Pending Issues Research Articles

Emerging Memory Devices Beyond Conventional Data Storage: Paving the Path for Energy-Efficient Brain-Inspired Computing

The current state of neuromorphic computing broadly encompasses domain-specific computing architectures designed to accelerate machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. As is well known, AI/ML algorithms are limited by memory bandwidth. Novel computing architectures are necessary to overcome this limitation. There are several options that are currently under investigation using both mature and emerging memory technologies. For example, mature memory technologies such as high-bandwidth memories (HBMs) are integrated with logic units on the same die to bring memory closer to the computing units. There are also research efforts where in-memory computing architectures have been implemented using DRAMs or flash memory technologies. However, DRAMs suffer from scaling limitations, while flash memory devices suffer from endurance issues. Additionally, in spite of this significant progress, the massive energy consumption needed in neuromorphic processors while meeting the required training and inferencing performance for AI/ML algorithms for future applications needs to be addressed. On the AI/ML algorithm side, there are several pending issues such as life-long learning, explainability, context-based decision making, multimodal association of data, adaptation to address personalized responses, and resiliency. These unresolved challenges in AI/ML have led researchers to explore brain-inspired computing architectures and paradigms.

Natural Killers: Opportunities and Challenges for the Use of Bacteriophages in Microbial Food Safety from the One Health Perspective.

Ingestion of food or water contaminated with pathogenic bacteria may cause serious diseases. The One Health approach may help to ensure food safety by anticipating, preventing, detecting, and controlling diseases that spread between animals, humans, and the environment. This concept pays special attention to the increasing spread and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are considered one of the most important environment-related human and animal health hazards. In this context, the development of innovative, versatile, and effective alternatives to control bacterial infections in order to assure comprehensive food microbial safety is becoming an urgent issue. Bacteriophages (phages), viruses of bacteria, have gained significance in the last years due to the request for new effective antimicrobials for the treatment of bacterial diseases, along with many other applications, including biotechnology and food safety. This manuscript reviews the application of phages in order to prevent food- and water-borne diseases from a One Health perspective. Regarding the necessary decrease in the use of antibiotics, results taken from the literature indicate that phages are also promising tools to help to address this issue. To assist future phage-based real applications, the pending issues and main challenges to be addressed shortly by future studies are also taken into account.

MiRNAs: The Road from Bench to Bedside.

miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that control gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. It has been recognised that miRNA dysregulation reflects the state and function of cells and tissues, contributing to their dysfunction. The identification of hundreds of extracellular miRNAs in biological fluids has underscored their potential in the field of biomarker research. In addition, the therapeutic potential of miRNAs is receiving increasing attention in numerous conditions. On the other hand, many operative problems including stability, delivery systems, and bioavailability, still need to be solved. In this dynamic field, biopharmaceutical companies are increasingly engaged, and ongoing clinical trials point to anti-miR and miR-mimic molecules as an innovative class of molecules for upcoming therapeutic applications. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on several pending issues and new opportunities offered by miRNAs in the treatment of diseases and as early diagnostic tools in next-generation medicine.

The Use of San in the Lugano Alphabet. A Survey of Cisalpine Celtic Onomastics

The so-called “Lugano alphabet” is a northern Italian script that derives from the Etruscan alphabet. It was used to write Celtic texts belonging to the Lepontic language, uncovered in the centre of the Gallia Transpadana (Lombardy in Italy and Ticino in southern Switzerland), ranging from the 6th c. to the 1st c. BC, and a later variety called Cisalpine Gaulish, again located in the Transpadana (Lombardy and Piedmont in Italy), whose earliest texts date from the 4th c. BC, and which represents a later wave of immigrants or invaders. This dialect is distinguished from the former by a few morphological traits, like the patronymic suffix -ikno vs. Lepontic -alo-. While the Lugano script is deciphered in its entirety, some pending issues remain as to the actual use of some of its letters, its evolution and possible external influence from related alphabets. This work will address the problem of the so-called “butterfly sign,” a letter transliterated as <ś>, which shows different shapes, some of them easily confusable with <m>, and goes back to Greek san. For the “butterfly sign” a high number of synchronic values and etymological origins has been proposed. The article attempts to show that its use overlaps with that of zeta, transliterated as <z>. Both may have had a single value, and the reflected phoneme is in both cases a voiceless affricate that goes back to Indo-European /st/, /ts/ or /ds/, to epenthesis of /t/ in a sequence *-ns#, or to affrication of /d/ in coda position. The author also evaluates the possibility that the occurrence of san and tau gallicum in some contexts, specifically in codas, is due to mere phonemic reallocation not mediated by sound change.

