Holistic Research Research Articles

Assessing social capital and knowledge sharing in the high-tech industry: a moderating role of hypercompetition

PurposeAlthough the literature has somewhat discussed social capital and knowledge sharing, the mediating and moderating mechanisms that influence team workers to move from connecting with one another to building social capital and consequently engaging in knowledge sharing still remain largely understudied. For that reason, this study aims to develop a holistic research framework that links social capital to knowledge sharing with positive affective tone as a mediator and hypercompetition as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachDrawing upon the social capital theory and the affective events theory (AET), this study proposes a research framework to assess how social capital factors influence knowledge sharing with the mediation of positive affective tone and the moderation of hypercompetition in high-tech teams. This study obtains survey data based on 330 questionnaires of working professionals from 66 high-tech teams in Taiwan, in which each team comprises four members and their team leader.FindingsThe empirical results of this study show that social interaction, shared vision and trust are positively related to knowledge sharing via the mediation of positive affective tone. Moreover, hypercompetition has positive moderating effects on the relationships between social interaction and positive affective tone as well as between trust and positive affective tone.Originality/valueThis study expands the previous literature to study through what mediating mechanism the effects of different social capital factors on knowledge sharing can be effectively realized and whether there exists any critical moderator that influences these effects.

Challenges of Written Response to Student Writing: Praise, Over-Commenting and Appropriation

Teachers’ marginal and end comments are an essential part of teaching and evaluating students’ written work. However, the method can backfire when teachers resort to insincere formulaic praise, fall into the trap of over-commenting, and lose sight of the actual author of the text, appropriating it in the process. The challenges of providing effective written feedback require an examination of students’ attitudes toward it, both to reassure teachers that they are doing better than they think they are, but also to make them aware that there is much room for improvement. For one thing, the remaining weaknesses can be addressed in systematic teacher training on written feedback, which has been lacking. Second, these same teachers should then teach their students how to interpret marginal and final comments and use them to revise their work. The article reviews the research to date in this area and presents a case study that sheds more light on the topic, making it clear that more systematic and holistic research and training would be needed in this area.

Preconditioning to Water Deficit Helps Aloe vera to Overcome Long-Term Drought during the Driest Season of Atacama Desert.

Throughout evolution, plants have developed different strategies of responses and adaptations that allow them to survive in different conditions of abiotic stress. Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. is a succulent CAM plant that can grow in warm, semi-arid, and arid regions. Here, we tested the effects of preconditioning treatments of water availability (100, 50, and 25% of soil field capacity, FC) on the response of A. vera to prolonged drought growing in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama Desert. We studied leaf biomass, biochemical traits, and photosynthetic traits to assess, at different intervals of time, the effects of the preconditioning treatments on the response of A. vera to seven months of water deprivation. As expected, prolonged drought has deleterious effects on plant growth (a decrease of 55–65% in leaf thickness) and photosynthesis (a decrease of 54–62% in Emax). There were differences in the morphophysiological responses to drought depending on the preconditioning treatment, the 50% FC pretreatment being the threshold to better withstand prolonged drought. A diurnal increase in the concentration of malic acid (20–30 mg mg−1) in the points where the dark respiration increased was observed, from which it can be inferred that A. vera switches its C3-CAM metabolism to a CAM idling mode. Strikingly, all A. vera plants stayed alive after seven months without irrigation. Possible mechanisms under an environmental context are discussed. Overall, because of a combination of morphophysiological traits, A. vera has the remarkable capacity to survive under severe and long-term drought, and further holistic research on this plant may serve to produce biotechnological solutions for crop production under the current scenario of climatic emergency.

Exposing the Secret: Listening to Bedouin Men Who Have Experienced Sexual Violence.

