bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engagement in Transformational Leadership by Teachers Influences the Levels of Self-Esteem, Motor Self-Efficacy, Enjoyment, and Intention to Be Active in Physical Education Students
Authors: Sánchez-García Carolina , Reigal Rafael E. , Hernández-Martos Jacobo , Hernández-Mendo Antonio , Morales-Sánchez Veronica
Published: July 2024

In the school context, the teacher–student interaction style plays a pivotal role in ensuring optimal adolescent functioning. Over recent years, the significance of transformational teacher leadership in fostering student engagement and positive development has been underscored. This study aimed to examine the correlations between transformational leadership and adolescent self-esteem, motor self-efficacy, enjoyment in physical education classes, and intention for future physical activity. This research used an associative and predictive strategy. A total of 429 adolescents from Málaga, aged between 14 and 16 years (M = 14.97; SD = 0.85), participated in this research, which employed an associative, comparative, and predictive approach. The Transformational Teaching Questionnaire (TTQ), Motor Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES), Intrinsic Satisfaction in Sport Instrument (SSI-EF), and Intention of Being Physically Active Scale (MIFA) were utilized for variable assessment. Correlation, Multiple Regression, and cluster analyses revealed statistically significant correlations between transformational leadership and self-esteem, motor self-efficacy, enjoyment, and future activity intention. Specifically, it was revealed that motivational inspiration predicts self-esteem, motor self-efficacy, enjoyment, and intention for physical activity, whereas intellectual stimulation predicts motor self-efficacy, enjoyment, and intention for physical activity. Notably, the transformational leadership factors of intellectual stimulation and motivational inspiration were observed to predict scores across other variables, particularly enjoyment in physical education classes, both overall and by gender. These findings suggest that transformational leadership in physical education classes can significantly enhance student experiences, thereby promoting adherence to physical activity and healthy lifestyles among adolescents.
Assessing the Nexus between Supplier and Customer Integration and Environmental Cost Performance: Insights into the Role of Digital Transformation
Authors: Li Jianwei , Zhong Deyu , Ru Haoyu , Jia Lixia
Published: July 2024

Since the beginning of the 21st century, environmental protection and digital supply chains have increasingly garnered attention. As firms transition to green practices, how to achieve competitive advantage by reducing environmental costs has become one of the key concerns for many business managers. This study aims to examine how supplier and customer integration affect a firm’s environmental cost performance while considering the moderating effect of digital transformation. Following a survey conducted by a professional research agency on 800 Chinese manufacturing firms specializing in green products, the research model was tested using structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analysis. The results indicate a significant positive relationship between both supplier integration and customer integration with a firm’s environmental cost performance. Additionally, positive digital transformation reinforces the relationship between supplier integration and customer integration. However, there are limitations due to the study’s background, scope, and sample size. This study underscores the impact of supplier integration and customer integration on a firm’s environmental cost performance, as well as the crucial moderating role of digital transformation. It contributes to the growing literature on sustainable supply chain management and provides valuable insights for relevant practitioners.
Citizen Participation Practices in the Governance of Local Food Systems: A Literature Review
Authors: Affre Lys , Guillaumie Laurence , Dupéré Sophie , Mercille Geneviève , Fortin-Guay Marilou
Published: July 2024

Traditionally, food system governance has been executed at provincial, national, or supranational levels, but recently, there has been an increasing trend of local areas coordinating initiatives to influence their own food systems. They are distinguished by their focus on the principles of food democracy, especially in terms of citizen participation. Although initiatives to boost citizen collaboration in local food systems are on the rise, achieving active citizen involvement can prove challenging. This study aims to understand citizen engagement and participation in local food systems at the regional, municipal, or neighborhood levels. A narrative literature review was performed, covering academic and gray literature and using descriptive statistics and semi-inductive thematic analysis. The analysis identified five categories of local food system citizen participation programs, i.e., governance committees that include citizens, citizen working groups, participatory research, participatory workshops, and citizen forums and assemblies. The review highlighted factors that influence the operation and perceived success of citizen participation initiatives. Findings underscore the importance of creating citizen participation mechanisms that are inclusive, transparent, and adaptable. Proper organization and facilitation by a dedicated local organization ensure the success of citizen engagement initiatives. The identified categories and factors can guide policymakers in designing effective local food system initiatives that enhance meaningful citizen involvement.
Understanding the Social Determinants of Household Carbon Emissions for Carbon Mitigation Policies: The Case of Mersin, Turkey
Authors: Yologlu Ali Cenap , Halisdemir Bulent
Published: July 2024

