Search results

The purpose of the study was to examine the factors affecting eating behavior of adolescents aged 17–19 years, residing in a college hostel and to assess the effectiveness of nutrition education in improving their knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP).

A convenient sampling technique was used to recruit 200 adolescent female participants of age 17–19 years. The obesity and underweight status of the participants were assessed using body mass index (BMI). Diet history was obtained using a 24-h dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. A standard pretested questionnaire was used to analyze the factors affecting the eating behavior of adolescents. A nutrition education program was conducted to improve the KAP of the adolescents. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the improvement in KAP after the education program. Descriptive statistics was used to examine the factors affecting eating behavior. Paired t-test was used to check the effectiveness of the nutrition education program.

The findings of the study indicated that 50.5% of the adolescents were underweight (20%), overweight (12%) and obese (18.5%). The mean nutritional adequacy of the adolescents was 68.1%. Social factor had the highest impact on the eating behavior of adolescents (70.8%), followed by the environmental factor (69.7%). Imparting nutrition education was significant in improving the KAP of adolescents with a p-value < 0.05. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the factors affecting the eating behavior of adolescents and establish corrective measures such as community education intervention programs and awareness programs on healthy eating habits to modify the eating behavior of adolescents.

The dietary intake and the factors influencing eating behavior of the adolescents were assessed considering the transition in the intrapersonal, social and community food environment. The inadquate food intake affected the nutritional status of 50% of the adolescents.The taste, temptation, sight of the food, peer pressure, parental influence and unmindful eating practices majorly influenced the eating behavior of adolescents. Unhealthful eating behavior can increase the risk of chronic diseases during the adolescence and may extend in to adulthood. Hence it is necessary to bring a positive change in the eating behavior of the adolescents through a well planned comprehensive nutrition education program. The findings of the study proved that the knowledge, attitude and behavior of the adolescents could be significantly improved through a well planned nutrition eduation program. Further the study also provide insights to plan and implement community food policies targeted to improve the eating behavior and health status of the adolescents. One of the limitations of the study was, in addition to anthropometric measurements and diet history including biochemical parameters would be a better indicator of nutritional status. The cultural and religious influence on eating behavior would also be studied. In future a study on gender differences on the dietary intake and eating behavior of the adolescents can be conducted.

The study reflects the eating behavior of late adolescents and major factors affecting eating behavior of adolescents residing in college hostel. The findings will add on to the existing knowledge on the factors affecting eating behavior of adolescents. As eating behavior is correlated to the health status of the adolescents understanding the factors affecting eating behavior would help in modifying the eating behavior of late adolescents by implementing appropriate measures and help develop programs and policies that aid in improving the nutritional status. Since nutrition education is effective in improving the KAP of adolescents’ nutrition literacy is imperative in schools and colleges to improve the eating behavior and health status of the adolescents.

The research provides a scientific basis for understanding the factors affecting eating behavior of adolescents and the interaction between personal, social and environmental factors. It also acts as basis to be aware of one’s own eating behavior, modify and model healthy eating behavior. Inappropriate eating behavior in late adolescents can continue into adulthood affecting nutritional status and leading to an increase in the prevalence of diseases and disorders in adulthood. This can affect human potential and capital and thereby economic development. Hence, it is imperative to improve the nutritional status of the adolescents by creating awareness and implementing corrective measures to modify unhealthy eating behavior. The research also supports devising policy and programs regarding the nutritional behavior of adolescents.

Eating behavior is a complex interplay of various factors at multiple levels. The adolescents’ eating behavior correlates directly with their nutritional status. In total, 50.5% of adolescents were malnourished. The nutrient intake of the majority of the adolescents was less than the recommended intake. The mean nutrient adequacy was 68.1%. The quality of the diet was largely affected as they did not include 5–7 food groups in a day. The social factors such as peer group influence and parental influence had the predominant impact on eating behavior followed by environmental factors. The nutrition education program helped improve the nutrition KAP. Hence, it is necessary to create awareness and make policies and programs that can improve the eating behavior of adolescents.

