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Abstract Reserving existing customers is significantly more meaningful than acquiring new customers, particularly for logistics service providers. This long-standing view emphasizes the importance of customer retention for maintaining favorable relationships between logistics service providers and their clients. Drawing on the framework of the stimulus-organism-response model, this study proposes a model that integrates entertainment, interaction, trendiness, customization, and electronic word-of-mouth to examine how social media marketing activities and trust affect brand equity and reuse intentions for logistics services, both directly and indirectly. Empirical evidence was obtained from an online survey using WeChat and QQ, which administered a structured questionnaire to individuals with prior experience in logistics services at least once a week. We collected the data using a purposive sampling method from 932 participants, who represented the demographic of adult Chinese consumers. By applying partial least squares structural equation modeling, this study shows that interaction, trendiness, customization, electronic word-of-mouth, and trust positively affect the brand equity of logistics services, while the effect of entertainment on brand equity is not significant. In addition, the brand equity of logistics services positively affects the logistics service reuse intention. Furthermore, the result of the mediation analysis revealed that brand equity mediates the connection between interaction, trendiness, customization, electronic word-of-mouth, trust, and logistics service reuse intention. This study’s uniqueness lies in its thorough analysis of logistics service providers’ social media marketing efforts, trust, and their combined impact on brand equity and reuse intention. This study offers valuable perspectives on the significance of brand equity within the logistics sector, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing brand equity enhancement to improve performance and competitive edge.

Abstract Green transformation in the hotel industry represents an undeniable trend yet poses financial challenges, particularly in emerging economies. Expanding on the service quality-satisfaction-behavioral intention paradigm, this study investigates the influences of green emotional attachment, attitude towards green hotels, green image, green practice performance, word-of-mouth, guest satisfaction, functional value, and green experiential loyalty on green hotel premium payment. We collected 573 data points from China using purposive sampling. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The findings revealed the positive effect of attitudes towards green hotels and green practices on guest satisfaction. The findings confirmed a positive correlation between guest satisfaction and willingness to pay a premium price for green hotels. This study also confirms the moderating effect of green experiential loyalty. Moreover, it recognizes gender, age, and income as partial moderating factors. These findings offer valuable insights into green hotel consumption research and assist practitioners in enhancing guest willingness to pay premiums and fostering sustainable industry development. The active implementation of strategies to boost guest satisfaction and willingness to pay premiums can further environmental conservation and support zero-carbon goals in the hospitality sector.

Abstract This study examines the factors influencing organic food consumption and willingness to pay premium prices in the context of an emerging economy. The extended attitudinal behavior-scenario model, rooted in Signaling theory, served as the foundation for the proposed model. A convenience sample of 470 young Chinese consumers was collected through online and offline surveys. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships. The results reveal that consumers’ environmental concern, environmental values, value perception, price sensitivity, and green promotion significantly affect their attitudes toward organic food. In addition, consumers’ health consciousness, value perception, price sensitivity, and green promotion demonstrate significant positive effects on their intention to consume organic food. Moreover, consumer attitude toward organic food substantially influences their intention to consume it. Similarly, consumer attitude, intention, and green psychological benefits significantly affect their willingness to pay premium prices for organic food. In addition, the indirect effects of consumer attitude toward organic food and intention to consume in the relationship between the factors and willingness to pay premium prices provide interesting findings. This study offers valuable guidance for policymakers in developing appropriate strategies to expand the organic food market and provides a solid foundation for future research on organic food consumption. This study suggests that policymakers should concentrate on enhancing awareness and knowledge of organic food, promoting organic food production, and prioritizing campaigns that emphasize the exceptional health advantages of organic food to encourage greater consumption.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify workstation factors influencing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among information technology (IT) professionals in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 IT workers at small-enterprise companies who were randomly selected across East Java, Indonesia. The data were modeled using multiple linear regression, with a 95% level of confidence for determining statistical significance. Results: The respondents reported that the neck had the highest level of discomfort and was the most at risk of WMSDs, followed by the lower back, right shoulder, and upper back. Screen use duration (p=0.040) was associated with whole-body WMSDs, along with seat width (p=0.059), armrest (p=0.027), monitor (p=0.046), and a combined telephone and monitor score (p=0.028). Meanwhile, the factors significantly related to the risk of WMSDs in the hands and wrist were working period (p=0.039), night shift (p=0.024), backrest (p=0.008), and mouse score (p=0.032). Conclusions: Occupational safety authorities, standards-setting departments, and policymakers should prioritize addressing the risk factors for WMSDs among IT professionals.

Abstract A global crisis caused by unsustainable practices and their detrimental effects on civilization has compelled us to rethink the adoption of green consumption practices. This study aims to determine the determinants of green consumption behavior among Chinese youth. Based on the integrated frameworks of two renowned theories, the knowledge-attitude-practice model and the theory of planned behavior, this study proposes 11 hypotheses for empirical investigation. An online survey was used for a quantitative cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of young Chinese consumers. A dataset comprising 876 observations was examined by applying partial least squares structural equation modeling using Smart-PLS 4.0. The results show that green consumption intention and perceived behavioral control significantly affect green consumption behavior. Attitudes towards eco-social benefits, attitudes towards green consumption, and subjective norms positively affect green consumption intentions. In addition, environmental concern and knowledge positively affected all three attitude dimensions. The study further identified that green self-identity moderates the connection between green consumption intention and green consumption behavior, whereas ecolabelling is not a significant moderator of the same relationship. The theoretical contribution of this study is that it employs multigroup analysis to investigate gender- and income-based variations in the relationships, offering a comprehensive framework integrating theories along with dimensions of attitude, which offers nuanced insights into green consumption behavior. Regarding its policy implications, this study highlights the necessity of promoting environmental concern and knowledge through education and awareness campaigns while supporting eco-social benefits and green consumption practices, which can be a potent way to promote positive attitudes, intentions, and sustainable behaviors among the general population.

Abstract This study explores the factors influencing university students’ social entrepreneurial intentions based on the values-beliefs-norms theory. Data were collected from 769 Chinese university students through online surveys. The hypotheses were tested using partial least squares-structural equation modeling. The results confirmed the positive influence of altruistic and traditional values on normative beliefs. Awareness of the consequences and attribution of responsibility had no significant effect on personal norms among university students, which have been discussed in-depth in relation to the phenomenon of inadequate student socialization due to closed-loop management policies at Chinese universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the findings verified the positive and significant effects of personal, injunctive, and descriptive social norms on social entrepreneurship intentions. With the aim of promoting social entrepreneurship among university students and broadening the understanding of the phenomenon of social entrepreneurs, this study provides a favorable direction and expands the discussion on the topic. The results will help the government and universities foster more effective prosocial behaviors among university students.

Abstract Advancements in the online food delivery market in China have resulted from the rapid development and popularity of mobile communications and smartphones, which are currently applied by mobile and online application developers to restaurants and food delivery services for high sales revenue and fulfilment of Chinese consumers at home. The current work aims to thoroughly examine the four information quality dimensions (i.e. intrinsic quality, contextual quality, representational quality and accessibility quality), perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and perceived convenience and their subsequent implications on user satisfaction and reuse intention of online food delivery applications. By analysing the roles of these factors, we underscore how innovative technology and entrepreneurial strategies can drive customer engagement and satisfaction in the rapidly evolving online food delivery market. The theoretical model proposed in this study was tested through partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Resultantly, intrinsic quality, contextual quality, representational quality, accessibility quality, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use showed a positive and statistically significant effect on user satisfaction, whereas contextual, representational, and accessibility quality, perceived usefulness, perceived convenience, and customer satisfaction positively and significantly affected users’ intention to reuse the online food delivery applications. The key determinant of reuse intention was customers’ personal satisfaction. In order to improve the continuous usage intention of online food delivery applications, application developers and the food industry should therefore focus on providing accurate and up-to-date information, which is expected to boost user satisfaction and reuse intentions.

