bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social and Moral Distance in Risky Settings
Authors: Koukoumelis Anastasios , Levati Maria Vittoria , Nardi Chiara
Published: July 2023

Many socially desirable actions are subject to risk and occur in situations where the others are not anonymous. Assessing whether lower subject-subject anonymity affects behavior when outcomes are risky is likely important but has not been studied in depth so far. Herein, we provide evidence on this issue. In a series of allocation tasks, all of them variations of the dictator game, we systematically vary the party who is exposed to risk and manipulaterecipient anonymity by reducing the social and/or moral distance between the two parties. We propose a model that extends previous work by allowing not only for ex ante and ex post fairness but also for altruism. The model is consistent with observed behavior. In particular, a reduction in social and moral distance significantly increases the likelihood of equal split and more than equal split choices.
Non-monotonic effect of speed on visual action duration judgments
Authors: Lammers Sebastian , Viswanathan Shivakumar , Vogeley Kai
Published: July 2023

Time is an inseparable and constitutive feature of actions. Despite its integral role, it is poorly understood how observers perceive and process time-based features of observed actions (e.g., its duration) in relation to the action’s dynamics (e.g., its movement speed). It is well-known that a viewed action’s speed can distort the perceived duration of that action, even when speed is task-irrelevant. In two experiments, we evaluated whether speed has a monotonically varying effect on subjective duration judgements, whereby increases in speed lead to increases (or decreases) in duration distortions. Participants compared the durations of two sequentially presented point light displays of human walking figures and judged whether the second stimulus was longer or shorter in duration than the first. We studied the influence of speed differences between both stimuli on the duration judgments. Our results across two experiments showed that both duration judgements and the subjective confidence in those judgments were distorted by action speed. Notably, inter-stimulus speed differences had a robust non-monotonic effect on relative duration judgments: stimulus pairs with the largest and smallest speed differences both had a negligible distorting effect while intermediate speed differences produced larger distortions. This non-monotonic effect cannot be explained by a direct effect of stimulus speed on the duration estimation process. To account for these findings, we propose a model which postulates that the perceived speed of observed actions can modulate the decision processes involved in judging relative durations. That is, an observed action’s speed might bias duration interpretation rather than duration estimation.
AI readiness of Philippine Public Administration: A review of literature
Authors: Moreno Frede G.
Published: July 2023

This literature review examines the AI readiness of the Philippine Public Administration by analyzing existing research. The review aims to answer the following questions: 1) How aware and knowledgeable are public administrators in the Philippines about AI? 2) What are the current AI initiatives in the public sector, and how successful are they? 3) What are the challenges and opportunities that the Philippine Public Administration faces in AI adoption? The study finds that while public administrators in the Philippines are aware of AI, they lack technical knowledge and expertise. The existing AI initiatives tend to be limited in scope and scale. Challenges in AI adoption include the lack of resources, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. The review integrates the New Public Management theory, which highlights the importance of performance-based management in the public sector. AI can play a significant role in improving efficiency and service delivery, but its implementation requires a shift in organizational culture and management practices. In conclusion, the review underscores the need for a strategic plan for AI adoption that addresses challenges and opportunities in the Philippine Public Administration. This will enable the public sector to leverage AI's potential benefits in enhancing governance and service delivery.
Evaluation of a method to collect mycotoxins within the inhalable particulates fraction of indoor air via an IOM Multi-Fraction sampler
Authors: Moore Robert
Published: July 2023

A method is evaluated for sampling the inhalable fraction of airborne mycotoxins in homes using an IOM Multi-Fraction sampler that includes a foam and filter combination for collection of the airborne mycotoxins. The approach is to assess literature on the history of the use of this and similar samplers for collecting the inhalable fraction of aerosols, including assessment of sampling rate, sampling time, height and angle, and a discussion of active sampling. Active sampling is a practice of agitating the air in an enclosed space prior to air sampling. Special emphasis is placed on the media that can capture mycotoxin particulates for subsequent analysis, polyurethane foam together with a (PVC) filter. The new method evaluated and proposed here comprises a combination of active sampling and an IOM Multi-Fraction sampler with filter and foam both being present, using a sample flow rate of 2 liters per minute. Comparisons to relevant precedents are cited.
Tác động của đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài đến chuyển dịch cơ cấu kinh tế tại Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
Authors: Lan Trần Thị Ngọc , Thủy Nguyễn Thị Bích , Trung Tran Thanh
Published: July 2023

