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Blue Carbon Ecosystems in Malaysia – Status, Threats, and the Way Forward for Research and Policy
Get PDFMalaysia hosts some of the most productive blue carbon ecosystems globally. Here we review the status of and known threats faced by local mangroves and seagrass and examine conservation prospects using carbon financing. Based on lessons learnt from blue carbon projects worldwide, Malaysia needs to address governance and financing hurdles that include clarifying land tenureship, ensuring local community involvement and benefits, and obtaining sustainable financing for long-term success. Research to clarify uncertainties on extent of seagrass and trajectories of both seagrass and mangrove ecosystems is needed to determine baseline scenarios and demonstrate additionality in carbon projects. Clear, definitive national approach to blue carbon is essential to streamline accounting and inventory of carbon stocks and benefits. Addressing these barriers and gaps requires a whole of society approach and public-private partnerships and ultimately allow Malaysia to fully tap into the global voluntary carbon market, local businesses, philanthropy, and multilateral carbon financing
Brain 3T magnetic resonance imaging in neonates: features and incidental findings from a research cohort enriched for preterm birth
Get PDFBackground and objectives The survival rate and patterns of brain injury after very preterm birth are evolving with changes in clinical practices. Additionally, incidental findings can present legal, ethical and practical considerations. Here, we report MRI features and incidental findings from a large, contemporary research cohort of very preterm infants and term controls.Methods 288 infants had 3T MRI at term-equivalent age: 187 infants born <32 weeks without major parenchymal lesions, and 101 term-born controls. T1-weighted, T2-weighted and susceptibility-weighted imaging were used to classify white and grey matter injury according to a structured system, and incidental findings described.Results Preterm infants: 34 (18%) had white matter injury and 4 (2%) had grey matter injury. 51 (27%) infants had evidence of intracranial haemorrhage and 34 (18%) had punctate white matter lesions (PWMLs). Incidental findings were detected in 12 (6%) preterm infants. Term infants: no term infants had white or grey matter injury. Incidental findings were detected in 35 (35%); these included intracranial haemorrhage in 22 (22%), periventricular pseudocysts in 5 (5%) and PWMLs in 4 (4%) infants. From the whole cohort, 10 (3%) infants required referral to specialist services.Conclusions One-fifth of very preterm infants without major parenchymal lesions have white or grey matter abnormalities at term-equivalent age. Incidental findings are seen in 6% of preterm and 35% of term infants. Overall, 3% of infants undergoing MRI for research require follow-up due to incidental findings. These data should help inform consent procedures for research and assist service planning for centres using 3T neonatal brain MRI for clinical purposes
Proximity to cancer rehabilitation and exercise oncology by geography, race, and socioeconomic status
Get PDFBackground: Cancer rehabilitation and exercise oncology (CR/EO) have documented benefits for people living with and beyond cancer. The authors examined proximity to CR/EO programs across the United States with respect to population density, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and cancer incidence and mortality rates. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2022–2023. Online searches were initiated to identify CR/EO programs. Geocoding was used to obtain latitudinal and longitudinal geospatial coordinates. Demographic data were abstracted from the 2020 5‐year American Community Survey. Cancer incidence and mortality data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. US 2013 Rural‐Urban Continuum Code (RUCC) classification was used to define counties as either urban (RUCC 1–3) or rural (RUCC 4–9). Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between being far from a program and census‐tract level factors. Results: In total, 2133 CR/EO programs were identified nationwide. The distance from a program increased with decreasing population density: rural tracts were 17.68 ± 0.24 miles farther from a program compared with urban tracts (p < .001). Program proximity decreased as the neighborhood deprivation index increased (p < .001). Exercise oncology programs were less common than cancer rehabilitation programs in tracts with a larger proportion of minority residents (p < .001). Conclusions: Prior research has documented that underrepresented populations have worse cancer‐related symptoms and higher cancer mortality. Herein, the authors document their findings that these same populations are less likely to have proximity to CR/EO programs, which are associated with improved cancer‐related symptoms and cancer mortality outcomes. To realize the positive outcomes from CR/EO programming, efforts must focus on supporting expanded programming and sustainable payment for these services
MTFDN: An image copy‐move forgery detection method based on multi‐task learning
