bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Відновлення правопорядку та правосуддя на деокупованих територіях
Authors:   Криворізький навчально-науковий інститут Донецького державного університету внутрішніх справ, ВЕСЕЛОВ Микола
Published: April 2023

Вступ. Громадський порядок і внутрішня безпека є обов’язковою умовою панування закону, судового захисту прав громадян, публічного адмі­ністрування і, відповідно, відбудови звільнених (деоку­пованих) територій. Проблема. Одним з першочергових завдань держави після деокупації українських регіонів стає відновлення правоохоронної системи на цих територіях. Метою статті є визначення засад, етапів і змісту відновлення правоохоронної та судової системи на постконфліктних (деокупованих) тери­торіях України. Методи. Емпіричною базою дослідження стали аналітичні огляди, наукові публікації та моніторинг інформації про події в Україні в інтернет-виданнях і засобах масової інформації. Завдяки поєднанню загальнонаукових та спеціальних методів пізнання вдалося опрацювати зазна­че­ний емпіричний матеріал та отримати власні наукові висновки, що корелюються з метою та завданнями статті. Результати. Відновлення функціонування правоохоронної та судової системи на деоку­пованих територіях України є необхідним, але тривалим процесом. Він має здійснюватися на підставі певних принципів з огляду на міжна­родний досвід і поетапність. Встановлено, що відновлення правоохоронної та судової систем на деокупованих територіях України відбувається за власним сценарієм без участі міжнародної поліцейської місії, відповідно до єдиної національної структури цих органів. Висновки. Процес відновлення пропонує­ться поділити на три етапи, які залежно від конкретних регіонів матимуть два варіанти: стабілізаційний, конструктивний та адаптивний (для територій, окупованих військами агресора після 24.02.2022 р. та звільнених Збройними силами України шляхом контрнаступу; стабілі­заційний, реконструктивний та адаптивний (для територій Донбасу та Криму, окупованих з 2014 р.). Кожний з наведених етапів має свої завдання, ресурси та особливості здійснення.
Організаційно-правове забезпечення інформаційної безпеки підприємств
Authors:   Державний торговельно-економічний університет, БОНДАРЕНКО Наталія , СИТНИЧЕНКО Олена ,   Державний торговельно-економічний університет
Published: April 2023

Вступ. У контексті європейської інтеграції від інформаційної безпеки залежить ефектив­ність роботи національних підприємств, а в кін­цевому підсумку – ступінь захищеності суспільних інтересів країни, інформаційних прав людей і громадян. Проблема. В умовах воєнної та інформа­ційної агресії проти України важливим є органі­заційно-правове забезпечення інформаційної безпеки підприємств, що включає аналіз законодавчої бази в цій сфері, а також дослідження персоналу, який може стати джерелом витоку інформації. Метою статті є оцінка правового регу­лювання інформаційної безпеки підприємств з погляду їх організаційної складової та визначення загроз витоку інформації, що їх може створю­вати персонал підприємства у зв’язку з доступом до конфіденційної, таємної та службової інформації. Методи. Використано низку філософських, загальнонаукових, спеціально-наукових принципів і методів: діалектичний, порівняльного аналізу, систем­ний, аналізу та синтезу, формально-юридичний. Результати. Нормативно-правове регулю­вання інформаційної безпеки в Україні забезпе­чується Конституцією України, низкою законів та інших нормативно-правових документів. Для усунення небезпек і загроз діяльності підприємству варто проаналізувати зовнішнє й внутрішнє середовище його діяльності та усунути чинники деструктивного характеру. Важливим у цьому контексті є контроль допуску працівників до роботи з документами й матеріалами, що мають інформацію з обмеженим доступом. Важ­ливим інструментом також є корпоративна етика. Висновки. Україні вдалося досягти певних успіхів щодо нормативно-правового регулювання забезпечення інформаційної безпеки, хоча лишилася низка недоліків. Забезпечити інформаційну безпеку підприєм­ст­вам дає змогу використання сучасних кадрових технологій. Працівники, що винні в розголошенні відомостей, які мають комерційну таємницю, згідно з ч. 6 ст. 36 ГК України несуть відпові­дальність, установлену законом – дисциплінарну, матеріальну, цивільну, адміністративну або кримі­нальну. Важливим елементом інформаційної безпеки підприємств є контроль, який покладається на його службу безпеки.
Le becfigue, petit passereau de Méditerranée
Authors: Aubaile-Sallenave Françoise
Published: April 2023

Fig-eaters are small passerines of various genus (Sylviidés, Acrocéphalidés et Phylloscopidés); They change their diet in the time of fruits, passing from insectivorous to fructivorous. As a result they get stouter, acquiring a delicious grease which meant they became a target for hunting from Antiquity to the present day resulting in their near extinction. We know a very elaborate, long and precise recipe from Babylon. After the Greeks and Romans, Byzantines and Arabs appreciated and consumed these birds, that were prepared according to various recipes. Nevertheless, in the Arab cultures, two kinds of texts show the interest for those small birds: first, medical and paramedical texts of the hippocratic tradition, and second, texts of cookery books that provide recipes while sometimes quoting physicians. Arab authors attributed aphrodisiacal and medical properties to these small birds, but they also were suspicious of them.

