Digital Commons Network^™

Navigating The Endemic Era: Understanding The Carry-On Forces That Influence Business Travel Decisions, Cheuk Ki, Eliver Lin

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected global trade, including business travel, despite its importance in promoting economic growth and innovation. This study investigated the factors that motivate companies and organisations to engage in business travel during the pandemic era, using data from 1948 decision-makers in the Asia Pacific region. The results showed that the significance of the trip and the demand of clients were critical influencers of business travel decisions. These findings address the research gap in explaining organisational travel decisions and behaviours and can help stakeholders in the aviation, hospitality, and tourism industries develop effective strategies to attract business …

Managing Interconnected Production In A Dynamic Network A Fair Gain-Sharing Collaborative Solution, Yingxuan Zhang

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

This paper presents an analysis on the optimal management of interconnected production networks Collaboration represents the best posssibility of achieving a group optimal solution that enhances payoffs of the companies in a network. Since companies are not identical, some of them may capture substantially less gain through interconnection than their conttributions to other providers. An optimality principle in gain-sharing that reflects the contributions of the participating companies is needed. This papper developed a novel dynamic fair gain-sharing solution for interconnected production networks that fulfills the requirements of a sustainable scheme — individual rationality, group optimality, time consistency and fair-sharing principle.

How Pinduoduo’S E-Commerce Experience Shapes Customer Satisfaction And Loyalty: Leveraging Social Networks, Yingxuan Zhang

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

The study formulated a research model grounded in Expectation Confirmation Theory, specifically examining the role of e-commerce experience in customer satisfaction and loyalty within the context of Pinduoduo. Hypothesized relationships were established between the core dimensions of e-commerce experience and the e-commerce customer engagement triad. To analyze the gathered data and evaluate the research hypotheses, structural equation modeling was employed. The research findings indicate that the core dimensions of e-commerce experience, namely e-commerce user interface quality, information quality, security risk avoidance perception, and privacy perception, exert positive influences on both customer satisfaction and trust. Moreover, the study reveals a positive …

From Learning To Career: How Experiential Learning Shapes Event Management Students’ Well-Being And Inspiration, Man Fung, Stephanie Lee

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

Purpose – This study aims to examine how experiential learning influences event management students’ well-being across positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA) dimensions and their inspiration for a career in the event industry. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopted a mixed-methods study to evaluate an experiential learning event for final-year event management students in Hong Kong. Quantitative data from pre- and postevent surveys (n 5 30 valid responses) were analyzed via paired-sample t-tests. Qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis to identify themes on industry and psychological readiness. Findings – Quantitative results showed significant well-being improvements, including enhanced engagement, relationships, positive …

Challenge-Based Learning: The Case Of Future Business Events Industry Leaders In Asia, Man Fung, Stephanie Lee

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

Purpose – This study explores the application of Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) in preparing students for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) industry in Asia. Using the AFECA Asia MICE Youth Challenge 2024 as a case, it investigates how CBL fosters student engagement, critical thinking and leadership, addressing the gap between academic training and industry needs. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed-methods approach was used, combining survey data from 36 students and reflections from participants and coaches. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses were thematically examined using Clarke and Braun’s (2013) six-step method to assess CBL’s impact on …

Smart Education Across Academic Disciplines: A Systematic Literature Review, Billy T.M. Wong, Kam Cheong Li, Mengjin Liu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Smart education has been practiced in many academic disciplines. To investigate the relationship between the implementation of smart education and the nature of academic disciplines, this paper presents a systematic review to address the literature gap. The study synthesized 110 journal articles collected from Scopus, which were published between 2010 and 2022 and reported smart education practices in higher education. Academic disciplines involved in the practices were categorized into Hard-Pure, Soft-Pure, Hard-Applied, and Soft-Applied based on the Biglan’s classification. The results illustrated that the practices were implemented mainly at the undergraduate level, and most frequently in the language and computer …

Vol 18(1) Table Of Contents

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

N/A

Role Of Assistive And Adaptive Technologies In Promoting Inclusivity In Classrooms: A Study On Special Education Trainees, Deepa Sikand Kauts Dr., Moomin Ahmad Rather Mr

