VR-mediated storytelling of experience in destination branding: hybrid 4D transformations1

In COVID-19 era, destination branding faces the challenge of digitalization and virtual reality (VR) in particular. The fundamentals of VR-mediated storytelling in destination branding are in the process of being developed. There is a luck of research on immersive VR-mediated storytelling, scenarios, and messages in destination branding, especially realised with technologies of more complex – hybrid – immersivity (4D). The shift from 2D, 3D to 4D hybrid multisensory VR technologies is not only among the main technology developments – it provokes new research problems with VR-mediated destination branding and storytelling. The authors present the results of theoretical and empirical research of VR-mediated destination storytelling of a brand driven by the newest 4D hybrid multisensory technological approaches on the case of Switzerland. In Switzerland, VR-mediated projects in destination branding are developing actively last years but VR-mediated storytelling research in this field was not provided yet. In this regard, it was chosen 100 destination brand VR projects, presented in 2016–2022, to compare the parameters of VR-mediated storytelling of a brand. VR has to be included into brand storytelling paradigm, which must be rethought for this specific sphere. It was proved that it is more effective to combine different types of experience, virtual and physical both and make the VR-mediated brand storytelling hybrid. In terms of theoretical implications, this paper opened a specific research area by bridging theoretical and empirical ideas of destination branding, VR-mediated storytelling and digital media, technical and social communication. © Shilina M.G., Sokhn M., Wirth J., 2023.

The Most Vulnerable Hispanic Immigrants in New York City: Structural Racism and Gendered Differences in COVID-19 Deaths.

This paper explores the structural and group-specific factors explaining the excess death rates experienced by the Hispanic population in New York City during the peak years of the coronavirus pandemic. Neighborhood-level analysis of Census data allows an exploration of the relation between Hispanic COVID-19 deaths and spatial concentration, conceived in this study as a proxy for structural racism. This analysis also provides a more detailed exploration of the role of gender in understanding the effects of spatial segregation among different Hispanic subgroups, as gender has emerged as a significant variable in explaining the structural and social effects of COVID-19. Our results show a positive correlation between COVID-19 death rates and the share of Hispanic neighborhood residents. However, for men, this correlation cannot be explained by the characteristics of the neighborhood, as it is for women. In sum, we find: (a) differences in mortality risks between Hispanic men and women; (b) that weathering effects increase mortality risks the longer Hispanic immigrant groups reside in the U.S.; (c) that Hispanic males experience greater contagion and mortality risks associated with the workplace; and (d) we find evidence corroborating the importance of access to health insurance and citizenship status in reducing mortality risks. The findings propose revisiting the Hispanic health paradox with the use of structural racism and gendered frameworks.

Rigidity in crisis: The impact of OHSAS 18001 certification on production repurposing during COVID-19

It is important for firms to repurpose production responsively during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to seize the market opportunity and create social value. However, occupational health and safety (OHS) can also be a concern in a crisis, and adherence to OHS management systems can undermine a firm's responsiveness in repurposing decision making. We adopt the "capability-rigidity" lens to construct a connection between OHS management standards (i.e., OHSAS 18001) and firms' adaptation responsiveness. After sampling 734 listed Chinese manufacturing firms, our match-based analysis reveals that firms certified with OHSAS 18001 were less responsive during COVID-19 in terms of production repurposing than those without the certification. Yet, certain experience, namely, prepandemic manufacturing of related products, experience of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, and being geographically located close to firms that produced medical supplies, could attenuate this effect. We discuss the implications of our findings in the context of and adding to the literature on safety management, certified management standards, and organizational adaptation and learning.

