bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonally flooded Coquinal: typifying a particular plant association in the northern Yucatan peninsula, Mexico
Authors: Duno de Stefano Rodrigo , Aguilar-Canché Mayte , Carnevali Fernández-Concha Germán , Ramírez-Morillo Ivón , Tapia-Muñoz José Luis , Reyes-Palomeque Gabriela , Angulo Diego F.
Published: March 2024

Background: One of the most diverse and threatened plant associations in the Yucatan peninsula has not been characterized and therefore not included in any protection category in Mexico. We characterize and describe this plant association, which is rapidly disappearing or being irreversibly transformed as a result of anthropic activities. We propose a name and attempt a preliminary assessment of its taxonomic richness, and the identification of priority species to be preserved.

Questions: What is the species richness and plant endemism associated within this plant association? What are the ecologically important and high-priority species for conservation? How is it different from associated or similar plant associations?

Studied species: Vascular plants.

Study site and dates: Northern Yucatan peninsula; 2021-2023.

Methods: The plant association was characterized, and quantitative parameters were recorded. The Importance Value Index was estimated to assess its local ecological importance, and each species was assigned a conservation category in order to evaluate the conservation status in a global context.

Results: We propose Seasonally flooded Coquinal (SFC) as a name for this plant association based on geomorphological, physiognomic, and structural attributes. A total of 206 species were recorded, which two are endemic to the SFC and 28 to the Yucatan Peninsula Biotic Province (YPBP). Twelve species are listed under a risk category.

Conclusions: The SFC harbors a high plant diversity of endemic species to the YPBP, 12 of which are included in the IUCN red list, for which its typification and conservation should be a high priority in Mexico.
Enhancing Herbage Growth, Yield and Quality of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) using Bio-Organic Nutrients in Varied Soil Media
Authors: Calapardo Mara Jean Marielle , Manigo Bryl I.
Published: March 2024

The present method of stevia propagation is still insufficient to meet its increasing demand. Moreover, the use of organic inputs as substitutes for inorganic fertilizers to improve soil quality and productivity is also desired. In this study, the effects of bio-organic nutrients and different growing media compositions on Stevia’s herbage growth, yield and quality were determined. A completely randomized design was used with 20 rooted stem cuttings per replication at one cutting per potting bag, laid in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement. Growing Media (garden soil alone [GS]; GS + rice hull [RH]; GS + vermicompost [VC]; and GS+RH+VC) served as factor A while bio-organic nutrients (fermented fruit juice [FFJ]; vermi tea [VT]; seaweed tea [ST] and control) as factor B. There were 16 treatment combinations replicated four times. Results showed that GS+RH+VC consistently improved the survival rate, plant height, leaf and shoot count per plant, weight (fresh and dry), and herbage yield of Stevia. Furthermore, VT boosted the herbage yield and visual quality. In terms of interaction effects, plants grown in garden soil mixed with vermicompost (GS+VC) with VT application developed more leaves than other treatment combinations. Hence, these bio-nutrients and growing media composition significantly enhanced the production of Stevia.
MESLEK YÜKSEKOKULUNDA GÖREV YAPAN ÖĞRETİM ELEMANLARININ EĞİTİM BECERİLERİ VE MESLEKİ DOYUMU ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN İNCELENMESİ: BİR VAKIF ÜNİVERSİTESİ ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: ULUPINAR Sevim , ÇEVİK AKKUŞ Güneş
Published: March 2024

Çalışmanın amacı, öğretim elemanlarının eğitim becerileri ve mesleki doyumu arasındaki ilişkiyi belirlemektir. Araştırma tanımlayıcı ve ilişki arayıcı tiptedir, örneklemi meslek yüksekokulunda görevli 86 öğretim elemanı oluşturmuştur. Veriler, bilgi formu, Mesleki Doyum Ölçeği ve Eğitim Becerileri Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Veriler, aritmetik ortalama, t testi, ANOVA, korelasyon ve regresyon analizi kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Öğretim elemanlarının %56,6’sı eğitim becerilerine yönelik eğitim almadığını, %92,8’i eğitim becerileri eğitiminin zorunlu olması gerektiğini, %51,8’i eğitim becerileri düzeyinin oldukça yeterli olduğunu ifade etmiştir. Katılımcıların eğitim becerileri ölçeği toplam puanının 155,90±16,81 (min:38-max:190), mesleki doyum ölçeği toplam puanının 80,29±9,62 (min:20-max:100) olduğu belirlenmiştir. Eğitim becerileri ölçeği ile cinsiyet, akademik unvan, eğitim becerisi algısı ve mesleki doyum algısı arasında istatiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulunmuştur. Mesleki doyum algısı yüksek olan ve işini sevenlerin mesleki doyum ölçeği puanı daha yüksektir. Eğitim becerileri ölçeği ve alt boyutları ile mesleki doyum ölçeği arasında, pozitif yönde orta düzeyde ilişki vardır. Öğretim elemanlarının eğitim becerileri ve mesleki doyum düzeyinin yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Araştırma sonucuna göre, mesleki doyum, eğitim becerilerinin %22,2’sini tek başına açıklamaktadır, mesleki doyumda gerçekleştirilecek bir birimlik iyileşme, eğitim becerileri üzerinde %82,3 oranında bir artışa neden olacaktır. Bu sonuçlar doğrultusunda mesleki doyum arttığında, eğitim becerilerinin artacağı, mesleki beceri geliştiğinde de mesleki doyumun artacağını söylemek mümkündür. Öğretim elemanlarının, mesleki doyumu ve eğitim becerilerini geliştirmeye yönelik eğitim ve çalışmalar yapılması önerilmektedir.
“YEDİ İKLİM” VE “ALTIN KÖPRÜ” YABANCILARA TÜRKÇE ÖĞRETİM C1 SETLERİNDE KULLANILAN MECAZ İFADELERİN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Authors: BİÇERYEN Esra , TUZCU Kerim
Published: March 2024

