bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Phytoremediation Approach for the Restoration of Coal Fly Ash Polluted Sites: A Review
Authors: Banda Maria , Matabane Lovia , Munyengabe Alexis
Published: June 2024

Generating electricity from coal combustion is highly associated with ongoing pollution problems that negatively impact the environment. Coal fly ash (CFA) is a predominant waste by-product of coal combustion which is disposed of in exposed ash dams constructed in the vicinity of power stations. Its disposal requires a large piece of land and therefore more land is converted to unproductive disposal sites, degrading the ecosystem. This waste material is classified as a hazardous substance in South Africa due to unacceptable levels of inorganic and persistent organic pollutants and its potential for dust creation. CFA is recycled and sold to the building and construction sectors, but the rate of its utilization is far less than the production rate resulting to high volumes that is stockpiled in disposal sites. More than 500 million tons CFA is produced yearly and over 200 million tons yearly remain unused globally and more CFA will continue to be produced due to high consumer energy demands, especially in countries with heavy reliance on coal for power generation. In this context, the paper discusses production of CFA, pollution problems due to its disposal, examines existing gaps within the scope of ash dam restoration processes and presents opportunities offered by phytoremediation (a low-cost and environmentally friendly technology that utilizes plants to restore the degraded environments). Ecological restoration through the use of socio-economically valuable plants (aromatic plants, legumes and grasses) has potential in addressing societal challenges and consequently impacting positively the livelihood of communities.
Food Waste Valorisation: Leveraging on Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan and 30-by-30 Goal
Authors: Soon Heng Kiang , Teng Tan Kye , Chan Adeline , Lee Charles CC
Published: June 2024

Singapore, being a land-scarce country, is heavily dependent on imported food, which poses a challenge in ensuring food security. In addition, the substantial amount of food waste generated in Singapore further deepens food insecurity challenges, imposing enormous pressure on the country's food and land resources. In the recent years, valorising food waste streams into higher value products has been an increasing trend in tackling food wastage due to its economical and environmental benefits. This paper provides a thorough review on food waste valorisation in Singapore and summarizes critical information from the current food landscape to the food waste management strategies adopted. The review highlights the prototypes developed from food waste streams by the local research and development capabilities and the technological processing and techniques used for versatile applications ranging from food and nutraceuticals to urban agriculture. The challenges associated with the valorisation of food waste are also addressed. Two ambitious Initiatives by the Singapore government Zero Waste Plan and the 30-by-30 food security goal to encourage food waste valorisation are explored and presented. The review serves as a reference for other countries in ensuring food security and achieving sustainable development goals.
Consumption of snack foods by children and adolescents and their parents' knowledge about substances added to food
Authors: Kolmaga Agnieszka , Garus-Pakowska Anna
Published: June 2024

Parents play an important role in shaping the eating habits of their children through: appropriate selection of food products, snacking between meals and appropriate exposure to information from television advertisements, the press or the Internet. The level of parents' knowledge about proper nutrition and substances added to food is therefore crucial in promoting appropriate dietary choices in children and adolescents in order to prevent diet-related diseases. Objectives: Assessment of the consumption of snack foods by children and adolescents according to the surveyed parents and analysis of parents' knowledge about additional substances in food. Methods: The study was conducted among 129 parents of students from selected primary schools. The research tool was an original survey questionnaire consisting of 24 questions. Survey interviews were conducted with parents during meetings at schools. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson ch2 test, the significance level was set to p<0.05. Results: Parents most often indicated sweets, confectionery products and sweetened drinks (25%) and vegetables or fruit (21%) as the form of snack for their children. 46% of children and adolescents drank sweetened drinks at least once a day. Parents had an average level of knowledge about food additives. Significant correlations were found between the level of knowledge of parents of school-age children about food additives and their level of education. Parents' knowledge and education did not significantly influence the level of snack consumption by their children. Children's eating behavior should be considered unsatisfactory. Conclusions: Research has shown the need for parents to be educated about food additives and to pay more attention to reading food labels so that they can reliably prepare their children to make the right food choices. Measures should be implemented to improve the eating habits of children and adolescents.
Non-linear Relationship between MiRNA Regulatory Activity and Binding Site Counts on Target mRNAs
Authors: Tian Shuangmei , Zhao Ziyu , Ren Beibei , Wang Degeng
Published: June 2024

