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The paper aims to study the effects of humidity on the electrical properties of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) thin films deposited at different gravity conditions.

Surface-type samples were fabricated on glass substrates with preliminary-deposited copper electrodes. The CuPc solution was prepared in benzene. The thin films of CuPc were deposited on these substrates at diverse gravity conditions by drop-casting and centrifugation at 1 × g and 70 × g, respectively. Impedance and capacitance of the fabricated devices were measured against the different relative humidity ranging from 32 to 98 per cent.

The impedance and the capacitance of the CuPc film were found to be dependent on the ambient humidity levels (32-98 per cent) and the gravity conditions (1 × g and 70 × g) opted during the fabrication process.

The centrifugation technique can potentially be used in the instrumentation industry for the fabrication of humidity sensors.

The results of the investigations can potentially be used in the instrumentation and optoelectronics industry for the fabrication of humidity sensors.

CuPc films were deposited from a solution in benzene using drop-casting and centrifugation. The electrical properties of the films were found to be dependent on film fabrication conditions and ambient humidity levels. Growth-dependent electrical properties of the CuPc films can be explained by considering their structure.

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the heat transfer phenomena in a dynamically bulging enclosure filled with Cu-water nanofluid. This study examines the convective heat transfer process induced by a bulging area considered a heat source, with the enclosure's side walls having a low temperature and top and bottom walls being treated as adiabatic. Various factors, such as the Rayleigh number (Ra), nanoparticle volume fraction, Darcy effects, Hartmann number (Ha) and effects of magnetic inclination, are analyzed for their impact on the flow behavior and temperature distribution.

The finite element method (FEM) is employed for simulating variations in flow and temperature after validating the results. Solving the non-linear partial differential equations while incorporating the modified Darcy number (10⁻³ ≤ Da ≤ 10⁻¹), Ra (10³ ≤ Ra ≤ 10⁵) and Ha (0 ≤ Ha ≤ 100) as the dimensionless operational parameters.

This study demonstrates that in enclosures with dynamically positioned bulges filled with Cu-water nanofluid, heat transfer is significantly influenced by the bulge location and nanoparticle volume fraction, which alter flow and heat patterns. The varying impact of magnetic fields on heat transfer depends on the Rayleigh and Has.

The geometry configurations employed in this research have broad applications in various engineering disciplines, including heat exchangers, energy storage, biomedical systems and food processing.

This research provides insights into how different shapes of the heated bulging area impact the hydromagnetic convection of Cu-water nanofluid flow in a dynamically bulging-shaped porous system, encompassing curved surfaces and various multi-physical conditions.

The proliferation of big data analytics (BDA)-enabled tools and technologies has endowed organizations with the capacity to augment decision-making processes, optimize operational endeavors and foster innovation across diverse business domains. Consequently, BDA has been posited as a catalyst for enhanced customer relationship management, improved risk mitigation strategies and heightened operational efficiencies, all of which converge to augment overall firm performance. Thus, the purpose of this research is to introduce a conceptual framework aimed at explaining the influence of BDA capabilities on the performance of telecommunications firms in Pakistan. Additionally, it examines the potential mediating effect of talent capabilities and moderating effect of top management attitude on firm performance.

Data from a sample comprising 520 participants were collected via survey questionnaires. The study employed Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling to empirically evaluate the proposed model.

Results reveal a positive association between BDA technology and information capabilities with both BDA talent capabilities and firm performance. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that BDA talent capabilities mediate the relationship between BDA dynamic capabilities and firm performance, while top management attitude acts as a moderator, enhancing the relationship between BDA talent capabilities and firm performance.

There is a scarcity of research that has examined the relationship of BDA capabilities, top management attitude and firm performance. This study attempts to examine their interrelationships. First, it enhances the extant literature by elucidating the mediating role of BDA talent capabilities in the relationship between BDA technology and information capabilities and firm performance. Second, the study introduces a novel dimension by incorporating top management attitude as a moderator variable. This augmentation adds layers of complexity to comprehending BDA implementation dynamics, emphasizing leadership’s role in fostering an enabling environment for effective utilization of BDA capabilities.

