The food industry progressively requires innovative and environmentally safe packaging materials with increased physical, mechanical, and barrier properties. Due to its unique properties, cellulose has several potential applications in the food industry as a packaging material, stabilizing agent, and functional food ingredient. A coffee pod is a filter of cellulosic, non-rigid, ready-made material containing ground portions and pressed coffee prepared in dedicated machines. In our study, we obtained, with homogenization and sonication, cellulose micro/nanoparticles from three different coffee pods. It is known that nanoparticulate systems can enter live cells and, if ingested, could exert alterations in gastrointestinal tract cells. Our work aims to investigate the response of HT-29 cells to cellulose nanoparticles from coffee pods. In particular, the subcellular effects between coffee-embedded nanocellulose (CENC) and cellulose nanoparticles (NC) were compared. Finally, we analysed the pathologic condition (Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) from Campylobacter jejuni) on the same cells conditioned by NC and CENC. We evidenced that, for the cellular functional features analysed, NC and CENC pre-treatments do not worsen cell response to the C. jejuni CDT, also pointing out an improvement of the autophagic flux, particularly for CENC preconditioning.

This study aims to: (1) analyze the need for digital marketing capabilities in Thai MSME; (2) develop an online digital marketing course; and (3) enhance Thai MSME’s digital marketing capabilities, particularly in Thailand’s manufacturing sectors. The survey was conducted using questionnaires distributed to a sample group of 400 digital marketing staff, executives, or business owners, complemented by in-depth interviews with marketing experts, business managers, and owners, totaling 10 participants. The research findings reveal a significant demand for digital marketing skills among MSME entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector. The top three skills identified as most crucial for enhancement are: (1) communication and marketing information presentation skills; (2) brand building and public relations; and (3) video marketing execution. The study further revealed that the design of the digital marketing course, along with the developed online learning platform, attracted and successfully enrolled 104 MSMEs who participated in the online program. The pre- and post-training assessment results demonstrated a statistically significant difference in test scores, with a mean post-training score of 16.10 ( Mean = 16.10, S.D. = 1.396), representing a notable increase from the pre-training mean score of 6.47 ( Mean = 6.47, S.D. = 3.634) at the 0.05 significance level. Furthermore, the results of the follow-up evaluation on the application of acquired knowledge revealed that the overall level of knowledge and skills application is at its highest, with an average score of 4.64. This indicates that the developed course and online learning platform effectively enhance learners’ knowledge.

In this research, we explore the psychological factors that SMB owners who are micro-entrepreneurs and use SNS for entrepreneurial purposes rely on to make their self-employment decisions. Research-based on a merger of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) deals with how perceived ease of use (PEU), perceived usefulness (PU), attitude, subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), openness to experience (OTE), and dominance contribute to people’s behavioural intention (BI) to use SNS for Data was collected from 342 SMB micro-entrepreneurs in the Delhi/NCR region of India by the means of a standardized questionnaire. Employing PLS-SEM, a partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results point out an impact of PU, attitude, and behavioral intention, and unappealing presentations, unacceptance of an explanation, unclear mechanisms, and domination do not make any difference. The research emphasizes how technophobe’s attitude, and the perception of effectiveness would impact micro-entrepreneurs desire to avail SNS for entrepreneurship efforts. Moreover, research shows the psychological understanding based on the SNS adoption by the small business owners, micro-entrepreneurs as well as for the practitioners and policymakers who are working to enhance the capability of the SMB. More investigations should be conducted on the other personality traits and cover more nations as demographic dividends in comparison to acquire more inclusive data.

Financial literacy and financial intermediation are vital tools for all businesses, particularly women micro-entrepreneurs. Even with modest means, they have been shown to considerably contribute to economic independence at the family, national, and international levels. Since Indonesian women microentrepreneurs still have trouble getting bank loans (being unbanked), the majority of them join cooperatives. Cooperatives are without doubt the financial intermediation institutions of choice for micro-communities; nonetheless, research on the subject is still scarce, particularly in developing nations. In order to bridge this gap, this study looks at the role of cooperatives as financial intermediation organizations. Examining the impact of financial literacy through cooperative financial intermediation on the financial performance of Indonesian women microentrepreneurs is the main goal of the study. The cross-sectional data were identified using purposive approaches and processed with the use of Smart PLS as part of an explanatory research approach. The direct influence test results demonstrate that enhancing financial performance and financial intermediation are directly impacted by financial literacy. Additionally, financial intermediation (cooperatives) was successful in influencing the impact of financial literacy on the financial performance of micro-entrepreneurs in Indonesia, according to the findings of the mediation effect test.

The main objective of this study is to identify the impact of trust on the construction of corporate value in commerce and services microbusinesses. This work is based on identifying the challenges faced by SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), which are conditioned by the type of business and the regulatory and incentive variables that exist in the territory, affecting their permanence and stability in the market and their financial and commercial development. A local study is carried out in Bogotá, Colombia, through a descriptive research project, using a quantitative analysis method (SPSS) to process data obtained from local microbusinesses. As a result, it was observed that trust has a discrete impact on the creation of corporate value, which is created from the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology). This leads to the recognition that it is necessary to strengthen horizontal networks with suppliers, clients, and similar businesses, as well as vertical networks with entities and public associations, to generate lasting and strong links that increase the competitiveness of these business units in the face of exogenous risks shaped by the social, economic, and cultural characteristics of the territory, which are increasingly conditioned to the use of communication technology.