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Malaysian rice wines (tapai) manufactured in small-scale industries are usually formulated based on personal experiences under minimally controlled conditions for generations, especially in Sabah, one of the East Malaysian states. However, the quality and safety of rice wines were receiving increased attention to ensure better quality control, particularly those produced on an industrial scale. Therefore, this research aims to determine the fermentation dynamics and consumers’ acceptance of Malaysian rice wines produced using different sasad (a local term for starter culture from Sabah).

The physicochemical [total soluble solids (TSS), alcohol content, total titratable acidity (TTA) and pH] and microbiological [total yeast and mould count (TYMC) and total lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count] changes in Malaysian rice wines were determined to better understand the fermentation process for future process optimisation. Additionally, sensory evaluations were conducted to determine the consumers’ preferences for the rice wines.

The overall fermentation dynamics of rice wines exhibited similar trends with slight variations between the samples, demonstrating the effect of microbial compositions of sasad on the quality of final rice wines. Additionally, consumer acceptance tests showed that rice wines with darker shades of yellow and a stronger alcoholic aroma were preferable.

This is the first research that provides important insights into both the fermentation dynamics and consumers’ acceptance of Malaysian traditional rice wines, enriching the rice wine literature from the academic perspective and contributing to the production of safe and high-quality rice wines.

Assembly action recognition plays an important role in assembly process monitoring and human-robot collaborative assembly. Previous works overlook the interaction relationship between hands and operated objects and lack the modeling of subtle hand motions, which leads to a decline in accuracy for fine-grained action recognition. This paper aims to model the hand-object interactions and hand movements to realize high-accuracy assembly action recognition.

In this paper, a novel multi-stream hand-object interaction network (MHOINet) is proposed for assembly action recognition. To learn the hand-object interaction relationship in assembly sequence, an interaction modeling network (IMN) comprising both geometric and visual modeling is exploited in the interaction stream. The former captures the spatial location relation of hand and interacted parts/tools according to their detected bounding boxes, and the latter focuses on mining the visual context of hand and object at pixel level through a position attention model. To model the hand movements, a temporal enhancement module (TEM) with multiple convolution kernels is developed in the hand stream, which captures the temporal dependences of hand sequences in short and long ranges. Finally, assembly action prediction is accomplished by merging the outputs of different streams through a weighted score-level fusion. A robotic arm component assembly dataset is created to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The method can achieve the recognition accuracy of 97.31% and 95.32% for coarse and fine assembly actions, which outperforms other comparative methods. Experiments on human-robot collaboration prove that our method can be applied to industrial production.

The author proposes a novel framework for assembly action recognition, which simultaneously leverages the features of hands, objects and hand-object interactions. The TEM enhances the representation of dynamics of hands and facilitates the recognition of assembly actions with various time spans. The IMN learns the semantic information from hand-object interactions, which is significant for distinguishing fine assembly actions.

Today, financial viability and the creation of social value form the main axis for the operation of inclusive firms. However, depending on who offers the ideas for inclusive enterprises, there can be questionable presumptions regarding what is promised in relation to poverty. One dubious premise is that all poverty can be solved by the market. Markets may be a prerequisite but not sufficient condition for resolving social problems. Financial inclusion through microfinance is a crucial facet of social inclusion. At the World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) in March 1995, governments made a commitment to eradicate poverty on a global scale, citing it as a moral, social, political and economic imperative. One of the three main objectives of the WSSD was the eradication of poverty. Microfinance provides financial services for persons living below the poverty line and for small businesses that lack access to traditional banking services and related products. Microcredit is the lending of small amounts of money to underserved consumers. Microfinance succeeded where institutional financing failed, but its viability is in question. An all-encompassing approach is required to support the growth of the new microfinance sector and manage the balance that must be struck between outreach and sustainability. It is well known that only efficient institutions can greatly lower the long-term expense of serving irregular and low revenues.

Explore the impact of Party organization embedding on firm green governance.

The regression analysis method.

