The corrosion risk of methanol fuel on engine components primarily arises from its hygroscopic nature and impurities such as formaldehyde, formic acid, and water produced during combustion. To investigate this, the study focused on gray cast iron, commonly used in engine cylinder blocks and heads, employing potentiodynamic polarization, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and orthogonal experiments to analyze its surface corrosion behavior in different methanol-based fuels. Potentiodynamic polarization showed that methanol containing 1% formic acid reduced the corrosion resistance of gray cast iron surface by 11.53 times compared to pure methanol, while methanol containing 2% formaldehyde and 5% water is 1.93 times and 1.64 times, respectively. SEM analysis showed that gray cast iron surface exposed to methanol containing 1% formic acid will form grooves and pits, compromising structural integrity and durability. AFM data indicated that corrosion drastically increased surface roughness, rising from 87 & micro;m initially to 777 & micro;m in formic acid-containing fuel, while remaining below 200 & micro;m in pure methanol. Furthermore, increased surface roughness of the metal samples led to a larger reactive area, accelerating corrosion rates. This indicates that there is a positive feedback mechanism between surface roughness and corrosion rate. This study clarifies fuel composition's impact on metal corrosion and offers valuable insights for engineering design and material selection in related applications.
Lack of psychological wellbeing and deterioration of mental health of the personnel is currently becoming an emerging issue in the corporate sector of Pakistan, due to the exceeding work demands as well as the hostile working environment in most organizations. To cater to this apparent issue, this study investigates the impact of decent work and socially sustainable HRM practices on the psychological wellbeing of workforce, incorporating both hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives, while examining the moderating role of employee voice. A survey was conducted based on the banking sector of Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 203 responses were collected and analyzed via SPSS and Smart PLS. The findings of this study confirmed decent work to have a positive relationship with psychological wellbeing of employees and socially sustainable HRM to mediate the relationship between decent work and psychological wellbeing. However, the findings of the study did not support employee voice to be playing a moderating role in the relationship. This study educates managers regarding the importance of the protection of psychological wellbeing of their workforce, improves their understanding regarding the concepts of decent work and socially sustainable HRM, and conveys information about how these notions may be incorporated into their organization’s HR policies.
Nickel acts as a hormetic micronutrient at low concentration by stimulating certain physiological responses. However, it triggers oxidative stress at higher levels, negatively affecting plant growth and overall productivity. This study evaluated the Ni-stress alleviation potential of five different strains of Trichoderma. Two wheat cultivars (BARS-2009 and Sarsabz) were exposed to Ni stress at 100 mg/kg, both alone and in combination with Trichoderma inoculation, and assessed for physio-biochemical parameters including antioxidants, photosynthetic activity, anatomical responses, agronomic traits and grain quality. Results showed that Ni stress intensified oxidative stress as evidenced by elevated H2O2 and MDA levels. Trichoderma inoculated Ni exposed plants alleviated Ni stress through improvement in AsA-GSH mechanism, upregulation of enzymatic (SOD, POD and CAT) and non-enzymatic (proline, phenols and flavonoids) antioxidants as well as adjustments in root anatomical structures. Ni stress reduced the plant height, spike length, grain number, seed viability and overall grain yield, which were markedly restored in plants treated with Trichoderma strains. Grain nutritional quality was also compromised under Ni exposure, including declines in reducing sugar, starch, ascorbic acid, phenol, flavonoids, sodium and potassium content. Trichoderma inoculation enhanced these contents and lowered Ni accumulation in grains by 14–48
Abstract Why do foreign investors exit Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) despite formal alignment with EU institutional standards? We argue that divestment reflects not cyclical volatility but strategic responses to institutional fault lines, the non-linear interaction between de jure legal frameworks and de facto enforcement credibility. Analysing panel data (1990–2024) for 20 CEE economies through a hybrid econometric–machine learning framework (ARDL bounds testing, Dumitrescu–Hurlin causality, Random Forest with SHAP diagnostics), we find that: (1) rule-based governance (corruption control) Granger-predicts divestment (Z = 3.897, p = 0.001), whereas formal rule-of-law indicators show ambiguous effects; (2) macroeconomic instability robustly elevates exit risk (β = 0.277, p = 0.001); and (3) trade openness and human capital amplify divestment only when enforcement credibility is weak. Economic scale dominates predictive power (72.0%) but reflects historical FDI exposure, not causal drivers. Critically, machine learning reveals that divestment tipping points emerge from combinations of high inflation, low corruption control, and high openness, patterns invisible to linear models. These findings reframe capital flight as a rational response to institutional dissonance rather than market failure. For policymakers, the implication is clear: EU cohesion policy should shift from formal harmonisation towards performance-based governance that prioritises verifiable anti-corruption enforcement and macroeconomic credibility.
This study examines how digital transformation helps Vietnamese entrepreneurs after COVID-19, addressing challenges such as outdated technology, weak regulation, and limited digital literacy. A systematic literature review (SLR) of 48 articles from 2000 to 2024 reveals that 75
