Minimizing information asymmetry interference using optimal channel assignment strategy in wireless mesh networks

Multi-radio multi-channel wireless mesh networks (MRMC-WMNs) in recent years are considered as the prioritized choice for users due to its low cost and reliability. MRMCWMNs is recently been deployed widely across the world but still these kinds of networks face interference problems among WMN links. One of the well-known interference issue is information asymmetry (IA). In case of information asymmetry interference the source mesh nodes of different mesh links cannot sense each other before transmitting data on the same frequency channel. This non-coordination leads to data collision and packet loss of data flow and hence degrades the network capacity. To maximize the MRMC-WMN capacity and minimize IA interference, various schemes for optimal channel assignment have been proposed already. In this research a novel and near-optimal channel assignment model called Information Asymmetry Minimization (IAM) model is proposed based on integer linear programming. The proposed IAM model optimally assigns orthogonal or non-overlapping channels from IEEE 802.11b technology to various MRMC-WMN links. Through extensive simulations we show that our proposed model gives 28.31% network aggregate network capacity improvement over the existing channel assignment model

The Impact of Investment, Economic Growth, Renewable Energy, Urbanisation, and Tourism on Carbon Emissions: Global Evidence

Examining urbanisation and tourism from the perspective of global Sustainable Development Goals is essential for achievinga balance between environmental protection and economic growth in the world's most polluted nations. Moreover, most polluted countries pay more attention to the nature of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to achieve a sustainableenvironment. This study intends to explore the impacts of FDI, tourism, urbanization, and economic growth on carbon dioxide emissions using panel data for the top ten most polluted nations for the period from 2000 to 2019. To guide empirical testing,the panel unit root tests LLC and IPS are used. The outcomes of LLC and IPS advise FM-OLS application on how to accomplish the goals. The findings provide proof of how FDI and other factors affect carbon emissions (CE). Particularly, renewable energy consumption (REC) has a detrimental but minor effect on CE. For the panel of developing nations, FDI had a favourable and significant effect on CE along with economic growth, tourism, and urbanization. The expansion of cities isalso harming nature and ecological footprints. These findings are alarming as all factors cause CE under consideration thatleads to the deterioration of the environment. Therefore, more environmental rules should be put into place to reduce CE, draw in clean FDI, and encourage quality-oriented investment in selected nations. Second, it is important to ensure the deployment of green technology and the upgrading of urbanized structures. The government can take several actions against the use of polluting goods and vehicles in urban areas, and any polluting industries should also be outlawed in such residential areas

Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Early administration of tranexamic acid reduces deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients. We aimed to assess the effects of early administration of tranexamic acid on death, hysterectomy, and other relevant outcomes in women with post-partum haemorrhage. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women aged 16 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of post-partum haemorrhage after a vaginal birth or caesarean section from 193 hospitals in 21 countries. We randomly assigned women to receive either 1 g intravenous tranexamic acid or matching placebo in addition to usual care. If bleeding continued after 30 min, or stopped and restarted within 24 h of the first dose, a second dose of 1 g of tranexamic acid or placebo could be given. Patients were assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight numbered packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Participants, care givers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. We originally planned to enrol 15 000 women with a composite primary endpoint of death from all-causes or hysterectomy within 42 days of giving birth. However, during the trial it became apparent that the decision to conduct a hysterectomy was often made at the same time as randomisation. Although tranexamic acid could influence the risk of death in these cases, it could not affect the risk of hysterectomy. We therefore increased the sample size from 15 000 to 20 000 women in order to estimate the effect of tranexamic acid on the risk of death from post-partum haemorrhage. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ISRCTN76912190 (Dec 8, 2008); ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00872469; and PACTR201007000192283. Findings Between March, 2010, and April, 2016, 20 060 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tranexamic acid (n=10 051) or placebo (n=10 009), of whom 10 036 and 9985, respectively, were included in the analysis. Death due to bleeding was significantly reduced in women given tranexamic acid (155 [1·5%] of 10 036 patients vs 191 [1·9%] of 9985 in the placebo group, risk ratio [RR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·65–1·00; p=0·045), especially in women given treatment within 3 h of giving birth (89 [1·2%] in the tranexamic acid group vs 127 [1·7%] in the placebo group, RR 0·69, 95% CI 0·52–0·91; p=0·008). All other causes of death did not differ significantly by group. Hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (358 [3·6%] patients in the tranexamic acid group vs 351 [3·5%] in the placebo group, RR 1·02, 95% CI 0·88–1·07; p=0·84). The composite primary endpoint of death from all causes or hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (534 [5·3%] deaths or hysterectomies in the tranexamic acid group vs 546 [5·5%] in the placebo group, RR 0·97, 95% CI 0·87-1·09; p=0·65). Adverse events (including thromboembolic events) did not differ significantly in the tranexamic acid versus placebo group. Interpretation Tranexamic acid reduces death due to bleeding in women with post-partum haemorrhage with no adverse effects. When used as a treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, tranexamic acid should be given as soon as possible after bleeding onset. Funding London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Pfizer, UK Department of Health, Wellcome Trust, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The effects of influential behavioural factors on investors’ decision making in stock market of Pakistan

