bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Interest Rate Capping on the Payment of Corporation Tax by Tier Three Banks in Kenya
Authors: Yegon Cheboi , Njoka Julius
Published: October 2024

The interest rate charged on loans and the rate of interest paid on bank deposits, which translates to cost of funds both have a significant impact on the profitability of any commercial banks and hence the corporation tax paid therof. In September 2016, the Banking Act was amended through insertion of clause 33B controlled lending interest rates to a maximum of 400 base points above CBR rate and interest on deposits to not less than 70% of the CBR rate. This study sought to determine the effects of interest rate capping on the Corporation tax paid by the tier three banks in Kenya. Specifically, the study examined the effect of profitability margins, loan book quality, cost of bank deposits, and cost of overheads on the payment of corporation tax by tier three banks in Kenya. The study utilized descriptive research design and targeted 18 tier three commercial banks leaving out Mayfair and SBM banks that were new, and those that had either been acquired by other banks or were under receivership or statutory management as at December of 2018. The findings indicated that cost of overheads have a positive and significant relationship with corporation tax payment by tier three banks (β=0.148542, p=0.016), profitability margin has a positive and significant relationship with corporation tax payment by tier three banks (β=0.315405, p=0.000), interest rate capping (control variable) had a negative and significant relationship with corporation tax payment by tier three banks (β=-3.08364, p=0.001), cost of deposits have a negative but insignificant relationship with corporation tax payment by tier three banks (β=-0.05854, p=0.398), while loan book quality has a negative but insignificant relationship with corporation tax payment by tier three banks (β=-0.00443, p=0.795). Based on the findings, the study concluded that the introduction of interest rate capping had a negative and significant effect on corporation tax payment by tier three banks in Kenya. From the findings, the recommends that the government through the National Assembly should reconsider removing the interest rate capping. This is because it has adverse effects to all stakeholders including the government, banks and customers.
Agency banking as an Alternative Banking Services Delivery Channel and Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Kenya
Authors: Mwangi Timothy Ngatia , Kalui Prof. Fredrick
Published: October 2024

This study set out to investigate the effect of agency banking as an alternative banking service delivery channel on the financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya.  The study was anchored on modern portfolio theory and employed a causal research design. Census method of sampling was employed, where all the 40 commercial banks operating as of December 2018 formed the study units. Both primary and secondary data were used. Data was analysed using descriptive and regression analysis. The study findings showed that agency banking had a positive and significant effect on financial performance of commercial banks. The study concluded that agency banking contributes significantly to positive change in financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The study, therefore, recommends that the management of commercial banks should consider embracing the agency banking model and increasing the use of agents that rely on the existing infrastructure such as supermarkets, credit unions, hotels, and petrol stations to reach out to more customers.
E-Banking Strategy and Performance of Commercial Banks in Kenya
Authors: Kavila Timothy Muthini , Kilika Dr. James
Published: October 2024

The study focus was on the role of e-banking strategy on a bank’s performance in the country. The specific objective is to investigate the role of mobile money strategy, agency money strategy, internet money strategy, and the A-T-Ms strategy on banks' performance in the country. A descriptive research design was employed for this study. The study targeted 39 banks that were in operation during the period of 2016 – 2020. Therefore, the total number of observations was 195. A secondary dataset was employed for the study which was obtained from various sources including the annual reports and publications of banks, the CBK, and Communication Authority of Kenya. The data analysis employed inferential and descriptive statistics. In descriptive statistics, percentages and frequencies are employed while inferential statistics included correlation and regression analysis. According to correlation analysis, agency banking (r = 0.578, p = 0.000), mobile banking (r = 0.536, p = 0.000), ATM banking (r = 0.644, p = 0.000) and internet banking (r = 0.431, p = 0.000) have a significant relationship with banks performance. The research concluded that use of agency banking, mobile banking, ATMs, and Internet banking had positive outcomes and significantly affected performance of banks. The study also concluded that these e-banking strategy had a positive and significant effect on both ROA and ROE of commercial banks. Therefore, they had a positive and significant effect on performance of commercial banks. The study did a recommendation for commercial banks that there is a need for an investment in advanced technology, a new way of doing things, and capacity enhancement to increase utilization of e-banking services. Additionally, banks ought to put in resources to train, educate, and enlighten their customers on the benefits of utilizing e-banking services.
Regulatory Framework and Financial Corporate Compliance in Public Universities in Kenya
Authors: Chokaa Vincent , Baimwera (PhD) Dr. Bernard , Mugambi (PhD) Dr. Ken , Senaji (PhD) Prof. Thomas A.
Published: October 2024

