The Impact of Intellectual Capital Formation and Knowledge Economy on Banking Performance: A Case Study of GCC's Conventional and Islamic Banks

Purpose: This paper aims to evaluate the impact of intellectual capital in terms of human capital, structural capital, and capital employed on the financial performance of Islamic and conventional banks in the GCC countries. Design/methodology/approach: Along with the measurement discussion, the empirical analysis examines the relationship between intellectual capital measured through VAIC and the financial performance of banks in the GCC states by conducting a panel of six GCC countries, including 24 Islamic banks and 32 conventional banks covering 2012-2020 period. Findings: This paper shows that while Islamic banks have similar VAIC, HCE, and CEE results to conventional banks, Islamic banks have lagged behind conventional banks regarding the impact of structural capital on financial performance. It is argued that this is in contradiction with Islamic ontology and epistemology, which essentialises intellectual capital formation. Originality: This study conducts a comparative examination of the intellectual capital performance and its impact on financial performance by using interaction variables to capture any differences between Islamic banks and conventional banks in the GCC countries. The paper also considers the knowledge economy impact as a novelty, which is prominent for the GCC countries. In addition, Islamic ontology’s essentialisation of knowledge and its articulation in the form of intellectual capital within modern understanding is widely discussed, as part of originality. Lastly, the findings are located within Islamic ontology and epistemology. Practical Implications: Islamic banks should promote research and development for their intellectual capital at the product, operational and institutional levels, since Islamic banking is considered an alternative financing method, incorporating a new form of knowledge-based institutions inspired by capitalist institutions

The production of AZ31 alloys by gas atomization method and Its characteristics

The aim of this study is to investigate the AZ31 alloy powder production and characterization processes experimentally using the gas atomization method. For this purpose, firstly, the design and production of gas atomization units were done at Karabuk University Faculty of Technology Department of Manufacturing Engineering. In this gas atomization unit, the manufacturability of AZ31 powder from magnesium alloys was investigated by the gas atomization method which is one of the production methods by powder metallurgy. The parameters and the literature used in the production of materials similar to the AZ31 alloy are taken into account as producibility parameters. In the gas atomization method, parameters such as nozzle diameter, gas pressure, and temperature must be controlled in order to produce the desired properties in metal powder production. The diameter of the nozzle is crucial because it affects the gas pressure and temperature, the size of the powder, and the shape of the powders. Experimental studies were carried out using 3 different temperatures (790, 820, and 850 degrees C), 4 different nozzle diameters (2, 3, 4, and 5 mm) and 4 different gas pressures (5, 15, 25, and 35 bar). In the molten metal atomization process and in the process of forming a protective gas atmosphere, argon gas was preferred. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the shape of the AZ31 powders produced, XRD, XRF, and SEM-EDX analyses were used to determine the phases in the internals of the produced powders and percentages of these phases. Laser measurement devices were used for powder size analysis and hardness tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties of the produced powders. The powders produced were pressed into masses at 4 different pressing pressures (300, 400, 500, and 600 MPa). The best sinterability values of the bulked powders and sintering process were performed at 3 different temperatures (500, 550, and 600 degrees C). Density measurements were made after pressing and sintering th

Effects of the topical hemostatic agent Ankaferd Blood Stopper on the incidence of alveolar osteitis after surgical removal of an impacted mandibular third molar

Background: Alveolar osteitis (AO) is a commonly seen post‑operative complication during the wound‑healing period after permanent tooth extraction or surgical removal of impacted third molar teeth.Objectives: The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the effects of administration of the topical hemostatic agent Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) into the socket on AO formation after impacted mandibular third molar extraction.Patients and Methods: Bilaterally, 100 half‑impacted mandibular third molars were extracted in 50 patients. Then, 1.0 mL ABS was administered to achieve hemostasis in one half of the sockets and as a control, the other half was irrigated with 1.0 mL physiological serum after surgery.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in terms of AO formation (P > 0.05) between the extraction sites. However, the postoperative pain in ABS administration sites was higher than in the other sites for the first 2 days after surgery (P < 0.05).Conclusions: The results showed that ABS administration did not increase the incidence of AO formation. Thus, ABS can be used safely for hemostasis after impacted mandibular third molar surgery.Key words: Alveolar osteitis, Ankaferd Blood Stopper, hemostasis, third mola

Food aid programme during restricted hilsa fishing period: effectiveness and management perspective

Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is geographically and economically important species in Bangladesh. To conserve hilsa, the government of Bangladesh has introduced fishing ban for certain periods of the year and also provides food assistance to hilsa fishers during the restriction period. Inadequate management often pushes real fishers out of the assistance programme and therefore, this study focused on assessing the effectiveness of the programme with a view to proposing a better management practice. A total of 202 randomly selected fishermen, living in the villages adjacent to Andharmanik River of Patuakhali district of Bangladesh, were interviewed. The Andharmanik River is famous for the natural breeding of hilsa. Results suggest that the amount of food provided and its distribution pattern were not that effective for the fishermen. Effectiveness was significantly related to the number of earning able family member, income difference between peak and restricted season and loan facility during the restriction period. This study also explained income difference trajectories of the fishermen community. Community-based management with facilitation by the state fisheries department and local government entity may enhance the programme effectiveness. More awareness programme and research are needed in this regard

Pandemic Boredom: Little Evidence That Lockdown-Related Boredom Affects Risky Public Health Behaviors Across 116 Countries

