Rapid Transit Research Articles

Analysis of System Performance and Public Transportation Services of Trans Metro Dewata Bali Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Public Interest in Bali Province

This study analyzes the influence of various factors (safety, security, comfort, affordability, equality, and order) on interest in using the Trans Metro Dewata Bali Bus Rapid Transit as a mode of public transportation in Bali. This research uses quantitative descriptive method with primary and secondary data collection and questionnaire distribution. Determination of the sample using the slovin formula with simple random sampling technique distributed to the Balinese people with a total of 100 samples. Testing the feasibility of the research instrument using the validity test calculated in the SPSS program. The results showed that the variables together had a significant influence on interest in using the system, with an R Square value of 0.368, indicating that 36.8% of the variance in interest could be explained by these factors. However, 63.2% of the variance is influenced by other variables not included in this study

Norwegian Public Health Nursing Students’ Experiences with the Transition from Classroom to Online Lectures: Benefits and Challenges

The integration of technology in higher education increased online courses available to students, although traditional face-to-face interaction remains dominant. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a rapid transition to emergency remote teaching (ERT), impacting public health nursing (PHN) education in Norway, which primarily consists of adult learners. The impact of the transition to online-only lectures on these students remains largely unexplored. The aim of this study is to examine how Norwegian PHN students experienced the transition from traditional classroom lectures to online-only lectures during the global pandemic. It also identifies the self-reported advantages and challenges associated with online-only lectures and whether this transition affected their perceived learning outcome. A cross-sectional sample of public health nursing (PHN) students (n = 275) participated in a survey in from May to November 2020. The questionnaire was specifically developed for this study and covers student motivation, perceived benefits and challenges of transitioning to online lectures, peer collaboration, and self-assessed learning outcomes. It was distributed to the PHN students via their respective education’s LMS system. Most PHN students managed the technical aspects of the abrupt transition to online-only lectures effectively. They reported high digital competence, found the transition relatively easy, and remained motivated to continue their studies. Despite these positives, students reported a reduction in learning outcomes compared to classroom lectures. Challenges included the missing face-to-face interaction with peers, difficulties in managing childcare, and issues with structuring their studies.

Pattern detection in the vehicular activity of bus rapid transit systems

In this paper, we explore different methods to detect patterns in the activity of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems focusing on two aspects of transit: infrastructure and the movement of vehicles. To this end, we analyze records of velocity and position of each active vehicle in nine BRT systems located in the Americas. We detect collective patterns that characterize each BRT system obtained from the statistical analysis of velocities in the entire system (global scale) and at specific zones (local scale). We analyze the velocity records at the local scale applying the Kullback-Leibler divergence to compare the vehicular activity between zones. This information is organized in a similarity matrix that can be represented as a network of zones. The resulting structure for each system is analyzed using network science methods. In particular, by implementing community detection algorithms on networks, we obtain different groups of zones characterized by similarities in the movement of vehicles. Our findings show that the representation of the dataset with information of vehicles as a network is a useful tool to characterize at different scales the activity of BRT systems when geolocalized records of vehicular movement are available. This general approach can be implemented in the analysis of other public transportation systems.

Effectiveness of telephone clinics for assessment of new onset chest pain - a retrospective single-centre observational study

