bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of the corporate sector of the Sahel-Saharan States on ensuring economic sovereignty: opportunities and limitations
Authors: Filina Aleksandra Dmitrievna
Published: December 2023

The relevance of the article is due to the fact that in modern conditions, the Sahel-Saharan states are characterized by an insufficient level of economic sovereignty, despite years of reforms. The article shows that the efforts being made are not successful not only because of conflicts, the expansion of transnational corporations, inefficient public administration, low level of development of human capital and institutions, but also, first of all, because of the lack of formed entrepreneurship. The purpose of the article is to study the impact of the corporate sector of the Sahel-Saharan states on ensuring economic sovereignty, highlighting the most promising opportunities and critical limitations based on the results of the analysis. The subject of the study is the trends and patterns of development of the corporate sector of the countries of the region and its impact on the formation of opportunities to ensure economic sovereignty and the elimination of existing restrictions. The methodology of the article includes methods of a systematic approach using a comparative method to clarify the features of economic sovereignty; the task of substantiating the importance of the corporate sector in these processes was implemented using the method of qualitative content analysis, which was chosen to explore the possibilities and limitations of influencing economic sovereignty. The main conclusions of this study are: to identify the problems and limitations of ensuring the economic sovereignty of the Sahel-Saharan States (high dependence on multinational companies, poor infrastructure and institutions, lack of financial resources and human competencies); to substantiate the impact of the insufficient level of development of the corporate sector in African countries. The novelty of the study lies in the formulation of measures and directions for establishing international economic cooperation between companies of the Sahel-Saharan states and Russia as an important organizational task for the development of the corporate sector and, consequently, for ensuring economic sovereignty. Among them: ensuring legal stability as a political priority, forming the foundations for a high-quality legal investment framework, encouraging business ties, honesty and responsible business conduct as a key element of protecting foreign investors, access to finance and information support for the development of human capital through professional development.
"Rihla" Genre Features in Youssef Zeidan’s Novel “Azazel”
Authors: Vlasova Yulia Evgenievna , Vavichkina Tatiana Anatolevna
Published: December 2023

The subject of the study is the genre of "rihla", that is, the Oriental person pilgrimage to various countries. The authors are interested in the elements of this style and their application in the novel "Azazel" by the Egyptian writer Youssef Zeidan. The main character, traveling along the Nile, Sinai and Asia Minor, learns the world around him. Through the eyes of a young man, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Damascus and other great cities of the early Middle Ages and their sights are described. Being in the midst of historical events, a young Egyptian acquires skills of a doctor. He witnesses the murder of a female philosopher Hypatia by Christian fanatics. Fleeing from painful memories, the healer flees Africa in search of true Christianity to the homeland of Jesus, where he becomes a monk Hypa. Mentors help him cope with doubts, advising him to write down everything he has experienced. This is how Gipa's guide to the countries of Africa and Asia is born, at the same time the confession of a reasonable person tempted by passions. The methods of historical and systemic analysis used make it possible to compare the lives of worshippers of the Hellenic gods and the first Christians. The author concludes that due to the traditional genre of "rihla" for Arabic literature, that is, the spiritual wanderings of the hero, Zeidan creates a reliable multifaceted picture of the life of people of the fifth century AD and tries to reveal the essence of the personality of the monk Hipa against the background of historical realities and characters. The format of diaries filled with experiences helps to delve into the inner world of the pilgrim and fully reveal the psychology of the pilgrim. This genre, in addition to cognitive and entertainment functions, has acquired historical and psychological features.
Diffuse CNS cortical vein malformations with chromosome 17q microduplication: Possible link to SEC14L1
Authors: Huang Shiwei , Dobyns William , Duncan Corinne , Nascene David
Published: December 2023

Partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 17 (17q) is a rare but clinically recognized syndrome that involves facial dysmorphisms, skeletal abnormalities, and global developmental delay, as well as various reports of cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous system abnormalities. This report presents a novel neuroradiologic finding of diffuse enlarged, tortuous cortical veins with physiological antegrade flow in a child with a microduplication of the distal end of 17q. To our knowledge, this finding has not been described previously. Although the exact cause for the cortical vascular anomaly is currently unknown, this duplicated region contains genes of interest for future studies that focus on normal and abnormal angiogenesis
Study on the Fire Risk of Blowing Agents during Spray-Type Polyurethane Foam Construction
Authors: Choi Yoo-Jeong , Choi Su-Gil , Kim Si-Kuk
Published: December 2023

