bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transhumance in Southern Italy (Fifteenth-Sixteenth Centuries): The Mobility Perspective
Authors:   University of Crete, Rethymnon, SAKELLARIOU ELENI
Published: October 2024

This paper is an overview of sheep transhumance in southern Italy from the Aragonese reform of the 1440s to the eve of a second wave of reforms in the 1540s and 1550s. The analysis focuses on the concept of mobility, which proves to be a significant indicator of increasing interdependence between the factors involved in this complex economic activity (agriculturists, pastoralists, the state, the merchants, the market and local communities), leading to change in settlement patters, production arrangements, merchant networks, social identities, economic and political thought. The role of the state institution of the sheep custom house in coordinating the seasonal movement of sheep, graziers, officials and merchants, and in negotiating the multiple, overlapping claims of landlords, towns, the state itself and pastoralists on the same lands was pivotal in the long-term survival of this economic sector.
The Morlachs of Dalmatia: A Glimpse on Damages Caused by Morlach Shepherds in Rural Dalmatia during the 15th and 16th Centuries
Authors:   “Nicolae Iorga” Institute of History, Bucharest, CACIUR-ANDREESCU DANA
Published: October 2024

The Morlachs of Dalmatia, as referred to in Venetian documents from the 15th-century onwards, were a heterogeneous and extremely mobile population of Vlach origin. Even if they were to be found also as merchants, soldiers, thieves, criminals, immigrants, etc., the principal occupation of the late medieval Dalmatian Morlachs remained the traditional sheep breeding. When analysing this latter aspect of Morlach life, we have to keep in mind that the lifestyle of the Morlach shepherds from Dalmatia was strongly connected with that of other Vlachs communities from the Balkans. Together with this, the Morlachs` commercial practices and the ubiquitous presence of Morlach sheep flocks in the agricultural space of the Dalmatian hinterlands in the 15th and 16th-century, contributes equally to the larger topic of the life in border areas. Against this background, this paper exams the crop damages caused by the Morlach shepherds in Dalmatia`s fields and vineyards. These damages reveal information about the legal status of Morlach shepherds in Dalmatian communes, about privileges, concessions, agreements, rental contracts, and also about diplomatic negotiations. Moreover, representative examples of crop damages will be used to study the relation and (partially) cross-cultural interaction of Morlachs shepherds with the great regional powers, particularly Venice’s reaction to the disruptive Morlachs and its consequences at the diplomatic level with the authorities of the Ottoman Empire.
The Vlachs in Ottoman Borderlands: The Sanjak of Klis in the Middle of the 16th Century
Authors:   Faculty of History, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, SAJKOWSKI WOJCIECH
Published: October 2024

The paper proposes the study of the Vlach population of the Ottoman Dalmatian hinterland in the middle of the 16th century, as described in the tax register (defter) of the sanjak of Klis from 1550, a document that allows for a better understanding of the social and economic history of southwestern Bosnia and the Herzegovina and parts of Lika, Krbava and Dalmatia, which all formed this administrational unit since 1537. The analysis outlined in the case study includes the problem of cross-border migrations, the specificity of transhumant economy, and the functioning of the “Vlach law” as well as the general status of the Vlach community in the Ottoman Empire, which can be also traced thanks to the abovementioned register. This document testifies that Vlachs were used to populate borderland areas, as it mentions that they settled in some deserted territories. Their migrations, which were sometimes caused by the colonization initiated by the authorities of the states (Venice, Habsburg Monarchy and Ottoman Empire) were partially facilitated by the internal social connections that characterized the Vlach community. The register clearly indicates that transhumance pastoralism practiced since the Early Middle Ages remained the main activity of the Vlachs in 16th century. Some of them also cultivated the land, although agriculture never became their main economic activity.
“And They Joined Him in Elphegor”: on the Relationship Between the Romanian Translation of the Palaea Historica and Its Slavonic Model
Authors:   Institute for South-East European Studies, Bucharest, HÂNCU MIHAIL-GEORGE
Published: October 2024

The Palaea Historica, a Byzantine apocryphal text from the 9th century, was translated into Romanian between the late 16th century and the early 17th century via a Slavonic intermediary. Although the Romanian text was edited and published in full in 2001, recent developments in the academic discussion around the Slavonic version of the Palaea Historica have led to the publication of an edition of the second Slavonic translation in the year 2016, thereby raising the question of whether the Romanian text was solely influenced by the first redaction or not. This study is a continuation of the author’s previous research on the Romanian version’s relationship with the two Slavonic redactions, with more focus being given to grammatical peculiarities and loci obscuri that were highlighted by the editors of the Romanian manuscripts as having been stemmed from the Slavonic text’s influence. These passages are analyzed in comparison with the two Slavonic translations and the Greek original, allowing for a better perspective on how dependent the Romanian grammatical constructions were on their Slavonic model. Finally, this study refers to an onomastic confusion between Abraham’s brother and Abraham’s father, which is avoided or possibly Romanian version.
From a Contested Metropolitan to a Saintly Protector: Shaping Metropolitan Kiprian’s Image in 15th–16th Century Muscovy
Authors:   Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, NIȚESCU IULIA
Published: October 2024

