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ContextDiabetes is a leading metabolic disorder with a substantial cost burden, especially in inpatient settings. The complexity of inpatient glycemic management has led to the emergence of inpatient diabetes management service (IDMS), a multidisciplinary team approach to glycemic management.ObjectiveTo review recent literature on the financial and clinical impact of IDMS in hospital settings.MethodsWe searched PubMed using a combination of controlled vocabulary and keyword terms to describe the concept of IDMS and combined the search terms with a comparative effectiveness filter for costs and cost analysis developed by the National Library of Medicine.FindingsIn addition to several improved clinical endpoints such as glycemic management outcomes, IDMS implementation is associated with hospital cost savings through decreased length of stay, preventing hospital readmissions, hypoglycemia reduction, and optimizing resource allocation. There are other downstream potential cost savings in long-term patient health outcomes and avoidance of litigation related to suboptimal glycemic management.ConclusionIDMS may play an important role in helping both academic and community hospitals to improve the quality of diabetes care and reduce costs. Clinicians and policymakers can utilize existing literature to build a compelling business case for IDMS to hospital administrations and state legislatures in the era of value-based healthcare.

All‐inorganic perovskites have emerged as promising photovoltaic materials due to their superior thermal stability compared to their heat‐sensitive hybrid organic–inorganic counterparts. In particular, CsPbI2Br shows the highest potential for developing thermally‐stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) among all‐inorganic compositions. However, controlling the crystallinity and morphology of all‐inorganic compositions is a significant challenge. Here, a simple, thermal gradient‐ and antisolvent‐free method is reported to control the crystallization of CsPbI2Br films. Optical in situ characterization is used to investigate the dynamic film formation during spin‐coating and annealing to understand and optimize the evolving film properties. This leads to high‐quality perovskite films with micrometer‐scale grain sizes with a noteworthy performance of 17% (≈16% stabilized), fill factor (FF) of 80.5%, and open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.27 V. Moreover, excellent phase and thermal stability are demonstrated even after extreme thermal stressing at 300 °C. A spin‐forced (SF) method as a facile approach is proposed to control the crystallization kinetics of CsPbI2Br crystal growth, achieving a uniform, and high‐quality film. The perovskite film formation during spin‐coating and annealing is evaluated by optical in situ characterization. As a result, an efficiency of 17.0% with excellent thermal stability at 300 °C is achieved.

Large datasets are now ubiquitous as technology enables higher-throughput experiments, but rarely can a research field truly benefit from the research data generated due to inconsistent formatting, undocumented storage or improper dissemination. Here we extract all the meaningful device data from peer-reviewed papers on metal-halide perovskite solar cells published so far and make them available in a database. We collect data from over 42,400 photovoltaic devices with up to 100 parameters per device. We then develop open-source and accessible procedures to analyse the data, providing examples of insights that can be gleaned from the analysis of a large dataset. The database, graphics and analysis tools are made available to the community and will continue to evolve as an open-source initiative. This approach of extensively capturing the progress of an entire field, including sorting, interactive exploration and graphical representation of the data, will be applicable to many fields in materials science, engineering and biosciences. Making large datasets findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable could accelerate technology development. Now, Jacobsson et al. present an approach to build an open-access database and analysis tool for perovskite solar cells.

Pakistan ranked highest with reference to average temperatures in cotton growing areas of the world. The heat waves are becoming more intense and unpredictable due to climate change. Identification of heat tolerant genotypes requires comprehensive screening using molecular, physiological and morphological analysis. Heat shock proteins play an important role in tolerance against heat stress. In the current study, eight heat stress responsive factors, proteins and genes (HSFA2, GHSP26, GHPP2A, HSP101, HSC70-1, HSP3, APX1 and ANNAT8) were evaluated morphologically and physiologically for their role in heat stress tolerance. For this purpose, cotton crop was grown at two temperature conditions i.e. normal weather and heat stress at 45 °C. For molecular analysis, genotypes were screened for the presence or absence of heat shock protein genes. Physiological analysis of genotypes was conducted to assess net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, leaf-air temperature and cell membrane stability under control as well as high temperature. The traits photosynthesis, cell membrane stability, leaf-air temperature and number of heat stress responsive factors in each genotypes showed a strong correlation with boll retention percentage under heat stress. The genotypes with maximum heat shock protein genes such as Cyto-177, MNH-886, VH-305 and Cyto-515 showed increased photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, negative leaf-air temperature and high boll retention percentage under heat stress condition. These varieties may be used as heat tolerant breeding material.

