bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economics of Happiness: What Really Counts?
Authors: Susanti Vitria , Fitri Ainul
Published: May 2024

The study of happiness was initially examined psychologically, then expanded to incorporate social and, finally, economic aspects to investigate the reasons for the disparities in happiness levels across countries. Numerous scholars from various fields of expertise have developed an interest in studying happiness as a topic, as it has become a global issue. The notable work of Easterlin known as “Easterlin Paradox” postulates that happiness varies linearly with income at a point in time, both within and across nations. However, the long-term growth rates of happiness and income are not significantly linked. The economics of happiness is a multidisciplinary study of the relationship between economic conditions and subjective well-being or happiness. Happiness economics can be examined from both a microeconomic and macroeconomic perspective, providing valuable insights into both individual well-being and societal gain. The economics of happiness has received a lot of attention recently, especially in terms of understanding the differences in life satisfaction between rich and developing countries. Wealthier countries are happier as a group than poorer countries; happiness seems to increase with wealth up to a limit, but not beyond it. Public policy has a substantial impact on happiness economics by changing the well-being of individuals and society through numerous mechanisms such as fiscal policy, public spending, health impact assessment, and family assistance. The expanding national emphasis on subjective well-being accentuates the need to include happiness in governmental decisions.
Keywords: happiness, subjective well-being, Easterlin Paradox
The Role of Sharia Economy in Poverty Reduction in Indonesia
Authors: Satriawan Dedi , . Rahmat
Published: May 2024

This research aims to analyze the role of Sharia economics in alleviating poverty in Indonesia. The method used in this research is a literature study, which is a series of activities relating to methods of collecting library data, reading and taking notes, as well as processing reading material into research data. Some of the literature that researchers use as data sources are books, journal articles, and news related to the role of Sharia economics in reducing poverty rates in Indonesia. One of the goals of religion is to encourage people from being left behind economically. Poverty is a serious problem that must be sought immediately for a solution because it can have very dangerous impacts, including disturbing one’s faith or it could even disappear and that person becomes a disbeliever. The potential for ziswaf in Indonesia is extraordinary. If it can be managed professionally, it will have an impact on the welfare of society. How to overcome poverty can be done with various steps and strategies. The thing that must be done from the start to overcome the poverty that grips our society is to create an economic order that allows for a fair distribution system to be born, encouraging the birth of concern from people who have (aghniya’) toward the needy, poor, dhu’afa’ and mustard ’affine. One form of concern for Aghniya’ is his willingness to pay zakat and issue sadaqah.
Keywords: ZISWAF, poverty alleviation, economic Sharia
The Influence of Digital Wallets in Increasing Business in the F&B and Online Shop Fields
Authors: Vinnisa Wina Mardhatillah , Mukhsin Moh.
Published: May 2024

This study aims to determine how influential digital wallets are in increasing businesses in the field of food and beverages and online shops. Researchers took a descriptive quantitative research method. From the results of the study, digital wallets have a positive and significant effect on increasing sales in the food and beverage sector. Then it also shows significantly and positively that digital wallets affect increasing business sales in the online shop. Furthermore, the results of this study also show together that there is an influence between increasing food and beverage sales and increasing online shop business on digital wallets with contributions of 56.767% and 4.434%.
Keywords: digital wallet, food and beverage, online shop
The Effectiveness of Government Policy on MSMEs Through Empirical Data Analysis in Lampung
Authors: Basrowi ‎ , Suseno Bambang Dwi , Yusuf Furtasan Ali , Utami Pertiwi
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this study is to develop a model of policy synchronization between the central government and local governments and to project strategic goals and objectives to be achieved, as well as future policy directions. The research method used is a quantitative research method with descriptive analysis techniques. The research locus is the Central Government and Banten Province. The research time is May–July 2021. The research stages include primary and secondary data collection, data processing, primary and secondary data analysis, and projection analysis for the years 2021–2025. Based on the results of the analysis, the population policy synchronization model between the central and local governments can be implemented by focusing on government regulations and population control frameworks. This finding is expected to be the basis for stakeholders in synchronizing policies at the regional center so that there are no policy differences between the center and the regions. Central and Regional Government policies must be in line so that it can facilitate the implementation of population control policies in the regions.
Keywords: policy synchronization, population, central government, local government
Modeling Course for Open Distance Learning (ODL) in Artificial Intelligence e-Learning for Leadership and Business Success
Authors: Abidin Noor Azliza bt Zainal
Published: May 2024

