High Interest Research Articles

Size at Sexual Maturity of Deep-Sea Unexploited Caribbean Metanephrops binghami (Boone, 1927) and Overexploited Mediterranean Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758) Using Morphometric and Gonadal Staging Approaches

The deep-sea Caribbean lobster (Metanephrops binghami) and the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) are Nephropidae species of high commercial interest. Although the first one still remains unexploited, the second is overexploited in the Mediterranean Sea. For effective fisheries management, size at sexual maturity is an essential indicator to protect immature individuals from exploitation. The estimation of this indicator can, however, be biased due to the difficulty of differentiating juveniles from adults by their size structure due to the natural process of molting. This study aims to estimate the size at sexual maturity of M. binghami and N. norvegicus females by comparing the effectiveness of the morphometric method versus the macroscopic evaluation of gonad maturity. Samples of M. binghami were collected from the Colombian Caribbean Sea in August and December 2009, March and May 2010, and August 2020 to May 2021. Samples of N. norvegicus were collected from the northwestern Mediterranean Sea from 2019 to 2022. Similar sizes at sexual maturity were found for M. binghami between the morphometric approach (ranging from 28.6 to 33.9 mm cephalothorax length, CL) and the gonadal staging approach (31.4 mm CL). Conversely, for N. norvegicus, the morphometric approach yielded higher measurements (between 27.2 and 30.4 mm CL) than the gonadal approach (26.0 mm CL). This discrepancy might stem from the intense fishing overexploitation conditions of N. norvergicus, leading to a physiological adaptation that enables earlier gonadal maturation at faster rates than morphometric adaptation. Further research is required to elucidate these discrepancies and the effect of overexploitation on physiological (i.e., mature gonads) and functional maturity (i.e., capacity to brood eggs at a larger size).

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CALLIGRAPHY ON MAHARAH AL-KITABAH OF QUR'AN MEMORIZERS AT MADRASAH TSANAWIYAH MA'HAD TAHFIZHIL QUR'AN ISLAMIC CENTER FOUNDATION OF NORTH SUMATERA

Maharah al-kitabah (calligraphy) has a very important role as a support in Islamic educational institutions, especially in the writing of the Qur'an. However, there are problems that are often found among students, they experience difficulties when dealing with writing Arabic script according to calligraphy rules and even the level of writing proficiency is also very low. This is found in the Ma'had Tahfizhil Qur'an Islamic Center Foundation SU, one of the modern-based Islamic boarding schools that prints thousands of memorizers of the Qur'an (Haafizul Qur'an). This study aims to find a comprehensive understanding according to the title studied by the researcher. The research methodology is a type of qualitative descriptive method, namely literature study by finding sources of references from appropriate journals and theses regarding the effectiveness of calligraphy on maharah al-kitabah (calligraphy) memorizing the Koran. Data analysis, researchers used data collection techniques which were carried out through observation, direct interviews with resource persons at Mts Ma'had Tahfizhil Qur'an Islamic Center SU Foundation & documentation. The results of the study show that students have a fairly high interest in learning about maharah al-kitabah (calligraphy) but no skills in writing.

Two‐Time Quantum Fluctuations Approach and Its Relation to the Bethe–Salpeter Equation

Correlated quantum many‐particle systems out of equilibrium are of high interest in many fields, including correlated solids, ultracold atoms, or dense plasmas. Accurate theoretical description of these systems is challenging both, conceptionally and with respect to computational resources. A quantum fluctuations approach is recently presented, which is equivalent to the nonequilibrium GW approximation that promises high accuracy at low computational cost. The method exhibits process time scaling that is linear in the number of time steps, like the G1–G2 scheme, however, at a much reduced computer memory cost. In a second publication, this approach is extended to the two‐time exchange–correlation functions and the dynamic density response properties. Herein, the properties of this approach are analyzed in more detail. The physical meaning of the central approximation, the quantum polarization approximation, is established. It is demonstrated that the method is equivalent to the Bethe–Salpeter equation for the two‐time exchange–correlation function when the generalized Kadanoff–Baym ansatz with Hartree–Fock propagators is applied.

