How do commitment-based HRM practices and a developmental culture interact to foster open innovation in SMEs?

This paper aims to bring new insights into the role of commitment-based human resource management practices in open innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Additionally, the goal is to enhance comprehension of the aforementioned interactions by considering the mediating effect of developmental culture. Data were collected from owners and managers of 131 small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the service and manufacturing sectors in Albania. The study employed a quantitative research instrument, namely online surveys. To yield results and extract figures, the study applied partial least squares-structural equation modeling, examining the interrelationships among constructs. The empirical results highlight the direct effects of commitment-based human resource management practices and developmental culture on open innovation. Specifically, the study reveals that commitment-based human resource management practices have a significant role in promoting open innovation (O = 0.598, t = 10.057, p = 0.000). Additionally, the findings indicate that developmental culture serves as a complementary factor by mediating the connection between commitment-based human resource management practices and open innovation (O = 0.136, t = 1.789, p = 0.037). This study draws the attention of business owners and strategy developers circumnavigating the Albanian small and medium-sized enterprises environment. Barring certain limitations, it enthralls their propensity toward innovation, aligning it with an enabling business culture.FaME TBU, (IGA/FaME/2023/012); Univerzita Tomáše Bati ve Zlíně, UT

The effect of synthesis method and oxidizing agent on cytotoxicity and ecotoxicity of polyaniline

The unique properties of polyaniline (PANI), as representative of conducting polymers (CPs) predetermine their use in biomedical field. While the material properties of PANI prepared by chemical or microwave synthesis are well known, their biological properties have not been adequately addressed and compared. To fill this gap, PANI powders were prepared by either chemical or microwave synthesis using different oxidizing agent (ammonium persulfate, APS vs potassium iodate, KIO3) and studied. The effect on cytotoxicity and ecotoxicity were determined according to the ISO protocol and inhibition of bioluminescence in Photobacterium phosphoreum, respectively. The significant effect of both factors, the synthesis route and oxidizing agent, on biological performance was confirmed. The choice of optimum preparation condition for PANI synthesis highly improved its cytotoxicity and ecotoxicity compared to previously described PANI forms. Results of the here presented work are crucial for the further utilization of PANI in wide spectrum of biomedical applications.DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2022/001); TBU in Zlin, (IGA/CPS/2023/001); Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT; Grantová Agentura České Republiky, GA ČR, (23-07425S); Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, MBIE, (UOAX0812); Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja, MPNTR, (451-03-47/2023-01/200146)Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia [UOAX0812]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [451-03-47/2023-01/200146]; TBU in Zlin [RP/CPS/2022/001]; Resources of Specific Academic Research [IGA/CPS/2023/001

Renewable whey-based hydrogel with polysaccharides and polyvinyl alcohol as a soil amendment for sustainable agricultural application

This work describes the preparation of a novel biopolymer hydrogel based on acid whey, cellulose derivatives and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The hydrogel was prepared and characterized with the aim of producing an environmentally-friendly soil amendment to increase water retention capacity of the soil. The findings showed considerable swelling properties of the hydrogels depending on the PVA content and crosslinking density. The samples with PVA in a concentration 2.5 % and 5 % were more rigid, the gel fraction increased with a subsequently decrease in their swelling capacity. The hydrogels crosslinked with 15 % of citric acid demonstrated a constant swelling ratio (SR) of around 500 % within 10 swelling/drying cycles. The hydrogels crosslinked with 10 % citric acid and supplemented with 1 % of PVA showed SR of 1000–1400 % caused by less crosslinked polymer network and increased pore volume for water uptake. It was found that hydrogel with a higher gel fraction had a stable structure. Supplementing PVA at 5 % extended the period of decomposition of the hydrogel material by almost 60 % in the soil environment and soil humidity was maintained for longer. Applying 2 % of the hydrogel 5PVA to soil increased the water retention capacity by 19 %.Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT, (RP/CPS/2022/002); Ministerstvo Zemědělství, (QK1910392)Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic [QK1910392]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic [RP/CPS/2022/002

What matters for corporate cash holdings board governance, financial constraints, or interactions?