Open distance learning is often associated with characteristics such as assertiveness, dominance, and competitiveness. This study investigates how interactive open distance learning can benefit students by helping them build stronger relationships with education providers, foster a more inclusive workplace culture, and improve overall team performance, thus helping education business survive. The results of this study could have important implications for open distance learning development programs and training, as well as for promoting diversity and inclusivity in education provider positions and sustain education business in the future. By understanding the relation between leadership style, gender, and authenticity, organizations could develop more effective open distance learning strategies and be viewed as more authentic and effective by their team members and public. ODL planning helps education providers work more efficiently and effectively, thus growing the organization.
Keywords: open distance learning, leadership, business planning
Phenomenological Study of Women Entrepreneurs and Their Impact on Socioeconomic Growth in Malaysia
Authors: Ahmad Noraini , Ali Juhary
Published: May 2024

This study analyzes women entrepreneurship and socioeconomic growth in Malaysia. In this research, four factors and obstacles facing entrepreneurial growth were identified. To answer these four objectives, the research was conducted using a focus group method. A selected group of 10 female entrepreneurs were interviewed online focus group discussions. A structured questionnaire was also distributed to the 10 participating entrepreneurs which was analyzed using the NVIVO software package. The research results were tabulated based on four themes and subthemes. In conclusion, this research has established a socioeconomic model of women’s entrepreneurship in Malaysia. The causal relationship model configures variables as the main guide for stakeholders and entrepreneurial practitioners. This research is a phenomenological study of women’s entrepreneurship and its influence on their socioeconomic growth in Malaysia. The study provides implications for stakeholders in overcoming women’s entrepreneurship problems and obstacles to women’s business growth. Further research on women’s entrepreneurship in industrial and business sectors is recommended.
Keywords: women entrepreneurship, social economic growth
Developing Virtual Leadership in Digital Technology E-commerce
Authors: Hasnor P.M. Hadi Elmy Bin
Published: May 2024

Virtual leadership is essential in the current age of remote work and digital technology, requiring leaders to adapt their management style to provide guidance and support to their followers. A contemplative approach focusing on building rapport and providing moral support can especially be effective in virtual settings, while an initiating structure style is better suited for complex tasks or highly competent teams. Managing a virtual workforce requires a unique set of abilities to collaborate, lead, and manage remotely.
Keywords: planning, technology, virtual leadership
The Halal Fashion Concept: Islamization or Commercial Activity?
Authors: Susanti Yeni
Published: May 2024

The consumption of halal fashion in Indonesia increases yearly. In 2021, the consumption of halal fashion by Indonesian Muslims was recorded at 20 billion USD. The study aims to determine whether the purpose of the halal fashion concept is a part of Islamization or a commercial activity to make a profit. This library research was done by collecting data and information through research results, journals, books, and materials related to the research problem. Findings show that the halal fashion concept applies Islamic values to fashion which then becomes a commercial activity and make profit since business in halal fashion is promising.
Keywords: halal fashion, Islamization, commercial activity
Community Development Strategy Toward Independent Village by the Concept of Development in Islamic Economy (Study in Lampung Province)
Authors: Fuadi Fatih
Published: May 2024

The Provincial Government of Lampung plays an important role in realizing an independent village, where they are responsible for economic progress, infrastructure, development, and even education. Village independence in Lampung Province still needs to be improved. Based on the results of research conducted by the author both at the Community Empowerment Service (PMD) of Lampung Province and the community, especially village apparatus in Lampung Province, information was obtained that almost 100% of the programs in the village depended heavily on the Village Fund (DD) and ADD (Village Fund Budget). In addition, based on the poverty rate for Lampung Province it still needs to be pressed.
Keywords: development strategy, independent village, development concept
The Impact of BMT on the Welfare of Market Traders in Kudus
Authors: Putri Anggraeni Fradela , Wahyudi Purna , Fadlullah Hana Kharis
Published: May 2024

The business world is an industrial world that is very supportive of the country’s economic recovery. Many Indonesians depend on the business industry, especially the lower class. Kudus City has long been a client of the City of Commerce, to be dependable on the commercial industry for their livelihood. However, the need for support for business development is still minimal. With these problems, BMT and even Islamic banks can become the main channel to support the development of the business sector in the market, which was initially a problem. This study aims to determine the effect of BMT on the welfare of market traders in Kudus City. This research uses descriptive qualitative research. Information was obtained from related journal references. Besides that, it can also be from online media.
Keywords: trade, industrial, BMT, Kudus
Analysis of Fundamental Factors Affecting Islamic Bank Share Prices in Indonesia
Authors: Nurmalia Gustika , Ardana Yudhistira
Published: May 2024

While investing in the stock market can generate profits, it can also generate losses. Understanding the impact of certain important components on stock prices can help investors make more profitable investment decisions. The study investigated the key components that influenced the price of sharia bank Indonesian shares. Secondary data used for research. The information comes from monthly financial statements compiled from June 2018 to December 2020. The study looked at the impact of the shock and long-term response of each variable on the stock price using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). In the long run, PER and ROE variables have a positive effect on the stock price, but EPS has a negative effect. Unlike other variables, DER and PBV do not affect the stock price. The main factor is the EPS, which has a big and positive impact on the stock price in the short term. DER and PER have a very negative impact on the value of stocks. PBV has a negative but non-significant impact, while ROE has a positive but not significant impact.
Keywords: Fundamental Factor, Stock Price, Vector Error Correction Model
Micro and Small Industry (MSI) Based on Halal Products in Lampung: What Has the Government Done?
Authors: . Hanif , S. Siatan Mairizal
Published: May 2024

