bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food banks show resilience in face of COVID-19
Authors: Meagher Kelsey D. , Campbell David C. , Spang Edward S.
Published: February 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented spikes in food insecurity. In California, food banks, which were already facing high demand for emergency food assistance, rallied federal, state and local resources to help meet the challenges of the pandemic. Our study draws on interviews with food banks and their partners approximately one year into the pandemic to learn how they responded to enormous challenges in staffing, procurement, distribution and infrastructure. These interviews captured lessons for resilience planning and food security policy that might otherwise have been lost. We found an encouraging story of resilience, and a story of how government agencies and community networks can work together to create and strengthen food security policies, even under the most dire circumstances.
Modification of graphene oxide and its effect on properties of natural rubber/graphene oxide nanocomposites
Authors: Thuong Nghiem Thi , Quang Le Dinh , Cuong Vu Quoc , Ha Cao Hong , Lam Nguyen Ba , Kawahara Seiichi
Published: February 2024

Modification of graphene oxide (GO) by vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) was investigated to study the effect of silanized GO on radical graft copolymerization of GO onto deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR). The modified GO, GO-VTES (a and b), was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angle, thermal gravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The XRD results showed the appearance of an amorphous region of silica particles at a diffraction angle of 22°. The formation of silica was investigated by 29Si NMR, and it was found that the hydrolysis and condensation of VTES proceed more completely in basic conditions than in acidic conditions. The silica content of GO-VTES(b) was 43%, which is higher than that of GO-VTES(a) (8%). Morphology of silica was observed by SEM. The DPNR/GO-VTES nanocomposites prepared with the same amount of GO, GO-VTES(a), and GO-VTES(b) were characterized with tensile tests and dynamic mechanical tests. The stress at break of DPNR/GO-VTES(a) and DPNR/GO-VTES(b) was 5.2 MPa and 4.3 MPa, respectively, which were lower than that of DPNR/GO. However, it exhibited higher stress at small strains and higher storage modulus than DPNR/GO.
Historical retrospects of ensuring financial and tax security of the state (domestic and foreign experience)
Authors: BILOUS Viktor , TERNUSHCHAK Mykhailo
Published: February 2024

The paper states that there is no codified legislation in our country that would regulate legal relations in the field of financial security of the state. Existing regulations regulate only certain aspects of providing a safe space. The modern conversion of current legislation in the security sphere, which remains imperfect to this day, is analyzed. Its future depends on how legally, professionally and effectively the legal mechanisms for ensuring the financial security of the state will be formed. Financial security is a criterion for the effective functioning of the state. Without proper provision of financial security, in practice, it is impossible to solve any of the tasks facing the state. It is always necessary to pay attention to the financial security of the state, but especially in times of economic restructuring, the transition to a new economic and financial development strategy, when it is necessary to form and use huge amounts of financial resources. Note that the disconnection between transnational capital and the national community, the state with its territory and population, destroys the social obligations of capital. Even in the most economically developed states of the world, this trend is developing, but the power of Western economies and the preservation of certain value-ideological foundations allow for the time being to maintain and strive to maintain social harmony within the framework of their national communities. Having analyzed the genesis of regulatory and legal provision of financial security, it was concluded that in the given conditions for the development of science it is necessary to apply a synthesis of definitions of "financial security of the state", a systematic approach to understanding the essence of such a difficult structured phenomenon as security in its various manifestations: financial, economic, national , to transfer creative scientific potential to the legal field with the aim of forming a balanced systemic legal basis, which will provide an opportunity to form an effective mechanism for ensuring the financial security of the state. The task of security during data transmission through local, distributed or global networks against accidental or intentional change, destruction, disclosure, as well as unauthorized use is solved separately. The existence of financial security of the state is the activity of the state as a whole and its parts, it should be aimed at comprehensive development of the financial sphere.
Trends and peculiarities of local budgets functioning in the conditions of war
Authors: LOBODINA Zoriana , KIVELIUK Yaroslav , CHAIKIVSKYI Nazarii , MYKOLAICHUK Volodymyr
Published: February 2024

The paper summarizes the theoretical and applied principles of functioning of local budgets as a component of public finance, an instrument for ensuring financial self-sufficiency, regulating socio-economic development and stimulating investment activity of regions and territorial communities, and identifies their features (territorial affiliation, dependence of the volume of local budget funds on the economic potential of the territory, social orientation, dependence on interbudgetary transfers, imperative and regulatory certainty of budgetary. The paper examines the impact of fiscal decentralization on the functioning of local budgets and the ability of local governments and executive authorities at different levels of administrative and territorial structure to exercise delegated and own powers. Based on the use of methodological tools of the dialectical approach to cognition of the essence of local budgets, a comprehensive scientific approach to this definition is formulated in terms of essence, content, form and as a phenomenon. The social purpose of local budgets is clarified, the realities are analyzed and the peculiarities of their functioning in wartime are revealed. The expediency of changes in the budget process is argued, changes in budget and tax legislation are characterized. Based on the analysis of the dynamics, composition of revenues and expenditures of local budgets, the main problems of formation and use of budgetary resources of local governments are identified. It is argued that one of the most important problems in the organization of budgetary relations at the local level is the discrepancy between local budget revenues and the need of local governments and local executive authorities for financial resources to ensure the provision of quality and affordable public services to the population.
Nominative-cognitive features of English legal terminology
Authors: PAVLOV Volodymyr
Published: February 2024

