Flexible work arrangements and gender differences in research during the COVID-19 period in Zimbabwean higher learning institutions

This study sought to investigate the impact of COVID-19-induced flexible work arrangements (FWAs) on gender differences in research outputs during COVID-19. A mixed research methodology was used, focusing on higher learning institutions in Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling was applied to select 250 researchers from the 21 registered universities in Zimbabwe. The study's findings revealed that institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe did not provide the necessary affordances to enable both male and female academics to work from home effectively. The study also established that FWAs were preferred and appreciated by both male and female academics. However, whilst both male and female academics performed their teaching responsibilities without incident, unlike males, females struggled to find time for research, thus affecting professional growth and development negatively for female academics. Cultural traditions were found to subordinate females to domestic and caregiving responsibilities unrelated to their professions. The findings raise questions on the feasibility of the much-recommended FWAs for future work on female academics' research careers. Thus, without the necessary systems and processes to support female researchers, FWAs can only widen the gender gap in research outputs. This study contributes to the Zimbabwean higher learning institutions' perspective on how FWAs' policies and practices could be re-configured to assist female researchers in enhancing their research outputs as well as their career growth.

The mediating role of social media fatigue on social media usage behaviour of the ageing society during the COVID-19 pandemic

At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, research on social media in the Malaysian context focused on its benefits and overlooked its drawbacks. To investigate this, we looked at an ageing society whose psychological health was severely affected during the pandemic. This study developed a model based on the Stressor-Strain-Outcome (SSO) framework that predicts factors that prompt passive social media use in Malaysia's ageing society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Convenient sampling was utilised to collect responses from 389 Malaysian older adults through an online survey. The direct effects of stressors, including information overload, communication overload, complexity, privacy, and fear of missing out on the strain of social media fatigue, and indirect effects on the outcome of passive social media use were investigated. For the assessment of the study model, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied. Out of 11 hypotheses, four direct and three indirect hypotheses were accepted. The study findings did not support the direct and indirect effects of privacy and fear of missing out on social media fatigue and passive social media use, respectively. Findings reveal complexity as the more significant factor influencing social media fatigue, and indirectly, contributing towards the passive use of social media. This study contributes to understanding how social media interaction affects an ageing society during the pandemic lockdown. Despite widespread interest in this field, research on ageing populations concerning social media effects and pandemics is still in its early stages in Malaysia. The study's conclusion offers a thorough examination of its limitations and provides valuable recommendations for future research endeavours. © SEARCH Journal 2023.

Value Concern of Ecological Rationality and Exploration of the Chinese Path to Modernization

The COVID-19 pandemic has raged around the world over the recent years, raising the global community's awareness of the interconnection of human civilizations and urging the reconsideration of the human-nature relationship. The escalating worldwide ecological crises are putting human survival and development at risk. The phenomenon has aroused the awareness of "ecological rationality,” consciousness of "economic value” and appeal for "ecological justice” in the universal sense. The endeavor of promoting ecological civilization has been included as part of the five-sphere integrated plan for building socialism with Chinese characteristics since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). General Secretary Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization has fully manifested the value and goal of comprehensively promoting ecological civilization and adhering to the Chinese path to modernization. The Chinese path to modernization, which has reflected on and outclassed the Western-style logic for modernization, shows a unique horizon and independent wisdom. Focusing on addressing the uncertainties facing human survival in the New Era and aiming at embracing the future, the Chinese path to modernization has shifted the mindset from economic rationality to ecological rationality, abandoned anthropocentrism, and firmly upheld and fulfilled the code of conduct for rational "economic man.” The endeavor of building an eco-friendly society and an ecological community has showcased the favorable institutional practice in Chinese modernization and China's wisdom, demonstrated rational planning, prudential design and effective implementation for the prospect of mankind and highlighted a progressive trend in human civilization. © 2022 Brill Academic Publishers. All rights reserved.

