bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The nexus of corruption and non-performing loan: machine learning approach
Authors: Masrom Suraya , Rahman Rahayu Abdul , Shukri Nurul Huda Mohd , Yahya Naimah Ahmad , Rashid Mohd Zulfikri Abd , Zakaria Nor Balkish
Published: September 2023

Banking institutions around the world are facing a serious problem with non-performing loans (NPLs), which can jeopardize their financial stability and hinder their ability to issue new loans. The issue of NPLs has been linked to corruption, which has emerged as one of the contributing factors. Given the scarcity of research on the use of machine learning (ML) techniques to examine the relationship between corruption and NPLs, this paper provides an empirical evaluation of various ML algorithms for predicting NPLs. Besides ML performance comparisons, this paper presents the analysis of ML features importance to justify the effect of corruption factor in the different ML algorithms for predicting NPLs. The results indicated that most of the tested ML algorithms present good ability in the prediction models at accuracy percentages above 70% but corruption index has contributed very minimal effect to the ML performances. The most outperformed ML algorithm in the different proposed settings is random forest. The framework of this research is highly reproducible to be extended with a more in-depth analysis, particularly on problems of NPL as well as on the ML algorithms.
Electronic government system measurement model: a systematic testing of e-government implementation
Authors: Koniyo Moh Hidayat , Giriantari Ida Ayu Dwi , Sudarma Made , Wirastuti Ni Made Ary Esta Dewi
Published: September 2023

The demands to improve electronic government systems are increasing due to the large gap in the unsuccessful implementation in government. This study aimed to develop a measurement model consisting of policy, governance, and service, resources (usage) variables with their indicators to reduce the gap.
 A quantitative method was used with structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis based on partial least square (PLS) variance using SmartPLS version 3.0 software. Data collection for this study involved the direct distribution of questionnaires to 320 respondents, resulting in a successful collection rate of 95.3%. Subsequently, the collected data underwent analysis using the stages of SEM techniques. The results of the study show that the developed measurement models and indicators can be used as measuring tools for the execution of e-government. The developed model exhibits a satisfactory level of predictive relevance concerning the relationships among the variables, namely policy, governance, service, and usage. Furthermore, hypothesis testing was conducted to assess the validity of the proposed hypotheses within the model.
Review of routing protocol for low power and lossy network in the internet of things
Authors: Saare Murtaja Ali , Lashari Saima Anwar , Khalil Ayman , Al-Shareeda Mahmood A. , Manickam Selvakumar
Published: September 2023

The growth of internet of things (IoT) devices and apps has caused disruptions in key sectors such as smart environment, healthcare, and mission-critical tool. Security of IoT devices, networks, and infrastructure is the biggest challenge. RPL, a routing protocol optimised for low-power and lossy networks, is applied by the IoT to offer seamless information transfer among the myriad of interconnected entities. So, the paper delves into the nuts and bolts of RPL, covering its protocol settings, trickle timer, and objective function, as well as the IoT’s architecture and applications. This article also provides a framework for categorising past research on the effects of RPL-IoT on energy consumption, transportation, service quality, traffic congestion, and safety. The future of energy efficiency, congestion, objective function, mobility, stability, security, collaborative intrusion detection systems, active learning, and Key Management are all considered in this analysis.
Software defined internet of things in smart city: a review
Authors: Kamarudin Imran Edzereiq , Ameedeen Mohamed Ariff , Razak Mohd Faizal Ab , Zabidi Azlee
Published: September 2023

The concept of smart cities has gained traction to enhance citizens’ quality of life amidst rapid urbanization. Integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) is a key component that allows for gathering real-time data to inform decision-making and drive innovation in urban planning and management. However, managing the amount of data generated and the IoT devices rapid growth poses a challenge that leads to network management, interoperability, security, and scalability issues in smart cities. To overcome such problems, integrating Software Define Networking (SDN) in IoT provides a flexible, scalable, and efficient network architecture that can better support the unique demands of IoT devices and applications. Motivated by the extensive research efforts in the Software Defined Internet of Things (SDIoT), this paper aims to review SDIoT implementation in smart cities. It first introduces the underlying technology along with various practical applications of SDIoT. The comprehension of SDIoT in smart cities focus on IoT application requirements, including interoperability, scalability, low latency requirement, handling of big data, security, and privacy, energy consumption, Quality of Service (QoS), and task offloading. The paper concludes by discussing the future research directions that need to be examined in greater depth.
Analyzing interconnections between national stock exchange India and global markets using data analytics
Authors: Shaikh Zakir Mujeeb , Ramadass Suguna
Published: September 2023