Flexible working during the COVID-19 pandemic: gains and strains in a Chinese state-owned organisation

PurposeThis study aims to identify and analyse the gains and strains associated with flexible working practices (FWPs) introduced and adopted prior to and during the pandemic and consider how these experiences are likely to shape the future of workplace flexibility post-pandemic. Design/methodology/approachA case study research strategy was adopted to explore the FWPs implemented by a state-owned organisation in the Chinese publishing industry. A mixed data collection method was used. Quantitative data was collected from 50 valid questionnaires, which was followed by 7 qualitative interviews to gain rich insights into the availability and effectiveness of various FWPs and associated benefits and drawbacks. FindingsWhile the results confirm positive effects FWPs have on employee engagement and retention and on business continuity and employee well-being during the pandemic, the empirical analysis highlights the performance-driven patterns in use and impacts of some FWPs, which caused concerns and dilemmas. Besides the increasing intense market competition, the changing face of state-owned enterprises and managerial attitudes have been found to have significant effects on the use of FWPs. Originality/valueThis paper has contributed to a better understanding of flexible working in an under-researched setting, reflected in changes before and during the pandemic, offering an insight into the commercialised nature of flexible working in the Chinese context. It has implications for organisations and HR practitioners as they envision future workplace flexibility.

Latino Mortality Paradox Found (Again): COVID-19 Mortality a Tale of Two Years.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the resiliency of the Latino Mortality paradox during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are used to compute the ratio of Latino-to-white all-causes death rates for adults aged 45 and older, nationally and among 13 U.S. states with Latino populations greater than one million. RESULTS: Nationally, the Latino mortality paradox persisted in 2020 and 2021. However, there was significant variation across states. We document three distinct patterns of COVID-19 mortality across 13 U.S. states: 1) the disappearance of the Latino mortality paradox, 2) the persistence of the Latino mortality paradox, and 3) the disappearance in 2020 and reemergence in 2021 of the Latino mortality paradox. DISCUSSION: COVID-19 Mortality has disproportionately affected mid- and late-life Latinos, although the disparities relative to whites have narrowed. We discuss the dynamics influencing the waning and waxing of the Latino mortality paradox.

The State of the Obesity Paradox in 2020

Purpose of Study The detrimental long-term effects of obesity are well-described in literature;however, there has been recently emerging evidence describing a possible mortality benefit in obese patients with acute injury. The scope of this review is to provide an overview of the ongoing debate surrounding this observation. We focused our discussion on evaluating the evidences suggesting an impact of obesity and overweight on multiple acute medical conditions. Methods Used We searched the PubMed database with the keywords 'obesity', 'paradox', 'trauma', 'mortality', 'BMI', 'cancer', 'sepsis', 'lung injury', 'stroke', 'COVID', and 'myocardial infarct' from inception to 2020 and selected 40 relevant papers discussing the relationship between mortality and BMI in the setting of these stressors, and the mechanisms behind them. Summary of Results Amongst the fields of blunt trauma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and critical care admissions for sepsis and lung injury, there are a growing amount of evidences supporting the existence of a paradoxical mortality benefit with overweight and mild obesity compared to normal and lean BMI. These findings must be attenuated with study design and BMI limitations, as well as biases prevalent throughout these studies. Although several hypotheses have been proposed, the exact mechanisms behind this relationship are largely unknown. Conclusions This survey of the obesity paradox shows promise in regard to overweight and mild obesity helping with survival post-acute illness, possibly due to metabolic reserves, antiinflammatory, and anti-oncogenic conditions seen in obesity. We recommend addressing current major limitations by having future studies prospectively designed to evaluate alternative body weight metrics such as waist-to-hip ratio or waist circumference, with special attention to the timing of body weight measurements and its progression in the patient's life. In the future, elucidating the biological mechanisms of this relationship may allow us to adapt our recommendations to the patients and help direct optimal therapeutic approach in the management of certain acute pathologies.

Modelling the pulse population-wide nucleic acid screening in mitigating and stopping COVID-19 outbreaks in China.

