bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resilience of Fisherman In Industry Development Ikan Asap Households In Bengkulu, Indonesia
Authors: Fariadi Herri , Cahyadinata Indra , Irawan Andi , Intara Yazid Ismi
Published: July 2023

One of the productive economic growth sectors that serves as the foundation for Bengkulu Province's coastal development program is the development of fishermen's businesses through the home industry. The goal of this study was to investigate the features of the Ikan Asap home industry as well as to examine the resilience of fishermen in the Ikan Asap home industry in Bengkulu Province. The descriptive analysis method is used in the investigation. From the last 5 (years), precisely from 2018 to 2022, the innovation has been tested using the publish or perish application. Then VOSviewer is used to visualize bibliographies or data sets in order to identify themes that still have research opportunities. The study's findings indicate the peculiarities of the Ikan Asap home industry for fishermen, both boat owners and crew members. The primary element in the Ikan Asap industry is fresh fish, but fish that are not sold fresh are occasionally used as raw materials. The equipment used is still basic and privately owned. Because the level of marine Ikan Asap production is relatively low, namely an average of 10 kg per production, capital availability is an impediment, and Ikan Asap production is sold to the market and collectors. On the market, sell. The level of resilience of fishermen in the growth of home industries for the production aspect is 17.13 in the weak category, 16.75 in the weak category, and 6.44 on average for capital or credit institutions. Category is lacking. In the medium group, the average level of resilience in terms of market institutions is 7.88. Fishermen in extension institutions have a medium level of resilience, with an average of 7.66.
Los desafíos de la edificación vertical en monterrey: escasez de equipamiento y deficiencias en seguridad
Authors: Martínez Zuñiga Juan Manuel , Pruneda Ávila Nancy Elizabeth
Published: July 2023

La ciudad de Monterrey enfrenta diversos desafíos en cuanto a la urbanización y edificación vertical, los cuales se centran en dos aspectos fundamentales: la escasez de equipamiento adecuado y las deficiencias en materia de seguridad. La escasez de equipamiento constituye una problemática significativa en la construcción de edificios verticales en Monterrey. Esta carencia se refiere a la falta de recursos y herramientas necesarias para garantizar un desarrollo eficiente y seguro de los proyectos. La insuficiencia de maquinaria especializada, tecnología avanzada y materiales de calidad puede limitar tanto la calidad de las construcciones como la capacidad de los profesionales para llevar a cabo las labores de manera óptima. Y las deficiencias en seguridad representan un aspecto crítico en la urbanización y edificación vertical. Esto abarca desde la ausencia o insuficiencia de sistemas de prevención y control de incendios, hasta la falta de estructuras de seguridad robustas que protejan a los residentes de posibles colapsos o desastres naturales. Estas carencias ponen en riesgo tanto la integridad física de las personas que habitan los edificios como su patrimonio, generando una preocupación generalizada en la comunidad. La falta de equipamiento adecuado y las deficiencias en seguridad en la edificación vertical son problemas que requieren una atención urgente. Es esencial implementar medidas y soluciones efectivas para garantizar la calidad de las construcciones y salvaguardar la vida y el patrimonio de los residentes. Esto incluye invertir en equipamiento adecuado, promover la capacitación y actualización constante de los profesionales de la construcción, y establecer estándares y regulaciones estrictas en materia de seguridad en la edificación verticales futuras de los usos mixtos del suelo de la zona metropolitana de Monterrey.
The need to implement one health approach in controlling vector-borne diseases in Nigeria
Authors: OLAGUNJU Emmanuel Ajibola , OLAGUNJU Abolaji S. , TEIBO John O.
Published: July 2023

Introduction. The primary goal of this article is to raise attentiveness about the critical need for vector-borne disease control in Nigeria in relation to One Health, as well as to examine existing understanding on this subject matter, which is quickly befitting as a valuable resource for public health policymakers and specialists across the country. Globally, there has been an increase in the number of vectors, which has resulted in an increase in vector-borne diseases. Thousands of individuals die every year as a consequence of vector-borne diseases, and there is an urgent need to manage these vectors.

Material and methods. The present research used PubMed, ResearchGate, WHO and other online databases with the following keywords “Climate change in Nigeria”, “Public health in Nigeria”, “Vector-borne Diseases”, “Nigeria population” and “One Health in Nigeria”.

Results. We observed that there has not been an implementation of the One Health approach against Vector-borne diseases in Nigeria.

Conclusions. The One Health strategy has the potential to address this issue. One Health is the concept that the health of human is intertwined with that of animals and our collective environment. Malaria is a vector-borne disease that is one of Nigeria's biggest health issues. However, land use changes such as deforestation, mining, and other activities have increased in Nigeria, while climate changes have increased internationally.
Byron’s Vinegar Diet: A Historical and Nutritional Analysis
Authors: Zarzo Inmaculada , Soriano Jose M.
Published: July 2023

The harmful effects of the vinegar diet that Lord Byron used for weight loss have recently been examined in an article in the journal
Nutrients
.

