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This research aims to systematically compare the impact of macro drivers on labor efficiency (LEFF) in high and low trade openness economies, employing the Solow model as the theoretical framework.

This study examines the influence of macro drivers on LEFF from 1995 to 2020, employing advanced panel regression methods such as stepwise regression (SR), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and panel OLS. It utilizes Pedroni and Johansen co-integration tests to assess long-term dynamics and Granger causality tests to explore causal relationships between macro drivers and LEFF.

The results reveal both long-term and short-term relationships between LEFF and the macro drivers: gross capital formation (GCF), per capita income (PCI), foreign direct investment (FDI), trade openness (TOP) and gross national savings (GNS). The findings show that these macro drivers positively and significantly influence LEFF in both high and low TOP economies. Specifically, FDI, PCI and GNS have a more substantial positive impact on LEFF in low TOP economies, while GCF and TOP have a greater influence in high TOP economies. Furthermore, in high TOP economies, FDI, TOP and PCI exhibit a unidirectional relationship with LEFF, while GNS and GCF show a bidirectional relationship. In low TOP economies, all five macrodrivers exhibit bidirectional relationships with LEFF.

This research focuses on countries with high and low TOP, limiting the generalizability of its findings to other economic systems due to the unique trade, institutional and governance frameworks of these two distinct groups.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to compare the impact of theoretical macro drivers on LEFF across groups of countries differentiated by their degrees of TOP (high and low).

This paper aims to identify a suitable convolutional neural network (CNN) model to analyse where void(s) are formed in asymmetrical flip-chips with large amounts of the ball-grid array (BGA) during underfilling.

A set of void(s)-filled through-scan acoustic microscope (TSAM) images of BGA underfill is collected, labelled and used to train two CNN models (You Look Only Once version 5 (YOLOv5) and Mask RCNN). Otsu's thresholding method is used to calculate the void percentage, and the model's performance in generating the results with its accuracy relative to real-scale images is evaluated.

All discoveries were authenticated concerning previous studies on CNN model development to encapsulate the shape of the void detected combined with calculating the percentage. The Mask RCNN is the most suitable model to perform the image segmentation analysis, and it closely matches the void presence in the TSAM image samples up to an accuracy of 94.25% of the entire void region. The model's overall accuracy of RCNN is 96.40%, and it can display the void percentage by 2.65 s on average, faster than the manual checking process by 96.50%.

The study enabled manufacturers to produce a feasible, automated means to improve their flip-chip underfilling production quality control. Leveraging an optimised CNN model enables an expedited manufacturing process that will reduce lead costs.

BGA void formation in a flip-chip underfilling process can be captured quantitatively with advanced image segmentation.

This study examines the relationship between Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and financial distress in times of uncertainty.

Thomson Reuters ESG database, Compustat and Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) were used to derive a final sample size of 1,572 firms and 11,618 firm-year observations from 2003 to 2022. Fixed-effects regression was used to analyze the data.

It was found that increasing ESG involvement leads to an increase in Z score (i.e. lower financial distress), and this impact was more profound during the COVID-19 period and also when firms' innovativeness increased. However, during the COVID-19 period, increases in capital expenditures weaken the positive effect of ESG on financial distress.

This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the impact of ESG performance on financial distress and the nature of this relationship during times of uncertainty such as COVID-19.

This study offers insights to managers and practitioners when developing their corporate financial strategies, particularly financial distress management, showing the potential benefits of innovativeness and capital intensity during turbulent times similar to COVID-19.

Little knowledge exists on how ESG engagement helps weather financial distress during periods of uncertainty due to external shocks (e.g. COVID-19). This paper looks at the effect of ESG engagement on financial distress and how capital intensity and innovativeness could influence this relationship while giving fresh insights into the impact of COVID-19.

The emergence of social media platforms has revolutionized how brands develop partnerships with social media influencers (SMIs). However, users are seeking more meaningful engagement with SMIs, and little is known about how brands can shift their focus from transient engagements to continued engagement that builds long-term brand–consumer relationships. Extant research has provided inconsistent findings regarding consumer engagement behavior. To address this knowledge deficit, we contribute to the consumer engagement literature by developing and testing a conceptual model that explores and explains the relationships between the factors that influence continued engagement intention (CEI), a form of behavioral intention.

A literature review was conducted to identify gaps and develop a theoretically informed conceptual model and hypotheses. Survey data from 604 Instagram SMI followers were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling using SmartPLS 3.3.3 to assess the structural model relationships and conduct post hoc analysis.

The findings suggest that it is important to positively influence consumer responses to elicit CEI. Furthermore, homophily attitudes toward SMIs moderate the relationship between SMI experience and CEI.

Brands must work with SMIs to create positive SMI experiences and develop CEI. Furthermore, SMIs should focus on brands that fit their lifestyles to enhance homophily attitudes and forge CEI.

This study contributes to the literature by combining social exchange and flow theories to develop and test a holistic framework for examining CEIs regarding SMIs and brands. The findings show that creating positive SMI experiences benefits brands seeking CEI.

This study investigates the influences of brands, sources and congruence on perceived product quality, as well as the role of content creator types in Instagram influencer marketing for luxury brands.

The samples consisted of Instagram users who follow content creators who posted about luxury brands. A survey instrument was used to collect data from 916 respondents who were of working age (22–55 years old).