This article discusses the shifting perception of Metropolitan Kiprian’s image in Muscovy. My analysis focuses on three aspects: Kiprian as a “pro-Lithuanian” actor and the complicated succession of Metropolitan Aleksii in Moscow, Kiprian as a legitimate metropolitan in the accounts and iconographical representations of the 1395 miracle of the icon of the Theotokos of Vladimir, defending Moscow from the Tatar attack, and Kiprian as a rightful member of a legitimate, Moscow-based ecclesiastical succession, after the 1472 discovery of the relics of all metropolitans buried in the Dormition Cathedral. I argue that the initially contested metropolitan became a saintly protector beginning with the second half of the 15th century, due to the emergent Muscovite ideology of power, aiming to illustrate a political and ecclesiastical unity of Rus’ polities under Muscovite rule. In Kiprian’s case, this culminated with his portrait as an ideal (and legitimate) spiritual father in the 16th-century Nikon chronicle, and with some minor attempts to include him among the local saintly protectors of the city.
The Grand Dragoman and the Bibliophile: Thoughts on an Unknown Fragment from the Greek Translation of Memorie Istoriche De’ Monarchi Ottomani
Authors:   Institute for the History of Religions, Bucharest, NEGOIȚĂ OCTAVIAN-ADRIAN
Published: October 2024

A Greek translation of the Memorie istoriche de’ monarchi ottomani authored by the Venetian diplomat Giovanni Sagredo was produced in the eighteenth century by the grand dragoman and future lord of Wallachia Nikolaos Karatzas. The Greek intellectual made his translation not from the original Italian but from the French translation by Jacques Laurent, which was printed in seven volumes in 1724 (Paris) with a second edition in 1732 (Amsterdam). The Greek translation circulated only in manuscript, and it was considered lost. However, a hitherto unknown miscellaneous Phanariot codex from Princeton University Library (Sarakēnika, Princeton University Library, MS Gr. 112) features a brief fragment from the translation. This paper offers a discussion about the fragment and intends to bring it into the scholarly circuit by providing in the appendices a semi-diplomatic edition of the Greek text in parallel with the corresponding passage from the French edition.
Romania and the International Sanitary Conferences of the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries
Authors:   New Europe College / Institute for South-East European Studies, Bucharest, ARDELEANU CONSTANTIN
Published: October 2024

This paper traces Romania’s participation in the International Sanitary Conferences of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Romania’s interest in international sanitary diplomacy was directly linked to the country’s geographical location and the role of the Danube in the spread of epidemics. The cholera outbreak that reached the Lower Danube in 1865 demonstrated that the river, which connected the Levant to Central Europe via steamship companies, was one of the main gateways through which epidemics spread to the continent. With their busy commercial links to other Black Sea ports, Sulina, Galați and Brăila were equally vulnerable to the importation of diseases that reached Ottoman or imperial Russian ports by land, i.e., via Persia or Central Asia. Such serious health concerns became even more important to the Romanian government after the Danube Delta and Dobrudja became part of independent Romania in 1878. The text follows the various interests that Romania had during these decades, defended by diplomats and doctors who worked together to protect public health from various epidemic, political or economic threats.
The 1942/43 British Initiative: Emigration and Transit of Jews from and via Bulgaria
Authors:   Institute for Historical Studies,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, CHUKOVA RUMYANA , VACHKOV DANIEL ,   Institute for Historical Studies,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia
Published: October 2024

The present study’s goal is, on the one hand, to trace how the specific negotiations on the British initiative from the period 1942–1943 aimed at the reception of 4,500 children and the accompanying 500 adults from and through Bulgaria fit into the Bulgarian Government’s general policy on the Jewish Question, at a time when the country was an ally to the Third Reich. On the other hand, another goal of this study is to outline the role of the initiative in the general British policy focused on the settling of Jews in Palestine throughout the years of the Second World War. In addition, it will examine the impact of some other external factors that would affect the implementation of the British proposal concerning the emigration and transit of Jews through Bulgaria.
An Approach for Implementing Electronic Image
Stabilization Using an FPGA System
Authors:   Dept. of DCAE, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, National
University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Bucharest (Romania), ULMĂMEI Andrei-Alexandru , BÎRĂ Călin ,   Dept. of DCAE, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, National
University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Bucharest (Romania)
Published: October 2024

This paper proposes an approach for the implementation of a low-power electronic
(digital) image stabilization using an AMD/Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ ZU7EV device
(CPU+FPGA) with a custom Linux OS. The stabilization method is based on frame-to-frame
motion detection (Harris Corner Detector, an iterative optical flow calculator combined with
a 4:2:1 down-sampler an 1:2:4 up-sampler) and an affine transformation that applies the stabilization.
The scientific contribution of this paper resides in a combination of the most recent
software algorithms presented in literature and porting that new resulting algorithm into hardware
with the achieved performance of more than 2.5x current state of the art, thus enabling
stabilization at 4K-UHD resolution.
Deep Learning-Based Prediction Models for the
Detection of Vitamin D Deficiency and
25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels Using Complete Blood
Count Tests
Authors:   Department of Industrial Engineering, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey, EŞSİZ Uğur Engin , ACI Çiğdem İnan ,   Department of Computer Engineering, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey, SARAÇ Esra ,   Department of Computer Engineering, Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University, Adana, Turkey
Published: October 2024