Households are the main consumer-side source of carbon emissions. In Europe, consumer-based CO2 consumption per capita fell from 10.8 tons to 7.8 tons between 1990 and 2022, but in Turkey, the same data showed a rise from 4 tons to 5 tons. Strategies to reduce carbon emissions have recently shifted their focus from the production side to the consumption side. However, because different social segments have varying levels of price sensitivity and differing levels of necessity regarding consuming different items, a simple tax policy only targeting the consumption side is doomed to fail. This has prompted a discussion of the factors influencing carbon emissions on the consumption side and how those factors affect the amount of emissions. This study aims to identify the social determinants affecting household carbon emission levels and to demonstrate that such differences play an important role in effective and efficient carbon emission reduction strategies. In this case study, an appropriate testing method was used to test whether there are significant differences in dependent variables (carbon emissions) between categories of independent variables (the social determinants of households). As our literature review demonstrates, the social determinants of households and the local context were found to have an impact on carbon emissions in the case study. Nevertheless, we found that the degree of association lessens when the relationship between the dependent variables and the independent variables is re-evaluated while controlling for income level. Consequently, it may be concluded that the primary element influencing carbon emissions is income. In our field study, on the other hand, poverty stood out as another important factor affecting the level of carbon emissions. Poverty affects total household carbon emissions in two different ways, causing both carbon-intensive consumer goods and household appliances with low energy efficiency to be preferred because they are cheap to purchase. Therefore, the fight against poverty should be recognized as an important component of carbon reduction policies in Turkey, and the issue of environmental justice should not be ignored, because we know that 30% of the population was living in poverty (compared to the other 70% receiving the national median income) in 2022.
From Disruption to Sustainability: The Event Industry’s Journey through the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Chun Dong-Suk , Park Keeyeon Ki-cheon , Kim Jong-Min
Published: July 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant transformations in industries globally, particularly those heavily reliant on human interaction, such as the event industry. However, the effects of COVID-19 on the event industry have not been thoroughly explored in previous studies. This study utilizes secondary data from the Korean Statistical Information Service, covering 16 cities and regions from 2018 to 2022, to analyze the effects of COVID-19 on the event industry and how the pandemic has reshaped the sector’s landscape and sustainability. We employed a Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) model to assess the causal impact and utilized Garthwaite’s (2014) Dynamic Discontinuity model to explore the dynamic effects over time. The results demonstrate that, initially, COVID-19 had a considerable disruptive influence on the event industry, severely affecting face-to-face interactions and operations. However, our findings reveal significant signs of adaptation and recovery in the industry by 2022, with the initial negative impacts no longer evident. This study highlights the event industry’s resilience, the progressive nature of its post-pandemic recovery, and its path toward sustainable practices in a post-pandemic era.
The Implementation of Lean Manufacturing on Zero Waste Technologies in the Food Processing Industry: Insights from Food Processing Companies in Kosovo and North Macedonia
Authors: Veseli Artan , Bajraktari Agron , Trajkovska Petkoska Anka
Published: July 2024

This study aims to investigate the impact of lean manufacturing (LM) practices in the food processing (FP) industries of Kosovo and North Macedonia. It focuses on examining the effects of LM practices on operational performance metrics and evaluating the challenges and opportunities in integrating lean principles with zero waste (ZW) technologies and sustainability objectives. A qualitative multiple case study approach was used to examine nine case studies from companies in Kosovo and North Macedonia, with four companies from Kosovo and five from North Macedonia. Semi-structured interviews, guided by themes derived from a comprehensive literature review, facilitated in-depth discussions on lean practices and their influence on operational metrics and ZW technologies. For analyzing the qualitative data, a thematic analysis approach was employed, involving a multi-step coding process that ensured a comprehensive exploration and interpretation of the data. The thematic analysis uncovered that LM practices, such as Just-In-Time (JIT), Total Productive/Preventive Maintenance (TPM), Statistical Process Control (SPC), and employee involvement, considerably improve efficiency, quality, and responsiveness. The results demonstrate a close relationship between LM practices and sustainability goals, especially in waste reduction and resource optimization. Identified challenges include organizational resistance to change and resource constraints, while opportunities for improvement were noted in employee involvement, supplier engagement, and continuous improvement initiatives. This study underscores the potential of LM methodologies to boost operational performance, foster sustainability, and tackle specific challenges within the industry, offering key insights for enhancing sustainable food production in both Kosovo and North Macedonia.
Environmental, Social, and Governance Information Rating and Firm Uncertainty Perception, Evidence from China Listed Firms
Authors: Xu Fei , Zhu Xingyu , Li Mingke
Published: July 2024

