bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovation and Collaboration Model Based on Ecological Fiscal Transfer Approach: Case Study on Green Siak Regency Policy Development
Authors: Wicaksono Baskoro , Marta Auradian , Febrina Rury , Rafi Muhammad , Gusmansyah Gusmansyah , Hergianasari Putri
Published: January 2025

In 2018, the Siak Regency Government initiated the Siak Green policy innovation based on Siak Regent Regulation Number 22 of 2018 concerning Siak Green Regency, which aims to overcome the impact of environmental damage and the implementation of sustainable development goals, where the regulation is used as a guideline for all parties in collaborating to implement sustainable natural resource management for the welfare of the Siak community. This study aims to analyse existing conditions and design an innovation and collaboration model based on an ecological fiscal transfer approach in developing the Siak Green Regency policy. This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach, where primary and secondary data sources related to the Siak Green Regency policy are analysed using NVivo12 Plus software to be able to answer research questions systematically. Based on the results of the analysis, this study found that the existing conditions of the Siak Green policy are still sectoral and have yet to be integrated into the work plans of regional apparatuses and related stakeholders. Substantively, the ecological fiscal transfer approach is an innovative and crucial policy instrument that needs to be adopted to maintain the sustainability of forest areas in Siak Regency while continuing to encourage increased stakeholder collaboration through fiscal transfers and intergovernmental revenue sharing schemes based on ecological indicators as awards given based on the quality-of-life index in sustainable conservation efforts in Siak Regency.
Synergy Between Smallholder Palm Oil Replanting Policies and Green Energy Initiatives: A Study of Impacts and Policies in Indonesia
Authors: Mayarni Mayarni , Heriyanto Meyzi , Nasution Mimin Sundari , Arumbinang Mohammad Hazyar
Published: January 2025

People’s Palm Oil Replanting (PSR) and green energy projects are crucial Indonesian initiatives aimed at achieving economic and environmental sustainability. This study explores the synergies between these programs, analyzing their impacts and interactions within natural resource management and sustainable energy. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through stakeholder interviews, policy document analyses, and field surveys across five major palm oil-producing districts in Indonesia. The findings show that integrating PSR and green energy initiatives can enhance land productivity, reduce carbon emissions, and improve peatland management. PSR projects, focused on rejuvenating aging oil palm plantations and adopting environmentally friendly technologies, support more efficient bioenergy production. Simultaneously, green energy initiatives promote renewable energy use and incentivize sustainable practices. However, challenges such as limited collaboration, budget constraints, and farmer resistance persist. To address these, this study proposes a policy framework including financial support, technical training for farmers, and improved stakeholder communication. By examining the intersection of agricultural and energy policies, this research highlights strategies to achieve sustainability goals and provides actionable insights for policymakers to design integrated, effective approaches that maximize the benefits of these initiatives
Community-Based Social Capital as a Pillar of Disaster Mitigation in Coastal Areas
Authors: Wati Rita , Sujianto  , Heriyanto Meyzi , Adianto Adianto , Sutikno Sigit , Febrian Achmad Fajri
Published: January 2025

This article explores the influence of community-based social capital in disaster management within Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province, a region prone to natural disasters such as floods, landslides, whirlwinds, coastal abrasion, and erosion. Social capital—encompassing bonding, bridging, and linking dimensions—emerges as a pivotal element in disaster prevention and recovery. The research sample comprised local leaders, village officials, and members of community disaster preparedness groups. Data were collected from 73 respondents through a structured survey and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results highlight that community-based social capital is built upon shared values, norms, trust, and commitments, fostering robust social networks and relationships. These networks are instrumental in spreading information, enhancing disaster preparedness, fostering social solidarity, and bolstering community efforts in disaster mitigation. The article emphasizes the critical role of social capital in disaster-prone regions like Bengkalis and Rupat Islands and advocates for strengthened cross-sector collaboration between governmental and non-governmental entities to optimize disaster management strategies in both preand post-disaster contexts.
Sub-cycle nanotip field emission of electrons driven by air plasma generated THz pulses
Authors: Colmey Benjamin , Paulino Rodrigo T. , Beaufort Gaspard , Cooke David G.
Published: January 2025

