Key Work Research Articles

The Evolution of On-Demand Platforms: Conceptual Framework, Regulatory Challenges, and Policy Implications in the Digital Economy

Digital platforms currently form the cornerstone of what is referred to as 'platform economics,' progressively assuming a central role in the city's economy, experiential landscape, and governance. On-demand platforms play a pivotal role in elevating the level of digital sophistication among citizens. This article extends the current research on on-demand service markets, aiming to cultivate an understanding of this nascent domain of digital platform business within the broader framework of the smart city. In the first section, we delve into various concepts related to on-demand service markets, outlining their distinctive features in comparison to traditional service markets, and elucidating the principal components of the on-demand digital platform economy. The second part of this paper employs bibliometric analysis to unveil, among other insights, emerging areas of interest, key works, and influential researchers in the field, as well as the countries and institutions where research on on-demand service markets is most advanced. This research endeavour may lay the foundation for the development of a theory pertaining to the provision of on-demand services within the context of the platform economy. Finally, the research extensively discusses regulatory challenges and public policy implications in the context of on-demand platforms, with a focus on worker protection, algorithmic transparency, and data security.

Illustrating History: April 25th in Portuguese Comics

Abstract This essay offers a comprehensive analysis of Portuguese comics, with a specific focus on those that depict the April 25th Revolution of 1974. It traces the historical evolution of these comics, examining how they have engaged with significant political and social changes in Portugal. The study critically evaluates the term “BD de Abril” (April Comics), proposing a more nuanced categorization that reflects the thematic and chronological diversity within this body of work. By analyzing key works, including Utopia by Raquel Varela and Robson Vilalba, the essay explores how Portuguese comics have functioned as both artistic and historiographical tools, especially during periods of political upheaval. The research identifies four distinct phases in the development of “April Comics”: Denunciation (pre-revolution), Exaltation (immediate post-revolution), Revivalism (1990s–2000s), and Revisitation (2010s onwards). Each phase is contextualized within the broader socio-political landscape, revealing the evolving role of comics in reflecting and shaping historical consciousness. The essay concludes by arguing that while “April Comics” is a valuable category, it requires refinement to fully capture the complexity and richness of these works.

Sustainability accounting research over three decades: A scientometric meta‐analysis

AbstractAs organizations worldwide face increasing pressure to integrate sustainability into their core principles, the need for robust sustainability accounting practices has never been more crucial. This study takes on the challenge by mapping out the intellectual structure of sustainability accounting research domain. Using a mix of scientometric analysis of 1702 articles and in‐depth content analysis of 122 key works spanning more than 30 years from 1991 to 2024, the study unveils the past, present, and future of this vital field. Intricate domain visualizations were created utilizing CiteSpace software revealing networks of co‐authorship, keywords, subject categories, institutions, and countries committed to research on sustainability accounting, including co‐citation and cluster analysis. Results revealed research production concentrated in developed nations, highlighting the urgency for increased focus on this topic within developing and emerging countries. The network structure indicated a scarcity of global collaboration particularly at the company level. The central themes of sustainability accounting, identified through cluster analysis and examination of highly co‐cited documents, encompass sustainability management accounting, life cycle assessment, carbon accounting, national accounts, climate policy, and ecosystem accounting, playing a significant role in shaping its landscape and ongoing evolution. Six relevant emerging themes were identified from in‐depth content analysis of recent literature in the management domain, comprising the role of accountants in mitigating climate risk, rethinking accounting for planetary boundaries, biodiversity loss and extinction accounting, sustainability assurance, technological advancements, and other miscellaneous themes. This study carries significant implications for a diverse array of stakeholders, including policymakers, organizations, society, and academics.

