Heritage and Sustainable Development

A study on the impact of baffle submergence and air flow rate on the separation efficiency of oil and grease from refinery wastewater

Karrar H. Kazm — 2025-10-01

The impact of airflow rate, baffle submergence, and baffle position on the efficiency of oil and grease separation in aeration-based wastewater treatment systems was examined in this study. The objective was to optimize the oil separation process by analyzing how these factors influenced separation efficiency. Experiments were carried out at varying airflow rates (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.8 L/s), using a pore diameter of 1.5 mm and baffle submergence of 1, 5, and 10 cm. The presence of both transverse and longitudinal baffles inside the basin was tested at a water depth of 45 cm. The highest separation efficiency of 45.29% was achieved at an airflow rate of 0.4 L/s when a longitudinal baffle was submerged at 5 cm, along with the presence of both transverse baffles. A decrease in efficiency was observed at higher airflow rates due to excessive turbulence and oil emulsification. Additionally, the placement of transverse baffles at both positions was found to enhance separation efficiency to 36.3%, compared to 27.3% and 29.5% when a single baffle was placed individually at the first and second positions, respectively. All tests were performed using a gravimetric method. These findings emphasized the importance of optimizing airflow rates and baffle position for effective oil and grease separation, offering valuable insights into the design and operation of aeration systems in wastewater treatment.

Underwater image enhancement using multiple processing techniques based on DCP, CLAHE, CNNs, and U-Net

Ameen A. Noor — 2025-10-01

In the last decade, interest in the underwater world has increased due to the abundance of resources and abundant species of aquatic organisms and their reliance on them as a source of food or energy. It was necessary to prepare the necessary conditions to make what is underwater visible naturally, which is difficult to achieve due to the loss of color in the blue and red channels, in addition to darkness, fog, refraction, and dispersion. All of these things require us to do our best to make what is underwater easy to control and monitor. For this reason, work was done to develop a fusion algorithm for many techniques, starting with removing fog, improving luminance, reducing noise and preserving edges, then obtaining fine details, then multi-level analysis to enhance lighting, then building the trained model to extract image features and improve them for vision, highlighting final details and improving sharpness, then performing the accurate evaluation process using quality measurement standards between the original and final images, Which led to obtaining good results for the proposed method compared to modern algorithms in terms of results with the standard quality criteria used (PSNR, SSIM, RMSE, VIF).

Policies on intellectual capital in regular education and their connection with generational diversity

Rafael Romero-Carazas — 2025-09-08

This study explores the relationship between intellectual capital policies in regular education and generational diversity among teachers. Intellectual capital policies aim to foster talent and knowledge, creating inclusive and enriching learning environments by leveraging the diverse experiences of multigenerational teaching staff. A quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive-explanatory design was employed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze associations between variables. Data were collected from 351 teachers in regular basic education schools under UGEL Sur Arequipa through two Likert-type surveys. Results show a strong correlation (0.894) between generational diversity and intellectual capital policies, highlighting the significance of both in educational contexts. The findings confirm a statistically significant relationship between the variables, suggesting that managing generational diversity is essential for recognizing, developing, and strategically applying knowledge within schools. The study underscores the need to update intellectual capital policies to reflect the unique worldviews, values, and thinking styles that educators from different generations contribute. Such updates can enhance competence in digital tools, promote intergenerational knowledge transfer, and support collaborative learning. Effective policy management in this area can thus play a crucial role in strengthening educational quality through inclusive and strategic use of intellectual capital.

From evaluation to innovation: Strengthening geospatial agricultural monitoring information system in Indonesia

Rizatus Shofiyati — 2025-08-25

The adoption of geospatial technologies is vital for improving the efficiency and accuracy of agricultural crop monitoring. This study examines the implementation of geospatial agricultural monitoring systems through interviews with four units from three institutions in Indonesia that develop these systems. The interviews focused on system maturity management and technical processing techniques, including data input, methods, preprocessing, validation, and output. Results show that three systems, SISCrop, Simotandi, and Mixed Method, exhibit Level 3 maturity in system management (Standardized), while IDMAI SIMURP is still at Level 2 (Managed), indicating in the development phase. All institutions follow standard preprocessing protocols, though variations exist in data input, applied methods, and output designs, reflecting tailored approaches. Geospatial systems demonstrate significant potential to optimize resource use. The analysis of the technical processing technique reveals significant differences in satellite sources, spatial and temporal resolutions, classification schemes, and statistical granularity. To advance their implementation, this study recommends a unified data and policy framework to align classification standards, align temporal outputs, and establish a centralized platform that integrates agricultural data for real-time sharing and use. Also recommended are policy moves designed to clear up ownership and governance issues.

