Short Term Research Articles

ANALISIS INTEGRASI PASAR KOMODITAS CABAI RAWIT DI PROVINSI GORONTALO

<em><span lang="SV">This study aims to analyze the vertical market integration of cayenne pepper in Gorontalo Province. The sampling method is based on the availability of cayenne pepper price data over a period of 4 years (2017 to 2020). The type of data source in this study is secondary data, namely data on the price of cayenne pepper at the producer, wholesaler, and consumer levels. The analytical method used in this study is quantitative. The quantitative method uses cointegration analysis and ECM (error correction model). The results show that the cayenne pepper market in Gorontalo Province has been integrated </span><span lang="EN-US">i</span><span lang="SV">both </span><span lang="EN-US">i!</span><span lang="SV">in the short and long term between farmers and marketing institutions/ wholesalers, marketing institutions/ wholesalers and consumers, and between consumers and farmers. That is, if there is a change in the price of cayenne pepper at the consumer level, it will be transmitted to the level of marketing institutions/wholesalers. And if there is a change in the price of cayenne pepper at the wholesaler level, it will be transmitted to farmers. Then the market between consumers and farmers is</span><span lang="EN-US"> integrated based on the model used.</span></em>

FPHO: Fractional Pelican Hawks optimization based container consolidation in CaaS cloud

AbstractContainers in cloud computing provide a logical packaging technique for applications to be isolated from the computing environment in which they actually execute, allowing for efficient sharing of memory, processor, storage, and network resources at the Operating System (OS) level. Since they are so compact, container‐based clouds have recently gained significant popularity. In order to maximize resource usage and minimize energy consumption, the container consolidation technique is widely employed in the cloud environment. This work introduces container consolidation in cloud computing that exploits Fractional Pelican Hawks Optimization (FPHO). In Container as a Service (CaaS) model, containers are placed in the Virtual Machines (VMs), and virtual machines are hosted in Physical Machines (PMs) or servers. The proposed method for container consolidation consists of two modules, namely, the host status module and the consolidation module. In the host status module, the PM's load is predicted using Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) and checked whether the PM is overloaded or underloaded using a threshold. If it is overloaded, the container selection algorithm is performed, and the migration list is also generated. In the consolidation module, the created migration list which is employed for the destination list to be created by an overloaded destination selector. In the same way, the underloaded list is also generated by the underloaded destination selector. Finally, the container and VM migration is carried out by considering the multi‐objectives such as predicted load, migration cost, resource utilization, energy consumption, network, and bandwidth which are optimally selected by the proposed FHPO. Here, FHPO is the combination of Fractional Pelican Optimization (FPO) and Fire Hawk Optimizer (FHO). The designed model achieved the measures with minimum energy consumption, resource utilization, Service Level Agreement (SLA), and Makespan as 0.066, 0.019, 0.054, and 0.066, respectively for setup one.

Emergency sign language recognition from variant of convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short term memory (LSTM) models

Sign language is the primary communication tool used by the deaf community and people with speaking difficulties, especially during emergencies. Numerous deep learning models have been proposed to solve the sign language recognition problem. Recently. Bidirectional LSTM (BLSTM) has been proposed and used in replacement of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) as it may improve learning long-team dependencies as well as increase the accuracy of the model. However, there needs to be more comparison for the performance of LSTM and BLSTM in LRCN model architecture in sign language interpretation applications. Therefore, this study focused on the dense analysis of the LRCN model, including 1) training the CNN from scratch and 2) modeling with pre-trained CNN, VGG-19, and ResNet50. Other than that, the ConvLSTM model, a special variant of LSTM designed for video input, has also been modeled and compared with the LRCN in representing emergency sign language recognition. Within LRCN variants, the performance of a small CNN network was compared with pre-trained VGG-19 and ResNet50V2. A dataset of emergency Indian Sign Language with eight classes is used to train the models. The model with the best performance is the VGG-19 + LSTM model, with a testing accuracy of 96.39%. Small LRCN networks, which are 5 CNN subunits + LSTM and 4 CNN subunits + BLSTM, have 95.18% testing accuracy. This performance is on par with our best-proposed model, VGG + LSTM. By incorporating bidirectional LSTM (BLSTM) into deep learning models, the ability to understand long-term dependencies can be improved. This can enhance accuracy in reading sign language, leading to more effective communication during emergencies.

ESTIMATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH - EVIDENCE FROM SIERRA LEONE EXPERIENCE

<p>The study analyzes the relationship between technology and economic growth in Sierra Leone from 2011 to 2022 and the data are treated via the E-Views program. ARDL methodology was used. The results showed a co-integration relationship between the study variables (computer use in general; computer use at work; and computer use in education, training, and economic growth) and the results presented that the deviation from long-term equilibrium is corrected using an error correction model which long term corrected as a percentage correction (−0.06) each year from the short term to the long term and showed the results of the structural stability test of the (ARDL) model. It is a structural stability test for long and short-term coefficients, which showed that the data used in this study are free from any structural changes but has stable parameters over time. The study also used CUSUM's Squares test, where the test results showed that the study model used is economically good and can be relied upon to anticipate economic solutions in Sierra Leone according to the situation in the coming years, and among the most important recommendations of the study are the following: the need to encourage the use of technology in work, education, and training, and the need for expansion in using these technological means as a gateway to the digital economy and the digital state.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>JEL</strong>: O33, O47, C51, C22, O14, O55</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0708/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Arthroscopic distal clavicle resection versus conservation in patients with combined rotator cuff tears and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis.

The most common cause of shoulder pain originating from the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is osteoarthritis, causing pain and disability. Operative Management of AC arthritis includes arthroscopic distal clavicle resection (DCR) and open clavicle resection. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of isolated rotator cuff repair with conservative treatment of ACJ arthritis versus the combined resection of the distal clavicle with the repair of a rotator cuff tear, in cases with acromioclavicular arthritis. A total of 46 patients with unilateral or bilateral combined rotator cuff tear and acromioclavicular arthritis were included, they were classified into 2 independent groups: Conservative group (23 patients), and DCR group (23 patients). All patients were subjected to full history taking, examination, pre and post-operative University of California at Los Angeles shoulder scoring scale (UCLA), Antero-Posterior and Zanca X-rays views, early and late complications. Mean age was (51 ± 9) years, males were predominant (56.5%). The average post-operative UCLA score was (31.1 ± 4.9), and the average time to return to work was (214 ± 22). (2.2%) of patients had early complications, (19.6%) had late complications, (32.6%) had > 24h till 1st post-operative analgesia, and (87%) needed MgSO4 Injection. We found a highly significant increase in UCLA score measurements in the Conservative group, and a highly significant increase in UCLA score measurements in the DCR group (p < 0.01). But there was no difference between the 2 groups. Conventional conservative approach with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression has proven to be as effective as arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression with DCR, in terms of efficacy and safety profiles in short term, but with more risks of potential hazards and cost with the DCR.

Monitoring of aviation personnel potential according to the competence approach

The object of the study is the personnel potential of aviation. The paper considers the problem of the effectiveness of monitoring the quality of airline personnel. According to the results of the study, it was stated that the stable growth in the volume of international cargo and passenger air transportation requires full-fledged provision of aviation with highly qualified specialists, a shortage of which has been observed in airlines in most countries of the world for several years. It is emphasized that a shortage of highly qualified specialists can be avoided only with the introduction of monitoring of the qualitative composition of the aviation personnel potential according to the competence approach. An algorithm has been developed for monitoring the qualitative composition of human resources based on the audit of compliance of professional competencies of civil aviation personnel with international standards of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), IATA (International Air Transport Association) using triangulation of mixed methods. The expediency of using the monitoring results as a fundamental basis for building a centralized information platform with open access to information resources on the qualitative composition of the personnel potential of airlines and the industry is justified. It is reasonable that the implementation in practice of the algorithm for monitoring human resources according to the competence approach will allow stakeholders to have a clear understanding of the level of professional competence of personnel and the need to improve it in the short term, which will accelerate the elimination of the existing shortage of highly qualified specialists by timely taking measures to amend state programs for training civil aviation specialists, improving their qualifications and certification. It is emphasized that the application of this algorithm is possible in the presence of a sectoral qualifications framework

Renal function and lipid metabolism in Japanese HIV-1-positive individuals 288 weeks after switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to tenofovir alafenamide fumarate: a single-center, retrospective cohort study

