PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS & BIBLIOMETRIC INFORMATION

The following publications are arranged in reverse chronological order. Each entry includes the complete bibliographic citation, DOI, and selected journal-level bibliometric information. Author notation: Dlamini, W. N. is highlighted in bold. The symbol # denotes the indicated equal contribution, while * identifies corresponding authors. Journal metrics: Unless otherwise stated, the values refer to the 2025 reporting year released in 2026. JCR quartiles and ranks, Scopus CiteScore rankings, and SCImago indicators refer to different bibliometric systems.

• Dlamini, W. N. (2026). Microbiome-assisted heat resilience in cereals: Direct evidence from rice endophytes, comparative stress ecology, nutrient management, and field-validation priorities. Grain Science. Grain Science, 1 (1), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/grainsci1010002 Journal indexing & bibliometric information: Peer-reviewed; Open Access.

• Maulana, M., Setiawan, D., & Dlamini, W. N. (2026). Water quality assessment of the Banong River receiving effluent from Sleman Public Hospital. International Journal of Public Health Science, 15(2), 565–572. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11591/ijphs.v15i2.26854 Journal indexing & bibliometric information (2025): Scopus indexed; SINTA 2; CiteScore: 1.1; Scopus Q3 in Medicine (miscellaneous), Health (social science), and Health Policy; SCImago Journal Rank (SJR): 0.179; Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP): 0.19.

• Getnet, M. E.#, Dlamini, W. N.#, Liao, C.-H., Berekute, A. K., Chen, A.-F., Sallah-Ud-Din, R., Siregar, S., Wu, Y.-C., Shen, W.-T., Bai, C.-H., & Yu, K.-P. (2025). Improving hospital air quality with a nano-Ag/chitosan-TiO₂ filter system and cloud-based monitoring. Indoor Air, 2025(1), Article 8243815. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/ina/8243815 Journal indexing & bibliometric information (2025): SCIE; Scopus; Journal Impact Factor (JIF): 2.7; JCR Q2; relevant JCR categories include Construction & Building Technology, Environmental Engineering, and Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; SCImago Q1 in its best-ranked category; SJR: 0.857. # Equal first-author contribution: Mastewal Endeshaw Getnet and Wonder Nathi Dlamini.

• Dlamini, W. N., Yu, K.-P., Chen, W.-C., & Shen, F.-T.* (2025). Exploring the interaction dynamics of growth-promoting bacterial endophytes and fertilizer on Oryza sativa L. under heat stress. Rice, 18, Article 33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12284-025-00781-9 Journal indexing & bibliometric information (2025): SCIE; Scopus; JIF: 5.8; five-year JIF: 6.3; JCR Q1 in Agronomy; JCR rank: 13/133 (top 9.8%, approximately 90.2nd percentile); SCImago Q1.

• Dlamini, W. N.*, Lai, W.-A., Chen, W.-C., & Shen, F.-T.* (2025). Unveiling the thermotolerance and growth-promoting attributes of endophytic bacteria derived from Oryza sativa: Implications for sustainable agriculture. Microorganisms, 13(4), Article 766. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040766 Journal indexing & bibliometric information (2025): SCIE; Scopus; PubMed; JIF: 4.7; five-year JIF: 5.1; JCR Q2 in Microbiology, rank 50/167; Scopus CiteScore: 8.2; CiteScore Q1 in Virology, Medical Microbiology, and Microbiology. Additional reported Scopus rankings: 14/86 (Virology), 25/147 (Medical Microbiology), and 41/194 (Microbiology).

