Research Gaps Research Articles

Social life cycle hotspot analysis of future hydrogen use in the EU

Abstract Purpose The widespread use of hydrogen in the EU aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions may involve complex value chains (e.g. importation from third countries) with potential effects (positive or negative) on the different sectors of society. Achieving sustainable hydrogen deployment must be motivated not only by environmental and economic aspects but also by social responsibility and the search for human well-being. Given this, and the scarcity of studies currently available on prospective social impacts of hydrogen production, the present purpose of this article is to unveil and assess the main social impacts linked to the future hydrogen value chains. Methods The methodological approach adopted in this article encompasses the following steps: (i) analysis of two potential value chains for hydrogen use in EU: an on-site option, where hydrogen is produced and used in the same European country, and an off-site option, where hydrogen is produced in a European country different from its usage involving more unit processes, in terms of storage and transport activities, and working time to deliver the same quantity of hydrogen. This framework will include (i) scenario analysis and a forward-looking perspective taking into account the critical raw materials employed across the entire value chain, (ii) identification of a list of relevant social impact categories and indicators through a systematic procedure, (iii) social hotspot analysis using Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment (PSILCA) to assess the selected representative value chains, and (iv) conducting scenario analysis and subsequently interpreting of results. Results and discussion The off-site value chain shows a relatively worse social performance (6 to 72 times) than the on-site value chain across most selected indicators due to the more complex value chain. Although the identification of social hotspots depends on the specific social indicator under evaluation, the power source components (wind and solar PV) manufacturing processes and the relatively increased complexity of the off-site option highly conditioned the social performance of the hydrogen value chains in most of the indicators considered. A scenario analysis was carried out comparing both value chains with two additional locations for hydrogen production: Northern Africa and Western Asia. The findings indicate that the on-site value chain presents the lowest impact scores. For the off-site option, the production of hydrogen in a European country is the most preferable scenario in terms of the social indicators evaluated. Conclusions According to findings, producing hydrogen in a different location than where it is consumed increases the social impacts of its deployment. Measures at mid and long term should be considered for improving the social impact of hydrogen deployment in Europe. This includes increasing reuse and recycling, responsibly sourcing raw materials, and creating regulatory frameworks ensuring safe working conditions across global value chains. Furthermore, this article highlights the crucial role of the S-LCA methodology in evaluating social aspects as a support for targeted policy interventions, and the need to adapt this to the specific case study. At the same time, it acknowledges that other relevant social aspects that can influence the social sustainability of the hydrogen technology are not captured with this methodology (in particular social acceptance, affordability and energy security). Improvements in selecting indicators and refined geographical and temporal representations of the value chains to better represent hydrogen technologies and future size market are research gaps filled in the present scientific work.

The nonlinear impact of climate change on inland waterway transportation in the Upper Mississippi—Illinois River Region

The U.S. inland waterway system has played a critical role in promoting economic growth by efficiently transporting agricultural and manufacturing commodities along major riverine systems, such as the Mississippi River. However, the system faces escalating challenges due to the growing disruptions caused by climate change. For instance, the drought of the Mississippi River during the fall of 2022 resulted in an unprecedented increase in barge shipping rates. While the industry generally recognizes that climate change can significantly impact agricultural supply chains, it remains unclear how various environmental factors, including changes in water levels and temperature, affect inland waterway operations. This study aims to fill this research gap by conducting an empirical assessment of the impact of climate change-related factors on the operations of the inland waterway system in the Upper Mississippi—Illinois River Region. Unlike previous studies using conventional regression analysis, this study investigates the nonlinear relationship between changes in barge shipping rates and various environmental factors using the Gradient Boosting Decision Trees machine-learning method. Our analysis identifies the 29 ft gage height as a pivotal threshold influencing barge rates; rates tend to rise as the gage height decreases, and surpassing this threshold can also lead to increased shipping rates. This new approach enhances the model’s predictive capacity, allowing for a better understanding of the nonlinear effects of climate change on barge rates and productivity. It also enables planners and operational agencies to better understand the uncertainty of environmental conditions on the variations in barge rates and productivity performance. These findings provide valuable insights for decision-makers to understand the threshold effect of environmental conditions on inland waterway operations and facilitate the creation of effective adaptive strategies to mitigate future risks and consequences of climate change-induced disruptions.

