Contemporary Research Articles

Intellectual capital and firm risk: evidence from an emerging economy

Purpose Intellectual capital (IC) plays a pivotal role in determining corporate risk profiles in the contemporary knowledge era. Consequently, this study aims to analyze the impact of IC on firm risk (FR) among the manufacturing companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). Design/methodology/approach The authors have adopted the modified value-added intellectual model which combines human capital efficiency, structural capital efficiency, efficiency of capital employed and relational capital efficiency. FR has been used as the dependent variable, measured as the standard deviation of the daily stock prices. The study has used panel data from a sample of 40 manufacturing companies listed in the KSE-100 Index from 2015 to 2021. Findings The results suggest that IC has a significant impact on the FR of manufacturing companies listed on the benchmark index of PSX. Moreover, this relationship is direct; thus, an increase in IC would also increase FR measured by the change in stock prices. Research limitations/implications The current study has only used linear techniques. Future researchers may consider investigating the impact of IC at varying levels of FR using nonlinear techniques. Practical implications This study provides corporate managers and policymakers valuable insight into the need to strike a balance between investment in IC and their FR, particularly in an emerging market context. Originality/value IC is frequently associated with firm performance. However, the relationship between IC and FR has generally been underexplored. This study adds to the strand of limited IC literature by investigating the impact of a modified IC model on FR in an emerging economy.

Sexual satisfaction and oversexualization among adults. The moderating role of self-esteem

BackgroundIn the contemporary world, there is excessive creation and exposure of one’s own sexuality among adults. Taking this into account, the determinants of sexualization are being sought. The aim of this research was to assess the significance of se-lected demographic variables and the number of sexual partners, as well as psychological variables (self-esteem and sexual satisfaction) for revealing behaviours related to over-sexualization. We also investigated whether self-esteem can moderate the relationship between sexual satisfaction and over-sexualization.Participants and procedureSeven hundred persons, including 403 women (298 heterosexual and 105 gay) and 297 men (199 heterosexual and 98 gay) were surveyed. The respondents were aged from 18 to 45 years (M = 22.90, SD = 4.62). In the study the following tools were used: the Oversexualization Questionnaire, the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Self-Esteem Scale.ResultsIt was found that sexualized appearance was more important for homosexual persons than heterosexual ones and seduction differentiated women and men and was correlated with the age and the number of sexual partners. Oversexualization demonstrated in appearance and message contents was correlated with low self-esteem and low sexual satisfaction. Low self-esteem was found to be a significant moderator in the relationship between sexual satisfaction and sexualized appearance.ConclusionsThe present study indicates the importance of self-esteem and sexual satisfaction for sexualized appearance. Low self-esteem moderates the relationship between sexual satisfaction and sexualized appearance.

A Study on Managing Cultural Diversity and Governance Process in the Education Sector

Background of the study: The domain of education employs people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Each faculty member has their distinct characteristics and personality traits making it challenging for the Human resource department to keep them all content and satisfied with their work and fellow members under one roof. Aim/Purpose: This study aims to investigate the application of governance for managing cultural diversity among faculty members for achieving sustainable human resource management in Community Colleges. Methodology: A thorough investigation of the conceptual and empirical literature available in the domain has helped create a strong foundation for the research. With the help of an extensive review of the literature, the relationship between diversity management and the governance process among faculty members is reviewed. Findings: Finally, the study concludes with the significance of the relationship between diversity management and the governance process among faculty members to achieve sustainable human resource management in the education sector. Results: Reviewing the correlation between diversity management and the governance process among faculty members solves the problems of communication and interaction among employees having diverse backgrounds. Practical, Research & Social Implications: The paper highlights the need for suitable management of diversity in community colleges which can lead to broader and more impelling implications for the policy makers and the colleges to adopt more welcoming and inclusive principles to cater to all needs and make diversity richer and a strong suit. Originality/value: Sustainable human resource management leads to greater productivity among employees and sustainability for the organization. In the contemporary world where competition is vast, there is a need to maintain internal harmony and balance. Thus, our research provides an in-depth analysis of the myriad ways adopted by the education sector for diversity management and practices and governance process.

