Abstract
The aim of this research is to investigation and explore the factors that drive the e-governance implementation and affect the government performance further because the government-citizen ...relationship in Syria. In this respect it is important to embrace the e-governance system to decide how effective it can be. There is also query if the previously established IS recognition frameworks can be used to determine the acceptance by Syrian citizens of the e-governance system. The survey issued a total of 600 questionnaires to the citizens of Syria. The research obtained approximately 385 responses, indicating a return rate of 62.83%. In the analysis of the results, Structural equation model (SEM) was used with AMOS version 21.0 to analyse the data. The findings indicate that five core determinants, namely, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, system flexibility, Citizens-Centricity, and facilitating conditions significantly influenced user intention to use E-governance system.
A total of 211 water samples were collected from 53 key sampling points from 5–10th July 2013 at four different depths (0m, 2m, 4m, 8m) and at different sites in the Huaihe River, Anhui, China. These ...points monitored for 18 parameters (water temperature, pH, TN, TP, TOC, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Cd, Mn, B, Fe, Al, Mg, and Ba). The spatial variability, contamination sources and health risk of trace elements as well as the river water quality were investigated. Our results were compared with national (CSEPA) and international (WHO, USEPA) drinking water guidelines, revealing that Zn, Cd and Pb were the dominant pollutants in the water body. Application of different multivariate statistical approaches, including correlation matrix and factor/principal component analysis (FA/PCA), to assess the origins of the elements in the Huaihe River, identified three source types that accounted for 79.31% of the total variance. Anthropogenic activities were considered to contribute much of the Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, and Mn via industrial waste, coal combustion, and vehicle exhaust; Ba, B, Cr and Cu were controlled by mixed anthropogenic and natural sources, and Mg, Fe and Al had natural origins from weathered rocks and crustal materials. Cluster analysis (CA) was used to classify the 53 sample points into three groups of water pollution, high pollution, moderate pollution, and low pollution, reflecting influences from tributaries, power plants and vehicle exhaust, and agricultural activities, respectively. The results of the water quality index (WQI) indicate that water in the Huaihe River is heavily polluted by trace elements, so approximately 96% of the water in the Huaihe River is unsuitable for drinking. A health risk assessment using the hazard quotient and index (HQ/HI) recommended by the USEPA suggests that Co, Cd and Pb in the river could cause non-carcinogenic harm to human health.
Display omitted
•Zn, Cd and Pb were identified as the dominant pollutants in the water body.•Approximately 96% of the waters in the Huaihe River were unsuitable for drinking.•Co, Cd and Pb in the river could pose potential non-carcinogenic effects on human health.
This study provides a new perspective on the effect of social media use in SMEs. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of social media on firm performance with mediating role of ...marketing capabilities in the UK, hotel industry. In this research, a structural equation modelling method has been employed for data analysis. The survey data has been collected by mail survey from a sample of 384 hotels in the UK. Results from the data analysis demonstrate the positive and significant relationship between social media use and firm performance. However, the findings highlighted that marketing capabilities, namely branding and innovation, positively and significantly mediate the association between social media use and firm performance.
•This research proposes a new perspective on the effect of social media in SMEs.•Investigating the effect of social media use on hotel's performance.•Found a positive relationship between social media use and hotels' performance.•Marketing capability mediates the relationship between social media and performance.•Branding and innovation capabilities positively effects on hotels' performance.
The traditional uniform artificial sensory evaluation makes it difficult to standardize the classification of different sensory quality grades of Baijiu. In this study, a total of 92 authentic ...Qingxiangxing Baijiu samples with 3 sensory quality grades were carefully collected. Gas chromatography (GC) was used to determine 46 main flavor components and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy was employed to obtain hydrogen atom characteristic information of organic compounds. The principal component analysis (PCA), k-nearest neighbor (KNN) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) models were conducted and fully validated by internal leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) and external repeated double random cross validation (RDRCV). The sensory quality grades of Qingxiangxing Baijiu were effectively classified by using GC and 1H NMR techniques coupled with PCA/KNN analysis with the averaged accuracy higher than 80%. In addition, synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) algorithm was successfully used to address the model overfitting problem caused by an unbalanced sample composition. This study demonstrated that 1H NMR and GC combined with multivariate statistical analysis were effective for sensory quality classification of Qingxiangxing Baijiu.
•GC and 1H NMR were applied for sensory grade classification of Chinese Baijiu.•The accuracy >80% was achieved for sensory grade classification of Qingxiangxing Baijiu.•SMOTE algorithm was used to address the overfitting problem of PCA/KNN model.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the way customers interact with brands. There is a lack of empirical research into AI-enabled customer experiences. Hence, this study aims to analyse ...how the integration of AI in shopping can lead to an improved AI-enabled customer experience. We propose a theoretical model drawing on the trust-commitment theory and service quality model. An online survey was distributed to customers who have used an AI- enabled service offered by a beauty brand. A total of 434 responses were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling. The findings indicate the significant role of trust and perceived sacrifice as factors mediating the effects of perceived convenience, personalisation and AI-enabled service quality. The findings also reveal the significant effect of relationship commitment on AI-enabled customer experience. This study contributes to the existing literature by revealing the mediating effects of trust and perceived sacrifice and the direct effect of relationship commitment on AI-enabled customer experience. In addition, the study has practical implications for retailers deploying AI in services offered to their customers.
•Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing customer experiences.•The study develops a model drawing on trust-commitment theory and service quality model.•Trust and perceived sacrifice play significant mediating role.•Relationship commitment has a significant effect on AI-enabled customer experience.•Perceived convenience and personalisation play a significant role in AI-enabled experiences.
•This study aims to examine the factors predicting the e-satisfaction and customers’ intention to reuse MFOAs in Jordan.•The conceptual model was proposed based on the extended Unified Theory of ...Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2).•Online tracking, online rating, and online reviewing are also included in the same model.•The results support the significant role of online review, online rating, online tracking, and UTAUT2 factors.
Mobile food ordering apps (MFOAs) have been widely considered in the restaurant sector as innovative channels to reach customers and provide them with high-quality services. However, there are important questions regarding the impact of implementing MFOAs on customer satisfaction and on customers’ intention to reuse such apps. Several studies have examined the outcomes of using MFOAs from the customer’s perspective. The fundamental purpose of this study is to identify and empirically examine the main factors predicting the e-satisfaction with MFOAs and customers’ intention to reuse such apps in Jordan. This research proposes an integrated model based on the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) and the features of MFOAs: online review, online rating, and online tracking. The data was collected from a convenience sample of Jordanian customers who have used MFOAs. The main results are based on structural equation modelling and support the role of online review, online rating, online tracking, performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and price value on e-satisfaction and continued intention to reuse. This study provides a theoretical contribution and presents practical implications relevant to academics and practitioners working in areas related to MFOAs.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic contaminants exhibiting carcinogenic toxicity. They are widespread in the environment, especially in urban areas. Humans are exposed to PAHs via ...inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact. Though much research has investigated their toxicity, little is known regarding the metabolic responses in humans after exposing to PAHs. However, those studies are important since PAHs become carcinogenic after metabolic activation by humans as indirect-acting carcinogens. As such, it is important to study their metabolism in humans based on metabolomics analysis. The goal of metabolomics study is to obtain a comprehensive view of metabolic reactions in humans after exposing to PAHs to better control the underlying metabolisms and reduce their genotoxicity. This article reviewed the biomarkers, analytical techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, big data multivariate statistical analysis, and animal models that have been utilized to better understand the biological effects of PAHs, PAH-derivatives, and their metabolites and biotransformation products on humans.
Display omitted
•Reviewed metabolic activation and biotransformation of PAHs•Focused on metabolomics of PAH exposure and mechanisms of carcinogenesis•Covered associated biomarkers, analytical approaches and data analysis•Human and animal models were also discussed.
Summary
Ecologists and evolutionary biologists rely on an increasingly sophisticated set of statistical tools to describe complex natural systems. One such tool that has gained significant traction ...in the biological sciences is structural equation models (SEM), a form of path analysis that resolves complex multivariate relationships among a suite of interrelated variables.
Evaluation of SEMs has historically relied on covariances among variables, rather than the values of the data points themselves. While this approach permits a wide variety of model forms, it limits the incorporation of detailed specifications. Recent developments have allowed for the simultaneous implementation of non‐normal distributions, random effects and different correlation structures using local estimation, but this process is not yet automated and consequently, evaluation can be prohibitive with complex models.
Here, I present a fully documented, open‐source package piecewiseSEM, a practical implementation of confirmatory path analysis for the r programming language. The package extends this method to all current (generalized) linear, (phylogenetic) least‐square, and mixed effects models, relying on familiar r syntax. I also provide two worked examples: one involving random effects and temporal autocorrelation, and a second involving phylogenetically independent contrasts.
My goal is to provide a user‐friendly and tractable implementation of SEM that also reflects the ecological and methodological processes generating data.
•Green transformational leadership influences green human resource management (GHRM) practices.•Green innovation predicts environmental performance.•Green innovation mediates the influence of GHRM ...practices on environmental performance.
Drawing upon the resource-based view and the ability-motivation-opportunity theory, we examined how green human resource management interplays on to the linkages amongst green transformational leadership, green innovation and environmental performance. Using a survey questionnaire, we collected triadic data from 309 manufacturing sector small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We used covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine hypotheses in this study. Results of the study suggest that green HRM practices mediates the influence of green transformational leadership on green innovation. We also found that green HRM indirectly through green innovation influences firm's environmental performance. Overall, the findings of our study support all hypotheses of direct and indirect effects and have several theoretical and practical implications. Finally, our study significantly advances theory and suggests that HRM-performance relationship neither depends upon the additive effect of green transformational leadership and green innovation as antecedent and mediator, respectively, nor on their interactive effect but a mix of both combinational forms (ie., additive and interactive) to affect firm environmental performance. Overall, our study contributes and advances the previous studies wherein in leadership plays critical role to influence the HRM practices and that in turn to predict green innovation in the organization.
PDF
