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Experimental analysis on the effect of multi-level array hollow semi-stadium fins (HSSF) and baffles on solar thermal air collector
No full textAn energy crisis is caused by the world's population expansion and growing energy consumption by global civilization, which encourages the usage of renewable energy technologies such as solar thermal collectors. Inefficient heat transmission lowers energy conversion and collector performance. This research aims to utilize a multi-level array of hollow semi-stadium fins (HSSF) with baffles to evaluate experimentally the double-pass solar air collector energy utilization. The proposed collectors with baffles and 1:2 and 1:4 multi-level spacing gaps are compared to the flat plate design at mass flow rates of 0.01-0.08 kg/s and irradiances of 400-800 W/m2. The experimental findings are verified with numerical and previously experimental studies. The findings indicated that the newly double-pass solar collector achieved a maximum thermal efficiency of 77.70 % at 800 W/m2, the highest useful energy of 934.83 Watts, and the highest enhancement efficiency of 30.67 %, indicating better performance than the flat plate design. Optimal efficiency was found at flow rates of 0.04 kg/s (400 W/m2) and 0.07 kg/s (600-800 W/m2). Increasing mass flow rates reduces friction factors while raising pressure drops. Validation with numerical results contains a 0.67-4.96 % error. Field-based experimental research, exergy and thermohydraulic studies, and economic and environmental studies are recommended to evaluate the design's effectiveness and feasibility
The impact of the new international land-sea trade corridor on trade between China and ASEAN
No full textThe construction of new international land and sea trade corridors (ILSTC) has improved transportation infrastructure along the routes and facilitated improved trade mechanisms. Based on data from 13 Chinese provinces and ASEAN from 2012-2021, this article applies an extended gravity model to explore the following questions: (1) Does the ASEAN countries’ participation in the construction of the ILSTC promote their trade growth with China; (2) Whether the construction of the ILSTC improves the railroads, highways, and waterway transportation infrastructure of the 13 Chinese provinces facilitated trade growth with ASEAN countries? The study found that: first, ASEAN countries’ participation in ILSTC construction significantly impacted their trade growth with China. Second, the ILSTC improves railroad and highway transportation facilities in 13 Chinese provinces and significantly contributes to their trade growth with ASEAN countries. However, its trade effect on waterway transport is not significant, primarily due to insufficient investment in the development of inland waterway infrastructure in 13 provinces of China and the limitations posed by natural conditions. Based on the findings, this study recommends strengthening policy coordination, advancing infrastructure and digital-intelligent development, promoting trade facilitation and liberalization, and fostering industrial integration. This provides a reference value for further participation in the ILSTC
Assessing the causal relationship of remote work and employee productivity–a study of corporate Malaysia
No full textThe rise of remote work (RW), accelerated by the global pandemic, has reshaped work dynamics, driven by technological advancements and a focus on work-life balance. The main aim of this article to study impact on RW on employees’ productivity. Empirical data was collected via a survey questionnaire on public sector employees. A total of 105 responses were analysed using PLS-SEM. Specifically, the study analyses the role of organisational support, technology availability (i.e. access to required devices and digital infrastructure for effective job execution) and employee wellbeing towards employee’s productivity. The study also analysed the role of socioeconomic (such as nationality, gender, age, marital status and household income levels) as a moderator between these variables. In addition, the study analysed whether worker preference mediates the relationship between RW and employee productivity. Results showed technology’s availability significant positive influence, while organisational support had a positive but insignificant impact. Employee well-being is strongly correlated with productivity. Socioeconomic profiles had no clear impact, but self-preference (SP) mediated effects. The findings imply that RW can increase employees’ productivity but organisations must be willing to invest in technology (to ensure it is readily available and accessible, foster supportive environments and align practices with individual preferences
Impact of silicon-enriched fertilizer on basal stem rot disease in palm species caused by Ganoderma boninense
