Driving Force Research Articles

Al Islam and Kemuhammadiyahan as Driving Force for Lecturer Performance at Universitas Muhammadiyah Jember

Al Islam and Kemuhamamdiyahan (AIK) are characteristic of all Muhamamdiyah Universities. AIK is implemented in all lecturer performances written in the chess dharma of higher education: education, research, service, and AIK. Of the 286 lecturers, not all of them necessarily have a Muhammadiyah background. Even though universities require all academic activities to incorporate Islamic values, not all academics can implement AIK as a driving force for lecturer performance. Therefore, lecturers must have a strategy to understand and enforce AIK in their performance. This research aims to explore lecturers' understanding of AIK and how to implement AIK as a driving force for lecturers' performance. This research uses a qualitative phenomenological approach. To obtain data in the field using interview, observation, and documentation techniques. Data analysis uses source triangulation. This research shows that AIK is implemented in all lecturer performance, such as teaching, research, service, behavior, and interaction with the broader community. The strategy implemented is that lecturers are encouraged to actively participate in activities to increase understanding of AIK through recitations at branches, branches, and regional centers and taking part in Baitul Arqom Lecturers. Lecturer performance evaluation is carried out every semester. AIK is the primary determinant and includes the highest score for lecturer performance achievements besides education, research, and service.

The social processes that emergency nurses use to achieve sustainability: A constructivist grounded theory.

To examine the experiences of emergency nurses and develop a substantive theory that describes the processes they use to support or prevent sustainability in their nursing practice. Constructivist grounded theory. Between February 2018 and January 2019, observations and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 emergency nurses. Data underwent constant comparison, and coding was performed in three phases: open, focused, and theoretical, employing constructivist grounded theory. Additionally, some situational analysis mapping was undertaken and integrated as a method to explore the broader context affecting nursing practice. The study achieved theoretical saturation and rigour was ensured through evaluations of credibility, transferability, and confirmability. A substantive grounded theory was constructed to describe the basic social process of 'Achieving Personal and Professional Sustainability' with subprocesses that included 'Driving forces', 'Developing and using armouries', 'Balancing work-life', and 'Making emergency work effective'. This theory delineates two phases, 'exploration and establishment' and 'maintenance', and two key properties: 'Constructing and evolving professional identity' and 'Perceiving and reshaping the meaning of effective work and care'. The theory also highlights the dynamic interplay of individual, social, and institutional elements. 'Achieving Personal and Professional Sustainability' is important for emergency nurses to sustain themselves personally and professionally in their work. This research has substantial and global impacts. Emergency nursing can use this information as a guide to better understand strategies for both personal and professional sustainability. Policymakers may use the findings to foster a supportive work environment and enhance nurse well-being. Implementation of recommendations can lead to improved patient care outcomes. The methodological approach offers potential for future research, positively impacting emergency nursing practice and workforce sustainability worldwide. Reporting adheres to EQUATOR's COREQ guidelines for qualitative studies. No patient or public contribution.

Major Driving Forces for Indian SME Pharmaceutical Industry

Major Driving Forces for Indian SME Pharmaceutical Industry

Recent Progress in Polyion Complex Nanoparticles with Enhanced Stability for Drug Delivery.

Polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles, including PIC micelles and PICsomes, are typically composed of poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers coupled with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes or therapeutic agents via electrostatic interaction. Due to a simple and rapid preparation process with high drug-loading efficiency, PIC nanoparticles are beneficial to maintaining the chemical integrity and high biological activity of the loaded drugs. However, the stability of PIC nanoparticles can be disrupted in high-ionic-strength solutions because electrostatic interaction is the DRIVING force; these disruptions can thus impair drug delivery. Herein, we summarize the advances in the use of PIC nanoparticles for delivery of charged drugs, focusing on the different chemical and physical strategies employed to enhance their stability, including enhancing the charge density, crosslinking, increasing hydrophobic interactions, forming hydrogen bonds, and the development of PIC-based gels. In particular, we describe the use of PIC nanoparticles to load peptide antibiotics targeting antibiotic-resistant and biofilm-related diseases and the use of nanoparticles that load chemotherapeutics and gaseous donors for cancer treatment. Furthermore, the application of PIC nanoparticles as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents is summarized for the first time. Therefore, this review is of great significance for advances in the use of polymeric nanoparticles for functional drug delivery.