Climate change due to global warming is becoming a major global issue over the past few decades. The emission of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and other greenhouse gasses cause global warming. Most carbon emissions come from energy sectors, whereas transportation, industrial, and residential sectors are among the chief contributors. The present study investigates the effect of fiscal policy instruments, economic development, and foreign direct investment (FDI) on the sectoral emissions in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. The data used in this study is taken from the World Development Indicators (WDI) for the period between 2000 and 2018. Dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) have been used to analyze the long-run impact of fiscal policy instruments, economic development, and FDI on CO 2 emissions from transportation, energy, and industrial sectors. Furthermore, the pairwise Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality test was used to authorize the causal relationship among the variables under consideration. The results reveal that fiscal policy instruments, per capita gross domestic product, FDI, and CO 2 emissions show a strong correlation in the industrial, electrical, and transportation sectors. Furthermore, it is shown that public spending is a more reliable tool to reduce CO 2 emissions in the transportation and industrial sectors in the BRI region. This study provides useful information for policy-makers on taking preventive and corrective measures to reduce CO 2 emissions in different sectors and promote sustainable development.

Wastewater generation and treatment is an ever-increasing concern in the current century due to increased urbanization and industrialization. To tackle the situation of increasing environmental hazards, numerous wastewater treatment approaches are used—i.e., physical, chemical, and biological (primary to tertiary treatment) methods. Various treatment techniques being used have the risks of producing secondary pollutants. The most promising technique is the use of different materials as adsorbents that have a higher efficacy in treating wastewater, with a minimal production of secondary pollutants. Biosorption is a key process that is highly efficient and cost-effective. This method majorly uses the adsorption process/mechanism for toxicant removal from wastewater. This review elaborates the major agricultural and non-agricultural materials-based sorbents that have been used with their possible mechanisms of pollutant removal. Moreover, this creates a better understanding of how the efficacy of these sorbents can be enhanced by modification or treatments with other substances. This review also explains the re-usability and mechanisms of the used adsorbents and/or their disposal in a safe and environmentally friendly way, along with highlighting the major research gaps and potential future research directions. Additionally, the cost benefit ratio of adsorbents is elucidated.

As one of the world’s largest economies, Chinese economy is maintaining the rapid economic development along with the cost of environmental degradation. The role of fiscal policy instruments is still unknown in the Chinese pollution equation. To do this, the present study is an effort to quantify the nexus of fiscal policy instruments and environmental degradation for Chinese economy over 1980 to 2016. The results reveal that fiscal policy instruments significantly increase the environmental degradation in the long run. The GDP and energy consumption of Chinese economy also enhance the environmental degradation respectively. The innovative accounting approach and diagnostics tests also applied to confirm the empirical estimates of study are reliable and valid for policy implications. The outcomes of study reveal that expansionary fiscal policy will lead to environmental degradation. Therefore, the Chinese authorities may consider the usage of advance and eco-friendly production methods to sustain the fast-growing economic growth along with the healthier environment.