Vitamin D (VitD) is an essential nutrient that is critical for the well-being of both adults and children, and its deficiency is recognized as a precursor to several diseases. In previous studies, researchers have approached the problem of detecting vitamin D deficiency (VDD) as a single "sufficient/deficient" classification problem using machine learning or statistics-based methods. The main objective of this study is to predict a patient's VitD status (i.e., sufficiency, insufficiency, or deficiency), severity of VDD (i.e., mild, moderate, or severe), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level in a separate deep learning (DL)-based models. An original dataset consisting of complete blood count (CBC) tests from 907 patients, including 25(OH)D concentrations, collected from a public health laboratory was used for this purpose. CNN, RNN, LSTM, GRU and Auto-encoder algorithms were used to develop DL-based models. The top 25 features in the CBC tests were carefully selected by implementing the Extra Trees Classifier and Multi-task LASSO feature selection algorithms. The performance of the models was evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, F1-score, mean absolute error, root mean square error and R-squared. Remarkably, all three models showed satisfactory results when compared to the existing literature; however, the CNN-based prediction models proved to be the most successful.
Statistical Computational Model of Fission Products Composition of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel and Their Contribution to Gas-aerosol Emissions of Nuclear Power Plants
Authors:   Russian Academy of Sciences, Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics,
Kosygina Street 4, Building 1, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation, TRAVIN Sergey , GROMOV Oleg B. ,   A.A. Bochvar High-Technology Research Institute of Inorganic Materials,
Rogova Street 5a, 123098 Moscow, Russian Federation, DUCA Gheorghe ,   Institute of Chemistry, Research Center of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, Str. Academiei 3, 2028 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Published: October 2024

Based on the assumption that the radionuclide composition of gas-aerosol emissions from nuclear power plants (NPPs) into the environment is determined by the composition of the fuel in the reactor (but not identical to it), an analysis of the probability of the occurrence of various isotopes in possible emissions is conducted in this paper. It is confirmed that the activity of nuclear fuel, and consequently the emissions, are determined by uranium fission fragments, proving that the decay rate of radionuclides is proportional to the probability of the appearance of radionuclides with certain mass numbers. It is also shown that there is no functional relationship between the mass yield of radionuclides and their atomic mass, as the variability (fluctuations) in the content of radionuclides in VVER-440 reactor fuel and consequently in NPP emissions reaches 20 orders of magnitude, which prevents the application of computational methods for processing the results. This paper proves that, in order to determine the yield of radionuclides from their observable activity, applying a Zipf-Mandelbrot type distribution in “rank - size” coordinates, it is possible to carry out the mathematical modeling based on the appropriate processing of the obtained results.
Near-optimal March Tests for Three-Cell and Four-Cell Coupling Fault Models in Random-Access Memories
Authors:   Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași, Bulevardul Profesor Dimitrie Mangeron 65, Iași 70025, Romania, CAȘCAVAL Petru , CAȘCAVAL Doina ,   Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași, Bulevardul Profesor Dimitrie Mangeron 65, Iași 70025, Romania
Published: October 2024

This research work addresses the problem of testing n×1 RAMs in which complex models of unlinked static three or four-cell coupling faults are considered. As in other works, it is assumed that only physically neighboring memory cells could be involved in a three or four-cell coupling fault. For this reason, these fault models can also be considered to be of the neighborhood pattern sensitive type. As extensions of the well-known model of all unlinked static two-cell coupling faults, the fault models we address are complex including faults sensitized by a transition write operation as well as faults sensitized by a non-transition write or a read operation. For these complex models, near-optimal multirun march tests are proposed. This optimality assessment is based on the fact that, for any group of cells corresponding to the considered fault model, the state graph is completely covered, and each arc is traversed only once, which means that the graph is of the Eulerian type. Additional write operations are only required for data background changes.
Stable Levitation of Single-point Levitation Systems
for Maglev Trains by Improved Cascade Control
Authors:   School of Electrical and Control Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan, 030051, China, WEN Jie , WANG Fangling ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Published: October 2024

