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The increasing development of the competitive market has forced organisations to make great efforts in the processes of supply, production, and distribution to meet customer demand in the shortest time and at the lowest cost. A cross-docking (CD) system is one of the successful and practical strategies in this field considered by researchers in various fields. Also, business process management plays a key role in continuous improvement and increased productivity. In today's digital age, due to the ability to record all activities, process mining is an important method to identify the current situation and improve productivity. In this research, a newly established CD belonging to a chain store is studied to improve the current situation, in which different goods enter and then exit after different processes. The purpose of this study is to obtain the optimal number of doors and loaders as sources. First, helping an RFID system, all activities are recorded, and the current situation of the processes is monitored, and then, the real process model is identified using heuristic and inductive miner algorithms. After adapting to the event log by using the simulation process in Arena software, different scenarios are examined, and the best possible case is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying executives' industry affiliation with categorical membership, this study examines how moving to a different industry impacts mobility-compensation outcomes. On the demand side, we propose that audience ambiguity and commitment concerns regarding cross-category moves limit the potential compensation of industry-changing executives. On the supply side, we argue that executives might accept smaller monetary rewards in exchange for acquiring experience in a new domain. Since category status also affects audience evaluations of candidates and candidates' desire to affiliate with a specific social category, we further hypothesize that both demand and supply mechanisms are moderated by status differences between an executive's origin and destination industries. Our analysis of voluntary mobility and compensation patterns of S&P 1500 executives supports these arguments: industry-changing executives realize lower compensation than closely matched within-industry movers. As expected, the compressing effect of changing industry on compensation is contingent upon status differences across industries. Executives who transition to higher-status industries face more stringent compensation discounts, while those moving to lower-status industries experience similar compensation variation as within-industry movers. Our study advances category and status-attainment research by incorporating the influence of industry prestige on career outcomes of cross-category moves, while casting light on the individual consequences of executive mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine how field settlements are formed over time by zooming in on the actions and reactions of field incumbents as they seek to make sense of and collectively respond to external pressures for change in their field. We illustrate this process through an in-depth case study of the staff and members of an international industry association as they attempted to deal with pressures to change current industry practices relating to water and climate change. Specifically, we show how field settlements that change a field's "rules of the game" are constituted by the sequential and cumulative layering of increasingly committing interim agreements between incumbents (which we refer to as microsettlements), themselves facilitated or impeded by practices that help calibrate tension levels between them. Our process model of microsettlement outcomes and trajectories contributes to extant research by theorizing how the inner workings of field-configuring organizations and the composition and structure of field settlements shape field (re)formation processes, thereby illuminating new pathways of action for organizations seeking to tackle societal grand challenges in creative, substantive, and meaningful ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As organizations strive for more flexibility, decentralized decision‐making has been at the core of many modern HR approaches. Yet, on a company‐wide scale, it remains unclear whether decentralized decision‐making structures improve organizational performance. Our study aims to illuminate prior ambiguous evidence by examining an employee‐level mechanism underlying the organizational‐level relationship between decentralization and performance, and scrutinizing the critical role of formal leaders for empowering employees in decentralized structures. Integrating the perspective of organizational structure as opportunities and constraints with social information processing theory, we argue that transferring decision‐making authority to lower organizational levels positively affects employees' emergent leadership, but only to the extent that direct supervisors engage in empowering leadership and guide employees' behaviors in decentralized structures. Our predictions are supported by a multilevel, multisource field study of 5807 individuals across 144 companies. We further find that emergent leadership yields a positive effect on organizational performance. By developing a multilevel model that explicates both an employee‐level mechanism and a contingency of the decentralization–organizational performance link, our study enriches understanding of the key role that formal leaders play for achieving the strategic goals of decentralized decision‐making in organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identify Industry-Neutral Self-Financed Informed Trading (INSFIT) as stock trades financed by offsetting, equivalent dollar-denominated stock trades in the same industry. Approximately 37% of short-term mutual fund trading profits can be attributed to these trade pairs. Consistent with informed trading, INSFIT precedes unusually high media coverage for the underlying stocks. The trades underlying INSFIT are also larger as the release of stock-level news becomes more imminent. Both relative valuation and the hedging of industry exposure motivate INSFIT's industry neutrality. While INSFIT positively impacts fund performance, active fund managers who execute INSFIT more aggressively obtain smaller trading profits per execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document the size and scope of the industry of for‐profit vendors that now handles a considerable proportion of human resource tasks for individual US employers, a collection we describe as the human capital industry. Outsourcing these tasks changes how the human resources function is executed in ways we describe below. This change should matter to researchers if they are interested in choosing topics that have relevance, and it should also matter to teachers of human resources who want to present an accurate description of practice to students. Aside from the now remarkable size of the HR industry, arguably its most important attribute is its marketing efforts, which now drive the agenda for the field of HR. A concern about that agenda is that it often creates the perception of challenges for management when in practice no evidence of those challenges exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the criticality of failure detection and condition-based maintenance (CBM) within the semiconductor industry, employing Fault Detection and Classification (FDC) systems and Machine Learning (ML) techniques for equipment log analysis to anticipate equipment conditions and timely maintenance. Initiatives emphasize the cultivation of data engineering experts, enhancing depth in data analytics and equipment monitoring. Moreover, the imperative to advance the field lies in the development of innovative sensor technologies, a task that necessitates close collaboration with equipment manufacturers. This strategic partnership is indispensable for augmenting the precision and breadth of data acquisition. It ultimately enables more sophisticated analytics, thereby facilitating the creation of advanced predictive failure models through enhanced data capture and analysis. This paper illustrates the semiconductor sector’s competitive adoption of diverse strategies and technologies for maintenance innovation, aiming to bolster industry productivity, equipment reliability, and sustainability. Such endeavors are pivotal for outlining the future trajectory of manufacturing and ensuring sustainable growth within the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Silicosis remains a major occupational health challenge in India. This review systematically examines the prevalence, risk factors, regional differences, and diagnostic tools specific to India's high-risk industries. Additionally, it assesses policy gaps and offers insights from diverse clinical and qualitative studies, aiming to inform targeted public health interventions and support the development of effective occupational health policies. Methods: For this review, data were extracted for each study, including author, location, design, study aims, sample size and characteristics, participant age, duration of silica exposure, diagnostic criteria, and primary outcomes. As an add-on analysis included, a random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of silicosis and assess variability among studies. The review also included qualitative analyses on awareness, diagnostic tools (e.g., CC16 protein), and differences in prevalence across various occupational groups and regions within India. Results: The review initially identified 263 articles, narrowed down to 49 eligible studies on silicosis in India after exclusions and quality assessment. Among these, 11 prevalence studies (total sample size: 2072) showed an average silicosis rate of 31.39%. Specific studies reported high rates, including 52% among Rajasthan mine workers and 69.1% among Khambhat agate workers. Additionally, screening tools, like CC16 protein levels, showed promise for early diagnosis, while qualitative studies highlighted gaps in awareness and regulatory practices. Meta-analysis revealed a significant pooled prevalence (25.98%) and marked variability (I2 = 98.86%), underscoring the need for targeted interventions and worker protections. Conclusions: This review of current knowledge on silicosis in India finds silicosis highly prevalent among workers in mining and stone industries, with gaps in regulatory enforcement and awareness. Biomarkers like CC16 offer the potential for early diagnosis, underscoring the need for preventive measures. Policy recommendations include stricter dust exposure limits, enhanced workers' education, routine screening, and improved access to protective equipment and health monitoring to reduce the risk of silicosis and health disparities in vulnerable occupational groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper focuses on how climate delay narratives populate the information environment of decision makers and regulators in EU policy making. We examine the communications of selected trade associations representing oil and gas extraction interests in Europe. Our analysis offers a novel synthesis, drawing on official data, industry and social media content, using mixed methods and informed by recent theorising on the advocacy activities of trade associations. The paper contextualises the lobbying and communication activities of oil and gas trade associations in Europe using publicly available data on lobbying (drawn from the EU transparency register) and the outputs of oil and gas trade associations (in trade, specialist and social media) to examine their preferred framings and promoted policy prescriptions for addressing climate and energy policy. We find that trade associations representing oil and gas interests in Europe spend millions of euros per annum producing and promoting policy ideas that seek to secure the long-term future of these industries. Wider climate science is rarely directly referenced or acknowledged in their public advocacy. We argue that the normalization of a new form of climate denial has emerged, based on unproven technologies and market mechanisms being pushed by powerful economic interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational accidents and illnesses are rising, with various systemic features influenced by exposure route, intensity, and duration. Sodium nitrite, used in food, textile, and printing industries, is a frequent cause of accidental, suicidal, and homicidal poisonings. We report a case of accidental sodium nitrite exposure in a dye factory via inhalation. The patient, involved in mixing sodium nitrite with caustic and nitric acid, developed acute respiratory symptoms often misdiagnosed as common respiratory illnesses, risking fatal outcomes. Chronic exposure signs included nail and teeth discoloration. The patient lacked protective gear, increasing vulnerability to toxic fumes. Immediate supportive care led to significant improvement. This case underscores the urgent need for strict enforcement of workplace safety regulations to reduce occupational hazards and associated morbidity and mortality. Employers must ensure proper ventilation and provide protective equipment to prevent such incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the connection between following Islamic work ethics (IWE) and workplace deviance, and explores the role of perceived organizational politics as a mediator and the impact of incivility initiated by supervisors as a second-stage moderator. Data were collected via a two-wave survey of 205 professionals in various industries. Results show that those who adhere to IWE exhibit a negative link to workplace deviance, as they have less involvement in organizational politics. The study also finds that incivility initiated by supervisors intensifies the positive relationship between perceived organizational politics and workplace deviance. Interestingly, the study shows that the effect of IWE in reducing workplace deviance through organizational politics is stronger when incivility is high. The findings offer valuable insights for organizations on the positive impact of adhering to IWE on reducing perceived organizational politics and workplace deviance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonization policies are being implemented in all EU countries where renewable energy is being developed. One of the main energy sources used for this purpose is photovoltaic energy. However, the development of photovoltaics does not only mean environmental benefits in the form of green energy and thus