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The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of different Additive Manufacturing (AM) orientations on the structural behavior of topologically optimized wings for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), which might enable lightweight and low cost, yet complex, wing structural designs.

Based on an aerodynamic load, a two dimensional NACA0012 airfoil is topologically optimized considering PolyLatic Acid (PLA), several volume fractions and different manufacturing orientations. Then, the resulting topologies are post-processed to allow for manufacturing and extrude to three dimensional wing geometries with constant cross-sections. These wings are then manufactured using Fusion Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology and their dynamic structural behavior analyzed by means of Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) in the linear elastic region.

Volume fraction increase is observed to improve the structural performance without increasing the manufacturing time. Despite manufacturing the wing from the leading edge to the trailing edge can reduce manufacturing time using FDM technology, it is found to be more difficult to build.

This research is a contribution toward the design and built of lightweight and low cost wings for UAS.

This paper explores how the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) securitizes internal security, cultural identity and welfare system through refugee policy instruments. It also aims to explore the roles of members of the Legislative Council (Legco) and Chinese newspapers in the securitization process.

The author analyzed 6 landmark verdicts, 342 related documents of the Legco, 2,386 news coverages and 408 editorials/ column articles from 6 selected Chinese newspapers from 2005 to mid-2019. While documents of the Legco were collected from the Legco archives, news reports, editorials and column articles were gathered on Wisenews with the keywords, namely, refugees, asylum seekers, torture claims and non-refoulement claims.

The author argues that the advanced comprehensive security approach helps to comprehend the securitization process in Hong Kong. The HKSARG, Legco members of the pro-government camp and pro-government Chinese newspapers perform as securitizing actors who regard refugees as an existential threat to the referent objects, i.e. internal security, cultural identity and welfare system.

There are two significant limitations, namely, the coverage of newspapers and the absence of poll data. This paper merely selected six Chinese newspapers, which do not cover English newspapers and some other Chinese newspapers in Hong Kong. It may neglect some important data. Additionally, owing to the absence of longitudinal poll data, the author chose not to examine the related materials.

This paper intends to be the first study to provide a longitudinal examination of the transformations of current refugee policies in Hong Kong.

This study investigates the impact of derivatives as risk management strategy on the value of Malaysian firms. This study also examines the interaction effect between derivatives and managerial ownership on firm value.

The study examines 200 nonfinancial firms engaged in derivatives for the period 2012–2017 using the generalized method of moments (GMM) to establish the influence of derivatives and managerial ownership on firm value. The study refers to two related theories (hedging theory and managerial aversion theory) to explain its findings. Firm value is measured using Tobin's Q with return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) as robustness checks.

The study found evidence on the positive influence of derivatives on firm value as proposed by the hedging theory. However, the study concludes that managers less hedge when they owned more shares based on the negative interaction between derivatives and managerial ownership on firm value. Hedging decision among managers in Malaysian firms therefore does not subscribe to the managerial aversion theory.

This study focuses on the derivatives (foreign currency derivatives, interest rate derivatives and commodity derivatives) and managerial ownership that is deemed relevant and important to the Malaysian firms. Other forms of ownership such as state-/foreign owned and institutional ownership are not covered in this study.

This study has important implications to managers and investors. First is on the importance of risk management using derivatives to increase firm value, second, the influence of derivatives and managerial ownership on firm value and finally, the quality reporting on derivatives exposure by firms in line with the required accounting standard.

There is limited empirical evidence on the impact of derivatives on firm value as well as the influence of managerial ownership on hedging decisions of Malaysian firms. This study analyzes the influence of derivatives on firm value during the period in which reporting on derivatives in financial reports is made mandatory by the Malaysian regulator, hence avoiding data inaccuracy unlike the previous studies on Malaysia. This study therefore fills the gap in the literature in relation to the risk management strategies using derivatives in Malaysia.

This study examines the impact of hedging on firm value of Sharīʿah compliant firms (SCFs) in a non-linear framework.