Multi‐response optimization of characteristics for graphite reinforced biodegradable PVA‐fumaric acid cross‐linked composite: A gray‐fuzzy logic‐based hybrid approach

AbstractIn the current investigation, enhancement in the mechanical properties, thermal stability, and decrement in the moisture absorption capabilities of polyvinyl alcohol was observed by cross‐linking it with different weight percentages (wt. %) of fumaric acid and reinforcing them along with sulfuric acid‐modified graphite particles. The effects of altering the cross‐linking duration and fumaric acid wt. % were investigated in the resulting composite using the Taguchi L16 experimental design method. As in this contemporary era of rapid industrial expansion and fierce competition, the primary goals of manufacturers revolve around the production of high‐quality goods at optimal costs within a specified timeframe. Therefore, to save both cost and time, the authors have utilized a technique known as “gray‐fuzzy optimization” to balance competing goals between mechanical (toughness, elongation and strength) and physical (water intake capacity) attributes. The present approach aimed to reduce the experimentation expenses and increase the effectiveness of composite manufacturing by considerably reducing the intricacy of practical multi‐response optimization issues. Response graphs and analysis of variance tests were also utilized to calculate the percentage contribution of the input variables and provide model significance.Highlights Polyvinyl alcohol is cross‐linked with different weight percentages (wt. %) of fumaric acid, and reinforced them with sulfuric acid‐modified graphite particles. Enhancement in mechanical properties, thermal stability, and decrease in moisture absorption capabilities were perceived for the fabricated composite. Effects of altering the cross‐linking duration and fumaric acid wt. % were investigated in the resulting composite using the Taguchi L16 experimental design. Gray‐fuzzy optimization technique was utilized to balance competing goals between water intake and mechanical attributes like toughness, elongation and strength. Response graphs and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were also utilized to evaluate the percentage contribution of input variables and provide model significance.

Relevance of classical management concepts in the contemporary era – a case study of Fayol’s principles

Relevance of classical management concepts in the contemporary era – a case study of Fayol’s principles

Unleashing the power of chlorogenic acid: exploring its potential in nutrition delivery and the food industry.

In the contemporary era, heightened emphasis on health and safety has emerged as a paramount concern among individuals with food. The concepts of "natural" and "green" have progressively asserted dominance in the food consumption market. Consequently, through continuous exploration and development, an escalating array of natural bioactive ingredients is finding application in both nutrition delivery and the broader food industry. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenolic compound widely distributed in various plants in nature, has garnered significant attention. Abundant research underscores CGA's robust biological activity, showcasing notable preventive and therapeutic efficacy across diverse diseases. This article commences with a comprehensive overview, summarizing the dietary sources and primary biological activities of CGA. These encompass antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective activities. Next, a comprehensive overview of the current research on nutrient delivery systems incorporating CGA is provided. This exploration encompasses nanoparticle, liposome, hydrogel, and emulsion delivery systems. Additionally, the article explores the latest applications of CGA in the food industry. Serving as a cutting-edge theoretical foundation, this paper contributes to the design and development of CGA in the realms of nutrition delivery and the food industry. Finally, the article presents informed speculations and considerations for the future development of CGA.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ART AND DESIGN THROUGH NEW-AGE MEDIA