The relevance of the research is determined by the active use of foreign language texts that serve special purposes. The practice of their teaching lags behind the theoretical achievements in this field. Moreover, the functioning of special texts in English is enhanced by the fact that they are often used in scientific discourse, for example, in abstracts of papers. At the moment, there is no single concept of translation of humanities terms, which led to the presence of several trends in translation, the main of which are free and literal interpretations. Legal terms refer to the humanitarian paradigm of knowledge, their specificity is different from the terms of technical sciences. Today, it is in the humanities that there is a trend towards their integration, which cannot but affect the composition of legal terminology. The term of one science can be used in another, this causes ambiguity of the same term, which contradicts the essence of this concept: the term must be unambiguous, precise and understandable. In this, problems also arise in the transmission of multi-valued terms. Linguists cite another reason for polysemy in legal terminology - illegal borrowing of foreign language terms. Therefore, the identification of adequate ways of translating the terms of humanitarian disciplines becomes especially relevant, as it will allow to reduce the degree of language overload with foreign language terms. The work is based on the works of domestic and foreign scientists, and the following research methods were also used: descriptive method, which includes observation, interpretation and classification of linguistic material used in the presentation of the process and results of the study, the method of definitional analysis, semantic analysis, comparative analysis, and as well as methods of generalization and typology.
Research on the issue of changing the forms of education in higher education institutions of Ukraine during the crisis
Authors: SHYRIAIEVA Liudmyla , SKALA Larysa
Published: February 2024

This paper dives into examining how education in Ukrainian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is evolving in response to various factors, external and internal influences. We take a closer look at the significant impact of the crisis on the educational setup of Ukraine's HEIs. Gathering insights and facts from diverse educational sources, scientific studies, and research findings, we investigate and thoroughly explore the strengths and the main advantages of specific education models in higher education institutions of Ukraine, and the advantages of their application under certain circumstances in crisis conditions. Additionally, the abstract sheds light on the collaborative efforts and partnerships between HEIs, industries, and governmental initiatives that contribute to the ongoing educational transformation. In addition to this, we break down the core principles guiding initiatives in Ukraine to enhance educational quality amid numerous challenges. It is also worth noting that all these changes require the development of technologies and their integration into the educational process. Evidently, despite such rapid changes, Ukraine was able to quickly adapt Internet technologies to the educational process. We highlight the essential role of education as a driving force in effectively tackling modern challenges. In addition, we emphasize the importance of training qualified, competitive specialists in their field, capable of contributing to the recovery of economic processes in Ukraine even in a crisis period. This discussion aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the changing educational landscape, shedding light on the strategies used to navigate and improve educational outcomes in the country. As a newcomer in this field, this exploration is an attempt to unravel the complexities of educational shifts during crisis periods in Ukrainian HEIs.
The use of statistical analysis in assessing the development of the transport industry of Ukraine
Authors: RADCHENKO Oleksandr
Published: February 2024

The paper is devoted to the use of statistical analysis to assess the development of the transport industry in Ukraine. In the context of global trends of globalization and technological progress, the role of transport in the economy is becoming decisive, and the efficiency of this sector is important for the competitiveness of the country. The paper begins with the statement of the problem, defining the key aspects of the development of the transport industry and the structural analysis of existing problems. In the process of research, the latest research and publications related to the transport industry in Ukraine are analyzed, in particular, attention is paid to the latest methodologies and approaches in the field of statistics. Analytical review not only identifies gaps in the scientific discourse, but also reveals actual problems that become the focus of this paper. The paper aims to develop a scientific dialogue regarding the transport industry in Ukraine, taking into account advanced research and methodologies. The paper also considers the potential of introducing innovative technologies in the transport industry, particularly in the context of innovative management systems and other modern solutions. Opportunities for cooperation with international partners to promote the transformation of the Ukrainian transport sector in accordance with the latest global trends are also analyzed. Highlighting the unresolved aspects of the general problem serves as a basis for further research, and the obtained results can contribute to the understanding and improvement of the development of the transport sector in Ukraine.
The Effect Of Leverage, Company Size, Company Risk On Tax Avoidance In 2020-2022
Authors: Sari Pascalia Indah Permata , Ramli Abdul
Published: February 2024

The aim of this research is to see the effect of leverage, company size and company risk on tax avoidance. In this research, 18 companies were selected using purposive sampling criteria with a total of 54 objects studied in manufacturing companies in the raw materials sector during the period 2020 to 2022. The data used is secondary data in the form of financial reports obtained from the website www.idx.co .id was measured using the SPSS27 research tool with multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this research show that the variables leverage, company size and company risk have a positive and significant effect on tax avoidance. The R Square value is 44.8% of the variables leverage, company size and company risk, while the remaining 55.2% is influenced by variables outside this research. This research can provide insights and considerations for companies, it is recommended that they be careful in making decisions regarding increasing debt. This is because high debt can create risks that can result in companies facing potential bankruptcy and tax avoidance practices.
 
