Implementing green retrofitting can save 50–90% of energy use in buildings built worldwide. Government policies in several developed countries have begun to increase the implementation of green retrofitting buildings in those countries, which must rise by up to 2.5% of the lifespan of buildings by 2030. By 2050, it is hoped that more than 85% of all buildings will have been retrofitted. The high costs of implementing green retrofitting amounting to 20% of the total initial construction costs, as well as the uncertainty of costs due to cost overruns are one of the main problems in achieving the implementation target in 2050. Therefore, increasing the accuracy of the costs of implementing green retrofitting is the best solution to overcome this. This research is limited to analyzing the factors that influence increasing the accuracy of green retrofitting costs based on WBS, BIM, and Information Systems. The results show that there are 10 factors affecting the cost accuracy of retrofitting or customizing high-rise office buildings, namely Energy Use Efficiency, Water Use Efficiency, Use of Environmentally Friendly Materials, Maintenance of Green Building Performance during the Use Period, Initial Survey, Project Information Documents, Cost Estimation Process, Resources, Legal, and Quantity Extraction applied. These factors are shown to increase the accuracy of green retrofitting costs.

This research paper aims to explore the issue of university dropouts in Greece, which has become a growing concern in recent years due to its impact on individuals, educational institutions, and society as a whole. One of the main contributing factors to students discontinuing their higher education in Greece is the choice of the wrong faculty. Financial challenges, unrelated to tuition fees, also significantly affect students’ ability to pursue their studies. Family background plays a crucial role, with students from families with higher educational attainment exhibiting greater persistence. The study found that gender, age, and academic performance can influence students’ perceptions of dropout factors, which can change as they progress through their educational journey. To address these challenges, the research proposes a multifaceted approach, including early intervention programs, expanded financial support, improved mental health and counseling services, flexible learning options, and strong academic advising.

Based on our 11 years of medical bachelor's degree education practice for international students in China, combined with the national "the Belt and Road" strategic background and the "Quality Standards of Higher Education for International Students in China (Trial)" issued by the Ministry of Education, this paper explores the strategies to improve the quality of medical education in China. Specifically, it includes: 1) optimizing the enrollment standards of students from countries along the "the Belt and Road"; 2) Improve the quality assurance system for medical bachelor's degree education in China; 3) Innovate the management concept of "convergence"; 4) Establish a comprehensive education system for the cultivation of international students in China; 5) Strengthen the process monitoring role of awarding standards for medical bachelor's degrees in China. To provide theoretical support and reference for our school and sister universities to improve the quality of medical bachelor's degree education in China.

Yam (Dioscorea sp.) is a popular tuber in Cameroon, where it is grown for both food and income. One of the most challenging aspects of the long-term storage of yam tubers is post-harvest spoilage, often caused by fungi. The use of post-harvest chemicals on yam tubers is not a matter of course. The present study evaluated the efficacy of aqueous extract and powder of Zingiber officinale against fungi associated with the storage rot of yam. The fungi were isolated from two yam cultivars, “Calabar” and “Ghana”, from three localities in Cameroon. The antifungal activity of the aqueous extract and ginger powder was studied in vivo on slices of yam tubers. The results obtained showed that eight fungi were associated with yam tubers and exhibited typical rotting symptoms. The most prevalent and virulent fungus was Penicillium sp., which caused decay volumes of 12.76 cm³ and 8.74 cm³ for “Calabar” and “Ghana” cultivars, respectively. Fungal spoilage was greatly reduced by the application of aqueous extract and ginger powder. The aqueous extract tested at the 30% dose was more effective with up to 80% inhibition. However, the ginger powder was more effective against Penicillium sp., Aspergillus niger, and Colletotrichum sp. associated with rot in the variety “Ghana” with total inhibition (100%). Therefore, the aqueous extracts and powder of Zingiber officinale can be used as a bio fungicide to improve the shelf life of yam tubers.