bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On a reduced-order model-based optimization of rotor electro-thermal anti-icing systems
Authors: Targui Adam , Habashi Wagdi George
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Responsible for lift generation, the helicopter rotor is an essential component to protect against ice accretion. As rotorcraft present a smaller wing cross-section and a lower available onboard power compared to aircraft, electro-thermal heating pads are favored as they conform to the blades’ slender profile and limited volume. Their optimization is carried out here taking into account, for the first time, the highly three-dimensional (3D) nature of the flow and ice accretion, in contrast to the current state-of-the-art that is limited to two-dimensional (2D) airfoils.

Design/methodology/approach

Conjugate heat transfer simulation results are provided by the truly 3D finite element Navier–Stokes analysis package-ICE code, embedded in a proprietary rotorcraft simulation toolkit, with reduced-order modeling providing a time-efficient evaluation of the objective and constraint functions at every iteration. The proposed methodology optimizes heating pads extent and power usage and is versatile enough to address in a computationally efficient manner a wide variety of optimization formulations.

Findings

Low-error reduced-order modeling strategies are introduced to make the tackling of complex 3D geometries feasible in todays’ computers, with the developed framework applied to four problem formulations, demonstrating marked reductions to power consumption along with improved aerodynamics.

Originality/value

The present paper proposes a 3D framework for the optimization of electro-thermal rotorcraft ice protection systems, in hover and forward flight. The current state-of-the-art is limited to 2D airfoils.
Artificial intelligence, financial anxiety and cashier-less checkouts: a Saudi Arabian perspective
Authors: Ghazwani Salman , van Esch Patrick , Cui Yuanyuan (Gina) , Gala Prachi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of financial anxiety and convenience on the relation between cashier-less versus traditional checkouts and purchase intentions among Saudi Arabian consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

In an online experiment, 329 Saudi participants were randomly assigned to one of two checkout conditions (traditional vs. AI-enabled) in a between-subjects design and indicated their financial anxiety. Through moderation-of-process design, the authors examine and showcase that the effect of convenience leads to higher purchase intent for AI-enabled checkouts. Moreover, the authors examine financial anxiety as an underlying mechanism and show that for high-convenience consumers, this enacts higher purchase intent.

Findings

The effect of AI-enabled checkouts depends on consumers' convenience perception. High-convenience consumers prefer AI-enabled checkouts over traditional ones, whereas low-convenience consumers are indifferent. Based on the Roy adaptation model theoretical framework, this occurs because high-convenience consumers experience greater financial anxiety when using AI-enabled checkouts, which in turn leads to higher purchase intent.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the reactions of Saudi Arabian consumers toward cashier-less stores versus traditional stores. Interestingly, their intent to purchase increases, due to the financial anxiety they experience while encountering AI-enabled transactions. Due to the limited research of retailers going cashier less, little is known about consumer reactions and how they may differ culturally.
Hotel experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: high-touch versus high-tech
Authors: Davari Dori , Vayghan Saeed , Jang SooCheong (Shawn) , Erdem Mehmet
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to gain an understanding of hotel experiences during the pandemic by examining sentiments of guests posted online.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper incorporates the balance theory, in a dyadic system to analyze the ways in which guests were motivated to restore a position of balance during the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Qualitative content analysis was used to detect thematic patterns of hotel experiences based on examining online reviews shared by actual guests of two major hotel brands – one more closely associated with convenience-driven automation (high-tech) and the other known for providing more guest–employee interaction (high-touch).

Findings

The analysis of the reviews yielded six main themes: “purpose of visit,” “COVID safety concerns,” “technology adoption,” “COVID limitations,” “exceeded expectation” and “hospitality of staff.” Staff displaying a welcoming attitude was the main factor in creating a convivial experience for guests at both hotel brands, but the technology was not highlighted as much in guests’ reviews. Despite the pandemic, guests of both hotel brands had similar levels of enjoyment regarding their hotel experiences regardless of the high-touch or high-tech nature of the operations.

Research limitations/implications

User-generated content often reflects the opinions of those who are very satisfied or not satisfied at all. Different data collection techniques could be used to get a “big picture” view of the balance between high-touch and high-tech experiences.