Terahertz pulses generated by two-color laser plasmas have reported peak field strengths exceeding MV/cm, and when illuminating metal nanotips, the near-field enhancement at the tip apex should result in extremely high bunch charges and electron energies via sub-cycle cold-field emission. Here, electron emission from tungsten nanotips driven by THz pulses generated by a long filament air-plasma is reported. Electron energies up to 1.1 keV and bunch charges up to 2×105 electrons per pulse were detected, well below values expected for peak field calculated via the time-averaged Poynting vector. Investigations revealed a failure in the use of the time-averaged Poynting vector when applied to long filament THz pulses, due to spatiotemporal restructuring of the THz pulse in the focus. Accounting for this restructuring significantly reduces the field strength to approximately 160 kV/cm, consistent with the observed electron bunch charges, peak energies, and their dependence on the tip position in the THz focus. Despite these findings, our results surpass previous THz plasma-driven electron generation by an order of magnitude in both electron energy and bunch charge, and a path to increasing these by an additional order of magnitude by modification of the THz optics is proposed.
Slowly quenched, high pressure glassy B2O3 at DFT accuracy
Authors: Meher Debendra , Avula Nikhil V. S. , Balasubramanian Sundaram
Published: January 2025

Modeling inorganic glasses requires an accurate representation of interatomic interactions, large system sizes to allow for intermediate-range structural order, and slow quenching rates to eliminate kinetically trapped structural motifs. Neither first principles-based nor force field-based molecular dynamics (MD) simulations satisfy these three criteria unequivocally. Herein, we report the development of a machine learning potential (MLP) for a classic glass, B2O3, which meets these goals well. The MLP is trained on condensed phase configurations whose energies and forces on the atoms are obtained using periodic quantum density functional theory. Deep potential MD simulations based on this MLP accurately predict the equation of state and the densification of the glass with slower quenching from the melt. At ambient conditions, quenching rates larger than 1011 K/s are shown to lead to artifacts in the structure. Pressure-dependent x-ray and neutron structure factors from the simulations compare excellently with experimental data. High-pressure simulations of the glass show varied coordination geometries of boron and oxygen, which concur with experimental observations.
Electrolyte effects on reaction kinetics in electrochemical CO2 reduction: The roles of pH, cations, and anions
Authors: Chen Wei , Du Xinjuan , Tao Shuaikang , Lin Bo , Tranca Ionut , Tielens Frederik , Ma Ming , Liu Zhaochun
Published: January 2025

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) holds significant potential for converting CO2 into value-added fuels and chemicals under mild reaction conditions. The kinetics of CO2RR is strongly influenced by both the electrocatalysts and the local environment at the electrode/electrolyte interface. While considerable research has focused on elucidating the “structure-activity” relationships of electrocatalysts, a fundamental understanding of the role of electrolyte-related factors (such as the ionic species) near the electrode/electrolyte interface is highly important for the further enhancement in the catalytic performance of CO2RR. In this review, we discuss the effects of pH, cations, and anions in the vicinity of the catalyst, using CO2RR as a model reaction. The mechanistic understanding of these effects is also analyzed via experimental findings from in situ spectroscopic techniques and theoretical insights from density functional theory simulations. This review underscores the importance of understanding the various interactions of electrolytes with catalyst surfaces or intermediates and their impact on reaction kinetics of CO2RR.
Te nanomesh-monolayer WSe2 vertical van der Waals heterostructure for high-performance photodetector
Authors: Hao Yulong , Zhang Shiwei , Fan Chen , Liu Jun , Hao Shijie , Lu Xuemei , Zhou Jie , Qiu Mengchun , Li Jin , Hao Guolin
Published: January 2025

Recently, two-dimensional tungsten diselenide (WSe2) has attracted extensive attention due to their unique properties, exhibiting excellent properties in electronics, optoelectronics, and valleytronics. However, the limited light absorption efficiency of monolayer WSe2 severely hinders its practical applications. To address this challenge, vertical Te-WSe2 heterojunctions consisting of Te nanomesh and monolayer WSe2 nanofilm have been prepared using the two-step vapor deposition method, which significantly enhances the optoelectronic performance. Te-WSe2 heterojunction photodetector exhibits a high responsivity of 1.3 A/W and a specific detectivity of 1 × 1010 Jones under the irradiation of 460 nm light source. This study demonstrates the controllable fabrication of large-scale of Te-WSe2 vertical heterojunctions. The underlying mechanism for the performance enhancement of Te-WSe2 heterojunction photodetector was elucidated based on the Ohm-like type-I band-aligned structure. The research can be further extended to other Te-based mixed-dimensional heterojunctions, providing valuable theoretical and experimental support for the application of next-generation integrated optoelectronic devices.
A curvature-based mechanism for the spontaneous emission of electromagnetic radiation at curved plasma–vacuum interfaces
Authors: Lau Raymond , Elschot Sigrid
Published: January 2025

