bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tesouros Verdes do Cerrado: Conhecendo a Diversidade Botânica do Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades
Authors: Castro Antonio Alberto Jorge Farias , de Farias Ruth Raquel Soares , de Sousa Samara Raquel , Pires-Coutinho Joxleide Mendes da Costa
Published: September 2024

A presente publicação apresenta um primeiro ensaio do catálogo de plantas do cerrado sensu lato 6 do Parque Nacional de Sete Cidades (PN7C), única Unidade de Conservação de Proteção Integral administrada pelo ICMBio 7 na região setentrional do Piauí, localizada nos municípios de Piracuruca e Brasileira, no estado do Piauí, Brasil. Desde 1997, 27 anos atrás, o PN7C tem sido foco de pesquisas científicas em Botânica (Biologia Vegetal) e Ecologia Vegetal, que geraram publicações e auxiliaram na formação de recursos humanos ao nível de Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (TCC), Iniciação Científica (IC), Dissertações de Mestrado e Teses de Doutorado, bem como na promoção de novos conhecimentos e indicadores e metodologias de preservação ambiental. O interesse em publicar esta obra surgiu da possibilidade de propor a ideia e conceito de 'fitossítio' para que possam ser internalizados e trabalhados por biólogos, geólogos/ geomorfólogos, guias de turismo, educadores ambientais e ambientalistas de um modo geral, ao lado da ideia e conceito de "geossítio", já consolidados nas ciências geológicas, no sentido de contribuir para a valorização da biodiversidade 8 e geodiversidade 9, absolutamente insubstituíveis, deste importante laboratório natural do bioma Cerrado que é o PN7C, principalmente por conta da sua localização geográfica sob influência ecotonal e/ou transicional, ampliando o conhecimento científico, otimizando o comprometimento necessário para a conservação da flora e fauna locais, fortalecendo o turismo sustentável, aplicável em toda a região, com o sentido de pertencimento. Para isso, um total de 35 espécies botânicas lenhosas são apresentadas com apoio fotográfico de domínio público 10, consideradas mais frequentes e facilmente visualizáveis nas trilhas de acesso que ligam cada uma das "sete cidades" do Parque, ao lado de informações: família botânica, nomes populares, ocorrência, fitofisionomias, características morfológicas, informações ecológicas, fenologia, utilidades, etimologia e bibliografia consultada.
Variability of the SNP rs9939609 in the FTO Gene and Ancestry in Latin American Populations
Authors: Flores Sergio V. , Montaña Román M. , Roco-Videla Angel , Caviedes-Olmos Marcela , Aguilera Eguía Raúl
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Obesity is a complex condition influenced by genetic and environmental factors. The FTO gene has been associated with obesity through several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), particularly rs9939609, related to higher body mass index (BMI) and risk of obesity. FTO variants influence the regulation of appetite and energy metabolism by affecting RNA methylation and the expression of key genes in adipogenesis.Objective: To investigate the association between the FTO rs9939609 SNP and genetic ancestry proportions in Latin American populations.Methods: Genotypes for rs9939609 were obtained using VcfTools and the 1000 Genomes Project database. Samples from Latin America were selected, covering four mixed populations: Colombians (n=94), Mexicans (n=64), Peruvians (n=85) and Puerto Ricans (n=104), totaling 347 individuals. To estimate genetic ancestry proportions, 446 SNPs from a panel of ancestry informative markers (AIMs) were used.Results: Individuals with the AA genotype of SNP rs9939609 have a higher proportion of Native American ancestry and a lower proportion of European ancestry compared to TT and AT genotypes. The variability in the proportions of ancestry according to the genotype of the SNP rs9939609 suggests a possible genetic stratification in the Latin American populations studied.Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of considering ancestral composition in genetic studies related to obesity. More research is needed to understand how gene-environment interactions contribute to obesity in various populations, which could lead to more effective and targeted intervention strategies
Translation and Validation of a Transformational Leadership Scale in Peruvian Public Servants
Authors: Pilco-Pezo Josue , Paredes-Saavedra Maribel , Flores-Paredes Alcides , Morales-García Mardel
Published: September 2024

Background Transformational leadership has been identified as an essential component for success and innovation within the public sector, especially in the digital age and in the face of global challenges. This form of leadership, which seeks to change and inspire people, has been shown to be crucial for improving organizational performance and the quality of public services. However, the application of these principles in Peru faces specific challenges, and there is a notable lack of empirical research on this phenomenon in the Peruvian public sector, particularly in the evaluation of the tools used for its measurement. Objective This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Global Transformational Leadership (GTL) scale in a sample of Peruvian public servants. Methods An instrumental research design was adopted, using non-probabilistic sampling. The sample included 290 Peruvian public servants (M = 34.61, SD = 9.2), with an analysis that encompassed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability estimates. Results Descriptive analysis results indicated a high tendency to respond positively on the scale. The CFA confirmed the proposed unidimensional structure of the scale, with acceptable fit according to various indices (χ2 = 39.130, CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.08, SRMR = 0.03), and all factor loadings were significant and greater than 0.50, indicating a strong association with the transformational leadership dimension and exceptionally high internal consistency (α = 0.94). Conclusions The study confirmed that the GTL transformational leadership scale is a psychometrically robust tool and applicable to the Peruvian context. The unidimensional structure and high reliability of the scale suggest that it is suitable for measuring transformational leadership among public servants in Peru.
Gamified exercise focused on marketing principles and marketing mix: Marketing Game
Authors: Castellanos Flórez Margarita María , Aparicio Muñoz Danna Valentina , Martínez Sicachá Ana Carolina , Torres-Barreto Martha Liliana
Published: September 2024

