bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF TRANSPARENCY OF ONLINE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE AT THE SAFARICOM PLC
Authors: Marango Moureen , O. Musebe Prof. Richard , Razia Dr. Mbaraka
Published: June 2024

Safaricom PLC adopted an integrated offline and online system, in attempts to re-engineer the recruitment and selection process and to enhance efficiency, accountability and transparency in service delivery to clients. Nevertheless, online recruitment and selection system raise a range of issues including cost, security, confidentiality, authentication, control of assessment conditions, control over practice and equality of access. The study determined the effect of transparency on the performance of Safaricom PLC. The study was anchored on diffusion of innovation, resource based and equity theories. Descriptive survey research design was employed. The study targeted ninety-four (94) managers, senior managers, HODs and general managers at the Safaricom PLC and since the target population was small, a census was done. Primary data was collected where questionnaires were used to gather information from the respondents. The study used both qualitative and quantitative data. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were generated through regression analysis. Descriptive results showed that respondents agreed that transparency of online recruitment and selection affected organizational performance at the Safaricom PLC since the indicators had a composite mean of 3.72. Transparency significantly and positively affected organizational performance (β = 0.089, p = 0.002). The study concludes that the role played by managers and human resource department in the process of online recruitment and selection process should be as transparent as possible to mitigate cases of fraud, wrong employee selection hence lowering the reputation of the company. The study recommends that setting the right expectations for the employees from the beginning should be enhanced in organizations as it leverages their motivation and makes them accountable.
Impact of initial conditions on the effectiveness of rolling dynamic compaction of granular soils
Authors: Bradley Andrew , Jaksa Mark , Kuo Yien-Lik
Published: June 2024

A finite element model (FEM) of rolling dynamic compaction (RDC) technology of a BH 1300 4 sided 8 tonne impact roller, developed previously by the authors, has shown to have reasonable agreement with that observed in the field. The use of this FEM is likely to provide high fidelity insights into the capability of the BH 1300 4 sided 8 tonne impact roller, namely in predicting the settlement and densification of an underlying granular material. A parametric study utilising this FEM with respect to initial density and shear strength parameters is undertaken to explore the relationship these properties have to the settlement and densification of a soil subject to RDC with a BH 1300 4 sided 8 tonne impact roller. The empirical relationships constructed within this study are validated against field trials from the literature of the roller improving sandy gravel fill at typical operating speeds of 10 km/h.
APPLICATION CITIZEN’S CHARTER IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF POLRI PUBLIC SERVICES
Authors: Harianja Marasi Kindly , Tafalas Muh Guzali , Sudarmo Agnes Puspitasari
Published: June 2024

Improving the quality of service requires support from all groups, including the integrity and commitment of the Police leadership and service officers as well as the community's commitment not to commit deviations in accordance with the Citizen's Charter (service contract) which has been formulated and established as a guideline for the implementation of Polri's public services. The public must always prioritize equal rights and justice regarding these services so that improvements in the quality of Polri's public services in the future can be achieved effectively and efficiently by achieving good governance which is characterized by clean governance. This is in accordance with the general principles of state administration (the general principle of organizational state) which consist of legal certainty, orderly state administration, public interest, openness, proportionality, professionalism and accountability.
Vertical Blocking in Cotton Cultivar Performance Trials in North Carolina
Authors: Bowman Daryl , Kuraparthy Vasu
Published: June 2024

The three principles of experimental design—randomization, replication, and blocking—have been followed routinely in field experiments. This paper addresses issues of blocking in conducting cultivar performance trials. Most agronomists design (block) their trials by considering the slope of the field at most. However, the direction of field variation might not always follow the slope of the field. Blocking in the direction of field operations is advocated. The objective of this study was to compare precision between three years of horizontal blocking with three years of vertical blocking in North Carolina Official Cotton Variety Trials. No significant difference in precision was found between the two blocking arrangements. However, the standard analysis of variance of a randomized complete block design revealed that vertical blocking produced a larger standard error than when the tests were blocked horizontally. Although vertical blocking results in increased spatial distance, the use of a spatial analysis package should mitigate this problem.
Construction of Genetic Linkage Map and QTL Analysis for Fiber Traits in Diploid Cotton (Gossypium arboreum x Gossypium herbaceum)
Authors: Badigannavar Ashok , Myers Gerald
Published: June 2024

