Product Knowledge Research Articles

The Sandwich Generation and Cryptocurrencies: Trust, Product Knowledge and Reference Group as Triggers of Investment Intention

The rise and evolution of Cryptocurrency has been continuous since the launch of Bitcoin in 2009. However, Cryptocurrency as an investment instrument has not been able to attract the attention of young people. Moreover, the legal basis of trading involving Cryptocurrencies still has the potential to change, thus there could be concerns over the legality of Crypto assets as an investment medium. This research seeks to prove the effectiveness of several predictors such as trust, product knowledge and reference groups in shaping the intention to invest in Cryptocurrency. The result is that among the 3 constructs used in the measurement, only the Product Knowledge construct has a significant impact on the formation of intention to invest in Cryptocurrency

A semantic framework for condition monitoring in Industry 4.0 based on evolving knowledge bases

In Industry 4.0, factory assets and machines are equipped with sensors that collect data for effective condition monitoring. This is a difficult task since it requires the integration and processing of heterogeneous data from different sources, with different temporal resolutions and underlying meanings. Ontologies have emerged as a pertinent method to deal with data integration and to represent manufacturing knowledge in a machine-interpretable way through the construction of semantic models. Ontologies are used to structure knowledge in knowledge bases, which also contain instances and information about these data. Thus, a knowledge base provides a sort of virtual representation of the different elements involved in a manufacturing process. Moreover, the monitoring of industrial processes depends on the dynamic context of their execution. Under these circumstances, the semantic model must provide a way to represent this evolution in order to represent in which situation(s) a resource is in during the execution of its tasks to support decision making. This paper proposes a semantic framework to address the evolution of knowledge bases for condition monitoring in Industry 4.0. To this end, firstly we propose a semantic model (the COInd4 ontology) for the manufacturing domain that represents the resources and processes that are part of a factory, with special emphasis on the context of these resources and processes. Relevant situations that combine sensor observations with domain knowledge are also represented in the model. Secondly, an approach that uses stream reasoning to detect these situations that lead to potential failures is introduced. This approach enriches data collected from sensors with contextual information using the proposed semantic model. The use of stream reasoning facilitates the integration of data from different data sources, different temporal resolutions as well as the processing of these data in real time. This allows to derive high-level situations from lower-level context and sensor information. Detecting situations can trigger actions to adapt the process behavior, and in turn, this change in behavior can lead to the generation of new contexts leading to new situations. These situations can have different levels of severity, and can be nested in different ways. Dealing with the rich relations among situations requires an efficient approach to organize them. Therefore, we propose a method to build a lattice, ordering those situations depending on the constraints they rely on. This lattice represents a road-map of all the situations that can be reached from a given one, normal or abnormal. This helps in decision support, by allowing the identification of the actions that can be taken to correct the abnormality avoiding in this way the interruption of the manufacturing processes. Finally, an industrial application scenario for the proposed approach is described.

Measuring productive derivative knowledge of vietnamese EFL learners: The role of headword scoring, vocabulary breadth, and headword familiarity

A growing body of research has attempted to measure learners' productive derivative knowledge over the past few years. However, it remains unclear whether the exclusion of headwords in the scoring method would have any impact on derivative production. Moreover, the role of learners' vocabulary breadth has yet to be investigated with their headword familiarity. The present study thus filled in these gaps by exploring the extent to which Vietnamese EFL learners (N = 73) produced the derivatives of 90 headwords in a decontextualized form-recall test. The participants' scores were later examined in light of their vocabulary receptive knowledge (i.e., scores on the updated vocabulary levels test) and headword familiarity (i.e., knowledge of the form-meaning connections of headwords) using linear mixed-effects models. The results revealed that the learners could produce on average about one-fourth of the target derivatives, and those who mastered higher vocabulary levels produced more derived forms. However, their derivative-test performance in all examined word-frequency levels (1000–5000) differed significantly when headwords were scored and not scored. Furthermore, headword familiarity was a strong predictor of learners' production of derivatives, especially for those at higher vocabulary levels. Implications for researching derivatives and expanding L2 learners’ productive derivative knowledge are discussed.