BackgroundContinued use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), an antiretroviral drug, causes renal function decline and tubular damage in individuals with HIV. While tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) may have less damaging effects, it causes weight gain and abnormal lipid metabolism.MethodsThis single-center, retrospective cohort study used medical records from the National Hospital Organization Sendai Medical Center to investigate renal function of Japanese HIV-1-positive individuals who switched from TDF to antiretroviral therapy including TAF by 2017. The endpoints were: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary β2 microglobulin (Uβ2MG), weight, and lipid metabolism parameters at 288 weeks after switching. Possible correlation between eGFR and Uβ2MG and factors affecting eGFR decline were examined.ResultsSixty patients switched from TDF to TAF and continued therapy for 288 weeks. eGFR showed a significant decline after 144 weeks, although it was controlled from the time of change until 96 weeks. In the renal impairment group, the decline was suppressed until week 288. Uβ2MG continued to decrease significantly after 48 weeks. However, the suggested correlation between eGFR and Uβ2MG disappeared when patients switched from TDF to TAF. Weight and lipid metabolic parameters increased significantly at 48 weeks and were maintained. Factors associated with decreased eGFR were: history of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Uβ2MG. However, considering the odds ratio, the switch from TDF to TAF suppressed the eGFR decline in the group with a history of AIDS, and Uβ2MG had no effect on the eGFR decline.ConclusionsSwitching from TDF to TAF for the long term slows eGFR decline, decreases Uβ2MG levels, and reduces worsening of renal function. Weight gain and abnormal lipid metabolism may occur in the short term but are controllable.

What Is the Role of Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery in Treating Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Cirrhosis?

Minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS) has been slowly introduced in the past two decades and today represents a major weapon in the fight against HCC, for several reasons. This narrative review conveys the major emerging concepts in the field. The rise in metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)-related HCC means that patients with significant cardiovascular risk will benefit more profoundly from MILS. The advent of efficacious therapy is leading to conversion from non-resectable to resectable cases, and therefore more patients will be able to undergo MILS. In fact, resection outcomes with MILS are superior compared to open surgery both in the short and long term. Furthermore, indications to surgery may be further expanded by its use in Child B7 patients and by the use of laparoscopic ablation, a curative technique, instead of trans-arterial approaches in cases not amenable to radiofrequency. Therefore, in a promising new approach, multi-parametric treatment hierarchy, MILS is hierarchically superior to open surgery and comes second only to liver transplantation.

Long-term beneficial effect of faecal microbiota transplantation on colonisation of multidrug-resistant bacteria and resistome abundance in patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection

BackgroundMultidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are a growing global threat, especially in healthcare facilities. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective prevention strategy for recurrences of Clostridioides difficile infections and can also be useful for other microbiota-related diseases.MethodsWe study the effect of FMT in patients with multiple recurrent C. difficile infections on colonisation with MDR bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) on the short (3 weeks) and long term (1–3 years), combining culture methods and faecal metagenomics.ResultsBased on MDR culture (n = 87 patients), we notice a decrease of 11.5% in the colonisation rate of MDR bacteria after FMT (20/87 before FMT = 23%, 10/87 3 weeks after FMT). Metagenomic sequencing of patient stool samples (n = 63) shows a reduction in relative abundances of ARGs in faeces, while the number of different resistance genes in patients remained higher compared to stools of their corresponding healthy donors (n = 11). Furthermore, plasmid predictions in metagenomic data indicate that patients harboured increased levels of resistance plasmids, which appear unaffected by FMT. In the long term (n = 22 patients), the recipients’ resistomes are still donor-like, suggesting the effect of FMT may last for years.ConclusionsTaken together, we hypothesise that FMT restores the gut microbiota to a composition that is closer to the composition of healthy donors, and potential pathogens are either lost or decreased to very low abundances. This process, however, does not end in the days following FMT. It may take months for the gut microbiome to re-establish a balanced state. Even though a reservoir of resistance genes remains, a notable part of which on plasmids, FMT decreases the total load of resistance genes.

Morphological and Quantitative Parametric MRI Follow-up of Cartilage Changes Before and After Intra-articular Injection Therapy in Patients With Mild to Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Intra-articular injections are routinely used for conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). The detailed comparative therapeutic effects of these injections on cartilage tissue are still unclear. The aim of this study was to detect and compare knee cartilage changes after intra-articular injection of glucocorticoid, hyaluronic acid, or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to placebo using quantitative (T2 and T2* mapping) and morphological magnetic resonance imaging parameters in patients with mild or moderate osteoarthritis. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single-center trial, knees with mild or moderate osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-3) were randomly assigned to an intra-articular injection with 1 of these substances: glucocorticoid, hyaluronic acid, PRP, or placebo. Cartilage degeneration on baseline and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scans (after 3 and 12 months) was assessed by 2 readers using quantitative T2 and T2* times (milliseconds) and morphological parameters (modified Outerbridge grading, subchondral bone marrow edema, subchondral cysts, osteophytes). One hundred twenty knees (30 knees per treatment group) were analyzed with a median patient age of 60 years (interquartile range, 54.0-68.0 years). Interreader reliability was good for T2 (ICC, 0.76; IQR, 0.68-0.83) and T2* (ICC, 0.83; IQR, 0.76-0.88) measurements. Morphological parameters showed no significant changes between all groups after 3 and 12 months. T2 mapping after 12 months showed the following significant ( P = 0.001-0.03) changes between groups in 6 of 14 compartments: values after PRP injection decreased compared with glucocorticoid in 4 compartments (complete medial femoral condyle and central part of lateral condyle) and compared with placebo in 2 compartments (anterior and central part of medial tibial plateau); values after glucocorticoid injection decreased compared with placebo in 1 compartment (central part of medial tibial plateau). No significant changes were seen for T2 and T2* times after 3 months and T2* times after 12 months. No correlation was found between T2/T2* times and Kellgren-Lawrence grade, age, body mass index, or pain (Spearman ρ, -0.23 to 0.18). Platelet-rich plasma injection has a positive long-term effect on cartilage quality in the medial femoral compartment compared to glucocorticoid, resulting in significantly improved T2 values after 12 months. For morphological cartilage parameters, injections with glucocorticoid, PRP, or hyaluronic acid showed no better effect in the short or long term compared with placebo.

