Frontiers Of Knowledge Research Articles

Rhetorical structure of literature review chapters in Nepalese PhD dissertations: Students’ engagement with previous scholarship

A Doctor of Philosophy degree is expected to provide a transformative experience to students and expand the frontier of disciplinary knowledge to benefit the wider public. The achievement of these goals depends on students' engagement with disciplinary practices and conversations and is reflected in their PhD dissertations. This paper reports on a study that examined students’ engagement with previous scholarship through the analysis of the rhetorical structure of 60 literature review (LR) chapters of PhD dissertations across disciplines at a comprehensive university in Nepal. The study employed a revised Creating a Research Space (CARS) model as an analytical framework. The LR chapters predominantly displayed a simple structure containing a single move (i.e., establishing a territory), with Move 2 (i.e., establishing a niche) and Move 3 (i.e., occupying the niche) being far less frequent than Move 1. Notably, in a sizable number of LR chapters, existing literature was presented as received knowledge rather than utilized to establish research gaps and advance the research agenda. Although there were no disciplinary variations in Move 1 and Move 2 strategies, significant differences were observed in Move 3 strategies (i.e., announcing research aims/focus and announcing research design/process). The implications of the findings for doctoral supervision and writing are provided.

Global development and future trends of artificial sweetener research based on bibliometrics

Artificial sweeteners have sparked a heated debate worldwide due to their ambiguous impacts on public and environmental health and food safety and quality. Many studies on artificial sweeteners have been conducted; however, none scientometric studies exist in the field. This study aimed to elaborate on the knowledge creation and development of the field of artificial sweeteners and predict the frontiers of knowledge based on bibliometrics. In particular, this study combined VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Bibliometrix to visualize the mapping of knowledge production, covered 2389 relevant scientific publications (1945–2022), and systematically analyzed articles and reviews (n = 2101). Scientific publications on artificial sweeteners have been growing at an annual rate of 6.28% and globally attracting 7979 contributors. Susan J. Brown with total publications (TP) of 17, average citation per article (AC) of 36.59, and Hirsch (h)-index of 12 and Robert F. Margolskee (TP = 12; AC = 2046; h-index = 11) were the most influential scholars. This field was clustered into four groups: eco-environment and toxicology, physicochemical mechanisms, public health and risks, and nutrition metabolism. The publications about environmental issues, in particular, “surface water,” were most intensive during the last five years (2018–2022). Artificial sweeteners are gaining importance in the monitoring and assessment of environmental and public health. Results of the dual-map overlay showed that the future research frontiers tilt toward molecular biology, immunology, veterinary and animal sciences, and medicine. Findings of this study are conducive to identifying knowledge gaps and future research directions for scholars.

Islamic Law and Ethics

Continuing engagement with Islamic legal scholarship does not seem to have resulted in satisfactory attention being paid to the interplay of philosophical considerations and theological principles in relation to the ethical component of Islamic Law. This explains why any scholarly and properly guided attempt to extend the frontiers of knowledge on the subject of Islamic Law and Ethics is always welcome. David Vishanoff’s edited volume examines Islamic ethics in the context of Islamic law. The book comprises an introduction by the editor, a foreword by the publishers, followed by the chapters contributed by the editor and no fewer than six other eminent scholars on various aspects of the subject, which are presented in an elegant, lucid, and highly intelligible prose. The editor’s introduction, Islamic Law and Ethics: From Integration to Pluralism (pp. ix-xiii) provides the rationale for the book, exposes the gap that the book seeks to fill, and offers a panoramic picture of the central theme as addressed by the various contributors in their respective chapters.

Self-perception of digital competences in Higher Education Teachers

The present study had two research objectives: (a) Analyze the self-perception that higher-level teachers have about the mastery of digital skills in relation to the areas of information, communication, content creation, security and problem solving; and (b) Identify the level of mastery of digital skills presented by higher level teachers in relation to the areas of information, communication, content creation, security and problem solving. The methodological design had a quantitative approach, which allowed the collection of information required to achieve the objectives set. With this study, we contribute to the frontier of knowledge regarding the gaps between the use and application of digital skills, by the teaching staff of public institutions of higher level.

