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Sustainability is a crucial issue for many sectors in Malaysia, including the manufacturing sector. Many businesses, especially the chemical manufacturing industry, aim to achieve asustainable business through the implementation of green practices. Green practices provide guidelines for the employees to simultaneously sustain the organisation in asustainable manner and carry out the required manufacturing activities. Focusing on that, this study aimed to examine the effects of green practices on corporate sustainabilityperformance through Islamic work ethics, organisation (...) size, and organisation age as moderators. Using the stratified random sampling technique, 344 chemical manufacturing organisations in Malaysia were invited to participate in a survey. Data from 130 completed questionnaire sets were subjected to partial least square (PLS) analysis. The results demonstrated significant effects of green practices on corporate sustainabilityperformance via Islamic work ethics and organisation size. However, organisation age was found to exhibit no moderation effect on the relationship between green practices and corporate sustainabilityperformance. Conclusively, as part of the organisational strategies, the sustainability of chemical manufacturing organisations must involve successful implementation of green practices, Islamic work ethics, and organisation size. This study offered several theoretical and practical contributions on green practices, Islamic work ethics, organisation size, and organisation age, and corporate sustainabilityperformance. Theoretically, this study extended literature on the resource-based view theory, natural-resource-based view theory, and stakeholder theory. Al-Quran and hadith were used to support this study to link the relationships of the variables under study, particularly in the context of chemical manufacturing organisations in Malaysia. Practically, this study was expected to assist chemical manufacturers in selecting the appropriate green practices to achieve corporate sustainabilityperformance and good implementation of Islamic work ethics. Additionally, it is recommended for future research to explore other types of industries in the manufacturing sector given the focus of this study on the chemical manufacturing industry only. (shrink)

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In an era of increasing environmental and financial uncertainty, how can companies remain resilient while contributing tosustainable development?

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As the global environmental crisis intensifies, businesses are increasingly recognizing sustainability not just as a regulatory requirement but as a strategic imperative. Recent research by Qian He underscores the pivotal role of organizational policies (OP) in shaping firm environmentalperformance (FEP) through the adoption ofsustainable technologies and innovation (STI), particularly within the manufacturing sector.

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This study addresses the issue of the climate change crisis, which has caused many dangerous phenomena for humanity, due to greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, drought, and others. The most important reason for this phenomenon that worries the world is human behavior, especially the use of fossil fuels. The largest contributor to this behavior is international oil companies, which export oil to all countries of the world. The most important major source of oil is the Middle East. Oil (...) companies operating there play an essential role in the growth of the oil industry around the world, which has caused a significant increase in the level of global greenhouse gas emissions. The study reviews the practices undertaken by national companies in the Middle East and their attempts to mitigate the effects of climate change by adopting environmental sustainability policies. This study aims to evaluate national oil companies operating in the Middle East region to determine the level of companies’ ability to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change. The study reached many results and identified companies with high environmentalperformance and positive methods that can be disseminated to achieve the required environmental sustainability and implementsustainable development practices, and how to benefit from social marketing and direct it towards enhancing awareness of climate risks. (shrink)

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Sustainability has evolved beyond a mere buzzword and is now a cornerstone of modern business strategy, particularly in Europe, where the European Green Deal aspires to make the continent climate-neutral by 2050. Policymakers, investors, and corporate leaders increasingly regard strong sustainabilityperformance (SP)—encompassing environmental protection, social responsibility, and good governance (ESG)—as a means to reduce risks and enhance long-term success. Yet, a recent study calls this widely accepted view into question.

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In this paper, we report on the development of TheSustainable Port video game, which aims to simulate the complex dynamics and decisions occurring in the present and future development of a port area considering environmental aspects (CO2 emissions) and profit. To evaluate if this game fulfills its purpose, we asked 75 students and 34 employees at the Port of Rotterdam (PoR) to play TheSustainable Port. Our results show that PoR employees score higher than students suggesting a (...) transfer between real-life experience of being an employee in the port andperformance in the game. Furthermore, port participants reported that TheSustainable Port can be successfully used to start discussions about the future of the Port of Rotterdam and to raise awareness about the complexity characterizing the decision-making processes occurring in a port environment. Our results, taken together, provide evidence of the effectiveness of TheSustainable Port in simulating dynamics occurring in port development and give us optimism about future applications. (shrink)

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High-Performance Computing (HPC) has become a cornerstone for enabling breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) by offering the computational resources necessary to process vast datasets and optimize complex algorithms. As AI models continue to grow in complexity, traditional HPC systems, reliant on central processing units (CPUs), face limitations in scalability, efficiency, and speed. Emerging technologies like quantum computing and specialized hardware such as Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are poised to address (...) these challenges. This research paper explores various HPC techniques used to optimize and accelerate AI algorithms, focusing on quantum computing’s potential for parallelism and specialized hardware's capabilities in delivering faster computation and energy efficiency. It delves into current advancements, comparative analyses of different HPC methods, and the integration of hybrid quantum-classical approaches to further enhance AI optimization. The study also examines the challenges of implementing these technologies at scale, with an eye toward the future of AI acceleration and the role of HPC in maintaining energy efficiency while meeting computational demands. Through this investigation, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of how quantum computing and specialized hardware are reshaping the landscape of AI, paving the way for more advanced, efficient, andsustainable AI solutions. (shrink)

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From our everyday commuting to the gold medalist’s world-classperformance, skillful actions are characterized by fine-grained, online agentive control. What is the proper explanation of such control? There are two traditional candidates: intellectualism explains skillful agentive control by reference to the agent’s propositional mental states; anti-intellectualism holds that propositional mental states or reflective processes are unnecessary since skillful action is fully accounted for by automatic coping processes. I examine the evidence for three psychological phenomena recently held to support anti-intellectualism (...) and argue that it supports neither traditional candidate, but an intermediate attention-control account, according to which the top-down, intention-directed control of attention is a necessary component of skillful action. Only this account recognizes both the role of automatic control in skilled action and the need for higher-order cognition to thread automatic processes together into a unified, skillfulperformance. This applies to bodily skillful action in general, from the world-classperformance of experts to mundane, habitual action. The attention-control account stresses that, for intentions to play their role as top-down modulators of attention, agents must sustain the intention’s activation; hence, the need for reflecting throughoutperformance. (shrink)

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Organizations are increasingly finding it challenging to balance economic and environmentalperformance particularly those that face competitive, regulatory and community pressure. With the increasing pressures for environmental sustainability, this calls for the new formulation of strategies by the manufacturers in order to minimize their products and services negative impact on the environment. Hence, Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) continues to be an important research agenda among the researchers. In Palestine, green issues are new and still developing. Constant study is (...) needed to fully understand and update information regarding this area. Objective: The aim of this paper is to explore the views and level of acceptance of GHRM practices among manufacturing firms in Palestine. Results: Through the use of e-mail survey, 121 responses were obtained to generate the results of the study. The result showed GHRM practices have been practiced to somewhat to a greater extent a firms in Palestine. Findings can be extended to study on the issues in further. Academicians and practitioners can apply this result to their research and business strategies on how to improvesustainableperformance and to effectively implement GHRM practices. (shrink)