This study investigates the risk of fire explosion caused by the presence of combustible gas in the propellant of spray-type polyurethane foam and the ammonia gas generated during the curing of polyurethane foam. Analysis of domestic fire cases confirmed that when construction work using polyurethane foam spray and fire handling were conducted simultaneously, fire accidents repeatedly occurred because the welding sparks acted as an ignition source on the surface of the polyurethane foam. Experiments confirmed the possibility of fire explosion owing to the presence of flammable substances in the polyurethane foam and the combustible gas in the propellant. The production of ammonia gas increased during the polyurethane-foam-curing stage, and B3 was more dangerous than B1.
Assessment of the Fire Risk Index and Fire Risk Rating of Five Wood Species According to Chung’s Equation-XII
Authors: Chung Yeong-Jin , Jin Eui
Published: December 2023

Chung's equations-X, -XII, and -XII were applied to evaluate the fire risk index (FRI) and fire risk rating (FRR) of five wood species. The test specimens used were ginkgo tree, dawn redwood tree, toona tree, lime tree, and walnut tree. A cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1) was selected and used to test the combustion characteristics of the specimens. The fire performance index-X (FPI-X) and fire growth index-X (FGI-X) calculated using Chung’s equations ranged from 560.59 to 2689.89 s2/kW and from 0.0005 to 0.0016 kW/s2, respectively. Furthermore, the FPI-XI and FGI-XI varied from 0.49 to 2.35 and from 1.67 to 5.33, respectively. FRI-XII, a FRR, showed that the fire risks of dawn redwood tree and ginkgo tree, at 10.88 (FRR: F) and 10.25 (FRR: F), respectively, were very high. In conclusion, a high FRI-XII value indicates that FPI-X and FPI-XI are low whereas FGI-X and FGI-XI are high.
The Effects of Job Characteristics of Firefighters Dispatched to Disaster Sites on Job Satisfaction
Authors: Kwak Byung-Gu , Ryu Jong-Yong
Published: December 2023

This empirical study investigates how the job characteristics of firefighters, who provide immediate fire suppression, rescue, and emergency response services when a disaster occurs, affect their job satisfaction. Through a literature review, we evaluated the job characteristics of firefighters dispatched to disaster sites according to their levels of “risk”, “urgency”, “uncertainty”, “ambiguity” and “shift work” and selected 296 firefighters involved in fire suppression, rescue, and first aid. We surveyed the subjects to verify the causal relationship between their job characteristics and job satisfaction. Uncertainty and shift work were found to have a statistically significant negative (−) effect on job satisfaction, and urgency was found to have a positive (+) effect. On this basis, an efficient and effective personnel policy plan for the fire service organization was presented.
Measurement of the Size Distribution of Smoke Particles through Direct Sampling at the Exit of a Steady-State Tube Furnace
Authors: Goo Jaehark
Published: December 2023

The size distribution of smoke particles, influenced by varying fire conditions, constitutes a significant research focus in the firefighting domain concerning fire detection and the impact on lung deposition which is a major contributor to both short- and long-term casualties among residents and firefighters. Currently, the ISO/TS 19700 method is commonly employed to measure characteristics of combustion products, including composition and concentration, primarily for gaseous substances. However, due to measurement challenges, limited research results exist on particulate substances using this method, and outcomes vary significantly among researchers. The particle size distribution which is the typical characteristics of particulate materials is crucial factor leading to discrepancies in measurements at the combustion furnace outlet. This distortion is influenced by factors such as particle collision, temperature changes, and residence time in the mixing chamber installed for cooling and dilution. This study unveils the disparity in particle size distribution between using a mixing chamber and direct sampling. A solution is proposed by replacing the mixing chamber at the outlet of the steady-state tube furnace specified in the existing ISO/TS 19700 method with a direct sampling approach. Smoke particles generated under combustion conditions at various temperatures and equivalence ratios were directly sampled at the furnace exit. These samples underwent a two-stage dilution process, and the real-time particle size distribution was measured using an electrostatic low-pressure impactor. This approach minimizes distortion of the particle size distribution attributable to the mixing chamber.
Flame Segmentation Characteristics of YCbCr Color Model Using Object Detection Technique
Authors: Roh Joo-Hyung , Min Se-Hong , Kong Min-suk
Published: December 2023

The existing YCbCr color model for flame segmentation has a low segmentation performance for various colored flames and mis-segmentation for flame-like colored-object regions. An improved YCbCr color model using an object detection technique is proposed in this study to improve the flame segmentation performance of the existing YCbCr color model. YOLOv8, a deep learning model for object detection, was used to form a bounding box for the flame to prevent the segmentation of the flame-like colored-object region, and flame segmentation in the bounding box was performed. In addition, YCbCr rules were proposed to segment red and yellow flames to improve flame segmentation performance. The performance evaluation showed that the proposed model increased the intersection over union value by approximately 15.4% compared to that of the existing YCbCr model. In terms of the fire prediction performance evaluation, the precision, recall, and F1-score of the proposed model increased by approximately 15.9%, 28.2%, and 24.7%, respectively.
Experimental Study on Condensation of Air Sampling Smoke Detector in Frozen Warehouse Environment
Authors: Choi Su-Gil , Kim Min-Wook , Lee Gun-Ho
Published: December 2023

