Search

In the face of rapid technological advancement, the pharmacy sector is undergoing a significant digital transformation. This review explores the transformative impact of digitalization in the global pharmacy sector. We illustrated how advancements in technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and online platforms are reshaping pharmacy services and education. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the growth of online pharmacy platforms and the pivotal role of telepharmacy and telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it discusses the burgeoning cosmeceutical market within online pharmacies, the regulatory challenges faced globally, and the private sector's influence on healthcare technology. Conclusively, the paper highlights future trends and technological innovations, underscoring the dynamic evolution of the pharmacy landscape in response to digital transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, emerging technologies have gained popularity and being implemented in different fields. Thus, critical leading-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and other related technologies (blockchain, simulation, 3d printing, etc.) are transforming the operations and other traditional fields and proving their value in fighting against unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic outbreaks. However, due to this relation's novelty, little is known about the interplay between emerging technologies and COVID-19 and its implications to operations-related fields. In this vein, we mapped the extant literature on this integration by a structured literature review approach and found essential outcomes. In addition to the literature mapping, this paper's main contributions were identifying literature scarcity on this hot topic by operations-related fields; consequently, our paper emphasizes an urgent call to action. Also, we present a novel framework considering the primary emerging technologies and the operations processes concerning this pandemic outbreak. Also, we provided an exciting research agenda and four propositions derived from the framework, which are collated to operations processes angle. Thus, scholars and practitioners have the opportunity to adapt and advance the framework and empirically investigate and validate the propositions for this and other highly disruptive crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographers have long been interested in popular culture, exploring everything from music and film, to fashion and sport. However, there remain some gaps in the field with some of the biggest and most widely consumed genres of popular culture suffering from neglect. Given the pace of technological change, geographers have been noticeably slow to come to grips with new digital popular media. This special issue presents work that interrogates popular culture ranging from the new to the old for its role as a vector for, or entry point into, encounters with places and people, and as a producer of spatiality and social relations. This editorial uses the concept of (em)placement to identify the complex overlaps, imbrications, and interlockings between social, cultural, and technological actors/actants. (Em)placement is also deployed to expand the space for popular culture as an object of study in geography in order to foster more diverse engagements, and the freedom to engage, with popular culture in the discipline. In doing so, we highlight contributions to cultural geography, bringing into focus the ways in which popular culture has been redefined in a time of heightened digital and deterritorialized engagement alongside restrictions on physical interaction enforced during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Finally, the editorial introduces the seven papers in this special issue, drawing attention to workaday and active engagements with popular culture, and how such engagement can facilitate encounters as [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This review paper offers a policy-tracing trend analysis of national experiences among low- and middle-income countries in strengthening human resources for health information systems (HRHIS). This paper draws on evidence from the last two decades and applies a modified Bardach's policy analysis framework. A timely review of the evidence on HRHIS and underlying data systems is needed now more than ever, given the halfway mark of the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 and the protracted COVID-19 pandemic and other global health emergencies, over and above the increasing need for health and care workers to provide essential health services. Main text: Considering World Health Assembly resolutions and HRH-related global developments between 2000 and 2022, we targeted peer-reviewed and gray literature covering the inception, impact, bottlenecks, and gaps of HRHIS. We also considered results from a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded project that assessed HRH data systems in 21 countries and the use of HRH data and information for policy, planning, and management. Aligned with the National Health Workforce Accounts (NHWA), we identify priority themes related to digital priorities for HRHIS and governance/leadership and present case studies of five countries that pursued different pathways to successfully develop their HRHIS. Summary conclusion: Over the last two decades, considerable progress has been achieved through a scaled-up implementation of HRHIS combined with the skills needed to analyze and use data, sustain systems functionality, and make systematic improvements over time. Global health development aid investments and technical innovations have led to advancements in HRHIS, district health information software (DHIS2), and partner collaborations during the HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19 crises. Although the progressive implementation of NHWA continues to steer country-level efforts through standardized indicators and regular reporting, traditional challenges remain, such as data systems fragmentation, lack of interoperability between systems, and underutilization of reported data. Encouragingly, some countries demonstrate strong governance and leadership capacities and others strong HRHIS digital capacities. Both HRH and health service data are needed to inform on-demand decisions during times of emergencies and pandemics as well as during routine essential health services delivery. Evidence-based examples from distinctive countries demonstrate that reliable HRHIS is achievable for better planning and management of the health and care workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It does not matter if the passenger experience is quick, convenient and totally effortless. It can all count for nothing because of a lost bag. Mishandled baggage on arrival can completely ruin the passenger experience, even if all the other elements of the journey were perfect. This paper offers a comprehensive study of the reasons behind bag mishandling (delayed, damaged, missing items or lost baggage); innovative technologies with focus on gentle and reliable baggage handling; impact of COVID-19, which further necessitates innovative technologies for efficient handling of bags. The paper further dives down into green, efficient and sustainable technologies, with focus on overall costs of the baggage handling system in its complete life cycle. It outlines the importance of innovation in baggage handling to minimise mishandled bags with the ultimate aim of putting a smile on the faces of passengers at baggage arrival. Baggage handling is one of the critical systems of airports and airlines and is affected by many factors such as transfer/arrival mishandling, ticketing error, security, customs, weather, space-weight restriction, tagging error, etc. This paper focuses more on baggage sortation, which is a core element of any baggage handling system, and its efficiency has significant impact in reducing mishandled bags and improving passenger experience. Moreover, the manpower crisis across the aviation