1

Byron, who suffered from a combination of what we would call eating disorders today, also had several other health issues throughout his life, and was obsessive about losing weight, is known to have consumed only vinegar with water and rice in the last years of his life. This article explores the history of the use of vinegar as a weight-loss tool, and the associated health risks, which include hypocalcaemia (low calcium levels), hyperreninemia (abnormally high concentration of renin in the blood, which contributes to high blood pressure and kidney failure), and osteoporosis (thinning of bone tissue). The authors conclude that Byron’s extensive use of the vinegar diet likely exacerbated his pre-existing health problems.
Magnetic Activity Evolution of Solar-like Stars. I. S
ph–Age Relation Derived from Kepler Observations
Authors: Mathur Savita , Claytor Zachary R. , Santos Ângela R. G. , García Rafael A. , Amard Louis , Bugnet Lisa , Corsaro Enrico , Bonanno Alfio , Breton Sylvain N. , Godoy-Rivera Diego , Pinsonneault Marc H. , van Saders Jennifer
Published: July 2023

The ages of solar-like stars have been at the center of many studies such as exoplanet characterization or Galactic-archeology. While ages are usually computed from stellar evolution models, relations linking ages to other stellar properties, such as rotation and magnetic activity, have been investigated. With the large catalog of 55,232 rotation periods, P
rot, and photometric magnetic activity index, S
ph from Kepler data, we have the opportunity to look for such magneto-gyro-chronology relations. Stellar ages are obtained with two stellar evolution codes that include treatment of angular momentum evolution, hence using P
rot as input in addition to classical atmospheric parameters. We explore two different ways of predicting stellar ages on three subsamples with spectroscopic observations: solar analogs, late-F and G dwarfs, and K dwarfs. We first perform a Bayesian analysis to derive relations between S
ph and ages between 1 and 5 Gyr, and other stellar properties. For late-F and G dwarfs, and K dwarfs, the multivariate regression favors the model with P
rot and S
ph with median differences of 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. We also apply Machine Learning techniques with a Random Forest algorithm to predict ages up to 14 Gyr with the same set of input parameters. For late-F, G and K dwarfs together, predicted ages are on average within 5.3% of the model ages and improve to 3.1% when including P
rot. These are very promising results for a quick age estimation for solar-like stars with photometric observations, especially with current and future space missions.
Early Results from GLASS-JWST. XXII. Rest-frame UV–Optical Spectral Properties of Lyα Emitting Galaxies at 3 < z < 6
Authors: Roy Namrata , Henry Alaina , Treu Tommaso , Jones Tucker , Prieto-Lyon Gonzalo , Mason Charlotte , Heckman Tim , Nanayakkara Themiya , Pentericci Laura , Mascia Sara , Bradač Maruša , Vanzella Eros , Scarlata Claudia , Boyett Kit , Trenti Michele , Wang Xin
Published: July 2023

Lyα emission is possibly the best indirect diagnostic of Lyman continuum (LyC) escape since the conditions that favor the escape of Lyα photons are often the same that allow for the escape of LyC photons. In this work, we present the rest-frame UV–optical spectral characteristics of 11 Lyα emitting galaxies at 3 < z < 6—the redshift range that optimizes between intergalactic medium attenuation effects and temporal proximity to the epoch of reionization. From a combined analysis of JWST/NIRSpec and MUSE data, we present the Lyα escape fraction and study its correlation with other physical properties of galaxies that might facilitate Lyα escape. We find that our galaxies have low masses (80% of the sample with

log

10

M

⋆

<
9.5

M

⊙

), compact sizes (median R

e
∼ 0.7 kpc), low dust content, moderate [O iii]/[O ii] flux ratios (mean ∼ 6.8 ± 1.2), and moderate Lyα escape fractions (mean

f

esc

Ly
α

∼

0.11). Our sample shows characteristics that are broadly consistent with low-redshift galaxies with Lyα emission, which are termed as “analogs” of the high-redshift population. We predict the LyC escape fraction in our sample to be low (0.03–0.07), although larger samples in the postreionization epoch are needed to confirm these trends.
Editorial
Authors: Gütl Christian
Published: July 2023

Dear Readers, 

Welcome to the seventh issue in 2023. I am very pleased to announce the journal’s continued high Scopus CiteScore of 2.7 and Web of Science Impact Factor of 1.0 for 2022, indicating another scientifically successful year. On behalf of the J.UCS team, I would like to thank all the authors for their sound research contributions, the reviewers for their very helpful suggestions for improvements, and the consortium members for their financial support. Your commitment and dedicated work have contributed significantly to the long-lasting success of our journal. 

As we want to secure the financial support also for the years to come, we are looking for institutions and libraries to financially support our diamond open access journal as consortium members, who will then benefit from the research community, international visibility, and the opportunity to manage special issues and focused topics within the journal. Please think about the possibility of such financial participation of your institution, we would be very grateful for any kind of support. 

