bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Colonoscopy plays an important role in detecting colorectal neoplasms in patients with gastric neoplasms
Authors: Liu Xu-Rui , Wen Ze-Lin , Liu Fei , Li Zi-Wei , Liu Xiao-Yu , Zhang Wei , Peng Dong
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are the fifth and third most common cancer worldwide, respectively. Nowadays, GC is reported to have a potential predictive value for CRC, especially for advanced CRC.

AIM

To evaluate the necessity of colonoscopy for gastric neoplasm (GN) patients.

METHODS

Four databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Ovid, were used to perform the search strategy on May 2, 2023. The prevalence of colorectal neoplasms (CRN) and baseline characteristics were compared between the neoplasm group and the control group. Continuous variables are expressed as the mean difference and standard deviation. Relationships of categorical variables in the two groups are expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Subgroup analysis according to different kinds of GNs was conducted for more in-depth analysis. The results of this study are represented by forest plots. Publication bias was evaluated by a funnel plot. All data analyses were performed by STATA SE 16.0 software.

RESULTS

A total of 3018 patients with GNs and 3905 healthy controls (age and sex matched) were enrolled for analysis. After comparing the prevalence of CRNs between the two groups, CRNs were detected significantly more frequently in GN patients than in controls (OR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.28 to 2.23, I 2 = 85.12%, P = 0.00), especially in patients with GC (OR =1.80, 95%CI = 1.49 to 2.18, I 2 = 25.55%, P < 0.1). Moreover, other risk factors including age (OR = 1.08, 95%CI = 1.00 to 1.17, I 2 = 90.13%, P = 0.00) and male sex (OR = 2.31, 95%CI = 1.26 to 4.22, I 2 = 87.35%, P = 0.00), were related to the prevalence of CRNs. For patients in the GN group, body mass index (BMI, OR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.80 to 0.98, I 2 = 0.00%, P = 0.92) and smoking (OR = 1.03, 95%CI = 1.01 to 1.05, I 2 = 0.00%, P = 0.57) were protective and risk factors for CRNs, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Patients are recommended to undergo colonoscopy when diagnosed with GNs, especially GC patients with a low BMI and a history of smoking.
Comprehensive evaluation of rare case: From diagnosis to treatment of a sigmoid Schwannoma: A case report
Authors: Li Jing-Yi , Gao Xi-Zhuang , Zhang Jian , Meng Xiang-Zheng , Cao Yi-Xian , Zhao Kun
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Schwannomas are uncommon tumors originating from Schwann cells, forming the neural sheath. They account for approximately 2%-6% of all mesenchymal tumors and are most commonly identified in peripheral nerve trunks, with rarity in the gastrointestinal tract. Among gastrointestinal locations, the stomach harbors the majority of nerve sheath tumors, while such occurrences in the sigmoid colon are exceptionally infrequent.

CASE SUMMARY

This study presented a clinical case involving a 60-year-old female patient who, during colonoscopy, was diagnosed with a submucosal lesion that was later identified as a nerve sheath tumor. The patient underwent surgical resection, and the diagnosis was confirmed through immunohistochemistry. This study highlighted an exceptionally uncommon occurrence of a nerve sheath tumor in the sigmoid colon, which was effectively managed within our department. Additionally, a comprehensive review of relevant studies was conducted.

CONCLUSION

The preoperative diagnosis of nerve sheath tumors poses challenges, as the definitive diagnosis still relies on pathology and immunohistochemistry. Although categorized as benign, these tumors have the potential to demonstrate malignant behavior. Consequently, the optimal treatment approach entails the complete surgical excision of the tumor, ensuring the absence of residual lesions at the margins.
Trends in colorectal cancer incidence according to an increase in the number of colonoscopy cases in Korea
Authors: Kim Ga Hee , Lee Yeong Chan , Kim Tae Jun , Hong Sung Noh , Chang Dong Kyung , Kim Young-Ho , Yang Dong-Hoon , Moon Chang Mo , Kim Kyunga , Kim Hyun Gun , Kim Eun-Ran
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and preinvasive CRC (e.g ., early colon cancer and advanced adenoma) is gradually increasing in several countries.

AIM

To evaluate the trend in incidence of CRC and preinvasive CRC according to the increase in the number of colonoscopies performed in Korea.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study enrolled Korean patients from 2002 to 2020 to evaluate the incidence of CRC and preinvasive CRC, and assess the numbers of diagnostic colonoscopies and colonoscopic polypectomies. Colonoscopy-related complications by age group were also determined.