Measuring firm value from an environmental, social, and governance perspective is a core concept of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), which contributes to the sustainable growth of firms. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between firms’ ESG performance and perceived economic uncertainty. Using a database of Chinese listed firms from 2011 to 2020, we find that firms with a good ESG performance are better able to resist changes in the external economic environment in the ESG rating system which still holds after a series of robustness tests and a discussion of endogeneity. The reason for this is that the ESG rating system better reduces information uncertainty between firms and the market, which allows firms to better focus on improving their technological and profit levels. In addition, companies with good ESG performance can provide more returns to investors. Our results highlight the necessity of aligning the interests between superior and subordinate governments and the importance of the supervision of superior governments in environmental decentralization. Our findings highlight the role of information communication in the market, especially in developing countries with imperfect information disclosure. It is all the more important to reduce information uncertainty between firms and other market players through mechanism building to achieve the long-term survival of quality firms.
A New Paradigm for Sustainable Supply Chain Management for Business Operation
Authors: Heebkhoksung Krongthong
Published: July 2024

Background: The rapid developments in society and population, climate change, and environmental challenges are crucial factors impacting business operations and sustainability. To adapt to these changes effectively, businesses need to understand these factors from the dimensions of society, the environment, and the economy. Method: This research investigates these factors by deploying a questionnaire to gather data from 400 participants and employing confirmatory factor analysis as well as structural equation modeling to identify the relationships among these factors. Results: This study confirms the significant role of policy and strategy in sustainable supply chain management for operations in the public sector and institutions. This new perspective allows stakeholders to respond to changes more effectively with sustainable supply chain management while maintaining flexibility in application. Additionally, this study identifies the dimension of institution and policy as another key factor. Conclusions: These findings provide in-depth insights into the key factors of sustainable supply chain management for business operations. These insights can aid in developing strategies and setting targets aligned with sustainable development goals, responding to changes in society, the environment, the economy, as well as in institutions and policy, leading to long-term sustainable business operations.
Optimal Pricing and Retailing Strategy for an Assembled Product Manufacturing–Remanufacturing Process under Carbon Emission Regulations and Autonomation
Authors: Dey Bikash Koli , Seok Hyesung , Chung Kwanghun
Published: July 2024

Online-to-offline (O2O) retailing offers unique opportunities for customizable assembled products with spare parts. Customers can browse and configure their desired product online, selecting from various components. Imperfect production, where a certain percentage of products have defects, can be amplified in the manufacturing system. Stricter carbon emission regulations put pressure on manufacturers to minimize waste. This creates a tension between discarding imperfect products, generating emissions, and potentially offering them at a discount through the O2O channel, which could raise quality concerns for consumers. In this study, an imperfect single-stage production process is examined, incorporating manufacturing–remanufacturing within a single stage for assembled products containing various spare parts. The study explores an investment scenario aimed at enhancing the environmental sustainability of the product. Additionally, two carbon emissions regulation strategies, specifically carbon cap-and-trade regulation and carbon taxation, are evaluated for their effectiveness in mitigating carbon footprints. The identification of waste, particularly in the form of defective items, is achieved through automated inspection techniques. The demand for spare parts associated with the assembled products is intricately linked to the selling prices set across diverse channels. Finally, the total profit of the manufacturing system is maximized with the optimized value of the selling prices, order quantity, backorder quantity, and investments in autonomated inspection, setup cost, and green technology. Numerical illustrations show that system profit was optimized when the defective rate followed a triangular distribution under carbon cap-and-trade regulation and when green technology investment helped to enhance retailer profit by 18.12%, whereas autonomated inspection increased retailer profit by 10.27%.
The Relationship between Smart Working and Workplace Social Capital: An Italian Case Study on Work Sustainability
Authors: D’Angelo Chiara , Negro Alice , Cassarino Irene
Published: July 2024

The post-pandemic era is characterized by the diffusion of smart working. A review of the scientific literature reveals studies that deepen the understanding of how smart working is linked to people’s well-being. Meanwhile, the literature refers to social capital within organizations as working social capital (WSC) and highlights its different dimensions, which have repercussions on both individual and organizational levels. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between these two constructs. The chosen methodology is a case study of an Italian company (“the Company”). The case study methodology does not aim to generalize results, but rather to provide a detailed and in-depth analysis of a specific context and process. The tool used is a semi-structured interview with all 13 members of the Company. The interviews were examined via thematic analysis. Data analysis was conducted using the software NVivo and both a top-down process from theoretical references and a bottom-up process following the IPA technique. Several themes emerged. The main benefits include flexible work schedules and locations, increased autonomy and comfort, work–life balance, well-being, higher productivity, and efficiency. On the other hand, the main difficulties include social isolation, lack of human contact, increased stress, overwork, the absence of fruitful informal relationships, and the uneasy inclusion of juniors. The impact of these changes on the workplace social capital of the Company is related, in both positive and negative ways, to the bonds between colleagues and clients, employees’ sense of belonging to the Company, new employee engagement, and the need for casual informal relations. From the interviews also emerged how smart working is closely linked to environmental sustainability (reduced pollution) and governance (reduced costs of commuting and workspaces). Introducing the relationship between smart working and WSC broadens the perspective to include social sustainability (physical and mental health, well-being and quality of life) as well. The challenge awaiting companies around the world is to establish a balance between smart working and protecting the dimensions of social capital.
Enhancing Renewable Energy Integration in Developing Countries: A Policy-Oriented Analysis of Net Metering in Pakistan Amid Economic Challenges
Authors: Khan Noor Saleem , Kazmi Syed Ali Abbas , Anwar Mustafa , Mughal Saqib Ur Rehman , Ullah Kafait , Rathi Mahesh Kumar , Salal Ahmad
Published: July 2024

