bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NAFLD – Prävention und ernährungsmedizinische
Behandlungsmöglichkeiten
Authors: Roeb Elke
Published: December 2022

Bewegungsmangel, zunehmendes Körpergewicht und höheres
Lebensalter ließen in den letzten Jahrzehnten die Prävalenz der
nichtalkoholischen Fettlebererkrankung (NAFLD) ansteigen. In vielen
Industrienationen ist NAFLD mittlerweile die häufigste chronische
Lebererkrankung. NAFLD ist eng assoziiert mit metabolischen Erkrankungen wie
Typ-2-Diabetes, Fettstoffwechselstörungen und Adipositas. Man bezeichnet
sie daher auch als metabolisch assoziierte Fettleber [1].
Das Gottesbild psychisch kranker Menschen
Authors: Frick Eckhard
Published: December 2022

Der Begriff „Gottesbild“ hat seine Wurzeln in der biblischen Anthropologie: Der Mensch ist der ausschließliche zælæm (lebendige Statue) des Schöpfers. Folglich sind keine Idole oder physischen Gottesbilder erlaubt. Mentale Repräsentationen der Beziehung eines Individuums zu Gott, zu einer anderen transzendenten Figur oder zum Heiligen haben eine affektive, implizite, weitgehend unbewusste Komponente (oft Gottesbild genannt) und eine kognitive, explizite, propositionale Komponente (oft Gotteskonzept genannt). Das Verständnis des Gottesbildes psychisch Kranker sollte sich nicht auf die Abweichung vom vermeintlich „guten und richtigen“ Gottesbild (normativer Bias) konzentrieren, sondern vielmehr auf die wahrgenommene Diskrepanz zwischen dem persönlichen und dem normativen Gottesbild. Bei religiösen Wahnvorstellungen und anderen Psychopathologien kann das Gottesbild Teil des Problems (z. B. in Verbindung mit Wut und Angst) oder Teil der Lösung (z. B. Bewältigung durch spirituelle Erzählungen) sein. Was die religiösen, kulturellen, sozialen und psychopathologischen Normativitäten betrifft, sollte Spiritual Care eine wohlwollende Neutralität wahren und die spirituelle Suche des Patienten und seine sich entwickelnde Gottes-Imagination begleiten.
100 Jahre kommerzielles Insulin – Lebensretter für
Menschen mit Diabetes
Authors: Ponce-Ibarra Alfonso
Published: December 2022

Die Entwicklung der Insulintherapie gehört zu den großen Erfolgen
in der Medizin. An der spannenden Geschichte wird mittlerweile seit über
100 Jahren geschrieben. Generationen von Forschenden weltweit haben die
Behandlung der Diabetes-Erkrankung geprägt. Inzwischen nehmen die
meisten Patientinnen und Patienten ihr Diabetesmanagement nach Schulung und
Anleitung in die eigenen Hände. Doch bis es so weit war, waren einige
Hürden zu meistern.
Mechanics and Energetic Analysis of Rowing with Big Blades with Randall Foils
Authors: Cardoso Ricardo , Rios Manoel , Carvalho Diogo , Monteiro Ana Sofia , Soares Susana , Abraldes J. Arturo , Gomes Beatriz B. , Vilas-Boas João Paulo , Fernandes Ricardo J.
Published: December 2022

Empirical observations support that the addition of a plastic strip – also known as Randall foils – on the top edge of a rowing blade improves rowing efficiency during the cycle propulsive phase. The aim of the current study was to analyze the effect of using big blades with and without Randall foils on rowing performance. Twenty experienced rowers performed two 90 s tethered rowing bouts (with and without Randall foils) to assess their impact on force production and physiologic variables. All tests were randomized and a repeated measure design was used to compare experimental conditions. Higher values of peak and mean peak forces (479.4±134.7 vs. 423.2±153.0, d=0.83 and 376.5±101.4 vs. 337.1±113.3 N, d=0.68), peak oxygen uptake (47.9±7.5 vs. 45.3±7.3 mL∙kg−1∙min−1, d=0.19), peak blood lactate concentration (7.9±1.6 vs. 6.9±1.7 mmol∙L−1, d=0.16), blood lactate increasing speed (0.08±0.01 vs. 0.07±0.06 [(mmol·L−1)·s−1], d=0.27) and lactic anaerobic energy (27.4±7.9 vs. 23.4±8.1 kJ, d=0.23) were found for big blades with vs. without Randall foils, p<0.05. The current data suggest that the Randall foils can positively affect rowing performance.
MarkeTrak and EuroTrak: What We Can Learn by Looking Beyond the U.S. Market
Authors: Powers Thomas A. , Bisgaard Nikolai
Published: December 2022

The MarkeTrak survey of the trends in hearing aid use, satisfaction and adoption in the United States has been conducted since 1989 by the Hearing Industries Association. It provide the hearing aid industry with valuable about the consumers view of the products and services within the industry. The EuroTrak survey is conducted by the European Hearing Instrument Manufactures Association. It is the counterpart to MarkeTrak and provides similar data for over a dozen countries in Europe, and Asia. While there are differences in the distribution models and reimbursement methods for these counties, many of the key metrics concerning hearing aid use and satisfaction can be compared.
Evaluation of Risk Scores as Predictive Tools for Stroke in Patients with Retinal Artery Occlusion: A Danish Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Ørskov Marie , Vorum Henrik , Larsen Torben Bjerregaard , Skjøth Flemming
Published: December 2022

Purpose We investigated the 1-year risk of stroke in patients with retinal artery occlusion and evaluated the predictive and discriminating abilities of contemporary risk stratification models for embolic stroke.