Predicting Eco-labeled Product Buying Behavior in an Emerging Economy through an Extension of Theory of Planned Behavior

Purpose: This research attempts to explore the determinants of eco-labeled product buying behavior by extending the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Theoretical framework: To build a comprehensive predicting model, environmental knowledge, perceived value, environmental concern, product knowledge, self-efficacy, consumer guilt, and eco-labeling are added to the traditional TPB. Method: The proposed conceptual model was tested by conducting a questionnaire survey on consumers in an emerging economy. The partial least square-based structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Results and conclusion: The results showed that product knowledge moderates the relationship between subjective norms and eco-labeled product buying intention. The results also reveal that attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm mediate the association between environmental concern and eco-labeled product buying intention. In addition to TPB constructs, consumer guilt, eco-labeling, perceived value, self-efficacy, and environmental knowledge significantly affect buying intention. Originality/value: The current research addresses the research gap by empirically examining the in-depth effects, and the underlying mechanism of eco-label informed green purchase and its acceptance in Malaysian perspectives.

Factors Influencing Purchase Intention toward Recycled Apparel: Evidence from China

This study aimed to develop a conceptual framework that integrates both consumer-specific and product-specific factors, with a particular focus on consumer value perceptions regarding recycled apparel and their impact on consumer attitudes and purchase intention. The framework combines the Perceived Consumer Value (PCV) with the Knowledge–Attitude–Behavior (KAB) model. To validate the proposed conceptual framework, an online survey was conducted with a purposive sample of 716 participants in China. Using structural equation modeling, the hypotheses of the conceptual model were tested. This study identified four dimensions of perceived value and environmental knowledge as significant factors that positively influenced customers’ attitudes toward purchasing recycled apparel. Notably, it was found that perceived quality value had a more pronounced effect on purchase intention than other factors. Interestingly, product knowledge did not demonstrate a significant impact on attitudes. By exploring this under-researched topic, this study provides new insights into consumer behavior in the context of sustainable fashion in a non-Western context.

The purchase intention of Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract in Malaysia: perception of Muslim consumers

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate a distinct set of characteristics that influence Muslim customers’ intentions to purchase Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe study studied the impact of perceived value, perceived quality, perceived financial advantages, religious commitment and product knowledge on the purchase intention Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract using a quantitative research approach. A Google Form-based online survey was created and distributed through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, among others. The survey data were analysed using structural equation modelling with a partial-least-square estimation property (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe study results suggested that Muslim customers in Malaysia had a greater propensity to buy Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract. Analysis of the data revealed that perceived value, perceived quality, perceived financial benefits and religious commitment had direct effects on the desire to buy Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract in Malaysia. In addition, the results reveal that religious commitment, perceived quality and perceived financial benefit are the top three important factors in explaining Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract buying intentions in this country.Practical implicationsMuslim customers may use Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract as a short-term credit alternative to enhance their financial standing. Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract generates a substantial quantity of credit demand and supply, which not only allows Muslim customers to adhere to Islamic standards but also contributes to the expansion of the economy. The result would aid and advise Ar-Rahnu finance resources and legislators in measuring the efficacy of the program in Malaysia, especially among Muslim customers.Originality/valueAr-Rahnu Islamic financing contract as a financing alternative has been explored extensively, but this study takes a whole new approach to the subject by looking at dimensions of perceived value, perceived quality and perceived financial benefit along with individual product knowledge and religious commitment. Consequently, this study will contribute to the understanding of how Muslim customers will respond to the Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract and will assist financial institutions in increasing the possibility that Muslim consumers would acquire Ar-Rahnu Islamic financing contract.

