Diverse Channels Research Articles

CellNeighborEX: deciphering neighbor-dependent gene expression from spatial transcriptomics data.

Cells have evolved their communication methods to sense their microenvironments and send biological signals. In addition to communication using ligands and receptors, cells use diverse channels including gap junctions to communicate with their immediate neighbors. Current approaches, however, cannot effectively capture the influence of various microenvironments. Here, we propose a novel approach to investigate cell neighbor-dependent gene expression (CellNeighborEX) in spatial transcriptomics (ST) data. To categorize cells based on their microenvironment, CellNeighborEX uses direct cell location or the mixture of transcriptome from multiple cells depending on ST technologies. For each cell type, CellNeighborEX identifies diverse gene sets associated with partnering cell types, providing further insight. We found that cells express different genes depending on their neighboring cell types in various tissues including mouse embryos, brain, and liver cancer. Those genes are associated with critical biological processes such as development or metastases. We further validated that gene expression is induced by neighboring partners via spatial visualization. The neighbor-dependent gene expression suggests new potential genes involved in cell-cell interactions beyond what ligand-receptor co-expression can discover.

ON METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE ROUGHNESS COEFFICIENT OF CHANNELS ALONG THE PERIMETER

The scientific article deals with the issues of uniform movement of the riverbed and the determination of the roughness coefficient of the riverbed (roughness coefficient). The analysis of existing methods for calculating the difference in the roughness coefficients of channels along the perimeter, methods for determining the roughness coefficient of the slopes of channels consisting of two or three parts along the perimeter, well–known scientists - P.N.Belokon, G.K.Lotter, N.N.Pavlovsky are given.There are a some varieties of calculation methods assigned for hydraulic calculations of water flow along the perimeter of a soil channel in the field of hydraulic engineering. A number of researchers states that the roughness of the channel bed imitates the motion of the flow in diverse channels with the movement of the flow under the ice layer. Nevertheless, it should be taken into account that the roughness of the channel bed has its own characteristic (specific) features of the movement of water in different open channels and below the ice cover. The common formulas proposed by number of authors for channels with different roughness along the perimeter cannot be used directly in hydraulic calculations of the flow under the ice cover, and vice versa, the equations of motion of water flow beneath the ice cover are not applied even for channels with various roughness along the perimeter. Therefore, the corresponding choice of methods for determining the roughness coefficients of the canal flow along the perimeter will be the key point to its long-term functioning.

PROMOTING TOURISM THROUGH DIGITAL MARKETING

The objective of this thesis is to examine the feasibility of enhancing the utilisation of digital platforms for marketing initiatives within the tourism industry. The objective of this research is to evaluate the feasibility of utilising digital platforms as a means of constructing a proficient marketing strategy for the tourism sector. The objective will be achieved through the execution of an investigation into the dominant trends, audience segments, and advertising strategies employed across diverse channels. The study aims to enhance comprehension of the topic by evaluating the efficacy of diverse marketing techniques employed in the tourism sector, including influencer marketing, content marketing, and social media advertising. The objective of this investigation is to explore the potential application of these concepts in developing marketing strategies that are more efficient. The present research endeavour aims to ascertain potential hindrances that could impede the utilisation of diverse marketing channels and to devise effective strategies to enhance their efficacy within the marketing amalgam. The main aim of this endeavour is to improve the effectiveness of the marketing mix. The principal aim of this research is to gain significant perspectives on the efficient utilisation of digital marketing as a pivotal instrument for advancing the tourism sector.