There are few indigenous men's voices regarding sexual violence against them, particularly concerning Bedouin men's views. How do Bedouin men who have experienced SV describe, perceive, and interpret their experiences in their cultural context? Seventeen Bedouin men, residents of either recognized or unrecognized Bedouin settlements in the Negev, Israel. Phenomenological semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then translated into English. Themes were generated using thematic analysis. Three main themes were found: descriptions of the incidents, reactions to the experiences, and the need for keeping incidents of SV secret due to the stigma involved as a result of patriarchal, political (i.e., tribal hierarchy), and private (i.e., family loyalty) norms, and the matrix of multiple and often conflicting roles and identities that Bedouin men must assume despite their experiences. The incidence of SV against men in the Bedouin community is alarming and must be acknowledged by the research community and public health practitioners as a serious health issue that requires more holistic research to better understand the men's experiences. More efforts are needed on the local, regional, and global levels to provide post-violence care for survivors and to prevent SV. In particular, there is a need to reduce the stigma associated with SV so that young men will be willing to speak up about their trauma without shame and receive help.

Research problems in Biological Anthropology: Flaws in sampling and in methods of results analysis

Anthropology has as ambition the study of the whole of humanity. It includes several specialties and sub-specialties that, despite their differences, offer an overall perspective that requires a holistic research approach. In Biological Anthropology, one of its specialties, anthropologists study biological variations in contemporary human populations in order to reveal their characteristics and their genetic relationships and to try, on the basis of analysis of these variations and those revealed in human fossils, to trace the evolution of human lineage through time. In this report, I provide an overview of some research major problems met in biological anthropology. I evoke especially the problems of the use of uncertain results analysis methods and those of incorrect samplings. In addition to the presentation of these problems and their consequences I present alternatives and suitable solutions. I also explain how some classic considerations resulting from some of these problems could hinder scientific progress in the topic in question. Hence, I believe it is time to avoid these problems, to eradicate the resulting considerations and to follow the most realistic research tracks.

Do desire, anxiety and personal innovativeness impact the adoption of IoT devices?

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the threat phenomenon as perceived by Internet of Things (IoT) users and examines the role of anxiety, desire and personal innovativeness in the behavioral intention toward the usage of IoT devices.Design/methodology/approachA unified research model is developed based on the protection motivation theory, theory of reasoned action, theory of self-regulation and the review of relevant theoretical, empirical and practitioner literature. Data were collected from 315 assistive IoT device users and analyzed using partial least squares structural modeling.FindingsThe results indicate strong support for the proposed research model. All relationships, except one, were significant at the 0.05 level. Desire was found to play a direct as well as a moderating role between fear and behavioral intention to continue using assistive IoT devices, which was also directly influenced by anxiety and personal innovativeness.Research limitations/implicationsUnderstanding the security behaviors of IoT users will help researchers and practitioners develop preventive measures and robust security solutions for the IoT devices to avert any threats from cyber-attacks and to boost users’ confidence levels. Future research will benefit from replicating the study using longitudinal data.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first studies that integrate multiple perspectives to present a holistic research model. To the authors’ knowledge, anxiety, desire and personal innovativeness, key factors influencing fear and behavioral intention, have not been studied in the domain of adoption of IoT assistive devices. Additionally, the study offers a new dimension to IoT users’ security behaviors.

Understanding pre‐teen consumers social media engagement

AbstractSocial media (SM) platforms are frequently used by pre‐teen (8–12‐year old) consumers for curating their self‐identity, developing social relationships and for learning. This paper identifies the building blocks that drive pre‐teen SM engagement. We use the Gioia method to analyse interview data collected from 32 pre‐teens and parents, in France. Findings show that the primary building blocks areFoMO (Fear of Missing Out) and social inclusive experience, being noticed online,multiplicity, excessive use (without guidelines)andself‐regulation. Identity constructs (self‐identity and social‐identity) are used to explain SM engagement – and to empirically define core conceptual building blocks (aggregate dimensions) that drive SM engagement. We contribute to consumer theory by developing a holistic research framework to examine pre‐teen SM engagement. Self‐identity and social‐identity theories help explain the factors that drive pre‐teen SM engagement and explain push/pull influences of parents and schools in encouraging or discouraging certain behaviour. We build on current research into SM usage, drawing from the fragmented existing literature, to reveal causes of both excessive screen‐time and SM usage among pre‐teen consumers, which may indicate antecedents of future adult behaviour. Practical and regulatory policy issues are considered and addressed.

