Search Results (575)

This research examines the compounding risks of global environmental change, including climate change, environmental law, biodiversity loss, and pollution, which threaten the stability of economic systems worldwide. While digital technology and global governance regulation are increasingly being proposed as solutions, their synergistic potential in advancing economic sustainability has been less explored. How can these technologies mitigate environmental risks while promoting sustainable and equitable development, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals? We analyze policy global environmental data from the World Bank and the United Nations, as well as literature reviews on digital interventions, artificial intelligence, and smart databases. Global environmental change presents economic stability and rule of law threats, and innovative governance responses are needed. This study evaluates the potential for digital technology to be leveraged to enhance climate resilience and regulatory systems and address key implementation, equity, and policy coherence deficits. Policy recommendations for aligning economic development trajectories with planetary boundaries emphasize that proactive digital governance integration is indispensable for decoupling growth from environmental degradation. However, fragmented governance and unequal access to technologies undermine scalability. Successful experiences demonstrate that integrated policies, combining incentives, data transparency, and multilateral coordination, deliver maximum economic and environmental co-benefits, matching digital innovation with good governance. We provide policymakers with an action plan to leverage technology as a multiplier of sustainability, prioritizing inclusive governance structures to address implementation gaps and inform legislation. Full article

Protein functional effector (pfe)RNAs were introduced in 2015 as PIWI-interacting-like small noncoding (nc)RNAs and were later categorized as a novel group based on being 2′-O-methylated at their 3′-end, directly binding and affecting protein function, but not levels, and not matching known RNAs. Here, we document that human pfeRNAs match fragments of GenBank database-annotated human ncRNAs. PDLpfeRNAa matches the 3′-half fragment of a mitochondrial transfer (t)RNA, and PDLpfeRNAb matches a 28S ribosomal (r)RNA fragment. These PDLpfeRNAs are known to bind to tumor programmed death ligand (PD-L)1, enhancing or inhibiting its interaction with lymphocyte PD-1 and consequently tumor immune escape, respectively. In a validated 8-pfeRNA-set classifier for pulmonary nodule presence and benign vs. malignant nature, seven here match one or more of the following: transfer, micro, Y, PIWI, long (lnc)RNAs, and a PDLpfeRNAa fragment. The previously identified chromosomal locations of these pfeRNAs and their matches partially overlap. Another 2-pfeRNA set was previously determined to distinguish between controls, patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and those with lung cancer. One pfeRNA, previously shown to bind p60-DMAD and affect apoptosis, complements small nucleolar RNA SNORD45C, matching smaller 18S rRNA and lncRNA segments. Thus, pfeRNAs appear to have a common origin with known multifunctional ncRNA fragments. Differential modification may contribute to the multifunctionality of ncRNAs. For instance, for tRNA fragments, stabilizing 3′-end 2′-O-methylation, 3′-aminoacylation, and glycosylation modifications may regulate protein function, translation, and extracellular effects, respectively. One ncRNA gene can encode multiple fragments, multiple genes can encode the same fragment, and differentially modified ncRNA fragments might synergize or antagonize each other. Full article

This study examines the long-term financial sustainability of commercial banks, emphasizing the crucial role of credit risk management. Given that the core function of credit creation inherently exposes banks to credit risk, this analysis evaluates how five key bank-specific risk variables, namely expected credit losses (ECL_BS), impairment gains or losses (ECL_IS), non-performing loans (NPLs), common equity tier 1 capital (CET1), and leverage (LEV) affect long-term financial sustainability. Applying a panel error correction model on data from listed South African banks spanning 2006 to 2023, the study reveals a stable long-term relationship, with approximately 74% of short-term deviations corrected over time, indicating convergence towards equilibrium. By taking into account the significance of major exogeneous shocks such as the 2009–2010 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as regulatory framework changes, the results reveal persistent relationships between credit risk factors and banks’ long-term financial sustainability in both short and long horizons. Notably, expected credit losses, and impairment gains and losses exert significant negative influence on long-term financial sustainability, while higher CET1 and NPLs exhibit positive effects. The study findings are framed within four complementary theoretical perspectives—the resource-based view, institutional theory, industrial organisation, and the dynamic capabilities framework—highlighting the multidimensional drivers of financial resilience. Thus, the study’s originality lies in its integrated approach to assessing credit risk, offering a holistic model for evaluating its influence on long-term financial sustainability. This integrated framework provides valuable, actionable insights for financial regulators, bank executives, policymakers, and banking practitioners committed to strengthening credit risk frameworks and aligning banking sector stability with broader sustainable development goals. Full article