This article presents the creation and application of an innovative gamified activity to reinforce knowledge in marketing mix within the field of industrial engineering. The activity was designed and structured under the design thinking methodology, a user-centered approach that aims to solve problems through creativity and innovation. Deficiencies were identified in the traditional teaching and learning process, such as the lack of interactivity and dynamism in how marketing concepts were addressed, leading to a limited understanding and application of the same. The gamified activity was designed as a viable solution to address these shortcomings, allowing students to develop important skills such as decision-making, teamwork, and assertive communication. Additionally, the activity enabled students to analyze problems and develop innovative solutions, providing them with a broader and more practical view of the application of marketing concepts in the business world. It is presented as an innovative and effective tool to enhance the way marketing is taught and learned in the field of industrial engineering. Its ability to develop important skills, promote interactivity and dynamism in the learning process, and provide a broader and more practical view of the application of marketing concepts, makes it an innovative and effective educational tool.
PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
Authors: Yusuf DM Mohd. , Nofarizal Dedi , Putra Fransiskus , Hutagaol Hendra Dm , Monarchi Try Krisna
Published: September 2024

The crime of genocide is often associated with crimes against humanity but when viewed in depth the crime of genocide is different from crimes against humanity, where the crime of genocide is aimed at groups such as nations, races, ethnicities or religions while crimes against humanity are aimed at citizens and civilians. The demand for the resolution of cases of human rights violations has prompted the birth of Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights which was later followed by Law Number 26 of 2000 concerning the Human Rights Court which is intended to answer various problems of human rights violations, especially gross human rights violations. Article 7 of the Human Rights Court Law states that the crime of genocide is a crime that violates gross human rights because it is committed by killing, causing severe suffering, extermination, coercion by groups and even the forcible transfer of children from one group to another. Thus the human rights court law expressly provides threats to the perpetrators. The method used is normative legal research. Based on the results of the research, it is known that the Crime of Genocide and its Implications in Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights that the crime of genocide is one of the most serious forms of human rights violations, involving systematic efforts to destroy certain groups based on ethnicity, religion, or race. Law No. 39/1999 on Human Rights has not specifically and in detail regulated the crime of genocide and the elements of the crime. This has led to a lack of a strong and comprehensive legal framework to prosecute perpetrators of genocide, as well as provide justice and legal certainty for victims.
LEGAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTERING BODY HEALTH PARTICIPANTS
Authors: Irayadi Muhamad
Published: September 2024

In order to legally protect the rights of patients participating in the Social Security Administering Body (BPJS) of Health in obtaining health services, the government issued Law Number 24 of 2011, which stipulates that two state-owned enterprises, namely PT Askes (Persero) and PT Jamsostek (Persero) were transformed into public service agencies to implement five programs mandated by Law Number 40 of 2004, namely the health insurance program for BPJS Health and other programs are handed over to BPJS Employment. This study aims to analyze how to protect BPJS Health participants. This study uses a normative legal research method with field data as a complement. The results of the study Legal protection for BPJS Health participants who are hospitalized in hospitals from the regulatory aspect have protected their rights both as consumers of services, as hospital patients and as BPJS Health participants. The method of resolving BPJS Health service disputes through mediation reflects the importance of a consensual approach to dispute resolution. Mediation is chosen for several theoretical reasons, such as the dominance of a culture that prioritizes harmony and togetherness, and the balance of power between the disputing parties.
Teaching English through Drama to Arab Learners
Authors: Bell Joseph
Published: September 2024