Understanding the Impact Mechanism of User Behavior Pattern toward Real Estate APP Platforms in the Post-COVID Era: A Quantitative Analysis

While technology factors are the main driver of the booming real estate APP platforms with important implications for user behavior pattern during and post-pandemic contexts, there is a lack of adequate research. In response, this study explores the user behavior pattern of real estate APP platforms to promote user mental health by taking the real estate APP platforms users as the participants based on theory of technology readiness and acceptance model. Data collected from offline surveys are analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results reveal the technology readiness index positively affects individuals' perceived usefulness and satisfaction, ultimately positively affects individuals' continuance intention with real estate APP platforms;satisfaction with real estate APP platforms mediated the relationship between technology readiness index, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and individuals' continuance intention with real estate APP platforms. However, the group comparison finds no significant difference in user behavior patterns by gender. The contribution of this study is to reveal the influence mechanisms of digital technology on users' behavioral patterns toward real estate APP platforms, which can help guide the sustainable development of real estate APP platforms and promote user mental health and wellbeing in the post-COVID era.

Agricultural Social Networks: An Agricultural Value Chain-Based Digitalization Framework for an Inclusive Digital Economy

Sustainable agriculture is the backbone of food security systems and a driver of human well-being in global economic development (Sustainable Development Goal SDG 3). With the increase in world population and the effects of climate change due to the industrialization of economies, food security systems are under pressure to sustain communities. This situation calls for the implementation of innovative solutions to increase and sustain efficacy from farm to table. Agricultural social networks (ASNs) are central in agriculture value chain (AVC) management and sustainability and consist of a complex network inclusive of interdependent actors such as farmers, distributors, processors, and retailers. Hence, social network structures (SNSs) and practices are a means to contextualize user scenarios in agricultural value chain digitalization and digital solutions development. Therefore, this research aimed to unearth the roles of agricultural social networks in AVC digitalization, enabling an inclusive digital economy. We conducted automated literature content analysis followed by the application of case studies to develop a conceptual framework for the digitalization of the AVC toward an inclusive digital economy. Furthermore, we propose a transdisciplinary framework that guides the digitalization systematization of the AVC, while articulating resilience principles that aim to attain sustainability. The outcomes of this study offer software developers, agricultural stakeholders, and policymakers a platform to gain an understanding of technological infrastructure capabilities toward sustaining communities through digitalized AVCs.

Covid-19 Vaccination Stance Detection Using Natural Language Processing and Machine-Learning Algorithms

The coronavirus outbreak has resulted in unprecedented measures, forcing authorities to make decisions related to establishing lockdowns in areas most affected by the pandemic. Social Media have supported people during this difficult time. On November 9, 2020, when the first vaccine with an efficacy rate over 90% was announced, social media reacted and people around the world began to express their feelings about this vaccination. This paper aims to analyze the dynamics of opinion on COVID-19 vaccination, in which the civil society is highly manifested in the vaccination process. We compared classical machine learning algorithms to select the best performing classifier. 4,392 tweets were collected and analyzed. The proposed approach can help governments create and evaluate appropriate communication tools to provide clear and relevant information to the general public, increasing public confidence in vaccination campaigns. © 2022 Copyright for this paper by its authors.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Blind Spot

According to a global survey undertaken by Ipsos, the number of people who would be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine outweighs the number who wouldn't in most countries, but some European countries ranked quite low in terms of public confidence in vaccine safety (5). [...]overcoming misgivings and improving confidence in vaccination programmes are of critical importance to ensure overall success. [...]this complacency may be a result of the eradication of certain diseases, such as polio and smallpox, which could lead to forgetfulness as to how vaccines are effective tools in epidemics.

Effects and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on contemporary society: the eternal return of pandemics

This article explores the recurrence of pandemics in contemporary society and their impacts, with regard to the health emergency experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia and the world. For this purpose, an analysis of the impact of pandemics with certain historical traceability is made, followed by a theoretical exploration of the current situation, observed through the notion of eternal return raised by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and the perspectives of some contemporary philosophers on this phenomenon that has affected the lives of all individuals and that, undoubtedly, suggests enormous changes and challenges for the development of future life.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical guidance, risk assessment and support for UK obstetric sonographers