Belowground buds play a vital role in the clonal propagation and structural regulation of perennial herbaceous plants, especially in alpine environments, where vegetative renewal depends heavily on bud bank dynamics. However, the interactive effects of nitrogen addition and phenological stages on bud development and aboveground branching remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the responses of rhizome buds, tiller buds, and aboveground tiller types of Kentucky bluegrass to six nitrogen levels (0, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 g/m²) across five growth stages on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The results showed that moderate nitrogen input (N2, 9 g/m²) significantly enhanced total bud density, particularly at the heading and maturity stages, indicating a threshold response. Aboveground reproductive tiller density peaked at N2 (9 g/m²), while vegetative and total tiller densities plateaued beyond N3 (12 g/hm²), suggesting a diminishing marginal effect of nitrogen on aboveground tiller density. Furthermore, bud density showed stage-specific correlations with tiller types: vegetative tillers were primarily influenced at the heading stage, and reproductive tillers were mainly influenced at the mature stage, with weakened associations in senescence. These findings highlight the phenological specificity and non-linear response of clonal grass regeneration to nitrogen input and provide a theoretical basis for optimizing nutrient management in cold alpine grasslands. Full article

This study examines the role of supervisory frameworks in shaping the risk management behavior of Greece’s four systemic banks during the period of 2015–2024. It explores how regulatory reforms under Capital Requirements Regulation II, Basel III, and European Central Bank oversight influenced capital adequacy, asset quality, and liquidity metrics. Employing a quantitative methodology, this study analyzes secondary data from Pillar III disclosures, annual financial reports, and supervisory statements. Key risk indicators (capital adequacy ratio, non-performing exposure ratio, liquidity coverage ratio, and risk-weighted assets) are evaluated in conjunction with regulatory interventions, such as International Financial Reporting Standards 9 transitional relief, the Hercules Asset Protection Scheme, and European Central Bank liquidity measures. The findings reveal that enhanced supervision contributed to improved resilience and regulatory compliance. International Financial Reporting Standards 9 transitional arrangements were pivotal in maintaining capital thresholds during stress periods. Supervisory flexibility and extraordinary European Central Bank support measures helped banks absorb shocks and improve risk governance. Differences across banks highlight the impact of institutional strategy on regulatory performance. This study offers a rare longitudinal assessment of supervisory influence on bank risk behavior in a high-volatility Eurozone context. Covering an entire decade (2015–2024), it uniquely links institutional strategies with evolving regulatory frameworks, including crisis-specific interventions such as International Financial Reporting Standards 9 relief and asset protection schemes. The results provide insights for policymakers and regulators on how targeted supervisory interventions and transitional mechanisms can enhance banking sector resilience during protracted crises. Full article

Saccharomyces cerevisiae often undergoes strain degeneration during industrial serial subculturing, though this phenomenon remains understudied. This study first conducted strain screening and biological characterization through TTC (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) colorimetric assays, Durham tube fermentation gas production tests, and WL medium (Wallerstein Laboratory medium) cultivation. Subsequently, the changes in intergenerational biological traits after serial subculturing were investigated. Finally, transcriptomic analysis was employed to examine differential gene expression under high-glucose stress during continuous subculturing. The experimental results demonstrated that: (1) The S. cerevisiae QDSK310-Z-07 (GenBank: PP663884), isolated from farm soil, exhibited robust growth within a temperature range of 24–36 °C, with optimal growth observed at 28 °C. It thrived in a pH range of 4–5.5 and efficiently utilized various carbon and nitrogen sources; (2) After serial subculturing, the strain’s ethanol production capacity and fermentation rate partially declined and then stabilized, while maintaining strong tolerance to high ethanol concentrations and hyperosmotic stress; (3) Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant differential expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and other pathways under high-glucose stress following continuous subculturing. These findings elucidate the biological trait variations in S. cerevisiae during serial subculturing and provide key metabolic regulation candidate targets for its long-term adaptive evolution under high-glucose stress. Full article