This paper accounts for teaching English to Arab learners through dramatic works to facilitate their learning of English as a foreign language (EFL). The study, based on a review of the relevant literature, proposes English drama as a gateway to teaching EFL to Arab learners. It advocates plays as a useful means for addressing the linguistic challenges that mainly relate to vocabulary, syntax, and figurative language. The study rationalizes selecting plays with themes relevant to Arab learners’ socio-cultural experiences and interests. A purposeful selection of plays helps in exploring universal themes and accepting cultural diversity, fostering a deeper understanding of other places and eras. In studying plays, learners engage with characters, dialogue, and emotions. Dramatic techniques, such as role-playing, scene analysis, and live performances encourage active participation and enhance comprehension and appreciation. Above all, comparing Western plays with learners’ literary traditions (e.g., Arabic poetry, folklore, or theatre) promotes critical thinking, cross-cultural awareness, and much more.
Phytochemical Characterization of Hylocereus polyrhizus Rind Extracts
Authors: Yesudanam Sinchu , Sunil Soniya M. , J. Jothika , A. S. Aparna Raj , Sreelakshmi R. S.
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify the phytochemical components of rind extracts from Hylocereus polyrhizus. Two distinct solvents were used in the maceration process to create the extracts. Following a preliminary phytochemical study of the extracts, the principal bioactive substances, including tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids, were quantitatively identified. Using LC-MS and HPTLC, the H. polyrhizus rind extracts are phytochemically characterized. Chemical profiling of the extracts, retention factor of the separated bands, and constituent percentage area were all determined using HPTLC. By using LC-MS, about 28 phytochemical components and compounds were examined. A sizable concentration of bioactive chemicals in H. polyrhizus suggests that the plant has pharmacological properties that include neurological, anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and cardioprotective properties.
Assessing the Impact of Weather Parameters on the Population Dynamics of Insect Pests in Cucurbit Vegetables under Mid-Hill Conditions of Himachal Pradesh
Authors: Rani Priyanka , Singh Mohinder , Dhirta Babita , Gilhotra Himanshu , Kaundil Preeti
Published: September 2024

A study focusing on population dynamics of sucking and leaf-eating some insect pests along with their correlation with weather parameters in cucurbits was conducted at research field, Department of Entomology, Dr. YSPUHF, Solan, H.P., India from June-October, 2019 and 2020. The results revealed that Amrasca biguttula biguttula (I), Trialeurodes vaporariorum (W), Aulacophora foveicollis (L), Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (F), Liriomyza trifolii (B), Aulacophora sp., were recorded as the major insect pests. In bitter gourd, maximum population of jassids recorded was (2.33/leaf) in first week of August while, maximum whitefly population in bottle gourd (2.96/leaf) during last week of August and in ridge gourd during last week of July (3.76/leaf). The maximum red pumpkin beetle population on bitter gourd (2.4 beetles/plant) and bottle gourd (2.6 beetles/plant) was observed during last week of August while, hadda beetle attained peak population during first and third week of August in ridge gourd (1.0/plant) and bitter gourd (1.1 adults/plant), respectively. Maximum leaf miner infestation (2.7 mines/leaf) in bottle gourd and ridge gourd was observed during first and third week of August. All pest attained maximum population between 30 to 32 SMW when weather parameters values were Tmax: 27.50 to 28.90; Tmin: 20.60 to 20.80 oC; RH: 79 to 80 %; Rainfall: 25.80 to 30.20 mm. Relative humidity and rainfall played major role with non-significant positive influence on the population build-up of these pests in cucurbit crops along with temperature. The present findings on weather-driven pest dynamics can inform strategies to boost crop yields and reduce farmers' economic losses in similar environments.
Odonata Unveiled: A Differential Diagnosis of Recent Odonata Species Discovered in India
Authors: Bhatia Shweta , Kumari Neelam
Published: September 2024

Odonata, commonly known as dragonflies and damselflies, represent a fascinating and diverse order of insects found throughout the world, with a rich evolutionary history dating back hundreds of millions of years. Odonates are diverse group of insects with around 6407 valid species throughout the world, out of which 498 species have been recorded in India.  These insects are characterized by their striking, often vibrant, colors, large compound eyes, and elongated bodies. This review provides a concise overview of the various new Odonata species discovered in recent years in India. Odonata, like all living organisms, continue to evolve because evolution is a fundamental and ongoing process in the natural world. Several factors contribute to why Odonata, along with all species, are still evolving. In recent years different species have been discovered from both the suborders that is, Anisoptera and Zygoptera of the order Odonata. Different species have been mainly discovered from Kerala, and Maharashtra. The species are identified on the basis of their external features, markings and similarities and dissimilarities from the similar species. This also covers the importance of newly found species, their ecological value and their importance in the environment as a wetland marker.
ATIVIDADES DE ALFABETIZAÇÃO PARA A APROPRIAÇÃO DO SISTEMA DE ESCRITA ALFABÉTICA REALIZADA NUMA TURMA DE 3º ANO DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL NO MUNICÍPIO DE RIBEIRÃO DAS NEVES – MG
Authors: Trigueiro Ana Nonato , Campos Valdigley Ferreira , Sousa Weliton Iris de , Barros João Marcos da Silva
Published: September 2024

