bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clusters as Drivers of Regional Economic Development: Analysis of US Practice
Authors: Rastvortseva S. , Cherepovskaya N.
Published: February 2024

Clusters are becoming one of the drivers of regional and national economic growth. Accumulating around themselves a number of advantages of territorial concentration of economic activity, clusters contribute to innovative development, improving the quality of labor resources, promoting companies to world markets, increasing their competitiveness. The purpose of the article is to define the cluster as a driver of regional economic development based on the analysis of US practice. To do this, the definition of clusters is given and their types are highlighted, the key subjects and the benefits created are identified, the direction of influence on the economy of the regions is formulated, the analysis of US clusters is carried out and modern development trends are identified. It is certain that the cluster in the region has an impact on economic development, forming the sectoral structure of the economy, creating political incentives, increasing competitiveness and productivity, attracting new companies and in other ways. It is shown that clusters can be divided into two groups: oriented to the external market (traded) and internal (local). This classification is important because clusters of the two groups manifest themselves differently in the regions. “External” clusters are interconnected by common technologies and highly skilled workers, they are concentrated in several regions, form the “core” of the regional economy and create a block of service industries. The development of this cluster group is well explained by the theories of exporting regions. The analysis of economic clusters according to the Institute of Strategy and Competitiveness of Harvard Business School showed that the average number of industries in clusters of this group is higher, there is close connectivity between clusters, there is growth in innovative, creative, educational and environmental clusters. The clusters of the group are oriented to the external market, and therefore they are distinguished by a high number of patents received. The construction of the model showed that the growth of the cluster depends on the initial number of employees, the level of wages and the number of patents received. Clusters focused on the domestic market are larger in the number of industries, differ in low wages and require little patenting. The analysis of the distribution of clusters by the number of employees according to Zipf’s law (the “rank-size” rule) showed the validity of such a division of clusters into groups. In conclusion, some current trends in the development of clusters were formulated.
Iranian Development Model: State and Society Concept, Crises and Problems
Authors: Bogacheva A.
Published: February 2024

The presidential election of 2021 set a new stage in shaping of the Iranian development model. The conservative discourse once again took its place as the main one for the whole country underpinning the return to the implementation of the conservative modernization project. Key components of this project are outlined in the comprehensive development plan “Vision 2025”, as well as in the General Program for the Islamic-Iranian Progress. Among the development goals, which, according to this plan, Iran aims to achieve by 2025, are: sustainable economic growth; preservation and strengthening of the Islamic system and Islamic identity of Iran; regional leadership in economic, scientific, and technological development. Undoubtedly, to achieve these goals, a lot of work has been done by several governments, but it is obvious that these ambitions will not be fulfilled in the remaining period of the current government’s term. In turn, the General Program for the Islamic-Iranian Progress shifts the focus from development (in its secular, Western definition) to progress, which can only be achieved in the framework of Islamic and Iranian values and principles. The Islamic model of modernization is proposed as a guideline for development in the spiritual, political, cultural, and scientific life. However, the most important problem in the implementation of this plan is the large number of long-term unresolved economic problems associated with the negative outcomes of sanctions and urgent political crises such as the legitimacy crisis, institutional crisis, as well as the general weakening of the prestige of the “Islamic component” of Iran’s political system. The article analyzes the domestic development problems of Iran, which are relevant in the context of the ongoing crises, as well as the phenomenon of the “Iranian Model” with all of its political, economic, and social components.
Fiscal Policy of Advanced Economies: Playing by the Rules?
Authors: Kholopov A.
Published: February 2024

The article examines the reasons for the adoption of fiscal rules in advanced economies, their main types, evolution and results of application. In the practice of fiscal policy over the past decades, there has been a steady trend towards budget deficits. There are two main reasons that explain this widespread deficit bias phenomenon: the tendency to push out the financial discipline burden to future governments or even to future generations and the interplay of political processes and interest group activities (common pool effect). Chronic budget deficits and growing public debts have prompted many countries to adopt certain national and supranational (in the EU) fiscal rules – long-lasting constraints on fiscal policy through numerical limits on main budgetary aggregates: budget balance, debt, expenditure or revenue. Fiscal rules can promote financial discipline and reduce the deficit bias in several ways. This influence on fiscal behavior arises from their capacity to “tie the hands” of policymakers and to be a useful signaling tool, helping to reduce the asymmetry of information between policymakers and voters. But the compliance track record with fiscal rules is relatively poor. They have failed to provide sufficient fiscal discipline: the deficit bias persists and the debt-to-GDP ratio in most advanced economies continues to grow. The adopted budget rules are periodically suspended, they are subject to revision, sometimes formally implemented by applying the creative accounting, policymakers use them as a tool of political bargaining. Ultimately, fiscal discipline does not depend on the existence of rules, but on the willingness of politicians to comply with this discipline.
Thicker Than Sanctions: The Persistence and the Development of Iran’s “Looking East” Approach
Authors: Azad Sh.
Published: February 2024

