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This present book provides valuable insights on the technical, societal and legal challenges posed by the use of artificial intelligent systems in a plethora of different applications, from embodied robotic systems to ML algorithms. Engaging with concerns about equity, privacy, surveillance and respect for human dignity, "Towards Trustworthy Artificial Intelligent Systems" highlights the fundamental factors on which stakeholders' trust relies, identifying benchmarking, standardisation and certification as milestones grounding and consolidating that future trust. The multidisciplinary approach followed will make this book a valuable resource for all those involved in the production and deployment of AIs, as well as for academia and legal practitioners

Afghanistan is an ancient country with rich natural resources and rich traditional medicine. The country is known as a resource base for many wild-collected medicinal and aromatic plants that are well recognized in regional and international markets. Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) in Afghanistan represent important health and economic components of the country's biodiversity. The country has a high floristic diversity ; it is estimated that there are about 5,000 species of flowering plants with many of them endemic. Afghanistan is a landlocked country and situated in the subtropical ; dry zones of Southwest Asia that has continental types of climate characterized by desert ; steppe ; and highland temperature and precipitation regimes. The main part of the land cover of Afghanistan ; 30,243,985 ha ; is made up of rangeland (47%) ; which is the main habitat for MAPs. The sharp climatic seasonality gives rise to the extensive development in Afghanistan of peculiar diversity of vegetation Wild collection of MAPs has a long history in the country and it contributes to traditional medicine and the local economies of the populations. Afghanistan exports each year around 50 medicinal and aromatic plant raw materials to different countries. Analysis of the export of MAP products shows ; that the exports of MAPs has been increased sharply from 2008 to 2016. Within the study period ; an annual average growth rate (AAGR) of 16.2% in comparison to 2.4% in the volumes of exports in global trade was observed Increases in the collection of medicinal plants ; long lasting war ; a breakdown of the governmental and local systems of monitoring ; poverty ; climate change and the susceptibility of Afghanistan to desertification are the main threats to natural MAP resources. Much of the wild flora of the country is experiencing a significant decline on account of habitat loss and degradation. Government agencies have played a limited role in conservation work over the last four decades ; therefore the present status of the natural resources of wild MAPs is a great concern. This study has been conducted with the objectives of resource analysis of potential species of MAPs ; and evaluating approaches for sustainable resource management of wild medicinal plants. In this study ; four species (Glycyrrihiza sp. Ferula sp. ; Cuminum sp. ; and Bunium sp.) have been screened out as the potentially viable products among the wild collections in Afghanistan. In order to conduct this study ; four aspects of natural resources were evaluated through appropriate frameworks: status of resources and conservation measures ; socioeconomic ; trade and marketing ; and technological proficiencies for the processing and standardization of products. Every aspect comprises certain criteria (in total 25 variables) ; which were scored according to their relative significance through focusing on defined benchmarks. Based on the study of the distribution pattern of the selected MAPs ; Herat province was targeted in this study. The dataset has been analyzed with the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). The histograms produced by SPSS analysis ; demonstrate the status of every criterion for the species studied in all 15 districts of the province. It depicts that the abundance and state of conservation of Glycyrrhiza sp. and Cuminum sp. are in a relatively better status compared to the two other plants ; though the status of Ferula sp. is critical. The study reveals ; that districts of Chesht-e-Sharif ; Kohsan ; and Pashtun Zarghun have the highest potentials in conservation ; trade and marketing ; and opportunities for the improvement of the supply chain and quality of the products. In contrast ; Obe ; Zandajan ; Kushk-e-Kohna ; Kushk-e-Robat Sangi and Adraskan are the poorest districts in this regard ; respectively. The study demonstrates that the risk of the threat to the selected species is high in the following order: Ferula sp.> Bunium sp. > Cuminum sp.> Glycyrrhiza sp. It also depicts ; that the potential for sustainable management for the species varies in the following order: Glycyrrhiza sp. > Bunium sp. > Ferula sp.> Cuminum sp. To analyze the relationship between certain specific criteria ; structural equation modeling (SEM) has been used. SEM reveals that abundance of the species in all cases have significant partial regression coefficients on the potential for sustainable management (0.33 ; 0.48 ; 1.07 ; 0.2 ; respectively). This signifies that the physical capacity of resources enhances the attraction of more investments by the different stakeholders in different segments of the supply chain. Meanwhile ; abilities and skills for technological proficiencies have a negative regression coefficient effect on potential for sustainable management. Some other SEM has been studied of the relationship between different variables with the aim of the quantification of different factors effects. Based on the finding of the study ; different approaches for the sustainable resource management have been discussed. Among them are updating discussed strategies ; developing action plans with the focus to realities ; engagement of the community in sustainable resource management ; establishing collaboration between stakeholders in the area of biodiversity and natural resources ; generation of evidence-based information about MAPs ; establishing certification system ; and capacity enhancement of communities ; collectors and other relevant technical staff.

