Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa contribute critically to the economy, yet they face many challenges, such as lack of access to external finance. Thus, applying the stakeholder theory, this study tested the relationship between environmental sustainability commitment and access to finance and whether this relationship was mediated by financial performance. The study further examined the moderating role of corporate governance on the relationship between environmental sustainability commitment and access to finance. Owner/managers of 600 SMEs from three provinces in South Africa were randomly selected using a probability sampling method. Primary data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. The moderated mediation model was tested using PLS-SEM. The findings showed that environmental sustainability commitment significantly predicts access to finance both directly and indirectly through financial performance. Moreover, the results showed that corporate governance positively moderates the link between environmental sustainability commitment and access to finance. This study has several implications. Practically, small unlisted firms can adopt and apply the model developed in this study to enhance their environmental, social, and governance practices to unlock external funding. The novelty of this study is that it proposed and tested a moderated mediation model to understand SMEs’ determinants of access to finance. In addition, this study provides a nuanced understanding of responsible business through green behaviour in the context of SMEs, which has been lacking in the existing literature. Full article

The G5 Sahel works in collaboration with various international organizations and countries, which are responsible for managing logistics activities, financial flows, and technological solutions. Humanitarian assistance holds a critically important role in the region, despite its multiple challenges and limitations in macroeconomic development. This research aimed to examine the macrologistics potential of humanitarian assistance and protection, on both national and transnational levels, in the social sustainability context. Most of the humanitarian emergencies in the region originate from conflicts, food insecurity, and malnutrition. Sahel countries require multiple initiatives to minimize the negative effects of climate change and natural disasters. The state of logistics infrastructure, a wide range of natural and man-made disasters, as well as the macroeconomic situation of the G5 Sahel, result in common problems with the organization of humanitarian logistics from the national and transboundary perspectives. Based on the selected indicators, identified problems of humanitarian assistance and protection in G5 Sahel suggest that the above-mentioned potential of logistics activities requires tightening of transnational collaboration. Full article

Drought is a major abiotic stress forced by the changing climate that affects plant production and soil structure and functions. A study was conducted to explore the impacts of ascorbic acid (AsA) and α-tocopherol (α-toc) on the agro-physiological attributes and antioxidant enzymes of chickpea grown in water deficit regions. The results of the soil analysis showed that the electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were decreased from 521 mS/m and 7.08 to 151 mS/m and 6.6 in 20-day drought regimes, respectively. Agronomic outcomes showed that exogenous application of AsA and α-toc increased the germination rate index (GRI), mean germination time (MGT), germination energy (GE), water use efficiency (WUE), germination percentage (GP), and seed vigor index (SVI). However, all the above attributes experienced a decline under 10- and 20-day drought stress. Similarly, the Chl. a, Chl. b, carotenoids, proline, protein, sugar, glycine betaine, and hydrogen peroxide contents were significantly increased. Meanwhile, malondialdehyde, glutathione reductase, and enzymatic antioxidants (APOX, SOD, and POD) increased during 10- and 20-day drought, except CAT, which decreased during drought. The exogenous fertigation of these growth regulators improved the photosynthetic pigments and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in stressed plants. The current research concludes that simultaneous dusting of AsA and α-toc could be an efficient technique to mitigate the antagonistic impacts of drought, which might be linked to the regulation of antioxidant defense systems. Full article

The decarbonization of the construction sector, which is one of the most impactful sectors worldwide, requires a significant paradigm shift from a linear economy to a circular, future-proofed and sustainable economy. In this transition, the role of designers and structural engineers becomes pivotal, and new design objectives and principles inspired by Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) should be defined and included from the early stages of the design process to allow for a truly sustainable renovation of the built environment. In this paper, an overview of LCT-based objectives and principles is provided, critically analyzing the current state of the art of sustainability and circularity in the construction sector. The effectiveness of applying such design principles from the early stages of the design of retrofit interventions is then demonstrated with reference to a case study building. Four seismic retrofit alternatives made of timber, steel and concrete, conceived according to either LCT principles or traditional, were designed and compared to a demolition and reconstruction scenario on the basis of five common environmental impact indicators. The indicators were calculated adopting simplified LCA analyses based on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), considering the product and End of Life stages of the building. The results of the comparative analyses confirm that LCT-based retrofit solutions are less impactful than both the traditional seismic retrofit interventions and the demolition and reconstruction scenario. Full article

