bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Paymob: transforming digital payments in Egypt and the region for a cashless society
Authors: Ismail Ayman , Ghalwash Seham , Ballesteros-Sola Maria , Dahawy Ahmed 
Published: September 2024

Learning outcomes
After completion of the case study, the students will be able to analyze the FinTech industry in emerging markets, distinguish the growth strategies for startups in the hyper-growth phase, using the Ansoff matrix, evaluate and select geographical markets for expansion (foreign country selection) and understand the liability of foreignness concept.

Case overview/synopsis
In 2015, Islam Shawky, Alain Al-Hajj and Mostafa Menessy founded Paymob in Egypt, a FinTech start-up providing technological and financial solutions to consumers and merchants in the country. The company had grown into one of Egypt’s most prominent digital payment providers by deploying infrastructure and technologies that empower the underserved with access to financial services. In 2021, Paymob had gained a lot of support from venture capital investors that ended with closing the largest in Egypt Series A fund of $18.5m led by Dubai-based venture capital firm Global Ventures. Although Paymob had already reached great success in Egypt, the founders’ vision was to become the regional leader of digital payments, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises. So, they are considering regional markets similar to Egypt’s, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a call with a lot of structure but a lot of competition, and Pakistan, a market with much less competition but relatively unstructured. The founders found themselves in early 2022 deciding between these two markets in preparation for the next round of Series B $50m funding.

Complexity academic level
This case study can be useful for courses in executive education.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code
CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
Enhancing new service development effectiveness: the role of customer participation and the moderating effects of empowerment and satisfaction
Authors: Kamali Mehran , Zarea Hadi , Parackal Mathew , Su Zhan 
Published: September 2024

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of Customer Participation (CP) in the effectiveness of New Service Development (NSD) by examining the moderating roles of Customer Empowerment (CE) and Customer Satisfaction (CS). The research reduces the risk of failure of the NSD process and/or improves the NSD processes used by companies through the consideration of the results in the practical dimension.Design/methodology/approachThis study investigates the effects of CP at different stages of NSD using a quantitative approach. Data were collected through an online survey questionnaire. Smart PLS was used to analyse the data collected from 509 newsreaders and users of the news agency’s application.FindingsThe model confirmed that CE has an impact on the effectiveness of NSD in the idea generation and commercialization stages, but not in the development stage. Empowerment and customer satisfaction did not influence the three stages of NSD indirectly but directly. The results show that CP, CS and CE do not always have a direct or indirect effect on the development of new services. Therefore, in order to design new service development projects, media news companies need to determine the level of user cooperation.Research limitations/implicationsThe lack of objective data, especially on company performance, forces researchers to use questionnaires to analyse NSD effectiveness. Another limitation is that newspaper users answered the questionnaires, which creates “common method variance.”Practical implicationsResearchers on NSD effectiveness must use questionnaires due to a lack of objective data, especially on company performance. Another limitation is “common method variance” from newspaper users answering questionnaires.Originality/valueThis paper is a response to a perceived need for an examination of how new service development can be successful and effective.
When and how it is good for fashion to look typical: visual prototypicality affecting product valuation and brand preference
Authors: Lee Eun-Jung 
Published: September 2024

PurposeAlthough visual prototypicality in fashion is an observed phenomenon, empirical examinations of the link between fashion products' design prototypicality and consumer evaluations still need to be included. The present study analyzes the influence of the visual prototypicality of fashion products on consumer-perceived product values and brand preference.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey adopting the fashion product images with significantly differing levels of visual prototypicality was used to collect data from 456 US consumers. The hypothesized relationships among visual prototypicality, product values and brand preference were analyzed through multi-group analysis.FindingsPerceived visual typicality of fashion product designs significantly increased the hedonic and utilitarian value of the product and only indirectly increase brand preference. The hypothesized positive relationship between visual prototypicality and the product’s social value was found to be significant only in the low-price levels but became insignificant in the high-price levels.Originality/valueThe findings of this study contribute to the extant literature by first providing an initial analysis of the mechanism of visual prototypicality in the fashion product design field. The results confirm that visual prototypicality indirectly influences consumers' brand evaluations by the product’s perceived value. This relationship was previously assumed but not empirically proven only in non-fashion product categories. The study also presents additional new points, further enriching the understanding of visual typicality. Additionally, the results show the complex relationship between the visual prototypicality of fashion product designs and the perceived social value of the product, which varies depending on the price range.
Dynamic game research of food agricultural products supply chain based on blockchain traceability technology
Authors: Ma Junhai , Fan Jie , Zhu Meihong , Chen Jiecai 
Published: September 2024