Differences among a satisfied, a meaningful, and a psychologically rich working life

ABSTRACT This investigation elucidates what makes a good working life. A sample of 678 employees from diverse jobs rated their job satisfaction, work meaningfulness, and work psychological richness, as well as several key work characteristics (both stressors and resources) and important work and life outcomes. We explored the unique contributions of satisfaction, meaningfulness, and psychological richness by controlling each measure for the other two. Job satisfaction correlates were consistent with previous work, namely stressors and negative outcomes correlated negatively, whereas resources and positive outcomes correlated positively. More surprisingly, psychological richness was positively correlated with both stressors and resources, as well as with high rates of feeling exhausted after work and with thoughts of changing jobs. Meaningfulness, meanwhile, had relatively weak correlates after controlling for psychological richness and satisfaction. The strongest were with being proficient at the job, being highly engaged with it, and coping well with changes affecting the work role.

Mathematical modeling of Ethiopia's energy demand by sectors and energy types, with forecasts for the next 30 years

Due to the scarcity of economic resources, it is vital to optimize everything so that the supply and demand lines intersect in an optimized quantity, with no shortage or surplus of a provided item or service. Energy supply contains both surplus and shortage, thus estimating the amount of projected energy demand is a key work that must be completed. The objective of this paper is generating a mathematical model based on the actual data for thirty years forecasting. To create a mathematical model using actual data from the last fifteen years, a model that can represent the past trend and be used for future forecasting. This study provides a general overview of Ethiopia's current energy requirement with different energy type as well as sector-specific energy demand and estimates for different economic growth scenarios up to 2052. This model was created using a linear regression polynomial fit through Origin graphic and analysis software, and an econometric model was also applied. GDP was utilized as an independent variable in the economic model to determine the trend of energy consumption. Another input-output model is also used for multilinear regression to evaluate the change of four variables, GDP, population growth, urbanization growth rate, and general inflation rate, which was quantitatively linked with total energy requirement using Weka software. The mathematical model developed through linear and multilinear regression has been validated by using a different assumption on GDP growth based on past growth rate as low, medium and high growth rate and using the mathematical formula to generate an energy demand trend that can be compared with the actual trend; as a result, all the mathematical model that are generated has been found to be valid for the purpose of the intended work. Based on the generated mathematical model and different GDP growth rate scenario as low, medium, business as usual (BAU) and high a future energy demand was forecasted up to 2052 for thirty years. The model's results can help energy planners ensure that the country's supply capacity keeps up with predicted energy demand growth.

Free to have imbalance? Freelancers’ work–life balance and the moderating role of three key work facets

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to enrich the HRM literature on freelancers’ work–life balance. To do so, we investigate the difference in freelance and employed journalists’ work–life balance and the moderating role of work-scheduling autonomy, job-income security and collegial informational support, drawing on a theory novel to the HRM literature, that is, the Stress of Higher Status Theory.Design/methodology/approachData were collected with a survey questionnaire that was administered to a sample of 1,166 journalists, including 118 freelancers, in Norway in 2021. We analysed this data using a stepwise regression analysis.FindingsWe report three main findings: First, we find evidence indicating that freelance journalists have less work–life balance than employed journalists. Second, our results provide support for the Stress of Higher Status Theory and testify to the relevance this theory has for high-skill workers. Third, only collegial support significantly (positively) moderates freelancers’ work–life balance.Originality/valueThis study adds to the existing literature on freelancing and work–life balance, demonstrating that individuals’ work arrangements have the potential to shape their work facets and work–life balance. The theoretical and practical implications of this are discussed.

A Comprehensive Review of Evolving Brand Image Strategies: From Universal Appeal to Targeted Resonance in Modern Marketing

In today’s fierce market competition, brand image building has become the object of attention of major corporations, more and more enterprises take brand image building as the key work of marketing, such as Amazon, and Disney. Therefore being fully aware of the model and internal mechanism of brand image sharping in enhancing brand market competitiveness, it can provide an effective reference for enterprises to improve the efficiency of brand image building. This paper is devoted to reviewing the history route of brand image building, and summarizing the typical cases, then summarize the business strategies of several different brands. Finally, we summarize the effective business strategy for brand image building, the first is high-quality products, good quality and cheap products always can attract more customers; the second is precise brand positioning, targeting customers to gain competitive advantages; the third is high-quality corporate culture, good cultural atmosphere can enrich the connotation of enterprises and the external competitiveness, to stand out from the homogenized products; the forth is great ethical image, enterprises though attend public welfare activities and other ways to create a positive brand image, then enhance customer’s loyalty.

