The Role of Digitalization and Digital Capabilities in Financial Performance: A Multilayer Perceptron-Based Hybrid SEM-ANNs Approach

This study aims to examine how different aspects of digitalization and digital capabilities affect financial performance of SMEs. The study employs a deductive approach, collecting data through questionnaires from 396 respondents and utilizing structural equation modeling and artificial neural networks analysis to empirically evaluate the proposed model. The results emphasize the importance of digital transformation, digital innovation, and digital servitization in enhancing the financial performance of SMEs by optimizing processes, reducing operational expenses, and improving customer engagement. Moreover, the research highlights the critical role of digital capabilities (encompassing human, technical, innovation and collaboration capabilities) in facilitating these improvements. Notably, human and innovation capabilities emerge as the most influential factors, demonstrating that a skilled workforce and robust innovative capacity are vital for converting technological investments into tangible financial benefits. This study advances resource-based view theory by examining how digital technologies and capabilities act as vital resources that boost the financial performance of SMEs. By integrating linear with non-linear methods, the research offers a detailed analysis of how digital resources contribute to competitive advantage. The study recommends targeted policies, including financial incentives, digital literacy programs, and innovation hubs, to align technology with SME business needs and foster growth, competitiveness, and sustainability

MARKETING BOYCOTT MODEL IN INDONESIA: A STUDY USING SOCIAL IDENTITY AND PLANNED BEHAVIOR THEORIES

This study examines the role of self-identity expressiveness and social-identity expressiveness in marketing boycotts of products perceived to be affiliated with Israel in Indonesia. An extended model of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), incorporating identity and social influences, is developed and tested. The study utilizes a sample of 571 individuals from Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi, selected through purposive sampling. Data analysis is conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) with IBM SPSS AMOS software. The findings confirm that self-identity expressiveness and social-identity expressiveness significantly influence behavioral intentions. Additionally, the study explores the relationship between self-identity expressiveness and attitudes, as well as between social-identity expressiveness and subjective norms. The results indicate that subjective norms alone are sufficient to capture the broader range of identity and social influences shaping boycott intentions. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed, offering insights for marketing practitioners and scholars

SOCIAL SECURITIES SCHEME, FINANCIAL INCLUSION, AND ITS IMPACT ON POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN INDONESIA: CASE OF ZAKAT RECIPIENT

This study examines the impact of social security’s programs, and financial inclusion on poverty alleviation and household consumption in Indonesia. The samples of this study is 2835 zakat recipient in 25 of 34 provinces in Indonesia. Using panel regression analysis, the research explores key variables, including the Family Welfare Deposit (Kartu Keluarga Sejahtera, KKS), Family Hope Program (Program Keluarga Harapan, PKH), Non-Cash Food Assistance (Bantuan Pangan Non-Tunai, BPNT), Social Health Insurance (ASKES), and financial inclusion indicators such as bank account ownership, mobile phone usage, and digital payment adoption. The findings reveal that PKH and BPNT significantly reduce poverty, and promoting total household consumption. It revealed their effectiveness in addressing immediate needs and improving welfare. Financial inclusion variables, particularly mobile phone usage and digital payments, also show positive effects on consumption but mixed results on poverty measures, suggesting the need for broader accessibility and digital literacy. Comparisons with prior studies underscore the consistency of social protection programs as tools for poverty eradication, while emphasizing the complementary role of financial inclusion in fostering long-term economic resilience. The study recommends enhancing digital financial services, expanding the coverage of social protection programs, and especially integrating with Kampung Zakat program as sustainable strategies to strengthen their impact on poverty alleviation and economic development

WHY GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR APPLE? A DIVE INTO BRAND LOVE AND BRAND JEALOUSY

Shifting brand strategies increasingly emphasize fostering emotional connections, such as brand love and brand jealousy, to enhance consumers’ willingness to pay a premium. Although extensive research has examined these emotional constructs, their relevance in the “masstige” context—brands that combine mass appeal with prestige, exemplified by Apple—remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating how brand experience and self-expressiveness act as antecedents to brand love and brand jealousy, which subsequently influence willingness to pay a premium, framed through the lens of attribution theory. Data were collected from 378 Indonesian Apple users through offline and online surveys and analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling with AMOS software version 24. The results demonstrate that brand experience significantly strengthens both brand love and brand jealousy, thereby enhancing consumer-brand relationships. While self-expressiveness also contributes to both emotional constructs, its impact is comparatively weaker than that of brand experience. Both brand love and brand jealousy were found to positively influence consumers’ willingness to pay a premium. This study presents a comprehensive model linking emotional bonds to consumer spending behavior in the masstige context, providing actionable insights for brand managers to enhance emotional connections and drive premium pricing strategies

