How Strategic Planning Enhances ESG: Evidence from Mission Statements

The purpose of this study is to analyze the mission statements of 49 companies listed on the Palestine Exchange (PEX), focusing on their structure and alignment with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the extent to which Palestinian companies embed sustainability issues into their mission statements. This was done with a qualitative research design and a descriptive content analysis method, letting mission statements from different fields be looked at in excellent detail. This analysis offers valuable insights into how Palestinian companies articulate their strategic goals and communicate their commitment to ESG factors. The findings reveal that Palestinian companies demonstrate a clear understanding of sustainability and its relevance to their operations. A lot of companies are also working hard to include sustainability principles in their mission statements. This shows that people are becoming more aware of how important ESG factors are for shaping business strategy and creating long-term value

Current Characteristics of REBCO Tapes in 6-Slot TSTC-CICC Under Bending Conditions

Embedding stacked HTS tapes into twisted slots is one design approach for constructing fusion conductors. This paper adopts a Cable-in-Conduit Conductor (CICC) structure, utilizing commercially REBCO coated conductors. The cable framework is made of copper and features six helically twisted slots filled with 2G HTS tapes. Two 1 m long samples with twist pitches of 200 mm and 300 mm, respectively, were fabricated. In one slot, copper and superconducting tapes were alternated, while the remaining grooves were filled with copper tapes. The 90 µm thick copper-plated bare tapes provided by Shanghai Superconductor were used for testing. By measuring the critical current of tapes positioned at different locations within the grooves at 77 K, the characteristics of each tape in the stacked arrangement were individually characterized. The study obtained the current degradation patterns of tapes located at different positions within the grooves under various bending radii. This paper will present and discuss the preliminary results of the bending measurements conducted at 77 K under a self-field

Gastrointestinal Disease in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorder (CVID): Histological Patterns, Diagnostic Clues and Pitfalls for the Pathologist and Gastroenterologist

Background/Objectives: Gastrointestinal diseases are a major cause of morbidity in common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID), clinically often mimicking other conditions including celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Hence, diagnosis of CVID remains challenging. This study aims to raise awareness and highlight histopathological clues for CVID in intestinal biopsies, emphasizing diagnostic pitfalls for the pathologist/gastroenterologist. Methods: We reviewed 63 (18 duodenal, 23 ileal, 22 colonic) biopsies and case histories from seven CVID patients, obtained over a 31-year period, with attention to active inflammation, intraepithelial lymphocytes, plasma cells, lymphoid hyperplasia, crypt/villous architecture, subepithelial collagen, apoptosis, granulomas, and infections. Clinical information of 41 pathology requests was reviewed. Results: Gastrointestinal symptoms were variable. Histological features included IBD-like (3/7), celiac disease-like (2/7), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-like (2/7), lymphocytic sprue/colitis-like (3/7), collagenous colitis-like (2/7), and acute colitis-like (4/7) patterns, often overlapping (2/7) and/or changing over time (3/7). Lymphoid hyperplasia was seen in 3/7 patients; 1/7 had giardiasis; and 5/7 had few plasma cells, usually only in part of the gut (3/5). Clinical information of 12/41 (29%) pathology requests mentioned known/suspected CVID, despite being known in 33/41 (80%). Conclusions: Clinical/histological features of CVID in the gut are diverse, often mimicking IBD, microscopic colitis, celiac disease and/or GVHD, hence the importance of adequate clinical information. Some histological features are atypical of these established entities and may indicate CVID, as may overlapping/changing histological patterns and/or few plasma cells in part of the gut. Awareness of the heterogenous clinical presentation and histopathological indicators of CVID may improve diagnosis

Challenges in the Characterization and Purification of (Peptide)n-Calix[4]Resorcinarene Conjugates Synthesized via Thiol-Maleimide Reaction Using Liquid Chromatography