Les becfigues sont des petits passereaux de divers genres des Sylviidés, Acrocéphalidés et Phylloscopidés. Ils changent de régime à l’époque des fruits passant d'insectivores à frugivores. Par ce fait ils grossissent et acquièrent une graisse d'un goût délicieux qui les ont fait abondamment rechercher, depuis l'Antiquité, au risque de les faire disparaître. Nous avons déjà une recette très élaborée, longue et précise à Babylone. Après les Grecs et les Romains, les Byzantins et Arabes les ont appréciés et consommés selon des recettes variées. Dans les cultures arabes, cependant, deux sortes de textes montrent l'intérêt porté à ces petits oiseaux. D'une part les textes médicaux et paramédicaux relevant de la tradition hippocratique, d'autre part, les textes des livres de cuisine donnant des recettes, tout en citant parfois les médecins. On attribuait à ces oiseaux des propriétés à la fois aphrodisiaques et médicales, mais on s'en méfiait.
MINERALOGICAL AND PETROGRAPHIC JUSTIFICATIONFOR THE TECHNOLOGY OF FINAL PROCESSINGOF WASTE STEELMAKING SLAG
Authors:   State Scientific Institution ", Ivanchenko VLADYSLAV ,   Center for Problems of Marine Geology, Geoecology and Sedimentary Ore Formation of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine”, Ivanchenko ANDRII ,   Center for Problems of Marine Geology, Geoecology and Sedimentary Ore Formation of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine”
Published: April 2023

The steelmaking slag left in the dump after several stages of scrap metal extraction contains small metal particles and other valuable components. They can be isolated and used in metallurgy and construction using the technology of complex separation in a vortex air-mineral flow. With its help, the authors successively obtained binding materials, fillers for concrete and asphalt concrete, iron ore raw materials and metal from the waste steelmaking slag of company ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, PJSC. The technology has significant prospects for industrial use.
A Fundamental Overview of SOTA-Ensemble Learning Methods for Deep Learning: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Klaiber Marco
Published: April 2023

The rapid growth in popularity of Deep Learning (DL) continues to bring more use cases and opportunities, with methods rapidly evolving and new fields developing from the convergence of different algorithms. For this systematic literature review, we considered the most relevant peer-reviewed journals and conference papers on the state of the art of various Ensemble Learning (EL) methods for application in DL, which are also expected to give rise to new ones in combination. The EL methods relevant to this work are described in detail and the respective popular combination strategies as well as the individual tuning and averaging procedures are presented. A comprehensive overview of the various limitations of EL is then provided, culminating in the final formulation of research gaps for future scholarly work on the results, which is the goal of this thesis. This work fills the research gap for upcoming work in EL for by proving in detail and making accessible the fundamental properties of the chosen methods, which will further deepen the understanding of the complex topic in the future and, following the maxim of ensemble learning, should enable better results through an ensemble of knowledge in the future.
Motivational aspects of digital games in learning process
Authors: Jibril Aminu Usman , Abdullahi Nabila Musa , Ali Auwal Shehu , Abdulkadir Hamidatu , Matthew Ugochukwu Okwudili , Haruna Khalid
Published: April 2023

With the advent of digital games and its rapid evolution, it is almost impossible for a lot of people especially the young children to go a day without coming into contact with them. One of the impacts of these digital games is that it is changing the way these young children think and learn. It is therefore important to carefully examine the influence of digital games on children’s education. The purpose of this research is to identify and examine the factors that motivate children to play digital games and to determine the effect of such games to the children’s learning abilities. Responses from 172 students of ages between 11 and 16 are analysed in this research. A questionnaire is used to capture the children’s motivation towards digital gaming. Also, an intellectual test was carried out to determine the effect of digital games on the children’s learning abilities. The findings have revealed that competitive spirit is the major factor that influences children to play digital games because of the challenge and the competition that comes along with it. Furthermore, a critical view from the results of the intellectual test has shown that the children that play digital games score higher results and were able to finish within a short period of time as against the children that do not play. The outcome of this research could be used to explore the possibilities of using digital games as tools for learning, especially to the young ages.
Integrity assured multi-functional multi-application secure data aggregation in wireless sensor networks (IAMFMA-SDA)
Authors: Vinodha D. , Mary Anita E.A.
Published: April 2023