Diploid A genome cottons are grown for their natural fiber in drought prone areas of Asia. Although they possess inferior fiber qualities to cultivated Upland and Pima cotton, their value lies in their inherent resistance to pests and diseases. Molecular linkage maps provide essential tools for plant genetic research, facilitating quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, marker-assisted selection and map based cloning. In the present study, we used SSR, AFLP, and TRAP markers to construct a linkage map using 94 F2 diploid individuals derived from a cross between G. arboreum x G. herbaceum. A total of 606 polymorphic markers were used to construct 37 linkage groups covering a total of 1109cM with an average distance of 7.92cM between two loci. Discriminant analysis identified three markers each associated for petal color and seed fuzziness, and four markers for petal spot. For quantitative traits, a total of 19 QTL were identified for five fiber traits using composite interval mapping. The identified QTL’s such as qFL4-1, qFS4-2, qELO1-1 and qSI2-1 were found to be significantly linked to fiber length, strength, elongation and seed index, respectively. This work could lead to more such attempts in deploying markers onto the A genome, thus guiding QTL mapping in tetraploid cottons.
Growth Responses of an Interspecific Cotton Breeding Line and Its Parents to Controlled Drought Using an Automated Irrigation System
Authors: Sun Youping , Niu Genhua , Zhang Jinfa
Published: June 2024

Cotton is an economically important crop with multiple uses as fiber, biofuel, food, and feed, and drought is one of the most limiting factors in cotton production. In this study, Gossypium hirsutum ‘Acala 1517-99’, G. barbadense ‘PHY 76 Pima’ and their cross-breeding line ‘Q1735-4’ were grown in a greenhouse to characterize their growth and physiological responses to four substrate volumetric water contents (VWC) of 15, 25, 35, and 45%. An automated irrigation system consisting of soil moisture sensors, datalogger, and a relay controller was used. The results from two tests consistently showed that as VWC decreased, leaf area, stem diameter, and total dry weight (DW) decreased linearly for PHY 76 Pima and Q1735-4, but quadratically for Acala 1517-99. However, the reduction in the growth parameters varied among genotypes. As VWC was decreased from 45% to 25%, Acala 1517-99, PHY 76 Pima, and Q1735-4 exhibited reduction in height by 39.2, 32.5, and 23.7%; in leaf area by 70.9, 65.8, and 34.7%; in stem diameter by 33.4, 28.1, and 22.1%; and in total DW by 59.2, 55.6, and 15.1%, respectively. The interspecific cross-breeding line consistently displayed better drought tolerance than its parents. When VWC was further decreased to 15%, the interspecific cross-breeding line still had the lowest reduction in reproductive growth as measured by the total dry fruit weight; but its vegetative growth parameters such as plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, and total DW were similar to Acala 1517-99 and lower than PHY 76 Pima.
Second Stage Mote System Particulate Emission Factors for Cotton Gins: Particle Size Distribution Characteristics
Authors: Whitelock Derek , Buser Michael , Boykin Clif , Holt Gregory
Published: June 2024

This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of total particulate stack sampling and particle size analyses. In 2006 and again in 2013, the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a more stringent National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter with nominal diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM2.5). This created an urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues, because EPA AP-42 cotton gin PM2.5 emission factors were limited. In addition, EPA AP-42 included combined 1st and 2nd stage mote system PM10 (particulate matter with nominal diameter less than or equal to 10 µm) and total particulate emission factors and not individual mote system emission factors. The objective of this study was to characterize particulate emissions for 2nd stage mote systems from cotton gins across the cotton belt based on particle size distribution analysis of total particulate samples from EPA-approved stack sampling methods. Average measured PM2.5, PM6, and PM10 emission factors based on the mass and particle size analyses of EPA Method 17 total particulate filter and wash samples from five gins (15 total test runs) were 0.00030 kg/227-kg bale (0.00067 lb/500-lb bale), 0.0024 kg/bale (0.0054 lb/bale), and 0.0039 kg/bale (0.0087 lb/bale), respectively. The 2nd stage mote system particle size distributions were characterized by an average mass median diameter of 16.1 µm (aerodynamic equivalent diameter). Based on system average emission factors, the ratio of PM2.5 to total particulate was 2.87%, PM6 to total particulate was 23.0%, and PM10 to total particulate was 23.0%.
Combined Mote System Total Particulate Emission Factors and Rates for Cotton Gins
Authors: Buser Michael , Whitelock Derek , Boykin Clif , Holt Gregory
Published: June 2024

This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. The impetus behind this project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) total particulate emission factors. EPA AP-42 emission factors are generally assigned a rating, from A (Excellent) to E (Poor), to assess the quality of the data being referenced. Current EPA total particulate emission factor ratings for cotton gins are extremely low. Cotton gin data received these low ratings because the data were collected almost exclusively from a single geographical region. The objective of this study was to collect additional total particulate emission factor data for combined mote systems from cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt using EPA-approved stack sampling methodology. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location, 2) production capacity, 3) processing systems and 4) abatement technologies. Two gins with combined 1st and 2nd mote system exhausts were sampled. The average production rate during testing for the two gins was 33.7 bales/h. The average combined mote system total particulate emission factor based on two tests (six total test runs) was 0.146 kg/227-kg bale (0.321 lb/500-lb bale). This average total particulate emission factor was higher than that currently published in 1996 EPA AP-42, which was 0.13 kg/bale (0.28 lb/bale). The emission rate from test averages ranged from 3.45 to 6.45 kg/h (7.61-14.23 lb/h).
Twin-Row Production of Cotton Genotypes Varying in Leaf Shape
Authors: Pettigrew William
Published: June 2024

