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Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to unprecedented transformation of consumer behaviors. Despite the abundance of research on this subject, less is known about why and how consumers processed health information and subsequently decided to purchase food during the pandemic. This study employed a survey questionnaire to collect the data. The sample size consisted of 590 consumers in China. The data were analyzed via SPSS and SmartPLS version 3.2.9 to explore the relationships among variables. The results showed that health information-seeking behavior has a significant impact on healthy food product purchasing intention. Similarly, health-related internet use also has a positive impact on health information seeking. Moreover, the impact of motivation for healthy eating on health information seeking is significant. The results indicate a significant moderating role of social influence (i.e., interaction between health information seeking and healthy food product purchasing intention). Multigroup analysis revealed differences between income and age in terms of health-related internet use and purchasing intention. This study assessed healthy food product purchasing intention in a timely manner by incorporating health communication. variables and social influence into consumer behavior research in the context of COVID-19. It thus expands the extant literature and provides insights into the knowledge and practices concerned.

The wellbeing of gay men in China is shaped by a combination of cultural, social, and political factors, yet research on this topic remains fragmented despite growing global interest in LGBTQ+ health. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends on wellbeing of gays (MSM) in China, using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for a systematic search strategy and VOSviewer for bibliometric mapping. Data from Scopus were analyzed to examine publication output, top journals, and authors, along with a co-occurrence analysis of keywords and co-authorship networks across countries and authors. Results show a steady rise in publications over the past decade, particularly after 2015, revealing strong domestic collaboration and emerging international partnerships. The study identifies key contributing journals and themes, while revealing that most research remains narrowly focused on HIV/AIDS, leaving gaps in understanding gay wellbeing from broader societal and cultural perspectives. Surprisingly, very few studies specifically examine or measure overall wellbeing, whether using quantitative or qualitative approaches, and there is limited exploration of how cultural factors influence the experiences of gay men in China. These findings underscore the need for more holistic research approaches that move beyond public health and HIV prevention to address the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of wellbeing.

Audiobooks have gained significant popularity in China and other regions worldwide. While scholars and practitioners have extensively researched strategies to develop the audiobook market, limited attention has been given to the factors influencing audiences’ attitude toward audiobooks, which is a gap this study aimed to explore. Survey data was collected from a total of 537 consumers and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results indicate that experiencing telepresence and emotional connectedness while listening to audiobooks positively contributes to audiences’ affective outcomes, fostering their favorable attitude. The findings also reveal that narrator performance, background music, and the narrative style of an audiobook can potentially enhance telepresence and emotional connectedness. These results provide both theoretical insights and practical suggestions for audiobook publishers and other industry players.

Abstract Background Despite technological, political and economic progress, Pakistan is still a traditionally patriarchal society, and cultural norms curb women’s freedom of socialization, which contributes to poor mental health. The digital technology spaces are rampant with male dominance, and offline cultural behaviours are replicated. Therefore, the current research in Pakistan intends to focus solely on women, their social media uses and the consequent impact on their psychological well-being. Furthermore, the mediation role of social capital is explored, which is linked to women’s socialization. In virtual communication, women can expand their connection or remain limited to known people. Methods An online survey collected 240 responses from women social media users. The questionnaire was divided into demographics, social media use patterns like access, online time, frequency of use, social media uses, online social capital and psychological well-being. The obtained responses were statistically analyzed using Smart PLS. Results Pakistani women use social media extensively; however, their uses are culturally influenced. The women use social media and socialize online but do not openly disclose their personalities and emotions to extend the connection. They seek information only from acquaintances and do not trust newly developed online contacts. Therefore, the mediation role of bonding social capital is significant, referring to the importance of close ties and trust in psychological well-being. Though virtual spaces provide an opportunity for bridging social capital, women use social media for socialization; however, it doesn’t contribute to women’s psychological well-being. Conclusion Despite the higher penetration of digital technologies, cultural power still rules in developing countries like Pakistan. Social media uses are gender- and culturally specific, contributing to psychological well-being and developing social capital. The results from Pakistani society recommend ensuring a secure digital experience for women to get maximum benefits from social media and enhance their psychological well-being.

This research aimed to study the impact of different altitudes on the flue gas temperature and thermal stratification in the highway tunnel with a vertical shaft, by establishing a full-sized tunnel model using the numerical simulation software Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). Simulation experimental results were analyzed and it was found: first, with the same heat release power of fire source, the vertical, transverse and roof temperatures of both fire source and non-fire source sections in the tunnel all increased to a certain extent along with the increase of altitude; second, the vertical, transverse and roof temperatures of the tunnel all increased with the increased heat release rate of fire source at the same altitude, and the temperature of the fire source section was higher than that of the non-fire source section as a whole; third, the average temperature and stratification intensity of vertical flue gas in both sections showed an increasing trend with the increase of altitude, indicating that the intensity of flue gas thermal stratification at high altitude was greater than that at low altitude, because a large amount of flue gas accumulated in the upper tunnel and led to the increase of the roof flue gas temperature at high altitude.

