bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INTRUSION ALARM SYSTEM BASED ON RADIO FREQUENCY TECHNOLOGY, GPS, GSM AND DIJIKSTRAT ALGORITHM FOR NOTIFICATION TRIANGULATION
Authors: Gihonia Abraham Senghor , MATENDO MAKENGO Rostin , MASAKUNA Jordan Félicien
Published: October 2023

In today's world, cars are important products that are essential to life. But when it comes to vehicle security, it's hard to start. "Vehicle theft is on the rise. Most stolen vehicles are exported abroad. The aim of this research is to develop a remote sensing notification module. In the event of a break-in, the driver is notified by SMS using GSM technology, uses GPS to track the location of the vehicle and trace the route, maps the location and uses the DIJIKSTRAT algorithm to find the nearest send a notification to the police station. The module also incorporates a prediction system for suspicious events associated with an infrared sensor. The overall idea of this research is to use large amounts of information and suspicious movements to develop a scientific model for intrusion detection. When a person approaches a parked vehicle, infrared sensors detect and compare suspicious movements in the knowledge base to detect possible intrusions. This paper proposes an anti-theft system to help car owners avoid theft and locate their car after it has been stolen. The materials referred to in this project are also actually designed.
DECISION MAKING MODEL FOR MEASURING THE FEASIBILITY OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TPS3R AREA OF PRINGSEWU DISTRICT
Authors: Mukodimah Siti , Febriani Dini Rika , Muslihudin Muhamad , Puspitasari Tuti
Published: October 2023

Poverty is a major social welfare problem in Indonesia. Various efforts have been made by the government to overcome the main problems of social welfare in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia Number 11 of 2009 concerning social welfare, such as the provision of social assistance, social rehabilitation, social security, social empowerment, and social protection. In fact, various efforts made by the government in overcoming social welfare problems in Indonesia are considered not optimal. The lack of optimal distribution of government social assistance is affected by several factors, among others, the large number of data used as parameters and data collection and calculations that are still carried out simply and manually cause errors so that the results obtained are not on target. The study was conducted by examining the determining variables of eligibility for social assistance recipients using theSimple Additive Weighting method. To optimize the determination of the eligibility of beneficiaries in the TPS3R area of Pringsewu district, in this study the determining criteria will be applied to a system using the Decision Support System model. The decision-making system will be carried out by applying several variables as a basis for decision making  including, Domicile,  Family Economic Status, Employment, Income,  Beneficiary Status Assistance, Number of Dependents and  Home Conditions. By using the  Decision Support  system,  poverty alleviation programs in the TPS3R area of Pringsewu district can be carried out quickly, effectively and efficiently and on target
HINDI FAKE NEWS DETECTOR
Authors: Kumar A Siva , Solapurkar Adishree , Khamesra Akshit
Published: October 2023

Fake news has proliferated on the internet in recent decades. More people than ever before are creating and sharing knowledge because of social networks, many of which have no connection to reality. This has led to the rapid dissemination of false information used for various political and business objectives. Finding reliable news sources has become more difficult due to online newspapers. In this work, we gathered news articles of Hindi text from various news sources. Techniques for pre-processing, feature extraction, classification, and prediction are all extensively covered. A “Fake news detection system” has been developed in this project. Various Hindi news articles have been collected from multiple sources to help diversify the dataset and train the model better. The project first pre-processes the dataset and uses the pre-trained Bert model for feature extraction. Then, the data is classified from the dataset and prediction processes are employed on the dataset. Various machine learning algorithms and deep learning models like Naïve Bayes, Long Short-Term Memory, Logistic Regression have been employed in previous works for the purpose of detecting fake news. Pre-processing steps include data cleaning, stop words removal, tokenizing, stemming. The testing and training of the dataset include using the BERT for sequence classification model. The model is trained and tested against the validation dataset
APPROXIMATE AND STABILITY SOLUTION FOR NON-LINEAR SYSTEM OF INTEGRODIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS OF VOLTERRA TYPE WITH BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: Butris Raad Noori , Noori Noori R
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we investigate the approximation and stability solutions of non-linear systems of integro-differential equations of Volterra type with boundary conditions, by using the numerical-analytic method which were introduced by Samoilenko. The study of such integro-differential equations leads to extend the results obtained by Butris for changing the system of non-linear integro- differential equations of Volterra type to the system of non-linear integro-differential equations of the Volterra type with boundary conditions. Theorems on a solutions are established under some necessary and sufficient conditions on compact spaces.
MEASUREMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GOVERNANCE CAPABILITY LEVEL USING COBIT 2019 FRAMEWORK
Authors: Silaban Lexand Ripai , Fianty Melissa Indah
Published: October 2023