A scoping review on the nature and impact of gender based violence on women primary producers

BackgroundWomen in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are primary producers of subsistence food and significant contributors to the agricultural economy. Gender Based Violence (GBV) adversely impacts their capacity to contribute and sustain their families and undermines social, economic, and human capital. Addressing GBV, therefore, is critical to creating safe and inclusive environments for women as primary producers to participate fully in rural communities. The aim of this scoping review is to explore the existing evidence on GBV in the context of women primary producers in LMICs to inform research gaps and priorities.MethodsA scoping review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Ebscohost and Google Scholar using keywords related to GBV and women producers in LMICs. Peer-reviewed journal articles published between January 2012 and June 2022 were included in the review. Duplicates were removed, titles and abstracts were screened, and characteristics and main results of included studies were recorded in a data charting form. A total of 579 records were identified, of which 49 studies were eligible for inclusion in this study.ResultsFive major themes were identified from our analysis: (1) extent and nature of GBV, (2) the impact of GBV on agricultural/primary production livelihood activities, (3) sociocultural beliefs, practices, and attitudes, (4) aggravating or protective factors, and (5) GBV interventions. Addressing GBV in agriculture requires inclusive research approaches and targeted interventions to empower women producers, promote gender equality, enhance agricultural productivity, and contribute to broader societal development. Despite attempts by researchers to delve into this issue, the pervasive under-reporting of GBV remains a challenge. The true extent and nature of GBV perpetrated against women is far from fully understood in this context.ConclusionDespite the significant challenges posed by GBV to the health, economy and livelihoods of women primary producers in LMICs, there is a paucity in the current state of knowledge. To make meaningful progress, more research is required to understand the relationship between GBV and agricultural settings, and to gain nuanced insight into the nature and impact of GBV on women primary producers in different regions and contexts.

Slaying the Serpent: A Research Agenda to Expand Intervention Development and Accelerate Guinea Worm Eradication Efforts.

Dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease, is targeted to become the second human disease and first parasitic infection to be eradicated. The global Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP), through community-based interventions, reduced the burden of disease from an estimated 3.5 million cases per year in 1986 to only 13 human cases in 2022. Despite progress, in 2012 Guinea worm disease was detected in domesticated dogs and later in domesticated cats and baboons. Without previous development of any Guinea worm therapeutics, diagnostic tests to detect pre-patent Guinea worm infection, or environmental surveillance tools, the emergence of Guinea worm disease in animal hosts-a threat to eradication-motivated an assessment of evidence gaps and research opportunities. This gap analysis informed the refinement of a robust research agenda intended to generate new evidence and identify additional tools for national GWEPs and to better align the global GWEP with a 2030 Guinea worm eradication certification target. This paper outlines the rationale for the development and expansion of the global GWEP Research Agenda and summarizes the results of the gap analysis that was conducted to identify Guinea worm-related research needs and opportunities. We describe five work streams informed by the research gap analysis that underpin the GWEP Research Agenda and address eradication endgame challenges through the employment of a systems-informed One Health approach. We also discuss the infrastructure in place to disseminate new evidence and monitor research results as well as plans for the continual review of evidence and research priorities.

Analysing the drivers for sustainable public procurement

AbstractSustainable public procurement (SPP) is aimed at using government purchasing power to foster sustainable production and consumption and develop more sustainable business models. The implementation of SPP has been undertaken through several disciplinary approaches, including practical and research efforts based on organisational change management (OCM). Although there is a growing body of literature on OCM for SPP, research on this topic is still limited and mostly focused on a single-country context. This paper aims to fill this research gap by analysing the drivers for changes towards SPP from two different world regions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve Brazilian and ten Swedish SPP professionals. The interviews were analysed using Grounded Theory’s constant comparative method. From the interviews, 46 drivers were collated, then ranked in order of importance, and categorised according to their level (external, connecting, and internal). From the interviews, twenty-two new drivers were identified. The findings show that drivers for SPP are context-specific and can be organised in a continuum of change approaches between praxis-driven and policy-driven. This study highlights the contextual influence on drivers for the SPP process. A holistic approach is needed for changes towards SPP, considering internal, connecting, and external drivers in the spectrum from praxis to policy.

