Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of the static corporate sustainability interactions

ABSTRACT The empirical literature considers firm-specific aspects affecting corporate sustainability decisions but generally omits the influence of the competition. We advocate that sustainability actions of a company impact its marketplace and vice versa. Therefore, the sustainability return of the single firm is a function of the other firms’ sustainability decisions. We approach sustainability decisions as strategic decisions and evaluate the effect of competition and spillovers in a static market entry game. We estimate the parameters of the discrete choice model using the social performance ratings from MSCI KLD 400 Social Index as proxy for sustainability decisions and financial information from Wharton Research Data Services’ COMPUSTAT dataset. When strategic interaction is not accounted for, we find that an increase in the number of competitors increases the likelihood of sustainability investments, seemingly shows the spillover effect dominates the competition. When we apply the multi-stage approach, which incorporates competitive interaction, we provide empirical evidence that the effect of competition on the likelihood of entry into the sustainability market dominates the effect of spillover. We find that strategic motives, typically ignored in the empirical literature, appear to be an important factor in understanding sustainability-related decisions.
‘I am a culprit’: neoliberal public health discourses versus social risks for HIV within marriages in Kenya

ABSTRACT Rates of HIV within marriages in Kenya remain high. While critical public health scholars have argued that socio-structural contexts shape HIV vulnerability, public health emphasizes neoliberal health management approaches that prioritize individual responsibility to avoid HIV risks. This article examines Kenya’s marital fidelity campaign as a manifestation of neoliberal health governance techniques. It considers the sexual morality of the campaign including how the campaign frames extramarital risks and gender relations in marriage. Further, using ethnographic data from a cash-cropping community in rural Kenya, the article examines how participants’ conceptions of marriage as a gendered site shape their everyday moral/rational reasoning that challenges public health’s neoliberal logic of risk and responsibility. Participants deploy the social risk concept to show how they engage in reasoning that is informed by their social and material context. The article argues that public health should consider how the gendered social organization of marriages within specific political-economic contexts shapes HIV vulnerabilities as an alternative to neoliberal governmentality.
PENGARUH DIGITAL BANKING TERHADAP NILAI PERUSAHAAN PERBANKAN

The purpose of this study is to look at and analyze the effect of digital banking on the profits of banking companies by studying at PT. Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk during 2013 - 2019. The method used is descriptive quantitative in which the data is processed using multiple linear regression. The data collection method is a non-participant observation by taking data from financial statements. The results of the study found that an increase in the number of financial transactions using Digital Banking, namely SMS Banking, Mobile Banking, and Internet Banking, partially did not affect the increase in profits, this is possible because of the inconvenience and doubt of customers in the use of Digital Banking, while simultaneously the results of this study The results show that the effect is not significant, meaning that overall Digital Banking is influential, although not significantly to PT. Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk.
Assessing the asymmetric linkages between foreign direct investments and indigenous innovation in developing countries: A non-linear panel auto-regressive distributed lag approach

Indigenous innovation, which involves innovation by the domestic firms of a country, is continually advocated as a main driver of the economic growth of developing economies. This phenomenon promotes technological innovation which is identified as a key component of industrialisation (Intarakumnerd & Goto 2018; Rodrigues & Da Costa 2018). Industrialisation driven by indigenous innovation is a major determinant of sustainable economic growth in developing countries. Studies on the effect of foreign direct investments (FDI) on innovation were pioneered by Caves (1974), and since then several scholars have reported that FDI facilitates innovation in developing countries (Awate, Larsen & Mudambi 2015; Howell 2019; Maurer 2017; Background: The contributions of indigenous innovation and foreign direct investments (FDI) inflows are critical elements of economic growth and hence very important for developing economies. FDI inflows have been recognised as having a direct influence on innovation in host countries. The relationship between these two variables is explored and well documented in literature. However, these studies have focused on linear relationships between FDI and indigenous innovation, ignoring a possible asymmetric relationship between them.
Multi-Intersection Control with Deep Reinforcement Learning and Ring-and-Barrier Controllers

This paper discusses a machine-learning traffic signal control method. A full-scale corridor is analyzed and the transferability of using a model pre-trained on a single intersection is examined. Two controller designs are explored, a simple two-phase design and a full ring-and-barrier style controller. The full ring-and-barrier controller adapts many of the key features present in traditional controllers, such as protected-permissive left turns, so that they can be used in the reinforcement learning (RL) paradigm. This study is the first to propose a method that uses deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to implement a full ring-and-barrier style controller. The study also examines the feasibility of using transfer learning to pre-train a model on a single intersection and then fine-tune it for application in a complete environment. Training is done on a simple four lane intersection and the pre-trained model is then transferred for fine-tuning to six controllers operating on a corridor modeled with field data obtained for University Avenue in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The performance of the fully trained model is then compared with the existing signal plans in relation to the average delay and average queue length. Application of the ring-and-barrier design to this corridor was found to reduce delays by at least 5% and average queue lengths at intersections by 27%.
Sustainability of Impact Sourcing Initiatives in Higher Education for Graduates’ Employability