PurposeFood quality and safety issues have always been imperative topics discussed by people. The anti-tampering of blockchain technology and the transparency of information make it possible to improve food traceability and safety quality. How to effectively apply blockchain traceability technology to food safety has great research significance for improving food safety and consumer quality trust.Design/methodology/approachThe paper aims to analyze the differences in product quality levels and market participants’ profits before and after the use of blockchain-driven traceability technology in the food agricultural product supply chain (SC) in the dynamic game frameworks of supplier-led and retailer-led modes, respectively, and explores the willingness, social welfare and consumer surplus of each member of the agricultural product SC to participate in the blockchain. Besides, We investigate the SC performance improvement with the mechanism of central centralized decision-making and revenue-sharing contract, compared to the SC performance in dynamic games.FindingsThe results are obtained as follow: The adoption of blockchain traceability technology can help improve the quality of food agricultural products, consumer surplus and social welfare, but the application and popularization of technology is hindered by traceability technology installment costs. Compared with the supplier leadership model, retailer-led food quality level, customer surplus and social welfare are higher.Research limitations/implicationsHow to effectively apply blockchain traceability technology to food safety has great research significance for improving food safety and consumer quality trust.Practical implicationsFood quality and safety issues have always been hot topics discussed by people. The anti-tampering of blockchain technology and the transparency of information make it possible to improve food traceability and safety quality.Social implicationsThe research results enrich the theories related to food safety and quality, and provide a valuable reference for food enterprises involved in the decision-making exploration of blockchain technology.Originality/valueBased on the characteristics of blockchain technology, the demand function is adjusted and the product loss risk of channel members is transferred through a Stackelberg game SC composed of agricultural products suppliers and retailers.Highlights:•We introduce two features of blockchain: quality trust and product information tracking.•The willingness of each member of the supply chain to use blockchain for product traceability was explored.•The overall traceability effect of the retailer-led blockchain is better than that of the manufacturer-led blockchain.•The cost of blockchain technology is a barrier to its adoption.•Blockchain brings higher consumer surplus and social welfare.
Compassion, value creation and digital learning orientation in social entrepreneurs
Authors: Satar Mir Shahid 
Published: September 2024

PurposeSocial value creation (SVC) is the primary emphasis for unifying the various issues in contemporary social entrepreneurship (SE) literature and practice since it highlights the fundamental problem of sustainability in SE business. Accordingly, SVC as an outcome of SE represents the primary drive of social entrepreneurs (SEs). However, SEs encounter multi-dimensional challenges as they work to build their SE businesses and create social value. In the current context of digitally transforming entrepreneurship scenario, this study investigates the role of SE compassion and digital learning orientation (DLO) for SVC ability of SEs.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilized a quantitative survey approach for primary data collection from social entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia. A total of 158 valid replies from social entrepreneurs were obtained for the study. Using SmartPLS (3.0), partial least square structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe results validated a model of SVC in which the SE compassion and DLO positively impact the SVC ability in SEs. However, the impact of DLO in moderating the SE compassion - SVC relationship in SEs was not proven.Practical implicationsThe study established the role of SE compassion in explaining the distinctive SVC ability in SEs. Meanwhile, given the expanding necessity for SEs to leverage digital technologies for SE missions, the study provides implications for nurturing positive outcomes in terms of SE compassion and DLO outcomes among SEs. This organized knowledge can help entrepreneurs, educators and policymakers better incorporate these concerns in SE education, and social enterprises and entrepreneurs’ developmental initiatives.Originality/valueThis work is pioneering in that it conceptualizes and tests a theoretical framework that links SE compassion, DLO, and SVC in SEs. Meanwhile, the study is the first to operationalize the DLO in entrepreneurs. The study thus generates fresh insights about SVC in SE amid the digitally transforming entrepreneurship scenario.
Do uncertain outcomes matter for ticket prices? Examination of the National Football League's secondary ticket market
Authors: Lee Yo Han , Sung Yoon Tae , Jung Hoyoon 
Published: September 2024

