bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Changes of Peace Discourse and Peace Education in Korean Society
Authors:   Global Studeis Education Association, Jung Giwoong
Published: January 2023

The Korean Peninsula has been influenced by its geographical locations. The Republic of Korea, born in the conflictual structure of the international power struggle, has endured the difficulties of the Korean War and Cold War. As a result, in Korean society, where peace has had to be craved, nationalism and Cold War conflict have overrun the discourse of peace. In this context, Korean society's peace discourse has focused on overcoming the Peninsula's division rather than pursuing peace as a universal value of human beings. This article aims to review how the attitude and discourse on peace expressed by Korean society have changed under the structure of international power distribution or polarity and how peace education has adapted. For that purpose, this article first reviews the diverse concepts of peace, the process of adaptation of peace discourse and peace education to the changes in the international political situation, and then discusses the possible future directionality of peace education.
Testing the Validity of Laplace Model Against Symmetric Models, Using Transformed Data
Authors: Alizadeh Noughabi Hadi
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we first present three characterizations of Laplace distribution and then we introduce a goodness of fit test for Laplace distribution against symmetric distributions, based on one of the transformations. The power of the proposed test under various alternatives is compared with that of the existing tests, by simulation. To show the behavior of the proposed test in real cases, two real examples are presented.
Discrete Inverted Nadarajah-Haghighi Distribution: Properties and Classical Estimation with Application to Complete and Censored data
Authors: Singh Bhupendra , Singh Ravindra Pratap , Nayal Amit Singh , Tyagi Abhishek
Published: January 2023

In this article, we have developed the discrete version of the continuous inverted Nadarajah-Haghighi distribution and called it a discrete inverted Nadarajah-Haghighi distribution. The present model is well enough to model not only the over-dispersed and positively skewed data but it can also model upside-down bathtub-shaped, decreasing failure rate, and randomly right-censored data. Here, we have developed some important statistical properties for the proposed model such as quantile, median, moments, skewness, kurtosis, index of dispersion, entropy, expected inactivity time function, stress-strength reliability, and order statistics. We have estimated the model parameters through the method of maximum likelihood under complete and censored data. An algorithm to generate randomly right-censored data from the proposed model is also presented. The extensive simulation studies are presented to test the behavior of the estimators with complete and censored data. Finally, two complete and two censored data are used to illustrate the utility of the proposed model.
Discrete Bilal Distribution in the Presence of Right-Censored Data and a Cure Fraction
Authors: Caparroz Lopes de Freitas Bruno , Achcar Jorge Alberto , Vinicius de Oliveira Peres Marcos , Martinez Edson Zangiacomi
Published: January 2023

The statistical literature presents many continuous probability distributions with only one parameter, which are extensively used in the analysis of lifetime data, such as the exponential, the Lindley, and the Rayleigh distributions. Alternatively, the use of discretized versions of these distributions can provide a better fit for the data in many applications. As the novelty of this study, we present inferences for the discrete Bilal distribution (DB) with one parameter introduced by Altun et al. (2020) in the presence of right-censored data and cure fraction. We assume standard maximum likelihood methods based on asymptotic normality of the maximum likelihood estimators and also a Bayesian approach based on MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo) simulation methods to get inferences for the parameters of the discrete BD distribution. The use of the proposed model was illustrated with three examples considering real medical lifetime data sets. From these applications, we concluded that the proposed model based on the discrete DB distribution has good performance even with the inclusion of a cure fraction in comparison to other existing discrete models, such as the DsFx-I, Lindley, Rayleigh, and Burr-Hatke probability distributions. Moreover, the model can be easily implemented in standard existing software, such as the R package. Under a Bayesian approach, we assumed a gamma prior distribution for the parameter of the DB discrete distribution. We also provided a brief sensitivity analysis assuming the half-normal distribution in place of the gamma distribution for the parameter of the DB distribution. From the obtained results of this study, we can conclude that the proposed methodology can be very useful for researchers dealing with medical discrete lifetime data in the presence of right-censored data and cure fraction.
The k-nearest Neighbor Classification of Histogram- and Trapezoid-Valued Data
Authors: Razmkhah Mostafa , Al-Ma'shumah Fathimah , Effati Sohrab
Published: January 2023

‎A histogram-valued observation is a specific type of symbolic objects that represents its value by a list of bins (intervals) along with their corresponding relative frequencies or probabilities‎.

‎In the literature‎, ‎the raw data in bins of all histogram-valued data have been assumed to be uniformly distributed‎. ‎A new representation of such observations is proposed in this paper by assuming that the raw data in each bin are linearly distributed‎, ‎which are called trapezoid-valued data‎.

‎Moreover‎, ‎new definitions of union and intersection between trapezoid-valued observations are made‎.

