bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The active role of South Africa’s Constitutional Court in advancing women’s rights and proprietary interests in the customary law of marriage
Authors: Johnson Ebrezia
Published: October 2023

This contribution investigates the role of the Constitutional Court in advancing and promoting women’s rights and proprietary interests in the customary law of marriage. This entails a critical discussion of a number of seminal cases decided by the court in the last couple of years, presented in chronological order. These cases are Gumede v President of the Republic of South Africa, Ramuhovhi v President of the Republic of South Africa and Sithole v Sithole. All these cases have shifted the traditional customary law proprietary rights and interests of women in monogamous and polygamous customary marriages. In Gumede the Constitutional Court did not make a decision on s 7(1) of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 and its application in the context of polygamous customary marriages, preferring to refer the issue to the legislature. Therefore, this contribution also briefly considers the notion of judicial deference. The Recognition of Customary Marriages Amendment Act is also briefly considered as it was intended to give practical effect to the court’s decisions in Gumede and Ramuhovhi; however, the Amendment Act still fails to provide much-needed practical guidelines. Xitsonga: Vuhoxaxandla lebyi byi lavisisa xiave xa Khoto ya Vumbiwa eka ku antswisa na ku kondletela timfanelo ta vavasati na mitsakelo ya vun’wini bya nhundzu eka nawu wa xintu wa vukati. Leswi swi khumba nkanelo wa vukhensivusoli wa milandzu leyi nga na nhlohlotelo yo tala leyi bohiweke hi khoto eka malembe mangarimangani lama nga hundza, leyi andlariweke hi ku landzelelana. Milandzu leyi i Gumede loko a tengisana na Phuresidente wa Rhiphabuliki ya Afrika-Dzonga, Ramuhovhi loko a tengisana na Phuresidente wa Rhiphabuliki ya Afrika-Dzonga na Sithole loko a tengisana Sithole. Milandzu leyi hinkwayo yi cincile timfanelo na mitsakelo swa vun’wini bya nhundzu bya nawu wa xintu xa ndhavuko swa vavasati eka vukati bya xintu bya nuna un’we na nsati un’we na vukati bya tshengwe. Eka Gumede Khoto ya Vumbiwa a yi tekangi xiboho hi mayelana na xiyenge xa 7(1) xa Nawu wa ku Tekeriwa Enhlokweni ka Vukati bya Xintu wa 120 wa 1998 na matirhiselo ya wona eka mbangu wa vukati bya xintu bya tshengwe, yi hlawule ku kongomisa mhaka leyi eka huvo yo endla milawu. Hikokwalaho, vuhoxaxandla lebyi byi tlhela byi tekela enhlokweni mhaka ya ku tshikela rhavi rin’wana leri nga enawini matimba ya vuavanyisi. Nawu wa Hundzuluxo wa ku Tekeriwa Enhlokweni ka Vukati bya Xintu wu tlhela wu langutisisa hi ku komisa tanihileswi wu endleriweke ku humelerisa hi ndlela yo endla swiboho swa khoto eka Gumede na Ramuhovhi; hambiswiritano, Nawu wa Hundzuluxo wa ha hluleka ku nyika swiletelo swo endla leswi dingiwaka swinene.
Cultural vulnerability and judicial recognition of heterosexual life-partnerships in South Africa
Authors: Rautenbach Christa
Published: October 2023

This article examines the potential role of cultural vulnerability in matters where heterosexual life partners claim the same spousal benefits under the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act 27 of 1990 and the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987. The discussion focuses on the differences and commonalities between two judgments, Volks v Robinson 2005 (5) BCLR 446 (CC) and Bwanya v The Master 2021 (1) SA 138 (WCC). By comparing the two cases, I speculate that the outcome differs considerably because of the cultural vulnerability of one of the partners in the latter judgment. The inescapable fact is that women, particularly black women, are most vulnerable to the adverse effects of the [non]-recognition of domestic partnerships.1 Sepedi: Sengwalwa se se lekola kgonagalo ya gore khuetšo ya setšo e ka ba e ama dikahlolo, fao molekani yo mongwe magareng ga balekani ba go fapana ka bong bao ba dutšego mmogo nako ye telele ba se ba nyalana, a dirago kleimi ya setlwaedi ya dikholego tša molekane wa mohu ka tlase ga Molao wa Tlhokomelo ya Balekani bao ba Phologilego wa 27 wa 1990 le Molao wa Kabelo ya Bajalefa Dithoto ge Mohu a se a Ngwala Wili wa 81 wa 1987. Poledišano ye e šeditše diphapano le ditshwano magareng ga dikahlolo tše tše pedi, ya Volks v Robinson 2005 (5) BCLR 446 (CC) le ya Bwanya v The Master 2021 (1) SA 138 (WCC). Ge ke bapetša melato ye ye mebedi, ke naganela gore dipoelo di fapana ka lebaka la khuetšo yeo setšo se bilego le yona, yeo e gateletšego yo mongwe magareng ga balekani kahlolong ya molato wa bobedi. Nnete yeo re ka se e tšhabelego ke gore basadi, kudukudu basadi ba baso, bontši bja bona ba kotsing ya ditlamorago tša go se kgahliše tša go hlolwa ke go se lemogwe ga dikamano tša balekani ba go dula mmogo nako ye telele ba se ba nyalana.
Gender equality in customary marriages: Is the deregulation of customary marriages the solution?
Authors: Bakker Pieter
Published: October 2023

