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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how the technology acceptance model (TAM) and structural equation modeling (SEM) might be used to assess customer acceptance of financial apps aiming at paving the road for enabling a cashless society in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Design/methodology/approach: Using a convenience sample of 600 users of the BenefitPay app in the Kingdom of Bahrain, this study used the quantitative research approach to obtain 427 usable responses. Following a descriptive study to establish a framework for the data and a subsequent inferential analysis using SEM with confirmatory factor analysis, the research hypotheses were tested. Findings: The results of this study back up what is claimed in the TAM theory literature, which shows that banking customers in the Kingdom of Bahrain who use e-payment methods are more likely to use BenefitPay if it is both easy to use and useful. BenefitPay systems behavioral intention to use was also highly influenced by aspects like ease of use and usefulness, which enable the development of cashless societies. Research limitations/implications: This research work contribution is described through exploring how a cashless society is developed using electronic apps by studying the case of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Kingdom of Bahrain is unique, and hence the knowledge obtained from studying it cannot be applied mechanically to any other nation. Instead, the paper seeks to explain the motivations behind Bahrain's move toward a cashless society, to analyze the difficulties and potential benefits of this transition and to spark much-needed conversations on how having less cash or none would affect the economies. Bahrain's BenefitPay systems can be seen as a current pushing force toward cashless society; thus, understanding how people in the Kingdom of Bahrain adopt e-payment techniques is vital. Originality/value: The TAM conceptual model is experimentally validated in this study using cutting-edge methods like SEM with value creation for banking sector management, making it stand out from similar research. This research may prove useful in laying the groundwork for a cashless society in the Kingdom of Bahrain by analyzing the key elements that affect the BenefitPay app. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper uses an ongoing business-to-business (B2B) relationship perspective to establish the interrelationships between trust, commitment, and relationship satisfaction (as relational constructs) and specific assets, formalization, and opportunism (as transaction cost variables) from a buyer's perspective, framed within micro-enterprises in the business banking industry in South Africa. Data were collected via self-administered online questionnaires from 381 micro-enterprise customers of one of South Africa's major banks. We first used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the measurement model before structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to estimate the hypothesized relationships between the study constructs. The measurement and structural models fitted the data well. The research was approached using the dual theoretical lenses of relationship marketing and transaction cost theory to investigate relationship satisfaction from a buyer's perspective. The results support the notion that, in a B2B context, relationship satisfaction is an outcome of trust and commitment, with commitment being the stronger predictor. Relationship satisfaction, in turn, was positively related to both specific assets and formalization (the relationship with formalization being the strongest), and a negative relationship between relationship satisfaction and opportunism. Since our results found commitment to be a stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction than trust (contrary to much previous research that found the opposite to be true), the paper concludes with several commitment-related suggestions for banks. Although much research exists on trust, commitment, and satisfaction, to our knowledge this study is the first using dual theoretical lenses (relationship marketing and transaction cost theory) to investigate relationship satisfaction from a buyer's perspective among micro-enterprise customers in a banking context. The insights gained from our study therefore not only address this under-researched area (micro-enterprises), but also contribute toward expanding our understanding of forming (and maintaining) banking relationships with the customers of the smallest-sized businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a widespread and commonly used approach to test substantive hypotheses in the social and behavioral sciences. When performing hypothesis tests, it is vital to rely on a sufficiently large sample size to achieve an adequate degree of statistical power to detect the hypothesized effect. However, applications of SEM rarely consider statistical power in informing sample size considerations or determine the statistical power for the focal hypothesis tests performed. One reason is the difficulty in translating substantive hypotheses into specific effect size values required to perform power analyses, as well as the lack of user-friendly software to automate this process. The present paper presents the second version of the R package semPower which includes comprehensive functionality for various types of power analyses in SEM. Specifically, semPower 2 allows one to perform both analytical and simulated a priori, post hoc, and compromise power analysis for structural equation models with or without latent variables, and also supports multigroup settings and provides user-friendly convenience functions for many common model types (e.g., standard confirmatory factor analysis [CFA] models, regression models, autoregressive moving average [ARMA] models, cross-lagged panel models) to simplify power analyses when a model-based definition of the effect in terms of model parameters is desired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper conceptualizes safety voice climate and presents a measurement tool named the "Safety Voice Climate Scale" (SVCS) • The SVCS consists of the two theoretical dimensions "Work colleagues' encouragement of safety voice" and "Leaders' attitudes towards safety voice". • The paper presents initial evidence for SVCS' validity. • The paper assessed the associations between safety voice climate and safety voice behavior. • The sample included 7624 employees from the Norwegian petroleum sector. • Confirmatory factor analyses supported the proposed two-factor model, and the internal consistency of the factors was good. • A SEM model including the SVCS as predictor of safety voice behavior showed good fit, indicating acceptable criterion validity. Introduction : Speaking up about safety issues, termed "safety voice," is a proactive response where people across all levels of the organization express their concerns to prevent physical hazards. An understanding of safety voice requires insight into its antecedents. A perceived need to fit in with the organization and fear of consequences can trump the courage to speak out about safety concerns. Safety voice climate can be seen as a manifestation of the social exchanges in an organization and functions as a roadmap of which speaking out behaviors are encouraged and which behaviors are not. This study conceptualizes safety voice climate, presents the Safety Voice Climate Scale (SVCS) as a