Compared Research Articles

Does eWoM matter in s-commerce? A comparatives study between Kuwait and United Arab Emirates

PurposeThis study aims to explore the antecedent factors that directly and indirectly influence electronic word of mouth (eWoM) for social commerce (s-commerce) in two developing countries (e.g. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates [UAE]) by extending social cognitive theory.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a previous robust model (Rouibah et al., 2021) as theoretical background to investigate and compares the antecedents (trust in Instagram, perceived risks) on eWoM for s-commerce through the mediation of three mediators (perceived enjoyment, perceived value and customer satisfaction) among two Arab countries. Data was collected from Kuwait (n = 1,132) and the UAE (n = 190). Different statistical analyses and structured equation modeling-based analysis of moment structure are used to test the robustness of the research model.FindingsThis study found customer satisfaction to be most important factor that mediates the effect independent factors on eWoM for s-commerce in both countries. Surprisingly, perceived enjoyment has no effect, and trust in Instagram and perceived risks are the most important factors that are considered imperative for customer satisfaction and positive feedback.Research limitations/implicationsOne limitation of this study is that the author does not focus on the difference between the effects of textual and graphical information on customers’ decisions and trust in buying merchandise. Another limitation is that this study focuses on Kuwait and the UAE. Other Gulf Cooperation Council countries are also growing exponentially, and mobile and internet penetration rates are booming; they could be a trigger for more studies on whether differences occur among all of them.Practical implicationsThe first implication is that it is the first in its field to extend the effects of eWoM. To the best of the author’s knowledge, compared to the online research this study is unique because the authors examine six factors for eWoM in s-commerce using the Instagram platform as opposed to other platforms.Social implicationsThe third implication of this study is that the previous ones have applied eWoM to different subjects of e-commerce such as tourism and marketing but have concentrated less on s-commerce, where in-depth research is needed much more to explore factors and theories that explain human behavior.Originality/valueFurthermore, most of these studies have focused on the intention to use (Dincer and Dincer, 2023; X. Hu, Chen, Davison, and Liu, 2022; Zhou et al., 2023). However, the attention in this research is on the actual use.

Global Harmonization of Biosimilar Development by Overcoming Existing Differences in Regional Regulatory Requirements - Outcomes of a Descriptive Review.

Global harmonization of biosimilar developmental requirements will facilitate development leading to increased patient and societal benefits. However, there are several technical and regulatory hurdles that must be addressed to harmonize the regulatory requirements in different countries and regions. At times, there is a requirement for use of locally sourced reference product, forcing biosimilar developers to repeat analytical or clinical comparability studies against reference product batches sourced from within a given country. While most health authorities no longer require comparative animal toxicology studies of the proposed biosimilar and reference product, these are still required in several countries, forcing biosimilar companies to conduct such studies or risk non-approval of their product. At times, different health authorities request different clinical study designs. In some jurisdictions there is a requirement to generate clinical data in local ethnic populations. Some health authorities require a hybrid label that combines clinical data from the reference biologic and the biosimilar, in the patient leaflet. Recommendations are provided to address each of these hurdles to facilitate global regulatory harmonization of biosimilars. Overcoming these barriers will ultimately increase patient access to these medicines in all regions while providing financial relief to healthcare systems.

The Authenticity of Digital Evidence in Criminal Courts: A Comparative Study

The Authenticity of Digital Evidence in Criminal Courts: A Comparative Study

Legal Regulation of Payment Using Virtual Currency: Comparative Study

Legal Regulation of Payment Using Virtual Currency: Comparative Study

Factors Influencing Internet Banking Adoption during COVID-19: A Comparative Study among the Selected Public and Private Banks in Bangladesh

Factors Influencing Internet Banking Adoption during COVID-19: A Comparative Study among the Selected Public and Private Banks in Bangladesh

Firms Performance and Cryptocurrencies: A Comparative Study before and after COVID-19

Firms Performance and Cryptocurrencies: A Comparative Study before and after COVID-19

Fundamental Breach of execution of the Off-plan Sale Contract According to Law No. (3) of 2015 concerning the regulation of the real estate sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi - A Comparative study

Fundamental Breach of execution of the Off-plan Sale Contract According to Law No. (3) of 2015 concerning the regulation of the real estate sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi - A Comparative study

Private Capital Inflows and Industrial Sector Performance: A Comparative Study of the Top Largest Economies in Sub-Saharan Africa