This study proposes the k-nearest neighbor technique for classifying histogram-valued data using various dissimilarity measures‎.

‎Further‎, ‎the limiting behavior of the computational complexities based on the performed dissimilarity measures are compared‎.

‎Some simulations are done to study the performance of the proposed procedures‎. ‎Also‎, ‎the results are applied to three various real data sets‎.

‎Eventually‎, ‎some conclusions are stated‎.
A new smoothing method for nonlinear complementarity problems involving P0-function
Authors: OSMANI El Hassene , Haddou Mounir , Bensalem Naceurdine , Abdallah Lina
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we present a family of smoothing methods to solve nonlinear complementarity problems (NCPs) involving P0-function. Several regularization or approximation techniques like Fisher-Burmeister’s method, interior-point methods (IPMs) approaches, or smoothing methods already exist. All the corresponding methods solve a sequence of nonlinear systems of equations and depend on parameters that are difficult to drive to zero. The main novelty of our approach is to consider the smoothing parameters as variables that converge by themselves to zero. We do not need any complicated updating strategy, and then obtain nonparametric algorithms. We prove some global and local convergence results and present several numerical experiments, comparisons, and applications that show the efficiency of our approach.
Trapezohedral platinum nanocrystals with high-index facets for high-performance hydrazine electrooxidation
Authors: Hu Sheng-Nan , Tian Na , Li Meng-Ying , Xiao Chi , Lou Yao-Yin , Zhou Zhi-You , Sun Shi-Gang
Published: January 2023

Direct hydrazine fuel cell is a promising portable energy conversion device due to its high energy density and free of carbon emissions. To realize the practical applications, the design of highly efficient electrocatalysts for hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) is crucial. Metal nanocrystals with high-index facets have abundant step sites with reactivity. In this study, we prepared trapezohedral Pt nanocrystals (TPH Pt NCs) enclosed by {311} high-index facets and investigated the catalytic performance for hydrazine oxidation. TPH Pt NCs possess a specific activity of 39.1 mA·cm-2 at 0.20 V, much higher than {111}-faceted octahedral (13.9 mA·cm-2) and {100}-faceted cubic Pt NCs (9.11 mA·cm-2). Meanwhile, TPH Pt NCs also show superior stability. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation indicates that Pt(311) facilitates the deprotonation of N2H4* to N2H3* (the rate-determining step) and improves the HzOR activity. This study is helpful for the design of advanced electrocatalysts for HzOR, especially high-index faceted Pt nanocatalysts.
Моделі для формування ринкової вартості нерухомості
Authors: Кончинський В. , Ліхоузова T.
Published: January 2023

В статті розглянуто проблему якісної та швидкої оцінки нерухомості. Запропоновано використати моделі та технології машинного навчання для створення сервісу з оцінки нерухомості за введеними характеристиками. В запропонованих моделях використано дві групи параметрів: характеристики місцевості, в якій розташовано нерухомість, та характеристики об’єкта нерухомості. Оскільки декілька об’єктів розташовані в одному регіоні, дані про регіон будуть часто повторюватись. Реалізовано дві моделі: модель з двома нейронними мережами та модель з нейронною мережею і випадковим лісом. Функцією втрат обрано середньоквадратичну помилку. Для оцінки ефективності запропонованих моделей використано дані про вже укладені угоди. Розроблений сервіс орієнтований на власників житлової нерухомості, які хочуть її продати або здати в оренду, та покупців, які хочуть перевірити справедливість ціни.Для формування вартості від користувачів потребується детальна характеристика для точного результату, але частина параметрів є необов’язковою, щоб отримати приблизну вартість для орієнтування. Крім цього на відміну від інших реалізацій даний сервіс пропонує обрати термін, протягом якого продавець хоче знайти покупця.

Бібл. 7, іл. 3, табл. 1.
A Qualitative Analysis of Graduting Business Seniors Core Course and Online Course Perceptions
Authors: Blau Gary , Papenberg Carly
Published: January 2023

Business schools need to maintain student academic satisfaction. A key component of a business school’s curriculum is its core or required courses and online courses experiences. Using qualitative open item analyses, this study asked graduating business students for their perceptions of required core courses and their online course experiences. Consistent demographics and school background variables allowed the Fall, 2021 and Spring 2022 graduating samples to be combined. Student records allowed the graduating students to be split into qualitative versus quantitative majors to promote comparison across common categories. There was much overall agreement between qualitative and quantitative majors on the most valuable part of their core experience, as well as how to improve this experience. However, quantitative majors were more likely to mention specific core courses as being valuable than qualitative majors. In addition, quantitative majors were more likely to voice concerns about better professor instruction and poor course structure versus qualitative majors. Finally, quantitative majors were more likely to express that online courses were not as learning effective as in-person courses. Results are further discussed.
Vibration Simulation of the Turbine Rotor System of an Underwater Vehicle Considering the Bearing Radial Clearance
Authors: Liu Jing , Xue Lei , Ni Hengtai , Song Wen , Yang Yang , Pan Guang
Published: January 2023

