State-owned Research Articles

Specific Characteristics of Privatization Process in New Uzbekistan

In the article, the changes that have taken place in the process of privatization of state property in the Republic of Uzbekistan in recent years, the ongoing reforms, and the implemented measures have been highlighted. Also, conclusions were formed on the results of privatization reforms in the country.

Necessity of orthogonal basis vectors for the two-anyon problem in a one-dimensional lattice* *Supported by National Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 12074340 and 12474492) and the Science Foundation of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (Grants No. 20062098-Y, 19062463-Y and 22062344-Y).

Few-body physics for anyons has been intensively studied within the anyon-Hubbard model, including the quantum walk and Bloch oscillations of two-anyon states. Recently, theoretical and experimental simulations of two-anyon states in a one-dimensional lattice have been carried out by expanding the wavefunction in terms of non-orthogonal basis vectors, resulting in non-physical degrees of freedom. In the present work, we deduce finite difference equations for the two-anyon state in a one-dimensional lattice by solving the Schrödinger equation with orthogonal and complete basis vectors. Such an orthogonal scheme gives all the orthogonal physical eigenstates, while the conventional (non-orthogonal) method produces many non-physical redundant eigensolutions whose components violate the anyonic commutation relations. The dynamical property of the two-anyon states in a sufficiently large lattice is investigated and compared in both the orthogonal and conventional schemes. For initial states with two anyons at the same site or two (next-)neighboring sites, we observe the same dynamical behavior in both schemes, including the revival probability, probability density function and two-body correlation. For other initial states, the conventional scheme produces erroneous states that no longer obey the anyonic relations. The period of Bloch oscillations in the pseudo-fermionic limit has been found to be twice that in the bosonic limit, while these oscillations disappear at other statistical parameters. Our findings are vital for quantum simulations of few-body anyonic physics in lattice models.

Microstructure Morphology of Chemical and Structural Phase Separation in Thermally treated KxFe2-ySe2Superconductor.

The iron-based KxFe2-ySe2 superconductor displays phase separation, leading to the coexisting metallic phase embedded in an antiferromagnetic matrix. The metallic character of the system is believed to arise from a percolative granular network affecting normal as well as superconducting state properties. This network can be manipulated and controlled through thermal treatments. In this study, we have used scanning X-ray micro-fluorescence to visualize morphology of the phase separation and the percolation in KxFe2-ySe2, manipulated by distinct thermal treatments, i.e., fast quenching and slow cooling. We find a differing spatial correlation between Fe and K in differently treated samples, ascribed to different Fe vacancy ordering. We have identified an intermediate phase that acts as an interface between the two phases. The high temperature quenching produces oriented clustered microstructure in which the percolation threshold is lower and hence a more effective network for the transport pathways. Instead, the slow cooling results in larger interfaces around the percolation threshold affecting the superconducting properties of the system. The results provide a quantitative characterization of microstructural morphology of differently grown KxFe2-ySe2 showing potential for the design of electronic devices based on sub-micron scale chemical phase separation, thus opening avenues for further studies of complex heterogeneous structures.

Innovative Strategies for Micro and Medium Enterprises Development by participation of PTkis in reducing the role of the Emok Bank in Kuningan Regency

This research aims to analyze the activities "Emok Bank" viewed from sharia economic law and to formulate the innovative strategies in developing Micro and Medium Enterprises by involving the participation of Islamic colleges. The method used in this research is descriptive with a qualitative approach. The data analysis which is used in this study is the theory of Miles and Huberman to describe the results of study, while to analyze the relationship between the parties related to the development of UMKM (MSMEs) is by using TAWHIDI STRING RELATION theory and designing the innovative strategies using SWOT analysis. This study was conducted in Susukan village, Cipicung district, Kuningan Regency. It is one of the villages which gets the impacts of the activities of Emok Bank. The research results showed that the practices of borrowing borrowing which are held by Emok Bank have not been in accordance with the Sharia conomic law. The transaction parties have not could ensure yet to be able to manage his/her the property as well as not to BI checking and the loan feasibility. The borrowed money which is given by Bank EMok is not in the control of Emok Bank because of the government's property, the centered bank and even belonging to the investor. In the sharia economic law, the lent goods must be returned by the corresponding amount, while the loan at the Emok Bank is burdened interest even up to 25%.