Twin-row planting for soybean and maize has proliferated in Mid-South production systems during the past decade. Knowledge of cotton production with twin-row planting is limited. The objective of this research was to determine how cotton leaf-type isolines (varying in size and the degree of lobing) performed in both twin-row and single-row planting patterns. Field studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012. Four genotypes (MD 65-11 normal, MD 65-11 okra, MD 65-11 super okra, and ST 4554B2RF) were grown in both twin-row and single-row planting patterns. Dry matter partitioning, leaf area index, light interception, nodes above white bloom, lint yield, and fiber quality data were collected. The response to twin-row planting when compared to single-row planting was consistent across all the cotton genotypes evaluated in this study. Twin-row canopies produced a greater early season leaf area index that intercepted more sunlight than the single-row pattern, but these differences diminished as the season progressed. Twin-row plots reached cutout approximately two days earlier than the single-row plots. Despite increased early season leaf area production and sunlight interception, no differences between planting patterns were detected for lint yield, the yield components, or fiber quality traits. Convenience of using a standard planting configuration across multiple crops may be the only justification for twin-row planting in cotton because neither lint yield nor fiber quality were impacted.
First Stage Mote System Total Particulate Emission Factors and Rates for Cotton Gins: Method 17
Authors: Whitelock Derek , Buser Michael , Boykin Clif , Holt Gregory
Published: June 2024

This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. The impetus behind this project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) total particulate emission factors. There is no total particulate emission factor published for 1st stage mote systems in the 1996 EPA AP-42. The current AP-42 factor represents 1st and 2nd stage mote systems combined. The objective of this study was to collect total particulate emission factor data for 1st stage mote systems from cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt using EPA-approved stack sampling methodology. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location, 2) production capacity, 3) processing systems and 4) abatement technologies. Five gins with 1st stage mote system exhausts that were not combined with 2nd stage system exhausts were sampled. The average production rate during testing for the five gins was 27.9 bales/h. The average 1st stage mote system total particulate emission factor based on five tests (15 total test runs) was 0.025 kg/227-kg bale (0.056 lb/500-lb bale). The 1st stage mote system test average emission rates ranged from 0.31 to 1.42 kg/h (0.69-3.13 lb/h).
Second Stage Lint Cleaning System Total Particulate Emission Factors and Rates for Cotton Gins: Method 17
Authors: Buser Michael , Whitelock Derek , Boykin Clif , Holt Gregory
Published: June 2024

This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. The impetus behind this project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) total particulate emission factors. There is no total particulate emission factor published for 2nd stage lint cleaning systems in the 1996 EPA AP-42. The current AP-42 factor represents 1st and 2nd stage lint cleaning systems combined. The objective of this study was to collect total particulate emission factor data for 2nd stage lint cleaning systems from cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt using EPA-approved stack sampling methodology. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location, 2) production capacity, 3) processing systems, and 4) abatement technologies. Four gins with 2nd stage lint cleaning system exhausts that were not combined with 1st stage lint cleaning system exhausts were sampled. The average production rate during testing for the four gins was 29.0 bales/h. The average 2nd stage lint cleaning system total particulate emission factor based on four tests (11 total test runs) was 0.023 kg/227-kg bale (0.050 lb/500-lb bale). The 2nd stage lint cleaning system test average emission rates ranged from 0.22 to 1.50 kg/h (0.49-3.31 lb/h).
Second Stage Mote System Total Particulate Emission Factors and Rates for Cotton Gins: Method 17
Authors: Boykin Clif , Buser Michael , Whitelock Derek , Holt Gregory
Published: June 2024

This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. The impetus behind this project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) total particulate emission factors. There is no total particulate emission factors published for 2nd stage mote systems in the 1996 EPA AP-42. The current AP-42 factor represents 1st and 2nd stage mote systems combined. The objective of this study was to collect total particulate emission factor data for 2nd stage mote systems from cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt using EPA-approved stack sampling methodology. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location, 2) production capacity, 3) processing systems and 4) abatement technologies. Five gins with 2nd stage mote system exhausts that were not combined with 1st stage system exhausts were sampled. The average production rate during testing for the five gins was 29.5 bales/h. The average 2nd stage mote system total particulate emission factor based on five tests (15 total test runs) was 0.011 kg/227-kg bale (0.023 lb/500-lb bale). The test average 2nd stage mote system emission rates ranged from 0.16 to 0.71 kg/h (0.34-1.56 lb/h).
Second Stage Seed-Cotton Cleaning System Particulate Emission Factors for Cotton Gins: Particle Size Distribution Characteristics
Authors: Boykin Clif , Buser Michael , Whitelock Derek , Holt Gregory
Published: June 2024

