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This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate governance characteristics and the financial performance of both Islamic and conventional banks in the context of an emerging market, i.e. Malaysia.

This study includes 300 bank-year observations from Islamic and conventional banks over the period 2010–2021. The dynamic panel model (generalized method of moments [GMM]) was considered the primary estimation model that solves simultaneity, endogeneity and omitted variable problems as most governance variables are endogenous by nature. Hence, static models are considered biased after conducting the DWH test of endogeneity, and considering dynamic panel GMM is valid proven by Sargan and Hensen and first-order (ARI) and second-order (ARII) tests.

Based on the regression results, the authors discovered that board size, female participation in the board and director remuneration have a significant positive impact on bank performance, whereas board meetings have a significant negative impact. Furthermore, the board governance structure of commercial banks is found to be more passive than that of Islamic banks.

The study’s findings added a new dimension to governance research, which could be a valuable source of knowledge for policymakers, investors and regulators looking to improve existing governance mechanisms for better performance of conventional and Islamic banks.

The goal of this study is to add to the existing literature by focusing on the impact of female board participation and other board governance mechanisms in both conventional and Islamic banks on bank performance.

Predicting surface settlement at mountain tunnel entrances during construction is increasingly crucial for risk analysis, as the accuracy of these predictions directly impacts collapse risk assessments and personnel safety.

This study introduces a novel approach using a particle swarm optimization (PSO)-optimized long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network for surface settlement prediction. The PSO algorithm optimizes key hyperparameters of the LSTM model, including the number of hidden layer neurons, the learning rate and L2 regularization, while the Adam optimizer refines LSTM iterations. Dropout is used in combination with adaptive L2 regularization parameters to avoid overfitting situations, and sensitivity analysis of the remaining variables ensures the identification of the optimal solution.

The model, based on monitoring data from the Aketepu No. 1 Tunnel’s left tunnel, establishes evaluation criteria incorporating error margins and root mean square error (RMSE). By examining the range of maximum (minimum) settlement rates for the cumulative settlement values, the study determined that the section is exposed to an average risk of collapse with slow deformation, which is consistent with actual observations.

This suggests that construction can proceed normally, with appropriate monitoring to mitigate the risk of collapse. The PSO-LSTM forecast model presents a promising approach for predicting collapse risks at mountain tunnel entrances.

A substantial body of literature discusses the motivations and intentions behind participation in hospitality and tourism (HT). However, a coherent framework for systematically studying the antecedents, interactions and differences of non-participation is lacking. This paper aims to comprehensively identify the mechanisms behind non-participation in HT activities by conducting a critical review focusing on unequal rights.

This study commences by focusing on a review of research on HT constraints, drawing upon the theory–context–method framework. Subsequently, a critical evaluation is adopted to clarify the constraints at different levels within the socio–ecological model (SEM) and explore the underlying mechanisms from the perspective of substantive rights within self-determination theory.

This study identifies the most common theories and methods related to non-participation in HT and explores features of non-participating groups across different countries. In addition, the SEM facilitates the coding of reasons for non-participation in HT into 40 initial concepts, 14 categories and 5 levels. The non-participation of HT model (NPHTM) recognizes three interactive mechanisms of rights inequality: autonomy, relatedness and competence rights.

Theoretically, this study integrates the internal negotiation process with the external opportunity inequality, extending the existing research. The identified constraints facilitate qualitative coding and the identification of quantitative variables for future studies. The proposed NPHTM framework deepens understanding of individual−environment interactions and extends to other domains. Practically, this study enables all HT stakeholders to develop targeted strategies for effectively promoting participation from diverse perspectives.

The research pioneers the review of mechanisms behind non-participation in HT by considering rights inequality as the core context. The concepts and categories within the SEM assist in targeted promotion efforts. The proposed NPHTM analyzes non-participants’ underlying mechanisms, external effects and individual rights of non-participants, thereby extending the research knowledge base.