Religious Moderation Implementation in Islamic Education: A Systematic Review

Islamic education is significant in confronting the growing threats of religious radicalism and extremism that jeopardize global stability. This systematic study aims to determine how religious moderation is practiced within Islamic education. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines, this research systematically explores two significant databases, Google Scholar and Scopus. The initial search is centred on titles and keywords associated with applying religious moderation within the scope of Islamic education, spanning 2019 to 2023. Approximately 1,060 pertinent publications have been pinpointed in the preliminary search results. After implementing a set of criteria for selection, 16 articles have been chosen for further scrutiny. The research findings revealed that the execution of religious moderation manifests through diverse channels, such as school initiatives, the introduction of moderation values to newcomers, integration into the curriculum, the subtler facets of the curriculum, ceremonial and national events, and the utilization of lecture-style sessions and interactive Q&A approaches. Simultaneously, reinforcing religious moderation is actualized through the cultivation of advanced critical thinking, the moulding of moderate character, the mitigation of radicalism, the integration of moderation principles into real-world scenarios, the pivotal roles of educators and educational institutions, and the adoption of successful models.

RETRACTED: Anti-competitive behavior in digital markets

Abstract The regulations stated in Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) define that it is prohibited for companies to engage in agreements that are anticompetitive in nature with one another. E-commerce platforms have emerged as significant commercial channels in the virtual realm. The antitrust scrutiny has been drawn towards the limitations imposed by both suppliers and marketplaces on selling through such platforms. There exists a perception among certain individuals that there is a degree of conflict between the two approaches, wherein competition authorities are accused of endorsing marketplace platforms by prohibiting platform bans in distribution contracts, while simultaneously scrutinizing the business practices of these platforms (Colomo, 2018). Notwithstanding, it is imperative to note that this does not inherently denote an inconsistency. Although it is crucial for retailers to retain their autonomy in terms of vending their products through diverse sales channels, it is incumbent upon marketplace platforms to adhere to the regulations governing antitrust. In this sense main purpose of this manuscript is the analysis of anti-competitive behavior in digital markets.

Hydroponic vegetable agribusiness business development strategy (Case Study in CV. Akar Hydroponics Moncongloe Subdistrict, Maros District)

This study aims to describe the hydroponic vegetable agribusiness at Cv. Hydroponic Roots, Moncongloe District, Maros Regency. Identifying and analyzing factors that must be considered in the development of agribusiness strategies and developing also recommending alternative product development strategies for hydroponic vegetable businesses. The research method used data collection methods, namely observation, questionnaires and interviews and the data were analyzed using EFE, IFE, SWOT and QSPM Matrix analysis. The results of the study show that the internal factors of the strengths influence the business development strategy of CV. Hydroponic Roots are well known product quality, good service to consumers, provision of more diverse vegetable production, strategic location, and effective distribution channels. The weaknesses faced by CV. The root of Hydroponics is that human resources are still lacking, packaging creations are lacking, product promotion is lacking, and bookkeeping and filing are still not well organized. While the external factors of opportunities are increasing demand for vegetables, planning outlets in several locations in Makassar City, participating in every existing event, managing strategies for cooperation with various parties and changing consumption patterns of people’s lifestyles. The threats that CV. Hydroponic Roots are promotions from other companies that are better, complaints from customers, the technology used, consumer bargaining and the number of company competitors. Based on the results of the matrix analysis of IFAS and EFAS CV. Hydroponic roots are in quadrant I with successive values of 1.79 and 0.84, namely grow and build. Based on the QSPM analysis, alternative strategies that can be implemented by CV. The roots of Hydroponics are maintaining and improving services to retain customers by avoiding production shortages caused by the large number of company competitors, improving the quality of services that companies implement directly or indirectly with customers, and maintaining and enhancing the company’s image to increase the company’s superiority in facing competition.

Long-Range Underwater Acoustic Channel Estimation

Long-range underwater acoustic communication (LR-UWAC) is an essential technique for applications such as the control of unmanned underwater vehicles, gliders, or tactical submarines for long-term monitoring tasks. While techniques for estimating the channel impulse response (CIR) of short-range UWAC have been successfully applied, this is not the case for LR-UWAC. Here, the main challenge is to handle the diverse channel structure, which can be of a sparse or a non-sparse structure. In this paper, we propose a robust channel estimator for LR-UWAC. Our solution includes a switching mechanism to classify the channel as either sparse or non-sparse. In its sparse form, the LR-UWAC channel is characterized by a long time delay spread, time-invariant characteristics, and a block structure. Thus, we propose a non-trivial combination of the block subspace pursuit and the distributed subspace pursuit algorithms to exploit the channel’s block structure. For non-sparse LR-UWAC channel structures, we approximate the received signal as Gaussian, and derive a maximum-likelihood (ML) estimator to separate the non-resolvable multipath. Extensive numerical simulation and results from two long-range sea experiments demonstrate the efficiency of our approach in identifying the channel’s structure, and to accurately estimate the channel compared to state-of-the-art benchmarks.

