Theoretical Perspectives Research Articles

Supporting refugees: An entrepreneurial resourcefulness approach

This rapid research paper seeks to aid Lighthouse Charities (LC), a Las Vegas-based refugee-sponsoring organization. Rather than channeling all refugees toward entrepreneurship, LC utilizes a two-pronged entrepreneurial resourcefulness approach. LC creates refugee-focused work integration social enterprises (WISEs) and also supports refugee clients as entrepreneurs. While LC helps many refugees with this approach, LC seeks a more systematic lens (versus a trial-and-error approach) to understand and adjust to the limits of using an ER approach. Experts from three theoretical perspectives (trauma exposure, identity adjustment, and entrepreneurial failure) provide theoretically informed insights into how LC can systematically adjust the ER approach to help refugees by matching resources to opportunities, modifying existing resources to potential opportunities, and transitioning away from resourcefulness.

Levels and Performance Indicators of Business Under an Integral Theoretical Perspective Oriented Toward SDG

Objective: The sustainable development goals require companies to rethink the way in which economic and social value is created. This article aims to propose an alternative approach to studying business performance from an inclusive and sustainable perspective. Theoretical Framework: The contributions of organizational development theory are employed, and based on its principles, business performance, its levels, and indicators are characterized. Method: Documentary research was conducted, taking as a starting point the units of analysis proposed by organizational development theory. Results and Discussion: Variables associated with the organizational levels declared by organizational development theory were identified, and the benefits they bring to comprehensive business performance are supported. Research Implications: Business performance is characterized and classified based on the three levels of an organizational system: the individual level (personnel performance), the group and environment level (group performance), and the organizational level (organizational performance). Originality/Value: The literature is ambiguous when it comes to defining and measuring business performance. In many cases, the sole focus is financial performance. This paper highlights the need to broaden the framework for studying business performance and decent work by revaluing the role of individuals in achieving business organizational goals through work.

Gender Stereotyping and Social Norms: Exploring Theoretical Perspectives and Educational Implications

This review is a theoretical paper which examined gender stereotyping and social norms. The review was supported by feminist theory, critical theory and social psychology theory. The review utilizes a comprehensive strategy to investigate the theoretical lenses and consequences of gender stereotyping and social norms. The approach comprised of a few key stages. A survey incorporating gender stereotyping, social norms, feminist theory, critical theory and social psychology to assemble an all encompassing comprehension of the review was done. The review of gender stereotyping and social norms through critical assessment of key idea and viewpoints from feminist theory, critical theory and social psychology. The structure for revealing perplexing social peculiarities is given by the integration of feminist theory, critical theory and social psychology theory. This enlightened the basic component of inequality and injustice by considering the joint impact of gender, power and social setting. The review revealed the pervasive nature of gender stereotyping and social norms, their effect on causing inequality and injustice and the significance of promoting gender equality and social equity. In this way, the significance of interdisciplinary collaborative effort and combined actions in addressing the issue of gender stereotyping and social norms within educational setting and more extensive cultural setting. It emphasized the need for holistic approaches that will consider the broad intersection of power, ideology, and social issue in order to create gender equality and social justice both in the social and educational domain.

A phenomenon-based approach to handling multiple paradigms: Investigating power in international knowledge transfer through active categorization

In this article, we propose a phenomenon-based approach as a suitable way of handling multiple paradigms in practice. We implement the phenomenon-based approach by means of active categorization to be differentiated into three steps – differentiation, integration, and patterning – and apply this approach to international knowledge transfer (IKT) in multinational enterprises (MNE). Via differentiation, we classify the IKT literature into six theoretical perspectives. Via integration, we identify power as the common element underlying knowledge transfer in MNEs. This leads us to conceptualize power as an influence on IKT through the paradigms and power assumptions of the Burrell-Morgan matrix and the characteristics of power proposed by Clegg. Via patterning, we draw implications for phenomenon-based multi-paradigm research, such as the dominance of regulative and functionalist power-assumptions over interpretive and critical ones and structural power lenses over rules of practice. We deduce recommendations and propose research questions for multi-paradigm research. With our conceptual frame, we enable researchers and practitioners to conceptualize power in more sophisticated ways. We contribute to multi-paradigm studies in Cross Cultural Management by exemplifying the benefits and implications of a phenomenon-based approach as a way to handle multiple paradigms in practice and propose further fields of application.