Surfactant-stabilized TiO2 nanofluids: Experimental investigation on thermal and viscous behavior for PV module cooling

Askar Kassymov — 2025-08-25

The potential application of nanofluids looks promising in various fields due to their enhanced thermal conductivity properties. The use of nanofluids in hybrid solar collectors looks particularly attractive. The thermal conductivity of the nanofluid, along with viscosity characteristics, has a significant impact on the efficiency of the solar collector. This article investigates the thermophysical properties, such as thermal conductivity and kinematic viscosity of TiO2-bidistilled water nanofluid in the presence of SDBS and CTAB surfactants at TiO₂-surfactant ratios of 1:0.1, 1:0.5, 1:1 in the temperature range of 20-60 °C (293-333K). Thermal conductivity was determined using Thermtest THW-L2 equipment. Viscosity was measured using a glass capillary viscometer. The highest enhancement in thermal conductivity was observed with the SDBS surfactant, which corresponded to a lower viscosity index. At 60°C, the TiO2-bidistilled water nanofluid containing SDBS exhibited a significant thermal conductivity increase, reaching 0.690 W/(m2K). In comparison, the CTAB surfactant led to a more pronounced rise in the kinematic viscosity of the nanofluid relative to SDBS. At a 1:0.1 TiO2-to-surfactant ratio, the nanofluid stabilized with CTAB had a viscosity of 1.613 cSt at 20°C, whereas with SDBS, it measured 1.546 cSt. A regression analysis was conducted on the thermophysical data, leading to the development of descriptive models.

The performance level of MSMEs stimulated by an entrepreneurial mindset, networking capability, and digital marketing innovation

Primadona Primadona — 2025-08-25

This study aims to examine the influence of entrepreneurial mindset, digital marketing innovation, and networking ability on business performance using competitiveness as a moderating variable in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia. This study uses a quantitative approach to examine the relationship between the variables studied in this study specifically for MSMEs. Data collection uses a questionnaire with a survey method, with the unit of analysis being MSME owners. A total of 100 MSME owners were asked for information to confirm the research objectives. Data processing uses SEM with PLS applications. The results of the study reveal that all exogenous variables, such as entrepreneurial mindset, Digital Marketing Innovation, and Networking Ability, have a positive and significant effect on the endogenous variable, namely business performance, which is moderated by the competitiveness variable. MSMEs need to make new discoveries that are different from other MSMEs and have something that competitors do not have in order to increase their competitiveness, especially in developing countries. The limitation of this study is that it still uses 100 respondents with the competitiveness variable as a moderating variable. Future research can add other variables, such as entrepreneurial resilience, as a moderating variable in viewing business performance.

The impact of artificial lighting on improving the visual experience of museum visitors: A case study of Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

Meera Alketbi — 2025-08-12

Lighting is a crucial element in museum design, directly influencing visitors’ psychological responses, visual experience, and overall satisfaction. Despite its significance, limited research exists on artificial lighting in museums within the United Arab Emirates. This study addresses that gap by examining the impact of artificial lighting on visitor experience at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, focusing on Gallery 4. A descriptive analytical approach was used, employing two surveys for data collection. The first survey, assessing satisfaction with ambient lighting, received 223 responses and was analyzed using SPSS. The second, evaluating the influence of lighting on the visual experience, gathered 74 responses. Findings revealed that 91.0% of visitors were negatively affected by inadequate lighting, such as glare or uneven distribution, which impaired exhibit engagement. Additionally, 90.6% indicated that appropriate lighting enhanced their comfort and satisfaction. In response, a lighting simulation for Gallery 4 was developed using Rendering AI and PromeAI to optimize distribution and visibility. The study recommends selecting lighting types that balance warm and cool tones, minimizing visual strain through established standards, using simulation tools to refine lighting design, and expanding research to include varied museum types, fostering more context-sensitive lighting strategies.