Micro and small industries (MSI) play a strategically vital role in supporting the dynamics of the economy, both globally and locally, particularly in the context of poverty alleviation and the enhancement of community welfare. The primary objective of this research is to delve into it in a more detailed and comprehensive manner by thoroughly exploring the potential and support capacity of the government for MSI focused on the development of halal products, with the aspiration of generating a substantial positive impact on overall economic growth and community welfare at a significant level.
Keywords: micro and small enterprises, halal products
A Meta-Analysis of Research into the Effectiveness of Premarital Education Programs onMarital Expectations
Authors: Amani Ahmad , Hosseini Vida
Published: May 2024

Aim: The purpose of this meta-analysis study was to determine the effectiveness of premarital education programs on marital expectations. Methods: This study uses meta-analysis technique and integrates the results of different researches to determine the effect size of premarital education programs. A total of 8 methodologically acceptable studies were selected and meta-analysis was performed on them. Data search sources were Scientific Database, Iranian Journal Database and Comprehensive Humanities Portal. Data analysis and effect size calculation were performed using CMA3 software and hedge g index. Findings: The findings of this meta-analysis showed that the effect of premarital education programs on marital expectations is (1.55) (P <0.001) which is evaluated as a large effect according to Cohen's table. Conclusion: It seems that premarital education programs can be used as a suitable way to reduce marital expectations in medical and educational centers.
Investigating the Experience of Spouse Selection in Children of Divorce: AQualitative Research
Authors: Heydari Roya , Sodani Mansour , Rajabi Gholam Reza , Khojaste-Mehr Reza
Published: May 2024

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the experience of spouse selection in children of divorce. Methods: The present study was a qualitative phenomenological type. The present study's statistical population included 6 women and 4 men who wanted to divorce and had experienced the divorce of their parents in Kermanshah in 2022. The participants were selected by the available sampling method and the sampling continued until data saturation. The data were first recorded and coded to analyze the data, and then they were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Findings: The results of the research included 6 main themes and 19 sub-themes of the participants' experiences. The sub-themes included negative social attitude, problems of not being distinguished from the family, psychological problems, communication problems with the spouse and the spouse's family, feeling valuable as a person different from the parents, and adapting and building a life different from the parents. Conclusion: The results of the research showed that the children of divorce have negative experiences during the formation of life and marriage, which can lead to wrong choices or incompatibility and mental health problems in them. On the other hand, they also have positive experiences that make them learn from their parent's mistakes and seek education and counseling services to improve their marital life satisfaction and lead a better life than their parents.
A Study on the Surface Chemistry of Laser Textured Parts
Authors: Escudero-Ornelas A Y , Davey E , Valera-Medina A , Bigot S , Badhuri D
Published: May 2024

The research investigates the changes in the surface properties and surface chemistry following laser microtexturing of stainless steel parts, in relation to their applications in the energy sector. In particular, the material compositions of the laser surface textured (LST) parts, together with the oxide compound formation on them are evaluated with respect to their wettability property. Wettability is crucial for heat exchange processes as it affects the efficiency of heat transfer by influencing surface contact and the formation of droplets on the heat exchanger surface. Here, two simple LST geometries, viz. channel and cross-hatch, were produced using a nanosecond fibre laser micromachining system. The wettability of the textured surfaces was then examined over a period of 45 days with an interval of 15 days. It was observed that the former geometry rendered a hydrophilic surface initially, which transformed to a hydrophobic surface after 45 days, whereas the latter LST design exhibited hydrophobic characteristic over the entire duration of the assessment. The material compositions and the oxide compound formation on the LST parts were analysed via energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques and the results were correlated with the measured wettability data.
Measuring the Coupled Effect of Heat and Stress on the Magnetic Properties of Electrical Steel
Authors: Mallett P , Anderson P , Harrison C
Published: May 2024

The coupled effect of heat and stress on the magnetic properties of electrical steel laminations is measured using a novel single-strip tester (SST) that applies uniaxial stress and localised heating to a sample. Magnetic characteristics, such as hysteresis curves, power losses and permeability, are produced as a function of stress, whose effect varies with temperature. The proposed system improves on existing systems by removing the need for a furnace, ring samples and large stressing apparatus.
Development of a Multi- Community Peer-to-Peer Electricity Trading Mechanism
Authors: Shafiekhani M , Qadrdan M , Zhou Y , Wu J
Published: May 2024

