Carbon dots/poly(methyl methacrylate) composite nanofibers (CDs/PMMA-CNFs) were fabricated via electrospinning for ultraviolet (UV) photoconductive sensing applications. Carbon dots were synthesized through a microwave-assisted method using citric acid and urea precursors and subsequently embedded within a PMMA nanofibrous matrix. Structural and morphological characterization was performed using FTIR, XRD, and SEM analyses, confirming successful incorporation of CDs into uniform nanofibers. Optical investigations using UV–Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed characteristic π–π* and n–π* transitions and excitation-independent emission centered near 495 nm. The fabricated composite exhibited measurable photoconductive response under UV illumination ( 395 nm), with current increasing from 4.48 × 10−8 A (dark) to 4.83 × 10−8 A (UV), corresponding to approximately 7.8
PurposeThis study seeks to explain how corporate social responsibility (CSR) becomes a source of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition and open innovation by developing firms' intellectual capital (human, structural, and relational capital), and whether AI adoption amplifies this transformation process between CSR and intellectual capital dimensions in an era of increasing digitalization and social responsibility.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 389 employees working in SMEs within the Chinese manufacturing sector, and analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe findings show that CSR significantly enhances human, structural, and relational capital. These components of intellectual capital, thus, increase the recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities and outcomes of open innovation. The recognition of entrepreneurial opportunities acts as an important means of connecting intellectual capital to open innovation. Furthermore, the adoption of AI in business operations strengthens the relationship between CSR and intellectual capital, particularly in resource-constrained settings.Originality/valueThis study enhances intellectual capital research by incorporating CSR, AI adoption, entrepreneurial opportunity recognition, and open innovation into a cohesive framework. The study highlights AI adoption as a boundary condition beyond conventional linear models and provides new insights into how digital technologies enhance CSR's value-creation capability by developing intellectual capital.
Purpose The presence of lone founders, multiple family members (ownership dispersion) and few family members (ownership concentration), in family businesses, affects the stock price crash risk (SPCR) in different manners. The purpose of this study is to examine the distinct impact of lone founder ownership and family ownership concentration and dispersion on SPCR and moderating influence of financial literate female directors on this relationship. Design/methodology/approach This study used sample of 2,954 firm-year observations comprising non-financial firms listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange over the period 2012–2021. The authors used the ordinary least squares regression method to test the hypotheses and additionally used the Generalized Method of Moments estimation and two stage least squares analysis to check the robustness of the results. Findings The authors find that lone founder-owned firms are less prone to SPCR because of lower information asymmetry and a strong organizational identity. In contrast, weaker emotional ties and a preference for short-term gains in family-owned firms where ownership is dispersed across multiple family members lead to a higher crash risk. Moreover, the presence of female directors with a financial background moderates these relationships and further reduces the likelihood of crash risk. Originality/value The results of this study provide novel evidence of distinct social behavior of lone founders and family owners and positive influence of financial literate female directors on SPCR in an emerging economy.
This research examines the viability of charged wormhole (WH) geometries in the background of non-metric gravity, characterized through the function, f(Q,T) where non-metricity is defined by Q and trace of stress-energy tensor is represented by T. Adopting the Morris-Thorne spacetime and incorporating Maxwell field equations with an anisotropic fluid configuration, the static spherically symmetric WH structures are analyzed. The modified field equations that capture the gravitational dynamics influenced by non-metricity and matter sources are deduced. Various f(Q,T) models and shape functions with constant redshift are considered to find solutions for traversable WHs. Additionally, the energy conditions for different functional forms to identify viable WH structures are explored. This analysis reveals that traversable WH solutions are possible in this gravitational model, shedding light on the characteristics of spacetime and the potential for creating shortcuts in the universe.
Co-contamination of paddy soils with antimony (Sb) and nickel (Ni) poses significant risks to soil quality, crop productivity, and food safety. This study evaluated the effectiveness of iron-titanium oxide-engineered biochar (Fe-Ti-BC) in mitigating Sb and Ni mobility in contaminated paddy soil and examined associated changes in soil carbon dynamics and microbial communities. Compared with the control, Fe-Ti-BC application reduced CaCl2-extractable Sb and DTPA-extractable Ni by 20.31-34.31% and 39.87-79.67%, respectively. Amendment with Fe-Ti-BC and unmodified biochar enhanced the carbon pool management index (CPMI) and labile organic carbon fractions, indicating improved carbon sequestration potential and nutrient cycling capacity. Rice biomass significantly increased following biochar treatments. Iron and titanium concentrations in root Fe plaque were approximately 20-fold and twofold higher, respectively, in Fe-Ti-BC-amended soils than in the control, suggesting enhanced plaque-mediated immobilization of trace elements. Consequently, Sb and Ni concentrations in rice grains decreased by 20.02-78.18% and 60.17-69.79%, respectively. High-throughput sequencing revealed that Fe-Ti-BC reshaped soil bacterial community composition and metabolic activity, promoting keystone taxa including Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) identified CaCl2-extractable Sb, DTPA-extractable Ni, and Fe-Ti plaque formation as key determinants governing trace element accumulation in rice grains. Overall, Fe-Ti-BC effectively stabilized Sb and Ni through coupled geochemical and biological mechanisms, thereby reducing metal transfer to edible tissues while enhancing soil carbon functionality and productivity. These findings highlight the potential of engineered biochar as a sustainable remediation strategy for multi-metal contaminated paddy systems with direct implications for environmental health and food security.
