Search Results (55,096)

Social capital refers to the formation of relationships, or working collectively, to achieve a common outcome. The objective of the current study is to determine whether community-based agricultural policy initiatives can succeed in the absence of consistently strong levels of individual farmer social capital behaviors. Targeting farmers from Turkey’s Konya region who also took part in a household survey, we present findings from a hypothetical field experiment of how farmers would allocate wheat endowment during a drought. We found that farmers allocated 48% of wheat endowment to social capital choices. Our results indicate that the more a farmer relies on himself or herself and resources available outside of the community, the less likely it is that the farmer will invest in community efforts. Full article

Background: Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1) repairs damages in DNA induced by abortive topoisomerase 1 activity; however, maintenance of genetic integrity may sustain cellular division of neoplastic cells. It follows that Tdp1-targeting chemical inhibitors could synergize well with existing chemotherapy drugs to deny cancer growth; therefore, identification of Tdp1 inhibitors may advance precision medicine in oncology. Objective: Current computational research efforts focus primarily on molecular docking simulations, though datasets involving three-dimensional molecular structures are often hard to curate and computationally expensive to store and process. We propose the use of simplified molecular input line entry system (SMILES) chemical representations to train supervised machine learning (ML) models, aiming to predict potential Tdp1 inhibitors. Methods: An open-sourced consensus dataset containing the inhibitory activity of numerous chemicals against Tdp1 was obtained from Kaggle. Various ML algorithms were trained, ranging from simple algorithms to ensemble methods and deep neural networks. For algorithms requiring numerical data, SMILES were converted to chemical descriptors using RDKit, an open-sourced Python cheminformatics library. Results: Out of 13 optimized ML models with rigorously tuned hyperparameters, the random forest model gave the best results, yielding a receiver operating characteristics-area under curve of 0.7421, testing accuracy of 0.6815, sensitivity of 0.6444, specificity of 0.7156, precision of 0.6753, and F1 score of 0.6595. Conclusions: Ensemble methods, especially the bootstrap aggregation mechanism adopted by random forest, outperformed other ML algorithms in classifying Tdp1 inhibitors from non-inhibitors using SMILES. The discovery of Tdp1 inhibitors could unlock more treatment regimens for cancer patients, allowing for therapies tailored to the patient’s condition. Full article

Background: This paper investigates the impact of Ecuador’s Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES), enacted in 2010, which mandated comprehensive reforms in higher education. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether the implementation of the LOES has led to a significant increase in academic publications in Ecuador, thereby contributing to sustainable educational practices and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, sustainability refers to the ongoing capacity of higher education institutions to generate research that contributes to the long-term development of knowledge, aligns with global sustainability goals, and ensures educational practices that are responsive to societal needs. Methods: Using a synthetic control method, this study evaluates the impact of the LOES on the number of academic publications recorded in Scopus. A synthetic control consisting of data from countries with similar educational and economic profiles serves as a counterfactual to Ecuador’s situation. Results: Before the LOES, the average annual number of publications was stable at 253.4 per year. Post-2010, this number surged, reaching an average of 3645.84 publications per year, representing a 358.41% increase. By 2023, the actual number of publications in Ecuador rose to approximately 6584, significantly surpassing the synthetic control estimate of 1431 publications. Conclusions: The findings confirm that the LOES has been effective in increasing research output and advancing educational sustainability in Ecuador. This analysis not only contributes to the literature on the impact of educational policies but also demonstrates the utility of synthetic control methods in assessing policy effectiveness, underscoring the potential of targeted interventions to promote academic excellence and sustainability in education. Full article

Industrial solid residual waste (ISRW) generated during and/or due to the making of energy, heat, and raw materials poses a major threat to a sustainable future due to its large production quantities and complex characteristics. Especially improper disposal of ISRW (e.g., coal ashes, municipal waste residue, and biomass ashes) not only threatens human health but can also cause environmental hazards such as water, soil, and air pollution, upsetting the global balance. Given the environmental impacts as well as increasingly stringent disposal regulations, lack of landfills, and economic constraints, more sustainable and naturally friendly management strategies are being adopted for ISRW. While numerous studies in the literature have considered various characteristics of ISRW, a complete appraisal of the entire practice, from making to disposal, is still lacking. This paper presents an overview of the making, features, and traditional and innovative managing tactics of ISRW within the context of a general legal framework. This paper provides a scientific review of the various production types, global production quantities, and characteristics of ISRW. Additionally, the orthodox management strategies of ISRWs are scrutinized from a sociological and ecological standpoint, and diverse techniques for more viable and secure management are elucidated. This review culminates in an examination of the global impact and advantages of ISRW management policies based on legislation and regulations. Consequently, this paper seeks to elucidate the extant practices and a few recent advancements pertaining to ISRWs. Additionally, it underscores the ecological, sociological, and economic issues engendered by ISRWs and proposes innovative applications and production technologies. Full article

