bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real time distracted driver detection using Xception architecture and Raspberry Pi
Authors: Narayanan Uma , Prajith Pavan , Mathew Rijo Thomas , Alexandar Royal , Vikraman Vishnu
Published: October 2024

Researchers are concentrating on developing technologies to identify and caution drivers against driving while distracted because it is a major cause of traffic accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator's report, distracted driving is to blame for roughly one in every five car accidents.Our goal is to create an accurate and dependable method for identifying distracted drivers and alerting them to their lack of focus. We take inspiration from the success of convolutional neural networks in computer vision to do this. Our strategy entails putting in place a CNN-based system that can recognize when a driver is distracted as well as pinpoint the precise cause of their preoccupation. Real-time detection, however, necessitates three apparently mutually exclusive requirements for an optimal network: a small number of parameters, high accuracy, and fast speed.
Boosting Algorithms for the Accident Severity
Classification
Authors: Babaev Islam , Mozolin Igor , Garikapati Divya
Published: October 2024

Background: Road accident severity estimation is a critical
aspect of road safety analysis and traffic management. Accurate severity
estimation contributes to the formulation of effective road safety policies.
Knowledge of the potential consequences of certain behaviors or conditions can
contribute to safer driving practices. Identifying patterns of high-severity
accidents allows for targeted improvements in terms of overall road safety.
Objective: This study focuses on analyzing road accidents
by utilizing real data, i.e., US road accidents open database called “CRSS.” It
employs advanced machine learning models such as boosting algorithms such as
LGBM, XGBoost, and CatBoost to predict accident severity classification based on
various parameters. The study also aims to contribute to road safety by
providing predictive insights for stakeholders, functional safety engineering
community, and policymakers using KABCO classification systems. The article
includes sections covering theoretical methodology, data analysis, model
development, evaluation, performance metrics, and implications for improving
road safety measures by comparing the performance of different boosting
algorithms on the CRSS dataset. This study aims to identify the most effective
machine learning algorithm to integrate into our product line in the near
future, enabling accurate prediction of both accident severity and occurrence.
Results and Conclusions: This study addresses challenges in
evaluating performance metrics for different severity classes within unbalanced
datasets, emphasizing the impact of dominant classes like Class O (O = no
apparent injury) on overall accuracy. The investigation reveals the limitations
and conservatism associated with imbalanced data in boosting models, hinting at
a potential ceiling in their performance around 80%. Comparative analysis of
algorithms, including CatBoost, XGBoost, and LGBM, demonstrates comparable
performance even in the case of applying KNN algorithm for pre-processing, based
on various metrics, especially accuracy, F1-score,
ROC-AUC, and PR-AUC for all severity classes. XGBoost with KNN algorithm did not
show any significant performance improvement compared to the XGBoost without KNN
algorithm. The study includes performance metrics, such as
F1-score, CM upper triangle, ROC-AUC, and PR-AUC
applied to an accident analysis case study. Future work directions involve
extending the application of CatBoost, XGBoost, and other algorithms to diverse
datasets, exploring the capabilities of deep neural networks, refining dataset
preparation for accuracy improvement, and creating unified tools for hazard
analysis and risk assessment.
Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Ethanol-Gasoline Blends on a Single-Cylinder Spark-Ignition Engine Performance and Emissions
Authors:   Tezpur University, Napaam-784028, India, Saikia Pritam Jyoti , Dutta Partha Pratim
Published: October 2024

With the rapid increase in the number of vehicles fueled by gasoline plying on the roads, there has been a rising need in the search for alternative fuels, which are more environmental friendly in order to reduce the amount of vehicular exhaust emissions. This can be achieved by using blended mixtures of gasoline with alcoholic fuels among which, ethanol is found to be most suitable due to its easy availability, low costs, safety and low impact on the engine performance. This study aims to investigate the performance of a single-cylinder, four-stroke spark-ignition engine using different ethanol-gasoline blends, namely E0, E10, E20 and E30. The engine's torque, brake power, brake thermal efficiency, brake-specific fuel consumption, and exhaust emissions were analysed using numerical simulation. Results revealed that raising the proportion of ethanol in the fuel mixture resulted in reduced brake power and torque upto 16% as a result of decrease in calorific value of the mixture. The engine's brake thermal efficiency decreased by upto 3% while the brake-specific fuel consumption increased upto 12% with increase in ethanol concentration. Exhaust emissions, including NOx and HC, were found to be influenced by engine speed, with NOx emissions increasing and HC emissions decreasing as speed increased. The study also revealed that increasing ethanol concentration in the fuel resulted in reduced engine exhaust emissions by upto 47% and 10% for NOX and HC emissions respectively. The study concluded that among all the blends used, optimum performance was obtained for E30 blend with reduction in exhaust emissions but at the expense of slight reduction in engine performance.
Performance Analysis and Emission Characteristics for Butanol Blended Diesel fuel
Authors:   National Institute of Sikkim, India, Jaiswal R , Mishra V P , Barman S
Published: October 2024