Examining the effect of forest certification on timber harvest best management practice implementation

ABSTRACT Forest certification programs are voluntary initiatives emphasizing sustainable forestry and harvest practices. Compliance with certification standards is enforced through third-party audits. One requirement of most forest certification systems is the use of best management practices during harvesting activities. These practices are designed to mitigate potential negative outcomes of forest management and timber harvesting activities. Best management practice implementation has been found to have a variety of positive outcomes on water quality and other resources. However, information relating forest certification to implementation of best management practices and environmental outcomes on certified versus noncertified lands is scant. Here, we examine the role of third-party certification as it contributes to enhanced forest stewardship via implementation of voluntary best management practices. Our study adds to the limited body of research comparing sustainability practices and outcomes on certified vs. noncertified lands. In alignment with previous research on the topic, our study suggests that adherence to best management practices is better on certified versus noncertified forests. Our findings also suggest that for large public agency ownerships, organizationally driven factors beyond forest certification (e.g. institutional policy and trained staff) influence the use of best management practices during timber harvests.

Progressive Control of Rashba State on Topological Dirac Semimetal KZnBi.

Rashba states have been actively revisited as a platform for advanced applications such as spintronics and topological quantum computation. Yet, access to the Rashba state is restricted to the specific material sets, and the methodology to control the Rashba state is not established. Here, we report the Rashba states on the (001) surface of KZnBi, a 3D Dirac semimetal. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations, we investigated the evolution of Rashba states under different surface conditions controlled by alkali metal deposition. We observed that restoring surface ordering enables a Rashba state, which is absent in freshly cleaved surfaces. Interestingly, we were able to modify the dispersion of the Rashba state from an ordinary parabolic dispersion to a linearly dispersing Dirac-like state by additional alkali-metal deposition. Our findings provide a methodology for engineering the properties of Rashba states for advanced applications and redefine topological systems as generic hosts of Rashba states.

Effects of Thermal Variables of Solidification on the Microstructure and Hardness of the Manganese Bronze Alloy Cu-24Zn-6Al-4Mn-3Fe

The Cu-24Zn-6Al-4Mn-3Fe alloy is mainly used for the manufacture of sliding bushings in the agricultural sector due to its high mechanical properties in the cast state. Understanding how the casting thermal parameters affect the microstructure and impact the properties of alloys is fundamental to optimizing manufacturing processes and improving performance during their application. In this study, the Cu-24Zn-6Al-4Mn-3Fe alloy was unidirectionally solidified under non-steady heat flow conditions using a water-cooled graphite base for heat exchange. Seven points were monitored along the longitudinal region of this ingot, and the data to obtain the solidification variables were extracted using an acquisition system. The cooling rates varied from 4.50 °C/s to 0.22 °C/s from the closest to the furthest position from the heat extraction point. The microstructure was analyzed via optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction in order to characterize the phases and intermetallic elements present in the material. The mechanical properties were evaluated through hardness and microhardness tests throughout longitudinal extension of the solidified part. The results showed an increase in hardness and microhardness with a decrease in the cooling rate, which may be related to the increase in size and the κ phase fraction with a decrease in the cooling rate, as analyzed via optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, in all positions, there was no significant change in the amount of the α phase retained, with the matrix being mainly composed of the β phase and a small content of approximately 2% of the α phase.

Multimodal investigation of dynamic brain network alterations in autism spectrum disorder: Linking connectivity dynamics to symptoms and developmental trajectories

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with disrupted brain connectivity, yet a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic neural underpinnings remains lacking. This study employed concurrent electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) techniques to investigate dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) patterns and neurovascular characteristics in children with ASD. We also explored associations between neurovascular characteristics and the developmental trajectory of adaptive behavior in individuals with ASD. MethodsResting-state EEG and fNIRS data were simultaneously recorded from 58 ASD and 63 TD children. We implemented a k-means clustering approach to extract the dFC states for each modality. In addition, a multimodal covariance network (MCN) was constructed from the EEG and fNIRS dFC features to capture the neurovascular characteristics linked to ASD. ResultsEEG analyses revealed atypical properties of dFC states in the beta and gamma bands in children with ASD compared to TD children. For fNIRS, the ASD group exhibited atypical properties of dFC states such as duration and transitions relative to the TD group. The MCN analysis revealed significantly suppressed functional covariance between right superior temporal and left Broca's areas, alongside enhanced right dorsolateral prefrontal-left Broca covariance in ASD. Notably, we found that early neurovascular characteristics can predict the developmental progress of adaptive functioning in ASD. ConclusionThe multimodal investigation revealed distinct dFC patterns and neurovascular characteristics associated with ASD, elucidating potential neural mechanisms underlying core symptoms and their developmental trajectories. Our study highlights that integrating complementary neuroimaging modalities may aid in unraveling the complex neurobiology of ASD.