UK obstetric sonographers adapted their working practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to new guidance issued by professional organisations, and requirements for on-going departmental risk assessments. This study aimed to provide an insight into the implementation of this guidance, completion of risk assessments and perception of support within UK obstetric ultrasound departments during the pandemic period. Obstetric sonographers working in the UK (n=138) used the Qualtrics XMTM platform to complete an anonymous, online, cross-sectional survey about their working experiences during the pandemic. Participants responded to closed questions about national guidance, risk assessments and their perception of support whilst providing fetal ultrasound screening services. Respondents provided additional detail about their experiences in these areas via free-text boxes. Over 90% of respondents were aware of, or had read guidance issued by professional organisations, although sonographers rated the overall usefulness of new guidelines at an average of 5.2/10 (where 0 = not useful at all, and 10 = extremely useful). Challenges for the implementation of guidance in departments were also identified, mostly related to the clinical working environment, including limitations of physical space (76.3%), time constraints (67.5%) and ventilation (61.3%). Most sonographers (77.2%) were aware that a departmental risk assessment had been undertaken, with waiting areas, scan rooms and clinically vulnerable staff highlighted as the most concerning factors. Sonographers felt most supported by their ultrasound colleagues (83.5%) and line managers (41.2%). They felt least supported by senior management and leadership personnel (60.8%), other antenatal colleagues (51.5%) and professional organisations (41.2%). Whilst most sonographers were aware of published COVID-19 guidance, challenges for its implementation in clinical departments were identified. Local risk mitigation strategies often did not prioritise the scan room environment, despite it being highlighted as a concern. Support from the wider, senior service team and professional organisations will be essential to facilitate post-pandemic recovery of the workforce.

Pandemic and the Administrative Rationality: Understanding the Administrative Response to the Pandemic

The outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 or COVID 19 pandemic has literally dashed our enlightened scientific rationality. It has claimed more than six million lives around the globe. The struggling humanity has adopted a series of strict legal-administrative protocols like lockdown, quarantine, isolation, to contain the spread of the virus. However, the strict adherence to the above-mentioned protocols has brought several collateral damages like the disruption of normal socio-economic activities;suspension of political and civic engagements of the people. The situation gets further complicated as endless suggestions and opinions have been offered by several experts. The scientific community, till today, is grappling with the possible antidote of the virus in the form of vaccines. Several research laboratories across the globe have been actively engaged in devising full-proof vaccines of which, some have already started manufacturing commercially. Despite the tall claims of these companies, the efficacy of these vaccines is still not very clear. Moreover, the modality of administering these vaccines is another difficult issue, involving delicate distributive management that requires something more than mere scientific rationality. Further, given the nature of neoliberal governance, where delivery of services is a collective venture of all the stakeholders like state, civil society, market, and community, administrative rationality is perhaps the most important means. Drawing on the existing literature, the paper intends to explore the administrative responses to the pandemic of COVID-19 through the lens of administrative rationality. Finally, the paper with an optimistic note concludes that the administrative rationality of the bureaucracy has the potential to devise a bailout programme for all the stakeholders concerned. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2022, corrected publication 2022.

Desdobramentos das desigualdades raciais na pandemia da Covid-19

O presente estudo tematiza o racismo na sociedade de classes e tem como objetivo analisar os desdobramentos das desigualdades raciais na pandemia da Covid-19. Logo, utilizou-se o método materialismo histórico-dialético e uma abordagem qualitativa. Dessa forma, foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, além de um trabalho de mapeamento a partir dos dados secundários do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) de 2019;Atlas da violência de 2020, elaborado pelo Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA);e o Boletim especial 20 de novembro de 2021, do Departamento Intersindical de Estatística e Estudos Socioeconômicos (DIEESE), para dialogar com a realidade dos afro-brasileiros em cenário pandêmico. Dos resultados do estudo, destacamos: que o racismo tem sido um eixo estruturante da sociedade brasileira mesmo numa fase pós-abolicionista;e que a questão racial tem sido uma das expressões da questão social na sociedade do capital, de tal modo que as desigualdades são conexas na contemporaneidade;e ainda, que a pandemia acentuou as desigualdades raciais no Brasil.Alternate :The present study thematizes racism in class society and aims to analyze the consequences of racial inequalities in the covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the Historical-Dialectical Materialism method and a qualitative approach were used. In this way, a bibliographic and documentary research was carried out, in addition to a mapping work based on secondary data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) of 2019, Atlas of Violence of 2020 made by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) and the Special Bulletin 20 November 2021 of the Inter-union Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies (DIEESE) to dialogue with the reality of Afro-Brazilians in a pandemic scenario. From the results of the study, we highlight that racism has been a structuring axis of Brazilian society even in a post-abolitionist phase;that the Racial Question has been one of the expressions of the Social Question in the society of Capital, in such a way that inequalities are connected in contemporaneity;and, that the pandemic accentuated racial inequalities in Brazil.

