bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enforceability of Liquidated Damages Clauses and the Extent of Judicial and Arbitral Intervention
Authors: Ismail Youssef
Published: July 2024

This article analyses the enforcement of liquidated damages (LDs) under both the English and Egyptian jurisdictions. It identifies the tests applicable to the assessment of LDs and the extent of judicial and arbitral involvement in their amendment. The article reflects on the tests applied in light of the principles of freedom of contract and protection of social order. After analysing the tests applied, and judicial and arbitral attitudes towards LDs, the article moves onto arbitral decision making, and questions whether arbitral tribunals possess the same powers as national courts to amend LDs. The article suggests that challenges to LDs under English law have become more difficult. However, there remains a lack of clarity as to the threshold of proportionality applied. It further determines that arbitral tribunals applying English law have no room to apply a different test than that applied by English national courts. Conversely, under Egyptian law, the Egyptian Civil Code leaves room for the competent judge to determine the applicable tests for the amendment of LDs. The Court of Cassation has set out clear tests which it has followed. The article questions whether arbitral tribunals are bound by the Egyptian Court of Cassation’s case law. It concludes that arbitral tribunals can deviate from the tests set out by the Egyptian Court of Cassation, as there is no strict doctrine of precedent under Egyptian law, but should still pay significant deference to the national courts’ applications.
Flexibility in International Commercial Dispute Resolution: CIArb Singapore Annual Thought Leadership Lecture
Authors: Jones Doug
Published: July 2024

International commercial dispute resolution mechanisms are often lauded for the flexibility that they provide, particularly in comparison to courts and tribunals which are oftentimes constrained by rules and regulations. This article will examine the ways in which arbitration, as well as other non-binding forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) such as mediation, can leverage their flexibility to facilitate the effective, economic, and expeditious resolution of international disputes. This can be achieved via the adoption of certain (often unburdensome) processes at various stages across the lifetime of a dispute, from the exchanges of case, to adducing evidence, and the finalization of an outcome. To contextualize the analysis, this article will also draw comparisons to the relevant options available in Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC).
Who Should Rule on Challenges of Arbitrators?
Authors: Winstanley Adrian
Published: July 2024

Arbitral institutions around the world are administering thousands of commercial arbitrations every year. Many more are proceeding ad hoc. Whilst the great majority of the arbitrators appointed to sit in these arbitrations will conduct the proceedings impartially, there will inevitably be occasions on which a party may allege bias or a lack of independence. Whether or not such allegations are well founded, parties who have entrusted the determination of their disputes to arbitration must have recourse to a body that is, itself, impartial and independent, and in which the parties may have confidence, to investigate such allegations and to determine any challenge to which they have given rise. This article will consider who is best placed to determine such challenges. p style="text-align: right; margin-left: 25px;"“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” – Juvenal
The Restrictions on Multiple Arbitral Appointments under English Law
Authors: Bovensiepen Daniel , Hancock Kc Christopher
Published: July 2024

This article examines the particular issues raised by requests to accept, and acceptance of, multiple appointments by arbitrators, from the perspective of English law. Two main problematic circumstances are identified and addressed: (1) appointments in multiple references with a common party and the same or overlapping subject matters; and (2) multiple appointments by the same party or law firm. The article considers whether the existing provisions of the Arbitration Act 1996 and English law provide an adequate response to the difficulties which can arise. It further analyses English law in relation to appointments in arbitrations with overlapping subject matters, primarily by reference to the recent leading Supreme Court decision in Halliburton Co v Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd (“Halliburton”).1 The effect of Halliburton in relation to disclosure by arbitrators, and the test for apparent bias, is evaluated, and remaining areas for debate and legal development are identified. In relation to multiple appointments by the same party or law firm, the article identifies that the nuanced Halliburton approach is still applicable, so there is no fixed list of the circumstances in which arbitrators should reject appointments or resign. Nevertheless, the article discusses the useful guidance that can be derived from English case law, and the key IBA and ICC publications. It concludes that whilst Halliburton has provided welcome confirmation or clarification of key principles, the decision itself turned on its own narrow facts. Issues of disclosure and apparent bias in the context of multiple arbitral appointments are highly fact and context sensitive, so arbitrators and parties will continue to be faced with many practical problems to which the correct solution is not obvious. Much room is still left for future development of English law in this area, as further cases on different facts emerge.
Ethical Concerns in Investor-State Dispute Settlement: Seeking a Permanent Solution
Authors: Koumadoraki Niki , M. Brown Colin
Published: July 2024

Investor-state dispute settlement (“ISDS”) as we know it today has been the object of significant ethical concerns and discussions. In this article we analyse four such concerns that are particularly compelling, because they challenge the impartiality of the dispute settlement function and the independence of the adjudicators deciding cases. We first briefly present the four concerns: the party choice of adjudicator, repeat appointments, “double hatting” and the problem of conflicts, both stricto sensu conflicts of interest, as well as issue conflicts. We argue that it is the very structure of today’s arbitration, with its mechanisms having been historically developed in the framework of private commercial disputes, that gives rise to these concerns. However, ISDS is different from commercial arbitration and the nature of one party as a state vests it with additional requirements to guarantee independence and impartiality. We explain that any attempt at ISDS reform is insufficient if it does not amount to a structural reform of the ISDS architecture itself in a systemic and preventive way. We then argue that these ethical concerns can only be resolved through the introduction of a permanent body with full-time adjudicators appointed for long, non-renewable terms. Only such a solution could provide an effective guarantee of the independence and impartiality of ISDS arbitrators, ensuring that they have no other activities which could create incentives, or perceptions of incentives, in their adjudicatory work.
UNCITRAL,Access to Justice, and the Future of Online Dispute Resolution
Authors: Brand Ronald A.
Published: July 2024