Corporate cash holdings have received increased attention from researchers and practitioners as cash management is a crucial task for executives. Holding too much cash can result in low returns and mismanagement by managers. Conversely, holding low cash reserves can lead to missed investment opportunities. The present study examines the relationship between board governance, financial constraints, and corporate cash holdings. The robust fixed-effects method is used in this study to analyze 860 A-listed firms in China from 2005 to 2020. An index is designed to measure board effectiveness, while financial constraints are measured using Z-score, the Kaplan and Zingales index, and the SA index. The major findings document that the financially less constrained firms hold more cash when there is an effective board governance. Furthermore, financially less constrained firms have more robust board governance to minimize the agency concerns of managers and shareholders. This research provides an inference for stockholders’ activism connected to the cash holdings of the financially constrained and less constrained companies. The findings offer useful policy implications for stakeholders to reform contemporary cash holding policies. Specifically, understanding the role of an effective governance system for financially less constrained firms would help minimize the potential agency conflict

Improving the properties of NR/NBR blend by introducing interfacial crosslinks using bismaleimide during the initial phase of accelerated sulfur curing

To develop a technologically compatible blend of NR and NBR is always a challenge due to their polarity mismatch. As a result, the physico-mechanical properties of their blends are generally poor. To address this issue, an attempt was made to increase the uniform distribution of crosslinks across the blend phases at the time of molding at 170 degrees C. A cure composition consisting of sulfur (S) and a delayed action accelerator (N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide [CBS]) has been designed to co-crosslink both phases of the blend simultaneously. The tensile properties, particularly the tensile strength (TS) of the blend cured by this method, were superior (similar to 371% greater) than the TS of the blend cured using a combination of S/CBS and an ultrafast accelerator (tetramethylthiuram disulfide [TMTD]). A bifunctional maleimide (Maleide F) was also used in conjunction with S/CBS in the curing recipe to further improve the distribution of sulfidic crosslinks by reducing the interfacial tension between the NR and NBR phases via Alderene reaction.Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic-DKRVO [RP/CPS/2022/006

Propylene metathesis over molybdenum silicate microspheres with dispersed active sites

In this work, we demonstrate that amorphous and porous molybdenum silicate microspheres are highly active catalysts for heterogeneous propylene metathesis. Homogeneous molybdenum silicate microspheres and aluminum-doped molybdenum silicate microspheres were synthesized via a nonaqueous condensation of a hybrid molybdenum biphenyldicarboxylate-based precursor solution with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. The as-prepared hybrid metallosilicate products were calcined at 500 °C to obtain amorphous and porous molybdenum silicate and aluminum-doped molybdenum silicate microspheres with highly dispersed molybdate species inserted into the silicate matrix. These catalysts contain mainly highly dispersed MoOx species, which possess high catalytic activity in heterogeneous propylene metathesis to ethylene and butene. Compared to conventional silica-supported MoOx catalysts prepared via incipient wetness impregnation (MoIWI), the microspheres with low Mo content (1.5-3.6 wt %) exhibited nearly 2 orders of magnitude higher steady-state propylene metathesis rates at 200 °C, approaching site time yields of 0.11 s-1CF CryoE; European Regional Development Fund-Project “UP CIISB, (CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/18_046/0015974, LM2018110); Francqui Foundation; Grant Agency of Masaryk University, (MUNI/A/1298/2022, MUNI/J/0007/2021); U.S. Department of Energy, USDOE; Basic Energy Sciences, BES, (DE-SC0016214); Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT; Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMT, (LM2023042, RP/CPS/2022/007); Grantová Agentura České Republiky, GA ČR, (GJ20-03636Y); Central European Institute of Technology, CEITECMinistry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic within the INTER-EXCELLENCE II program; Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic [RP/CPS/2022/007]; U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences [DE-SC0016214]; European Regional Development Fund-Project "UP CIISB" [CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/18_046/0015974, LM2018110]; MEYS CR [GJ20-03636Y, LM2023042]; Czech Science Foundation; Grant Agency of Masaryk University [MUNI/J/0007/2021, MUNI/A/1298/2022]; Francqui Foundation for the Francqui Research Professor chai

