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The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of using mobile devices as an instructional tool on teachers' creativity and to promote their usage as instructional tools in educational settings. The research also studies the perceptions of teachers on the effect of using mobile devices as an instructional tool on their creativity and what features of mobile devices are believed to help in terms of enhancing their creativity.

This qualitative inquiry used an interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) method for inspecting the professional capabilities of Pakistan's primary and secondary school teachers. Data were gathered from nine individuals through interviews. Three themes regarding creativity emerged from the study data.

It is found that the use of mobile devices as a teaching tool significantly increases teachers' creativity by enabling them to manifest their creativity and explore different pedagogical vistas in which they can use a wide variety of instructional resources and tools. Using mobile devices as a teaching tool improved three skills: motivation, self-confidence and communication skills. Mobile applications, cameras and portability of these devices are among the features that teachers considered to have encouraged their creativity.

Finding the obstacles and difficulties teachers have while utilizing these tools to demonstrate their creativity may be valuable for future studies. First, because respondents were teachers from elementary and secondary classes, the population was not entirely homogenous, even though they had adequate help. Second, only semi-structured interviews were utilized for data gathering in this study. Further data collection methods, including observational research or participant-written reflective diaries, are thought to have been preferred.

For future research, it may be interesting to determine whether the results of this study can be applied to other demographic groups. Based on this study, it is also recommended to conduct a quantitative study to know teachers' perceptions of the impact of these devices on creativity, since these studies can have promising results for teachers.

Through the use of various materials, tools and activities, these devices provide several distinctive teaching alternatives. Because of this, using it as a teaching tool gives teachers the ability to tailor courses to a range of learner types. Additionally, having easy access to a multitude of online resources and the capacity to interact with others helped in ideation. The teachers experienced feelings of motivation, self-confidence and a desire to impart information, all of which are traits of creative teachers. Based on the findings of this study, we may now think about using mobile devices in the classroom to encourage teachers' creativity.

The outcomes of this research indicated that teachers' creativity is strongly influenced by their use of mobile devices as instructional tools. This paper advances the understanding of teachers’ creativity by highlighting their lived experiences. This study is novel because it highlights how these devices have the potential to be used as instructional tools, which has not been highlighted by any study so far.

This chapter employs a single case study of Safeer (pseudonym) (25 years old) who has been part of the tribal conflict involving the Rind clan against another Rind clan and the Lashari tribe in the Dadu district of Sindh, Pakistan. It investigates how youth, in the name of tribal honor, actively resist rival tribes, serving as potential actors during conflicts. Safeer actively engaged in numerous tribal conflicts during broad daylight. Not only due to tribal conflicts but also out of fear of the police, Safeer led a conscious and vigilant life from childhood to protect himself and his extended clan members, reflecting a shared sentiment among the youth of his clan. Safeer’s case provides insight into the prevailing perception of youth across more than eight tribal districts in Sindh, excessively affected by conflict consequences yet actively resisting and challenging atrocities. He, like many others in his clan, felt compelled to seek revenge for the murder of an innocent clan member. Safeer’s perspective also highlights the police’s incompetence and the public’s lack of trust in formal justice (especially courts), as a major cause leading young individuals into tribal clashes. Safeer’s case extends beyond an individual narrative, illustrating a broader political landscape in the vast geography of Sindh. It reflects the adversity and resilience of rural youth facing immense challenges, including declining agricultural activities due to reduced irrigation water, rising agricultural input prices, inflation, unemployment, and a shrinking small-scale industrial base in rural Sindh.

The already scarce financial resources coupled with the current COVID-19 pandemic have created the worst scenario for Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The application of supply chain finance (SCF) solutions to MSMEs can enhance the performance and growth of the sector. But, the implementation of SCF solutions faces various obstacles which restrict the MSMEs' ability to meet their financial requirements. The purpose of this paper is to explore and prioritize the various important barriers hindering SCF application in Indian MSMEs.

