Practical Strategies Research Articles

Understanding dementia in minority ethnic communities: The perspectives of key stakeholders interviewed as part of the IDEAL programme.

Future populations of older adults in the UK, those aged 65+, will demonstrate increased diversity in terms of their ethnic identity resultant from the ageing of the post-war migrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean. As a consequence, there will be an increase in the numbers of older adults from these communities living with age-related chronic diseases such as dementia. In response to these demographic changes, we need to develop a research, policy and practice agenda that is inclusive and provides evidence for the development of culturally diverse and effective models of service delivery. This requires engagement with three key stakeholder groups: (a) people with dementia; (b) their carers; and (c) the wider community. As part of the IDEAL research programme on living well with dementia, we undertook semi-structured interviews with twelve community leaders, defined as known and trusted individuals active in their respective communities, and six community members (two people living with dementia and four carers). We explored their understandings, experiences, and views of about dementia. Our analysis identified two overarching themes. The migrant lifecourse highlighted issues of not belonging, discrimination and racism. This framed our second theme, the cultural context of dementia, which addressed dementia knowledge and attitudes, service provision and service access, and how being part of a minority ethnic community made a difference to these experiences. Our study highlights how lifecourse experiences of negative hostile social and policy environments and services can be profound and long-lasting and provide a prism through which accessing dementia care is experienced. Our findings argue for the inclusion of diverse views and lifecourse experiences within the context of developing a dementia strategy for research, policy and practice that is appropriate for a multicultural and heterogenous society.

The Effect of EAP on Job Performance Based on Psychological Contract and Perceived Organizational Support

In order to study whether employee assistance programs have a significant impact on job performance, whether psychological contract and perceived organizational support play a mediating role in job performance, and thus provide practical operational strategies for relevant enterprises to propose human resource management suggestions to promote job performance, the implementation of employee assistance programs has been the subject of practical research. The findings indicate that addressing issues related to high turnover, job burnout, and absences cannot be separated from the importance of the psychological contract, perceived organizational support, and employee performance in organizational change. By applying structural equation modeling (SEM) to the data from front-line employees of several units in China, this research tested the relationships among employee assistance programs, psychological contracts, perceived organizational support, and job performance using SPSS and AMOS. The results indicate that employee assistance programs positively affect job performance; psychological contracts and perceived organizational support play a mediating role between employee assistance programs and employee job performance (JOP). Our research suggests that an employee assistance program can optimize frontline employee assistance work, build a mechanism to stimulate frontline employees' psychological contracts, and create an organizational environment full of perceived organizational support. This study innovatively uses the structural equation model for quantitative research. In addition, most previous studies on EPA were based on a single variable, psychological contract, and POS were used as the main intermediary variables to explore the mechanism of their impact on job performance so as to enhance the explanatory power of employee job performance. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-05-018 Full Text: PDF

The Relationship Between Distributive Leadership andOrganizational Change Management Strategies

This study explores the relationship between distributive leadership and change management strategies in Malaysian vocational colleges. Distributive leadership is vital for implementing Malaysia's Education Development Plan 2013-2025, particularly in enhancing leadership effectiveness. Effective organizational transformation depends on leaders' styles and abilities to manage changes efficiently and continuously. This research examines the extent of distributive leadership practices among vocational college leaders in Malaysia and explores variations based on demographic characteristics. Conducted with a sample of 254 vocational college teachers across nine states, data were collected through a questionnaire distributed via Google Forms. The questionnaire comprised two sections: Perceptions of Distributive Leadership Practices and Change Management Strategies. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS Version 26.0. Findings indicate that respondents generally agree with the principles of distributive leadership, including bounded empowerment, leadership development, shared decision-making, and collective engagement. Additionally, a positive relationship was found between distributive leadership and change management strategies. To optimize change management, leaders should engage managers, employees, and senior leaders.

