Intermediate Variable Research Articles

Parameter learning of multi‐input multi‐output Hammerstein system with measurement noises utilizing combined signals

SummaryIn this article, the parameter learning scheme for the multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) Hammerstein nonlinear systems under measurement noises is studied, which is derived by exploiting the correlation analysis and data filtering technique. The coupled MIMO Hammerstein system presented involves a static nonlinear subsystem modeled by neural fuzzy model (NFM), and a dynamic linear subsystem established by autoregressive moving average with extra input (ARMAX) model. To learn the unknown parameter of the MIMO Hammerstein system, the combined signals are designed to realize that identification of the nonlinear subsystem is separated from that of linear subsystem. First, the correlation properties of separable signals in a nonlinear system are analyzed, then the parameters of the linear subsystem are estimated utilizing correlation analysis, which can deal with the issue of unmeasured intermediate variable in the Hammerstein system. Second, the data filtering technique is introduced to derive the data filtering‐based recursive least squares technique for learning the nonlinear subsystem parameter, which can reduce the impact of the moving average noise and improve the precision of parameter estimation. Finally, the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed identification scheme is proved by numerical simulation and nonlinear pH process.

Dynamic event‐triggered fault estimation and accommodation for networked systems based on intermediate variable

AbstractIn this paper, the problem of robust fault estimation and fault‐tolerant control is considered for networked systems with external disturbances. By introducing an intermediate variable containing the system state information and fault information, the observer to accurately estimate the fault and system state is proposed. The gain matrices of fault estimation observer, fault‐tolerant controller and dynamic event‐triggered mechanism(ETM) are calculated simultaneously by solving a convex optimization problem. Compared with the existing results, the proposed fault estimation strategy does not match observer matching conditions. Furthermore, the introduction of dynamic ETM can effectively reduce the burden of the network with limited bandwidth resources. Finally, two simulation examples show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Assessment of monthly runoff simulations based on a physics-informed machine learning framework: The effect of intermediate variables in its construction

Hydrological forecasting is of great importance for water resources management and planning, especially given the increasing occurrence of extreme events such as floods and droughts. The physics-informed machine learning (PIML) models effectively integrate conceptual hydrologic models with machine learning (ML) models. In this process, the intermediate variables of PIML models serve as bridges between inputs and outputs, while the impact of intermediate variables on the performance of PIML models remains unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, this study aims to encompass the construction of PIML models based on various hydrologic models, conduct comparative analyses of different intermediate variables based on a case study of 205 CAMELS basins, and further explore the relationship between the performance of PIML models and catchment characteristics. The optimal ML model for constructing PIML is first selected among four ML models within the 205 basins. The PIML models are then developed based on five monthly water balance models, namely TM, XM, MEP, SLM, and TVGM. To quantify the potential impact of difference in intermediate variables, two sets of experiments are further designed and performed, namely S1 with actual evapotranspiration as the intermediate variable and S2 with soil moisture as the intermediate variable. Results show that five PIML models generally outperformed the optimal standalone ML models, i.e., the Lasso model. Specifically, regardless of the choice of intermediate variables, the PIML-XM model consistently outperformed the other models within the same basins. Almost all constructed PIML models are affected by the intermediate variables in monthly runoff simulations. Typically, S1 exhibited better performance compared to S2. A greater impact of aridity index, forest fraction, and catchment area on model performance is observed in S2. These findings improve our understanding of constructing PIML models in hydrology by emphasizing their excellent performance in runoff simulations and highlighting the importance of intermediate variables.

Investigating factors influencing poverty with financial literacy and inclusion as mediating variable

Abstract This study looked at how financial inclusion and literacy, as a mediation variable, affected the relationship between education, employment, and e-commerce and poverty in Indonesia. Reflective indicators and factor schemes were used in the analysis, which employed the Partial Least Square (PLS) method of structural equation modeling (SEM). Four significant indicators relate to education, two to employment, two to e-commerce, six to poverty, and two to financial inclusion and literacy. The findings indicated that employment and education had a significant negative impact on poverty. On the other hand, e-commerce, financial literacy, and inclusion factors have a positive and significant effects on poverty. Financial literacy and inclusion are not considerably influenced by education, but employment has a significant negative impact on these factors. E-commerce also has a negative impact on these factors.

Exploring the factors influencing brand loyalty for the online food ordering sector in Vietnam

This study aims to assess the impact of social media advertising and e-brand experiences. Specifically, it examines how e-brand satisfaction and trust, acting as mediator variables, influence e-brand loyalty among online food customers in Vietnam. The research uses a quantitative method, collecting data from 469 valid responses via a survey questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using statistical tools such as Cronbach's alpha, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through SPSS and AMOS software. The results show that e-brand experience, satisfaction, and trust are essential for developing and sustaining long-term relationships. Consequently, managers should focus on integrated activities to enhance consumer experience and satisfaction.

