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The objective of this work is to explore possible relationships of theoretical affinity that the concept of public sphere (understood in its original German formulation: Öffentlichkeit) can establish with Luhmann’s concepts of observation and differentiation. In this way, we aim to demonstrate that it can occupy a central place within the author’s theory.

We made a literature review of Luhmann’s writings and some of its readers in order to compare the concept of public sphere with two main concepts of his work: observation and differentiation.

For each one of the concepts (differentiation and observation), we have postulated and developed a theoretical proposition that demonstrates the deep connection between the respective concept and the concept of public sphere.

Luhmann’s concept of public sphere never received much attention. The author developed it only in a few pages, and it never achieved a theoretical centrality alongside other main concepts such as contingency, differentiation, meaning, communication, etc. Nevertheless, we argue here that, despite being little developed by the author, the concept of public sphere has an unexplored potential that allows it to be placed alongside other central concepts in his work.

Takaful has substantial prospects to obtain mutual protection, financial inclusion and sustainability of life and wealth. Structuring takaful with tabarrù triggers controversies and impedes achieving desired takaful outcomes. This study aims to investigate tabarrù-based takaful models and determine tàawun as the underlying notion of takaful.

The study employs a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews to obtain primary data. Nineteen one-to-one interviews have been conducted with Sharìah and operational experts in the takaful industry. A thematic analysis method is utilised to investigate qualitative data.

The study finds that tabarrù contradicts the spirit of takaful. Donations cannot be subject to any form of refund, and receiving benefits from donations turns the arrangement into an exchange contract. Takaful participants never intend to make a pure donation while paying contributions. Moreover, tabarrù is not feasible for practicing any form of surplus sharing with participants. The study identifies that tàawun helps to overcome these issues and attain the potential of takaful. Tàawun facilitates benefit and surplus sharing with participants and others, eventually contributing to financial inclusion, solidarity and sustainability of the financial system.

Reflecting tàawun as the underlying notion, benefits of takaful can be shared with participants. Also, as a broader application of tàawun, subsidising different takaful operators by underwriting surplus can be practiced. Besides, tàawun allows surplus sharing with any charitable purpose, contributing to financial inclusion and public welfare.

The study contributes to Islamic insurance knowledge. It helps formulate policies and develop takaful products by integrating tàawun into takaful. Additionally, the study supports the idea of cross-subsidisation of underwriting surplus among diverse takaful operators.

The purpose of the current work is to present an intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) concept-based structured framework for selecting the optimal maintenance policy in a sugar mill.

The proposed framework utilizes IF concept based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approaches, specifically IF-analytic hierarchy process (IF-AHP) and IF-Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (IF-TOPSIS). IF theory based MCDM approaches utilises the hesitation present in the maintenance experts to encounter the uncertainties/vagueness to much higher degree of accuracy in decision-making. The suggested framework is used to evaluate and select the optimal maintenance policy based on six different criteria namely safety factor, cost factor, maintenance factor, reliability, risk and added values.

The IF-AHP approach has been employed to calculate the weights of the criteria and sub-criteria, while the IF-TOPSIS approach was utilized to rank the maintenance strategies. Based on the results, with a relative coefficient value of 0.7204, corrective maintenance (CM) is determined to be the best maintenance policy. For certifying the consistency of the recommended structured framework, sensitivity analysis (SA) has been also conducted.

The ranking results obtained from the analysis are provided to the maintenance management of the considered sugar mill for its further implementation and validation. The findings of this work are also applicable to all other sugar mill industries which are installed globally.

The analysis results has been supplied to the maintenance manager of considered sugar mill industry. The implementation policy of the results will be shared with the higher management and hence once implemented the results could be tested and verified.

The developed framework so implemented to the considered sugar mill industry is original in nature. Also, consideration of hesitation effect in the collected raw data under the developed framework provide more authenticated decision results which proves to be useful in achieving higher availability and profitability of the industry.

The insurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic insinuated that family-owned small hotels (F-OSH) should adopt AI capabilities and innovation activities and digitize their operations to survive. This study examines the potential of AI capabilities to digitally transform F-OSHs by leveraging innovation ambidexterity, preparing them for future disasters proactively. Additionally, it sheds light on how the impact of AI capabilities on innovation ambidexterity varies based on strategic fit. In addition, this research explores the influence of digital entrepreneurial intention on fostering innovation ambidexterity, essential for digital transformation in F-OSHs.

