bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finite-time projective synchronization of fractional-order delayed quaternion-valued fuzzy memristive neural networks
Authors: He Yan , Zhang Weiwei , Zhang Hai , Cao Jinde , Alsaadi Fawaz E.
Published: January 2024

In this paper, the finite-time projective synchronization (FTPS) problem of fractionalorder quaternion-valued fuzzy memristor neural networks (FOQVFMNNs) is studied. Through establishing a feedback controller with signed functions and an adaptive controller, sufficient conditions for FTPS for FOQVFMNNs are obtained. Furthermore, the synchronization establishment time is calculated. Finally, the practicability of the conclusions is verified by numerical simulations.
Digital Engagement of Older Adults in Lithuania: Obstacles and Support Opportunities
Authors: Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė Margarita , Rapolienė Gražina
Published: January 2024

While Lithuania advances rapidly in the ICT sector, a digital divide persists among older adults. A study of 289 elderly Internet users highlighted key barriers and facilitators in digital engagement. Motivation stemmed from personal qualities like curiosity and past work experience with digital tools. Major barriers included language challenges, technical jargon, limited support, device comprehension issues, and emotional factors. Formal and informal training, peer support, gaming‘s role, and family, particularly younger members, emerged as crucial learning aids. The study underscores the need for strategies tailored to enhance digital inclusion of older people in Lithuania.
Using Trend Models for Analysis and Forecasting Basic Demographic Indicators (case study of Sumy Region, Ukraine)
Authors: Kornus Olesia H. , Kornus Anatolii O. , Pshenychna Liubov V. , Skyba Оlha О. , Shyshchuk Volodymyr D.
Published: January 2024

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the demographic situation in Sumy region and possible scenarios for its development. The aim of the article is to carry out a demographic forecast of the main demographic indicators of Sumy region (Ukraine) till 2030. Forecasting is based on defining the tendencies in the dynamics of demographic indicators during 1990-2021. It should be noted that the demographic situation in Sumy region is perhaps the most complicated in the national demographic dimension. According to many demographic indicators, the region holds the most negative positions in Ukraine. Besides, negative features continue to grow: over the past 10 years, the population of the region has decreased by 9.3%, urban – by 6.3%, and rural – by 15.4%. According to our forecast, the population of the region will decrease by another 12% and will amount to approximately 911 thousand inhabitants by 2030. Forecasting the number of the rural population showed a faster rate of its depopulation – up to 253.8 thousand people, or 18.8%. Besides, there will be negative changes in the population of certain age groups. For example, in the age group 0-17 years, there will be only 135 thousand people and the number of children will decrease by 17.7% by 2030. The main point is a significant decrease in the birth rate, which will be reduced by 14.5% during the forecast period. The fertility rate will decrease by 13.7% and it will amount to 0.7 children per woman. On the other hand, there is a tendency towards an increase in mortality, the level of which in 2021 reached the highest value – 20 ‰. According to our forecast, by 2030, the mortality rate will stabilize at the level of 19.6-19.7 ‰, and in the pessimistic scenario, it will increase by 16.2% (up to 23.2 ‰). As a result of the two demographic tendencies mentioned above, since the 1980s, there has been a natural decline in the population in Sumy region. By 2030, the rate of depopulation will increase by 2.4%, and its level will be -15.1% per year. The results of the demographic forecast can be used in assessing the balance of labor resources in the future, planning the development of the social sphere, housing construction, etc.
Politics of Knowledge in Conservation: (De)valued Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Bote in Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Authors: Mani Rai Indra , Kumar Dhakal Rebat
Published: January 2024

Political ecology studies have mostly explored the conflicts that arise between local communities and Indigenous peoples' (IPs') vulnerability to sustainable livelihoods based on nature and conservation regimes. Even in the context of the change in conservation tactics towards active community involvement and socioeconomic development, which has reinforced the fortress conservation strategy, traditional ways of life and the lived traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of IPs are under jeopardy. Nevertheless, the studies give little consideration to the way in which TEK is (de)valued for bolstering fortress conservation at the expense of IPs' livelihoods unsustainability. This study investigates the (de)valuation of TEK of Bote embedded in their traditional livelihoods through conservation management, based on a critical ethnographic investigation carried out in two villages of Bote IPs (in the Buffer Zone area) of Nawalparasi district of Chitwan National Park (CNP) –southern lowlands of Nepal. We argue that TEK is paralyzed by a conservation regime without acknowledging the symbiotic relationship between IPs and biodiversity.  Therefore, in order to conserve biodiversity and support the mutual sustainability of biodiversity and local livelihoods, there needs to be active guardianship and stewardship of IPs.
ANALISIS INDIKATOR DAN STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) (STUDI KASUS SENTRA IKAN NILA (Oreochromis niloticus) KABUPATEN BENGKULU UTARA)
Authors: Muflihani Andra Rizky , Romdhon M Mustopa , Novanda Ridha Rizki
Published: January 2024