In this regular issue, I am very pleased to introduce six accepted papers from seven different countries and 20 involved authors. 

Ana P. Allian, Leandro F. Silva, Edson OliveiraJr and Elisa Y. Nakagawa from Brazil present VMTools-RA, a reference architecture that encompasses the knowledge and practice for developing and evolving variability tools. In a collaboration between researchers from the UK and Estonia, Vimal Dwivedi, Mubashar Iqbal, Alex Norta and Raimundas Matulevičius are focusing their research on the evaluation of a legally binding smart-contract language for blockchain applications. Monika, Seema Verma, and Pardeep Kumar from India discuss an intelligent vision-based decision-making system for the exploration of past aviation accidents and incidents, which is based on a visual query-based model capable of analyzing the major factors including flight phases, human factors, weather conditions, and faulty components in particular aircraft models. Luis Eduardo Ordoñez Palacios, Víctor Bucheli Guerrero and Hugo Ordoñez from Colombia present their research on integrating satellite imagery and meteorological data to estimate solar radiation applying and evaluating five machine learning models. In a collaboration between researchers from Palestine and Egypt, Muath Sabha, Thaer Thaher, and Marwa M. Emam apply cooperative swarm intelligence algorithms to adaptive multilevel thresholding segmentation of COVID-19 CT scan images. Geovana Ramos Sousa Silva, Genaína Nunes Rodrigues and Edna Dias Canedo from Brazil introduce their work on a modeling strategy to design and verify chatbot conversational flows via the Uppaal model checking tool. 

Enjoy Reading!

Cordially,

Christian Gütl, Managing Editor 
Dynamics of inselberg landscapes and their adjacent areas in the Sudano-Guinean zone of Benin through remote sensing analysis
Authors: Ayeko Ranmi Elsa Denise , Toyi Sêwanoudé Scholastique Mireille , Assogbadjo Achille Ephrem , Sinsin Brice Augustin
Published: July 2023

Aims: Land cover change in inselbergs and adjacent areas was studied from 2003 to 2018 in a region facing anthropogenic pressures to assess dynamics and preserve rare endemic species. Study area: Inselbergs and their adjacent areas in the Sudano-Guinean zone of Benin are included in this study. Methods: Land cover classes of inselbergs and adjacent areas were obtained through supervised classification of Sentinel-2 (2018) and Spot 5 (2003) satellite images. A Chi-square test was used to compare protected and unprotected LULC classes of inselbergs, with 10 m spatial resolution. Results: The results showed that forest and woodland decreased respectively from 8.55% to 3.05% and from 17.63% to 4.79% between 2003 and 2018 while tree and shrub savanna, and grassland increased respectively from 6.52% to 9.49% and from 7.60% to 16.69%. Field and fallow increased from 5.57% in 2003 to 26.12% in 2018 and tree plantation from 6.05% to 13.47%. The analysis of spatial comparisons using the chi-square test showed that the presence of inselbergs in a protected area has no significant effect on their land use. Conclusions: Natural vegetation in inselbergs and adjacent areas is being converted into human-made landscapes by farmers. An urgent conservation plan is needed, including awareness campaigns, tree planting, and sustainable forest management.

Taxonomic reference: Akoègninou et al. (2006).

Abbreviations: DEM = Digital Elevation Model; GCP = Ground Control Point; LULC = Land Use/Land Cover; ROI = Region of Interest; SRTM = Satellite imagery data, Shuttle radar topography mission.
Existence of solutions for Kirchhoff-type systems with critical Sobolev exponents in $ \mathbb{R}^3 $
Authors: Yi Xing , Ye Shuhou
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we study the following Kirchhoff-type system:

 0.1  \begin{document}$ \begin{equation} \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} -(a_{1}+b_{1}\int_{\mathbb{R}^{3}}|\nabla u|^{2}dx)\Delta u = \frac{2\alpha}{\alpha+\beta}|u|^{\alpha-2}u|v|^{\beta}+\varepsilon f(x), \\ -(a_{2}+b_{2}\int_{\mathbb{R}^{3}}|\nabla v|^{2}dx)\Delta v = \frac{2\beta}{\alpha+\beta}|u|^{\alpha}|v|^{\beta-2}v+\varepsilon g(x), \\ (u, v)\in D^{1, 2}(\mathbb{R}^{3})\times D^{1, 2}(\mathbb{R}^{3}), \end{array} \right. \end{equation} $\end{document}

where $ a_{1}, a_{2}\geq0, \; b_{1}, b_{2} > 0, \; \alpha, \beta > 1, \; \alpha+\beta = 6 $ and $ f(x), g(x)\geq0, \; f(x), g(x)\in L^{\frac{6}{5}}(\mathbb{R}^3). $ The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the existence of at least two solutions for system (0.1), utilizing the variational method. To achieve this, we construct an energy functional and analyze its critical points by applying the Ekeland variational principle, the mountain pass lemma and the concentration compactness principle.
All Our Relations
Authors: Wabie Joey-Lynn , Watkins Taylor , Leslie Simon , Anderson Marnie , Chartrand Anastacia , Haramincic Arijana
Published: July 2023