The analysis showed acceptable fits for both measurement and structural models. The results reveal the positive effect of luxury brand identity on content attributes, which influence both content creator-product fit and perceived product quality and the direct influence of fit on perceived quality. Perceived uniqueness acts as a negative driver.

The findings of this study guide luxury brand marketers in choosing peers and influencers, selecting appropriate content creators and emphasizing effective content attributes.

This study identifies novel antecedents for perceived quality, a part of brand equity, including drivers and obstacles. It also explores the impact of content creator types, such as friends and/or acquaintances, compared to influencers and/or celebrities, offering insights beyond previous research.

In the contemporary globalized sports industry, it is crucial for sport employees to cultivate an essential capability – cultural intelligence (CQ) – to excel in culturally diverse sport environments. The purpose of this study is to propose a comprehensive conceptual framework of sport employees' CQ for enhancing management practices in sport organizations.

By conducting a thorough literature review of relevant business and sport management literature, this research offers a synopsis of CQ and advocates for the advancement of a developed conceptual framework for sport employees' CQ (CQ-SE).

The conceptual framework of CQ-SE is proposed to facilitate employees’ effective integration into diverse environments within sport organizations. This framework identifies predictors that enhance sport employees’ CQ, moderating factors to provide deeper insights into these relationships and outcomes at individual, group and organizational levels. We additionally elaborate on the anticipated benefits for stakeholders, given the services provided by sport practitioners.

This study is one of the initial endeavors to conceptualize the concept of CQ for sport employees. This study contributes to the literature on sport organizational culture and human resource management by emphasizing the pivotal role of sport employees’ CQ in promoting greater inclusivity in sport organizations. We encourage sport management researchers to explore the application of CQ in sport contexts and empirically test the relationships proposed in this framework.

Stigma towards people living with complex mental health issues is widespread and harmful, preventing help-seeking behaviour, fostering social exclusion and decreasing self-efficacy. This study aims to investigate the usefulness and drawbacks of a mental health-themed podcast in reducing stigma.

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 participants who had each listened to three episodes of the co-designed podcast “On the Same Wavelength”. Interview data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Four themes were generated: learning from a trustworthy source; connecting with lived experience; reducing stigma, one listener at a time; and a high-quality podcast with limited reach. Listeners appraised the podcast as improving their attitudes and behavioural intentions towards people living with mental illness and their understanding of mental illness and stigma. They perceived the lived experience narratives as its most impactful element, but felt the podcast might not have mass appeal.

Despite the popularity of mental health-themed podcasts, there is limited research examining their potential to reduce stigma. This study provided insight into the usefulness, listener acceptability and impactful elements of such podcasts, by exploring listeners’ perspectives of a new podcast co-designed to reduce stigma.

Brands are seizing their latitude in the metaverse – this study conceptualizes a digital doppelgänger as the sense of embodiment of the physical person and unpacks their effect on consumer brand engagement by examining the mediating role of digital doppelgänger’s brand interactions.

Data was collected through an online self-administered questionnaire employing criterion-based judgment sampling, resulting in 475 qualified responses. The data was validated through a two-step SEM (structural equation modeling) application of Hayes’s Process in the SmartPLS4 package. The IMPA analysis technique identified the most important and influential factor driving brand performance in the metaverse.

The study reveals that digital doppelgänger’s brand interactions mediate the relationship between the digital doppelgänger (embodiment of the person) and consumer brand engagement. Brand interaction manifests enjoyment, relaxation and reputation felt by the physical person. The result indicates that digital doppelgänger’s brand interaction drives brand performance in the metaverse.

Our study is an original attempt to conceptualize a digital doppelgänger as the sense of embodiment of the physical person and their brand interactions in the metaverse influence consumer brand engagement to produce enjoyment, relaxation and reputation – this is a novel contribution to interactive marketing literature.

This paper aims to examine how introducing irrelevant information into a risk decision scenario leads to less skeptical internal auditor assessments.

This paper conducted an internet-based experiment with 157 internal auditors manipulating information relevance. The experiment controlled for individual differences in trait skepticism, perceived information relevance and Chief Information Officer (CIO) warmth.

Internal auditors exhibit decreased skepticism when irrelevant information contradicts preconceived stereotypes of management, consistent with the dilution effect. When the CIO is described as gregarious, counter to common stereotypes, internal auditors assess risk as less severe compared to when the CIO is described as introverted or when no personality information is provided.

This paper provides insight as to when internal auditor judgment may be compromised.

The purpose of this study is to detect the effect of some natural cellulosic polymers in their nano forms with the addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles on restoring the lost mechanical strength of degraded papyrus without any harmful effects on the inks.

In the current study, the USB digital microscopy, scanning electron microscope, measurement of mechanical properties (tensile and elongation), pH measurement, color change and infrared spectroscopy were undertaken for the samples before and after treatment and aging.

In the current study, the USB digital microscopy, scanning electron microscope, measurement of mechanical properties (tensile and elongation), pH measurement, color change and infrared spectroscopy were undertaken for the samples before and after treatment and aging.

The effect of strengthening materials was studied on cellulose and carbon ink, which makes this study closer to reality as the manuscript is the consistent structure of cellulose and inks, whereas most of the literature stated the impact of consolidation materials on the strengthening the cellulosic supports without attention to their impact on inks.