Aim/Purpose: This paper examines the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on professional skills in organizations and explores strategies to address the resulting challenges. Background: The rapid integration of AI across various sectors is automating tasks and reducing cognitive workload, leading to increased productivity but also raising concerns about job displacement. Successfully adapting to this transformation requires organizations to implement new working models and develop strategies for upskilling and reskilling their workforce. Methodology: This review analyzes recent research and practice on AI's impact on human skills in organizations. We identify key trends in how AI is reshaping professional competencies and highlight the crucial role of transversal skills in this evolving landscape. The paper also discusses effective strategies to support organizations and guide workers through upskilling and reskilling processes. Contribution: The paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge by examining recent trends in AI's impact on professional skills and workplaces. It emphasizes the importance of transversal skills and identifies strategies to support organizations and workers in meeting upskilling and reskilling challenges. Our findings suggest that investing in workforce development is crucial for ensuring that the benefits of AI are equitably distributed among all stakeholders. Findings: Our findings indicate that organizations must employ a proactive approach to navigate the AI-driven transformation of the workplace. This approach involves mapping the transversal skills needed to address current skill gaps, helping workers identify and develop skills required for effective AI adoption, and implementing processes to support workers through targeted training and development opportunities. These strategies are essential for ensuring that workers' attitudes and mental models towards AI are adaptable and prepared for the changing labor market. Recommendation for Researchers: We emphasize the need for researchers to adopt a transdisciplinary approach when studying AI's impact on the workplace. Given AI's complexity and its far-reaching implications across various fields including computer science, mathematics, engineering, and behavioral and social sciences, integrating diverse perspectives is crucial for a holistic understanding of AI's applications and consequences. Future Research: Looking ahead, further research is needed to deepen our understanding of AI's impact on human skills, particularly the role of soft skills in AI adoption within organizations. Future studies should also address the challenges posed by Industry 5.0, which is expected to bring about even more extensive integration of new technologies and automation.

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of pre-listening activities on Arabic-speaking EFL learners’ comprehension of spoken texts. Background: This study aims to contribute to the current research and to increase our understanding about the effectiveness of pre-listening activities. Specifically, this study seeks to clarify some of the research in this area that seems to be incongruent. Methodology: The study investigates two widely implemented activities in second language (L2) classrooms: vocabulary preteaching and content previewing. Ninety-three native-Arabic speaking EFL learners, whose proficiently levels were beginner, intermediate, or advanced, were randomly assigned to a control group or one of three experimental groups: the vocabulary-only (VO) group, content-only (CO) group, or vocabulary + content (VC) group. Each of the experimental groups received one of the treatments to determine which pre-listening activity was more effective and whether additional pre-listening activities yield additional comprehension. Listening comprehension of the aural text was measured by a test comprising 13 multiple-choice and true-false questions. Contribution: The present study provided additional explanations regarding the long-standing contradicting results about vocabulary preteaching and content previewing. Findings: The results showed that pre-listening activities had a positive impact on Arabic-speaking EFL learners’ listening comprehension, with the VO group significantly increasing their scores on the posttest compared to those of the control or other groups. Vocabulary preteaching was particularly beneficial for more advanced learners. With regard to which pre-listening activity contributed the most to better listening comprehension, vocabulary preteaching was the most effective. Content previewing did not increase comprehension for the CO group and had no additional benefit for the VC group. Recommendation for Researchers: This paper recommends that researchers explore new pre-listening activities that have never studied. Future research should be extended to include other nations and contextual situations to extend our knowledge about the effect of pre-listening activities. As far as listening comprehension can only be achieved when listeners are attentive and engaged, the listening text should be interesting and the lexical coverage of the listening text should be appropriate for all participants. Future Research: The results are to be interpreted carefully because they are limited by the students’ L2 proficiency, demographic, and cultural backgrounds (i.e., first language (L1) proficiency, age, gender, Middle Eastern culture). Results might be quite different if the study was conducted with different populations who have different life and language learning experiences (Vandergrift & Baker, 2015). Therefore, the results of this study indicate there is much room for improvement and a need for further research.