This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of total particulate stack sampling and particle size analyses. In 2006 and again in 2013, the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a more stringent National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter with nominal diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM2.5). This created an urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues, because EPA AP-42 cotton gin PM2.5 emission factors were limited. In addition, current EPA AP-42 emission factor quality ratings for cotton gin PM10 (particulate matter with nominal diameter less than or equal to 10 µm) data are questionable, being extremely low. The objective of this study was to characterize particulate emissions for 2nd stage seed-cotton cleaning systems from cotton gins across the cotton belt based on particle size distribution analysis of total particulate samples from EPA-approved stack sampling methods. Average measured PM2.5, PM6, and PM10 emission factors based on the mass and particle size analyses of EPA Method 17 total particulate filter and wash samples from five gins (14 total test runs) were 0.0014 kg/227-kg bale (0.0031 lb/500-lb bale), 0.015 kg/bale (0.032 lb/bale), and 0.025 kg/bale (0.056 lb/bale), respectively. The 2nd stage seed-cotton cleaning system particle size distributions were characterized by an average mass median diameter of 12.2 µm (aerodynamic equivalent diameter). Based on system average emission factors, the ratio of PM2.5 to total particulate was 2.42%, PM6 to total particulate was 25.1%, and PM10 to total particulate was 43.2%.
Modelamientos in silico un mecanismo de enseñanza – aprendizaje en contexto virtual a estudiantes de biotecnología en pandemia COVID-19
Authors: Coello Isabel , Mera Darwin , Galarza Janeth , Villón Jimmy
Published: June 2024

La crisis provocada por la pandemia COVID-19 condujo a las universidades a reestructurar rápidamente sus programas de estudios. El área experimental de las ciencias biológicas se vio afectada ya que los laboratorios presenciales son parte integral de la educación superior. Este hecho, llevó a que la materia de biotecnología adopte su programa de estudios a laboratorios virtuales y modelamientos in silico. De esta manera el objetivo de este trabajo es mejorar la formación académica en tiempos críticos, utilizando los modelamientos in silico como un mecanismo de enseñanza-aprendizaje en el contexto de laboratorios virtuales con estudiantes de biotecnología. Para simular procesos biotecnológicos en Dunaliella salina se tomó como modelo el gen psy, la amplificación del gen por PCR, resguardo del gen, la caracterización de la enzima y la biosíntesis de los carotenoides. Las aptitudes y conocimientos adquiridos fueron evaluados a través de una encuesta a 156 estudiantes que cursaron la materia de biotecnología-UPSE. Los modelamientos in silico demostraron que el gen psy comparte una alta similitud y cobertura superior a 81% con otras especies vegetales, la amplificación resultó en un producto de 1218 pb. Mientras la estructura proteica alcanzó un 0,69 QMING y la activación de la cascada de señalización celular demostró a 5 genes involucrados en la biosíntesis de los carotenoides. Finalmente, la percepción positiva a favor de los laboratorios virtuales alcanzó el 70,83%. La aplicación de modelamientos in silico permitieron simular procesos biológicos experimentales y comprender la materia de biotecnología de manera efectiva en tiempos de no presencialidad.
Una dinámica histórica y panorámica del currículo en el Ecuador
Authors: Benítez Paillacho Ximena , Báez Sepúlveda Myriam
Published: June 2024

El currículo ecuatoriano ha pasado por diferentes cambios en los últimos años, a partir de la primera reforma de Educación General Básica (EGB) en 1996 desde la perspectiva moderna fortalecido en un currículo por destrezas, que antes no lo habían analizado puesto que no había un currículo general solo se entregaban temarios que los profesores debían desarrollar. Es en la década de 1.990 donde se pretende orientar en la formación de ciudadanos funcionales y productivos. Aquí se analiza el direccionamiento de los elementos curriculares como: objetivos, destrezas, metodología y la evaluación desde el punto de vista de su efectividad para lograr procesos pedagógicos idóneos en el marco de la calidad educativa. Hasta llegar a desarrollar un marco curricular competencial para los aprendizajes que pretende desarrollar de manera integral a los estudiantes. Tiene como finalidad proponer un currículo coherente que trabaje con todos los actores educativos, se enfoque en las necesidades e intereses de los individuos y busque direccionar la planificación microcurricular para efectivizarla en el aula de clase.
Learning together: An investigation into the potential of interprofessional education within music therapy
Authors: Laahs Jenny , Derrington Philippa
Published: June 2024