The findings show that Party organization embedding significantly enhances the green governance effects of firms, with this effect being more pronounced in environments with high-quality internal control. Moreover, the study reveals that Party organization embedding facilitates green governance through mechanisms such as reducing agency costs and optimizing management decisions. Agency costs have a negative transmission effect, while management decisions have a positive transmission effect, with the quality of internal control playing a crucial moderating role.

Most existing studies on firm green governance have focused on aspects such as the heterogeneity of management teams (Liu, 2019; Wu et al., 2019), executive green cognition (Fineman and Clarke, 1996; Huang and Wei, 2023), organizational structure and the involvement of controlling families (Bertrand and Schoar, 2006; Symeou et al., 2019), with limited attention to the unique role of Party organizations’ incentive and restraint mechanisms, supervisory power and management functions in firm green governance. Additionally, while scholars have examined the impact of political embedding in firms, including Party organization embedding as a specific form of political embedding, and find that it affects various aspects of business performance (Chang and Wong, 2004; Gu and Yang, 2023), governance quality (Li et al., 2020; Huang and Yang, 2024), agency costs (Qian, 2000; Wang and Ma, 2014), excessive management compensation (Chang and Wong, 2004; Chen et al., 2014), social externalities and audit needs (Faccio, 2006; Cheng, 2022), there is still insufficient discussion on how Party organization embedding promotes firm green governance. Particularly in the context of China’s unique system and using Chinese data, there is a need for more in-depth research on the impact of Party organization embedding on firm green governance. This paper addresses this research gap by empirical analysis.

Overall, this study has significant theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, it enriches the literature on Party organization embedding and firm green governance, filling a gap in the intersection research of firm governance and green governance. Practically, on the one hand, this paper’s findings demonstrate that the involvement of Party organizations in firm governance plays a significant role in enhancing green governance. This supports the modernization of firm governance in China, establishes a micro-level foundation for achieving the strategic goals of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” and offers empirically-backed insights into green transformation for policymakers. The research also provides practical policy recommendations for strengthening Party building efforts within firms and optimizing government-business relations, thereby facilitating the deep integration of Party building with business operations. On the other hand, this study highlights that the unique feature of China’s corporate governance system, Party organization embedding, can effectively enhance green governance. This offers empirical support for leveraging the strengths of China’s firm governance model and provides valuable governance strategies for firms in other countries and regions to improve their green governance practices.

This study’s social implications are significant as it highlights the broader societal benefits that arise from integrating Party organization involvement into firm governance structures, especially within the context of green governance. By improving the green governance practices of firms, Party organization embedding helps to address pressing environmental issues such as pollution, carbon emissions and resource depletion, which ultimately contributes to healthier living environments and a more sustainable society. The emphasis on green governance supports China’s national strategy for sustainable development and demonstrates a governance model that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship. Additionally, the study underscores the role of Party organizations in fostering social responsibility, equity and cohesion by ensuring that firm decision-making aligns with both economic and social welfare goals. This model of governance provides a framework that can serve as a reference for other countries and regions looking to enhance environmental protection efforts while maintaining social stability and economic progress.

This study offers original insights by exploring the distinctive role of Party organization embedding in enhancing firm green governance within the unique context of China’s political and economic systems. Unlike previous research, which has primarily focused on conventional governance structures, this paper delves into the underexplored area of how Party organizations influence firm-level green governance. By examining the direct and indirect effects of Party organization embedding, this study expands current understanding of corporate governance models that integrate political structures, providing a novel perspective on how firms can achieve both economic and environmental objectives. The findings not only contribute to the literature on green governance but also present a valuable model for emerging economies that are pursuing sustainable development. This research thus provides a meaningful addition to the dialogue on corporate governance innovation and environmental responsibility.

In the era of the digital economy, higher demands are placed on versatile talents, and the cultivation of students with innovative and entrepreneurial abilities has become an important issue for the further development of higher education, thus leading to extensive and in-depth research by many scholars. The study summarizes the characteristics and patterns of dual-innovation education at different stages of development, hoping to provide a systematic model for the development of dual-innovation education in China and make up for the shortcomings.