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant shift in the way clinical consultations are conducted with a rapid transition towards remote consultations (teleclinics). Although face-to-face (F2F) clinics are being re-introduced in the post-pandemic era, a significant proportion of clinics continue to run remotely. Despite the inability to physically examine the patient, remote clinics have notable advantages such as increased accessibility and flexibility for both the clinician and the patient. Purpose As the healthcare model moves increasingly towards a hybrid system where both F2F and teleclinics coexist, we sought to analyse the differences in practice between the two groups. Methods This single-centre retrospective analysis of patients referred to specialist cardiology services with NOCP compared face-to-face (F2F) consultations with teleclinic consultations. 70 patients were randomly selected in each category from a list of patients with NOCP that were referred to a tertiary cardiac centre from January to December 2021. Teleclinic appointments were conducted via telephone while F2F clinics had the patients visit the hospital for their appointments. Results The main findings are tabulated in Table 1. The samples for the two categories were evenly matched. Teleclinic appointments had a significantly reduced waiting time compared to F2F clinic (4 vs 6 weeks, p= 0.0009). As expected, the teleclinic group had reduced access to examination findings such as blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG. There was no significant difference in an initial working diagnosis of typical angina between the F2F group and the teleclinic group (30% and 25.7% respectively, p=0.706). However, patients in the F2F group were more likely to have anti-anginal therapy commenced compared to teleclinic group (50% vs 27.1% respectively, p=0.0089) following initial clinic review. Also, they were more likely to undergo an invasive coronary angiogram (30% vs 12.9% in F2F and teleclinic groups respectively, p=0.0224). However, this did not lead to a significant increase in PCIs performed in the F2F group. More patients had non-invasive tests requested in the teleclinic group compared to the F2F clinic group (62.9% vs 50% respectively, p=0.17) although this was not significant the median number of total investigations requested were the same in both the group. Conclusion Telephone consultations appear to be a reasonable alternative to F2F consultations with reduced waiting times and no significant impact on investigations ordered. However, lack of key examination findings may have hampered prescription of anti-anginal medications. Provisions such as readily available access to GP health care records on examination findings along with a streamlined remote prescription system can help overcome reluctance to prescribe antianginals. Further research is needed to assess clinical outcomes of teleclinic consultations.Table 1

‘Still hungry, not enough’: the past, present, and future of food tourism scholarship

This paper provides a state-of-the-art critical review of past and current food tourism scholarship and offers key insights and directions to establish a more comprehensive perspective on the field. The food tourism scholarship evolved, transformed, and progressed from earlier intellectual discussions and scholarly discourses on ‘food in tourism’. Through a rapid transition from ‘food in tourism’ to ‘food for tourism’ and ‘tourism for food’ as the current status quo, this paper proposes four directions for future food tourism research. These are: the application of contextualism philosophy with particular attention to the localities and peculiarities of emerging and/or new food tourism geographies, the accumulated experiences of food tourists in a holistic manner from a food cultural capital perspective, the alternative and sustainable foods and foodways regarding ongoing discourses of overtourism and degrowth, and the hypermobility concept of food travel and tourism. As such, the future of research directions, perspectives, issues, and concerns are plural and multifaceted.

Trends in diabetes morbi-mortality and its association with abdominal obesity among Tunisian adults

Abstract Introduction Tunisia is undergoing rapid nutritional transition, with increasing rates of abdominal obesity. Coupled with rising diabetes prevalence, it poses significant challenges to public health. This study aimed to estimate the morbi-mortality prevalence and trends of diabetes among Tunisian adults, particularly examining its association with abdominal obesity. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis on adults aged 35 to 70 from three national surveys in Tunisia, in 1996 (n = 3513), 2005 (n = 7700), and 2016 (n = 6007) respectively. Mortality data was sourced from the Tunisian National Information System on Causes of Death in 2020. The underlying cause of death was determined using the IRIS software, following WHO guidelines for tabulating mortality statistics. Diabetes was defined according to the American Association of Diabetes criteria. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist-to-height ratio ≥ 0.6. We performed chi-squared test for trend analysis. Results A total of 17220 participants were analyzed. We found a significant upwards trend in diabetes prevalence (p < 10-3): it increased from 13.1%[11.9-14.3] in 1996 to 15.1% [12.5-17.4] in 2005, then to 20.5%[18.9-22.1] in 2016. Linear trend test concluded to significant increase in diabetes prevalence estimated at 56.6% in two decades. Diabetes was significantly associated with abdominal obesity (Odds ratio (OR)=2.17[2.11-2.21]). Diabetes was the leading cause of death among Tunisian adults in 2020 (n = 22715). The proportional mortality due to diabetes was estimated at 6.2% (n = 1407) (6.4% for men and 6% for women). The age group with the highest proportional mortality due to diabetes was 65-70 years old (44.6%). Conclusions Our findings highlight the burden of diabetes on public health in Tunisia and its association with abdominal obesity. Hence the urgency to strengthen comprehensive preventive and control measures to alleviate its repercussions among the Tunisian population. Key messages • The prevalence of diabetes increased significantly amongTunisian adults in the past two decades. • Immediate implementation of targeted interventions and policy measures is imperative to effectively address this issue.

