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Investigating the effects of trade openness on inclusive growth: evidence from the top five performing SADC members states

This study originates from the notion that trade openness promotes inclusive growth as it promotes economic growth. Hence, this study investigates the effects of trade openness on inclusive growth focusing on the selected SADC countries, aiming to inveterate the flow of inclusive growth. The study findings reveal that selected SADC countries require utilitarian policy to be formed in a country context to return responsive inclusive growth standards. The panel autoregressive distributed lag approach was employed from 2000 to 2020. This study has uncovered a shortage of inclusive principles within SADC, to promote inclusive growth. This study confirms that SADC-inclusive channels should be mended. This study contributes by narrowing the inadequacy gap set between SADC trade openness and inclusive growth. Besides its contribution to the field, the study is envisaged to offer insights into selected SADC member states policymakers to reconsider and prioritize benefits that are tied to inclusive growth through trade openness. The findings of this study provide an important scientific basis to the understanding of the relationship between trade openness and inclusive growth in the SADC region. The study plays an important supporting role by sensitizing policymakers and researchers interested in promoting equitable economic development through inclusive growth.

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Bankruptcy forecast analysis: empirical study of the manufacturing subsector of Norte de Santander, Colombia

The study \"Bankruptcy Forecast Analysis in the Manufacturing Subsector of Norte de Santander, Colombia (2015 – 2022)\" offers an empirical evaluation of financial stability in this region, using the capital structure theory of Modigliani and Miller and the Altman Z-Score model for bankruptcy risks as a theoretical foundation. Through a quantitative approach that includes time series analysis, the internal and external factors that affect the financial competitiveness of the subsector are analyzed. The research highlights the contributions and limitations of capital structure theory and the Z-Score model in real practices, and discusses the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to fine-tune financial risk predictions. Using purposeful sampling and documentary analysis, patterns are identified and business solvency is assessed, providing a detailed view of the sector\'s resilience in the face of economic challenges. This study provides valuable insights for those interested in the financial sustainability of the manufacturing sector, highlighting the importance of adapting risk management strategies to regional particularities. Its contribution to the specialized literature lies in offering an updated perspective on bankruptcy forecasting and financial management adapted to the specific context of the Colombian emerging economy.

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Impact of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic on Quality of Life among Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic indeed had a far-reaching and significant impact on the quality of life (QoL) worldwide. Its implications affected various facets of people\'s lives, including health, social interactions, economy, and mental well-being. Aim of the Study: This study aimed to elucidate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on QoL of adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive, and correlational cross-sectional design was utilized, 440 adult residents of Riyadh participated in a Microsoft e-survey between October and December 2021 were recruited. The WHOQOL-BREF, a self-administered questionnaire, was employed for data collection; t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test were applied. Results: Results showed the majority of participants were Saudi females, married, aged between 30 and 48, possessing a bachelor\'s degree in education. On average, participants rated their QoL at 4.12 ± 0.86. The highest-rated domain was physical health (67.30 ± 16.89), followed by social relationships (66.55 ± 22.34), psychological well-being (65.62 ± 17.17), and environment (62.86 ± 17.04). Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between participants\' perception of QoL and all variables, particularly with their general physical health. Only age emerged as a statistically significant predictor of participants’ perception of QoL. Conclusion: The findings indicate that adults in Riyadh demonstrated a positive perception of their QoL and general health post-COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting a substantial level of satisfaction.

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Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Pereskia bleo flowers

Pereskia bleo, belongs to the Cactaceae family has been traditionally used for treating various diseases. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical analysis, antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and total flavonoid content of Pereskia bleo flowers. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of glycoside, alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin, steroid, and terpenoid. The antioxidant activity test indicated that the crude extract of Pereskia bleo flowers had an average IC50 value of 6 ± 0.4359, confirming positive results in the phenolic content test. The total phenolic content of the Pereskia bleo flower crude extract was calculated as 75.295 mg/g at a concentration of 15.059 μg/ml and absorbance of 0.165. In contrast, the calculated total flavonoid content was 7.385 mg/g at a concentration of 9.477 μg/ml, suggesting the present of flavonoid compounds in the flowers of Pereskia bleo. The antibacterial activity of this sample was also tested using the disc-diffusion method against Gram-negative (Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas sp., E. coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis) bacterial strains. The collected data showed that both 100 μg/ml and 500 μg/ml sample concentrations exhibited potent activity against Salmonella sp. and Pseudomonas sp.

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Intelligent Print Circuit Board Defect Detection

During the manufacturing process of electronic products, one of the most critical stages is the soldering of components onto the printed circuit board (PCB). Even a minor defect in the PCB can lead to significant issues in the final product. Therefore, a rigorous\ndefect inspection process is employed during manufacturing, which can be categorized into manual inspection and automated optical inspection (AOI). Manual inspection suffers from drawbacks such as slow speed and the expenditure of manpower and costs. Hence, most manufacturers opt for automated optical inspection to expedite production. However, most current automated optical inspection systems rely on traditional optical inspection algorithms. These computational methods are susceptible to variations in lighting conditions caused by slight differences in the placement of PCBs or the amount of solder. Consequently, these variations often result in misjudgments, where qualified PCBs are mistakenly categorized as defective, leading to high false positive rates in AOI systems.\nThis paper presents a deep learning based method for PCB defect detection. The proposed approach involves the creation of two separate models for classifying defective components individually. Once both models demonstrate a basic recognition capability, they are combined into a master model using the method proposed in this study to enhance overall recognition accuracy. The model has\nbeen trained on datasets for capacitors and resistors, and the experimental results indicate an accuracy of over 99% for both component types.

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