The current examines the influence of Islamic values on smoking behaviors among undergraduate students at Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan (N: 334). Tobacco use, in religious and cultural terms, is viewed as abhorrent; it is a significant concern for this population group. The study intends to identify how Islamic values affect the perception of students on smoking and, consequently, their smoking behavior. A self-administered questionnaire assessed sociodemographic data and the past 30 days of cigarette use. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages, midpoint and standard deviation, and inferential statistics, such as chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression, were used to analyze smoking behaviors, Islamic values, and demographic attributes. The study shows that Islamic values have a strong negative attitude towards smoking; students attributed smoking to religion, family and social expectations and perceptions, health and economic implications. Further, the hierarchical regression analysis revealed that cigarette use, hookah and e-cigarette, gender, and attitude towards Islamic values were suitable predictors for cigarette use. This study advances knowledge regarding smoking behaviors from the cultural-religious perspective. It highlights the importance of historically and culturally informed gender-sensitive prevention programs that address smoking-related beliefs, attitudes, and practices. Collaboration with the Ministry of Health and media outlets to integrate Islamic values into public health campaigns can reduce smoking among university students by aligning cultural and religious beliefs with health messaging.

This study will explore the direct and indirect impacts of collaborative governance innovation on organizational value creation in higher vocational education in China in the context of the digital era. This paper employs a mixed research methodology to construct and validate a model of the relationship between collaborative governance, digital competence, value chain restructuring, and value creation. This study first adopted an exploratory sequential design. In the qualitative interviews, 15 experts from education, business, and other related fields were used as respondents to explore accurate variable factors and determine the value of the research framework. The quantitative research used structural equation analysis to analyze 979 valid online questionnaires. Finally, the rationality of the research results was verified through case studies.  The findings are clear: collaborative governance significantly positively impacts value creation, indirectly affecting organizational value creation through value chain restructuring. Furthermore, digital capabilities significantly contribute to the value chain restructuring process. This paper provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for higher vocational education organizations to improve their governance and innovation capabilities.

Urbanization plays a crucial role in facilitating the integration of population growth, industrial development, economic expansion, and energy consumption. In this paper, we aim to examine the relationships between CO2 emissions and various factors including economic growth, urbanization, financial development, and energy consumption within Pakistan’s building sector. The study utilizes annual data spanning from 1990 to 2020. To analyze the cointegration relationship between these variables, we employ the quantile autoregressive distributed lag error correction model (QARDL-ECM). The findings of this research provide evidence supporting the presence of an asymmetric and nonlinear long-term relationship between the variables under investigation. Based on these results, we suggest the implementation of tariffs on nonrenewable energy sources and the formulation of policies that promote sustainable energy practices. By doing so, policymakers and architects can effectively contribute to minimising environmental damage. Overall, this study offers valuable insights that can assist policymakers and architects in making informed decisions to mitigate environmental harm while fostering sustainable development.

The maize commodity is of strategic significance to the South African economy as it is a stable commodity and therefore a key factor for food security. In recent times climate change has impacted on the productivity of this commodity and this has impacted trade negatively. This paper explores the intricate relationship between climatic factors and trade performance for the South African maize. Secondary annual time series data spanning 2001 to 2023, was sourced from an abstract from Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and World Bank’s Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) cointegration technique was used as an empirical model to assess the long-term and short-term relationships between explanatory variables and the dependent variable. Results of the ARDL model show that, average annual rainfall (β = 2.184, p = 0.056), fertilizer consumption (β = 1.919, p = 0.036), gross value of production (β = 1.279 , p = 0.006) and average annual surface temperature (β = −0.650, p = 0.991) and change in temperature for previous years, (β = −0.650, p = 0.991) and the effects towards coefficient change for export volumes, (β = 0.669, p = 0.0007). In overall, as a recommendation, South African policymakers should consider these findings when developing strategies to mitigate the impacts of some of these climatic factors and implementing adaptive strategies for maize producers.

This paper aims to investigate the impact of China’s central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) relocation policy from the capital city of Beijing on the economy and local fiscal revenue. We find that these enterprises play a critical role in implementing national strategies, promoting industrial upgrading, and enhancing the competitiveness of the industry chain. At the same time, their relocation has also dispersed the pressure of economic development in Beijing, promoted regional economic coordination and development, and increased local fiscal revenue. However, attention should be paid to the particularity and diversity of local areas in the process of policy formulation to avoid “one-size-fits-all” solutions. Therefore, when formulating corresponding policies, the central government should guide enterprises to handle relocation issues correctly and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of employees and their families. Meanwhile, local governments should also formulate corresponding support policies to facilitate enterprise settlement. The ultimate goal is to solve problems and contradictions through development and achieve common prosperity. Therefore, we suggest that the government and enterprises work together to bring prosperity to everyone and jointly promote the sustainable development of the Chinese economy.

This article addresses the pressing issue of training and mediation for conflict resolution among employees within a corporate setting. Employing a methodology that includes literature analysis, comparative studies, and surveys, we explore various strategies and their effectiveness in mitigating workplace conflicts. Through a comprehensive comparison with metrics and conclusions from other scholarly works, we provide a nuanced understanding of the current landscape of conflict resolution practices. As a result of our research, we implemented a tailored training program focused on conflict resolution for employees within a mobile company, alongside the development of a competency framework designed to enhance conflict resolution skills. This framework comprises five integral components: emotional, operational, motivational, behavioral, and regulatory. Our findings suggest that training in each of these competencies is essential for fostering a healthy workplace environment and must be integrated into organizational practices. The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated; effective conflict resolution skills are not only vital for individual employee wellbeing but also crucial for the overall efficiency and productivity of the organization. By investing in these competencies, companies can reduce turnover, enhance team cohesion, and create a more positive and collaborative workplace culture.