Although the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 (RCMA) contains provisions to ensure equality between the spouses in a customary marriage, the RCMA has serious deficiencies that are detrimental to the weaker party in customary marriages. To rectify the deficiencies in customary marriages and other relationships, the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) are conducting simultaneous investigations into South African marriage law. This article critically discusses the proposals of the SALRC and the DHA to determine whether the proposed legislation will address the current deficiencies in the RCMA. As an alternative to the proposals of the SALRC and the DHA, the deregulation of customary marriages is advanced as a solution to the inequitable position of spouses in customary marriages under the RCMA. isiNdebele: Nanyana umThetho wokwAmukela imiTjhado yesiNtu we-120 ka-1998 (Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (RCMA)) umumethe iindinyana zokuqinisekisa ukulingana phakathi kwabalingani emtjhadweni wesintu, i-RCMA inokutlhayela okukhulu okulimaza ihlangothi elibuthakathaka emitjhadweni yesintu. Ukulungisa ukutlhayela lokho emitjhadweni yesintu kanye nobunye ubudlelwano, iKomitjhini yokuBuyekezwa kwemiThetho yeSewula Africa (South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC)) kanye nomNyango wezangeKhaya (Department of Home Affairs (DHA)) benza iphenyo ngesikhathi sinye mayelana nomthetho wemitjhado weSewula Afrika. I-atikili le ihlathuthula kabanzi ngeemphakamiso ze-SALRC ne-DHA kobana kuthathwe isiqunto sokobana ingabe umthetho ohlongozwako uzokuqalana nokutlhayela kwagadesi okuku-RCMA. Njengenye indlela yeemphakamiso ze-SALRC ne- DHA, ukuqedwa kwemithetho yemitjhado yesintu kuthuthukiswe njengesisombululo sobujamo bokungalingani kwabalingani emitjhadweni yesintu ngaphasi kwe-RCMA.
PERAN GURU DALAM MENGATASI PROBLEMATIKA PENDIDIKAN ISLAM DI SMP 5 SINJAI
Authors: Suriyati Suriyati , Jamaluddin Jamaluddin , Judrah Muh. , Agustina Agustina , Wahdania Wahdania
Published: October 2023

Artikel ini bertujuan memahami serta mengetahui bagaimana peran guru dalam mencegah terjadinya permasalahan pada pendidikan Islam. Penelitian yang dilaksanakan ini bertempat di suatu sekolah yang ada di kabupaten Sinjai yakni SMP 5 Sinjai. Adapun metode penelitian yang diterapkan yaitu metode kualitatif. Sehingga pada penelitian ini melaksanakan penelitian lapangan. Artinya, dilaksanakan dengan mencari maupun mengumpulkan informasi secara langsung melalui beberapa data yang diterima. Bahkan proses pengumpulan informasi dalam penelitian memanfaatkan sebuah metode observasi maupun metode wawancara. Selain itu, peneliti juga menganalisis artikel-artikel ilmiah untuk dijadikan sebagai referensi yang bisa mendukung hasil penelitian. Setiap artikel maupun jurnal yang di citasi dapat berasal dari Mendeley ataupun Google Scholar. Untuk hasil dari penelitian mengenai peran guru untuk bisa mengatasi problematika pendidikan Islam, dengan melalui  proses wawancara dan observasi maka peneliti dapat memahami bahwa peran guru sangat penting dan sangat mudah apabila kita bisa mengaplikasikan pendidikan Islam lebih baik serta terarah. Maka dari itu, guru seharusnya bisa mengembangkan kemampuannya dalam melaksanakan kegiatan pembelajaran serta memberikan pengajaran yang kreatif dan menarik sehingga siswa bisa memahami setiap pembelajaran yang diterapkan oleh pendidik. Bahkan diharapkan bisa membuat pendidikan Islam kembali kepada kodratnya dengan tidak menghilangkan aspek penting lainnya supaya bisa meningkatkan pendidikan.
Morfometria de sementes de Lachesiodendron viridiflorum (Fabaceae)
Authors: Nogueira Ariane da Silva , Carvalho Leticia Renata de , Silva Leonardo Máximo , Silva Leovandes Soares da , Sales Nilza de Lima Pereira
Published: October 2023

Lachesiodendron viridiflorum, conhecida popularmente como surucaina, é uma espécie arbórea nativa do Brasil que apresenta potencial para a recuperação de áreas degradadas, geração de produtos madeireiros e não madeireiros. O presente estudo teve como objetivo descrever características físicas de sementes de duas matrizes de L. viridiflorum localizadas na região Norte de Minas Gerais. Sementes coletadas em Montes Claros e Nova Porteirinha foram avaliadas quanto às características biométricas (comprimento, largura e espessura), peso de mil sementes, número de sementes por quilograma, o teor de água e o formato das sementes. As sementes exibiram pouca variação nos aspectos biométricos dentro de cada lote, especialmente em relação à espessura. Entre os lotes foi observada diferença estatística apenas para a espessura. Quanto ao formato, as sementes de ambos os lotes foram classificadas como esféricas e achatadas. As correlações positivas e significativas que diferiram entre os dois lotes foram encontradas entre a largura e a espessura, bem como entre a largura e as variáveis de área superficial e volume de sementes. Essas informações contribuem para a tecnologia das sementes e obtenção de lotes para a utilização da referida espécie.
Pengaruh Beban Kerja terhadap Turnover Intention Melalui Kepuasan Kerja sebagai Intervening pada Karyawan PT Central Motor Wheel Indonesia
Authors: Retmawanto Irfanadi , Suherman Enjang , Hidayaty Dwi Epty
Published: October 2023