Outburst closed distance coal seam distances are extremely difficult to mine, and are commonly involved in safety accidents in the process of mining. Based on the engineering background of the Wulan Coal Mine at the western margin of the Ordos Basin, this paper presents a theoretical analysis, engineering analogies, and numerical simulations to determine the optimal mining sequence for the Wulan Coal Mine #7, #8, #2, and #3 coal seams. Floor penetration drilling was used to eliminate outbursts in the #7 and #8 coal seams, and gas control in the #2 and #3 coal seams was achieved using ground drilling to pump and release the pressured gas. We established a comprehensive management technology system for gas emissions from the short-distance joint protection layer in the outburst coal seams of Wulan Coal Mine, where pressure relief and drainage were carried out by drilling through the floor and surface drilling pressure relief extraction. Through field tests, the pre-drainage rate of the #2 coal seam in the Wulan Coal Mine was 66.8%, and the pre-drainage rate of the #3 coal seam was 68.1%. This shows that protective layer mining of the #7 and #8 coal seams combined with surface drilling to extract pressure-relief gas can protect the #2 and #3 coal seams. Full article

Groundwater in the Touggourt region—or as its named, Oued Righ—in southeastern Algeria, is the only source of irrigation. To assess its suitability for agricultural purposes, we collected 72 samples from wells at this region, physical and chemical measurements were carried out for each water sample, and calculations of the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), permeability index (PI), soluble sodium percent (SSP), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), magnesium hazard ratio (MHR) and Kelley’s ratio (KR) were carried out, as these indices are often used to assess the suitability of groundwater for irrigation uses. Based on the irrigation water quality index (IWQI) values, a spatial distribution map for each parameter using the inverse interpolation technique (IDW) was produced by Geographical Information System (GIS). According to the IWQI map, about 35% of the water samples analyzed fall into the Severe Restriction category (SR), making it unsuitable for irrigation under normal circumstance. Again, the remaining 65% of the groundwater has a high restriction (HR) for use. Groundwater in the study area could be used for irrigation in highly permeable soils where salt-tolerant crops are grown. Adequate drainage and continuous monitoring of water quality are recommended. Full article

A deep understanding of school travel mode can help policymaking related to the optimization of the school travel structure, alleviating urban traffic congestion due to the increasingly prominent phenomenon of urban sprawl. However, existing studies in this field are based on a specific research perspective, and comprehensive reviews are rather limited. Therefore, this study aims to provide an in-depth, systematic review of school travel by using bibliometric analysis. Firstly, based on the Web of Science, TRID, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE databases, 457 studies about school travel are selected from between 1996 and 2021. Secondly, utilizing bibliometric analysis, the research progress is summarized with emphasis on the annual performance of the literature, publication status of a country or region, literature source institutions, keywords of the literature, and co-citation network analysis. The research results show that (1) the United States, Canada, and Australia rank top in the number of studies on school travel, and they also have high citation frequency and connection strength. (2) This study collects studies published in 34 journal publications, and the “Journal of Transport & Health” is the main source for publishing research. (3) The choice of school travel mode is significantly affected by individual characteristics, family conditions, and social status. The built environment and parental factors play a leading role in students’ active travel to school, and independent mobility and active transport contribute to students’ healthy development. However, policy planning is necessary to further improve the transportation infrastructure sustainability and school route safety. (4) Finally, several promising directions and potential limitations are discussed for developing countries based on the research progress in developed economies. Full article

This paper aims to offer an accessible, flexible, and homogenised approach to career counselling and career development via the conceptualisation of a new metaphor in response to evolving careers and labour markets. The research question asks: How can Weather as a Career Metaphor (WCM) offer an accessible tool for career counsellors to use with their clients across their lifespans? The theoretical framework draws together sustainable career theory and conservation of resources theory, and is complemented by the author’s decade of experience providing mentoring and career coaching to individuals across the globe. The WCM is constructed of ten elements of weather that apply to different contexts and across the lifespan. These include sun, rain, drought, thunder and lightning, ice, fog, tailwind, headwind, tornado, and rainbow. The contribution comes from the conceptualisation of a new metaphor which is theoretically grounded whilst also ensuring practical relevance via accessibility and flexibility. The WCM offers a versatile tool as part of a more comprehensive toolkit for career counsellors to help their clients to understand potential challenges within contemporary labour markets. This facilitates individuals to take ownership of their careers, acquire personal resources, and take proactive steps to prepare themselves for sustainable careers across their lifespans. Full article

