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The purpose of this study is to apply the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting the intention to participate in family takaful schemes (FTSs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). One area of concern for takaful operators is their untapped market and lower market share compared to those of their conventional insurance counterparts. It is possible that the investigation of direct and indirect (belief based) measures of TPB could shed some light on these concerns and possibly offer some assistance to takaful operators.

Interrelationships among attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral controls (PBCs) and intention to participate in FTSs were examined. The relationships between behavioral beliefs on attitudes, normative beliefs on subjective norm and control beliefs on PBC were also assessed to fully identify the structures underlying factors measuring intentions. The respondents consisted of 175 Muslims in the UAE. Data were collected using an online survey and analyzed using SPSS.

This study found that attitudes, subjective norms and PBCs contribute to the prediction of the intention to participate in FTSs. This study used standard multiple regressions to identify an extensive set of specific belief composites this can be used in the prediction of direct measures of TPB and the intention to participate in FTS.

The findings of this study provide useful information to takaful marketers on how to develop marketing strategies to increase FTS participation. This study suggests that informative and persuasive promotions can be used to improve the penetration rate of FTSs in the UAE.

This study provides insights into previously unaddressed FTS participation in the UAE. Prior work on determining FTS participation has not been applied to both direct and indirect measures of TPB to understand the phenomenon.

This paper aims to investigate the influence of investors’ attitudes on their decision-making. Two subjective perception factors, brand familiarity and perceived trust, were proposed to influence investors’ attitudes and decision-making. This paper also suggests the potential mediating effect of attitude on decisions on Islamic stock investment.

Data were collected using a primary data collection method. Questionnaires were used and distributed to a sample size of 250 Malaysian investors in the Klang Valley aged between 25 and 50 years old. Data were analysed using SPSS and Structural Equation Modelling–Partial Least Squares.

Seven hypotheses were proposed, and six were supported. The findings show that brand familiarity and perceived trust have a significant relationship with attitude. Brand familiarity and attitude have a significant relationship with investment decision behaviour. The relationship between perceived trust and attitude also reveals significant findings. However, perceived trust was found to have an insignificant relationship with investment decision behaviour. Mediation analysis shows that attitude mediates the relationship between brand familiarity and investment decision behaviour. Attitudes are also found to mediate the relationship between perceived trust and investment decision behaviour.

It is recommended that publicly listed companies emphasize and devote extra efforts to enhancing investors' familiarity with and favour their brand. In addition, to build an investor’s trust, a company must be consistent in dividend payments. Such action may improve the probability of the company’s stock being chosen for investment.

Subjective perceptions of investors' decision-making in Islamic stock investment have yet to be thoroughly explored in the literature, especially in the Malaysian context. In this paper, the indirect relationship between brand familiarity and perceived trust in attitude is tested. This paper contributes to consumer behaviour and marketing of Islamic stock investment research area.

This study aims to check the impact of consumer ethnocentrism (CE) and animosity on brand image (BI) and brand loyalty (BL) of Indian made cosmetic products in Pakistan and to check the mediation role of product judgment (PJ) related to Indian made cosmetic products in this relationship.

In this study, the researcher used quantitative techniques to collect data. Online survey strategy was used for data collection and the technique of purposive sampling was used to select 280 consumers as respondents of said study. SPSS-20 and AMOS-21 were used for data analysis and to test the hypotheses of the study.

The results indicate that there is a positive relationship between CE and BL that is the novel result of this study because past studies proved negative relation in CE and BL and there is no direct relationship between CE and BI. The results also indicate that consumer animosity (CA) has a negative impact on BI and BL of Indian made cosmetic products in Pakistan. The results of mediation indicate that PJ is playing partial mediation in this relation.

This study is for the first time that is conducted in the context of India and Pakistan. Similarly, PJ is tested as a mediator for the first time in the relationship between CE and CA and BI and BL. This study would be beneficial for foreign brands generally and for Indian cosmetic brands specifically. In addition, it may provide help to business students and scholars to further understand and explore these variables in the context of developing countries.