Design principles for MOOC platforms: a public sector perspective

Purpose One impediment of e-government implementation is the lack of e-(government) competences among public officials, especially because foundational education programs fail to teach them. Therefore, this study suggests massive open online course (MOOC)-based continuous education. This study aims to design and evaluate a MOOC and MOOC platform for acquiring e-competence in the public sector and principles for such platforms to capture their inherent design knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This study uses design science research incorporating qualitative and quantitative methods and draws on established patterns of formulating design principles (DPs). Findings The core results are a physically instantiated MOOC platform and six DPs: DP of 1) easy access and easy use, 2) professional exchange, 3) protected space, 4) domain focus, 5) cooperation with higher education institutions and 6) promotion from higher government level. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to e-government research by extending the design knowledge for the construction of domain-specific MOOC platforms. Moreover, the study contributes to platform economics by discussing existing theses and outlining new opportunities. The research also entails limitations, as the authors have solely considered MOOCs and neglected complimentary offers to sustain learning success. Practical implications This study provides practitioners with design principles they can use in their efforts to construct education platforms for the public sector. Moreover, the study presents a working MOOC platform instantiating these DPs, and thus provides an exemplary reference. Social implications Not fulfilling expectations regarding digital public services comes with a risk of decreasing trust in public organizations and the overall government. The results of this study contribute to enabling public officials fulfilling stakeholders’ expectations and generating public value. Originality/value By linking e-government competence education with MOOC platform design, this research approximates an important research gap. Scholars previously investigated e-competences and focused on alone-standing MOOCs to convey those. The results of this study offer the potential to construct platforms to centralize such fragmented solutions, maximizing their impact among public officials.

Analysing the drivers for sustainable public procurement

AbstractSustainable public procurement (SPP) is aimed at using government purchasing power to foster sustainable production and consumption and develop more sustainable business models. The implementation of SPP has been undertaken through several disciplinary approaches, including practical and research efforts based on organisational change management (OCM). Although there is a growing body of literature on OCM for SPP, research on this topic is still limited and mostly focused on a single-country context. This paper aims to fill this research gap by analysing the drivers for changes towards SPP from two different world regions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve Brazilian and ten Swedish SPP professionals. The interviews were analysed using Grounded Theory’s constant comparative method. From the interviews, 46 drivers were collated, then ranked in order of importance, and categorised according to their level (external, connecting, and internal). From the interviews, twenty-two new drivers were identified. The findings show that drivers for SPP are context-specific and can be organised in a continuum of change approaches between praxis-driven and policy-driven. This study highlights the contextual influence on drivers for the SPP process. A holistic approach is needed for changes towards SPP, considering internal, connecting, and external drivers in the spectrum from praxis to policy.

Moms in motion: Predicting healthcare utilization patterns among mothers in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mothers have a significant influence on family dynamics, child development, and access to family services. There is a lack of literature on the typical Canadian maternal experience and its influence on access to services for mothers despite recognizing the importance of mothers. A cross-sectional study was conducted to address this research gap that employed Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Service Use in conjunction with a feminist lens. A total of 1,082 mothers who resided in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) participated in a province-wide survey in 2017 and reported on their wellbeing, family life, and healthcare utilization. Stepwise binomial logistic regressions and linear regressions were used to predict initiation and continued service utilization within the preceding 12 months, respectively. Mothers who participated in this survey were older, and were more likely to be in a relationship than those in the Canadian census, while no difference was observed in annual income. Approximately half of mothers accessed services for themselves over the previous 12-months, with the overwhelming majority accessing services for their children. Medical services were the most likely to be utilized, and mental health and behavioural services were the most likely services to be needed, but not available. Sociodemographic (e.g., age, education attainment), familial relationships and role satisfaction, health need, and health practices predicted maternal initiation and continued use of services, with a larger number of variables influencing maternal service initiation as compared to continuous use of services. Sociodemographic (e.g., maternal age, community population), maternal social support, health need, and maternal health practices predicted maternal access of at least one child service while family relationships, health need, and maternal health practices predicted maternal use of a range of child services conditional on initial access. These results can support the provincial health system to better support access to care by acknowledging the interdependent nature of maternal and child health care utilization. They also highlight the importance of equitable healthcare access in rural locations. Results are discussed in terms of their clinical relevance to health policy.