The literature acknowledges the benefits of collaboration between music therapists and other professionals for the individual therapist who collaborates, for our clients and for the music therapy profession itself. However, there has been little discussion regarding how therapists acquire the skills required for collaboration. In a wider healthcare context, the principle of interprofessional education is utilised to facilitate such collaboration in practice. This study considers peer clinical work review sessions as a potential interdisciplinary training tool within a UK arts therapy training context, from a music therapy perspective. Using a phenomenological paradigm, the experience of participating in interdisciplinary peer review sessions between a music therapy student and a dance movement psychotherapy student was modelled and evaluated.
The study found that interdisciplinary peer review was experienced as beneficial to the training experience in several ways, including developing peer support, widening perspectives of other professions and developing cross-discipline communication skills. These results could provide a framework upon which to base development of interdisciplinary inputs within the UK training context.
Citizen participation: the outlook 20 years after the Toulouse disaster
Authors: Kamate Caroline
Published: June 2024

This publication in the “Cahiers de la sécurité industrielle” collection presents the findings of the FonCSI “Industrial risk governance and citizen participation at the local level” working group, which met ten times between September 2020 and December 2021. Part One of this “Cahier” presents a brief overview of citizen information and participation in industrial risk and pollution related issues in France (chapter 1), then focuses in on the transposition of European regulations in this domain in Italy and the Netherlands (chapter 2). In chapter 1 of Part Two we endeavour to analyse the bitterly disappointing conclusion reached in the aftermath of the Lubrizol and Normandie Logistique fire and the strong government response that followed, while in chapter 2 we suggest some possible courses of action and avenues to explore in order for citizen information and participation to be given greater consideration in the complex issue that is cohabitation with high-risk activities.
Navigating the Digital Terrain: Exploring Post-Covid-19 Technology Adoption Dynamics in Nigeria
Authors: Fagbuyi Ayenumelo Olamigoke , Adegbola Eunice Abimbola , Chukwuma Nnenna Nancy
Published: June 2024

By investigating the complex effects of technology adoption in Nigeria and offering insight into the dynamic interactions between societal, economic, and technological factors as the global community navigates the post-pandemic era, this study seeks to address significant effects regarding Nigeria's post-COVID-19 technology landscape. The study employed the comprehensive framework, which merged the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Innovation Diffusion Theory, and Structuration Theory as a result of the coherence technology adoption model. The cross-sectional survey design gathered primary data through a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire. A simple random sampling technique was adopted to select and analyse 1040 respondents from nine different sectors of the Nigerian economy. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) v25 was utilised for data screening and descriptive statistics, while, SmartPLS v4.0.9.5 was employed to calculate the inferential statistics. Based on the findings from different sectors within the population under investigation, it is clear that all exogenous variables affect the adoption of the technology. The study recommended that local community involvement in technology adoption, legalisation of cutting-edge sectorial compliance, and the use of computer-based evaluation systems for assessment and instructions across educational sectors should be prioritised by the public and corporate bodies.
Investigation of Machine Learning Techniques to Aid in the Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Félix Juliana Paula , Nascimento Hugo A. D. do , Guimarães Nilza Nascimento
Published: June 2024

The thesis summarized in this document introduces alternative, rapid, low-cost, and effective solutions, aided by machine learning techniques, to support the diagnosis and differentiation of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. These diseases, characterized by the progressive loss of neurons, have no cure, and diagnosis is predominantly clinical. By leveraging novel features extracted from gait signals through dynamic fluctuation analysis and harmonic distortion, the thesis achieves highly accurate results with specificity and sensitivity ranging from 96% to 100% for automatic NDD classification, serving as a diagnostic aid system. Furthermore, it presents and discusses an innovative approach to NDD diagnosis focused on the patient’s well-being, aiming to reduce examination duration and physical effort required for gait signal collection. These contributions represent innovations in the computational field with the potential to positively impact public health and enhance the quality of life of people with neurodegenerative diseases.
Viel Lärm um nichts
Authors: Robel Yvonne
Published: June 2024

