Major Hub Research Articles

Cardiocutaneous syndrome is caused by aggregation of iASPP mutants

The ASPP (apoptosis-stimulating protein of p53) family of proteins is involved in many cellular interactions and is starting to emerge as a major scaffolding hub for numerous proteins involved in cancer biology, inflammation and cellular integrity. It consists of the three members ASPP1, ASPP2 and iASPP which are best known for modulating the apoptotic function of p53, thereby directing cell fate decision. Germline mutations in iASPP have been shown to cause cardiocutaneous syndromes, a combination of heart and skin defects usually leading to death before the age of five. Mutations in iASPP causing these syndromes do not cluster in hot spots but are distributed throughout the protein. To understand the molecular mechanism(s) of how mutations in iASPP cause the development of cardiocutaneous syndromes we analysed the stability and solubility of iASPP mutants, characterized their interaction with chaperones and investigated their influence on NF-ĸB activity. Here we show that three different mechanisms are responsible for loss of function of iASPP: loss of the complete C-terminal domain, mutations resulting in increased auto-inhibition and aggregation due to destabilization of the C-terminal domain. In contrast to these germline mutations causing cardiocutaneous syndromes, missense mutations found in cancer do not result in aggregation.

The Differential Privilege in the Arbitration Agreement Unilateral Arbitration Clause

Objective: Since the Contract is a binding code for contracting parties “pacta sunt servanda”, each party is bound by the obligations they have voluntarily undertaken through the contractual bond. As a result, parties may agree to settle any disputes that may arise between them through arbitration rather than resorting to the courts. Theoretical Framework: Comparative jurisprudence and legal opinions have shown divided stances on this type of arbitration agreement, with some supporting and others opposing it. Using a comparative descriptive-analytical approach, this study examines this particular form of arbitration agreement. Method: the methodology based of three approaches, The descriptive approach will be employed to present the issue of the unilateral arbitration clause. The analytical and comparative approach will be utilized to explore the stances of countries that are major global arbitration hubs. Results and Discussion: The study discussed the possibility of accepting or rejecting the unilateral arbitration clause in Arab legislations, considering that they follow the UNCITRAL law, as it was applied to the UAE law due to the existence of judicial applications. Research Implications: The Study reached several conclusions, including that British courts accept this type of agreement. However, despite rulings by both French and Emirati courts, their respective stances have not been entirely clarified. Originality/Value: the arbitration agreement be drafted clearly to express the parties' intent to resort to arbitration, that standard arbitration clauses suggested by arbitration centers be utilized, or that an unrestricted arbitration clause be drafted to avoid any practical issues in its application which are effect deeply on sustainable development goals(SDGs).

The Rise of Open Banking: A Comprehensive Analysis of Research Trends and Collaborative Networks

This study explores the changing landscape of Open Banking-a financial services model where third-party providers get access through APIs to banking data for further innovation and customer experience improvements. The analysis is based on Scopus bibliographic data and relies on Biblioshiny and Citespace for the analysis of trends from 1999 to 2024. The main indicators analyzed include the dynamics of the annual scientific production, which increased after 2018 by a factor driven by regulatory frameworks such as PSD2. The main contributors are leading authors and sources, among them the Journal of Payments Strategy and Systems, while country-specific analyses definitely point out the UK, India, and China as major Open Banking research hubs. Thematic and trend analyses show that themes like data sharing, fintech, and API regulation are well-developed, whereas API security and risk management are still underexplored. Co-citation network visualizations depicted clear collaboration networks between countries and then between key authors. Factorial analysis further identified clusters of research related to technologically integrated themes, such as machine learning and blockchain. Key research gaps were identified in areas such as security and risk management, which are considered critical, with Open Banking’s continued expansion across the world. Practical implications include more robust API security frameworks and a deeper dive into the advanced technology-regulatory compliance link.