“Looking East” has recently become a rather trendy topic among Iranians from all walks of life at a critical time: when Iran has deeply engaged its major partners in the East while getting involved in a rather lengthy negotiations with the “5+1” party concerning the fate of the nuclear deal, which the Trump administration quit in May 2018. Although from the beginning Iran’s “Looking East” orientation was by and large about going around the US-led international sanctions and punitive measures levied against the Islamic Republic, the approach has survived to now become Tehran’s preferred policy toward the outside world. Not only is the “Looking East” policy pursued by Tehran in itself in itself an understudied topic of considerable significance, Iran sanctions are yet to be fully investigated by interested scholars despite their tremendous ramifications on almost every aspect of Iranian internal and external affairs, including the Islamic Republic’s “Looking East” proclivities, over the past several decades. Indeed, after playing a truly instrumental role in shaping the contours of Iran’s increasingly growing multifaceted relationship with its Eastern friends and partners, the US-spearheaded sanctions have turned “Looking East” into the main doctrine behind the dynamics of Iran-East interactions for the foreseeable future.
Techno-Economic Comparison of Low Carbon Energy Carriers Based on Electricity for Air Mobility
Authors: Jarin Jean-Baptiste , Beddok Stéphane , Haritchabalet Carole
Published: February 2024

Decarbonization of air mobility requires the decarbonization of its energy. While biofuels will play an important role, other low carbon energy carriers based on electricity are considered: battery electrification, liquid hydrogen (LH2) or eFuel, a hydrogen-based energy carrier. Each energy carrier has its own conversion steps and losses and its own integration effects with the aircraft. These combinations lead to different energy requirements and must be understood to compare their cost and CO2 emissions. Since they are all electricity-based, this study compares these energy carriers using the well to rotor methodology when applied to a standard Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) air mobility mission. This novel approach allows one to understand that the choice of the energy carrier dictates the propulsive system architecture, leading to integration effects with the aircraft which can significantly change the energy required, from 400 to 2665 kWh for the same mission. These deviations lead significant differences in CO2 emissions and costs. Battery electrification is impacted by the battery manufacturing but has the lowest electricity consumption. It is an optimum solution but only until the battery weight can be lifted. In all scenarios eFuel is more efficient than LH2. We conclude that carrying the most efficient molecule in an aircraft pays the extra energy cost spent on the ground. Finally, we found that for each of these energy carriers, it is the electricity carbon intensity and price which will dictate the cost and CO2 emissions of an air mobility mission.
Rubber Planting and Deforestation
Authors: Sheil Douglas , Descals Adrià , Meijaard Erik , Gaveau David
Published: February 2024

Wang et al. (Nature 623, 340—350; 2023)1 used satellite observations and phenological signatures to estimate the extent of planted rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Müll.Arg.) and associated deforestation for eight Southeast Asian countries. Their map implies that planted rubber has caused more than 4 Mha of deforestation since 1993 — a value greater than previously assumed. Unfortunately, their approach was flawed. Our assessment indicates that the actual extent of planted rubber is approximately half that reported by Wang et al., while the extent of associated deforestation is approximately one quarter.
Critical Ergonomics and (Dis)comfort Factors While Performing Tasks with Hand Tools on a Ladder
Authors: Califano Rosaria , Auricchio Antonio , Carbone Mario , Dessì Lucio , Frasci Valentino , Landi Angelo , Naddeo Alessandro
Published: February 2024

Falls at height are among the major causes of fatal accidents at work, especially in the construction sector. Maintaining balance while performing a tool with both hands generates physical efforts and mental loading that needs to be managed for workers’ safety and health. The purpose of the study is to compare perceived (dis)comfort (overall and localized), the ergonomic risk and the perceived effort through the acquired postures that subjects assumed during the execution of simple and common tasks both on a ladder and on the ground. 26 subjects were asked to perform four tasks in both conditions: top screwing, frontal screwing, object picking from the bottom forward, and object picking from the bottom sideways. Subjective and objective data were gathered for assessing subjective experience (discomfort and effort, perceived) and ergonomic risk. Results highlighted few ergonomic risk differences among “on ladder” and “on ground” tasks, while subjective data reveal significant differences in different scenarios. Main results regard knees and neck areas as the most critical ones.
Platelet Biorheology and Mechanobiology in Thrombosis: In Silico Perspectives
Authors: Tuna Rukiye , Yi Wenjuan , Crespo Cruz Esmeralda , Romero JP , Ren Yi , Guan Jingjiao , Li Yan , Deng Yuefan , Bluestein Danny , Liu Z. Leonardo , Sheriff Jawaad
Published: February 2024