Background: Dietary habits are pivotal for population health and well-being, yet remain a pressing global issue, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where economic instability and institutional challenges exacerbate dietary problems. Despite extensive research, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the direct and interactive effects of institutional quality and inflationary shocks on dietary habits. Methods: This study delves into these complex interplays across 44 SSA nations from 2002 to 2022. Employing an innovative entropy method (EM) and the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) modeling, the study introduces an inclusive institutional quality index and an inflationary shock predictor as crucial determinants of dietary habits in the literature. Results: The results from the panel-corrected standard error (PCSE) method and feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) model reveal that per capita GDP, school enrollment rate, government expenditures, globalization index, and urbanization are positively associated with population dietary habits, while inflationary shock, food insecurity, and unemployment rate exert negative influences. Notably, institutional quality acts as a catalyst, amplifying the positive effects of the former group and absorbing the negative impacts of the latter on population dietary habits. Additionally, a dynamic panel causality analysis confirms a bidirectional causality nexus between population dietary habits and all variables, except for inflationary shocks, which demonstrate a unidirectional causality link. Conclusions: These findings carry significant policy implications, underscoring the complex dynamics between institutional quality, inflationary shocks, and dietary habits in the region. The bidirectional causality highlights the need for holistic interventions that address economic, social, and institutional factors simultaneously. Moreover, the unidirectional causality of inflationary shocks on dietary habits suggests that stabilizing inflation is critical to protecting dietary habits. These results provide critical insights for policymakers to design targeted interventions aimed at improving nutrition, bolstering institutional frameworks, and ensuring public health resilience in the face of economic and social shocks. Full article

Digitalization represents a pivotal global development trend and serves as a significant force propelling economic and social transformation. This manuscript uses the global Malmquist–Luenberger (GML) model to estimate green total factor productivity (GTFP) across 284 Chinese cities from 2003 to 2018, taking the pilot policy of “construction and application of e-government public platforms based on cloud computing” as an example to assess the impact of government digital transformation on the qualitative development of the economy by using a difference-in-differences model to explore the path of its role and driving mechanism. The results reveal that government digital transformation promotes the qualitative improvement of the city’s economic development, and its driving effect shows a marginal incremental law. Moreover, government digital transformation can contribute to the formation of a “latecomer advantage” in the lagging regions, which creates a “catch-up effect” on the regions with favorable development foundations, excellent geographical conditions, high urban ranking, and high education quality. Additionally, government digital transformation boosts economic and social development quality through both innovation spillover and structural optimization. Full article

We analyze the loan portfolios of United States banks from 2013 to 2023, showing that high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) banks have larger shares of consumer loans and commercial loans and smaller shares of construction loans and real estate loans. We also find that the governance pillar (G) is more tightly related to the bank loan composition compared to the environmental (E) and social (S) pillars. Furthermore, we show that construction loans and real estate loans decrease more considerably with bank ESG scores inside countries with high gas emissions, i.e., where ESG issues would arguably be more serious. Our interpretation is that sustainable banks are reluctant in lending money for real estate projects, exposing them to potentially high ESG risk. These findings contribute to developing a deeper insight about the relationship between ESG and bank lending, which, in the previous literature, has been treated more frequently in aggregate terms instead of separating loan types. Our outcomes suggest that sustainability is crucial for the availability of funds in the real estate sector, delivering important insights to bank and real estate managers, besides policy makers. Full article

Enhancing the sustainability of the non-timber forest products industry has dual significance for both the management of local forest resources and socio-economic development. This paper adopts a systems theory perspective to construct an analytical model for the sustainable development of non-timber forest products, based on a “social-economic-natural” framework. By analyzing case studies of non-timber forest products industry sustainability from four underdeveloped counties in China, the paper derives the following main conclusions and insights: The sustainability of non-timber forest products development models is influenced by factors such as resource endowments and institutional environments and includes both single and composite models. Underdeveloped regions can achieve considerable sustainability in the development of non-timber forest products, but this requires a rational allocation of six key elements—policy, model, stakeholders, natural resources, funding, and technology—to stimulate industry growth. To promote the sustainable development of this industry, optimization should be pursued across five aspects: “policy leadership and top-level design to guide industry development”, “selection of appropriate development models based on local natural endowments and socio-economic foundations”, “large enterprise-driven mechanisms to form multi-stakeholder interest connections”, “focus on product technology research and development, and establishment of technical training mechanisms”, and “market-driven funding to develop product sales markets”. Full article