UTAUT MODEL THE ADOPTION OF AUGMENTED AND VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UTAUT MODEL AND BEHAVIORAL INTENTION

The purpose of this study is to examine the adoption of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies in the context of the Unified Technology Acceptance and Use Model and behavioral intention. The research aims to assess medical students' perceptions of AR and VR technologies, focusing on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. AR and VR are considered to have significant potential in mitigating the negative effects of the pandemic. The population of the study consists of students studying at medical faculties in Turkey. As a result of the tests, it was determined that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating situations and hedonic motivation have a positive effect on attitude. However, it was determined as a result of the analysis that social influence and habit did not have any effect on attitude. On the other hand, it was also determined that attitude has a positive effect on behavioral intention

Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Gene Profiles of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholera, and Vibrio alginolyticus Isolated from Commercial Shrimp Farm in Kuching, Sarawak

In the management and treatment of Vibrio spp. infections in aquaculture, antibiotics have traditionally been used. Misuse of antibiotics, however, has led to the emergence of resistance strains. In this study, antibiotic susceptibility testing of 30 (n=30) Vibrio spp. isolates were performed by using 18 antibiotics, revealing resistance to at least two antibiotics. Antibiotics Ceftazidime, Meropenem, Gentamicin, Tetracycline, Nalidixic acid, Norfloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, and Chloramphenicol were 100% effective against all isolates of V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae, and V. alginolyticus. Meanwhile, 100% of V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus isolates were completely resistant to Penicillin G and Bacitracin, whereas 100% of V. cholerae isolates exhibited resistance to Penicillin G. The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) indices of all isolates ranged from 0.11 to 0.33. The presence of isolates with MAR indices higher than 0.2 suggests potential contamination from sources with high antibiotic usage, such as wastewater or nearby agricultural and aquaculture activities. The findings highlight widespread antibiotic resistance among Vibrio spp., likely due to excessive antibiotics use in aquaculture settings. Additionally, virulence profile of each Vibrio spp. isolates was performed. While pathogenic potential is exhibited by some isolates, others lack key virulence genes associated with pathogenicity. All V. parahaemolyticus isolates showed the presence of tlh, toxR, and toxS genes, whille all V. cholerae isolates were positive with toxS, toxR, rtxA, and rtxC genes. None of the V. alginolyticus showed the presence of the nine tested virulence genes. However, given the high frequency of horizontal gene transfer among bacterial populations, continuous and comprehensive monitoring is crucial to prevent the spread of virulence genes between pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains. Therefore, continuous efforts to obtain more data on antibiotic resistance and bacterial virulence profiles in Sarawak is crucial for effective disease management and sustainable aquaculture practices

Influence of Monsoon Seasons on Seagrass Ecosystems on the Coast of Kota Kinabalu (Sabah, Malaysia)

Seagrass beds in Kampung Kebagu, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, are notably affected by natural events and human activities. Seasonal monsoons particularly the Northeast Monsoon (NEM) and the Southwest Monsoon (SWM), intensify these effects, causing significant changes to the seagrass beds in a short period. This study aimed to determine seagrass coverage and leaf length during the NEM and SWM at Kampung Kebagu. The leaf length was focusing on the dominant species; Enhalus acoroides along the transect line. This study was conducted within a year from February 2023 until January 2024 to cover both monsoon periods. Seagrass coverage was estimated using 50 cm × 50 cm (0.25 m2) quadrat with every 5 m interval along the transect line. Field measurements and data collection were done in February 2023, March 2023, May 2023, July 2023, September 2023, November 2023, and January 2024. The NEM was divided into two phases: February to March 2023 (T1) and November 2023 to January 2024 (T3). The SWM, identified as T2, spanned from May to September 2023. Further analysis of seagrass coverage and leaf length using Two-Way ANOVA was done to find significant effects of month between the parameters. There were significant different between seagrass coverage and months (p < 0.05). Seagrass coverage declined significantly to 38 ± 23% during the NEM but rebounded to 80 ± 11% in July 2023 during the SWM. The average leaf length of E. acoroides reached 29 ± 8 cm in May 2023 but was reduced to just 7 ± 2 cm by January 2024. Although this study was limited to a single year, it effectively captured fluctuations in seagrass coverage and leaf length across different seasonal monsoons. These results provide baseline data on how monsoon-related environmental changes affect seagrass ecosystems in this region