Lubricating oil disposal is considered hazardous waste and has adverse effects on the environment and human health. It is crucial to implement tight measures to regulate and minimize these impacts, or explore opportunities for oil regeneration. The paper offers an extensive review of worldwide demand for lubricating oil and its market share, with a specific emphasis on the viewpoint of Bangladesh. Furthermore, the work presents a concise overview of various re-refining methods, including acid/clay and solvent extraction, and compares them based on physical and chemical attributes such as neutralization number, viscosity, and metal contents. It is also emphasized the implementation of design modifications and the integration of current and newly developed technologies like vaxon, ecohuile, etc. to enhance productivity and durability in terms of economic and environmental aspects, to increase the quality of products with a comparison in chemical composition from FTIR and GC-MS analysis of the samples that are obtained via recycling procedures. The feasibility of using spent motor oil as a fuel with similar properties to diesel is also evaluated based on the findings from tests conducted on engine performance and emission attributes. Using nanoparticles to enhance the characteristics of lubricating oil is very promising, particularly in reconditioning old motor oil, which is currently underexplored. The primary goal of the review is to assist the re-refining industries in improving their diverse range of potential uses.

In line with the United Nation's sustainable development goals (SDGs), the unsustainable use of scarce natural resources and worldwide environmental degradation call for the immediate implementation of green behaviors across all organizations. As environmental issues originate from human activities, they necessitate the realization and execution of employees' workplace pro-environmental behaviors (WPEB) and their stimulators. Drawing on social exchange and social identity theories, this study first investigates the mediating role of green organizational climate in the relationship between various forms of perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employees' WPEB. It further examines the mediated moderation via green shared vision. An adapted survey questionnaire was distributed to senior-level and middle-level managers of large and medium-sized manufacturing firms in Pakistan, and 349 responses were gathered. The partial least-squares technique was used for data analysis. The findings indicate that all forms of perceived CSR positively correlate with a green organizational climate, which further significantly leads to employees' WPEB. The results also show that a strong shared green vision among employees can improve the relationship between the green organizational climate and employees' WPEB and vice versa. Moreover, multi-group analysis shows that the relationship between customer-centric perceived CSR and green organizational climate was stronger for medium-sized firms than large ones. Thus, to ensure the implementation of SDGs such as decent work and climate action, firms' top management must recognize the importance of investing in both internal and external CSR initiatives to foster a green organizational climate leading to employees' WPEB. Companies should communicate their participation in CSR activities to all stakeholders through public platforms to increase inspiration. Policymakers should further introduce CSR excellence awards and non-compliance penalties to encourage firms' extensive participation.

This study examines the complex interplay among corporate social responsibility (CSR), green dynamic capabilities, green innovation capabilities, and organizations' economic, environmental, and social performance in the current era of innovation and sustainability. The proposed framework was tested using data from 634 medium- and large-sized Chinese manufacturing firms. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. The findings demonstrate that CSR to external and internal stakeholders positively influences green dynamic capabilities. Meanwhile, CSR to external stakeholders and green dynamic capabilities are positively associated with green innovation capabilities, subsequently influencing the economic, environmental, and social performance of manufacturing firms. Moreover, the results reveal the mediating effect of green dynamic capabilities on the association between CSR and green innovation capabilities. Green innovation capabilities also mediate the association between CSR to external stakeholders and green dynamic capabilities on manufacturing organizations’ economic, environmental, and social performance. This study offers a novel exploration of the intricate interplay among CSR, green dynamic capabilities, green innovation capabilities, and organizational performance within manufacturing organizations. These findings provide valuable insights for managers and offer opportunities for further research that will ultimately contribute to a deeper understanding of the roles of sustainability and innovation in modern corporations.

IntroductionThe production of high-quality food for the growing world population on the one hand and the reduction of chemical-synthetic pesticides on the other hand represents a major challenge for agriculture worldwide. The effectiveness of a combination of microbial and non-microbial biostimulants (BSs) with various nitrogen (N) forms in pathogen defense is discussed as a promising, but still poorly understood bio-based alternative for crop protection. MethodsFor this reason, nitrate and stabilized ammonium fertilizer both combined with a consortium of Pseudomonas brassicacearum, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Trichoderma harzianum as soil treatment or with a mixture of seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) together with chitosan-amended micronutrient fertilizer as foliar spray application were compared under controlled greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, a combination of microbial and different non-microbial BSs (seaweed extracts + chitosan) and micronutrients with nitrate or with stabilized ammonium fertilizer was tested under field conditions to improve nutrient availability, promote plant growth, and suppress Zymoseptoria tritici (Zt) in winter wheat. Results and discussionWhile plant-protective effects against Zt by the microbial consortium application could be observed particularly under ammonium fertilization, the application of seaweed extract–chitosan mixture expressed plant defense against Zt more strongly under nitrate fertilization. In the field trial, the combination of microbial consortium with the seaweed extract–chitosan mixture together with micronutrients zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) showed positive effects against Zt under ammonium fertilization, associated with increased levels of defense metabolites. Furthermore, the additional input of Zn and copper (Cu) from the chitosan application improved the micronutrient status by minimizing the risk of Zn and Cu deficiency under controlled and field conditions. The use of BSs and the inoculation of Zt did not show any effects on plant growth and yield neither under controlled greenhouse conditions nor in the field. Summarized, microbial and non-microbial BSs separately applied or even combined together as one treatment did not influence plant growth or yield but made a positive contribution to an N form-dependent promotion of pathogen defense.

Objective Health self-monitoring technologies are gaining popularity worldwide, but they face low adoption rates in emerging countries. There is a deficiency in studies that have applied the value-belief-norm (VBN) model to understand the adoption of IoT-enabled wearable healthcare devices (WHDs). This study investigates the adoption of IoT-enabled WHDs among older adults in China, using the VBN model as a theoretical framework. Methods Using a convenience sampling method and a web-based cross-sectional survey method, we collected data from 476 respondents, which we analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling using Smart PLS version 3.3.5. Results The findings highlight the significance of health values and motivation in shaping personal health beliefs, which, in turn, influence personal norms and awareness of consequences. Particularly, awareness of consequences and attributions of responsibility significantly impact personal norms. Personal and social norms, in turn, strongly affect the intention to adopt IoT-enabled WHDs, ultimately driving their actual adoption. Conclusion This research contributes novel insights into the behavioral dynamics surrounding the adoption of IoT-enabled WHDs, providing valuable guidance for marketers and policymakers. Marketers can leverage these insights to develop tailored marketing strategies within the IoT-enabled WHD industry. Additionally, policymakers are urged to prioritize campaigns aimed at enhancing awareness and understanding of self-healthcare monitoring, with a focus on promoting the unique health benefits of IoT-enabled WHDs.

The agricultural sector in Bangladesh is a cornerstone of the nation's economy, with key crops such as rice, corn, wheat, potato, and tomato playing vital roles. However, these crops are highly vulnerable to various leaf diseases, which pose significant threats to crop yields and food security if not promptly addressed. Consequently, there is an urgent need for an automated system that can accurately identify and categorize leaf diseases, enabling early intervention and management. This study explores the efficacy of the latest state-of-the-art object detection model, YOLOv8 (You Only Look Once), in surpassing previous models for the automated detection and categorization of leaf diseases in these five major crops. By leveraging modern computer vision techniques, the goal is to enhance the efficiency of disease detection and management. A dataset comprising 19 classes, each with 150 images, totaling 2850 images, was meticulously curated and annotated for training and evaluation. The YOLOv8 framework, known for its capability to detect multiple objects simultaneously, was employed to train a deep neural network. The system's performance was evaluated using standard metrics such as mean Average Precision (mAP) and F1 score. The findings demonstrate that the YOLOv8 framework successfully identifies leaf diseases, achieving a high mAP of 98% and an F1 score of 97%. These results underscore the significant potential of this approach to enhance crop disease management, thereby improving food security and promoting agricultural sustainability in Bangladesh.