industry, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, is having a profound impact on baggage success rates; innovative baggage handling technologies with advanced automation can significantly reduce pressure on manpower demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-epidemic supply chain plays an important role in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior research has focused on studying the facility location, inventory management, and route optimization of the supply chain by using certain parameters and models. Nevertheless, uncertainty, as a vital influence factor, greatly affects the supply chain. As such, the uncertainty that comes with technological innovation has a heightened influence on the supply chain. Few studies have explicitly investigated the influence of technological innovation on the anti-epidemic supply chain under the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the current research aims to investigate the influences of the uncertainty caused by technological innovation on the supply chain from demand and supply, shortage penalty, and budget. This paper presents a three-level model of the anti-epidemic supply chain under technological innovation and employs an interval data robust optimization to tackle the uncertainties of the model. The findings are obtained as follows. Firstly, the shortage penalty will increase the costs of the objective function but effectively improve demand satisfaction. Secondly, if the shortage penalty is sufficiently large, the minimum demand satisfaction rate can ensure a fair distribution of materials among the affected areas. Thirdly, technological innovation can reduce costs. The technological innovation related to the transportation costs of the anti-epidemic material distribution center has a greater influence on the optimal value. Meanwhile, the technological innovation related to the transportation costs of the supplier has the least influence. Fourthly, both supply and demand uncertainty can influence costs, but demand uncertainty has a greater influence. Fifthly, the multi-scenario budgeting approach can decrease the calculation complexity. These findings provide theoretical support for anti-epidemic dispatchers to adjust the conservativeness of uncertain parameters under the influence of technological innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine "unnaturalness" (artificiality) is one of the major anti-vaccine arguments raised in public debate. Therefore, health communication should rebut unnaturalness arguments and be cautious when emphasizing human intervention (e.g., advanced vaccine technology), which may entail perceiving vaccines as artificial. Understanding how the relationship between perceived vaccine artificiality and vaccination intent differs across social groups can help enforce the above health communication efforts by focusing them on specific audiences. The objective of the current paper is to assess the moderating role of a particular socio-cultural factor—vertical collectivism (reflecting the orientation on social hierarchy)—in the relationship between perceived vaccine artificiality and vaccination intent. It is proposed that vertical collectivism diminishes the negative effect of perceived vaccine artificiality. Two studies with European young adults measured COVID-19 vaccination intent and vertical collectivism. Study 1 (N = 418) was correlational, measuring perceived vaccine artificiality. The data were analyzed with a moderation model. Study 2 (N = 203) was experimental, manipulating perceived vaccine artificiality by human-intervention appeal (i.e., emphasizing human intervention in vaccine development and operation). The data were analyzed with moderation and moderated mediation models. Study 1 demonstrated that the effect of perceived vaccine artificiality on vaccination intent was less negative when the level of vertical collectivism was higher. In Study 2, with higher levels of vertical collectivism, the effect of human-intervention appeal on vaccination intent was less negative, and the indirect effect through perceived vaccine artificiality turned even positive. Those results contribute to the fields of perceived naturalness/artificiality, vaccination behavior, health communication, and cultural dimensions theory, providing empirical evidence that the negative effect of perceived vaccine artificiality on vaccination intent is diminished by vertical collectivism, as proposed. Health practitioners are guided on how to consider different levels of collectivism of their audiences while referring to vaccine artificiality in their communication. Specifically, it is suggested that rebutting "unnaturalness" anti-vaccine arguments should be focused on people low in vertical collectivism, and messages featuring human intervention (e.g., a vaccine's technological advancement) should be targeted at people high in vertical collectivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the opening decades of the twenty‐first century certain cities around the world emerged as hubs of entrepreneurial innovation. This paper explores this urban economic change phenomenon through in‐depth and comparative qualitative analysis. It focuses on the recent contemporary history of New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Tokyo and Shanghai prior to the global COVID pandemic. Based on an analysis of the drivers, mechanisms and processes of change, it is found that these cities acted as places of possibility for many individuals who previously may have been unlikely to engage in entrepreneurship. The cities were found to have established new development paths through entrepreneurial innovation stemming from co‐creation network dynamics, with key human agents playing pivotal roles. Common elements include the rise of venture capital, the growth of entrepreneurial cultures, and institutional policy changes. Notably, entrepreneurial innovation was found to be closely tied to changes in large corporates. This innovation evolved through the proliferation of new infrastructure such as co‐working spaces and innovation incubators, with each city being utilised as a test‐bed for new ideas. Finally, the emergence of a darker side to entrepreneurial innovation is found in terms of growing urban inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of emerging technologies in healthcare systems plays a crucial part in anti-obesity initiatives. COVID-19 has intensified the Body Mass Index (BMI) discourses in AI (Artificial Intelligence)-powered social media. However, few studies have reported on the influence of digital content on obesity prevention policies. Understanding the nature and forums of obese metaphors in social media is the first step in policy intervention. The purpose of this paper is to understand the mutual influence between obesity and COVID-19 and determine its policy implications. This paper analyzes the public responses to obesity using Twitter data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The emotional nature of tweets is analyzed using the NRC lexicon. The results show that COVID-19 significantly influences perceptions of obesity; this indicates that existing public health policies must be revisited. The study findings delineate prerequisites for obese disease control programs. This paper provides policy recommendations for improving social media interventions in health service delivery in order to prevent obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how the digital competence of academicians influences students' engagement in learning activities in the face of the pandemic outbreak. In addition to this, the paper investigates how digital competence influences each dimension of student engagement (cognitive, affective and behavioural). Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional, quantitative and explanatory research design was used to conduct the study. Data were gathered with an adopted questionnaire administered to a randomly selected sample of 500 university faculty members who were not digitally literate prior to the outbreak of the pandemic. Apart from the goodness of data tests, inferential statistics were applied to test hypotheses. Findings: Results indicate a significant influence of teachers' digital competence on student engagement and the pandemic outbreak positively moderates the relationship. Digital competence equally influences all three dimensions of student engagement. Practical implications: The outbreak of COVID-19 made the adoption of digital life more compulsive and the nations with already available digital infrastructure and digital competence effectively minimized the adverse effect of social distancing as a result of the pandemic outbreak. Findings emphasize practitioners to focus on the digital capacity building of academicians and the provision of digital infrastructure to facilitate student engagement. Social implications: Society is transforming into a hi-tech lifestyle and technological advancement is penetrating almost every sphere of life at an unprecedented pace. From the digitalization of day-to-day affairs to e-governance, the adoption of technology is becoming a new normal. The outbreak of the pandemic overtook academic institutions equally. So, the social distancing compelled academicians and other stakeholders of universities to switchover from in-campus classes to online classes. The findings enrich the existing body of literature by explaining how digital competence has a determining role in ensuring student engagement amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Originality/value: This research is a seminal work, as it tests the influence of digital competence on student engagement with the moderating role of the pandemic outbreak. To the best of the author's knowledge, existing literature does not present this kind of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws from a review of the global literature on school leadership during the first 30 months of the pandemic (2020-2022), when educational leaders were faced with complexity on an unprecedented scale. COVID-19 challenged school leadership, providing opportunities to reflect on: leadership practice within and beyond school contexts; building relationships with wider communities and external stakeholders; established bureaucratic systems and ways of working (Author et al. under review). School leaders' reliance on organisational stability, hierarchy and standardised practice was also challenged: reflective practice was needed, whilst responding to complex and demanding situations. Increased teacher autonomy and agency was encouraged and embraced, with 'profound collaboration borne out of necessity and urgency' (p. 393), highlighting the fluid practice of leadership rather than the role specificities of a leader. As school systems return to the business of in-person schooling and further away from the shock of the pandemic, the article renews calls to learn from experience and innovation. Three aspects are discussed, for supporting the development of school leadership/leaders capable of navigating complexity: school leadership; informal professional learning; formal professional learning. Our analysis provides insights into advancing professional learning approaches: accounting for complexity; enhancing teaching and learning; strengthening educator empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the effects that mobility restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have had on different types of co-presence, which the existing literature considers to be central for science and innovation. Drawing on a regional analysis of COVID-19 restrictions in Germany, it links specific mobility restrictions to concrete impacts on co-presence, differentiating between co-presence in organizations, dynamic temporary co-presence, and the local 'buzz'. It highlights that co-presence at workplaces and conferences was resilient to restrictions but that the detrimental effects on the 'local buzz' may have been substantial and long-lasting. In conclusion, it cautions against the severe effects of placing restrictions on the education system. Subsequently, the discussion links the reported disruptions of co-presence to the potential effects of the pandemic on preconditions for innovative processes and economic recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasts about the effects of new technologies on labor demand are generally pessimistic. However, little is known about the current level of technology adoption and its effect on labor demand, particularly in developing countries. This paper exploits a national representative employer survey and administrative data from Peru to offer empirical evidence in this regard. Our results show that the adoption of new technologies by firms is still incipient in the country. However, when adopted, they slightly reduce the demand for workers in the medium term, particularly those in high-skilled and non-routine occupations, with a temporary job contract, and during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism value of a modern tourist destination depends on managing and organizing social, historical, cultural and natural resources into a unique tourist attraction. Changing trends in cultural tourism and technological development affect the creation of new cultural tourism products and channels of their promotion. Virtual and augmented reality offer new ways of promotion and consumption of cultural tourism services. Destinations adapt to these changes by creating a tourism offer in accordance with sustainable development. Furthermore, tourist destinations needed to adapt to Covid-19 pandemic conditions and therefore started using new trends in virtual and augmented reality. Virtual reality and digital technologies are beneficial in creating and implementing new forms of cultural tourism, especially in the given circumstances of new travel rules and changed tourist expectations, with an emphasis on social distance, preserving the health of tourists and local population and protecting the environment. The aims of this paper are to define the changes in cultural tourism caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and explore the effect of new technologies such as virtual and augmented reality on cultural tourism development. The paper also aims to determine the possibilities for cultural tourism development regarding new trends. Historical method, desk research, analysis and synthesis have been used for the purpose of this paper. Paper contribution is reflected in applying new trends which resulted in changes in tourist behaviour in pandemic conditions, as well as insights into the possibilities of developing different models of cultural tourism consumption in accordance with new technological achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods to collect data in construction engineering and management (CEM) research are evolving, informed by recent technological advancements. One such method is research charrettes that allow effective interactions and knowledge sharing between expert industry practitioners and academic researchers, all colocated in a single venue, enabling rich data collection and live communication. A pivot point in technological evolution occurred with the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing a global shift to remote work. Hence, planned in-person research charrettes had to shift to remote sessions, relying on virtual conferencing platforms and online data collection mechanisms. Technology-enabled charrettes have allowed the authors to collect significantly richer data sets and ensure a more diverse representation of participants, while saving tremendous amounts of time. With the continuing emergence of technological applications, the world might not go back to functioning fully in person. The authors believe remote research charrettes (RRCs) will still be used in a post-COVID-19 world because of their superior performance. This paper builds on a previous publication that described traditional research charrettes as a method to enhance CEM research a decade ago; it offers a significantly updated and improved RRC method based on the knowledge gained from transitioning a dozen in-person