Bu çalışmada, Yunus Eme Enstitüsü tarafından hazırlanan Yedi İklim Yabacılara Türkçe Öğretimi ile yine Kırgızistan- Türkiye Manas Üniversitesi tarafından hazırlanan Altın Köprü Yabancılara Türkçe Öğretimi setlerinin C1 seviyesindeki ders kitaplarında yer alan mecazlı ifadeleri belirlemek ve bu iki setin söz konusu ifadelerin kullanımı yönüyle karşılaştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Yabancı dil eğitimi sırf hedef dilin gramer yapısını ve kurallarını öğrenmek değil, aynı zamanda o dilde konuşan insanların kültürünü ve medeniyetini de tanımak anlamına gelir. Dildeki mecazlı ifadeler ise bir toplumun kültürünü ve değerlerini yansıtan unsurların başta gelenlerinden sayılır. Buna binaen yabancı dil öğretiminde ve kültür aktarımında faydalanılacak unsurlardan en önemli malzemelerden birisi de dildeki mecazlardır. Yabancılara Türkçe öğretiminde en çok başvurulan ve yararlanılan kaynaklardan biri olan ders kitapları ise bu mecazların sıklıkla yer aldığı araç gereçlerdendir. Bu maksat doğrultusunda seçilen yöntem, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan durum çalışmasıdır. Araştırma verileri, C1 seviyesindeki ders kitaplarında bulunan mecazlı ifadeleri belge tarama tekniği ile toplayarak elde edilmiştir. Bu çalışma sonucunda; Yedi İklim C1 ders kitabında toplam 946 adet mecazlı ifade olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Bulunan mecazlı ifadelerin dil becerilerine göre dağılımı; dinleme becerisinde 369, konuşma becerisinde 29, okuma becerisinde 504 ve yazma becerisinde 44^tür. Altın Köprü C1 ders kitabında ise toplam 821 mecazlı ifade tespit edilmiştir. Tespit edilen mecazlı ifadelerin dil becerilerine göre dağılımı ise şöyledir: Dinleme becerisinde 352, konuşma becerisinde 8, okuma becerisinde 358 ve yazma becerisinde 103’tür. Sonuç olarak Yedi İklim C1 ders kitabında, Altın Köprü C1 ders kitabına göre daha çok mecazlı ifade kullanıldığı görülmüştür.
Optimization Of Hybrid Composite Laminates With Various Materials Using GA/GPSA Hybrid Algorithm for Maximum Dimensional Stability
Authors: Geçmez Hacer , Deveci Hamza Arda
Published: March 2024

In this study, it is aimed to obtain the highest dimensional stability against temperature changes in fiber-reinforced hybrid composite laminates considering eight different composite materials: Aramid/Epoxy, AS4/Epoxy, Boron/Epoxy, E-Glass/Epoxy, IM6/Epoxy, GY70/Epoxy, Kevlar49/Epoxy, and Spectra/Epoxy. The study focuses on finding the optimum continuous and traditional fiber angle orientations for the hybrid composite plates that would provide the lowest coefficients of thermal expansion. For this purpose, two different laminate sequences were investigated, each including two materials. A hybrid algorithm combining genetic algorithm and generalized pattern search algorithm was used in the optimization. A great number of hybrid design problems were solved repeatedly, and their results were compared both within themselves and to the optimum non-hybrid laminate results. Furthermore, the thermal durability of the selected optimum hybrid designs was evaluated by Tsai-Wu failure and Hashin-Rotem criteria. The results reveal that substantial increase in dimensional stability can be achieved by stacking sequence optimization of hybrid composite laminates with multiple material selection, and this hybrid design approach can offer the desired laminated composite structures for aerospace applications required to withstand extreme temperature changes.
On Conic Equations Under Bernstein Operators
Authors: Tunç Tuncay , Alhazzori Ghofran
Published: March 2024

One of the most important problems in approximation theory in mathematical analysis is the determination of sequences of polynomials that converge to functions and have the same geometric properties. This type of approximation is called the shape-preserving approximation. These types of problems are usually handled depending on the convexity of the functions, the degree of smoothness depending on the order of differentiability, or whether it satisfies a functional equation. The problem addressed in this paper belongs to the third class. A quadratic bivariate algebraic equation denotes geometrically some well-known shapes such as circles, ellipses, hyperbolas and parabolas. Such equations are known as conic equations. In this study, it is investigated whether conic equations transform into a conic equation under bivariate Bernstein polynomials, and if so, which conic equation it transforms into.
New Hybrid Distributed Attack Detection System for IoT
Authors: Bakır Çiğdem
Published: March 2024