Practical implications

The findings offer support to researchers and practitioners who advocate that high-touch and high-tech can indeed co-exist, and that these distinct service delivery modes do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Originality/value

This paper provides new trajectories that can broaden the approaches undertaken by hospitality/tourism scholars and practitioners based on user-generated content. This study is one of the first to adopt the lens of the balance theory, in a dyadic system, to investigate how guests may be psychologically motivated to balance their perceptions and expectations during a time of crisis.
Investigating the level of functional preparedness of selected Tehran hospitals in the face of biological events: a focus on COVID-19
Authors: Heidaranlu Esmail , Tavan Asghar , Aminizadeh Mohsen
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the functional readiness of selected hospitals in Tehran in the face of biological events focusing on the Coronavirus.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study is a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study, with the research population consisting of four hospitals in Tehran (Ministry of Health, Social Security, Azad and Military University). This study used data collection tools, standardized functional preparedness tools for hospitals using a biological approach and a standardized checklist of biological event preparations for the American Hospital Association. Interviews with the incident and disaster committee director and observation of each hospital’s existing documents, were used to collect data, which was then analyzed using SPSS-16 software.

Findings

According to the results, the average percentage of total hospital preparedness in biological events is 36.9%. With 53.3%, the selected military hospital has the most preparation, whereas the Ministry of Health has the lowest preparation with 28.3%. Surge capacity management and communication had the most remarkable preparedness rate of 68.75% (adequate preparedness), biological consultants, meeting management and post-disaster recovery had the lowest preparedness rate of 0% (extremely weak preparedness).

Practical implications

The average functional preparedness of selected hospitals in Tehran was assessed at an insufficient level in this study. Given the recurrence of disease waves, these results are helpful in increasing hospital preparedness for impending events. Improving preparedness in most areas, especially in post-disaster recovery seems necessary.

Originality/value

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to assess hospitals’ readiness to increase capacity and respond to this scourge. Few studies have been done in this field in the world. This study investigates this issue in the capital of Iran. The finding of this study suggest authorities’ attention to this issue and the creation of severe and prompt solutions and measures and the use of military hospital experiences to improve biological threat preparedness.
Measuring capacities and protecting communities: strengthening regional resilience in the flooded industrial area in Thailand
Authors: Nakasu Tadashi , Bula-Or Ruttiya , Anantsuksomsri Sutee , Duangkaew Sutpratana , Prathumchai Kullachart , Positlimpakul Korrakot , Kawasaki Akiyuki
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure the capacities and identify the vulnerabilities of the communities to contribute to their flood disaster risk management.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaire-style surveys and interviews in the four target communities and 25 critical facilities have been used. Their flood experience is also collected to explore the practical risk management solutions and preserve those as their local assets.

Findings

Findings show the capacity gaps among the target communities. For instance, the relatively populated urbanized communities tend to have high capacities. On the other hand, the not-so-populated farmer-based communities have low capacities, tending to focus more on droughts than floods, and lack scientific information. This research also identifies vulnerability groups and critical facility locations on the map with narratives.

Originality/value

The findings enable the communities to clarify their updated capacities, examine the vulnerabilities, identify the risks with possible hazard information and guide them to cope with flood risk to protect them with self, mutual and public help. This study can contribute to other industrial parks/estates in Thailand and anywhere in the world as an insightful reference to build resilient industrial complex areas.
Business zakat compliance in Algeria: an ethical perspective
Authors: Sadallah Mouad , Abdul-Jabbar Hijattulah
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This research aims to investigate the influence of political instability, trust and knowledge on the zakat compliance behaviour of Algerian business owners. Based on the lenses of the ethical theory mainly and by reference to Zakat Core Principles (that originally inspired from the Basel Core Principles), the paper aims to provide an understanding of how these factors affect zakat compliance in the Algerian context from an ethical perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional research design was applied. Using self-administered questionnaires, a total of 575 business owners in Algeria participated in this study. The hypothesised model was tested by using the partial least squares structural equation model.

Findings

The study results support that the ethical approach can explain zakat compliance among Algerian business owners. Specifically, the results revealed that political instability, zakat knowledge and trust significantly influence zakat compliance.

Practical implications

The results offer meaningful insights for the zakat institutions in Muslim societies to enable them to formulate zakat collection policies, assess the level of societal trust in the zakat authority, evaluate the influence of political instability on Muslim entrepreneurs’ zakat compliance and strengthen the entrepreneurs’ zakat knowledge on the exigency of paying zakat to the authority.