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The Philippine government has been relentless in its counterinsurgency campaigns. From the colonial wars that vilified as insurgents and bandits the honored heroes of today, up to the anti-communist and anti-secessionist civil and military efforts of the postcolonial regimes, these campaigns have not only rolled out large state resources but also cost lives of innocent civilians. Patterned after the United States (US) of America’s principle of low-intensity conflict aimed at countering Marxist and anti-imperialist movements (Reed 1986), counterinsurgency campaigns have unleashed (...) a warfare that indiscriminately target its supposed opponents, including unarmed activists. In 2007, the United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip Alston examined the horrible political situation of the Philippines – characterized by political killings, abductions, and tortures – and identified how state elements, under the blanket protection of waging a counterinsurgency campaign, were responsible for the political repressions then (Sales 2009). Today, under the murderous Duterte regime, the counterinsurgency campaign has reached an unprecedented level of ferocity as it is waged through a militarist whole-ofnation approach composed by multi-level government and multi-agency responses. -/- Being greatly influenced by the US, counterinsurgency campaigns in the Philippines follow the paranoiac and hysterical communist witch-hunt of McCarthyism (Hutchins-Viroux 2008). The hysteria’s contemporary and local expression is the phenomenon called red- or terror-tagging.1 Terror-tagging is the systematic process of maliciously naming or identifying an individual or group as a communist and/or terrorist by its association with a supposed communist and/or terrorist group. Being a systematic process, it is initiated and sustained by state elements with the view of maligning or defaming political activists. Terror-tagging is aimed against activists, dissenters, and even the political opposition. The social activist Rhoda Dalang (2014) has noted how terror-tagging has been deployed by the Philippine state in its counterinsurgency efforts, from the Marcos up to the then Aquino regime. And until the previous Duterte regime, yet with increased intensity and fatality, terror-tagging continued to defame and liquidate activists. As terror-tagging has not received enough academic attention, this chapter aims to fill this gap by providing a preliminary analysis of it. The chapter will be doing a critical discourse analysis. It will take off from a revealing study done by Don Kevin Hapal and Raisa Serafica of Rappler, a media outlet in the Philippines. Through a separate discourse analysis of Facebook posts of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC),2 the chapter will also identify aspects of terror-tagging. The discussion will further be theorized using the Marxist analysis of the State and informed by interviews of Atty. Maria Sol Taule and Cristina Palabay. They are both human rights workers who have worked with terror-tagged activists and are themselves subjected to terror-tagging. (shrink)

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The purpose of the article is to solve an important scientific problem – further development of the basics of management decisions on the implementation of export-import activities based on the results of enterprise symptomatic diagnostics in disruption conditions ofsustainable development of the world economy. The essence of enterprise symptomatic diagnostics in the context of management activity is specified by the results of the critical analysis of the scientific publications. The study of the features of the symptomatic diagnostics process (...) of enterprise export-import activity might become the basis for the development of a comprehensive approach to its implementation, which reveals the interaction of the theoretical, scientific and methodological basis and the targeted direction of managers` actions in the diagnostics process. Generalization of symptomatic complex of export-import activity of enterprises-manufacturers of BOPP films – Terichem Tervakoski, a.s. and Xpro India Ltd, helped to identify issues that are reducing itsperformance. A set of measures was explored in order to avoid the negative symptoms of export-import activity of Terichem Tervakoski and Xpro India Ltd. The authors revealed some dependency respecting that the more negative symptoms of export-import activity realization lead to decline the efficiency of its implementation. The results of the study might clarify the impact of symptoms on the results of the enterprise export-importperformance. Symptomatic diagnostics of enterprise export-import activity is considered as the basis of a sequence of management measures in order to avoid negative symptoms of export-import activity. (shrink)

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As the world grapples with the urgent need forsustainable development, the transition towards green energy stands as a critical imperative. Financing this transition poses significant challenges, requiring innovative approaches that align financial objectives with environmental sustainability goals. This review presents a conceptual framework for leveraging data-driven techniques insustainable finance to facilitate the transition towards green energy. The proposed framework integrates principles ofsustainable finance with advanced data analytics to enhance decision-making processes across the financial ecosystem. (...) At its core, the framework emphasizes the importance of harnessing vast datasets related to energy production, consumption, environmental impact, and financialperformance. By leveraging machine learning algorithms and predictive modeling techniques, financial stakeholders can gain deeper insights into the risks and opportunities associated with green energy investments. Key components of the framework include data collection and aggregation, risk assessment, impact measurement, and investment optimization. Data sources range from traditional financial indicators to environmental metrics, social impact assessments, and geopolitical factors. Through comprehensive data analysis, financial institutions can assess the long-term viability and sustainability of green energy projects, while also evaluating potential social and environmental impacts. Risk assessment methodologies within the framework consider both financial risks, such as market volatility and regulatory uncertainty, and non-financial risks, such as climate change impacts and community resilience. By integrating these factors into risk models, investors can make more informed decisions that mitigate potential losses and maximize returns. Furthermore, impact measurement tools enable stakeholders to quantify the environmental and social benefits of green energy investments. By tracking metrics such as carbon emissions reduction, energy efficiency improvements, and job creation, investors can assess the contribution of their portfolios towards broader sustainability objectives. Finally, the framework incorporates investment optimization strategies that align financial goals with environmental objectives. Through portfolio diversification, asset allocation, and innovative financial instruments such as green bonds and impact investing funds, financial institutions can allocate capital more efficiently towards green energy projects. The conceptual framework presented herein offers a systematic approach to integrating data-driven methodologies intosustainable finance practices. By leveraging advanced analytics and comprehensive datasets, financial stakeholders can drive the transition towards green energy while simultaneously achieving financial returns and positive environmental outcomes. (shrink)

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This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of remedial instruction in improving the numeracy skills of Grade 7 students at Malbug National High School during the school year 2023-2024. Adopting a quasi-experimental research design, the research focused on Grade 7 students at Malbug National High School, Cawayan East District, Masbate Province Division, Philippines, identified as non-numerates, employing pre-tests and post-tests as essential research tools. The independent variable was the remedial instruction in numeracy, while the dependent variable was students' numeracy (...) class='Hi'>performance measured through pre-tests and post-tests. Before the intervention, the pre-test numeracyperformance exhibited a varied distribution of students across different score ranges. A majority fell into the "Needs Major Support" category, emphasizing the necessity for targeted interventions. The post-test results, however, revealed a remarkable improvement, with 87.88% of initially non-numerate students achieving scores in the "Transforming" range. A thorough statistical examination validated a notable disparity in the scores obtained before and after the instructional intervention, substantiating the favorable influence of remedial instruction. The calculated t-value of 19.594, exceeding the critical t-value, led to rejecting the null hypothesis. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the need for tailored interventions based on the initial deficiency in numeracy skills. The post-test results underscored the success of remedial instruction in fostering substantial growth. The study recommends sustaining the remedial program, implementing periodic assessments, providing teacher training, involving parents in students' development, allocating adequate resources, and further research in other schools to strengthen findings. (shrink)

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This thesis studies the enabling properties of ICT and their effects and potential for social change, and prepares the ground for a sustainability-oriented ethico-political assessment of this technology. It primarily builds on interdisciplinary scholarship to describe and explain the multifaceted co-evolution between the global deployment of ICTs and the emergence of the Information Society, understood as a socioeconomic restructuring of capitalism. Beyond the role of ICTs in this regime transition, the thesis delivers other philosophical insights about crucial aspects of ICT (...) development, applications and management. These include arguments about how we should conceptualize ICTs on the basis of their different roles in extending human communication and in performing or facilitating the remote control of humans and animals, machines and systems operations; about the entanglement between telecommunications, transport networks, urban development and work and organization; and about the relations between ICTs, culture and human values. Examples are offered to illustrate the potential that these empirical and philosophical lessons may hold for the construction of a framework for the ethico-political assessment of ICTs. (shrink)

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In recognition of the need forsustainable design philosophies and practices that can be incorporated into the design of new products with an environmentallysustainable perspective throughout the life cycle, this research used a scoping review approach to x-ray the utility of theSustainable Value Framework (SVF) in enhancing the application of reinforced composite products for ecological efficiency. An extensive search was performed using the electronic databases of articles such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Semantic Scholar. (...) The study selected and extracted data from the literature according to the PRISMA-SCR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews) to map the current literature for gaps in knowledge. The research studies show that SVF promotes the product design by incorporating characteristics such as environmental, economic, and social factors to attain optimal reduction of resources andsustainable uses of the environmental resources as well as improving the quality of the products. The study discussed the principles ofsustainable value creation and their work evaluates new solutions of composite material selection, design method and technology forsustainable products. It also discusses policy drivers as well as industry and consumer practices with regards to reuse of surfaces insustainable design. This study is beneficial to various stakeholders like the policymakers, the professionals in industries and construction, and the scholars. (shrink)