charrettes into RRCs. It also presents performance comparisons between RRCs and traditional charrettes by quantifying metrics indicating how RRCs are more time-efficient and cost-saving, harness more participants from more diverse locations, and enable the collection of richer data sets and four times more industry comments and expert feedback. This paper also provides guidance on the integration of technology with traditional research charrettes, hence contributing to the CEM body of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction sector is one of the largest industries that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the COVID-19 outbreak had numerous negative impacts, the pandemic is perceived to have positive impacts on the construction industry such as an increased reliance on innovative construction technologies and methods. Despite the pronounced benefits of offsite construction and its potential to address many uncertainties and challenges experienced by the construction industry, little-to-no previous research has been performed to study the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on offsite construction. To this end, this paper used an integrated methodology to study how the COVID-19 crisis would unfold for offsite construction as well as to examine the offsite construction measures that were taken by companies during the pandemic. First, subcommittees of industry experts were formed to guide the research process. Second, interviews were conducted to get information related to the industry's perceptions on the current and future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on offsite construction. Third, data from business case studies were collected to verify the perceptions of the interviewed experts and the validity of the obtained findings from the interviews. The main findings of this paper showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has raised industry awareness on the importance of leveraging offsite construction technologies and methods in both short and long terms, since the pandemic required companies to seriously plan for further increasing their offsite construction capabilities. This research concluded that the enhanced focus on worker safety due to the pandemic will help accelerate the industry's move to offsite construction methods in the future. Ultimately, this research adds to the body of knowledge by showcasing why and how offsite construction technologies helped the industry adapt and respond to the challenging times during the COVID-19 pandemic and how the outbreak could be a catalyst for an increased reliance on offsite construction methods in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Solow paradox, the impact of the computer age can be seen everywhere but in the productivity statistics. Despite much debate about productivity gains promised by technologies associated with the 'fourth industrial revolution,' these are largely yet to materialise. Paradoxically, not only has there been a global productivity growth slowdown but also a decline in research and development (R&D) productivity: a 'burden of knowledge' effect. Given the potentially catastrophic costs of research failure and the inability of the scientific discovery system to anticipate fully and find a solution to the coronavirus pandemic, the purpose of this paper is to apply a detailed conceptual review methodology to understand better the fundamental causes of the global productivity growth slowdown. Challenging prevailing assumptions in the literature, the original contribution of the paper is a theoretical analysis that suggests a root cause of the global production growth slowdown may be a burden of knowledge effect associated with innovation failure. A causal ordering of relevant causes is discussed, and hypotheses are derived. Implications are derived for research management, and for policy regarding how a decline in global productivity growth might be arrested by remedying the burden of knowledge effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This conceptual paper explored the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020 and rapidly spread to nations due to its strong transmissibility. The Covid-19 pandemic brought about the demise of several businesses, including the sports industry. Thus, the eSports industry has become a feasible alternative and requirement for sporting competitions. This study aims to analyse existing research on the history and growth of eSports in Malaysia to give better insights into its sustainable development, even post-pandemic. This study also covers a detailed assessment of gamers, marketers, and earnings. The study used a literature review strategy and conducted a thorough electronic search for relevant literature using Google Scholar, indexed databases and newspapers. Malaysian governments develop eSports training centres, fund allocations and academies to nurture the athletes and the eSports industry. Many gamers and audiences adapt to the new normal and technologies, particularly during the movement control order. Many Malaysians shift their behaviour and rely on the internet for home entertainment and activities. Covid-19 has enhanced eSports consumption, and the viewership will grow post-pandemic. Game developers invest more money to develop the eSports sector with innovative marketing strategies. This paper focuses on the rise of eSports and the chances for marketers to connect with customers. Many people believe eSports will continue growing, even post-pandemic, as many people have already adapted to it, and cutting-edge technologies also propel many people to accept this unique field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things (IoT) is an innovative technology with billions of sensors in various IoT applications. Important elements used in the IoT are sensors that collect data for desired analyses. The IoT and sensors are very important in smart cities, smart agriculture, smart education, healthcare systems, and other applications. The healthcare system uses the IoT to meet global health challenges, and the newest example is COVID-19. Demand has increased during COVID-19 for healthcare to reach patients remotely and digitally at their homes. The IoT properly monitors patients using an interconnected network to overcome the issues of healthcare services. The aim of this paper is to discuss different applications, technologies, and challenges related to the healthcare system. Different databases were searched using keywords in Google Scholar, Elsevier, PubMed, ACM, ResearchGate, Scopus, Springer, etc. This paper discusses, highlights, and identifies the applications of IoT healthcare systems to provide research directions to healthcare, academia, and researchers to overcome healthcare system challenges. Hence, the IoT can be beneficial by providing better treatments using the healthcare system efficiently. In this paper, the integration of the IoT with smart technologies not only improves computation, but will also allow the IoT to be pervasive, profitable, and available anytime and anywhere. Finally, some future directions and challenges are discussed, along with useful suggestions that can assist the IoT healthcare system during COVID-19 and in a severe pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How can the enforcement of policies in the past influence a society's future adoption of information communication technologies (ICTs)? In this paper, we tackle this question by exploring how past e‐governance policies influence citizens' willingness to use the health QR code, which is a COVID‐19 tracing app widely used in China's pandemic control. Past policies regarding smart‐city development in China involve two aspects: the construction of electronic infrastructure and the applications of specific technologies. Empirical analysis based on a nationwide dataset in China suggests that past policies exhibit persuasive effects and influence citizens' acceptance of the health QR code. Specifically, e‐governance applications in cities significantly enhance citizens' acceptance through the demonstration