Various types of industrial sectors, both service industries and manufacturing industries, are still often faced with turnover problems. To prevent the turnover rate from increasing, the company must be able to observe the factors driving employees to decide to leave the company. The factors driving turnover intention can consist of various things, including workload and job satisfaction. This research aims to determine the effect of workload on turnover intention through job satisfaction as an intervention for employees of PT Central Motor Wheel Indonesia. This research uses a quantitative data analysis method which is used to examine the magnitude of the direct and indirect contribution of the influence of workload on turnover intention through job satisfaction as an intervening factor. The data analysis technique uses descriptive analysis and Path Analysis path analysis with the help of SPSS version 25. The variables observed in this research consist of workload as an independent variable, turnover intention as the dependent variable and job satisfaction as an intervening variable. The population of this research was 178 employees of PT Central Motor Wheel Indonesia and the sample of this research was 123 employees. The research results show that workload has a negative and significant effect on job satisfaction, the effect of job satisfaction on turnover intention has a negative and significant effect, the effect of workload and turnover intention is negative and significant. From the Sobel test calculations, the values obtained prove that the influence of workload on turnover intention through job satisfaction as an intervening has a significant effect.
Pengaruh Strategi Pemilihan Tempat Belanja terhadap Pemenuhan Kebutuhan Keluarga
Authors: Jannah Zulfah Azkiya , Rustomo Rustomo , Imanudin Kaffah
Published: October 2023

The rise of online stores in Indonesia makes shopping easier for consumers with the various facilities provided, making it attractive for consumers to be lazy about visiting conventional stores. This change in shopping lifestyle is because traditional markets are visited more by people who need goods in large quantities or wholesale at low prices. Meanwhile, modern markets are a shopping option with a small number of goods rather than specific ones and more adequate comfort. The objectives of this research are (1) To find out where people choose shopping places, (2) To find out people fulfill their family needs, (3) To find out the influence of choosing shopping places in streamlining family needs. This research will be built with an experimental research design to determine the relationship between cause and effect of a situation using a descriptive quantitative approach with survey research methods. The population in this study were residents of Cawang RT 006 RW 02 Cawang, East Jakarta, with a total of 32 heads of families, where the entire population was also used as the research sample. The result of this research is that the Sig value for the influence of X on Y is equal to 0,000 > 0,05 and tcount value 4,692 > ttable 2,045, so it can be concluded that the choice of shopping place influences the family's needs. The family's needs are urgent and must be purchased immediately, so a physical store is needed as the solution. If you buy from an online shop, it takes time for delivery, so what you can buy are items that are not urgent to use. Shops/stalls influence family needs as a place to buy various family needs
Pengaruh Kompensasi Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Pt Transportasi Indonesia
Authors: Fauzi Achmad , Rustomo Rustomo , Lelisa Widya
Published: October 2023

Artikel ini membahas pengaruh kompensasi terhadap kinerja pegawai di PT Transportasi Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan apakah kompensasi memiliki dampak terhadap kinerja pegawai. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif, dan data dikumpulkan melalui kuesioner. Validitas dan reliabilitas kuesioner diuji, dan data dianalisis menggunakan IBM SPSS Statistic 26. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kompensasi memiliki pengaruh signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai. Artikel ini menekankan pentingnya kompensasi yang adil dalam memotivasi pegawai dan meningkatkan kepuasan kerja mereka. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa setiap kenaikan satu satuan dalam kompensasi akan meningkatkan kinerja pegawai sebesar 25,7%. Namun, terdapat faktor-faktor lain yang juga memengaruhi kinerja pegawai sebesar 69,9%. Oleh karena itu, perusahaan perlu mempertimbangkan faktor-faktor lain seperti motivasi, lingkungan kerja, dan keterampilan dalam meningkatkan kinerja pegawai. Penelitian ini memberikan pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang pentingnya kompensasi yang adil dalam menciptakan lingkungan kerja yang memotivasi dan memperbaiki kepuasan kerja pegawai. Implikasi praktis dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa perusahaan harus memperhatikan kompensasi yang diberikan kepada pegawai mereka untuk memastikan bahwa mereka merasa dihargai dan termotivasi untuk memberikan kinerja terbaik mereka
The Moderating Effect of Virtual System Upgrades in The Effect of Electronic Fiscal Devices on Value Added Tax Collections in Tanzania: The Case of Kinondoni Tax Region
Authors: Mvaa Blandina , Msheri CPA Faiza
Published: October 2023