Culture is a broad-spectrum term commonly used to identify habits of a heterogeneous social groups which develop in a specific geographic location. It is evidently reflected through the various art practices, be it visual or performing arts, or artifacts created by the artisans. They have become an integral part of the cultural ethos. India is a country rich in such diverse treasure of cultural practices through art. Artisans have also migrated beyond their original geographical boundaries to diversify the reach of the art. It is an important cultural asset which helps to preserve the culture and heritage of a community or the skill-sets of the artisans. Our ancestors have been preserving this culture of storytelling through the art forms which show a perspective of life. They also contribute to the livelihood of the craftsmen, thus contributing to the economy of the country. There is beauty in promoting cultural diversity; people learn new skills from other cultural groups and encourage innovation through various art forms and designs. In the contemporary era of technology, modernization and globalization, the traditional art forms are fading away. Sustainability of these valuable these art forms is a concern today. Purposes and functionality of these art practices have also diversified. The study creates new objectives through cultural diversity and designing new products for sustainable development in art and design. The article discusses some aspects of technological intervention in these art practices that can help sustain these heritages. Thus diversification of media, purpose and an involvement of the young generation can help to preserve the social cultural ethos of our country.

Understanding the social identity of adolescents in the Indigenous Kodava Community of India.

The social identity development of adolescents in marginalized communities across the globe holds paramount significance in determining the overall well-being of its future population. Focusing on one such community, the Kodavas, an Indigenous community in South India, this study aims to understand the shifting configurations of social identity based on the changing sociocultural structure and its implications on identity perception among the adolescents belonging to the Kodava community in Kodagu district in Karnataka, India. This study used a qualitative research design to develop an analytical framework of social identity formation and its transitions in the context of the Kodavas. Data were collected from 188 adolescents (47% boys, 53% girls) between 13 and 17 years (M age = 15 years), in the form of essay writing. The findings based on thematic analysis highlight the core traditional elements of Kodava identity, factors influencing the transition in identity, and its reflection in the contemporary period.

Boardgaming after the fall of Kabul: player and designer (re)engagement with A Distant Plain

ABSTRACT During summer 2021, the world watched the swift and, for some, surprising collapse of Afghanistan’s government. However, a Taliban victory was always a possibility for players of A Distant Plain (ADP), a boardgame about insurgency and counterinsurgency in post-9/11 Afghanistan. These events inspired many ADP players, and its designers, to (re)engage with the game, thus providing scholars with a unique opportunity to investigate in real time how historical practice occurs within the popular culture space. Utilizing primary sources, this article demonstrates that contemporary history games – those which depict current events or open-ended, unresolved periods, rather than ones designed to model what is seen as ‘settled’ history – are uniquely subject to external, out-of-game interventions which may prompt reevaluations of their assumptions and models, since players and designers are repeatedly challenged by changing circumstances to integrate new data into how they perceive and consume the historical representations found therein. These games are therefore exceptionally suited to engendering genuine and ongoing historical practice, through the use of evidence, argumentation and debate, retrospective reassessments, and counterfactual analysis. The broader discipline will greatly benefit from taking a more inclusive view of popular history by paying greater attention to historical games of this type.

Study on One-Stop Student Community Education Management and Services in Higher Education Institutions

In the contemporary era of rapid advancements in information technology, the domain of higher education administration and services is also experiencing a new wave of transformation. Particularly concerning the management and provision of services to student communities, the limitations of traditional fragmented and departmentalized models are gradually becoming apparent. Against this backdrop, the emergence of a "one-stop" model for student community education management and services seeks to integrate a comprehensive range of support, encompassing academic guidance, psychological counseling, lifestyle amenities, and career planning, through a unified service platform. This model not only optimizes resource allocation and enhances service efficiency but, more importantly, significantly augments students' sense of attainment and satisfaction. Nevertheless, to realize this objective, universities must delve deeply into exploration and innovation across multiple dimensions, including administrative structures, information technology infrastructure, human resources, and student feedback.