Intro -- Contents -- About the Authors -- Abbreviations -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 The Conceptual and Operational Differences Between MO and EMO -- 1.2 Overview of Theoretical/Conceptual Studies on EMO -- References -- 2 Research Methodology -- 2.1 Eligibility Criteria -- 2.2 Coding Schema -- 2.3 Literature Search -- 2.4 Optimization Process -- References -- 3 Theoretical Assessment -- References -- 4 Methodological Assessment -- References -- 5 Content Analysis and Categorization: Antecedent-Consequences and Outcome Relationship -- 5.1 Patterns of EMO Modelling -- 5.2 Outline of the Description/Content Analysis -- 5.2.1 EMO (Export Market Orientation) -- 5.2.2 Antecedents -- 5.2.3 Relationship (Antecedent to EMO) -- 5.2.4 Moderators (in Between Antecedent and EMO Activities) -- 5.2.5 Moderating Relationship (Between Antecedents and EMO) -- 5.2.6 Outcomes (Export Performance) -- 5.2.7 Relationship Types from EMO to Export Performance -- 5.2.8 Moderators (in Between EMO Activities and Performance) -- 5.2.9 Moderation Relationship Observed on EMO and Export Performance -- 5.2.10 Mediators (in Between EMO Activities and Performance) -- 5.2.11 Mediation Relationship Between EMO and Export Performance -- 5.2.12 Interplay of EMO Elements -- References -- 6 Future Research, Implication, Limitation and Conclusion -- References.

This book integrates the fundamental concept of international business theory, internationalization theory, and market orientation theory providing an accessible and detailed introduction to the wide array of different research field. It provides a reader with an understanding of detail explanation of market orientation from export settings. The topics addressed in this book include all the topics related to export market orientation, market orientation theories and practices, explanation of all sorts of developed empirical studies related to the field. A detailed explanation of each trend of research where each type of existing frameworks like direct, indirect (moderated or mediated), U-shaped, inverted U shape has been presented. The topics addressed in the book include main trends in terms of methodologies employed, samples used, theories applied for the research. Moreover, this book categorizes existing research based upon emerging themes in order to draw insights on under-researched areas that should be further delved into in the future. This book is highly recommended to the readers who seek an in-depth understanding of export market orientation in the field of international business.

PurposeAs a global pandemic, the COVID-19 crisis has profoundly affected the development of local firms, threatening the survival of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study aims to present an integrated framework by investigating the impact of strategic tools (i.e. firms' capability of business agility, marketing operational efficiency, optimisation of innovation capability [OIC], managing employees' satisfaction and rethinking customers' experience) on the survival strategies of SMEs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe current study used data from managers of SMEs and conducted an asymmetrical analysis (i.e. structural equation modelling [SEM]) to investigate the factors influencing the survival strategies of SMEs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also applied an asymmetrical approach (i.e. fuzzy sets qualitative comparative analysis-fsQCA) to explore the causal recipes and analysis of the necessary conditions to identify the factors required to achieve the expected outcome.FindingsResults from SEM support all hypotheses. Results from fsQCA with the same data set show that firms' business agility and OIC are necessary conditions for SMEs' survival strategies. The result from fsQCA also reveals multiple sufficient conditions to succeed SMEs' survival strategies amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.Practical implicationsFindings prescribe how SMEs adapt to this vulnerable business condition by applying the strategic tools and recipes suggested for survival.Originality/valueThis research applied an innovative analysis to reveal necessary and sufficient conditions that conventional methods such as SEM have limited power. This pioneering research in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic is considered novel in terms of the prescriptive strategic recipes offered to SMEs to adapt to and survive in the crisis caused by COVID-19.