bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Assessment of Agrotourism Oriented Irrigation Systems in Subak Sembung, Denpasar City
Authors: Agripina I Gusti Ayu Widi , Siswoyo Hari , Sumiyati Sumiyati
Published: June 2023

Subak Sembung has a wide coverage area of 103 ha of rice fields with a total length of 5.1 km of tertiary irrigation canals. The Subak Sembung area has experienced land conversion of 14 ha which has had an impact on the performance of the subak system. The strategy that can be implemented to maintain the sustainability of the subak system is to develop agrotourism. Based on the survey results at the study area, there are several problems that have the potential to disrupt the performance of the irrigation system, including damage to irrigation structures and leakage of irrigation canals, and a lack of support for subak development towards agrotourism. The aim of this study was to assess the condition and performance of an agrotourism-oriented irrigation system in Subak Sembung. This research was conducted using field survey and interview methods. Field surveys were carried out with the aim of determining the conditions of agrotourism-oriented irrigation systems. Interviews were conducted to assess the performance of an agrotourism oriented irrigation system using the subak assessment form based on the Tri Hita Karana developed by the Udayana University Subak Unit and the agro-tourism form. Based on the research that has been done, it can be stated that the condition of the agrotourism oriented irrigation system in Subak Sembung is good. This is shown based on the functioning of irrigation network assets and non-irrigation networks. The performance of agrotourism oriented irrigation systems in Subak Sembung is in the range of 3.66 - 5.00 in the good category.
Political Participation of Minors in India: A Critical Perspective from the Prism of the UNCRC
Authors: Poddar Rongeet
Published: June 2023

The participation of children in a political demonstration has proven to be an enduring issue in India owing to the public agitations against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the farm laws, with the latter being withdrawn recently. Under the hegemonic liberal paradigm, the underlying risk is that civil and political rights may be envisaged as the exclusive domain of adults. Children are merely viewed as apprentice citizens who do not have the capacity to exercise rational choice. The operative presumption is located in a binary wherein children are pliant beneficiaries, and the state is a benign caretaker in charge of determining their best interests. It thereby negates children’s autonomy and reduces them to disenfranchised spectators in an adult-centric social fabric. Moreover, the protectionist approach enables the state to evade its obligation of preserving democratic spaces wherein minors can protest safely and make their voices heard. State functionaries and judicial authorities in India have also been complicit in adopting an infantilising stance. In this paper, the author makes a case for recognising the agency of children such that they can exercise their ‘autonomy’ right to political participation. This paper incorporates diverse perspectives in existing child rights literature, including those emanating from the Global South, to argue in favour of an epistemic reorientation in child rights law discourse. Moreover, the author relies upon key interpretations of UNCRC provisions made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and argues for facilitating a participative environment where children can exercise their civil and political rights. The ‘best interests’ test should not be wielded as a sword from an adult standpoint to curtail children’s rights in the political domain.
The Tension Between Combating Terrorism and Protecting the Right to a Fair Trial in Indonesia
Authors: Istiqomah Milda , Alimardani Armin
Published: June 2023

A consistent criticism of the Indonesian criminal justice system indicates its dysfunctional judicial system plagued by systemic corruption and government interference. Given the high profiles of terrorism offences and their strict punishment, it is essential to maintain consistency in sentencing decisions for these crimes. However, there is a significant lack of evidence-based studies of sentencing in Indonesian courts, and none specifically related to terrorism offences. The aim of this study is to analyse the application of the right to a fair trial in sentencing terrorism offences in Indonesia through the interpretive lens of Southern criminology. This study takes a multi-dimensional approach of historical, legal, and empirical analyses to provide an in-depth understanding of factors that affect sentencing decisions in terrorism cases. First, the historical analysis explains that prosecutions for terrorism today include radical Islamists, minority extremists and separatist groups willing to resort to violence against the state and society to achieve their goals. Second, the legal analysis highlights how the existing sentencing regimes provide limited guidance for judges when determining the appropriate punishment for terrorist offenders, frequently leading to prison sentences exceeding 10 years. Third, qualitative analysis further explains that judges use their discretion to avoid the minimum mandatory sentence in specific circumstances, such as in the case of juvenile offenders. A Southern criminology approach helps explain terrorism sentencing in the broader historical, legal, and socio-political contexts. Ultimately, the way laws are written and how judges determine the sentences of terrorism offences result from the persistent impact of colonialism, authoritarianism, and the 'war on terror' discourse. The case study reveals violations of international human rights rules and standards. Terrorism sentencing practices also exemplify a troubling trend where national security trumps the fundamental procedural rights of terrorist offenders.
No Choice but Welcoming Refugees: The Non-Refoulement Principle as Customary International Law in Indonesia
Authors: Heriyanto Dodik Setiawan Nur , Sefriani Sefriani , Tamas Fezer
Published: June 2023

