Peanut shells, a byproduct of peanut processing, generate much waste annually. In this study, peanut shells were used as a carbon source for synthesizing reduced graphene oxide (rGO-PS) via a modified Hummer's method. A nickel sulfide-reduced graphene oxide (rGO-PS/NiS) composite was hydrothermally synthesized to create a 3D composite network. The rGO-PS/NiS composite was mixed with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and coated on FTO glass using a doctor blade and employed as a counter electrode (CE) in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The prepared composite was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy to study the chemical composition and surface configuration of CEs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for morphological determination. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel analyses indicated a decrease in charge transfer resistance and increased catalytic activity in the CE. A DSSC based on an rGO-PS/NiS CE achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.45% for a champion cell, which is higher than that of a conventional platinum-based CE (8.02%). These results demonstrate the potential of metal sulfide composites with biomass-derived rGO-like carbon (natural carbon) for efficient, low-cost DSSCs. They offer a sustainable pathway for converting agricultural waste into high-performance CE materials.
Emerging market financial institutions, in common with companies across the world, are grappling with how to adopt digital strategy and thereby facilitate the transfer of emerging digital technologies into their operations. In line with upper echelon theory predictions, evidence is emerging that, as is the case for technology adoption in general, top management teams (TMTs) are decisive in digital strategy adoption. However, less is known about which specific members of the TMT are primarily responsible for digital strategy adoption decisions, what their role is in these adoption processes, and which executive characteristics are conducive to adopting digital strategy. We conducted semi-structured interviews with key informants who were knowledgeable about the financial sector in emerging economies, an area which has recently seen a sharp increase in digital strategy adoption. We find that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is viewed as the primary initiator of digital strategy adoption. In our interviewees’ experience, CEOs play the role of idea generator, advocate and decision-maker, whereas other parties either stimulate or restrict the CEOs’ role. In addition, IT knowledge, specialist as well as overseas education and experience, digital training and mindset are identified as strong influences on the adoption of digital strategy. These results imply that companies seeking to more rapidly adopt digital strategy should seek to appoint CEOs who possess this mix of CEO characteristics whilst policy makers can support such moves by incentivizing both overseas education of executives as well as the return of diaspora talent back to the home financial sector.
Rapid urbanization and persistent air pollution threaten the functional resilience of megacities in Southeast Asia, particularly Bangkok, where PM2.5 concentrations consistently exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. To strengthen urban adaptive capacity, this study investigates the role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), particularly urban green spaces, as resilience-oriented infrastructure for air quality management. Using data from 32 monitoring stations across the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and surrounding areas from 2021 to 2023, spatial and temporal trends in PM2.5 concentrations were analyzed through geostatistical modeling and inferential statistics. Although all sites exceeded the WHO PM2.5 guideline of 5 & micro;g/m3, larger and more connected green spaces consistently exhibited better air-quality than the surrounding non-green urban mosaic. Areas with extensive vegetation, greater canopy cover, and more compact park geometries (lower perimeter-to-area ratios) demonstrated improved pollution attenuation capacity, while fragmented parks are more exposed to surrounding emissions. Integration of Local Climate Zone (LCZ) classification further indicated that compact high-rise zones and high-traffic corridors exhibited higher PM2.5 levels due to reduced airflow and structural confinement. The study underscores the need to embed NbS within resilience-based urban planning to promote long-term environmental stability and public health recovery in rapidly urbanizing megacities like Bangkok.
Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is a promising biopolymer due to its mechanical properties similar to those of polyolefins and biodegradability. This work aims to synthesize PBS with tunable size and functional groups by depolymerizing commercial PBS resin and employing a green microwave-assisted aminolysis with ethylenediamine (EDA). The PBS:EDA ratios ranging from 40:1 to 15:1 are investigated, and a functionalized oligomer (alpha PBS) with a controllable number-average molecular weight ( M n ) from 67,376 to 5088 g/mol is accomplished. Solvent fractionation utilizing various solvents facilitates the selective separation of oligomeric fractions according to Hansen solubility parameters, correlating the molecular polarity with solvent affinity. The solubility test of alpha PBS oligomers with various solvents, e.g., dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, cyclohexane, acetone, and ethyl acetate, is systematically studied. The alpha PBS oligomer at a ratio of 15:1 (alpha PBS15) improves solubility in mild solvents (i.e., acetone) with a high fraction of 24%. To explore the potential applications under the green process, the oligomeric fraction is used to encapsulate a natural active ingredient (curcumin) by a classical oil-in-water emulsion method using acetone as a solvent. The results demonstrate successful encapsulation of curcumin into the oligomeric fraction and good dispersion in the water phase. These findings demonstrate a compound selection strategy based on the solubility of various sizes of alpha PBS oligomers, which may be key in identifying the applications of PBS-based materials for industrial products and valued medical applications.
Osteoporosis is a major and growing health concern in the Asia-Pacific region, y et it remains widely underdiagnosed and undertreated due to limited access to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in many areas. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities to improve osteoporosis screening and management, but unvalidated tools pose risks of inconsistent care. This consensus was developed to provide regionally harmonized guidance on the safe, effective, and equitable use of AI in osteoporosis care. Purpose The aim of this work was to establish expert consensus recommendations on the role of AI in osteoporosis screening and management in the Asia-Pacific region. Key objectives were to define appropriate applications of AI (e.g., imaging-based bone assessment and fracture risk prediction) and specify minimum standards for validation and reporting, addressing region-specific implementation challenges and ensuring that AI use aligns with clinical guidelines and ethical principles. Methods This consensus was developed through multidisciplinary collaboration among experts across the Asia-Pacific region. Each participant reviewed draft statements, contributed feedback during virtual meetings, and provided insights based on clinical experience and current evidence. Consensus was reached iteratively until full agreement was achieved for all statements. The process integrated global best practices and regional adaptations, drawing from peer-reviewed studies, international AI guidelines, and local fracture registry data. The final recommendations emphasize the validation, transparency, and ethical implementation of AI within regional healthcare systems, ensuring compatibility with local regulations. Ultimately, twelve consensus statements were established to guide the responsible use of AI for osteoporosis screening and management in the Asia-Pacific region. Results The panel produced 12 consensus statements covering the role of AI as an adjunct for opportunistic osteoporosis screening rather than a diagnostic tool, requirements for imaging quality and AI model transparency, standards for validation and performance reporting, integration of AI with clinical risk stratification, demonstration of clinical utility in real-world settings, adherence to data protection laws and ethical AI principles, training of clinicians in AI use, strategies for implementation and monitoring (including post-market surveillance and feedback loops), and recognition of technical, clinical, and equity limitations of AI. All 12 statements give extensive recommendations for using AI to improve osteoporosis management while ensuring patient safety, accuracy, and equity. Conclusion This first Asia-Pacific consensus on AI in osteoporosis concludes that AI, when appropriately validated and implemented, can help bridge the osteoporosis care gap by identifying high-risk patients who would otherwise remain undiagnosed, thus facilitating earlier intervention. It emphasizes that AI should complement-not replace-standard diagnostic methods and clinical judgment. The guidance emphasizes validation, transparency, and ethical oversight to facilitate early intervention while minimizing risks associated with unvalidated or premature AI adoption.