Theoretical spin-orbit laser cooling for AlZn molecule.

A spin-orbit coupling electronic structure study of the AlZn molecule is conducted to investigate the molecular properties of the low-lying electronic states and their feasibility toward direct laser cooling. This study uses the complete active-space self-consistent field level of theory, followed by the multireference configuration interaction method with Davidson correction (+Q). The potential energy and dipole moment curves and the spectroscopic constants are computed for the low-lying doublet and quartet electronic states in the 2S+1Λ± and Ω(±) representations. The transition dipole moments, the Franck-Condon factors, the Einstein coefficient, the radiative lifetimes, the vibrational branching ratio, and the slowing distance are determined between the lowest spin-orbit bound electronic states. These results show that the molecule AlZn has a high potential for laser cooling through the X2Π1/2 → (2)2Π1/2 transition by utilizing four lasers at a wavelength in the ultraviolet region, reaching a sub-microkelvin temperature limit.

Prevalence and predictors of near misses and road traffic crashes among long-distance bus drivers in Ghana

IntroductionDespite the critical role of bus drivers in the Ghanaian economy, research on their safety is limited, hindering progress towards reducing road traffic crashes (RTCs) in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.6. This study aimed to investigate the rate of RTCs and near misses among long-distance bus drivers, identifying key predictors.MethodThis cross-sectionl survey sampled 7,315 long-distance bus drivers operating from Accra and Tema to other parts of Ghana and sub-region. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were condcuted using Jamovi software version 2.5.3.ResultsThe study found that 53.7% and 96.9% of bus drivers had at least one RTC and one near-miss two years prior to data collection respectively. Older age, higher education, and extensive driving experience (≥ 21 years) reduced RTC risk, while factors like 6–20 years of experience, individual bus ownership, irregular shifts, long driving hours, sleepiness, job security, low decision authority, and skill discretion increased RTC risk. Near-misses were more likely with public bus ownership, not driving alone, low decision authority, skill discretion, and supervisor support, while high work-family conflict reduced near-miss likelihood.ConclusionConcerted efforts are needed to implement targeted interventions aimed at regulating working hours, enhancing job security and integrating occupationl health and safety standards in the Ghanaian bus transport industry. By prioritizing evidence-based policies and practices, stakeholders can work towards creating safer roads and healthier work environments for bus drivers.

Imperfection of land system in agriculture, possible consequences and the ways to correct them

Significant transformations occurred during the land reform by January 1999. The monopoly of state ownership over land was abolished, and reorganizations of collective and state farms were carried out, alongside the privatization of land. Since 2002, the turnover of agricultural land has been regulated by Federal Law No. 101-FZ of July 24, 2002, "On the Turnover of Agricultural Land." Ownership, use, and disposal of land plots that are in shared ownership can only be carried out in accordance with the decisions of the participants in the shared ownership. However, the procedure for allocating land plots against the shares of land is lengthy, costly, and prone to corruption. Imperfect land legislation and incompetence in the courts hinder the completion of land transformations. This article discusses the issues of shared land ownership related to multi-contour land plots and methods to overcome these challenges.