Female corporate leadership has drawn increasing attention from academia and practitioners. We contribute to the literature by examining the impact of CEO succession with gender change—i.e., a male CEO succeeded by a female or vice versa. We propose that due to gender differences in executive leadership positions, CEO succession with gender change may amplify the disruption of the CEO succession process and thus adversely affect post-succession firm performance and increase the likelihood of successor early departure. Using data from 3,320 CEO successions in companies listed in China's Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 1997 to 2010, we find evidence to support this argument. We also find that the negative (positive) impact of male-to-female succession on firm performance (the likelihood of successor early departure) may be weakened by positive organizational attitudes toward female leadership as indicated by the presence of other female leaders on the firm's board of directors and/or top management team, and the successor's inside origin.

Carlo Lipizzi’s Societal impacts of artificial intelligence and machine learning offers a critical and comprehensive analysis of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning’s effects on society. This book provides a balanced perspective, cutting through the

IN the recent announcement of the Budget 2025 , the Malaysian government unveiled a substantial enhancement to the i-Saraan programme.

This improvement entails increasing incentives from 15% to 20%, with a maximum annual contribution of RM500.

The primary objective of this initiative is to promote retirement savings among informal workers and individuals with variable incomes, particularly those engaged in the gig economy.

This strategic move is particularly significant in light of Malaysia’s rapidly ageing society and the financial challenges confronting self-employed and gig economy workers.

The gig economy in Malaysia has witnessed significant expansion over the past decade, attracting a substantial portion of the workforce, including young adults and individuals seeking alternative employment arrangements.

While offering flexibility and independence, this sector presents several challenges, particularly regarding financial security and retirement planning.

Gig workers often lack the benefits and protections associated with traditional employment, such as employer-sponsored retirement plans, health insurance and job security, leading to financial instability and hindered ability to save consistently for the future. Recent data underscores the limited participation of gig workers in Malaysia’s Social Security Organisation (Socso), highlighting the neeed for tailored solutions to support this growing segment of the workforce.

As Malaysia’s population ages, the importance of accumulating sufficient retirement savings cannot be overstated. The anticipated rise in healthcare and long-term care costs underscores the essential need for individuals to possess adequate funds to support themselves during their later years.

Many gig workers may struggle to afford necessities and healthcare in old age without proper savings. The i-Saraan programme, administered by the Employees Provident Fund, aims to address this issue by providing a platform for informal workers to save for retirement. The programme offers a government incentive to match a percentage of the contributions made by participants, thereby encouraging more people to save.

The recent increase in incentives for the i-Saraan programme represents a strategic effort to stimulate participation and savings among gig workers. By raising the matching contribution from 15% to 20%, the government aims to enhance the attractiveness and benefits of the programme.

This enhancement implies that for every RM100 contributed by a participant, the government will add RM20, up to a maximum of RM500 annually.

This increase in incentives is expected to yield several positive impacts: higher incentives are likely to attract more gig workers to join the programme, increased participation will assist more individuals in building a financial cushion for their retirement, and more significant savings will encourage participants to contribute more regularly and consistently.

By accumulating more savings, gig workers can attain heightened financial security in their retirement years, reducing their reliance on government assistance and family support.

Malaysia’s ageing population significantly challenges the country’s social and economic systems. With the anticipated increase in the proportion of elderly citizens, there will be heightened demand for healthcare services, long-term care and social support.

Ensuring that all workforce segments, including gig workers, are financially prepared for retirement is imperative.

The i-Saraan programme, with its enhanced incentives, plays a pivotal role in this context. By encouraging gig workers to save for retirement, it will help alleviate some of the pressures associated with an ageing society. This will promote a culture of financial responsibility and long-term planning among informal workers.

While enhancing the i-Saraan programme represents a positive step, additional measures can be taken to support gig workers further.

