Digital Locomotives

In 1990,a landmark report of the South Commission represented a defining moment for the Global South,calling for South-South cooperation and consecrating the theory of the“locomotives of the South.”The report emphasised that countries in the Global South could not expect former colonisers and imperialist forces to be the driver of their development.“The new locomotive forces have to be found within the South itself,”it argued.

Motives for Corporate Environmental Responses in Chinese Small-and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Motives for corporate environmental responses( CERs)have received little research attention. This study examines the motives for CERs in Chinese enterprises. In-depth interviews with senior executives of 35 small-and medium-sized enterprises( SMEs)in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces reveal that China's SMEs have mainly responded reactively to environmental problems. Legitimacy motive is the main reason for the CERs. Strategic motive is also recorded,although to a lesser extent.

Charitable Donation Motives of Wealthy Chinese—A Content Analysis Based on 66 Chinese Philanthropists

Based on Chinese cultural psychology and multi-disciplinary theoretical system,this study establishes an analytical framework of wealthy people’s charitable donation motives.It takes the donation behavior of 66 philanthropists as the research object to discuss charitable donation motives of wealthy people.Through analyzing the content and text of 172 interviews and donation reports,this study verifies the unique influence of acquaintances’charitable motives in Chinese local culture,moral motives in Confucian culture,benevolent people’s love for others,self-promotion,collectivism and patriotism,and differential love on charitable donations of rich Chinese.This study concluded that the donation motives of wealthy Chinese mainly consist of 10 categories,such as expressing appreciation and gratitude,becoming a super representative of philanthropy cause,pursuit of the meaning and value of life,promoting social justice,inheriting the family wealth and family spirit,taking the social responsibility of Chinese entrepreneurs,driving more people to participate in philanthropy cause,improving the welfare of others,acquiring the exchange interests,and due to peer pressure.This research enriches the connotation of“Chinese philanthropy motivation”and discusses the characteristics of philanthropy motives in Chinese context,which can provide reference for improving the donation incentive policies and charitable organization’s fundraising activities.

Motives and Commitment of Entrepreneurs in Hospitality/Tourism Firms in Port Harcourt

This aim of this study is to provide both theoretical and empirical insights on entrepreneurs’ motives and commitments in the hospitality and tourism industry in Nigeria, using simple descriptive statistics and complemented with interviews. The study adopted an exploratory research methodology to explore the phenomena of motives and commitment, using descriptive statistics, particularly mea, and standard deviation to present the extent of occurrences in the study subject. The study is based on a sample of 120 entrepreneurs who are owners of small restaurants in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The results show that entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry are mostly motivated by family related factors such as family tradition, family situation, family line of business, and family prestige. Societal factors are more prominent in the list than both personal and income, financial considerations. The least considered factor that motivates a business start-up is finance or income. The results also suggest that although, entrepreneurs are highly committed to starting and growing their own businesses and are willing to do anything that will help achieve this objective including significant personal sacrifices, they are however, not willing to compromise their family lives.

Motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood: A longitudinal study

Background: Engaging in sexual activities at a younger age is associated with higher risk of substance misuse among adolescents. It could be hypothesized that substance misuse and certain romantic relationship related behaviors may be influenced by similar hormone and other inner physiological factors that are affected by related motives. This study investigated the association between motives for romantic relationships and the risk of heavy alcohol use, regular smoking and cannabis use from adolescence through to early adulthood. Method: A population-based longitudinal study using data collected from Wave I and Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Characteristics of romantic relationship ideals (as the proxy of motives) measured in Wave I (mean age: 16 yrs) were applied to predict substance use indicated at Wave III (mean age: 22 yrs) using multivariate analyses. Results: Adolescents who included sexual activities as part of their romantic relationship ideals were at significantly higher risk of cannabis use among males and heavy alcohol use among females. Romantic ideals that included, gift giving (female) or receiving (male), declaration of love (male), marriage (male) and becoming pregnant (female) were associated with reduced risk of one or more types of substance use. Conclusion: In adolescence, sexual motives for romantic relationships were associated with higher risk of substance use and misuse, while motives related to intimacy and commitment in romantic relationships were associated with lower risk.

Bridging the Motives and Attractor States:How These Dynamics Go While Choosing the Elective English Course?