Systematic Review Research in Marketing Scholarship: Optimizing Rigor

Literature reviews are an essential feature of academic research because, fundamentally, the advancement of knowledge must be built on prior existing work, and to push the frontiers of knowledge, one must be clear as to where these frontiers presently are. By systematically analyzing, synthesizing, and summarizing bodies of related literature, hypotheses can be tested and/or new theories and insights developed. However, despite the recent increase in systematic review research in business and management, and particularly marketing literature, arguably, many reviews continue to be poorly undertaken and reported due to a lack of a rigorous modus operandi for their journal editors, reviewers, and readers. The purpose of this paper is twofold, first to offer marketing researchers and practitioners a modus operandi to better demonstrate the optimization of rigor when undertaking quantitative systematic review research, and second to represent a call-to-action for marketing scholarship to engage further with optimizing rigorous systematic review research in the future. The paper thereby contributes to marketing literature by offering researchers and practitioners a three-stage protocol to demonstrate the optimization of rigor when undertaking systematic review research.

Educational Significance of Open Distance Learning Mode: A Case Study of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Open Distance Learning (DLC), as an instruction-delivery method, is one of the frontiers of knowledge of learning strategies targeted to meet the need of the ever-increasing global population for capacity and nation-building. It is an educational system that helps e-learners acquire modern technologies for critical thinking, quality education, and research growth. However, some critics and learners still prefer the conventional mode of learning practice on the assumption that Open Distance Learning mode lacks face-to-face interaction, absence of teachers, fixed location, fixed schedule, and close feedback between online facilitators and e-learners. Therefore, this paper investigates the educational significance of Open Distance Learning mode through the use of modern educational technology tools of WhatsApp classroom interactions used to deploy the teaching of English Language and Literature at Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, between online facilitators and e-learners, as open access to knowledge-based information, critical thinking, learning security, interactive mutuality, high innovative skills and research development for capacity and nation-building. Besides, it examines its teaching and learning flexibility and its learning methodological friendliness. Five (5) excerpts are purposively selected from WhatsApp classroom interactions. The article employs Schechner’s performance and Freudian and Jungian Psychoanalytic theories. The data are subjected to content analyses.

Analyzing sustainable reverse logistics capability and triple bottom line: the mediating role of sustainability culture

PurposeTo overcome the various pressures related to the environmental damage raised by production processes, enhancing sustainable reverse logistics (SRL) capability is a new road for manufacturing companies, as it facilitates them to have more sustainable operations by increasing different performance outputs. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the SRL capability and the triple bottom line (TBL) i.e. economic, social and environmental performance in the context of Turkey's manufacturing industry. The mediating role of sustainability culture has also been examined.Design/methodology/approachUsing survey data obtained from the Turkish manufacturing industry, the partial least square path modeling technique of structural equation modeling has been applied to test the research hypothesis.FindingsThe results of the study indicate that the SRL capability generates not only outstanding environmental and economic gains but also social benefits. The authors also find that sustainability culture is positively associated with environmental and social performance, yet not economic performance. In addition, the findings indicate sustainability culture mediates the relationship between SRL capability and social performance.Originality/valueThis study expands the frontier of managerial knowledge by highlighting the importance of SRL capability for sustainability and exhibiting evidence of the business value of enhancing SRL capability and sustainability culture.

Constraints on peace research in war-torn situations: Cabo Delgado, Mozambique

Purpose It is assumed that fieldwork experiential learning on constraints of survey and ethnography research orientations in investigating armed conflict in Africa can contribute to the body of knowledge and help practitioners as well as other researchers working in difficult situations, such as war zones. More importantly, this paper aims to understand significant problems in Southern Africa, further methodological debates and produce new frontiers of knowledge in Southern African research studies. This paper will help other researchers who will be planning to conduct research in ongoing war-torn zones to be flexible with mixed research methodologies and data collection techniques that can ensure not only reliability and validity of the data but also, and more importantly, greater generalizability of this study. Design/methodology/approach This research in Cabo was initially guided by survey and ethnographic approaches. After facing constraints in their use in investigating the complexity of new wars, the author developed and shifted to interpretivism methodology as an alternative. It is essential that researchers be sensitive to the tensions between survey and ethnography methodologies and how they can be a mismatch to the research purpose. Findings The fieldwork experiences, using standardised survey and ethnography research orientations in Gabo, show that there is no generally appropriate blueprint of how to conduct research in violent conflicts. The valorised survey and ethnographic research strategies were not closely matched to facilitate understanding of the complexity of hybrid armed actors, indiscriminate and targeted violence which combined to militate against data generation. In the face of these problems, the author developed a new methodology, interpretivism, which embedded the descriptive, explanatory and predictive approaches. In tumultuous contexts, the standardised methodologies prioritize data generation more than critical thinking. Originality/value It is essential to study the nature of African armed conflicts by combining creativity and flexibility in the selection of research strategies. The constraints on peace research in war-torn situations in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, have laid out the weaknesses of peacetime research methodologies, including survey research and ethnographic approaches. Now is the time to reassess fieldwork-based research particularly in violent settings.