Denim fabric has become a wardrobe staple due to its versatility to be worn in a variety of fashions. This paper aims to study denim fabrics to understand their unique hand by developing a hand evaluation system using computational method. Also, the effect of various washes was studied on the hand and surface morphology of denim fabrics.

Five different denim samples were manufactured with various washing treatments. The Kawabata Evaluation System was used to measure the low stress mechanical properties. Computation method was used to develop hand equations using multiple regression technique in the MS Excel software. The correlation coefficient analysis was done to determine the authenticity of the developed equations. Five primary hand attributes such as softness, smoothness, fullness, flexibility and stretchability were shortlisted by a panel of judges that influence the fabric handle.

The correlation coefficient between subjective and computational total hand values with thermal properties and without thermal properties was 0.88 and 0.85, respectively. The enzymatic wash fabric has the highest total hand value followed by the acid, bleach and stone-washed fabrics.

Although the hand evaluation system is available for conventional textiles like suiting and shirting fabrics, the method to predict fabric hand of non-conventional textiles such as denim fabrics remains an unexplored topic. The stresses acting on denim fabrics are completely different. Therefore, to the best of the author’s knowledge, a novel attempt has been made in this research work to develop a computational model to predict the total hand value of denim fabrics.

This paper aims to advance the concept of “menstrual justice” by building on the comprehensive framework developed by Margaret E. Johnson (2019), which integrates legal rights, social justice and intersectional analysis. By applying Johnson’s insights and human rights frameworks to menstrual health management, the study advocates for state interventions to safeguard women labourers from exploitative practices that endanger their reproductive health and to uphold their menstrual rights.

A case study methodology is used to scrutinize menstrual injustices experienced by women labourers in precarious employment conditions. Specifically, it examines two cases, the mass hysterectomies in Beed, Maharashtra and the administration of unidentified pharmaceuticals to women in Tamil Nadu factories to mitigate menstrual pain and maximize productivity.

The findings reveal severe violations pertaining to menstrual justice, with practices deeply rooted in socioeconomic deprivation and systemic neglect. These issues subject female workers to various forms of gender-based violence that goes beyond physical abuse, raising critical concerns about menstrual justice and human rights violations.

The study’s findings have limited generalizability due to the specific contexts of the case study. Furthermore, the absence of insights from managers/supervisors, and factory owners limits a comprehensive understanding of the policies and factors leading to neglect of menstrual management practices.

The findings of the study will prompt the medical industry to initiate research into medications that can effectively alleviate period pain while minimizing harmful side effects. Current treatments often come with significant drawbacks, highlighting the need for safer and more effective alternatives. Addressing this research gap is vital for achieving menstrual equity, as it ensures that individuals suffering from menstrual pain have access to relief that does not jeopardize their overall health. Advancing research in this area will not only enhance the quality of life for menstruators but also contribute to a more equitable and inclusive approach to menstrual health care.

The findings support reframing menstrual friendly labour policies including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information to everyone, regardless of gender, to reduce misinformation and stigma associated with menstruation at workplaces. Additionally, the study proposes the introduction of reusable menstrual products like menstrual cups to overcome period poverty. Thus, ensuring access to these resources is crucial for enabling informed decision-making, promoting gender equality, addressing health disparities and fostering the development of menstrual-friendly workplace policies.

This study, by using a case study-based approach, has thoroughly examined the issues and challenges faced by female labourers in fields and factories. It uniquely identifies the inadequacies in menstrual management provisions for female workers in India and advocates for a human rights-based approach to ensure that menstruators can manage their menstrual health safely. Unlike most existing studies, which primarily focus on product usage and the stigma or myths surrounding menstruation, this study advances menstrual justice by calling for labour policy reforms and medical research to lessen menstrual pain without compromising menstruators’ health. These reforms aim to provide working women with adequate rest and necessary provisions during menstruation. Addressing these gaps is essential and has been largely overlooked in global health policies.

As China’s industrial structure continues to upgrade and optimize, the consumption capacity of rural residents gradually improves and the role of consumption in economic growth is increasingly prominent. Against the background of weak external demand, the untapped potential of rural consumption has become a key force in expanding domestic demand. As one of the important means that the government has long relied on, fiscal support for agriculture has played a crucial role in activating the rural consumer market. This manuscript aims to explore the impact of local fiscal support for agricultural expenditure (FSAE) on rural consumption in China, as well as to examine the mediating role of the level of rural financial development.

