Search Results (184)

Fisheries management in Abu Dhabi has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades, shifting from an open-access system to a more regulated framework aimed at stock recovery and sustainability. This study evaluates the status of 13 commercially important fish species—accounting for 95% of total landings—using two complementary stock assessment methods: CMSY++, a Bayesian catch-based model, and the Length-Converted Catch Curve (LCCC), a length-based mortality estimation approach. Fisheries-dependent and fisheries-independent data collected from 2001 to 2024 were analyzed to assess trends in biomass, exploitation rates, and spawning stock biomass per recruit (SBR). CMSY++ outputs indicate that in 2005, only 1 out of 13 stocks was sustainable, with biomass (B) above the biomass that can reproduce maximum sustainable yield (BMSY) and fishing mortality (F) below the fishing mortality that gives the maximum sustainable yield (FMSY), and 5 stocks were overexploited. By 2024, seven stocks had recovered to sustainable levels, with biomass at or above BMSY and exploitation rates below FMSY. LCCC results for 2024 further confirm these findings, with most species exhibiting SBR values above the 30% threshold, except for Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775), which remains close to overexploitation limits. The observed stock recovery coincides with effective governance and key fisheries management measures, including effort reduction, gear restrictions, and spatial protections. While most stocks are now within sustainable biological reference points, transboundary species such as Scomberomorus commerson (Lacépède, 1800) require continued regional cooperation for effective management. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to achieve and maintain fully sustainable fisheries in the Arabian Gulf while aligning with international conservation frameworks, biodiversity protection goals, and climate-resilient fisheries management strategies. Full article

This study aimed to analyze the influence of local politics, village facilitators, recruitment of administrators, training and education, and organizational culture on work motivation and management performance. The study was conducted in Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, utilizing primary data collected from 250 participants, including administrators of village-owned enterprises (BUMDES), community leaders, and representatives from the private sector. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with the LISREL program. The results indicated that the latent variables of local politics, village facilitator, recruitment of administrators, training and education, and organizational culture had a positive and significant impact on work motivation and management performance. These findings are valuable key indicators and provide essential insights for promoting and driving the BUMDES as a pillar of rural development strategies. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the local government revitalize the local political system, reorient the organizational culture of the BUMDES toward a modern business-oriented culture suited to rural conditions, and enhance the training and education of village facilitators to improve their motivation and performance. This recommendation will empower the BUMDES to promote rural economic improvement and sustainable rural development by enhancing work motivation and management performance. Full article

Soil salinization poses a critical threat to global agriculture, necessitating innovative strategies for sustainable remediation. This review synthesizes advances in leveraging plant–microbe interactions to remediate saline–alkali soils, focusing on oilseed crops—Brassica napus, Glycine max, Arachis hypogaea, Helianthus annuus, and Sesamum indicum—as keystone species for ecosystem restoration. These crops exhibit unique adaptive strategies, including root architectural plasticity and exudate-mediated recruitment of stress-resilient microbiomes (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Ascomycota), which collectively stabilize soil structure and enhance nutrient cycling, ion homeostasis, and soil aggregation to mitigate soil salinity and alkalinity. Emerging technologies further amplify these natural synergies: nanomaterials optimize nutrient delivery and microbial colonization, while artificial intelligence (AI) models predict optimal plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) combinations and simulate remediation outcomes. This integration establishes a roadmap for precision microbiome engineering, offering scalable strategies to restore soil health and ensure food security in saline–alkali ecosystems. Full article