The company, which is engaged in information technology services and solutions, is facing several issues. The first problem is the absence of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for documenting IT risks. Additionally, there have been instances of system downtime on the local servers, affecting both company and client data. Furthermore, data loss has occurred for employee records, financial data, inventory data, and purchasing data from the on-premises company server. To assess the capability level of the company's IT governance, the COBIT 2019 framework was implemented, focusing on operational and security areas. An approach was undertaken to enhance services and operations within the company. The results of the capability level measurement for process objective APO12 indicated that it has reached level 2, with a target capability level of level 3. On the other hand, process DSS01 successfully achieved level 3, meeting its target capability level, while process DSS02 reached level 2 with a target capability of level 3. This suggests that there is a 1-level gap in the APO12 and DSS02 processes. The recommendation given to the company is to concentrate on risk management, finding a balance between the costs and benefits of managing IT-related risks. Moreover, it is advised to minimize disruptions by resolving user incidents promptly.
BUILDING SECURITY SYSTEM USING GP2Y0A21YK0 INFRARED SENSOR AND ARDUINO UNO
Authors: Saputri Fahmy Rinanda , Pranata Nicholas , Lee Vincentius Rayza
Published: October 2023

The use of infrared radiation as a home security system is one of the technology improvisations that utilize physics phenomena. This research focuses on the designing of simple control systems based on Arduino Uno and GP2Y0A21YK0F infrared sensors along with other components.  The working principle of this system starts when the IR sensor detects moving objects in the vicinity of the house in which infrared radiation is reflected and this gives outputs in the form of distance value from the display as well as movement and sound from servo to inform the occupants of the object’s whereabouts. Data obtained from the display system showed an approximation of the real distance value. Therefore, occupants can know the distance of the moving object.
UTILIZING THE VAL IT 2.0 FRAMEWORK TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE E-PROCUREMENT SYSTEM IN PT XYZ LIFE INSURANCE
Authors: Fajriah Riri , Meiyanti Ruci
Published: October 2023

Investments made by business organizations in the field of Technology and Information are a form of investment that is not measurable when the return on investment will be achieved if it is not accompanied by an appropriate IT investment utilization strategy. PT XYZ Insurance has implemented digital transformation in several of the company's operational activities. The Procurement Division at PT BNI Life Insurance has used the e-procurement system since 2019. The Procurement Division of PT XYZ Life Insurance in implementing the e-procurement system will try to be evaluated using the VAL IT 2.0 method. The implementation of VAL IT is one of the frameworks that can be used to conduct an information technology governance management audit or IT Governance. The VAL IT 2.0 Framework analysis used in this study's conclusion to determine the state of the e-procurement system's implementation as part of operational technology management at the company PT XYZ Life Insurance yielded results showing that the highest average GAP Maturity Level is found in the Portfolio Management domain analysis at 1.11, which is different from the level or value 5 of the expected maturity level. PT XYZ Life Insurance must identify all potential e-procurement programs that could be part of the company's IT investment portfolio and prioritize e-procurement programs based on their alignment with strategic objectives, potential value, and risk considerations.
Website Pintar Untuk Diet Harian Dengan Menggunakan Metode Fuzzy Tsukamoto
Authors: Sastra I Made Harma , Ardyanti A.A. Ayu Putri , Purnama I Nyoman , Fredlina Ketut Queena
Published: October 2023

Food is the main factor to support the body in carrying out various activities. Balance in consuming food plays a very important role for health, too much consumption of the same type of food without balancing it with other foods can lead to things that can trigger various diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and so on. The purpose of this research is to calculate the level of daily calorie requirements for people who are on a daily diet. The method used is the fuzzy tsukamoto method in calculating daily calories where there is a division of time for meal portions according to daily calories, for example breakfast, lunch, dinner. Research results using a case study of age: 25 years old, weight: 170kg, height: 165cm, gender: female, activity: retirement. From the case study get the results of 1279 calories and the division of calories according to time, breakfast: 256 calories, snack: 160 calories, lunch: 384 calories, snack: 160 calories, dinner: 320 calories.
Aplikasi Peta Interaktif 3D Pada Gedung Fakultas Teknik Universitas Lampung
Authors: Aristoteles Aristoteles , Fitrialoka Dinda , Utami Yohana Tri
Published: October 2023