Impact sourcing (ImS) initiatives in higher education play important roles in the employability of graduates, especially in the global business services (GBS) industry. This study explores the sustainability of ImS in higher education institutions (HEIs) for graduates’ employability. This study used qualitative research methodology, collecting data from related documents, observations, interviews, and focus groups with selected students, lecturers, and industry practitioners. The data were analyzed using Sen’s capability framework, with the primary objective of analyzing individual capabilities—specifically, conversions, resources, and capabilities. The findings show that ImS could improve future graduates’ technical and soft skills, thereby enhancing their employability in the GBS industry. Some constraints that need to be overcome include the infrastructure, rewards, and incentives, as well as system reliability. This study contributes to the development of the capability framework for ImS initiatives in relation to the employability of graduates and other marginalized communities. The conversions, resources, and capabilities should be considered when assessing the impact of ImS. In addition, this study contributes to the talent pool agenda with a specific focus on ImS and graduates’ employability.
Microfiltration. The influence of operation parameters on the process

Etude de l'influence des parametres de la microfiltration sur la qualite microbiologique et physicochimique du lait microfiltre (bacteries totales, nombre de spores, bacteries lactiques, composition en azote non proteique et en azote non caseine). Recherche des conditions optimales de debit et de duree de la microfiltration
A Study on Sustainable Usage Intention of Blockchain in the Big Data Era: Logistics and Supply Chain Management Companies

The adoption of blockchain technology (BT) is becoming increasingly important to the logistics industry. It is expected to make the entire supply chain process more efficient and competitive by providing visibility, reliability, and economic viability. This study aims to explore factors influencing the adoption of blockchain in the logistics industry and examine the effects of the reciprocal causal relationship between the identified factors. Empirical research aimed at understanding the functional characteristics of BT and bolstering its application is considerably lacking. This study, therefore, aims to examine the concepts and the types of BT based on a literature review related to blockchain. Factors affecting blockchain adoption are identified using a model, which was developed using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and the technology-organization-environment (TOE) frameworks as well as a literature review. The results provide fundamental insights into the adoption of BT in the logistics industry by increasing the understanding of associated factors and underscoring the functional characteristics of this emerging technology.
Contribution of Manufacturing Strategy to Competitive Performance of Manufacturing Companies: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam

This paper presents the results of an empirical study examining the relationship between manufacturing strategy and competitive performance of Vietnamese manufacturers, with focus on the technology factor of manufacturing strategy. Statistical techniques were used to analyze the data collected from 25 manufacturing enterprises, and the qualitative research method was employed to enrich the captured results. Findings indicate the positive impact that manufacturing strategy (together with its components namely competitive priorities and technology choices) has on firm’s competitive performance. Two case studies also provided more in-depth knowledge of the development and implementation of manufacturing strategy at Vietnamese manufacturers. From there, recommendations are proposed for management to better implement manufacturing strategy and utilize technology in order to improve competitive performance.
Association between Severe Acute Malnutrition during Childhood and Variability in Blood Pressure during Adulthood in Low- and Middle-income Countries: The Lwiro Cohort Study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Introduction: Little is known about the long-term outcomes of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) during childhood. As such, this study aims to explore the association between childhood SAM and blood pressure (BP) variability in adulthood in a context without nutrition transition. Methodology: We identified 524 adults (Median age: 22 years) who were treated for SAM during childhood in Eastern DRC between 1988 and 2007. They were compared with 407 community unexposed age-and-sex matched with no history of SAM. The variables examined for this study were the systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean (MBP) and pulse (PP) blood pressures, as well as high blood pressure (HBP) in adulthood. For comparison, linear and logistic regression models were used for analysing continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. Results: Of the 524 exposed located, 145 exposed were selected according to age. A total of 97 unexposed were recruited. Compared to unexposed, exposed had slightly higher SBP and PP after adjusting [SBP = 1.4 mm Hg (-2.2, 4.8) and PP = 2.6 mm Hg (-0.3, 6.0)]. However, their mean DBP was lower that of among the unexposed [ -1.6 mm Hg (-4.6, 1.5)]. MBP and creatinine levels were comparable between the two groups. The prevalence of HBP adjusted for age was higher among exposed than unexposed (9.7% vs 5.3%). In addition, the odds of having HBP was higher among exposed than unexposed, however the difference was not statistically significant [ORa 1.9 (0.7, 5.6)]. Finally, using multiple regression, although the effect was not significant, SAM was a major contributor to HBP [OR 3.1 (0.9,10.9), p = 0.064], while being male and higher BMI were the only independent predictors among the young population of this study. Conclusions: There was no significant impact from an episode of SAM during childhood on BP variability in young adults in a context without nutrition transition. However, people who experienced a period of SAM had a higher prevalence of HBP and a much higher risk of developing HBP than unexposed. Additional multicentre studies involving a larger cohort would provide greater understanding of the impact of SAM on the overall risk of BP disorders during adulthood.
Realization of Memristive State Machine for Smart Edge Detector Applications