Fake Face Detection Based on Colour Textual Analysis Using Deep Convolutional Neural Network

Detecting fake faces has become a crucial endeavour within the realm of computer vision. The widespread availability of digital media has facilitated the creation and dissemination of deceptive and misleading content. A prominent strategy for identifying counterfeit faces employs advanced deep-learning methodologies that scrutinise both colour and textural attributes. This investigation is geared towards devising a method for discerning fake faces by leveraging the capabilities of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). These networks are trained to discriminate between authentic and forged images by discerning nuances in their colour characteristics. To achieve this, the MSU MFSD dataset will be harnessed, allowing for exploring colour textures and extracting facial traits across diverse colour channels, including RGB, HSV, and YCbCr.The proposed framework marks a notable stride in the realm of computer vision research, particularly given the prevalent employment of digital media, which has eased the generation and distribution of misleading or deceitful content. Developing dependable systems for identifying counterfeit faces holds immense potential in curtailing the proliferation of false information and upholding the integrity of digital media platforms.

Analysis of factors in managing digital entrepreneurship development in tourism in Ukraine: challenges and opportunities

Research object is the challenges and opportunities faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine's tourism industry, specifically focusing on digital development and entrepreneurship. This article addresses the difficulties and advantages encountered by SMEs in Ukraine's tourism sector regarding digital development and entrepreneurship. It seeks to comprehensively analyze various facets of digitalization, encompassing distinct activities, trends in development, factors influencing trends and clusters, and pivotal areas for growth. Moreover, the study assesses the impact of European integration on the nation's tourism sector and evaluates the potential of innovative endeavors by small enterprises relative to their larger counterparts. In-depth perspectives on digitalization practices in the tourism industry of Ukraine are identified. The study investigates strategies for managing customer relationships and employs social media data to gauge customer satisfaction. Additionally, the article proposes an accelerated digitalization program for small businesses, coupled with collaborative efforts in clusters, as a means to attract investment and foster innovation. This approach is envisioned to enhance business productivity and create diverse channels for customer engagement. The study underscores the significance of advancing digital infrastructure to enhance the appeal and investment potential of Ukraine's tourism sector. Notably, the research emphasizes the importance of efficient SMEs, highlighting their potential for expansion when partnered with larger corporations. Simultaneously, it addresses the need to streamline inefficient SMEs to boost overall productivity. The article delves into the practical implementation of management strategies and the adoption of innovative practices. It underscores the value of reshaping SMEs' business models to embrace a more adaptable division of labor. Additionally, a proposed cluster strategy emerges as a potential solution to address various challenges, promoting innovation, regional development, and adaptation to evolving business environments.

Effect of Nurses’ Professionalism, Work Environment, and Communication with Health Professionals on Patient Safety Culture (AHRQ 2.0.): A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study