Assessing climate strategies of major energy corporations and examining projections in relation to Paris Agreement objectives within the framework of sustainable energy

The study presents a comparative analysis of emission scenarios proposed by key institutions, including Shell, British Petroleum (BP), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), within the framework of the Paris Agreement's ambitious goals. The Agreement seeks to limit global temperature rise to below 2 °C, ideally to 1.5 °C. Using a comprehensive analytical framework, the study evaluates each institution's projected carbon pathways, energy compositions, and policy recommendations. The findings reveal that IPCC scenarios demonstrate the strongest alignment with the Paris Agreement's targets, emphasizing a rapid transition to renewable energy and stringent mitigation measures. In contrast, the scenarios put forward by Shell and BP, although showing significant carbon reductions, remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels, raising concerns about the ability to meet the 1.5 °C and 2 °C targets. The IEA scenarios provide a middle ground, promoting decarbonization while still supporting natural gas as a transitional energy source. Disparities in transparency and methodological consistency are also identified across the scenarios, with the IPCC leading in clarity and scientific rigor. Ultimately, the research underscores the importance of harmonizing the strengths of different institutional approaches, while addressing the respective limitations, to ensure that the global community can stay on track to meet or exceed the climate objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement's. The study concludes that collective action, accelerated technological advancement, and policy shifts are crucial to achieving a sustainable, Net Zero future.

Hydrodynamics of a discrete conservation law

AbstractThe Riemann problem for the discrete conservation law is classified using Whitham modulation theory, a quasi‐continuum approximation, and numerical simulations. A surprisingly elaborate set of solutions to this simple discrete regularization of the inviscid Burgers' equation is obtained. In addition to discrete analogs of well‐known dispersive hydrodynamic solutions—rarefaction waves (RWs) and dispersive shock waves (DSWs)—additional unsteady solution families and finite‐time blowup are observed. Two solution types exhibit no known conservative continuum correlates: (i) a counterpropagating DSW and RW solution separated by a symmetric, stationary shock and (ii) an unsteady shock emitting two counterpropagating periodic wavetrains with the same frequency connected to a partial DSW or an RW. Another class of solutions called traveling DSWs, (iii), consists of a partial DSW connected to a traveling wave comprised of a periodic wavetrain with a rapid transition to a constant. Portions of solutions (ii) and (iii) are interpreted as shock solutions of the Whitham modulation equations.

Bridging gaps at key intersections: Strategies to improve early intervention and treatment access for eating disorders

ABSTRACTMental health is at the forefront of discussions in healthcare, education, and social settings, yet eating disorders remain poorly understood and inadequately treated. This paper presents evidence on risk factors for insufficient recognition and intervention for eating disorders across clinical and community healthcare settings and proposes actionable strategies to improve awareness and early intervention for eating disorders. Specifically, gaps in eating disorder awareness and treatment access are exacerbated at two key intersections within health and social systems. First, eating disorders manifest themselves at the intersection of mental and physical categories of health, which places them at risk of being misunderstood, poorly diagnosed, and insufficiently intervened upon. Second, the peak onset of eating disorders falls at the intersection of adolescence and young adulthood, which is a period of rapid developmental, social change, and transitions in care. This analysis highlights how systemic issues within existing social and health systems underlie these intersections and contribute to the continued stigmatization and inadequate treatment access for eating disorders. Given their increased incidence and severity, there is an urgent need to address both the individual and societal burden of these disorders. Healthcare systems must prioritize coordination between physical and mental health practices and improve transitions in care from pediatric and adult healthcare services. Identifying gaps at intersections provides the opportunity to make concrete progress toward improving awareness and treatment.