The non-refoulement principle requires each country to consider refugees and asylum seekers in their country of origin if they are subject to persecution and threaten their lives. As a geographically strategic country, Indonesia has been a significant crossroad for international refugees and asylum seekers often consider Indonesia their temporary destination. Moreover, the complex situation of international refugees has encouraged to reinterpret of the principle of non-refoulement into various national measures and domestic policies, given that Indonesia is deemed a transit country for refugees and has not ratified the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees. This paper aims to analyse the concept of refugee protection under international law, particularly the non-refoulement principle and investigate the application of the non-refoulement principle in Indonesia. This study employed normative and empirical legal research with statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches. This study confirms that the non-refoulement principle is part of jus cogens norms in international law but does not fit in its application. Indonesia has inconsistency in upholding the non-refoulement principle into the binding normative rules. Refugees have received far less attention from the Indonesian government due to insufficient infrastructure and financial allocation. Moreover, the existing executive regulations do not provide effective enforcement since these regulations have a lower position in the hierarchy and cannot have deterrent sanctions. Hence, ratification of the 1951 Convention is urgently needed by Indonesia to guarantee the protection of refugees within its jurisdiction. At the regional scope, Indonesia can encourage ASEAN countries to adopt good practices in the European Union to set sharing quotas to ensure that not most refugees escape to Indonesia.
Spontaneous Gestures in L2 Naturalistic Spontaneous Interaction: Eﬀects of Language Proﬁciency
Authors: Hanamoto Hiroki
Published: June 2023

Gestures produced by language learners have a positive impact on interactions; however, few studies have examined natural conversation data focusing on a learner’s spoken language proﬁciency level. This study investigates gesture use among learners of English as a second language with varying language proﬁciency levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) to determine whether gesture use and type (e.g., iconic, deictic, metaphoric, and beat gestures) diﬀer by language proﬁciency level. This study examined 17 video-recorded dyadic interactions in English consisting of mixed-level and same-level pairs. Quantitative analysis followed by a data-driven approach demonstrated that more advanced learners employed gestures with speech more frequently than other groups. During interactions, iconic gestures were used more often by the beginner group, while deictic gestures were employed more by the advanced group. Moreover, the function of the gestures produced by each group during the interactions appeared to be qualitatively varied. These results indicate that gesture use and type may relate to learners’ language proﬁ ciency levels. This study has revealed signiﬁcant diﬀerences in gesture use among learners of English as a second language with varying language proﬁciency levels, providing insights into learners’ cognition process during verbal communication.
Transitions to adulthood
Authors: Grover Chris , Stewart John , Broadhurst Karen
Published: June 2023

The article argues that New Labour’s concern with productive moral citizenship underlies the model of ‘corporate parent’ which informs the Children (Leaving Care) Act, 2000. We show that there has been in statutory child care work a rather uncritical acceptance of ‘good parenting’ leading to ‘good outcomes’, based on the ‘Looking after Children’ (LAC) system. The Children (Leaving Care) Act, 2000, has transferred significant duties from the social security system to local government social services departments for the payment of personal allowances and housing costs of young people leaving care. It has provided powers for the discretionary interpretation of their circumstances and provision for their welfare, all as part of a social work assessment called a ‘Pathway Plan’. The government, through this legislation, presupposes that care leavers will benefit from a simulated experience of the transition to adulthood enjoyed by non-care leavers. The poverty and deprivation leading to social exclusion experienced by a significant minority of non careleavers is in fact the financial baseline of the provisions in this legislation. It is therefore hardly surprising that we find inherent tensions and contradictions within the legislative framework and the context of its implementation for social services and the practice of social workers with care leavers.
Development of student’s social intelligence based on the development of emotional flexibility and empathy
Authors: Uvarov Evgeniy A. , Gorbunova Anna V.
Published: June 2023

Importance. Within the framework of modern education reform, the training of an education specialist with a set of personal qualities formed on the basis of social intelligence acquires a special sound. However, the issue of scientific and methodological support for the development of this personality trait within the modern space of the university is ambiguous and far from its scientific solution and practical implementation in practice. The purpose of the research is to study the conditions for the formation of social intelligence, to discover the mechanisms of its relationship with the empathy of students of pedagogical training areas.
Research methods. The following methods were used: content analysis of scientific literature on the topic of research, generalization, systematization, structuring of information, methods of psychodiagnostics, methods of mathematical statistics (correlation analysis).
Results and Discussion. The relationship between social intelligence, emotional flexibility and the ability to understand and manage the emotions of respondents is revealed. In addition, one of the research tasks was to establish the connection of social intelligence with the level of empathy development. It should be noted that the majority of respondents have average and low indicators of emotional intelligence, which indicates an insufficient formation of personal qualities that affect self-motivation to any activity. Moreover, this circumstance affects the ability to recognize the emotions of other people. According to some scales, for example, “Managing one’s own emotions”, low results were revealed, so the inability and incorrect expression of one’s own emotions significantly complicates communication processes among students. High indicators of the “Moral normativity” scale indicate a competent self-assessment of social roles, a high orientation towards compliance with the norms of behavior at the university and in society as a whole. A correlation was found between empathy and emotional intelligence, adaptive potential and penetrating abilities in empathy, which can be used in the process of training of a specialist in the field of education.
Conclusion. Practical application of the obtained results is possible for the development of psychological and pedagogical conditions and technologies for the development of social intelligence of students in the field of educational activity.
Professional test as a tool of career guidance work
Authors: Prokhorov Andrey V.
Published: June 2023