a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel energy production, but also energy waste. The development of photovoltaics generates energy waste, some of which cannot be recovered, which in turn has a negative impact on gas emissions. The aim of this article is to analyse the amount of energy waste from photovoltaics in European Union countries and the net impact of photovoltaics on greenhouse gas emissions. Data sources are Eurostat and Our World In Data. The analysis will be carried out for the majority of EU countries, excluding the smallest countries whose data may distort the overall results. The analysis should show the overall impact of PV in the countries analysed and the changes over the period studied. The results will also indicate whether the impact of PV on decarbonization is similar across the EU countries analysed, or whether there are clusters of countries due to the impact of PV, or a negative impact in some of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several industries and occupations are associated with excess asbestosis mortality despite apparent declines in diagnoses. Accurate recognition of asbestosis by clinicians, paired with the capture of patients' occupational history when charting, can improve our ability to understand the populations affected by this disease and help to mobilize efforts for prevention. Objectives: This study aimed to describe asbestosis morbidity and mortality in two statewide samples. We considered trends, demographic disparities, and excess mortality. Methods: We assessed trends and demographic differences in asbestosis morbidity using hospital and emergency department (ED) visits. We calculated asbestosis mortality rates using vital records data and computed proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) to assess excess deaths by standardized industry and occupation codes. Results: Asbestosis diagnoses peaked in 2008 and have declined since that time. Several occupations and industry codes, including those in Production/Manufacturing, Construction, and Transportation, were associated with an excess burden of asbestosis mortality. Conclusions: Despite declining diagnoses, asbestosis remains a risk for workers. Our findings of excess mortality for Transportation-related industry and occupation codes are unique and may indicate previously unrecognized risks in these jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Unregulated contaminants in drinking water, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), can contribute to cumulative health risks, particularly in overburdened and less-advantaged communities. To our knowledge, there has been no nationwide assessment of socioeconomic disparities in exposures to unregulated contaminants in drinking water. OBJECTIVE: The goals of this study were to identify determinants of unregulated contaminant detection among US public water systems (PWSs) and evaluate disparities related to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. METHODS: We gathered data from the US Environmental Protection Agency's (US EPA's) Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (2013- 2015), PWS characteristics, sociodemographic data, and suspected pollution sources from regulatory databases. We included four target contaminants (or classes) with industrial sources: PFAS, 1,4-dioxane, 1,1-dichloroethane, and chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22). Associations were evaluated with pairwise comparison tests and generalized logistic mixed-effects regression models for six dichotomous outcomes: detection of each of four target contaminants, detection of ≥ 1 target contaminant, and PWS exceedance of ≥ 1 US EPA health reference level that was in effect in 2017. RESULTS: More than 97 million US residents were served by a PWS with detectable levels of 1,4-dioxane (22% of PWSs), HCFC-22 (5.8%), 1,1- dichloroethane (4.7%), and/or PFAS (4.0%). Unregulated contaminant detection was more frequent among large systems, urban systems, and systems using groundwater or a combination of groundwater and surface water. In comparison with PWSs with no detectable levels of these unregulated contaminants, PWSs with detectable levels served counties with higher proportions of Hispanic residents (17% vs. 13%), as did PWSs that exceeded EPA health reference levels in comparison with PWSs with no exceedances (18% vs. 14%). There were persistent positive associations between proportions of Hispanic residents and detections of target contaminants, even after accounting for pollution sources. DISCUSSION: Previously, inequities in exposures to drinking water contaminants were underestimated because prior studies have focused on regulated contaminants. PWSs serving counties with more Hispanic residents, non-Hispanic Black residents, and urban households may benefit from additional resources to proactively mitigate unregulated chemical contamination. Future studies should evaluate factors underlying these disparities to promote actions that protect water quality for all residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development has elevated the role of green entrepreneurship, notably in China's electric vehicle (EV) components sector, which presents vast opportunities for SMEs. While studies have explored the success and failure of Green Entrepreneurial Intention, factors influencing it remain under-researched, particularly from the perspective of individual intentions. Existing research primarily focuses on policies, regulations, and macro-environments affecting green business models, with limited attention to influence entrepreneurial and sustainable initiatives. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the impact of Perceived Attitude, Perceived Behavioural Control, Subjective Norms, and Organizational Commitment on Green Entrepreneurship Intention, using Openness to Experience as a moderating factor. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey from 383 SMEs in China, employing a simple random sampling technique. PLS-SEM regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses, guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Organizational Commitment (OC) theory. The findings revealed that Perceived Attitude significantly and positively influences green entrepreneurship intentions. Highly integrative subjective norms were also positively correlated with green entrepreneurship intentions. Furthermore, Perceived Behavioural Control and Organizational Commitment facilitated green entrepreneurship intentions. Openness to Experience emerged as a strong moderator in the relationships between Perceived Attitude and Subjective Norms with Green Entrepreneurship Intention. This study contributes to the existing knowledge base by highlighting the gaps and inconsistencies in the literature regarding TPB and OC factors influencing green entrepreneurship intention. The results have theoretical and managerial implications, emphasizing the importance of fostering green entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Import dependence is the oldest problem that has been faced by various states. Back in the Middle Ages, Russia faced the issues of deficit of products and certain technologies, which were compensated by import. Starting from 2014, it became obvious that certain sectors of the economy are highly dependent on imported technologies and a number of foreign goods, which formed trends for the import substitution policy development. Despite domestic technological solutions implementation, their qualitative characteristics do not allow to ensure the required level of competitiveness in the global market. The purpose of the study is to assess the current indicators of import substitution in Russia. When solving the tasks set in the research paper, the author used general scientific and special research methods such as system approach (to determine the import substitution directions), analysis and synthesis (to study the import substitution indicators), deduction and induction (to analyze the issues), and statistical analysis (to analyze statistical indicators on the import substitution policy implementation) methods. The key indicators of import substitution in Russia have been analyzed. It has been concluded that the main priority of the domestic import substitution policy is to reduce the share of imports in the structure of goods supply and to develop the country’s export potential.