In this work, we derive from first principles the dispersion relation for electromagnetic radiation that is spontaneously emitted at a 2D curved plasma–vacuum interface in the absence of both background and external electric and magnetic fields. This plasma geometry is motivated by plasmas generated through hypervelocity impact projectiles—an area that is of importance to satellite safety in the aerospace community, and may be of importance for the developing study of projectile impact-driven inertial confinement fusion. We find spontaneous radiation occurs when thermal surface waves propagate along the edge of a circular plasma, with a frequency lower than the plasma frequency and spatial decay proportional to 1/r. This is distinct from more well-known mechanisms of radiation, in which the radiation frequency is greater than or equal to the plasma frequency. This theory is validated against 2D, electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations and shows reasonable agreement. Finally, we discuss the effects of plasma geometry and attribute the radiation generation mechanism to the acceleration of charged surface waves as they traverse azimuthally along a curved path.
The relationship between soil quality and crop productivity across three tillage systems in south central Honduras
Authors: Stine Melissa A. , Weil Ray R.
Published: January 2025

Agricultural soil quality (SQ) research has focused on the influence of individual soil properties, particularly those related to soil organic matter (SOM), on soil processes such as water movement and retention, and nutrient cycling. However, few studies have assessed the influence of these SOM-related properties on crop productivity, particularly under different management systems. Furthermore, agricultural SQ research in tropical regions is limited. The objectives of this study were, for a tropical site, to determine (1) the relationship between selected soil characteristics and resulting soil functional properties such as aggregate stability and porosity, and (2) the relationship between SQ indicators and productivity of corn under three different tillage systems. Twelve plots were randomly demarcated in three adjacent fields under different tillage systems. Profiles were described by augering and the surface soil (0–7.5 cm) was sampled just prior to crop harvest and analyzed for texture, standard soil tests (pH, available P, K, Mg and Ca) and SQ parameters including total N, total and active fraction C, porosity and aggregate stability. Corn dry grain m−2, above-ground crop dry matter m−2, and dry grain per plant was measured in each plot. Soil C parameters were highly predictive of macroaggregate stability and soil porosity across different tillage systems. Macroaggregate stability and soil C (particularly active C oxidizable by 0.025m KMnO4) were highly correlated with crop productivity across tillage systems. These findings suggest that soil C in the surface layer, especially the active C fraction, markedly affected the productivity of this tropical soil through its influence on soil structure.
The ecological economics of insecticide use associated with the Maine potato industry, based on a producer survey
Authors: Ziegler C.R. , Donahue D.W. , Drummond F.A. , Smith S.N.
Published: January 2025

Environmental risks and costs associated with insecticide applications in Maine potato farming have been characterized and estimated using an Aroostook producer survey. The results of this study allow for comparison of pest management strategies based on producer concern for various aspects of the environment, including water quality, human health and animal safety. ‘Willingness to pay’ survey methodology was used to acquire an environmental cost range for insecticide use. Maine potato producers are willing to pay between $1.00 acre−1 (one acre = 0.4047ha) and $26.80acre−1 to avoid or reduce environmental risk associated with a single insecticide application. The Aroostook producer survey indicates that producers with small farms are generally willing to pay more to avoid or reduce environmental risk than producers with large farms. Mean Maine potato farm size has more than tripled over the past 40 years; therefore, concern for environmental quality on Maine potato farms could be decreasing.
Moral confidence in agriculture
Authors: Zimdahl Robert L.
Published: January 2025

Those engaged in agriculture possess a definite but unexamined moral confidence or certainty about the correctness of what they do. This paper examines the origins of that confidence and questions its continued validity. The paper argues that those engaged in agriculture are morally confident about the rightness of their activity. The basis of the moral confidence is not obvious to those who possess it or to the public. In fact, the moral confidence that pervades agricultural practice is potentially harmful because it is unexamined. Suggestions for expanding agriculture's moral scope are made to approach the question of where moral values originate, and what are, or ought to be, the moral standards for agriculture in our post-industrial, information-age society. Part of expanding agriculture's moral scope will be giving up some of our hubris about the goodness of our culture and its agriculture. The paper advocates analysis of what it is about our agriculture and our society that thwarts or limits our aspirations for agriculture and needs modification. We must strive to nourish and strengthen those features of our agriculture that are beneficial and change those that are not. To fit ourselves to this task, we must be sufficiently confident to study ourselves and our institutions and dedicated to the task of modifying both.
The wholesale produce auction: An alternative marketing strategy for small farms
Authors: Tubene Stephan , Hanson James
Published: January 2025