What started as a quick and efficient process for resolving business-to-consumer disputes, online dispute resolution (ODR) is now gaining growing popularity in national courts and commercial arbitral institutions alike. ODR continues to evolve and has already permanently and significantly changed the world of dispute resolution in many ways.This article will explore how different jurisdictions and arbitral institutions around the world have integrated ODR into their dispute resolution systems, focusing, in particular, on the issues that dispute resolution providers are faced with in making the transition from physical to virtual proceedings, such as safeguarding due process, enforceability and confidentiality.The article will conclude by seeking to draw lessons from the emerging practices of national courts and arbitral institutions that will contribute to the further development of ODR.
Cross-border Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Rendered in ODR
Authors: Panjwani Pratyush , Bassiri Niuscha
Published: July 2024

Until two decades ago, online dispute resolution catered primarily to B2C transactions that boomed with the advent of the e-commerce revolution. Nowadays, online dispute resolution needs to cater also to B2B transactions that occur over blockchain and the Metaverses. Thus, it is incumbent to study the evolving realm of online dispute resolution in order to understand the extent to which the existing legal mechanisms can serve to regulate it.With this aim in mind, this article examines the continued relevance of the New York Convention to procedural and substantive issues relating to enforcement of arbitration agreements and arbitral awards rendered in the context of disputes that arise online. These disputes could pertain to B2C disputes that use technology-assisted dispute resolution or to the more modern-day disputes arising out of transactions over blockchain and the Metaverses where the dispute resolution itself is technology-based and conducted using self-enforcing smart contracts.Whether and to what extent such dispute resolution would qualify as arbitration as we traditionally know it, particularly in light of the requirement that an arbitration be subject to the laws of a designated legal seat, is a foundational issue that this article analyses. Further, the article examines other related questions concerning the relevance of the New York Convention for online dispute resolution, including questions concerning the writing requirement for arbitration agreements, the arbitrability of disputes and the requirement for the arbitral process to adhere to the basic norms of due process by analyzing new caselaw relevant for these issues.
Prima Facie Decisions on Jurisdiction under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules:The Experience of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
Authors: W.Daly Brooks , S.Miglani Anhad
Published: July 2024

The PCA Secretary-General’s role to designate or act as an appointing authority has been the sole institutional mechanism in the otherwise ad hoc UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules since their adoption in 1976.While the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules provide that jurisdictional objections shall be decided by the arbitral tribunal once constituted, they say nothing about what the PCA should do when faced with a jurisdictional objection prior to tribunal constitution. In practice, the PCA has applied a prima facie standard for arbitral jurisdiction in deciding whether an arbitral tribunal should be constituted. The cases described in this article offer examples of how the PCA conducts this prima facie review and its consequences for subsequent decisions on arbitral jurisdiction by arbitral tribunals and national courts.
The EU’s Energy Crisis Management to the Russia-Ukraine War
Authors: Horng Der Chin
Published: July 2024

Since mid-2022 the EU has been confronted with an energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which induced record high energy prices and an inflation problem. The energy crisis exposed the EU’s vulnerability to its high energy dependency on Russian supply. This paper explored the critical questions regarding what’s the EU response to the energy crisis, and what’s the impacts for the EU energy future. In response to the crisis, the EU introduced a series of emergency market intervention measures, and also initiated a plan called REPowerEU, for diversifying energy supplies, decoupling from dependence on Russian energy, speeding up the deployment of renewable energy, cutting energy consumption, improving energy efficiency, etc. These measures will have far-reaching implications for the EU’s energy system adjustment and its climate change policy, as well as for EU-Russia and Russia- Asia energy geopolitics. The energy crisis has been a policy priority for the EU since 2022, involving political sensitivity, legal complexity and socio-economic importance for the EU. The EU’s response to the energy crisis will determine the EU’s future security, stability and prosperity.
(In)congruence Between Taxation, Spending, and Representation: The Ambiguous Character of Tax-based Contributions
Authors: Geringer Stefanie
Published: July 2024

The free movement of persons and services, related secondary legislation, and the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) have provided the basis for increased personal mobility within the European Union (EU). Notwithstanding the corresponding significant benefits for both EU citizens and Member States, this phenomenon has also led to an increasing disintegration between the jurisdiction in which an EU citizen may influence taxation and spending and the one in which they actually pay (most of their) taxes. This article explores the potential of an EU own resources system that is (increasingly) built on tax-based contributions in order to address the intensifying mismatch between taxation, spending, and representation. It is shown that such an assessment produces mixed results. The situation of taxpayers with transnational realities of life would be improved by a transfer of fundamental decision-making processes to the Union level. However, democratic legitimacy would simultaneously be reduced in relation to taxpayers who (mainly) pay their taxes in their respective Member State of citizenship. This article therefore contends that the ambiguous character of tax-based contributions from a democratic legitimacy perspective should be taken into consideration in negotiations on the (re)shaping of the EU’s own resources system.
Clustering of lithotypes based on visual features of cores using convolutional neural networks and K-Means
Authors: Abdimanap Galymzhan S. , Bostanbekov Kairat A. , Alimova Anel N. , Saliev Nurlan B. , Nurseitov Daniyar B.
Published: July 2024

