Boundaries Of Knowledge Research Articles

Conceptual underpinnings: theory selection in strategic management research

PurposeTheories are crucial for addressing research questions and advancing the boundaries of knowledge. However, in the field of strategic management, the existence of diverse schools of thought from various disciplines, including economics, politics, and sociology, poses significant challenges for researchers seeking to develop theories for argumentation and theorization. In this study, we have conceptualized a novel approach to selecting an appropriate theory for addressing specific research questions.Design/methodology/approachThought experiment, disciplined imagination, and a conceptual examination of a diverse set of theories.FindingsBecause the central focus in the field of strategic management revolves around how firms achieve sustainable high performance, a research question should initially clarify the fundamental phenomenological issues it aims to address. Subsequently, the process of problematization should identify the ontological assumptions and premises that establish a connection between the research question and existing theories. Finally, the identification and abstraction of rhetorical concepts derived from these assumptions and premises lead to theory selection criteria, namely connectedness, reliability, parsimoniousness, and falsifiability.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough we believe that our model for theory selection is generalizable to a wide range of management disciplines, we have primarily focused on its application in the field of strategic management. Future work could validate and further explore the applicability and effectiveness of this model in selecting appropriate theories for conceptual development in other domains.Originality/valueWhile many researchers have proposed methods for writing theoretical papers, few have provided suggestions specifically focused on theory selection. This paper stands out as one of the few that not only attempts to address this gap but successfully develops a comprehensive model for theory selection.

Beyond the Spectrum: Exploring Unconventional Applications of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, once primarily associated with structural analysis, has transcended its conventional role to become a versatile analytical powerhouse with applications spanning diverse fields. This review paper navigates the uncharted territories of FTIR's evolution, highlighting its innovative utilization in unconventional domains. Traditional applications of FTIR in structural analysis have expanded into captivating realms such as art conservation, nanotechnology, life sciences, and environmental monitoring. We delve into the transformation of FTIR into a tool for pigment identification in historical artworks, its role in probing nanoscale materials for composition analysis, and its emergence as a vital diagnostic tool in disease detection. Moreover, we explore how FTIR enables real-time air quality assessment, influencing urban environmental management. The synergy of FTIR with other techniques, the advancements in FTIR imaging, and its integration with bioinformatics contribute to the evolving landscape of applications. As FTIR continues to reshape the boundaries of knowledge and innovation, this paper serves as a tribute to its versatility, inspiring researchers to unlock new insights, collaborate across disciplines, and drive the progression of science.

Chitinases: expanding the boundaries of knowledge beyond routinized chitin degradation.

Chitinases, enzymes that degrade chitin, have long been studied for their role in various biological processes. They play crucial roles in the moulting process of invertebrates, the digestion of chitinous food, and defense against chitin-bearing pathogens. Additionally, chitinases are involved in physiological functions in crustaceans, such as chitinous food digestion, moulting, and stress response. Moreover, chitinases are universally distributed in organisms from viruses to mammals and have diverse functions including tissue degradation and remodeling, nutrition uptake, pathogen invasion, and immune response regulation. The discovery of these diverse functions expands our understanding of the biological significance and potential applications of chitinases. However, recent research has shown that chitinases possess several other functions beyond just chitin degradation. Their potential as biopesticides, therapeutic agents, and tools for bioremediation underscores their significance in addressing global challenges. More importantly, we noted that they may be applied as bioweapons if ethical regulations regarding production, engineering and application are overlooked.

Examining the Implications of Knowledge Boundaries for a Large-Scale Agile Transformation Initiative of a Manufacturing Company

To stay competitive in today’s environment, characterized by changing customer requirements, digitalization, new technologies, etc., companies must deliver fast and continuous innovation. Manufacturing companies have therefore started to launch large-scale agile transformation initiatives. A specificity of manufacturing companies is their need for deeply specialized organizational units. Knowledge boundaries resulting from knowledge specialization tend to impact transformation initiatives. Therefore, this work examines the implications of knowledge boundaries between organizational units for a large-scale agile transformation initiative of a manufacturing company. The findings show that these knowledge boundaries imply a need for knowledge integration based on flexibility and dynamism as key aspects. A conceptual model that illustrates these aspects during the initial phase of implementation of these transformation initiatives is presented.

