bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Good manufacturing practice in low‐ and middle‐income countries: Challenges and solutions for compliance
Authors: Chejor Pelden , Dorji Thinley , Dema Ngawang , Stafford Andrew 
Published: January 2024

AbstractApproximately 2 billion people globally have limited access to essential medicines, particularly those living in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). In addition, there is a higher prevalence of substandard and counterfeit medicines in LMICs, which may cause antimicrobial resistance and therapeutic failure. Good manufacturing practice (GMP) is key to ensuring access to high‐quality, safe and effective medicines, including active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients used for manufacturing finished dosage forms. Compliance with GMP standards saves resources for both manufacturers (e.g. avoiding expensive product recalls) and governments (e.g. minimising compliance inspections). Concerted collaborations among different countries to harmonise GMP standards and procedures have occurred, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) GMP is commonly used in LMICs. However, barriers to GMP compliance remain apparent, particularly in LMICs. Pharmaceutical manufacturers in LMICs face several barriers such as inadequate resources and infrastructure, inefficient or weak regulation, a shortage of skilled people and limited training opportunities for manufacturing personnel. Although national regulatory authorities (NRAs) have been established in LMICs, most NRAs are not fully independent and are placed within the health department. NRAs in LMICs are not able to fully utilise international and regional reliance mechanisms and collaborations. Therefore, both NRAs and pharmaceutical manufacturers must be adequately supported through resources, infrastructure and capacity‐building opportunities. NRAs must be suitably empowered with assured functional independence. A comprehensive guideline for managing conflicts of interest among pharmaceutical manufacturers, procurement agencies and NRAs is needed. NRAs must liaise with other NRAs, participate in joint GMP inspections and leverage the expertise of regional or international collaborations. Pharmaceutical manufacturers in LMICs can leverage WHO GMP standards to improve GMP compliance and expand their market. However, as these solutions may have cost implications, prioritising key gaps for GMP compliance and optimisation of available resources are essential.
A union's and university's responses to violence against a woman professor: Neoliberal restructuring, hypermasculinity, male privilege and hegemonic inequality
Authors: Majerski Maria M. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAlthough Eastern Canadian liberal arts universities are portrayed as progressive work environments that cultivate inclusivity and diversity, the corporatisation of these public spaces has transformed them from institutions that once encouraged pluralism and acceptance among all social groups to spaces that unevenly distribute privileges among faculty and students based on ascribed characteristics, social class, and adherence to cisnormative and heteronormative expectations. Under neoliberal reforms, universities and unions adopt their own policies and procedures that legitimate institutional power abuse over marginalised women Contract Limited Term (CLT) assistant professors. Using material evidence from complaints filed with a province's Human Rights Commission and Labour Board, this critical autoethnographic case study explores the institutionalised responses to a disenfranchised woman CLT's discrimination and harassment by a student, departmental chair, faculty and university staff. A theory of genocidal mobbing is developed to conceptualise the organisational processes and practices that maintain the status quo of white heteropatriarchy and disentitle women CLTs to safety, equality and fair representation by their unions. Genocidal mobbing is efficient, because misogynistic administrators only require weaponising one disgruntled student, and effective, because administrators utilise the most fatal and insidious of gendered narcissistic abuse: gaslighting. The current neoliberal climate within academia puts marginalised women faculty at increased risk of genocidal mobbing from those with institutional power and from students with ethnic/racial and/or economic privilege. This article illuminates the union's culpability in the genocidal mobbing of women CLTs disenfranchised by multiple marginalised intersectional identities. Implications for future research and on policy are presented.
Study on purification effect of river ammonia nitrogen and optimization of layout parameters in the combination of ecological spur dikes and deep pool shoals: Experiments and MIKE21
Authors: Wang Qihang , Li Songmin , Wang Xiaoling , Chen Yitian , Zheng Yazhi , Dong Guangyao 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe construction of ecological spur dikes and deep pool shoals can increase the diversity of water flow structures while also hastening the transport and transformation of pollutants. However, current research has paid little attention to the effects of the arrangement parameters on water purification capacity when the ecological spur dikes and deep pool shoals are combined. In this study, we investigated the purification capacity of ammonia nitrogen using the combination of spur dikes and deep pool shoals through laboratory flume experiments and numerical simulation. The laboratory flume experiments revealed that the combination of staggered spur dikes and the opposite side deep pool shoals provided the most effective purification. Secondly, in order to obtain the optimal arrangement parameters for the combination of ecological spur dikes and deep pool shoals more easily, the numerical model based on MIKE21 was validated using experimental results and applied to Section 2 of the Shiqiao River in Nanling County, Wuhu City, Anhui Province. The numerical simulation showed that the length of the spur dikes had the greatest impact on the purification effect, followed by the spacing of the spur dikes and the width of the deep pool shoals, the angle of the spur dikes, the spacing of the deep pool shoals, and the length of the deep pool shoals had the least effect. The optimal parameters for the combination of spur dikes and deep pool shoals are as follows: spur dike parameters: 60°(angle), 10 m(length), 17 m(spacing); deep pool shoal parameters: 60 m(length), 10 m(width), and 210 m(spacing).