Keywords : Leverage, Company Size, Company Risk and Tax Avoidance
Importancia de la Inteligencia Artificial en la Formación de Docentes en Escuelas Normalistas en México
Authors: González Gutiérrez Fabiola Lizet , González Gutiérrez Solyenitzi Guadalupe
Published: February 2024

La investigación sobre la importancia de la inteligencia artificial (IA) en la formación de docentes en escuelas normalistas en México destaca la necesidad crucial de la aceptación de la IA por parte de los educadores. La resistencia inicial puede ser un obstáculo significativo, subrayando la importancia de estrategias de capacitación y sensibilización. La implementación efectiva de la IA muestra un impacto positivo en el rendimiento estudiantil al personalizar el aprendizaje según las necesidades individuales. La consideración de factores contextuales, como la infraestructura tecnológica y la capacitación docente, es esencial para el éxito de la IA en la formación. Se resalta la necesidad de un enfoque holístico en la formación docente, abordando aspectos técnicos y pedagógicos, y fomentando la colaboración entre docentes. Se identifican áreas prometedoras para investigaciones futuras, incluyendo la medición a largo plazo del impacto de la IA y estrategias para abordar la resistencia inicial de los educadores. En resumen, la integración exitosa de la IA en la formación docente requiere atención a la aceptación, impacto estudiantil, factores contextuales y un enfoque holístico, con perspectivas para investigaciones futuras que contribuyan al desarrollo continuo de enfoques efectivos de formación docente en México.
El impacto Económico de las Remesas de EEUU a Familiares en San Gabriel, Jalisco, México
Authors: Rivera Ramiro , Rodríguez Hernández Maria Alicia , Peña Valencia Erwin José
Published: February 2024

Las remesas se han constituido en una fuente muy importante de ingresos para muchos países, en el caso de México ha cobrado más importancia en los últimos 36 meses, ya que de forma consecutiva se han venido incrementado las cantidades de dólares enviados, llegando a ser uno de los ingresos más vitales para un porcentaje muy alto de la población rural del centro y occidente del país. La balanza de pagos se ha incrementado en el rubro de cuenta corriente que es donde aparecen las transferencias de dinero del extranjero hacia México y que en el año 2022 rompió récord en envíos de dólares (60,000 mmd). Lo anterior ha servido al gobierno actual para reconocer con alegría que la economía se está recuperando con la ayuda de los mexicanos emigrados que ayudan a sus familias con estas importantes sumas de dinero. Para algunos países centroamericanos estos ingresos son potenciales fuentes de financiamiento del desarrollo local y fuente de sostenimiento de economías rurales. Hay mucho interés de parte de organismos internacionales como él (FMI) fondo monetario internacional en impulsar estas regiones mediante instrumentos financieros que permitan la inversión y la reducción de la pobreza en sus regiones.
Estudio de la Seguridad Alimentaria en Jóvenes Indígenas Universitarios en la Sierra de Zongolica, para Optimizar los Activos Comunitarios Mediante Metodologías Participativas
Authors: Hernandez Huerta Levi , Gonzalez Panzo Cuitlahuac , Morales Rayon Arturo Martín , Contreras De La Cruz Martín , Hernandez Cruz Ruben Daniel
Published: February 2024

El presente trabajo surge como resultado del proyecto “Estudio de la seguridad alimentaria en la sierra de Zongolica, para optimizar los activos comunitarios, mediante una plataforma web centralizada “ cuyo objetivo principal  fue :Analizar la situación en materia de seguridad alimentaria para la optimización de los recursos comunitarios mediante el uso de tecnología emergente en la sierra de Zongolica, Ver. Se  realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, de tipo transversal  en los jóvenes universitarios, con la finalidad de  describir el  fenómeno dentro de la población de estudio y conocer su distribución en la misma y el comportamiento con base a sus patrones de alimentacion, seguridad alimentaria e inseguridad. Entre los resultados obtenidos se pudo constatar que en un 80% de los jóvenes universitarios tienen una dieta variada,  con una prevalencia de alimentos procesados y carnes; la ingesta de verduras y frutas es relativamente baja, lo que podría indicar una falta de equilibrio nutricional, es preciso  promover el consumo de frutas ,verduras, lácteos bajos en grasa y cereales para mejorar la calidad de la dieta Agradecemos al Tecnológico Nacional de México Campus /Instituto  Tecnológico Superior de Zongolica por el financiamiento al proyecto y por las facilidades prestadas para realizar la investigación.
Modern Representation of the Phenomenon of Walking Pilgrimage in Russian and Spanish Culture
Authors:   A. N. Kosygin Russian State University, Pak Elena S.
Published: February 2024