Odgovornost Republike Hrvatske za štetu prouzrokovanu kompromitacijom informacionog sistema zemljišnih knjiga i katastra

Before their digitation, land registries in the Republic of Croatia had been kept manually (paper-based registration). The Land Registry Act stipulates that land registries in the Republic of Croatia are kept electronically by means of a Real Property Registration and Cadastre Joint Information System (hereinafter: JIS), containing harmonized real property and cadastral data. A real property and land database is created through the electronic entry of paper-based data, i.e. integration of real property and cadastral data into a single database. Hence, the protection of real property transfers is enhanced since the legal status of the land and all accompanying restrictions (concessions, public property status etc.) can be obtained in one place. The real property land database enables registration of every change to the real property without the need to inform both the land registration court and cadastre thereabout. The Real Property Registration and Cadastre Joint Information System is jointly coordinated and managed by the Ministry of Justice and Administration of the Republic of Croatia and the State Geodetic Administration. The Land Registry Act sets forth that the Republic of Croatia is strictly liable for any damage arising from flaws in keeping land registries. Such damage can occur in case of errors or malfunctions in the respective joint information system. This paper investigates the appropriateness of the measures for protection of the Real Property Registration and Cadastre Joint Information System and the general rules for security and control of the access to the said system, and analyses the risk of compromising it. Regarding the liability of the Republic of Croatia for any damage pertaining to flaws in the land records management, the paper depicts the model of defining the liability for any damage sustained by the holders of ownership rights due to unauthorized access to the said joint information system. The paper also sheds light on the advantages and disadvantages of the model for defining fault and strict liability in the above case, and examines some pending issues relating to the applicable model for defining such damage liability de lege lata as well as possible legal solutions and the potential need for the legislator's intervention de lege ferenda.

재일(在日) 지식인이 구축한 연대의 공론장 『계간삼천리』

By reviewing the pathway of “Kikan Sanzenri” (Issues 1 to 50: Feb. 1975 to May 1987), an academic journal published by Zainichi Korean intellectuals and in which they expressed their clear critical mind toward the issues of peaceful reunification of their home country Korea, restoration of democratization/human rights in Korea, and promotion of mutual understanding and solidarity between Korea and Japan in the time and space of their foreign land, this paper examined the overall picture of this public sphere written in Japanese.
 In particular, while the Korean intellectuals’ articles translated and introduced in “Kikan Sanzenri” were not covered in previous researches, this paper paid attention to them and examined what kind of stature they have in the journal. First, through division into “Special Features”, “Conversation/Round-table Talks/Symposiums”, “Serial Publication” and “Translation”, which clearly indicate the journal’s direction, the critical mind and roles of “Kikan Sanzenri” were analyzed.
 The public sphere “Kikan Sanzenri” is a journal which Zainichi Korean intellectuals who were inspired by the July 4 Inter-Korean Joint Statement in 1972 initiatively started publishing. Through “Kikan Sanzenri”, they aimed to write a “History of Korea-Japan Exchange” for historical agreement, through collection of various ideas and opinions by planning special features on the contemporary historical tasks of Korea and on pending issues about the Korean Peninsula and about the Japanese Islands. Also, through special features examining the past, present and future of Zainichi Koreans, “Kikan Sanzenri” functioned as a venue for “unity in diversity” which is a synonym for polyphony.
 It is also worth noting that “Kikan Sanzenri” shared its critical mind with readers through conversation, round-table talks, and symposiums. Through serial publication of articles in a wide range of fields and genres, the journal fulfilled its social and cultural roles as the public sphere. In particular, by focusing on “Seoul Report” written by K·I. and Yasuhiro Maeda, this paper examined the significance of this “another series.” The articles by K·I. and Yasuhiro Maeda, which sought to reveal the truth hidden in the politics between Korea and Japan by taking the lives and voices of the Korean people as their own, are significant in that they convey the overall picture of the times in solidarity with oppressed Korean intellectuals including Chi-ha Kim who expressed the importance of political imagination and creativity, as well as workers, and Zainichi Korean students.
 Finally, this paper focused on the articles by Korean intellectuals translated and introduced on “Kikan Sanzenri.” “Kikan Sanzenri” introduced the practice of intellectuals who wrote articles by diagnosing the divided Korean peninsula and diagnosing the crisis situation in Korea, where human rights were being violated and freedom of speech was deprived of. This paper identified that “Kikan Sanzenri” tried to further strengthen its sense of purpose through this, and that the spirit of the times contained in the intellectuals’ voices transcending time and space from Korea functioned as a reason to urge contemporary Zainichi/Japanese people to self-reflect their attitudes toward the reality and history in which they are placed.
 The movement of “Kikan Sanzenri”, which gathered the voices of all social classes while accompanying practice, is worth noting as a historical record and deserves further discussion in that, in this era of ongoing hostility typified by anti-Japanese and anti-Korean sentiments, it provides an opportunity to discover the history of Korea-Japan exchange and to look into its significance in the present time.