RESULTS

The incidence of CRC showed a rapid increase, then decreased after 2012 in the 50-75 year-age group. During the study period, the rate of incidence of preinvasive CRC increased at a similar level in patients under 50 and 50-75 years of age. Since 2009, the increase has been rapid, showing a pattern similar to the increase in colonoscopies. The rate of colonoscopic polypectomy in patients aged under 50 was similar to the rate in patients over 75 years of age after 2007. The rate of complications after colonoscopy and related deaths within 3 mo was high for those over 75 years of age.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of preinvasive CRC increased with the increase in the number of colonoscopies performed. As the risk of colonoscopy-related hospitalization and death is high in the elderly, if early lesions at risk of developing CRC are diagnosed and treated under or at the age of 75, colonoscopy-related complications can be reduced for those aged 76 years or over.
C-reactive protein to albumin ratio predict responses to programmed cell death-1 inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Authors: Li Bai-Bei , Chen Lei-Jie , Lu Shi-Liu , Lei Biao , Yu Gui-Lin , Yu Shui-Ping
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Over the years, programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors have been routinely used for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment and yielded improved survival outcomes. Nonetheless, significant heterogeneity surrounds the outcomes of most studies. Therefore, it is critical to search for biomarkers that predict the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in patients with HCC.

AIM

To investigate the role of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) in evaluating the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors for HCC.

METHODS

The clinical data of 160 patients with HCC treated with PD-1 inhibitors from January 2018 to November 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

The optimal cut-off value for CAR based on progression-free survival (PFS) was determined to be 1.20 using x-tile software. Cox proportional risk model was used to determine the factors affecting prognosis. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.754, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.045-2.944, P = 0.033], CAR (HR = 2.118, 95%CI = 1.057-4.243, P = 0.034) and tumor number (HR = 2.932, 95%CI = 1.246-6.897, P = 0.014) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. CAR (HR = 2.730, 95%CI = 1.502-4.961, P = 0.001), tumor number (HR = 1.584, 95%CI = 1.003-2.500, P = 0.048) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (HR = 1.120, 95%CI = 1.022-1.228, P = 0.015) were independent prognostic factors for PFS. Two nomograms were constructed based on independent prognostic factors. The C-index index and calibration plots confirmed that the nomogram is a reliable risk prediction tool. The ROC curve and decision curve analysis confirmed that the nomogram has a good predictive effect as well as a net clinical benefit.

CONCLUSION

Overall, we reveal that the CAR is a potential predictor of short- and long-term prognosis in patients with HCC treated with PD-1 inhibitors. If further verified, CAR-based nomogram may increase the number of markers that predict individualized prognosis.
Decolonizing and Reconstructing the Legal Discourse on the Nile River as sine qua non
Authors: Yusuf Ali Mohammed
Published: January 2024

The Nile River is not only the longest river but is also endowed with fertile natural resources. Because of geo-political and economic advantages, Britain and its colonial allies had strategically occupied riparian states along the Nile River. The colonial powers have substantially contributed to setting precedents for colonial legal discourses in the Nile River basin. Examining the role of the colonial legal discourses along with their potential ramifications in the post-colonial era is thus significant. This article primarily seeks to examine the colonial legal discourse within the framework of the TWAIL (Third World Approaches to International Law) scholarship. Two downstream riparian states clearly seek to maintain the colonial legal discourses and the colonial era inequitable benefits. The influence of downstream riparian states on the attitude of international financial institutions has indeed reinforced the pressure against upstream states. Although upstream riparian states have strived to reconstruct colonial legal discourses, the premises of the arguments forwarded by downstream states are clearly inconsistent with post-colonial realities. This author argues that there is the need to decolonize and reconstruct the colonial legal discourses in light of the TWAIL Scholarship.
Ethiopia's Regulatory Regime on Advocates' Duty to Report Suspicious Transactions to Combat Money Laundering
Authors: Yirgalem Germu Berega
Published: January 2024

Anti-Money Laundering measures have various objectives including detecting crime by following the money trail and protecting the integrity of the financial system against abuse by criminals. Suspicious Transactions Report (STR) is one of the vehicles to achieve these objectives. The Ethiopian Financial Intelligence Service has received reports of suspicious transactions involving 9 Billion Birr within five months of 2014 E.C. (Sept. 2021 to August 2022). On the other hand, some argue that the obligation contravenes legally protected rights, such as confidentiality, the relationship of trust between lawyers and client, professional freedom of the lawyers and fair trial. Based on international and national legal instruments and scholarly works, the practice in Ethiopia and views of experts, this author argues that advocates’ duty to report suspicious transaction is in line with legally protected rights due to the adverse impact of money laundering and the role of the professionals in combating money laundering through the bridge mechanism. The rights and privileges accorded to advocates and their clients are meant to protect legitimate interests of individuals, and cannot justify acts that conceal a crime, escape criminal liability or encourage impunity. The advocate’s duty to report suspicious transactions provided under Proclamation No. 780/2013 is thus in line with the state’s duty under the Palermo Convention and other international instruments.
Role of International Institutions in Ethiopia’s Rural Land Policy
Authors: Muradu Abdo
Published: January 2024