This study aimed at investigating and implementing the main triggers for enhancing the motivations of taking an elective English course within the sport college students.The researcher explored and analyzed these triggers as the motivational components under the attractor states.In order to observe the dynamics of these college students who have been regarded as unmotivated with the English courses,the researcher designed a semi-structure interview questions related to the motivational components and observed the process of students’implementation,modification,and the relation with attractor states.This study covered Phase 1 for a think aloud question at the beginning of the semester which conducted to 65 sophomores(35 for PE students and 30 for Dance students).Phase 2 designed as three semi-structured interview questions for 10 PE sophomores and 10 dance sophomores.This interview conducted followed by the midterm presentation.Data analysis is under the discussion of attractor states(Waninge,2015).This study demonstrates qualitative method to collect data.The qualitative data were collected through several techniques such as observations,reflections,and student interviews.From the findings,these teacher-specific motives trigger these students’intention to make the decision.These students performed better motivation during the learning path till the midterm presentation.Both their English performance and learning motivation were significantly enhanced.Moreover,they had positive attitude toward learning English and they apparently recognized the value of the presentation.The results were shown in positive improvement in the motives with application of attractor states.Furthermore,a teacher-student relationship was built as one of the most precious fruits of the processes.

Wine Tourism in Santorini, Crete:Exploring the Behaviour, Motives, and Intentions of Wine Tourists

Wine tourism is a fast growing sector,with an estimated 30%growth in 2018 and has emerged as a strong and rising area of special interest tourism,representing an increasingly important element of regional and rural tourism development.In Greece wine has played an important role since ancient times,as it was an integral part of nutrition and religion,and by 800BC,Greeks had begun to perfect their techniques in winemaking.Wine tourism in our days,constitutes a factor for attracting visitors from all over the world.The present paper is an effort to explore and investigate the factors that affect the behavior of wine tourists in the island of Santorini,shaping their motives and intentions.More specifically,the aim of this paper is to explore the motivating factors that influence winery visitation,wine tourists’level of satisfaction,interest and knowledge on wine,as well as their demographic characteristics.The methodological approach was based on quantitative research;more specifically a survey was conducted with the use of structured questionnaires.Results showed that the most popular activity for wine tourists visiting Santorini wineries was wine tasting and the main motives influencing the decision for winery visitation involved wine tasting and experiencing the atmosphere of the winery.This research also showed that the most important factors contributing to wine tourist’s satisfaction concerned the attitude,professionalism and knowledge of winery staff,as well as service quality.

Elicitation of Association Rules from Information on Customs Offences on the Basis of Frequent Motives

The fight against fraud and trafficking is a fundamental mission of customs. The conditions for carrying out this mission depend both on the evolution of economic issues and on the behaviour of the actors in charge of its implementation. As part of the customs clearance process, customs are nowadays confronted with an increasing volume of goods in connection with the development of international trade. Automated risk management is therefore required to limit intrusive control. In this article, we propose an unsupervised classification method to extract knowledge rules from a database of customs offences in order to identify abnormal behaviour resulting from customs control. The idea is to apply the Apriori principle on the basis of frequent grounds on a database relating to customs offences in customs procedures to uncover potential rules of association between a customs operation and an offence for the purpose of extracting knowledge governing the occurrence of fraud. This mass of often heterogeneous and complex data thus generates new needs that knowledge extraction methods must be able to meet. The assessment of infringements inevitably requires a proper identification of the risks. It is an original approach based on data mining or data mining to build association rules in two steps: first, search for frequent patterns (support >= minimum support) then from the frequent patterns, produce association rules (Trust >= Minimum Trust). The simulations carried out highlighted three main association rules: forecasting rules, targeting rules and neutral rules with the introduction of a third indicator of rule relevance which is the Lift measure. Confidence in the first two rules has been set at least 50%.

Impact of host country's business environment on China's OFDI in Belt and Road countries:Based on the perspective of investment motives

This study used a two-step system generalized method of moments to examine the impact of the business environment in the Belt and Road countries on outward foreign direct investment(OFDI)of China while presenting a deeper investigation into the spatial characteristics of OFDI through a spatial error model.The results revealed that the impact mentioned above varies with different investment motivations.If Chinese businesses are motivated by local consumer markets or seeking a human workforce to make an outward direct investment,they will choose countries with poor business environments.They will select countries with stable business environments for their natural resources or strategic assets.Significant spatial agglomeration exists in China's OFDI in the countries and regions along the routes,while substantial evidence is absent on the business environment investment effect with different motivations.Finally,relevant recommen-dations concluded according to the study.

