The COVID-19 pandemic prompted global crises and enforced strict measures like the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia, significantly impacting societal norms, particularly affecting secondary school students. The current study employs a qualitative methodology to determine how COVID-19 affects the life stress experienced by secondary school students. Secondary school students were recruited in Sabah, Malaysia, from April to August 2022, after Malaysia entered the endemic phase on 1 April 2022. As part of a larger survey, students were asked to respond to an open-ended question about life stressors they face as a result of the pandemic COVID-19 or during home-based teaching and learning (PdPR). A total of 1069 secondary school students from various backgrounds were included in the study. However, only 714 students responded to the open-ended question. The pattern of meaning across the texts was determined using Birks and Mills’s method of multilevel coding. The students’ perspectives on life stressors were classified into five broad categories: restriction stress, emotional stress, online study stress, family-related stress, and others-related stress. Restriction stress, which refers to being confined at home, restricted movement, hampered family, friendship, and outdoor activities, and no freedom were rated as the most significant life stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic by students. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and parents, emphasizing the profound effect of pandemic-induced restrictions on student life and the essential role of targeted interventions in fostering resilience among students.

This study focuses on the effectiveness of systematic approaches to achieve business success, through integrated digital marketing strategies with the use of mobile applications. Focused on contemporary digital markets, the research highlights the transformative potential of these strategies about improving the quality of services and products, while promoting business sustainability. The objective of this research is to develop and evaluate a mobile application, designed to optimize customer orders within communities on the move. Through a mixed approach that includes semi-structured interviews with community members and digital marketing experts, along with quantitative surveys, assessed user perceptions and effectiveness of the app. The results indicate great acceptance and effectiveness of this digital tool, facilitating direct interactions, and improving accessibility to the service despite physical and digital limitations, reducing digital gaps and promoting economic empowerment among marginalized communities.

The purpose of this research was to explore the link between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and corporate financial performance in the Pacific Alliance countries (Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile). The study used regression models to examine the correlation between ESG scores, environmental pillar scores, and financial performance metrics like return on assets (ROA) and EBITDA for 86 companies over 2016-2022. Control variables like firm size and leverage were included. Data was obtained from Refinitiv and Bloomberg databases. The regression models showed no significant positive correlations between overall ESG or environmental pillar scores and the financial valuation measures.The inconclusive results on ESG-firm value connections underscore the need for continued research using larger samples, localized models, and exploring which ESG aspects drive financial performance Pacific Alliance.

This research focuses on patients’ perceptions regarding the accessibility of dental services in Slovenia across four dimensions: financial accessibility, time accessibility, geographical accessibility, and service quality. We observed how specific factors impact accessibility dimensions of dental services in Slovenia, that patients perceive important. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted using proportionate stratified sampling. Data was collected through an online questionnaire, and 599 completed responses were received from patients regarding their experiences and perceptions of accessibility to dental care. A SEM (structural equation model) approach was used to examine the data. The analysis revealed that patients perceive all four dimensions of accessibility: financial, time, geographical, and service quality important and they all constitute the perception of dental accessibility. The findings of this study can assist policymakers in developing a more accessible dental health system by considering the results proposed in our model.

Research has shown that understanding the fundamental of public support for carbon emission reduction policies may undermine policy formulation and implementation, yet the direction of influence and the transmission mechanism remain unclear. Using data from using data from 1482 questionnaires conducted in Hangzhou, China, this paper has examined a comprehensive model of the factors and paths influencing public support for carbon emission reduction policies, and evaluated the determinants and predictors of policy support regarding individual psychological perceptions, social-contextual perceptions, and perceptions of policy features. The results show that the variables in both the individual psychological perception and social contextual perception dimensions have no significant effect on carbon tax, however, be important constructure in carbon trading; in the policy characteristics perception dimension, both variables have a significant positive effect on both carbon tax and carbon trading, and are also the strongest predictors of policy support for carbon policies. Further evidence suggests that future policies could be more acceptable to residents by strengthening their environmental values, social norms can further arouse residents’ social responsibility to care about climate, and whether the policy is effective or fair to help residents realize the importance of the policy as well as the need for their participation and willingness to dedicate themselves to the mitigation of climate change.

Purpose: Today’s challenges underscore the importance of energy across all segments of life. This scientific paper investigates the multifaceted relationship between energy efficiency, energy import reliance, population heating access, renewable energy integration, electricity production capacities, internet utilization, structural EU funds, and education/training within the framework of economic development. Methodology: Using data from selected European countries and employing self-organizing neural networks (SOM) and linear regression, this research explores how these interconnected factors influence the journey toward a sustainable and prosperous economic future. Results: The analysis revealed a strong connection between energy efficiency and numerous socioeconomic factors of modern times, with most of these connections being non-linear in nature. Conclusion: As countries work toward sustainable development goals, prioritizing energy efficiency can contribute to improved quality of life, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

This study proposes a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method to support strategic decision-makers in choosing a project management research agenda. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) model is the basic tool used in this study. It is a mathematical tool for evaluating decisions with multiple alternatives by decomposing them into successive levels according to their degree of importance. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) oriented theme of project management was chosen from among four themes that emerged from a strategic monitoring study. The FAHP method is an effective decision-making tool for multiple aspects of project management. It eliminates subjectivity and produces decisions based on consistent judgment.

Laozi’s Ming (name), Qi (tangible part) and Dao (intangible part), coexisting in the same substance, can be compared with Heidegger’s triad existences: Seiende (being), Dasein (beings) and Sein (to be). In Laozi, Dao is the essential metonymy for the existence of things from Wu (void, nothing) to You (there is, reality). The effect of Dao is De (virtue) and the combined term of them is Dao-De (morality). By conceptual blend theory, we may draw the following conclusion from the perspective of Heidegger’s ontology of triad existences and Laozi’s Dao with its companions: any being (Seiende or Ming) exists in the form of combination beings (Dasein or Qi) and to be (Sein or Dao). According to Proper Parts Principle, if z, x, y is used to represent being, beings and to be respectively, then, the expression of all things will be the form: z∃ (x) ⊕ y. In terms of independent concept and function, Dao exists as whole. While from Laozi’s triangular relationship among Ming, Dao and Qi, Dao can be considered as a proper parthood, too. Both Laozi and Heidegger emphasized that existence is changing, but Heidegger attributed the reason for change to time, while Laozi to Dao. Dao can be considered as way, essence, nothingness, empty, void etc. in structure, but it doesn’t mean it’s zero or none-existing. On the contrary, it is a form of existence from exotic domain. Both the numeric expression of Heidegger’s triad existences and Laozi’s triangle existences of Dao with its companions can be written as "z∃x (1) ⊕ y(Ø) Û z{1, Ø}. In which, Ø is empty set as Laozi’s Dao or Heidegger’s Sein (Ø Û 0).