Net metering (NM) is among the potent regulatory tools used globally for supporting distributed generation and renewable energy sources. This paper examines the trajectory of NM in a developing country such as Pakistan, analyzing the impact of regulatory changes, confidence-building strategies, hindering factors, and technical/financial issues. The three-stage methodology involves three components, namely techno-economic analysis, stakeholder engagement surveys, and impact analysis of financing mechanisms. This study emphasizes the importance of clear regulatory and financial frameworks, grid upgrades, and public–private partnerships for technology distribution in the context of a developing country with weak grid utilities and an import–export energy ratio. It also explores the role of financial incentives, such as tax breaks and subsidies, to encourage investment in NM systems from the perspective of lucrative rates, impact on paybacks, and return on investments, and proposes concrete solutions to enhance financial inclusion for ambitious renewable energy goals. Until April 2023, over 56,000 NM/distributed generation facilities were commissioned, with an installed capacity of 950 MW. By May 2024, the number of NM consumers reached ~100,000, with a 1950 MW capacity, nearly doubling. However, the import and export ratio of IESCO changed most, with 61% exports and 39% imports, directly impacting the revenue stream. A total of 60% of banks have adopted actions linked with green banking criteria, aiming to limit their environmental impact. The change in tariff will result in reduced ROI for NM consumers to 20%, and increase the payback period from less than 4 years to 13 years. Government subsidies, tax breaks, and green financing frameworks are proposed to encourage investment, but have been abruptly halted, and were previously at a 6% interest rate. This research aims to provide insights into effective market evaluation methodologies for NM programs and offer policy recommendations to strengthen legislative and institutional frameworks governing NM.
Topographic and Climatic Factors Effect Spatiotemporal Coupling Relationship of Soil Water Conservation Function with Vegetation in Source of the Yellow River
Authors: Zhang Xiaoning , Li Xiaodan , Nian Lili , Samuel Adingo , Liu Xingyu , Liu Xuelu , Hui Caihong , Zhang Miaomiao
Published: July 2024

The Gannan Water Conservation area is an indispensable part of the ecological barrier on the Tibetan Plateau and is a key ecological area for the water supply. Exploring the coupled coordination relationship between vegetation and soil contributes to the conservation and planning of the natural environment. In this study, soil water conservation function (SWCF) was investigated with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data in the Gannan Water Conservation Area at the source of the Yellow River, and the spatiotemporal coupling relationship between the SWCF and vegetation was explored. Meanwhile, their responses to topographic and climatic factors were investigated with structural equation models. The main results indicated that the coupling coordination degree (DVS) in the soil depth was in a barely coordinated state, with 0–10 cm > 20–30 cm > 10–20 cm, showing that the area proportion of ‘Basic balanced–Synchronous development of VEG and SWCF’ was the highest, and the spatial aggregation feature was obvious. As the gradient of topographic factors varied, the coupling coordination also varied at various soil depths. Meanwhile, the absolute values of the correlation coefficients of the temperature and precipitation with the coupling coordination were the highest at 20–30 cm compared to the other soil depths, demonstrating that the effect was more significant in deeper soils than in shallower ones. Furthermore, the path coefficients of the topographic factors were larger than those of the climatic factors in the 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm layers, while the opposite was true in the 0–10 cm layer. In general, the vegetation conditions and water conservation function of soil in the source area of the Yellow River are basically developing synchronously, and the topographic factor is the key factor for the geographical difference in the coupling relationship between the two factors.
Long-Term Performance of Natural Stone Cobbles for Paving Raised Junctions: Findings from over a Decade of Use
Authors: Majer Stanisław , Sołowczuk Alicja , Budziński Bartosz
Published: July 2024