The study is designed to explore the application of information technology in various operations and services in special libraries in Kuwait.

The data were collected through a questionnaire accompanied by interviews with head librarians in 25 special libraries in Kuwait.

This study provides baseline data on the current status of the application of information and communication technology (ICT). The majority of the libraries are partially automated. The library catalogue was found to be the most popular area for automation. More than one fourth of the libraries are still using manual systems in their library operations and services. Lack of adequate personnel, ICT training programs, and low priority of libraries within their organization are major obstacles for ICT application in special libraries.

This paper will have implications for the development of special libraries in Kuwait. It also indicates existing obstacles, difficulties, suggestion and recommendations for further development.

It is the first study of the status of ICT applications in special libraries in Kuwait. Its findings should help researchers and decision makers to improve the current information infrastructure

The purpose of this paper is to investigate methods that are used for analyzing strategically various aspects of academic libraries in Oman.

A research framework was designed to explore various steps of conceptualizing, collecting, analyzing data, and reporting results. Data gathered through in‐depth interviews with participants represented different management levels of academic libraries in the country. The analysis process utilized content analysis to shape the relationship between categories that were subjected to formulate knowledge.

The results indicate that strategic analysis process has been practiced in 40 percent of academic libraries in Oman, utilizing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis technique. However, all respondents identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of their libraries under one or more of the following factors: information resources; administrative support; human resources; financial resources; building and space; facilities and equipment; and cooperation and communication. Yet, the priority and importance of each issue to each library varies from one institution to another, according to size and history of each university.

The great differences in history, size, and infrastructure between the institutions investigated had affected the selection of the research population. Moreover, reports, statistics, existed in some libraries found unable to provide the necessary data, which forced the researcher to depend on the data gathered from respondents in building the research knowledge.

This research fills part of the gap that exists in the strategic management of information services. It is the first study shedding light on the application of strategic analysis in academic libraries in Oman.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate measurement methods that are in use in various aspects of academic libraries in Oman.

The framework of the research was built to explore various steps of conceptualizing, collecting, analyzing data, and reporting results. Data gathered through in‐depth interviews with participants represented different management levels. The analysis process utilized content analysis to shape the relationship between categories that were subjected to formulate knowledge.

Results show that all libraries have used one method or more in evaluating the progress of their services, and the performance of their staff members. These include: surveys; reports; KPIs; statistics; and interviews, in addition to appraisal forms which are used for staff evaluation. Alongside internal evaluation by librarians, an external evaluation by OAC and other international bodies took place in some libraries.

The research was challenged by great differences in history, size, and infrastructure between the institutions, which had affected the selection of the research population. Moreover, reports and statistics which existed in some libraries could not provide the necessary data, which forced the researcher to depend on the data gathered from respondents in building the research knowledge.

This study aims to fill part of the gap which exists in measurement processes of information services, as it is the first study shedding light on evaluation methods in academic libraries in Oman.

The purpose of this study is to investigate heat transfer and electrokinetic non-Newtonian flow in a rectangular microchannel in the developed and transient states.

The Carreau–Yasuda model was considered to capture the non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid. The dimensionless forms of governing equations, including the continuity equation for the Carreau–Yasuda fluid, are numerically solved by considering the volumetric force term of electric current (DC).

The impact of pertinent parameters such as electrokinetic diameter (R), Brinkman number and Peclet number is examined graphically. It is observed that for increasing R, the bulk velocity decreases. The velocity of the bulk fluid reaches from the minimum to the maximum state across the microchannel over time. At the electrokinetic diameter of 400, the maximum velocity was obtained. Temperature graphs are plotted with changes in the various Brinkman number (0.1 < Br < 0.7) at different times, and local Nusselt are compared against changes in the Peclet number (0.1 < ℘e < 0.5). The results of this study show that by increasing the Brinkman number from 0.25 to 0.7, the temperature along the microchannel doubles. It was observed that increasing the Peclet number from 0.3 to 0.5 leads to 200% increment of the Nusselt number along the microchannel in some areas along the microchannel. The maximum temperature occurs at Brinkman number of 0.7 and the maximum value of the local Nusselt number is related to Peclet number 0.5. Over time in the transient mode, the Nusselt number also decreases along the microchannel. By the increasing of time, the temperature increases at given value of Brinkman, which is insignificant at Brinkman number of 0.1. The simulation results have been verified by Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows with adequate accuracy.