Originality/value

This study breaks new ground by exploring the effects of political instability, zakat knowledge and trust on zakat payers’ compliance ethical decisions in developing countries such as Algeria. More significantly, this research contributes to the existing literature of the ethical theory specifically by investigating the effect of political instability on zakat compliance among Algerian business owners.
Validating second-order model for economic welfare scale: evidence from Nigeria
Authors: Babangida Bashir Kurfi , Abdul Hakim Roslan , Abdullah Hussin Bin
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The goal of this paper is to validate the second-order model for the economic welfare scale in the context of violence. This study also aims to assess the relationship between the dimensions of the economic welfare scale’ declining food consumption and loss of income and the overall latent construct and assess the second-order model’s goodness of fit using appropriate fit indices.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is cross-sectional with a sample of 600 households from the violent zone, Northwest Nigeria. The data collected was used for confirmatory factor analysis, second-order model evaluation and model fit evaluation.

Findings

The second-order model for the economic welfare scale is valid and reliable; the dimensions significantly affect the formation of the overall construct. The model’s goodness of fit fulfilled the relevant fit indices.

Research limitations/implications

The study offers researchers and policymakers practical insights into how each dimension influences the latent operational construct. It, therefore, encompasses replication in all the remaining modules.

Practical implications

The findings offer practical insight to policymakers in designing policies for promoting long-term peace structures and developing mechanisms to assist those who have suffered the greatest economic welfare losses due to violence in Nigeria.

Social implications

The findings form an essential tool to assess the economic welfare effect in violently affected territories at the micro-level.

Originality/value

The outcomes are ground-breaking by validating the second-order model for the economic welfare scale. And established dimension influences over the overall latent variable.
Design and kinematic analysis of new multi-mode mobile parallel mechanism with deployable platform
Authors: Ping An , Zhang Chunyan , Yang Jie
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to make the mobile robot better adapt to the patrol and monitoring in industrial field substation area, a multi-mode mobile carrying mechanism which can carrying data collector, camera and other equipment is designed.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the geometric axis analysis and interference analysis, the multi-mode mobile carrying mechanism is designed. The screw constraint topological theory and zero-moment point (ZMP) theory is used to kinematic analysis in mechanism mobile process.

Findings

The mobile carrying mechanism can realize the folding movement, hexagonal rolling and quadrilateral rolling movement. A series of simulation and prototype experiment results verify the feasibility and actual error of the design analysis.

Originality/value

The work of this paper provides a mobile carrying mechanism for carrying different data acquisition equipment and surveillance camera in industrial field substation zone. It has excellent folding performance and mobile capabilities. The mobile carrying mechanism reduces the workload of human being and injuries suffered by workers in industrial substation area.
Gender plays different roles? Examining the dark side of ubiquitous connectivity enabled by personal IT ensembles usage
Authors: Hu Yingying , Zhao Ling , Gupta Sumeet , He Xiuhong
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to explore the negative consequences of ubiquitous connectivity enabled by personal IT ensembles (PITEs) usage; and second, to investigate the gender differences in the adverse effects of ubiquitous connectivity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a socio-technical approach to identify the technical and interpersonal dimensions of PITE-enabled ubiquitous connectivity and develops a theoretical model to investigate their stress-inducing effects based on the framework of technostress. Furthermore, the moderating role of gender is examined based on the social role theory. The authors test the model on a sample of 439 Chinese netizens.

Findings

Ubiquitous technical and interpersonal connectivity induce four stressors: information overload, communication overload, life invasion and privacy invasion. These stressors further lead to psychological exhaustion and reluctance to try new ITs. The ubiquitous technical connectivity exerts stronger effects on stressors for female users than male users, and interpersonal connectivity exerts a stronger effect for male users than female users.

Originality/value

This study primarily contributes to the small amount of research on PITE-enabled ubiquitous connectivity by considering ubiquitous connectivity from a socio-technical perspective and examining the stress-related effects and outcomes of both technical and interpersonal dimensions of ubiquitous connectivity. This study also provides valuable insights into the gender differences in the stress-inducing effects of the two dimensions of ubiquitous connectivity.
The moderating role of remote work in the relationship between organizational culture and OCB: case studies from the financial sector
Authors: Krajcsák Zoltán , Kozák Anita
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to show how remote working affects employees' organizational citizenship behavior (OCB).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted research on organizations in the financial sector, as this segment was able to easily adapt to the challenges of remote working and teleworking. They used the case study approach: they analyzed organizational documents and management communications related to crisis management back to March 2020, when the pandemic started in Hungary, and conducted semi-structured interviews with managers and subordinates.

