bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two presentations of a weak type inequality for geometric maximal operators
Authors: Hagelstein Paul , Oniani Giorgi , Stokolos Alex
Published: January 2024

Let

Φ
:

[
0
,
∞
)

→

[
0
,
∞
)

{\Phi:[0,\infty)\rightarrow[0,\infty)}

be a Young’s function satisfying the

Δ
2

{\Delta_{2}}

-condition and let

M
ℬ

{M_{\mathcal{B}}}

be the geometric maximal operator associated to a homothecy invariant basis

ℬ

{\mathcal{B}}

acting on measurable functions on

ℝ
n

{\mathbb{R}^{n}}

. Let Q be the unit cube in

ℝ
n

{\mathbb{R}^{n}}

and let

L
Φ

⁢

(
Q
)

{L^{\Phi}(Q)}

be the Orlicz space associated to Φ with the norm given by

∥
f
∥

L
Φ

⁢

(
Q
)

:=

inf
⁡

{

c
>
0

:

∫
Q

Φ
⁢

(

|
f
|

c

)

≤
1

}

.

\|f\|_{L^{\Phi}(Q)}:=\inf\Biggl{\{}c>0:\int_{Q}\Phi\bigg{(}\frac{|f|}{c}\bigg{%
)}\leq 1\Bigg{\}}.

We show that

M
ℬ

{M_{\mathcal{B}}}

satisfies the weak type estimate

|

{

x
∈

ℝ
n

:

M
ℬ

⁢
f
⁢

(
x
)

>
α

}

|

≤

C
1

⁢

∫

ℝ
n

Φ
⁢

(

|
f
|

α

)

|\{x\in\mathbb{R}^{n}:M_{\mathcal{B}}\kern 1.422638ptf(x)>\alpha\}|\leq C_{1}%
\int_{\mathbb{R}^{n}}\Phi\bigg{(}\frac{|f|}{\alpha}\bigg{)}

for all measurable functions f on

ℝ
n

{\mathbb{R}^{n}}

and

α
>
0

{\alpha>0}

if and only if

M
ℬ

{M_{\mathcal{B}}}

satisfies the weak type estimate

|

{

x
∈
Q

:

M
ℬ

⁢
f
⁢

(
x
)

>
α

}

|

≤

C
2

⁢

∥
f
∥

L
Φ

⁢

(
Q
)

α

|\{x\in Q:M_{\mathcal{B}}\kern 1.422638ptf(x)>\alpha\}|\leq C_{2}\frac{\|f\|_{%
L^{\Phi}(Q)}}{\alpha}

for all measurable functions f supported on Q and

α
>
0

{\alpha>0}

.
As a consequence of this equivalence, we prove that if Φ satisfies the above conditions and

ℬ

{\mathcal{B}}

is a homothecy invariant basis differentiating integrals of all measurable functions f on

ℝ
n

{\mathbb{R}^{n}}

such that

∫

ℝ
n

Φ
⁢

(

|
f
|

)

<
∞

{\int_{\mathbb{R}^{n}}\Phi(|f|)<\infty}

, then the associated maximal operator

M
ℬ

{M_{\mathcal{B}}}

satisfies both of the above weak type estimates.
Some summation theorems and transformations for hypergeometric functions of Kampé de Fériet and Srivastava
Authors: Srivastava Hari M. , Gupta Bhawna , Qureshi Mohammad Idris , Baboo Mohd Shaid
Published: January 2024

Owing to the remarkable success of the hypergeometric functions
of one variable, the authors present a study of some families
of hypergeometric functions of two or more variables. These functions
include (for example) the Kampé de Fériet-type
hypergeometric functions in two variables and Srivastava’s
general hypergeometric function in three variables. The
main aim of this paper is to provide several (presumably
new) transformation and summation formulas for appropriately
specified members of each of these families of hypergeometric
functions in two and three variables. The methodology and
techniques, which are used in this paper, are based upon
the evaluation of some definite integrals involving logarithmic
functions in terms of Riemann’s zeta function, Catalan’s constant,
polylogarithm functions, and so on.
On φ-u-S-flat modules and nonnil-u-S-injective modules
Authors: Kim Hwankoo , Mahdou Najib , Oubouhou El Houssaine
Published: January 2024

This paper introduces and studies the ϕ-u-S-flat (resp., nonnil-u-S-injective) modules, which are a generalization of both ϕ-flat modules and u-S-flat modules (resp., both nonnil-injective modules and u-S-injective modules). We give the Cartan–Eilenberg–Bass theorem for nonnil-u-S-Noetherian rings. Finally, we offer some new characterizations of the ϕ-von Neumann regular ring.
Floquet theory and stability for a class of first order differential equations with delays
Authors: Domoshnitsky Alexander , Berenson Elnatan , Levi Shai , Litsyn Elena
Published: January 2024

A version of the Floquet theory for first order
delay differential equations is proposed. Formula of solutions representation is
obtained. On this basis, the stability of first order delay
differential equations is studied. An analogue of the classical integral Lyapunov–Zhukovskii
test of stability is proved. New, in comparison with all known, tests of the
exponential stability are obtained on the basis of the Floquet theory. A possibility to achieve the exponential stability is connected with oscillation of solutions.
Miss it like Messi: Extracting value from off-target shots in soccer
Authors: Baron Ethan , Sandholtz Nathan , Pleuler Devin , Chan Timothy C. Y.
Published: January 2024