The advancement of technology allows for various developments, such as the creation of systems and applications that facilitate human tasks and transactions. However, the existence of applications also requires research to measure user satisfaction, one of which is the DANA application. DANA is a smart application that provides convenience in transactions. With DANA, people can easily make online and offline payments using electronic money. This research aims to determine the level of user satisfaction with the DANA application using the End User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) method. This method focuses on user satisfaction by analyzing the application based on content, accuracy, format, user-friendliness, and timeliness. The research conducted is descriptive research using a questionnaire as the research instrument. The sampling technique used in this study is random sampling. This research is deemed necessary to determine the level of user satisfaction. Furthermore, the data is processed using SPSS Version 25. The results show that the level of user satisfaction for the five variables is as follows: the Content variable received a high satisfaction score with a percentage value of 78.8%, the Accuracy variable received a high satisfaction score with a percentage value of 78.7%, the Format variable received a high satisfaction score with a percentage value of 79.2%, the Ease of Use variable received a high satisfaction score with a percentage value of 79.2%, and the Timeliness variable received a high satisfaction score with a percentage value of 77.3%.
Analisis Kepuasan Pengguna Terhadap Aplikasi Spotify Menggunakan Metode End User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS)
Authors: Sijadah M Ferlian , Oktadini Nabila Rizky , Meiriza Allsela , Putra Pacu , Sevtiyuni Putri Eka
Published: October 2023

Music streaming applications are applications that allow users to listen to legal or online music. Spotify is currently known as the application that provides the largest music streaming service, digital music, podcast, and video service with access to millions of songs and other content from various creators worldwide. This research concerns the analysis of user satisfaction with the Spotify application. This research was conducted to understand and determine user satisfaction with the Spotify application. The method used in this research is End User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS). There are also problems with this music application related to the competition system when listening to music online. The sampling technique uses Lemeshow sampling (based on coincidence) with a total of 100 respondents using a research instrument in the form of a questionnaire using a Likert scale, which is a scale used to measure perceptions, attitudes, or opinions of users towards the Spotify application. shows that the level of user satisfaction from the five variables shows that the Content variable gets the highest satisfaction with a total percentage of 78.5%, the Accuracy variable gets high satisfaction with a total percentage of 77.5%, the Format variable gets the highest satisfaction with a total percentage of 79.9%, the Variable Ease of Use gets high satisfaction with a percentage of 84.6%, the Timelines variable gets high satisfaction with a percentage of 78.9%.
ANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING BORROWERS' INTEREST IN USING KREDIVO FINTECH PEER-TO-PEER LENDING SERVICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN DENPASAR CITY
Authors: Santhika Putri Ida Ayu Gede Yuniari , Estiyanti Ni Made , Yupita Linda
Published: October 2023

This study aims to determine the factors that influence people's interest in Kota Denpasar using Kredivo peer-to-peer lending during the CO-19 pandemic. The research uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) model by adding two additional variables. This study uses the convenience sampling technique as a sampling method. The number of samples in this study was 120. The basis for taking a sample of 120 people is based on Ferdinand's (2014) theory that in the SEM method, the required number of samples is at least five times the number of indicator variables. To manage data that has been obtained in the field, researchers use Partial Least Squares (PLS) and smartPLS 3.0 software. The results obtained indicate that the eight hypotheses tested have a significant relationship and can be accepted.
PERCEIVED EASE OF USE AND PERCEIVED USEFULNESS ON THE INTENTION TO USE E-TICKETING FOOTBALL
Authors: Mahardika Saddam Aldiva , Suhari Yohanes
Published: October 2023

Currently, the sphere of sports is continuously expanding in Indonesia. E-ticketing has made it possible for fans to quickly and easily purchase tickets to soccer matches thanks to advances in technology and information. Some studies have found that the ability to distribute tickets rapidly and efficiently is one of the e-greatest ticketing benefits. The goal of this study is to evaluate how soccer fans' perceptions of the ease and advantages of ticket purchasing influence their willingness to make those purchases. Subjects in this study are the 120 football fans who regularly attend PSIS Semarang games in International Stadium Jatidiri Semarang. This study also has a quantitative component. The analysis that is used is a multivariate regression. This study shows that a minimal number of soccer fans still prefer to purchase tickets online. In addition, the study found that (1) ease of usei has a positive impact on perceived usefulness of e-ticketing, (2) ease of use has no effect on the intention to use e-ticketing, and (3) perceived usefulness of e-ticketing have a positive impact on the intention to use e-ticketing.
FINTECH ANALYSIS OF QRIS PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS USING TAM METHOD IN MICRO, SMALL, AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSMEs) IN BANGLI, BALI
Authors: Kusumayani Kadek Linda , Paramitha A.A. Istri Ita , Yupita Linda
Published: October 2023

The presence of Financial Technology (Fintech), Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS), provides changes to payment transactions that used to be conventional but have now turned digital. With this research, it is intended to find out what influences users use of Fintech services, especially QRIS in Bangli, by applying the original Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) method, which is modified using one external variable. This study uses quantitative methods and uses Partial Least squares (PLS) with the help of Smart-PLS 3.0 software. The results of the Inner Model Q2 Evaluation Test have a value of 84.1%. This shows that the acceptance of QRIS service user interest (Behavior Intention) can be explained by the variables Perceived Risk on Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and Attitude Toward Using, and there are six hypotheses that are accepted.
PRODUCT CLUSTERING USING K-MEANS METHOD IN CV. JAYA ABADI
Authors: Ramadhaniati Ika
Published: October 2023