No full textSilicon (Si) is the second most abundant element that encourages plant growth, particularly in higher plants. This research maximizes Si’s stress-tolerance benefits for plants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of silicon-enriched fertilizer in reducing the impact of Basal Stem Rot (BSR) disease in palm species, suggesting a potential sustainable solution to this critical agricultural challenge. The study utilized the root-sitting technique on three-month-old palm seedlings grown under controlled nursery conditions. The T1 and T2 seedlings were untreated with silicon-enriched fertilizer. In contrast, the T3 seedlings were treated with 500g of silicon-enriched fertilizer. The T2 and T3 seedlings were further challenged with G. boninense PER 17 using the rubber woodblocks (RWBs) sitting technique during the nursery trial (10 months). Results revealed that disease incidence (DI) in oil palm (50.0%) and betel nut palm (44.4%) for T3 seedlings was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) compared to T2 seedlings, both of which had a DI of 94.4%. The BSR DI in T3 seedlings was reduced by 52.63% in oil palm and 67.35% in betel nut palm. These findings suggest that treatment T3 offers protection against G. boninense infection in both palm species. The results demonstrated that treatment T3, involving silicon-enriched fertilizer, significantly reduced the progression of BSR disease in palm seedlings, highlighting its effectiveness as a disease management strategy
Phytochemical profiling and antibacterial activity of cinnamon bark extractbased nanobactericides against bacterial panicle blight in rice
No full textBacterial panicle blight (BPB), caused by the aerobic Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia glumae, poses a significant threat to global rice production. Cinnamon bark extract (CBE), rich in bioactive compounds such as eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, exhibits potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. To enhance the stability and efficacy of these volatile compounds, this study employed nanoencapsulation techniques. CBE-loaded nanoformulations were synthesized using the ionic coupling method between chitosan (CS) and trisodium phosphate (TPP) at varying TPP concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4%), resulting in CBECS nanoparticles. The nanoformulations were evaluated for antibacterial activity, chemical composition, and morphological characteristics. The antibacterial assays demonstrated inhibition zones ranging from 7.5 to 11.8 mm, with the 0.5% TPP formulation exhibiting the highest efficacy (minimum inhibitory concentration = 15.6 μmol/mL; minimum bactericidal concentration = 31.25 μmol/mL). Chemical analysis identified over 15 active compounds in CBE, with (Z)-3-phenylacrylal-dehyde being the most abundant (34%). The nanoparticles had sizes ranging from 43.66 nm to 106.1 nm, encapsulation efficiencies of 48.65-48.78%, and loading capacities of 25.65-33.9%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed spherical, homogenous nanoparticles, while Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction confirmed the successful encapsulation of CBE within CS nanoparticles. Microscopic examination revealed significant membrane damage in B. glumae cells treated with CBE-loaded nanoparticles compared to untreated controls. These findings underscore the potential of CBE-loaded CS nanoencapsulation as an effective, ecofriendly solution for managing BPB. The study highlights the promise of nanoencapsulation techniques in enhancing the stability and bioactivity of natural antimicrobial agents, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical controls in agriculture
The impact of government size on economic growth in Chinese prefecture-level cities: does fiscal transparency matter?
No full textRecent studies have examined how institutions influence the relationship between government size and economic growth. However, they have largely overlooked the significance of fiscal transparency, which can help bridge the information gap between governments and citizens. Furthermore, these studies typically concentrate on national or state levels, neglecting local governments that are primarily responsible for delivering public goods. This study investigates the impact of local government size on economic growth in Chinese prefecture-level cities, emphasizing the moderating role of fiscal transparency. We employ a dynamic panel model with two-way fixed effects and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) for estimation. The data encompasses 283 cities from 2013 to 2022. The main findings are as follows: In the absence of fiscal transparency, local government size positively influences economic growth; however, fiscal transparency negatively moderates this relationship. Moreover, as fiscal transparency increases, the positive effect diminishes and becomes statistically insignificant once it exceeds a certain threshold. Robustness checks using alternative measures and estimation techniques validate the results. The primary originality of this study lies in quantifying the moderating role of fiscal transparency in the relationship between government size and growth. These findings challenge the New Institutional Theory, which asserts that institutions directly drive growth, and provide a novel perspective on the interplay between government size and economic performance, offering valuable insights for policymakers aiming to balance government size and transparency for sustainable development