MicroRNAs (miRNA) exert regulatory actions via base-pairing with their binding sites on target mRNAs. Cooperative-binding, i.e., synergism, among binding sites on a mRNA is biochemically well-characterized. We studied whether this synergism is reflected in global relationship between miRNA-mediated regulatory activity and miRNA-binding-site count on the target mRNAs, i.e., leading to a non-linear relationship between the two. Recently, using our own and public datasets, we have enquired into miRNA regulatory actions: first, we analyzed the power-law distribution pattern of miRNA binding sites; second, strikingly, mRNAs for core miRNA regulatory apparatus proteins have extra-ordinarily high binding site counts, forming self-feedback-control loops; third, we revealed that tumor suppressor mRNAs generally have more sites than oncogene mRNAs; and fourth, we characterized enrichment of miRNA target mRNAs in translationally less-active polysomes relative to more-active polysomes. In these four studies, obvious correlation was observed qualitatively between the extent to which a mRNA is miRNA-regulated and its binding sites count. This paper summarizes the used datasets. We also re-analyzed the correlation by comparative linear and non-linear regression analyses. The results support a non-linear, instead of linear, relationship between the two parameters, conceivably a transcriptome-level reflection of cooperative-binding/synergism among miRNA binding sites on a target mRNA.
Colchicine—The Divine Medicine against COVID-19
Authors: Mitev Vanyo
Published: June 2024

Colchicine has a number of effects that suggest it may be useful in the treatment of COVID-19. Myeloid cells are a major source of dysregulated inflammation in COVID-19. The hyperactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the subsequent cytokine storm take place precisely inside them and can lead to multiorgan damage and death. NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition has been assessed at micromolar colchicine concentrations which cannot be achieved in serum. However, colchicine has remarkable ability to accumulate intensively in leukocytes, where the cytokine storm is generated.
Over 50 observational studies and randomized clinical trials, small randomized non-controlled trials and retrospective cohort studies were initiated to test its healing effect in vivo, leading to conflicting, rather disappointing results. WHO gives ”Strong recommendation against” the use of colchicine for COVID-19 treatment. This is because low doses of colchicine are always used, where the concentrations required to inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome in leukocytes cannot be reached.
Considering this, from March 2020 we started the administration of higher doses of colchicine. Our assumption was that safe increase in colchicine doses to reach micromolar concentrations in leukocytes will result in NLRP3 inflammasome/cytokine storm inhibition.
We demonstrated that in 785 inpatients treated with increasing doses of colchicine, mortality fell between 2 and 7 times. Our data, including also a large number of COVID-19 outpatients, showed that nearly 100% of the patients treated with this therapeutic regimen escaped hospitalization. In addition, post-covid symptoms in those treated with colchicine were significantly less. As a large number of viruses can overactivate the NLRP3 inflammasome (like seasonal influenza), we are convinced that higher colchicine doses would be useful in these cases as well.
Lifetime of Long-Lived Sunspot Groups
Authors: Muraközy Judit
Published: June 2024

Recurrent sunspot groups were studied by using the Debrecen Photoheliographic Data (DPD) which covers more than 40 years. For this task it is necessary to make unambiguous the identification of the returning solar active regions. It starts with an algorithmic listing of possible returns, then the candidates of the algorithmic identifications are checked by the unique HTML-feature of the DPD. The final check is the application of an asymmetric Gaussian function introduced in previous articles to describe the development of short-lived sunspot groups observed continuously from start to end on the visible solar disc. The data of correctly identified recurrent sunspot groups fit surprisingly well to this function throughout the rotations enabling the reconstruction of the development also on the far side of the sun. The primary goal was to find any relationship between the maximum area and the lifetime deduced from the data of the asymmetric curves. This relationship is more complex than earlier results in the literature for short-lived groups. The lifetimes exhibit weak dependencies on the heliographic latitude and solar cycle phase. An apparently returning active area is rather an active nest if its data do not fit to the asymmetric Gaussian.
Unveiling the Interrelationship between Eating Patterns and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Mustač Filip , Matovinović Martina , Galijašević Tin , Škarić Maja , Podolski Eva , Perko Toma , Marčinko Darko
Published: June 2024

Given that metabolic syndrome, along with obesity as one of its key components, remains one of the leading yet insufficiently addressed public health issues, what contributes to the development and maintenance of the disorder must certainly attract the attention of professionals and scientists. Precisely because of this phenomenon, eating patterns associated with metabolic syndrome should be studied and attempts should be made to uncover patterns in occurrence. The aim of this study is to review the literature and consider the connection between metabolic syndrome and eating patterns such as emotional and compulsive eating, as well as through the lens of food addiction. Furthermore, we have attempted to uncover the role of psychiatry and psychotherapy in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and delve into the complexity of recognizing these patterns and emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
Response Properties of Magnesium Doped Strontium Titanate Electrorheological Composite Hydrophilic Elastomers Based on Different Morphologies
Authors: Gao Shu-Juan , Li Lin-Zhi , Han Peng-Fei , Wang Ling , Li Feng , Yu Tan-Lai , Li Yan-Fang
Published: June 2024