Unveiling the Inter-Related Preferences of Crowdworkers: Implications for Personalized and Flexible Platform Design

Crowdsourcing platforms have traditionally been designed with a focus on workstation interfaces, restricting the flexibility that crowdworkers need. Recognizing this limitation and the need for more adaptable platforms, prior research has highlighted the diverse work processes of crowdworkers, influenced by factors such as device type and work stage. However, these variables have largely been studied in isolation. Our study is the first to explore the interconnected variabilities among these factors within the crowdwork community. Through a survey involving 150 Amazon Mechanical Turk crowdworkers, we uncovered three distinct groups characterized by their interrelated variabilities in key work aspects. The largest group exhibits a reliance on traditional devices, showing limited interest in integrating smartphones and tablets into their work routines. The second-largest group also primarily uses traditional devices but expresses a desire for supportive tools and scripts that enhance productivity across all devices, particularly smartphones and tablets. The smallest group actively uses and strongly prefers non-workstation devices, especially smartphones and tablets, for their crowdworking activities. We translate our findings into design insights for platform developers, discussing the implications for creating more personalized, flexible, and efficient crowdsourcing environments. Additionally, we highlight the unique work practices of these crowdworker clusters, offering a contrast to those of more traditional and established worker groups.

Working performance of vertical spiral stirred mill based on discrete element method

The main structures and characteristic parameters that affect the working performance of vertical spiral stirred mill were analyzed and studied, and a method for selecting key working parameters was proposed. Based on the discrete element method, a simulation model of vertical spiral stirred mill was established, and the effects of spindle speed, agitator lead and grinding media size distribution on grinding performance were analyzed. A comprehensive grinding performance index was proposed, and orthogonal tests were conducted on each parameter to obtain the quantitative value of the grinding effect, and then the optimal working parameter combination under a specific weight coefficient was obtained, which provided a reference method for the optimal design of the mill.

Most important performance evaluation methods of production lines: A comprehensive review on historical perspective and emerging trends

Production is one of the most significant building blocks that strengthen the sustainable economy of companies and thus contribute to the countries’ welfare. Performance indicators of the production line affect planning operations and the efficiency of the supply chain to which the factory is connected. The key indicators for production line designers and performance analysts to monitor and improve include production rate, resource utilization rate, and average inventory level. The production rate is the most important indicator closely affecting an industrial plant's productivity and efficiency levels. From this perspective, accurate and fast estimation of this indicator is very critical. Production rate can be calculated by simulation, analytical technique, or artificial intelligence methods according to the production line characteristics. In this comprehensive review, the most important performance evaluation methods are discussed historically and systematically about the buffer allocation problem using the snowball sampling method. With this explicit motivation, 145 papers were reviewed and classified according to production line topology, hypothetical/real-case line, machine reliability, previous method on which the method is based, and originality and/or line characteristics. To present a comprehensive comparison, the methods considered were analyzed according to different criteria. This review provides general/in-depth qualitative and quantitative discussions and highlights insights to practitioners and scholars. In addition, the impact of recent key work on production line analysis in the field is assessed along with emerging trends, evolving manufacturing paradigms are discussed, and the challenges associated with performance analysis are addressed.

Robert Grosseteste (c. 1168-1253), the Oxford years

Abstract Robert Grosseteste spent numerous years in his early career at the University of Oxford where he was probably its first Chancellor. During this time he largely concentrated his academic activities on natural philosophy. This paper will examine his scientific activities as well as some key works in order to discuss his place in the history of science.

A Simulation-Based Approach for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Robotic Automation Systems in HMR Product Loading.