CV. Jaya Abadi is a company engaged in the distribution of goods, or, to be more precise, a distributor of raw materials for making bread. The fluctuating number of requests from consumers results in stock that must be prepared to be unstable. In addition, many types of products make stock management inaccurate. Sometimes we do not want to have a shortage of stock, goods, or certain products when consumer demand is high. The purpose of this research is to analyse sales data mining through the clustering method with the k-means algorithm. The method used for this analysis uses clustering with the k-means algorithm. So that this research is not subjective, the authors also use research methods in the form of observation, interviews, and documentation. The results of this study were carried out by analysing sales by applying data mining through the clustering method with the k-means algorithm. Data mining that has been going on for a long time can be used as a reference in the management of CV Jaya Abadi. Apart from being used for administrative purposes each period, it can also be used as a decision-making solution in order to maximize existing products and sales at CV Jaya Abadi.
ELUCIDATING THE IMPACT OF ELECTRONIC WORD OF MOUTH TO THE INTENTION TO USE LINKEDIN FOR ASEAN JOBSEEKERS: MODERATING ROLE OF GENDER
Authors: Suryo Vincentius Nuring Saptadi , Stepanus Mone
Published: October 2023

LinkedIn is one of the most popular e-recruitment tools for job applicants. Although previous studies had explored the effectiveness of LinkedIn, the underlying cause of jobseekers' intention to use LinkedIn is still under-researched. This study examines the impact of Electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM) to the behavioral intention (BI) of jobseekers to use LinkedIn, using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the framework. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyze 431 samples of ASEAN Jobseekers via SmartPLS 3. Findings show that eWOM positively influences the perceived ease of use (PEOU), Perceived Usefulness (PU), and Attitude (AT) of jobseekers, which consequently positively impacts the jobseekers' behavioral intention (BI) to use LinkedIn. The mediating role of PEOU, PU., and AT was also examined and shows that the three variables partially mediate the relationship between eWOM and BI. Theoretically, this study uncovers the significance of eWOM in new technology acceptance. Practically, managers can use this information to increase positive eWOM of their company’s LinkedIn profiles to attract more decent talents to the company. To the authors' knowledge, this study is one of the first investigations into how external variables influence the TAM Model in e-recruitment which uses regional samples instead of specific country-wide samples.
PROTOTYPE OF IRRIGATION SLUICE GATE DISTRIBUTION USING ARDUINO-BASED TINY RTC MODULE
Authors: Rohman Efi , Swastika Rulin , Akbar Sahrul
Published: October 2023

Technological advances in the era of globalization have been increasing rapidly, especially in agriculture. Currently, many robotics companies around the world are competing to create sophisticated equipment in an effort to increase agricultural productivity. Irrigation is an important part of agriculture. With the irrigation channels, it makes it easier for farmers to water crops. To distribute water fairly and evenly, this requires primary irrigation channels that are continuous. Also, in order to align cropping patterns, an irrigation sluice gate is needed in the primary canal that can be opened and closed automatically according to a predetermined schedule. The purpose of this research is to produce a tool in the form of a prototype for water distribution and automatic opening and closing of irrigation doors using the Arduino-based Tiny RTC module. The method used in this study is a method of drawing using flowcharts and making programs using the Arduino IDE. The results of this study are a prototype of water distribution and automatic opening and closing of irrigation doors using the Arduino-based Tiny RTC module.
Ancient history: A postcolonial view on Roman identity
Authors: Maier Felix K
Published: October 2023

Ancient history: A postcolonial view on Roman identity

Prof Dr Felix K Maier, Professor for Ancient History at University of Zurich, explores the paradoxical dynamics of different identities in the multicultural Roman Empire. My history research project analyses the dynamics of different identities in the Roman Empire from around 50-150 AD. The Roman Empire is generally considered a ‘story of a success’ concerning the integration of the conquered peoples. The Romans surpassed other empires regarding temporal extension and maintained their power with little military presence. However, it was not only open rebellions that could have threatened Roman domination; it was also – and quite paradoxically – the successful integration of conquered peoples. This had to do with a couple of interdependent aspects.
Building a resilient future: Tackling climate change, human health and wildfires
Authors: Rodrigues Mónica , Tedim Fantina
Published: October 2023