Measuring soccer shooting skill is a challenging analytics problem due to the scarcity and highly contextual nature of scoring events. The introduction of more advanced data surrounding soccer shots has given rise to model-based metrics which better cope with these challenges. Specifically, metrics such as expected goals added, goals above expectation, and post-shot expected goals all use advanced data to offer an improvement over the classical conversion rate. However, all metrics developed to date assign a value of zero to off-target shots, which account for almost two-thirds of all shots, since these shots have no probability of scoring. We posit that there is non-negligible shooting skill signal contained in the trajectories of off-target shots and propose two shooting skill metrics that incorporate the signal contained in off-target shots. Specifically, we develop a player-specific generative model for shot trajectories based on a mixture of truncated bivariate Gaussian distributions. We use this generative model to compute metrics that allow us to attach non-zero value to off-target shots. We demonstrate that our proposed metrics are more stable than current state-of-the-art metrics and have increased predictive power.
A review on biogenic synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and its applications
Authors: Melese Aklilu , Wubet Walelign , Hussen Abdu , Mulate Kenaegzer , Hailekiros Afework
Published: January 2024

Nanotechnology is the most innovative field of the twenty-first century. Worldwide, intensive research is being done to commercialize nano products. Due to their unique or improved physical and chemical properties relative to bulk material, nanomaterials, especially nanoparticles have seen an enormous interest over the past few decades. As environmentally benign alternative nanoparticles are currently being produced “biologically” by means of plant or microorganism-mediated synthesis. Due to its outstanding biocompatibility, affordability, and low toxicity, and cost-effectiveness, ZnO NPs have emerged as one of the most widely used metal oxide nanoparticles in various applications. Interestingly, due to its multiple medical, health, environmental, and economic advantages, the green technique of synthesis employing plant materials has been discovered to be suitable for the production of ZnO nanoparticles. A variety of characterization methods have been used to assess the characteristics of ZnO NPs produced with green strategies, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–Vis spectroscopy and others. The value of these techniques reveals important information about the structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of ZnO NPs. In order to support future biomedical and other research, this review provides an overview of recent developments in the green synthesis of ZnO NPs with a focus on natural sources such as plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae as well as their characterizations, and various applications, including, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, photocatalytic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetics, and anti-aging applications.
Oxidative stress involvement in the molecular pathogenesis and progression of multiple sclerosis: a literature review
Authors: Sanabria-Castro Alfredo , Alape-Girón Alberto , Flores-Díaz Marietta , Echeverri-McCandless Ann , Parajeles-Vindas Alexander
Published: January 2024

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune debilitating disease of the central nervous system caused by a mosaic of interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. The pathological hallmarks of MS are chronic inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. Oxidative stress, a state of imbalance between the production of reactive species and antioxidant defense mechanisms, is considered one of the key contributors in the pathophysiology of MS. This review is a comprehensive overview of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which oxidant species contribute to the initiation and progression of MS including mitochondrial dysfunction, disruption of various signaling pathways, and autoimmune response activation. The detrimental effects of oxidative stress on neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes, as well as the role of oxidants in promoting and perpetuating inflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage, are discussed. Finally, this review also points out the therapeutic potential of various synthetic antioxidants that must be evaluated in clinical trials in patients with MS.
Core Inflation Rate for China and the ASEAN-10 Countries: Smoothed Signal for Score-Driven Local Level Plus Scale Models
Authors: Blazsek Szabolcs , Licht Adrian , Ayala Astrid , Liu Su-Ping
Published: January 2024

We use a score-driven minimum mean-squared error (MSE) signal extraction method and perform inflation smoothing for China and the ASEAN-10 countries. Our focus on China and ASEAN-10 countries is motivated by the significant historical variation in inflation rates, e.g. during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the 2007–2008 Financial Crisis, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Some advantages of the score-driven signal extraction method are that it uses dynamic mean and volatility filters, it considers stationary or non-stationary mean dynamics, it is computationally fast, it is robust to extreme observations, it uses information-theoretically optimal updating mechanisms for both mean and volatility, it uses closed-form formulas for smoothed signals, and parameters are estimated by using the maximum likelihood (ML) method for which the asymptotic properties of estimates are known. In the empirical application, we present the political and economic conditions for each country and analyze the evolution and determinants of the core inflation rate.
Fabrication, characterization, photocatalytic and biological performances of Mn/ZnO–SiO2 and ZnO–SiO2/PVA based ternary nanocomposites
Authors: Yaseen Muhammad , Khan Abbas , Bououdina Mohamed , Shah Syed Qasim , Alanazi Amal Faleh , Khattak Zafar A. K. , Hussain Wajid , Bibi Shaista , Ahmad Sajjad , Hameed Abdul , Humayun Muhammad
Published: January 2024

