Repository logo
 

Business, Enterprise & Management

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/5

Browse

Author: search.filters.author.Paladini, StefaniaStart date: 2020

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 22
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A deep learning pipeline for age prediction from vocalisations of the domestic feline
    (Nature Research, 2025-10-03) van Toor, Astrid; Qazi, Nadeem; Paladini, Stefania
    Accurate age estimation is essential for advancing interspecies communication but remains a challenge across non-human species. This study presents the first dataset of domestic feline vocalisations specifically designed for age prediction and introduces a novel deep learning pipeline for this purpose. By applying transfer learning with models like VGGish, YAMNet, and Perch, we demonstrate the potential for automated age classification, with VGGish achieving the best results. Our findings hold significant potential for applications in veterinary care and wildlife conservation, building on existing research and pushing forward the boundaries of automated age classification within digital bioacoustics. Future work could explore improving model generalisability and robustness, potentially expanding its application across species.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Near Space Instability. Geopolitical Tensions, Debris Crisis, and Cyberattacks
    (Springer Nature, 2025-05-14) Paladini, Stefania; Jahankhani, Hamid; Issac, Biju
    Never before Near Space, that portion of outer space closest to Earth and crucial for human activities, has been under threat like in present days. There are several factors responsible for the current status of things, but three of them (geopolitics, debris and cyberthreats) are emerging as the most critical in terms of impact and long-term implications. What is more important, those factors are now colliding, with state-sponsored cyberattacks in outer space that risks exacerbating the debris crisis. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate how geopolitical tensions are pushing existing criticalities such as the debris crisis in the Earth Orbit and the growing threat of cyberattacks to satellite and ground space infrastructure toward an unprecedent level of tensions. Building on the analysis of existing datasets, it will present some cases for discussion and attempts a scenario analysis for the short-medium term.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Oltre le telecomunicazioni. Sfide e Opportunita’ della New Space Economy”
    (Callive-Giano Editore, 2025-02) Paladini, Stefania
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    SohoNet: A Novel Social Honeynet Framework for Detecting Social Bots in Online Social Networks
    (AKADEMIA BARU PUBLISHING (M) SDN BHD, 2024-12-16) Ong, Yew Chuan; Paladini, Stefania; Alifan, Belal; Sambas, Aceng; Alwi, Sharifah Sumayyah Engku; Sedek, Nur Syakirah Mohd
    Online social networks (OSNs) are increasingly threatened by social bots – software-controlled accounts that mimic human users for various purposes. In this paper, we propose SohoNet, a novel social honeynet designed to identify, monitor, and detect these malicious entities. This innovative approach improves upon existing research by integrating multiple honeypots with a semi-automatic label engine, thereby significantly enhancing the accuracy of social bot detection. We deployed SohoNet on Platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to analyze activities during the 2022 Malaysian general election over a 14-day campaigning period. Our results show that the semi-automatic label engine successfully auto-labeled 73% of the profiles captured by SohoNet with a moderately high True Positive Rate (TPR) (0.75). Furthermore, SohoNet's overall performance (0.856), measured based on precision and capture rates, surpassed that of existing social honeypots. These findings demonstrate that SohoNet is an effective tool for detecting social bots, particularly in politically sensitive environments. However, the policy of cutting access to X API, along with the costly paid tiers introduced, poses significant challenges for future research as it restricts access to vital data and diminishes the ability to track and analyze bot behavior over time. Future work will aim to extend SohoNet's application across various OSNs to enhance its adaptability and utility.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Case for Space Sustainability: Crowded Orbits, Debris Crisis, and Global Space Governance
    (Roma TrE-Press, 2024-10) Paladini, Stefania; Zolea, Sirio
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    The role of leadership and cultural barriers in the adoption of lean six sigma in clinical pharmacy practice and medicine waste reduction. The case of NHS-UK
    (Emerald, 2024-06-28) Saha, Krishnendu; Bhavesh Patel; Paladini, Stefania
    Purpose This study investigates the role of leadership and cultural transformation in facilitating Lean Six Sigma (LSS) practices in clinical pharmacy settings to reduce medicine waste within the UK National Health Services (NHS). Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review on Lean Six Sigma in health care was conducted to develop an analytical framework. This was followed by a qualitative case study of an English NHS trust to test the framework, exploring pharmacists' adoption of LSS practices and their impact on staff behaviour, focussing on leadership decisions and organisational culture. Findings The research highlights the significance of leadership’s prioritisation in waste reduction efforts and its influence on staff engagement. It also examines the intricate relationship between leadership decisions, education and training, resource allocation, and the prevailing clinical culture, which shapes pharmacists' behaviours and attitudes towards LSS practices and waste reduction. Research limitations/implications The study’s focus on a single NHS trust limits the generalisability of the findings, suggesting the need for further research across different healthcare settings. Practical implications The study recommends a cultural transformation, earlier training, and reformation in service strategy to enhance the adoption of LSS practices and contribute to a more sustainable future for the wider health services. Social implications Effective medicine waste management prevents harm and helps address the current NHS medicine shortage. The NHS can allocate resources efficiently, ensure timely treatment, and prepare for future disruptions by implementing the proposed framework. Originality/value We developed a leadership model for the NHS to reduce medicine waste, offering a novel approach to addressing the challenge of medicine waste through leadership and cultural transformation.