IMPACTS OF FDI ON THE ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING IN HO CHI MINH CITYThis study was conducted in the hope to provide more scientifc basis to help managers and policy makers evaluate the foreign direct investment (FDI) activities in economic restructuring process in the Ho Chi Minh City. The research analyzes the achievements in atracting FDI to promote restructuring of industries such as services, construction, and agriculture and points out the causes of the limitations, thereby proposing recommendations to promote fast and sustainable socio-economic development of the city.Nghiên cứu này được thực hiện với mong muốn góp phần cung cấp thêm cơ sở khoa học giúp các nhà quản lý, nhà hoạch định chính sách đánh giá thực tiễn hoạt động thu hút đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài (FDI) đến chuyển dịch cơ cấu kinh tế của TP. Hồ Chí Minh. Trên cơ sở phân tích những kết quả đạt được trong thu hút FDI thúc đẩy chuyển dịch cơ cấu ngành, lĩnh vực: dịch vụ; công nghiệp, xây dựng; nông nghiệp và đưa ra những nguyên nhân của hạn chế, nhóm nghiên cứu đề xuất các khuyến nghị nhằm thúc đẩy tốc độ phát triển kinh tế - xã hội của TP. Hồ Chí Minh theo hướng nhanh và bền vững...Từ khóa: Chuyển dịch cơ cấu kinh tế, đầu tư trực tiếp nước ngoài, TP. Hồ Chí Minh
Hello, is it me you’re stopping for? The effect of eHMI familiarity on pedestrians’ crossing behaviour in an ambiguous situation
Authors: Lee Yee Mun , Sidorov Vladislav , Madigan Ruth , Garcia Jorge , Markkula Gustav , Merat Natasha
Published: July 2023

Objective: We investigated how different deceleration intentions (i.e., it either decelerated for leading traffic or yielded for pedestrians) and how a novel (Slow Pulsing Light Band – SPLB) or familiar (Flashing Headlights – FH) external Human Machine Interface (eHMI) informed pedestrians' crossing behaviour.Background: SAE Level 4 Automated Vehicles (AVs) has recently fuelled interest in new forms of explicit communication via eHMIs, to improve the interaction between AVs and surrounding road users. However, before implementing them, it is necessary to understand how pedestrians use eHMIs to inform their crossing decisions. Method: Thirty participants took part in the study using Head-Mounted Display. The independent variables were deceleration intentions and eHMIs. The percentage of crossings, collision frequency and crossing initiation time across trials were measured. Results: Pedestrians were able to identify the intentions of a decelerating vehicle, using implicit cues, with more crossings made when the approaching vehicles were yielding to them. They were also more likely to cross when a familiar eHMI was presented, than the novel eHMI (or No eHMI) condition, regardless of the vehicle's intention. Finally, participants learned to take a more cautious approach across trials, and not to base their decisions solely on the FH eHMI. Conclusion: A familiar eHMI led to early crossings regardless of the vehicle’s intention but also led to higher collision frequency than a novel eHMI.Application: It is important to provide eHMIs that are congruent with road users' expectations, to achieve safe and acceptable interactions with AVs.
A Qualitative Analysis of Family Caregiver Experiences Accessing Treatment for Self-Injurious Behavior in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Roberts Caroline , Avina Ashleigh Hannah , Symons Frank
Published: July 2023

There is evidence of a gap between individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who need treatment for self-injurious behavior (SIB) and those who receive treatment. The purpose of this study (n=15) was to begin to understand the treatment gap from the perspective of family caregivers.In semi-structured virtual interviews, family caregivers discussed their experiences of working with providers to treat their family member’s self-injury. Through a systematic process of quasi-inductive thematic analysis, researchers transcribed and analyzed the interviews and developed a working model of treatment pathways.Caregivers described many barriers to treatment access. Themes include Caregiver Driven, Importance of the Provider-Caregiver Relationship, Beliefs and Perceptions about SIB, Practical Constraints, Knowledge Gaps, and Wait Until Crisis.The findings highlight the power of providers to support families coping with SIB in IDD. Specific ways providers can better facilitate treatment access are suggested. Future research directions should include provider interviews and focus groups and, ultimately, the development of interventions that consider access pathways as a key feature of any effective treatment plan.
“Don’t chat in class and pay attention”: Linking self-regulation and school engagement profiles with academic achievement
Authors: Katsantonis Ioannis
Published: July 2023

Behavioural and emotional self-regulatory skills facilitate children’s engagement with school-related activities, which is a critical antecedent of achievement. Yet, the question remains whether different profiles of behavioural and affective self-regulation and school engagement exist that differentially influence students’ achievement. Thus, the present study aimed to identify emerging profiles of self-regulation and school engagement and explore how those relate to students’ achievement. The sample comprises 13,847 (Mage=7.24, SD=.25) British primary school students (50.2% males), who participated in the Millennium Cohort Study. Parent-reported scores on students’ emotional and behavioural self-regulation were available. Students reported their behavioural and emotional school engagement and were also assessed using standardised word reading and maths tests. Latent profile analysis was conducted to identify distinct profiles of self-regulation and school engagement and the manual BCH method was deployed to explore mean-level differences in achievement across profiles. The results indicated that 63.77% of the students were highly self-regulated and engaged, whereas 29.96% were slightly dysregulated and slightly disengaged. 1.86% of the students were dysregulated but engaged, whilst 4.42% were disengaged and dysregulated. Adjusting for covariates, highly self-regulated engaged students had the highest means in reading and maths, whilst dysregulated but engaged students had the lowest means. The findings illustrated that most students with high levels of self-regulation and engagement scored higher in maths and reading. Students with incompatible levels of self-regulation and school engagement had the lowest scores across all profiles. Behavioural and emotional self-regulation and school engagement are needed to be academically flourishing.
The State-Trait Sense of Self Inventory: A psychometric instrument to measure multiple features of self-experience
Authors: Di Plinio Simone , Arnò Simone , Ebisch Sjoerd
Published: July 2023