Methods This register-based cohort study included 7,906 patients with retinal artery occlusion from Danish nationwide patient registries between 1995 and 2018. The study population was stratified according to the number of points obtained in the stroke risk scores: the CHA2DS2-VASc score and the ESSEN Stroke Risk score. The 1-year risk of stroke within strata was evaluated and compared using the cox proportional hazards model. Furthermore, the discrimination of the risk scores as predictive tools for stroke risk assessment was investigated using C-statistics, Brier score, and the index of prediction accuracy.

Results The stroke event rate in patients with retinal artery occlusion increased as the score increased for both risk scores, ranging from 3.62 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.46–5.31) per 100 person-years to 13.25 (95% CI: 11.78––14.89) per 100-person-years for increasing levels of the CHA2DS2-VASc score and from 3.97 (95% CI: 2.97–5.32) per 100 person-years to 16.43 (95% CI: 14.01–19.27) per 100 person-years for increasing levels of the ESSEN Stroke Risk score. Using a risk score of 0 as a reference, the difference was statistically significant for retinal artery occlusion patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or above and for all levels of the ESSEN Stroke Risk score. The C-statistics for the risk scores was 61% (95% CI: 58%–63%) and 62% (95% CI: 59–64%) for the CHA2DS2-VASc score and ESSEN Stroke Risk score, respectively.

Conclusion The results suggested that the use of the CHA2DS2-VASc score and the ESSEN Stroke Risk score was applicable for risk stratification of stroke in patients with retinal artery occlusion, but discrimination was poor due to low specificity.
Tuning the Čerenkov second harmonic contrast from ferroelectric domain walls via anomalous dispersion
Authors: Hegarty Peter A. , Eng Lukas M. , Rüsing Michael
Published: December 2022

Second harmonic (SH) microscopy represents a powerful tool for the investigation of crystalline systems, such as ferroelectrics and their domain walls (DWs). Under the condition of normal dispersion, i.e., the refractive index at the SH wavelength is larger as compared to the refractive index at the fundamental wavelength, n(2ω)>n(ω), bulk crystals will generate no SH signal. Should the bulk, however, contain DWs, an appreciable SH signal will still be detectable at the location of DWs stemming from the Čerenkov mechanism. In this work, we demonstrate both how SH signals are generated in bulk media and how the Čerenkov mechanism can be inhibited by using anomalous dispersion, i.e., n(ω)>n(2ω). This allows us to quantitatively estimate the relative strength of the Čerenkov compared to other SH contrast mechanisms in DWs, such as the interference contrast. The results are in agreement with previous experiments based on the geometric separation of the signals. Due to the observed, strong Čerenkov contrast, such signal contributions may not be neglected in polarimetry studies of ferroelectric DWs in the future.
Electric, thermal, and optical properties of severely deformed Si processed by high-pressure torsion
Authors: Ikoma Yoshifumi , Matsuda Kensuke , Yoshida Keigo , Takaira Marina , Kohno Masamichi
Published: December 2022

We report on electric, thermal, and optical properties of Si subjected to severe plastic deformation. Single-crystalline Si wafers were processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) under a nominal pressure of 6 GPa. The HPT-processed samples consisted of metastable body-centered-cubic Si-III and rhombohedral Si-XII as well as diamond-cubic Si-I and amorphous phases. The metastable phases increased with increasing the number of anvil rotations (N). The resistivity of the single-crystalline Si (20 Ω cm) increased to 50 Ω cm after HPT processing for N = 10 and then it decreased to ∼0.7 Ω cm when increasing N to 100. Such an increase and a subsequent decrease in resistivity were attributed to the grain refinement and the increase in the volume fraction of semimetallic Si-III, respectively. The thermal conductivity was reduced by two orders of magnitude (∼3 W m−1 K−1) after HPT processing for N ≥ 50. A weak broad photoluminescence peak originating from Si-I nanograins appeared in the visible light region after annealing at 600 °C. These results indicate that the resistivity, thermal conductivity, and photoluminescence of the HPT-processed Si strongly depend on the formation of metastable phases and grain refinement, which are induced by shear strain under high pressure.
Atomic Structure of Hydrogenic Systems
Authors: Nikolopoulos Lampros A. A.
Published: December 2022

In this chapter, a numerical method is described for the efficient calculation of the bound and continuum spectrum of hydrogen in terms of B-spline basis functions, and the method is extended trivially to describe single-electron motion in the presence of more-general atomic potentials. The calculation method includes the solution of the radial Schrödinger equation by either direct diagonalization or solving a linear system of equations.
Fabricating human tissues: How physics can help
Authors: Shafiee Ashkan , Ghadiri Elham , Langer Robert
Published: December 2022