Thrombosis is the pathological clot formation under abnormal hemodynamic conditions, which can result in vascular obstruction, causing ischemic strokes and myocardial infarction. Thrombus growth under moderate to low shear (10,000 s$^{-1}$) is predominantly driven by unactivated platelet binding and aggregating mediated by von Willebrand factor (VWF), while platelet activation and coagulation are secondary in supporting and reinforcing the thrombus. Given the molecular and cellular level information it can access, multiscale computational modelling informed by biology can provide new pathological mechanisms that are otherwise not accessible experimentally, holding promise for novel first principle based therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the key aspects of platelet mechanobiology, focusing on the molecular and cellular scale events and how they build up all the way to thrombosis through platelet adhesion and aggregation in the presence or absence of platelet activation. In particular, we highlight the recent advancements in multiscale modelling of platelet biorheology and mechanobiology and their role in predicting thrombus formation. Recent applications of artificial intelligence in modelling platelet mechanobiology and thrombosis have also been briefly discussed.
Evaluation of the Impact of Cochlear Implantation on Patients’ Working Life: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Olgun Yüksel , Arayici Mehmet Emin , İncesulu Armağan , Tuncer Ülkü , Guneri Enis Alpin , Ellidokuz Hulya , Olgun Levent
Published: February 2024

Hearing loss that arises from various causes at different stages of life has a direct impact on individuals' physical and mental well-being. This paper aimed to evaluate the employment, workplace adaptation, productivity, and professional success of individuals who have hearing loss and whose hearing loss is corrected with a cochlear implant. In this cross-sectional study, the data was collected between November 2022 and March 2023 with the participation of individuals with cochlear implants living in several settlements in all regions of Türkiye. A total of 142 participants with severe hearing loss who were corrected with a cochlear implant were included in this study. The survey method was used to collect data for the study. The questionnaire consisted of 32 questions and was distributed to the participants online. In the first part of the questionnaire (1-10 questions), general characteristics of implant patients were investigated. In the second part (11-32 questions), the positive or negative effects of implantation on the work life of the participants were evaluated. Almost half of the research group (49.3%, n = 70) consisted of women, and the mean age of the participants was determined to be 35.8 ± 14.8. There was no significant difference between gender, educational status, implanted side, working time, working style (physical, desk), and factors affecting work life (p > 0.05). Professional satisfaction and success at work increased significantly more in those with acquired hearing loss (p = 0.010). Post-implantation workplace compliance, success, and productivity were found to be higher in those with acquired hearing loss (p = 0.013). It was observed that hearing loss had a greater negative impact on the work life of married people (p = 0.006). Cochlear implantation greatly enhances workplace satisfaction, increases self-confidence, and has a positive impact on the future of profoundly deaf individuals.
Functional Roles and Genomic Impact of Miniature Inverted-Repeat Transposable Elements (MITEs) in Prokaryotes
Authors: Minnick Michael F
Published: February 2024

Prokaryotic genomes are dynamic tapestries that are strongly influenced by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), including transposons (Tn’s), plasmids, and bacteriophages. Of these, miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) are undoubtedly the least studied MGEs in bacteria and archaea. This review explores the diversity and distribution of MITEs in prokaryotes and describes what is known about their functional roles in the host and involvement in genomic plasticity and evolution.
Association between Molecular Initiating Events (MIEs) in Drug-Induced Hiccups
Authors: Hosoya Ryuichiro , Ishii-Nozawa Reiko , Terajima Tomoko , Kagaya Hajime , Uesawa Yoshihiro
Published: February 2024

Hiccups can significantly reduce the quality of life of patients and can occur as a drug side effect. Previous report using the Drug Adverse Event Database revealed sex-specific differences in the incidence of drug-induced hiccups. However, the pathogenesis of drug-induced hiccups remains unknown, and there is limited evidence on its treatment or prevention. This study examined molecular initiating events (MIEs), which are the starting point of adverse events, to investigate the drug-induced pathways of hiccups. We extracted drugs suspected to cause hiccups using FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, a large database on adverse drug reactions. Information on drugs suspected to be associated with hiccups were extracted from the overall population and sex-specific subgroups divided. In each data table, the predicted activity values of nuclear receptors (NRs) and stress response pathways (SPs) for each drug were calculated using the toxicity predictor, a machine-learning model. Univariate analysis extracted NRs and SPs associated with hiccups, and a multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate independent factors. Transforming growth factor-beta and antioxidant response element were considered an independent factor for hiccups in the male and female subgroups, respectively. This report first examined one of the mechanisms of drug-induced hiccups and identified MIEs associated with drug-induced hiccups.
Effect of Alginate Coating Enriched with Postbiotics Derived from Bifidobacterium bifidum Strains on Microbial and Physicochemical Quality of Turkey Breast Meat
Authors: Cengiz Kaynakci Emel
Published: February 2024

The aim of this study was to determine the microbial stability, challenge to L. monocytogenes, and some physicochemical properties of turkey breast meat by alginate-based coating enriched with postbiotics (8% concentration, CFS) of Bifidobacterium bifidum DSM 20456 and Bifidobacterium bifidum BB12 strains. For this purpose, firstly, some antimicrobial and total phenolic matter, flavonoid, and DPPH activity values of postbiotics were determined. In addition, FTIR analysis was performed to see the intermolecular interactions of the biological coating agent. As a result of the study, alginate solution with postbiotic showed significant differences in pH, a*, b*, yeast-mold values of turkey meat during storage (7 days), while L* value, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria count (TMAP), psychrotrophic bacteria (PAB), lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Listeria monocytogenes count were not effective (p>0.05).
Data Augmentation with Generative Adversarial Network for Solar Panel Segmentation from Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Lekavičius Justinas , Gružauskas Valentas
Published: February 2024