Financial networks have become increasingly complex and interconnected in the global economy. In this context, the use of data analytics has emerged as a valuable tool for understanding and analyzing the relationships between different financial markets. This paper presents a study using Pearson and partial correlation analysis to explore the interconnections between the National Stock Exchange India (NSEI) and global stock markets. The analysis aims to provide insights into the dynamics and patterns or cross-markets interactions and to identify potential opportunities for investment and risk management that to considering the world’s 43 major indices based on imports and exports. The historical data from 1st January 2008 to 30th June 2022 was obtained from the public domain. In this study, a Python framework was developed to investigate Pearson and partial correlation-based networks in financial markets. The results showed that these two types of networks are significantly different from each other. Furthermore, the study discovered that the NSEI is closely connected to the Singapore market and is integrated with other markets. These findings emphasize the complexities to financial market relationships and have important implications for investors and policymakers.
Hybrid packet routing algorithm based on ant colony system and tabu search in wireless sensor network
Authors: Nasir Husna Jamal Abdul , Mahamud Ku Ruhana Ku , Kamioka Eiji
Published: September 2023

Packet routing in wireless sensor network is one of the most crucial aspects as it controls the way packets move through sensor nodes with various capabilities to reach to the destination node. Inefficient routing process may lead to higher energy consumption, higher failure rate, and lower throughput. Metaheuristic algorithms have been some of the common approaches to solve these problems due to their adaptability with dynamic environment. This paper proposed a hybrid metaheuristics routing algorithm that hybridizes ant colony system and tabu search which focuses on exploitation and exploration mechanism while reducing the local optima. The proposed algorithm uses ant colony system technique to discover the best path for packet transmission by considering the energy level of each sensor node. Additionally, tabu search technique is applied to overcome the local optima problem by temporarily suspending the bad nodes and initiate backward movement with the aim to prevent the search agent from getting trapped in a blind alley. The proposed hybrid routing algorithm was evaluated against single and hybrid routing algorithms in terms of throughput, energy consumption, and energy efficiency. Experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm outperformed the other routing algorithms in terms of throughput, energy consumption, and energy efficiency.
Enhancing urban mobility: integration of IoT road traffic data and artificial intelligence in smart city environment
Authors: Moumen Idriss , Abouchabaka Jaafar , Rafalia Najat
Published: September 2023

Efficient traffic management poses a significant challenge in smart cities, requiring the integration of diverse approaches. This paper presents an artificial intelligence framework that integrates internet of things (IoT) road traffic data to optimize traffic flow in smart city environments. Real-time traffic data is collected using IoT edge sensors, processed using machine learning (support vector machines, logistic regression, k-nearest neighbors) and deep learning long short-term memory (LTSM) algorithms, and utilized to develop accurate short-term and long-term traffic forecasting models. The proposed framework showcases superior performance compared to existing approaches, making it a widely applicable solution for smart city traffic management. By leveraging IoT road traffic data and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, real-time monitoring, proactive decision-making, and dynamic traffic control can be achieved, leading to optimized traffic flow, reduced congestion, and enhanced urban mobility. This research provides valuable insights into the potential of IoT and AI technologies in addressing urban traffic challenges and lays the foundation for intelligent transportation systems in smart city environments.
Real-time lane departure warning with cascade lane segmentation
Authors: Indrabayu Indrabayu , Prayogi Andi Ais , Areni Intan Sari , Bustamin Anugrayani , Azqalani Nublan
Published: September 2023

Lane departure warning (LDW) is one of the safety innovations in autonomous cars that provides vehicle position monitoring. This technology will alarm if the vehicle moves out of the lane. Lane detection and lane measurement is the main part of LDW. The novelty of this research is the method can measure different lane marks. Very important to know the lane mark that can and cannot be passed. We use semantic segmentation to segment lane mark solid, lane mark dashed, and road. After extracting road and lane marks, we use inverse perspective mapping (IPM) to help calculate the measurement between the car and lane mark. The data is that 374 images were collected from several roads in Makassar City. The model was evaluated using intersection over union (IoU), reaching 79.8% accuracy. The developed system also estimates the measure between the vehicle and lane marks.
 The lane measurement estimation system’s test results were evaluated using the root mean square error (RMSE) method to reach between 0.025254 and 0.134345.
Tracing the Origin and Development of the Black Ink Marks Daubed onto the Upper Edges of Bamboo Slips in Warring States, Qin, and Han Manuscripts: With the Term jiang 江 from Slip 118 of Vol. 5 of the Yuelu Qin Slips Serving as a Guide
Authors: Lu Jialiang
Published: September 2023

