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Genetically modified (GM) foods have global importance as they can significantly improve food security challenges. However, risks associated with the consumption of GM foods have affected consumers’ acceptance. This study aims to assess the student’s awareness regarding GM foods.

A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted to explore the knowledge and attitude of health sciences university students toward GM foods. Students (n = 400) from different academic disciplines were participated in the study.

The majority of the university students heard about GM organisms and GM food (67.5% and 60.8%, respectively) and have correctly defined GM foods (48.2%). The mean percentage score of knowledge and attitude toward GM foods among university students was 36.0 ± 29.4% and 29.8 ± 23.1%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in knowledge and attitude between undergraduate and postgraduate students. A significant difference was found toward the acceptability of GM food in students from different health sciences disciplines (p = 0.006).

The findings indicate that educational programs are needed to improve the knowledge of students about GM food and food safety challenges.

Recently, interest in sustainability has grown globally in the heavy vehicle and equipment industry (HVEI). However, this industry's complexity poses a challenge to the implementation of generic sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices. This study aims to identify SSCM's barriers, practices and performance (BPP) indicators in the HVEI context.

The results are derived from case studies of four multinational manufacturers. Within-case and cross-case analyses were conducted to categorise the SSCM BPP indicators that are unique to HVEI supply chains.

This study's analysis revealed that supply chain cost implications and a deficient information flow between focal firms and supply chain partners are the key barriers to SSCM in the HVEI. This analysis also revealed a set of policies, programmes and procedures that manufacturers have adopted to address SSCM barriers. The most common SSCM performance indicators included eco-portfolio sales to assess economic performance, health and safety indicators for social sustainability and carbon- and energy-related measures for environmental sustainability.

The insights can help HVEI firms understand and overcome the typical SSCM barriers in their industry and develop, deploy and optimise their SSCM strategies and practices. Managers can use this knowledge to identify appropriate mechanisms with which to accelerate their transition into a sustainable business and effectively measure performance outcomes.

The extant SSCM literature has focused on the light vehicle industry, and it has lacked a concrete examination of HVEI supply chains' sustainability BPP. This study develops a framework that simultaneously analyses SSCM BPP in the HVEI.

This study aims to test a proposed model based on a combination of the relationship marketing and service quality dimensions as predictors of corporate image and customer loyalty via corporate reputation in the Takaful context. More importantly, this study compares the Takaful operators’ services with the perceived service quality and the relationship marketing from the Malaysian and Saudi Arabian customers’ viewpoint.

A survey-based study was conducted through a questionnaire, and the data was collected from Takaful customers (362 Saudi Arabian and 350 Malaysian customers) through an online survey. Structural equation modelling is used to test the proposed model. Besides, the perception of Takaful customers between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia is compared through a multi-group analysis.

The results from the Malaysian context reveal that positive perceptions of service quality PAKSERV dimensions (personalization, reliability and tangibility) and positive perceptions of relationship marketing dimensions (Islamic ethical behaviour and structural bonds) have a significant influence on the corporate image. Alternatively, in the Saudi Arabian context, results have shown that the positive perceptions of service quality PAKSERV dimensions (assurance and reliability) of service quality and the positive perceptions of the relationship marketing dimensions (Islamic ethical behaviour, structural bonds and financial bonds) have a significant influence on the corporate image. The differences in both countries’ results can also enhance the corporate image on corporate reputation, merely in Malaysia. By contrast, corporate reputation is deemed a significant predictor of customer loyalty, represented as valid for both contexts.

The proposed research model tested in Takaful Malaysian and Saudi Arabian can be replicated in other contexts – in terms of country and industry. Moreover, the current study reveals the crucial role of corporate image in forming corporate reputation. Future research could be focussed on the importance of other emotional or affective variables that may be involved in determining corporate reputation. Finally, future studies can be carried with another cultural perspective to have more diversified socio-economic implications.

It is suggested that Takaful operators from both Malaysia and Saudi Arabia need to put maximum effort towards customer loyalty by bringing both the dimensions of service quality and the relationship marketing in compliance with the principles of Islamic business transaction. The findings of the specific dimensions of service quality and relationship marketing will contribute to customers’ perceptions of corporate image and reputation in the Takaful industry.

The present study tested a blended facet of customer’s overall experience through service quality (PAKSERV) and customer service provider connectivity (relationship marketing) to predict the corporate image of the highly growing financial marketplace (Takaful). Contextually, this study contributes to delineating the factors (corporate reputation) affecting customer loyalty rather than a customer satisfaction tradition. Significantly, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia were chosen for this study, as they are currently the two fast-growing markets for Islamic financial services, especially with regards to the Takaful products and offerings.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the inhibitive effect of azathiones, namely cyclopentyl‐tetrahydro‐azathione, cyclohexyl‐tetrahydro‐azathione and isobutyl‐methyl‐tetrahydro‐azathione on the corrosion of carbon steel in formic and acetic acid solution. The effect of inhibitor concentration, immersion time, acid concentration, and solution temperature on the inhibition efficiencies of the selected azathiones were studied systematically.

