Research Research Articles

Financial Technology (Fintech) as a Driver for Poverty Reduction in Nigeria

ABSTRACT: The human race has been confronting the issue of poverty which is threatening its continued existence for a long time. Poor access to finance can lead to poverty this breeds health issues, lack of access to social and recreational facilities, social delinquencies, reduced living standard, malnutrition and economic difficulties. The goal of defeating poverty in its various ramification remains a cardinal concern for policy formulators in the Nigerian state and international bodies such as the World Bank and United Nations. Following the thriving emergence of financial technology (fintech) in Nigeria, there exist a dearth in academic researches to examine how fintech can be a driver in the reduction of poverty. This study examined the impact of financial technology on poverty reduction in Nigeria. Data on poverty rate, financial technology, mortality rate, literacy rate and gross domestic products were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Nigeria and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin for the period of 1991 – 2021. This study employed the multiple linear regression estimation technique to analyse collected data as it examines a cross-section of major key independent variables across a time series data, on the premise of a common effect model. Data analysed indicates a negative and significant nexus between poverty rate and financial technology innovation. The result also suggest that literacy rate and poverty rate have a negative and insignificant relationship. The poverty rate was also found to be positively and insignificantly related to mortality rate and gross domestic products respectively. The study findings have several significant policy implications. Firstly, infrastructures that support internet and mobile telephony should be expanded by providing incentives for investment since technology is the backbone of the operations of fintech. Secondly, education on fintech, information communication technology and finance should be increased to fill the gap among citizens who are not technological inclined especially in the rural areas to increase the use of fintech. Lastly, there should be further regulatory interventions through reforms to remove the barriers to credit.

The Use of Hydrogen as Fuel Gives Rise to Emerging Environmental Concerns

Given the urgent global warming situation and the need to decrease carbon emissions, this research project is essential for examining alternative energy sources, like hydrogen, for sustainable transportation and power production. The increasing urbanization and enhanced urban mobility emphasize the significance of building energy-efficient transport systems, such as Light Rail Transport, to offset environmental consequences. This study seeks to enhance the current discussion on moving towards a more sustainable and ecologically aware energy model by examining the practicality and advantages of these developing energy alternatives.

CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEM FOR REMOTE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF A DRINKING WATER NETWORK

The fundamental aim of this paper is to investigate and explore the design and simulation methods for a cyber-physical system (CPS) for the monitoring and control of drinking water capture, treatment and distribution processes. This research aims to provide a deep understanding of the theoretical concepts underlying CPS systems, as well as a detailed analysis of the technologies and methodologies used in the design and simulation of these complex systems. Through this investigation, we aim to identify effective solutions for the management of drinking water resources, given the critical importance of water in modern society. By analyzing case studies and current practices, we will assess the advantages and challenges associated with implementing a CPS system in the real-world context of water supply infrastructure. This work not only aims to provide a theoretical perspective on the concept of CPS applied in the field of drinking water supply, but also to contribute to the development and implementation of practical solutions in order to ensure universal access to quality water and to protect the environment. Through academic approach and rigorous research, we hope to make a contribution to the field of mechatronic engineering and environmental technologies.

A community-engaged approach to assess arsenic exposure in private well users in rural communities: The South Texas Arsenic Research Project

A community-engaged approach to assess arsenic exposure in private well users in rural communities: The South Texas Arsenic Research Project

Research-by-design for nature-based riverfronts in socially complex urban areas: rethinking Liffey Boardwalk in Dublin

ABSTRACT Integrating nature-based and ecological approaches in urban design is called for in the literature, while there is a considerable gap between academic research and practice on the applicability and effectiveness of related strategies. We define a research-by-design process and discuss relevant approaches for riverfronts in dense urban fabric, taking Liffey Boardwalk in Dublin, Ireland, as a case study. The methods employed include a desk study of academic literature and urban policies, site analyses (site observations, footfall counting, photographic documentation), and urban design scenario development. Biophilic urbanism was determined as the most pliable vision for addressing socio-ecological issues in a complex and problematic area, from which implications are further derived.

