bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ihktilaf Mujtahid: Analisis Faktor, Filosofis dan Cara Menyikapi
Authors: Al-Asror Mahdum Kholit
Published: February 2024

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi realitas keberadaan ikhtilaf dalam fikih, sehingga memunculkan mazhab empat dan mazhab lain di luar itu. Bahkan keberadaan ikhtilaf sendiri didukung oleh legitimasi hadis sekaligus kenyataan sejarah Islam sejak zaman Rasulullah. Ikhtilaf tersebut berakar dari perbedaan cara pandang terhadap teks dan konteks sebuah nash. Ikhtilaf adalah sebuah keniscayaan yang pada akhirnya menjadi warisan khazanah intelektual muslim. Peneliti kemudian tertarik untuk mengkaji apa saja aspek yang melatarbelakangi ikhtilaf tersebut, apa saja sisi filosofis dan bagaimana cara menyikapinya. Penelitin ini adalah penelitian pustaka (library reseach) dengan data primer, sekunder dan pendukung. Data yang terkumpul kemudian dianalisis menggunakan metode deskriptif analisis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada enam faktor yang melatarbelakangi terjadinya ikhtilaf para mujtahid, yaitu: faktor semantik, riwayat, epistemologi, kaidah ushuliyah, qiyas dan tarjih. Selanjutnya, dari perspektif filosofis keberadaan ikhtilaf memberikan kemudahan bagi para muqallid untuk mengikuti pendapat yang paling maslahat dan relevan, mengajarkan untuk berpikir independen dan menghargai pendapat orang lain, sekaligus menjadi motor terhadap kajian-kajian fikih komparatif. Kemudian cara menyikapi perbedaan setidaknya ada tiga, yaitu: tidak memaksakan mazhab kepada orang lain, bersikap toleran dan bersikap ilmiah yang membuka peluang dialog bagi antar pihak untuk menghasilkan formulasi fikih yang solutif.
Augmentation and Dissociation: Exploring Brain's Associations Across Real and Virtual Realities
Authors: Sharma Sushma
Published: February 2024

This paper explores the malleable nature of perceived reality and bodily ownership as demonstrated through multisensory illusions like the rubber hand experiment. Research shows that precisely matching what someone sees and feels can recalibrate neural processing to incorporate fake limbs into one’s sense of bodily boundaries and agency. This means an individual's feelings of having a body and self come from the brain continually tweaking itself based on intersensory correlations. Meanwhile, extensive trauma research reveals significant disruptions when overwhelming experiences prevent smooth processing, storage and understanding in an individual. This manifests in dissociated fragments and dysfunctional encodings splitting from explicit memory and ownership, recreating persisting struggles without awareness. However, early therapeutic approaches using coordinated sensory stimulation suggest the potential for compassionately reshaping rigid implicit perceptions that complicate trauma recovery by tapping into neuroplasticity. Research on bodily illusions, the complexities of trauma, and sensory-based treatments shows that trauma can be framed as a disruption in aligning expectations with sensory input to create a more unified experience. There exists potential for tailored therapeutic exposures through custom sensory feedback to rewrite rigid encodings towards post-traumatic growth. Future research should thoughtfully explore these avenues into practical methods that respect survivors’ agency and dignity. Overall these themes reveal one's perception of reality as fluid, constructed by the brain continuously adjusting its predictions and interpretations to match the incoming flow of sensory information from sight, sound, touch, etc. Trauma strains the integrative system underlying a coherent experience. Therapies strategically recalibrating the senses can help realign stuck implicit perceptions of trauma. Through controlled and empowering sensory exposures, these therapies assimilate past overwhelming impressions into narratives that affirm bodily wholeness and resilience.
The Choice of Maximum Likelihood Estimate among the Lognormal, Weibull and Mixed-Lognormal-Weibull Distributions: An Empirical Examination of Stock Price Returns
Authors: Anderson Ugomma Chukwudi
Published: February 2024

This paper compared the maximum likelihood estimates (MLE) of lognormal, Weibull and Mixed-lognormal-weibull distributions. The data for this study were Coca-cola stock price returns obtained from https://ng.www.investing.com/equities/cocacola-bottle-historical-data and the result with the help of Excel package shows that Weibull distributionhas the minimum Mean Squared Error among the lognormal and Mixed-lognormal-weibull distributions; hence, the maximum likelihood estimate of the Weibull distribution is the choice.
Determination of the Conjugacy Classes and Character Table of the Full Non-Rigid Group of Hexachlorocyclopropane Chemical Compound Via Wreath Product of Pair of Permutation Groups
Authors: O. J. Ben , T. J. Auta
Published: February 2024