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Integrating assistive and adaptive technologies is vital for fostering inclusivity in special education. However, awareness and perceived impact of these tools among aspiring special educators remain underexplored. This study examined the awareness and perceived impact of assistive and adaptive technologies among 56 students enrolled in a Multiple Disabilities (MD) B.Ed. Special Education program. Validated scales with strong reliability and unidimensionality were employed, with the awareness scale explaining 70.62% of the variance and the perceived impact scale accounting for 53.68%. Descriptive and inferential analyses indicated that awareness levels ranged from basic to moderate (mean = 3.37), with a subset showing high …

Perspectives Of Using Artificial Intelligence As An Automated Knowledge Assessment Instrument, Oleksii Shapoval

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Knowledge assessment is an integral part of learning and teaching that requires considerable amounts of instructors’ time and effort. This study aims to evaluate the prospects of artificial intelligence (AI) for automated knowledge assessment and identify the factors that influence its perception and value. An experiment with a reference implementation of a grading and automated feedback generation system is performed. Based on the results, a survey with 16 university students who regularly use AI is conducted and analyzed through a thematic analysis method. The findings reveal that availability, knowledge breadth, and elimination of social barriers have positive influence on preference …

The Impacts Of Technology-Led Event Sustainability Consumption Values On Personal Social Responsibility And Collective Psychological Outcomes, Man Fung, Stephanie Lee

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

This study investigates how technology-led event sustainability consumption values (TESCVs) influence attendees’ attitudes toward sustainable music events, personal social responsibility, and collective psychological outcomes. Surveying 450 participants at technologically advanced music events in South Korea, it identifies technology-led accessibility, emotional, epistemic, and social values significantly influencing attitudes toward sustainable events. These positive attitudes correlate with increased social well-being, global identity, and civic engagement through personal social responsibility. Environmental activism partially moderated effects, but collectivism orientation did not significantly affect the outcomes. Findings highlight TESCVs’ role in promoting a sustainable event culture, offering insights for researchers, event organizers, and destination marketers.

Enhancing University Students’ Listening Comprehension Using The Toefl Learning English Application (Mall) : A Quantitative Study, Andrian Nuriza Johan, Sri Wuli Fitriati, Januarius Wuli Mujiyanto, Widhiyanto Wuli Widhiyanto

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study investigates the effectiveness of the TOEFL Learning English Application in enhancing the listening comprehension skills of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners and explores students’ perceptions of its use. A descriptive quantitative design was employed involving 45 English Education students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo. Pre- and post-tests measured listening comprehension gains, while a questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model assessed student perceptions. Results showed a statistically significant improvement in listening scores, as well as generally positive perceptions regarding the application’s accessibility, usability, and ability to reduce learning anxiety. These findings support using the TOEFL Learning English …

Integration Of Design Thinking And Educational Technology Into Science Education: A Conceptual Framework For The Development Of Sustainability Competencies, Ashish Saseendran, Mary Vineetha Thomas

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study presents a conceptual framework that integrates Educational Technology (EdTech) and Design Thinking (DT) to develop sustainability competencies among secondary school science students. Grounded in UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), the framework promotes systems thinking, strategic action, collaboration, and critical problem-solving. It blends Design-Based Learning (DBL) principles with the iterative stages of the Design Thinking process—Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—supporting curriculum-aligned, competency-based learning. By incorporating advanced EdTech tools such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), gamification, and learning analytics, the framework enhances student engagement and enables comprehensive assessment practices. …

Insights From The Four-Wave Longitudinal Study Of Youth Identity Status In Hong Kong, Zhengmin, Kelly Peng

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

No abstract provided.