Industrial revolutions and demand of novel applications drive the development of sensors which offer continuous monitoring of remote hostile areas by collecting accurate measurement of physical phenomena. Data aggregation is considered as one of the significant energy-saving mechanism of resource constraint Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) which reduces bandwidth consumption by eliminating redundant data. Novel applications demand WSN to provide information about the monitoring region in multiple aspects in large scale. To meet this requirement, different kinds of sensors of different parameters are deployed in the same region which in turn demands the aggregator node to integrate diverse data in a smooth and secure manner. Novelty in applications also requires Base station (BS) to apply multiple statistical functions. Hence, we propose to develop a novel secure cost-efficient data aggregation scheme based on asymmetric privacy homomorphism to aggregate data of multiple parameters and facilitate the BS to compute multiple functions in one round of data collection by providing elaborated view of monitoring region. To meet the claim of large scale WSN which requires dynamic change in size, vector-based data collection method is adopted in our proposed scheme. The security aspect is strengthened by allowing BS to verify the authenticity of source node and validity of data received. The performance of the system is analyzed in terms of computation and communication overhead using the mathematical model and simulation results.
Systematic underestimation of uncertainties by widespread neutron-scattering data-reduction software
Authors: Heybrock Simon , Wynen Jan-Lukas , Vaytet Neil
Published: April 2023

Data-reduction software used at neutron-scattering facilities around the world, Mantid and Scipp, ignore correlations when propagating uncertainties in arithmetic operations. Normalization terms applied during data-reduction frequently have a lower dimensionality than the quantities being normalized. We show how the lower dimensionality introduces correlations, which the software does not take into account in subsequent data-reduction steps such as histogramming, summation, or fitting. As a consequence, any uncertainties in the normalization terms are strongly suppressed and thus effectively ignored. This can lead to erroneous attribution of significance to deviations that are actually pure noise, or to overestimation of significance in final data-reduction results that are used for further data analysis. We analyze this flaw for a number of different cases as they occur in practice. For the two concrete experiments that are comprised in these case studies the underestimation turns out to be of negligible size. There is however no reason to assume that this generalizes to other measurements at the same or at different neutron-scattering beamlines. We describe and implement a potential solution that yields not only corrected error estimates but also the full variance-covariance matrix of the reduced result with minor additional computational cost.
Inclusive apprenticeships: Advancing employment equity for jobseekers with disabilities
Authors: Mitchell DeBrittany , Cully Julisa , Hoff David
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND: Apprenticeships present an underutilized opportunity for people with disabilities to access in-demand jobs that provide stable employment at good wages, while meeting the needs of business for a skilled workforce. Numerous efforts are underway to increase the diversity of apprenticeships that are inclusive of people with disabilities. However, expanding the participation of people with disabilities in apprenticeship programs requires a long-term commitment to enhanced partnerships between public vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other disability programs, and state apprenticeship offices, as well as apprenticeship programs. OBJECTIVE: This paper explores the VR system’s role in partnership-building that includes mutual education and learning, and systematically addressing the full range of barriers that exist in order for people with disabilities to more readily access apprenticeship opportunities. This includes creating apprenticeship models that are flexible and can readily support and accommodate those with more significant disabilities. METHODS: To increase the number of individuals with disabilities in apprenticeship programs, VR agencies have expanded efforts regarding apprenticeship programs as a viable employment strategy. This includes advocating for and helping inform the changes needed to make apprenticeship programs fully inclusive, equitable, and accessible. RESULTS: While apprenticeships have tremendous potential for improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities, there are numerous challenges to accessing apprenticeships at individual, programmatic, and systemic levels. CONCLUSION: Building more inclusive apprenticeships for people with disabilities requires a long-term systematic approach that includes building strong partnerships between the disability and apprenticeship communities, mutual learning and education, testing out various models and approaches, and addressing the fundamental barriers that currently exist.
Perception of insecurity in municipalities in Mexico: A small area estimation approach
Authors: Santillana Mario Alberto , Gallegos José Antonio , García Alma Itzel , Díaz Elizabeth , Gutiérrez Daniel , González Nancy Leticia
Published: April 2023

In this paper, the percentage of the population aged 18 years and over with perception of insecurity during March and April 2021 is estimated for each municipality in Mexico using small area estimation techniques. Two methods are considered: the Empirical Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (EBLUP) and the Spatial Empirical Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (SEBLUP), both based on the Fay-Herriot area-level model. The National Survey of Victimization and Perception of Public Safety 2021 (ENVIPE 2021, for its acronym in Spanish) is the base survey from which the variable object of estimation is obtained; the auxiliary variables that allow to establish the considered models are obtained from other information sources, such as the population and housing census and administrative records. The results are adjusted to satisfy the benchmarking property and are contrasted with direct estimates given by the same survey, ENVIPE 2021, to compare their reliability level.
Public sector governance statistics in Brazil: Challenges and perspectives, and focus on transparency
Authors: Athias Leonardo , Botelho Luanda
Published: April 2023