Fabricated germanium-doped silica optical fibres: a novel dose meter for clinical blood irradiation )gentian optik silika terdop germanium: suatu meter dos baharu untuk penyinaran darah klinikal)
No full textTA-GVH disease represents a potential adverse effect associated with blood transfusions, highlighting the importance of irradiating blood components within defined limits to effectively mitigate this risk. The recommended irradiation doses range from 25 to 50 Gy, with a peripheral threshold established at 15 Gy. This study explores the feasibility of using fabricated germanium-doped (Ge-doped) silica-based optical fibres as dose indicators during clinical blood transfusions. Two types of 2.3 mol% Ge-doped optical fibres were tested: cylindrical (CF) and flat (FF). Calibration was performed using a Cobalt-60 gamma-ray machine across a dose range of 5 to 50 Gy. Clinical trials were conducted using a Cesium-137 source blood irradiator. A central dose of 25 Gy was delivered to real adult blood bags, which were exposed to gamma rays for 9 min and 56 s. Thermoluminescence (TL) signals from the fibres were measured with a HarshawTM 3500 TLD reader, and compared with EBT-XD film and conventional dose indicator stickers. The study found no statistically significant difference among dosimeters, with a p-value of 0.285 (p > 0.05, 95% Confidence Level) for the 25 Gy dose. Mean errors were 3.4% for CF and 4.3% for FF when compared to EBT-XD film. These results indicate that Ge-doped optical fibres offer precise, quantitative measurements of blood irradiation doses, unlike conventional dose stickers which provide only qualitative visual indicators. This innovative dosimetry approach shows significant potential as a cost-effective, reusable, and highly sensitive alternative for clinical blood irradiation
Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi negatively impact on growth and development of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
No full textAn alternative method for controlling Spodoptera frugiperda applies entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). The present research aimed to determine the impact of the endophytic EPF on the growth and development of S. frugiperda. Twenty molecularly identified isolates of the endophytic EPF were used in seed treatments with the fungal suspension 1 × 1010 conidia.mL-1. The endophytic EPF that colonized corn leaves eaten by the neonate S. frugiperda larvae was able to significantly decrease the body weight of the larvae and pupae. The endophytic EPF could prolong the developmental time of all instar larvae and pupae. The endophytic EPF could raise larval and pupal mortality and reduce the ability of adults to emerge from pupae, and decrease egg laying by females. The lowest percentage of adult emergence was observed in the adults from larvae consuming corn leaves colonized with Beauveria bassiana JaGiP and JgSPK isolates, which were 34.67% and 24%, respectively. Consequently, a reduced adult emergence could lead to a high cumulative death rate of 76% from larvae to adults. Finally, the endophytic EPFs negatively affect S. frugiperda growth and development. B. bassiana JaGiP and JgSPK isolates are the most pathogenic fungi in inhibiting the growth and development of S. frugiperda. They are promising candidates for controlling S. frugiperda in the corn field
Plant growth regulators application to enhance flowering and fruit production in GAC (Momordica cochinchinensis)
No full textGac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis) has garnered substantial interest due to its potential as a rich source of lycopene and β-carotene, prompting higher demand for large-scale production. However, the development of its female flowers is hindered by the dioecious nature of the gac plant, demanding manual pollination to enhance fruit yield. In addition, the female flower of the gac plant starts late, depending on environmental variables such as temperature, moisture, and photoperiod. Accelerating flowering onset and augmenting pollination could substantially amplify gac fruit production, provided a comprehensive comprehension of exogenous plant growth regulators is attained. Accordingly, the current study investigates the role of plant growth regulators at various concentrations in developing female flowers and fruit production in gac plants. A field planting experiment was conducted using a five-replication factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD). The combination treatments comprised two factors of interest, which were four different types of plant growth regulators (indole-3acetic acid [IAA], gibberellic acid [GA], benzyl adenine [BA], and maleic hydrazide [MH]) at four different concentration rates (0, 40, 80, and 120 ppm). Notably, Gac plants treated with MH at concentrations of 40 and 80 ppm exhibited significant performance in node and pistillate count, ovary diameter, early onset of first flower anthesis, and fruit yield. These findings underscore the potential of MH as a potent growth regulator for enhancing gac fruit production. Nonetheless, more research on agronomic practices, control environment modifications, and postharvest handling is required for the profitable production of the gac fruit