Researching the Jordanian city: toward an urban planning research agenda in Jordan

PurposeResearch and Development (R&D) plays a significant role in promoting social and economic development in cities. In urban planning practice, a lack of evidence-informed policies and misguided research efforts can undermine national and local development efforts. This research aims to outline the state of academic research in urban planning and propose a tentative urban planning research agenda in Jordan. Specifically, the study identifies emerging research areas within postgraduate urban planning research in Jordan, examines the extent to which current research activities align with national research priorities, and determines research areas of top priority for Jordanian cities.Design/methodology/approachThe research employs a mixed-method approach using content analysis to analyze academic urban planning research in Jordan and the Delphi method targeting Jordanian urban planning experts to identify research areas that should be prioritized in Jordan within the next five years.FindingsThe findings indicate that while urban design and housing, neighborhoods, and community development were the dominant fields of study in postgraduate urban planning research, planning experts identified transportation and land use planning as research areas of top priority for the next five years. The results also suggest that national research priorities lack specificity and offer little guidance for researchers in complex and multifaceted scientific disciplines, such as urban planning.Originality/valueThis research lays the foundations for developing a comprehensive and feasible urban planning research agenda that is responsive to the diverse needs of communities and cities across Jordan. It offers three propositions to guide future knowledge production in urban planning: emphasizing research activity in priority areas, decentralizing research activities, and fostering inter/transdisciplinary research linkages. To the best of the author's knowledge, this study is the first to propose an urban planning research agenda in Jordan.

Study examining the significant role of intellectual property protection in driving radical technological innovation among national research project teams, employing PLS-SEM and ANN modeling.

This study examines the role of intellectual property protection (IPP) in enhancing radical technological innovation (RTI) within national research project teams, using an innovation-driven theory and an ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) perspective. This study utilizes a sample of 336 national research project team members from various Chinese universities, research institutes, and corporations to analyze the theoretical model. Additionally, a two-stage hybrid partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, combined with artificial neural network techniques (ANN), is employed to evaluate the hypotheses. The empirical findings of this study reveal a positive association between the intensity of IPP and RTI within national research project teams. Research and development investment intensity (R&DII) is identified as the primary predictor, while integrated leadership (IL) and group potential (GP) play crucial moderating roles. These groundbreaking findings extend the scope of innovation-driven and AMO theories, providing a proactive model for national research project teams to propose improvements to the IPP system, ultimately enhancing the realization of RTI.

Impact of a community-based participatory research project with underserved communities at risk for hepatitis C virus in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: an evaluation study

BackgroundParticipatory approaches have become a widely applied research approach. Despite their popularity, there are many challenges associated with the evaluation of participatory projects. Here we describe an evaluation of a community-based participatory research study of underserved communities in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam at risk for hepatitis C virus. The goals of our evaluation were to explore the main benefits and challenges of implementing and participating in a participatory study and to describe study impacts.MethodsWe conducted two meetings with leaders and members of the participating groups followed by in-depth interviews with 10 participants. We then held a dissemination meeting with over 70 participants, including the representatives of each group, researchers from non-governmental organizations (community-based, national and international), and govenrment officials from the Vietnam Ministry of Health and the Department of Health of HCMC.ResultsResults include four categories where we describe first the participatory impacts, followed by the collaborative impacts. Then we describe the benefits and challenges of creating and belonging to one of the groups, from members’ and leaders’ points of view. Finally, we describe the key suggestions that participants provided for future research.ConclusionIn conclusion, the evaluation approach led to both a research reflection on the ‘success’ of the project and enabled participants themselves to reflect on the outcomes and benefits of the study from their point of view.

Addressing issues of (linguistic) vulnerability in researching UK asylum-related advice contexts: reflections on practice

ABSTRACT In this paper, we reflect on efforts to address (linguistic) vulnerability in two separate UK-based research projects examining communicative practices in immigration advice-giving. The first project investigated communication in legal advice meetings with asylum seekers and refugees. The second examined communication processes in casework with asylum seekers considering repatriation. We explore how we each approached ethical dimensions of involving multilingual migrant participants in research, connecting our experiences with theorisations of vulnerability. We highlight how several different dimensions of vulnerability, including linguistic vulnerability, were intertwined in our projects, and how gatekeepers were instrumental in making decisions about the vulnerability of participants.

Social acceptance in coastal and marine protected areas: Port-cros national park (France)

The effectiveness of marine protected areas is a timely issue, as the fight against biodiversity loss depends significantly on how effective these areas are. This article explores a key condition for meeting the challenge of improving conservation policies, as part of the global targets for biodiversity conservation, following the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The paper explores the determinants of social acceptance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by local communities impacted directly by MPAs designation. We focus on the Port-Cros National Park (France), which was established in 1963. The park has seen its governance, perimeter and internal zoning evolve over time, generating local opposition and underlining the importance of acceptance by local communities. This article highlights the factors that play a role in the social acceptance of this National Park based on the results of a questionnaire survey including 569 residents of the municipalities in and around the protected area. The approach we followed is part of a European research project that has developed a methodological protocol to identify interactions between social parameters that characterise the level of support and has been applied in 20 national parks. Our results reveal a high level of social acceptance for the National Park, with four main factors influencing acceptance: perceptions of the social impacts of the park, trust in management authorities, sociodemographic characteristics and conditions for citizen participation. Spatial disparities are also demonstrated. Our analysis also enables us to explain the components of constrained acceptance: this opens possibilities to explore the conditions under which local communities can feel more empowered and participate in the governance of the protected area.