of their usefulness. However, the construction of e‐governance infrastructure per se does not have the same impact on citizens' acceptance. By connecting citizens' acceptance of new technology with past e‐governance policies, the study illustrates a nuanced policy feedback mechanism through which past policies can substantially reshape public opinion by policy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetry is a key part of the study of basic forces and particles, as well as the creation of mathematical models that help scientists in various scientific disciplines understand complex events. Scientists can figure out what a system is made of and how it works by looking at its symmetry. They can then use this information to make predictions and create new materials and technologies. Humanity has conquered many once-fatal diseases due to medical research and technological advancements. Although this progress is encouraging, there are still a great many areas that require continual human efforts. An effort is made in this article to choose the best treatment strategy to completely manage the pandemic of COVID-19 under conjunctive complex fuzzy knowledge. In this paper, the concept of conjunctive complex fuzzy relations is presented and numerous set theoretical aspects of this phenomenon are established. The investigation of this ideology is further expanded to describe different sorts of essential structural conjunctive complex fuzzy relations. Matrix and graphical representations of the formation of these newly specified relations are also provided. Moreover, this concept has been successfully employed to provide a therapy strategy for a rapid recovery from COVID-19. Furthermore, a comparative analysis is conducted to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the suggested approaches compared to existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of technological innovation promoting the long-term sustainable development of enterprises, how to better motivate senior executives to create greater value for an enterprise is being widely discussed. In particular, the COVID-19 outbreak has raised concerns about whether companies can deliver more value by holding large amounts of cash. However, although scholars have conducted a lot of research on topics such as innovation and firm value, how differentiated executive compensation incentives regulate the relationship between firm innovation and the value of cash holdings has hardly been explored. This paper selects the balanced panel data of 1470 A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2020 in China to explore the relationship between innovation investment, executive compensation, and the value of cash holdings. It is found that innovation investment has a positive impact on the value of the cash holdings. Based on Herzberg's hygiene motivational factors, different types of executive compensation may have a hygiene effect or a motivational effect, which is different. As a result, the moderating effect of executive compensation on innovation investment and the value of cash holdings are significantly different. Executive equity compensation and in-service consumption are motivational attributes. They have a positive moderating effect on innovation investment and the value of cash holdings. The moderating effect of executive monetary compensation on innovation investment and the value of cash holdings changes with the change in monetary compensation. When monetary compensation is lower than the threshold value, monetary compensation is reflected as a hygiene attribute, so it has no significant positive moderating effect on innovation investment and the value of cash holdings. When monetary compensation is higher than the threshold value, monetary compensation is reflected as a motivational attribute, so it has a significant positive moderating effect on innovation investment and the value of cash holdings. Meanwhile, it is tested that monetary compensation is not manipulated by executive compensation defense behavior when it is reflected as motivational attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient vertical transportation is vital to a skyscraper's functional operation and the convenience and satisfaction of its tenants. This review complements the author's previously published research by updating the readers on innovative hardware and software-based solutions. It lays out, organizes, and combines extensive and scattered material on numerous aspects of elevator design in a straightforward and non-technical narrative. Rope-less elevators, the MULTI, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and extended reality technologies are some of the developments and advancements this article examines. The analysis also contextualizes current technical developments by reviewing how they are used in significant projects such as the One World Trade Center in New York City. Lastly, the paper examines innovative technologies, such as holographic elevator buttons and ultraviolet rays that disinfect elevators, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American College of Epidemiology held its 2021 Annual Meeting virtually, September 8–10, with a conference theme of 'From Womb to Tomb: Insights from Health Emergencies'. The American College of Epidemiology Ethics Committee hosted a symposium session in recognition of the ethical and social challenges brought to light by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and on the occasion of the publication of the third edition of the classic text, Ethics and Epidemiology. The American College of Epidemiology Ethics Committee invited the book editor and contributing authors to present at the symposium session titled 'Current Ethical and Social Issues in Epidemiology.' The purpose of this paper is to further highlight the ethical challenges and presentations. Three speakers with expertise in ethics, health law, health policy, global health, health information technology, and translational research in epidemiology and public health were selected to present on the social and ethical issues in the current landscape. Dr. S Coughlin presented on the 'Ethical and Social Issues in Epidemiology', Dr. L Beskow presented on 'Ethical Challenges in Genetic Epidemiology', and Dr. K Goodman presented on the 'Ethics of Health Informatics'. New digital sources of data and technologies are driving the ethical challenges and opportunities in epidemiology and public health as it relates to the three emerging topic areas identified: (1) digital epidemiology, (2) genetic epidemiology, and (3) health informatics. New complexities such as the reliance on social media to control infectious disease outbreaks and the introduction of computing advancements are requiring re-evaluation of traditional bioethical frameworks for epidemiology research and public health practice. We identified several cross-cutting ethical and social issues related to informed consent, benefits, risks and harms, and privacy and confidentiality and summarized these alongside more nuanced ethical considerations such as algorithmic bias, group harms related to data (mis)representation, risks of misinformation, return of genomic research results, maintaining data security, and data sharing. We offered an integrated synthesis of the stages of epidemiology research planning and conduct with the ethical issues that are most relevant in these emerging topic areas. New realities exist for epidemiology and public health as professional groups who are faced with addressing population health, and especially given the recent pandemic and the widespread use of digital tools and technologies. Many ethical issues can be understood in the context of existing ethical frameworks; however, they have yet to be clearly identified or connected with the new technical and methodological applications of digital tools and technologies currently in use for epidemiology research and public health practice. To address current ethical challenges, we offered a synthesis of traditional ethical principles in public health science alongside more nuanced ethical considerations