The study collected primary data from 318 descendant entrepreneurs designated as chairpersons or managing directors in F-OSH and analyzed the data using the partial least structural equation modeling technique.

This study found a positive association of AI capabilities, and digital entrepreneurial intention with the digital transformation of F-OSHs, while strategic fit does not have an association with innovation ambidexterity. Innovation ambidexterity mediates the relationship between AI capabilities and digital transformation in F-OSHs. Moreover, a strong strategic fit increases the effect of AI capabilities on innovation ambidexterity. Furthermore, a high intention for digital entrepreneurship reduces the impact of innovation ambidexterity on the digital transformation of F-OSHs.

The combination of AI capabilities and innovation ambidexterity has transformed F-OSHs' digital transformation. This proactive approach to dealing with economic recessions such as COVID-19 is also influenced by digital entrepreneurial intention and strategic fit.

Anchored on the dynamic capability theory, this study provides valuable insights and novel empirical evidence by investigating the mediating mechanism of innovation ambidexterity and boundary condition of strategic fit and digital entrepreneurial intention between AI capabilities and digital transformation in F-OSHs.

This study aims to explore the influence of Fourier-feature enhanced physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) on effectively solving two-dimensional local time-fractional anomalous diffusion equations with nonlinear thermal diffusivity. By tackling the shortcomings of conventional numerical methods in managing fractional derivatives and nonlinearities, this research addresses a significant gap in the literature regarding efficient solution strategies for complex diffusion processes.

This study uses a quantitative methodology featuring a feed-forward neural network architecture combined with a Fourier feature layer. Automatic differentiation is implemented to ensure precise gradient calculations for fractional derivatives. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is showcased through numerical simulations across various sub-diffusion and super-diffusion scenarios, with fractal space parameters adjusted to examine behavior. In addition, the training process is assessed using the Fisher information matrix to analyze the loss landscape.

The results demonstrate that the Fourier-feature enhanced PINNs effectively capture the dynamics of the anomalous diffusion equation, achieving greater solution accuracy than traditional methods. The analysis using the Fisher information matrix underscores the importance of hyperparameter tuning in optimizing network performance. These findings support the hypothesis that Fourier features improve the model’s capacity to represent complex solution behaviors, providing the relationship between model architecture and diffusion dynamics.

This research presents a novel approach to solving fractional anomalous diffusion equations through Fourier-feature enhanced PINNs. The results contribute to the advancement of computational methods in areas such as thermal engineering, materials science and biological diffusion modeling, while also providing a foundation for future investigations into training dynamics within neural networks.

Resources provided by The Northern Brazilian Constitutional Financing Fund (FNO) aim to promote regional development to economically and socially backward regions through subsidized financial resources for economic activities, including agriculture. This study aims to determine whether rural credit and the FNO were able to produce structural changes in the distribution of financial resources and thus contribute to economic growth in Northern Brazilian municipalities.

This paper used inequality indexes and the Local Indicator of Spatial Association to verify the credit concentration and the spatial presence of clusters. To analyze the role of credit in promoting agricultural growth, this paper estimated an ordinary least squares regression with panel data for 450 municipalities during 1995–2017.

The results highlighted that rural credit, including the FNO, is essential to incentivizing agricultural production and increasing rural income. However, the financial resources are mostly captured by a small share of municipalities, spatially clustered in the expanding agricultural frontier of Pará, Tocantins and Rondônia states. Low-Low clusters are mainly present in the Western Amazonian region and are subject to structural and institutional constraints that reduce their demand for credit. The FNO resources proved insufficient to reduce financial inequality between Brazil’s northern municipalities.

This study demonstrates that the FNO’s policies are failing to reduce the concentration of financial resources in Amazonian agriculture. The results emphasize the importance of credit for development and, consequently, reducing inequality, which leads to a higher demand for financial resources by farmers. Implications include supporting economic agents with infrastructure and technical assistance, as well as improving farmers’ access to the banking system.

Social innovation (SI) is seen as a cornerstone for addressing the major social and environmental challenges of today’s world.Given that multinational enterprises (MNEs) play a crucial role in contributing to a more sustainable world, this leads us to wonder about the potential of these innovation initiatives in the context of these firms. This systematic literature review aims to explore SI within these firms and suggest future research avenues, as well as highlight the implications of the subject.