Entrepreneurial Orientation and Competitive Advantage of Quoted Pharmaceutical Companies in Nigeria

Pharmaceutical companies play a significant role in ensuring that people have access to high-quality and affordable medical services. They provide a wide range of medical services, from preventative care to emergency services. Despite the contribution of pharmaceutical companies to the social and economic growth of citizens in both developed and developing countries, their performance may not have been as expected. This is evident in the poor level of competitive advantage, decline in market share growth, dwindling financial growth, decline in productivity and customer retention. This study investigated the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on competitive advantage of quoted pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study was 308 executive manager, directors and marketing department official in these quoted pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria. Data was collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire with a Cronbach alpha value greater than 0.7. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential tools. Multiple and Hierarchical Regression Analysis were used to determine the effect of the variables using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The results revealed that entrepreneurial orientation had significant effect on competitive advantage of quoted pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria (Adj. R2 = 0.265; F (5, 296) = 22.726, p < 0.05). The study expanded the frontier of knowledge on Nigerian pharmaceutical industry performance by unbundling entrepreneurial orientation to see how each element affected competitive advantage. The study is an original study and it adds to scholarly debate on entrepreneurial orientation and competitive advantage of quoted pharmaceutical companies as the adoption of managers’ perspectives was subjective, and competitive advantage is not static, hence secondary data could be a future option for scholars. Keywords: Entrepreneurial orientation, Competitive advantage, Competitive Aggressiveness, Entrepreneurial autonomy, Innovation.

Estimating the magnitude of money laundering in the United Arab Emirates (UAE): evidence from the currency demand approach (CDA)

PurposeDespite the vulnerability of rapidly developing and emerging market economies, researchers have paid less attention to the determination of the size of money laundering (ML) in these economies, including the United Arab Emirates (the UAE). Therefore, this paper aims to estimate the magnitude of ML in the UAE between 1975 and 2020 based on the currency demand approach (CDA).Design/methodology/approachThe study uses the Gregory–Hansen cointegration technique alongside the autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing procedure to estimate the CDA model.FindingsThe results illustrate that an amount equivalent to about 19.034% of the GDP is laundered in the UAE between 1975 and 2020, on average, with the value lying between 15.129% and 23.121%. In addition, the results demonstrate the importance of the real estate market, gold trade, remittance channels and the size of the underground economy in facilitating the laundering of illicit funds in the country.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study is the pioneering attempt at estimating the amount of illicit funds laundered in the UAE. Besides, the adoption of a novel, yet robust, approach based on the modification of the CDA technique also sets the study apart as it ensures a correct, clear, unambiguous and indisputable estimate of the magnitude of ML is obtained. In addition, it is expected that the outcome of the study will expand the frontiers of knowledge among policy makers and relevant agencies and ensure the adoption of the most efficient and effective measures to curb the ML menace in the country.

A bibliometric analysis of artificial intelligence applications in macular edema: exploring research hotspots and Frontiers.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is used in ophthalmological disease screening and diagnostics, medical image diagnostics, and predicting late-disease progression rates. We reviewed all AI publications associated with macular edema (ME) research Between 2011 and 2022 and performed modeling, quantitative, and qualitative investigations. Methods: On 1st February 2023, we screened the Web of Science Core Collection for AI applications related to ME, from which 297 studies were identified and analyzed (2011-2022). We collected information on: publications, institutions, country/region, keywords, journal name, references, and research hotspots. Literature clustering networks and Frontier knowledge bases were investigated using bibliometrix-BiblioShiny, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace bibliometric platforms. We used the R "bibliometrix" package to synopsize our observations, enumerate keywords, visualize collaboration networks between countries/regions, and generate a topic trends plot. VOSviewer was used to examine cooperation between institutions and identify citation relationships between journals. We used CiteSpace to identify clustering keywords over the timeline and identify keywords with the strongest citation bursts. Results: In total, 47 countries published AI studies related to ME; the United States had the highest H-index, thus the greatest influence. China and the United States cooperated most closely between all countries. Also, 613 institutions generated publications - the Medical University of Vienna had the highest number of studies. This publication record and H-index meant the university was the most influential in the ME field. Reference clusters were also categorized into 10 headings: retinal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) fluid detection, convolutional network models, deep learning (DL)-based single-shot predictions, retinal vascular disease, diabetic retinopathy (DR), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), automated macular pathology diagnosis, dry age-related macular degeneration (DARMD), class weight, and advanced DL architecture systems. Frontier keywords were represented by diabetic macular edema (DME) (2021-2022). Conclusion: Our review of the AI-related ME literature was comprehensive, systematic, and objective, and identified future trends and current hotspots. With increased DL outputs, the ME research focus has gradually shifted from manual ME examinations to automatic ME detection and associated symptoms. In this review, we present a comprehensive and dynamic overview of AI in ME and identify future research areas.