This experimental study is done on a single cylinder DICI engine to evaluate its performance and emission for different ratio of butanol in diesel. At lower loading BTE and BSFC of the butanol-diesel blend were better than pure diesel. Blend with 40% v/v of butanol was 17.54 % more efficient than pure diesel at 16.67% loading, 12%v/v of butanol in diesel was around 3% more efficient than diesel at 50% loading. BSFC for diesel with 12%v/v of butanol was similar to diesel up to 50% loading. The investigation predicts that at lower loadings butanol promotes the premixing quality with increased oxygen contained in charge and at higher loading due to low calorific (CV) of charge performance of the test fuel. NOx emission of the butanol blend fuels is lower than the diesel and reduces with increase in butanol contained in diesel. NOx was least for B20D80 and B40D60 fuel at lower and higher loading, respectively. NOx emissions for B20D80 and B40D60 were 33.60% and 27.78 % lower than Pure diesel at lower and full loading, respectively. HC and CO emission butanol-diesel blend were lower than pure diesel at higher loading and CO emission for the blend were higher than diesel at lower loading, which may be implemented in the design of new engines
Nusselt Number and Friction Factor Characteristics of Two Pass Solar Air Collector Provided with Double Sided Roughened Absorber Plate
Authors:   Department of Mechanical engineering, Dr. B.R.Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, , Punjab, India, Ravi Ravi Kant , Kumar Rajesh , Kumar Manoj , Kumar Mukesh , Singh Chandraveer
Published: October 2024

— Thermal efficiency of flat collector surface solar air heater (SAH) is relatively poor due to poor heat transfer coefficient. This article’s primary objective is to evaluate the heat transfer and pressure loss characteristics of counter flow SAH (CFSAH) by adopting novel discrete multi-V-shaped and staggered rib geometry. The experimentations are performed for various flow Reynolds number (Re) ranging from 3000- 21000 and rib parameters including relative gap distance (Gd /Lv) from 0.24 -0.69 and relative gap width (g/e) from 0.5-1.5 while other parameters are kept as constant. The study revealed that the maximum increment in heat transfer as 4.52 times and friction factor as 3.13 times as compared to non-roughened duct has been obtained. Further, the thermohydraulic performance parameter (TPP) has also been investigated to obtain the optimum parameters. The minimum and maximum value of TPP has been achieved as 1.94 and 3.88 corresponding to Re=2000 and Re=16000 respectively. Therefore, the present work can be fruitful for heating and drying application
Optical and Thermal Modeling of a Cylindrical– Hemispherical Receiver
Authors:   Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur -713209, West Bengal, India, Kumar Kolli Harish , Karmakar Malay , Mondal Bittagopal
Published: October 2024

Receiver geometry optimization is a crucial domain in enhancing the efficiency of parabolic dish concentrators. This optimization necessitates thoroughly scrutinizing the receiver's optical and thermal characteristics. The present study engages in a cylindrical-hemispherical receiver's optical and thermal modeling. Set at an aperture of 0.150m, the receiver's height varies between 0.150m to 0.160m. Sol-Trace software is employed for the optical modeling to analyse the total amount of heat flux absorbed by the receiver that has been concentrated using parabolic dish. The diameter of the is taken as 3m, and the receivers placement is varied between 1.55m and 2.05m from the dish concentrator to obtain the optimal distance for absorbing maximum heat flux. From the results optimal distance has been observed as 1.8m from the dish concentrator. Maximum heat flux of 6664.56W has been absorbed by the receiver surface at this position. Additionally, thermal modeling using CFD has been conducted to calculate convective heat losses from the receiver under different wind conditions, such as varying wind direction and wind velocity. The maximum convective heat loss observed under head-on wind conditions is 772.73W, while under back-on wind conditions, it is 606.84W
A Review on Vehicle Technologies of Electric Vehicles (Evs) in Different Indian Scenario
Authors:   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Sudhir Chandra Sur Institute of Technology and Sports Complex, Kolkata, Gupta Dwaipayan , Sen Ruma , Choudhur Bikash
Published: October 2024

We are living in an age where the rising level of pollution has left our livelihood in complete disarray. The amount of particulate matter in the air is touching new heights day by day. The number of industries and automobiles has increased exponentially over time due to rising population and demand. The power sources for the mentioned sources of smoke, i.e., fossil fuels, are the reasons for such a condition of the atmosphere and are very costly at that. The reserve of fossil fuels is depleting, and the costs are rising. Hence, it is obvious that right now we are in dire need of an alternative power source. Automotives could also be propelled by electrical power without using fuel, and they are termed "electric vehicles. This is, however, not a new concept, and for over a century, research has been made to propel automobiles using an electrical power source like a battery and feeding the power to a traction unit like a motor. Speed control and other controls are achieved by different signal processing devices. Despite being an emission-free system, there are a few shortfalls in this system, which have been discussed in this paper. Right now, active research is going on the use of fuel cells as the power source for the system. In a country like India, where the population density is quite high, in order to reduce pollution, at least from automotive sources, an inclination towards electric vehicles is quite an essential option. In this paper, a review has been made on the present trends and scopes of electric vehicles and their applicability in India, and the scopes of the use of fuel cells as a power source and some suggestions for vehicle charging have also been mentioned
BOARD GENDER DIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE RESEARCH
Authors:   Brawijaya University, WAHYUNI SRI , IRIANTO GUGUS ,   Brawijaya University, SUKOHARSONO EKO GANIS ,   Brawijaya University, ANDAYANI WURYAN ,   Brawijaya University
Published: October 2024