for emerging technologies and aligned these with lifecycle stages of epidemiology research. By critically reflecting on the impact of new digital sources of data and technologies on epidemiology research and public health practice, specifically in the control of infectious outbreaks, we offered insights on cultivating these new areas of professional growth while striving to improve population health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently there is no unified data classification and coding standard for the existing human disease animal model resource data worldwide. Different data classification and coding systems produce different retrieval methods. Some of these methods are inefficient and difficult to use. This research investigated the rules for the classification and coding of such data based on the Replication Methodology of Animal Models for Human Disease, the Classification and Coding Rules for Health Information Data Set (WS/T 306–2009), the Science and Technology Resource Identification (GB/T 32843–2016), the Scientific Data Management Measures (000014349/2018-00052), and The Generic Description Specification for Natural Science and Technology Resources. This research aimed to develop a classification and coding system for data obtained from human disease animal model resource based on the Internet environment to provide a standardized and unified foundation for the collection, saving, retrieval, and sharing of data from this resource. Results: A complete data classification and coding table compiled in the form of letters and numbers was produced, with a classification infrastructure that expanded layer by layer according to the three dimensions (namely, system diseases, animal species, and modeling methods) and essential attributes. When necessary, it adopted the hierarchy of major, intermediate, and minor categories for certain layer and also one-to-one matched the code and classification result. Conclusion: Through this study, a sharing and joint construction mechanism for data from this resource can be developed by all research institutes in this field. As a case study, this research also offered technical support for constructing the database for the National Human Disease Animal Model Resource Center. The technological innovation of this paper is to derive a research oriented retrieval method, which provides technical support for the research on the current COVID-19 epidemic and on possible future epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses and other microorganisms can enter water sources from different routes and cause pollution and irreparable damage. So, cost-effective and efficient systems for providing safe water are necessary. Efficient filtration systems based on antimicrobial materials have received a lot of attention in this regard. A wide range of materials play an important role in the production of efficient water filtration systems. Metal and metal oxide particles with anti-viral and antimicrobial properties comprising Cu, Cu2O, Ag, TiO2, and ZnO play a valuable role in the preparation of water filtration systems. Biopolymers such as cellulose or carbon nanomaterials like graphene or its derivatives have been reported to provide safe water. In this review, we summarize the use of diverse materials in the preparation of efficient filtration-based systems like membranes and paper filters for water treatment. Pathogen-containing water samples were effectively disinfected using the prepared water disinfection systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work has been continuously changing throughout history. The most severe changes to work occurred because of the industrial revolutions, and we are living in one of these moments. To allow us to address these changes as early as possible, mitigating important problems before they occur, we need to explore the future of work. As such, our purpose in this paper is to discuss the main global trends and provide a likely scenario for work in 2050 that takes into consideration the recent changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was performed by thirteen researchers with different backgrounds divided into five topics that were analyzed individually using four future studies methods: Bibliometrics, Brainstorming, Futures Wheel, and Scenarios. As the study was done before COVID-19, seven researchers of the original group later updated the most likely scenario with new Bibliometrics and Brainstorming. Our findings include that computerization advances will further reduce the demand for low-skill and low-wage jobs; non-standard employment tends to be better regulated; new technologies will allow a transition to a personalized education process; workers will receive knowledge-intensive training, making them more adaptable to new types of jobs; self-employment and entrepreneurship will grow in the global labor market; and universal basic income would not reach its full potential, but income transfer programs will be implemented for the most vulnerable population. Finally, we highlight that this study explores the future of work in 2050 while considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to discuss the role of digital agility and digital competitiveness in SMEs’ innovative performance in the context of a digitally turbulent environment. While SME innovative performance is a key research topic, we did not find recent research that investigates the relationship between digital agility, digital competitiveness, and innovative performance in the context of SMEs. The research is part of ongoing work in which the IT-related practice of Hungarian organizations has been explored on an annual basis since 2009. We applied a combined research methodology; both qualitative and quantitative methods were used, including surveying digital transformation literature, developing a survey to collect quantitative data, data collection, and processing with PLS-SEM. According to our model, SMEs are worth investing in and developing risk taking and change capabilities from their organizational culture to increase digital innovation capability and digital transformation maturity, which leads to better innovative performance. The uniqueness of our research is that, according to the literature, the innovative performance of SMEs is an under-researched area, if we take into consideration digital agility and digital competitiveness. The COVID-19 pandemic also reinforced the role of these factors in SME survival. Our main contribution is that we provide a conceptual framework for improving SMEs’ innovative performance through digital agility and digital competitiveness in digital turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 severely impacted small industries in Indonesia and many collapsed. Sustainable education is essential to help small industries recover post-pandemic through an open innovation design program to improve small industries' economic, social, and environmental performance. This paper examined the impacts of the sustainable education program implemented and explored open innovations suitable for the sustainability of small industries in developing countries, such as Indonesia, after the pandemic. This research employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach involving academics, government, the community, and four small industries in West Java, Indonesia. Our findings reveal that the sustainable education program through learning activities and direct practice provides valuable knowledge and experience for small industries in designing economic, social, and environmental innovations. Open innovations post-pandemic suitable for small industries in Indonesia include simple business digitalization for company economic growth, the recruitment of people losing their jobs due to the pandemic to achieve social benefits, and innovations in using environmentally friendly packaging and charcoal briquette fuel as an environmental awareness effort. This study recommends that the open innovation designed for small industries be right on target and done using a participatory method to achieve