Vision communication (VC) is an important way for leaders to express their ideas about a blueprint of the future to convince employees that their work is valuable and meaningful in total quality management. This research studies the influence of vision communication (VC) on quality performance (QP) through the mediation of total employee involvement (EI) and the moderation of leader support (LS). With the use of Smartpls 3.0, the collected data based on 2996 samples in Shanghai were used to analyze the various constructs. The results show that both VC and EI affect QP and should be influenced by LS. EI was found to partially mediate the relationship between VC and QP. The results also demonstrate that EI can positively affect improvement in QP via stronger LS and that high-level employee involvement is positively associated with quality performance when leader support is high (vs. low). This research can be inferred as one of the very limited empirical analyses that explored the mediating impact of EI on VC and QP. In the quality management (QM) field, the exploration of the moderating effect of LS on the mediation of the EI between VC and QP can be viewed to be a significant theoretical finding. The findings will be instrumental in assisting managers and administrators in understanding the significance of vision communication and leader support in quality management practice.

Abstract The utilization of mobile communication can significantly enhance the availability and accessibility of public health information. To this end, various mobile social media platforms are recognized as multimodal discourses that can serve as powerful instruments in disseminating health-related information to a wider audience, thereby allowing for greater reach and improved health outcomes. This study retrospectively examined Malaysia’s third wave of COVID-19 to decipher the visual representation of this epidemiological crisis on mobile social media. A qualitative research approach was utilized, underpinned by the visual framing concept of Coleman (2010) and the visual actor-network of van Leeuwen (2008), to analyze 280 images from a popular and Chinese WeChat official account called Weimalaysia. The analysis revealed that visuals on this WeChat official account highlight specific contents and features of COVID-19 in Malaysia during the third wave. However, no visual misinformation regarding intolerance elements was identified. The initial findings of this study demonstrate the importance of visuals as a crucial resource in public health communication. Additionally, the results underscore the significance of WeChat official accounts as a novel mobile social media platform for conveying health-related information during the public health crisis.

This paper aims to study the effects of altitude and the size of smoke outlet on fire smoke diffusion and discharge in semi-lateral smoke exhaust highway tunnels. At first, simulations of semi-lateral smoke exhaust highway tunnels were carried out in FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator), then the distribution laws of temperature, CO concentration, smoke mass flow, and visibility in the tunnel under the conditions of different altitudes and smoke outlet areas were analyzed to figure out the effects of altitude and size of smoke outlet on fire smoke diffusion and discharge in the said tunnels. The results suggest that, in case of the same fire source power, the velocity of smoke diffusion increases with the altitude; for curves of different altitudes, the tunnel roof temperature features are basically the same, that is, the higher the altitude, the higher the temperature at the tunnel roof. When the fire source power is 20 MW, the smoke mass flow at the smoke outlet decreases with the increase of altitude, but the CO concentration grows with it, indicating that the smoke exhaust efficiency is higher in high-altitude areas. When the altitude reaches 4200 m and the fire source power is 20 MW, with the increase of smoke outlet area, the smoke discharge effect of the tunnel shows an upward trend, taking both the smoke discharge effect and economy into consideration; the smoke outlet should take a size of 4 x 3 m.

The transition in Pakistani cinema and terming it as a rival of cinema heavily depends on the bowing technique of item songs, which is deliberately fueling the negative representation of females. The qualitative analysis of item songs underlines the representation of women and sheds light on aspects regarding how the objectification of women in item songs is done in a patriarchal society and what values are assigned based on gender. The analysis of item songs revealed that women were sexually objectified and the use of clothing, jewelery, makeup, body movements, and gestures are filmed to enhance their bodies. Hence, most of the songs used females as an object of sensation and enjoyment. On the other side, the notion of women's empowerment is being raised all over the world but still, cinema presents her in a submissive way and defines her role to please men. The dominancy of the male is projected and the close angle of her body gestures and nude body parts show her vulnerability. The visualization of the female reflects that she is presented tactfully to appeal to the audience, and her fragile role is reinforced.

Mental health problems currently affect a quarter of the world's population. Recent research in western societies has started to examine the relationship between entrepreneurship and mental health problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. However, little has been done to categorize entrepreneurs into different types and investigate how their levels of mental health and well-being correspond to these types. This study divided entrepreneurs into established and nascent categories and examined this topic in Singapore. By distributing two sets of surveys, a total of 834 responses were collected, with 346 responses from established entrepreneurs and 488 responses from nascent ones. The results showed that the nascent entrepreneurs' levels of well-being were found to be much lower than those of the established entrepreneurs. Furthermore, entrepreneurs with ADHD or dyslexia symptoms generally had a much lower level of life satisfaction, compared with those without. However, the self-care behaviours observed in this sample differed somewhat from observations made in western societies, which might be explained by the different cultures and habits in Singaporean society. The findings not only highlight the need for relevant organizations to support nascent entrepreneurs but serve to remind veteran entrepreneurs to practice more healthy self-care behaviours.