In recent years, “Sustainability Reporting (SR)” has become an essential trend in the business world, recognising the importance of sustainability in supporting long-term growth and corporate social responsibility. Likewise, “Board Gender Diversity (BGD)” has become increasingly relevant, with research showing its positive impact on corporate sustainability practices and financial reporting. Through two keyword analyses, we found a connection between the two concepts, but the qualitative review still needed to be improved. Using a systematic literature review method focusing on articles published between 1998 and 2023. A total of 64 relevant articles were selected from the Scopus database. Analysis was carried out using software such as VOS-Viewer and Biblioshiny via RStudio. The findings of this review are based on previous research, which found an increase in articles related to BGD and SR, especially after 2015. We also succeeded in identifying high-performing journals, publishers, and articles. In the context of the current research, there is a conceptual framework that includes various theories that explain non-financial reporting themes and classify them into several perspectives. Meanwhile, future research directions are identified by providing added value for researchers interested in this research topic.
ANALISIS DIFRAKTOMETER BELAUAN SINAR-X (XRD) BATA DAN ATAP GENTING MONUMEN JETI DAN PENGURUSAN PELABUHAN SB2ZZ DI KOMPLEKS ARKEOLOGI SUNGAI BATU (KASB), LEMBAH BUJANG, KEDAH
Authors:   Independent Researcher, ABD HALIM MOHD HASFARISHAM , TALIB NOR KHAIRUNNISA ,   Universiti Sains Malaysia, JUSOH AHMAD FADLY ,   Universiti Sains Malaysia, MASNAN SHYEH SAHIBUL KARAMAH ,   Universiti Sains Malaysia, SAIDIN MOKHTAR ,   Independent Researcher
Published: October 2024

Kajian arkeologi yang dijalankan di tapak jeti dan pengurusan pelabuhan di Kompleks Arkeologi Sungai Batu (KASB) sejak tahun 2009 telah berupaya mendedahkan struktur binaan bangunan yang dibina sepenuhnya daripada bata. Struktur monumen tersebut juga berbumbung berdasarkan penemuan pelapik tiang dan atap genting di dalam tapak berkenaan. Bagi mendapatkan data primer berkaitan dengan bahan asas yang digunakan dalam proses pembuatan bata, atap genting serta pembinaan monumen berkenaan, maka analisis Difraktometer Belauan Sinar-X (XRD) telah dijalankan terhadap 45 sampel bata dan 15 sampel atap genting terutamanya di tapak jeti dan pengurusan pelabuhan SB2ZZ. Hasil analisis berkenaan kemudiannya dibandingkan dengan analisis sampel tanah yang diambil di bahagian tebing Sungai Kuno di dalam KASB. Berdasarkan perbandingan analisis, dicadangkan bahawa bahan asas yang digunakan untuk menghasilkan bata dan atap genting tersebut diambil di sekitar Sungai Batu itu sendiri yang mengukuhkan pandangan berkaitan dengan penggunaan bahan asas tempatan dalam proses penghasilan bata dan atap genting bagi kerajaan Kedah Tua. Teknologi pembakaran bata dan atap genting juga berjaya diklasifikasikan berdasarkan kandungan mineral yang terdapat dalam artifak berkenaan yang secara amnya dibakar sekitar suhu 550-1,400ºC.
DO YOU TRUST OUR PUBLIC PROTECTION? EXPLORING ITS MODERATING EFFECT IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEIVED SUSCEPTIBILITY AND FLOOD PREPAREDNESS INTENTION
Authors:   Universiti Teknologi MARA, RIDZUAN MOHD ROZAIMY , RAZALI JAMAL RIZAL ,   Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, JU SOON-YEW ,   Universiti Teknologi MARA, ABD RAHMAN NOOR AMIRA SYAZWANI ,   Universiti Teknologi MARA, KONG LAI-KUAN ,   Universiti Teknologi MARA, MD YUSOF NORHIDAYAH ,   Universiti Teknologi MARA
Published: October 2024

Frequent flooding in Malaysia has resulted in substantial human casualties and property damage. Pahang, situated on East Coast Peninsular Malaysia, is highly susceptible to significant flood events, especially during the monsoon season. Increasing awareness of the susceptibility to catastrophes has been observed to have a positive influence on individuals’ inclination to acquire knowledge and understanding of disaster preparedness, thereby reducing their vulnerability to such events. This research investigated the correlation between perceived susceptibility, flood preparedness intention, and trust in public protection among a sample of 200 residents from the state. The proposed model underwent testing through the application of the structural equation modelling technique, specifically the partial least squares method. The findings revealed a positive relationship between perceived susceptibility and flood preparedness intention, and this relationship weakened with higher levels of trust in public protection. This study aims to contribute to the body of knowledge regarding flood preparedness in Malaysia, particularly in Pahang.Furthermore, this study is anticipated to assist policymakers in formulating specific policies to help individuals deal with flood situations.
ESTIMATING THE TOTAL CARBON STOCK IN THE MANGROVE FOREST OF KOTA MARUDU, SABAH, MALAYSIA
Authors:   Universiti Malaysia Sabah, SUHAILI NURUL SYAKILAH , MHD HATTA SYAHRIR ,   Universiti Malaysia Sabah, SALLEH EJRIA ,   Universiti Malaysia Sabah, AWANG BESAR NORMAH ,   Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Published: October 2024