Integrating agenda setting and co-production: Governing smart environments in Chachoengsao, Thailand

Nattagorn Watto — 2025-08-12

This research article analyzed the policy agenda setting and co-production of the smart environment in Chachoengsao Smart City, Thailand. The study applied a qualitative case study design, including semi-structured interviews with key informants from government, private, academic, and community sectors, as well as document analysis. Utilizing Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework, the study found that rapid urbanization, environmental issues, strategic national policies, and political concerns brought attention to the policy agenda, creating a window of opportunity for smart environment initiatives through a top-down policy-making approach. This study also employed Loeffler's Four Co's Model to identify co-production activities. These were examined as bottom-up policy formulation efforts through co-commissioning, co-design, co-delivery, and co-assessment. The results demonstrated full co-production in which several stakeholders, including government, private, academic, and community representatives, strengthened their participatory governance and enhanced policy responsiveness for the smart environment. The process led to the implementation of the Zero Waste Initiative and Big Data for Environmental Monitoring, which enhanced community engagement, enabled data-informed decisions, and improved the effectiveness of environmental service delivery. Therefore, this article provides an understanding of collaborative governance and suggests that co-production serves as a strategic mechanism for achieving sustainable urban development. To encourage more open and adaptive governance in Thailand, further research should examine the possibility of applying co-production to other areas of the policy-making process.

Energy and economic analysis of waste-to-energy plants with government incentives in Colombia

Nilson Yulian Castillo Leon — 2025-08-04

Globally, the excessive generation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) has become a challenge for mankind, which requires different management models and policies, the objective of this study, is to carry out an energy and economic assessment that values the MSW flows generated by medium-sized cities with less than 1.5 million inhabitants, through incineration technology with electrical production, using an analytical approach, was evaluated at the energy level, a conventional plant configuration, estimating steam parameters at 40 bar and 380°C and the lower heating value (LHV) of MSW at 8,786 kJ/kg, calculated thermodynamic properties in each process stream, plant energy yields were determined, such as energy efficiency at 22.6% and electrical energy delivered to the grid at 87.4 GWh per year, yields used in the economic evaluation, which was conducted in two scenarios, taking into account the state benefits of law 1715 of 2014. The first scenario, which did not include the benefits of the law, yielded economically unfeasible results, with a net present value (NPV) of $ 6,634,332 USD, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 9.18% and a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of $189. 33 USD/MWh, however, the scenario that evaluated the state incentives, presents an economic viability with a payback period of 11 years, a NPV of $40,232,650 USD, IRR of 15.78% and a LCOE of $175,197 USD/MWh. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to obtain the NPV and IRR limits for each scenario, showing that the most significant variables to be taken into account in the economic viability of this type of project are: the sale price of electricity, the MSW disposal fee and the percentage of the loan for initial investment.

Working capital management and financial economic performance of manufacturing SMEs: A PanelMix statistical model

Karla Estefanía Morales-Ramos — 2025-08-04

The present research aimed to determine the economic-financial performance and working capital for capital management of manufacturing SMEs in Zone 3 during the period 2017-2020. So, using a descriptive-explanatory approach, secondary data from the Superintendence of Companies were analyzed. In the first instance, an initial sample of 112 companies was considered; however, they did not meet the requirements to carry out this study. Therefore, under purely appropriate criteria, the sample was reduced to 92 companies. In addition, the study incorporated three control variables, which were the components of the ROE indicator, such as net margin, asset turnover, and financial leverage, essential to carry out the panel data methodology. Therefore, using SPSS software, frequency tables, measures of central tendency, and dispersion were generated, which made it possible to evaluate the behavior of the DuPont index and working capital during the aforementioned period. In addition, a panel data model was incorporated, where the results showed that the approach that best suited the conditions of this research was by fixed effects, demonstrating that the control variables were significant, except for the main variable contemplated as working capital, concluding that it does not have a major impact on the profitability of a company.

The impact of regulatory frameworks on sustainable digital financial practices: Evidence from financial statement indicators in industrial firms

Maytham Abed Kadhim — 2025-07-31

This research explores how regulatory models contribute to sustainable digital financial transformation among industrial firms listed on global stock exchanges between 2015 and 2023. Drawing on quantitative data from company annual reports, it tests three hypotheses: the direct impact of regulatory quality, the mediating role of digital investment, and the moderating effect of firm size. The findings indicate that stronger regulatory environments are positively associated with sustainable financial practices. Digital investment partially mediates this relationship, suggesting that effective regulations encourage firms to upgrade their digital infrastructure, leading to improved long-term performance. The regulatory impact is more pronounced in larger firms due to their greater resources, technological capabilities, and compliance systems. The study concludes that strong regulatory regimes act not just as compliance mechanisms but as institutional enablers of digital transformation and financial transparency. Practical recommendations are offered to help policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders align regulation with innovation and firm capacity to promote sustainable digital progress.