Application of PV on Commercial Building Facades: An Investigation into the Impact of Architectural and Structural Features

The rapid global transition toward renewable energy necessitates innovative solar PV deployment strategies beyond conventional roof installations. In this context, commercial building facades represent an expansive yet underutilized resource for solar energy harvesting in urban areas. However, existing studies on commercial rooftop solar PV predominantly focus on European contexts, neglecting the unique design constraints and performance trade-offs present in regions such as the Middle East. This study addresses this gap by specifically investigating the impact of architectural and structural features on the utilizable facade area for PV deployment in commercial buildings within the hot desert climate of Saudi Arabia. Detailed case studies of twelve representative buildings are conducted, combining architectural drawing analysis, on-site measurements, and stakeholder surveys. The methodology identified sixteen parameters across three categories—facade functionality, orientation suitability, and surrounding obstructions—that impose technical and non-technical restrictions on photovoltaic integration 3D modeling, and irradiance simulations revealed that, on average, just 31% of the total vertical facade area remained suitable for PV systems after accounting for the diverse architectural and contextual limitations. The study considered 698 kWh/m2 of solar irradiance as the minimum threshold for PV integration. Shopping malls displayed the lowest utilizability, with near-zero potential, as extensive opaque construction, brand signage, and shading diminish viability. Offices exhibited the highest utilizability of 36%, owing to glazed facades and unobstructed surroundings. Hotels and hospitals presented intermediate potential. Overall, the average facade utilizability factor across buildings was a mere 16%, highlighting the significant hurdles imposed by contemporary envelope configurations. Orientation unsuitability further eliminated 12% of the initially viable area. Surrounding shading contributed an additional 0.92% loss. The results quantify the sensitivity of facades to aspects such as material choices, geometric complexity, building form, and urban context. While posing challenges, the building facade resource holds immense untapped potential for solar-based urban renewal. The study highlights the need for early architectural integration, facade-specific PV product development, and urban planning interventions to maximize the renewable energy potential of commercial facades as our cities rapidly evolve into smart solar energy landscapes.

Advance industrial monitoring of physio-chemical processes using novel integrated machine learning approach

With the rapid transition of Industry 4.0 to 5.0, modern industrial physio-chemical processes are characterized by two critical challenges: process safety and the quality of the final product. Traditional industrial monitoring methods have low reliability in accuracy and robustness, and they are inefficiently providing satisfactory results. This paper introduces a novel integration technique that employs machine learning (ML) to tackle the challenges associated with real industrial monitoring in physical and industrial processes. The proposed framework integrates distributed canonical correlation analysis - R-vine copula (DCCA-RVC), global local preserving projection (GLPP), and 2-Dimensional Deng information entropy (2-DDE). The framework's ability and productivity are assessed utilizing existing approaches such as wavelet-PCA, MRSAE, and DALSTM-AE and the new proposed novel integrated machine learning-based (DCCA-RVC) approach as benchmarks for model performance. The proposed novel approach has been validated by testing it on the ethanol-water system distillation column (DC) and Tennessee Eastman Process (TEP), utilizing it as actual industrial benchmarks. The results demonstrate that the novel integration ML-technique (DCCA-RVC) T22 – GLP monitoring graphs for the fault class type 1 in the distillation column showed a (FAR) of 0 %, a (FDR) of 100 %, a precision of 100 %, F1-score of 100 % and an accuracy of 100 %. However, for the TEP process failure event 13, the (FAR) was 0 %, the (FDR) was 99 %, the accuracy was 100 %, the F1-score was 99.5 %, and the accuracy was 99.5 %.