Background: Lithology is a vital field of study in both geology and the oil and gas sector that focuses on the properties of geological rocks. The primary objectives of lithology to classify rocks, determine their origin, and investigate the conditions of their formation and changes over time. Lithological core examination employ various methods, encompassing both conventional techniques (e.g., visual inspection of the rock samples or microscopic analysis of slides) and modern technologies. Conventional methods of examination require high qualifications and experience, and can be labour-intensive, especially in visual analysis (description of core material). The application of machine learning methods and automated technologies can enhance the efficiency and accuracy of analysis, save time, and provide quick access to information.
Aim: To develop lithotypes clustering model on core images using machine learning methods.
Materials and methods: The paper discusses an algorithm for clustering lithotypes using K-Means method combined with VGG16, VGG19 and ResNet50 convolutional neural networks to identify key features (similarities and distinctions as determined from photos).
Results: The algorithm for clustering lithotypes using K-Means method and convolutional neural networks is developed. The advantages and limitations of the algorithm when working with core images are determined. Results from experiments conducted using an actual dataset are presented.
Conclusion: The findings of the study offer important practical insights that can be applied to deep learning methods for core analysis as well as geological research. The application of this approach in geology can be broadened and the analysis of alternative machine learning models and techniques can be strengthened with more investigation.
“TEMPLE OF THE RUSSIA’S HEROES FAME”. HEROES IN HISTORIOGRAPHY AND ARTISTIC CULTURE OF THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Authors: Ершова Н.А.
Published: July 2024

Представление о героическом в российской истории в начале XIX в. происходило благодаря совместным устремлениям историков, писателей, художников. Эпически-возвышенные характеристики исторических персонажей соответствовали определенным каноническим представлениям о герое истории, не предполагавшем противоречивости. Пример сочинения П. Ю. Львова раскрывает особенности беллетризации деятельности героев российской истории, создания словесных монументов, готовых для воплощения скульптором или художником. Творчество Н. М. Карамзина, всецело разделявшего такой подход, свидетельствовало о продвижении по пути объективности и критики в истории.

Idea of a heroic personage in Russian history of the early 19th century had been forming in common aspiration of the historians, writers, artists. Epic and sublime images of the historic figures appeared in accordance with certain canonic rules of the heroes’ representation. P. Lvov’s book is an example of historic popular fiction with the heroes presented like verbal monuments ready to be depicted by a sculptor or painter. Great Russian historian N. Karamzin who contributed to this way of commemoration, in his historical writings moved forward in direction of the historical objectivity and critics.
VASILY TERKIN AS A WAR HERO
Authors: Орлова Т.С.
Published: July 2024

В поэме «Василий Теркин» А. Т. Твардовского символом героизма выступает собирательный образ русского солдата. Поэт фокусируется на изображении жизни и переживаний простого человека, солдата, героя войны. Поэма является литературным памятником герою войны, служащим для каждого нового поколения читателей средством преодоления дурного беспамятства. В этом году исполнилось 80 лет с момента первой публикации поэмы, которая легким и понятным слогом напоминает современному читателю о таких словах, как герой, патриот, патриотизм и возвышенная любовь к родине.

«Vasily Terkin», a poem by Tvardovsky, depicts the collective image of a Russian soldier as a symbol of heroism. It was especially important to the poet to focus on simple life situations and the inner lives of simple people, soldiers, and war heroes. As a literary monument to the hero of the Second World War, this poem helps each new generation of readers to overcome historical oblivion. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the poem’s first publication. An easy-to-read poem with a philosophy of patriotism and a sublime sense of love for our motherland, this poem reminds the modern reader of such words as hero, patriot and patriotism.
THE IMAGE OF THE HERO TRANSLATED IN CULTURE (PETER THE GREAT IN PAINTING AND CINEMA)
Authors: Фунтикова А.Д.
Published: July 2024

Личность Петра — одна из самых значительных в русской истории. Масштабы его деятельности поистине велики. Русская мысль неизменно обращается ко времени царствования Петра — в поисках причин современного кризиса, образца или антиидеала. Целью работы было раскрыть особенности воплощения образа Петра I в русском изобразительном и кинематографическом искусстве в связи со спецификой его восприятия в разные исторические периоды, а также тенденциями, определяющими развитие художественной культуры времени.

Peter I’s personality is one of the most significant in Russian history. The scale of its activities is truly great. Russian thought invariably turns to the time of Peter’s reign — in search of the causes of the modern crisis, a model or an anti-ideal. The aim of the work was to reveal the features of the embodiment of the image of Peter I in Russian visual and cinematographic art in connection with the specifics of its perception in different historical periods, as well as trends that determine the development of artistic culture of this time.
Density dichotomy in random words
Authors: Cooper Joshua , Rorabaugh Danny
Published: July 2024