Since existing studies primarily explore green development measures from the static perspective of a single airport stakeholder, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model to analyze the strategic choices of three key stakeholders: airport authorities, third-party organizations, and government departments, based on evolutionary game theory. By solving the stable strategy of the tripartite evolution using the Jacobian matrix, the green transition of airport development can be divided into three stages: “initiation”, “development”, and “maturity”, allowing for the exploration of key factors influencing the green transition of airport development. A simulation analysis is conducted based on real Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport data. The results indicate that the tripartite evolutionary game strategy is stable at E₄(0,0,1), and the green transition of Baiyun Airport remains in the development stage. By improving the reward and punishment mechanisms of government departments, the evolutionary game strategy can be stabilized at E₈(1,1,1), promoting the green transition of airport development toward the mature stage. By adjusting the game parameters, the dynamic process of green transition in airports at different levels of development and under varying regulatory environments can be effectively captured, supporting the precise formulation of corresponding policies. Full article

Mine gas accidents have received widespread attention at home and abroad, because mine gas accidents often cause casualties and property losses once they occur. This study was conducted in order to have a more comprehensive understanding of the research status of and research hotspots in coal mine gas management at home and abroad, and to provide references for relevant researchers’ studies and literature searches. Using the Web of Science (WOS) core database as the data source, this paper analyzed the data from the period of 2000–2023 under the headings of “gas governance”, “Gas Control Technology”, “Pre-mining gas methods in coal mines”, “Methods of Gas Mining in Coal Mines”, “Post-mining gas”, and “Post-mining gas methods in coal mines”. “Methods in Coal Mines”, “Methods of Gas Mining in Coal Mines”, and “Post-mining Gas Methods in Coal Mines” were searched, and the CiteSpace tool was utilized to provide a multi-dimensional visual presentation of the literature, including authors, the number of journals issued, countries of issue, keywords, etc., in order to explore the research hotspots in this field. The analysis results show the following: the development process in the field of gas prevention and control is mainly divided into the three stages of initial exploration, steady development, and explosive surge; China, Australia, and the United States are the top three countries in terms of the number of articles published, and they have a greater influence in the field, but there is a closer connection between the regions in Europe; a certain group size has been formed by the researchers and research institutes in this field, the China University of Mining and Technology is more active in this field, ranking as the first in terms of the number of articles issued, and it has a cooperative relationship with many universities; Kai Wang and Enyuan Wang are the core authors in this field, while C. Ozgen Karacan also has a large body of research in the field, and his research results are widely recognized; the main journals issued in this field are Fuel and Energy Policy, while other journals have been frequently cited, and these journals have an important role in the field. In these journals, “Coal mine methane: A review of capture and utilization practices with benefits to mining safety and to greenhouse gas reduction” is one of the most important articles in the field. Thin coal seams, coal mining workings, and coal and gas protrusion are current research hotspots. Full article

The carbon quota allocation method serves as the foundation for the design of the carbon trading mechanism, which has a significant impact on supply chain production decisions and the operational efficiency of the carbon trading market. To analyze the behavioral decision problem of supply chain members under different carbon quota allocation methods, the low-carbon reference effect is introduced to characterize the effect of consumers’ low-carbon preference on market demand. On this basis, three differential game models are constructed, namely, no emissions penalty, trading under the grandfathering principle, and trading under the benchmarking principle. The results indicate that the implementation of carbon trading policies enhances consumers’ low-carbon reference levels, the carbon emission reduction levels of manufacturers, and the low-carbon publicity levels of retailers. Moreover, the enhancement of the low-carbon reference effect becomes a positive driver of profit growth. Manufacturers are observed to make more efforts in carbon reduction under the benchmarking principle compared to the grandfathering principle. In contrast, the level of low-carbon publicity by retailers remains unchanged. The above findings can provide a scientific basis for the decision-making of emission reduction in low-carbon supply chain enterprises, which has certain theoretical significance. Full article

Scientific evaluation of cultivated land quality (CLQ) is necessary for promoting rational utilization of cultivated land and achieving one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Zero Hunger. However, the CLQ evaluation system proposed in previous studies was diversified, and the methods were inefficient. In this study, based on China’s first national standard “Cultivated Land Quality Grade” (GB/T 33469-2016), we constructed a unified county-level CLQ evaluation system by selecting 15 indicators from five aspects—site condition, environmental condition, physicochemical property, nutrient status and field management—and used the Delphi method to calculate the membership degree of the indicators. Taking Jimo district of Shandong Province, China, as a case study, we compared the performance of three machine learning models, including random forest, AdaBoost, and support vector regression, to evaluate CLQ using multi-temporal remote sensing data. The comprehensive index method was used to reveal the spatial distribution of CLQ. The results showed that the CLQ evaluation based on multi-temporal remote sensing data and machine learning model was efficient and reliable, and the evaluation results had a significant positive correlation with crop yield (r was 0.44, p < 0.001). The proportions of cultivated land of high-, medium- and poor-quality were 27.43%, 59.37% and 13.20%, respectively. The CLQ in the western part of the study area was better, while it was worse in the eastern and central parts. The main limiting factors include irrigation capacity and texture configuration. Accordingly, a series of targeted measures and policies were suggested, such as strengthening the construction of farmland water conservancy facilities, deep tillage of soil and continuing to construct well-facilitated farmland. This study proposed a fast and reliable method for evaluating CLQ, and the results are helpful to promote the protection of cultivated land and ensure food security. Full article