This study contributes to discovering the effects of transient flow of electroosmotic flow for non-Newtonian Carreau–Yasuda fluid and transient heat transfer through rectangular microchannel. To the authors’ knowledge, the said investigation is yet not available in existing literature.

This study aims to investigate the generation of negative emotions and behavior in Muslim consumers from their attitude toward offensive advertising. Mediation of brand hate between attitude toward offensive advertising and brand retaliation was examined. The conditional indirect impact of religiosity on attitude toward offensive advertising and brand retaliation through brand hate was also realized.

A cross-sectional research design was used using the mall intercept survey technique. Data were collected from 380 respondents visiting the malls in the areas of Pakistan’s twin cities (Rawalpindi and Islamabad) after ensuring appropriateness for the study. Partial least square–structural equation modeling through SmartPLS software was used as a statistical technique to test the hypotheses.

The findings confirm that attitude toward offensive advertising affects brand hate and brand retaliation positively. The conditional indirect effect of religiosity on the relationship of attitude toward offensive advertising and brand retaliation has also proved significant.

The present study has filled a significant gap in the literature of brand hate by introducing brand hate as a mediator in the relationship of attitude toward offensive advertising and brand retaliation. It further added in the body of knowledge of brand hate by a moderated mediation mechanism of religiosity on the relationship of attitude toward offensive advertising and brand retaliation through brand hate. The present study has considered the non-offensive product being promoted through offensive advertising and explored the impact of attitude toward offensive advertising on brand hate and brand retaliation in Muslim consumers.

Continuous professional development (CPD) plays a crucial role in the library workplace by equipping library and information science (LIS) professionals with the skills and technical knowledge to bridge the theory-praxis gap, assuring that library practitioners and their organisations continue to innovate and stay successful and tailored to the requirement of their users. The aim of the study was to investigate the channels of CPD for LIS professionals working in the university libraries of Northern India. Also, it explored the motivations and barriers related to the LIS professionals’ CPD.

The study adopted a quantitative research design followed by the survey research method. The study population included LIS professionals working in the university libraries of Northern India. Data was gathered from 177 respondents via the census sampling method.

LIS professionals engaged in CPD activities through multiple channels. Intrinsic factors primarily governed the motivation for CPD. Similarly, time and finance were significant challenges for LIS CPD. Lastly, most libraries were headed by in-charge librarians (non-professionals). De-professionalisation, or the deliberate de-skilling of professional roles, threatens the basis upon which librarians establish their credibility as professionals.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study is the first of its kind from the perspective of a developing country, adding to the CPD literature in academic libraries.

The purpose of this study is to assess the awareness and preparedness level of the chief librarians (CLs) of the universities of Punjab and the Federal area in Pakistan concerning censorship. The study also aims to identify the preferred sources the respondents use to update their knowledge about censorship.

The research work is based on the survey method. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the CLs of 105 universities. The collected data was analysed descriptively.

The major findings of the study are that there is a dire need to improve the awareness level of the university library CLs regarding censorship. It was also found that a majority of the CLs do have not any formal written policy to handle censorship issues. However, religion was the main cause of censorship in a majority of cases. The study also indicated that social media was the most preferred source CLs use to update their knowledge.

The current study covers only the CLs of universities of Punjab and the Federal area. Therefore, its findings cannot be generalized to all the library professionals of Pakistan.

The study will help to understand the awareness level of CLs about censorship-related issues and provide an opportunity for university authorities to arrange training programs for the CLs to enhance their capabilities to deal with censorship issues.

The study will provide awareness and preparedness status of CLs regarding censorship issues.