Managing institutional conflicts: Stakeholder accounts of communication between conflict of interest and technology transfer offices.

There have been repeated calls for academic institutions to develop policies and procedures to manage institutional conflicts of interest (ICOI) arising from technology transfer activities. While prior research has examined adoption of ICOI policies by medical schools and universities, little is known about how these institutions handle ICOI in practice, hindering the development of evidence-based recommendations to improve ICOI management. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 senior administrators responsible for research integrity and conflict of interest issues at academic institutions. Data were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative content analysis approach, combining flexible coding to index the interview data with close examination, interpretation, and synthesis of coded content. Participants identified communication and information sharing between conflict of interest (COI) and technology transfer (TT) offices as a critical factor in the effective management of ICOI and suggested several strategies to strengthen coordination between these offices. These findings suggest that academic research institutions could strengthen COI programs by taking measures to improve communication and information sharing between COI and TT offices.

Factors influencing the research impact in cancer research: a collaboration and knowledge network analysis

BackgroundCancer is a major public health challenge globally. However, little is known about the evolution patterns of cancer research communities and the influencing factors of their research capacity and impact, which is affected not only by the social networks established through research collaboration but also by the knowledge networks in which the research projects are embedded.MethodsThe focus of this study was narrowed to a specific topic – 'synthetic lethality’ – in cancer research. This field has seen vibrant growth and multidisciplinary collaboration in the past decade. Multi-level collaboration and knowledge networks were established and analysed on the basis of bibliometric data from ‘synthetic lethality’-related cancer research papers. Negative binomial regression analysis was further applied to explore how node attributes within these networks, along with other potential factors, affected paper citations, which are widely accepted as proxies for assessing research capacity and impact.ResultsOur study revealed that the synthetic lethality-based cancer research field is characterized by a knowledge network with high integration, alongside a collaboration network exhibiting some clustering. We found significant correlations between certain factors and citation counts. Specifically, a leading status within the nation-level international collaboration network and industry involvement were both found to be significantly related to higher citations. In the individual-level collaboration networks, lead authors’ degree centrality has an inverted U-shaped relationship with citations, while their structural holes exhibit a positive and significant effect. Within the knowledge network, however, only measures of structural holes have a positive and significant effect on the number of citations.ConclusionsTo enhance cancer research capacity and impact, non-leading countries should take measures to enhance their international collaboration status. For early career researchers, increasing the number of collaborators seems to be more effective. University–industry cooperation should also be encouraged, enhancing the integration of human resources, technology, funding, research platforms and medical resources. Insights gained through this study also provide recommendations to researchers or administrators in designing future research directions from a knowledge network perspective. Focusing on unique issues especially interdisciplinary fields will improve output and influence their research work.

Research, practice, knowledge: introducing the creative knowledges enabling framework

ABSTRACT Amongst a myriad of articles, chapters and books that argue for different ways to understand and conduct creative practice research – or as it is otherwise known, artistic research, arts-based research, practice-led research, practitioner-based research, and so on – this article goes to the heart of the affordances of creative practice research and offers what the authors believe is more generative model for this work, with more productive terminology. By focusing on a process of research enabling, as opposed to research being led by, based on or taken through practice (and vice versa), the article seeks clarity on the relationship between research questions, research design and methods; where a contribution to knowledge resides; how, accordingly, a research project might be written up; and who, indeed, creative practice researchers are. From our experience of undertaking, supervising and evaluatingcreative practice research, we have come to realise that some of the fundamental challenges of this work reside in a basic understanding of what, why, how and by whom. We believe that some of the definitions and models of creative practice research are a contributor to these challenges, hence a new model with alternative terminology to help untangle some of the intellectual complexities we have seen. The discussion uses screen practice as its disciplinary site, encompassing media/screen production and screenwriting.

Use of Flashcards Through Umbul Game in Learning Vocabulary: Is It Effective?