Sehnsucht, Stigma, Protest. Nichtstun bedeutet niemals, nur nichts zu tun Im Sprechen über das Nichtstun verständigen sich Menschen nicht nur über ihr Verhältnis zu Arbeit und Zeit. Vielmehr werden dabei Ideen vom menschlichen Zusammenleben, Einstellungen zu Wohlstand und Konsum sowie Moderne- und Zukunftsvorstellungen ausgelotet. Hinter Slogans wie »Recht auf Faulheit« oder Auseinandersetzungen über Gammler, Punks und glückliche Arbeitslose verbergen sich stets auch Dynamiken sozialen Ausschlusses und politischer Selbstverständigung. Yvonne Robel zeichnet die wiederkehrenden Sehnsüchte, Ängste und Selbstermächtigungen nach, die die Wahrnehmung des Nichtstuns in der Bundesrepublik seit den 1950er Jahren prägen. Sie arbeitet heraus, wie Phänomene des Nichtstuns vor allem seit den 1980er Jahren als Lebensstil eingestuft, mit gesundheitsbezogenen Präventionsgedanken angereichert und mit einem veränderten Stellenwert des Individuums verbunden wurden. Dabei handelt es sich um die Vorgeschichte einer Gegenwart, in der Muße, Faulheit und Müßiggang zu omnipräsenten Idealen in der neoliberalen Leistungsgesellschaft zu geraten scheinen.
A Novel Targeted Drug Delivery Carrier: Herbosomes
Authors: Joshi Aneri , Patel Vaibhavi , J. Yeola Achal , Y. Dave Pranav
Published: June 2024

Herbosomes have been modified liposomes that can encapsulate botanical extracts and medicinal substances, improving stability, bioavailability, and targeted administration in herbal medicine. A ribosome or similar drug delivery system can improve the absorption rate and amount of drug that cross the lipoidal biofilm, thus overcoming bioavailability issues. Herbosomes, which are herbal drugs based on phospholipids, offer better stability and absorption profiles than other drug delivery systems. Many critical hepatoprotective phytoconstituents, including xanthones, terpenes, and flavones, play roles in effective medication delivery. To achieve therapeutic purposes, such as cardiovascular, antibacterial, dermatological, neurological, anti-inflammatory, chemotherapy for cancer, and health as nutraceuticals, herbosomes can be produced. Twelve characterization procedures and analytical techniques can be adjusted for innovative formulation through particle size evaluation, membrane permeability, percentage entrapped solutes, and drug release. Herbosomes can be used in dentifrices, medicinal gels, and other local delivery methods. In light of rising concerns about medication dependency and safety, and where modern medicine fails to address complex illnesses, people choose traditional treatments with modern technology, such as nano-formulation, for better outcomes with no side effects and a goal to target spot.
Exploring the Relationship between Higher Education and Common Prosperity: A Global Perspective and Insights from China
Authors: Cao Xiaojie , Min Weifang , Liu Xinqiao
Published: June 2024

A full understanding of the relationship between higher education and common prosperity is of great importance for effectively exerting the positive role of higher education and promoting the realization of common prosperity. China attaches great importance to the development of higher education and sees it as the key to building a leading country in education. However, to date, detailed discussion of how higher education promotes common prosperity is relatively limited, so this chapter is devoted to further deepening the understanding of the relationship between higher education and common prosperity. The typical paths of China’s education for poverty alleviation and the contribution of higher education include improving higher education opportunities for children in poor areas; with the technological advantages, higher education efficiently and conveniently extends high-quality courses and teaching resources to universities in under-resourced areas; the implementation of education pairing assistance in higher education; higher education contributes to industry-based poverty alleviation. The discussion in this chapter will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between higher education and common prosperity and provide new insights for further deepening research in this field. Achieving common prosperity through higher education is a long-term process in both theory and practice.
Epigenetics and Stem Cells Applications in Periodontal Therapy
Authors: Kafa Faten
Published: June 2024

While periodontitis is closely linked with pathogen outgrowth, many patients have the risk of recurrence after therapy. Variations of inflammatory genes are associated with an increased susceptibility of periodontitis. Epigenetics can regulate these gene expression. In this chapter, we will highlight on the potential role of epigenetic changes in different facets, more particularly in genes involved in inflammation. Epigenetics act through remodeling of chromatin and can selectively activate or inactivate genes, determining their expression. Epigenetics could play an essential role in understanding the mechanism of gene-environment interactions, and the factors which stimulate periodontitis and reduce its response to therapy are now the subject of many studies. Also, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising source to regenerate periodontal tissues. They could be a good alternative to the adopted therapies, ignoring the artificial biomaterial limitations. They could be considered as a natural process for periodontium regeneration and has an immunomodulatory role to resolute the infection. For this reason, it is necessary to investigate and evaluate MSCs applicability in humans, and their clinical approach involved in regeneration of periodontal tissues.
Decorrelation and Imputation Methods for Multivariate Modeling
Authors: Erdogan Erten Gamze , Zacche da Silva Camilla , Boisvert Jeff
Published: June 2024