Findings

The results highlighted that the dominant organizational culture determines the effects of remote working on OCB. In organizations with a dominant market culture, OCB has changed the least because of the home office, with only a decline in the dimension of civic virtue. In organizations with a dominant clan culture, conscientiousness decreased, while the other three dimensions increased. The dominant hierarchy culture reacted the most unfavorably, excluding the dimension of courtesy, as all dimensions decreased.

Originality/value

The study shows how the pandemic and working in home office have changed the dimensions of OCB in different organizational cultures.
Effects of other comprehensive income on audit fees and audit report lag in Egyptian firms: does board gender diversity matter?
Authors: Ismail Tariq H. , Mansour Karim , Sayed Emad
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to (1) investigate the effect of other comprehensive income (OCI) on audit fees (AF) and audit report lag (ARL) and (2) test the moderating effect of board gender diversity (BGD) on such relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses data extracted from the financial reports for a sample of Egyptian firms from 2013 to 2019, where the data are processed using the Panel Corrected Standards Errors (PCSE) and the Structure Equation Model (SEM).

Findings

The results reveal that (1) the OCI existence and OCI volume have a significant positive effect on AF and ARL, and (2) the presence of female directors on the board and the percentage of female representation affect the relationship between OCI and AF positively, but this effect on the relationship between OCI and ARL is insignificant.

Research limitations/implications

This paper has some limitations, where the analysis uses a small sample of Egyptian listed firms, as well as, the measures that were used as proxies of the study variables, which do not necessarily express the most suitable ones.

Practical implications

The results of this paper would (1) provide signals to the audit market, the professional bodies in Egypt and stakeholders about the determinants of AF and ARL, (2) provide guidelines that support the capital market authority to consider gender diversity in boards of companies taking into considerations its impact on AF and ARL, and (3) help the accounting setters in emerging economies as Egypt in drafting more suitable standards and guidelines regarding OCI.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the literature on OCI, where it investigates the effect of OCI on ARL, which was not yet studied in prior studies. Also, this paper complements and extends the literature by providing empirical evidence from one of the emerging markets as Egypt about the effect of BGD on the relationships between OCI, AF and ARL, as these relationships have not been examined before.
Media discourse in China and Japan on the COVID-19 pandemic: comparative analysis of the first three months
Authors: Parvin Gulsan Ara , Rahman Md. Habibur , Ahsan S.M. Reazul , Abedin Md. Anwarul , Basu Mrittika
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to analyze how English-language versions of e-newspapers in the first two countries affected, China and Japan, which are non-English-speaking countries and have different socio-economic and political settings, have highlighted Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic news and informed the global community.

Design/methodology/approach

A text-mining approach was used to explore experts’ thoughts as published by the two leading English-language newspapers in China and Japan from January to March 2020. This study analyzes the Opinion section, which mainly comprises editorial and the op-ed section. The current study groups all editorial discussions and highlights into ten major aspects, which cover health, economy, politics, culture and others.

Findings

Within the first three months, the media in both China and Japan shifted their focus from health and preparedness to the economy, politics and social welfare. Governance and social welfare were key concerns in China’s news media, while, in contrast, global politics received the highest level of attention from experts in Japan’s news media. Environment and technologies aspects did not receive much attention by the expert’s columns.

Originality/value

At the initial stage of a world crisis, how leading nations and initially affected nations deal with the problem, how media play their role and guide mass population with experts’ thoughts are highlighted here. The understanding developed in this study can provide guidance to news media in other countries in playing effective roles in the management of this health crisis and catastrophes.
Business sustainability performance and corporate financial performance: the mediating role of optimal investment
Authors: Poursoleyman Ehsan , Mansourfar Gholamreza , Homayoun Saeid , Rezaee Zabihollah
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Employing a large sample consisting of 3,701 corporations domiciled in developed and emerging countries, this paper aims to analyze the mediating role of investment efficiency in the association between business sustainability performance and corporate financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Four different aspects of corporate sustainability offered by the ASSET4 database are used as proxies for business sustainability performance, including economic, corporate governance, social and environmental dimensions. In addition to these aspects, the aggregate measure of business sustainability performance is also employed. In order to test the association between business sustainability and corporate performance via investment efficiency, ordinary least squares, fixed-effect, random-effect and generalized method of moments statistical models were employed.