With the popularity of solar energy in the electricity market, demand arises for data such as precise locations of solar panels for efficient energy planning, management, and distribution. However, this data is not easily accessible and in some cases, information such as precise locations does not exist. Furthermore, existing data sets for training semantic segmentation models of PV installations are limited, and their annotation is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, for additional remote sensing (RS) data creation, the pix2pix generative adversarial network (GAN) is utilized, enriching the original resampled training data of varying GSDs without compromising its integrity. Experiments done with the DeepLabV3 model, ResNet-50 backbone, and pix2pix GAN architecture were conducted to find the optimal configuration for an accurate RS imagery segmentation model. The result is a fine-tuned solar panel semantic segmentation model, trained using transfer learning and utilizing an optimal amount – 60% of generated RS imagery for additional training data, increasing model accuracy. The findings demonstrate the benefits of using GAN-generated images as additional training data, increasing the size of small data sets, and improving the capabilities of the segmentation model for solar panel detection in RS images.
A Descriptive Study of 103 Primary Cutaneous B-cell Lymphomas: Clinical and Pathological Characteristics and Treatment from the Spanish Lymphoma Oncology Group (Gotel)
Authors: Martínez-Banaclocha Natividad , Martínez-Madueño Francisca , Caballé Berta , Badia Joan , Blanes Mar , Bujanda David Aguiar , Calvo Virginia , Gomez Codina Jose , Blanco Cristina Quero , Espinosa Pablo , Lavernia Javier , Arroyo Francisco Ramón García , Risueño María Guirado , Llorca Cristina , Cumeras Raquel , Pulla Mariano Provencio , Gumà Josep
Published: February 2024

Primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBCLs) are B-cell lymphomas that can occur in the skin without evidence of extracutaneous involvement. The 2005 WHO/EORTC classification of cutaneous lymphomas and its 2018 update have distinguished three main categories based on clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and genetic characteristics: primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (PCMZL), primary cutaneous follicle centre lymphoma (PCFCL), and primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (PCDLBCL-LT). PCMZL and PCFCL are clinically indolent, while PCDLBCL-LT is an aggressive lymphoma. Due to its low incidence and lack of prospective studies, it is difficult to establish a standard treatment for each subgroup. The objective of our study was to describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of 103 patients with cutaneous B-cell lymphoma from 12 centres belonging to the Spanish Lymphoma Oncology Group. The median age was 53 years (40-65). According to skin extension, 62% had single site lymphoma, 17% had regional lymphoma and 20% had multifocal lymphoma. Histology: 66% had PCMZL, 26% had PCFCL, and 8% had PCDLBCL-LT. Twenty-three percent of the patients were treated exclusively with surgery, 26% with radiotherapy only, 21% with surgery plus radiotherapy, 10% with polychemotherapy, and 5% with rituximab monotherapy. Overall, 96% of patients achieved a complete response, and 44% subsequently relapsed, most of them relapsing either locally or regionally. The 10-year OS was 94.5% for the entire cohort, 98% for the PCMZL cohort, 95% for the PCFCL cohort and 85.7% for the PCDLBCL-LT cohort. Our data are comparable to those of other published series, except for the high frequency of PCMZL. The expected heterogeneity in therapeutic management has been observed.
Integrated Performance of a Modular Biomass Boiler with a Combined Heat and Power Industrial Rankine Cycle and Supplementary sCO2 Brayton Cycle
Authors: Haffejee Rashid A. , Rousseau Pieter , Laubscher Ryno
Published: February 2024

In this paper, the integrated performance of a modular biomass boiler with an existing industrial Rankine steam heat and power cycle and a supplementary supercritical-CO2 (sCO2) Brayton cycle is analyzed. The aim is to leverage the high efficiency supplementary sCO2 cycle to increase net generation and energy efficiency from the existing biomass boiler. Two sCO2 heater configurations situated within the flue gas flow path are investigated, namely a single convective-dominant heater, and a dual heater configuration with a radiative and a convective heater. A quasi-steady-state 1D model was developed to simulate the integrated cycle, including detailed component characteristics for the Rankine and Brayton cycles. The model solves the mass, energy, momentum, and species balance equations. The system is analyzed for three cases: (i) the existing Rankine cycle without the sCO2 integration, (ii) with the single convective-dominant sCO2 heater configuration, and (iii) the dual sCO2 heater configuration. The results show the required rate of overfiring for the sCO2 configurations, with a 15.3% increase in fuel flowrate resulting in an additional 21.2% in net power output. The model quantifies the impact of the sCO2 heaters, with reduced heat uptakes for downstream boiler heat exchangers. Furnace water wall heat uptake increased due to overfiring, offsetting the reduced heat uptakes at downstream evaporative heat exchangers. The dual configuration has more impact on Rankine cycle operation due to the radiative sCO2 heater placement in front of the second superheater, absorbing some of the direct radiation from the furnace.
Development of Tetramycin-loaded Core-Shell Balls with Hot/Wet-Response Releasing Property for the Control of Bacterial Wilt Disease
Authors: Gao Juntao , Lin Guan , Deng Xinmin , Zou Junxian , Liu Yong , Chen Xingjiang , Liu Shiwang
Published: February 2024

