An Empirical Analysis on Remittances and Financial Development in Latin American Countries

Remittances have become one of the driving forces of development for countries all over the world, especially in lower-middle-income nations. This paper empirically investigates the association between remittance flows and financial development in 4 lower-middle-income countries of Latin America. By using a panel data set from 1996 to 2019, the study revealed that remittances and financial development are positively associated in these countries. The study also discovered that foreign direct investment and inflation were positively correlated with financial development while trade openness had a negative association with financial development. Therefore, policymakers of these countries should implement and formulate such policies so that migrant workers would have the incentives to send money through formal channels, which will augment the effect of remittances on the recipient country

Modified liverpool quick sequential organ failure assessment for prediction mortality amongst hospitalised patients

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the Low-Quantitative Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (LqSOFA) score and outcomes in pediatric patients with suspected infection. Methods: The study included 100 pediatric patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with suspected infection. The LqSOFA score was calculated for each patient based on the first set of vital signs and laboratory values obtained in the ED. The primary outcomes of interest were pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, confirmed sepsis, and mortality. Results: The study found that an LqSOFA score of >2 predicted PICU admission with approximately 88% sensitivity and 56% specificity, and confirmed sepsis with 88% sensitivity and 47% specificity. Furthermore, an LqSOFA score of >2 predicted mortality with 94% sensitivity and 48% specificity. The duration of hospital stay also increased with increasing LqSOFA score. Conclusions: The LqSOFA score may be a useful tool for identifying high-risk pediatric patients with suspected infection who may benefit from early intervention. Future studies are needed to validate these findings and determine the optimal threshold for the LqSOFA score in this patient population

Spectral Numerical Calculation of Non-isothermal Flow through a Rotating Curved Rectangular Duct with Moderate Curvature

The present paper investigates non-isothermal flow characteristics through a rotating curved rectangular duct, where co-existence of the rotational forces and fluid temperature gradients leads to the emergence of rotation-induced buoyancy effects. A spectral-based numerical scheme is employed as the principal tool for the simulation while Chebyshev polynomial and collocation method as the secondary tools. The outer wall of the duct is heated while the inner wall cooled, the top and bottom walls being thermally insulated. The emerging parameters controlling the flow characteristics are the rotation parameter, i.e., the Taylor number Tr ranging 0 to 2000, the Grashof number Gr = 100, the Prandtl number Pr, the aspect ratio, and the pressure-driven parameter, i.e., the Dean number Dn between 100 and 1000. The flow structures are examined under combined action of the centrifugal, Coriolis and buoyancy forces. As a result, asymmetric 2-cell structures are computed for small values of Tr while asymmetric 6-cell structures for large Tr. Unsteady flow characteristics show that the flow undergoes in the scenario ‘chaotic→ multi-periodic → periodic→ steady-state’, if Tr is increased in the positive direction. Typical contours of secondary flow patterns, temperature profiles and axial flow distribution are also obtained at several values of Tr, and it is found that there exist asymmetric two- to multi-vortex solutions. Heating the outer wall is found to generate a significant temperature gradient at the outer concave wall

Projection of human immunodeficiency virus among high-risk groups in Malaysia

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presents a serious healthcare threat to young individuals in Malaysia and worldwide. This study aimed to identify trends in HIV-related risk behaviors among recognized high-risk groups and to estimate HIV transmission up to the year 2015. Data and necessary information were obtained from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, published reports from the World Health Organization and United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, and other articles. The Estimation and Projection Package was used to estimate HIV transmission. The results of the present study revealed that within the high-risk groups, intravenous drug users (IDUs) had the highest prevalence rate of HIV transmission, followed by patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), female sex workers (SWs), and men who have sex with men (MSM). Within these at-risk populations, patients with STIs have the highest prevalence of HIV, followed by IDUs, MSM, and SWs. If the transmission rate continues to increase, the situation will worsen; therefore, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive prevention program to control HIV transmission in Malaysia

The impact of blockchain technology on the tea supply chain and its sustainable performance

Blockchain technology (BCT) has recently attracted interest from academics and practitioners. However, little is known about the benefits and impact of BCT on the tea supply chain and its sustainable performance. To bridge this gap, this study extends the resource-based view (RBV) and network theory (NT) by integrating BCT into the tea supply chain. We develop a conceptual model of a BCT-driven tea supply chain, which we analyse using a partial least squares regression-based structural equation modelling method with data collected from 305 experts in India. The findings show that the use of BCT has a significant positive effect on the tea supply chain; in particular, transparency and reliability are shown as the sustainable performance parameters. The implementation of BCT is a progressive paradigm shift that encourages actors to change their attitudes and become more competent in the tea sector. This study is the first report on integrating BCT into supply chains, contributing to the scant literature on this subject. Furthermore, our conceptual framework could help develop a more sustainable supply chain for the global tea industry

Impact of socio-health factors on life expectancy in the low and lower middle income countries