The paper a comparative analysis of two sociocultural traditions — the Way of St. James in Spain and the Russian Velikoretsky procession. The basis for comparison is the antiquity of both phenomena and their similar conceptual characteristics. The author classifies both traditions as a multiday walking pilgrimage, considering the ritual peculiarities of each. The author highlights such common characteristics as walking, reflection, the “solitude-interaction” antinomy, and differences associated, among other things, with climatic nuances. The actuality is related to the themes of national unification. At the center of both traditions are enduring values: spiritual understanding of life, unification with other people, mutual assistance in trials. The patriotism component is reflected in the historical component of both practices: the Apostle James is the patron saint of Spain, a symbol of victory and liberation, and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is one of the most revered saints of the Russian people. Both phenomena lead to consolidation of society not only within a specific ethnocultural and religious group, but also carry a creative element to the society as a whole. The tradition of walking religious processions is in the process of development, and the experience of comparison with a similar tradition in a different ethnocultural reality helps to highlight some points that may be improved. Anyhow, multiday processions deserve attention not only as a religious ritual, but also at the level of general cultural tradition.
“Overcoming Symbolism”: Irony in Anna Akhmatova’s Lyrics in the First Half of the 1910s
Authors:   A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Shevchuk Yulia V.
Published: February 2024

The article proposes ways to solve the problem of the specifics of acmeistic irony based on the material of Anna Akhmatova's early lyrics. In the early 1910s acmeists entered into an open dialogue with symbolists, offering a new artistic attitude and forms of its implementation in a poetic word. The acmeists opposed the "hopeless" irony of their predecessors, who realized the intractable conflict between the individual and the "collective". For Akhmatova, a dialogue with I. F. Annensky was important, in whose poetry the subject plan creates a symbolic paradigm and is a symbol of the tragic clutch of I and the Other. The irony in Akhmatova's work was initially due to such a basic feature of the poet's artistic thinking as a constant feeling of the possibility and even the need for a different view, a different point of view. The nature of this poetic phenomenon is thus dialogic and intersubject. Self-irony as an internal and external device of sharpening allows the poet to speak in a new way about a woman, her creative potential and the drama of her personal fate. Forms of irony are revealed through analysis of male and female masks of lyrical self, through images and motifs, complex subject organization of poems. The intersubject and dialogic nature of the heroine's experience opens the reader up the possibility of perceiving a lyrical event in several semantic perspectives (dramatic/tragic and ironic). Hidden irony is revealed by a holistic analysis of individual works.
Mariiana Vitanova, Vania Micheva, Ioanna Kirilova, Kalina Micheva-Peicheva, Nadezhda Nikolova. Ethnoliguistic Dictionary of the Bulgarian Folk Medicine. Sofia, Publishing House of BAS “Prof. Main Drinov”, 2021. 367 p.
Authors:   Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Uzeneva Elena S.
Published: February 2024

The review examines the “Ethnolinguistic Dictionary of the Bulgarian Folk Medicine,” which has become a new stage in Bulgarian lexicography, dedicated to the study of various fragments of traditional culture from the point of view of the Ethnolinguistics. The objective of the work under review, referred to by the authors as an encyclopedia of traditional medicine, was their desire to outline the structure of rituals associated with treatment. This dictionary represents an experience in the semantic reconstruction of one of the blocks of the linguistic picture of the world of the Bulgarian people. The authors set themselves the goal of presenting a cultural tradition not only in its synchronic aspect, but also in its diachronic aspect, through the prism of the folk terminology. The concepts of “health” and “disease” were analyzed and their linguistic representations were presented both in medieval manuscript texts and in the dialects of all areas of the Bulgarian language, including Mysia, Thrace and Macedonia. An important contribution of the authors is the complete excerpt of linguistic data and the use in the dictionary of material from all classical manuscripts of the Old Slavonic language.
Semiotic Quintessence of Colour
Authors:   A. N. Kosygin Russian State University, Sklizkova Ekaterina V.
Published: February 2024

Colour is a universal phenomenon of cognitive space, mixed with semiotic hierarchy, and existential constructions. Being a very dynamic cognitive category, it forms a complex system of meanings, images, linguistic formulae. The modern European languages have lost many of the ancient Indo-European terms of colour. Some of them have changed semantics, or have been substituted by borrowed words. Nevertheless, linguistic parallels in the sphere of colour nomination are quite obvious. Semiotically, colours have retained the elements of intuitive symbolism in their semantics, which is especially noticeable in phraseological or similar phrases. Idioms are linguistic symbols, represented the figurative component of the language, and function as a separate sign system. Colour terms, being a semiotic and linguistic unit, are inserted as one of the components into a phrase, forming the specific meaning and reflecting the historical and cultural aspect of the idiom. In contrast to the word with its semantic certainty, colour due to the associative perception, being a powerful causative agent of the sphere of the extra-consciousness, turns out to be an important gnoseological factor.
Analysis of Green Accounting and Good Corporate Governance with Internal Audit Quality as a Moderating Variable on the Sustainability of Agribusiness Companies Listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange in 2020-2022
Authors: Rosady Gempar , Lenggogeni Lenggogeni , Yanti Harti Budi
Published: February 2024