The Economic Burden of Non-Typhoidal Salmonella and Invasive Non-Typhoidal Salmonella Infection: A Systematic Literature Review

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infection and invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) infection cause a significant global health and economic burden. This systematic review aims to investigate the reported economic burden of NTS and iNTS infection, identify research gaps, and suggest future research directions. Data from PubMed and Embase databases up to April 2022 were reviewed, and articles were screened based on predefined criteria. Cost data were extracted, categorized into direct medical costs (DMCs), direct non-medical costs (DNMCs), and indirect costs (ICs), and converted into US dollars (year 2022). Data primarily originated from high-income countries (37 out of 38), with limited representation from Africa and resource-limited settings. For inpatients, DMCs were the primary cost driver for both NTS and iNTS illnesses, with estimates ranging from USD 545.9 (Taiwan, a region of China) to USD 21,179.8 (Türkiye) for NTS and from USD 1,973.1 (Taiwan, a region of China) to USD 32,507.5 (United States of America) for iNTS per case. DNMCs and ICs varied widely across studies. Although study quality improved over time, methodological differences persisted. This review underscores the lack of economic data on NTS and iNTS in resource-limited settings. It also highlights the need for economic burden data in resource-limited settings and a standardized approach to generate global datasets, which is critical for informing policy decisions, especially regarding future vaccines.

Rural Network Resilience: A New Tool for Exploring the Mechanisms and Pathways of Rural Sustainable Development

Enhancing rural resilience is crucial due to the significant vulnerabilities faced by rural areas, such as weak economic foundations, scarce resources, and deficient infrastructure. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of rural network resilience (RNR) to underscore its importance in understanding the mechanisms and pathways of rural sustainable development. To establish the theoretical foundations of RNR, we trace the evolution of resilience concepts and their applications across disciplines. The proposed analytical framework integrates evaluation methods from network science to assess RNR’s structural characteristics and outlines simulation techniques for predicting resilience under various risk scenarios. Furthermore, the paper examines the key influencing factors that shape RNR within complex rural regional systems, exploring the intricate evolutionary mechanisms involved. To bridge existing research gaps, a synergistic development perspective is introduced, emphasizing the interconnected, multi-layered nature of rural networks across societal, economic, and ecological domains. Additionally, a county-level analytical framework tailored for county-level rural resilience analysis is presented to offer strategic guidance for enhancing RNR and driving sustainable rural revitalization. This transdisciplinary synthesis propels RNR as an emerging field with significant policy implications.

Corrosion behavior of combination of laser beam welded UNS S32304 + SS304L in 3.5% NaCl solution

This study investigates the corrosion behavior of laser beam-welded UNS S32304 and SS304L in 3.5% NaCl solutions, focusing on the effects of temperature. The primary objective is to enhance the understanding of corrosion resistance in welded materials and inspire advancements in corrosion mitigation strategies. The methodology involves assessing corrosion resistance under varying temperatures and comparing the performance of laser beam welding (LBW) with that of the base metals. Scanning electron microscopy analysis reveals effective passivation, while quantitative analysis indicates differences in chloride ion coverage between the weld metal and base metals. Tafel plots and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrate enhanced corrosion potential and improved barrier properties for the weld metal. Results indicate a marginal reduction in corrosion resistance at 50 °C for both base metals. LBW metals corrosion resistance demonstrates superior performance, with only 5% reduction in breakdown potential compared to 10% in base metals. Compared to the base metal, it exhibits a substantial reduction in corrosion rate, ranging from 60 to 75%. This supports enhanced corrosion resistance and material stability. Additionally, similar results are observed after the analysis with scanning electron microscopy images, reinforcing the efficacy of LBW in improving corrosion resistance of LBW UNS S32304 and SS304L. These findings underscore the potential of LBW for applications requiring robust corrosion performance. By contributing to the understanding of the corrosion behavior of laser beam-welded materials, this study addresses a critical research gap in material science and corrosion engineering. Future research may explore long-term durability and corrosion resistance under diverse environmental conditions to further elucidate the mechanisms driving the observed differences in corrosion behavior.

Rural Network Resilience: A New Tool for Exploring the Mechanisms and Pathways of Rural Sustainable Development

Enhancing rural resilience is crucial due to the significant vulnerabilities faced by rural areas, such as weak economic foundations, scarce resources, and deficient infrastructure. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of rural network resilience (RNR) to underscore its importance in understanding the mechanisms and pathways of rural sustainable development. To establish the theoretical foundations of RNR, we trace the evolution of resilience concepts and their applications across disciplines. The proposed analytical framework integrates evaluation methods from network science to assess RNR’s structural characteristics and outlines simulation techniques for predicting resilience under various risk scenarios. Furthermore, the paper examines the key influencing factors that shape RNR within complex rural regional systems, exploring the intricate evolutionary mechanisms involved. To bridge existing research gaps, a synergistic development perspective is introduced, emphasizing the interconnected, multi-layered nature of rural networks across societal, economic, and ecological domains. Additionally, a county-level analytical framework tailored for county-level rural resilience analysis is presented to offer strategic guidance for enhancing RNR and driving sustainable rural revitalization. This transdisciplinary synthesis propels RNR as an emerging field with significant policy implications.