Abstract Sustainable development has elevated the role of green entrepreneurship, notably in China's electric vehicle (EV) components sector, which presents vast opportunities for SMEs. While studies have explored the success and failure of Green Entrepreneurial Intention, factors influencing it remain under-researched, particularly from the perspective of individual intentions. Existing research primarily focuses on policies, regulations, and macro-environments affecting green business models, with limited attention to influence entrepreneurial and sustainable initiatives. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the impact of Perceived Attitude, Perceived Behavioural Control, Subjective Norms, and Organizational Commitment on Green Entrepreneurship Intention, using Openness to Experience as a moderating factor. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey from 383 SMEs in China, employing a simple random sampling technique. PLS-SEM regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses, guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Organizational Commitment (OC) theory. The findings revealed that Perceived Attitude significantly and positively influences green entrepreneurship intentions. Highly integrative subjective norms were also positively correlated with green entrepreneurship intentions. Furthermore, Perceived Behavioural Control and Organizational Commitment facilitated green entrepreneurship intentions. Openness to Experience emerged as a strong moderator in the relationships between Perceived Attitude and Subjective Norms with Green Entrepreneurship Intention. This study contributes to the existing knowledge base by highlighting the gaps and inconsistencies in the literature regarding TPB and OC factors influencing green entrepreneurship intention. The results have theoretical and managerial implications, emphasizing the importance of fostering green entrepreneurship.

We develop an approach that combines the estimation of monthly firm-level expected returns with an assignment of firms to (possibly) latent groups, both based on observable characteristics, using machine learning principles with linear models. The best-performing methods are flexible two-stage sparse models that capture group-membership predictive relationships. Portfolios formed to exploit such group-varying predictions based on a parsimonious set of characteristics deliver economically meaningful returns with low turnover. We propose statistical tests based on nonparametric bootstrapping for our results, and detail how different characteristics may matter for different groups of firms, making comparisons to the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating the theory of workplace deviance with person–environment fit theory, we propose a two‐pathway model to explain why and how employees who feel overqualified engage in time theft behavior. Specifically, we anticipate that feeling overqualified will negatively influence focal employees' experienced authority fairness and erode their work meaningfulness, which in turn will lead to increased time theft behavior. Further, we argue that voice endorsement serves as a key boundary condition mitigating the negative effects of perceived overqualification. We conducted two multi‐waved and multi‐sourced field studies to test our proposed hypotheses. Study 1 (247 employees and 47 supervisors) revealed that perceived overqualification is associated with time theft behavior through the mediators of experienced authority fairness and meaningfulness. Study 2 (405 employees and 73 supervisors) replicated the findings of Study 1 and tested our full model. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A perennial challenge for executives in established firms is deciding how and when to respond to emerging technologies. This article demonstrates that the way emerging technologies play out in established industries differs according to how the business system is affected. Some have primarily a supply-side effect (on how a firm in the industry creates its product), while others have a primarily demand-side effect (on how users consume the product). Supply-side effects play out over relatively long periods of time in a predictable way, with incumbent firms executing similar strategies though at different speeds. Demand-side effects are faster-acting and more volatile, with incumbents often experimenting with a range of different business models as they seek a viable way forward in a changing market. By understanding these important differences between supply-side and demand-side effects and being able to anticipate the typical patterns of responses from incumbents, executives can make better choices in how and when to invest in emerging technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Scholarship has recognized that contention shapes impression management efforts by business actors but has largely ignored how geographic factors affect industry-level responses and how industry groups may seek advantage based on the protests they face. This is consequential: against intuition, industry groups may respond more robustly to relatively more distant challenges than to ones proximate to their infrastructure, hoping to use this to their benefit. They do this because modestly further-away challenges can be framed as coming from “outsiders” making not-in-your-backyard claims, against claimed support in proximate communities. Using structural topic models, we examine daily communications by two major industry groups supporting hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) between 2009 and 2019: one more transgressive, one more conventional. We examine how their communications shifted after both proximate and non-proximate antifracking contention (protests and bans). We find that they respond only to relatively more distant contention: the transgressive group boosts distant opponents seeking to delegitimize them, while the conventional group highlights economic benefits. Further, reflecting political partisanship, both associations respond only to distant contention emerging from politically liberal areas, ignoring similar contention in conservative areas. We discuss implications for theories of social movements, organizations, and environmental sociology.