COVID-19 online learning challenges: Kazakhstan secondary schools case study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid transition to online learning (OL) globally, posing significant challenges for educational systems. This study investigates the experiences of secondary school students in Kazakhstan, highlighting the adaptation processes, educational outcomes, and challenges faced during this shift.MethodsData were collected through an online survey administered to 3,670 secondary school students across Kazakhstan, selected through convenience sampling. The survey comprised 21 questions using a combination of Likert-type scales and multiple-choice questions to capture students’ demographic details, satisfaction levels, perceived difficulties, and academic performance changes during OL. Data validation was ensured by cross-referencing responses, descriptive statistics, T-tests, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and regression were employed to analyze the data and identify factors influencing students’ attitudes toward OL and the associated challenges.ResultsThe results revealed that satisfaction with OL was positively correlated with satisfaction with education in general and negatively correlated with the level of difficulty in OL (p < 0.001). Rural students, while more satisfied with learning overall (p < 0.001), were less satisfied with OL compared to their urban peers, and also reported greater challenges (p < 0.05). A significant portion of respondents (44.2%) disagreed that OL was an effective learning method, and 43.7% expressed a need for face-to-face interaction with teachers, especially female and rural students (p < 0.001). Most students (40.8%) reported worse learning outcomes with OL, particularly urban students (p < 0.001), and 32.0% noted a decrease in motivation. Regression analysis identified older students and those who experienced greater difficulty with OL as less likely to prefer it, while those who showed improvement in academic performance and motivation were more favorable toward OL. These findings highlight the complexity of educational preferences and the disparities between urban and rural students during the pandemic.ConclusionWhile the findings may be applicable to other countries with similar educational systems, cultural, economic, and technological differences should be considered when generalizing the results. The insights gained from this study will be valuable for policymakers, educators, and academic institutions to improve the resilience and effectiveness of educational practices in the face of such challenges.

Exploring Smart Airports’ Information Service Technology for Sustainability: Integration of the Delphi and Kano Approaches

Airport digitalization has revolutionized service delivery at passenger touchpoints, which leads to sustainable passenger loyalty. However, it is critical to determine whether this rapid transition to digital services genuinely enhances passenger satisfaction with airport services. This study uses a mixed-method approach to identify key traditional and technology-driven information services in smart airports. The specific aim is to determine the optimal balance in which digital technologies can effectively replace human-provided services to establish sustainable passenger loyalty. Two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted with panels of 23 and 21 experts, followed by an online Kano survey with 401 international passengers. The Delphi analysis identified 16 key information service attributes, while the Kano analysis revealed that the majority of technology-based services were attractive and positively influenced passenger satisfaction. By contrast, human-based services were mostly indifferent, although some were vital for boosting satisfaction and preventing dissatisfaction. These results advance the current airport service research and provide practical insights into optimizing passenger experiences through the strategic integration of technology for sustainable smart airports while maintaining essential human-provided services.

UPAYA MENINGKATKAN HALAL ADOPTION PADA TENUN SONGKET ETNIK LOKAL PANDAI SIKEK

The rapid transition of the global halal fashion industry may require a series of innovations and adaptations in the MSMEs sector. Therefore, technology adoption and organizational openness to change are the main challenges for stakeholders. This study was conducted to examine and analyze the effects of technology, organization, and an increasingly competitive environment on halal adoption in the MSME weaving sector. By using a purposive sampling technique with certain criteria, as many as 30 MSMEs owners or members were obtained to contribute and respond to the research questionnaire, and then those responses were analyzed through the Structural equation model technique with Smart-PLS software's latest version. Results stated that halal adoption in the MSMEs weaving sector is not affected by technological and organizational aspects, it is due to a lack of openness to accept the changes, then most of the actors also thought that halal adoption didn’t provide value-added. Therefore, the motivation for human resource development and technology utilization was also low. Halal adoption is significantly affected by environmental aspects. External pressures such as market demand and government regulations will force weaving MSME actors to adapt to the changes for business sustainability and maintaining national fashion cultural heritage.