Social Media Application as a New Paradigm for Business Communication: The Role of COVID-19 Knowledge, Social Distancing, and Preventive Attitudes.

Business firms and the public have encountered massive consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has become the most significant challenge and influenced all communities. This research study focuses on exploring the relationship between COVID-19 knowledge, social distancing, individuals' attitudes toward social media use, and practices of using social media amid the COVID-19 crisis. This study examines how attitudes toward social media use mediate the linkage between COVID-19 knowledge, social distancing, and practices for social media use. This survey uses a non-probability convenience sampling approach to collect samples and recruit willing respondents with their consent for data collection. This study recorded the feedback from 348 participants who encountered the indirect/direct effects of nationwide lockdowns, restrictions on social gatherings, and COVID-19 infection. The findings validate the proposed hypotheses for their direct effects and indicate significant β-values, t-statistics, and the p-values at p <0.001. The results validate a relationship between the COVID-19 knowledge of and social distancing practices. Similarly, the results approved a positive link between social distancing and attitudes toward social media use amid COVID-19. The findings validate the relation between social distancing and attitudes toward social media use during COVID-19 challenges (β-value = 0.22 and t-statistics = 3.078). The results show the linkage between attitudes toward social media use and practices of using social media (β-value = 0.41, and t-statistics = 7.175). Individuals' attitude toward social media use during COVID-19 mediates the connection between COVID-19 knowledge and COVID-19 practices of using social media use. The results validate the first mediation at β-value = 0.21 and t-statistic = 5.327. Similarly, the findings approve that attitudes toward social media use in the pandemic have positively mediated the relation between distancing and practices for social media use amid the crisis of COVID-19 (β-value = 0.09 and t-statistic = 2.633). The findings indicate how people have been indulged in social media to pave their business communication needs. The results provide valuable insights for the global business community. This study provides a systematic and holistic research model that helps in exploring the consequences of COVID-19. The generalizability of the findings provides valuable directions for future research related to the current pandemic.

The role of aquafeeds in abalone nutrition and health: A comprehensive review

AbstractOverpopulation and the pressure on land‐based resources have driven the aquaculture sector to increase its production since the 1980s. To address such demands, new aquafeed technologies have been developed relying on natural and artificial ingredients that are commercially viable. In addition, current global sustainable initiatives require feed technologies to reduce the pressure on limited wild fisheries and minimize negative environmental effects. Although there are numerous studies on abalone nutrition, most tend to focus on animal growth and nutrient utilization. A more holistic research approach to ensure a sustainable future for this industry will require the development of feeds that provide integrated nutrition and health benefits. In this review, we aim to synthesize the most recent scientific literature on the nutritional and health benefits and shortcomings of two main abalone feeding approaches (seaweed and formulated feeds) within aquaculture production practices. We also identify major research gaps and future directions for the development of sustainable abalone feeds.

Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem

BackgroundAnimals are important vectors for the dispersal of a wide variety of plant species, and thus play a key role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of natural ecosystems. On oceanic islands, flying-foxes are often the only seed dispersers or pollinators. However, many flying-fox populations are currently in decline, particularly those of insular species, and this has consequences for the ecological services they provide. Knowledge of the drivers and the scale of flying-fox movements is important in determining the ecological roles that flying-foxes play on islands. This information is also useful for understanding the potential long-term consequences for forest dynamics resulting from population declines or extinction, and so can aid in the development of evidence-based ecological management strategies. To these ends, we examined the foraging movements, floral resource use, and social interactions of the Critically Endangered Christmas Island flying-fox (Pteropus natalis).MethodsUtilization distributions, using movement-based kernel estimates (MBKE) were generated to determine nightly foraging movements of GPS-tracked P. natalis (n = 24). Generalized linear models (GLMs), linear mixed-effect models (LMMs), and Generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMMs) were constructed to explain how intrinsic factors (body mass, skeletal size, and sex) affected the extent of foraging movements. In addition, we identified pollen collected from facial and body swabs of P. natalis (n = 216) to determine foraging resource use. Direct observations (n = 272) of foraging P. natalis enabled us to assess the various behaviors used to defend foraging resources.ResultsLarger P. natalis individuals spent more time foraging and less time traveling between foraging patches, traveled shorter nightly distances, and had smaller overall foraging ranges than smaller conspecifics. Additionally, larger individuals visited a lower diversity of floral resources.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that smaller P. natalis individuals are the primary vectors of long-distance dispersal of pollen and digested seeds in this species, providing a vital mechanism for maintaining the flow of plant genetic diversity across Christmas Island. Overall, our study highlights the need for more holistic research approaches that incorporate population demographics when assessing a species’ ecological services.

