Bioactive Properties of a Novel Antibacterial Dye Obtained from Laccase-Mediated Oxidation of 8-Anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic Acid

Fungal laccase obtained from a Cerrena unicolor strain was used as an effective biocatalyst for the transformation of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid into a green-coloured antibacterial compound, which can be considered as both an antimicrobial agent and a textile dye, simultaneously. The process of biosynthesis was performed in buffered solutions containing methanol as a co-solvent, allowing better solubilisation of substrate. The transformation process was optimised in terms of the buffer pH value, laccase activity, and concentrations of the substrate and co-solvent. The crude product obtained exhibited low cytotoxicity, antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and antioxidant properties. Moreover, the synthesised green-coloured compound proved non-allergenic and demonstrated a high efficiency of dyeing wool fibres.

Environmental Protection, Industrial Structure and Urbanization: Spatiotemporal Evidence from Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, China

The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration (BTH) is striving to realize the transformation process from a low-efficiency to a high-quality development mode; however, it still has problems regarding reducing energy consumption and ecological environment pressure. Based on panel data from 2013 to 2017, this paper proposes an evaluation index system based on BTH’s “environmental protection–industrial structure–urbanization” system. In the course of applying the coupling degree model (CDM) and the coupling coordination degree model (CCDM) with exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) methods, this paper discusses the spatiotemporal process, development level, and spatial agglomeration characteristics of the environmental protection–industrial structure–urbanization system in each city of the BTH area. The findings reveal that the coupling degree of the BTH system is gradually increasing, and that the development level of the BTH subsystem is unbalanced: the coupling coordination level of BTH shows a positive evolution process; however, it is in a stage of low-level collaborative development, and there are obvious differences in the level of BTH coupling coordination in space, revealing the convergence of low–high and high–low types. This paper concludes by putting forward the strategy of optimizing the regional spatial pattern of urban agglomeration and implementing integrated development in order to achieve the desired coupling and coordination effects.

The Changing Nature of In-Between Spaces in the Transformation Process of Cities

In the <em>in-between </em>spaces of cities, there are many problems of various nature and scale: functional, spatial, economic, environmental, visual, and social. There are also some hidden potentials that can be activated. The aim of the article is to explore the possibilities of solving existing problems and to show the possibilities of using the potentials of <em>in-between </em>spaces with regard to the changing nature of a city. The article, of a discursive character, aims to answer the questions of whether connecting a city with public spaces can be a catalyst of changes, and what tools should be used to facilitate the flux of material factors (like goods or natural resources) and immaterial matter (e.g., ideas or cultural patterns). The new approach is based on the assumption that this would be most effective when using landscape architecture, green/blue infrastructure, artistic strategies, and universal design in public spaces. The expected result of the research is to show the purposefulness and possibilities in creating attractive and safe public areas of <em>in-between </em>spaces as an on-going micro- or macro-process of urban change on a wider scale. It was recognised that integrated actions combining the humanistic, ecological, and technical approaches could bring significant benefits to society, preventing existing problems, not only spatial and visual (changing the city directly), but above all social and environmental, having an impact on the functioning of the city from a much longer perspective. The results of the research show how the transformation process of public spaces may change the nature of the cities, improve the compactness of existing cities, and increase the quality of life. Selected case studies are presented to show the scale, scope, and benefits of possible actions.

Visually Improved Digital Media Communication Using Virtual Reality Technology and Digital Twin

Virtual reality (VR) has advanced as a collaborative, realistic, and creative computation technique in recent decades. With organizations becoming digitally more focused and employees’ experience changed by technology, manager’s face and continue to confront several obstacles in the digital transformation process. Recent advances in information integration have been made possible by implementing the improved digital twin (DT) paradigm and its use in the workspace. To solve these problems, simulated convergence, realistic dynamic computational decision-making, and other tools are effective. This helps to complete activities with physical models and records. Thereby, this paper presents a Visually Improved Digital Media Communication Framework (VIDMCF) using VR technology and DT. Incorporating all information, displaying the whole procedure, avoiding challenges, closing loops, optimizing repetitive processes, and making complex decisions in real-time can be aided by reproducing physical systems in the virtual design and adding VR and digital mirror twin to the output of digital media. The proposed model can achieve connectivity and convergence among the realistic atmosphere and the digital environment’s virtual system in cyber-real-space harmony over the life cycle.

