This paper presents a numerical method for solving a nonlinear age-structured population model based on a set of piecewise constant orthogonal functions. The block-pulse functions (BPFs) method is applied to determine the numerical solution of a non-classic type of partial differential equation with an integral boundary condition. BPFs duo to the simple structure can efficiently approximate the solution of systems with local or non-local boundary conditions. Numerical results reveal the accuracy of the proposed method even for the long term simulations.

In order to address severe siltation and enhance urban green spaces in Xianyang Lake, the research offers a sustainable solution by proposing an innovative integration of ecological dredging and landscape transformation. The key findings are as follows: Firstly, an ecological dredging mechanism was established by directly transporting sediment from Xianyang Lake to its central greenbelt, reducing dredging costs and environmental impact while creating a sustainable funding cycle through revenue from eco-tourism activities. Secondly, the landscape artistic conception of the central greenbelt was significantly improved by leveraging the natural distance between the lakeshore and the greenbelt, offering diverse viewing experiences and enhancing the cognitive abilities and urban life satisfaction of tourists. Thirdly, the project demonstrated substantial economic and social benefits, including revenue generation from paid activities like boat tours, increased public awareness of biodiversity through ecological education, and improved community well-being. The central greenbelt also enhanced the urban environment by improving air quality, mitigating the "heat island effect", and providing habitats for wildlife. This integrated approach serves as a model for sustainable urban development, offering valuable insights for cities facing similar ecological challenges. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring to further evaluate the ecological and socio-economic impacts of such projects.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a tropical vegetable and a source of vitamins such as K, C, and B. It is commonly grown and sold for daily consumption, but picking the right fruit size is more profitable. Therefore, a method for estimating the fruit weight is highly recommended. This paper aimed to determine the dimensions of cucumber fruit based on its usual harvesting size and to establish a model to show the relationship between fruit weight, fruit length, and fruit diameter. Cucumber was planted in the experimental field belonging to the Faculty of Agricultural Biosystems Engineering, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from January to June 2022. In the study, 48 market-size fruits were randomly selected from the plots to measure their weight, length, and diameter. The result shows that fruit length and fruit diameter had a positive relationship (P < 0.001; R = 0.70). Fruit weight was 3.38 fruit length × fruit diameter (P <0.001; R = 0.95). Nevertheless, L/D ratio negatively affected fruit weight, when it exceeded 3:1. Fruit weight was greater than 100 g when fruit diameter was over 4 cm and fruit length was over 10 cm. Therefore, when picking cucumber fruits, one must consider fruit length and diameter to be profitable. Further studies will focus on measuring cucumber fruit already available on the market to understand more about actual consumer preferences.

Building cooling load depends on heat gains from the outside environment. Appropriate orientation and masonry materials play vital roles in the reduction of overall thermal loads buildings. A net-zero energy building performance has been analyzed in order to ascertain the optimum orientation and wall material properties, under the climatic conditions of Owerri, Nigeria. Standard cooling load estimation techniques were employed for the determination of the diurnal interior load variations in a building incorporating renewable energy as the major energy source, and compared with the situation in a conventionally powered building. The results show a 19.28% reduction in the building’s cooling load when brick masonry was used for the wall construction. It was observed that a higher heat gain occurred when the building faced the East-West direction than when it was oriented in the North-South direction. Significant diurnal cooling loads variation as a result of radiation through the windows was also observed, with the east facing windows contributing significantly higher loads during the morning hours while the west facing windows contributed higher amounts in the evening. The economic analysis of the net-zero energy building showed an 11.63% reduction in energy cost compared to the conventional building, with a 7-year payback period for the use of Solar PV systems. Therefore, the concept of net-zero energy building will not only help in energy conservation, but also in cost savings, and the reduction of carbon footprint in the built environment.

Business model innovation (BMI) has garnered substantial academic and corporate attention in recent decades. Researchers have not yet agreed on the most complicated BMI practices in the high-tech startups (HTS). Despite being the second-biggest economy in the world today, China has done little research on the practice of business model innovation in China’s high-tech startups. This study addresses the factors that impact the business model innovation of high-tech startups in China. Our study aims to fill the research gap by visualising and analysing, using systematic literature review (SLR) analyses and reviewing 36 in-depth articles, from 688 academic literature sources. Relevant publications from Scopus, Springer, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and the JDM e-library expose the current research status from 2013 to December 2023 without bias. We conducted a literature-based investigation to identify essential insights on the BMI factors in the literature and derived a high-tech startup’s BMI critical factor. Our study shows that three main factors affect the innovation of business models in high-tech startups in China. The findings raise managers’, entrepreneurs’, and executives’ knowledge of corporate resource bricolage and cognitive style constraints in business model innovation and their pros and cons. The findings will help Chinese academics understand enterprises’ institutional environment and resource bricolage as final suggestions and proposals for corporates, regulators, and policymakers are presented.