Financial inclusion and financial development: implications for monetary policy effectiveness and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa

PurposeThis paper explores the implications of financial inclusion and financial development for the conduct of monetary policy in achieving price stability and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).Design/methodology/approachThe paper employs the system-generalized methods of moment (GMM) estimation technique using panel data spanning 2004 to 2019 and sourced from Databases of (International Monetary Fund's) IMF's Financial Access Survey (FAS), IMF's International Financial Statistics (IFS), World Bank's Global Financial Development Database (GFDD) and World Bank's World Development Indicators (WDI).FindingsThe authors find that financial inclusion has a double-edge effect in SSA. That is, it increases economic growth and lowers inflation in SSA. Furthermore, the results show that a simultaneous increase in financial inclusion and financial development have restrictive effects on economic growth. On the evidence provided, the authors conclude that financial inclusion is an important predictor of economic growth and the conduct of monetary policy in the sub-region.Originality/valueThis paper expands and contributes to the frontier of knowledge how financial inclusion is important for the conduct of monetary policy by monetary authorities in achieving its intended objectives in SSA. The paper highlights the need for ongoing enhancement of financial inclusion of many governments in the sub-region to achieving high economic growth and price stability. Thus, there is the need for policy makers to ensure that a more stringent, effective and appropriate policies and measures are put in place to enhance financial inclusion while taking into consideration the extent of financial development in SSA.

ICT adoption and youth employment in Nigeria's agricultural sector

PurposeThis paper argues that through information and communication technology (ICT) adoption, the youth will be engaged in all nodes of the agricultural value chains, thereby improving the level of employment and reducing post-harvest losses. The study examines the determinants of ICT adoption among the youth. In addition, it estimates the impact of ICT adoption on youth employment in agriculture towards the actualisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-8, to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, productive employment and decent work for all.Design/methodology/approachThe study engages data from Wave 4 (2018/2019) of the Living Standards Measurement Study – Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA). The logit regression, the propensity score matching and the inverse probability weighted regression adjustment are used as the estimation techniques.FindingsThe study underscores that educational level, access to electricity, location, age and income are significant determinants of ICT adoption among the youth. The findings also show that the youth's average weekly engagement in agricultural activities is about 24 h. In addition, the result reveals that ICT adoption can increase youth agricultural employment by approximately 21%. The mean difference indicates that those with access to ICT participate in agricultural activities more than their counterparts without ICT access by 29.46%.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations of the study is that some of the variables such as insecurity, social protection/safety nets, that may have a significant influence on youth agricultural participation where not included in the model due to data constraint. As a recommendation for further studies, given data availability, such variables should be considered when examining youth-agricultural employment nexus.Practical implicationsSince ICT adoption has a significant impact on agricultural employment, this study proposes improved infrastructure facilities such as reliable power supply, lowering the cost of mobile and data subscriptions and better education facilities should be prioritised at all localities. This will enable the youth to embrace agriculture and help improve their socioeconomic welfare and livelihood.Originality/valueUsing Wave 4 of the LSMS-ISA, logit regression, propensity score matching and the inverse probability weighted regression adjustment, makes this study one of the very few to examine the impact of ICT adoption on agricultural employment among the youth in Nigeria. It implies that this study has provided empirical evidence and expanded the frontiers of knowledge on the extent to which ICT adoption influences youth agricultural employment in Nigeria.

PERSPECTIVE ON INTERNATIONALISM IN COMPARATIVE ADULT EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

The paper situates comparative adult education in Nigeria in the milieu of global alliance and partnership for the benefits of expansion in knowledge frontiers. Various dimensions of opportunities and leverages formed the fulcrum of the discourse as contained in this paper. It was suggested that to enhance comparative efficiency, multi-level international engagement must be sustained among adult education practitioners at local, national and global interface.

The future of Hepatology Communications

The future of Hepatology Communications

ERP Retirement: Some Considerations on Existing Literature

Abstract The final phases of the information systems lifecycle are no less important than the initial ones. However, previous research indicated a lack of studies on information systems discontinuance. This paper aims to verify whether this gap still exists by analysing the literature on enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, a type of software widely used in many organisations. To identify the relevant literature, the paper involved searching in Scopus and Web of Science databases. Despite several ERP literature reviews suggesting more studies on the retirement phase and no time limits in the search, very few studies have been identified. To sketch the current state of knowledge on the selected topic, the paper developed a scoping review and, based on the results, comments on possible critical issues. The work supports researchers and practitioners interested in information systems discontinuance, as it provides some considerations to develop future research. In addition, it has practical implications because the advancement of the knowledge frontier will help organizations cope with this kind of change.