The turbine rotor system (TRS) is one important part of an underwater vehicle (UV). Its vibration and noise characteristics can greatly affect the performance and service life of the UV. To study the influence of radial clearance of supporting bearings on the vibrations of the whole TRS of the UV, a flexible dynamic model of the TRS is established by using the finite element and multi-body methods. Vibrations of the TRS from the rigid and flexible dynamic models under different bearing clearance conditions are analyzed. Note that the TRS with the flexible body model can obtain more accurate vibrations than the rigid one. The maximum vibration amplitude increases with the increment of bearing clearance. The bearing clearance of 5 micrometers to 20 micrometers is more reasonable for controlling the system vibration. The smaller clearance of supporting bearings of the TRS can cause more stable vibration responses. This paper can provide additional guidance for the accurate simulation analysis method of the TRSs of the UVs.
Pedagogical conditions for the formation of the reflexive component of the professional and pedagogical culture of students-teachers
Authors: Bateneva E. V. , Abramova M. A.
Published: January 2023

Introduction. This article presents reflection as a personal resource that allows a teacher to determine their own professional development pathway, taking into account the dynamic conditions of professional reality. Purpose setting. The aim of the study is to identify pedagogical conditions for the formation of the reflexive component of the professional and pedagogical culture of the students-teachers.Methodology and methods of the study. The article presents the results of the analysis of scientific literature on the problem of development of professional and pedagogical culture of a teacher, and the reflexive component of this culture; and also, the results of modeling the educational process and experimental work to identify the effectiveness of the model.Results. The article reveals the pedagogical conditions for the formation of the reflexive component of the culture at issue among student-teachers. A set of methodological, methodical, personal conditions presupposes to organize educational process on the basis of activity-based, axiological and personal approaches in pedagogy. The implementation of these approaches should be carried out taking into account: a systemically differentiated approach to the interpretation of the term «reflectionˮ; activation of students’ reflexive activity, and creation of emotionally safe conditions for its implementation; application of heuristic teaching methods; actualization of the personal significance of the subject matter for students. The article presents a model for implementation of the considered pedagogical conditions in the educational process of a pedagogical university. The model includes conceptual, target, organizational, reflexive-effective components and an assessment instrument for diagnosing the level of formation of the reflexive component of the student-teachers’ professional and pedagogical culture. The article provides a description of the experimental work to verify the effectiveness of this model and the productivity of the considered pedagogical conditions.Conclusions. The research materials open up new sides in the study of problems related to the development of a teacher’s professional and pedagogical culture and offer a systematic solution to the problem of forming a reflexive component of the culture at issue of pedagogical university students.
Open Science for the agricultural sector: a navigator for open educational resources
Authors: Sadovskaya L. L. , Korotenko T. L.
Published: January 2023

Introduction. The global concept of "sustainable development", aimed at preserving civilization, defines the social significance of education and building of the information society as its most important constituent elements. The pandemic and other global challenges state the important role of education as a means of human survival, designating knowledge as public goods. The movement towards sustainable development of the society is similar to the formation of a new educational reality based on new approaches and principles, including open science. Purpose setting. The current trend in the development of higher education is the course towards the openness of content, the use of digital educational technologies, which is reflected in the documents of the international movement for the creation and dissemination of open educational resources. An analysis of domestic scientific publications shows that open access to scientific and educational information is of particular importance, since the transformation of the education system is taking place against the backdrop of restricting our state’s access to world information resources, sanctions, and import substitution. The agricultural sector, which has a special mission to provide the population with food, has faced the task of filling the shortage of highly qualified specialists. In the current period of transformation of the educational system, open educational resources are becoming innovative tools; the experience of agricultural universities in their use during the pandemic has shown good results in the quality of education. However, the global and highly fragmented volume of information on the Internet in the absence of standardization of open educational resources makes the process of finding information for learning complex and time-consuming. Methodology and methods of the study. The results of the analysis give grounds to speak about the need to create a national information aggregator system in order to ensure constant open access to information resources for participants in the educational process of the agricultural industry. Results. The results of the study made it possible to prepare a guide to open sectoral information resources of the agro-industrial complex – open educational resources "Navigator of Open Educational Resources for the Agricultural Industry", which is presented on the "Library for Open Science" platform (available at: http://lib-os.ru/obrazovatelnye-resursy/navigator-oor-apk/) and allow users to find the information they need faster and more efficiently. Conclusion. The results of the study give reason to talk about the need to create a national data aggregation system to provide permanent open access to the information resources of participants in the educational process of the agricultural industry.
Institutional nature of the social elevator
Authors: Sorina G. V. , Gurov Ph. N.
Published: January 2023