Ralstonia solanacearum is the pathogen responsible for Ralstonia solanacearum, which is soil-borne, infests plant conduits to cause disease.They are not easy to control and are harmful.Therefore the development of a controlled-release agent responsive to the pathogen's soil temperature and moisture conditions could aid in its control. Corn kernel powder is used as a carrier for Tetramycin biopesticide, with various compounds tested for bonding.They were then made by extrusion moulding.Temperature and wetness responsive components, including Pentaerythritol Tetrastearate, Pentaerythritol Tetraoleate, Polyethylene Glycol Stearate, and Polyethylene Glycol Monooleate,are compounded and coated onto Tetramycin cores to form an intermediate shell layer. Finally, Ethyl cellulose(EC)and Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose(HPMC) are dissolved and sprayed onto the outermost layer to complete the pellet's shell layer.After the evaluation of texture performance test,DSC analysis,TG test,temperature and humidity response performance test, as well as pellet cross-section SEM observation, field effectiveness test, etc., the preferred formulations were screened.The results showed that the preferred Core formulation:Corn kernel powder:Tetramycin aqueous:Xanthan gum mass ratio=13.5:23:2; Intermediate Shell layer:PETS: PETO: PEG400MO mass ratio=10:30:10; and Outer Shell layer: Ethyl cellulose (EC):Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) mass ratio=5:1.Under soil conditions of high incidence of Ralstonia solanacearum, i.e., sustained warmth (30-35℃) and high humidity (30% moisture content), the formulated pills showed a release rate of 95.18% to 96.24% over a period of 35 days. Moreover, they showed a stepwise cyclic release process under alternating warm and humid-dry and cold conditions.In field tests on tobacco, a relative preventive efficacy of 54.74% was achieved 106 days post-transplanting. Soil bacterial community structure analysis revealed a significant decrease (2.28-2.84 times) in the abundance of Solanaceae Raelia under Tetramycin pellet treatment compared to the control. Additionally, fungal community structure showed highter consistency initially across various soil depths, with diversity differences between soil layers reestablished later (106 days), while the predominant categories of bacteria and fungi remained unchanged.In this study, we successfully developed a nucleoshell-type slow-controlled release pill embedded with Tetramycin. This pill effectively responded to temperature and humidity changes, resulting in high efficacy in disease prevention.This development holds significant promise for effectively improving drug utilization and easing application challenges, offering broad prospects for Ralstonia solanacearum prevention and control in agriculture.
Exploring the Collatz Conjecture through Directed Graphs
Authors: U Zaman Budee
Published: February 2024

The Collatz conjecture is a well-known number theory puzzle that states that every positive integer would eventually converge to the trivial cycle of 1, 2, 1, 2,... when repeatedly exposed to a particular transformation. In this transformation, even numbers are divided in half, odd numbers are tripled, and one is added. In this study, we present a new method for creating a directed graph and using it to display and analyze Collatz sequences. Our technique creates what we call a Collatz directed graph by joining an endless number of simple directed graphs, each of which corresponds to a natural number. We show by careful mathematical analysis that all positive integers are included in this Collatz directed graph. Moreover, we give an evidence that verifies the Collatz conjecture by showing that the sole cycle in this graph is the trivial cycle of 1, 2, 1, 2,... We also prove that there is no sequence that diverges to infinity in this graph. Our results provide insights into the fundamental structure of Collatz sequences and further our knowledge of the Collatz conjecture .
Robust Estimations from Distribution Structures: II. Central Moments
Authors: Li Tuobang
Published: February 2024

In descriptive statistics, U -statistics arise naturally in producing minimum-variance unbiased estimators. In 1984, Serfling considered the distribution formed by evaluating the kernel of the U -statistics and proposed generalized L-statistics which includes Hodges-Lehamnn estimator and Bickel-Lehmann spread as special cases. However, the structures of the kernel distributions remain unclear. In 1954, Hodges and Lehmann demonstrated that if X and Y are independently sampled from the same unimodal distribution, X − Y will exhibit symmetrical unimodality with its peak centered at zero. Building upon this foundational work, the current study delves into the structure of the kernel distribution. It is shown that the kth central moment kernel distributions (k > 2) derived from a unimodal distribution exhibit location invariance and is also nearly unimodal with the mode and median close to zero. This article provides an approach to study the general structure of kernel distributions.
Nollywood: Let’s Go to the Movies!
Authors: Ortega John E. , Chen William , Ahmad Ibrahim Said
Published: February 2024

Nollywood, based on the idea of Bollywood from India, is a series of outstanding movies that originate from Nigeria. Unfortunately, while the movies are in English, they are hard to understand for many native speakers due to the dialect of English that is spoken. In this article, we accomplish two goals: (1) create a phonetic sub-title model that is able to translate Nigerian English speech to American English and (2) use the most advanced toxicity detectors to discover how toxic the speech is. Our aim is to highlight the text in these videos which is often times ignored for lack of dialectal understanding due the fact that many people in Nigeria speak a native language like Hausa at home.
Under the Shadow of the Siamese Twins: Ethnicity, Religion and Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential Election
Authors: Muhammad Abdulrasheed A.
Published: February 2024

