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Although many conventional level-set approaches can be used for segmenting images containing factors such as noise and intensity inhomogeneities, they still can impact the accuracy of the results seriously. To solve this problem, a level-set method for fast image segmentation based on pre-fitting and bilateral filtering is proposed.

Firstly, an improved bilateral filter was investigated for image preprocessing. Secondly, by computing the local average intensity of the preprocessed enhanced picture, two local pre-fitting functions were defined. Thirdly, a new level-set energy functional was defined. Finally, a new distance regularized energy term based on the logarithmic and polynomial functions is proposed to evolve the level-set function in a smooth state.

The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model has an excellent segmentation capability for images with noise and intensity inhomogeneities and has different degrees of performance improvement compared with the mainstream models.

(C1) An improved bilateral filter was investigated and integrated into the model. (C2) Proposing two local pre-fitting functions by computing the local average intensity of the preprocessed enhanced image. (C3) Proposing a new level-set energy functional. (C4) A new distance regularized energy term based on the logarithmic and polynomial functions is proposed to evolve the level set function in a smooth state. (C5) Analyzing and comparing the performance of the proposed model with other similar models.

Numerous attempts at installing Six Sigma (SS) have faced challenges and fallen short of the desired success. Thus, it becomes vital to identify the critical factors and characteristics that play a pivotal role in achieving successful adoption. Research has highlighted that a considerable number of corporate Six Sigma initiatives, around 60%, fail primarily due to the improper incorporation of essential elements and flawed assumptions.

To validate the influence of CSFs on Six Sigma accomplishment, the study employed a research design combining exploratory and mixed-methods approaches. The analysis focused on 260 completed questionnaires, and statistical methods including SEM, EFA, and CFA were utilized for data analysis.

The study acknowledged four essential components of CSFs that are imperative for sustaining the success of Six Sigma (SS): (1) Competence of Belt System employees; (2) Project management skills; (3) Organizational economic capability; and (4) Leadership commitment and engagement. These factors were identified as significant contributors to the maintenance of Six Sigma’s success.

The practical implications of this research imply that institutions, practitioners, and researchers can utilize the four identified factors to foster the sustainable deployment of SS initiatives. By incorporating these factors, organizations can enhance the effectiveness and longevity of their Six Sigma practices.

The investigation’s originality lies in its contribution to assessing critical success factors in Six Sigma deployment within the European automobile industry, utilizing a mixed-methods research design supplemented by descriptive statistics.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the convergence of linguistic features between physicians and patients with chronic diseases facilitates the effectiveness of physician–patient communication in online health communities (OHCs). Drawing on communication accommodation theory (CAT), the authors develop a research model that illustrates how the convergence of semantic features (language concreteness and emotional intensity) and stylistic features (language style) influence patient satisfaction and compliance. The model also incorporates the moderating effects of the physician's social status and the patients' complications.

The data, collected from a prominent online health platform in China, include 15,448 consultation records over five years. The logistic regression is leveraged to test the hypotheses.

The findings reveal that convergent semantic features, such as language concreteness and emotional intensity, along with stylistic features like language style, enhance patient satisfaction, which in turn leads to increased compliance. Additionally, the physician’s social status strengthens the effect of convergent emotional intensity but weakens the effect of convergent language concreteness. The physician’s social status has no significant impact on the link between convergent language style and satisfaction. Patients' complications weaken the effect of satisfaction on their compliance.

This study contributes to the CAT and OHC literature by enhancing the understanding of the role of linguistic convergence in the effectiveness of online physician–patient communication and provides managerial implications for physicians on how to accommodate their communicative styles toward chronic patients to improve patient satisfaction and compliance.

The Philippines has a long history of scientific and technological development from pre-colonial times through Spanish and American rule, marked by periods of both progress and neglect. In response to the growing importance of science and technology (S&T), the country established the National Science Development Board (NSDB) in 1958, which evolved into the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in 1987. This transition facilitated significant advancements in research and technology through substantial investments. Despite these efforts and progress, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited funding and insufficient human resources continue to hinder the sector’s growth and global competitiveness The purpose of this study is to analyze the evolution of S&T policies in the Philippines, assess innovation and research outputs, and identify key growth areas to provide insights that can guide policymakers in enhancing the country’s global competitiveness

This review analyzed available literature, government reports, policy documents and data from the Global Innovation Index (GII) and SCImago Journal and Country Ranking (SJR) to trace the evolution of S&T policies in the Philippines, identify growth areas and assess innovation and research outputs, providing insights to guide policymakers in enhancing the country’s global competitiveness.