The stable levitation of single-point levitation systems for electromagnetic
suspension (EMS) maglev trains, which belongs to the control task of nonlinear and unstable systems, is investigated in this paper. Considering the simplicity and convenience of the
control application, we dedicate ourselves to combining and applying common control methods to achieve the stable levitation rather than designing complex controls or using advanced
control methods. For this goal, the single-point levitation system is divided into an electromagnetic system and a motion system first. On this basis, we design the Lyapunov controller
and sliding mode controller as Controller I, while another Lyapunov controller and the standard Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller are designed as Controller II, which are
used to control the electromagnetic system and motion system respectively and constitute the
improved cascade control to achieve the stable levitation. Furthermore, the switching controller consisting of the standard PID controller and the designed Lyapunov controller is used
as Controller II for the improvement of both stability and robustness.
Design and Implementation of an Automated Instrument for Battery Charging Experiments
Authors:   National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, MILEA Petru-Lucian , ȚIPLEA Grigore ,   National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest
Published: October 2024

Accurate and long-term measurements are essential in battery charging research and development, to evaluate and compare different techniques and their effectiveness. In such approaches, a very good control of certain charging parameters is also necessary, during several hours or even days. Thus, it became necessary to obtain an automatic instrument that could ensure the precision and repeatability of the experiments, but also the flexibility regarding the type and size of the b attery. This article presents the design, implementation and preliminary experimentation of an instrument for automation and monitoring of battery charge-discharge cycles. The tool adds exponential current pulses to the battery charging process, especially in the constant current phase. Such pulses are rarely addressed in the literature, although some studies suggest that they have the potential to improve batteries performance.
Our Contribution to Open Access Week 2024
Authors: Pampel Heinz
Published: October 2024

This week marks the fifteenth annual International Open Access Week. Since 2010, the week has provided a platform to discuss the state and challenges of open access to scientific knowledge. While the early years focused on access to scientific articles (“Open Access Week” 2024), this year’s activities increasingly address other aspects of Open Science.
General damages awarded for emotional distress resulting from miscarriage of justice and false imprisonment
Authors: Stefanović Nenad , Milojević Goran
Published: October 2024

Compensation for non-economic damages, the debate over its justification, and the adequacy of compensation awarded for harm to non-economic goods have been contentious issues among domestic legal theorists for decades. The provisions of the 1978 Law on Obligations resolved this debate by introducing the right to monetary compensation for non-economic damages in explicitly enumerated cases. The aim of the authors is to use appropriate scientific methods to demonstrate how failures by state authorities, specifically the police and judicial bodies, can cause non-economic damage to individuals through miscarriages of justice and false imprisonment. Freedom is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by the Constitution, laws, and ratified international documents. This raises the question of how, and to what extent, a wrongful conviction or unlawful deprivation of liberty violates this fundamental right, and what legal remedies are available to the victim. The focus of the paper will be on the legislation of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the views and interpretations in legal theory and in practice regarding the victim's claim for monetary compensation for harm to non-economic goods, such as reputation and honor.
Privacy under threat: The intersection of IoT and mass surveillance
Authors: Domazet Siniša , Marković Darko , Skakavac Tatjana
Published: October 2024

The rapid development of information and communication technologies, blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the Internet of Things (IoT) devices has brought numerous advantages to modern society. Alongside increased comfort of life and efficiency in all areas of human activity, the automation enabled by interconnected networks also poses a challenge to citizens' right to privacy. The goal of this research is to identify weaknesses in this use of modern technologies, specifically in how they negatively impact the citizens' right to privacy, by analyzing the relationship between mass surveillance practices and IoT devices. The research established that the implementation of mass surveillance measures using IoT technology can lead to violations of ethical standards, security protocols, and the right to privacy. It has been shown that there are issues with applying existing regulations to IoT and mass surveillance and that no universal legal framework currently exists to protect the right to privacy. The use of IoT technology, especially given the rapid development of artificial intelligence, will in the future raise numerous dilemmas regarding the entities responsible for collecting personal data, the consents required for data usage and processing, where the collected personal data will be used, and for what purposes. Therefore, it is necessary to adapt privacy laws to modern technological advancements such as IoT and AI. This study utilized methods of induction, deduction, and content analysis.
Legal position of the European Central Bank in contemporary social discourse
Authors: Dimitrijević Marko
Published: October 2024

This paper analyzes the legal position of the European Central Bank (ECB) within the context of contemporary social conditions, focusing on the ECB's tendency to expand its competencies and the judicial evaluation of the current monetary legislation in the practice of the European Court of Justice (ECJ). In this sense, the paper analytically examines the concept and characteristics of monetary disputes, while exploring the ECB's contribution to democratic monetary governance through respect for the rule of law. The author pays special attention to the ECB's role in protecting human rights, specifically considering the trend towards a so-called "humane approach" to monetary management, which has significant consequences for the preservation of monetary stability as a public good. Using the dogmatic, comparative, and axiological methods, the author aims to highlight the main dilemmas in this area from the perspective of de lege lata and possibly offer certain guidelines for de lege ferenda.
The Impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Reporting on Corporate Financial Performance
Authors: Jamaluddin Jamaluddin , Adriana Nana , Faisal Faisal , Nahar Aida , Siregar Nurganda
Published: October 2024