Nigeria is considered a heterogeneous society per excellence. This is courtesy of its multi ethnic and multi religious character. While there is no agreement among scholars as to the exact number of its ethnic and religious diversities, its ethnic and religious composition closely follow same geographical boundary such that while the Eastern Ibo are mostly Christians, the Northern Hausa are predominantly Muslims while the Western Yoruba people are partly Christians and partly Muslims. Thus both often exercise joint influence on its politics. This is more profound at moments of decision making such as elections. This paper examines the 2023 Presidential elections in Nigeria viz a viz ethnic and religious influence in the election. Anchored on the rational choice theory, the paper relied on secondary source of materials such as text books, journals, electronic sources and official publications especially from the Independent National Electoral Commission. These were analysed using content analysis. It argued that both ethnic and religious influences are like Siamese twins as far as elections in Nigeria are concerned especially because of their geographical boundaries that roughly coincided. It concluded that Nigeria is yet to witness a significant departure in the pattern of ethno-religious influence on its elections. It, therefore, recommends the need for all stakeholders to be deliberate in stemming the tide of destructive ethnic and religious influence on  politics in the country.

Key Words: Ethnicity, Religion, Politics, Election, Influence
Pengetahuan Bahaya Kebakaran Dengan Perilaku Pengendalian Kebakaran Di PT Indo Acidatama TBK Karanganyar
Authors: Yeremia Rante Ada  , Rena Ayu Wulandari
Published: February 2024

The chemical industry is an industry that involves chemical substances in the manufacturing process. Industries that produce or manage chemical-based materials are categorized as having a high level of fire risk. Based on materials and production products that come from flammable materials that have potential fire and explosion hazard caused by machines, unsafe workplaces and unsafe action. This research aims to determine the correlation between the level of knowledge of fire hazards with fire control behavior. The method in this research is an analytical observational research method with a cross-sectional approach. The respondents in this study were employees of PT Indo Acidatama Tbk in the Mechanical and Electrical department with a population of 55 respondents. The sampling technique uses the total sampling technique. The measuring instrument in this research is a questionnaire to measure the level of knowledge of fire hazards and also fire control behavior that have been tested for validity and reability with a cronbach alpha value =0.876. The data analysis technique used is the Somers'd correlation test analysis. The results of the Somers’d correlation test indicate that there is a significant correlation between the variables level of knowledge of fire hazards with fire control behavior with a significance value of p value =0.000 (p value <0.05), and a correlation coefficient value of r =0.838 with a positive correlation direction (+). There is a significant correlations between the level of knowledge of fire hazards with fire control behavior with a positive relationship direction. Improved knowledge will improve occupant control behavior in fire control.
Hubungan Postur Kerja Terhadap Keluhan Low Back Pain Pemetik Teh PT Perkebunan Tambi Wonosobo
Authors: Sumardiyono  , Fajar Hikmah Nurul , Mulyani Sri
Published: February 2024

Tea pickers are workers in the plantation sector who still do their work manually, with repetitive movement, and carry out the load in their back during labor, which can cause non-ergonomic work posture. This causes ergonomic complaints in workers, known as low back pain which is a complaint of back pain caused by several factors, including unnatural work posture, age, and years of service. The research was observational analytic with a cross-sectional design. The sampling technique in this research was total sampling with the total respondents of 36 tea pickers at PT Perkebunan Tambi Wonosobo, Block Bismo of UP Bedakah. This study used the RULA measurement method to measure work posture and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire to measure low back pain complaints. Data analysis techniques used the Somers'd correlation test to determine the correlation between work posture and low back pain Tea Pickers at PT Perkebunan Tambi Wonosobo. The results of the research on 36 respondents showed that there was a significant correlation between work posture and low back pain among tea pickers with a p-value = 0.014 (p<0.05) and a correlation coefficient (r) is 0.410 which is included in a moderate correlation with a positive correlation direction. The conclusion of this study there was a correlation between work posture and low back pain complaints of tea pickers at PT Perkebunan Tambi Wonosobo, Bismo Block of UP Bedakah.
Pembuatan Pocket Hand Sanitizer Berbahan Dasar Daun Kersen (Muntingia calabura L.) Aroma Bunga Melati (Jasminum sambac)
Authors: Arifin Zainal , Afifah Nurul , Puspita Dewanti Rizki
Published: February 2024