Sentra ikan nila merupakan salah satu lokasi strategis dalam pengembangan budidaya ikan nila. Desa Tambak Rejo merupakan sentra ikan nila. Pada 5 tahun terakhir, produksi ikan nila mengalami fluktuasi yang mengakibatkan ketidakmampuan beberapa petani dalam memenuhi kebutuhan sehari-hari. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk 1) menganalisis relevansi indikator SDGs di sentra ikan nila Kabupaten Bengkulu Utara, dan 2) mendesain strategi pengembangan SDGs di sentra ikan nila Kabupaten Bengkulu Utara. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Desa Tambak Rejo Kabupaten Bengkulu Utara. Responden dalam penelitian ini  berjumlah 138 petani dan 8 responden pakar. Data yang digunakan yaitu data primer dan sekunder, serta analisis data menggunakan analisis deskriptif untuk menganalisis relevansi indikator SDGs dan menggunakan metode matriks banding berpasang untuk mendesain strategi pengembangan SDGs di sentra ikan nila Desa Tambak Rejo Kabupaten Bengkulu Utara. Hasil analisis didapatkan bahwa 8 SDGs yang relevan dengan sentra ikan nila dan 6 SDGs tidak relevan dengan sentra ikan nila. Strategi pengembangan SDGs dapat dikembangkan melalui susunan prioritas 1) Tanpa kemiskinan; 2) Pendidikan berkualitas; 3) Industri, inovasi dan infrastruktur; 4) Desa dan permukiman yang berkelanjutan; 5) Konsumsi dan produksi yang bertanggungjawab; dan 5) Ekosistem daratan.Tilapia fish center is one of the strategic locations in the development of tilapia aquaculture. Tambak Rejo Village is a center for tilapia. In the last 5 years, tilapia production has fluctuated which resulted in the inability of some farmers to meet their daily needs. This study aims to 1) analyze the relevance of the SDGs indicators in the tilapia centers of North Bengkulu Regency, and 2) design a strategy for developing SDGs in the tilapia centers of North Bengkulu Regency. This research was conducted in Tambak Rejo Village, North Bengkulu Regency. Respondents in this study amounted to 138 farmers and 8 expert respondents. The data used are primary and secondary data, as well as data analysis using descriptive analysis to analyze the relevance of the SDGs indicators and using the paired comparison matrix method to design a SDGs development strategy in tilapia centers in Tambak Rejo Village, North Bengkulu Regency. The results of the analysis found that 8 SDGs were relevant to tilapia centers and 6 SDGs were not relevant to tilapia centers. The SDGs development strategy can be developed through an arrangement of priorities 1) No poverty; 2) Quality education; 3) Industry, innovation and infrastructure; 4) Villages and sustainable settlements; 5) Responsible consumption and production; and 5) Terrestrial ecosystems.
THE ANALYSIS OF ROBERT COX'S CRITICAL THEORY: THE INHERENT SUBJECTIVITY AND PURPOSEFUL NATURE OF THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS
Authors: Jundana Aizza
Published: January 2024

Robert Cox's assertion that “theory is always for someone and for and some purpose" is a fundamental tenet of political science and international relations, emphasizing the inherent subjective and purposeful nature of theoretical frameworks. This study critically examines Cox's contribution to International Relations (IR) through critical theory. This study is based on a qualitative research approach and uses an extensive literature review to gather relevant information, thorough analysis of existing journals and books, providing a comprehensive understanding of Cox's critical theory and its impact on the field of IR. The finding of this study highlights the need for continued evaluation of Cox popular IR theory and the application of Cox's theoretical foundations to deepen understanding of the world. Cox's critical theory brings new perspectives and contributes significantly to the diversity of theoretical frameworks in IR. This study highlights the transformative impact of Cox's critical approach and its relevance to shaping contemporary debates in the international relations.
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS STUDY OF THE THERMAL TRANSPORT PROPERTIES IN THE GRAPHENE/C3N MULTILAYER IN-PLANE HETEROSTRUCTURES
Authors: Zhu Junjie , Wang Jifen , Liu Xinyi , Zhao Kuan
Published: January 2024

We investigated the interfacial thermal conductance of the graphene/C3N multilayer in-plane heterostructures by nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation. The results showed that the interfacial thermal conductance is 12.97 GW/(m2·K) and the thermal rectification ratio is 23.80% in the bilayer of the multilayer parallel stacked heterostructure. The interfacial thermal conductance and the thermal rectification ratio of the multilayer staggered stacked heterostructure decreased with number of the layers increasing and both convergent as the layers. The phonon participation ratio and interaction energy of two stacking types exhibits a similar trend with interfacial thermal conductance as the number of layers changes. The interfacial thermal conductance of both structures is raised substantially with temperature. The interfacial thermal conductance of multilayer heterostructures could be adjusted by altering the defect type, concentration, and distribution proportion and the changes in phonon activities were investigated through phonon density of states and overlap factor S. This work proves the reference for thermal management applications in microelectronic devices.
Elevated Option-Implied Interest Rate Volatility and Downside Risks to Economic Activity
Authors: Sarisoy Cisil
Published: January 2024