The separation and purification of molecular compounds and their functionalized derivatives is a common challenge in organic synthesis. In particular, calix[4]resorcinarenes present a high potential for chemical derivatization at their upper edge by aminomethylation reactions, and these compounds and their derivatives require appropriate analytical methodologies for their analysis, separation, and purification. In this study, C-tetra(propyl)calix[4]resorcinarene was synthesized and functionalized with maleimide groups by optimized aminomethylation reactions, obtaining a mixture of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted compounds. Initial separation by RP-HPLC with a core-shell column showed poorly resolved peaks, indicating a loss of separation efficiency. Therefore, a monolithic C18 column was used, which significantly improved the separation, thanks to its larger pore volume and continuous structure facilitating the diffusion of these bulky molecules, notably improving efficiency. Finally, the six compounds functionalized with maleimide groups were efficiently separated and enriched by RP-SPE by analytical method transfer, and the two peptides of six and the thirteen residues derived from LfcinB (20–25): RRWQWR were synthesized by SPPS-Fmoc/tBu and purified. These were modularly linked by the Michael thiol-maleimide addition reaction obtaining six (peptide)n-resorcinarene conjugates. The analytical method by RP-HPLC with a monolithic C18 column, the separation and purification by RP-SPE were used transversally in all the steps to obtain compounds with adequate purities and quantities. Finally, the antibacterial activities of the six conjugates were evaluated against E. coli and E. faecalis strains, and it was determined that three aminomethylated compounds and one monosubstituted conjugate showed activity against E. faecalis. Our work established a new modular conjugation strategy between calix[4]resorcinarenes and peptides by thiol-maleimide click chemistry, and a methodology of separation, purification, and enrichment for these products by RP-HPLC and RP-SPE, which permitted us to obtain quantities with purities appropriate for their characterization by NMR, LC-MS and antibacterial activity assays

Analysis of Urban Rail Public Transport Space Congestion Using Graph Fourier Transform Theory: A Focus on Seoul

Urban transportation efficiency is critical in densely populated cities, such as Seoul, South Korea, where subway transfer stations are vital. This study investigates the spatial efficiency and passenger flow dynamics of multilayered transfer stations, using triangular Fourier transform as the primary analytical method. The research incorporates principal component analysis (PCA) and K-means clustering to classify stations based on structural characteristics and congestion patterns. Data derived from transportation card usage during peak hours and architectural layouts were analysed to identify critical bottlenecks. The results highlighted notable inefficiencies in transfer times and congestion. For example, the analysis revealed that optimising transfer corridors at Seoul Station could reduce average transfer times by over 10 min. Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station would benefit from ground-level pathways to address inefficiencies caused by its extensive underground network. Sindorim Station’s reorganisation of above-ground and underground connectivity was found to enhance passenger flow. By introducing the concept of the ‘entry baseline for passenger flow in public buildings’, this study offers a novel framework for evaluating and improving urban transit infrastructure. The findings provide actionable insights into transfer station design, supporting strategies for addressing the challenges of urban mobility in megacities while contributing to transit-oriented development

Design and Study of a Novel P-Type Junctionless FET for High Performance of CMOS Inverter

In this paper, a novel p-type junctionless field effect transistor (PJLFET) based on a partially depleted silicon-on-insulator (PD-SOI) is proposed and investigated. The novel PJLFET integrates a buried N+-doped layer under the channel to enable the device to be turned off, leading to a special work mechanism and optimized performance. Simulation results show that the proposed PJLFET demonstrates an Ion/Ioff ratio of more than seven orders of magnitude, with Ion reaching up to 2.56 × 10−4 A/μm, Ioff as low as 3.99 × 10−12 A/μm, and a threshold voltage reduced to −0.43 V, exhibiting excellent electrical characteristics. Furthermore, a new CMOS inverter comprising a proposed PJLFET and a conventional NMOSFET is designed. With the identical geometric dimensions and gate electrode, the pull-up and pull-down driving capabilities of the proposed CMOS are equivalent, showing the potential for application in high-performance chips in the future

Quadruple-Q Skyrmion Crystal in Centrosymmetric Body-Centered Tetragonal Magnets

We conduct a numerical investigation into the stability of a quadruple-Q skyrmion crystal, a structure generated by the superposition of four spin density waves traveling in distinct directions within three-dimensional space, hosted on a centrosymmetric body-centered tetragonal lattice. Using simulated annealing applied to an effective spin model that includes momentum-resolved bilinear and biquadratic interactions, we construct a magnetic phase diagram spanning a broad range of model parameters. Our study finds that a quadruple-Q skyrmion crystal does not emerge within the phase diagram when varying the biquadratic interaction and external magnetic field. Instead, three distinct quadruple-Q states with topologically trivial spin textures are stabilized. However, we demonstrate that the quadruple-Q skyrmion crystal can become the ground state when an additional high-harmonic wave–vector interaction is considered. Depending on the magnitude of this interaction, we obtain two types of quadruple-Q skyrmion crystals exhibiting the skyrmion numbers of one and two. These findings highlight the emergence of diverse three-dimensional multiple-Q spin states in centrosymmetric body-centered tetragonal magnets