Effect of perceived group inclusion on innovative behavior and its subsequent impact on team performance: moderating effects of team characteristics

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of perceived group inclusion on the innovative work behavior of consulting team members, as well as to analyze its subsequent impact on team performance. In addition, the authors investigate whether the effect of perceived group inclusion on innovative work behavior could be moderated by two aspects of team characteristics: team size and the gender composition of its members.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected questionnaire data from 229 team members from 24 consulting firms located in Bangkok, Thailand. Team performance was assessed by team leaders to prevent common method bias. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used for data analysis.FindingsThe results support the positive association between perceived group inclusion and innovative work behavior among consulting team members. Innovative work behavior also mediates the positive association between perceived group inclusion and team performance. Moreover, the authors found that the degree to which perceived group inclusion affects innovative work behavior is stronger in larger teams than smaller teams. However, the degree to which perceived group inclusion affects innovative work behavior tends to be weaker in teams that have a higher proportion of female members than in teams that have fewer female members.Practical implicationsBecause employees are the most valuable asset contributing to the innovative performance of consulting firms, it is crucial to understand how members within a team should be properly managed so that the firms can maximize the benefits from their human capital. Essentially, management and practitioners in the consulting business can use the insight from this research regarding the essential roles of group inclusion and team composition to create a favorable and effective team environment that enhances collaboration and helps their firms to gain the full benefits of team synergy. In particular, group inclusion is the issue that management should emphasize. Moreover, the team should be large enough and have a decent level of gender diversity to strengthen the benefit of group inclusion.Originality/valueThe research extends the knowledge boundary in inclusion research, which still lacks evidence about the moderating role of team characteristics that might strengthen/weaken the effect of perceived group inclusion on innovative behaviors.

Transforming Rectal Cancer Detection: The Role of Emerging Technologies

Rectal cancer is a common and serious disease. Early diagnosis of rectal cancer can improve the effectiveness of treatment and the prognosis of the disease. Modern medical technology not only provides doctors with a series of methods to diagnose rectal cancer, but also brings more and more new means. This is a very exciting area of research, and many scientists and doctors are pushing the boundaries of knowledge and working to develop real, tangible inventions and techniques that can improve clinical outcomes for patients. We hope that by providing an indepth analysis of the current and potential future impact of these emerging technologies on rectal cancer detection, the article will serve to inform both the scientific community and the public about the revolutionary leaps forward that are being made in this area. These technologies, as well as the new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that they facilitate, have the potential not only to greatly improve the management and outcome of rectal cancer, but also to substantially enhance the patient experience and indeed reshape the entire patient journey. The future directions and implications of these new technologies will also be explored, including their potential of changing the outcomes of rectal cancer, the ethical consideration in their implementation, as well as the challenges and barriers to their wide adoption.

ON THE ONTOLOGICAL PURPOSE OF MAN

The position is substantiated that the possibility of overcoming chaos in the value sphere and the infinity of the processes of “revaluation of values” is associated with the search and acquisition of a person’s existential purpose. If in religious teachings the processes of transcendence, movement towards the “super-rational” and “supernatural” act as a condition for the formation of absolute values, then in philosophy different types of transcendence are considered. In the modern situation, in the conditions of the “struggle against metaphysics,” it becomes relevant not only to determine meaning and significance, but also to substantiate the right to the existence of the transcendent. At the same time, it is shown that the contradictions of the rapidly developing, high-tech world are the basis for searching for ways to reach the transcendent. The concept of the transcendent is explicated in the process of considering eternal philosophical problems, such as: the search for the integrity of the world; defining the boundaries of knowledge and transformation of reality; man’s acquisition of his own existence. It is shown that the fight against various kinds of “centrisms” leads to the formation of a new integrity, the basis of which is permanent variability and multidirectionality. The success of goal-oriented rational activity ultimately leads to the formation of such problems, the overcoming of which is possible only if one goes beyond the limits of empirical reality. The value of thought lies not in the fact that it reflects the objective world, but in the possibility of a person introducing personal, original things into the world he describes. Consequently, both in religion and in philosophy, a person is endowed with an “ontological purpose”, and the question of gaining/giving up the search for being is in the horizon of his (man’s) decisions. It is concluded that without access to the transcendental, the search for personal existence, value foundations, and cognitive truths is impossible, since all forms of activity carried out within the phenomenal world will lead to stagnation. The transition from phenomenal to noumenal being is necessary in order to set a different hierarchy, form other evaluation criteria and methods of systematization.