The Evolution of SDGs Rival: A Bibliometric Analysis of Greenwashing Over 30 Years

Objective: The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of greenwashing research from 1995 to 2024, with the aim of understanding the evolution, key themes, and influential contributors in the field. Theoretical Framework: This study uses social network theory and Lotka’s Law to identify key contributors and collaboration patterns in greenwashing research, highlighting influential authors and the concentration of productivity in the field. Method: Scopus was selected as the database for data collection, and data was gathered through systematic searches. The method employed is bibliometric analysis, focusing on performance analysis and science mapping with metrics such as total citations, citations per year, and author dominance. The analysis also explored trends, key contributors, collaboration networks, and etc. Results: The results reveal significant growth in greenwashing research since 2010, with the USA and China identified as major research hubs. Two primary research clusters were identified: corporate sustainability and consumer marketing. The analysis also identified key authors, influential journals, the most impactful articles, collaboration patterns, and changes in research focus over time. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research include insights into how greenwashing practices impact corporate reputation, consumer trust, and regulatory frameworks. These implications are relevant for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners aiming to foster transparency and accountability in sustainability efforts. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by providing an in-depth bibliometric analysis that identifies influential contributors, emerging trends, and collaboration patterns in greenwashing research. The relevance of this study is demonstrated by its potential to guide future research and inform policy on addressing deceptive sustainability practices.

Complex network analysis of fossil fuel functional regions in the United States during the period 2017 to 2022

In this paper we use complex network analysis to describe fossil fuel spatial flows among 132 places covering the entire United States in 2017 and in 2022. These spatial flows are for crude petroleum, gasoline, and oil fuels. The analysis shows that all three fuels have different network topology. For all six networks we find major hubs of crude petroleum and its products, gasoline and fuel oils, concentrated in areas with large reserves such as the south-central part of the US. Using modularity, a network cluster identification metric, we show that spatial interactions can be used to delineate functional regions and their differences across fuel types. These functional regions evolve over time in response to the shifting US role as a major producer and net exporter of fossil fuels, expansion of the domestic pipeline network, and increases in fuel production and refinement locations. The modal split of the fuels examined in this paper shows the dominant role pipelines play for crude petroleum, transporting approximately 83 % of tonnage in 2017 and increasing to almost 89 % in 2022. In contrast, gasoline and oil fuels modal split hovers at around 60 % of tonnage transported by tanker truck followed by other modes including pipelines. Our analysis shows geographic clustering of major hubs and their functional regions along the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana. These are in places that are often the locations of natural disasters. This together with the rapid increase of a few hubs as gateways to fossil fuel US exports makes them prime candidates in disrupting fossil fuel supply chains worldwide and amplifies vulnerability of fossil fuel supply chains. The spatial clustering trends shown in this paper provide added evidence of the source of short-term negative impacts in places such as Chicago in Illinois and Corpus Christi in Texas. This offers added information for government intervention.

Case study: Automated staff assignment with LiDAR tracking for security control at Munich Airport

Munich International Airport (MUC) is a major European hub that, in 2023, served 219 destinations in 64 countries by 99 airlines. Like many airports throughout the industry, MUC has been affected by staff shortages and has explored ways to improve efficiencies while maintaining safety and security. This paper describes a project to automate a process for random assignment of airport staff and airline crews to alternative screening areas at a control point. The paper explains the approach taken from concept design through implementation, including the challenges faced, the lessons learned and ultimately, the success achieved.

Insights into the virome of Hyalomma marginatum in the Danube Delta: a major vector of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Eastern Europe

BackgroundTicks are significant vectors of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. With approximately 900 tick species worldwide, many are expanding their geographical range due to changing socioeconomic and climate factors. The Danube Delta, one of Europe’s largest wetlands, is an ecosystem that, despite its ecological importance, remains understudied concerning the risk of introducing new tick-borne viruses. This region serves as a critical habitat for migratory birds, which can carry ticks over long distances, potentially introducing exotic tick species and their pathogens into the local ecosystem. Hyalomma marginatum ticks, the primary vector of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), are of particular concern due to their expanding presence in Europe and potential to spread other arboviruses. In addition to being the primary vector for CCHFV, Hyalomma sp. ticks are capable of transmitting other pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, including Dugbe virus, West Nile virus, African horse sickness virus, and Kyasanur forest disease virus. Therefore, it is essential to monitor the presence of Hyalomma sp. ticks while simultaneously surveilling arbovirus circulation in tick populations to mitigate the risk of arboviral outbreaks.MethodsIn this work, we used an RNA sequencing technique to analyze the virome of H. marginatum ticks collected from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania, one of the major bird migration hubs from Africa to Europe.ResultsAmong the viral taxa detected in H. marginatum ticks, sequences belonging to Volzhskoe tick virus (VTV), Balambala tick virus (BMTV) and Bole tick virus 4 (BTV4) were identified. In addition, we report the first identification of a novel Rhabdoviridae-related virus, Hyalomma marginatum rhabdovirus (HMRV). No CCHFV or any CCHFV-related nairovirus were detected in this study.ConclusionsTo summarize, detecting new viruses is essential for monitoring potential viral outbreaks. Our research expands the understanding of virus diversity in Eastern Europe, including the identification of novel viruses. This insight is crucial for monitoring viruses that may pose risks to both animal and human health, such as CCHFV.Graphical