Word $W$ is said to encounter word $V$ provided there is a homomorphism $\phi$ mapping letters to nonempty words so that $\phi(V)$ is a substring of $W$. For example, taking $\phi$ such that $\phi(h)=c$ and $\phi(u)=ien$, we see that ``science'' encounters ``huh'' since $cienc=\phi(huh)$. The density of $V$ in $W$, $\delta(V,W)$, is the proportion of substrings of $W$ that are homomorphic images of $V$. So the density of ``huh'' in ``science'' is $2/{8 \choose 2}$. A word is doubled if every letter that appears in the word appears at least twice.The dichotomy: Let $V$ be a word over any alphabet, $\Sigma$ a finite alphabet with at least 2 letters, and $W_n \in \Sigma^n$ chosen uniformly at random. Word $V$ is doubled if and only if $\mathbb{E}(\delta(V,W_n)) \rightarrow 0$ as $n \rightarrow \infty$.We further explore convergence for nondoubled words and concentration of the limit distribution for doubled words around its mean.
A lower bound on the hypergraph Ramsey number R(4,5;3)
Authors: Dybizbański Janusz
Published: July 2024

The finite version of Ramsey's theorem says that for positive integers r, k, a_1,... ,a_r, there exists a least number n=R(a_1, \ldots, a_r; k) so that if X is an n-element set and all k-subsets of X are r-coloured, then there exists an i and an a_i-set A so that all k-subsets of A are coloured with the ith colour.In this paper, the bound R(4, 5; 3) >= 35 is shown by using a SAT solver to construct a red--blue colouring of the triples chosen from a 34-element set.
Small on-line Ramsey numbers---a new approach
Authors: Pralat Pawel , Gordinowicz Przemyslaw
Published: July 2024

In this note, we revisit the problem of calculating small on-line Ramsey numbers R(G,H). A new approach is proposed that reduces the running time of the algorithm determining that R(K_3,K_4)=17 by a factor of at least 2*10^6 comparing to the previously used approach. Using high performance computing networks, we determined that R(K_4,K_4) <= 26, R(K_3,K_5) < 25, and that R(K_3,K_3,K_3) <= 20 for a natural generalization to three colours. All graphs on 3 or 4 vertices are investigated as well, including non-symmetric cases.
Face Module for Realizable Z-matroids
Authors: Martino Ivan
Published: July 2024

In this work, we define the face ring for a matroid over Z.  Its Hilbert series is, indeed, the expected specialization of the Grothendieck-Tutte polynomial defined by Fink and Moci in [10].
Hamiltonian-connectedness of triangulations with few separating triangles
Authors: Van Cleemput Nico
Published: July 2024

We prove that 3-connected plane triangulations containing a single edge contained in all separating triangles are hamiltonian-connected. As a direct corollary we have that 3-connected plane triangulations with at most one separating triangle are hamiltonian-connected. In order to show bounds on the strongest form of this theorem, we proved that for any s >= 4 there are 3-connected triangulation with s separating triangles that are not hamiltonian-connected. We also present computational results which show that all `small' 3-connected triangulations with at most 3 separating triangles are hamiltonian-connected.
Proof of a conjecture of Z.W. Sun
Authors: Yao Olivia , Zhang Yan
Published: July 2024

Rec ently, Sun defined a newsequence $a(n)= \sum_{k=0}^n {n\choose 2k}{2k\choose k}\frac{1}{2k-1} $, which can be viewed as an analogue of Motzkin numbers. Sun conjectured that the sequence $\{\frac{a(n+1)}{a(n)}\}_{n\geq 5} $ is strictly increasing with limit 3, and the sequence $\{ \sqrt[n+1]{a(n+1)}/\sqrt[n]{a(n)}\}_{n\geq 9} $ is strictly decreasing with limit 1. In this paper, we confirm Sun's conjecture.
The polar of convex lattice sets
Authors: Wang Jie , Si Lin
Published: July 2024

Let $K$ be a convex lattice set in $\mathbb{Z}^n$ containing the origin as the interior of its convex hull. In this paper, the definition of the polar of a convex lattice set $K$ is given both in $\mathbb{Q}^n$ and $\mathbb{Z}^n$. Some properties and inequalities about the convex lattice sets and their polar are established.
Corrigendum to ``"On the enumeration of a class of toroidal graphs" [Contrib. Discrete Math. 13 (2018), no. 1, 79-119]
Authors: Maity Dipendu , Upadhyay Ashish Kumar
Published: July 2024

Corrigendum to ``On the enumeration of a class of toroidal graphs [Contrib. Discrete Math. 13 (2018), no. 1, 79-119]
Some combinatorial properties of hexagonal lattices
Authors: Mu Lili
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we consider the combinatorial properties of the hexagonal lattice. Let $e(n)$ be the number of $n$-element order ideals in a hexagonal lattice. We give the enumeration of $e(n)$ by showing a bijection between the order ideals and Schröder paths. Further, we get formulae for the flag $f$- and $h$-vectors of the hexagonal lattice.
Hyperball packings related to truncated cube and octahedron tilings in hyperbolic space
Authors: Szirmai Jenő
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we study congruent and noncongruent hyperball (hypersphere) packings to the truncated regular cube and octahedron tilings. These are derived from the Coxeter truncated orthoscheme tilings $\{4,3,p\}$ $(6< p \in \mathbb{N})$ and $\{3,4,p\}$ $(4< p \in \mathbb{N})$, respectively, by their Coxeter reflection groups in hyperbolic space $\mathbb{H}^{3}$. We determine the densest hyperball packing arrangement and its density with congruent and noncongruent hyperballs.
 