Tanzania Revenue authority introduced the virtual electronic fiscal devices as part of the modernization on top of existing fiscal devices (EFDs), however there a scant information on their effect. This study examined the moderating effect of virtual electronic fiscal devices in the relationship between electronic on Value Added Tax (VAT) collections in Kinondoni Tax Region, Tanzania. The study collected primary data from a randomly selected sample of 59 tax officers, 90 taxpayers and 21 tax consultants from TRA Kinondoni Tax Region, making a total of 170 respondents. The questionnaires with Likert scale questions was used to collect this data. Additionally, the study used secondary monthly time series VAT collection data from January 2005 to August 2022, a total of 212 months. The primary data was analyzed descriptively (using percentages) and secondary data inferentially (using ordinary least squared (OLS) regression analysis). From descriptive results majority of respondents (over 70 percent) agreed and strongly agreed that EFDs had positive effects on VAT collections and that Virtual EFDs have positive enhancing effect to the role of EFD in VAT collections. The univariate OLS regression analysis shows that EFDs had a positive and statistically significant effect on revenue collections (coefficient = 37.9 billion and p-value = 0.0073), the 1 percent level of significance and that the moderation of VEFD to EFD introduction has a positive and statistically significant impact on revenue collection (coefficient of 8.63 billion, p-value =0.000), at 1 percent level of significance. It is recommended that the government improves EFD and VEFD electronic systems, promote taxpayer education and awareness to use the systems. Future studies should use countrywide data, qualitative analysis and compare the VEFD-VAT collection relations across tax Regions.
Pioneers of Scientific Thought: Empedocles and Anaxagoras
Authors: KÜLCÜ Recep
Published: October 2023

Scientific thought can be defined as a mode of thinking that enables the production of knowledge within the scope of episteme through experimentation, observation, and the validation of hypotheses. In ancient times, the idea of explaining nature beyond mythologies can be considered as the initial steps of scientific thought. Within this context, it can be said that the natural philosophers took a significant step and opened the door from mythos to logos. In ancient philosophy, Empedocles and Anaxagoras made important contributions to the development of scientific thought. Empedocles, a philosopher, physician, scientist, and politician, lived between 492 and 432 BC. He spent his life in a Greek colony on the southern shores of Sicily. Empedocles represented a pluralistic understanding in philosophy and followed a conciliatory path in the debates of his time regarding change. He achieved significant success in the field of medicine and was reputed to have revived the dead during his time. In the political arena, he advocated for democracy and played a significant role in the political life of his country as the leader of the Democratic Party. Empedocles aimed to reform the religious beliefs of his time. Anaxagoras (500-428 BC) was born near Klazomenai, which is located within the borders of present-day Turkey, near Urla. He is regarded as a philosopher and scientist who spent his entire life and fortune on scientific research. He went to Athens at the invitation of Pericles and conducted research on celestial bodies there. The explanations that contradicted the beliefs of their time were not always welcomed with respect by all segments of society. At times, due to their thoughts that went against the beliefs of their time, they also faced discrimination. This study attempts to present the lives, philosophies, thoughts, and discrimination faced by the two sages of ancient times.
17 Sustainable Bullshits: A Critical Evaluation
Authors: Kalansooriya Jayantha
Published: October 2023

The United Nations Organization (UN) assumes global leadership and strives for a sustainable world. Concurrently, member countries endeavor to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in 2015. However, there is a pressing need to scrutinize whether these efforts align with truthful and purposeful concepts. Deviating from the right path could lead the world into an irreparable abyss. In this study, we aim to critically evaluate the accuracy of the UN’s sustainability definition and the Sustainable Development Goals derived from it. Our examination has been conducted with an open-minded approach, and we encourage utilizing the results for reevaluation rather than contentious debate. In essence, we contend that the UN’s sustainability definition and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are fundamentally flawed, warranting the label of “bullshit.” We advocate for those committed to a sustainable world to unite in fostering a society based on simplicity.
Understanding Ergonomics in Nigerian Work Organisations: A Conceptual Review
Authors: Nnonyelu Nkemdili
Published: October 2023

The paper seeks to illuminate the concept and utilisation of ergonomics in Nigeria. It reveals that although ergonomics enjoys global currency, it is yet to be felt in Nigerian work organisations. The review of literature on ergonomics awareness, reveals that it is still very poor. It is also observed from the qualitative review that ergonomics, or the resetting of the workplace is at the rudimentary stage owing to paucity of funds, hostility of employers in both the public and private sector in matters of ergonomics, poor appreciation of the essence of ergonomics by employees themselves, and the nature of the Nigerian industrial system. The paper recommends that the benefits of ergonomics to the welfare and wellbeing of organisational participants be made more visible with necessary information.
Enhanced System Usability Scale using the Software Quality Standard Approach
Authors: Thamilarasan Yarshini , Raja Ikram Raja Rina , Osman Mashanum , Salahuddin Lizawati , Bujeri Wan Yaakob Wan , Kanchymalay Kasturi
Published: October 2023