Findings

The results suggest that business sustainability performance is positively associated with corporate financial performance, indicating that sustainable corporations enjoy higher financial performance. Moreover, Sobel, Aroian and Goodman tests confirm that investment efficiency mediates the positive relationship between business sustainability performance and financial performance. Finally, further analyses show that the positive association between sustainability performance and investment efficiency is stronger for those firms headquartered in developed countries than in those located in emerging nations.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by investigating how growth opportunities advance the influence of business sustainability to corporate financial performance using a large sample from 43 countries.
Abusive supervision, supervisor undermining, and turnover intentions: mediation of quiescent silence and desire to seek revenge among Thai banking frontliners
Authors: Afshan Gul , Kashif Muhammad , Sattayawaksakul Damrong , Cheewaprakobkit Pimpa , Wijenayake Shanika
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Drawing on the social exchange theory, this study aims to investigate the destructive impact of abusive supervision and supervisor undermining on quiescent silence and turnover intentions among frontline employees. Whether quiescent silence and the desire to seek revenge mediate the path from aggressive supervisory behaviors to turnover intentions is explored.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a time-lagged design, the authors collected data from 350 frontline banking officers in Thailand by a survey. For data analysis purposes, structural equation modeling procedures are used through Smart partial least square version 3.2.0.

Findings

Uniquely, findings suggest that abusive supervision does not result in any form of retaliation. Supervisor undermining has a trickle-down effect on the desire to revenge, quiescent silence and turnover intentions. For supervisor undermining, the direct path, as well as mediating roles are supported by data.

Practical implications

The findings of this study suggests organizational systems should discourage supervisors from undermining the subordinates. There is a need to offer regular training to supervisors. Furthermore, employees should be provided some platforms and the freedom to positively speak at work. Above all, supervisors should be more inspiring which can dilute negative perceptions of abuse.

Originality/value

The proposed mediation of desire to revenge and quiescent silence is unique to this study. Moreover, the challenge to the traditional trickle-down effects of abusive supervision is a unique intervention in the organizational behavior literature.
Adherence to Mediterranean diet among adults during the COVID-19 outbreak and the economic crisis in Lebanon
Authors: Karam Joanne , Ghach Wissam , Bouteen Carol , Makary Mary-Joe , Riman Marwa , Serhan Mireille
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the adherence to MedDiet among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, using the validated 14-item MedDiet assessment tool.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research approach, based on the distribution of an online survey throughout the social media platforms, via networking, was the applied method. The structure of the survey included the socio-economic and demographic data along with the weekly adherence to physical activity; and the validated MedDiet assessment tool. The target population included 1,030 Lebanese adults from all provinces. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the characteristics of the sample population. Adherence to the MedDiet was determined by the Med-Diet score ≥ 9. Significant differences among the variables and the adherence to the MedDiet were examined using the chi-square test.

Findings

Mean adherence to the MedDiet was found to be lower than an adequate score among 60.8% of participants [mean adherence 8/14 < 9 (S.D. 2.2)]. Participants from North Province, those aged 45 years and above, university graduates, participants with an average income and those who exercised for a minimum of 30 min for three times/week had a higher mean of adherence compared to other groups. Higher percentage of those who exercised had adequate adherence compared to those who exercised less or did not. More than 50% of the participants consumed olive oil, vegetables, red meat, butter/margarine, sugary drinks, commercial sweets and sofrito according to recommendations. Less than 50% of the participants consumed fruits, nuts, fish and wine according to the MedDiet standards. More men consumed fruits (55.1%), wine (21%), fish (29%) and nuts (48.5%) than women according to the MedDiet recommendations; however, more women consumed legumes (69.7%) and Sofrito (88.4%) than men, in addition more women preferred consuming chicken over meat (72.3%).

Originality/value

The findings call for an urgent need of spreading national awareness among adult population in Lebanon to increase the adherence to MedDiet. To add, information gained from this study serve to help understanding nutritional behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, so public health authorities can start planning to save the threatened health-care system and preserve the wellness of the population.
Wired to seek, comment and share? Examining the relationship between personality, news consumption and misinformation engagement
Authors: Xiao Xizhu , Su Yan
Published: January 2022

Purpose

News consumption is critical in creating informed citizenry; however, in the current context of media convergence, news consumption becomes more complex as social media becomes a primary news source rather than news media. The current study seeks to answer three questions: why the shifted pattern of news seeking only happens to some but not all of the news consumers; whether the differentiated patterns of news seeking (news media vs social media) would result in different misinformation engagement behaviors; and whether misperceptions would moderate the relationship between news consumption and misinformation engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey consisted of questions related to personality traits, news seeking, misperceptions and misinformation engagement was distributed to 551 individuals. Multiple standard regression and PROCESS Macro model 1 were used to examine the intricate relationships between personality, news use and misinformation engagement.