As a member of smart materials, electrorheological elastomers (EREs) formed by pre-treating active electrorheological particles are attracting more and more attention. In this work, four Mg-doped strontium titanate particles with spherical, dendritic, flake-like and pinecone-like morphorlogies were obtained by hydrothermal and low-temperature co-precipitation. XRD, SEM, Raman and FT-IR were used to characterize the obtained products. The results showed that the sizes of Mg-doped strontium titanates are about 1.5‒2.0 μm, and the phase structure are dominated by cubic crystal. These Mg-doped strontium titanates were dispersed in a hydrogel composite elastic medium. Then, Mg-doped strontium titanate/glycerol/gelatin electrorheological composite hydrophilic elastomers were obtained with or without electric field. The electric field response properties of Mg-doped strontium titanate composite elastomers were investigated. It concluded that dendritic Mg-doped strontium titanate composite elastomers is high-performance EREs. And the maximum value of energy storage modulus of Mg-doped strontium titanate composite elastomers has achieved 8.70 MPa. This high electrorheological performance of the products is helpful for their applications in vibration control, force transducers, smart structures, dampers, and other fields.
Harnessing Large Language Models for Identification and Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Levkovich Inbar
Published: June 2024

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition marked by recurrent intrusive thoughts or sensations that compel individuals to perform repetitive behaviors or mental acts. Obsessions and compulsions significantly disrupt daily life and cause considerable distress. Early identification and intervention improve long-term outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of four advanced artificial intelligence models (ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, Claude, and Bard) to accurately recognize OCD compared to human professionals and to assess recommended therapies and stigma attributions. This study was conducted during March 2024 utilizing 12 vi-gnettes. Each vignette depicted a client, either a young adult or a middle-aged male or female, attending an initial therapy session. Each vignette was evaluated ten times, resulting in 480 evaluations. The results were compared with those of a human sample of 514 psychotherapists, as reported by Canavan. Significant differences were found. AI models demonstrated higher OCD recognition rates and confidence levels than human professionals and showed 100% confidence in recognition, compared to 87% among psychotherapists. AI models also recommended evi-dence-based interventions more frequently, with ChatGPT-3.5 and Claude at 100%, ChatGPT-4 at 90%, and Bard at 60%, compared to 61.9% among psychotherapists. Additionally, AI models ex-hibited significantly lower stigma and danger estimations, though both AI and psychotherapists demonstrated high willingness to treat the described cases. The findings suggest that AI models surpass human professionals in recognizing OCD and recommending evidence-based treatments while also demonstrating lower stigma. These results highlight the potential of AI tools to enhance OCD diagnosis and treatment in clinical settings.
When Size Matters: New Insights on How Seed Size Can Contribute to Plant Developmental Success
Authors: Boccaccini Alesssandra , Cimini Sara , Kazmi Hira , Lepri Andrea , Longo Chiara , Lorrai Riccardo , Vittorioso Paola
Published: June 2024

The seed habit is the most complex and successful method of sexual reproduction in vascular plants. It represents a remarkable moment in the evolution of plants that afterwards spread on land. In particular, seed size had a pivotal role as for evolutionary success and agronomic trait, especially in the field of crop domestication. Given that crop seeds constitute one of the primary products for consumption, it follows that seed size represents a fundamental determinant of crop yield. This adaptative feature is strictly controlled by genetic traits from both maternal and zygotic tissues, although seed development and growth are also affected by environmental cues.
Despite being a highly exploited topic for both basic and applied research, there are still many issues to be elucidated as for developmental biology as well as for agronomic science. This review addresses a number of open questions related to cues that influence seed growth and size, and how developmental processes are influenced by them. Besides, new insights on the genetic-molecular control of this adaptive trait are presented.
Understanding Multi-hazard Interaction and Impact on Small Islands Community: Insights from an Active Volcano Island of Ternate, Indonesia
Authors: Lessy Mohammad Ridwan , Lassa Jonatan , Zander Kerstin K
Published: June 2024

Current trends in systemic risk literature provide new insights into multi-hazard risks that interact and compound with built environments, creating more significant impacts on socio-economic and human systems. Recurrent natural hazards and extreme weather events are more likely to compound and cascade into more impactful events, especially in vulnerable societies. In small-island communities (SICS), including large archipelagos and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the long-term impact of multi-, compounding-, and cascading-hazards (MCC hazards) can result in persistent vulnerability and residual risks. This is due to delayed responses, limited resources, poverty, fewer evacuation options, and inadequate markets and infrastructure. Using Ternate, a densely populated small volcanic island in North Maluku, Indonesia, as a case study, this paper assesses the impacts of seven types of natural hazards: flash floods, landslides, extreme weather, extreme waves and abrasion, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The research focuses on the multi-hazard impact on population, land use, and infrastructure exposures in 60 villages in Ternate. The findings highlight population density, land use, and infrastructure exposure to multi-hazard risks, providing valuable information on potential losses in future hazard events.
Polyelectrolyte - Surfactant Mixture Effects on Bulk Properties and Antibacterial, Cytotoxic Activity of Sulfur Nanoparticles
Authors: Turganbay Seitzhan , Aidarova Saule , Issayeva Assem , Iskakbayeva Zhanar , Sabitov Aitugan , Turganbay Gulsinay , Babayev Alpamys
Published: June 2024