sustainability after the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even after scavenging the existence of mankind for the past year, the wrath of CoVID-19 is yet to die down. Countries like India are still getting haunted by the devastating conundrum, with coronavirus ripping through its citizens in the concurrent second wave. The surge of cases has prompted rapid intervention, with medical authorities pushing it to the limit to curve a roadblock to its aggressive growth. But, even after effortless work, human intervention remains slow and insufficient. Furthermore, relevant testing methodologies have shown weakness while detecting threats, with the recent growth of post-Covid complexities, thereby leaving a painful mark. This as such created a major requirement for technological advancements, which can cater to the mass. The growth of computational prowess in the past decade made the field of Deep Learning a major contributor in curving out algorithms to solve this. Adding to the excellent foundation of Deep Learning, this paper, proposes a novel CoWarriorNet model for rapid detection of CoVID-19, via chest X-ray images, which adds in an extra layer of precision and confirmation in the detection of cases in both pre-Covid and post-Covid conditions. The proposed classification model curves out an excellent accuracy of 97.8%, with the major eye-candy being the sensitivity rate of 0.99 when detecting CoVID-19 cases. This model introduces a new concept of Alpha Trimmed Average Pooling, which along with the novel architecture adds a subtle touch to its high efficiency, thereby giving a much-needed solution to the medical experts. The two-mouthed architecture provides the added benefit of a confidence score, deducing human aid in case of discrepancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic greatly disrupted educational systems around the world. Given their extensive stakeholder network, Schools and Colleges of Education played an important role in providing leadership across all dimensions of education throughout the pandemic. This paper presents results from an interview-based study of Deans of Schools of Education in the United States with a special focus on how they sought to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the pandemic. Results show that while there was a great deal of variability in the responses of Deans and Schools of Education many promising practices emerged that are potentially scalable and shareable to other institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In my 2020 paper 'Teaching, telling and technology', I explored the essentially second‐personal, I‐thou, relation between teacher and student—a relation I take to be essential to teaching at its most effective and inspiring. I concluded that essay with a critique of web‐based instruction in universities, arguing that there are features of online courses that undermine dimensions of the teacher–student relation that are profoundly valuable. 'Teaching, telling and technology' appeared just as the COVID‐19 pandemic disrupted the completion of the 2019–2020 academic year and forced many schools and colleges around the world to teach part or all of the 2020–2021 academic year online. In this article, I consider how the experience of teaching remotely during the pandemic illuminates the position I took in my earlier paper. I find that while we all have reason to be grateful that remote communication platforms made it possible for formal education to continue during the pandemic, there remain reasons for caution about online courses, particularly when taught asynchronously. This, I argue, is particularly, though not exclusively, true of teaching in the humanities. More concerning still is that many problematic features of web‐based instruction are symptoms of deleterious trends in higher education in general. Nevertheless, the last year has vividly revealed that online platforms create exciting possibilities for collaborative teaching and research and that there is reason to hope that further innovations in technology can ameliorate existing shortcomings in online education, so long as we do not lose sight of certain core educational values. Drawing on such diverse thinkers as Oakeshott, Ilyenkov and Kant, I argue that, if we are to initiate pupils into the conversation of humanity and enable them to think for themselves, then educational encounters must foster and exhibit the creative movement of thought in conditions of uncertainty, and that our model—our ideal—for achieving this should be real‐time, in‐person intellectual engagement between embodied beings in shared physical space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, people are demanding better indoor air quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to maintaining the basic functions, new air-conditioning should also add air purification functions to improve indoor air quality and reduce the possibility of virus transmission. Nowadays, there is lack of research results on the innovation of air-conditioning. The aim of this study is to present a two-stage mathematical model for identifying critical manufacturing factors in the innovation process of air conditioning. In this paper, Kano and quality function deployment (QFD) are used to analyze the critical factors affecting air-conditioning innovation. Some studies have proposed using Kano-QFD model to analyze product innovation, but the study only studies one stage, which loses the analysis of the subsequent stages of product innovation. Based on this, this paper studies the priority method of two-stage critical factors for air-conditioning innovation. Firstly, the questionnaire survey and fuzzy sets are used to collect demand information of multi-agent (customers and professional technicians). Secondly, the Kano model is used to classify and calculate satisfaction of multi-agent. Then, QFD is used to transform multi-agent demands into engineering property indexes (first stage) and technical property indexes (second stage) and calculate the weight of each index. Finally, the applicability and superiority of this method is illustrated by taking the central air-conditioning as an example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of tools boosting marketing, management, and innovations via digital platforms, such as internal websites of the top Czech luxury fashion businesses in the COVID-19 era. The main purpose of the research is to perform a case study about how these websites address COVID-19, innovations, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. Systematization of the scientific sources and approaches for solving the problem indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has heavily impacted industries that are dispensable and, at the same time, costly. The relevance of this scientific problem's decision matters theory and practice since the COVID-19 crisis is rather a negative challenge than a positive opportunity for businesses, which often ends up paying the ultimate price – falling into bankruptcy. A battery of employed methodological tools includes a simplified Delphi method with data processing by a panel of experts, the meta-analysis and content analysis, and teleological interpretations instruments. The research object is the Summer 2021 version of the internal websites of the top 20 Czech luxury fashion businesses based on their pre-COVID-19 turnover in 2018. The paper presents an empirical analysis based on this case study and juxtaposes it to prior academic findings. The research empirically confirmed and theoretically proved the underplayed potential of the websites of luxury fashion businesses. The research results could be helpful for theory adjustments and have practical implications and offer recommendations for businesses. They lead to propositions about the internal perspective and digital readiness to inform about it and a general attitude to the marketing, management, and innovations during crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a pragmatic randomised timing-of-birth trial, WILL adapted its trial procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These