This study analyzed the problems of a fire detection system based on the actual conditions of domestic frozen warehouses and conducted a reappearance experiment to address these issues. The adaptability of spot-type thermal and smoke detectors is reduced in locations where extremely low or low temperatures are maintained. Air sampling smoke detectors are used in frozen warehouses; however, condensation and freezing occur on the pipe, which serves as the detection part of the air sampling smoke detector, blocking the suction hole of the pipe. Based on the results of a re-enactment experiment, frost visible to the naked eye was observed after 132 h of the experiment. After the entire period, it was confirmed that most of the solidification occurred in zone 1. Depending on the spatial characteristics, condensation and freezing can occur in pressure controllers or heating wires with defrosting functions.
Experimental Study of Fire Risk Analysis of Facilities Within Petrochemical Plants
Authors: Hwang Euy-Hong , Kweon Oh-Sang , Kang Hyun
Published: December 2023

This study was conducted to analyze the fire risk in facilities within a petrochemical plant. We confirmed the chemicals used within the petrochemical plant and the hazardous substances and special combustibles stipulated in firefighting laws (Hazardous Materials Safety Management Act and Framework Act on Fire Services). Based on the confirmation results, an actual-scale fire experiment was conducted by constructing wood crib hazardous materials based on the equivalent calorific values of cumene and phenol used in petrochemical plants. In the experiment, a measurement location was selected, and the temperature and heat flux were measured. The fire spread distance was estimated based on the fire spread on the surface of the combustible material and the radiant heat effect of the fire plume, and the variation in flame height with separation distance was analyzed.
Experimental Study on Effect of Temperature Characteristics on Upper Rack According to Type and Arrangement of Combustibles in Logistics Facilities
Authors: Kim Yun-Seong , Kang Hyun , Kwon Oh-Sang
Published: December 2023

As part of a study to establish a performance-based fire-response design and evaluation method for logistics facilities, an experimental rack was manufactured, and the temperatures at the top of the combustible material during a rack fire were measured. The temperature time and temperature flame length relationships were established. Based on the variation in – – temperature with the arrangement of the combustibles, the rate of increase in heat flow through the vertical flue was higher when the combustibles were doubled than when they were single, indicating that the increased rate of the flame and flume was more than twice that of a single combustible. Based on the type of combustible, CEP exhibited a significantly higher rate of temperature increase than CUP. In the case of the CUP, when arranged in one stage and one row, the fire intensity was weak in the early stage of the fire; therefore, it was possible that the upper sprinkler head did not respond. In addition, the correlation between the flame length and temperature during the initial fire was relatively high (R2 = 0.93).
La música sikuri como estrategia de la política indígena en Buenos Aires
Authors: Mardones Pablo
Published: December 2023

Mediante una investigación desarrollada durante diez años, entre 2009 y 2019, identifico cómo el instrumento siku y su música, traídos por migrantes indígenas desde los Andes centrales, constituyen actualmente una de las principales herramientas de lucha política indígena en Buenos Aires. Sugiero que la masiva incorporación de personas a su interpretación, reprodujo y mantuvo la reivindicación amerindia vinculada a la ejecución del siku desde su llegada a la ciudad. En este proceso, reconozco como fundamentales los mecanismos de comunalización (Brow 1990) y de etnificación (Segato 2007) adquiridos y generados tanto por los migrantes indígenas que trajeron este instrumento y su música, como por porteños y bonaerenses que se incorporaron a su práctica. A través de mi rol como músico sikuri, utilicé la metodología de participación observante (Tedlock 1991), la cual complementé con la realización de entrevistas en profundidad. En síntesis, el artículo propone que mediante la intervención social –incorporando letras reivindicativas, apoyo a diversas demandas y una dinámica intercultural de su práctica– la música sikuri se constituyó como la banda sonora de la política indígena en una metrópolis imaginada como enclave europeo en Sudamérica.
Creando en casa (Home Studio). Emergencia de nuevas prácticas musicales y subjetividades en Chile
Authors: Toval Gajardo Mauricio , Schumacher Ratti Federico
Published: December 2023