Elemental sulfur, commonly known for its wide range of biological activity, has a long history of being used to protect all garden and vegetable crops from a range of pests and diseases, including powdery mildew, ascochyta blight, clubroot, plant mites, oidium, anthracnose, and scab. In the present study, a quick and environmentally friendly approach has been developed for the synthesis of sulfur nanoparticles with antibacterial activity. Sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) were prepared by modifying the surface of elemental sulfur using various polyelectrolyte-surfactant mixtures (PSM) including NaCMC-SDBS and PHMG-CTAB. The SNPs were characterized by UV–visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with the SNPs showing an almost spherical shape with an average size in the range of 150-200 nm. The antibacterial activity of the sulfur nanoparticles was tested using against gram-positive S. aureus and E. faecium and gram-negative E. coli and P. aeruginosa bacteria. From this, it could be seen that SNPs exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria, i.e., S. aureus and E. faecium. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the SNPs-1 and SNPs-2 studied to normal (MeT-5A) and tumorous (MCF-7) human cell lines was assessed in the concentration range from 500 μg/ml to 0.12 mg/ml, from which it was determined as being non-cytotoxic. The received products can be considered for potential application in agriculture and medicine.
Sterility Mosaic Disease of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth): Current Status, Disease Management Strategies, and Future Prospects
Authors: Sayiprathap BR , Patibanda Anil Kumar , Mantesh Muttappagol , Hiremath Shridhar Shivakumar , SAGAR N , Reddy CN Lakshminarayana , Jahir Basha CR , Diwakar Reddy SE , Kasi Rao Mediga , Nair Ramakrishnan Madhavan , Sudini Hari Kishan
Published: June 2024

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is one of the important grain legume crops cultivated in the semi-arid tropics, playing a crucial role in the economic well-being of subsistence farmers. India is the major producer of pigeonpea, accounting for over 75 per cent of the world's production. Sterility mosaic disease (SMD), caused by Pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus (PPSMV) and transmitted by the eriophyid mite (Aceria cajani), is a major constraint to pigeonpea cultivation in the Indian subcontinent, leading to potential yield losses of up to 100 per cent. The recent characterization of another Emaravirus associated with SMD has further complicated the etiology of this challenging viral disease. This review focuses on critical areas, including the current status of the disease, transmission and host-range, rapid phenotyping techniques, as well as available disease management strategies. The review concludes with insights into the future prospects, offering an overview and direction for further research and management strategies.
Beta Spike-Presenting SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Confers Broad Protection against Other VOCs in Mice
Authors: Ullah Irfan , Symmes Kelly , Keita Kadiatou , Zhu Li , Grunst Michael W. , Li Wenwei , Mothes Walther , Kumar Priti , Uchil Pradeep D.
Published: June 2024

Vaccine antigens must present the correct conformation of viral fusion glycoproteins to elicit effective immune responses. Virus-like particles (VLPs) serve as promising vaccine platforms because they mimic the membrane-embedded conformations of fusion glycoproteins on native viruses. Here, we employed SARS-CoV-2 VLPs (SMEN) presenting ancestral, Beta, or Omicron spikes to identify the variant that elicits potent and cross-protective immune responses in the highly sensitive K18-hACE2 mouse model. A combined intranasal and intramuscular administration regimen of the SMEN vaccine generated effective immune responses and was predominantly mediated by antibodies with minor contributions from T cells. Immunization with SMEN presenting an ancestral spike resulted in 100, 75, or 0% protection against ancestral, Delta or Beta VOC-induced mortality, respectively, whereas SMEN presenting the most divergent Omicron spike provided only limited protection (50%, 0%, and 25%) against ancestral, Delta, and Beta variants, respectively. By contrast, SMEN with a Beta spike offered 100% protection against the variants used in this study. Thus, the Beta variant not only overcame the immunity produced by other variants, but also elicited diverse and effective immune response. Our findings suggest that leveraging the Beta variant spike protein can enhance SARS-CoV-2 immunity, potentially leading to a more comprehensive vaccine against emerging variants.
Aos Pés da Montanha: a interseccionalidade gênero e casta como ciclo de violência contra as Mulheres Nepalesas
Authors: Orrú Sílvia Ester
Published: June 2024

O presente artigo aborda a interseccionalidade gênero e casta como ciclo de violência contra as meninas e mulheres do Nepal. Em razão do profundo enraizamento da cultura patriarcal na sociedade nepalesa, nascer com as características biológicas e anatômicas relacionadas ao feminino, é motivo de significativa exclusão e subalternização social. Para além, nascer na condição social de dálit e ainda ser mulher, é estar sujeita a mais cruel discriminação e segregação. Na configuração do texto, buscou-se introduzir informações geopolíticas sobre o país e o lugar no qual o feminino se encontra diante dos tentáculos do patriarcado no âmbito histórico, cultural, social, político e econômico. Ancorado nas contribuições da teoria feminista, é possível compreender as raízes do ciclo de violência abissal contra as nepalesas, mas, também, perceber sua resiliência e empoderamento por meio de suas vozes ecoadas como literatura poética. As conclusões apontam para a emergência de um movimento feminista global que acolha as vozes e as demandas das meninas e mulheres do Nepal.
The Existence of Customary Law Communities and Citizenship Rights: Implementation of Sociological Laws and Customs in Aceh in the era of Globalization
Authors: Sasono Satryo , Isharyanto Isharyanto
Published: June 2024

