Direct and Indirect effect of Knowledge Management Practices on Firm Innovation via Knowledge Application

This study examines the relationship between knowledge management practices and firm innovation with the mediating effect of knowledge application. For the said purposes, data were collected from 140 firms that belong to the services sector. 600 questionnaires were distributed in the services sector by using the drop-off and pick up technique. The number of returned questionnaires was 545, but 45 questionnaires were rejected because they did not contain the required information. A simple random sampling technique is used for the data collection. The sampling technique followed the steps recommended for studies utilizing structural equational modeling (SEM). The data was entered into SPSS and AMOS for structural equation modeling. The empirical analysis shows that knowledge generation and knowledge diffusion have a significant positive effect on firm innovation while knowledge storage does not affect firm innovation. Moreover, knowledge application mediates the relationship between knowledge generation, knowledge storage, and firm innovation. While knowledge application does not play the mediation role between knowledge diffusion and innovation performance. Also, this study furnishes several future directions for academic scholars and participation. The limitations have also been discussed. Keywords:  Knowledge Management Practices; Knowledge Generation; Knowledge Application; Knowledge Storage; Knowledge Diffusion; Innovation Performance JEL Classifications: O31; O32 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/irmm.1019

Mechanical and antibacterial properties of conventional pit and fissure sealants with addition of miswak fibers

AbstractThe occlusal surface of a tooth is affected by the development of biofilm in pits and fissures as bacteria and food particles accumulate in its complex structure. In this study, miswak fibers containing cellulose and antimicrobial extract were incorporated in commercial pit and fissure sealants. The miswak powder was characterized by different analytical techniques. The powder was mixed in different ratios (0–5%) into a pit and fissure sealant to result in five sealants (Groups 0–5), and their mechanical properties i.e. flexural strength, compressive strength, and Vickers hardness were evaluated. The sealants were also evaluated against streptococcus mutans oral pathogenic bacteria. SEM analysis confirmed irregular shape and micron-size particles of miswak powder. The infrared spectral analysis and X-ray differential peaks showed characteristic peaks related to miswak fibers. The particle appearance increased in prepared pits and fissure sealants with higher loading of miswak powder in SEM analysis. The flexural strength, compressive strength, and Vickers hardness values were obtained in the range of 148–221 (±16.6: p-value < 0.001) MPa, 43.1–50.3 MPa (±1.7: p-value <0.001), and 15.2–21.26 VHN (±0.56: p-value <0.001) for control and prepared sealant specimens respectively. In the antibacterial study, the zone of inhibitions increased with increased content of miswak from 15.6 ± 0.45 mm (Group 1) to 20.3 ± 0.32 mm (Group 5). The MIC was calculated to be 0.039%. The prepared experimental sealant had acceptable mechanical and good antibacterial properties therefore it could be recommended as an efficient pit and fissure sealant