Enhancing awareness about the i-Saraan programme and its benefits is crucial, as many gig workers may not know how to participate. Targeted campaigns can help bridge this knowledge gap.

Simplifying the process of enrolling in the i-Saraan programme and making contributions will encourage more gig workers to participate.

In addition to the matching contributions, other incentives such as tax breaks or additional government grants can further motivate gig workers to save.

Developing a broader social protection framework encompassing health insurance, unemployment benefits and other safety nets for gig workers will provide a more holistic approach to their financial security.

The increase in incentives represents a commendable initiative addressing the unique challenges that gig workers face in Malaysia.

By enhancing the i-Saraan programme, the government is taking a proactive stance in supporting the financial well-being of gig workers and addressing the broader societal implications of an ageing population.

The writer is a research fellow at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

DONALD Trump’s victory in the 2024 US presidential election has raised global concerns about how his economic policies may impact countries like Malaysia.

With an “America First” approach focused on protecting domestic interests, the Trump administration is expected to reshape international trade, shift investment flows and influence geopolitical relationships.

For Malaysia, this outcome presents not only challenges but also opportunities in key economic sectors, including trade, foreign investment and commodities.

Trump is anticipated to continue protectionist policies that prioritise US jobs and domestic production. His proposal to impose a 10% import tariff on all goods entering the US aims to reduce reliance on foreign products and bolster domestic manufacturing.

Additionally, Trump’s plan to impose tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese products could have significant implications for Malaysia, one of the major exporters of electronic products and components to the US. If high tariffs are applied to Chinese goods, Malaysian products incorporating Chinese components could also be impacted, potentially diminishing US demand for Malaysian exports.

While this situation presents risks, it also provides opportunities as companies diversify supply chains away from China. Malaysia benefitted from the “China+1” strategy during Trump’s first term, as exports to the US increased amid US-China trade tensions.

Malaysia’s semiconductor industry, a focus of large investments from multinational companies such as Intel and Infineon, may continue to attract interest as a stable manufacturing base.

Currently, Malaysia holds around 13% of the global market in chip packaging and testing, making it a favourable location for companies seeking to expand operations outside of China. These conditions indicate Malaysia’s potential to further establish itself as a manufacturing hub if it can maintain political stability and investor-friendly economic policies.

The energy sector is also likely to be affected. Trump’s pro-oil stance could lead to increased US production and exports of fossil fuels. Should global oil prices rise, Malaysia, as an oil exporter, stands to benefit from higher national revenue.

However, rising oil prices also carry inflationary risks, as increased energy costs could drive up production costs and consumer prices domestically. While the energy sector may gain, higher energy costs could pressure consumer purchasing power and escalate operational costs for local industries.

To maximise these potential gains, Malaysia will need to balance these impacts on the consumer sector and ensure monetary policies support price stability.

The Malaysian commodity sector, particularly palm oil, faces potential challenges as well. During Trump’s first term, the US imposed import restrictions on Malaysian palm oil companies such as FGV Holdings and Sime Darby Plantation over allegations of forced labour. These restrictions affected Malaysian palm oil exports to the US, reducing revenue and harming the country’s image as a responsible producer.

Should similar policies persist, Malaysia will need to strengthen sustainable labour practices and meet international standards to retain access to global markets and protect its reputation as an ethical producer.

Trump’s policies could bring added uncertainty to Malaysia’s capital markets and the ringgit’s value. With US interest rates currently at 4.75%-5.00%, any influence Trump may exert on the Federal Reserve to raise rates could lead global investors to favour US assets, potentially causing capital outflows from Malaysia.

In 2023, Malaysia saw a 6.8% decline in foreign equity inflows, and the ringgit depreciated by around 8% against the US dollar. This shift reduces liquidity in local capital markets, and foreign investors may approach Malaysian equities with greater caution, especially if Trump’s policies introduce additional tariffs or trade restrictions.

As demand for the US dollar rises, the ringgit may face continued downward pressure. A weaker ringgit could increase import costs, particularly in vital sectors like food and technology, compounding domestic inflationary pressures, which currently stand at 2.8%.