Aceh is a province located at the western tip of Indonesia, namely Sumatra Island. Aceh was given special autonomy authority in running the government and self-regulating the local community’s interests by the laws and regulations in the system and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. The existence of geographical differences and patterns of interaction caused the tribes in Aceh different. This privilege is related to regulations concerning the fields of religion, custom, education, and clergy as stipulated in Law no. 44 of 1999. This research discusses one of Aceh's customary laws, namely qonun and jinayat, and how Aceh's history was formed up to the challenges that will be faced by the people of Aceh in the era of globalization. The purpose of this research is to explore and find out more about the diversity of tribes in Aceh and find out how the tribes in Aceh maintain their customary law from the shocks of social change in the development of the globalization era.
Perlindungan Sosial Terhadap Hak Atas Akses Pelayanan Kesehatan Bagi Penyandang Disabilitas
Authors: Dewayanti Irma , Suryono Arief
Published: June 2024

Negara Republik Indonesia mempunyai kewajiban untuk melindungi, menghormati, dan memenuhi hak asasi manusia (HAM) seluruh Warga Negara Indonesia. Hak tersebut termasuk hak bagi kelompok rentan, khususnya penyandang disabilitas. Demi menjamin tercapainya standar hidup yang layak bagi penyandang disabilitas, maka diperlukan adanya perlindungan sosial, salah satunya dengan menjamin hak atas akses pelayanan kesehatan bagi penyandang disabilitas. Namun kenyataannya, fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan belum secara optimal mewujudkan persamaan kesempatan dalam mengakses layanan kesehatan antara penyandang disabilitas dengan masyarakat yang lain. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menjelaskan pelaksanaan perlindungan sosial terhadap hak atas akses pelayanan kesehatan bagi penyandang disabilitas dan kendala yang dihadapi. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan pada artikel ini adalah penelitian hukum normatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemerintah telah mengakomodir hak atas akses pelayanan kesehatan terkait persyaratan bangunan, tenaga kesehatan yang kompeten bagi penyandang disabilitas dalam berbagai peraturan perundang-undangan. Namun masih ditemui fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan yang bangunan dan pelayanannya belum ramah disabilitas. Oleh karena itu, pengelola fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan diharapkan mematuhi dan menjalankan peraturan perundang-undangan mengenai fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan yang ramah disabilitas dengan mempertimbangkan skala prioritas pada fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan tersebut. Para pemohon izin operasional dihimbau agar sebelum membangun fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan sebaiknya melakukan koordinasi dengan pihak-pihak terkait, khususnya dinas kesehatan sehingga mampu menciptakan fasilitas pelayanan kesehatan yang ramah bagi para penyandang disabilitas.
40 Tahun Reformasi Administrasi, Institusi Perpajakan Belum Berhasil Meningkatkan Tax Ratio
Authors: Bayari Bayari , Isra Saldi , Warman Kurnia , Irianto Edi Slamet
Published: June 2024

Indonesia merupakan sebuah welfare state, tercermin dari sila kelima Pancasila, “Keadilan sosial bagi seluruh rakyat Indonesia” dan Alinea keempat Pembukan Konstitusi, “memajukan kesejahteraan umum” yang berkeadilan sosial bagi seluruh rakyat Indonesia, beserta berbagai pasal dalam Batang Tubuhnya. Untuk mewujudkan visi negara kesejahteraan diperlukan pemerintahan. Penyelenggaraan pemerintahan dan pembangunan memerlukan biaya yang tertuang dalam APBN.  Biaya dikumpulkan dari sumber penerimaan negara yang aman, berkelanjutan, dan murah, yakni dari sektor perpajakan. Faktanya, penerimaan dari sektor perpajakan masih kecil dibandingkan potensinya karena masih tingginya tax gap atau rendahnya tax ratio.  Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mencari penyebab tingginya tax gap atau rendahnya tax ratio dengan metode penelitian normatif yuridis.  Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa akar masalah rendahnya penerimaan perpajakan adalah masih belum optimalnya efektivitas dan efisiensi kinerja institusi perpajakan walaupun telah 40 tahun (1983-2023) dilakukan reformasi administrasi perpajakan. Buktinya berupa fakta masih rendahnya tingkat kepatuhan sukarela Wajib Pajak dalam memenuhi kewajiban konstitusional untuk membayar perpajakan sebagaimana diatur dalam Pasal 23A Konstitusi. Rendahnya penerimaan perpajakan dibandingkan dengan kebutuhan APBN mengakibatkan terjadinya defisit anggaran yang berlangsung secara terus-menerus. Defisit anggaran ditutupi dengan pembiayaan berupa utang, baik utang dalam negeri maupu luar negeri. Kesimpulan penelitian adalah diperlukan langkah fundamental (radikal) untuk meningkatkan efektivitas dan efisiensi kinerja DJP dan DJBC berupa peningkatan kapasitas kelembagaan dengan membentuk Badan Penerimaan Perpajakan Negara (BPPN) yang merupakan badan hukum tunggal hasil penggabungan DJP dan DJBC, berstatus hukum setingkat kementerian, dan bertanggung jawab langsung kepada Presiden.
Hybrid FNN-DNN Approach for Early Detection of Cardiac Arrhythmia: A Novel Framework for Enhanced Diagnosis
Authors: Rabia Islam  , Aurangzaib  , Muhammad Kamran Abid  , Yasir Aziz  , Ahmed Naeem  , Naeem Aslam
Published: June 2024

