bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling Urban Health Resilience in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic PRISMA Exploration of Key Parameters and Strategies
Authors: Sara BOUDJEMA , Soufiane BOUKARTA , Ahmad Nia Hourakhsh
Published: July 2024

Urban health resilience is vital for cities, particularly during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Itrepresents a city's capacity to anticipate, respond to, and recover from challenges across environmental, social,and health-related domains. This study presents a systematic review of the literature concerning urban healthresilience, with a specific focus on identifying key parameters impacting urban health during the COVID-19pandemic. Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)methodology, this research conducts an in-depth review of the literature from the year 2019. systematicallyevaluating studies discussing urban health resilience in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in metropolitan areas.The study findings provide valuable insights by highlighting the connection between urban parameters related tourban form and the transmission of COVID-19, a recent pandemic. To reduce virus transmission during publichealth crises, cities must implement effective measures across various aspects, including cultural, spatial,ecological, and infrastructural factors. The article emphasizes the importance of strategic urban planning andresponse measures to enhance resilience against pandemics.
Analysing the Landscape Aesthetics in the Urban Context of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Authors: Mohammad Khan Huma , Alkhan Dana
Published: July 2024

Urban development in the Kingdom of Bahrain has been a rapid phenomenon. To overcome the urban challengesand progress in an effective manner, the Kingdom of Bahrain has undertaken several measures for sustainabledevelopment. Landscape aesthetics plays a vital role in achieving urban sustainability and affects human perceptionand behavior in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The residents of the Kingdom of Bahrain have predominantly enjoyed beachfronts due to its geographical location. However, recent urbanisation has resulted in the development of designelements that are not associated with the sea. This research aims to analyse the change in landscape aesthetics dueto urbanisation and the impact of social and cultural factors on it. The methodology adopted in this research includessite visits, documentation, and surveys. The study contributes to understanding the changing landscape aestheticsin the Kingdom of Bahrain. It analyses the effect of social and cultural factors on the changing landscape aestheticsin the Kingdom.
Video Oyunları Seviye Tasarımı için Mimari Tasarım Süreci
Authors: Hacıoğlu Hakan , Bayram Funda Tan
Published: July 2024

In this study, the similarities of the design process between video game level spaces and the architectural designprocess, as a spatial production, and the methods that can be used will be examined. In this context, the issue of videogame level design will be discussed, the architectural representation techniques and methods, including the softwaresused in these level design process will be shown. The basic design tools in architecture will also be examined in thissense and the techniques of use in level design will be explained with examples. An architectural design processapproach in level design will be explored, and methods similar to architectural design process and representation toolsin level design will be explained. To be able to understand the design process similarities for both architectural designsand video game level designs, a system will be tried to be revealed with an architectural approach.
Unraveling Object-Oriented Dynamics in Architectural Form: The Impact of Randomness in Digital Design Processes
Authors: Demirbaş Sahra , Bayram Funda Tan
Published: July 2024

The field of Mereology offers an understanding of the object-oriented dynamics between component parts and theirholistic integrations. Within this framework, architectural form creates a rich landscape of possibilities stemmingfrom the complex interactions among various living and non-living elements. In this perspective, each entity operateswithin its own objective reality, contributing to the rich fabric of relationships that shape architectural form. In thisform-centric approach, deliberate design efforts are complemented by the influences of chance events andrandomness in the assembly of elements. The impact of randomness extends to traditional structural designprocesses, but this effect becomes more pronounced in digital computational environments. As we transition intodigital reality, the representation of objects gains independent significance from their physical counterparts. Here,randomness plays a decisive and constructive role in shaping the digital landscape and forming structures. In thiscontext, this study aims to elucidate the essence and consequences of randomness in the formation of architecturalform. Through meticulous examination of specific examples from form-finding studies, the goal is to determine theextent of randomness's influence.
The Impact of the Built Environment on Students' Social and Cultural Sustainability in Educational Campuses: Istanbul Okan University Case
Authors: DUNAMA Madaki , ÖZSOY Eda
Published: July 2024

It is common knowledge that well-functioning buildings improve our lives, communities, and culture. This paperdescribes the intricate relationship between architecture, spatial design, and the sustainable well-being ofeducational institutions. How physical spaces impact social interactions, foster cultural exchange, and contributeto long-term sustainability is explored. Social sustainability, which aims to define, organize, and develop sociallife based on humans and their relationships/interactions in social life, requires a versatile and well-understoodrelationship between the built environment and society. By combining qualitative research, user surveys, andarchitectural analysis, this paper provides actionable insights for enhancing the social and cultural sustainabilityof educational campuses.It is extremely important to evaluate the spatial quality of the built environment interms of students' sense of belonging, social ties, sense of community, trust, and physical well-being when usinguniversity campuses for students coming from different cultures, different cities/countries, and differentprofessions. This study, which will focus on Istanbul Okan University Campus as a case study, will propose anoriginal evaluation framework that relates the functional quality of the campus’s-built environment to variousspatial qualities at different spatial levels for evaluating social sustainability in campus life.
Urban Agriculture in Times of Crises: A Review
Authors: Daneshyar Ehsan
Published: July 2024

Urban agriculture has been utilized as a temporary and long-term solution concerning food security issues acrossvarious regions and cities throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Urban agriculture has enabled urban dwellers tocultivate food within available urban spaces, and by doing that, it has enhanced their access to fresh local food. Thisarticle reviews four different scenarios—global conflict, economic decline, political instability, and post-conflicttimes—and explores various ways in which urban agriculture has been adopted in each of them. In order to gatherdata, a literature review was conducted, and relevant research articles, books, and theses were reviewed. In summary,this research demonstrates that during times of crises, such as global conflicts, economic decline, political instability,and post-conflict times, urban agriculture empowered urban dwellers to cultivate food. By doing so, it positivelycontributed to urban food resilience and sustainable urban development by enhancing urban dwellers’s access toaffordable local food.
Preserving Cultural Identity in Historic Cities: Exploring the Intersection of Tradition and Development in Varanasi, India
Authors: Singh Adhiraj , Kollarath Reshmi Manikoth
Published: July 2024

