This paper examines the detrimental impact of rapid inflation on the quality of private education in developing countries. By focusing on the financial challenges faced by private schools, the study highlights the tension between education policy and economic realities. While private schools often attract parents with smaller class sizes and specialized programs, the core motivation lies in investing in children’s future through quality education. However, this study demonstrates how inflation can cripple this sector. The case of Turkey exemplifies this challenge. Post-pandemic inflation created a financial stranglehold on private schools, as rising costs made it difficult to adjust teacher salaries. This, in turn, led to teacher demotivation and a mass exodus, ultimately compromising educational quality. Furthermore, government interventions aimed at protecting parents from high tuition fees, through limitations on fee increases, inadvertently sacrificed the very quality they sought to safeguard. The paper concludes by advocating for alternative policy approaches that prioritize direct support for education system during economic downturns. Such measures are crucial for ensuring a strong and resilient education system that benefits all stakeholders, including parents, students, and the nation as a whole.

Heat conduction theory stipulates that two thermo-physical properties of materials: the thermal conductivity “k” and the thermal diffusivity “α” influence the temperature evolution in regular and irregular bodies as a response to various cooling/heating conditions. The traditional statement involving the two thermo-physical properties is examined at length in the present study for the case of a semi-infinite region. The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the influence of the less known thermo-physical property called the thermal effusivity “e” on the incipient surface temperature rise in a semi-infinite body affected by uniform surface heat flux. The secondary objective of the study is to identify a key figure of merit named the dimensionless threshold time that separates the incipient temperature elevation in a semi-infinite region from the incipient temperature elevation in a large wall of finite thickness under the same uniform surface heat flux. The outcome of the methodical analysis suggests that the accurate estimate for the dimensionless threshold time τ_th in the semi-infinite region should be 0.10.

The consensus is that price stability promotes sustainable economic growth while excessive inflation harms growth. This study assesses the linkage between inflation and economic growth in South Africa to determine the optimal inflation rate threshold for the sustainable growth of the economy. Quarterly data from 1995 to 2022 was analysed through the ARDL and threshold regressions. The ARDL and threshold regressions estimate established a relationship between inflation and economic growth and computed the optimal inflation rate threshold for economic growth at 6 percent. The results also established that both the repo rate (repurchase rate) and real effective exchange rate have a negative relationship with economic growth. The Toda-Yamamoto causality test result indicated a unidirectional causality runs from inflation to economic growth. These results are crucial for the South African Reserve Bank to discharge its monetary policy functions to attain and maintain price stability. Therefore, this study offers the Bank a roadmap for targeting an inflation rate that aligns with the nation’s long-term objectives for sustainable economic growth.

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that drastically hinders plant growth and development, resulting in lower crop yields and productivity. As one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide, tomato (Solanum lycropersicum L.) plays a key role in the human diet. The current study aimed to explore the differential tolerance level of two tomato varieties (Rio Grande and Agata) to salt stress. To this end, various growth, physiological and biochemical attributes were assessed after two weeks of 100 mM NaCl treatment. Obtained findings indicated that, although the effects of salt stress included noticeable reductions in shoots’ and roots’ dry weights and relative growth rate as well as total leaf area, for the both cultivars, Rio Grande performed better compared to Agata variety. Furthermore, despite the exposure to salt stress, Rio Grande was able to maintain an adequate tissue hydration and a high leaf mass per area (LMA) through the accumulation of proline. However, relative water content, LMA and proline content were noticeably decreased for Agata cultivar. Likewise, total leaf chlorophyll, soluble proteins and total carbohydrates were significantly decreased; whereas, malondialdehyde was significantly accumulated in response to salt stress for the both cultivars. Moreover, such negative effects were remarkably more pronounced for Agata relative to Rio Grande cultivar. Overall, the current study provided evidence that, at the early growth stage, Rio Grande is more tolerant to salt stress than Agata variety. Therefore, Rio Grande variety may constitute a good candidate for inclusion in tomato breeding programs for salt-tolerance and is highly recommended for tomato growers, particularly in salt-affected fields.

The research objective is to affirm the play of gender diversity and the role of leaders in promoting the concept among businesses for growth and long-term sustainability. The detailed literature search indicated that the culture of gender diversity can only be implemented if the leader practices three key leadership elements, which are effective communication (EC), emotional intelligence (EI), and better decision-making (DM). The paper strives to project the importance of gender diversity in managing market competition, the role of a leader in managing gender diversity, and how gender diversity impacts business growth and sustainability. The paper provides a different model for organizational leaders to instill and promote diversity. The study undertook a literature research approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the leadership role based on the current pool of literature to identify the factors that could promote diversity. The literature review concurred with the importance of implementing gender diversity in the business and assessing the long-term growth and the critical role of leadership as an enabler. The research concluded that leaders are required to play an active role in promoting gender equality to ensure it would directly impact business growth. The study provides a potential conceptual framework for future research to take over subsequently using a quantitative or qualitative method.

This research explores the implementation of streamlined licensing frameworks and consolidated procedures for promoting renewable energy generation worldwide. An in-depth analysis of the challenges faced by renewable energy developers and the corresponding solutions was identified through a series of industry interviews. The study aims to shed light on the key barriers encountered during project development and implementation, as well as the strategies employed to overcome these obstacles. By conducting interviews with professionals from the renewable energy sector, the research uncovers a range of common challenges, including complex permitting processes, regulatory uncertainties, grid integration issues, and financial barriers. These challenges often lead to project delays, increased costs, and limited investment opportunities, thereby hindering the growth of renewable energy generation. However, the interviews also reveal various solutions and best practices employed by industry stakeholders to address these challenges effectively. These solutions encompass the implementation of streamlined licensing procedures, such as single licenses and one-stop services, to simplify and expedite the permitting process. Additionally, the development of clear and stable regulatory frameworks, collaboration between public and private entities, and improved grid infrastructure were identified as key strategies to overcome regulatory and grid integration challenges. The research findings highlight the importance of collaborative efforts between policymakers, industry players, and other relevant stakeholders to create an enabling environment for renewable energy development. By incorporating the identified solutions and best practices, policymakers can streamline regulatory processes, foster public-private partnerships, and enhance grid infrastructure, thus catalyzing the growth of renewable energy projects.