Exploring Hong Kong Public Attitudes And Concerns About Traditional Chinese Medical Treatments: A Study On Discussion Forum Responses, Xiling Cui

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

Purpose – This study aims to analyze online responses to gain insights into public attitudes and concerns regarding traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) among Hong Kong residents. By addressing gaps in understanding public sentiment, this study contributes to the development of effective healthcare policies. Design/methodology/approach – Responses were collected from Baby-Kingdom.com using Python, gathering 17,568 TCM-related comments from 2016 to 2023. Analysis involved an eight-theme codebook and sentiment and semantic network analyses with DiVoMiner. Findings – Most responses expressed positive sentiments and attitudes toward TCM. The analysis revealed recurring topics related to conditioning and specific diseases, including gynecological problems. Clinic service …

Uncovering The Effects Of Non-Hedonic Social Media Use On Knowledge Workers’ Depression Through The Conservation Of Resources Theory, Xiling Cui

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

Leveraging the conservation of resources theory, this study investigates the influence of non-hedonic social media (SM) uses, namely broad socialization, deep communication, information retrieval, and information sharing, on forming knowledge-working professionals’ depression through SM overload and strain. The analysis of a two-wave data collection with 440 participants suggests that broad socialization and information sharing have both positive and negative effects indirectly on depression. In contrast, deep communication and information retrieval are beneficial in reducing depression. Our study contributes to the existing literature by exploring the distinct effects of the four non-hedonic social media use on depression.

The Influence Of Technology-Led Event Sustainability Consumption Values (Tescvs) On Event Attendees’ Perceptions Of Green Event Image, Sustainable Event Loyalty, And Behavioral Outcomes, Man Fung, Stephanie Lee

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of technology-led event sustainability consumption values (TESCVs) on attendees’ perceptions of green event image, sustainable event loyalty, and subsequent behavioral outcomes. Results of the responses of 444 event participants indicated that technologyled co-creation value, technology-led green value, emotional and epistemic value, and social value positively impacted green event image. Further, the positive effect of sustainable event loyalty significantly predicted behavioral outcomes including word-of-mouth promotion, willingness to pay more, and revisit intention. The study also showed that while collectivism orientation had a minimal influence on these relations, environmental identity did not …

Minimizing Hotel Employees’ Negative Responses To Adverse Change Practices: The Application Of Attribution Theory, Zhengmin, Kelly Peng

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

Hospitality organizations need to make changes from time to time, which usually result in adverse human

resource (HR) practices, such as readjustments to job duties or salary cuts. To reduce negative employee responses to these adverse practices, scholars suggest the important role of change communication. However, it

remains unclear how change communication can alter employees’ cognition to minimize their negative responses. Drawing on the HR attribution theory, we hypothesize that high-quality change communication can

reduce employees’ turnover intentions through well-being attribution. We further argue that this indirect effect

depends on the seriousness of the negative impact on employees. We test …

Carbon Capture And Storage And Infrastructure Innovation In The Presence Of Transboundary Pollution: A Differential Game Analysis, Yingxuan Zhang

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

This study employs a differential game approach to examine the

carbon capture and storage (CCS) and infrastructure innovation strategies of

two countries in the context of transboundary pollution. The game model

incorporates three key elements: (i) the quantity of CO2 captured by each

country depends on its capital stock of CCS infrastructure; (ii) both countries

engage in infrastructure innovation activities; and (iii) an incentive equilibrium mechanism is developed to foster sustained cooperation between the two

countries. Our findings reveal that when emission levels remain constant, the

system exhibits a steady-state equilibrium with a saddle point in both non[1]cooperative and cooperative …

Development Of Chinese Medicinal Ointment With Antibacterial Properties From Tripterygium Wilfordii, Ching Tung, Dawn Au

Department of Food and Health Sciences

Background: Chinese medicinal ointment was first recorded in the Shan Hai Jing (The Classic of Mountains and Seas). Different formulations of Chinese medicinal ointments have been made based on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory. Many TCMs possessed antibacterial properties that were used as microecological regulators to inhibit the growth of gram-negative bacteria, “Escherichia coli.” Purpose: To develop and make an antibacterial ointment by Tripterygium wilfordii (TW) and evaluate its antibacterial function. Materials and Methods: The methodologies included physical (cream selection), chemical [ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD)], and biological (agar assay) experiments for making TW ointment. …

An Overview Of The Current Scientific Evidence On The Biological Properties Of Abelmoschus Esculentus (L.) Moench (Okra), Shun Wan Chan, Hei Tung, Lydia Chan