Different strategies can be employed to enhance and adjust the overall characteristics and potential applications of the nanomaterials. Herein, ZnO–SiO2, Mn/ZnO–SiO2 and ZnO–SiO2/PVA based nanocomposites were synthesized by sol-gel and in-situ polymerization methods by taking the Zn(CH3COO)·2H2O as ZnO, TEOS as the SiO2 and Mn(SO4)2·7H2O as the Mn precursors. The present study investigates various aspects of ZnO–SiO2, Mn/ZnO–SiO2, and ZnO–SiO2/PVA nanomaterials, including electronic transition, surface morphology, elemental composition, chemical structure elucidation, thermal stability, and phase changes. To accomplish this, several techniques were employed. All the results confirmed the formation of the synthesized composite materials. Moreover, the catalytic and photocatalytic activities of the synthesized composites were studied through the degradation of Methylene blue (MB) dye, etc. The results confirmed that the synthesized nanocomposites exhibited good catalytic and photocatalytic activities towards removal of methylene blue (MB) dye removal. Further, the catalytic/photocatalytic activity of ZnO–SiO2, Mn/ZnO–SiO2 and ZnO–SiO2/PVA nanocomposites were also compared towards the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye and it was verified that the Mn/ZnO–SiO2 nanocomposite show high photocatalytic activity among the three nanocomposites i.e., ZnO–SiO2, Mn/ZnO–SiO2 and ZnO–SiO2/PVA with removal efficiencies of 81 %, 77 % and 77 %, after 6 h, 5 h and 9 h respectively, under UV light illumination. Moreover, the photodegradation mechanism was also studied and finally, the biological activities like antioxidant and antileishmanial were also studied and compared.
Synthesis structural optical and mechanical properties of Nb3⁺ doped Zinc Borophosphate glass for radiation shielding application
Authors: Vinothkumar Panjanathan , Priyadharshini Elumalai , Praveenkumar Sukumar , Sathiyamurthy Subbarayan , Mani Kailasam Saravana , Ayyar Manikandan , Hashem Mohamed , Fouad Hassan , Ansari AbuZar
Published: January 2024

The Nb3⁺ doped Zinc Borophosphate glass (30B2O3 +35P2O5+5TiO2+10ZnO+9LiCO3+10 BaCO3+1NbO2) has been synthesized successfully using melt-quenching method. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to find the glass nature of Nb3⁺ doped Zinc Borophosphate glass. The functional group of Nb3⁺ doped Zinc Borophosphate glass was recognized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Linear optical properties of the Nb3⁺ doped Zinc Borophosphate glass were studied using UV–vis–NIR spectrum in the room temperature. Mechanical behaviour of Nb3⁺ doped Zinc Borophosphate glass was examined through Vicker’s hardness method. The mechanical properties of Nb3⁺ doped Zinc Borophosphate glass was examined with various loads. The emission transitions of Nb3⁺ doped Zinc Borophosphate glass was studied using Photoluminescence analysis. The CIE diagram of the Photoluminescence was examined. Gamma ray shielding parameters such half value layer, mean free path and mass attenuation coefficient of Nb3⁺ doped Zinc Borophosphate glass were studied using Phy-X software.
The Effects of Psyching-Up on Maximal Force Production: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cusimano Kurtis , Freeman Paul , Pawaar Josh , Moran Jason
Published: January 2024

A comprehensive examination of psyching-up strategies before maximal force production is imperative to examine the efficacy of psyching-up, identify beneficial strategies for practitioners, and direct future investigations. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the efficacy of psyching-up strategies on maximal force production. The systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search was conducted in SPORTDiscus, PsychINFO, PsychARTICLES, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Studies were included if they used an experimental design, sampled adults, the independent variable included a psyching-up strategy that matched the working definition, and measured maximal force production measure. Twenty-seven independent studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Collectively, 65% of the trials found that psyching-up facilitates maximal force production. Free-choice psyching-up, motivational self-talk, PETTLEP imagery, and prescribed preparatory arousal consistently enhanced performance. There was also evidence that disparity in the results may be because of the competitive experience of the participants and the type of control condition. The findings suggest that free-choice psyching-up, motivational self-talk, PETTLEP imagery, and prescribed preparatory arousal may enhance maximal force production. Future research should recruit experienced athletes to identify and test the efficacy of strategies used by applied practitioners.
Biochar with or without pig manure affects chemical properties of soil and maize yield
Authors: Akande Tolulope Yetunde , Xiaoqing Li , Adegoke Toluwase Oreoluwa , Taipeng Sun , Wang Hongyan
Published: January 2024