Causal definitions versus casual estimation: Reply to Valente et al. (2022).

In this response to Valente et al. (2022), I am discussing the plausibility and applicability of the proposed mediation model and its causal effects estimation for single case experimental designs (SCEDs). I will focus on the underlying assumptions that the authors use to identify the causal effects. These assumptions include the particularly problematic assumption of sequential ignorability or no-unmeasured confounders. First, I will discuss the plausibility of the assumption in general and then particularly for SCEDs by providing an analytic argument and a reanalysis of the empirical example in Valente et al. (2022). Second, I will provide a simulation that reproduces the design by Valente et al. (2022) with the exception that, for a more realistic depiction of empirical data, an unmeasured confounder affects the mediator and outcome variables. The results of this simulation study indicate that even minor violations will lead to Type I error rates up to 100% and coverage rates as low as 0% for the defined causal direct and indirect effects. Third, using historical data on the effect of birth control on stork population and birth rates, I will show that mediation models like the proposed method can lead to surprising artifacts. These artifacts can hardly be identified with statistically means including methods such as sensitivity analyses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The effect of motivation and self-efficacy on academic performance with burnout as a mediation variable

The effect of motivation and self-efficacy on academic performance with burnout as a mediation variable

The effect of workload and work ambiguity on burnout with work stress as a mediation variable

The effect of workload and work ambiguity on burnout with work stress as a mediation variable

Systematic Literature Review: The Role of Innovation and Competitive Advantage of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises as Mediation Variables

Systematic Literature Review (SLR), which focuses on the role of innovation and competitive advantage as mediators of various factors on the performance of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), is still relatively rare. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the factors that affect competitive advantage and the role of innovation mediation and competitive advantage in influencing MSMEs performance. This study utilized Google Scholar as a database. Of 500 studies, 400 were excluded according to the title and abstract, and 100 were screened for eligibility, resulting in 41 studies included for review. This study showed that there were 45 factors that affected competitive advantage and 15 factors that affected sustainable competitive advantage. This study also found that innovation variables, including marketing innovation, innovation, green innovation, and corporate open innovation, mediated various factors influencing competitive and sustainable competitive advantages. Also, competitive advantage was able to mediate the relationship between several factors that affected the performance of MSMEs. These findings provided a reference for future research to analyze innovation as a mediating variable for the relationship of various factors to competitive advantage. This finding also provides information that for MSMEs to survive in globalization, they should have a competitive advantage to be competitive. Thus, the factors in this study can be used to strengthen the competitive advantage of MSMEs and improve their performance.

The impact of self-determination theory: the moderating functions of social media (SM) use in education and affective learning engagement

This study attempts to explore the relationship between the two mediator variables effective learning engagement and educational social media (SM) usage and the study’s outcome measures, which include student satisfaction and learning performance. The distribution of a self-determination theory questionnaire with external factors to 293 university students served as the primary data collection method. King Saud University used a poll to personally collect data. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was then used to examine the data and assess the model in Smart-PLS. Students’ academic success and contentment at colleges and universities seem to be positively correlated, and their active involvement in learning activities and educational use of SM. It was shown that important factors influencing affective learning participation and the instructional use of SM for teaching and learning include perceived competence, perceived autonomy, perceived relatedness, information sharing, and collaborative learning environments. It was discovered that these connections were important. The self-determination theory provided confirmation that this model is appropriate for fostering students’ feelings of competence, autonomy, and relatedness in order to increase their affective learning involvement. This, in turn, improves students’ satisfaction and achievement in higher education.

Influence of Social Media Short Video Marketing on Consumer Brand Attitude

More and more people favor short videos due to their short duration, high entertainment value, ease of production and sharing, increased network speed, and coverage of mobile terminals. Short video marketing has become the primary marketing tool for businesses owning to their strong interaction, high promotion efficiency, low cost of marketing, and positive user experience. In this context, optimizing the effectiveness of short videos for marketing has gained a lot of attention. Specifically, this study examined the influence of social media short video marketing on consumer brand attitude. This study employed three independent variables, one intermediate variable, and one dependent variable, totaling five variables. The three aspects of short video marketing—interesting content, scenario-based experiences, and user participation were also assessed. The dependent variable is brand attitude, while the mediator is brand perception. 385 people who used short videos from Beijing participated in this study. After analyzing with SPSS, the study revealed that interesting content, scene-based experiences, user participation, and interaction positively affect brand attitude. Likewise, brand perception acts as an intermediary between short video marketing and brand attitude.