Department of Food and Health Sciences

Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, commonly known as okra or lady’s finger, is an annual flowering plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. Okra is a native plant in Africa as well as a traditional medicine in Africa and India for treating different diseases and conditions. Today, okra is widely consumed as a vegetable and is increasingly recognized as a superfood due to its rich nutritional profile and potential pharmacological benefits. Research indicates that okra exhibits a range of biological activities, including antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antifatigue, vasoprotective, hepatoprotective, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Despite its promising therapeutic potential, research on the active compounds …

An Overview Of The Current Scientific Evidence On The Biological Properties Of Abelmoschus Esculentus (L.) Moench (Okra), Shun Wan Chan, Hei Tung, Lydia Chan, Tsun Ka, Carten Kwok, Yam Fung Ng

Department of Food and Health Sciences

Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench, commonly known as okra or lady’s finger, is an annual flowering plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. Okra is a native plant in Africa as well as a traditional medicine in Africa and India for treating different diseases and conditions. Today, okra is widely consumed as a vegetable and is increasingly recognized as a superfood due to its rich nutritional profile and potential pharmacological benefits. Research indicates that okra exhibits a range of biological activities, including antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antifatigue, vasoprotective, hepatoprotective, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Despite its promising therapeutic potential, research on the active compounds …

Precise Kidney Stone Localization In Medical Imaging Via A Capsule Network, Omar Hammad Jasim, Daniah Abdul Qahar Shakir, Mohammed Shihab Hamad, Waleed Kareem Awad

Mesopotamian Journal of Big Data

Traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) face significant limitations in medical imaging when detecting small, spatially variable objects such as kidney stones, primarily due to their inability to preserve pose information and spatial correlations through max pooling operations. While previous CNN-based studies achieved approximately 93% accuracy in kidney stone detection, they struggled with the precise localization of small or partially obscured stones, creating a critical research gap in automated urological diagnostics. This study develops and evaluates a capsule network (CapsNet) framework that leverages dynamic routing and vector-based capsules to increase kidney stone localization accuracy in computed tomography (CT) images while maintaining …

Uniform Resource Locator Protection Scheme For The Mitigation Of Man-In-The-Middle Stripping Attacks, Duaa Sameer Zhraw, Mohammed Abdulridha Hussain, Zaid Ameen Abduljabbar, Vincent Omollo Nyangaresi, Ali Hasan Ali, Husam A. Neamah

Mesopotamian Journal of Big Data

Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks reduce Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) to Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), compromising network communications to potential exploitation. Attackers exploit application-layer vulnerabilities, and the attack often occurs on LAN. This study addresses the problem by introducing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) protection mechanism that combines encryption with secure key exchange. A browser built with Python and PyQt5 encrypts URLs before transmission. The router decrypts, processes, re-encrypts, and returns data securely. The Diffie–Hellman algorithm generates a new session key for each connection, and the Advanced Encryption Standard with Galois Counter Mode (AES-GCM) technique to encrypt. The system was tested …

Vcu's Yellow Brick Road: Connection, Safety, & Navigation, Karen Bjork, Robert Chisley, Samuel Kessler, Taylor Mackillop, Sarah Midkiff

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute Publications

Yellow Brick Road is an initiative designed to strengthen the connection between Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and downtown Richmond by promoting outdoor activity, sustainable mobility, and shared community experiences. The project aims to enhance the health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff through walking meetings and a proposed VCU-branded e-bike fleet, while also deepening VCU’s engagement with the urban community through events such as the UNCOMMON Street Festival. Together, these efforts reflect VCU’s vision as a university fully embedded in the city, guided by the question: How can VCU thrive with Richmond, not apart from it?

The Entrepreneurs Handbook: A Practical Meets Academic Guide For Both Current And Budding Business Owners And Risk Takers, Howard J. Friedman

Open Educational Resources

This work has been created with the intention of being used as a practical guide for the budding entrepreneur. The concepts are presented to optimize creative thinking and find a path to a fully realized business. From idea through funding, the company life cycle. This work is meant to provide the reader with all the materials that will be needed to make a real-world decision. Effort has been made to combine academic and practical data to offer a straightforward guide to finding, funding, and realizing your dream.

