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The purpose of this paper is to analyze the firm’s capital market benefits in a high-quality information setting. More specifically, the authors address the question of whether the commonly documented IFRS benefits are capable of influencing inducing shareholders to increase their equity investment in adopting firms.

This study is performed on publicly listed firms in three emerging countries, namely, Morocco, South Africa and Turkey. The design of the ownership database allows a panel analysis for the years 2001 through 2011. The trend approach is suitable to account for concurrent effects that are unrelated to financial reporting while controlling for time-lasting behavior of investors. Overall, a minimum of four-year periods before and after the IFRS adoption date are warranted.

Overall, the findings support evidence of increases in equity holdings following a firm’s IFRS adoption. More specifically, institutional investors and institutional blockholders (both domestic and foreign) invest more heavily in the stocks of the firms that have committed to IFRS. By contrast, the authors fail to report evidence for ownership by blockholders and controlling shareholders.

The current empirical work should be of value to international investors, policy makers and market authorities. As for international investors facing reduced information disadvantage and comparable financial information across worldwide markets, they will find it easier to select and invest in value-creating stocks. This study may be useful for policy makers in acquiring a clear view of advantages, challenges and relevance of IFRS adoption to emerging markets. In particular, this study contributes to an understanding of potential capital market consequences of IFRS adoption. Furthermore, market authorities should be aware of the importance of institutional framework to enhance IFRS implementation and usage.

This work contributes to the ongoing empirical research on the intended capital market benefits of IFRS. The authors provide deeper insight into shareholdings changes of a number of key investors in a context where supply and demand of information are stained with asymmetry and mostly, influenced by differences in accounting practices. A major contribution of this study is the use of a methodological approach that outperforms commonly used approaches in the way how it considers concurrent events (compared to the shift specification) and time-lasting investor behavior (compared to the difference-in-differences analysis).

The evaluation of high thermal efficiency has actively highlighted the unique behaviour of hybrid nanofluid. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to emphasize the hybrid nanofluid’s stagnation point in three-dimensional flow with magnetic field.

The defined ordinary differential equations systems are addressed using the bvp4c solver.

The results indicate that using dual solutions is possible as long as the physical parameters remain within their specified ranges. Hybrid nanofluid flow has been recognised for its superior heat transfer capabilities in comparison to both viscous flow and nanofluid flow. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated in the current study that augmenting the volume concentration of nanoparticles leads to a corresponding enhancement in the rate of heat transfer. When the velocity gradients ratio is augmented, there is a corresponding reduction in the thermal performance. The separation value grows as the magnetic parameter rises, which signifies the expansion of the boundary layer.

The originality of the paper highlights the general mathematical hybrid model of the three-dimensional problem with the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) effect in the stagnation point flow. The comprehensive examination of the suggested model has not yet been thoroughly addressed in prior research.

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of thermal radiation and homogeneous-heterogeneous reactions in the three-dimensional hybrid nanofluid flow past a permeable stretching/shrinking sheet.

The combination of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) and copper (Cu) nanoparticles with total volumetric concentration is numerically analyzed using the existing correlations of hybrid nanofluid. With the consideration that both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions are isothermal while the diffusion coefficients of both autocatalyst and reactant are same, the governing model is simplified into a set of differential (similarity) equations.

Using the bvp4c solver, dual solutions are presented, and the stability analysis certifies the physical/real solution. The findings show that the suction parameter is requisite to induce the steady solution for shrinking parameter. Besides, the fluid concentration owing to the shrinking sheet is diminished with the addition of surface reaction.

The present findings are novel and can be a reference point to other researchers to further analyze the heat transfer performance and stability of the working fluids.

The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the effects of nonlinear thermal radiation and thermal stratification effects on the flow of three-dimensional Eyring-Powell 36 nm alumina-water nanofluid within the thin boundary layer in the presence of quartic autocatalytic kind of chemical reaction effects, and to unravel the effects of a magnetic field parameter, random motion of the tiny nanoparticles and volume fraction on the flow.

The chemical reaction between homogeneous (Eyring-Powell 36 nm alumina-water) bulk fluid and heterogeneous (three molecules of the catalyst at the surface) in the flow of magnetohydrodynamic three-dimensional flow is modeled as a quartic autocatalytic kind of chemical reaction. The electromagnetic radiation which occurs within the boundary layer is treated as the nonlinear form due to the fact that Taylor series expansion may not give full details of such effects within the boundary layer. With the aid of appropriate similarity variables, the nonlinear coupled system of partial differential equation which models the flow was reduced to ordinary differential equation boundary value problem.

A favorable agreement of the present results is obtained by comparing it for a limiting case with the published results; hence, reliable results are presented. The concentration of homogeneous bulk fluid (Eyring-Powell nanofluid) increases and decreases with ϕ and P_r, respectively. The increase in the value of magnetic field parameter causes vertical and horizontal velocities of the flow within the boundary layer to decrease significantly. The decrease in the vertical and horizontal velocities of Eyring-Powell nanofluid flow within the boundary layer is guaranteed due to an increase in the value of M. Concentration of homogeneous fluid increases, while the concentration of the heterogeneous catalyst at the wall decreases with M.