The use of full non-rigid (f.NRG) molecules group theory to study the internal dynamics of molecular structures of chemical compounds is trending in the research space. In this paper, we use computational method to compute the group elements and group table of the Hexachlorocyclopropane molecular (algebraic) structure and thereafter determine the order and conjugacy classes of the group and finally the corresponding symmetry for each permutation group. We considered the point group of the compound which turns out to be isomorphic to the Wreath Products C3wrC2, where Cn denotes a cyclic group of order n. We found that the group has order 18 and 9 conjugacy classes. Investigating the solubility of the components of Hexachlorocyclopropane chemical compound can be considered for further study.
Foreign Bodies in Otorhinolaryngology among Teenagers and Adults observed in a Reference Hospital in Mozambique
Authors: Dadá Mahomed Sidique Abdul Cadar , Lai Wai Yu , Dadá Zulaikhah Mahomed Sidique , Dadá Abdul Habib Mahomed
Published: February 2024

Foreign bodies can affect physically and emotionally the patients and leads to significant financial expenses to people affected and to health services. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of patients with 14 or more years of age observed with foreign bodies at Oto-rhinolaryngology Service at quaternary reference hospital in Mozambique. An observational, descriptive study was carried out, using retrospective data from 1983-2009, from patients with 14 or more years old diagnosed with foreign bodies in otorhinolaryngology at quaternary reference hospital in Mozambique. Multiple sources of data were used to obtain information which was subsequently introduced in specifically created database and data analysis was mainly descriptive. A total of 1696 patient’s data were collected and analyzed. No gender differences were observed, and most cases were analyzed in age-group 30-39 years (23.93%). Cotton was the main foreign body (21.40%) among males and fish bones for females (52.53%). Ear was most common site among 15-39 years, while esophagus and pharynx was for 30-39 years group. The study includes 26 years of data representing important source of evidence. This evidence can contribute for the development and implementation of preventive and control strategies at population level and subject of health professionals training programs.
Differential roles of M1 and M2 microglia in Parkinson’s disease: a critical narrative review
Authors: Zatiti Monsanto de Paula Luiza , Osório de Oliveira Maria Eduarda , Victor Mendes Nóbrega Rocha  , Vinícius Mendes Nóbrega Rocha  , Caroline Ventura  , Yasmin Paula Nobre Lessa  , Sales Camilly Ramos , Santos Luana Stangherlin dos , João Bosco Façanha Elias Filho  , Santos Júlio César Claudino dos
Published: February 2024

Parkinson's disease (PD) is marked by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to debilitating motor and non-motor symptoms. Central to PD pathogenesis is the intricate involvement of microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain. This narrative review delves into the distinct functions of M1 and M2 microglia in the context of PD. M1 microglia exhibit pro-inflammatory characteristics, releasing cytotoxic factors that exacerbate neuronal damage. In contrast, M2 microglia contribute to neuroprotection by secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines and participating in the clearance of cellular debris. The dynamic interplay between these microglial phenotypes is explored, providing insights into their roles in disease progression. Emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating microglial polarization are discussed, emphasizing their potential in PD intervention. By unraveling the nuanced contributions of M1 and M2 microglia in PD, this review not only advances our understanding of neuroinflammatory mechanisms but also underscores the importance of targeted interventions to alleviate disease-associated pathology and preserve neuronal integrity in Parkinson's disease.
Medical specialty choice: a dilemma between dream and necessity
Authors: João Ivone , Gonçalves Mauer , Fresta Mario Jorge Cartaxo , Oliveira Adilson Jose Manuel de
Published: February 2024

The definition of a medical specialty is important both for the student’s future professional career as well as for the diversity of specialties and the number of professionals that will make up a given health system. Identify the areas of activity preferred by medical school specialists and compare them with government needs. Methods: A multicenter study with a cross-sectional, quantitative approach. The sample was made up of 201 finalists. Data were collected through a closed questionnaire automatically generated by Google Forms and exported to the statistical program (SPSS26) to calculate absolute and relative frequencies. The three specialties preferred by the finalists were Gynecology/Obstetrics (18.8%), Pediatrics (15.6%) and General Surgery (13.3%); the factors that led them to choose their specialties were affinity for the specialty (32.8%) and admiration for a teacher (19.5%). Comparing these results with the state’s needs, we found that student preferences were directed toward priority specialties at the tertiary level. It was observed that the most commonly chosen specialty was Gynecology/Obstetrics; the determining factor was affinity for the specialty and in comparison, with what the government needs, students’ preferences were directed toward priority specialties at the tertiary level and in the hospital branch.
Seasonal Performance Characterization of a Gen3 Particle-Based Concentrating Solar Plant With a Spatially Resolved Transient Thermal Storage Model
Authors: Plewe Kaden , Chen Dongmei , Sment Jeremy N. , Ho Clifford
Published: February 2024

