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Classifying papers according to the fields of knowledge is critical to clearly understand the dynamics of scientific (sub)fields, their leading questions, and trends. Most studies rely on journal categories defined by popular databases such as WoS or Scopus, but some experts find that those categories may not correctly map the existing subfields nor identify the subfield of a specific article. This study addresses the classification problem using data from each paper (Abstract, Title, Keywords, and the KeyWords Plus) and the help of experts to identify the existing subfields and journals exclusive of each subfield. These "exclusive journals" are critical to obtain, through a pattern detection procedure that uses machine learning techniques (from software NVivo), a list of the frequent terms that are specific to each subfield. With that list of terms and with the help of optimization procedures, we can identify to which subfield each paper most likely belongs. This study can contribute to support scientific policy‐makers, funding, and research institutions—via more accurate academic performance evaluations—, to support editors in their tasks to redefine the scopes of journals, and to support popular databases in their processes of refining categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the characteristics of the top 100 most-cited papers related to tooth bleaching. A literature search was performed on the Web of Science up to March 2022. The number of citations was cross-matched with the citation count on Scopus and Google Scholar. The following data were collected: number and density of citations; authorship; year and journal of publication; study design and thematic; keywords; institution and country of origin. Spearman's correlation and Poisson regression were used to determine associations between the number of citations and study characteristics. The VOSviewer software was used to generate collaborative network maps for the authors and keywords. The number of citations ranged from 66 to 450. Papers were published between 1981 and 2020. The most frequent study design and topic were laboratory-based studies and 'interaction of the bleaching agent with dental tissues', respectively. Cochran M, Loguercio AD, Matis B, Reis A, and Suliman M were the authors with the highest number of papers. The countries with the most papers were the United States of America (USA) (28%) and Brazil (20%). Indiana University and State University of Ponta Grossa were the institutions with the most papers (6% each). There was a very strong correlation among the number of citations of the three databases. The 100 most-cited papers related to tooth bleaching were mainly published by the USA and Brazil, with laboratory-based studies addressing topics related to the effects of bleaching agents on tooth structure being the most prevalent.

Background: The most-cited papers help to better understand important characteristics of this specific science field., Objective: To analyse the 100 most-cited papers in the field of Paediatric Dentistry., Design: A search of the most-cited papers in Paediatric Dentistry journals was performed using journals included in the category of 'Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine' in the Thompson Reuters Web of Science citation indexing database up to December 2018. Two researchers performed the data extraction, which included: number of citations, title, authors, country, year, journals, study design, and thematic area., Results: The number of citations of each paper included in the top 100 most-cited ranged from 42 to 182 (mean: 64.51). Seven papers were cited more than 100 times. Most of the papers were published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry (36%), between 2006 and 2015 (55%), with a cross-sectional design (39%). Twenty-six authors participated in two or more papers. The countries with the highest number of most-cited papers were the United States (25%), Australia (11%), and Brazil (9%). Cariology was the most studied thematic area., Conclusion: The evaluation of the top 100 most-cited papers in Paediatric Dentistry journals allowed for a better understanding of the world scenario regarding this research field., (© 2019 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This empirical research paper conducts a comparative analysis of the recovery strategies implemented and their significance on countries with different economic affluence such as the US and Brazil, during the Great Depression. The most significant measures included the New Deal for the US and coffee valorization for Brazil. This study focuses on examining the recovery strategies adopted by these countries and comparing them which is scarce. The hypothesis for this research is: "The more affluent country (US) has more effective recovery strategies than the less affluent country (Brazil)." By shedding light on the differing experiences of 'rich' and 'poor' nations during the Great Depression, this research provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by countries with varying economic statuses. Prior research papers and Figures were used to calculate the rise in GDP of both countries during the 1929-1939 period, which resulted in Brazil having a 44% increase in GDP and the US 40%, proving the hypothesis incorrect. However, this can be attributed to the importance of tailored recovery approaches based on a nation's development level and specific circumstances exhibiting Brazil's massive economic success. However, The US's more general strategies might have broader applicability than Brazil's specific measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the idea of Europe conceived by Stefan Zweig and Hermann Ullmann in the similarly titled books about Brazil written in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In the political context between the great wars marked by the rise of Nazism, the question is posed regarding to what extent Europe continues to serve as a model of civilization and what the critical dimension is that is expressed in concepts reversing the roles of Europe and Brazil. One detects a partial rupture with dichotomous and hierarchical viewpoints about the relationship between the Old World and the New World, and new forms of relationship between these regions within the worldwide context are suggested.