The Uncertain Status of the Korea-Japan Joint Development Agreement of the Continental Shelf and Its Prospects

Abstract As the expiration date of the Japan-Korea joint development of the continental shelf in the East China Sea comes closer, the joint development agreement is becoming a hot issue between Korea and Japan. The Joint Development Zone (jdz), established under the joint development agreement, is set to expire in 2028 unless the two countries agree otherwise. Despite not having any commercially significant discovery of oil and gas in the jdz, it has served as a provisional arrangement to manage peacefully the disputed continental shelf in the tri-junction where China also claims jurisdiction. Given its significant role in the peaceful management of overlapping marine resources and jurisdiction claims over decades, the two countries need to engage in negotiations to come up with a solution to the pending issues concerning the development of the jdz. The jdz area has the potential to become a flashpoint of conflicts in the strained relations between the two countries, if the agreement expires without any provisional or permanent arrangements.

Narita Airport's journey for establishing an end-to-end biometric passenger experience

The paper shares the experience, challenges and efforts to introduce expedited pre-boarding passenger at Narita Airport through digital technology under the impact of COVID-19. The digitalised ‘Fast Travel’ processing enables more stringent ID checks with consistency, improved efficiency and customer experience using biometric and automation technology to achieve the following improvements in customer experience triggered by a survey conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The paper also covers pending issues, such as the lack of stress testing and identification of issues that require improvement to serve a larger mass traffic volume as cross-border travel restarts around the world. It is hoped that the contents of the paper may contribute to inspire airports and stakeholders around the world to jointly establish a digitalised pre-boarding procedure that is globally interoperable with a standardised processing and synchronisation of datasets that is protected by a holistic security framework.

Co-precipitated Ni/Mn shell coated nano Cu-rich core structure: A phase-field study

This work is to clarify such pending issues as the formation paths, diversity patterns, segregation modes and magnetic effect of Ni/Mn shell-coated Cu-rich particles in Fe-15at. %Cu-1at. %Mn-1at. %Ni alloy by using the phase-field method. It is found that three nucleation mechanisms (classical nucleation, non-classical nucleation and instability decomposition) can coexist in early stage of precipitation, and four kinds of structural patterns of the co-precipitates will appear during the precipitation, growth and coarsening. The Cu-rich nanoparticles gradually transform from bcc-α-Cu to fcc-γ-Cu, the Ni/Mn shell maintains bcc structure and may be precipitated on the surface of bcc-α-Cu, or fcc-γ-Cu, or both surfaces in a heterogeneous nucleation mode and runs through the whole aging stage. The Ni/Mn shell inhibits the crystal structure transformation of bcc-α-Fe matrix, the internal magnetic energy and coherent elastic strain energy also inhibit phase separation and crystal structure transformation. Therefore, we can obtain the characteristic microstructure of different aging stages by adjusting the aging time, magnetic field and elastic field conditions, so as to obtain different microstructure and corresponding mechanical properties. This work is applicable to multicomponent Fe–Cu based alloys and core–shell structural materials.

