This paper provides a unique empirical analysis of the effects of political factors on the adoption of PPP contracts in Brazil. As such, it innovates along two different lines: first, political factors behind the adoption of PPPs have been largely ignored in the vast body of empirical literature, and second, there is scant work done on the motives of any kind behind the adoption of PPPs in Brazil. Various economic and financial reasons have been evoked to justify the use of PPPs in general. These include the goal of promoting socio-economic development in a tight public budgetary framework or of improving the quality of public services through the use of economically efficient and cost-effective mechanisms. Any possible underlying political motives, however, have been overlooked in the PPP research. And yet, there is abundant literature suggesting a link between the adoption of PPPs and the ideology of the governing body or the political cycles associated with elections. This study examines the impact of ideological commitment and opportunistic political behavior on the process of PPP contracting in Brazil, including the stages of public consultation, the publication of tender, and the signature of the contract, using federative-level data for the period between 2005 and 2022. Consistent with the outstanding literature, the two hypotheses are tested: first, conservative parties tend to celebrate more PPP contracts than left-leaning parties, and second, the electoral calendar has a significant effect in the process, allowing for opportunistic behaviors. Empirical results suggest that there is little evidence for the relevance of ideological leanings in the process of adopting PPPs in Brazil. Additionally, regardless of ideology, parties significantly choose to enter PPPs at specific points in the electoral cycle, suggesting decisions are influenced by political considerations and electoral strategy rather than by purely financial or ideological considerations. This may pose severe constraints on the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the contracts, negatively impacting public governance and leading to protracted costs for taxpayers.

This research aims to investigate the factors shaping the investment choices of individuals in Saudi Arabia concerning cryptocurrencies, particularly focusing on the influence of the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) psychological phenomenon. This study employs a mixed-methods approach to comprehend the factors influencing Saudi investors' decisions in the cryptocurrency realm. Quantitative surveys are conducted to gauge perceptions of risk, return, regulatory factors, and social influence. Additionally, qualitative interviews delve into the nuanced interplay of these elements and the impact of FOMO on decision-making. Integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior and Behavioral Finance theories, this research offers a holistic understanding of cryptocurrency investment determinants. The combined quantitative and qualitative methods provide a comprehensive view, enabling an in-depth analysis of the subject matter. The study reveals that Saudi Arabian investors' decisions regarding cryptocurrencies are significantly influenced by multiple factors, including perceived risk, potential return, regulatory environment, and social dynamics. FOMO emerges as a crucial psychological factor, interacting with these influences and driving decision-making. This research underscores the intricate interplay between these factors and FOMO, shedding light on the dynamics of cryptocurrency investment choices in the Saudi Arabian market. The findings hold implications for policymakers, financial institutions, and investors seeking deeper insights into this evolving landscape. Drawing from the Theory of Planned Behavior and Behavioral Finance, it examines perceived risk, return, regulatory factors, and social influence in influencing cryptocurrency investment choices among Saudi investors, focusing on the influence of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO).  The research outcome provides insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and investors seeking to understand cryptocurrency investment dynamics in Saudi Arabia.

The search for the development of nanostructured materials has led to the study of the properties of their precursors. For the production of nanofibers by the electrospinning process, it is necessary to determine the rheological parameters of the precursor solutions. Since these properties can be influenced by the processing variables and chemical composition of the polymer, this study aims to elucidate the effect of the addition of vinyl monomers in the formulation of nanofibers based on polyacrylonitrile and to determine the optimal parameters for the production of the precursor polymer solution. The effects of temperature and addition of vinyl monomers were evaluated by rheometry, from the analysis of the variation of the viscosity of the solutions, and by microscopy, the morphology of the nanofibers produced. It was observed that the increase in the temperature used to produce the solutions improves the fibers’ properties. Still, there is a relationship between the time of exposure of the polymeric solution to the temperature and the homogeneity of the fibers, which cannot exceed 45 min. The addition of vinyl monomers, to produce PAN-PVA co-polymeric fibers, increases the conductivity and reduces the viscosity of the solutions, resulting in more refined and homogeneous fibers.

The present research is on the propagation of Rayleigh waves in a homogenous thermoelastic solid half-space by considering the compact form of six different theories of thermoelasticity. The medium is subjected to an insulated boundary surface that is free from normal stress, tangential stress, and a temperature gradient normal to the surface. After developing a mathematical model, a dispersion equation is obtained with irrational terms. To apply the algebraic method, this equation must be converted into a rational polynomial equation. From this, only those roots are filtered out, which has satisfied both of the above equations for the propagation of waves decaying with depth. With the help of these roots, different characteristics are computed numerically, like phase velocity, attenuation coefficient, and path of particles. Various particular cases are compared graphically by using phase velocity and attenuation coefficient. The elliptic path of surface particles in Rayleigh wave propagation is also presented for the different theories using physical constants of copper material for different depths and thermal conductivity.

Sustainability and green campus initiatives are widely examined in developed countries but less attention has been paid in developing countries such as Pakistan. Therefore, this study intends to examine the links between sustainability dimensions and green campus initiatives by mediating role of teachers and students’ involvement. Green campus or sustainable campus or environment friendly campus is based on the principles of environmental sustainability, incorporating social, and economic and environmental dimensions. Questionnaire for assessment of sustainability was adopted and 529 responses were received from the faculty, management and servicing staff of the seven Mountain Universities of the Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Northern Pakistan. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PL-SEM) was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that energy conservation, water conservation, green transport, sustainable waste management have enhanced campus green initiatives. Teachers and students’ involvement partially mediate the relationship between green transport strategies, sustainable waste management and green campuses initiatives. While on another hand, teachers and students’ involvement have not mediated the links between energy conservation, water conservation and green campus initiatives. The study contributes to theory building in the area of green and environment friendly campus initiatives by enriching the understanding of the processes carrying the effect of sustainability dimensions and both teachers and students’ involvement.