Private Capital Inflows and Industrial Sector Performance: A Comparative Study of the Top Largest Economies in Sub-Saharan Africa

Assessing the kinetics of oxygen-unloading from red cells using FlowScore, a flow-cytometric proxy of the functional quality of blood

Metrics evaluating the functional quality of red blood cells (RBCs) must consider their role in oxygen delivery. Whereas oxygen-carrying capacity is routinely reported using haemoglobin assays, the rate of oxygen exchange is not measured, yetalso important for tissue oxygenation. Since oxygen-unloading depends on the diffusion pathlength inside RBCs, cell geometry offers a plausible surrogate. We related the time-constant of oxygen-unloading (τ), measured using single-cell oxygen saturation imaging, with flow-cytometric variables recorded on a haematology analyser. Experiments compared freshly-drawn RBCs with stored RBCs, wherein metabolic run-down and spherical remodelling hinder oxygen unloading. Multivariable regression related τ to a ratio of side- and forward-scatter, referred to herein as FlowScore. FlowScore was able to distinguish, with sensitivity and specificity >80%, freshly drawn blood from blood that underwent storage-related kinetic attrition in O2-handling. Moreover, FlowScore predicted τ restoration upon biochemical rejuvenation of stored blood. Since RBC geometry and metabolic state are related, variants of FlowScore estimated [ATP] and [2,3-diphosphoglycerate]. The veracity of FlowScore was confirmed by four blood-banking systems (Australia, Canada, England, Spain). Applying FlowScore to data from the COMPARE study revealed a positive association with the time-delay from sample collection to measurement, which wasverified experimentally. The LifeLines dataset revealed age, sex, and smoking among factors affecting FlowScore. We establish FlowScore as a widely-accessible and cost-effective surrogate of RBC oxygen-unloading kinetics. As a metric of a cellular process that is sensitive to storage and disease, we propose FlowScore as an RBC quality marker for blood-banking and haematology. See Acknowledgements.

Comparative study on information extraction of urban wetlands and its thermal environment using the SDGSAT-1 data

ABSTRACT Wetlands represent crucial ecosystems, with urban wetlands playing a significant role in regulating regional thermal environments. The Sustainable Development Goals Scientific Satellite 1 (SDGSAT-1), equipped with multiple sensors, boasts one of the highest spatial resolutions among satellites housing thermal infrared sensors. A specific deep blue band, sensitive to chlorophyll in water, has been established, introducing innovative technological avenues for observing urban wetland environments. This study focuses on Beijing, investigating SDGSAT-1's efficacy in wetland classification and Land Surface Temperature (LST) retrieval, in comparison to Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8 TIRS data. The findings reveal that: (1) Wetland classification accuracy with SDGSAT-1 (86.76% overall accuracy, 0.84 Kappa coefficient, 0.87 Macro-F1) surpasses that of Sentinel-2, possibly attributed to the deep blue bands; (2) In contrast to Landsat 8's thermal infrared band, SDGSAT-1's finer resolution (30 m spatial resolution) offers more intricate spatial variation of LST, forming a foundational dataset for nuanced wetland thermal environment investigations; (3) The study underscores the comprehensive advantages of SDGSAT-1 data in monitoring urban wetlands and thermal environments, furnishing a theoretical basis for future related research.

A comparative study of double-pass recycle type hybrid photovoltaic thermal designs

ABSTRACT Photovoltaic (PV) panels play a crucial role in solar systems but are susceptible to efficiency losses caused by rising surface temperatures. This research explores four distinct recycle-type double-pass hybrid PV/T designs, employing steady-state models to cool the PV panels. The first and second designs mount the PV panel on the absorber plate, while the third and fourth designs position it directly over the absorber plate without a glass cover, allowing the sun’s radiation to fall directly on the PV module. The study investigates the significant impacts of varying values of ṁ (0.03–0.15 kg/sec), G (0.3–1.8), D (1.0–6.0), I (300–1000 W/m2), and P (0.4–0.95) on thermal and electrical efficiency, as well as net electrical power generation, taking into account pressure loss during the flow. Through the analytical study, Design-IV demonstrates the highest net electrical power, estimated at 54.82W, which is 6.27% higher than Design-III, achieved at a recycling ratio, mass flow rate, depth ratio, and packing factor of 0.9, 0.15 kg/s, 3, and 0.5, respectively. Additionally, the input parameters are optimized using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) technique. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveals a significant coefficient (R2) value approaching unity, indicating a strong fit of the response model to the analyzed data. By considering both single and multi-objective optimization scenarios, the study identifies optimal parameters for each PV/T design through the interaction of operational parameters. This research contributes to enhancing the efficiency and performance of double-pass recycle-type hybrid PV/T systems, enabling sustainable and effective utilization of solar energy resources.