Vocabulary is the basic thing needed to learn the foreign language. It is wording that people have to know to communicate well, both in written and spoken structures, especially for young learners. Children's language development depends on their vocabulary, which has an impact on their academic performance. This study aimed to understand why first-grade elementary students struggle with English vocabulary in the curriculum. The primary goal was to determine if using flashcards with the Umbul game improved English vocabulary for first-grade students. The design of the research is Classroom Action Research (CAR). There are four fundamental processes in Classroom Action Research (CAR). Those are planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. In accordance with planning, the researchers prepare teaching kits needed to take action, such as: lesson plans, observation sheet, materials to be used in the classroom action, and evaluation sheet. In terms of acting, researchers implement the plan after preparing lesson plans, materials and evaluations. In this research, the researchers apply flashcards through Umbul games in teaching vocabulary. The researchers also give the post-test. Concerning observing, the researchers observe the process of teaching and learning activity. The researcher also makes result sheet to take note the information that occur during the activity. Regarding reflection, the researchers reflect, evaluate, and describe to improve the condition in the next cycle. The subjects were first-grade students from SD Pangudi Luhur Don Bosko Semarang participated in class I-C research projects. In this study, observation and evaluation sheet were applied as instruments. On the other hand, the information was obtained from observation and evaluation sheets. Information examined throughout the study was quantitative. The data was collected, and then it was examined by the researchers. The findings indicate a significant increase in first-grade students' motivation to learn English vocabulary, from 7% before to 15% after using flashcards. After implementing the flashcards through the Umbul game, the statistics indicated that students were able to acquire vocabulary with ease and were actively engaged in the teaching-learning process in the classroom. With the use of flashcards through Umbul games, students become more engaged in their studies and are more motivated to learn English. The students will have opportunities to improve their English by employing this strategy. Additionally, the English teacher can provide up chances for student participation in class activities by using flashcards as illustrated media. Hopefully, these findings can serve as a reference for future research.

Un-learning and re-learning:

In this reflexive piece, the authors consider the unexpected lessons learned while undertaking a collaborative research project with their home institution’s Indigenous Learning Centre on urban berry foraging. The faculty member questions the ethics of settlers undertaking this work, even if in collaboration with an Indigenous community, alongside the promises of this work to critical food studies. The practice of urban foraging is understood as a wider metaphor for Indigenous worldview, and for different ways of being and relating. The student’s reflections weave together themes of learning outside the classroom, with family and community, and the holistic aspects of doing research.

How indigenous spiritual beliefs shape health-related consumption rituals: shipibo health rituals to tackle covid-19

Purpose In marketing and consumer research, the study of Indigenous ideas and rituals remains limited. The authors present an Indigenous-informed study of consumption rituals co-produced with members of the Shipibo–Konibo Indigenous group of the Peruvian Amazon. Specifically, the authors worked with the Comando Matico, a group of Shipibos from Pucallpa, Peru. This study aims to investigate how Indigenous spiritual beliefs shape health-related consumption rituals by focusing on the experience of the Shipibos and their response to COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach Drawing upon the principles of Indigenous research, the authors co-produced this study with the Comando Matico. The authors collaboratively discussed the research project’s design, analysed and interpreted data and co-authored this study with members of the Comando Matico. This study uses discourse analyses. The corpus of discourse is speech and text produced by the Comando Matico in webinars and online interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic. The full and active participation of the Comando Matico informed the discourse analysis by ensuring Indigenous knowledge, and worldviews were infused throughout the process. Findings The authors foreground how Indigenous spiritual beliefs act as a force that imbues the knowledge and practice of health, wellbeing and illness, and this process shapes the performance of rituals. In Indigenous contexts, multiple spirits coexist with consumers, who adhere to specific rituals to respond to and relate to these spirits. Indigenous consumption rituals involve the participation of non-human beings (called rao, ibo, yoshin and chaikoni by the Shipibos) and this aspect challenges the traditional notion of rituals and ritual elements in marketing. Originality/value The authors demonstrate how Indigenous spiritual beliefs shape consumption rituals in the context of health and draw attention to how the acknowledgement of alternative ontologies and epistemologies can help address dominant hierarchies of knowledge in marketing theory.

Unveiling journalistic resilience: A blueprint for future crises

This research article presents an examination of the findings and recommendations drawn from a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) with senior journalists. The main aim was to develop a strategy to safeguard the skills and well-being of journalists in the face of potential future pandemics or crises. The FGDs were attended by experienced journalists whose focus was on rigorous reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic. They represented press clubs from across Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). In these discussions, participants presented the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the strategies they used to overcome these hurdles. In addition, the deliberations resulted in recommendations aimed at creating a safe environment for journalists to work, especially in crises. Using the analytical capabilities of the NVivo software, a thematic analysis was conducted to decipher the core themes of the FGDs. These themes have now been summarized in a set of consolidated recommendations that form the cornerstone of this research project. The recommendations advocate for improvements that include strengthening safety measures, prioritizing mental health and well-being, ensuring unimpeded access to important information, increasing legal protections, cultivating capacity-building opportunities, strengthening networks and collaborations, and introducing specialized training in health reporting. By implementing these recommendations, a framework can be created that strengthens journalists’ resilience in the face of crises. This article sees these findings not only as a blueprint for journalistic safety but also as evidence of the strength and adaptability of the journalistic community in the face of unprecedented challenges.