The Influence Mechanism of an Inclusive Organizational Climate on Innovation Input of Sci-Tech Talents

With the implementation of China’s innovation-driven development strategy,the competition among sci-tech talents has become increasingly fierce.Stimulating the innovative vigor of sci-tech talents has become a hot topic in theoretical research and policy practice.Based on the data from 246 questionnaires collected from sci-tech talents in Hebei province,this study explored the influence mechanism of an inclusive organizational climate on innovation input from technological talents and verified the mediating effects of innovation self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation.The results indicate that an inclusive organizational climate has a significant positive impact on innovation input,innovation self-efficacy,and intrinsic motivation of sci-tech talents.Both innovation self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation play a partial mediating role between an inclusive climate and innovation input.This study verified the important role of an inclusive climate in an organization’s human resource management practices and encouraged managers to emphasize enhancing the innovation self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation of sci-tech talents,thereby continuously improving the level of innovation.

Challenges and Motivating Factors of Orthodontic Treatment among Patients Attending Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

Background: Orthodontic treatment poses challenges such as discomfort, aesthetic concerns, dietary restrictions, time commitment, and financial considerations for patients. These challenges can deter individuals from pursuing treatment or cause anxiety during the process. However, patients are motivated by the desire to improve their appearance, boost self-confidence, and enhance oral health. They also value the long-term benefits of treatment, including improved dental function and overall well-being. Professional recommendations from dentists and orthodontists, along with social support from family and friends, further encourage patients to undergo treatment. Understanding these challenges and motivating factors is crucial for orthodontic professionals to tailor treatment plans and ensure positive experiences and successful outcomes for their patients. Objective: To determine the challenges and motivating factors of orthodontic treatment among patients attending Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Method: The study was conducted at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, with a sample size of 60 orthodontic patients. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS software. Ethical approval was obtained, and the findings were shared with stakeholders. Results: Findings showed a higher representation of females (63.3%) seeking orthodontic treatment. Common motivations for seeking orthodontic treatment included aesthetic Concerns (38.2%), misaligned teeth (28.1%) and recommendation from dentist (19.2%). Challenges reported included pain and discomfort (36.7%), difficulty chewing (15%), expensive treatment (14.4%) and missed appointments (11.7%). Factors motivating treatment continuation were visible improvements (30%), achieving optimal results (23%), reducing pain and discomfort (17%). External influences, such as family pressure, also played a role. Patients appreciated the support of healthcare providers during treatment but suggested better pain management and education. Conclusion: The study provided valuable insights into patient motivations, challenges and factors influencing satisfaction and adherence to orthodontic treatment at KATH.

Tower Semiconductor Acquisition: Advancing Intel’s Presence in the Global Market

This paper delves into the economic event surrounding Intel Corporation’s high-profile acquisition of Tower Corporation.It aims to investigate the reasons behind Intel’s decision to acquire Tower,employ the SWOT analysis method to evaluate the event,and examine its impact on relevant stakeholders.The findings indicate that Intel’s acquisition of Tower was driven by objectives such as strengthening business areas,expanding market share,technological innovation and development,and future development strategy.Through the application of SWOT analysis,it becomes evident that the advantages of the acquisition lie in strengthening technical capabilities and expanding business segments,while simultaneously facing challenges such as integration complexities and pressure.The significance of this paper lies in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the strategic motivations and potential impacts associated with corporate acquisitions,thereby providing valuable insights for decision-making processes.The innovation lies in the comprehensive utilization of SWOT analysis to holistically evaluate the acquisition event,enabling a thorough assessment of its various aspects.For government and policymakers,they should strength regulation of corporate takeovers to ensure fair and transparent market competition,provide support and incentives,and strength cooperation to develop common policies and norms.As for enterprises,it is advised that strategic planning and comprehensive consideration should be formulated and carried out when making acquisitions.Also,stakeholders should actively participate in and monitor the process of corporate acquisition discussion and decision-making,and strengthen cooperation to ensure fair competition,maximizing the interests of all parties.