We prove that the locally densest (noncongruent half) hyperball configuration belongs to the truncated cube with a density of approximately $0.86145$ if we allow $6< p \in \mathbb{R}$ for the dihedral angle $2\pi/p$. This local density is larger than the B\"or\"oczky--Florian density upper bound for balls and horoballs. But our locally optimal noncongruent hyperball packing configuration cannot be extended to the entire hyperbolic space $\mathbb{H}^3$. We determine the extendable densest noncongruent hyperball packing arrangement to the truncated cube tiling $\{4,3,p=7\}$ with a density of approximately $0.84931$.
Two properties of maximal antichains in strict chain product posets
Authors: Tsai Shen-Fu
Published: July 2024

We present two results on maximal antichains in the strict chain product poset $[t_1+1]\times[t_2+1]\times\cdots\times[t_n+1]$. First, we prove that these maximal antichains are also maximum. Second, we prove that there is a bijection between maximal antichains in the strict chain product poset $[t_1+1]\times[t_2+1]\times\cdots\times[t_n+1]$ and antichains in the nonstrict chain product poset $[t_1]\times[t_2]\times\cdots\times[t_n]$.
Binomial transforms of the balancing and Lucas-balancing polynomials
Authors: Yilmaz Nazmiye
Published: July 2024

In this study, we define the binomial transforms of balancing and Lucas-balancing polynomials. Also, the generating functions, Binet formulas, and summations of these transforms are found by recurrence relations. Furthermore, we establish the relations between these transforms by deriving new formulas. Finally, we obtain the Catalan and Cassini formulas for these transforms.
Siblings of an ℵ0-categorical relational structure
Authors: Laflamme Claude , Pouzet Maurice , Sauer Norbert , Woodrow Robert
Published: July 2024

A sibling of a relational structure $R$ is any structure $S$ which can be embedded into $R$ and, vice versa, such that $R$ can be embedded into $S$. Let $\operatorname{sib}(R)$ be the number of siblings of $R$, these siblings being counted up to isomorphism. Thomassé conjectured that for countable relational structures made of at most countably many relations, $\operatorname{sib}(R)$ is either one, countably infinite, or the size of the continuum; but even showing the special case $\operatorname{sib}(R)1$ is one or infinite is unsettled when $R$ is a countable tree.
We prove that if $R$ is countable and $\aleph_{0}$-categorical, then indeed $\operatorname{sib}(R)$ is one or infinite. Furthermore, $\operatorname{sib}(R)$ is one if and only if $R$ is finitely partitionable in the sense of Hodkinson and Macpherson [14]. The key tools in our proof are the notion of monomorphic decomposition of a relational structure introduced in [35] and studied further in [23], [24], and a result of Frasnay [11].
Oriented unicyclic graphs with minimal skew Randić energy
Authors: Gao Wei , Shao Yanling
Published: July 2024

Let $G$ be a simple graph with vertex set $V(G)=\{v_{1},v_{2},$ $\dots,v_{n}\}$, and $G^{\sigma}$ be an orientation of $G$. Denote by $d(v_i)$ the degree of the vertex $v_i$ for $i=1,2,\dots,n$. The skew Randić matrix of $G^{\sigma}$, denoted by $R_S(G^{\sigma})$, is the real skew-symmetric matrix $(r_{ij})_{n\times n}$, where $r_{ij}={1}/{\sqrt{d(v_i)d(v_j)}}$ and $r_{ji}=-{1}/{\sqrt{d(v_i)d(v_j)}}$ if $v_i\rightarrow v_j$ is an arc of $G^{\sigma}$, otherwise $r_{ij}=r_{ji}=0$. The skew Randi\'{c} energy $\mathcal{RE}_S(G^{\sigma})$ of $G^{\sigma}$ is defined as the sum of the norms of all the eigenvalues of $R_S(G^{\sigma})$. In this paper, the oriented unicyclic graphs with minimal skew Randić energy are determined.
On the real roots of domination polynomials
Authors: Brown Jason , Beaton Iain
Published: July 2024

A dominating set $S$ of a graph $G$ of order $n$ is a subset of the vertices of $G$ such that every vertex is either in $S$ or adjacent to a vertex of $S$. The domination polynomial is defined by $D(G,x) = \sum d_k x^k$ where $d_k$ is the number of dominating sets in $G$ with cardinality $k$. In this paper we show that the closure of the real roots of domination polynomials is $(-\infty,0]$.
Book Review: “Against Critical Thinking in Health, Social Care and Social Work: Reframing Philosophy for Professional Practice” by Professor Tom Grimwood
Authors: Stelfox Katherine
Published: July 2024

This article is a review of Dr. Tom Grimwood’s recent book, Against Critical Thinking in Health, Social Care and Social Work: Reframing Philosophy for Professional Practice, published by Routledge (2024). In this book, Grimwood takes the reader through a series of encounters between philosophy and practice, attempting to disrupt the well-established assumptions of critical thinking so that we may better understand criticality for its utility among care practice professionals, and as a mode of understanding. Grimwood’s work is a necessary antidote to the well-established prescriptive and methodological application of how critical thinking has historically been "used" in the caring practice professions, or how it has been persuasive in the kind of understandings it produces. At a time when the contemporary social welfare landscape is becoming increasingly politicized and economized in ways that create societal divisiveness, as was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, current conceptualizations of criticality have left care professionals without a way to bridge misinformation and misunderstanding in their practice. Thus, Grimwood considered his project to be inherently hermeneutical, wanting to remedy the all too familiar divide between theory and practice of critical thinking for practice professionals and in new and reimagined ways for applied hermeneutics.
A Suspicion of Testimony and the Tradition of Institutional Contexts: An Exploration of Translative Practice for Conducting Ethically Responsible Research
Authors: Stelfox Katherine
Published: July 2024