The sense of self refers to an individual's subjective awareness and perception of their own existence, individuality, and continuity over time. It plays a crucial role in shaping thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and interactions with others. Despite being a fundamental trait, the individual sense of self is harmonized with the surrounding environment and context, originating self-states which are seldom investigated. Furthermore, the self can be better understood through its constitutive aspects such as the sense of identity, encompassing self-referential processing, and the sense of agency, which is the feeling of controlling our actions and their consequences. In this paper, we present the first inventory (25 total items) to assess a multidimensional sense of self, built upon the study of two separate samples for its construction and its validation. We detected a unique self-trait factor encompassing agency and identity items, whereas the self-state exhibited a bifactorial structure with a high-order factor and three lower-order factors: state-identity, state-agency, and state-technology. The factors showed high reliability and high clinical relevance by predicting psychopathological variables and were also related with demographic variables such as occupation, gender, and education. The st-SoSI is a reliable instrument able to distinguish between self-trait and self-states, and at the same time to discriminate between identity, agency, and interactions with intruding technological devices.
Existential Priors: Top-Down Cognition in Rostral Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Schoeller Felix
Published: July 2023

The human brain builds a hierarchical model of its world, with higher levels representing increasingly abstract concepts. We introduce the notion of existential computation to describe neural operations at the apex of this cognitive hierarchy. Existential computations integrate lower-level representations to form an overarching model of personal meaning and purpose. Mounting evidence indicates that the rostral prefrontal cortex supports these abstract, integrative representations. Enhancing our understanding of mechanisms for flexible generation of existential meaning may suggest improved treatment of depression and suicide.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN APPEARANCE ANXIETY, EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE AND LOCUS OF CONTROL AMONG YOUNG ADULTS
Authors: Mishra Ruchika
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this paper is to review relevant research and theories on appearance anxiety, locus of control, and emotional competence among young adults and examine the relationships between these variables. The study employs three scales to measure these variables: the Appearance Anxiety Inventory by Veale, the Emotional Competence Scale by Bharadwaj and Sharma, and Rotter's Locus of Control Scale.
Using Computational Models to Understand the Role and Nature of Valuation Bias in Mixed Gambles
Authors: Singhi Nishad , Agarwal Sumeet , Mukherjee Sumitava
Published: July 2023

It is a well-known observation that people tend to dislike risky situations that could potentially lead to a loss, a phenomenon that is called loss aversion. This is often explained using valuation bias, i.e., the subjective value of losses is larger than the subjective value of gains of equal magnitude. However, recent studies using the drift-diffusion model have shown that a pre-valuation bias towards rejection is also a primary determinant of loss-averse behavior. It has large contributions to model fits, predicts a key relationship between rejection rates and response times, and explains the most individual heterogeneity in the rejection rates of participants. We analyzed data from three previously published experiments using the drift-diffusion model and found that these findings generalize to them. However, we found that valuation bias plays the most important role in predicting how likely a person is to accept a given gamble. Our findings also showed that a person's loss aversion parameter, which captures their propensity to avoid losses is closely related to valuation bias. These results combined highlight the importance of valuation bias in understanding people's choice patterns. Finally, using the leaky, competing accumulator model, we show strong mimicking between valuation bias and an attentional bias wherein people pay more attention to losses as compared to gains. This finding suggests that behaviors that seem to arise due to valuation bias may arise due to such an attentional bias.
BERTAgent: The Development of a Novel Tool to Quantify Agency in Textual Data
Authors: Nikadon Jan , Suitner Caterina , Erseghe Tomaso , Dzanko Lejla , Formanowicz Magdalena
Published: July 2023

Agency, pertaining to goal-orientation and achievement, is a fundamental aspect of human cognition and behavior. Accordingly, detecting and quantifying linguistic representations of agency is critical for the analysis of human actions, interactions, and social dynamics. Available agency-quantifying computational tools rely on word-counting methods, which are insensitive to the semantic context in which the words are used and consequently are inaccurate in case of polysemy and negation. Additionally, some currently available tools fail to account for differences in the intensity and directionality (valence) of agency. In order to overcome these shortcomings, we present BERTAgent, a novel tool to quantify semantic agency in text. BERTAgent is a computational language model that utilizes the transformers architecture, a popular deep learning approach to natural language processing. BERTAgent was fine-tuned using carefully selected textual data that were evaluated by human coders with respect to the level of conveyed agency. In five validation studies, we demonstrate that BERTAgent outperforms previous solutions in terms of convergent and discriminant validity. Additionally, the detailed description of BERTAgent’s development procedure serves as a tutorial for the advancement of similar tools, providing a blueprint for leveraging the existing lexicographical datasets in conjunction with the deep learning techniques in order to detect and quantify other psychological constructs in textual data.🔗 https://pypi.org/project/bertagent/🔗 https://bertagent.readthedocs.io/🔗 https://github.com/cogsys-io/BERTAgent-SOM/🔗 https://github.com/cogsys-io/bertagent/
समाचार के लिए भुगतान: मेटा, कानून और स्वतंत्र पत्रकारिता में रस्साकशी
Authors: Ranjan Pramod
Published: July 2023