Get PDFImage copy-move forgery, where an image region is copied and pasted within the same image, is a simple yet widely employed manipulation. In this paper, we rethink copy-move forgery detection from the perspective of multi-task learning and summarize two characteristics of this problem: (1) Homology and (2) Manipulated traces. Consequently, we propose a multi-task forgery detection network (MTFDN) for image copy-move forgery localization and source/target distinguishment. The network consists of a hard-parameter sharing feature extractor, global forged homology detection (GFHD) and local manipulated trace detection (LMTD) modules. The difference of feature distribution between the GFHD module and the LMTD module is significantly reduced by sharing parameters. Experimental results on several benchmark copy-move forgery datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed MTFDN
Enhanced re‐processability of poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) ( PBAT ) via chain extension toward a more sustainable end‐of‐life
Get PDFPoly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is a biodegradable polymer recognized for its potential to reduce plastic waste due to its biodegradability and compostability. However, conventional end-of-life options for PBAT, such as composting and biodegradation, involve additional costs, require substantial space, and consume significant energy, which may not align with broader sustainability goals. Therefore, an alternative approach through recycling is highly desirable. This study investigates the recyclability of neat PBAT and Joncryl ADR 4468-modified PBAT with 0.5 wt% Joncryl, a multifunctional epoxy-based chain extender known to enhance the processing stability and properties of polymers. The research evaluates the tensile, flexural, thermal, and rheological properties of the materials after multiple injection molding cycles to provide comprehensive data on their performance under re-processing conditions. The results demonstrate that neat PBAT retains its tensile modulus with only a~ 6% reduction after seven cycles, while Joncryl-modified PBAT exhibits a 26% increase in modulus after five cycles, attributed to enhanced branching. Additionally, modified PBAT showed superior rheological stability and resistance to thermal degradation compared to unmodified PBAT. This study highlights the potential of mechanical recycling to extend the lifecycle of biodegradable polymers, reducing environmental impact and conserving resources.Highlights• 0.5% Joncryl enhances PBAT recyclability by preserving mechanical properties.• Both PBAT and Joncryl-PBAT retain tensile strength, supporting recycling.• Joncryl-PBAT resists degradation, showing stable modulus after reprocessing.• Reprocessing raises crystallization temperature.• Joncryl-PBAT maintains higher viscosity and modulus, resisting degradation
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Environmental Sustainability in China's Banking Sector: A Mixed-Methods Approach
No full textAmid escalating global environmental challenges, the banking sector is increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance Environmental Sustainability Performance (ESP). Our research examines the impact of AI adoption on ESP through the lenses of sustainable banking, Fintech, green finance, and green innovation within China's banking institutions. We also explore the complex configurations of these factors that collectively improve ESP. Grounded in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) and Affordance theories, we employ a hybrid methodology combining Structural Amidst escalating global environmental challenges, the banking sector is increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance environmental sustainability performance (ESP). Our research examines the impact of AI adoption on ESP through the lenses of sustainable banking, Fintech, green finance and green innovation within China's banking institutions. We also explore the complex configurations of these factors, which collectively improve ESP. Grounded in the stimulus–organism–response and affordance theories, we employ a hybrid methodology combining structural equation modelling and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to analyse data from an online survey. Our findings indicate that AI adoption significantly boosts ESP in the banking sector, primarily mediated by sustainable banking and green innovation, despite Fintech showing no significant direct impact on ESP. Additionally, we identify specific configurations of AI, sustainable banking, Fintech, green finance and innovation that synergistically enhance ESP, contributing to the ongoing discourse on technological innovation and sustainability in the banking industry. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of AI in driving sustainable outcomes and highlights the need for strategic integration of these factors to achieve higher ESP
Capitalist Realism and Higher Popular Music Education: Towards a Counter-Hegemonic Alternative
Get PDFThis article presents a theoretical consideration of some of the ways in which capitalist realism is shaping the field of higher popular music education. We begin by presenting an overview of our understanding of Fisher’s concept and then offer a critical but hopeful consideration of the interconnected areas in which the business ontology that Fisher describes most problematically impacts on higher popular music education. We describe the ways in which this area is largely uncritically informed by a societal sense of capitalist realism which functions to perpetuate and naturalize the market-focused, exploitative practices and behaviors that characterize many areas of higher education, the music industries, and society more widely. We then turn to offer three ways in which we might work as higher popular music educators to help to develop counter-hegemonic approaches in our field by way of cultivating environments for the development of the critical consciousness required in order to foster meaningful change