The objective of this paper is to improve the current System Usability Scale (SUS) and assess its applicability in the context of Learning Management Systems (LMS). The need to evaluate the usability of systems has become increasingly important in today's market, as it can have a significant impact on the user experience. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, e-learning has become an essential tool for students, making LMS an appropriate research case study. Through a comprehensive literature review, it was discovered that SUS is the most widely used tool for evaluating system usability. However, SUS fails to satisfy some of the usability criteria outlined in ISO 9126 and ISO 9241-11. Therefore, this paper proposes an enhanced SUS model and its conceptual framework to address these limitations. The proposed model was validated using a case study approach, involving subject matter experts and software testing students, who evaluated the reliability of the enhanced SUS. Additionally, the existing and enhanced SUS models were evaluated based on an LMS case study and the results were used to calculate the enhanced SUS's reliability coefficient using Cronbach's alpha. The validation results show that the enhanced SUS has higher reliability with improved quality coverage compared to the original SUS. The proposed model has the potential to enhance the evaluation of system usability and, consequently, improve user experience.
A New Approach on the Egyptian Black Sand Ilmenite Alteration Processes
Authors: Moustafa Mohamed
Published: October 2023

Several studies have investigated the process of alteration of ilmenite, especially in black sand. To predict the mechanisms of ilmenite alteration and the role of some minor element oxides in the alteration process, separated non-magnetic altered ilmenite grains were examined using a binocular microscope and a Cameca SX-100 microprobe instrument. Twenty intergrown phases of alteration products were concluded in three postulated scenarios for the following alteration processes, carried out after forming the most stable lowest Leached pseudorutile (LPSR) phase FeTi3O6(OH)3. Most of the alteration phases of pseudorutile (PSR) and LPSR have real Ti/(Ti+Fe) ratios between 0.6 and 0.75. Some misleading calculations of definite analyzed ilmenite alteration spots showed that the analyzed TiO2 percentage is contained within the chemical formula of the analyzed LPSR phase. In these cases, the false Ti/(Ti+Fe) ratios attain up to 0.9, the false included total number of anions (O, OH) ranges between 7 and 8.5, and the associated molecular water ranged between half and two water molecules (0.5-2 H2O). In these cases, the structure of the remaining LPSR phase may be intergrown with a separated individual triple rutile phase, which appears to have the same X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) pattern as the single PSR phase, or intergrown with a cryptocrystalline TiO2 phase. Some molecular formulas of PSR or Hydroxylian PSR (HPSR) from previous studies were discussed and explained following the proposed approach.
Reinforced Concrete Columns Insulated by Different Gypsum Layers Exposed to 900°C One Side Fire Flame
Authors: Al-Jadiri Mohanad Salih Farhan , Said Abdul Muttalib I.
Published: October 2023

This study investigated the effect of high-temperature fire flame on reinforced concrete columns coated with a layer of gypsum insulation. Six samples were cast and cured in a hot water bath at 67°C, covered on one side by 10 and 20 mm thick layers of gypsum plaster. The samples were exposed to a 900°C fire flame in a hydrocarbon fire furnace for one and two hours. The results showed that the gypsum plaster layer prevented a high-temperature rise within the core of the column. The differences between all gypsum-coated columns varied compared to those of the reference samples. The gypsum-coated columns had reduced axial displacements and no spalling and visible cracks on their faces. The improvement in the compressive strength of concrete will be discussed in a future paper. This study was carried out following ACI-318 and ASTM C1529.
A Fairness-based Cell Selection Mechanism for Ultra-Dense Networks (UDNs)
Authors: Alotaibi Sultan
Published: October 2023

A typical 5G Ultra-Dense Network (UDN) comprises different types of Base Stations (BSs) in its structure. Dense deployment of small-cell BSs within a macrocell BS's coverage offers significant benefits, as the distance between a User Equipment (UE) and its small-cell BS is shorter with robust signals. Thus, the network capacity will increase dramatically. However, selecting an appropriate small-cell BS for a particular UE becomes a challenge in 5G UDNs. This study proposed a mechanism to address the cell selection problem and maximize fairness among UEs when making the cell selection decision. The proposed mechanism considered different parameters. The load balance for each small-cell BS was considered to fairly distribute UEs and avoid traffic congestion. Moreover, the signal strength was considered with the achievable data rate for all small-cell BSs to stimulate idle small-cell BSs to be in operating mode. A simulation was carried out in MATLAB to evaluate the proposed mechanism. Signal-to-Interference-Ratio (SINR) and Signal Strength (SS) -based strategies were also simulated for comparison. The proposed solution outperformed the other schemes in terms of fairness, as the UEs attached to the system were fairly distributed among small-cell BSs. Furthermore, the proposed mechanism achieved the best radio resource distribution in terms of fairness compared to the two other schemes.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Evaluation of an Oil-flooded Screw Compressor
Authors: Malael Ion , Petrescu Valentin
Published: October 2023

The cost of energy is directly influenced by geopolitical, economic, and environmental factors. There is an international trend towards renewable resources, although the implementation pace and legislation in force have issues. Complete abolishment of fossil fuels is practically impossible. Evolution is only possible with the use of these fuels but with modern, efficient equipment to reduce the pollution resulting from the process of extracting, processing, and using fossil fuels. In this paper, a screw compressor with oil injection, used in oil extraction stations, is analyzed numerically. This analysis is useful in the process of modernizing and improving the efficiency of this type of compressor, which is capable of operating in extreme working regimes, highly contaminated with impurities. The numerical analysis presented certain challenges related to biphasic flow in extremely small spaces at high compression ratios. The results include the absolute pressure variation and the flow rate variation. Regarding future research, test series will be carried out to validate the numerical results on the test bench with a 1:1 scale prototype.
An Improved Correction Technique for the Prediction of the Dynamic Response of a Beam under a Moving Vehicle
Authors: Nguyen Duy Hung , Diem Nguyen Dang , Pham Thi Kieu
Published: October 2023