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The pandemic of COVID-19 prompted several paradigm shifts throughout society, including in education. This study aimed to examine the relationships of students' engagement in online synchronous collaborative learning activities (OSCLA) with their self-efficacy (LSE), peer social support (LPSS), state of well-being (SWB), and level of academicperformance (LAP). A total of 176 Filipino Grade 12 SHS students, 18 years old and older, from a private educational institution were purposively selected for this study. Data were generated using an online survey. (...) Results show that collaborative learning activities are frequently conducted (median = 4) in their synchronous online classes. It also revealed that their LSE is high (median = 4), their LPSS is high (median = 4), their LE is moderate (median = 3), their SWB is high (median = 4), and their LAP is high (median = 94.85). The results showed a statistically significant correlation of their LSE (r = 0.69, p 0.001) and LPSS with their OSCLA LE (r = 0.438, p 0.001). A statistically significant positive moderate correlation between LE and SWB (r = 0.536, p 0.001) was also found, however, no correlation was found between their OSCLA LE and LAP (r = 0.065, p = 0.393). Thus, the use of a well-designed OSCLA is strongly recommended as it positively impacts students' SWB but should be regularly reviewed for its effectiveness in sustaining improvement in the LAP of the students. (shrink)

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Integration sustainability outcomes give attention to construction ecology in the design review of urban environments to comply with Earth’s System that is composed of integral parts of the (i.e., physical, chemical and biological components). Naturally, exchange patterns of industrial ecology have consistent and periodic cycles to preserve energy flows and materials in Earth’s System. When engineering topology is affecting internal and external processes in system networks, it postulated the valence of the first-level spatial outcome (i.e., project compatibility success). These instrumentalities (...) are dependent on relating the second-level outcome (i.e., participant security satisfaction). The construction ecology-based topology (i.e., as feedback energy system) flows from biotic and abiotic resources in the entire Earth’s ecosystems. These spatial outcomes are providing an innovation, as entails a wide range of interactions to state, regulate and feedback “topology” to flow as “interdisciplinary equilibrium” of ecosystems. The interrelation dynamics of ecosystems are performing a process in a certain location within an appropriate time for characterizing their unique structure in “equilibrium patterns”, such as biosphere and collecting a composite structure of many distributed feedback flows. These interdisciplinary systems regulate their dynamics within complex structures. These dynamic mechanisms of the ecosystem regulate physical and chemical properties to enable a gradual and prolonged incremental pattern to develop a stable structure. The engineering topology of construction ecology for integration sustainability outcomes offers an interesting tool for ecologists and engineers in the simulation paradigm as an initial form of development structure within compatible computer software. This approach argues from ecology, resource savings, static load design, financial other pragmatic reasons, while an artistic/architectural perspective, these are not decisive. The paper described an attempt to unify analytic and analogical spatial modeling in developing urban environments as a relational setting, using optimization software and applied as an example of integrated industrial ecology where the construction process is based on a topology optimization approach. (shrink)

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Introduction: How enterprises should practice digitalization transformation to effectively improve green innovationperformance is related to thesustainable development of enterprises and the economy, which is an important issue that needs to be clarified. -/- Methods: This research uses the perspective of production and operation to deconstruct the digitalization of industrial listed enterprises from 2016 to 2020 into six features. A variety of machine learning methods are used, including DBSCAN, CART and other algorithms, to specifically explore the complex (...) impact of enterprise digitalization feature configuration on green innovationperformance. -/- Conclusions: (1) The more advanced digitalization transformation the enterprises have, the more possibly the high green innovationperformance can be achieved. (2) Digitalization innovation is the digitalization element with the strongest influence ability on green innovationperformance. (3) As the advancement of digitalization transformation, enterprises should also focus on digitalization innovation input and digitalization operation output, otherwise they should pay attention to digitalization management and digitalization operation output. -/- Discussion: The conclusions of this research will help enterprises understand their digitalization competitiveness and how to practice digitalization transformation to enhance green innovationperformance, and also help the government to formulate policies to promote the development of green innovation in the digital economy era. (shrink)

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Often financially excluded by the traditional banking system, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in many developing countries have found in mobile money services (MMS) asustainable alternative. Despite its potential in propelling inclusive growth, the use and adoption of mobile money (MM) by SMEs has generally been low in developing countries, and one of the reasons has been limited data that supported its impact on financialperformance. As a result, there was a need to investigate the impact of (...) the mobile money payment and receipt services on the financialperformance of the SMEs in Cameroon. This paper implemented a mixed research paradigm with data collected through the administration of a survey questionnaire and from one-on-one in-depth interviews. A sample of 285 SMEs responded to the survey, while 12 owners/managing directors were purposively selected to participate in the personal interviews. Version 25 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to analyse the quantitative data, while the qualitative data was analysed along themes. The results were, after that, triangulated for credibility reasons. The concluding findings indicated that the mobile money payment and receipt services contributed of the order of 73% of the total variance in the turnover of the SMEs in Douala after they had begun to use the technology. By confirming the positive relationship between the use of mobile money services and the financialperformance of businesses, it is hoped that all the relevant stakeholders will see this as a possible solution to the financial challenges that SMEs face in developing economies. (shrink)

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In intensive swine production, piglets are separated from the sow at weaning, joined with other litters, and abruptly transitioned from milk to dry feeding at an early age (typically 21−28 days). Thus, weaning is the most stressful phase of the pig’s productive life. Consequently, at this stage, piglets often show a decreased growth and increased digestive disturbances. As such, they may benefit the most from the supply of highly digestible or bioactive nutrients and probiotics in order to promote gut health, (...) which will have a determining impact on adequate digestive capacity,performance, and overall health. Microalgae have been considered asustainable and functional feedstuff of potential use in piglet diets.1,2 Indeed, depending on culture conditions, many microalgae species can present high crude protein contents, such that their biomass may partially replace widely used conventional feedstuffs such as soybean meal.2,3 Other species could also be an interesting source of lipids, particularly of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that have beneficial effects on piglet health andperformance.4,5 Microalgae use mainly CO2, nitrogen, and phosphorus and are capable of generating large biomass production with solar radiation as the only energy source, without the direct requirement of arable land. Nevertheless, the effects of microalgae on piglet physiology and the impact on productionperformance at weaning remain understudied, limiting support for broader industrial applications. Among the microalgae available commercially, C. vulgaris is particularly promising for swine nutrition due to its high protein, antioxidant, and vitamin contents.3 Most studies have addressed C. vulgaris, or other Chlorella species, for aquaculture applications,6,7 and to date, only a few studies have addressed the effect of dietary inclusion of Chlorella sp. on weaning pigletperformance. In thisregard, Hintz & Heitman8 used a biomass derived from a semicontrolled cultivation of predominantly Chlorella and Scendesmus; Yap et al.9 explored the use of an unidentified Chlorella sp.; and Yan et al.10 utilized a fermented C. vulgaris product. Recently, Martins et al.11−13 conducted an extensive study with a defined C. vulgaris, in spray-dried powder, autotrophically grown in photobioreactors, and fed to weaning piglets in metabolic cages. Martins et al.13 also highlighted the importance of testing their findings in growth trials with ad libitum feeding and group housing where animalperformance better approximates that of commercial conditions. If adequately used by piglets, this microalga may supply high-quality protein, essential fatty acids, or antioxidant compounds and vitamins. (shrink)

