In response to the challenges of climate change, this study explores the use of moringa pod powder as reinforcement in the manufacture of compressed earth bricks to promote sustainable building materials. The objective is to evaluate the impact of African locust bean pod powder on the mechanical properties of the bricks. Two types of soils from Togo were characterized according to geotechnical standards. Mixtures containing 8% African locust bean pod powder at various particle sizes (0.08 mm, 2 mm, and between 2 and 5 mm) were formulated and tested for compression and tensile strength. The results show that the addition of African locust bean pod reduces the mechanical strength of the bricks compared to the control sample without pods, with strengths ranging from 0.697 to 0.767 MPa, compared to 0.967 to 1.060 MPa for the control. However, the best performances for the mixtures were obtained with a fineness of less than 2 mm. This decrease in performance is attributed to several factors, including inadequate water content and suboptimal preparation and compaction methods. Optimizing formulation parameters is necessary to maximize the effectiveness of African locust bean pods. This work highlights the valorization of agro-industrial waste, paving the way for a better understanding of bio-based materials and future research for sustainable construction.

The Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry is pivotal to Europe’s goals for energy efficiency, sustainability, and technological advancement. As demand for skilled HVAC&R professionals rises, the effectiveness of educational programs in this field has become a focal point. This article explores the Portuguese case to analyze how pedagogical strategies and student motivation contribute to the quality of HVAC&R training across Europe. The study highlights innovative teaching methodologies such as active and competency-based learning, as well as the use of laboratory training and digital simulations to provide hands-on experience. Additionally, it emphasizes Bloom’s Taxonomy as a framework for curriculum development, ensuring that students advance from foundational knowledge to complex problem-solving abilities. Motivation is also identified as a critical factor for student engagement and long-term career commitment. The article concludes that a balanced integration of theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and motivational support is essential for producing highly qualified HVAC&R professionals. This approach not only meets current industry needs but also aligns with Europe’s broader environmental and technological objectives, offering valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

Major principles of organizational management like unity of command and unity of direction are quite important to foster co-ordination and efficiency in organizations. Since Islamic management is an offshoot of the modern Western management theories these principles have considerable relevance to Islamic management as well. This paper aims to discover how Islamic principles can solve modern problems of organizational management in order to demonstrate an interdependent system that teaches ethics and management. This paper attempts to offer an analytical discussion regarding Islamic views on the challenges that emerge regarding the need for cohesion in managing any organization. On the basis of a conceptual review, it highlights how unity of command and unity of direction can influence inspiring better management at all levels positively. Such clarification tries to elicit the Islamic interpretation that may lead to increased workforce commitment due to their motivation emanating from religion, contribute principles that will benefit the value addition process of labor and management’s decision-making process towards wider organizational goals, and enrich literature on management from Islamic principles and thoughts. This text succinctly examines the principles of unity of command and unity of direction that promote the development of management work ethics and the implications of Islamic management. The paper reviews the principles of unity of command and unity of direction as derived from The Holy Qur’an and Hadith, and examines various empirical studies conducted in different countries. These discussions subsequently bring out that the Islamic approach is comprehensive and practically relevant in the interest of present-day organizations. The paper concludes that intention and purity of hearts, regardless of the leadership styles of management, will direct the leaders and workforce to continually strive hard and give their best in their organizational management functions.

Infrastructure decision-making has traditionally been focused on the use of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA). Nevertheless, there remains no consensus in the infrastructure sector regarding a favored approach that comprehensively integrates resilience principles with those tools. This review focuses on how resilience has been evaluated in infrastructure projects. Initially, 400 papers were sourced from Web of Science and Scopus. After a preliminary review, 103 papers were selected, and ultimately, the focus was narrowed down to 56 papers. The primary aim was to uncover limitations in both CBA and MCDA, exploring various strategies for amalgamating them and enhancing their potential to foster resilience, sustainability, and other infrastructure performance aspects. Results were classified based on different rationalities: i) objectivist, ii) conformist, iii) adjustive, and iv) reflexive. The analysis revealed that while both CBA and MCDA contribute to decision-making, their perceived strengths and weaknesses differ depending on the chosen rationality. Nonetheless, embracing a broader perspective, fostering participatory methods, and potentially integrating both approaches seem to offer more promising avenues for assessing the resilience of infrastructures. The goal of this research proposal is to devise an integrated approach for evaluating the long-term sustainability and resilience of infrastructure projects and constructed assets.

This study examines innovative teaching approaches’ effect on the quality of education for prospective primary teachers. A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques was employed. Initially, the two data sets were analyzed separately—qualitative data through thematic analysis and quantitative data through statistical methods. The themes emerging from the qualitative analysis were then cross-referenced with the quantitative findings to evaluate whether the trends supported each other. For instance, if a qualitative theme indicated that teachers felt more confident using innovative methods, this was supported by quantitative data showing improvements in teacher performance scores or student outcomes. The study had 200 participants, and the study findings revealed a significant positive impact of innovative teaching approaches on the quality of education for future primary teachers. Participants reported increased engagement, improved critical thinking, and enhanced adaptability in classroom settings. The study findings reveal that innovative approaches significantly improve the quality of education for prospective primary teachers by fostering more interactive, technology-enhanced, and student-centered learning environments. To maintain these improvements, it is essential to invest in infrastructure, provide ongoing support for teacher educators, and continuously update curricula to reflect emerging educational technologies and practices. These findings emphasize the importance of innovation in teacher training to meet the evolving demands of primary education.

In order to diversify a portfolio, find prices, and manage risk, derivatives products are now necessary. There is a lack of understanding of the true influence of derivatives on the behavior of the underlying assets, their volatility consequences, and their pricing as complex instruments. There is a dearth of empirical research on how these instruments impact company risk exposures and inconsistent findings. This study examines corporate derivatives’ impact on stock price exposure and systematic risk in South African non-financial firms. Using a dataset of listed firms from 2013 to 2023, we employ Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) models to assess the effect of derivatives on return volatility and beta, a measure of systematic risk. Additionally, we apply the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to address potential endogeneity between firm characteristics and derivatives use. Our findings suggest that firms using derivatives experience lower overall volatility and reduced systematic risk compared to non-users. The results are robust to various control factors, including firm size, leverage, and macroeconomic conditions. This study fills a gap in the literature by focusing on an underrepresented emerging market and provides insights relevant to global risk management practices.