ABSTRACT In this work, an oxide memristor was utilized for analog computing, which exhibited controllable transitions within its stable resistive states. The memristive ON and OFF states were considered to be logic 1 and logic 0, respectively, whereas the intermediate memristances represent the possible resistive states within the memristive state machine (MSM). This MSM was sprucely tailored to perform tunable edge detection. In contrast to other software based conventional edge detection systems such as Canny, Sobel, and Prewitt, the proposed MSM system performed better with around 8% improvement in accuracy of edge detection. With the level of simplicity and accuracy, the proposed system exhibits potential to be an efficient alternative to the conventional systems for edge detection and laid a concrete path for future low hardware based smart system design due to the suppression of analog-to-digital conversion.
Uranium Rhizofiltration by Lactuca sativa, Brassica campestris L., Raphanus sativus L., Oenanthe javanica under Different Hydroponic Conditions

Rhizofiltration experiments were conducted using uranium-contaminated groundwater and lettuce (Lactuca sativa), Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), and buttercup (Oenanthe javanica), which are commonly grown and consumed in South Korea. The results of the rhizofiltration experiments with artificial solutions with different initial uranium concentrations (18, 32, 84, 116, 173, and 263 μg/L) show that the uranium accumulation and bioconcentration factor (BCF) of plant roots increase with increasing uranium concentration in the groundwater. Among the four plants, the uranium concentration in the roots of Raphanus sativus L. is 1215.8 μg/g dry weight, with a maximum BCF value of 2692.7. The BCF value of the artificial solutions with various pH values (pH 3, 5, 7, and 9) is the highest under acidic conditions (pH 3) for all four plants. The uranium BCF values based on different hydroponic conditions range from 170.5 to 11580.3 and the results are comparable with those of other studies using similar methods; the highest BCF value was determined for Brassica campestris L. at pH 3. The BCF values of Raphanus sativus L. after the rhizofiltration experiments with genuine groundwater contaminated with uranium are the highest among the four species; that is, 1684.7 and 1700.1 in Oesam-dong and Bugokdong groundwater samples with uranium concentrations of 83 and 173 μg/L, respectively. The results of the scanning electron microscope/electron dispersive X-ray spectroscope analyses show that uranium in contaminated groundwater is adsorbed as a solid phase on the root surface. These results demonstrate that Raphanus sativus L. has a high tolerance to high concentrations of uranium and low pH conditions and a remarkable potential for uranium accumulation.
ОНЛАЙН-ОБУЧЕНИЕ КАК E-LEARNING: КАЧЕСТВО И РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ (КРИТИЧЕСКИЙ АНАЛИЗ)

This article critically examines the result obtained by researchers at the Higher School of Economics in relation to the results of the experiment to assess the quality of online learning. It is noted that the thesis about the possibility of “complete replacement of traditional forms of education with online education without loss of quality” is distorted in the media, and the conclusions are based on insufficient data. To clarify the conditions of the transition and implementation of online technologies, it is proposed to hold a large-scale experiment with a randomly selection mechanisms for participants of training courses, instructors, disciplines (modules). The article focuses on the fact that while the impact of online education on the psychology and physiology of students has not been sufficiently studied, there is a risk of deteriorating health, as well as a drop in the quality of education. It is proposed to develop temporary standards limiting the maximum time of work online for different categories of students and teachers. The risks of «financial bubbles» in the online education market due to the rush demand after the COVID-19 pandemic for government agencies and private businesses has been identified. The conclusion is made about the priority development of short-term online courses related to the development of rather narrow and applied competencies in demand by the modern information society, about the possible success of online technologies in case of obtaining a “second higher” education and improving qualifications. High-quality online systems in the field of higher education require serious investments in research and development in the field of psychology and pedagogy of education, the use of medical control tools. In the medium term, the benefits of this research, conducted by medical scientists, educators and psychologists, will be used by organizations on the “second wave” of interest to online learning. From an organizational point of view, the correct “rotation” of the contingent of students, when part of the time they study full-time, and part of the time they learn online with computers / tablets and high-quality Internet access, will not lead to a deterioration in the quality of education, but will significantly reduce the spread of the pandemic.
Sap Flow in Aleppo Pine in Greece in Relation to Sapwood Radial Gradient, Temporal and Climatic Variability

