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This study aims to examine in which circumstances consumer’s self-congruity moderates the indirect influence of consumer-based brand equity (mediating role) in the relationship between firm-created and user-generated social media content and intention to purchase fashion products.

In this study, the authors carried out an online survey with social media users of fashion brands and collected data from 622 participants across two samples to investigate whether consumers’ perceptions of equity of fashion brands mediate the relationship between social media brand-related communication created by both firms and users and the intention to buy the fashion brands. The indirect relationship is further moderated by self-congruity.

The results indicate that brand equity mediates the relationship between social media communication and purchase intentions of fashion products, and self-congruity moderates the relationship between social media communication types and purchase intentions, such that higher/lower levels of self-congruity strengthen/weaken the impact of social media communication on purchase intentions.

This study contributes to the business and marketing literature by exploring how social media communication, branding and fashion align with the individual’s self-concept and buying behaviour.

In important interpersonal service interactions with a frontline employee (FLE), consumers at times fail to carry out their share of responsibility in the execution of the service, resulting in a situation of “consumer created emergency”. This might defeat the consumer's goal of availing the service (termed as consumer failure). This study explains the role of employee's hope in managing consumer failure in the situation of consumer created emergencies.

Hypotheses were tested in three experiments that simulated service emergency across a general printing service situation and a travel service situation.

The study shows that: (1) FLE hope has a positive effect on consumer satisfaction, and is mediated by the consumer's assumed effort by the FLE; (2) the effect of FLE hope on consumer satisfaction changes with changing levels of consumer hopefulness about the service outcome; (3) despite situation of consumer created emergency, consumer failure results in low consumer satisfaction due to attribution error and (4) external attribution by the FLE could not significantly rectify consumer's attribution error and hence could not alleviate consumer dissatisfaction.

The study suggests relevance and pathways of managing emotions and attributions of consumers and FLEs for superior performance outcomes.

The study theorizes and tests the role of hope, which is an important positive emotion during emergencies because frontline service settings have heretofore predominantly focused on managing negative traits and outcomes.

Regarding research on authenticity perception, this paper aims to pose the following questions: In different cultural regions, what are the different authenticity elements of old towns from a tourist perspective? What is the difference in authenticity perception in different cultural regions? How does the authenticity perception of old towns change in the tourismification process?

Combining eight cultural regions in China, this study focuses on 155 old towns to discuss the differences between authenticity perception of various old towns in different cultural regions and how the interactions between tourists and local places influence the perception of authenticity, with 11,387 user-generated photographs applied to interpret authenticity perception.

The study shows that the authenticity perceived by tourists varies greatly between farming and pastoral cultural regions; after authenticity loss, old towns with a long history of tourismification regain authenticity in tourists’ perception.

The findings could serve as a reference for tourism development and authenticity protection of old towns. Furthermore, the study explores a creative research method and theoretical framework for regional authenticity studies, which is significant in a global context. In the process of globalization, the implications of this study, including differences in authenticity perception within various cultural regions, will also be significant globally.

In human action recognition based on wearable sensors, most previous studies have focused on a single type of sensor and single classifier. This study aims to use a wearable sensor based on flexible sensors and a tri-axial accelerometer to collect action data of elderly people. It uses a statistical modeling approach based on the ensemble algorithm to classify actions and verify its validity.

Nine types of daily actions were collected by the wearable sensor device from a group of elderly volunteers, and the time-domain features of the action sequences were extracted. The dimensionality of the feature vectors was reduced by linear discriminant analysis. An ensemble learning method based on XGBoost was used to build a model of elderly action recognition. Its performance was compared with the action recognition rate of other algorithms based on the Boosting algorithm, and with the accuracy of single classifier models.

The effectiveness of the method was validated by three experiments. The results show that XGBoost is able to classify nine daily actions of the elderly and achieve an average recognition rate of 94.8 per cent, which is superior to single classifiers and to other ensemble algorithms.

The research could have important implications for health care, including the treatment and rehabilitation of the elderly, and the prevention of falls.