Malware Detection in Files and URL’s Using Machine Learning

The rampant extrusion of personal or sensitive data by malicious software has inflicted significant damage worldwide, posing a critical threat to individuals and various sectors of society. Cyber attackers engage in relentless warfare against computer systems, deploying malware to breach crucial data. Consequently, safeguarding this data has become a paramount concern for researchers. This paper aims to address this challenge by proposing the development of an application leveraging machine learning algorithms to discern between malicious and legitimate files effectively. In the contemporary era, marked by pervasive technological advancements, the widespread adoption of the internet has facilitated unprecedented connectivity but also heightened the risk of cyber threats perpetrated by malicious actors. These threats, often executed through the deployment of malware, have inflicted substantial financial losses, amounting to billions of dollars globally. Consequently, safeguarding against malicious attacks has become a paramount endeavor in the ongoing battle against cybercrime. To address this imperative, this paper endeavors to leverage machine learning algorithms to prognosticate the likelihood of malware infections in computer systems, utilizing a supervised learning approach alongside gradient boosting algorithms. Drawing upon a publicly available dataset, meticulously partitioned into training and testing sets, the study embarks on four distinct experiments employing the aforementioned algorithms. Notably, the findings underscore Light GBM as the most efficacious model, boasting an impressive AUC Score of 0.73926, thus signifying a pivotal advancement in fortifying cyber defenses through predictive analytics. Malware poses a significant threat in today's digital landscape, with various forms proliferating over the last decade, leading to substantial financial losses for organizations. Defined as malicious software, malware wreaks havoc on users' computers through various means. To address this challenge, a solution leveraging machine learning techniques has been proposed to detect malware in downloaded files. By analyzing features such as MD5 hash, Optional Header size, and Load Configuration Size, different machine learning algorithms are trained to distinguish between malicious and benign files effectively. Through rigorous training and comparison using Validation and Test datasets, the SVM Classifier emerged as the most accurate, achieving up to 99.99% accuracy in detecting malware types like Adware, Trojan, Backdoors, Unknown, Multidrop, Rbot, Spam, and Ransomware. This approach not only identifies malware but also mitigates potential risks to users' systems, safeguarding against detrimental impacts from infections.

Menstrual Temporality: Cyclic Bodies in a Linear World

ABSTRACT In this paper I will explore a phenomenology of the menstrual cycle, focusing on the cycle’s rhythm as a form of lived temporality. Drawing on the work of Henri Lefebvre and Thomas Fuchs I will outline a key connection between embodiment and rhythmic temporality more generally, before applying this analysis to the rhythm of the menstrual cycle specifically. I will consider the phenomenology of the experience of cycling through the phases of pre-ovulation, ovulation, pre-menstruation and menstruation as a pattern, or specifically an embodied rhythm that constitutes a form of lived temporality. I will consider a way that the subject may potentially be alienated from this rhythm as a result of a dominant cultural narrative of “linear time”. I will argue further that this dissonance between the menstrual body and the contemporary world tends to be compounded by a lack of “menstrual literacy” in education and culture.

Object-oriented analysis as a foundation for building climate storylines of compounding short-term drought and crop heat stress

IntroductionCrops are vulnerable to precipitation and heat extremes during late spring through summer.MethodsWe analyzed for a north-central U.S. region short-term drought and agricultural heat stress during April-May-June-July. We used the 4-km Parameter Elevation Regression on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) for observations, aggregated to a 25-km grid, and two 25-km Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4) simulns used either GFDL- or MPI-GCM boundary conditions. We chose 1981-2000 as our contemporary time period, and 2041-2060 as our scenario time period, which used the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 emissions scenario. We used object-oriented analysis to identify events of interest in observations and simulations by identifying objects in a space-time domain that meet specified criteria, such as exceeding a heat-stress temperature threshold. The event diagnosis allowed analysis of compound events, occurring when temperature and drought objects overlap.ResultsIdentified objects yielded events that can undermine agricultural productivity and which are thus relevant to decision makers, making them building blocks for possible climate storylines. The observations and simulations showed similar spatial distributions of event frequencies across the analysis region. However, the simulations attained this distribution by having fewer events that tend to cover larger areas compared to observed events, suggesting that the effective resolution of the simulations was coarser than their 25-km grids. Short-term drought frequency increased and heat-stress frequency decreased in transitioning to the scenario climate. When compounding occurred heat-stress events generally preceded the short-term drought events. The overlapping, compound events tended to be more extreme compared to non-overlapping events of either type.DiscussionThe information yielded projected changes in these agriculturally motivated events. One prominent conditional behavior emerging from the work was that a heat-stress event should be a warning to watch for potential drought, as both could compound each other to more intense levels.