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    The relationship between periodontal disease and cancer: Insights from a Systematic Literature Network Analysis
    (Elsevier, 2024-06-14) Villar, Alice; Mendes, Bruna; Viègas, Mirna; de Aquino Alexandre, Ana Léa; Paladini, Stefania; Cossatis, João
    This paper investigates the relationship between periodontal disease and various cancer types. It provides a comprehensive overview of the existing knowledge about the interaction between periodontal disease and carcinogenesis, explores the underlying biological mechanisms of this connection, and consider the impact of these findings on healthcare practices and future research directions. Utilizing Systematic Literature Network Analysis, which combines bibliometric analysis with Systematic Literature Review, this study analyzes 164 documents from 2000 to 2023. Focus is placed on the 38 most globally cited papers, enabling a targeted and comprehensive analysis of the predominant research within this scope. This review highlights that colorectal, oral, pancreatic, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers have consistent associations with periodontal disease. On the other hand, hematological, breast and prostate cancers show associations with periodontal disease, but these links are less pronounced and more variable, indicating the need for targeted research in these domains. These insights emphasize the necessity for a multidisciplinary healthcare approach, recognizing the systemic implications of periodontal disease. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Innovation intermediaries and emerging digital technologies [Editorial]
    (Elsevier, 2024-04-30) Colovic, Ana; Caloffi, Annalisa; Rossi, Federica; Paladini, Stefania; Bagherzadeh, Mehdi
    Digital technologies have brought about fundamental changes to innovation intermediaries’ business models, and the ways in which they facilitate innovation and the adoption of these technologies. Digital technologies have also stimulated the emergence of non-human intermediaries such as crowdsourcing platforms. Yet knowledge is lacking on how intermediaries and intermediation are changing under the influence of digital technologies. The special issue on Innovation intermediaries and emerging digital technologies was designed to contribute to filling this gap. In this editorial, we reflect on these major developments and introduce the articles published in this special issue, which advance knowledge on how intermediaries contribute to the adoption of digital technologies, how they respond to technological change, and how they support intermediation for innovation. Building on the insights from this special issue, we suggest several avenues for future research.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Periodontal Disease and Alzheimer’s: Insights from a Systematic Literature Network Analysis
    (Springer, 2024-04-19) Villar, Alice; Paladini, Stefania; Cossatis, J
    Evidence This study investigated the relationship between periodontal disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) through a Systematic Literature Network Analysis (SLNA), combining bibliometric analysis with a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Analyzing 328 documents from 2000 to 2023, we utilized the Bibliometrix R-package for multiple bibliometric analysis. The SLR primarily centered on the 47 most globally cited papers, highlighting influential research. Our study reveals a positive correlation between Periodontal Disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), grounded in both biological plausibility and a comprehensive review of the literature, yet the exact causal relationship remains a subject of ongoing scientific investigation. We conducted a detailed analysis of the two main pathways by which PD could contribute to brain inflammation: (a) the Inflammatory Cascade, and (b) Microbial Involvement. The results of our SLNA emphasize the importance of oral health in reducing Alzheimer’s risk, suggesting that managing periodontal health could be an integral part of Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment strategies. The insights from this SLNA pave the way for future research and clinical practices, underscoring the necessity of interdisciplinary methods in both the investigation and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, our study presents a prospective research roadmap to support ongoing advancement in this field.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Orbit Bound. Predictors of ‘readiness to space’ and government support.
    (Elsevier, 2024-05-11) Paladini, Stefania; Barbieri, Davide
    The number of countries investing in the space sector grows by the day but the enabling factors are still either underestimated or misunderstood, due to the lack of comparative research, statistical analysis, and a few, dangerous misconceptions. Working with a panel dataset of forty years and employing methods such as survival analysis and predictive data mining (machine learning), the article shows that government support of civilian and commercial activities, more than military and defence, play a determinant role in the development of a national space sector and they are, eventually, the key factors for venturing to lower orbit and beyond.