Fundamentado nos estudos de Ferreiro, Soares, Morais, Ausubel, dentre outros do campo da alfabetização, objetiva-se, neste estudo, apresentar uma experiência didática relatada por uma professora da rede pública do município de Ribeirão das Neves – MG, que atuou em 2023 com uma turma de 3º ano do Ensino Fundamental, cujos direcionamentos tiveram como foco, fazer com que os seus estudantes se apropriassem do sistema de escrita alfabética. Para os autores em destaque, o processo da alfabetização deve ser empreendido por meio de práticas pedagógicas que levem em consideração o protagonismo dos estudantes em dois aspectos: o pensar (e oralizar) e o fazer (produzir). A partir deste pressuposto, algumas análises foram feitas acerca das estratégias desenvolvidas pela professora na sequência das atividades propostas.
GOOGLE CLASSROOM SEBAGAI INOVASI MANAJEMEN KELAS DIGITAL: STUDI EKSPLORASI PADA GURU-GURU DI MTSN 2 AGAM
Authors: Zakir Agus Salim , Supratman Supratman , Yaldi Yusri , Sayuti Lalu
Published: September 2024

Perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan, teknologi, dan informasi di era digital berdampak pada setiap aspek kehidupan manusia. Inovasi teknologi terus dikembangkan untuk membuat pekerjaan semakin mudah. Inovasi Pembelajaran membantu siswa merancang, mengelola, dan melaksanakan pembelajaran yang lebih menarik dan inovatif. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menggambarkan manfaat Google Classroom dalam mengembangkan kreativitas calon pendidik ketika merancang pembelajaran berbasis digital. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif dan bersifat studi kasus. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara dan observasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi pemanfaatan Google Classroom sebagai inovasi dalam manajemen kelas digital di MTsN 2 Agam. Studi ini berfokus pada pemahaman guru-guru terhadap Google Classroom, pengalaman mereka dalam mengimplementasikan platform ini, serta persepsi mereka tentang efektivitas dan tantangan dalam penerapannya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Google Classroom efektif dalam meningkatkan akses dan perhatian Siswa terhadap pembelajaran, pengetahuan dan keterampilan yang diperoleh melalui Google Classroom. Jadikan Siswa menjadi pembelajar aktif, sebagai Alat Digital, ini memberikan umpan balik yang berarti bagi Siswa dan Guru.
PENGARUH ADMINISTRASI PENDIDIKAN DAN KINERJA GURU TERHADAP DISIPLIN BELAJAR DI SMK IT IBNU KATSIR JEMBER
Authors: Arifin Muhammad Zainol , Neviyani Neviyani , Andrie W Shendy
Published: September 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi pengaruh Administrasi Pendidikan dan Kinerja Guru terhadap Disiplin Belajar di SMK IT Ibnu Katsir Jember. Menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan survei analitik dan desain cross-sectional, sampel penelitian terdiri dari 31 siswa kelas X dan IX. Analisis data dilakukan dengan regresi berganda dan uji hipotesis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Administrasi Pendidikan (X1) memiliki pengaruh negatif terhadap Disiplin Belajar (Y), dengan nilai signifikansi 0,916 (lebih besar dari α = 0,05) dan nilai t hitung -0,107 (lebih kecil dari t tabel 2,048). Sebaliknya, Kinerja Guru (X2) memberikan pengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap Disiplin Belajar, dengan nilai signifikansi 0,004 (kurang dari α = 0,05) dan nilai t hitung 3,432 (lebih besar dari t tabel 2,084). Selain itu, Administrasi Pendidikan dan Kinerja Guru secara simultan memberikan pengaruh positif terhadap Disiplin Belajar, dengan nilai signifikansi 0,003 (kurang dari α = 0,05) dan nilai F hitung 10,721 (lebih besar dari F tabel 3,33). Penelitian ini menyoroti peran penting Kinerja Guru dalam meningkatkan Disiplin Belajar, sementara Administrasi Pendidikan tidak menunjukkan dampak signifikan jika berdiri sendiri.
El contexto actual e histórico de la ingeniería social
Authors: Sedano Pinzón Jaime Junior
Published: September 2024

En el presente artículo se presenta la ingeniería social tomando como base una indagación producto de revisión descriptiva, donde se ha identificado la manera como en el transcurrir del tiempo ha ido tomando gran relevancia los diferentes ataques haciendo uso de persuasión siendo muchos de los ataques e incidentes que se habrían podido evitar o mitigar si el usuario hubiera asumido una actitud más responsable con lo que se tiene y hace en tema de ciberseguridad. Los incidentes o amenazas tienen su origen y con el tiempo pueden ir quedando igual o mejorar, es por ello por lo que el problema es trabajado desde la pregunta ¿Qué se sabe de la ingeniería social desde su contexto actual e histórico?; por ser un tema de vital importancia, se empieza analizando el término “ingeniería social” desde el origen hasta la actualidad, seguidamente se pasa a revisión del funcionamiento, donde se tomaron técnicas más implementadas o significativas; algunas de ellas son: phishing, vishing, whaling, pharming, smishing, ataque en persona, entre otras; luego se exploran casos de la vida real y se presenta un análisis de una multinacional a nivel latinoamericano en cuanto a un tipo de ataque phishing durante el 2022 y se finaliza con medidas de acción y prevención para evitar ser víctima.
Characterization of wild lactic acid bacteria for industrial applications
Authors: Oyedokun Nofisat , Olutokun Gbadebo , Ideh Roseline , Adeoye Benjamin , Abdulkareem Taoheed , Orji Sopuruchi
Published: September 2024