आस्ट्रेलिया ने 2021 में मीडिया संस्थानों के हितों की रक्षा के लिए ‘समाचार मीडिया और डिजिटल प्लेटफ़ॉर्म अनिवार्य सौदेबाजी कानून’ बनाया था। 2023 में ऐसा ही एक कानून कैनेडा में बनाया गया। भारत समेत कई अन्य देश भी ऐसे कानून बनाने पर विचार कर रहे हैं। जबकि टेक-कंपनियां ऐसे कानूनों का विरोध करती हैं तथा अपनी शर्तें न माने जाने की स्थिति में अपनी सेवाओं को संबंधित देश बंद कर देती हैं। इन कानूनों के निर्माण के लिए कुछ बड़ी मीडिया-कंपनियां निहित स्वार्थों के कारण लॉबिंग करती हैं। जबकि छोटे समाचार-व्यवसायों के लिए इस प्रकार के कानून हानिकारक हो साबित होते हैं। इस आलेख में इससे संबंधित विभिन्न पहलुओं पर विचार किया गया है।
Exploring the Impacts of ChatGPT on Future Scientific Work
Authors: Irons Jessica , Mason Claire , Cooper Patrick , Sidra Sidra , Reeson Andrew , Paris Cecile
Published: July 2023

Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT look set to transform many aspects of knowledge work, including scientific research. Anticipating the full impacts of LLMs on future science requires studying their use within the work context, motivating our study to explore scientist experiences and perceptions. We surveyed scientists specialising in AI and technology innovation, who had used ChatGPT in their work, on their perceived implications of LLMs for future science. Our findings indicated scientists were, on balance, optimistic about the potential for ChatGPT in science. ChatGPT’s high quality writing and coding output, versatility and interactivity were identified as key strengths applicable to the science domain. Participants believed LLMs would increase scientists’ productivity and their ability to access new knowledge and skills. Nevertheless, most were also concerned about the risk that ChatGPT’s persuasive hallucinations, particularly on technical subjects, could compromise the quality of scientific output. The findings provide insight into future skillsets required by scientists and ways LLMs can be harnessed to improve the efficiency, innovation, and impact in science.
Scientific Computing Education and Professions: DEI Institutional Delineations and Contextual Constraints
Authors: McNeely Connie L. , Frehill Lisa M.
Published: July 2023

The past several decades have seen enormous growth in scientific computing fields in the United States (U.S.), reflecting increases in related educational and professional opportunities. However, this situation also has reflected unequal access to these burgeoning opportunities such that unequal participation — framed in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) — is highly apparent, with broadly differentiating implications for individual life chances and for social and economic developments more generally. This article explores institutional and demographic patterns within the context of these systemic conditions in relation to varying representation in scientific computing in the U.S. Also considering computing fields more broadly, analysis points to deeply institutionalized and contextually embedded contending factors and relationships that affect and determine relevant accessibility and participation. In this regard, DEI is addressed not merely, or even principally, as a question of representation in terms of numbers, but rather as a matter of disrupting socially and culturally enduring processes and outcomes to enhance participation in scientific computing education and professions.
Forest as a Therapeutic Space in Sarah Orne Jewett’s “A White Heron”: A Deep Ecological Perspective
Authors: Poudel Uttam
Published: July 2023

This paper seeks to analyze as to how forest has healing power in Jewett’s “A White Heron” that helps the protagonist, Sylvia, take a positive decision— not to show the nest of the white heron to the hunter, who otherwise would love to collect the birds and stuff them. This paper argues that earlier decision of Sylvia to help the hunter out by showing the nest of the beautiful white heron changes when her greater sense of involvement to the forest through the cow touches her consciousness. The root cause of this change is the therapeutic impact of the forest (Nature) to the protagonist. This study takes recourse to ecocritical stance, more particularly Barry Commoner’s four laws of ecology and Aldo Leopold’s ideas of “land community”, and “land ethics” to analyze the mentioned text as to how it advocates for biocentric world view that places emphasis on equal status of each and every organisms on this planet and hence, they must be equally treated and protected to maintain the stronghold of human-nature relationship. Aside from that, executing the idea of deep ecology, more specifically advanced by Fritjof Capra, which gives the utmost importance to the idea that humans are a part of nature but not apart and everything in the nature is interdependent and interconnected for the healthy operation of the whole system, this paper also argues that the mentioned story is a faithful literary text, which, by exhibiting the pitfalls of citified life, appeals the entire humanity to safeguard the nature to get its therapeutic effect for healthy and holistic life.
परियोजना कार्यको सैद्धान्तिक अवधारणा
Authors: घोडासैनी खगेन्द्र
Published: July 2023