Research indicates that relationship‐oriented HR practices can increase organizational knowledge, yet we know little about the effects of relationship‐oriented HR practices on employee knowledge management behaviors. Drawing from affective events theory, we examine the indirect effect of participation in one type of relationship‐oriented HR practice (i.e., organizational social activities) on three knowledge management behaviors (i.e., knowledge sharing, knowledge hiding, and knowledge manipulating) via positive affect, as well as the conditional indirect effect of intrinsic motivation for organizational social activities on these relationships. Utilizing a time‐separated field study (n = 163), our analysis reveals positive affect fully mediates the relationship between participation in organizational social activities and (a) knowledge sharing and (b) knowledge hiding, and partially mediates the relationship between participation in organizational social activities, and (c) knowledge manipulating. Most interestingly, we unexpectedly found a positive direct effect of participation in organizational social activities on knowledge manipulation, even though the indirect effect via positive affect was negative. The results also indicate that, for individuals with high intrinsic motivation for social activities, there is a significant indirect effect of participation in organizational social activities on all three knowledge management behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many governments around the world have taken action to utilise carbon capture (CC) technologies to reduce CO2 emissions. This technology is particularly important to reduce unavoidable emissions from industries like cement plants, oil refineries, etc. The available literature in the public domain explores this theme from two distinct perspectives. The first category of papers focuses only on modelling the CC plants by investigating the details of the processes to separate CO2 from other gas components without considering the industrial applications and synergies between sectors. On the other hand, the second category investigates the required infrastructure that must be put in place to allow a suitable integration without considering the specific particularities of each carbon capture technology. This review gives a comprehensive guideline for the implementation of CC technologies for any given application while also considering the coupling between different energy sectors such as heating, power generation, etc. It also identifies the research gaps within this field, based on the existing literature. Moreover, it delves into various aspects and characteristics of these technologies, while comparing their energy penalties with the minimum work required for CO2 separation. Additionally, this review investigates the main industrial sectors with CC potential, the necessary transportation infrastructure from the point sources to the end users, and the needs and characteristics of storage facilities, as well as the utilisation of CO2 as a feedstock. Finally, an overview of the computation tools for CC processes and guidelines for their utilisation is given. The guidelines presented in this paper are the first attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the technologies, and their requirements, needed to achieve the cross-sector coupling of CC plants for a wide range of applications. It is strongly believed that these guidelines will benefit all stakeholders in the value chain while enabling an accelerated deployment of these technologies.

Generations Y and Z may show different tendencies in the job market and prefer different management approaches. Generation Z can enter the language of economic actors as anxious or carefree. The emergence of new professions, more liberal and adapting to these young people, pushes them away from industrial professions. This study aims to propose a change in recruitment methods to professionals in the industrial sector, primarily in the welding profession, or, if necessary, to human resources departments. The analyzes carried out on the questionnaires filled out by 152 volunteer participants, most of whom are university and graduate students, were analyzed with the IBM SPSS Statistics 26 FixPack 1 program and studied at a 95% confidence level. In the analysis, the frequency and percentage values of the categorical variables were determined. The relationship between university, gender and age and categorical variables was analyzed by Chi-square test. Study results; the importance of digital resources in the job and internship search process, the priority of company reputation and working environment in job selection, the effect of personal passion on educational preferences and the low interest in the welding profession, In addition, factors such as the importance of the job and its guarantee are also decisive in the choice of profession. This study is thought that the study will represent an analytical support for companies and SMEs that enable them to take the necessary measures to counter today's harsh reality.

