Asif Ur Rehman, Burak Karakas, Muhammad Arif Mahmood, Berkan Başaran, Rashid Ur Rehman, Mertcan Kirac, Marwan Khraisheh, Metin Uymaz Salamci and Rahmi Ünal
For metal additive manufacturing, metallic powders are usually produced by vacuum induction gas atomization (VIGA) through the breakup of liquid metal into tiny droplets by gas…
Abstract
Purpose
For metal additive manufacturing, metallic powders are usually produced by vacuum induction gas atomization (VIGA) through the breakup of liquid metal into tiny droplets by gas jets. VIGA is considered a cost-effective technique to prepare feedstock. In VIGA, the quality and the morphology of the produced particles are mainly controlled by the gas pressure used during powder production, keeping the setup configuration constant.
Design/methodology/approach
In VIGA process for metallic additive manufacturing feedstock preparation, the quality and morphology of the powder particles are mainly controlled by the gas pressure used during powder production.
Findings
In this study, Inconel-625 feedstock was produced using a supersonic nozzle in a close-coupled gas atomization apparatus. Powder size distribution (PSD) was studied by varying the gas pressure.
Originality/value
The nonmonotonic but deterministic relationships were observed between gas pressure and PSD. It was found that the maximum 15–45 µm percentage PSD, equivalent to 84%, was achieved at 29 bar Argon gas pressure, which is suitable for the LPBF process. Following on, the produced powder particles were used to print tensile test specimens via LPBF along XY- and ZX-orientations by using laser power = 475 W, laser scanning speed = 800 mm/s, powder layer thickness = 50 µm and hatch distance = 100 µm. The yield and tensile strengths were 9.45% and 13% higher than the ZX direction, while the samples printed in ZX direction resulted in 26.79% more elongation compared to XY-orientation.
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Faheem Ur Rehman, Yibing Ding, Abul Ala Noman and Muhammad Asif Khan
Over the past two decades, China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) has risen remarkably. Whether such an increase affects the Chinese export diversification (ED) is a…
Abstract
Purpose
Over the past two decades, China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) has risen remarkably. Whether such an increase affects the Chinese export diversification (ED) is a significant issue that has surprisingly remained unaddressed. This study aims to explain this issue that how OFDI plays a vital role in symmetric and asymmetric effects on its ED.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors introduce a robust nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model. Ironically, the purpose of this study is to analyze the symmetric and asymmetric effect of OFDI on ED.
Findings
The authors propose that growing OFDI would be more advantageous to China, rather than the policies of contraction. Therefore, the study provides valuable policy insights to consider the long-run asymmetric momentum given to ED by China’s OFDI.
Originality/value
The results of this study may seem to be an important newsletter for further policy discussion on how China can catch up on the benefits of ED through OFDI.
Ejaz Aslam, Aziz Ur Rehman and Anam Iqbal
The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of intellectual capital (IC) on the association between corporate governance mechanism (CGM) and the financial…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of intellectual capital (IC) on the association between corporate governance mechanism (CGM) and the financial efficiency of Islamic banks (Z-score, net investment income and loan to deposit) and verify it through standard mediation in the panel based on interaction.
Design/methodology/approach
The data of this study draws from 125 full-fledged Islamic banks and windows from 26 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over the period of 2009 to 2019. A two-step system generalize method of moment estimation is used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results underwrite that the inclusion of IC as a mediating variable has influenced positively the corporate governance and financial efficiency of IBs. Besides, only CEO power and Shariah supervisory board positively affect the financial efficiency of IBs. While structural capital and relational capital positively affect the financial efficiency of IBs. Apart from that, results show that the CGM has a significant relationship with the IC value of IBs.
Research limitations/implications
These findings are valuable for policymakers and regulators to set policies to improve CG structure and effective use of IC resources to improve banking efficiency. Additionally, findings might be helpful for the bankers to proficiently use the IC as a premise to plan new strategies to get an upper hand in financial performance.
Originality/value
This study extends and contributes to the current literature by analysing the role of IC along with CG to boost the financial efficiency of banks in OIC countries.
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Asif Ur Rehman, Pedro Navarrete-Segado, Metin U. Salamci, Christine Frances, Mallorie Tourbin and David Grossin
The consolidation process and morphology evolution in ceramics-based additive manufacturing (AM) are still not well-understood. As a way to better understand the ceramic selective…
Abstract
Purpose
The consolidation process and morphology evolution in ceramics-based additive manufacturing (AM) are still not well-understood. As a way to better understand the ceramic selective laser sintering (SLS), a dynamic three-dimensional computational model was developed to forecast thermal behavior of hydroxyapatite (HA) bioceramic.
Design/methodology/approach
AM has revolutionized automotive, biomedical and aerospace industries, among many others. AM provides design and geometric freedom, rapid product customization and manufacturing flexibility through its layer-by-layer technique. However, a very limited number of materials are printable because of rapid melting and solidification hysteresis. Melting-solidification dynamics in powder bed fusion are usually correlated with welding, often ignoring the intrinsic properties of the laser irradiation; unsurprisingly, the printable materials are mostly the well-known weldable materials.