La consolidación de nuevas tecnologías informáticas orientadas a la producción musical, ha resultado en una masificación de la creación en este ámbito. Esto ha llevado a muchos/as músicos/as a trabajar de forma independiente, grabando, produciendo y gestionando su música desde sus propios hogares, lo cual pareciera impactar no solamente la dimensión económica de la actividad de producción musical sino también las formas de vida y organización subjetiva de estas personas. La emergencia de este grupo de creadores/productores ha sido poco explorada en la literatura, por lo cual parece relevante caracterizarlo y explorar estas nuevas prácticas creativas y su posible relación con la construcción de subjetividades que podrían constituirse como particulares de estos actores. Así, el presente artículo busca responder a dos objetivos centrales. En primer lugar, caracterizar multidimensionalmente a productores/as musicales que desarrollan su trabajo creativo principalmente desde estudios caseros (Home Studio). En segundo lugar, se describirán y analizarán prácticas de creación musical distintivas de estos actores, así como posibles emergencias de nuevas subjetividades artísticas que podrían relacionarse con estas nuevas prácticas de creación musical. Para ello, se diseñaron y aplicaron dos instrumentos: una encuesta y entrevistas semiestructuradas. Los resultados sugieren una cierta homogeneidad entre estos actores en cuanto a variables socioeconómicas y demográficas. Algo similar ocurre con las prácticas musicales de formación, producción y distribución de contenidos, así como en la construcción de imaginarios comunes.
brief history of lean in the public sector
Authors: Ballard Glenn
Published: December 2023

The development of Lean principles within the public sector began in 2003 following Lean Construction Institute´s developing efforts on relational contracting. Later, challenges and opportunities for implementing Lean were identified in Californian construction law. Collaborations with entities like the California Department of Transportation and the University of California San Francisco showcased Lean's benefits, leading to legislative changes allowing broader implementation across the University of California system. Healthcare also saw streamlined processes through collaborations, in this case, between the P2SL, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and major healthcare companies, reducing project durations significantly. International expansion in 2009 led to successful Lean pilot projects in Germany and Finland. Inspired by Washington State's Lean governance practices, Lean in Public Sector Construction (LIPS) expanded its focus beyond construction. LIPS has conducted impactful global conferences, highlighting Lean's transformative role in reshaping diverse public sector operations and governance worldwide.
Developing a new procurement model, using behavioural economics, to enable continuous improvement of productivity and better value in large UK infrastructure projects.
Authors: Perks Martin
Published: December 2023

Global construction has been blighted by productivity inertia caused by behavioural bias for decades. While other industry sector productivity has grown more than fifteen-fold since 1960, construction has stagnated with no more than a seven to ten percent overall growth. McKinsey Global Institute’s report Reinventing Construction: A Route to Higher Productivity, reported infrastructure construction amongst a small group of outperforming market sub-sectors at 15 to 20 percent. This paper, which charts the development of a unique procurement model designed for high productivity, builds on that performance using behavioural insights to counter damaging and habitual biases. The new model changes trading relationships using a nudged ‘opt-out’ contract structure creating a different responsibility dynamic between client and supplier. A recognisable but different infrastructure construction procurement model to improve productivity using recognised behavioural economics and construction economics. Highways England was set up to run England’s strategic road network in 2015. The procurement model that resulted, Regional Delivery Partnerships can be refined for any infrastructure sector construction environment and sets up a key step forward in contracting based on integrated project delivery. Using a combination of counter bias strategies built from loss aversion and nudge theory this new construction procurement model uses ‘opt-out’ from lean construction to drive higher productivity. By setting up an integrator, to create an integrated project team, Regional Delivery Partnerships uses loss aversion as the motivational key to better innovation. It empowers the integrator to counter uniqueness bias and find and eradicate waste (process time and money) to enhance productivity. Reward is aligned to both optimised efficient design and high productivity working. As 100% of budget underspend can be kept rewarding the integrator, the potential of not achieving this triggers loss aversion and motivates change using the principles of escalation of commitment in favour of the client. Performance data is also used to motivate using reduced acquisition costs from secondary competition, long held as an inefficient market overhead.Using recognised pragmatic academic techniques, and constructionism; choice architectures were remodelled into a new outcome and value focused procurement model. Using applied research, the team used processes and techniques to develop, build, test, and deploy the model in open market competition. It can be used by any infrastructure sector construction client to replicate a sector specific version of Regional Delivery Partnerships that changes trading choice architecture towards higher productivity.
How to implement lean in a public company in chile Without failing in the attemp.
Authors: Rojas Saavedra Juan
Published: December 2023

Chile is the largest producer of copper worldwide, where CODELCO, a state-owned enterprise, generates 10% of the global production of this metal. In 2015, the copper mining industry faced significant challenges due to price fluctuations, reaching a minimum of US$ 2.49 per pound. As a result, the cost of operations began to gain greater importance and was highlighted as an important factor to consider.

Not oblivious to the, CODELCO faces the uncertainties of time while seeking to maintain its position in the global market. This article reports how the copper company decided to embark on a different and sustainable path over time: it developed a management system based on Lean methodology to enhance continuous improvement. The outcome is a system called C+ consisting of a set of disciplines, practices, and tools that have improved the company's management.