Measures of uncertainty about U.S. short maturity interest rates derived from options have risen sharply since October 2021, reaching their highest levels in more than a decade. This note first uses survey-based measures of economic uncertainty to argue that this increase in option-implied measures likely reflect higher uncertainty about inflation, the associated monetary policy response, and the perceived resulting downside risks to economic activity.
Tokenization: Overview and Financial Stability Implications
Authors: Carapella Francesca , Chuan Grace , Gerszten Jacob , Hunter Chelsea , Swem Nathan
Published: January 2024

In this paper we outline tokenization, which is a new and rapidly growing financial innovation in crypto asset markets, and we discuss potential benefits and financial stability implications. Tokenization refers to the process of constructing digital representations (crypto tokens) for non-crypto assets (reference assets). As we discuss below, tokenizations create interconnections between the digital asset ecosystem and the traditional financial system. At sufficient scale, tokenized assets could transmit volatility from crypto asset markets to the markets for the crypto token’s reference assets.
Filozófia, természetfilozófia és természettudomány
Authors: Ropolyi László
Published: January 2024

A természettudományos diszciplínák történeti forrása és egymással való kapcsolataik meghatározó tényezője a természetfilozófia. Minden természettudomány természetfilozófiai alapokra épül és természetfilozófiai komponenseket is hordoz. A természettudományos diszciplínák egymáshoz való viszonya, a diszciplináris határok kijelölése és esetleges összefonódásaik létrejötte és fennállása alapvetően természetfilozófiai álláspontok és elvek érvényesítésének a következménye. Ilyenformán a természettudományok történeti alakulásának, aktuális mondanivalójának, és diszciplináris szerkezetének megértésében nyilvánvalóan fontos és hasznos a mindenkori természetfilozófiai szemléletmódok megismerése és tanulmányozása.
Farklı Diş Beyazlatma Yöntemlerinin Dişlerde Renk Değişimi ve Yüzey Özelliklerine Etkileri
Authors: TURP Işıl , TUNCEL İlkin , TURP Volkan , USUMEZ Aslihan
Published: January 2024

Amaç: Işık ile aktive edilmeden, LED ışık kaynağı ile ve Er: YAG lazer ile aktive edilen %40 konsantrasyondaki hidrojen peroksit (HP) beyazlatma jeli ile beyazlatma işleminin renk değişikliğine, yüzeyin mikrosertlik ve pürüzlülük özelliklerine olan etkilerini incelemektir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmada çekilmiş sağlıklı üçüncü büyük azı dişleri kullanılmıştır. Akrilik bloklara gömülen dişler 2200 grit’e kadar zımpara ile zımparalanarak minede düz yüzeyler elde edilmiştir. Biri kontrol grubu (Grup K) olmak üzere toplam dört grup değerlendirilmiştir. Bunlar; aktivasyon yapılmaksızın beyazlatma jeli uygulanan grup (Grup J), 385-515 nm dalga boyunda ve 3200 mW/cm2 güçte ışık üreten LED ışık kaynağı ile beyazlatma yapılan grup (Grup LED) ve 50 mJ enerji ile10 Hz’de ve VLP modunda (1000 µs atım süresi) ile kullanılan Er:YAG lazer ile aktivasyon yapılan gruptur (Grup Er:YAG). Beyazlatma işleminin öncesinde ve sonrasında spektrofotometre ile renk ölçümü yapılmış ve renk değişimi (∆E00) CIEDE2000 formülü ile hesaplanmıştır. Bir hafta örnekler yapay tükürük içerisinde bekletildikten sonra 980 g yük 15 s boyunca uygulanarak mikrosertlik ölçümleri ve kontakt tipi bir profilometre ile pürüzlülük ölçümleri yapılmıştır. Veriler Oneway ANOVA testi ile değerlendirilmiştir.
Bulgular: Beyazlatma yapılan tüm gruplarda renk değişikliği gözle fark edilebilme eşiğinin üzerinde saptanırken gruplar arası anlamlı farklılık bulunmamıştır. Kontrol grubu ile beyazlatma yapılan gruplarda mikrosertlik ve pürüzlülük değerleri anlamlı bir değişim göstermemiştir.
Sonuç: Beyazlatma işleminden bir hafta sonra diş minesinin yüzey özellikleri beyazlatma yapılmamış mineden farklı değildir.
Genç-Erişkin Türk Toplumunda Yüz Estetiğinin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: YOLCU İrem , ÇİÇEK Orhan , ÖZKALAYCI Nurhat
Published: January 2024