Literature on SCF and MSMEs are critically reviewed and barriers affecting the SCF application in Indian MSMEs are scrutinized with the consultation of the experts. The present study applies intuitionistic fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process (IF-AHP) methodology to prioritize the identified barriers and thereafter, the sensitivity analysis is also done to observe the identified barriers under different situations.

The results of the study have revealed that poor cash flow management and working capital management disruption are acting as the most prioritized barriers of SCF. The external factor of cultural challenges has been prioritized as the minimum-influence factor that has least negative influence on the operations of SCF in MSMEs.

The present study bears an important practical and managerial implication to solve real world problems of financial constraints of MSMEs. The managers should emphasize upon the importance smooth flow of cash and working capital management across the supply chains by which better SCF solution can be implemented in MSMEs.

The study conducted is an effort to address the barriers of SCF in Indian MSMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of IF-AHP and sensitivity analysis would help managers and policymakers to comprehend and resolve the prioritized barriers and sub-barriers of SCF in the MSMEs.

This study aims to primarily investigate two vital questions: First, the authors examine whether group-affiliated firms are more (less) financially constrained vis-à-vis standalone firms. The authors estimate working capital investment (WCI) to cash flow sensitivity to understand the nature of financial constraints. Second, the authors further investigate the impact of working capital level on firm values and risks between group-affiliated and standalone firms.

This paper uses balanced panel data set from the year 2012–2019. The authors employ propensity score matching to ascertain comparable firm attributes from business group and standalone firms. This process yields 280 firms (140 in each group) after controlling the firm heterogeneity between these two groups. All the models are estimated using fixed-effect regression.

The authors find that group affiliated firms are less financially constrained than standalone firms. The results show that WCI to cash flow sensitivity is higher in standalone firms vis-a-vis group-affiliated firms, implying that standalone firms are more financially constrained than group-affiliated firms. Second, the authors find that firm values are more sensitive to working capital level in standalone firms versus group-affiliated firms. Furthermore, the authors document that the risk of the standalone firms is less sensitive to working capital level than that of group-affiliated firms.

Most recent studies exploring the role of group affiliation in financing constraints have not controlled for heterogeneity among group-affiliated firms vis-à-vis standalone firms, which may arise due to variation in firm characteristics. Unlike prior studies, this research design ascertains comparable firm attributes between business group and standalone firms, implying firms belonging to these two groups differ by the exogeneous affiliation (business group and standalone firms). The authors document that group-affiliated firms are less financially constrained than standalone firms controlling firm-level heterogeneity between group-affiliated and standalone firms. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no such work has been previously done in general (specifically in India).

This paper explores the effectiveness of using Telegram Messenger as a tool to enhance argumentative writing skills among open and distance learning (ODL) students. The paper outlines that argumentative writing is a crucial skill, particularly in written discourse, and that teaching it to ODL students presents unique challenges compared to traditional classroom settings.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on first-year ODL students in a Malaysian tertiary institution to measure the effectiveness of using Telegram Messenger to improve argumentative writing skills. The study used convenient sampling, with pre- and post-tests administered to both control and experimental groups, and the results were analyzed using paired sample t-tests. Additionally, qualitative data were gathered from six selected students, ensuring rigorous analysis and elimination of confounding variables by assigning the same writing tasks to all participants.

The findings of this paper suggest that students in the experimental group showed significant improvement in their argumentative writing skills, as evidenced by higher post-test scores compared to the control group. Qualitative feedback from selected students indicated that Telegram Messenger encouraged participation and made the writing process more engaging and interactive.

The study involved a relatively small sample size of 60 students from two cases and lasted only 10 weeks. Thus, the findings might not be generalizable to all ODL students. A longer study duration will provide findings on the long-term effects of using Telegram Messenger on argumentative writing skills. Factors such as age, educational background, language proficiency and prior experience in online learning could yield different results.