Asymmetric role of green energy, innovation, and technology in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions: evidence from India.

The primary cause of environmental degradation, which poses a danger to the long-term viability of the ecosystem, is the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). For this reason, the Glasgow Climate Pact (COP26) established a decarbonization goal in response to this ecological concern, for which all economic players have a responsibility. India is among the participants who have a target set for them to decarbonize their economies by the year 2060 via the use of green energy and the advancement of science and innovation. Nevertheless, the asymmetrical effect of green energy, technology, and innovation on India's decarbonization program was not sufficiently explored in the prior study; hence, this research aims to fill this literature vacuum by considering India's GHG emissions from 1990 to 2020 by leveraging the non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model. The findings reveal the asymmetric influences of variables of interest on GHG emissions during the short and long term and under positive and negative shocks. Regarding the positive shock, long-term findings demonstrate that innovation and technical know-how grow GHG emissions and accelerate environmental degradation. However, a negative shock in innovations and technological know-how is opposed to a positive shock and improving environmental conditions. Further, positive shocks in green energy boost environmental effectiveness by reducing GHG secretions in India. In contrast, the negative shock in green energy deteriorates the environment by triggering GHG releases. These factual findings compel the Indian government to prioritize green technologies in addition to green energy generation to decouple economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions and meet rising energy demands.

Examining the Prevalence of Long-Covid Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: It’s increasingly recognized that SARS-CoV-2 can produce long-term chronic complications after recovering from the acute effects of the infection. But little is known about the prevalence, risks, or whether it’s possible to predict a long-term course of the disease in the early stages, the resulting quality of life disorder. In this study, the effects of chronic Covid-19 syndromes (CCS) on type, prevalence, quality of life after recovery in Covid-19 patients were investigated. Methods: Four weeks after the quarantine period of the patients was completed, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a questionnaire on people reached via Google forms to determine the symptoms of long-Covid. Results: 1044 people over the age of 18, who aren’t pregnant, and who have had Covid-19 were included in the analysis. It was determined that 65.6% (n=685) of the participants continued to have symptoms after the PCR test was negative/after they recovered. It was concluded that myalgia, fatigue, joint pain, anosmia was observed in 76.4% (n=797) of the individuals participating in our study. Conclusion: It has been observed that people who have had Covid-19 commonly show additional or ongoing symptoms and associated impairment of quality of life in the short term. It was determined that individuals who initially had a symptom of shortness of breath or lung involvement were more likely to develop long-term symptoms. More importantly, our study revealed that the overall disease level is an important variable that should be considered when assessing the statistical significance of symptoms associated with Covid-19.

New approach to soil fertility management: Biogeosystem Technique methodology (critical review)

AbstractA standard management soil priming effect is short term. A current soil plowing, irrigation and waste utilization soil priming action shortcomings elimination is needed. The Biogeosystem Technique (BGT*) priming action system was developed for soil management to provide a higher‐level priming effect. The BGT* is focused on a soil biogeochemical cycle activation similar to the biodegradation in a colon of a live organism as an efficient benchmark bioreactor. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed a cooperation of bacteria within polymicrobial biofilms and a probability of the polymicrobial biofilms biodegradation process acceleration and soil organic matter (SOM) regime improvement. The soil priming actions the BGT* technological management is capable of providing are based on the BGT* constituents, whose essence, applications and corresponding detailed data are presented in available studies. The main BGT* components are as follows. The illuvial horizon intra‐soil milling artificial soil aggregation (a form of crumbling and mixing) priming action provides the soil structuring, a SOM content increase and an annual yield increment direct priming effects. A long‐term secondary priming effect is a technology life cycle with higher profitability compared to the standard moldboard, chiseling and three‐tier plowing. The intra‐soil pulse sequential‐discrete watering priming action is performed through water injection into the soil in sequence. A next water spreading provides the soil aggregate stability, the seedling length and weight increment direct priming effect and a water‐saving secondary priming effect. The intra‐soil dispersed liquid, paste‐like and loose granular nutrition and structuring matter intra‐soil milling application priming action ensures soil structuring direct priming effects, heavy metals passivation and long‐term yield increment secondary priming effects. The BGT* methodology could be useful for soil management improvement.