measurement tool, and gathers initial evidence for its validity. The study also assesses the associations between the SVCS and safety voice behavior. Method : The SVCS and the measurement of safety voice behavior were derived from the Trends in Risk Level in the Norwegian Petroleum Activity questionnaire. The SVCS includes the two theoretical dimensions Work colleagues' encouragement of safety voice and Leaders' attitudes towards safety voice. Psychometric properties were tested with a representative sample from the Norwegian petroleum sector (n = 7,624). Results : Confirmatory factor analyses supported the proposed two-factor model, and the internal consistency of the factors was good. Furthermore, a structural equation model including the SVCS as predictors of safety voice behavior showed a good fit, indicating acceptable criterion validity, although only the Work colleagues' encouragement of safety voice variable was significantly associated with safety voice behavior. Conclusion and practical application : The SVCS can be used as a tool to detect some of the barriers and supporting elements relating to safety voice and guidance on the efforts needed to foster work climates that promote communication of safety issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Primary education (PE) forms the foundation of high-quality education systems, but it is often underestimated. This paper aims to develop and empirically validate a measurement instrument to study the current stage of total quality management (TQM) implementation in PE. Design/methodology/approach: This study developed a seven-dimensional and a 37-item instrument administered to education professionals at public PE institutions in Greece to determine the current stage of TQM implementation at their institution; 2,088 responses were received in total. Principal component analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were adopted to test the research instrument. Findings: The findings supported the validity and reliability of the instrument and demonstrated that the proposed measures represent actual dimensions that can be used to explore the implementation of TQM in PE. Results also showed that the respondents rated highly the positive impact that TQM can have on their schools, although nonhuman resources have been found inadequate and problematic. Practical implications: The field of TQM in PE lacks empirical evidence; this paper provides deep insight into the elements that demonstrate the perception and status of TQM implementation and can support quality implementation plans. Originality/value: This study adds value to the TQM literature by developing an instrument for use in PE educational institutions and validating it in a real environment. Practitioners and researchers are thus supplied with the means to facilitate TQM practices, identify weaknesses and opportunities and contribute to social empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development of a comprehensive campus facility management performance assessment model (CFMPM). The model employs structural equation modeling (SEM) and incorporates a thorough list of crucial success factors. The CFMPM tool is intended for use by industry shareholders to evaluate the operational effectiveness of campus facility management (CFM) and analyze the proficiency and constraints of CFM organization across diverse managerial tiers. Key CFM success factors were collected using interviews with experts and relevant literature, validated using two rounds of the Delphi technique with 14 highly qualified experts, and disseminated via an online questionnaire to industry experts who rated them according to their significance. Data were obtained from 402 participants hailing from diverse regions. Then, SEM was used to perform a quantitative analysis of the interconnectedness between the various aspects of CFM performance, with the aim of ascertaining the influence of each construct on overall performance. The model was rigorously assessed for its robustness across several parameters, including goodness-of-fit measurements, multivariate normality tests, and reliability and validity tests, in addition to hypothesis analysis. The gathered data were used to construct a CFMPM comprising 45 key performance indicators of successful CFM grouped into seven different constructs. The application of SEM revealed a noteworthy correlation between the operational indicators of proficient CFM and the construct groups, in addition to the impact of efficacious CFM constructs on CFM performance overall. This research enhances the existing knowledge base by identifying vital indicators for the evaluation of CFM effectiveness and utilizing them to formulate an inclusive global SEM capable of serving as a tool for gauging the efficiency of CFM. This could lend valuable support for organizations, facility managers, and policy makers when making well-informed decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an econometric modelling framework to unravel the communication and mobility issues of visually impaired pedestrians in the context of connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs). The research uses a dataset collected through a tailor-made stated-preference survey given to visually impaired pedestrians and provides evidence-based recommendations on communication techniques. The recommendations are based on the findings of a structural equation model (SEM) estimated using the survey data. The latent factors 'safety and security' and 'importance of hearing' are generated using a confirmatory factor analysis embedded in the SEM. The results from the model show that these two factors have negative influences on how much a visually impaired pedestrian trusts the use of CAVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are five major injurious accidents in China's construction industry, namely, falling from height, collapse, object strike, electric shock, and mechanical injury, among which falling from height is the the most common with great harm. On the basis of previous relevant literature and safety technical regulations, this paper firstly identified the risk factors for each of the five most common height fallings. Besides, according to the accident cause theory, 18 factors leading to height falling accidents were determined and screened out from four aspects of personnel, external objects, management and environment. Moreover, questionnaires were distributed to 350 front-line workers with 298 valid questionnaires collected. After reliability and validity tests of SPSS, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted using structural equation model (SEM) to compare the influence of risk factors. The results showed that workers' unsafe behaviors are the most likely to lead to height falling accidents, followed by the influence of external objects, management factors and environmental effects. Besides, effective protective equipment, weather changes during construction, safety education and training are worth special attention. This paper aims to enrich the literature research on the cause factors of height falling, and tends to provide some constructive suggestions for construction site safety management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examined the impact of interactive mobile applications regarding usefulness, ease to use, and enjoyment on consumers' intentions used in hotels. The study also included the moderating role of self-construal. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to test the proposed research model using a sample of 201 valid questionnaires. The results indicated significant positive relationships among hotel guests' perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intentions. Moreover, the moderating role test verified that self-construal has significant moderating interaction for two relationships: perceived usefulness and attitude, along with perceived ease of use and attitude. The findings enable practical usage of hotel mobile applications in the lodging industry, where hotel operators could offer advanced quality service to their consumers. This study contributes to the lodging industry by proposing how interactive mobile technology can be adapted to enhance consumers' experiences and suggest benefits for their businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsafe acts of ship officers have been a direct cause of many maritime accidents. In the maritime industry, much effort has been made to prevent unsafe acts and to improve safe behaviours of ship officers. The positive effect of organizational safety climate on human behaviour has been well documented in the literature. Within this context, this paper aims to pioneer the development of the measurement constructs of safety climate in shipping operations and analyze its impact on safety consciousness and behaviour of ship officers. Using primary data collected from 284 deck officers and captains, an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation model are used to reveal the relationship among the constructs of safety climate, safety consciousness and safety behaviour. The research results show that (1) safety climate generates a direct positive effect on safety consciousness and behaviour; (2) safety consciousness has a positive effect on safety behaviour; and (3) safety consciousness acts as a mediator between safety climate and safety behaviour. Its managerial implications and practical contributions lie in the provision of useful insights on how ship managers can effectively gain the improved safety behaviours of ship officers by appropriate introduction of safety climate and consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the effect of parent–adolescent conflict in step versus biological families on family communication patterns (FCPs) and the conflict resolution strategy adopted by adolescents during family destinations or holiday planning (where to visit?). Design/methodology/approach: The literature on family conflict (i.e. parent–adolescent conflict) and the different types of families (step vs nuclear) supported the proposed framework. The survey was conducted in the Indian subcontinent with a sample size of 437 adolescents. SPSS 22.0 was used for factor analysis (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis) and structural equation modelling was used through AMOS 26.0 for data analysis. Findings: Significant relationship was observed between the types of families (step and biological), FCP and the resolution strategy chosen by Indian adolescents. Adopting a resolution strategy by adolescents in both families depends on the type of FCP in the family. Adolescents in stepfamilies have socio-oriented FCP and use "positive problem-solving" and "conflict withdrawal" as a resolution strategy. In contrast, adolescents in biological families have concept-oriented families and use "conflict enhancement" as a resolution strategy. It has also been found that adolescents who fall into high-stress categories used conflict enhancement strategies. In contrast, those who fall under low-stress categories used positive problem-solving and withdrawal strategies. Practical implications: This study will add a new chapter to adolescents' decision-making literature in line with the previous research. It has practical implications for tourism marketers, academicians/researchers and policymakers. Marketers can segment adolescents into step versus biological families, and the choice of resolution strategies may introduce efficient and competent marketing strategies and promotional campaigns. Originality/value: This study favours that family type is a robust construct to predict adolescents' choice of resolution strategy. So, it is one of the most influential variables in adolescents' resolution strategy adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper investigates the effects of strategic human resource practices on intellectual capital and new product development performance in knowledge-based firms. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach was adopted to conduct the present study. The respondents were sampled from knowledge-based firms in Iran. Overall, 120 managers in 60 knowledge-based firms were selected using convenience sampling. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to ascertain the validity and reliability of the observed items, and a structural equation model was employed for testing the proposed hypotheses. Findings: In the studied firms, strategic human resource practices have a positive and significant effect on intellectual capital. Moreover, the findings of this study indicate that those firms that use their intellectual capital have a higher new product development performance. Research limitations/implications: The study focuses on knowledge-based firms in Iran, which limits the generalizability of the research results. Therefore, future studies should be carried out with samples from other settings and countries. Moreover, as the study was cross-sectional, the causal relationships could not be inferred directly. Practical implications: With regard to key areas of improvement identified in this study, knowledge-based firms should focus on increasing new product development performance by improving employees' training, involving them in their job-related decision-making process, empowering employees to innovate, developing intellectual capital and monitoring the customer's satisfaction level of new products. Originality/value: The study extends the intellectual capital literature by linking strategic human resource practices to new product development performance in knowledge-based firms via intellectual capital as a mediator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shore power is a green technology used by the shipping industry to abate emissions from vessels berthing in ports. This paper aims to identify industry-related opinions on shore power based on a set of collected data by means of a questionnaire in China. A four-pronged approach is used for this investigation. First, a questionnaire based on more than 50 items of related literature was designed. Second, factor analysis, including exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, was carried out. Third, a structural equation model was used to test specified hypotheses and identify connections among varied factors, such as technology, application, etc. Finally, other related questions, such as development trends and the influence on shore power of new regulations on use of sulphur, were investigated. The results show that motivation, application, incentive, technology, and recognition all have positive influences on the promotion of shore power with 0.452, 0.398, 0.239, 0.216, and 0.194 standardised factor loadings, respectively. Meanwhile, a unified standard, subsidy/incentive, and implementation/enforcement are considered three urgent measures that can be employed to improve the uptake of shore power. Moreover, in upcoming years, digitalisation of application and payment and decarbonisation are predicted to be two major development trends in the industrial