This study presents a correction approach that can capture the discontinuities in the bending moment and shear force in the dynamic analysis of beam-like structures traveled by a moving vehicle. The proposed approach was based on the Dynamic Modal Acceleration Method (DyMAM) to correct the dynamic response of the supporting structure with a reduced number of vibration modes. The use of a two-axle vehicle model was adopted to consider the pitching effect in the presence of surface irregularity and damping. The interacting forces between the beam and vehicle were filtered to avoid undesirable high-frequency contributions. Subsequently, a new formulation for the entire vehicle-beam system was obtained. The corresponding equation was solved using the Newmark numerical scheme to obtain the system responses in each time step. A numerical example was illustrated, showing that the proposed method was in close agreement with previous correction solutions in the vehicle-beam interaction analysis.
Real Time Measurement of Multiphase Flow Velocity using Electrical Capacitance Tomography
Authors: Ghaly Sidi Mohamed Ahmed , Khan Mohammad Obaidullah , Shalaby Mohamed , Alsnaie Khalid A. , Oraiqat Majdi
Published: October 2023

Accurate and real-time measurement of fluid flow velocity is crucial in various industrial processes, especially when dealing with multiple phase fluids. Traditional flow measurement methods often struggle to accurately quantify the velocity of complex multiphase flows within pipes. This challenge necessitates the exploration of innovative techniques capable of providing reliable measurements. This paper proposes the utilization of Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) as a promising approach for measuring the velocity of multiple phase fluids in pipes. The ECT technique involves the non-intrusive imaging of the electrical capacitance distribution within the pipe. By utilizing an array of electrodes placed around the pipe circumference, the capacitance distribution can be reconstructed, offering insight into the fluid flow patterns. By analyzing the temporal changes in the capacitance distribution, the velocity of different phases within the pipe can be estimated. To achieve accurate velocity measurements, an ECT system needs to account for the complexities introduced by multiphase flows. Various image reconstruction algorithms, such as linear back-projection and iterative algorithms like Gauss-Newton and Levenberg-Marquardt, are employed to reconstruct the capacitance distribution. Additionally, advanced signal processing techniques, such as cross-correlation analysis and time-difference methods, are used to extract velocity information from the reconstructed images. This paper presents an experimental investigation of measuring the velocity of multiple-phase fluids in pipes using the ECT technique. The study aims to address the challenges associated with different flow regimes, fluid properties, and pipe geometries by exploring advancements in electrode design, system calibration, and data processing techniques to enhance the accuracy and robustness of ECT-based velocity measurements.
A Study regarding the Technical-Economical Optimization of Structural Components for enhancing the Buckling Resistance in Stiffened Cylindrical Shells
Authors: Tanase Maria , Zisopol Dragos Gabriel , Portoaca Alexandra Ileana
Published: October 2023

This paper presents a technical-economical optimization by maximizing the ratio between the critical buckling pressure (technical characteristic) and the production cost (economic characteristic) of stiffened cylindrical shells, a basic concept of value analysis. Critical buckling load values were determined using both the Finite Element Method (FEM) and analytical calculations to validate the accuracy of the results obtained. The maximum difference between the analytical and numerical results was 10%. Technical-economic optimization was carried out using the design of experiments method with MINITAB 19 and allowed to select the optimal input parameters, stiffener dimensional ratio 0.10, shell wall thickness 2.50 mm, and distance between circumferential stiffeners 400 mm, and identify the main factors that impact the output response. For the optimal constructive configuration, the ratio between the critical buckling load and the production cost of the stiffened cylindrical shells was maximized by 199%.
Surface Roughness in Metal Material Extrusion 3D Printing: The Influence of Printing Orientation and the Development of a Predictive Model
Authors: Van Cuong Nguyen , Hoang Anh Le , Long Cao Dang , Hoang Duy Nguyen
Published: October 2023

This study investigates the influence of printing orientation on the surface roughness in metal material extrusion 3D printing of 17-4 PH stainless steel. Experimental tests were conducted on the Markforged Metal X commercial 3D printer at Vinh Long University of Technology Education, Vietnam. The samples were printed in three different orientations: flat, on-edge, and upright. Surface roughness measurements were performed using a handheld Mitutoyo SJ-210 roughness tester. Quantitative analysis of the surface roughness measurements revealed significant variations among the different printing orientations. The upright orientation exhibited the smoothest surface, with an average Ra value of 7.42 μm and Rz value of 40.49 μm. In contrast, the flat orientation showed the highest roughness, with an average Ra value of 82.83 μm and Rz value of 109.32 μm. The on-edge orientation had intermediate roughness values, with an average Ra value of 69.42 μm and Rz value of 92.17 μm. The study also introduces a novel predictive model for surface roughness based on the printing parameters. The model demonstrated accurate estimations for surface roughness values in specific cases, enabling optimization of the printing process for desired surface quality.
Distribution of Benefits and Risks in Inter-Basin Water Transfers: The Case Study of NCT I from Upper Tana Basin to Nairobi City
Authors: Nyingi Rosemary Wanjiru , Mwangi John Kimani , Karimi Poolad , Kiptala Jeremiah Kipkulei
Published: October 2023