To address these challenges, Malaysia needs a strong risk management strategy to maintain market stability and support the ringgit amid growing uncertainties.

In addition, Trump’s protectionist stance may directly impact Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Malaysia. As a manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, Malaysia could see reduced FDI if the US pursues an aggressive stance on countries with significant trade surpluses.

Trump’s emphasis on protecting US jobs and domestic economic interests may lead to decreased investment from US companies in Malaysia.

Concurrently, prolonged US-China trade tensions could make investors more cautious about Malaysia, which may be perceived as politically and economically vulnerable. Any decline in FDI could affect job creation, technology growth and Malaysia’s long-term economic stability.

Furthermore, Trump’s victory raises concerns about the future of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (Ipef). Trump has previously expressed a desire to withdraw from trade agreements like Ipef, which he sees as “another TPP”. If this happens, Malaysia may face challenges in maintaining market access and regional economic integration.

To prepare, Malaysia must diversify its trade partnerships, strengthen local industries and foster growth in resilient sectors. Malaysia’s involvement in Ipef reflects its commitment to regional economic integration, which could help mitigate the negative effects of US protectionist policies.

In summary, Trump’s victory could have significant implications for Malaysia’s economy. Protectionist policies and prolonged trade tensions could disrupt global supply chains, increase market uncertainty and challenge Malaysia’s economic growth.

Malaysia must be prepared with sustainable and adaptable strategies to tackle these challenges while capitalising on emerging opportunities to maintain economic resilience amid an increasingly complex global landscape.

The writer is a researcher and Islamic Finance consultant.
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

The debate over the principles of sound chess play has been an enjoyable conversation that's been going on for centuries. A civilized and essential voice in the debate was Czech-German GM and author Ludek Pachman, born 100 years ago this year.

The finger wag. The enormous smile. The unmistakable voice. Dikembe Mutombo played defense at a level and with a flair that few others in basketball history ever possessed, all among the many reasons why he's immortalized in the Hall of Fame.

Verizon Fios internet went out for four hours early Tuesday along a swathe of the East Coast, with thousands of customers reporting issues online.

The "Environmental research: Experiences on best practices towards Horizon 2020" conference will be held the 30th of May 2013 in Brussels at the Museum of Natural Sciences.  Organizers of the event are the APRE (Agency for the Promotion of European Research), and the ENVIMPACT consortium.

The event will gather European Commission representatives,  researchers, FP7 project's participants, governmental, academic and industrial stakeholders of the Central East European countries with the aim of presenting the current and future tools and trends for dissemination and exploitation of R&D results with a special focus on the thematic areas of research in air pollution, chemical pollution and environmental technologies, especially in the Central-Eastern European (CEE) countries.

The agenda of the conference and the press release are downloadable at the link: http://download.apre.it/envimpact_presskit1.zip

The registration is free, please register at http://www.envimpact.eu/index.cfm?action=article&publication_id=922

ENVIMPACT project has been launched on 1st January 2011. This initiative is funded by the European Commission under FP7, DG Research and Innovation, with the objectives to improve the current communication  and dissemination of environmental research results deriving from Central-Eastern European (CEE) countries.

Research in Nature Climate Change uses data on 50,000 common plants and animals to predict worldwide range losses without urgent action to limit emissions