Peer-to-peer electricity trading allows individual energy producers and consumers to trade electricity directly with one another. They can be managed as a single unit in the form of an energy community. However, in this study, a multi-community peer-to-peer electricity trading mechanism was developed to enable excess electricity from renewable sources to be traded between multiple communities. For this purpose, two energy communities were considered, in which there are generation and storage technologies such as PV panels, wind turbines, energy storage systems, and flexible and non-flexible loads. A Bill Sharing method was adopted to determine the price of electricity traded between different peers within each community and between the two communities and the suppliers. The efficacy of the proposed peer-to-peer electricity trading in decreasing the cost of satisfying the electricity demand in the communities was investigated. The proposed model reduces the average daily electricity costs by 64% compared with the case without peer-to-peer electricity trading.
Double-ended Fault Location Method with Reduced Measurements
Authors: Jahanger H K , Robson S , Haddad M , Sumner M
Published: May 2024

The double-ended impedance-based fault location Method (DEFLM) uses the wideband frequency content of the transient generated by the fault to determine the impedance from the point of measurement to the fault. This work evaluates the use of DEFLM in integrated power system such as those in More Electric Vehicles. Two approaches have been investigated with two measurements from two terminals and with one reduced measurement. The outcomes demonstrate that the DEFLM with full measurements provide a very high accuracy of the fault location with accuracy reaches 99% assuming the two end measurements are synchronized. On the other hand, the DEFLM with reduced current measurement from loads end shows less accuracy as the fault reaches the load terminal. However, the accuracy still high and within acceptable range utilizing more cost-effective approach.
Spectroscopic Measurements of Light Emissions from High Current Arcs
Authors: Hills M , Lugg-Widger P , Peretto N , Haddard A , Mitchard D
Published: May 2024

Due to the destructive impact of lightning, and the risk of increasing strikes attributed to climate change on the natural and built environment, work has been carried out to study the temperature and light emitted by laboratory generated lightning using non-invasive light-based instrumentation, which will allow optimisation of lightning protection. Using spectroscopy, the optical emission spectrum of a 55 kA lightning arc with a copper fuse wire was obtained for study. The results showed the light radiated in the visible and infrared range, with strong copper emission lines seen, and determined a temperature of the arc of 8,531±577 K. This is in preparation for sub-nanosecond resolution data to be recorded using a new streak spectrograph to create temporal data of lightning arcs. A new laboratory experimental set up is being developed to explore further electromagnetic emissions in the infrared, ultraviolet and x-rays, to derive other useful information about lightning phenomena.
Influence of Fuel Hydrogen Content and Atomisation Quality on Ultrafine Non-volatile Particulate Matter Emissions in RQL Gas Turbine Technology
Authors: Harper J , Durand E , Johnson M , Crayford A
Published: May 2024

Aircraft engines are a source of harmful non-volatile Particulate Matter (nvPM) emissions, negatively affecting human health and the global environment. To mitigate this, new sources of fuel are being assessed for the commercial aviation sector. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) show significant promise as replacements to conventional aviation fuels, with the potential to reduce lifecycle CO2 and nvPM emissions because of lower aromatic contents and higher hydrogen content. Towards better understanding of the nvPM emissions from aircraft combustors operating with SAF, this work outlines results from the RAPTOR experimental test campaigns performed at Cardiff University’s Gas Turbine Research Centre (GTRC). Several aviation fuels of varying physiochemical properties were burned in a non-proprietary Rich-Quench-Lean (RQL) combustor rig. The nvPM emissions were measured using the European nvPM reference system, with data corrected for particle loss in the sampling and measurement system using additional particle size measurement. nvPM emission reductions were achieved for fuels of higher hydrogen content, and system loss correction was required to accurately quantify those reductions. Additionally, independent control of the air supply to the combustor rig allowed the impact of fuel spray quality to be decoupled from AFR, demonstrating that small improvements in spray droplet atomisation predicted from benchmarking fuel spray experiments (~5% reduction in SMD) consistently yielded significant reductions in nvPM emissions, ranging from 5-72% for nvPM EImass, 11-89% for nvPM EInumber, and 1-7% for GMD.
Numerical Wave Flume with Lattice Boltzmann Method for Wave Energy Converters
Authors: Guo B , Pan S , Meng J , Ning D
Published: May 2024

Based on Lattice Boltzmann Method, a free interface tracking model using volume of fraction (VOF) technique is built to explore the interaction of Oscillating Water Column (OWC) type of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) with waves. In the numerical wave flume, the momentum source is applied to generate incident waves and absorb reflected waves. After validation, one stationary OWC in the absence of Power take-off system (PTO) is then placed in the numerical wave flume to examine the performance of the numerical scheme. The simulation results show that the numerical stability is well achieved with the wave-structure interaction included and there is a strong vortex shedding at wall corner and nonlinearity with smaller amplitude in the present viscous flow model, compared with the linear potential flow solution.
Mathematical Modelling to Optimise an Urban Electric Vehicle Charging System
Authors: Maybury L
Published: May 2024