This research explores the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports on company financial performance. ESG has become an important indicator in assessing the desirability and social responsibility of companies in various industrial sectors. Although many companies are starting to adopt ESG reporting standards, there are still concerns regarding their impact on financial performance. This research aims to establish a relationship between ESG reports and company financial performance through analysis of quantitative data taken from public companies over a certain time period. The financial performance indicators explained include return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and share prices. ESG data is obtained from company annual reports and internationally recognized ESG databases.
İTİBAR YÖNETİMİ (Kurumsal İtibar Bağlamında Bir Araştırma)
Authors: ALTİNCİK Hasan
Published: October 2024

Kitabın ilk bölümünde itibar yönetimi ve itibarın unsurlarına değinilmiştir. İtibarın değerinin yanı sıra itibarı kaybettiren nedenler ifade edilmiş, ardından itibarı oluşturan unsurlardan olan kimlik, imaj, kültür ve marka kavramlarına odaklanılmıştır. İkinci bölümde kurum ve kurumsal itibar yönetimi konuları açıklanmaya çalışılmıştır. Kurumsal itibarı oluşturan; sosyal paydaşlar, kurumsal iletişim, sosyal sorumluluk, sponsorluk ve lider-CEO başlıkları incelenmiştir. Ayrıca kurumsal itibar yönetimi ile ilgili yapılması gerekenler üzerinde durulmuş ve itibarı korumakla görevli olan yapılar hakkında bilgi verilmiştir. Kitabın son bölümde ise saha anket çalışması kapsamında elde edilen veriler yorumlanmıştır.
Народният сговор
Authors: Георгиев Величко
Published: October 2024

И все пак много извори за историята на Народния сговор са останали неизползувани в досегашните публикации, недостатъчно внимание е отделено на неговата предистория, на политшю-организационните и идейните му корени, на връзките и взаиl\юотношенията на Народния сговор с други политически формации, на идейно-политическата му дейност, на формирането и развитието на неговата платформа и пр. Като си служи с повече изворов материал и в един по-широ1с план, авторът на предлаганата работа прави опит да отговори и на посочените по-горе въпроси и по този начин да даде по-пълна представа за историята на Народния сговор, без претенции да бъде изчерпателен във всичко. Това, от една страна, и някои различия по същество и в нюанси от съществуващи засега в научно обръщение преценки, изводи и за- 1шючения във връзка с Народния сговор, от друга, оправдават публикуването и на това изследване.
Проучвания върху гръцките извори за древна Тракия
Authors: Фол Алекандър
Published: October 2024

Най-общо се знае, че Теопомп е автор с висока стойност за изследванията върху историята на Тракия и на траките през IV в. пр. н. е. Тази оценка принадлежи на Хр. Данов. Запазените фрагменти от Теопомп обаче не са проучвани - значението на някои от тях е отбелязано мимоходом, а шест са изцяло или частично преведени. В чуждестранната литература Теопомповите фрагменти за Тракия и за траките също не са обстойно анализирани. Те са накратко коментирани в текст-критичното издание на Ф. Якоби, който възстановява интегралния текст на всичко запазено от Теопомп.
Strategic Procurement Practices and Performance of Export Processing Zone Firms in Machakos County, Kenya.
Authors: Mutunga Sandy Mbesa , Namusonge Eric
Published: October 2024

Export Processing Zones (EPZs) were established in Kenya to boost industrialization, attract foreign investment, and drive economic growth. However, despite significant government efforts, the performance of EPZ firms has been below expectations. This study investigates whether strategic procurement practices could improve the performance of EPZ firms in Machakos County, Kenya. Strategic procurement, which aligns procurement with organizational goals and emphasizes long-term value creation, was the focus. The study specifically explored the impact of strategic sourcing, strategic partnerships, strategic inventory management, and strategic contract management on the performance of EPZ firms in Machakos County. Using a descriptive research design, all 99 EPZ firms in Machakos County were surveyed through a census approach. Data was collected via structured questionnaires, with a pilot study conducted to ensure content validity and clarity. Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed, with results presented in tables and charts. The findings showed that the four strategic procurement practices adopted improved the performance of export processing zone (EPZ) firms in Machakos County. Strategic sourcing for instance significantly improved the operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness of EPZ firms. Firms that developed strategic partnerships with suppliers experienced enhanced product quality and supply chain reliability. Effective inventory management practices led to reduced waste and better resource allocation, positively impacting overall performance. Proper contract management was associated with improved compliance and reduced legal disputes, contributing to better performance metrics. The study concluded that adopting strategic procurement practices substantially enhances the performance of EPZ firms in Machakos County. By aligning procurement strategies with organizational goals and focusing on long-term value, firms can achieve greater efficiency, reliability, and cost savings. Policymakers should promote the adoption of strategic procurement practices within EPZs to boost economic performance.
Antimicrobial and Anti-quorum Sensing Activity of Geranium sp.
Authors: Üreyen Esertaş Ülkü Zeynep , Ekşi Saliha
Published: October 2024