The effect of laser beam on the width of the cut

Conventional methods of dividing material due to their limitation to straight cuts have largely been replaced by non-conventional cutting methods, which include laser cutting. Laser cutting of polymer materials has become a priority for the manufacturing industry, mainly due to the constantly growing demand for these materials. The article discusses the effect of the laser beam on the width of the cut using lenses with different focal lengths, under different working conditions, on samples made of PMMA polymer material plates. For the experiment, the samples were produced using an ILS 3NM laser device, a CO2, with a wavelength of 10.6 μm and with maximum power 100 W, maximum feed speed 1524 mm · s-1. For the selected samples, it was studied how the dimension defined by the machining software differ from the dimension created by the machining

Robust H∞ controller design for satellite systems with uncertain inertia matrix: A linear matrix inequality approach

This paper discusses the design of a robust H∞ controller for satellite systems that exhibit changes in its inertia matrix within a range of ±5%. Using MATLAB Simulink, the proposed approach is a Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) by LMILAB Semidefinite programming solver in YALMIP. Simulation results demonstrate the controller’s effectiveness in stabilizing the system against disturbance and maintaining performance despite variations in the inertia matrix

Evaluating an E-government stage model by using SOAR-AHP process

E-government is a key component of today's efforts to give citizens improved services. As a result, participation of the general public in government policy is essential to assuring the success of e-government. Thus, when developing any e-government model, the security of personal information must be taken into account. According to earlier research, the developing countries are suffering from implementing e-government to provide e-services for their citizens. They also indicate that the biggest obstacles to implementing e-government in such countries are security and privacy. This study attempts to assess e-government stage model via using SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). This is a new and reliable technique for evaluating e-government prior implementing. The AHP is combined with the SOAR analysis in this study's approach to analyze the phases and assess the model's viability. The study's findings demonstrate that the model is workable and appropriate for adoption

On the possibilities of merging additive manufacturing and powder injection molding in the production of metal parts

Purpose: This study aims to enhance merging of additive manufacturing (AM) techniques with powder injection molding (PIM). In this way, the prototypes could be 3D-printed and mass production implemented using PIM. Thus, the surface properties and mechanical performance of parts produced using powder/polymer binder feedstocks [material extrusion (MEX) and PIM] were investigated and compared with powder manufacturing based on direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). Design/methodology/approach: PIM parts were manufactured from 17-4PH stainless steel PIM-quality powder and powder intended for powder bed fusion compounded with a recently developed environmentally benign binder. Rheological data obtained at the relevant temperatures were used to set up the process parameters of injection molding. The tensile and yield strengths as well as the strain at break were determined for PIM sintered parts and compared to those produced using MEX and DMLS. Surface properties were evaluated through a 3D scanner and analyzed with advanced statistical tools. Findings: Advanced statistical analyses of the surface properties showed the proximity between the surfaces created via PIM and MEX. The tensile and yield strengths, as well as the strain at break, suggested that DMLS provides sintered samples with the highest strength and ductility; however, PIM parts made from environmentally benign feedstock may successfully compete with this manufacturing route. Originality/value: This study addresses the issues connected to the merging of two environmentally efficient processing routes. The literature survey included has shown that there is so far no study comparing AM and PIM techniques systematically on the fixed part shape and dimensions using advanced statistical tools to derive the proximity of the investigated processing routes.DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2022/003); TBU in Zlin, (IGA/FT/2021/006); Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy, MŠMTTBU in Zlin [IGA/FT/2021/006]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic - DKRVO [RP/CPS/2022/003