The study examined the mediating role of supply chain security performance on the relationship between supply chain security practices and supply chain disruptions occurrences in the manufacturing industry in Ghana. Drawing on a survey of 336 manufacturing firms, dynamic capability, and contingency theories were applied using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the conceptual model. It was discovered that both direct and indirect hypotheses supported the findings of the study. The results indicate that Ghanaian manufacturing firms have made progress in implementing supply chain security measures. The findings revealed that the adoption of comprehensive supply chain security practices is positively associated with improved performance metrics, including reduced inventory losses and damages, faster order fulfillment and delivery times, lower costs related to security incidents, and enhanced brand reputation and customer trust. Policymakers can leverage these insights to develop support programs aimed at strengthening the security capabilities of manufacturing firms, ensuring they are equipped to compete effectively in both local and global markets, improving security performance, and reducing the likelihood and impact of supply chain disruptions. In the quest of bridging the gap between theory and practice, this research contributes valuable knowledge to the discourse on supply chain security in developing countries, offering a roadmap for enhancing resilience and performance in the manufacturing sector.

This study investigates the impact of human resource management (HRM) practices on employee retention and job satisfaction within Malaysia’s IT industry. The research centered on middle-management executives from the top 10 IT companies in the Greater Klang Valley and Penang. Using a self-administered questionnaire, the study gathered data on demographic characteristics, HRM practices, and employee retention, with the questionnaire design drawing from established literature and validated measuring scales. The study employed the PLS 4.0 method for analyzing structural relationships and tested various hypotheses regarding HRM practices and employee retention. Key findings revealed that work-life balance did not significantly impact employee retention. Conversely, job security positively influenced employee retention. Notably, rewards, recognition, and training and development were found to be insignificant in predicting employee retention. Additionally, the study explored the mediating role of job satisfaction but found it did not mediate the relationship between work-life balance and employee retention nor between job security and employee retention. The research highlighted that HRM practices have diverse effects on employee retention in Malaysia’s IT sector. Acknowledging limitations like sample size and research design, the study suggests the need for further research to deepen understanding in this area.

The technological infrastructure is the basis for the successful implementation and operation of information systems in small and medium enterprises. The study aimed to demonstrate the impact of cybersecurity on entrepreneurship strategies in small and medium enterprises. Through technological infrastructure in Balqa Governorate. The study population consisted of small and medium enterprises in Balqa Governorate in Jordan. The study followed the descriptive analytical approach and relied on the questionnaire to collect data. The sample size was 360 individuals were randomly select. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was use to analyze the data. The study reached a set of results, including that the management of small and medium enterprises is committed to continuous supervision and control of customer information. Dealing with reliable parties to ensure the confidentiality of information, following strict standards for disclosure and circulation of customer data and information based on legal texts. Maintaining the privacy of customers’ financial data, in addition to supporting the successes of individuals based on the personal efforts of employees, providing a suitable work environment for employees, sustaining excellence and achievement, and working to increase awareness among its employees of the importance of innovation and creativity in work. The study recommended that customer data confidentiality should be consider a top priority for small and medium enterprises. The data should be stored in more than one place at the same time, that project websites should follow a privacy policy, and that the customer’s identity should be verify before submitting his data and documents, by involving employees in small and medium enterprises in specialized courses and workshops to demonstrate the importance of data and information confidentiality.

The rapid expansion of smart cities has led to the widespread deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices for real-time data collection and urban optimization. However, these interconnected systems face critical cybersecurity risks, including data tampering, unauthorized access, and privacy breaches. This paper proposes a blockchain-based framework designed to enhance the security, integrity, and resilience of IoT data in smart city environments. Leveraging a private blockchain, the system ensures decentralized, tamper-proof data storage, and transaction verification through digital signatures and a lightweight Proof of Work consensus mechanism. Smart contracts are employed to automate access control and respond to anomalies in real time. A Python-based simulation demonstrates the framework’s effectiveness in securing IoT communications. The system supports rapid transaction validation with minimal latency and enables timely detection of anomalous patterns through integrated machine learning. Evaluations show that the framework maintains consistent performance across diverse smart city components such as transportation, healthcare, and building security. These results highlight the potential of the proposed solution to enable secure, scalable, and real-time IoT ecosystems for modern urban infrastructures.

Objective: To promote the development of China’s crop seed industry with high quality, guarantee food security and sustainable agricultural development, scientific design of the evaluation index system for high-quality development of the seed industry and conduct of metric analysis are the keys to promoting the revitalization of the seed industry and the construction of a strong agricultural country. Methods: This paper focused on the high-quality development of China’s crop seed industry as the main research object by combining previous research findings of studies based on the connotation of high-quality development of the crop seed industry and constructed the evaluation index system of high-quality development of China’s crop seed industry which covers five dimensions, namely, innovation-driven development, green and sustained development, coordinated and comprehensive development, opening-up and strengthened development, and share-and-promote development, The Entropy method, Dagum’s Gini coefficient, Kernel’s density estimation, and panel regression methods were used to comprehensively analyze the spatial and temporal evolution, regional differences, and driving factors of the level of high-quality development of the crop seed industry in 30 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) of China from 2011 to 2020. Conclusions: After systematic analysis, it was concluded that (1) the overall level of high-quality development in China’s crop seed industry has stabilized, and progress has been made. (2) The overall inter-regional differences among the four major regions showed a gradual upward trend, with the inter-regional differences serving as the primary source of the differences and the contribution rate of various inter-regional differences demonstrating an upward trend. (3) Innovation capacity, the cultural and educational level of rural residents, the development of rural infrastructure, national financial support, and market-oriented approach are important factors driving the high-quality development of the crop seed industry in Chinese provinces (districts and municipalities).

Introduction: Citizen insecurity is a complex, multidimensional and multi-causal social problem, defined as the spaces where people feel insecure mainly due to organized crime in all nations that suffer from it. Objective: To analyzes the sociodemographic factors associated with public insecurity in a Peruvian population. Methodology: The research employed a non-experimental, quantitative design with a descriptive and cross-sectional approach. A total of 11,116, citizens participated, ranging from 18 to 85 years old (young adults, adults, and the elderly), of both sexes, and with any occupation, education level, and marital status. The study employed purposive non-probability sampling to select the participants. Results: More than 50% of the population feels unsafe, in public and private spaces. All analyzed sociodemographic variables (p < 0.05), showing distinctions in the perception of citizen insecurity based on age, gender, marital status, occupation, area of residence, and education level. It was determined that young, single students, who had not experienced a criminal event and reside in urban areas, regardless of gender, perceive a greater sense of insecurity. Contribution: The study is relevant due to the generality of the results in a significant sample, demonstrating that the study contributes to understanding how various elements of the socioeconomic and demographic context can influence the way in which individuals perceive insecurity in their communities, likewise, the perception of citizen insecurity directly affects the general well-being and quality of life of residents, influencing their behaviors and attitudes towards coexistence and public policies; which will help implement more effective actions in the sector to reduce crime rates.