Influence Of Brand Image And Customer Trust On Customer Loyalty Through Customer Satisfaction With Gender As A Moderation Variable

This study aims to investigate the impact of brand image and customer trust on customer loyalty, mediated via customer satisfaction. Gender is employed as an independent variable to mitigate the impact of brand image and customer trust variables on customer loyalty. This study utilized data from 250 respondents who completed a questionnaire issued to BSI customers in the Malang Raya area. Purposive sampling and proportional random sampling are two distinct methods used for sampling. A proportional random sampling method was employed to ensure that the percentage of respondents from Malang City, Malang Regency, and Batu City was maintained. The research used the Structural Equation Modeling - Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) approach. These data indicate that brand image and customer satisfaction substantially impact customer loyalty. However, customer trust does not have a significant effect on customer loyalty. Moreover, the brand's image and the level of consumer trust notably impact customer satisfaction. The findings of this study indicate that customer satisfaction serves as an intermediary variable that influences brand image and consumer trust, ultimately affecting customer loyalty. In addition, gender cannot reduce the impact of brand image and customer trust.

ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AS AN ANTECEDENT TO THE RAPID INTERNATIONALIZATION OF MOROCCAN SMES IN THE WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP FIELD

Purpose – This article aims to explore the importance of the international entrepreneurial orientation (IOE) of Moroccan women entrepreneurs (based on innovation, risk-taking and proactivity) in the speed of internationalization of Moroccan SMEs through the niche strategy as an intermediate variable. Research methodology – We adopted a quantitative study on a sample of 45 Moroccan SMEs to test the research hypotheses using the structural equation method, under Smart-PLS software. Findings – A significant relationship between the international entrepreneurial orientation of Moroccan women entrepreneurs and the speed of internationalization with the intermediation of the niche strategy. Despite well-calculated steps, innovative products and the courage to take risks on foreign markets, women entrepreneurs tend to adopt niche strategies to be more protected in the internationalization process: both to avoid direct competition from large companies and to speed up the internationalization process Research. Limitations – Theoretically, it was difficult to operationalize the phenomenon studied, for several reasons: the large number of movements in this approach, the number of variables mobilized. Methodologically, the criteria used to select the sample made it difficult to find more than 45 eligible companies (Exploratory quantitative study). Originality/Value – This article is one of the very few to combine international and women’s entrepreneurship. Furthermore, this is the first article in the field of women’s international entrepreneurship, as far as I know, that addresses the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and the speed of internationalization of exporting SMEs.

The roles of word of mouth, religiosity and behavioral control toward halal cosmetics’ purchase intention: attitude as mediation

PurposeThis study aims at discovering the antecedent of halal cosmetics’ purchase intention by conducting development on planned behavioral theory through adding the constructs of word of mouth and religiosity. Attitude plays the role as mediation variable which correlates word of mouth and religiosity toward purchase intention and mediation variable between religiosity and halal cosmetics’ purchase intention.Design/methodology/approachThe sample of this study was 196 Muslim women living in Indonesia. This research was conducted using online survey via google form. The collected data were analyzed using partial least square.FindingsBased on the research findings, word of mouth did not directly influence halal cosmetics’ purchase intention. Religiosity variable also did not directly influence halal cosmetics’ purchase intention. Attitude played the role as the mediation between word of mouth and halal cosmetics’ purchase intention. Attitude was also able to become the mediation between religiosity and halal cosmetics’ purchase intention. Behavioral control and attitude directly influenced halal cosmetics’ purchase intention.Practical implicationsThis research findings supported business owners to make sure the cosmetics’ safety for the sake of the users. Halal label is a guarantee that the cosmetics’ process has been through the raw materials selection, the standardized product processing and also the hygienic distribution process.Originality/valueThe literature development of halal products, especially cosmetics, is pretty much needed, as cosmetics users tend to increase throughout the world. Business owners can elevate halal cosmetics’ position through users’ recommendation to increase the economic potential value of halal cosmetics.

Integration of Financial and ESG Performance Indicators to Measure and Evaluate Egyptian Insurance Companies Performance

This study aims to evaluate the performance of Egyptian insurance companies through the integration of financial and non-financial performance indicators through the dimensions of sustainable development as a mediator variable. The study relied on Allianz Egypt property and liability insurance company data from 2012 to 2021, and the Monte Carlo simulation method was used based on the Mathcad program. This study used structural Equations Modeling via AMOS program to extract the direct and indirect effect through path analysis. The results showed that each environmental dimension, social dimension, and governance dimension plays a mediator role in the relationship between solvency, liquidity, credit, activity, underwriting profitability, and both market share and investment profitability. Our research contributes to the literature of achieving sustainable development in the insurance sector, to keep pace with global developments. This paper presents evidence of the relationship between integrating ESG indicators into insurance companies’ performance and achieving an additional competitive advantage.