The authors shared their reflections about a 12-week master-level course at a northern Ontario university revisioned by an Algonquin anicinabe ikwe scholar and a settler graduate teaching assistant using experiential arts, storytelling, and land-based pedagogical practices. Through the holistic nature of the course, learners explored topics through their own holistic health and well-being. Learners learned the importance of storytelling which culminated in a medicine storysharing session and roundtable discussion. The authors' reflections highlighted the interactive nature of the course fostering the ability for students to learn how teaching and knowledge can be delivered in a memorable and impactful way. There were also feelings of discomfort when it came to letting go of preconceived notions about education since the course went against the academic training commonly found in Westernized educational institutions. This chapter includes various materials, including the course outline and ideas for personal exploration using experiential arts and land-based creative modalities.
Meaningful Engagement With Immigrant Families
Authors: Batamula Christi , Kite Bobbie Jo , Mitchiner Julie
Published: July 2023

This chapter prepares pre-service teachers to work with immigrant families with Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children. Immigrant families are families with children with at least one immigrant caregiver who resides in the United States and is not a U.S. citizen at birth. The chapter highlights a case study showing the unique experience of this vastly growing population of families in the US as they navigate engaging in the education of their DHH children. The chapter also focuses on theories and practices in preparing preservice teachers to work with immigrant families with DHH children. Family engagement often glances over in teacher preparation programs, but this is a detriment since family engagement is a predictor of school success.
World Natural Resources and Their Impact on the Environmental Conditions of Our Planet
Authors: Chitadze Nika
Published: July 2023

Natural resources are components of the natural environment used in the production process to meet the material and cultural needs of society. Natural resources are inherently physical in origin, but in the process of their use, they become economic resources. Natural resources are divided into inexhaustible (agro-climatic, geothermal, hydropower) and exhaustible. In turn, exhaustible resources are divided into non-renewable (mineral) and renewable (land, water, biological, recreational). Based on this classification and development, this textbook distinguishes the following types of natural resources: mineral (minerals), energy, water, biological, land, agro-climatic, and recreational. When considering natural resources, it is important to assess the availability of resources (i.e., the ratio between explored reserves of resources and the volume of their use, also their impact on environmental conditions of the world).
An Essay on the Energy and Equity Relationship With a Panel Data Analysis (2011-2020)
Authors: Saglam Muhlis Selman
Published: July 2023

This study investigated how income inequality is shaped according to energy-related variables. For this, income inequality is the independent variable; energy efficiency, energy import dependency, and energy efficiency are included in the model as independent variables. The data of the 17 founding countries of the OECD between 2011-2020 is used. According to the F Test results, the model has a one-way unit effect. According to the robust Hausman test, the random effect is valid. There are heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation in the context of deviations from the assumption. On the other hand, the data fit a normal distribution. Also, there is no multicollinearity and no inter-unit correlation. In light of all these, the model was estimated with Arellano, Froot, and Rogers Estimator. According to the model estimation results, the model is not statistically significant. This shows that the relationship between income distribution and energy, which Illich expressed qualitatively, is not quantitatively valid for the 17 OECD founding countries.
Disaggregating Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Consumption in the Energy Growth Nexis
Authors: Yilanci Veli , Aslan Murat , Özgür Önder
Published: July 2023

The environmentalists argue that climate change is a real threat, and therefore, they believe both developed and developing countries should shift their energy sources from fossil-based to renewable alternatives, including solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, bio-oils, and ocean power to sustain economic growth. In this context, this study investigates the causal relationship between two sets of pairs—(i) renewable energy consumption and economic growth and (ii) nonrenewable energy consumption—and economic growth for 16 OECD countries for the 1971-2015 period. To fulfill this objective, the study employs a recently introduced frequency domain approach in both single-country form and multi-country (panel) form. The study indicates some dissimilarities on renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus in OECD countries. Although the results of single country frequency domain test mostly support neutrality hypothesis, multi-country frequency domain test finds strong evidence supporting bidirectional causality among these sets of pairs.
Green Consumption Behavior and Environmental Sustainability Considerations
Authors: Ispahi F. Gül Aygen
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this chapter is to review the factors that have an impact on green consumption behavior of individual consumers, as they relate to environmental sustainability considerations. After a brief review of the evolution of environmentally related research and relevant terminology, factors expected to have an effect on pro-environmental behaviors of individuals, inclusive of various demographic, individual, social-cultural, and contextual/situational considerations are assessed. A distinction between high- and low-income countries with respect to their reasons for engaging in environmentally friendly behaviors is also made in the discussion section. The chapter ends with a number of suggestions for future research and some concluding remarks.
A Model for an Effective Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to Support Learning Analytics of At-Risk Students
Authors: Pretorius André
Published: July 2023