use of shore power. Three-quarters of the respondents thought that a new/lower limit of sulphur emission would boost the use of shore power. The findings from this investigation provide a decision-making tool for policymakers and the developed method can be used to promote the wide use of green technology. • Take a four-pronged method to identify industry-related opinions on shore power. • Use a structural equation model to explore connections among varied factors. • Unified standards, incentives, and enforcement are shown to be 3 urgent measures to broaden the uptake of shore power. • Digitalisation and decarbonisation are identified to be 2 major trends in the industrial use of shore power. • A lower limit of Sulphur emission would boost the use of shore power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As few studies have explored the causal relationship between both the triple bottom line (TBL) of sustainability and the lean practices in higher education institutions (HEIs), the purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationships between lean practices and sustainable practices in Brazilian HEIs. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted with 454 public and private HEIs workers in Brazil. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling were used for data analysis. Findings: The results support the hypotheses of the study that HEI lean practices are positively related to environmental, economic and social practices in HEIs. Practical implications: HEI managers must evaluate the use of lean practices in the organizational processes, to identify their weaknesses and to improve the aspects that influence a balanced TBL of sustainability practices. Social implications: The findings highlight the importance of leadership as a support for the workers, as a continuous improvement practice on a daily basis and a focus on the student as a basic principle of HEI success. Originality/value: This article provides new measurement and structural models to analyze Lean thinking practices as the predictors of sustainability practices. The work could assist any HEI in prioritizing its strategies and actions and to contribute to excellence in decision-making. This study could contribute as a source of empirical data for transferability in other contexts for HEIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human resources are recognized as the ultimate and most indispensable resource in economic development. In this study, an inquiry was made to ascertain the determinants of workers' innovativeness. A survey of 229 respondents in food and beverage processing firms selected through random and snowballing sampling techniques was implemented. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and the structural equation model. Findings reveal that though personal, family, organizational and social factors were hypothesized to be influencing the ability of employees to innovate, only family (β = 0.358; p < 0.001) and organizational (β = 0.213; p < 0.01) factors showed a significant and positive influence on employees' innovativeness. The paper concludes that the support employees received from their homes and organizations is crucial and contributed significantly to their innovative ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 20% of the population is disabled. Many people have mobility problems, including the elderly and people with young children. It is crucial to adapt cities to the needs of these people and, at the same time, to the needs of all residents. This is the subject of universal design, which should consider inhabitants' needs and habits. This information can be collected by Internet of Things (IoT) devices that observe and listen to residents. Residents do not accept constant surveillance, so the public may not accept data collection by IoT sensors. This study aimed to identify and evaluate factors influencing the acceptance of data collection by IoT devices for universal design. For this purpose, an online survey was prepared by the Warsaw University of Technology. The following statistical methods were used to analyze the data: descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis and structural equation modeling. This paper identifies key factors influencing the acceptance of IoT devices for universal design. The statistically significant factors are the perceived usefulness of data collection, trust in city authorities, the perceived security of data collected by IoT devices and empathy for people with disabilities. The original achievement of this study is its indication that empathy for the disabled moderates and increases the positive relationship between the perceived usefulness of IoT devices and their acceptance. It was also found that trust in city authorities mediates the relationship between the perceived usability and acceptance of IoT devices. City authorities can use the results of this analysis in the implementation of IoT devices in smart cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Error variance in structural models is often specified as a conditional variance associated with a manifest variable or as a regression path from a standardized error variance. This paper describes scenarios in which specification of both terms is useful: (1) Corrections for attenuation in single indicator factor models; (2) Tests of the equality in the proportion of explained variance across multiple dependent variables in regression models; (3) Factor models with two indicators; and (4) Tests of invariance in the proportion of measurement error variance across occasions in growth curve models. Examples of such models using both simulated and real-world data are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the fit of a confirmatory factor analysis model, researchers often rely on fit indices such as SRMR, RMSEA, and CFI. These indices are frequently compared to benchmark values of.08,.06, and.96, respectively, established by Hu and Bentler (Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55). However, these indices are affected by model characteristics and their sensitivity to misfit can change across models. Decisions about model fit can therefore be improved by tailoring cutoffs to each model. The methodological literature has proposed methods for deriving customized cutoffs, although it can require knowledge of linear algebra and Monte Carlo simulation. Given that many empirical researchers do not have training in these technical areas, empirical studies largely continue to rely on fixed benchmarks even though they are known to generalize poorly and can be poor arbiters of fit. To address this, this paper introduces the R package, dynamic, to make computation of dynamic fit index cutoffs (which are tailored to the user's model) more accessible to empirical researchers. dynamic heavily automatizes this process and only requires a lavaan object to automatically conduct several custom Monte Carlo simulations and output fit index cutoffs designed to be sensitive to misfit with the user's model characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry has grown significantly to fulfill the expanding need for accommodation, facilities, welfare, and services resulting from the rapid increase in the global population. Infrastructure projects in particular facilitate transportation and services for both new and existing areas, yet they are also one of the primary producers of construction waste, which is harmful to both society and the environment. Hence, the objective of this paper is to identify