Abstract Background Cooling towers (CTs) are crucial to myriad industrial processes, supporting thermal exchange between fluids in heat exchangers using water from lakes and rivers as coolant. However, CT water can sometimes introduce microbial contaminants that adhere to and colonize various surfaces within the CT system. These microorganisms can form biofilms, significantly hindering the system’s thermal exchange efficiency. Current treatment strategies employ oxidizing biocides to prevent microbial growth. However, despite their affordability, they do not eliminate biofilms effectively and can lead to corrosive damage within the system. Herein, we aim to devise an anti-biofilm strategy utilizing hydrolytic enzymes (such as α-amylase, glucoamylase, pectin-lyase, cellulase, protease, and DNase) alongside antibiotics (including meropenem, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and ceftriaxone) to combat microbial growth and biofilm formation in cooling systems. Results All enzymes reduced the development of the biofilms significantly compared to controls (p 2 mg/mL. The minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) lower than 1 mg/mL was detected for some 7-day-old sessile isolates. The enzymes and antibiotics were also used in combination against biofilms using the modified Chequerboard method. We found six synergistic combinations, with Fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) 12 kDa) exopolysaccharides (EPS) from biofilms of ten isolates, and glycosyl composition analysis indicated a high frequency of glucose, mannose, erythrose, arabinose, and idose across isolates EPS contrasting with rhamnose, allose, and those carbohydrates, which were detected in only one isolate. Conclusion The synergistic approach of combining enzymes with antibiotics emerges as a highly effective and innovative strategy for anti-biofilm intervention, highlighting its potential to enhance biofilm management practices.

This explorative study investigates the emergence of gray zone markets from search engines amidst the global expansion of online markets. With the analytical approach of infrastructural inversion, we examine how the search infrastructure constructs access to a gray zone market including both authorized online pharmacies and unauthorized vendors. Using Sweden and Google Search as a case, we explore the online presence of three products (vitamin D, paracetamol, and Viagra), through search engine result page analysis, web crawling, and network analysis. Infrastructural inversion unveils the typically invisible mechanisms of search engines, considering user queries, algorithmic priorities, SEO practices, and pharmacy regulations. We find gray zones only emerge in searches for erectile disfunction medicinal products and information, where unauthorized vendors successfully competed for visibility in search engine rankings. A complex web of conditions can steer consumers toward gray zone markets, complicating the access to safe and regulated medicinal products. This can expose individuals to risks associated with unverified medicinal products, but also challenges the integrity of the online health information infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors talk about the argument by Professor Ilona Kickbusch and colleagues that the Commercial Determinants of Health (CDoH) enabled researchers to systemize efforts to confront the commercial drivers of disease and inequalities. They discuss the broader CDoH system, the collaboration, activity, and global focus on the CDoH, and the future for the CDoH field.

The discourses promoted by powerful commercial actors whose business activities are damaging to health undermine the potential for the transformational changes urgently needed to address pressing public health and environmental threats globally. This piece provides an analysis of corporate discursive practices and the mechanisms through which they contaminate scientific and policy debates and harm public and environmental health. We refer to this phenomenon as 'discursive pollution' to reflect the parallels between the effects of informational strategies and the commercial activities of harmful industries. It aims to contribute to the literature on the commercial determinants of health by offering a cross-industry perspective of discursive practices and the contradictions that underpin industry-favourable discourses. We propose how the health community can facilitate the construction of alternative discourses by revealing the contradictions and assumptions underpinning industry-favourable discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient and public involvement is increasingly advocated in health policy, research and practice. Patients and people with lived experience, carers and the general public should have a say in how policy is generated, how services are delivered and how research is conducted. Through this perspective article, we hope to stimulate discussion and debate around industry influence in patient and public involvement, specifically pertaining to patient organizations, which often play a key role in patient and public involvement activities. As momentum gathers around patient and public involvement in many countries, it is timely to discuss the nature and extent of commercial influences in such activities, the (un)anticipated consequences of industry–patient interactions, including conflicts of interest and motivated bias, and how we might better manage, or negate, such interactions. Patient and public involvement must be integral to research, policy and practice. While further research is needed to examine the interactions, and consequences of pharmaceutical industry interactions with patients, several practical steps can be taken in the interim. Structures, processes and supports, which are fit for purpose, are needed to ensure independence, power and legitimacy within patient and public involvement activities, and that patient advocates have their voices heard, and ultimately acted upon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health actors have expressed concerns over the entry of the tobacco industry into the UK e-cigarette market. It is important to be aware of the tobacco industry's involvement and stated aims for e-cigarettes in the UK, given their historical attempts to divert attention from and escape responsibility for the harms caused by combustible cigarettes. The use of e-cigarettes amongst young people in the UK has remained constant, despite the law prohibiting sales to adolescents and claims by manufacturers and others that they are designed solely as a tool to quit smoking. This study sought to examine how tobacco-related organizations in the UK e-cigarette market frame the use of e-cigarettes. Publicly available materials between September 2015 and June 2023 were collected from four transnational tobacco companies which have invested in the e-cigarette category, and from a UK e-cigarette trade association. A qualitative framing analysis of materials was conducted guided by relevant