The phrase “make wet its upper part” (jiang qi shang 江其上), which appears in the protocol inscribed on slip nos. 117–118 of Accessory Ordinance C no. 4 卒令丙四 in vol. 5 of the Yuelu shuyuan cang Qin jian 岳麓書院藏秦簡 (“Qin Slips Housed at the Yuelu Academy”) as an instruction for the marking of document label slips, should be read as “[inscribe] a plank-mark onto its upper part” (gang qi shang 杠其上). This phrase in the protocol instructs clerks to mark label slips by inscribing a horizontal “plank” mark (heng gang 橫杠) onto the upper part of a rectangular slip (fang 方). The marks that were produced by this clerical custom are the visually conspicuous markers modern scholars describe as “blackened bamboo slip tops” (jian shou tu hei 簡首塗黑) that frequently appear in caches of early Chinese textual materials. However, rather than using the phrase “blackened bamboo slip tops,” it would be more precise to refer to these as “horizontal oblong black ink marks” (mo heng 墨橫) or “black ink plank marks” (mo gang 墨杠).
A taxonomic revision of the genus Eperua (Leguminosae, Detarioideae, Detarieae)
Authors: FORTES ELENICE A. , REIS ILKA P. DOS , STEEGE HANS TER , AYMARD GERARDO , SECCO RICARDO DE S. , MARTINS-DA-SILVA REGINA CÉLIA V. , MANSANO VIDAL F.
Published: September 2023

We present a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the tree genus Eperua, encompassing several significant findings. We identify and recognize a total of 19 species (including two new species described herein; E. froesii, E. reddeniae), as well as five subspecies (including one new, E. grandiflora subsp. ciliata), and six varieties (including one new, E. glabriflora var. gynopubescens). We also propose the synonymization of E. praesagata with E. glabra due to the absence of discernible morphological differences, which is supported by molecular data. In addition to these novelties, our revision offers an updated key, illustrations, photos, and maps. Detailed taxonomic comments are provided, discussing morphological similarities and differences between taxa. Furthermore, comprehensive information is provided for each species, including data on phenology, distribution, habitat, conservation status, and vernacular names. Eperua froesii is being described from specimens collected more than 50 years ago, while E. reddeniae and E. grandiflora subsp. ciliata from specimens collected recently (2004–2006). This emphasizes the critical role of herbarium collections in biodiversity discovery and underscores the significance of historical specimens. Our taxonomic comments add to Cowan’s (1975) revision, in which the author concentrated on listing characteristics considered advanced and less advanced, while here we focus on morphological similarities and differences between taxa. In conclusion, this new taxonomic revision significantly enhances our knowledge of the genus Eperua and provides a basis for further research in evolution, ecology, and phytochemistry.
After the Miners’ Strike
Authors: Farmer Paul , Kilburn Mark
Published: September 2023

In this rich memoir, the first of two volumes, Paul Farmer traces the story of A39, the Cornish political theatre group he co-founded and ran from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. Farmer offers a unique insight into A39’s creation, operation, and artistic practice during a period of convulsive political and social change.

The reader is plunged into the national miners’ strike and the collapse of Cornish tin mining, the impact of Thatcherism and ‘Reaganomics’, and the experience of touring Germany on the brink of reunification, alongside the influence on A39 of writers Bertolt Brecht, John McGrath and Keith Johnstone. Farmer, a former bus driver turned artistic director, details the theatre group’s inception and development as it fought to break down social barriers, attract audiences, and survive with little more than a beaten-up Renault 12, a photocopier and two second-hand stage lights at its disposal: the book traces the progress from these raw materials to the development of an integrated community theatre practice for Cornwall.

Farmer’s candour and humour enliven this unique insight into 1980s theatre and politics. It will appeal to anyone with an interest in theatre history, life in Cornwall, and the relationship between performance and society during a turbulent era.
Automated Lightning Jump (LJ) Detection from Geostationary Satellite Data
Authors: Erdmann Felix , Poelman Dieter R.
Published: September 2023

Rapid increases in the flash rate (FR) of a thunderstorm, so-called lightning jumps (LJs), have potential for nowcasting applications and to increase lead times for severe weather warnings. To date, there are some automated LJ algorithms that were developed and tuned for ground-based lightning locating systems. This study addresses the optimization of an automated LJ algorithm for the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) lightning observations from space. The widely used σ-LJ algorithm is used in its original form and in an adapted calculation including the footprint area of the storm cell (FRarea LJ algorithm). In addition, a new relative increase level (RIL) LJ algorithm is introduced. All algorithms are tested in different configurations, and detected LJs are verified against National Centers for Environmental Information severe weather reports. Overall, the FRarea algorithm with an activation FR threshold of 15 flashes per minute and a σ-level threshold of 1.0–1.5 as well as the RIL algorithm with FR threshold of 15 flashes per minute and RIL threshold of 1.1 are recommended. These algorithms scored the best critical success index (CSI) of ∼0.5, with a probability of detection of 0.6–0.7 and a false alarm ratio of ∼0.4. For daytime warm-season thunderstorms, the CSI can exceed 0.5, reaching 0.67 for storms observed during three consecutive days in April 2021. The CSI is generally lower at night and in winter.
Bugs Behind the Bulging Eyeball: Microbiology and Antibiotic Management in Orbital Cellulitis With or Without Subperiosteal Abscess
Authors: Mukherjee Gargi , Sufcak Kristine , Hames Nicole , Lantis Patricia
Published: September 2023