Particle-based Gen3 Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) can be paired with high-temperature power cycles (>700 °C) and can have built-in long duration (≥10 hours) thermal energy storage if the working particles are stored properly in thermal energy storage bins. Although high-temperature and long-duration thermal energy storage can mitigate daily intermittencies in solar irradiation, seasonal variability in local meteorological conditions can still have a significant impact on the overall performance of CSP systems. Aside from daily cloud coverage affecting incident solar radiation, wind speed and ambient temperature are also significant variables regarding system heat attenuation, component efficiency, and overall solar conversion efficiency. In this work, we present simulation results for a Gen3 CSP prototype system in operation over four weeks throughout the year in Albuquerque, NM. The meteorological conditions are taken directly from the TMY3 data at the Albuquerque International Sunport, where the hourly Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI), wind speed, and ambient temperature are of particular interest. An investigation of the sensitivity of individual components like storage and ducting to the local meteorological conditions is provided and extended to the overall performance of the CSP system. The results from this study show that the particle inlet temperature at the particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger can change as fast as 30 °C/min under standard operation in a passive mode.
Particle Receiver Models for Systems Analysis
Authors: González-Portillo Luis F. , Soria-Alcaide Victor , Abbas Rubén , Albrecht Kevin , Ho Clifford , Mills Brantley
Published: February 2024

Particle receivers are gaining importance in the field of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) due to the high temperature that particles can achieve without degradation. Several researchers are studying the potential of this technology by means of system analyses, which need simple and light models of the system. This study presents two simple models for the particle receiver. The simplest model is a correlation obtained by fitting the results calculated with a more complex receiver model simulated in CFD. The other model is a 1D model, which is benchmarked against the same CFD results. Although both models achieve high coefficient of determination, R2, when compared to CFD results, the 1D model seems to provide more accurate results (especially during sunsets and sunrises). Both models are integrated into a tecno-economic model developed in previous work. The LCOE obtained with the 1D model is between 7% and 10% greater than the one obtained with the correlation.
Police-referred restorative justice for juveniles in Australia
Authors: Richards Kelly
Published: February 2024

This preliminary paper provides an overview of the legislative and policy context of restorative justice measures for juveniles in each Australian state and territory, highlighting the diverse characteristics of current restorative practices. Further, it provides an indication of the numbers and characteristics of juveniles who are referred by police to restorative justice measures and the offence types for which they are most commonly referred. A number of key points about the application of restorative justice measures to juveniles in Australia’s jurisdictions are highlighted, including that juveniles were referred to conferences primarily for property crimes and that Indigenous juveniles comprised higher proportions of those sent to court than to conferencing. This paper argues that more detailed data on the offending histories, offence types and offence seriousness of juveniles referred by police to restorative justice processes would enable a more finely-grained analysis of restorative justice for juveniles in Australia.
Following the proceeds of illegal logging in Indonesia
Authors: Walters Julie
Published: February 2024

The low number of prosecutions in Indonesia for illegal logging may not offer a strong enough deterrent against engaging in what is a lucrative crime. However, the movement of offenders and proceeds tied to illegal logging through other countries in the region offers some opportunities to support Indonesia's law enforcement responses. Officials in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia may charge offenders in those jurisdictions with criminal money laundering offences for their involvement in corruption offences in Indonesia. However, the structures of money laundering offences in those countries prohibit direct charges being laid for money laundering tied to illegal logging. Only Singapore is able to prosecute actors for money laundering tied to sales of endangered species. As such, this may offer an additional avenue for prosecuting offenders and producing a deterrent effect. Indonesian officials have also made some use of financial intelligence to pursue illegal logging cases. The proceeds of crime provisions and mutual legal assistance for asset freezing operating in Hong Kong and Singapore also offer some additional avenues for targeting the proceeds of any corruption offences committed in Indonesia. Asset freezing and recovery in both countries still requires assistance from Indonesia to secure an outcome. The 'follow the money approach' is not as flexible as some commentators have suggested in the past.
How police body-worn cameras can facilitate misidentification in domestic and family violence responses
Authors: Iliadis Mary , Harris Bridget , Vakhitova Zarina , Woodlock Delanie , Flynn Asher , Tyson Danielle
Published: February 2024

Police body-worn camera (BWC) technologies—affixed to a vest, sunglasses or cap—are deployed by all Australian police agencies, including in frontline responses to domestic and family violence (DFV). This paper presents the findings from the first Australian study focused on how women DFV victim-survivors view and experience BWCs in police call-outs and legal proceedings. Informed by a national survey of 119 victim-survivors, it explores two key concerns relating to the potential consequences of BWC footage: (1) it may facilitate misidentification of the primary aggressor, and (2) perpetrators may use the BWC to present (false) evidence of themselves as blameless.
THE ISSUE OF PERSONAL EXCHANGE IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE BSSR AND POLAND IN 1921-1939
Authors: BOROVSKAYA O.
Published: February 2024