Inclusion for STEM, the institution, or minoritized youth? Exploring how educators navigate the discourses that shape social justice in informal science learning practices
Authors: Dawson Emily , Bista Raj , Colborne Amanda , McCubbin Beau‐Jensen , Godec Spela , Patel Uma , Archer Louise , Mau Ada 
Published: January 2024

AbstractUnderstanding equitable practice is crucial for science education since science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and STEM learning practices remain significantly marked by structural inequalities. In this paper, building on theories of discourse and situated meaning developed by Foucault, Gee, and Sedgewick, we explore how educators navigated discourses about social justice in informal science learning (ISL) across four UK sites. We draw on qualitative, multimodal data across 5 years of a research–practice partnership between a university, a zoo, a social enterprise working to support girls and nonbinary youth in STEM, a community digital arts center, and a science center. We identify three key discourses that shaped social justice practices across all four practice–partner sites: (1) “inclusion” for STEM, (2) “inclusion” for the institution, and (3) “inclusion” for minoritized youth. We discuss how educators (n = 17) enacted, negotiated, resisted, and reworked these discourses to create equitable practice. We argue that while the three key discourses shaped the possible meanings and practices of equitable ISL in different ways, educators used their agency and creativity to develop more expansive visions of social justice. We discuss how the affordances, pitfalls, and contradictions that emerged within and between the three discourses were strategically navigated and disrupted by educators to support the minoritized youth they worked with, as well as to protect and promote equity in ISL. This paper contributes to research on social justice in ISL by grounding sometimes abstract questions about power and discourse in ISL educators' everyday work.
Does environmental credit rating policy improve corporate ESG performance?
Authors: Cao Yu , Tao Lan , Zhang Yan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractEnvironmental credit evaluation is essential for the establishment of an environmental financial system, but most studies have focused on the impact of green financial instruments such as green credit and green bonds, resulting in insufficient attention to this core aspect. This study examines the impact of environmental credit evaluation on firm ESG performance using a staggered difference‐in‐differences model based on China's environmental credit rating policy. By analyzing data from 2010 to 2020 on 1018 publicly listed firms in high‐pollution industries in China, this study finds that the implementation of the environmental credit rating policy significantly improves ESG performance. This positive impact is realized through enhancing environmental information transparency, strengthening external supervision, and alleviating financing constraints.
Construction and psychometric properties of the sustainable behavior questionnaire among Italian adults
Authors: Fabio Rosa Angela , Croce Alessandra , Calabrese Chiara 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to develop and validate the Sustainable Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ), a comprehensive tool for assessing environmentally sustainable behaviors among Italian adults. Drawing on established theories and scales, the SBQ was refined through a two‐part study. Study 1 involved reviewing the literature, selecting items, and conducting exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on responses from 219 participants. This process resulted in a four‐factor structure: “purchase behavior and awareness,” “reusing and recycling,” “reducing,” and “walking” and “use of public transport.” Study 2, comprising 432 participants, confirmed the four‐factor structure through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and established the SBQ's convergent validity with Intention Sustainable Behavior (ISBQ) and Environment Sustainable Value and Norms (ESVN) measures. The SBQ demonstrated robust internal consistency, providing a reliable instrument for assessing sustainable behaviors. This research contributes to the field by offering a psychometrically sound questionnaire for evaluating sustainable behaviors among Italian adults and further understanding their role in promoting environmental conservation and well‐being.