Enhanced propanethiol biodegradation by an optimized propanethiol oxidoreductase in microbial cells within an electrode bioreactor

Propanethiol oxidoreductase (PTO) is a novel thiol-oxidizing enzyme from Pseudomonas putida S-1 that utilizes thiols as the sole nutrition source. This enzyme has shown application potential in the bioremediation of thiols, its substrate selectivity, however, has not yet been elucidated. This study reveals that PTO exhibits catalytic activity towards ethanethiol, propanethiol, and butanethiol, but not methanethiol or phenylmethanethiol, indicating unique substrate specificity. Through directed evolution and semi-rational design, we engineered a PTO mutant (A54V&G316T) with twice the specific activity towards propanethiol than the wild type (from 17.3 to 40.7μg/mg/h). Applying voltage in electrode bioreactors enhanced the microbial degradation of propanethiol, with the mutant PTO further accelerating this process. Both non-native expression in E. coli and native expression in engineered P. putida S-1 demonstrated the mutant PTO's effectiveness in increasing PT removal rates. The PT degradation efficiency of engineered P. putida S-1 increases by 3-fold compared to the wild-type in the first 5hours. These findings highlight the potential of combining metabolic and electrochemical engineering to enhance bioremediation of toxic compounds. The engineered PTO mutant improves PT degradation efficiency and broadens its application in practical bioremediation strategies.

Time toxicity of lutetium-177 treatment in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Objectives: We aim to investigate the time toxicity of patients with gastroenteropancreatic-neuroendocrine tumours treated with lutetium-177 Dotatate in a single institution. Design: This is a retrospective cohort study. Methods: All patients with gastroenteropancreatic-neuroendocrine tumours treated with lutetium-177 Dotatate in the Alexander Fleming Institute were included. Our primary endpoint was to evaluate time toxicity, which accounted for every day that the patient had contact with any department of any healthcare institution. Results: Our cohort included 21 patients with metastatic disease, female sex 86%, and had a median age of 55 (IQR 44-63). The primary tumour site was small intestine in 47.6% of the cases. The median number of previous systemic treatments for advanced disease was 2 (IQR 2 - 3). The overall response rate was 19%, and 66.6% had disease clinical benefit. The median calculated 'time toxicity' was 11 days (IQR 8-18), representing 5.7% of the total treatment duration. The main contributors to time-toxicity included infusion days, blood draws, radiological scans, and hospitalizations (median 4 days for each). Conclusion: Lutetium-177 Dotatate treatment for gastroenteropancreatic-neuroendocrine tumours was associated with a low time toxicity, excellent tolerability, good response and a prolonged PFS, of which the median was not reached in the short follow-up we present. Newer treatments with different mechanisms of action provide longer survivals and widen the landscape of choices. Understanding new clinical endpoints is important for the transition into a more modern clinical practice, strengthening personalised and patient-oriented strategies.

A clinical application of gait quality patterns in osteoarthritis

AimTo investigate whether a smartphone-based gait analysis tool can reliably output gait quality parameters that can be cross-analyzed to establish individual & disease-based changes in gait quality patterns. MethodsA cross-sectional study made up of a 48-patients undergoing disability certification at the “Dr. José Castro Villagrana” or the “Dr. David Fragoso Lizalde” Health Centers in Mexico City, Mexico. Their sensorimotor performance was evaluated through an in-house smartphone/IMU based digital tool. Gait was analyzed by means of frequency analysis of the acceleration of the body mass measured at the sternum. A composite gait quality score was determined through principal component analysis based primarily on the explainability and uniformity of gait. Quality independence against demographic variables (age & weight) was tested through ANCOVA. The association between gait quality and gait parameters was analyzed by using multiple linear regression. ResultsA multiple regression model developed with a limited set of gait quality parameters successfully predicted gait smoothness with a 97.05 % accuracy with a mean square error of 0.085 between predicted and actual quality scores. The model demonstrates different predictive capacities across disease groups, with Osteoarthrosis + Osteoporosis having the highest R2 at 0.98 (p < 0.001) and Coxarthrosis having the lowest explained R2 at 0.79 (p < 0.001). ConclusionsThe assessment of gait quality, in family medicine, with low-cost digital tools is an area of opportunity yet to be explored. This tool can potentially disrupt the current disability workflow between primary and specialty care to have an objective method of assessing gait within a clinical consult. Individual patient-level benchmarking can give us insights into the patient's disease status, develop practical intervention strategies, and control the cost and quality of medical care by predicting an individualized course of disability or rehabilitation. Further studies are needed to validate digital gait assessments as clinical decision support tools for day-to-day clinical operations. MeSHGait Analysis, Smartphone, Primary Health Care, Osteoarthrosis