For some decades now, Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been an important raw resource in the food and pharmaceutical industries to produce variety of dairy based products including but not limited to cheese, yoghurt, lactic acid. drugs and cosmetics. The LAB strains include the genera of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus. The importation of raw materials such as lactic acid, which can be obtained from indigenous sources, however, affects the foreign exchange of Nigeria's economy greatly. This study was designed to screen, characterize and identify LAB for industrial applications. A total of eighty (80) Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from samples of nunu (a locally fermented milk product) using basic microbiological procedures such as morphological/phenotypic, gram staining, and other biochemical tests. All the isolates were tested for their acidification, curd formation and aroma production abilities. After forty-eight (48) hours of incubation at 420C, twenty-three (23) isolates which satisfied established phenotypic and biochemical criteria were selected for further functional tests. Out of the twenty-three (23) isolates obtained, two (2) strains L53 and L12 had additionally high exopolysaccharide production ability and correspondingly produced yoghurt with high viscosity and very low residual content. Based on the remarkable characteristics obtained from these two species, they are therefore recommended for optimization and proposed for large scale utilization as starter cultures in the dairy industries.
Combining insitu rainwater harvesting and integrated nutrient management of organic manure improves soil moisture, fertility and crop yields in marginalized areas: A review
Authors: Kugedera Andrew
Published: September 2024

Soil moisture stress and infertility are major biophysical constraints which limit crop production and food security in marginalized areas. Marginal areas are mainly associated with low rainfall which is insufficient to support crops until maturity is reached. The use of insitu rainwater harvesting methods such as planting pits, tied ridges, mulching, Zai pits and half-moon can be a solution to reduce moisture stress. This alone cannot improve crop yields hence the need to use integrated nutrient management (INM) of animal manure, biofertilisers, mineral fertiliser and composts to improve soil fertility, structure and increase water retention ability. Combining rainwater harvesting with INM has the potential to mitigate effects of climate change, improve crop yields and meet food demand in marginal areas. Various nutrient sources used as INM can restore soil health, increase microbial population, nutrient mineralisation and improve soil quality. Use of biofertilisers in agriculture reduces soil toxicity, improve nutrient availability and create a conducive environment for crop growth and development. Integration of tied ridges with cattle manure and mineral fertiliser has the potential of increasing infiltration rates, reducing surface runoff and increase crop yields with 50-150% regardless of soil type. This chapter sought to come up review the effects of rainwater harvesting methods and INM on soil fertility, moisture stress and crop yields in marginalized areas.
Molecular screening of potential Bacillus species bacteriocin starter cultures isolated from Nigerian fermented condiments
Authors: Ozabor Temilade , Fadahunsi Ilesanmi , Ayoade Femi , Olaitan janet
Published: September 2024

Traditional fermented food condiments in Nigeria are majorly produced by using protein-rich leguminous seeds via spontaneous fermentation or back slopping. However, health risks such as the production of biogenic amines, presence of toxigenic genes and food borne pathogens remains major concerns of public health significance. Hence, the need for the production of safe condiments using non-pathogenic food-grade starter cultures. Isolation and characterization of organisms from spontaneously fermented condiments made from Parkia biglobosa, Ricinus communis, Pentaclethra macrophylla and Prosopis africana was done using standard methods. Phenotypic and biochemical characterizations was down using established protocols while molecular identification was done using 16S rRNA sequencing. Results obtained showed that the microbial load (cfu/ml) recorded from the spontaneously fermented condiments ranged from: 2.1×107-5.2×1012, 15.2×107-4.4×1010, 4.4×1010-4.4×1012 and 6.4×107-1.6×1012 for P. biglobosa, R. communis, P. macrophylla and P. africana respectively. Identification of isolates revealed Bacillus. However, 22.8% of the Bacillus isolates harboured HblA and HblD genes while 40.9 % showed bands for the presence of HblC genes. In addition, the percentage occurrence of 18.1%, 27.2% and 50% was obtained for the presence of NheA, NheB and NheC genes respectively while none of the Bacillus isolates showed bands for the presence of Cytk and EM1 genes. More so, five Bacillus isolates were identified to be non-toxigenic, showing bands only for Bac, Osbo and Spas genes which are bacteriocin producing genes. Put together, the identified non-toxigenic food-grade Bacillus species recorded in this study can be recommended as potential bacteriocin starter cultures for the fermentation of microbiologically safe food products.
Assessing awareness of IoT-driven strategies for poultry management in mitigating increased ambient heat in Enugu, Nigeria
Authors: Okocha Onuoha , Sombu Terser , Zimoghen Julie , Uwajimgba4 Anthony
Published: September 2024