This Article explores whether and to what extent Ethiopia`s contemporary land policy is influenced by international institutions chiefly the World Bank and the USAID. To this end, the article has identified and examined two opposing views, the first of which contends government policies including land policies in Ethiopia are dictated by some influential international institutions as the regime in Ethiopia is dependent on aid funds in implementing its social policies, which include land policy. According to this first perspective, such policies are not the result of organized collective action by the insecure land holders. The second view is that such policies are internally driven because international institutions have been unable to push through policy agenda their way meaningfully. Having considered such views, the article finds it is not persuasive to put the extent of influence of international institutions in Ethiopia`s land policy in black and white; yet, it seems unreasonable to argue that such institutions which contribute significantly to Ethiopia`s annual budget have no influence over land policy at all even if determination of the extent of their roles is complex and vague. For instance, some tenets of Ethiopia`s current land policy as a tool to poverty reduction and smallholder commercial agriculture are strikingly similar to the tenets of the WB`s 2003 Land Policy which include legalizing land rentals, land use collateralization for agricultural investors and establishment of customary dispute resolution methods, regularization of informal landholdings, and landholding registration programs without however conceding the fundamental aspect of land law. The USAID`s involvement in drafting Ethiopian current Federal and regional rural land laws has led to the inclusion of some of these elements. External pressures may not nevertheless have a decisive role as domestic political and bureaucratic interests in land policy at implementation phase may lessen their magnitude.
One Belt One Road: A new international flows architecture under the chinese influence
Authors: Arnaud Alain , Livolsi Laurent
Published: January 2024

China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) strategy was launched in September 2013 by Xi Jinping. It is a global transports infrastructure strategy that covers both land (road and rail) and sea roads by connecting ports from Asia to Europe through Africa. With a budget of more than 1,400 billion dollars, it is one of the most important strategies on a global scale. The purpose of this article is firstly to characterize this strategy, from its foundations to the actual enactment modalities. It is then to propose an interpretation based on a Braudelian reading in terms of world economy and hegemonic posture leading to the emergence of new asian global value chains.

La stratégie chinoise One Belt One Road (OBOR) a été lancée en septembre 2013 par Xi Jinping. Il s’agit d’une stratégie globale de développement d’infrastructures, notamment de transport, et de coopérations. Elle concerne aussi bien les voies terrestres (routes et fer) que les voies maritimes par la connexion de ports depuis l’Asie jusqu’à l’Europe en passant par l’Afrique. Dotée d’un budget de plus de 1 400 milliards de dollars, elle est l’une des plus importantes stratégies initiées à l’échelle mondiale. L’objet de cet article, écrit en 2018, est d’abord de caractériser cette stratégie, depuis ses fondements jusqu’aux modalités de sa mise en acte. Il s’agit ensuite d’en proposer une interprétation fondée sur une lecture braudélienne en termes d’économie-monde et de posture hégémonique conduisant à l’émergence de nouvelles global value chains asiatiques.
„Primus universalis“ u zvaničnim dokumentima Međunarodne komisije za bogoslovski dijalog rimokatoličke i pravoslavne Crkve: recepcija i izazovi
Authors:   University of Belgrade, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Stevanović Nebojša
Published: January 2024

The essential idea of the work is reflected in providing an answer to the question of the place and nature of the primus universalis within the framework of the official documents of the International Commission for Тheological Dialogue of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. On those grounds, in order to determine the planned primatial course, the further course of work continued with the discussion of the challenges and reception of the basic ecclesial positions primus universalis, whereby this part of the work was divided in two directions: the first, manifested in the direction of reception within the framework of the Position of the Moscow Patriarchate according to to the question of the nature of the universal first, and, second, the answer of Metropolitan Elpidophoros Lambriniadis. The diversity and juxtaposition, but also the coexistence, of the two models within the framework of Orthodox ecclesiology is also shown by an example of a rereading of this issue in systematic theology, where the positions of numerous theologians of the same Church are presented, whose analysis confirms the coexistence of a double interpretation of the primus universalis, expressed, in general, in dialectic ’esse — bene esse Ecclesia’.
Editorial
Authors: Sarkar Debashis
Published: January 2024