In this manuscript, the authors use the provincial panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2020. The data of all variables mainly come from China Statistical Yearbook and China Rural Statistical Yearbook. According to the variable selection above, 651 sample data of 31 provinces and cities across China from 2000 to 2020 are organized. In terms of methodology, multiple fixed-effects panel model is applied to regression.

Firstly, FSAE varies significantly, while rural consumption slowly but steadily rises, with a relatively stable consumption structure. Secondly, FSAE has a significant positive effect on rural consumption. Thirdly, mediation testing indicates that mechanisms such as income, uncertainty and financial development have significant positive mediating effects on rural consumption. Thirdly, there is evident regional heterogeneity in FSAE’s impact on rural consumption. The Western regions, under government fiscal support, show a more significant effect on the elevation of rural consumption levels, while the role of FSAE in optimizing the consumption structure of rural residents in eastern and central regions is more pronounced.

Firstly, a systematic examination of local FSAE and rural consumption has been conducted, enriching relevant theories. Secondly, utilizing econometric empirical methods to research the relationship between local FSAE and rural consumption provides an exploratory extension to empirical studies on rural consumption in China. This offers empirical evidence for local fiscal support in agricultural development and the promotion of rural consumption.

This study analyses the way various components of intellectual capital (IC), namely, human capital (HC), structural capital (SC), relational capital (RC) and innovation capital (INNC), act as mediators in the relationship between managerial ability (MA) and a firm’s ability to achieve growth.

This study employs data envelopment analysis to quantify the MA of 825 Taiwanese listed electronics companies from 2017 to 2022. The proxies of firm growth are return on asset growth, operating income growth and total asset growth. This study then utilises a three-step mediation analysis methodology to examine the relationships between MA, IC and firm growth.

Findings indicate that HC, SC, RC and INNC mediate the link between MA and firm growth. This suggests that competent managers can capitalise on the potential benefits of these investments to achieve firm growth.

Competent managers can utilise different IC investments to grow the financial performance and strength of their businesses. Managers should continually scan, secure opportunities and adjust their investments in knowledge assets in accordance with the dynamic capabilities view. That is, managers, in general, and operations managers, in particular, can implement guidelines that prioritise IC investments in the future to expedite firms’ development.

This study extends the existing frameworks that study investment variables as mediators between MA and firm outcomes. Most particularly, this study adopts four components of IC for measurement. Moreover, firm performance is measured using dynamic growth indicators rather than static measures.

Framed under the upper echelons theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of board characteristics on the adoption of the global reporting initiative (GRI) guidelines for corporate disclosure and, consequently, their effect on the company’s market value.

To achieve the research objective, the authors investigated the impact of certain important board characteristics, such as board independence, size, gender diversity and director skills. The authors examined the adoption of GRI guidelines by 371 companies based in Latin America. Using logistic regression and panel data analysis, the authors tested five hypotheses.

The findings can confirm the upper echelons theory, showing that directors have an important role in determining environmental policies and strategies in their companies. The authors confirm that three characteristics affect GRI adoption in Latin America: independence, gender diversity and skills of board directors. The authors also found that companies that adhere to the GRI tend to perform better in terms of market capitalization.

Managers who want their organization to perform better in terms of GRI disclosure must understand that characteristics such as board independence, gender diversity and directors’ skills play a significant role in the company adopting the GRI for corporate disclosure. Furthermore, managers must be aware that by adopting the GRI, the company increases its market value through market capitalization.

The literature is still unaware of how the adoption of GRI can bring financial returns to organizations that adopt this type of standard to disclose their corporate reports. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical paper to investigate the antecedents and consequences of GRI adoption in Latin America.

This study delves into the nuanced relationship between financial constraints, ownership structures (state-owned and foreign) and innovation engagement within China’s A-share market, aiming to uncover how these dynamics vary across different industries and regional contexts.