This study aims to determine and obtain empirical evidence about the effect of the Green Accounting mechanism, Good Corporate Governance with Internal Audit Quality on the disclosure of Sustainability of agribusiness companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2020-2022. The Internal Audit Quality mechanism is assessed through education and training, experience in public accounting firms, and the application of the whistle blowing system. The Good Corporate Governance mechanism is assessed through managerial ownership, institutional ownership, and independent commissioners. Green Accounting measurement is based on the Public Disclosure Program for Environmental Compliance (PROPER) which is seen from the company's annual report and sustainability report. The samples that became the object of this research were all agribusiness companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2020-2022 by meeting the predetermined criteria. The total research sample for three years of observation was 132 samples, using purposive sampling method. Data analysis was carried out using multiple linear regression methods. The results of this study indicate that Green Accounting have an effect on Sustainability Diclosure and Good Corporate Governance with Internal Audit Quality doesn’t have an effect on Sustainability disclosure.
The Influence of Organizational Culture and the Role of Internal Audit on Fraud Prevention
Authors: Panatap Josua
Published: February 2024

The rise of fraud or fraud that occurs in organizations can cause losses to the organization so that the organization is difficult to develop, so there is a need for awareness of the importance of fraud prevention to minimize losses due to fraud. This article aims to examine and review research related to the factors that influence fraud prevention, namely organizational culture and the role of internal audit. This literature review also has the aim of developing hypotheses about the influence between variables to be used in further research. The results of this research article conclude that organizational culture, and the role of internal audit have a positive effect on fraud prevention. This indicates that the better the organizational culture and internal audit, the better the implementation of fraud prevention in the organization
Das Kompensationsprinzip im Schweizer Raumplanungsrecht
Authors: Ingold Corina
Published: February 2024

Immer wieder gibt es Ansprüche an den Boden, die zwar nachvollziehbar sind, mit den verfassungsrechtlichen Zielen der haushälterischen Bodennutzung und Trennung von Baugebiet und Nichtbaugebiet aber kaum vereinbar sind. Kompensationsmechanismen bieten in solchen Situationen eine Handhabe, um gewisse Tätigkeiten dennoch zu ermöglichen. Kompensationsmechanismen haben sich heute in verschiedenen Teilbereichen des Raumplanungsrechts etabliert, so namentlich im Zusammenhang mit der Inanspruchnahme von Fruchtfolgeflächen sowie bei der Einzonung ohne Bedarfsnachweis. Im Rahmen der zweiten Etappe der RPG-Revision soll zudem mit dem sog. „Planungs- und Kompensationsansatz“ für Bauten und Anlagen ausserhalb der Bauzone ebenfalls ein Kompensationsmechanismus eingeführt werden. Neben Chancen birgt dies jedoch auch Risiken.
Capturing landscape identity in the context of urban renewal: The case of Kisumu City, Kenya
Authors: Koyoo Edwin , Breed Ida
Published: February 2024

Urban renewal is undertaken to respond to the physical deterioration of built forms in postcolonial Africa, with renewal works affecting current cities’ identities. Globalisation trends have cities striving to be unique, with a growing awareness of the importance of identity. Landscape identity is adopted in this study as the overall term that includes other identities and is interpreted as residents’ perception of the special features that help them differentiate between places. This study postulates that a city’s uniqueness lies in its landscape identity and that this should not be neglected. The article investigates the concept of landscape identity in the context of a case study of the city of Kisumu, Kenya, which has recently undergone urban renewal. The aim of the study was to identify the main aspects that constitute the formation of landscape identity in Kisumu. A mixed-methods approach was used, which included field investigations, a survey with 384 participants, and four key informant interviews. The survey results revealed that the city’s location along Lake Victoria, which represented an element of the natural environment, gave it the highest rating. The proximity to Lake Victoria and views of the hills were regarded as the most outstanding features of the city, while the lake was the highest ranked element with symbolic meaning that evoked individual and collective memories. These findings suggest that the urban landscape identity in Kisumu is strongly connected to features of the natural environment.
Transit-oriented development, development corridors and economic access: The Louis Botha development corridor’s impact
Authors: Van der Walt Bradley , Pretorius Ockert
Published: February 2024