This work introduces a relatively new hybrid approach to detect arrhythmias noninvasively at the early stages by combining Feedforward Neural Networks (FNN) with Deep Neural Networks (DNN). It is oriented towards the critical area of detecting minute anomalies in the heart rhythm impetuses which are essential to enable prompt management and better results. The foreseen framework tries to solve the gaps in the existing diagnostic methods by using deep learning techniques especially in understanding sequential patterns in medical information. Detection at a speed and on a proper level is a lifesaving key because cardiac arrhythmias can cause serious problems like the stroke and the heart failure. We should make sure that there are more sensitive techniques (other than the traditional ECGs) as the conventional methods (such as ECGs) suffer from some restrictions which may be subjective and also can achieve low accuracy. The distinct attributes of subtle pattern uncovering and making the easy yet precise diagnoses of the Hybrid FNN-DNN model places it a SMART choice for the future. The results demonstrate the need to detect heart rhythm disorders in the early stage as they can have a great influence in terms of patient health and the health sector spending on serious arrhythmia consequences like heart failure or stroke. The effectiveness of the hybrid model in separation between persons with heart disease and the rest is measured by a composite assessment that employs many measures e.g., accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score and AUC-ROC curve analysis. The empirical result highlights that the hybrid model has achieved the same accuracy as both FNN model with 84.8% and DNN model which are 84.8% as well. Another point that the article alludes to is that in the medical environment, deep learning models should be interpretable and provide the therapeutic information needed. Therefore, in order to recognize that the created model coincides with clinical practices and strives to improve patients' care, collaborative efforts with domain experts are carried out. However, the hybrid FNN-DNN strategy is just the beginning for the developing cardiovascular management and treatment field as it provides a good path to progressing with getting better detection and early diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. It is necessary to carry out more research and proof-of-concept validation of the proposed tool for a wider population.
AnnoVate: Revolutionizing Data Annotation with Automated Labeling Technique
Authors: Qazi Farheen , Muhammad Naseem  , Aslam Sonish , Zainab Attaria  , Muhammad Ali Jan  , Syed Salman Junaid
Published: June 2024

This research introduces AnnoVate, an innovative web application designed to automate the labor-intensive task of object annotation for computer vision applications. Focused on image annotation, the study addresses the escalating demand for data refinement and labeling in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Leveraging the power of YOLOv8 (You Only Look Once), a high-performance object detection algorithm, AnnoVate minimizes human intervention while achieving an impressive 85% overall accuracy in object detection. The methodology integrates active learning, allowing labelers to selectively prioritize uncertain data during the labeling process. An iterative training approach continuously refines the model, creating a self-improving loop that enhances accuracy over successive loops. The system's flexibility enables users to export labeled datasets for their preferred AI model architectures. AnnoVate not only overcomes the limitations of traditional labeling methods but also establishes a collaborative human-machine interaction paradigm, setting the stage for further advancements in computer vision.
A Mobility Prediction Based Adaptive Task Migration in Mobile Edge Computing
Authors: Arshed Jawad Usman , Afzal Mehtab , Abbasi Muhammad Hashim Ali , Imtiaz Ahmad  , Hasnat Ali  , Ghulam Hussain
Published: June 2024