BACKGROUND: During 2021-2022, mainland China experienced multiple times of local COVID-19 outbreaks in several cities, including Yangzhou, Xi'an etc., and the Chinese government persistently adopted the zero-COVID policy in combating with the local outbreaks. METHODS: We develop a mathematical model with pulse population-wide nucleic acid screening, part of the zero-COVID policy, to reveal its role in controlling the spread of COVID-19. We calibrate the model by fitting the COVID-19 epidemic data of the local outbreaks in Yangzhou and Xi'an, China. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the impact of population-wide nucleic acid screening on controlling the outbreak of COVID-19. RESULTS: Without the screening, the cumulative number of confirmed cases increases by [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in Yangzhou and Xi'an, respectively. Meanwhile, the screening program helps to shorten the lockdown period for more than one month when we aim at controlling the cases into zero. Considering its role in mitigating the epidemics, we observe a paradox phenomenon of the screening rate in avoiding the runs on medical resource. That is, the screening will aggravate the runs on medical resource when the screening rate is small, while it helps to relieve the runs on medical resource if the screening rate is high enough. We also conclude that the screening has limited effects on mitigating the epidemics if the outbreak is in a high epidemic level or there has already been runs on medical resources. Alternatively, a smaller screening population per time with a higher screening frequency may be a better program to avoid the runs on medical resources. CONCLUSIONS: The population-wide nucleic acid screening strategy plays an important role in quickly controlling and stopping the local outbreaks under the zero-COVID policy. However, it has limited impacts and even increase the potential risk of the runs on medical resource for containing the large scale outbreaks.

Understanding the association between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and grocery store alcohol sales following market liberalization in Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: In 2015, Ontario partially deregulated alcohol sales by allowing grocery stores to sell alcohol. The purpose of this study was to evaluate (1) whether neighbourhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) impacted the likelihood that a grocery store began selling alcohol, and (2) whether increases in alcohol retail availability following deregulation differed between neighbourhoods based on SES. METHODS: This was a repeated cross-sectional analysis of 1062 grocery stores in 17,096 neighbourhoods in urban Ontario. The association between neighbourhood-level SES and whether a grocery store began selling alcohol was modeled using mixed effect logistic regression. The annual change in drive-distance from a neighbourhood to the closest off-premise alcohol outlet between 2015 and 2020 was modeled using mixed effect linear regression. An interaction between time and SES was included to evaluate whether this change differed between neighbourhoods based on SES. RESULTS: Grocery stores in neighbourhoods in the lowest SES quintile were 39% less likely to start selling alcohol than grocery stores in neighbourhoods in the highest SES quintile (odds ratio (OR): 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39-0.94). As grocery store sales expanded, the distance to the closest off-premise alcohol outlet decreased by 51.8 m annually (95% CI: 48.8-54.9, p < 0.01). A significant interaction between year and SES was observed whereby this trend was more pronounced in high- versus low-SES neighbourhoods. CONCLUSION: The expansion of grocery store alcohol sales increased alcohol availability, but this increase was proportionately larger in high- versus low-SES neighbourhoods. This reduced historic disparities in alcohol availability between low- and high-SES neighbourhoods.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: En 2015, l'Ontario a partiellement déréglementé les ventes d'alcool en autorisant les épiceries à en vendre. Notre étude visait à évaluer : 1) si le statut socioéconomique (SSE) du quartier avait un effet sur la probabilité qu'une épicerie commence à vendre de l'alcool et 2) si les augmentations de l'accessibilité de l'alcool au détail après la déréglementation différaient d'un quartier à l'autre selon le SSE. MéTHODE: Il s'agissait d'une analyse transversale répétée de 1 062 épiceries dans 17 096 quartiers urbains de l'Ontario. L'association entre le SSE du quartier et le fait qu'une épicerie commence ou non à vendre de l'alcool a été modélisée par régression logistique à effets mixtes. Le changement annuel de la distance de conduite entre un quartier et le point de vente d'alcool hors site le plus proche entre 2015 et 2020 a été modélisé par régression linéaire à effets mixtes. Une interaction entre le temps et le SSE a été incluse pour évaluer si le changement différait d'un quartier à l'autre selon le SSE. RéSULTATS: Les épiceries des quartiers du quintile SSE le plus défavorisé ont été de 39 points de pourcentage moins susceptibles de commencer à vendre de l'alcool que les épiceries des quartiers du quintile SSE le plus favorisé (rapport de cotes [RC] : 0,61, intervalle de confiance de 95 % [(IC] : 0,39-0,94). Avec l'expansion des ventes des épiceries, la distance jusqu'au point de vente d'alcool hors site le plus proche a diminué de 51,8 mètres par année (IC de 95 % : 48,8-54,9, p < 0,01). Une interaction significative entre l'année et le SSE a été observée : cette tendance était plus prononcée dans les quartiers de SSE élevé que dans les quartiers de faible SSE. CONCLUSION: L'expansion des ventes d'alcool des épiceries a fait augmenter l'accessibilité de l'alcool, mais cette augmentation a été proportionnellement plus grande dans les quartiers de SSE élevé que dans les quartiers de faible SSE. Cela a réduit les disparités historiques d'accessibilité de l'alcool entre les quartiers de SSE élevé et de faible SSE.