The Exocyst Subunits EqSec5 and EqSec6 Promote Powdery Mildew Fungus Growth and Pathogenicity

The exocyst complex in eukaryotic cells modulates secretory vesicle transportation to promote exocytosis. The exocyst is also required for the hyphal growth and pathogenic development of several filamentous phytopathogens. Obligate biotrophic powdery mildew fungi cause considerable damage to many cash crops; however, the exocyst’s roles in this group of fungi is not well studied. To verify the functions of the exocyst in powdery mildew fungus, we identified two exocyst subunits, EqSec5 and EqSec6, from Erysiphe quercicola, a powdery mildew fungus that infects the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis. When GFP-fused EqSec5 and EqSec6 were introduced into E. quercicola and another phytopathogenic fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, they primarily localized to the hyphal tip region. Inducing gene silencing of EqSec5 or EqSec6 caused growth and infection defects, and those defects could not be fully restored under the NADPH oxidase inhibitor treatment to the plant. The silenced strains also induced the host defense response including reactive oxygen species accumulation and callose deposition. The silencing of EqSec5 or EqSec6 also inhibited the secretion of the effector protein EqIsc1, interrupting plant salicylic acid biosynthesis. Yeast two-hybrid and gene overexpression assays suggested that EqSec5 and EqSec6 interact with each other and can complement each other’s function during host infection. Overall, our study provides evidence that the exocyst in this powdery mildew fungus facilitates effector secretion, hyphal growth, and infection

Testing the Impact of Renewable Energy and Institutional Quality on Consumption-Based CO2 Emissions: Fresh Insights from MMQR Approach

The motivation for this research stems from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), specifically SDGs 7, 11, 12, and 13, which focus on the mitigation of climate change and sustainable economic development. This study examined the impact of renewable energy use, institutional quality, and production expansion on consumption-based carbon dioxide (CCO2) emissions in BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) from 1996 to 2020. To achieve this, we applied advanced econometric techniques, including second-generation cointegration and unit root tests, along with the novel panel method of moments quantile regression (MMQR). The Westerlund cointegration test confirmed the presence of a long-run co-movement among renewable energy usage, economic growth, institutional quality, and environmental quality, suggesting a stable equilibrium relationship between these variables. The results from MMQR reveal that GDP has a positive and statistically significant effect on CCO2 emissions across all quantiles, indicating that economic expansion contributes to environmental degradation. In contrast, renewable energy consumption and institutional quality show negative and significant impacts on CCO2 emissions, indicating their mitigating effect on environmental deterioration. As a robustness check, the findings from fixed-effect OLS (FE-OLS), generalized method of moments (GMM), and common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) estimations broadly confirm the results of MMQR. These findings underscore the importance of renewable energy consumption and strong institutional frameworks in promoting environmental sustainability

Bioactive Fused Pyrazoles Inspired by the Adaptability of 5-Aminopyrazole Derivatives: Recent Review

Heterocyclic compounds, especially those containing the pyrazole moiety, are highly significant in organic chemistry and possess remarkable and diverse biological properties. The 5-aminopyrazole derivatives are key starting materials for the synthesis of numerous bioactive compounds such as pyrazolopyridine, pyrazolopyrimidine, pyrazoloquinazoline, and pyrazolotriazine derivatives. Many compounds inspired by the 5-aminopyrazole derivatives possess a wide spectrum of biological activities and medicinal applications such as antioxidants, anticancer agents, enzyme inhibitors, antimicrobials, and anti-tuberculosis activities. This review summarizes the recently reported synthesis methods and biological activities of fused pyrazole and pyrazole-based derivatives based on 5-aminopyrazole compounds within the last 5 years (2020 to present). One of the important goals of this review is to illustrate future strategies for the design, development, and utilization of pyrazole products as potent drugs