Findings

Results indicate that extroversion was positively associated with social media news consumption while openness was inversely related to it. Social media news consumption in turn positively predicted greater misinformation sharing and commenting. No association was found between Big Five personality traits and news media news seeking. News media news seeking predicted higher intention to reply to misinformation. Both relationships were further moderated by misperceptions that individuals with greater misperceptions were more likely to engage with misinformation.

Originality/value

The current study integrates personality traits, news consumption and misperceptions in understanding misinformation engagement behaviors. Findings suggest that news consumption via news media in the digital era merits in-depth examinations as it may associate with more complex background factors and also incur misinformation engagement. Social media news consumption deserves continuous scholarly attention. Specifically, extra attention should be devoted to extrovert and pragmatic individuals in future research and interventions. People with these characteristics are more prone to consume news on social media and at greater risk of falling prey to misinformation and becoming a driving force for misinformation distribution.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-10-2021-0520
Internationalisation strategies of emerging market firms: evidence from Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Amoah Yaa Serwaa-Akoto , Tiew Fidella Nga Huong , Yap Ching Seng
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the internationalisation paths and strategies adopted by firms from an emerging market and serves as a step towards examining the suitability of prevailing internationalisation theories in the context of emerging market firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative methodology and gathered data through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 top managers of internationalised firms from the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. Data were analysed thematically.

Findings

The results revealed that the internationalisation strategies of firms from Sarawak can be classified under three main categories: motivations and markets, modes and measures. The constraints the firms faced were important determinants of their internationalisation strategies. The internationalisation paths and strategies of the firms were also found to exhibit both similarities to and deviations from the tenets of prevailing internationalisation theories.

Originality/value

The study contributes knowledge to the literature of both internationalisation theories and internationalisation strategies of emerging markets, in particular, it advances Feyet al.’s(2016) Five M Framework.
Examination of aspects of pro-consumer refund system
Authors: Lysenko-Ryba Kateryna , Zimon Dominik , Madzík Peter , Šírová Eva
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Pro-consumer refund system (PCRS) should be understood as a process in customer service, within which activities are related to the handling of goods that do not meet customer expectations, both in business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) relations. The research monitored three groups of variables – the importance of shopping decision factors, customer ID characteristics and PCRS characteristics. The authors explore relationships between these three groups of variables, and the authors tried to understand better the role of the PCRS system in customer perception of service quality.

Design/methodology/approach

An electronic survey was used to collect data in the planned structure. Research questions were developed into variables, and these were then the basis for creating questionnaires. Data were collected through electronic questionnaires. The sample consisted of 327 respondents from Poland (confidence level = 95%, confidence interval = 5.42).

Findings

The results of the research show that the PCRS is very important and appreciated from the customer's perspective. Most of the respondents are aware of their consumer rights and correctly understand the meaning of the term “pro-consumer refund system”. Respondents require complex service in terms of returns; their satisfaction does not depend on any individual factor. This also means that the return system must be lenient in each aspect.

Originality/value

A detailed analysis of aspects of PCRS has not yet been carried out in the literature. Although previous studies have focused, at least in part, on defining the essential attributes of PCRS, in most cases, it was an organization-driven view of this topic. The research examined the interrelationships between aspects of PCRS based on empirical data and offered a new perspective on this evolving concept.
The Scottish National Party’s Economic Prospectus for Independence: Out with the Old?
Authors: Roy Graeme
Published: January 2022

Nicola Sturgeon has promised to restart work on the prospectus for independence. The economic arguments will once again be central. The fact that the macroeconomic, constitutional and political context has changed markedly since 2014 offers the SNP an opportunity to reset its pitch to the people of Scotland. But, it faces huge challenges in doing so, particularly within the timescale the First Minister has set for a second referendum. Some of these challenges reflect a weaker economic outlook than seven years ago. But, holding together a more diverse Yes campaign on key issues such as currency is arguably an even greater challenge. In refreshing its vision of independence, the SNP can take a more far‐sighted approach than is possible in most elections. If it can complement this with a credible—albeit tough—transition plan, it not only stands a better chance of winning, but will force unionists to re‐think their own strategy.
Lower price increases, the bounded rationality of bidders, and underbidding concerns in online agricultural land auctions: The Ukrainian case
Authors: Myrna Olena
Published: January 2022

