Small-scale businesses have long been recognized as an important part of economic development and integrating them with industrial parks is both recommended and necessary for long-term success. In line of this, the objective of this study was to investigate the role of IPs entrepreneurial ecosystem in boosting the capabilities of small businesses. Data were collected from 245 small manufacturing business owners via simple random sampling and analysed using multivariate regression analysis. Thus, the ability of small enterprises is positively impacted by the presence of a more robust and appropriate entrepreneurial ecosystem. Similarly, a firm’s resource capabilities are more impacted by the entrepreneurial ecosystem when there is a better link between academia and industry. Furthermore, entrepreneurial skills are found to play a mediating role between the entrepreneurial ecosystem and firms’ technological capabilities. Another finding revealed that managerial expertise significantly mediates entrepreneurial ecosystems and firms’ resource capabilities. This finding suggested that the policymakers, better to formulate policies that encourages small businesses to engage in the industrial parks which results in an inclusive firm’s performance.
Introduction: In contemporary healthcare education, the integration of technology has emerged as an essential factor in enhancing the efficiency and efficacy of training methodologies. Particularly within the domain of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, the adoption of technology-driven approaches holds considerable potential for enriching the skills and proficiencies of healthcare practitioners. Through the utilization of innovative technologies, such as simulation software and leveraging smartphones as primary tools, CPR training programs can be customized to provide immersive, interactive, and authentic learning experiences. This study aims to validate a comprehensive CPR training module tailored explicitly for healthcare professionals, to integrate it into smartphones as a medium for delivering CPR training. Methods: Two validity tests, namely content validity and face validity were conducted to evaluate the validity of the Smart-CPR training module. A self-constructed measurement scale was utilized to assess four parameters: consistency, representativeness, clarity, and relevancy. Content validity employed the content validity ratio, with scores ranging between 1 and −1, indicating the level of consensus among experts regarding the significance of each item. Face validity was assessed using two indices: the item face validity index and the scale face validity index. Ratings of 3 or 4 were given a score of 1, while ratings of 1 or 2 received a score of 0. Result: The content validity shows that CVI values for ‘consistency’ and ‘representativeness’ were 0.99 for the module and questionnaire, and 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. ‘Clarity’ scored 0.99 for the module and 0.96 for the questionnaire, while ‘relevance’ achieved 0.99 for both. All 44 items exceeded the 0.83 threshold for face validity. The Lawshe’s content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) value were used to evaluate the content validity of both the CRSTP module and questionnaire, with CVR values result ranging from 0.80 to 0.99 across dimensions. These findings demonstrate robust content validity. Additionally, high CVI scores, mostly exceeding 0.95, suggest favorable outcomes and indicate no need for revisions. In face validity method, all 44 items surpassed the minimum threshold of 0.83, signifying a favourable outcome. Thus, all items were deemed acceptable. Conclusion: The Smart-CPR training module and questionnaires were meticulously developed to meet both face and content validity standards. All 44 items demonstrated appropriate levels of validity, ensuring they effectively enhance and maintain CPR competency among healthcare providers and potentially benefit the broader community. The positive results of the Smart-CPR training module confirm the high validity of the CPR competency assessment. Content validity, evaluated by experts, received a perfect score, demonstrating agreement on the relevance of each module component. Similarly, face validity, assessed by healthcare professionals, also received a flawless score, indicating consensus on the module’s clarity and relevance. These findings validate the module’s effectiveness in teaching CPR techniques to a diverse audience and ensuring compliance with established standards. With such strong validity, digitizing the module becomes more straightforward, facilitating easier sharing and use across digital platforms. Ultimately, the module’s high validity facilitates its integration into digital platforms, thereby enhancing CPR education and improving outcomes during real emergencies.
The ability to take advantage of new digital solutions and technology will give companies a competitive edge, and operational optimization remains a major concern. A significant area of risk is cyber security because software-based technologies are integral to ship operations. Particular emphasis has been placed on the vulnerabilities of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), since it is an essential part of many maritime facilities and hence a target for hackers. Presently, research has shown that increased integration of new enabling technologies, like the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data, is driving the dramatic proliferation of cybercrimes. However, most of the attacks are related to ransomware attacks and/or with direct attack to the information technology (IT) and infrastructure. Nevertheless, there is a strong trend toward increased systems integration, which will produce substantial business value by making it easier to operate autonomous vessels, utilizing smart ports more, reducing the need for labour, and improving economic stability and service efficiency. Cybersecurity is becoming more and more important as a result of the quick digital transformation of the offshore and maritime sectors, which has also brought new dangers and laws. The marine sector has started to take cybersecurity seriously in light of the multiple documented instances of cyberattacks that have exposed business or personal data, caused large financial losses, and caused other problems. However, the body of existing research on emerging threats in maritime cyberspace is either inadequate or ignores important variables. Based on the most recent developments in the maritime sector, the article presents a classification of the most serious cyberthreats as well as the risks to cybersecurity in maritime operations and possible mitigation strategies from an educational research perspective.