The adoption of e-healthcare services is critical for improving healthcare accessibility and efficiency, particularly in regions with diverse populations, such as Malaysia. Although e-healthcare services offer numerous advantages, their adoption is considerably low and requires a thorough understanding of the key factors that influence their use. This study investigated the determinants and dynamics of e-healthcare adoption among adults over 40 years by extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. We employed a quantitative research approach, specifically a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 393 Malaysian respondents through a structured survey questionnaire, using convenience sampling. They were analyzed using partial least-squares-structural equation modeling. The findings revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and perceived product value significantly influenced individuals’ intentions to use e-healthcare services. Meanwhile, perceived risk had an insignificant negative effect. Facilitating conditions significantly influenced individuals’ intentions and actual usage of e-healthcare services. Furthermore, individuals’ intentions to use e-healthcare services significantly affected their actual use of these services. Additionally, the intention to use e-healthcare services mediated the relationship between the factors and usage of e-healthcare services, except for perceived risk. Surprisingly, perceived service accuracy had no significant moderating effect on the relationship between individuals’ intention to use and their actual use of e-healthcare services. This study offers valuable insights for educators, practitioners, and policymakers, enriching the scholarly discourse in this field. For education, integrating e-healthcare topics into curricula can enhance digital health literacy. In practice, healthcare providers should focus on improving user experience and addressing barriers to technology adoption. For policy making, developing supportive policies, and infrastructure to facilitate e-healthcare adoption is crucial to enhancing public health outcomes.

Cervical cancer has recently emerged as the leading cause of premature death among women. Around 85% of cervical cancer cases occur in underdeveloped countries. There are several risk factors associated with cervical cancer. This study describes a novel predictive model that uses early screening and risk trends from individual health records to forecast cervical cancer patients' prognoses. This study uses machine learning classification techniques to investigate the risk factors for cervical cancer. Additionally, use the voting method to evaluate all models and select the most appropriate model. The dataset used in this study contains missing values and shows a significant imbalance. Thus, the Random Oversampling technique was used as a sampling method. We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and XGBoost feature selection techniques to determine the most important features. To predict the accuracy, we used several machine learning classifiers, including Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), k-nearest Neighbors (KNN), Decision Trees (DT), Naive Bayes (NB), Logistic Regression (LR), AdaBoost (AdB), Gradient Boosting (GB), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), and Nearest Centroid Classifier (NCC). To demonstrate the efficacy of the suggested model, a comparison of its accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity was performed. We used the Random Oversampling approach along with the Ensemble ML method, hard voting on RF and MLP, and achieved 99.19% accuracy. It is demonstrated that the ensemble ML classifier (hard voting) performs better at handling classification problems when features are decreased and the high-class imbalance problem is handled.

Intelligence and creativity among school-going students are buzzwords. The exponential growth of studies has spurred on the influence of intelligence on creativity; however, the center of the debate is on the effect of the former on the latter. Surprisingly, very few studies have attempted to investigate the confounding effect which connects intelligence with creativity. Based on the notions of multi-theory, this study explores the impact of intelligence on creativity through the mechanism of a mediator and a moderator. The present study collected 307 cross-sectional data using the convenience sampling method. The collected data were analyzed using partial least square based structural equation modeling with the deduction reasoning method. The results reveal that students’ efficacious belief mediates the influence of intelligence on creativity; however, the moderating effect of creative identity is not demonstrated justified. Practical implications and directions for future research are presented in the final section.

Abstract Excessive use of agrochemicals and the misuse of natural resources severely degrade farmlands. In addition to organic farming, conservative agricultural practices are one of the most viable methods for preventing environmental deterioration. Its adoption has remained relatively modest in developing countries as farmers rely exclusively on synthetic inputs to attain high yields and economic returns. Therefore, this study focuses on the factors that influence farmers’ intention and adoption of conservative agricultural practices. This study extended the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) framework with a new construct (green trust), and empirically evaluated all fundamental VBN components with their chained relationships among constructs. This cross-sectional study collected quantitative data from 349 farmers using structured interviews. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method was used to statistically evaluate the relationship between the constructs. The analysis demonstrates that both biospheric and altruistic values have a positive impact on the new environmental paradigm, which, in turn, has a significant impact on people’s awareness of consequences and personal norms. Although awareness of consequences had a substantial positive influence on the ascription of responsibilities, it was demonstrated to have a statistically insignificant impact on personal norms. In parallel, the ascription of responsibility had a strong impact on personal norms, which, in turn, positively influenced the intention towards conservative agricultural practices. Remarkably, green trust was found to have the greatest effect on farmers’ intentions. Finally, farmers’ actual adoption was significantly influenced by their intention. The findings of this study will contribute to the strengthening of relevant factors among farmers that may enhance eco-friendly farming practices, develop solutions for regulating the protected utilization of natural resources, and effectively prevent environmental deterioration caused by hazardous agrochemicals. The study will also provide guidance to government regulators and other social organizations in the formulation of effective laws, policies, and strategies for the mass adoption of conservation practices and restoration of agricultural ecosystem balance.

Abstract Organic food production is recognized by most countries and regions worldwide as a method of ecological and environmental protection because traditional agricultural practices significantly use pesticides and other chemicals, creating severe issues regarding the ecological, environmental, and food safety issues. Most research on organic production focuses on large-scale organic production. This study focuses on growing noncommercial, small-scale urban organic food using the value-belief-norm (VBN) model to explore the pro-environmental behavior regarding organic food production from a psychological perspective. We employed nonprobability sampling because of the absence of a sampling framework for the target population. We obtained a sample of 621 respondents from noncommercial urban botanists in China followed by quantitative methods to examine the relationships among variables using partial least squares structural equation modeling. This study focused on organic food behavior by modifying the VBN theory, which built trust in organic food production methods and developed a structural equation model to explain the underlying motivational factors that influenced the propensity to grow organic food. Finally, the path analysis results demonstrated that all hypothesized associations were statistically significant, except for the ecological worldview on personal norms and trust in organic food production, and personal norms on intention toward organic food production. Overall, the results of this study verify the validity of the VBN theory in the context of organic food consumption as a pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, relevant departments and governments should take measures to promote organic food production in China from a psychological perspective.

Abstract The issues of employment, social inequality, and resource scarcity can be effectively addressed through social entrepreneurship, contributing to the growing research interest on the formation of social entrepreneurial intention. Using the theory of planned behaviour, the current study examined the influence of selected key factors on social entrepreneurial intention among university students. Based on the cross-sectional quantitative research design, online survey was conducted, which involved 684 students and graduates from five universities in Southern China. The obtained results demonstrated the significant and positive influence of perceived values on sustainability, opportunity recognition competency, attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control on social entrepreneurial intention. Additionally, attitude towards entrepreneurship partially mediated the relationships of risk-taking propensity, self-efficacy, and need for achievement on social entrepreneurial intention. The multi-group analysis results also showed that need for achievement and social entrepreneurial intention differed significantly between genders, which provides new ideas for future investigations into the impact of gender on social entrepreneurial intentions. Based on the findings of this study, it is crucial that university students are exposed to relevant courses or training to develop social entrepreneurship competencies and promote sustainable values. The findings of this study will provide policymakers with relevant policy guidelines and more effective theoretical support to achieve the goal of promoting social entrepreneurship among university students in a more resource-efficient and effective manner.