Urbanization has driven the growth of high-rise residential areas, creating unique challenges for enhancing residents’ well-being, especially in large metropolitan regions. This study investigated the impact of smart green spaces—green areas integrated with technology to optimize environmental benefits—on environmental awareness, social cohesion, and life satisfaction in these dense urban environments. Utilizing data collected from questionnaires and field interviews in seven representative high-rise residential areas in Guangzhou, China, the structural equation model (SEM) was employed to explore the complex effects of smart green spaces. The findings reveal positive correlations between the presence, accessibility, and technological features of smart green spaces, which contribute to heightened environmental awareness, strengthened social bonds among residents, and increased life satisfaction. These results emphasize the diverse benefits of urban green spaces enhanced by smart technologies, beyond their aesthetic and recreational roles. This study suggests that strategic planning and policy initiatives focused on the development and operation of smart green spaces can substantially improve urban residents’ well-being by fostering environmental consciousness, promoting community interaction, and enhancing the overall quality of life in high-rise residential settings. These insights are crucial for urban planners, policymakers, and community stakeholders, providing a blueprint for leveraging smart green spaces in creating sustainable, resilient, and livable urban environments. Full article

Mpox, also known as Monkeypox, is an infectious disease known to spread via direct contact and fomites, which poses a significant contagion risk in surgical settings and may increase the challenges already posed by COVID-19. Within the three years following the outbreak of Mpox, we conducted a review of the impact of Mpox on surgical practice. We searched Pubmed/Medline and Scopus, focusing on original studies and case reports in English or German. Our search terms included “Mpox”, “Monkeypox”, and “Surgery”. Out of 60 clinical or epidemiological studies, as well as expert opinions, brief reports, and pertinent literature reviews, eight were included after full-text assessment. We also incorporated two pertinent literature reviews, including a total of 10 papers, in this analysis. The main topics addressed by the literature are 1. manifestations of Mpox for surgical consideration or urgent management, for which it is important to consider whether a surgical approach is needed to address long-term Mpox-related lesions and 2. infection control in surgical settings, especially considering its impact on elective surgery and the well-being of healthcare workers. Mpox could affect surgical services and access to operating theaters. Unlike COVID-19, Mpox, compared to initial concerns, has not substantially compromised surgical delivery. However, limited reports exist on the surgical impact of Mpox. It is crucial to involve surgeons in Mpox diagnosis, educate surgical practitioners on its mimicry of common surgical conditions, enhance infection control during surgery, and ensure access to corrective surgery as a means of tackling the stigmatization associated with Mpox and sexually transmitted diseases in general. Full article

The regional disparity in higher education development is critical for the sustainable advancement of the national education system. To address this issue, the Chinese government has implemented targeted support policies for higher education in underdeveloped regions, with the “Ministry-Province Co-construction Policy” serving as a notable example. This study investigates the impact of such policies on the development of universities in China’s underdeveloped central and western regions. First, the study analyzes policy documents to identify six primary policy pathways through high-frequency word extraction, social semantic analysis, and path integration. These policy pathways are quantified using representative indicators, which constitute the independent variables of the study. Second, by employing the framework of modern university functions, the study develops a sustainable development indicator system for higher education institutions. The performance scores for the sustainable development of 14 universities, derived using the entropy method, serve as the dependent variables. The study subsequently measures the effects of individual and combined policy pathways through two equations. The results indicate that some pathways are more effective than others. While all combined policy pathways yield positive effects, an excessive number of combinations can lead to diminishing returns. Finally, the study elucidates the measurement results, emphasizing that effective pathways highlight the essential roles of faculty, research, and teaching. Conversely, less effective pathways stem from inadequate inputs or slow responses. Although combined policy pathways generally exert positive impacts, an overabundance of combinations can dilute these benefits. The study suggests that administrative support for higher education in underdeveloped regions is advantageous. It underscores the necessity of distinguishing between more and less effective input methods, concentrating on resource allocation, and ensuring universities’ autonomy in utilizing support resources to achieve sustainable development in higher education within these regions. Full article