Pine wilt disease (PWD), a destructive pine forest disease caused by pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, has led to huge economic losses and ecological environment damage. Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) are the products of a complex gene family involved in host defense and a wide range of developmental processes in fungi, plants, and animals. In this study, a tlp gene of B. xylophilus (Bxtlp) (GenBank: OQ863020.1) was amplified via PCR and cloned into the expression vector pET-15b to construct the recombinant vector PET-15b-Bxtlp, which was then transformed into Escherichia coli BL-21(DE3). The recombinant protein was successfully purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The effect of the Bxtlp gene on the vitality and pathogenicity of PWNs was elucidated through RNA interference (RNAi) and overexpression. Bxtlp dsRNA significantly reduced the feeding, motility, spawning, and reproduction abilities of PWN; shortened its lifespan; and increased the female–male ratio. In contrast, the recombinant BxTLP markedly enhanced the reproductive ability of PWN. In addition, Bxtlp dsRNA increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in nematodes, while the recombinant BxTLP was confirmed to have antioxidant capacity in vitro. Furthermore, the bioassays on Pinus thunbergii saplings demonstrated that Bxtlp could significantly influence PWN pathogenicity. Overall, we speculate that Bxtlp affects the pathogenicity of PWNs mainly via regulating ROS levels, the motility, and hatching of PWN. Full article

Blockchain technology is being increasingly deployed to store and process transactions and information in the global financial sector. Blockchain underpins cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and facilitates decentralized finance (DeFi), representing a paradigm shift in the global financial landscape, offering alternative solutions to traditional banking, and fostering financial inclusion. In developing economies such as Morocco, where a significant portion of the population remains unbanked, these digital financial innovations present both opportunities and challenges. This study examines the potential role of cryptocurrencies and DeFi in enhancing financial inclusion in Morocco, where cryptocurrencies have been banned since 2017. However, the public continues to use cryptocurrencies, circumventing restrictions, and the Moroccan Central Bank is now preparing to introduce new regulations to legalize their use within the country. In this context, this article analyses the potential of cryptocurrencies to mitigate barriers such as high transaction costs, restricted access to financial services in rural areas, and limited financial literacy in the country. The study pursues a mixed-methods approach, which combines a quantitative survey with qualitative expert interviews and adapts the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to the Moroccan context. The findings reveal that while cryptocurrencies offer cost-efficient financial transactions and improved accessibility, their adoption may be constrained by regulatory uncertainty, security risks, and technological limitations. The novelty of the article thus lies in its focus on the key mechanisms that influence the adoption of cryptocurrencies and their potential impact in a specific national context. In so doing, the study highlights the need for a structured regulatory framework, investment in digital infrastructure, and targeted financial literacy initiatives to optimize the potential role of cryptocurrencies in progressing financial inclusion in Morocco. This underscores the need for integrated models and guidelines for policymakers, financial institutions, and technology providers to ensure the responsible introduction of cryptocurrencies in developing world environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: High sodium consumption increases the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Although food remains the primary source of intake, elevated sodium levels in drinking water can further contribute to excessive intake, particularly in populations already exceeding recommendations. This review examines the extent to which national drinking water standards account for sodium-related health risks and aims to inform discussion on the need for enforceable, health-based sodium limits. Methods: National standards for unbottled drinking water in 197 countries were searched for using the WHO 2021 review of drinking water guidelines, the FAOLEX database, and targeted internet and AI searches. For each country, data were extracted for the document name, year, regulatory body, regulation type, sodium limit (if stated), and rationale. Socio-geographic data were sourced from World Bank Open Data. A descriptive analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel. Results: Standards were identified for 164 countries. Of these, 20% (n = 32), representing 30% of the global population, had no sodium limit. Among the 132 countries with a sodium limit, 92% (n = 121) adopted the WHO’s palatability-based guideline of 200 mg/L. Upper limits ranged from 50 to 400 mg/L. Only twelve countries (9%) cited health as a rationale. Three countries—Australia, Canada, and the United States—provided a separate recommendation for at-risk populations to consume water with sodium levels below 20 mg/L. Conclusions: Globally, drinking water standards give inadequate attention to sodium’s health risks. Most either lack sodium limits or rely on palatability thresholds that are too high to protect health. Updating national and international standards to reflect current evidence is essential to support sodium reduction efforts. Health-based sodium limits would empower communities to better advocate for safe water. Amid rising water salinity, such reforms must be part of a broader global strategy to ensure universal and equitable access to safe, affordable drinking water as a basic human right. Full article