Mangrove forests are capable of storing vast amounts of carbon and are recognised as one of the highest carbon densities in the world. This research examines the mangrove forest in Kota Marudu, Sabah, Malaysia, specifically its soil’s physico-chemical properties and total carbon stock. Using two 100-metre-long transect lines with seven-metre diameter circle subplots established at every 25 metres, a forest inventory and an allometric equation were used to determine the aboveground and belowground biomass. The carbon content was estimated to be 50% of biomass. Simultaneously, soil samples were collected at depths of 0-15 cm, 15-30 cm, 30-50 cm, and 50-100 cm for soil analysis and bulk density. A CHNS elemental analyser was used to determine the carbon content in the soil. The results showed that the Kota Marudu mangrove forest has a total carbon stock of 1,010.65 Mg C ha-1, where around 80% of it was contributed by the soil carbon pool at 876.16 Mg C ha-1. The results also revealed that the living tree and roots carbon pool were measured at 100.87 Mg C ha-1 and 33.62 Mg C ha-1, respectively. These findings highlight the crucial role of mangrove forests in carbon sequestering and mitigating climate change.
THE EFFECT OF JOB CRAFTING AND SELF EFFICACY ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE WITH WORK ENGAGEMENT AS AN INTERVENING VARIABLE (STUDY ON PLTU SALIRA 1X660 MW PT LESTARI BANTEN ENERGI)
Authors: Rizki Khoirul , Prahiawan Wawan
Published: October 2024

This study aims to test and analyze the influence of employee job crafting and self-efficacy to increase work engagement and improve employee performance. 126 respondents of PT Lestari Banten Energi were selected for the study. The measurement model test in this study was carried out. The structural model was evaluated using R-square for the dependent variable, the Stone geisser Q-square test for predictive relevance, and the t-test to assess the significance of the structural path parameter coefficient. The results showed that (1) there is a positive and significant influence of job crafting on the work engagement of employees, so that the higher the job crafting of employees owned, the better the performance will be. (2) There is an influence of work engagement on the performance of employees because the Tstatic (3,957) > Ttable (1.96) and Pvalue (0.000)  sig (0.05) values. (3) There are two factors that mediate the positive influence of the two factors: (1) job crafting, (2) work engagement, and (3) work engagement.
Analisis Pengaruh Lokasi, Harga, Reputasi Hotel dan Kualitas Layanan Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian di Hotel Santika Kelapa Gading
Authors: Verista Kurniawan Livionara
Published: October 2024

Pertumbuhan sektor pariwisata di Indonesia menunjukkan angka yang sangat signifikan setelah masa pandemi. Dampaknya, jumlah kebutuhan penginapan dan fasilitas MICE terus meningkat. Hal ini juga berdampak pada peningkatan jumlah hotel sehingga menimbulkan persaingan ketat di pasar Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh lokasi, harga, reputasi hotel, dan kualitas layanan terhadap keputusan pembelian di Hotel Santika Kelapa Gading. Hipotesis dalam penelitian ini akan diuji secara kuantitatif menggunakan SPSS. Teknik pengambilan sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah probability sampling dengan menggunakan pendekatan simple random sampling melalui penyebaran kuesioner pada sejumlah sampel dari daftar populasi yang merupakan pelanggan Hotel Santika Kelapa Gading. Jumlah sampel pelanggan Hotel Santika Kelapa Gading yang mengisi kuesioner adalah sebanyak 150 responden. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian diketahui bahwa tidak terdapat pengaruh dari lokasi dan harga terhadap keputusan pembelian. Namun demikian terdapat pengaruh yang positif dan signifikan dari kualitas layanan dan reputasi hotel terhadap keputusan pembelian di Hotel Santika Kelapa Gading. Keempat faktor lokasi, harga, reputasi hotel, dan kualitas layanan secara simultan memberikan pengaruh terhadap keputusan pembelian dan memiliki nilai koefisien determinasi yang moderat. Hal ini berarti keempat variabel tersebut memiliki kemampuan yang cukup untuk dapat memberikan prediksi atau penjelasan terhadap variabel keputusan pembelian di Hotel Santika Kelapa Gading.
Tamizaje renal
Authors: Sapón Pérez Byron Felipe
Published: October 2024