BackgroundThis study follows published associations in BC to 2014 (updated in 2019) to model the predicted incidence of asthma in BC children attributable to antibiotic use within the context of reduced antibiotic use and increased breastfeeding in BC infants from 2000 to 2019.MethodsA population-based ecological study was conducted in BC from 2000 to 2019, using outpatient antibiotic prescription data from BC PharmaNet and asthma diagnoses from the Chronic Disease Registry. Breastfeeding estimates were calculated using the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). Population attributable risk (PAR) was calculated using a blended relative risk (RR) of asthma in antibiotic-exposed children who were and were not breastfed. PAR was used to calculate predicted vs. actual asthma incidence in 2019. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate the association between the average antibiotic prescription rate in infants under 1 and asthma incidence in 1–4 year olds, stratified by periods between 2000–2014 and 2015–2019.ResultsIn BC, antibiotic prescribing decreased by 77% in infants under 1 and asthma incidence decreased by 41% in children 1–4 years from 2000 to 2019. BC breastfeeding rates increased from 46% in the 2005 CCHS to 71% in the 2017/18 CCHS. After calculating the PAR using a blended RR, the predicted asthma incidence in 2019 was 18.8/1,000 population. This was comparable to the observed asthma incidence in children 1–4 years of 16.6/1,000 population in 2019. During 2000–2014, adjusted incidence risk ratio (aIRR) for children under Quintile 5 of average antibiotic prescribing was 1.75 (95% CI: 1.63–1.88, P

Introduction:Colocasia affinis Schott (Family: Araceae), found in the Asian region, is a traditional root vegetable consumed by the locals and well-known as Dwarf Elephant Ear.Methods: For the pharmacological exploration of this root vegetable, four kupchan fractions (i.e. HSF, DCMSF, EASF, and AQSF) from ethanolic extract of C. affinis were employed to in vitro i.e. antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and antimicrobial and in vivo i.e. antidiarrheal and analgesic assays, followed by phytochemical screening and GC-MS protocol.Result and Discussion: In the antioxidant assay, the AQSF showed promising potential with an IC50 value of 29.4 μg/mL and additionally, it exhibited the greatest overall phenolic content, measuring 57.23 mg GAE/gm. of extract among other fractions. The AQSF also revealed promising cytotoxic activity in brine shrimp lethality assay with an LC50 value of 1.36 μg/mL. Both AQSF and EASF exhibited substantial antimicrobial efficacy against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as various fungus species with a remarkable zone of inhibitions compared to standards. Whereas, during both the castor oil-induced antidiarrheal and acetic acid-induced writhing assay, the DCMSF at 400 mg/kg dose exhibited the highest 51.16% reduction of diarrhea and 52.33% reduction of writhing. Phytochemical screening revealed several chemical groups while GC-MS study of different fractions of dwarf elephant ear ethanolic extract revealed 48 different bioactive phytochemicals in total. Several targets such as KAS, DHFR for anti-microbial activities, GLR, URO for antioxidant activities, EGFR, BCL-2 for cytotoxicity, KOR, DOR for antidiarrheal activities and COX-2, TNF-α for analgesic activities are considered for molecular docking against identified phytocompounds and standards along with ADME/T studies to ascertain their safety, efficacy and drug likeliness profiles.Conclusion: To recapitulate, our study revealed that vegetables such as dwarf elephant ear can be considered as a prospective source of therapeutics and drug development besides their nutritive food values.

Batik, an Indonesian textile art form, holds immense economic and cultural importance. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) specialising in batik play a crucial role in Indonesia's economic growth and cultural preservation, contributing significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP) and preserving the nation's heritage. Nevertheless, these enterprises face several challenges, such as slow growth and limited access to credit. The batik industry also lags in financial literacy and the adoption of digital marketing strategies, hindering its development. This quantitative study aims to investigate the relationship between financial literacy, digital financial literacy, and financial inclusion in batik SMEs and also examined the moderating effect of online social networks. A survey was conducted involving 535 managers, owners, and financial officers of small batik enterprises. Subsequently, the SmartPLS statistical analysis method was employed for data analysis. The results demonstrate that financial literacy and digital financial literacy play a significant role in accessing financial inclusion for batik small enterprises. Moreover, the utilisation of social media was found to moderate these relationships, amplifying the impact of financial and digital literacy on financial inclusion. The findings contribute to the existing knowledge, provide insights for enhancing batik small enterprises, and propose a digital financial model to promote financial inclusion.

The single-ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC) is a popular converter topology that can be employed in diverse application fields where the needed output voltage is greater or lesser than the input voltage. The non-inverted output voltage of a SEPIC converter provides additional advantages when compared to a buck-boost or Ćuk converter. Furthermore, the position of the capacitor in the SEPIC converter provides inherent isolation and circuit safety. One drawback in the conventional bridge-diode SEPIC AC-DC converter is the lack of controllability which can be overcome by adding extra active switch(es) or by replacing the passive diode(s) with active switch(es). However, introducing more active switches increases the control complexity and may increase the requirement for additional driver circuits. To address this trade-off, this article proposes a single-phase AC to DC modified SEPIC converter with input current-switching capability without adding any extra active switch(es). The existing active switch of the DC-DC SEPIC converter was shifted towards the input side and thus no additional switch has been introduced. This allows the option of input-current switching without any additional complexity in the control or driver circuit. The circuit topology, principles of operation, and ideal voltage gain equations for the suggested circuit have been derived and included in this research work. The proposed circuit has been simulated in both open-loop conditions and closed-loop control with varying duty cycles and output load. Results from the simulation show that the proposed converter provides better efficiency (∼90 %) and lower total harmonic distortion (THD) (10 %) for varying duty cycles when compared to a conventional converter. The converter also shows good dynamic response. A low-power 15V hardware prototype has been built to experimentally validate the performance of the proposed converter. Experimental results illustrate that the suggested converter can improve the power factor by up to 0.968 while operating at an efficiency above 75 %. This converter topology can be suitable for applications where high output voltage gain, high power factor, and lower THD are needed without isolation requirements.

Chronic infection of Helicobacter pylori represents a key factor in the etiology of gastrointestinal diseases, with high endemicity in South Asia. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori among dyspeptic patients in north–central Bangladesh (Mymensingh) and analyze risk factors of infection and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants in the pathogen. Endoscopic gastrointestinal biopsy samples were collected from dyspeptic patients for a one-year period from March 2022 and were checked for the presence of H. pylori via the rapid urease test and PCR and further analyzed for the status of virulence factors vacA/cagA and genetic determinants related to AMR via PCR with direct sequencing or RFLP. Among a total of 221 samples collected, 80 (36%) were positive for H. pylori, with the vacA+/cagA+ genotype being detected in almost half of them. H. pylori was most prevalent in the age group of 41–50-year-olds, with it being more common in males and rural residents with a lower economic status and using nonfiltered water, though the rates of these factors were not significantly different from those of the H. pylori-negative group. Relatively higher frequency was noted for the A2147G mutation in 23S rRNA, related to clarithromycin resistance (18%, 7/39). Amino acid substitutions in PBP-1A (T556S) and GyrA (N87K and D91N) and a 200 bp deletion in rdxA were detected in samples from some patients with recurrence after treatment with amoxicillin, levofloxacin, and metronidazole, respectively. The present study describes the epidemiological features of H. pylori infection in the area outside the capital in Bangladesh, revealing the spread of AMR-associated mutations.