Building a resilient future: Tackling climate change, human health and wildfires

Mónica Rodrigues from the University of Coimbra and Fantina Tedim from the University of Porto, both in Portugal, present their perspectives on climate, human health, and wildfires to create a future that is both sustainable and resilient. Climate change is undoubtedly one of our highest social challenges, as it is arguably a risk multiplier for Europeans (Naumann et al., 2020; Rodrigues et al., 2021; Rodrigues, 2023; Tedim et al., 2023; Tedim et al., 2018), as it interacts with other contributing factors to increase human vulnerability. The report recently published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2022) stresses this interdependence between climate, ecosystems, and human societies. It also highlights the urgency in discussing the mechanisms underlying vulnerability, including human health and well-being, social justice, and demographics, to strengthen nationwide resilience and adaptation to climate change. Portugal was the first country to recognise a stable climate as a World Natural Heritage through the Climate Bill (Lei de Bases do Clima - Law No. 98/2021), approved by the Portuguese Parliament on 31st December 2021. This legal instrument establishes new provisions in public climate policies, consolidating goals, ruling principles, and obligations for climate action in the different levels of governance. The Climate Bill aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal.
Understanding Taiwan’s offshore wind industry
Authors: Song Gwoshyh
Published: October 2023

Understanding taiwan’s offshore wind industry

Here, Open Access Government speaks to Gwo-shyh Song, Chairman of MMA Global Aqua, and explores the challenges, successes and long term plans for the offshore wind power projects in Taiwan. Can you provide an overview of the current state of the offshore wind industry in Taiwan and its significance in the country’s energy transformation? Taiwan had no experience in offshore wind power development in the past. The offshore wind power industry includes wind farm developers, who conduct environmental assessments of wind farms, as well as wind turbine system suppliers, marine engineering companies, cable manufacturers, and wind farm operators. Therefore, the Ministry of Economic Affairs allows 100% foreign ownership to attract foreign investment and gradually increases domestic demand to cultivate local related companies in order to achieve the goal of offshore wind power localization.
Can we do drug repositioning without disease gene expression?
Authors: Taguchi Y-h
Published: October 2023

Can we do drug repositioning without disease gene expression?

Chuo University’s Professor Y-h. Taguchi examines the application of cutting-edge single-cell-based measurements in drug repositioning. Single-cell analysis is a new trend in genomic science. Prior to its development, measurements were made on whole tissues. However, because tissues are composed of millions of cells, measuring them can miss important information. Imagine trying to understand the economic status of a big city with millions of people based only on the average income. Even if two cities have the same average income, one might be a mixture of a small number of rich people and many poor people, while the other might be composed of people who have almost the same income. Without detailed information about the distribution of income, we would not be able to distinguish between the two cities from an economic point of view. In the same way, single-cell measurements have opened the door to a true understanding of the genomic state of living material. By measuring the gene expression of individual cells, we can identify the different cell types present in a tissue and their relative abundance. This information can be used to understand how tissues function and how they respond to different stimuli.
Sustainably developing great-tasting pet foods
Authors: Combe Samantha , Vanchina Melissa
Published: October 2023

Sustainably developing great-tasting pet foods

Samantha Combe and Melissa Vanchina from Hill’s Pet Nutrition discuss the environmental impact of pet food, with a specific focus on sustainable alternatives to food palatants. The pet population has been steadily growing, resulting in a staggering estimate of more than one billion pets worldwide. Changing attitudes towards pets and their inclusion as part of the family have influenced a more conscious approach to pet care and pet food purchase decisions. (1)
Business and human rights in Japan: Rights holders’ perspectives
Authors: Sugawara Emi
Published: October 2023

Business and human rights in Japan: Rights holders’ perspectives

Emi Sugawara, Osaka University of Economics and Law, examines business and human rights issues in Japan with a focus on the priority issues from rights holders’ perspectives. The United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights conducted a research visit to Japan from 24 July to 4 August. Japan was the eighteenth country to be visited by the working group under its mandate to disseminate, promote and implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights. The working group is also mandated to exchange and promote good practices and lessons learned from the implementation of the guiding principles and assess and make recommendations thereon. One purpose of the working group’s visit to Japan was to examine business and human rights issues in the country. During the visit, the working group travelled all over Japan to Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Hokkaido and Fukushima, and engaged with the government and business sectors, civil society and various rights holders.
Governance beyond the ballot: Norms, populism, and post-election preferences
Authors: van der Velden Mariken A.C.G.
Published: October 2023

Governance beyond the ballot: Norms, populism, and post-election preferences

In this article, Mariken A.C.G. van der Velden, Professor of Political Communication at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, explores citizens’ preferences for government formation. When comparing proportional voting systems with majoritarian ones, scholars often highlight that the former frequently yield inconclusive election outcomes, wherein politicians, rather than voters, determine the composition of the governing parties. In multiparty democracies, post- election discussions among parties with divergent preferences generally lead to the necessity of compromising on a shared coalition agreement to establish a government. Nevertheless, due to the compromises inherent in coalitions, some critics may label them as undemocratic. In the present day, both analysts and academics acknowledge prolonged delays in the establishment of coalition governments within Europe. For example, the 2021 Dutch election triggered an unprecedentedly protracted government negotiation process, culminating in a government that collapsed after eighteen months.
Accessing childcare: Parents’ logistical challenges and gender equality
Authors: Naumann Ingela
Published: October 2023