OBJETIVO: identificar factores de riesgo de progresión y daño renal en una población autopercibida como sana. MÉTODO: se realizó un estudio con enfoque cuantitativo, diseño no experimental de tipo poblacional, alcance descriptivo se eligió una muestra 94 personas aparentemente sanas, la muestra fue no probabilística y se eligió a conveniencia, se les realizó una entrevista presencial para buscar factores de riesgo de progresión renal y determinación de muestra de sangre y orina en el campo de estudio,  la estimación del Índice de Filtrado Glomerular mediante ecuación CKD-EPI, y se calculó el Odds Ratio entre los factores de riesgo encontrados con lesión renal, en personas que desconocían padecerlos. RESULTADOS: de la muestra establecida se buscó la mayor cantidad de variables posibles, se identificaron a 8 personas (8.5% IC 95% [4.38 a 15.90] con tasa de filtrado glomerular menor de 60 ml/min/1.73m2 acompañado de proteinuria y sedimento urinario activo. CONCLUSIÓN: esta actividad permitió identificar personas con posible enfermedad renal y factores de progresión de enfermedad renal que eran desconocidos o ignorados por las mismas y pasibles de tratamiento.
The Effect of Adiwiyata School Program Implementation on the Ability of Environmental Literacy of Students
Authors: Pahleviannur Muhammad Rizal
Published: October 2024

Environmental problems are currently the center of world attention, especially environmental degradation in Indonesia. Education is one of the efforts to improve environmental literacy by implementing the Adiwiyata School program. This research aims to 1) analyze the conditions of the implementation of the Adiwiyata School program at Public Senior High School 3 Surakarta; 2) analyze the environmental literacy ability of students in Public Senior High School 3 Surakarta; and 3) know the effect of the implementation of adiwiyata school program on the literacy ability of students in Public Senior High School 3 Surakarta. This type of research is quantitative and has a correlation research design. The sample in this study amounted to 45 teachers and 100 students at Public Senior High School 3 Surakarta. Data collection techniques and instruments used include test sheets, questionnaires, and documentation. Data analysis techniques used descriptive statistics and independent t-tests. The results showed that 1) the implementation conditions of the Adiwiyata School program at Public Senior High School 3 Surakarta obtained excellent results with the percentage of each indicator consisting of an environmentally sound policy of 63%, the implementation of an environmentally-based curriculum 58%, and environmentally friendly support facilities management 75%, while participatory-based environmental activities obtained good results with a percentage of 49%; 2) the ability of environmental literacy of students in Public Senior High School 3 Surakarta obtained knowledge results 74%, attitude 71%, and behaviour 74% so classified in good criteria, while cognitive ability 42% so classified in moderate criteria; and 3) obtained the value of the significance of sig p-value (2-tailed) 0.000 ≤ 0.05 H0 were rejected and H1 was accepted, so there was an influence between the Adiwiyata School program implementation on the students literacy capabilities in Public Senior High School 3 Surakarta.
Plano decenal de educação: formação do magistério, qualidade e gestão
Authors: Silva Thiago David da , Sartori Leandro , Bar Gilcilene de Oliveira Damasceno
Published: October 2024

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar as relações entre os acordos internacionais e o Plano Decenal de Educação, publicado no Brasil em 1993, no que se refere a forma como os documentos abordam a relação entre formação docente, qualidade e gestão. A metodologia aplicada foi a análise documental, tendo como principais fontes a Declaração Mundial de Educação para Todos e o Plano Decenal de Educação para Todos. A pesquisa conclui que o plano educacional do governo brasileiro se alinhava às tendências internacionais, focando na capacitação em serviço de professores e na implementação de estratégias de gerenciamento de resultados, com participação limitada dos funcionários para atingir metas padronizadas estabelecidas pela administração pública.
Bioprospecting of Marine Fungi for Production of Extracellular Protease
Authors:   Department of Microbiology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur-522510, Andhra Pradesh, India., dondapati Mallika , dara Lilly pushpam ,   Department of Microbiology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur-522510, Andhra Pradesh, India., Jattavathu Madhavi ,   Department of Microbiology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur-522510, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Published: October 2024

Proteases from microorganisms have attracted much attention in the last decade because of their gigantic potential in various industrial processes due to their proteolytic activity such as detergent, textile, leather, dairy, and pharmaceutical preparations. However, proteolytic enzymes from microorganisms are preferred in the industrial application of enzymes due to their technical and economic advantages. In the present research work, protease-producing microorganisms were isolated from marine soil samples and screened for protease-producing ability using skim milk agar. Among twenty-three isolates, nine isolates were protease positive indicated by the clear zone around the colony. In quantitative screening, the highest protease activity was observed with JML 15 (144.72 U/ml) and JML 8 (107.92 U/ml) and selected for further investigation. Based on the molecular characterization and phylogenetic studies, the selected isolates were identified as Penicillium lagena JML 8 (PP987316.1) and Penicillium oxalicum JML 15 (PQ160092.1). The results showed that JML 15 and JML 8 had great potential to be used for the production of protease enzymes and upscale for industrial production.
Philosophical and Methodological Analysis of the Transformation of Paradigms of Science and Education
Authors:   Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Department of Oriental Philosophy and Culture, TASHGUV, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Mustafaevna Izzetova Emine , Vladimirovna Li Ekaterina ,   Candidate of Philosophical Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, TSPU, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Published: October 2024