Aim: Antibiotic resistance, which has increased rapidly in recent years, is one of the leading public health threats. Alternative methods are being investigated for effective antibiotics in the fight against resistance. Geranium species are widely used for constipation, digestive disorders, and diabetes. It is also known that the plant is used in various public health applications. In line with this information, it was aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing properties of the Geranium sp. Material and Methods: In this study it was aimed to prepare methanol, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and hexane extracts of Geranium sp. flower parts belonging to Rize province and investigate their antimicrobial activities by agar well diffusion method against various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and two fungal species. Anti-quorum sensing activity was determined using Chromobacterium violaceum strain. Results: Methanol extract of Geranium sp. showed antimicrobial activity against seven species whereas extraction with ethyl acetate showed antimicrobial activity against eight species. The ethanol extracted samples have the lowest antimicrobial activity so that only six species were affected. Additionally, methanol extract of Geranium sp. had violacein inhibition activity. Conclusions: As a result, it was determined that the plant, especially its methanol extract, has antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing properties.
Caste Aside? Names, Networks and Justice in the Courts of Bihar, India
Authors: Sandeep Bhupatiraju , Daniel L. Chen , Joshi Shareen , Peter Neis
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the impact of social identity on judicial processes and outcomes at the Patna High Court over a decade (2009 to 2019). We employ machine learning algorithms to infer caste status from surnames (names) in court records. We note that a majority of court participants have ‘caste-neutral’ names. Though we find no evidence of name-based ‘matching’ between litigants and judges, caste-neutral petitioners are 3.3% more likely to choose a caste-neutral advocate. Matching, whether intentional or coincidental, yields notable consequences. Litigants with caste-neutral names who matched with similar judges face a higher likelihood of case dismissal and lower success rates in overturning appeals. However, advocates with caste-neutral names experience less disadvantage in these scenarios. Notably, the adoption of caste-neutral names, while offering some protection, does not fully mitigate the vulnerabilities faced by citizens within India's judicial institutions.
The influence of tannin on the improvement of adhesive properties of urea-formaldehyde resin
Authors: Tamara Tešić  , Rančić Milica , Bogdanović Danica Bajuk , Ivana Gavrilović Grmuša
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to examine the properties of urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive with the addition of tannin, to determine whether it is possible to obtain so-called, bio-adhesives for wood with better mechanical properties compared to commercial UF. Tannin-based UF resins, with four different concentrations of tannin (5, 10, 15, and 20%), were prepared, and adhesive properties were tested and compared with properties of pure UF. Testing of tensile shear strength showed that the addition of tannin in UF adhesive formulation significantly increases its performance compared to pure UF adhesive. It was found that tensile shear strength increased with increasing concentration of tannin, while UF-tannin adhesives with tannin concentrations of 15% and 20% showed higher tensile shear strength than the corresponding pure UF adhesive. Therefore, it can be concluded that tannin-based UF adhesive can be a good candidate for application as an environmentally-friendly wood adhesive due to improvement in terms of adhesive and mechanical properties.
Identification of optically active vibrational modes of columbite AB2O6 using the correlation method
Authors: Gaur Rachna , Jindal Ruby , Tripathi Archana
Published: October 2024

In the modern era, the examination of molecular structure heavily relies on the application of infrared and Raman spectra within crystalline structures. These methodologies are essential in understanding the arrangement of atoms within molecules and the internal forces governing them. An essential aspect of this analysis involves identifying vibrational modes that can be detected optically. The correlation method is employed to establish rules for selecting these vibrational modes, both in crystals and molecules, through a systematic calculation process that aids in predicting their activity in Infrared (IR) and Raman spectra. The correlation method utilizes group theory to determine which vibrational modes are spectroscopically active in crystals. In our research, our aim is to employ this method to identify the irreducible representations and determine the IR and Raman active vibrational modes of orthorhombic AB2O6 compounds within the Pbcn space group. By conducting comprehensive group theory calculations, our objective is to elucidate the spectroscopic properties using the correlation method.
Synthesis and scalable process for fabrication of Perovskite Solar Cells using organic and inorganic hole transport materials
Authors: Srivastava Monika , Muhd Zu Azhan Yahya  , Ikhwan Sayafiq Mohd. Noor  , Singh R.C.
Published: October 2024

The Organic Inorganic Lead Iodide perovskite material has emerged as a pioneer in being an active material for third-generation solar cells. Apart from the synthesis, the scalable mechanism which is being used for the deposition process, greatly influences the performance of the cell owing to its impact on the morphology, uniform thickness, and interface between two functional layers. This study briefly discusses the various deposition processes involved in assembling the layers of perovskite solar cells (PSC). Hole transport materials (HTM) are a crucial part of the PSC providing efficient transport of the charge carriers. However, the effect of organic and inorganic HTMs is highly pronounced in the PSCs.  This study also discusses the effect of organic and inorganic HTM on the stability and efficiency of the sandwich-structured PSC.
Performance Evaluation of a Mechanically-aided Cocoon Deflosser
Authors: Macadaeg Fatima
Published: October 2024