Single fluorescent probe reveals glutathione-viscosity crosstalk in the endoplasmic reticulum during ferroptosis and extracellular vesicles in synergistic ferroptosis-apoptosis

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death triggered by lipid peroxidation accumulation, representing a redox imbalance in cells. The increased knowledge of ferroptosis has led to various potential strategies to develop new cancer therapies, such as synergistic ferroptosis-apoptosis. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the major hub for lipid metabolism in cells and plays a central role in lipid peroxidation. Glutathione (GSH) and viscosity levels in ER are important parameters for intracellular redox homeostasis, which remain unclear in ferroptosis and synergistic ferroptosis-apoptosis. This study developed an ER-targeting fluorescent probe (MMPY) with a dual-emission response to GSH and viscosity. Fluorescent cell imaging using MMPY revealed different GSH-viscosity crosstalk in the ER for the four ferroptosis pathways induced by erastin, RSL3, FIN56, and FINO2. GSH and viscosity changes in the ER during synergistic ferroptosis-apoptosis were also investigated. Interestingly, the new types of extracellular vesicles were observed during the synergistic process, which burdened the ER fragments with different GSH contents.

The online video ecology for preschoolers in India: investigating the creative industry practices

With over 690 million internet users, India ranks second globally in terms of internet user, trailing only China. This surge in internet penetration is fueling online content consumption among preschoolers in the country. As per Statista’s January 2024 data, India has the largest share of YouTube worldwide viewership, with 462 million users, which is nearly double of the 239 million users in the United States. Notably, six out of the 10 most-viewed videos on YouTube globally, cater to the preschoolers. Topping the list for 2024 is “Baby Shark Dance” by Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories with a massive 13.93 billion views on YouTube, and its channel boasting 80.4 M subscribers. The other similar-category videos in the top-ten list include: “Johny Johny Yes Papa” by LooLoo Kids, “Bath Song” and “Wheels on the Bus” by Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes, “Phonics Song with Two Words” by ChuChu TV, and “Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm” by Miroshka TV. These statistics underscore the extensive online consumption of content specifically designed for young children, while also highlighting India’s significant role as a major consumer hub for such content. It is in this context that this paper examines the creative industry practices behind production of such content consumed largely on mobile or TV screens by preschoolers in India. This study engages with select content creators from India who have been developing content on YouTube for preschoolers. Adopting a theoretical framework that synthesizes the political economy perspective with the critical media industry studies (CMIS) framework proposed by Havens et al., the paper critically interrogates the children’s content industry within the context of the economic and cultural forces that shape it. The production of content cultures serves as a starting point for exploring the digital content ecology for preschool children in India. It also explores how these children’s contents are shaped in India and also, how the quotidian practices surrounding this content have shaped the industry practices in the Indian context. Given the significant economic potential of this industry, which shapes the media discourse significantly, this paper seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the business culture within the media industry; and also of the creative industry practices of digital content creators and the online video ecology for preschoolers, in India. With a constructivist epistemic foundation, the study investigates industry practices around this content by reviewing secondary data and intensive interviews with content creators, and producers.

The Impact of Family and Society on Women’s Career in Bangladesh

This paper aims at understanding factors that may lead woman to work professionally and balance their family responsibilities in Bangladesh. The study reveals that factors related to self-interest, economic gain, parental and spouse support, peer status, and lenient schedules are crucial enough to create an appetite for promotion. However global studies on workforce participation and women are economic initiatives lack understanding of the particular socio-cultural factors of Bangladeshi women. This research therefore seeks to fill this gap by exploring how professional dreaming is shaped by family responsibilities, culture and organizational practices. This research forms part of a qualitative study and employed semi-structured questionnaires to capture data from 30 professional women in Dhaka. According to education, profession, marital status criteria, participants were selected and open coded to find themes. The work also finds out that wives and mothers are among the most critical sources of support to empower females for dual responsibilities. Nonetheless, flexibility, which includes offering fewer working hours and more telecommuting opportunities, was another major factor hubs relied on to serve the same purpose of improving the women’s quality of life at the cost of their work-life balance. Nonetheless, supportive cultural factors such as motivators also have their limitations in promoting work life balance due to societal pressures and absence of polices such as child care in organizations. A range of participants described financial security and job satisfaction as the key motivation that determines career success that contributes to personal and social self-actualization. In this regard, the study emphasize on the need to adopt family agenda related policies and encourage cultural change that may enhance women’s career paths. To adequately satisfy women’s career motivation it is crucial to have a strong family support and adequate flexibility at workplace.