Urban sustainable development: Unraveling regional land development intensity dynamics and future trends in China
Authors: Li Jiawen , Tian Guiliang , Wu Zheng , Zhao Qiuya , Meng Yihang , Xia Qing 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAccompanying the ongoing progression of urbanization, the issue of imbalanced regional land development has become increasingly severe in China. Understanding the current status and changing trends of land development intensity (LDI) is crucial for optimizing the regional land development landscape. In light of this study proposed an new analytical framework of “evaluation‐process‐mechanism‐prediction” to investigate land development intensity in China. Building upon LDI the assessment, this study analyzed spatiotemporal evolution patterns. Subsequently, The Geodetector model was used to explore the factors influencing LDI from four perspectives: policy, society, economy, and nature. Finally, the SSA‐LSTM model was employed to predict the LDI in 2026. The results revealed the following: (1) From 2006 to 2021, the average LDI in China exhibited a continuous upward trend, showcasing diverse development characteristics. Regional disparities were prominent, presenting an overall upward trend from east to west and from south to north. (2) Factors influencing LDI have gradually shifted from being primarily driven by social factors, while also considering natural and policy factors, to being primarily driven by economic factors, while also considering social factors. (3) Based on the forecast, the average LDI is projected to increase and maintain an upward trend. However, the range will reach 6.22, indicating an increasingly pronounced “insufficient and imbalanced” trend among provinces and municipalities.
Pd(II)‐Catalyzed Aerobic Alcohol Oxidation for Multicomponent Synthesis of 2,3‐Dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones in Water
Authors: Kobayashi Masakazu , Kataoka Sayaka , Nakayama Taku , Kikkawa Shoko , Hikawa Hidemasa , Azumaya Isao 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWe describe a multicomponent reaction between isatoic anhydrides, alkylamines and benzylic alcohols using Pd(II)/TPPMS catalyst with cocatalytic Cu(II) salt in water. This cascade reaction involves the catalytic dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde under aerobic conditions, followed by cyclocondensation with in situ generated 2‐aminobenzamides, allowing rapid access to 2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones (DHQs). This practical method enables direct access to a series of DHQs without strong bases and hazardous oxidants. Mechanistic studies reveal that the multicomponent reaction is first order with respect to the concentrations of benzyl alcohol and catalysts, and proceeds independently of the concentration of the 2‐aminobenzamide intermediate.
Bribery, insecurity, and firm performance: Evidence from the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria
Authors: Dimitriadis Stefan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractResearch SummaryDuring armed conflicts, when the rule of law collapses, bribery often becomes prevalent. Yet, the effect of bribery on firm performance under those circumstances remains unclear. Bribery could provide access to scarce resources, but it could also be the result of extortion. This study argues that bribes can improve firm performance during certain conflicts, when violence reduces public officials' ability to threaten firms. Using longitudinal data from businesses in Nigeria during the Boko Haram insurgency in 2009–2014, I find that firms exposed to Boko Haram attacks that bribed outperformed firms that did not bribe. Qualitative data suggest that the insurgency limited public officials' ability to threaten firms, making bribes less a means of rent extraction and more a way for firms to access resources.Managerial SummaryIn many economies, bribery is widespread despite being illegal. This study shows that during times of violent conflict bribery can be a way for firms to maintain operations despite the disruption. Using data from firms in Nigeria during the 2009–2014 Boko Haram insurgency, I find that firms that bribed tended to suffer less from the effects of the insurgency. Bribing firms were better able to secure protection and access transportation networks. At the same time, the conflict reduced local officials' ability to extort firms, making bribes less likely to involve extortion. These results highlight the extreme circumstances that firms face during violent conflicts and the illicit practices that may enable them to survive in the short run.
Piezoelectric Polymer Solid Electrolyte Integrating Electromechanical Coupling and Ferroelectric Polarization Effects
Authors: Kang Junbao , Zhao Jiaxuan , Jiang Peng , Gao Lu , Zhao Yixia , Cheng Bowen , Deng Nanping , Kang Weimin 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe unsatisfactory lithium‐ion conductivity (σ) and limited mechanical strength of polymer solid electrolytes hinder their wide applications in solid‐state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs). Here, a thin piezoelectric polymer solid electrolyte integrating electromechanical coupling and ferroelectric polarization effects has been designed and prepared to achieve long‐term stable cycling of SSLMBs. The ferroelectric Bi4Ti3O12 nanoparticle (BIT NPs) loaded poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) piezoelectric nanofibers (B‐P NFs) membranes are introduced into the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix, endowing the composite electrolyte with unique polarization and piezoelectric effects. The piezoelectric nanofiber membrane with a 3D network structure not only promotes the dissociation of lithium (Li) salts through the polarization effect but also cleverly utilizes the coupling effect of a mechanical stress‐local electric field to achieve dynamic regulation of the Li electroplating process. Through the corresponding experimental tests and density functional theory calculations, the intrinsic mechanism of piezoelectric electrolytes improving σ and suppressing Li dendrites is fully revealed. The obtained piezoelectric electrolyte has achieved stable cycling of LiFePO4 batteries over 2000 cycles and has also shown good practical application potential in flexible pouch batteries.