The article focuses on the issue of personal exchange in the relations between the BSSR and Poland in 1921-1939. It is emphasized that after the conclusion of the Riga Peace Treaty, the issues of bilateral population exchange were dealt with by a specially created Joint Commission for Repatriation with centers in Warsaw and Moscow. In August 1924, the issue of personal became part of diplomatic relations between Poland and the USSR. In particular the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Poland and Bureau under the Central Committee of the RCP (b)-Central Committee of the All-Russian Communist Party (b) began to deal with the problems of repatriation. Attempts were also made to effect an exchange of prisoners through the military authorities. It is indicated that according to the “Treaty on personal exchange between Poland, Russia (Belarus) and Ukraine” concluded in march 1923, the implementation of the largest number of persons subject to personal exchange between the parties was envisaged.
GENESIS, CHRONOLOGY AND HISTORICAL DESTINY OF THE BROMME CULTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERFLUVE OF THE WESTERN BUG, PRIPYAT AND NEMAN IN THE LATE GLACIAL
Authors: HARSHKOU A.
Published: February 2024

The article is devoted to the problems of the chronology and historical fate of the Bromme culture in the context of the settlement of the territory of modern Belarus, and in particular, the interfluve of the Western Bug, Pripyat and Neman. The author made a review of historiography on the research problem and indicates the degree of study of these issues in the Belarusian historical and archaeological science. Based on the data obtained as a result of field research on archaeological sites, as well as data from natural sciences, possible options for the appearance of the population of the Bromme culture as a result of natural disasters were formulated, which, in turn, contributed to its formation and development of the West Bug-Pripyat-Neman interfluve in the future.
EXPERIENCE OF STUDYING THE MILITARY-MEMORIAL SPHERE OF BELARUS IN SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN KNOWLEDGE
Authors: KORSAK A.
Published: February 2024

The article analyzes the main tendencies of Belarusian and foreign historiography in the study of historical policy, memory policy, military-memorial sphere in general and burial sites of the Great Patriotic War in Belarus in particular from the point of view of interdisciplinary approach. The research is based on the problem-thematic principle, which allows the author to consider the process of development of historical knowledge in their conceptual unity.
RUSSIAN AND BELARUSIAN LANGUAGES IN IMPLEMENTATION CONDITIONS SOVIET NATIONAL POLITICS: DIALECTICS OF RELATIONSHIP
Authors: TERENTYEV V.
Published: February 2024

The article analyzes some aspects expansion of the scope of use Russion language on the territory of Belarus in the second half of the 1960 s – the first half of the 19870 s.

The author makes assumptions that a special attitude towards the Russion Language while maintaining attention to other Languages, was determined by the need to have a real basis, from which in the future a single Soviet people with a single Language could grow.
POLOTSK PEDAGOGICAL INSTITUTE IN THE SYSTEM TRAINING OF TEACHING STAFF IN THE BSSR IN 1953–1958
Authors: DOVGYALO N.
Published: February 2024

The article discusses the issues of training pedagogical specialists at the Polotsk Pedagogical Institute in the period from 1953 to 1958. The main attention is paid to the problems of the first years of operation of the institution, as well as the peculiarities of the organization of the educational process.
Reasons of Young Gymnasts’ Sports Career Termination
Authors: Gasparyan Hayk , Petrosyan Armen , Selumyan Narine
Published: February 2024

During the analysis of the literature, it turned out that in different countries there are certain differences in the reasons that determine the termination of the sports career of athletes. In addition, it turned out that representatives of various sports were included in many studies, which do not provide an accurate assessment of the reasons for the termination of a sports career in gymnastics.
The purpose of the study is to find out the reasons of young gymnasts’ sports career termination in Armenia.
The termination of the sports career of young Armenian gymnasts is due to 12 different reasons, amongst them the main ones are lack of athletic achievements (insufficient progress for an athlete), lack of motivation, injuries.
Implementasi digital marketing dalam meningkatkan bisnis UKM (usaha kecil dan mikro) di Kelurahan Makroman Kalimantan Timur
Authors: Tikawati Tikawati , Darmawati Darmawati , Fadhilah Nurul , Rahmah Fitria
Published: February 2024