This paper uses Citespace software to visualize and analyze the relevant literature in CNKI and Web of Science databases from a bibliometric perspective, focusing on quantitative analysis in terms of article trends, topic clustering, keyword co-linear networks and topic time evolution, etc., to summarize and sort out the development of innovation and entrepreneurship education research at home and abroad.

The study found that the external characteristics of the literature published in the field of bi-innovation education in China and abroad are slightly different, mainly in that foreign publishers are more closely connected and have formed a more stable ecosystem. In terms of research hotspots, China is still in a critical period of reforming its curriculum and teaching model, and research on the integration of specialization and creative education is in full swing, while foreign countries focus more on the cultivation of students' entrepreneurial awareness and the enhancement of individual effectiveness. In terms of cutting-edge analysis, the main research directions in China are “creative education”, “new engineering”, “integration of industry and education” and “rural revitalization”.

Innovation and entrepreneurship education in China is still in its infancy, and most of the studies lack an overall overview and comparison of foreign studies. Based on the econometric analysis of domestic and foreign literature, this paper proposes a path for domestic innovation and entrepreneurship education reform that can make China's future education reform more effective.

Posting and sharing about food on social media has surged in popularity amongst younger generations such as Millennials and Generation Z. This study aims to analyse and compare food-tourism sharing behaviour on social media across generations. First, this study specifically investigates the factors influencing the intention to share food experiences on social media; second, it examines the impact of sharing intention on actual behaviour and loyalty; and third, it determines whether Millennials and Generation Z differ in these relationships.

A survey was carried out of Millennial and Generation Z travellers who shared food experiences on social media. Structural equation modelling (SEM) and multi-group analysis were performed to examine the cause-and-effect relationship in both generations.

The findings reveal differences in motivation, satisfaction, sharing intention, sharing behaviour and loyalty between generations (Millennials and Generation Z).

This study contributes to the literature on the antecedents of food-sharing behaviour in online communities by indicating factors that influence the sharing of culinary experiences and brand or destination loyalty across generations. Suggestions for future research include exploring online food-sharing behaviour through cross-cultural comparisons in various regions.

As Millennials and Generation Z will expand their market share in the coming years, the findings of this study can help improve marketing strategies for culinary tourism and generate more intense food experiences for both generations.

The outcome of the research provides new insights to develop a conceptual model of food-sharing behaviour and tourism on social media by drawing comparisons across generations.

This study evaluates the evolution from traditional to nontraditional financial intermediation (NTFI) in Chinese commercial banks from 2006 to 2021, analysing its impact on bank performance and risk.

Accounting measures are used to construct granular activity data, and factor analysis is employed to develop a financial intermediation evolution (FIE) index. The fully modified OLS (FMOLs) estimator is used for nonstationary data analysis, and difference-in-differences (DID) analysis is used for robustness check.

Chinese banks exhibit unique evolution in financial intermediation compared to developed economies, with greater inter-bank variations over time than intra-bank differences. From 2006 to 2017, three paths were identified: Investment, Fee and Repo models, with a fourth path (the Investment2 model) emerging post-2017. Only the Repo model enhances bank returns (ROA & ROE), while shifts towards NTFI increase liquidity and leverage risks across all models. The evolution of bank business models and their consequent implications on performance and risks are influenced by regulatory objectives and banks’ endeavours in regulatory arbitrage.

Major stakeholders in the banking sector can gain a better understanding of financial intermediation and associated market behaviour, performance and risks, with significant implications for banking regulations and crisis management.

This study provides the first comprehensive overview of the evolution of Chinese commercial banks’ financial intermediation activities over an extended period, uncovering the unique characteristics distinct from the developed economies.

Entrepreneurial boundaries and activities have changed with the widespread use of digital technologies. However, few studies have examined DTA’s effect on opportunity recognition, leading to a vague understanding of this relationship.