One of the important components of corporate governance that improves accountability and transparency in an institution's financial management is financial corporate compliance. The emergence of alarming cases of financial impropriety in Kenya's public universities has intensified the demand for financial accountability in the public sector and exposed the boards and management to increasing scrutiny. Public organizations have reported cases of inadequate or absence of financial compliance, and public universities have also cited comparable circumstances in audit reports. It is unclear, however, what the causes of this compliance are or what function corporate governance plays in it. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of regulatory framework on financial corporate compliance at Kenya's public universities. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study's target population was 40 accredited public universities in Kenya. The data were gathered through the use of extensive, quasi-structured questionnaires. The study used descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution tables, percentages, and measures of central tendency such as the mean. Chi-square and correlation analysis were used to establish the relationship between the study variables. The study findings indicated that regulatory framework affects positively financial corporate compliance during the period of study and its effects are significant. The study also found that the universities are regulated by accredited regulatory bodies as stipulated by the constitution. This study recommends that the government should employ thorough accountability measures and policies that will make every officer in public universities be held responsible for every activity he/she has undertaken on behalf of the university that may lead the university to incur some expenditures.
Firm Characteristics and Non-Performing Loans of Microfinance Banks in Kenya
Authors: Mukuru Leonard , Thuo Anthony
Published: October 2024

Microfinance banks in Kenya have continued to experience challenges of loan defaults which negatively impact their asset quality and performance. As a result of loan default, many of these institutions have suffered significant losses. The goal of this study was to see how firm factors affect non-performing loans at Kenyan microfinance institutions. The specific objectives were to examine the impact of leverage, business size, liquidity, and capital sufficiency on non-performing loans. Institutional theory, credit crunch theory, and liquidity preference theory served as the research's guide. The research design was descriptive. The analysis was premised on descriptive and inferential analyses. The findings showed that leverage significantly and favorably affected non-performing loans. Non-performing loans were negatively and significantly impacted by firm size. Microfinance banks' non-performing loans were not significantly affected by liquidity or capital adequacy. The study's conclusions suggest that lowering the debt ratio of microfinance banks will undoubtedly lead to a reduction in non-performing loans. By expanding the asset base, there is a greater chance that the non-performing loans of the microfinance banks will be reduced. Increasing liquidity and capital adequacy would not have a substantial impact on the non-performing loans of microfinance banks. The management of the microfinance banks should review the debt policies with aim of reducing over-reliance on debts, should strengthen the equity policy that will lead to low leverage, should develop strategic plans aimed at strengthening and growing the asset base. The management should particularly channel most of the payoffs from investment in asset acquisition. Policymakers in the financial sector especially CBK should streamline policy implementation toward loan defaulters. Academicians and researchers should review the empirical findings of this study in building their research work on related topics.
Digital Transformation and Financial Performance of Deposit-Taking Savings and Credit Co-Operatives in Nairobi City County, Kenya
Authors: Ogindo Eunita Atieno , Njoka Charity
Published: October 2024

The deposit-taking Saccos in Kenya have registered an increased amount of non-performing loans as well as a reduction in liquidity, which have affected their overall financial performance. There is little research on digital transformation and the financial performance of recipient pockets. Therefore, this study aims to examine how digital transformation affects the financial performance of Nairobi-based Saccos. Specific objectives include investigating the impact of mobile banking, ATM, agency banking, and Internet banking on financial performance. Financial intermediation theory, agency theory, and transaction cost innovation theory support this research. Explanatory research is used in this study. The target group consists of 44 licensed savers. 30 Saccos were included in this study. This study uses secondary panel data from 2017 to 2021. The method used is panel regression. Regression and correlation were also employed. The results showed that agency banking (β=0.046817, p<0.05) and internet banking (β=0.109425, p<0.05) had a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of Saccos in Nairobi districts. The results also show that mobile banking (β= -0.00945, p>0.05) and ATM (β=0.072028, p>0.05) have no significant impact on the financial performance of saccos by taking deposits in cities in Nairobi. The study concluded that the key factors improving the financial performance of Sacco's deposit beneficiaries in Nairobi District were agency banking and online banking. This study also concludes that ATMs and mobile banking have no impact on deposit-taking saccos' financial success. The paper makes recommendations for enhancing agency banking services for Saccos that accept deposits. The study also suggests enhancing the online banking system for managing Saccos that accept deposits. The research also advises the leadership of deposit-taking Saccos to review their policies on ATMs and mobile banking to identify any potential obstacles to taking appropriate action.
Exploration of Cash Flow Management Strategy and Financial Performance of Saccos in Imenti North Sub-County, Kenya
Authors: Sora Rahima Atikiya , Kambura Susan , Moguche Abel
Published: October 2024

The study sought to explore the influence of cash flow management strategy on financial performance of Saccos in Imenti North Sub-County, Kenya. Descriptive research design was adopted to collect data from 21 deposit and non-deposit Saccos located in Imenti North Sub-County. The target respondents included 42 accounts department officers, 114 tellers, 93 back-office staff, and 120 loan officers hence a total of 369 respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Cash flow management strategy had a correlation coefficient r=0.772** at α < 0.000 and a 99% significance level. The study established that the investment department was still undeveloped in many Saccos therefore limiting on the authorization of incorporation of funds in investment options like capital markets. This limited the Saccos to act as mere institutions of accepting deposits and savings, while at the same time issuing loans. This method of operation at many times did not guarantee consistent income due to competition from other financial institutions doing similar work. The study thus recommends that the Board of Management [BOM] should create policies and provide adequate funds to establish an investment department, if there is none, or strengthen it if in existence. The contribution to the study is that a quality policy structure would introduce the Saccos to endless opportunities in investment at capital markets which has a well-structured and managed fund portfolio. In return, this would improve the income since the operations of the Saccos would have been diversified spreading into various classes of investments available.
Kinas Omdaning
Authors: Essén Rütger
Published: October 2024