Sericulture products such as woven linen and novelty items were already sold at the market at premium-priced commodities.  However, it was not given emphasis and sustainable support.  One of the problems identified is the availability of cocoon silk production machinery and equipment.  Humans can defloss 2 to 3 kg or 900 to 1,600 pieces of cocoon in an hour.  Therefore, cocoon delfossing is a tiresome laborious job.  This contributes to the market's poor production of silk and novelty items.  Hence, a cocoon deflossing machine with a higher deflossing capacity than a manual is needed.  To address this concern, a mechanically aided cocoon deflossing machine was designed, fabricated, and evaluated.  Performance evaluation of the machine shows that it lessens deflossing cost from USD 0.53 /kg manual deflossing to USD 0.47/kg.  It has a capacity of 4.80 kg/hr and 2,374 pieces of cocoons per hour.
Effectiveness of Goreisan Herbal Medicine in Preventing Recurrence After Chronic Subdural Hematoma Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Toshiyoshi Maeda , Ma Jingchao , Zhao Ye
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common condition among older adults that frequently necessitates surgical intervention. Despite advancements in surgical techniques, recurrence remains a significant concern. Goreisan, a traditional herbal medicine, has been proposed as a potential treatment to reduce the recurrence rate of CSDH. Methods: On August 1, 2024, a systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data, and Ichushi databases to identify studies evaluating the effect of Goreisan on CSDH recurrence. Data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective studies were extracted and pooled using a random-effects model. Results: A total of ten studies involving 8,073 patients were analyzed, with 4,699 patients receiving treatment with Goreisan. The pooled analysis of RCTs showed an odds ratios (OR) of 0.55 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30 to 1.02, p = 0.06; I2 = 20%), suggesting a trend toward reducing recurrence. Retrospective studies revealed an OR of 0.67 (95% CI: 0.44 to 1.01, p = 0.05; I2 = 46%). The overall analysis of all included studies for CSDH recurrence reduction showed an OR of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.46 to 0.88, p = 0.006; I2 = 35%), indicating a statistically significant reduction in recurrence. A meta-analysis of three studies reporting adverse events yielded an OR of 4.95 (95% CI: 0.56 to 43.97, p = 0.15; I2 = 0%), with no significant increase in adverse events. Conclusion: Goreisan appears to be a promising adjunctive option for preventing the recurrence of CSDH. Its favorable safety profile supports its consideration in clinical settings.
Financial Inclusion and Financial Education - An Effective Tool for Poverty Reduction (Georgia's example)
Authors: Kasradze Tea
Published: October 2024

Poverty is one of the main challenges of the contemporary world. The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the already slow pace of poverty reduction around the world. Some countries have managed to avoid the further growth of poverty, while others failed to overcome the problem. The troubles caused by the pandemic were also added to those caused by Russia-Ukraine war. If this trend continues, millions of people will still live in poverty in the future. The governments of almost all the countries, including Georgia, are actively taking various steps to reduce poverty, inter alia, largely by strengthening financial inclusion and financial education. Lack of financial inclusion is a challenge for low- and middle-income countries, which leaves millions without access to formal financial services. Another important barrier to overcoming poverty is the lack of financial education, one of the most important life skills for everyone. Without understanding basic financial concepts, it is quite difficult to make correct decision. Differences in financial education may affect wealth, inequality and poverty. The presented paper studies the impact of financial education and inclusion on poverty in Georgia based on the processing and analysis of secondary data, academic works, and reports of various international and local organizations.
Economic Dimension Of Strategic Investments In Health: Friendship Hospitals
Authors: Diğer Hülya
Published: October 2024

While health services were provided for epidemic diseases in the early periods, today they have gained a more comprehensive structure with the developing technology. The common goal in all development processes is to provide an effective health service. In this process, factors such as quality, equipment, number and quality of personnel have become determining factors in effective health service delivery. However, in addition to the existing factors, the level of development of countries also plays an important role in the provision of health services and the expenditures allocated to health services can change the level of development of the service. As a matter of fact, the good level of health services in developed countries depends on the expenditures allocated to health services. However, in some developed countries, the opposite situation may be observed and a low level of health service provision may be realized. In this respect, inter-country agreements and strategic health investments play an important role. Friendship Hospitals, which are built as a result of Turkey's agreements with other countries and can be considered as a strategic investment, can be evaluated in this context. Friendship hospitals built by Turkey in different countries have various consequences for the health system. It is thought that these results will have an impact not only on the health system of the country where the hospital is built, but also on Turkey's health system. The aim of this study is to examine and evaluate friendship hospitals, one of Turkey's strategic investments in the field of healthcare, from various perspectives
Yazılımların Dijital Yollarla İthali ve İthalat Vergileri Bakımından Sonuçları: Türk Gümrük ve Vergi Mevzuatı Kapsamında Bir İnceleme
Authors: Koç Tayfur Süleyman , Yılmaz Güneş
Published: October 2024