The importance of belonging: Interactions between individual and structural risk factors for youth‐disengagement

AbstractAre disengagement risks lower when youths are surrounded by others with similar risk traits? Applying theoretical perspectives of belonging and residential context, this study examines interactional effects between individual and structural risk factors for youth‐disengagement. From registry data of 590,085 Norwegians aged 16–24, the study finds less disengagement among youths in municipalities where an above‐average rate of individuals shared individual risk‐traits of immigrant background, young parenthood, and not completing high school. Youths with parents on social welfare had an increased risk of disengagement in municipalities with above average rates of people on social welfare. Sex‐stratified analysis reveals that men and women benefit from belonging to different risk‐groups. In challenging the prevailing segmented approach to individual and structural risk factors for youth‐disengagement, the findings demonstrate the need for continued examination of gender, belonging and residential context as theoretical perspectives.

Morality through the lens of Confucian heritage countries: collective self variations and moral worldviews.

The issue of Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) samples dominating research has been ongoing for decades, and now the emerging trend is to turn to theoretical perspectives from the Majority World. Adopting Western-centric methods based on reductionism can overlook important details and differences between similar cultures, particularly in East Asian cultures, where the Confucian values of relational harmony take many forms. We discuss a novel theoretical perspective on moral constitutions in Confucian heritage cultures. Our central tenet is that divergent moral concepts and ideals are present in Confucian cultures because each culture emphasizes a specific pillar and the self is situated differently in the social relationships that define the scope of interpersonal moral obligations. We consider three Confucian countries: China, Japan, and South Korea as examples. Despite geographical proximity and conventional categorization in cultural psychology, each Confucian country manifests distinct patterns of the self, moral ideals, and behavior in socio-moral contexts. To understand how and why moral worldviews vary within a region, we need to examine how the self in socio-cultural contexts differs and guides interpersonal norms and behaviors across sociocultural contexts. We conclude this paper by offering methodological recommendations for including indigenous moral concepts outside the WEIRD context.

Social Contexts in Social Work: a View from Teachers in the Centro East and Colombian Caribbean Region

Objective: To reveal, from the point of view of the teachers dedicated to the training of social workers, the meanings they attribute to the social contexts in order to establish relationships with the training emphases proposed by the social work programs in the Caribbean and central-eastern regions of the Colombian territory. Theoretical Framework: oriented from the study group methodology, where the exchange of knowledge was the basis for analyzing and deciding the basic theoretical course for the configuration of historical and theoretical perspectives of the developed process, based on local sociologies to understand life contexts of subjects and communities, which paraphrasing Wiebke Keim (2010) work the dynamics of the local, recovering the voices of actors against the classical social theory that marked even the powers of the so-called North Atlantic. Method: the study was developed from the hermeneutic paradigm, qualitative approach, non-probabilistic designs, focus group technique and discourse analysis, aimed at teachers of Social Work Programs. Results and Discussion: the relationship of the context as a scenario where interactions are developed is reaffirmed, product of an economic structure that determines certain social representations, built in the groups permeated by social dynamics and intervention processes influenced by diagnoses that give reading to social, economic and political determinants that allow their development. Research Implications: It contributes to the epistemological, theoretical and methodological developments of Social Work from the reading of context. Originality/value: It provides views of context related to the emphasis of training that give sense to areas of professional performance.

On the Consistency and Large-Scale Extension of Multiple Kernel Clustering.