Instead of using a single type of sensor, this research used a wearable sensor to obtain daily action data of the elderly. The results show that, by using the appropriate method, the device can obtain detailed data of joint action at a low cost. Comparing differences in performance, it was concluded that XGBoost is the most suitable algorithm for building a model of elderly action recognition. This method, together with a wearable sensor, can provide key data and accurate feedback information to monitor the elderly in their rehabilitation activities.

The authors consider the mutual benefits of the ceding company and reinsurance company in the design of reinsurance contracts. Two objective functions to maximize social expected utilities are established, which are to maximize the sum of the expected utilities of both the ceding company and reinsurance company, and to maximize their products. The first objective function, additive, emphasizes the total gains of both parties, while the second, multiplicative, accounts for the degree of substitution of gains of one party through the loss of the other party. The optimal price and retention of reinsurance are found by a grid search method, and numerical analysis is conducted. The results indicate that the optimal solutions for two objective functions are quite different. However, optimal solutions are sensitive to the change of the means and volatilities of the claim loss for both objective functions. The results are potentially valuable to insurance regulators and government entities acting as reinsurers of last resort.

In this paper, the authors apply relatively simple, but in the view significant, methods and models to discuss the optimization of excess loss reinsurance strategy. The authors only consider the influence of loss distribution on optimal retention and reinsurance price but neglect the investment factor. The authors also consider the benefits of both ceding company and reinsurance company to determine optimal premium and retention of reinsurance jointly based on maximizing social utility: the sum (or the product) of expected utilities of reinsurance company and ceding company. The authors solve for optimal solutions numerically, applying simulation.

This paper establishes two optimization models of excess-of-loss reinsurance contract against catastrophic losses to determine optimal premium and retention. One model considers the sum of the expected utilities of a ceding company and a reinsurance company's expected utility; another considers the product of them. With an example, the authors find the optimal solutions of premium and retention of excess loss reinsurance. Finally, the authors carry out the sensitivity analysis. The results show that increasing the means and the volatilities of claim loss will increase the optimal retention and premium. For objective function I, increasing the coefficients of risk aversion of or reducing the coefficients of risk aversion of will make the optimal retention reduced but the optimal premium increased, and vice versa. However, for objective function 2, the change of coefficient of risk aversion has no effect on optimal solutions.

Utility of the two partners: The ceding company and the reinsurance company, may have different weights and different significance. The authors have not studied their relative significance. The simulation approach in numerical methods limits us to the probability distributions and stochastic processes the authors use, based on, generally speaking, lognormal models of rates of return. This may need to be generalized to other returns, including possible models of shocks through jump processes.

In the recent two decades, reinsurance companies have played a great role in hedging mega-catastrophic losses. For example, reinsurance companies (and special loss sharing arrangements) paid as much as two-thirds of the insured losses for the September 11, 2001 tragedy. Furthermore, large catastrophic events have increased the role of governments and regulators as reinsurers of last resort. The authors hope that the authors provide guidance for possible balancing of the needs of two counterparties to reinsurance contracts.

Nearly all governments around the world are engaged in regulation of insurance and reinsurance, and some are reinsurers themselves. The authors provide guidance for them in these activities.

The authors believe this paper to be a completely new and original contribution in the area, by providing models for balancing the utility to the ceding insurance company and the reinsurance company.

我們探討分出公司和再保險公司在再保險合約的設計上、如何能達至互利互惠。研究確立了兩個目標函數，分別為把分出公司和再保險公司兩者之預期效用的總和最大化，以及把它們的產品最佳化。第一個目標函數是加法的，強調兩個參與方的總增益;而第二個目標函數則是乘法的，這個目標函數，闡釋參與方因另一方虧損而有所收益之取代度。再保險的最佳價格和自留額是利用網格搜索法找出的，數值分析也予以進行。研究結果顯示，兩個目標函數的最佳解決方案甚為不同。唯最佳解決方案會對就這兩個目標函數而言的追討損失的波動、以及其平均值之改變產生敏感反應。研究結果將會見其價值於作為在萬不得已的時候的再保險人的保險業規管機構和政府實體。

