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The purpose of this study is to identify the preparedness of disaster mitigation agency officers in both urban and rural areas as high vulnerability zones in Aceh, Indonesia, in dealing with disasters.

This cross-sectional study adopted a conceptual framework from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and United Nations of Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)/International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) (LIPI-UNESCO/ISDR, 2006), explaining the study of community preparedness in anticipating earthquake and tsunami disasters. The framework of the study consists of five disaster preparedness parameters, namely, knowledge and attitude to face disasters, policies and guidelines, emergency response plans, disaster early warning systems and mobilization of resources. This conceptual framework was developed after the 2004 tsunami through an analysis study in the three provinces in Indonesia (Aceh, Padang and Bengkulu) experiencing earthquakes and tsunamis. This conceptual framework serves as a guideline and is in line with the objective of the regional disaster management Agency to reduce disaster risk through increasing community preparedness, especially providers or officers in anticipating disasters.

There was a significant difference in disaster preparedness among officers from the urban and rural areas. The area size, location accessibility, the communication network and disaster detection and warning facilities could associate with the results.

The respondents were selected from only two districts in Aceh Province, Indonesia, which are vulnerable to disasters. The study only identifies the disaster preparedness among disaster management agency officers (DMAOs) adopted from LIPI-UNESCO/ISDR about community preparedness in anticipating disasters particularly tsunami and earthquake. Therefore, the results of this study may have limited generalizability to other areas in Indonesia and beyond.

The results of this study could possibly serve as recommendations for policymakers and disaster management agencies, particularly in rural areas to prepare contingency plans that involve both internal and external institutions to arrange the regulations related to community-based emergency response plans and disaster early warning systems. Such programs of education, training and disaster drill needed to be in place and conducted regularly for the officers in a rural area. Finally, the other sub-scales showed no difference in disaster preparedness, however, collaboration and support to each other in disaster risk reduction plan by improving the capacity building, policy enhancement and disaster management guidelines are required. Also, attempts to optimize logistics adequacy, budget allocations and disaster preparedness education and training for both DMAOs are strongly recommended through the lens of the study. The results of the study might useful for further research that could be developed based on this current study.

The emergency response plans and disaster early warning systems were significantly different between the rural and urban officers in disaster preparedness. Attending disaster management programs, experiences in responding to disasters and the availability of facilities and funds could be considered in ascertaining the preparedness of officers to deal with disasters.

Purpose – The aim of this study is to determine the differences in the antimicrobial activity of katuk leaf (Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr) against Escherichia coli.

Design/Methodology/Approach – The method used in this study was experimental posttest using a control group design. Analysis of the effect of katuk leaf was performed in the dilution method with 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% concentration. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test (α = 0.05) and was then tested using the least significant difference (LSD) test.

Findings – Bacterial colony counting that used total plant count found the average of E. coli amount at 20% of concentration (526.820 CFU/ml), 40% of concentration (449.380 CFU/ml), concentration of 60% (255.710 CFU/ml), concentration of 80% (194.110 CFU/ml), and at concentration 100% (168.600 CFU/ml). This study concluded that the katuk leaf extract at 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of concentration had antimicroba effect with significant influence. The 100% of concentration had the most significant effect compared with the other concentrations.

Research Limitations/Implications – Katuk leaf could be used as one of the alternative herbal choices that has a compound antimicrobial effect.

Originality/Value – This study increases the theoretical understanding of the difference of antimicrobial effectivity of katuk leaf extract (S. Androgynus (L.) Merr.) concentration against E. coli

This study aims to identify the key variables which determine intentions to visit coffee/tea tourism plantations particularly those adopting sustainable practices. Also, this study ascertained the perception of risk in travelling due to the fear of Covid-19 on travel intentions to such coffee/tea tourism destinations.

Using the theory of planned behaviour as a basis for this study’s framework, data was gathered from 302 eco-conscious Generation Y and Z consumers via an online survey. Partial least squares were then applied to analyse the data.

Learning and relaxation motives were important in determining consumers’ attitudes towards sustainable coffee/tea tourism. The intention to engage in sustainable coffee/tea tourism is most strongly affected by the risk of travelling, followed by attitude.

The addition of contemporary variables was given to the theory of planned behaviour’s core constructs to better reflect consumers’ attitude and behaviour towards a growing form of tourism under unprecedented times.

Travel or tourism operators will have first-hand insights on the factors that drive intentions to visit sustainable coffee and tea destinations, thus enabling more strategic action to be undertaken to reach the targeted young consumers.

This study examines young, environmental-conscious consumers’ perspectives on novel travel destinations which adopt sustainable practices. Risk in travelling was assessed which is necessary given Covid-19 has severely disrupted consumers’ travel patterns.

This paper aims to understand the association of dietary patterns with perceived fatigue and identify predictors for presence of fatigue in women who are obese and trying to lose weight.

An online survey, hosted by slimming world (SW), comprised of a questionnaire regarding weight, level of fatigue and food frequency questionnaire before joining the weight management programme (T0) and current data (T1) was conducted. In total, 543 non-pregnant women with obesity of child-bearing age (19-49 years) completed the survey (T0-T1). The principal components analysis was used to determine dietary patterns and multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse predictors for presence of fatigue.