Apartheid’s impact on South Africa’s urban spatial patterns persists, resulting in spatial fragmentation and inequality. Unsustainable urban sprawl exacerbates challenges related to economic access. To address said challenges, the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) implemented the Corridors of Freedom (CoF) initiative, emphasising economic inclusion. Amid substantial public sector investment, the initiative prioritised the Louis Botha Development Corridor (LBDC) to create a dense, mixed-use, walkable urban environment. However, limited research investigated the LBDC’s impact from an economic access perspective. This study investigates how the LBDC has improved economic access and provides policy insights for urban areas in South Africa, within the conceptual framework of transit-oriented development (TOD) and development corridors. A quantitative research approach using Network Analyst reveals that the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system increased economic access by 16% compared to other LBDC transport services. This study demonstrates the potential of the dual implementation of TOD and development corridors to foster economic access in the study area and concludes with policy recommendations centred on cross-departmental collaboration, feasibility studies and risk allocation, location-based criteria and transit accessibility targets, transit-oriented design guidelines, and integrated transport systems.
Rethinking urban risk and resettlement in the Global South, edited by Cassidy Johnson, Garima Jain, and Allan Lavell
Authors: Camară Gabriel
Published: February 2024

Facing disproportionately many mankind-induced risks and natural hazards, low-income populations in the Global South are also exposed to another threat, namely resettlement and relocation processes, although they are meant to reduce the risk of disaster. On many occasions, national and local governments as well as international funding agencies regard these as good measures. The problem is: “While this may reduce people’s exposure to hazard, it can lead to numerous other problems, which can leave people more vulnerable or worse off than they were before [given the fact that it is a difficult task to] “reconstitute their livelihoods and their infrastructural, economic, social, cultural and psychological foundations”.
Aplicación de la bioeconomía circular en el proceso de beneficio de café con cero residuos
Authors: Rodríguez-Valencia Nelson
Published: February 2024

Principales resultados de las investigaciones realizadas en Cenicafé y en el ámbito nacional e internacional para la elaboración de diferentes productos de valor agregado, a partir de los subproductos generados en la cadena de cosecha, beneficio e industrialización del café, detallando los procedimientos de obtención y aplicando los conceptos de Bioeconomía circular para optimizar el aprovechamiento de los subproductos, con el fin de generar beneficios para el productor de café y para el medio ambiente, a través de un proceso de beneficio de café con cero residuos.
JWST/NIRCam Transmission Spectroscopy of the Nearby Sub-Earth GJ 341b
Authors: Kirk James , Stevenson Kevin B. , Fu Guangwei , Lustig-Yaeger Jacob , Moran Sarah E. , Peacock Sarah , Alam Munazza K. , Batalha Natasha E. , Bennett Katherine A. , Gonzalez-Quiles Junellie , López-Morales Mercedes , Lothringer Joshua D. , MacDonald Ryan J. , May E. M. , Mayorga L. C. , Rustamkulov Zafar , Sing David K. , Sotzen Kristin S. , Valenti Jeff A. , Wakeford Hannah R.
Published: February 2024

We present a JWST/Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) transmission spectrum from 3.9 to 5.0 μm of the recently validated sub-Earth GJ 341b (R
P = 0.92 R
⊕, T
eq = 540 K) orbiting a nearby bright M1 star (d = 10.4 pc, K
mag = 5.6). We use three independent pipelines to reduce the data from the three JWST visits and perform several tests to check for the significance of an atmosphere. Overall, our analysis does not uncover evidence of an atmosphere. Our null hypothesis tests find that none of our pipelines’ transmission spectra can rule out a flat line, although there is weak evidence for a Gaussian feature in two spectra from different pipelines (at 2.3 and 2.9σ). However, the candidate features are seen at different wavelengths (4.3 μm versus 4.7 μm), and our retrieval analysis finds that different gas species can explain these features in the two reductions (CO2 at 3.1σ compared to O3 at 2.9σ), suggesting that they are not real astrophysical signals. Our forward-model analysis rules out a low-mean-molecular-weight atmosphere (<350× solar metallicity) to at least 3σ, and disfavors CH4-dominated atmospheres at 1–3σ, depending on the reduction. Instead, the forward models find our transmission spectra are consistent with no atmosphere, a hazy atmosphere, or an atmosphere containing a species that does not have prominent molecular bands across the NIRCam/F444W bandpass, such as a water-dominated atmosphere. Our results demonstrate the unequivocal need for two or more transit observations analyzed with multiple reduction pipelines, alongside rigorous statistical tests, to determine the robustness of molecular detections for small exoplanet atmospheres.
Magnetic Fields in the Central Molecular Zone Influenced by Feedback and Weakly Correlated with Star Formation
Authors: Lu 吕 Xing 行 , Liu 刘 Junhao 峻豪 , Pillai Thushara , Zhang Qizhou , Liu 刘 Tie 铁 , Gu 顾 Qilao 琦烙 , Hasegawa Tetsuo , Li Pak Shing , Tang Xindi , Hatchfield H Perry , Issac Namitha , Liu Xunchuan , Luo Qiuyi , Mai Xiaofeng , Shen Zhiqiang
Published: February 2024