A Folia Fresh is a hand sanitizer product in the form of a practical pocket spray made from natural base ingredients of Kersen leaf (Muntingia calabura L.) with a refreshing aroma of Jasmine Flower (Jasminum sambac). Kersen or talok (Muntingia calabura L.) is a kind of shade tree that we can easily find on the roadside. Kersen (Muntigia calabura L.) contains bioactive compounds, namely flavonoid, saponin, triterpene, steroid, and tannin which are compounds that have the potential as antibacterial. Cherry leaves extracts were obtained by maserasi using 70% ethanol as solvent. Cherry leaves were meserated for 21 x 24 hours to obtain the filtrate. The extract is then processed into a hand sanitizer product with the addition of aquadest, glycerin, methyl paraben, and the aroma of Jasmine Flowers. Jasmine flower has active substances that can help regenerate healthy skin, moisturize dry skin, and fight the symptoms of aging.
Pengaruh Penambahan Tepung Kacang Merah dan Tepung Ubi Jalar Ungu (Ipomoea batatas var Ayumurasaki) terhadap Sifat Fisik, Sensoris serta Kimia Chewy Cookies
Authors: Rakhmayati Oktavianisa , Khotimah Khusnul , Mulyani Rizka , Kusumaningrum Indrati
Published: February 2024

Cookies are a dry cake with a crunchy texture and refined grains. Cookies are usually made from the main ingredient, flour and other additives, sugar, eggs, and fat such as butter or margarine. Wheat flour contains a lot of gluten which, if consumed too much, will damage the lining of the small intestine, prevent the absorption of food nutrients, and cause diarrhea, anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, and several other diseases. The substitution of purple sweet potato flour high in anthocyanin and red bean flour high in fiber is one of the efforts to produce good quality chewy cookies which are beneficial for health. This study aim to determine the composition of the addition of red bean flour and purple sweet potato flour to chewy cookies in terms of physical, sensory, and chemical properties. This study used a completely randomized design with 1 factor, namely the ratio of wheat flour: kidney bean flour: purple sweet potato flour A1 (50% : 30% : 20%), A2 (50%: 25%: 25%) and A3 (50% : 20% : 30%) with a total of 300 g. The results show that overall the most preferred chewy cookies are A2 which includes color, aroma, taste and texture. While the chemical composition showed moisture content, ash content, protein, crude fiber, fat, and carbohydrates respectively 6.94%, 0.98%, 5.44%, 2.38%, 24.85%, 59.94%.
Hubungan Beban Kerja Mental dan Kelelahan Kerja dengan Unsafe Action pada Pengemudi Batik Solo Trans (BST) Koridor 1
Authors: Putri Apri Fadhillah Maharani Sunarno , Fajariani Ratna , Haryati Sri
Published: February 2024

Batik Solo Trans bus corridor 1 is a corridor that serves the longest route with a distance of ±54 km and 121 stops. Secondary data shows an increase in the incidence of BST accidents by 8 cases (18%) in 2022 with 43 cases. The type of accident was dominated by unsafe action as many as 26 cases (60%) and 8 cases (30%) of which occurred in corridor 1. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between mental workload and work fatigue with unsafe action in BST corridor 1 drivers. Respondents were taken from BST corridor 1 drivers with a population and sample of 64 people. The sampling technique uses total sampling. The study used questionnaires to measure mental workload, fatigue, and unsafe action. Data analysis techniques in this study are pearson product-moment test for bivariate analysis and the multiple linear regression test for multivariate analysis. The correlation test results obtained p = 0.000 and r = 0.661, meaning that there is a meaningful and significant relationship between mental workload and unsafe action. The correlation test of the work fatigue variable with unsafe action also showed an important relationship between the two with p = 0.000 and r = 0.640 values. Based on multiple linear regression tests, a significance value of 0.000 was obtained, which means that mental workload and work fatigue together affect unsafe action with a contribution of 53% and fatigue is the most influential variable on unsafe action in BST corridor 1 drivers.
Evaluasi Kesesuaian Lahan Kopi Robusta (Coffea canephora) Desa Pucaksari Kecamatan Busungbiu Kabupaten Buleleng Menggunakan Analisis Sistem Informasi Geografi
Authors: Silalahi Agnes Verawaty , Rosyadi R Ibnu
Published: February 2024

Faktor topografi dan iklim mendukung kopi robusta untuk tumbuh baik di Indonesia. Namun, data Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) menunjukkan produksi kopi robusta mengalami penurunan selama satu dekade terakhir (2010-2019), khususnya di wilayah Desa Pucaksari, Provinsi Bali. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengevaluasi kesesuaian lahan kopi robusta pada setiap satuan unit lahan di Desa Pucaksari. Metode ini menerapkan metode interpretasi penggunaan lahan, kemiringan lereng, dan jenis tanah untuk selanjutnya dianalisis menggunakan menggunakan metode evaluasi lahan dan sistem informasi geografi (SIG). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa satuan unit lahan (SUL) K1L2Be dan K1L3Be dengan karakteristik kemiringan lereng antara 8-30%, ketinggian tempat 400-900 mdpl dan jenis tanah Kambisol Eutrik, masuk dalam kelas sesuai (S2) untuk kopi robusta, dengan luas 94,7% dari total luas studi area. Sedangkan 5,23%  area SUL K1L4Be dengan kemiringan lereng >30%, merupakan kelas sesuai marginal (S3). SUL K4L4Be dengan kemiringan lereng >30% dan ketinggian tempat 0-300 mdpl memiliki kelas tidak sesuai (N). Produksi kopi robusta di Desa Pucaksari dapat ditingkatkan dengan mempertahankan kualitas lahan di wilayah S2 dan memperbaiki kualitas lahan S3. Untuk wilayah kategori N, diperlukan kajian khusus sebagai acuan atau dasar dalam perencanaan pengembangan perkebunan kopi dan pemetaan potensi pengembangan wilayah lainnya seperti wisata hutan hujan tropis dan pertanian.
Deep Subsurface Pseudo-Lithostratigraphic Modeling Based on Three-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (3D CNN) Using Inversed Geophysical Properties and Shallow Subsurface Geological Model
Authors: Zhang Baoyi , Xu Zhanghao , Wei Xiuzong , Song Lei , Shah Syed Yasir Ali , Khan Umair , Du Linze , Li Xuefeng
Published: February 2024