By understanding and applying the physics of cellular self-assembly, scientists aim to predict tissue behaviors and accelerate the regeneration of human tissues and organs.
Insights into interactions of chlorine-based cleaning products with indoor relevant surfaces
Authors: Alves Michael R. , Deeleepojananan Cholaphan , Or Victor W. , Sit Izaac , Grassian Vicki H.
Published: December 2022

Environmental context The chemistry that occurs in indoor environments and the role that indoor surfaces play have recently received increased attention in the scientific community. Here we have investigated the chemistry of chlorine-based cleaning products and their interactions with indoor relevant surfaces and find that these surfaces react with these cleaning products to yield surface adsorbed chlorine oxides and other surface-bound species. Rationale Indoor chemistry has recently received increased attention in the scientific community due to the fact that there is relatively little known given its unique environment including point combustion sources (candles, gas stoves, etc.) resulting in high aerosol concentrations, high surface to volume ratios and the impact of humans on indoor air quality. Recently, surface-initiated reactions during chlorine cleaning events have been proposed.  Methodology In this study, we probe the interaction of bleach headspace gas with high surface area silica as a proxy for window glass – an ‘inert’ and impervious surface – using attenuated total reflectance Fourier Transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy photothermal infrared (AFM-PTIR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to observe surface chemical and physical changes. Results The results suggest chemical transformations occur at the silica surface forming surface adsorbed chlorine oxides (ClOx). Conductivity and ion chromatography methods support the presence of adsorbed chloride after surfaces have been exposed to bleach and HOCl. Discussion Interactions between HOCl and indoor surfaces have not been previously studied with molecular based techniques. The possibility of surface-mediated reactions has been relatively unexplored on indoor surfaces and this study shows the chemistry of chlorine-containing cleaning products on indoor relevant surfaces.
Transcriptional control of cone photoreceptor diversity by a thyroid hormone receptor
Authors: Aramaki Michihiko , Wu Xuefeng , Liu Hong , Liu Ye , Cho Young-Wook , Song Mina , Fu Yulong , Ng Lily , Forrest Douglas
Published: December 2022

Cone photoreceptor diversity allows detection of wavelength information in light, the first step in color (chromatic) vision. In most mammals, cones express opsin photopigments for sensitivity to medium/long (M, “green”) or short (S, “blue”) wavelengths and are differentially arrayed over the retina. Cones appear early in retinal neurogenesis but little is understood of the subsequent control of diversity of these postmitotic neurons, because cone populations are sparse and, apart from opsins, poorly defined. It is also a challenge to distinguish potentially subtle differences between cell subtypes within a lineage. Therefore, we derived a Cre driver to isolate individual M and S opsin-enriched cones, which are distributed in counter-gradients over the mouse retina. Fine resolution transcriptome analyses identified expression gradients for groups of genes. The postnatal emergence of gradients indicated divergent differentiation of cone precursors during maturation. Using genetic tagging, we demonstrated a role for thyroid hormone receptor β2 (TRβ2) in control of gradient genes, many of which are enriched for TRβ2 binding sites and TRβ2-regulated open chromatin. Deletion of TRβ2 resulted in poorly distinguished cones regardless of retinal location. We suggest that TRβ2 controls a bipotential transcriptional state to promote cone diversity and the chromatic potential of the species.
The Euler characteristic as a topological marker for outbreaks in vector-borne disease
Authors: Barros de Souza Danillo , Figueirôa dos Santos Everlon , Santos Fernando A N
Published: December 2022

Epidemic outbreaks represent a significant concern for the current state of global health, particularly in Brazil, the epicentre of several vector-borne disease outbreaks and where epidemic control is still a challenge for the scientific community. Data science techniques applied to epidemics are usually made via standard statistical and modelling approaches, which do not always lead to reliable predictions, especially when the data lacks a piece of reliable surveillance information needed for precise parameter estimation. In particular, dengue outbreaks reported over the past years raise concerns for global health care, and thus novel data-driven methods are necessary to predict the emergence of outbreaks. In this work, we propose a parameter-free approach based on geometric and topological techniques, which extracts geometrical and topological invariants as opposed to statistical summaries used in established methods. Specifically, our procedure generates a time-varying network from a time-series of new epidemic cases based on synthetic time-series and real dengue data across several districts of Recife, the fourth-largest urban area in Brazil. Subsequently, we use the Euler characteristic (EC) to extract key topological invariant of the epidemic time-varying network and we finally compared the results with the effective reproduction number (R

t
) for each data set. Our results unveil a strong correlation between epidemic outbreaks and the EC. In fact, sudden changes in the EC curve preceding and/or during an epidemic period emerge as a warning sign for an outbreak in the synthetic data, the EC transitions occur close to the periods of epidemic transitions, which is also corroborated. In the real dengue data, where data is intrinsically noise, the EC seems to show a better sign-to-noise ratio once compared to R

t
. In analogy with later studies on noisy data by using EC in positron emission tomography scans, the EC estimates the number of regions with high connectivity in the epidemic network and thus has potential to be a signature of the emergence of an epidemic state. Our results open the door to the development of alternative/complementary topological and geometrical data-driven methods to characterise vector-borne disease outbreaks, specially when the conventional epidemic surveillance methods are not effective in a scenario of extreme noise and lack of robustness in the data.
Identification of Zingiberaceae Species Based on Leaf Recognition Using Multiclass Support Vector Machine
Authors: Hamdan R N A , Zakaria R , Daliman S
Published: December 2022