Purpose: There is a widely held belief that sustainable development (SD) policies are essential for universities to successfully engage in matters related to sustainability, and are an indicator of the extent to which they are active in this field. This paper aims to examine the evidence which currently exists to support this assumption. It surveys a sample of universities in Brazil, Germany, Greece, Portugal, South Africa and the UK and the USA to ascertain the extent to which universities that are active in the field of sustainable development have formal policies on sustainable development, and whether such policies are a pre-condition for successful sustainability efforts. Design/methodology/approach: The study involved 35 universities in seven countries (five universities respectively). A mixed-methods approach has been used, ranging from document analysis, website analysis, questionnaires and interviewing. Findings: Although only 60 per cent of the sampled universities had a policy that specifically addressed SD, this cannot be regarded as an indicator that the remaining 40 per cent are not engaged with substantial actions that address SD. Indeed, all of the universities in the sample, regardless of the existence of a SD formal policy, demonstrated engagement with environmental sustainability policies or procedures in some form or another. This research has been limited by the availability and ability to procure information from the sampled universities. Despite this, it is one of the largest research efforts of this kind ever performed. Research limitations/implications: This research has been limited by the availability and ability to procure information from the sampled universities. Practical implications: The findings provide some valuable insights into the connections between SD policies on the one hand and the practice of sustainable development in higher education institutions on the other. Social implications: Universities with SD policies can contribute to models of economic growth consistent with sustainable development. Originality/value: The study is the one of the largest research efforts of this kind ever performed.

The article reflects on the issue on plant science in Korea. It reveals that the theory on country's scientific focus was not transparent to the people involved in the research. It presents an analysis with the participation of top ten countries including Northern America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. It succumbs that the countries in Asia are smaller than those mentioned above with respect to research publication other than Japan. It explains that Korea and China have increased the number of papers being published annually which out put is equaled with Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) and ergonomic risk factors are very common in bakery workers. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to (1) assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among bakers because they use automated machines or traditional baking, and (2) to determine the strategies to prevent musculoskeletal disorders in bakers. METHODS: A systematic review of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted from the beginning to February 4, 2022, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Mesh keywords and phrases were used to execute the search strategy. Information on MSDs and ergonomic risk factors in bakery workers was collected. Two reviewers worked independently on study selection, data extraction, and paper quality ranking. RESULTS: This study identified 14 papers from seven countries. Although the prevalence of MSDs in bakery workers has been studied, only a handful of them have been studied ergonomic risk factors, and the findings have been very limited. The association between different risk factors and MSDs seemed significant compared to many other occupational diseases. The traditional bread-baking system and lack of mechanization may increase the risk of MSDs in bakery workers. CONCLUSION: WRMSDs for bakery workers have been less studied than other occupational diseases. Our systematic review found several significant relations between the factors influencing the prevalence of MSDs. This study also showed the comparison of traditional and modern cooking systems with diseases of the upper limbs, shoulders, and back pain as possible fields for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As humanity reaches the 5.0 industrial revolution, education plays a critical role in boosting the quality of human resources. This paper reports bibliometric research on emerging TiP during 1993-2022 in the educational field to analyse its development on any level of education during the last three decades. This study employed a Scopus database. The findings are that the trend of TiP publication in educational fields has tended to increase every year during the past three decades and conference paper became the most published document type, the USA is the country which produces the most publications; "Students" being the most occurrences keyword and total link strength. The publication of the TiP is ranked to the Quartile 1, which implies that a publication with the cited performance is a publication with credibility because the publisher has a good reputation. Researchers can find the topics most relevant to other metadata sources such as Web of Science, Publish, and Perish.