Existing multiple kernel clustering (MKC) algorithms have two ubiquitous problems. From the theoretical perspective, most MKC algorithms lack sufficient theoretical analysis, especially the consistency of learned parameters, such as the kernel weights. From the practical perspective, the high complexity makes MKC unable to handle large-scale datasets. This paper tries to address the above two issues. We first make a consistency analysis of an influential MKC method named Simple Multiple Kernel k-Means (SimpleMKKM). Specifically, suppose that ∧γn are the kernel weights learned by SimpleMKKM from the training samples. We also define the expected version of SimpleMKKM and denote its solution as γ*. We establish an upper bound of ||∧γn-γ*||∞ in the order of ~O(1/√n), where n is the sample number. Based on this result, we also derive its excess clustering risk calculated by a standard clustering loss function. For the large-scale extension, we replace the eigen decomposition of SimpleMKKM with singular value decomposition (SVD). Consequently, the complexity can be decreased to O(n) such that SimpleMKKM can be implemented on large-scale datasets. We then deduce several theoretical results to verify the approximation ability of the proposed SVD-based method. The results of comprehensive experiments demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method.

Exploration of crystal structure, supramolecular organization, and computational studies of a novel pyrazole derivative: A structural and theoretical perspectives

An eminent challenge in contemporary medicine and pharmacy is the identification of powerful, biologically active, and benign anti-COVID drugs. The objective of this work is to synthesize 3-chloro-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylic acid to investigate its properties using different spectroscopic methods. The crystal structure of the compound is determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction methodology. Hirshfeld surface analysis was employed to evaluate the impact of intermolecular interactions on crystal packing. The interactions were visually depicted using 2D fingerprint plots, which highlighted the specific surface area associated with each interactant. Indications suggest that the crystal packing is mostly governed by C-H...O and N-H...O interactions, resulting in the formation of S(7) self-motif and R44(24) synthon, which greatly improve crystal stability. Density functional theory (DFT) was employed to better examine the structural and electrical characteristics. Computations were conducted at the 6–311+G(d,p) level to determine the optimal geometry, total energy, HOMO-LUMO gap, and vibrational spectra. The results showed a HOMO-LUMO gap of 3.092 eV, suggesting a moderate amount of stability. Bader et al. employed reduced density gradient (RDG) techniques and topological analysis, taking into account the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), to examine noncovalent interactions. Additionally, the molecule satisfies Lipinski's rule of five and exhibits encouraging pharmacokinetic activities. Additional in-silico investigations, including molecular docking, were conducted on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variation to assist in the advancement of enhanced vaccines and therapeutics.

The role of active galactic nucleus feedback on the evolution of dwarf galaxies from cosmological simulations

Aims. Recent observational studies suggest that feedback from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) may play an important role in the formation and evolution of dwarf galaxies, an issue that has received little attention from a theoretical perspective. Methods. We investigated this using two sets of 12 cosmological magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the formation of dwarf galaxies (108.3M⊙ ≤ M* ≤ 109.8M⊙): one set using a version of the AURIGA galaxy formation physics model including AGN feedback and a parallel set with AGN feedback turned off. Results. We show that the full-physics AGN runs satisfactorily reproduce several scaling relations, including the black-hole-to-stellar mass (MBH-M⋆), the black-hole-to-sigma (MBH-σ⋆), and the baryonic Tully-Fisher relation. We find that the global star formation (SF) of galaxies run with an AGN is reduced compared to the one in which the AGN has been turned off, suggesting that AGN feedback is a viable way of suppressing SF in dwarf galaxies, even though none of our galaxies is completely quenched by z = 0. Furthermore, we find a tight correlation between the median SF rates and the MBH/M⋆ ratio in our simulated dwarfs. Star formation is suppressed due to gas heating in the vicinity of the AGN: less HI gas is available in AGN runs, though the total amount of gas is preserved across the two settings within each galaxy. This indicates that the main effect of AGN feedback in our dwarfs is to heat up and push the gas away from the galaxy’s centre rather than expelling it completely. Finally, we show that the two galaxies harbouring the largest supermassive black holes have suffered a considerable (up to ∼65%) reduction in their central dark matter density, pinpointing the role of AGNs in determining the final dark matter mass distribution within dwarf galaxies. This pilot paper highlights the importance of modelling AGN feedback at the lowest mass scales and the impact this can have on dwarf galaxy evolution.

