• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.951-959
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• 2021

The study investigated the effect of food safety knowledge, food safety trust and the factors influencing organic food purchase intention in the 'new normal' of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed non-contrived and cross-sectional methods. The data was collected in Malaysia using convenience sampling. A total of 330 valid questionnaires were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and PROCESS for hypothesis testing. The study revealed a significant relationship involving food safety knowledge on personal attitude, perceived social pressure, and perceived autonomy. Moreover, organic food purchase intention was found to be influenced by personal attitude, perceived social pressure, and perceived autonomy. Interestingly, trust in organic food safety moderated the relationship between perceived autonomy and organic food purchase intention. The study proved valuable for stakeholders and organic food producers to understand the 'new normal' COVID-19 market scenario for a sound understanding of the market and the sustainability of the organic food industry. A new research framework is proposed and validated, related to individual purchase decision in global health issues which is limited in current literature. Hence, the study contributed to a better comprehension of green consumerism mainly in the Asian market.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2019

In present study, Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) was employed to carry out the dynamic and vibration analysis of the threshing unit of the combine harvester thresher as a mechanical component. The main study is to find the causes of vibration and to decrease it to enhance the lifetime and efficiency of the threshing unit. By utilizing OMA, structural modal parameters such as mode shapes, natural frequencies, and damping ratio was calculated. The combine harvester was excited by engine to vibrate different parts and accelerometer sensor collected acceleration signals at different speeds, and OMA was utilized by nonparametric and frequency analysis methods to obtain modal parameters while vibrating in real working conditions. Afterwards, finite element model was designed from the thresher and updated using the data obtained from the modal analysis. Using the conducted analyses, it was specified that proximity of the thresher pass frequency to one of the natural frequencies (16.64 Hz) was the most important effect of vibration in the thresher. Modification process of the structure was carried out by increasing mass required for changing the natural frequency location of the first mode to 12.4 Hz in order to reduce resonance and vibration of the thresher.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.397-408
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• 2018

In a recent tragic fire incident, the Plasco Tower collapsed after an intense outburst of fire lasting for three and a half hours and claiming the lives of 16 firefighters and 6 civilians. This paper will present continuing collaborative work between Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Queen's University in Canada to model the progressive collapse of the tower. The fire started at the 10th floor and was observed to have travelled along the floor horizontally and through the staircase and windows vertically. Plasco Tower was steel structure and all the steel sections were fabricated by welding standard European channel or angle profiles and no fire protection was applied. Four internal columns carried the loads transferred by the primary beams, and box columns were constructed along the perimeter of the building as a braced tube for resisting seismic loading. OpenSees fibre-based sections and displacement-based beam-column elements are used to model the frames, while shell elements are used for the reinforced concrete floor slabs. The thermal properties and elevated temperature mechanical properties are as recommended in the Eurocodes. The results in this preliminarily analysis are based on rough estimations of the structure's configuration. The ongoing work looks at modeling the Plasco Tower based on the most accurate findings from reviewing many photographs and collected data.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.77-98
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• 2018

The purpose of this paper is examine the existing relations structure and IT use for collaboration activities on supply chain and their impacts on the performance of supply chain. This study made a design of the research model that was further constructed by integrating the relationship structure, IT exploration, IT exploitation, supply chain collaboration, absorptive capacity, and knowledge creation, efficiency and efficient. The survey data were collected from 378 companies, where firms are facing increased global competitive pressure and heavily utilize SCM to retain their competitive advantages. The authors validated a measurement model with structural equation modelling and tested eight hypotheses. As a result, the absorptive capacity was closely related to trust, IT exploitation and IT exploration, but supply chain collaboration. Examining the effect of supply chain collaboration with two types of absorptive capacity, the authors found positive effect on potential absorptive capacity, but a non-significant effect on realized absorptive capacity. This finding suggests that the improving performance of supply chain not only is related to the relations structure and IT use on supply chain, but also is closely related to the absorptive capacity.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.17-39
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• 2019

Purpose The purpose of the present study is to analyze the factors influencing the intention to use direct bank continuously from the perspective of service rather than technology. Hygiene factors including economic benefits, privacy, and unverified risks, and convenience of service as a motivator were considered as user's satisfaction. A research model integrating the relationships among user's satisfaction, its determinants, social influence, and continuous intention to use direct banks was proposed. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modelling for validating the research model was employed. 253 valid data were collected from users of direct bank service in South Korea and China, and used to test six hypotheses. Findings User's satisfaction and social influence were determinants of continuous use intention of direct bank. Convenience of service as a motivator has a significant influence on service satisfaction, while economic benefits, privacy, and unverified risks as hygiene factors have no significant influence on the continuous intention. Managers of direct banks need to implement service differentiation strategies to gain customers' loyalty. Also they seek to find the determinants of social influence. The present study confirmed that there is a big difference between Korea and China in terms of factors affecting the continuous intention to use direct bank.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.419-433
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• 2021

