The advent of generative artificial intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential in the field of education. The study explores three main areas: (1) How did ChatGPT answer questions related to science education? (2) What are some ways educators could utilise ChatGPT in their science pedagogy? and (3) How has ChatGPT been utilised in this study, and what are my reflections about its use as a research tool? This exploratory research applies a self-study methodology to investigate the technology. Impressively, ChatGPT’s output often aligned with key themes in the research. However, as it currently stands, ChatGPT runs the risk of positioning itself as the ultimate epistemic authority, where a single truth is assumed without a proper grounding in evidence or presented with sufficient qualifications. Key ethical concerns associated with AI include its potential environmental impact, issues related to content moderation, and the risk of copyright infringement. It is important for educators to model responsible use of ChatGPT, prioritise critical thinking, and be clear about expectations. ChatGPT is likely to be a useful tool for educators designing science units, rubrics, and quizzes. Educators should critically evaluate any AI-generated resource and adapt it to their specific teaching contexts. ChatGPT was used as a research tool for assistance with editing and to experiment with making the research narrative clearer. The intention of the paper is to act as a catalyst for a broader conversation about the use of generative AI in science education.
Abstract Background The development of genetically modified crops has made significant contributions to addressing challenges in disease and pest control as well as weed management. However, the integration of exogenous DNA into plant genomes may introduce unintended effects. In this study, we investigated three transgenic papaya lines approved for biosafety certification in China—Huanong No. 1, YK1601, and 55-1—through analyses at both DNA and transcriptional levels. Results Examination of T-DNA insertion sites and sequences revealed that integration events not only caused local genomic deletions but also incorporated unintended fragments derived from the transformation vector or host genome. Moreover, T-DNA integration displayed site preference, favoring AT-rich genomic regions. Compared with the 55-1 line generated via particle bombardment, the Huanong No. 1 and YK1601 lines produced through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation exhibited relatively minor structural alterations at insertion sites. Transcriptomic analysis further indicated that T-DNA integration did not significantly affect the expression of flanking genes near the insertion loci. Nevertheless, several disease-resistance genes associated with plant immunity and defense responses were upregulated in the transgenic lines. Conclusions Collectively, this study provides a systematic molecular characterization of T-DNA integration in multiple transgenic papaya lines and evaluates the broader transcriptomic impacts. These findings not only provide a molecular theoretical basis for the biosafety assessment of transgenic papaya but also offer valuable references for evaluating unintended effects in other genetically modified crops.
Ali Ashraf Derakhshan, Ali Akbar Zinatizadeh, Ali Rostami
et al.
Abstract This research offers a simple and convenient strategy for surface decoration of polyurethane sponge foam through the covalent attachment of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin as an N-halamine precursor using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate as a crosslinking agent. After hypochlorite bleach treatment, the N-H bonds in the 5,5-dimethylhydantoin moieties on the polyurethane sponge foam surface change into N-Cl bonds. This modification enhances antibacterial performance against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The washing stability of the prepared Cl-DMH-PUSF substrates was studied after 20 rinsing cycles using the DPD tablet test. The results showed that no active chlorine was released from the Cl-DMH-PUSF substrate after multiple washing processes, implying the strong stability of the active chlorine on the N-halamine surface. To characterize the synthesized antiseptic samples, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis were applied. FESEM images revealed a collection of needle-shaped nanoparticles on the Cl-DMH-PUSF surface, which could act as a needle in contact with bacteria and contribute to pathogen death. This approach is innovative as it uses commercial polyurethane sponge foam modified under mild conditions to produce rechargeable antibacterial substrates with unique nano-coral structures, enabling both chemical and mechanical antibacterial actions.
Em sistemas de abastecimento de água (SAA), os grandes volumes de perda de água não apenas acarretam prejuízos financeiros, mas, também, representam desperdício de recursos naturais, sendo estes alguns dos principais desafios enfrentados pelo setor no Brasil. Neste estudo, realizou-se ranqueamento para avaliar os sistemas de abastecimento de água de 397 municípios em relação às perdas de água, por meio de indicadores de desempenho disponíveis no Sistema Nacional de Informações em Saneamento Básico (Sinisa). A análise foi conduzida em dois contextos: uma avaliação geral, abrangendo todos os municípios incluídos no estudo, e uma avaliação estratificada, considerando a divisão dos municípios em diferentes estratos populacionais. Os resultados indicaram os municípios com maiores oportunidades de melhoria em implementação de medidas de redução de perdas e os que podem ser utilizados como referência para coleta de informações sobre boas práticas de redução e controle de perdas de água.
Kawuryan Megandaru Widhi, Fahlevvi Mohammad Rezza, Putri Titis Sari
et al.
