International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies

Role of human factors understanding to enhance aviation safety in Saudi Arabia under vision 2030

2026-05-02T00:18:57-05:00

This study is to look at how human factors can help improve aviation safety in Saudi Arabia, following the guidelines set by Vision 2030. The research adopts a qualitative and conceptual approach by using secondary data from aviation authorities, academic literature, industry reports, and relevant aviation safety guidelines. It also includes practical insights from aviation training management to understand how human factors influence safety performance. The study finds that human factors such as fatigue management, communication through Crew Resource Management (CRM), structured training, decision-making, situational awareness, and safety culture significantly influence aviation safety outcomes. Properly understanding and handling these factors can help reduce mistakes made by people and make work safer. Including human factors in aviation operations is crucial for enhancing safety, lowering risks, and aligning Saudi Arabia's aviation industry with global safety standards and the goals of Vision 2030. The study provides useful recommendations for aviation organizations in Saudi Arabia, including the implementation of structured human factor training, fatigue risk management systems, safety culture improvement, and continuous professional development for aviation personnel.

Optimizing university enrollment confirmation timelines: A survival analysis of student decision-making in Mongolia

2026-05-02T05:51:15-05:00

This study investigates the optimal timeline for university enrollment confirmation using survival analysis, focusing on behavioral data from the National University of Mongolia (hereinafter NUM). As higher education institutions streamline operations and competition intensifies, the timing of student decisions becomes increasingly critical. Applying the Cox proportional hazards model to multi-year administrative data, we find that approximately 90% of confirmations occur within the first 600–700 minutes of the registration window. Factors such as program type, institutional affiliation, entrance scores, and regional origin significantly influence confirmation timing. These findings suggest that an 11-hour confirmation period balances logistical efficiency with student decision-making needs. The results align with theories of bounded rationality and decision overload, offering a novel empirical basis for policy reform in developing higher education systems.

Review of human health impacts from pesticide use, analyzed through a gender perspective

2026-05-02T07:44:11-05:00

This documentary review analyzes publications from the last 10 years (2014-2024) on the health effects of pesticides from a gender perspective, focusing specifically on the differential impacts on women in agricultural settings. A systematic mapping study was conducted following the methodology of Petersen, et al. [1]. Databases consulted included Scielo, PubMed, and Redalyc. Search strings combined keywords such as "pesticides, health AND cancer," "occupational health AND agriculture (gender)," and "pesticides AND women" using Boolean operators. From an initial pool of 2,400 documents, a refinement process applying inclusion and exclusion criteria resulted in a final corpus of 300 relevant studies. Of the selected documents, 29% addressed agrochemicals and health or cancer, 57% focused on occupational health and agriculture, and only 14% specifically examined pesticides and women's health. The review identifies multiple adverse health impacts on women, including reproductive disorders, specific cancers (breast, cervical, renal), respiratory diseases, endocrine disruption, and neuropsychological deficits. Women face heightened risks due to dual exposure pathways (direct field labor and indirect domestic contamination) compounded by systemic gender inequalities—limited access to information, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and insufficient training on safe pesticide handling. Women are significantly underrepresented in pesticide health research (14% of selected corpus), despite evidence confirming greater biological susceptibility and distinct social vulnerabilities compared to men. Gender-sensitive occupational health policies are urgently required. These must include mandatory provision of appropriately fitted PPE for women, targeted educational programs on safe agrochemical handling, improved rural healthcare infrastructure, and the systematic inclusion of sex-disaggregated data in future epidemiological research.

The tendency of rationalization of experiences in modern culture

2026-05-02T08:45:35-05:00

The article examines instances of rationalization of experiences in modern emotional culture as examples of a new global tendency that requires a person to intensively comprehend his own choices. We show how public discourse appropriates psychological terminology not only for better describe the inner emotional life, but similarly, from the point of view of modern culture, to satisfy the needs to be a good person: this requires both the use of certain words in a certain modality ("articulate" one's own emotions; reflect on mistakes; deal with one's own reactions), and the implementation of rituals of mindfulness. It demonstrates how new technologies, including social media and dating apps, have created new norms of behavior and romantic relationships, as well as how rejecting them can serve as a real radical response to an endless variety of candidates and proposals, from which, in fact, it is impossible to choose once and correctly.

