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Although various stakeholder groups frequently advocate and call for greater heterogeneity among directors and managers, it remains unknown whether team heterogeneity can be beneficial for audit committee to exercise the auditor selection functions. This study aims to address this question.

Drawing on a sample of domestically listed nonfinancial A-share firms in China from 2008 to 2022, the authors empirically examine whether and how firm’s audit committee heterogeneity associates with the selection of auditors.

Firms with higher levels of audit committee heterogeneity are more likely to be associated with lower-quality auditors. Further examination reveals the mediating role of risk-taking: higher levels of heterogeneity are associated with higher levels of risk-taking, influencing firms to employ lower-quality auditors. Moreover, the authors document that increased audit committee heterogeneity is associated with more audit committee meetings and lower audit efficiency, and that hiring lower-quality auditors can influence the market value of firms with high audit committee heterogeneity.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine whether and how audit committee erogeneity associates with the selection of auditors. Moreover, because China is a high-power distance, collectivism-oriented, more relations-based (i.e. guanxi-based) than rules-based society, it is critical to examine the influence of team heterogeneity based on the unique cultural context and transitional nature of China’s business environment.

On the basis of demand survey feedback from individuals with disabilities and caregivers, this study designed two sets of functional garments for long-term bedridden patients, with the primary objective of increasing convenience and reducing the physical workload of caregivers.

Wear trials were conducted by employing 24 subjects to perform 11 different tasks to compare the performance of the two newly developed garments with that of conventional hospital patient apparel. Task operation time, heart rate (HR), electromyography (EMG) signals, and subjective perceptions were evaluated.

The new functional garments reduced the time required to perform tasks by 29–79%, maintained the average HR of caregivers at approximately the resting threshold and resulted in a 37–74% reduction in the root mean square (RMS) of the EMG at the arm muscles in the private and thigh nursing tasks. All the subjective and objective evaluation results of the caregivers demonstrated varying degrees of correlation.

This study has practical implications for the design of functional clothing for long-term bedridden patients and provides guidance for evaluating the ergonomics of garments that can be utilized only with caregiver support.

In contrast to previous studies that focused primarily on individuals with disabilities while overlooking the indispensable role of caregivers in the nursing process, this study shifted its emphasis to long-term bedridden patients who relied exclusively on caregivers for daily activities. Additionally, this study attempted to analyze the correlations between the evaluation parameters to explore the relationships between the evaluation methods.

This study aims to explore the roles of Zhongyong and political efficacy on citizens’ intention to use digital government platforms for e-participation (i.e. e-participation intention). Zhongyong is a dialectical way of thinking that influences Chinese behavioral intentions and approaches. Political efficacy is a predictor of traditional political participation. Both of them have not been adequately investigated in this digital era, particularly regarding e-participation in digital government platforms. Therefore, this study investigates their relationships.

A quantitative model is constructed to examine the relationship between Zhongyong and citizens’ e-participation intention (internal and external) political efficacy serves as a mediator. An online questionnaire gathered 345 responses from three representative provinces of China (i.e. Guangdong, Jiangxi and Shanxi). Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was adopted and executed with Smart PLS 4.0 to analyze the data.

Zhongyong and (internal and external) political efficacy can positively influence citizens’ e-participation intention. Moreover, (internal and external) political efficacy mediates the relationship between Zhongyong and citizens’ e-participation intention.

This research focuses on Chinese culture Zhongyong and surveyed Chinese citizens, thus is limited to the Chinese context. Second, this study used cross-sectional data. Third, this study only investigated two factors’ effects on e-participation, i.e. Zhongyong and political efficacy.

The findings provide multifaceted strategies for improving citizens’ adoption of digital government platforms for e-participation. Incentive policies to boost citizens’ (internal and external) political efficacy can be launched. To achieve broader citizen participation, a participative culture can be cultivated based on Zhongyong.

This study constructs a novel model that innovatively links Zhongyong thinking, political efficacy and e-participation intention. The results underscore the importance of Zhongyong culture and political efficacy in increasing citizens’ e-participation intention.

The artificial intelligence-enabled service robot has the potential to serve in consumer market. However, there is limited knowledge of how users across the globe respond to this innovation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop an integrated research model led by three known theories, namely, diffusion of innovation, theory of planned behavior and DeLone and McLean model, and investigates consumer intention to adopt robot-enabled services.

The quantitative research design is selected in this research. Data were collected through structured questionnaires. Overall, 221 airline passengers participated in the service robot survey. These responses were further analyzed with a structural equation modeling approach.

Statistical findings have revealed that jointly perceived behavioral control, compatibility, innovativeness, information quality, system quality and service quality explained R² 50.3% variance in user attitude to adopt service robots. In addition to that robot appearance and user attitude have explained a large variance R² 48.9 % in user intention to adopt service robots. Nevertheless, results have revealed an insignificant moderating impact of robot appearance on user attitude and intention to adopt service robots.

Practically, this research has suggested that information quality, adequate system quality and service quality boost user confidence and encourage users to adopt services led by robots. Similarly, this research has suggested that compatibility brings ease to the use of robot technology and innovativeness attracts technology users. Therefore, policymakers should focus on compatible and innovative characteristics of robot services. Moreover factors such as subjective norms and perceived behavioral control have shown a positive impact in measuring user intention to adopt service robots and hence need managerial attention.

The current research is original, as it gives deep insight into understanding user behavior toward the adoption of service robots. Moreover, the integration of three known theories, namely, DeLone and McLean model, the diffusion of innovation model and the theory of planned behavior in service robot setting has made current research more unique. Similarly, this study is consistent with United Nations sustainable development goals and ignites SDG progress by promoting artificial-driven robotic technology in the services sector.

This paper aims to explore the possible forms and characteristics of an artificial intelligence (AI) leader and discuss the potential applications of AI in political leadership and governance.

A categorization system consisting of three categories – the level of responsibility, the voting system and the bindingness of the AI’s decisions – was developed to better understand the various types of AI leaders. Additionally, to identify the main characteristics of an AI leader, a comprehensive literature review was conducted. The themes from the literature were then categorized and supplemented with additional discussions.

This paper identifies several potential AI leaders, including the AI President, the AI Dictator, the AI Minister and the AI Consultant. The key characteristics of an AI leader were also discussed. The primary strengths of AI lie in their intelligence and rationality, which could potentially lead our societies toward a peaceful and prosperous future. However, a significant drawback of AI is that it will always be limited by the capabilities and intentions of its programmer, whether human or AI.

Understanding the forms and characteristics of AI leaders may help policymakers and decision-makers explore the possibilities of integrating AI into political leadership and governance.

This paper contributes to the emerging field of AI in governance by exploring the forms and characteristics of AI leaders and discussing their potential applications in political leadership.