IoT is expressed as a network of physical objects with applications and various technologies that provide data connection and sharing with various devices and systems over the Internet. Security vulnerabilities in IoT devices are one of the biggest security issues in connecting devices to the internet and collecting and processing user data. These vulnerabilities can lead to increased attacks on IoT devices and malicious use of user data. In this article, we discuss these security problems that arise in IoT systems in detail in distributed systems technology. Distributed systems are increasingly used in the modern computing world. These systems are a structure where multiple independent computers communicate with each other for a common purpose. Distributed system technologies have become more common with the development of internet and cloud computing systems. However, the use of distributed systems has brought with it important security challenges such as security vulnerabilities, access controls and data integrity issues. Therefore, the security of distributed system technologies has been an important focus of work in this area. In this study, information about distributed system technologies and security for IoT is given. The all attack types were classified using ANN, developed RF and hybrid model. In RF, all feature vectors created from all datasets (bank and two financial datasets) were also analyzed separately and the classification performance was examined. In addition, a new RF algorithm based on weight values using the Gini algorithm has been proposed. With this algorithm, the traditional RF algorithm has been developed and the success rates have been increased. In addition, a hybrid method was created by classifying the datasets obtained by RF with ANN. With the hybrid method ANN and the enhanced RF method, its accuracy in detecting normal behaviors and attack types was calculated and the success of the methods was presented comparatively. In addition, the working times of the methods were determined.
Using Machine Learning Algorithms to Analyze Customer Churn with Commissions Rate for Stocks in Brokerage Firms and Banks
Authors: Kaya Hakan
Published: March 2024

Stock commission rates of banks and brokerage firms are a critical factor for investors. These rates affect the cost of stock investments. In this article, we will discuss the importance of stock commission rates of brokerage firms and banks and how they are determined. To enhance a slightly different approach to customer churn management, data set derived from a banks and brokorage firm has been analyzed. The data set which contains 7816 entries and 14 columns features has been derived from a publicly open-access database and reflects transactions of the firm. Decision Tree, Random Forest, K-NN, Gaussion NB and XGBoost algorithms have been used as analyzing methods and performance of the analysis has been evaluated via three accuracy measures. Two approaches are included for model creation. According to the first analysis results, the Gaussion NB, for second approach the K-NN algorithms gave the best result.
Eating disorders in preschool and primary school children with autism spectrum disorder and its clinical significance
Authors: Smolko Nataliya A. , Fayzullina Rezeda A. , Mukhamedshina Yana O.
Published: March 2024

Autism spectrum disorder is the fastest growing form of nervous and mental development disorder in the world. In this regard, there is a special need to resolve issues of diagnosis and correction of not only the main symptoms of this disease, but also numerous associated somatic disorders. One of the common clinical manifestations in children with autism spectrum disorder is pathological eating behavior, which includes disturbances in eating habits and preferences, frequency of meals, etc. Despite the fact that eating disorders can also occur among normotypical coevals, in children with autism spectrum disorder, these manifestations are clinically more diverse, vary in severity and often appear earlier than the main symptoms of the disease. It must be emphasized that the correction of certain nutritional disorders in this group of children is often difficult due to the characteristics of the course of the underlying disease. This may be further exacerbated by increased parental anxiety. A timely solution to the problem of eating behavior in children with autistic disorder is of great importance for strengthening their health and reducing the severity of the underlying disease, since the connection between neuropsychic and somatic health is inseparable. In the review, we tried to identify the main factors involved in the formation of eating disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder, and presented existing practical tools for analyzing this medical problem and managing their nutrition for preventive and therapeutic purposes.
Relation between serum hormones and semen parameters in sub-fertile males: is 17-hydroxyprogesterone really a game changer?
Authors: Ghanti Archi , Shankar K. M. Kundavi , Asokan Yamini , V. Geetha , V. Rashmi G. , Naaram Nithya M. , R. Hemaniveda K.
Published: March 2024

Background: Semen analysis and serum hormone assessment remains an integral part of assessment of infertile males. 17-OHP has recently been demonstrated as a very good marker of intratesticular testosterone environment. Our study was designed to find relationship between individual serum hormone levels and semen parameters in sub fertile men, and to find whether 17-OHP fares better or worse in predicting baseline semen parameters compared to other routinely tested hormones.
Methods: A retrospective analytical study was conducted on 74 patients, after matching inclusion and exclusion criteria, from July 2022 to December 2023. All included patients were investigated with Semen analysis and Serum biomarker levels (FSH, total testosterone, estradiol, total testosterone/estradiol (T/E2) ratio, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone).
Results: Only 10 patients (13.51%) had normal semen analysis, while rest 64 (86.49%) had abnormality in at least 1 semen parameter. Serum testosterone and T/E2 ratio had significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups. Comparing individual semen parameters against all hormones, FSH and total testosterone had significant association with sperm count, concentration and total motility. Total testosterone also had a significant relation with progressive motility, morphology and semen volume (p<0.05). T/E2 ratio had significant association with Sperm count, motility and morphology, and semen volume (p<0.05). But, 17-OHP and estradiol were not found to have any significant association with any baseline semen parameters in our study (p>0.05). But, serum 17OHP was found to be significantly associated with sexual dysfunction in males (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Our study inferred that serum FSH, testosterone level and T/E2 ratio can be used to predict baseline semen parameters, but 17OHP did not have any association with baseline semen parameters. However, serum 17OHP can serve as a novel marker for male sexual dysfunction.
A comprehensive comparative study on mid-term clinical and functional outcomes in Indian patients following bilateral total knee arthroplasty: assessing the impact of body mass index on post-total knee arthroplasty results
Authors: Ponnanna Karineravanda Machaiah , Rudraraju Ravi Teja , Bajwa Supreet , Aneja Kunal
Published: March 2024