Importance. Career guidance is one of the leading areas of activity in modern universities for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is related to ensuring the recruitment of a contingent of students. Secondly, universities are the leading actors providing conscious self-determination of pupil, uniting all interested parties (parents, schools, employers), are the central link in the chain “school–university–employer”.
Research methods. Based on the theoretical analysis of special literature, systematization of relevant practices of career guidance work with pupil, as well as the experience of Derzhavin Tambov State University on professional self-determination of schoolchildren, the main problem areas in career guidance interaction “school–university–employer” are identified.
Results and Discussion. The identified problem areas of career guidance work that universities have to solve include the following: the unification of all stakeholders (schools, parents, employers, public authorities, etc.); the systematization of career guidance interaction with schools; the development of the actual content of career guidance work; the definition of the most effective formats for the implementation of career guidance development and implementation of measures for early career guidance (for example, the formats “children’s university”, “university of discoveries”, etc.).
Conclusion. An effective format of career guidance work is a professional test. This is a practice-oriented format that allows you to model a specific type of professional activity, as a result of which students get acquainted with the professional sphere, and then make an informed choice of the professional sphere. Since 2016 at Derzhavin Tambov State University is offered more than 30 professional trial programs that provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the areas of training and specialties implemented at the university (“Lawyer in state bodies”, “Teacher”, “Know yourself and others”, “Modern PR man”, “Military scouting”, etc.).
The development of educational autonomy in the conditions of group work on the author’s electronic manual on a remote educational platform
Authors: Dashkina Alexandra I.
Published: June 2023

Importance. Learning autonomy should be developed for a number of reasons. Firstly, educational technologies paved the way for students’ independent cognitive activities. The second reason is the paradigm shift brought about by social and political changes: nowadays students are more focused on their own educational progress than on teamwork aimed at helping their peers. Thirdly, since groups of learners are getting bigger, students do not get enough practice in class, so they need to learn to work autonomously so that they can follow the syllabus. The objective of the study is to develop the students’ skills of learning autonomy as well as foreign-language communicative skills by organizing teamwork on an online platform.
Materials and methods. The subjects of the experiment were 70 freshmen and sophomores majoring in linguistics from Peter the Great Saint Petersburg State Polytechnic University. The purpose of the experiment was to determine whether teamwork is conducive to the development of students’ learning autonomy and whether their collaboration on a distance learning platform contributes to acquiring foreign-language speaking skills.
Results and Discussion. In the exposure groups, where the students did their home assignment in small teams on a distance learning platform, the scores for the final conversational task were better than those in the reference groups, where the students working on a distance learning platform were not divided into teams, and where the teacher helped the whole group do their home assignment. On top of that, the levels of learning autonomy in the exposure groups were higher than those in the reference groups.
Conclusion. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that we used a number of existing academic papers to develop the assessment criteria for linguistic majors’ foreign-language conversational skills. In addition, we designed a questionnaire for assessing the level of learning autonomy. The experiment allowed us to establish that teamwork is the best way to organize foreign-language practice on an online platform because each student has more time to develop conversational skills
and to learn to work autonomously than in an EFL class where the teacher works with the whole group.
About the demographic situation in the Tambov region in the Middle Ages
Authors: Andreev Sergey I. , Andryunina Alena V.
Published: June 2023