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This study evaluates the effects of Tenebrio molitor meal (TMM) as an alternative to conventional plant-based (soybean meal, SBM) and animal-based (fishmeal, FM) protein sources on blood parameters, growth and slaughterperformance, carcass traits, and meat quality of feedlot lambs. A total of 24 Suffolk lambs [3 months of age, 21.4 ± 1.08 kg body weight (BW)] were allocated for 60 days to three treatments (8 lambs per treatment) in a completely randomized design, as follows: 1- SBM at 150 (...) g/kg dry matter (DM)], 2- FM at 50 g/kg DM, and 3- TMM at 60 g/kg DM. Feed intake, BW, and blood samples were collected on days 0, 20, 40, and 60. At the end of the trial, the lambs were slaughtered for carcass evaluation and meat quality assessment. The average daily gain was higher for SBM-fed than for TMM-fed lambs (0.25 and 0.21 kg/d; P < 0.001). Plasma levels of creatinine were higher in FM-fed when compared to SBM-fed lambs, while TMM-fed lambs showed intermediate values (88.72, 85.69 and 87.57 μmol/L, respectively; P < 0.05). The hot and cold carcass weights (15.99 and 15.52 kg vs 18.49 and 18.03 kg) and yields (44.31 and 43.02 % vs 46.03 and 44.87 %) were lower in the TMM group compared with the SBM group (P < 0.05). The dietary treatment had no effect (P > 0.05) on meat pH, color, texture, water loss and contents of fat, protein, and moisture. Further research should evaluate optimal inclusion levels of TMM in combination with conventional protein sources to avoid negative economic implications. (shrink)

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E-Government refers to the administration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to the procedures and functions of the government with the objective of enhancing the transparency, efficiency and participation of the citizens. E-Government is tough systems that require distribution, protection of privacy and security and collapse of these could result in social and economic costs on a large scale. Many of the available e-government systems like electronic identity system of management (eIDs), websites are established at duplicated databases and servers. An (...) established validation and management system could face a single failure point and the system is prone to Distributed Denial of Service Attacks (DDoS), denial of service attacks (DoS), malware and other cyber attacks. The execution of a privacy preserving and a secure decentralized system is enabled by the block chain technology. Here any third-party organizations do not have any control over the transactions of the Government. With the help of block chain technology, new and existing data are encapsulated within ledger or blocks, which are evenly distributed through the network in an enduring andsustainable way. The privacy and security of information are improved with the help of block chain technology, where distribution and encryption of data are performed through the total network. This analytical paper maps out the analysis of the security in the e-government system, utilizing the block chain technology that provides privacy and security of information and thereby enhancing the trust among the public sector. Qualitative and theoretical analysis is made for the proposed topic and implications of privacy and security of the proposed system is made. (shrink)

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Buildings are the largest energy consumer in the world, according to the United Nations Environment Program. Most of the energy will be used during the building life-cycle stage. Thus, achievingsustainable development at the national level requires minimizing the impact of buildings on the environment by reducing energy consumption. Using Building Information Modeling technology in energyperformance assessment could be significantly reduced time and cost. This study aimed to optimize energy consumption in a residential building using BIM technology. (...) The main focus of this study was to evaluate energyperformance through the simultaneous evaluation of building components using BIM technology with a conceptual design approach, comparison, and reduction of energy consumption. To investigate different design ideas were created several conceptual masses in Autodesk Revit software with a top-down design approach. After reviewing the conceptual masses, the main building form was chosen for modeling. Then, building energy consumption was computed using related tools in this field, based on the type of materials, equipment, and project location. Finally, the most optimal mode was selected by examining different energy consumption forms. The results of parametric studies on alternative schemes of energy optimization showed that 58.46% of energy cost savings could be achieved compared to the initial model of the building on a 30-year time horizon. (shrink)

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The existence of child labor in developing countries like Bangladesh is undoubtedly a serious problem in the era ofsustainable development. Undoubtedly to abolish child labor from all level is not so easy. The current study was intended to assess the livelihoods pattern and causes of being involved as child labor in Jhenaidah city-Bangladesh and to find out the ways in which child labor can be diminished gradually. This study was exploratory in nature where convenience sampling was adapted, seventy-five (...) children aged less than 18 years were interviewed with an interview schedule. The extent and prevalence of child labour in a country are being considered as a significant indicator of how far-off that country stays away from the overallsustainable development. The results of this study demonstrate that the majority (17/22.67%) children engaged in performing work in shops or hotels. The X2 (p<0.5) results elucidate that there exists gender difference in child abuse and harassment. The rate of physical and mental abuse and torture was higher in male children, in contrast, the prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse by slung was significantly higher in female children. The working hours as an average above 7 hours or more, and per day wage of children in Jhenaidah found just above 1.4$ (120 BDT). The principal component analysis indicates that lack of parental employment facilities which has directly related to poverty found as the foremost reasons for a child to make involvement as labour before completing age 18, this result is not only applicable for Jhenaidah but also possibly applicable for all developing countries. Besides, father’s education and death of mother were the important indicators of being child laborer. The ways of eliminating child labour are not so easy task because the problem has been indissolubly embedded in our society for long. Hence, it requires moral, political will and commitment from all people in the society for ending and eradicating child labour. Alongside all these, international organizations must make sure their robust participation in enhancing this process. (shrink)

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Why should we refrain from doing things that, taken collectively, are environmentally destructive, if our individual acts seem almost certain to make no difference? According to the expected consequences approach, we should refrain from doing these things because our individual acts have small risks of causing great harm, which outweigh the expected benefits of performing them. Several authors have argued convincingly that this provides a plausible account of our moral reasons to do things like vote for policies that will reduce (...) our countries’ greenhouse gas emissions, adopt plant-based diets, and otherwise reduce our individual emissions. But this approach has recently been challenged by authors like Bernward Gesang and Julia Nefsky. Gesang contends that it may be genuinely impossible for our individual emissions to make a morally relevant difference. Nefsky argues more generally that the expected consequences approach cannot adequately explain our reasons not to do things if there is no precise fact of the matter about whether their outcomes are harmful. -/- In the following chapter, author Howard Nye defends the expected consequences approach against these objections. Nye contends that Gesang has shown at most that our emissions could have metaphysically indeterministic effects that lack precise objective chances. He argues, moreover, that the expected consequences approach can draw upon existing extensions to cases of indeterminism and imprecise probabilities to deliver the result that we have the same moral reasons to reduce our emissions in Gesang’s scenario as in deterministic scenarios. Nye also shows how the expected consequences approach can draw upon these extensions to handle Nefsky’s concern about the absence of precise facts concerning whether the outcomes of certain acts are harmful. The author concludes that the expected consequences approach provides a fully adequate account of our moral reasons to take both political and personal action to reduce our ecological footprints. (shrink)

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Despite the many advantages that mobile money o ers to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) relative to traditional banking services, the majority of stakeholders of this platform have not yet maximised its use owing to several concerns not limited to trust, awareness, and even cost. To examine the factors justifying the adoption and usage of Mobile Money Services (MMS) among SMEs, the types of Mobile Money Services used by these SMEs, and the interdependences between these variables, this study adopted an (...) exploratory approach. The researchers elected to use a mixed-method approach, which necessitated the usage of a survey questionnaire and structured in-depth interviews. Representatives of 12 SMEs were interviewed during the qualitative phase to corroborate the 285 SMEs surveyed in the quantitative part of the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were adopted to analyse the quantitative data using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences version 26 (SPSS version 26). The researchers described the qualitative data according to themes, and the findings were combined after that. While no single factor was accountable, it emerged that accessibility, safety, and convenience were the main factors that entice SMEs in Douala, Cameroon to embrace mobile money services in the effort to receive money from clientele, pay suppliers, and purchase airtime for additional transactions (most preferred mobile money services). Furthermore, it was found that there was a statistically significant association between most of the motivating factors cited and the most preferred mobile money services used by SMEs in Douala. These findings validate the role that mobile money plays in promoting the inclusive finance agenda for SMEs, mainly in the context of emerging economies where the majority of people and businesses do not have access to banking services and therefore may be of interest to policymakers and different stakeholders. Furthermore, an identification of the types of mobile money services businesspersons mostly use in Douala, a business hub, may help to develop businesses by directing the stakeholders to agenda items of interest in the context of Cameroon. (shrink)