在這學術論文裡，我們採用了相對簡單、但我們認為是重要的方法和模型，來探討超額賠款再保險策略的優化課題。我們只考慮虧損分佈對最佳自留額和再保險價格的影響，而不去檢視投資因素。我們亦考慮對分出公司和再保險公司兩者的利益，來釐定最佳保費和再保險的自留額，而這兩者則共同建基於把社會效益最大化之上：再保險公司和分出公司的預期效益的總和 (或其積數) 。 我們採用類比模仿方法、來解決尋求在數字上最佳解決方案的問題。

本研究建立了就應對嚴重虧損而設的兩個超額賠款再保險合約的優化模型，來釐定最佳的保費和自留額。其中一個模型考慮了分出公司和再保險公司兩者各自的預期效益的總和。另外的一個模型則考慮了兩者的預期效益的積數。透過例子，我們找到了保費和超額虧損再保險自留額的最佳解決方案。最後，我們進行了敏感度分析。研究結果顯示、若增加追討損失的平均值和波動，則最佳自留額和保費也會隨之而增加。就第一個目標函數而言，若增加風險規避係數、或減少這個係數，則最佳自留額會隨之而減少，但最佳保費卻會隨之而增加，反之亦然。唯就第二個目標函數而言，風險規避係數的改變，對最佳解決方案是沒有影響的。

• – 有關的兩個夥伴之效用性：分出公司和再保險公司或有不同的份量和重要性。我們沒有探討兩者的相對重要性。

• – 我們以數值方法為核心的類比模仿研究法、使我們局限於機率分配和一般而言建基於投資報酬率對數常態模型之隨機過程的使用。我們或許需要調節研究法。以能概括其它回報收益，包括透過跳躍過程而可能達至之沖擊模型。

– 有關的兩個夥伴之效用性：分出公司和再保險公司或有不同的份量和重要性。我們沒有探討兩者的相對重要性。

– 我們以數值方法為核心的類比模仿研究法、使我們局限於機率分配和一般而言建基於投資報酬率對數常態模型之隨機過程的使用。我們或許需要調節研究法。以能概括其它回報收益，包括透過跳躍過程而可能達至之沖擊模型。

在過去20年裡，再保險公司在控制極嚴重災難性的損失上曾扮演重要的角色。例如、再保險公司 (以及特殊的損失分擔安排) 為了2001年9月11日的災難事件而支付多至保險損失的三分之二的費用。而且，重大的災難性事件使政府及作為最後出路再保險人的調控者得扮演更重要的角色。我們希望研究結果能為再保險合約兩對手提供指導，以平衡雙方的需要。

全球差不多每個政府都參與保險和再保險的管理工作，有部份更加本身就是再保險人。研究結果為他們的管理工作提供了指導。

我們相信本學術論文、提供了平衡分出保險公司和再保險公司效用性的模型，就此而言，本論文在相關的領域上作出了全新和獨創性的貢獻。

This study aims to provide a new vision for investigating the different human resources management (HRM) practices in hotels after the COVID-19 pandemic.

A quantitative research approach was adopted using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to reveal updated priorities and relations as stated by 504 hospitality employees.

The research approach contributed to highlighting exciting findings, as training and development (T&D) had an insignificant effect on turnover intention (IT) or affective organizational commitment (AOC) following the COVID-19 pandemic; job security (JS) had the highest impact on AOC and compensation had the highest effect on TI.

Individual HRM practices have different strong impacts on employee outcomes. This paper provides human resource directors with realistic and practical implications to boost individuals' AOC and reduces their intention to quit their job in conditions of uncertainty and ambiguity.

This pioneering study reveals the influence of HRM practices in the hospitality HRM systems regarding employee attitudes and behaviors, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides novel theoretical and practical contributions.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate university students’ WeChat usage during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in relation to the mediating role of online self-disclosure on their quality of friendship and well-being. A model is proposed to explain how students’ interactions occur during the lockdown and the mediatory role which self-disclosure plays in influencing their socio-psychological markup.