Long‐term behavior of slender long‐span precast prestressed high‐strength concrete girders
Authors: Fernandes Paulo , Cavaco Eduardo , do Carmo Ricardo , Maranha Paulo , Júlio Eduardo 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe long‐term behavior of slender (1/40) long‐span precast high‐strength concrete girders was experimentally investigated regarding their use as a competitive solution in relation to steel alternatives for highway overpasses. The time‐dependent effects of full‐scale girders has rarely been addressed, particularly the influence of creep and shrinkage of concrete with compressive strengths around 120 MPa. Two half‐scale girder specimens were produced using an economically optimized and high‐strength concrete mixture, nonfiber reinforced, designed only with conventional raw materials, currently available at Portuguese precast companies, and subjected to long‐term loading, with a magnitude of approximately 50% of the failure load in bending, during a period of 3.75 years. Using the same mixture, prismatic specimens were also produced and subjected to long‐term loading at 24 h and 7 days of age to assess both creep and shrinkage. Results show that the age of concrete at the loading day is of paramount importance regarding the time‐dependent effects. These are most relevant during the first days of loading and tend to stabilize from the 112th day of loading onward. The time‐dependent girder's mid‐span deflection at the end of the 3.75 years did not exceed more than 50% of the initial deformation. Comparison of results with those obtained with Model Code 2010 and the current version of Eurocode 2 shows that these underestimate strains and deflections due to creep, mostly because the short‐term development of these effects, occurring during the first days of loading, are not adequately represented. On the contrary, a sound agreement between experimental and theoretical values, both in short and long term, was obtained using the Auperin et al. approach.
Experimental investigation of seismic behavior of precast pier‐footing socket connection with different design parameters
Authors: Yang Jun , Guo Tong , Zeng Cihang , Shi Huiduo , Fu Chenxi 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAccelerated bridge construction, with innovative connection details and construction technologies, has been extensively investigated and put into practical application for years. Nowadays, there are three commonly used connection methods of accelerated bridge construction technology, namely, lap‐spliced connection, sleeve connection, and socket connection. Due to the convenience of construction and lower requirements of construction accuracy, the socket connection is more suitable for reconstruction and expansion projects of traffic infrastructure, which could minimize the impact on traffic and accelerate construction progress. According to the structural characteristics of the socket connection, there are some design parameters that may significantly affect the seismic resistance of the structure, such as socket embedment length, fabrication of the shear key, and grouting material strength. To fully study the influence of different design parameters on structural performance, an experiment was carried out to investigate the seismic behavior of the precast pier‐footing socket connections with different design parameters. Five 1:2 scale reinforced concrete precast pier‐footing socket connection specimens with different design parameters were designed and tested under cyclically reversed horizontal loads. The development of hysteresis features, failure mode, load‐bearing capacity, stiffness degradation, structural ductility, energy dissipation capacity, and residual drift are analyzed to reveal the influence of the different design parameters on the seismic behavior of the precast pier‐footing socket connection. The seismic behavior of the precast pier‐footing socket connection was significantly influenced by the embedment length especially when the embedment length was less than 1.0bc. When the embedment length was 0.5bc, the failure mode changed from bending damage at the bottom of the precast pier to the anchorage failure of the precast pier‐footing socket connection. When the embedment length was 1.5bc, the fabrication of the shear key had limited improvement on the seismic performance of the specimen, while reducing the ductility of the specimen. When the embedment length was 1.0bc, the grouting material with a strength grade of C60 could be used in the socket connection between the precast pier and footing. The research presented in this paper provides some design suggestions and a technical basis for evaluating the seismic behavior of precast pier‐footing structures with socket connection.
Typification of names relevant to a revision ofZingiber(Zingiberaceae) in China
Authors: Bai Lin , Xia Nianhe , Leong‐Škorničková Jana 
Published: January 2024

SummaryZingiber(Zingiberaceae: Zingibereae) is an economically important but taxonomically difficult genus, with names frequently misapplied. Here, we thoroughly review all names corresponding to the currently recognised 54 species from China including their synonyms, and clarify the status of their types. Lectotypes are designated for 40 names (including one second‐step), neotypes for 3 names, and epitypes for 3 names. Additional and often uncited isotypes have been discovered for numerous names, and such additional records are here provided.Tupistra bambusifoliavar.rubromaculosa,Z. simaoense,Z. confineandZ. larseniiare newly treated as synonyms ofZ. atrorubens,Z. densissimum,Z. officinaleandZ. recurvatumrespectively. A new combination,Z. bambusifolium, is proposed, based onTupistra bambusifolia.This study will form the nomenclatural basis of an ongoing taxonomic revision of the genus in China, and phylogenetic study of the genus.