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This study examines leadership competencies and resiliencies of school administrators as basis for enhancing organizationalperformance and governance. Employing a mixed-method approach, the research encompasses quantitative data from a survey of 67 school administrators with qualitative insights from comprehensive interviews. The results reveal a high level of leadership competencies among administrators, specifically in advising, managing, leading, and relating. Additionally, the qualitative findings highlight that these administrators demonstrate a level of resilience, an essential attribute for effectively addressing the complexities and (...) challenges inherent to education administration. The convergence of leadership competencies and resiliencies underscores the efficacy of school administrators to effectively enhance school governance. The study findings emphasize the important role of competent leadership and resiliency in sustaining effective organizationalperformance and governance. Statistical analysis rejects the null hypothesis which underscores the positive relationship between leadership competencies and resilience, implying that school administrators with strong leadership competencies have a stronger ability to foster organizational success and manage difficult circumstances. Based on these findings, the study proposes a comprehensive training and development program for school administrators. This program aims to further enhance their leadership skills and resilience, leading to improved organizationalperformance and governance. This study provides valuable insights into the critical role of leadership and resilience in education administration. (shrink)

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A continuing challenge for researchers and practitioners alike is the lack of data on the effectiveness of corporate–community investment programmes. The focus of this article is on the minerals industry, where companies currently face the challenge of matching corporate drivers for strategic partnership with community needs for programmes that contribute to local and regional sustainability. While many global mining companies advocate a strategic approach to partnerships, there is no evidence currently available that suggests companies are monitoring these partnerships to see (...) if they do, in fact, represent ‘strategic’ investments. This article argues that applying the management concept of ‘investmentperformance’ to corporate–community partnerships requires questioning traditional evaluation methods that focus on the results of programmes or activities. We adopt a case study approach to introduce an evaluation framework that considersperformance from both corporate and community perspectives and that conceptualises partnershipperformance as comprising four aspects: (1) the contribution of the partnership to the overall portfolio of a company’s community investment programmes, (2) the appropriateness of the partnership model, (3) the effectiveness of the partnering relationship and (4) the ability of the partners to achieve programme goals. The application of this evaluation framework to an established corporate–community partnership programme provided some useful insights as to how partnershipperformance can be improved. (shrink)

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The paper reviewed financial resources which is a critical factor and component of Business Process Re-engineering in achieving academicperformance of higher education institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The objective of the study is to examine whether financial resources can contribute to improving and achieving academicperformance of higher education institutions in general and students in particular. The study used a systematic literature review and content analysis was to establish the relationship between financial resources and academic (...)performance. The key findings are grouped in three dimensions: 1) financial resources; 2) budget and funding/financial model; 3) tuitions fees, scholarship and loans provision. The study found consistent evidence to show that there is a significant and positive relationship between financial resources andperformance of higher education institutions. The study concluded that higher education sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo needs a radical change and fundamental rethinking in improving educational budget processes to meet the needs of the institutions, provision of scholarship and loans processes to students mainly those from poor background and designing innovative financial/funding model to sustain educational institutions. The study is based on academic capitalism theory. The recommendations were made based on the findings of the study. -/- . (shrink)

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In Kierkegaard and the Staging of Desire: Rhetoric andPerformance in a Theology of Eros Carl S. Hughes develops an original approach to Søren Kierkegaard’s religious writings. As is well known, Kierkegaard published these religious writings under his own name. Some interpreters take this to mean that he no longer relies on the poetics of indirect communication that underlies his pseudonymous works. According to them, the religious writings finally formulate Kierkegaard’s true views in a direct and unambiguous way. Others (...) have suggested that these religious writings are just as indirect as all the others. Hughes belongs to the second camp. In his illuminating book, he convincingly shows that the indirect method of writing is not undermining the religious content of Kierkegaard’s works, as is feared by many interpreters from the first camp, but is essential for sustaining it. That is why Hughes believes that Kierkegaard’s indirect mode of writing is of vital importance for contemporary theology as a discipline. (shrink)

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Local participation is always beneficial forsustainable action and environmental problems resulting from urban implementation due to the failure of social and institutional change necessary for a successful transformation of rural life to urban life ahead of the rapid movement of the population. Despite good legal practice and comprehensive guidelines, evidence suggests that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or more broadly Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) have not yet been found satisfactory in Nigeria, as the current system amounts (...) to duplication of efforts and cost. However, ESHIA has been developed and integrated to help manage project activities, facilities, and operations sustainably, so that both economic and ecological profits are accrued (sustainable development) or ensure that any development project does not result in excessive deterioration of and/or the irreversible adverse effect on any component of the environment – a recite forsustainable development. A literature review was done by using a variety of search engines including Research Gate, Google Scholar, Academia, Mendeley, SSRN search strategy to retrieve research publications, “grey literature” and expert working group reports. The thrust of this study is to evaluate the potential benefits of ESHIA as a tool forsustainable environmental development. The evaluation and implementation of EIA are one of the strengths of these tools. Indeed, EIA is the first and foremost management tool employed to help mitigate adverse, potential, and associated impacts of proposed major developments in our environment. EIA is a regulatory requirement that is efficiently used to improveperformance, project design, enhancing decision-making, and facilitating policy programs in asustainable environment. An evaluation of the EIA systems reveals several weaknesses of the EIA system. These include the inadequate capacity of EIA approval authorities, deficiencies in screening and scoping, poor EIA quality, insufficient public participation, and weak monitoring, and erratic government policies. Overall, most EIA study rarely meets the objectives of being a project planning tool to contribute to achievingsustainable development and mitigate the impact of the development project. The study recommends some directions for the future to ensure that entire content of the EIA are religiously implemented, review the existing EIA act, increase the expertise of EIA consultants, create a liaison office with an international organisation and with sister agency, ESHIA must enjoy Improved budgetary provision, time latitude, spatial contexts and methodological improvements for outcome measures to achieve results that are relevant tosustainable development by improving project design, enhancing decision making and facilitating policy programs. (shrink)

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This study investigated the impact of investor psychological bias on a firm’s market value. In detail, we examined the effect of investor overconfidence (optimism) and loss aversion (pessimism) on firm market value. We also aimed to investigate the moderating effect of corporate governance on the relationship between investor behavior biases and firm market value. This study used a sample of 143 firms listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange over the period from 2012 to 2021. The results suggest that investor overconfidence (...) affects a firm’s value positively. On the other hand, loss aversion is negatively associated with the firm’s market value. Furthermore, we find that corporate governance (measured by board size and board independence) enhances the positive association between overconfidence and firm market value. In contrast, we find that corporate governance seems to marginally mitigate the negative effect of loss aversion. (shrink)

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Từ một khái niệm mang tính biểu tượng, sự bền vững (sustainability) đã trở thành trụ cột trong chiến lược kinh doanh hiện đại—đặc biệt tại châu Âu, nơi Thỏa thuận Xanh châu Âu (European Green Deal) hướng tới mục tiêu trung hòa khí hậu vào năm 2050. Các nhà hoạch định chính sách, nhà đầu tư và lãnh đạo doanh nghiệp ngày càng coi hiệu suất bền vững (sustainabilityperformance - SP)—bao gồm ba trụ cột môi trường, xã (...) hội và quản trị (ESG)—là công cụ quan trọng giúp giảm thiểu rủi ro và đảm bảo thành công dài hạn. Tuy nhiên, một nghiên cứu gần đây đã đưa ra góc nhìn khác, đầy bất ngờ. (shrink)

