bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wino – śmiercionośny trunek antycznej wojny w relacjach Frontyna
Authors: Gryksa Edyta
Published: September 2023

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie i analiza trzech passusów dzieła Podstępy wojenne Juliusza Sekstusa Frontyna, w których wino pojawia się jako narzędzie wojny. Doskonale znany starożytnym trunek, który rozpalał zmysły i ciało, rozluźniał, a także stanowił cenny lek o właściwościach rozgrzewających, mógł stać się śmiercionośną bronią. Pity w postaci rozcieńczonej z wodą lub z domieszką mandragory (szczególnie w większych ilościach) osłabiał koncentrację, usypiał czujność, mógł nawet bezpośrednio doprowadzić do śmierci. Uśpienie czujności przeciwnika, upojonego kojącym wszelkie troski trunkiem, pozwalało w stosunkowo łatwy sposób przechylić szalę zwycięstwa. Tym samym chwila zapomnienia czy złudna okazja do świętowania – okazywały się sprytnie zastawioną pułapką, z której często nie było ucieczki.
The Politics of Taxation and Tax Reform in Times of Crisis: Covid-19 and Attitudes Towards Taxation in Sierra Leone
Authors: van den Boogaard Vanessa , Prichard Wilson , Orgeira Nicolas
Published: September 2023

A key question facing governments is whether the pandemic has changed attitudes towards taxation and what this means for tax reform. Given that the history of tax policy in high-income countries reveals a link between periods of crisis and significant shifts in attitudes towards taxation, could the same be true in low-income countries? Little research has been done on this potential dynamic and taxpayer perceptions of progressive tax reform in these contexts is not well understood. In this paper we explore the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on attitudes toward taxation and unpack what the crisis reveals about the dynamics and politics of taxation. We use novel survey data from Sierra Leone collected before the pandemic, shortly after the pandemic’s onset, and for almost a year afterwards. Summary of Working Paper 166.
COVID-19 Pandemisinin Hemşirelerin Vicdani Algı Düzeyine Etkisi
Authors: DAL Hatice Ezgi , AKPINAR Havva
Published: September 2023

Bu araştırma, COVID-19 Pandemisinin hemşirelerin vicdani algı düzeyine etkisinin belirlenmesi amacıyla yapıldı. Araştırma kesitsel, tanımlayıcı bir araştırma olup, araştırmanın örneklemini bir eğitim ve araştırma hastanesinin hemşireleri (n=140) oluşturdu. Veriler, Tanıtıcı Bilgiler Formu, Vicdan Algısı Ölçeği ile toplandı. Hemşirelerin, %60,00’ının COVID-19 tanısı aldığı, %72,14’ünün COVID-19 (+) olan hastaya bakım verdiği, %62,14’ünün aile/yakınlarına bulaştırma korkusu nedeniyle zorlandığı, %59,29’unun mesleki anlamda yıpranmışlık hissettiği, %62,14’ünün vicdani olarak zorlandığını ifade ettiği saptandı. Vicdan Algısı Ölçeği genel puan ortalaması 58,87±10,98, Duyarlılık Alt Boyutu puan ortalaması 50,86±9,19, Otorite Alt Boyutu puan ortalaması 8,01±2,55 bulundu. COVID-19 Pandemisi sürecinde, hemşirelerin vicdani algı düzeylerinin yüksek olduğu; hemşirelerin büyük çoğunluğunun COVID-19 (+) olan hastaya bakım verdiği; yarısından fazlasının COVID-19 tanısı aldığı, aile/yakınlarına bulaştırma korkusu nedeniyle zorlandığı, mesleki anlamda yıpranmışlık hissettiği saptandı. Bu araştırma sonucuna göre, hemşirelere kriz durumlarıyla başa çıkma, vicdani sorumlulukla ilişkili eğitim verilmesi, farklı kurumlarda çalışan hemşirelerle ve diğer sağlık çalışanlarıyla benzer çalışmaların, özellikle baş etmeyle ilgili girişimsel çalışmaların yapılması, kurumlarda esnek mesai saatleri ve birimler arası dönüşümlü çalışma sistemlerinin oluşturulması, önerilmektedir.
Shifting Conversations on Online Distance Education in South Korean Society During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Topic Modeling Analysis of News Articles
Authors: Lee Kyungmee , Kim Tae-Jong , Cefa Sari Berrin , Bozkurt Aras
Published: September 2023

This study explored the dominant discourses on online distance education (ODE) that emerged in South Korean society before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors conducted a topic modeling analysis of 8,865 news articles published by 24 South Korean media outlets between 2019 and 2021. Using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm and social network analysis software (NetMiner), the top five topics and the top ten words associated with each topic were identified from each period. The authors observed significant changes not only in the number of news articles but also in the depth of the conversations published each year. The results have revealed several key points. First, ODE, previously considered marginal and abnormal, gained in normality across all educational levels in Korean society. Second, ODE discourses have been shaped by the unique cultural, historical, and technological infrastructure in South Korea. Third, a clear division between social-justice-oriented and business-oriented ODE discourses reflect a persistent inequality in Korean society. Finally, ODE discourses matured in 2021, with more critical and realistic perspectives on both the positives and negatives of ODE. The useful implications of such insights for post-pandemic ODE research and practice are further discussed.
The Emergence of the Open Research University Through International Research Collaboration
Authors: Heiser Rebecca E.
Published: September 2023