Improving the ability to discriminate medical multiple-choice questions through the analysis of the competitive examination to assign residency positions in Spain

IntroductionPsychometrics plays a vital role in evaluating educational research, including the analysis of multiple-choice exams. This study aims to improve the discriminatory ability of the “Médico Interno Residente” (MIR) medical exam in Spain, used to rank candidates for specialized healthcare training, through psychometric analysis.MethodsWe analyzed 2,890 MIR exam questions from 2009 to 2021 (totaling 147,214 exams), categorizing them based on methodology and response type. Evaluation employed classical test theory and item response theory (IRT). Classical test theory determined difficulty and discrimination indices, while IRT assessed the relationship between knowledge levels and question performance.ResultsQuestion distribution varied across categories and years. Frequently addressed knowledge areas included various medical specialties. Non-image-associated clinical cases were the easiest, while case-based clinical questions exhibited the highest discriminatory capacity, differing significantly from image-based case or negative questions. High-quality questions without images had longer stems but shorter answer choices. Adding images reduced discriminatory power and question difficulty, with image-based questions being easier. Clinical cases with images had shorter stems and longer answer choices.ConclusionsFor improved exam performance, we recommend using a clinical case format followed by direct short-answer questions. Questions should be of low difficulty, providing clear and specific answers based on scientific evidence and avoiding ambiguity. Typical clinical cases with key characteristic features should be presented, excluding uncertain boundaries of medical knowledge. Questions should have lengthy stems and concise answer choices, minimizing speculation. If images are used, they should be typical, clear, consistent with the exam, and presented within clinical cases using clinical semiotics and propaedeutics.

Foreword Message from the Chief Editor

Dear Esteemed Colleagues and Readers of Annals of PMC, Assalam-o-Alikum, I hope this message finds you well and filled with the same enthusiasm for scientific discovery that drives us here at Faisalabad Medical University. I Welcome your all to the latest edition of the University journal. It is with great pleasure and pride that I present to you this collection of articles, research highlights, and stories from the diverse world of science at our esteemed institution. In these pages, you will discover the vibrancy and depth of our scientific community, where curiosity knows no bounds and innovation thrives. From the laboratories where groundbreaking discoveries are made to the classrooms where knowledge is shared, our university is a hub of intellectual exploration and collaboration. In the upcoming issue of Scientific Collage Magazine, you can look forward to insightful articles highlighting some of our most recent achievements. These stories not only demonstrate our dedication to scientific excellence but also underscore the tangible contributions we are making to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. This magazine serves as a window into the incredible work being done by the faculties of researchers, and students from various national and international institutions. Each article reflects the dedication, passion, and ingenuity that define an institution's approach to scientific inquiry. As we navigate a world of ever-evolving challenges and opportunities, the importance of scientific research and discovery has never been more apparent. It is our collective responsibility to push the boundaries of knowledge, to seek solutions to pressing global issues, and to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators. I encourage you to delve into the pages of this issue, where you will find a reflection of the collective passion for discovery and a glimpse into the future of scientific innovation. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all who have contributed to this publication, as well as to our readers for your ongoing support and interest. Together, we continue to shape the future of science and make meaningful contributions to society. Warm regards, PROF. DR. AAMIR HUSSAIN Editor in Chief, Annals of Punjab Medical College (APMC) Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad Pakistan

What can Fraser and Bourdieu teach us about success and obstacles in the implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning?

