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Massive energy consumption and poor regulatory framework in urban areas have created environmental slums and are a serious threat to sustainability. East Asian and Pacific economies are vulnerable to climate crises and striving for sustainability by transition to green energy and taking climate initiatives. In the past, no study has explored the effectiveness of energy transitions and climate actions in the context of East Asia and Pacific. To understand the effectiveness of these efforts, this study has been planned and executed to examine the impact of energy transition and climate actions, along with emissions from residential and commercial buildings, per capita income, and effective governance, on sustainable cities and communities in East Asia and the Pacific region. The study utilizes panel data of six high‐income countries and 11 lower‐middle and upper‐middle income countries from 2000 to 2022 for comparative empirical analysis. Empirical analysis is performed using truncated regression due to the nature of the data. The study found that energy transition, climate actions, and governance effectiveness increase the sustainability of cities and communities. However, emissions from residential buildings and per capita income adversely affect the sustainability of cities and communities. Furthermore, the dynamics of energy transition and climate change vary according to the income classifications of East Asian and Pacific countries. Energy transition and emissions showed a higher impact in HICs, while climate actions were more resilient in lower‐middle and upper‐middle income countries. These findings emphasize the transition to clean and green energy, prompt climate policy actions, and effective governance to ensure sustainability in East Asian and Pacific cities and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Understanding the role of corporate strategies in sustainability has become a hot topic for scholarly research. Meanwhile, firms strive to innovate and shape their positive image in the contemporary business arena. Past research has ignored investigating whether and how sustainability-oriented corporate strategies could drive innovation and firm image among external stakeholders. To address the said research gap, this paper examines the path through which sustainability-oriented corporate strategy and environmental regulation improve green corporate image and green innovation capabilities (i.e. green process and product innovation). Design/methodology/approach: This study adopted a quantitative survey-based method. The online survey was adopted to collect data from employees working at the managerial level in the equipment manufacturing sector. The data collected from 343 managers that was complete in all aspects was used for empirical analysis using structural equation modeling. Direct and indirect relations were evaluated. Findings: The findings reveal that sustainability-oriented corporate strategy and environmental regulation drive green innovation and green corporate image. Findings further show that external knowledge adoption underpins these effects of sustainability-oriented corporate strategy and environmental regulation. Originality/value: The study delivers theoretical and practical understandings of the importance of sustainability-oriented corporate strategies to green corporate image and green innovation capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne pathogens have acquired the ability to produce biofilms to survive in hostile environments. This study evaluated biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and heavy metal tolerance of bacteria isolated from dairy and non-dairy food products. We aseptically collected and processed 200 dairy and non-dairy food specimens in peptone broth, incubated them overnight at 37 °C, and sub-cultured them on various culture media. Bacterial growth was identified with biochemical tests and API 20E and 20NE strips. The AMR of the isolates was observed against different antibacterial drug classes. Biofilm formation was detected with the crystal violet tube method. Heavy metal salts were used at concentrations of 250–1500 µg/100 mL to observe heavy metal tolerance. We isolated 180 (50.4%) bacteria from dairy and 177 (49.6%) from non-dairy food samples. The average colony-forming unit (CFU) count for dairy and non-dairy samples was 2.9 ± 0.9 log CFU/mL and 5.1 ± 0.3 log CFU/mL, respectively. Corynebacterium kutscheri (n = 74), lactobacilli (n = 73), and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 56) were the predominant Gram-positive and Shigella (n = 10) the predominant Gram-negative bacteria isolated. The correlation between biofilm formation and AMR was significant (p < 0.05) for most cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones. Heavy metal tolerance tended to be higher in biofilm producers at different metal concentrations. The pathogens isolated from dairy and non-dairy food showed a high burden of AMR, high propensity for biofilm formation, and heavy metal tolerance, and pose an imminent threat to public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to find out the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of