Accessing childcare: Parents’ logistical challenges and gender equality

Prof Ingela Naumann from the University of Fribourg, explains why reducing parents’ logistical challenges in coordinating work and childcare matters for gender equality. Over the last two decades, we have seen an extensive expansion of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across the countries of the OECD. A novel and ground-breaking consensus amongst policymakers and society had emerged by the beginning of the 21st century that ECEC is an essential pillar of our knowledge-based economies (see, e.g. European Commission 2018): they benefit children by fostering good child development – if the provided services are of good quality – thus supporting positive life courses and productivity of future generations; they help parents to remain active in the labour market, thus contributing to the prevention of family/child poverty and, again, boosting productivity.
Developing novel therapies for childhood cancers
Authors: Houghton Peter J
Published: October 2023

Developing novel therapies for childhood cancers

Dr Peter J Houghton from Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute discusses the obstacles in developing new treatments for childhood cancers and new approaches in preclinical testing. In my previous article for Open Access Government, I focused on the challenges of developing novel therapies for children with glioma, the most prevalent brain cancer in children. Here, I want to discuss the challenges at the preclinical stage of drug development, an area of research that will be altered significantly by the Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity for Children Act (RACE for Children Act). This U.S. law requires the Food and Drug Agency (FDA) to develop a list of molecular targets and molecular targets of new drugs and biologics in development that are determined to be relevant to pediatric cancers. The objective is to facilitate a more rapid introduction of new drugs into the pediatric cancer armamentarium. The FDA may now require pediatric assessments when molecular targets under FDA review are considered relevant to childhood cancer.
Teaching and assessing literacy using a balanced approach: Effects of can-do self-assessment on early EFL learners
Authors: Izumi Emiko Izumi
Published: October 2023

Teaching and assessing literacy using a balanced approach: Effects of can-do self-assessment on early EFL learners

Following the January and July 2023 issues, Emiko Izumi from the School of Education & Graduate School of Education at Kwansei Gakuin University discusses the content and results of her collaborative research on the teaching and assessment of reading and writing for early English as foreign language (EFL) learners in Japan. Reading and writing lessons should be conducted in small, incremental steps. Especially for Japanese learners of English, it is very difficult to learn the alphabet (upper- and lower-case letters) and to connect letters and sounds. The English language has a different phonological system and graphemes from Japanese, so it is important for learners to recognise phonemes and develop phonological awareness. With this being said, we recommend a balanced approach that introduces bottom-up strategies, such as phonics instruction that teaches the rules for linking sounds and letters, and a top-down approach, such as understanding content from songs, stories, and picture books with a focus on meaning.
The relevance of human flourishing to offender rehabilitation
Authors: Jang Sung Joon , Johnson Byron R
Published: October 2023

The relevance of human flourishing to offender rehabilitation

Sung Joon Jang and Byron R. Johnson, both from Baylor University, turn the spotlight on the relevance of human flourishing to offender rehabilitation in Colombia and South Africa. Humans are born with fundamental needs for survival (e.g., food, clothing, and shelter) and flourishing, which concerns happiness and life satisfaction, physical and mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and close social relationships (VanderWeele, 2017). Survival needs are essential to human existence, but flourishing needs are not meant to be secondary or less important. While the sustenance of life is necessary for human flourishing, both types of innate needs should be seen as primary concerns from a holistic point of view. This is evident because even when physical and material needs are fully met, people may still decline mentally or relationally. They may experience “diseases of excess” or “deaths of despair” (Clifton, 2022).
Chicken or egg? Pursuing historical context
Authors: Carter Charlie
Published: October 2023

Chicken or egg? Pursuing historical context

Charles W Carter Jr, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, explores prebiotic processes from the historical context enabling the emergence of translation. Many vexing problems surround how information first flowed at the origin of life. None is more self-evident than the question, which came first: genes or proteins? Like Zeno’s paradoxes, the question hides an intellectual sleight-of-hand rooted in our limited perception of time. Darwin’s singular accomplishment was to articulate how genetic variation and selection connect different biological species in time. Both variation and selection arise from an enabling past. They also update that milieu, enabling subsequent evolutionary change. That insight ties the resolution of the paradox explicitly to historical context. De Grasse Tyson answered the underlying question crisply: “The egg was laid by a bird that was not a chicken”.(1) His reasoning applies perforce to molecular evolution.
Bacteriophages: Nature’s remedy for tackling superbugs and antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Poskin Eric Louis
Published: October 2023

Bacteriophages: Nature’s remedy for tackling superbugs and antimicrobial resistance