Background: This study is concerned with understanding the impact of demographic changes, socioeconomic inequalities, and the availability of health factors on life expectancy (LE) in the low and lower middle income countries. Methods: The cross-country data were collected from 91 countries from the United Nations agencies in 2012. LE is the response variable with demographics (total fertility rate, and adolescent fertility rate), socioeconomic status (mean year of schooling, and gross national income per capita), and health factors (physician density, and HIV prevalence rate) are as the three main predictors. Stepwise multiple regression analysis is used to extract the main factors. Results: The necessity of more healthcare resources and higher levels of socioeconomic advantages are more likely to increase LE. On the other hand, demographic changes and health factors are more likely to increase LE by way of decease fertility rates and disease prevalence. Conclusion: These findings suggest that international efforts should aim at increasing LE, especially in the low income countries through the elimination of HIV prevalence, adolescent fertility, and illiteracy

An integrated social network marketing metric for business-to-business SMEs

Social networks have been extensively studied in business-to-consumer (B2C) studies, but their effects in a business-to-business (B2B) marketing context are under-theorized. The study develops an integrated social network marketing metric (SNMM) for B2B small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using the framework, the study establishes a theoretical link between behavioral reasoning theory (BRT) and marketing accountability theory (MAT). Data was collected from 254 B2B SME marketers in India through a structured questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews. At first glance, the missing link between SME performance and SNMM appears to be time, knowledge, and financial resources. SMEs that embrace innovation, proactiveness, and risk-taking can benefit from social media technologies. Thus, social networking has a direct, positive effect on SME growth. The implications for B2B SMEs’ SNMM studies are also discussed. Furthermore, the rationality of B2B marketing metrics has a tremendous influence on business success. Although the study has found a positive impact of SNMM on B2B SMEs success, further research is needed

Influence of blockchain technology in SME internationalization: Evidence from high-tech SMEs in India

This study examines the impact of blockchain technology (BCT) on small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) internationalization. Further, it examines how Amazon as a platform reframes the global partnership environment via the BCT network that enables Indian SMEs to operate globally. Data were collected from 291 employees at 43 high-tech SMEs in India. They revealed untapped interest in how Indian SMEs will use Amazon for global operations. Several factors, such as processes to strategize, synergize, and standardize, are described as needing to be addressed before SMEs can boost integrated business efficiency, especially with regards to marketing capacity, scale, scope, and financial performance. The study represents a critical theoretical contribution to Amazon-based global operations by developing the 3S Triangle Model, which could provide a basis for future business practice. Furthermore, the study defines and addresses the evolution of BCT that Amazon has used—and continues to use—as a global operations platform. At the convergence of BCT, Amazon, and global retail activities, we propose and advance an integrated model of BCT-driven global operations among SMEs that provides a holistic view of state-of-the-art practices and exciting avenues for future study

Mobile apps for SME business sustainability during COVID-19 and onwards

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are struggling to cope with the business uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines how SMEs in developing economies have used mobile apps to improve their business efficiency during the pandemic. We aim to recognize effective measures and actions taken by SMEs that have turned to mobile-app-based business to improve their sustainability during the crisis. The study bridges a literature gap by extending the Theory of Consumption Values and the Theory of Planned Behavior to SMEs that incorporate mobile-app-based business. Data was collected from 343 SMEs from three Industrial Development Corporations (IDCs) in India. Using the covariance-based structural equation modeling method, we investigated the efficiency of a conceptual model of mobile-app-based business for SMEs. The results revealed that consumer choice behavior, perceived behavior control, subjective behavior control and attitude towards the mobile app all influence SMEs’ decision-making and business strategy. As such, SMEs need a powerful mobile-app-based business network to succeed in the entrepreneurial business process. Using instrumental variable analysis, we discovered that increased mobile app usage significantly improves SMEs’ long-term efficiency. The analysis provides several theoretical and managerial ramifications

Pressure-driven Flow Instability with Convective Heat Transfer Through a Curved Rectangular Duct of Small Aspect Ratio

AbstractThe present study investigates unsteady fluid flow through a curved rectangular duct of aspect ratio 0.5 and curvature 0.5. Numerical calculations are carried out by using a spectral method, and covering a wide range of the pressure gradient parameter, the Dean number, 6000 ≤ Dn ≤ 12000 and the Grashof number, 100 ≤ Gr ≤ 2000 for two cases of the duct, Case-I: Stationary duct and Case-II: Rotating duct. The outer wall of the duct is heated while the inner wall cooled. The main concern of the present study is to discuss the unsteady flow behavior i.e whether the unsteady flow is steady-state, periodic, multi-periodic or chaotic, if Dn or Gr is increased. For a stationary duct, we investigate the unsteady flow characteristics for the Dean number 6000 ≤ Dn ≤ 12000 and the Grashof number 100 ≤ Gr ≤ 2000, and it is found that the unsteady flow undergoes in the scenario steady-state → periodic → multi-periodic → chaotic, if Gr is increased. For rotating duct, however, we investigate the unsteady flow characteristics for the Taylor number −100 Tr ≤ 1000, and it is found that the unsteady flow undergoes through various flow instabilities, if Dn or Gr is increased. Typical contours of secondary flow patterns and temperature profiles are also obtained, and it is found that the unsteady flow consists of a single-, two-, and multi-vortex solutions