the factors affecting construction waste management in infrastructure projects (CWMIIP) and study their respective impacts on construction waste management (CWM) performance. This study makes a unique contribution by not only addressing the factors that influence the development of construction wastes and their importance, but also by giving quantifiable solutions and action plans to reduce the waste. Using a literature review, 26 factors were selected as the major contributors to construction waste in infrastructure projects. An online questionnaire was then developed to collect data on the respective impacts of these factors. A total of 167 complete responses to the questionnaire were collected, and a structural equation model (SEM) was developed to quantitatively measure the impact of each factor on waste management performance. The model was validated using goodness of fit (GOF), multivariate normality, construct validity, reliability, and hypotheses analyses. The results indicate that the most significant factors affecting the generation of construction wastes are "quantity take-off error by contractor," "unforeseen incidents damaging site and/or completed works," "design errors," and "extreme weather conditions damaging completed works." The model results showed that all predefined hypotheses were supported, except for the positive effect of the logistics group, which was dropped during model development. Individual factors were also divided into groups, and the total impact of each group was assessed; the "management" group had the greatest impact, followed by "execution," "others," and "procurement." Based on these findings, we make several recommendations to construction industry professionals to reduce waste and mitigate its harmful effects, such as requiring a construction waste management implementation plan before awarding a project to a contractor; engaging with project suppliers to provide execution training for contractor staff; ensuring proper implementation of health, safety, and environmental plans; and purchasing locally available materials. This research built a model based on structural equation modeling that will help researchers better understand the links between building waste management parameters. To examine the impact of each waste component on construction waste management performance, a quantitative model is built based on the data obtained. This quantitative waste management model could be used to track construction waste management performance. The findings of this study are not limited to infrastructure projects because they may be tailored to fit any project. As a result, it is recommended that project contractors and supervision consultants rely on the factors responsible for construction waste generation identified in this study to capture their actual construction waste factors. Also, having a record and log of all construction wastes generated during a project, as well as the reasons for these wastes, would help the organization improve its waste management learning curve for future projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Moral disengagement may affect human drivers' interactions with autonomous vehicles. • Moral disengagement is evaluated with the development of a new scale. • Moral disengagement is affected by personality traits, driving style and attitudes. • Predictors of aggressive driving may apply in interactions with autonomous vehicles. The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the road transportation systems raises questions with respect to their interactions with human drivers', especially during the early stages. Issues such as unfamiliarity or false assumptions regarding the timid and safe behaviour of AVs could potentially result in undesirable human driver behaviours, for instance "testing" AVs or being aggressive towards them. Among other factors, morality has been determined as a source of aggressive driving behaviour. Following previous approaches on moral disengagement, the current paper argues that moral standards during interactions of human drivers with AVs could potentially blur, leading to the disengagement of self-regulation mechanisms of moral behaviour. The study investigates the impact of moral disengagement on the intention of human drivers to be aggressive towards AVs. To that end, an online survey was conducted including a newly developed survey of moral disengagement, adapted to the context of AVs. Moreover, measures of personality, driving style, attitudes towards sharing the road with AVs and perceived threats were collected. A confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the concept of moral disengagement in the context of AVs. Moreover, relationships between personality, driving style and attitudes towards sharing the road with AVs were found, via a structural equation modelling approach (SEM). The results could have implications in the future driver training and education programmes, as it might be necessary to not only focus on driving skills but also on the development of procedural skills that will improve the understanding of AVs' capabilities and ensure safer interactions. Efforts on improving attitudes towards AVs may also be necessary for improving human driver behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lockdown of March and April 2020 declared by Spanish authorities in the Valencian Region to bending the Covid-19 curve, caused a drastic reduction of the economic activity and a severe limitation of mobility. People were asked to stay at home as much as possible. Education and administrative centers, as well as restaurants, theaters, sport arenas, etc., were closed. Work at conventional workplaces was prohibited for people who could tele-work, and students were compelled to attend classes on-line. Such limitation of mobility and spending so many time at home, could affect the wellbeing of people. The objective of the present paper is to present a study on the differences on wellbeing according to the mobility of respondents during the lockdown. Information from 1,827 individuals regarding the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs (Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness) and Positive and Negative affect were collected through and web-survey during the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic, together with mobility data and sociodemographic characteristics. Mann-Whitney U tests, Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Structural Equation models are used to find out differences in the wellbeing of people according to their mobility characteristics during the first lockdown, and how these mobility characteristics are associated to the psychological variables studied. Mobility of people during the first lockdown reduced drastically, especially the youngest ones, and the main travel mode was walking. In general, the youngest participants in this research and females present lower values of the psychological wellbeing variables during the lockdown. A very low or very high degree of mobility is also associated to discomfort, although the more time spent traveling the better people feel. Those who walked more are related to lower values of wellbeing. Some lessons are learned to improve transport and mobility planning during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism festival and special event innovation are the important factors influencing the creation of superior value, the achievement of customer loyalty, and profitable growth. Based on the perspective of product supply and