A globalized symbolic environment ward by the States and dominated by organizations: enticing the nobility and influencing the class habitus

Purpose Through Bourdieusian sociology, this study aims to interpret a globalized symbolic environment ward by the States and dominated by organizations through the States’ Nobilities enticing and the Euro-American influences disseminated by the cultural circuit of capitalism in the inculcation and incorporation of a class habitus conniving with this logic of domination. Design/methodology/approach This study has developed a theoretical essay based on the contributions of Bourdieusian sociology to discuss and understand the following concepts and their respective relationships: symbolic environment, globalization, organizations, State, State Nobility, Euro-American influences, cultural circuit of capitalism and class habitus. Findings The arguments built throughout this theoretical essay recognized how class habitus on environment contributes to organizations establishing themselves as a space that consolidates and replicates the domination logic. As indicated, the State Nobility is an intermediary element between dominant organizations and the State, as dominated. Practical implications This theoretical essay signals that less harmful alliances between organizations, the State Nobility and the State could culminate in social, environmental and economic scenarios provided with more inclusion, diversity and preservation. Social implications This study presents an in-depth conceptual analysis to hold power structures responsible as direct and indirect drivers of environmental problems, with their different proportions and severity levels, affecting the planet. Originality/value This study proposes an alternative lens to debate and question how much the results presented by the contemporary world order compensate (if in any way) the damage that invades and deteriorate environmental assets.

Light-speed, contemporary war, and Australia’s national defence strategic review

AbstractIn our hyperconnected contemporary world, military and civilian digital and cyber technologies rely upon uncontested and uncongested access to frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS). This reliance enables light-speed signalic connectivity, interconnectivity, operability, and interoperability of the systems and devices that perpetuate twenty-first century modes of information, remote, hybrid, and digital warfare. Informed by cultural theorist Paul Virilio’s commentaries on speed, light-speed, and war, this article examines speed as an inflection that insidiously underpins the Australian Government’s 2023 National Defence: Defence Strategy Review (DSR) (public version). This is not an exhaustive study of light-speed or the DSR. Rather, this article aims to show how speed and light-speed, used as investigatory lenses, can provide critical insights into relationships between contemporary technology, and war. To this end, the article refers to US and UK defence and government electromagnetic spectrum policy statements, interpolating them into motivations for AUKUS, and the DSR’s positioning.

Prognostic relevance of circulating lymphoma cells at diagnosis in newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma patients.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Circulating lymphoma (CL) cells can be seen at diagnosis in some FL patients, however, previous studies evaluating this have shown mixed results. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the impact of CL at diagnosis on outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed FL using data from a single center. Patients were divided into CL+ and CL- based on immunophenotyping via peripheral blood (PB) flow cytometry. CL was defined as detectable clonally restricted B-cells that matched the actual or expected B-cell immunophenotype of FL. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) after first-line treatment and secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), diagnosis to treatment interval (DTI), progression of disease within 2years of diagnosis (POD24), and cumulative incidence of transformation between the two groups. Among the 541 patients with FL, 204 had PB flow cytometry performed at diagnosis, and after excluding patients not meeting the eligibility criteria, 147 cases remained with 24 (16%) CL+ at diagnosis. Patients in the CL+ group were younger (53 vs. 58years, p=0.02), had more extranodal involvement (83% vs. 44%, p<0.01), follicular lymphoma international prognostic index 3-5 (55% vs. 31%, p=0.01), and a higher proportion received first-line immunochemotherapy (75% vs. 43%, p=0.01) compared to the CL-group. The median PFS was not significantly different between CL+ (6.27years, 95% CI=3.61-NR) and CL- (6.61years, 95% CI=5.10-9.82) cohorts regardless of the first-line treatment or level of absolute PB CL cells. There was no significant difference in ORR, median OS, DTI, POD24, and cumulative incidence of transformation between the two groups. In our study, we found that the presence of CL cells at diagnosis in FL in the contemporary era did not impact outcomes and survival.