In higher education, international research collaboration functions as a visible mechanism of cooperation and competition, serving as a proxy for quality and academic excellence. Open universities use revolutionary education models but are not often associated with quality or academic excellence. To investigate the impact of international research collaboration by active researchers affiliated with open institutions, a bibliometrics analysis was conducted of three open universities and nine traditional, comparative universities between 2000 and 2022. The results indicate that research outputs that are open access, sponsored and funded, and developed with international coauthors have positive and statistically significant effects on citation counts. Moreover, international research collaboration significantly affects all universities, not just open institutions. The results conclude that researchers affiliated with open universities are only 4.3% less cited than their comparative peers, which is attributed to publication factors, research disciplines and subject areas, and journal characteristics. Findings are discussed and imply a strategic shift in the institutional functions and outputs of open universities as collaborative conduits of knowledge production and dissemination.
EVALUASI TANAH PENUTUP PERTAMBANGAN BATUBARA CV. INTAN KARYA MANDIRI, DI KABUPATEN BANJAR, PROVINSI KALIMANTAN SELATAN
Authors: Jauhari Rijal , Mahyudin Idiannor , Lilimantik Emmy , Hafizianor Hafizianor
Published: September 2023

Coal mining activities using the open pit mining method can affect depreciation of the quality of the surrounding environment, one of which has an impact on reducing the classification criteria for soil chemical properties. The soil organic matter shrinks after being mined due to the lifting of the top layer due to the dismantling of the coal covering material. The research objective is to analyze the effect of mining activities on soil classification in the disposal area. The research method is descriptive analysis. Sampling and observation in Cintapuri Village, Cintapuri Darussalam District, Banjar Regency. Soil classification in Disposal 1, soil pH is classified as "Very Acid" to "Sour", C-organic is classified as "Very Low", N-Total is classified as "Very Low" to "Low", phosphorus is classified as "Very Low", Cation-exchange capacity (CEC) is classified as "moderate". Disposal 2, Soil pH is classified as "acid", C-organic is classified as "Very Low", N-Total is classified as "Very Low" to "Very Low", phosphorus is classified as "Very Low", CEC is classified as "Medium" and "High". Based on the research, the existence of coal mining activities causes the chemical properties of the soil in the disposal area as low criteria.
PENEGAKAN HUKUM TERHADAP PERTAMBANGAN EMAS TANPA IZIN (PETI) SEBAGAI UPAYA PENGENDALIAN DAMPAK LINGKUNGAN DI KECAMATAN SINTANG KABUPATEN SINTANG
Authors: Suhendra Arya , Kamarullah Kamarullah , Nafsiatun Nafsiatun
Published: September 2023

Gold mining without a permit is one of the activities that results in a decrease in environmental quality, because gold mining activities use mercury to separate gold ore from rocks until the refining process. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the implementation of law enforcement against gold mining without a permit and controlling the environmental impact of gold mining without a permit in Sintang District, Sintang Regency. The type of research is sociological juridical. Data collection by interview and observation was then analyzed by qualitative methods. Unlicensed gold mining is caused by economic factors, education and the community feels they have the right to manage natural resources. Gold mining law enforcement without a permit applies criminal law with the imposition of fines and is still not optimal due to several constraints on the location of miners moving around, the absence of regional regulations related to PETI and community resistance. The government's efforts to control environmental impacts on water pollution from PETI activities are monitoring water quality conditions on a regular basis.
KAJIAN FLOKULAN POLIMER ANIONIK DENGAN METODE JAR TEST UNTUK PEMANFAATAN LUMPUR CAIR PT AIR MINUM BANDARMASIH (PERSERODA)
Authors: Lailiani Nurhidayah , Razie Fakhrur , Biyatmoko Danang , Lilimantik Emmy
Published: September 2023

This study aims to identify the characteristics of the liquid sludge produced in IPA 1 A unit Yani PTAM Bandarmasih and analyze the effect of different doses of anionic polymer flocculants on the parameters of the quality standards of the Minister of Health Number 32 of 2017 for sanitary hygiene. This research was carried out using the experimental design experimental method in the Design Randomized Group consisting of 6 (six) treatments. Analysis of the data used includes identifying the characteristics of liquid sludge in situ. Analyzing the effect of different doses of anionic polymer by testing the jar test method with several combination treatments of anionic polymer flocculants on the decrease in parameters according to Permenkes Number 32 of 2017 will be analyzed using analysis of variance. Multiple regression equations to provide information about the relationship between the dependent variable and one or more independent variables used in the study. From the results of the study of Anionic Polymer Flocculants Using the Jar Test Method for Utilizing Liquid Sludge of PT Air Drinking Bandarmasih (Perseroda) it can be concluded that 1) Liquid sludge of PTAM Bandarmasih which has not been managed is still not suitable for sanitation hygiene water because there are several parameters whose values have not been meet the quality standards of Permenkes No. 32 of 2017, 2) After the addition of anionic polymer flocculants, the value of all parameters decreased, but what met the overall quality standard was a dose of 10 ppm.
The Concept of an Unmanned Aircraft with Stealth Technology to Support the Air Defense System for the Indonesian Archipelago's Capital
Authors: Mukti Suherman , Gani Erzi Agson , Manawan Maykel , Ansori Ansori , Mustopa Opa
Published: September 2023