Women, violence and tourism: modes of domination in the Mexican Caribbean

ABSTRACT This article aims to analyze and determine the factors that reinforce the precariousness experienced by women in Cancún, Mexico’s most important international tourism city. For this research, we follow the literature on the structure of coloniality, as well as critical research on the relations between domination and violence against women. We identify three aspects. First, the mechanisms inherited from the social differentiation since colonization between central (Western) and peripheral (non-Western) actors. Second, the fracture of the social fabric built by tourism between tourists and locals. Third, the patriarchal structure that particularly affects women. We ask ourselves to what extent the democratization process has not modified a postcolonial society for women. We show this through the study of a threefold event: a feminicide, the protest it triggered and the implausible repressive response of the state. We realize that bringing the debate on femicides to the public arena in Cancún implies a significant barrier (because the city depends on its international reputation). Usually, research on the subject concentrates on one or two variables; our work contributes to the state of the field by intertwining multiples ways of domination experienced by woman who suffer most from the so-called intersectionality (racism, classism, xenophobia, heterosexism). This allows us to understand how and why women in civil society demonstrating against gender violence can be repressed with impunity. We conclude with the fact that oppression is physical but also legal (justice and Rule of Law) and that both are pending issues in the democratization process.

A new hybrid phase-field model for modeling mixed-mode cracking process in anisotropic plastic rock-like materials

Mixed-mode cracking is widely encountered in rock-like geomaterials under compression-controlled loadings. Some pending issues still need to be addressed. This work focuses on a new hybrid phase-field fracture method for cracking behavior of anisotropic plastic materials. Several new approaches are introduced. Firstly, a unified decomposition method of elastic strain energy driving crack growth is proposed by combining the advantages of classical spectral and volumetric–deviatoric decomposition algorithms. Then a new damage field evolution criterion is established, allowing to considering a nonlinear interaction between two basic crack propagation modes. The contribution of plastic strain energy to cracking process is investigated by considering an anisotropic yield criterion and combined isotropic-kinematic hardening laws. The validation of the established phase-field model is assessed by a series of representative examples, showing different types of cracking patterns. Sensitivity analysis of some key parameters involved in the model is also carried out to clarify the respective impacts on the progressive cracking patterns. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated by comparison with experimental results.

Mineral Exploration Scenario in India: Prospect, Promise and Policy Reforms

Abstract India is endowed with unique geological and tectonic setting conducive to host potential mineral resources. A look at the mineral resource status of selected minerals in India indicates abundant and/or adequate resources of iron, chromite, manganese, bauxite, coal, limestone, dolomite, mica, zinc, graphite but deficient to scarce resources of nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, copper, sulphur, potash, apatite, rock phosphate, gold, PGE’s, diamond etc., in spite of the vast obvious geological potential (OGP) blocks that exist in India. The OGP blocks have been estimated to around 1 lakh Km2 for gold, 3 lakh Km2 for diamond, 1.6 lakh km2 for base metals, 8000 km2 for PGEs and 5000 km2 for iron ores. By a rough estimate only 10% of this is explored and less than 2% is mined. The Reserve to Resource ratio which, as per mineral exploration practice, should be over 50% is woefully low for most of the minerals. For instance it is 17% for bauxite, 14% for copper, 24% for iron 14% for lead-Zinc, 8% for limestone and 30% for chromite etc. This calls for highly focused exploration strategy at high confidence level. India need to take a leaf out of strategies of many other countries and frame her own policy based on OGP areas to trigger the mining growth by accelerating mineral exploration programme. Benefits that flow from the mineral exploration/mining sector have huge impact on local populace, industry especially mineral dependent industries, employment and overall prosperity. Recent amendments in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act-1957 in the year 2021, have sought to bring out the potential of the mineral sector such as to increase the revenue of the State, escalate employment, maintain the continuity of mining operation, increase production, time bound operationalization of mines, increase the speed of exploration and auction of mineral resources and lastly to resolve the long pending issues that have decelerated the growth of this sector. This is an encouraging step and likely to bear fruits. These legislative and policy reforms in the mineral exploration and mining sector have laid down a sustainable road map that aims to boost mineral output by 200% in the next 7 years and raise the GDP contribution to 2.5%. Mineral laws Amendments Act 2020 are transformative and investor friendly. Mining is now defined as legal entity and hence seamless transfer of mining lease is possible. New auction mechanism instituted will ensure transparency, eliminate discretion, reducing bureaucratic delay and easier trading of mineral rights. Setting up of District Mineral foundation (DMF) will work for the interest and benefit of mining related operations and overcome the local resistance to the mineral exploration and mining activities. The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) will focus on extending more financial assistance to government and also the private sectors to augment advance technology and will surely give fillip to exploration initiatives. The paper deals with such ideas in relation to the required thrust in mineral exploration sector in Indian context.