AMAÇ: Yapılan çalışmada; teşhis ve tedavi planlamasına yardımcı olabilecek, ortodonti literatüründe faydalanılan normal kavramı yerine, toplum tarafından beğenilen genç erişkin bireylere ait yumuşak doku parametrelerinin elde edilmesi hedeflenmektedir.
GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: Çalışmada; yüz bölgesinde asimetri ve travma hikayesi olmayan, 20-31 yaş aralığında 88 kadın ve 61 erkeğe ait profil ve cephe fotoğrafları kullanıldı. Katılımcıların profil ve cephe fotoğrafları Google formlar üzerinden anket haline getirilerek; 4 ortodontist, 4 diş hekimi, 4 plastik cerrah, 4 mimar ve 4 meslek dışı bireylerin bulunduğu panele sunuldu. Panelistlerden, fotoğrafları 1-10 arasında puanlamaları istendi. Puanlama sonucuna göre; 7 ve üzeri 13 birey çekici grubu oluştururken, 3 ve altı 13 birey çekici bulunmayan grubu oluşturdu. Çekici bulunan ve bulunmayan gruplardaki 26 bireyin açısal ölçümleri yapıldı, vertikal ve horizontal mesafeler ölçülerek birbirlerine oranlandı. Puanlama sonucuna göre, çekici grubu oluşturan erkek sayısı yetersiz olduğu için erkek bireyler çalışma dışı bırakıldı. Verilerin normal dağılımı Shapiro-Wilk testi ile, gruplar arası karşılaştırma ise Mann Whitney U-testi kullanılarak istatistiksel olarak değerlendirildi (p<0.05).
BULGULAR: Cephe analizi sonucunda; yüz genişliğinin yüz yüksekliğine oranı, alar kanat genişliğinin nazal yüksekliğe oranı ve bigonial genişliğin ağız genişliğine oranı çekici bireylerde istatistiksel olarak daha yüksek bulunurken; interkantal genişliğin yüz genişliğine oranı daha düşük bulunmuştur (p<0.05). Profil analizi sonucunda; total vertikal açı, nazal açı, orta ve alt fasiyal üçlü açıları çekici bireylerde istatistiksel olarak daha düşük bulunurken; fasiyal konveksite açısı daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p<0.05).
SONUÇ: Yüzün vertikal büyüme paterni, burun ucu pozisyonu, yüz konveksitesi ve yüze ait vertikal ve transversal oranlardaki uyum kadınlarda yüz çekiciliğini belirleyen faktörler arasındadır.
Estimativa da Umidade Volumétrica Saturada de Solos Brasileiros para Manejo Sustentável de Água na Agricultura
Authors: Teixeira Bruna Correia , Moura Laís Araújo , Costa Lorena Vila Bela , Soares Willames de Albuquerque , Monteiro Eliana Cristina Barreto
Published: January 2024

Funções de Pedotransferência (FPT) são utilizadas para estimar características hidráulicas do solo cuja aferição é laboriosa e implica altos custos, sobretudo em um país de dimensões continentais como o Brasil. Visto que a determinação da umidade volumétrica saturada auxilia no manejo sustentável da água empregada na agricultura, evitando desperdícios, o presente trabalho buscou desenvolver uma nova FPT com o fito de predizer essa propriedade para os solos brasileiros, utilizando a base de dados HYBRAS. Foram consideradas 1053 amostras referentes a solos das regiões Norte, Nordeste, Centro-Oeste, Sudeste e Sul do país, cujo banco de dados informa os parâmetros hidráulicos de cada amostra coletada. Empregando-se o método de Regressão Linear Múltipla, a função foi desenvolvida a partir do valor de densidade medido in loco e as frações de areia e argila, tendo sido validada por meio da comparação dos resultados com aqueles obtidos por modelos disponíveis na literatura. Quando comparada com Funções de Pedotransferência existentes, a nova função alcançou comportamento satisfatório, apresentando valores próximos aos ideais para os seguintes parâmetros: Erro Quadrado Médio, Eficiência do Modelo, Coeficiente de Massa Residual e Razão dos Desvios. Deste modo, pode ser aplicada para os diferentes solos existentes no Brasil e presentes no banco de dados utilizado.
Visualidades contemporáneas, ciudadanía y sabiduría digital: Afrontar las posibilidades sin eludir las tensiones / Contemporary Visualities, Digital Citizenship and Digital Wisdom. Confronting possibilities without advoiding tensions
Authors: Sancho Gil Juana María , Hernández Hernández Fernando , Rivera Vargas Pablo José
Published: January 2024

En los últimos años la proliferación de tecnologías digitales (TD) para crear, almacenar, transformar, mezclar, transmitir y acceder a todo tipo de información ha supuesto una auténtica revolución en distintos ámbitos de la vida. La información visual (re)crea estereotipos, modelos, deseos, mundos irreales, posibles e imposibles, que constituyen y proyectan nuestros imaginarios y permean nuestras realidades. Esta revolución de lo visual, esta creciente facilidad, tanto para crear imágenes, como para transmitirlas y acceder a ellas, está teniendo un impacto considerable en la redefinición de los conceptos de ciudadanía y sabiduría y por tanto de la educación.  En este contexto, discutimos las cuestiones relacionadas con lo que se ha dado en llamar la ciudadanía y la sabiduría digital, sobre todo en sus dimensiones relacionadas con un uso prudente de las mismas y el derecho (y el deber) del ciudadano de contar con una educación que le permita entender y participar en la sociedad, defender sus derechos y cumplir con sus obligaciones. En este artículo nos centraremos en la caracterización de las visualidades en la era digital, las nociones de ciudadanía y sabiduría en este contexto y sus implicaciones para la educación.AbstractIn recent years, the impressive development of digital technology (TD) to create, store, process, mix, transmit and access all kinds of information has become a revolution in various spheres of life. Visual information (re)creates stereotypes, patterns, desires, unreal, possible and impossible worlds, which shape and project our imaginaries and permeate our realities. This revolution of the visual, the increasing ease, both to create images, and to store, transmit and access them is having a considerable impact on redefining the concepts of citizenship and wisdom and therefore of education. In this context, we discuss issues related to the so-called digital citizenship and digital wisdom. Especially in their dimensions related to prudent use of them and the right (and duty) of the citizens to have an education that allows them to understand and participate in society, defend their rights and fulfill their obligations. In this paper, we focus on the characterization of the visualities in the digital age, the notions of citizenship and wisdom in this context and its implications for education.
Ciudadanía digital y bienestar de las mujeres rurales en las redes sociales / Rural women´s digital citizenship and well being in social networks
Authors: Jiménez Cortés Rocío
Published: January 2024

