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Rhetoric has long had a bad reputation, as synonymous with “false and empty speech”. In the last century, rhetoric has undergone an important reappraisal, which has seen it applied also to corporate communication, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and, most recently, sustainability communication. However, the bad reputation that rhetoric has accumulated over the years continues to weigh on the legacy of the discipline, creating theoretical and methodological bias. This research represents a work that aims to map and systematize the academic literature related to rhetorical analysis in the context of CSR and sustainability communication. After a systematic literature review, a state-of-art literature mapping was carried out in order to create typological clusters of current approaches within traditional rhetoric theory, holding firm the assumption that the rhetorical discipline should be considered as a set of reasoned and structured techniques useful for corporate discourse and its persuasive effectiveness. The analysis has enlightened wide academic research regarding the study of rhetoric in corporate communications studies clustered in six typologies of topic endorsed by a specific goal that rhetoric would have in the studies.

This research aims to provide a innovative class of shape-memory-responsive cellulosic composites (RCC) for 4D printing, enabling self-activated, reversible shape morphing. By integrating experimental, theoretical, and computational modeling, the study optimizes material behavior, offering precise curvature predictions for advanced biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

This study presents an innovative class of shape–memory–responsive cellulosic composites (RCC), with a unique combination of starch and Affnisol^TM. RCC-mediated filaments were used to print single-layer strips using fused deposition modeling 3D printing technology. The printed single-layer strip exhibited reversible, contactless and self-activated shape morphing in response to swelling and heat. The programming stage involves the swelling and heating of the composite strip and subsequent shape recovery through heating. The shape deformation during the self-activated programming stage was both estimated and predicted using simple experimental, theoretical and computational tools. The study was conducted at different thicknesses (1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mm) and temperatures (25°C and 37°C) to validate the performance of the developed model in predicting bending curvature.

The developed model showed less than a 13.96 % difference in curvature predicted using theoretical and experimental modeling at studied temperatures. At lower thicknesses, the model can predict the bending curvature with less than a 2.0 % difference in curvature. These RCC materials exhibited potential reversible 4D printing capacity and satisfied the adopted approaches and modeling to forecast the bending curvature for reversible 4D printing.

This study introduces a new class of composite materials for potential 4D applications and provides simple predictive models to forecast bending curvature in reversible 4D printing.

This paper examines the relationship between the degree of information asymmetry among investors and the occurrence of bubbles in cryptocurrency markets.

The study applies the Philipps, Shi and Yu (PSY) methodology to identify bubbles in 74 cryptocurrencies from July 2014 to April 2021.

The findings indicate that there is a negative relationship between the degree of information asymmetry among investors and the number and duration of bubbles across cryptocurrencies.

This finding supports the riding-bubble argument of Asako et al. (2020), which suggests that when the information asymmetry among investors is high, rational investors are less certain about what irrational, inexperienced investors might decide. This strategic uncertainty leads rational investors to close out their positions more quickly, resulting in a shorter duration of the bubble and a reduced propensity for new bubbles to emerge. The study’s findings hold regardless of the proxies used to measure information asymmetry and noise trading, cryptocurrency characteristics and regression model specifications.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in countries reacting differently to an ongoing crisis. Latent to this reaction mechanism is the inherent cultural characteristics of each society resulting in differential responses to the epidemic spread. In this study, the moderated moderation role of culture, on information dissemination by media during epidemic recovery-phase has been investigated.

Hofstede’s cultural factors are hypothesized to moderate the moderating effect of free-liberal media on the relationship of COVID-19 recovery rate and human mobility. Panel regression model, using mobility data and recovery rate across 95 countries for a period of 170 days has been preferred to test the hypotheses. The results are further substantiated using factor wise interaction plots and slope difference analysis.

The findings suggest that societies with high power distance and masculinity scores strengthen the impact of media on the relationship between COVID-19 recovery rate and mobility whereas, high individualistic and long-term orientation societies weaken the same effect. However, similar conclusions were not confirmed for uncertainty avoidance. Cross-cultural impact, as elucidated by this study, forms a crucial element in policy formulation on epidemic control by indigenous Governing bodies.

While most of the studies emphasizing on cultural characteristics of a society in an epidemic situation covers the growth phase of infection, This research talks about the recovery-phase of the epidemic and the effect of culture.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-04-2023-0314

This paper examines the impact of green human resource management (GHRM) practices on employees’ pro-environmental behavior in Pakistan’s hospitality industry. It attempts to identify the critical success factors involved in promoting GHRM and pro-environmental behaviors at the workplace using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) approaches. Later, based on the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) model, the study also categorizes the identified critical factors into three categories: ability, motivation and opportunity.

The ISM approach was applied to determine the contextual relationship among the identified critical success factors responsible for promoting GHRM. MICMAC, a structural technique to analyze and validate the ISM-based model, was used to determine the autonomous, dependent, linkage and independent factors based on expert opinions and judgments. The goal was to determine the role of GHRM in transforming the pro-environmental behavior of employees.