Understanding the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon stock is crucial for effective climate change assessment and agroecosystem management. However, little is known about the effects of organic amendments on GHG emissions and dynamic changes in carbon stocks in salt-affected soils. We conducted a pot experiment with four treatments including control (only fertilizers addition), biochar, vermicompost, and compost on non-saline and salt-affected soils, with the application on a carbon equivalent basis under wheat crop production. Our results revealed that the addition of vermicompost significantly increased soil organic carbon content by 18% in non-saline soil and 52% in salt-affected soil compared to the control leading to improvements in crop productivity i.e., plant dry biomass production by 57% in non-saline soil with vermicompost, while 56% with the same treatment in salt-affected soil. The grain yield was also noted 44 and 50% more with vermicompost treatment in non-saline and salt-affected soil, respectively. Chlorophyll contents were observed maximum with vermicompost in non-saline (24%), and salt-affected soils (22%) with same treatments. Photosynthetic rate (47% and 53%), stomatal conductance (60% and 12%), and relative water contents (38% and 27%) were also noted maximum with the same treatment in non-saline and salt-affected soils, respectively. However, the highest carbon dioxide emissions were observed in vermicompost- and compost-treated soils, leading to an increase in emissions of 46% in non-saline soil and 74% in salt-affected soil compared to the control. The compost treatment resulted in the highest nitrous oxide emissions, with an increase of 57% in non-saline soil and 62% in salt-affected soil compared to the control. In saline and non-saline soils treated with vermicompost, the global warming potential was recorded as 267% and 81% more than the control, respectively. All treatments, except biochar in non-saline soil, showed increased net GHG emissions due to organic amendment application. However, biochar reduced net emissions by 12% in non-saline soil. The application of organic amendments increased soil organic carbon content and crop yield in both non-saline and salt-affected soils. In conclusion, biochar is most effective among all tested organic amendments at increasing soil organic carbon content in both non-saline and salt-affected soils, which could have potential benefits for soil health and crop production.

Barrier islands (BIs) have been designated as the first line of defense for coastal human assets against rising sea level. Global mean sea level may rise from 0.21 to 0.83 m by the end of 21st century as predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Although the Indus Delta covers an area of 41,440 km² surrounded by a chain of BIs, this may result in an encroachment area of 3750 km2 in Indus Delta with each 1 m rise of sea level. This study has used a long-term (1976 to 2017) satellite data record to study the development, movement and dynamics of BIs located along the Indus Delta. For this purpose, imagery from Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), and Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensors was used. From all these sensors, the Near Infrared (NIR) band (0.7–0.9 µm) was used for the delineation and extraction of the boundaries of 18 BIs. It was found that the area and magnitude of these BIs is so dynamic, and their movement is so great that changes in their positions and land areas have continuously been changing. Among these BIs, 38% were found to be vulnerable to oceanic factors, 37% were found to be partially vulnerable, 17% remained partially sustainable, and only 8% of these BIs sustained against the ocean controlling factors. The dramatic gain and loss in area of BIs is due to variant sediment budget transportation through number of floods in the Indus Delta and sea-level rise. Coastal protection and management along the Indus Delta should be adopted to defend against the erosive action of the ocean.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global mean sea levels may rise from 0.43 m to 0.84 m by the end of the 21st century. This poses a significant threat to coastal cities around the world. The shoreline of Karachi (a coastal mega city located in Southern Pakistan) is vulnerable mainly due to anthropogenic activities near the coast. Therefore, the present study investigates rates and susceptibility to shoreline change using a 76-year multi-temporal dataset (1942 to 2018) through the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS). Historical shoreline positions were extracted from the topographic sheets (1:250,000) of 1942 and 1966, the medium spatial resolution (30 m) multi-sensor Landsat images of 1976, 1990, 2002, 2011, and a high spatial resolution (3 m) Planet Scope image from 2018, along the 100 km coast of Karachi. The shoreline was divided into two zones, namely eastern (25 km) and western (29 km) zones, to track changes in development, movement, and dynamics of the shoreline position. The analysis revealed that 95% of transects drawn for the eastern zone underwent accretion (i.e., land reclamation) with a mean rate of 14 m/year indicating that the eastern zone faced rapid shoreline progression, with the highest rates due to the development of coastal areas for urban settlement. Similarly, 74% of transects drawn for the western zone experienced erosion (i.e., land loss) with a mean rate of −1.15 m/year indicating the weathering and erosion of rocky and sandy beaches by marine erosion. Among the 25 km length of the eastern zone, 94% (23.5 km) of the shoreline was found to be highly vulnerable, while the western zone showed much more stable conditions due to anthropogenic inactivity. Seasonal hydrodynamic analysis revealed approximately a 3% increase in the average wave height during the summer monsoon season and a 1% increase for the winter monsoon season during the post-land reclamation era. Coastal protection and management along the Sindh coastal zone should be adopted to defend against natural wave erosion and the government must take measures to stop illegal sea encroachments.