expenditure has contributed to increased growth and must be encouraged, it is also pertinent for the Botswana Government to endeavor to place more emphasis on productive development expenditure in order to enhance short- and long-term growth. Further, there is a need to strengthen the growth-enhancing structures and to prioritize the scarce economic resources toward productive spending and ensuring continued proper governance over such expenditures.
Originality/value
The study provides empirical evidence on the effectiveness of government spending in a small open, resource-reliant middle-income SSA economy and argues that the effectiveness of public spending must be assessed not only against the amount of the expenditure but also on the type or composition of the expenditure. The study contributes to the scant empirical literature on Botswana by employing the ARDL approach to cointegration technique in estimating the long- and short-run impact of government expenditure on economic growth between 1985 and 2016.
Details
Keywords
Simplice A. Asongu and Vanessa S. Tchamyou
– This paper aims to assess how entrepreneurship affects knowledge economy (KE) in Africa.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to assess how entrepreneurship affects knowledge economy (KE) in Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
Entrepreneurship is measured by indicators of starting, doing and ending business. The four dimensions of the World Bank’s index of KE are used. Instrumental variable panel-fixed effects are applied on a sample of 53 African countries for the period of 1996-2010.
Findings
The following are some of the findings. First, creating an enabling environment for starting business can substantially boost most dimensions of KE. Second, doing business through mechanisms of trade globalization has positive effects from sectors that are not information and communication technology (ICT) and high-tech oriented. Third, the time required to end business has negative effects on KE.
Practical implications
The findings confirm the narrative that the technology in African countries at the moment may be more imitative and adaptive for reverse engineering in ICTs and high-tech products. Given the massive consumption of ICT and high-tech commodities in Africa, the continent has to start thinking of how to participate in the global value chain of producing what it consumes.
Originality/value
This paper has a twofold motivation. First, given the ambitions of African countries of moving towards knowledge-based economies, the line of inquiry is timely. Second, investigating the nexus may have substantial poverty mitigation and sustainable development implications. These entail, inter alia, the development of technology with value-added services; enhancement of existing agricultural practices; promotion of conditions that are essential for competitiveness; and adjustment to globalization challenges.
Details