Objectives/Background: With increasing awareness of the association between physical activity and mental health, promoting youth health has gained prominence. For this, education and support are needed. As psychological school-based factors could be key to affecting this behavior, this study investigates middle school students’ trust in their physical education teachers and their grit, analyzing their effects on health-promoting behaviors that could follow these adolescents through adulthood. Methods: Middle school students, aged 12–14, were recruited from three schools in Sejong City, Korea, in May 2025; 420 survey questionnaires were distributed and 390 were returned (response rate: 92.86%). After eliminating those with insincere responses, 369 valid questionnaires (boys = 186, girls = 183) were analyzed. The analysis covered the descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and structural equation modeling, with grit, trust in physical education teachers, and health-promoting behaviors as variables. Results: The correlation analysis verified multicollinearity between trust in physical education teachers (closeness, fairness, teaching method, and physical ability), grit (effort, perseverance, and interest consistency), and health-promoting behaviors (self-actualization, health management, and stress management). A positive significant correlation was found between all subfactors (p < 0.05). The research model’s fit was confirmed through several fit indices; specifically, normed χ² = 4.138, goodness-of-fit-index = 0.942, root mean square residual = 0.033, root mean square error of approximation = 0.092, incremental fit index = 0.965, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.947, and comparative fit index = 0.965, and all values were judged acceptable. The standardized coefficients of each latent variable explaining the measurement variables were 0.707 or higher. Therefore, the explanatory power of the measurement variables was also satisfactory; thus, the research model was appropriate and could be used for analysis. The model findings revealed that trust in physical education teachers had a positive effect on student grit (β = 0.505, p < 0.001) and that grit had a positive effect on health-promoting behaviors (β = 0.743, p < 0.001); however, trust in physical education teachers did not have a direct effect on health-promoting behaviors (statistically insignificant [β = 0.103, p > 0.05]). Thus, grit had a mediating effect between trust in physical education teachers and health-promoting behaviors (β = 0.375, p < 0.01). Conclusions: This study highlights the educational implications for physical education teachers of building trust and strengthening student grit as key factors in achieving sustainable health-promoting behaviors among adolescents. Full article

The forestry sector is increasingly dealing with a significant lack of labor and faces the difficult task of securing a professional, stable and sustainable manpower. In this study, different strategic directions for strengthening forestry workforce sustainability are presented and evaluated. The considered strategic directions were developed with respect to forestry employees’ views on necessary measures for making the forestry occupation more appealing. Those measures were observed in three categories: (I) stronger recruiting, (II) stronger retention and (III) higher work commitment. The findings of the survey and other performed analyses resulted in the creation of four different strategic directions: (1) the direct financial strategy, implying increased direct monetary compensation as the main instrument and putting focus on labor productivity; (2) the indirect financial strategy, stressing worker wellbeing through indirect material benefits and aiming at performance quality; (3) the educational strategy, focusing on worker training and education and (4) the technical–technological strategy, aiming at the increased utilization of modern machinery and advanced technologies in forest operations. The results of the study include a comparison of the defined strategies by SWOT analysis and the construction of An analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model as the multi-criteria tool for strategy evaluation. Considering the possibility and conditions of its implementation in the national forestry sector, the technical–technological strategy has been evaluated as best option to pursue. The objective of the study is to contribute to enhancing the sustainability of forestry workforce by defining critical issues and pointing to specific cornerstones that can assist in formulating effective future policies and strategies in the forestry sector. Full article

The transformation of organizational platformization provides a technological path and collaborative framework for sustainable development. In this context, platform-based human resource management (HRM) has attracted a lot of attention in academia and the industry, but there is a lack of in-depth research on what dimensions are included in the practice of platform-based HRM and how to measure it. Firstly, this study adopts a theory-based approach to decompose platform-based HRM practices into six functional dimensions, namely “adaptive employee recruitment”, “autonomous job design”, “empowering employee development”, “self-managed compensation management”, “team-based performance management” and “facilitating development planning”. Secondly, based on the scale development procedure, a measurement scale for platform-based HRM practices containing 22 items was developed and passed the reliability test. Finally, the paper conducted a predictive test of the scale with passion for harmonious work as the distal predictor variable and sense of self-determination as the proximal predictor variable, which confirmed the scale’s good predictability. This paper provides a quantifiable tool for related research on HRM in platform-based organizations and offers theoretical guidance and a reference model for building HRM empowerment systems in platform-based enterprises. At the same time, it also provides ideas and references for enterprises to practice platform-based human resources and achieve sustainable development. Full article