From the Global Risk Society to the Vulnerable Society Towards a Sociological Analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic?

The article sought to interpret the COVID-19 pandemic through the generalization of social vulnerability, converted into a sociological concept, as it was considered as a social fact caused by the crisis of the labor society, whose basis was the management of risks and dangers, through state welfare institutions, which later, in the neoliberal economic model, it was individualized, diluting the state responsibility to attend to the dangers derived from the pandemic, exercising only its function of surveillance and control over individuals on the part of a neoliberal State, which ceased to consider them as citizens, defined by rights, which were protected with the existence of the welfare state.

Flipping the Frame: How Rudy Gobert Went From an Episodic Bad Actor to a Thematic Hero

Rudy Gobert's positive COVID-19 diagnosis in March of 2020 started the process that led to American sports shutting down in the early days of the pandemic. After the diagnosis, video of him touching reporters' voice recorders at a press availability went viral. This framing analysis in five mainstream newspapers finds that over the course of 72 hours, Gobert went from a bad actor to a hero in news copy as an episodic frame focusing on his actions gave way to a thematic frame about the virus and its effects on the country.

Guest editorial: Special issue introduction repurposing and repositioning events: real, responsible and revolutionary futures

Findings revealed that hygiene is not perceived as an integral part of event safety, but rather as a disconnected pillar beside traditional event safety measures and that event and health safety measures strongly influence each other, both positively, but often also negatively as event organisers are often concerned with how to get their events successfully through the approval process rather than focussing on the safety aspects. Acknowledging the prevalence of disability in its various forms in society and highlighting the fact that existing research exploring inclusive events and disabled people as event participants focuses mostly on the challenges faced by attendees, the author offers a refreshing perspective by exploring the potential that these events have and the opportunities they bring to people with disabilities and the wider community. [...]the author embraces the argument suggested in the call for papers of this special issue that events provide opportunities to determine new paths, make the future less fearsome, allow more positive outcomes and uses this description to define what they propose to be "revolutionary futures”. In an exploratory case study inspired by a hermeneutics approach and combining different methods of data collection, the author explores the perspectives of attendees, volunteers, event staff and organisers to investigate if the event can indeed create revolutionary futures.

SAEM23 Editors‐in‐Chief Welcome

The article offers information on the SAEM 2023 annual meeting, which is considered the first post-COVID gathering, It expresses gratitude for the readers' engagement with the s, which represent the thoughts of over 1300 emergency medicine enthusiasts from various backgrounds and expertise.

Higher education during crisis: a case study on organic resilience

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the impact the pandemic had on higher education institutions (HEIs), the opportunities they were able to harness, and whether they are better prepared to deal with future disruptions as a result.Design/methodology/approachThe authors do this by presenting a reflective case study using a combination of crisis and resilience theories as their analytical framework. Case studies are flexible research instruments allowing researchers to draw on both subjective experience and also established theoretical frameworks. Case studies can be used to intensively analyse a specific case from an organisation, sector, or personal perspective. Although the results are not usually generalisable, they can be insightful (Bell et al., 2022).FindingsThe authors found that, in this case, a continuity strategy relevant to the sector, already existed. However, a lack of knowledge meant that the strategy was not used straight away. This was costly in terms of staff and student well-being but, ultimately, HEIs adapted by converging on a practical solution, showing inherent resilience. Further research is necessary to ascertain whether robust business continuity plans would have made the transition smoother.Originality/valueThis paper specifically investigates higher education teaching from a crisis and resilience perspective, using a theoretical framework not previously used for the analysis of Covid-19 in HEIs.