After years of effort and implementation, the state-owned company managed to establish a new way of doing things, leading it to be recognized in May 2023 by the Shingo Institute at the University of Utah (United States). This recognition made it the world's first mining company to receive this award for excellence in organizational culture. It is an achievement that fuels the ongoing effort for continuous improvement.
Evaluation of the Role of Neck Dissection in Patients with Verrucous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity: A Cohort Study
Authors: Attakkil Anoop , Nair Raveena R , Thomas Linu , Mullath Aswin , Begum Faseela , Ratheesan K , Vijay Sandeep
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Verrucous Carcinoma (VC), a well-differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), commonly presents in the oral cavity, accounting for 2-16% of oral carcinomas. Though rare, it poses a challenge in establishing a pathological diagnosis, even in adequate biopsies, as 20% of Oral Cavity Verrucous Carcinoma (OVC) contains concomitant SCC. VC is primarily treated by surgery, similar to oral SCC. The role of neck dissection in oral SCC is well-established, but there is limited data on VC. Aim: To evaluate the role of neck dissection in the management of OVC. It also aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological demographics of OVC and identify predictors for survival outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using medical records of 2312 patients with oral carcinoma treated from January 2010 to December 2020 at Department of Surgical Oncology, Malabar Cancer Centre, Kannur, Thalassery, Kerala, India, a tertiary cancer centre under the Government of Kerala. Among 116 patients identified with VC, 49 patients met the inclusion criteria. The collected data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The primary outcomes were overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed based on the survival data and compared using the log-rank test. Results: The mean age of the entire population was 62.8 years, with an age range of 40-90 years. Among the 2312 patients who underwent surgery for oral carcinoma, 49 (2.11%) patients were diagnosed with VC based on the final histopathology report. The majority of patients were diagnosed with early-stage disease on histopathological examination 36/49 (73.5%). A total of 34 patients received neck dissections, of which 13 patients (38.3%) had palpable nodes on presentation. All patients were node negative (PN0). On univariate analysis, neck dissection was not found to be a predictor of mortality or locoregional recurrence. There was no significant difference in overall survival rate (p=0.160) or disease-free survival rate (p=0.67) when comparing patients who underwent primary resection with neck dissection to those whose necks were kept under observation. Conclusion: The OVC has an excellent prognosis, and surgery remains the mainstay of treatment. The decision on neck dissection and the extent of neck dissection should be judiciously made based on the surgical approach and the procedure’s morbidity.
Implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices in Milk Processing Companies in Nairobi County and Microbial Contamination of Milk and Milk Products
Authors: Lilian Adhiambo , Njue Lucy G. , Abong George O.
Published: December 2023

Good manufacturing practice involves a series of measures to be adopted by the food industries in order to guarantee the safety and conformity of food products to specific regulations. Even though good manufacturing practices are vital systems in food safety and is associated with minimum sanitary and processing requirements for the food industry, only a few studies have reported GMP implementation by small milk processing companies. Therefore, the present study was undertaken in milk processing firms to evaluate the implementation of good manufacturing practices for control of microbial contamination in milk and milk products. Purposive, random and stratified sampling techniques was used to identify milk processing companies. Ten processing facilities were purposively sampled for the study. The representatives were interviewed, using a pretested questionnaire and data was collected and analyzed. All the processors had qualified personnel handling milk and milk products with a daily processing capacity of 20000-30000 litres. It was observed that the processors complied with all regulatory and licensing requirements and had in place critical process controls with majority indicating pasteurization at temperatures ranging from 80-90oC as the most common method. The processors had several food safety management systems such as ISO 22000, GMPs, and HACCP which were handled by trained and competent staff. It was observed that all the processors tested for total viable counts (TVC), and E. coli while only 50% and 33.3% of the processors tested for S. aureus and L. monocytogenes respectively. Furthermore, the processors (33.3%) reported E. coli as the main contaminant while L. monocytogenes were not detected. A majority (83.3%) had well-documented cleaning programs and had a system of controlling cross contamination which was enforced through different colour codes (66.7%), memos and notices (16.7%) and through colour coding of processing equipment (16.7%). In conclusion, the present study discovered that milk processors had implemented good manufacturing practices (GMP) and conformed to good processing practices.
Overview of the Most Prevalent Pediatric Congenital Heart Diseases: A Literature Review
Authors: Elsedawy Hala Fawzy Sale
Published: December 2023

Like every other prevalent disease process, cardiovascular diseases pose a great risk for the morbidity and mortality of human beings. Pediatric cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a broad spectrum of disorders that affect both the heart and blood vessels in the pediatric population. There have been several epidemiological studies done to highlight the prevalence and incidence of various pediatric CVDs, emphasizing the impact on global child health. Notably, congenital heart defects, acquired heart diseases, and cardiomyopathies contribute to the majority of pediatric CVDs. Understanding the prevalence and distribution of these conditions is important for resource allocation and healthcare planning.