"Blockchain has gained significant importance due to its ability to make digitals transactions flow secure, transparent, and cost-efficient. By using blockchain technology in digital payments, transactions can be executed without the need for intermediaries such as banks, clearinghouses, or financial services providers. Earlier, before blockchain technology, the financial industry faced several challenges. One of the major issues was the lack of transparency and trust in transactions. Traditional banking systems rely on intermediaries such as banks or clearinghouses to facilitate and validate transactions. This often led to delays, high costs, and the potential for fraud. Additionally, the centralized nature of these systems makes them vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches. The global blockchain in financial services market size is expected to reach $23.6 billion by 2024. 65% of financial institutions are planning to implement blockchain technology by 2023. 54% of financial institutions believe that blockchain will have a significant impact on their bottom line. Blockchain technology has steadily evolved to become a disruptive force in the financial services industry,"
Aggregate Trend in the Financial Performance of Socially Responsible Investment: Case of Listed Moroccan Companies
Authors: Chentoufi Mohammed Alami
Published: January 2024

"The development of socially responsible investment (SRI) in the mid-1990s opened up a vast area of research in portfolio construction. Indeed, investors are breaking with traditional financial theory by integrating extra-financial elements into their portfolio management strategies. In this sense, the emergence of this new type of investment has triggered a craze in the scientific community about the performance of SRI, which has led to mixed results. One of the possible explanations for this heterogeneity of results is that the methodology employed by the different studies has an inevitable influence on its result, or that the financial performance of SRI can be influenced by the measure of financial performance employed (risk or profitability variable). For this reason, the analysis of our data is conducted using a principal component analysis of financial performance, which permits the construction of a synthetic index that includes most of the variables used to measure financial performance in the empirical literature. The objective here is to capture a general trend in the impact of SRI on this composite index of financial performance. The results of the multivariate test on the composite index show that non-SRI firms have a negative and statistically significant impact on the financial performance index. Similarly, the effect of investments made by Engaged companies has a negative, but not statistically significant impact on financial performance."
Present Status and Future Prospects of Jute Diversified Products in Domestic & Export Markets
Authors: Roy S.B.
Published: January 2024

"Now a day’s products diversification and commercialization are very challenging work in the field of agriculture. Jute is one of the cheapest as well as the strongest amongst the all other natural fibres. India is the largest producer of jute followed by Bangladesh and China and world leader in manufacturing jute goods. Tremendous competition from synthetic materials as well as declining demand for traditional jute goods, demand is expected to rise in respect of its value-added diversified products like fine yarn, blended yarn, specialty fabrics and non-woven based on jute and jute waste. Lots of innovative new products have been developed with high value-addition by the researchers now a days, viz., home textiles, jute composites, jute geo-textiles, paper pulp, technical textiles, chemical products, handicrafts and fashion accessories etc. Globally, demand for diversified jute products is growing particularly in developed country markets such as USA, Canada, Australia and Japan, where peoples are becoming increasingly conscious about carbon footprint of consumer goods."
Trends in Production of Pulses and Oilseeds Over Last Two Decades in Eastern India
Authors: Dam Adrita
Published: January 2024

"India is a major producer and consumer of a wide variety of pulses and oilseeds but still struggles to achieve self-sufficiency due to the growing disparity between demand and supply. The present study has made an attempt to compare and disseminate trends in acreage, production, and productivity of pulses and oilseeds over the last two decades (1999-2000 to 2018-2019). Regarding the computation of growth and instability, a modified exponential production function is fitted, and to judge the overall change in production, a decomposition of the trend in area and yield over two decades has been performed. Bihar and West Bengal stand out as the primary producers of pulses, while rapeseed and mustard take the lead among oilseed crops, followed by sesame. Odisha uniquely contributes to groundnut production, while linseed has become integral to West Bengal’s overall oilseeds output. To enhance production in these states, implementing HYV seeds, proper land preparation techniques, and adopting paira cropping in rice-fallow situations can significantly boost the current status of pulses and oilseeds in the eastern India."
Risk Management Strategy for International Investment Projects of an Innovative Enterprise in the Context of Industry 4.0
Authors: Duan Yingxue
Published: January 2024

"The significance of risk management within the framework of Industry 4.0 is on the rise, particularly within the realm of international investment projects. Contemporary technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, are not only ushering in fresh prospects but are also instigating the emergence of novel categories of risks. The primary objective of this investigation is to formulate an all-encompassing strategic risk management framework tailored to innovative enterprises operating within the purview of Industry 4.0. The envisaged research endeavour encompasses a thorough scrutiny of existing methodologies and models, along with an exploration of contentious dimensions within this domain. The study’s findings encompass criteria for the evaluation and quantification of risks, in addition to pivotal risk factors that exert notable influence on the efficacy of international investment projects. The pragmatic import of this investigation resides in its potential utility for enhancing managerial decisionmaking across various tiers of the organizational hierarchy. The presented material seeks to facilitate the alignment of conventional risk management approaches with the intricacies inherent in Industry 4.0. Nonetheless, it is imperative to acknowledge that the efficacy of the formulated model may hinge upon contextual nuances and might necessitate supplementary adaptations."
Assessment of Socio-economic, Psychological Needs and Expectations of Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine
Authors: Kravchenko Oksana
Published: January 2024