Historic cities are invaluable collections of cultural heritage, embodying centuries of history, tradition, and identity.Varanasi, known as India's oldest city, has a rich history and architectural style that combines Hindu, Islamic, and Mughalinfluences. Its core consists of ancient temples, ghats, and traditional houses. However, the quick speed of expansion andurbanization has raised worries about preservation of its cultural identity, posing a delicate balance between historicityand demands of modernization and expansion. This paper looks at the complex interplay of cultural identity, tradition, andchange in the architectural environment of historic cities, with a particular emphasis on Varanasi. The study investigatesthe impact of urban development on the city’s cultural fabric. The paper will investigate both historical and contemporaryarchitectural practices, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities that exist at this intersection. The paperhighlights the necessity of creating a balance between cultural identity and urban development.
Assessing the Impacts of land Use Change on Carbon Sequestration: A Comprehensive Analysis for Kochi City, India
Authors: Mathew Thomas , Gnanasekaran Shanmuga Priya
Published: July 2024

Land use typologies play a pivotal role in determining the carbon sequestration capacity of urban ecosystems. Ashuman activities continue to reshape landscapes, understanding the impact of different land uses on carbon storageis crucial for developing effective climate change mitigation strategies for cities. This paper aims to analyse therelationship between land use typologies and carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestered in the selected city i.e., Kochiis quantified using the InVEST Carbon Storage and Sequestration model (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Servicesand Tradeoffs), coupled with remote sensing. The model uses input data on carbon pools including above-ground,below-ground, soil biomass, and dead carbon matter. The change in carbon sequestration with change in land usebetween 2003 and 2023 is calculated. The study reveals that there has been a reduction in wetland areas by 59 %which leads to 63% less sequestration of carbon highlighting the implication of land use on carbon sequestration.
Investigation of the Effects of Disasters on the Development of Urban Form
Authors: ÖZALP Mehmet Fatih , ARSLAN Hakan , ÖZKARACA ÖZALP Nuray
Published: July 2024

Cities are in a dynamic structure that is in a constant process of change and transformation. In the process of changeand transformation, while cities grow by developing in various ways, their morphological structures also change. Inthis process, various natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, and flood, etc.) affect the changes in the cities and shapethe morphology of the cities to a great extent. Especially natural disasters that occur in urban centers can causesudden changes in the development of urban forms. This study, it is aimed to examine the spatial developments ofdisaster cities and the effects of morphological changes at the macro form level on the physical form of cities. Thoseaffected by earthquakes, one of the most experienced natural disasters in Turkey, and urban settlements whosecenters are desired to be changed; Erzincan, Sakarya-Adapazarı, Ağrı-Doğubeyazıt, Denizli, and Düzce provinces werechosen as typical case examples. Within the scope of the study; urban morphology was considered as a methodaiming to analyze the changes that a city or part of the city had undergone formally, and the urban developmentpatterns of the sample cities were examined by choosing the intervention scale city form in the city morphology.
Transforming Bakırköy Powder Magazine, an Industrial Heritage, through Repurposing into a Public Space
Authors: Görçin Merve , Göçer Alev Erarslan
Published: July 2024

Heritage structures from the Ottoman period, such as the Bakırköy Powder Magazine in the Bakırköy district ofIstanbul, served their original purposes when constructed, but technological advancements and societal changeshave rendered them obsolete. In order to ensure the sustainable use of these structures and the transfer ofcultural heritage to future generations, the concept of "Industrial Archaeology," originating in 1950s England, hasgained significance. Advocated by art historian Alois Riegl, this approach proposes adapting industrial heritagestructures to meet the needs of modern society while preserving their historical and cultural values. The case ofBakırköy Powder Magazine serves as a significant example of how such interventions can contribute to thecultural richness of a society. The focus of the research is to examine the historical structure, Baruthane, whichsupplied gunpowder for the Ottoman State, both before and after its repurposing. The building, now functioningas a library, observation terrace, café, and social spaces, is thoroughly evaluated in terms of its historical context,pre-intervention identity, and subsequent architectural features. In this context, the repurposing of industrialheritage structures not only preserves history but also contributes to society by adapting them in a mannercompatible with the needs of modern society.
Web E-Commerce Kamar Indekost dengan PERN Stack
Authors: Suheri Agus , Sulaeman Helmi , Widaningsih Sri
Published: July 2024

Teknologi informasi dan internet berperan penting dalam kehidupan manusia, diantaranya aplikasi berbasis web e-commerce yang populer di berbagai negara. Di Indonesia, rumah kost menjadi kebutuhan utama, dengan harga terjangkau, namun pencarian dan reservasi rumah kost masih menimbulkan masalah. Pemilik kost sering menggunakan cara konvensional seperti mencetak brosur atau pamflet untuk beriklan, menyulitkan calon penyewa luar daerah. Variasi harga sewa dan perbedaan harga untuk periode waktu tertentu juga menjadi kendala pemilik kost. Mengatasi masalah ini dirancang e-commerce penyewaan kamar indekos berbasis web berteknologi PERN-Stack. Aplikasi memberikan kemudahan pengguna dalam mencari dan memesan rumah kost. Pemilik kost mendapatkan mempromosikan rumah kost mereka. Dan masyarakat dengan mudah mencari dan memesan rumah kost sesuai kebutuhan. Penelitian ini menciptakan aplikasi yang bermanfaat dan efisien dalam membantu masyarakat mencari tempat tinggal sementara yang nyaman.
Pengembangan Media Pembelajaran Metode Master pada Kauny Quranic School Ar-Rahman
Authors: Isral Isral , Ferawati Ferawati , Dewi Julita Mulya
Published: July 2024