The world’s largest mangrove, Sundarbans, Bangladesh, is the habitat of the euryhaline catfish Nona Tengra (Mystus gulio). This study aimed to assess the stock status of M. gulio and provide reference points for sustainable fisheries’ management. One-year length–frequency (LF) data were collected from the Sundarbans region of Bangladesh and analyzed using the Length-Based Bayesian Biomass (LBB) method and the Length-Based Spawning Potential Ratio (LBSPR) model. The findings showed healthy biomass (B/B_MSY = 1.2), with 57% of the wild stock of this species being harvested (B/B₀ = 0.43). The calculated fishing mortality ratio indicated the underfishing conditions (F/M = 0.9). Safe exploitation (E = 0.46) was depicted, as E was smaller than the permitted level of 0.5. The value of capture length (L_c = 12.8 cm) was larger than the optimum capture length (L_{c_opt} = 10.0 cm) and the optimum length for maximum yield per recruit (L_opt = 12.0 cm) and larger than the maturity length (L_m = 9.16 cm), indicating the capture of mature individuals. The calculated Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR = 48%) was higher than the target reference points (SPR = 40%). This research evaluated the sustainable stock status. Although the margin between L_{c_opt} and L_m is very narrow, setting the minimum capture size at L_opt would be a conservative buffer to ensure long-term sustainability. The recommended minimum harvest size is 12 cm for M. gulio. Current fishing gear selectivity can ensure the sustainability of M. gulio in Sundarbans, Bangladesh; however, maintaining current fishing practice through careful management is suggested. Further assessments with length-based and other low-data methods should be conducted to refine exploitation estimates and trends. Full article

Background/Objective: Sustained exercise adherence among older adults is essential for healthy aging but remains challenging due to psychological, social, and economic barriers. This study aimed to investigate how perceived exercise barriers, financial burden, constraint negotiation mechanisms, and social support influence exercise adherence among adults aged 50 and older by integrating behavioral economics, constraint negotiation theory, and social cognitive theory. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1000 community-dwelling older adults in South Korea using a convenience sampling method. Participants were recruited from community centers, senior welfare facilities, and public health clinics in urban and suburban areas. Data collection was conducted between 11 January and 21 April 2024, using both online (Qualtrics) and offline (paper-based) surveys. Participants completed validated instruments measuring perceived exercise barriers, financial burden, constraint negotiation mechanisms (including financial management and social support mobilization), perceived social support, and behavioral exercise adherence. The final sample used for analysis included 974 individuals (mean age = 60.24 years, SD = 6.42). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to assess direct, mediating, and moderating effects. Additional exploratory analyses (ANOVA and t-tests) examined subgroup differences. Results: SEM results showed that perceived exercise barriers (β = –0.352, p < 0.001) and financial burden (β = –0.278, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with exercise adherence. Constraint negotiation mechanisms (β = 0.231, p < 0.001) and perceived social support (β = 0.198, p < 0.001) were positively associated. Mediation analyses revealed that constraint negotiation strategies partially mediated the relationships between perceived barriers and adherence (indirect β = 0.124) and between financial burden and adherence (indirect β = 0.112). Moderation analysis confirmed that social support buffered the negative effects of financial and psychological barriers. Conclusions: Exercise adherence in later life is shaped by the dynamic interplay of structural constraints, behavioral strategies, and social reinforcement. Interventions should combine financial support with socially embedded structures that promote behavioral planning and peer accountability to sustain long-term physical activity among older adults. Full article