During the past few years, mobile data traffic has exponentially increased due to emerging applications, such as social media, online gaming, and augmented/virtual reality. Although the capabilities of mobile devices are significantly improved, they are unable to execute computationally intensive tasks. To extend the computing capabilities of resource-constrained mobile devices, computation offloading is performed on edge servers. Due to user mobility, offloaded tasks often need to be migrated from one edge server to another. Mobility-aware task migration faces different challenges due to varying mobility characteristics of end-users. These challenges include latency, server utilization, and energy consumption. Existing techniques of task and machine (VM) migration do not consider the user movement trajectories while making migration decisions. Consequently, the task or VM is migrated to the edge server that may be far away from the mobile users' location that increases the response time. In this paper we proposed Mobility Migration Algorithm based on Linear Regression (MALR). After outsourcing the task, a recurrent neural network (RNN) and linear regression are used to forecast the user's present location. Using the distance between the user and the server, it gets a list of nearby servers, and then moves the task there. The proposed approach eliminates the job migration time with improvement in forecast accuracy as compared to the logistic regression and K-mean.
Alcohol Advertising Exposure and Drinking Habits Among Chinese Adolescents in 2021: A National Survey
Authors: Ji Ning , Xu Qingqing , Zeng Xinying , Casswell Sally , Bai Yamin , Liu Shiwei
Published: June 2024

Objectives. To assess the exposure of Chinese adolescents to proalcohol advertising and explore its association with alcohol consumption.

Methods. A nationally and regionally representative school-based survey was conducted in mainland China in 2021 among students in grades 7 through 12, aged 13 to 18 years. We assessed adolescent exposure to proalcohol advertising and its association with alcohol consumption.

Results. A total of 57 336 students participated in the survey, and the exposure percentage of proalcohol advertising was 66.8%, with no difference between boys and girls or between urban and rural areas. The top 3 exposure channels were television (51.8%), the Internet (43.6%), and outdoor billboards (42.0%). The exposure was higher among students who had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days (80.1% vs 65.1%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.29) and in the past 12 months (77.3% vs 61.7%; AOR = 1.30). However, no significant correlation was observed between advertising exposure and drunkenness.

Conclusions. Approximately two thirds of Chinese adolescents have been exposed to proalcohol advertising in the past 30 days, with television, the Internet, and outdoor billboards being the most prevalent channels. Exposure to proalcohol advertising exhibits a positive correlation with drinking. ( Am J Public Health. 2024;114(8):814–823. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307680 )
Anti-sanction and sanction economic policy of Russia in 2022–2025. Part 3: analysis of anti-crisis measures, managing Russian sanctions and anti-sanctions
Authors: Manushin D. V.
Published: June 2024

Objective: to propose anti-sanction and sanction measures based on the analysis of the external and internal environment of the Russian economy and anti-crisis measures implemented by the Russian government.

Methods: techniques of abstract-logical method were used, such as analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, analogy, and forecasting.

Results: a critical assessment of anti-crisis measures by other scientists was given; the anti-sanctions plan of the Russian Federation for 2022–2024 was analyzed. As a result of the calculations, the approximate parameters of the budget system expenditures for the realization of the anti-sanctions policy were determined. Prospects, main measures and plans to bring priority sectors of the national economy out of the crisis were assessed. It was found that, despite the success of the antisanctions plan, many of the problems hindering the development of the Russian economy have not yet been solved. The main anti-sanction and sanction measures for the Russian economy development were proposed.

Scientific novelty: measures to correct Russia’s anti-sanction and sanction economic policy were proposed: first, those referring to the area of transition to non-obvious, rational, defense-attack and protectionist sanctions economic policy of Russia; second, those for the transition to open, long-term, protectionist and preventive anti-sanction economic policy of the Russian Federation.

Practical significance: the proposed measures will weaken the consequences of the sanctions war and lay the foundation for Russia’s economic development in the medium and long term. A systematic approach to the study of anti-sanction and sanction economic policy of Russia will allow other countries (China, first of all) to use the Russian experience of successful counteraction to the sanctions of the US and its allies.
Review of digital assets. Trends in the development of Digital Financial Assets in the Russian Federation and forecast
Authors: Stankevich V. S. , Vlasov A. V.
Published: June 2024

Objective: to determine the current state of the digital financial assets market and the prospects for its development.

Methods: the work uses comparative-logical methods, analysis, synthesis, comparative analysis in terms of comparing the theoretical aspects of the DFA market and the practical use of this technology; SWOT-analysis, the method of expert assessments.

Results: in the era of digitalization of many economic processes, one of the key trends of financial markets is tokenization of assets. At the same time, there is a lack of a high-quality institutional system for managing digital financial assets. The authors identified the DFA market development trends, analyzed the market current state, researched the published scientific works and prepared a brief literature review, made a SWOT-analysis of the DFA market, and identified the advantages, potential and threats to this market development in Russia. The paper identifies trends in the DFA market development, taking into account the existing risks. This is relevant for investors when planning investments and selecting DFAs as an investment object, to diversify the investment portfolio.

Scientific novelty: a narrative analysis of the digital financial assets market development was carried out. A comparative analysis of digital financial assets and traditional financial instruments was performed. The main regulatory solutions to the infrastructural problems were identified, that are necessary for the development of digital financial assets. The presented SWOT-analysis served as a basis for the formation of the author’s view DFA-technologies development in the country, which is relevant for researchers of regulatory aspects, system unification and harmonization of the regulatory framework and socio-economic relations.