In this chapter, a model to design and implement an effective VLE is proposed using a critical review of existing models and synthesizing these into a reference framework for a higher education institution. A method to align the learning design with the learning analytics (LA) system is also investigated. The various aspects that need to be considered in learning effectiveness are explained before ending the chapter with a synopsis of VLE models. Various models and frameworks exist that guide the design and implementation of VLEs. For this study, a model is required to guide the implementation of a VLE to provide effective learning and teaching in the higher education institution. A model to ensure effective VLE design is established based on the Piccoli model, which describes the human and design dimensions of the VLE. The human, design, and learning effectiveness dimension of effective VLE implementation are aligned to contemporary LA models. The chapter ends with a summary of prevailing criteria to measure the effectiveness of the VLE.
Reflecting on the Political and Cultural Factors on Science Diplomacy and Networking Within the Global South Community
Authors: Buyukgoze Hilal
Published: July 2023

Science diplomacy is a new field connecting academic and diplomatic communities to address and elaborate on global and regional issues and challenges. The concept of Global South has become a popular topic in international relations and comparative and international education, particularly in the context of North and South relations, which are commonly regarded as the relationship between developed and developing countries. In this direction, cultural and political factors can change and impact how science related areas are perceived and valued in different countries and regions. Through examining scholarly literature, this chapter argues that effective science diplomacy and networking in the Global South require a deep understanding of the local context, including political, cultural, and educational factors that may affect scientific research and engagement with diverse stakeholders of the issue. Overall, this chapter concludes that more effective and inclusive collaborations that benefit both local communities and global community can be promoted by acknowledging these factors.
Responses of Higher Education Institutions to the COVID-19 Crisis
Authors: Ben Taziri Adel , Akkari Abdeljalil , Class Barbara , Gakuba Théogène-Octave , Cheniti Lilia , Mami Naouel Abdellatif
Published: July 2023

This literature review is based on an analysis of publications identified on Google Scholar and published in English between 2020 and 2021. The researchers employed combinations of three key words—university, COVID-19, and digitalization—as well as similar terms. The literature review is structured along seven lines of approach. The researchers tried to analyse the scientific articles and attempted to answer the question: What would the post-COVID-19 university be like? In total, the researchers emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic presented an opportunity to re-examine not only new information technologies, both on-line and their educational potential and limitations, but also the fundamental objectives of education and how a renewed approach to education could be exploited to develop more democratic and fair societies.
Digital Mapping as a Tool for the Development of Critical Thinking Skills in Digital Education
Authors: Sayari Karima Toumi
Published: July 2023

Mind maps are useful tools for understanding and communicating ideas because people can quickly perceive visual information. In this era of digital transformation, digital education is becoming the hallmark of the education system, which has been intensified, particularly, since the COVID-19 crisis. This raises the need to adapt education tools to fit the new digital requirement. The chapter suggests that with using digital mind mapping software, students can create well organized digital mind maps and effectively take part in the education process. Advance in technology is facilitating the use of such tools. Digital mapping tools develop student critical thinking skills in digital education as well as in the classroom. For this purpose, the authors overview the previous and the present studies, concerning the use of mind mapping tools, and describe the implementation of digital mapping techniques in the digital education in the field of finance.
Empowering Minds, Transforming Mathematics
Authors: Tsakirakis Georgios
Published: July 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on education, with Mathematics instruction being no exception. In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Mathematics instructors have had to adapt their teaching strategies to engage students in virtual or hybrid learning environments. One key factor in the success of this adaptation is the instructors' level of self-efficacy and self-confidence in teaching Mathematics. This chapter explores two strategies to enhance self-efficacy in Mathematics instruction in the post-COVID era: inclusion and technology. Inclusion strategies such as understanding the diverse learning needs of students, using inclusive pedagogical approaches, and promoting collaboration and a supportive classroom environment are essential to enhance self-efficacy. Furthermore, technology strategies such as using online teaching platforms and resources, professional development on the use of technology in Mathematics instruction, and interactive and engaging technology-based learning activities can also improve self-efficacy.
Sustainable Finance
Authors: Sharma Shweta , Kumar Sandeep
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study is to investigate how sustainable finance helps countries achieve their target of becoming a climate-neutral economy, specifically in the Asia Pacific region. First, the authors study greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and understand the need to mitigate the climate risk for the economic development of different countries in Asia. Different financial practices that exist under the domain of sustainable finance, like climate finance, green finance, ocean finance, digital green finance, impact investment, and socially responsible investment, are studied briefly to see how they help in achieving the carbon-neutral economy goal of countries. Further, a comprehensive study is conducted to understand the components of green financial systems. Different securities under green finance and the policy initiatives adopted in different Asian countries to strengthen the effects of green finance are studied. The study briefly describes the recent trends adopted by different Asian countries for achieving carbon-neutral goals.
Digital Transformation for Sustainability in Asia
Authors: Piccolo Rossana , Boero Marianna
Published: July 2023