"The article investigates the socio-economic and psychological conditions and needs of 123 IDPs in the city of Uman, Cherkasy region, Ukraine, and identifies their qualifications and the possibility of employment in their speciality, access to useful information, the possibility of receiving state assistance and meeting basic needs, reveals violations of the psycho-emotional state and the need for rehabilitation, the state of physical and mental health, etc. It is proved that a prerequisite for successful adaptation of IDPs to new realities is to take into account their psycho-emotional state. The most common stress factors are constant anxiety about their relatives and friends, inability to meet basic needs and internal fear of an unknown future. The study identified security, economic, social and psychological reasons that prevent people from returning to their places of residence and reasons that may encourage IDPs to return home. The study identified the following types of activities that have a therapeutic effect: bibliotherapy, nature therapy, isotherapy, music therapy, dance, sound, and occupational therapy. It has been found that 82.5% of IDPs do not realise the need for meetings with a psychologist to improve their psycho-emotional state, 13.8% of IDPs are conscious of their own mental well-being, and only 2.4% of IDPs are unsure."
Methodological Support of Social and Natural-Resource Evaluation of Inclusive Tourist Objects in the Sustainable Development Context
Authors: Kravchenko Oksana
Published: January 2024

"This research aims to form a scientifically grounded and usable methodological support of social and natural-resource evaluation of inclusive tourist objects for the effective formation of a sustainable inclusive tourism space. The author’s understanding of the social and natural-resource evaluation of inclusive tourist objects as a set of ecological, economic, social, inclusive, and rehabilitation approaches is suggested, which allows monitoring the natural-resource potential taking into account individual characteristics, the accessibility of the tourist object and its rehabilitation opportunities for people with disabilities of various nosologies. The research is based on an attempt to take into account subjective and objective conditions in the aesthetic landscape valuation. The results obtained during their interaction will make it possible to take into account the peculiarities of the landscape that affects a person, as well as the specifics of perception and the degree of susceptibility of a person. Compliance with the recommendations for social and natural-resource evaluation will make the socio-cultural space unhindered for all categories of the population, which will provide access to social services for each person for their integration, socialization, and adaptation. Methodological principles of quantitative evaluation of accessibility parameters and attractiveness factors of natural resources and tourist infrastructure objects for participants on the implementation of an inclusive rehabilitation and social tourism programme have been developed, which will provide access to social services for every person and promote their integration, socialization, and adaptation."
Economic Analysis of Women Agri Startups in Manipur
Authors: Dev Heikham Narmila
Published: January 2024

"Agri-business venture is an emerging need in the country for seamless integration of on-farm and nonfarm employment. This present paper is an attempt to investigate the production, investment feasibility, and problems faced by startups. A stratified random sampling was followed and the startup producing a similar type of product was aggregated to make 4 (four) product groups and from each group 2 (two) startups were selected. The study revealed that the business of the selected women agri startups is economically feasible and viable. The findings show that the profit earned by the Group I startups is comparatively higher than the other selected startups. The cost of production resulted higher in Group II (` 62,92,221). The benefit-cost ratio based on variable cost and total cost resulted higher in Group I by 1.53 and 1.51 respectively. Major problems faced by the startups were due to lack of funding or capital, poor transportation facilities, lack of entrepreneurial development training, non-availability of skilled workers/weavers, lack of guidelines and technical assistance, etc. Hence, the help of incubators, financial institutions, and provisions of entrepreneurial training by the government can boost the growth of the business."
Modern Concepts of Public Administration in the Context of Sustainable Development
Authors: Shandryk Viacheslav
Published: January 2024

"The article examines the main problems of the XXI century, the overcoming of which led to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015, replacing the Millennium Development Goals. The authors systematically consider the governance process in sustainable development, paying particular attention to the structural-functional and information-behavioral subsystems of governance. Also, special attention is paid to the development of information technology and civil society, as well as other changes in the late XX – early XXI century. These changes have influenced the concepts of public administration, which are fundamental to achieving the SDGs. The article aims to determine the methodological approaches necessary for the functioning of the public administration system in the context of sustainable development. The primary research method used was a bibliographic study, both descriptive and analytical. The analysis of scientific literature allowed the authors to conclude that the following modern concepts of public administration in the context of sustainable development can be implemented: “management of public values,” “digital citizenship,” “political networks,” “smart (receptive/reflective) governance,” results/goals-based management, FAST-concept, “Open Government,” and “Activating State.” The importance of involving people in addressing sustainable development issues related to significant social, economic, and environmental problems, policy-making, and public service delivery is hardly disputed today. As shown, modern concepts aim to enable citizens to participate in such processes. These include access to and availability of information and the development of communication technologies, including social media. In the XXI century of Knowledge Societies, the most creative solutions will be created through open interaction and reliance on shared resources. The extraordinary events (the pandemic and the war in Ukraine) have significantly slowed down the process of achieving Sustainable Development Goals and, in some cases, made it impossible to achieve any results for some goals. As a result, a new model of public administration in the context of sustainable development will be required. The prospects for further research include defining a new concept of public administration and its provision, which will consider the advantages of modern concepts and ensure their synergistic effect so that the sustainable development agenda is adopted by the state, business, and society."
Private EdTech Companies in India: The Techno-Financial Aspects
Authors: Chatterjee Ritam
Published: January 2024