Exploring Differences in Leadership Behaviors and in the Perceived Work Environment Between Younger and Older Managers in a Swedish Mining Company

AbstractThis study examines differences in leadership behaviors and in the perceived work environment between older and younger managers in a large Swedish mining company. The leadership behaviors and work environment of young managers in the mining industry will become more important in the future due to the changes taking place in the industry. Such changes include the older generation of managers reaching retirement age, while the industry generally finds it difficult to recruit a younger generation of employees. Moreover, rapid technology-centered transition, such as the green transition of the mining industry, is underway which may put young managers in particular under pressure. Meanwhile, research on young managers in the mining industry more broadly is sparse. Data for this study was mainly gathered via a questionnaire, complemented by data from interviews. The questionnaire included 48 validated self-rate questions on background variables, social and organizational working conditions, health, and leadership behavior. The survey was answered by 216 managers (response rate: 63%). Interviews were carried out with ten young managers (35 years or younger). The study found no statistically significant differences between younger and older managers with regards to workload, working hours, health, and work satisfaction. We found that older managers rate themselves higher, at a statistically significant level, for change-oriented leadership behaviors. However, when age is analyzed together with other variables that are significantly different between the two groups, only managerial experience and managerial positions show statistically significant associations with change-oriented and healthy and effective leadership behaviors. The interviews indicate that the young managers encounter challenges that are related to their experience and training, but few are related to their age. Given the influence of managerial experience on leadership behaviors, leadership training appears to be an important area of intervention, and conditions must be improved to enable change-oriented leadership among managers in the mining industry, with a greater focus on young managers.

On the ground state of one-dimensional quantum droplets for large chemical potentials

Abstract In the present work we revisit the problem of the quantum droplet in atomic Bose–Einstein condensates with an eye towards describing its ground state in the large density, so-called Thomas–Fermi (TF) limit. We consider the problem as being separable into 3 distinct regions: an inner one, where the TF approximation is valid, a sharp transition region where the density abruptly drops towards the (vanishing) background value and an outer region which asymptotes to the background value. We analyze the spatial extent of each of these regions, and develop a systematic effective description of the rapid intermediate transition region. Accordingly, we derive a uniformly valid description of the ground state that is found to accurately match our numerical computations. As an additional application of our considerations, we show that this formulation allows for an analytical approximation of excited states such as the (trapped) dark soliton in the large density limit.

Effects of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on medical publishing: The sacrifice of quality for quantity?

AbstractFacing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, medical publishers rose to the occasion, moving to make their full portfolio of COVID‐19–related research available to read for free and expediting peer review and production processes. With such a rapid transition from paper submission to publication, however, concerns also arose regarding whether the quality of the research publication process was being affected. This article seeks to document the transformation of medical publishers' practices in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic and briefly discuss where they may go from here. For this goal, a literature search was performed in PubMed at several points to identify papers that reported early trends in how medical publishers handled COVID‐19 research.

An Effective Method for Reproducing the Flow of a Gas-Liquid Mixture Using a Flow Standard