Integrative urban AI to expand coverage, access, and equity of urban data.

We consider the use of AI techniques to expand the coverage, access, and equity of urban data. We aim to enable holistic research on city dynamics, steering AI research attention away from profit-oriented, societally harmful applications (e.g., facial recognition) and toward foundational questions in mobility, participatory governance, and justice. By making available high-quality, multi-variate, cross-scale data for research, we aim to link the macrostudy of cities as complex systems with the reductionist view of cities as an assembly of independent prediction tasks. We identify four research areas in AI for cities as key enablers: interpolation and extrapolation of spatiotemporal data, using NLP techniques to model speech- and text-intensive governance activities, exploiting ontology modeling in learning tasks, and understanding the interaction of fairness and interpretability in sensitive contexts.

Lessons Learned From the Resilience of Chinese Hospitals to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review.

BackgroundThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has brought substantial strain on hospitals worldwide; however, although the success of China’s COVID-19 strategy has been attributed to the achievements of the government, public health officials, and the attitudes of the public, the resilience shown by China’s hospitals appears to have been a critical factor in their successful response to the pandemic.ObjectiveThis paper aims to determine the key findings, recommendations, and lessons learned in terms of hospital resilience during the pandemic; analyze the quality and limitations of research in this field at present; and contribute to the evaluation of the Chinese response to the COVID-19 outbreak, building on a growing literature on the role of hospital resilience in crisis situations.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review of evidence on the resilience of hospitals in China during the COVID-19 crisis in the first half of 2020. Two online databases (the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and World Health Organization databases) were used to identify papers meeting the eligibility criteria. After extracting the data, we present an information synthesis using a resilience framework. Articles were included in the review if they were peer-reviewed studies published between December 2019 and July 2020 in English or Chinese and included empirical results pertaining to the resilience of Chinese hospitals in the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsFrom the publications meeting the criteria (n=59), we found that substantial research was rapidly produced in the first half of 2020 and described numerous strategies used to improve hospital resilience, particularly in three key areas: human resources; management and communication; and security, hygiene, and planning. Our search revealed a focus on interventions related to training, health care worker well-being, eHealth/telemedicine, and workplace organization, while other areas such as hospital financing, information systems, and health care infrastructure were less well represented in the literature. We also noted that the literature was dominated by descriptive case studies, often lacking consideration of methodological limitations, and that there was a lack of both highly focused research on specific interventions and holistic research that attempted to unite the topics within a resilience framework.ConclusionsWe identified a number of lessons learned regarding how China’s hospitals have demonstrated resilience when confronted with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Strategies involving interprovincial reinforcements, online platforms and technological interventions, and meticulous personal protective equipment use and disinfection, combined with the creation of new interdisciplinary teams and management strategies, reflect a proactive hospital response to the pandemic, with high levels of redundancy. Research on Chinese hospitals would benefit from a greater range of analyses to draw more nuanced and contextualized lessons from the responses to the crisis.

Australian priorities for soil research and land manager engagement to improve sustainable soil management

• Soil research outputs are episodic and linked to public funding initiatives. • Long-term holistic research of soil functionality is required to embed findings in practice. • Weakened capacity to communicate research findings to the land stewards. • Research ways to balance the carbon and nutrient cycles to avoid loss of soil function. • Communicate credible, local knowledge on soils that connects audiences in meaningful ways.