The level of colorism that developed among blacks in the United States (U.S.) and Brazil, during the 20th century, gave rise to intense altitudes of intraracial discrimination. This distinct form of discrimination was based on proximity to whiteness and white privilege. This essay will illustrate how attitudes toward complexion, within the black community, are a direct consequence and perpetual remnant of the white supremacy and racial hierarchy that developed in colonized societies. Colorism manifested itself in different forms in Brazil and in the U.S. However, the level of black-on-black discrimination that it spawned was grounded in the belief that one's immediacy to whiteness created a vehicle for upward mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to derive policy implications for real trade negotiations from experiments on multilateral legislative bargaining games. The experiment results reveal that the existence of a strong player with veto power could delay the games. Considering the similarity between the games with the veto player and multilateral trade negotiations such as the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), this paper argues that strong countries such as the G-4 (the United States, the European Community, Brazil, and India) may cause delays in the negotiations. Based on experimental findings, this paper suggests group negotiations as a policy option for the DDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social Frailty is a significant public health concern affecting the elderly, particularly with the global population aging rapidly. Older adults with social frailty are at significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes such as disability, cognitive impairment, depression, and even death. In recent years, there have been more and more studies on social frailty, but no bibliometrics has been used to analyze and understand the general situation in this field. Therefore, by using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bilioshiny software programs, this study aims to analyze the general situation of the research on social frailties of the older adults and determine the research trends and hot spots. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted by searching relevant literature on the social frailty of the older adults from 2003 to 2022 in the Web of Science core database, using visualization software to map publication volume, country and author cooperation networks, keyword co-occurrences, and word emergence. Results: We analyzed 415 articles from 2003 to 2022. Brazil has the highest number of articles in the field of social frailty of the older adults, and the United States has the highest number of cooperative publications. Andrew MK, from Canada, is the most published and co-cited author, with primary research interests in geriatric assessment, epidemiology, and public health. "Social Vulnerability," "Health," "Frailty," "Mortality," and "Older Adult" are among the research hotspots in this field. "Dementia," "Alzheimer's disease," "Population," and "Covid-19" are emerging research trends in social frailty among the older adults. Conclusion: This scientometric study maps the research hotspots and trends for the past 20 years in social frailty among the older adults. Our findings will enable researchers to better understand trends in this field and find suitable directions and partners for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acknowledging the extreme risk COVID-19 poses to humans, this paper attempted to analyze and compare case fatality rates, identify the existence of learning curves for COVID-19 medical treatments, and examine the impact of vaccination on fatality rate reduction. Confirmed cases and deaths were extracted from the "Daily Situation Report" provided by the World Health Organization. The results showed that low registration and low viral test rates resulted in low fatality rates, and the learning curve was significant for all countries except China. Treatment for COVID-19 can be improved through repeated experience. Vaccinations in the U.K. and U.S.A. are highly effective in reducing fatality rates, but not in other countries. The positive impact of vaccines may be attributed to higher vaccination rates. In addition to China, this study identified the existence of learning curves for the medical treatment of COVID-19 that can explain the effect of vaccination rates on fatalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the history of how the theory of inertial inflation was developed in Brazil in the early 1980s, when inflation was very high, much higher than the stagflation that happened in the United States in the previous decade. Perhaps this fact explains why the theory was formulated in Brazil and not in the United States. The main papers and the book that defined the new theory are duly referred. And the author, that in the 1980s and 1990s was a political actor, also tells the history of the application of the theory, the failures and successes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In celebration of the journal's 50th anniversary, the aim of the study was to review the whole collection of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (CDOE) publications from 1973 to 2022 and provide a complete overview of the main publication characteristics. Methods: The study used bibliometric techniques such as performance and science mapping analysis of 3428 articles extracted from the Scopus database. The data were analysed using the 'Bibliometrix' package in R. The journal's scientific production was examined, along with the yearly citation count, the distribution of publications based on authors, the corresponding author's country and affiliation and citation count, citing source and keywords. Bibliometric network maps were constructed to determine the conceptual, intellectual and social collaborative structure over the past 50 years. The trending research topics and themes were identified. Results: The total number of articles and average citations has increased over the years. D Locker, AJ Spencer, A Sheiham and WM Thomson were the most frequently published authors, and PE Petersen, GD Slade and AI Ismail published papers with the highest citations. The most published countries were the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil and Canada, frequently engaging in collaborative efforts. The most common keywords used were 'dental caries', 'oral epidemiology' and 'oral health'. The trending topics