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This study aims to minimize the pressure drop across wavy microchannels using secondary branches without compromising its capacity to transfer the heat. The impact of secondary flows on the pressure drop and heat transfer capabilities at different Reynolds numbers are investigated numerically for different wavy microchannels. Finally, different channels are evaluated using performance evaluation criteria to determine their effectiveness.

To investigate the flow and heat transfer capabilities in wavy microchannels having secondary branches, a 3D conjugate heat transfer model based on finite volume method is used. In conventional wavy microchannel, secondary branches are introduced at crest and trough locations. For the numerical simulation, a single symmetrical channel is used to minimize computational time and resources and the flow within the channels remains single-phase and laminar.

The findings indicate that the suggested secondary channels notably improve heat transfer and decrease pressure drop within the channels. At lower flow rates, the secondary channels demonstrate superior performance in terms of heat transfer. However, the performance declines as the flow rate increased. With the same amplitude and wavelength, the introduction of secondary channels reduces the pressure drop compared with conventional wavy channels. Due to the presence of secondary channels, the flow splits from the main channel, and part of the core flow gets diverted into the secondary channel as the flow takes the path of minimum resistance. Due to this flow split, the core velocity is reduced. An increase in flow area helps in reducing pressure drop.

Many complex and intricate microchannels are proposed by the researchers to augment heat dissipation. There are challenges in the fabrication of microchannels, such as surface finish and achieving the required dimensions. However, due to the recent developments in metal additive manufacturing and microfabrication techniques, the complex shapes proposed in this paper are feasible to fabricate.

Wavy channels are widely used in heat transfer and micro-fluidics applications. The proposed wavy microchannels with secondary channels are different when compared to conventional wavy channels and can be used practically to solve thermal challenges. They help achieve a lower pressure drop in wavy microchannels without compromising heat transfer performance.

The purpose of this study is to reveal the dynamics of house prices and sales in spatial and temporal dimensions across British regions.

This paper incorporates two empirical approaches to describe the behaviour of property prices across British regions. The models are applied to two different data sets. The first empirical approach is to apply the price diffusion model proposed by Holly et al. (2011) to the UK house price index data set. The second empirical approach is to apply a bivariate global vector autoregression model without a time trend to house prices and transaction volumes retrieved from the nationwide building society.

Identifying shocks to London house prices in the GVAR model, based on the generalized impulse response functions framework, I find some heterogeneity in responses to house price changes; for example, South East England responds stronger than the remaining provincial regions. The main pattern detected in responses and characteristic for each region is the fairly rapid fading of the shock. The spatial-temporal diffusion model demonstrates the presence of a ripple effect: a shock emanating from London is dispersed contemporaneously and spatially to other regions, affecting prices in nondominant regions with a delay.

The main contribution of this work is the betterment in understanding how house price changes move across regions and time within a UK context.

This paper aims at identifying the key factors influencing the adoption intention of data analytics for predictive maintenance (PdM) from the lens of the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework in the Singapore Process Industries context. The research model aids practitioners and researchers in developing a holistic maintenance strategy for large-scale asset-heavy process industries.

The TOE framework has been used in this study to consider a wide set of TOE factors and develop a research model with the support of literature. A survey is undertaken and the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique is adopted to test the hypotheses of the proposed model.

This research highlights the significant roles of digital infrastructure readiness, security and privacy, top management support, organizational competence, partnership with external consultants and government support in influencing adoption intention of data analytics for PdM. Perceived challenges related to organizational restructuring and process automation are not found significant in influencing the adoption intention.

This paper reports valuable insights on adoption intention of data analytics for PdM with relevant implications for the various stakeholders such as the leaders and senior managers of process manufacturing industry companies, government agencies, technology consultants and service providers.

This research uniquely validates the model for the adoption of data analytics for PdM in the process industries using the TOE framework. It reveals the significant technology, organizational and environmental factors influencing the adoption intention and highlights the relevant insights and implications for stakeholders.

Given the great upheaval in the international situation and the increasing operating risk in international business, research on corporate diplomacy is thriving. However, it still lacks clear conceptualization and operationalization. Based on social capital theory, our study conceptualizes corporate diplomacy as a three-dimensional construct and quantifies its distinct and combined impacts on multinational enterprises’ (MNE) subsidiary performance.

This research analyzes 134 responses collected from a questionnaire survey among key informants in Chinese MNEs using the regression method.

This research finds that corporate diplomacy is positively correlated with MNEs’ subsidiary performance. Specifically, compatriot-oriented diplomacy is the most effective, followed sequentially by host-partner-oriented and host-regulator-oriented diplomacy. In addition, compatriot-oriented diplomacy substitutes for host-partner-oriented diplomacy but complements host-regulator-oriented diplomacy in enhancing subsidiary performance.

Our research enriches the conceptualization and operationalization of corporate diplomacy and provides a nuanced view of its distinct and combined effects on MNEs’ subsidiary performance.