FPhenomenona The relocation of the new National Capital (IKN) in Indonesia creates a new geostrategic perspective. Where in the process must be prepared carefully, especially in the aspects of the defense and security system. This study aims to provide a planning analysis concept for Unmanned Aircraft (PTTA) with stealth technology in supporting air defense systems in Indonesia's new IKN area. The research method used is through a qualitative approach by conducting literature studies. The results of the study revealed that the air defense system for Indonesia's new IKN is in accordance with the concept of a smart defense system, the need for a platform/air vehicle that can be used in carrying out intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance is even capable of carrying out attacks in maintaining security in the Indonesian IKN area by minimizing enemy detection. And one suitable platform is to use PTTA with stealth technology which can provide advantages in terms of flexibility, range, minimized operational risk, and the ability to carry out operations undetected by enemy defense radar sensors.
The Village SDGs? Can Partnership Aspect Enhance the Economic Development in Pangandaran Village?
Authors: Sari Jayanti Armida
Published: September 2023

This study describes the implementation of SDG programs through partnerships to improve economic development in Pangandaran villages. This research adopts qualitative research method and case study design. A qualitative approach was used because this study aims to analyze how the SDG program builds the economy in Pangandaran village through partnerships. Furthermore, the case study approach was chosen because this study focuses on partnership policies in the SDGs. The data obtained in this study are in the form of primary and secondary data. Primary data were obtained using purposive sampling techniques. To obtain primary data, semi-structured and unstructured interviews were conducted. Secondary data comes from other sources through literature research. The stages of data analysis are data consideration, data display, and drawing and verifying conclusions.  The analysis revealed that one of the SDG programs, the partnership aspect, has been implemented in Pangandaran village to promote economic development. However, there are still some obstacles in the implementation process. This is reflected in several aspects such as cooperation with third parties, availability of Internet access in villages, village statistics and goods export activities.
Development of Indonesian Maritime Sovereignty Culture Through Indonesian Maritime Policy with Indonesian Maritime Defense Strategy
Authors: Labandi Labandi , Haris Moch
Published: September 2023

In the past, Indonesia wielded a significant influence over the Southeast Asia region and beyond, particularly through the Srivijaya Kingdom and later Majapahit's maritime prowess. Indonesia's natural affinity for maritime culture predates its very conception and is evident in the vast territorial waters surrounding almost all of its provinces. This unique geographical aspect makes Indonesia an archipelagic state with a maritime tradition. To support Indonesia's maritime defense, it is crucial to promote the prosperity of its maritime affairs. The country's national defense strategy takes into account its archipelagic nature. Maritime culture is a key aspect of the five pillars that drive Indonesia towards becoming a World Maritime Fulcrum. This policy point recognizes that a robust maritime culture is fundamental to the formation of Indonesia's maritime defense. Strong maritime culture begets a robust maritime defense, highlighting the interdependence of these two critical components. Keywords: maritime culture, maritime defense, maritime power, world maritime fulcrum
Model of Ecological Citizenship Program Through Adiwiyata School to Increase Students' Environmental Awareness and Concern at Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 1 Bandung
Authors: Kusnadi Edi , Lutfi Kiki Muhamad
Published: September 2023

Environmental awareness and concern are two things that can be a catalyst for the development of Ecological Citizenship in the school environment. This study aims to determine students' level of awareness and concern through the ecological citizenship model program implemented by Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 1 Bandung as the National Adiwiyata School. This study uses a descriptive quantitative approach with questionnaires and interviews. The results showed that students' awareness of the environment showed a very good predicate with a percentage of 84.99%, and students' concern for the environment determined a good predicate with a percentage of 78.28%. Therefore, Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 1 Bandung implemented the ecological citizenship program model through the National Adiwiyata School program to increase students' awareness and concern for the environment.
PERMODELAN REGRESI NONPARAMETRIK SPLINE TERHADAP INFLASI DI PROVINSI KALIMANTAN SELATAN
Authors: Setiawan Geofani , Farid Fuad Muhajirin , Salam Nur
Published: September 2023