Suburbanization is one of the most prominent processes of post-socialist urban development, leading to the deconcentration of people, capital, as well as productive and non-productive activities within the functional urban area. This phenomenon also has a significant impact on the traditional rural landscape and leads to environmental and social sustainability challenges. Outmigration from the city center to the rural municipalities of the agglomeration ring is already a thoroughly studied topic. However, less attention is given to migration processes not crossing municipal borders. In Hungary, a significant fraction of them is driven by similar motivations as “traditional” suburbanization. Such movements include flows to built-up residential areas that are physically separated from the urban core. Due to their peculiar development path, the inhabited outskirts can also become destinations for within-city migration. This kind of mobility can be considered suburbanization within the city limits. Because of the general lack of data, this phenomenon is seldom researched. However, this study attempts to address this gap. The prevalence of this process in Hungary is explored by analyzing national statistical data sources. Four case studies are selected for detailed examination—Győr, Zalaegerszeg, Kecskemét, and Szeged. GIS methods, field examinations, surveys, and expert interviews are used to get a detailed picture of the demographic and land cover change processes, as well as the distinctions between the destination areas of the case studies. A comparison of the results drawn from the different methods reveals that land use change in the study area is more widespread than what the land cover datasets indicate. The findings indicate that the Corine Land Cover categories describing mixed land use—especially complex cultivation patterns—are not able to capture the drastic function shift caused by intense suburbanization. Different environmental and social sustainability issues are identified depending on the economic status of the outmigrants. This paper also sheds some light on the urban planning considerations of this emerging challenge. Full article

A country’s global competitiveness is a fundamental element that facilitates the understanding of why some countries generate more wealth than others, as well as better sources of income in a sustainable manner. With globalization and market integration, governments are reviewing the current values of economic, business, social, and environmental variables that define multidimensional competitiveness indices. Central American countries face difficult economic situations with challenging political and social ramifications. This study presents a comparative analysis of the competitiveness of Central American countries in a globalized environment before the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, multivariate statistical analysis and Cluster analysis have been applied to data from the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index 2018, contrasting it with the publication of the same index for 2019. This methodology allows to rank countries with similar levels of competitiveness and shows the relative position of each country about countries belonging to the same group and countries belonging to other groups with different levels of competitiveness. The results show differences in competitiveness at the country level in 12 variables or composite indicators of the Global Competitiveness Index, the most important being Macroeconomic Stability, IT Adoption, and Infrastructure, with the most significant differences between countries. This result contributes to the current policy discussion on measures to achieve sustainable competitiveness of Central American economies. Full article

Taking a leap from the perspective of organizational citizenship behaviour, pro-social behaviour examines how volunteering intentions such as helping or assisting colleagues, to how collaboration tendencies such as selfless or willful participation in workplace functions, events and issues can affect or influence administrative sustainability and longevity. This study examines the impact of pro-social behaviours on workplace performance and sustainability of university administration. Adopting the survey research design, respondents comprised both the academic and non-academic staff of the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. The data collected were analyzed using the simple linear regression tools of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 20. Findings revealed that volunteering impacts the longevity development of university administration, while collaboration affects the competitive edge of university administration. The study thus concluded that pro-social behaviours influence the performance and sustainability of university administration. Full article

In contributing to reducing the adverse effects of non-renewable energy sources, this paper researched how human capital can enhance the penetration level of renewable energy, which is highly abundant in Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper, using qualitative research methodology through Bibliometric analysis, reviewed three hundred and three (303) papers published between the year 2000 and March 2022. The bibliometric study covered publications per author, publications per country, research focus based on co-occurrence keywords, and research thread. The findings revealed that publications on how human capital can aid renewable energy penetration have been slow and in an infant stage in the past two decades. It also shows that there have been eighteen (18) papers on the subject papers in the last twenty years, showing the low level of human capital development in the energy sector. The intellectual patterns via the co-occurrence of keywords shows five (5) clusters, which are economics of renewable energy sources, human capital factors in environmental management, economic factors in energy supply and demand, sustainable energy factors, and human capital development and economy. These cluster areas revealed how human capital could be developed to increase the penetration level of the abundant renewable energy in the world. Thus, this paper recommends intensive efforts in optimizing human capital through inter-organizational collaboration on renewable energy technologies and periodic training. Full article

