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This study aims to examine the mediating role of social influence on the relationship between key predictors of E-pharmacy adoption among young consumers based on the unified theory of adoption and use of technology (UTAUT).

This study employs a quantitative correlational research design. Based on cluster sampling, data was collected from 306 university students from three public universities in southwestern Nigeria. Data was analysed using partial least square structural equation modeling.

The primary determinant driving the adoption of e-pharmacy is performance expectancy. Social influence plays a partial mediating role in linking performance expectancy to e-pharmacy adoption. In contrast, it fully mediates the relationship between effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and the adoption of e-pharmacy services.

This study provides theoretical clarity on recent issues within the UTAUT framework. Findings highlight the complexity of how social factors interact with individual beliefs and external conditions in determining technology acceptance.

Research includes information relevant to access the impact of e-pharmacy services on healthcare accessibility, affordability and quality in developing countries.

The findings extend the adoption of technology literature in healthcare and offer a new understanding of adoption dynamics. The results emphasize the importance of performance expectancy in driving e-pharmacy adoption, providing a clear direction for stakeholders to enhance service quality and user experience of e-pharmacy. Additionally, the mediating effect of social influence highlights the significance of peer recommendations, celebrity endorsements and social media campaigns in shaping consumer adoption of e-pharmacies among young people.

Building developments are often capital intensive, have a long payback period and many associated risks and uncertainties. This makes investments in building projects to be a big challenge. This study aims to develop a computerized simulation-based binomial model (CSBBM) for building investment appraisal with a view to improving the economic sustainability of proposed building projects.

Mathematical equations and algorithms were developed based on the binomial method (BM) of real options analysis and then implemented on a computer system. A hybrid algorithm that integrates Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and BM was also developed. A real-life project was used to test the model. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted to explore the influence of input variables on development option value (DOV).

The test result shows that the model developed provides a better estimate of the value of an investment when compared with traditional net present value technique, which underestimate the value. Moreover, inflation rate (i) and rental value (Ri) are the most sensitive variables for DOV. An increase in i and Ri by just 5% causes a corresponding increase in DOV by 202% and 132%, respectively. While the least sensitive variable is the discount rate (r), as an increase in r by 5% causes a corresponding decrease in DOV by just 9%. The CSBBM is capable of determining the optimal time of development of buildings with an accuracy of 80.77%.

The hybrid model produces higher DOV than that of only the BM because MCS considers randomness in uncontrollable variables. Thus, building investment decision-makers should always use MCS to complement the BM in an investment analysis.

There is limited evidence on the use of this kind of hybrid model for determining DOV in practice.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the batch adsorption system of a cationic dye (methylene blue, widely used in various sectors) on two adsorbents; ZSM-5 zeolite which was prepared with the molar composition: 0.2057 Na₂O-0.00266 Al₂O₃-SiO₂-0.68 (pyrrolidine)-40 H₂O-0.12 H₂SO₄.

By the hydrothermal synthesis method, and the purified clay and is analyzed by IR and DRX method.

For this, the authors conducted a parametric study of adsorption and effect of several important parameters on the adsorption of BM on the material used, in particular, the contact time (equilibrium is established after 120 min), different concentrations of adsorbents, different masses, the pH and temperature. The experiments demonstrated the crucial role of these parameters. A kinetic study was done and kinetic models were applied to the experimental results such as the pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order.

This work is original.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the robustness of effects found by Barone et al. that partially comparative pricing enhances consumers' relative price beliefs about its comparatively priced products, but risks adversely affecting these beliefs about the retailer's non‐comparatively priced products.

Research uses an experimental methodology in which the presence or absence of a price comparison is manipulated and the effects on relative price beliefs about non‐comparatively priced products are assessed.

Four studies replicated Barone et al.'s findings that a competitive price comparison enhances consumers' relative price beliefs about comparatively priced products, but did not replicate their findings that these beliefs about the non‐comparatively priced products are affected adversely unless suspicion was induced experimentally. Otherwise, consumer suspicion about the lack of price comparisons, found to be a driver of the adverse effects in Barone et al., did not spontaneously emerge in the current research.