Metode master adalah metode menghafal Al-Qur’an semudah tersenyum dengan mengimajinasikan ilustrasi visual pada setiap ayat yang dibacakan diiringi dengan gestur tubuh. Banyak siswa/i mengabaikan pembelajaran metode master tersebut, sehingga siswa/i kurang konsisten dalam berlatih atau mengulang-ngulang metode master dan mengabaikan memaknai arti dari ayat yang dihafal. Hal tersebut mengakibatkan pembelajaran metode master yang dilakukan tidak dapat maksimal. Apabila pembelajaran metode master tidak dapat maksimal, maka yang terjadi adalah siswa kurang memahami pelajaran tersebut. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan kontribusi solusi berupa media pembelajaran yang bisa dimanfaatkan pengguna sebagai alat bantu pembelajaran untuk berlatih di mana saja terutama di rumah. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode ADDIE (Analysis -Design - Development - Implementation - Evaluation). Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah sebuah media pembelajaran yang berisikan 20 surat dalam juz amma yang terdapat video materi metode master.
Texto para Discussão 3009
Authors: Silva Napoleão Luiz Costa da , Saccaro Alice , Faciroli Jéssica
Published: July 2024

O Programa Crescer é um subprograma no âmbito do Programa Nacional de Microcrédito Produtivo Orientado (PNMPO), considerado uma política de microcrédito destinada aos microempreendedores formais e informais de baixa renda. Nesse sentido, fornece crédito sem garantias, com taxas de juros subsidiados pelo governo federal, e vigência de 2011 a 2014. Sob a agenda de concessão de crédito de pequenos valores para empreendedores desassistidos e para pequenas unidades produtivas, este estudo propõe verificar o efeito e a viabilidade econômica do Programa Crescer nas rendas das pessoas beneficiárias, utilizando informações do Cadastro Único para Programas Sociais do Governo Federal (Cadastro Único) dos períodos de 2010 a 2019. Para alcançar os objetivos, são utilizados os métodos de propensity score matching com diferenças (diferenças e análise do custo-benefício). Os resultados demonstraram que, após a vigência do Programa Crescer, o efeito na renda dos indivíduos variou de 6,37% em 2015 a 5,42% em 2019, em relação ao retorno econômico, para o subconjunto de indivíduos pertencentes ao Cadastro Único, o que foi positivo e elevado. Conclui-se que os benefícios de elevação da renda dos indivíduos foram superiores aos custos em termos de subsídios de juros nos empréstimos.
Identity, diversity, and rhizomatic complexity
Authors: Olivier Bert
Published: July 2024

This paper addresses the vexing question of identity in relation to diversity and ‘rhizomatic complexity’ – a phrase that signals its Deleuzo-Guattarian orientation. It is argued that, far from being something that can be comprehended in unitary substantialist fashion (that is, as something unified and forever resistant to change), ‘identity’ can instead be articulated as a function of the constantly shifting relations and interrelations between and among the ‘processes’ comprising the ‘subject’. According to this rhizomatic conception, the subject – if indeed it can be called that – comprises an assemblage-in-becoming, whose contours change as it enters into open-ended processual relations of desiring-production. This simply means that Deleuze and Guattari, complexifying Lacan’s already complex subject (stretched between the ‘real’, the imaginary and the symbolic) even further, have theorised a non-substantialist version of it, which accommodates change as well as intermittent, albeit fleeting, stability. This allows for a subject that may be described as identity-in-flux, which means that identity is not cast in stone, but instead that the rhizomatic, open-ended structure of the assemblage subject accommodates reconfigurations of identity, with the caveat that such reconfigurations cannot instantiate a leap over the abyss of nothingness to a point that is rhizomatically untethered to the hitherto temporally evolved assemblage-subject. This conceptualisation of the subject has far-reaching implications for, among other things, cultural and social reorientation on the part of rhizomatic interrelationality of individual subjects. Moreover, it exposes social and cultural ‘diversity’ as being prey to a certain mode of postmodernism, which exacerbates flux and difference to the point where – unlike the poststructuralist models of Lacan and Deleuze/Guattari – it cannot account for difference while retaining a sense of (admittedly changeable) social ‘identity’ – something that undermines the political function of agency, as demonstrated in the conclusion of the paper.
Adam Smith, a 300 años. Introducción
Authors: Montes Leonidas , Mascareño Aldo , Gardella Nicole
Published: July 2024

Adam Smith es un pensador clásico, cuya actualidad crece con el paso del tiempo. Como tal, es fuente de inspiración no solo para la reconstrucción de la historia de las ideas, sino también para pensar en los problemas de nuestro presente y el futuro de las instituciones modernas que sostienen su plan liberal de igualdad, libertad y justicia. Esos son justamente los principios que iluminaron la obra y vida de Adam Smith y que hoy, a 300 años de su nacimiento, enfrentan nuevas amenazas provenientes del egoísmo monopólico, de la imprudencia institucionalizada y de múltiples agentes de sistema quienes, desde las alturas, creen saber lo que es mejor para todos los ciudadanos.
Pensar como Adam Smith: carácter, institucionalismo psicológico y consecuencias no intencionales
Authors: Muller Jerry Z.
Published: July 2024