Despite the adoption of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policies, its implementation lags behind, remains un-coordinated and lacks institutional support. The key issues underlying these challenges include knowledge contestation and gatekeeping in the form of resistant cognitive structures in defence of the intellectual foundations of university knowledge. This article weaves the theories of Fraser and Bourdieu together to analyse the literature on RPL policy, pedagogic agency and practice in order to deepen understanding of RPL’s success and obstacles. Fraser’s notion of parity of participation is useful in that it theorises how adherence to social justice principles to promote RPL implementation can be created in the academy. Bourdieu’s work facilitates interrogation of the habitus, and social and cultural capital of RPL practitioners in relation to the habitus of academics, and how these impact the crossing of knowledge boundaries via RPL as a specialised pedagogy. The article concludes that successful RPL implementation requires, inter alia, that attention be directed to honing the class habitus of the academy as a whole, including adequate theorisation of the conditions necessary for the existence of pedagogic agency within the context of the prevailing knowledge difference discourse.

Data-push innovation beyond serendipity: The case of a digital platform making Earth Observation data fit into multiple use contexts

The potential of data to circulate across organizations and sectors and stimulate innovation in multiple contexts has been largely acknowledged by practitioners and researchers. This has given rise to a specific form of innovation strategy, “data-push innovation”, which consists of stimulating the use of existing data by third-party actors. However, how to manage such a strategy remains challenging. The paper explores this question by examining the longitudinal case study of an actor that has successfully stimulated the use of Earth observation data by multiple actors over the last 40 years. The paper offers several contributions to research in information systems and innovation management. First, the paper shows that data-push innovation can be fostered through the intentional design of a so-called “fit system” allowing data to be used in multiple contexts. Such a fit system can be built as a generic system, following similar “generification” strategies as those supporting platform or software development but with original patterns to adapt to the specificities of data-push innovation. Second, the paper characterizes the types of “boundary resources” needed to support this process. These boundary resources especially have a two-way resourcing function: they help third-party actors contribute to the fit system development, but they also allow the fit system owner to identify the knowledge boundaries preventing data from gaining meaning in new contexts. Third, the paper reveals an intriguing form of localized and nondominant platform leadership, focusing on gaining generative power rather than controlling power over the platform ecosystem.

Need for an education model for adolescents, specifically in rural areas

Secondary and High School students are usually adolescents, most of them in the urban areas and metropolitan cities are aware about the existence, various opportunities, career paths and advancements of the space industry. They are constantly updated, given they have access to quality and organized education models and a competitive environment. Although, the students in the rural areas who are equally ambitious and talented yet are not fortunate enough to have access to the state of art facilities like the counterparts. Even if they try and gain access with their self-interest, they do not have the motivation to sustain the passion, given their lack of clarity in subject, lack of awareness about engaging in various ways and fields in space other than technological related and mainly lack of driving force. The purpose of this paper is to develop and present an education model, exclusively for the high school students of the rural areas and inculcate sustainable passion for space. As opposed to the primary school students, the secondary school students have a consciousness of the space industry. This paper will talk about various plans and strategies, that will allow them to gain exposure, guide them about the existence of different career paths which are not entirely technological related, yet are still essential in the space like, administrative framework for example. This opens a new dimension in their brain helping them realize how they can be part of the industry in countless ways, and this shall assist them in being on the right track to space. In addition to, hosting creative space themed exhibitions, fun and engaging model design competitions, workshops, all of these would widen their knowledge boundaries and help them challenge their skills. A real time case study example from a school located in the rural southern of India shall be focused on this paper. Including data from a survey thereby the results, with action plans shall be presented in detail, which will aid in the analysis of the need, feasibility, and long-term sustenance of this approach and the requirement to scale it over different rural areas globally.

Sophia Fricke.

"Science is fun because it allows us to occupy a wonderful place at the edge of the known universe, where we can begin to understand our place in the world and then attempt to extend the boundaries of human knowledge … To improve my work-life balance, I maintain a steady supply of nerdy jokes …" Find out more about Sophia Fricke in her Introducing… Profile.