The study examined awareness level of Internet of Things (IoT)-driven strategies in mitigating impacts of increased ambient heat load in poultry pens by poultry farmers in a smart city like Enugu, Nigeria. With the rising challenges of climate change, increased ambient heat load within poultry pens poses a significant threat to poultry production. Understanding farmers’ perception of impact of increased ambient heat load and their awareness of IoT-driven strategies for its mitigation is crucial for sustainable poultry system management in smart cities. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 240 poultry farmers from the three Local Government Areas that make up Enugu City. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics and Likert rating scale were used to analyze the data. The study identified socio-demographic factors influencing farmers’ perception of impact of increased heat load and awareness/ adoption of IoT-driven mitigation strategies. Education level (45% secondary education), access to information (29.2%) and financial resources (22.9%) were key determinants. The findings revealed varying levels of awareness among poultry farmers regarding IoT-driven strategies while the constraints faced by farmers in implementing sustainable IoT-driven mitigation strategies included lack of awareness, lack of funding/high initial investment, limited access to technology, inadequate training, poor extension contact, water availability and climate variability. The study concluded that majority of poultry farmers shared similar perceptions about the impact of increased ambient heat load on poultry species but however were not aware of many of the IoT-driven strategies to mitigate the impact and were limited by a number of constraints or challenges to adopting IoT-driven mitigation strategies which altogether could improve poultry production system and help to achieve animal protein security in a smart city like Enugu, Nigeria. The study further recommended enlightenment of poultry farmers on the impact of increased ambient heat load on poultry species and available/sustainable/harmonized IoT-enabled guidelines or solutions to mitigate heat load in smart cities’ poultry production system.
DNA methylation in recovery of Maize (Zea Mays L.) from maize streak
Authors: Olawuyi Odunayo , Odimayo Oluwagbade , Olowe Oluwamayowa , Azuh Victor , Akanmu Akinlolu
Published: September 2024

DNA methylation influences regulation of gene expression during cell development and tissue differentiation in plants. This study therefore discussed the role of DNA methylation in the recovery of maize from Maize Streak Diseases (MSD). Bisulfite treatment and DNA sequencing methods were carried out on the 2nd, 4th 6th and 8th white to yellowish streaking leaves of five infected maize varieties (DMR-ESR-Y, TZEBR, and ART/98/SW6) to assess the disease severity using digital phenotyping. The bisulfite treatment utilizes various sensitivities of cytosine and 5-methylcytosine (5-MeC) to deamination by bisulfite under acidic conditions in which cytosine is converted to uracil, whereas 5-MeC remains unreactive. This study showed that DMR-ESR-Y variety significantly (p<0.05) tolerated best for MSD, while TZEBR and ART/98/SW6 varieties slightly tolerated MSD but were not significantly different. The analysis of the images from digital phenotyping revealed that DMR-ESR-Y variety had the highest level of resistance, followed by TZEBR while ART/98/SW6 showed mild resistance and DMR-LSR-Y had the least. The leaf length had strong positive correlation with leaf width (r=0.94), number of leaves(r=0.64), plant height (r=0.96) and stem height(r=0.96). The methylation patterns in bisulfite sequences across the same leaf positions were significantly different (p<0.05), thus suggesting that CG methylation could contribute to transcriptional gene silencing plant recovery mechanism in maize.
Análisis del impacto de las asignaturas de Ciencias Exactas en la tasa de abandono en ingeniería
Authors: Ayala-Muñoz Dolores , Romo-Nava María Baudelia , Rosales-Ramírez Miguel Ángel
Published: September 2024

Esta investigación surge al identificar que una de las principales causas de la deserción escolar en el ámbito universitario es la dificultad que los estudiantes de Ingeniería en Gestión empresarial e Ingeniería Industrial del Tecnológico Superior de Purísima del Rincón enfrentan en el aprendizaje de las materias relacionadas con las matemáticas. El propósito de este trabajo es realizar un análisis para identificar cuánto impactan las ciencias exactas en la permanencia de los estudiantes de ingeniera, la metodología se definió mediante 3 fases considerando una investigación cualitativa. Fase 1. Definir sujetos de estudio y tamaño de la muestra, Fase 2.  Diseño del instrumento (encuesta), en la Fase 3. Aplicación de las encuestas y análisis de los datos. Los resultados obtenidos fueron que las matemáticas sí influyen en la permanencia de los estudiantes, por lo que se sugirieron estrategias que mitiguen los índices de deserción de los estudiantes de las carreras analizadas.
Deep Learning Applied to Imbalanced Malware Datasets Classification
Authors: Salas Marcelo Palma , De Geus Paulo Lício
Published: September 2024