The food industry has tried to enhance production processes in response to the increasing demand for safe, high-quality Home Meal Replacement (HMR) products. While robotic automation systems are recognized for their potential to improve efficiency, their high costs and risks make them less accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study presents a simulation-based approach to evaluating the feasibility and impact of robotic automation on HMR production, focusing on two distinct production cases. By modeling large-scale and order-based production cases using simulation software, the study identified key bottlenecks, worker utilization, and throughput improvements. It demonstrated that robotic automation increased throughput by 31.2% in large-scale production (Case A) and 12.0% in order-based production (Case B). The actual implementation showed results that closely matched the simulation, validating the approach. Moreover, the study confirmed that a single worker could operate the robotic system effectively, highlighting the practicality of robotics for SMEs. This research provides critical insights into integrating robotics to enhance productivity, reduce labor dependency, and facilitate digital transformation in food manufacturing.

Linking the natural man to the res publica in the works of Marcus Tullius Cicero

AbstractThere is no consensus on the importance of Cicero's doctrine of the state (res publica) among the prominent figures and scholars of political theory. In our view, the main reason for this is that the discussion of the political theoretical insights of the corpus Ciceronianum is too often reduced to a repetition of stereotypes. Cicero's key works on political doctrine, such as the De oratore, the De re publica and the De officiis, are mostly analysed from a philosophical point of view, with historical and legal aspects being put to one side. The characteristics of the mixed constitution (mikte politeia), which is at the heart of Cicero's theory of the res publica, are only superficially examined. What is also mostly overlooked is the extremely significant fact that in the De re publica Cicero (unlike Plato, for example) not only develops a philosophically grounded theory of the state, the res publica, but also applies his theory to finding the state, and in particular its ideal form, the optimus status civitatis, in the historical reality of Rome, that is, his own state. In this way, Cicero connects ratio and res, thus establishing the harmony and, indeed, unity of idea and history. The value of this important idea is not in the least affected by the fact that Cicero was undoubtedly an eclectic thinker rather than a consistent exponent of the views of any school or current. That, it seems to us, helped him greatly to lay the foundations of a doctrine of the state that could influence political thought centuries, even millennia, later, up to the political thought of the first decades of the 21st century.

Core self-evaluation:an empirical study in the in the Colombian context

core self-evaluation (CSE) refers to the essential judgments individuals make regarding their self-performance. This study aims to empi-rically examine the correlation between employee’s CSE and key organizational variables, encompassing happiness, motivation, job satisfaction,work commitment, and person-job fit. Through a cross-sectional self-administered instrument, the research delves into the perspectives of 241employees within four retail industry companies in northeastern Colombia. Employing a partial least squares-structural equation model, theanalysis explores the relationships among these variables. The results identify a lack of full reciprocity in the examined associations. When treating CSE as the dependent variable, the study validates only the hypotheses proposing job satisfaction and motivation as independent variables.Nevertheless, a significant association emerges between CSE, and all examined organizational variables when applying a supplemental analysiswith inverted hypotheses. These findings emphasize the importance of adopting a multifaceted approach to enhance organizational outcomes for employees in a business setting. Furthermore, they suggest that, beyond conventional knowledge, CSR could function as a significant catalyst for various organizational behaviors, thereby advocating for its exploration and application in similar studies.

An Investigation of AI-Enabled Comprehensive Survey of Phishing Attacks detection techniques