The text explores the production of statistics on public sector governance in Brazil both by the official statistical office (IBGE) and other producers, most of them control agencies. The article gives details about the main data sources. Some challenges and perspectives related to regular and comprehensive production are explored. There is also an example of analysis with data on transparency in municipal government collected using different methodologies. This exercise shows some issues faced when one tries to put together different data sources.
Overview of discrimination in Cameroon in 2014: Between perception and experience, predominance of the phenomenon
Authors: Ndeffo G.F. , Niekou  , Tedou J.
Published: April 2023

This article analyses discrimination in Cameroon based on data from the Governance, Peace and Security (GPS) module of the Strategy for Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA). The data from this module were collected during the fourth Cameroon Household Survey (ECAM4), the main aim of which was to determine the profile of income poverty in Cameroon in 2014. The analysis highlights the forms of discrimination observed in Cameroon in 2014, the characteristics of people who are victims of discrimination and the determining factors of discrimination. Measuring discrimination using subjective and objective approaches shows a very high level both generally and in relation to law enforcement agencies. Discrimination relating to economic status (poverty or wealth) is the most widespread form. Certain forms of discrimination experienced are based on human capital, regional particularities and specific individual characteristics. This article suggests pathways to better target actions to fight against discrimination in all its forms, and thereby “to promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development”, Target 16.b of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Now is the time to close gaps in governance statistics – And the Praia Group is ready for the challenge
Authors: Laberge Marie , de Pina Mendes Cardoso Joao , Gadgil Arvinn , Roubaud François
Published: April 2023

Created in 2015 by the United Nations Statistical Commission, the Praia Group on Governance Statistics aims “to contribute to establishing international standards and methods for the compilation of statistics on the major dimensions of governance”. The Praia Group has recently created two “Task Teams” led by national statistical offices from around the world – one on Non-Discrimination and Equality, and one on Participation in Political and Public Affairs – whose aim is to advance the development of international statistical guidance, standards and instruments to measure these two dimensions. This article reviews the work accomplished so far by each Task Team to develop internationally harmonized model survey questionnaires on these two dimensions, in order to enable the production of comprehensive survey-based statistics on Discrimination and Participation that are comparable across different cultures, languages and development contexts, and over time.
Preliminary observation of thyroid function changes in subclinical thyroid diseases
Authors: Wang Hua-Xin , Gao Wen-Yu , Yang Yang , Li Yun-Feng , Zhang Yan , Zhang Xin-Yi , Li Yu-Xia
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that 1.95% and 5.55% of adults in China suffer from subclinical thyroid diseases, which is difficult to diagnose and treat. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the development and prognosis of subclinical thyroid diseases to provide a reference from our single center experience. METHODS: A total of 240 cases from April 2019 to August 2021 in the laboratory information system database of Huanghua Development Boai Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Binary logistic regression was conducted to analyze odds ratio (OR) of subclinical thyroid disease types returning to a normal state. RESULTS: Among the patients hypothyroidism Ia and hyperthyroidism Ia were the most common type with conversion to the normal state (P< 0.001). TSH level of patients with conversion to a normal state was significantly lower than that of those who developed to abnormal disease (P= 0.015). The OR values of hyperthyroidism Ia and hypothyroidism Ia that returned to a normal state compared with hyperthyroidism Ib were 2.659 (1.159 ∼ 6.096, P= 0.021) and 3.138 (1.1.278 ∼ 7.709, P= 0.013), respectively. The OR value of hypothyroidism Ib that returned to normal compared with hyperthyroidism Ib was 0.629 (0.131 ∼ 3.010, P= 0.561). Thyroid hormone levels, age, and gender at first diagnosis were not impact factor for prognosis of subclincal thyroid disease (P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cases with grade hypothyroidism Ia and hyperthyroidism Ia are more likely to revert to normal state than other subclinical thyroid diseases. TSH reference range should be explored for diagnosis and treatment.
DEVELOPMENT OF SPEECH BREATHING IN THE CORRECTION OF SOUND REPRODUCTION DEFECTS IN SENIOR PRESCHOOLERS WITH DYSARTHRIA
Authors:   Irkutsk State University, Murashova I. Yu. , Chernykh V. Ya. ,   Kindergarten of Combined Type No.117, Angarsk
Published: April 2023