Introduction. The concept of «social elevator» is directly related to the name of P. A. Sorokin. The term itself, as well as the phenomenon hiding behind it, become especially in demand in the conditions of crisis situations in which society finds itself. In the article, the social elevator is considered as one of the tools for overcoming the crisis. The introduction of the article substantiates the need for a qualitative study of the meanings of what is hidden behind this phrase; the relationship between the metaphor and the concept in its current interpretation, in understanding the problems of social elevator, is clarified.Purpose setting. The evolution of the idea of horizontal and vertical coordinates of social space is traced; the analogy between geometric and social spaces is investigated.Methods and methodology of the study. The article analyzes the features of the formation of methodological knowledge in the history of culture, clarifies the idea of measuring social space in the concept of P. A. Sorokin, shows that the use of Cartesian coordinate system allows Sorokin to offer a new philosophical view of social space. This view, in contrast to the classical relational or substantial ways of seeing space, offers vertical and horizontal slices of this space.Results. The article consistently presents answers to questions related to the history of the appearance of the phrase "social elevator" in science and everyday life; metaphorical and conceptual interpretations of the social elevator are revealed; the concept under study is applied to the actual reality of modern Russia on the example of one of the institutions of civil society (Autonomous Nonprofit Organization "Russia – the country of opportunities").Conclusions. For the first time, the status of geometry in the formation of methodological knowledge, in the development of P. A. Sorokin’s socio-philosophical ideas was consistently traced. The peculiarities of the work of social elevators are illustrated by the example of the analysis of such an institution of civil society in modern Russia as the ANO "Russia – the country of opportunities". It is proved that Sorokin’s socio-philosophical concept is an effective scientific basis for explaining the specifics of social mobility in modern realities.
Development of reflection on the learning activities of hearing-impaired students in inclusive educational environment
Authors: Traulko E. V. , Buravleva T. V.
Published: January 2023

Introduction. The article presents the results of a study of educational reflection among students with hearing impairments studying under the programs of secondary vocational education, in the process of classroom studies and in extracurricular activities. For this contingent of students, vocational education is one of the most important factors of social adaptation and professional rehabilitation, providing the opportunity for a full-fledged self-sufficient life. However, due to objective reasons, such students experience significant difficulties in the process of professional training.Purpose setting. There is a need to create a comprehensive system of pedagogical work for the development of the reflexive component of educational activity among this category of citizens.Methods and methodology of the study. The article reasonably proves that the organization of pedagogical work on the development of educational reflection, the ability to evaluate and control their educational and educational and professional activities can not only increase the effectiveness of the educational process, but will also contribute to the professional self-determination of students with hearing impairments. The article describes a system of diagnostic methods that allows to identify the current level of educational reflection in students; the system of pedagogical work is presented, which includes directions, techniques, methods and forms for the development of the reflexive component of educational activity among students with hearing impairment.Results. A diagnostic study showed that more than half of the students have a low level of development of the reflection of educational activity. The conditions necessary for the effective organization of pedagogical work to develop the reflection of educational activity were determined.Conclusions. It was found out that their development is facilitated by the immersion of students in educational activities that are personally significant for them. In turn, the formed skills of educational reflection facilitate the process of learning and professional self-determination of students.
Personality foreign language education in the conditions of inclusion in the world educational space: Theoretical foundations of the problem
Authors: Kuznetsova M. V.
Published: January 2023

Introduction. The relevance of the problem of personality foreign language education is determined by the significant development of international cooperation and the inclusion of the Russian Federation in the world economic and educational space. The analysis of the theoretical foundations of this problem will allow us to determine the degree of its development from the point of view of different approaches, which will be the basis for the further research in this area.Purpose setting. The research purpose of the article was to identify and summarize the theoretical foundations of the problem of personality foreign language education.Methods and methodology of the study. The following research methods were used: analysis, generalization, system method. The theoretical basis includes works in the field of philosophy, in which the problem of education in the personality formation was developed. The researchers pay special attention to the individual creative potential, the continuity of education, its possibilities for the personality and society development. Results. As the results of the research, the author presents the theoretical foundations of the problem of personality foreign language education in the conditions of inclusion in the world educational space, exactly: philosophical, psychological, pedagogical, linguistic.Conclusion. The analysis of the theoretical foundations allowed us to conclude the following: the potential of foreign language education is not only in the development of the personality, but also of the society as a whole, which is realized under the conditions of accepting the students’ personalities as subjects of the educational process, considering their needs, characteristics and interests, ensuring the development of all aspects of a foreign language (cognitive, educating, developing, educational).
The dynamics of development of document resources of the libraries in the context of scientific and educational environment of the region
Authors: Podkorytova N. I. , Vikhreva G. M. , Dergileva T. V.
Published: January 2023

