Search Results (136)

Achieving sustainable growth in emerging economies requires more than expanding clean energy; it also relies on the synergistic role of Artificial Intelligence, Internet Connectivity, and Knowledge Management in narrowing the digital–energy divide. Thus, this study examines the factors influencing the energy transition—both implicit and explicit—using the case of the BRICS economies with data spanning from 2000 to 2022. This study employed Driscoll–Kraay (DK) standard errors together with Lewbel IV-2SLS estimators to examine the connections. The results showed that Artificial Intelligence and economic growth hinder energy transition, while financial development and trade openness promote it. Furthermore, Knowledge Management and Internet Connectivity show threshold effects, and education remains negatively aligned with sustainability goals. Based on these findings policies are proposed. Full article

Digital transformation has fundamentally altered how individuals manage their finances. The expansion of financial technologies and the digitalization of banking services underscore the need for digital financial literacy, defined as the ability to safely use financial applications and make informed decisions within virtual environments. This study examined the perceptions of financial application use across age groups and their corresponding level of digital financial literacy. This exploratory study used a convenience sample of 41 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2025. The data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. The findings indicated that most participants prioritized digital apps over traditional channels and expressed confidence in their use, although concerns about data security remained. Participants identified key advantages, including convenience, efficiency, and centralized access, yet few used apps for financial planning. Most respondents demonstrated an intermediate level of digital knowledge, with limited proficiency in executing complex financial tasks. Perceptions revealed both optimism and apprehension: while participants valued the practicality of digital tools, they also recognized risks such as fraud, exclusion of vulnerable groups, and technological dependence. The limited and non-representative sample limits generalization, suggesting the need for broader surveys. Enhanced public policies promoting digital financial education in Brazil are recommended. Full article

As the global economy undergoes rapid digital transformation, cryptocurrencies have emerged as a prominent alternative class of financial assets. Their decentralized nature, pseudonymity, and lack of centralized oversight have attracted considerable interest among investors while simultaneously raising significant concerns among regulators and compliance professionals. While cryptocurrencies offer benefits such as enhanced accessibility and transactional privacy, they also pose notable risks, particularly their potential misuse in financial crimes, including money laundering. This study explores the perceived risks associated with cryptocurrencies in the context of money laundering, drawing on insights from a survey conducted among 50 financial sector professionals. A quantitative research design was employed, using a structured online questionnaire to assess participants’ awareness, investment behavior, and perceptions of the role of cryptocurrencies in illicit finance and financial system security. The results reveal a complex perspective: while 70% of respondents acknowledged the potential for cryptocurrencies to facilitate money laundering, 60% expressed support for their wider adoption. Notably, statistically significant correlations emerged between active investment in cryptocurrencies and the belief that they could enhance financial market security and reduce laundering risks. However, self-reported knowledge levels and general awareness did not show a significant relationship with perceived risk. The findings underscore the importance of a balanced approach to regulation, one that fosters innovation while mitigating illicit finance risks. The study recommends increased investment in user education, the development of blockchain analytics, the adoption of global regulatory standards and enhanced international cooperation to ensure the responsible evolution of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Full article

Problem: Amid digital disruption and the cross-fertilization of RBV, DCV, and KBV, strategic management knowledge has grown fragmented with blurred boundaries. Conventional mapping (citation/co-word, LDA) lacks semantic and temporal resolution, obscuring overlaps, divergences, and turning points and hindering links to actionable indicators (e.g., the Balanced Scorecard). Hence, an integrated, semantically faithful, time-stamped map is needed to bridge research and operational metrics. Gap: Prior maps rely on citation/co-word signals, miss textual meaning, and treat RBV/DCV/KBV in isolation—lacking a theory-aligned, time-stamped, manager-oriented synthesis. Objectives: This study aims to (1) reveal how RBV, DCV, and KBV evolve and interrelate over time; (2) produce an integrated, semantically grounded map; and (3) translate selected themes into actionable managerial indicators. Method: We analyzed 25,907 WoS articles (1980–2025) with BERTopic (Sentence-BERT + UMAP + HDBSCAN + c-TF-IDF). We used an RBV/DCV/KBV lexicon to guide retrieval/interpretation (not to constrain modeling). We discovered 230 topics, retained 33 via coherence (C_V), and benchmarked them against LDA. Key findings: A concise set of 33 high-quality themes with a higher C_V than LDA on this corpus was established. A Fish-Scale view (overlapping subfields across economics, management, sociology) that clarifies RBV–DCV–KBV intersections was achieved. Era-sliced prevalence shows how themes emerge and recombine over 1980–2025. Selected themes mapped to Balanced Scorecard (BSC) indicators linking capabilities → processes → customer outcomes → financial results. Contribution: A clear, time-aware synthesis of RBV–DCV–KBV and a scalable, reproducible pipeline for structuring fragmented theory landscapes are presented in this study—bridging scholarly integration with managerial application via BSC mapping. Full article