Background: Ensuring the safety of patients in the operating room, through the monitoring and prevention of adverse events is a central priority of healthcare delivery. In the professionalization of operating room nurses, the processes of identifying, assessing, developing, monitoring, and certifying transversal competencies are crucial. While national and international frameworks have attempted to define such competencies, they often vary in scope and remain inconsistently integrated into education and clinical practice. There is, therefore, a need for a comprehensive and structured identification of transversal competencies relevant to both perioperative and perianesthesiological nursing roles. Objectives: To formulate a validated and structured repertoire of transversal competencies demonstrated by operating room nurses in both perioperative and perianesthesiological contexts. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was adopted, combining shadowed observation with Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA). A convenience sample of 46 participants was recruited from a university and a public hospital in Italy. Data were collected between September 2021 and June 2023 and analyzed using content analysis and data triangulation. Results: Through a qualitative, inductive and iterative approach the study identified 15 transversal competencies, 50 sub-competencies, and 153 specific tasks and activities. Specifically, operating room nurses working in perioperative and perianesthesiological roles presented the following transversal competencies: communication and interpersonal relationships, situation awareness, teamwork, problem solving and decision-making, self-awareness, coping with stressors, resilience and fatigue management, leadership, coping with emotions, task and time management, ethical and sustainable thinking, adaptation to the context, critical thinking, learning through experiences, and data, information and digital content management. Each competency was associated with specific tasks observed. Conclusions: This framework complements the existing repertoire of technical-specialist competencies by integrating essential transversal competencies. It serves as a valuable tool for the assessment, validation, and certification of competencies related to patient and professional safety, emotional well-being, relational dynamics, and social competencies. The findings underscore the need for academic institutions to revise traditional training models and embed transversal competencies in both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing education. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aims to fill gaps in the existing literature through a qualitative evaluation of stakeholders involved in Food Is Medicine (FIM) programs. The primary objective was to examine the structural components, implementation process, and perceived impact of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and Venice Family Clinic (VFC) Emergency Prepared Meal Program (UCLA-VFC Food Program), developed as a collaboration between a university and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) during a period of community crisis. A secondary objective was to compare this program with three other FIM initiatives, identifying convergences and divergences in design and effectiveness. Methods: The methodology involved semi-structured interviews conducted with stakeholders across all four programs. Participants were recruited based on their direct involvement with program ideation, design, or implementation. Interviews were conducted online between July and September 2022, with 11 stakeholders. A thematic analysis was applied to the transcribed responses using an inductive thematic analysis. Results: Key findings highlighted four recurrent themes: (1) the critical role of leadership and a collaborative culture; (2) the importance of community partnerships and health education; (3) challenges related to logistics, funding, and sustainability; and (4) the need for assessment and evaluation. These findings provide valuable insight into the design of future FIM interventions, particularly those embedded in healthcare settings. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study offers preliminary evidence supporting the unique potential of university–community partnerships to address food insecurity. Unlike previous research that emphasized clinical outcomes, our findings provide a contextualized understanding of programmatic implementation. While further quantitative evaluation is necessary, this work lays the groundwork for a collaborative model between various entities including universities, healthcare systems, clinics, and community health/food services aimed at addressing social determinants of health. Full article

This study examines the role of green digital transformational leadership (GDTL) in enhancing sustainability performance in the hotel industry through the mediating mechanism of circular economy (CE) practices and the moderating effects of otel green efficacy (HGE). Grounded in the dynamic capabilities theory, natural resource-based view (NRBV) theory, and social exchange theory, a novel conceptual model that bridges digital innovation, ecological stewardship, and organizational psychology was proposed. The study adopted a quantitative approach and used a self-administered questionnaire survey to collect data from 402 employees across green-certified hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Participants were recruited using a stratified sampling method to ensure sectoral representation. Data analysis techniques included performing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS 3.0. Key findings reveal that GDTL directly influences the three key aspects of sustainability performance in hotels, including environmental, economic, and social aspects. Likewise, CE practices significantly mediate the linkage between GDTL and hotel sustainability performance. Notably, HGE strengthens the GDTL-CE relationship, underscoring the critical role of employee empowerment in translating leadership vision into regenerative practices. These results add to the growing literature on sustainable leadership by revealing how digital tools like AI, blockchain, and closed-loop systems can synergize to support economic growth and conserve natural resources. Full article