Business demands for the use of technology in the marketing activities of small and medium enterprises have become mandatory to be met. Business competition and increasingly high business creativity require every small and micro business actor to carry out marketing strategies that are adapted to the times. The need for the internet is mandatory in all activities including business activities. Therefore, small and micro business actors must master digital marketing as one of the most effective tools in marketing products and services. This community service activity aims to increase the insight into knowledge, as well as the skills of small and micro business actors in terms of utilizing digital marketing, in this case the mastery of social meda. This activity was attended by 25 small and micro business participants using the seminar method, explanation of power point slides and LCD projectors, sharing experiences and discussions, as well as direct practice of creating social media accounts (business whatsapp, facebook, Instagram, tik-tok). This community service was carried out in Makroman Village, Welcome District, Samarinda City. The results show that several micro-small business groups have been active in implementing social media as a medium for promoting their business, although there are still many people who have not mapped online business accounts with accounts for personal gain. All participants showed great interest and attention in this activity and they have used marketing media through social media as a promotional medium on an ongoing basis.
Peningkatan kualitas pengusaha ultra mikro melalui pelatihan Canva di Kabupaten Ngawi
Authors: Niken Niken Nafiatu Rahma , Devi Heidy Paramitha
Published: February 2024

Design creativity plays a vital role in the success of ultra-micro businesses. One of them is success in creating a design that suits the business and attracts buyers' interest. One example of a tool for creating designs is using the Canva application. The problem encountered by ultra-micro entrepreneurs in the Ngawi area is that they need to gain skills to provide product information for their business. Therefore, training and assistance are needed to use the Canva application to develop their business. The objectives of this service activity are: (1) increasing the graphic design skills of ultra-micro business actors in the success of their business and (2) increasing consumer interest with the availability of business identities through attractive designs. The methods used in carrying out this activity are initial observation, delivery of material, and practical implementation of Canva. The result of this activity was the implementation of training on using the Canva application with 10 participants who could take part in the training until the end of the event. The participants learned about using the Canva application to improve the quality of ultramicro entrepreneurs and the design skills of business actors.
Pelatihan pencegahan dan penanggulangan bahaya kebakaran di fire station Bandar Udara Internasional Soekarno-Hatta
Authors: Kurniawan Wahyu , Gunawan Fandhy , Solihin Solihin , Saputra Surya Tri , Yusmana Wawan , Kalbuana Nawang , Supri Supri
Published: February 2024

The importance of awareness of fire risks in the community, especially at airports, encourages the need for effective prevention and countermeasures. Community service by lecturers of the D.III PKP Study Program through this training aims to provide knowledge and skills to the community of airport service users, especially workers in tenants, regarding how to prevent and overcome fires. Involving the Tri Darma Perguruan Tinggi concept, this training not only touches on aspects of fire prevention but also discusses fire phenomena, risk analysis, emergency response, and fire management. It is hoped that training participants will benefit them through increased knowledge and understanding that can increase awareness of fire risks so that the community around Soekarno-Hatta International Airport can be better prepared and trained in dealing with potential fire hazards.
Citizen Science for Enhanced Dengue Vector Surveillance in Solomon Islands: A Methods Paper
Authors: Craig Adam , Panda Nixon , Palapu Rudgard , Oku Geoffrey , Lifoia Clement , Tatalu Joanna , Beebe Nigel , Kelly Gerard , Kama Jr Nathan , Iro’ofa Charlie , Bugoro Hugo
Published: February 2024

Arthropod-borne arboviral diseases—including dengue, Zika, and chikungunya—place a substantial burden on the health of populations, globally. Dengue alone is endemic in more than 100 countries and causes more than 96 million symptomatic cases and approximately 40,000 deaths annually. The recent surge in arboviral disease outbreaks, coupled with the World Health Organization’s newly published vector control guidelines, accentuates the imperative to understand the dispersion of disease-carrying mosquitoes across diverse spatial and temporal scales. However, traditional surveillance mechanisms often fall short because of workforce limitations, logistical complexities, jurisdictional boundaries, and budgetary constraints, especially in low- and low-middle-income countries. In this article, we systematically report the design, implementation, and iterative enhancement of a groundbreaking school-based citizen science initiative for augmenting mosquito surveillance in the Solomon Islands. Key reflections encompass the initiative’s role in supporting routine government-led disease vector monitoring, sustainability through integration and fostering participant engagement, and the amalgamation of citizen-collected data with government surveillance activities. The article also discusses the impact of the citizen science initiative with regard to the Solomon Islands’ pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. Our findings underscore the potential of citizen science methods to support and extend public health surveillance activities and to serve as a community-engagement-for-behaviour-change tool in resource-constrained contexts.
How to Deal with Uninformed and Poorly Informed Opinions of Citizens? A Critical Approach to Online Public Engagement
Authors: Mayeur Chloé , Mertes Heidi , Van Hoof Wannes
Published: February 2024