Det historiska Kina - de 18 provinserne kring nedre loppet av de stora floderna Hoangho och Yangtsekiang - är en geografisktisolerad värld.
Diversity in Notch ligand-receptor signaling interactions
Authors: Kuintzle Rachael , Santat Leah A , Elowitz Michael B
Published: October 2024

The Notch signaling pathway uses families of ligands and receptors to transmit signals to nearby cells. These components are expressed in diverse combinations in different cell types, interact in a many-to-many fashion, both within the same cell (in cis) and between cells (in trans), and their interactions are modulated by Fringe glycosyltransferases. A fundamental question is how the strength of Notch signaling depends on which pathway components are expressed, at what levels, and in which cells. Here, we used a quantitative, bottom-up, cell-based approach to systematically characterize trans-activation, cis-inhibition, and cis-activation signaling efficiencies across a range of ligand and Fringe expression levels in two mammalian cell types. Each ligand (Dll1, Dll4, Jag1, and Jag2) and receptor variant (Notch1 and Notch2) analyzed here exhibited a unique profile of interactions, Fringe-dependence, and signaling outcomes. All four ligands were able to bind receptors in cis and in trans, and all ligands trans-activated both receptors, although Jag1-Notch1 signaling was substantially weaker than other ligand-receptor combinations. Cis-interactions were predominantly inhibitory, with the exception of the Dll1-and Dll4-Notch2 pairs, which exhibited cis-activation stronger than trans-activation. Lfng strengthened Delta-mediated trans-activation and weakened Jagged-mediated trans-activation for both receptors. Finally, cis-ligands showed diverse cis-inhibition strengths, which depended on the identity of the trans-ligand as well as the receptor. The map of receptor-ligand-Fringe interaction outcomes revealed here should help guide rational perturbation and control of the Notch pathway.
PfMORC protein regulates chromatin accessibility and transcriptional repression in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Chahine Z , Gupta M , Lenz T , Hollin T , Abel S , Banks CAS , Saraf A , Prudhomme J , Bhanvadia S , Florens L , Le Roch KG
Published: October 2024

The environmental challenges the human malaria parasite,
Plasmodium falciparum
, faces during its progression into its various lifecycle stages warrant the use of effective and highly regulated access to chromatin for transcriptional regulation. Microrchidia (MORC) proteins have been implicated in DNA compaction and gene silencing across plant and animal kingdoms. Accumulating evidence has shed light into the role MORC protein plays as a transcriptional switch in apicomplexan parasites. In this study, using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tool along with complementary molecular and genomics approaches, we demonstrate that
Pf
MORC not only modulates chromatin structure and heterochromatin formation throughout the parasite erythrocytic cycle, but is also essential to the parasite survival. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) experiments suggest that
Pf
MORC binds to not only sub-telomeric regions and genes involved in antigenic variation but may also play a role in modulating stage transition. Protein knockdown experiments followed by chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) studies indicate that downregulation of
Pf
MORC impairs key histone marks and induces the collapse of the parasite heterochromatin structure leading to its death. All together these findings confirm that
Pf
MORC plays a crucial role in chromatin structure and gene regulation, validating this factor as a strong candidate for novel antimalarial strategies.
Population clustering of structural brain aging and its association with brain development
Authors: Duan Haojing , Shi Runye , Kang Jujiao , Banaschewski Tobias , Bokde Arun LW , Büchel Christian , Desrivières Sylvane , Flor Herta , Grigis Antoine , Garavan Hugh , Gowland Penny A , Heinz Andreas , Brühl Rüdiger , Martinot Jean-Luc , Martinot Marie-Laure Paillère , Artiges Eric , Nees Frauke , Papadopoulos Orfanos Dimitri , Poustka Luise , Hohmann Sarah , Nathalie Holz Nathalie , Fröhner Juliane , Smolka Michael N , Vaidya Nilakshi , Walter Henrik , Whelan Robert , Schumann Gunter , Lin Xiaolei , Feng Jianfeng
Published: October 2024