were healthcare and health disparities, social determinants of health, systematic review and health inequalities. Epidemiology, oral health and disparities were highly researched areas. Conclusion: This bibliometric study reviews CDOE's significant contribution to dental public health by identifying key research trends, themes, influential authors and collaborations. The findings provide insights into the need to increase publications from developing countries, improve gender diversity in authorship and broaden the scope of research themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the major quality assurance strategies, accreditation and licensure, in health professions education. It explores the nature of these regulatory processes using Brazil and the United States as examples because these large systems are at different ends of the developmental continuum. For each, it describes the tensions that arise, offers a critical synthesis of the evidence and maps out future directions. Results: Given wide variability among operating medical schools in curricular design, length of study, resources and facilities for clinical training and supervision, the nature of regulatory bodies varies considerably. Nonetheless, they share tensions related purpose and process including quality assurance versus quality improvement, outcomes versus process and continuous versus episodic evaluations and assessments. Clear evidence of effectiveness, especially for accreditation, is scarce and difficult to obtain, particularly as it relates to health outcomes. Conclusions: Regulatory processes need to be built around clear definitions of the goals for each stage of professional development, the current movement towards competency‐based education and the variable durations of medical education. These changes must motivate revisions in the content and process of programmes for accreditation and licensure, complimentary efforts towards quality of care, and stimulate a significant research effort. The authors use Brazil and the US as case studies to provide an overview of procedures and tensions related to accreditation, licensure and certification for quality assurance in health profession education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - New hepatitis C medicines such as sofosbuvir underline the need to balance considerations of innovation, clinical evidence, budget impact and equity in health priority-setting. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of public participation in addressing these considerations. Design/methodology/approach - The paper employs a comparative case study approach. It explores the experience of four countries - Brazil, England, South Korea and the USA - in making coverage decisions about the antiviral sofosbuvir and involving the public and patients in these decision-making processes. Findings - Issues emerging from public participation ac tivities include the role of the universal right to health in Brazil, the balance between innovation and budget impact in England, the effect of unethical medical practices on public perception in South Korea and the legitimacy of priority-setting processes in the USA. Providing policymakers are receptive to these issues, public participation activities may be re-conceptualized as processes that illuminate policy problems relevant to a particular context, thereby promoting an agenda-setting role for the public. Originality/value - The paper offers an empirical analysis of public involvement in the case of sofosbuvir, where the relevant considerations that bear on priority-setting decisions have been particularly stark. The perspectives that emerge suggest that public participation contributes to raising attention to issues that need to be addressed by policymakers. Public participation activities can thus contribute to setting policy agendas, even if that is not their explicit purpose. However, the actualization of this contribution is contingent on the receptiveness of policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Microteaching is a teacher training method based on microclasses (groups of four or five students) and microlessons lasting no more than 5-20 min. Since it was first explored in the late 20th century in experiments at Stanford University, microteaching has evolved at the interdisciplinary level. The purpose of this paper is to examine the networks found via an analytical bibliometric study of the scientific output related with microteaching in teacher training, through a study and examination of the Web of Science database. Design/methodology/approach: This research was conducted with the VOSviewer tool for content analysis through data mining and scientific network structure mapping by means of the normalisation technique. This technique is based on the association strength indicator, which is interpreted as a measurement of the similarity of the units of analysis. Findings: Two hundred and nine articles were thus obtained from the Web of Science database. The networks generated and the connections among the various items, co-authorship and co-citation are presented in the results, which clearly indicates that there are significant authors and institutions in the field of microteaching. The largest cluster is made up of institutions such as Australian Catholic University. The most often-cited document is by Rich and Hannafin. Allen (1968), who defines microteaching as a technique based on microclasses and microlessons, is the author most often cited and has the largest number of connections. Research limitations/implications: This research's limitations concern either aspects that lie beyond the study's possibilities or goals that have proved unattainable. The second perspective, which focuses on skill transfer, contains a lower percentage of documents and therefore has a weaker central documentary structure. Lastly, the authors have also had to bear in mind the fact that the scientific output hinges upon a highly specific realm, the appearance and/or liberalisation of digital technologies and access to those technologies in the late 20th century. Originality/value: This research shows that microteaching is a promising area of research that opens up vast possibilities in higher education teacher training for application in the realm of technologies. This paper could lead to several lines of future research, such as access to and the universal design of learning from the standpoint of different communication and pedagogical models based on microteaching.