The Application of Deep Learning in Sports Data Analysis

In order to ensure that students have a deeper and more thorough understanding of knowledge and skills, the author takes deep learning as the direction and integrates it into the real-time evaluation of basketball classrooms, organically combining the two. Deep learning provides a new theoretical perspective and driving force for the optimization of real-time evaluation, and points out the direction for promoting evaluation effectiveness; The optimization of real-time evaluation provides a feasible path for achieving deep learning for students. After the implementation of the real-time evaluation plan between the experimental group and the control group, the comparison results of basketball skills tests were obtained: before and after the experiment, the experimental group’s 60 second self throwing and self grabbing, vigorous dribbling, comprehensive dribbling, teaching competitions, and teaching lectures all showed significant differences in test indicators; Before and after the experiment, the control group showed significant differences in the four test indicators of 60 second self throwing and self grabbing, vigorous dribbling, comprehensive dribbling, and teaching lectures. The teaching competition indicators also showed significant differences, all of which were improved. Comparison results of deep learning abilities: Before and after the experiment, there were significant differences in the dimensions of experimental combination ability and learning perseverance, while there were significant differences in the dimensions of communication ability, self-learning ability, and total score of deep learning ability; Before and after the experiment, there was a significant difference in the dimensions of control group work ability, while there was no significant difference in the dimensions of self-directed learning ability, learning perseverance, and communication ability. Overall, there was a very significant difference in deep learning ability. Overall, the experimental group showed a more significant improvement in deep learning ability compared to the control group. The real-time evaluation plan for sports education professional basketball classrooms based on deep learning is more effective in improving students’ basketball skills and deep learning abilities than the conventional real-time evaluation plan for sports education professional basketball classrooms. The design of the plan has certain effectiveness and feasibility.

Integrating machine learning models to learn potentially non-monotonic preferences for multi-criteria sorting from large-scale assignment examples

Learning preferences from assignment examples has attracted considerable attention in the field of multi-criteria sorting (MCS). However, traditional MCS methods, designed to infer decision makers’ preferences from small-scale assignment examples, encounter limitations when confronted with large-scale data sets. Additionally, the presence of decision makers’ non-monotonic preferences for certain criteria in MCS problems necessitates accounting for potential non-monotonicity when devising preference learning methods. To address this, this paper proposes some new models to learn potentially non-monotonic preferences for MCS problems from large-scale assignment examples by leveraging machine learning models. Specifically, we first introduce the Piecewise-Linear Neural Network (PLNN) model, which leverages the threshold-based value-driven sorting procedure as the underlying sorting model and integrates a perceptron-based model to establish piecewise-linear marginal value functions to approximate real ones. On this basis, we address MCS problems with criteria interactions and extend the PLNN model to develop the Piecewise-Linear Factorization Machine-based Neural Network (PLFMNN) model by incorporating the factorization machine to factorize interaction coefficients. Training these models allows us to learn potentially non-monotonic preferences of decision makers. To illustrate the proposed models, we apply them to a red wine quality classification problem. Furthermore, we assess the performance of the proposed models through computational experiments on both artificial and real-world data sets. Additionally, we conduct statistical tests to ascertain the significance of the performance differences. Experimental results reveal that the proposed models are comparable to the multilayer perceptron model and outperform other baseline models on most data sets, thus affirming their efficacy. Finally, we conduct some sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of certain parameters on the performance of the proposed models and compare them with existing studies from a theoretical perspective, further demonstrating their effectiveness.

Researching Informational Technologies of Trust: From Blockchain to Paradata and Digital Archives

ABSTRACTInformation science research has a long‐time interest in diverse informational means of codifying, communicating and maintaining trust as an antecedent and outcome of information, and a central constituent of information practices. While the landscape of the gatekeepers and guarantors of access to trustworthy information for a long time remained relatively stable, since the turn of the millennium, it has evolved rapidly with several new and repurposed social and digital technologies developed and repurposed for mediating and preserving trust. The purpose of this panel is to engage in exploring from theoretical, practical and empirical perspectives such technologies across the information field. The panelists present research conceptualizing, documenting, developing and describing informational technologies of mediating and preserving trust specifically addressing: 1) what different approaches to mediating and maintaining trust exist and can be identified in information science and technology research and practice; 2) how different information technologies of trust influence the understanding and conceptualisations of trust and trustworthy information; and 3) what novel insights from the current state‐of‐the‐art research can be drawn for helping practitioners to empower and put people first when interacting with informational technologies of trust in different areas of the information field, including knowledge organisation and information behaviour and practices, records management, digital preservation, and and development of information systems and services.