The study highlights the challenges that remain in infrastructure, funding and human resources despite significant investments in S&T to enhance global competitiveness. The scarcity of skilled professionals such as scientists, researchers and engineers was particularly concerning, emphasizing the need for increased investment in education and training programs. It also underscored the importance of sustained support, funding and collaborations between government, academia and industry innovation, technological progress and sustainable growth in the global S&T sector.

The review provides a roadmap for advancing the Philippines’ S&T sector, emphasizing the need to overcome ongoing challenges. To fully realize its potential, the country should boost R&D investment, improve science education and strengthen the innovation ecosystem. Collaboration among policymakers, industry leaders and academic institutions is essential to build on past successes and develop a more dynamic and resilient S&T landscape for the future.

This investigation is designed to quantify and appraise the efficiency of resource distribution in the provision of public digital cultural services in China. By acknowledging and incorporating the realities of China's social development, the authors offer recommendations for enhancement derived from the study’s data analysis results. The research zeroes in on the dissection and analysis of the integral elements that structure the provision of public digital cultural services, and it concentrates on the associated data computation. The conclusions drawn herein are expected to serve as a significant point of reference for ongoing academic investigations and practical explorations in affiliated domains.

In this research, the authors utilize a hybrid methodology to meticulously evaluate the efficiency of the components that underpin the provision of public digital cultural services (PDCS) in China. The authors embark on deconstructing the various constituents within the PDCS supply framework, conducting in-depth analyses and providing cogent interpretations of each integral element. Subsequently, the authors deploy the well-regarded SBM super-efficiency model to ascertain the operational efficiency of these components. Ultimately, through a comprehensive interpretation of the measured data and the integration of extant societal development conditions, the authors put forth relevant recommendations.

The provision of PDCS in China as of 2021 had been characterized by overall good efficiency, significant regional disparity and a disconnect between inputs and outputs with weak correlations to economic and demographic data.

In this study, the authors provide an exhaustive deconstruction and interpretation of the public digital cultural services supply system, thereby proposing a framework for evaluating the efficiency of supply element allocation. Additionally, the authors have determined a set of distinct measurable indicators that are readily accessible for open collection. Notably, this analytical and evaluative framework designed for element analysis and measurement may also find application in efficiency evaluation research of the supply systems of other related cultural endeavors.

This paper presents a reflection in memory and tribute to the work and life of Professor Barbara Czarniawska (1948–2024).

We invited those colleagues whom we knew to be close to Barbara to submit reflections about her contributions to academia alongside their memories of her as a person. We present these reflections in the order we received them, and they have only been edited for minor grammatical and punctuation issues to preserve the voice of the contributing authors.

The reflections in this paper represent different translations of Barbara’s academic and theoretical contributions. However, she also contributed to people. While we can count the number of papers, books and book chapters she published, we must also count the number of co-authors, Ph.D. supervisions, visiting professorships and conference plenaries she touched. This (ac)counting tells the story of Barbara reaching out to work and interact with people, especially students and early career researchers. She touched their lives, and the publications are an artefact of a human being, not an academic stuck in an ivory tower.

A paper in Barbara Czarniawska’s honour where some of her closest colleagues can leave translations of her work through a narrative reflection, seems to be a fitting tribute.

This study aims to synthesize two organic heterocyclic compounds, (2E,3E)-6-chloro-2,3-dihydrazinylidene-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline (MR1) and (2E,3E)-2,3-dihydrazinylidene-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline (MR2), characterize them using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) and evaluate their effectiveness as corrosion inhibitors in an acidic environment (15% HCl).

The synthesized compounds, MR1 and MR2, were tested for their corrosion inhibition properties using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Post-corrosion, the steel surface was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to confirm the adsorption of the compounds. The experimental findings were further supported by density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations.