Small farmers urgently need alternative marketing strategies if they are to achieve the goals of a more sustainable agriculture. This study was a survey of nine Pennsylvania wholesale produce auctions, all established between 1984 and 1998. The main goals of the auctions were to serve local communities, provide high-quality produce to local consumers and make profits. The results showed that the auctions typically employ an average of 7–10 people per growing season. The five most common commodities sold were cantaloupe, watermelon, tomato, pumpkin and sweet corn. Asparagus and onions were the least sold during a regular growing season. In terms of market share, roadside market operators purchased the largest proportion of produce (40%), followed by farmers (27%), chain food stores (16%), independent grocery stores (11%) and restaurants (6%), making up an average annual gross sale of $3.5 million per auction. The study revealed that the nine Pennsylvania produce auctions were successful in meeting their goals. The reasons for success included private ownership, excellent quality and freshness of produce, good location, local produce recognition, clientele availability and customer-oriented business. The auction managers identified some weaknesses, including inconsistent and poor grading, limited space in the auction facility, produce unavailability and limited volume, lack of cooling facility, price fluctuation and slow service. The study indicated that local wholesale produce auctions are a useful marketing alternative for small farmers in Pennsylvania, by providing marketing outlets and convenient shopping centers for sellers and buyers; by securing a source of fresh and locally grown produce not found in traditional wholesale terminal markets; and by allowing exchange and networking among farmers and buyers. Consequently, the wholesale produce auction can be a useful model for an alternative marketing strategy and can provide considerable benefits to small farm and rural communities.
Killing cover crops mechanically: Review of recent literature and assessment of new research results
Authors: Creamer Nancy G. , Dabney Seth M.
Published: January 2025

Cover-crop residues left on the soil surface as a mulch in no-till crop production systems protect the soil from erosion, increase water infiltration and suppress weeds. Because many growers using cover crops want to reduce chemical inputs, non-chemical methods of killing or suppressing cover crops are needed. In the first part of this paper we review the current literature and discuss advantages and disadvantages of five mechanical methods for killing cover crops, i.e., mowing, rolling, roll-chopping, undercutting and partial rototilling. We also report on three new studies that broaden the current literature, including planting into freshly killed residue. In the first study, the use of planter attachments to remove surface residues from the planter row improved stands when cotton was no-till planted 2–7 days after mowing cover crops in Mississippi. In the second study, 100% of a rye/vetch cover crop in Missouri was killed by mowing, and greater than 90% was killed by roll-chopping. Cotton stands were reduced by the use of row cleaners that clogged when the cover crop was roll-chopped or mowed on the same day that the crop was planted. The third study evaluated three methods of mechanically killing summer cover crops in North Carolina. Undercutting provided greater than 95% kill for five of six broadleaf species, and two of five grass species. Mowing effectively killed all six broadleaf cover crops, but re-growth occurred with three of five grasses, with the exception of nearly mature German foxtail millet and mature Japanese millet. In general, rolling did not effectively kill broadleaf or grass cover crops, with the exception of nearly mature German foxtail millet, mature Japanese millet and mature buckwheat.
The mirage of genetic engineering
Authors: Cox T.S.
Published: January 2025

The extensive adoption of transgenic plants now under way has provoked heated debate about its effects on human health, rural life and the environment. But too many critics are neglecting to zero in on transgenic technology's Achilles heel: its inherent inability to deliver on its promises. Longstanding theory and practice predict, and growing evidence confirms, that transgenes cannot dramatically accelerate plant breeding, let alone revolutionize agriculture, save the family farm or feed the world.
Barriers to the adoption of organic farming by cash-crop producers in Austria
Authors: Schneeberger Walter , Darnhofer Ika , Eder Michael
Published: January 2025

Most of Austria's organic farms are located in mountainous areas and produce mainly milk and beef, whereas a low percentage of cash-crop farms are organic. As a result, the demand for organically grown crops cannot be fully met by domestic production. This paper investigates the barriers to adoption of organic agriculture by cash-crop farmers in Austria. In a written survey, 383 conventional farmers provided information on their perception of organic farming and rated the importance of potential barriers to adoption. Technical challenges in cropping and additional labor requirements were rated as the most important barriers, followed by fear of decreased income and marketing problems. Structural and social issues, such as farm size and lack of support from family members, were less important.
Changes in farm structure following conversion to organic farming in Denmark
Authors: Langer Vibeke
Published: January 2025

Compared with conventional farms, organic farms are expected to be more diverse, less specialized and less intensive, and as a group contribute to a more uniform regional distribution of farm types. Data on farm size, crop distribution and livestock intensity prior to conversion and planned after conversion on 448 Danish farms, which began conversion to organic farming in 1997, are presented by addressing two questions: (1) what features characterize Danish farms that convert from conventional to organic farming; and (2) do farm types, stocking rates and crop distribution change with conversion? In 1997, dairy farms dominated among the converting farms in hectarage, and a large majority (80–97%) of the farmers of all farm types planned to continue with the same type of production system after conversion. Thus, the regional characterization pattern in organic farm types will be similar to that of conventional farms. Although the total number of livestock units on the converting farms is planned to increase by 6% following conversion to organic farming, they are well below average in stocking rates compared with all Danish farms both before and after conversion. Farmers also plan changes in crop distribution: a 20% decrease in the hectarage for cereal production; a doubling of the hectarage for grassland in rotation; a decrease in hectarage for set-aside, row crops and oilseed rape; and roughage and seeds unchanged. Planned changes in crop distribution differ between farm types. The need to include aspects of diversity and production intensity, on both the farm and the larger scale, in the evaluation of the future direction in organic farming is discussed.
Sheep stocking under traditional and improved grazing systems in the cereal-sheep system of Castile-La Mancha (south-central Spain)
Authors: Caballero Rafael
Published: January 2025