Application of tiered human health and environmental risk assessment to develop safe and sustainable by design perovskite-based devices

Metal halide perovskite materials have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential energy and lighting applications. They are potentially vital materials for the current energy transition which aims to minimize the dependence on fossil fuels and limited land resources by the increased use of cost-effective and efficient renewable energy sources. The European Green Deal policy, which sets out its ambitions in the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, can help its transition to a Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) development. In this context, we applied the SSbD approach to selected perovskite-based devices which are still in their development state, by assessing potential human health and environmental risks along their life cycle. We applied the SSbD approach in a tiered manner so that it aligns with successive Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) to help the innovators ensuring safety and sustainability aspects throughout the various stages of their product development. Thus, the SSbD assessment began right from the start of the development (TRL 1–2), when there can be (huge) gaps and uncertainty in the product knowledge, up to the later stages of higher TRL when the product knowledge is more abundant and certain. In our assessment, we mainly focused on the human health risk of the perovskite-based devices and considered the implications of environmental emissions of hazardous substances on the human health. We further bring attention to the alternatives which could help mitigate concerns over their safety and sustainability for a responsible technology development and deployment. Results of this study are important to understand the detailed sustainability assessment in which we look at multiple sustainability aspects and its potential future impacts due to technology scale-up in the future.

Analysis of Islamic financial literacy and demographics on saving decisions in Islamic banks

When the level of Islamic financial literacy in society is high, it will lead to the growth of development financing, this is based on public awareness to save and invest in Islamic financial institutions. Apart from the Islamic financial literacy factor, demographic factors include age, gender, income, and education level. This research uses a mixed-method approach: quantitative methods in bibliometric studies and qualitative methods in literature review studies. The object of research is Islamic financial literacy and demographics. The type of data used is secondary data. The scope of the data used is research journal articles on Islamic Financial Literacy and Demographics on Saving Decisions in Islamic Banks. In 2023, Islamic financial literacy showed significant progress, the highest level in the last five years. Wibowo (2023) reported that of 1800 respondents, 65% had sufficient knowledge of Islamic financial products. Financial literacy programs supported by the government, an increase in the number of Islamic financial institutions, and the development of Islamic financial technology are the main drivers of this progress. The increase in Islamic financial literacy from 2019 to 2023 shows a positive development in public acceptance and understanding of the Islamic financial system. This directly impacts the increase in saving decisions in Islamic banks. The research results from 2019 to 2023 show that demographic factors such as age, gender, education level, income, and marital status significantly influence the decision to save in Islamic banks.

Advancing human–robot collaboration in handcrafted manufacturing: cobot-assisted polishing design boosted by virtual reality and human-in-the-loop

Industry 5.0 envisions a future where seamless collaboration between humans and robots enhances efficiency, innovation, and coevolution. While collaborative robots have found widespread applications in manufacturing, particularly in tasks like pick-and-place and assembly, their integration into handcrafted manufacturing processes presents unique challenges. This article focuses on advancing technology in the less-explored field of cobot-assisted handcrafted manufacturing, specifically in the fashion industry, with a priority on reducing work-related risks. In handcrafted processes, which often involve intricate and artistic work, cobots face challenges related to nuanced decision-making, adaptability to customizations, and the need for precise manual dexterity. The study delves into the cobot-assisted polishing of leather shoes, addressing issues associated with product delicacy, process and knowledge formalization, versatility, and integration into existing manufacturing processes. To overcome these challenges, the research proposes the application of cobots in the initial polishing phase, which is the most physically demanding, allowing artisans to focus on finalization, quality control, and process supervision. The study also applies the concept of human-in-the-loop (HITL) and virtual reality simulation to optimize collaboration, ensuring safety, ergonomics, and efficiency. The article contributes to the scientific and industrial communities by pioneering the study of collaborative robotics in craftsmanship, successfully implementing human–robot collaboration (HRC) in an industrial setting, demonstrating the effectiveness of virtual simulation and HITL, and prioritizing human factors throughout the design and development of HRC. The insights gained from this research are crucial for achieving practical solutions in industrial environments while aligning with the performance objectives of companies and workers’ well-being.