The effect of equitable compensation strategy on job performance in Al-Hassan Industrial Estate (HIE)

Mohamed Mahmoud Khtatbeh — 2025-07-30

This study aimed to investigate employees' perceptions of equity in their compensation for the work they perform, comparing it to other jobs within the organization, and to examine its impact on their performance. The study utilized quantitative research methods to study the connections between the independent, dependent, and mediating variables. Previous research in the field, particularly in developing countries like Jordan, has identified a notable gap in knowledge. This gap prompted the researcher to undertake this study with the aim of addressing this deficiency. The study is based on Adam's equity theory. Data was collected via a self-administered questionnaire from 353 employees within the target population. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilized to analyze and explore the relationships between the study variables using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study findings unveiled a significant and positive correlation between compensation system and job performance, equity and job performance, as well as between compensation and equity. Furthermore, the results indicated that equity serves as a mediator in the relationship between job performance and compensation. The anticipated outcomes of the study are expected to address the literature gap effectively and subsequently enhance employee performance. The findings demonstrate the importance of equitable compensation in improving the employees’ performance.

Unpacking CSR in women-owned SMEs: Innovation and competitive advantage as pathways to performance

Dinh Thi Huong — 2025-07-29

This research examines the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on innovation (IN) and business performance (BP), emphasizing the mediating effects of innovation and competitive advantage (CA). Additionally, it investigates how innovation orientation (IO) directly influences IN and moderates the connection between CSR directed at employees and innovation. Data was gathered from 688 managers of women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. The findings indicate that CSR initiatives aimed at employees, customers, suppliers, and the environment significantly boost IN within women-owned SMEs. Among these, CSR directed at customers shows the strongest impact, while environmental responsibility has the weakest. IN, in turn, significantly contributes to CA and BP. Both IN and CA mediate the link between CSR and BP. Additionally, IO not only promotes IN but also strengthens the effect of CSR toward employees on IN. These findings provide valuable insights into how CSR initiatives and IO drive performance and competitiveness in women-led SMEs in emerging markets.

Sustainability and foreign workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Addressing labor shortages and concerns over UN 2030 Agenda

Hamza Preljević — 2025-07-23

This article examines the integration challenges faced by foreign workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on qualitative data from 16 workers across various professions. It addresses how these workers perceive integration policies and the legal, bureaucratic, social, and cultural barriers they encounter. With a significant outflow of skilled labor from Bosnia, foreign workers play a crucial role in filling the workforce gaps. The European Migration Network predicts a need for 45 million qualified workers in Western Europe, including Bosnia, by 2030, prompting a high emigration rate from the Western Balkans, which, in turn, will increase the demand for foreign labor. This will, in turn, make it more complex for BiH to fulfill its commitment to the Agenda 2030, as set forth by the United Nations in 2015, through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A low birth rate contributes to the increasing need to increase the labor force, which may ultimately result in social engineering. Although the number of foreign workers in Bosnia has increased, they experience limited access to integration programs and face social isolation and administrative hurdles, which this article analyzes and aims to emphasize better integration policies. Future studies can explore the social acceptance of foreign workers by the locals in Bosnia.

Artificial intelligence in higher-level education: A SWOT analysis and 20-year bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer

Wilber Sabado — 2025-07-21

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the domain of higher education. A bibliometric study about this is important, especially in identifying trends and gaps that are crucial for policy development, higher education management, and future research initiatives. The two-decade analysis provided an overview of the increasing trajectory of research publications concerning artificial intelligence in higher education. This research analyzed the 5522 searched articles in the Scopus database using bibliographic analysis following a systematic approach to data collection called PRISMA. This research shows that China and the United States emerged as the leading countries in terms of publication count. Likewise, the United States, China, India, and the United Kingdom demonstrate higher levels of collaboration compared to other countries. The majority of research articles predominantly use the English language. These findings mean that AI is gaining significant popularity in the higher education sector. It is likely influencing the teaching and learning pedagogies. The VOSviewer software was used to visualize global collaboration of documents, the co-occurrence of keywords, and the co-authorships. Some of the most used keywords were also identified in this study, like “Artificial Intelligence,” “Higher Education,” “Students,” “High Education,” and “Education.” Moreover, this paper presented the SWOT analysis of the most cited papers.