For educators and institutions involved in online education, this research highlights the potential of integrating digital platforms like Telegram Messenger into their teaching strategies to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes, particularly in areas such as writing skills development. It also underscores the importance of adapting teaching methods to suit the unique needs and challenges of ODL students. Moreover, incorporating Telegram in ODL writing classrooms can foster a dynamic, interactive environment that supports both individual and collaborative learning.

ODL has become increasingly popular, especially with the rise of digital communication platforms. This study delves into how such platforms, like Telegram Messenger, can be utilized to enhance the learning experience for ODL students. By leveraging technology, educational opportunities can potentially be extended to individuals who may not have access to traditional classroom settings due to geographical, financial or other constraints.

The originality and value of this study lie in its focus on using Telegram Messenger, a widely accessible and familiar digital platform, to address the unique challenges ODL students face in developing argumentative writing skills in ODL. By employing a quasi-experimental design with both quantitative and qualitative analyses, the study provides robust evidence of Telegram’s effectiveness as a tool to improve engagement and writing outcomes, distinguishing it from traditional methods and other digital platforms that may lack the immediacy or interactivity Telegram offers.

Genetically modified (GM) foods have global importance as they can significantly improve food security challenges. However, risks associated with the consumption of GM foods have affected consumers’ acceptance. This study aims to assess the student’s awareness regarding GM foods.

A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted to explore the knowledge and attitude of health sciences university students toward GM foods. Students (n =400) from different academic disciplines were participated in the study.

The majority of the university students heard about GM organisms and GM food (67.5% and 60.8%, respectively) and have correctly defined GM foods (48.2%). The mean percentage score of knowledge and attitude toward GM foods among university students was 36.0 ± 29.4% and 29.8 ± 23.1%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in knowledge and attitude between undergraduate and postgraduate students. A significant difference was found toward the acceptability of GM food in students from different health sciences disciplines (p =0.006).

The findings indicate that educational programs are needed to improve the knowledge of students about GM food and food safety challenges.

In the construction industry (CI), inaccurate loose material measurements pose waste and economic challenges, accounting for approximately one-third of project cost overruns, representing 60% of the overall construction costs. Current practices for measuring loose construction materials are riddled with errors, direct adjustments and missing real-time oversight, resulting in waste, inefficiencies and cost escalations. This study aims to address this issue by automating the weighing mechanism of loose materials while regularly monitoring them during transportation from the source.

In this study, an innovative Internet of Things (IoT) solution: a smart vehicle-mounted weighing (VMW) system was developed using the smart sensors, Arduino while using C++ language. Initially, a prototype was developed and tested/ refined while experimenting on a Tractor trolley loaded with loose construction materials. Statistical methods were employed to test the validity of the developed system against traditional methods of weighing. Finally, the system was tested and optimized in a real project through a case study.

The empirical findings reveal that the IoT-enabled smart weighing system achieved an accuracy exceeding 95% during rigorous field assessments. A comprehensive case study highlighted significant cost savings, with 2.7% for subbase materials and 5.94% for aggregate base materials. These results validate the successful development of the prototype, demonstrating its potential to improve material management, minimize waste, and enhance operational efficiency in construction projects while promoting sustainable practices.

Few studies have addressed fully automated measurement of loose materials during transport to construction sites. This study introduces a novel IoT-enabled smart VMW system for real-time material monitoring and automated quantity takeoffs (QTOs). The system offers CI a reliable, transparent, and error-free material management tool, advancing current practices in material quantification thereby leading the CI toward sustainability using the latest technologies.

The number of people with special needs, including citizens and military personnel, has increased as a result of terrorist attacks and challenging conditions in Iraq and other countries. With almost 80% of the world’s amputees having below-the-knee amputations, Iraq has become a global leader in the population of amputees. Important components found in lower limb prostheses include the socket, pylon (shank), prosthetic foot and connections.