Similarly, several risk factors contribute to the development and progression of pediatric CVD. Genetic predisposition, prenatal exposures, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices all play pivotal roles. Identifying and addressing these risk factors is essential for early intervention and preventive strategies.

However, advances in diagnostic modalities have revolutionized the assessment of pediatric CVD. Non-invasive imaging techniques, genetic testing, and biomarker analyses enable earlier and more accurate detection, facilitating timely intervention and personalized treatment plans. Additionally, emerging therapeutic approaches, including innovative medical interventions and surgical techniques, are transforming the landscape of pediatric CVD management.  This abstract aims to serve as a concise resource for clinicians, researchers, and physicians interested in pediatric cardiovascular health. By understanding the epidemiology, recognizing key risk factors, and staying aware of the emerging trends in diagnosis and management, people can contribute to improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for children affected by cardiovascular diseases.
The Challenges and Issues of Farmer Producer Organizations in India
Authors: Tamuly Gariyashi , Saikanth D. R. K. , Singh Sanjenbam Sher , Saikia Anadi Ranjan , Bahadur Raj , Singh Anuradha , Bhadauria Sudhir Singh , Singh Akhilesh
Published: December 2023

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in India are collective entities formed by farmers to improve their economic status and agricultural productivity. This study explores the challenges and issues faced by Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the unique context of India's agricultural landscape. FPOs, envisioned as key drivers of rural development and farmer empowerment, encounter a range of impediments that hinder their efficacy. Financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to crucial market information emerge as primary obstacles, impacting the operational efficiency of FPOs. Governance structures, skill deficiencies, and the imperative for capacity-building programs are identified as internal challenges that necessitate targeted interventions. Moreover, the external dynamics, including climate variability and evolving market conditions, add layers of complexity to FPO operations. This provides a concise overview of the critical challenges faced by FPOs in India, highlighting the need for strategic interventions and policy support to enhance their resilience and impact on the agricultural sector. Addressing these challenges is pivotal for fostering sustainable agricultural practices and improving the socio-economic conditions of farmers associated with FPOs.  This intricate challenges confronting Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in India, crucial entities for agricultural development. Financial limitations and a lack of infrastructure impede FPOs, restricting their ability to empower smallholder farmers effectively. Internal issues, such as governance and skill gaps, demand targeted interventions to enhance organizational capacities. External factors, including climate variations, introduce further complexities to FPO operations. A comprehensive understanding of these challenges is paramount for devising strategies that fortify FPOs and promote the sustainable advancement of Indian agriculture
Ammonium Molybdate: A Potential Bioregulator for Improving Curd Yield and Quality in Broccoli
Authors: Sravani Y. , Rekha G. Kranthi
Published: December 2023

To study the influence of foliar feeding of Boric acid, Ammonium molybdate, Gibberelic acid, Zinc sulphate and Triacontanol on curd yield and quality of broccoli (Brassica oleracea Var. Italica) under naturally ventilated polyhouse conditions during rabi season of 2020-21 at College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem. The experiment consists of 15 treatments laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Ammonium molybdate @0.40% significantly increased the curd weight, diameter, length and total yield per plot. Foliar application of GA3@75ppm+ Boric acid @ 0.40% + Ammonium molybdate @ 0.40% increase the ascorbic acid content. High to moderately compact curds observed in the treatments T1 (Boric acid @ 0.25%), T6 (Ammonium molybdate @ 0.50%) and T8 (Boric acid @ 0.50% + Ammonium molybdate @0.50%).
Hydrate Control in Subsea Natural Gas Production
Authors: Ibrahim Ismaila
Published: December 2023

One of the most significant technological challenges that this industry faces today is securing the production flow in deep water exploration. Intense conditions of high pressure and low temperatures will favor the formation of the hydrates which could restrict or block the pathway to the extent that there can be a humungous financial loss.

This research was devoted to hydrate control in subsea natural gas production using results from water concentration estimation for reservoir, wellhead and onshore receiving terminal conditions. For illustration, a natural gas stream from the Niger Delta was selected where the transportation medium is a pipeline. Further implementation as part of the hydrate formation assessment input was done on the temperature and pressure profile along this pipeline.

