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The COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented and has disproportionately affected the lives and livelihoods of people worldwide. Many governments restricted social and economic activities to curb the virus, and with the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, many see it as providing hope to return to normalcy. Within such a context, China, Russia, and the United States (USA) have leveraged their vaccine diplomacy to gain and expand their influence. Vaccine diplomacy could help major powers cement their influence well beyond the pandemic if successfully deployed. By examining the vaccine diplomacy race in Southeast Asia, this chapter reveals the factors that motivate major powers to engage in the race and the strategies used. This chapter also assesses China’s vaccine diplomacy in Malaysia and how it has contributed to cementing a stronger bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China that would probably outlast the pandemic.

With new hybrid working models in place post COVID-19, it is requisite that knowledge workers (KWs) stay agile. Knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL) can help employees with essential knowledge acquisition (KA) facilitating the journey toward hybrid work agility (HWA). This study, thus, aims to explore the impact of KOL and KA on HWA and reveal whether this effect stems uniformly from a single homogenous population or if there is unobserved heterogeneity leading to identifiable segments of agile KWs.

Data was collected through stratified sampling from 416 employees from 20 information technology enabled services companies involved in knowledge-intensive tasks. Partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling approach, using SMART PLS 4.0, has been applied to examine the effect of KOL and KA on HWA. Finite mixture PLS, PLS prediction-oriented segmentation and multigroup analysis have been used to identify segments, test segment-specific path models and analyze the significance of the differences in the path coefficients for unobserved heterogeneity. Predictive relevance of the model has been determined using PLS Predict.

Results indicate that KOL contributes to employees’ KA and HWA. A significant positive relationship is also reported between KA and HWA. The model has medium predictive relevance. A two-segment solution has been delineated, wherein independent agile KWs (who value autonomy and personal agency over leadership for KA) and dependent agile KWs (who depend on leaders for relational and structural support for KA) have been identified. Thus, KOL and KA play a differential role in determining HWA.

The authors’ major contribution to the knowledge body constitutes the determination of antecedents of HWA and a typology of agile KWs. Future researchers may conduct segment-wise qualitative analysis to delineate other variables that contribute to HWA.

Technological advances necessitate that knowledge-intensive industries foster agility in employees for strategic agility of the organization. For effecting agile adaption of an organization to the knowledge economy conditions, it is pertinent that the full potential of this human resource be used. By profiling HWA of KWs on the basis of dimensions of KOL and the level of their KA, organizations will be able to help employees adapt better to rapidly changing work conditions.

HWA is a novel concept and very germane in a hybrid working environment. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of the dimensions of KOL and KA in relation to HWA, along with an empirical examination of unobserved heterogeneity in the aforementioned relationship.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) remains a prevalent topic for businesses worldwide, especially for those operating in developing countries. The attention on small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs') CSR engagement in developing countries has been neglected, although SMEs play a vital role in socio-economic development in African countries like Kenya. This paper aims to conceptualize the relationship between the SME manager's values, ethics, emotional commitment to long-term socio-economic development and the firm's CSR practices.

The authors conducted seven semi-structured interviews with Kenyan and German SMEs located in Nairobi. A deductive-inductive analysis approach was chosen, confirming previous findings and contributing new ideas to the International Business (IB) literature.

This paper develops a concept linking the values and beliefs of the SME manager with the firm's CSR practices in developing countries via the manager's emotional commitment to local long-term socio-economic development. The Kenyan managers tend to show a higher degree of emotional commitment, which the authors explain by two drivers: (1) philanthropic, self-motivated driver and (2) expectation-based, environment-motivated driver. The authors' findings add to the literature on SMEs' CSR engagement in developing countries by looking at the individual level of analysis.

This paper develops a concept linking the values and beliefs of the SME manager with the firm's CSR practices in developing countries.

This study aims to report the development and experimental evaluation of three innovative corrosion-resistant modified epoxy coatings, namely, nanocomposite/toughened, self-healing and hybrid epoxy coatings, for application on steel substrates.

The corrosion resistance of these coatings was evaluated in a highly corrosive environment of salt fog spray for 2,500 h of exposure. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements in sustained exposure to NaCl in a saturated Ca(OH)2 solution, rust creepage measurements at the location of scribe formed in the coatings and adhesion strength test were used to assess the performance of the innovative coatings. Commercially available marine-grade protective epoxy coatings were used as the reference coatings.

The test results showed that the modified epoxy coatings exhibited excellent corrosion resistance when exposed to an aggressive environment for extended periods. The EIS measurements, rust creepage measurements, pull-off strength and visual appearance of the aged modified–epoxy–coated specimens confirmed the enhanced corrosion resistance of the modified epoxy coatings.

Among the three types of modified coatings, the hybrid epoxy coating stands out to be the best performer.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the cementite morphology on the hydrogen trapping behavior in low-alloy pipeline steel.

In this study, the hydrogen trapping behavior in low-alloy pipeline steel was quantitatively studied by a combination of microstructural observations, electrochemical hydrogen permeation experiments and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) analyses.

P-1 and P-2 steels are two samples with different microstructures. The morphology of cementite precipitates in the P-1 and P-2 steels was different. Lamellar cementite is present in P-2 steel and only granular cementite in P-1 steel, which led to a better irreversible hydrogen trapping ability of P-2 steel, which was confirmed by subsequent hydrogen permeation and TDS experiments.