During prolonged social isolation, media exposure is often intensified increases as individuals turn to the Internet, social media, television, and newspapers for information, communication, entertainment, and more. This exploratory study explores the correlations among media use, anxiety, and wellbeing in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey questionnaire was designed to measure the following five constructs: media dependency, media attention, anxiety, wellbeing, and collectivism. A total of 722 respondents in China participated in the survey from November 2020 to December 2020. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. Our findings indicate that respondents who report collectivist norms tend to experience higher levels of wellbeing (and lower levels of anxiety), regardless of their scores for media use, media attention, or media dependency. Conversely, those respondents who record low collectivism tend to have higher levels of anxiety (and lower wellbeing), even if they report lower media use, attention and dependency during the pandemic. Study results also found that anxiety mediates the relationship between media use and wellbeing. Our introduction of collectivism as a possible moderating variable represents a significant contribution to current academic debates and suggests the inclusion of cultural factors for future studies on media use and anxiety/wellbeing during public health crises.

Qualitative data analysis (QDA) software tools are often underutilised in business studies, although they can significantly enhance the speed and rigour at which qualitative data can be analysed. This Editorial outlines the core features and benefits of one qualitative software package, namely Quirkos, which has now been available for 10 years. It was originally designed to make the qualitative data analysis process more participatory, where new researchers with specialist knowledge but limited experience can contribute to data interpretation. We thus detail its key operations and recent development as well as compare it against other paper-based and non-specialist software, aiming to illustrate how Quirkos can facilitate the interpretation, collaboration, and reporting of qualitative findings while preserving data richness and depth. The availability, ease-of-use, and visual and tactile experiences provided by this software can increase the appeal of CAQDAS. It is believed that greater acceptance and understanding of Quirkos can encourage business researchers to adopt more qualitative methods, explore issues in greater depth, and increase confidence in their findings to draw meaningful conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hall's encoding/decoding model has been widely used in mass media, but its potential in social media studies has not been explored thoroughly. To this end, this paper aims to broaden the fundamental principles and assumptions of the model and apply them to audience engagement and interaction in constructing cultural meaning through social media. By analysing the YouTube channel of Liziqi (Vlogger), this study adopts a two-stage content analysis to investigate the possibility of textual coding frameworks and audience engagement processes in the construction of cultural narratives. The study reveals that Liziqi represents Chinese culture through various symbols and constructs a micro-narrative coding framework that influences audience perceptions. The audience interprets the content in proactive and diverse ways, resulting in four types of decoding: pleasuring, reflective, empathic, and questioning. This research expands Hall's encoding/decoding model by exploring the production and reception processes in a multicultural context, revealing a shared cultural framework between sender and receiver. This paper provides a tool for scholars to use new conceptual tools for encoding/decoding to explore the meaning dimensions of social media interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The determination of sample size in qualitative research introduces a unique and multifaceted challenge, setting it apart from the more structured methodology of quantitative research. Contrary to sampling methods in quantitative research, which primarily aim to secure random and statistically representative samples that facilitate the generalisation of findings to broader populations, sampling in qualitative research requires a distinct set of considerations in its pursuit of a deeper understanding of specific phenomena. The objective of this editorial is to provide qualitative researchers with clear and foundational guidance for effectively communicating the methodological aspects of their research papers, particularly pertaining to sample size justification. Building on this, we present S.C.A.D.E, an acronym comprising five key actionable elements--Selecting, Clarifying, Aligning, Deploying and Evaluating--to guide researchers in determining the appropriate sample size and ensuring that data saturation is achieved as they plan their qualitative exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Made-in-China products are getting popular around the world. Overcoming the 'low quality' perception or unfavorable country of origin (COO) effect is imperative not only for China marketers but also for any related business in other markets. Despite their huge popularity, understanding of market responses and perceptions towards China products remain unclear, especially in the technology-advanced healthcare sector. Based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and COO effect, this study examined how subjective norms, self-image congruence and stereotype affected Malaysian consumers' attitude and purchase intention of Made-in-China medical devices. 200 questionnaires in total were distributed among buyers in Malaysian public and private hospitals. A total of 178 valid responses were collected adopting purposive sampling technique. Findings indicated a significant impact of consumer attitude on purchase intention and attitude was found to be driven by subjective norms and stereotypes (warmth and competence), but not selfimage congruency. The study also showed significant mediating effects of consumer attitude on the relationship between subjective norms and stereotype (competence) on purchase intention. The findings provide valuable insights to assist marketers in tapping into the Made-in-China medical device market as well as helping healthcare agencies plan and implement effective policy and marketing communication strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of responsible business is well-known, but not necessarily known well. In this editorial, we seek to conduct a timely introspection of the term, clarifying its definition and characteristics, and launching future research prospects for scholars. Within this vein, it is evident that there is overall consensus as to the principles of responsible business, though there are ongoing debates as to how the term is manifested across different contexts comprising stakeholders with various priorities. For this reason, we argue that a contextual approach is needed, and that businesses need to align their organizational goals with wider expectations on environmental, social and corporate governance outcomes as informed by their ecosystems. Future studies should then be directed towards unpacking some of these cultural influences, and the effectiveness of the quadruple helix (business, academia, industry and society) in delivering responsible business outcomes. These can likewise be undertaken through cross-comparative and longitudinal studies to elucidate global best practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]