Navigating Ghana's economic waters: Exploring the impact of Fiscal and Monetary policies on stock market performance

This study leverages the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Exponential Generalized Conditional Heteroscedasticity (EGARCH) models to conduct a thorough examination of the impact of fiscal and monetary policies on the Ghanaian stock market from 1990 to 2022. Key findings indicate that government spending and tax revenue, as components of fiscal policy, are positively associated with stock returns, contrasting with the negative influence of the industrial production index. On the monetary policy front, interest rates are found to negatively affect stock performance, while exchange rates and the money supply exert positive influences. In the short term, government spending enhances stock returns, although the effects of GDP and the industrial production index are inconsistent, with exchange rates and money supply demonstrating a negative impact. The study underscores the profound sway that policy decisions have on stock market dynamics, underscoring an urgent need for investors and policymakers to closely monitor policy shifts and their market reverberations. A pivotal policy recommendation emerging from this research is the strategic synchronization of fiscal and monetary policies by policymakers to underpin stock market stability and growth. Such harmonization can counteract the adverse effects of policy-induced volatility, cultivating an investment-friendly climate. Investors and policymakers are encouraged to draw upon a spectrum of credible sources, encompassing financial news, governmental releases, and market analyses, to remain abreast of policy evolutions. This research offers precious perspectives on the nexus between economic policies and market movements, offering value for academic inquiry and informing practical decision-making strategies.

Enhanced diagnostics for generalized anxiety disorder: leveraging differential channel and functional connectivity features based on frontal EEG signals

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic anxiety condition characterized by persistent excessive worry, anxiety, and fear. Current diagnostic practices primarily rely on clinicians’ subjective assessments and experience, highlighting a need for more objective and reliable methods. This study collected 10-minute resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) from 45 GAD patients and 36 healthy controls (HC), focusing on six frontal EEG channels for preprocessing, data segmentation, and frequency band division. Innovatively, this study introduced the “Differential Channel” method, which enhances classification performance by enhancing the information related to anxiety from the data, thereby highlighting signal differences. Utilizing the preprocessed EEG signals, undirected functional connectivity features (Phase Lag Index, Pearson Correlation Coefficient, and Mutual Information) and directed functional connectivity features (Partial Directed Coherence) were extracted. Multiple machine learning models were applied to distinguish between GAD patients and HC. The results show that the Deep Forest classifier achieves excellent performance with a 12-second time window of DiffFeature. In particular, the classification of GAD and HC was successfully obtained by combining OriFeature and DiffFeature on Mutual Information with a maximum accuracy of 98.08%. Furthermore, it was observed that undirected functional connectivity features significantly outperformed directed functional connectivity when fewer frontal channels were used. Overall, the methodologies developed in this study offer accurate and practical identification strategies for the early screening and clinical diagnosis of GAD, offering the necessary theoretical and technical support for further enhancing the portability of EEG devices.