Inflation is a condition of increasing prices continuously for a certain time. One of the factors thought to influence inflation, namely the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an indicator that can be said to be important in determining the level of economic stability of a country. Seeing the relationship between the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and inflation, this study aims to explain how the influence and how the best model of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on inflation in South Kalimantan Province uses Spline Nonparametric Regression. The use of the Spline Nonparametric Regression method in this study is because the data used has significant fluctuations so that it is estimated that the data is not normal. In the process, the Spline Nonparamteric Regression method is used to obtain the estimated regression curve through a data fitting approach. This method is also very suitable for use with data that changes frequently, spline is a model that has statistical, visual interpretation and has the ability to be generalized to complex and complex statistical models. The result of this research is that the best model is found at one knot point and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has an effect on the inflation variable by 13.23 percent.Keywords:  Inflation, Consumer Price Index, Spline Nonparametric Regression
PENERAPAN MODEL REGRESI PANEL KOMPONEN DUA ARAH PADA POLA CURAH HUJAN PROVINSI KALIMANTAN TENGAH
Authors: Pradana Vichario Indra , Sukmawaty Yuana , Salam Nur
Published: September 2023

Rainfall is the climate element that is most closely related to supporting the life processes of Indonesian people such as agricultural production, plantations, fisheries, and aviation. In 2014-2016, Indonesia experienced a drought due to a global climate anomaly called the El Nino phenomenon, where annual rainfall at that time tended to decrease from other years. While in 2020-2022, rainfall in Indonesia tends to increase from other years, this event is called the La Nina phenomenon. This study aims to describe the rainfall patterns that occur in each phenomenon and analyze the regression model of rainfall panels in Central Kalimantan province with a two-way component approach. Random Effects Model (REM) is the most appropriate model to be used in the phenomenon of La Nina. Fixed Effect Model (FEM) is the most appropriate model to be used in the El Nino phenomenon. Feasible Generalized Least Square is a parameter estimation method that is focused and used to estimate regression parameters in this study. Based on the results of regression analysis of panel data, for the phenomenon of La Nina obtained R2 value of 51.66% and found that the average air temperature variable tested significant. For the El Nino phenomenon, the value of R2 is 75.35% and it is found that there are no significant independent variables tested. Therefore, it can be expected that the increase in average air temperature can decrease the average rainfall value when the La Nina phenomenon occurs in Central Kalimantan province.
MODEL REGRESI MULTIVARIAT UNTUK MENENTUKAN FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMENGARUHI KESEJAHTERAAN KABUPATEN/KOTA DI KALIMANTAN SELATAN
Authors: Urrahmah Syifa , Farid Fuad Muhajirin , Maisarah Maisarah
Published: September 2023

The purpose of a region to carry out development is to realize prosperity. In measuring a welfare is the coverage of APBD funds such as Local Own Revenue and others that can be influenced. The analysis that can be used in research is multivariate regression. The purpose of the research is to find out what factors affect welfare in South Kalimantan in 2018-2020. Based on the analysis, the multivariate regression model has two factors that are thought to influence PAD and PDRB, namely personnel spending and special allocation funds with modeling   with goodness-of-fit testing it can be explained that the relationship between variables is 76.51%. Keywords: Welfare. PAD, PDRB, Personnel Expenditures, Multivariate
Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Assessment of Urban Growth Impacts on Land Surface Temperature in a Hot Desert Climate: A Case Study of Baghdad City
Authors: Rasul Azad
Published: September 2023

The rapid growth of urban areas is a major challenge facing cities around the world. This growth can have a significant impact on the local climate, leading to higher temperatures and other changes. In desert climates, the effects of urban expansion can be particularly pronounced. This study investigated the impact of urban expansion on land surface temperature (LST) in Baghdad, Iraq. Notably, this study employs a sophisticated artificial intelligence method known as Random Forest for Land Use Land Cover (LULC) classification, utilizing three Landsat images spanning the temporal spectrum from 1985 to 2021 to meticulously monitor land use transformations and associated LST variations. The results showed that vegetated areas declined by 46.8% during the study period, while built-up areas increased by 124.7%. This decline in vegetation was accompanied by an increase in LST, with bare soil recording the highest temperatures. The study also found that LST has a strong inverse relationship with vegetation and moisture. This means that areas with more vegetation and moisture tend to have lower LSTs. These findings suggest that urban expansion can lead to higher LSTs in desert climates, which can have implications for the health and wellbeing of residents. The study has important implications for urban planners and policymakers in Baghdad and other cities in desert climates. By identifying the main factors that control LST, the study provides insights into strategies for mitigating the effects of urban expansion on temperature.
The Predicate of the Current Mathematical Knowledge Substantially Increases the Constructive and Informal Mathematics and Why It Cannot Be Adapted to Any Empirical Science
Authors: Tyszka Apoloniusz
Published: September 2023