This study employs the system-GMM for dynamic panel data to examine the influence of derivatives usage on firm value (Tobin's Q, ROA and ROE). The sample comprised of 59 non-financial SCFs engaged in derivatives from 2000 to 2017 (18 years). The Sasabuchi-Lind-Mehlum (SLM) test for U-shaped is performed to confirm the existence of the non-linear relationship.

This study concludes that hedging significantly contributes to firm value of SCFs based on the non-linear framework. This study suggests that, first, the non-linear relationship occurs due to the different degree of derivatives usage and risk. Second, firms practice selective hedging to maintain the upside potential of firm value.

This study has important implications. First, the importance of risk management via derivatives to increase firm value, second, the evidence of selective hedging from the non-linear relationship between derivatives and firm value and third, the need for quality reporting on derivatives engagement by firms in line with the required accounting standard on derivatives.

This study fills the gap in the literature in relation to the risk management strategies of SCFs in three aspects. First, re-examines the relationship using recent data. Second, examines the relationship in the non-linear framework as the limited studies found in the literature on Malaysian firms are only based on linear relationship. Third, determines whether hedging undertaken by firms is optimal as this can only be addressed using the non-linear framework. This study is robust to the various definitions of firm value (Tobin's Q, ROA and ROE) and non-linear methodologies.

Wearable sensors can be used to monitor many interesting parameters about the wearer’s physiology and environment, with important applications in personal health and well-being, sports performance and personal safety. Wearable chemical sensors can monitor the status of the wearer by accessing body fluids, such as sweat, in an unobtrusive manner. They can also be used to protect the wearer from hazards in the environment by sampling potentially harmful gas emissions, such as carbon monoxide. Integrating chemical sensors into textile structures is a challenging and complex task. Issues which must be considered include sample collection, calibration, waste handling, fouling and reliability. Sensors must also be durable and comfortable to wear. Here, we present examples of wearable chemical sensors that monitor the person and also his/her environment. We also discuss the issues involved in developing wearable chemical sensors and strategies for sensor design and textile integration.

This paper aims to propose a supply model of periodic review with joint replenishment for multi-products grouped by several variables with random and time dependence demand.

The products are grouped by multivariate cluster analysis. The stochastic inventory model describes the random demand of each product, considering the temporal dependency through a generalized autoregressive moving average model. Stochastic programming for the total cost of inventory is obtained considering the expected value of the demand per unit of time.

The total costs for the products grouped with the proposed model are 6% lower than for the individual inventory policy. The expected shortage units decrease significantly in the proposed grouped model with temporary dependence. In addition, the proposal with temporary dependency has lower costs than when the independent and identically distributed demand is considered.

The proposed policy is exemplified with real-world data from a Chilean hospital, where the products (drugs) are segmented by grouping variables, forming clusters of drugs with homogeneous behavior within the groups and heterogeneous behavior between groups.

This paper aims to examine the effect of inventory information sharing on inventory efficiency and its intervening effect of information technology (IT) capability in manufacturing firms.

Stratified random sampling and filter questions selected targeted respondents, and an online survey collected 124 completed questionnaires from Malaysian manufacturing firms. partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) examined the structural model and hypothesis statement. An analysis of importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) test identified the relative importance drivers of inventory efficiency.

The findings showed that enhanced IT capabilities in manufacturing firms mediate a positive relationship between inventory sharing and inventory efficiency.

This study portrays the relationship between inventory level, demand and information sharing. The research was carried out only within Malaysian manufacturing firms.

These findings will enable the management of manufacturing firms to design and visualise their inventory levels and share best practices across supply chain networks to achieve effective and optimised inventory planning.

This study illustrates an intervention model that offers a direct and indirect impact of IT capabilities that allow scholars to close inventories productivity gaps in research.

This paper extends the limited literature on the sharing of inventory information and inventory productivity, notably from a strategic management perspective. The findings help scholars clearly understand the information systems capability and its mediating impact on information sharing and inventory efficiency’s relationship in the manufacturing sector. Moreover, demand information sharing affected the dynamic supply chain.

Although many studies have sought to address the topic of continuance intention among Fintech customers, the reported findings are fragmented. Therefore, the present study proposes a research model that integrates the main constructs involved in Fintech continuance intention.