"Education sectors are one of the growing sectors in India. The implementation of various basic and emerging technologies in the education sector has led to rapid changes in the education system. With the use of technology, the education system has now changed from traditional classroom based education to digital education. Various private companies have established their businesses in the education sector. With the adoption of various technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Bigdata Analytics and so on, the EdTech companies are growing rapidly. The EdTech companies have setup Digital Education infrastructure for the scientific delivery of education to the learners. The EdTech companies have tried to synthesize different areas like- Education, Technology, Pedagogy, Business, Economics, Finance, Politics and many more. The intelligent system of learning with scientific based personalize study material and special doubt clearance have considered to make the relationship between curriculum, syllabus and pedagogy. This paper discusses about the private EdTech companies in India. This paper discusses the financial aspects of these private EdTech companies. Different basic and emerging Technologies used by the private EdTech companies have also discussed in this paper."
Economical, Financial and Allied Concerns in healthy Agricultural Information Systems Practice: The Context of Developing Countries
Authors: Paul P.K.
Published: January 2024

"Informatics is a domain not only for practicing but also a field of study which is really dedicated to study about the information activities such as collection, selection, organization, processing, management and delivery using technologies. The utilization of Informatics in various fields and sectors responsible in developing other domain focused areas and fields such as Bio Informatics, Health Informatics, Geo Informatics, Agricultural Informatics, and so on. Agricultural Informatics is also called as Agricultural Information Technologies and Agricultural Information Science which is simply the merger of the Agricultural Science with Information Science. Basic and latest applications of the IT and Computing in Agriculture and other allied domains are developing and modernizing better and healthy Agricultural practice with ICT. Various other technologies and systems also dedicated in agricultural activities for proper and effective and healthy Agricultural Practice. Many countries worldwide dedicated in ICT applications in Agricultural Systems for effective and progressive situation. Though, modern researchers find-out some of the critical issues and challenges in Agricultural Informatics, and most of the issues are related to the finance and economics including social. This work highlights fundamentals of Agricultural Informatics including technologies and impact of Agricultural Information Science with reference to the latest and researched issues, challenges of ICT in Agricultural Systems related to the economy and financial concern."
Information Infrastructure & Digital Divide: In the context of Indian Universities — The Economical and Financial Context
Authors: Chowdhury Sarmistha
Published: January 2024

"Each and every organization, institution needs information and allied objects for the growth and proper development and without a sufficient amount of information it is very difficult to sustain and run an organization. Universities and Higher Educational Institutions work and function based on various academic and administrative units and sections; and in each and every section information is very much crucial and valuable. The development of information related activities is called Information Systems and ‘Information Infrastructure’ is a broad concept which is required for information collection, processing, management and delivery in manual and technological mode. There are different types of sections and sub-sections exit in model Information Infrastructure systems. Each and every universities depend on proper information management systems and there are issues in relation to social, technical, psychological, economical and managerial. In an university system and general organization there are numerous systems and procedures in managing data, information and other documentation. Many institutions keeps information as usual and without any professionalism and that lead to the failure of organizational goal and proper development. Economical and financial issues are alarming in purchasing and maintaining technologies, systems, and Human Resources, etc. And this paper is about the basic of Information Infrastructure with a special focus on economical and financial issues in the context of Digital divide."
Blockchain Technology and the Transformation of Financial Systems: From Decentralization to Innovative Solutions in the Global Economy
Authors: Tonkykh Oleksii
Published: January 2024

"The article outlines the essence of blockchain and the peculiarities of its application in the financial sector of the global economy in the context of its innovative development. The authors determined the directions of blockchain application in the accounting and audit of fuel and energy companies. These directions include smart contracts, collateral management, the use of stablecoins, tokenization of real assets, invoice factoring, crypto staking, transactions in the virtual world and reward tokens, the support of new types of B2B networks, simplification and tracking of data flow in a financial institution, and the replacement of paper money. The risks of using blockchain technologies in the financial sector were systematized and grouped into the following areas: the lack of familiarization and standardization; the high energy intensity of the system, cybersecurity, and other technical issues; financial practice issues, and technological barriers."
Supply Chain of Pahala Rasagola in Odisha
Authors: Sahoo Abinash
Published: January 2024