Based on the analysis of 46 articles, this paper employs the PRISMA method to conduct a systematic literature review on SI within MNEs.

Drawing from the analysis of the results, this paper observes that SI within MNEs is generally mobilized within the framework of other responsible conceptualizations such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); however, it remains a crucial lever for value creation in MNEs. Additionally, this review asserts that social innovation within MNEs acts as a catalyst for sustainability, social change, institutional effectiveness and knowledge sharing within these firms. Moreover, it illustrates the conditions for the success of this innovation in MNEs, including addressing the instrumental needs of target users, committing to the long term, the ability to shape the environment, maintaining a strong position among stakeholders and adapting new technologies.

This review offers a nuanced exploration of how SI manifests within MNEs, examining its diverse conceptualizations, functions and the conditions necessary for success. Building on this analysis, it highlights key theoretical, practical and policy implications, along with a series of research questions designed to establish a solid foundation for future research.

This research aims to enhance the model of student learning behavior by expanding the traditional theory of reasoned action (TRA) to incorporate variables such as student mental well-being (SMW), attitude, subjective norms (SNB), perceived behavioral control (PBC) and climate change concerns. The study examines students’ intentions as a mediator variable and student area as a moderator variable in student learning behaviors.

A structured questionnaire was administered to 610 higher education students in Gujarat, exploring variables related to student characteristics, mental well-being, attitudes, SNB, PBC, Climate change concerns (CML), change concerns and intentions to study. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling with mediation and moderation analyses using SPSS 22 and AMOS 26.

The empirical findings support the hypothesized relationships within the expanded model, indicating significant contributions of SMW, attitude, SNB, PBC and CML to forming solid intentions to pursue education. Additionally, the study reveals a positive association between intention and subsequent learning behavior moderated by the student residence area.

The study confirms the proposed relationships within the expanded model, with SMW significantly influencing students’ academic intentions. Factors like attitude, SNB and climate change are crucial in shaping educational pursuits. The research enriches educational psychology by detailing the complex influences on student learning behavior, offering insights for enhancing educational strategies and outcomes as the academic environment evolves.

This research offers an innovative approach by expanding the traditional TRA to explore the influences on student learning behavior in education comprehensively. Integrating variables such as SMW, attitude and CML provides a nuanced understanding, contributing to theoretical development and practical educational implications.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a condensed perspective of blockchain-related concepts for business researchers and practitioners, amid the growing popularity of the subject.

This paper is a literature review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews methodology. We have revised 42 papers that have detailed concepts such as blockchain, Web 3.0, blockchain types, affordances, and limitations.

The paper creates a comprehensive overview of blockchain-related concepts. It starts by looking at the blockchain's various definitions and explains the technology's novelty. The components and the process of making a transaction in the blockchain are explained from a combined paradigm, including both business and technological concepts. Further on, the paper discusses the existing types of blockchain, together with the affordances provided by the usage of the technology. The last part includes the limitations of blockchain.

The present study reveals the existence of three paradigms while studying the subject: business-centric, technological-centric, and combined. While the primary aim of this research is to explain concepts for business researchers and practitioners, it includes technological aspects as well, therefore, aligning with the combined paradigm.

This study aims to examin the challenges and issues surrounding flood insurance in Sri Lanka, which can provide valuable insights into how such programs can be effectively implemented in developing countries. It is essential to consider the role of insurance companies, the potential financial burdens and how these practices can be integrated into urban planning to create a more resilient built environment.

Published literature was referred to collect information on insurance schemes practiced worldwide. Semi-structured interview transcripts were analyzed, followed by a thematic analysis of the case study.

The findings from this study show that most private insurers in Sri 3Lanka are reluctant to provide insurance coverage to high-risk flood-affected communities. Additionally, the flood insurance program introduced by the government in 2016 and 2017 is not functioning anymore because of the insufficient funds allocated to execute such assistance programs. As a remedial measure, developing a national flood insurance scheme is proposed, supported by a strong aid program from international donors and public–private partnerships with government and private insurance companies. As New Zealand, Canada and Indonesia practiced, cross-subsidization and offering discounts for premiums for policyholders who have taken some mitigatory measures are the main findings from the comprehensive literature review.

One of this study’s main contributions is to identify the key areas that need to be developed in the existing nature of flood insurance in developing countries, including Sri Lanka. These key areas were identified from the feedback of private insurers and the literature on current insurance practices.