PurposeThis study examines the impact of outcome uncertainty on the National Football League (NFL) secondary ticket market prices. As a demand-driven market, it is essential to comprehend how resellers respond to outcome uncertainty, one of the consumer demand factors in sports.Design/methodology/approachUsing real-time ticket prices and money lines as a proxy of the probabilities of winning, this study employs a regression analysis and examines 33,554 price observations from the NFL’s secondary ticket market partner, StubHub.FindingsThe result shows a positive relationship between outcome uncertainty and secondary market ticket prices, indicating that resellers adjust the prices in response to the level of outcome uncertainty and put more value on games with greater uncertainty. This finding confirms the demand-driven nature of the secondary ticket market, as outcome uncertainty is one of the demand factors in sports.Originality/valueThis study links the uncertainty of outcome hypothesis with secondary ticket market pricing and fills a gap in the literature by providing an important perspective on games with uncertainty in the secondary ticket market. Outcome uncertainty has limited understanding in relation to secondary ticket market pricing despite its relationship with consumer demand. The positive relationship between outcome uncertainty and the ticket prices, grounded in real-time price data and win probability from sport betting markets, enhances our understanding of price determinations in the secondary ticket market.
Seasonal acclimation of photosynthetic thermal tolerances in six woody tropical species along a thermal gradient
Authors: Kullberg Alyssa T. , Feeley Kenneth J. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Extreme heat events are becoming increasingly common, and the short‐term acclimation of photosynthesis will have a large impact on plant performance. Trees in lowland tropical forests, which are hypothesized to have limited abilities to tolerate rising temperatures, may need to rely on short‐term acclimation of their more plastic traits, like photosynthetic thermal tolerance, to persist in the face of increasingly variable climates.

Here, we investigated seasonal acclimation of thermal tolerances in plant species of the moist Amazon. Specifically, we measured the photosynthetic thermal tolerances of six common woody Amazonian species at the beginning and at the end of the dry season to determine the species' abilities to acclimate to intra‐annual changes to climate. In addition, we used the natural thermal gradient present at our research site to test the acclimation of individual plants to maximum air temperatures not currently observed elsewhere in the moist lowland Amazon (up to ~43°C).

Between seasons, there were significant overall increases in the thermal tolerances of three species (i.e. higher thermal tolerances in the hotter dry season), suggesting that leaf megathermy is prominent in these species. Also, three species acclimated their thermal tolerances to microsite‐level differences in seasonal temperature maxima, suggesting closer fidelity between leaf and air temperatures (i.e. limited homeothermy) for these species.

Our results show that some woody species from the moist Amazon can acclimate their thermal tolerances over short time‐scales, although acclimation is likely insufficient to overcome thermal stress during extreme temperature events. Some species may therefore be more sensitive to heatwaves than others, which could impact survival and composition of tropical lowland forests into the future.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Age truncation due to disease shrinks metapopulation viability for amphibians
Authors: Heard Geoffrey W. , Scroggie Michael P. , Hollanders Matthijs , Scheele Ben C. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Metapopulations often exist in a fragile balance between local extinctions and (re)colonisations, in which case emerging threats that alter species vital rates may drastically increase metapopulation extinction risk.

We combined empirical data with metapopulation simulations to examine how demographic shifts associated with amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Bd) have altered metapopulation viability for threatened amphibians in Australia.

Comparing the ages of museum specimens collected before Bd emerged in Australia with individuals from geographically matched remnant populations revealed significant truncation of age structures post‐Bd, with a halving of annual adult survival probabilities.

Spatially realistic metapopulation modelling demonstrated that reduced adult survival led to major reductions in the parameter space over which persistence was possible for the focal species, with contractions to landscapes with higher landscape connectivity, lower environmental stochasticity and considerably higher recruitment rates.

Metapopulation persistence post‐Bd required greater landscape connectivity than pre‐Bd. This arises from a landscape‐level analogue of compensatory recruitment at the population level, in which higher (re)colonisation rates can offset more frequent local extinctions, enabling persistence of amphibians susceptible to Bd.

Interactions between recruitment rate, environmental stochasticity and landscape connectivity were also more important for metapopulation persistence post‐Bd. Higher recruitment was required to mitigate the impacts of environmental stochasticity, and higher landscape connectivity was required to mitigate the impacts of environmental stochasticity and poor recruitment. Increased reliance on these interdependencies shrunk the parameter space over which metapopulations could persist post‐Bd.

Our study demonstrates that emerging threats that alter species vital rates can drastically reduce the capacity of certain environments to support metapopulations. For our focal species, reductions in adult survival rates due to Bd produced major reductions in the conditions under which persistence was possible, providing a mechanistic insight into the processes underpinning observed range and niche contractions of amphibians impacted by this pathogen.