"Pahala Rasagola is known in every corner of the consumers in Odisha due to its taste, ethnicity and purity that mend the researchers to understand its supply chain and issues intricate in it through this study. For that sake, a total 10 retailors and 200 consumers were tested through a pre-structured schedule in which operations regarding Rasagola making, supply chain interventions, costs, margins and simultaneously various constraints were identified through this study. Seasonal impact, locational disadvantages, and spoilage of the Rasagola due to its perishable nature are coming as the major deterrents at the retailers’ level where as consumers also worry about poor shelf-life of the Rasagola and quality issues in their consumption centric behavior. It opens the scope of organized retailing and web based interface for better product delivery in future."
Farm Access Roads: The Low Cost Convergence Model for Doubling Farmers’ Income in India
Authors: Nawal Shelesh
Published: January 2024

"In agricultural sector, many policy reforms in India are introduced to achieve the target of doubling farmers’ income. Most of the recent studies and policy focuses on rural roads, while the critical part, which is still unaddressed, is the farm access roads (Pandan or Dhuri roads). We did a study in Amravati district of the Maharashtra state on the farm access roads. Farms are becoming inaccessible because of absence of proper road. Farmer are not able to take high value crops, scheduled farm operations are getting distorted and sometimes bringing the harvest from farms to home or market becomes difficult. In addition, owing to accessibility issues, farmers are not able to cultivate land, which result in low productivity and low income, especially small and marginal farmers, who are the majority, have no capacity to pay for or build farm roads. We recommend a convergence “farm road access model” implemented in Amravati district, dovetailing schemes of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA), state funds and farmer’s contribution or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. The two types of roads under this model are as, low cost farm access road of ` 1,50,000 per kilometre and high cost road of ` 17,00,000 per kilometre. The impact of farm access roads is that farmers are able to get access to their land throughout the year and are able to do farm operations timely. Overall, it resulted in increase in farmers’ income by one third. Therefore, we strongly suggest replicating the Amravati farm access road (Har Khet ko Rasta) model across the nation."
Economic Evaluation of Cost and Returns of Potato Crop towards Livelihood Security of Farmers in the Nalanda District of Bihar
Authors: Kumar Suman
Published: January 2024

"India is the world’s second – larger producer of veggies, after China. The primary vegetable grown in Nalanda is the potato. The goal of the current analysis was to analysis potato farming costs and returns using various cost models. The study was carried out in Bihar sarif and Noor Sharai block, which were chosen due to their high potato production and area. Number of farmers in each category based on probability proportional to size (PPS). Cost of cultivation of potato on the sample farms in Nalanda district of Bihar. Production is generally considered to be a function of area and yield. The selection of crop enterprise to be chosen in the farm and the location and distribution of resources within it depend to a great extent on the yield of the crop, its price and the cost of the inputs used for its production. These measurements for potatoes were developed as a result of taking into account the cost of cultivation and returns on various production aspects when choosing a crop. Per hectare, on an average ` 92552.03 was spent on potato. In the medium farm category, ` 100166 was spent on farming the highest. Followed by small farms ` 92867 and marginal farms ` 84623.09. The cost of various components of cultivation such as tubers (seeds) is the highest (22.95%) in the variable cost, followed by (19.46 per cent) Human labour. The remaining significant factor included the fertilizer (8.82 per cent), irrigation charge 7.77 per cent, machine charge 6.49 per cent, plant protection 3.79 per cent, manure 3.06 per cent, depreciation rate 1.62 per cent and land revenue 0.24 per cent and the percentage of rental value of own land includes cost of fixed cost (21.61 per cent), interest on fixed capital 2.95 per cent and interest on working capital 1.23 per cent."
Capability Enhancement of Agricultural Extension Personnel through ICT Interventions and its Economic Impact in Bangladesh
Authors: Rabbi Md Forhad
Published: January 2024