• Dlamini, W. N., Yao, T.-C., Lee, H.-J., Berekute, A. K., Sallah-Ud-Din, R., Siregar, S., & Yu, K.-P.* (2024). Enhanced removal of viral aerosols using nanosilver/TiO₂-chitosan filters combined with a negative air ionizer. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 12(3), Article 112973. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.112973 Journal indexing & bibliometric information (2025): SCIE; Scopus; JIF: 7.2; JCR Q1 in relevant engineering and environmental science categories; CiteScore: 12.5; Scopus CiteScore Q1 in relevant categories. Additional reported Scopus rankings: 15/344 (General Engineering), 14/271 (Environmental Science, miscellaneous), 21/274 (General Chemical Engineering), 20/176 (Pollution), and 20/150 (Waste Management and Disposal).

• Neumann, M., Dlamini, W. N., Sallah-Ud-Din, R., Berekute, A. K., Siregar, S., Getnet, M. E., Maulana, M., Pan, W.-C., Lung, S.-C. C., & Yu, K.-P. (2024). Assessment of air pollution emitted during cooking using biomass and cleaner fuels in the Shiselweni region of Eswatini (Swaziland). Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 26(9), 3003–3020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-024-02786-2 Journal indexing & bibliometric information (2025): SCIE; Scopus; JIF: 5.1; JCR Q2; JCR percentile: approximately 70.1%; SJR: 0.885; SCImago Q1 in its best-ranked category, with a reported category percentile of approximately 80.6%.

• Huang, W.-W., Sallah-Ud-Din, R., Dlamini, W. N., Berekute, A. K., Getnet, M. E., & Yu, K.-P.* (2023). Effectiveness of a covered oil-free cooking process on the abatement of air pollutants from cooking meats. Heliyon, 9(9), Article e19531. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19531 Journal indexing & bibliometric information: Scopus; Web of Science coverage reported; JIF: 3.6 (2024 reporting year); JCR Q1 in Multidisciplinary Sciences (2024); previously reported Scopus CiteScore: 4.1; SCImago Q1 (2025).

ADDITIONAL SCHOLARLY PUBLICATION

• Olaniyi, D., Dlamini, W. N., Yu, K.-P., & Liao, C.-H. (2024). Evaluating data loss prevention effectiveness for electronic health records in cloud-based hospitals. Research manuscript dated 24 August 2024.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS & KEY FINDINGS

My research contributions span environmental biotechnology, functional nanomaterials, microbial ecology, agricultural sustainability, aerosol science, environmental monitoring, indoor-air pollution, and public health. The following summaries highlight the research questions, experimental approaches, and principal findings of my peer-reviewed publications. Complete bibliographic references, DOI links, and selected journal indexing and ranking information are provided in the subsequent section.

Research Summaries 

2026

Microbiome-Assisted Heat Resilience in Cereals: Mechanisms and Field Applications View Published Article  

This study examined the potential of beneficial cereal-associated microorganisms, particularly bacterial endophytes, to strengthen crop resilience under heat stress. It synthesized evidence from rice, wheat, maize, barley, sorghum, and millet, integrating microbial functions, plant-stress physiology, nutrient management, and agricultural sustainability. Controlled experiments in rice reported improvements in plant growth, physiological stress responses, and grain-weight components following inoculation with selected beneficial bacteria. However, these findings do not yet establish consistent field-level yield protection. The study evaluated potential mechanisms involving hormonal regulation, oxidative-stress mitigation, nutrient mobilization, and photosynthetic stability, while distinguishing experimentally supported outcomes from proposed mechanisms. A six-stage framework was also proposed to guide microbial discovery, functional verification, consortium design, formulation, field validation, and practical deployment. The findings identify research priorities for developing reliable, economically viable microbial bioinoculants to support climate-resilient cereal production.

Water Quality Assessment of a River Receiving Hospital Effluent View Published Article

This study assessed the environmental impact of hospital wastewater discharged into the Banong River in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. River water was sampled at locations 50 metres upstream and downstream of the hospital wastewater-treatment discharge point. Six physicochemical parameters: temperature, pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS), and total suspended solids (TSS), were evaluated against regional water-quality standards. The results showed that temperature and pH remained within acceptable ranges, while elevated BOD, COD, and TDS levels downstream indicated additional organic and chemical pollution. The findings underscore the importance of wastewater-treatment effectiveness, consistent monitoring, and regulatory compliance in protecting river ecosystems and public health.