Raised junctions (RJs) are chosen more and more frequently by town planners and road designers in traffic calming (TC) projects. This choice is supported by analyses of the existing transport systems in question. Where a few raised junctions have been designed for the project, use of different paving options may be worth consideration. This article describes a situation where a few RJs were placed on a short street section, all of which were provided with a cobblestone or cobblestone pavement (SBP). In order to verify the commercial viability of this option, we examined the traffic conditions, assessed the severity of condition of the pavements under analysis, and estimated the vehicle accelerations (ACs) and decelerations (DEs) in two chosen study areas, further referred to as the first and second study area. Two noise surveys were also carried out for the purposes of this research: the first one after a few years of operation and the second one after another ten years. Considering the problems of sustainable road construction, many environmental factors were taken into account in the studies. Based on the experimental results, we could assess the effectiveness of using RJs as the only TC measure in 30 km/h zones and check whether the severity of pavement condition depended on the AC and DE values and if SBP can be recommended to mitigate environmental impacts of street traffic. Finally, two pavement structures are proposed to choose from, depending on the local transport system conditions and streetscape characteristics. In addition, the authors recommend the use of solar-power elements at RJs to enhance their visibility and increase the traffic slowing effect.
Recovery and Characterization of Calcium-Rich Mineral Powders Obtained from Fish and Shrimp Waste: A Smart Valorization of Waste to Treasure
Authors: Antu Mst. Aspriya Rahman , Ali Md Sadek , Ferdous Mst Jannatul , Ahmed Md. Tanvir , Ali Md. Rasal , Suraiya Sharmin , Pangestuti Ratih , Haq Monjurul
Published: July 2024

With the increase in global aquaculture production, managing waste from aquatic biomass has become a significant concern. This research aimed to develop a sustainable valorization approach for recovering calcium-rich fish, including mackerel tuna and pangas bone and shrimp shell powders. The powders were characterized by various physicochemical and nutritional parameters, including proximate composition, amino acids, protein solubility, water holding capacity (WHC), oil holding capacity (OHC), and heavy metal contents. Color analysis and structural examination were carried out using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and in vitro radical scavenging activity was assessed. Significant protein content was observed in the powders, which was highest in shrimp shell powder (SSP) at 37.78%, followed by 32.29% in pangas bone powder (PBP) and 30.28% in tuna bone powder (TBP). The ash content was consistent in PBP and TBP at around 62.80%, while SSP had a lower ash content of 36.58%. Amino acid analysis detected 14 different amino acids in the recovered powders. Notably, SSP demonstrated the highest WHC and OHC values (2.90 and 2.81, respectively), whereas TBP exhibited the lowest values (1.11 for WHC and 1.21 for OHC). FE-SEM revealed the compact structure of TBP and PBP, contrasting with the porous surface of SSP. EDX analysis indicated higher calcium (24.52%) and phosphorus (13.85%) contents in TBP, while SSP was enriched in carbon (54.54%). All detected heavy metal concentrations were within acceptable limits. The recovered powders demonstrated significant ABTS free radical scavenging activity. The findings of this study suggest the suitability of the recovered powders for various food and pharmaceutical applications.
Systematic Review of the Agro-Ecological, Nutritional, and Medicinal Properties of the Neglected and Underutilized Plant Species Tylosema fassoglense
Authors: Munialo Sussy , Gasparatos Alexandros , Ludidi Ndiko , Ali Ali Elnaeim Elbasheir , Keyster Eden , Akanbi Musa Oyebowale , Emmambux Mohammad Naushad
Published: July 2024

Neglected and Under-utilized plant Species (NUS) can contribute to food system transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa, but many are understudied. Here, we conducted a systematic review of 37 empirical studies to synthesize the evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa about the agro-ecological characteristics, nutritional properties, and medicinal properties of the NUS Tylosema fassoglense. Overall, the evidence is highly fragmented and lacks a comprehensive description of the species characteristics, properties, and benefits. Most reviewed studies focus on the eastern part of Africa and a few on the southern part, suggesting its limited geographic distribution. Studies on agro-ecological properties, and especially on morphological characteristics, indicate that the species’ long tuberous roots and large vegetative systems help it adapt to harsh climatic conditions. The species is also utilized for medicinal and nutrition purposes by different communities across its range due to its phytochemical, macro-, and micronutrient content, along with its favorable physico-chemical properties. In particular, the seeds contain many different amino acids, while their calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and carbohydrate content is comparable to Tylosema esculuntum, the better studied species in the Tylosema genus. These demonstrate the species’ potential to contribute to nutrition and food security. Furthermore, parts of the plant contain many phytochemicals, such as phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoid, terpenoids, and tannins (mainly in the roots), and for this reason local communities use it to treat various conditions. Overall, our systematic review suggests that although Tylosema fassoglense has some potential to contribute towards food security, nutrition, health, and livelihoods, there are many remaining knowledge gaps that constrain its effective integration into agricultural production systems and possible contribution to food system transformation in the region.
Energy Potential of Existing Reversible Air-to-Air Heat Pumps for Residential Heating
Authors: Murano Giovanni , Caffari Francesca , Calabrese Nicolandrea
Published: July 2024