Building on the digital entrepreneurship perspective, we explore the underlying mediating mechanism and contextual conditions in the relationship between digital technology application (DTA) and opportunity recognition using data from Chinese entrepreneurial firms.

DTA positively affects opportunity recognition and network strategy mediates the relationship between DTA and opportunity recognition. Environmental uncertainty positively moderates DTA’s indirect effect on opportunity recognition through network strategies.

Our findings contribute to digital entrepreneurship literature by explaining how DTA promotes entrepreneurial firms’ opportunity recognition through network strategies.

Research on training and/or L&D effectiveness is predominantly conducted in a traditional L&D context. Little research is conducted on training and/or L&D in the context of artificial intelligence (AI)-based learning. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between the adoption of AI-based learning systems and learners’ behavior. Drawing from the theory of planned behavior, the research examines the impact of attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC) as AI-based learning intention (ALI) factors relate to changes in learners' behavior. Additionally, inspired by the self-determination theory by Deci and Ryan, the study further examines the mediating role of learner engagement between ALI and behavioral change.

Following a theoretical framework and using a systematic literature review method, the survey research has been planned by considering a sample from Indian industries. The collected data have been analyzed using SPSS-AMOS 27. While path analysis has been conducted to analyze the direct impact of ALI on learners' behavior, Hay’s PROCESS macro has been used to check the mediating impact of learner engagement between ALI and learners' behavior.

The results proved a significant and positive impact of all ALI factors such as ATT, SN and PBC on learners’ behavioral change. Further, the research found that learning engagement (LE) successfully mediates between AI learning intention and behavioral change.

In the absence of any empirical study in identifying the relationship among learning intention, LE and behavioral outcome, the result of this study may provide useful insights to researchers and practitioners.

This study explores the adoption of crowdfunding in Pakistan, focusing on the challenges and opportunities within its unique entrepreneurial ecosystem. The research aims to provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms, stakeholder engagement and institutional factors influencing crowdfunding adoption.

Seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted using a purposive sampling technique. Data was collected from diverse stakeholders involved in the crowdfunding process including investors, entrepreneurs, platform owners and regulators.

The study identifies various challenges, including regulatory gaps, investor concerns, platform-related issues and systemic challenges such as political instability and weak institutions. These challenges hinder the effective implementation of crowdfunding in Pakistan. Moreover, the study highlights opportunities for financial inclusion, bridging the gap between investors and entrepreneurs, and leveraging Pakistan’s entrepreneurial landscape for crowdfunding growth. While several challenges were common to both developed and developing countries, the study also identified distinct challenges such as digital literacy, reliance on the undocumented economy, insufficient regulatory frameworks and investor mindset specific to developing countries.

Since crowdfunding is an emerging phenomenon in Pakistan, this study had limitations as no official crowdfunding platform other than the Pakistan National Investor Portal had started operations. Therefore, this study involved only those stakeholders who were involved in designing regulatory sandbox suggestions. The sample size could be increased to include stakeholders from other developing countries in the future. This article, however, provides significant strategic guidance for policymakers in developing a framework to improve financial inclusion in development.

The study provides critical areas of concern for regulatory authorities for developing appropriate legislation to help overcome the challenges to the institutionalization of crowdfunding. This study also encourages stakeholders like investors and entrepreneurs to participate in crowdfunding while looking at the perspective of other parties.

This research highlights the need for the Pakistani society to be well-informed about alternative investment opportunities, like crowdfunding. The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, along with the government, can also explore the benefits of crowdfunding to address their lack of access to capital and enable the inclusion of an informal economy to reduce poverty in a developing country.

Crowdfunding is a new phenomenon in Pakistan, and the scope of its application in the MSME sector has not been thoroughly investigated. This study reveals how micro and small firms can use crowdfunding to boost their economic operations by overcoming challenges and taking advantage of fintech (financial technology) to achieve financial inclusion, leading to economic sustainability.