The family Zingiberaceae or known as the ginger family of flowering plants famous for its medicinal values and is widely distributed especially in Southeast Asia. Malaysia is one of the countries with abundance of Zingiberaceous species. Usually, identification of the plant species begins by identifying the leaves. Identification based on leaf recognition is the most effective method because a healthy plant has leaves and it exists all the time, unlike fruits and flowers which may only exist at certain times. However, the leaf recognition considered as intricate task and challenging especially when using conventional approaches as most plants have similar shape and colour. Thus, the aim of this research is to develop an interactive application for classification and identification of selected Zingiberaceae species, namely: Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Etlingera elatior and Alpinia galanga based on leaf recognition using multiclass Support Vector Machine (SVM). Six steps were constructed to develop an interactive application for classification of Zingiberaceae species: 1) Collection of leaf samples, 2) Creation of database from captured leaf images, 3) Image preprocessing, 4) Leaf image processing, 5) Classification of image textures using SVM and 6) Design of graphical user interface (GUI). The image features extraction in leaf image processing were based on gray-level co-ccurrence matrix (GLCM), Canny and Prewitt algorithms. The combination of GLCM and Prewitt achieved the highest accuracy which was recorded of 95% from the overall accuracy in classification of Zingiberaceae species. By using the automatic plant identification system, results will come up more accurate and faster.
Groundwater Potential Using Electrical Resistivity Imaging In Batu Melintang, Jeli, Kelantan
Authors: Sulaiman M S , Khan M A , Sulaiman N , Udin W S
Published: December 2022

The study is carried out in the northern Kelantan region, specifically at Batu Melintang, Jeli, across a distance of around 20 km2. The study’s main aim is to analyze groundwater potential that can be used for future mining or agricultural propose. Batu Melintang’s lithology consists of slate, phyllite, schist, hornfels, metasiltstone and metasandstone with granitic intrusions. Sungai Pergau and Sungai Tadoh are the major rivers in the area fed by tributary drainages located in the gold mining zones. It is crucial to assess the groundwater potential for future usage as any disruption of the watershed drainage system, could interfere with the primary surface river system which will eventually hinder the importance of Batu Melintang as a gaining popularity geotourism site. This research is conducted by using geological mapping and resistivity surveys. Four survey lines of 200 m are conducted within the study area using the Wenner configuration. Resistivity data is processed using Res2Dinv software and result with RMS error lower than 20% were produced. Both pseudosection of lines L1 and L2 show the occurrence of fresh groundwater (1-100ohm.m) at a depth of 5 meters and below the surface. It also shows the activity of normal faulting that might produce the aquifer. In the cases of LS3 and LS4, potential groundwater found in the continuous low angle aquifer located deeper around 10m to 30m might also be produced by the activity of the thrust fault. The study also found that the best groundwater potential occurred in the zone within the fractured bedrock of metamorphic rock.
Mobile Commerce Application Moving Towards Sustainability
Authors: Samad N S A , Muhamad S F , Rahman A H A , Sulaiman C , Othman N , Shaari N F
Published: December 2022

Recent technological advancement has made mobile commerce applications a sustainable business tool due to the capability of providing long-term economic growth without negatively impacting the community’s social, environmental, and cultural aspects. Nonetheless, the attention paid to mobile commerce’s role in facilitating firms’ economic growth among Malaysian entrepreneurs has been barely noticeable. Most entrepreneurs are not convinced to transform their main business channels from conventional to online (mobile) modes due to the lack of financial information and awareness of environmental concerns. Therefore, this study aims to examine the financial performance and mobile transport usage trends of mobile commerce applications. A quantitative research design through an online survey was applied for data collection, with 380 samples were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistic 26. The study found that mobile commerce users (entrepreneurs) agree that there has been an increasing trend in the number of customers, sales revenue, and monthly profit, at 99.2%, 99.1% and 96.6%, respectively. The rising trend in financial performance proves that mobile commerce is vital for a firm’s economic growth. The study also showed that the frequency of mobile transport usage showed a decreasing trend at 27% once the mobile commerce application is actively used among entrepreneurs. The decreasing trend of mobile transport usage can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and minimize individual movement, benefiting the environment and society. Hence, the study can provide invaluable insights to entrepreneurs and escalate their confidence levels in using mobile commerce applications as their primary business channels. Technology engagement in businesses will help entrepreneurs sustain their businesses, spur innovation among sellers, stimulate social benefits, increase the economy, and reduce environmental damage in the long run. In conclusion, mobile commerce is an efficient technological advancement which contributes to firm and country sustainability.
The Role of Natural Resources Endowment in the African Economies’ Economic Growth-Capital Flows Nexus
Authors: Sini S , Abdul-Rahim A S , Sulaiman C
Published: December 2022