The objective of this study is to describe causative pathogens and current antibiotic management among hospitalized children with orbital cellulitis. This retrospective study, performed at a tertiary care children’s health system, included patients up to 18 years old who presented with radiographic evidence of orbital cellulitis from 2012 to 2019. Of the 298 patients included in the study, 103 had surgery and an intraoperative culture obtained. A pathogen was recovered in 86 cultures (83.5%). The most common pathogens were Streptococcus anginosus group (26.2%), Streptococcus pyogenes (11.7%), methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (10.7%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (9.7%). Only 8/194 (4.1%) blood cultures returned positive. Median duration of intravenous antibiotics was 4 days and median total duration was 17 days. The most common empiric regimen prescribed was ceftriaxone and clindamycin (64.1%). Despite low incidence of methicillin-resistant S aureus, empiric antibiotics often consisted of 2 antibiotics to ensure coverage for this bacterium.
Understanding Intergenerational Transmission of Recidivism Risk Among Justice-Involved Youth: Testing for Mediation via Dual Systems Model Processes
Authors: Wojciechowski Thomas
Published: September 2023

Research has indicated that criminality may be transmitted from parent to offspring. However, there remains limited research examining risk for offspring recidivism in this regard and mechanisms underpinning this relationship. The present study examined dual systems imbalance as a potential mediator using the first three waves of the Pathways to Desistance data. Generalized structural equation modeling was used to test for direct and indirect effects of interest. Results indicated that parent criminal history predicted both increased recidivism risk and re-offending frequency. Dual systems imbalance significantly mediated the relationship between parent criminal history and recidivism risk, but this was not observed for the re-offending frequency outcome.
“It is advantageous for you that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish” (John 11:50): A reassessment of Caiaphas’s argument from expediency
Authors: Novakovic Lidija
Published: September 2023

In this article, I examine the declaration, “It is advantageous for you that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish” (John 11:50), which the high priest Caiaphas makes at the Sanhedrin’s deliberations about the necessity of Jesus’s execution. I argue that despite the narrator’s appreciative comment that Caiaphas “did not say this on his own, but, because he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but that he may also gather into one the scattered children of God” (John 11:51–52), the evangelist does not endorse the argument from expediency that Caiaphas advocates. Jesus’s death in John is beneficial for others not because the reasoning “one for many” is morally justifiable but because Jesus freely lays down his life. This redefinition of the redemptive significance of Jesus’s death on the cross also implies the futility of violence because the execution of Jesus did not bring about the non-violent end that Caiaphas hoped for. After all, the Romans did come and destroy the city of Jerusalem and its temple. Thus, the death of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel is beneficial for all God’s people, but this act is not the result of the verdict of the Jewish leaders to put Jesus to death but of Jesus’s own decision to give his life for others.
Systemic Inflammatory Status of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and the Predictive Value of Heparin-Binding Protein
Authors: Yang Zongpei , Xue Zhen , Tao Yuejin , Shi Xinyi , Li Jing
Published: September 2023

Objective: To investigate the alteration of the systemic inflammatory status of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and the predictive value of heparin-binding protein (HBP) for OSAS. Methods: Patients with OSAS who were hospitalized in our hospital from 2020 January to 2022 December and diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG) (OSAS group, n = 79) were retrospectively studied and their relevant examination findings and demographic characteristics were recorded. Sex- and age-matched non-OSAS patients hospitalized at the same time were selected as the control group (control group, n = 28). Differences in peripheral blood neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), procalcitonin (PCT), and HBP were compared between the 2 groups. The predictive value of these markers for OSAS was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve, and independent risk factors for OSAS were determined using logistic regression analysis. Peripheral blood was drawn from all patients in the fasting state of the morning. Results: The number of peripheral blood neutrophils, lymphocytes, and HBP was higher in the OSAS group than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P all <.05), while the differences in NLR and PCT between the 2 groups were not statistically significant ( P all >.05). Plasma HBP level had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 ( P < .0001) in determining OSAS, with a sensitivity of 80.49% and a specificity of 70.83% and the best cutoff value was >10.73 ng/ml. Combining body mass index (BMI), neutrophil, lymphocyte, and HBP improved the predictive value of OSAS with an AUC of 0.89 ( P < .0001), a sensitivity of 80.49%, and a specificity of 87.50%. Logistic regression analysis showed that both BMI and HBP were independent risk factors for OSAS ( PBMI < .001, PHBP < .01), while neutrophils and lymphocytes were not ( P all >.05). Conclusions: This is the first study to objectively examine HBP in OSAS patients, and HBP is an independent risk factor that may serve as a diagnostic biomarker in OSAS. Patients with OSAS have an altered systemic inflammatory state and may be more prone to severe bacterial infections.
The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Different Types of Offending Behavior: An Examination Across Two Generations of British Males
Authors: Craig Jessica M. , Malvaso Catia , Farrington David P.
Published: September 2023