In many parts of the globe, agricultural soil degradation and nutrient loss both contribute to the decline of soil quality. The utilization of various organic sources has provided meaningful trends in sustainable agriculture. The research was carried out to examine how biochar (B) and pig manure (PM) affected soil chemical properties as well as the growth and yield of maize for two years. A randomized complete block design was adopted with three replications. The soil was amended with biochar and pig manure at two rates (15 and 30 t ha-1): biochar (B15 and B30), pig manure (PM15 and PM30), biochar with pig manure (BPM15 and BPM30), respectively, and control (CK). The incorporation of biochar and pig manure together at 15 and 30 t ha-1 improved soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (AP) compared to control. Individual use of pig manure at 15 and 30 t ha-1 significantly decreased compared to its combination in SOC, TN and AP. The combined use of biochar and pig manure at 15 t ha-1 significantly increased compared to the lone addition of biochar in SOC, TN and AP. The application of organic amendments significantly increased plant height, dry matter yield, and grain yield in both years. The relationship pattern was measured between soil properties and agronomic characteristics. The use of biochar and pig manure separately or together offers strong potential to improve soil fertility and increase crop productivity in soils.
Effect of glyphosate contamination on surface charge change and nutrients of degraded Inceptisols ameliorated with sub-bituminous coal
Authors: Herviyanti Herviyanti , Maulana Amsar , Harianti Mimien , Lita Arestha Leo , Prasetyo Teguh Budi , Juwita Pitri , Kurnianto Reza Tri , Yasin Syafrimen
Published: January 2024

The widespread use of glyphosate to eradicate weeds in agricultural areas has the potential for contamination and residues in the soil that must be carefully considered. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of glyphosate contamination on the chemical properties of an Inceptisol ameliorated with sub-bituminous coal. This study used a completely randomized design with three treatments and three replications, namely A = control (soil with no glyphosate and sub-bituminous coal), B = 5 kg soil + 100 mg glyphosate L-1, and C = 5 kg soil + 40 t sub-bituminous coal ha-1 + 100 mg glyphosate L-1. The results showed that glyphosate contamination significantly affected pH, electrical conductivity (EC), mineral and organic matter (OM) composition, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon (OC), total N, and available P of an Inceptisol ameliorated with sub-bituminous coal. The application of 40 t sub-bituminous coal ha-1 as an alternative ameliorant improved pH H2O by 0.30, EC by 0.05 dS m-1, OM by 1.03%, CEC by 18.08 cmol(+) kg-1,  OC by 1.16%,  total N by 0.20% and available P by 5.47 ppm of the soil compared to the control. The residual glyphosate concentration in the soil ameliorated with sub-bituminous coal was 0.04 mg kg-1 compared to the initial glyphosate concentration of 100 mg L-1. The correlation between glyphosate residue had no significant relationship with the chemical properties of an Inceptisol ameliorated with sub-bituminous coal.
Mapping landslide susceptibility in the Debretabor-Alember road sector, Northwestern Ethiopia through geospatial tools and statistical approaches
Authors: Tesfaye Betelhem , Jothimani Muralitharan , Dawit Zerihun
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to locate areas along the Debretabor-Alember route segment in northern Ethiopia that are susceptible to landslides. Geospatial tools, specifically frequency ratios (FR) and information values (IV), were used to develop landslide susceptibility maps (LSMs). A comprehensive on-site investigation and analysis of Google Earth imagery were conducted, resulting in the detection and analysis of 89 landslides, including current and historical events. The dataset used for validation comprised 78% of the previously documented landslides, whereas the remaining 22% was used for training. Several factors were considered in this study to determine landslide susceptibility, including "slope, aspect, curvature, elevation, lithology, distance from streams, land use and cover, precipitation, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)", and the FR and IV models. Based on the results obtained using the FR approach, specific areas exhibited different levels of susceptibility, ranging from very low to moderately high, medium, high, and very high. These areas covered a total of 18.4 km2 (19.9%), 18.9 km2 (20.5%), 19.7 km2 (20.3%), 17.7 km2 (20%), and 17.7 km2 (19%), respectively. The LSMs generated by the IV model indicated multiple susceptibility classes in the study area, varying from very low to very high. These maps revealed that 18.4 km2 (19.8%), 18.8 km2 (20%), 18.9 km2 (19.5%), 18.8 km2 (20.5%), and 18.3 km2 (19.8%) of the area fell into these susceptibility classes. The landslide density indicator method was employed to validate the LSMs. The FR and IV models demonstrated that a significant proportion of confirmed past and current landslide records (72.16% and 73.86%, respectively) occurred in regions with a high or very high susceptibility to landslides. Overall, the IV model, which utilized latent variable structural modeling (LSM) in the independent variable model, outperformed the fixed effects regression model (FR).
Developing sustainable geotourism as post-mining land use programs in Indonesia
Authors: Rohaendi Nendi , Herlinawati Herlinawati
Published: January 2024

The development of sustainable geotourism as a post-mining land use alternative has become a popular issue in Indonesia. The geological and mining heritage will attract people with different kinds of interests and encourage the development of tourism. The paper analyzed technical, economic, social, and mine site factors that contribute to the development of post-mining land use programs. The paper focuses on the developing criteria or aspects that should be taken into account for developing the geological and mining heritage to integrate the environment of geopark in the future. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is applied to measure the importance of the aspect. The results show that the economic aspect is very important to generate sustainable economic development, followed by the environmental aspect and social aspects. The result of this paper is intended to increase awareness of people for geological and mining heritage as a valuable site for geotourism objects.
Factors regulating lignocellulolytic microbes, their degrading enzymes, and heterotrophic respiration in oil palm cultivated peatlands
Authors: Hadi Muhammad Nurul , Pulunggono Heru Bagus , Indriyati Lilik Tri , Widiastuti Happy , Zulfajrin Moh
Published: January 2024