THE SUCCESS OF CALLIGRAPHY LEARNING ON MAHARAH AL-KITABAH OF AL-QU'RAN MEMORIZERS AT MADRASAH ALIYAH MA'HAD TAHFIZHIL QUR'AN FOUNDATION ISLAMIC CENTER NORTH SUMATERA

The Qur'an is one of the revelations of Allah SWT revealed to the Prophet Muhammad SAW and is a guide for Muslims. The AL-Qur'an is full of meanings that are very related to life, also the discussion in the AL-Qur'an is relevant to the times. The SU Islamic Center Foundation is one of the modern-based boarding schools that has produced thousands of memorizers of the Qur'an. However, there are difficulties for male students and female students in writing Arabic letters, and the Qur'an contains Arabic writing. This research aims to find a comprehensive understanding according to the title under study. This research methodology is a type of qualitative descriptive method, namely literature study by looking for references from journals and theses that are appropriate regarding the effectiveness of calligraphy on maharah al-kitabah (calligraphy) of memorizing the Qur'an. In terms of analyzing data, researchers use data collection techniques, namely through observation, direct interviews with resource parties at Ma'had Tahfizhil Qur'an Islamic Center SU Foundation and documentation. The results of the study show that male students or female students do not all have a high interest in learning maharah al-kitabah (calligraphy), especially at the Madrasah Aliyah level, and also lack of skills in writing.

ANALYSIS OF INTEREST RATE SPREAD ON FINANCIAL RESILIENCE OF QUOTED BANKS IN NIGERIA

This paper examined the effect of interest rate spread (IRS) on financial resilience of quoted Nigerian banks from 2007 to 2021. Specifically, the paper examined the effect of deposit rate, lending rate, and interest rate differential on financial resilience of quoted Nigerian banks. The paper collected data from the CBN bulletin (2021) and Security Exchange Commission (SEC) annual report (2021) and the World Bank data base (2021). The study covered all the twenty one (21) commercial banks quoted in the Nigerian exchange group as of 31st December, 2021 using the census sampling approach. The study reported that, deposit (savings) rate/cost has a positive (coef=0.056833) insignificant (p-value=0.5327.5%) effect on financial resilience (bank z-score) of quoted banks in Nigeria. By extension, deposit (savings) rate/cost has a minimal effect on banks’ financial resilience. However, lending (borrowing) rate/cost interest rate differential (prime lending/borrowing rate/cost less savings/deposit rate/cost) exerted negative (coef= -0.527024&coef= -0.160001 respectively) significant (p-value=0.0001<5% &p-value=0.0194<5%) effect on financial resilience (bank z-score) of quoted banks in Nigeria.Hence, the paper concludes that, high lending rate and interest rate differential reduce financial resilience of quoted Nigerian banks. As such, the study submits that, the apex banks must ensure that, the rising lending rate should be discouraged. This if not cautioned; it has the capacity to reduce the productive capacity of the private sector. Again, to encourage more depositors to invest their depositors’ funds, the ape banks should raise the deposit rate. Lastly, the Nigerian banks are adjourning to keep their interest rate differentials relatively low.
 Keywords: Analysis, Interest Rate Spread, Deposit Rate, Lending Rate, And Interest Rate Differential, Financial Resilience Quoted Banks.

Student sports in the system of physical education in institutions of higher education

The purpose of the research is to study the peculiarities of the development of student sports in the system of physical education in institutions of higher education (using the example of basketball in institutions of higher education in the USA and Ukraine).
 The results. In the course of the study, a comparative characterization of the characteristics of student basketball in the USA and in Ukraine was carried out. The differences between student Ukrainian basketball and student American basketball are considered according to the following criteria: rules of the game, style, popularity among fans, the number of spectators involved each year, the importance of playing for the university team for a basketball player's career, the interest of brands in student basketball, a sports scholarship for basketball players in universities, transportation of students for competitions, qualification of judges at competitions, importance of competition for students, competition of teams, provision of equipment for students, qualification of coaches.
 It was determined that the high popularity of basketball among fans and the high level of significance of the competition for students are characteristic of student basketball in the USA, a significant number of spectators are involved in the competition, high interest of brands in student basketball, the presence of a sports scholarship for basketball players in a higher education institution, full provision of equipment and transport, high level of judging. On the other hand, the peculiarities of student basketball in Ukraine are low popularity among fans, low competition among student teams, competitions have a low level of importance for students, lack of sports scholarships for basketball players in institutions of higher education, refereeing of competitions mainly takes place with the participation of student judges.