Some public officials have expressed concern that policies mandating collective public health behaviors (e.g., national/regional "lockdown ") may result in behavioral fatigue that ultimately renders such policies ineffective. Boredom, specifically, has been singled out as one potential risk factor for noncompliance. We examined whether there was empirical evidence to support this concern during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large cross-national sample of 63,336 community respondents from 116 countries. Although boredom was higher in countries with more COVID-19 cases and in countries that instituted more stringent lockdowns, such boredom did not predict longitudinal within-person decreases in social distancing behavior (or vice versa; n = 8,031) in early spring and summer of 2020. Overall, we found little evidence that changes in boredom predict individual public health behaviors (handwashing, staying home, self-quarantining, and avoiding crowds) over time, or that such behaviors had any reliable longitudinal effects on boredom itself. In summary, contrary to concerns, we found little evidence that boredom posed a public health risk during lockdown and quarantine

Trust in government regarding COVID-19 and its associations with preventive health behaviour and prosocial behaviour during the pandemic: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study

Background The effective implementation of government policies and measures for controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires compliance from the public. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of trust in government regarding COVID-19 control with the adoption of recommended health behaviours and prosocial behaviours, and potential determinants of trust in government during the pandemic. Methods This study analysed data from the PsyCorona Survey, an international project on COVID-19 that included 23 733 participants from 23 countries (representative in age and gender distributions by country) at baseline survey and 7785 participants who also completed follow-up surveys. Specification curve analysis was used to examine concurrent associations between trust in government and self-reported behaviours. We further used structural equation model to explore potential determinants of trust in government. Multilevel linear regressions were used to examine associations between baseline trust and longitudinal behavioural changes. Results Higher trust in government regarding COVID-19 control was significantly associated with higher adoption of health behaviours (handwashing, avoiding crowded space, self-quarantine) and prosocial behaviours in specification curve analyses (median standardised beta = 0.173 and 0.229, p < 0.001). Government perceived as well organised, disseminating clear messages and knowledge on COVID-19, and perceived fairness were positively associated with trust in government (standardised beta = 0.358, 0.230, 0.056, and 0.249, p < 0.01). Higher trust at baseline survey was significantly associated with lower rate of decline in health behaviours over time (p for interaction = 0.001). Conclusions These results highlighted the importance of trust in government in the control of COVID-19

Trust in government and its associations with health behaviour and prosocial behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic

Previous studies suggested that public trust in government is vital for implementations of social policies that rely on public's behavioural responses. This study examined associations of trust in government regarding COVID-19 control with recommended health behaviours and prosocial behaviours. Data from an international survey with representative samples (N=23,733) of 23 countries were analysed. Specification curve analysis showed that higher trust in government was significantly associated with higher adoption of health and prosocial behaviours in all reasonable specifications of multilevel linear models (median standardised β=0.173 and 0.244, P<0.001). We further used structural equation modelling to explore potential determinants of trust in government regarding pandemic control. Governments perceived as well organised, disseminating clear messages and knowledge on COVID-19, and perceived fairness were positively associated with trust in government (standardised β=0.358, 0.230, 0.055, and 0.250, P<0.01). These results highlighted the importance of trust in government in the control of COVID-19

Conceptual replication and extension of health behavior theories' predictions in the context of COVID-19: Evidence across countries and over time

Virus mitigation behavior has been and still is a powerful means to fight the COVID-19 pandemic irrespective of the availability of pharmaceutical means (e.g., vaccines). We drew on health behavior theories to predict health-protective (coping-specific) responses and hope (coping non-specific response) from health-related cognitions (vulnerability, severity, self-assessed knowledge, efficacy). In an extension of this model, we proposed orientation to internal (problem-focused coping) and external (country capability) coping resources as antecedents of health protection and hope; health-related cognitions were assumed as mediators of this link. We tested these predictions in a large multi-national multi-wave study with a cross-sectional panel at T1 (Baseline, March-April 2020; N = 57,631 in 113 countries) and a panel subsample at two later time points, T2 (November 2020; N = 3097) and T3 (April 2021; N = 2628). Multilevel models showed that health-related cognitions predicted health-protective responses and hope. Problem-focused coping was mainly linked to health-protective behaviors (T1-T3), whereas country capability was mainly linked to hope (T1-T3). These relationships were partially mediated by health-related cognitions. We conceptually replicated predictions of health behavior theories within a real health threat, further suggesting how different coping resources are associated with qualitatively distinct outcomes. Both patterns were consistent across countries and time

Intentions to be Vaccinated Against COVID-19:The Role of Prosociality and Conspiracy Beliefs across 20 Countries

Understanding the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake is important to inform policy decisions and plan vaccination campaigns. The aims of this research were to: (1) explore the individual- and country-level determinants of intentions to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, and (2) examine worldwide variation in vaccination intentions. This cross-sectional online survey was conducted during the first wave of the pandemic, involving 6697 respondents across 20 countries. Results showed that 72.9% of participants reported positive intentions to be vaccinated against COVID-19, whereas 16.8% were undecided, and 10.3% reported they would not be vaccinated. At the individual level, prosociality was a significant positive predictor of vaccination intentions, whereas generic beliefs in conspiracy theories and religiosity were negative predictors. Country-level determinants, including cultural dimensions of individualism/collectivism and power distance, were not significant predictors of vaccination intentions. Altogether, this study identifies individual-level predictors that are common across multiple countries, provides further evidence on the importance of combating conspiracy theories, involving religious institutions in vaccination campaigns, and stimulating prosocial motives to encourage vaccine uptake.</p