This paper aims at identifying and explaining the correlation between the Covid-19 and multi-lingualism through cross-country research, drawing on three datasets: WHO data on the expanse of the pandemic, UNESCO data on endangered languages, and the LDI (Linguistic Diversity Index). Results establishing a direct correlation between the pandemic and multi-lingualism vary across the countries, except the USA, India, and Brazil. The three countries experiencing the highest global pandemic caseload occupy the top positions in the number of endangered languages and are among the top ten linguistically diverse countries. Drawing from the research findings, the paper addresses the criticality of investing in multi-lingualism and calls for a shift of perspective among policymakers driven by neoliberal rationale towards greater recognition and higher funding for multi-lingual education.

Cultivated and plant-based meats are substitutes for conventional animal meat products. As radical innovations, they may trigger profound social and economic changes. Despite the many benefits of alternative meats, such as environmental sustainability, animal welfare, human health and food safety, some unintended consequences remain unexplored in the literature. In this paper, we studied the potential impact of the meat production system transition on jobs. Using a survey, we compared opinions regarding the impact on jobs in Brazil, the United States and Europe, according to alternative protein experts. Our results showed the potential of plant-based and cultivated meat production to create new and higher-skilled jobs. The data analysis also suggested that the impact of novel food production systems on jobs in conventional meat production may be different for each stage of the value chain. In particular, the results showed a pressure point on animal farmers, who may be most affected in a fast transition scenario. Considering the studied geographical contexts, Brazilian professionals were more optimistic about the potential of plant-based and cultivated meat production to create new jobs. Our findings may provide new insights for the development of policies, measures and strategies that promote job creation, skills and income in view of the ongoing transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to perform a critical reflection about intervention options for bruxism reduction in children and adolescents. Search was conducted based on the PICO-structured question: "What are the intervention options to reduce bruxism in children/adolescents?". No language, year, or study design restrictions were imposed. Studies reporting interventions to reduce bruxism in children (< 10) and adolescents (10 to 19 years old) were included. Reviews and letters to editors were not included. From 2723 records, 17 papers were included. Included studies were primarily randomized clinical trials performed in Brazil (35.3%) and using different criteria for the diagnosis of bruxism. Reduction in self-reported bruxism and headaches associated with bruxism were observed in studies that used medications (hydroxyzine/trazodone/flurazepam), occlusal splints, orthodontic interventions, and psychological and physical therapy interventions. Reduction in Rhythmic Masticatory Muscle Activity was observed with the use of the occlusal splint and in orthodontic interventions. Alternative treatments (medicinal extracts such as Melissa officinalis-L) have shown inconclusive results.Conclusions: Several intervention options are available to inhibit or reduce bruxism activity. The respective indication, contraindications, and side effects of each treatment option must be assessed individually and carefully, taking into account that bruxism is not considered a disorder in otherwise healthy individuals.What is known• Biological and psychological factors have been strongly correlated to the development of bruxism• Bruxism prevalence ranging from 6 to 50% in childrenWhat is new• Reduction in self-reported bruxism and headaches associated with bruxism were observed in studies that used medication (Hydroxyzine/ Trazodone/ Flurazepam), occlusal splints, orthodontic interventions, psychological, and physical therapy interventions• A reduction in Rhythmic Masticatory Muscle Activity was observed with the use of the occlusal splint and orthodontic interventions. Alternative treatments (medicinal extracts such as Melissa officinalis L) show inconclusive results in respect of the reduction in bruxism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to identify the most prolific countries in the field of special education and to discuss the widespread impact of their papers by taking into account the country's h-index. Through a bibliometric analysis, the data were collected in the Web of Science Core Collection category "Education, Special" in the Social Science Citation Index during 2011-2020. The 25 most prolific countries in the field of special education were determined in terms of paper productivity, and it was seen that the leading country was undisputedly the USA (54.42%). Meanwhile, a strong positive correlation was found between the h-index and the number of papers published by the countries (r=0.864). On the other hand, when the ranking in terms of the number of papers was reconfigured by the h-index, it was relatively changed. The possible reasons for this change for the countries with the most changing rankings were discussed by considering some definitive criteria such as the journal quartiles, the percentage of international and domestic, and the percentage of open access papers. This study reports a positive correlation between the quality and quantity in the field of special education for the publications of countries. It has been shown that where the positive correlation deviates, then especially, the journal quartiles, the percentage of international collaboration and the percentage of open access papers have a significant effect. The bibliometric findings may be useful to enrich the discussion about the widespread impact of papers and debate whether the use of h-index is acceptable for cross-national comparisons.