Background: Limited research exists on Indian obese patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (bTKA), necessitating a comprehensive and comparative analysis with non-obese counterparts. This study presents an observational and prospective assessment of Indian patients who underwent cruciate retaining/posterior stabilized (CR/PS) metal-backed implant surgeries from 2016 to 2019.
Methods: The study encompassed 190 patients (380 knees) undergoing bTKA, classified by World Health Organization (WHO) weight stratification: normal weight (cohort 1, n=51), overweight (cohort 2, n=85), and obese (cohort 3, n=54). Primary endpoints were implant survivorship and revision rates, with secondary endpoints including range of motion (ROM), knee society score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), and SF-36 scores.
Results: Female representation dominated all groups (88.24%, 87.06%, and 90.74%). End-stage osteoarthritis occurred in 94.12%, 96.47%, and 98.15%, respectively. Over the 3-year follow-up, four fatalities occurred, with 186 patients completing the study. ROM showed significant improvement after three years, with baseline values increasing from 93.29°±18.29° (cohort 1) to 123.97°±2.28°, 122.86°±5.03°, and 122.67°±4.77°, respectively (p<0.001). KSS demonstrated substantial improvement (cohort 1: 89.87±6.48, cohort 2: 90.47±8.40, cohort 3: 90.52±8.07) after three years. A 100% success rate and no revisions indicated implant durability. WOMAC and SF-36 questionnaires exhibited significant improvements in pain, stiffness, and overall well-being (p<0.001) after bTKA.
Conclusions: This mid-term CR/PS knee survival analysis underscores 100% implant functionality, improved knee function, and enhanced quality of life for all patients, irrespective of their body mass index (BMI). Simultaneous bilateral TKA with CR/PS implants demonstrates favourable outcomes, affirming its efficacy as a viable treatment option.
Strengthening Institutional Building to Prevent Potency Conflict (Study at Communication Forums Regional Intelligence Central Java Province)
Authors: . Sulaiman , Iskandar Didik , Ibrahim Ankmal , . Sukri , Arifin Ansar
Published: March 2024

Institutional development is an approach that depends on the concept of manipulating, social dna stressing, leadership functioning on modern elite group, and also available alternatives on action strategies. The existence of potential conflict in society is an activity that must be monitored beforehand and the role of intelligence is highly expected to identify it early on. This study aims to analyze pattern interaction between actors who are awakened in community forums intelligence area in handler potency conflict. This is qualitative research with a descriptive approach. This research was carried out in Central Java Province because there are several activities in regional intelligence communication forums that are quite active in handling potential conflicts. Research results show that strengthening institutional building in Communication Internal Regional Intelligence Handling potency conflict in the Province Central Java is not yet fully optimal in sight from institutional building dimensions, namely leadership, doctrine, programs, resources, and internal structure. Importance of strengthening internal institutional building developing institutions involved various institutions capable of presenting an output that does not only applies to a certain situation but also a different context.
Keywords: institutional building, prevention potency, conflict
Analysis of the Role of Stakeholders in the Development of e-Goverment (Study on West Seram Regency)
Authors: Theresia Patty Julia , Nikijuluw Reynold
Published: March 2024

This research aims to analyze the role and involvement of stakeholders in egovernment development in the West Seram Regency. This research aims to find out the stakeholders involved and participate in the e-government development process, as well as their interests, influences, and interactions intertwined among the stakeholders. This research has been done under the descriptive qualitative method. Field observation methods, limited interviews conducted with some related governmental departments, and documentation to support research data have been used in data collection. Stakeholders that have been identified were then classified based on the level of interest and influence, which will then be seen through the interactions between stakeholders.
Keywords: e-government, stakeholder role analysis program development
Factors Inhibiting Implementation of Disaster Management Policies (Case Study of Stunting Management in Rokan Hilir Regency)
Authors: Yuliani Febri , Sadad Abdul
Published: March 2024

Globally, in 2020 it was estimated that 149 million children under the age of 5 will experience stunting (WHO, 2020). In 2021, the stunting prevalence rate in Indonesia would still be 24.4%, even though the WHO maximum limit for stunting in a country is 20%. Meanwhile, the prevalence of stunting in West Sumatra at the end of 2021 was 23% (Ministry of Health, 2021). To accelerate the reduction in stunting rates, the government is implementing a convergent intervention approach involving multiple sectors at various levels. Implementation of convergent interventions was carried out by combining or integrating various resources to achieve a common goal, namely ensuring that services from each specific nutrition intervention and sensitive nutrition intervention are available in districts/cities and villages and are easily accessed and utilized by community groups in need, especially mothers. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children aged between 0 and 23 months were referred to as 1000 HPK households or priority targets. Apart from that there were important target categories, namely children aged between 24 and 59 months, women of childbearing age, and young women. This research examines the factors inhibiting the implementation of disaster management policies (Case Study of Stunting Management in Rokan Hilir Regency). This research was carried out to deal with stunting and accelerate the reduction in stunting prevalence. The involvement of all stakeholders in encouraging, modifying, and expanding the scope of work areas certainly requires support and sufficient budget from the central and regional governments. The role of multi-stakeholders is really needed by building commitment, shared perspectives, resource support, and actor strength. The approach taken is a qualitative approach with descriptive analysis methods. The data required in this research consists of primary and secondary data. The units of analysis in this research are people or parties who are considered to have knowledge about the implementation of food security policy innovations in dealing with stunting and also from the policy implementing apparatus. Some of whom have certain positions, including staff, the community and also from NGOs which are parties involved in implementing food security policy innovations to combat stunting in Rokan Hilir Regency.
Keywords: Implementation Public Policy, disaster management, stunting management
Collaborative Governance Analysis in the Implementation of ``Elderly Friendly Hajj'' Policy in Indonesia
Authors: Malaiha Dewi Siti , Qodarsasi Umi
Published: March 2024