Research has established a relationship between trauma exposure, often conceptualized as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and offending, with some evidence suggesting that both trauma and offending can be transmitted from one generation to the next. Further, while some evidence suggests that experiencing a high number of ACEs is associated with different types of offenses, it is not known whether these associations are similar across generations. The current study aims to address this gap in knowledge by examining the effects of ACEs on different offense types across two generations, utilizing data from a longitudinal study of British male participants and their male children. Results suggest that high ACE scores are associated with several offense types within generations, but the effect of parental ACEs on the subsequent generation’s offending was weak. Alongside a discussion of these findings, study limitations and future research directions are also presented.
A freshwater ostracod assemblage from the Kesavi intertrappean beds (latest Cretaceous/earliest Paleocene) of lower Narmada Valley, Malwa Sub-province of Deccan Traps, Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Yadav Ravi , Maurya A. S.
Published: September 2023

We here report a new freshwater ostracod assemblage comprising 11 species ( Frambocythere tumiensis anjarensis, Gomphocythere paucisulcatus, G. strangulata, Limnocythere deccanensis, Zonocypris spirula, Eucypris intervolcanus, Cypria cyrtonidion, Stenocypris cylindrical, Cypridopsis hyperectyphos, Candona amosi, Eucypris sp.) from a newly discovered intertrappean locality at Kesavi, Dhar District, Madhya Pradesh. This locality lies in the lower Narmada Valley of Malwa sub-province, a poorly studied region of the Deccan Traps volcanic province of peninsular India compared to the other volcanic sub-provinces. The ostracod assemblage from Kesavi is similar to those known from different parts of the Deccan volcanic province and lacks any brackish or marine elements. The endobenthic crawler Frambocythere tumiensis dominates the assemblage, indicating a lacustrine freshwater depositional environment.
The submerged Palaeo-Ems River in the Quaternary stratigraphic context of the German North Sea
Authors: Abegunrin Ayobami , Hepp Daniel A , Gugliotta Marcello , Mörz Tobias
Published: September 2023

During the Late Pleistocene, the Palaeo-Ems system (PES) was one of the major tributary channels feeding the Elbe Palaeovalley (EPV) and formed an important part of the drainage system of the continental northwestern Europe unglaciated hinterland. In this study, a detailed interpretation of high-resolution 2D sub-bottom profiler and Boomer grids were used to map the overall course of the submerged PES channel, as well as its spatial and stratigraphic relationships with other Quaternary geological units in the German North Sea. Mapping of buried tunnel valleys, a lacustrine-fill unit, straight channel structures was also carried out. The sedimentary record of the PES is represented by a low gradient and meandering channel which branched into two major pathways as it approached the EPV western flank. Its upstream to downstream trends, coupled with seaward decreasing gradient and sinuosity, are similar to those visible in present-day river deltas. Both the PES and EPV subsequently formed a combined depositional system, which was successively drowned due to the fast-rising relative sea level that overwhelmed the adaptation capabilities of the joint drainage system. For the first time, this study sheds light onto the PES/EPV morpho-stratigraphic relationships which played a key role in the coastal landscape architecture of the German North Sea since the Late Pleistocene.
Repeat kidney biopsy findings of lupus nephritis patients in clinical remission treated with Mycophenolate associated with Belimumab or Mycophenolate plus standard of care therapy. A “post-hoc” analysis of participants in the BLISS-LN and open label extension study belonging to a single center
Authors: Malvar Ana , Alberton Valeria , Recalde Cecilia , Heguilen Ricardo
Published: September 2023

Background

Lupus nephritis affects 40 to 70% of Systemic Lupus Erythematous(SLE) patients increasing their morbi-mortality; therefore, successful treatments are required to improve outcomes.

Research Design and Study Sample

In this paper 20 patients who participated in the BLISS LN trial at a single center (OMI) in Argentina were studied. All the patients continued Mycophenolate (MMF) treatment when the trial was finished and until a second biopsy was performed to determine the withdrawal of the immunosuppression according to the achieved clinical and histological response. Ten patients treated with MMF + Placebo versus 10 receiving MMF + Belimumab, were compared evaluating the complete clinical (CCR) and complete histological response (CHR) and the flares in each group.

Results

All the patients in the Belimumab group showed a CCR and 7 in the Placebo one; CHR was found in 9 and 5 patients of the Belimumab and Placebo group, respectively. None of the patients in the Belimumab group flared meanwhile two of the Placebo one did it.