In composite structures, shear connectors are crucial components to resist the relative slip between the steel and concrete, and thereby to achieve the composite actions. In the service stage, composite structures are usually in elastic state, so the elastic stiffness of the shear connection is a quite important parameter in the structural analysis of composite structures. Nevertheless, the existing studies mainly focus on the load-slip relationship rather than the tangent stiffness at the initial elastic stage. Furthermore, when composite beams subjected to torque or local load, shear connections are affected by both tensile force and shear force. However, the stiffness of shear connections under combined effects appears not to have been discussed hitherto. This paper investigates the initial elastic stiffness of stud connections under combined effects of biaxial forces. The initial expression and the relevant parameters are obtained by establishing a simplified analytical model of the stud connection. Afterwards, parametric finite element analysis is performed to investigate the effects of the relevant factors, including the stud length, stud diameter, elastic modulus of concrete, elastic modulus of steel and volume ratio of reinforcement. The feasibility of the proposed modelling has been proved by comparing with sufficient experimental tests. Based on the analytical analysis and the extensive numerical simulations, design equations for predicting the initial elastic stiffness of stud connections are proposed. The comparison between the equations and the data of finite element models demonstrates that the equations are accurate enough to serve for engineering communities.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.492-503
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recently, the recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) for vitamin D for Malaysian aged 1-70 yrs has been revised from 5 ㎍/day to 15 ㎍/day. This study is aimed to assess the adequacy of vitamin D intake based on revised RNI and to recommend several dietary strategies to increase total vitamin D intake. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Vitamin D intake from both food and supplement of 217 pregnant women was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Hypothetical effect of expanded supplementation and food fortifications strategies were modelled using the consumption data. RESULTS: The results revealed that more than half (67.7%) of pregnant women had inadequate vitamin D intake (RNI < 15 ㎍/day). The modelling results demonstrated the potential of universal provision of 10 ㎍/day of multivitamins supplements in increasing vitamin D intake. Moreover, mandatory fortification of both milk and malted drink at single level of 5 ㎍/serving would lead to increase in vitamin D intake of Malaysians, particularly pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of this study can be used as a reference for public health professionals to re-evaluate the existing Malaysian food fortification policies and supplementation recommendation for vitamin D for pregnant women.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.997-1007
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• 2021

This study aims to redesign and find out the role of Islamic work ethics in influencing Islamic motivation, affective commitment, job satisfaction, and employee performance. Respondents in this study are populations of various cross-sectoral and cross-profession employees, such as government and private workers, soldiers, educators (teachers and lecturers) in various offices in Central Java. 220 questionnaires were distributed to all respondents, but the number of the returned questionnaires was 200. Thus, totally, this study analyzed 200 questionnaires. Data are analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results show that the eight hypotheses are accepted: there is a positive and significant influence of Islamic work ethics on Islamic motivation; there is a positive and significant effect of Islamic work ethics on job satisfaction; there is a positive and significant effect of Islamic work on affective commitment; there is a positive and significant influence of Islamic motivation on affective commitment; there is a positive and significant influence of Islamic motivation on job satisfaction; there is a positive and significant effect of job satisfaction on employee performance; there is a positive and significant effect of affective commitment on employee performance; there is a positive and significant influence of Islamic motivation on employee performance.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.475-483
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• 2021

COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of people and has forced businesses to develop different ways of doing businesses. Several businesses have implemented social responsibility activities. With social distancing keeping many people at home, online and digital platforms have become one of the most important mechanisms for businesses undertakings and implementing those social responsibility initiatives and activities - digital social responsibility (DSR). The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) intentions and customer engagement with DSR in social media with attitude toward DSR as the antecedent during COVID-19 social distancing situation in Thailand. The study employs a quantitative research method where sampling method is followed by convenience sampling technique, and study data is collected through survey questionnaire with social media users who have experiences with firms' online social responsibility initiatives. Based the samples of 123 respondents, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) has been used for analysis. The results show that attitudes toward DSR in social media significantly influence electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) intentions and have a significant effect on customer engagement with DSR in social media. The mediation analysis also revealed that eWOM intention partially mediated the relation between attitudes toward DSR in social media and customer engagement.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1079-1089
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• 2021

The development of information technology has promoted organizational transformation through the utilization of an electronic information system. This research aimed to identify factors that influence continuous intention to use E-HRM. This empirical research applies the Technology Acceptance Model and Cognitive Model for identifying significantly impacted areas of continuous intention to use E-HRM in a highly dynamic environment. The data were collected using questionnaires delivered directly to respondents. The sample was 100 employees of ESQ Group selected through random sampling. The variables used were subjective norms (X1), perceived behavioral control (X2), perceived innovativeness (Y1), cognitive absorption (Y2), satisfaction (Y3), and continuous intention to use E-HRM (Y4). Statistical analysis using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with Smart PLS was applied. The results revealed that behavioral control (X2) did not influence the continuous intention to use E-HRM (Y4) and that cognitive absorption (Y2) and satisfaction (Y3) did not significantly influence continuous intention to use E-HRM (Y4). Subjective norms (X1) significantly influenced both perceived innovativeness (Y1) and continuous intention to use E-HRM (Y4), perceived behavioral control (X2) significantly influenced both perceived innovativeness (Y1) and cognitive absorption (Y2), and perceived innovativeness (Y1) significantly influenced both satisfaction (Y3) and continuous intention to use E-HRM (Y4).