La práctica de la ciudadanía digital en condiciones de equidad es uno de los principales retos políticos ante las nuevas formas de vida social, política y económica que emergen con el impacto de las TIC. El ejercicio de una ciudadanía digital activa se resume en el derecho y la capacidad para participar plenamente en la sociedad de la información con confianza, de forma segura y aprovechando al máximo su potencial en beneficio personal. Esta investigación se ocupa del grado en que las mujeres que viven en zonas rurales ejercitan su ciudadanía digital a partir del estudio de prácticas digitales concretas como la gestión de su identidad en red y la participación democrática en redes sociales.  En la investigación se sigue un diseño cuantitativo basado en encuestas personales a 478 mujeres rurales andaluzas con distintos perfiles. Los resultados muestran un ejercicio de la ciudadanía digital moderado con diferencias en función del nivel educativo de las mujeres y del tamaño de su red. El estudio muestra prácticas digitales necesarias para que las mujeres rurales participen activamente en estos nuevos entornos en los que se construye la ciudadanía. De acuerdo con otros estudios, este trabajo muestra a las redes sociales como la tecnología digital con mayor potencial para la inclusión digital de las mujeres rurales y desvela cómo determinadas prácticas digitales activan la participación ciudadana e impactan en su bienestar.AbstractThe practice of the digital citizenship in conditions of equity is one of the principal political challenges for the social, political and economic new life forms.These changes emerge with the impact of the new digital technologies. The digital active citizenship is the right and the aptitude to take part in the society of the information with confidence and security. Women´s digital citizenship was a key to maximum exploitation of the benefits of ICT. This research studies the degree in which the rural women exercise his digital citizenship across a particular practices as the management of his identity and the democratic participation in social networks and its relation with the well-being. This research follow a quantitative design based on surveys to 478 rural women from Andalusia with different profiles. The results show an moderated exercise of the digital citizenship with differences to educational level and the size of the network. The study shows digital practices necessary for rural women to actively participate in these new environments in which citizenship is built. According to other studies, this study shows social networks like digital technology with the greatest potential for digital inclusion of rural women and reveals how certain digital practices activate citizen participation and impact on their well being.
Further Micro-scaled MEDI (Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from Invertebrates) v2
Authors: P Cuff Jordan
Published: January 2024