Social life cycle hotspot analysis of future hydrogen use in the EU

Abstract Purpose The widespread use of hydrogen in the EU aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions may involve complex value chains (e.g. importation from third countries) with potential effects (positive or negative) on the different sectors of society. Achieving sustainable hydrogen deployment must be motivated not only by environmental and economic aspects but also by social responsibility and the search for human well-being. Given this, and the scarcity of studies currently available on prospective social impacts of hydrogen production, the present purpose of this article is to unveil and assess the main social impacts linked to the future hydrogen value chains. Methods The methodological approach adopted in this article encompasses the following steps: (i) analysis of two potential value chains for hydrogen use in EU: an on-site option, where hydrogen is produced and used in the same European country, and an off-site option, where hydrogen is produced in a European country different from its usage involving more unit processes, in terms of storage and transport activities, and working time to deliver the same quantity of hydrogen. This framework will include (i) scenario analysis and a forward-looking perspective taking into account the critical raw materials employed across the entire value chain, (ii) identification of a list of relevant social impact categories and indicators through a systematic procedure, (iii) social hotspot analysis using Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment (PSILCA) to assess the selected representative value chains, and (iv) conducting scenario analysis and subsequently interpreting of results. Results and discussion The off-site value chain shows a relatively worse social performance (6 to 72 times) than the on-site value chain across most selected indicators due to the more complex value chain. Although the identification of social hotspots depends on the specific social indicator under evaluation, the power source components (wind and solar PV) manufacturing processes and the relatively increased complexity of the off-site option highly conditioned the social performance of the hydrogen value chains in most of the indicators considered. A scenario analysis was carried out comparing both value chains with two additional locations for hydrogen production: Northern Africa and Western Asia. The findings indicate that the on-site value chain presents the lowest impact scores. For the off-site option, the production of hydrogen in a European country is the most preferable scenario in terms of the social indicators evaluated. Conclusions According to findings, producing hydrogen in a different location than where it is consumed increases the social impacts of its deployment. Measures at mid and long term should be considered for improving the social impact of hydrogen deployment in Europe. This includes increasing reuse and recycling, responsibly sourcing raw materials, and creating regulatory frameworks ensuring safe working conditions across global value chains. Furthermore, this article highlights the crucial role of the S-LCA methodology in evaluating social aspects as a support for targeted policy interventions, and the need to adapt this to the specific case study. At the same time, it acknowledges that other relevant social aspects that can influence the social sustainability of the hydrogen technology are not captured with this methodology (in particular social acceptance, affordability and energy security). Improvements in selecting indicators and refined geographical and temporal representations of the value chains to better represent hydrogen technologies and future size market are research gaps filled in the present scientific work.

Conditions for the Development of Wind Energy for Individual Consumers: A Case Study in Poland

This article presents the economic viability of using 10 m wind turbines in households with financial support from the government. The aim of this study was to indicate whether and how state subsidies affect the efficiency and estimated payback periods of wind energy investments for individual households. The research conducted thus far has focused on the analysis of effectiveness, feasibility, and economic profitability, but it has not taken into account government support for the investment readiness of households, which constitutes a research gap in the literature and economic practice. In addition, this study analyzed a new program that is scheduled to come into force this year. The analysis used the Homer Pro software (ver. x64) module, and simulations were performed for three locations in Poland. Due to differences in the location of wind zones, as well as the location of two locations on the Baltic Sea, an additional factor characterizing the studied voivodeships was introduced. Government support may therefore constitute a mechanism for correcting the geographical location and local wind potential. It has been shown that financial support significantly accelerates the payback period, even in locations with weaker wind potential. Complementary and substitutive possibilities for renewable energy sources, such as sun and wind, were indicated. The conclusions from this research can be used by decision makers and individual households to take advantage of government support to shorten the return on investment in wind energy and the validity of this support.