Conclusions

Although the number of patients is insufficient to be able to draw unquestionable conclusions, adding Belimumab to the standard of care treatment with MMF would seem to increase the possibility of achieving a CCR, CHR, and a lower rate of relapses during treatment and long follow-up.
Operational Performance Modelling of Indian Banks: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach
Authors: Preeti  , Roy Supriyo
Published: September 2023

The rising level of non-performing loans (NPLs) posits risk on the operational working of the banking sector. The study focuses on developing an operational performance model for banks by considering the NPLs. The study uses non-parametric methodology to develop a non-oriented and non-radial Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model with NPLs as undesirable output. The dataset of 39 Indian commercial banks for period of 5 years is selected for the study. The findings of the study prove that considering risk into performance modelling leads to an unbiased efficiency indicator. Also, the non-parametric test confirms the relationship between operational efficiency and ownership. The study uses non-orientation modelling results to reveal inefficient sources within under-performing banks. As per the findings, slack variable analysis reveals two problem areas: ‘fixed assets’ and ‘NPLs’. A higher focus on improving utilization of fixed assets as well as controlling the level of rising NPL (risk) is highly significant for benchmarking performance. Overall, the study supports the business decision to control excess inputs and outputs for banks to achieve the efficient frontier. Significant managerial implications are linked to findings of the study focusing towards performance improvement of banks.
Investigating the Dynamic Relationship Between Social Distancing Restrictions and the Adoption of Mobile Money Services in the Middle East: A Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Esawe Ahmed Taher
Published: September 2023

This article aims to investigate how social distancing restrictions can be a potential factor to effect on the adoption of mobile money services (MMS) using panel data from seven countries in the Middle East (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Palestinian territories, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) during the period from January to December 2020. Employing panel data analysis, the author uses various measures from the global mobile money dataset GSMA and Google Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Community Mobility Reports. The findings reveal that the social distancing restrictions have begun to play an essential part in the shift to cashless payment due to the epidemic and influence the adoption and use of MMS. The results also suggest that the social distancing restrictions affect consumer adoption of MMS and indirectly affect retailers. Unlike prevailing studies, this study is unique in empirically investigating the association between COVID-19 community mobility and MMS adoption. This study contributes to financial studies on MMS adoption under extreme settings.
Stock Return Synchronicity and Profitability: Evidence from India
Authors: Murthy R. L. N. , Mundi Hardeep Singh
Published: September 2023

The current research article studies the stock return synchronicity (SYNCH) and profitability for Indian firms. SYNCH is measured using the value of R2 calculated from the market model for the sample firms. The market model runs regressions of individual stock returns with the Nifty index return. The quantile regression model is run to study the SYNCH and profit after tax (PAT). In addition, the SYNCH and its relation with PAT for low-quantile firms are compared to the SYNCH of high-quantile firms. After controlling for relevant variables, the quantile regression results provide evidence that SYNCH is related to PAT. The reported results also provide evidence that the lower quantile firms differ from higher quantile firms in terms of the impact of PAT on SYNCH.
Methyl Alcohol
Authors: Raj Preethi S. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Cohen David E. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Rettie Allan E , Ross David , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Tilton Susan , Fiume Monice , Heldreth Bart
Published: September 2023

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety reviewed updated information that has become available since their original assessment from 2001, along with updated information regarding product types, and frequency and concentrations of use, and reaffirmed their original conclusion that Methyl Alcohol is safe as used to denature alcohol in the practices of use and concentration as described in this report.
Integrating Digital Innovation Mechanisms in Digital Infrastructures: The Case of Digital Remote Care
Authors: Ajer Anne KS , Øvrelid Egil
Published: September 2023

Digital innovation (DIN) is crucial for managing the growth of resource use in the hospital sector and for providing citizens with services aligned with the requirements of the modern world. DIN includes the co-creation of novel services, such as digital remote care (DRC) solutions. The healthcare sector, with a plethora of applications, is an example of a large digital infrastructure. Our study aims to explore how DRC initiatives can be integrated in large-scale digital infrastructures. Our in-depth case study, which explores 72 different DRC trajectories at 9 hospital health trusts in Norway, reveals the dynamic interplay among 3 key mechanisms – idealistic entrepreneurship, anchoring and remote infrastructure. Our contribution to the DIN literature is a model that shows the interplay among these key mechanisms, which increases the innovation pace, improves the innovations’ scalability and provides a robust organisation that constantly implements innovations. As a contributions to DRC practice, lessons learned to speed up the innovation pace are offered: (1) Create a DRC organisational structure. (2) Ensure financial predictability. (3) secure anchoring upward in the governance structure. (4) Make the remote infrastructure appropriate for integration with the current digital infrastructure. (5) Advocate the success across the organisation to spur others to innovate.
Fluoroquinolones increase susceptibility to aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection: Molecular mechanism and clinical evidence
Authors: Xuan Xuezhen , Li Yaling , Cao Genmao , Zhang Ruijing , Hu Jie , Jin Haijiang , Dong Honglin
Published: September 2023