The higher education efficiency evaluation model using the data envelopment analysis method has interested many researchers. This paper uses bibliometric analysis on publications extracted from the Scopus database to provide a comprehensive overview of research publications on the measurement of higher education efficiency based on data envelopment analysis: its growth rate, major collaboration networks, the most important and popular research topic. A total of 169 related publications were collected and analyzed from 1988 to 2021. The analysis results show that: Publications published every year have increased sharply in the last six years; The quality of publications is relatively high as publications tend to be published in journals with high-ranking indexes; Countries with the most influence in studies on this topic are: Italy, China, Spain, the USA, and the United Kingdom; Authors with the most influence in this research direction are Agasisti T., Abbott M., Doucouliagos C., Avkiran N.K., and Johnes J.; The research cooperation among countries and among affiliations is not strong. Finally, the paper has provided recommendations for future studies based on the findings.

Background: Immersive virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in organizational training interventions. However, few studies have systematically investigated VR compared to standard training methods in actual organizational contexts. Objectives: The focus of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a VR simulation for training professionals in the biotech industry. Aligning training needs to unique media affordances, the study designed an immersive story‐based VR simulation for training customer‐facing employees on a new product and tested it in an international biotech company. Methods: The system was evaluated by comparing its effectiveness to a traditional video presentation with the same content in a randomized between subjects experiment. The sample consisted of 95 employees across three locations: Brazil, Denmark, and USA. Results: The VR simulation group performed better than the video presentation group on the outcomes of conceptual knowledge (d = 0.41) spatial knowledge (d = 0.61), transfer intentions (d = 0.57), enjoyment (d = 1.74), self‐efficacy (d = 0.68), perceived learning (d = 0.89), personal value (d = 0.83), and organizational value (d = 0.82), but no significant difference was found for factual knowledge (d = −0.10). Implications: Results suggest that VR simulations can be effective across cultures in organizational training interventions. VR is specifically effective when the goals of the training are to increase conceptual and spatial understanding as well as enjoyment, and self‐efficacy, but not factual knowledge. Furthermore, employees report higher levels of perceived learning, personal and organizational value and transfer intentions after VR training compared to standard video‐based training. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter: Immersive virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in organizational training interventions. This interest has especially surged amid recent global challenges, and the sudden need for companies and employees to adapt to the new remote working conditions.However, few studies have systematically investigated VR compared to standard training methods in actual organizational contexts that include a real‐world scenario and a representative testing sample.Applied research that assesses the outcomes of VR based training in realistic learning and training settings is needed. What their paper adds: We propose and test an interdisciplinary approach that links unique features of VR with training needs and multidimensional outcome measures in an organizational training context within the biotech industry in Brazil, Denmark and USA.The findings suggest that a specifically designed VR tool is superior to a comparable video presentation for the outcomes of spatial and conceptual knowledge acquisition and transfer intentions, but not factual knowledge acquisition.The VR group also reported significantly higher personal value, organizational value, self‐efficacy, perceived learning, and enjoyment compared to the video group. Implications of study findings for practitioners: The results support the value of using VR simulations in organizational training, specifically related to affective outcomes as well as spatial and conceptual knowledge and transfer intentions.The study suggests that it is not the medium of VR, but rather the alignment between the training goals with the instructional methods and the unique affordances of VR that will contribute to better or worse learning outcomes.The article describes how to evaluate the effectiveness of VR tools in applied contexts, suggesting that we have to evaluate the effectiveness of tested content with respect to different outcome variables, which coincide with the training outcomes of a particular organizational context.The project as a whole, can be used as a blueprint for future applied research efforts, exemplifying how to bridge gaps between small‐medium‐enterprises, international corporate companies and academic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Tobacco use is associated with an annual global economic cost of two trillion dollars and mortality of half of its regular users. Tobacco leaf cultivation is the starting point of the tobacco cycle. Tobacco farming employs millions of small-scale tobacco farmers around the globe, most of whom are out growers who rely on the tobacco industry. This paper aims to map the regions of greatest tobacco production globally (i.e., the US, Brazil, China, Indonesia, India, and Zambia) and tobacco use rates in these locations. Smoking rates were higher in those areas, except for India, where important population subgroups reported an upward trend for tobacco smoking. In general, there was a relationship between tobacco farming and tobacco smoking. Tobacco farming may lead to a higher risk of tobacco use and lower adherence to tobacco