Given the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, Gunther Vanwezer, CEO of Vésale Bioscience, explains how bacteriophages offer a promising natural solution and outlines the company’s efforts to become a pioneer in the development of innovative, personalised and sustainable phage-based therapy solutions. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major problem and an enormous public health challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), AMR is one of the top ten global threats to public health. The projections are deeply concerning; AMR, often referred to as the “silent pandemic”, is responsible for approximately 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually, with an alarming possibility of escalating to ten million deaths by 2050. The exponential growth of resistance to various antimicrobial products adds to the gravity of the situation. The effectiveness of treatments for bacterial infections is becoming increasingly problematic, and the search for new antibiotics is facing a significant decline. Bacteriophages appear to be the most promising natural solution in this worrying situation. Voted Europe’s most innovative life sciences start-up in 2021, Vésale Bioscience is committed to developing personalised phage-based therapies to combat multi-resistant bacterial infections. In January 2023, the European Innovation Council (EIC) awarded it 1.8 million euros to encourage its research.
Bio-inspired design approaches to artificial blood technology: Oxygen carriers
Authors: Doctor Allan
Published: October 2023

Bio-inspired design approaches to artificial blood technology: Oxygen carriers

Allan Doctor, MD, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, shares his expertise on bio-inspired design approaches to artificial blood technology: oxygen carriers. There is a need for an artificial oxygen (O2) carrier for use when banked blood is unavailable or undesirable. To date, efforts to develop Hb-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) have failed successful translation, because of design flaws that do not preserve physiologic interactions of normal red blood cells (RBCs): First, HBOCs capture O2 in lungs but do not release O2 effectively to tissue, and second, HBOCs trap nitric oxide (NO), causing vasoconstriction – which critically limits blood flow, particularly in ischemic vascular beds; together, failure to both effectively release (to tissue) captured O2 and blood flow restriction undermines the potential benefit from otherwise improved O2 content.
Options for stroke survivors: From stroke to conventional therapy
Authors: Schuettler Martin
Published: October 2023

Options for stroke survivors: From stroke to conventional therapy

Discovery of novel treatment options for stroke survivors – requirements for implanted systems. In countries with modern healthcare infrastructure, stroke patients are treated in so-called stroke units directly after the stroke occurs. A few days later, the health situation is stable and the patient enters the rehabilitation phase. Stroke survivors are often faced with lost motor functions or speech impairments which are treated using conventional occupational therapy, logopedic therapy or other therapies focusing on the recovery of the patient’s individually compromised functions.
Probing the individuality of cells and molecules
Authors: Uemura Sotaro
Published: October 2023

Probing the individuality of cells and molecules

Sotaro Uemura, Professor at the University of Tokyo, probes the individuality of cells and molecules. The Uemura Laboratory was established in the Division of Advanced Photon Life Sciences, part of the Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, at the University of Tokyo. Our research centres on biophysics, focusing on studying single-molecule genetics, particularly the unique aspects of molecules and cells. Human beings each have their distinct characteristics. Differences in things like gender, where we come from, physical attributes, health, and personality are examples. Bringing all these different individual traits together creates diversity, and our society is built upon this diversity.
Integrating biofertilizers and precision agriculture
Authors: Cruz Cristina , Dias Teresa
Published: October 2023

Integrating biofertilizers and precision agriculture

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the integration of biofertilisers and precision agriculture, with the aim of creating a virtuous circle of agricultural growth and sustainability, by Cristina Cruz and Teresa Dias of the Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa. “What do plants feed on?” may seem a simple question, but our answer has changed over time, and there is still no consensus. From antiquity until the mid-18th century, we thought plants fed on organic compounds (i.e., the humus theory). With the advances in chemistry and the discovery of chemical elements, we considered that plants feed on water and mineral salts. The industrialisation of the Haber-Bosch process allowed the production of large quantities of affordable fertilizers, allowing the green revolution of the mid-20th century and intensive agriculture.
AI consciousness and neuroscientifically plausible “seamless” mind-uploading
Authors: Watanabe Masataka
Published: October 2023

AI consciousness and neuroscientifically plausible “seamless” mind-uploading

Masataka Watanabe, Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo’s School of Engineering, examines a test for AI consciousness. He proposes it as part of a scientific approach to deciphering consciousness that leads to “seamless” mind uploading. Today, there is much debate on whether artificial intelligence (AI) has achieved consciousness. (1, 2) My short answer is probably not, but with dedicated substantial resources, AI will achieve consciousness at some point. So, what is consciousness? Could we ever tell whether it resides in AI? How can we build a conscious AI, and what would be the purpose of doing so?
Controlling ovarian cancer: An introduction to detection and treatment
Authors: Richards JoAnne S
Published: October 2023