Anthropomorphism of service-oriented AI and customers’ propensity for value co-creation

PurposeArtificial intelligence (AI) used in service has sparked fundamental changes in how enterprises engage their customers. AI specifically designed for customer service is denoted as service-oriented AI. Through the lens of social information processing theory and the pleasure-arousal-dominance (PAD) emotional state model, this study aims to examine the underlying mechanisms for service-oriented AI anthropomorphism to influence customers' propensity for value co-creation.Design/methodology/approachOur data were collected from hotel customers who had experienced interactions with service-oriented AI. Through purposive sampling, 350 survey responses were collected. We analyzed the survey data using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM).FindingsThis study has two key findings. Firstly, customers' propensity for value co-creation is favorably facilitated by the anthropomorphism of service-oriented AI. Secondly, the anthropomorphism of service-oriented AI can strengthen customers' perceptions of cuteness and service capacity, elicit a sense of novelty, and enhance customers' propensity to collaborate with service-oriented AI to create value. These findings address the research gaps by focusing on customer engagement through service-oriented AI and provide a theoretical basis for subsequent practical endeavors in the field.Originality/valueIntegrating the PAD emotional state model with the social information processing theory, this study explores the effects of service-oriented AI's anthropomorphism on customers' propensity for value co-creation.

Slaying the Serpent: A Research Agenda to Expand Intervention Development and Accelerate Guinea Worm Eradication Efforts.

Dracunculiasis, also known as Guinea worm disease, is targeted to become the second human disease and first parasitic infection to be eradicated. The global Guinea Worm Eradication Program (GWEP), through community-based interventions, reduced the burden of disease from an estimated 3.5 million cases per year in 1986 to only 13 human cases in 2022. Despite progress, in 2012 Guinea worm disease was detected in domesticated dogs and later in domesticated cats and baboons. Without previous development of any Guinea worm therapeutics, diagnostic tests to detect pre-patent Guinea worm infection, or environmental surveillance tools, the emergence of Guinea worm disease in animal hosts-a threat to eradication-motivated an assessment of evidence gaps and research opportunities. This gap analysis informed the refinement of a robust research agenda intended to generate new evidence and identify additional tools for national GWEPs and to better align the global GWEP with a 2030 Guinea worm eradication certification target. This paper outlines the rationale for the development and expansion of the global GWEP Research Agenda and summarizes the results of the gap analysis that was conducted to identify Guinea worm-related research needs and opportunities. We describe five work streams informed by the research gap analysis that underpin the GWEP Research Agenda and address eradication endgame challenges through the employment of a systems-informed One Health approach. We also discuss the infrastructure in place to disseminate new evidence and monitor research results as well as plans for the continual review of evidence and research priorities.

Design principles for MOOC platforms: a public sector perspective

Purpose One impediment of e-government implementation is the lack of e-(government) competences among public officials, especially because foundational education programs fail to teach them. Therefore, this study suggests massive open online course (MOOC)-based continuous education. This study aims to design and evaluate a MOOC and MOOC platform for acquiring e-competence in the public sector and principles for such platforms to capture their inherent design knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This study uses design science research incorporating qualitative and quantitative methods and draws on established patterns of formulating design principles (DPs). Findings The core results are a physically instantiated MOOC platform and six DPs: DP of 1) easy access and easy use, 2) professional exchange, 3) protected space, 4) domain focus, 5) cooperation with higher education institutions and 6) promotion from higher government level. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to e-government research by extending the design knowledge for the construction of domain-specific MOOC platforms. Moreover, the study contributes to platform economics by discussing existing theses and outlining new opportunities. The research also entails limitations, as the authors have solely considered MOOCs and neglected complimentary offers to sustain learning success. Practical implications This study provides practitioners with design principles they can use in their efforts to construct education platforms for the public sector. Moreover, the study presents a working MOOC platform instantiating these DPs, and thus provides an exemplary reference. Social implications Not fulfilling expectations regarding digital public services comes with a risk of decreasing trust in public organizations and the overall government. The results of this study contribute to enabling public officials fulfilling stakeholders’ expectations and generating public value. Originality/value By linking e-government competence education with MOOC platform design, this research approximates an important research gap. Scholars previously investigated e-competences and focused on alone-standing MOOCs to convey those. The results of this study offer the potential to construct platforms to centralize such fragmented solutions, maximizing their impact among public officials.