Land-based systems of low stocking rate are usually associated with low environmental concerns. However, we hypothesized that traditional unrestructured grazing systems may represent more environmental costs than benefits. Community-based research work was conducted in the 1990s in the cereal-sheep system of Castile–La Mancha, with the objective of assessing the typology of the system, including the grazing structures and social groups involved in grazing management. Results showed that traditional management represented a heterogeneous spatio-temporal distribution of grazing at the regional level, with high variability at the local level. Occasional overgrazing may occur, but a trend towards fewer grazing-days with correspondingly more indoor feeding and widespread underuse of grazing resources was more apparent. Proposals to improve the grazing system reached a high degree of consensus among farmers, but the two social groups (cultivators and landless pastoralists) showed divergent views in some important management issues. The imbalance in group numbers indicated that collective action is difficult to achieve. Implementation of improved grazing practices would require a policy intervention based on the disentangled constraints and consensus among interested farmers.
Estimating active carbon for soil quality assessment: A simplified method for laboratory and field use
Authors: Weil Ray R. , Islam Kandikar R. , Stine Melissa A. , Gruver Joel B. , Samson-Liebig Susan E.
Published: January 2025

A simple method of estimating changes in biologically active soil carbon (C) could help evaluate soil quality impacts of alternative management practices. Most reports of permanganate for active C determination use highly concentrated solutions (0.333 M) that are difficult to work with and tend to react with a large fraction of soil C that is not well distinguished from total organic C. We report on a highly simplified method in which dilute, slightly alkaline KMnO4 reacts with the most readily oxidizable (active) forms of soil C, converting Mn(VII) to Mn(II), and proportionally lowering absorbance of 550 nm light. The amount of soil C that reacted increased with concentration of KMnO4 used (0.01 to 0.1 M), degree of soil drying (moist fresh soil to air-dried for 24 hour) and time of shaking (1–15 minutes). Shaking of air-diy soil in a 0.02 M KMnO4 solution for 2 minutes produced consistent and management-sensitive results, both in the laboratory and with a field kit that used a hand-held colorimeter. Addition of 0.1 M. CaCl2 to the permanganate reagent enhanced settling of the soil after shaking, eliminating the need for centrifugaron in the field kit. Results from the laboratory and field-kit protocols were nearly identical (R2 = 0.98), as were those from an inter-laboratory sample exchange (R2 = 0.91). The active soil C measured by the new procedure was more sensitive to management effects than total organic C, and more closely related to biologically mediated soil properties, such as respiration, microbial biomass and aggregation, than several other measures of soil organic C.
Entrepreneurial outcomes and enterprise size in US retail farmers' markets
Authors: Feenstra Gail W. , Lewis Christopher C. , Hinrichs C. Clare , Gillespie Gilbert W. , Hilchey Duncan
Published: January 2025

Recent studies have suggested that farmers' markets are increasingly important contributors to the economic development of rural and urban communities in the US. Yet, little is known about the specific ways and the extent to which farmers' markets contribute to developing their vendors' capacities as entrepreneurs or affect vendors' business success. In this study, we examine the capacities of farmers' market vendors in three states—New York, Iowa and California—and associated entrepreneurial outcomes. In particular, we explore how vendors' business activities and capacities are associated with different sizes of enterprises. A mail survey of up to 400 vendors, from 20 markets in each state, was conducted in 1999 to examine factors associated with business outcomes and vendor capacities. The importance of farmers' markets to small-, medium- and large-size enterprises and the particular contributions that have been most helpful to vendors were identified. Small-scale enterprises are still the most numerous at farmers' markets, making up almost 56% of all vendors. More than half of these enterprises are operated by part-time farmers or market gardeners. We found that the small enterprises had both less business and market experience, and sell at markets closer to home than do medium and large enterprises. Although these vendors with small enterprises have engaged in fewer entrepreneurial activities, made fewer business contacts and acquired fewer skills at farmers' markets, compared to medium and large enterprises they were more likely to consider farmers' markets to be their most important business development opportunity. Although, for these small enterprises, participating informers' markets may not yield financial gains as large as those gained by medium- and large-scale vendors, farmers' markets may be one of the few options for entrepreneurs to maintain and/or enhance their market niche in a community. Key information needs of small-, medium- and large-size enterprises are described, as well as suggestions for ways in which local educational institutions, Cooperative Extension, government agencies and nonprofit organizations can help support these enterprises and enhance community economic development in their regions.
Detecting kHz gravitons from a neutron star merger with a multi-mode resonant mass detector
Authors: Tobar Germain , Pikovski Igor , Tobar Michael E
Published: January 2025