The article provides a philosophical analysis of nonlinear thinking, shows the relationship of paradigmatic changes in the “science – education” system. The essence of the concepts of instability and nonlinearity in the framework of the theory of synergetics is revealed. The transformation of the paradigm of science and its influence on the model of education is shown. The paradigm of education in a digital society is considered. The position is substantiated that the theoretical and methodological basis of the dynamics of socio-cultural reality is synergetics and nonlinear analysis.
Importance and Application of Quality Tools in Healthcare Facilities
Authors:   Nursing Officer, Govt. General Hospital, Karaikal, Puducherry, India, V. Balachandar , M. Dr. Rajalakshmi ,   Associate Professor, Department of Community medicine, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry., Mohan Dr. Reena ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Community medicine, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry.
Published: October 2024

Wherever we go and whatever we buy we always look for quality. Every organization, company, industry, and institution is trying and struggling to give quality services and products, and to overcome the struggle, management experts have given many tools to improve quality for better outcomes. They are PDCA, 5 S, Histogram, flow chart, run chart, control chart, Brainstorming, Why-Why analysis, Pareto chart, Check sheet, Gantt chart, Scatter chart, Fishbone chart, Mistake proofing, and Six Sigma. This review aims to explain the importance and application of these Quality tools in healthcare facilities.
Dignity and the Purpose of Labour Law
Authors: Orton Ruben
Published: October 2024

The article advances the notion in the context of South African labour law that the purpose of labour law is to protect the human dignity of employees. In doing so, it deviates from the accepted idea that the purpose of labour law in South Africa is to restrict the power of employers to impose their will in the employment relationship so that employees are treated fairly. Dignity is furthermore integrated and conceptualised in a manner that enhances its substantive use in labour law. This is achieved by adjusting the test for fairness of labour practices and by presenting a dignity framework. The framework consists of two dignity models: the ‘same-kind dignity model’ and the ‘self-fulfilment dignity model’. The framework furthermore harnesses the social justice rules that are applied in South African labour law to resolve the perceived tension between individualistic and communitarian facets of dignity.
The Protection of Confidential Information in Restraint of Trade Agreements
Authors: van Eck Michelle , van Staden Marthinus
Published: October 2024

This article examines the balance between protecting an employer’s confidential information and the enforceability of restraint of trade agreements. Central to the discourse is the principle that while employers legitimately seek to safeguard their proprietary information and trade secrets, such measures must align with public policy considerations to avoid unduly curtailing employees’ employment opportunities. Restraint of trade clauses are not inherently invalid but must be scrutinised for their reasonableness, necessity in protecting legitimate business interests and compliance with public policy. Focusing on confidential information as a key protectable interest, the article delineates the conditions under which such information qualifies for protection and how its misuse by former employees poses a legitimate concern for employers. The article underscores a growing tendency to prioritise the safeguarding of employers’ interests, particularly concerning proprietary information. This focus has led to foundational contractual principles being overlooked. The article argues for a nuanced understanding that considers the confidentiality undertaking, location and timing. It underscores the need for the judicious drafting and enforcement of restraint of trade clauses and confidentiality undertakings, guided by clear legal principles that safeguard both employers’ proprietary interests and the public interest in fair competition and employment mobility.
Notes: Can a Hypothetical Comparator be used in an Equal Pay Claim under Section 6(4) of the EEA?
Authors: Ebrahim Shamier
Published: October 2024

This note deals with the question whether a hypothetical comparator can be used in an equal pay claim under s 6(4) of the Employment Equity Act. A reading of s 6(4) which contains the three equal pay causes of action requires an equal pay claimant to compare her terms and conditions of employment with those of an actual comparator. This, however, is not the end of the matter as item 6.5 of the Equal Pay Code provides that an equal pay claimant may base an equal pay claim on the ground that she would have received higher pay if she were not a female and this allows for the use of a hypothetical comparator. It is contended that s 6(4) of the EEA, read with item 6.5 of the Equal Pay Code (and Mutale’s case), provides for the use of a hypothetical comparator and this argument is buttressed by both international labour law and United Kingdom equal pay law.
Notes: Mandatory Sanctions Miss the Mark: An Evaluation of Centre for Child Law & others v SA Council for Educators & others 2024 (4) SA 473 (SC)
Authors: de Villiers Cecile
Published: October 2024

Managing the conduct of public educators is the joint responsibility of the relevant provincial department of education as employer and the South African Council for Educators (educators’ council) tasked with upholding ethics in basic education. Each has its own disciplinary code and procedures to manage educator misconduct, and both include mandatory sanctions for misconduct such as assault. The Centre for Child Law challenged the disciplinary decisions by presiding officers in two assault cases where mandatory sanctions were imposed in line with the mandatory sanctions policy of the educators’ council. While the High Court found it a constitutional imperative that the educators’ council revise its mandatory sanctions policy, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) held that the policy unlawfully restricted decision- makers’ discretion. The disciplinary decisions made by the educators’ council were held to be unlawful, invalid and in breach of its constitutional obligations towards children. This note illustrates the risks posed by mandatory sanctions to the effective management of educator misconduct. It argues that the SCA judgment has broader significance for the management of misconduct, particularly assault, in public basic education and that the educators’ council and employer should abandon mandatory sanctions in response to educator misconduct.
Adult Experience of Pregnancy and Childbirth in Survivors of Underage Sexual Violence
Authors:   Institute of Bioethics, Sophia University, Japan, Tomomi Mitsutake , Hiroshi Shimato ,   Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Nursing, Sophia University, Japan
Published: October 2024