Exploring influences and risk of bias of studies on return to sport and work after lateral ankle sprain:A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Lateral ankle sprains are the most common traumatic musculoskeletal injuries of the lower extremity,with an incidence rate of 15%-20%.The high incidence and prevalence highlights the economic impact of this injury.Ankle sprains lead to a high socioeconomic burden due to the combination of the high injury incidence and high medical expenses.Up to 40%of patients who suffer from an ankle sprain develop chronic ankle instability.Chronic instability can lead to prolonged periods of pain,immobility and injury recurrence.Identification of factors that influence return to work(RTW)and return to sports(RTS)after a lateral ankle sprain(LAS)may help seriously reduce healthcare costs.AIM To explore which factors may potentially affect RTW and RTS after sustaining an LAS.METHODS EMBASE and PubMed were systematically searched for relevant studies published until June 2023.Inclusion criteria were as follows:(1)Injury including LAS or chronic ankle instability;(2)Described any form of treatment;(3)Assessment of RTW or RTS;(4)Studies published in English;and(5)Study designs including randomized controlled clinical trials,clinical trials or cohort studies.Exclusion criteria were:(1)Studies involving children(age<16 year);or(2)Patients with concomitant ankle injury besides lateral ankle ligament damage.A quality assessment was performed for each of the included studies using established risk of bias tools.Additionally quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADEpro tool in cases where outcomes were included in the quantitative analysis.A best evidence synthesis was performed in cases of qualitative outcome analysis.For all studied outcomes suitable for quantitative analysis a forest plot was created to calculate the effect on RTW and RTS.RESULTS A total of 8904 patients were included in 21 studies,10 randomized controlled trials,7 retrospective cohort studies and 4 prospective cohort studies.Fifteen studies were eligible for meta-analysis.The overall RTS rate ranged were 80%and 83%in the all treatments pool and surgical treatments pool,respectively.The pooled mean days to RTS ranged from 23-93 d.The overall RTW rate was 89%.The pooled mean time to RTW ranged from 5.8-8.1 d.For patients with chronic ankle instability,higher preoperative motivation was the sole factor significantly and independently(P=0.001)associated with the rate of and time to RTS following ligament repair or reconstruction.Higher body mass index was identified as a significant factor(P=0.04)linked to not resuming sports or returning at a lower level(median 24,range 20-37),compared to those who resumed at the same or higher level(median 23,range 17-38).Patients with a history of psychological illness or brain injury,experienced a delay in their rehabilitation process for sprains with fractures and unspecified sprains.The extent of the delayed rehabilitation was directly proportional to the increased likelihood of experiencing a recurrence of the ankle sprain and the number of ankle-related medical visits.We also observed that 10%of athletes who did return to sport after lateral ankle sprain without fractures described non-ankle-related reasons for not returning.CONCLUSION All treatments yielded comparable results,with each treatment potentially offering unique advantages or benefits.Preoperative motivation may influence rehabilitation after LAS.Grading which factor had a greater impact was not possible due to the lack of comparability among the included patients.

Policy and institutional reforms of China’s economic aid: motives and implications

The People’s Republic of China(PRC)has been an aid donor for over six decades,offering multiple forms of development aid to other developing countries.Meanwhile,China has been con-stantly readjusting its strategies of aid provision while introducing institutional reforms to improve the efficiency of aid as a form of economic statecraft.What significant policy and institutional changes has China conducted in its aid distribution?What are the key motivators that have propelled such reforms?And how do Western donors perceive the Chinese model of aid distribution?Using a two-level analytical framework,this article mainly explores the domestic and international factors driving the three rounds of Chinese aid reforms.The article finds that while the transform-ation of China’s strategic priority enabled by leadership percep-tion change is the key domestic incentive for aid reforms,international variables contribute to such processes either directly by exerting pressure and conveying knowledge or indirectly by changing China’s global status and leadership perception.