Multidimensional Engineering to Construct Ru/TiO2 Catalysts Enriched with Pores and Ti3+ Defects for Highly Efficient Selective Hydrogenation of Benzene

AbstractStructural engineering, coupled with crystalline phase engineering and surface engineering, serves as a practical and effective strategy for enhancing catalytic performance through the fine design of catalysts in terms of their structure, physical phases and surface defects. In this work, a set of strategies were employed for structural transformation and crystalline phase transition of Ru/TiO2 catalysts, utilizing multidimensional regulation. Ru nanoparticles loaded on a unique TiO2 nanosheet flowers (Ru/TSFs) enriched with pores and Ti3+ defects were prepared by solvothermal and impregnation‐chemical reduction methods. The Ru/TSFs exhibited an outstanding catalytic performance in the reaction of selective hydrogenation of benzene for the preparation of cyclohexene, with a selectivity of 79 % and a maximum yield of 52.8 % along with a benzene conversion of 45.9 % and a good stability. The excellent catalytic performance attributes to the distinctive structure of three‐dimensional nanosheet flowers, which offers a high specific surface area and improvs the effective contact between the catalyst and the reaction substrate. Meanwhile, the porous Ru/TSFs exhibit exceptional hydrophilicity and abundant Ti3+ defects on their surface, which is quite favorable for the desorption of cyclohexene from the reaction system, thus improving the selectivity of cyclohexene. The multidimensional engineering may provide an efficient approach for constructing high‐performance loaded catalysts for potential industrial applications.

Sharing the Care: One Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation’s Approach to Out-of-Home Care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

ABSTRACT This article critically examines safety and innovation in out-of-home care, with a particular focus on addressing the entrenched overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in the child welfare system. Grounded in the practical insights of safe house workers and managers, the purpose of this article is to share an innovative practice case study—the Tangentyere Safe House in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. As a case study within an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation, Tangentyere Safe House emerges as a site for understanding the confluence of cultural safety, familial connections, and strategies to mitigate overrepresentation. Key themes explored include promoting cultural safety and supporting connections with the family of origin. Through a methodological lens that privileges practice-based knowledge, this article captured the on-the-ground experiences of those actively engaged in child safety. The findings underscore the innovative practices employed by Tangentyere Safe House in navigating out-of-home care within an Indigenous context to argue for a holistic and culturally informed approach to child protection interventions, drawing attention to the practical strategies employed by safe house workers. The article showcases the central role of Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations in providing care alongside families in out-of-home care. IMPLICATIONS The innovative approach of the Tangentyere Safe House highlights the importance and unique role of Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations in out-of-home care. The role of Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations should be formally recognised in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle hierarchy. Frontline safe house workers’ knowledge and expertise regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care can inform all stakeholder involvement including police interventions.

Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Healthcare: An Example of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Healthcare systems must embody equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and, in the event of unfairness, appropriate policies / countermeasures should be enacted. The healthcare system response to the COVID-19 pandemic not only highlighted how socioeconomic disparities affect mortality risk but also posed significant challenges to the successful practice of EDI in healthcare. In light of this, this article was written to provide an overview of EDI, analyze the international efforts to promote it, and suggest strategies for promoting EDI in infectious disease healthcare using COVID-19 as an example. In healthcare settings, equity centers on ensuring patients receive fair treatment regardless of race, gender, age, or socioeconomic status; diversity centers on healthcare providers understanding the uniqueness of patients from different cultural backgrounds and the health barriers they face; and inclusion centers on ensuring patients are treated with respect and given the attention they deserve. During pandemics, social determinants of health (SDOH) greatly impact patient health outcomes and hinder the practice of EDI. Reflecting on the impact of COVID-19, healthcare systems can actively apply EDI in clinical practice to provide to all patients equitable access to healthcare opportunities and outcomes. Practical strategies include establishing EDI committees within healthcare systems, monitoring relevant data, conducting staff training, and continuously addressing the SDOH and needs of marginalized groups to achieve EDI in healthcare.