Lithostratigraphic modeling holds a vital role in mineral resource exploration and geological studies. In this study, we introduce a novel approach for automating pseudo-lithostratigraphic modeling in the deep subsurface, leveraging inversed geophysical properties. We propose a three-dimensional convolutional neural network with adaptive moment estimation (3D Adam-CNN) to achieve this objective. Our model employs 3D geophysical properties as input features for training, concurrently reconstructing a 3D geological model of the shallow subsurface for lithostratigraphic labeling purposes. To enhance the accuracy of pseudo-lithostratigraphic modeling during the model training phase, we redesign the 3D CNN framework, fine-tuning its parameters using the Adam optimizer. The Adam optimizer ensures controlled parameter updates with minimal memory overhead, rendering it particularly well-suited for convolutional learning involving huge 3D datasets with multi-dimensional features. To validate our proposed 3D Adam-CNN model, we compare the performance of our approach with 1D and 2D CNN models in the Qingniandian area of Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China. By cross-matching the model’s predictions with manually modeled shallow subsurface lithostratigraphic distributions, we substantiate its reliability and accuracy. The 3D Adam-CNN model emerges as a robust and effective solution for lithostratigraphic modeling in the deep subsurface, utilizing geophysical properties.
Active Tectonic Deformation of the Qilian Shan, Northeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Chen Zhidan , Koronovskii N.V. , Zaitsev V.A. , Xu Wenbin , Manuilova E.A. , Liu Xiaoge
Published: February 2024

—The Qilian Shan (or Qilian Mountains), located on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, is an actively growing orogenic belt resulting from the far-field impact of the India–Eurasia collision. The northward penetration of the Indian Plate is responsible for intense crustal shortening in the Qilian Shan. However, the tectonic deformation pattern in response to the crustal shortening remains unclear. In this study, we present the regional seismicity, fault activity, and GPS crustal movement velocity field to characterize the active tectonic deformation of the Qilian Shan based on historical data over the past two decades. The results suggest that the western Qilian Shan is characterized by distributed north–south crustal shortening, while the eastern Qilian Shan is dominated by blocklike eastward extrusion of crust along major strike-slip faults coupled with clockwise rotation. North–south crustal shortening and east–west lateral extrusion, two deformation modes responding to the India–Eurasia convergence, match the crustal deformation in the Qilian Shan. The tectonic deformation of the western Qilian Shan is largely in agreement with the former, while the eastern Qilian Shan corresponds closely to the latter. Lower crustal flow beneath the central Tibetan Plateau provides the potential driving force to induce the eastward extrusion of crustal material out of the plateau and the growth of some boundary mountain ranges, such as the Qilian Shan.
Plan de negocios: "Importación de producto agrícola Supervid para mejorar la coloración de uvas"
Authors:   , Ortiz Ríos Floricelda Amparo , Vargas Huatuco Silvia Giovanna , Vela Flores Andrea Vanessa
Published: February 2024

VOV SAC es una empresa creada con el fin de importar y comercializar insumos orgánicos bio estimulantes para la mejora de las condiciones de la Uva. La idea del negocio se basa en aprovechar dos condiciones básicas, las que habría que evaluar para ver que sea un negocio realizable: 1. Mercado Potencial: Esta decisión de la importación de bioestimulantes surgió debido a que no hay, en el Perú, una oferta específica similar dirigida a este sector. 2. Facilitación del Comercio Exterior, porque existe un acuerdo multilateral con la UE que incluye al país de los proveedores (España); por lo tanto, nuestro producto está libre del pago conocido como ad-valorem(derechos arancelarios). La acumulación de antocianinas (pigmentos), que se encuentran en las frutas, son los encargados de la coloración y según su intensidad dará los colores azul, violeta o rojo. Es por ello, que los estimulantes agrícolas, son usados para mejorar dicha coloración. En el caso de las uvas, existen de diversos tipos con variantes en el grosor de su piel, color o calidad. Con la aplicación del estimulante en el momento oportuno, es decir realizando el ajuste o uniformización de la cantidad necesaria que debe tener se optimiza su desarrollo; posteriormente se podrá clasificarlas y por ende comercializarla convenientemente para conseguir máximas ganancias en el mercado.