The synthesis of inhibitor was confirmed by methods such as Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance studies. All inhibition experiments were conducted on carbon steel in 20 percent formic acid and 20 percent acetic acid solution. Weight loss experiments were carried out according to the American Society for Testing and Materials standard procedure. Polarization studies were carried out in a three electrode cell assembly connected to an EG&G Princeton Applied Research potentiostat/galvanostat (model 173). The electrochemical impedance technique was carried out using Zahner IM‐6 electrochemical workstation at a frequency range of 5‐100 Hz. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study was carried out using a VP LEO model no. 435 microscope for the surface characterization of inhibited and uninhibited metal surfaces.

Various thermodynamic parameters were calculated using weight loss data in order to elaborate the mechanism of corrosion inhibition. Polarization measurements revealed that the studied azathiones acted predominantly as mixed inhibitors. Electrochemical impedance measurements revealed that the compounds were adsorbed onto the carbon steel surface and the adsorption obeyed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The SEM study showed that the inhibited metal surfaces were smoother than were uninhibited metal surfaces.

The presence of high efficiency and low cost inhibitors is essential for protection of carbon steel. In comparison with conventional carbon steel corrosion inhibitors, these findings would be considered as a step forward in development of new corrosion inhibitor.

This paper reveals that azathiones can be used successfully for the protection of carbon steel surfaces exposed in acid solution.

The novel mechanical, chemical and thermodynamics characteristics of both single- and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) make them a subject of much attention for the scientists and engineers from all domains. Fluid flows subject to CNTs are significant in biomedical engineering, energy storage systems, domestic and industrial cooling, automobile industries and solar energy collectors, etc. Keeping such effectiveness of CNTs in mind, this paper aims to examine peristaltic flow subject to CNTs in an asymmetric tapered channel. Both single and multiple walls CNTs are considered. The viscosity of nanomaterial depends on nanoparticles volume fraction and temperature. Total entropy rate through second law of thermodynamics is calculated. Heat source/sink and nonlinear heat flux are accounted.

The complicated flow expressions are simplified through lubrication approach. The velocity, temperature and entropy expressions are numerically solved by the built-in-shooting method.

The solutions for entropy generation, temperature and velocity are plotted, and the influences of pertinent variables are examined. The authors noticed that entropy generation is an increasing function of the Brinkman number.

The originality of this work is to communicate peristaltic CNTs-based nanomaterial peristaltic flow of viscous fluid in an asymmetric channel. No such consideration is yet published in the literature.

This paper aims to investigate the hydrodynamic instability properties of a mixed convection flow of nanofluid in a porous channel.

The treated single-phase nanofluid is a suspension consisting of water as the working fluid and alumina as a nanoparticle. The anisotropy of the porous medium and the effects of the inclination of the magnetic field are highlighted. The effects of viscous dissipation and thermal radiation are incorporated into the energy equation. The eigenvalue equation system resulting from the stability analysis is processed numerically by the spectral collocation method.

Analysis of the results in terms of growth rate reveals that increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles increases the critical Reynolds number. Parameters such as the mechanical anisotropy parameter and Richardson number have a destabilizing effect. The Hartmann number, permeability parameter, magnetic field inclination, Prandtl number, wave number and thermal radiation parameter showed a stabilizing effect. The Eckert number has a negligible effect on the growth rate of the disturbances.

Linear stability analysis of Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) mixed convection flow of a radiating nanofluid in porous channel in presence of viscous dissipation.

objective of the present investigation is to examine the influence of Hall on the peristaltic mechanism of Johnson-Segalman fluid in a heated channel with elastic walls. The transmission of heat is carried out. Relevant equations are computed for heat transfer coefficient, temperature and velocity. Low Reynolds number assumptions and long wavelength are employed. The interpretation of various parameters is analyzed. The results indicate that the heat transfer coefficient, temperature and velocity are larger for viscous material in comparison with Johnson-Segalman material.

The transmission of heat is carried out. Relevant equations are computed for heat transfer coefficient, temperature and velocity. Low Reynolds number assumptions and long wavelength are employed. The interpretation of various parameters is analyzed. The results indicate that the heat transfer coefficient, temperature and velocity are larger for viscous material in comparison with Johnson-Segalman material.

The formulation of paper is executed as follows. Section 2 comprises problem summary and mathematical design. Solution methodology is discussed, and expressions for temperature, velocity and coefficient of heat transfer are derived in Section 3. Graphical outcomes for the parameters are reported in Section 4. Conclusions are outlined in Section 5.