The green aspects in current management practices are strongly emphasized for sustainable and environment friendly business operations. Thus, building on ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory, this study aims to test the mediating role of green absorptive capacity in the relationship between green human resources management (GHRM) practices (i.e., green training and development, and green performance management) and organizational citizenship behavior towards environment (OCBE).

Using a paper-pencil survey, the authors collected data from 170 middle-tier officers working in cement industry of Pakistan. Structural equation modeling technique was applied for data analysis through Smart-PLS.

Results indicated that GHRM practices significantly influence OCBE and green absorptive capacity partially mediates the relationship between GHRM practices and OCBE.

This study offers new theoretical and practical insights by empirically investigating the mediating role of green absorptive capacity between GHRM practices and OCBE through the lens of AMO theory. Furthermore, this study contributed in disclosing the predictors of OCBE through intervening mechanism in manufacturing sector of developing country for sustainable outcomes.

Organizations today strive to differentiate themselves from others with the help of various tools. Aaker’s brand personality model is one of them. It comprises five components namely, sincerity, excitement, sophistication, competence and ruggedness. This model has been tested and supported by various scholars in the past. Similarly, it also attracted a lot of criticism especially in terms of generalizability across countries and cultures. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to study Aaker’s model from an Islamic perspective; second, considering the dearth of brand personality knowledge in the services sector, to develop Islamic Banks’ Brand Personality (IBBP) model.

To propose IBBP model, traits in Aaker’s model have been investigated in the light of selected Quranic verses and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (ahadith). Later on, content validation was conducted as a pilot study with experts from the relevant fields.

Findings exhibit that Quran and hadith clearly elaborate and support majority dimensions of the existing model. Importantly, three new dimensions, namely, trustworthiness, justice and Shariah compliance, were added to develop a comprehensive IBBP model. Once the dimensions of IBBP model were finalized, the underlying items were content validated from 12 experts. Most of the items were approved; some were recommended for amendments and a few items were eliminated.

This research contributes to the branding as well as bank marketing literature as it is the first Islamic banks’ brand personality framework. With the help of IBBP model, Islamic banks can create a better brand image, use advertising strategies effectively and ultimately retain existing and attract more potential customers.

This research elaborates the personality traits of Muslim consumer market. Following IBBP model, financial needs of Muslim consumer market can be catered effectively.

The IBBP model being first of its kind is significant for Islamic banking industry as it reflects dimensions that are supported by the Quran and hadith, and therefore suits Muslim customer market.

This paper aims to present the studies which were carried out to determine building typology in Northern Pakistan, which is a seismically active region.

A total of 41 towns and cities were surveyed to collect the data of building types. Help was also taken from global positioning system and satellite imagery.

In total, 14 different types of buildings were identified in the region based on the structural system and combination of wall and roof materials; each of them was assigned an appropriate designation. The walls in these buildings were made of block, stone or brick, whereas the roof consisted of corrugated galvanised iron sheet, thatched roof, precast concrete planks or reinforced concrete (RC). Only 6 per cent buildings were found to be engineered RC buildings; this indicates a significance proportion of non-engineered building stock in Northern Pakistan.

The surveys were conducted in some of the selected areas. Other areas are beyond the scope of this work.

The presence of a huge deficient building stock in Pakistan indicates a major seismic risk. The seismic losses are largely dependent on the earthquake resistance of existing buildings and building stock. An inventory of existing buildings and their types can help in assessing seismic vulnerability of the built environment, which may lead to the development of policies for seismic risk reduction.

Presently, housing encyclopaedia does not exist in Pakistan. As a result, housing typology in the country is not known. The presented study addresses this gap in part. Housing typology surveys were conducted to study the typical construction practices in the selected areas and to determine the proportions of different building types in the overall building stock.

The purpose of this paper is to explore how different forms of integration interact with environmental dynamism to influence the outcomes of a buyer–supplier relationship (BSR). Specifically, the authors assess the impact of communication, operational process integration (OPI) and joint knowledge exploration (JKE) on the economic value and competitive differentiation generated by the BSR. Furthermore, the authors assess the moderating role of environmental dynamism in changing the performance implications of these different forms of integration.