A hydrate inhibition strategy based on monoethylene glycol (MEG) is under consideration. It is revealed that in the case if a temperature falls below 20°C and pressure will increase above 100 bar, then it would be met with a flow configuration in a region where hydrates are formed. Estimation of water concentration thus suffices to give useful information as possible prevention methods to hydrate formation while the gas flow is going on in the pipeline. The actual thermodynamic conditions required for the hydrate formation can also be deduced from the temperature and pressure data.
A Study on Establishing Procedures and Display Design for the Development of the Disaster Management System using Satellite Imagery
Authors: Lee Sangmin , Jang Yeoju
Published: December 2023

Recently, the escalating occurrence of disasters with abnormal characteristics poses challenges to disaster management. As a result, effective disaster management and response strategies have become crucial. In this study, the disaster management system using satellite imagery was developed and constructed as a dashboard. For this study, the National Disaster Management Information System (NDMS) of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) was analyzed. Crisis management activities were examined in accordance with the disaster phase of the crisis management standard manual. Relevant components from the integrated multisource data in NDMS were selected to enhance technology effectiveness. A disaster management officer's requirements were analyzed to improve user usability. Disaster response procedures using satellite imagery were derived by synthesizing this information. Based on these procedures, key elements and system procedures were established for system design and visualization, and the system display was presented. The technology was proactively developed for immediate implementation after establishing legal and institutional procedures. Utilizing satellite imagery in the disaster management system is expected to enhance prompt and efficient disaster management.
Study on Fire Load and Duration of Fire in Logistics Facilities
Authors: Lee Sangbum , Seo Heewon , Kim Daehoi , Lee Gilyong
Published: December 2023

Logistics facilities differ significantly from general buildings in terms of diffusion flame prevention technology, necessitating the application of fire diffusion prevention technology. The total fire load in a fire compartmentation was calculated according to the method presented in The NFPA (The National Fire Protection Association) Fire Protection Handbook, based on the results of a survey on the area, height, and rack dimensions of 29 logistics warehouses in Korea to improve the fire compartmentation standard. In addition, simulations were conducted using CFAST (Consolidated Fire and Smoke Transport) for the cross-validation of these methodologies. Through fire simulations, the temperature of the upper part of each fire compartment was derived, and the equivalent fire duration was calculated by converting it to an area based on the standard time-heating temperature curve of KSF 2257-1. The NFPA methodology and values calculated through fire simulations showed similar results. In addition, we analyzed the tendency of the equivalent fire duration according to the height of the fire compartmentation and confirmed that the higher the floor height, the higher the equivalent fire duration. The results of this study can be used as basic data for improving the fire prevention standards by calculating the equivalent fire duration according to the fire load of a logistics facility and for confirming the tendency of the equivalent fire duration according to the height of the fire compartment.
Occupant Load Factor Calculation in Neighborhood Living Facilities while Performance-Based Design
Authors: Song Youngjoo , Kim Hakjoong
Published: December 2023

The criteria for calculating the occupant load factor are crucial for predicting the evacuation behavior of occupants during a fire, determining the size of the evacuation capacity, and significantly influencing the calculation of the Required Safe Egress Time (RSET) during fire safety assessments. There are currently 11 categories for classifying safe evacuation area installation targets for neighborhood living facilities; eight of these categories allow for various numerical values to be applied. However, applying numerical values from a conservative perspective results in excessive designs with larger occupant loads. Therefore, to address this issue, this study conducted a theoretical review of occupant loads and investigated and analyzed relevant domestic and international regulations. Subsequently, one of the buildings subject to a performance-based design in City 00 was selected, and occupancy criteria were applied based on the purpose of the space. A safety assessment of the evacuation was performed. The results show that, evacuation safety was not ensured at the two exits when the occupant load factor was below 4.6 m2/person. However, when the occupant load factor was greater than 9.3 m2/person, evacuation safety is guaranteed at all exits. Through this analysis, this study aims to raise awareness of issues related to the criteria for calculating the maximum occupancy in neighborhood living facilities and the need for revisions.
Study on a Complementary Method to Address the Limitation of Smoke Detectors: Focusing on Carbon Monoxide Sensors
Authors: Shin Young Min , Lim You Ri , Kim Bong Jun , Han Dong-Hun
Published: December 2023

To compensate for the limitations of smoke detectors that frequently emit non-fire alarms, we investigated the carbon-monoxide detection characteristics of smoke detectors using UL 268 fire and non-fire test standards. Large amounts of carbon monoxide were generated during incomplete combustion at the beginning of a fire. Relatively low concentrations of carbon monoxide were also generated under non-fire conditions owing to steam, dust, etc. The response characteristics of general and analog smoke detectors from various manufacturers were analyzed to determine the possibility of linking smoke detectors installed in existing buildings. The experiments revealed that the smoke detectors showed similar reaction characteristics regardless of their manufacturer. However, those equipped with self-made carbon monoxide cross-sensing modules detected different carbon monoxide levels depending on the measurement location or method. Although using a carbon monoxide sensor is effective for distinguishing unwanted fire, additional experiments under various conditions are necessary to establish an appropriate detection range for carbon monoxide based on the response characteristics of the sensor.
Experimental Study on the Smoke-Logging Phenomenon Owing to Sprinkler Operation During Initial Fire
Authors: Yoon Unggi , Koo Inhyuk , Ken Matsuyama , Kwon Youngjin
Published: December 2023