Findings
The consolidation mechanism of HA was identified during its processing in a ceramic SLS device, then the effect of the laser energy density was studied to see how it affects the processing window. Premature sintering and sintering regimes were revealed and elaborated in detail. The full consolidation beyond sintering was also revealed along with its interaction to baseplate.
Originality/value
These findings provide important insight into the consolidation mechanism of HA ceramics, which will be the cornerstone for extending the range of materials in laser powder bed fusion of ceramics.
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Ajid ur Rehman, Asad Yaqub, Tanveer Ahsan and Zia-ur-Rehman Rao
This study aims to investigate earnings management practice of classification shifting of revenues in Chinese-listed firms.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate earnings management practice of classification shifting of revenues in Chinese-listed firms.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs a dataset of 2,920 A-listed firms from Chinese stock exchanges of Shanghai and Shenzhen for the period of 2003–2019. We apply both univariate and panel regression analysis by using fixed effect estimation with robust standard errors.
Findings
Our findings reveal that firms misclassify revenues by taking advantage of the flexibility provided by applicable financial reporting standards. The empirical evidence obtained through regression analysis suggest that managers reclassify non-operating revenues as operating revenue to alter the economic reality while seeking the advantage of financial reports users’ vulnerability for valuing the upper half of income statement items more as compared to lower part. The results further indicate that international financial reporting standards adoption inhibits the earnings management practices using classification shifting of revenues. It is also concluded that firms, which are suffering losses or having low growth, are more persistently involved in misclassification of revenues.
Originality/value
The study is unique from the point of view that it investigates earnings management from the prospective of revenue’s classification in an emerging market characterized by various market imperfections such as lower investor protection and higher information asymmetry.
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Ajid Ur Rehman, Tanveer Ahmad, Shahzad Hussain and Shoaib Hassan
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how corporate cash holdings changes across firm life cycle and how firms undergo heterogeneous dynamic cash adjustment as they advance…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how corporate cash holdings changes across firm life cycle and how firms undergo heterogeneous dynamic cash adjustment as they advance from one stage to the next stage.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses an extensive data set of 2,994 Chinese A-listed firms. The authors use generalized method of moments (GMM) and Fisher Panel unit root testing to investigate the targeting behavior of Chinese firms.
Findings
The uni-variate investigation reveals that firms in the growth stage exhibits the highest cash levels and firms in the decline stage report the lowest cash levels. As growth firms have high investment needs, they may require raising external capital to meet investment needs. To avoid the costly external financing, firms in growth stage tend to hold more cash. The GMM estimation reveals that along all the phases of firm life cycle there are evidences of trade-off behavior of corporate cash holdings. The authors report that adjustment rate increases as firms enters into the growth stage.
Practical implications
The findings provide both theoretical and practical insight to align cash policies with the available strategic choices along firm life cycle in an emerging market characterized by market imperfections.
Originality/value
The study is unique from the context that it is applying robust methodology to one of rarely investigated area in corporate cash policy. The peculiar Chinese study setting characterized by higher information asymmetry, high cost of external financing and heterogeneous access to financing sources provide theoretical and empirical underpinnings to investigate and gain insight about how corporate cash policy can be aligned with strategic choices available across different stages of life cycle.
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Shafique Ur Rehman, Stefano Bresciani, Adil Riaz and Guido Giovando
This study investigates the influence of knowledge hiding in organizations (KHOs), knowledge sharing in organizations (KSOs) and big data knowledge management (BDKM) on knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the influence of knowledge hiding in organizations (KHOs), knowledge sharing in organizations (KSOs) and big data knowledge management (BDKM) on knowledge management success. Monitoring (MNT) is used as a moderator between KHO and knowledge management success. Besides, knowledge management success and digital business intensity (DBI) are used to attain competitive advantage (CA). Finally, digital business intensity is used as a moderator between knowledge management success and competitive advantage.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through questionnaires using simple random sampling, and a total of 433 questionnaires were used in the final analysis. Partial least squares structural equation modeling is used to test study hypotheses.
Findings
Results indicate that KSO, BDKM and monitoring are positive, but KHO is negatively related to knowledge management success. Monitoring moderates the relationship between KHO and knowledge management success. Knowledge management success and digital business intensity significantly attain competitive advantage. Digital business intensity significantly moderates the relationship between knowledge management success and competitive advantage.
Practical implications
Top managers can use study findings in decision-making if they want to attain a competitive advantage. KHO has a negative influence on knowledge management success, but this relationship can be changed by monitoring the employees. KSO, BDKM, knowledge management success and digital business intensity play a vital role in determining competitive advantage.
Originality/value
By building knowledge culture using the knowledge-based view, this study contributes to KHO, KSO, BDKM, monitoring, digital business intensity and competitive advantage literature.