Setting the European environment and health research agenda –under-researched areas and solution-oriented research

BackgroundThe aim of the EU-funded HERA (health and environment research agenda) project is to set priorities for the future European research agenda in the environment, climate and health nexus. We report results from a European researcher’s perspective and identify research areas that have been inadequately investigated to date. MethodsAn online survey was completed by European researchers to assess, evaluate and visualise research gaps. These research gaps were identified for 21 predefined areas within 3 main categories: i) classical environment and health paradigm; ii) problem or sector-based research areas and approaches and iii) holistic research areas and concepts. All research gaps were then evaluated by expert groups with the pre-defined criteria and systematically summarized. For areas identified within the survey as under-reported, additional input was sought from a range of key selected experts. The EU project database Cordis was utilized to verify that these areas were under-researched. ResultsBetween May and July 2019, 318 respondents from 38 countries reported 624 research gaps. The main areas for attention identified were: urban environments; chemicals; and climate change, (combined n = 313 gaps). Biodiversity loss and health; transport, mobility, sustainable solutions and health; energy transition and health; waste and the circular economy and health; ethics and philosophy and health were areas that were acknowledged as under-researched (combined n = 27 gaps). These under-researched areas were identified as having certain commonalities, they: i) mostly fell in the category “problem or sector based approaches“; ii) they are essential for developing and implementing solutions; and iii) require trans-disciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration. ConclusionsCurrently attention is given to topical and highly researched areas in environmental health. In contrast, this paper identifies key topics and approaches that are under-researched, yet, are critical for the implementation of the EU Green Deal, related strategies and action plans, and require further investigation and investment. The findings reveal the imperative to foster solutions-oriented, trans-disciplinary and participatory research and its implementation through changes in research funding and research structures.

The relationship of physical, digital and social work environment changes with the development of organizational performance in the activity-based work environment

Purpose Work environments are undergoing a transformation where organizations have various spatial solutions at their disposal. However, organizations may have challenges in making the right decisions in a work environment change, when the spatial solution is only one dimension of the work environment. The purpose of this paper is to approach this problem in a holistic way and explain the relationship between work environment changes and the development of organizational performance in the activity-based work (ABW) environment. Design/methodology/approach The results are based on an extensive quantitative survey involving 471 participants. The survey was theory driven and built on former literature. The participants were randomly collected from the largest cities in Finland, and the data were analyzed with a regression analysis. Findings The results showed that ABW environments require no more attention to the different work environment dimensions when compared to other office types, with the exception of the social work environment; the changes of which have a relatively strong relationship with the development of organizational well-being. In the ABW environment, a change in the physical work environment has a stronger relationship with the development of organizational productivity and a change in the social work environment has a stronger relationship with the development of organizational well-being than a change in the other work environment dimensions. Originality/value This study yields empirical evidence of the relationship of physical, digital and social work environment changes with the development of organizational performance in the ABW environment. The value of this paper is that it offers a simple but holistic research model to distinguish the outcomes between the different work environment dimensions so that relevant expertise is applied to take concrete and targeted action.

The effect of tourists' gastronomic experience on emotional and cognitive evaluation: an application of S-O-R paradigm

PurposeThe main aim of this study is to determine the effect of tourists' gastronomic experiences on food consumption emotions and experiential value. This research also examines the effect of emotions and experiential value on behavioral intention.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was distributed to foreign tourists visiting Istanbul, Turkey. Using survey responses from 491 tourists, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses.FindingsIn the current study, the results showed that tourists' gastronomic experiences positively and substantially influenced their experiential value and food consumption emotions.Research limitations/implicationsIn this study, the model created by Quan and Wang (2004) about the role of food in touristic experience is supported by empirical results. In the current study, the stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) paradigm was adopted as the theoretical underpinning and was used to develop a holistic research framework. The findings of the research provide certain practical implications for how destinations can design, market and offer gastronomic experiences.Originality/valueThe research on tourists' gastronomic experience and food consumption emotions is limited although numerous studies on tourists' emotions have been conducted. This study is also one of the first to empirically evaluate the tourists' gastronomic experience with the emotional (food consumption emotions), cognitive (experiential value) and behavioral dimensions via S-O-R paradigm.