Temperature-tunable topological zero-refraction acoustic metamaterials

Zero-refractive index metamaterials have a wide range of applications in directional transmission and wave-front shaping due to their unusual acoustic properties. However, for most given acoustic topological metamaterials, the operating frequency is relatively fixed and the effect of temperature on their topological properties is rarely considered. Therefore, temperature-controlled tunable topological zero-refraction acoustic metamaterials are proposed in this paper. Firstly, a metamaterial with quadruple degenerate Dirac-like points at the center of the Brillouin zone is constructed, and the influence of temperature on the Dirac-like points is analyzed. The results show that the topological bandgap frequency range is more sensitive to temperature. The existence of pseudospin-polarized edge state is demonstrated by analysing the band structure of supercells with different topological phase phonon crystal. The topological zero-refraction property of the edge states outcoupled into free space is numerically demonstrated, and the non-contact active control of their operating frequencies can be realized by temperature. This study can provide a corresponding reference for the intelligent control of near-zero refractive index acoustic topological materials in elastic wave collimation and acoustic communication.

Non-linear AC dielectric properties of epoxy composites filled with core–shell SiC particles

Abstract Core–shell structured silicon carbide (SiC)/epoxy (EP) composites exhibit superior non–linear DC conductivity. However, the high voltage alternative current dielectric properties of the composites are rarely reported. In this paper, the time–domain measurement was employed to obtain the basic dielectric characteristics, AC conductivity, and relative permittivity of the SiC/EP and SiC@Al2O3/EP composites under less than the breakdown strength of the SiC/EP (i.e. the amplitude of 1–5 kV mm−1). In addition, in the high AC electric field (i.e. the amplitude of 6–20 kV mm−1), the non–linear AC dielectric properties of the SiC@Al2O3/EP composite are also investigated. The experimental results suggest that the SiC@Al2O3/EP composite shows more obvious non–linear AC dielectric properties than the SiC/EP composite. In the high AC electric field, the AC conductivity of the SiC@Al2O3/EP composite presents the relaxation phenomenon, which is attributed to the excitation field and its derivative. This work lays a foundation for further research on the AC steady–state and transient dielectric properties of the field grading materials, which are widely used to homogenize the nonuniform electric field distribution in many electrical and electronic equipment.

Bringing the state back in: Populism and economic nationalism in Europe

AbstractObjectiveEconomic nationalism has been on the rise for the past two decades. Scholars have also noted the shift away from globalization and deregulation toward a more prominent role of the state in the economy. I explore the role played by populist governments in the increased adoption of economic nationalism and in this return of the state. I argue that the populist worldview lends itself naturally to a consolidation of power—not just political, but also economic. This consolidation of economic power results in a more prominent state even in countries where the populist regime is a right‐leaning one.MethodsI test this argument quantitatively by analyzing governments in 30 European countries since 1990, levels of state ownership in the economy, and a battery of economic and political controls.ResultsThe election of a populist government is associated with a strengthening of state ownership in the economy.ConclusionI conclude with a discussion of the prospects for the future study of this populist economic agenda both domestically and internationally.

What is the Impact of Economic Welfare on Social Responsibility Disclosure in Indonesian Manufacturing Companies?

This research was conducted to prove that the economic welfare of the community is related to and has an influence on the existence of corporate social responsibility activities. The findings in this study assume the existence of the Covid-19 as a period that has an impact on the global crisis. The effects of the global crisis caused companies to experience a decline in net sales, and policies on corporate social activities changed. This study tries to link the variables of public ownership and net sales of companies to disclosure of social responsibility and the economic welfare of the community. The sampling design in this study uses a list of manufacture companies included in the Kompas 100 index list for two consecutive years, namely 2020 and 2021, which is the period when the health crisis in Indonesia began. The results of this study are that the variables of public ownership structure and net sales index have a significant relationship with social responsibility disclosure. However, the disclosure of social responsibility is not significant to economic welfare. Public ownership brings the company more attention from the surrounding community. Meanwhile, sales growth is used as a company measure to satisfy company owners and benefit the community. With company policies that benefit the community, supporting the government improves economic welfare. Keywords: CSR disclosure, public ownership, net sales, economic well-being

Distribution of quantum gravity induced entanglement in many-body systems

Abstract Recently, it was shown that if two distant test masses, each in a spatially superposed quantum state, become entangled due to their mutual gravitational interaction, then this entanglement could serve as evidence of the quantum nature of gravity We extend this treatment to a many-body system in a general setup and study the entanglement properties of the time-evolved state. We exactly compute the time-dependent I-concurrence for every bipartition and obtain the necessary and sufficient condition for the creation of genuine many-body entanglement. We further show that this entanglement is of generalised GHZ type when certain conditions are met. We also evaluate the amount of multipartite entanglement in the system using a set of generalised Meyer-Wallach measures.