Adam Smith prestó una profunda atención a la brecha entre intenciones y consecuencias. Ello le permitió desplegar un modo de institucionalismo psicológico, una dirección institucional de las pasiones, que promovía el desarrollo de incentivos para generar beneficios sociales. El autocontrol (self-command) es la virtud fundamental para lograrlo, pues modula aspectos como el interés propio o el deseo de aprobación. Sin embargo, las consecuencias no intencionales de la acción eran inevitables. La ciencia legislativa smithiana estaba dedicada a mejorar la capacidad del legislador para anticipar tales consecuencias, a veces positivas a veces negativas. Las primeras se expresan con claridad en la metáfora de la mano invisible; varias de las negativas son formuladas en RN y se relacionan con la acción gubernamental. El artículo concluye que ciertos problemas son más benignos que otros, y para Smith los que nos presenta la sociedad comercial son preferibles a cualquier otra alternativa.
Analysis of factors affecting inflation in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mai Thu Hien , Le Thuy Linh
Published: July 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, countries have faced various economic repercussions, including high inflation rates. By employing the autoregressive distributed lag approach and autoregressive distributed lag bounds test, this study aims to estimate the impact of macroeconomic factors and the factors related to COVID-19 on inflation in Vietnam from 2020 to 2022. The results show that both in the short and long term, factors such as FDI, short-term interbank interest rates, oil price index, real exchange rate, and import prices increase the inflation rate. By contrast, freight and carriage reduce inflation. Although the industrial production index has a negative impact in the short run, this impact is insignificant in the long term. The number of deaths, on the other hand, only has a positive impact on inflation in the long run. The findings of this study provide a foundation for future research seeking to expand the scope of factors influencing inflation. Additionally, this paper proposes recommendations to control inflation in Vietnam in the context of resuming economic activities after the pandemic.
Tracking Control for $(x,u)$-Flat Systems by Quasi-Static Feedback of Classical States
Authors: Gstöttner Conrad ,   Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria, Kolar Bernd , Schöberl Markus ,   Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria,   Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria
Published: July 2024

It is well known that for flat systems the tracking control problem can be solved by utilizing a linearizing quasi-static feedback of generalized states. If measurements (or estimates) of a so-called generalized Brunovský state are available, a linear, decoupled and asymptotically stable tracking error dynamics can be achieved. However, from a practical point of view, it is often desirable to achieve the same tracking error dynamics by feedback of a classical state instead of a generalized one. This is due to the fact that the components of a classical state typically correspond to measurable physical quantities, whereas a generalized Brunovský state often contains higher order time derivatives of the (fictitious) flat output which are not directly accessible by measurements. In this paper, a systematic solution for the tracking control problem based on quasi-static feedback and measurements of classical states only is derived for the subclass of $(x,u)$-flat systems.
An Analysis of Blue Straggler Stars in Open Clusters
Authors: Harvey Andrew , Sahu Yuvraj , Flores Elijah
Published: July 2024

The presence of blue straggler stars (BSSs) in open clusters (OCs) presents an opportunity to study star formation and cluster dynamics. Our paper analyzes several properties of BSSs across 161 OCs of different ages, metallicities, and sizes. Specifically, we examine the impact of cluster age and metallicity on the number of BSSs as well as the spatial distribution of BSSs within each cluster. We report a positive correlation between the age of the cluster and the number of BSSs present. This investigation into BSSs provides valuable insights into their formation as well as the dynamics and interactions within open clusters.
Preliminary checklist of spiders (Araneae) from Coiba National Park, Panama
Authors: Murcia-Moreno Daniel , Gálvez Dumas
Published: July 2024

Coiba National Park is an offshore region on the Pacific side of Panama, which hosts several endemic species of animals and plants. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Despite the title awarded to the Park, knowledge about basic elements of its biodiversity are still lacking, which are of vital relevance for management and conservation policies. For instance, until now, no study had ever monitored the araneofauna diversity of the Park.

Here, we provide the first checklist of spider species in Coiba National Park, including the main island and several surrounding islands. We sampled during several field trips carried out from August 2021 to August 2023. We identified at least 152 species (98 genera and 30 families) and we report three new spiders species for Panama, namely Ctenus nigrolineatus Berland (1913), Chapoda gitae Zhang & Maddison (2012) and Sarinda nigra Peckham & Peckham (1892). We discuss the implications of our results and recommend future lines of work that include DNA barcoding, monitoring of population and community dynamics, plus linkage of climatic data from the newly-installed meteorological station on the Island.
Soils after forestry management activities in spruce plantations
Authors: Kirova Lora
Published: July 2024

The carbon accumulation in forest ecosystems helps to mitigate climate changes, therefore the interest in finding strategies for adapted forest management is a major goal of our time. The artificial plantations of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst) are part of the Bulgarian project to restore the regulatory functions of forest ecosystems. Due to their low resistance, intensive processes of deposition and degradation take place in them, which emphasizes the need to understand the condition of soils and the amount of accumulated carbon in them. This paper reports results from a study on the thinning in even-aged Norway spruce plantations (Picea abies Karst) and its effect on some soil properties. The study includes two thinned plots and an untinned control: 1) Control – an unmanaged spruce plantation, without any activities in it through the last 20 years; 2) Thinned – managed with regular felling over the years, the last of which was carried out 10 years ago with 25% intensity; and 3) Ice storm – plantation damaged from an ice storm in 2007 (when it was 33 years old), felling followed by removal of all affected trees – over 95%, and afforestation with spruce saplings. The soil was examined by layers from 10 cm to 30 cm depth. The main soil characteristics connected with the carbon stocks in soil are analyzed - bulk density, skel-eton, and carbon content. The results of the experiment show that the performed forestry activities were conducted with abidance of the requirements for habitat protection and the ecosystem’s functionality in the studied sites. No significant changes in coarse fraction content and bulk density of soils were found. There is no statistical difference between the plots in the studied depths, but there is a trend of decrease in the organic carbon content in the managed sites. The differences in the soil carbon stocks are significant for the first two soil layers between the control and the managed trough thinning plot. 
Sustainable Energy Supply for Decarboization of Direct Reduced Steel Manufacturing With Green Hydrogen
Authors: Prasad Dharmbir , Singh Rudra Pratap , Rizwan Ariba , Mondal Sayan , Roy Ranadip , Khan Irfan
Published: July 2024