Many countries are embracing the adoption of electric vehicles for private transportation as a key measure in decarbonising their transportation sectors. In the UK, the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy provides a blueprint for industry players to reduce carbon emissions, aligning with the nation’s commitment to reach net zero emissions – a state where human generated greenhouse gases are balanced by their removal from the atmosphere. In line with this commitment, the UK is transitioning from conventional vehicles to electric vehicles, with a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles slated for 2030. This transition underscores the need for reliable charging infrastructure and systems to support the growing demand for electric vehicles. In this article, a charging system for urban areas is proposed. An integer linear program model based on queuing theory is developed with the goal of minimizing congestion in the charging system. In the results section, a case study of Cardiff’s urban centre, with a street network obtained from Open Street Map [1] is used to demonstrate the model’s application of creating an assignment of apartment blocks to charging stations with the goal of minimizing the congestion of the charging stations in the urban area.
Plasma-assisted Ammonia Combustion: The Effect of Equivalence Ratio on NO Emissions
Authors: Goktepe B , Clark D , Morris S , Mashruk S
Published: May 2024

As a carbon-free fuel and hydrogen carrier, ammonia has gained increasing attention in the combustion community to support the global decarbonisation efforts. However, it has unfavorable flame properties and emissions characteristics such as low flammability and intrinsic trade-off between nitric oxide emissions and slip ammonia that hinders its widespread integration to the heat and power sectors. As a promising technology, non-thermal plasma has already presented the potential to assist swirling ammonia flames with significant improvements in NOX abatement and flammability, while eliminating the need for blending with other reactive fuels such as hydrogen and methane. For this study, a plasma burner was designed to explore plasma discharge interaction with a highly swirling premixed ammonia flame over a range of equivalence ratios, and its effect on NO emissions. The results revealed that average plasma power varied with the equivalence ratio and the reduced electric field affected the NO emissions characteristics of premixed ammonia flames.
Exploring the Potential of Ammonia/Hydrogen Trigeneration Cycle
Authors: Jiang H , Alnajideen M , Valera-Medina A
Published: May 2024

Numerous low-carbon energy initiatives are adopting ammonia as an energy source, with a particular focus on combining ammonia and hydrogen in a 70%/30% volume ratio for gas turbine systems. The ammonia-hydrogen triple generation cycle, a hybrid of a humidified Brayton cycle and a reverse Brayton cycle, has demonstrated outstanding performance, achieving zero carbon and low NOx emissions, while boosting overall efficiency to around 59%, comparable to conventional fossil fuel-based power generation systems. The Aspen Plus software was used to simulate and calculate the system’s efficiency, mainly focusing on the humidification Brayton cycle, reverse Brayton cycle, and waste heat recovery phase of the ammonia-hydrogen triplex production cycle. Three scenarios were developed to evaluate the efficiency of different steam condensation recovery processes, with all three yielding efficiencies of at least 59%, confirming the cycle’s effectiveness and feasibility. Advancements in the system’s structure in the future could further enhance the system’s efficiency.
Generalizability of Deep Learning Models on Brain Tumour Segmentation
Authors: Duman A , Powell J , Thomas S , Sun X , Spezi E
Published: May 2024

Brain tumour segmentation is a hard and time-consuming task to be conducted in the process of radiotherapy planning. Deep Learning (DL) applications have a significant improvement in image segmentation tasks. In this work, we apply DL models such as 2D and 2.5D U-NET to the segmentation task of a brain tumour on the BraTS 2021 dataset and our local dataset. The 2.5D network is a modified version of 2D U-NET by using three slices as an input for each magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence. We achieve the best segmentation results with 2.5D U-NET on BraTS with Dice scores of 86.97%, 91.27% and 94.42% for enhancing tumour, tumour core and whole tumour respectively. On the other hand, our best segmentation result of the GTV delineation on the local dataset is a Dice score of 78.51% for 2D U-NET. Although the result of GTV contours is not improved by 2.5D for the local dataset due to non-fixed voxel size, the Dice scores of ET, TC and WT are improved by the proposed 2.5D U-NET for the BraTS dataset.
A Tool for Radiotherapy Plan Evaluation Analysis: generalise Uniform Ideal Dose (gUIDE)
Authors: Cagni E , Trojani V , Botti A , Lewis G , Spezi E
Published: May 2024