Urban agriculture land suitability assessment using AHP and geospatial analysis in Gondar Zuria, Ethiopia
Get PDFIn a context of growing population and escalating food demand, urban agriculture emerges as a crucial solution for enhancing food security and promoting ecological sustainability globally. This study aims to analyze land suitability for urban agriculture in Gondar Zuria utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Five characteristics, including land use and land cover, proximity to roads, drainage density, Slope, and soil type, were evaluated to create a potential land suitability map for urban agriculture. The findings indicated that approximately 139 km² (47.5%) was highly suitable, 111.9 km² (38.2%) was moderately suitable, 17 km² (5.8%) was marginally suitable, and 24.9 km² (8.5%) was not suitable for urban agriculture in the research region. Future research should investigate further environmental factors, including temperature, precipitation, and altitude, to aid in identifying the most appropriate crop for each zone according to its environmental needs
Decision Making for Sports Officials: Training and Assessment Perspectives
No full textThis essential guidebook provides a comprehensive, holistic, and evidence-based account for improving the decision making of sports officials across different sports and levels. By combining cutting-edge research with practical strategies, this book provides fundamental frameworks for developing decision-making skills that support the needs of officials themselves, officiating educators, sport organizations and academics. This cross-disciplinary collaboration ensures the book stays grounded in both theory and practice, offering readers a well-rounded, state-of-the-art understanding of the subject. Divided into three key sections, the book first explores the unique demands and types of decisions faced by officials in different sports. Next, fundamental cognitive and mental factors that influence decision making are explained, emphasizing the creation of knowledge, the influences on decision processes, and the role of mental health and psychological management on decision-making performance. Finally, the book outlines pragmatic and innovative strategies for supporting, assessing, and training decision making and creating effective development climates for sports officials. Future trends in the evolution of technology use for training and assessing officials—spanning grassroots to elite levels—are also discussed, including artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and other immersive learning tools. Each chapter is enriched by Knowledge in Practice sections, which bring the experiences and perspectives of sports officials, officiating educators and administrators, and sports scientists from around the globe to light. These provide real-world examples and lessons for how decision making can be improved in various sporting contexts. Decision Making for Sports Officials: Training and Assessment Perspectives is a core resource for enhancing decision making in the high-stakes world of sports officiating
Applying Normalisation Process Theory to a peer-delivered complex health intervention for people experiencing homelessness and problem substance use
Get PDFBackground: The Supporting Harm Reduction through Peer Support (SHARPS) study involved designing and implementing a peer-delivered, harm reduction intervention for people experiencing homelessness and problem substance use. Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) provided a framework for the study. Methods: Four Peer Navigators (individuals with personal experience of problem substance use and/or homelessness) were recruited and hosted in six third sector (not-for-profit) homelessness services in Scotland and England (United Kingdom). Each worked with participants to provide practical and emotional support, with the aim of reducing harms, and improving well-being, social functioning and quality of life. NPT guided the development of the intervention and, the process evaluation, which assessed the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention for this cohort who experience distinct, and often unmet, health challenges. While mixed-methods data collection was undertaken, this paper draws only on the qualitative data. Results: The study found that, overall, the intervention is feasible, and acceptable to, the intervention participants, the Peer Navigators and staff in host settings. Some challenges were encountered but these were outweighed by benefits. NPT is particularly useful in encouraging our team to focus on the relationship between different aspects of the intervention and context(s) and identify ways of maximising ‘fit’. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first application of NPT to this cohort, and specifically by non-clinicians (peers) in non-healthcare settings (homelessness services). Our application of NPT helped us to identify ways in which the intervention could be enhanced, with the key aim of improving the health/well-being of this underserved group
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