If we consider the claim made by Dr. Theodore George at the 15th annual Canadian Hermeneutic Institute Conference, that there are unique contexts that require an untethering of ourselves from our tradition to better put ourselves into question, or what he considers to be an interpretative practice of translation that allows us to be “abroad in the world,” then I argue the tradition of institutional contexts is one such context requiring this necessary task of translation. I argue the testimony of the marginalized who practice within institutional contexts is tangled within institutional culture, practices, and structural power imbalances, requiring a practice of translation on the part of the hermeneutic researcher, in complement with that of conversation. This paper will explore the ways in which my doctoral research of healthcare aides’ experiences with death and dying in institutional contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic requires me to be both open and suspicious of my topic so that I may put the tradition of institutions into question to better consider the ethical obligations of my research. I will also make the claim that George’s idea of translation in hermeneutic research may lend itself to that of suspicion, but in ways that avoid some of the crevices of criticality that would serve to distance the reader from text or support explanation instead of understanding.
Maximizing Profits in Commercial Banking: A Holistic Examination of Non-interest Income, Risk Management, and Digital Technologies
Authors: Wang Yimeng , Abdul-Rahman Aisyah , Mohd Amin Syajarul Imna , Jamil Ainul Huda
Published: July 2024

This research aims to comprehensively examine the intricate relationships among non-interest income, risk management, digital technologies, profit maximization, and commercial banking revenue streams. By analyzing empirical data from various financial institutions, the study aims to elucidate how diversification into non-interest income streams influences risk profiles and overall financial stability. Furthermore, it explores the role of digital technologies in enhancing risk management strategies and driving profitability. This research explores how non-interest income, risk management, and digital technologies collectively impact profit maximization and revenue generation in commercial banks, addressing gaps in understanding these relationships. The findings provide insights for enhancing adaptive strategies and theoretical frameworks within commercial banking literature. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study begins with a thematic literature review to establish a theoretical foundation. Thematic analysis of the literature informs the development of interview questions for in-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 industry experts, providing rich qualitative data. The research adopts a thematic frequency analysis methodology to categorize and interpret both the literature and interview findings, ensuring a holistic exploration of the research objectives. Findings reveal a complex interdependence between digital technologies, non-interest income, risk management, profit maximization, and commercial banking revenue streams, with digital transformations emerging as pivotal drivers. The study underscores the importance of adaptive risk management amid cybersecurity threats and strategic corporate social responsibility integration for long-term financial success. Methodological limitations include the small sample size of experts and potential biases in qualitative interpretations. Implications extend to banking practitioners navigating the evolving landscape and policymakers shaping regulatory frameworks to foster resilience and innovation.
PR328-223813-R02 In Ditch Material Verification for Seamless Pipe and Fittings
Authors: ARCHIVE Ryan Milligan -
Published: July 2024

This report compares destructive yield and tensile strength data for fittings and seamless line pipe against predictions from four in-ditch technology providers. Numerous in-ditch material verification studies have been conducted using welded line pipe, but minimal data exists in the public domain for fittings and seamless line pipe. The results from the blind tests were analyzed and compared to show each vendor's relative performance. -Public version
PR727-234502-R01 Hard Spot Susceptibility Review
Authors: Rosenfeld Michael
Published: July 2024

This report describes the results of a study to identify susceptibility criteria for the integrity threat to pipelines posed by "hard spots" that were introduced in certain varieties of line pipe in the pipe manufacturing process. Historical pipeline failures and past research were reviewed, collected data was analyzed, and a susceptibility ranking process was developed. Recommendations for management of the integrity threat posed by hard spots are made. Suggestions for further research are also presented.
PR761-235100-R01 Minimally Intrusive Multi Sensors for Inline Deployment
Authors: Robinson Dr. Peter
Published: July 2024

This report describes the design and construction of novel sensor bodies that will be used as Minimally Intrusive Tools (MIT) devices. The overarching requirement for MIT devices is that they can be introduced into a pipe through existing entry points, such as National Pipe Thread (NPT) threaded sensor locations, small bore valve take-offs, and full-bore valves with access (if available). The aim of the SPIM-2-4 project was to conceptualize several body shapes that could be used to create MIT devices. In the work scope of SPIM-2-4, these bodies did not contain any payload sensors or electronics. They were dummies manufactured to be tested in a flow loop, and their behaviors were observed. From these observations, conclusions were made on the shares best suited for MIT devices.

A number of candidate designs were created and manufactured. They were deliberately chosen to be radically different in shape to make sure they were not the same as existing devices, which tend to be spherical. The aim of the project was to assess the hydrodynamic stability of the shapes and determine if they were suitable platforms for carrying sensors such as Micro Electronic Mechanical Systems (MEMS), and other yet-to-be-developed devices.

In order to test the shapes, a flow loop was constructed with a variable flow rate and a number of features such as a 'T', a 'Y' and a restricted section. A number of sections were constructed from clear PVC pipe to allow observation and photography of the shapes in motion.