प्रस्तुत अध्ययन परियोजना कार्यको सैद्धान्तिक अवधारणा निर्माण गर्नमा केन्द्रित छ । यस अध्ययनमा प्रस्तुत पङ्क्तिकारकै परियोजना कार्यको ढाँचा र प्रयोगका सम्बन्धमा गरिएको पूर्वाध्ययनलाई आधार बनाई परियोजना कार्यको सैद्धान्तिक अवधारणा अघि सार्ने प्रयास गरिएको छ । गुणात्मक ढाँचामा तथ्य सङ्कलन गरिएको यस लेखमा वर्णन र विश्लेषण गरेर निष्कर्ष निकालिएको छ । यसमा शिक्षाविद् जोन डिबे र उनका सहयोगी विलियम हर्ड किलपैट्रिकका परियोजना विधिसँग सम्बन्धित अवधारणाहरूलाई सैद्धान्तिक पर्याधारका रूपमा लिइएको छ । तीमध्ये परियोजना कार्यका रूपमा उपयोग गरिँदै आएको शिक्षण विधि वर्तमान अवस्थाका विद्यालयीय पाठ्यक्रमदेखि विश्वविद्यालयीय पाठ्यक्रममा समेत समावेश भएको जल्दोबल्दो विधि हो । परियोजना कार्य कसरी गर्ने र गराउने भन्ने कुरामा सबैको एउटै धारणा देखिँदैन । यसका लागि पाठ्यक्रम र दैनिक सिकाइने कक्षाकार्यलाई परियोजनासँग जोडेर सिकाउनुपर्ने देखिन्छ । त्यसका लागि यस लेखमा परियोजना कार्यसँग सम्बन्धित विभिन्न पक्षहरूको वर्णन गरेर उपयुक्त ढाँचा अघि सारिएको छ । विभिन्न विषयसँग सम्बन्धित परियोजना कार्य यसरी गर्न र गराउन सकिन्छ भन्ने साझा धारणालाई निष्कर्षका रूपमा प्रस्तुत गरिएको छ ।

(The present study focuses on building a theoretical concept of project work. In this study, an attempt has been made to advance the theoretical concept of project work based on the preliminary studies made regarding the pattern and use of the project work presented in this study. In this article, the facts were collected in a qualitative format, and conclusions were drawn after describing and analyzing them. In this, the concepts related to the project method of educationist John Dibe and his assistant William Hurd Kilpatrick are taken as theoretical framework. Among them, the teaching method that is being used as a project work is a flexible method that has been included in the current school curriculum even in the university curriculum. Not everyone has the same opinion on how to do and carry out project work. For this, it seems that the curriculum and the daily classroom work should be taught in connection with the project. For that, in this article, a suitable format has been presented by describing various aspects related to the project work. It is concluded in this article that a common opinion should be made that project work related to various subjects can be carried out in this way.)
Delineation of Slavery in Selected Literature of Nepal
Authors: K. C. Durga Lal
Published: July 2023

Slavery stands as the cultural practice, norms and values where one class entice, persuade and force another class to assist, work and Labor for the benefits of the former. It was a common practice in the world when people were not aware about their rights. Empowerment of people resulted the end of slavery in most of the countries. Slavery was eradicated from Nepal in 1981 B. S. by Rana Prime minister Chandra Shumsher Rana. It was just a legal declaration but it was a great challenge to end it practically. There were different types of slavery in the society. Kamaiya, Kamalari, Haruwa, Charuwa and Haliya traditions were prevalent in different parts of Nepal. This article explores the illustration of slavery in some selected literature of Nepal. This study analyses about how slavery is presented in the literature.
Teachers’ Perceptions on Business English Courses of BBS at Tribhuvan University
Authors: Budhathoki Mahendra Kumar
Published: July 2023

Curriculum designers do not survey and contemplate the views of the concerned faculty. The experiences, perceptions and knowledge of the faculty are also equally important to the experts of the syllabus designers. The purpose of this study is to explore the teachers’ perceptions on Business English Courses of BBS at Tribhuvan University. This study specifically has explored how teachers perceive the course and implement it in the classroom. This research utilized qualitative method through interviews as a means of information collection. The participants purposively sampled were four Business English teachers from Tribhuvan University. Major findings of the study were as follows: the respondent teachers agreed that overall quality of Business English syllabus was satisfactory because this syllabus was ESP-based course for business students. The teachers complained that the textbook English for Business Studies seemed like a guide book. The teachers suggested to focus on all four language skills and English proficiency, and contents must be from business sectors for business students. Although the research on need analysis seems money and time consuming for Curriculum Development Centre, in the long run it will be rewarding after finding students’ needs and the syllabus’s effect. This study ignites teachers and Dean’s Office of Faculty of Management to do further research to determine the needs and goals of the ESP-based syllabus. Further research are necessary to discover the real needs of BBS students and determine the objectives in Tribhuvan University in Nepal.
Bankers’ Perspective on Challenges of Bad Debt Recovery: Empirical Evidence from Commercial Banks of Nepal
Authors: Dhakal Krishna , Khanal Kiran , Devkota Niranjan , Paudel Udaya Raj
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this paper is to investigate bankers’ perspective on challenges of bad debt recovery in commercial banks of Nepal. This study is based on liquidity management theory and adopts explanatory research design to determine causal relationship between variables. Primary data has been collected from 220 bankers through the structured questionnaire by using KOBO Toolbox. SEM is used to analyze data inferentially. Findings indicate that lending decision and loan risk monitoring are significant to bad debt recovery. Unfavorable methods, availability of accurate and proper information about the loans, lack of payment visibility, and lack of flexible payment options are major challenges of bad debt recovery. Thus, commercial banks of Nepal must develop proper monitoring mechanism and government should develop proper regulation for debt collection.
Impact of Recreational Activities on Employee Productivity of Nepalese Commercial Banks
Authors: Suwal Rohish , Uprety Pravat
Published: July 2023