Importance. The main source of information about demographic processes that took place in the Middle Ages on the territory of modern Tambov region and adjacent territories is archaeological research. Almost to the present time, the Upper Don region and the Oka-Don plain remained a white spot on the medieval archaeological map. Only in recent decades has the source base been significantly expanded. Monuments of the first half of the first millennium of the new era belonging to the circle of Early Slavic antiquities were identified; studies of the monuments of the Don Slavs, the Old Russian time, the nomadic circle were carried out. The purpose of the study was to identify the directions of settlement of the Oka-Don plain in the Middle Ages, its dynamics, ethnic composition, contacts of the new population with the autochthonous.
Materials and methods. The principle of historicism, the comparative typological method and the principle of objectivity. Both general and special methods of historical cognition were used. The dating of archaeological materials and their belonging to a certain ethnic group was determined by studying ceramics and a few individual finds.
Results and Discussion. The territory of modern Tambov region, as part of the Oka-Don plain, has always been attractive due to its natural and climatic features not only for nomadic peoples, but also for settled tribes. Due to various factors, such as the Great Migration of peoples, periodic invasions of nomads, the disintegration of individual archaeological cultures, the demographic situation in the Middle Ages was extremely unstable. Residents of many settlements were forced to change their place of residence, or try to coexist with nomads.
Conclusion. Conclusions are drawn about the diversity of ethnic groups in the Tambov region due to the presence of cultural finds, remnants of dwellings, burials in places of existence of various cultures. The novelty of the conducted research lies in the chronological systematization of the stages of life and activity of the peoples who lived in the first millennium on the territory of the modern Tambov region. Their ancestral and cultural ties, lifestyle and territorial movements for various reasons have become objects of study using archaeological methods, which has allowed us to expand our knowledge of the ancient history of the region. Further attention to the famous monuments and the discovery of new ones on the territory of the Oka-Don plain will allow us to study in more detail the demographic situation in the Middle Ages in this territory.
O tempo e as obras de arte: considerações acerca da possibilidade de conservação de arte contemporânea
Authors:   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Carvalho Humberto Farias
Published: June 2023

Esta comunicação pretende abordar as conseqüências, os efeitos do tempo sobre as obras de arte contemporânea, e de que maneira pensar a conservação e a restauração destas. A partir de exemplos específicos de trabalhos de artistas contemporâneos como Mira Schendel, Robert Smithson e Rirkrit Tiravanija, serão desenvolvidas reflexões com o intuito de propor considerações gerais a respeito da possibilidade de se conservar e restaurar obras de arte contemporânea. Desta forma, criar um pensamento crítico, acerca da natureza dos trabalhos destes artistas, orientado pelo esforço conjunto de teorias da história da arte e da restauração. As ponderações relativas às obras deste período conduzirão a questões inerentes às possibilidades de atuação no campo da conservação e da restauração.
Produção artística e movimentos sociais: a questão do índio e do meio ambiente nos domínios da festa do boi-bumbá de Parintins
Authors:   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Silva Marivaldo B. da
Published: June 2023

A dialética entre arte e sociedade sempre foi uma constante na história dos movimentos artísticos, tencionada por artistas que tentaram acompanhar cada mudança ocorrida na sociedade, transpondo-as para suas obras. Nos domínios artísticos da festa do Boi-bumbá de Parintins, o artístico e o social também se imbricam mutuamente, objetivados pela inserção na cênica de temas relacionados à cultura amazônica, especialmente o índio e o meio ambiente. Assim como a sociedade foi remodelando seu modo de perceber o ‘indígena’ e o ‘ecológico’, penetrando nos conflitos que permeiam seus respectivos universos, a forma como estes conteúdos eram trabalhados pelos artistas também foi sendo modificada, inclinando-se para abordagens com teor cada vez mais crítico, uma atualização que abriu espaço para a construção de um projeto político de conscientização. Sob este prisma, o presente artigo empreende analisar como se estabeleceram os vínculos entre produção artística e movimentos sociais no âmbito da festa do Boi-bumbá de Parintins, enfatizando os condicionantes que orientaram a valorização do índio e do meio ambiente, bem como os resultados perceptíveis desse novo momento artístico na mentalidade e no comportamento daqueles que produzem e consomem o evento.
Prevalence and Correlates of Extrapyramidal Side Effects Among Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders on Typical and Atypical Antipsychotics
Authors: Baba Shettima Falmata , Lateef Sheikh Taiwo , Abba Wakil Musa , Abdulaziz Mohammed , Bukar Rabebbe Isa , Abdulmalik Jibril
Published: June 2023

Background: Antipsychotic medication for the treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders are associated with adverse effects with extrapyramidal side effects constituting one of the most notable effects associated with poor medication adherence and poor quality of life. Aims: The study aims to compare the prevalence of extrapyramidal side effects (EPSE), among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders on typical and atypical antipsychotic medications. The secondary aim is to determine the association of extra-pyramidal side effects with socio-clinical variables. Methodology: A cross-sectional hospital-based study with systematic random sampling recruitment of 340 participants and 303 completed the study. Variables with significant association on chi square analysis were subjected to logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of extrapyramidal side effects among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder on antipsychotic medication was 42.6 %. The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia, parkinsonism and akathisia were 7.9 %, 38.6 and 3.6 %, respectively. The prevalence of extra-pyramidal side effects due to use of typical, atypical and combination drug was 44.4 %, 51.2 % and 34.5 %, respectively with haloperidol (59.4 %) and risperidone (71.4 %) having the greatest effect. Being elderly was associated with tardive dyskinesia, duration of treatment, severity of illness and type of illness with parkinsonism and severity of illness with akathisia. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the high prevalence of extrapyramidal side effects from either using typical and atypical antipsychotic medications. Therefore, Clinicians should discuss on these side effects and proffer possible solutions with their patients prior to commencement of antipsychotic medications in order to promote medication adherence.
Genomic alterations and targeted therapies in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Oronich Arnau , Pallisé Ona , Salud Antonia , Montal Robert
Published: June 2023