How Mobile Health Can Change the Contexts of Living With HIV and Engaging With Treatment and Care in Iran: A Realist-Informed Qualitative Study.

Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are increasingly used to address the challenges of living with HIV and engaging with antiretroviral therapy. A wealth of evidence supports the efficacy of mHealth in supporting living with HIV. Yet, there is a dearth of evidence on how mHealth improves outcomes, which features are effective, and why these work in a particular setting. This study uses stakeholder views, including patients, providers, peer supporters, counsellors, and program directors, to conceptualize how specific mHealth features could interact with contexts of living with HIV and mechanisms that shape engagement with treatment. The study is part of an ongoing research project on engagement with HIV care in Iran. We draw on the perspectives of recently diagnosed and more treatment-experienced patients and their providers, using purposive sampling, conducting 9 focus group discussions with a total of 66 participants, in addition to 17 interviews. Our findings suggest that mHealth designs that feature provider connection, proactive care, and privacy and personalization are expected to dilute the harsh contexts of living with HIV. We build on previously identified socioecological pathways that disrupt antiretroviral therapy in Iran and find that mHealth can enhance the relation between the health system and patients. Our findings suggest that personalized mHealth features and provisions can partially mitigate the compounded impacts of harsh socioecological pathways that impede treatment success in Iran. Our social constructivist study was augmented with realist-informed analysis and could have transferability to similar contexts that trigger similar mechanisms of treatment disruption.

How Business–Government Relationships Drive Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Study of 292 Cities in China Using NCA and TDQCA

Innovation is the driving force for achieving sustainable economic development, and healthy business–government relationships are the foundation and guarantee for promoting the sustainability of digital innovation and entrepreneurship. However, current academic research on the impact of business–government relations on digital innovation and entrepreneurship often neglects the configurational effects of various factors. Therefore, this study constructed an analytical framework from the new dimension of “close” and “clean” business–government relationships, selected 292 Chinese cities as research subjects, and employed the Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) and Time-Differencing Qualitative Comparative Analysis (TDQCA) methods. From a configurational perspective, it explored the relationship between business–government relations and digital innovation and entrepreneurship. The results showed the following: Firstly, the various business–government relationship factors did not have a single linear impact on digital innovation and entrepreneurship, and configuration was more crucial than a single factor. Secondly, based on the integration of research findings and the theoretical framework, five successful configurations were proposed. However, these configurations possess certain adaptability and need to be tailored to local conditions. Thirdly, analyzing the three “non” condition variables in these five configurations, including “clean” business–government relationships, government efficiency, and new infrastructure, also contributed to enhancing the sustainability of digital innovation and entrepreneurship outcomes. Additionally, the study analyzed the implications of these critical configurations for five key stakeholders: government, enterprises, research institutions and academia, policymakers, and the public. Specifically, the government can implement policies tailored to local conditions to promote the sustainable development of digital innovation and entrepreneurship. These policies include increasing investment in digital infrastructure, simplifying approval processes, and enhancing the efficiency of government services.

What brings you to our humble abode? Tourist motivation for visiting rural destinations: The case of Nqileni village, South Africa

Rural areas, especially in developing countries, have considered using rural tourism to advance economic and social development. Many authors have conducted academic research focusing on tourism to develop rural areas. However, more clarity is needed on what constitutes rural tourism. While several studies have investigated the reasons for rural tourism development, more is needed to understand what attracts visitors to rural areas. This research paper aims to enhance understanding of rural tourism by examining rural tourists' motivations for places such as Nqileni village, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The authors identified the motivational factors that push tourists to rural areas and the activities that tourists prefer at the destination. Finally, the research determined the tourists' overall satisfaction during their stay at the destination. Numerous research studies have been conducted to investigate the factors influencing the growth of rural tourism, but more is needed to determine what attracts tourists to rural destinations. The study adopted a quantitative research approach, using questionnaires to collect data. The results conclusively show that tourists were motivated to visit the area for relaxation, visit family and relatives, and enjoy a feeling of freedom in the countryside.