consumer demand integration analysis, this paper constructed an integrated model of tourism festival and special event innovation and its impacts on tourists' behavioral intentions. The basic data was obtained through the tourist survey on Zhangjiajie International Country Music Festival, and the exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to empirically test the relationship between various dimensions of tourism festival and special event innovation and their impacts on tourists' behavioral intentions. The results show the following: (1) tourism festival and special event innovation includes six dimensions of performance, accessibility, self-service technology, aesthetic environment, tourist community, and loyalty program; (2) performance, self-service technology, and aesthetic environment have a significant positive impact on overall innovation, while accessibility, tourist community, and loyalty program have no significant impact on overall innovation; and (3) overall innovation has a significant positive impact on tourists' satisfaction, brand equity, and tourists' behavioral intentions. Moreover, tourists' satisfaction and brand equity play a partial intermediary role in the impacts of overall innovation on the tourists' behavioral intentions. The article concludes with research limitations and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The integration model by Ghazali et al. had been used to construct a new mathematical formulation for the Islamic unit trust model. In addition, this new model also provides two types of benefits for investors in the form of Takaful: death coverage and khairat kematian. Objectives: This research paper examines the acceptance of investors' knowledge, profit distribution, and benefits towards investors' acceptance of this new mathematical formulation of the Islamic unit trust model. Methods: A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed using simple random sampling among unitholders of each district of Terengganu. The respondents had at least one-unit trust in Malaysia. In order to filter the items and validate the constructs in the study, the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were used. The analysis was done using IBM-SPSS-AMOS version 21.0. Findings: The results of the CFA revealed that the value of RMSEA = 0.086, CFI = 0.895, TLI = 0.884, IFI = 0.896 and Chisq/df = 2.474 which means, all the factor loadings and fitness index are fulfilled. All the independent constructs in this study, which are investors' knowledge, profit distribution, and benefit, significantly affect the dependent variable, which is investors' acceptance. In addition, investors' benefits give the highest positive impact on investors' acceptance. Conclusions: Therefore, it is concluded that the public has accepted the new mathematical model of Islamic unit trust. Thus, it is recommended that the unit trust management companies implement this new Islamic unit model for investors and companies' advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In neuro-rehabilitation, the assessment of post-stroke patients' motor function of damaged upper extremities (UEs) is essential. Clinicians need clear and concise assessment instruments to monitor progress recorded in intensive rehabilitation sessions. One such instrument is Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), which, in our view, requires a modified scoring model aimed at improving the assessment process of patients' motor and functional UE status, and recording their step-by-step-progress, especially if patients undergo a short length of hospitalization (of about 10 therapy days). Hence, this paper presents a new scoring system developed by the authors. This systemresults in a more precise MMT grading scale, which has more grades and can provide a more specific muscular assessment, while offering more clarity in quantifying patients' progress after physical therapy. A prospective study was made of 41 post-stroke patients with upper extremity (UE) impairments. To determine the validity of the assessment tool for hypothesizing, and the unidimensionality and internal consistency of the customized model, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a structural equation model (SEM), Cronbach's Alpha, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used with Fugl–Meyer (FM) assessments, the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), AROM, and the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS). Considering the unidimensionality of the instrument used, we performed a linear regression to identify whether certain movements performed segmentally by the manually evaluated muscles influence the measured manual score of the whole UE. All indices suggested a good model fit, and a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.920 suggested strong internal consistency. The Pearson correlation coefficient of the MMT-customized score with AROM was 0.857, p < 0.001; that with FMUE was 0.905, p < 0.001; that with MRS was −0.608, p = 0.010; and that with MAS was −0.677, p < 0.001. The linear regression results suggest that wrist extensors, shoulder abductors, and finger flexors can influence the manual assessment of the muscle strength of the whole UE, thereby improving post-stroke patient management. The results of our research suggest that, using the proposed scoring, MMT may be a useful tool for UE assessment in post-stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As centenarians are the most vulnerable social group among older adults, their quality of life (QoL) is of great significance for the realization of healthy aging and a harmonious society. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to propose a multidimensional analysis of centenarians' QoL to examine the factors associated with QoL. In the study, a factor analysis method, including exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, was used to uncover the latent structure of QoL and to monitor the dimension, reliability, and validity of the measurement scale. Structural equation model was performed to test the proposed hypotheses. Based on Lawton's "the good life" theoretical framework, we constructed our QoL model with four dimensions: physical health, mental health, family and social relationships, and socioeconomic status. After the factor analysis, three main hypotheses were presented. The results of the final QoL model revealed that two hypotheses of the relationships between QoL and "physical health" and "socioeconomic status" were supported. This paper suggests that interventions related to improving functional health and living standard could enhance the QoL for centenarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper observes the effect of ethics in leadership on employees trust, affective commitments, and deviance behaviors. Ethical behavior, choices of supervisors and managers, and apprehension of the establishments where deviant activities are supported by workers will be vital. The impression of corrupt morals appears to be a risk to the achievement of the institution. This study made use of a method using a convenience sample. Statistics of 264 workers of sampled hotels were used to obtain the opinions of the respondents about the constructs. Confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and correlation analysis were used to assess the main consequences and examine the causality among associated variables. The outcomes displayed revealed that ethical leadership can boost workers' trust in their leaders. Thus, workers can be