Steel manufacturing is an important industry that requires modern technology to efficiently reduce carbon emissions and environmental effects while also supporting environmental sustainability in developing nations. Green steel production necessitates a transformative approach to industrial revolution and decarbonization routes rather than only small tweaks. Hydrogen enables cost-effective and environmentally friendly high-temperature heat decarbonization for the production of steel. In this study, the CO2 and other pollutants emissions were shrunk to 24.4 kg/year with adoption of renewable energy. In light of site potential and constraints, it is crucial to comprehend national aims of net zero emissions and intents for reforming the current industry. Qualitypower supply and electricity demand have long been a challenge for India's steel sector. In this study, the authors suggested a hybrid renewable energy-based decarbonization approach for the steel sector. Utilizing hydrogen in the production of steel lowers costs, boosts efficiency, and eliminates harmful emissions, aligning with sustainability and economic goals by substituting carbon-based fuels with a clean-burning energy source. By replacing carbon-based fuels with hydrogen, which burns cleanly and only produces water vapor, steel production's negative environmental impact is reduced along with its effectiveness.
Drawing Lessons From Participatory Budgeting in Brazil for South African Municipal Participatory Budgeting
Authors: Tshishonga Ndwakhulu Stephen
Published: July 2024

This chapter interrogates the participatory budgeting model experimented with in Porto Alegre to draw lessons for South African municipalities. Participatory budgeting is a process in which citizens, through their civic associations, volunteer to participate regularly in decision-making about the public budget. The chapter argues that participatory budgeting allows ordinary people to activate and broaden their civic action and further demonstrates the importance of invited spaces, particularly in enabling community practices. The primary lesson for South African municipalities is the experimentation of participatory budgeting that is institutionally based on active participation through regular meetings and deliberation of issues. For example, in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, an increase in popular participation and investment in sectors such as housing, education, sanitation, and health was imperative. Case studies have been used as the research method instruments for this chapter.
An Alternative Approach to Parliamentary Oversight of Sovereign Guarantees in South Africa
Authors: Julies Anthony Frank
Published: July 2024

The research paper constructs and compares two structural risk models. A South African sovereign risk model and an ESKOM credit risk model. The interaction between these models explains the statistically significant causal relationship between corporate governance practices at the level of a public entity and government finance conditions between 2004 and 2019. It shows that a more effective approach to parliamentary oversight of government guarantees in South Africa can deliver better sovereign credit rating outcomes in post-COVID-19 South Africa. It will require proactive innovative measures in the application of government guarantees issued to SOEs aimed at improving institutional operational performance within a government-wide risk management framework. The paper concludes that economic transformation, with restitutive intent, is advanced with the adoption of a dynamic and evidenced-informed approach in addressing the complex interplay of prevailing socio-economic, government finance, and political environmental conditions in South Africa.
A series of fungating female breast cancers presented during the pandemic
Authors: Nettipola E. M. N. K. , Amarasiri M. C. D. C. , Samarathunga A. A. S. , Rajaguru H. M. S. P. , Jayasundara J. A. S. B.
Published: July 2024

No abstract available
Caterpillar hump of right hepatic artery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Bandara A. M. N. P. , Subasinghe D. , Sivaganesh S.
Published: July 2024

No abstract available
Diagnostic utility of ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology in the pre-operative assessment of suspicious thyroid nodules
Authors: Seneviratne B. S. , Kulatunga K. M. H. H. , Fernando S. S. N. , Pathirana A. A. , Gamage B. D. , Epa A. , Sampath M. K. A. , Sosai C.
Published: July 2024