This article examines the role of natural resource endowment in the economic growth-capital flows nexus in African economies. Utilizing the system generalized method of moments (GMM) approach and Westerlund regression approaches suitable for cointegration estimation of panel data, from 54 African countries over the time frame from 2012 to 2020. Considering the joint influence of natural resource and flows of capital on economic growth. We found that there is a resource threshold beyond which natural resources either amplify or mitigate the effects of capital flows on growth in the continent. For example, in order for capital flows to have a positive long-run influence on economic growth in African countries, natural resource rent levels must be at least 2.04 turning point (threshold). This means, the positive impact of capital flow on economic growth dependent on natural resources extractions in African countries. Finally, human capital has significant long-term spill-over impact on economic growth in African economies based on the results of Westerlund cointegration tests, and with a marginal effect of 9.67 threshold as obtained using system GMM. Thus, policymakers should focus on strategies and policies aimed at developing human capital in the continent to reduce the continent’s high level of reliance on natural resource extraction which will subsequently leads to protection of the environment from degradation.
Occurrence Of Microplastics in Immature Aquatic Insects of Gua Musang Tributaries in Kelantan
Authors: Zain Nuramirah Mat , Fauzi Norashikin , Subki Noor Syuhadah , Ghazali Zaitul Zahira
Published: December 2022

Microplastics (MPs) are known for being one of the environmental pollution sources. Nevertheless, the study of accumulation of MPs in living entity particularly in immature insect larvae that serve as food resource in aquatic food chain, is still scarce. This study aimed to determine the presence of microplastics in the freshwater immature aquatic insects comprising of caddisfly (Trichoptera) and dragonfly (Odonata) larvae sampled from two tributaries of Gua Musang namely Sungai Chegeh and Sungai Galas. The collected samples were analysed by using FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy and referred to the Spectral Libraries of OMNIC Specta software. Two types of MPs were found within the immature aquatic insect, namely cellophane and chipboard. The MPs particles existed in the form of which were mostly ingested by immature aquatic insects may pose a threat to an aquatic food chain within both Sungai Galas and Sungai Chegeh of Gua Musang, Kelantan. The occurrence of microplastics recorded in these rivers as well as in the immature aquatic insects could be a reflection of microplastic pollution in the respective Gua Musang tributaries in Kelantan.
Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Using Geographic Information System (GIS) in Kuala Balah, Jeli, Kelantan
Authors: Jamil Rohazaini Muhammad , Fadzil Farhah Nabilah , Nawawi Siti Aisyah , Nor Amal Najihah Muhamad , Sulaiman Noorzamzarina , Sulaiman Nursufiah , Ibrahim Norfadhilah
Published: December 2022

A landslide is a natural occurrence that frequently results in the loss of property and life of those who live in the surrounding area. This study aims to produce a landslide susceptibility map by using Geographical Information System (GIS) approach in Kuala Balah, Jeli, Kelantan. Additionally, the geomorphology of this study area is hilly and mountainous, with several steep slopes that exposes citizens to the risk of landslides. In order to produce the landslide susceptibility map, six (6) parameters were applied such as lineament density, drainage density, slope, aspect, lithology and land use. These parameters were used to produce the thematic maps and weightage has been assigned to these thematic maps of parameters. Then, these thematic maps were reclassified and overlayed using the Weighted Overlay Method (WOM) in ArcGIS software. As a result, the study area is categorized into three landslide susceptibility zones: low, moderate, and high susceptibility zones. 5% of the study area is subject to low susceptibility to landslide, 71% of the study area is subject to moderate susceptibility to landslide, and 24% of the study area is subject to high susceptibility to landslide. Low susceptibility areas are primarily found on low land close to the town, such as Kampong Rawa, SMK Kuala Balah, and Tok Batin Forest Camp, meanwhile moderate susceptibility areas are located on valleys and low land and eventually high susceptibility areas are located on hilly and mountainous terrain area.
Assessing The Effects of Microorganisms (EM) and Bokashi on Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) Towards Plant Growth and Yield Performance
Authors: Mukhtar N K , Azhar M N , Bakar T H S T Abu , Md Zain N , Abu Bakar T , Md Zain Norhafizah
Published: December 2022

The fertilizer application can impact crop production, quality, and growth performance. However, excessive use of chemical fertilisers in farming can cause in poor soil conditions, contamination, environmental pollution and decreased yield. Thus, this study aims to investigate the possible impacts of Effective Microorganisms (EM) and Bokashi on the quality, growth, and yield performance of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). The field study was conducted at the Agropark, UMK Jeli Campus,Kelantan . The study's treatments included in the study were as follows: (T0) control; (T1) EM solution; (T2) bokashi fertiliser; and (T3) EM solution and bokashi fertilizer combined. The experiment layout was designed in a completely randomised design (CRD) with 16 samples. Data regarding quality, plant growth, and yield performance were gathered, including the germination date, harvesting date, plant height, number of leaves, number of fruits produced, dry weight of fruit, and fresh weight of fruit. Compared to the other treatments, Bokashi alone (T2) delivers the highest mean value of products in terms of number of leaves, number of fruits, fresh weight of fruits, the dried weight of fruits, and germination date of okra seeds. Whereas the combined application of EM and Bokashi (T3) has produced the highest plant height and the earliest harvesting date as the first to produce their yield that developed into mature and ready to be harvested relatively than others. The control treatment (T0) showed the slowest growth rate and okra plant yield. However, it can be concluded that individual applications of Bokashi had a significant effect on the plant development and yield performance of okra plants. This study hoped to improve okra’s yields and growth performance and aid in its production effort
Spatio-temporal analysis in determination of flood extent based on rainfall intensity and water level data in Kuala Krai, Kelantan
Authors: Bahar Arham Muchtar Achmad , Muhammad Marinah , Khan Mohammad Muqtada Ali , Jemali Noor Janatun Naim
Published: December 2022