Neutron spectra from photonuclear reactions: Performance testing of Monte-Carlo particle transport simulation codes

The production of neutrons in photon-induced nuclear reactions in the giant-dipole-resonance energy domain remains a topic of high interest for various applications, including the activation and decommissioning of electron accelerator facilities, the detection of illicit materials for homeland security, and the evaluation of neutron dose received by patients during radiotherapy treatments. General-purpose Monte-Carlo (MC) simulation codes for particle transport are intensively used to account for photoneutron production in these applications. However, due to the current scarcity of measured photoneutron energy spectra in the literature, experimental validation of MC-simulated photoneutron energy distributions is not always feasible. Therefore, a critical benchmark among simulation results from various MC codes presently appears as the only option to systematically assess their capabilities in accurately simulating photoneutron production for nuclear reactions of interest. In this work, neutron energy spectra from several targets under irradiation by 20 MeV photons are simulated, employing various state-of-the-art MC codes (FLUKA, Geant4, MCNP6, and PHITS) in their default or generally employed settings. A detailed analysis of the simulated neutron spectra allows one to not only assess the performance of various MC codes in applications such as those mentioned above, but also to partially gauge the incurred systematic uncertainty, and to highlight the present need for more comprehensive evaluated nuclear data in this domain. Ultimately, this work suggests that more prudence is required when using MC codes for applications where photonuclear reactions play a dominant role and where not only the production rate but also the energy spectrum of the emitted neutrons matters.

Effect of Interest Rate on Customers’ Demand for Loans in Atiwa Rural Bank PLC, Ghana

This study sought to determine the influence of interest rate on demand for loans among Rural Banks in Ghana. The study adopts an explanatory design of the quantitative approach. Secondary data from the Atiwa Rural Bank PLC database was used. The data were analysed using frequencies and percentages. Also, binary logistic and linear regression were used in analysing the relationship among the key variables of this research. The study found that interest rate of Atiwa Rural Bank PLC was rated as moderate while repayment status was high. There were differences between the category of the respondents and the repayment status. More males repay their loans as compared to females and groups. Also, differences existed between the employment status of the respondents and the repayment status. Moreover, insignificant differences were identified between the employment status of the respondents and the repayment status. Interest rate affects loan period positively. Also, a strong positive correlation between interest rate and loan period was determined. Interest rate affects amount of facility negatively. Moreover, credit facility with high interest rate is 1.020 times more likely to default in paying back the credit facility as compared to respondents who obtained their credit facility as a moderate or low interest rate. Increasing interest rate was associated with low or default in repayment of credit facility. The study therefore, recommend that management of the Atiwa Rural Bank PLC put up measures to able to track and retrieve all small amount of facility or loans given to clients. Also, the management of the Atiwa Rural Bank PLC should target more salaried workers and loans used for emergency services such as medical bills, school fees among others in order to reduce Non-Performing Loans (NPL). Moreover, the management of the Atiwa rural bank should improve upon the mechanisms implemented regarding giving of group loans and repayment issues.