In most mining projects, multivariate modeling of regionalized variables has a critical impact on the final model due to complex multivariate relationships between correlated variables. In geostatistical modeling, multivariate transformations are commonly employed to model complex data relationships. This decorrelates or makes the variables independent, which enables the generation of independent models for each variable while maintaining the ability to restore multivariate relationships through a back-transformation. There are a myriad of transformation methods, however, this chapter discusses the most applied methods in geostatistical procedures. These include principal component analysis (PCA), minimum/maximum autocorrelation factors (MAF), stepwise conditional transform (SCT), and projection pursuit multivariate transform (PPMT). All these transforms require equally sampled data. In the case of unequal sampling, it is common practice to either exclude the incomplete samples or impute the missing values. Data imputation is recommended in many scientific fields as removing incomplete samples usually removes valuable information from modeling workflows. Three common imputation methods are discussed in this chapter: single imputation (SI), maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), and multiple imputation (MI). Bayesian updating (BU) is also discussed as an adaptation of MI to geostatistical analysis. MI methods are preferred in geostatistical analysis because they reproduce the variability of variables and reflect the uncertainty of missing values.
ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RECONSTRUCTION OF A SECTION OF HIGHWAY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE RISK FACTORS
Authors: Zelikova N. , Strukova Irina , Denisov G. , Strukov Yu. , Venevitina S. , Vnukova S.
Published: June 2024

The article examines the issue of sustainability of the project for the reconstruction of a section of the highway, taking into account possible risks. It talks about a complex of technogenic, social and economic factors that are used to assess the sustainability of the site reconstruction project. The risks associated with the reconstruction of a section of the highway are considered.
THE USE OF NEURAL NETWORK METHOD IN DETERMINING THE PROPORTION OF TRAFFIC FLOW REDIRECTION IN THE ROAD NETWORK
Authors: Vu Thi Van Anh , Nguyen Hoang Minh
Published: June 2024

The article presents the results of an experimental study on traffic management in the event of unpredictable situations in the transportation network. The aim of this research is to determine the proportion of traffic flow through the network in the situation of reduced capacity of road segments (UDS), including due to traffic accidents. This work proposes a method to address congestion issues by redirecting vehicles from roads with high network load coefficients (z) to alternative routes, while determining the volume of traffic flow to eliminate the possibility of congestion in other transportation network segments. The method of survey and regression analysis using neural networks is employed to determine the proportion of traffic flow redirection. The article examines the possibility of addressing congestion in the city's transportation network by improving the efficiency of indirect traffic management systems, which are part of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). The proposed method will enhance the efficiency of ITS by rerouting vehicle movement in conditions of high risk of congestion and traffic accidents.
MEASURES TO OPTIMIZE TRAFFIC LIGHT REGULATION, TRAFFIC LIGHT FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
Authors: Spodarev R. , Spodarev S. , Kubryakov E. , Klyavin V. , Denisov G. , Zelikova N.
Published: June 2024

The article considers issues related to the optimization of traffic light regulation, develops proposals taking into account the introduction of an intelligent transport system in an urban agglomeration, and suggests sites for the introduction of coordinated management.
METHODS OF SHORT-TERM FORECASTING OF TRAFFIC FLOWS BASED ON BIG DATA
Authors: Jiang Zixiao , Feofilova A.
Published: June 2024

Short-term forecasting of traffic flows is a key technology for intelligent transport systems. The analysis of changes in the current traffic flow is aimed at supporting traffic management, since it is possible to determine traffic conditions in advance. This article examines the main directions of research on intelligent transport systems in the context of big data, classifies existing algorithms for short-term forecasting of traffic flows and analyzes the adaptability of various algorithms. The direction of research on methods of short-term forecasting of traffic flows is proposed.
FEATURES OF SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORT
Authors: Venevitina S. , Zakurdaeva K. , Kazachek Mariya , Razgonyaeva V. , Shkol'nyh A. , Budurukov A.
Published: June 2024

In the modern world, a large part of humanity cannot do without automobile transport. All countries and companies use automotive transport in passenger and freight, commercial and private transportation. Not a single modern person can be unaware of cars. But few have thought about the impact on the environment of all these types of transport, and the harm that such a useful invention as the automobile brings.
Oral Diseases During Systemic Psoriatic Drugs: A Review of the Literature and Case Series
Authors: Raimondo Annunziata , Di Spirito Federica , Lembo Serena
Published: June 2024