Considering the industrial applications of thermal stratification in solar engineering and polymer processing where the behavior of the flow possesses attributes of Eyring-Powell 36 nm alumina-water, this paper presents the solution of the flow problem considering 36 nm alumina nanoparticles, thermophoresis, stratification of thermal energy, Brownian motion and nonlinear thermal radiation. In addition, the aim and objectives of this paper fill such vacuum in the industry.

The purpose of this paper is to address various works on mixed convection and proposes 10 unified models (Models 1–10) based on various thermal and kinematic conditions of the boundary walls, thermal conditions and/ or kinematics of objects embedded in the cavities and kinematics of external flow field through the ventilation ports. Experimental works on mixed convection have also been addressed.

This review is based on 10 unified models on mixed convection within cavities. Models 1–5 involve mixed convection based on the movement of single or double walls subjected to various temperature boundary conditions. Model 6 elucidates mixed convection due to the movement of single or double walls of cavities containing discrete heaters at the stationary wall(s). Model 7A focuses mixed convection based on the movement of wall(s) for cavities containing stationary solid obstacles (hot or cold or adiabatic) whereas Model 7B elucidates mixed convection based on the rotation of solid cylinders (hot or conductive or adiabatic) within the cavities enclosed by stationary or moving wall(s). Model 8 is based on mixed convection due to the flow of air through ventilation ports of cavities (with or without adiabatic baffles) subjected to hot and adiabatic walls. Models 9 and 10 elucidate mixed convection due to flow of air through ventilation ports of cavities involving discrete heaters and/or solid obstacles (conductive or hot) at various locations within cavities.

Mixed convection plays an important role for various processes based on convection pattern and heat transfer rate. An important dimensionless number, Richardson number (Ri) identifies various convection regimes (forced, mixed and natural convection). Generalized models also depict the role of “aiding” and “opposing” flow and combination of both on mixed convection processes. Aiding flow (interaction of buoyancy and inertial forces in the same direction) may result in the augmentation of the heat transfer rate whereas opposing flow (interaction of buoyancy and inertial forces in the opposite directions) may result in decrease of the heat transfer rate. Works involving fluid media, porous media and nanofluids (with magnetohydrodynamics) have been highlighted. Various numerical and experimental works on mixed convection have been elucidated. Flow and thermal maps associated with the heat transfer rate for a few representative cases of unified models [Models 1–10] have been elucidated involving specific dimensionless numbers.

This review paper will provide guidelines for optimal design/operation involving mixed convection processing applications.

Sustainability has become an important objective for most organizations, as it is emerging as a competitive necessity. This study aims to develop a framework for the identification, categorization and prioritization of sustainable management practices (SMPs) in the hotel sector.

An extensive literature review was conducted to identify SMPs in the service sector, and a survey tool was used to categorize and prioritize the most important practices based on expert opinion. An analytical hierarchical process (AHP) was used to prioritize the main criteria and sub-criteria of SMPs. The study is composed of 8 main criteria and 33 sub-criteria relevant to the hotel sector.

It is observed that employee management and government management take top priority under the main criteria, and policy requirements, customer culture and education and training were determined to be the three most relevant sub-criteria as SMPs for hotels in UAE. The results indicate that hotels mostly focus on economic sustainability; however, the environmental and social dimensions of sustainability are ignored in management practices.

The results are derived from four- and five-star hotels and therefore cannot be generalized. In addition, future research on specific categories of hotels is needed in other countries. The current research model can be also applied in different types of companies in tourism and other sectors.

Hotel managers should exert greater effort with regard to the environmental and social dimensions of sustainability practices, as they are highly important. Internationally, there has been considerable debate with regard to these issues, and at present, customers are well aware of such social and environmental efforts.

This study offers original insights into the area of SMP in UAE, especially in the hotel sector.

This study aims to present Lean Six Sigma (LSS) deployment and sustainment strategies for the healthcare sector from a multi-level perspective. The objective is to present LSS implementation insights to enable policymakers, practitioners and academicians to test and develop an LSS framework for healthcare sectors.

The strategies identified are the result of a multi-method research design involving literature review, action research (AR) and Delphi study. Further, the AR portion of the study involved more than 10 years of projects focused on the deployment of LSS in the healthcare sector.

The strategies include a holistic view from the multi-level perspective, considering the Top Management Level, Middle Management Level and Operational Level. The authors ascertained 27 strategies across the three levels of organizational structure for the effective deployment of LSS. Further, the authors present a customized LSS “pocket guide” from the healthcare perspective for quick reference.

The strategies delineated in this study are based on the Indian healthcare section only; thus, further research in additional geographic contexts is needed. Also, further research is necessary to provide additional empirical validation of the effects of the identified strategies on LSS program outcomes and to verify that the strategies operate at the proposed organizational levels. Future research should also focus on identifying the interrelationships between strategies within and across levels, developing a “road map” for LSS implementation in hospitals and designing the LSS curriculum for medical schools and other medical training programs.