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Guidelines for learning management in social studies serve as a tool in the development of critical thinking skills among 21st century learners. The guidelines play a key role in the development of learners and educational development, which is regarded as essential for the country development. It is a cornerstone in the development of human resources to be equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitude toward working and living happily with others. The following are the management guidelines: 1. Training on the (...) process to generate knowledge for concept development; 2. Training on the process of practices to develop skills in observation, comparative thinking, classification and reasoning skills, and 3. Training on the process value creation to develop applications to situations in today’s society. Today’s society worldwide is exposed to the fast-pace changes in the social, cultural, political, economic and technological dimensions. This results in diverse ways of life of the people ultimately leading to a multicultural society. Therefore, it is essential to accelerate the development of learners and teachers to be able to adapt themselves and cope up with the fast changing world. There is a need for the learning management so that learners are prepared with new and ever-increasing knowledge and information. Manpower development is required so that people are able to catch up with current social trends in all dimensions and with the future’s changing trends, with quality and sustainabilityperformance. (shrink)

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The increasing computational demands of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads have significantly escalated energy consumption in data centers. AI-driven applications, including deep learning, natural language processing, and autonomous systems, require substantial computing power, primarily provided by Graphics Processing Units. These GPUs, while enhancing computational efficiency, contribute to significant power consumption and heat generation, necessitating advanced cooling strategies. This study provides a quantitative assessment of AI-specific hardware power usage, focusing on the NVIDIA H100 GPU. The analysis compares AI data center energy consumption (...) to the average US household power usage, demonstrating that a single AI rack consumes approximately 39 times the energy of a typical household. Additionally, a scalability analysis estimates that approximately 87 new hyper-scale data centers consume the electricity as much as consumed by New York City. This emphasizes that with rapid growth of AI Data Centers, the large-scale deployment could lead to an unprecedented rise in global energy demand. Furthermore, the study evaluates the impact of heat dissipation on cooling requirements, highlighting the need for energy- efficient cooling solutions, including liquid and immersion cooling techniques. Future research directions include energy- efficient AI models, renewable energy integration,sustainable AI accelerator designs, and intelligent workload optimization to mitigate the environmental impact of large-scale AI adoption. This research provides critical insights for designing moresustainable AI-driven data centers while maintaining high-performance computing efficiency. (shrink)

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This paper's purpose was to identify the key sources when formulating competitive advantages of hotel chains. The research assessed the financial activitiesperformance included in annual hospitality industry reports and on their official websites; questioning of loyal and potential customers; the five-point Likert scale and the Pearson correlation coefficient were applied to understand the possible consumer reaction to a certain competitive advantage or its absence. The paper confirms the effectiveness of key sources used by management to win and retain (...) competitive advantages: despite strong dependence on the economic cycle phase etc., after the devastating crisis of 2007, 2008, but also to achievesustainable growth. All the networks examined over the last decade have expanded their presence in international markets, diversified the portfolio of brands, increased the number of jobs and profits. It was also proved that the opinion of the final consumer is still not sufficiently taken into account in the assessment of the Pearson correlation coefficient (the latter allowed the authors to propose their own definition of the competitive advantage in the industry). The paper attempts for the first time to consider the competitive advantages of hotel chains from the point of view not only of theorists and business practitioners, but also with the view of the opinion of the services consumer; there were identified the discrepancies, which consideration would allow to increase the level of guest satisfaction and, accordingly, the efficiency of the hotel business. In future papers, the authors plan to verify the existence of a correlation between the degree of guest loyalty to a particular hotel network and the main financial results of its activities. (shrink)

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Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has only lately included environmental sustainability as a key area for the social desirability of research and innovation. That is one of the reasons why just a few RRI projects and proposals include environmental sustainability, and Climate Change (CC) in particular. CC is one of the grand challenges of our time and, thus, this paper contributes to the operationalization of CC prevention in RRI. To this end, the tools employed against CC were identified. Tools originated (...) in corporate social responsibility andsustainable innovation which help to operationalize strategies against CC in RRI practice. Complementarily, the latest proposals by RRI projects and actors related to CC were reviewed. The findings of the document analysis and the web review were arranged in a framework intended for research and innovation that has an indirect but relevant negative impact due to CC. Thus, four main strategies for CC prevention in RRI were determined: a voluntary integration of the aims, a life cycle perspective, open access databases and keyperformance indicators, and stakeholder management. The article is finished acknowledging diverse barriers hindering the operationalization of CC prevention in RRI, and we introduce future avenues for research in this area. (shrink)

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A selection of documents, texts, and archival records, with links, summarizing a sustained critical engagement with the art world and academia, through essays, reviews, etc., and inclusive of garden design, architecture, film, photography, fashion,performance art, music, and opera … They begin in New York, New York, in the early 2000s, and then become embedded in various aspects of PhD studies concerning visual agency, postdoctoral research projects concerned with a study of intellectual property rights, and, then, a second PhD (...) focused on works-based agency …. (shrink)

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Consumers are increasingly aware of the health- and safety-related implications of the food which they can buy in the market. At the same time, households have become more aware of their environmental responsibilities. Regarding the production of food, a crucial and multifunctional role is played by agriculture. The way vegetables, fruits, and other crops are grown and how livestock is raised has an impact on the environment and landscape. Operations performed by farmers, such as water management, can be dangerous for (...) the soil and the whole ecosystem. Consequently, there is a search for natural ways of sustaining the impact of agriculture on the environment. In this context, one of the most popular ideas is organic agriculture. In the literature on the subject, there are many concepts that some authors consider to be synonymous even as others argue that these terms are not interchangeable. There is, for example, "organic agriculture," "alternative agriculture," "sustainable agriculture," "ecological agriculture," "biological agriculture," "niche farming," "community-supported agriculture," and "integrated pest management." Very often, techniques and products related to organic agriculture are described by marketing experts with the use of abbreviations such as "bio" and "eco." Products with such markings and labels are increasingly popular in stores that often give them separate shelves for their sale. Despite the higher price compared to conventional products, they are increasingly sought by consumers. The entry examines the various impacts of organic agriculture with a view to these trends. (shrink)

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The purpose of the article is to analyze aspects of organizational culture of professional ethics in the travel and hospitality industry and to work out recommendations for improvement in the context of the transition tosustainable tourism. The methodological basis of the study is: a) a systematic approach that allowed to consider professional ethics not only its structural components, but also with functional connections and relationships; b) professiographic approach, which discovered the specifics of professional work in the tourism industry; (...) c) statistical approach, that allowed to assessperformance of the branch. The article reviews the principles, elements and features of tourism industry and organizational culture of professional ethics at certain stages of production and/or services provision process; contains the author’s definition of professional ethics in terms ofsustainable (ethical, socially responsible) tourism; proposes recommendations for the implementation of an ethical approach to the relevant industry companies operations. Tourism is important both in terms of ensuring economic development and social well-being. In recent years, as international experience argues, the competitiveness of the industry increasingly depends on human factors, including professional ethics. It promotes mutual understanding between (among) individuals, people, cultures; serves as a source of tolerance, new knowledge, respect and differences understanding. On the one hand, such a situation is explained by the requirements of society troubled with vulnerability of clients, national traditions and the environment caused by companies irresponsibility; on the other hand, the interest of the business community is to reduce costs, to increase longterm profits, confidence in sustainability of the business relationship, to implement the right choice of the alternatives to encourage such behavior in others. At the same time, ignoring the basic principles of ethical professional conduct by the organization is accompanied with unforeseen losses; causes an uncontrolled flow of trials, applying civil and criminal sanctions by regulators, losses of employees’ loyalty, customers and business partners, chaos in relationships, staff turnover, etc. All abovementioned determines the practical significance of the research. (shrink)