Assessing the spread risk of COVID-19 associated with multi-mode transportation networks in China

The spatial spread of COVID-19 during early 2020 in China was primarily driven by outbound travelers leaving the epicenter, Wuhan, Hubei province. Existing studies focus on the influence of aggregated out-bound popula-tion flows originating from Wuhan;however, the impacts of different modes of transportation and the network structure of transportation systems on the early spread of COVID-19 in China are not well understood. Here, we assess the roles of the road, railway, and air transportation networks in driving the spatial spread of COVID-19 in China. We find that the short-range spread within Hubei province was dominated by ground traffic, notably, the railway transportation. In contrast, long-range spread to cities in other provinces was mediated by multiple factors, including a higher risk of case importation associated with air transportation and a larger outbreak size in hub cities located at the center of transportation networks. We further show that, although the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 across countries and continents is determined by the worldwide air transportation network, the early geographic dispersal of COVID-19 within China is better predicted by the railway traffic. Given the recent emergence of multiple more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2, our findings can support a better assessment of the spread risk of those variants and improve future pandemic preparedness and responses.

Travel discontinuities, enforced holidaying-at-home and alternative leisure travel futures after COVID-19

The paralysis of global tourism caused by COVID-19 made it possible to conduct a unique and nearly real-time online survey to investigate adaptations and reactions to sudden severe leisure travel restrictions among residents in the Oslo metropolitan area of Norway during the 2020 Easter/spring holiday period. Stress relief, socialising, social bonds and discoveries of local recreation options were important home holiday experiences. Vacation challenges under lockdown included few opportunities for novelty and the chance of liminoid situations–reversal or bracketing of everyday routine existence. The enforced Easter staycation advanced reflections on impending leisure travel, indicating limited opportunities to boost future low-carbon near-home Easter holiday experiences. Path dependencies towards second homes and spatially stretched social obligations, as well as emphasis on freedom of movement, ostensibly constrain vacation travel habit discontinuities at this time of the year. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Understanding change in disruptive contexts: The role of the time paradox and locus of control

We examine how the experience of time and locus of control influence organizational change in disruptive contexts. Through the cycles of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and their relaxations in Turkey, we found that organizations approached change similarly in the short term but differently in the long term. To unpack the mechanism behind these observations, we analyzed in-depth qualitative data from five organizations from March 2020 to September 2021. We reveal that the change process creates time pressure in disruptive contexts, and a time paradox emerges to the extent that the change outcomes increase the available time under time pressure. Depending on their locus of control, individuals either complement organizational change or resist it even more after triggering events that signal the lastingness of the post-disruption situation. Our framework may enhance organizational resilience to future disruptions by highlighting the requirement for change recipients to make complementary moves to regain control. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Digital Networks and Leadership Collaboration During Times of Uncertainty: An Exploration of Humanistic Leadership and Virtual Communities of Practice