Introduction and Background: The incidence of thyroid cancer in Sri Lanka has risen over the last two decades. According to current national cancer statistics, it has become the second commonest cancer in females. Ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) are pre-operative investigations that are useful to assess the nature of thyroid nodules. Though, majority of thyroid nodules are benign, it is vital to identify the suspicious nodules pre-operatively, to decide the most appropriate treatment option.Aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic utility of ultrasonography and FNAC in the pre-operative assessment of suspicious thyroid nodules in the local setting.Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Colombo South Teaching hospital and Department of Pathology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura enrolling 135 patients with ultrasonically suspicious thyroid nodules. Ultrasound guided FNAC samples were collected from each patient for cytological assessment. TIRADS (Thyroid Imaging Reporting And Data System) classification was used for radiological assessment and the Bethesda system for cytological interpretation. Data was analyzed using the SPSS 23 software.Results: The age of enrolled patients ranged from 15-76 years with a mean age of 49.8. Majority of the patients were females (81%) while 19% were males. Eleven FNAC specimens were excluded from the study due to insufficient cellularity. Classification of the cases according to ultrasound findings showed that the majority of the patients 51.61% (n=64) belonged to TI-RADS 3 (mildly suspicious). Thirty nine (31.45%) patients had moderately suspicious nodules (TIRADS 4) and 21 cases (16.93%) were highly suspicious.Conclusion: TI-RADS 5 category had the highest sensitivity and 100% concordance between the cytology and ultrasonography results.
Enhanced recovery after surgery programs: Applying knowledge from the Covid-19 era to enhance rural surgery
Authors: Sylivris A. , Liu Z. F. , Seneviratne S. , Croagh D. , Jayasuriya N.
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a perioperative protocol proven to improve post-operative outcomes and reduce hospital length-of-stay. It has been implemented in both metropolitan and rural healthcare sites, with variable successful rates.Objective: In this review, we explore the evolution of the ERAS protocol and the unique challenges to its implementation within rural and regional settings: with a particular focus on the seismic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to identify current pitfalls in ERAS compliance, and lessons that can be learned and applied to rural clinical practice.Design: We conducted a systemized search of published literature regarding the impact of COVID-19 on ERAS pathways around the world in rural and metropolitan healthcare centres.Findings: Six observational studies and seven commentaries were included in this review.Discussion: The Covid 19 pandemic influenced elements of ERAS program both positively and negatively on the health care globally. There was an exponential uptake of technology and remote platforms during pandemic as a way to reduce transmission of COVID-19.Conclusion: The Covid-19 pandemic introduced an innovative approach to healthcare delivery. Novel approaches with inbuilt technological solutions should be applied to ERAS pathways, improving their versatility and expanding their reach to a wider patient community.
Comprehensive assessment of male lower urinary tract symptoms at a tertiary care urology clinic: A prospective study
Authors: Balagobi B. , Thangarajah B. R. , Sarma S. T. , Coonghe P. A. D. , Sripandurangana R. , Sivashankar M. , Gobishangar S. , Jothini T. , Sangeetha U. , Shathana P.
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) significantly impact men's quality of life, often due to benign prostatic occlusion. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the severity of LUTS associated with demographic and clinical factors. There is potential for tailored care and public health strategies to alleviate the burden  of male LUTS (mLUTS).Methods: A one-year prospective cross-sectional study conducted at a urological clinic in a tertiary care centre, gathered data from male patients using self-reported questionnaires and investigator interviews on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS). Statistical analysis, employing SPSS, utilized descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test, with significance set at P < 0.05.Results: The total of 181 male patients participated in this study with mean age 66.65 years. The majority (80.7%) were over 60 , showing a mean IPSS score of 21.06 ± 7.8. BMI analysis revealed 58.6% normal and 41.4% overweight/obese, with distinct IPSS scores. Occupation significantly linked to LUTS severity (p=0.002), distinguishing employed and retired individuals. diabetes (p=0.047) and alcohol consumption (p=0.034) were significantly associated with LUTS severity. 44.2% had equally dominant voiding and storage symptoms, and 52.5% underwent surgical interventions, TURP being the most common (30.9%). Moderate and severe LUTS were associated with poor Quality of Life (p=0.0001)Conclusions: mLUTS associated with rising age (more mLUTS in >60 years), obesity/ over weight, Diabetes and Alcohol consumption. Majority had moderated LUTS (IPSS) Study on individuals over 60 found occupation, diabetes, and alcohol consumption linked to severe Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). Coexistence of voiding and storage symptoms underscored complexity. High rates of medical interventions, notably Transurethral Resection of the Prostate, emphasized clinical impact and management challenges in this demographic.
A cadaveric study on superior hypogastric plexuses
Authors: Abeysuriya V. , Akalanka H. G. L. , Kumarage S.
Published: July 2024

Introduction: The superior hypogastric plexus (SHP) is found around the level of aortic bifurcation. It is important in surgical procedures in the pelvis.Methods: Ten (5; M & 5; F) fresh intact adult human cadavers were dissected. Following the initial dissection, all of them were further sectioned sagittal in the midline and separated in to half pelvises, and assessed. The study was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of medicine Ragama, Sri Lanka from 2022 to 2024. The ethical clearance was obtained.Results: In all specimens, left connecting fibers from the inferior mesenteric plexuses (IMA) crossed the left common iliac artery and joining to the superior hypogastric plexuses. In 80%, right connecting nerve fibers from the inferior mesenteric plexuses crossed the right common iliac artery and joined the superior hypogastric plexus (SHP). Eighty percent of the specimens had, well-defined nerve strands, whereas 20% contained a delicate and irregular meshwork. In all of the specimens, the median root, or a nerve root from abdominal aortic plexus from the IMA were present. In 80% specimens, the SHP was located between the aortic bifurcation and the sacral promontory. In 20%, it extended across the pelvic brim and ended on the body of the S1 vertebra.Conclusion: The majority of the SHP were located below the aortic bifurcation and had well-defined nerve strands, rest traversed the pelvic brim and terminated on the body of the S1 vertebra. Further larger sample studies are recommended.
MDMA Therapy for PTSD: Inching Closer to—or Farther From—Approval?
Authors: Davitian Leigh
Published: July 2024

In recent years, scientists have initiated a renaissance in psychedelic research following decades of prohibition. Compounds such as ketamine, LSD, and psilocybin 'once primarily associated with
recreational use' are now being investigated for their therapeutic potential, with promising results. An estimated 40-60% of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not respond to selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which are the first-line medications for this condition. However, one standout among these psychedelics is methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA), which has demonstrated
exceptional efficacy in treating PTSD and medication-resistant depression. Growing results in research were so positive that, in 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated MDMA-assisted
psychotherapy as a breakthrough therapy. Though MDMA is not yet officially legal or approved for clinical use, Phase 3 trials are underway, and expanded access status was granted in 2020 in the United
States and Israel. Preliminary clinical studies are extremely promising, and the FDA could approve MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD as early as 2024, offering a potential treatment for this crippling
mental health condition that affects almost 3.5% of US adults.
Universal bounds on the entropy of toroidal attractors
Authors: Montealegre-Mac\'ıas Pedro , Sánchez-Gabites Jaime J.
Published: July 2024

