This study investigates the influence of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure on the profitability of Saudi-listed non-financial firms in the context of Saudi Vision 2030. The study uses a sample of 100 non-financial organizations from 2019 to 2023 (500 firm-year observations). This study uses panel data analysis and a random-effects regression model to examine the relationship between ESG disclosure and firm profitability as assessed by return on assets (ROA). To assess ESG disclosure, this study developed a comprehensive ESG disclosure index based on worldwide ESG guidelines and Saudi-related regulations. The regression results show a significantly positive relationship between ESG disclosure and firm profitability, emphasizing the financial benefits of corporate transparency and sustainability. This finding is consistent with the stakeholder theory, implying that firms with strong ESG commitments boost investor trust, improve risk management, and increase operational efficiency. Thus, this study adds to the ESG literature by presenting empirical evidence from Saudi Arabia, a growing country that is undergoing regulatory transition. Additionally, this study’s notable contribution is the development of a comprehensive ESG disclosure index tailored for the Saudi corporate landscape, integrating global reporting standards with local regulatory requirements. This index enhances the assessment of ESG transparency and offers a thorough tool for examining business sustainability strategies. The results offer substantial insights for policymakers, investors, and corporate leaders, emphasizing the significance of ESG in sustainable financial performance.

PURPOSE: To compare postoperative astigmatic correction between femtosecond lenticule extraction (FLEx) and wavefront-guided LASIK in eyes with myopic astigmatism. METHODS: Fifty-eight eyes of 41 patients undergoing FLEx and 49 eyes of 29 patients undergoing wavefront-guided LASIK to correct myopic astigmatism were examined. Visual acuity, cylindrical refraction, predictability of the astigmatic correction, and astigmatic vector components were compared between groups 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in manifest cylindrical refraction ( P = .08) or percentage of eyes within ±0.50 diopter (D) of its refraction ( P = .11) between the surgical procedures. The index of success in FLEx was statistically significantly better than that of wavefront-guided LASIK ( P = .02), although there was no significant difference between the groups in other indices (eg, surgically induced astigmatism, target-induced astigmatism, astigmatic correction index, angle of error, difference vector, and flattening index). Subgroup analysis showed that FLEx had a better index of success ( P = .02) and difference vector ( P = .04) than wavefront-guided LASIK in the low cylinder subgroup; the angle of error in FLEx was significantly smaller than that of wavefront-guided LASIK in the moderate cylinder subgroup ( P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Both FLEx and wavefront-guided LASIK worked well for the correction of myopic astigmatism by the 6-month follow-up visit. Although FLEx had a better index of success than wavefront-guided LASIK when using vector analysis, it appears equivalent to wavefront-guided LASIK in terms of visual acuity and the correction of astigmatism. [ J Refract Surg . 2014;30(12):806–811.]

Using a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, this study examines the effects of the adoption of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) on the digital economy of Saudi Arabia, using monthly data from 2015 to 2024 from the World Development Indicators and Bloomberg. The results show that API Adoption Rate (APIAR) has a positive long-term influence on the Digital Economy Index (DEI), highlighting APIs as a transformative tool that foster innovation, increase scalability within enterprises, and enhance digital transactions in line with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. The findings also indicate that the Number of Active APIs (NAAPIs) exerts a significant and positive effect on DEI in both short- and long-term, which aligns with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by fostering accelerated digital transformation and new innovation-driven job opportunities in addition to entrepreneurship via API-driven platforms. API Investment (APII) exhibits a beneficial short-term effect on DEI; nevertheless, it is not significant in the long run, indicating the need for strategic and continuous investment. This finding resonates with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, highlighting the significant role of public–private collaboration in enhancing digital infrastructure and enabling AI solutions. Building on these results, there is an urgent need to improve consistent API ecosystems, enhance collaborative partnerships, and align API strategies to national aspirations for driving Saudi Arabia’s digital economic growth and supporting Vision 2030 and the UN’s SDGs.

The simulations of a discrete time model of the impulse response ofmatched and backed piezoelectric transducers have been used to designsensitive short-response transducers. The effect of matching and backingmaterials layers on the performance of piezoelectric transducers working intowater load is investigated. The optimum acoustical characteristics of thequarter-wave length matching layers are determined relatively to acompromise between the sensitivity and the bandwidth.

This study aims to explore the relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure scores and financial performance among publicly listed firms in Thailand from 2014 to 2023. The study uses a methodology by designing a system GMM and difference GMM estimations. The findings provide robust insights into how ESG disclosure scores influence firm profitability and market valuation. The results reveal that environmental disclosure scores negatively affect accounting-based performance measures (ROA and ROE) but positively influence market valuation (Tobin’s Q). The social disclosure score consistently enhances ROA, ROE, and Tobin’s Q. The governance disclosure score presents mixed results, with system GMM showing a negative impact on all performance measures, while difference GMM indicates a positive effect on ROA and ROE but a negative influence on Tobin’s Q. Firm-specific characteristics also play a significant role, as higher leverage weakens financial performance, and liquidity management has varying effects. The practical implications of the study, through its contribution to the literature, are to provide empirical evidence on environmental, social, and governance disclosures in the context of emerging markets. Finally, the study recommends the need for a well-structured policy framework that ensures that environmental, social, and governance initiatives lead to long-term financial stability, investor confidence, and sustainable economic development.

This study explored the effects of key macroeconomic variables—money supply, exchange rate, unemployment rate, and oil price—on inflation in five ASEAN countries from 1980 to 2020, using a panel ARDL model. The co-movement of this dynamic relationship was analyzed through a Wavelet Coherence approach to strengthen the findings to a certain extent. The analysis showed a positive, significant long-run link between money supply and inflation, emphasizing the need for prudent monetary policies. The absence of short-run effects of money supply on inflation underscores the importance of multidimensional policy formulation. Additionally, the positive exchange rate-inflation relationship in the long run calls for careful consideration in policy decisions. Furthermore, the negative unemployment-inflation relationship emphasizes the need for structural labor market reforms. Lastly, the significant short-term influence of oil prices on inflation warrants vigilance and sustainable energy strategies. This study is a valuable methodological and empirical addition to the existing body of knowledge on inflation dynamics, with its extensive analysis of macroeconomic determinants of inflation in ASEAN countries, using advanced econometric techniques. It bridges theoretical gaps, enriches methodological applications with wavelet coherence analysis, and delivers actionable insights for policymakers in emerging economies.