Mechanoreception is crucial for robotic planning and control applications, and for robotic fingers, mechanoreception is generally obtained through tactile sensors. As a new type of robotic finger, the soft finger also requires mechanoreception, like contact force and object stiffness. Unlike rigid fingers, soft fingers have elastic structures, meaning there is a connection between force and deformation of the soft fingers. It allows soft fingers to achieve mechanoreception without using tactile sensors. This study aims to provide a mechanoreception sensing scheme of the soft finger without any tactile sensors.

This research uses bending sensors to measure the actual bending state under force and calculates the virtual bending state under assumed no-load conditions using pressure sensors and statics model. The difference between the virtual and actual finger states is the finger deformation under load, and its product with the finger stiffness can be used to calculate the contact force. There are distinctions between the virtual and actual finger state change rates in the pressing process. The difference caused by the stiffness of different objects is different, which can be used to identify the object stiffness.

Contact force perception can achieve a detection accuracy of 0.117 N root mean square error within the range of 0–6 N contact force. The contact object stiffness perception has a detection average deviation of about 15%, and the detection standard deviation is 10% for low-stiffness objects and 20% for high-stiffness objects. It performs better at detecting the stiffness of low-stiffness objects, which is consistent with the sensory ability of human fingers.

This paper proposes a universal mechanoreception method for soft fingers that only uses indispensable bending and pressure sensors without tactile sensors. It helps to reduce the hardware complexity of soft robots. Meanwhile, the soft finger no longer needs to deploy the tactile sensor at the fingertip, which can benefit the optimization design of the fingertip structure without considering the complex sensor installation. On the other hand, this approach is no longer confined to adding components needed. It can fully use the soft robot body’s physical elasticity to convert sensor signals. Essentially, It treats the soft actuators as soft sensors.

Reusable takeaway food containers (RTFCs) are a newly emerging green packaging choice for the takeaway industry that can effectively reduce campus solid waste but are not yet well accepted. Therefore, this study aims to identify the key factors influencing university students’ intention to choose RTFCs, seeking to enhance RTFC project management practices and contribute to developing a sustainable “green university.”

In total, 316 valid respondents from a Chinese university were surveyed for data collection. A multivariate ordered logistic regression model was used to conduct empirical analysis.

The results of this study underscore the crucial role of perceived value in the relationship between perceived green attributes and students’ intention to choose RTFCs. The positive impacts of perceived green attributes on intention are direct and indirect, through the lens of perceived value. When the value is substantial, it significantly boosts the student’s intention to choose RTFCs. Conversely, the perception of lower hygienic quality or higher returning time cost dampens this intention, with a more pronounced effect than perceived green attributes. Notably, perceived publicity activities have the most significant impact on student’s intention to choose RTFCs.

This study contributes to the understanding of promoting RTFCs, a key strategy for reducing plastic waste on campuses. The findings provide actionable recommendations for the project company and the university, offering practical ways to encourage students to use RTFCs and contribute to plastic waste reduction.

This study investigates the effect of corporate governance (CG) characteristics on corporate sustainability performance (CSP) and whether the magnitude of CSR expenditure mediates such a relationship in the context of an emerging and developing economy-Bangladesh.

This study collects data from the annual reports of 30 private commercial banks listed with the Dhaka Stock Exchange for the period starting from 2013 to 2022, giving 300 firm-year observations. To test the hypotheses formulated, this study uses Baron and Kenny’s (1986) four-step model. Data have been analyzed using AMOS 23 to examine the direct and indirect effect of CG on sustainability performance.

This study finds that several CG variables (board size, board independence, sustainable finance committee) significantly affect several facets of sustainability performance (environmental, social, and financial performance). However, the mediating role of the magnitude of CSR expenditure in the relationship between CG mechanisms and sustainability performance is found to be limited.

The list of CG and ownership structure variables studied is not exhaustive, and the presence of a wide variation in the measurement of sustainability performance makes its measurement subjective to some extent.

This study uses the magnitude of CSR expenditure as a mediator in the relationship between CG and sustainability performance, which is rarely addressed by the extant literature in this field.