Phishing is an online criminal activity which traps regular online customers to reveal their sensitive information into fake destinations by disguising themselves as original website. Because of the short life expectancy of phishing sites and the fast progression of phishing systems the current anti- phishing solutions are either unfit to manage the rising changes or in fit for assuming a successful part against this attack.Natural language handling and machine learning – these are the centre usage of the multi-stage approach proposed to identify phishing attacks and to perceive the substance/association that has been misused by the attackers to execute the phishing attacks. In this technique the primary stage is the revelation of named elements (names of areas, individuals and associations) and afterward the disclosure of concealed topics and for this the strategies that backings both phishing and non-phishing information therefore, Conditional Random Field (CRF) and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) is utilized. Next stage is the AdaBoost arrange where the named elements and the concealed subjects are dealt as features and the messages are ordered into phishing or non-phishing. proposed techniques are planned to alleviate the effect of phishing attack. The principal strategy proposes is to identify Wi-Fi phishing utilizing Association Rule mining. A Wi-Fi hotspot which associates such hand held gadgets has turned into a transitory archive of delicate data, in this way giving an open door for programmers to gather money related gain .Consequently data security arrangements tending to Wi-Fi hotspots (Wi-Fi phishing attack) has turned into the need of great importance. The conceivable approaches to attack the security of Wi-Fi hotspots and counter-attack methodologies have been tended to in this strategy. Key works: Phishing, LDA,AI

Lawrence Alma-Tadema and the nineteenth-century 'periode eye': Classical sources for his Entrance of the theatre (1866) and An exedra (1869)

The Anglo-Dutch artist Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) is known for being one of the leading representatives of historical genre painting. His paintings are often set in antiquity that usually transmits a peaceful atmosphere, although they also regularly refer to classical sources that include critical messages. Two key works of Alma-Tadema’s Pompeian period are Entrance of the theatre (1866) and An exedra (1869). These works are paradigmatic of the artist’s in-depth knowledge of classical civilization. He seemed obsessed with the historical accuracy of his paintings, which can be partly explained by the fact that general education at the time was steeped in the classics, and the public’s appreciation of his paintings must have been directly related to what was taught at school. Through a detailed analysis in conjunction with contemporary critical reviews, the author intends to reconstruct the nineteenth-century perspective on Alma-Tadema’s work. The question is how his contemporaries may have viewed his paintings, and how the concept of the ‘period eye’, developed by Baxandall, can be of use. It turns out that, with access to these classical sources, Entrance of the theatre becomes a scathing critique of the vanity and conceit of the wealthy class. Alma-Tadema’s reference to Terence’s comedy Andria convincingly complements a social criticism depicted through a public scene at the entrance of the Small Theatre in Pompeii. Additionally, the inscriptions and monuments that were associated with the famous family of the Holconians in particular, and theatrical patronage in Pompeii in general, must have been of particular interest to Alma-Tadema. This also emerged in An exedra, a scene around a tomb at the Via dei Sepolcri in Pompeii. The result is an image that, beyond a casual daily image from antiquity, also aims to show social injustice through the lost gaze of the enslaved person. These paintings show how Lawrence Alma-Tadema was capable of making numerous references, by layering several meanings and suggestions taken from antiquity. They also constitute a clear example of how he used and combined all his knowledge of classical architecture and fashion available at the time, to elaborate a pictorial narrative that pointed to the core of historical reconstruction.

Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Management of Biphasic Anaphylaxis.

Biphasic anaphylaxis is a variant of anaphylaxis characterized by recurrence of symptoms after initial resolution of anaphylaxis. It was first described in the mid 1990s by Popa and Lerner. Our understanding of the pathophysiology and epidemiology of the condition has advanced considerably since then. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the literature surrounding biphasic anaphylaxis while highlighting key works and recent advances. Prior studies have estimated biphasic anaphylaxis occurs in 0.4-20% of anaphylaxis episodes. The wide range may be related to differences in anaphylaxis diagnostic criteria which was inconsistent across studies. Recently identified risk factors for occurrence of biphasic anaphylaxis include severe initial symptoms including hypotension or hypoxia, delay in epinephrine use, and greater than one dose of epinephrine required to treat symptoms. Despite our progress to better understand biphasic anaphylaxis, there remain gaps in the literature. This article aims to review the recent literature including, epidemiology, risk factors, and management of biphasic anaphylaxis.