Peristaltic phenomenon of fluids has a definite role in many physiological, industrial and engineering processes. The mechanical devices for instance finger and roller pumps operate via this process, and it is quite significant for vasomotion of blood vessels, consumption of food via esophagus, chyme flow in gastrointestinal zone, toxic liquid flow in nuclear industry and transport of corrosive fluids.

Literature review witnesses that information about peristalsis of conducting fluid in a heated channel with flexible walls and Hall effect is scarce. So, our goal is to discuss the peristaltic activity of non-Newtonian fluids in flexible channel. Johnson-Segalman fluid is taken into account. This model is used to allow non-affine deformations. Experimentalists relate “spurt” with wall slip. That is why the work presented is original.

A pitch deck for Girlythings has been provided as a supplementary material for this case. Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes

In the light of the case and the accompanying case questions, the students should understand the following: socio-cultural perspectives in adopting the use of taboo products in an emerging economy and a conservative society such as Pakistan; role of government and non-governmental agencies in influencing policy framework; the application of the theory of planned behavior in channeling positive attitudes toward the use of personal hygiene products; peculiarities of formulating an expansion strategy for entrepreneurial ventures; and idiosyncrasies of developing effective business pitches.

Founded in early 2018, Girlythings was a young startup spearheaded by Tanzila Khan. It aimed at not only improving the availability of sanitary products in the emerging Pakistan market but, over and above, also removing the stigma attached to the topic of menstruation in the society. While the startup was still nestled at an incubation center, the protagonist faced the utmost challenge of deciding the fate of the venture due to the taboo nature of the product. This case is a rich description of the stigma that prevails on the topic of women health in conservative societies like Pakistan. It will help students appreciate the idiosyncrasies of operating in emerging markets and spearheading ventures that deal with sensitive issues.

This case is geared toward undergraduate students enrolled in courses of strategy, strategic marketing and entrepreneurship.

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship

The purpose of this paper was to study laminar fluid flow and convective heat transfer in a conical gap at small conicity angles up to 4° for the case of disk rotation with a fixed cone.

In this paper, the improved asymptotic expansion method developed by the author was applied to the self-similar Navier–Stokes equations. The characteristic Reynolds number ranged from 0.001 to 2.0, and the Prandtl numbers ranged from 0.71 to 10.

Compared to previous approaches, the improved asymptotic expansion method has an accuracy like the self-similar solution in a significantly wider range of Reynolds and Prandtl numbers. Including radial thermal conductivity in the energy equation at small conicity angle leads to insignificant deviations of the Nusselt number (maximum 1.23%).

This problem has applications in rheometry to experimentally determine viscosity of liquids, as well as in bioengineering and medicine, where cone-and-disk devices serve as an incubator for nurturing endothelial cells.

The study can help design more effective devices to nurture endothelial cells, which regulate exchanges between the bloodstream and the surrounding tissues.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, for the first time, novel approximate analytical solutions were obtained for the radial, tangential and axial velocity components, flow swirl angle on the disk, tangential stresses on both surfaces, as well as static pressure, which varies not only with the Reynolds number but also across the gap. These solutions are in excellent agreement with the self-similar solution.

In this digital age, the rapid technological innovation and adoption, with the increasing use of big data analytics, has raised concerns about the ability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to sustain the competition and innovation performance (IP). To narrow the research gap, this paper investigates the role of big data analytics capability (BDAC) in moderating the relationship between digital innovation (DI) and SME innovation performance.

This research has been carried forward through a detailed theory and literature analysis. Data were analyzed through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation models using a two-stage approach in smartPLS-4.

Results highlight that digital service capability (DSC) significantly mediates the relationship between DI and IP. Additionally, value co-creation (VCC) directly affects digital transformation (DT), while DI has a stronger effect on DSC than IP. Furthermore, BDAC significantly moderates the relation between DSC → IP and DT → IP, whereas it has a detrimental effect on the relation between DI and IP. In addition to that, VCC, DSC, DT, DI and BDAC have a direct, significant and positive effect on IP.

This research was motivated by the practical relevance of supporting SMEs in adopting DT and the resource-based view (RBV) and technology acceptance model (TAM). This study shows that all direct and indirect measures significantly affect innovation performance, including BDAC as moderator. These findings refresh the perspective on what DT, DI, VCC, DSC and BDAC can bring to a firm's innovation performance.

This paper has contributed to DT by empirically validating a theoretical argument that suggests the acceptance and adoption of new technology. This paper aims to fill theoretical gaps in understanding BDAC and DT by incorporating the RBV and TAM theories on BDAC and DT.