Lyapunov-based stability analysis of quantum sliding mode controller

2026-05-04T00:12:24-05:00

This article addresses the lack of formal stability analyses in quantum sliding mode control (QSMC) by providing rigorous proof of stability and convergence based on Lyapunov theory. It also proposes an optimized QSMC approach that reduces quantum resource requirements while preserving control performance. The study begins with a re-evaluation of the conventional QSMC formulation, which implements the sign function using three qubits, along with a Hadamard gate and a CCNOT gate. A Lyapunov-based analysis is conducted to formally demonstrate the stability and convergence of the system. Based on this result, an improved QSMC scheme is introduced. The new design replaces the original structure with a quantum sign detector, a measurement process, and a rotation gate, thus reducing the implementation to two qubits. The proposed method is validated by its application to the speed control of a DC motor. The results show that it maintains efficient performance while requiring fewer computing resources. Simulation results support the feasibility of the approach. This work strengthens the theoretical foundations of QSMC and improves its applicability. The optimized version offers a more efficient and scalable solution for implementation on current quantum hardware with limited qubit availability.

EMI teaching methodology: Perceptions and practice from students’ perspectives

2026-05-06T23:30:45-05:00

The increasing adoption of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) in tertiary education, largely driven by globalization, has attracted substantial scholarly attention in recent years. This study investigates students’ perceptions of lecturers’ teaching efficacy in EMI contexts, as well as the challenges students encounter throughout their learning process. A mixed-methods design was employed, integrating survey data from 280 participants with in-depth interviews involving 20 selected individuals, alongside three classroom observations conducted at different universities in Vietnam. The findings indicate that the majority of respondents hold positive perceptions of lecturers’ teaching effectiveness, particularly with respect to pedagogical practices, language use, and instructional flexibility. Nevertheless, a range of challenges persists, as students experience both subjective and objective barriers during their learning process. In response, the study proposes several pedagogical and institutional measures to address these challenges, enhance the effectiveness of EMI implementation, and support Vietnam’s broader efforts toward international integration and engagement.

Organizational improvisation and organizational agility as drivers of open innovation

2026-05-07T10:38:18-05:00

Studies examining innovation in general and open innovation in particular indicate that innovation often requires improvisation by business management. At the same time, organizations' adoption of innovation requires a certain degree of agility that enables them to respond to changes in the innovation process. This study aims to investigate the impact of organizational improvisation on open innovation, and whether organizational agility plays a mediating role in this impact in Jordanian extractive and mining industries companies. The study relied on a descriptive quantitative approach. Data was collected using a closed-ended questionnaire based on a five-point scale, which was distributed electronically to 313 managers selected using a stratified random sampling mechanism at the top and middle levels of management. A total of 286 valid questionnaires were retrieved for statistical analysis. Data was analyzed and study hypotheses were tested using SmartPLS 4. The results of the study indicated that there is a significant impact of organizational improvisation on open innovation, and organizational improvisation has a significant impact on organizational agility, and organizational agility has a significant impact on open innovation, and that organizational agility plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between organizational improvisation and open innovation. For organizations to develop innovative products, they must rely on internal innovations, which are generated through the efforts of their employees, in addition to leveraging the innovations of others. All of this requires organizations to give their managers sufficient space to make creative decisions, take calculated risks, and rely on spontaneity and experience. All of this is supported by agile management to ensure rapid response to changes during the innovation process. The study recommended organization for enhancing the elements of organizational improvisation, including attracting talent, providing opportunities for everyone to work in teams, and empowering these teams. Organizations must foster an enabling environment that encourages employees to seek opportunities by motivating individuals to innovate and exploring diverse innovative tools and methods to cultivate a culture of open innovation. For achieving agility organization must structure the organization in a way that considers both stability and dynamism.

Characteristics of biochar from algae of the sea of Japan

2026-05-11T11:41:24-05:00

The paper presents a comparative analysis of biochars produced from seaweed collected from the Sea of Japan, including Ahnfeltia tobuchiensis, a mixture of algae (Neorhodomela sp.), Zostera marina, Phyllospadix iwatensis, and Saccharina japonica, and Zostera marina. Medium-temperature pyrolysis (500 °C) was used to produce the biochars, with a carbonation time of 1 hour. These biochars have an alkaline reaction and can be used as soil ameliorants for acid soils. The yield of biochar produced after medium-temperature pyrolysis ranges from 39% to 57%, with the highest yield coming from Ahnfeltia tobuchiensis and the lowest from Saccharina japonica. All of the biochars contain essential nutrients, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Biochar obtained from the algal mixture appears to be the most promising raw material for producing biochar due to its high content of these elements and good yield. In general, all biochar derived from marine macroalgae can be considered a promising organic fertilizer. Not only the extracted algae, but also the storm emissions from them, can be used as raw materials. This makes the production of biochar from these sources a potentially promising product for the fertilizer market.

