scholarly journals Effect of Train-Induced Wind on the Transmission of COVID-19: A New Insight into Potential Infectious Risks

Author(s):  
Simin Zou ◽  
Xuhui He

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has caused a traffic tie-up across the world. In addition to home quarantine orders and travel bans, the social distance guideline of about six feet was enacted to reduce the risk of contagion. However, with recent life gradually returning to normal, the crisis is not over. In this research, a moving train test and a Gaussian puff model were employed to investigate the impact of wind raised by a train running on the transmission and dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 from infected individuals. Our findings suggest that the 2 m social distance guideline may not be enough; under train-induced wind action, human respiratory disease-carrier droplets may travel to unexpected places. However, there are deficiencies in passenger safety guidelines and it is necessary to improve the quantitative research in the relationship between train-induced wind and virus transmission. All these findings could provide a fresh insight to contain the spread of COVID-19 and provide a basis for preventing and controlling the pandemic virus, and probe into strategies for control of the disease in the future.

Author(s):  
Guoliang Yang ◽  
Zhihua Wang ◽  
Weijiong Wu

Little is known about the relationship between social comparison orientation and mental health, especially in the psychological capital context. We proposed a theoretical model to examine the impact of ability- and opinion-based social comparison orientation on mental health using data from 304 undergraduates. We also examined the mediating effect of the four psychological capital components of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism in the relationship between social comparison orientation and mental health. Results show that an ability (vs. opinion) social comparison orientation was negatively (vs. positively) related to the psychological capital components. Further, the resilience and optimism components of psychological capital fully mediated the social comparison orientation–mental health relationship. Our findings indicate that psychological capital should be considered in the promotion of mental health, and that the two social comparison orientation types have opposite effects on psychological capital.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Said JAOUADI ◽  
Lamia ARFAOUI ◽  
Azza ZIEDI

The paper attempted to examine the causal relationship between political instability and growth. Currently, the world continues to record huge number of popular revolutions in the region MENA, to improve the social environment and to consolidate implementing an effective governance. Although, the uprising has harmed the financial and economic situation in these countries, and became a threat for the stability of the countries, in overall.The manuscript accounts for the impact of political instability on the growth of the developing countries, in the shadow of the widespread of the revolutions since 2011. The paper attempted to illuminate the reality of the relationship between political environment and growth through the estimation of panel, comprising 69 developing countries 1985-2012.In the current paper, the authors conducted an empirical investigation, in which we bore out the claims raised in many surveys and the conclusions drawn by several authors about the harmful impact of political instability on the fundamental bases of the economy, in countries recording political instability.


Author(s):  
Nermin M. Gohar

This research intends to fill the gap in the literature by studying the impact of lagged real advertising expenditures on different perspectives of brand equity in the Egyptian context, which are: Firm-based and Market-based brand equity. The research follows the quantitative research-based approach, with the descriptive explanatory method. Secondary data was collected from firms’ financial reports of sixteen sectors for the period 2013 - 2020 to consider the effect of real advertising expenditures on firm-based and market-based brand equity models. Data was collected from 168 listed companies in the Egyptian stock exchange market, after deleting the financial institutions. The unit of analysis was the corporate brands and data collected was panel data analyzed using Eviews program – version 10, using GLS regression. Results showed that market risk significantly moderates the relationship between advertising expenditures and Firm-based and Market-based brand equity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 37-54
Author(s):  
Olena Rayevnyeva ◽  
Iryna Aksonova ◽  
Olha Brovko ◽  
Stanislav Filip

In the current conditions of development of the international and national economy, an important task of statistical research is to conduct an objective and timely assessment and modeling of the relationship between indicators of economic and social development. Based on the results of these studies, reasonable management influences of the state on the adjustment and regulation of the country’s development are accepted. The article is devoted to the study of the relationship between the main components of economic and social development of the country and the construction of a set of models for forecasting the prospects of the country. The object of the study is the socio-economic condition of the country. The article proposes an algorithmic model for assessing the impact of economic development on society, which allows to identify key economic indicators that influence and shape the social development of the country. The practical value of the algorithmic model is to develop a system of evaluation and selection as a result of modeling the most significant factors that shape the social development of the country. The study confirmed the hypothesis of the dominant impact of economic development on society and determined that the main economic factors are the level of competencies that satisfy the modern labour market, technical development of businesses and their competitiveness in markets.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (26) ◽  
pp. 01-26
Author(s):  
Akram Mufareh Alshammakh ◽  
Adi Anuar Azmin