Auction theory suggests that bidders follow a dominant strategy that is to submit the highest bid equal to the bidder's true valuation in an ascending price auction with independent and private values. Bidders in real‐world auctions may deviate from this strategy, resulting in either underbidding—submitting bids lower than the valuation—or overbidding—bidding an amount in excess of the real value. This study utilises data collected from online agricultural land lease auctions in Ukraine that took place between October 2018 and September 2019 to analyse the occurrence of minimal price increases, which may indicate underbidding. It investigates if factors—auction and property characteristics—that typically explain deviations from the dominant strategy—can also explain bidding behaviours in land lease auctions. The estimation using a heteroscedastic probit model reveals that underbidding could reasonably be attributed to low competition, insufficient time to place a subsequent bid, very small bid increments, and cumbersome entry fees.
The dark side of social media: Two deaths related with chloroform intoxication
Authors: Tusiewicz Kaja , Wachełko Olga , Zawadzki Marcin , Chłopaś‐Konowałek Agnieszka , Jurek Tomasz , Kawecki Jerzy , Szpot Paweł
Published: January 2022

A suicide pact is an agreement between people to commit suicide together, which usually takes place at the same time, in the same place, by using the same method. Social media serve as a way of communication between people. Thus, they use such platforms to find potential suicide pact partners. Chloroform, although being regarded to as a slightly forgotten poison, is still linked to homicide and suicide cases. Death due to an acute chloroform ingestion may be a result of central nervous system depression. In this paper, we present application of headspace gas chromatographic method using a dual column/dual flame ionization detector (HS‐GC‐FID/FID) for the determination of chloroform in two fatal intoxication cases, as well as chloroform stability study. Analysis of biological samples revealed chloroform concentrations of 135.8, 16.1, 8.1, and 37.1 µg/ml in blood, urine, vitreous humor, and bile, respectively. Kidney, liver, and muscle specimens contained 119.5, 99.6, and 28.4 µg/g of chloroform, respectively. The results of stability studies indicate the highest decrease of chloroform in room temperature, so it is advised to store samples in a freezer. The addition of sodium fluoride is recommended as in blood samples collected to the test tubes without any preservative agent, the detection of chloroform after 91 days is almost impossible. It is important to emphasize that even old poisons can cause a lot of concerns today, as here described cases are linked to chloroform intoxication, as well as with possible danger which social media bring about nowadays.
A new modified internal fixation method of transconjunctival lower blepharoplasty
Authors: Ou Kuangwen , Huang Wenchi , Chin Sokheng
Published: January 2022

In transconjunctival lower eyelid blepharoplasty with pedicled fat transposition, internal fixation of the septal fat is always the most difficult step. We describe a new modified method that makes this procedure less time‐consuming and specific instruments unnecessary.
Development of a deep learning‐based method to diagnose pulmonary ground‐glass nodules by sequential computed tomography imaging
Authors: Qiu Zhixin , Wu Qingxia , Wang Shuo , Chen Zhixia , Lin Feng , Zhou Yuyan , Jin Jing , Xian Jinghong , Tian Jie , Li Weimin
Published: January 2022

Background

Early identification of the malignant propensity of pulmonary ground‐glass nodules (GGNs) can relieve the pressure from tracking lesions and personalized treatment adaptation. The purpose of this study was to develop a deep learning‐based method using sequential computed tomography (CT) imaging for diagnosing pulmonary GGNs.

Methods

This diagnostic study retrospectively enrolled 762 patients with GGNs from West China Hospital of Sichuan University between July 2009 and March 2019. All patients underwent surgical resection and at least two consecutive time‐point CT scans. We developed a deep learning‐based method to identify GGNs using sequential CT imaging on a training set consisting of 1524 CT sections from 508 patients and then evaluated 256 patients in the testing set. Afterwards, an observer study was conducted to compare the diagnostic performance between the deep learning model and two trained radiologists in the testing set. We further performed stratified analysis to further relieve the impact of histological types, nodule size, time interval between two CTs, and the component of GGNs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the performance of all models.