Macronutrients, comprising carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, underpin many ecological processes, but their quantification in ecological studies is often inaccurate and laborious, requiring large investments of time and bulk samples, which make individual‐level studies impossible. This is a protocol for the direct, rapid and relatively low‐cost determination of macronutrient content from single small macroinvertebrates. Macronutrients are extracted by a sequential process of soaking in 1:12 chloroform:methanol solution to remove lipid and then solubilising tissue in 0.1M NaOH. Proteins, carbohydrates and lipids were determined by colorimetric assays from the same individual specimens. Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from Invertebrates (MEDI) can directly and rapidly determine macronutrient content in tiny (dry mass <1mg). Using MEDI, the total macronutrient content of over 50 macroinvertebrates can be determined within around 3days of collection at a cost of ~$1.35 per sample.
Detecting Turning Points and Phases of Expansions and Recessions of the Restaurant Industry: Subject to Korean Restaurant Industry Business and its Growth Cycles
Authors:   People&Global Business Association, F f , F f , F f
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to detect turning points and phases of expansions and recessions of the Korean restaurant industry.
Design/methodology/approach: This study investigated long-term economic trends in the restaurant industry cycle and growth cycle by utilizing yearly data spanning over fifty years covering year 1970 through year 2021. The rules developed by Niemira and Klein (1994) and additional criteria used in the studies of Choi (1999) and Choi (2010) were employed to determine industry cycles.
Findings: This study established a restaurant industry growth cycle model and defined turning points and phases of expansions and recessions of the industry and growth cycles during the period 1970-2021. Detailed findings are reported in the article.
Research limitations/implications: The results of this study provide a grasp information for policy makers, investors, and industry people both in its practical and academic fields. However, since economic recessions may have a stronger impact on firms and individuals than economic expansions (Yost, Ridderstaat & Kizildag, 2020), follow- up research is required to focus more on recessions in order to get more information.
Originality/value: This is the first attempt to examine the long-term cyclical characteristics of the Korean restaurant industry as comprehensively as possible using data covering over 50 years, which marks the contribution of this article.
Enhancing Quality across Industries: A Systematic Literature Review on the Impact of Six Sigma
Authors:   People&Global Business Association, F f , F f , F f , F f , F f
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic literature review on the impact of Six Sigma in various industries.
Design/methodology/approach: A total of 83 articles from respected international journals published between 2015 and 2020 were selected and analyzed. The inclusion criteria ensured that the articles focused on quality improvement using the Six Sigma approach and were published by reputable publishers.
Findings: The f indings of the s tudy reveal that manufacturing emerged as the most prevalent sector, with 17 studies dedicated to it. Among the selected articles, case studies were the most employed research method, accounting for 59 studies. Moreover, the study highlights the primary benefits associated with implementing Six Sigma. The most notable benefit is the reduction of defect rates, followed by improvements in efficiency and cost reduction. the primary benefit of Six Sigma is the reduction of defects (52 cases or 42.75%), followed by improvement in efficiency (49 cases or 37.40%), and then cost reduction (26 cases or 19.85%).
Research limitations/implications: Based on the results, the study recommends that organizations adopt Six Sigma to enhance the quality of their processes, increase efficiency, and minimize costs.
Originality/value: T his recommendation is p articularly relevant f or t he m anufacturing s ector, which s howcased the highest concentration of research studies in the literature.
Flexible Exchange Rate Regimes in Emerging Markets: Current Insights and Avenues for Future Research
Authors:   People&Global Business Association, F f , F f
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Providing a structured literature review on the flexiblization of exchange rate regime in emerging countries with a focus on recent studies conducted in the field, in order to identify promising opportunities of future research.
Design/methodology/approach: Starting with a review of the International Monetary System (IMS) evolution before addressing the theoretical corpus related to exchange rate regimes, before shedding the light on the main types of exchange regimes. Then, reviewing the main studies published between 2000 and 2023.
Findings: The more we deepen the research in the field, the more we realize that the literature has not given enough interest to study the impact of exchange rate regime flexiblization on the microeconomic level, especially on companies. Indeed, it would be interesting to study the impact of exchange rate regimes flexiblization on companies mainly through financial performance indicators, e.g., solvency, turnover and financial profitability.
Research limitations/implications: The limitations of this study are the few even missing work studies done on the micro economic level to deeply analyze the aspects of this shutter.
Originality/value: The originality of this work is to have a critical analysis of the existing knowledge body and current contributions in the field in order to identify potential further unexplored aspects such as studying the impact of exchange rate regime on firms, on the micro economic level, which is an area not exploited in literature. A better understanding of the impact on companies' profitability could benefit more practitioners as well as policymakers to more likely frame and control the process of floating their local currency.
Role of Attitude and Intention on the Relationship between Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, Trust, and E-Tax System Behavior
Authors:   People&Global Business Association, F f , F f , F f
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The study proposes to analyze the effect of perceived ease of use on perceived usefulness and trust. Furthermore, the s tudy examined the mediation effect of attitude and intention on behavior to use the e-tax system.
Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a quantitative approach with a survey as a data collection method. Respondents are 150 small and medium entrepreneurs in Central Java, Indonesia, who have used e-tax system.
Findings: The results showed that perceived ease of use positively affects perceived usefulness and trust. Other results demonstrated that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and trust have positive contributions toward attitude. Furthermore, the study confirmed that attitude has a significant influence on intention, however, trust has no effect. Finally, the finding reveal that intention predicted e-tax system behavior.
Research limitations/implications: The results reveal that perceived ease has a significant influence of perceived usefulness and trust. Therefore, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and trust are significant determinants of tax attitude, intention, and behavior to use the e-tax system.
Originality/value: The study contributes to TAM theory by adding the sociodemographic characteristics of SME entrepreneurs on the e-tax system behavior, and the mediating role of attitudes and intentions in the relationship between factors of tax behavior.
Design and Feasibility Study of a Standalone Photovoltaic System for Electrifying a Healthcare Centre in a Rural Area of Malaysia: A Case Study
Authors:   Kolej Komuniti Kuala Langat, Selangor, Wan Ismail Wan Robiah , Ibrahim Norlie Yuzanna ,   Department of Electrical Engineering, Politeknik Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Sharif Shafura ,   Department of Electrical Engineering, Politeknik Merlimau Melaka, Mat Isa Normazlina ,   Department of Electrical Engineering, Politeknik Merlimau Melaka, Zakaria Anies Faziehan ,   Department of Engineering Education, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Published: January 2024

le="Abstract"]
Malaysia is strategically located at the sunbelt viability, where it receives a large amount of sunshine every day. This makes the solar photovoltaic technology popularly utilized particularly in rural areas that are isolated from the main grid. These areas have the potential to use photovoltaic technology to meet load requirements. Compared to grid connected photovoltaic systems, standalone photovoltaic systems offer several benefits to system owners including low maintenance, low upkeep cost, no waste or by-products, and easy expansion through the use of multiple solar panels and batteries. This article presents a design phase of the Standalone Photovoltaic System (SAPVS) to electrify the healthcare centre in Kampung Tewowoh, Kluang, Johor. The design steps for SAPVS are discussed to obtain the required parameter for each component in the SAPVS. The results indicate that 16 panels, 1219.52Ah/day, 1437.5A and 350 (A) are needed for the PV panels, battery capacity, inverter, and charge controller, respectively. It is proven that SAPVs are technically viable and feasible for electrifying the healthcare centre in the specified area.
Students’ Acceptance of Drones Using the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice (KAP) Model
Authors:   Department of Engineering Education, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia, Mohd Yunus Siti Noranis’s , Techanamurthy Umawathy ,   Department of Engineering Education, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,  Malaysia
Published: January 2024