Acquisition and frequency utilisation of Competitive Intelligence (CI) are critical strategic activities designed to assist firms in evaluating emerging trends in their business environments, major and potential threats, capabilities, and competitions for businesses today, particularly in the tourism and hotel sectors. However, there is still ambiguity about the impact of competitive-intelligence acquisition (CIA) and utilisation (CIU) on firms' performance, particularly for the hotel industry in a developing country such as Malaysia. Thus, the purposes of this research are to define the nature of CI practice in Malaysian hotels, and to illustrate the relative importance of various CIA types and sources to marketing managers in Malaysian hotels, moreover, to investigate the impact of CIA and CIU on the financial and non-financial performance of Malaysian hotels. A quantitative research design was adopted in this study. To obtain the necessary data for analysing the hypothesised model of the study, 505 questionnaires were issued to marketing managers in member hotels of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), and a total of 184 analyzable questionnaires were gathered, with a response rate of 34.44%. The research data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling and statistical package for social sciences "SPSS". Despite that half of the responding hotels practiced CI informally, and many of these hotels began practicing CI five years ago, the study found that hotel marketing managers have high and medium interest levels for most types and sources of CI in Malaysia, these five CIA's types were the most important: (1) competitors, (2) customers, (3) human resources, (4) socio-cultural, and (5) Global. As well, these five CIA's sources were the most important: the internet and extranets, (2) customers, (3) electronic information services/intranets, (4) business associates, and (5) newspapers and periodicals, and industry trade associations. Furthermore, the results indicate that CIA and CIU had a positive and significant impact on hotels' performance, but CIU has the most effect. These findings enrich those in positions of power like owners, managers, and practitioners, as well as academicians, with greater knowledge of the relationship and influence of CIA and CIU on firms' performance, particularly for hospitality and tourism firms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-188
Author(s):  
Sevinç Alkan Özcan ◽  
Muhammed Hüzeyin Mercan

Regulations, measures and restrictions implemented by state authorities on public events and mass gatherings due to fear, anxiety, and panic caused by COVID-19 pandemic have made religious field more open to state intervention since the global pandemic started and religious practices underwent radical changes. Governments’ public health measures concerning the places of mass worship and religious gatherings to stop the spread of the pandemic and the reactions of religious groups against their orders and imposed restrictions emerged as a new dimension of the debates on state-religion and state-individual relations. In this regard, the main purpose of the study is to discuss the new global religious trends that emerged with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, which reshapes state-religion relations through the regulations and measure for containing the virus, in light of the experiences in different regions and religious traditions, and to analyze the relationship between the religion and the state in the Middle East, specifically the cases of Israel and Iran as religious character is dominant and orthodox religious groups play a significant role within the social and political structure in both countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Kadek Devi Kalfika Anggria Wardani

The study which is descriptive qualitative in nature, aims to investigate preference of politeness strategies by Balinese Hindu-community in traditional marriage ritual. Data was collected using interview and observation methods. Based on the results of data analysis, this research shows that the form of politeness that arises can be seen in terms of place, time, to the leaders of the people, during preparation, implementation, disclosure of the relationship with the Almighty, and after the completion of the ritual. The different forms of politeness that emerge can be seen from the use of Balinese in various levels which are adjusted to the social distance and speech situation. Besides being seen from the use of language, linguistic politeness is also evident from the attitude, intonation, and tone of the speaker. The difference in the form of politeness is intentionally raised to cause certain psychological impacts on the interlocutor.


Author(s):  
Abdelmajid Ibenrissoul ◽  
Khawla Bouraqqadi ◽  
Souhaila Kammoun

The purpose of the chapter is to study what effect CSR has on firms' overall performance in a developing country context. While most of the previous empirical researches focused on the relationship between CSR and financial performance, the present study suggests exploring the impact of CSR on overall performance which encompasses economic, environmental, and social dimensions as well as stakeholders. The empirical study aims to analyze and measure the social and environmental involvement of large Moroccan firms operating in the main sectors of activity and located in different geographical areas. Using multiple linear regression analysis, the authors empirically test the impact of CSR on overall performance on a sample of 44 companies. The main findings reveal that CSR is a driver for improving image and reputation, enabling the firm to achieve overall corporate performance. On the basis of the main results, they set out some managerial implications and further directions for CSR research in developing countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-139
Author(s):  
Justice Ray Achoanya Ayam

Higher education governance, legal and regulatory regimes in Ghana remain an important factor in the ever-complex higher educational landscape and its attendant funding challenges. The increased global demand for higher education reforms further strengthens the importance of higher education governance, legal and regulatory framework role in assuring sustainable funding of higher education. The purpose of this study is to measure the relationship between the governance and regulatory variables influence on financial sustainability. The research work utilises quantitative research methodology with a well validated research instrument to undertake this correlational study. The study outcome revealed a statistically significant relationship between the combined effects of the variables whiles two out of the eight variables were found be significant in predicting best fit equation for financial sustainability. The research recommendations should afford higher education practitioners the opportunity to undertake relevant reforms of the current governance, legal and regulatory practices in the country.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azzam A. Abou-Moghli

The economic competition is increasing day by day on both local and international level; therefore, it becomes the duty of organization to balance these processes along with job security. The study aimed to use the social determination theory (SDT) to evaluate the relationship between work engagement, happiness and organizational commitment. A quantitative research design was used to conduct the study, selecting 317 individuals working in three telecommunications companies (Orange, Zain, and Umniah). Regression analysis and Chi square analysis were carried out on the data collected through the questionnaire survey. The results showed a significant relationship between organizational commitment, work engagement and happiness. The Social Determination Theory (SDT) was also found to be relevant in evaluating the factors that are responsible for affecting the behavior of employees towards the organization. The study provides significant knowledge to practitioners in evaluating factors that increase job dissatisfaction or job insecurity among employees that leads to a reduction in the level of work commitment and engagement.


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