Financial Analysis of Additional Supply to Obtain Optimal Basic Costs of Provision in The Weda System

The electricity growth in the PLN Weda Customer Service Unit (ULP) area in Central Halmahera Regency reached 26.64% in 2022, driven by national-scale nickel mining, resulting in consistent yearly increases in electricity demand. ULP Weda's electricity supply, with an installed power of 5.2 MW and a peak load of 5.6 MW, faces challenges due to high fuel prices, leading to a Cost of Supply (BPP) value of IDR 4,193, significantly higher than the average selling price of IDR 1,365 in the Veda system. To address these issues, a research methodology, incorporating SWOT and TOWS analyses, was employed. Three potential scenarios emerged: relocating Diesel Generating System (SPD) engines, adding rental generator engines, and purchasing excess power. Financial Feasibility Study (KKF) calculations, considering Nett's Present Value (NPV), Nett's Present Cost (NPC), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), determined the excess power purchase scenario as the most viable, with an NPV of IDR 29.8 billion, NPC of IDR 623 billion, IRR of 33.49%, and the lowest BPP value at IDR 1,244. The Homer application provided insights into optimizing generating machine units for optimal BPP values. Sensitivity analysis showed that higher interest rates and lower fuel prices contribute to lower BPP values. This comprehensive research offers a strategic framework for addressing electricity supply challenges in the ULP Weda area, ensuring financial viability and optimal operation.

Generation of Endotoxin-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies by Phage and Yeast Display for Capturing Endotoxin.

Endotoxin, a synonym for lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is anchored in the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. Even minute amounts of LPS entering the circulatory system can have a lethal immunoactivating effect. Since LPS is omnipresent in the environment, it poses a great risk of contaminating any surface or solution, including research products and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, monitoring LPS contamination and taking preventive or decontamination measures to ensure human safety is of the utmost importance. Nevertheless, molecules used for endotoxin detection or inhibition often suffer from interferences, low specificity, and low affinity. For this reason, the selection of new binders that are biocompatible, easy to produce, and that can be used for biopharmaceutical applications, such as endotoxin removal, is of high interest. Powerful techniques for selecting LPS-binding molecules in vitro are display technologies. In this study, we established and compared the selection and production of LPS-specific, monoclonal, human single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) through two display methods: yeast and phage display. After selection, scFvs were fused to a human constant fragment crystallizable (Fc). To evaluate the applicability of the constructs, they were conjugated to polystyrene microbeads. Here, we focused on comparing the functionalized beads and their LPS removal capacity to a polyclonal anti-lipid A bead. Summarized, five different scFvs were selected through phage and yeast display, with binding properties comparable to a commercial polyclonal antibody. Two of the conjugated scFv-Fcs outperformed the polyclonal antibody in terms of the removal of LPS in aqueous solution, resulting in 265 times less residual LPS in solution, demonstrating the potential of display methods to generate LPS-specific binding molecules.

Positron emission tomography and its role in the assessment of vulnerable plaques in comparison to other imaging modalities.

The diagnosis and management of vulnerable plaques are topics of high interest in the cardiovascular field. Although imaging techniques like computed tomography angiography (MCTA) and ultrasonography (USG) can structurally evaluate atherosclerotic plaques, they are limited in examining internal cellular processes. Positron emission tomography (PET) molecular imaging, on the other hand, can highlight these cellular processes, including inflammation, angiogenesis, and lipid oxidation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also a valuable non-invasive imaging technique that can provide detailed anatomical and functional information on the cardiovascular system. In this review, we compare the advantages and drawbacks of MCTA, USG and MRI imaging techniques with PET molecular imaging in evaluating vulnerable plaques. PET imaging allows physicians to measure different pathophysiological events within the plaque using intravenous radiotracers, of which 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) is the most validated one. By using 18F-FDG, physicians can understand the formation of the plaque, assess the accumulation of macrophages, and predict major cardiovascular events. However, some limitations exist in using 18F-FDG, including myocardial uptake and low sensitivity in imaging coronary arteries. We also mention other radiotracers that can help in evaluating vulnerable plaques, including 18F-NaF. Although PET imaging is still challenging, it has shown promise in evaluating vulnerable plaques and could be used to intervene in high-risk patients before major cardiovascular events occur.