Currently, drones are used for commercial, public safety, recreational, and scientific research purposes. Both short-term and long-term projections indicate the extensive adoption of drones in numerous industries. However, it is uncertain whether future generations will tolerate this high potential for drone congestion. This quantitative survey study investigated students' approval of drones by employing the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practise (KAP) model and reducing uncertainty with statistical analysis. A recent survey utilised the KAP model to determine the public's perception of drones. This survey instrument was completely redesigned to better comprehend students' knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions regarding forty distinct drone applications. The practise section was also redesigned to better comprehend how students use drones on a personal and academic level. The results indicated that drones are currently approved. Commercial and recreational uses are not permitted. Students view drones as a potentially dangerous technology that directly invades their privacy. Furthermore, students are unaware of the majority of prospective and current drone applications. The survey was disseminated to college and high school students to represent the younger generation of the population (113 completed surveys). Additionally, students must be informed about these strategies via the media and educational institutions. This may assist in transforming the perception of drones from destroying machines and privacy invaders to a technology beneficial to society
Characterization of Musical Data Signals Resulting from Traditional Musical Instruments Using Fractal Features
Authors:   Jabatan Kejuruteraan Mekanikal dan Pembuatan, Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi Selangor, Malaysia, Yan Loh Guan , Ahmat Zainuri Nuryazmin ,   Jabatan Pendidikan Kejuruteraan, Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi Selangor, Malaysia, Nuawi Mohd Zaki ,   abatan Kejuruteraan Mekanikal dan Pembuatan, Fakulti Kejuruteraan dan Alam Bina, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi Selangor, Malaysia
Published: January 2024

Musical instruments are usually distinguished by their sound produced through human perception which may lead to misinterpretation due to auditory perception bias and other disturbances. Therefore, recognition using music signals is carried out to help characterize signals from different musical instruments. Fractal analysis is a mathematical tool used to study complex and irregular patterns in various systems. In this study, fractal analysis was used to study and analyze musical notes signal data from different instruments. The fractal analysis method used is the box counting method. The traditional musical instruments involved in this study are the seruling, cak lempong, kompang, and gambus. Matlab software was used to analyze the musical data signal. First, the fractal dimension of the music data signal in the form of time domain is calculated. Then, the mean and standard deviation of the fractal dimension values were determined to recognize different musical instruments. Additionally, different image resolutions and box sizes are also used to calculate the fractal dimension of musical instrument from the time domain data. The error of best fit line, E will also be calculated to ensure the reliability of box counting dimensions using leastsquares regression method. The results show that the value of the fractal dimension for all 18 data is between 1.2636 to 1.7543. In terms of musical instrument recognition, the recognition of seruling and kompang using mean fractal dimension is successful. However, this method is less suitable for identification for cak lempong and gambus due to the high standard deviation. By using different image resolutions and box sizes, the accuracy of fractal dimension values will be affected. Increasing these parameters increases the accuracy of the results. The results of the study show that an image with a resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels and a scaling factor of 9 is suitable to analyze the fractal characteristics of musical instrument data signals by using the box counting method.
Determination of Stopping Distance for Low CC Motorcycles with Antilock Braking
Authors:   Vulnerable Road User and Mobility Unit (VRUM),, Omar Afiqah , Lamin Fauziana ,   Passenger Vehicle and Occupant Safety Unit (PVOS), Zulkipli Zarir Hafiz ,   Vulnerable Road User and Mobility Unit (VRUM),, Hamzah Azhar ,   Director-General Office, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, Lot 125-135, Jln TKS 1, Taman Kajang Sentral, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: January 2024

Motorcycles are among the favorite transportation preferred by Malaysians. Almost half of the vehicles registered in Malaysia are motorcycles. This is due to the price affordability and size, where almost 80% of the motorcycles owned are categorized under engine capacity below 250 cc. Similar to other Southeast Asia countries, motorcyclists remain the highest contributor to road traffic fatalities and injuries in Malaysia. The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), has elevated the importance of safety technology in passenger cars such as antilock braking system (ABS) and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in order to protect the occupants. However, the limitation of space and power requirements in two-wheel motorcycles deferred the technology implementation. Previous studies have attempted to study the effectiveness of ABS for motorcycles with 250 cc and above. Focusing on the low cc motorcycle of less than 250 cc, this paper compares motorcycle braking distance and rider stability between motorcycles with ABS and motorcycles without ABS during dry and wet conditions. The braking distance produced by ABS is reduced by 50% and 12% in dry and wet conditions respectively. In addition, motorcycles with ABS were tested at higher speeds of 50 km/h. ABS motorcycles shows consistent data for a series of tests. This finding demonstrates the effectiveness of ABS in improving braking performance for low cc motorcycles.
Analytical Formulation for Optimisation of Torque Density in Magnetic Gears
Authors:   Instrumentation, Dynamics, & Control of Engineering Systems Research Group (INDICES) Department & Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia, Salimin Nuraqilah Nasuha , Mohamed Haris Sallehuddin ,   Instrumentation, Dynamics, & Control of Engineering Systems Research Group (INDICES) Department & Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia, Md Saad Mohd Hanif ,   Instrumentation, Dynamics, & Control of Engineering Systems Research Group (INDICES) Department & Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
Published: January 2024