Surface Ozone in the Huaihe River Economic Belt, China: Spatial-Temporal Variations and Meteorological Driving Force

Surface Ozone in the Huaihe River Economic Belt, China: Spatial-Temporal Variations and Meteorological Driving Force

Trend Changes and the Driving Forces of Environmental Indicators in Countries Worldwide: A Structural Change Analysis of Variations in CO2 Emissions and Eco-Efficiency

Many authors state that climate change is driven by increasing CO2 emissions worldwide. An understanding of the major driving forces affecting emissions over time in both developed and developing countries is important. Thus, in this study, structural break analysis is used to identify when the trends of environmental indicators—CO2 emissions and environmental efficiency (EE)—across countries worldwide change. Our findings revealed notable structural breaks occurring in countries in 1994, coinciding with ballooning fossil energy prices. Regarding CO2, 55 of 143 countries experienced a structural break. Furthermore, another wave of structural breaks emerged in 2014, corresponding to the implementation of CO2 emission reduction plans by certain nations. For CO2, 64 of 143 countries experienced a structural break. Upon detecting breakpoints and their trends, we utilized LMDI factor decomposition analysis to discern their driving factors, thereby elucidating the underlying dynamics. In Latin America and the Caribbean, most breakpoints were undesirable shifts, but recently, desirable shifts have increased in North America, Oceania, and Europe, which include many countries with high economic levels, improving energy-related factors. Sub-Saharan Africa can also be said to have undergone an undesirable shift regarding energy-related factors. This study clarifies the precise influences on the trend of CO2 emissions at the global level by identifying the point in time when there is a significant statistical, rather than a subjective, breakpoint.

Land-Use/Cover Change and Driving Forces in the Pan-Pearl River Basin during the Period 1985–2020

Land use/cover change (LUCC) is a vital aspect representing global change and humans’ impact on Earth’s surface. This study utilized the ESRI Land Cover 2020 and China Land Cover Dataset (CLCD), along with historical imagery from Google Earth, to develop a method for the assessment of land use data quality. Based on the assessment, the CLCD was updated to generate an improved Re-CLCD for the Pan-Pearl River Basin (PPRB) from 1985 to 2020, and to analyze LUCC in the PPRB over the past 35 years. The results indicate the following: (1) Among the seven land uses, built-up land experienced the most dramatic change, followed by cropland, forestland, grassland, shrubland, waterbody, and bare land, with notable increases in built-up land and forestland, and rapid decreases in cropland, grassland, and shrubland. (2) The magnitude of land use changed very widely, with the highest change in the Pearl River Delta, followed by small coastal river basins in southern Guangdong and western Guangxi, the Dongjiang River Basin, the Hanjiang River Basin, the Xijiang River Basin, the Beijiang River Basin, and lastly, Hainan Island. (3) The largest increase happened in built-up land, with a total increase of 12,184 km2, mainly due to the occupation of cropland and forestland, corresponding to the highest decrease in cropland, with a net loss of 10,435 km2, which was primarily converted to forestland and built-up land. The study results are valuable in providing a scientific basis for policy overhaul regarding land resources and management to safeguard ecological balance and promote sustainable development in the Pan-Pearl River Basin.

Thermodynamic Driving Forces for the Self-Assembly of Diblock Polypeptoids.

Peptoid polymers with sequence-defined side chains are observed to self-assemble into a variety of structures spanning nanometer and micron scales. We explored a diblock copolypeptoid, poly(N-decylglycine)10-block-poly(N-2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)-ethylglycine)10 (abbreviated as Ndc10-Nte10), which forms crystalline nanofibers and nanosheets as evidenced by recent cryo-transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and calorimetry. Using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we examined the thermodynamic forces driving such self-assembly and how nanoscale morphology is tailored through modification of the N-terminus or via the addition of small molecules (urea). We have found that the hydrophobic Ndc domain alignment is key to the formation of molecular stacks whose growth is limited by electrostatic repulsion between protonated N-termini. These stacks are the building blocks that assemble via cooperative van der Waals attraction between the tips of extended decyl side chains to form nanofibers or nanosheets with a well-converged intermolecular interaction energy. Assemblies are significantly more stable in urea solution due to its strong attraction to the peptoid-solvent interface. Isolated peptoids exhibit curved all-cis backbones, which straighten within molecular stacks to maximize contact and registry between neighboring molecules. We hypothesize that competition between this attractive interaction and a strain cost for straightening the backbone is what leads to finite stack widths that define crystalline nanofibers of protonated Ndc10-Nte10. Growth is proposed to proceed through backbone unfurling via trans defects, which is more prevalent in aqueous solution than in THF, indicating a possible pathway to self-assembly under experimentally defined synthesis conditions (viz., THF evaporation).