Klebsiella pneumoniae in raw food items. A total of 261 raw food items, including vegetables, fruits, meat, and milk samples, were collected and processed for isolation of K. pneumoniae. Further antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular analysis was done to analyze the drug resistance encoding genes. The prevalence rate of K. pneumoniae was found to be high (38%), and the raw milk samples were predominantly contaminated (19/51), followed by fruits (12/51), meat (11/51), and vegetables (9/51). However, no significant association was observed for the isolation of K. pneumoniae and any particular specimen. Among the isolates, 43% were extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers, 24% were AmpC, and 20% were carbapenemase producers. The highest rates of ESBLs and AmpC were observed in vegetables (cabbage, bell pepper, and spinach) and carbapenemases in raw chicken, fish, and raw meat samples. Notably, bla CTX-M was the most prevalent, followed by bla SHV and bla TEM. Six K. pneumoniae possessed bla MOX , and five possessed bla FOX genes. Numerous carbapenemases were identified with a higher proportion of bla NDM. This study indicates that raw vegetables, fruits, meat, and milk are exposed to contaminants. These findings imply a potential threat that drug-resistant K. pneumoniae pathogens could transmit to humans through raw vegetables, fruits, and meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alarming energy crises has forced the scientific community to work for sustainable energy modules to meet energy requirements. As for this, ZnO/g-C3N4 nanocomposites with proper heterojunction were fabricated by coupling a proper amount of ZnO with 2D graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets and the obtained nanocomposites were applied for photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water under visible light illumination (λ > 420 nm). The morphologies and the hydrogen generation performance of fabricated photocatalysts were characterized in detail. Results showed that the optimized 5ZnO/g-C3N4 nanocomposite produced 70 µmol hydrogen gas in 1 h compare to 8 µmol by pure g-C3N4 under identical illumination conditions in the presence of methanol without the addition of cocatalyst. The much improved photoactivities of the nanocomposites were attributed to the enhanced charge separation through the heterojunction as confirmed from photoluminescence study, capacity of the fabricated samples for •OH radical generation and steady state surface photovoltage spectroscopic (SS-SPS) measurements. We believe that this work would help to fabricate low cost and effective visible light driven photocatalyst for energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiency of applied P fertilizers is very low in alkaline soils. There is need to adopt certain economical approaches to enhance uptake of P from applied P fertilizer. Coating of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) granules with polymer improves P availability. This technique can further be improved by the addition of certain hormones with the objective of strengthening plant defense against stresses. Plant hormones are considered necessary endogenous molecules which are involved in regulating plant development. Experiments were performed to check the efficacy of hormones enriched polymer coated diammonium phosphate on yield and phosphorus use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under saline and non-saline soils. In laboratory experiments, the polyacrylamide (PAM) with different concentrations (0, 1, 1.5 and 2%) was coated on phosphatic fertilizer to check the release pattern of P in soil over different time intervals. Selected best concentration of PAM (1%) was mixed with growth regulators (L-tryptophan at 10 and 20 mg L--1, L-methionine at 1 and 5 mg L--1 and salicylic acid at 5 and 10 mg L--1), and coated on DAP fertilizer to investigate P and hormones release pattern in soil. The best concentrations of these hormones blended with best concentration of polymer collectively to check their effect on wheat crop under field conditions. Hormones enriched polymer coated di-ammonium phosphate (HPCDAP) was applied at different rates (25: 50: 75: 100% of recommended-P) along with polymer coated and uncoated DAP fertilizer. Results showed that application of HPCDAP at 100% of recommended rate of P boosted plant height (20%), number of fertile tillers m-2 (20%), grains yield (19%), straw yield (17%), biological yield (16%), total N, P and K-uptakes (26, 32 and 22%, respectively) on normal/nonsaline soil, whereas plant height (27%), number of tillers m-2 (27%), grains yield (26%), straw yield (22%), biological yield (23%), total N, P and K-uptakes (26,47 and 25%, respectively)were increased on saline soil in same treatment. The treatment of 75% rate of HPCDAP had non-significant results compared to full dose (100%) of HPCDAP fertilizer on saline soil. A highly positive relationship between polymer enriched with hormones coated DAP and crop revealed promising results on growth, yield, and P use efficiency of wheat in both saline stressed and non-stressed soil. These results recommend this a novel approach to get