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a software-based technology that uses configurable algorithmic software agents (bots) to replicate manual user activities across digital systems. It represents an evolution from earlier workflow scripting tools, and is distinguished by its ability to be used without requiring substantial IT infrastructure modifications or extensive programming knowledge. In the banking and insurance sectors, organizations face increasing pressure to adopt modern technologies that streamline operations and reduce costs while complying with strict regulatory requirements. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has emerged as a viable and cost-effective solution, enabling automation of repetitive and rule-based tasks without requiring major changes to legacy IT systems. This paper conducts a literature review to examine the current use cases of RPA technologies in banking and insurance, analyzing how these technologies are employed to enhance corporate efficiency and performance. The review draws from recent academic publications and case studies between 2017 and 2025, identifying core implementation areas such as customer onboarding, claims processing, compliance reporting, and underwriting automation. The results highlight substantial improvements in processing speed, error reduction, and resource optimization, along with evolving metrics for measuring effectiveness. The study concludes by identifying key success factors, performance measurement approaches, and challenges in RPA implementation, offering insights for both practitioners and researchers aiming to understand the role of automation in financial services transformation. Full article

Background: Effective volume management can significantly improve patients’ health outcomes, but the current situation of volume management in older patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and multimorbidity is not optimistic. This study aimed to explore the facilitators and barriers of self-volume management in patients and to provide a basis for the development of self-volume management strategies. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research method was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with older patients with CHF and multimorbidity between January and April 2025 in two tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, China. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Eight facilitators emerged, including the hospital–community collaboration mechanism, Medicare and long-term care insurance coverage, diverse social support, the doctor–patient trust relationship, results-oriented incentives, digital health management, high self-efficacy, and strong motivation for health. Nine barriers were identified; these were insufficient adaptability of self-volume management programs, limited access to community resources, lack of standardized self-volume management tools, inadequate multidisciplinary team communication, one-way doctor–patient communication, lack of knowledge of self-volume management, physical limitations, management negligence caused by work constraints, and behavioral habits’ consolidation. Conclusions: Self-volume management was affected by various factors. The study suggests strengthening health insurance coverage to reduce financial burden, taking advantage of family support and providing digital health management tools. In addition, healthcare providers should provide patient-centered care, enhance multidisciplinary collaboration, and address individual barriers with precise intervention strategies. Full article

In the context of Japan’s rapidly aging population, people’s anxiety about life after 65, especially regarding financial sustainability, has become a growing concern. This study examines old age anxiety through the lens of digital financial literacy (DFL), which can significantly impact people’s retirement well-being and long-term financial security in today’s digital environment. Drawing on a large-scale dataset from the “Survey on Life and Money,” jointly conducted by Rakuten Securities and Hiroshima University, we analyze responses from 94,695 individuals aged 40 to 64 who are active bank account holders. Based on ordinal logistic regression, our findings reveal a negative association between DFL and old age anxiety. Further analysis of the five dimensions of DFL demonstrates that several practical components, such as digital financial know-how, decision-making abilities, and self-protection skills, are associated with alleviated old age anxiety. In contrast, a reliance on basic financial knowledge and general awareness alone may exacerbate anxiety. These findings underscore the need to move beyond basic digital awareness and focus on promoting practical skills in digital finance, ultimately supporting better financial decision-making and enhancing overall well-being in older age. Full article

In today’s digital economy, electronic payments are essential to supporting financial transactions. However, the danger of fraud also rises with company complexity and volume. This study uses machine learning and advanced analytics to investigate fraud detection in electronic payments. Using business tools like accounts, account types, and balance sheets, we spot patterns and trends connected to illicit activities. To detect and identify fraud, our study uses pre-existing data, machine learning algorithms, and infrastructure. The author has assessed the performance of several models, such as logistic regression, random forests, and k-nearest neighbor models, using criteria like accuracy, precision, and recall. To determine the most important characteristics for fraud detection, the author also conducts a significance analysis and examines the model’s interpretability. According to the current study’s findings, financial institutions and payment systems will be able to identify fraud more efficiently and gain an improved knowledge of the traits of commercial fraud. Full article