This study investigates the impact of human resource management (HRM) practices—specifically planning, recruitment, training, and motivation—on dimensions of career quality (job security, promotion equity, and participatory decision-making) among employees of the Jordan Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO). Utilizing a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 173 employees, allowing for an in-depth exploration of their perceptions and experiences regarding HRM practices. The findings reveal that both training and motivation significantly enhance career quality, with employees who receive advanced training reporting a stronger sense of job security and an increased likelihood to participate in decision-making processes. In contrast, the effects of recruitment and planning practices were found to be marginal due to perceived biases and strategies that fail to adequately address the long-term needs of the workforce. Despite moderate overall career quality scores, key areas for improvement were identified, particularly in job security and employee involvement. This study offers actionable recommendations for JEDCO, such as implementing AI-driven recruitment tools to mitigate nepotism and developing gamified training modules to enhance skill development. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of integrating HRM reforms into Jordan’s National Energy Strategy, thereby supporting Sustainable Development Goal 8. This research represents the first empirical examination linking HRM practices to career quality in Jordan’s energy sector, offering a framework applicable to public utilities in emerging economies (e.g., Lebanon’s EDL). This research extends Social Exchange Theory into non-Western hierarchical contexts, demonstrating how bureaucratic inertia and tribal affiliations weaken reciprocity dynamics—a novel boundary condition contrasting Western-centric SET models. Full article

To ensure sustainability, the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) requires the evaluation of the impacts of fisheries beyond the main targeted species, to include those on bycaught, endangered, threatened and protected populations and keystone species. However, traditional stock assessments require extensive datasets that are often unavailable for data-limited fisheries, particularly in small-scale settings or in the Global South. This study evaluates the robustness of length-based approaches for fish stock assessment by comparing simple indicators and quantitative methods using an age-structured Operating Model. Simulations were conducted for a range of scenarios, for a range of life-history types and recruitment and natural mortality dynamics. Results reveal that while length-based approaches can effectively track trends in fishing mortality, performance varies significantly depending on species-specific life histories and assumptions about key parameters. Simple indicators often matched or outperformed complex methods, particularly when assumptions about equilibrium conditions or natural mortality were violated. The study highlights the limitations of length-based methods for classifying stock status relative to reference points, but demonstrates their utility when used with historical reference periods or as part of empirical harvest control rules. The findings provide practical guidance for applying length-based approaches in data-limited fisheries management, ensuring sustainability in data- and capacity-limited situations. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only triggered a global health crisis but also profoundly disrupted the psychological well-being of older adults, leading to heightened levels of burnout, uncertainty, and anxiety about the future. During times of crisis, intrinsic religious motivation may offer a spiritual grounding that fosters hope, a critical internal resource in sustaining emotional balance. This study investigates the mediating role of hope in the relationship between intrinsic religious motivation, pandemic-related burnout, and future anxiety among Turkish older adults. A total of 427 participants (M_age = 66.98, SD = 7.23) were recruited using a cross-sectional design. Participants completed validated measures of intrinsic religiosity, dispositional hope, pandemic burnout, and future anxiety. Structural equation modeling revealed that intrinsic religious motivation positively predicted hope and negatively predicted both burnout and future anxiety. Moreover, hope significantly mediated the relationship between intrinsic religious motivation and both outcome variables. These findings suggest that religious meaning-making may enhance psychological resilience by promoting hope, thereby mitigating the mental health burden during large-scale crises. The study enhances understanding of culturally embedded support mechanisms and highlights the role of faith-based inner resources, such as intrinsic religious motivation and hope, in fostering resilience among older adults during uncertainty and crisis. Full article

As faculty in a college of education, we have undertaken a multi-year process to redesign pathways leading to teacher certification. Throughout this process, we have confronted challenges in recruiting and retaining teachers, concluding these issues stem from deeper inequities in the current design of the education workforce. To address this, we have implemented new models of educator preparation designed to foster social justice and ensure educators and students alike can thrive. These models emphasize the roles of educators and how they work together as a team with distributed expertise with embedded growth opportunities, and clear paths for career advancement. These models are designed to create inclusive and supportive environments. Central to this redesign, we created holistic systems of care, mitigated long-standing barriers to entry, specialization, and advancement for educators, and liberated content, resulting in increased access for individuals wanting to become educators. In this article, we share insights from our journey of redesigning educator preparation to meet the needs of preservice teachers equipping them to adapt skillfully to dynamic educational demands. Our work aims to reshape educator preparation through fostering a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable workforce adept to the needs of ever-shifting educational systems. Full article