Analysis of Lake Area Dynamics and Driving Forces in the Jianghan Plain Based on GEE and SEM for the Period 1990 to 2020

The lakes of Jianghan Plain, as an important component of the water bodies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River plain, have made significant contributions to maintaining the ecological health and promoting the sustainable development of the Jianghan Plain. However, there is a relatively limited understanding regarding the trends of lake area change for different types of lakes and their dominant factors over the past three decades in the Jianghan Plain. Based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, combined with the water body index method, the changes in area of three different types of lakes (area > 1 km2) in the Jianghan Lake Group from 1990 to 2020 were extracted and analyzed. Additionally, the Partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was utilized to analyze the driving factors affecting the changes in water body area of these lakes. The results show that from 1990 to 2020, the area of the lakes of the wet season and level season exhibited a decreasing trend, decreasing by 893.1 km2 and 77.9 km2, respectively. However, the area of dry season lakes increased by 59.27 km2. The areas of all three types of lakes reached their minimum values in 2006. According to the PLS-SEM results, the continuous changes in the lakes’ area are mainly controlled by environmental factors overall. Furthermore, human factors mainly influence the mutation of the lakes’ area. This study achieved precise extraction of water body areas and accurate analysis of driving factors, providing a basis for a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic changes in the lakes of Jianghan Plain, which is beneficial for the rational utilization and protection of water resources.

Molecular Driving Forces in the Self-Association of Silaffin Peptide R5 from MD Simulations.

The 19-residue silaffin-R5 peptide has been widely studied for its ability to precipitate uniform SiO2 particles through mild temperature and pH pathways, in the absence of any organic solvents. There is consensus that post-translational modification (PTM) of side chains has a large impact on the biomineralization process. Thus, it is imperative to understand the precise mechanisms that dictate the formation of SiO2 from R5 peptide, including the effects of PTM on peptide aggregation and peptide-surface adsorption. In this work, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the aggregation of R5 dimer with multiple PTMs, with the presence of different ions in solution. Since this system has strong interactions with deep metastable states, we use parallel bias metadynamics with partitioned families to efficiently sample the different states of the system. We find that peptide aggregation is a prerequisite for biomineralization. We observe that the electrostatic interactions are essential in the R5 dimer aggregation; for wild type R5 that only has positively charged residues, phosphate ions HPO4 2- in the solution form a bridge between two peptides and are essential for peptide aggregation.

How to manage the ecosystem services effectively and fairly?

Ecosystem services (ES) are the bridge between social system and ecosystem, and effective management of ecosystem services is the basis of sustainable development. According to the objectives of ecosystem service management, this study constructed an ecosystem service management framework based on trade-off theory, and proposed the “Driving force regulation” toolkit and “Compensation scheme construction” toolkit to try to improve the efficiency and fairness of ecosystem service management. And take Zhejiang Huzhou Mulberry-dyke & Fish-pond System (MDFP) as the practical object of the framework. The results showed that: (1) When the thickness of the pond sludge is 10 cm, increasing the frequency of covering pond sludge to mulberry-dyke (CSMD) can effectively improve the supply of soil nutrient retention services in MDFP, but it will reduce the provision services. (2) When the pond sludge thickness is 10 cm, the frequency of CSMD is the driving force of the supply-supply trade-offs between soil nutrient retention services and provision services. Increasing the frequency of CSMD to once a year can effectively manage trade-offs between ES supplies and thereby improve stakeholders’ group benefits. (3) The benefits obtained by various stakeholders from the management of ES supply-supply trade-offs are uneven. Entrepreneurs, environmentalists and tourists need to pay compensation in the ratio of 6:6:1, while farmers and government agencies receive compensation in the ratio of 3:2. This research shows that the ecosystem service management framework based on trade-off theory optimizes ES supply according to the ES preferences of stakeholders, and determines the proportion of compensation paid (received) by private winners (private losers) based on differences in changes of individual benefits, thereby effectively improving the “efficiency” and “fairness” of ES management.

Spatial spillover effects of conversion of new and old driving forces on high-quality development: Evidence from 283 cities in China

Converting the forces driving is essential for breaking away from the traditional unsustainable development model and achieving High-Quality Development (HQD). Understanding how the conversion from old to new forces influences HQD is crucial for achieving sustainable development. Therefore, the assessment framework for Conversion of New and Old Driving Forces (CNODF) and HQD are established. From an efficiency perspective, the Super-Efficiency slacks-based model (SBM) model, considering undesirable outputs, is used to measure HQD levels in Chinese cities. The entropy weight method is applied to measure CNODF levels. By integrating coupling coordination degree and relative development degree, the matching and synchronization between HQD and CNODF are categorized. Further, the study introduces the Spatial Durbin Model to quantitatively identify the spatial relationships between HQD and CNODF at both national and urban agglomerations scales. The research findings indicate that from 2006 to 2019, the national average HQD level increased by 50.5 %, and the average CNODF level increased by 11.5 %. The association between the two has strong spatial heterogeneity. At the national scale, CNODF has significant nonlinear spatial spillover effects on HQD. These findings provide theoretical insights for advancing the conversion of driving forces, and can help inform regional high-quality development strategies.