Several test runs were carried out for each candidate's body shape, and the speeds and dynamic characteristics of each shape were noted. These tests were analyzed and used to make recommendations and conclusions.
PR-312-22200-Z01 Isolation Valve - Improved GHG Leak Detection Summary of Initial Testing Results
Authors: Panek Jeffrey , Huth Adrian , Shwaiko Benjamin
Published: July 2024

This project investigated and evaluated commercially available optical IR and acoustic technologies. The IR cameras were used to detect a temperature differential across the valve indicating a Joule-Thompson (JT) pressure drop and leak through the valve. Direct acoustically coupled instruments were used to detect "noise" generated from turbulence associated with through-valve leakage. In addition, other instruments were explored that had the potential to detect turbulence-induced vibrations. During the instrumentation evaluation, fugitive leak screening and detection methods for assessing through-valve leakage were also explored.

IES completed a one-week laboratory and yard testing exercise on a single two- and eight-inch valve at the SoCal Gas Situation City facility in Pico Rivera, CA in November 2022. Noteworthy findings included the inability to detect a leak from valves that were previously in-service and known leakers. The reason for this has been hypothesized as improper valve stop position and/or debris in the valve that was removed to protect flow-rate measurement instrumentation in the test apparatus. Several instances of newly commissioned leaking valves have been shown to suffer from incorrect valve positioning and/or electronic transducer signal set points.

Additional testing and data collection are needed to complete the initial test campaign. Outdoor testing could not be completed during the week due to resource limitations that precluded testing more than one eight-inch valve. The initial laboratory testing included one 2-inch test valve that had no discernable usage. An additional 2-inch valve was screened prior to lab testing, however neither valve produced a leak under the conditions in the lab (both valves failed prior to commissioning).
PR753-233900-R01 Enhanced Leak Detection Using Minimally Invasive Multi-Sensor Device Based Inspection
Authors: Kumar Praveen
Published: July 2024

The project team investigated the feasibility of identifying pipeline leaks using Novel sensing approaches that have been recently gaining popularity in the "Pipeline Integrity assessment" realm (such as multi-Sensor inline inspection tools) that incorporate sensors such as Audio, Magnetometry, Pressure etc. The flow loop setup at the PRCI TDC site was leveraged to create a customized test setup and a test execution methodology was developed and executed towards this end. Two Sensing equipment vendors (hereinafter referred to as Vendor A and Vendor B) were used to collect various sensor datasets on separate test runs In test scenarios where leak signatures were identified, the team investigated the feasibility of quantifying/characterizing the leak and to ascertain the minimum leak size that can be reliably detected.
Implementasi Sistem Keuangan pada UMKM Sella Kosmetik Menggunakan Microsoft Access di Kota Batam
Authors: Limgestu Rico , Hesniati Hesniati
Published: July 2024

Dalam lingkungan bisnis kosmetik, apapun bentuknya, seperti perusahaan besar maupun usaha kecil menengah, penting untuk memiliki sistem manajemen keuangan yang baik. Usaha yang dilengkapi dengan manajemen keuangan yang baik akan lebih terstruktur dalam operasionalnya dan memfasilitasi pertumbuhan bisnis yang lebih baik. Sella Kosmetik merupakan sebuah UMKM yang beroperasi di bidang kosmetik yang berbasis di Batam, dipilih sebagai obyek dalam kegiatan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat dalam artikel ini. Dari proses wawancara dan observasi yang telah dilakukan, terungkap bahwa manajemen keuangan dari Sella Kosmetik masih sangat kurang karena masih menggunakan pencatatan manual untuk transaksi penjualan dan pembelian. Tujuan dari kegiatan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat adalah membantu Sella Kosmetik menyelesaikan masalah dalam pencatatan transaksi operasionalnya dengan menciptakan sistem keuangan. Sella Kosmetik memperoleh sistem keuangan baru melalui program Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat berupa aplikasi Microsoft Access yang membantu pemilik mencatat transaksi dan menyediakan laporan keuangan seperti buku besar, neraca saldo, laba rugi, neraca, dan lainnya.
Peningkatan Porfesionalisme Guru Sekolah Dasar Melalui Pendampingan Vlog Now Menuju Education For Sustainable Development
Authors: Sofyan. S Deddy , Windiyani Tustiyana , Abdul Gani Resyi , Zainal M. Arifin , Juliani Ai , Anissa Puri Jovica
Published: July 2024