Introduction: The relevance of our research lies in the search for effective ways of speech therapy through the development of speech breathing in the correction of sound reproduction disorders in preschoolers with dysarthria. There are disagreements in science and practice since the theory recognizes the fundamental importance of speech breathing development in correction of the sound productions defect; whereas speech therapists barely use the corrective possibilities of speech breathing in their practice due to the lack of clearly prescribed consistent recommendations of speech therapy working on the production of speech sounds. The article aims to identify the problems of speech breathing development in the correction of sound reproduction in children with dysarthria, to analyze the state of speech breathing skills important for pronouncing phonemes in 5-6 year-old children with dysarthria, to offer consistent recommendations for speech therapy correction of the defects in working on the production of speech sounds. Materials and methods: The following research methods were used: theoretical, anamnestic consisting in the study of the documentation of preschool educational institution, diagnostic method (diagnosis of speech breathing of senior preschoolers with dysarthria) with screening (study of the speech therapy status of senior preschoolers with dysarthria); methods of quantitative and qualitative processing of the results. Results: We studied the medical records of the preschool educational institution for each child and the speech records of the therapist in order to obtain detailed data on the severity of dysarthria, as well as the intellectual and neurological status, hearing condition of the test subjects in the sample. In order to determine the psychorechological status, the speech therapist reports were later correlated with the speech therapy screening and medical records data. We conducted a study of the state of speech breathing in children with moderate dysarthria and with minimal dysarthric disorders. It was found that in cases of moderate dysarthria, the condition of speech breathing and sound production suffers to a greater extent than in cases of minimal dysarthric disorders. It was revealed that children with dysarthria have the state of speech breathing that correlates with the state of sound reproduction: the more pronunciation defects the child has, the lower the level of speech breathing. Detailed consistent recommendations of correctional work on the development of speech breathing in preschoolers with dysarthria, depending on which speech sound is corrected, are presented.
Methods of researching the state of historical buildings energy efficiency
Authors: Kashchenko Tetyana , Kolisnyk Roksolana
Published: April 2023

While rebuilding post-war Ukraine, there will be a need to introduce historical buildings into the discourse of energy-efficient improvements both to ensure the energy security of the country and to preserve the historical fund and increase its potential in the context of prospects. The process of energy-efficient reintegration of a historical building requires the use of complex methods for collecting information about the current state of the building, which include both historical and social history collection, as well as non-invasive measurements of the building's characteristics, as well as object modeling for analytical studies of the building's indicators. These studies are conducted to establish the energy-economic characteristics of the building in order to identify the potential for reducing energy consumption and minimizing the impact of the building on the environment.
Methods of researching the current state of historical buildings energy efficiency are determined by two principled approaches, which involve either direct measurement of building characteristics, or simulation of an analytical model to calculate indicators, based on parametric data and characteristics of the building environment. However, they are preceded by the collection of the building`s historical anamnesis, to understand the context, essence and processes that historically took place in the building and affect the current energy consumption. A careful analysis and a balanced understanding of the historical building is required to set goals for the ongoing renovation of the historical building for the further selection of innovative solutions and energy-efficient strategies.
Prerequisites for the creation of a World Exhibition environment in Ukraine (on the example of EXPO-2020 experience)
Authors: Harbar Maryna , Shchurova Viktoria
Published: April 2023

The article presents analytical material on the experience of organizing World Exhibitions, special attention is to EXPO-2020. The main postulates of the EXPO-2030 program in Ukraine are provide.
Modern scientific approaches to the study of the problem of sustainable development, the economics of organizing exhibitions, social tasks, the aesthetics of the symbolism of the architectural composition of pavilions of different countries and exhibition sites in Dubai with the final Program for People and Planet are considered.
The purpose of the publication is to identify the main characteristics and critically analyze the ideas of past exhibitions in order to adapt the best proposals for holding an exhibition in Ukraine, indicating the expected benefits and motivations.
All countries and cities in which World Exhibitions held since their inception are lists. Attention is focuses on the theme of the exhibition: "Connecting minds, creating the future", which is dedicated to the goals of sustainable development and sounds like a call to unite different countries, peoples, and people for the sake of planetary development. A description of the main thematic areas with author's photos of the most significant pavilions illustrating "Opportunity", "Mobility" and "Sustainability" is present.
A comparison of the results of the participation of representatives from Ukraine in the EXPO exhibition in 2010 and 2020 is given. The topic and tasks of the future exhibition in Japan EXPO 2025 are considered. The main postulates of the ODESA EXPO 2030 project on the theme "Renaissance. Technologies. Future" as a Post-war Reconstruction Plan. The motivation for Ukraine is express in the development of the National Economic Strategy until 2030, the prospects for the promotion of the national brand "Ukraine Now".
Mapping Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) Across Sugarcane Fields with Different Comparisons by Using DUALEM Data
Authors: Zhao Xueyu , Wang Jie , Zhao Dongxue , Sefton Michael , Triantafilis John
Published: April 2023

