Differences in “Study Skills” Among a Sample of SQU Students in Light of Some Variables

The importance of “study skills” has been increasingly emphasized by several researchers particularly at the university level where the student is independent and bears the responsibility of his/her own learning. Relevant research findings have indicated that positive changes in academic achievement are attributable to the various study skills possessed by the learners as relevant to the learning process. This study aims to investigate differences in “study skills” among a sample of SQU students in light of some variables. The measurement tool for the present research is a study skills measure that has been prepared and validated through factorial validity, and its reliability established through the Alpha Chronbach’s equation. Results show that there are no significant differences attributable to gender or the specialty area in the dimensions of the study skills investigated (study competencies, concentration during study, academic persistence, and readiness for exams). Further, the results also show no significant differences between the students of low and high GPA in the dimension of academic persistence. However, the results reveal significant differences between the students of low and high GPA in the dimensions of study competencies, concentration during study, and readiness for exams. These significant differences were in favor of the students of high GPA

Equity incentives, earnings management and corporate governance: Empirical evidence using UK panel data

Using a UK panel data set drawn from 1675 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) year observations and 1540 Chief Financial Officer (CFO) year observations, we examine the relationship between CEO and CFO equity incentives and earnings management. In addition, we examine the moderation effect of corporate governance mechanisms on the relationship between executives’ equity incentives and earnings management. We use multivariate regression models to test our hypotheses. We find that CEO equity incentives are related to higher absolute and income increasing earnings management. These results support the managerial power theory argument that CEOs exploit equity-linked compensation to obtain more personal benefits without causing public anger. Contrary to CEO equity incentives, we could not find any significant relationship between CFO equity incentives and any of the earnings management proxies. In addition, we find that corporate governance quality (measured by individual mechanisms and overall index) has no effect on the relationship between executives’ equity incentives and earnings management. This result indicates that whereas some corporate governance mechanisms can reduce earnings management in general, they do not affect wealth driven incentives to manipulate accruals. In total, results question the effectiveness of the corporate governance system in mitigating opportunistic behavior motivated by executives’ compensation structures

The Interplay between Digital Technologies, Supply Chain Resilience, Robustness and Sustainable Environmental Performance: Does Supply Chain Complexity Matter?

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of supply chain resilience and robustness on the relationship between the use of digital technologies and sustainable environmental performance. Additionally, it investigates the moderating role of supply chain complexity on the impact of digital technologies on supply chain resilience and robustness. Data were gathered from 292 supply chain managers at registered manufacturing companies in Egypt and analyzed using Smart-PLS 4 software. The findings reveal that supply chain resilience and robustness partially mediate the link between digital technologies and sustainable environmental performance. Moreover, supply chain complexity was found to positively moderate the effect of digital technologies on both resilience and robustness. The model explained 53.2% of the variance in supply chain robustness, 56.6% in supply chain resilience, and 72.3% in sustainable environmental performance. These results provide critical insights for corporate policymaking, helping to drive continuous improvements in supply chain management, environmental performance, and sustainable development

Delayed colorectal cancer care during covid-19 pandemic (decor-19). Global perspective from an international survey

Background The widespread nature of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been unprecedented. We sought to analyze its global impact with a survey on colorectal cancer (CRC) care during the pandemic. Methods The impact of COVID-19 on preoperative assessment, elective surgery, and postoperative management of CRC patients was explored by a 35-item survey, which was distributed worldwide to members of surgical societies with an interest in CRC care. Respondents were divided into two comparator groups: 1) ‘delay’ group: CRC care affected by the pandemic; 2) ‘no delay’ group: unaltered CRC practice. Results A total of 1,051 respondents from 84 countries completed the survey. No substantial differences in demographics were found between the ‘delay’ (745, 70.9%) and ‘no delay’ (306, 29.1%) groups. Suspension of multidisciplinary team meetings, staff members quarantined or relocated to COVID-19 units, units fully dedicated to COVID-19 care, personal protective equipment not readily available were factors significantly associated to delays in endoscopy, radiology, surgery, histopathology and prolonged chemoradiation therapy-to-surgery intervals. In the ‘delay’ group, 48.9% of respondents reported a change in the initial surgical plan and 26.3% reported a shift from elective to urgent operations. Recovery of CRC care was associated with the status of the outbreak. Practicing in COVID-free units, no change in operative slots and staff members not relocated to COVID-19 units were statistically associated with unaltered CRC care in the ‘no delay’ group, while the geographical distribution was not. Conclusions Global changes in diagnostic and therapeutic CRC practices were evident. Changes were associated with differences in health-care delivery systems, hospital’s preparedness, resources availability, and local COVID-19 prevalence rather than geographical factors. Strategic planning is required to optimize CRC care