Structural brain aging has demonstrated strong inter-individual heterogeneity and mirroring patterns with brain development. However, due to the lack of large-scale longitudinal neuroimaging studies, most of the existing research focused on the cross-sectional changes of brain aging. In this investigation, we present a data-driven approach that incorporate both cross-sectional changes and longitudinal trajectories of structural brain aging and identified two brain aging patterns among 37,013 healthy participants from UK Biobank. Participants with accelerated brain aging also demonstrated accelerated biological aging, cognitive decline and increased genetic susceptibilities to major neuropsychiatric disorders. Further, by integrating longitudinal neuroimaging studies from a multi-center adolescent cohort, we validated the ‘last in, first out’ mirroring hypothesis and identified brain regions with manifested mirroring patterns between brain aging and brain development. Genomic analyses revealed risk loci and genes contributing to accelerated brain aging and delayed brain development, providing molecular basis for elucidating the biological mechanisms underlying brain aging and related disorders.
Spatiotemporal recruitment of the ubiquitin-specific protease USP8 directs endosome maturation
Authors: Miao Yue , Du Yongtao , Wang Baolei , Liang Jingjing , Liang Yu , Dang Song , Liu Jiahao , Li Dong , He Kangmin , Ding Mei
Published: October 2024

The spatiotemporal transition of small GTPase Rab5 to Rab7 is crucial for early-to-late endosome maturation, yet the precise mechanism governing Rab5-to-Rab7 switching remains elusive. USP8, a ubiquitin-specific protease, plays a prominent role in the endosomal sorting of a wide range of transmembrane receptors and is a promising target in cancer therapy. Here, we identified that USP8 is recruited to Rab5-positive carriers by Rabex5, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rab5. The recruitment of USP8 dissociates Rabex5 from early endosomes (EEs) and meanwhile promotes the recruitment of the Rab7 GEF SAND-1/Mon1. In USP8-deficient cells, the level of active Rab5 is increased, while the Rab7 signal is decreased. As a result, enlarged EEs with abundant intraluminal vesicles accumulate and digestive lysosomes are rudimentary. Together, our results reveal an important and unexpected role of a deubiquitinating enzyme in endosome maturation.
Transcriptomic profiling of Schlemm’s canal cells reveals a lymphatic-biased identity and three major cell states
Authors: Balasubramanian Revathi , Kizhatil Krishnakumar , Li Taibo , Tolman Nicholas , Bhandari Aakriti , Clark Graham , Bupp-Chickering Violet , Kelly Ruth A , Zhou Sally , Peregrin John , Simón Marina , Montgomery Christa , Stamer W Daniel , Qian Jiang , John Simon WM
Published: October 2024

Schlemm’s canal (SC) is central in intraocular pressure regulation but requires much characterization. It has distinct inner and outer walls, each composed of Schlemm’s canal endothelial cells (SECs) with different morphologies and functions. Recent transcriptomic studies of the anterior segment added important knowledge, but were limited in power by SEC numbers or did not focus on SC. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of SC biology, we performed bulk RNA sequencing on C57BL/6 J SC, blood vessel, and lymphatic endothelial cells from limbal tissue (~4,500 SECs). We also analyzed mouse limbal tissues by single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (C57BL/6 J and 129/Sj strains), successfully sequencing 903 individual SECs. Together, these datasets confirm that SC has molecular characteristics of both blood and lymphatic endothelia with a lymphatic phenotype predominating. SECs are enriched in pathways that regulate cell-cell junction formation pointing to the importance of junctions in determining SC fluid permeability. Importantly, and for the first time, our analyses characterize three molecular classes of SECs, molecularly distinguishing inner wall from outer wall SECs and discovering two inner wall cell states that likely result from local environmental differences. Further, and based on ligand and receptor expression patterns, we document key interactions between SECs and cells of the adjacent trabecular meshwork (TM) drainage tissue. Also, we present cell type expression for a collection of human glaucoma genes. These data provide a new molecular foundation that will enable the functional dissection of key homeostatic processes mediated by SECs as well as the development of new glaucoma therapeutics.
Heparan sulphate binding controls in vivo half-life of the HpARI protein family
Authors: Colomb Florent , Jamwal Abhishek , Ogunkanbi Adefunke , Frangova Tania , Savage Alice R , Kelly Sarah , Wright Gavin J , Higgins Matthew K , McSorley Henry J
Published: October 2024

The parasitic nematode
Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri
secretes the HpARI family, which bind to IL-33, either suppressing (HpARI1 and HpARI2) or enhancing (HpARI3) responses to the cytokine. We previously showed that HpARI2 also bound to DNA via its first Complement Control Protein (CCP1) domain. Here, we find that HpARI1 can also bind DNA, while HpARI3 cannot. Through the production of HpARI2/HpARI3 CCP1 domain-swapped chimeras, DNA-binding ability can be transferred, and correlates with in vivo half-life of administered proteins. We found that HpARI1 and HpARI2 (but not HpARI3) also binds to the extracellular matrix component heparan sulphate (HS), and structural modelling showed a basic charged patch in the CCP1 domain of HpARI1 and HpARI2 (but not HpARI3) which could facilitate these interactions. Finally, a mutant of HpARI2 was produced which lacked DNA and HS binding, and was also shown to have a short half-life in vivo. Therefore, we propose that during infection the suppressive HpARI1 and HpARI2 proteins have long-lasting effects at the site of deposition due to DNA and/or extracellular matrix interactions, while HpARI3 has a shorter half-life due to a lack of these interactions.
Unanticipated mechanisms of covalent inhibitor and synthetic ligand cobinding to PPARγ
Authors: Shang Jinsai , Kojetin Douglas J
Published: October 2024