Climate change could dramatically reduce the geographic ranges of thousands of common plant and animal species during this century, according to research using data made freely available online through GBIF.
The information on the current location of common species of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians was taken from around 170 million individual data records published freely online through GBIF by some 200 different institutions around the world. The records include museum specimens, data from scientific expeditions and the observations of thousands of volunteer ‘citizen scientists’.
One of the co-authors of the study, Jeff Price of the University of East Anglia’s School of Environmental Sciences, United Kingdom, said: "Without free and open access to massive amounts of data such as those made available online through GBIF, no individual researcher is able to contact every country, every museum, every scientist holding the data and pull it all together. So this research would not be possible without GBIF and its global community of researchers and volunteers who make their data freely available."
The lead author of the study, Dr Rachel Warren, also from UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences and the Tyndall Centre, said: "While there has been much research on the effect of climate change on rare and endangered species, little has been known about how an increase in global temperature will affect more common species."Our research predicts that climate change will greatly reduce the diversity of even very common species found in most parts of the world. This loss of global-scale biodiversity would significantly impoverish the biosphere and the ecosystem services it provides. The good news is that our research provides crucial new evidence of how swift action to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gases can prevent the biodiversity loss by reducing the amount of global warming to 2 degrees Celsius rather than 4 degrees. This would also buy time – up to four decades - for plants and animals to adapt to the remaining 2 degrees of climate change."

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) was initiated by the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) together with a group of editors and publishers of scholarly journals after a meeting in  December 2012 during the ASCB Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The document recognizes the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scientific research are evaluated.

DORA puts into question the use of Journal Impact Factor as a main tool for assessment, and proposes the consideration of various other factors towards more sophisticated and meaningful approaches. DORA is a worldwide initiative covering all scholarly disciplines.

To read the whole declaration, please follow the link: http://am.ascb.org/dora/

Published just recently, a new open access EU BON article discusses the need for additional research efforts beyond standard biodiversity monitoring to reconstruct the impacts of major anthropogenic pressures and to identify meaningful temporal baselines for biodiversity.

The article, published in Scientific Reports, reports on the temporal baselines that could be drawn from biodiversity monitoring schemes in Europe and compares those with the rise of important anthropogenic pressures.

With most biodiversity monitoring schemes initiated late in the 20th century, well after anthropogenic pressures had already reached half of their current magnitude, the team of scientists found that setting temporal baselines from biodiversity monitoring data would underestimate the full range of impacts of major anthropogenic pressures.

The authors stress that these limitations need to be explicitly acknowledged when designing management strategies and policies as they seriously constrain our ability to identify relevant conservation targets aimed at restoring or reversing biodiversity losses.

Find out more in the original research paper:

Mihoub J B, Henle K, Titeux N, Brotons L, Brummitt N A, Schmeller D S (2017) Setting temporal baselines for biodiversity: the limits of available monitoring data for capturing the full impact of anthropogenic pressures. Scientific Reports. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep41591

Europe’s regions are facing rising sea levels and more extreme weather, such as more frequent and more intense heatwaves, flooding, droughts and storms due to climate change, according to the latest European Environment Agency report published on 25 Jan 2017. The report assesses the latest trends and projections on climate change and its impacts across Europe and finds that better and more flexible adaptation strategies, policies and measures will be crucial to lessen these impacts.

Find a summary of the report's Key Findings, or download the full report.

In a recent article, I gave a broad account of the evolution of the violin with a particular focus on the work of the Cremona ... Read more

The post The Impact of Stradivarius on Violin Making appeared first on CMUSE.

How do you approach politics on dating apps? Share your experience with us.

The post Tell us: How has the 2024 election season impacted your dating life? appeared first on Boston.com.

Building on the Titan Impact 440, the best-selling airless paint sprayer in its class, Titan announces the launch of the Impact X 440 electric airless sprayer. This next-generation compact sprayer boasts new technologies as well as performance and productivity features that have only been available on larger sprayers – until now.

Gypsum panel product manufactures started receiving complaints that drywall screw heads did not seat properly when attaching AR/IR panels to 20-EQ studs.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, also announced an increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions and a huge rise in health spending

The new initiative was announced by the government in the Budget today

Participants at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance’s 2024 Fall Conference heard color forecasts from an expert in the field, who shared an exploration of trends emerging and evolving in the building products market over the next three to five years.

Awarded to a project that has had a substantial impact on national or international life

Awarded to the charity or social enterprise that has placed outcomes, rather than outputs, at the heart of its work and used impact reporting to bring about significant improvements to its beneficiaries

The youth cancer charity's report drew praise from around the sector last year, but it left it with a challenge: how to make it even better

The T-REX Flex Series Lean TRX443 is an ultra-lightweight impact glove with a super soft Hyperon shell for extreme comfort and 360 degrees of A4 cut resistance.