The study of these deep hydrogen trap sites is helpful in improving the hydrogen embrittlement resistance of low-alloy pipeline steels.

This paper aims to study the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on the corrosion behavior of BC550 weathering steel in simulated marine atmospheric environment.

The effect of UV light on the corrosion behavior of BC550 weathering steel in simulated marine atmospheric environments were investigated by the corrosion weight gain experiment, in situ electrochemical noise, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction.

UV light accelerated the corrosion process of BC550 weathering steel in the simulated marine atmospheric environment during the first 168 h. The maximum influence factor of UV light was 0.32, and it was only 0.08 after 168 h of corrosion process.

As the extension of corrosion time, the thickness and density of the corrosion product layer increased, which weakened the acceleration effect of UV light.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the crevice corrosion behavior and mechanism of laser additive manufacturing (LAM) nickel-based alloy under wedge-shaped crevice.

First, the opening size of the wedge-shaped crevice was designed to 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mm by controlling the thickness of silicon rubber and the double-side adhesive tape. Then, one side of the glass sheet was stuck on the silicon strip and keep the electrodes of Rows 1 and 2 outside the crevice as a reference, and the opposite side was stuck to the wire beam electrode by silica gel.

The current density with a maximum value of 5.7 × 10⁻⁶ A/cm² was observed at the crevice opening of 0.5 mm, while the lowest value of 9.2 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm² was found at the crevice opening of 0.1 mm. In addition, the corrosion resistance at the inside of the crevice is higher than that at the outside and the middle of the crevice. It means that the internal width of the wedge-shaped crevice tends toward 0, which hinders the migration of ions in the corrosive medium. The generation of corrosive products further reduce the crevice size to cause the inhibition of corrosion at the inside of the crevice as well.

The multilayer and multipath LAM component is prepared to show the complex microstructure, which made the corrosion behavior and mechanism at wedge-shaped crevice nondeterminacy.

The increasing pressure for social responsibility and sustainability that multinational enterprises (MNEs) are facing in their global operations represents one important emerging phenomenon within the international business field. In this book chapter, we present an in-depth case study on how a global fashion MNE develops and implements sustainability practices in their operations in an emerging market context. The case study focusses on the MNE’s work related to energy efficiency and renewable energy in the production market of Bangladesh. The purpose of this chapter is to advance the understanding about particular practices pertinent to a proactive approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR). The chapter contributes to ongoing discussions within the international business field on the role of MNEs in driving and implementing sustainability practices. We add an in-depth understanding of the proactive CSR practices undertaken by an MNE, in an emerging market context.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of firm financial and operational characteristics on the level of forward-looking information disclosure (FLID) by Egyptian-listed non-financial companies. The present research also aims to investigate the moderating role of gender diversity on the board of directors.

The sample incorporates the non-financial companies included in the EGX 100 of the Egyptian Stock Exchange (ESE), whose reports were available during the study period from 2013 to 2018. The final sample comprises 49 companies with 294 observations. Statistical analysis is performed using multiple regression analysis.

This study found a significant positive impact of return on assets, leverage, company size and age on the level FLID, while external audit firm type and industry were found to impact the level of FLID negatively. Further, the board gender diversity (BGD) is found to have a moderating impact as it strengthens the effect of financial and operational characteristics on the level of FLID.

The present study has some implications for Egyptian companies, investors in the Egyptian market and regulators in emerging economies, which include paying more attention to BGD when selecting the board members by companies as well as following up the female representation in all the listed companies by regulators.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the moderating role of BGD and its impact on the level of FLID in emerging markets. This extends the disclosure literature as the present study brings new evidence from an emerging market regarding BGD moderating role as early research concentrated on the direct impact of BGD on the level of FLID.

Two corrosion inhibitors for closed cooling water systems, nitrite-based and mixture of nitrite and molybdate corrosion inhibitor, are often compared to each other. This study aims to optimize these two inhibitors in terms of concentration and pH for carbon steel protection, with insights into the double layer structure on surface and its impact on corrosion inhibition.

Electrochemical analysis including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic test are carried out for quick assessment of corrosion inhibition efficiency and optimization, which is confirmed by immersion test and microscopic analysis. The electronic properties of the surface film are analyzed through Mott–Schottky method which provides new insights into the inhibition mechanism and the role of each component in mixture inhibitor.

Mixture of nitrite and molybdate is shown to present higher inhibition efficiency, owning to the double layer structure. Nitrite alone can form a protective surface film, whereas molybdate leads to an n-type semiconductive film with lower donor density, hence giving rise to a better inhibition effect.

Surface after inhibitor treatment has been carefully characterized to the microscopic scale, implying the effect of micro-structure, chemical composition and electronic properties on the corrosion resistance. Inorganic corrosion inhibitors can be tuned to provide higher efficiency by careful design of surface film structure and composition.

Almost every study on corrosion inhibitor applies such method for quick assessment of corrosion inhibition effect. Mott–Schottky test is one of electrochemical methods that reveals the electronic properties of the surface film. Previous works have studied the surface layer mainly through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This study provides another insight into the surface film treated by nitrite and molybdate through Mott–Schottky analysis, and relates this structure to the corrosion inhibition effect based on multiple analysis including electrochemistry, microscopic characterization, thermodynamics and interface chemistry.