Inter-Basin Water Transfers (IBWTs) introduce complex socioeconomic, hydrological, ecological, and institutional impacts that are instrumental to decision-making. However, since most studies focus on the hydrological and ecological aspects of IBWTs for the development of sustainable water resources, it is necessary to investigate the distribution of risks (costs) and benefits of IBWTs among stakeholders. This study aimed to identify and categorize stakeholders, their relationships, and the distribution of risks/costs and benefits in the Northern Collector Tunnel phase I (NCT 1) IBWT using a stakeholder analysis method. The Athi Water Works Development Agency (AWWDA) and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MoWI) played a central role in the project. However, most stakeholders found the devolved units Water Services Providers (WSPs), Water Resources Authority (WRA), Water Resources Users Associations (WRUAs), and Murang'a County as the most critical institutions. Public participation in NCT1 was not inclusive but only done to meet the statutory project requirements. Significant risks of the project emerged, such as reduced river flows, drying of the springs, and Murang'a residents' ability to meet their water needs. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate for diverted water through a water levy to cover environmental externalities and catchment conservation. The increase in water supply for Nairobi City was perceived as the main benefit for the recipient basin, but an improved water levy with adequate cross-subsidies was pointed out as an instrument to catalyze water savings by the urban water utility.
Application of Seasonal Trend Decomposition using Loess and Long Short-Term Memory in Peak Load Forecasting Model in Tien Giang
Authors: Duong Ngoc-Hung , Nguyen Minh-Tam , Nguyen Thanh-Hoan , Tran Thanh-Phong
Published: October 2023

Daily peak load forecasting is critical for energy providers to meet the loads of grid-connected consumers. This study proposed a Seasonal Trend decomposition using Loess combined with Long Short-Term Memory (STL-LTSM) method and compared its performance on peak forecasting of electrical energy demand with Convolutional Neural Network and LSTM (CNN-LSTM), Wavenet, and the classic approaches Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and LSTM. The study evaluated the models using demand data from the power system in Tien Giang province, Vietnam, from 2020 to 2022, considering historical demand, holidays, and weather variables as input characteristics. The results showed that the proposed STL-LSTM model can predict future demand with lower Base Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). Therefore, the proposed method can help energy suppliers make smart decisions and plan for future demand.
The Incorporation of Thermocouples in Knitted Structures
Authors: Chughtai Muhammad Tajammal
Published: October 2023

Recent developments in textiles have led to the manufacturing of a variety of fabrics. These developments include spacer fabrics, embroidered fabrics, embedded sensors in fabrics, ECG vests, etc. Electronic components are also being knit within fabrics. The study used a configuration of thermocouples, based on the Seebeck effect, knitted into the main structure using a variety of yarn filaments. The knitted fabric was tested against temperature variation to examine how it affects the impedance of the knitted thermocouples. The testing procedure produced promising results, as it showed that certain combinations of knitting materials may result in positive and negative temperature coefficients of the fabric. The combination of the tested materials provides a guide to developing similar structures for thermoelectric sensor applications.
Efficient and Secure Access Control for IoT-based Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Aljahdali Asia Othman , Habibullah Afnan , Aljohani Huda
Published: October 2023

Environmental monitoring devices based on IoT collect a large amount of data about the environment and our surroundings. These data are collected and processed before being uploaded to third-party servers and accessed and viewed by ordinary or specialized users. However, they may hold sensitive information that should not be exposed to unauthorized users. Therefore, accessing this sensitive information must be strictly controlled and limited in order to prevent unauthorized access. This research intends to create an access control mechanism based on distributed ledger technologies. The idea is to use a hybrid of IOTA technology and Ciphertext-Policy Attribute-Based Signcryption (CP-ABSC) technology. The permissions to access these data are written in a token, and this token will be sent to the Tangle after being signcrypted with CP-ABSC. Consequently, the data will be safeguarded, their confidentiality and integrity will be maintained, and unauthorized individuals will be unable to access the information. The proposed system was evaluated in terms of performance and the results showed that the system is straightforward, rapid, and convenient to use. Furthermore, a security assessment was conducted by running several scenarios to evaluate its feasibility and protection.
Document Co-citation Analysis using Concept Lattice
Authors: Gupta Anamika , Gupta Shikha , Bisht Mukul , Hooda Prestha , Salik Md
Published: October 2023

Document Co-citation Analysis (DCA) is a method to identify and analyze the relationships between co-cited documents. In this paper, we attempt to use concept lattice for DCA. Concept lattice is a graph structure given in Formal Concept Analysis (FCA), a branch of mathematics based on the concept and its hierarchy. The experiments are conducted on an extensive repository of citations extracted from DBLP, ACM, MAG (Microsoft Academic Graph), and other sources, having a total of 5,354,309 papers and 48,227,950 citation relationships. In this paper, it is established that the concept lattice supports DCA and helps to identify a set of co-cited documents and their co-citation strength. It also provides navigation to reflect the subset-superset relationship of the co-citations. Further, the concept lattice helps identify the hierarchy among the documents and answers the most relevant queries related to DCA.
Investigating the Effect on Productivity of a Geospatial Ticket Management System for Power Distribution Network Studies
Authors: Pylarinos Dionisios
Published: October 2023