The study’s findings show that the proper integration of effective GHRM practices significantly impacts pro-environmental employee behavior. The hierarchical model introduces innovation in the field of GHRM because ISM-based hierarchical models are flexible enough to include or exclude practices according to the green organizational objectives in the hospitality industry within the context of Pakistan. The results offer a comprehensive illustration of the importance of GHRM practices in facilitating, encouraging and promoting employees to take green initiatives and achieve business sustainability.

The study utilizes the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) technique to identify key success criteria for GHRM, while the innovative approaches of ISM and MICMAC techniques were used to investigate employee pro-environmental behaviors. This novel method gives GHRM research an analytical direction by providing an organized framework for evaluating the impact of GHRM initiatives on environmental outcomes. Additionally, by focusing on developed economies rather than emerging ones, our study within Pakistan’s hospitality sector fills a knowledge vacuum on the dynamics of GHRM in a developing nation.

This study highlights the significance of managers in the hospitality sector serving as role models for implementing GHRM practices to encourage pro environmental behavior among employees. Prioritizing green structural capital, establishing standard environmentally friendly criteria for hiring and evaluating prospective employees and initiating green projects to promote a psychologically green environment are some of the key recommendations. Improving environmental performance, employee satisfaction and loyalty in the hotel industry requires constant communication, training and employee participation in sustainability decision-making.

The GHRM practices have been extensively discussed by academics and researchers. However, there is a notable absence of discussion on the key factors that play a role in transforming employees’ attitudes and behaviors.

This study focuses on urban lighting design, exploring its effect on citizens´ emotions. A methodology based on Kansei engineering is developed in response to the question: How does lighting of facades within the urban space influence people’s emotions?

Outdoor lighting design is a multidisciplinary topic that involves, among other aspects, design, energy savings, protection of nocturnal biodiversity and profitability, all of which are important functional and regulatory requirements. However, they do not necessarily consider user needs, which make perception and emotional response difficult parameters in the lighting design process. The studies carried out on lighting and its impact on emotions have mainly been done indoors. The objective of this work is to propose a methodology to evaluate emotional response to the illuminated nocturnal urban space with the purpose of providing knowledge to create emotionally efficient luminous spaces that improve people’s perception and well-being. The instrument used was the survey (online questionnaires), based on Kansei engineering, created to incorporate the emotional variable in product design. The research was carried out with participants from Peru, Spain and Germany. The results collected the reaction of the participants to different types of night-time luminous spaces presented, which contributes to a better understanding of user needs and activities regarding the space. This knowledge is intended to help designers meet their expectations.

The Kansei engineering method has made establishing relationships between the sensations experienced and the physical characteristics of the luminous space possible. From the point of view of outdoor lighting design planning, Kansei methodology can contribute to a better understanding of user needs within the urban space, serving as a guide to specialists when making lighting decisions and thus meeting their expectations. Therefore, it is considered a very useful and recommended instrument not only from the beginning of lighting projects but also applicable to lighting master plans. The method used contributes to a multidisciplinary design approach, performing a simultaneous analysis of all the requirements and design parameters (architectural, psychological, biological, environmental and social) that intervene from the first design phases of the project, which will allow qualitative lighting solutions aimed at user satisfaction with the urban night space. From a comprehensive point of view, the instrument generated enables identifying not only quantitative values of the urban night space (luminous spaces and technical descriptors) but also qualitative values (aesthetic descriptors), which are both decisive instruments when measuring user satisfaction.

Participants were only from Germany, Peru and Spain.

Traditionally, research aiming at user responses to lighting environment comes from the field of psychology or engineering, not considering parameters of lighting design that could effectively cater to specific user needs.

This study aims to examine the intricate relationship between Chile’s coastal communities and the increasing effects of climate change, with a focus on Caleta Lenga as a case study. Chile’s extensive coastline is closely linked to the country’s economic well-being and the livelihoods of millions of people. The mounting threats posed by climate change require immediate action. To strengthen resilience and reduce risk, adaptive measures are imperative. However, effective adaptation is hindered by numerous barriers, including adaptive capacity and governance challenges.

This study uses a case study approach, which centres on Caleta Lenga’s unique socio-environmental and demographic context. This study used semi-structured interviews and historical reconstruction to reveal a socio-economic and environmental narrative that was influenced by significant events and transitions.

The residents’ perception of climate change impacts was viewed through the lens of industrial activities and changing weather patterns. This study emphasizes the community’s resilience in the face of changing socio-environmental dynamics. It highlights the importance of informed decision-making, community cooperation and the preservation of ancestral knowledge in promoting adaptive strategies based on community solidarity and collective decision-making. The findings underscore the need for effective adaptation measures that address both adaptive capacity and governance challenges to bolster climate resilience in vulnerable coastal communities.

The findings underscore the need for effective adaptation measures that address both adaptive capacity and governance challenges to bolster climate resilience in vulnerable coastal communities.