Heat pumps can be considered one of the key technologies to meet the building stock decarbonization target set by Europe. Especially in warm locations, many households have already incurred costs for the installation of air-to-air heat pumps, but, in most cases, they only use them in summer for cooling, while heating is provided by fuel-fired boilers. For these households, the goal of reducing primary energy consumption could be achieved almost cost-free by using heat pumps, that were installed for summer cooling, also for winter heating. Based on this assumption, this research aimed to evaluate the energy savings and environmental benefits that can be achieved by using air-to-air heat pumps instead of gas boilers as the main heating system, without additional costs except for the installation of electric radiators in bathrooms. To quantify variations in energy, environmental, and economic savings compared to the baseline condition, detailed simulations were conducted with the dynamic hourly calculation method (EN ISO 52016) in six different European locations, considering heat pumps with different efficiencies and two different building types. The analysis showed positive impacts at all sites due to the use of heat pumps, which can lead to primary energy savings ranging from about 20% to about 60%. The results varied according to outdoor climate, coefficient of performance of heat pumps, building type, and, on the economic side, the cost of energy. This research provides useful results for outlining decarbonization scenarios, assuming that heat pumps are one of the technologies needed to meet the EU’s climate neutrality goal.
IPR Protection and Sustainable Economic Growth: Domestic R&D Level and International R&D Trade Cooperation Perspective
Authors: Cheng Pengfei , Wang Mengzhen , Choi Baekryul
Published: July 2024

Based on theoretical analysis and research hypotheses, this study uses unbalanced panel data from 107 countries from 2008 to 2020 to empirically analyze the impact of intellectual property rights protection (IPRP) on sustainable economic growth (SEG). The results demonstrate that IPRP promotes SEG directly and indirectly by enhancing the accumulation of knowledge capital through domestic R&D and international R&D trade cooperation. Technological progress reduces the positive impact of IPRP on domestic R&D but amplifies the effect of domestic R&D on SEG. Furthermore, political stability enhances the positive effects of IPRP on international R&D trade cooperation and SEG. This research provides empirical evidence for the role of IPRP in sustainable development and offers policy insights for governments worldwide.
Enhancing Software Architecture Adaptability: A Comprehensive Evaluation Method
Authors: Li Qiuying , Zeng Fuping
Published: July 2024

The field of self-adaptive software is becoming increasingly crucial because software has to adapt its behavior at runtime to keep up with dynamic and constantly evolving environments. The ability of software to modify and adjust itself is known as adaptability, which has been acknowledged as an important quality attribute. As software architecture development represents the initial stage of the design process, architectural design has emerged as a critical development activity. The degree to which the architecture can adapt to changes will be the key factor in determining the adaptability of the software ultimately released to users. Existing metrics for software architectural adaptability typically view adaptability as a positive attribute, meaning that any possibility of change in architectural elements is perceived as an improvement in adaptability. However, the application of adaptability that leads to increased costs or complexity can only be seen as a negative attribute. In other words, the side effects brought about solely for the purpose of achieving adaptability are greatly overlooked; that is, the impacts caused by adaptability exhibit both symmetry and asymmetry for software architectural adaptability. On the other hand, the existing measures of adaptability only define it from the perspective of whether a module will change, without considering changes beyond the topological structure under multiple strategies. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive assessment approach to measure software architecture adaptability. Multiple factors are considered, including the number and types of strategies employed, the cost of completing the adaptation, the extent of changes made to the architectural elements, and the overall impact of the adaptation on the architecture. An extended UML (e-UML) component diagram is presented to model software architectural changes under various types of strategies. Finally, an experiment on the znn.com software is conducted to validate the practical feasibility of our proposed method. Our approach can assist software architects in making informed decisions regarding software architecture design options to improve the adaptability and longevity of their software systems.
Multidimensional Representation of Semantic Relations between Physical Theories, Fundamental Constants and Units of Measurement with Formal Concept Analysis
Authors: Espinosa-Aldama Mariana , Mendoza Sergio
Published: July 2024

We propose several hierarchical graphs that represent the semantic relations between physical theories, their fundamental constants and units of measurement. We begin with an alternative representation of Zel’manov’s cube of fundamental constants as a concept lattice. We then propose the inclusion of a new fundamental constant, Milgrom’s critical acceleration, and discuss the implications of such analysis. We then look for the same fundamental constants in a graph that relates magnitudes and units of measurement in the International System of Units. This exercise shows the potential of visualizing hierarchical networks as a tool to better comprehend the symmetries, interrelations and dependencies of physical magnitudes, units and theories. New regimes of application may be deduced, as well as an interesting reflection on our ontologies and corresponding theoretical objects.
Exploring Domestic Violence Causes in Saudi Arabia: Factor Analysis Approach
Authors: Alhelali Marwan H. , Alamri Osama Abdulaziz , Abdulrahman Alanazi Talal , Alomair Mohammed Ahmed , Alsaedi Basim S. O.
Published: July 2024