Even though their role in mediating tropical peat decomposition and GHG emissions had been widely recognized, information concerning lignocellulolytic microbes, their degrading enzyme ability, and interconnection with soil physicochemical properties and peat heterotrophic respiration on mature oil palm plantation/OPP block level were rudimentary. This study evaluated the effect of sampling depth (0-30, 30-60, and 60-90 cm), OPP management zone (fertilization circle/FTC, frond stack/FRS, and harvesting path/HVP), and peat physicochemical properties on the lignocellulolytic bacteria and fungi, their degrading enzymes activities and peat heterotrophic respiration/Rh using principal component analysis/PCA, multiple linear regression/MLR, and generalized linear mixed effect models/GLMM. This study found that the soil microbiological and physicochemical properties varied widely. Dominant lignocellulolytic bacterial population and their cellulase enzyme activity were higher than fungi, regardless of sampling depth and management zone. PCA and GLMM analyses showed the significant importance of sampling depth and management zone in governing lignocellulolytic microbial population, their enzyme activities, and Rh. Microbial population and cellulase activity were also remarkably affected by the interaction of all studied factors. Peat chemical properties (pH and total Mn) controlled the natural variance of lignocellulolytic microbes and their enzymes, whereas total K regulate Rh. This study suggested that the research on microbiological-related GHG mitigation in OPP should be focused on managing the fungal population and cellulase enzyme activity at the peat surface (0-30 cm) and fertilization circle.
Delineation of groundwater potential zone using remote sensing and GIS-based AHP for sustainable groundwater management in Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh Province, Indonesia
Authors: Razi Muhammad Haikal , Zahratunnisa Zahratunnisa , Retongga Nofrohu
Published: January 2024

Sustainable groundwater management is crucial for ensuring the long-term availability of water resources and supporting socio-economic activities. As water demands increase and hydrological systems become more complex, accurately identifying groundwater potential zones is essential for effective resource planning and utilization. However, the in-situ data availability is often very limited, particularly on a regional scale. To solve this problem, this study aimed to delineate groundwater potential zones in Aceh Besar Regency using remote sensing and a GIS-based AHP (analytical hierarchy process). Several factors were used to determine groundwater potential zones, including lithology, land use/land cover, slope, lineament density, drainage density, rainfall, and soil type. Each factor was weighted based on an extensive literature review and knowledge-driven decision-making techniques. The results indicated that 26.35% of the area was classified as having low groundwater potential, whereas 53.86% was classified as moderate. Areas that have high to very high groundwater potential cover 16.76% to 3.04% of the Aceh Besar territory. The high groundwater potential zones were mostly located in alluvial and clastic sediments lithology, gentle slopes, and had high annual rainfall. Meanwhile, areas with igneous and metamorphic lithology as well as steep slopes, had moderate to low groundwater potential. Validation was carried out by collecting the high-yield existing production wells and calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with relatively good accuracy (74.5%). This research has effectively described the spatial distribution of groundwater potential, contributing to sustainable groundwater management and enabling informed decision-making for sustainable groundwater practices.
Forest land management and the role of ecological silviculture on the sustainability of Greek forests
Authors: Tsakaldimi Marianthi , Ganatsas Petros
Published: January 2024

One of the challenges faced by current forestry practice is how to effectively respond to the great environmental and global changes to achieve biodiversity conservation and the demands for timber and other non-wood forest products. Worldwide forestry suggests that the approach of ecological silviculture can provide efficient tools for facing these challenges. The applied forest land management during the last seven decades in Greece relies on the principles of sustainability set by ecological silviculture through time. Greek silviculturists adopted these principles many years ago by setting the following priorities and perspectives for applied Greek forestry: the protection of all Greek forests, the systematic rehabilitation of degraded forests (e.g., conversion of coppices to high forest), the promotion of tree species mixture, the improvement of the horizontal and vertical structure of all forest ecosystems, the exclusive use of species natural regeneration, the application of selective felling prohibiting any of clear-cutting, the extensive use of low impact harvesting practices, the retention of a small number of old trees for promoting biodiversity, the protection of all rare and endangered flora and fauna species, and establishment forest protected areas. In this study, three modern indicators were used to evaluate the results of the above silvicultural ecological approach to Greek forests after a period of seven years of forestry practice based on these principles.
The characteristic of impacted soil by the Merapi Eruption in Plawangan Hill of Taman Nasional Gunung Merapi, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Khan Kamran , Wilopo Wahyu , Sadono Ronggo , Hermawan Much. Taufik Tri
Published: January 2024