Kuala Krai is one of the districts in Kelantan that affected by flooding almost every year. The recent worse case is during Kelantan big yellow flood event in 2014. The main objective of this paper is to descriptively interpret the relationship between rainfall event and flooding in Kuala Krai, Kelantan using pass data of rainfall intensity and water level. Those data have been verified using ground data collection of flood level six month right after Kelantan big yellow flood event in 2014. Other related primary data also have been collected among the 2014 flood victims in Kuala Krai using survey questionnaire. The observed flood level data and other related primary data have been delineated and spatially analysed using ArcGIS to visualize the flood extent maps of each study area in Kuala Krai based on extreme flooding data on 2014. It can be concluded that urban area gave high percentage of flood extent compared to rural area of Kuala Krai.
Assessment of trial sport fishing commercialization in newly developed Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Station: A case study of Puah Reservoir, Terengganu, Malaysia
Authors: Zakeyuddin M S , Husin S Mod , Shukor A M , Bahri A S , Shahadan S , Saharudin M S M , Sah A S R M
Published: December 2022

TNB Research (TNBR) was conducted a pilot study on the commercialization of catch and release sport fishing in Puah Reservoir, a new hydroelectric project within the Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Station (HTHS). The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the sport fishing programme on socio-economic benefit and its potential as a component of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). The evaluation was conducted in two phases, from November 2017 to May 2018 (Phase 1) and October 2018 to December 2019 (Phase 2), which covered the reservoir and its catchments, such as Terengganu Mati, Limbang, Pelagong, and Sireh rivers. The information was gathered from registered anglers who fished 12 days per month, using two boats with a maximum of two anglers per boat and casting methods from 0700 to 1630. The results show that November 2017 had the highest average of fish strikes per angler with a value of 11. This value was recorded as a standard for the best strikes at the Puah Reservoir. Every angler recorded an average of six fish strikes per month, with the exception of December and early January, which were closed due to the monsoon season. Based on the population of fish strikes, the Sebarau (Hampala macrolepidota) species had the highest catch for both phases, accounting for 71% and 73% of all strikes, respectively. Haruan (Channa striata), Bujuk (Channa lucius), Tengas (Neolissochilus soroides), Baung (Hemibagrus capitulum), Tengas Daun (Poropuntius normani), and Kelah (Tor tambra) were also observed. Based on the net income, the revenue had increased, indicating an increase in demand and willingness to pay from anglers. The monthly income (on a part-time basis) was determined by the number of anglers who registered for the Sport Fishing programme. The In-House Guide earned a total net income of RM35,560.00 or USD8114.09 (Phase 1) and RM41,640.00 or USD9501.43 (Phase 2). As a baseline study, all income was collected by the cooperation run by the local community. To summarise, sport fishing at Puah Reservoir supports NTFPs, which can serve as forest conservation, a sustainable environment, and a new source of income for the local community if proper management practices are implemented.
The predilection for Green Marketing Practices in Preserving Socio-Cultural Sustainability
Authors: Sidek S , Hasbolah H , Juhori N H , Md. Isa Y Z , Khadri N A M , Rosli M M , Yaacob M R
Published: December 2022

Recently, environmental preservation has been highlighted in many life perspectives, including preserving socio-cultural sustainability. The environmental concerns lead to the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda worldwide and are always related to green practices. In order to preserve socio-cultural sustainability, many organisations are introducing green marketing in their business practices by transforming products into environmental friendly and incorporating features that cause less impact on the environmental issues. Green marketing practices are also indispensable in increasing impulse of customers in buying products or services. However, there is a lack of prior research studying the predilection of green marketing practices in preserving socio-cultural sustainability in the Malaysian context. This study anticipates to examine the impact of predilection for green marketing practices on consumer perspectives regarding their environmental advertisements, environmental knowledge and environmental concerns in preserving socio-cultural sustainability. The data of 385 Malaysian respondents were gathered using a convenience sampling technique. The data was firstly analysed through descriptive, reliability, validity, and normality analysis via IBM SPSS Statistics software. All formulated hypotheses were analysed via the multiple linear regression analysis, which confirmed that green marketing approaches in terms of environmental advertisements, environmental knowledge, and environmental concerns directly influenced consumer purchase decisions in preserving socio-cultural sustainability in Malaysia. These findings display that the consumers incline to be influenced by green marketing practices and motivated when they were alert of environmental matters. This research area was pivotal to the government and policymakers in developing green marketing strategies for preserving socio-cultural sustainability and supporting the SDGs agenda.
The Relationship of Ecotourism Development towards Ecotourism Destination Competitiveness. A Case Study in Kelantan
Authors: binti Abdullah Fadhilahanim Aryani , binti Raja Daud Raja Rosnah , binti Othman Nur Azimah , binti Abd Razak Nurul Fardila , Simpong Derweanna Bah , bin Muhamed Yusoff Abdullah
Published: December 2022