The results indicated that both MR1 and MR2 exhibit significant anticorrosive activity in a 15% HCl environment. The analyses performed with SEM, EDX and AFM confirmed the effective adsorption of the inhibitors on the steel surface, forming a protective layer. Theoretical studies provided additional insights into the adsorption mechanisms and stability of the inhibitors.

This work introduces novel organic heterocyclic compounds based on quinoxalinone as effective corrosion inhibitors in acidic environments. The combined experimental and theoretical approach provides a comprehensive understanding of their anticorrosive behavior.

This paper aims to investigate how the build orientation simultaneously affects the tensile properties, geometrical measurements and surface roughness in material extrusion (MEX) produced parts.

An extensive experimental campaign was designed and carried out to elucidate the relationship between the rotation angles (input), defining the part orientation within the build volume, and the (output) variables measured by using 3D models reconstruction, roughness tester and tensile testing machine. Response surface methodology is used to capture the trend of each output relative to the input, while principal component analysis is used to identify relationships among outputs, providing a holistic understanding of how build orientation simultaneously influences mechanical properties, geometrical measurements and surface characteristics.

The study reveals that build orientation significantly affects nearly all output variables, with a pronounced dependency on the out-of-plane rotation angle. A key finding is the inverse correlation between mechanical strength and both geometrical measurements and surface roughness. This indicates that optimizing build orientation can enhance mechanical strength while minimizing geometrical defects.

This research, a newer addition to the existing literature, contributes to the field of additive manufacturing (AM) by offering an innovative analysis of the interaction between mechanical properties, geometric precision and surface roughness in relation to build orientation. It enhances the understanding of MEX processes and provides valuable insights into optimizing build orientation, thereby improving the competitiveness of AM over traditional production methods.

The study aims to explore the influence of conscious business practices (CBPs) on the reputational capital (RC) of SMEs with the generation of the manager (X/Y) as a moderator of such relationships.

The authors conducted empirical research based on a cross-sectional survey on 115 Western Mexican SME managers using PLS structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses.

SMEs RC is nurtured by adopting two CBPs. The effect on RC may differ according to managers’ generation. In Western Mexican SMEs, Gen X managers perceive that a higher purpose is more important for building RC, while conscious culture comes first for millennials.

The generalisability of the findings is decreased, given that the study relied on convenience and non-probabilistic sampling in one economy. The lack of previous studies on SMEs, and the difficulty in conducting research in an emerging economy, gives the findings an importance in furthering research.

It contributes to strengthen SMEs’ RC through CBPs.

It broadens the perspective of SMEs in emerging economies to adopt CBPs for increasing their RC. This relationship varies depending on the managers’ generation.

The study used the quantitative approach to explore the perception of Mexican Gen X managers and millennials on the relationship between CBPs and their effects on RC.

Team-based work is increasing within organizations nowadays. Despite calls for differentiation between individual and team levels of analysis, research on leadership effects at multiple levels is still limited. By integrating the Conservation of Resources and Social Cognitive theories, this paper aims to analyze the relationships between coaching leadership, team collective efficacy and individual exhaustion via multilevel modeling.

This paper opted for an exploratory study testing a 2-2-1 multilevel mediational model, positing team collective efficacy as a key factor in mediating the relationship between coaching leadership at the team level and exhaustion at the individual level. The hypotheses were tested on a sample of 311 employees, nested in 72 teams (Msize = 5.70, SDsize = 2.82 team members) of a large Italian company that provides financial services.

Results supported the positive association between coaching leadership and team collective efficacy, which, in turn, was negatively associated with team members’ average score in exhaustion and fully mediated the effect of coaching leadership on exhaustion, even controlling for team design features (i.e. task interdependence and team virtuality). The association between coaching leadership and exhaustion was only indirect, explained by team collective efficacy.

Because of the self-report nature of the measures and the cross-sectional nature of the data, this research results might raise problems of variance in common methods and not allow causal conclusions to be drawn. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.

This paper includes several practical implications for enhancing group efficacy beliefs, which have an impact on individual well-being within the team.

This paper addresses the lack of empirical findings on the multilevel nature of the relationship between coaching-based leadership, collective team effectiveness and individual exhaustion.