2025

Hospital Air Purification Using Nanocomposite Filtration and Cloud-Based Monitoring View Published Article

This study investigated an integrated hospital air-quality management system combining nanosilver/chitosan–titanium dioxide (nano-Ag/CS-TiO₂) filtration with cloud-based environmental monitoring. The investigation evaluated indoor pollutants and microbial aerosols across different hospital environments and assessed the performance of the nanocomposite filter system. The filtration technology demonstrated improvements in removing particulate matter and other measured contaminants, while the monitoring platform enabled continuous observation of environmental conditions. Improvements were also observed following installation in a negative-pressure isolation room. The findings highlight the potential of combining antimicrobial filtration and real-time monitoring to support evidence-based environmental management in healthcare facilities.

Beneficial Bacterial Endophytes and Fertilizer Interactions Under Rice Heat Stress View Published Article

This study investigated interactions between beneficial rice-associated bacterial endophytes and fertilizer applications under elevated temperatures, with the aim of improving plant performance and agricultural resilience. The research combined microbial identification and characterization, controlled growth-chamber experiments, and a 150-day soil-pot investigation to evaluate bacterial contributions to rice growth and physiological stress responses. Inoculation with selected bacterial strains improved plant biomass, growth, and grain production. Notably, Bacillus paralicheniformis strain W increased fresh grain weight by approximately 50% and dry grain weight per panicle by 113% compared with the reported control. Changes in proline, salicylic acid, abscisic acid, and malondialdehyde were also observed, suggesting altered physiological responses to heat stress. These findings support further investigation of beneficial microorganisms combined with reduced fertilizer inputs as potential tools for climate-resilient agriculture.

Thermotolerant Rice Endophytes for Sustainable Agricultural Biotechnology View Published Article

This study evaluated five rice-associated bacterial endophytes: Bacillus tequilensis LB3, B. coagulans LB6, B. paralicheniformis AS9, B. pumilus LB16, and B. paranthracis i40C for their plant-growth-promoting functions and potential to mitigate high-temperature stress. The isolates demonstrated beneficial characteristics involving indole-3-acetic acid production, siderophore production, nitrogen-fixation potential, and phosphate and potassium solubilization. Under controlled heat-stress conditions, inoculation increased rice plant length by up to 78% at 40 °C. Strain LB6 demonstrated particularly strong performance, with a reported biomass increase of 195%. Biochemical investigations also identified increased abscisic acid and proline accumulation and reduced malondialdehyde levels, including a reported reduction of up to 68% under the evaluated conditions. The findings identify promising bacterial strains for further investigation as microbial inoculants and potential biofertilizer candidates for sustainable rice production under heat stress.

2024

Enhanced Viral Aerosol Removal Using Nanosilver/TiO₂–Chitosan Filters and Negative Air Ionization View Published Article

This study developed and evaluated an antimicrobial air-filtration system combining nanosilver particles supported by a titanium dioxide–chitosan matrix with negative-air-ion technology. The investigation used bacteriophage MS2 as a viral-aerosol surrogate and characterized the nanocomposite filtration materials using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The optimized filtration system, incorporating a 5 wt% nano-Ag/TiO₂–chitosan filter and a negative air ionizer, achieved approximately 97% viral-aerosol removal efficiency under the experimental conditions. The study also examined antiviral performance during extended use, providing evidence of material durability and demonstrating the potential benefits of integrating antimicrobial filter materials with complementary air-treatment technologies. The findings support the continued development and evaluation of nanomaterial-based filtration systems for indoor-air purification and airborne pathogen exposure reduction.