Introduction. Actuality of the problem is determined by the fact that studying modern library vital conditions, active and conscious dialogue of this sociocultural institution with other subjects of the scientific and educational environment of the territory is one of the most important factors of improving library activities.Purpose setting. According to this, the article object is to present the peculiarities in the regional document library resources in the scientific-educational space of the Siberia on the example of four administrative entities: Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Kemerovo regions and Altai territory.Methods and methodology of the study. The research is based on the application of historical, sociocultural, spatial methods as well as that of statistical analysis.Results. The research has revealed that despite some uniting signs and typical features, differences in the history of formation, socio-economic priorities and rates of development determinate, directly or indirectly, the specificity of the scientific and educational space of each subject, influencing, in turn, the state of document resources. The authors point out basic problems and tendencies, promoting changes of libraries’ roles in these realities.Conclusion. Practical significance of this work is to create preconditions for forming the strategy of improving libraries’ activities in cooperation with other subjects of scientific and educational complex.
Transformation of human capital in the context of a new technological order
Authors: Kuznetsova I. G.
Published: January 2023

Introduction. Digital technologies are increasingly spreading in agriculture, involving an growing number of production operations in transformational processes and significantly modifying them. This has a positive effect on the quality of products and leads to an increase in labor productivity. There is a growing demand for workers who not only have the competencies in the field of agricultural production, but also the knowledge necessary to work with digital devices and robotic systems. This, in turn, creates an urgent need for the formation and constant updating of these competencies among existing and potential industry employees.Purpose setting. In the context of the transition of the agricultural industry to digital-based production, the workforce must be characterized by mobility, flexibility and digital competence. There is a need for agricultural production to train workers with digital competencies. There is a necessity for rapid management decision-making by the heads of agricultural organizations. To date, the factor of production of information quite strongly affects the process of distribution, exchange and consumption of goods. The development of theoretical and methodological approaches and practical recommendations for the formation and development of human capital of the agrarian sphere in the context of digitalization of the economy is relevant and requires further in-depth research.Methods and methodology of the study. Depending on the tasks to be solved, research methods are used: monographic, graphic, abstract-logical, bibliographic. Results. The main stages of the formation of theoretical concepts of human capital are highlighted: the emergence of a scientific formulation of the definition of «human capital» in a narrower sense, from the point of view of knowledge, skills and abilities of a person; the structure of human capital is studied, are highlighted its components: investments in healthcare, culture, as well as vocational training and retraining of people; the allocation of human capital as a fundamental factor of production; quantitative and qualitative methods for measuring human capital at the micro and macro levels have been developed. The principles are proposed, the implementation of which will contribute to the formation and development of human capital in the context of the transition to agriculture based on the use of digital technologies.Conclusion. Humanity will increasingly be connected with digital technologies in all spheres of life. In the labor market, there will be a demand for workers with completely new competencies, and therefore only those employees whose competencies are focused on the intensive introduction and use of digital platforms and specialized equipment in agriculture will be able to solve the problems of digitalization.
Producing Oxygen on the Moon and Mars for the Future Colonies by Using the Available Chemical Resources
Authors: Karami Danial
Published: January 2023

In the near future, the next generation of space travel will be revealed and people are going to live on multiple planets. As a result, because having enough oxygen for human survival is mandatory, in this research article, we are going to find out an appropriate method for producing oxygen on another planet by considering the accessible resources and their limitations.
Energy-Based Prediction of the Peak and Cumulative Response of a Reinforced Concrete Building with Steel Damper Columns
Authors: Fujii Kenji , Shioda Momoka
Published: January 2023

A steel damper column is an energy-dissipating member that is suitable for reinforced concrete (RC) buildings and multistory housing. To assess the seismic performance of buildings with steel damper columns, the peak displacement of the whole building and the energy dissipation demand of the dampers must be evaluated. This article proposes an energy-based prediction procedure for the peak and cumulative response of an RC frame building with steel damper columns. The proposed procedure considers two energy-related seismic intensity parameters, namely the maximum momentary input energy and the total input energy. The peak displacement is predicted considering the energy balance during a half cycle of the structural response, using the maximum momentary input energy. The energy dissipation demand of the dampers is then predicted considering the energy balance during a whole response cycle using the total input energy. The local responses (e.g., peak drift, maximum plastic rotation of beams, maximum shear strain, and energy dissipation demand of dampers) are predicted using pushover analysis. Numerical analysis results for 8- and 16-story RC buildings show that the proposed prediction method achieves satisfactory accuracy.
Longitudinal Assessment of Plasma Syndecan-1 Predicts 60-Day Mortality in Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Zhang Quan , Ye Zhan , Bignotti Antonia , Zheng X. Long
Published: January 2023