This study establishes basic data for the reasonable evaluation of evacuation safety and investigates the smoke-logging phenomenon owing to the operation of sprinklers during the initial fire. The spray droplet characteristics of a sprinkler and water mist head were examined, and the descending air current of the smoke layer was analyzed according to the type of fire source (ethanol, polyurethane) and head. A regression equation based on the findings was derived using the prediction equation for the descending air current of the smoke layer presented in a previous study.
Stream Flow Management and Institutions: Studying Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems in Dry Seasons
Authors: Kang Seongkyu , Hur Junwook , Lee Kisung , Choi Sijung
Published: December 2023

Stream flow management during the dry season involves balancing human water needs with the environmental requirements of the river. The allocation of stream water flow is determined by considering 10-year frequency low flow as the total available water amount, with instream flow adopted to consider the flow requirements of the river environment. However, conflicts arise over water rights between human users and the river environment during water scarcity. This study conducted an empirical-based analysis of minimum flow for river environments, focusing on water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, the perceptions of stakeholders of securing and using stream flow were investigated through a questionnaire. The outcomes of this study can contribute to enhancing technical methods for calculating instream flow and improving systems for managing river water during dry seasons.
Impact of Disaster on Household Expenditures Using a Difference-in-Difference Analysis
Authors: Choo Mijin , Yoon Dong Keun
Published: December 2023

This study investigates the impact of the 2012 typhoon on household consumption expenditures in South Korea using a difference-indifferences model. We analyzed the changes in household consumption expenditures based on the extent and severity of disaster damage. Additionally, how these impacts vary depending on the employment status of the household head and the household’s income quartile was explored. The findings indicate that households experiencing disaster damage tend to reduce their consumption expenditures compared to unaffected households. Notably, households in the lowest income quintile and those with heads engaged in temporary or self-employment experience more significant declines. These research findings provide valuable insights for shaping future policies aimed at supporting household recovery and effectively directing post-disaster assistance resources.
Electronic Health Record Messaging Patterns of Health Care Professionals in Inpatient Medicine
Authors: Small William , Iturrate Eduardo , Austrian Jonathan , Genes Nicholas
Published: December 2023

This cross-sectional study examines secure messaging patterns among health care professionals in the internal medicine inpatient setting.
Socioemotional Development of Infants and Toddlers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kuehn Larisa M. , Jones Ashley , Helmkamp Laura , Knudtson Michael , Domek Gretchen J. , Allison Mandy A.
Published: December 2023

Importance

Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s socioemotional development is critical to plan for ongoing needs in the early intervention and education systems.

Objective

To determine if Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3) and Ages and Stages Questionnaire Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) scores changed during the COVID-19 pandemic among families served by a nurse-visiting program.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective, cohort study took place from 2015 through 2021 and included 4 cohorts (prepandemic, pandemic 1, pandemic 2, and pandemic 3) with differing pandemic exposure at the time of screening. Analysis was conducted from July 2022 through October 2023. Data from the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), a national nurse-visiting program enrolling birthing people during pregnancy and continuing through age 2 years, were used. A total of 60 171 families with a singleton birth at 37 weeks’ gestation or longer and at least 1 valid ASQ-3 and/or ASQ:SE-2 screening in the NFP from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2021, were enrolled.

Exposure

COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Outcomes were a positive screening, defined as scores in the refer area on the ASQ-3 at 10 months and 18 months of age and in the ASQ:SE-2 at 12 months and 18 months of age. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for positive screening in pandemic cohorts compared with the prepandemic cohort. Covariates included parent age, race and ethnicity, marital status, income, child’s biological sex, and multiparity.

Results

Of 60 171 families enrolled, pandemic cohorts had fewer teenagers, were more likely to be married, and were multiparous. Compared with the prepandemic cohort, all pandemic cohorts had higher odds of positive screening on the ASQ-SE at 12 months (pandemic 1: OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.09-1.66; pandemic 2: OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.30-1.96; and pandemic 3: OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.61-2.33) and pandemic 2 and 3 had higher odds of a positive screening at 18 months (pandemic 2: OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.29-2.00 and pandemic 3: OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.50-2.32). On the ASQ-3, pandemic cohorts 2 and 3 were more likely than the prepandemic cohort to screen positive on the communication subscale at 18 months (pandemic 2: OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.17-1.64 and pandemic 3: OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07-1.53).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the first year of life, was associated with higher odds of positive ASQ:SE-2 screening, even when adjusting for demographics and family risks. These findings suggest that unmeasured community, family, and child factors that changed as a result of the pandemic contributed to delays in young children’s socio-emotional development.
Outcomes of Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infection vs Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
Authors: Hedberg Pontus , Abdel-Halim Lina , Valik John Karlsson , Alfvén Tobias , Nauclér Pontus
Published: December 2023

This cohort study compares outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection with those of influenza or respiratory syncytial virus infection in pediatric patients attending the emergency department.