According to Siskohat data, a 30% of elderly Hajj pilgrims were predicted in 2023. Meanwhile, pilgrims with high health risks were predicted to be 73%.This number is the highest in the last five years. In organizing the Hajj pilgrimage, the Ministry of Religion collaborates with various parties. Collaborative governance is a process that involves various relevant stakeholders to promote the interests of each agency in achieving common goals. This study aims to examine how the collaborative governance was formed to implement Elderly Friendly Hajj policy. This research uses descriptive qualitative method. The results of this study is the formations of Ministry of Religion involving several parties in the mechanism of collaborative governance, such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah through its Hajj and Umrah Guidance Group (KBIHU), also building partnership with the Indonesian Hajj Brotherhood Association (IPHI), and Indonesian Hajj Officer Alumni Communication Forum (FKAPHI). The success of collaborative governance is supported by system context, drivers, and collaborative dynamics among the parties.
Keywords: collaborative governance, elderly friendly Hajj, policy implementation
Ganjar Pranowo's Political Communication on Twitter; 2024 Presidential Victory Strategy
Authors: Nusamuda Pratama Inka , Hidayat Rahmad
Published: March 2024

This research analyzes Ganjar Pranowo’s strategic focus in the 2024 Presidential election on three sub-themes of the Human Development Index, namely Health, Education, and Economy via Twitter. This research aims to understand how Ganjar Pranowo uses the Twitter platform to highlight Health, Education, and Economic issues in the context of the 2024 Presidential election. The study has academic relevance because it provides insight into how a political candidate uses social media to convey political message. Meanwhile, this research can practically offer political candidates’ and campaign teams’ preferences in designing communication strategies via social media. The methodology used in this research is qualitative with the Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Miner approach. Content, network, and cloud analysis was performed using the Nvivo 12 Plus software. The findings were that Health was the main topic, with a discussion percentage of 47.11%, followed by Education with 34.71%, and Economics with 18.18%. This reflects Ganjar Pranowo’s emphasis on access to quality health services and commitment to education issues. This finding means that it provides insight into the focus of his political strategy. The research concludes that Ganjar Pranowo’s strategy in using Twitter in the context of the 2024 presidential election focuses on Health and Education issues as an attraction for voters. However, economic discussions and articulation of economic policies must be improved to ensure voters understand Ganjar’s plans for facing future economic challenges. The practical implication of this research is that political candidates can consider the importance of emphasizing Health and Education issues in their communication strategies via social media. In addition, this research also underscores the need for improvements in economic policy communication to increase voters’ understanding of candidates’ financial plans.
Keywords: campaign, digital politics, general elections
Life Cycle Analysis of the European Banking Sector's ESG Performance s
Authors: Horváth Gábor , Csapi Vivien
Published: March 2024

Business stakeholders are becoming more involved in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects. There is an increasing awareness in the financial services industry of the importance of incorporating ESG factors into strategies, processes, and financial tools to generate value over the medium and long run. While a vast body of literature examines the connection between ESG factors and company performance, only a few studies have specifically investigated the financial services industry, often employing linear models. This research specifically examines the ESG performance of the financial services industry. It utilizes a life-cycle framework to analyze the patterns and relationships of European companies in the sector. This analysis is conducted using linear panel regression models. The study's conclusions serve as crucial benchmarks for investment managers and policymakers. The findings illustrate that superior, enhanced ESG performance can bolster the financial success of industry participants.
Use of Advanced Technologies for Personalized Training in Fitness
Authors: Lah Luka , Kljajić Borštnar Mirjana
Published: March 2024

In the paper we address utilization of advanced technologies for supporting physical exercises backed by sports theory. Despite the availability of digital technologies, wearable sensor devices and AI methods for monitoring heart rates and planning training sessions, there is currently no all-encompassing solution for customizing fitness routines based on individual health and capabilities. For this purpose, we propose to develop a comprehensive framework that utilizes information from personal trainers to personalize workout programs at fitness centres. This proposed framework aims to address this gap by analysing user data to tailor exercises according to specific requirements, including age, abilities, and injury history. The objective is to make exercise more accessible and safer, reducing reliance on often costly personal trainers. In this paper we present an initial proposal rather than a finished product. Future work involves creating a prototype, assessing its efficiency, and integrating measures for preventing injuries, ultimately improving quality of life through healthier lifestyles and accessible fitness training.
Analiza razvojnih in uporabniških vidikov eRecepta v Sloveniji
Authors: Rant Živa , Stanimirović Dalibor
Published: March 2024