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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the feasibility and design of zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) in cold and semi-arid climates. In this study, to maximize the use of renewable energy, energy consumption is diminished using passive solar architecture systems and techniques. -/- Design/methodology/approach: The case study is a residential building with a floor area of 100 m2 and four inhabitants in the cold and semi-arid climate, northeast of Iran. For thermal simulation, the climate data such as air temperature, (...) sunshine hours, wind, precipitation and hourly sunlight, are provided from the meteorological station and weather databases of the region. DesignBuilder software is applied for simulation and dynamic analysis of the building, as well as PVsyst software to design and evaluate renewable energyperformance. -/- Findings: The simulation results show a 30% decrease in annual energy consumption of the building by complying with the principles of passive design (optimal selection of direction, Trombe wall, shade, proper insulation selection) from 25,443 kWh to 17,767 kWh. Then, the solar energy photovoltaic (PV) system is designed using PVsyst software, taking into account the annual energy requirement and the system’s annual energy yield is estimated to be 26,291 kWh. -/- Originality/value: The adaptive comparison of the values obtained from the energy analysis indicated that constructing a ZEB is feasible in cold and semi-arid conditions and is considered an effective step to achievesustainable and environmentally friendly construction. (shrink)

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In this paper, a framework incorporating flexibility as a characteristic is proposed for designing complex, resilient socio-ecological systems. In an interconnected complex system, flexibility allows prompt deployment of resources where they are needed and is crucial for both innovation and robustness. A comparative analysis of flexible manufacturing systems, economics, evolutionary biology, and supply chain management is conducted to identify the most important characteristics of flexibility. Evolutionary biology emphasises overlapping functions and multi-functionality, which allow a system with structurally different elements to (...) perform the same function, enhancing resilience. In economics, marginal cost and marginal expected profit are factors that are considered to be important in incorporating flexibility while making changes to the system. In flexible manufacturing systems, the size of choice sets is important in creating flexibility, as initial actions preserve more options for future actions that will enhance resilience. Given the dynamic nature of flexibility, identifying the characteristics that can lead to flexibility will introduce a crucial dimension to designing resilient andsustainable socio-ecological systems with a long-term perspective in mind. (shrink)

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This technical report presents the fabrication andperformance evaluation of a thermoelectric refrigerator. The project aimed to design an energy-efficient and compact refrigerator utilizing the thermoelectric effect for cooling. The fabrication process involved selecting suitable thermoelectric materials and implementing efficient heat transfer mechanisms. The refrigerator'sperformance was evaluated through experiments measuring cooling capacity, coefficient ofperformance (COP), and temperature uniformity. The fabrication of a thermoelectric refrigerator with a temperature controller represents a significant step toward enhancing the efficiency (...) and lifespan of thermoelectric cooling systems. The successful integration of the temperature controller provides valuable insights into improving theperformance and reliability of future thermoelectric refrigeration technologies. -/- The results demonstrated effective cooling and a COP comparable to that of conventional systems. The refrigerator exhibited low power consumption and environmental friendliness due to the absence of harmful refrigerants. This report contributes tosustainable cooling research and showcases the potential of thermoelectric refrigeration technology. This project significantly contributes to the field of thermoelectric refrigeration by integrating a temperature controller into the system. Further research and development efforts can focus on refining the temperature control algorithm, exploring advanced materials for increased efficiency, and identifying additional applications for thermoelectric cooling in various industries. (shrink)

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Festival is a performative dimension of cultural praxis that strengthens bonds of cohesion in society. Festivals are also an integral part of religious praxis. They have the potentiality of bringing its adherents and non-adherents together thus creating and sustaining social communion among them. This reality of sustaining social communion confirms an important function of religion in society with particular reference to its social integrative effects. Therefore, this article assesses how religious festival, Christmas, fosters social integration among Igbos in Nigeria. On (...) a related note, many Igbos, see Christmas festival as unique occasion for them to visit their communities; attend meetings of their associations and/or town unions and consolidate family ties. These are opportunities for building social integrations, otherwise denoted as social communion in this research. This work makes use of critical analysis of relevant texts and questionnaire survey methods as means of gathering materials and data for this research. In view of understanding how Christmas festival aids social communion among the Igbo ethnic group, the theories of structural functionalism, social capital and social integration are being utilised as theoretical frameworks for this study. Finally, this study avers that religious festival cements social communion between the Igbos in Calabar Metropolis and their ancestral communities. (shrink)

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Abstract The climate crisis cannot be solved through guilt rituals, carbon offsets, or performative sustainability campaigns. This paper offers a structural analysis of why mainstream “green” approaches—carbon markets, ESG ratings, net-zero claims—fail to resolve ecological collapse. Drawing from the CODES framework (Chirality of Dynamic Emergent Systems), we reframe environmental damage not as risk to manage, but as signal of coherence loss. Each failed paradigm is dissected, and each replaced with a phase-coherent alternative. The paper is intended for both everyday citizens (...) and institutional actors—those tired of doing “the right thing” and still watching everything burn. (shrink)

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According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), buildings are the largest worldwide consumers of energy. Most of the energy used by any building is consumed during the usage (or operational) stage of the building’s life-cycle. Achievingsustainable development at the national level will require minimizing the effects of buildings on the environment with the low energy consumed by buildings. The energyperformance of a given building is predicted and assessed by conducting an energy simulation. Using BIM in (...) EPAs greatly reduces time and costs. The purpose of this study was to optimize energy consumption in buildings, using Building Information Modeling Technology (BIM), which can assess energyperformance in the building. In this research, the general form of the building was modeled in the Autodesk Revit Software. After reviewing the proposed designs, the main form of the building was selected for modeling. Then, according to the type of materials consumed, the equipment and location of the project, the calculation of the energy consumption of the building was carried out using relevant tools in this scope. Finally, the best possible mode was chosen by examining different energy consumption modes. The results of energy simulation showed that 61.48% of the difference between the best mode of energy consumption optimization and the current state of the building, as well as 79.35%, is compared to the initial state. Finally, parametric studies of alternative cost optimization schemes showed that saving 58.23% of the building's current status for a 30-year horizon. (shrink)

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Buildings are the largest energy consumer worldwide, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Most of the building’s energy consumption is in the building’s life cycle stage. Therefore, achievingsustainable development at the national level requires minimizing the building’s effects on the environment via reducing energy consumption by buildings. The building’s energyperformance will be predicted and evaluated by the energy simulation. Using BIM in EPAs significantly reduces time and costs. This study aimed to optimize energy consumption (...) in buildings using Building Information Modeling (BIM) Technology, which can assess energyperformance in the building. In this research, the general form of the building was modeled on the Autodesk Revit Software. The main shape of the building was chosen for modeling after reviewing the proposed designs. Then, the building energy consumption was calculated using the relevant tools in this scope, according to the materials, equipment, and project location. Finally, the best possible mode was selected by examining different modes of energy consumption. The results showed that 61.48% difference between the best mode of energy consumption optimization and the current mode of the building and 79.35% compared to the initial mode. Finally, parametric studies of alternative cost optimization schemes showed that saving 58.23% of the building’s current status for a 30-year horizon. (shrink)