optimum cereal yield under salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a unique approach to synthesize dimpled shape carboxylate functionalized polystyrene (C‐PS), which were subsequently coated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles in situ by co‐precipitation method. The magnetization of C‐PS@Fe3O4 nanocomposite has been verified through vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. The amount optimized carboxylate functionalized magnetic polystyrene (C‐PS@Fe3O4) exhibits 5.2 and 2.2‐times enhancement in visible‐light photocatalytic activities for 2,4‐dichlorophenol degradation compared with that of pristine PS and C‐PS. Based on various electro‐analytical techniques like surface photovoltage spectroscopy, temperature‐programmed desorption, Uv‐DRS, Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and VSM confirming magnetic nature of C‐PS@Fe3O4. Our results suggest that the improvement in visible light activities of C‐PS@Fe3O4 are comprehensively assigned to the large and active surface area due to charge separation, catalytic functions, and magnetic nature induced by Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Finally, this work will provide new strategy to synthesize visible light active nano photocatalysts with controllable shape, which for efficient environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a current pandemic that has affected more than 195 countries worldwide. In this severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, when treatment strategies are not yet clear and vaccines are not available, vitamins are an excellent choice to protect against this viral infection. The rationale behind this study was to examine the inhibitory effect of vitamins B, C, and D against the main protease of SARSCoV- 2 and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which have critical rolesin the immune system. Molecular docking, performed by using MOE-Dock of the Chemical Computing Group, was used to understand the mechanism. The vitamins all docked within the active sites of the Mpro (PDB ID:6LU7) and ACE2 receptor proteins (PDB ID:6VW1). Vitamins B and C delivered maximum energy scores against both targets, while vitamin D displayed a binding energy score of -7.9532 kcal/mol for Mpro and -7.9297 for ACE2. The efficiency of all three vitamins is higher than the binding energy score of chloroquine (-6.889 kcal/mol), which is now under clinical trials. The use of vitamins is beneficial, being immune system restorative, and they also act as anti-COVID agents. Although the potential beneficial effects of vitamin B and C are revealed through docking studies, further clinical trials are required for the validation of these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively address environmental pollution, we synthesized Au‐loaded ZnO nanocomposites and applied for the photocatalytic degradation of 2‐chlorophenol (2‐CP) under visible light irradiation. The as‐prepared nanophotocatalysts delivered much improved photocatalytic degradation activities as compared to the bare ZnO nanoparticles and 32% of the pollutant was degraded with 2AuZnO in 1 hr. These improved photoactivities are attributed to the extended visible light absorption due to the surface plasmon resonance property of the loaded Au nanoparticles. Moreover, Au nanoparticles played important role in charge separation by inducting excited electrons to the conduction band of ZnO photocatalyst and surface catalysis as confirmed from photoluminescence spectra and amount of the generated hydroxyl radicals. The trapping experiments confirmed that positive holes were the major degrading species during the photocatalytic degradation of 2‐CP. This work provides a feasible way to improve the photocatalysis by introducing a proper amount of noble metals over the surface of semiconductor photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to explore the nexus of innovation–environment and economic growth in the context of the Indian economy. To achieve the study objective, we explored the role of technological innovation, FDI, trade openness, energy use, and economic growth toward carbon emissions. Using the data of 1985–2017, the study employed ARDL bound testing and vector error correction model (VECM) methods to capture the effects of technological innovation, trade openness, FDI, energy use, and economic growth on CO2 emissions. Empirical estimation has confirmed the existence of long-run cointegration. Similarly, in the long run, it is found that trade openness, energy use, and economic growth positively reinforce CO2 emissions. In contrast, technological innovation and FDI negatively reinforce CO2 emissions in the long run. Furthermore, VECM indicates that the relationship among innovation, trade openness, and energy use is bidirectional in the long run. Whereas, unidirectional relation has been found that is coming from GDP to carbon emissions, FDI, innovation, trade, and energy use. In the short run, unidirectional link found which is coming from FDI, innovation, and energy use to carbon emission. However, the association between emissions and trade openness is bidirectional. The conclusions put forward policy implications that innovation