The global morbimortality of biliary tract cancer (BTC) is steadily increasing and accounts for ~10% of all primary liver cancer. Distinct anatomical locations of BTC have singularities in their etiopathogenesis, which are translated into differences in their molecular fingerprints and the associated therapeutic approaches. Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA), arising in the large and distal bile ducts, presents recurrent activating mutations of KRAS and loss-of-function alterations in TP53, SMAD4, and CDKN2A/B. Despite being highly prevalent, no targeted therapies are yet available for these oncogenic drivers. ERBB2 mutations and amplifications, on the other hand, are the most recurrent actionable alterations for eCCA, with several clinical trials aiming to provide benefits in biomarker-enriched populations. In addition, integrative multi-omics analysis of eCCA has allowed the identification of novel molecular classes of this disease that could be therapeutically exploited. Beyond that, the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of eCCA has prevented until now the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors, recently approved in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Further characterization of eCCA at the molecular level would potentially foster treating patients based on a precision oncology approach in order to increase the clinical outcomes for this challenging disease.
A lamellar-ordered poly[bi(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-alt-thienyl] for efficient tuning of thermopower without degenerated conductivity
Authors: Shen Lanlan , Liu Mengting , Liu Peipei , Xu Jingkun , Li Na , Wan Zhiliang , Chen Zhihong , Liu Congcong , Zhou Weiqiang , Liang Yuzhang , Jiang Fengxing
Published: June 2023

Modulating the structural order of conjugated polymers has emerged as a significant approach to enhance the organic thermoelectric performance. Among these materials, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) is considered a promising candidate due to its high conductivity. However, its low thermopower remains a major obstacle to further improve its performance as an organic thermoelectric material. To address this issue, a series of thiophene derivatives with high rigidity and containing dioxyethylene groups were synthesized, and polymer films were prepared through a simple and mild in-situ polymerization method. The polymer molecule containing a thiophene block, named poly[bi(3,4-ethylenedioxy)-alt-thienyl] , exhibits significant self-rigidification due to non-covalent interactions between oxygen and sulfur atoms, resulting in highly ordered assembly. By adding thiophene and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene structures to the intermediate precursor bi(3,4-ethylenedioxy), the 3,4-ethylenedioxy content in the polymer molecule is altered, leading to an almost four-fold increase in the thermopower of the thin film polymer and achieving a maximum thermopower of around 26 μV·K-1. Although poly[bi(3,4-ethylenedioxy)-alt-thienyl] shows a significant increase in thermopower compared to poly[bi(3,4-ethylenedioxy)], the thin film conductivity exhibits a nearly imperceptible decreasing trend due to its highly ordered microstructure. This work highlights the potential to control the aggregation state of polymer molecules and achieve an approximate decoupling between the conductivity and thermopower of thermoelectric materials by rationally designing polymer molecules.
NŪR MUḤAMMAD IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE TIJANIYAH TAREKAT
Authors: Ihsan Nur Hadi , Islam Muhammad Thoriqul
Published: June 2023

Nūr Muḥammad is one of the teachings in Sufism that studies the beginning of the creation of the universe. The Sufis discussed Nūr Muḥammad through God's tajallī (manifestation), and they believed that only Insan Kamil (Perfect Humans) possessed the perfection of His tajallī. This Sufi theory can be comprehended through the dhawqi approach. This research will deal with Nūr Muḥammad's theory of Sufism through the perspective of Tijaniyah Tarekat. The data for this study was obtained through library research utilizing a documentary technique. The collected data will be analyzed using the descriptive analysis method. This study finds that the Tijaniyah Tarekat is a Sufism institution that bases its teachings and practices on the concept of Nūr Muḥammad in the form of ṣalawāt al-fātiḥ and ṣalawāt jawharah al-kamāl. This Tarekat's elucidation of Nūr Muḥammad is also built on and consistent with the explication of authoritative Sufis in Islam's intellectual and spiritual tradition.
Prediction of PM2.5 in DKI Jakarta Using Ordinary Kriging Method
Authors: Salsabilla Shafira , Fitri Syaharani Amadea , Chamidah Nur
Published: June 2023