The purpose of this study is to solve the problem of healthcare waste management in developing countries. The buildup of medical waste has attracted the attention of all spheres of society due to the expanding population and developing economy. Timely collection and processing of medical waste are extremely important due to its potential hazards. Although the problem of planning medical waste management has been addressed in developed countries, it persists in several developing countries. This research is motivated by an example of a city in India characterized by a dense population, abundant health-care facilities and a lack of planning for managing large medical waste generated daily.

The authors address the problem of designing the network of collection and processing facilities for medical waste and optimizing the vehicle route that collects and transfers the waste between facilities. Due to distinct topographic restrictions in the considered city, the collection and transfer process needs to be conducted in two echelons – from hospitals to collection centers using smaller vehicles and then to the processing facilities using trucks. This work addresses these two problems as a two-echelon location-routing problem.

A mixed-integer programming model is developed to minimize the cost of opening the facilities and transporting medical waste. Several managerial insights are drawn up to assist planners and decision-makers.

This study follows a case study approach to provide a descriptive and prescriptive approach to hospital waste management in the ancient city of Varanasi. The city has witnessed unplanned growth over the years and is densely populated. The health-care facilities in the city have a large catchment area and attract patients from neighboring districts. The situation analysis based on secondary data and unstructured interviews of the stakeholders suggests that the ad hoc approach prevails in present hospital waste management in the city.

Corporate digital transformation (CDT) has challenged traditional tax administration systems. This study examines the impact of CDT on tax avoidance behavior and tests whether tax authorities can identify this behavior.

Using data on listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2008 to 2020, this study applies the Heckman two-stage and cross-section models.

The results show that the higher the degree of CDT, the more aggressive the tax avoidance behavior. The CDT's impact on corporate tax avoidance is more significant under strong government tax efforts.

This study expands research on the economic consequences of CDT and the factors influencing corporate tax avoidance behavior. Moreover, it has important implications for governments to monitor tax avoidance behavior under the CDT, improve digital tax systems, and pay more attention to the tax administration of digital assets.

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants of the level of indebtedness in the health sector in Portugal, taking into account the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, an attempt is made to understand whether the effect of a pandemic crisis is similar to that of a financial crisis.

To achieve this aim, two subperiods were analyzed: a global period between 2011 and 2020 that includes the pandemic crisis and the period between 2011 and 2014, designated as the financial assistance period by the “Troika” in Portugal. For a sample of 514 companies belonging to the NACE code: 86100 – activities of the health sector with hospitalization, the panel data methodology was applied, specifically, the generalized method of moments system proposed by Arellano and Bover (1995) and Blundell and Bond (1998).

The results of the study are in line with the Pecking-order explanatory theory, demonstrating that companies in this sector follow a financing hierarchy, preferentially resorting to internally generated funds and external debt. Additionally, the results reveal that the capital structure of companies has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As for the period of financial assistance, there are no major differences in evidence when the total debt ratio is considered. The results suggest different impacts when it comes to a bear market period caused by a health crisis or a period of growing economic slowdowns.

As far as we know, this is the first study that analyses the debt levels in the context of the health sector in a country with a financial system based on the bank sector, using short- and long-term debt ratios, taking into account the particularities of two different moments considered to be bear market that may eventually be useful for comparison with other bear market moments in other macroeconomic environments.

El objetivo principal de este estudio es examinar los determinantes del nivel de endeudamiento en el sector de la salud en Portugal, teniendo en cuenta los efectos de la pandemia de COVID-19. Al mismo tiempo, se intenta comprender si el efecto de una crisis pandémica es similar al de una crisis financiera.

Para lograr este objetivo, se analizaron dos subperíodos: un período global entre 2011 y 2020 que incluye la crisis pandémica y el período entre 2011 y 2014, designado como el período de asistencia financiera por la “Troika” en Portugal. Para una muestra de 514 empresas pertenecientes al código NACE: 86100 – actividades del sector de la salud con hospitalización, se aplicó la metodología de datos de panel, específicamente, el método generalizado de momentos (GMM)-sistema propuesto por Arellano y Bover (1995) y Blundell y Bond (1998).

Los resultados del estudio están en línea con la teoría explicativa del “Pecking-order”, demostrando que las empresas en este sector siguen una jerarquía de financiamiento, recurriendo preferentemente a fondos generados internamente y deuda externa. Además, los resultados revelan que la estructura de capital de las empresas ha cambiado debido a la pandemia de COVID-19. En cuanto al período de asistencia financiera, no hay diferencias significativas en la evidencia cuando se considera la proporción total de deuda. Los resultados sugieren impactos diferentes cuando se trata de un período de mercado bajista causado por una crisis de salud o un período de crecimiento económico más lento.

Hasta donde sabemos, este es el primer estudio que analiza los niveles de deuda en el contexto del sector de la salud en un país con un sistema financiero basado en el sector bancario, utilizando ratios de deuda a corto y largo plazo, teniendo en cuenta las particularidades de dos momentos diferentes considerados como momentos de mercado bajista que eventualmente pueden ser útiles para comparar con otros momentos de mercado bajista en otros entornos macroeconómicos.