The current study uses a meta-analytic-based correlation analysis of effect sizes, meta-regression analysis and meta-analytic structural equation modeling, with 247 effect sizes in 69 studies involving 26,140 respondents.

The results reveal continuance intention is driven by satisfaction and trust, with ease of use and usefulness being antecedents of satisfaction and trust. The authors also found evidence to show satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between ease of use and continuance intention and that trust fully mediates the relationship between ease of use and continuance intention and partially mediates the relationship between usefulness and continuance intention. In addition, the authors found that in Western countries, with higher Human Development Index levels and greater of use of electronic payment, satisfaction has more impact on continuance intention.

From a theoretical standpoint, this meta-analytic study has implications for the literature on Fintech by offering an empirical generalization on the strength of the antecedents of Fintech continuance intentions and by testing possible moderators in a wide range of countries and studies. In other words, this study’s goal is to broaden the scope of the research. Regarding managerial implications, it is important to listen to user opinions regarding the positive and negative points of their experience with these technologies and take them into consideration when planning improvements. Additionally, the analysis shows the importance of using data from user interaction with technology, obtained, for example, through big data analytics, whereby companies can see how users behave, how much time they spend accessing certain functions and which technological features they use most, and thus seek to improve whatever is needed.

This meta-analytic study advances the understanding of Fintech continuance intentions. Using the proposed approach, it is possible to generate accurate estimates of the effect size of each analyzed antecedent as the meta-analytic method jointly evaluates the results produced by a wide variety of studies performed in different contexts, allowing more accurate conclusions to be drawn.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of board diversity on firm performance.

From different theories perspective and based on data collected about the composition of board of directors in Spanish non-financial firms, the paper determines statistically the relationship between board diversity and performance for the period 2005-2015.

The results reveal differences between inside and outside board members in terms of the performance impact of board diversity. Thus, while age diversity has a positive effect on firm performance in both, insider and outsider directors, nationality mix is associated with higher performance levels just in the case of insiders. In addition, educational diversity seems to have a negative effect on performance for supervisory directors. On the contrary, the authors do not find any evidence about a possible influence of gender diversity on performance.

The authors are just taking some board’s attributes, but the concept of board diversity is a very wide one. In this regard, less traditional methodologies that do not rely on extant archival databases may be necessary to get a deeper understanding of the impact of boards on firm’s performance.

This study demonstrates that the claim of “one size fits all” often implicitly stated by regulators and advisors is misleading. Board’s attributes analysis over the boardroom as a whole turns out in too simplistic conclusions. This is particularly important for regulators: a rigorous analysis should be performed before including general recommendations about, for instance, the age or the board tenure in corporate governance codes.

As diverse boards contribute to a greater social value, the paper analyses the performance consequences of demographic diversity.

The paper analyses the firm performance impact of diversity among insider directors, on the one hand, and outsider directors, on the other. Although there is a clear difference between the roles assigned to insider and outsider directors, to the authors’ knowledge, there has been no analysis of the firm performance effect of the diversity of each type of director using the same sample and methodology.

This study aims to analyze the relationship between the adherence to critical chain project management (CCPM) practices and the new product development performance, in terms of the results of product development programs and product portfolio management (PPM).

A survey was conducted with 79 innovative companies operating in Brazil. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis and non-parametric tests.

Significant and positive correlations were found between CCPM adoption and the performance factors proposed. The adoption of CCPM offered stronger correlation with PPM performance than with the adoption of traditional methods. The results further indicate a possible indirect contribution of CCPM practices to the product development program by means of PPM improvement.

This study deepens the knowledge of the joint study between project management and new product development, by bringing empirical evidence that the adoption of specific practices suggested by CCPM is used by organizations with superior performance. Moreover, the results broaden CCPM literature by attesting that companies do not necessarily have to apply the CCPM approach in a formal and explicit way to obtain the performance results given. The analyses still have practical value when indicating which CCPM practices should be prioritized by managers seeking high performance in PPM.