The editorial policies of science journals have an impact on access to scientific knowledge. One of the most effective ways to share knowledge with the entire society is to offer it free of charge. Considering the international recognition of Scopus and Web of Science, this study analyses 28 scientific journals in the field of communication that are indexed under the “Communication” category in both databases in order to review their editorial decisions regarding the dissemination of articles they publish. By taking a descriptive approach, the authors have examined the inner workings and design, as well as aspects related to ethics and transparency, as key components of this policy. The findings indicate that most journals are influenced by digital publishing platforms and that various features examined in this study are offered by these platforms by default. This is especially true in terms of design, which simultaneously enables yet influences each journal’s editorial policy. Together with the need for financial support and adequate human resources, this situation makes it difficult to implement an editorial policy free of external encroachment. This article concludes by emphasising the importance of establishing editorial policies that promote open access as a standard practice, thereby reinforcing the democratisation of access to scientific knowledge. It is recommended to strengthen institutional support for journals operating under the diamond model, promote their visibility and thematic specialisation, enhance technical and visual aspects, and clearly articulate ethical commitments within their editorial policies. In short, this analysis provides a comprehensive overview of both strengths and areas of improvement, offering recommendations to help these journals optimise their contribution to the global academic ecosystem. Full article

This study pioneers an investigation into how artificial intelligence (AI)—shaped by financial development and knowledge production—is transforming the energy transition across BRICS economies and paving the way for a digitally enabled, sustainable future. Using panel data for 2005–2020, the findings confirm that AI is the primary driver of both explicit (EET) and implicit (IET) energy transitions in the BRICS nations, while economic growth, human capital, and financial globalization play comparatively smaller roles. We further find that AI’s effect on the explicit transition is fully mediated by efficiency gains. Financial development weakens—whereas knowledge production strengthens—AI’s green impact. Robustness checks across alternative models support these results, and spillover analyses indicate that cross-border AI advances, economic growth, human capital, and innovation flows shape each BRICS country’s energy-transition path. Based on these findings, the study proposes coordinated policy packages to harness AI for the energy transition while managing distributional and cross-border effects. Full article

Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) are stealthy multi-step attacks, often executed over an extensive time period and tailored for a specific attack target. APTs represent a “low and slow” type of cyberattack, meaning that they most often remain undetected until the consequence of the attack becomes evident. Energy infrastructure, including power grids, oil and gas infrastructure, offshore wind installations, etc., form the basis of a modern digital nation. In addition to loss of power, financial systems, banking systems, digital national services, etc., become non-operational without electricity. Loss of power from an APT cyberattack could result in loss of life and the possibility of creating digital chaos. Digital payments becomes unavailable, digital identification is affected, and even POS terminals need to run on emergency power, which is limited in time, resulting in challenges in paying for food and beverages. Examples of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) targeting energy infrastructures include Triton, which in 2017 aimed to manipulate the safety systems of a petrochemical plant in Saudi Arabia, potentially leading to catastrophic physical consequences. Another significant incident is the Industroyer2 malware attack in 2022, which targeted a Ukrainian energy provider in an attempt to disrupt operations. The paper combines APT knowledge with energy infrastructure domain expertise, focusing on technical aspects while at the same time providing perspectives on societal consequences that could result from APTs. Full article

This study examines how different instructional media—face-to-face classes, live streaming, pre-recorded videos, and educational games—affect student learning outcomes in finance education. A sample of first-year economics students was assessed on their knowledge of basic financial principles before being randomly assigned to five groups. Four groups attended the same finance course delivered through different media formats, while a fifth group served as a control and received no instruction. After the course, all students completed a second (post-course) assessment. By comparing individual pre- and post-test results, as well as learning gains across the groups, we evaluated the effectiveness of each delivery method. The results show that all four instructional formats significantly improved financial knowledge compared to the control group. Among the media types, educational games proved to be an effective and reliable tool for delivering finance content. However, the differences in learning gains between face-to-face instruction, live streaming, and pre-recorded videos were not statistically significant. These findings indicate that a range of delivery models can be used effectively in finance education. The study contributes to current debates on cost-effective teaching strategies and supports evidence-based decisions on curriculum design in digitally transformed higher education environments after COVID-19. Full article

