Kun Shan University

This study presents a hybrid solar thermal self-regulating power generation system, designed for installation on rooftops and other small spaces. In addition to functioning as a solar water heater, the system also incorporates a power generation mechanism, promoting the adoption of green energy within general households beyond industrial or government contexts. Unlike conventional solar systems that are often constrained by cost and space requirements, this device can be easily added to existing structures, enhancing user acceptance and facilitating broader participation in energy conservation and carbon reduction efforts. Experimental results shows that at the temperature difference between the thermoelectric modules reaches 17.5°C, the system can generate up to 23W of electrical power. Even during nighttime, the system can still generate electricity by utilizing the thermal energy stored in the water tank during the day, achieving an output power of up to 10W.

Polyaspartic acid (PASP), a biodegradable and eco-friendly fertilizer synergist that shows potential to enhance nutrient use efficiency in agricultural systems, has its integrative role with rhizosphere microorganisms remain insufficiently explored. This study integrated outdoor pot experiments, soil biochemical analysis, and microbiome sequencing to investigate the effects of co-application of PASP and the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) Enterobacter asburiae S13 on potato growth, with four treatments set up including blank control (CK), sole application of PASP (S0P1), sole inoculation of PGPR (S1P0), and co-application of PASP and PGPR (S1P1), and 25 pots per treatment as replicates. The results showed that, compared with the S0P1 treatment, the S1P1 treatment significantly increased plant height (9.59%), stem diameter (28.39%), root length (38.61%), as well as root and shoot biomass (21.26% and 25.17%, respectively) (ANOVA, Duncan’s test, p < 0.05). It also enhanced ammonium nitrogen (40.00%), nitrate nitrogen (57.70%), available potassium (47.56%), and urease activity in the rhizosphere soil (ANOVA, Duncan’s test, p < 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the S1P1 treatment enriched beneficial taxa such as Paucibacter and Massilia, while suppressing competitive genera such as Duganella and Pedobacter. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that available potassium and ammonium nitrogen were the key factors shaping the microbial community structure. In conclusion, combining PASP with PGPR synergistically improves soil nutrient availability and reshapes the rhizosphere microbiome, resulting in enhanced potato growth, thus demonstrating its potential as a dual-function biostimulant for eco-efficient and sustainable potato production systems.

Purpose This study examines how the overall experience provided by mobile shopping apps influences impulse buying behavior in the context of fast fashion retailers. Specifically, it explores the impact of experiential marketing on consumer behavior, focusing on impulse buying and its post-purchase outcomes, such as cognitive dissonance, customer loyalty and repurchase intention. Grounded in the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory, this research investigates the mediating roles of cognitive and emotional engagement as well as flow experience in shaping the relationship between app design and consumer behavior. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in experiential marketing, flow theory and the S-O-R model, the study analyzes data from 1,340 users of fast fashion mobile shopping apps. Partial least squares modeling was employed to examine the proposed relationships between experiential marketing, flow experience, impulse buying and post-purchase consequences. Findings The findings reveal that experiential marketing strategies (sense, feel, think, act and relate) significantly enhance affective and cognitive involvement, which indirectly influence impulse buying behavior through the mediating role of flow experience. Additionally, impulse purchases elevate post-purchase cognitive dissonance, adversely affecting customer loyalty and repurchase intention. Originality/value This research contributes to the literature by integrating the S-O-R model and flow theory to explore the mechanisms underlying impulse buying in mobile commerce. It provides actionable insights for retailers to optimize app experiences, balancing immediate sales gains with long-term customer loyalty. The originality of this study lies in its comprehensive model linking experiential marketing, flow experience, and impulse buying behavior.

Thin films of manganese–nickel–cobalt oxide with graphene (G@MNCO) were deposited on copper foam using electrochemical deposition. NiCo2O4 is the main phase in these films. As the proportion of graphene in the precursor solution increases, the oxygen vacancies in the samples also increase. The microstructure of these samples evolves into hierarchical vertical flake structures. Cyclic voltammetry measurements conducted within the potential range of 0–1.2 V reveal that the electrode with the highest graphene content achieves the highest specific capacitance, approximately 475 F/g. Furthermore, it exhibits excellent cycling durability, maintaining 95.0% of its initial capacitance after 10,000 cycles. The superior electrochemical performance of the graphene-enhanced, manganese-doped nickel–cobalt oxide electrode is attributed to the synergistic contributions of the hierarchical G@MNCO structure, the three-dimensional Cu foam current collector, and the binder-free fabrication process. These features promote quicker electrolyte ion diffusion into the electrode material and ensure robust adhesion of the active materials to the current collector.