This study examines the combination of governance and green technology to facilitate the sustainable development of tourism in Cirebon City, Indonesia. Employing a qualitative case study design, data were collected through document analysis, participatory observation, and interviews with 21 informants from the community, local government, and tourism enterprise. The findings reveal that the achievements and challenges in Cirebon's tourism are insufficient infrastructure, inefficient use of ICT, and inadequate environmental regulations. The study also offers strategic recommendations, including infrastructure development, utilization of digital platforms, and enhanced public participation. The study is contextual to Cirebon, yet the findings yield valuable lessons on sustainable tourism elsewhere in similar settings. This study contributes a strategic plan integrating the Triple Bottom Line framework with the emphasis on economic, social, and environmental perspectives for sustainable development of tourism.
This study investigates the adsorption of Acid Black 1 (ABk 1) dye onto natural clinoptilolite (CLIN) and synthetic NaP1 zeolites under various conditions of adsorbent dose (5, 10, 20 g/L), dye concentration (1–1000 mg/L), and contact time (5–1440 min). The adsorption data were analyzed using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms, as well as pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Both linear and nonlinear regression methods were applied to assess the model fit. The results showed that CLIN exhibited maximum adsorption capacities of 35.32 mg/g, 21.9 mg/g, and 9.39 mg/g at doses of 5 g/L, 10 g/L, and 20 g/L, respectively. For NaP1, the corresponding values were 28.44 mg/g, 12.46 mg/g, and 9.11 mg/g. The pseudo-first-order model described adsorption at low dye concentrations and short contact times, while the pseudo-second-order model successfully explained adsorption across all tested conditions. These findings suggest that both zeolites, particularly CLIN, are effective adsorbents for ABk 1 dye removal, presenting a valuable solution for wastewater treatment applications.
Sensors play a crucial role in various fields by enabling the detection and analysis of a wide range of substances, including hazardous substance detection, environmental and food safety monitoring, pharmaceutical industry, gas analysis, and others. Research continues to identify and develop sensor matrix materials that can increase the sensitivity, selectivity and responsiveness of sensors. Silica, an oxide mineral is a potential matrix material for sensor applications because of its unique characteristics. It has a large pore structure and modifiable pore size distribution. Silica’s stable chemical properties, high-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance make it an ideal matrix material for a wide range of sensor applications. In recent years, silica cellulose also become a potential material for sensor applications. Silica cellulose is produced by combining silica with cellulose components from natural materials, such as rice husk ash, bamboo leaf ash, rice straw ash, and other plant fibers. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of various methods of synthesis and characterization of silica and silica cellulose materials. The methods include sol-gel, acid leaching, alkaline extraction, and other techniques for extracting cellulose from natural sources. In addition, sensor applications that have been tested using this material are also discussed, including its use in detecting molecular compounds, food and environmental applications. The development of silica and silica cellulose materials based on natural materials is considered because of their sustainability. By continuing to explore the potential of these materials, it is hoped that it can make a significant contribution in the development of sensor technology that is more innovative, environmentally friendly and sustainable.
This study investigates the impact of economic globalization on China's climate using city-level data from 2005 to 2019. This study employs the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) to reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between globalization and climate impact, with carbon emissions initially increasing due to scale and composition effects. Surprisingly, the technology effect has limited effectiveness, particularly in second and third-tier cities. Another significant finding of this study is the observed positive correlation between carbon emissions in the previous and current periods. However, this trend leads to lower carbon emissions in neighbouring regions. The results of this study call for technology-focused policies and international collaborations to promote sustainable development in Chinese cities.
Halah E. Aljofi, Thomas J. Bannan, Michael Flynn
et al.
Low-cost personal exposure monitors (PEMs) to measure personal exposure to air pollution are potentially promising tools for health research. However, their adoption requires robust validation. This study evaluated the performance of twenty-one Plume Lab Flow2s (PLFs) by comparing its air pollutant measurements, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM<sub>2.5</sub>), 10 μm or less (PM<sub>10</sub>), and nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>), against several high-quality air pollution monitors under field conditions (at indoor, outdoor, and roadside locations). Correlation and regression analysis were used to evaluate measurements obtained by different PLFs against reference instrumentation. For all measured pollutants, the overall correlation coefficient between the PLFs and the reference instruments was often weak (r < 0.4). Moderate correlation was observed for one PLF unit at the indoor location and two units at the roadside location when measuring PM<sub>2.5</sub>, but not for PM<sub>10</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> concentration. During periods of particularly higher pollution, 11 PLF tools showed stronger regression results (R<sup>2</sup> values > 0.5) with one-hour and 9 PLF units with one-minute time interval. Results show that the PLF cannot be used robustly to determine high and low exposure to poor air. Therefore, the use of PLFs in research studies should be approached with caution if data quality is important to the research outputs.