The research model was tested empirically through a survey conducted online with 600 research participants, comprising of university students in China.

Results in structural equation modeling show that WeChat interaction significantly correlates with the quality of friendship, online self-disclosure but not significantly correlates with well-being, but an indirect relationship was found out in the mediation analysis. There is also a significant relationship between online self-disclosure, quality of friendship and well-being. Mediation analysis shows that online self-disclosure mediates the relationship between interactions on WeChat and quality of friendship; it also mediates the relationship between WeChat interaction and well-being. In all, the results achieved in this study will significantly help provide more insights in comprehending the nuances attached to some socio-psychological aspects of WeChat and how its usage affects people during the period of crisis.

Theoretically based investigation of WeChat usage among university students and its relationship with online self-disclosure, quality of friendship and well-being is still quite scarce, thereby underscoring the needs and significance of a theoretically based study in this regard. This study tested the credibility and validity of the proposed model in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in China, which is one of the first in recent times.

The complexity and ambiguity of COVID-19 presented itself as a ‘wicked problem’ (Rittel & Webber, 1973) for tourism policymakers with no definitive solution to stop the virus or restart tourism across the globe. The reliance on expert advice proposed by international organisations (such as World Health Organisation, WHO, and United Nations World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO) varied across government leaders (Head, 2022). This resulted in mixed outcomes for containing the virus and tourism recovery. This chapter selects Maldives as a case study for exploring how the government tackled COVID-19 as a wicked problem despite having no prior experience in managing a health pandemic and an economy heavily dependent on tourism. The chapter outlines the strategies and policies used by the government of Maldives (a) to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on the economy of Maldives; (b) to apply guidelines proposed by international agencies to manage the health pandemic; and (c) to recover and rebuild the tourism industry. Review studies indicate the bulk of research evaluating COVID-19 and tourism focussed on the United States and China (Yang et al., 2022). Although some studies have explored South-East Asia, small island destinations and their journey towards recovery from COVID-19 remain under represented in literature. Despite the challenges of being a small island destination and limited experience of a health crisis, Maldives has been swift in applying international guidelines to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and recovered tourism in a short time.

Hospitality is one of the industries severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is vital to comprehend how to help the workforce in this service sector grow resilient through such a crisis. This paper aims to unpack the role of employer event communication in promoting hotel workers’ resilience.

The data were garnered from 462 hotel workers who were on unpaid leave or layoff during the hotel shutdown.

The results unfolded the positive link between employer event communication and hotel workers’ resilience, for which core beliefs examination served as a mediation mechanism. Family support was found to moderate the effect of employer event communication on core beliefs examination.

The findings indicate to hospitality organizations that in face of a crisis such as the COVID-19, their employee resilience can be activated if they implement event communication activities. They should further realize that their support should go hand in hand with family support in fueling employee resilience from the crisis.

This study advances the understanding of how and when to promote resilience among hotel workers during a pandemic crisis.

This study delves into the less-explored domain of teachers’ readiness for leadership roles by investigating the direct and indirect relationships between positive school culture and teachers' readiness for leadership roles through affective-identity motivation to lead, and teacher optimism.

This study employed partial least squares structural equation modelling (WPLS-SEM) for data analysis. The data were gathered from 424 elementary school teachers who do not hold any leadership positions in Xi’an, China. A total of 391 samples were used after sampling weight adjustments.

There is a significant and positive direct relationship between positive school culture and teachers’ readiness for leadership roles. Affective-identity motivation to lead and teacher optimism emerged as significant mediators in this dynamic.

This study complements and expands on the study of the relationship between positive school culture, affective-identity motivation to lead, teacher optimism and teachers' readiness for leadership role. This research has established a theoretical framework for school stakeholders to cultivate future teacher leaders.

These findings provide valuable theoretical insights into educational leadership literature and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing teachers in assuming leadership roles, particularly in the context of Asian societies.