This study aims to analyse the impact of recreational activities on employees’ productivity of Nepalese commercial banks as well as to examine the relationship between “physical fitness activities and employees’ productivity”, “mental health activities and employees’ productivity”, and “Entertainment activities and employees’ productivity.” To carry out this research, 201 samples were gathered who were the employees working in Nepalese commercial banks inside the Kathmandu valley. Quota sampling technique was applied to acquire the data from different categories of commercial banks. Primary sources of data have been used for the study along with cross sectional research design. Structured questionnaire was also designed and used for the study. It concluded that there is a moderate positive relationship between each independent variable, i.e., physical fitness activities, mental health activities and entertainment activities and dependent variable, i.e., employees’ productivity. However, in terms of analysing the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable, it showed that two independent variables, i.e., physical fitness activities and entertainment activities have a significant positive impact on employee productivity. When employees are productive, the organisation is also productive. As there is a positive impact of recreational activities on employees’ productivity, all the commercial banks need to focus on recreational activities. Commercial banks who are adopting recreational activities, their future is bright.
Sidewalk Landscape Structure to enhance Pedestrian Thermal Comfort in Kathmandu Metropolitan City
Authors: Shakya Arpana , Uprety Sanjaya , Shrestha Barsha
Published: July 2023

The thermal comfort of pedestrians in the outdoor spaces of urban areas has deteriorated due to the urban densification. The street being a major outdoor space that can promote physical activity, and especially with the emerging concept of walkable cities, thermal comfort in streets should be given utmost importance. Thermal comfort for pedestrians is the absence of any sense of discomfort when interacting with the outdoor thermal environment. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various landscape measures (trees and pavements) to enhance pedestrian thermal comfort on sidewalks. The study has adopted the quantitative approach and used the simulation and questionnaire survey as methodological tools to meet its objectives. The study was conducted on both sidewalks of Durbarmarg, one of the dense and busy streets of Kathmandu. The microclimatic modeling software ENVI-met 5.03 lite was used for the simulation. The results of the simulation showed that increasing the leaf area density (LAD), tree canopy size and height can reduce the air temperature by 0.2°C and Mean radiant temperature by 4.86°C. Among the various pavement materials in various scenarios for the simulation, the light concrete pavement showed the highest decrease in terms of the air temperature (0.579°C) however the mean radiant temperature was highest (7.22°C) for the same material. Hence, high reflective surfaces reduce the surface /air temperature but it increases the mean radiant temperature and hence they might not be appropriate for the thermal comfort of pedestrians. The paving materials which showed a decrease in both air temperature and mean radiant temperature were porous concrete, flagstone, and brick pavers. The study concludes that proper selection of pavement materials and high leaf area density of trees can enhance the thermal comfort for pedestrians on the sidewalks of Kathmandu.
Floristic Composition, Diversity and Carbon Stock Along Altitudinal Gradient in Hasantar Community Forest, in Nagarjun Municipality, Kathmandu District
Authors: Pradhan Pranil , Sapkota Divas , Banjara Sudip , Karki Sweta
Published: July 2023

This study has attempted to estimate above and below ground biomass along altitudinal gradient and examined the relation between carbon stock and diversity indices. The study area was categorized into three sections based on the elevation interval of 200m ranging from 1300m to 1900m. Vegetation sampling was performed in 33 circular plots, each of 500m2 and was selected based on systematic random sampling. Phyto-sociological parameters and above and below ground biomass and total carbon stock were calculated for each section of the study area. Carbon stock showed negative and insignificant relation with species evenness (r=-0.24, P= 0.17) and positive but insignificant relation with species richness (r=0.17, p=0.34) and Simpson’s index of dominance (r=0.18, P=0.31). However, humped shaped and statistically insignificant (P=0.93) relationship was observed between Shannon diversity index and carbon stock. This research results provide baseline information for the management of Hasantar community forest.
Land use land cover change and its implication on water fowl diversity: A case study of Taudaha Lake, Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Karki Ananta K. , K.C. Anil , K.C. Prakash
Published: July 2023