Research Highlights: The radial gradient of sap flux density (Js) and the effects of climatic factors on sap flow of Aleppo pine were assessed at different time scales in an eastern Mediterranean ecosystem to improve our understanding of the species water balance. Background and Objectives: Aleppo pine’s sap flow radial profile and responses to environmental parameters in the eastern Mediterranean were, to our best knowledge, originating to date from more arid planted forests. Information from natural forests in this region was lacking. Our objectives were to (a) determine the species’ radial variability in Js on a diurnal and seasonal basis and under different climatic conditions, (b) scale up to tree sap flow taking into account the radial profile of Js and (c) determine the responses of Aleppo pine’s sap flow over the year to climatic variability. Materials and Methods: Js was monitored in Aleppo pine in a natural forest in northern Greece with Granier’s method using sensors at three sapwood depths (21, 51, and 81 mm) during two periods differing in climatic conditions, particularly in soil water availability. Results: Js was the highest at 21 mm sapwood depth, and it declined with increasing depth. A steeper gradient of Js in deep sapwood was observed under drier conditions. The same patterns of radial variability in Js were maintained throughout the year, but the contribution of inner sapwood to sap flow was the highest in autumn when the lower seasonal Js was recorded in both study periods. Not taking into account the radial gradient of Js in the studied Aleppo pine would result in a c. 20.2–27.7 % overestimation of total sap flow on a sapwood basis (Qs), irrespective of climatic conditions. On a diurnal and seasonal basis, VPD was the strongest determinant of sap flux density, while at a larger temporal scale, the effect of soil water content was evident. At SWC > 20% sap flow responded positively to increasing solar radiation and VPD, indicating the decisive role of water availability in the studied region. Moreover, in drier days with VPD > 0.7 KPa, SWC controlled the variation of sap flow. Conclusions: There is a considerable radial variability in Js of the studied Aleppo pine and a considerable fluctuation of sap flow with environmental dynamics that should be taken into account when addressing the species water balance.
PENYULUHAN HUKUM TENTANG BAHAYA NARKOBA DI SMA NEGERI 4 PASARWAJO KABUPATEN BUTON

This community service aims to provide knowledge and understanding of the dangers of narcotics for SMA Negeri 4 Pasarawajo. This community service is expected to be able to provide legal awareness to students about the dangers of drugs from a legal and health perspective. The methods used in the implementation of activities are counseling, lectures and discussions. The results and discussion, namely Community Service is legal counseling by involving students to practice providing legal education in front of students of SMA 4 Pasarwajo, Buton Regency. Legal education about the dangers of drugs is needed for the youth generation, considering that adolescents are easily influenced by deviant behavior, including the abuse of illegal drugs.Pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk memberikan pengetahuan dan pemahaman tentang bahaya narkotika terhadap siswa SMA Negeri 4 Pasarawajo. Pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini diharapkan mampu memberikan kesadaran hukum terhadap siswa akan bahaya narkoba dari prespektif hukum dan kesehatan. Metode yang digunakan dalam pelaksanaan kegiatan adalah penyuluhan, ceramah dan diskusi. Hasil dan pembahasan yaitu Pengabdian Kepada masyarakat ini adalah penyuluhan hukum dengan melibatkan mahasiswa untuk praktek memberikan penyuluhan hukum di hadapan siswa-siswa SMA 4 Pasarwajo Kabupaten Buton. Penyuluhan hukum tentang bahaya narkoba sangat dibutuhkan bagi generasi remaja, mengingat usia remaja mudah sekali terpengaruh pada perilaku menyimpang, termasuk dalam penyalahgunaan obat-obatan terlarang.
Erythropoiesis and Iron Parameters in Transfusion-dependent and Nontransfusion-dependent Thalassemias

Introduction: To clarify mechanisms of ineffective erythropoiesis on iron metabolism, studies on erythroid factors that regulating hepcidin suppression have been carried out. The aim of the current study is to identify associations between erythropoiesis and iron homeostasis parameters in β-thalassemias. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of 83 subjects: 21 thalassemia major (TM), 20 thalassemia intermedia (TI), 20 thalassemia trait (TT), and 22 healthy subjects (HS). Erythroferrone (ERFE), hepcidin, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), erythropoietin (EPO), and iron status parameters were measured. Results: Our results showed that TM and TI patients had higher hepcidin than the TT and control groups. The hepcidin/ferritin in TM patients was significantly lower than the other groups. GDF15 in TM and TI patients was significantly higher than in the TT and control groups. Also, TI group had significantly higher ERFE concentration and EPO activity when compared with the TM, TT, and HS groups. EPO activity showed positive correlation with ERFE and GDF15 concentrations. We could not find any correlation between ERFE and hepcidin concentrations. Conclusions: ERFE may be one of the parameters used to demonstrate erythropoietic activity level in thalassemias. More detailed studies are needed to clarify the role of ERFE in iron metabolism in the patients with thalassemias.