Slovenija ima dobro razvite rešitve eZdravja. Ena izmed njih je eRecept, ki omogoča predpisovanje elektronskih receptov in izdajo zdravil v lekarnah. Vsakodnevno delovanje zdravstvenega sistema se je razen nekaterih izjem med pandemijo covid-19 ustavilo. Delo zdravstvenih delavcev je bilo zaradi novih protokolov obravnave in nevarnosti okužbe izjemno težko. Pacienti so zaradi strahu pred okužbo in zaradi spremenjene prakse zdravstvene obravnave in različnih omejitev poskušali čim bolj zmanjšati število osebnih obiskov zdravstvenih ustanov. Zdravstveni delavci so zaradi izrednih okoliščin in drugih inherentnih dejavnikov, pa tudi zaradi pritiska pacientov, intenzivneje začeli uporabljati rešitve eZdravja. Rešitev eRecept je bila v tem času že v splošni uporabi in to se je izkazalo kot izredno pomembno za zagotavljanje predpisovanja zdravil. V prispevku bomo rešitev eRecept podrobneje opisali, prikazali njen razvoj in s pomočjo podatkov iz modulov za statistiko in poslovne inteligence analizirali njeno uporabo.
Conceptual Framework for Utilizing Chatbots as Domain Experts in Organizations
Authors: Škarabot Mihael , Leskovar Robert
Published: March 2024

This paper articulates conceptual framework for investigating the deployment of Large Language Models (LLMs) in the capacity of expert-level chatbot interfaces within organizational settings. Commencing with an exhaustive review of the pertinent literature, this study delineates the landscape of LLM application in corporate environments. The challenges encompass the heterogeneity of human-LLM interactions, the propensity for inadvertent errors, and the consequential effects on employee engagement and motivation. Foremost among these is the examination of the intricacies involved in the symbiosis of LLMs with extant business information systems, particularly evaluating the utility of LLMs as dynamic, bi-directional communicative interfaces. Moreover, the study anticipates the prospective impacts that LLMs may exert on prevailing human-machine interfaces within such information systems. Conclusively, this paper introduces high-level theoretical model for the integration of LLM-driven chatbots into business information systems, setting a platform for future investigations. This model is advancing the understanding of the transformative role of LLMs in augmenting and refining organizational information processing and decision-making paradigms.
Popüler Bir Konu Olarak Paleo Diyete Eleştirel Bakmak
Authors: Okumuş Evun
Published: March 2024

Son yıllarda beslenme ve diyet konusu oldukça popüler hale gelmiştir. Paleo diyeti, 2.5 milyon ile 10 bin yıl önceye kadar olan Paleolitik Çağın beslenme modelini örnekleyen bir yaklaşımdır. Bu diyet, modern tarım devriminden önceki döneme odaklanarak, Paleolitik Çağ insanlarının beslenme alışkanlıklarını temel alır. Paleo diyeti, günlük gazetelerden kitaplara kadar birçok platformda sıkça önerilmekte ve sağlık ile beslenme alışkanlıkları arasındaki ilişkinin hassasiyeti nedeniyle popülerlik kazanmaktadır. Paleo diyetinin popülerliğiyle orantılı olarak, bu diyetin olanakları ve olabilirliği konusunda iki farklı görüş arasında hararetli tartışmalar yaşanmaktadır. Paleo diyetini destekleyen araştırmacılar, genetik ve anatomik yapılarımızın Paleolitik Çağlardan bu yana neredeyse değişmediğini savunmaktadırlar. Bu nedenle, Paleo diyetinin insanların genetik yapılarına daha uygun olduğunu iddia ederler. Diğer taraftan, bu görüşe karşı çıkan araştırmacılar, tarımın gelişimi ve besin işleme tekniklerindeki değişikliklerin Paleo diyetinin taklit edilmesini zorlaştırdığını belirtirler. Bu çalışmanın amacı, her geçen gün popülerliği artan Paleo diyetinin vaatlerini, arkeolojik ve antropolojik bakış açılarıyla incelemektir. Bu kapsamda, mevcut literatür taranacak ve bilimsel bilgiler eşliğinde Paleo diyetin tanımı yapılacak ve bu diyetin olanakları ve olabilirliği üzerine bir tartışma yürütülecektir.
1925-1950 YILLARI ARASINDA ULUSAL BASINDA YER ALAN GEYVE HABERLERİNDEKİ HALK KÜLTÜRÜ UNSURLARINA AİT BİR DURUM DEĞERLENDİRMESİ
Authors: Sarıtunç Berrin , Saygılı Tuğba , Uzun Elif
Published: March 2024