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between behavioural factors affecting individual investors’ decision behaviour while investing in the capital stock market. To achieve this objective, the study has tested the relationship of firm’s specific attributes and personality traits of individual investors in the stock market of Pakistan. In addition, this study has examined the mediating effect of sensational attitude between (1) firm’s specific attributes and investment decision behaviour and (2) personality traits and investment decision behaviour. Furthermore, this study also investigates the moderating effect of brand familiarity on the relationship between firm’s specific attributes and sensational attitude. In this study, the positivist research approach has been used and survey methodology has been adopted to collect responses from individual investors of capital markets of Pakistan. The purposive probability sampling technique was employed and about five hundred questionnaires were distributed while four hundred fifty responses were returned and were used in the present study. Structural equation modeling techniques were applied to analyze the data. Findings indicate that firm’s specific attributes and personality traits were found positive and significant predictors of investment decision behaviour. Additionally, sensational attitude was found to have a significant mediating role between firm’s specific attributes, personality traits and investment decision behaviour. Besides, brand familiarity was found as a moderator on the relationship between firm’s specific attributes and investment decision behaviour. The results highlight that both firm’s specific attributes and personality traits are essential in the investment decision behaviour among individual investors of the Pakistani stock market. As there are limited studies about behavioural finance in Pakistan, therefore, this study will contribute significantly to the development of capital market of Pakistan

Dividend preferences: evidence from panel data

The study aims to investigate the dividend preferences in Pakistani capital market and further deals with the investigation of cash dividend preference of poorly performing firms list on Karachi Stock exchange. The study utilized the financial data for 2001-2011 of listed Pakistani firms to examine the behavior of distribution of cash dividends. Panel regression statistical technique was used. From the analysis, it is originated that poorly performing firms having lesser portion of tradable shares pay dividends in cash. The study finds that the cash dividend distribution behavior of poorly performing firms and describes the preference of directors. Further, low performing firms prefer cash dividends as compared to stock dividends as long as they have large percentage of directors or financial institutions or block-holders’ ownership of nontransferable shares. Furthermore, if a firm has mix of directors, financial institutions and block-holders’ ownership of nontransferable shares then the firm also prefer cash dividends

Intellectual Capital and a Firm’s Sustainable Performance and Growth before and during the COVID-19 Crisis: A Comparative Analysis of Small and Large European Hospitality Firms

This study explores the critical role of intellectual capital (IC) in ensuring the sustainable performance and growth of European hospitality firms, both large and small, during the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. Based on an extensive analysis of data from 42,516 accommodation, food, and travel sector firms operating in 18 EU countries during 2012–2021, this research provides crucial insights into the differential impacts of human, structural, and relational IC on profitability and asset growth. The results show that human IC positively affects SMEs’ profitability, while relational IC benefits both small and large firms. On the other hand, structural IC negatively impacted asset growth for both SMEs and large firms before the crisis but had no impact during the crisis. This study offers crucial insights for policymakers, investors, and business leaders alike, emphasizing the importance of investing in human and relational IC as key drivers of sustainable growth and profitability in the hospitality industry. The findings of this study will help firms better navigate the challenges and uncertainties of crises, such as COVID-19, ensuring their long-term viability and success

Bank selection criteria: a study in Malaysia

This paper focuses on the determinants of bank's selection criteria in Malaysia. The purpose of the study is to examine the significant factors of bank selection criteria such as people influence, communication technology, convenience, personnel, easy process and variety, service quality, and cost. This study also presents how customers rank the factors by their priorities and the demographic differences in bank selection criteria. The total of 187 respondents from Taman University (Skudai, Malaysia) was sampled. The findings reveal the first important factor in bank selection criteria is "service quality" followed by "convenient", "cost", "personnel", "easy process and variety of product", "communication technology", and lastly - "people influence". The findings also indicate that there are differences between the respondent's demographic background and bank selection criteria. These results are discussed in terms of their theoretical, practical and conceptual implications of the differences between gender, age, marital status, level of education, and occupation in their relation to bank selection

Nexus between economic growth and foreign private investment: Evidence from Pakistan economy

This study examines the impact of economic growth along with taxes, technology, trade openness and exchange rate on the sustainability of foreign private investment (FPI) in Pakistan. This study uses random effects and generalized least squares estimators and contains data set starting from 1996 to 2017. The results indicate that the Pakistan economy has vastly positive influenced regarding the location and choice of emerging and developed countries' investment in the domestic market. Furthermore, emerging and developed economies investment increases the contribution among domestic firms to the national economy. The results, which are consistent across models, indicate that Pakistan's economy is more likely to receive FPI from emerging and developed economies, but the relative intensity of local government efforts, regardless of economic size. Moreover, an increase in likelihood will generate FPI from developed countries

Promoting green behavior through ethical leadership: A model of green human resource management and environmental knowledge

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the influence of supervisor's ethical leadership style on subordinates' green or pro-environmental work behavior in the presence of green human resource management (GHRM) as a mediator and environmental knowledge as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire-based was distributed to 427 supervisor–subordinate dyads working in various Pakistani organizations. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the mechanisms and boundary conditions in the relationship between supervisor's ethical leadership style and subordinates' green behavior. Findings: Structural equation modeling supported a partial mediating role of GHRM in the influence of ethical leadership on green work behavior. Further, the findings revealed that employee's environmental knowledge can magnify the indirect impact of ethical leadership, via GHRM, on green behavior. Research limitations/implications: Cross-sectional survey data are typically associated with common method bias. To counter this bias, we collected data from dual sources, namely, supervisors and their subordinates. The research findings have implications in deepening the understanding of the impact of ethical leadership in improving environmental performance of the organization. Originality/value: This is the first study that utilizes multi-sourced data to examine the mediating role of GHRM and the moderating role of environmental knowledge in the relationship between ethical leadership and green behavior at work