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies among men in Saudi Arabia and contributes significantly to cancer-related morbidity and mortality. The objective of this survey was to evaluate community awareness and screening practices related to PCa among men in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 5 October to 25 December 2024 among men aged 40 and above in the Asir region, excluding those with a prior PCa diagnosis. Using convenience sampling, 399 participants were recruited via social media and community outreach. Data were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire covering demographics, medical history, PCa knowledge, information sources, prevention, screening awareness, and barriers. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Results: The study comprised 399 male participants, with 37.09% aged 40–50, 36.34% aged 51–60, and 26.56% over 60. Most participants (363; 90.97%) were married, 245 (61.4%) had a university education, 282 (70.67%) lived in urban areas, and 180 (45.11%) were employed. Over half of the participants, 222 (55.63%), had a personal history of prostate problems. Additionally, 272 (68.17%) had health insurance, and 153 (38.34%) reported a monthly income between 10,000 and 14,999 SAR. The study found that 329 (82.5%) participants had good knowledge of PCa but only 197 (49.4%) had good awareness of screening methods. Key predictors of good awareness of PCa screening included a personal history of prostate problems (odds ratio—OR = 4.791, p = 0.000, confidence interval—CI 2.727–8.418) and health insurance (OR = 0.359, p = 0.000, CI 0.203–0.636). Common barriers to screening were affordability, n = 116 (29.07%), and perceived good health, n = 201 (50.37%). Additionally, 154 participants (38.59%) found screening uncomfortable, while 156 (39.59%) believed the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) was harmful or embarrassing. Significant differences in perceived barriers were found based on age (F = 11.449, p < 0.001), education (F = 2.608, p = 0.051), occupation (F = 3.668, p = 0.026), family history (F = 17.407, p < 0.001), and income (F = 5.148, p = 0.006). Conclusions: The study highlights a significant gap between general knowledge and specific awareness of prostate cancer (PCa) screening among men in the Asir region. Although 82.5% demonstrated good overall knowledge, only 49.4% were aware of screening methods, and just 44.36% had undergone PSA testing. Common barriers included perceived good health, fear of diagnosis, embarrassment, and financial concerns. However, due to the use of convenience sampling, online distribution, and geographic restriction to the Asir region, the findings may not be generalizable to the broader male population in Saudi Arabia, particularly older men and those in rural areas. Addressing these gaps requires targeted education, empowerment of healthcare providers, and coordinated public health strategies to enhance early detection and reduce the PCa burden. Full article

Despite the focus on improving cybersecurity awareness, the number of cyberattacks has increased significantly, leading to huge financial losses, with their risks spreading throughout the world. This is due to the techniques deployed in cyberattacks that mainly aim at exploiting humans, the weakest link in any defence system. The existing literature on human factors in phishing attacks is limited and does not live up to the witnessed advances in phishing attacks, which have become exponentially more dangerous with the introduction of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). This paper studies the implications of AI advancement, specifically the exploitation of GenAI and human factors in phishing attacks. We conduct a systematic literature review to study different human factors exploited in phishing attacks, potential solutions and preventive measures, and the complexity introduced by GenAI-driven phishing attacks. This paper aims to address the gap in the research by providing a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of phishing attacks with the application of GenAI and associated human implications, thereby contributing to the field of knowledge to defend against phishing attacks by creating secure digital interactions. Full article

This study aims to map the scientific knowledge of bank profitability and its determinants. It identifies trends and gaps in existing research through a bibliometric analysis. To this end, 634 documents published in the Web of Science database over the last 54 years were analyzed using the bibliometric package. The results indicate an increase in the volume of publications following the 2008 financial crisis, focusing on analyzing the factors influencing bank profitability and economic growth. The Journal of Banking and Finance is the preeminent publication in this field. The literature reviewed shows that bank profitability depends on internal factors (size, credit risk, liquidity, efficiency, and management) and external factors (such as GDP, inflation, interest rates, and unemployment). In addition to the traditional determinants, the recent literature highlights the importance of innovation and technological factors such as digitalization, mobile banking, and electronic payments as relevant to bank profitability. ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and governance indicators, which are still emerging but have been extensively researched in companies, indicate a need for evidence in this area. This paper also provides relevant insights for the formulation of monetary policy and the strategic formulation of banks, helping managers and owners to improve bank performance. It also provides directions for future empirical studies and research collaborations in this field. Full article