Over the past two years, ripple effects from the Covid-19 pandemic have amplified disconnection and loss while also fueling greater human creativity and connection through technological mediums. How can leaders continue maximizing technology and collaboration to best support and foster interpersonal connection and innovation while also navigating the human conditions and emotions present during times of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA)? The unpredictable nature of these times requires leaders and change agents to continue learning and refining ways to help their teams, organizations, and communities to flourish. Within the current context of Covid-19 rebuilding and repair, this paper explores how participation in digital or virtual communities of practice (VCoP) and leadership centered on psychological safety and humanistic principles have been experienced by leaders and coaches. An informal discussion was facilitated, and a qualitative survey was conducted to begin exploring questions pertinent to VCoP and humanistic leadership (HL). Practitioner testimonials and key insights are shared. The findings of this exploratory study suggest that the main benefits of VCoP have been leader exposure to diverse industry practices and the bridging of physical and professional disconnection caused by Covid-19 social distancing and remote working requirements. Findings related to HL indicate that the leaders surveyed believe HL is essential in the work they do and that HL and fostering resilience entail both practicing and promoting holistic self-care and relational connection. Meaningful participation in VCoP and HL practices are framed as vital tools for leading and evolving in a post-Covid-19 world. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Biodiversity Conservation Through Protected Areas Supports Healthy Ecosystems and Resilience to Climate Change and Other Disturbances

Protected areas support healthy ecosystems that are resilient to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, and like healthy people, are more resilient to stress and disease. This article first explains how this resilience arises, the role of the portfolio effect and the protection paradox. Then it outlines how flourishing biodiversity, as can occur in protected areas and well-managed landscapes, mitigates against climate change by sequestering, storing and depositing carbon. Reduced human disturbance of wildlife and their habitats reduces the risk of zoonotic transfers to domestic animals and people. Thus, areas where biodiversity is fully and partly protected can reduce the effects of climate change, prevent the loss of biodiversity, and reduce the risk of zoonotics like COVID-19. An expanded global protected area network can be a win-win-win for the three crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and zoonotics. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

The Irrationality of Rationality in Market Economics: A Paradox of Incentives Perspective

Current incentive structures are more favorably aligned with the world's problems than with their solutions. We conceptualize this as the paradox of incentives to argue the need for new thinking and restructuring of incentives to break the paradox during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, and create new opportunities for societal transformation.

How does ai use drive individual digital resilience? A conservation of resources (cor) theory perspective

Artificial intelligence (AI) serves as a useful resource for replacing, supporting, and augmenting individuals in responding to external difficulties and enhancing individual resilience. However, little is known about the underlying laws of how AI can heighten individual resilience. This research examines the formation of individual resilience based on the consequences of different AI usage behaviours. Study 1 uses text mining to detect individual resilience based on the experience with AI. We identify not only individual resilience but also family resilience. Study 2, based on the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, collects online survey data from personal intelligent assistant users to investigate the transformation mechanism of AI usage behaviours to individual resilience. Drawing upon the conservation of resources theory, routine and infusion use are considered two levels of resource investments to strengthen the different degrees of individual resilience by coping responses (task-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance coping). The findings confirm the differences between routine and infusion use in the formation of individual resilience, mediated by both task-focused and emotion-focused coping, without the mediating role of avoidance coping. Our research provides enlightenment for researchers and practitioners on building resilience and improving performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

COVID-19 related distress and sleep health among trauma-exposed South Asians: Does generational status matter?

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in substantial changes in individual and socio-economic factors that may negatively impact sleep health. We examined associations between COVID-19 related distress and sleep among trauma-exposed South Asian adults in the United States. Since a health advantage among foreign-born individuals has been previously noted in the literature (the 'immigrant paradox'), we also explored if generational status (number of generations one's family has been in the U.S.) moderated associations between COVID-19 related distress and sleep health. Participants were 196 trauma-exposed South Asian adults residing in the U.S. (54% male, 63% U.S.-born citizens, average age = 34.51 years), who completed measures of generational status, COVID-19 related distress, trauma exposure, sleep-related impairment (SRI), and sleep disturbances. Greater COVID-19 distress was associated with more sleep disturbances (b = 0.15, p < 0.001) and SRI (b = 0.24, p < 0.001). Generational status was not associated with sleep, nor did it modify associations between COVID-19 distress and sleep. Findings highlight the potential importance of developing interventions to reduce stress and sleep difficulties during the pandemic. Our results did not support the immigration paradox. Future studies are needed to better understand the role of generational status on sleep health across immigrant subgroups.