Exploring the Significance of Nature in Literature: Eco Critical Themes in the Selected Work of Barbara Kingslover

The present article deals with an analysis of the eco-critic elements in Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behaviour. The article explores the perspectives of eco-critical along with ecological speculations in order to deal with the climate change and cultural aspects of the novel. Critical, unlike the conventional eco-critic in literary genre, discards the genre constraints the last happenstances and becomes impressive for endless critical examination. Ecology offers the supreme impulse, which is concealed in traditional ecology. The eco-critical enclaves in the novel closely surround the aspects of the current world’s concerned environment, which is why the novel becomes appropriate to be analyzed as an ecocritical. The deteriorating environmental circumstances in the contemporary world and a much similar one in the novel provide an optimal space to study ecology beside ecocriticism. An ecocritical analysis of the text not only focuses on the need for ecological consciousness in the characters. But in a sustainable way of saving the earth for the future

Forming Conscience in a Contemporary World: Aquinas’s Teaching on the Gifts of Wisdom and Counsel

Forming Conscience in a Contemporary World: Aquinas’s Teaching on the Gifts of Wisdom and Counsel

The Impact of Digital Content Marketing on Customer Engagement in an Online Fashion Store

In the contemporary era of technological advancement characterized by the flourishing of online shopping and the fashion e-commerce industry, it is essential for fashion retail enterprises to possess a comprehensive understanding of the interrelationship between content marketing and customer engagement to achieve success. This study aims to examine the impact of content marketing strategies on customer engagement in online fashion stores in Malaysia, offering retailers effective content marketing strategies to engage with customers. Using the quantitative research method, a sample of 172 respondents from Generation Z in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, participated in an online survey via Google Forms. The Uses and Gratifications Theory was adopted in the study to gain a comprehensive understanding of the motivations and reasons that drive individuals’ engagement on online fashion stores. Pearson Correlation analysis and Multiple Linear Regression were used to determine the relationship between the independent and dependent variables and test the hypothesis’s validity. The study discovered that content informativeness, content interactivity, and content entertainment have a significant relationship with customer engagement on fashion websites. Specifically, content informativeness has the strongest positive relationship with customer engagement on fashion retail websites in Malaysia. The study’s results provide valuable insights for fashion online retailers in optimizing their website’s content marketing strategies to better engage with customers and ultimately increase sales based on content characteristics such as informative, interactive, and entertaining content. Therefore, they could gain competitive advantages by implementing website content optimization.

Rudarenje podataka za pomorsku sigurnost na temelju dubokog učenja: studija slučaja Južnog Vijetnama

High-speed passenger vessels, integrated river and sea vessels, container vessels, oil tankers, and other underwater vehicles operating in maritime traffic are among the types of vessels that must be equipped with AIS and VHF. The safety of navigation is one of the major problems in the maritime sector, particularly in Vietnam. Furthermore, marine traffic in the seaport zone is a common and difficult issue to manage in areas with a high volume of vessel traffic, mostly in places where the infrastructure supporting navigation is inadequately developed to meet the rapidly growing demands of the contemporary world. Therefore, it is necessary to create an integrated maritime management system to improve the efficiency of data exploitation and support maritime safety. To address this challenge, this study suggests a Maritime Traffic State Prediction (MTSP) model to predict traffic conditions in the channels where real-time data collection is insufficient in some specific locations. We recommend a deep learning method using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to predict the safe path of the vessel in case of missing data segments. The findings have shown that the proposed approach encourages the mining of historical vessel data for maritime traffic, is ready to be applied, and can easily be implemented in a computer program or a web-based app.