Mango leaf diseases represent a serious threat to world agriculture, necessitating prompt and accurate detection to avert catastrophic effects. In response, this study suggests a light-weight, deep learning-based method for automatically classifying mango leaf diseases. The model is based on the original DenseNet architecture, which is well known for its effectiveness in image classification tasks. Custom layers have been added over the existing layer of the original DenseNet model. The proposed model has been compared with other existing pre-trained models. Based on comparisons, the proposed model, DenseNet78, proved to be efficient even on a relatively small dataset, where the conventional model failed. The proposed model ensured generalization across regions, disease variants, and diverse datasets of mango leaves. The results demonstrate that the fine-tuned DenseNet architecture (DenseNet78), along with an ideal growth rate, modifying block size, and a number of layers, provides optimum accuracy, with 99.47% accuracy in identifying healthy mango leaves and 99.44% accuracy in detecting various mango leaf diseases. The results also demonstrate that the model is effective in accelerating the training process because of careful comparative analysis of all the available alternatives, including the most effective combination of optimizers, learning rate schedulers, and loss functions. The study's conclusion is an automated approach for diagnosing mango leaf disease using an improved and optimized DenseNet architecture (DenseNet78). Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-01-03 Full Text: PDF

Abstract This study examined the factors influencing customers’ consumption intentions and willingness to pay a premium price for 3D-printed food by combining personal innovativeness, perceived compatibility, perceived product value, desire to eat, and willingness to pay a premium price for 3D-printed food into a conceptual framework. Applying the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) framework with personal innovativeness, perceived compatibility, and perceived product value, this study obtained data from 1540 respondents using an online cross-sectional questionnaire and utilized partial least squares structural equation modeling to verify the study hypotheses. The findings revealed that personal inventiveness, attitude, perceived compatibility, subjective norms, perceived product value, and perceived behavioral control exert a significant influence on the intention and willingness to pay a premium price for 3D-printed food. The result also showed that perceived behavior and intention significantly affect willingness to pay a premium price for 3D-printed food. Furthermore, the outcome confirmed that, with the exception of the link between perceived product value, subjective norms, and willingness to pay a premium price for 3D-printed food, intention serves as a significant mediator in the relationship between factors and willingness to pay a premium price for 3D-printed food. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of the factors that influence consumers’ intention to consume and willingness to pay a premium for 3D-printed food, providing new insights from new variables and broadening the scope of the TPB’s original model in the perspective of new food settings and Asian nations. These findings imply that 3D-printed food sellers in the Asian market need to pay more attention to the factors that stimulate customers’ intentions, which, in turn, affect consumers’ views of perceived product value and improve their readiness to pay a premium price for 3D-printed food.

Abstract Addressing the growing popularity of mobile health (m-Health) technology in the health industry, the current study examined consumers’ intention and behaviour related to the usage of digital applications based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). In particular, this study quantitatively assessed the moderating role of perceived product value and mediating role of intention to use m-Health application among Indonesians. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and collected quantitative data from conveniently selected respondents through an online survey, which involved 2068 Telegram users in Indonesia. All data were subjected to the analysis of partial least square- structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The obtained results demonstrated the moderating effect of perceived product value on the relationship between intention to use m-Health application (m-health app) and actual usage of m-Health app and the mediating effects of intention to use m-Health app on the relationships of perceived critical mass, perceived usefulness, perceived convenience, perceived technology accuracy, and perceived privacy protection on actual usage of m-Health app. However, the intention to use m-Health app did not mediate the influence of health consciousness and health motivation on the actual usage of m-Health app. Overall, this study’s findings on the significance of intention to use m-Health app and perceived product value based on the UTAUT framework serve as insightful guideline to expand the usage of m-Health app among consumers.

CsSnI3 is a promising lead-free material that shows potential as a substitute for lead-based material in the development of ecologically benign perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its low cost, high efficiency, and excellent thermal stability. This research is intended to enhance the efficiency of CsSnI3-based PSCs by employing numerical simulation through the One Dimensional Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS-1D) to optimize the optoelectronic properties of the electron transport layer (ETL), absorber layer, hole transport layer (HTL), and different interface layers. An investigation was conducted to evaluate the influence of different ETLs namely WS2, ZnSe, C60 and PCBM on the performance of CsSnI3-based PSCs utilizing poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) as the HTL. Moreover, the influence of variations in the thickness, doping density, and defect density of the absorber layer, ETL, and HTL on key photovoltaic parameters including power conversion efficiency (PCE), short-circuit current density ( $\text{J}_{SC}$ ), open circuit voltage ( $\text{V}_{OC}$ ), and fill factor (FF) was observed. The findings revealed that depending on the ETL employed, the PCE varies between the structures. For structures using WS2, ZnSe, C60, and PCBM as ETL, the corresponding PCE values are 31.63%, 29.64%, 29.75%, and 29.62%. Additionally, for all PSC structures, the effects of interface defect, temperature, series-shunt resistance, capacitance-voltage characteristics, and Mott-Schottky plot have been observed, and the corresponding current density-voltage (J-V), quantum efficiency (QE), generation, and recombination rates have been computed. Finally, the outcomes of this analysis were compared with prior research conducted on CsSnI3-based PSCs, thereby offering significant perspectives for their advancement and commercial viability.

Abstract The fashion industry has a significant impact on the environment, and sustainable fashion consumption (SFC) has become a pressing concern. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing sustainable fashion consumption behavior (SCB) among Chinese adults, specifically the role of values, attitudes, and norms in shaping such behavior, using the value-belief-norm framework. The study used an online cross-sectional survey design to collect data from 350 participants recruited through a convenience sampling method using social media platforms and email invitations, and the obtained data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results of the study showed that biospheric (BV), altruistic (AV), and egoistic (EV) values significantly influenced the New ecological paradigm (EP), which, in turn, positively affected awareness of consequences (AC). Personal norms (PN) were positively influenced by EP, AC, and ascription of responsibility (AR). Social norms (SN) and trust in recycling (TR) were also found to positively influence sustainable fashion consumption intentions (SCI). Finally, the study found that SCI and TR were significant predictors of SCB, whereas the moderating effect of TR not statistically significant. The study’s originality lies in its comprehensive investigation of the interplay between various factors (particularly using norms in two facets; PN and SN) in shaping SCB, using a structural equation modeling approach, and exploring the moderating effect of TR. The findings of this study suggest that interventions aimed at promoting SFC should focus on fostering values and beliefs that prioritize the environment, encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their actions, creating an environment in which SFC is normalized, and increasing TR.

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the relationships among environmental and health values, ecological worldview, perception of consequences, the ascription of responsibility, and personal norms in the context of the value-belief-norm (VBN) model and how compatibility influences the intentions and behaviors of Chinese youth regarding the use of hydroponic farming technology. The study employed a survey questionnaire to collect data from the target population. The sample size was determined through a power analysis to ensure sufficient statistical power for the analysis. A total of 727 potential respondents' responses were analyzed using SmartPLS (4.0) to perform structural equation modeling. The results confirmed that environmental, emotional, and health values significantly associated with individuals' ecological worldviews. There was an interconnection between ecological worldview, awareness of consequences, and ascription of responsibility, and all three significantly influenced personal norms. The key determinants of the intentions and behaviors to adopt hydroponic farming technology are personal norms and technology compatibility. Therefore, to promote and motivate the interest and intention to use hydroponics among unemployed youth, government agencies, and related companies should focus on providing technology-related and pro-environmental information and training. This is expected to increase the acceptance and awareness of hydroponics among this group, thus increasing the adoption rate of hydroponics.

The skin, being a multifaceted organ, performs a pivotal function in the complicated wound-healing procedure, which encompasses the triggering of several cellular entities and signaling cascades. Aberrations in the typical healing process of wounds may result in atypical scar development and the establishment of a persistent condition, rendering patients more vulnerable to infections. Chronic burns and wounds have a detrimental effect on the overall quality of life of patients, resulting in higher levels of physical discomfort and socio-economic complexities. The occurrence and frequency of prolonged wounds are on the rise as a result of aging people, hence contributing to escalated expenditures within the healthcare system. The clinical evaluation and treatment of chronic wounds continue to pose challenges despite the advancement of different therapeutic approaches. This is mainly owing to the prolonged treatment duration and intricate processes involved in wound healing. Many conventional methods, such as the administration of growth factors, the use of wound dressings, and the application of skin grafts, are used to ease the process of wound healing across diverse wound types. Nevertheless, these therapeutic approaches may only be practical for some wounds, highlighting the need to advance alternative treatment modalities. Novel wound care technologies, such as nanotherapeutics, stem cell treatment, and 3D bioprinting, aim to improve therapeutic efficacy, prioritize skin regeneration, and minimize adverse effects. This review provides an updated overview of recent advancements in chronic wound healing and therapeutic management using innovative approaches.