Aortic aneurysm (AA) and aortic dissection (AD) are prevalent severe cardiovascular diseases that result in catastrophic complications and unexpected deaths. Owing to the lack of clinically established and effective medications, the only treatment options are open surgical repair or endovascular therapy. Most researchers have focused on the development of innovative medications or therapeutic targets to slow the progression of AA/AD or lower the risk of malignant consequences. Recent studies have shown that the use of fluoroquinolones (FQs) may increase susceptibility to AA/AD to some extent, especially in patients with aortic dilatation and those at a high risk of AD. Therefore, it is crucial for doctors, particularly those in cardiovascular specialties, to recognize the dangers of FQs and adopt alternatives. In the present review, the main clinical observational studies on the correlation between FQs and AA/AD in recent years are summarized, with an emphasis on the relative physiopathological mechanism incorporating destruction of the extracellular matrix (ECM), phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and local inflammation. Although additional data are required, it is anticipated that the rational use of FQs will become the standard of care for the treatment of aortic diseases.
Agency effects on the binding of event elements in episodic memory
Authors: Schreiner Marcel R , Bröder Arndt , Meiser Thorsten
Published: September 2023

Representing events in episodic memory in a coherent manner requires that their constituent elements are bound together. So far, only few moderators of these binding processes have been identified. Here we investigate whether the presence of an agentic element in an event facilitates binding. The results from six experiments provided no evidence for a facilitating effect of agency on the binding of event elements. In addition, binding effects were only found when event elements were presented simultaneously, but not when they were presented sequentially pairwise, contrary to previous findings. The results suggest that the presence of an agentic element in an event does not, or only to a very limited extent, contribute to the formation of coherent memory representations and that additional processes may be required when binding event elements across temporarily divided encoding episodes. These findings add to a growing body of research regarding moderators and processes relevant for the binding of event elements in episodic memory. Explanations of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Music and speech time perception of musically trained individuals: The effects of audio type, duration of musical training, and rhythm perception
Authors: Plastira Miria N , Michaelides Michalis P , Avraamides Marios N
Published: September 2023

The perception of time is a subjective experience influenced by various factors such as individual psychology, external stimuli, and personal experiences, and it is often assessed with the use of the reproduction task that involves individuals estimating and reproducing the duration of specific time intervals. In the current study, we examined the ability of 97 musically trained participants to reproduce the durations of temporal intervals that were filled with music or speech stimuli. The results revealed a consistent pattern of durations being underestimated, and an association was observed between the duration of musical training and the level of accuracy in reproducing both music and speech tracks. In addition, speech tracks were overall reproduced more accurately, and as longer, than music tracks. Structural models suggested the presence of two, highly correlated, dimensions of time perception for speech and music stimuli that were related to the duration of musical training, but not with self-reported rhythm perception. The possible effects of arousal and pleasantness of stimuli on time perception are discussed within the framework of an internal clock model.
From Mallar to Pallar and Back: The Ideology of Devendrakula Velalars
Authors: Hons Pavel
Published: September 2023

Dalits have gradually developed different emancipation strategies during their struggle. While all of them fight against untouchability and discrimination, their positions on other issues may differ. Most of them espouse the ideas of Dr Ambedkar, for whom the prime objective was the eradication of caste. He openly rejected Hinduism and converted to Buddhism. Millions of Dalits followed his example, and many venerate him as a supreme leader to this day. Devendrakula Velalars are an exception to the rule. They reject Dalit ideology. Instead, they prefer to strengthen their caste identity and move up the social ladder. They try to prove that the three Tamil dynasties, that is, Pandyas, Cholas and Cheras, originated from among them. It was only after the ascendency of the Nayak kings that their proud name Mallar was changed into the derogatory Pallar and they were deprived of their land and turned into untouchables. Now they are trying to get themselves removed from the Scheduled Castes list and thus rid themselves of its stigmatizing influence. The aim of this article is to follow the intellectual journey of the main ideologues of this caste and to match their arguments with recent steps taken towards their political representation.
Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary fibrosis: joining the dots
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Debabrata , Mirsaeidi Mehdi S.
Published: September 2023

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown aetiology. A minority of patients with sarcoidosis develop sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary fibrosis (SAPF), which may become progressive. Genetic profiles differ between patients with progressive and self-limiting disease. The mechanisms of fibrosis in SAPF are not fully understood, but SAPF is likely a distinct clinicopathological entity, rather than a continuum of acute inflammatory sarcoidosis. Risk factors for the development of SAPF have been identified; however, at present, it is not possible to make a robust prediction of risk for an individual patient. The bulk of fibrotic abnormalities in SAPF are located in the upper and middle zones of the lungs. A greater extent of SAPF on imaging is associated with a worse prognosis. Patients with SAPF are typically treated with corticosteroids, second-line agents such as methotrexate or azathioprine, or third-line agents such as tumour necrosis factor inhibitors. The antifibrotic drug nintedanib is an approved treatment for slowing the decline in lung function in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases, but more evidence is needed to assess its efficacy in SAPF. The management of patients with SAPF should include the identification and treatment of complications such as bronchiectasis and pulmonary hypertension. Further research is needed into the mechanisms underlying SAPF and biomarkers that predict its clinical course.
Branch retinal vein occlusion in a case of recalcitrant diffuse anterior scleritis treated with tofacitinib
Authors: Manoharan Anitha , Atmakur Harshita , Dutta Majumder Parthopratim , Biswas Jyotirmay
Published: September 2023