Monitoring the Landscape Pattern Dynamics and Driving Forces in Dongting Lake Wetland in China Based on Landsat Images

Dongting Lake wetland is a typical lake wetland in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain in China. Due to the influence of natural and human activities, the landscape pattern has changed significantly. This study used 12 Landsat images from 1991 to 2022 and applied three common classification methods (support vector machine, maximum likelihood, and CART decision tree) to extract and classify the landscape information, with the latter having a superior annual accuracy of over 90%. Based on the CART decision tree classification results, the dynamic characteristics of wetland spatial patterns were analyzed through the landscape pattern index, dynamic degree model, and transition matrix model. Redundancy and grey correlation analysis were employed to investigate the driving factors. The results showed increased landscape fragmentation, reduced heterogeneity, and increased complexity from 1991 to 2022. The water and mudflat areas exhibited three distinct stages: gradual decline until 2001 (−3.06 km2/a); sharp decrease until 2014 (−19.44 km2/a); and steady increase (22.93 km2/a). Vegetation conversion, particularly between sedge and reed, dominated the change in landscape pattern. Reed area initially increased (18.88 km2/a), then decreased (−35.89 km2/a), while sedge showed the opposite trend. Woodland area fluctuated, peaking in 2016 and declined by 2022. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam significantly altered landscape dynamics through water level changes, reflected by a 4.03% comprehensive dynamic degree during 2001–2004. Potential evaporation also emerged as a significant natural factor, exhibiting a negative correlation with the landscape index. During 1991–2001 and 2004–2022, the comprehensive explanatory rates of temperature, precipitation, potential evaporation, and water level on landscape pattern dynamics were 88.56% and 52.44%, respectively. Other factors like policies and socio-economic factors played a crucial role in wetland change. These findings offer valuable insights into the dynamic evolution and driving mechanisms of Dongting Lake wetland.

Generalized Linear Driving Force Formulas for Diffusion and Reaction in Porous Catalysts

Approximate models are a fast and most often precise tool for determining the effectiveness factor for heterogeneous catalysis processes that are realized in the real world. They are also frequently applied as robust transient models describing the work of a single catalyst pellet or as a part of a more complex model, for example, a reactor model, where mass balances for the gas phase and solid phase are necessary. So far, approximate models for diffusion and reaction processes have been presented for processes described by a single balance equation. In the present work, approximate models without the mentioned limitation are presented and discussed. In addition, simple rules are shown for the development of other complex approximate models without tedious derivation in the complex domain. The formulas considered in this work are typical long-time approximations of the transient process. The accuracy is good, especially in the range of small and intermediate Thiele modulus values.

Calculation and Discussion for Crack Driving Force of Dissimilar Metal Welded Joint of Nuclear Power Equipment Nozzle and Safe End

This study investigates the effects of the material mechanical properties heterogeneity and strength mismatch variation on crack driving forces for cracks in a dissimilar metal welded joint (DMW) of a reactor pressure vessel inlet nozzle to the safe end. Linear elastic and elastic-plastic analyses are carried out to calculate the stress intensity factor (SIF) and J-integral for cracks in the DMW. The effects of crack locations, crack depths, and strength mismatch factors on the SIF and J-integral are studied. The SIF results obtained by finite element analysis are compared with those obtained by the influence function method adopted in the nuclear power code. Results show that the effect of crack location on the SIF can be ignored. The SIFs calculated by the influence function method for cracks in the DMW are basically reasonable, although its conservatism is slightly insufficient. Moreover, with moving the crack location from the nozzle through buttering and weld metal to the safe end, the J-integral increases. The effect of the crack location and strength mismatch factors on the J-integral is essentially caused by variation of the plastic zone and the material properties of the crack front. The crack sizes affect the level of influence of the crack location and the strength mismatch factors on the J-integral. The J-integral increases with decrease of the strength mismatch factor.