The authors empirically test the theoretical model using survey data collected from North America. The authors apply techniques such as confirmatory factor analysis, regression and a variety of robustness checks to ensure the validity of the findings.

The results indicate that OPI and JKE are useful in generating higher value from key supply chain relationships. However, communication does not directly influence performance outcomes, rather it assists in the implementation of other forms of integration. In stable environments, better returns can be obtained from focusing on OPI, while in dynamic environments JKE becomes far more important.

This study shows that different aspects of integration have very different performance implications and that selective integration can outperform broad-based integration in some conditions. More importantly, the performance implications depend on environmental dynamism in unique ways, where greater integration is not always the best response to dynamic business conditions. The results allow managers to make better decisions regarding what forms of integration to establish in key supply chain relationships.

In this study, the behavior of a multi-story flat plate structure during fire exposure is investigated using numerical simulations conducted with using ABAQUS software.

A three-dimensional finite element model is then carried out on the RC flat slab structure exposed to standard ISO-834 fire at different location arrangements. The model examines mid-span deflection, shear demand on the columns, bending moment and the membrane action of the floor slab.

The latter plays a main role to increase the capability and ductility of the slab at longer fire exposure to compensate the reduction in the flexural capacity. Also, shear demand in columns becomes bigger in cases of more than one surrounding slab exposed to fire at the same time.

This work focuses on the influence of the horizontal force on columns due to thermal expansion of slab which should be taken into account in the design of multistory multi-bay building considering it the same as the resulted horizontal force from the wind and seismic effect, the traveling fire and the restraint effect.

Islamic banking industry with all of its exponential growth and global recognition has been under criticism for the past two decades. However, the problem signifies further when such criticism is made from within the organization and is well supported by outside (the customers). The purpose of this study is to provide a coherent exploration to investigate the factors that polarize its employees and customers across many parts of the world.

To investigate the phenomenon, a total of 30 responses were taken through interviews 15 each from customers and employees. Afterwards, the data was analysed and summarized into two categories. In doing so, the top five Malaysia’s Islamic banks were shortlisted to collect data from employees and customers.

A detailed thematic analysis resulted in six themes (Contradiction between theory and practice, Islamic banking knowledge and awareness, inadequate Shariah training, employees’ background, Shariah compliance, Islamic banking benefits) for employees and five (Islamic banking benefits, applying Shariah in Islamic banking, knowledge of Islamic banking, Islamic banking promotion, Islamic banking employees’ behaviour) for customers, respectively.

The results have stronger implications for both practice and theory as organizations can assess stakeholders and their perceptions about Islamic banking. Another implication is the comparative examination of employees and customers which can potentially affect decision and policy making in Islamic banks. Islamic banks can also address employment-related issues related to employees’ behaviour vis-à-vis marketing-related problems faced by its customers that will ultimately improve its global market share and strategic positioning.

The study is based on the importance of Islamic banking in Malaysia and explores the factors that potentially create a positive or negative insight into Islamic banking – both in employees and customers.

The purpose of this paper is to provide theory for some popular models and strategies used by practitioners in constructing optimal portfolios. King (2007), for example, advocated adding a diversification term to mean-variance problems to create better portfolios and provided clear empirical evidence that this is beneficial.

The authors provide an analytical framework to help us understand different portfolio construction practices that may incorporate diversification and conviction strategies; this allows us to connect our analysis to ideas in psychophysics and behavioural finance. The critical psychological ideas are cognitive dissonance and entropy; the economics are based on expected utility theory. The empirical section uses the theory outlined and provides the basis for constructing such portfolios.

The model presented allows the incorporation of different strategies within a mean-variance framework, ranging from diversification and conviction strategies to more ESG-oriented ones. The empirical analysis provides a practical application.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this model is the first to bridge the gap between portfolio optimisation and the psychological ideas mentioned in a coherent analytical framework.