Active Sites of Cu/ZnO-Based Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol: Part I

Heterogeneous Cu/ZnO-based catalysts are widely used for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol, but limitations remain for industrial applications. These include achieving high methanol selectivity and conversion and mitigating deactivation by water poisoning. Part I of this review explores the role of active sites on Cu/ZnO-based catalysts in CO2 conversion. The synergistic interaction between copper and zinc oxide is emphasised, particularly regarding interfacial effects on carbon monoxide activation and formate formation. The discussion covers theoretical and experimental perspectives on active site characteristics, including defects, vacancies, steps and strain. Additionally, the review explores the connection between Cu/ZnO-based catalysts properties and methanol synthesis activity.

Sustainable Maritime Transport: A Review of Intelligent Shipping Technology and Green Port Construction Applications

With the global economy’s relentless growth and heightened environmental consciousness, sustainable maritime transport emerges as a pivotal development trajectory for the shipping sector. This study systematically analyzes 478 publications searched in the Web of Science Core Collection, from 2000 to 2023, utilizing bibliometric methods to investigate the application areas in sustainable development within the shipping industry. This study begins with an analysis of annual publication trends, which reveals a substantial expansion in research endeavors within this discipline over recent years. Subsequently, a comprehensive statistical evaluation of scholarly journals and a collaborative network assessment are conducted to pinpoint the foremost productive journals, nations, organizations, and individual researchers. Furthermore, a keyword co-occurrence methodology is applied to delineate the core research themes and emerging focal points within this domain, thereby outlining potential research directions for future research. In addition, drawing on the keyword co-occurrence analysis, the advancements in intelligent shipping technologies and green port construction applications within sustainable maritime transport are discussed. Finally, the review discusses the existing challenges and opportunities of sustainable maritime transport from a theoretical and practical perspective. The research shows that, in terms of intelligent shipping technology, data security and multi-source data are the focus that people need to pay attention to in the future; a trajectory prediction for different climates and different ship types is also an area for future research. In terms of green ports, Cold Ironing (CI) is one of the key points of the green port strategy, and how to drive stakeholders to build sustainable green ports efficiently and economically is the future developmental direction. This review serves to enhance researchers’ comprehension of the current landscape and progression trajectory of intelligent shipping technologies, thereby fostering the continued advancement and exploration in this vital domain.

Exploring frailty perspectives of older people and professionals: a systematic integrative review

Abstract Frailty is a common but complex phenomenon that is approached from theoretical and professional perspectives but rarely from the perspectives of older people and their essential stakeholders. Different or opposing perspectives on frailty at personal, organisational, and community levels can negatively affect care for frail older people. This systematic integrative review synthesises the perspectives on frailty of older people, health/social care professionals, informal caregivers, managers and policymakers, using thematic analysis. We use the Joanna Briggs Institute–Critical Appraisal Checklist to appraise the quality of 52 qualitative and mixed-method studies drawn from the PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science databases (inception–December 2023). Of these, 33 include the perspectives of older people, 27 of health/social care professionals, four of managers, and six of informal caregivers. Structuring the perspectives along six themes – ‘the multi-dimensional nature of frailty’, ‘the dynamics of frailty’, ‘the complexity of frailty’, ‘frailty in relation to age’, ‘frailty in relation to health’ and ‘frailty in relation to dependence’ – revealed substantive similarities in the conceptualisation of frailty between older people and professionals, e.g. regarding frailty’s dynamic and multi-dimensional nature. However, older people and professionals differ in their interpretations of frailty: older people take a personal view, while professionals take a more practical view. The identified discrepancies in perspectives may affect care relationships and care for frail older people. Therefore, we advocate a systems approach that incorporates multiple perspectives to form a comprehensive view of frailty and allows for a situation-specific shared understanding of frailty in older people.