THE IMPACT OF ATTITUDE AND SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ON GREEN PURCHASE INTENTIONS: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GREEN PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between attitudes, social marketing media, green product knowledge, and green purchase intentions in the context of bottled mineral water consumption. Specifically, the objectives are to assess how consumer attitudes influence green product knowledge, how social marketing media impacts consumer knowledge, and how these factors collectively affect green purchase intentions. Methods: The study focused on people in the Bandung, West Java, area who buy and drink bottled mineral water. Questionnaires were sent both offline and online as part of the data collection process. The SmartPLS tool was used to analyze the gathered data, enabling a thorough investigation of the correlations between the variables under investigation. Results: The results showed that customer attitudes toward green products were positively correlated with improved knowledge about green products, which in turn led to a stronger propensity to buy green products—bottled mineral water, in particular. Additionally, the research showed that social media marketing is a major factor in raising consumer awareness of green bottled mineral water goods, which in turn influences consumers to choose ecologically friendly options when making purchases. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights for companies seeking to promote and increase the sales of green products, particularly bottled mineral water. By understanding and leveraging consumer attitudes and implementing effective social media marketing strategies, companies can not only enhance consumer knowledge but also stimulate their interest and propensity to purchase green products. These findings highlight the importance of aligning marketing efforts with consumer preferences and environmental concerns in today's competitive marketplace.

Developing a National Longitudinal Tobacco Cohort of Youth and Young Adults: The Tobacco Epidemic Evaluation Network (TEEN+) Study.

Timely and relevant data are critical to monitoring the rapidly changing youth vaping epidemic and for understanding the prevalence, patterns of use, knowledge, and perceptions of tobacco products. While e-cigarettes have been the most used tobacco product among youth for nearly a decade, new nicotine delivery products continue to be introduced to the US market. Flavored tobacco products, including flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, and flavored cigars, drive disparities in use by young people. To examine tobacco use among youth and young adults, the Monitoring E-Cigarette Use among Youth project established a longitudinal cohort of youth and young adults (13-24)-the Tobacco Epidemic Evaluation Network (TEEN+) study. TEEN+ focuses on e-cigarette and other tobacco products use and also includes questions about other substance use (eg, marijuana, alcohol), physical health, mental health, and social determinants of health (eg, discrimination, poverty, sexual and gender identity). Geocoding of responses allows for the evaluation of local tobacco control policies. The cohort includes an oversample of California residents to generate reliable and representative state-level estimates. This manuscript provides an overview of methods and baseline demographics from Wave 1. The initial Wave 1 TEEN+ cohort included 10 255 in the national sample and 2761 in the California sample. TEEN+ study data complement nationally-representative cross-sectional studies and allow for rapid evaluation of local and state policies. This manuscript describes the study's probability-based sample recruitment. Furthermore, we identify this initiative as a resource for evaluating the impact of flavored tobacco restriction policies and informing policy implementation efforts. This manuscript provides an overview of the methodology and baseline characteristics for a new longitudinal cohort of youth and young adults, the Tobacco Epidemic Evaluation Network (TEEN+) study. The TEEN+ study data can be used to evaluate the impact of flavored tobacco product restriction policies and informing policy implementation efforts.

The Principles that Constitute System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and the Practices for Applying them at Field Level

That the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was developed inductively, from observations and experimentation without hypotheses or a priori assumptions, has been both a strength and a weakness for this agro ecological innovation. On the plus side, Henri de Laulanie’s empirical construction of SRI in Madagascar some four decades ago is benefiting tens of millions of rice producing households in over 60 countries now. Further, it produced important new knowledge for rice production, some of it counter intuitive.1 For example, Laulanie established through observation and in field experimentation with farmers.

The Undisciplined Campus Forms of Université Cheikh Anta Diop

ABSTRACT This article explores representations and lived experience of the Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), the largest public university in Senegal. While UCAD houses “disciplined” knowledges grounded in ideas of national development, this landmark institution also yields multidirectional forms of knowledge and solidarity located in student-led work and cultural production. Our analysis discusses the symbolic significance on campus of Cheikh Anta Diop, after whom the university was renamed in 1986. His body of work incarnates a fundamentally decolonial and pan-African vision, in the sense of an Africa liberated from colonial tutelage and carried forth by a young generation. In Dakar, this perspective is materialised through visual, musical and intellectual homages on campus. Yet his published writing remains marginal within the academic curriculum. The second part of the article discusses narrative representations of the university that further complicate the campus space and its Diopian promise of Afrofuturity. Infrastructural abjection, conservative societal values and gendered inequalities find expression through Mohamed Mbougar Sarr’s novel De purs hommes and through films produced by the student-led Ciné-UCAD collective. Our emphasis is on expressive creativity and entangled temporalities that rub up against institutional strategies, surging into their pressure points, and questioning anew higher education’s social role.