We assume that the current mathematical knowledge K is a finite set of statements which is time-dependent. This set exists only theoretically. Ignoring K and its subsets, sets exist formally in ZFC theory although their properties can be time-dependent (when they depend on K) or informal. In every branch of mathematics, the set of all knowable truths is the set of all theorems. This set exists independently of K. Algorithms always terminate. We explain the distinction between algorithms whose existence is provable in ZFC and constructively defined algorithms which are currently known. By using this distinction, we obtain non-trivial statements on decidable sets X⊆N that belong to constructive and informal mathematics and refer to the current mathematical knowledge on X. This and the next sentence justify the article title. For any empirical science, we can identify the current knowledge with that science because truths from the empirical sciences are not necessary truths but working models of truth from a particular context. For a set X⊆N whose infiniteness is false or unproven, we define which elements of X are classified as known. No known set X⊆N satisfies Conditions (1)-(4) and is widely known in number theory or naturally defined, where this term has only informal meaning. (1) A known algorithm with no input returns an integer n satisfying card(X)<ω ⇒ X⊆(-∞,n]. (2) A known algorithm for every k∈N decides whether or not k∈X. (3) No known algorithm with no input returns the logical value of the statement card(X)=ω. (4) There are many elements of X and it is conjectured, though so far unproven, that X is infinite. (5) X is naturally defined. The infiniteness of X is false or unproven. X has the simplest definition among known sets Y⊆N with the same set of known elements. We prove that the set X={n∈N: the interval [-1,n] contains more than 29.5+(11!/(3n+1))∙sin(n) primes of the form k!+1} satisfies Conditions (1)-(5) except the requirement that X is naturally defined. We have: 501893∈X, Condition (1) holds with n=501893, card(X∩[0,501893])=159827, X∩[501894,∞)={n∈N: the interval [-1,n] contains at least 30 primes of the form k!+1}. We present a table that shows satisfiable conjunctions of the form #(Condition 1)∧(Condition 2)∧#(Condition 3)∧(Condition 4)∧#(Condition 5), where # denotes the negation ¬ or the absence of any symbol. No set X⊆N will satisfy Conditions (1)-(4) forever, if for every algorithm with no input, at some future day, a computer will be able to execute this algorithm in 1 second or less.
Solid Waste Management (SWM) and Its Effect on Environment & Human Health
Authors: Gupta Priya , Sharma Aarzoo , Bhardwaj Laxmi Kant
Published: September 2023

Solid waste has become a tenacious issue worldwide. It has been increasing exponentially due to urbanization and the increase in the population. Since the twentieth-century technological revolution, there have been significant changes in the composition of solid waste. It poses significant challenges for waste management systems worldwide. Waste management is the process of handling waste right from its creation to its final disposal, including transport, collection, treatment, and monitoring. The present solid waste management (SWM) system is affected by unfavorable institutional, economic, technical, legislative, and operational constraints. Poor waste management is affecting ecosystems and human health, damaging our finite natural resources, impeding human economic progress, and harming people's quality of life. Now, researchers are concerned about the environment's degradation, a decline in quality of life, and risks related to waste management grow as the volume of solid waste. So, they are focusing on sustainable waste management practices which will be crucial for creating a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations. This chapter focuses on the concept of solid waste, its types, management, and its effect on the health of humans and the environment.
Occurrence of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia at a Teaching Hospital in South Western Uganda
Authors: Atwine Raymond , Yekosani Mitala , Birungi Abraham , Kiconco Ritah , Drucilla Jane Roberts
Published: September 2023

Background: The most frequent non-pigmented malignancy of the ocular surface is ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN), which has a frequency of 0.03 to 1.9 per 100,000 people per year. It can be diagnosed histologically as anything from mild dysplasia to aggressive squamous cell carcinoma that affects both the conjunctiva and the cornea. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of ocular surface squamous neoplasia at a teaching hospital in South Western Uganda.Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed all records of patients with ocular surface squamous neoplasia from the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)/ Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) pathology laboratory in South Western Uganda, from January 2015- October 2021.Results: Of the 1,133 cases of ocular neoplasia seen during this time, OSSN composed of 26.7% (n=303). OSSN occurred mainly in females (59.1%). The most common OSSN was invasive squamous cell carcinoma (60.4%). The age range was 15-106 years while the mean was 39.99 years. The commonest affected age group was 30-44years (41.3%).Conclusion: The burden of OSSN is high. It primarily affects young adults and is frequently found in women. Squamous cell carcinoma makes up the majority of the disease.
Multi-Functional Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces For Enhanced Sensing and Communication
Authors: Singh Khushboo , Saikia Mondeep , Thiyagarajan Karthick , Thalakotuna Dushmantha , Esselle Karu , Kodagoda Sharath
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we propose a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) that can dynamically switch the transmission and reflection phase of incident electromagnetic waves in real time to realize the dual-beam or quad-beam and convert polarization of the transmitted beam. Such surfaces can redirect a wireless signal at will to establish robust connectivity when the designated line-of-sight channel is disturbed, thereby enhancing the performance of wireless communication systems by creating an intelligent radio environment. When integrated with a sensing element, they are integral to performing joint detection and communication functions in future wireless sensor networks. In this work, we first analyze the scattering performance of a reconfigurable unit element and then design a RIS. The dynamic field scattering manipulation capability of the RIS is validated by full-wave electromagnetic simulations to realize six different functions. The scattering characteristics of the proposed unit element, which incorporates two p-i-n diodes, have been substantiated through practical implementation. This involved the construction of a simple prototype and the subsequent examination of its scattering properties via the free-space measurement method. The obtained transmission and reflection coefficients from the measurements are in agreement with the anticipated outcomes from simulations.
Municipal Solid Waste Fly Ash-Derived Zeolites as Adsorbents for the Recovery of Nutrients and Heavy Metals – a Review
Authors: Vogelsang Christian , Umar Muhammad
Published: September 2023