In radiotherapy, treatment planning is the process in which the appropriate dose distribution is planned for a specific patient. However, there is no consensus on what the ‘optimal’ plan should be and on how to measure plan quality. The purpose of this study was to develop a tool called a generalized Uniform Ideal Dose’ (gUIDE) that produces an ‘ideal’ dose distribution based on single patient anatomy and dose prescription. By comparing the clinical achieved dose distribution with gUIDE a quantitative measure of plan quality can be derived. gUIDE is based on an exponential function of dose fall-off outside the tumor volume. The algorithm does not require any specification of the treatment machine but only patient geometry information. gUIDE fall-off parameter was properly derived in a simple geometry dose profile. Overall, gUIDE showed a lower DVH than the DVH generated using the clinical treatment planning system, as it was expected for a baseline ideal condition. In the clinical validation, although the statistical test showed significant differences between the two groups, overall values were similar for all structures between gUIDE and PlanIQ. A baseline dose gUIDE was implemented, optimised and evaluated. gUIDE could be accurate enough to be used as baseline to help in the plan evaluation process.
Inter-planner Variability in Expert Driven Pareto-guided Automated Planning Solutions
Authors: Foster I , Spezi E , Wheeler P
Published: May 2024

An intra-planner study has been carried out to compare planning choices among qualified professionals when utilising Pareto-guided automated planning (PGAP) navigation. PGAP was used to calibrate planning goal weights of a protocol-based automatic iterative optimisation automated planning system. Four qualified professionals (Participant A-D) navigated solutions for eight prostate seminal vesicle (PSV) patient cases using PGAP. Plans were based on an existing clinically approved planning protocol containing seven planning goals (PGs). Three PG weights were navigated per plan (rectum Dmean, bladder Dmean and PTV conformality) with all other weights held constant at a value assigned in the original clinically approved protocol. Statistically significant differences were observed between participants for all PG groups except bladder Dmean. However, dosimetrically the PGAP system mitigated the majority of discrepancies in deviations at the calibration stage with few statistically significant dose-volume metric differences observed, none of which were clinically significant.
A 3D Coupled Finite Element Model for Self-Healing Quasi-Brittle Materials
Authors: Freeman B , Jefferson A
Published: May 2024

This study presents an overview of a 3D coupled finite element model for self-healing quasi-brittle materials. The model was developed alongside a linked experimental programme such that model components were formulated based on observed material behaviour and physical processes. The mechanical model comprises an embedded strong discontinuity element for representing discrete macro-cracks and a linked damage-healing cohesive-zone model. This is coupled to a transport model that simulates the reactive transport of healing agents in both discrete macro-cracks and the surrounding matrix material. For the simulation of the healing reaction that governs crack sealing and mechanical regain, a generalised healing front model is employed. The performance of the model is demonstrated through the consideration of the healing of a cementitious specimen. The results show that the model can accurately reproduce the crack filling predicted by a cement hydration model, and naturally accounts for the effect of healing period and crack width.
Pinball Tendons Crack Closure Technology
Authors: Sharifi S , Balzano B
Published: May 2024

Concrete is a popular construction material due to its unyielding nature. Although concrete is resistant to erosion, rotting, and rusting, due to its low tensile strength, reinforced concrete is prone to cracking. Also, because the cracks expand and become bigger over time, they can be a potential risk for concrete elements and lead to the failure of structures. Consequently, effective and early crack-closing and concrete healing can greatly enhance and improve concrete structures’ lifespan. Mechanical closing of the cracks by tendons has been one of the successful solutions. These tendons act based on a stored force in a balanced system. The new generation of tendons being investigated on a laboratory scale is Pinball Tendons (PBT). In addition to the simple activation phase, these tendons can store much more force due to their sleeve being made from steel. The significant feature of PBTs is that they do not need to receive any energy or recharge after the casting in concrete, so their service life lasts until they are activated to close the crack and release the prestressed force. According to the recorded CMOD data in this study, the tendons managed to close more than 65% of the crack aperture. The speed of the crack closure is another positive aspect of PBTs, 90% of crack closure has been done within the first 8 seconds. Because of this performance, in addition to the self-healing during the life span of structures, tendons can be a helpful alternative for repairing and enhancing concrete in sudden events like earthquakes and explosions.
3D-Printed Mini-vascular Networks for Self-healing Lime-based Mortars
Authors: De Nardi C , Gardner D , Jefferson A
Published: May 2024

Climate change is exposing our built heritage to greater and more extreme hazards. Historic masonry repair technologies must evolve in response to these, promoting a new, long-term resilient preservation strategy. Drawing inspiration from the study of mini-vascular networks to develop self-healing in concrete structures, this work proposes the use of biomimetic mini-mini vascular networks (m-MVNs) for repairing cracks in lime-based mortars. The m-MVNs are 3D printed units formed by interconnected channels capable of storing and protecting healing agents that are released when threshold damage is exceeded. In the case where patching is required for restoration of historic masonry wall, m-MVNs are designed to fit completely within the mortar joint. Initial results demonstrated that m-MVNs printed from clear PLA, have a promising design capable of storing healing agents without leaking or premature curing. Future experiments will investigate the appropriateness of this design of m-MVNs to enclose suspensions of bacteria and deliver them to cracks.
Waste Foundry Sand (WFS) as Aggregate Replacement for Green Concrete
Authors: Binti Q , Rudge J , Jin F , Maddalena R
Published: May 2024