A Socioecological Perspective to Understand Perceived Risks and Benefits of Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Towards the Promotion of Combination HIV Prevention Strategies

ABSTRACT HIV incidence rates remain disproportionately high among adolescent girls and young women in Sub-Saharan Africa, where women are 5–7 times more likely to become HIV-infected than their male peers. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a first-generation licenced biomedical innovation, can benefit populations at substantial risk of HIV acquisition, with options for independent product use for women in vulnerable situations. However, adoption of new product innovations bears several complexities with limited product knowledge, product confidence and low perceptions of risk. This study utilizes a socioecological perspective to explore perceptions of HIV risk and perceived barriers or benefits of oral PrEP with a sample of adolescent girls and young women and young men in rural KwaZulu-Natal. A theory-driven data-informed analysis utilizing the Health Belief Model and participatory research was used to engage with both men and women from HIV high-burden districts. The study identified various levels of risk using the socioecological perspective and found a specific association among women of PrEP as assurance of lower risk of HIV infection, whereas men perceived PrEP as insurance for risky behaviour. Revisiting perceptions of risk in terms of risk profiles should be ongoing and this study highlights that strategic health communication is needed to increase understanding of HIV risk in order to promote PrEP as part of HIV combination prevention for those willing to adopt new health innovations.

237 Empowering Youth in Mental Health Treatment: A Co-Designed Approach to Measurement-Based Care

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This integrated knowledgetranslationproject aims to increase youth engagement in mental health services through enhancing shared decision-making processes. To do this, a knowledge product to support greater involvement in measurement-based care practices will be evaluated and co-developed with youth study participants. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This study population includes youth (aged 12-25) with lived/living experience of accessing mental health services through an integrated service delivery model in Ontario. Study methods focus on co-designing a knowledge product with youth partners guided by the Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) Framework. The prototype knowledge product addressing identified barriers to MBC understanding, will be quantitatively evaluated by study participants. Through semi-structured focus groups, qualitative perspectives of the intervention’s impact on shared decision-making and overall engagement in treatment will be collected. The study’s design ensures active collaboration with the study population and aims to enhance MBC understanding and engagement in mental health care among youth. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We anticipate increased youth involvement within MBC practices, and overall increased engagement in shared-decision making in treatment. We anticipate the developed knowledge product will enhance youth’s understanding of MBC, foster dialogue between youth and clinicians, and promote active involvement and informed decision-making in their mental health treatment. By involving youth in the co-design process, our project is poised to foster a sense of ownership and relevance, ultimately improving youth engagement, decision-making, and mental health outcomes within integrated mental health services. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Youth deserve to have an active role in shaping treatment decisions. This tool may bridge a gap by equipping youth with the knowledge needed to engage in decisions that are often practitioner-led. This study will discuss the impact and strategies for increasing involvement in MBC practices on youth engagement within treatment.

Persuasive Advertising Cause Sin Goods Consumption by Students in Arab Region

Objective: This investigation aims to determine whether persuasive advertising outweighs health warnings and sin taxes to entice students to purchase unhealthy products in two Arabian cities in the Middle Eastern Region, such as Amman, Jordan, and Dubai, UAE. Method: We first expose the participants to audio-visual advertisements of unhealthy goods before asking them to respond to a structured questionnaire. The SEM result indicates that product knowledge and brand expertise significantly increase consumer knowledge of unhealthy products and lure the students into buying them. Results also support that Impulsive buying and materialistic personality traits exacerbate the unhealthy product buying habits of students. Result: In sum, it implies that mandatory health warnings fail when producers can respond with counterbalancing persuasive advertisements. Surprisingly, perceived sin tax policy intervention does not appear to affect purchasing intent - indicating impulsive buying and materialism among students. The result also allows the government to address budgetary constraints by increasing the sin tax. Conclusion: The findings have ramifications for consumer policy, especially in safeguarding children and students. Health advisories prove ineffective when manufacturers can counter them with promotional campaigns. Additionally, levying additional taxes on such items has proven futile. Frequently, regulations' intended objectives diverge from their actual outcomes, as is evident in this scenario. Industries exhibit adaptability in navigating mandatory health warnings through compelling advertising cues.