Air pollution is a serious matter that must be addressed promptly and quickly. One of the most dangerous pollutants in the air is PM2.5. This pollutant is particulates dust measuring 2.5 micrometers. PM2.5 can cause environmental and health problems such as acute respiratory infections, lung cancer, cardiovascular cancer, and premature death. Air pollution occurs in big cities such as the capital city of Indonesia, DKI Jakarta, which is the city with the highest PM2.5 levels in Indonesia. There are 6 six stations in DKI Jakarta that measure PM.2.5 level at 6 areas. The ordinary kriging is one of spatial methods  that can be used to predict PM2.5 level in outside the existing stations, for example in the Pulogadung industrial area. This area was selected because there are many factories in this area that can increase levels of PM2.5 in the air. To predict the concentration of PM2.5 in one area could be done by calculating the surrounding PM2.5 concentrations that were not available to measure air quality. In study, we use mean an absolute percentage error ( MAPE ) value to evaluate Ordinary Kriging performance for predicting PM2.5 level in DKI Jakarta.
Effect of Increase in Staples on Financial Resilience in F&B Companies
Authors: Mutiara Sari Fannya , Nugraheni C.R Putri , Nadia Kristy Henitha , Yovita R. Pandin Maria
Published: June 2023

Rising raw material prices can have a significant impact on the financial performance of the food and beverage (F&B) business. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of rising prices of staples onfinancial resilience F&B business in Indonesia. This study uses a quantitative approach with bivariate correlation analysis and secondary data from the financial reports of F&B companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2020-2022 period. The results showed that the increase in the price of basic commodities had a significant positive impact onfinancial resilience F&B company. This can be seen from the decline in the profitability and liquidity of F&B companies as a result of the increase in the price of basic commodities. Therefore, F&B companies must pay attention to and manage the risk of rising prices of basic commodities to maintainfinancial resilience and sustainable business continuity.
Review on Channel Estimation of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface Assisted Wireless Communication System
Authors: Yu Yun , Wang Jinhao , Zhou Xiao , Wang Chengyou , Bai Zhiquan , Ye Zhun
Published: June 2023

With the dramatic increase in the number of mobile users and wireless devices accessing the network, the performance of the fifth generation (5G) wireless communication systems has been severely challenged. Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), one of the potential technologies for the sixth generation (6G), has received a lot of attention. Since it is easier to deploy, consumes less power, and is inexpensive. RIS is an electromagnetic metamaterial that serves to reconfigure the wireless environment by adjusting the phase, amplitude and frequency of the wireless signal. To maximize channel transmission efficiency and improve the reliability of communication systems, the acquisition of channel state information (CSI) is essential. Therefore, an effective channel estimation method guarantees the achievement of excellent RIS performance. This paper conducts a comprehensive investigation of the existing channel estimation methods of RIS, analysis and comparison of channel model building and CSI acquisition schemes in different frequency bands, in addition to a comprehensive description of generic channel estimation methods, with a focus on the application of deep learning. Finally, we conclude the paper and provide an outlook in the future development of RIS channel estimation.
Drinking Water Systems as a Cocktail of Emerging Organic Contaminants: Occurrence, Public Health Risks, and Research Needs
Authors: Marumure Jerikias , Simbanegavi Tinoziva T , Makuvara Zakio , Karidzagundi Rangarirayi , Alufasi Richwell , Goredema Marvelous , Gufe Claudious , Chaukura Nhamo , Gwenzi Willis
Published: June 2023

Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) of anthropogenic origins are ubiquitous in environmental compartments, including aquatic systems. Thus, EOCs have attracted considerable research and public attention due to their potential human and ecological health risks. However, compared to other aquatic environments such as wastewater systems, comprehensive reviews focussing on the occurrence and human health risks of EOCs in drinking water systems are still lacking. Therefore, to address this knowledge gap, the current review posits that drinking water systems harbour a cocktail of toxic EOCs, which pose public health risks via multiple exposure routes. In the present review, global evidence is examined to track EOCs along the source-pathway-receptor-impact-mitigation (SPRIM) continuum. Evidence shows that, various groups of EOCs, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, solvents, plasticizers, endocrine disrupting compounds, gasoline additives, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), food colourants, artificial sweeteners, and musks and fragrances, have been detected in drinking water systems. The anthropogenic sources of EOCs detected in drinking water systems, including wastewater systems and industrial emissions, are summarized. Further, the behaviour and fate of EOCs in the drinking water systems, including removal processes are discussed. Once in drinking water systems, human exposure to EOCs may occur via ingestion of contaminated drinking water and cooked foods, and possibly dermal contact and inhalation. The high-risk environments, and risk factors and behaviours predisposing humans to EOC exposure are discussed. Evidence on the human health risks of the various EOCs and a critique of the data are presented. Notably, besides inferential data, quantitative epidemiological evidence directly relating the occurrence of EOCs in drinking water systems to specific adverse human health outcomes is still scarce. Lastly, future research directions, including the need for quantitative public health risk assessment, and the application of emerging detection tools are discussed.
Advanced Optimization of Surface Characteristics and Material Removal Rate for Biocompatible TI6Al4V using WEDM Process with BBD and NSGA II
Authors: Nagadeepan Anbazhagan , Jayaprakash Govindarajalu , Senthilkumar Vagheesan
Published: June 2023