The participants who have a “simple carbohydrate and high fat” dietary pattern were more likely to have fatigue at T0 (p ≤ 0.001) and those who followed a “vegetables” dietary pattern were less likely to have fatigue at T1 (p ≤ 0.05). The study findings indicate that while “simple carbohydrate and high fat” dietary pattern was associated with increased risk of fatigue, “vegetables” dietary pattern was associated with reduced risk of fatigue and a higher percentage of weight loss.

The present study appears to be the first study to examine associations between dietary patterns and fatigue. The strengths of the study included the in-depth analysis of this association in both before joining a weight management programme (SW) and currently as a member of SW with an adequate sample size.

The desire to find a new look of expressing the Muslim identity in society has led to a renewal of Muslim women’s interest in fashion. This allows fashion players to make trendy clothing and expand their business to meet the rising needs of Muslim women. Thus, this study aims to explore the concept of hijab fashion from the perspective of Islamic clothing retailers in Malaysia.

Data for this study were collected qualitatively using semi-structured interviews and analysed using a deductive thematic analysis.

This exploratory study describes hijab fashion as a representation of clothing for ideal contemporary Muslim women that enhances the beauty in Islamic outfits from the perspective of Islamic clothing retailers. Hijab fashion has emerged as a modern form of the modest dress code in accordance with Islamic guidelines representing the hijaber identity. It is not just a veil to cover the awrah but also represents the impression of fashionableness and modernity, reflecting the self-image, trendy style and personality representing the true ideal Muslim women, who are known as Muslimah.

The sample and findings are based exclusively on the perception of retailers directly involved in Malaysia’s Islamic fashion business.

The findings from this study benefit the fashion retailers, Islamic fashion industry players and policymakers by highlighting the importance of providing appropriate products and services concerning the growth of Muslim consumer market and their spending behaviour.

The findings offer a new perspective on the nature of the phenomenon of hijaber fashion as a symbol of the modern Muslim woman from the viewpoint of Islamic fashion practitioners.

This paper presents the experience of co-researching with persons with disabilities in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) humanitarian programming using participatory methods that enable empowerment.

This paper focuses on methods that ensure the active participation of persons with disabilities as co-researchers. These methods include building the capacity of persons with disabilities on the research topic and instruments, pre-interview role-plays, field pilot testing, post-data collection debriefing and reflective learning through writing learning diaries.

This research shows that persons with disabilities have the drive and capacity to contribute to research. Methods such as continuous engagement, capacity building and feedback mechanisms are essential for their participation and influence in the research production process. These methods can provide empowering experiences for persons with disabilities. However, they are often time-consuming and can be convoluted.

Research conducted with persons with disabilities in disaster and humanitarian studies is still scarce. Consequently, resources on inclusive and participatory methodology involving persons with disabilities are minimal. Therefore, this article contributes to addressing this knowledge gap.

The preliminary purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between Human Resource Management (HRM) practices and service oriented organizational citizenship behavior (SO-OCB). The current study’s focus is on three HRM practices namely training, fair reward and promotion opportunity. Second, the study examines the mediating role of impersonal trust on the aforementioned relationship through the use of social exchange theory.

Data has been collected through purposive sampling technique from service employees of 39 private commercial banks of Bangladesh and was analyzed by using structural equation modeling-partial least square method.

Findings of the study comply with the theory of social exchange. All three HRM practices significantly predict SO-OCB. Additionally, impersonal trust positively mediates the relationship between HRM practices and SO-OCB.

As private commercial banks are growing rapidly in Bangladesh, this sector is facing enormous competition which makes frontline employees SO-OCB a competitive advantage. Due to the limited researches in the field of SO-OCB, this study provides a new avenue of knowledge for the researchers and practitioners on how to develop such behavior in a service setting. Further, no prior study tests the mediation of impersonal trust. Earlier, most of the studies focus on interpersonal trust. The current study contributes to the literature by offering a comprehensive framework that explains the mediation effect of impersonal trust on the association between HRM practices and SO-OCB.

Policymakers are developing government-level pandemic response strategies (GPRS) to assist architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) enterprises. However, the effectiveness of the GPRS has not been assessed. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the interrelationships between GPRS and AEC enterprises. To achieve that aim, the study objectives are to compare GPRS effectiveness between small-medium and large AEC enterprises, develop groupings to categorize interrelated GPRS and evaluate the effectiveness of the GPRS and interrelated constructs.

A systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews with 40 AEC industry professionals were carried out, generating 22 GPRS. Then, questionnaire survey data was collected among AEC professionals. In total, 114 valid survey answers were received and analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis H test, normalized mean analysis, factor analysis and fuzzy synthetic evaluation.

Small-medium enterprises have four distinct critical GPRS: “form a special task force to provide support in maneuvering COVID-19,” “provide infrastructure investment budgets to local governments,” “develop employee assistance programs that fit all types of working groups” and “diversify existing supply chain.” Large enterprises have two distinct critical GPRS: “provide help in digitalizing existing construction projects” and “mandate COVID-19 as force majeure.” Eighteen GPRS can be categorized into the following five constructs: “market stability and financial aid,” “enterprise capability management,” “supply chain improvement,” “law and policy resources” and “information and workforce management.” The former two constructs are more effective than other GPRS constructs.

This is the first paper that evaluates the effectiveness of GPRS for AEC enterprises, providing new evidence to policymakers for well-informed decision-making in developing pandemic response strategies.

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

The study found that international orientation and marketing capability had a positive impact on the export performance of Malaysian SMEs in the halal food and beverage sector.

The briefing saves busy executives, strategists, and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.