More broadly, our study illustrates how environmentally mediated host resilience can enable persistence following the emergence of novel pathogens. This pathway to persistence is worthy of greater attention on both conceptual and applied grounds.
A Comparative Analysis of International Drug Price Negotiation Frameworks: An Interview Study of Key Stakeholders
Authors: SYVERSEN ISELIN DAHLEN , SCHULMAN KEVIN , KESSELHEIM AARON S. , FELDMAN WILLIAM B. 
Published: September 2024

Policy Points
Health care systems around the world rely on a range of methods to ensure the affordability of prescription drugs, including negotiating prices soon after drug approval and relying on formal clinical assessments that compare newly approved therapies with existing alternatives.
The negotiation framework established under the Inflation Reduction Act is far more limited than other frameworks explored in this study. Adding elements from these frameworks could lead to more effective price negotiation in the United States.
ContextIn 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which allowed Medicare, for the first time, to begin negotiating the prices for certain high‐cost brand‐name prescription drugs. Many other industrialized countries negotiate drug prices, and we sought to compare and contrast key features of the negotiation process across several health systems. We focused, in particular, on the criteria for selecting drugs for price negotiation, procedures for negotiation, factors that influence negotiated prices, and how prices are implemented.MethodsWe included four G7 countries in our analysis (Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom [England]), two Benelux countries (Belgium and the Netherlands), and one Scandinavian country (Norway) with long‐established frameworks for drug price negotiation. We also analyzed the Veterans Affairs Health System in the United States. For each system, we gathered relevant legislation, government publications, and guidelines to understand negotiation frameworks, and we reached out to key drug price negotiators in each system to conduct semistructured interviews. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded, and data were analyzed based on an internal assessment tool that we developed.FindingsAll eight systems negotiate the prices of brand‐name prescription drugs soon after approval and rely on formal clinical assessments that compare newly approved drugs with existing therapies. Systems in our study differed on characteristics such as whether the body performing clinical assessments is separate from the negotiating authority, how added health benefit is assessed, whether explicit willingness‐to‐pay thresholds are employed, and how specific approaches for priority disease areas are taken.ConclusionsHigh‐income countries around the world adopt different approaches to conducting price negotiations on brand‐name drugs but coalesce around a set of practices that will largely be absent from the current Medicare negotiation framework. US policymakers might consider adding some of these characteristics in the future to improve negotiation outcomes.
Fingerprint localisation for fine‐scale wildlife tracking using automated radio telemetry
Authors: Tyson Chris , Fragueira Rita , Sansano‐Sansano Emilio , Yu Hui , Naguib Marc 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Automated radio telemetry systems are one of the most widely applicable methods for tracking wildlife at fine spatiotemporal scales. A growing trend is for these systems to apply large networks of receivers to detect radio signal strength (RSS) from radio‐tagged individuals. Analytical methods to derive position estimates using RSS localisation, however, are relatively underdeveloped in the field of wildlife tracking. Here, we apply approaches from indoor positioning systems to develop a new method, radio fingerprinting, for localising radio‐tagged animals in structurally complex, outdoor environments. This method characterises the RSS patterns at known locations to generate a radio map of the study area, which is then used to predict the location of new RSS patterns.

We conducted field tests to evaluate the localisation accuracy of radio fingerprinting relative to multilateration, a commonly used method for RSS localisation. To do so, we established an experimental receiver network covering multiple habitat types and compared the localisation accuracy of radio fingerprinting to multilateration. Additionally, we evaluated how a variety of features characteristic of typical tracking data sets affected the accuracy of both methods.

While both methods had a similar median error under ideal conditions (~30 m), radio fingerprint localisation method offered several advantages over multilateration. Multilateration localisation estimates were highly affected by missed detections from the nearest receiver to the test point, which occurred in 30% of cases. In these cases, the median error was 103 m, over a 3.5‐fold increase. Distance to the nearest receiver also biased multilateration estimates with error increasing as the distance increased. Additionally, errors from multilateration estimates were higher in more densely vegetated areas. In contrast, fingerprinting position estimates were largely robust to each of these scenarios.

Automated radio telemetry enables the fine‐scale, continuous tracking of range‐resident animals. We present radio fingerprinting as a localisation method in outdoor environments where standard localisation methods are error‐prone due to habitat heterogeneity and missed detections. This approach can be applied to any automated radio telemetry hardware and to any study system where a radio map can be generated.