Machining titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) used in orthopedic implants by conventional metal cutting processes is challenging due to excessive cutting forces, low surface integrity and tool wear. To overcome these difficulties and for ensuring high-quality products, various industries employ wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) for precise machining of intricate shapes in titanium alloy. The objective is to make WEDM machining parameters as efficient as possible for machining the bio-compatible alloy Ti6Al4V using box-behnken design (BBD) and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA II). A quadratic mathematical model is created to represent the productivity and the quality factor (MRR and surface roughness) in terms of varying input parameters, such as pulse active (Ton) time, pulse inactive (Toff) time, peak amplitude (A) current and applied servo (V) voltage. The established regression models and related prediction plots provide a reliable approach for predicting how the process variables affect the two responses viz MRR and SR. The effects of four process variables on both the responses were examined, and the findings revealed that the pulse duration and voltage has a major influence on the rate at which material is removed (MRR) whereas pulse duration influence quality (SR).  The trade-off between MRR and SR, when significant process factors are included emphasizes the need for a reliable multi-objective optimization method. The intelligent metaheuristic optimization method named non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA II) is utilized to provide pareto optimum solutions in order to achieve high material removal rate (MRR) and low surface roughness (SR).
Risk Factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in Non-HIV Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Viceconte Giulio , Buonomo Antonio Riccardo , D'Agostino Alessia , Foggia Maria , Di Fusco Antonio , Pinchera Biagio , Scotto Riccardo , Iacovazzo Carmine , Fanasca Luca , Messina Gaetana , Cacciatore Francesco , Salvatore Paola , Gentile Ivan
Published: June 2023

Background
Very few cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) have been reported in COVID-19 so far, mostly in patients with concomitant HIV infection or in solid organ transplant recipients. Despite COVID-19 is associated with lymphopenia and use of steroids, there are no studies specifically aimed to investigate risk factors for PCP in COVID-19

Methods
retrospective case-control study in a cohort of patients with confirmed COVID-19. Direct immunofluorescence assay on respiratory samples was used to diagnose PCP.

Results
We enrolled 54 patients. Patients with PCP had significant lower median lymphocyte values (p=0.033), longer COVID-19 disease duration (p=0.014), higher cumulative dose of steroid received (p=0.026), higher CRP values (p=0.005) and lower SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rate than controls (p=0.029). Cumulative steroid dose (p=0.042) and the highest CRP value during the stay (p=0.012) were identified as risk factor for PCP, while SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with one (p=0.029) and two doses (p=0.049) as a protective factor for PCP, although not independently associated.

Conclusions
PCP develops in COVID-19 patients regardless of immunosuppressive conditions. However, a higher rate of PCP is significantly associated with the cumulative steroidal dose, high CRP values and lack of vaccination.
Dendritic Cell-Derived Exosomes in Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Luo Shumin , Chen Jing , Xu Fang , Chen Huan , LI Yiru , Li Weihua
Published: June 2023

Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles released by diverse types of cells for complex intercellular communication. Numerous studies have shown that exosomes can regulate the body's immune response to tumor cells and interfere with the tumor microenvironment (TME). In clinical trials on dendritic cell (DC)-based antitumor vaccines, no satisfactory results have been achieved. However, recent studies suggested that DC-derived exosomes (DEX) may be superior to DC-based antitumor vaccines in avoiding tumor-cell-mediated immunosuppression. DEX contain multiple DC-derived surface markers that capture tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and promote immune cell-dependent tumor rejection. These findings indicate the necessity of the further development and improvement of DEX-based cell-free vaccines to complement chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other immunotherapies. In this review, we highlighted the recent progresses of DEX in cancer immunotherapy, particularly by concentration on landmark studies and the biological characterization of DEX, and we summarized their important role in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and clinical application in targeted cancer immunotherapy. This review could enhance our comprehension of advances in cancer immunotherapy and contribute to the elucidation of how DEX regulate the TIME, thereby providing a reference for utilizing DEX-based vaccines in clinical practice.
Implementing an On-Slide Molecular Classification of Gastric Cancer: A Tissue Microarray Study
Authors: Costache Simona , De Havilland Rebecca , Diaz McLynn Sofia , Sajin Maria , Wedden Sarah , D'Arrigo Corrado
Published: June 2023