Research examines only university students in a controlled setting devoid of real‐world distractions. Like Barone et al., effects focus on non‐comparatively priced products in categories lacking any price comparison rather than the non‐comparatively priced products residing within the same category as the comparatively priced product. Findings reinforce the value of replication.

The potential risks to retailers of using partially comparative pricing appear far less prevalent than observed previously.

The paper raises questions about the stability of consumer response, particularly those involving consumer suspicion, to pricing tactics.

This chapter studies the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic structure of the US and EU economies by measuring its impact on some reference macro-economic variables. We use a factor model approach on a set of variables available at different frequencies (daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly) and provide evidence of instability in the primary factors driving the economy. A sequential analysis of the factors allows us to evaluate the model's forecasting performance and extract some instability measures based on the factor model's eigenvalues. Finally, we show how to use COVID-related variables, such as policy, economic, and health indicators, to compute conditional forecasts with factor models, and perform a scenario analysis on the variables of interest to understand economic instability.

The connotation of sustainable tourism occupies prime importance in the light of prevalent pandemic situations across the globe. One such deliberation is the construct of regenerative travel, a type of “matured tourism” with restoration and rejuvenation of destinations as its pillars. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism rate was dropped by nearly 65% across the world, leaving the countries' economies shattered and communities depending on tourism experiencing massive unemployment. However, regenerative tourism provides a way to secure a future of tourism and allows the communities to coexist with tourist attractions and sustain new models of tourism. This chapter examined the concept of regenerative tourism to build resilience particularly during the post-COVID-19 pandemic. The result shows various strategies for implementation of regenerative tourism, framework approach not recovery of tourism and renewing of tourism. Additionally, implications of regenerative tourism could be foreseen, and a roadmap is provided for the tourism stakeholders.

Tourism is considered one of the globe's most prominent sectors, generating considerable forex revenues and employment generation, contributing to world peace and solidarity among many nations. However, it is negatively influenced by different factors like the spread of diseases, terrorist attacks, outbreaks of war, etc. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unforeseen upheavals, resulting in demand and supply uncertainties in nearly every area of the economy (El-Erian, 2020). Thus, it is relevant to study the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry. This chapter explains the journey of tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic by portraying the status of global tourism, how it impacted the Indian economy and its revival strategies, with special mention to Kerala tourism. The pandemic also resulted in a considerable change in the travel intentions of tourists, their travel preferences and their attitude towards travel. Hence, this chapter also presents the changed travel intentions of tourists that will help the industry players modify their products per the tourist's expectations. Finally, this chapter presents how the tourism industry recovered from the pandemic from both the supplier and demand perspectives, which will be helpful for all tourism stakeholders.

This chapter aims to critically analyse the implications that the national protectionist policies have on the global supply and value chains and the relocation of production. The analysis is based on the assumptions that the global economy is facing the possibility of decoupling of many trade connections, and this trend favours de-globalisation processes that have long been promoted by populism, nationalism and economic protectionism. It is concluded that global supply, production and value chains although being economically efficient are no longer any more secure under national protectionist policies, and therefore, the relocation of production processes is mainly due to the increase in the level of income and wages of the developing countries that are the destination and which reduce the advantages to relocate.

Rebuilding communities in economically struggling places might mean taking steps to combat poverty and promote economic growth. This can entail boosting employment prospects, promoting small-town enterprises, and enhancing access to health care and education. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant and all-encompassing influence on economy around the world. In order to craft a convincing case for the critical role that microfinance plays in promoting the expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and, as a result, helping to rebuild communities and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the author has used a thorough literature-based methodology in this chapter. This is an opinion-based chapter. In order to discover recurring themes and patterns connected to microfinance, SME development, and SDGs, the author has rigorously analyzed and integrated the data and insights offered in various sources. The presented thoughts and policy suggestions are built upon the findings of this literature research.