In the current day, the evolution and exponential proliferation of malware involve modifications and camouflage of their structure through techniques like obfuscation, polymorphism, metamorphism, and encryption. With the advancements in deep learning, methods such as convolutional neural networks (CNN) have emerged as potent tools for deciphering intricate patterns within this malicious software. The present research uses the capacity of CNN to learn the global structure of the code converted to an RGB or grayscale image and decipher the patterns present in the malware datasets generated from these images. The study explores fine-tuning techniques, including bicubic interpolation, ReduceLROnPlateau, and class weight estimation, in order to generalize the model and reduce the risk of overfitting for malware that uses evasion techniques against classification. Taking advantage of transfer learning and the MobileNet architecture, we created a MobileNet fine-tuning (FT) model. The application of this new model in four datasets, including Microsoft Big 2015, Malimg, MaleVis, and a new Fusion dataset, achieved 98.71%, 99.08%, 96.04%, and 98.04% accuracy, respectively, which underscores the robustness of the proposed model. The Fusion dataset is a combination of the first three datasets, consisting of a set of 32,601 known malware image files representing a mix of 59 different families. Despite the success, the study reveals performance deterioration with an increase in the number of malware families, highlighting the need for further exploration into the limits of CNNs in malware classification.
Resource Allocation Based on Task Priority and Resource Consumption in Edge Computing
Authors: Araújo Guilherme Alves , Bezerra Sandy Ferreira da Costa , Da Rocha Atslands Rego
Published: September 2024

The computational power of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is usually low, which makes it necessary to process data and extract relevant information on devices with higher processing capacity. Edge Computing emerged as a complementary solution to cloud computing, providing devices at the network edge with computational resources to handle the data processing and analysis that constrained IoT devices eventually cannot perform. This solution allows data processing closer to the IoT devices, reducing latency for IoT applications. However, the resource constraints of edge nodes, which have lower computational power than the cloud nodes, make resource allocation and processing massive requests challenging. This study proposes an edge resource allocation mechanism based on task priority and machine learning. The proposed approach efficiently allocates resources for IoT requests based on their task priorities while monitoring the resource consumption of edge nodes. This study evaluates the performance of different classification algorithms by using well-known metrics for classifying models. The most efficient classifier achieved an accuracy of 92% and a precision of 90%. The results indicate good performance when using this classifier in the evaluated approach. The proposed mechanism demonstrated that resource management can be done more efficiently with significantly lower resource utilization when compared to an allocation method based only on distance. The study tested different scenarios regarding the number of requests, edge nodes, and a proposed failure mechanism to schedule failed node tasks to functional nodes. This failure control mechanism is a significant contribution of the proposal. Therefore, the proposed method in this study can become a valuable tool for efficient resource management with reduced computational cost and efficient resource allocation.
Climate change and aviation
Authors:   Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Miu Luciana Maria , Miller Jack
Published: September 2024

Aviation has a growing impact on climate change, as demand for air travel increases globally. This POSTnote examines options for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from aviation, including new technologies, demand reduction and emissions offsetting. It also outlines UK and global policy frameworks for implementing measures to do so.
3D bioprinting in medicine
Authors:   Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Jackson Melissa , Border Peter
Published: September 2024

This POSTnote gives an overview of 3D bioprinting in medicine and the associated biological, manufacturing, regulatory and ethical implications.
Marine renewables
Authors:   Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Hornigold Thomas , Miller Jack
Published: September 2024

Marine renewables are technologies that generate electricity from tide and wave motion. They produce electricity without greenhouse gases, and could provide economic benefits for the UK. However, the technologies have been slow to develop, despite previous projections of growth. This POSTnote examines the causes of this delay and how the sector might develop.
Cloud computing
Authors:   Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Cully John , Wright Susie
Published: September 2024

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services on-demand over the internet. This POSTnote describes the different types of cloud computing before outlining issues relating to security, regulation, energy use and barriers to the adoption of this technology.
Edge computing
Authors:   Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Cully John , Wright Susie
Published: September 2024

This POSTnote describes edge computing, the use of computing resources in close proximity to the place where data are processed within a network, and some of the opportunities and challenges associated with its use. It supplements POSTnote 629.
Heat networks
Authors:   Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Miller Jack
Published: September 2024

A heat network provides heating and hot water to an apartment, commercial site or series of buildings close together. It can also provide cooling. There is interest in using them to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from UK buildings. This POSTnote looks at the technology of heat networks and their sources of heat. It looks at considerations when building new networks. It also outlines a potential future market framework.
Interpretable machine learning
Authors:   Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Christie Lorna
Published: September 2024

Machine learning (ML, a type of artificial intelligence) is increasingly being used to support decision making in a variety of applications including recruitment and clinical diagnoses. While ML has many advantages, there are concerns that in some cases it may not be possible to explain completely how its outputs have been produced. This POSTnote gives an overview of ML and its role in decision-making. It examines the challenges of understanding how a complex ML system has reached its output, and some of the technical approaches to making ML easier to interpret. It also gives a brief overview of some of the proposed tools for making ML systems more accountable.
Hubungan Status Perokok dengan Saturasi Oksigen pada Pasien Intra Operasi dengan General Anestesi Inhalasi
Authors: NH Fikri Rizal , Sebayang Septian Mixrova , Yudono Danang Tri
Published: September 2024