This study aims to shed new light on the effect of gift packaging shape, specifically the distinction between horizontal and vertical orientations, on the face consciousness of both gift givers and recipients. The underlying mechanism of the main effect is examined, focusing on the perception of social status symbols. In addition, downstream outcome variables were included in the study to explore the effects of gift package shape on willingness to buy (WTB) and word-of-mouth (WOM) in the giver and receiver contexts, respectively. Furthermore, these effects were repeatedly verified in both China and the USA, revealing the significance of cultural differences. The study also investigated the moderating effects of an individual’s power state (low or high power) on the giver’s face consciousness.

Six studies were conducted to address the research objectives. Study 1 compared the gift givers’ face consciousness of a gift when presented with vertical package shapes versus horizontal. Subsequently, Study 2 investigated whether consumers’ perception of social status symbols mediates the effect of gift package shape on gift givers’ face consciousness. Study 3a expanded the conceptual model to include the downstream outcome variable of WTB in the context of gift-giving. Study 3b was validated with American participants, revealing the influence of cultural background differences on face consciousness. Study 4 introduced a gift-receiving context to investigate the chain-mediated effects of gift package shapes on consumer WOM. Lastly, Study 5 critically examined the boundary effect of personal power states on the interaction between the gift givers’ face consciousness and WTB.

The results indicate that gift givers and recipients attribute higher face consciousness to gifts with vertical package shapes compared to horizontal ones. In addition, consumers’ perception of gifts as status symbols was the underlying mechanism driving the impact of gift packaging shape on face consciousness. Furthermore, the face consciousness for gift packages of vertical shape was enhanced when people were in lower-power states as opposed to higher-power states, subsequently leading to an increase in the WTB.

The research is limited to an online virtual brand study; future field studies could be conducted to enhance the authenticity of the participants’ gift-giving experience and the overall external validity of the studies. In addition, gender-based stereotypes and the relationship between the giver and the receiver (transactional or intimate) may also influence the relationship between gift package shapes and face consciousness.

The practical implications of this research focus on three points. First, gift brand managers should strategically employ vertical package shapes to signal high-end attributes and evoke face consciousness among consumers, aligning with the psychology of both givers and recipients. Second, managers must consider consumers’ power states in gift-giving scenarios, tailoring packaging recommendations to the dynamics between givers and recipients to maximize market share. Last, cultural differences in face consciousness, particularly between Asian and Western cultures, necessitate that managers adapt packaging designs to respect and enhance the social status of both givers and recipients in culturally sensitive ways. These findings underscore the importance of understanding and integrating consumer psychology, power dynamics, and cultural nuances into gift packaging strategies to boost market share.

The research contributes to understanding the impact of gift packaging shape on the perception of face consciousness among both gift givers and recipients. It highlights the mediating role of social status symbols and extends its scope by examining downstream effects such as WTB and WOM. It explores individual power states as a moderating factor, revealing how personal dynamics influence perceptions of face-saving consciousness. Also, the cross-cultural validation of these effects in China and the USA underscores the importance of considering cultural differences.

Oman commitment for Sustainable Development Goals 2030 pushes green building at the forefront of construction industry. However, its green building progress is slower than other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and only a handful of local contractors have been involved in green project development. Understanding the barriers to green project delivery will open avenues for better project planning and preparation. This research aims to identify the barriers experienced by the contractors when constructing green buildings in Oman.

Qualitative research, via a semi-structured interview process, explores the barriers experienced by 14 contractors when constructing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building projects in Oman. Using NVivo 12 software, thematic analysis was conducted through the generation of coding and themes which enable the identification of the relevant barriers.

The research uncovered 10 barriers and grouped them into five categories. The five categories are as follows: (1) insufficient skills development, (2) lack of government support and regulatory adjustment, (3) limitation in materials procurement, (4) documentation and coordination limitation and (5) difficulty in green rating compliance.

The research identified 10 barriers of constructing green buildings in Oman. These barriers gravitated on 4 issues: knowledge and competency, green rating requirements, government involvement and materials procurement. It streamlined clusters of the potential research area for more effective green building action plans in the future. Two barriers are deemed uniquely applied to Oman, namely “lack of needed regulatory adjustment” and “absence of local rating tools”. This insight can serve as a valuable steppingstone to push more green buildings for the country.