Automatic Analysis and Anomaly Detection System of Transverse Electron Beam Profile Based on Advanced and Interpretable Deep Learning Architectures

Abstract The National Synchrotron Radiation Center SOLARIS, ranked among the top infrastructures of that type worldwide, is the only one located in Central-Eastern Europe, in Poland. The SOLARIS Center, with six fully operational beamlines, serves as a hub for research across a diverse range of disciplines. This cutting-edge facility fosters innovation in fields like biology, chemistry, and physics as well as material engineering, nanotechnology, medicine, and pharmacology. With its advanced infrastructure and multidisciplinary approach, the SOLARIS Center enables discoveries and pushes the boundaries of knowledge. The most important aspect of such enormous research as well as industry infrastructure is to provide stable working conditions for the users and the conducted projects. Due to its unique properties, problem complexities, and challenges that require advanced approaches, the problem of anomaly detection and automatic analysis of signals for the beam stability assessment is still a huge challenge that has not been fully developed. To increase the effectiveness of centers with advanced research infrastructure we focus on the automatic analysis of transverse beam profiles generated by the Pinhole diagnostic beam-line. Pinhole beamlines are typically installed in the middle and high-energy synchrotrons to thoroughly analyze emitted X-rays and therefore assess electron beam quality. To address the problem we take advantage of AI solutions including up-to-date pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models among others EfficientNetB0-B4-B6, InceptionV3 and DenseNet121. In this research, we propose the benchmark for Pinhole image classification including data preprocessing, model implementation, training process, hyperparameter selection as well as testing phase. Created from scratch database contains over one million transverse beam profile images. The proposed solution, based on the InceptionV3 architecture, classifies pinhole beamline images with 94.1% accuracy and 96.6% precision which is a state-of-the-art result in this research area. Finally, we employed interpretability algorithms to perform an analysis of the models and achieved results.

AJIS 40th Anniversary Editorial

For forty years, AJIS has been a trusted plat­form for researchers, scholars, and practitioners, serving as a conduit for the exchange of ideas, the dissemination of cutting-edge research, and the cultivation of intellectual dialogue. Many of us found this journal a space for ruminating, discussing, and developing our own narratives on our Islamic heritage and what it means in the contemporary world. Especially compared to anti-Islamic biases in other corners of academia, AJIS is a coming “home.” One constant throughout the past four decades is the journal’s commit­ment to scholarship that documents and explores Islam’s rich religious, intellectual, legal, philosophical, and social heritages. The assumption is that these various perspectives have meaningful things to say about the human condition and our place in the world. Debate, discussion, and disagreement all appear in these pages, but always grounded in an underlying steadfastness that Islam is a faith tradition that is not obso­lete; that Muslims can contribute positively to humanity’s betterment. That said, the journal is not a place of religious homilies. This is an academic journal, with a double-blind peer review process. Articles that are published thus pass muster in the discipline in which they conduct their research. Let us thank the authors who have entrusted us with their groundbreaking research, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and enriching our understanding of critical issues in our disciplines. Let us thank the journal’s editors, editorial boards, diligent reviewers, and committed staff members who have meticulously upheld the journal’s reputation for excellence, contributing to its sustained success.

A Review on Harnessing Nature's Heat with Earth Tube Heat Exchangers (ETHE)

This review paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. Through a meticulous examination of various scholarly papers, this review synthesizes and analyzes the significant contributions made by researchers in the field. Each paper reviewed offers unique insights and methodologies aimed at addressing key challenges and expanding the boundaries of knowledge in Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. This review provides a succinct summary of the methodologies employed, the findings obtained, and the implications of each study. The synthesis presented here underscores the diversity of approaches and the richness of ideas that characterize contemporary research in Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. From theoretical frameworks to empirical investigations, each paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and suggests avenues for future exploration. By distilling the essence of each paper, this review serves as a valuable resource for scholars, practitioners, and students interested in gaining a nuanced understanding of the current state of research in Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. Furthermore, it highlights emerging trends, unresolved questions, and potential areas for further investigation, thereby fostering ongoing dialogue and innovation within the academic community. In conclusion, this review illuminates the collective efforts of researchers in advancing knowledge and addressing pressing issues within Earth Tube Heat Exchanger. It underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, critical inquiry, and methodological rigor in shaping the trajectory of future research endeavors.