Magnetic fields of molecular clouds in the central molecular zone (CMZ) have been relatively under-observed at sub-parsec resolution. Here, we report JCMT/POL2 observations of polarized dust emission in the CMZ, which reveal magnetic field structures in dense gas at ∼0.5 pc resolution. The 11 molecular clouds in our sample include two in the western part of the CMZ (Sgr C and a farside cloud candidate), four around the Galactic longitude 0 (the 50 km s−1 cloud, CO 0.02−0.02, the Stone, and the Sticks

and
Straw among the Three Little Pigs), and five along the Dust Ridge (G0.253+0.016, clouds b, c, d, and e/f), for each of which we estimate the magnetic field strength using the angular dispersion function method. The morphologies of magnetic fields in the clouds suggest potential imprints of feedback from expanding H ii regions and young massive star clusters. A moderate correlation between the total viral parameter versus the star formation rate (SFR) and the dense gas fraction of the clouds is found. A weak correlation between the mass-to-flux ratio and the SFR, and a weak anticorrelation between the magnetic field and the dense gas fraction are also found. Comparisons between magnetic fields and other dynamic components in clouds suggest a more dominant role of self-gravity and turbulence in determining the dynamical states of the clouds and affecting star formation at the studied scales.
Is the Atmosphere of the Ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-121 b Variable?
Authors: Changeat Q. , Skinner J. W. , Cho J. Y-K. , Nättilä J. , Waldmann I. P. , Al-Refaie A. F. , Dyrek A. , Edwards B. , Mikal-Evans T. , Joshua M. , Morello G. , Skaf N. , Tsiaras A. , Venot O. , Yip K. H.
Published: February 2024

We present a comprehensive analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope observations of the atmosphere of WASP-121 b, an ultra-hot Jupiter. After reducing the transit, eclipse, and phase-curve observations with a uniform methodology and addressing the biases from instrument systematics, sophisticated atmospheric retrievals are used to extract robust constraints on the thermal structure, chemistry, and cloud properties of the atmosphere. Our analysis shows that the observations are consistent with a strong thermal inversion beginning at ∼104 Pa on the dayside, solar to subsolar metallicity Z (i.e.,

−
0.77
<
log
(

Z
)
<
0.05

), and supersolar C/O ratio (i.e., 0.59 < C/O < 0.87). More importantly, utilizing the high signal-to-noise ratio and repeated observations of the planet, we identify the following unambiguous time-varying signals in the data: (i) a shift of the putative hotspot offset between the two phase curves and (ii) varying spectral signatures in the transits and eclipses. By simulating the global dynamics of WASP-121 b's atmosphere at high resolution, we show that the identified signals are consistent with quasiperiodic weather patterns, hence atmospheric variability, with signatures at the level probed by the observations (∼5% to ∼10%) that change on a timescale of ∼5 planet days; in the simulations, the weather patterns arise from the formation and movement of storms and fronts, causing hot (as well as cold) patches of atmosphere to deform, separate, and mix in time.
In silico and in vitro screening of pyrrole-based Hydrazide-Hydrazones as novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Authors: Mateev Emilio , Irfan Ali , Mateeva Alexandrina , Kondeva-Burdina Magdalena , Georgieva Maya , Zlatkov Alexander
Published: February 2024

Virtual screening is emerging as a highly applied technique and gained prominence as widely used method for the search and identification of potential hits, significantly reducing the time needed to discover novel and effective compounds compared to high-throughput screening. Recently, the superiority of simulations with multiple programs compared to a single software docking has been discussed. The aim of this work was to apply consensus docking, molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) free binding energy recalculations, and in vitro evaluations on an in-house dataset of recently synthesized pyrrole-based hydrazide-hydrazones in the search for novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. Two licensed softwares – GOLD 5.3 and Glide, were employed for the virtual screenings, and several chemotherapeutic potential hits were identified. Furthermore, MM/GBSA free binding energy recalculations were provided to enhance the robustness of the in silico results. The MM/GBSA scores of the top ten pyrrole-based hydrazide-hydrazones were ranging from -60.44 to -70.93 Kcal/mol. Subsequent, in vitro evaluations of the top ranked compounds revealed that 12d exhibited the highest AChE inhibitory activity, with a 55% inhibition rate at a concentration of 10 μM. Moreover, this prominent pyrrole-based AChE inhibitor formed stable complex with the active site of the enzyme. Interactions with the active amino residues Tyr72 and Tyr286 indicated that 12d was located near the peripheral anionic site of the enzyme. Additionally, in silicoADME investigations using QikProp demonstrated that 12d possesses optimal pharmacokinetic properties. In conclusion, this study identified a novel pyrrole-based AChE inhibitor 12d through a combination of computational and experimental findings.
Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Black Older Adults
Authors: Graham Karen L. , Paun Olimpia
Published: February 2024