Identifikasi Kandungan NPK dan Pengaruh Pemberian Pupuk Organik Buatan terhadap Pertumbuhan Padi Wakawondu pada Lahan Marginal

Wakawondu rice is a traditional food crop in North Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, cultivated for 400 years without chemical fertilizers. Local farmers now face soil fertility challenges due to changes in farming practices brought about by limited land availability. This study aims to analyze the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P ₂ O₅ ), and potassium (K₂ O) content in homemade organic fertilizer and its impact on the growth of wakawondu rice in marginal lands. The organic fertilizer was prepared from a mixture of rice husks, sawdust, banana stalks, tofu residue, sugar, and EM4, incubated for 60 days. Nutrient content was measured using destruction and spectrophotometric analysis. The effectiveness of the fertilizer was tested by compa ring the growth of wakawondu rice under three conditions: homemade organic fertilizer, no fertilizer, and factory-produced compost. The results indicated that the NPK content in the homemade organic fertilizer effectively promoted plant height but had no significant effect on leaf number and width. The study concludes that homemade organic fertilizer has potential to enhance rice growth on marginal lands, though its effect on leaf parameters remains limited. Further research is recommended to optimize ferti lizer formulation and understand other factors impacting crop productivity.

Randomized Control Trial Comparing Moist Exposed Burn Ointment and Honey as Dressings Agents in Patients with Second -Degree Burns

Background: Many topical agents are available for the treatment of partial thickness burns. We examined Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO) and honey as dressing agents; regarding their natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties. They have also been proven to be superior than silver sulphadiazine in treating burn wound.Methods: A total of 34 patients were randomly allocated into MEBO group and Indonesian local honey group. The dressings are changed daily, with corresponding interventions applied. The depth and extent of burn wounds were assessed upon patient’s admission and once a week for two weeks. Pain level was evaluated using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). The wound swabs were cultured weekly to obtain microorganisms profile. The cost-per-day of each group were counted.Result: Acute partial thickness burn in MEBO group showed faster healing compared to honey group. NRS scores for pain were also lower in MEBO group. MEBO was found to be more effective in decreasing bacterial colonization. Cost of treating wound using MEBO until complete healing was also lesser than local honey.Conclusions: As topical agent to treat partial thickness burns, MEBO is superior compared to local honey due to faster healing, better pain relief, fewer bacterial colonization and the more cost-effective usage.

Survey mode as a moderator of context effects

After decades of survey quality research and many experiments on the mode of data collection as a source of data inequivalence, there is still no exact explanation of how the mixed-mode design impacts the collected data. While not providing a definitive answer, we propose a new explanation of the mode effect and how it correlates with other sources of errors in surveys. By reviewing the relevant literature, we develop theoretical arguments indicating that the mode of data collection is in fact a moderator of context effects, a view that can provide an answer to the question concerning the origin of the data cacophony in mixed-mode comparative studies.

Niccolò di Tommaso of Florence, St Bridget of Sweden's First Painter

Is it merely a coincidence that the earliest extant paitings of St Bridget’s Vision of the Nativity are by Niccolò di Tommaso? A combination of independent technical and documentary evidence seems to give a striking answer. Comparative studies of technical aspects of Italian medieval painting has enabled the definition of anomalies in a group of Niccolò’s oeuvre, hitherto unnoticed. In the context of his contemporaries, a possible interpretation of this group – including his paintings of the Nativity – is that they were executed outside of his native Florence. A re-reading of the documentary sources connect them with Naples and makes a new dating of Niccolò’s Neapolitan sojourn necessary. He must have been there in the period 1373-75, not around 1371 as thought till now. As a consequence, he must have met Bridget at the Angevine court in Naples in the spring of 1373 – i.e. just after she had received her revelation of the Nativity, and a few months before her death. Niccolò was apparently involved in the early visual propaganda towards Bridget’s canonization. Among other things, he made the altarpiece – identified here – for Bridget’s first chapel in her former house at Piazza Navona in Rome. The article discusses the evidence for the artist’s Neapolitan sojourn and his probable encounter with the future Saint.