Mount Merapi National Park (TNGM) is one of the active volcanos in Indonesia. It has past volcano eruption history since 1911 up to date. Specifically, Plawangan Hill is a part of the TNGM recently designated as Geo-heritage and has experienced volcano eruption indirectly and directly. Additionally, since the Indonesian government designates Plawangan Hill as a Geological Heritage (Geo-Heritage) location, it is crucial to determine its geological features and how they relate to the development of the vegetation there as the studyâ€™s objectives. A field survey and a soil laboratory examination were conducted to obtain the data. As a result, Plawangan Hillâ€™s DEM was classified from very low to very high classes, while the DSM was categorized from flat to very steep slopes. Further, the results demonstrated that the pH of theÂ soil was typically somewhat acidic (5.93â€“6.54). While the soilâ€™s nitrogen content was found to be low to medium, both phosphorusÂ and potassium levels were typically very low. The carbon-nitrogen ratio wasÂ generally categorized into the medium, while the organic C ranged from low to medium (1.44% to 3.22%). The soilâ€™s N total, K total, organic matter, carbon content, and C-N ratio increased by the erupted material age. Additionally, it was discovered that the vegetation growth was excellent in indirect (IA) and directly affected (DA) conditions, as indicated by their diameter at breast height (Dbh) and height (H). The correlationÂ between soil characteristics andÂ vegetationÂ growth differed in indirectly affected (IA) and directly affected (DA) areas. As a result, the study found that volcanic materials significantly contributed toÂ Plawangan Hillâ€™s soil characteristics and vegetation growth. Furthermore, this studyâ€™s findings were highly beneficial because they were one of the primary explanations for why Plawangan Hill was designated a Geo-heritage site.
Determination of mercury in soil and water from a gold mining area in Karang Jaya Sub-district, Musi Rawas Utara, Indonesia
Authors: Amallia Ra Hoetary Tirta , Ibrahim Eddy , Irfannuddin Irfannuddin , Hariani Poedji Loekitowati
Published: January 2024

The present study focuses on the assessment of Hg distribution in both soil and water samples from the small-scale gold mining region of Karang Jaya Sub-district, Musi Rawas Utara Regency, South Sumatra Province. For over 30 years, this region has witnessed persistent utilization of mercury as an amalgam for gold extraction. The investigation encompasses an analysis of total mercury levels in soil samples obtained from Sukamenang, Muara Batang Empu, and Terusan Villages. As a comparative reference point devoid of gold mining activities, the neighboring Muara Lakitan Village was selected. The obtained results indicate a moderate to strong contamination level across the 30 sampled locations based on the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), with an average Igeo value of 2.6. Furthermore, Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Contamination Factor (CF) values demonstrate high contamination. Conversely, analysis of river water samples from 30 stations along the Rupit River reveals that most of the samples comply with quality standards (<0.0005 mg/L), with an average value at 0.000322 mg/L; only four stations exhibit total Hg concentrations surpassing regulatory thresholds. All soil and river water samples from the control area (10 stations) exhibited no signs of pollution. Appropriate investments in technology, finance, and technical skills are needed to reduce mercury pollution due to small-scale gold mining activities.
Analysis of erosion hazard level and land rehabilitation pattern with the RUSLE method based on GIS at Wai Tala Watershed in West Seram Regency Maluku Province
Authors: Talakua Silwanus Matheus , Osok Rafael M , Talakua Cristina M
Published: January 2024

This study used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Geographical Information System (GIS) to estimate the annual rate of soil loss, map erosion factors, and recommend a suitable pattern of land rehabilitation in Wai Tala watershed, Regency of Western Seram. The research material used in this study were rainfall data for 38 years, Digital Elevation Model Nasional (DEMNAS) Image Map, Rupa Bumi Indonesia (RBI), geology, soil, land use, and watershed boundaries of Maluku Province. Field research was conducted on 187 land units, and each land unit contained RUSLE erosion factors: topography, soil type, and land use. The spatial distribution of erosion factors was processed using the Arc.GIS10.8, and the soil erosion rates were estimated using the RUSLE method, then corrected using the land degradation model developed in small islands in Maluku. The results showed that the level of erosion hazard in the Wai Tala watershed was none to slight (mean = 3.54 t/ha/yr), moderate erosion (21.52 t/ha/yr), high erosion (110.01 t/ha/yr), and very high erosion (252.84 t/ha/yr). The recommended land rehabilitation patterns that can reduce annual soil loss lower than the tolerable limit are maintaining the none to slight erosion areas with the present land uses in particular primary and secondary forests, and with reforestation or agroforestry patterns combined with low to high-density garden plants or with low to high densities cover crop at the moderate to very high erosion areas.
Integrating natural resource resilience and agroecology: policy on protecting agricultural land from degradation in Magelang District, Central Java Province
Authors: Widayanti Windy Kartika Putri , Marseno Djagal Wiseso , Purwadi Didik
Published: January 2024