A bibliometric atlas of financial contagion in emerging markets: Science mapping of a growing literature

2026-05-14T11:11:26-05:00

This study employs a bibliometric approach to map the intellectual structure, thematic landscape, and geographical distribution of research on financial contagion in emerging markets. It examines 824 peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus between January 2010 and March 2025, identifying leading countries, influential authors, dominant keywords, methodological patterns, and evolving research trends. The dataset was processed using the Bibliometrix package in R through Biblioshiny, together with VOSviewer for keyword co-occurrence analysis and CiteSpace for burst detection. Positioned within a broader historical frame from 1980 to 2026, annual scientific production shows that the 1997–98 Asian Financial Crisis marked the field’s emergence, the 2007–09 Global Financial Crisis drove its first major expansion, and the COVID-19 pandemic produced its strongest acceleration, with output reaching a record 142 articles in 2024. The findings also reveal a broader geographical base of knowledge production, with growing contributions from China, India, Turkey, Brazil, and South Africa, even as the United States and the United Kingdom remain central. Overall, the study highlights a shift toward network-based, cross-asset, and shock-oriented approaches, while showing that research intensity reflects topical relevance more than national income globally.

Artificial intelligence and the future of English for specific purposes pedagogy in higher education

2026-05-14T11:51:54-05:00

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping higher education, with growing implications for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) pedagogy. Although previous studies have examined AI in general English language teaching, its role in discipline-specific instruction remains underexplored, particularly in emerging higher education contexts. This study investigates how AI is perceived and used in ESP pedagogy in Vietnamese universities, focusing on business, finance, and engineering programs. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining survey data from 212 students enrolled in ESP courses with semi-structured interviews with 15 lecturers. The findings indicate that AI supports access to authentic disciplinary input, personalized learning pathways, immediate feedback, and greater learner autonomy. At the same time, participants identified persistent concerns related to reliability, over-reliance, academic integrity, data privacy, curriculum alignment, and teachers’ digital readiness. The study highlights the dual role of AI as both a pedagogical enabler and a source of new instructional and ethical challenges. It argues that effective integration of AI in ESP requires not only technological adoption, but also curriculum redesign, teacher professional development, and institutional policy support. These findings contribute to current discussions on AI-enhanced language education by extending ESP pedagogy toward a more explicitly AI-aware and context-responsive framework.

Development of an enriched and hypoallergenic soup for infants: Preclinical study on rats

2026-05-14T11:56:33-05:00

Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common food allergies in infants, leading to digestive, skin, and respiratory symptoms. At the same time, infant malnutrition remains a major public health concern, especially in developing countries. This preclinical study aims to develop and evaluate a hypoallergenic soup designed for infants with CMPA, while also addressing essential nutritional needs to help prevent malnutrition. The experiment was conducted on laboratory rats subjected to induced malnutrition. The soup was formulated using ingredients selected for their high nutritional value and low allergenic potential, and was administered following a defined protocol. Key parameters assessed included weight gain, overall clinical condition, and specific biological markers. The results showed significant improvement in the nutritional status of the treated rats, with no observable allergic reactions. The soup contributed to growth recovery, improved biological indicators, and was well tolerated from a digestive perspective. These findings suggest that the developed soup could serve as a promising nutritional alternative for infants with CMPA, while also contributing to the prevention of infant malnutrition.

Framing Malaysia’s digital future: A critical discourse analysis of EdTech in national education policies

2026-05-14T12:03:17-05:00

Artificial intelligence and digital technologies have become central to educational transformation agendas worldwide, positioning Education Technology (EdTech) as a strategic instrument for national development and global competitiveness. In Malaysia, recent education policies increasingly frame digital transformation as essential for producing future-ready learners and strengthening the nation’s digital economy. Despite the growing prominence of EdTech within policy discourse, limited research has critically examined how these policies linguistically construct digital futures and legitimise particular ideological orientations. This study investigates the discursive representation of EdTech in Malaysian national education policies through Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis. The analysis focuses on the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013–2025, the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL) 2021, and the Digital Education Policy 2023. The findings reveal that policy discourse consistently constructs digital transformation as inevitable, necessary, and economically driven through the recurrent use of high-modality expressions, neoliberal developmental rhetoric, and intertextual alignment with global frameworks such as UNESCO and the OECD. Teachers are predominantly positioned as implementers of institutional digital agendas, while students are represented as future contributors to the digital economy. The analysis further demonstrates that policy narratives foreground innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness while marginalising concerns related to digital inequality, pedagogical autonomy, and infrastructural disparities. This study contributes to critical language and policy scholarship by illustrating how educational policies function as ideological instruments that shape perceptions of technological progress, governance, and national modernity. The findings offer important implications for policymakers, educators, and researchers concerned with equitable and context-sensitive digital education reform.