This article delves into the application of blockchain technology in enhancing intellectual property (IP) protection within the e-commerce sector, providing a comprehensive analysis of its future prospects. By examining the core characteristics and working principles of blockchain, the paper reveals the unique advantages it offers in strengthening IP protection for e-commerce. The article elaborates on how blockchain’s features of decentralization, data immutability, and timestamping contribute to a secure, transparent, and efficient IP protection mechanism in the e-commerce field. Furthermore, the paper discusses the practical application of blockchain technology in IP registration, management, transaction, and rights protection, highlighting its significant impact on security traceability, transaction cost reduction, and efficiency improvement. Lastly, the article anticipates the future role of blockchain technology in IP protection in e-commerce and believes that with continued technological advancements and enhanced policy support, blockchain will play an increasingly pivotal role in this domain. The paper also proposes potential challenges and solutions that require attention, aiming to foster the healthy and sustainable development of blockchain technology.
This study examines factors associated with an increasingly poor perception of the novel coronavirus in Africa using a designed electronic questionnaire to collect perception-based information from participants across Africa from twenty-one African countries (and from all five regions of Africa) between 1 and 25 February 2022. The study received 66.7% of responses from West Africa, 12.7% from Central Africa, 4.6% from Southern Africa, 15% from East Africa, and 1% from North Africa. The majority of the participants are Nigerians (56%), 14.1% are Cameroonians, 8.7% are Ghanaians, 9.3% are Kenyans, 2% are South Africans, 2.1% are DR-Congolese, 1.6% are Tanzanians, 1.2% are Rwandans, 0.4% are Burundians, and others are Botswana’s, Chadians, Comoros, Congolese, Gambians, Malawians, South Sudanese, Sierra Leoneans, Ugandans, Zambians, and Zimbabweans. All responses were coded on a five-point Likert scale. The study adopts descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and binary logistic regression analysis for the data analysis. The descriptive analysis of the study shows that the level of ignorance or poor “perception” of COVID-19 in Africa is very high (87% of individuals sampled). It leads to skepticism towards complying with preventive measures as advised by the WHO and directed by the national government across Africa. We adopted logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with a poor perception of the virus in Africa. The study finds that religion (belief or faith) and media misinformation are the two leading significant causes of ignorance or poor “perception” of COVID-19 in Africa, with log odd of 0.4775 (resulting in 1.6120 odd ratios) and 1.3155 (resulting in 3.7265 odd ratios), respectively. The study concludes that if the poor attitude or perception towards complying with the preventive measures continues, COVID-19 cases in Africa may increase beyond the current spread.
Census 2022 of Saudi Arabia was released recently, with 12 years of intercensal interval. Although it appeared provisional having no reports similar to the 2010 census, efforts to analyze, interpret, disseminate, and discuss were essential for building structures and systems at par with demographic trends and patterns. An analysis was carried out with this census data compared to 2004 and 2010 to track population change—demographic pace, trends, and patterns—over the two decades. Data from all three censuses were analyzed with conventional demographic techniques. A reduction in growth was observed with a declining percentage of the childhood population but with an expanding percentage of the adults (working age) indicating a demographic dividend resulted, mostly, from fertility decline. An aging trend established by the previous censuses was lost, recently: the constriction of the pyramid of 2010 was changed to a different shape. Not only the percentage distribution trends were uneven but also the age-based indices. Thus, these trends revealed a demographic difference to an extent, that demands standardized reports, uniform procedures for the data collection and compilation, and geographic distribution equations. The increasing concentration in urban centers of major administrative areas—Al-Riyadh, Makkah Al-Mokarramah, and the Eastern Region demand redistribution policies. Self-contained townships appear as a strategic option in population redistribution, guaranteeing quality standards and lifestyle.
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