User generated content in the context of autonomous AI analysis of comparative sstudy of copyright law in the US and India

In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, social media’s exponential growth has revolutionized how people create, share, and engage with content. User-generated content (UGC) has become a key part of social networking, empowering individuals to showcase their creativity. However, it also raises significant legal concerns, particularly around copyright. Intellectual property rights and potential copyright infringement issues have become more complex as vast amounts of content are shared publicly across diverse platforms. This paper examines the current state of copyright law in the digital era, focusing on major legal frameworks such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in the United States and the Copyright Act of 1957 in India. These frameworks aim to regulate the sharing and protection of online content, though they also face criticism regarding their effectiveness in safeguarding rights while promoting free expression and digital culture. By analyzing these laws, this study seeks to highlight the gap between protecting copyright holders’ rights and fostering a digital space conducive to innovation. Ultimately, the paper argues that while existing laws provide a foundation, they need to evolve to accommodate the unique demands of digital content sharing, balancing creators’ rights with the public interest.

Opportunities and Regulatory Challenges of Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals During COVID-19 Pandemic

: The novel Coronavirus has brought global mortality, disruption, and a significant loss of life. A compromised immune system is a known risk factor for all viral influenza infections. Due to the perceived “immune-boosting” properties of nutraceutical products, sales of dietary supplements have grown globally. In recent years, consumers have increasingly demanded nutraceutical products rather than curative synthetic medicines for preventive therapies for the coronavirus disease outbreak of 2019 (COVID-19). Healthy foods and nutraceuticals have become daily diet plans for consumers. Although there has been an increase in demand, there is no such regulation and harmonized process, which stands as a barrier to the approval of these products. Therefore, many misbranded and spurious products are entering the market, which may harm consumers. This article focuses on the role of functional foods and nutraceutical in the management of COVID-19 also focuses on the different nutraceutical regulations in each country and compare the similarities and differences of the following countries: India, the USA (United States of America), the EU (European Union), and China. The comparative study of nutraceutical regulations in India, the USA, Europe, and China shows that there is a difference regarding the nutraceutical regulations; however, despite the differences, it is observed that it has the same underlying objective, i.e., ensuring the safety of the consumers by maintaining the product quality.

Combined analysis of cross-population healthy adult human microbiome reveals consistent differences in gut microbial characteristics between Western and non-Western countries

Despite extensive research on the gut microbiome of healthy individuals from a single country, there are still a limited number of population-level comparative studies. Moreover, the sequencing approach used in most related studies involves 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing with a limited resolution, which cannot provide detailed functional profiles. In the present study, we applied a combined analysis approach to analyze whole metagenomic shotgun sequencing data from 2035 healthy adult samples from six countries across four continents. Analysis of core species revealed that 13 species were present in more than 90% of all investigated individuals, the majority of which produced short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)-producing bacteria. Our analysis revealed consistently significant differences in gut microbial species and pathways between Western and non-Western countries, such as Escherichia coli and the relation of MetaCyc pathways to the TCA cycle. Specific changes in microbial species and pathways are potentially related to lifestyle and diet. Furthermore, we identified several noteworthy microbial species and pathways that exhibit distinct characteristics specific to China. Interestingly, we observed that China (CHN) was more similar to the United States (USA) and United Kingdom (GBR) in terms of the taxonomic and functional composition of the gut microbiome than India (IND) and Madagascar (MDG), which were more similar to the China (CHN) diet. The current study identified consistent microbial features associated with population and geography, which will inspire further clinical translations that consider paying attention to differences in microbiota backgrounds and confounding factors.

Using Parkrun Age Grading as an Indicator of Adolescent Health: A Pilot Cross-sectional Comparator Study

Using Parkrun Age Grading as an Indicator of Adolescent Health: A Pilot Cross-sectional Comparator Study

The Need for Standardization of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Performance Evaluation: An Opinion by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group on Continuous Glucose Monitoring.

Metrics derived from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems are often discordant between systems. A major cause is that CGM systems are not standardized; they use various algorithms and calibration methods, leading to discordant CGM readings across systems. This discordance can be addressed by standardizing CGM performance assessments: If manufacturers aim their CGM systems at the same target, then CGM readings will align across systems. This standardization should include the comparator device, sample origin, and study procedures. With better aligned CGM readings, CGM-derived metrics will subsequently also align better between systems.