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor transcription factor that regulates gene expression programs in response to ligand binding. Endogenous lipids and synthetic ligands, including covalent antagonist inhibitors such as GW9662 and T0070907, are thought to compete for the orthosteric pocket in the ligand-binding domain (LBD). However, we previously showed that synthetic PPARγ ligands can cooperatively cobind with and reposition a bound endogenous orthosteric ligand to an alternate site, synergistically regulating PPARγ structure and function (Shang et al., 2018). Here, we reveal the structural mechanism of cobinding between a synthetic covalent antagonist inhibitor with other synthetic ligands. Biochemical and NMR data show that covalent antagonist inhibitors weaken—but do not prevent—the binding of other synthetic ligands via an allosteric mechanism rather than direct ligand clashing. The covalent ligands shift the LBD ensemble toward a transcriptionally repressive conformation, which structurally clashes with and reduces the orthosteric binding affinity of non-covalent synthetic ligands. Crystal structures reveal different non-covalent synthetic ligand-specific cobinding mechanisms ranging from alternate site binding to unexpectedly adopting an orthosteric binding mode by altering the covalent ligand binding pose. Our findings not only highlight the significant flexibility of the PPARγ orthosteric pocket and its ability to accommodate multiple ligands simultaneously, but also demonstrate that GW9662 and T0070907 should not be used as reliable chemical tools to inhibit the binding of other ligands to PPARγ.
Introduction
Authors: Knight Amy
Published: October 2024

This introductory chapter provides an overview of the relationship between Vladimir Putin and the oligarch Boris Berezovsky. Dubbed the “godfather of the Kremlin,” Berezovsky, a trained mathematician turned successful businessman and media mogul, played an outsized role in Russia after 1991. He engineered the re-election of Boris Yeltsin as president in 1996 and successfully negotiated an end to the 1995–96 Chechen war. Most importantly, he was crucial in Putin's rise to be elected Russia's president in March 2000. By August of 2000, Putin had already begun to dismantle the reforms that Yeltsin had introduced and had instigated criminal investigations against some of Russia's top businessmen, Berezovsky among them. Facing possible prosecution and imprisonment, Berezovsky fled Russia in October 2000 and later gained asylum in Britain, where he devoted himself—and his fortune—to a highly publicized campaign against the Putin regime. More than seven decades later, in March 2013, Berezovsky was found dead at his ex-wife's mansion. Ultimately, Putin considers Berezovsky as a traitor; the fact that Putin was indebted to Berezovsky for helping him gain the Russian presidency made Berezovsky even more treacherous to the Kremlin leader.
Elections and Beyond
Authors: Knight Amy
Published: October 2024

This chapter discusses Boris Berezovsky's successful efforts to get financial backing from Russian businessmen for Boris Yeltsin's re-election campaign. On July 3, 1996, Yeltsin was re-elected as Russia's president. Despite Anatoly Sobchak's support for Yeltsin during the August 1991 coup attempt, as well as during the October 1993 storming of the Russian parliament, he was viewed with suspicion by the Russian president. Yeltsin's coolness toward Sobchak was in large part a result of his concern about Sobchak's political ambitions. Whatever Vladimir Putin's role in Sobchak's defeat, Yeltsin had other reasons to want Putin on his team. During his time in the mayor's office, Putin gained valuable experience in dealing with private businesses in Russia and abroad and with the mafia clans that controlled many of these enterprises. Also, his extensive ties with the law enforcement, security, and military bodies were a huge plus for the Yeltsin government. The chapter then looks at Putin's new job in the Presidential Administration; his responsibilities included overseeing contractual and legal affairs relating to the Kremlin's properties abroad.
Behind Kremlin Walls
Authors: Knight Amy
Published: October 2024

This chapter begins by examining Vladimir Putin's new post as the head of the Main Control Directorate (GKU). The GKU was the government's financial watchdog, tasked with oversight of business sectors and government bodies to ensure that malfeasance was not occurring with state funds. This meant that the GKU had access to vast amounts of sensitive financial information, which it was authorized to pass on to law enforcement officials and prosecutors. Putin became a point man between the Kremlin and the security and law enforcement bodies. Meanwhile, by the spring of 1997, Boris Berezovsky was flying back and forth to Chechnya to meet with Chechen leaders and work on the peace deal with Russia. He wanted to use the Caspian pipeline to gain control of the Russian government oil giant Gazprom. The chapter looks at Putin's rescue of Anatoly Sobchak and his appointment as first deputy director of the Presidential Administration, with responsibility for relations with Russia's eighty-nine regions.
Turmoil
Authors: Knight Amy
Published: October 2024