Defining the Boundaries of Psychiatric and Medical Knowledge: Applying Cartographic Principles to Self-Organising Maps.

Biases in selection, training, and continuing professional development of medical specialists arise in part from reliance upon expert judgement for the design, implementation, and management of medical education. Reducing bias in curriculum development has primarily relied upon consensus processes modelled on the Delphi technique. The application of machine learning algorithms to databases indexing peer-reviewed medical literature can extract objective evidence about the novelty, relevance, and relative importance of different areas of medical knowledge. This study reports the construction of a map of medical knowledge based on the entire corpus of the MEDLINE database indexing more than 30 million articles published in medical journals since the 19th century. Techniques used in cartography to maximise the visually intelligible differentiation between regions are applied to knowledge clusters identified by a self-organising map to show the structure of published psychiatric evidence and its relationship to non-psychiatric medical domains.

Meeting report 'Microbiology 2023: from single cell to microbiome and host', an international interacademy conference in Würzburg.

On September 20-22 September 2023, the international conference 'Microbiology 2023: from single cell to microbiome and host' convened microbiologists from across the globe for a very successful symposium, showcasing cutting-edge research in the field. Invited lecturers delivered exceptional presentations covering a wide range of topics, with a major emphasis on phages and microbiomes, on the relevant bacteria within these ecosystems, and their multifaceted roles in diverse environments. Discussions also spanned the intricate analysis of fundamental bacterial processes, such as cell division, stress resistance, and interactions with phages. Organized by four renowned Academies, the German Leopoldina, the French Académie des sciences, the Royal Society UK, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the symposium provided a dynamic platform for experts to share insights and discoveries, leaving participants inspired and eager to integrate new knowledge into their respective projects. The success of Microbiology 2023 prompted the decision to host the next quadrennial academic meeting in Sweden. This choice underscores the commitment to fostering international collaboration and advancing the frontiers of microbiological knowledge. The transition to Sweden promises to be an exciting step in the ongoing global dialogue and specific collaborations on microbiology, a field where researchers will continue to push the boundaries of knowledge, understanding, and innovation not only in health and disease but also in ecology.

The impact of sustainable internal branding on teaching staff’s commitment: application on private higher education institutions

ABSTRACT This study aims to extend the boundary of knowledge about internal branding, which touches on two disciplines: marketing and human resources management in an attempt to understand the constructs of internal branding and their impact on the commitment of service providers (higher education teaching staff members) so that they support the brand promise of the university and maintain a competitive edge for private universities in Egypt that function in a very competitive market. Data were collected from 402 members of teaching staff to test the proposed model and hypotheses using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results prove the fitness of the suggested model and that the constructs of internal branding (supervisory support, effective internal communication, clear vision and values) do have a significant impact on teaching staff commitment except for the construct of directed training programs (DTP), contrary to previous literature which might be because teaching staff commitment may require variables other than training programs which in turn rings a bell for private universities’ management to partially reconsider the budgets directed to training for teaching staff or it could be due to cultural differences as previous literature was mostly conducted in different cultures, thus a value addition of this study.

Unveiling the intrinsic interactions of science and technology in the fuzzy domain: A visual and quantitative analysis

The progression of the fuzzy domain is propelled synergistically by the evolution of science via academic papers and the advancement of technology through technical patents. However, the intrinsic interrelationships within the science and technology (S&T) interactive landscape of this domain remain largely unknown, as few studies attempt to explore these close interrelationships. To bridge this research gap, based on 161,060 academic publications and 36,693 granted patents, we measured their mutual attribution between S&T from the perspective of textual semantics and structure information on top of a quantitative network monitoring process. The results showed that the fuzzy domain lacked technology-oriented topics in terms of semantic relations and presented an interactive pattern where science was ahead of technology; that is, science worked as an engineer to expand the knowledge boundaries of the research field, and technology existed more as a beneficiary. This article presents cutting-edge insights into the intrinsic S&T interactions of the fuzzy domain in a visual and quantitative approach for the first time and aims to aid researchers in theoretically grasping the S&T innovation laws.