문화정책의 관점에서 본 국내 지식재산정책 추진체계의 특징과 적절성 검토

To establish the direction of an appropriate intellectual property policy system suitable for the Korean context amid changes in the environment surrounding intellectual property, this study examines issues and alternatives. The priority of the pending issues to be resolved in the intellectual property policy system is not the integration or separation of organizations, but the effectiveness of overall strategy establishment and adjustment and the securing of expertise in such policies for each field. We emphasize that, unlike industrial property rights, copyright is unique in that it is combined with personal rights, and that the balance between protection and utilization is important. Through this, this study established a starting point for moving the frame of the problem toward the more fundamental development of individual intellectual property rights, beyond the limits of the technology-centered unilinear integration theory in the discussion of the existing intellectual property policy system.

지역상생 융합교과 수업설계 전략 연구

This study dealt with the design process of a class on how a university and its region develop together through the use of local resources, collaboration with residents, and communication with the local community. The instructional design model of this study focused on learnercentered PBL, and consisted of steps such as problem development preparation, problem selection, problem and learning activity development, learning activity determination, and teaching and learning process. This class derived facilitating competencies through these steps. facilitating competencies consist of task solving competency, communication competency, creativity, responsibility, self-directedness, time management competency, collaboration competency, occupational ethics, and emotional artistry. In this class, guide questions were proposed so that instructors and learners can fully understand the facilitating competencies in the class and perform their roles. The results of this class are as follows. First, this class developed a project that can be applied to local cultural resources and small business commercial spaces. Second, this class contributed to revitalizing the local community through cooperation with local members in the planning and progress of the project. Third, through this class, students can become interested in the local community and acquire practical skills to solve pending issues and problems.

Including the "Nation's Enemies": The Long Politics of Recognition and Restitution during the Third Greek Republic (1974–2006)

In 1974, democracy was restored in Greece and the state had to shift the boundaries of social and political exclusion. Nevertheless, the first right-wing governments did not accept the Left's symbolic legitimacy and integration into the nation. They refused to recognize the left-wing Resistance, while the Left opposition tried to establish the National Resistance as a central landmark in national history. PASOK's rise to power in 1981 altered the state's policy on the past. They incorporated EAM's legacy into national history, creating a new foundational myth with new silences and new voices. ND began to adopt a more inclusive stance, but when they came to power in 1990 they overhauled the process that had recognized the left-wing Resistance. PASOK's return to power in 1993 did not manage to resolve the many pending issues. Coming to terms with the Greek past was not a straightforward, linear process but rather a long, tangled, and arduous one, the end of which is not yet clear.

Optimizing the clinical management of EGFR-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a literature review.