frameworks from the Commercial Determinants of Health literature. The analysis identified seven framings used by tobacco-related organizations relevant to e-cigarette usage in the UK. These were: co-opting of harm reduction; consumer choice; following the 'evidence'; insufficient evidence; the right kind of regulation; 'us' and 'them' rhetoric and marketing and advertising. By highlighting tobacco-related organizations' e-cigarette framings and contradictions, this study raises awareness of the rhetorical strategies used by the industry which aim to relegitimize tobacco companies in the political and public spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The increased use of dietary supplements is a consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although their efficacy has not been consistently proven, they have been perceived as a preventive tool against COVID-19. Less strict regulations and debates on their definitions in a regulatory framework raise concerns about safety issues. Apart from dietary supplement use, information demand has increased, and pharmacists have played a key role as accessible health professionals. This study aimed to reveal the opinions of community pharmacists, pharmacy staff, sector representatives, and academicians regarding the sale and use of dietary supplements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A qualitative study approach was followed, using grounded theory. Data were collected between September 2021 and July 2022, analyzed using MAXQDA 2020 software, and reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Results: After refining the open codes, two themes emerged: dietary supplements and the effects of the pandemic. It was found that increased dietary supplement use was rooted in COVID-19 fear, promotional activities, and social media influence. The interaction between consumers and the dietary supplement industry is bidirectional. Conclusions: Pharmacies, as access points for these products, played a crucial role in struggling with the effects of the pandemic. Although dietary supplements are considered safe, their potential for adverse reactions poses a public health risk. Flexible regulations, unregulated alternative advertising channels, and a lack of awareness of the safety of these products pose a challenge to public health. In this regard, all stakeholders should work to minimize the risks from undergraduate education to professional life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes factors of sexual harassment in the workplace based on sample survey data on women working in the Korean film industry (n = 449) using logistic regression analysis. It finds higher education, younger age, and union membership increase harassment risk, suggesting backlash against feminism post-#MeToo. A higher proportion of men at shooting locations raises harassment likelihood, reflecting the industry's unique conditions. Longer work hours also increase harassment probability. The findings highlight the importance of considering industrial context in addressing workplace harassment. They emphasize the need for policies improving gender representation in film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores integrating industry-crowdsourced projects within capstone courses of a 4-year Bachelor of Science program at an accredited American university. A unique business consulting model was developed for the final year course, aligning students with 16-weeks industry projects that reflected their academic goals and the program's learning objectives. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this pedagogical approach compared to traditional capstone courses. This evaluation involved collecting data from grading systems and anonymous course surveys. A novel aspect of the research design was the synergetic combination of nonparametric and parametric statistical techniques with modern machine learning (ML) algorithms to analyse the students' grades, survey comments and third-party course opinion comments. Additionally, independent third-party course ratings were examined to triangulate the results. Findings revealed that while the academic performance in the industry-crowdsourced capstone course mirrored that of the traditional course, the industry-crowdsourced variant elicited significantly more positive responses in course surveys. Furthermore, ML sentiment analysis of comments from third-party forums indicated a stronger positive reception for the industry-crowdsourced course over the traditional approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination in water bodies is a pervasive and persistent environmental challenge in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries. This study investigates the use of multivariate analysis methods for monitoring variations in water quality along a spatial gradient and for the interpretation of pollution levels at different sampling sites. We assessed the water quality of the Seybouse River and identified possible sources of pollution using three complementary multivariate analysis techniques (PCA, NMDS, and K‐means clustering). The results indicate a longitudinal gradient in water quality associated with industrial and agricultural activities in the middle and lower Seybouse River. Physico‐chemical and heavy metal analyses show high water turbidity with elevated concentrations of iron and chromium. We show that the contamination stems from four different sources, which can be categorized into different pollution levels. Our results suggest that complementary multivariate methods are a robust approach to identifying and categorizing significant sources of pollution in rivers, enabling the development of future successful water quality management strategies based on water pollution levels. This study highlights the importance of monitoring water quality and taking effective measures to control and mitigate pollution from various sources to ensure the safety of the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many governments around the world have taken action to utilise carbon capture (CC) technologies to reduce CO2 emissions. This technology is particularly important to reduce unavoidable emissions from industries like cement plants, oil refineries, etc. The available literature in the public domain explores this theme from two distinct perspectives. The first category of papers focuses only on modelling the CC plants by investigating the details of the processes to separate CO2 from other gas components without considering the industrial applications and synergies between sectors. On the other hand, the second category investigates the required infrastructure that must be put in place to allow a suitable integration without considering the specific particularities of each carbon capture technology. This review gives a comprehensive guideline for the implementation of CC technologies for any given application while also considering the coupling between different energy sectors such as heating, power generation, etc. It also identifies