This paper investigates the potential of a concept for the commercial utilization of surplus intermittent wind-generated electricity for municipal district heating based on the development of an electric-driven heat storage. The article is divided into three sections: (1) A review of energy storage systems; (2) Results and calculations after a market analysis based on electricity consumption statistics covering the years 2005–2013; and (3) Technology research and the development of an innovative thermal energy storage (TES) system. The review of energy storage systems introduces the basic principles and state-of-the-art technologies of TES. The market analysis describes the occurrence of excess wind power in Germany, particularly the emergence of failed work and negative electricity rates due to surplus wind power generation. Based on the review, an innovative concept for a prototype of a large-scale underwater sensible heat storage system, which is combined with a latent heat storage system, was developed. The trapezoidal prism-shaped storage system developed possesses a high efficiency factor of 0.98 due to its insulation, large volume, and high rate of energy conversion. Approximate calculations showed that the system would be capable of supplying about 40,000 people with hot water and energy for space heating, which is equivalent to the population of a medium-sized city. Alternatively, around 210,000 inhabitants could be supplied with hot water only. While the consumer´s costs for hot water generation and space heating would be lowered by approximately 20.0–73.4%, the thermal energy storage would generate an estimated annual profit of 3.9 million euros or more (excluding initial costs and maintenance costs).

The effects of aid dependency on preventing the achievement of sustainable development in Africa has not been given appropriate academic attention. Aid dependency in Africa is undoubtedly among the most factors that have promoted poverty and underdevelopment. Aid dependency which hindered the growth of local innovation, promoted divisions that has affected good governance for sustainable development. Aid dependency has promoted chronic poverty, mental laziness and unstable health and well-being. It has ignited unhealthy condition that has created a perpetual vicious cycle of poverty that prevents the achievement of sustainable development. The study found that planning diplomacy can serve as a solution to aid diplomacy and address its effects thus promoting the achievement of sustainable development. Planning diplomacy was found to have critical links with Africa’s communalism theory, thus making it an ideal approach to addressing the effects of aid dependency in Africa. Planning diplomacy was found to promote local and business in collective manner. It is through this collective approach that sustainable development can be achieved in Africa. Planning diplomacy was found a key for sustainable development because it makes good use of foreign aids, promotes local ownership thus strengthens sustainable economic growth and development that makes sustainable development achievable. Planning diplomacy was equally found a remedy to aid dependency because it enhances knowledge and skills transfer. Knowledge and skills transfer promotes sustainable development because it facilitates sharing of skills that brings innovation and technologies to local citizens in a collective manner. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology with the use of secondary data collected from existing literature published in the public domain. Collected data was analysed and interpreted through document analysis technique.   

This research examines data from 1989 to 2022 across 48 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries using a novel panel data regression approach to uncover how conflict undermines economic stability. The study identifies the destruction of infrastructure, disruption of human capital development, and deterrence of investment as primary channels through which conflict negatively impacts economies. These findings support the hypothesis that armed conflict severely hampers economic performance in SSA, highlighting the urgency for effective conflict resolution strategies and robust institutional frameworks. The negative impacts extend beyond immediate losses, altering income growth trajectories and perpetuating poverty long after hostilities cease. Regional spillover effects emphasize the interconnectedness of SSA economies, where conflict in one country affects its neighbors. The research provides innovative insights by disaggregating impact pathways and employing a robust methodology, revealing the complexity of conflict's economic consequences. It underscores the need for comprehensive policy interventions to foster resilience and sustainable development in conflict-prone regions. While there is evidence of potential post-conflict growth, the overall net effect of armed conflict remains profoundly negative, diminishing economic prospects. Future research should focus on strengthening long-term resilience mechanisms and policy measures to enhance the peace dividend. Addressing the root causes of conflict and investing in peace-building efforts are essential for transforming SSA's economic landscape and ensuring sustainable growth and development.

The multifaceted nature of the skills required by new-age professions, reflecting the dynamic evolution of the global workforce, is the focal point of this study. The objective was to synthesize the existing academic literature on these skills, employing a scientometric approach . This involved a comprehensive analysis of 367 articles from the merged Scopus and Web of Science databases. Science. We observed a significant increase in annual scientific output, with an increase of 87.01% over the last six years. The United States emerged as the most prolific contributor, responsible for 21.61% of total publications and receiving 34.31% of all citations. Using the Tree algorithm of Science (ToS), we identified fundamental contributions within this domain. The ToS outlined three main research streams: the convergence of gender, technology, and automation; defining elements of future work; and the dualistic impact of AI on work, seen as both a threat and an opportunity. Furthermore, our study explored the effects of automation on quality of life, the evolving meaning of work, and the emergence of new skills. A critical analysis was also conducted on how to balance technology with humanism, addressing challenges and strategies in workforce automation. This study offers a comprehensive scientometric view of new-age professions, highlighting the most important trends, challenges, and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the expected moderating effect exerted by institutional owners on the intricate correlation between the characteristics of boards of directors and the issue of earnings management, as gauged by the loan loss provisions.The sample encompassed all the banks listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) over the period between 2010 and 2022, representing a total of 151 observations. The results derived from the examination clearly demonstrate that the institutional owners have a key impact on augmenting the monitoring tasks and responsibilities of the boards of directors across the study sample. The results revealed the fundamental role of such owners in strengthening the supervisory tasks carried out by boards of directors in Jordan. A panel data model has been used in the analysis. The results of this study show that the presence of the owner of an institution has a discernible moderating role in the banks' monitoring landscape. Indeed, their presence strengthens the monitoring tasks of the banks’ boards by underscoring the quest to restrict the EM decisions. Interestingly, the results support the monitoring proposition outlined by agency theory, which introduced CG recommendations as a deterrent tool to reduce the expectation gap between banks' owners and their representatives.