Application of Web 2.0 technologies in e-government: A United Kingdom case study

Electronic government (e-Government) has endured significant transformation over the last decade and currently, it is making further leaps by incorporating modern technologies such as second generation web (Web 2.0) technologies. However, since the development and use of this kind of technology is still at its early stages in the public sector, research about the use of Web 2.0 in this domain is still highly tentative and lacks theoretical underpinning. This paper reports the preliminary findings of an in-depth case study in the United Kingdom (UK) public sector, which explore the application of Web 2.0 technologies in the local government authority (LGA). The findings elicited from the case study offer an insight into information systems (IS) evaluation criterions and impact factors of Web 2.0 from both a practical setting and an internal organisational perspective. This paper concludes that a combined analysis of the evaluation and impact factors rather than a singular approach would better assist the decision making process that leads to effective application of Web 2.0 technologies. It also highlights the significant impact and perceived effect of adoption of such technologies

Entrepreneurial Intention among Undergraduates: Review of Literature

Purpose of this study is to formulate the unique model to the entrepreneurial intention among undergraduates. We reviewed the existing studies in the field of entrepreneurial intention in the Asia, Europe, Africa and cross cultural perspective. Based on the review of literatures in the entrepreneurial intention, we have formulated the unique model as entrepreneurial Intention for entrepreneurial Career. Based on the Model creation, the entrepreneurial motivation is the recognized as the key fact to enhance the entrepreneurial intention among undergraduates in the globalized level. Meanwhile, this model is unique and highly suitable to the Asian perspective.  Researchers or scholars in the field of entrepreneurship can utilize this model to predict the influence of the entrepreneurial motivation on the entrepreneurial intention among undergraduates. Key Words: Entrepreneurial Motivation, Entrepreneurial Intention, and Undergraduates

Financial Stress and Personal Characteristics of the School Teachers: Evidence from Sri Lanka

The primary aim of the study is to find out the significant mean difference in financial stress among personal characteristics of the school teachers as gender, age, family size, subjects for teaching, educational qualification, and work experience.  The study employs independent samples t- test and one-way ANOVA (f-test) to test the operational hypotheses. The survey method used in this study is a questionnaire and a total of 360 usable responses were obtained using simple random sampling technique. Findings revealed that, there is a significant mean difference in financial stress among subject for teaching, educational qualification and working experience of the school teachers in the northern province of Sri Lanka. In contrast, we found that, there is no significant mean difference in financial stress among gender, age level and family size. Further, we suggested that, Governmental bodies should have the responsibility to control the financial instability in the Northern Province and as well as all island through the better policy drafts in the monetary and fiscal aspects. Key Words: Financial Stress, Personal characteristics, Northern Province, Sri Lanka and School Teacher

Pay satisfaction and Financial Stress: A study of the school Teachers in the Northern Province, Sri Lanka

The primary aim of the study is to find out the impact or influence of pay satisfaction on financial stress among the school teachers in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Further, secondary objective is to suggest the government authoritative bodies to reduce the financial stress through the better level of pay satisfaction, which will give the long term value to the Northern Province, Sri Lanka in terms of social, economical and political development. The study employs Multiple Regression Analysis to test the operational hypotheses. The survey method used in this study is a questionnaire and a total of 360 usable responses were obtained using simple random sampling technique. Findings revealed that, pay satisfaction has the influence or impact on the financial stress. Especially in the pay satisfaction dimensions, financial stress is negatively influenced by pay level and benefits as expected. In contrast, financial stress is positively influenced by the pay raises. Further, dependent variable as financial stress is not influenced significantly by the pay structure and administration. Researchers suggested that, Ministry of Education should come up with proper policy draft regarding to the pay structure and administration. Meantime, Government should conduct the continuous survey among school teachers in terms of financial, occupational stress, work related satisfaction and also performance evaluation. This study would hopefully benefit to the policy makers, and practitioners of Sri Lanka as well as other countries. Key Words: Financial Stress, Pay satisfaction, Northern Province, Sri Lanka and School Teachers