Vision-based digital shadowing to reveal hidden structural dynamics of a real supertall building

Vision-based digital shadowing is a highly efficient way to monitor the health of buildings in use. However, previous studies on digital shadowing have been limited to laboratory experiments. This paper proposes a novel computer-vision-based digital shadow workflow and presents its successful application in a real engineering case. In this case, a 345.8-m supertall building experienced unexpected shaking under normal meteorological conditions. This study established a digital shadow of the building using three-dimensional displacement measurements based on super-resolution monocular vision, revealing the hidden structural dynamics and inherent mechanical reasons for the abnormal shaking. The proposed digital shadowing workflow is a feasible roadmap for developing vision-based digital shadows of real-world structures using low-cost cameras. The abnormal vibration event in the supertall building considered in this study is the first of its type worldwide. The results of this study offer practical strategies and invaluable insights into the prevention and mitigation of this type of global risk, thereby contributing to the lifespan extension of buildings in use worldwide. Furthermore, with the increasing number of general sensing devices, such as surveillance cameras in cities, the proposed method may unleash the immense potential of general sensing devices in achieving the leap from structural health monitoring to city health monitoring.

Fertility restorer gene CaRf and PepperSNP50K provide a promising breeding system for hybrid pepper.

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is pivotal in plant breeding and widely employed in various crop hybrids, including pepper. However, the functional validation of the restorer of fertility (Rf) gene in pepper has been lacking until now. This study identifies and characterizes CaRf, a single dominant locus crucial for restoring CMS in the pepper strong recovery inbred line Zhangshugang. The CaRf gene encodes a mitochondria-targeted pentatricopeptide repeat protein, validated through the induction of male sterility upon its silencing in hybrid F1 plants. To enhance pepper breeding efficiency, 176 important pepper breeding parent materials were resequenced, and a PepperSNP50K liquid-phase breeding chip was developed, comprising 51 172 markers. Integration of CaRf functional characterization and PepperSNP50K facilitated the development of a high-quality red pepper hybrid. These findings provide significant insights and practical strategies for advancing molecular-designed breeding in peppers.

Managing Aggressive Behavior in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Approaches.

Adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often encounter significant challenges, particularly aggressive behaviors that persist into adulthood and profoundly affect their daily functioning and quality of life. These behaviors not only pose hurdles for affected individuals but also present considerable challenges for caregivers and families. Managing aggression in adolescents with ASD requires comprehensive treatment approaches encompassing both non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions. This paper reviews current interventions that have proven to be effective through empirical studies in managing aggression among adolescents with ASD. By synthesizing evidence-based practices, this study underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving medical, psychological, and educational interventions to effectively manage aggression among adolescents with ASD. It aimed to inform clinicians, educators, and caregivers of practical strategies and evidence-based interventions to address aggression in this population.

Fake It Till You Make It—A Statistical Assessment of the Proportion of Fake Reviews in Closed Reputation Systems

ABSTRACT Fake reviews have become an increasingly relevant issue in electronic commerce. Regulators and platform operators have begun to take action against fake reviews through regulation and litigation. While there has emerged an ample body of research on fake reviews in open reputation systems (i.e. where everyone can write reviews), little is known about the frequency and nature of fake reviews in closed reputation systems (i.e. where the completion of a transaction is a necessary precondition for reviewing). This article assesses the frequency of fake reviews in this particular domain of the platform economy. To do so, we draw on data from Airbnb and investigate systematic differences between first and second rating score distributions, estimating the proportion of potentially fake five-star ratings using KL-divergence. In doing so, we advance the understanding of fake reviews in closed reputation systems, offering theoretical insights into review dynamics and practical strategies for detecting fraudulent behavior using score distributions and user attributes. This shows that early-on reputation is crucial for complementors to overcome the cold-start problem, and platform operators will have to think of ways to allow them to do so (e.g. reputation imports) in order not to jeopardize the overall credibility of their reputation systems.