Environmental sustainability represents one of the most topical and debated issues in recent decades, as the environment is at the center of many societies, in which digital transformation plays a key role, representing the new backbone. Through the exploitation and exploration of new knowledge, it increases the chances of survival in today's dynamic marketplace, requiring a broader view of information technology and knowledge management that can also consider the semantic and symbolic aspects related to innovation. Cities are the engine of Southeast Asia's economic growth, and thanks to the introduction of smart technologies, such as digital apps for citizens, several tangible results in terms of improved quality of life are being achieved. Grab, the first and most dominant super in Asia, promotes initiatives aimed at environmental impact, achieving the sustainable development goals. It also highlights how knowledge management, semiotics, and organizational sustainability seem to be interrelated, providing a sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Challenges and Way-Forward of Non-Organic Agriculture to Organic Agriculture: A Comparative Study Between China and Sri Lanka
Authors: De Silva T. D. G. L. S. C. , Rajapakse U. G.
Published: July 2023

The agriculture around the world is still heavily associated with chemical fertilisers, pesticides etc. and being inorganic. Although, a positive trend has been developing for organic agriculture around the world due to the benefits it delivers. Since the comparative studies related to organic agriculture on China and Sri Lanka are hardly found, the objectives of the study to perform a comparative analysis between China and Sri Lanka. Further, study examines benefits and challenges of both contexts. The research applies qualitative purposive sampling method and collect data using interview technique. Further study expects to use secondary data sources to achieve its objectives. The primary data is analysed using the thematic analysis. Moreover, the study focuses to examine the secondary sources related to China and Sri Lanka. The results of the study revealed that, although the China has remarkable progress in organic agriculture, there are deficiencies such excessive supply of organic products, disparities in organic production and consumption, Inadequacy of trust of consumers on organic foods, low educational status of organic farmers and deficiencies in technology used for organic agriculture and expensiveness in organic products compared with inorganic resulted in low demand. Also, results of the study further revealed that, the rapid transformation from inorganic agriculture to organic committed by the government of Sri Lanka created certain issues in the country resulting a threat to the food security of the country. Further, there are many deficiencies noted in the process such lack of proper mechanism to supply organic inputs to bridge the country’s requirement, no proper mechanism in place to monitor the organic agriculture process, difficulties in obtaining of organic certification, lack of local certification bodies, deficiencies in alternatives to replace chemical inputs such pesticides, weedicides etc., lack of government support to farmers to bear the income loss incurring due to the loss of yield during the transition period etc. Further, results of the study highlight the comparative differences between two countries. Moreover, challenges, benefits, strengths, weaknesses, and threats in the organic agriculture of these countries are objectively evaluated.
Corporate Governance on Financial Performance: Evidence from Listed Commercial Banks in Sri Lanka
Authors: Kumara A. A. A. G. , Walakumbura S. H. M. L.
Published: July 2023

Corporate governance is a widely accepted governing mechanism that is followed by a majority of organizations believing that it would help to improve the financial performance of the organization. Based on this scenario, this study examines the impact of corporate governance on the financial performance of listed commercial banks in Sri Lanka. Financial performance has been considered as the dependent variable while return on assets and return on equity have been considered as the proxies for the dependent variable. Corporate governance has been considered as the independent variable while board size, board balance, female directors, board meetings, and board ownership have been considered as the proxies to measure the independent variable. A deductive approach has been employed using secondary data which is obtained from listed commercial banks in Sri Lanka. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Pearson correlation and panel data regression have been used for the analysis purpose. The results of the Pearson correlation revealed that board size has a positive correlation with banks’ financial performance while female directors show a negative relationship with banks’ financial performance. Panel data analysis recommended the random effect model as the best-fitted model for ROA and ROE. The result of the Robust specification test at a 95% significant level confirmed that, in panel A for ROA, only the number of executive directors shows a significant relationship while in panel B for ROE, both independent variables of a number of executive directors and board ownership show a significant relationship. The empirical findings of this study are helpful for any individual, institutional decision-makers, managers, academics, and any other parties who are interested in corporate governance.
Optimal Cut Order Planning Solutions using Heuristic and Meta-Heuristic Algorithms: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Ranaweera R. N. M. P. , Rathnayaka R. M. K. T. , Chathuranga L. L. Gihan
Published: July 2023