Geyve, Marmara Bölgesi’nde yer alan Sakarya iline bağlı küçük bir ilçedir. İlçenin günümüzde en yaygın olarak tanınma şekli ayva üretimi ile olmuştur. Sonbaharda ayva hasadının başlamasıyla düzenlenen Ayva Festivali, ayvadan elde edilen çok çeşitli ürünler ve bunların ihraç edilmesi sayesinde ilçenin tanınırlığı artmıştır. Geyve, tarihsel süreçte çok önemli görevler de üstlenmiştir. Millî Mücadele’nin en önemli kilit taşı olan Kuvay-ı Milliye mücadelesi, günümüzde Geyve’nin bir mahallesi olan Alifuatpaşa’da verilmiştir. Bununla beraber ilçe; İpekyolu, kervan ve hac yolu üzerinde bulunmaktadır. Sakarya Nehri’nin de geçtiği Geyve, tarihi ve doğal güzellikleriyle seyahatnamelerde de yer almıştır. İlçe farklı milletleri bünyesinde barındırdığından oldukça zengin bir halk kültürüne sahiptir. İlçede Manav kültürüyle birlikte Muhacir, Abhaz, Çerkez, Gürcü ve Lazlar bir arada yaşamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, günümüzde zirai faaliyetler ile öne çıkan ilçenin Cumhuriyet sonrası ve 2. Dünya Savaşı yılları arasındaki süreçte basın-yayın hayatında nasıl işlendiğini tespit etmektir. Bu çalışma, ulusal basındaki Geyve haberlerinin taranması ve içeriklerine göre tasnif edilmesiyle yazıldığı için bir doküman analizidir. Çalışma sonucunda bölgenin basın-yayın hayatında daha çok doğal afetler, zirai faaliyetler ile yer aldığını, yukarıda zikredilen konularla pek anılmadığını söyleyebiliriz. Bu çalışma belli yıl aralıkları ve ulusal basınla sınırlandırıldığı için daha sonraki çalışmalarda farklı yıl aralıkları ile incelenmesinin alana daha fazla katkısının olacağı şüphesizdir.
Competencias del pianista egresado de las enseñanzas profesionales en España
Authors: Mate-Ormazabal Mikel
Published: March 2024

La legislación española actual no contempla las competencias en las Enseñanzas Profesionales de Música, a pesar de que la Ley de Educación lo requiere. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo definir estas competencias a través del análisis de la legislación, la literatura sobre habilidades profesionales de pianistas, la clasificación europea de capacidades, competencias, cualificaciones y ocupaciones y el informe final referido a la enseñanza musical preuniversitaria de la Asociación de Conservatorios Europeos. Un grupo focal compuesto por un panel de expertos analizó la propuesta realizada, efectuó cambios a partir del debate y confrontación de opiniones, y por medio de un cuestionario, mostró el grado de acuerdo con la propuesta final. El resultado es la validación de un documento con tres niveles estructurales: perfil profesional, unidades de competencia y resultados de aprendizaje. Sin embargo, algunos expertos expresan dudas sobre los resultados de aprendizaje que no están incluidos en el currículo de los Conservatorios de Música Profesionales.
GeoFlood: Computational Model for Overland Flooding
Authors: Kyanjo Brian , Calhoun Donna , George David L.
Published: March 2024

This paper presents GeoFlood, a new open-source software package for solving shallow water equations (SWE) on a quadtree hierarchy of mapped, logically Cartesian grids managed by the parallel, adaptive library ForestClaw (Calhoun and Burstedde, 2017). The GeoFlood model is validated using standard benchmark tests from Neelz and Pender (2013) and against George (2011) results obtained from the GeoClaw software (Clawpack Development Team, 2020) for the historical Malpasset dam failure problem. The benchmark test results are compared against GeoClaw and software package HEC-RAS (Hydraulic Engineering Center - River Analysis System, Army Corp of Engineers) results (Brunner, 2018). This comparison demonstrates the capability of GeoFlood to accurately and efficiently predict flood wave propagation on complex terrain. The results from comparisons with the Malpasset dam break show good agreement with the GeoClaw results and are consistent with the historical records of the event.
Optimization, Characterization, and Comparison of Two Luciferase-Expressing Mouse Glioblastoma Models
Authors: Rodgers Louis T , Schulz Pauly Julia A , Maloney Bryan J , Hartz Anika MS , Bauer Björn
Published: March 2024

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive brain cancer. To model GBM in research, orthotopic brain tumor models, including syngeneic models like GL261 and genetically engineered mouse models like TRP, are used. In longitudinal studies, tumor growth and treatment response are typ-ically tracked with in vivo imaging, including bioluminescence imaging (BLI), which is quick, cost-effective, and easily quantifiable. However, BLI requires luciferase-tagged cells, and recent studies indicate that the luciferase gene can elicit an immune response, leading to tumor rejection and experimental variation. We sought to optimize the engraftment of two luciferase-expressing GBM models, GL261 Red-FLuc and TRP-mCherry-FLuc, showing differences in tumor take, with GL261 Red-FLuc cells requiring immunocompromised mice for 100% engraftment. Immuno-histochemistry and MRI revealed distinct tumor characteristics: GL261 Red-FLuc tumors were well-demarcated with densely packed cells, high mitotic activity, and vascularization. In con-trast, TRP-mCherry-FLuc tumors were large, invasive, and necrotic, with perivascular invasion. Quantifying tumor volume using the HALO® AI analysis platform yielded results comparable to manual measurements, providing a standardized and efficient approach for reliable high-throughput analysis of luciferase-expressing tumors. Our study highlights the importance of considering tumor engraftment when using luciferase-expressing GBM models, providing in-sights for preclinical research design.
Diagnosis, Treatment and Long-Term Management of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Adults: A Delphi Expert Consensus
Authors: Obeid Rima , Andrès Emmanuel , Češka Richard , Hooshmand Babak , Prada Gabriel Ioan , Sławek Jarosław , Traykov Latchezar , Ta Van Binh , Várkonyi Tamás , Reiners Karlheinz
Published: March 2024