Although the Government of Magelang District has local policies for land protection from degradation, landslide disaster has hampered the construction of the Rehabilitation of Farm Road (RJUT) of organic rice of UPLAND program in 2022 in Bandongan Sub-District and caused loss of farmer’s agricultural land in Sawangan. This research aimed to describe the impacts of land degradation, the relevance of local policy substance to the protection of upland farmland from degradation, identify the vulnerability of natural resources and build the integration concept consisting of resilience of natural resources and agroecology. The research was conducted in Grabag, Sawangan, and Bandongan Sub-Districts. The research method was descriptive qualitative by interviewing 18 farmers and 13 key informants by purposeful sampling and field observations. Qualitative data analysis using QDA Miner software. The results showed that local policies in Regional Regulation Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Development of Competitive and Environmentally Sound Agricultural Products and the Decree of the Head of the Agriculture and Food Service Office of Magelang District Number 188.4/694/SK/20/2021 concerning Determination of Prospective Farmers and Prospective Locations (CPCL) of UPLAND Activities in Magelang District are less relevant to protect land from holistic degradation (quality and ecological due to landslides) causing vulnerability to the resilience of natural resources. Therefore, it needs innovations in the form of public policies that are comprehensive, holistic, and integral through the integration model of natural resource resilience and sustainability of irrigation systems in upland agricultural land protection systems complementing each other.
Agroforestry as an approach to rehabilitating degraded tropical peatland in Indonesia
Authors: Jaya Adi , Dohong Salampak , Page Susan E. , Saptono Mofit , Supriati Lilies , Winerungan Shella , Sutriadi Mas Teddy , Widiastuti Lusia
Published: January 2024

Peatland is a unique ecosystem with water saturation; peatland regulates hydrological processes, climate, environmental conditions, and biodiversity. Poor management practises regarding peatlands can lead to land degradation, and peatland degradation typically has negative effects. Recent tropical peatland research in Indonesia has predominantly revolved around the examination of the ecological consequences resulting from various management approaches. There is little study on farmers' agroforestry efforts to preserve and restore degraded peatlands. A comprehensive examination was undertaken to assess a range of facts, information, and scholarly articles pertaining to the practise of agroforestry on peatlands in Indonesia. The primary incentive for farmers to adopt agroforestry systems originates from their recognition of the impending scarcity of trees. By integrating intercrops with cultivated trees, farmers anticipate generating adequate money to fulfil their family's economic requirements. Farmers who choose intensive intercropping practises are motivated by market demand, whereas farmers who do not adopt this approach tend to favour crops that necessitate less rigorous management. The provision of governmental assistance holds significant importance, and there is a pressing need for additional guidance and support. The potential for rehabilitating degraded peatlands by the implementation of agroforestry practises of native tree species is considerable. Their growth patterns contribute to enhanced vegetative coverage, resulting in heightened moisture levels, reduced temperatures, diminished fire hazards, and improved peat soil quality. The relationship between the physiography of the land and the depth of the peat is directly associated with the patterns and components of agroforestry in peatland environments.
Bioremediation of chlorpyrifos-contaminated soil with biduri plant (Calotropis gigantea), bacteria, and biochar: Soil fertility impact
Authors: Rosariastuti Retno , Mahdani Sutheta Putra , Purwanto Purwanto , Hartati Sri , Sumani Sumani
Published: January 2024

During the Industrial Revolution, agriculture was linked to environmental issues. One issue is pesticide pollution. Bioremediation is needed because plant diseases and pests cause farmers to use pesticides excessively, polluting and decreasing soil production. This study evaluated soil fertility from bioremediation with biduri plants, bacteria, and biochar on chlorpyrifos-polluted shallot-growing soil in Brebes Regency. This type of research was an experiment in a greenhouse, using a factorial experimental design with a completely randomized design, consisting of two factors, namely bioremediation agent (A0: without bioremediation agent, A1: Atlantibacter hermannii, A2: bacterial consortium) and coconut shell biochar (B0: without biochar, B1: with biochar). There were six treatment combinations, then replicated three times for each treatment, so there were 18 treatment units. The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, Duncan Multiple Range Test, and Pearson correlation. The results showed that the best treatments that were able to improve soil fertility after bioremediation were treatments A1B0 (Atlantibacter hermannii + without biochar), A2B0 (bacterial consortium + without biochar), and A2B1 (bacterial consortium + with biochar). The A1B0 treatment (Atlantibacter hermannii + without biochar) increased the pH by 4.97%, and the soil available P was 12 times higher than the initial soil. The A2B0 (bacterial consortium + without biochar) treatment increased soil cation exchange capacity by 99.81% and soil organic C by 116% higher than the initial soil. The A2B1 (bacterial consortium + with biochar) treatment increased soil total N by 37.50% and available K by 38.47%, higher than the initial soil.
Assessing forest changes in Yok Don National Park and surrounding areas, Dak Lak province, Vietnam
Authors: Duong Phung Thai , Son Do Xuan
Published: January 2024

Forests serve as vital ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in preserving biodiversity, maintaining air and water quality, and regulating the climate, all while delivering many benefits to humanity and serving as a critical resource for diverse industries. This study investigated changes in forest cover within Yok Don National Park and surrounding areas in Dak Lak province, Vietnam, over the period from 2001 to 2021. The primary objective was to identify decadal shifts in forest cover through the utilization of freely accessible satellite remote sensing data and geographic information systems (GIS) tools. The maximum likelihood classification technique was employed to categorize Landsat images captured in 2001, 2011, and 2021. Furthermore, we evaluated the efficacy of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) based classifications in detecting forest cover changes when compared to supervised classification. Initial estimates placed forest cover at 2796.91 km2, constituting 88.44% of the total land area in 2001, which subsequently declined to 2609.97 km2 (82.53%) in 2011, and further reduced to 1843.57 km2 (58.29%) in 2021. Severely reduced forest cover is often associated with the expansion of agriculture on the forest edge; other contributing factors include logging and illegal production land. Notably, the NDVI outperformed the SAVI in detecting forest cover changes. The findings of this research are anticipated to contribute to ongoing studies and enhance the effective monitoring of this protected forest area, thus providing invaluable insights for decision-makers.
A new approach to determining the slip surface in tuff to determine the volume of landslide material: A case study on the West Sinjai road section, Sinjai Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: Busthan Busthan , Pachri Hendra , Alimuddin Ilham , Bahri Syamsul , Bundang Syarifullah
Published: January 2024