Self-health monitoring technologies have become increasingly popular in averting unanticipated health complications. However, the adoption rate of such technologies in developing countries is surprisingly low. Furthermore, empirical studies on the application of the value-belief-norm (VBN) model to elucidate intention to use IoT-enabled wearable fitness devices (IoT-enabled WFDs) are scarce. This study aimed to expand the VBN model by integrating health values, health consciousness, health knowledge-seeking, and social norms as influencing constructs. The proposed holistic framework was empirically tested to examine these constructs on users' decision-making process of adopting IoT-enabled WFDs. A web-based survey involving 866 adults in China aged 18–30 years was conducted. The gathered data were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling. The results revealed the significant influence of health consciousness and health knowledge-seeking on personal health beliefs, as well as the favourable impact of personal health beliefs on personal norms and awareness of consequences. The results further demonstrated the substantial influence of awareness of consequences and ascription of responsibilities on personal norms. Besides that, personal norms and societal norms were found to have strong influence on the intention to adopt IoT-enabled WFDs, which was revealed to have significant influence on the actual usage. This study's findings offer novel theoretical insights on the behavioural characteristics of adopting IoT-enabled WFDs and serve as a practical guideline for industry experts and marketers to establish appropriate marketing strategies to support the IoT-enabled wearable sector. The findings also benefit policymakers in their efforts of developing strategies that emphasise the unique benefits of self-healthcare monitoring to encourage active lifestyle and decrease obesity and overweight-related health risks.

Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer (PC) stands out as one of the most formidable malignancies and exhibits an exceptionally unfavorable clinical prognosis due to the absence of well‐defined diagnostic indicators and its tendency to develop resistance to therapeutic interventions. The primary objective of this present study was to identify extracellular matrix (ECM)‐related hub genes (HGs) and their corresponding molecular signatures, with the intent of potentially utilizing them as biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic applications. Methods Three microarray datasets were sourced from the NCBI database to acquire upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), while MatrisomeDB was employed for filtering ECM‐related genes. Subsequently, a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was established using the STRING database. The created network was visually inspected through Cytoscape, and HGs were identified using the CytoHubba plugin tool. Furthermore, enrichment analysis, expression pattern analysis, clinicopathological correlation, survival analysis, immune cell infiltration analysis, and examination of chemical compounds were carried out using Enrichr, GEPIA2, ULCAN, Kaplan Meier plotter, TIMER2.0, and CTD web platforms, respectively. The diagnostic and prognostic significance of HGs was evaluated through the ROC curve analysis. Results Ten genes associated with ECM functions were identified as HGs among 131 DEGs obtained from microarray datasets. Notably, the expression of these HGs exhibited significantly (p 0.75) and prognostic (AUC > 0.64) purposes. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between immune cell infiltration and the expression of most HGs. Lastly, our study identified nine compounds with significant interaction profiles that could potentially act as effective chemical agents targeting the identified HGs. Conclusion Taken together, our findings suggest that COL1A1, KRT19, MMP1, COL11A1, SDC1, ITGA2, COL1A2, POSTN, FN1, and COL5A1 hold promise as innovative biomarkers for both the diagnosis and prognosis of PC, and they present as prospective targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at impeding the progression PC.

Objectives This study aimed to assess the desire for smoke-free housing, determine the choice of smoke-free policies for multiunit housing (MUH), and identify the factors associated with policy choice among MUH residents in Bangladesh.Design We conducted a cross-sectional study from April to November 2019 using a semi-structured survey questionnaire.Setting This study was conducted in seven divisional cities of Bangladesh: Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, and Rangpur.Participants A total of 616 adult individuals living in MUH for at least 2 years participated in the study.Primary outcome measure Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of the choice of smoke-free policies for MUH.Results Overall, 94.8% of the respondents wanted smoke-free housing. Among those who wanted smoke-free housing, 44.9% preferred a smoke-free building policy, 28.3% preferred a smoke-free common area policy, 20.2% favoured a smoke-free unit policy, and 6.7% did not know what policy they should choose. Three factors were found to be significantly associated with the choice of a smoke-free building policy: staying at home for more than 12 hours (adjusted OR (aOR): 2.6; 95% CI 1.035 to 6.493), being a non-smoker (aOR: 3.2; 95% CI 1.317 to 7.582), and having at least one family member who smoked (aOR: 3.0; 95% CI 1.058 to 8.422). Results also showed that residents having at least one child under 15 in the family (aOR: 0.3; 95% CI 0.152 to 0.778) were less likely to choose a smoke-free common area policy and that women (aOR: 3.7; 95% CI 1.024 to 13.188) were more likely to choose a smoke-free unit policy.Conclusions MUH residents in urban Bangladesh highly demanded smoke-free housing. Most residents favoured a smoke-free building policy for MUH. Those who stayed at home for a longer time, were non-smokers, and had smoking family members were more likely to choose this policy.

This work aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the interaction of the active furanocoumarins in P. corylifolia on tofacitinib both in vivo and in vitro. The concentration of tofacitinib and its metabolite M8 was determined using UPLC-MS/MS. The peak area ratio of M8 to tofacitinib was calculated to compare the inhibitory ability of furanocoumarin contained in the traditional Chinese medicine P. corylifolia in rat liver microsomes (RLMs), human liver microsomes (HLMs) and recombinant human CYP3A4 (rCYP3A4). We found that bergapten and isopsoralen exhibited more significant inhibitory activity in RLMs than other furanocoumarins. Bergapten and isopsoralen were selected to investigate tofacitinib drug interactions in vitro and in vivo. Thirty rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups (n = 6): control (0.5% CMC-Na), low-dose bergapten (20 mg/kg), high-dose bergapten (50 mg/kg), low-dose isopsoralen (20 mg/kg) and ketoconazole. 10 mg/kg of tofacitinib was orally intervented to each rat and the concentration level of tofacitinib in the rats were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. More imporrantly, the results showed that bergapten and isopsoralen significantly inhibited the metabolism of tofacitinib metabolism. The AUC(0-t), AUC(0-∞), MRT(0-t), MRT(0-∞) and Cmax of tofacitinib increased in varying degrees compared with the control group (all p < 0.05), but CLz/F decreased in varying degrees (p < 0.05) in the different dose bergapten group and isopsoralen group. Bergapten, isopsoralen and tofacitinib exhibit similar binding capacities with CYP3A4 by AutoDock 4.2 software, confirming that they compete for tofacitinib metabolism. P. corylifolia may considerably impact the metabolism of tofacitinib, which can provide essential information for the accurate therapeutic application of tofacitinib.

This research aimed to identify the factors that influence impulse buying behavior during livestreaming and advance the existing literature based on a proposed conceptual framework grounded in the stimulus-organism-response (S–O-R) model. We also tested the moderating effects of price perception and scarcity persuasion. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 837 Chinese participants aged over 18 years. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling using Smart-PLS version 4.0. The findings showed that susceptibility to social influence, impulse buying tendency, cognitive reactions, affective reactions, and the urge to buy impulsively are statistically significant predictors of impulse buying during livestreaming, with price perception and scarcity persuasion as moderators. The study expands the S–O-R model for livestreaming impulse buying in e-commerce context, highlighting its multifaceted nature and revealing the mediating role of Urge to Buy Impulsively in translating cognitive and emotional factors into impulse buying behavior. These insights offer practical guidance for marketers to design tailored strategies that leverage psychological triggers and external cues to enhance consumer engagement and encourage desired behaviors, ultimately leading to more effective marketing campaigns and improved consumer experiences.