FTAs and Thailand’s alcoholic beverage market: Balancing economic opportunities and public health concerns under international trade uncertainty

2026-05-17T23:36:35-05:00

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) serve as effective instruments for creating opportunities that promote long-term economic growth across countries. However, international trade uncertainty significantly disrupts trade flows and reduces trade volumes between countries, particularly in the alcoholic beverage market. This study examines the impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) on alcohol regulation in Thailand, with a focus on tax reforms, demand elasticity, trade performance, and import–export trends over the period 2013–2022. This study still uses econometric methodology to find the results of the study. The results of this study confirm that exports of main products in the alcoholic beverage market will rise under FTAs, especially alcohol consumption in Thailand. However, public health policy must focus on measures to prevent both direct and indirect impacts of alcohol consumption in Thailand, which need to be strictly enforced, particularly among younger populations who show an increasing tendency toward alcohol consumption.

Exploring the long-term effects of HRV biofeedback interventions combined with mindfulness practices in alleviating workplace stress among Asian professionals

2026-05-18T00:39:45-05:00

Workplace stress constitutes a significant public health concern in high-performance economies, with particular salience in Hong Kong's demanding professional environment. Heart rate variability (HRV) has emerged as a validated psychophysiological biomarker for autonomic nervous system regulation and stress reactivity [1] while mindfulness-based interventions have demonstrated independent efficacy in promoting emotional regulation and psychological resilience. Despite the theoretical complementarity of these approaches, their combined application — and particularly their long-term effects — remains insufficiently investigated, especially within Asian professional populations where cultural factors may meaningfully shape stress appraisal and coping behavior. This study employed a mixed-methods, two-group parallel design to evaluate the efficacy of HRV biofeedback alone versus HRV biofeedback combined with structured mindfulness practices in reducing workplace stress among 100 Hong Kong professionals aged 25–50. Participants completed an 8-week intervention protocol with assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up. Outcome measures included time-domain and frequency-domain HRV parameters (SDNN, RMSSD, normalized coherence), self-reported stress via the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Personal and Organizational Quality Assessment (POQA), cardiovascular health markers, and qualitative data on cultural attitudes toward stress and coping. Results demonstrated significant improvements in HRV parameters and perceived stress across both groups, with the combined intervention group exhibiting substantially greater gains and superior maintenance of benefits at 6-month follow-up. Qualitative findings identified emotional suppression as a culturally embedded barrier to stress regulation among Asian professionals — a pattern previously documented in Hong Kong organizational research [2]— with mindfulness practices offering a culturally congruent pathway to enhanced emotional awareness. These findings support the integration of physiologically grounded and psychologically informed interventions in workplace wellness programming, with implications for organizational policy and culturally adapted clinical practice.

Bridging the analytics gap: A platform-based framework for SME data analysis

2026-05-18T00:49:21-05:00

This research addresses the critical analytical gap facing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Despite generating substantial operational data, most SMEs lack the technical expertise and resources to extract actionable insights. This study presents a web-based platform designed to bridge this divide by democratizing access to advanced machine learning without requiring programming skills. The proposed framework integrates Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA), clustering algorithms, and classification models within an intuitive interface. The system automates complex technical operations, such as data preprocessing and algorithm selection, enabling non-technical users to perform sophisticated tasks like customer segmentation and predictive analytics. By removing technical barriers, this platform empowers entrepreneurs to transition from intuition-based to data-driven decision-making, optimizing operations and enhancing competitiveness in the modern digital economy.

Sustainability in appearance or in practice? How perceived greenwashing undermines employee performance

2026-05-18T01:11:33-05:00

The increasing strategic relevance of sustainability has led many organizations to publicly promote their environmental responsibility. However, discrepancies between sustainability communication and actual practices may generate perceptions of greenwashing. While prior research has largely focused on external stakeholders, less is known about the internal consequences of perceived greenwashing. Drawing on organizational behavior and sustainability strategy literature, this study examines whether perceived greenwashing negatively affects employee task performance and organizational citizenship behaviors. Survey data were collected from 154 employees across multiple sectors. Regression analyses reveal that perceived greenwashing is negatively associated with both task performance and discretionary behaviors. Contrary to expectations, personal environmental commitment and green skepticism did not moderate these relationships. The findings suggest that symbolic sustainability strategies may undermine internal performance outcomes, highlighting the importance of strategic authenticity for long-term organizational sustainability.