This chapter evaluates how, less than a month after Vladimir Putin assumed the Federal Security Service (FSB) leadership, a financial crisis hit Russia. On August 17, 1998, the government, led by Prime Minister Sergei Kirienko, abandoned its support for the ruble, defaulted on domestic debt, and declared a ninety-day moratorium on repayment of foreign debt. By the end of September, the ruble's value had depreciated 61 percent since the end of July, making foreign loans prohibitive and causing widespread bankruptcies among businesses. Boris Yeltsin dismissed Kirienko on August 23 and replaced him with Evgeny Primakov. The chapter then looks at the murders of newspaper editor Anatolii Levin-Utkin and St. Petersburg parliamentarian Galina Starovoitova, which raised questions about FSB involvement. It also considers Prosecutor General Iurii Skuratov's investigation of Boris Berezovsky for embezzlement of Aeroflot funds. In publicly discrediting Skuratov, Putin helped Berezovsky, along with other members of the Yeltsin clan. Berezovsky then began to meet privately with Putin around this time.
Berezovsky’s End
Authors: Knight Amy
Published: October 2024

This chapter describes how the loss of the Abramovich case was a terrible blow for Boris Berezovsky. Berezovsky began treatment for clinical depression at London's Priory Clinic and he seemed to improve after a month. He then spent two months in Israel to continue his recovery and to see business and political acquaintances. He met with Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, and they reportedly talked about whether Berezovsky could get any guarantees about his future in Russia and what sort of punishments might await him. Whatever Berezovsky's hopes were for a new future in Russia, they were not fulfilled: on March 23, 2013, his ex-Mossad bodyguard, Avi Navama, found him dead on the floor of his the bathroom. The chapter looks at the two-day inquest on Berezovsky's death, held at Windsor Guildhall in Berkshire. In the aftermath of Berezovsky's death, the Kremlin painted a picture of the oligarch as a prodigal son who sought forgiveness from a wise Vladimir Putin before he took his own life. Ultimately, Berezovsky's death allowed his enemies to rewrite his history, thus giving Putin a final victory against the oligarch who had helped him to become the most powerful and longest-lasting Kremlin leader since Joseph Stalin.
An AutoEncoder enhanced light gradient boosting machine method for credit card fraud detection
Authors: Ding Lianhong , Liu Luqi , Wang Yangchuan , Shi Peng , Yu Jianye
Published: October 2024

Online financial transactions bring convenience to people’s lives, but also present vulnerabilities for criminals to embezzle users’ accounts and trick users into credit card fraud. Although machine learning methods have been adopted to detect anomalous transactions, it’s hard for a single machine learning method to achieve satisfying results with the increasing scale and dimensionality of financial datasets. In addition, for anomaly detection of financial data, there is an obvious imbalance between normal records and abnormal. In this situation, the experimental results cannot be objectively evaluated only by the traditional metrics, such as precision, recall, and accuracy. This paper proposes an AutoEncoder enhanced LightGBM method for credit card detection. The method inherits the advantages of each component, using an AutoEncoder for feature reconstruction on the dataset, and integrating the LightGBM algorithm for improving the GBDT (Gradient Boosting Decison Tree) to detect abnormal data more accurately and efficiently. Besides the traditional evaluation metrics, F-measure, area under curve (AUC), Matthew’s correlation coefficient (MCC), and balanced classification rate (BCR) are also adopted as the evaluation metrics. Two financial datasets were used to validate the performance and robustness of the proposed model. Results obtained from the credit card fraud dataset containing 31 features indicate that our model significantly outperforms other models with a recall of 94.85%, representing a 10.70% improvement compared to the best detection performance model with a recall of only 86%. Additionally, our model’s BCR score is also significantly better than other models, with a BCR score of 97%, as opposed to the best detection performance model’s BCR score of 92%, representing a 5% improvement by our model. Various sampling methods and model combinations were considered in this study. It was found that the SMOTE algorithm combined with the proposed model produced the best results, with an AUC value of 96.83% and an F-measure score of 80.27%. The Santander bank transaction record dataset is a high dimensional large dataset containing 200 features. Experimental results on this dataset reveal that compared to other models, our model significantly improved recall and F-measure results, raising the recall to 94.14% and the F-measure score by 11.51%, surpassing the second-best-performing model. Overall, these findings demonstrate the robustness and superiority of our model in detecting fraudulent transactions and highlight the effectiveness of the SMOTE algorithm in combination with the proposed model.
Intelligent algorithmic framework for detection and mitigation of BeiDou spoofing attacks in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs)
Authors: Tariq Usman
Published: October 2024