We propose a multi-mode bar consisting of mass elements of decreasing size for the implementation of a gravitational version of the photo-electric effect through the stimulated absorption of up to kHz gravitons from a binary neutron star merger and post-merger. We find that the multi-mode detector has normal modes that retain the coupling strength to the gravitational wave of the largest mass-element, while only having an effective mass comparable to the mass of the smallest element. This allows the normal modes to have graviton absorption rates due to the tonne-scale largest mass, while the single graviton absorption process in the normal mode could be resolved through energy measurements of a mass-element in-principle smaller than pico-gram scale. We argue the feasibility of directly counting gravito-phonons in the bar through energy measurements of the end mass. This improves the transduction of the single-graviton signal, enhancing the feasibility of detecting single gravitons.
What about the workers? An update
Authors: Wakeford Richard
Published: January 2025

Epidemiological studies of nuclear industry workers are of substantial importance to understanding the risk of cancer consequent to low-level exposure to radiation, and these studies should provide vital evidence for the construction of the international system of radiological protection. Recent studies involve large numbers of workers and include health outcomes for workers who accumulated moderate (and even high) doses over prolonged periods while employed during the earlier years of the nuclear industry. The interpretation of the findings of these recent studies has proved to be disappointingly difficult. There are puzzling patterns of results involving the period of first employment and monitoring for radionuclide intakes, depending on the particular study examined. Explaining these patterns is crucial for a reliable understanding of results in terms of occupational radiation exposure. In this paper, an updated review of nuclear worker studies is presented in the context of these patterns of results, making use of the latest relevant results. It is apparent that the strikingly raised risks for mortality from solid cancers for workers hired in later years reported from the International Nuclear Workers Study (INWORKS) is effectively confined to workers at five nuclear facilities in the USA, and that the notable variation of risks in INWORKS between workers monitored or not for radionuclide intakes is driven by UK workers. These are the areas where effort must be concentrated before a confident derivation of radiation risk estimates can be obtained from these nuclear worker studies.
SIMP dark matter during reheating
Authors: Chowdhury Debtosh , Show Sudipta
Published: January 2025

Strongly interacting massive particle (SIMP) has become one of the promising dark matter (DM) candidates due to its capability of addressing the small-scale anomaly, where the final DM abundance is set via the freeze-out of 3→ 2 or 4→ 2 annihilation process involving solely the dark sector particles. In this work, we explore the freeze-out of SIMP DM during the inflationary reheating epoch. During reheating, the radiation energy density evolves differently based on the shape of inflaton potential and spin of its decay products than the standard radiation-dominated picture; as a result, in this scenario, the freeze-out temperature varies distinctly with DM mass compared to the standard case. Large entropy injection due to inflaton decay demands a smaller cross-section to satisfy the observed relic than the standard radiation-dominated freeze-out case. The required cross-section, satisfying the relic density constraint and the maximum allowed thermally averaged cross-section by the unitarity of the S-matrix, set an upper limit on the DM mass. The upper bound on the mass of the dark matter for 3→2 (4→2) is 1 GeV (7 MeV), assuming a radiation-dominated background. Interstingly, these limits get relaxed to 106 (104) GeV for 3→2 (4→2) SIMP dark matter for quadratic inflaton potential. We find that a small amount of DM parameter space survives for reheating with quadratic inflaton potential after considering the lower bound of reheating temperature, put by the latest CMB observation depending on the inflationary models. In the case of the quartic inflaton potential, the allowed DM parameter space gets reduced compared to the quadratic case.
Positivity bounds on parity-violating scalar-tensor EFTs
Authors: Xu Hao , Hong Dong-Yu , Wang Zhuo-Hui , Zhou Shuang-Yong
Published: January 2025

Using dispersion relations of the scattering amplitudes and semi-definite programming, we
calculate causality bounds on the Wilson coefficients in scalar-tensor effective field theories
that include parity-violating operators. Particular attention has been paid to the
dynamical-Chern-Simons (dCS) and scalar-Gauss-Bonnet (sGB) couplings, along with higher order
coefficients, and the interplay between them. For the leading terms, the bounds on the
parity-conserving and -violating coefficients are simply projections of the complex
coefficients. Some parity-violating coefficients are found to be upper bounded by the
parity-conserving counterparts, or the higher order parity-conserving coefficients. While the
observational constraints on parity-violating coefficients are weaker than the parity-conserving
counterparts, the causality bounds are of comparable strength and thus may play a more prominent
role in constraining strong gravity effects in upcoming observations.
Induced gravitational waves, metastable cosmic strings and primordial black holes in GUTs
Authors: Maji Rinku , Moursy Ahmad , Shafi Qaisar
Published: January 2025