The objective of this research is to ascertain the elements that have an impact on and drive domestic violence in Saudi Arabia, a phenomenon that has a prevalence rate of around 35% among women globally. The researchers administered a survey to a sample of 550 individuals and used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to analyze the collected data. The findings revealed three factors: a lack of familial unity, encouragement of detrimental characteristics, and economic turmoil. The authors examined the consequences of these characteristics on preventive and intervention programs and proposed suggestions for policymakers and researchers. This research enhances the existing body of knowledge on domestic violence by conducting a statistical analysis to examine the factors that lead to it and the resulting outcomes within a particular cultural setting.
XGBoost-B-GHM: An Ensemble Model with Feature Selection and GHM Loss Function Optimization for Credit Scoring
Authors: Xia Yuxuan , Jiang Shanshan , Meng Lingyi , Ju Xin
Published: July 2024

Credit evaluation has always been an important part of the financial field. The existing credit evaluation methods have difficulty in solving the problems of redundant data features and imbalanced samples. In response to the above issues, an ensemble model combining an advanced feature selection algorithm and an optimized loss function is proposed, which can be applied in the field of credit evaluation and improve the risk management ability of financial institutions. Firstly, the Boruta algorithm is embedded for feature selection, which can effectively reduce the data dimension and noise and improve the model’s capacity for generalization by automatically identifying and screening out features that are highly correlated with target variables. Then, the GHM loss function is incorporated into the XGBoost model to tackle the issue of skewed sample distribution, which is common in classification, and further improve the classification and prediction performance of the model. The comparative experiments on four large datasets demonstrate that the proposed method is superior to the existing mainstream methods and can effectively extract features and handle the problem of imbalanced samples.
The Configuration Path of the New Rural Collective Economy to Promote the Common Prosperity of Farmers: Based on Qualitative Comparative Analysis Method and the Rural Cases in Zhejiang, China
Authors: Yi Shu , Zhang Mei , Huo Zenghui , Mao Yating
Published: July 2024

The new rural collective economy is an important external mechanism for promoting the common prosperity of Chinese farmers. At the same time, the livelihood capital of farmers provides an essential internal support. Achieving an effective match between the two elements is a significant research issue. This article, based on the survey data from 1024 rural households in 43 villages in Zhejiang Province, China, defines the economic functions, social functions, management functions, and cultural functions of the new rural collective economy. The study employs the qualitative comparative analysis method to explore the role of the new rural collective economy in the promotion of the common prosperity of rural households. The necessity analysis shows that the single-factor condition is not the necessary condition for the common prosperity of farmers. However, the adequacy analysis reveals that the linkage and match between the new rural collective economy and the farmers’ livelihood capital can create multiple equivalent pathways for the farmers’ common prosperity. These pathways include the economic function-driven model of the new rural collective economy, the driven model of the high-level livelihoods combined economic functions, the joint model of social function and management functions, the natural capital-driven model, and the joint model of human capital and social capital. Based on these findings, this article proposes targeted governance strategies, including creating pillar industries, strengthening public management services, expanding the scope of social services, and building a coordination mechanism between the new type of rural collective economy and farmers’ livelihood capital.
Study on the Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Antibiotics and Resistance Genes in Water Sources of Wuhan
Authors: Wang Jun , Yu Ying , Jiang Jiayi , Li Bolin , Xie Weimin , Li Gezi , Song Huanjie , Zhai Wanying , Li Ye
Published: July 2024

In contemporary society, the improper use of antibiotics leads to their persistent presence in the ecological environment. Due to the diverse physical and chemical properties of antibiotics, their spatial and temporal distribution in the environment varies. Moreover, antibiotics can stimulate the emergence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which complicates the monitoring and regulation of antibiotics and poses a significant threat to both aquatic and terrestrial environments. This study investigated the distribution of 15 antibiotics and 11 typical ARGs across four categories at 19 sites of drinking water sources in Wuhan, China. The findings revealed that the concentration of antibiotics during the dry season (nd~61,883 ng/L) was significantly higher compared to both the normal water season (nd~49,883 ng/L) and the wet season (nd~28,686 ng/L). Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfamethoxazole (SMD), sulfadiazine (SD), and roxithromycin (RTM) were the predominant antibiotics in the target water environments. The study indicated that most of the antibiotics analyzed posed little to no risk to aquatic organisms. The primary ARGs detected in the surface water of the study area were sul1, qnrD, and tetO. Furthermore, some ARGs showed a negative correlation with their respective antibiotics. Additional research is necessary to evaluate the impact of these emerging pollutants (antibiotics and ARGs) on the safety of high-quality drinking water for residents in Wuhan City.
Metabolome and Its Mechanism Profiling in the Synergistic Toxic Effects Induced by Co-Exposure of Tenuazonic Acid and Patulin in Caco-2 Cells
Authors: Qin Yuxian , Zhou Hongyuan , Yang Yulian , Guo Ting , Zhou Ying , Zhang Yuhao , Ma Liang
Published: July 2024