Trend analysis and forecast of annual precipitation and temperature series in the Eastern Mediterranean region

The present study aims to examine the current trend of annual precipitation and temperature series referred to the Eastern Mediterranean basin on a national basis, including the annual variability of sea surface temperature anomalies and the connection effect with the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Mediterranean Oscillation indices (NAOI and MOI, respectively). The period under consideration is mainly the last 32 years, from 1990 to 2021. Additionally, the prediction of monthly and yearly temperature and precipitation series, based on the autoregressive integrated moving average model on a national base, for the next four or eight years, is another interesting feature of the present study. Results indicate rising trends in the annual precipitation during 1990-2021, mostly non-significant and significant warming trends in the annual temperature, including sea surface temperature. The NAOI is highly correlated mostly with annual temperature, whereas the MOI does not affect the variation of annual precipitation and temperature. The results of the present study are in general agreement with the results of available studies in the literature, and they could be of high interest to national authorities and environmental unions/organizations, to help decision-makers face climate change.

Thermal Analysis of a Plasmonic Perovskite Solar Cell: Using Coupled Opto-Electro-Thermal (OET) Modeling

Organic-inorganic heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are of high interest due to their low manufacturing cost and higher power conversion efficiency (PCE). Hence, we study the opto-electro-thermal (OET) characteristics and investigate the optical and carrier transport and thermodynamic behaviors on the PSC. In this research, optical and electrical coupled behavior is investigated, and the results of this simulation are in the optimal state for nanoparticles (NPs) with a diameter of 50 nm: the short-circuit current (Jsc) of 18.05 mA/cm2, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.9406 V, and PCE of 14.15% were obtained. Then, by adding thermal behavior to optical and electrical physics, thermal effects and power losses in the solar cell were obtained. In this case, 221.5 W/m2 Joule heat, 154 W/m2 thermal heat, 123 W/m2 Peltier heat, and 92.3 W/m2 nonradiative heat waste power were achieved. Under these losses, the electrical parameters decrease. The parameters are Jsc=21.74 mA/cm2, Voc=0.94 V, and PCE=13.53%. The best case is obtained for the structure without NPs.

Retention modeling of therapeutic peptides in sub‐/supercritical fluid chromatography

AbstractChromatographic modeling software packages are valuable tools during method optimization steps. These are well established for reversed‐phase applications utilizing retention time (RT) prediction to optimize separations and receive robust methods, which is of high interest for the analysis of pharmaceuticals. In contrast to liquid chromatography, the knowledge of RT prediction in supercritical fluid chromatography is limited to a manageable number of studies.This study uses the software DryLab to predict the RTs of the peptides bacitracin (Bac), colistin, tyrothricin (Tyro), and insulin analogs. Gradient time, column temperature, and the ternary composition (terC) of carbon dioxide, methanol (MeOH), and acetonitrile (ACN) in the gradient elution are varied in a feasibility approach using a neutral (Viridis BEH) and an amino‐derivatized aromatic (Torus 2‐PIC) stationary phase. In the second part, chromatographic optimization is performed in silico through gradient adjustments to optimize the separation of the fingerprint of Bac. The final gradient method utilizes a Viridis BEH column (100 × 3.0 mm, 1.7 μm), carbon dioxide, and a modifier consisting of ACN/MeOH/water/methanesulfonic acid (60:40:2:0.1, v:v:v:v). In addition, changes in the retention order of Tyro compounds with the proportion of the terC in combination with a Torus Diol column are investigated.

The Influence of Learning Interest and learning Motivation on Learning Outcomes in Economic Learning

The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the influence of learning interest in student economic learning. (2) the influence of learning motivation on the learning outcomes of students' economics subjects. (3) the influence of learning interest, parental attention, and learning motivation together on the learning outcomes of economics subjects. The focus of research was carried out at SMA Negeri 2 Tegineneng, Lampung. This type of research uses verifiative descriptive research, quantitative methods with an “ex post facto and survey” approach. The data collection technique is through observation, questionnaires, and documentation. First, there is a positive and significant influence of learning interest on student economic learning outcomes with a contribution of 0.150 or 15%. This means that a student has a high interest in learning, it is likely that his learning outcomes will increase, and vice versa. Second, there is a positive and significant influence of learning motivation on the learning outcomes of students' economics subjects with a contribution of 0.379 or 37.9%, this means, if students have high learning motivation, learning outcomes can increase, and vice versa. Third, a positive and significant influence on learning interest, parental attention, and learning motivation together on the learning outcomes of students' economics subjects with a contribution of 0.379 or 37.9%.