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Zulfiqar Ali Raza, Aisha Rehman, Faiza Anwar and Naseer Ahmad
This study aims to investigate the effect of the copresence of ferrous (Fe2+) ions and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the activity of an amylase enzyme during the desizing of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the effect of the copresence of ferrous (Fe2+) ions and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the activity of an amylase enzyme during the desizing of greige viscose fabric for potential industrial applications. The removal of starches is an essential step before processing the fabric for dyeing and finishing operations. The authors tend to accomplish it in eco-friendly and sustainable ways.
Design/methodology/approach
The experiments were designed under the Taguchi approach, and the results were analyzed using grey relational analysis to optimize the process. The textile properties of absorbency, reducing sugars, bending length, weight loss, Tegawa rating and tensile strength were assessed using the standard protocols. The control and optimized viscose specimens were investigated for certain surface chemical properties using advanced analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).
Findings
The results demonstrate that the Fe2+ concentration and process time were the main influencing factors in the amylolytic desizing of viscose fabric. The optimized process conditions were found to be 0.1 mm Fe2+ ions, 3 mm SDS, 80°C, 7 pH and 30 min process time. The copresence of Fe2+ ions and SDS promoted the biodesizing of viscose fabric. The SEM, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, XRD and TGA results demonstrated that the sizing agent has efficiently been removed from the fabric surface.
Practical implications
The amylase desizing of viscose fabric in the presence of certain metal ions and surfactants is a significant subject as the enzyme may face them due to their prevalence in the water systems. This could also support the biodesizing and bioscouring operations to be done in one bath, thus making the textile pretreatment process both economical and environmentally sustainable.
Originality/value
The authors found no report on the biodesizing of viscose fabric in the copresence of Fe2+ ions and the SDS surfactant under statistical multiresponse optimization. The biodesized viscose fabric has been investigated using both conventional and analytical approaches.
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Anis Ur Rehman and Yasir Arafat Elahi
The present study, underpinned by the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory, aims to examine the impact of packaging semiotics on brand image, perceived brand quality, brand…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study, underpinned by the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory, aims to examine the impact of packaging semiotics on brand image, perceived brand quality, brand loyalty and purchase intention of well-established food brands.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-administered questionnaire was disseminated to participants residing in the Lucknow region of India. We conducted an experiment in which 374 participants evaluated the factors on a stimulus (chips packaging) using an online survey. Collected data were analysed through structural equation modelling (SEM).
Findings
The result suggests that packaging semiotics exhibits a positive influence on brand image and perceived brand quality of consumers. The brand image significantly impacts brand loyalty and consumers’ purchase intention. In addition, the perceived brand quality has a positive significant impact on brand loyalty, but a negative and insignificant influence on purchase intention. The results show that both brand image and perceived brand quality significantly mediate the relation between packaging semiotics and brand loyalty. Brand image significantly mediates but perceived brand quality does not mediate the relation between packaging semiotics and purchase intention.
Practical implications
The results of the study will assist food brands in determining how to utilise semiotics in packaging to positively influence brand image, perceived brand quality, brand loyalty and consumers’ intent to purchase.
Originality/value
The study is unique in the sense that it assesses the role of packaging semiotics as antecedent in mapping of brand loyalty and purchase intention through brand image and perceived product quality. This study takes a lead as these constructs have been less explored relatively from the lens of packaging semiotics in an emerging Asian market.
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Syed Faraz Ali and Muhammad Naeem
The purpose of this paper is to unfold the relationship between service quality and level of performance of conventional and Islamic banks. Also, it intends to uncover what are…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to unfold the relationship between service quality and level of performance of conventional and Islamic banks. Also, it intends to uncover what are the features of service quality which can raise the level of performance either in conventional banks or Islamic banks. There is rare literature available that focused on comparative study between above stated banking systems based on emerging parameters of SERVQUAL model.
Design/methodology/approach
To meet the objectives of this investigation, research data has been from 450 customers who have had accounts and dealings with conventional and Islamic banks in the previous five years. The customers are selected based on cluster sampling from regional offices of conventional and Islamic banks.
Findings
The collected data have been analyzed by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) technique followed by common method variance (CMV), multiple regression test and independent sample t-test used to examine the parameters of service quality in the context of banks performance. The purpose of CFA is to find the model validity, while multiple regression and t-test is performed in order to examine the influence of service quality parameters on banks performance.
Originality/value
The study used compliance as a one of the emerging and unique dimension of service quality. This dimension is rarely investigated in the context of measuring the level of bank performance of conventional and Islamic banking systems. Findings reveal responsiveness and assurance is the strongest predictor of conventional banking performance. Compliance and reliability has significant and positive impact on the level of performance of Islamic banks. Moreover, the study has practical implications for the top management and stakeholders of conventional and Islamic banks to increase the level of performance by using SERVQUAL model.