successfully devoted to their tasks and have no motive to indulge in nonconformity actions when they trust in the leadership of their management. The outcomes showed that trust in leaders by staff definitely influences affective commitments and were against unconventional deviance behaviors, as seen from the consequences, outcomes, practical implications, and suggestions recommended, when making decisions, by future scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education today plays a key role in the education system in India. This paper bent to formulate a SE Model on the impact of student's engagement between professor's proficiency, student's expectations and perceived student learning outcome among college students studying in Chennai. The study is conducted with a structured survey using exploratory and confirmatory Factor Analysis and structural equation model has been used to identify the professor's proficiency factors and student 'expectation drives on student engagement. Impact of students' engagement on students' performance. The findings indicated that academically engaged student's expectation drives along with professor's proficiency are the main reason for the performance of the students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterprise innovation is currently becoming a recognized factor of the competitiveness, survival, and development of companies in the market economy. Managers still need recommendations on ways of stimulating the growth of innovation in their companies. The objective of this paper is to identify the strategic factors of enterprise innovativeness in the area of technology, defined as the most important internal factors positively impacting the innovativeness of enterprises in a strategic perspective. Empirical studies were conducted using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method on a purposive sample of N = 180 small and medium-sized innovative industrial processing enterprises in Poland. Data analysis was performed using Exploratory Factor Analysis within the Confirmatory Factor Analysis framework (E-CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Empirical research shows that the strategic factor of enterprise innovativeness in the area of technology is technological activity. A technologically active company should (1) possess a modern machinery stock, (2) conduct systematic technological audits, and (3) maintain close technical cooperation with the suppliers of raw materials, consumables, and intermediates. The implementation of the indicated recommendations by managers should lead to increased innovativeness of small and medium-sized industrial companies. The author recommends the use of the presented research procedure and data analysis methods in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a critical technology to mitigate climate change, the large-scale implementation of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) depends on both technological advancement and public acceptance, which is significantly influenced by the perceived risks and benefits. Existing studies, however, have yet to reach a consensus regarding the measurement of CCUS in these two aspects. To fill this gap, this paper develops and validates new scales based on four studies. Specifically, Study 1 generates the initial item pool based on a literature review and semi-structured interviews, and then invites experts to examine the content validity of these items; Study 2 identifies the dimensions and assesses the reliability and validity of the measures through an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis; Study 3 conducts a one-way ANOVA to test known-group validity; and Study 4 employed structural equation modeling to evaluate the nomological validity. The results demonstrate the internal consistency, reliability, and construct validity of the new scales developed to measure CCUS. This study provides a valuable tool for investigating public perceptions of CCUS and can help policymakers develop future publicity strategies. • New scales for CCUS are developed considering perceived risks and benefits. • A series of methods are used to assess the reliability and validity of the proposed measures for CCUS. • A valuable tool is provided to explore public perceptions of CCUS and help policymakers develop publicity strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the factors that influence rubber farmers' cooperatives from the perspective of sustainability in Thailand. The research adopted a quantitative survey methodology with data purposively collected from 434 Thai rubber farmer groups. The variables included trust, sustainability, perceived value, satisfaction, loyalty, and brand image. The model was evaluated using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), while Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to assess the hypotheses. The results indicated that the sustainability of the rubber farmers' cooperatives as a corporate entity is influenced by brand image, loyalty, and satisfaction. Trust was also found to have a significant effect on the satisfaction and loyalty of the rubber farmers' cooperatives. The research recommended that to enhance the sustainability of the rubber farmers' cooperative's brand image, loyalty, and satisfaction should be improved. The research's drawback is that it only looked at the rubber farmer cooperatives of Thailand as a corporation, and therefore, these factors should be taken into account when applying these results outside of this scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of cultural/language scale validations is usually undervalued, and the authors are to be congratulated on their analysis of the VSI in a population distinct from the one targeted in the original validation (USA). Outside of the present work, IAT has served as consultant for Pfizer Inc. CM has received speaker fees from Kyowa Kirin, Norgine, Biocodex, Mayoly spindler, Tillots, and Ipsen, and has served as Advisory Board member for Kyowa Kirin. In their paper "Anxiety-related factors associated with symptom severity in irritable bowel syndrome",1 Black et al. have analyzed the factorial structure of the Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI),2 a well-known and widely used measure of gastrointestinal (GI)-specific anxiety, in an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sample from the UK. [Extracted from the article]