It has been demonstrated that one of the most important variables in accomplishing national travel industry goals is the competitiveness of tourism destinations. In this study, the competitiveness of Kelantan as an ecotourism destination was compared to the rise of ecotourism. The data were drawn from a sample of 227 respondents using a straightforward random sampling approach. The data were examined using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The questionnaire was distributed through online questionnaires. The findings show a strong correlation between Kelantan’s competitiveness as an ecotourism destination and the natural resources, cultural heritage, and unique events that meet the criteria for ecotourism development. As a developing tourism destination, many tactics should be considered in order to boost destination competitiveness while sustaining long-term development of ecotourism locations in Kelantan.
Recycling Practices among B40 Community in Urban Area of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia: An Insight Towards Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Hasbi N I M , Shukri A S M , Seman M J , Fitriani N , Wee S T , Abas M A
Published: December 2022

Recycling is one of the practical approaches in reducing solid waste disposal directly into landfills. Unfortunately, the recycling practices among the B40 community in urban areas of Kelantan are low compared to other states. Therefore, this study focused on identifying the recyclables generated by the B40 community and examined their knowledge and awareness level of recycling practices. The total number of respondents who participated in this study was 278. This study revealed that food waste is the most solid waste generated by the B40 community from PPR Kota Bharu. Moreover, this study also found that the B40 community’s knowledge and awareness about recycling are good. However, this study has statistically proved that the knowledge level has a weak relationship and is not significant with the recycling practices among the B40 community (r=0.111, p=0.065). Besides that, this study found a significant weak association between recycling awareness and recycling practice among the B40 community (r=0.153, p=0.012). The findings of this study are important to local authorities to encourage recycling practices among the B40 community in PPR Kota Bharu and to make sure that the recyclable items are appropriately managed towards environmental sustainability.
Removal of As and Cd Ions from Aqueous Solution Using Biosorption Technique
Authors: Fauzi W N Wan , Fairuz F S Mohd , Shukri N Mohd , Salleh N F Muhamad , Abdullah W N Wan , Shohaimi N A Mohd , Ab Halim A Z , Abdullah N H
Published: December 2022

Arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) are listed as heavy metals that have contaminated the environment, especially water supplies. Therefore, the goal of this study was to remove heavy metals, particularly As and Cd metal ions, from aqueous solutions by utilizing natural waste adsorbents and at the same time, help in the reduction of waste products. This study was designed to use low-cost and more widely available adsorbents material such as coconut husk and banana peel to remove As and Cd ions in an aqueous solution. The adsorption method was utilized to reduce and remove the As and Cd ions, and their concentrations in an aqueous solution were then determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Various parameters such as types of adsorbents (banana peel and coconut husk), adsorbent dosages (0.1-0.3g), contact time (30-70 minutes), and temperature (25-45°C) were used to carry out the removal process. The FTIR analysis revealed that certain heavy metals were more likely to bind to these adsorbents due to the presence of important functional groups such as hydroxyl (-OH) and carbonyl (C=O). From this study, the optimum removal conditions were 0.1 g dose of adsorbent along with 70 minutes of contact time at a reaction temperature of 25°C. The results revealed that banana peel removed 0.948 mg/L of Cd ions and 0.148 mg/L of As ions from the aqueous solution, suggesting that it was more efficient at removing heavy metals than coconut husk. Meanwhile, Cd ions have a higher affinity (93.9% to 99.9% removal) than As ions (8.3% to 22.2% removal) to adsorb onto the active sites of banana peel and be removed from an aqueous solution. In conclusion, the adsorption technique using natural waste adsorbents can be applied to remove the As and Cd ions from the aqueous solutions. The reduction of these heavy metals’ concentration by adsorbents can also help to preserve the quality of water sources under the permissible limit set by WHO.
The Utilisation of Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) for Geological Structures Mapping in Rock Mass: A Review
Authors: Ramli Nadia , Hussin Hamzah , Kahar Muhammad Afiq Abdul , Sulaiman Mohd Amir Asyraf
Published: December 2022

Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) is an in-situ geophysical method widely used in environmental, engineering and hydrogeological explorations due to cost, time, and data coverage efficiency. Traditionally, geotechnical parameters such as discontinuities properties are obtained from rock samples acquired from a borehole. However, it only provides a single information point, costly and time-consuming. Thus, an approach using electrical resistivity to detect the presence of geological structure in a rock mass is an alternative method that can be applied. Discontinuities in rock mass include joints, bedding planes, blasting cracks, fractures, faults, and folds. This paper aims to present the utilisation of geoelectrical resistivity imaging for geological structures mapping in rock mass based on the review from previous research. The Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) method is an effective tool to obtain structural differentiation of geological medium by interpreting 2D and even 3D electrical resistivity models. Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) is an automated data acquisition system, inversion codes, non-invasive and user-friendly. The raw data received from data acquisition was analysed using Res2DINV software. The data inversion was done by applying the robust method and finite element grid to accommodate the steep topography. The data interpretation included numerical modelling to assess the suitability of all used electrode arrays in relation to the geological setting.
Translanguaging and Educational Inequality in the Global South: Stance-taking amongst Brazilian Teachers of English
Authors: Windle Joel , Amorim Possas Luciana
Published: December 2022