Public engagement is increasingly recognized as a mutual learning of perspectives between lay and expert stakeholders. Still, the intention to educate citizens sometimes prevails over an open and honest exchange. Because of this overemphasis on education, researchers may more easily label lay opinions invalid if uninformed or based on distorted beliefs. Our experience with uninformed and poorly informed (UPI) opinions in an online public engagement initiative (the DNA Debate) has taught us to think differently. First, UPI opinions might be ethically instructive, provided that one searches for the implicit message participants try to convey related to their values, fears, or needs. Since there will always be less informed or uninformed citizens, that would avoid rejecting their voices. Second, UPI opinions may highlight misconceptions in the general population for which more targeted education is necessary. This article is an invitation to reflect ethically on why and how researchers should deal with UPI opinions, illustrated by quotes from the DNA Debate.
Uzbek-Russian Relations: Debt Relief (Case Study)
Authors: Kromková Júlia
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this article is to explore the dynamics of Uzbek-Russian bilateral relations. The topic is covered in the context of historical development but also with respect to current issues that shape international agenda. The paper identifies areas of existing cooperation and defines potential areas for improvement and future developments. We also examine limits and threats to deepening bilateral cooperation. This article employs also a case study approach to examine the impact of the debt relief program with Russia, which was agreed upon in 2014. The case study was conducted using a range of sources, including a review of official documents and news reports to provide a comprehensive analysis. In the article, we point out that Uzbek-Russian relations have been complex over time, with Uzbekistan pursuing a pragmatic approach based on the tradition of political realism. The relations are still dynamically changing and updating due to the need to protect and promote national interests in uncertain times, updates of the country’s foreign policy priorities, or global trends reflected by the state leaders also at the bilateral level.
Digitization and Enterprise Efficiency in Selected EU Countries
Authors: Mészáros Róbert
Published: February 2024

Digitization of enterprises becomes very popular recently. Companies should invest in digital transformation of their business processes to reach better efficiency level in order to stay competitive. My study analyses digital transformation on an enterprise level done for Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Poland, Slovak Republic and Hungary, as well as the impact of digitization on enterprise efficiency in these countries. The results show a large digital gap between selected EU member states. Regarding results obtained, Denmark, Finland and Netherlands have a high level of digitization of both public and private sector. On the other hand, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland have significantly lower level of digitization. We can assume that reasons for such a digital gap observed are the low level of accessibility of digital infrastructure, lack of investments in the integration of digital technology, lack of training of personnel for developing the necessary human capital and the absence of the required business culture in Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. To accelerate the digital transformation of the private sector, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland will need to make significant investments to improve access to digital infrastructure and enhance people's ICT skills. Results from the panel data fixed effects regression analysis showed that digital transformation of the private sector, especially regarding skilled human capital and successful integration of digital technology, supported by a high level of digital public services, is the way to improve labor and capital productivity in the country.
Understanding the Determinants of Emigration Decisions Among the Afghan Population
Authors: Rahmat Najib Rahman
Published: February 2024

This study examines the factors influencing emigration decisions in Afghanistan from 2016 to 2021. Specifically, it analyzes the influence of economic, social, and demographic factors on emigration decisions, using a binary logistic regression model and a cross-sectional time series dataset. It finds that owning small land portions, less livestock, and having lower income positively influence emigration likelihood, while owning large land holdings, more livestock, and higher income have a negative correlation. Social factors like political instability, poor public services, insecurity, violence, and family connections abroad play a significant and positive role. Demographic factors such as being young, educated, single, male, living in urban areas, and belonging to smaller households are positively influence the decision to emigrate, while uneducated individuals show a negative influence. The research has implications for public policy, academia, and international donor organizations, emphasizing the need to address push factors in the source country. Future studies can expand the analysis to include additional factors and multiple countries.
Analysis of the Capital Structure of the Company in the Period Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Rimeš Michal
Published: February 2024

This paper summarizes the optimal capital structure, comparing the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the analysis of financial statements, we deal with the adequacy of the capital structure, drawing on the available literature that describes both classical and current models. We concluded that the company’s low credit indebtedness was very beneficial for companies during the pandemic period since companies with a high credit burden were much more likely to become insolvent. The company we monitor draws foreign sources of coverage mainly from the sources of the consolidated whole, which is a huge competitive advantage, but we realize that not every company has such possibilities. In addition, itis necessary to monitor liquidity indicators, because our analysis showed that although the company, we monitor is financially sound and in excellent shape, it may have problems with repaying its liabilities, as its liquidity ratios have been below the optimal threshold for a long time.
Impact of European Structural and Investment Funds on the Slovak Economy
Authors: Jánošková Kristína
Published: February 2024

The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) represent a valuable tool of the European Union. EU countries use the funds to finance activities focused on different areas. They are primarily aimed at reducing regional disparities between regions. The objective of this paper is to examine the effect of the European Structural and Investment Funds on economic indicators in Slovakia. To achieve this aim, the paper examines the evolution of economic indicators between the years 2007 and 2021. Secondary data on the drawing of the European Structural and Investment Funds in Slovakia in the period under review are identified. The impact is detected in the paper based on regression and correlation analysis. Established on the correlation and regression analysis outcome, we can argue that there is a dependence between the implementation of ESIF and the economic indicators, although the implementation of the ESIF has a small impact on gross domestic product and unemployment.
Household Indebtedness and Life Satisfaction in Slovakia
Authors: Cesnak Martin
Published: February 2024