Patterns Of Self-Harm Presentations At A Tertiary Urban Hospital In Kenya: A Retrospective 5-Year Study (2018–2022), Willie Njoroge, Catherine Gitau, Everline Onchari, Linnet Ongeri, Linda Khakali, Murad Khan, Zul Merali, Lukoye Atwoli, Jasmit Shah

Brain and Mind Institute

Introduction Self-harm represents a complex and multifaceted public health issue of global significance, exerting profound effects on individuals and communities alike. It involves intentional self-poisoning or self-injury with or without the motivation to die. Although self-harm is highly prevalent, limited research has focused on the patterns and trends of self-harm among hospital populations in low- and middle-income countries, particularly within Africa. This study aims to explore the socio-demographic and clinical profile of patients presenting with self-harm and determine the common self-harm patterns at a tertiary facility in Kenya.

Methodology We carried out a descriptive retrospective study and included patients from …

Assessing Iot Intrusion Detection Computational Costs When Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Mathew Nicho, Brian Cusack, Christopher D. Mcdermott, Shini Girija

All Works

IoT systems face vulnerabilities due to their data processing requirements and resource constraints. With 13 billion connected devices globally, this research investigates the economic viability of AI-based intrusion detection systems (IDSs), specifically analyzing the automation costs of implementing a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) for classifying malicious sensor traffic. This study introduces an innovative framework that evaluates six distinct architectural components of CNN and LSTM: image input processing, convolutional layer operations, max pooling layer functionality, fully connected layer characteristics, softmax output activation, and class determination mechanisms. The framework employs six metrics: matrix size, feature vector number, …

Victoria Welby's Semiotics, Significs And Gender: Through A Modernist Lens, Zoe Hurley

All Works

While there is an established body of scholarship discussing Victoria Welby's contribution to semiotics, her philosophical ideas engage with many of the intellectual currents that would later define the modernist movement. Exploring Welby's extensive articles, letters, speeches, and monographs - through a genealogical framework and modernist lens - conveys Welby's semiotic portrait of language and gender as both building upon and extending the classical semiotic approaches of Peirce as well as demonstrating nascent modernist elements. This casts a new light on the importance of Welby's semiotic concepts of Significs and mother-sense. Yet, although Welby's works correspond with proto-modernist concepts, including …

Development And Pilot-Testing Of Remote Counseling Treatment Manual And Protocol For 15-Year-Old And Above Osaec Survivors, Maria Caridad Tarroja, Ma. Araceli Balajadia-Alcala, Patricia D. Simon, Agnes B. Villegas

SDRC Projects

This mixed-method action research developed and pilot-tested a brief, evidence-based remote counseling program for victim-survivors of online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC) aged 15 years and older. Building on evidence and stakeholder consultations from Phase 1, the research team developed a treatment manual and remote counseling protocol guided by the Multimodal Social Ecological Framework. The program followed trauma-informed, culturally and developmentally appropriate, and empowerment-focused principles. Three experts with extensive experience in counseling children reviewed the manual before its pilot implementation.

The program comprised eight counseling sessions organized into three modules. Nine registered psychologists trained in the use of …

Assessment On The Capacity Of Local Government Units In Implementing The Rules And Regulations Of Republic Act No. 11930 And A Cost Study Of Implementing An Anti-Osaec Program, Ma. Divina Gracia Roldan, Ador R. Torneo, Maria Caridad Tarroja, Marites M. Tiongco, Ma. Ella C. Oplas

SDRC Projects

This study assessed the capacity of selected local government units (LGUs) to implement Republic Act No. 11930, or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. It examined four dimensions of local capacity: legal, administrative, relational, and fiscal. It also assessed the costs and investments required to implement and sustain local anti-OSAEC programs.

The study employed a mixed-method approach in Manila, Dasmariñas City in Cavite, and Llorente in Eastern Samar. The qualitative component comprised 15 key informant interviews and 10 focus group discussions with representatives from …