Results

The deep learning model that used integrated DL‐features from initial and follow‐up CT images yielded the best diagnostic performance, with an area under the curve of 0.841. The observer study showed that the accuracies for the deep learning model, junior radiologist, and senior radiologist were 77.17%, 66.89%, and 77.03%, respectively. Stratified analyses showed that the deep learning model and radiologists exhibited higher performance in the subgroup of nodule sizes larger than 10 mm. With a longer time interval between two CTs, the deep learning model yielded higher diagnostic accuracy, but no general rules were yielded for radiologists. Different densities of components did not affect the performance of the deep learning model. In contrast, the radiologists were affected by the nodule component.

Conclusions

Deep learning can achieve diagnostic performance on par with or better than radiologists in identifying pulmonary GGNs.
Resistance to Lymantria dispar larvae in transgenic poplar plants expressing CYP6B53 double‐stranded RNA
Authors: Sun Lili , Gao Yuan , Zhang Qihui , Lv Yuntong , Cao Chuanwang
Published: January 2022

RNA interference (RNAi) has great potential in functional genomics research and pest control. Gene silencing and phenotypes ranging from appetite loss to death have been observed after larvae fed on leaves of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA)‐expressing transgenic plants harbouring specific genes from the target insect. In this study, transgenic poplar plants expressing CYP6B53 dsRNA from Lymantria dispar were generated via Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation to control this pest. The CYP6B53 was successfully integrated into the poplar genome by reverse transcription PCR (RT‐PCR) and dsCYP6B53 expression confirmation. Expression was significantly down‐regulated at the transcription level after L. dispar larvae feeding on leaves of the transgenic plants. Meanwhile, CYP6B53 transcription levels in the larvae decreased by 25.31–88.53% compared with those reared on transgenic poplar expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) dsRNA. A bioassay further revealed that transgenic plants expressing dsCYP6B53 not only inhibited larval feeding but also delayed overall growth. In summary, Poplar plants harbouring CYP6B53 dsRNA resulted in suppression of CYP6B53 expression in L. dispar larvae, impairing development, and providing a novel alternative for pest control.
Insight into the content of and experiences with follow‐up conversations with bereaved parents in paediatrics: A systematic review
Authors: van Kempen Merel M. , Kochen Eline M. , Kars Marijke C.
Published: January 2022

Aim

A follow‐up conversation with bereaved parents is a relatively well‐established intervention in paediatric clinical practice. Yet, the content and value of these conversations remain unclear. This review aims to provide insight into the content of follow‐up conversations between bereaved parents and regular healthcare professionals (HCPs) in paediatrics and how parents and HCPs experience these conversations.

Methods

Systematic literature review using the methods PALETTE and PRISMA. The search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL on 3 February 2021. The results were extracted and integrated using thematic analysis.

Results

Ten articles were included. This review revealed that follow‐up conversations are built around three key elements: (1) gaining information, (2) receiving emotional support and (3) facilitating parents to provide feedback. In addition, this review showed that the vast majority of parents and HCPs experienced follow‐up conversations as meaningful and beneficial for several reasons.

Conclusion

An understanding of what parents and HCPs value in follow‐up conversations aids HCPs in conducting follow‐up conversations and improves care for bereaved parents by enhancing the HCPs' understanding of parental needs.
No party no joy?—Changes in university students' extraversion, neuroticism, and subjective well‐being during two COVID‐19 lockdowns
Authors: Krautter Kai , Friese Malte , Hart Alexander , Reis Dorota
Published: January 2022

The COVID‐19 lockdowns represent a major life event with an immense impact on university students' lives. Findings prior to the pandemic suggest that changes in personality and subjective well‐being (SWB) can occur after critical life events or psychological interventions. The present study examined how university students' extraversion, neuroticism, and SWB changed during two COVID‐19 lockdowns in Germany. To this end, we conducted a partly preregistered, two‐cohort study with four measurement points each from October 2019 to May 2021 (NStudy 1 = 81–148, NStudy 2 = 82–97). We used both multilevel contrast analyses and multi‐group random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel models to examine within‐person changes over time. Levels of life satisfaction, extraversion, and, unexpectedly, neuroticism were lower during both lockdowns. Students' affect improved during the first but deteriorated during the second lockdown, suggesting that similar experiences with the deceleration of daily life were associated with different affective outcomes during the two lockdown periods. Following the introduction or termination of a lockdown, changes in extraversion (neuroticism) were consistently positively (negatively) associated with changes in SWB. Our results stress the importance of disentangling between‐ and within‐person processes and using pre‐COVID baseline levels to examine changes in personality and SWB.