Background/Objectives: Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause variable symptoms, which may be irreversible if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. We aimed to develop a widely accepted expert consensus to guide the practice of diagnosing and treating B12 deficiency. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of the literature published in PubMed since January 2003. Data were used to design a two-round Delphi survey to study the level of consensus among 42 experts. Results: The panelists agreed on the need for educational and organizational changes in the current medical practices for diagnosing and treating B12 deficiency. Recognition of clinical symptoms should receive the highest priority in establishing the diagnosis. There is agreement that the serum B12 concentration is useful as a screening marker, whereas methylmalonic acid or homocysteine can support the diagnosis. Patient lifestyle, disease history and medications can provide clues to the cause of B12 deficiency. Regardless of the cause of the deficiency, initial treatment with parenteral B12 was regarded as the first choice for patients with acute and severe manifestations of B12 deficiency. The use of high-dose oral B12 at different frequencies may be considered for long-term treatment. Prophylactic B12 supplementation should be considered for specific high-risk groups. Conclusions: There is a consensus that clinical symptoms need to receive more attention and weight in establishing a diagnosis. B12 laboratory markers can support the diagnosis. The severity of clinical symptoms, the causes of B12 deficiency and the treatment goals govern decisions regarding the route and dose of B12 therapy.
New Insight into Electric Force in Metal and the Quadratic Electrical Resistivity Law of Metals at Low Temperatures
Authors: Palenskis Vilius
Published: March 2024

: Considering that Einstein's relation between the diffusion coefficient and the drift mobility of the free randomly moving charge carriers in homogeneous materials including metals is always valid, it is shown that the effective electric force acting on free electrons in metal depends on the ratio between the kinetic free electron energy at the Fermi surface to the classical particle energy 3kT/2. The electrical resistivity of elemental metals dependence on very low temperatures has the quadratic term, which has been explained by electron-electron scattering. In this paper, it is shown that the quadratic term of the electrical resistivity at low temperatures is caused by scattering of the free RM electrons by electronic defects due to linear effective free electron scattering cross-section dependence on temperature, but not by electron-electron scattering.
Influence of desert dust on the development of premature coronary disease
Authors: Dominguez-Rodriguez Alberto , Báez-Ferrer Néstor , Avanzas Pablo , Rodríguez Sergio , Abreu-González Pedro , Trujillo-Martin Elisa , Burillo-Putze Guillermo , Hernández-Vaquero Daniel
Published: March 2024

Objectives: Recently, desert dust in Europe has been recognized as a cardiovascular health problem. In Spain, desert dust inflows in recent years have been associated with worsening air quality. The present study examines whether desert dust events are related to the incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients under 55 years of age.
Methods: Data from 2416 consecutive patients admitted to a tertiary hospital due to ACS were prospectively analyzed. A case-crossover time-stratified design using Poisson conditional regression models was applied to estimate the impact of desert dust events involving particulate matter concentrations of aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm (PM10) on the incidence of ACS.
Results: Desert dust intrusion on days 0 to 5 after ACS onset showed no significant association with the incidence of ACS in patients under 55 years of age. The incidence rate ratios of PM10 concentrations 1, 2, 3, 3, 4 and 5 days before ACS onset (for changes of 10 µg/m3) were 1.02 (95% CI 0.97-1.1; p = 0.41), 1.01 (95% CI 0.96-1.07; p = 0.66), 0.99 (95% CI 0.94-1.05; p = 0.78), 0.96 (95% CI 0.9-1.02; p = 0.18) and 0.97 (95% CI 0.91-1.04; p = 0.41).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that desert dust is unlikely to be related to the incidence of premature coronary heart disease.
A Generic and Extendable Framework for Benchmarking and Assessing the Change Detection Models
Authors: Hassouna Ahmed Alaa Abdelbaky , Ismail Mohamed Badr , Alqahtani Ali , Alqahtani Nayef , Hassan Amany Shaban , Ashqar Huthaifa I , AlSobeh Anas M.R. , Hassan Abdallah A. , Elhenawy Mohammed
Published: March 2024

Change Detection (CD) of aerial images refers to identifying and analyzing changes between two or more aerial images of the same location taken at different times. The CD is a highly challenging task due to the need to distinguish relevant changes, such as urban expansion, deforestation, or post-disaster damage assessment, from irrelevant ones, such as light conditions, shadows, and seasonal variations. Many CD papers have recently been published, where most of the papers that proposed a new model contained a comparison between their proposed and state-of-the-art (SOTA) models. While many recent studies propose new deep learning (DL) models for improving CD performance, their comparative analyses are often restricted, lacking comprehensive insights into the proposed models' real-world generalizability, robustness, and performance trade-offs across diverse change characteristics. This paper presents a novel generic framework to systematically benchmark and assess DL-based CD models through three parallel pipelines: 1) cross-testing models on diverse benchmark datasets to evaluate generalization, 2) robustness analysis against different image corruptions, and 3) multi-faceted contour-level analytics evaluating detection sensitivity to change size/complexity. The framework is applied to comparatively evaluate five state-of-the-art DL-based CD models - Changeformer, BIT, Tiny, SNUNet, and CSA-CDGAN. Extensive experiments unveil each model's strengths, limitations and biases, highlighting their relative proficiencies in generalizing across data distributions, resilience to noise corruption, and discriminative capabilities for changes of varying characteristics. The proposed benchmarking framework demonstrates significant potential for guiding the selection of suitable CD models tailored to specific application requirements by comprehensively evaluating their generalizability, robustness, and detection capabilities across diverse real-world scenarios. This systematic evaluation approach can drive future research into developing more robust and versatile CD solutions aligned with practical needs.