Profesionalisme guru dapat diukur diantaranya terus mengembangkan diri melalui pelatihan dan pendidikan tambahan untuk meningkatkan keterampilan mengajar dan pembelajaran di dalam kelas. Upaya yang dilakukan untuk meningkatkan kualitas guru di tingkat sekolah dasar dengan memanfaatkan pendampingan dan pemanfaatan media vlog sebagai sarana untuk mendukung pendidikan berkelanjutan. Tujuan dengan pendekatan untuk memberikan pembelajaran yang lebih efektif dan relevan dengan mengintegrasikan prinsip-prinsip pembangunan berkelanjutan dalam proses pendidikan dan membuat materi ajar dan keterampilan bagi mitra terkait teknik pengambilan gambar dengan menggunakan telepon pintar yang dimiliki dan editing dengan aplikasi VN (Vlog Now). VN sebuah platform atau media digital yang memungkinkan guru membuat dan membagikan video vlog, tentang konten video berisi bahan ajar, pengetahuan, pengalaman, atau kreativitas dengan cara yang menarik dan interaktif, guru dengan mudah membuat vlog, mengeditnya, dan membagikannya secara online kepada siswa. Berdasarkan hasil wawancara dan observasi, permasalahan yang ada di sekolah mitra adalah guru-guru masih belum memiliki keterampilan bekerja dengan teknlogi digital, pelatihan membuat materi ajar berbasis vlog now di SDN Pabuaran Cilendek Timur Kota Bogor Barat menjadi penyebab hal tersebut belum dilakukan. Tujuan dari pengabdian ini adalah untuk meningkatkan keterlibatan siswa menggunakan teknologi digital untuk mencapai tujuan pendiidkan dan meningkatkan keterampilan penggunaan literasi digital guru. Berdasarkan beberapa pernyataan yang diberikan dalam kuesioner setelah pelaksanaan membuat vlog materi ajar berbasis Vlog now untuk membantu meningkatkan keterampilan literasi digital guru-guru di SDN Pabuaran Cilendek Timur Kota Bogor Barat, diperoleh hasil seperti diagram diatas bahwa pelatihan yang dilaksanakan sebagai Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat mendapatkan respon yang baik hal ini dari 12 orang peserta PKM diantaranya 92% peserta menyatakan sangat puas dan 1 peserta atau 7% menyatakan puas. Hal ini menunjukkan apa yang dilakukan oleh tim Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat telah dilaksanakan dengan baik sesuai dengan sasaran dan memperoleh manfaat dari pelatihan.
Implementasi Biopori untuk Peningkatan Kualitas Lingkungan di Desa Kesimantengah
Authors: Prima R. Audi , Rismawati Pingki , Rizki M. Alvan
Published: July 2024

Permasalahan lingkungan yang terus meningkat mempengaruhi kualitas lingkungan. Kurangnya pengelolaan sampah organik di Desa Kesimantengah Kecamatan Pacet perlu mendapatkan perhatian khusus. Sehingga mahasiswa yang melakukan Pengabdian Masyarakat melalui kegiatan kerja nyata (KKN) bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pemahaman pada warga Desa Kesimantengah dalam meningkatkan kualitas lingkungan terutama pengelolaan sampah organik. Metode kualitatif digunakan untuk meyelesaikan permasalahan yang ada dimulai dari observasi, studi literatur, penerapan inovasi, serta sosialisasi. Hasil yang diperoleh berupa pemasangan biopori serta diseminasi tentang manfaat positif bagi masyarakat setempat, terutama dalam hal pengetahuan dan keterampilan dalam meningkatkan kualitas lingkungan dengan mengelola sampah organik. Kesimpulan menunjukkan bahwa pemasangan biopori dan penyuluhan manfaat biopori yang telah dilakukan dapat meningkatkan kualitas lingkungan Kesimantengah, Kecamatan Pacet terutama pengelolaan sampah organik.
Edukasi Pentingnya Menggunakan Hak Suara untuk Pemilih Pemula SMKN 3 Denpasar
Authors: Ayu Sinta Dewi Aprilia I Gusti , Putu Lestara Permana Gusi
Published: July 2024

Salah satu faktor penting dalam berjalannya proses Pemilihan Umum (Pemilu) yang demokratis yaitu tingginya partisipasi pemilih. Pemilih pemula adalah mereka dengan usia yang baru saja menginjak jenjang dimana politik menganggap apa yang mereka pikirkan sudah dapat didengarkan. Di Indonesia, para pemilih pemula ini harus dilihat dengan cara yang jujur bahwa terdapat skeptisme dan apatisme yang besar mengenai cara pandang mereka terhadap perpolitikan tanah air secara umum. metode yang digunakan adalah metode ceramah dua arah, metode ini digunakan untuk menyampaikan materi dengan feedback dari peserta. Hasil pelaksanaan pengabdian kepada masyarakat di SMKN 3 Denpasar mampu memberikan peningkatan pemahaman kepemiluan kepada siswa-siswi di SMKN 3 Denpasar.
Analisis Penerapan Sistem Pengendalian Intern Pada Pengelolaan Barang Milik Negara Di Kantor Wilayah Kementerian Hukum Dan HAM Provinsi Sumatera Utara
Authors: Ansari Mayang Febi , Kamila K Kamila K
Published: July 2024

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis implementasi sistem pengendalian internal atas pengelolaan barang milik negara pada Kantor Wilayah Kementerian Hukum dan HAM Provinsi Sumatera Utara. Administrasi keuangan pemerintahan sangat bergantung pada pengelolaan Barang Milik Negara (BMN), yang membutuhkan tata kelola yang baik untuk mencegah risiko dan penyalahgunaan. Studi ini melihat bagaimana Sistem Pengendalian Intern (SPI) diterapkan dalam pengelolaan barang milik negara di Kantor Wilayah Kementerian Hukum dan HAM Provinsi Sumatera Utara. Pengabdian ini memanfaatkan analisis deskriptif kualitatif. Observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi adalah metode yang digunakan untuk mendapatkan data. Hasil yang berhasil mencakup pelaksanaan yang baik dari komponen Lingkungan Pengendalian, Penilaian Risiko, Kegiatan Pengendalian, Komunikasi dan Informasi, serta Pemantauan dalam rangka Sistem Pengendalian Intern (SPI). Namun, perbaikan dan pengawasan yang lebih ketat diperlukan untuk SPI, terutama untuk BMN. Selain itu, disarankan untuk memberikan pelatihan kepada karyawan BMN memastikan mereka dapat melaksanakan visi, misi, tujuan, nilai, dan strategi yang telah ditetapkan di Kantor Wilayah Kementerian Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia Provinsi Sumatera Utara.