Increasing productivity without jeopardizing the network’s operation, consumers’ experience, and the safety and integrity of procedures, is a major goal for all utilities. Scheduling of work has a direct impact on productivity, especially in the case of utilities that cover a wide geographical area using a limited number of employees. In the case of power utilities, however, scheduling has to consider, apart from the location of issues, the type and technical characteristics of each issue as well as its priority has to be considered in order to produce an optimum schedule. This paper focuses on the impact on productivity of a geospatial ticket management system considering the experience from such a system applied on network studies performed by HEDNO, the Greek Distribution Network Operator, in Patras Area. The term "network studies" is used to describe the study of all expansion and alteration works, ranging from a single Low Voltage (LV) pole installation to major Medium Voltage (MV) network rearrangements/expansion, and includes visits and measurements on the actual location as well as in-door calculations. In Patras Area, the local HEDNO division implemented in 2021-2022 a geospatial ticket managing system, based on available network data and custom Google Maps, aiming to increase its productivity by optimizing the scheduling process. Initial results published in February 2022, showed a significant productivity increase (up to 42%). However, the initial results considered a time span of only one month and thus could easily be misleading. This paper revisits the issue considering a larger time span (more than two years) that should provide more trustworthy results. It also briefly presents the latest updates and improvements made to the system. Results show that the increase in the number of studies and their predicted costs are similar to the initial results, with the increase in productivity being around 41%. In September 2022, HEDNO set the very ambitious goal of significantly increasing the overall production of network studies (more than double in terms of predicted costs) and the use of such a system can provide valuable help towards achieving this goal.
Manta Ray Foraging Optimizer with Deep Learning-based Fundus Image Retrieval and Classification for Diabetic Retinopathy Grading
Authors: Shazuli Syed Ibrahim Syed Mahamood , Saravanan Arunachalam
Published: October 2023

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a major source of sightlessness and permanent visual damage. Manual Analysis of DR is a labor-intensive and costly task that requires skilled ophthalmologists to observe and evaluate DR utilizing digital fundus images. The images can be employed for analysis and disease screening. This laborious task can gain a great advantage in automated detection by exploiting Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) approaches are utilized to retrieve related images in massive databases and are helpful in many application regions and most healthcare systems. With this motivation, this article develops the new Manta Ray Foraging Optimizer with Deep Learning-based Fundus Image Retrieval and Classification (MRFODL-FIRC) approach for the grading of DR. The suggested MRFODL-FIRC model investigates the retinal fundus imaging effectively to retrieve the relevant images and identify class labels. To achieve this, the MRFODL-FIRC technique uses Median Filtering (MF) as a pre-processing step. The Capsule Network (CapsNet) model is used to produce feature vectors with the MRFO algorithm as a hyperparameter optimizer. For the image retrieval process, the Manhattan distance metric is used. Finally, the Variational Autoencoder (VAE) model is used for recognizing and classifying DR. The investigational assessment of the MRFODL-FIRC technique is accomplished on medical DR and the outputs highlighted the improved performance of the MRFODL-FIRC algorithm over the current approaches.
Evaluation of Aircraft Emissions at Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport
Authors: Mirea Radu , Cican Grigore , Cretu Mihaiella
Published: October 2023

This study presents the influence of aircraft movements on air quality by highlighting the contribution of landings and/or takeoffs at Henri Coanda Airport, Bucharest. An experimental campaign was carried out using a mobile laboratory equipped with reference instruments for the main air pollutants (NO-, NO2, NOx, SO2, CO, and O3) and a meteorological station to measure wind speed and direction, air temperature, pressure, and relative humidity at a height of 10 m above the ground. The mobile testing laboratory was located inside the airport near the passenger embarking area, and measurements were carried out for 7 days. Air sampling was carried out at a height of 3.5 m above the ground. Pollutant levels were continuously measured throughout the measurement period, with high-precision equipment and a 10-second interval. The results obtained showed an increase in pollutant concentrations during takeoffs and/or landings, providing an initial assessment of gaseous pollutant levels and hourly distribution. Airport authorities can use this assessment to balance aircraft and passenger movements to minimize human exposure to gaseous pollutants. Furthermore, this study used the Pearson correlation between each pollutant and meteorological parameters to establish the best conditions for passengers to be present on the airport premises. The results showed that wind speed and direction directly influence the distribution of gaseous pollutants, especially during landings and takeoffs.
Photocatalytic and Magnetic Properties of TiO2 Micro- and Nano- Powders decorated by Magnetic Cocatalysts
Authors: Gegechkori Tatiana , Mamniashvili Grigor , Gagnidze Tornike , Nadareishvili Malkhaz , Zedginidze Tinatin
Published: October 2023

In this paper, photocatalytic TiO2 micro- and nano-powders coated by Ni and Co nanoclusters were prepared by the original electroless deposition method. The magnetic properties of Ni and Co nanoclusters decorating TiO2 grains were studied by the magnetometry measurements of the temperature dependence of magnetization. Their optical spectroscopy measurements showed a significant increase in light absorption by Ni and Co coated TiO2 nanopowders. The photocatalytic properties of the obtained magnetic nanopowders were studied with Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy as well.