The paper assesses the threshold at which climate change impacts banking system stability in selected Sub-Saharan economies by applying the panel threshold regression on data spanning 1996 to 2017. The study found that temperature reported a threshold of −0.7316 ℃. Further, precipitation had a threshold of 7.1646 mm, while the greenhouse gas threshold was 3.6680 GtCO₂eq. In addition, the climate change index recorded a threshold of −0.1751%. Overall, a non-linear relationship was established between climate change variables and banking system stability in selected Sub-Saharan economies. The study recommends that central banks and policymakers propagate the importance of climate change uncertainties and their threshold effects to banking sectors to ensure effective and stable banking system operations.

The MDA-MB-231 cell line is derived from triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), representing one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. Innovative therapeutic strategies, including s targeted therapies using nanocarriers, hold significant promise, particularly for difficult-to-treat cancers such as TNBC. Nanoparticles have transformed the medical field by serving as advanced drug delivery systems for cancer treatment. They play a critical role in overcoming the drug resistance often associated with cancer therapies. When utilized as drug delivery vehicles, nanoparticles can specifically target cancer cells and effectively reduce or eliminate multidrug resistance. Among them, chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely explored for the loading and controlled release of various anticancer agents. In this study, we evaluated the effects of dexamethasone-loaded chitosan-coated MNPs on MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were employed to verify the successful loading of dexamethasone onto the nanoparticles. To assess cytotoxicity, empty nanoparticles, free drug, and drug-loaded nanoparticles were tested on the cells. The results indicated that empty nanoparticles exhibited no toxic effects. The IC50 value of the free drug was 123 µg/mL, while the IC50 value of the drug-loaded nanoparticles was significantly lower, at 63 µg/mL. These findings confirmed the successful conjugation of dexamethasone to the chitosan-coated MNPs, demonstrating substantial cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells. Although dexamethasone has been reported to exhibit both tumor-suppressive and pro-metastatic effects, its specific impact on TNBC warrants further investigation in future studies.

This study aimed to examine the impact of digital leadership among school principals and evaluate the mediating effect of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) on enhancing teachers’ innovation skills for sustainable technology integration, both in traditional classroom settings and e-learning environments. Employing a quantitative approach with a regression design model, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) were utilized in this research. A total of 257 teachers from 7 excellent senior high schools in Makassar city participated in the study, responding to the questionnaires administered. The study findings indicate that while principal digital leadership does not directly influence teachers’ innovation skills in technology integration, it directly impacts Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Moreover, PLCs themselves have a significant influence on teachers’ innovation skills in technology integration. The structural model presented in this study illustrates a noteworthy impact of principal digital leadership on teachers’ innovation skills for technology integration through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), with a coefficient value of 47.4%. Principal digital leadership is crucial in enhancing teachers’ innovation skills for sustainable technology integration, primarily by leveraging Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). As a result, principals must prioritize the creation of supportive learning environments and implement programs to foster teachers’ proficiency for sustainable technology integration. Additionally, teachers are encouraged to concentrate on communication, collaboration, and relationship-building with colleagues to exchange insights, address challenges, and devise solutions for integrating technology, thereby contributing to sustained school improvement efforts. Finally, this research provides insights for school leaders, policymakers, and educators, emphasizing the need to leverage PLCs to enhance teaching practices and student outcomes, particularly in sustainable technology integration.

This study focuses on the problems of imperfect internal control effectiveness, insufficient information transparency, and plummeting stock prices. The study selects the data of non-financial main board listed companies in China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares from 2012 to 2021 as a sample, and adopts an empirical research methodology, which reveals that the effectiveness of internal control is negatively related to the trend of share price crash, and efficient internal control is positively related to the transparency of corporate information environment. The findings suggest the impact of internal control on the risk of stock price crash at the individual stock level and provide empirical support for listed companies to manage their risks. This study has practical value in guiding listed companies to strengthen internal control, improve information transparency, mitigate the risk of stock price crashes, and provide a decision-making basis for the healthy and stable development of the capital market.

  Polyurethane is a multipurpose polymer with valuable mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability, and countless other physical features. Polyurethanes can be processed as foam, elastomer, or fibers. This innovative overview is designed to uncover the present state and opportunities in the field of polyurethanes and their nanocomposite sponges. Special emphasis has been given to fundamentals of polyurethanes and foam materials, related nanocomposite categories, and associated properties and applications. According to literature so far, adding carbon nanoparticles such as graphene and carbon nanotube influenced cell structure, overall microstructure, electrical/thermal conductivity, mechanical/heat stability, of the resulting polyurethane nanocomposite foams. Such progressions enabled high tech applications in the fields such as electromagnetic interference shielding, shape memory, and biomedical materials, underscoring the need of integrating these macromolecular sponges on industrial level environmentally friendly designs. Future research must be intended to resolve key challenges related to manufacturing and applicability of polyurethane nanocomposite foams. In particular, material design optimization, invention of low price processing methods, appropriate choice of nanofiller type/contents, understanding and control of interfacial and structure-property interplay must be determined.  

The relationship between transport infrastructure and accessibility has long stood as a central research area in regional and transport economics. Often invoked by governments to justify large public spending on infrastructure, the study of this relationship has led to conflicting arguments on the role that transport plays in productivity. This paper expands the existing body of knowledge by adopting a spatial analysis (with spillover effects) that considers the physical effects of investment in terms of accessibility (using distinct metrics). The authors have used the Portuguese experience at regional level over the last 30 years as a case study. The main conclusions are as follows: i) the choice of transport variables matters when explaining productivity, and more complex accessibility indicators are more correlated with; ii) it is important to account for spill-over effects; and iii) the evidence of granger causality is not widespread but depends on the regions.