This research tackles the critical challenge of BeiDou signal spoofing in vehicular ad-hoc networks and addresses significant risks to vehicular safety and traffic management stemming from increased reliance on accurate satellite navigation. The study proposes a novel hybrid machine learning framework that integrates Autoencoders and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks with an advanced cryptographic method, attribute-based encryption, to enhance the detection and mitigation of spoofing attacks. Our methodology leverages both real-time and synthetic navigational data in a comprehensive experimental setup that simulates various spoofing scenarios to test the resilience of the proposed system. The findings demonstrate a significant improvement in the accuracy of spoofing detection and the robustness of mitigation strategies by ensuring the integrity and reliability of navigational data. This investigation enhances the existing body of knowledge by demonstrating the effectiveness of integrating machine learning with cryptographic techniques to secure VANETs. Ultimately, it effectively paves the way for future research into adaptive security mechanisms that can dynamically respond to evolving cyber threats.
Exploring the scale effect of nonpoint source pollution risk on water quality in Lake Basins of Central Yunnan Plateau using the Minimum Cumulative Resistance model
Authors: Fu Li , Ma Xiaoliang , Peng Shuangyun , Gong Luping , Zhang Rui , Huang Bangmei
Published: October 2024

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution has emerged as the predominant water environment issue confronting plateau lakes in central Yunnan. Quantitative analysis of the impact of NPS pollution on water quality constitutes the key to preventing and controlling water pollution. However, currently, there is a dearth of research on identifying NPS pollution risks and exploring their relationship with water quality based on the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model in the plateau lake basins of central Yunnan. Particularly, studies on the spatial heterogeneity of the impact of NPS pollution on water quality from a multi-scale perspective are scarce. Therefore, this study focuses on three typical lake basins in the Central Yunnan Plateau–Fuxian Lake, Xingyun Lake, and Qilu Lake (the Three Lakes). Utilizing the MCR model to identify NPS pollution risks, the study analyzes seven different scales, including sub-basins, riparian buffer zones (100 m, 300 m, 500 m, 700 m, and 1,000 m) and lakeshore zones, to reveal the multi-scale effects of NPS pollution on water quality through correlation analysis. The results indicate that: (1) Over 60% of the areas in the Three Lakes Basin are at high or extremely high risk, mainly concentrated in flat terrain and around inflow rivers; (2) The area of NPS pollution from paddy field source landscape (PFSL) is greater than that from construction land source landscape (CLSL), and the high-risk areas of NPS pollution are also larger for PFSL compared to CLSL; (3) The mean resistance values of PFSL and CLSL show a significant negative correlation with monthly mean values of water quality indexes (NH3-N, TP, CODCr), with the 1,000 m riparian buffer zone scale showing the greatest correlation with most water quality indexes, especially NH3-N; (4) The correlation between the mean resistance value of CLSL and the monthly mean values of water quality indexes is significantly higher than that of PFSL, indicating a greater impact of CLSL on water quality compared to PFSL. In summary, PFSL and CLSL are the primary sources of NPS pollution in the Three Lakes Basins. The 1,000 m riparian buffer zone scale is the most sensitive to the impact of NPS pollution on water quality. This study provides scientific references for landscape pattern optimization and precise control of NPS pollution risks in the Central Yunnan Plateau lake basins and offers a new research perspective for exploring multi-scale effects of NPS pollution on water quality.
Insights into water insecurity in Indigenous communities in Canada: assessing microbial risks and innovative solutions, a multifaceted review
Authors: Zambrano-Alvarado Jocelyn I. , Uyaguari-Diaz Miguel I.
Published: October 2024

Canada is considered a freshwater-rich country, despite this, several Indigenous reserves struggle with household water insecurity. In fact, some of these communities have lacked access to safe water for almost 30 years. Water quality in Canadian Indigenous reserves is influenced by several factors including source water quality, drinking water treatments applied, water distribution systems, and water storage tanks when piped water is unavailable. The objective of this multifaceted review is to spot the challenges and consequences of inadequate drinking water systems (DWS) and the available technical and microbiological alternatives to address water sanitation coverage in Indigenous reserves of Canada, North America (also known as Turtle Island). A comprehensive literature review was conducted using national web portals from both federal and provincial governments, as well as academic databases to identify the following topics: The status of water insecurity in Indigenous communities across Canada; Microbiological, chemical, and natural causes contributing to water insecurity; Limitations of applying urban-style drinking water systems in Indigenous reserves in Canada and the management of DWS for Indigenous communities in other high-income countries; and the importance of determining the microbiome inhabiting drinking water systems along with the cutting-edge technology available for its analysis. A total of 169 scientific articles matched the inclusion criteria. The major themes discussed include: The status of water insecurity and water advisories in Canada; the risks of pathogenic microorganisms (i.e., Escherichia coli and total coliforms) and other chemicals (i.e., disinfection by-products) found in water storage tanks; the most common technologies available for water treatment including coagulation, high- and low-pressure membrane filtration procedures, ozone, ion exchange, and biological ion exchange and their limitations when applying them in remote Indigenous communities. Furthermore, we reviewed the benefits and drawbacks that high throughput tools such as metagenomics (the study of genomes of microbial communities), culturomics (a high-efficiency culture approach), and microfluidics devices (microminiaturized instruments) and what they could represent for water monitoring in Indigenous reserves. This multifaceted review demonstrates that water insecurity in Canada is a reflection of the institutional structures of marginalization that persist in the country and other parts of Turtle Island. DWS on Indigenous reserves are in urgent need of upgrades. Source water protection, and drinking water monitoring plus a comprehensive design of culturally adapted, and sustainable water services are required. Collaborative efforts between First Nations authorities and federal, provincial, and territorial governments are imperative to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water in Indigenous reserves.
Immunity Induction in Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) with Feed Containing Red Ginger Extract after High Temperature Treatment
Authors: Buwono Ibnu D. , H Kiki , G. H. Roffi , Putra Efriza R.
Published: October 2024