Evidence of sympathetic cooling of Na+ ions by a Na MOT in a hybrid trap

A hybrid ion-neutral trap provides an ideal system to study collisional dynamics between ions and neutrals. This system provides a general cooling method that can be applied to optically inaccessible species and can also potentially cool internal degrees of freedom. The long range polarization potentials ($V\propto-\alpha/r^4$) between ions and neutrals result in large scattering cross sections at cold temperatures, making the hybrid trap a favorable system for efficient sympathetic cooling of ions by collisions with neutral atoms. We present experimental evidence of sympathetic cooling in a hybrid trap of \ce{Na+} ions, which are closed shell and therefore do not have a laser induced atomic transition, by equal mass cold Na atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT).Comment: 7 figure

Ion-neutral sympathetic cooling in a hybrid linear rf Paul and magneto-optical trap

Long range polarization forces between ions and neutral atoms result in large elastic scattering cross sections, e.g., 10^6 a.u. for Na+ on Na or Ca+ on Na at cold and ultracold temperatures. This suggests that a hybrid ion-neutral trap should offer a general means for significant sympathetic cooling of atomic or molecular ions. We present SIMION 7.0 simulation results concerning the advantages and limitations of sympathetic cooling within a hybrid trap apparatus, consisting of a linear rf Paul trap concentric with a Na magneto-optical trap (MOT). This paper explores the impact of various heating mechanisms on the hybrid system and how parameters related to the MOT, Paul trap, number of ions, and ion species affect the efficiency of the sympathetic cooling

Dance Expertise modulates behavioural and psychophysiological responses to affective body movement

The present study shows how motor expertise increases sensitivity to affective body movement at the behavioural and physiological level. Nineteen affective movement experts (professional ballet dancers) and twenty-four controls watched 96 video clips of emotionally expressive body movements while they performed an affect rating task (subjective response) and their galvanic skin response was recorded (psychophysiological response). The movements in the clips were either sad or happy, and in half of the trials movements were played in the order in which they are learned (forward presentation), and in the other half, backwards (control condition). Results showed that motor expertise in affective body movement specifically modulated both behavioural and physiological sensitivity to others’ affective body movement, and that this sensitivity is particularly strong when movements are shown in the way they are learnt (forward presentation). The evidence is discussed within current theories of proprioceptive arousal feedback and motor simulation accounts

Role of technological dimensions of green supply chain management practices on firm performance

yesPurpose The research study aims to investigate green supply chain management (GSCM) elements as part of a complete system. It aims to understand the special properties of the GSCM system under the moderating effects of product complexity and purchasing structure. Design/methodology/approach A thorough literature review led to the building of the conceptual framework. Six constructs were identified using systems theory. These constructs include green supply chain technological dimensions (particularly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) based), green supply chain strategy, green supply chain process, product complexity, purchasing structure, and firm performance. The instrument was scientifically developed for gathering survey responses using complete design test methods. The conceptual model was eventually tested based on survey data collected from 250 automotive components and allied manufacturers in the emerging economy of South Africa. Findings The results indicate that GSCM technological dimensions (AI-based) positively influence GSCM strategy. Further, GSCM strategy was found to positively influence the GSCM process. The GSCM processes have significant effects on environmental performance, social performance, and financial performance. The product complexity has a significant moderation effect on the paths GSCM strategy and GSCM process. Originality/value The findings from multivariate data analysis provide a better understanding of GSCM system dynamics and are helpful to key decision-makers. This unique model has elevated GSCM theory to a new level. There are limited studies available in the existing GSCM literature using systems theory. This study will offer an advanced/comprehensive understanding to readers in this relatively new concept

Achieving Food Supply Chain Resilience during Natural Disasters through Industry 5.0 enablers - Empirical insights based on an FsQCA approach

YesThe purpose of this research is to establish the necessary and sufficient conditions for food safety and security during pandemic outbreaks, focusing on the case of COVID-19 to ensure resilience of the food supply chain. The study emphasises on the complexity theory of fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), to establish a result-driven definition of Industry 5.0 (I5.0) during and post pandemics. The results of this study revealed that a combination of conditions derived from pandemic policy related reforms and I5.0 enablers will assist manufacturers and suppliers in establishing food safety and security during and post the COVID-19 era in a developing economy. Food safety and security being the goal, based on a survey of 140 food companies, this study provides insights to manufacturers and policymakers to enable selective implementation of I5.0 enabling technologies and pandemic policies