Character-enabled improvisation and the new normal: A paradox perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified and exacerbated organizational paradoxes felt by individuals largely because of the nostalgia individuals feel for the "old” normal while facing the need to let go in order to create a "new” normal. We position improvisation as a synthesis-type approach to working through the paradoxes of the pandemic. Furthermore, we look at individual differences that underpin the ability to improvise, and identify that it is the strength of character and character-based judgment of the individual that enables the enactment of a focal context, the choice to improvise, and the act of effectively improvising to work through paradoxes. Linking character to improvisation, and, vice versa, improvisation to the development of character, reveals the importance of dimensions such as courage, humility, temperance, transcendence, humanity, and collaboration in the practice of improvisation. © The Author(s) 2022.

Pandemic, power and paradox: Improvising as the New Normal during the COVID-19 crisis

The global COVID-19 pandemic made salient various paradoxical tensions, such as the trade-offs between individual freedom and collective safety, between short term and long-term consequences of adaptation to the new conditions, the power implications of sameness (COVID-19 was non-discriminatory in that all were affected in one way or another) and difference (yet not all were affected equally due to social differences), whereas most businesses became poorer under lockdown, others flourished;while significant numbers of workers were confined to home, some could not return home;some thrived while working from home as others were challenged by the erosion of barriers between their private and working lives. Rapid improvisational responding and learning at all levels of society presented itself as a naturally occurring research opportunity for improvisation scholars. This improvisation saw the arrival of a ‘New Normal', eventually defined as ‘learning to live with COVID-19'. The five articles in this special issue capture critical aspects of improvisation, paradoxes and power made salient by the COVID-19 pandemic in contexts ranging from higher-education, to leadership, to medical care and virtue ethics. In their own ways, each breaks new ground by contributing novel insights into improvisation scholarship. © The Author(s) 2022.

Exploring the nexus between microlevel and contextual influencers on women leaders' paradox mindset

Purpose>Women leaders struggle with the persistent paradoxical expectations. Literature suggests that a paradox mindset helps to leverage these tensions. This study aims to understand the nexus between the microfoundations of individual women leaders' experiences, their responses and the organisational context, which enables or hinders their paradox mindset.Design/methodology/approach>This study adopted a qualitative approach by conducting semistructured interviews with 14 women, all senior leaders in corporate South Africa.Findings>The results reveal the interaction in the nexus between, firstly, women leaders' authenticity and awareness as key anchors that enable them to adopt a paradox mindset and, secondly, the organisation's role in creating hindrances or opportunities to leverage tensions. Women leaders in our sample applied one of two strategies: they either adapted to the environment or curated a subenvironment. This study shows that, if done authentically, through her own agency, a woman can influence interactions that make it easier to manage tensions within her environment, especially those created by negative performance evaluation because of unconscious institutional gender bias.Research limitations/implications>The extent to which the findings of this research can be generalised is constrained by the selected research context.Originality/value>This research contributes to the literature on paradox theory by revealing organisational contextual influencers, such as institutional bias in negative performance evaluation, which hinders a woman leader's opportunity to be hired or promoted. These organisational influences also interact with women leaders' ability to embrace paradox and internally leverage agentic and communal tensions.

Communication Technology and Social Support to Navigate Work/Life Conflict During Covid-19 and Beyond

Drawing on a national survey of 447 U.S. workers who transitioned to remote work during COVID-19, this study examined how different types of communication technologies (CTs) used for work and private life were associated with work/life conflicts and perceptions of social support across different relationship types (coworker, family, and friends). Findings indicated that work/life conflicts became aggravated when the use of CTs violated relational norms (e.g., mobile texting with coworkers and emailing with family and friends). On the other hand, uses of CTs that were perceived to offer access to social support (e.g., instant messaging with coworkers and friends) were related to lower work/life conflict. Social media (e.g., Facebook) had a direct relationship to higher work/life conflict, but an indirect relationship to lower work/life conflict through social support. Overall, findings suggest that individuals attempt to create work/life boundaries by selecting specific CTs when physical work/life boundaries are collapsed.