Controlling ovarian cancer: An introduction to detection and treatment

With current strategies proving inadequate, what needs to be done is to further the research into detecting, treating, and controlling ovarian cancer. Specifically, ovarian cancer develops when malignant ovarian cancer cells proliferate on the surface of the ovary and directly migrate/exfoliate to the peritoneal cavity where they attach to structures such as the omentum. Women at early stages of tumor growth on the omentum do not display specific symptoms and hence the tumors remain unnoticed until tumor growth is extensive. Because the ovarian tumor cells do not metastasize via the blood stream early detection of mutant cells in serum samples is not feasible with current methods. More sensitive assays and specific markers of ovarian cancer are needed.
Fostering fundamental computational skills, a global challenge
Authors: Watanabe Koji
Published: October 2023

Fostering fundamental computational skills, a global challenge

Koji Watanabe, Professor from Miyazaki International University in Japan, argues that fostering fundamental computational skills is a global challenge. The international community recognises cultivating fundamental computational skills as a critical challenge in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The mathematics education of a country plays a crucial role in fostering these basic computational skills. Therefore, a comprehensive approach that considers various components of school education (educational goals, teachers, teaching materials, and children) is necessary. Additionally, the concept of quantity in developing basic computational skills is context-dependent and requires attention. The study seeks to address the challenges the international community poses regarding mathematics education. We strive to gain a detailed understanding of the current situation and develop teaching materials and educational practices based on this understanding. Our specific focus is on cultivating basic computational skills in developing countries.
Humanities and the arts: Pioneering SHAPE in Schools, a human world focus
Authors: Holley Tallulah , Black Julia , Gorrara Claire , Jenkins Lucy
Published: October 2023

Humanities and the arts: Pioneering shape in school, a human world focus

Julia Black, Claire Gorrara, Lucy Jenkins, and Tallulah Holley (1), take a detailed look at the vital role of pioneering SHAPE in schools, that is, subjects that share a human world focus like humanities and the arts. Climate change, shifting geopolitics, inequalities, the perils and opportunities of technological advances – we are facing a set of simultaneous crises which are more complex and dynamic than at any time in recent history. As we try to address them, we are searching not only for solutions but also purpose and meaning. In that endeavour, social sciences, the humanities and the arts – the SHAPE subjects – have an essential role to play.
Decarbonising the world economy with synthetic biology
Authors: Paulsen Ian
Published: October 2023

Decarbonising the world economy with synthetic biology

Macquarie University Distinguished Professor Ian Paulsen, discusses how synthetic biology can be used to decarbonise the global economy. Addressing atmospheric carbon from human activities is paramount to tackling climate change. Synthetic biology offers a likely way to accelerate this decarbonisation of the global economy while simultaneously building new industries and jobs. At the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology (CoESB), our researchers play a pivotal role in creating a pathway for this possible future.
Immigrant, black and racialized people’s health
Authors: Salami Bukola
Published: October 2023

Immigrant, black and racialized people’s health

Learn about the research of Dr. Bukola Salami, Professor at Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, in this particular focus on Immigrant, Black, and Racialized People’s Health. Immigrants often arrive in Canada in better health than the Canadian-born population due to pre-arrival health screening. This phenomenon is called the healthy immigrant effect. However, the health of immigrants often declines after a period of time in Canada. Several factors contribute to this health decline, including poor socioeconomic outcomes, healthcare access barriers, and discrimination. Professor Salami’s research program focuses on policies and practices shaping migrant and Black people’s health. She has been involved in over 85 funded studies totaling over $230 million. She has led research projects on topics including African immigrant child health, immigrant mental health, access to healthcare for Black women, access to healthcare for immigrant children, Black youth mental health, the health of internally displaced children, the well-being of temporary foreign workers, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Black Canadians, an environmental scan of equity-seeking organizations in Alberta, culturally appropriate practices for research with Black Canadians, international nurse migration, and parenting practices of African immigrants.
Antimicrobial food packaging: Challenges and achievements
Authors: Cooksey Kay
Published: October 2023

Antimicrobial food packaging: Challenges and achievements

Dr Kay Cooksey, Professor and Cryovac Chair at Clemson University, shares the potential of antimicrobial food packaging in mitigating microbial growth and the obstacles that have hindered the development of commercially available products thus far. Antimicrobial packaging is a segment of active packaging. The classical definition of active packaging is a package that senses the presence of something changing in the package and reacts to mitigate or affect the change. A good example is oxygen scavenging sachets that sense the presence of oxygen and use scavenger technology (iron powder is common) and can preferentially scavenge oxygen away from food. Antimicrobial packaging is similar in that it detects the presence of bacteria, yeast, or mold and either prevents it from growing or damages the microorganisms to the point that they cannot grow without optimal conditions. Research on antimicrobial packaging has been ongoing for over 40 years, yet there are few commercially available products. Those that are commercially available are currently in niche markets.