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This paper seeks to explore the dynamics of the spatial distribution of landed residential property values in Singapore in the 1990s. Topics covered include: spatial patterns that can be discerned in the distribution of landed property values; how property values change over time; and how government intervention influenced this dynamic property value surface. Data are collected from the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers property transaction database, and are analysed by using the geographic information system, parametric and non‐parametric statistics. Findings of this paper contribute to the understanding of the urban dynamics of an Asian metropolis, especially in terms of its residential property market and internal spatial structure.

The proliferation of smartwatches in the digital age has radically transformed health and fitness management, offering users a multitude of functionalities that extend beyond mere physical activity tracking. While these modern wearables have empowered users with real-time data and personalized health insights, their environmental implications remain relatively unexplored despite a growing emphasis on sustainability. To bridge this gap, this study extends the UTAUT2 model with smartwatch features (mobility and availability) and perceived security to understand the drivers of smartwatch usage and its consequent impact on environmental sustainability.

The proposed theoretical model is evaluated based on data collected from 303 smartwatch users using a hybrid structural equation modeling–artificial neural network (SEM-ANN) approach.

The PLS-SEM results supported smartwatch features’ effect on performance and effort expectancy. The results also supported the role of performance expectancy, social influence, price value, habit and perceived security in smartwatch usage. The use of smartwatches was found to influence environmental sustainability significantly. However, the results did not support the association between effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and hedonic motivation with smartwatch use. The ANN results further complement these outcomes by showing that habit with a normalized importance of 100% is the most significant factor influencing smartwatch use.

Theoretically, this research broadens the UTAUT2 by introducing smartwatch features as external variables and environmental sustainability as a new outcome of technology use. On a practical level, the study offers insights for various stakeholders interested in smartwatch use and their environmental implications.

This paper examines the labour demand associated with hybrid chilli adoption, a relatively labour-intensive crop in Indonesia.

Using 228 chilli producing households in West Java Province, Indonesia’s primary chilli production region, the analysis extends previous research on household labour demand by assessing the impacts of hybrid chilli seed adoption on both family and hired labour on a gender-specific basis. Instrumental variables 2SLS approach is employed to address potential endogeneity that may occur related to hybrid seed choices.

The results demonstrate that hybrid chilli seed use is more likely to increase demand for hired labour, particularly female hired labour; However, hybrid seed adoption is insignificantly associated with demand for male and female family labour.

The sample size used in this paper is relatively small; however, the sample is chosen from the biggest chilli producing area in Indonesia and can still be considered reasonably representative.

The results indicate that hybrid seed adoption creates rural employment opportunities for rural women in Indonesia, which could potentially help empower them in rural economic activities and household decision making.

This study contributes to the literature assessing modern agricultural technologies by evaluating rural employment impacts on a source- and gender-specific basis, which is much less understood. It, therefore, complements the existing knowledge regarding welfare impacts in other aspects such as poverty reduction, food security and nutrition enhancement and suggests another dimension where desirable impacts may occur through associated women’s empowerment.

The purpose of this study is to detail the experiences, perspectives and emerging framework for the delivery of library services by member libraries of the College Libraries Information Network (COLINET) at the onset and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica.

An exploratory sequential mixed approach was used for this study. Qualitative data was collected initially using a semi-structured interview with a virtual focus group comprising seven librarians from the COLINET in Jamaica. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants for the focus group. The second phase of data collection used an online survey through Google Forms to the membership of COLINET; 19 of 31 libraries (61.2%) responded to the survey.

The findings reveal the current status of library operation and service delivery at the COLINET member libraries. The impact of COVID-19 on staffing arrangements, support and engagement, library resources and services are seen through the lens of the challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic.

In total, 19 of the 31 libraries in COLINET responded to the survey; therefore, the researchers were unable to get a comprehensive assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on COLINET libraries.

This study will assist libraries in their response to COVID-19 and other similar future national public health crises. The findings and recommendations can provide a blueprint for developing policies and procedures for libraries during a national health crisis. Additionally, it will add to the empirical literature on Caribbean libraries.

This study is essential for libraries responding to the coronavirus pandemic in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region. This study examines the response of academic libraries from diverse tertiary institutions; exploring their challenges, solutions and emerging frameworks; making it representative and inclusive for academic libraries. This study advances the limited research that exists with regard to Caribbean libraries and the COVID-19 pandemic.