Background: Endotheliopathy is common pathologic findings in patients with acute and long COVID-19. It may be associated with disease severity and predispose to long-term complications. Plasma levels of a proteoglycan syndecan-1 are found to be significantly elevated in patients with COVID-19, but its roles in assessing the disease severity and predicting long-term outcome are not fully understood. Methods: 124 consecutive hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV2 infection were prospectively enrolled and blood samples were collected on admission (T1), 3-4 days following treatment (T2), and 1-2 days prior to discharge or death (T3). Plasma levels of syndecan-1 were determined using an immunosorbent assay; various statistical analyses were performed to determine the association between plasma syndecan-1 levels and disease severity or the 60-day mortality rate. Results: Compared with those in the healthy controls, plasma levels of syndecan-1 in patients with critical COVID-19 were significantly higher (p<0.0001). However, there was no statistically significant difference among patients with different disease severity (p>0.05), resulting from large individual variability. Longitudinal analysis demonstrated that while the levels fluctuated during hospitalization in all patients, plasma syndecan-1 levels were persistently elevated from baseline in critical COVID19 patients. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses revealed that elevated plasma levels of syndecan-1 (>260 ng/mL at T1, >1018 ng/mL at T2, and >461 ng/mL at T3) were significantly associated with the 60-day mortality rate. Conclusions: Endotheliopathy, marked by glycocalyx degradation and elevated plasma syndecan-1, occurs in nearly all hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV2 infection; the elevated plasma syndecan-1 is associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Towards Understanding the Key Signature Pathways Associated from Differentially Expressed Gene Analysis in an Indian Prostate Cancer Cohort
Authors: Shukla Nidhi , Kour Bhumandeep , Sharma Devendra , Vijayvargiya Maneesh , Sadasukhi T C , Medicherla Krishna Mohan , Malik Babita , Bissa Bhawana , Vuree Sugunakar , Lohiya Nirmal Kumar , Suravajhala Prashanth
Published: January 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent cancers among men in India. Although studies on PCa have dealt with the genetics, genomics, and the environmental influence in causality of PCa, not many studies employing the next generation sequencing (NGS) approaches of PCa have been carried out. In our previous study, we have identified some causal genes and mutations specific to Indian PCa using Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES). In the recent past, with the help of different cancer consortiums such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), along with differentially expressed genes (DEGs), many cancer-associated novel non-coding RNAs have been identified as biomarkers. In this work, we attempt to identify DEGs as well as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with signature pathways from an Indian PCa cohort using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) approach. From a cohort of 60, we screened 6 patients who underwent prostatectomy; we performed a whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing (WTSS)/RNA-sequencing to decipher the DEGs. We further normalized the read counts using fragments per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads (FPKM) and analyzed the DEGs using a cohort of downstream regulatory tools, viz. GeneMANIA Stringdb, Cytoscape-Cytohubba, cbioportal to map the inherent signatures associated with PCa. By comparing the RNA-seq data obtained from the pairs of normal and PCa tissue samples using our benchmarked in-house cuffdiff pipeline, we observed some important genes specific to PCa such as STEAP2, APP, PMEPA1, PABPC1, NFE2L2, HN1L and some other important genes known to be involved in different cancer pathways such as, COL6A1, DOK5, STX6, BCAS1, BACE1, BACE2, LMOD1, SNX9, CTNND1 etc. We also identified a few novel lncRNAs such as LINC01440, SOX2OT, ENSG00000232855, and ENST00000647843.1 that need to be characterized further. Deregulation of SOX2OT is observed in various tumors, including lung cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, osteosarcoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and glioblastoma. It would be interesting to characterize its function in PCa as well. In comparison with publicly available datasets, we have identified characteristic DEGs and novel lncRNAs implicated in signature PCa pathways in an Indian PCa cohort which have perhaps not been reported. As a pilot study, this has set a precedent for us to validate further experimentally, and we firmly believe this will pave a way towards discovery of biomarkers and development of novel therapies.
Observational study on antibody response to COVID-19 Vaccines in pAtients with gastro-entero-panCreatic Cancers and neuroendocrIne NeoplAsms on systemic TreatmEnts (VACCINATE).
Authors: Laffi Alice , Gervaso Lorenzo , D'Ecclesiis Oriana , Gandini Sara , Riva Agostino , Passerini Rita , Spada Francesca , Pellicori Stefania , Rubino Manila , Cella Chiara Alessandra , Ravenda Paola Simona , Zampino Maria Giulia , Fazio Nicola
Published: January 2023

The Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic dramatically impacted on oncologic patients' care. Since the introduction of vaccines and the demonstration of their benefit on frail patients, COVID-19 vaccinations were indicated also for oncologic population. However, data about the impact of anticancer-treatments and the timing between vaccinations and systemic therapy de-livery were not available. We aimed to evaluate potential factors influencing the outcome of COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients.
We prospectively collected data of patients undergoing COVID-19 vaccination with gas-tro-entero-pancreatic and neuroendocrine neoplasms, treated at our Institute, between 03/2021 and 12/2021.
We enrolled 46 patients, 63.1% males; at the time of data collection 86.9% received two-doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and the remains Moderna vaccine. All patients obtained a subsequent im-mune-response. A significantly lower values of IgG for patients treated with chemotherapy versus other anti-cancer agents (p=0.004). No significant effect on immune-response was reported for both vaccinations performed ≤7 vs >7 days from the last systemic treatment (p=0.77) and lymphocytes count (p=0.11).
The findings suggest that the optimal timing for COVID-19 vaccination and lymphocytes count are not the issue but rather the quality of the subset of lymphocytes before the vaccination to deter-mine the efficacy level of immune-response in this population.
Building Partnership or Competition: Village Business Sustainability in Indonesia
Authors: Effendi Soelchan Arief , Sukoharsono Eko Ganis , Purwanti Lilik , Rosidi Rosidi
Published: January 2023

This study aims to understand the reality of Village-Owned Enterprises and their implications for rural communities. The focus of this research is to explore the role of Village-Owned Enterprises in carrying out their role as an engine for driving the economy of people in rural areas. Village-owned enterprises have turned into competitors for small rural enterprises. This research uses a qualitative approach, and the informants from Village-Owned Enterprises are the Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. Village-owned enterprises become a medium for rural business groups to develop economic potential. The results of the study indicate that the business fields that village-owned enterprises develop have in common with small businesses of rural communities, so it interferes with the sustainability of local communities' businesses. The development of Village-Owned Enterprises is based on building a business chain by involving local economic groups so that the sustainability of community economic business activities impacts the economy of rural areas. Practical implications — Provide academic considerations for regulators to evaluate and reorganize the role of Village-Owned Enterprises for the sustainability of small rural businesses.
Promoting Urban Farming for Creating Sustainable Cities in Nepal
Authors: Bhattarai Keshav , Adhikari Ambika P.
Published: January 2023

This paper responds to the research question, “can urban farming help Nepali cities become more sustainable”? Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, urban residents have begun to realize that food transported from long distances could not always be reliable. Urban farming can help produce fresh food locally and avoid long-distance transportation, and refrigeration. This practice also helps reduce greenhouse gases through plant carbon use efficiency (CUE). Urban farming not only helps city-dwellers towards achieving self-reliance in food production but also in vegetation carbon dynamics (VCD) while supporting the circular economy. Urban farming consists of edible landscapes, which can also be an aesthetic public space. As urban lands command higher prices than agricultural land, urban farming usually happens on residential yards, roofs, balconies, community gardens, and dedicated areas in public parks. Rainwater harvesting, and redirecting can help irrigate urban farms which can be part of rain gardens. The national census of 2021 (CBS 2022, p5) identifies that 66 percent of Nepal’s population live in urban areas. However, the World Bank (2018), shows that only 21 of Nepal’s population was projected to live in urban areas in 2021. It is not debatable that the urbanization process in Nepal is on the rise. Thus, urban agriculture can play an important role to supplement the residents’ food needs. Many cities in Nepal have already successfully adapted to urban farming where residents grow food on their building site, balconies, and rooftop often growing plants on pots, vases, and other types of containers. The UN-Habitat, with the support of European Union and local agencies, has published a rooftop farming training manual (2014) showing the feasibility of urban farming in Nepal.The paper discusses how Public Private Partnership (PPP) can promote urban agriculture and make the process more effective and attractive to urban farming households. It also analyzes how a PPP approach also facilitates the use of better technology, advisory support, and use of research extension activities. This paper draws on literature review, secondary data (e.g., from National Census Nepal 2021) and authors’ professional experiences related to best practices in the areas to analyze the benefits and challenges related to urban farming in Arizona, USA. The paper will provide recommendations for Nepali cities to maximize the benefit provided by urban farming. It is expected to be useful to Nepali policy makers, and government agencies, and nonprofit organizations which promote sustainability, and organic farming.
A Simple Drone Survey and Image Processing Approach to Identifying St. John's Wort (Hypericum Perforatum) on Grazing Land in the Hunter Valley NSW, Australia
Authors: Lucas Steven A.
Published: January 2023