Cut order planning is a significant task in the apparel industry which determines the fabric spreading layout that can affect different aspects of the apparel industry including the cost of garments, the efficiency of the sewing line, etc. Due to the nature of the cut order problem, it is very hard to determine an optimal solution for the cut order plan although there are ready-made software and also industry experts working on this. Hence, various attempts have been made to optimize it by using machine learning algorithms in the modern world. This review aims at identifying how heuristic and meta-heuristic algorithms are used to optimize the cut-order planning solutions to obtain a near-optimal solution. Furthermore, the lack of research limits it down to 13 papers to be reviewed, and this paper discusses the methodologies and algorithms used, research parameters, issues, and future areas that need to be investigated for the cut order problem. The review shows that the genetic algorithm is widely used to optimize the cut-order plans by adopting the hybridization approaches along with some other meta-heuristic algorithms such as simulated annealing, tabu search, etc. Experimental results indicate that researchers were able to minimize fabric waste by optimizing the cut order plans.
RF-EMR pollution levels near kindergartens due to mobile communication towers and Wi-Fi sources
Authors: Suraweera S. A. T. U. W. K. , Jayaratne K. P. S. C.
Published: July 2023

Wireless communications play a crucial role in human lives. The introduction of cellular network systems, broadband internet services and public Wi-Fi services increase the connectivity between people exponentially. These wireless networks require antenna structures to propagate carrier waves through space and these waves are located within the Radiofrequency (RF) region in the electromagnetic spectrum. The effects of these RF waves on people, especially children, and pregnant women cannot be neglected. According to the researchers, there are some adverse health issues related to thermal and non-thermal effects due to exposure to these non-ionizing radiations. In this study, RF exposure levels within the proximity of 21 selected kindergartens in the Colombo and Kandy districts were evaluated by using a high-frequency spectrum analyzer. Results of the study show a nearly 251% increase in the RF exposure levels in the kindergartens located in Colombo district relative to the kindergartens in Kandy district. As well as GSM900, GSM1800 and UMTS cellular communication bands show a higher contribution to background RF exposure than the other wireless networks. However, measured maximum electric fields and calculated specific absorption rate (SAR) values are well below the maximum permissible levels published by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
The Impact of Mobile Banking Services on the Customer Satisfaction of
Commercial Banks in Sri Lanka
Authors: Dias S. N. R. F. , Dissanayake W. D. M. B. K.
Published: July 2023

The primary focus of this study is to identify the decisive factors that affect customer satisfaction with Mobile Banking Services. The identified independent variables of the study are reliability, efficiency, flexibility, easy-to-navigate, and trust. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire from 120 mobile bank users of Commercial Banks in Sri Lanka. The study population was mobile banking users of commercial banks in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka. The hypotheses have been tested through multiple linear regression and the correlation coefficient has been used to identify the relationship between the dependent variable and independent variables. The findings of the study show that there is a statistically significant impact of the reliability, efficiency, easy-to-navigate, and trust dimensions of mobile banking services on customer satisfaction whereas flexibility has a statistically insignificant impact. Easy to navigate and reliability were the most influential dimensions compared to the rest of the mobile banking dimensions and the researcher recommended that commercial banks should expand the web and mobile app quality in order to achieve higher customer satisfaction with mobile banking services.
Determinants of Self-Efficacy on Undergraduate Academic Achievement
Authors: Priyadharsan S. , Saravanabawan A.
Published: July 2023

This research focuses on the main theme of the determinants of self-efficacy on undergraduate academic achievement, particularly considering the Trincomalee Campus, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. Self-efficacy refers to people who believe in their own capabilities and abilities to accomplish a given task. When it comes to undergraduates in the university system, they are valuable stakeholders. Nowadays, the student-centered learning approach is practiced by universities, it is to be responsible for their own pedagogical progress. Their self-efficacy helps them to manifest themselves and achieve their academic performance. Therefore, self-efficacy plays a vital role in their academic achievement. Identify the objectives of this research, to discover the relationship between self-efficacy and academic achievement, to what extent does self-efficacy influence on academic achievement and to recognize the attitudes that play a role in mediating the relationship between self-efficacy and academic achievement. A particularly representative sample was selected from undergraduate management students at the Trincomalee Campus. The selected sample size is 234. Conceptual variables cover performance accomplishment, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, physiological & emotional state, attitudes, and academic achievement. The researcher use the Sobel test for the data analysis. Based on the results, the main influencing factors are verbal persuasion and performance accomplishment. Academic achievement is not significantly related to physiological & emotional state and vicarious experience.
О $\mathrm{mm}$-энтропии банахова пространства с гауссовской мерой
Authors: Vershik Anatolii Moiseevich , Lifshits Mikhail Anatolievich
Published: July 2023

Для широкого класса банаховых пространств с гауссовской мерой мы показываем, что их энтропия в смысле Шеннона ($\mathrm{mm}$-энтропия) тесно связана с энтропией соответствующего эллипсоида рассеяния и в определенном диапазоне ведет себя так же, как логарифм меры малых шаров.
Связи между $\mathrm{mm}$-энтропией и энтропией компактов обсуждаются также в свете классических работ Колмогорова и Шеннона.
Epidemiological Characteristics and Trends in the Incidence of Leptospirosis in Japan: A Nationwide, Observational Study from 2006 to 2021
Authors: Hagiya Hideharu , Koyama Toshihiro , Otsuka Fumio
Published: July 2023