The banking sector has been considered as one of the primary adopters of Information and Communications Technologies. Especially during the last years, they have invested a lot into the digital transformation of their business process. Concerning their retail customers, banks realized very early the great potential abilities to provide value added self-services functions via mobile devices, mainly smartphones to them; thus, they have invested a lot into m-banking apps' functionality. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought out different ways for financial transactions and even more mobile users have taken advantage of m-banking app services. Thus, the purpose of this empirical paper is to investigate the determinants that impact individuals on adopting or not m-banking apps. Specifically, it examines two groups of individuals, users (adopters) and non-users (non-adopters) of m-banking apps, and aims to reveal if there are differences and similarities between the factors that impact them on adopting or not this type of m-banking services. To our knowledge, this is the second scientific attempt where these two groups of individuals have been compared on this topic. The paper proposes a comprehensive conceptual model by extending Venkatech's et al. (2003) Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) with ICT facilitators (i.e., reward and security) and ICT inhibitors (i.e., risk and anxiety), as well as the recommendation factor. However, this study intends to fill the research gap by investigating and proving for the first time the impact of social influence, reward and anxiety factors on behavioral intention, the relationship between risk and anxiety and the impact of behavioral intention on recommendation via the application of Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) statistical techniques. The results reveal a number of differences regarding the factors that impact or not these two groups towards m-banking app adoption; thus, it provides new insights regarding m-banking app adoption in a slightly examined scientific field. Thus, the study intends to assist the banking sector in better understanding their customers with the aim to formulate and apply customized m-business strategies and increase not only the adoption of m-banking apps but also the level of their further use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The present study investigated factors affecting the acceptance of artificial intelligence in medical imaging. • Security, risk, and trust were verified as essential antecedents of user acceptance behavior. • Gender, age, country development, education, and medical knowledge are moderating the relationships between antecedent factors and behavioral acceptance. • Medical experience, training levels, and expertise areas could moderate the relationships among antecedent factors and behavioral acceptance. Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform many application domains fundamentally. One notable example is clinical radiology. A growing number of decision-making support systems are available for lesion detection and segmentation, two fundamental steps to accomplish diagnosis and treatment planning. This paper proposes a model based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology to study the determinants for the adoption of intelligent agents across the medical imaging workflow. We tested the model via confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling using clinicians' data from an international evaluation of healthcare practitioners. Results show an increased understanding of the vital role of security, risk, and trust in the usage intention of intelligent agents. These empirical findings provide valuable theoretical contributions to researchers by explaining the reasons behind the adoption and usage of intelligent agents in the medical imaging workflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast growth of the environmental impact of mobility is a significant issue for environmental policymakers. The primary condition of sustainable transport policy is human behaviour. The willingness to use sustainable transport mode is the leading trigger to implement sustainable transport policy successfully. Thus, the aim of this paper is to reveal the most effective tools and the reflection of the actual situation of the contribution of these tools to the sustainable transport behaviour. Referring to the representative survey performed in the transition country, i.e., Lithuania, at the beginning of 2020 and by applying the structural equation modeling, the results showed that the level of sustainable transport behaviour is relatively low. When analysing the impact of the main tools (financial, informational, social and convenience) on sustainable transport behaviour, the results revealed that informational, social and convenience tools were significantly related to this behaviour. Meanwhile, the financial tool insignificantly influenced sustainable transport behaviour. Considering the model of statements about the current situation, only financial and convenience aspects significantly influenced sustainable transport behaviour. Thus, this study revealed valuable insights for policymakеrs on the tools that contribute to and effectively promote sustainable transport behaviour. • The level of sustainable transport behaviour is relatively low. • Informational, social and convenience tools significantly influenced this behaviour. • Financial tool insignificantly influenced sustainable transport behaviour. • Current situation of financial and convenience influenced this behaviour. • This study revealed how to promote sustainable transport behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the perception of Lean management practices and its influence on sustainability practices in Higher Education Institutions (HEI). The theoretical background was supported by Lean management and sustainable practices in HEI, which were used to design the research model. The research methodology comprises a quantitative research characterized as a survey, whose data collection was carried out through a questionnaire. The study population was the academic staff of HEI in Brazil and Portugal. A valid sample of 966 valid responses was obtained. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and, structural equation modeling. The results allowed the evaluation of a significant and positive relationship between the second-order construct, called HEI Lean practices, and the environmental, economic and social practices. A moderating effect was also found as significant between the relation of Lean and social practices. These findings demonstrated the relevance of aspects such as leadership and systemic vision to support staff activities, continuous improvement and waste elimination as a daily practice, long-term thinking and the focus on the student as building blocks of the HEI success in promoting sustainability practices and thinking. [Display omitted] • Approximation between Lean and sustainability practices in HEI. • Lean practices influences TBL sustainability practices in HEI. • Delineation of basic organizational practices for HEI success in promoting sustainability. • A survey conducted with 966 respondents in Brazil and Portugal. • Respondent's country moderates the influence of Lean on social practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The competitiveness of the laminated flooring industry was assessed in Iran. The statistical population was 200 persons, calculated using the stratified random method and the Cochran formula. The sample size was 132. After reviewing the literature, a conceptual model derived from the theoretical framework was presented. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data. Content validity and confirmatory factor analysis were used to determine the validity of the questionnaire. Its reliability was calculated and confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The results were processed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed a significant relationship between factors affecting perceived value, environmental and intra-organizational factors, and competitiveness in the laminated flooring industry. The evaluation of the quality of the model showed that the factors affecting the perceived value (strong effect = 0.632) and intra-organizational factors and environmental factors (moderate effect = 0.211 and 0.171) that were calculated, respectively, had the greatest effect on competitiveness. Moreover, these independent variables allocated 91.6% of competitiveness variations as the dependent variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]