Designing for Resilience: Principles for Building Organizational Adaptability

Organizational disruptions from events like the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated the importance of resilience - an organization's ability to anticipate risks, maintain core functions during crises, and adapt successfully. This article outlines eight design principles that research indicates can help build resilience into an organization's structures, systems, culture and operations. Drawing from literature in fields like organizational development, crisis leadership and strategic management, the principles focus on distributing leadership and information sharing; promoting flexible, modular designs; ensuring redundancy of critical resources; cultivating a learning culture; maintaining flexible funding and resources; conducting scenario planning and training; fostering strategic partnerships; and taking an adaptive approach to goals. The principles are grounded in academic research but presented through the lens of a practitioner's consulting experience. The article also discusses practical strategies for applying the resilience design framework to assess risks, strengthen crisis response capabilities, and nurture continuous organizational learning and adaptation.

RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTION ON MANAGEMENT BODIES’ SERVICE DELIVERABLES: THE CASE OF AFFORDABLE STRATA HOUSING IN KLANG VALLEY, MALAYSIA

The rapid urbanization in Malaysia has led to a significant increase in low-cost and low-medium-cost strata housing. However, managing these schemes presents unique challenges due to residents' financial constraints. Challenges often happen in this housing scheme, resulting in poor maintenance, overcrowding, and inadequate amenities, affecting residents' overall quality of life. The study aims to understand the challenges residents and management bodies face in these strata schemes and develop strategies for improving their management. This study helps identify primary issues and problems encountered by residents, assess their perceptions of their management body performance, and propose practical strategies for improving strata management practices. A mixed-mode methodology is employed utilizing primary data collected through questionnaire surveys of strata residents and analysed using SPSS. The findings highlight the differences between active and non-active management bodies in managing strata properties. This study highlights residents' perceptions that shed light on the difficulties in managing and maintaining affordable housing strata schemes, offering important information for formulating strategies to improve strata management practices in Malaysia.

Understanding the Impact: Exploring the Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention

Employee retention is a key concern for organizations seeking to maintain talented workforces. Past research has consistently demonstrated a strong relationship between job satisfaction and employee turnover intention. However, questions remain regarding which specific factors influence satisfaction levels and how organizations can maximize this relationship to boost retention outcomes. This research brief explores the extensive foundation documenting the satisfaction-intention link and investigates satisfaction determinants with the strongest empirical backing, such as pay, leadership support, and work content. Potential moderators like employee characteristics and situational contexts are also examined. Practical strategies for addressing core satisfiers supported by real-world examples from different industries are then proposed. The brief concludes satisfaction has endured as a robust retention predictor and offers evidence-based methods for organizations seeking to strategically enhance job experiences and curb unwanted turnover through targeted satisfaction initiatives.

Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Practice in Accounting

SYNOPSIS This paper addresses the enduring challenge of bridging the gap between accounting research and its application in practice. Drawing upon insights from the 2024 Financial Accounting and Reporting Section (FARS) plenary panel discussion and contributions from esteemed leaders in the field, we explore the root causes of this disconnect and underscore the importance of narrowing the divide. Our analysis leads to the proposal of practical strategies targeted at key stakeholders—authors, reviewers, editors, and business school deans—with the aim of promoting a more integrated approach to accounting research and practice. Through these recommendations, we endeavor to enhance the relevance and impact of accounting scholarship on real-world financial practices, thereby enriching both the academic and professional realms of accounting. JEL Classifications: A20; I23; M10; M40; M41.

Building Trust and Loyalty in the Workplace

This article explores practical strategies for managers and executives to increase trust and loyalty in employee relationships. The article outlines how trust is built over time through consistency, integrity, and care. Specific guidance is provided around communicating expectations, pay transparency, work-life balance, career development, culture, and recognition. Fulfilling implicit and explicit psychological contracts through these approaches deepens employee loyalty and commitment. Case studies then demonstrate how appreciation, recognition, and social/fun activities further strengthen bonds. Real-world industry examples show the concepts applied successfully in technology, healthcare, and retail contexts. The article argues that prioritizing relationships through integrity and compassion lays the groundwork for resilient, high-performing organizational cultures where leaders leave a lasting positive legacy.