There are two types of prosthetic feet: articulated and nonarticulated. The solid ankle cushion heel foot is the nonarticulated foot that is most frequently used. The goal of this study is to use a composite filament to create a revolutionary prosthetic foot that will last longer, have better dorsiflexion and be more stable and comfortable for the user. The current study, in addition to pure polylactic acid (PLA) filament, 3D prints test items using a variety of composite filaments, such as PLA/wood, PLA/carbon fiber and PLA/marble, to accomplish this goal. The experimental step entails mechanical testing of the samples, which includes tensile testing and hardness evaluation, and material characterization by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometer analysis. The study also presents a novel design for the nonarticulated foot that was produced with SOLIDWORKS and put through ANSYS analysis. Three types of feet are produced using PLA, PLA/marble and carbon-covered PLA/marble materials. Furthermore, the manufactured prosthetic foot undergoes testing for dorsiflexion and fatigue.

The findings reveal that the newly designed prosthetic foot using carbon fiber-covered PLA/marble material surpasses the PLA and PLA/marble foot in terms of performance, cost-effectiveness and weight.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to use composite filaments not previously used, such as PLA/wood, PLA/carbon fiber and PLA/marble, to design and produce a new prosthetic foot with a longer lifespan, improved dorsiflexion, greater stability and enhanced comfort for the patient. Beside the experimental work, a numerical technique specifically the finite element method, is used to assess the mechanical behavior of the newly designed foot structure.

Recently, the concept of the circular economy (CE) has witnessed significant momentum in academic and professional circles. However, there is a dearth of research that studies the enabling factors of the CE in the era of digital transformation. The existing research aimed to identify the impact of Industry 4.0 readiness on the CE in manufacturing firms operating in Jordan, as well as to identify the mediating role of the industrial Internet of things and big data analytics.

For this work objectives, 380 questionnaires were analyzed. Convergent validity and discriminant validity tests were performed through partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) in the Smart-PLS programme. Data reliability was confirmed. A bootstrapping technique was used to analyze the data and then hypothesis testing was performed.

The results indicate that Industry 4.0 readiness, industrial Internet of things (IIoT) and big data analytics positively enable CE, also the IIoT and big data analytics positively mediate the nexus between Industry 4.0 readiness and CE.

This study promotes the idea of focusing on Industry 4.0 readiness to enhance CE in the Jordanian manufacturing sector and knowing the effect of IIoT and big data analytics in this relationship.

This research developed a theoretical model to understand how Industry 4.0 readiness might enhance the CE in manufacturing firms by invoking the IIoT and big data analytics as mediating constructs in the relationship between Industry 4.0 readiness and CE. This paper offers new theoretical and practical contributions that add value to industry 4.0 and CE literature by testing these constructs' mediation models in the manufacturing sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of international students’ education in our V.U.C.A (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) world. It has challenged higher education institutions to deliver quality and equitable education aligned with Sustainable Development Goal no. 4. However, studies indicate that this pandemic has significantly impacted international students in terms of both policy implementation and academic experiences in online learning. Therefore, this study aims to explore the lessons learned from the online learning experience of international students studying in China during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study employed an online survey to explore international students’ experiences with online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Microsoft Forms, it collected 125 responses from international students studying at Project 211 universities. The survey included responses from 67 male and 58 female international students. Among these, 80 students studied online from locations outside China, while 45 participated in online learning from within China.

The study revealed that international students in China faced significant challenges during online learning, including academic disruptions, technological barriers, financial strain and psychological stress, exacerbated by time zone differences and isolation. Despite these obstacles, students demonstrated learning resilience by employing strategies such as self-regulation, peer collaboration and skill development in technology use.

This study addresses the existing gap in proper support for international students, particularly during times of crisis. It highlights lessons learned from the pandemic and presents mitigation strategies based on the participants’ perspectives. These strategies aim to address the learning poverty identified by the World Bank.