Agricultural biomass is a well-known renewable resource that has a high rate of recycling. Two of them are luffa sponge and corn husk/maize fibers. Luffa sponge may be effectively used to reinforce lightweight composite constructions because of its polypore structure. For this race, maize fiber is also appropriate. Surface modifications for both of the fibers are needed for increasing mechanical strength with higher interfacial bonding with the matrix materials of composite manufacturing. This investigation involved treating both materials with 5 g/L, 10 g/L, and 15 g/L of NaOH in order to describe the alterations occurring on their physio-chemical characteristics. The therapy lasted 60 min and was administered at 90 °C. Following that, acetic acid was used to neutralize the samples. The ASTM D1445 technique was used to measure the bundle fibers' breaking force and elongation, and the ASTM D570 procedures were used in order to determine the water absorption variation % in the treated samples. The FTIR test and SEM examination revealed the contaminants that were eliminated from the surface of Luffa and Maize fibers. The test findings demonstrated improved modification behaviors for the 15 g m/L treated fibers, which had an elongation percentage of 3.02% and an equivalent breaking force of 5.12 kg for the Luffa fiber and 5.72 kg for the maize fiber. Natural contaminants were eliminated as a result of variations in functional group intensity shown in the FTIR pictures. However, SEM pictures showed that the surface smoothed out for samples treated with 15 g per liter of NaOH, which may be the cause of the fiber's brittle interlocking with the matrix components. Moreover, water absorbency rose by over 300% compared to the untreated fibers. In summary, samples treated with 10 g/L NaOH might serve as superior reinforced materials of composite for both types of fibers.

The formation of mass customization competencies is crucial for the increasing number of manufacturing companies in modern times. This study assessed the relationship between mass customization capability and its determinants on sustainable performance. Additionally, it explores the mediating role of mass customization capability and sustainable performance, while also examining the moderating effects of firm size and cross-border eCommerce in these associations. The study used online survey data from 339 manufacturing small-to-medium-sized enterprises in China to test the hypothesized relationships. The collected data were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling and necessary condition analysis. The results indicated that flexible manufacturing competencies, modular product architecture, and customer relationship management are significantly and positively connected to mass customization capability. Moreover, the study observed that mass customization capability and competitive pressure have a significant positive influence on the sustainable performance of Chinese manufacturing SMEs. The findings also revealed that firm size and cross-border e-commerce engagement have a negative and positive moderating effect, respectively, between mass customization capability on sustainable performance, which confirms a relatively higher effect of customization capability on sustainable performance among smaller firms and firms engaged in cross-border eCommerce. Fundamentally, these findings can lead to the development of a comprehensive framework to promote mass customization capability, cross-border e-commerce, and sustainable development of manufacturing small-to-medium-sized enterprises China.

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks pose a significant threat to the health of livestock, wildlife, and humans. Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are enzootic in poultry in many countries, including Bangladesh, necessitating improved farm biosecurity measures. However, the comprehension of biosecurity and hygiene practices, as well as the infection of AIV in turkey farms, are poorly understood in Bangladesh. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of AIV subtypes and their association with biosecurity and hygiene practices in turkey farms. We collected oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs from individual turkeys from 197 farms across 9 districts in Bangladesh from March to August 2019. We tested the swab samples for the AIV matrix gene (M gene) followed by H5, H7, and H9 subtypes using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). We found 24.68% (95% CI:21.54–28.04) of turkey samples were AIV positive, followed by 5.95% (95% CI: 4.33–7.97) for H5, 6.81% (95% CI: 5.06–8.93) for H9 subtype and no A/H7 was found. Using a generalized linear mixed model, we determined 10 significant risk factors associated with AIV circulation in turkey farms. We found that the absence of sick turkeys, the presence of footbaths, the absence of nearby poultry farms, concrete flooring, and the avoidance of mixing newly purchased turkeys with existing stock can substantially reduce the risk of AIV circulation in turkey farms (odds ratio ranging from 0.02 to 0.08). Furthermore, the absence of nearby live bird markets, limiting wild bird access, no visitor access, improved floor cleaning frequency, and equipment disinfection practices also had a substantial impact on lowering the AIV risk in the farms (odds ratio ranging from 0.10 to 0.13). The results of our study underscore the importance of implementing feasible and cost-effective biosecurity measures aimed at reducing AIV transmission in turkey farms. Particularly in resource-constrained environments such as Bangladesh, such findings might assist governmental entities in enhancing biosecurity protocols within their poultry sector, hence mitigating and potentially averting the transmission of AIV and spillover to humans.

Technology plays a substantial role in our daily lives, and the spread of COVID-19 paves the way for the use of healthcare technologies to manage health in the comfort of our homes. Middle-aged and older adults face health issues and require instant healthcare advice and support. Electronic healthcare (EH) applications have emerged to facilitate middle-aged and older adults receiving healthcare support instantly while remaining in their homes. The present study empirically evaluates the intention and adoption of electronic health applications with the technological attributes of perceived compatibility, cost, product value, technology accuracy, privacy issues and health motivation among middle-aged and older adults from Malaysia. Moreover, this research examines the mediating effect of the intention to adopt EH applications between technology attributes and the adoption of EH applications. This study uses a cross-sectional method and employs an online survey to assemble quantitative data from 298 middle-aged and older Malaysian adults. It utilizes partial least squares structural equation modelling for data analysis. The data analysis reveals that perceived compatibility, cost, privacy, product value and health motivation significantly influenced the intention to use EH apps. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the intention to adopt EH apps significantly mediates the relationship between the perception of cost, personal privacy, product value, health motivation and adoption of EH apps. However, the intention to use EH apps insignificantly instigates their adoption. Finally, the study presents its implications, limitations and future research directions.

Introduction: Natural plant-based medicines have gained popularity recently as a major source of inventive, risk-free, and more potent secondary bioactive compounds with medicinal potential. Catharanthus ovalis is a perennial shrub containing various indole alkaloids cultivated extensively for local medical purposes.Methods: This research is conducted to identify the phytocompounds present in the leaves of C. ovalis and its central and peripheral analgesic, thrombolytic, and membrane-stabilizing activities through tail immersion, acetic acid-induced writhing, human blood clot lysis, and erythrocyte lysis by heat and hypotonic solution methods, respectively.Results and discussion: A total of 39 compounds were identified using GC–MS/MS techniques, including hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (56.749%), methyl stearate (29.782%), carvacrol and its TBDMS derivative (12.586%), and 9-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (E)-] (9.297%) presented in high quantity. The highest tail immersion latency was observed for the 600 mg/kg extract of C. ovalis crude extract. Both 400 and 600 mg/kg doses of C. ovalis crude extract exhibited prominent peripheral analgesic activity. The maximum thrombolytic effect was observed by DCM soluble fraction extract by inhibiting 54.87% of the clot. However, the aqueous-soluble fraction of this extract manifested an excellent membrane-stabilizing effect by showing 73.98% and 87.51% hemolysis against heat- and hypotonic-induced hemolysis, respectively. Some of the compounds were identified as active agents against different receptors related to these diseases, which supported the findings of in vitro and in vivo tests.Conclusion: Further investigation needs to be conducted to specify and identify the exact mechanism of action of these compounds.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a customer relationship management (CRM) model based on telecom customers’ experiences with the company's services. For this purpose, this study examines how the influence of organizational commitment(OC) and knowledge management (KM) on customer relationship management (CRM), affects customer profitability (CP) and customer loyalty (CL) directly and indirectly through customer satisfaction (CS) along with moderating role of brand image. We examined hypotheses by utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) and data gathered from 100 consumers of the Bangladeshi telecommunication sector, and a survey was performed through online and offline with a pre-structured questionnaire. The study found that knowledge management and organizational commitment affect CRM performance, which greatly affects customer profitability and loyalty, both directly and indirectly through customer satisfaction. Customer profitability also greatly affects customer loyalty. This study also revealed that brand image moderated CRM and CP, CRM and CS, and CRM and CL correlations. The present research built a moderated-mediation paradigm by using the possible mediating impact of client happiness and the moderating impact of brand image to show how CRM is both directly and indirectly connected to clients’ profitability and loyalty. Present study suggested that, the managers of telecommunication companies should use effective CRM strategies to provide their consumers with personalized and appropriate experiences, which afterwards allows for the goal of long-term client profitability and loyalty and maintains long-term sustainability in this industry.