The feasibility of using zeolites, synthesized from components found in municipal solid waste fly ash (MSW-FA), as sorbents for the recovery of nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) and heavy metals is critically assessed in this review. The inherent drawbacks of utilising a highly contaminated, variable, and relatively Al- and Si-dilute source such as MSW-FA to synthesize zeolites are discussed, and different methods to extract and decontaminate zeolite precursor materials from MSW-FA are considered. Ways to synthesize tailored zeolites and how their properties as well as the operational conditions impact the adsorption of cations such as ammonium and heavy metals are summarized. The use of surface-modified zeolites to adsorb nitrate and phosphate is also reviewed. And subsequently, approaches to utilise directly or recover for reuse the adsorbed compounds are considered, discussing potential challenges and mitigating measures related to leaching of unwanted compounds from the zeolites. Moreover, the possibility to regenerate the adsorption capacity of the zeolites for multiple adsorption cycles is considered. In the final chapter of the review a more general discussion of the main challenges and existing research gaps is provided, giving directions for recommended studies.
Parental Control and Children's Short Sleep Duration and Difficulties as Predictors of Screen Time: The Japanese Context
Authors: Arai Yusuke , Sasayama Daimei , Suzuki Kazuhiro , Nakamura Toshinori , Kuraishi Yuta , Washizuka Shinsuke
Published: September 2023

Children's screen time may affect their growth and development. However, different aspects of children and their parents that affect children's screen time has not been investigated in the Japanese context. This study aimed to explore the relationship between relevant factors affecting children's screen time based on their sleep, difficulties, and parental control, among Japanese elementary and junior high school students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among parents in Japan. Data on screen time duration, parent-child background, strengths and difficulties, sleep variables, and parental control types were collected from 225 households. Path analysis revealed that high Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores (β = 0.167, p = 0.007), sleep duration (β = -0.282, p < 0.001), and parental control (β = -0.205, p < 0.001) were significantly related to children's screen time. Additionally, late parental bedtime negatively correlated with children's sleep duration (β = -0.326, p < 0.001). The findings suggest that children's difficulties, sleep duration, and parental control are associated with children's screen time. This study, together with previous research, provides comprehensive insights to design interventions to decrease screen time in children in the Japanese context.
New Technology Deployment and Corporate Responsibilities in the Metaverse Title
Authors: Wynn Martin , Jones Peter
Published: September 2023

"Metaverse" as a term came to the fore in 2021 when Facebook rebranded its corporate identity to Meta, and signaled its intention to invest at least $10 billion in developing the concepts and related products that year. However, there is still little consensus in defining what constitutes the metaverse, although there is a widespread, though not universal, agreement that it will bring a wide range of benefits across society. More specifically, the advent, and continuing evolution, of the metaverse has strategic and operational implications for, and impacts on, industry and business at large. Adopting an inductive, interpretivist approach, this exploratory research article presents case examples of the guidance on the responsible development of the metaverse provided by two IT business services companies. The article identifies the major risks and responsibilities associated with the metaverse and assesses how companies might address these responsibilities. Very little research has been published in this area and this article attempts to make a small contribution to filling this gap in the literature. The article finds that responsibilities are largely in line with those currently associated with corporate digital responsibility, and concludes that the strategic impact and extent of regulatory change will depend on the nature of the metaverse that materialises in the forthcoming decade.
From Genes to Genomes: Opportunities and Challenges for Synteny-based Phylogenies
Authors: Steenwyk Jacob , King Nicole
Published: September 2023

Reconstructing the Tree of Life remains a central goal in biology. Early methodologies, relying on comparative anatomy or alignments of small numbers of genetic loci, often yielded conflicting evolutionary histories, undermining confidence in the results. Investigations based on phylogenomics, which uses hundreds to thousands of loci for phylogenetic inquiry, often provide a clearer picture of life's history, but certain branches have remained challenging to resolve. Particularly problematic nodes include the root of the animal tree and the relationships among major clades of teleost fish, a group encompassing nearly half of all vertebrates. To address these debates, recent studies tested the utility of an emerging phylogenomic marker: synteny, the conserved collinearity of orthologous loci in two or more organisms. Synteny exhibits compelling phylogenomic potential, while also raising new challenges. We discuss the history of phylogenetics, contentious branches in the Tree of Life, and the use of synteny to address them. We propose five research questions to help guide the use of synteny data in phylogenomic studies. Synteny-based analyses of highly contiguous genome assemblies mark a new chapter in the phylogenomic era and the quest to reconstruct the Tree of Life.
Challenges and Opportunities behind the Use of Herbaria in Paleogenomics Studies
Authors: Papalini Simone , Di Vittori Valerio , Pieri Alice , Allegrezza Marina , Frascarelli Giulia , Nanni Laura , Bitocchi Elena , Bellucci Elisa , Gioia Tania , Guasch Luis , Susek Karolina , Tenaillon Maud Irène , Neumann Kerstin , Papa Roberto
Published: September 2023