This study aims to evaluate the effect of feeding feed containing red ginger extract on the immunity and survival of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings exposed to high temperature conditions. The research was carried out experimentally with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of four treatment doses of red ginger extract (A: 0 ml/kg, B: 30 ml/kg, C: 40 ml/kg, D: 50 ml/kg) and three replications. Parameters observed included survival rate, white blood cell count, red blood cell count. The results showed that the addition of red ginger extract to feed was able to increase catfish survival by up to 90% at a dose of 50 ml/kg. A significant increase in the number of white blood cells and red blood cells in fish given red ginger extract indicates a better immune response. Red ginger extract has proven effective in helping fish adapt to thermal stress by increasing immunity and resistance to high water temperatures.
Green Solutions: The Impact of Agroforestry on Climate Change Resilience- A Review
Authors: Prajapati Rajkumar , Singh Sahadeva , Anand Anjali , Mallesh Yalal , Gulaiya Shani
Published: October 2024

The effect of agroforestry systems on resilience to climate change, highlighting their function in improving biodiversity and reducing environmental degradation. Agroforestry offers creative ways to enhance soil health, trap carbon, and boost agricultural output while benefiting communities socioeconomically by incorporating trees into agricultural settings. Stakeholders may improve food security, rebuild ecosystems, and support the livelihoods of marginalized communities by supporting agroforestry techniques. This assessment promotes greater funding for agroforestry implementation and research, which may encourage international cooperation. Adopting eco-friendly solutions, such as agroforestry, will be essential to accomplishing sustainable development objectives and building a resilient future for the world community as climate threats worsen. Additionally, by maximising the use of natural resources, agroforestry practices lessen the burden on forests and aid in the restoration of damaged regions. Climate change poses tremendous difficulties to global agriculture, affecting livelihoods, food security, and ecosystem stability. Agroforestry is a promising integrated land management technique that combines agricultural and forestry practices to lessen the effects of climate change. This summary provides an overview of the vital roles that agroforestry plays in mitigating and adapting to climate change. In order to adapt to climate change, agroforestry offers several benefits, including increased agricultural productivity, improved soil fertility, and improved water retention
Exploring the Neuroprotective Behaviour and Hepatoprotective Effects of Plumbagin in MPTP-Induced Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Hanuman D Durga Veera , Kumar B Anil , Kumar B D P Kala , Kumar Y Ravi , Kumar K Satish , Rajender B , Debbarma Bhaskar , Sravathi V , Venkatesh V
Published: October 2024

Aims: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to motor symptoms like tremors and bradykinesia, as well as non-motor symptoms such as sleep disturbances and autonomic dysfunction. Recent research suggests a link between PD and liver dysfunction, including altered metabolism and elevated liver enzymes. Plumbagin, recognized for its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, may offer therapeutic benefits. This study explores its effects on both motor and non-motor symptoms in MPTP-treated mice, as well as its impact on liver function through serum enzyme analysis. The aim is to assess the neuroprotective and hepatoprotective potential of plumbagin in countering MPTP-induced neurodegeneration and liver dysfunction.
Methodology:  Thirty mice (22-30g, 8-12 weeks old) were randomly assigned to five groups of six each. The experiment spanned 28 days, with the mice housed under controlled conditions and provided standard feed and water. Behavioral tests, including the Marble Burying and Tail Suspension tests, were conducted to assess anxiety and depressive-like behavior. Serum biochemistry, including ALT, AST, and BUN, was measured using standard ERBA kits to evaluate liver function health.
Results: In the marble burying and tail suspension tests, MPTP-induced mice (DC group) exhibited significantly higher anxiety and depressive-like behaviors compared to the sham and plumbagin groups. Plumbagin treatment (PD) and levodopa (LS) significantly reduced these behavioral symptoms. Liver function markers (ALT, AST, ALP) and BUN levels were elevated in DC mice, indicating liver and kidney damage, while plumbagin treatment mitigated these effects, showing values comparable to the standard treatment (LS).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that MPTP exposure affects both the central nervous system and liver function, leading to anxiety, depression, and liver damage, as evidenced by elevated liver enzymes. Plumbagin showed protective effects, reducing these behavioral and biochemical changes through its antioxidant properties, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. These findings suggest that future research should investigate plumbagin's clinical potential for treating Parkinson's disease and liver dysfunction, offering promise for its use in developing neuroprotective therapies.