Dampak yang mungkin timbul pada pasien perokok adalah penurunan kadar oksigen dalam aliran darah. Kondisi ini dapat mempengaruhi jalannya prosedur anestesi dan pembedahan karena kestabilan hemodinamik, termasuk pentingnya menjaga tingkat saturasi oksigen dalam tubuh. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan status perokok dengan saturasi oksigen pada pasien intra operasi dengan general anastesi inhalasi di RSUD Goeteng Taroenadibrata Purbalingga. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian non eksperimen dengan desain penelitian Cross Sectional. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah semua pasien yang akan menjalani operasi dengan tindakan general anestesi inhalasi, sampel dalam penelitian ini diambil dengan cara consecutive sampling 69 sampel. Analisa data menggunakan uji Chi square, p-value 0,00 (p-value<0,050. Hasil penelitian yang telah dilakukan diperoleh responden dengan status merokok terdapat 36 orang (52,2%) dengan saturasi <95% dan 3 orang (4,3%) dengan saturasi oksigen ≥95%, responden dengan status tidak merokok diperoleh hasil 1 orang (1,4%) dengan saturasi oksigen <95% dan 29 orang (42%) dengan saturasi oksigen ≥95%,. Dapat disimpulkan dari hasil penelitian Distribusi karakteristik responden tertinggi berdasarkan usia terdapat pada usia 20-44 tahun sebanyak 42 responden (60,9%), berdasarkan jenis kelamin tertinggi pada responden laki-laki sebanyak 39 responden (56,5%), berdasarkan jenis tindakan GA tertinggi pada GA ETT sebanyak 33 responden (47,8%), berdasarkan responden yang memiliki riwayat merokok sebanyak 39 responden (56,5%), berdasarkan saturasi oksigen intra operasi tertinggi pada nilai <95% sebanyak 37 responden (53,6).
Peran Analisis Swot dalam Perumusan Strategi Bisnis untuk Ukm dalam Menghadapi Persaingan Global
Authors: Situmorang Vera Christina
Published: September 2024

Analisis SWOT membantu UKM mengidentifikasi aspek-aspek yang menghambat kinerja mereka, seperti keterbatasan finansial, kurangnya pengalaman internasional, atau infrastruktur yang belum memadai. Tujuan dalam penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui bagaimana UKM mengidentifikasi dan memanfaatkan kekuatan (Strengths) internal mereka melalui analisis SWOT dalam merumuskan strategi bisnis untuk bersaing di pasar global. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode kualitatif deskriptif. Hasil dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis SWOT memberikan kerangka kerja yang komprehensif bagi UKM untuk menghadapi ancaman dalam persaingan global. Dengan pemahaman mendalam tentang ancaman yang ada dan pengembangan strategi mitigasi yang tepat, UKM dapat mengurangi risiko, meningkatkan daya saing, dan memastikan pertumbuhan berkelanjutan di pasar internasional. Pendekatan yang sistematis dan terstruktur dari analisis SWOT membantu UKM merencanakan dan mengimplementasikan langkah-langkah mitigasi risiko secara efektif, sehingga mereka dapat menghadapi tantangan global dengan lebih percaya diri dan kesiapan yang lebih baik.
AI language models: A breach of academic integrity in online language learning?
Authors:   Adana Alparslan Turkes Science and Technology University, Ozer Omer
Published: September 2024

This study elucidates considerations surrounding university students’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their coursework, and its impact on online language learning and assessment. This exploration is based on students’ personal experiences and perceptions. To investigate the students’ use of generative AI, an open-ended questionnaire, consisting of optional questions, was developed. A total of 54 students from diverse undergraduate fields of study, who were enrolled in online General English, English for Academic Purposes or Academic Writing courses, provided responses to the open-ended questions. The data were analysed inductively by two researchers using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that, despite offering numerous potential benefits to student learning, such as facilitating learning and supporting language proficiency, AI language models also raise a variety of challenges and concerns. These include issues related to plagiarism, cheating, assessment and over-reliance on AI.
Comparing automated analysis and human analysis of hedging in academic texts
Authors:   Victoria University of Wellington, Ruegg Rachael , Prommas Pansa ,   Prince of Songkla University
Published: September 2024

Hedging is a metadiscourse device employed by academic writers to manage knowledge claims and establish writer-reader interaction in written discourse. Research writing involves a balance of fact and a writer’s personal evaluation and interpretation. This study compared automated analysis of hedging through Authorial Voice Analyzer (AVA) with a more traditional human analysis of hedging, to increase understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the AVA versus human analysis of hedging in academic texts. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used; quantitative analysis (Pearson correlation) was followed by qualitative analysis to understand the reasons for quantitative differences. AVA found a larger number of hedging items than the human analysis in the same academic writing corpus. However, qualitative analysis suggests that the AVA only considers frequency and does not take account of function. Since many hedging devices are multifunctional, AVA seems to overestimate the frequency of hedging by counting hedge markers as hedging even when they are used with propositional functions. Overall, automated analytic tools like AVA are useful for metadiscourse studies. However, unless used in combination with human analysis they are unlikely to effectively operate with multifunctional markers. The findings of this study offer validation of AVA and help raise awareness of how the tool can be used to evaluate hedging in academic texts.