Contribution to the study of the biological activities of pomegranate peel

2026-05-18T01:24:33-05:00

This study investigates the wound-healing efficacy of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) bark powder, a fruit historically revered for its medicinal properties. Conducted over 14 days using Wistar rats, the research compared a control group, two test groups (treated with 0.5 g and 1 g of powder), and a reference group using a commercial ointment. The experimental design focused on evaluating skin irritation and monitoring macroscopic wound contraction. The results demonstrated that pomegranate bark powder significantly accelerates the healing process without causing skin irritation. Remarkably, treated wounds reached near-complete recovery in approximately four days, a much faster rate than the untreated control group. This enhanced regeneration is attributed to the bark's bioactive compounds, which possess potent antioxidant and regenerative properties. Ultimately, the study concludes that pomegranate bark is a promising natural source for developing pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications aimed at improving tissue repair and human health.

When knowledge does not translate into perception: Exploring the gap in elementary students’ understanding of artificial intelligence

2026-05-21T06:22:45-05:00

This study aims to explore the gap between elementary school students’ knowledge and their perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) following AI based learning activities, and to examine how knowledge, awareness, and perception relate to one another in the context of early AI education. A quantitative descriptive and exploratory design was employed involving 233 elementary school students in grades five and six. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and knowledge oriented test items, then analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The results show that students demonstrate relatively strong understanding of basic AI concepts (M = 3.05), while awareness (M = 2.30) and perception (M = 2.30) remain at a moderate level. The correlations among the three constructs are extremely weak (r ranging from −0.040 to 0.017), indicating that knowledge, awareness, and perception develop as relatively independent dimensions rather than as a unified process. Understanding basic ideas about AI does not necessarily translate into broader awareness or more developed perceptions among elementary students. This challenges the assumption that knowledge acquisition alone is sufficient to shape how students interpret AI in wider contexts. The findings suggest that AI based learning at the elementary level should move beyond conceptual instruction and incorporate contextual, reflective, and experiential elements. Teachers should be supported in designing activities that help students connect AI concepts to real life situations, thereby bridging the gap between factual knowledge and meaningful perception of AI technologies.

The role of corporate governance in enhancing the financial efficiency of the Saudi capital market (Tadawul) during the period (2020–2025)

2026-05-21T06:29:36-05:00

This study examines the role of corporate governance (CG) in enhancing the financial efficiency of the Saudi Capital Market (Tadawul) between 2020 and 2025ma period characterized by global "polycrisies," including the COVID-19 pandemic and surging global inflation. Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach combined with time-series statistical analysis (Pearson Correlation and Simple Linear Regression), the study utilizes Agency Theory and Signaling Theory as its theoretical framework. The results indicate that CG acted as a fundamental driver for institutional growth and market resilience. Statistical findings revealed a strong positive correlation (r=0.915) between governance compliance and market deepening. Regression analysis confirmed that CG compliance explains 70.9% of the variance in market liquidity (R²). The study concludes that legislative stability and "Agile Governance" attracted significant institutional foreign investments, reaching 4.15%, thereby reflecting high operational and pricing efficiency despite global economic headwinds. Corporate governance frameworks successfully maintained high operational and pricing efficiency in Tadawul despite severe global economic headwinds. The findings suggest that regulators should transition from voluntary to mandatory ESG reporting and continuously adapt governance frameworks for the Parallel Market (Nomu) to sustain foreign capital influx and market deepening.

The lodestone in the Greek, roman and Arab scientific heritage till the end of the mamluk Era (41- 923 AH/ 662-1517 AD): A cultural historical study

2026-05-21T23:25:25-05:00

This research sheds light on the history of lodestone (magnetite) through a comprehensive historical and civilizational study of the achievements of the Greek, Romans and the Arabs in the study and utilization of lodestone till the era of the Mamluk state. It provides a brief overview of the lodestone stone in earlier civilizations, tracing the evolution of knowledge about its physical properties, philosophical significance, and diverse applications. The study chronicles the earliest instances of human observation of the magnet since antiquity, as well as the myths associated with its discovery. It then transitions to Greek civilization, where Thales of Miletus is identified as the first to explain the magnet's attraction to iron. The study then reviews the views of Plato and Aristotle, and documents the first systematic description of the magnet. Following the same sequence, the study then notes that the Roman thought, that inherited the Greek knowledge, infused it with a mythical and poetic character, as exemplified by the works of Pliny the Elder and Lucretius. Finally the study analyzes the significant role played by Arab and Muslim scholars in this field which is the central focus of the study. It elucidates the multiplicity of Arabic terms used to designate the lodestone, as well as the divergence in theories regarding its origin: ranging from those who attribute it to a predominance of dryness and heat to those who explain it through the chemical theory of sulfur and mercury as seen in the works of Dāwūd al-Antāki and al-Irāqi an approach considered more advanced.