The sugarcane growing soil in far-north Queensland is sandy, and infertile. To ensure productivity, nutrient guidelines recommend lime application rates based on soil cation exchange capacity (CEC). However, laboratory determination of CEC is expensive. Because CEC is often correlated with soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa, mS/m) measured from electromagnetic induction (EM) instruments, ECa can be used to predict CEC. Using ECa may lead to uncertainty in prediction, but estimates of true electrical conductivity (σ, mS/m) generated from inversion of ECa, can be correlated with depth-specific CEC. In this study, we compared linear regression (LR) between ECa from a DUALEM-421S and CEC at specific depths ( i.e., topsoil [0–0.3 m], subsurface [0.3–0.6 m], subsoil [0.6–0.9 m] and deep subsoil [0.9–1.2 m]), with a LR of σ using a quasi-2d (q-2d) or quasi-3d (q-3d) inversion of DUALEM-421S ECa and CEC at all depths. The use of a multiple linear regression (MLR) to predict CEC, using σ with depth and location ( i.e., Easting and Northing) is also explored along with σ from the other EM products ( i.e., DUALEM-1S and DUALEM-21S). The minimum number of calibration sample locations ( i.e., n = 165, 150,…, 15) is also investigated. The LR between ECa ( e.g., 1mPcon) and CEC were very weak (R2 = 0.27) and weak (0.36) in the topsoil and subsurface, respectively, but moderate in the subsoil (0.57) and deep subsoil (0.67). The LR between σ, estimated from q-2d (R2 = 0.66) and q-3d (0.64) inversion of DUALEM-421S ECa, and CEC at all depths was moderate. In terms of prediction agreement, the Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC) was moderate for q-2d (0.79) and q-3d (0.75). Using a MLR with depth, coordinates and σ, led to an improvement in calibration using q-2d (R2 = 0.71) or q-3d (0.67), with prediction agreement substantial for q-2d (LCCC = 0.83) and moderate for q-3d (0.78), with comparable agreement from DUALEM-1S and DUALEM-2S (0.77) estimates of σ. The minimum number of calibration samples for a strong MLR R2 (>0.7) and substantial and good agreement was 15 for q-2d and 30 for q-3d, respectively. The final digital soil mapping of topsoil CEC developed using MLR and σ estimated from q-3d of DUALEM-421S ECa could be used to apply the Australian sugarcane industry lime application guidelines with areas with intermediate (3–6 cmol[+]/kg) and small (<3 cmol[+]/kg) topsoil CEC requiring 4 and 2.25 t/ha, respectively.
Integrated Agrogeophysical Approach for Investigating Soil Pipes in Agricultural Fields
Authors: Samad Md Abdus , Wodajo Leti T. , Rad Parsa Bakhtiari , Mamud Md Lal , Hickey Craig J.
Published: April 2023

Soil erosion is one of the most significant challenges for soil management and agri-food production threatening human habitat and livelihood. Although soil erosion due to surficial processes is well-studied, erosion due to subsurface processes such as internal soil pipes has often been overlooked. Internal soil pipes directly contribute to the total soil loss in agricultural fields and impede agricultural sustainability. Locating, measuring, and mapping internal soil pipes and their networks are vital to assessing the total soil loss in agricultural fields. Their hidden and uncorrelated nature of subsurface occurrences constricts the applicability of manual and remote sensing-based detection techniques. Non-invasive agrogeophysical methods can overcome these limitations with detailed subsurface pictures and high spatial resolution. In this study, the applicability of three agrogeophysical methods including seismic refraction tomography (SRT), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was tested at Goodwin Creek, an experimental field site with established internal soil pipes. SRT showed low P and S wave velocities anomalies in soil pipe-affected zones. ERT results indicated the location of soil pipes with high resistivity anomalies. However, both SRT and ERT lack resolution to identify individual soil pipes. GPR diffraction hyperbolas and their apexes however effectively identified individual soil pipes. The agrogeophysical anomalies for soil pipes were compared with the low penetration resistance of the cone penetrologger (CPL) results. Correspondence between low PR in CPL and agrogeophysical anomalies verify the locations of internal soil pipe-affected zones. Moreover, the fragipan layer is identified below the soil pipe-affected zone by all three methods.
Numerical Study on Urban Infrastructure Diagnosis in Laterally Heterogenous Soils Using Resistivity and Ground Penetrating Radar Techniques
Authors: Deo Ravin N , Singh Nikhil , Kishore Kaushal , Kodikara Jayantha
Published: April 2023

Urban environment can be considered a complex system consisting of the engineered pavement physical structure over the buried utilities (water, gas, sewer) network embedded in the background soil environment. Assessment of buried pipeline civil infrastructures using proximal geophysical methods in such instances has to consider possible interferences, difficulties, and incorrect inferences. In this study, we have conducted a numerical modelling investigation to understand and evaluate how electrical resistivity profiling (ERP) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) can be utilised to provide subsurface information that otherwise may not be possible if either one of the techniques is used. A model geometry consisting of a typical pavement structure (asphalt, base/subbase, and background soil) with a single 2 m pipe buried at a depth of 1 m was used. Strong lateral variations in soil type were incorporated over the short pipe section in order to understand the complexities that can arise, especially with ERP measurements. The 3D electrical resistivity measurements were simulated in Comsol using the 4-probe method, while the 2D GPR measurements were simulated in gprMax to obtain the subsurface information. The results from both ERP and GPR were used to develop a practical framework that can be utilised by relevant authorities for proximal condition assessment of their buried assets. It was suggested that ERP can be used as a first level screening tool over the whole pipeline length, followed by discretely selected GPR scans in order to further gain information on the pipe health. This is attractive practically since, following delineations of a large pipe section into shorter subsections, advanced condition assessment approaches that are generally intrusive in nature can then be economically deployed within the subsections suspected of experiencing significant corrosion damage.
Feasibility Study of Plastic Waste Pyrolysis from Municipal Solid Waste Landfill with Spent FCC Catalyst
Authors:   Rattanakosin College for Sustainable Energy and Environment, Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand, Chotiratanasak Jiraphan , Vitidsant Tharapong ,   Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand, Khemkhao Maneerat ,   Rattanakosin College for Sustainable Energy and Environment, Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
Published: April 2023

