Outsourcing logistics operations is a common trend as businesses prioritize core activities. Establishing a sustainable partnership between businesses and logistics service providers requires a systematic approach. This study is needed to develop a more effective and adaptive framework for logistics service provider selection by integrating diverse criteria and decision-making methodologies, ultimately enhancing the precision and sustainability of procurement processes. This study advocate for leveraging industry-based knowledge in procurement, emphasizing the need to define decision-making elements. The research analyzes nearly 300 logistics procurement projects, using a neural network-based methodology to propose a model that aids businesses in identifying optimal criteria for evaluating logistics service providers based on extensive industry knowledge. The goal of this study is to develop and test a practical model that would support businesses in choosing most suitable criteria for selection of logistics service providers based on cumulative market patterns. The results of this study are as follows. It introduces novel elements by gathering and systematizing unique market data using developed data processing methodology. It innovatively classifies decision-making elements, allocating them into distinct groups for use as features in a neural network. The study further contributes by developing and training a predictive model based on a prepared dataset, addressing pre-defined goals, expectations related to green logistics, and specific requirements in the tendering process for selecting logistics service providers. Study is concluded by summarizing suggestions for future research in area of adopting neural networks for selection of logistics service providers.

Urban planning is critical to managing rapid urban growth, particularly in African regions experiencing high urbanization rates. This study focuses on Bol, Lake Chad Province, a city facing significant challenges due to inadequate planning frameworks compounded by recurrent humanitarian and climate crises. It fills an empirical gap by analyzing how local planning mechanisms respond to these socio-environmental complexities, with a focus on the interplay between institutional structures, legislative frameworks, and resource allocation. The study assesses urban planning practices in Bol to identify challenges and opportunities, with the aim of improving institutional effectiveness, aligning policies with realities, and integrating climate resilience strategies. Using a qualitative methodology, it combines field surveys, stakeholder interviews, and document analysis, using SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and PESTEL (Political, Economic, Sociocultural, Technological, Environmental, Legal) frameworks for data analysis. The findings reveal that ineffective institutions, poor inter-sectoral coordination, outdated legislative frameworks and resource constraints hamper sustainable urban development in Bol. To address these issues, the study proposes to strengthen local institutional capacities, foster stakeholder collaboration, and modernize urban planning policies through participatory approaches. The study highlights the need to integrate resilience strategies into urban settings to mitigate climate change impacts and improve governance. These measures not only address immediate challenges, but also advance urban planning theory and provide a basis for future research on adaptation strategies in crisis-prone regions. This study offers practical insights for policy makers and contributes to developing more sustainable and resilient urban planning systems in similar contexts.

Formation of the latest scientific and methodological principles and the determination of the most important directions of the paradigm of the analysis of artistic creativity and text have been represented as actual problems of the theory of modern Kazakh literary criticism. The purpose of the work is to consider and analyze the modern concepts of Kazakh literary criticism, to evaluate the contribution of scientists from the period of independence of Kazakhstan in the development of theoretical analysis and interpretation of the artistic originality of national literature. The article discusses new trends in the theory of Kazakh literary criticism, changes in methodology, which are due to the leading positions of world literary criticism. In this regard, the article offers an analytical review of the main scientific and theoretical studies in the field of literary criticism, defines the evolution of the concepts of scientific and theoretical thought, identifies the principles and main aspects of the study of literature in a new way, shows certain achievements in close relationship with historical stages, as well as tasks future research; literary-theoretical and philosophical-aesthetic searches in modern Kazakh literary criticism are evaluated, the prospects for its development are determined.

Problem statement: An environmentally conscious consumer’s perspective can shift as they look for things that are gentler on the planet. Conversely, businesses engage in greenwashing when they try to cover up their lacklustre environmental initiatives. The current research was used the theory of rational choice behaviour to examine a model that connects corporate green washing and consumers’ green purchase intentions via the mediating roles of perceived risk, green trust and green confusion about food and beverage brands in Saudi Arabia. Research motivation: Sustainable business practices have been developed and adopted by corporations in response to the growing interest in environmentally friendly lifestyles and green products. However, green washing has become increasingly common as a means for businesses to give off the impression that they care about the environment when they really don’t. Research methodology: The online survey was used to obtain data directly from consumers about their views on green washing by corporations. Primary data was analysed using appropriate statistical tools and techniques in SPSS, AMOS and SmartPLS software, such as Correlation, Regression, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), etc. Results: In terms of perceived greenness and confusion, the results showed that green wash mediates the relationship between green purchasing intention and greenness. There is a two-way correlation between consumers’ intentions to buy environmentally friendly products and their levels of green perception, and green confusion. The findings of this study were broadening our understanding of the consequences of green washing. Conclusions: All things considered, the study was encouraging more research on the subject and be a useful tool for academics, corporate managers, and students interested in environmental sustainability, product innovation, and green branding. According to the results, businesses can improve their green purchasing intentions by cutting down on green washing and focusing instead on building a positive reputation for their brand and encouraging customer loyalty. Corporate performance and social environment sustainability can both benefit greatly from this paper’s expansion of knowledge regarding the processes of individual customer psychological effects after perceptions of corporate greenwashing behaviour.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) in a sample of Moroccan students. Method: A total of 208 Moroccan students participated in this study. The dimensionality of the DASS-21 scale was assessed using exploratory factor analysis. Construct validity was assessed using the Stress Perception (PSS-10), State Anxiety (SAI), and Depression (CESD-10) scales. Results: Correlation analyses between Depression, Anxiety, and Stress subscales showed significant results. The exploratory factor analysis results confirmed the DASS’s three-dimensional structure. Furthermore, correlation analyses revealed positive correlations between the DASS-18 sub-dimensions and the three scales for Stress (PSS-10), Anxiety (SAI), and Depression (CESD-10). Conclusion: In line with previous work, the results of this study suggest that the DASS-18 reflect adequate psychometric properties, making it an appropriate tool for use in the university context.