The Influence of Health Awareness and Product Knowledge on Intention to Purchase Lemonilo Instant Noodle Products Mediated by Attitude in Pekanbaru City

The Influence of Health Awareness and Product Knowledge on Intention to Purchase Lemonilo Instant Noodle Products Mediated by Attitude in Pekanbaru City

Transferability Analysis of Data-Driven Additive Manufacturing Knowledge: A Case Study Between Powder Bed Fusion and Directed Energy Deposition

Abstract Data-driven research in additive manufacturing (AM) has gained significant success in recent years. This has led to a plethora of scientific literature emerging. The knowledge in these works consists of AM and artificial intelligence (AI) contexts that haven't been mined and formalized in an integrated way. Moreover, no tools or guidelines exist to support data-driven knowledge transfer from one context to another. As a result, data-driven solutions using specific AI techniques are being developed and validated only for specific AM process technologies. There is a potential to exploit the inherent similarities across various AM technologies and adapt the existing solutions from one process or problem to another using AI, such as transfer learning (TL). We propose a three-step knowledge transferability analysis framework in AM to support data-driven AM knowledge transfer. As a prerequisite to transferability analysis, AM knowledge is featured into identified knowledge components. The framework consists of pre-transfer, transfer, and post-transfer steps to accomplish knowledge transfer. A case study is conducted between two flagship metal AM processes: laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and directed energy deposition (DED). The relatively mature LPBF is the source while the less developed DED is the target. We show successful transfer at different levels of the data-driven solution, including data representation, model architecture, and model parameters. The pipeline of AM knowledge transfer can be automated in the future to allow efficient cross-context or cross-process knowledge exchange.

How to increase business opportunities and entrepreneurial capacity of developing universities: Star Model

Higher education institutions (universities) make a significant contribution to the economy and social life of a country. For this reason, the interaction between universities, industry and society is important for countries. Universities need to get rid of the classical university concept and begin to take a role of entrepreneurial universities and transfer the acquired knowledge to industry and society. Thus, an entrepreneurial university can ensure the production of new information and technologies, as well as influence the use of acquired knowledge in production. The next generation of entrepreneurial universities not only need to develop their core competencies, but also have a domino effect on the creation and dissemination of new knowledge. This paper describes the interactions of relevant stakeholders necessary for the effective and efficient use of a country’s resources. These stakeholders are entrepreneurial universities as sources of scientific knowledge; production sector representing business; the government, which develops policies for universities and industry; non-governmental organizations and professional associations that support education and science. Integrating these five key stakeholders creates synergy. The authors developed a model called the Star Model because of its five-tailed shape. The results of the study can be useful to universities, business, government, non-governmental organizations, and professional associations to form interactions and develop policies and strategies for their development and the development of the economy.

Efficiency Assessment on Codified Knowledge Products: An SFA Approach

Knowledge applied to innovation is increasingly recognized as an explanatory factor of economic growth. Innovation derives from applying knowledge to generate new products or processes. National Innovation Systems (NIS) performs as the formal or informal network of people within institutions, interacting to produce and apply knowledge to innovation. NIS can be understood as two subsystems: one based on scientifical and technological work, producing codified products (publications and patents), and the other centered on practical actions to diffuse, apply, and use knowledge. Our objective is to assess cost efficiency in the production of codified knowledge outputs (CKO), being our unit of analysis NIS (countries). To attain our goal, we apply a Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) to estimate a cost frontier of CKO. The sample is a panel that includes 1189 observations, for 23 years (1996-2019), and 82 countries. Our main results identify determinants and patterns of efficiency and productivity, tendencies, and specifics of countries and groups of them.