Globally, 113 million tonnes (Mt)/year of cast metal are produced, generating 10-20 Mt/year of waste foundry sand (WFS). In the UK alone, 200,000 tonnes of WFS are disposed via landfilling, challenging current efforts in tackling climate change and sustainable development (CO2 emissions due to transportation, extraction of natural resources, increase in landfill inputs). Concrete uses up to 90% of natural aggregate per tonne of concrete produced, including sand. The latter is the most extracted material in the world today. Approximately 40-50 billion tons of sands are mined around the globe for construction each year (UNEP2016). This work examines the use of waste foundry sand (WFS) as a replacement for fine aggregate (sand) in concrete. Two types of WFS supplied by Weir UK were used: quartz and chromite sand. After initial chemical and physical characterization, both types of sand were deemed suitable for use in construction. We compared the physical and chemical properties of both WFS types to river sand used for concrete production. Quartz and chromite WFS were finer and contained less silicon than conventional sand but richer in metallic ions. Leaching tests showed that WFS released metals, but their chloride, fluoride and sulphate content was less than river sand. WFS was then used in concrete at different fine aggregate replacement levels (30%, 50% and 100%). We investigated the mechanical performance at 28 days of curing, water transport and durability properties. Whilst the overall compressive strength decreased with increasing the WFS content, samples subjected to freeze/thaw cycles exhibited outstanding durability performance with respect to their water absorption capability. Preliminary results suggest that WFS is an environmentally sustainable solution both for the cast metal industry and the construction sector, as it repurposes a material otherwise disposed of into a raw material for durable concrete production.
Biomimetic Materials in Construction Industry: the Necessity of Simulation
Authors: Sayadi S , Mihai I , Jefferson A
Published: May 2024

Biomimetic materials are a possible solution to tackle the environmental and sustainability concerns of the construction industry. Automation in repairing and self-healing features can increase the durability of brittle materials which are susceptible to cracking. A number of different self-healing technologies have been introduced over the past two decades; however, further research is needed to simulate their behaviour and study their performance. Mathematical models are needed for design and assessment purposes. In this paper the formulation as well as the application of a micromechanical model is presented. This model can capture simultaneous fracture and healing processes. The results from this constitutive formulation can be implemented in finite element framework for simulating the boundary value, and multiscale problems. The model is tested for an encapsulated self-healing cementitious mortar and the results show that it can capture the stiffness recovery with an acceptable accuracy.
Shrinkage Potential and Water Transport Properties of Self-compacting Concrete at Different Temperatures
Authors: Degani I , Maddalena R , Kulasegaram S
Published: May 2024

In recent years, self-compacting concrete (SCC) has gained popularity due to its numerous advantages. While the fresh properties of SCC have been extensively discussed, there is a need for further research on its durability properties, particularly with respect to SCC cured at different temperatures. The present study aims to investigate the shrinkage, water absorption rate, and chloride permeability of high-strength SCC cured under water at four different temperatures i.e., 10 °C, 20 °C, 35 °C, and 50 °C. The results showed that the samples which were cured at temperature 50 °C gained the largest shrinkage, while the samples cured at 10 °C temperature resulted in low shrinkage value, low sorptivity and electrical resistivity after 90 days of curing.
Influence of Healing Agents and Concrete Environment on PLA 3D Printed Mini-vascular Networks for Self-healing Concrete Structures
Authors: Cazzador G , De Nardi C , Ronchin L , Vavasori A
Published: May 2024

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of alkaline environment and healing agents on 3D-printed Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) mini vascular networks (MVNs) for self-healing concrete structures. PLA is an interesting thermoplastic polymer for 3D printing MVNs, due to its good mechanical property and its sustainability. Studies conducted recently on single channel MVNs also known as TETs, and dual channel MVNs, or d-TETs, have indicated that they can effectively store either a single or two-component healing agents to promote the self-healing process in concrete structures. Solubility tests and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis were conducted in this study to assess the degradation of PLA polymer resulting from various factors, including the printing process, embedment of MVNs in concrete matrices, and prolonged contact with healing agents such as sodium silicate and nanolime solutions.
Safety for Human-Robot Interaction with a Shared Autonomy
Authors: Tafrishi S A , Ravankar A A , Hirata Y
Published: May 2024