The Application of DOMS Mechanism and Prevention in Physical Education and Training

To analyze the causes of muscle soreness and injury during precompetition training in university sports meet and taking the DOMS mechanism as the main line to find a reasonable way to deal with the muscle pain and prevent the injury, 125 college students participating in stadium games training were randomly selected. The muscle pain and injury during the training were obtained through interviews, mathematical statistics, and literature review. The information of exercise load, pain and injury type, exercise ability, pain degree, and recovery time was comprehensively analyzed to study the mechanism of pain and injury formation. Muscle pain and injury occurred in precompetition training, especially in freshmen. After heavy load, muscle soreness occurred, causing DOMS and developing into muscle injury. Affected by the external climate environment, sudden muscle soreness and injury are a gradual transformation process with DOMS as the boundary, which is the comprehensive result of exercise load, water, energy, and material metabolism; control load intensity, water supplement, and energy and material supplement can effectively prevent the occurrence of DOMS, and timely recovery after DOMS symptoms can effectively avoid the occurrence of sports injury. According to the different intensity of exercise, it is of great significance to clarify the mechanism of DOMS and explore effective prevention methods for physical education and sports training.

Transforming adaptive management in knowledge-intensive enterprises

The article considers the aspects of transforming the adaptive management of knowledge-intensive enterprises under highly volatile institutional conditions in the current technological order. The initial scientific hypothesis was that the quality and efficiency of enterprises in the medium and long term is a consequence of management system transformation, as a result of using a wide range of digital technologies in the process of implementating preventive management measures aimed at maintaining a certain level of correspondence between the digital environment and the internal capacity of the management system.The structural aspects of the concept of adaptive transformation of the management system of knowledge-intensive enterprises in a highly variable digital environment have been analysed. An algorithm that represents a complete independent system has been proposed in which the order and levels of interconnection between individual subsystems and elements have been determined, with the adaptive transformation process itself as the central link, which is supported by a complex of different subsystems. A methodological approach for implementating a multicomponent process of adaptive management system development has been presented, detailing the various methodological recommendations and developments. The methodological techniques used for the indicative assessment of the level of efficiency of the management system of knowledge-intensive enterprises have been outlined.An independent and unified digital management environment for knowledge-intensive enterprises enables real-time analysis of business processes in order to make timely, high-quality and effective decisions in the following key areas: investment and financial activities; enterprise knowledge and personnel management; production and technical management; logistics, operations and disposal. The article offers methodological recommendations on the reengineering of business processes in knowledge-intensive enterprises in a new technological mode.

The Degree of Contribution of Digital Transformation Technology on Company Sustainability Areas

The impact of new digital technologies creates challenges for the digital transformation process in company sustainability areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of contribution of digital-transformation-enabling technologies to company sustainability areas of three pulp and paper manufacturing companies in Brazil and relate it to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a systematic literature review based on the PRISMA method, we sought to assess the key concepts of sustainability and the implementation of digital transformation (DT) through its enabling digital technologies. A field study was conducted in three Brazilian pulp and paper companies to assess the degree of contribution. They are leading companies in the paper and cellulose industry in Brazil. The results obtained indicate that the companies in this sample are still in a growth process regarding the use of digital technologies in their sustainability areas. Only one digital technology, cloud computing, appears relevant in one of the companies studied, which differs from the theoretical framework presented by the literature. To achieve the SDGs goals, countries, especially emerging ones, need to develop their technologies and their business and improve the results that relate to sustainability. The research method applied in this study can be replicated to other companies where the impact of digital transformation technologies on company sustainability is critical.

Sustaining India's Gig Economy in Industry 4.0

Today's corporate landscape is undergoing a transformation process, and India is not untouched by these phases of transition as humans are replaced by computers and brick-and-mortar firms are substituted by e-commerce companies. In the midst of these shifts, issues such as labour dynamics have changed dramatically. One such consequence is the Gig Economy. With the gradual improvement in the labour market and the focus of government on localisation, it remains important to analyse the widespread influence of growing gig culture in making India a self-reliant economy. This chapter of the book therefore seeks to review the different components of the gig economy along with the advantages and disadvantages and how gig can contribute towards a localised and self-reliant Indian economy. The chapter also evaluates the regulatory framework of the gig economy in India. The chapter also proposes a conceptual model incorporating various pillars that could serve as an analytical framework for the rapidly increasing number of concepts and policy proposals.

Smart Cities and Their Missions

Two major topics are presented in this chapter: the reasons behind adopting the choice of digital transformation into smart city and the challenges that are encountered in doing so. In persistence towards transformation, the smart city concept is explained, with a detailed view of the principles for smart development, sharing a vision for forward actions. The chapter also outlines the types of challenges faced by professionals in developing nations while implementing smart city transformation. It discusses three main types of challenges: strategic, direct, and persistent. As an overview of the transformation process, the chapter discusses the pillars of smart cities development.