A 5D chaotic macroeconomic model for simulating policy synchronization in developing economies

Abdulsattar Abdullah Hamad — 2025-07-21

This paper proposes a novel approach that lies in the structure of the equations and the economic application to reflect complex nonlinear interactions between key macroeconomic variables such as inflation, exchange rate, unemployment, GDP, and foreign investment. The model contains nonlinear differential equations coupled with feedback terms that induce hypersonic behavior. This structure enables the study of economic instability under various parameter settings and analysis of control strategies stabilizing the economy. Numerical simulation displays the sensitivity of the system towards initial conditions and the presence of many positive Lyapunov exponents. The proposed model provides insight into economic fragility and allows the design of strong policy interventions.

Environmental impact assessment of a cocoa shell pellet (CSP) combustion system: Effects of integrating an emission filtration system

A. D. Rincon-Quintero — 2025-07-18

Densified biomass in the form of pellets, made from cocoa shell pellet (CSP), represents a renewable thermal energy source. Experimental combustion tests and emission readings were then conducted over 15 minutes, both with and without the filter, resulting in significant average improvements; with CO levels decreasing from 1710 to 475 ppm, CO₂ levels dropping from 2.13% to 0.2%, H₂S levels reducing from 39.36 to 5.7 ppm, and N₂ decreasing from 76.64% to 74.71%. O₂ levels increased from 15.06% to 17.02%. This assessment showed a modification of environmental impact assessment with the installation of the filtration system, reducing the negative impacts from 18 to 13. It changed from a medium-impact project (without filter) to a low-impact project (with filter), demonstrating the capacity of the filter prototype to improve the environmental conditions of the surroundings. In addition, the potential energy was determined according to ASTM D4809-13, obtaining a higher heating value of up to 15.5 MJ/kg, thereby ensuring the efficient implementation of a combustion chamber with thermal storage that transfers heat to a forced-air drying system for food, replacing the use of fossil fuels in this methodology. The use of these compact drying systems involves the generation of emissions of O₂, CO, CO₂, N₂, and H₂S. Therefore, monitoring of these emissions is conducted using a gas analyser.

How accounting systems and information quality affect financial performance in Iraqi banks: The role of financial information reliability

Abdulkareem Abdulghani Oudah — 2025-07-18

This investigation aims to understand the relationship between accounting information systems and financial performance in Iraqi banks, as well as exploring the indirect effects of effect of these systems on financial performance in Iraqi banks and the quality of their accounting information. The authors developed a new method of building called AIS-enabled SEM that has been previously experimented with by scholars and professionals. It is derived from a body of research regarding the accounting information system and quality. Iraqi banks that operated in the commercial sector collected data via convenience samples. Through personal relationships, the authors gained contact with participants in all of the Iraqi financial institutions. Additionally, the process of collecting data took 65 days, which began on January 1st and March 5th, 2024. 12 Iraqi banks participated in the final sample of 261 respondents, via the questionnaire, and were analyzed via structural equation modeling with partial least squares using SmartPLS 4 software that satisfies the criteria for a sample of size 4 [54]. The results demonstrated that accounting information systems, the quality of accounting information systems, and the dependability of financial information have a positive and significant indirect effect on the financial performance of Iraqi banks. The results also demonstrated that the quality of the accounting information systems and the volume of the accounting information systems have an effect on the financial performance of Iraqi banks that rely on the reliability of financial information to conduct business.

Quantification of built heritage destruction in Žepa and Srebrenica region during the 1992-1995 Bosnian Serb forces campaign

Maida Halilović — 2025-07-17

This article examines the extent of destruction of rural cultural landscapes and vernacular architecture in the Žepa region of eastern Bosnia during the 1992–1995 attacks by Bosnian Serb Forces, led by Generals Ratko Mladi? and Zdravko Tolimir, both later sentenced for genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). These attacks culminated in the capture and devastation of the UN-designated safe enclave in late July 1995. Building on existing legal and scholarly findings that identified the systematic and deliberate nature of such destruction, this study enhances those conclusions through localized and quantified evidence. Using field surveys conducted between 2022 and 2024, combined with satellite imagery, the study applies a Destruction Index (DI) to measure the extent of physical devastation across 1,840 structures in 23 rural settlements. The findings showed that a destruction index of 0.98 reflects deliberate and systematic destruction consistent with the objectives of cultural genocide and the typical tactical approach of Ratko Mladi?’s forces. These findings confirm the scale and uniformity of targeted erasure across the region. By correlating patterns of destruction with spatial positioning the study reinforces International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) jurisprudence that classified such acts as part of a coordinated campaign of persecution and ethnic cleansing. It further contributes to academic debates on cultural genocide by offering concrete, quantified data that localize the broader strategy of territorial and cultural elimination in eastern Bosnia.