Analyzing the Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Driving Forces of Ecological Environment Quality in the Qinling Mountains, China

The Qinling Mountains serve as a vital ecological barrier for China, needing regular monitoring for sustainable progress. The present study analyzed the Qinling Mountains (sections in Shaanxi province) via the Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Landsat images, constructing a Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) for quantitatively analyzing the spatiotemporal evolution of the ecological environment quality from 1990 to 2020. Additionally, this study integrated geodetector and multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) to discern the driving factors influencing ecological quality. The results indicated the following: (1) over the 30 years, the RSEI in the study area initially declined (1990–2005) and then began to improve (2005–2020), demonstrating an overall upward trend; (2) RSEI varied with topography: lower values corresponded to lower elevations (<1200 m) and gentle slopes (<10°), whereas higher values were linked to higher elevations (>1600 m) and steeper slopes (>20°); and (3) NDVI, DEM, land use, and the presence of protected areas emerged as the main driving forces of ecological quality. The interaction between ecological conservation policies and socioeconomic factors enhanced the explanatory strength for the differentiation in ecological environment quality. In conclusion, factors like increased vegetation cover and the establishment of protected areas have significantly promoted the improvement of ecological environment quality in the Qinling region, making this study a scientific reference for providing ecological environment protection and promoting high-quality development.

Evaluation of acetanilide and antipyrine adsorption on lignin-derived activated carbons

In this study, the removal of two emerging pollutants (EPs), antipyrine and acetanilide, through adsorption on activated carbons (ACs) prepared by chemical activation of Organosolv lignin with H3PO4 were evaluated. ACs with different pore size distribution were obtained at different impregnation ratios (H3PO4/lignin, 0.5–3.0 w/w) and activating temperatures (500–900 °C). The porosity and surface chemistry of the ACs were determined, and a bimodal size distribution of micropores and narrow mesopores was observed for the different ACs. These ACs were tested for antipyrine and acetanilide adsorption in aqueous solutions in a batch system at 20 °C and low concentration levels (0.5–10 ppm). In general, the ACs exhibited higher adsorption affinity to acetanilide than to antipyrine due to its smaller molecular size. Langmuir adsorption isotherm was able to describe the adsorption equilibrium data. A new Linear Driving Force (2-LDF) kinetic model, based on the bimodal size distribution of micropores and narrow mesopores observed for the ACs has been developed. The new model provided a more accurate description of the batch adsorption rates than that obtained from conventional kinetic models, and also enabled to relate the pore size distribution of the adsorbent with the adsorption kinetics. The validity of this model was checked in small-scale column fixed bed adsorption for the AC showing the highest affinity for both EP. The kinetic model and equilibrium adsorption isotherm obtained from the batch experiments were successfully used to provide an accurate description of the bed service time and the full breakthrough profile of acetanilide and antipyrine.

Will Green Finance Become a New Driving Force for Environmental Governance in The Post-Covid-19 Era: Evidence from China

Will Green Finance Become a New Driving Force for Environmental Governance in The Post-Covid-19 Era: Evidence from China

Sustaining the Pearl River: A Critical Review of Changes in Fluvial Geomorphological Processes and the Driving Forces in the Pearl River Basin

The Pearl River is one of China’s large rivers, the second-largest river and the fourth-longest river in China. Its unique geography, landform, and climate conditions create unique fluvial geomorphological processes. Affected by human activities and climate change, the fluvial geomorphological processes in the Pearl River Basin have undergone significant changes in recent decades, seriously affecting the river’s sustainable development. This paper critically reviews changes in fluvial geomorphological processes and analyzes influencing factors in the Pearl River Basin with a focus on possibilities for policy overhaul and strategic adjustments.

Spatial-temporal Dynamics and Driving Forces of Provincial CO2 Emission Responsibilities in China from Multiple Perspectives

Abstract A comprehensive analysis of the carbon emission profile of Chinese provinces from multiple perspectives is required to develop equitable and effective policies to reduce carbon emissions. This study estimates the carbon dioxide (CO2) emission responsibilities of China’s 30 provinces and 22 sectors from production, consumption, and income-based perspectives from 2012 to 2017. Structural decomposition analysis (SDA) is used to determine the driving forces of changes in CO2 emissions in China from 2012 to 2017. The results indicate the following. (1) The dominant CO2 emission sectors are the Electric Power, Steam, and Hot Water industry and the Smelting and Pressing of Metals industry. (2) The scale effect of the initial input is the dominant factor affecting the growth of CO2 emissions, followed by the scale effect of the final demand from 2012 to 2017. (3) The structural effect of the production output is the primary carbon reduction factor, followed by the structural effect of the intermediate product input and the carbon intensity effect. Based on these results, recommendations are provided to reduce CO2 emissions, such as developing green and low-carbon technologies, revising and optimizing the energy composition, accelerating the green transition, and a science-based approach to investment. Keywords: Multiple perspectives, China’s Provinces, Spatial-temporal evolution, MRIO model, SDA model.