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are socially complex events that affect children early in their lives. Research indicates that experiencing multiple ACEs increases an individual's risk for chronic physical and mental illness and premature death. Multigenerational traumas, including slavery, segregation, and institutional racism, have created an environment that perpetuates social and economic inequalities, ultimately leading to an increased risk of ACEs in Black individuals. ACEs' effects can manifest in Black older adults as physical health problems and mental health and social issues. Addressing the disparities in ACEs among Black older adults requires a multifaceted approach. Culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approaches are vital in supporting the mental and physical health of Black older adults who experienced ACEs. Clinicians, researchers, and policymakers need to advocate for supportive policies and interventions that address systemic racism, promote economic opportunities, and ensure equitable access to resources. [
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62
(2), 9–12.]
Low-calorie and carrot pulp incorporated shrikhand from low-fat cow milk: Optimization and quality evaluation
Authors: Sirajuddin  , Chauhan Geeta , Nanda Pramod K , Das Annada , Tomar Serlene , Das Arun K
Published: February 2024

The present study was undertaken to standardize the milk fat, stevia level, and optimize fortification of carrot pulp at 10, 20 or 30 % levels separately replacing the chakka for production of low-fat and low-sugar functional shrikhand, a fermented Indian dessert from cow milk. On the basis of sensory evaluation, it was determined that the most favorable shrikhand was prepared using milk with 1.5% fat and replacing 60% of the sugar with stevia. Additionally, the incorporation of carrot pulp at a 20% level was identified as the optimal choice. This carrot pulp-enriched shrikhand was further assessed for its physico-chemical attributes such as pH, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) value and water activity, microbiological quality (including total plate count, coliform, psychrophilic, yeast and mold counts), and sensory characteristics over a 9-day period, with evaluations at intervals of three days (0, 3, 6, and 9 days), and then it was compared with the control. Although the mean TBARS values showed an increasing trend, the values of carrot pulp treated shrikhand (0.497 mg manolaldehyde/kg) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than control (0.582 mg manolaldehyde/kg) samples during the 9 days storage period. Further, the sensory evaluation results of shrikhand with carrot pulp exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean scores for color, appearance, and overall acceptability. The microbiological quality parameters of both products (control and treated) remained within permissible limits, when stored under refrigerated conditions for up to 9 days. In conclusion, shrikhand with 20% carrot pulp is recommended due to its ability to add value to the product by enhancing its functional properties and overall acceptability.
A novel binary genetic differential evolution optimization algorithm for wind layout problems
Authors: Liu Yanting , Xu Zhe , Yu Yongjia , Chang Xingzhi
Published: February 2024

This paper addresses the increasingly critical issue of environmental optimization in the context of rapid economic development, with a focus on wind farm layout optimization. As the demand for sustainable resource management, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation rises, so does the complexity of managing environmental impacts and promoting sustainable practices. Wind farm layout optimization, a vital subset of environmental optimization, involves the strategic placement of wind turbines to maximize energy production and minimize environmental impacts. Traditional methods, such as heuristic approaches, gradient-based optimization, and rule-based strategies, have been employed to tackle these challenges. However, they often face limitations in exploring the solution space efficiently and avoiding local optima. To advance the field, this study introduces LSHADE-SPAGA, a novel algorithm that combines a binary genetic operator with the LSHADE differential evolution algorithm, effectively balancing global exploration and local exploitation capabilities. This hybrid approach is designed to navigate the complexities of wind farm layout optimization, considering factors like wind patterns, terrain, and land use constraints. Extensive testing, including 156 instances across different wind scenarios and layout constraints, demonstrates LSHADE-SPAGA's superiority over seven state-of-the-art algorithms in both the ability of jumping out of the local optima and solution quality.
Silver nanoclusters stabilized with PVP-BSA conjugate: Optical properties approach
Authors: Arrieta-Sandoval Nataly , Paz Juan Francisco Hernández , Olivas-Armendáriz Imelda , Elizabeth Valencia-Gómez Laura , Alejandra Claudia , González Rodríguez
Published: February 2024

The objective of this research was to synthesize fluorescent silver nanoclusters (NC Ag-BSA/PVP) using polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer (PVP) as a stabilizer in conjunction with bovine serum albumin protein (BSA). The nanoclusters were prepared using a wet chemistry reduction technique with two distinctive pathways: the addition of PVP after BSA and the addition of PVP after the metal precursor. The optical properties of the materials were studied in samples with different BSA/PVP molar ratios and varying amounts of metal/reductant. The impact of protein and polymer amounts on fluorescence was determined. The materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy.

It was observed that increasing the BSA/PVP ratio resulted in higher fluorescence intensity at λ = 450 nm and a decrease at λ = 600 nm. Regarding the metal/reductant ratio, the amount of metal ions impacted the intensity obtained at λ = 600 nm. The experiments revealed that BSA had the largest effect on fluorescence intensity at λ = 450 nm, with little effect on fluorescence intensity regardless of the amount of polymer used. Due to its one-step synthesis and favorable reaction conditions, the NC Ag-BSA/PVP obtained under the proposed methodology holds promise as an optical marker material. The use of the stabilizing duo BSA-PVP, as well as the proposed amounts in this research, serves as a precedent for developing new experimental syntheses of colloidal nanoparticles.