Aims. To identify nurses’ professionalism, work environment, and communication with healthcare professionals as factors influencing clinical nurses’ perception of patient safety culture. Background. Patient safety is a representative indicator of the quality of nursing care. A multidisciplinary approach, including individual and organizational components, is needed to improve patient safety culture. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2021 involving a total of 271 nurses in six tertiary hospitals. Data were collected from participants on nurse professionalism, work environment, communication, and patient safety culture. A multiple regression model was used to analyze variables influencing patient safety culture. Results. Factors affecting patient safety culture were nursing foundations for quality of care (β = 0.230, p < 0.001 ), nurse manager ability, leadership, support of nurses (β = 0.294, p < 0.001 ), and collegial nurse-physician relations (β = −0.138, p = 0.026 ) in the nursing work environment. Accuracy (β = 0.117, p = 0.007 ), shift communication (β = 0.128, p = 0.026 ), satisfaction (β = 0.283, p = 0.001 ), and timeliness (β = 0.239, p < 0.001 ) of communication between healthcare professionals and nurses have a significant impact on patient safety culture. All these predictors accounted for 59% (R2) of patient safety culture awareness ( p < 0.001 ). Conclusions. Enhancing patient safety culture requires a systematic and organizational approach that considers individual characteristics. Nurse managers play a crucial role in promoting patient safety by employing various communication channels and leading team education and training initiatives to foster collaboration among healthcare professionals. Implications for Nursing Management. The provision of patient safety education directly influences patient safety culture, and continuous education enables nurses to grow within the institution. To ensure effective communication in healthcare settings, nurse managers should prioritize shift communication, evaluate the accuracy of information exchange, and establish diverse communication channels, including social media platforms or business messengers, for internal hospital communication.

Physical Constraints in Intracellular Signaling: The Cost of Sending a Bit.

Many biological processes require timely communication between molecular components. Cells employ diverse physical channels to this end, transmitting information through diffusion, electrical depolarization, and mechanical waves among other strategies. Here we bound the energetic cost of transmitting information through these physical channels, in k_{B}T/bit, as a function of the size of the sender and receiver, their spatial separation, and the communication latency. These calculations provide an estimate for the energy costs associated with information processing arising from the physical constraints of the cellular environment, which we find to be many orders of magnitude larger than unity in natural units. From these calculations, we construct a phase diagram indicating where each strategy is most efficient. Our results suggest that intracellular information transfer may constitute a substantial energetic cost. This provides a new tool for understanding tradeoffs in cellular network function.

Beyond the Case Study: Characterizing Natural Floodplain Heterogeneity in the United States

AbstractWe use the five landscape ecology metrics of aggregation index, percentage of like adjacencies, interspersion and juxtaposition index, patch density, and Shannon's evenness index to assess spatial heterogeneity at 15 floodplains in the continental United States. Assessments are based on floodplain classes and patches delineated remotely using topography and vegetation. Floodplain reaches examined here represent diverse drainage areas, flow regimes, valley geometries, channel planforms, and biomes. We selected sites with minimal direct human alteration. Our objectives are to quantify floodplain spatial heterogeneity; evaluate whether statistically significant patterns are present; and interpret the statistical analyses with respect to the influence of lateral channel mobility and valley‐floor space available. We develop a conceptual model of the influences on lateral mobility and space available, and then test specific hypotheses derived from this conceptual model. These natural floodplains have a median aggregation index of 58.8%, median percentage of like adjacencies of 58.5%, median interspersion and juxtaposition index of 74.9%, median density of 1,241 patches/ha, and median Shannon's evenness index of 0.934 (n = 15). In other words, natural floodplains have moderate aggregation of classes, high evenness and intermixing of classes, and a wide range of patch densities. Drainage area, the ratio of floodplain/channel width, elevation, precipitation, total sinuosity, large wood volume, planform, and flow regime emerge as important variables to floodplain heterogeneity. These results highlight the influence of biotic‐abiotic interactions in shaping floodplain heterogeneity across diverse river corridors.

Rate-Diverse Multiple Access Over Gaussian Channels

In this work, we develop a pair of rate-diverse encoder and decoder for a two-user Gaussian multiple access channel (GMAC). The proposed scheme enables the users to transmit with the same codeword length but different coding rates under diverse user channel conditions. First, we propose the row-combining (RC) method and row-extending (RE) method to design practical low-density parity-check (LDPC) channel codes for rate-diverse GMAC. Second, we develop an iterative rate-diverse joint user messages decoding (RDJD) algorithm for GMAC, where all user messages are decoded with a single parity-check matrix. In contrast to the conventional network-coded multiple access (NCMA) and compute-forward multiple access (CFMA) schemes that first recover a linear combination of the transmitted codewords and then decode both user messages, this work can decode both the user messages simultaneously. Extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) chart analysis and simulation results indicate that RDJD can achieve gains up to 1.0 dB over NCMA and CFMA in the two-user GMAC. In particular, we show that there exists an optimal rate allocation for the two users to achieve the best decoding performance given the channel conditions and sum rate.