The sustainable design and construction of highways is indispensable for the economic growth and progress of any region. Highway pavements are one of the core transportation infrastructures that require energy efficient materials with durability and an optimized lifecycle. Recent research has proven that warm-mix asphalt pavements prepared with renewable bio-binders are less susceptible to distresses. This study aims to investigate the resilience characteristics (load time, deformation time) of soybean oil modified and unmodified warm-mix asphalts. Aggregates, asphalt binders and asphalt mixes were characterized in accordance with the Superpave Mix Design Criteria. The resilient modulus tests were performed as per ASTM D7369. The test results indicated that the soybean-modified warm asphalt mix samples showed a 20% to 32% reduction in load-carrying capacity than unmodified warm asphalt mixes. The values of the horizontal and vertical recoverable deformations observed in the soybean-modified mixes were found to be 3% to 7% more than in the unmodified mixes. A slight variability (up to 7%) was also observed in the time-response spectra, i.e., peak load, unload and rest periods, in the soybean-modified mixes compared with the unmodified mixes. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant trend between the resilient modulus test parameters for the soybean-modified warm asphalt mixes, i.e., load deformation, load time and deformation time. Soybean oil showed sustainable behavior as a bio-binder, particularly in the deformation-time response for the warm asphalt mixes. However, the effect of soybean in terms of the reduction of the load-carrying capacity from a sustainability perspective needs to be investigated. Full article

This research investigates the antecedents of employee engagement in Pakistan’s banks to conceptualize the idea of employee engagement. For this, the study examines the relationship between transformational leadership (TL), despotic leadership (DL), and the mediation of psychological distress (PD) with an outcome variable, employee engagement (EE). The study focused on first-line bank managers based in Punjab province using a cluster sampling technique. A questionnaire survey was used, and 341 respondents were selected for analysis using PLS-SEM. The study’s findings confirmed that all seven hypotheses tested were statistically significant. The results revealed that the transforming role of transformational leadership is more effective than despotic leadership in promoting employee engagement. The indirect link of psychological distress between transformational leadership, despotic leadership, and employee engagement also acts vice versa. The current study findings have implications for advancing our understanding of the effects of transformational leadership because of their positivity, which can reduce psychological distress and increase employee engagement in the service sector. In contrast, despotic leadership undermines employees’ abilities by increasing psychological distress and disengagement among employees. Our findings will help the banking industry understand how despotic and transformational leadership can negatively and positively affect employee outcomes. Full article

Ecological restoration is difficult on the steep rocky slopes (SRS) in rainy areas in South China that experience severe soil erosion. The disintegration resistance of steep-rocky-slope wall-hanging soil (SRSWS) is a crucial topic in the field of new ecological restoration. The formation of a transient saturated zone of wall-hanging soil (WS) under high-intensity rainfall can easily lead to soil disintegration. The subsequent rain erosion can cause the loss of growth substrate required for early plants, resulting in a poor greening effect or even landslides. Therefore, improving the disintegration resistance of WS and ensuring the stability of the early-plant-growth environment are at the core of SRS protection. In this paper, structural and static underwater disintegration tests of red soil modified by high-performance ester materials (HEMs) were carried out. According to the damage ratio of the soil structure and the disintegration rate and disintegration amount of red soil, the structural properties and disintegration resistance of improved red soil were quantitatively measured. The results show that absorbent HEMs generally increased the content of water-stable aggregates (WAs) in red soil. However, when the content was excessively large, it destroyed the WAs and accelerated the overall disintegration rate and amount. Based on the structure and disintegration resistance test of red soil, optimal pro-portions of adhesive HEMs of 10 g·m⁻³ and absorbent HEMs of 80 g·m⁻³ were obtained. The optimal proportions obtained from the above experiments showed good adaptability and an improvement effect on the structural properties and disintegration resistance of red soil. This solves the problem of the growth substrate required for early plant disintegration and loss in water. This paper provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the ecological restoration of SRSWS with disintegration resistance. It has guiding significance for the steady progress of greening construction on SRS sites. Full article