Background and Objectives: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth cause of cancer death worldwide. Personalised treatment improves GC outcomes. A molecular classification is needed to choose the appropriate therapy. A classification that uses on-slide biomarkers and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue is preferable to comprehensive genomic analysis. In 2016, Setia et al. proposed an on-slide classification, however this is not in widespread use. We propose a modification of this classification that has six subgroups: GC associated with Epstein-Barr virus (GC EBV+), GC with mismatch repair deficiency (GC dMMR), GC with epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (GC EMT), GC with functional loss of p53 due to mutation (GC p53m), CG with intact p53 (GC p53wt) and GC not otherwise specified (GC NOS). This classification also has provision for biomarkers for current or emerging targeted therapies (Her2, PD-L1 and Claudin18.2). Here we assess the implementation and feasibility of this inclusive working classification. Materials and Methods: We constructed a tissue microarray library from a cohort of 79 resection cases from FFPE tissue archives. We used a restricted panel of on-slide markers (EBER, MMR, E-cadherin, beta-catenin and p53), defined their interpretation algorithms, and assigned each case to a specific molecular subtype. Results: GC EBV(+) cases were 6%, GC dMMR cases were 20%, GC EMT cases were 14%, GC p53m cases were 23%, GC p53wt cases were 29% and GC NOS cases were 8%. Conclusions: This working classification uses markers that are widely available in Histopathology and are easy to interpret. A diagnostic subgroup is obtained for 92% of the cases. The proportion of cases in each subgroup is in keeping with other published series. Widescale implementation appears feasible. A study using endoscopic biopsies is warranted.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease Levels Using Machine Learning and MRI: A Novel Approach
Authors: Kiaei Ali Akbar , Bahadori Reza , Malek Zadeh Hourieh , Boush Mahnaz , Abadijou Sadegh , Safaei Danial , Mehdikhani Amir Hossein
Published: June 2023

Alzheimer's disease is a neurological illness that worsens gradually. It is known as the most frequent cause of dementia. Moreover, Alzheimer's disease is a general term for memory loss and other cognitive impairments severe enough to disrupt daily life. The disease often grows in middle-aged and elderly people with the gradual loss of cognitive ability. Since the diagnosis of the illness is time consuming, a novel machine learning approach is proposed in this research to diagnose Alzheimer's levels based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). More specifically, to provide distinct information for classification we have implemented the proposed method on a native MRI scans dataset containing three MRI channels; namely T1, T2, and, T2 tirm, which are shown in red, blue and green, respectively. The five middle layers of these three types of MRI scans are combined to form five RGB layers. In addition, we use a Convolutional Neural Network to classify each composed layer, and the final disease type is predicted using majority voting. finally, the F1-Score has been used to assess method performance, indicated that 92% of predictions of the proposed model were accurate.
Arrested Policy Development of Private Fire Shelters (Fire Bunkers) Is a Barrier to Adaptation to the Australian Bushfire Crisis
Authors: Bowman David , McCormack Phillipa
Published: June 2023

The Victorian Government Inquiry into wildfires that killed 173 people in 2009 has driven an Australian policy shift from self-evacuation or staying and defending a well-prepared property (‘go or stay’) to self-evacuation under catastrophic fire weather (‘leave early’). The Inquiry also led to the establishment of national ‘performance standards’ for Private Fire Shelters (PFS, that also known as bunkers). Nonetheless, incorporation of PFS into national bushfire policy remains embryonic with only Victoria having streamlined accreditation and planning approval processes. Arguments against PFS include potentially engendering complacency about preparing dwellings to survive fire and encourage risky behavior in response to a fire threat. Counteracting these arguments is research that shows that residents without PFS have low engagement with bushfire preparation and typically delay evacuation. In any case, because wildfire is unpredictable it is accepted that self-evacuation plans must have fallback positions that include sheltering ‘in place’ from the bushfire, making properly used and well maintained PFS an important element of bushfire safety. A less discussed barrier to PFS uptake outside Victoria appears to hinge on a lack of clarity about obligations for their design, certification, and consistency with planning approvals. The escalating Australian fire crisis demands much greater research and development in legal frameworks, policy and planning processes for PFS, as well as design and construction standards.
ABA Supplementation Rescues IRS2 and BDNF mRNA Expression in a Triple-Transgenic Mice Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Alves-Borba Laryssa , Espinosa-Fernandez Veronica , Canseco-Rodriguez Ania , Sánchez-Pérez Ana María
Published: June 2023

Strong evidence indicates that insulin resistance contributes to the development of Alzheimer´s disease by promoting inflammation, oxidative stress, and blood vessel damage. Conversely, neuroinflammation induces insulin resistance by targeting insulin signaling molecules: the insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 (IRS1/2). In addition, neuroinflammation is strongly linked to reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. BDNF is a key factor for neuronal survival, and its expression is compromised in neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we show that, in a triple-transgenic (3xTg) mice model of Alzheimer’s disease, the BDNF and IRS2 but not the IRS1 mRNA expression levels were reduced in the hippocampus, together with higher levels of TNFα, compared with wild-type mice. Subgroups of control and 3xTg mice received short and long treatments of Abscisic Acid (ABA), a phytohormone with anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing capabilities. We found that the short ABA treatment can increase the IRS1 and IRS2 mRNA expression both in wild-type and 3xTg mice, concomitant with reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα in 3xTg mice. However, earlier, and thus longer treatments are required to rescue the BDNF mRNA levels. Our data strongly confirm that ABA administration is a potential treatment to prevent Alzheimer´s disease, via lowering neuroinflammation, potentially rescuing insulin signaling molecules and BDNF mRNA expression.