Monkeypox, Disinformation, and Fact-Checking: A Review of Ten Iberoamerican Countries in the Context of Public Health Emergency

This paper examines the disinformation and fact-checking activity of ten Ibero-American countries during the outbreak of monkeypox in 2022. Using a mixed-methods approach based on content analysis, the debunkings published by these organizations on their websites between 7 May and 10 September 2022 are studied. The countries with the highest number of debunkings are Spain and Bolivia, with two verification agencies, Maldita and Bolivia Verifica. The outbreak’s onset marked a peak in the spread of hoaxes, particularly following the declaration of the disease as a public health emergency. The identification of disinformants is challenging due to the diverse dissemination channels, although Twitter predominantly serves as the platform of choice. The preferred format for disinformation is image text, and the common theme links monkeypox to a side effect of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Furthermore, the internationalization capacity of scientific hoaxes is demonstrated. Fact-checking agencies conduct adequate and thorough source verification, predominantly relying on official and expert sources. However, they employ limited digital tools that could expedite the verification process. Disinformation regarding monkeypox is closely related to COVID-19 hoaxes, either by resurrecting conspiracy theories or through the dissemination of speeches by well-known anti-vaccine activists who belong to healthcare collectives and were influential during the health pandemic.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE VESPA SPEEDING INDONESIA YOUTUBE CHANNEL ON SUBSCRIBER LIFESTYLE

The development of technology has resulted in social media becoming an online tool that allows individuals and groups to share digital content. Among the various forms of social media, vlogs (video blogs) and YouTube stand out as platforms that offer information through a combination of images, sound, video, and text. YouTube, in particular, is widely used by people for informational purposes and features diverse channels spanning various topics, including music, travel, culinary arts, and automotive enthusiasts. Piaggio's Vespa, known as a legendary brand, is one of many brands that offer Vespa products. As a pioneer in the automotive industry, Vespa chose to launch a YouTube Channel called Vespa Ngebut Indonesia, dedicated to Vespa riders in Indonesia. This study aims to examine the influence of the Vespa Speeding Indonesia Channel on the lifestyle of its viewers, particularly young adults, and how this influence drives them to purchase a Vespa. The study focuses on the age group that watches and subscribes to the Vespa Speeding Indonesia Channel the most. Data was collected from 100 participants through a questionnaire distributed via Google Forms, and statistical analysis using a Likert scale was employed to analyze the data. The research utilized an explanatory quantitative analysis approach based on the SOR theory. The findings of this study indicate that the Vespa Speeding Indonesia Channel has a significant impact on the lifestyle of its subscribers.

Key capabilities for promoting student feedback literacy

AbstractFeedback literacy in higher education has come as a reaction to the ineffective focus on teacher's delivery of feedback and its passive reception by students rather than on students' active participation in receiving feedback and constructing it (Nicol & Macfarlane-dick, 2006; Nicol, 2019). Therefore, the aim of this theoretical paper is to identify students' capabilities of feedback literacy. To meet this objective, three questions are targeted: 1) How is feedback literacy defined? 2) How is it characterized? 3) What are its practical dimensions from student's perspective? Based on the analysis of theoretical and empirical studies retrieved via reliable databases, a thorough description of the existing definitions of feedback literacy and its frameworks (Carless & Boud, 2018; Carless & Winstone, 2020; Molloy, Boud, & Henderson, 2020; Sutton, 2012) can be highlighted. Four dimensions of student feedback literacy and their adaptation to the writing context are also targeted: appreciating feedback, making evaluative judgments, managing affect, and acting upon feedback (Carless & Boud, 2018). This paper is relevant because it addresses the shift from feedback as a one-way process of transmitting information from instructors to feedback as a process of using diverse communication channels, through which teachers and students collaborate to improve learning outcomes.