Household Air Pollution from Biomass and Cleaner Cooking Fuels in Eswatini View Published Article

This study investigated household cooking-related air pollution in the Shiselweni region of Eswatini, comparing pollutant emissions and estimated health risks associated with biomass fuels, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity. Environmental monitoring was conducted in 17 household kitchens during cooking activities. Measurements included particulate matter, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The findings showed that cooking with biomass fuels was associated with elevated pollutant concentrations, including PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, and carbon monoxide levels exceeding applicable indoor exposure guidelines. Exposure assessments also indicated elevated estimated health risks associated with particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The study examined the costs of transitioning to cleaner cooking systems, identifying LPG as a less costly alternative than electricity for achieving the evaluated risk-reduction targets. These findings provide evidence relevant to household air-pollution mitigation, cleaner cooking transitions, environmental-health protection, and sustainable energy policies in Eswatini and comparable communities.

2023

Cooking-Emission Reduction Through a Covered Oil-Free Cooking Process View Published Article

This study investigated pollutant emissions associated with cooking different types of meat—beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and fish—using conventional oil-based methods and a covered, oil-free cooking process. The investigation assessed particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent emissions, and aldehydes. The results demonstrated that covered oil-free cooking could reduce selected pollutants, particularly when preparing chicken, pork, and fish. However, emission reductions varied by food type and pollutant category. For lamb, some pollutant indicators increased under oil-free conditions, highlighting the importance of evaluating individual food characteristics and cooking processes rather than assuming a universal benefit. The findings provide insights into cooking-related indoor-air pollution and support further investigation of food-preparation methods that may reduce harmful environmental emissions.

ADDITIONAL SCHOLARLY PUBLICATION SUMMARY

Evaluating Data Loss Prevention Effectiveness for Electronic Health Records in Cloud-Based Hospitals Authors: Olaniyi, D., Dlamini, W. N., Yu, K.-P., & Liao, C.-H. Year: 2024 

This manuscript examines data-loss-prevention strategies for electronic health records and protected health information in cloud-based hospital information systems. It discusses the roles of content-aware inspection, machine-learning anomaly detection, zero-trust security, encryption, automated policy enforcement, and organizational security practices in reducing risks of unauthorized healthcare-data disclosure. The manuscript reports simulated analyses of integrated security measures and discusses the potential application of machine-learning methods, including Random Forest and Isolation Forest, for detecting suspicious activity while limiting unnecessary security alerts. It also examines how healthcare data protection relates to business intelligence, value-based care, regulatory compliance, and the long-term sustainability of digital healthcare systems. The manuscript presents a multidisciplinary perspective linking healthcare information security, technology management, and organizational risk reduction.

SCHOLARLY PROFILES & PUBLICATION DATABASES

My published research and broader scholarly contributions can be explored through the following academic platforms: Google Scholar ORCID Scopus Author Profile ResearchGate SciProfiles

Bibliometric information is provided as supplementary journal-level context. Impact factors, CiteScore values, quartiles, category rankings, and percentiles vary by reporting year, subject classification, and database. Journal-level metrics should not be interpreted as direct measures of individual article quality.

International conference presentations across environmental nanotechnology, indoor air quality, and public health engineering (2019–2025). 

• Dlamini, W. N.*, & Yu, K. P. (June 14–15, 2025). 2nd One Health Event in Taiwan: Networking Conference on Health Equity and Bridging Global Health Gaps & Public Health Field Research Graduate Student Showcase, Taipei, Taiwan.
  Oral Presentation: Enhanced Antiviral Efficacy of Bimetallic Ag–Cu/TiO₂ Nanocomposites for Water Disinfection.

• Dlamini, W. N.*, & Yu, K. P. (June 8–11, 2025). ISIAQ Healthy Buildings Europe 2025, Reykjavik, Iceland.
  Oral Presentations:
  • Optimizing Viral Aerosol Removal with Chitosan-Based Ag–TiO₂ Filters and Ionization
  • Smart Purification and Cloud Monitoring for Healthcare Air Quality

• Dlamini, W. N.*, & Yu, K. P. (Apr. 24–27, 2025). TOHA International Conference on Occupational Hygiene and Occupational Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan.
  Oral Presentation: Enhanced Antiviral Efficacy of Bimetallic Ag–Cu/TiO₂ Nanocomposites for Water Disinfection.