A toroidal set is a compactum

K \subseteq \mathbb{R}^{3}

which has a neighbourhood basis of solid tori. We study the topological entropy of toroidal attractors

K

, bounding it from below in terms of purely topological properties of

K

. In particular, we show that for a toroidal set

K

, either any smooth attracting dynamics on

K

has an entropy at least

\log 2

, or (up to continuation)

K

admits smooth attracting dynamics which are stationary (hence with a zero entropy).
Refusals in Japanese and Spanish: Pragmatic Transfer in L2
Authors: Pedrosa García Ignacio
Published: July 2024

The article presents a heuristic approach to studying the strategies of refusal employed by advanced Japanese learners of Spanish as a foreign language when compared with those of native speakers of Spanish and of Japanese. It examines responses of refusal to requests, invitations, offers, and suggestions while observing the linguistic phenomena of pragmatic transfer used by the speakers. We administered a discourse completion to elicit refusal strategies from participants. The data include 1101 strategies employed in 432 responses formulated by 54 participants comprising advanced Japanese learners of Spanish, native speakers of Spanish, and native speakers of Japanese We found that linguistic ability among Japanese learners correlated positively with pragmatic transfer. The findings demonstrate how cultural priming and the degree of freedom with which learners prompt their responses are interrelated within their mental pragmatic interface in given situations.
Dimensões das fibras de Eucalyptus grandis em diferentes estratos e posição radial
Authors: Trevisan Rômulo , Candaten Luana , Costa Henrique Weber Dalla , Bandera Eduarda , Mangini Tauana de Souza , Zanchetta Laura da Silva , Eloy Elder
Published: July 2024

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar as dimensões das fibras de Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden em diferentes estratos e posição radial. A dissociação do tecido lenhoso foi realizada pelo método de peróxido de hidrogênio e ácido acético. Houve acréscimo no sentido medula-casca para todos os parâmetros anatômicos estudados, sendo que as árvores do extrato dominante apresentaram médias maiores e as centrais, valores inferiores. As dimensões dos caracteres anatômicos sentido medula-casca apresentaram variações, mas as árvores dos diferentes estratos não apresentaram distinções nítidas dos parâmetros de dimensões das fibras avaliados.
Система принципов судебного примирения в арбитражном процессе
Authors: Гиззятов Т.Р.
Published: July 2024

ДАННАЯ СТАТЬЯ ПРЕДСТАВЛЯЕТ СОБОЙ ПОПЫТКУ АНАЛИЗА СОВРЕМЕННОГО СОСТОЯНИЯ СИСТЕМЫ ПРИНЦИПОВ СУДЕБНОГО ПРИМИРЕНИЯ В АРБИТРАЖНОМ ПРОЦЕССЕ. АВТОРОМ ОТМЕЧАЕТСЯ, ЧТО СУДЕБНОЕ ПРИМИРЕНИЕ ОСНОВАНО НА ОБЩЕАРБИТРАЖНЫХ ПРИНЦИПАХ СУДОПРОИЗВОДСТВА; ОБЩИХ ПРИНЦИПАХ СУДЕБНОГО ПРИМИРЕНИЯ; СПЕЦИАЛЬНЫХ ПРИНЦИПАХ, ПРЕДУСМОТРЕННЫХ ДЛЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ СУДЕБНОГО ПРИМИРИТЕЛЯ. К ЧИСЛУ ПРИНЦИПОВ СУДЕБНОГО ПРИМИРЕНИЯ МОЖНО ОТНЕСТИ ДОБРОВОЛЬНОСТЬ, СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВО, РАВНОПРАВИЕ СТОРОН И КОНФИДЕНЦИАЛЬНОСТЬ, НЕЗАВИСИМОСТЬ, БЕСПРИСТРАСТНОСТЬ СУДЕБНОГО ПРИМИРИТЕЛЯ, ЗАКОННОСТЬ И ДР. ЕСТЬ И ИНЫЕ ПРИНЦИПЫ, КОТОРЫЕ НЕОБХОДИМО ВОСПРИНИМАТЬ В КАЧЕСТВЕ РУКОВОДЯЩИХ НАЧАЛ ПРИ ПРОВЕДЕНИИ СУДЕБНОГО ПРИМИРЕНИЯ, — К ТАКОВЫМ ОТНОСЯТСЯ ВАРИАТИВНОСТЬ И УБЕЖДЕНИЕ, КОТОРЫЕ ЯВЛЯЮТСЯ СПЕЦИАЛЬНЫМИ ПРИНЦИПАМИ РАССМАТРИВАЕМОГО ВИДА ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ. АВТОР РАСКРЫВАЕТ СОДЕРЖАНИЕ ДВУХ ПОСЛЕДНИХ ПРИНЦИПОВ И ПРЕДЛАГАЕТ СОБСТВЕННОЕ ВИДЕНИЕ СИСТЕМЫ ПРИНЦИПОВ ИССЛЕДУЕМОГО ИНСТИТУТА.
Функциональное правопреемство
Authors: Шереметьева Н.В.
Published: July 2024