Paleogenomics focuses on the recovery, manipulation, and analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) from historical or long-dead organisms to reconstruct and analyze their genomes. The aDNA is commonly obtained from remains found in paleontological and archaeological sites, conserved in museums and in other archival collections. Herbarium collections represent a great source of phenotypic and genotypic information, and their exploitation allowed to infer and to clarify previously unsolved taxonomic and systematic relationships. Moreover, Herbarium specimens offered a new source to study phenological traits in plants and to disentangle biogeography and evolutionary scenarios of species. More recently, advances in the molecular technologies went in parallel with the decreasing costs of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches, that paved the way to the utilization of aDNA for whole-genome studies. Although many studies have been carried out combining modern analytic techniques and Herbarium specimens, this research field is still relatively unexplored, due to the need of improving strategies for aDNA manipulation and exploitation. The higher susceptibility of aDNA to degradation and contamination during the Herbarium conservation and manipulation, and the occurrence of biochemical post-mortem damages, can result in the more challenging reconstruction of the original DNA sequence. Here, we review the methodological approaches that have been developed for the exploitation of historical Herbarium plant materials, such as the best practices for aDNA extraction, amplification and genotyping. We also focus on some strategies to overcome the main problems related to the utilization of Herbarium specimens for their exploitation in plant evolutionary studies.
Hate Speech Detection in the Arabic Language: Corpus Design, Construction and Evaluation
Authors: Ahmad Ashraf , Azzeh Mohammad , Alnagi Eman , Abu Al-Haija Qasem , Halabi Dana , Aref Abdullah , AbuHour Yousef
Published: September 2023

Hate Speech Detection in Arabic presents a multifaceted challenge due to the broad and diverse linguistic terrain. With its multiple dialects and rich cultural subtleties, Arabic requires particular measures to address hate speech online successfully. To address this issue, academics and developers have used natural language processing (NLP) methods and machine learning algorithms adapted to the complexities of Arabic text. However, many proposed methods were hampered by a lack of a comprehensive dataset/corpus of Arabic hate speech. In this research, we propose a novel multi-class public Arabic dataset comprised of 403,688 annotated tweets categorized as extremely positive, positive, neutral, or negative based on the presence of hate speech. Using our developed dataset, we additionally characterize the performance of multiple machine learning models for Hate speech identification in Arabic Jordanian dialect tweets. Specifically, the Word2Vec, TF-IDF, and AraBert text representation models have been applied to produce word vectors. With the help of these models, we can provide classification models with vectors representing text. After that, seven Machine learning classifiers have been evaluated: Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Regression (LR), Naive Bays (NB), Random Forest (RF), AdaBoost (Ada), XGBoost (XGB), and CatBoost (CatB). In light of this, the experimental evaluation revealed that, in this challenging and unstructured setting, our gathered and annotated datasets were rather efficient and generated encouraging assessment outcomes. This will enable academics to delve further into this crucial field of study.
A Green Revolution in Antioxidant Research: Harnessing Microalgae for Wellness and Longevity
Authors: Pereira Leonel , Cotas João , Valado Ana
Published: September 2023

In recent times, there has been a revolutionary surge in antioxidant research, with a focus on harnessing microalgae to enhance wellness and extend human longevity. Microalgae, a diverse group of unicellular photosynthetic organisms, have emerged as promising sources of natural antioxidants due to their ability to synthesize various bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, polyphenols, and tocopherols. These antioxidants play a pivotal role in scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress, known contributors to aging and chronic diseases. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in understanding microalgae's antioxidant potential, covering their biochemical composition, extraction techniques, and purification methods. Moreover, it delves into compelling in vitro and in vivo studies showcasing microalgae-derived antioxidants' protective effects against oxidative damage, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The sustainable cultivation of microalgae in controlled environments further supports the potential for large-scale production and commercialization of their antioxidant compounds. As microalgae continue to revolutionize antioxidant research, they hold immense promise in developing novel preventive and therapeutic strategies to promote human health and wellbeing.
Reactive oxygen species are central mediators of vascular dysfunction and hypertension induced by ethanol consumption
Authors: Padovan Júlio César , Dourado Thales Mileto Henrique , Pimenta Gustavo Felix , Bruder-Nascimento Thiago , Tirapelli Carlos Renato
Published: September 2023