"In this paper, we evaluated the performance of various ICT interventions to empower agricultural extension personnel, especially the Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) and Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO), the major stakeholders in Bangladesh’s existing agricultural extension system. It is usually challenging for extension staff to keep track of their services and get up-to-date agricultural knowledge in developing nations due to the enormous geographical area and quantity of farmers and insufficient training and monitoring. Different ICT applications and tools, such as online and offline agricultural consultation services applications, a digital diary for recording the daily activities of the SAAOs, a monitoring system for the UAOs, and audiovisual materials have been developed to support the extension people. The evaluation was done after collecting data from Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Key Informant Interviews (KII), surveys, and server-side data processing. This study revealed that ICT applications have increased the knowledge base, efficiency, confidence level, and acceptance of the SAAOs and improved the financial aspects of the agriculture extension services. Thanks to ICT interventions, farmers receive timely and quality services from SAAO, leading to increased crop production and a better lifestyle for farmers."
An Investigation of the Relationship Between Parents’ Socioeconomic Standards and their Children’s Online Safety; Perspective: Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Pir Rumel M.S.
Published: January 2024

"The field of child-computer interaction has garnered significant interest from researchers worldwide. Nevertheless, the discourse around the protection of children’s digital safe, that includes privacy and security remains significantly underrepresented in both Bangladesh and the broader global south. In situations where a significant portion of senior and adult persons lack awareness regarding optimal strategies for effectively utilizing digital gadgets and tools, it is difficult to anticipate a higher level of proficiency among younger individuals. Privacy generally encompasses the capacity of individuals to exercise control over, get access to, and govern their personal data. In contrast, the security system serves to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access, data leakage, or cyber intrusions, therefore safeguarding the data from potential compromise. Previous studies have indicated that the responsibility for safeguarding the digital privacy and security of children lies with both parents and children themselves. Regrettably, a dearth of scholarly investigations exists within the domain, hindering the ability to systematically monitor and analyze the potential relationship between parental socioeconomic status and the privacy and safety of their offspring. This research aims to discover the correlation. This study employed semi-structured interviews with a sample of 48 parents and 42 children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, including high income, middle income, and low-income groups. The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis. The findings of this study indicate that children from high income families are more susceptible to online safety issues compared to their counterparts from low-income households. This vulnerability is attributed to factors such as the widespread availability of internet access and personal digital devices, greater purchasing power on online platforms, and a lack of parental monitoring. This study presents a limited number of recommendations for parents and children across various socioeconomic backgrounds in order to enhance the state of internet safety for children."
Теоретико-методологічні критерії та принципи системного аналізу міжнародних відносин
Authors: Толстов С.В.
Published: January 2024

Стаття містить огляд загальних критеріїв та принципів системного аналізу, які використовуються основними науковими школами теорії міжнародних відносин. Предтечею поширення методології системного аналізу стала загальна теорія систем, мета якої полягала у з‘ясуванні структурної подібності загальносистемних закономірностей, їх узагальненні та виявленні принципів системного моделювання у різних галузях наукових досліджень. У 1950-1960-х рр. системний аналіз нерідко сприймався як міждисциплінарний чи навіть «наддисциплінарний» підхід, що синтезує методологію вивчення складних технічних і соціальних систем.

У науці про міжнародні відносини застосування системного аналізу стало підґрунтям для виникнення універсальної пояснювальної теорії, сенс якої полягає в класифікації та інтерпретації різних станів і структурних змін у сфері багатосторонньої міждержавної взаємодії. Продовжуючи раціоналістичну наукову традицію, системний підхід відкрив широкі можливості для концептуалізації міжнародного взаємодії, включаючи виявлення логічної обумовленості, типологічних закономірностей міжнародних відносин та їх верифікації за допомогою емпіричних даних.

Поняття «міжнародна система», що виникло в рамках структурно-функціонального підходу, означає сукупність акторів, які розташовані в конфігурації влади (структурі) й залучені до регулярних моделей взаємодії (процесів). На практиці міжнародна система реалізується як самодостатній та саморегулюючий комплекс взаємовідносин міжнародних суб’єктів на рівні держав, міжнародних організацій та акторів недержавного рівня в межах відповідної історично обумовленої структури. Роль головного системоутворюючого чинника виконують домінуючі, політично окреслені й детерміновані форми відносин між акторами міжнародної системи. Тип міжнародної системи, включаючи багатополярну, біполярну або однополярну, істотно впливає на модальність і правила міждержавної взаємодії, що становлять основу відповідного міжнародного порядку.

У соціально-політичному контексті феномен міжнародної системи доречно розглядати як абстрактну рамкову модель, у просторі якої відбувається співіснування різних суспільств та, відповідно, як сферу конкуренції відповідних форм і векторів суспільного розвитку. Доречно враховувати, що системна теорія не приділяє пріоритетної уваги ціннісно-ідеологічним характеристикам, зокрема й залежності політичних та зовнішньополітичних рішень від ідей, культурних стереотипів, ціннісних преференцій, специфіки мислення та методів прийняття рішень представниками політичних еліт окремих державних суб’єктів. Оцінка впливу цих чинників на міжнародні відносини вимагає залучення інших міждисциплінарних методів, які використовуються у межах політичного та соціологічного аналізу.