The impact of customer journey in restaurants on sustainable marketing practices: The moderating role of digital social media

Yassin Ibrahim Hussein — 2025-07-14

This study examines how the customer journey, with its various elements, influences sustainable marketing practices. It also examines the moderating effect of digital social media on this relationship. A questionnaire was used to collect data from eight restaurants located in Anbar, Iraq, which are known for their advanced services. A PLS-SEM model was used to analyse data from a sample of 379 questionnaires distributed to customers of the selected restaurants. The results indicated that customer journey elements (staff interaction (SI), merchandise assortment (MV), shop atmosphere (SA), repatriation intentions (RI), and value experienced (VE)) play a crucial role in promoting sustainable marketing practices in restaurants. Of the six indirect effect hypotheses, three were supported, namely the moderating role of digital social media between (shop atmosphere, repatriation intentions, and value experienced) and sustainable marketing. To achieve optimal levels of marketing sustainability, effectively integrating digital social media into sustainability programs requires original thinking and innovative solutions. Restaurants can improve their sustainability levels by paying closer attention to customer journey elements to predict customer behavior and meet future needs.

The impact of sustainable tourism on local community cultural heritage conservation awareness in Hanoi

Tri Phuong Nguyen — 2025-07-02

The current research analyzes the effect of sustainable tourism on the cultural heritage preservation awareness of the local communities in Hanoi, Vietnam. The study is based on data collected from 245 respondents, revealing the relationships using SPSS 26.0 and SmartPLS 4.0. It is discovered that there are sustainable tourism components and cultural heritage awareness components, and behavioral change is a significant mediating variable. The path coefficient from behavioral change to awareness is 0.410 (T = 6.091, P < 0.001), which shows a strong direct effect. Additionally, knowledge about sustainable tourism (KNO) shows a significant indirect effect on awareness through behavioral change, with an effect size of 0.091 (T = 2.746, P = 0.006). Local residents’ participation (LRP) demonstrates the strongest indirect impact with a coefficient of 0.146 (T = 4.687, P < 0.001), emphasizing the importance of community engagement. The R² value for behavioral change is 0.453, suggesting a moderate explanatory power, while the R² for awareness is 0.168, indicating a weaker yet meaningful contribution. Predictive relevance assessed by Q² reveals medium accuracy for behavioral change (Q² = 0.297) and small predictive capacity for awareness (Q² = 0.116). The results support the hypothesis that a change in behavior is instrumental in connecting sustainable tourism practices with increased concern for the preservation of cultural heritage. These impacts denote the contribution of this study, which seeks to explain how sustainable tourism shifts local perceptions about the culture of the place. It underscores the role of education combined with active involvement, as well as policies aimed at promoting identity-preserving sustainability initiatives. Addressing these gaps, policymakers need to emphasize tourism development that fosters community engagement and empowerment, particularly in relation to conservation in Hanoi.

Adoption of digital payment systems in e-marketing: The moderating role of consumer trust in Jordan

Ali Mohammad Ali Alqudah — 2025-07-01

An investigation explains the relationship between technical elements and human conduct that affect the acceptance of digital payment solutions in Jordan's electronic marketing landscape. The study examines four essential variables: perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, security and privacy, and awareness under the influence of consumer trust as a mediator. Modern e-marketing depends on digital payment systems as they provide convenience and “operational efficiency”. User adoption results indicate that perceived ease of use, together with perceived usefulness and security and privacy, act as key factors for adoption, while awareness plays no direct role in adoption behaviors. Consumer trust stands out as a main moderating factor that enhances the effect key variables have on adoption choices. The study conducted an online survey with 391 Jordanian users that took place from August to October 2024. Every participant in the survey had experience with digital payment systems. The researchers used AMOS 22 to execute an SEM analysis, enabling them to study variable relationships and validate their model. The findings indicate that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, security and privacy all increase digital payment adoption, while awareness does not have a direct effect. Considerably, consumer trust positively influences the links between each key predictor (except awareness) and buying behavior for digital purchases. This research offers vital advice for Jordanian officials, those who provide services, and financial providers to introduce digital payment systems that are trusted, accessible, and easy for users during the country’s wider digital change.