Introduction: the oral health in psoriatic patients seems to be compromised respect to control individuals: many published studies have investigated the relationship between psoriatic disease and gingivitis, periodontitis, and missing teeth. However, data from these studies are not yet consistent and exhaustive. Moreover, no studies have considered the possible specific effects of conventional and biological systemic psoriatic treatments. Object: we report a narrative review of the literature about the possible link between anti-psoriatic drugs and oral disease onset, and case series of patients that have experienced oral disease during systemic therapy for psoriasis. Methods: this is a narrative review. The literature search was performed using MEDLINE databases. From the selected articles, additional references were identified by a manual search among the cited literature. Results: Oral adverse events during psoriatic therapies can be found as sporadic cases. The specific mechanisms of interplay between oral anatomic structures and the pathway targeted by the systemic agents will be deeply investigated. Conclusion: It should be recommended to all psoriatic patients who are candidates for conventional or biological systemic therapy to examine their oral state by a dentist and dermatologist with regular follow-up, to prevent oral health complications. Dermatologists and oral medicine specialists should be ready to recognize and manage this increasing number of oral adverse drug reactions during systemic treatments for psoriatic disease, providing patients with sufficient information about this risk and stressing the fundamental importance of regular dental assessments, and good oral hygiene.
Correlation Among Serum Calcidiol, Sun Index, and Vitamin D Intake in Individuals With Seborrheic Keratoses Living in Coastal Area
Authors: Aulia Izzah , Wibawa Larisa Paramitha , Suseno Lis Surachmiati , Manikam Nurul Ratna Mutu
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Seborrheic keratoses (SK) are benign epidermal tumors with high sun exposure as a major risk factor. Vitamin D deficiency is also thought to play a role in its pathogenesis. There has been no data regarding SK, calcidiol level, vitamin D intake, and sun index (SI) among people living in coastal areas in Indonesia. Objective: To assess the correlation between 1) serum calcidiol levels with SI and vitamin D intake and 2) lesion size with SI and serum calcidiol level among SK patients living in a coastal area. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. We performed interviews using the sun index questionnaire and semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire for vitamin D; physical examination; dermoscopy to determine the largest SK lesion size; and measurement of serum calcidiol levels in participants with SK living in Cilincing District, North Jakarta. Spearman correlation test was used to assess the relationship between variables. Results: Thirty-nine participants with SK aged 19–59 years old were analyzed. The median of the SK’s largest diameter, sun index, serum calcidiol, and vitamin D intake was 2 (1–10) mm, 3.95 (1.1–23.52), 14.3 (5.25–35.30) ng/ml, and 4.3 (0.1–30.1) mcg/day, respectively. Sun index and vitamin D intake were not significantly correlated with calcidiol levels. Similarly, SI and calcidiol levels were not significantly correlated with the largest SK lesion size. Conclusion: We found low calcidiol levels and vitamin D intake in this coastal population. The SI and vitamin D intake had no correlations with calcidiol levels. Furthermore, calcidiol levels and SI had no correlations with the lesion’s largest diameter.
Real-World Experience of Tofacitinib and Baricitinib Use in Alopecia Areata in Greek Population: A Retrospective Analysis With Focus on Safety
Authors: Apalla Zoe , Zafiriou Efterpi , Zagkliverinou Effimia , Roussaki-Schulze Angeliki-Viktoria , Gidarokosta Polyxeni , Ntavari Niki , Sakellaropoulou Stella , Boziou Maria , Emvalomati Anastasia , Kyrmanidou Eirini , Lazaridou Elizabeth
Published: June 2024

Introduction: The introduction of Janus Kinase inhibitors (JAKi) seems to revolutionize the field of alopecia areata (AA) therapeutics. However, real-world data are still missing. Objectives: To provide evidence about effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib and baricitinib in AA in real-world settings and describe baseline disease characteristics and patients profiles that are considered good candidates for JAKi in the daily practice. Furthermore, we intended to investigate potential correlations between baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the databases of two tertiary Hospitals in Greece, to identify individuals of any age currently being treated with systemic JAKi for severe AA. Results: We identified 42 individuals, including 3 adolescents. In our cohort, 52.3% (22/42) were under tofacitinib and 47.6% (20/42) under baricitinib treatment. Efficacy analysis was performed on the subgroup of 30 patients that had completed at least a 3-month follow-up on treatment. In the latter group, mean time on treatment was 10 months. Mean Severity of Alopecia Tool and mean Dermatology Life Quality Index scores decreased from 84.46% and 12.86 at baseline, to 43.26% and 6.63, respectively. Complete response (CR) was recorded in 4 (13.33%), partial in 12 (40%) and no response in 14 patients (46.66%), correspondingly. Seventeen out of 42 (40.5%) individuals in total, reported at least 1 adverse event. No patient required hospitalization. Among 15 patients (35.7%) who got COVID-19, one suffered from serious infection. The 3 adolescents achieved CR with no significant adverse events. Conclusions: Real-world data suggest efficacy and safety of JAKi in severe forms of AA. Tolerability is optimal in younger individuals.