are reviewed here to inform post-pandemic trial methodology.Methods: The trial (internal pilot) paused in March 2020, re-opened in July 2020, and is currently recruiting in 37 UK NHS consultant-led maternity units. We evaluated pandemic adaptations made to WILL processes and surveyed sites for their views of these changes (20 sites, videoconference).Results: Despite 88% of sites favouring an electronic investigator site file (ISF), information technology requirements and clinical trial unit (CTU) operating procedures mandated the ongoing use of paper ISFs; site start-up delays resulted from restricted access to the CTU. Site initiation visits (SIVs) were conducted remotely; 50% of sites preferred remote SIVs and 44% felt that it was trial-dependent, while few preferred SIVs in-person as standard procedure. The Central team felt remote SIVs provided scheduling and attendance flexibility (for sites and trial staff), the option of recording discussions for missing or future staff, improved efficiency by having multiple sites attend, and time and cost savings; the negative impact on rapport-building and interaction was partially mitigated over time with more familiarity with technology and new ways-of-working. Two methods of remote consent were developed and used by 30/37 sites and for 54/156 recruits. Most (86%) sites using remote consenting felt it improved recruitment. For remote data monitoring (5 sites), advantages were primarily for the monitor (e.g. flexibility, no time constraints, reduced cost), and disadvantages primarily for the sites (e.g. document and access preparation, attendance at a follow-up meeting), but 81% of sites desired having the option of remote monitoring post-pandemic.Conclusions: COVID adaptations to WILL trial processes improved the flexibility of trial delivery, for Central and site staff, and participants. Flexibility to use these strategies should be retained post-pandemic.Trial Registration: ISRCTN77258279. Registered on 05 December 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of social media has grown significantly in the last few years. Social media refers to "the websites and online tools that facilitate interactions between users by providing them opportunities to share information, opinions, and interest" (Swar and Hameed, 2017, p. 141). Adolescents have been found to be more vulnerable to addiction and crimes related to social media. Hence, the study has tried to understand the association of social media with the well being of adolescents. The first part of the paper deals with the role and relevance of social media. Further, the literature review depicts a strong connection between social media and individuals' well-being. For the quantitative analysis, various statistical techniques are used. In order to evaluate the association between variables, the composite index has been prepared. Further, the ranking has been given to reflect social media's impact on adolescents' well-being. Lastly, a few recommendations have been made for the state government regarding the well being of the adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates from a comparative perspective the development of e-government in the field of social services and benefits for the case of Romania. The analysis takes into account the global context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where there has been an increased usage of ICT technology and new circumstances for delivering social services. Therefore, the analysis will examine whether there has been an impetus for developing e-government social services in Romania. Research questions address whether there is a difference in the availability of electronic delivery of social services and benefits during the pandemic period and examine potential differences between types of services and benefits, counties/regions and types of institutions (central, regional/county, local – mayoralties/urban and rural municipalities). Additionally, informative procedures available in 2021 are examined. The analysis revealed that there is no standardized set of available electronic procedures from similar institutions. The most eloquent case is the one of deconcentrated institutions, County Agencies for Payments and Social Inspection, which are subordinated to the same central level institution – Ministry of Labor. However, the study outlines a development on the total number of available procedures for social services and benefits. Significant improvements are needed to standardize the same procedures from different institutions, irrespective of their type of affiliated territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studies the student experiences related to online teaching of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in order to determine which computer-mediated learning practices were perceived as purposeful and should be incorporated in traditional in-person teaching. The sample comprised of 60 students from two faculties of the University of Belgrade, Serbia. Descriptive statistics were obtained. The gathered data were subjected to qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The results indicate that the positive experiences are related primarily to synchronous conferencing in the form of real-time written communication as an integral part of the classes offered via videoconferencing. The use of video content and availability of various learning materials uploaded to the learning platforms proved to be helpful. Loss of concentration, technical difficulties and a lack of in-person communication were perceived as obstacles to effective learning. The most salient conclusion of the study refers to the necessity of incorporating real-time comment writing in the traditional classroom. The results also urge the need for addressing the issues of large classes and inadequate auditoriums in the traditional mode of teaching. The conclusions provide the guidelines for the improvement of in-person teaching of ESP based on specific computer-mediated learning practices that were found facilitative of the development of the students' language competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To restore the economy of post-pandemic Georgia, it is essential to solve problems in creative and innovative ways, and build an economy based on knowledge and innovation. The paper analyzes the impact of the global pandemic and other negative factors on the development of the startup ecosystem in Georgia, the main challenges, and the measures taken. The work is based on the review of statistical data, the anti-crisis policy of the state, and the assessment of the main directions of the government program 2021-2024 "For the construction of the European state". Opinions got expressed about the mobilization of existing opportunities for the development of the startup ecosystem in Georgia in the post-pandemic period and the introduction of innovative technologies and products in the new reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technology platforms implementation in the educative field such as Khan Academy (KA), has increased in a significative way due to the pandemic for learning management, which implies a significant change in content approach for both students and teachers. This paper's objective was to analyze students' experience using KA within three dimensions: motivation, learning, and innovation. From a methodological perspective, it was designed a descriptive investigation based on the quantitative analysis that describes perceptions (attitudes) about the use of the mathematics teaching-learning platform in two educative programs from Centro Universitario del Norte (CUNorte). The results obtained show that the majority of interviewees felt motivated to learn, considering that the platform's use advantages of their learning, it allows them to develop math skills, improved their grades, and learned in an innovative way. In addition, it will allow assessing the benefits and limitations in order to improve the application of the platform in the teaching practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]