Abstract The increasing recognition of environmental concerns has prompted both nations and corporations to adopt green innovation as a significant strategy for addressing environmental risks and promoting sustainable development. To excel in this pursuit, companies must cultivate green dynamic capabilities, infusing environmental considerations into their strategic decision-making processes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between strategic orientation components and green dynamic capabilities, as well as their impact on green product and process innovation, in medium-to-large-sized manufacturing firms in China. Employing a quantitative methodology, an online cross-sectional research design was used to gather 582 valid responses through a structured questionnaire. Results indicated a positive association between learning orientation and green dynamic capabilities. Furthermore, green dynamic capability was found to mediate the relationship between learning orientation and green product and process innovation. However, no significant relationship was observed between green entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation, internationalisation orientation, and green dynamic capabilities. By conducting multi-group analysis and studying the context of Chinese manufacturing firms, this research contributes new insights into the relationship between resource-based theory constructs and green innovation, including the integration of green dynamic capabilities. The results emphasise the significance of adopting a learning mindset, developing green dynamic capabilities, and fostering green innovation. These findings offer useful insights for the Chinese manufacturing industry, enabling it to strengthen its competencies in green innovation.

Abstract Human resources are widely recognized as critical factors for promoting sustainable development in organizations. However, the evolving workplace landscape and uncertainties pose significant challenges to Gen Z workers in China, leading to increased psychological distress and decreased performance. This study investigates the effects of 996 work culture, work overload, perceived career development opportunities, and perceived pay for performance on the psychological distress experienced by Chinese Gen Z workers. Using a quantitative and cross-sectional approach, we obtained 676 responses from Chinese Gen Z workers. We also utilized partial least squares structural equation modeling to examine and forecast the extent of the impact of the independent variables. The empirical findings reveal that 996 work culture and work overload indirectly influence the psychological distress of Gen Z workers in China via job burnout and job satisfaction; whereas perceived career development opportunities and perceived pay for performance indirectly influence their psychological distress via job satisfaction. Our research extends the existing literature by providing insights into the complex associations between various work-related factors (particularly 996 work culture) and psychological distress among Gen Z workers in China. Regarding policy implications, this study emphasizes the significance of considering the mental health of young employees as a crucial aspect of organizational management and suggests practical measures that organizations can adopt to ensure long-term psychological well-being and workforce engagement.

Abstract Considerable attention has been paid to the problem of food waste on a worldwide scale. Evidence demonstrates that food waste occurs mostly in private households, and that home food waste has been identified as the leading cause of global food waste. Home food waste poses a severe threat to food security and involves environmental and financial ramifications. While this is a global issue, most studies on what motivates people to make changes that would result in less food waste have been conducted in wealthy countries. Integrating the Theory of Interpersonal Behavior (TIB), this study fills this gap by investigating the factors influencing Chinese household consumers’ intentions toward food waste reduction and their actual food waste behavior. This study used a cross-sectional survey approach to collect data from households using social media platforms. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was adopted to assess and evaluate the conceptual model. The empirical findings demonstrate that cognitive (perceived value of sustainability), environmental (awareness of consequences and ascription of responsibility), social (social norms), and emotional (anticipated guilt) aspects tend to have a positive influence on Chinese household consumers’ intentions toward reducing food waste, suggesting that interpersonal behavior could reduce food consumption in developing countries like China. Furthermore, the findings show that the intention to decrease food waste serves as an intermediary variable that highlights another route of association between the TIB factors and actual food waste reduction behavior. The findings will be more informative to policymakers, marketers, and researchers in developing strategies to reduce food waste.

Abstract Growth in online impulsive buying and digital advertising have drawn the attention of researchers in developed countries, but it is still in its early stages, especially in China. China is positioned to overtake the world as the nation with the highest volume of online purchases owing to a variety of growth-related variables, including impulsive purchases. Surprisingly, there is a deficiency in the holistic understanding of Chinese customers in different age groups regarding the links between advertising value and online impulsive buying behavior. Thus, to advance the line of research, this study intends to determine the connection between advertising value and online impulse buying behavior along with the indirect connection between the urge to buy impulsively and moderation of anxiety. To achieve this objective, data were obtained from 1422 online consumers. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. The results confirm that informativeness, credibility, creativity, entertainment, integration, and the urge to buy online significantly and consequently urge to buy online positively influence online impulsive buying among Chinese consumers. Surprisingly, this interaction was statistically insignificant. Furthermore, the proposed moderator, customer anxiety, also showed no moderating impact on the urge to buy online impulsively and online impulsive buying behavior. The mediation result suggests that urge to buy impulsively significantly mediates the relationship between informativeness, credibility, creativity, entertainment, and integration with online impulse buying behavior, except for interaction and online impulse buying behavior. These findings contribute theoretically by adding new information about Chinese motivational factors for impulsive buying. Empirically, it adds value to marketers, advertisers, and online retailers by considering informativeness, creativity, entertainment, integration, and the urge to buy online while communicating with Chinese consumers at all customer touch points.

Every citizen, including mental hospital patients, has the right to legal protection, as they are vulnerable to experiencing acts of violence by medical personnel. This study aims to analyze the legal protection for people with mental health conditions who once experienced acts of violence committed by medical personnel. This study used sociological research methods with a descriptive qualitative research approach. This study used primary and secondary sources of data. The authors collected data through observation and interviews. The data in this research were analyzed and then described as narrative texts. The results showed that people with mental health conditions could obtain legal protection from acts of violence committed by medical personnel if they truly experienced bad treatment. It ensures that people with mental health conditions obtain their rights as citizens to be equally treated before the law. In undergoing their tasks, medical personnel must follow the SOP (Standard Operating Procedures), which includes prioritizing patient safety and comfort to keep patients from rebelling when their illnesses recur.

Abstract The phenomenon of “quiet quitting” has gained significant attention globally through various platforms, raising concerns about the impact of workplace stress on individuals’ personal lives and sparking social movements and investigations. As the number of Generation Z individuals is projected to surpass millennials by 2050, understanding and addressing the quiet quitting behaviour of this generation becomes crucial, considering their negative experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and their preference for a work-life balance, which has led to a rejection of intense competition and a desire for a more relaxed lifestyle. Thus, this study investigated the factors (work conditions, job security, perceived career development opportunities, affective organizational commitment, and perceived organizational support on job burnout and employee well-being) determining the quiet quitting intention among Chinese Gen Z employees. It used an online survey to obtain cross-sectional data from 683 respondents, which were then tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results showed that work conditions, job security, perceived career progression opportunities, affective organizational commitment, and perceived organizational support had a significant positive effect on employee well-being and that job burnout had a major negative effect. Furthermore, employee well-being had a significant negative impact on China’s Gen Z employees’ quit quiting decision and job burnout had a significant positive influence on China’s Gen Z employees’ quit quiting decision. The findings provide valuable insights for organizations and practitioners, enabling them to address these factors and effectively reduce quiet quitting intentions. Moreover, this study aligns with the Social Exchange Theory (SET), which explains how the interactions between employees and their organizations influence expectations and outcomes. By considering the SET framework, organizations can understand the motivations behind employees’ behaviours and make informed decisions to foster a positive work environment and enhance employee well-being.

Abstract The culture of fast fashion accelerates the consumption rate of individuals but at the expense of significant environmental stress. With a large amount of discarded clothing accumulating in landfills, it is crucial to encourage people to dispose of second-hand clothing (SHC) as sustainably as possible, especially in an emerging economy with large volume consumption. Through a survey of 619 respondents from China, this study explored the factors affecting people’s intentions and actual donation behaviors toward SHC. It extends the theory of interpersonal behavior (TIB) with environmental factors to construct a research framework, which included cognitive factors (attitude towards sustainable consumption), social factors (sense of community) and personal factors (perceived hedonic benefit) under TIB and the environment factors refers to problem awareness and ascription responsibility. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that attitudes toward sustainable consumption, problem awareness, ascription of responsibility, sense of community, and perceived hedonic benefit significantly and positively influenced people’s intentions and practices of SHC donation. This study will aid governments and relevant green environmental protection organizations in formulating more precise strategies for sustainable development, and promote relevant research on the sustainable disposal of SHC.