In this article, a new high step-up interleaved DC–DC converter is presented for renewable energy systems. The converter circuit is based on the interleaved two-phase boost converter and integrates a voltage-lift capacitor and a voltage multiplier cell. A high voltage gain of the converter can be achieved with a reasonable duty ratio and the voltage stresses of semiconductor devices are reduced. Because of low voltage stress, the switches with low on-resistance and the diodes with low forward voltage drops can be adopted to minimize the conduction losses. Additionally, the switching losses are reduced because the switches are turned on under zero-current switching (ZCS) conditions. Due to the existence of leakage inductances of the coupled inductors, the diode reverse-recovery problem is alleviated. Moreover, the leakage energy is recycled and the voltage spikes during switch turn-off are avoided. The parallel input architecture and interleaved operation reduce the input current ripple. The operating principles, steady-state characteristics, and design considerations of the presented converter are proposed in detail. Furthermore, a closed-loop control is designed to maintain a well-regulated output voltage despite variations in input voltage and output load. A prototype converter with a rated 1000 W output power is realized for demonstration. Finally, experimental results show the converter effectiveness and verify the theoretical analysis.

Terminally ill children (TIC) in pediatric palliative care often encounter psychological deprivation due to isolation, impacting their self-discovery and identity formation. The Young Pioneer Voluntary Teams (YPVTs), initiated by the Ministry of Education of China, address these challenges while also benefiting adolescents with enhanced self-esteem and self-efficacy. However, the current lack of a standardized approach in integrating youth volunteerism into pediatric care raises concerns about potential negative impacts on TIC. This paper introduces a framework to standardize YPVTs training, focusing on psychological resilience, respectful attitudes, and enthusiasm, which are crucial for quality engagement with TIC. This framework includes a selection session, a training session, a feedback collection mechanism, and a framework evaluation. The selection session is composed of a questionnaire for basic information, the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the Motivation of Volunteers Scale, accompanying a scenario-based interview to assess genuineness of their capability to navigate situational challenges. The training session starts with program orientation and responsibility introduction. Lectures, workshops, and exercises are incorporated, aiming to strengthen the three main qualities. Further feedback will be collected from YPVTs with the assistance from child psychologists to detect present flaws and enhance operational quality. Framework effectiveness is evaluated by reassessing the Identity Scale for Adolescents, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Motivation of Volunteers Scale for YPVTs and TIC. Developed through observations at a pediatric palliative care center in China, this framework aims to enhance the well-being of both TIC and YPVTs, embodying person-centered care in healthcare.

This study aims to explore the application and action research of the dual PBL (Project-Based Learning) teaching method, the USR (University Social Responsibility) practice project, and communication management in inspiring students to participate in social practice and contribute to SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) issues. To verify students' learning effectiveness and understand their awareness process of the entire action research, this study employs focus group interviews and participant observation to conduct dyadic research on the two main subjects of social practice: "community—local residents" and "school—students." Through interpretative analysis, three main propositions were derived: (1) guiding students through communication to transform knowledge into practical skills can achieve seamless integration of knowledge and life; (2) empowering teachers and students through innovative communication techniques and field participation in social practice enhances their social resilience; (3) co-learning and co-construction under communication improve the effectiveness of cross-disciplinary autonomous learning and enhance the effectiveness of participation in social practice.

Throughout the history of philosophy, ethics has often been a source of guidance on how to live a meaningful life. Accordingly, when the ethical foundations of mindfulness are considered, an important question arises concerning the role of meditation in providing meaning. The present article proposes a new theoretical route for understanding the links between mindfulness meditation and meaningfulness by employing the terminology of Susan Wolf’s contemporary philosophical account of a meaningful life. It opens by examining the question of what kinds of life-meanings are made available by Buddhist doctrine, considering the two alternatives of a cosmic, human-independent meaning of life versus the subjective meanings that humans give to their individual lives. After surveying current psychological theories that aim to explain the correlation between mindfulness as a trait and meaning in life, all of which see mindfulness as a mediating factor in the production of meaning, I argue that Wolf’s framework offers a promising theoretical basis for clarifying the relationship between mindfulness and meaning in that it explains why mindfulness has a direct bearing on meaning in life. I then show that mindfulness meditation, as understood in Buddhism, can respond to some of the philosophical worries that arise from Wolf’s theory, specifically her concern with the standards for securing the objective value of meaningful activities and projects. My claim is that mindfulness meditation is representative of a broader class of activities that are non-subjectively valuable insofar as they are required for any exploration of objective meaning or standards of values, as well as for engagement in objectively valuable projects and activities.

Abstract This study investigated three factors of strategic philanthropy, social impact, and social participation in university-corporation joint implementation of social responsibility. This study employed Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to systematically analyze complex issues of social responsibility. The participants included enterprise and university staff who used to carry out social responsibility projects, and 20 valid questionnaires were collected. Synthesized critical factors from literature included policy benefit, social impact, and community participation, which were further divided into five sub-phases, including fifteen criteria in total. Finally, based on the importance, factors that influenced university and corporate joint implementation of social responsibility were ranked and discussed on their priority. This study expects to provide practical suggestions to university and corporate joint implementation of social responsibility projects. Keywords: Strategic philanthropy, Social impact, Community participation, University social responsibility, Corporate social responsibility.