Water quality assessment for aquacultivation in Quang Ngai city, Quang Ngai province

Aquatic product development and growth are significantly influenced by the water supply used for aquaculture. Evaluating the water quality available for this activity is vital since Quang Ngai city has been a major hub for the growth of aquaculture in Quang Ngai province. Twelve surface water quality parameters were monitored and analyzed at eight sampling points in the river basins of An Nghia and Tinh Khe communes from May to September 2023. The Water Quality Index (WQI) was calculated, and methods including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), calculation of environmental variable weights based on principal components (PC), and Pearson correlation were used to assess the correlation of the investigated factors. In the river basin of An Nghia and Tinh Khe communes, 12 criteria for the assessment of surface water quality were tracked and examined using 8 sampling locations between May and September in 2023. The degree of linkage was assessed using principal component analysis (PCA), weighting environmental factors based on principal components (PC), and Pearson correlation. The water quality index (WQI) was calculated between the factors of the research. The findings show that: (1) The parameters exceeded the permitted limit: DO, Alkalinity, NH4+, TP, Vibrio SPP, Coliform, TOC, and TN. The two metrics with the greatest levels of pollution among them are Vibrio SPP and NH4+. The WQI index ranges from 52-74 and is within the average water quality range (51-75); (2) PCA analysis reveals that only the first two principal components, PC1 and PC2 can account for 74.39% of the variance, with NH4+ (0.089) having the highest weight; (3) NH4+ and Vibrio SPP content have a strong correlation (r = 0.95), indicating that both of these parameters can be used to evaluate water quality in the study area in general.

An Examination of Ethiopian Data on the Coffee Value Chain from a Systemic Perspective

Ethiopia's principal export crop is coffee. Currently, one of the most profitable exports for nations in East Africa, including Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, is coffee. Ethiopia is recognized as the source and major hub of Arabica coffee varietal. Global coffee production is insignificant, with over 70 nations and approximately 25 million growers producing coffee. Seventeen percent of coffee producers worldwide are from Ethiopia. Ethiopia, which produces 4.46 percent of the world's coffee, is the world's fifth-largest producer, behind only Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Indonesia. the biggest and most prolific grower in Africa, making up around 43.15% of the continent. Ethiopian coffee varieties vary greatly in terms of genetic variety. The nation has also captured the attention of the world because of its inherent. More than 60% of the world's coffee is produced by the top three countries—Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia together. Ethiopia is the eighth-largest supplier of coffee to the world market, accounting for 3–3.7 percent. Sixty countries import coffee from Ethiopia. The top 10 countries to import Ethiopian coffee, in terms of value, were Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Belgium, South Korea, China, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan. They make up 84% of the whole. Japan moved up from sixth place in 2020–2021 to fourth place in the world for coffee imports in 2021–2022.

An Analysis of the Economic and Policy Impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative on Participating Countries: A Case Study of Pakistan, Djibouti, and Sri Lanka

Abstract: The project, which the Chinese Government calls BRI, was launched in 2013 to promote global connectivity alongside economic development through long-term infrastructure projects in Asia, Europe and Africa. This paper assesses how the growth of BRI has impacted several beneficiary countries through case studies in Pakistan, Djibouti and Sri Lanka. In Pakistan, CPEC stimulated economic growth by promoting infrastructure development. The port development in Djibouti was facilitated by BIS funds, transforming the city into a major trading hub. In Sri Lanka, the Hambantota port project illustrates the problems of increasing debt and political constraints. This comparison of BRI projects in different countries reveals a range of achievements, but also challenges common to the public sector, such as debt management, economic dependency and the strategic implications of foreign investment. recommendations for optimizing BRI performance include strategic planning and diverse partnerships include. This study highlights the complex dynamics of large-scale international development initiatives between states and their relevance for participating countries.