Analysis of landslide slip surface based on the engineering properties of tuff rocks, including shear strength, water content, and infiltration rate on the West Sinjai road section, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the effect of shear strength, water content infiltration rate, and weathering grade of tufa rocks in the study area. The methods used in this study area included a study of weathered tuff profile characteristics, weathered tuff infiltration testing and residual soil (RS) determination of weathered tuff water content and residual soil, and testing of shear strength of weathered tuff and residual soil. This research used aspects of engineering geology, including shear strength, water content, and infiltration rate, as well as rock weathering grade to determine the slip surface in tuff to determine the volume of landslide material. The results showed that the tuff profile consisted of four grades, namely moderately weathered tuff (MW), highly weathered tuff (HW), completely weathered tuff (CW), and soil residual (RS). The rate of tuff infiltration increases with increasing weathering grade. The water content is more significant with the high degree of weathering of tuff. At the same time, the shear strength decreases with high weathering. Therefore, the research area is prone to landslide events. The slip surface is in a layer of moderately weathered tuff rock (MW), and those that experience landslides are highly weathered tuff rock (HW), completely weathered (CW), and residual soil (RS).
Long Histories of Mediated Community
Authors: Hilu Reem
Published: January 2024

Reem Hilu interviews Wendy Hui Kyong Chun, Simon Fraser University’s Canada 150 Research Chair in New Media in the School of Communication, professor of Communication, and director of the Digital Democracies Institute. Chun discusses her work that historicizes the utopian and dystopian framings of digital media and network technologies, focusing on the nature of community, or its absence, online. Throughout the conversation, Hilu and Chun sought to maintain a dialogue between interpretations of contemporary mediated communities online and longer histories through which media have worked to organize connections and associations.
LambdaMOO as Identitopia
Authors: White Michele
Published: January 2024

Histories of digital social media and identitopias should address references in the 1990s and more recently to LambdaMOO—a multiuser setting where characters and synchronous experiences are rendered by texts. Chronicles about LambdaMOO are often linked to the rape of a female and nonbinary character and Julian Dibbell’s “A Rape in Cyberspace” reportage from 1993. In this article, I address the implications of how Dibbell’s text is widely cited, attracted many individuals to LambdaMOO, and is associated with reshaping the site. I cite the pleasure and danger and rape literature and perform a feminist analysis of writing about LambdaMOO. I argue that we need to interrogate how LambdaMOO, including character attributes, community, and governance, are tied to online rapes. LambdaMOO functions as an identitopia, which can be defined as a system that foregrounds and combines identity explorations, liberatory and regulatory community experiences, celebrations and critiques of the site, and violence.
Ukraine's European Integration – Key Obstacles and Requirements
Authors:   Odesа Polytechnic National University, Balan Oleksandr , Voitenko Maksym ,   Odesа Polytechnic National University, Pulcha Dmytro ,   Odesа Polytechnic National University
Published: January 2024

The article discusses the problems of Ukraine's European integration. The authors provide a short list of agreements between the EU and Kyiv. They list the problems facing Ukraine on the way to accession. The main one is the war with Russia. The unresolved problems listed include the fight against corruption and reforms of the judiciary and economy. The authors note the attitudes of Ukrainians and EU citizens towards Kyiv's accession to the European Union, its achievements, and analyses the synchronisation of legislation with the European one. A brief overview of the EU’s problems, such as the problems caused by the disappearance of Russian energy supplies and the Ukrainian refugee crisis, is given. The article also analyses economic cooperation between the EU and Ukraine. The EU is Ukraine’s main trading partner and its role is increasing. It is the economic basis of European integration. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine is an obstacle to investment from the EU and accession to the Union.
Innovation as a Tool for Making Management Decisions in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Regarding Optimization and Modernization at the International Level
Authors:   Odesa National University of Technology, Dobrіanska Natalia , Chernousova Svitlana ,   Odesa National University of Technology, Salenko Lada ,   Odesa National University of Technology
Published: January 2024

The importance of technological innovations in the field of tourism and their impact on the optimization and modernization of the industry are considered. It examines how modern technologies help the tourism industry to become more efficient and meet the growing needs of travelers. Various aspects of the use of artificial intelligence, data analytics, mobile applications, virtual reality and other innovative solutions in tourism are highlighted. Considered important topics such as sustainability and environmental responsibility, information security and personalization of services to improve the quality of travel. The study serves as an important source for understanding current trends in tourism and their impact on the industry.