is a way to reduce environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article expands current knowledge by assessing how customer knowledge management influence services innovation capability and what is the reciprocal effect of innovation capability on particular dimensions of customer knowledge management. Unexplored in earlier studies, the article has developed a list of hypothesis through an extensive literature survey, hypothesis were empirically tested, with survey data collected from 319 managerial employees. The results show that knowledge about customers, knowledge for customers, knowledge from customers and knowledge co-created with customers significantly influences service-innovation capability. Yet knowledge from customers appears to have a most powerful effect on innovation capability. The results from reciprocal causation show that innovation capability has significant impact upon all selected dimensions of customer knowledge management. But, the most power influence is found upon knowledge for customers. The article concludes with the study's qualifications, plus it offers pivotal recommendations for both practitioners and future-research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compromised quality of life (QoL) has been reported in individuals suffering from β-thalassemia major (β-TM) in Pakistan. However, insufficient data of its associated psychosocial, physical and other disease-related determinants is available. In an observational analytical study, 200 subjects aged between 5-25 years, were examined using a transfusion-dependent QoL (TranQoL) questionnaire. Clinical records and other related data were also gathered from transfusion center databases. The TranQoL mean score was 48.33 ± 5.6, ranging from 53.86 ± 13.6 for family functioning and support domain to 39.70 ± 18.4 for school and career functioning domain. Age, income, education, pre transfusion hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin level, pain, death due to β-thal, monetary issues and pain were significantly associated with TranQoL scores. It was not only the clinical conditions but life alterations, social relationship and psychological events also loomed in improvement of treatment outcomes. Therefore, a tetra-cone of patient, school representatives, family and physicians are needed for better patient prospective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article expands current knowledge by assessing how employee engagement is transformed into corporate image and customer satisfaction. Unexplored in earlier studies, the article undiscloses the role that service quality plays in this transformation. Developed through an extensive literature survey, the conceptual model is empirically tested, with survey data collected from 261 customers and 261 managerial employees. The results show that, first, focusing on employee engagement can both lead to a favorable corporate image and enhance customer satisfaction. Second, service quality has a significant positive effect both on customer satisfaction and on corporate image. Third, service quality positively mediates the relations among employee engagement, customer satisfaction and corporate image. The article concludes with the study’s qualification, plus some practical and theoretical implications, suggesting future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to highlight the existing level of organochlorine-pesticides (OCPs) from human milk ( n = 45) and blood serum ( n = 40) of female workers who pick cotton in Khanewal District, southern Punjab, Pakistan. Source apportionment, congener-specific analysis, and risk surveillance of OCPs are reported from human milk and blood samples. Levels of OCPs in milk and blood serum samples ranged from 15.7 ppb to 538.3 ppb and from 16.4 ppb to 747.1 ppb, respectively, and were lower than previously published reports from other regions of the globe. Congener-specific analysis revealed that DDTs were predominant, followed by hexachlorocyclohexane, chlordane, and hexachlorobenzene. Calculated results for source apportionment analysis suggested that contamination load was a new input of DDTs as well as the historic use of lindane in the study area. Levels of OCPs in milk and blood serum were significantly ( p < 0.05) correlated with age, time period of picking cotton, and number of children. Health risk revealed that female workers had risk of cancer among 1 per million; however, noncarcinogenic risks were not considerable. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1193-1201. © 2016 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia sinensisis traditionally used in many polyherbal preparations for the treatment of different diseases and infections. Its action has been associated with its antioxidant activities. In this study, antioxidant effect of Camellia sinensis on hydrogen peroxide-induced human lymphocyte cell cultures was estimated. Camellia sinensis showed high contents of ascorbic acid, phenols, flavonoids, and flavonols. Good scavenging activity was evident by scavenging assays e.g. 2,2-DiPhenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl Hydrate (DPPH), 2,2-Azinobis (3-ethyl-BenzoThiazoline-6-Sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical assay and reducing power assay. Moreover, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-UV) chromatographs showed many notable peaks of unidentified bioactive compounds. In vitro antioxidant actions were determined by the activities of catalase (ELISA kit method), superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation and total protein contents on lymphocyte cell cultures. In vitro experimental trial showed strong antioxidant repair mechanism of plant against oxidative stress. Results of extraction with solvent methanol showed the highest antioxidant activity. Camellia sinensis is promising source of natural antioxidants and further studies might be a likely source of its use in remedy of different diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third coronavirus outbreak in the last two decades has caused significant damage to the world's economy and community health. The highly contagious COVID-19 infection has affected millions of people to date and has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. Aside from the highly infectious nature of SARS-CoV-2, the lack of a treatment or vaccine has been the main reason for its spread. Thus, it has become necessary to find alternative methods for controlling SARS-CoV-2. For the present review, we conducted an online search for different available nutrition-based therapies for previously known coronavirus infections and RNA-based virus infections as well as general antiviral therapies. These treatments have promise for combating COVID-19, as various nutrients and minerals play direct and indirect roles in the control and prevention of this newly emerged viral infection. The patients' nutritional status with COVID-19 must be analyzed before administering any treatment, and nutritional supplements should be given to the affected individuals along with routine treatment. We suggest a potential interventional role of nutrients to strengthen the immune system against the emerging infection caused by COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalytic pollutant degradation activities of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) under visible light are significantly dependent on the photogenerated charge separation via electron induction to a suitable energy platform. Here, we prepared g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets and coupled with different mass ratios of Bi 2 WO 6 nanosheets to degrade highly toxic diuron pollutant under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). The fabricated nanosheets were characterized with a number of techniques to study the effective construction of heterojunction. Interestingly, an obvious improvement was observed in the photoactivities of both g-C 3 N 4 and Bi 2 WO 6 nanosheets after heterojunction formation and the amount optimized 15Bi 2 WO 6 /g-C 3 N 4 sample showed 75% degradation activity for diuron indicating 2.13 and 2.28 times improvement when compared with isolated g-C 3 N 4 and Bi 2 WO 6 respectively. This obvious enhancement in photocatalytic degradation activity is attributed to the improved charge separation in the nanocomposite samples via two-way charge traffic; electron induction from g-C 3 N 4 to Bi 2 WO 6 and hole injection from Bi 2 WO 6 to g-C 3 N 4 as confirmed from photo-emission spectra, detection of hydroxyl radicals and photoelectrochemical study. We believe that the present research will help to construct feasible nanocomposites for highly improved photocatalytic activities under visible light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work incorporates a variety of conjugated donor-acceptor (DA) co-monomers such as 2,6-diaminopurine (DP) into the structure of a polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) backbone using a unique nanostructure co-polymerization strategy and examines its photocatalytic activity performance in the field of photocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO and H2 under visible light irradiation. The as-synthesized samples were successfully analyzed using different characterization methods to explain their electronic and optical properties, crystal phase, microstructure, and their morphology that influenced the performance due to the interactions between the PCN and the DPco-monomer. Based on the density functional theory (DFT) calculation result, pure PCN and CNU-DP15.0 trimers (interpreted as incorporation of the co-monomer at two different positions) were extensively evaluated and exhibited remarkable structural optimization without the inclusion of any symmetry constraints (the non-modified sample derived from urea, named as CNU), and their optical and electronic properties were also manipulated to control occupation of their respective highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Also, co-polymerization of the donor–acceptor 2,6-diamino-purine co-monomer with PCN influenced the chemical affinities, polarities, and acid–base functions of the PCN, remarkably enhancing the photocatalytic activity for the production of CO and H2 from CO2 by 15.02-fold compared than that of the parental CNU, while also improving the selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]