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PurposeIn response to stakeholder concerns for social responsibility in global supply chains, companies have implemented codes of conduct in outsourcing activities. The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically how a multinational buying office implements its social responsibility and the codes in purchasing activities in the Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta (HK/PRD) region.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reports a case study that reviews the experience from three sourcing projects of a multinational buying office in the HK/PRD region. This company has successfully adopted purchasing social responsibility (PSR) practices for years.FindingsThe results show that the environment, ethics, health and safety, and human rights are more important than diversity, community, and financial responsibility in PSR practices in the HK/PRD region. The benefits of adopting PSR include reduced operating costs, enhanced brand image and reputation, increased sales and customer loyalty, increased productivity and quality, increased ability to attract and retain employees, and risk management. The challenges include the cost of compliance, communication with uneducated workers, conflicts among different codes of conduct and sub‐contracting.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper reflects the recent PSR situation in the HK/PRD region, primarily giving new insights for future research.Originality/valueThe paper provides empirical evidence on PSR implementation in the HK/PRD region, proposing seven core/non‐core dimensions of PSR and identifying the benefits and obstacles to its implementation. The paper provides academic and managerial guidelines for implementing PSR practices in the HK/PRD region.

The focus of this paper is the implementation and utilization of an inexpensive heterogeneous multicomputer cluster for the study of load balancing techniques. The basic conclusion of the paper is that excellent performance is possible provided that the proper choices among various parameters and implementation options of the load balancing schemes are employed.

Experience and big amount of data are generated and used in risk and crisis management. Structuring the volume of data and learning from them are still big challenges to be faced to help actors either in decision-making or in operations. Data collection, for instance, is an important aspect, and sometimes, there can be overemphasis on using raw social media data for crisis informatics without adopting appropriate methodologies for cleaning the data and ensuring it is applicable to the situation at hand (i.e. assessing topical relevance). In recent years, this has become even more important with growing recognition that bots can often wield undue influence in social media, especially Twitter. Several techniques have been developed in the last years in Artificial Intelligence (AI) study and Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) that can be applied to face these challenges. The combination of these tools and methods continue to show promising results in improving sharing of information in crisis and emergency contexts.There are many approaches of AI, such as neural networks and ontologies that can be used to support risk and crisis management.Machine learning, in particular, is an approach that gives "computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed" by learning from and making predictions from data. Also, the use of symbolic AI approaches, like ontologies as a knowledge representation mechanism, offers many advantages in information retrieval and analysis.In addition, semantic models of knowledge allow users as well as systems to clearly understand what is happening in a crisis situation and can provide support to decision makers. This special issue mainly addresses the application of semantic models and AI methods and tools trying to answer to users' needs in the scope of risk management, crisis response, prediction, modelling and mitigation. According to a policy forum article in Science in 2016, (Palen & Anderson, 2016) describe crisis informatics as a "multidisciplinary field combining computing and social science knowledge of disasters." The special issue covers a broad range of topics that fall within, and even expand the scope of, crisis informatics. The articles are particularly timely today, as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, and millions of infections. Although this issue was prepared before the COVID-19 crisis struck, many of the individual topics covered by an international set of authors are highly relevant to the situation unfolding before our eyes.

Guanine-rich DNA can fold into secondary structures known as G-quadruplexes (G4s). G4s can form from a single DNA-strand (intramolecular) or from multiple DNA-strands (intermolecular), but studies on their biological functions have been often limited to intramolecular G4s, owing to the low probability of intermolecular G4s to form within genomic DNA. Herein, we report that the endogenous protein Cockayne Syndrome B (CSB) binds with picomolar affinity to intermolecular G4s, whilst displaying negligible binding towards intramolecular structures. We also observed that CSB can selectively resolve intermolecular G4s in an ATP independent fashion. Our study demonstrates that intermolecular G4s formed within ribosomal DNA are natural substrates for CSB, strongly suggesting that these structures might be formed in the nucleolus of living cells. Given that CSB loss of function elicits premature ageing phenotypes, our findings indicate that the interaction between CSB and ribosomal DNA intermolecular G4s is essential to maintain cellular homeostasis.

Purpose:The main objective of the analysis was to investigate the attitudes of the local community towards tourists and tourism in Madeira, and their opinions on sustainability, smart city concept and the impact of tourism on the island. The survey also explored the expectations of both groups towards further development of tourism on the island and sought suggestions for solutions and opportunities for sustainable tourism development. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research presented in this paper was conducted in April 2021. It was addressed to both permanent residents of Madeira and tourists visiting the island. A total of 391 people participated in the survey (diagnostic survey, questionnaire). Based on the collected opinions, the preferences observed in the surveyed groups were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These recommendations have broad implementation potential, both in relation to Madeira and other tourist locations with similar social, economic, and environmental conditions. Findings: The catalogue of problem areas is very extensive and includes phenomena of various character and intensity. The concept of sustainable tourism, which is the key reference point for the presented research, can be perceived as a certain ideal, being a source of inspiration and a tool for searching for optimal (taking into consideration interests of various groups) development paths for a given area. Practical implications: Based on the collected data, the preferences observed among the respondents were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These recommendations have broad implementation potential, both in relation to Madeira and other tourist locations with similar social, economic, and environmental conditions.

Purpose:The main objective of the article was to analyze the conditions and factors that determine the tourist development of Madera Island in relation to the assumptions of the sustainable development concept and the smart city concept. Moreover, the conducted own research made it possible to identify key problem areas related to the development of tourism in the discussed area, formulated by representatives of the local community and tourists. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research presented in this paper was conducted in April 2021. It was addressed to both permanent residents of Madeira and tourists visiting the island. A total of 391 people participated in the survey (diagnostic survey, questionnaire). Based on the collected opinions, the preferences observed in the surveyed groups were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These recommendations have broad implementation potential, both in relation to Madeira and other tourist locations with similar social, economic, and environmental conditions. Findings: Areas of strong tourist reception are usually a common ground for actions of various institutions, environments, and people representing different and sometimes conflicting interests. The Portuguese Island of Madeira described in the paper is a perfect example: in a relatively small area, one can find both areas that require protection due to the valuable natural and cultural assets, areas of agricultural and industrial character (on a small scale), and places with strongly developed tourism and tourism-related infrastructure. Ongoing discussions on the future of Madeira indicate that the economy based on sustainable tourism and smart city concept will play a key role. Own research made visible that the catalogue of problem areas is very extensive and includes phenomena of various character and intensity. The concepts of sustainable tourism and smart city, which are the key reference point for the presented research, can be perceived as a certain ideal, being a source of inspiration and a tool for searching for optimal (taking into consideration interests of various groups) development paths for a given area. Practical Implications: Based on the collected data, the preferences observed among the respondents were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These