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The fourth goal inSustainable Development Goals (SDG) spells out Quality Education that demands teachers across all disciplines to teach effectively. The available literature suggests that teaching effectiveness starts from good planning, which should be evident in the documentation of lesson plans. However, when it comes to English teachers, their demanding roles that are attributed to the value-laden content, the grading of essays, theperformance pressure of high-stake testing, and the requirement of culturally appropriate pedagogies (Loh & Liew, (...) 2016)have caused the practice of writing lesson plans to be challenged, causing the effectiveness of the teaching to be jeopardised. English teachers in international schools are not exempted from facing this problem, yet little studies have been done on the teachers in this context. To achieve the purpose, this research adopts a case study design using document analysis and semi-structured interview to collect the data. The data were analysed quantitatively using a lesson plan rubric by Student Teacher Assessment Instrument (STAI) and thematic analysis, respectively. The study unveils that the teachers had a moderate level of lesson plan, suggesting a need for further support in lesson planning. The findings of this study will be helpful for English. Teachers understand the importance of writing an effective lesson plan as it has a high possibility of enhancing teaching effectiveness. (shrink)

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My primary aim is to defend a nonreductive solution to the problem of action. I argue that when you are performing an overt bodily action, you are playing an irreducible causal role in bringing about, sustaining, and controlling the movements of your body, a causal role best understood as an instance of agent causation. Thus, the solution that I defend employs a notion of agent causation, though emphatically not in defence of an account of free will, as most theories of (...) agent causation are. Rather, I argue that the notion of agent causation introduced here best explains how it is that you are making your body move during an action, thereby providing a satisfactory solution to the problem of action. (shrink)

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-/- Leadership Evaluation Assessment Based on Angelito Malicse’s Universal Formula -/- Objective: This assessment evaluates leadership qualities and decision-making using Angelito Malicse’s three universal laws of nature. The goal is to emphasize how well leaders apply the concepts of balance, systems thinking, and karma (cause and effect) in their leadership practices, ensuring long-term sustainability, fairness, and interconnectedness within their decision-making processes. -/- Key Evaluation Criteria: -/- 1. Application of the Universal Law of Balance in Nature: -/- A leader’s ability to (...) maintain balance in their decision-making is crucial. This law emphasizes the interconnectedness of all elements in nature and the need for harmony. In the context of leadership, it requires decision-makers to weigh the needs of individuals, society, and the environment, striving for sustainability in every action they take. Effective leaders will consistently prioritize decisions that promote long-term stability, prevent harm, and create equilibrium. -/- Leaders will be evaluated based on how well they understand and implement this principle in both their personal and professional spheres. This involves ensuring that their decisions are in harmony with the broader ecosystem, creating asustainable environment that benefits everyone. -/- 2. Adherence to the Law of Karma and Systems Thinking: -/- The second universal law relates to cause and effect, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all systems—whether natural, societal, or organizational. Leaders must understand that every decision they make has ripple effects within these systems, and that these effects are often far-reaching. Systems thinking involves recognizing that no decision exists in isolation; every action has consequences, and those consequences can either reinforce or disrupt the stability of the system. -/- Leaders will be evaluated on their ability to think holistically about the systems they influence. This means considering both the immediate and long-term impacts of their decisions, ensuring they do not introduce flaws or imbalances that could cause harm in the future. Strong leaders will act to prevent negative consequences and address existing systemic problems in their organizations or society at large. -/- 3. Holistic Decision-Making (Considering All Stakeholders): -/- Leadership must be inclusive and fair, taking into account the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders. Holistic decision-making involves considering not only the immediate impact of decisions but also how they will affect different groups within society, the environment, and future generations. Leaders who practice holistic decision-making are those who avoid divisiveness and work to ensure equity, fairness, and the well-being of all parties involved. -/- Leaders will be assessed on their ability to incorporate diverse viewpoints into their decisions, ensuring that no group is overlooked or exploited. This requires transparency, empathy, and a commitment to fairness. The ability to balance conflicting interests and create win-win outcomes is essential for successful leadership under this principle. -/- Numerical Grading System: -/- The evaluation will be based on a 5-point scale for each criterion, with a numerical grade assigned to each of the three key evaluation areas. The final grade for leadershipperformance will be the sum of scores across all criteria. Each criterion will be assessed as follows: -/- 1. Application of the Universal Law of Balance in Nature: -/- 5 (Excellent): Demonstrates a deep understanding of balance in all aspects of leadership. Consistently makes decisions that promote long-term sustainability, prevent harm, and maintain harmony. -/- 4 (Good): Generally maintains balance in decision-making but may have occasional lapses in judgment. Most decisions aresustainable and contribute to harmony. -/- 3 (Satisfactory): Shows some awareness of balance but struggles to consistently apply it in practice. Decisions may create minor imbalances or unintended consequences. -/- 2 (Needs Improvement): Rarely considers balance in decision-making. Decisions often disrupt harmony, causing negative or unsustainable outcomes. -/- 1 (Unsatisfactory): Fails to consider balance in decision-making. Regularly makes decisions that create significant imbalances, harm, or instability. -/- 2. Adherence to the Law of Karma and Systems Thinking: -/- 5 (Excellent): Demonstrates a thorough understanding of systems thinking and the interconnectedness of all decisions. Consistently considers both short- and long-term consequences and acts to prevent harm. -/- 4 (Good): Generally understands systems thinking but occasionally overlooks certain systemic consequences. Most decisions are well-thought-out with an awareness of long-term impacts. -/- 3 (Satisfactory): Displays limited understanding of systems thinking. Often fails to consider the long-term consequences of decisions, with some negative impacts on the system. -/- 2 (Needs Improvement): Shows little understanding of systems thinking. Frequently makes short-sighted decisions that have negative ripple effects within systems. -/- 1 (Unsatisfactory): Fails to consider systems thinking. Decisions often cause harm and disruption to the interconnected systems involved. -/- 3. Holistic Decision-Making (Considering All Stakeholders): -/- 5 (Excellent): Consistently considers the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders, ensuring decisions are inclusive, fair, and balanced. Actively works to create win-win outcomes. -/- 4 (Good): Generally considers the needs of most stakeholders, with occasional lapses. Decisions are mostly inclusive, but minor groups may be overlooked. -/- 3 (Satisfactory): Considers the needs of some stakeholders, but decisions may overlook or harm certain groups. Equity and fairness are not always prioritized. -/- 2 (Needs Improvement): Frequently neglects the needs of key stakeholders, resulting in divisive or unfair outcomes. -/- 1 (Unsatisfactory): Regularly neglects or exploits certain stakeholders, causing division, inequality, or harm. -/- Final Grading Calculation: -/- Each of the three criteria will be scored individually, with a score range of 1 to 5 for each. The final score is the sum of the individual scores from each criterion, giving a total score out of 15. The final grade will be assigned as follows: -/- 13-15 (Excellent Leadership): The leader demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities, consistently applying all three universal laws in their decision-making and fostering a balanced, fair, andsustainable environment. -/- 10-12 (Good Leadership): The leader performs well in most areas, but there may be occasional lapses or room for improvement. They generally demonstrate sound decision-making that aligns with the universal laws. -/- 7-9 (Satisfactory Leadership): The leader shows some awareness of the universal laws but struggles with consistent application. Their leadership may cause minor imbalances or fail to fully consider the needs of all stakeholders. -/- 4-6 (Needs Improvement): The leader demonstrates limited understanding and application of the universal laws. Their decisions often cause negative outcomes, and they need significant improvement in their approach. -/- 1-3 (Unsatisfactory Leadership): The leader’s decision-making consistently fails to align with the universal laws, causing harm, imbalance, or division. Major changes are needed for effective leadership. -/- Final Thoughts on the Evaluation Process: -/- This evaluation framework focuses on the quality and sustainability of a leader’s decision-making processes. It encourages leaders to think deeply about the effects of their actions, not only on their immediate environment but on the broader interconnected systems they influence. By applying the universal laws of balance, karma, and systems thinking, leaders can guide their organizations and societies toward moresustainable, fair, and harmonious futures. The evaluation is not just about results but about the method, thought process, and long-term vision of the leader. -/- This holistic approach to leadership assessment will allow organizations and societies to cultivate leadership that is aligned with natural laws and aimed at ensuring a balanced and just future. -/- . (shrink)

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