Una imagen y mil palabras: El binomio fotografía y ciencia

Photography was born at the beginning of the 19th century as a tool for representing the world around us. With its advent, the scientific community found an ally to push back the frontiers of knowledge. Since then, the pairing of photography and science has evolved considerably. Photography has positioned itself not only as an effective means of collecting data, but also as a tool for sharing scientific information, both inside and outside the academic world. In addition, technological developments in recent decades have encouraged almost constant interaction between photography and the public, including the research community. This has further opened up possibilities for integrating photography into scientific career development.

From species descriptions to diversity patterns: the validation of taxonomic data as a keystone for ant diversity studies reproducibility and accuracy.

Research findings in natural sciences need to be comparable and reproducible to effectively improve our understanding of ecological and behavioural patterns. In this sense, knowledge frontiers in biodiversity studies are directly tied to taxonomic research, especially in species-rich tropical regions. Here we analysed the taxonomic information available in 470 studies on Brazilian ant diversity published in the last 50 years. We aimed to quantify the proportion of studies that provide enough data to validate taxonomic identification, explore the frequency of studies that properly acknowledge their taxonomic background, and investigate the primary resources for ant identification in Brazil. We found that most studies on Brazilian ant diversity (73.6%) explicitly stated the methods used to identify their specimens. However, the proportion of papers that provide complete data for the repository institutions and vouchered specimens is vanishingly small (5.8%). Additionally, only 40.0% of the studies consistently presented taxon authorities and years of description, rarely referencing taxonomic publications correctly. In turn, the number of specialists and institutions consulted for ant identification in Brazil has increased in the last years, along with the number of studies that explicitly provide their taxonomic procedures for ant identification. Our findings highlight a shift between generations regarding the recognition of taxonomy as fundamental science, deepening our understanding of biodiversity.

Improving Indian Higher Education Quality: Challenges and Opportunities

The core purpose of publicly funded Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) has been to extend the frontier of knowledge and cutting-edge quality research across disciplines. Accordingly, the HEIs should be such that can tackle social and economic questions and impact public policy. Interestingly, for attaining the desired and meaningful outcomes, HE funding should be accompanied by a corresponding development of faculty capabilities, including nurturing a vibrant academic culture and placing an emphasis on quality research. Moreover, every HEI should develop an institution-based research thrust across disciplines as envisaged in the New Education Policy, 2020.

A research program-linked, course-based undergraduate research experience that allows undergraduates to participate in current research on mycobacterial gene regulation.

Undergraduate instructional biology laboratories are typically taught within two paradigms. Some labs focus on protocols and techniques delivered in "cookbook" format with defined experimental outcomes. There is increasing momentum to alternatively employ student-driven, open-ended, and discovery-based strategies, often via course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) using crowd-sourcing initiatives. A fraction of students also participate in funded research in faculty research labs, where they have opportunities to work on projects designed to expand the frontiers of human knowledge. These experiences are widely recognized as valuable but are not scalable, as most institutions have many more undergraduates than research lab positions. We sought to address this gap through our department's curriculum by creating an opportunity for students to participate in the real-world research process within a laboratory course. We conceived, developed, and delivered an authentic, guided research experience to students in an upper-level molecular biology laboratory course. We refer to this model as a "research program-linked CURE." The research questions come directly from a faculty member's research lab and evolve along with that research program. Students study post-transcriptional regulation in mycobacteria. We use current molecular biology methodologies to test hypotheses like "UTRs affect RNA and protein expression levels," "there is functional redundancy among RNA helicases," and "carbon starvation alters mRNA 5' end chemistries." We conducted standard assessments and developed a customized "Skills and Concepts Inventory" survey to gauge how well the course met our student learning outcomes. We report the results of our assessments and describe challenges addressed during development and execution of the course, including organizing activities to fit within an instructional lab, balancing breadth with depth, and maintaining authenticity while giving students the experience of obtaining interpretable and novel results. Our data suggest student learning was enhanced through this truly authentic research approach. Further, students were able to perceive they were participants and contributors within an active research paradigm. Students reported increases in their self-identification as scientists, and a positive impact on their career trajectories. An additional benefit was reciprocation back to the funded research laboratory, by funneling course alumni, results, materials, and protocols.