PROBLEMS OF POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL HEALTHCARE (based on materials from the administrative department of Gorky Regional Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks))

The article reveals health problems in the City of Gorky and Gorky Region in the period of 1945 – early 1950s. Topicality of the study is connected, first of all, with the insufficient development of this topic in historiography. On the other hand, the secrecy of a number of archival funds and the gradual work on declassifying socially significant documents require their timely involvement in scientific circulation. The source base is the materials of the State Socio-Political Archive of Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Central Archive of Nizhny Novgorod Region. The City of Gorky and the regional centres of Gorky Region, especially Dzerzhinsk, were important industrial centres in the post-war period. Gorky was also one of the major transport hubs. The article notes that these factors directly influenced the development of regional medicine. With the outbreak of the Cold War, medical documentation became closed. The author focuses on the analysis of medical documents of the administrative department of Gorky Regional Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks. Data on the state of health care in the region is just at the moment being introduced into scientific circulation. The research is based on the principles of historicism, scientific objectivity, and determinism. Methods of analysis, synthesis, comparative historicism, chronology were used. The novelty of the research lies in obtaining new knowledge about the conditions of the state, functioning and reform of the health care system of Gorky Region, as well as about the organisation of fighting social diseases, such as venereal ones and tuberculosis, in the post-war period. The author highlights the main problems of regional medicine of the period under study and the proposals of Party bodies to resolve socially significant issues.

Central amygdala-to-pre-Bötzinger complex neurotransmission is direct and inhibitory.

Breathing behaviour is subject to emotional regulation, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate a direct relationship between the central amygdala, a major output hub of the limbic system associated with emotional brain function, and the brainstem pre-Bötzinger complex, which generates the fundamental rhythm and pattern for breathing. The connection between these two sites is monosynaptic and inhibitory, involving GABAergic central amygdala neurons whose axonal projections act predominantly via ionotropic GABAA receptors to produce inhibitory postsynaptic currents in pre-Bötzinger neurons. This pathway may provide a mechanism to inhibit breathing in the context of freezing to assess threats and plan defensive action. The existence of this pathway may further explain how epileptic seizures invading the amygdala cause long-lasting apnea, which can be fatal. Although their ultimate importance awaits further behavioural tests, these results elucidate a link between emotional brain function and breathing, which underlies survival-related behaviour in mammals and pertains to human anxiety disorders.

Drivers of short-term essential air service operations: Load factor, pricing, and subsidy policies in China's domestic air market

This study analyzes the impact of the temporary flight subsidy policy on the operational performance of China's domestic air transport market. Using panel data from 42 days between May 7 and June 17, 2022, and applying a dynamic panel model with time-invariant variables, the study explores the factors influencing average load factor and average ticket price under short-term basic air service conditions. The results reveal that, during the pandemic, load factors exhibited weak dependence on historical data, with airlines adjusting to real-time demand fluctuations. Additionally, the flight subsidy policy failed to meet its intended goals, leading to a reduction in overall load factors, particularly for China Southern, China Eastern, and Hainan Airlines, while Air China demonstrated more flexibility in adapting to the policy. The study also identifies the significant influence of route distance and airport size on both load factors and ticket prices, with longer routes and major hub airports commanding higher prices. These findings suggest that future subsidy policies should be more flexible and tailored to specific market conditions to effectively support the recovery and long-term sustainability of the aviation industry.

Impact of potential biomarkers, SNRPE, COX7C, and RPS27, on idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neuro-degenerative disorder most common in older adults which is associated with impairments in movement and other body functions. Most PD cases are classified as idiopathic PD (IPD), meaning that the etiology remains unidentified. To identify key genes and molecular mechanisms to identify biomarkers applicable to IPD. We applied a bioinformatics approach using a gene expression in whole blood dataset to pinpoint differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways involved in IPD. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses of DEGs were subsequently performed. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was then constructed to select hub genes that may influence IPD. We further investigated the levels of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and differentially expressed microRNA (DEMs) of whole blood of patients with IPD to validate hub genes. Additionally, we examined the hub gene expression patterns in the substantia nigra (STN) using single-cell RNA sequencing datasets. In total, we identified 124 DEGs in the blood samples of patients with IPD, with GO and KEGG analyses highlighting their significant enrichment. Analysis of PPI networks revealed three major clusters and hub genes: small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide E (SNRPE), cytochrome C oxidase subunit 7C (COX7C), and ribosomal protein S27 (RPS27). DMRs and DEMs analyses revealed hub gene regulation via epigenetic and RNA interference. In particular, SNRPE and RPS27 showed identically regulated gene expression in the STN. This study suggests that SNRPE, COX7C, and RPS27 in whole-blood samples derived from patients may be useful biomarkers for IPD.