We explore the cosmological and astrophysical implications of a realistic hybrid inflation model based on flipped SU(5). The model contains superheavy metastable cosmic strings arising from a waterfall field that encounters a limited number of e-foldings during the inflationary phase. In addition to the gravitational waves emitted by the metastable strings, there also appear scalar induced gravitational waves linked to the waterfall phase transition. These two independent sources of gravitational waves can yield a combined spectrum that is compatible with the recent PTA measurements, and with additional features that can be probed in future experiments. We also show the appearance of primordial black holes with mass on the order of 1029 g from the waterfall phase transition, and with an abundance that can be tested in the gravitational lensing experiments.
How simply one can considerably improve performance of the Gas Stripper at the GSI UNILAC
Authors: Varentsov Victor
Published: January 2025

In this report, we propose a simple way how considerably
improve the performance of the gas stripper setup at the GSI
Universal Linear Accelerator (UNILAC) in Germany. In our proposed
approach, we replace inside the main GSI stripper chamber the
current nozzle and the short windowless storage gas cell (for the
pulsed gas jet operation mode) with a simple conical diverging
nozzle combined with a gas catcher tube placed on the gas jet axis
at some distance downstream from the nozzle exit. As a result, the
background pressure in the main and differentially pumped adjacent
vacuum chambers of the gas stripper at the GSI UNILAC dramatically
reduces, making it possible to achieve the required optimal
thickness of the gas targets. The pulsed gas stripper operation is
realized by implementing a commercially available fast gas valve
connected to the nozzle entrance. Moreover, the ion beam pulse
repetition rate can be increased, allowing for a considerably higher
average intensity of the ion beams extracted from the GSI UNILAC. We
explored the performance of the proposed GSI UNILAC gas stripper
modification by means of detailed computer experiments, which
provide a realistic description of supersonic gas jets flowing out
of the nozzle into the vacuum. The results of these computer
experiments have presented and discussed.
Sustainable and equitable development through SEZ in Indonesia
Authors: Affandi R A , Suwarno  , Purnama I F , Noor M M M , Permana A , Kembaren E E
Published: January 2025

This article examines Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and their impact on regional economic growth in Indonesia. This study contributed to finding the most effective development strategies based on policies and governance for sustainable and equitable development. We argued that further research is necessary to evaluate regional development in Indonesia toward implementing SEZs in terms of the economic and sociopolitical environment. Indonesian SEZs lack a systematic approach to stakeholder management and economic distribution. Therefore, this study emphasized the importance of Indonesian SEZs in fiscal capacity, regional income distribution, and economic growth, which aligned with Sustainable Development Goal Number 8. SEZ development requires careful planning, stakeholder management, and strategic implementation to ensure benefits in all SEZ domains. This study used qualitative methods with data from reputable preview studies, articles, journals, books, and news.
Circular economy and sustainable manufacturing: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Purwanto E , Iskandar Y , Mala C M F , Dewi C S , Windarko
Published: January 2025

This study conducts a detailed bibliometric analysis of the research landscape on circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. Using data from the Scopus database, 9,946 publications on “Circular Economy” and 212 publications on both “Circular Economy” and “Sustainable Manufacturing” were identified. The analysis with VOSviewer spanned publication trends from 2006 to July 2024. Key platforms for publication included Sustainability Switzerland, known for its multidisciplinary approach to sustainability challenges, and Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering and Procedia CIRP, which were prominent for their contributions to sustainable manufacturing and engineering innovations. These platforms played a pivotal role in disseminating cutting-edge research at the intersection of sustainability and engineering. The study highlighted top-cited works and leading contributors, mainly from India, Italy, and the United Kingdom. A co-occurrence analysis of author keywords identified seven thematic clusters: Sustainable Manufacturing Practices, Sustainable Economic and Environmental Practices, Green and Efficient Manufacturing Processes, Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Decision-Making, Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development, Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies, and Closed-Loop Manufacturing and Product Design. These findings offered critical insights into emerging research trends and served as a foundational reference for future research and policy-making aimed at promoting sustainability in manufacturing.
Evaluation of stunting handling policies through local economic empowerment programs
Authors: Firmadi S , Syahdani M A
Published: January 2025