The Influence of Weather Temperature on Crime Occurrence in Babylon Province

Objectives: This study investigates the influence of temperature fluctuation on specific types of crimes in Babylon in Iraq. It also analyzes how varying temperatures leave an impact on crime patterns and trajectories. Methods: The study uses quantitative analysis, descriptive statistics, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to examine temperature and crime data. Statistical techniques, including correlation and regression analysis, are applied to assess the relationships between temperature variables and crime rates. Results: The study results showed that there is a strong affinity between temperatures and crime rates. Murder crimes reach their peak in hot summer months. The study also showed that theft crimes, including burglary, increase during cold winter months. Statistical analysis validates these findings, highlighting a direct correlation between temperature and murder rates and an inverse correlation with theft rates. Conclusions: This study confirms the huge impact of temperature fluctuation on criminal behavior in Babylon, Iraq. Recognizing these seasonal variations may help construct effective crime prevention strategies. Additionally, the study explores multiple theoretical perspectives, underlining the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach to comprehensively grasp the intricate relationship between climate and crime.

A situated expectancy-value theoretical perspective of teaching presence and student engagement in blended learning environments

Teaching presence is a key factor affecting student engagement, yet scant research has examined the uniquely longitudinal effect of teaching presence on student engagement. This study, guided by the the processual, situated, and directional lens of Situated Expectancy-Value Theory (SEVT), employed longitudinal structural equation modeling to analyze data from 258 undergraduate students at a Chinese university, investigating how initial teaching presence influenced subsequent motivational constructs (self-efficacy and course value) and student engagement in blended learning environments. Our findings longitudinally revealed there was an evolving and complex interplay among these constructs. Teaching presence demonstrated a sustained autoregressive effect of itself. Meanwhile, teaching presence acted as a situated catalyst that not only affected student engagement during the observation period but also later perceptions of course value and self-efficacy, which in turn increased student engagement levels at the end of the semester. Furthermore, while self-efficacy and course value mediated the relationship between teaching presence and student engagement, the mediating effect of course value was more pronounced. Additionally, the directionality of predicting relationships, revealing a predominant influence from teaching presence to student engagement, rather than a reciprocal relationship. This research underscores the importance of instructional strategies prioritizing a robust teaching presence to initiate a cycle of positive student engagement in blended learning environments. By understanding the longitudinal effects of teaching presence, educators can develop more effective approaches to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

Courage Measure (CM) – Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties for Brazilian Adolescents

Abstract: The objective of the study was to adapt the Courage Scale and estimate validity evidence based on content and internal structure. The study included 510 young people, between 14 and 19 years old. The results of the content validity coefficient suggested the adequacy of the content. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test three factor models, namely one-factor, two-factor, and the random intercept model. The results indicated that it is possible to measure courage through a factor, when the acquiescent response style is controlled, corroborating the theoretical perspective, given that the random intercept model adjusted well to the sample data. In other words, the findings indicate that the scale is capable of measuring courage in the Brazilian context and that acquiescence control is an important method in evaluating the construct.

Unpacking the learning dynamics of a military task force in Afghanistan from a project-based organising perspective

ABSTRACT From a theoretical perspective of project-based organising, this study analyses how a deployed military task force heuristically learns. Empirically, learning within Task Force Uruzgan (TFU) in southern Afghanistan, is scrutinised. This contribution of the Netherlands armed forces to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) lasted for four years and saw successive rotations of task forces simultaneously fighting an insurgency and trying to stabilise a part of Afghanistan through reconstruction and development projects. Above all, the study has found that task ambiguity can make it challenging for a task force deployed to deal with varying contingencies at the same time. Two effects are noteworthy. First, learning can become compartmentalised, with different organisational elements following their own learning trajectories. Second, learning can also become short-term focused, responding to the most imminent and familiar threat. Combined, both learning impulses affect organisational coherence in meeting the overarching mission end state.