Background and ObjectiveDespite several steps forward in the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however there are still pending issues and upcoming challenges requiring adequate addressing in order to optimize the clinical management of metastatic patients harboring molecular alterations within the EGFR gene. This review aims to summarize the most recent findings regarding the diagnostic testing and therapeutic strategies of EGFR-mutant advanced NSCLC.MethodsLiterature search was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases, up to December 2021. Relevant studies in English language published between 2004 and 2021 were selected.Key Content and FindingsThe increased detection of uncommon EGFR mutations in the real-word practice along with the clinical development of novel selective inhibitors, highlighted the issue of an adequate selection of the best EGFR-tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) to the right patient mutation. The advent of osimertinib in first-line has dramatically changed the spectrum of molecular mechanisms underlying both innate and acquired resistance to the EGFR-TKI therapy, accelerating the clinical investigation of novel genomic-driven sequential strategies as well as upfront targeted combinations. The recent approval of potent, selective inhibitors targeting the EGFR exon-20 insertions, renewed interest toward this patients’ subset, questioning the diagnostic accuracy of old-standard genomic sequencing technologies and pushing the implementations of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based molecular profiling in the real word practice scenario.ConclusionsThis review provides evidence-based answers to the aforementioned challenges aiming to optimize the clinical management of metastatic patients harboring molecular alterations within the EGFR gene.

The Necessity of Introducing Autonomous Trucks in Logistics 4.0

Autonomous vehicles have become important with the emergence of Logistics 4.0. Moreover, truck-based transport has become the critical means of transport in the logistics market. Thus, to deal with the pending issues of the logistics market, it is not enough to merely expand the workforce. Adopting autonomous trucks will also help change the truck allocation structure. This may enable horizontal and vertical integration based on the new logistics model and help address various problems faced by shipping companies. Thus, adopting autonomous trucks can provide various benefits for the logistics business, society, and consumers. However, adopting autonomous trucks does not only have benefits. Here, this study suggests truck platooning as a method of adopting autonomous trucks more efficiently. Furthermore, we approach the potential issues regarding autonomous truck adoption from various perspectives by demonstrating the efficiency of autonomous trucks as well as their problems.

Implementation and evaluation of an educational intervention to prevent risk factors for the development of non-communicable diseases in Mexican families of suburban communities

Non-communicable diseases (NCD), are not transmitted from person to person, are long-lasting and usually of slow evolution. Worldwide cause 71% deaths, in Mexico during 2016 were the cause of 80% of registered deaths; population in socioeconomic disadvantage is more vulnerable. It is urgent to develop strategies that can prevent NCD, thus, the objective of this study was to design, implement and evaluate an educational intervention strategy (EI), to prevent and control risk factors for the development NCD in families of two vulnerable communities. The research design was mixed, the stages were developed based on a risk communication (RC) model and was performed in three stages: 1) EI Design, 2) Implementation and 3) Evaluation of the intervention. In the contextualization, risk factors were found in the participants who were integrated in the design of the educational strategy. The EI implemented was effective in increasing knowledge about NCD and practice of healthy habits, such as increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Additionally, the guidance of EI at the family level has the advantage of creating a support network for these changes. However, pending issues remain, such as the design of effective strategies to reduce the consumption of sugars and sugary drinks.

Rational Design of Metal–Organic Framework‐Based Materials for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Photocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction can utilize solar light to convert CO2 to high value‐added products, which thus are recognized as an intriguing strategy to solve excessive CO2 emissions. Metal–organic framework (MOF)‐based photocatalysts have shown high potential in the field of CO2 reduction due to their high porosity and tunable structure. In this review, the recent progress achieved in the rational design of MOF‐based photocatalysts, including the pure MOF materials, MOF‐based composites, and the derivatives of MOFs, for the reduction of CO2, are summarized and the developed modification strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of MOF‐based photocatalysts are highlighted. The current pending issues and the outlook for the future development are also discussed.

La submunicipalización y la percepción democrática en México: una primera aproximación

The arrival of a new government, the self-appointed fourth transformation, it represents the opening of an“opportunity” to address the pending issues of the country’s transformation and democratic consolidationagenda.This focuses on two controversies: 1. The redesign of the territorial structure of municipal governmentsin Mexico. 2. The capacity of the Mexican State to produce social welfare and generate citizen support fordemocracy.In order to approach the analysis, we have proposed the following structure of the work: 1. Explainthe theoretical approach that covers the present analysis. 2. Introduce a brief historical context of thedemocratization process in Latin America. 3. The number of local governments is analyzed, and linked themto the demographic and territorial variables. 4. Analyze support for democracy and citizen perception ofeconomic well-being in Latin