Purpose: This study aims to provide a comprehensive and objective view to investigate whether the motives of strong financial managers to adopt an accounting conservatism strategy have significant effects on improving financial growth opportunities in the context of banks listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange, while knowing how this relationship is affected by litigation risks. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using data from Saudi financial databases, this study examines how litigation risk moderates the relationship between accounting conservatism and financial growth in Saudi listed banks. Basu’s (1997) model and accrual-based metrics measure conservatism, whereas assets, liabilities, and business age are used to measure financial growth. Litigation risk factors included previous lawsuits. Validity was ensured using fixed-effects regression and robustness tests. Findings: The study found that accounting conservatism has a mixed impact on financial growth, litigation risk moderates the relationship between conservatism and financial growth, and litigation risk has a positive impact on accounting conservatism. Practical Implications: Use a balanced strategy to maintain accounting conservatism, lower litigation risk while maintaining the accuracy of financial statements, take legal risk into account when evaluating the quality of financial reporting, increase transparency without impeding growth, create guidelines tailored to a particular bank, and fortify governance to reduce lawsuits while permitting long-term financial growth. Originality/Value: In order to bridge the gap between conservatism strategies and long-term financial stability in emerging economies, this study examines how managerial decisions in accounting conservatism affect the financial growth of Saudi banks, incorporating litigation risk as a moderating factor. It also contributes to financial policies, risk management, and regulations. Full article

In the development process of the power industry, accurately assessing the level of development of the electricity business environment is of great significance. However, traditional evaluation systems have limitations, with the issue of “data silos” being prominent, and user privacy under federated learning is also at risk. This paper proposes a federated learning-based data protection method for the electricity business environment to address these challenges. Based on the World Bank’s B-READY framework, this paper constructs an electricity business environment evaluation system containing nine indicators, focusing on three aspects: electricity regulations, public services, and operational efficiency. The indicators are weighted using the Sequence Relation and Entropy Weight Method. To address the issue of sensitive data protection, we first use federated learning technology to build a distributed modeling framework, ensuring that raw data never leaves the local environment during the collaborative modeling process. Next, we embed a differential privacy mechanism in the model parameter transmission stage, encrypting the model parameters by adding controlled noise. Finally, an incentive mechanism based on contribution quantification is implemented to encourage participation from all parties. This paper conducts experiments using the data of Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province. Compared with the FNN model and the SVR model, the MLP model reduces MAE by 78.9% and 94.12%, respectively, and increases R² by 37.95% and 55.62%, respectively. The superiority of the method proposed in this paper has been proved. Full article

In such a dynamic and increasingly digitalized financial sector, many sophisticated fraudulent and cybercrime activities continue to challenge conventional detection systems. This research study explores a decentralized anomaly detection framework using deep autoencoders, designed to meet the dual imperatives of fraud detection effectiveness and user data privacy. Instead of relying on centralized aggregation or data sharing, the proposed model simulates distributed training across multiple financial nodes, with each institution processing data locally and independently. The framework is evaluated using two real-world datasets, the Credit Card Fraud dataset and the NeurIPS 2022 Bank Account Fraud dataset. The research methodology applied robust preprocessing, the implementation of a compact autoencoder architecture, and a threshold-based anomaly detection strategy. Evaluation metrics, such as confusion matrices, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, precision–recall (PR) curves, and reconstruction error distributions, are used to assess the model’s performance. Also, a threshold sensitivity analysis has been applied to explore detection trade-offs at varying levels of strictness. Although the model’s recall remains modest due to class imbalance, it demonstrates strong precision at higher thresholds, which demonstrates its utility in minimizing false positives. Overall, this research study is a practical and privacy-conscious approach to fraud detection that aligns with the operational realities of financial institutions and regulatory compliance toward scalability, privacy preservation, and interpretable fraud detection solutions suitable for real-world financial environments. Full article