This paper presents a simple drone survey and image processing approach to identifying St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) on grazing land in the Hunter Valley NSW, Australia. St John’s wort is an invasive species (weed) that competes with pasture, poisons livestock, can downgrade wool with ‘vegetable fault’, and decreases property values. Identifying the locations of St John wort from the ground can be difficult due to topography, limited access, and/or larger land areas of mixed vegetation. In this study, a drone was used to survey a 174-ha grazing property in the Hunter Valley NSW (Australia). The images were stitched together using commercially available software. A unique Visual Atmospheric Resistance Index (VARI) attribute was identified and used to highlight the presence of St John’s wort in the survey area. These sub-areas were then digitised onto high resolution maps for future planning use by land managers.
Geographically Weighted Panel Regression Modelling of Human Development Index Data in East Kalimantan Province in 2017-2020
Authors: Ananda Ni Made Shantia , Suyitno Suyitno , Siringoringo Meiliyani
Published: January 2023

Geographically Weighted Panel Regression (GWPR) model is a panel regression model applied on spatial data. This research applied Fixed Effect Model (FEM) on panel regression as the global model and GWPR as the local model for Human Development Index (HDI) regencies/municipalities in East Kalimantan Province data over the years 2017-2020. The aim of this research is to obtain the GWPR model of HDI data, as well as to acquire factors that influence it. The parameter of GWPR model was estimated on each observation location using the Weighted Least Square (WLS) method, namely Ordinary Least Square (OLS) with addition of spatial weighting. The spatial weighting on GWPR model was calculated using fixed bisquare, fixed tricube, adaptive bisquare and adaptive tricube. After the selection process, the optimum weighting function is adaptive tricube which provides a minimum Cross Validation (CV) value of 5.1419. Based on GWPR parameter testing, factors that affect HDI are local and diverse in each 10 regencies/municipalities in East Kalimantan Province. These factors are the labor force participation rate, number of health facilities, Gini ratio, population growth rate, open unemployment rate, poverty gap index and percentage of food expenditure. The coefficient of determination of the GWPR model obtains a value of 94.36% with the RMSE value of 0.1221.
MacCormack method for solving one-dimensional bed-load sediment transport model
Authors: Said Irfan , Ribal Agustinus , Khaeruddin Khaeruddin
Published: January 2023

In this work, we investigate the numerical solution of one-dimensional bed-load sediment transport model using two steps finite difference method which so-called MacCormack method. Bed-load sediment transport model is composed by the shallow water equation and Exner equation. The Meyer-Peter and Muller (MPM) formula and Wu formula will be used to determine the Grass factor of the bed-load sediment transport. These governing equations will be discretized into predictor and corrector steps of the MacCormack method. The numerical results of the MacCormack method will be validated with an analytical solution of the bed-load sediment transport model. In addition, the MacCormack solution will also be compared with experimental solutions and another numerical method solutions that have existed previously. The numerical results based on MacCormack method give excellent results in which the numerical and the analytical results are hardly differentiated with RMSE of around 00042  or 4,2 .
The Development of Augmented Reality to Improve Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy Skills of Elementary School Students
Authors: Fajari Laksmi Evasufi Widi , Meilisa Ranny
Published: January 2023

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengembangkan media pembelajaran berbasis augmented reality untuk meningkatkan keterampilan berpikir kritis dan literasi digital siswa sekolah dasar. Metode penelitian ini adalah Research and Development (R&D) dengan model ADDIE. Adapun hasil penelitian menunjukkan: (1) tahap analysis dilaksanakan dengan analisis media, analisis kurikulum dan analisis materi sebagai pedoman perancangan media yang efisien dan efektif; (2) tahap design dilaksanakan dengan merancang kerangka media augmented reality serta pembuatan instrumen penelitian; (3) tahap development dilaksanakan dengan mengembangkan rancangan media pembelajaran dan instrumen penelitian, penilaian dari para ahli dengan hasil sangat layak serta merevisi media berdasarkan kritik dan saran; (4) tahap implementation dilaksanakan melalui uji coba pengembangan media AR serta analisis pretest-posttest keterampilan berpikir kritis dan literasi digital menggunakan uji normalitas, N-gain score dan uji independent t-test; (5) tahap evaluasi dilaksanakan dengan revisi akhir dan analisis angket respon siswa yang menunjukkan bahwa tingkat kepraktisan produk dikategorikan sangat praktis. Simpulan penelitian ini adalah media AR efektif untuk meningkatkan keterampilan berpikir kritis dan literasi digital siswa sekolah dasar.