双行轮式自走型大白菜收获机设计与试验

Aiming at the problems of low harvesting level of Chinese cabbage, high cost of manual operation and lack of special harvesting machinery, a double-row wheeled self-propelled Chinese cabbage harvester was designed on the basis of measuring the physical parameters of 'Zaofeng 01'Chinese cabbage varieties and combining with the main local planting patterns. It can complete the root cutting, pulling, clamping and conveying, packing and collecting of double-row Chinese cabbage at one time. Through the design and selection of the key working parts of the double-row wheel self-propelled Chinese cabbage harvester prototype, the key working parameters of the profiling device, the root cutting-pulling device and the clamping conveying device were determined. The kinematics analysis of the harvester in the profiling, cutting, pulling, clamping and conveying links was carried out, and the field operation performance test of the prototype was completed. The results showed that: when the rotation speed of the cutter was 280 r/min, the rotation speed of the clamping conveyor belt was 240 r/min, and the forward speed of the machine was 1.44 km/h, the maximum qualified rate of harvesting was 95.08 %, the minimum value was 90.65 %, and the average value was 93.79 %. At this time, the working performance of the working machine is stable, the harvesting effect is good, and all performance indicators meet the relevant design requirements and standards. The research results can provide reference for the development and structural improvement of Chinese cabbage low-loss harvesting equipment.

Systematic study on the application of lean six sigma in improving efficiency, quality and safety in the food industry

The proposed scientific article aims to analyze the application of Lean Six Sigma in the food industry. To this end, a detailed methodology has been designed that ranges from the selection of the works to the synthesis and presentation of the results obtained. The methodology is based on rigorous inclusion criteria to ensure the relevance and quality of the selected sources, including books, academic articles, theses, and other relevant documents. Through extensive searches of academic databases and other reliable sources, key works were identified that specifically address the implementation of Lean Six Sigma in the context of food production. Once the relevant papers were collected, a critical analysis was conducted to identify common themes, trends, and key findings. The works were classified according to their main focus, such as process improvement, waste reduction, supply chain optimization and food safety assurance. This categorization allowed the information to be organized in a coherent way and to facilitate the synthesis of the results. The results obtained were presented in a table that included details about each selected work, such as title, author, year of publication, abstract and links to the original source. This structured and rigorous approach provides a clear and comprehensive view of the topic, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in this area and offering practical guidance for practitioners and researchers interested in the application of Lean Six Sigma in the food industry. The literature on Lean Six Sigma in the food industry highlights its importance in improving efficiency, quality, and safety. Key recommendations include gradual implementation, appropriate training, focus on quality, and continuous improvement.

Manifeste conspirationniste, Parti imaginaire, Comité invisible: a genealogy of radical critique in twenty-first-century France

ABSTRACT When the Manifeste conspirationniste was published in January 2022 it was widely assumed in France that the manifesto was the work of the same anonymous authors responsible for the radical leftist (or, for some, ‘terrorist’) pamphlets attributed variously to Tiqqun, the Parti imaginaire or the Comité invisible. This article explores this authorial hypothesis through a comparative close reading of the Manifeste conspirationniste and key works by the radical collective. The manifesto interprets the Covid pandemic as marking the logical culmination of a biopolitical apparatus that has weaponised everything from consumer electronics to the pharmaceutical industry in paranoid pursuit of the indefinite reproduction of capitalist oligarchy. Likewise, the essays of Tiqqun diagnose the thorough imbrication of military technologies, police and surveillance powers, as well as the entertainment and consumer industries in the development of what they call ‘cybernetic capitalism’. Tiqqun and the Comité invisible argue that, in a system that is dedicated to ever greater transparency (in the interests of the biopolitical disciplining of citizens), any resistance must deliberately seek out ‘zones of opacity’ by cultivating the kind of noise that won’t be recuperated as carnival, or the kind of slowness that can’t simply be rebranded as luxury. This looks forward to the Manifeste conspirationniste’s strategy of conspiracy, subterfuge and insubordination as the necessary response to an ideological apparatus that is unavoidably conspiratorial in its effects, however theoretically benign it may be in intention.