Tenuazonic acid (TeA), usually found in cereals, fruits, vegetables, oil crops, and their products, was classified as one of the highest public health problems by EFSA as early as 2011, but it has still not been regulated by legislation due to the limited toxicological profile. Moreover, it has been reported that the coexistence of TeA and patulin (PAT) has been found in certain agricultural products; however, there are no available data about the combined toxicity. Considering that the gastrointestinal tract is the physiological barrier of the body, it would be the first target site at which exogenous substances interact with the body. Thus, we assessed the combined toxicity (cell viability, ROS, CAT, and ATP) in Caco-2 cells using mathematical modeling (Chou-Talalay) and explored mechanisms using non-targeted metabolomics and molecular biology methods. It revealed that the co-exposure of TeA + PAT (12.5 μg/mL + 0.5 μg/mL) can induce enhanced toxic effects and more severe oxidative stress. Mechanistically, the lipid and amino acid metabolisms and PI3K/AKT/FOXO signaling pathways were mainly involved in the TeA + PAT-induced synergistic toxic effects. Our study not only enriches the scientific basis for the development of regulatory policies but also provides potential targets and treatment options for alleviating toxicities.
Viral Vector Based Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergy
Authors: Gonzalez-Visiedo Miguel , Herzog Roland W. , Munoz-Melero Maite , Blessinger Sophia A. , Cook-Mills Joan M. , Daniell Henry , Markusic David M.
Published: July 2024

Food allergy (FA) is estimated to impact up to 10% of the population and is a growing health concern. FA results from a failure in the mucosal immune system to establish or maintain immunological tolerance to innocuous dietary antigens, IgE production, and the release of histamine and other mediators upon exposure to a food allergen. Of the different FAs, peanut allergy has the highest incidence of severe allergic responses, including systemic anaphylaxis. Despite the recent FDA approval of peanut oral immunotherapy and other investigational immunotherapies, a loss of protection following cessation of therapy can occur, suggesting that these therapies do not address the underlying immune response driving FA. Our lab has shown that liver-directed gene therapy with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector induces transgene product-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs), eradicates pre-existing pathogenic antibodies, and protects against anaphylaxis in several models, including ovalbumin induced FA. In an epicutaneous peanut allergy mouse model, the hepatic AAV co-expression of four peanut antigens Ara h1, Ara h2, Ara h3, and Ara h6 together or the single expression of Ara h3 prevented the development of a peanut allergy. Since FA patients show a reduction in Treg numbers and/or function, we believe our approach may address this unmet need.
Phylogenetic and Evolutionary Analysis of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus in Guangxi Province, China, during 2020 and 2024
Authors: Shi Kaichuang , Li Biao , Shi Yuwen , Feng Shuping , Yin Yanwen , Long Feng , Pan Yi , Wei Yingyi
Published: July 2024

The variant porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has caused considerable economic losses to the global pig industry since 2010. In this study, a total of 5859 diarrhea samples were collected from different pig farms in China’s Guangxi province during January 2020 and March 2024 and tested for PEDV using RT-qPCR. The positivity rate of PEDV was 11.90% (697/5859). Ninety-two PEDV-positive samples were selected based on sampling time, and the sampling region for amplification, sequencing, and analysis of the S1, M, and N genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the S1 gene revealed that all strains from Guangxi province were distributed in three subgroups, i.e., 81.5% (75/92) in the G2a subgroup, 4.3% (4/92) in the G2b subgroup, and 14.1% (13/92) in the G2c subgroup. The sequence analysis revealed that the S1 gene sequences from Guangxi province had higher homology with the variant strains than with the classical strains, showing as high as 99.2% with the variant strain AJ1102 and only 94.3% with the classical strain CV777. Recombination analysis revealed that the GX-BS08-2023 strain (G2c) from Guangxi province originated from inter-lineage recombination between the GX-BS09-2023 (G2a) and CH-JN547228-2011 (G1a) strains. In addition, the S1 gene of the G2a and G2b subgroup strains shared many mutations and insertions. There were common mutations of N143D and P235L in the G2a subgroup. Evolutionary analysis revealed that all Guangxi strains belonged to the G2 genotype. These strains have spread rapidly since the PEDV variant strains that emerged in 2010, weakened until 2021, and then remained stable. In conclusion, the results revealed the latest genetic evolution of circulating PEDV strains in Guangxi province in recent years, providing important information for preventing and controlling PEDV infection. Currently, the G2a subgroup strains are the predominant strains circulating in pig herds in Guangxi province, southern China.