Objective: Ms. A, who was a victim of sexual violence as a minor, spoke about pregnancy and childbirth as an adult and revealed her thoughts on the medical treatment and care she received. Methods: Semi-structured interview was conducted on zoom using an interview guide about Ms. A's thoughts on pregnancy and childbirth. The contents of the interview were coded using NVivo version 1.6.1, a qualitative data analysis support software. Content analysis was performed on 62 coded data and categorized them. Results: Seven categories were generated: resistance, disgust, pain, flashbacks, childbirth, positive emotions, and children. "Flashbacks" and "resistance," "pain" and "disgust," and "children" and "childbirth" were related. Discussion: It became clear that pregnancy and childbirth are experiences that are connected to past sexual violence victims. Consideration is required for everyone, even if it is supportive care, such as the medical treatment and care that pregnant women receive on a routine basis, or the situation where they touch the female genitals. Even if appropriate support is not available during pregnancy, it is necessary to continue to provide support during the child-rearing period so that pregnancy and childbirth can be viewed in a positive light.
Influence of Social Media Marketing on Customer Loyalty in Luxury Hotels in South Africa
Authors: Mbatha Lexy
Published: October 2024

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of social media marketing on customer loyalty in luxury hotels in Kenya.
Materials and Methods: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: The study found that effective social media strategies, such as engaging content and personalized interactions, foster a strong emotional connection between luxury hotels and their guests. This emotional engagement, often cultivated through visually appealing posts and authentic storytelling, enhances brand perception and trust, leading to increased customer loyalty. Furthermore, user-generated content and reviews shared on social platforms contribute to a sense of community among customers, reinforcing their loyalty to the brand. Overall, luxury hotels that leverage social media marketing not only attract new customers but also cultivate a loyal clientele that feels valued and connected to the brand's identity.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Relationship marketing theory, social exchange theory and brand loyalty theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing influence of social media marketing on customer loyalty in luxury hotels in Kenya. Luxury hotels should prioritize developing personalized marketing strategies that leverage data analytics to understand customer preferences. As hotels utilize data for personalized marketing, clear policies regarding data privacy and security must be established.
Exploring Supply Chain Disruptions at Walmart and the Boeing Company: When Saying “I’m Sorry” Is Not Enough”
Authors: Gates-Mayweathers Denise
Published: October 2024

This chapter explored the salient themes emerging as disruptions in the supply chain management at Walmart and the Boeing Company. It examined how both companies have responded to highly publicized disruptions in their supply chains, compromising customer satisfaction. Thousands of complaints against Walmart could be classified as: 1) Profiling (allegations of theft, race-based refusal of services, locking up goods); 2) Damaged goods; 3) Billing issues; 4) Delivery problems / Missing goods; 5) Communication barriers due to delayed, inconsistent, or incoherent messages; and 6) Employee complaints. Walmart’s typical response was an apology, a courtesy gift card, or to settle lawsuits. In the case of Boeing, investigations unveiled deception in business practices which resulted in inaccurate information being shared with regulating agencies as well as poor coordination of repair efforts, lack of documentation, ineffective communication, or neglect. Boeing’s problems led to catastrophic failures, for which Boeing has paid billions of dollars in damages and agreed to strict monitoring.
AS CONTRIBUIÇÕES DA ABORDAGEM STEAM NA EDUCAÇÃO ESPECIAL
Authors: Sousa Elenice Ribeiro de , Rossi Mayara , Freitas Cordeiro Luzia
Published: October 2024

O propósito deste estudo foi examinar as contribuições da metodologia STEAM para a Educação Especial. Trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica e qualitativa. Utilizaram-se as plataformas de pesquisa "Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO), "Portal de Periódicos da Capes" e "Google Acadêmico", utilizando os seguintes termos de pesquisa: "Educação Especial and STEAM", "Educação Especial and abordagem STEAM", "Educação Especial and metodologia STEAM" e "Educação Especial and metodologia STEAM". Apenas artigos científicos nacionais sobre o assunto foram incluídos nos critérios de inclusão, publicados entre 2017 e 2022. A elaboração deste artigo perdurou os meses de janeiro, fevereiro e março de 2023. A análise dos resultados se deu por meio da Análise de Livre Interpretação. Os resultados indicam que a abordagem STEAM, juntamente com outros métodos ativos, pode oferecer diversas contribuições para o processo de ensino e aprendizado de alunos da Educação Especial, incluindo: colocar o aluno como o centro do conhecimento; empregar atividades práticas que atraem as crianças; empregar jogos e tecnologias que estimulam a participação dos alunos nas aulas; adotar uma perspectiva interdisciplinar que favorece o aprendizado dos alunos; se afastar da pedagogia convencional, entre outros aspectos.
RP-HPLC APPROACH FOR CONCURRENT QUANTIFICATION OF TRIFLURIDINE AND TIPIRACIL PHARMACEUTICAL AND IN BULK FORMS: DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION
Authors: B Mallikarjuna
Published: October 2024