One of the central findings of the economics of happiness literature is that an individual's subjective well-being (SWB) depends not only on economic resources such as income, but also on other dimensions such as wealth including liabilities. While the direct effects of wealth, income and debt have been studied extensively, there is scarce evidence on the effects of debt burden and credit constraints on SWB. The goal of this paper is to analyze the impact of debt burden on life satisfaction of Slovak households, using the Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) microdata. We show that life satisfaction has generally improved between 2017 and 2021, mainly driven by the indebted households. In general, holding debt is associated with higher life satisfaction, as it goes hand in hand with the wealth accumulation. Importantly, we also analyze the impact of indebtedness at the intensive margin using the debt service-to-income (DSTI) indicator, as an objective measure of debt burden. There are clear hints of a negative relationship between one’s life satisfaction and the intensity of debt. This suggests that the burden is also perceived subjectively and may have an implication for individual happiness. A more comprehensive regression analysis is the subject of further research.
The Role of Copper in Zambia
Authors: Čerňák Jozef
Published: February 2024

Natural resources stand high on the agenda of a number of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa (AfDB, 2013). Resource-rich countries usually depend on single main export product. Zambia being a member of both COMESA and SADC as two RECs in Africa has copper reserves of roughly 20 million tons and is the second largest copper producer in Africa. 70% of country’s foreign exchange revenue is coming from copper. When copper prices fall on world markets, this means lower convertible currency earnings for Zambia. Zambia’s dependence on copper makes the country vulnerable to commodity price fluctuation and external shocks. Diversification of the Zambian economy from dependency of copper and development of other industrial sectors could bring economic growth, more stability and create new opportunities for the economy in the future. The objective of this paper is to map and analyse the current relevant export-related status quo of Zambia as a member of COMESA and SADC based on the raw material basis of Zambia, with an emphasis on its current and potential future extraction of copper, and diversification on mind.
Competitive Analysis of Spa Industry in Slovakia: Combining SWOT, EFE and IFE Analysis
Authors: Chlpek Samuel , Halenárová Mária
Published: February 2024

This article deals with spa tourism in Slovakia and its importance for health care, tourism, and the economy. Slovakia has a rich history of spa tourism dating back to the Hungarian state. The spa industry forms an important part of public health care and also has an important role in tourism. Spa towns often form the centres of economic, cultural and social activity in Slovakia. The spa industry and spa tourism are also of economic and socio-political importance. There is a competitive struggle between European countries in the field of spa and spa tourism. Spa establishments are trying to attract younger clients and to improve the quality of the services provided. However, there is outdated and stagnant legislation which hampers the development of spas. The article also discusses the economic problems associated with staffing and innovation of spa businesses. The analysis of the spa tourism environment in Slovakia is carried out by means of a scoring system, which will enable the establishment of priorities for improvement in this area.
E-Marketing Communication in the Beverage Industry
Authors: Kalamen Kristián , Mlsová Kateřina , Világi Róbert , Konečný Michal
Published: February 2024

The aim of the research is to identify best practices in working with social media by analyzing the e-marketing communications of a soft drink company and its direct competitors. For this purpose, the social media accounts of 3 selected soft drink manufacturing companies using their own social media accounts between February and March 2023 are monitored and analyzed. The social media networks monitored include Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Businesses promote their new or existing products on their social networks on an almost daily basis and often use celebrities for this promotion. By using celebrities, they gain more engagement from social media users in the form of likes, comments, views, and new followers.
Private 5G, “Not As Private As You May Think”
Authors: Nimkar V. C. , Pingle S. A. , Bhagat K. N.
Published: February 2024

As the need grows for mobile solutions that can offer more data throughput with ultra-reliable low-latency communications and better connection density—albeit at risk—private 5G networks and the shift to Industry 4.0 are gaining pace. As 5G technology develops and enterprises start implementing it, they need to be cautious during this transitional phase to make sure they are cognizant of and control risk as their attack surface changes. Many private 5G deployments use 4G/LTE Core networks in Non-Stand-Alone mode, which keeps many of the same vulnerabilities that have been there for years. As a result, private 5G is frequently not fully 5G pure. In this research paper, a few of the present-day weaknesses in the Stream Control Transmission and GPRS Tunnelling protocols—as well as the Industrial Control System protocols—that businesses need to be aware of and safeguard while using these technologies are discussed and shown.
The Spatial Epidemiology models on Covid-19 cases in India Mathematical models and data used in Spatial Epidemiology
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Sharma Bhanu , Khurana Pooja , Gupta Richa
Published: February 2024