Identification of key signaling pathways and novel computational drug target for oral cancer, metabolic disorders and periodontal disease

AimDue to conventional endocrinological methods, there is presently no shared work available, and no therapeutic options have been demonstrated in oral cancer (OC) and periodontal disease (PD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and obese patients. The aim of this study is to determine the similar molecular pathways and potential therapeutic targets in PD, OC, T2D, and obesity that may be used to anticipate the progression of the disease. MethodsFour Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarray datasets (GSE29221, GSE15773, GSE16134, and GSE13601) are used for finding differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for T2D, obese, and PD patients with OC in order to explore comparable pathways and therapeutic medications. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis were used to investigate the functional annotations of the genes. The hub genes were then identified using protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, and the most significant PPI components were evaluated using a clustering approach. ResultsThese three gene expression-based datasets yielded a total of seven common DEGs. According to the GO annotation, the majority of the DEGs were connected with the microtubule cytoskeleton structure involved in mitosis. The KEGG pathways revealed that the concordant DEGs are connected to the cell cycle and progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation. Based on topological analysis of the PPI network, major hub genes (CCNB1, BUB1, TTK, PLAT, and AHNAK) and notable modules were revealed. This work additionally identified the connection of TF genes and miRNAs with common DEGs, as well as TF activity. ConclusionPredictive drug analysis yielded concordant drug compounds involved with T2D, OC, PD, and obesity disorder, which might be beneficial for examining the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of metabolic disorders and Oral cancer.

Dynamic speculation and efficiency in European natural gas markets during the COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine crises

Efficiency and dynamic speculation literature focused on financial and crude oil markets whereas empirical studies on natural gas markets are limited. This study examines market efficiency and dynamic speculation in major European natural gas hubs (the Zeebrugge (ZEE) hub of Belgium, Title Transfer Facility (TTF) hub of the Netherlands, and National Balancing Point (NBP) hub of the UK) during the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict. Using the Asymmetric multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (A-MFDFA) and the power law exponent (PLE) approach, we show that European natural gas markets exhibit an asymmetric multifractal behavior and long-memory effects, with variations observed during crises. The ZEE hub in Belgium and the NBP hub in the UK demonstrate a higher multifractality under different trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, respectively. Notably, the TTF hub in the Netherlands emerges as the most efficient market during all subperiods. Moreover, our results, using the PLE approach, suggest that European gas market inefficiencies during crises can be attributed to speculative strategies that create self-perpetuating dynamics and diminish market transparency, leading to heightened risk and volatility in gas prices. Our findings underscore the need for regulatory intervention to mitigate excessive speculation and enhance transparency in gas markets. Diversifying gas supplies and fortifying European gas hubs emerge as pivotal strategies to bolster resilience and stability during crises.

The strategic insights of Arctic sea routes for the sustainable development of Taiwan's shipping industry

In recent years, the Arctic Ocean has been experiencing the impacts of climate change. Global warming has led to the melting of ice caps and a significant reduction in ice coverage. As a result, the Arctic Ocean has indirectly opened up two new shipping routes known as the “Northeast Passage" and the “Northwest Passage." The opening of these new routes has the potential to transform Northeast Asia into a major transshipment hub, linking the Indo-Pacific and Europe regions. Novel business models are also generated and investigated within the maritime industry. This study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with potential stakeholders from industry, government, and academia. Additionally, qualitative analysis software- NVivo11 was utilized along with grounded theory for data analysis. The rationale supporting this view includes the advantages of Taiwan's shipping industry, its strategic geographic location, and the potential for shorter shipping routes through the Arctic. Additionally, Taiwan can establish conducive conditions to enhance its international standing and diplomatic relationships concerning Arctic Ocean matters. This initiative will facilitate the sustainable development of Taiwan's maritime industry in the Arctic region.