Globally, there is growing concern about the problem of plastic waste. The majority of plastic waste is dumped into landfills, where it occupies space, reducing landfill capacity and causing a variety of environmental issues. Plastic waste pyrolysis has gained popularity because it can reduce the volume of plastic waste while also producing alternative fuels. This study assessed the feasibility of producing fuel oil from plastic waste using the catalytic pyrolysis process. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) waste samples were collected from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills on Samui Island, Surat Thani Province, Thailand. Pyrolysis was carried out in a 3-L bench-scale reactor at 450ºC using a 3% spent FCC catalyst. PE, PP, PS, and mixed plastic waste were used as feedstocks. The results showed that the pyrolysis of PS produced the most liquid product (91.44 wt%), whereas the pyrolysis of PE produced the highest percentage of diesel range product (36.60 wt%). Furthermore, the results of the analysis revealed that the characteristics of diesel from improved PE pyrolysis oil by naphtha removal were similar to those of commercial diesel B7. According to the cost-benefit analysis, the operating costs of pyrolysis oil and improved diesel were 0.37 and 0.65 USD/L, respectively, which were lower than the current market price of diesel B7. The findings of the study demonstrated the feasibility of converting plastic waste from MSW on Samui Island into alternative energy using eco-friendly and cost-effective technology.
The Potential and Limitations of the Treatment of Caste Discrimination in International Human Rights Law
Authors: Wankhede Asang
Published: April 2023

This paper critically evaluates all the developments that lead to the making of caste discrimination an issue in international human rights law (IHRL) – both as racial discrimination and as an issue of the minority rights regime. It explores the reasons why such developments and the politics of it have proven to be insufficient in cause and totality in addressing the rampant abuses of the human rights of Dalits. While focusing on the obvious limitations of the minority rights regime in including Dalits as a minority, it weighs the limitations and the potential of the existing IHRL corpus in addressing caste discrimination. The paper will first outline the genealogy of caste discrimination in IHRL, which will provide a descriptive account of all the developments. I identify the treatment of caste in terms of a “violating norm” and as a “violation sub-category”. Then the paper seeks to engage with the theory on the limitations and critiques of IHRL, to argue that there are theoretical and legal-doctrinal fault lines in the conception of caste discrimination as a sub-set of descent-based racial discrimination both normatively and interpretatively. To support this argument the paper explores reasons for the failure of IHRL in critical legal thought – which outline the triumph of cultural and social pressures in the society over the language of IHRL. Following this, a novel attempt is made to develop the concept of “cultures of oppression” as a central theme in imagining a “Dalit critique of IHRL” which in my opinion is not only a normative contribution to the critical discourses in reimagining IHRL which is more responsive to the problems of Dalits, but also provides a new outlook for human rights movements to combat caste discrimination.
The Ohrid Framework Agreement and International Law: Twenty Years of Development
Authors: Donev Nikola
Published: April 2023

The Balkans can be described as a laboratory of modernity, especially when it comes to the form of multicultural life in the communities. The modern nation states that formed from the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s were faced on the one hand with a “need” to establish a state for the majority dominant ethnic group, and on the other hand to reconcile the multicultural reality of their societies and accommodate for the rights of minorities. This paper will focus on the constitutional and legal implications that followed the signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA). It will also give an overview of the contents of the OFA and subsequent legislation juxtaposing it to international standards prescribed by documents such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe. In the context of this legal analysis, the paper will examine the developing political environment through analysing certain dynamics in the political system focusing on parliament and political parties. It will also follow the discourse and popular support of the agreement and its effects on the internal and external stability of North Macedonia.
Explaining Climate Change Induced Human Mobility: Revisiting Traditional and Emerging Migration Theories in the Wake of Regularising Climate Change Induced Human Mobility under International Law
Authors: Horváth Valéria Eszter
Published: April 2023