The appearance on the market of measuring equipment of multiphase flowmeters used in the oil and gas industry to measure the amount of extracted hydrocarbons directly at wells without preliminary separation and performing the function of operational accounting raised the question of their metrological support in accordance with the requirements of regulatory documents of the sphere of state regulation in this field of measurements. His decision was to create a reference base, the basis of which was the State primary special standard for units of mass flow of gas-liquid mixtures GET 195-2011 and a verification scheme for measuring multiphase flow rates, regulated by GOST 8.637-2013. When transmitting units of volume and mass flow of a multiphase mixture with the required accuracy, the main problem is the difficulty of reproducing and maintaining stability of several flow parameters at once – mass flow and content of liquid components (water and oil simulator) and volume flow of the gas phase. It should also be borne in mind that test programs for the purpose of approving the type of multiphase flow measuring instruments, as well as verification and calibration methods, provide for changing the modes of reproduction of a gas-liquid mixture, covering the measurement ranges of multiphase flowmeters. Such standards used in practice represent a very complex measuring system consisting of storage tanks for components, supply pumping and compressor units, control equipment, mixers and separators, measuring instruments for the physical parameters of multiphase flow components and an automated control system. Given the high cost of multiphase standards, when creating them, effective methods and methods should be used to reproduce the flow of a multiphase mixture with specified parameters, as well as to make a fairly rapid transition to the next mode provided by the program or methodology, which will reduce the time and production costs for the procedure of transferring units of measurement from the standard to the working measuring instrument. This article describes a method for reproducing the flow rate of a gas-liquid mixture according to the original technological scheme introduced during the development of the 1st category standard. Constructive solutions are presented that increase the efficiency of the liquid component separation apparatus to increase the dosing accuracy, as well as expand the range of reproduction of the flow rate and parameters of the multiphase flow, ensuring the consistency of the composition of the liquid mixture at a given regime. An original rational method of compressing and maintaining the pressure of the gas phase is described, which allows you to quickly switch to the next mode, confirmed by the results of experimental studies of the standard.

A Global Perspective on Renewable Energy Implementation: Commitment Requires Action

Meeting renewable energy targets is one of the most significant global challenges to achieving SDG 7—Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. This study focuses on the global energy transition to understand the factors that influence success or failure in achieving targets. First, the gap between the stated targets and our predictions was calculated. Next, the roles of economic, political, and environmental variables in determining this gap were analyzed. Data were collected from 63 countries from 2000 to 2022, ensuring the global representativeness and robustness of the results. Many countries may struggle to meet their renewable energy targets. Political stability, regulatory quality, and investment freedom play a remarkable role in helping countries get closer to achieving their targets. More industrialized countries with large populations face greater challenges due to high energy intensity. This paper aims to predict the propensity of countries to meet their energy targets by integrating the forecasting and analysis of the economic, political, and geographical factors that influence a green transition. The results provide new insights into how socioeconomic and geopolitical differences influence the energy transition, offering insights for more effective policies. It is argued that accelerated administrative procedures are needed to reduce investment uncertainty and improve energy systems’ flexibility. In addition, involving local communities in the decision-making process is important to ensure the acceptance of RE projects. Finally, introducing energy markets that reflect the characteristics of renewable sources is recommended to facilitate a more rapid and sustainable transition.

Defect-Driven Evolution of Oxo-Coordinated Cobalt Active Sites with Rapid Structural Transformation for Efficient Water Oxidation.

Reconstructing the surface nature of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as precatalytic structures is a promising methodology for improving electrocatalytic performance. However, regulating the structural evolution of MOFs during electrolysis remains highly uncontrollable and lacks an in-depth understanding of the role of in situ-derived active sites. Here, we suggest a simple approach to fine-tune the symmetry of Co-MOFs with an oxo-coordinated asymmetric coordination that acts as a prototypical structure motif for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Through a facile thermal treatment, the Co-N4 configuration of Co-MOFs transforms to the distorted Co-N3-oxo configuration of defective Co-ligand nanoclusters. By operando spectroscopic characterization, the reconstructed Co-N3-oxo structure enables a rapid structural transition toward homogeneous oxyhydroxides. Moreover, the defective nature of the precatalytic structure regulates the surface Co-O bonding environment with abundant μ2-O-Co3+ sites, thereby exhibiting highly enhanced OER activity with an overpotential of 256 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and excellent durability for 100 h, compared with the pristine Co-MOFs. Atomistic simulations reveal that the effect of OER intermediates on the oxyhydroxides gets distributed among neighboring Co ions, promoting balanced binding of the intermediates. This work highlights an effective strategy to design the MOF-based structure for optimizing the surface nature, thus enhancing the electrocatalytic activity.