The wetlands of Nepal are well known for unusually rich biodiversity. Taudaha is famous for winter migrant water fowls as far as from Siberian. The natural form of Taudaha has been neglected and it is surrounded by concrete homes instead of trees and paddy field. Land use change is often regarded as one of the main reasons for habitat degradation and subsequent decrease in migratory birds’ population. This article aims to quantify the land use change scenario in and around the lake area using GIS tool. Google images from February 2004 and April 2022 were obtained from “Google Earth Pro” software and used to prepare the land use map by using “QGIS 3.12” software. The cultivated land covered about 73.42% of the total study area followed by settlement (8.61%), vegetation (8.02%) and the lake (9.95%) itself in 2004. But 18 years later, in the year 2022, Taudaha is gradually surrounded by urban areas. The cultivated land has been changed to be settlement areas. The cultivated land has decreased for construction of houses, hotels and resorts. Human activities in hotels and resorts near the lake area have caused distraction to migratory birds visiting the lake. This is causing degradation of habitat of the migratory bird species. Literatures showed the declining number of migratory bird species visiting the lake areas during winter.
Assessment of Anteroposterior Diameter, Interpedicular Distance and Cross-Sectional Area of the Lubar Spine in Patients Undergoing CT Scan in a Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Acharya Sabanam , Pradhan Sunil , Sharma Prakash , Bajimaya Neha
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Lumbar spinal stenosis is a frequent cause of low back pain. Decreased lumbar spinal canal parameters are major risk factors for canal stenosis. This study was done to assess anteroposterior diameter, interpedicular distance and cross-sectional area of the lumbar spinal canal on a CT scan.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital. Anteroposterior diameter, interpedicular distance and cross-sectional area of the lumbar spinal canal were measured.

Results: A total of 171 subjects were selected. The mean of anteroposterior diameter from L1-L5 was 16.46 mm, 16.05 mm, 15.04 mm, 15.08 mm and 15.23 mm respectively. The means of interpedicular distance from L1-L5 were 22.71 mm, 23.20 mm, 24.52 mm, 26.29 mm and 29.90 mm respectively. The means of cross sectional area from L1-L5 were 288.79 mm2, 2773.15 mm2, 266.84 mm2, 282.89 mm2 and 317.04 mm2 respectively. A statistically significant difference between sex and anteroposterior diameter was noted at L2 and the interpedicular distance was at L4 and L5 levels. The cross-sectional area has increased with increased age in all five vertebral levels but it showed statistically significant variation only at L1.

Conclusion: Anteroposterior diameter, interpedicular distance and cross-sectional area varies at each level on the lumbar vertebra and may vary according to age and sex.
Government Strategic Policy in Agricultural Development
Authors: Supendi Supendi
Published: July 2023

It is very important to implement agricultural sector policies in Indonesia. The Agricultural Census conducted by the Central Statistics Agency provides agricultural data needs both at the national and global levels. The policy in the 2023 Agricultural Census (ST2023) activities is designed so that the results obtained are of international standard. The International Standard Agricultural Census refers to the FAO program known as the World Program for the Census of Agriculture (WCA). With the realization of Food Security starting from the individual and household levels, villages, sub-districts, districts, provinces to National Food Security becomes a national goal.

Through food security policies, one of the important elements of national security can be implemented. Therefore, the government intensively cooperates to realize Food Security and Farmer Welfare. Food security targets in 2024 self-sufficiency in industrial sugar and 2026 self-sufficiency in beef, towards Indonesia's Vision in 2045 to become a World Food Barn. The food policy achievements above have also improved the welfare of farmers. This can be seen from the poverty indicator in rural areas in March 2021 at 13.10 percent, down to 12.53 percent in September 2021. (BPS, 2021). In guarding and ensuring that the structural transformation process can be carried out in a precise and directed manner, various policies that have been and will be implemented need to be supported by an accurate agricultural database.

Then strengthen infrastructure, financial institutions, farmer's markets and others. Capacity building of Human Resources (HR) to become professional and productive. The key actor in agricultural development policy is to utilize the results of the agricultural census. A strategic and sustainable agricultural data ecosystem. Then the availability and accessibility of data and awareness of data users that the data exists. The government needs to make policies that are pro-Agricultural sector right on target.
Reformasi Birokrasi Pengadilan Agama di Indonesia: Apakah hanya Sekedar Formalitas ?
Authors: Bustamin Bustamin , Islami Muhammad Hizby , Magfhirah Saadatul , Pertiwi Dian , Agustin Maizi Fahdela , Rasyada Amrina
Published: July 2023

One of the stressings of President Jokowi's government is governance to accelerate the achievement of bureaucratic reform goals contained in the 2020-2024 bureaucratic reform roadmap, especially related to clean and accountable bureaucracy, and excellent public services, it is necessary to build an Integrity Zone (ZI) in the Religious Courts (PA). The purpose of this study is to analyze the Implementation of the Bureaucratic Reform Policy in the West Sumatra Religious Court with research locations in PA Padang, Pariaman, Payakumbuh, Batusangkar, and Talu. Qualitative descriptive research methods. Data were collected through documentation studies and interviews. Then the data is analyzed through the stages of data collection, data condensation, data display, and finally conclusion. Based on the results and analysis of research, it shows that the implementation of ZI in religious courts in West Sumatra has not been well internalized due to several factors, namely (1) the leverage component consists of two, namely aspects of fulfillment and reform. The five research locus of PA Padang, PA Pariaman, PA Payakumbuh, PA Batusangkar, and PA Talu still focus on fulfilling documents only. So that the reform aspect does not occur significant changes in the dynamic organizational structure and so do human resources that are still lacking in Ber-AKHLAK (service, accountable, competent, harmonious, loyal, adaptive, and collaborative); and (2) the impact of ZI implementation on customer satisfaction by looking at the results of public satisfaction surveys and the corruption perception index is very good.
Uso y desecho de medicamentos del botiquín familiar desde la educación ambiental
Authors: Reyes-Diaz María Gilda , Tovar-Torres Judelka Victoria , Trillo-Cardenas Angie Danet , Peña-Donayre Carmen Jeniffer , Orellana-Torres Graciela del Pilar , Hernandez-Baldeon Mayra Alessandra , Argota-Pérez George
Published: July 2023