During this age of climate change, the incidence of tropical diseases may change. This study compared the epidemiological characteristics and trends of leptospirosis in Japan between the endemic region, Okinawa, and the rest of the country. Infectious Diseases Weekly Reports were used to determine the numbers and crude incidence rates of leptospirosis. Data were stratified by sex, age, the estimated location of the infection, the notified regions, and the reporting month. A joinpoint regression analysis was performed to estimate the annual percentage change (APC). During the 16-year study period (2006–2021), 543 leptospirosis cases were reported, with male dominance (86.2%). Approximately half of these cases were reported from Okinawa (47.1%). The patients were relatively younger in Okinawa (20–29 years, 23.4%; 30–39 years, 20.7%) than outside Okinawa. The frequency of imported cases was significantly higher outside Okinawa (0.4% versus 14.3%). The incidences of leptospirosis in and outside Okinawa were apparently higher during the summer and typhoon seasons. The annual crude incidence ratios were 20–200 times higher in Okinawa than in the rest of the country. The average APCs for the entire study period in Okinawa and the rest of Japan were 1.6% (95% CI: −5.9 to 9.6) and −1.8% (95% CI: −7.8 to 4.6), respectively, without any particular trends. Collectively, the patient profile of leptospirosis differed between Okinawa (younger men) and outside Okinawa (middle- or older-aged men with a history of traveling abroad). The disease remains a neglected tropical disease; continuous surveillance with close monitoring is required.
Invasive rhinocerebral mucormycosis: Imaging the temporal evolution of disease in post COVID-19 case with diabetes: A case report
Authors: Narra Ramakrishna , Rayapati Shravya
Published: July 2023

Esophageal cancer, also referred to as esophagus cancer, is a prevalent disease in the cardiothoracic field and is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in China. Accurately determining the status of lymph nodes is crucial for developing treatment plans, defining the scope of intraoperative lymph node dissection, and ascertaining the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer. Recent advances in diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have improved the effectiveness of MRI for assessing lymph node involvement, making it a beneficial tool for guiding personalized treatment plans for patients with esophageal cancer in a clinical setting. Radiomics is a recently developed imaging technique that transforms radiological image data from regions of interest into high-dimensional feature data that can be analyzed. The features, such as shape, texture, and waveform, are associated with the cancer phenotype and tumor microenvironment. When these features correlate with the clinical disease outcomes, they form the basis for specific and reliable clinical evidence. This study aimed to review the potential clinical applications of MRI-based radiomics in studying the lymph nodes affected by esophageal cancer. The combination of MRI and radiomics is a powerful tool for diagnosing and treating esophageal cancer, enabling a more personalized and effectual approach.
La pedagogía basada en proyectos
Authors: GUENAOUI Amaria
Published: July 2023

A través de este estudio, tratamos de realizar una aproximación teórica sobre la Pedagogía por Proyectos o el aprendizaje basado en proyectos, tanto como un enfoque de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Su objetivo principal consiste en reflexionar y analizar las capacidades y destrezas en nuestros estudiantes. Para ello, mediante el método descriptivo-explicativo, hemos realizado una exploración documental reflexiva con la intención de indagar y demostrar la relevancia del tema en el ámbito de la enseñanza superior argelina. A su vez, enseñar a los estudiantes a investigar y cómo proyectar sus ideas, es todo un desafío, más aún en aprendices universitarios. En este artículo, se  efectuó  la  revisión bibliográfica  en  bases  de  datos electrónicas y revistas  científicas indexadas, concentrándonos por una parte, en la definición de este enfoque según diferentes autores, y por otra parte, examinamos las diferentes competencias y destrezas que adquieren los estudiantes mediante la pedagogía por proyectos. Sin olvidar de analizar el papel que desempeñan tanto el profesor como el aprendiz universitario en el aula.    

Palabras Clave: pedagogía, proyectos, estudiante, aprendizaje, profesor.
Sistema de Monitoreo de Variables Fisicoquímicas en el Mar
Authors: Villalvazo Efrain
Published: July 2023

En el presente artículo se presenta un prototipo de boya inteligente para identificar variables fisicoquímicas que pueden ser utilizadas para determinar la presencia de sustancias oleosas acumuladas en el mar debido a la presencia de desechos plásticos marinos. La boya se coloca en el mar, tiene un Sistema de Posicionamiento Global (GPS) y permite tomar muestras del agua con sensores para ser analizadas. La boya está equipada con 3 sensores para monitorear TEMPERATURA, PH y TURBIDEZ. Los datos se envían, almacenaran y etiquetaran con machine learning para predecir escenarios. La información se utiliza para generar una base de datos de acceso abierto para ser consultada en tiempo real y desarrollar un tablero de resultados.