Consumption of high amounts of ethanol is a risk factor for development of cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension. The hypertensive state induced by ethanol is a complex multi-factorial event, and oxidative stress is a pathophysiological hallmark of vascular dysfunction associated with ethanol consumption. Increasing levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the vasculature triggers important processes underlying vascular injury, including accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ ions, reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), endothelial dysfunction, and loss of the anticontractile effect of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT). The enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase plays a central role in vascular ROS generation in response to ethanol. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an upstream mechanism which contributes to NADPH oxidase stimulation, overproduction of ROS and vascular dysfunction. This review discusses the mechanisms of vascular dysfunction induced by ethanol, detailing the contribution of ROS to these processes. Data examining the association between neuroendocrine changes and vascular oxidative stress induced by ethanol are also reviewed and discussed. These issues are of paramount interest to public health as ethanol contributes to blood pressure elevation in the general population, and it is linked to cardiovascular conditions and diseases.
Periodical Ultramodulation of Broadened Laser Spectra in Diamond at Variable Ultrashort Laser Pulsewidths: Ultrafast Plasma, Plasmonic and Phonon Effects
Authors: Kudryashov Sergey , Danilov Pavel , Smirnov Nikita , Gorevoy Alexey , Kovalov Volodymyr
Published: September 2023

Self-phase modulation (SPM) broadening of laser spectra was studied in a transmission mode in natural and synthetic diamonds at variable laser wavelengths (515 and 1030 nm), pulse energies and widths (0.3 - 12 ps, positively chirped pulses), providing their filamentary propagation. Besides the monotonous SPM broadening of the laser spectra versus pulse energy, more pronounced for the (sub)picosecond pulsewiths and more doped natural diamond, periodical low-frequency modulation was observed in the spectra at the shorter laser pulsewidths, indicating dynamic Bragg filtering of the supercontinuum due to ultrafast plasma and nanoplasmonic effects. Damping of broadening and ultramodulation for the longer picosecond pulsewidths was related to thermalized electron-hole plasma regime established for the laser pulsewidths longer, than 2 ps. Unexpectedly, at higher pulse energies and corresponding longer microfilaments, the number of spectral modulation features increases, indicating dynamic variation of the periods in the longitudinal plasma Bragg gratings along the filaments due to prompt secondary laser-plasmon interactions.
Environmental Lifecycle Assessment to Address the Hotspots in Natural Rubber Manufacturing; a Case Study with Information Gathered from Concentrated Latex Manufacturing in Sri Lanka
Authors: Dunuwila Pasan , Rodrigo V. H. L. , Daigo Ichiro , Goto Naohiro
Published: September 2023

Sri Lanka is a top producer of premium quality concentrated latex (CL), which becomes a base material for dipped rubber products such as gloves and condoms. The processing of CL is resource-intensive, requiring significant amounts of energy, fuel, water, and chemicals. This process leads to various environmental issues such as wastewater pollution, malodor, and greenhouse gas emissions. Several environmental life cycle assessments (ELCA) have been conducted at international and local levels to address the aforesaid issues. However, ELCAs encapsulating different environmental impact areas on CL processing in Sri Lanka are absent. The study revealed that electricity usage was the main hotspot of the environmental burden, significantly impacting Abiotic depletion (fossil fuels), Global warming potential, Ozone layer depletion, Photochemical oxidation, and Acidification. Heavy reliance on coal in the Sri Lankan power grid was identified as the root of this trend. The study suggested two viable options to mitigate the environmental impact: installing inverters to centrifuge separators and solar systems in the factories. The second option was deemed more effective, reducing Acidification, Photochemical oxidation, and Global Warming Potential by approximately 37%, 36%, and 28%, respectively. Relevant officials may immediately consider these improvement options and collaborate to pave the way to a sustainable natural rubber industry.
An Explorative Application of Multilayer Networks and Pathway Analysis in Pharmacogenomics
Authors: Milano Marianna , Agapito Giuseppe , Cannataro Mario
Published: September 2023

Over the years, network analysis became a promising strategy to analyze complex system, i.e. systems composed by a large number of interacting elements. In particular, multilayer networks have emerged as a powerful framework for modelling and analysing complex systems with multiple types of interactions. Network analysis can be applied to pharmacogenomics to gain insights into the interactions between genes, drugs, and diseases. By integrating network analysis techniques with pharmacogenomic data, the goal consists to uncover complex relationships and identify key genes to use in pathway enrichment analysis to figure out biological pathways involved in drug response and adverse reactions. In this study, we model omics, diseases and drugs data together through the multilayer network representation. Then, we mined the multilayer network with a community detection algorithm by obtaining top communities. After that, we used the identified list of genes from the communities to perform pathway enrichment analysis (PEA) to figure out the biological function affected form the selected genes. The results show that the genes forming the top community have the multiple roles through different pathways.
A Study of Urban Climate Resilience and Its Influencing Factors in China
Authors: Cunpu Li , Lishuo Pan , Jing He
Published: September 2023

Climate change represents a prevalent challenge confronted by humanity, and with cities being one of the regions most heavily impacted by such change, enhancing their climate resilience is paramount in adapting to and mitigating the associated risks and losses. This article evaluates the climate resilience of 270 major cities in China by creating an urban climate resilience indicator system centered on exposure, vulnerability, and resilience. The article analyses the spatial and temporal evolution trend of climate resilience in Chinese cities, as well as the source of regional differences using Kernel density analysis and the Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition. The article then explores the influence of financial investments on urban climate resilience, considering the moderating effect of urbanization rate.