El objetivo del estudio fue describir el uso y desecho de medicamentos del botiquín familiar desde la educación ambiental. El estudio se realizó de enero a octubre de 2022 con 72 estudiantes del programa académico de Farmacia y Bioquímica de la Universidad Nacional “San Luis Gonzaga”, Ica, Perú. Se aplicó, una encuesta virtual mediante “Google form” con nueve preguntas donde el estadígrafo descriptivo fue el análisis de tendencia relativa del porcentaje. El almacenamiento en el botiquín representó el mayor porcentaje: 46,94%. El 10,20% de los estudiantes, desconoce que los medicamentos contaminan y el 18,37%, tampoco conoce qué los desechos de medicamentos al consumirse por animales y transferirse al humano dañan la salud. El 6,12% de los estudiantes, no conoce que existen contenedores de medicamentos y se registró que el 14,29% los elimina inadecuadamente en el hogar donde el mayor porcentaje de eliminación fue para el vencimiento y no consumo: 46,94%. La eliminación anual fue el porcentaje mayor (42,86%) y se produce por trituración (95,92%), donde los antibacterianos fueron el grupo terapéutico con mayor frecuencia de eliminación (46,95%) y los antibióticos el menor (2,04%). Se concluye, que se requiere implementar una educación ambiental ante la disposición y desecho de medicamentos del botiquín familiar para los estudiantes universitarios, pues existió desconocimiento desde su almacenamiento, eliminación e impacto a la salud pública y el medio ambiente.
DOES THE FILM FORMED BY THE BORDEAUX MIXTURE ON THE LEAF SURFACE OF FIG TREES AFFECT PHOTOCHEMICAL PROCESSES?
Authors: Marangon Debastiani Matheus , Gomes Angelica Alves , Donato Angria Ferreira , Pizzatto Mariana , Silva Carneiro Samuel , Silva Andréa Carvalho da
Published: July 2023

ABSTRACT: This work aimed to evaluate changes in gas exchanges and chlorophyll a fluorescence in fig plants due to the film formed on the leaf surface by Bordeaux mixture applied to control rust. The experiment was conducted in an orchard with 7-month-old fig trees of the cultivar Roxo de Valinhos, in April 2020. A completely randomized experimental design with four replications was used, consisting of two treatments (with and without application of Bordeaux mixture), evaluating leaves in three different parts of the branch (apical, middle, and basal) in five evaluations. The evaluated gas exchange parameters were: carbon, leaf temperature, transpiration, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis. The evaluated chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were: maximum and effective quantum yield of the photosystem, electron transport rate, photochemical and non-photochemical quenching, and leaf area. The film formed by Bordeaux mixture application did not affect the photochemical phases of photosynthesis and chlorophyll a fluorescence. The leaf position on the branch affected internal CO2 concentration and net CO2 assimilation over time. Leaves in the middle part of the branch presented larger leaf areas than those in the apical and basal parts.
Keywords: Ficus Carica L.; chlorophyll a; rust; leaf area.
 
A película formada pela calda bordalesa na superfície foliar das figueiras interfere nos processos fotoquímicos?
 
RESUMO: O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar se a camada formada pela solução da calda bordalesa na superfície foliar altera as características das trocas gasosas, bem como a Fluorescência da clorofila A, quando aplicada no combate a ferrugem. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com 2 tratamentos (com e sem calda bordalesa) com folhas em 3 partes distintas do ramo da figueira (apical, mediana e basal), sendo feitas 5 avaliações, com 4 repetições, em um pomar de 7 meses de idade da cultivar Roxo de Valinhos, no mês de abril de 2020. As avaliações das trocas gasosas foram referentes a: variação do carbono, temperatura da folha, transpiração, condutância estomática e fotossíntese. As avaliações da fluorescência da clorofila A, foram referentes a: rendimento quântico máximo e efetivo do fotossistema, taxa de transporte de elétrons, dissipação fotoquímica e não fotoquímica e área foliar. A película formada pela aplicação da calda bordalesa não interferiu nas etapas fotoquímicas da fotossíntese e na fluorescência da clorofila A. A Concentração interna, e a assimilação líquida do CO2 foram influenciadas pela posição da folha no ramo ao longo do tempo. As folhas da parte mediana do ramo apresentam a maior área, em detrimento das partes apical e basal.
Palavras-chave: Ficus Carica L.; clorofila A; ferrugem; área foliar.