Using k-means assistant event selection strategy to study anomalous quartic gauge couplings at muon colliders

The search for new physics beyond the Standard Model is one of the central problems of current high energy physics interest. As the luminosities of current and near-future colliders continue to increase, the search for new physics has increased the requirements for processing large amounts of data. Meanwhile, quantum computing which is rapidly evolving, has great potential to become a powerful tool to help search for new physics signals. Since the k-means algorithm is known to be able to be accelerated with the help of quantum computing, we investigate and propose an event selection strategy based on k-means algorithm to search for new physics signals. Taking the case of tri-photon processes at the muon colliders as an example, the event selection strategy is shown to be effective in helping to search for the signals of dimension-8 operators contributing to anomalous quartic gauge couplings. Compared with traditional event selection strategy, the expected constraints are generally tighter.

Optimized absorption of light in perovskite nanowire solar cells

Metal halide perovskite nanowires (PrvNWs) have recently emerged as an interesting path for nanostructured solar cells. Here, we model the absorption of light in PrvNW arrays for varying diameter and length of the PrvNWs and period for the array by solving the Maxwell equations. For long enough bare PrvNW arrays, we find that the optimum diameter is fixed to that which places the absorption peak from the HE11 waveguide mode in the PrvNWs to the vicinity of the bandgap wavelength. In contrast, when we include a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) top contact layer, the optimum diameter shifts to a larger value by 100 nm. The origin of this shift is traced to a reduced reflection at the interface between the TCO layer and the PrvNW array when the PrvNW’s diameter is larger. Overall, we find that 1500 nm long PrvNWs can reach 90% of the broadband absorption potential, making this system of high interest for photovoltaics.

Fundamental Rethinking of Supply Chain Management

Labor disruptions, inflation, high interest rates, permitting delays, and long interconnection queues characterized the development and construction of new energy infrastructure in 2023. Terrestrial and offshore wind, solar, transmission, and hydrogen projects have been impacted most, and continued challenges are expected.

Antifungal and Antiparasitic Activities of Metallocene-Containing Fluconazole Derivatives.

The search for new anti-infectives based on metal complexes is gaining momentum. Among the different options taken by researchers, the one involving the use of organometallic complexes is probably the most successful one with a compound, namely, ferroquine, already in clinical trials against malaria. In this study, we describe the preparation and in-depth characterization of 10 new (organometallic) derivatives of the approved antifungal drug fluconazole. Our rationale is that the sterol 14α-demethylase is an enzyme part of the ergosterol biosynthesis route in Trypanosoma and is similar to the one in pathogenic fungi. To demonstrate our postulate, docking experiments to assess the binding of our compounds with the enzyme were also performed. Our compounds were then tested on a range of fungal strains and parasitic organisms, including the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) responsible for Chagas disease, an endemic disease in Latin America that ranks among some of the most prevalent parasitic diseases worldwide. Of high interest, the two most potent compounds of the study on T. cruzi that contain a ferrocene or cobaltocenium were found to be harmless for an invertebrate animal model, namely, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), without affecting motility, viability, or development.

Polish climate policy in the opinion of young Poles - a pilot survey

As established in the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Green Deal, combating climate change is one of the central elements of the European Union’s policy. As a member, Poland is obliged to develop and implement climate policy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions so climate neutrality can be achieved by 2050. In the context of low political priority for the Polish government, the study aims to identify the level of awareness, perceptions, and attitudes of young Poles towards climate change, as well as their assessment of climate policy. To achieve this aim, a non-random sampling pilot survey was conducted among young Poles in spring 2022, using an electronic questionnaire made available via social media. While the results show respondents’ awareness of and rather high interest in the threats posed by climate change, in-depth knowledge of climate change, climate policy, and its socio-economic implications is lacking. The progress in and effectiveness of climate policy in Poland is rather assessed negatively. Based on the results, key directions for future actions are suggested for the young generation to become a force in creating a more effective climate policy.