The term “environmental refugees” was used by the United Nations Environmental Program in 1985, drawing the international community’s attention to environmentally induced human mobility for the first time. Almost 40 years on, migration experts, lawyers as well as the international community struggle to define and to conceptualise an imminent phenomenon. Migration studies as such are still struggling for their own emancipation among other fields of social sciences, and now migration experts are challenged with a novel social phenomenon, climate change induced human mobility. In fact, environmentally induced human mobility is not a new phenomenon, it is merely a novel research area. In this article, I will collect and summarise traditional and emerging migration theories and concepts, in order to establish whether climate change induced human mobility may be interpreted by any of these theories at all, or if not, how could these be adapted to understand climate change induced human mobility.
Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used by ESL Saudi Students in the United States
Authors:   ,   Andrews University, Suliman Alya
Published: April 2023

Problem The purpose of this study was to discover the preferred and used English vocabulary learning strategies of Saudi Arabic-speaking English as a Second Language (ESL) learners. In the light insufficient empirical and theoretical studies exploring the complex structure of vocabulary learning by Arabic-speaking ESL learners, this study investigated which strategies students viewed as significant in assisting them in learning new English vocabulary. Finally, the study sought to identify Saudi Arabic-speaking student attitudes toward and motivations for learning English as a second language; and whether these attitudes influenced which vocabulary learning strategies they preferred and used commonly. Method The research design was a nonexperimental quantitative descriptive research. The study used self-report questionnaires to know what were the most common vocabulary learning strategies used by Saudi Arabic-speaking ESL students in the United States as well as to learn what were their overall attitudes toward and motivations for learning English as a second language. Participants completed a three-section survey: (a) a demographic section, (b) the vocabulary learning strategies section, and (c) the section about attitudes toward and motivations for learning English as a second language. Schmitt's (1997) vocabulary taxonomy was used for the vocabulary survey section, while the attitude and motivation section (ATM) came from Abu-Snoubar's (2017) study, who adapted Gardner’s (1985) AMTB. Results The findings indicated that Saudi Arabic-speaking ESL students preferred to use reinforcement strategies and linguistics analysis strategies to acquire new English words. The top 10 most common vocabulary learning strategies included guessing the meaning of the new word from the sentence, taking notes in class, translating to Arabic, and using new words in sentences. Furthermore, Saudi Arabic-speaking ESL student attitudes toward learning English were positive and their motivations for learning English were high. Conclusions This study asserted that Saudi Arabic-speaking ESL students preferred to use reinforcement strategies and linguistic analysis strategies to acquire and learn new English words. The study also demonstrated that Saudi Arabic-speaking ESL students have high positive attitudes toward learning English, which was associated with their high motivation for learning. The findings indicated a weak correlation between VLS and the ATM, indicating that English language learners choice of VLS is influenced by their attitudes and motivations. Based on these results, further research is needed to investigate the relationship between VLS and the ATM with other international English language learner populations, use an experimental quantitative research design, and explore gender differences in VLS. Implications for practice include using these findings to develop instructional design in ESL curricula and improve teaching of VLS to English language learners.
An Evaluation of the Bachelor Degree in Accounting Program in a Ghanaian Private University
Authors:   ,   Andrews University, Adaboh Samuel
Published: April 2023

Problem: There is the growing demand by all stakeholders (teachers, students, employers, governments, and society) for universities and colleges to be more accountable in preparing their products for the challenges of the 21 st century. Such demands have fueled interest in the evaluation of student learning in virtually all disciplines in college. There are calls for pedagogic innovations that will improve student learning in college. If any success can be achieved in addressing the challenge of improving the quality of products from higher education, then colleges and universitieshave need for reliable data. Such data can be obtained partly through an effective process of evaluation that allows for the examination of clear indicators of program quality and the effect on student learning. It is with this in mind that I embarked on this study that relied on the perceptions of some key stakeholders to evaluate the performance of an undergraduate accounting program in a private university in Ghana. Method: This study employed a quantitative descriptive non-experimental survey design. Four questionnaires were developed and administered to evaluate the perceptions of current students, former students/graduates, faculty, and administrators of anundergraduate accounting program in a private Ghanaian university. This study was conducted within the overarching framework of the CIPP evaluation model, and all research questions, associate research questions, and hypothesis were analyzed and discussed in terms of this framework. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the research questions. Results: The purpose of this descriptive quantitative survey study was to find out the perceptions ofstudents, lecturers, graduates, and administrators of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in the accounting program in a private university in Ghana. The program was perceived by these groups as performing positively in the context and product dimensions, but less so in the input and process dimensions. Again, the study indicated no significant differences in the perceptions of the students, graduates, faculty, and administrators of the BBA in accounting program. In spite of this general agreement by all the respondent groups on the positive performance, there were specific areas relating particularly to the provision of additional resources that will require some improvement. These include the improvement in library resources and facilities, improvement in classroom facilities, provision of more teaching and learning materials, the provision of more opportunities for faculty improvement and development, and improvement in administrative support. Conclusion: Important as the above findings are, it is my view that a more comprehensive evaluation of the program may require the validation of some of the responses elicited through the surveys. This may include interviews with relevant stakeholders, observations, and examination of program and institutional documents.