Social media influencer streamers and live-streaming shopping: examining consumer behavioral intention through the lens of the theory of planned behavior

The rapid development of live streaming has given rise to live-streaming shopping, a novel channel of online shopping that has gained considerable market value. While previous studies have explored various factors influencing consumers' intentions to engage in live-streaming shopping, most have focused on factors influencing behavioral intention after consumers have already chosen live-streaming as their online shopping channel. Few studies have focused on the beginning of the entire shopping journey—the intention of consumers to choose live-streaming shopping. To fill this research gap, this study extends the theory of planned behavior by introducing social media influencer streamers as an exogenous variable. We investigated how attitudes toward live-streaming shopping, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and social media influencer streamers collectively influence the consumer’s intention for live-streaming shopping. To achieve those research objectives, the study distributed an online questionnaire across four specific regions in the Chinese market. By using stratified sampling and purposive sampling methods, we garnered 385 valid responses from those four regions. The study employed partial least squares structural equation modelling and SmartPLS 4.0 for data analysis. Consequently, the results show that both attitudes toward live-streaming shopping, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and social media influencer streamers have a significant on consumers’ intention for live-streaming shopping. Moreover, social media influencer streamers exhibit significant influences on consumers’ attitudes toward live-streaming shopping, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control.

Ethical discourse of ethical (Islamic) finance: a systematic literature review (1988–2022) and the way forward

Purpose This paper aims to portray the publication pattern, key themes, study trends and future directions for the studies on ethics in Islamic finance. A total of 194 published documents that includes journal articles, books and book chapters and conference proceedings were screened for the period 1988 to August 2022 and categorized based on designated sectors of the Islamic finance industry. This paper also highlights the change in research trends in all three sectors of Islamic finance and suggests possible areas for future research. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive systematic literature review was conducted using the “advanced search” function of “google scholar” by using the option “find articles” with the keywords “Ethic (s/al)”, “Islamic banks”, “Islamic banking”, “Islamic finance”, “Islamic capital markets” Takaful, Islamic insurance without restricting the time frame, author list and the platform. Furthermore, the search for relevant articles was conducted on other mainstream index databases such as “Web of Science” and “Scopus”. Findings Among the highlights of the findings were an increase in publications on ethical issues after the global financial crisis and an increase in publications in high-impact mainstream business and finance journals. A higher number of studies were documented in the area of Islamic banking and finance followed by Islamic capital markets and Islamic insurance/Takaful. Although a greater number of empirical studies were published than conceptual studies, dominance was resulted due to the replication of the studies in various jurisdictions based on the same concepts or models rather than applying diversified concepts in various jurisdictions. Originality/value This study contributes to the growing literature on ethical and/or Islamic finance as a guide for researchers to identify research gaps and provides a systematic direction for future studies in the area of ethics in Islamic finance.

Systematic Review on the Impact of Salt-Reduction Initiatives by Socioeconomic Position to Address Health Inequalities in Adult Populations.

International evidence shows that individuals from low socioeconomic positions (SEPs) consume a greater amount of salt than those from higher SEPs. This health inequality reflects a disproportionate effect of salt-reduction initiatives, and explains a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease among the most vulnerable populations. Assessing this impact can help tailor implementation strategies in the future for the benefit of the whole population. The aim was to systematically review the literature and assess the impact of salt-reduction initiatives on health and behavioral outcomes of adults by SEP. The search strategy was conducted in 6 databases (CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science) using the terms sodium or salt, social class, policy, intervention or campaign. Peer-reviewed articles assessing salt-reduction interventions in adults reporting dietary or behavioral changes on salt consumption measurements by SEP were considered for inclusion. Articles in which salt intake data were not reported by SEP were excluded. Two reviewers collected data independently using a predesigned electronic form. The AXIS and RoB 2 tools were used for critical appraisal. Eight studies containing data from 111 548 adults were interpreted according to study design following a narrative synthesis approach. Salt-reduction initiatives are effective at reducing the intake of salt and sodium in adults. When reporting the impact of these initiatives, research outcomes are generally not evaluated by SEP, representing a question yet to be explored. A small number of articles that focused on the impact of salt-reduction interventions reported salt consumption measurements by SEP, indicating a critical gap in research. The limited evidence suggests potentially greater health benefits to be gained from the implementation of population-wide initiatives in adults of low SEP. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42021238055.