the research gaps within this field, based on the existing literature. Moreover, it delves into various aspects and characteristics of these technologies, while comparing their energy penalties with the minimum work required for CO2 separation. Additionally, this review investigates the main industrial sectors with CC potential, the necessary transportation infrastructure from the point sources to the end users, and the needs and characteristics of storage facilities, as well as the utilisation of CO2 as a feedstock. Finally, an overview of the computation tools for CC processes and guidelines for their utilisation is given. The guidelines presented in this paper are the first attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the technologies, and their requirements, needed to achieve the cross-sector coupling of CC plants for a wide range of applications. It is strongly believed that these guidelines will benefit all stakeholders in the value chain while enabling an accelerated deployment of these technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University-industry knowledge collaborations (UICs) significantly influence countries' innovation capabilities and future workforce development. For a developing country like Vietnam, the goal of developing a knowledge-based emerging economy puts even higher expectations on UICs. However, UICs in Vietnam have not kept up well with the country's ambition to survive and thrive in the new context. This study investigates the current status of the outcomes and effectiveness of knowledge exchange mechanisms as perceived by different stakeholders, including faculty members, students, and industries. Results show that UICs' social and institutional outcomes are dominant in Vietnam. From the university side, the areas of training, university locations, and university types could affect UICs' outcomes and effectiveness. However, there are discrepancies between faculty members and students in the perception of UICs' effectiveness. Firms' ownership types and locations also affect UICs' effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present article investigates corona crisis disruptions and consequences for freight transport demand, using shipment data from major logistic service providers in Norway, as well as interviews. We investigate how Covid-19 affected demand for freight transport and transport volumes in different segments, changes for parcel delivery, home-deliveries, which industries were most affected and discussed main issues for LSPs in maintaining robust transport chains. We find temporary reductions in B2B deliveries after the first Norwegian societal lockdown but large volume increases in B2C deliveries, which remained at higher levels and saw further waves of increases. Especially home deliveries and mailbox deliveries of parcels increased, particularly in relation with new infection waves. At an aggregate level, retail trade experienced by far the largest volume increases, followed by transport and storage. The latter can in part be due to increasing low-volume import (parcels) from abroad being attributed to e.g. warehouses or customs. At the other end of the scale, wholesale trade stands out with the largest tonnage decrease, followed by manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All over the world, corporate social responsibility is an integral part of development at national and sub-national. It is expected that industrial activities and operation will lead to improved socioeconomic development in the areas where such industries are situated. It was on this premise that this study investigated the impact of corporate social responsibility on rural infrastructural development in Nigeria, an example from PRESCO PLC in Obaretin Community in Edo state, Nigeria. A total of 291 respondents were selected employing systematic random sampling for this study. A simple descriptive analytical approach was utilized to address the research questions of interest. The results of the study indicated that more of the respondents agreed that the establishment of PRESCO contributed in alleviating poverty in the host community. Further findings revealed that PRESCO's corporate social responsibility impacted greatly to a high extent, on the host community. The study however, found that majority of the respondents agreed that establishment of PRESCO brought about high infrastructural development to the host community. Furthermore, it was found that an overwhelming majority of the responses were of the view that PRESCO had provided employment to host community to at least a high extent. It was recommended amongst others, that the company should scale up her provision of basic facilities, endeavor to continuously initiate programmes that will support and promote small scale businesses in the area, and improve social and economic development of host community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the implications of cannabis use in the U.S. for public health research. Topics include issues that make for concerning public health trends and underscore a need to disseminate information on the status and impact of cannabis-related policies, the increasing prevalence of daily or near daily cannabis use, and collateral impacts of cannabis use associated with drug-impaired driving and workplace safety.

Aim The current study aims to (i) examine differences in hazardous alcohol consumption across different industries in Sweden and (ii) assess to what degree any such difference can be attributed to a differential distribution of nicotine use, health, and work environments among individuals working in these industries. Methods A pooled cross-sectional study was conducted including all participants of the survey of Health, Work Environment, and Lifestyle Habits between 2012 and 2023 (n  = 54 378), collected by an occupational health service company (Feelgood). The survey contained self-reported information on alcohol use, industry, nicotine use, health, and work environment. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were obtained by pooled logistic regression analyses. Results Hazardous alcohol use was highly prevalent in the current study population (37%), especially among individuals in the accommodation/food service, arts/entertainment/recreation, and the construction industry. Compared to individuals working in education, individuals in these industries had >1.6-fold increased odds of reporting hazardous alcohol consumption. Differences in nicotine use and physical work environment between the industries explained some of the differences in hazardous alcohol consumption between industries, while differences in health and psychosocial work environment had limited effects on the estimates. Conclusion We identified several industries in the Swedish workforce where hazardous alcohol use is highly prevalent. While differences in nicotine use, health, and work environment explained a part of these risk differences, most of the risk differences remained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]