The Impact of Organizational Change on Organizational Commitment and The Mediation Effect of Job Security, Trust and Justice in Pharmaceutical Industry in Indonesia

This research aims to determine the impact of organizational change on organizational commitment and the mediating effect of Job Security, Trust and Justice in pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia. Research was conducted among employees from four (4) different pharmaceutical companies in Jakarta, Indonesia. The sampling technique is based on probability sampling and data collection method used in this research was using questionnaire with total sampel obtained was 108. The research design used is descriptive quantitative research. The data analysis technique uses structural equation modeling-partial least square. The result showed that organizational change has insignificant direct positive impact on organizational commitment, Job Security does not mediate the impact of organizational change to organizational commitment, organizational change has indirect significant impact on organizational commitment through mediator variables Trust and Justice. Trust and Justice fully mediate the effect of organizational change to organizational commitment. Based on the result of the study, it was suggested that pharmaceutical companies to put more emphasis on trust & justice and achieve higher level of trust and justice during organizational change process to increase employee’s commitment.

The Application of Digitalization Skills of Business Actors Mediates The Impact of Business on MSME Performance

The Application of Digitalization Skills of Business Actors Mediates The Impact of Business on MSME Performance

Mental Preparedness of Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study on the Training of Thai National Team for the 19th Asian Games

This research aimed to study and establish the mental preparedness model of Thai athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic in preparation for the 19th Asian Games. This study employed a mixed methods approach, involving 409 participants (217 males and 192 females) selected through a lottery system, ensuring equitable representation across the 19 types of sports. Additionally, six participants were included for qualitative data gathering. The research designed a comprehensive questionnaire to collect data, which included the Sports Stress Management Skills in Thai Questionnaire, Questionnaire on Mental Readiness for Competition, 'Motivation to Participate in Sports Activities in Thai' Questionnaire, Self-Confidence Questionnaire, Mental Toughness Questionnaire in Thai, and the Mindfulness in Sports Questionnaire in Thai Version. Data was collected using a traditional questionnaire and an online questionnaire accessed via QR codes. Structural Equation Modeling was employed for data analysis. Qualitative data were gathered through interviews. The study's results revealed the development of a mental preparation model for Thai national team athletes during the COVID-19 outbreak. This model emphasizes the significance of mindfulness as a crucial factor directly influencing psychological readiness. Furthermore, mindfulness exerts an indirect influence through four intermediary variables: motivation, stress management skills, confidence, and mental toughness. Significantly, qualitative data highlighted adaptive mental resilience and mindfulness as key factors in fostering mental readiness among athletes, especially during challenging periods like the COVID-19 outbreak. These factors encompass effective stress management, balanced motivation, self-confidence, professional guidance, adaptive mindset, support systems, and long-term planning. This model integrates various elements of mental preparation, with mindfulness positioned as the central pillar.

The Influence of Content Marketing on Customer Engagement with Social Media Marketing Mediating Variables at the Idaman Hati Inpatient Clinic, Malang

This research aims to determine the effect of content marketing on customer engagement with the mediating variable of social media marketing. This type of research is explanatory research which explains the causal relationship between variables through hypothesis testing. This study used a sample of 193 patients who had visited more than twice in 2023 at inpatient clinic, Malang. Data analysis uses path analysis. From the results of testing the four hypotheses, it can be concluded that content marketing has a significant effect on customer engagement. Content marketing has a significant influence on social media marketing. Social media marketing has a significant effect on customer engagement. Content marketing has a significant effect on customer engagement mediated by social media marketing.

The dynamic interactive influence of community identity, being accepted by others, and life satisfaction among relocated residents for poverty alleviation in China

In China, the ultimate goal of the relocation for poverty alleviation (RPA) policy is to ensure that the relocated poor smoothly relocate, stably resettle, and become wealthier. With the completion of smooth relocation, the next crucial task is to guarantee that residents relocated for poverty alleviation (RRPA) maintain stability. Given that RRPA's life satisfaction affects their willingness and behavior to stabilize their placement. This study aims to explore whether being accepted by others and community identity are related to RRPA life satisfaction, and whether these three variables have a mutual impact over time. Based on the social identity and need to belong theories, a model of the interactive influence of being acceptance accepted by others, community identity, and life satisfaction was constructed. Using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM), 383 RRPA datasets were analyzed. The results showed that being accepted by others significantly predicted life satisfaction for RRPA. Being accepted by others and community identity, as well as community identity and life satisfaction, can predict each other on cross-lagged paths. This suggests that resorting to community identity as an intermediate variable, being accepted by others and life satisfaction may form a virtuous cycle over time.