A Novel Maximum Distance Separable Coded OFDM-RIS for 6G Wireless Communications

The vision of the sixth generation mobile communication (6G) calls for extremely reliable data transmission over complex and diverse wireless channels. By combining the maximum distance separable (MDS) codes with the classic orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), we present a new paradigm with the assistance of the reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS). In our design, the RIS with limited phase shifts are adopted and the pairwise error probability (PEP) of the proposed system is first derived. Then, in order to further minimize the bit error rate (BER), we provide a novel method based on phase alignment to obtain the optimal solution for the discrete phase shifts. Our simulation results show that the proposed scheme provides considerable BER performance improvements compared to conventional OFDM systems. Moreover, the proposed discrete phase optimization algorithm is capable of achieving performance similar to that of the system with continuous phase shifts.

THE SHRINKING MIDDLE: EXPLORING THE NEXUS BETWEEN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, GROWTH, AND INEQUALITY

To implement specific actions to respond to challenges accompanied by technological advances, it is essential to realize the foreseen future at different levels. This study aims to generate the forecasts of different prospects of different industries, labor market, and households, depending on the pervasiveness of the information and communication (ICT) software (SW) in production. For the analysis, we propose a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model that explicitly incorporates diverse impact channels induced by ICT SW investments. Our simulation results suggest that the development of ICT SW technology can bring about both opportunities and challenges in the economic system. The results also show that advancements in ICT SW can aggravate inequalities within the economic system, while driving higher economic growth effects by accelerating the polarization of the labor market and wages/income distributions. Accordingly, our results suggest that policymakers should formulate tailored policy options to mitigate structural problems and widen income disparities driven by ICT-specific technological advances to achieve economic inclusiveness.

Dynamically Generating Diverse Multi‐Beams with On‐Demand Polarizations through Space‐Time Coding Metasurface

AbstractAlthough metasurfaces have emerged as an inspiring platform for polarization optics, most of the existing designs merely support static performances or a few tunable polarization manipulations. Here, vectorial multi‐beam patterning with diverse on‐demand polarizations is demonstrated using space‐time‐varying programmable metasurface. By independently applying periodic space‐time‐varying modulation signals to tunable components of the proposed metasurface, a free combination of arbitrary amplitude and phase responses can be obtained for orthogonally polarized reflection properties, thus enacting the dynamic control of diverse polarization channels and scattering patterns. As exemplary demonstrations, a series of dynamic vectorial far‐field beam patterning are experimentally verified in the microwave region. The proposed concept and method may provide a new platform for advanced electromagnetic wave regulation, which may have potentials in applications of encryption optical/wireless communication, stereoscopic imaging and quantum state tomography.

Reclaiming traditional food systems in alternative food networks. Insights from Mexico city peri-urban agriculture

ABSTRACT In the literature on how to make food systems just and sustainable, we often look at Alternative Food Networks (AFN) as a way forward. AFNs are initiatives that pose alternatives to conventional food systems (driven by productivism and harmful to human and environmental health). Despite this broad understanding of what AFNs can be, in practice, most cases presented in the literature look surprisingly alike. In this article, we challenge the scholars working on alternative food networks to look beyond the narrow definition of AFNs by considering cases of traditional agriculture and distribution systems. We illustrate this argument using the case of chinampas, a traditional agricultural system in Mexico City that contributes in different ways to local sustainability. Analysing semi-structured interviews conducted on site, we argue that chinampas can be defined as an alternative food network because of their modes of production, their diverse distribution channels, and their economic practices. We conclude that traditional food systems present an alternative to conventional food systems and should therefore be included in AFN research. Broadening the definition of AFNs so to include traditional and non-institutional practices can help identify diverse cases fitting this new lens, including in the Global North; it can also contribute to affirming the value of these traditional systems in building sustainable and just societies.