BALANCING SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION: EXPLORING THE INTERVENTION OF STRATEGIC AMBIDEXTERITY IN PROCESS INNOVATION

Accomplishing sustainable performance notwithstanding an inexorably uncertain environment has become both a basic test and a convincing objective inside the domain of contemporary business. Even with rising uncertainty, accomplishing sustainable performance has arisen as a foremost test and a convincing objective in contemporary business. The study aims to address the imperative set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) by exploring the mediation role of strategic ambidexterity in the relationship between intellectual capital dimensions (Structural Capital, Relational Capital, Human Capital, Social Capital) and sustainable performance within businesses. Given the increasing global challenges, particularly the call for sustainability, this research investigates the intricate connections among these variables. Employing quantitative methods and Smart PLS, the study conducted an online survey distributed to managers of selected hotels, yielding 385 workable responses out of 500. The results reveal a positive correlation among the variables of interest, confirming the acceptance of all hypotheses. In conclusion, the findings suggest that hotels strategically leveraging their intellectual capital for innovative exploration and exploitation processes exhibit enhanced capabilities to attain sustainable performance, aligning with the broader goals of global sustainability. The managers could benefit from the implementation of putting resources into the turn of maintenance of a very capable workforce, supporting social ties inside and outside the association. Furthermore, executing situation arranging and possibility techniques empower fast arrangement, adding to sustained performance

Everyday Precarities and Systemic Exploitations: Indonesian Migrant Workers in Sarawak's Palm Oil Industry

The Malaysian palm oil industry is a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, yet it faces a critical labour shortage, particularly in Sarawak, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and migration barriers. A significant portion of the workforce in Malaysia’s palm oil plantations comprises Indonesian migrant workers, many of whom are undocumented. This study explores the role of undocumented Indonesian migrant labour in addressing the labour shortages in Sarawak's palm oil sector, focusing on the systemic challenges these workers face. Through in-depth interviews with 15 undocumented migrant workers and 5 key informants, this qualitative research highlights the legal, social, and economic vulnerabilities that contribute to exploitation and poor working conditions. The study reveals the complexity of migration patterns, the predominance of male workers in physically demanding roles, and the exploitation facilitated by undocumented status. Additionally, the research uncovers the gendered divisions of labour that limit women’s participation in core plantation tasks. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of the systemic challenges facing the palm oil industry in Sarawak and underscores the need for policy reforms to protect migrant workers’ rights and improve labour conditions. By focusing on Sarawak, this study adds a critical perspective to the broader discourse on migrant labour in Malaysia, particularly in regions often overlooked in existing literature

Optimization of Lactic Acid Fermentation Conditions for the Production of Antibacterial Peptides Targeting Pantoea spp. for Rice Leaf Blight Control

This study aimed to optimize the production of antibacterial peptides from Bactronophorus thoracites via lactic acid fermentation, specifically focusing on Pantoea species to manage rice leaf blight. The main goal was to investigate sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to address this agricultural disease using bioactive compounds derived from marine sources. The fermentation process was refined using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), producing highly reliable results confirmed by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and strong determination coefficients (R² = 0.9952 for Pantoea ananatis and R² = 0.9967 for Pantoea stewartii). The optimized parameters included a 4-day fermentation duration, a 3% (w/v) glucose concentration, and a 0.92% (w/v) solid-to-water ratio. These conditions closely matched predictive models and were further validated by a residual standard error (RSE) of less than 5%. The study identified the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the bioactive peptides, determining that 125 µg/mL was effective against the target bacteria. The hydrolysates produced in this study show promise as a natural method to control rice leaf blight and may have broader applications in agricultural disease management. This research highlights the potential of optimized lactic acid fermentation to produce effective antimicrobial agents, contributing to sustainable agriculture and offering new biotechnological strategies for plant disease control