• Dlamini, W. N.* (Conference Chair) (Mar. 28–29, 2025). WARESA 3rd Multidisciplinary International Research Conference (MIREC), Taipei, Taiwan.
  Role: Conference President, Organizer, and Steering Committee Member.

• Dlamini, W. N.*, & Yu, K. P. (Nov. 29–30, 2024). 2nd Multidisciplinary International Research Conference (MIREC), Tokyo, Japan.
  Oral Presentation: Sustainable Water Purification: Enhancing Antiviral Efficacy for Public Health and Climate Resilience.

• Dlamini, W. N.*, & Yu, K. P. (July 7–11, 2024). 18th ISIAQ International Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
  Oral Presentations:
  • Ag/TiO₂-CS Nanocomposite Filters for Viral Aerosol Removal
  • Advanced Air Purification and Cloud-Enabled Monitoring in Healthcare

• Yu, K. P.*, Dlamini, W. N., et al. (Sept. 17–21, 2023). ISEE Annual Conference, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
  Oral Presentation: Virus Aerosol Filter for COVID-19. DOI: 10.1289/isee.2023.SA-097.

• Dlamini, W. N.*, & Yu, K. P. (July 2–5, 2023). 23rd IEEE International Conference on Nanotechnology, Jeju, South Korea.
  Oral Presentations:
  • Cu/Ag/TiO₂ Nanomaterials for Viral and Bacterial Inactivation in Indoor Air
  • Ag/TiO₂-CS Filters for Viral Aerosol Removal

• Yao, T. C., Dlamini, W. N., & Yu, K. P.* (Nov. 18–21, 2022). Environmental Engineering Society Annual Conference, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
  Oral Presentation: Antibacterial Efficiency of Novel Nano-Silver Composites.

• Dlamini, W. N.*, & Yu, K. P. (Oct. 2022). Institutional Research & SDGs / University Social Responsibility Conference, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
  Poster Presentation: Thermotolerance and Growth-Promoting Effects of Bacterial Endophytes.

• Dlamini, W. N.* (Oct.–Nov. 2020). Sustainable Development Conference, Taichung, Taiwan.
  Oral Presentation: Distance Learning as a Response to COVID-19 in Eswatini.

• Dlamini, W. N.*, & Shen, F. T. (Nov. 3–8, 2019). 14th ESEAFSS International Conference, Taipei, Taiwan.
  Presentation: Organic Fertilizer Effects on Rhizospheric and Endophytic Bacterial Communities in Crop Growth.

Solo Book Publications

• Dlamini, W. N. (2026). Heat-Tolerant Rice Endophytes. ISBN 979-8-1719-0761-7 . https://a.co/d/00ix6L6w

• Dlamini, W. N. (2026). The Small Voice Inside Milo. ISBN 9798252161105. https://a.co/d/09w2MEXq    

• Dlamini, W. N. (2025). How Humanity Outgrew the World and Forgot Itself. ISBN 9798271679308. https://a.co/d/8wZq78U

• Dlamini, W. N. (2024). Rise Above: Transforming Toxicity into Triumph. ISBN 9798338985731. https://a.co/d/bhBegza

• Dlamini, W. N. (2023). The Journey to Gratification and Self-Discovery. ISBN 9798391896838. https://a.co/d/7ptn8SN   

• Dlamini, W. N. (2022). A Step to Be Taken, 2nd ed. ISBN 9798368355252. https://a.co/d/fwfR3V8

FORTHCOMING BOOKS

Dlamini, W. N. (2027, planned). Antimicrobial Nanomaterials. Forthcoming; publication details and ISBN to be announced.

• 14th ESEAFSS International Conference, Taipei, Taiwan (2019)