Energy efficiency is a very important consideration in vehicle design today. Minimizing weight would go a long way in this direction, as it directly contributes up to 75% of fuel consumption. Mechanical gearboxes and transmissions are components that add significantly to vehicle weight. For example, the mass of typical automotive transmissions ranges from 40 to 200 kg, depending on the size of the vehicle. In recent years, magnetic gears (MG) have gained attention as realistic alternatives to mechanical gears. MGs operate without contact, where torque amplification, reduction, and transmission are achieved through the interaction of magnetic fields, which allows for lighter designs. For practical use in automotive vehicles, MGs must be capable of transferring sufficient amounts of torque. To maintain being compact and lightweight, the torque density of the MG must be maximized. Hence, the MG needs to be designed in such a way so as to achieve high flux concentration. Torque density analysis of MGs is not trivial, and often, some trade-offs between accuracy and computational cost is required. Several methods of analysis have been used by various researchers, including Finite Element Analysis, Reluctance Network Analysis (RNA), the Quasi 3D Analytical Method, and Genetic Algorithms (GA). In this work, we examine these methods and present an analytical formulation that relates MG torque to its physical parameters. Understanding such relationships could help optimise future MG designs such that torque density can be maximised.
Ignition Stability of Hydrogen in Noble Gases Atmosphere in Compression Ignition Engine
Authors:   Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Centre of Automotive Research Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia, Mat Taib Norhidayah , Wan Mahmood Wan Mohd Faizal ,   Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Centre of Automotive Research Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia, Koten Hasan ,   Department of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, Istanbul Medeniyet Universitesi, 34700 Istanbul, Turkey, Abu Mansor Mohd Radzi ,   Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Centre of Automotive Research Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
Published: January 2024

Hydrogen fuel promises a high engine efficiency and the ability to eliminate harmful emissions in an internal combustion engine. However, the ignition stability of hydrogen in compression ignition engine is unstable due to the high-auto ignition temperature of hydrogen. Noble gases such as argon, krypton and xenon have a larger molecular weight compared to nitrogen. Therefore, replacing nitrogen with noble gases appears to be a promising option due to their high specific heat ratio. This paper aims to investigate the ignition stability in a heavy molecular noble gases atmosphere in a CI engine. In this study, Converge CFD software simulates a singlecylinder compression ignition engine model based on the Yanmar NF19SK engine parameters. Hydrogen combustion in a noble gas atmosphere resulted in low ignition stability when operated at low intake temperature. Based on this study, we found that increasing intake temperature improves the ignition stability. As a result, argon is the most preferable among other noble gases. Nevertheless, future research should investigate the other noble gases’ capability under different parameters to improve the engine's thermal efficiency.
Evaluating the Potential of Additive Manufacturing in Repair for Remanufacturing Using AHP Method: Case Study of Automotive Brake Caliper
Authors:   Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Computing, Manipal International University, No. 1, Jalan MIU Boulevard Nilai Putra, 78100 Nilai Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, Ci Way Iva Song , Abd Aziz Nurhasyimah ,   Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, Awang Nurfadzylah ,   Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, Abd Wahab Dzuraidah ,   Centre for Automotive Research, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,  43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: January 2024

In line with technological advancements in the era of IR 4.0, it is crucial for remanufacturing process to shift towards the more sustainable automated process. One of the remanufacturing activities that is currently gaining significant interest is an additive repair process. The repair processes in remanufacturing are usually conducted conventionally which caused inherent defects on the used part due to the heat generation and residual stress exerted during the process. Therefore, additive repair processes through the metal additive manufacturing should be considered in remanufacturing which offers substantial benefits in terms of efficiency and environmental effects. However, the inclusion of additive repair is still at the infancy stage where thorough investigation is necessary to overcome the issues in the process. The raised issues include the printability, bonding behaviour between two metals and quality of the repaired part. It is important to ascertain the compatibility of the additive repair process with the certain type of defects. This study focuses on the evaluation of defects or failure in an automotive brake caliper component using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) decision-making method. The main objective is to consider both qualitative and quantitative aspects for selecting the suitable repair process by reflecting the potential defects as the criteria and sub-criteria. Three respondents were participated to provide the priority scores through paired comparisons for each criterion, sub-criterion, and alternative involved. The study found that the Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process is the primary choice of respondents with the potential to be considered as a repair process for additive manufacturing with the score of 0.65. Overall, an AHP method is able to evaluate subjective opinions to select the suitable repair process in remanufacturing application.