Rig Dog Xtreme are impact-resistant gloves designed to protect users from hand and finger injuries when working with hammers, tools and heavy machinery typical in the oil and gas industry.

Impact Demolition Gloves are built with enhanced TPR on the back of the fingertips and palms. With an ANSI/ISEA Level 2 impact rating, the gloves offer protection for users at high risk of hand and finger injury.

The Corded Glove is hi-vis hand protection constructed of corded cotton and spandex. With a polyester liner, hook and loop, neoprene cuff, and thumb saddle, the glove is perfect for oil rigging; mining; framing; and mechanical, automotive and electrical applications.

The TRX883 glove delivers Level 3 impact force protection, according to the ANSI/ISEA 138 standard, while allowing for nine times greater airflow than a standard impact glove.

G-Tek PolyKor Seamless Knit Gloves with D3O Impact Printed Technology provide both ANSI/ISEA 138 Level 3 impact protection and a low-profile design, offering unrivaled dexterity and hand mobility.

The TRX449 offers both low-profile impact protection and a crinkle latex palm, providing defense against impact and cut hazards while giving users comfort in wet and dry working conditions. The glove is 40% lighter than a standard impact glove.

London — A new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers details how industries can adapt to future heat waves and rising temperatures.

Arlington, VA — A new online tool provides a look at the economic and safety impacts of the safety equipment industry last year in the United States.

Richland, WA — Spending just three days working a night shift “can knock the body’s biological rhythms off course, disrupting important processes related to blood glucose regulation, energy metabolism and inflammation,” researchers from Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory say.

Washington – The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is currently conducting audits of three OSHA programs, with two other audits planned, OIG stated in its semiannual report to Congress.

Security professionals examine the evolution of analytics in security applications.

As monitoring companies take advantage of new video technology and grow their businesses to include video monitoring services, it is important to understand that there is a significant difference between installing a video system and a monitoring-ready video system.

Artificial intelligence, analytics and other sensing technologies are expected to play a key role in responding to intrusion and other life safety alarm events.

GSX in Orlando, held just before Hurricane Helene, showcased over 200 educational sessions and 500 exhibitors, emphasizing a shift from traditional product-focused displays to innovative solutions that leverage data for improved efficiency and predictive security management.

What do I need to know about protecting my employees’ hands from impact?

The T-REX TRX500 Impact Glove features flexible TPR and a gel-padded palm to create a shield against impacts. This form-fitting construction delivers comfort and dexterity. A NitriX Grip Technology palm coating ensures a steady grip while channeling away oils. Sporting an aggressive color, the T-REX delivers ANSI Level 1 cut resistance, ANSI Level 3 abrasion resistance and ANSI Level 4 puncture resistance.

Magid Glove and Safety Mfg. Co. LLC

The ProFlex 925CPWP Thermal Waterproof Cut, Puncture and Dorsal Impact-Reducing Glove combines an all-Armortex palm for Level 3 cut and Level 2 puncture protection with 40 grams of 3M Thinsulate insulation and a Hipora waterproof, windproof insert liner for warmth in cold, wet applications. Additionally, the glove features molded TPR armor on the knuckles and fingers of the dorsal side of the hand.

Ergodyne

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has announced plans for a pilot program to evaluate the safety and security impacts of a paperless hazard communications system for shippers and carriers.

The technology landscape for smart consumer appliances is undergoing a profound transformation, guided in part by multiple legislative changes set forth by the Biden Administration.

In Episode 30, the S+H editorial team dives into the August issue’s feature story on effective incident investigations, and discusses the legal issues surrounding impairment in the workplace.

Washington — Although initial data suggests that marijuana legalization has “negatively impacted highway safety,” it’s still “too soon to calculate” an overall relationship between the two, according to a new report.