A 47-year-old woman with hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis presented with non-necrotizing scleritis in both eyes. Despite a course of oral corticosteroids, she continued to experience persistent symptoms. A rheumatologist was consulted and initiated treatment with tofacitinib, a JAK/STAT inhibitor. Treatment with tofacitinib and oral corticosteroids resulted in an improvement in the scleritis in both eyes. However, a fundus examination of her left eye revealed a superior-temporal branch retinal vein occlusion. Given the growing concern regarding the increased risk of thromboembolic events with tofacitinib therapy, it is essential to consider the risk of retinal vascular occlusions when starting tofacitinib therapy, particularly in patients with underlying systemic comorbidities.
Antifungal screening of selenium nanoparticles biosynthesized by microcystin-producing Desmonostoc alborizicum
Authors: Nowruzi Bahareh , Jalil Bilal Saad , Metcalf James S
Published: September 2023

Metal nanoparticles exhibit excellent antifungal abilities and are seen as a good substitute for controlling different kinds of fungi. Of all known taxa, cyanobacteria have received significant consideration as nanobiofactories, as a result of the cellular assimilation of heavy metals from the environment. The cellular bioactive enzymes, polysaccharides and pigments can be used as reducers and coatings during biosynthesis. The probability of the antifungal activity of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to prevent plant fungi that can affect humans was evaluated and a toxic Iranian cyanobacterial strain of Desmonostoc alborizicum was used to study the biotechnology of SeNP synthesis for the first time. Characterization of nanoparticles with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer showed the formation of SeNPs in the range of 271–275 nm with the appearance of an orange color. Morphological examination of nanoparticles with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), revealed the spherical shape of nanoparticles. The results of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) showed 7 peaks and a hexagonal structure of average crystal size equal to 58.8 nm. The dispersion index of SeNPs was reported as 0.635, which indicated the homogeneity of the nanoparticle droplet size. The zeta potential of the nanoparticles was + 22.7. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis exhibited a sharp and intense peak located at the wave number of 404 cm− 1, related to the SeNPs synthesized in this research. The results of the antifungal activity of SeNPs showed among the investigated fungi, Pythium ultimum had the highest resistance to SeNPs (14.66 ± 0.52 µg/ml), while Alternaria alternata showed the highest sensitivity (9.66 ± 0.51 µg/ml) (p < 0.05). To the best of our knowledge this is the first report concerning the characterization and antifungal screening of SeNPs biosynthesized by Iranian cyanobacteria, which could be used as effective candidates in medical applications.
Prognosis of Midkine and AT1R expression in resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chiu Tai-Jan , Chen Chang-Han , Chen Yi-Ju , Wee Yinshen , Wang Ching-Shuen , Luo Sheng‑Dean
Published: September 2023

Background

Research studies have demonstrated that Midkine (MDK) can influence the expression and activity of Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components. Angiotensin II is involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis in different cancers. We previously observed Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) improve the survival rates of patients with oral cancers. These findings have prompted us to investigate whether MDK can influence the RAS pathway, mainly through its association with angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), which contributes to the observed poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.

Methods

MDK and AT1R expressions were examined in 150 HNSCC patients post-operation by immunohistochemical staining between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2016. We tested the over-expression and silencing of MDK to evaluate the AT1R expression and functional biological assays in HNSCC cell lines HSC-3 and SAS.

Results

Positive expression of MDK is correlated with positive AT1R expression. MDK predicted poor NSCC patients’ survival. Silencing MDK could suppress AT1R and pAKT expression and reduce the growth, migration, and invasion of HNSCC cells. ARB also inhibits MDK stimulating HNSCC cell proliferation. Overexpression of MDK could upregulate AT1R and pAKT.

Conclusions

MDK is an independent prognostic factor of HNSCC post-operation, and AT1R regulates HNSCC cell growth, invasion, and migration. Positive MDK and AT1R expressions are highly correlated. Mechanistically, the interaction between MDK and AT1R is crucial for MDK-mediated cell viability, and inhibiting AT1R can effectively counteract or abolish these effects. Furthermore, MDK exerts a regulatory role in the expression of AT1R, as well as in the growth and motility of HNSCC cells. These findings highlight the involvement of the interaction between MDK, AT1R, and the pAkt signaling pathways in HNSCC cell viability growth.