Translanguaging has gained prominence as a pedagogical orientation that promises to promote the rights of minoritized migrant students by valuing pre-existing multilingualisms and identities. However, the effects of classroom translanguaging on teacher and student outlooks and relations of inequality are far from universal. In this paper we consider translanguaging in English language teaching in Brazil, a context in which multilingualism is often tied to social and racial closure. We show how English teachers position themselves and students in relation to translanguaging, drawing on analysis of stance-taking in online discussions. We find limited support for a transformative role played by current translingual practices, despite contributions to the establishment of affective bonds with students. We then examine a polemic over localized usages of English that casts light on how teachers do position themselves critically and opens up space for the development of critical language awareness. We argue that teacher outlooks are shaped by the changing status of English in the global south, and by unequal patterns of access to English in public, private, and commercial education settings.
Differential Attack With Constants On μ2 Block Cipher
Authors: Shi Jiali , Li Chao , Liu Guoqiang
Published: December 2022

Differential attack is one of the most important methods in cryptanalysis. When finding a high-probability differential trail, the effect of constant has long been ignored. In this paper, we focus on the effect of constants on the differential attack against $\mu ^2$. $\mu ^2$ is a newly proposed block cipher based on a Type-II generalized Feistel structure. Its 16-bit F function (denoted as F-box) is an ultra-lightweight permutation equipped with different constants. The designer applied the minimum number of active S-boxes to determine $\mu ^2$’ security margin in the design document. However, the F-boxes use different round constants in different rounds; the constants may lead to incompatibility of differential trails of F-boxes. Therefore, to provide a more precise differential attack on $\mu ^2$, we construct an model based on STP (Simple Theorem Prover) constraint solver to search for the valid differential trails with a more precise probability of $\mu ^2$ for different starting rounds. Finally, the related-key differential trail covers one more round than the existing methods. Analyzing the effect of constants on the validity and the probability of the differential trail reminds the designers and the attackers to have a more comprehensive analysis of specific ciphers.
Juvenile survival curves in a solitary ground squirrel with a prolonged hibernation: effects of individual characteristics, environment, and maternal investment
Authors: Vasilieva Nina A , Savinetskaya Liudmila E , Tchabovsky Andrey V
Published: December 2022

Juvenile survival is a key life-history influence on population dynamics and adaptive evolution. We analyzed the effects of individual characteristics, early environment, and maternal investment on juvenile survival in a large solitary hibernating rodent—yellow ground squirrel Spermophilus fulvus using Cox mixed-effects models. Only 48% of weaned pups survived to dispersal and 17% survived to hibernation. Early life expectancy was primarily determined by individual characteristics and, to a lesser extent, by the early environment. The strongest and positive predictor of juvenile survival was body mass which crucially affected mortality immediately after weaning. Males suffered higher mortality than females after the onset of dispersal; however, the overall difference between sexes was partly masked by high rates of mortality in the first days after emergence in both sexes. Later emerged juveniles had lower life expectancy than the earliest pups. The overall effect of local juvenile density was positive. Prolonged lactation did not enhance juvenile survival: Pups nursed longer survived shorter than the young nursed for a shorter period. Our findings support the hypothesis that females of S. fulvus cannot effectively regulate maternal expenditures to mitigate the effects of unfavorable conditions on their offspring. The strategy to deal with seasonal time constraints on life history in female S. fulvus suggests an early termination of maternal care at the cost of juvenile quality and survival. This female reproductive strategy corresponds to a “fast-solitary” life of folivorous desert-dwelling S. fulvus and other solitary ground squirrels with prolonged hibernation.
A highly quality genome sequence of Penicillium oxalicum species isolated from the root of Ixora chinensis in Vietnam
Authors: Pham Huong Mai , Le Dung Thi , Le Lam Tung , Chu Phuong Thi Minh , Tran Linh Huyen , Pham Tung Thanh , Nguyen Hung Mau , Luu Tien Thuy , Hoang Ha , Chu Hoang Ha
Published: December 2022

Penicillium oxalicum has been reported as a multienzyme-producing fungus and is widely used in industry due to great potential for cellulase release. Until now, there are only 10 available genome assemblies of P. oxalicum species deposited in the GenBank database. In this study, the genome of the I1R1 strain isolated from the root of Ixora chinensis was completely sequenced by Pacbio Sequel sequencing technology, assembled into 8 chromosomes with the genome size of 30.8 Mb, as well as a mitogenome of 26 kb. The structural and functional analyses of the I1R1 genome revealed gene model annotations encoding an enzyme set involved in significant metabolic processes, along with cytochrome P450s and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The comparative analysis of the P. oxalicum species based on orthology and gene family duplications indicated their large and closed pan-genome of 9,500 orthologous groups. This is valuable data for future phylogenetic and population genomics studies.