Geographical epidemiology has been description of geographical patterns of mortality rates as part of descriptive epidemiological investigations, with the goal of developing theories regarding disease causation. Disease mapping, disease clustering, and ecological analysis are the predominant methods of geographical epidemiology, having close relationships between them. For describing the transmission of an illness within a geographically dispersed population, many models incorporating frameworks based on individuals, networks, stochastic processes, as well as partial derivative equations have been made. However, these models need a large amount of information and even a large amount of computational performance. Keeping this in mind, we have tried to create deterministic models formulated as partial differential equations to model spatial epidemics in spatial domains. This has been by assuming two types of population, the susceptible population, and the infective population, considering the functions of space and time. COVID-19 is a global tragedy, with India likely to be among the most hit. The fluctuation in the dispersion of COVID-19-related well-being results is most likely connected with numerous basic factors, like segment, financial, or natural poisons related factors.
Assessment of Physico-Chemical Parameters and Zooplankton Diversity in Anandpur Dam, Junagadh, Gujarat, India
Authors: Vyas Agnikumar , Radadia Bhupat , Pandya Meghna , Vyas Krupa
Published: February 2024

The physico-chemical profile of the freshwater reservoir (dam) in Anandpur, Saurashtra, Gujarat, where limnological research was carried out from June 2021 to May 2023, is described in this report. Temperature, transparency, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, acidity, alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, chlorides, salinity, and other variables were examined in the surface water of the dam. These components' seasonal fluctuations were examined, and their interrelationships are addressed. Water had an alkaline pH. Summertime saw a rise in EC, whereas the post-monsoon season saw a reduction. Alkalinity and total hardness tended to drop in the winter and summer and to rise during and after the monsoon. The amount of dissolved oxygen was highest in the winter and lowest in the summer. Temperature and EC indicated an inverse connection with dissolved oxygen. Total 36 species of zooplankton were also recorded. The highest arthropodan and rotifer zooplankton species were recorded.
Prevalence Of Nematode Population In Two Different Rice Cultivation Systems And Its Impact On Crop Growth
Authors: Rathod Arun , Sarkar Shimpy , Hore Jayita , Singh Kriti , Majumder Tamoghno , Roy Kusal
Published: February 2024

An experiment was carried out to study the prevalence of nematode population in two different cultivation systems (SRI and conventional) on rice cv. IET- 4094 (Khitish). Total twenty-eight plots were laid out in paired plot technique. Irrespective of rice cultivation systems, there had been a steady hike in population of Meloidogyne graminicola and Tylenchorhynchus mashhoodi with the maximum being recorded near harvest and a sudden fall during fallow period was observed. The study indicated that SRI cultivation provided comparatively more favourable ecological condition for steady buildup of M. graminicola and T. mashhoodi population than conventional system. Between two systems, SRI method encountered comparatively more population of Hoplolaimus indicus. The spiral nematode, Helicotylenchus dihystera was also found associated with the rice crop but statistical analysis did not reveal any stable result to come into conclusion about their ecological preference. The study revealed that continuous submergence of rice field as in conventional system was detrimental to growth and reproduction of R. reniformis. The rice crop grown under SRI method acquired more vigorous growth as compared to conventional system. Profuse root and shoot growth as evidenced by root length, root biomass yield and straw yield in SRI might have limit the yield reduction in spite of huge infestation of nematodes.
Influence Of Varietal Duration And Nitrogen Fertilization In Augmenting Micronutrient Uptake And Yield Of Rice
Authors: Sarkar Souptik , Sengupta Sudip , Bhattacharyya Kallol , Parveen Samrin , Bhattacharya Parijat
Published: February 2024

Lack of micronutrients in diet lead to health anomalies in human, to solve which diet-based availability can be looked upon. The goal of the current research is to ascertain how micronutrient uptake and yield of boro rice are influenced by the duration of the variety and graded doses of nitrogen fertilization. The field trial was conducted in the boro season of 2022 at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Gayeshpur, Nadia in a thrice replicated split plots with nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha-1) in main plot and varieties (short duration-Satabdi, medium duration-Pratikshya and long duration-Swarna masuri) in sub-plots. At both maximum tillering and harvest stage, increase in nitrogen fertilization levels significantly increased the uptake of Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn and biomass yield significantly. However, while Fe and Mn concentrations were highest for N application at 150 kg ha-1, N application at 100 and 150 kg ha-1 statistically registered at par Zn and Cu values. Varietal influence on grain and straw yield as well as micronutrient uptake in harvest may be linked to their life cycle pattern where Partikshya considerably outperformed short duration Satabdi variety. Worst performance of Swarna Masuri variety may possibly be attributed to the inherent varietal characteristics and exposure to terminal moisture and heat stress at the months of May and June. Judicious management of nitrogen fertilizer may be a viable non- traditional approach for micronutrient nutrition in rice.