Spin polarization and transport of hybrid interface states in π-stacked magnetic molecular junctions

Based on the first-principles method, the spin polarization and transport properties of the hybrid interface states (HIS) in π-stacked three-layer triphenylene molecular junction are studied theoretically. By rotating the torsion angle between two neighbor layers, the π-π interaction strength is adjusted. The results demonstrate that the HIS, generated by strong pz-d hybridization between molecules and ferromagnetic electrodes, can easily transfer to the central layer via a strong π-π interaction with similar spin polarization. A weak π-π interaction will block the transfer of the HIS, where the discrete molecular orbital states dominate the central molecule. However, an enhancement of the spin polarization for the molecular frontier orbital states is observed. The transport calculation shows that efficient transport of the HIS is realized in the π-stacked system, where the largest current appears at a strong π-π interaction but a significant current spin polarization appears at a weak π-π interaction. This work deepens our understanding of the role of the HIS in π-stacked organic systems.

Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells with Efficient Charge Mobility and Separation Capabilities Studied by DFT.

The properties of the active layer materials play a decisive role in determining the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs). Chlorophyll and its derivatives are abundant and environmentally friendly functional organic molecular materials. Using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT), we have calculated the absorption spectra and their excited state properties based on optimized ground state structures. It was found that bacteriochlorin exhibits superior structural properties, a smaller energy gap and hole reorganization energy, redshifted absorption spectra, and higher hole mobility compared to the donor D18. This suggests that bacteriochlorin exhibits superior donor properties. Comparative studies between o-AT-2Cl and m-AT-2Cl showed that o-AT-2Cl had superior acceptor properties, implying that differences in substitution positions can influence the physicochemical properties of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs). Subsequently, six bulk heterojunctions (BHJs) were constructed by combining three donors with nonfused ring electron acceptors, o-AT-2Cl and m-AT-2Cl. The bacteriochlorin-based BHJs performed well among them, with BChl3/o-AT-2Cl and BChl4/o-AT-2Cl having the largest interfacial charge separation rate. The results suggested that BHJs composed of bacteriochlorin and NFAs can improve OSCs' photovoltaic performance, providing a feasible scheme for designing efficient OSCs.

SYSTEMATIC AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ILLEGAL ACTS WITH AMBER

The article is devoted to the disclosure of certain systemic and legal aspects of responsibility for illegal actions with amber. Relevant judicial practice is analyzed. Proposals for improvement of Art. 240-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Illegal extraction, sale, purchase, transfer, forwarding, transportation, processing of amber”. The issue of the application of the criminal law norm of insignificance for the legal assessment of illegal amber mining and its illegal handling was considered. The existence of a conflict between the investigated criminal law ban and Art. 47 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses “Violation of the State Property Right to Subsoil”, comments are expressed regarding its (collision) overcoming in the aspects of de lege lata and de lege ferenda. It is argued that the socially dangerous consequences of illegal mineral extraction (in particular, amber) should be labeled as damages. It is shown that carried out within the limits of Art. 240-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the differentiation of responsibility related to the size of illegal actions with amber is insufficient. The relevant provisions of the project of the new Criminal Code of Ukraine were analyzed, the advantages and disadvantages of the relevant formulations were clarified. In particular, the proposal of the drafters of a potential criminal law to distinguish the grounds of criminal responsibility for the illegal acquisition of natural resources, on the one hand, and individual manifestations of involvement in the behavior of those who commit illegal extraction of natural resources from their natural environment, on the other, was supported. The issue of the appropriateness of anchoring in Part 1 of Art. 240-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine instructions on actions other than illegal amber mining.

State ownership and acquisition speed: evidence from China

ABSTRACT Speed is a key driver for the success of acquisitions. Although state ownership is widely believed to affect the management efficiency and action speed of firms, the relationship between state ownership and acquisition speed remains unknown. This paper investigates how firms’ acquisition speed varies with state ownership. Our results suggest that state ownership is associated with slower acquisition speed. Higher administrative hierarchy of the state-owned shareholder is correlation with slower acquisition speed. Reducing the shareholding ratio of state owner and hiring a younger CEO are likely to mitigate the negative correlation between state ownership and acquisition speed.