This research aimed to evaluate policies for handling stunting through local economic empowerment programs. Tasikmalaya City was identified as the poorest area in West Java Province, according to 2021 Central Statistics Agency data. One of the impacts of poverty was that it caused relatively high cases of stunting due to unmet nutritional needs. Community economic empowerment could increase income so people could meet their families’ nutritional needs to prevent stunting. This research briefly explained whether the local economic empowerment program could increase community income to address stunting. This research used a qualitative research method, with data obtained through interviews and literature reviews from sources such as journals, articles, news, and reports from government institutions. Respondents in this research were selected through a purposive sampling method, specifically individuals who were directly involved in the empowerment program. The research results showed that the stunting handling policy through the local economic empowerment program could increase community income from 50 thousand rupiahs per day to 2 million rupiahs per month but had not been able to address stunting in Tasikmalaya City. There had been an increase in the stunting rate to 11.78% in 2024 compared to 2023, which was only 10.75%. Several obstacles included rising prices of necessities and other living costs, meaning the difference in money that people received from increased income was not directly spent on food to meet nutritional intake. Furthermore, the program was not evenly distributed through economic empowerment, and finally, the implementation of local economic empowerment programs was not on target because they had not been executed in areas with the highest number of stunting cases.
Analysis of human resource management in building a sustainable competitive advantage of the herbal medicine industry
Authors: Kuswinarno M , Afifah Z , Listiana Y
Published: January 2025

Jamu is a traditional herbal drink from Indonesia, and Madura is known for its high-quality herbal products. Madura’s herbal products are recognized for their effectiveness both regionally and internationally. One of Madura’s most significant obstacles to developing the herbal industry is the lack of Government role in training and assisting herbal industry actors and resources. Therefore, the research objective of this study was to analyze the management of human resources in building the competitive advantage of the Madurese herbal industry, especially in the Pamekasan area, which was the most extensive herbal medicine-producing area. This research used a systematic literature review to identify, study, evaluate, and interpret a phenomenon. The process for this research was based on five steps: selecting, reviewing, and quality assessment of the reviewed literature. The results showed that the management of human resources in the Madurese herbal industry has begun to form through associations, and there were developments in the innovation of herbal products. Furthermore, several strategies can be applied to create a competitive advantage, including increasing promotion and market share, human resources through training and mentoring, legality and licensing, packaging and product innovation, technology use, and expanding cooperation partners.
Ross and the Foundations of Morality
Authors: Cullity Garrett
Published: January 2025

Rossian pluralism can be defined as the conjunction of two claims: there is more than one derivationally foundational right-maker, and there is no further principle governing the contributions they make to determining the overall rightness of an act. So understood, Ross’s own moral theory is only one possible version of Rossian pluralism. Six distinctive features of his version are its self-containment, its subsumptive picture of how the surface content of morality derives from its foundations, its hybrid view of the relation between the right and the good, the kinds of consideration it treats as foundational, its balancing view of how competing moral considerations interact, and its treatment of those considerations as being captured by exceptionless contributory moral principles. Examining these features, I point out some of the problems they invite, and explore some of the further possibilities that are open to a Rossian pluralist in dealing with those problems.
Alcohol consumption trajectories and associated factors in adult women: the Norwegian Women and Cancer study
Authors: Llaha Fjorida , Licaj Idlir , Sharashova Ekaterina , Benjaminsen Borch Kristin , Lukic Marko
Published: January 2025

Aims

We described the age-specific trajectories of total alcohol consumption and the consumption of different types of beverages among adult Norwegian women as they age, and how these relate to education, lifestyle, and health-related factors.

Methods

This study included 76 382 women aged 31–70 years who participated in at least two of the three Norwegian Women and Cancer (NOWAC) study surveys conducted in 1991–97, 1998–2003, and 2004–11. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify the trajectories of self-reported alcohol consumption. Multinomial regression models were used to fit the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of the associations between education, lifestyle, health-related factors, and the trajectory membership. Analysis was stratified into two subcohorts: women aged 31–49 years and women aged 50–70 years at enrolment.

Results

Five different trajectories of total alcohol consumption were identified among the two subcohorts: non-drinker stable (12.5%–23.6%), low stable (66.3%–60.1%), light increasing or light unstable (17.8%–12.1%), moderate to high or light to high (2.8%–2.7%), and high to moderate or moderate decreasing (.6%–1.4%). Trajectories were resembled by those of wine consumption. Compared to low stable drinkers, women who sustained or increased their total alcohol consumption showed higher ORs for higher education level, excellent self-rated health, former or current smoking status, and a body mass index (BMI) below 25 kg/m2.

Conclusion

While most women in this study maintained stable low-light levels of alcohol consumption, certain groups—such as women with higher education and better health—were more likely to increase their drinking with age. Women can particularly increase their drinking around the retirement age. The increasing trends of total alcohol consumption were reflected by those of wine. These findings provide information into groups and beverages that could be targeted in alcohol-reducing interventions.