Çalışmanın amacı, dijital olarak ithal edilen yazılımların neden olabildiği muhtemel ithalat vergisi kayıplarını, Türkiye’nin gümrük ve vergi mevzuatı ekseninde incelemektir. Çalışma kapsamında üç farklı yaklaşıma göre tespit ve değerlendirmelerde bunulmuştur ve ilk olarak, dijitalleşmiş ürünlerden kaynaklı vergisel kayıplar ele alınmıştır. Ardından, dijital yollarla ithal edilen yazılımların yurtiçinde üretim faaliyetlerinde kullanılması sonucunda, üretimi yapılan eşyalarda ortaya çıkabilen ithalat vergisi kayıpları incelenmiştir. Üretim amaçlı yazılım ithalinde, ithali yasak ya da izne bağlı eşyalar için risk teşkil eden üç boyutlu yazıcılara da ayrıca dikkat çekilmiştir. Son olarak, dijital yollarla yazılım ithali, halihazırda serbest dolaşıma giriş rejimine tabi tutulmuş eşyalar yönünden de irdelenmiş olup, bu eşyalara indirilen ya da bu eşyalar üzerinden aktif edilen yazılımların neden olabildiği ithalat vergisi kayıpları ortaya koyulmuştur. Çalışmanın sonucunda, dijital nitelikli yazılım ithaline bağlı ithalat vergisi kayıplarının ortadan kaldırılması ya da telafi edilmesi kapsamında, mevzuatta yapılabilecek revizyonlara ilişkin görüş ve tavsiyelere de yer verilmiştir.
Evaluating the Impact of Culture and Identity on Sino-Turkish Cooperation in the Belt and Road Framework
Authors: Polat Yunus Can
Published: October 2024

This study examines the material and intellectual factors that make inter-state cooperation possible from a constructivist perspective and aims to assess the impact of identity and culture on Turkey's planned partnership with China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI, which envisions the creation of a new China-centered economic-political structure and value system in the long run, seems to be a manifestation of China's desire to transform the existing order of international relations. The article examines from a constructionist perspective the question marks raised by Turkey's participation in this large-scale project, where Westernized intellectuals are the main constitutive element, and where Turkey has been included in the economic, political and military architecture of the West since the Second World War with the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan and NATO membership.
International SDG-Smartmed Pemeriksaan Tekanan Darah dan Glukosa Darah Gratis di Cipayung Depok
Authors: Nopratilova Nopratilova , Budiastuti Rizky Farmasita , Raju Kaveesha , Dasperi Sazzalina binti , Yuwanda Alhara , Budiatama Anugerah
Published: October 2024

Program pemeriksaan kesehatan di Kelurahan Cipayung, Depok, dilakukan oleh Program Studi Farmasi Universitas Global Jakarta (JGU) bekerja sama dengan Program Studi Farmasi Management & Science University (MSU) Malaysia. Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kesadaran warga terhadap pentingnya skrining kesehatan dan kepatuhan dalam penggunaan obat, sebagai bagian dari dukungan terhadap tujuan The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), khususnya SDG 3 yang menargetkan kesehatan dan kesejahteraan umum. Penyakit tidak menular seperti hipertensi dan diabetes menjadi tantangan serius bagi kesehatan global, dengan posisi tinggi dalam daftar penyakit yang mempengaruhi masyarakat di kota Depok. Dalam program ini, pemeriksaan tekanan darah dan glukosa darah dilakukan secara gratis. Peserta utamanya adalah ibu-ibu pengajian dari Kelurahan Cipayung, dengan rentang usia 30 hingga 70 tahun. Sebanyak 22 peserta berpartisipasi dalam kegiatan ini, yang dilaksanakan oleh 13 tim pelaksana dari kedua universitas. Hasilnya, peserta menunjukkan antusiasme tinggi terhadap skrining kesehatan dan pentingnya kepatuhan dalam penggunaan obat. Program pengabdian masyarakat ini berhasil mencapai tujuannya, mendukung SDGs dengan memastikan kesehatan dan kesejahteraan bagi semua usia.
Influence of Faculty Management Practices on Training of Quality Graduates in the Universities in Kenya
Authors: Kanyiri Ikiara Lucy , Mwongera Mutema Alfred
Published: October 2024

Training of quality graduates depends on how management practices in faculty management among other factors are addressed by each university. The researcher recognizes that there are different management practices applied at different levels in universities with a view to training quality graduates. However, this study focused on management practices applied by universities to support faculty in the training of quality graduates. The study followed the descriptive design in presenting the literature on faculty management practices. The data collection was based on a questionnaire developed to determine the influence of identified faculty management practices on the training of quality graduates in the universities. The participants were 120 university faculty members chosen from different universities in Kenya. Results were statistically analyzed using SPSS. The study established that there are significant differences across universities in adopting faculty managements practices in supporting faculty management practices that promote training and development across the Universities. Universities were noted to lack commitment to conduct regular training to meet the pedagogical needs of the faculty and also provide inadequate opportunities for career growth. Similarly, it was observed that most universities lacked comprehensive motivation and reward systems. This led to diminishing faculty commitment, high staff turnover, and relatively demotivated faculty.