O principal objetivo deste estudo é examinar os determinantes do nível de endividamento no setor de saúde em Portugal, levando em consideração os efeitos da pandemia de COVID-19. Ao mesmo tempo, tenta-se compreender se o efeito de uma crise pandêmica é semelhante ao de uma crise financeira.

Para atingir esse objetivo, foram analisados dois subperíodos: um período global entre 2011 e 2020, que inclui a crise pandêmica, e o período entre 2011 e 2014, designado como o período de assistência financeira pela “Troika” em Portugal. Para uma amostra de 514 empresas pertencentes ao código NACE: 86100 – atividades do setor de saúde com hospitalização, foi aplicada a metodologia de dados em painel, especificamente o método generalizado de momentos (GMM)-sistema proposto por Arellano e Bover (1995) e Blundell e Bond (1998).

Os resultados do estudo estão de acordo com a teoria explicativa da ordem de preferência (“Pecking-order”), demonstrando que as empresas neste setor seguem uma hierarquia de financiamento, recorrendo preferencialmente a fundos gerados internamente e dívida externa. Além disso, os resultados revelam que a estrutura de capital das empresas mudou devido à pandemia de COVID-19. No que diz respeito ao período de assistência financeira, não há diferenças significativas na evidência quando se considera a proporção total de dívida. Os resultados sugerem impactos diferentes quando se trata de um período de mercado em baixa causado por uma crise de saúde ou um período de desaceleração econômica.

Até onde sabemos, este é o primeiro estudo que analisa os níveis de dívida no contexto do setor de saúde em um país com um sistema financeiro baseado no setor bancário, utilizando índices de dívida de curto e longo prazo, levando em consideração as particularidades de dois momentos diferentes considerados como momentos de mercado em baixa que eventualmente podem ser úteis para comparação com outros momentos de mercado em baixa em outros ambientes macroeconômicos.

This study examines the value implications of oil price uncertainty for investors in diversified firms using a sample of 922 USA firms from 2001 to 2019.

Our study employs a panel dataset to examine the value implications of oil price uncertainty for diversified firm investors. We consider several alternative specifications to account for unobserved factors and measurement errors that could potentially bias our results. In particular, we use alternative measures of the excess value of diversified firms and oil price uncertainty, additional control variables, fixed-effects models, the Oster test, impact threshold for confounding variable (ITCV) analysis, two-stage least square instrumental variable (2SLS-IV) analysis and the system-GMM model.

We find that the excess value of diversified firms, relative to a benchmark portfolio of single-segment firms, increases with high oil price uncertainty. The impact of oil price uncertainty is asymmetric, as corporate diversification is value-increasing for diversified firm investors only when the volatility is due to positive oil price changes and amidst supply-driven oil price shocks. The excess value increases irrespective of diversified firms’ financial constraints and oil usage. Diversified firms become conservative in their internal capital allocations with high oil price uncertainty. Such conservatism is value-increasing for diversified firm investors, as it supports higher performance in response to oil price uncertainty.

Our study has three important implications: first, they are relevant to investors in understanding the portfolio value implications of oil price uncertainty. Second, they are helpful for firm managers while comprehending the value-relevant implications of internal capital allocations. Finally, our findings are policy relevant in the context of the future of diversified firms in developed markets.

Foreign direct investment in the real estate (FDIRE) sector is required to bridge the gap between investment needed and domestic funds. Further, foreign direct investment is gaining importance because other sources of raising finance such as External Commercial Borrowing and foreign currency convertible bonds have been banned in the Indian real estate sector. Therefore, the objective of the study is to explore the determinants attracting foreign direct investment in real estate and to assess the impact of those variables on foreign direct investments in real estate.

Johansen cointegration test, vector error correction model along with variance decomposition and impulse response function are employed to understand the nexus of the relationship between various macroeconomic variables and foreign direct investment in real estate.

The results indicate that infrastructure, GDP and tourism act as drivers of foreign direct investment in real estate. However, interest rates act as a barrier.

This article aimed at exploring factors attracting FDIRE along with estimating the impact of identified variables on FDI in real estate. Unlike other studies, this study considers FDI in real estate instead of foreign real estate investments.

This paper aims to synthesize the diverse literature on nomination and remuneration committees and provide avenues for future research.

This study provides a comprehensive literature review of theoretical and empirical studies published in reputable international journals indexed by Scopus.

The literature review reveals several aspects of the nomination and remuneration committee. These aspects have been classified into the definition of the nomination and remuneration committee, dimensions of the nomination and remuneration committee, measurement and research review results, reasons for conflict empirical findings, company dynamics and research on moderators, as well as recommending future research.

Our literature review shows that nomination and remuneration committees play a role in improving board performance and company performance, reducing agency conflicts and improving corporate governance to provide implications for companies, regulators and investors and pave the way for future research.

This paper identifies issues related to nomination and remuneration committees, their theoretical and practical implications and avenues for future research.