В УСЛОВИЯХ РЕФОРМИРОВАНИЯ СИСТЕМЫ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ ОРГАНОВ В РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ ВЕСЬМА РАСПРОСТРАНЕНЫ ТАКИЕ АДМИНИСТРАТИВНЫЕ ДЕЙСТВИЯ, КАК УПРАЗДНЕНИЕ, РЕОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ, ЛИКВИДАЦИЯ ОРГАНОВ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ ВЛАСТИ. АКТУАЛЬНОСТЬ РАССМОТРЕНИЯ ПРАВОВОГО ЯВЛЕНИЯ ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОГО ПРАВОПРЕЕМСТВА ЗАКЛЮЧАЕТСЯ В ТОМ, ЧТО ВОССТАНОВЛЕНИЕ НАРУШЕННЫХ ПРАВ И СВОБОД ЧЕЛОВЕКА ЯВЛЯЕТСЯ ГЛАВНОЙ ФУНКЦИЕЙ ГОСУДАРСТВА; СУДЕБНЫЕ РЕШЕНИЯ ДОЛЖНЫ ИСПОЛНЯТЬСЯ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫМ ОРГАНОМ НЕЗАВИСИМО ОТ ТОГО, БЫЛ ЛИ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ ОРГАН УПРАЗДНЕН, РЕОРГАНИЗОВАН ИЛИ ЕГО ПОЛНОМОЧИЯ БЫЛИ ПЕРЕДАНЫ ДРУГОМУ ОРГАНУ. О СУЩЕСТВОВАНИИ ПРАВОВОГО ИНСТИТУТА ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОГО ПРАВОПРЕЕМСТВА ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ ОРГАНОВ НЕОДНОКРАТНО ГОВОРИЛИ ДОРЕВОЛЮЦИОННЫЕ ЮРИСТЫ, СОВЕТСКИЕ ПРАВОВЕДЫ И СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ТОЛКОВАТЕЛИ ПРАВА, КОТОРЫЕ БЫЛИ ЕДИНЫ В ТОМ, ЧТО РЕШЕНИЯ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫХ ОРГАНОВ ДОЛЖНЫ БЫТЬ ИСПОЛНЕНЫ, А ИСКЛЮЧЕНИЕМ ИЗ ЭТОГО ПРАВИЛА МОЖЕТ БЫТЬ ЛИШЬ ГИБЕЛЬ САМОГО ГОСУДАРСТВА. ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОЕ ПРАВОПРЕЕМСТВО В ПРАВОВОЙ ПРАКТИКЕ ВЕСЬМА ВОСТРЕБОВАННО. В ИСТОРИИ НАШЕГО ГОСУДАРСТВА СССР СТАЛ ПРАВОПРЕЕМНИКОМ РОССИЙСКОЙ ИМПЕРИИ, А РОССИЙСКАЯ ФЕДЕРАЦИЯ ДОЛЖНА ИСПОЛНЯТЬ ОБЯЗАТЕЛЬСТВА СССР. НАСТОЯЩЕЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ, КАСАЮЩЕЕСЯ АКТОВ АРБИТРАЖНОГО СУДОПРОИЗВОДСТВА, ПОЗВОЛЯЕТ ЗАКЛЮЧИТЬ, ЧТО В ЦЕЛЯХ ЕДИНООБРАЗНОГО ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ ПРАВА НА ВСЕЙ ТЕРРИТОРИИ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ, А ТАКЖЕ ВО ИЗБЕЖАНИЕ НАРУШЕНИЙ ПРАВ ГРАЖДАН И ЮРИДИЧЕСКИХ ЛИЦ ВСЛЕДСТВИЕ НЕИСПОЛНЕНИЯ РЕШЕНИЙ ОРГАНОВ ВЛАСТИ ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОЕ ПРАВОПРЕЕМСТВО ОРГАНОВ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ ВЛАСТИ ДОЛЖНО БЫТЬ ЗАКРЕПЛЕНО НА УРОВНЕ ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОГО ЗАКОНА ИЛИ РАЗЪЯСНЕНИЯ ВЕРХОВНОГО СУДА РФ. ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТЬ ГОСУДАРСТВА ДОЛЖНА ОСУЩЕСТВЛЯТЬСЯ В СООТВЕТСТВИИ СО СЛЕДУЮЩЕЙ АКСИОМОЙ: ПУБЛИЧНОЕ ПРАВООТНОШЕНИЕ НЕ ПРЕКРАЩАЕТСЯ ПРИ УПРАЗДНЕНИИ, ЛИКВИДАЦИИ ИЛИ РЕОРГАНИЗАЦИИ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОГО ОРГАНА.
The Bangladeshi film industry, ideas of national cinema and possible future directions for filmmakers: Video interview.
Authors:   , Tusar Rasheduzzaman
Published: July 2024

The thesis examines past and current perceptions of Bangladeshi filmmaking practices and Bangladeshi cinema history since 1971, through a series of video interviews undertaken in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a relatively new state, which gained independence from Pakistan in 1971 following nine months of civil war. As a result, the country’s political stability and its pre-existing film industry were destroyed and did not modernise in the same way as the industries in neighbouring countries such as India. This unique study seeks to examine possible new directions for future filmmakers in Bangladesh. That is why the research process explores Bangladeshi national cinema, history, filmmaking, and training facilities. The thesis employs a film-focused qualitative approach and is influenced by my professional background and interest. The key to this study is using a visual qualitative method in the form of interviews undertaken by video, and then edited together to produce a video. On the one hand, this video is an artefact in its own right and, on the other, also a research method integral to my thinking and analysis. The interviewees who engaged in conversations with me were chosen based on their expertise in film, media and journalism in Bangladesh. In the video, I explore the issues related to Bangladesh film history, concerns about filmmaking in Bangladesh and film education in Bangladesh since 1971. In its analysis, the thesis further draws on my interpretation of the literature review and the video and provides a multi-layered argument about past and present understandings of filmmaking practices to look to the future of filmmaking practices in Bangladesh.