The proposed RP-HPLC approach effectively quantifies tipiracil and trifluridine in pharmaceutical dosage forms, offering high sensitivity, linearity, and repeatability. Using a phosphate based buffer pH 4.6 and a carrier liquid of methanol with phosphate buffer solution (70:30 v/v), the method employs a Symmetry C18 column (4.6 x 150mm, 5?m, XTerra) with UV absorbance measurement at 273 nm ,the flow capacity of 1.0 ml/min and the  run time was carried for 7mins. The retention duration of Tipracil is 2.003min and 5.067min for Trifluridine. The linearity range is 25-125 ?g/ml for both drugs while the regression coefficient lies at  ? 0.999. The precision of developed method  is confirmed by %RSD values under 2%, and recovery rates of 97-102% demonstrate accuracy and minimal excipient interference, making it suitable for routine quality control.
Pharmacological profile of Cymbopogan Citratus: A review
Authors: Mishra Apoorav
Published: October 2024

Cymbopogoncitratus is an aromatic plant of Gramineae family well-known as lemon grass. Cymbopogon is derived from Greek word “kymbe – pogon” which means boat-beard. The lemon-like scent could be ascribed to the existence of a cyclic monoterpene (citral). The herb is a perennial grass, native and distributed in Asia, Africa, South and North America. It contains considerable group of flavonoids, essential oils, phenolic compounds and other phytochemical constituents which possesses pharmacological activities such as anti-obesity, anti-carcinogenic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-nociceptive, anti-oxidants anti-diarrheal, and anti-inflammatory properties which could enhance health.It has also been known to restrain platelet composition, cure diabetes, gastrointestinal infections, anxiety or depression, malaria and pneumonia. Industrially, they serve as additive, flavour, insecticides and preservative in beverages, baked foods and cuisines. The essential oil of the plant is used in aromatherapy. The compounds identified in Cymbopogoncitratus are mainly terpenes, alcohols, ketones, aldehyde and esters. Some of the reported phytoconstituents are essential oils that contain Citral ?, Citral ?, NerolGeraniol, Citronellal, Terpinolene, Geranyl acetate, Myrecene and TerpinolMethylheptenone. The plant also contains reported phytoconstituents such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which consist of luteolin, isoorientin 2’-O-rhamnoside, quercetin, kaempferol and apiginin. Studies indicate that Cymbopogoncitratus possesses various pharmacological activities such as anti-amoebic, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, antifilarial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Various other effects like antimalarial, antimutagenicity, antimycobacterial, antioxidants, hypoglycemic and neurobehaviorial have also been studied. These results are very encouraging and indicate that this herb should be studied more extensively to confirm these results and reveal other potential therapeutic effects.
Exploratory Study on Various Types of Leisure Activities of Indian Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder- A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Sylvia Menezes Ida , N. Vidya , D’Mello Laveena
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify the important components of leisure and to comprehensively assess various leisure time activities, that entail the overall well-being of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with indispensable demanding care of children with autism. A cross-sectional design with interpretivism and an inductive approach on a sample of 61 mothers of children with ASD, in India was used to explore various leisure time activities. Mothers engaging in the leisure of individual choice for self-replenishment, social connectedness, and happiness in life despite the demanding care of the child with autism were identified. The face, content, and construct validity are maintained in its preliminary stage. This study aimed to explore various leisure activities in the lives of mothers of children with ASD. The 7 categories of Leisure activities (LA) are Entertainment activities, Outings, Social events, Sports and physical exercises, Homemaking and other fruitful involvements, Arts, and intellectuals, Resting and relaxation, as diversionary activities to energize, divert, and relax as fun and free-time identified in the context of Indian mothers.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF WORK: UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING AND VALUE OF WORK
Authors: Toleu Balkenzhe , Utesheva Gulzhanat , Kopbay Aktore
Published: October 2024

This article presents a comprehensive study on the philosophy of work, with an emphasis on the meaning and values of work in a modern context. Within the framework of the work, an in-depth literary review was conducted, which allows us to track historical changes in the perception of work from antiquity to the present day. Further, using a sociological survey of 50 respondents, modern trends and people's attitude to labor activity were revealed.
The survey results demonstrate the growing value of work as a means of self-realization and personal growth, reflecting a shift in emphasis from material aspects to psychological ones. Focus groups were also organized as part of the study, where participants discussed current needs in the context of their work.
As a result, it is revealed that modern technological innovations and socio-cultural changes lead to a rethinking of the role of work in human life, focusing on the quality of the working environment, flexibility of schedules and opportunities for continuous learning. In conclusion, the article emphasizes the need for further research in this area to adapt educational and organizational structures to the changing needs of the labor market.