The Ma’anshan section of the lower Yangtze River features a complex multi-anabranching system, where the river divides into several branches around mid-channel sandbars, with distinct point bars alternately developing along both banks. Within this morphologically active system, Zhengpu Harbor suffered severe operational disruptions by accelerated siltation at its approach channel, primarily due to its vulnerable location downstream of the expanding Niutun River point-bar on the left bank. To systematically diagnose the mechanisms of siltation, this study integrates multi-method investigations: decadal-scale morphodynamic analysis using long-term bathymetric surveys, numerical modeling to quantify engineering impacts on flow dynamics, and multiple linear regression analysis for the contributions of key influencing factors. The result identifies three primary drivers of siltation, collectively responsible for 70% of the sediment accumulation, including the rightward shift of the thalweg in the Ma’anshan left branch, reduced flow diversion of the left Branch of Central bar, and the expansion of the Niutun River point bar. River engineering structures, such as bridges, contribute approximately 12%, while changes in upstream flow-sediment supply account for approximately 18%. To mitigate siltation at Zhengpu Harbor’s approach channel, this study proposes targeted engineering interventions to enhance local hydrodynamic conditions. The spur dikes were designed to enhance the morphological stabilization of the Central bar head to regulate flow distribution. A diversion channel could also be excavated at the tail of the Niutun River shoal, and emergency dredging was recommended at the harbor front. Numerical modeling indicates that these measures will increase flow velocity by over 0.1 m/s at the harbor front, mitigating the siltation situation. The study concludes that the proposed engineering measures can reduce annual siltation by approximately 30% under normal-year hydrological conditions, demonstrating their feasibility in mitigating siltation trends in multi-anabranching river systems. This research provides a reference for addressing siltation issues in harbors within complex anabranching river systems. Full article

The current study examines the application of advanced machine learning (ML) techniques for forecasting credit risk in Islamic (participation) and traditional banks in the United Kingdom in 2010–2023. Leveraging an equally weighted panel dataset and guided by robust empirical literature, we integrate structural econometric modeling—i.e., the stochastic frontier approach (SFA) to measuring the Lerner index of market power—with current best-practice tree-based ML algorithms (CatBoost, XGBoost, LightGBM, and Random Forest) to predict non-performing loans (NPLs). The results show that bank-level financial performance measures, particularly loan ratio, profitability, and market power, outperform macroeconomic factors in forecasting credit risk. Among the models tested, CatBoost was more accurate and explainable, as confirmed by SHAP-based explainability analysis. The implications of the research have practical applications for risk managers, regulators, and policymakers in terms of valuing the explanatory power of explainable AI tools to enhance financial oversight and decision-making in post-crisis UK banking. Full article

To investigate the erosion and deposition evolution characteristics of the Xinqiman–Kelelik reach along the main stem of the Tarim River, this study analyzed river channel dynamics and planform morphological changes using Landsat satellite imagery (1993–2024) and hydrological data (water discharge and sediment load) from gauge stations. The results show that the thalweg line swings indefinitely in the river. The thalweg length increased by 29 km, while the mean channel width decreased by 0.28 km. The sinuosity index rose from 1.95 to 2.34, indicating a gradual intensification of channel curvature. The north bank is in a state of siltation, while the south bank is in a state of erosion. The riverbank exhibited an overall southward migration. The farmland area in the study area increased from 1510 hectares in 1993 to 5140 hectares in 2024. During this period, the thalweg near the water-diversion sluice continuously shifted toward the sluice side. To ensure flood protection safety for farmlands and villages on both banks, as well as ecological water diversion, river channel regulation and channel pattern control should be implemented. Full article