Practical significance: the study analyzed the volume of DFA issues and identified their most common types. DFA issuers, operators as organizers of DFA issues, and investors can use the study results to make decisions in activities using digital assets.
Corruption factor through the prism of social-demographic aspects: political and economic context
Authors: Ustinova K. A. , Gordiyevskaya A. N.
Published: June 2024

Objective: to determine the impact of socio-demographic factors and characteristics of political and economic changes on corruption.

Methods: the work uses the methods of comparative analysis, construction of conjugation tables, and the index method; the information base is the public opinion monitoring data in Vologda oblast, with 1,500 respondents filling in questionnaires at their place of residence. The sample is random and quota; representativeness is ensured by the proportions observed between the residents of settlements of different types, gender and age structure of the population; sampling error does not exceed 3 %.

Results: manifestations of corruption have been the subject matter of scientific discourse for quite a long time, but the research approaches have been constantly expanding from the historical, legal, and economic points of view. The article considers corruption as a multidimensional phenomenon and analyzes it from the perspective of an integrative approach, which implies taking into account territorial aspects, socio-demographic factors, and the citizens’ perception of the political and economic situation in the country and in the region. The analysis of the assessment results of the public opinion about the corruption level in the region showed that the authorities and the health care system are the most susceptible to corruption. The assessment of the territorial prevalence of corruption showed that the corruption index values along the “center – periphery” line are higher in the regional center than in the districts. It was also revealed that differences in the socio-demographic characteristics insignificantly influence the perception of changes in the corruption level, unlike the perception of corruption depending on the economic and political situation in the region.

Scientific novelty: Based on the analysis of the results of the corruption level monitoring in the region, it is shown that positive assessments of the political and economic situation are associated with an unchanged or decreased level of corruption perception. Hence, good and very good assessments of the economic situation were more often associated with a decrease in the corruption level last year.

Practical significance: the identified links between corruption, socio-demographic, political and economic factors can serve as a basis for adjusting and improving anti-corruption policy at the regional and state level.
Impact of Income Inequality on Fear of Crime: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ranaweera N.
Published: June 2024

Objective: to synthesize existing research to comprehensively understand the impact of income inequality on fear of crime, aiming at elucidating how economic disparities influence community security.

Methods: qualitative methods, including comparative analysis and generalization, alongside the historical and genetic method, were employed. A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar to aggregate peer-reviewed empirical studies. A random-effects model was used for calculating overall effect sizes, with study heterogeneity and moderating factors such as geographic location and urban versus rural settings assessed.

Results: a moderate positive relationship between income inequality and fear of crime was unveiled, particularly pronounced in urban areas, based on a wide array of empirical data. Moderate study heterogeneity indicates context-dependent variability. The synthesis of findings underscores the significant role of income inequality in exacerbating fear of crime, highlighting a complex interplay between economic disparities and perceived community security.

Scientific novelty: this study represents the first attempt to bridge the gap between theoretical assumptions of social disorganization and inequality theories with empirical evidence on the impact of income inequality on fear of crime, providing a comprehensive overview and highlighting discrepancies, patterns, and the overall strength of this association.

Practical significance: the findings offer crucial insights for policymakers and community leaders in developing targeted interventions to mitigate fear of crime, emphasizing the necessity for policies that address economic disparities to enhance societal well-being. Additionally, it recommends further longitudinal research to explore the causal relationships and mechanisms underlying the association between income inequality and fear of crime, enriching the concepts of institutional economics concerning the limits and possibilities of institutional transformations in enhancing community security.
Precise and adaptable knock-out generation in wheat thanks to a multi-stop cassette
Authors: Kadner Maxime , BENEDIT Stéphane , PAUL Wyatt , PICHON Jean-Philippe , TASSY Caroline , BARRET Pierre
Published: June 2024

The advent of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) genome editing initiated an era of accelerated understanding of gene function. A key approach to achieve this goal is functional validation, notably by knock-out (KO) generation of candidate genes in a genetic background harboring the character of interest. CRISPR genome editing enables precise genetic targeting, but the generated mutations are random. In this study, we propose a simple and straightforward method for precise KO (PKO) generation, using CRISPR-Cas9 for precise targeting coupled with a 32bp multi-stop cassette. This cassette is harboring a STOP codon in every reading-frame, such as its insertion guarantees the presence of a stop codon at the position of insertion. The CRISPR-Cas9 system and multi-stop cassette was bombarded on wheat embryos using biolistic. From the 391 embryos bombarded, 177 events of insertion were detected. Sanger sequencing and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) showed that, in the majority of events, the cassette was truncated prior to its insertion, on average by 5bp. By design, this means that in the majority of detected events a multi-stop sequence was successfully inserted at the targeted position. Only one perfect insertion event was observed and the number of cells reached by the cassette is low, which was expected from this design, indicating that improvements can be made to the method. Our findings showed that PKO is achievable in wheat calli, which opens the way to improvements on wheat, and future developments of optimized KO on regenerated wheat plants.