Labor Motivation and Its Influence on Workers’Productivity-A Secondary Publication

The productivity of an institution is achieved,in large part,by creating a harmonious environment that reflects the satisfaction,empowerment,and collaborative spirit of each employee.From this perspective,management will consider upgrades using all tactics that allow for the achievement of these goals,including direct effort and the involvement of all stakeholders.The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between work motivation and the productivity of workers in the communal board of the Barrio Sur corregimiento in the province of Colón.Using the questionnaire as an instrument,as well as the descriptive method,allowed for the report and evaluation of the characteristics of the workers,indicating interpersonal deficits and distancing in the motivations that drive administrative action.By incorporating different approaches previously analyzed and developed by different authors familiar with the subject,it was possible to achieve substantial results,such as the need to implement administrative strategies that harmoniously incorporate workers,showing that,despite motivation problems,the work environment where one works is very important in the performance of their duties.Managing to motivate the direct participation of the workers selected as part of the sample,who showed full satisfaction with the results framed within the framework of individual improvement and,above all,the commitment to the institution to improve its work.

Research Nexus and Implications of Learner Identity in Foreign Language Education

One of the most obvious markers of an individual’s identity is their language.However,in some ways,the relationship between identity and language acquisition seems to be missed.In fact,a lot of studies have shown that identity may influence the reasons behind language acquisition,especially in bilingual or multilingual societies.Learning English can provide EFL(English as a Foreign Language)students with a good sense of identity and encourage them to practice their agency,which can improve learning efficiency and effectiveness.This paper examines how the efficacy and results of language learning are influenced by the learner’s identity.

Exploration of the Integration of Positive Emotions and Flow Experience in STEAM Education

STEAM(science,technology,engineering,arts,and mathematics)education aims to cultivate innovative talents with multidimensional literacy through interdisciplinary integration and innovative practice.However,lack of student motivation has emerged as a key factor hindering its effectiveness.This study explores the integrated application of positive emotions and flow experience in STEAM education from the perspective of positive psychology.It systematically explains how these factors enhance learning motivation and promote knowledge internalization,proposing feasible pathways for instructional design,resource provision,environment creation,and team building.The study provides theoretical insights and practical guidance for transforming STEAM education in the new era.

The Dynamic Interplay Between Language Motivation and English Speaking Fluency:Implications for Effective Teaching Strategies

In this study,we aim to investigate the reciprocal influence between language motivation and English speaking fluency among language learners,and to draw implications for effective teaching methodologies.By analyzing multiple cases of language learners in conjunction with relevant theories and practical insights,the study uncovers a dynamic correlation between language motivation and speaking fluency.The research findings indicate that heightened language motivation can positively impact learners’speaking fluency,while improved oral skills,in turn,bolster learners’language confidence and motivation.Building on these insights,the study proposes impactful teaching approaches,such as cultivating learners’enthusiasm for language acquisition,providing diverse opportunities for oral practice,and fostering active engagement in language communication.These strategies are designed to enhance language motivation and speaking fluency among learners,offering valuable guidance and reference for educators.

Ministry of Commerce:Full of confidence,clear direction,strong motivation

On March 12,the official account of the International Business Daily of the Ministry of Commerce published an article titled“Foreign trade enterprises:full of confidence,clear direction,strong motivation”.The content is as follows:This year,China is still facing a tough foreign trade situation.On the one hand,many international organizations predict that global economic growth in 2024 will still be lower than the historical average and the pressure on external demand will increase;on the other hand,trade protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise,geopolitical conflicts,the global“super election year”and other spillover factors have created many uncertainties.

Entrepreneurship training:its influences on innovation potentials among nursing students

Objective:To evaluate the influences of entrepreneurship training on the innovation potential among nursing students.Methods:A quasi-experimental design was utilized to conduct this study.The study was conducted in the classroom at the faculty of nursing,and the“i Hub”center at Ain Shams University(ASU)in Cairo,Egypt.A purposive sample of 42 nursing students who participated in the“Ain Shams University-innovate”competition from the Faculty of Nursing of ASU were included in this study.Data collection tools included(1)Nursing students'innovation skills assessment questionnaire and(2)Innovative projects evaluation tool.Results:There was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of nursing students'total innovation skills pre-and post-implementation of entrepreneurship training,where P-value<0.05.Conclusions:The results of the current study support the research hypothesis because the implementation of entrepreneurship training positively affects nursing students'innovation potential.Developing entrepreneurship education in nursing and integrating it into nursing programs will stimulate creativity,innovation,and entrepreneurship among nursing students and health care services.