Culture is a cohesive system of values, meanings, and behaviors. This study follows Hofstede’s framework of cultural dimensions, which is widely studied in different contexts. Although culture is a subject of extensive research, few recent studies evaluate culture between countries. This study analyzed the cultural dimensions identified in two Latin American countries: Colombia and Chile. In addition, it evaluated differences in both countries by sex. The study was conducted with 382 workers from Chile and 617 from Colombia. Significant differences were found between Colombia and Chile in power distance, paternalism, and masculinity-femininity. This exploratory study may contribute to discussing the role of culture and sex in organizations operating in different countries.

This study examined the dissatisfaction among Chinese medical students with online medical English courses, which overemphasize grammar yet fail to provide practical opportunities related to medical situations. This study compared co-teaching’s effects, involving native and non-native instructors, with a single-instructor (traditional) model on student satisfaction in online medical English courses. Using a qualitative design, pre- and post-course interviews were conducted with 49 second-year medical students across seven classes, exploring their perceptions of instruction, curriculum, and course satisfaction. The findings indicated that the co-teaching model improved student engagement and satisfaction, not specifically due to the native English-speaking instructor but likely because of the focus on more interactive and discussion-oriented strategies. In contrast, the single-instructor model maintained the traditional grammar-focused instruction, leading to lower satisfaction levels. Both instructional models faced limitations related to their reliance on textbooks for delivering core material needed for the course’s comprehensive exam. These results suggest that the instruction design and approach, rather than the native instructor alone, was the main driver of positive outcomes in co-teaching. The study’s findings suggest a need for curriculum reforms that reduce textbook dependence and incorporate more practical, interactive learning strategies. Future research should consider applying various research techniques, such as mixed-method approaches, longitudinal studies, and experimental designs, to comprehensively assess the long-term effects of instructional strategies and curriculum innovations on student outcomes.

In this study, the entropy weight method, the α convergence model, the absolute β convergence model and the conditional β convergence model are used to evaluate the 31 provinces’ innovative potential in China from 2011 to 2022. It is found that the innovative potential in nationwide China and in various regions are all increasing year by year, and the innovative potential in the eastern region is obviously better than that in the central region and western region. No matter considering the influence of external factors or not, the gap of innovative potential among provinces in different regions will gradually expand over time, with the largest gap among provinces in the eastern region, followed by the central region and the smallest in the western region. The conclusion of this study is instructive to enhance the innovative potential of China and promote the balanced development of regional innovative potential in China.

Cassava’s adaptability to different agroecological conditions, high yield, as well as its ability to thrive under harsh climatic conditions, makes it an essential food security crop. In South Africa, the cassava value chain is currently uncoordinated and underdeveloped, with a couple of smallholder farmers growing the crop for household consumption and as a source of income. Other farmers regard it as a secondary crop and hardly any producers grow it for industrial purposes. Hence, this study sought to analyze the determinants of household participation in the cassava value chain in South Africa. The study employed the multivariate probit model to analyze the determinants of household participation in the cassava value chain in South Africa, using a primary dataset collected through a simple sample method from smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces. Results show that livestock ownership has a positive and significant effect on the likelihood of farmers participating in the value chain by growing cassava for household food consumption. Also, findings reveal that hiring labour in cassava production and an increase in the yield during the previous season increases the probability of farmers’ interest in selling cassava tubers along the value chain. Hence, the positive and statistically significant influence of hiring labour during cassava production in driving the farmers’ interest in selling cassava tubers and cuttings implies that the development of the cassava value chain presents great opportunities for creating jobs (employment) in the country. Also, policy interventions that ensure land tenure security and empower farmers to increase their cassava yields are bound to encourage further participation in the value chain with an interest in selling fresh tubers, among other derived products to generate income. Lastly, programmes that empower and encourage youth participation in the cassava value chain can increase the number of farmers interested in selling cassava products.

This study explores the potential of digital preservation in the documentation of colonial cultural heritage in Egypt. It also explores the stories behind historical wars to revive these sites and attract different segments of visitors. Documentation of these sites should enhance Egyptian colonial cultural heritage sites, which include battlefields, war memorials, commanders’ palaces, assassination and murder spots, cemeteries, and mausoleums. The purpose of this study was fulfilled through field visits supplemented with in-depth interviews with experts on colonial heritage sites in Egypt. The findings showed that technology could play a key role in implementing the storytelling documentation and interpretation of colonial history and its relevant events at the Egyptian sites. However, to date, these sites have not made the best use of technology for digital preservation and documentation due to many challenges. The study recommends that decision-makers should integrate technological innovation, which can revitalize the communities built on the ruins of colonialism and revive the heritage of popular resistance. Technological innovation could be implemented not only in digital preservation and documentation but also in service and marketing of these colonial heritage sites.

The effective allocation of resources within police patrol departments is crucial for maintaining public safety and operational efficiency. Traditional methods often fail to account for uncertainties and variabilities in police operations, such as fluctuating crime rates and dynamic response requirements. This study introduces a fuzzy multi-state network (FMSN) model to evaluate the reliability of resource allocation in police patrol departments. The model captures the complexities and uncertainties of patrol operations using fuzzy logic, providing a nuanced assessment of system reliability. Virtual data were generated to simulate various patrol scenarios. The model’s performance was analyzed under different configurations and parameter settings. Results show that resource sharing and redundancy significantly enhance system reliability. Sensitivity analysis highlights critical factors affecting reliability, offering valuable insights for optimizing resource management strategies in police organizations. This research provides a robust framework for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of police patrol operations under conditions of uncertainty.