By retrieving data from various datasets in China (2010–2022), this study analyzed the effectiveness of each variable, employing various dimensions to reflect innovation engagement among Chinese listed companies. Meanwhile, for the measurement of financial constraints, this study tested all four typical ones and opted for the KZ Index, as it is the most suitable for China’s A-share market. Then, by fixing the industry and year effects, the study examined the main and moderating effects. At last, in order to address endogeneity issues and capture the dynamic nature of innovation activities, this study follow the suggestion of Khatib (2024) and employed the two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation.

The results demonstrate that while the government has introduced many policies to promote innovation, state-owned ownership does not consistently enhance innovation engagement as expected, especially when firms are in financial dilemma. Particularly, in Hi-tech industries, foreign ownership demonstrates greater interest and confidence in the innovation capabilities of China’s A-share market. Findings also reveal significant regional heterogeneity in the moderating role of ownership structures. While state-owned and foreign ownerships have a buffering effect against financial constraints in the eastern and western regions, but this effect is notably different in the middle part, even though it is China’s political heartland.

The findings offer a different insight for policymakers and corporate strategists, suggesting that targeted financial and regulatory policies that leverage specific ownership structures can foster innovation in different ways, particularly in financially constrained environments. However, how to stimulate innovation vitality in the middle part of China still requires further research.

The purpose of this paper is to form propositions about the relationship between top management team (TMT) heterogeneity and peer effects in investment decision-making and explore the mediating role of social learning processes.

To investigate the correlations between TMT heterogeneity and investment peer effects, we considered the TMT heterogeneity category, team process and contextual factors. With a sample of 8,467 firm-year observations from Chinese listed companies, we used the mean linear model and instrumental variable method to empirically examine their relationships. To identify the mediating role of social learning processes, we introduced a social learning model to find out the contextual factors influencing corporate social learning demands from three aspects and subsequently used comparative statics analysis to explore the variations in the main effect under these contextual factors.

For task-oriented heterogeneity (e.g. functional background, education and tenure heterogeneity), the opposite effects of information elaboration and social categorization processes make it a nonlinear multiplex correlation with investment peer effects. For relation-oriented heterogeneity (e.g. age and gender heterogeneity), the sole effect of social categorization processes leads to a negative linear correlation. Further, we identify the mediating role of social learning processes. In summary, we established a connection from the TMT heterogeneity, to information elaboration theory or social categorization theory, to social learning processes and ultimately to investment peer effects.

The results of this study provide a comprehensive perspective to predict the decision-making outcomes of team heterogeneity and contribute to heterogeneity research and practice.

The development of zero-carbon buildings (ZCBs) is beneficial to the society and biodiversity. Despite the benefits of ZCBs, there are challenges limiting its development in construction industry. The current study seeks to examine the technology-related factors affecting the development of ZCB in Lagos Nigeria.

The study designed a questionnaire to achieve the main objective. Data were collected using non-probability and snowballing sampling methods. Questionnaires were distributed, and 272 valid responses were collected. Thereafter, data were analysed using mean value, percentage, frequency distribution, normality test, Kruskal Wallis test and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance.

The results from data analysis showed that, “less technical expertise in new technological advancements”, “research outcomes are not translated effectively into technology innovations”, “high cost of maintenance on ZCB”, “poor knowledge on renewable technologies” and “industry’s ability to embrace ZCB technologies (policy initiatives and industry practices)” were the topmost five technology-related factors hindering development of ZCBs in Lagos, Nigeria. Also, the results from the study show a statistically significant degree of agreement between various groups of construction organisations in Lagos, Nigeria concerning the technology-related factors hindering the development of ZCBs.

The study contributed to more effective ZCB studies by drawing attention to technology-related factors hindering the development of ZCBs in construction industry. An understanding of these challenges can help construction stakeholders, organisations, policymakers and governments in devising strategies targeted at minimising these challenges and fostering the development of ZCBs in the construction sector. The identified results on technological barriers to ZCBs development can guide targeted interventions and policy adjustments, promoting more effective implementation of ZCBs in Lagos Nigeria and serving as a model for addressing similar challenges in other developing countries. Recommendations for future research on ZCBs were also highlighted.