Shark-human holistic research and Knowledge system approach (SHHRKS). A Methodological invitation to collaborate.

Shark-human holistic research and Knowledge system approach (SHHRKS). A Methodological invitation to collaborate.

Biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) synthesis as promising alternative fuel: A prospective review

Biomass conversion can produce many value added platform chemicals and fuels wherein, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and 2,5-Dimethylfuran (DMF) synthesis had opened up wide horizon for many researchers as an alternative to fuel due to its environmental and economic benefits. The aim of this review is to bring recent advances on the direct synthesis of HMF using different biomasses and solvent/catalyst combinations. Recently, greener solvent called deep eutectic solvents (DES) elevated the scope of research in HMF and DMF synthesis to minor extent on laboratory scale. In current review, authors have systematically summarized the catalytic conversion for the synthesis of HMF from biomass using greener processes. Further, HMF on hydrogenation yields DMF through homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst, which is future biofuel. In the current review, holistic research on directional utilization of biomass for HMF and DMF synthesis are discussed systematically.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF STUDENTS IN PHYSICS LESSONS

Modern changes in the world, the informatization of society, the increasing role of science are making innovations in all spheres of public life. Therefore, the problem of continuous independent education is relevant at the present time. Preparation for independent learning is carried out through the development of cognitive abilities by mastering the methodological apparatus of replenishing and applying knowledge. The age-old methodology of scientific research is an effective tool for solving cognitive problems, as well as for developing creative, communicative and reflective qualities of a person. In this regard, it is very important to introduce students to general and individual methods of cognition of the surrounding world, logic and stages of the scientific cognitive process, in general, to holistic research activities. The article deals with the issues related to the peculiarities of the organization of research activities of high school students of the main school in the process of performing laboratory work in physics. In the course of the study, the analysis of regulatory and legal documents related to the educational process of the primary school, scientific and methodological literature on the problem of research activity was carried out. As a result of the conducted research, the role of the research method in the formation of students ' research skills is revealed. Training based on the model of organizing students ' research activities in laboratory classes in physics was conducted during a pedagogical experiment. 118 students of schools of Taldykorgan took part in the pedagogical experiment. The difference in learning efficiency indicators in the control and experimental groups was evaluated by the "chi-square" criterion. The obtained results showed the effectiveness of the proposed model in the formation of students ' research skills.

A composite human wellbeing index for ecosystem-dependent communities: A case study in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh

Ecosystem-dependent communities (EDCs) rely on ecosystem services for their wellbeing in many ways, but there is a lack of robust metrics to estimate their human wellbeing in a multi-dimensional manner. Existing approaches are not tailored to EDCs, hence failing to adequately reflect their distinct characteristics and strong links to social-ecological systems. We used the domains of human wellbeing determined by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (i.e. basic materials, health, freedom, social relation, and security) to develop a novel conceptual framework and a composite index of human wellbeing for EDCs. The actual indicators and variables were determined through an extensive literature review and a participatory method around the Sundarbans forest in Bangladesh. Data obtained from focus group discussions (FGDs), interviewing households as well as experts, were used to estimate the Human Wellbeing Index for EDC (HWI-EDC). The composite index results suggest that the EDCs in the study area had moderate human wellbeing, which was primarily consisted of the freedom and basic materials domains due to the comparatively high priority values allocated by the local communities. The Social relation domain was the least contributor to the composite wellbeing of EDCs, as the widespread poverty forced most of the people to prioritize their livelihoods and basic family needs over social relations. Sensitivity analysis suggests that the HWI-EDC is robust and internally consistent, which demonstrates its promise and potential applicability in other EDCs contexts worldwide. Besides providing a unique lens for understanding human wellbeing and its determinants, it can open up new avenues for holistic research efforts to assess the development projects and policies in regards to achieving positive wellbeing outcomes for EDCs.