Observations of this study can contribute to developing a holistic framework for successful LSS implementation in the healthcare sector for academicians, practitioners and policymakers. This, in turn, ensures an enhanced value proposition, improved quality of life and reduced healthcare operational costs. Thus, it ensures a win-win situation among all the stakeholders of the healthcare sector.

The strategies put forth will enable the LSS researchers, academicians and, more particularly, practitioners to delve deeper into specific enablers and safeguard the LSS deployment from backlash. The research has two significant benefits. Firstly, it enhances the understanding of LSS from the healthcare perspective. Secondly, it provides direction for future studies with specific components for hospitals’ LSS framework, which can be further tested, refined and improved.

This paper aims to present dual solutions for the two-dimension copper oxide with silver (CuO–Ag) and zinc oxide with silver (ZnO–Ag) hybrid nanofluid flow past a permeable shrinking sheet in a dusty fluid with velocity slip.

The governing partial differential equations for the two dust particle phases are reduced to the pertinent ordinary differential equations using a similarity transformation. Closed-form analytical solutions for the reduced skin friction and reduced Nusselt number, as well as for the velocity and temperature profiles, were presented, both graphically and in tables, under specific non-dimensional physical parameters such as the suction parameter, Prandtl number, slip parameter and shrinking parameter, which are also presented in both figures and tables.

The results indicate that for the shrinking flow, the wall skin friction is higher in the dusty fluid when compared with the clear (viscous) fluid. In addition, the effect of the fluid–particle interaction parameter to the fluid phase can be seen more clearly in the shrinking flow. Furthermore, multiple (dual, upper and lower branch solutions) are found for the governing similarity equations and the upper branch solution expanded with higher values of the suction parameter. It can be confirmed that the lower branch solution is unstable.

In practice, the study of the stretching/shrinking flow is crucially important and useful. Both the problems of steady and unsteady flow of a dusty fluid have a wide range of possible applications in practice, such as in the centrifugal separation of particles, sedimentation and underground disposal of radioactive waste materials.

Even though the problem of dusty fluid has been broadly investigated, very limited results can be found for a shrinking sheet. Indeed, this paper has succeeded to obtain analytically dual solutions. The stability analysis can be performed by following many published papers on stretching/shrinking sheets. Finally, the critical values and plotting curves for obtaining single or dual solution are successfully presented.

The purpose of this paper is to compile a comprehensive status report on pipes/piping networks across different industrial sectors, along with specifications of materials and sizes, and showcase welding avenues. It further extends to highlight the promising friction stir welding as a single solid-state pipe welding procedure. This paper will enable all piping, welding and friction stir welding stakeholders to identify scope for their engagement in a single window.

The paper is a review paper, and it is mainly structured around sections on materials, sizes and standards for pipes in different sectors and the current welding practice for joining pipe and pipe connections; on the process and principle of friction stir welding (FSW) for pipes; identification of main welding process parameters for the FSW of pipes; effects of process parameters; and a well-carved-out concluding summary.

A well-carved-out concluding summary of extracts from thoroughly studied research is presented in a structured way in which the avenues for the engagement of FSW are identified.

The implications of the research are far-reaching. The FSW is currently expanding very fast in the welding of flat surfaces and has evolved into a vast number of variants because of its advantages and versatility. The application of FSW is coming up late but catching up fast, and as a late starter, the outcomes of such a review paper may support stake holders to expand the application of this process from pipe welding to pipe manufacturing, cladding and other high-end applications. Because the process is inherently inclined towards automation, its throughput rate is high and it does not need any consumables, the ultimate benefit can be passed on to the industry in terms of financial gains.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the only review exclusively for the friction stir welding of pipes with a well-organized piping specification detailed about industrial sectors. The current pipe welding practice in each sector has been presented, and the avenues for engaging FSW have been highlighted. The FSW pipe process parameters are characteristically distinguished from the conventional FSW, and the effects of the process parameters have been presented. The summary is concise yet comprehensive and organized in a structured manner.

This paper aims to present a conceptual model on service quality of zakat institutions that are responsible for collecting, managing and distributing zakat in Malaysia. Zakat is an Islamic religious “tax” charged on the rich and well-to-do members of the community for distribution to the poor and the needy as well as other beneficiaries based on certain established criteria according to the Qur’an. The main aim of zakat is to protect the socio-economic welfare of the poor and the needy.

The paper reviews and synthesizes the relevant literature on service quality. The paper then proposed a conceptual model to study the service quality of zakat institutions.

The paper identifies the appropriate methods to examine the extent of service quality of zakat institutions. Such evaluations are crucial for organizations like zakat institutions to function effectively to achieve the noble objectives of socio-economic justice through proper distribution of wealth.

This paper presents a conceptual model of service quality of zakat institutions which would be useful for further empirical research in this area. The findings are not only relevant and applicable to Malaysia but also to other Muslim countries.