control policies. Therefore, promoting viable alternative livelihoods for tobacco farmers must have dual benefits. Additionally, specific health prevention policies might be necessary for those populations reporting higher tobacco use and lower perception of tobacco-related health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the history of dissemination and use of lean concepts in construction and potential challenges for continued use, as application of lean concepts transitions from a small group of first adopters to an industry-wide community. Design/methodology/approach – Using insights obtained from a meeting with industry practitioners, literature review, and published cases in which different approaches were used to disseminate lean production/construction, evidence is presented that supports these challenges. Findings – The authors identify three challenges facing lean construction (LC) practitioners, researchers, and educators. One challenge is lean has many meanings (whether denoted or connoted) when applied to construction. Another challenge is to have academics constantly working with industry practitioners to keep working on the adaptation of concepts/systems and not only tools. The third challenge is that without a sustained effort to engage people in meaningful learning experiences, LC may be viewed as a fad in the construction industry. Research limitations/implications – The discussion presents the authors' interpretation of facts and existing literature reviewed to support the arguments made. Moreover, while the literature reviewed addresses sources from different parts of the world, the preponderance of the authors' research activities and experience are limited to two countries, Brazil and the USA. Practical implications – In the face of overwhelming interest in lean by the construction industry, research on effective methods for disseminating lean concepts is overdue. Social implications – By partnering with industry practitioners who are already implementing LC or want to start the journey, academics have access to projects (labs in the real world) and can bring back to the classroom examples to educate future generations of professionals who can push for changes in the industry. This partnership also helps the validation of experiments regarding LC implementation, as data can be collected and analyzed in a scientific way, and can be documented for dissemination within the industry. Originality/value – The paper discusses challenges related to the evolution of LC in the industry, with the aim of forming a basis for an informed discussion on how to promote sustained and informed learning in construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important strategy for commodity trading firms is geographical diversification through acquisitions and greenfield development, often justified with the quest for multiple origins. This strategy can be interpreted as a "switching option" which tend to be undervalued using traditional valuation techniques. This paper develops a stochastic binomial real options model to value networks of export elevators. It is applied to soybean trading for shipments from ports in the United States, Brazil, and Ukraine. The paper estimates the value of the option of being able to switch origins in export trade. This option value is substantial and is determined partly by margin distributions and correlations among these. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While most research on authority in organizations has been limited to rational-legal bureaucracies, this paper reviews Weber's three pure types of legitimate authority—rational-legal, traditional, and charismatic—and explores the relationship between authority type, organizational form, societal environment, and organizational outcomes for three multinational churches. The paper compares and contrasts the Christian Congregations, the Assemblies of God, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormon) in the U.S. and Brazil, each denomination typifying a different Weberian type of authority but coexisting in the same social and institutional environment. Implications of these cases for both Weberian and institutional theory are then developed, and propositions are advanced that might be used in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the difficulties encountered in the implementation of a voice picking system at a large multinational company of the tractor industrial segment, outlining a comparison related to the main critical factors concerning the system implementation at a Brazilian and a USA plant. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology utilised was qualitative and exploratory conducted through case studies in the two plants of the multinational company. The main data were collected through interviews with key managers directly involved in the project of voice picking system implementation. Findings – The results indicate that the picking processes in the two plants were similar, since both were designed for the production line and conducted using bar-code readers and paper lists. Nevertheless, the internal warehousing process in the USA was more mature and computerised, whereas the Brazilian process still had opportunity for improvement, such as, the visual storage process, where the operator was responsible for locating an empty position. Research limitations/implications – Since this research is an exploratory case study, its results cannot be generalised. Practical implications – The paper provides relevant practical information and experiences to managers interested in implementing voice picking systems, as well as interested in improving the accuracy and productivity of logistics processes within warehouses. Originality/value – The voice picking systems are more widespread in the USA than in Brazil, and therefore, companies around the world can use this studied case to better understand about the voice picking systems implementation process in both emerging and mature marketplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]