Robots were placed under fixed safeguards in the early stages of robotics development. Safety and real-time risk assessment are not easy, especially when robots are in places that co-exist with humans. However, robot and human interaction have essential applications in human physical assistance, human-robot task coordination and cooperation. This paper presents our proposed new approach to developing shared autonomy under safety. We derive the shared autonomy policies and explain how safety is quantified. After demonstrating an experiment result, the paper describes open problems that will be investigated in future research activities. It also covers how it can have potential applications in industry, welfare, and rescue.
Política de justicia en Colombia 2017-2027 y economía del comportamiento
Authors: Lozano Londoño Diego Hernán
Published: May 2024

El presente escrito tiene como propósito analizar el diseño de la política pública de Administración de Justicia 2017 – 2027 en Colombia, en específico, en su componente de información pública y TIC. Para lograr este objetivo, se emplean fundamentos teóricos de dos disciplinas que han ganado relevancia para impactar y entender mejor el comportamiento de los ciudadanos: las políticas públicas y la economía del comportamiento. La primera, da un soporte y una estructura al análisis, mientras que la segunda permite direccionar la mirada a los sesgos cognitivos que los seres humanos presentan a la hora de tomar decisiones, lo cual resulta de mucha utilidad para cualquier hacedor y ejecutor de política pública. La metodología empleada será de tipo cualitativo con un carácter histórico-hermenéutico. Finalmente, se evidenciará la necesidad de replantear aspectos del componente digital de la mencionada política pública, para que, desde su diseño, sea más efectiva y cercana al ciudadano.
Custos de oportunidade da recuperação extrajudicial no Brasil sob a perspectiva da análise econômica do direito
Authors: Casellato Scabora Filipe , Vieira Dos Santos Flávio Felipe Pereira , Silva Pinho Matheus Duarte
Published: May 2024

El objetivo de este artículo es examinar la reorganización extrajudicial desde la perspectiva del análisis económico del Derecho, con especial atención en los costes de oportunidad de este tipo de reorganización de las empresas en comparación con la reorganización judicial. Se examinan las principales aplicaciones de la teoría de los juegos y del análisis económico del derecho en el contexto de la reorganización extrajudicial y qué instrumentos típicos de saneamiento previstos en la ley pueden utilizarse para buscar resultados más eficientes para los acreedores y la empresa objeto de saneamiento, en comparación con el saneamiento judicial. Se concluye que, las reorganizaciones extrajudiciales gozan prácticamente de todas las prerrogativas de legitimidad de un proceso de reorganización judicial, sin las cargas intrínsecas derivadas del mismo, que suponen importantes costes de oportunidad.
La Constitución económica: reflexiones sobre su fundamentación económica, política y social
Authors: Álvarez Rojas Fernando , Rojas Arias Juan Camilo
Published: May 2024

El análisis positivista tradicional de la Constitución ha centrado su atención en la norma, para decirlo en términos de Buchanan, conocemos la norma, pero no su razón (Brennan & Buchanan, 1997). Este olvido ocasiona que la norma aparezca como un producto de racionalidad pura desarraigado de consideraciones fácticas llevando al desarrollo de enfoques parciales que desvirtúan el carácter de pacto de la Constitución, que es un acuerdo normativo, ético y social fundamental que establece una ortodoxia y una ortopraxis para dar respuesta a las demandas dinámicas de la sociedad. La conexión economía-derecho, ética-derecho, supera el mero ejercicio exegético de subsunción lógica, para abrir el horizonte del abogado a lo social. La Constitución es producto del conflicto presente o potencial que se encausa racionalmente, donde un ingrediente fundamental son las relaciones económicas y sociales. El presente artículo rompe el paradigma de análisis positivista; propone integrar al análisis constitucional un enfoque económico y un aterrizaje en el desarrollo de nuestro constitucionalismo; en esta línea, el propósito es interpretar la evolución constitucional colombiana desde el siglo XIX y el influjo de las principales corrientes de pensamiento económico en Colombia y proponer un análisis para el fundamento y desarrollo de la Constitución Económica colombiana de 1991.
Sustainable Leadership Skills Development –Learning From Bees
Authors: Peterlin Judita
Published: May 2024

The paper aims to present the development of sustainable leadership skills based on the metaphorical organization of the bees. I hope to identify mechanisms educators could use when developing team leaders. The method used is the qualitative analysis of primary and secondary sources and the analysis of the educational exercise I implemented as a pilot study. I present the exercise I carried out at the School of Economics and Business at the University of Ljubljana for international and domestic students in the winter semester of 2023/24. I have incorporated the research question: “What can we learn from bees in developing future leaders?” into the Stanford Social Innovation Questionnaire. Students have been searching for possibilities to exercise communication, teamwork, and creative problem-solving based on the functioning of bees. The findings show that a limited number of exercises are available that incorporate into leadership skills development natural environment elements. More common is a combination of sports or art as a “playing ground” for developing games or simulations of leadership context. The research limitation in my endeavor is time, as my study is still at its beginning, and I hope to be able to do interdisciplinary research on the topic in the future.