The Economic Model of the Fixed Exchange Rate in Bolivia: Towards Price Stability and Economic Instability

The objective of this article is to demonstrate and analyze whether the fixed exchange rate is a variable that benefits or harms the Bolivian economy in the short term, medium term and long term. Because it is a fundamental economic variable, mainly to keep prices stable, that is, low and controlled inflation in national prices, this fixed exchange rate has been frozen since 2011. In addition, it regulates or affects foreign trade, i.e., imports and exports, which have been dragging a deficit in the trade balance, which favors imports and smuggling to the detriment of national production and a growing informal labor market. The Bolivian economy is especially dependent on exports without specialization and added value, such as natural gas, minerals, mainly gold, legally and illegally, among others. In addition, the significant deterioration of macroeconomic variables, as reflected in historical data, such as the collapse of savings due to the gradual fall in net international reserves since 2014, leaving the vaults of the Central Bank of Bolivia with scarce reserves in gold and foreign currency, as well as the significant increase in internal and external public debt, Both of them have reached the Gross Domestic Product, at the same time, the increase in public spending in the public sector and public administration in general and the addition of public strategic companies, the latter seeking to replace imports of the productive apparatus, generating a more robust state apparatus and with levels of fiscal deficit recorded in the last ten years and taking into account the progressive subsidies for imports of fuels such as gasoline and diesel in the face of the growing demand for these fuels legally due to the growing vehicle fleet and illegally due to drug trafficking, generating a deficit in the balance of trade. Finally, the levels of corruption and country risk reflected in recent months by specialized institutions in 2023 show a deterioration of the Bolivian economy. Thus, this research will demonstrate the effects of the economic, social, community and productive model with a fixed exchange rate on the Bolivian economy and the effects on macroeconomic variables.

The short and long-term effects of cross-border M&A network on Chinese enterprises’ green innovation

How does cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) network affect green innovation? To achieve pollution management and circular economy development, green innovation is the key path. However, little literature investigated the influence of cross-border M&A on green innovation from a network perspective. Using Chinese listed companies and an original database sourced from Zephyr of cross-border M&A deals from 2009 to 2019, this paper examines the short and long-term impact of the network on green innovation of Chinese corporations. It is suggested that the network plays a positive role in green innovation, which is not pronounced in the short term, but obvious in the long run. We further demonstrate that the long-term facilitating role is more evident for large enterprises, heavily polluting enterprises, non-high-tech enterprises, enterprises with deep knowledge base, and enterprises without myopic managers. Moreover, the long-term positive impact of cross-border M&A network on green innovation is augmented by corporate environmental responsibility and mitigated by government environmental protection subsidies.

Financial Risks of Business Management of Cryptocurrency Operations

Bitcoin is an asset with high risks, and a significant part of its volatility can be explained by the speculative component. Parametric variance-covariance (VaR) methods are not applicable for assessing the risks of bitcoin investment, since log returns are not distributed according to the normal law. Autoregressive risk assessment models (such as ARIMA-GARCH) for bitcoin volatility overestimate risks at times of sharp exchange rate changes and they underestimate them at times of less significant rate changes compared to historical volatility. The grid search for the smoothing parameter in the exponentially weighted moving average method is potentially interesting for modeling the risks of bitcoin investment. This makes it possible to fully take into account the autocorrelation of the bitcoin rate to the levels of previous periods and the volatility of the asset. As a conclusion, there are currently no econometric models that can explain and forecast the volatility of bitcoin in the medium and short term, considering the available factors in the market.

Impact of health expenditure on poverty in low- and middle-income countries: An autoregressive distributed lag bounds approach

The high costs of complex and numerous medical services, coupled with various diseases and epidemics, result in a substantial financial burden for individuals. The previous studies have focused on extending health financing and access to health services. However, it is crucial to use resources effectively to avoid impoverishment. This study investigates the relationship between poverty rates and health-care expenditure in low- and middle-income countries from 2000 to 2018 by employing the error correction model and autoregressive distributed lag models to identify the long- and short-run relationships and adjustment speed toward equilibrium. The results demonstrate a significant positive relationship between poverty and healthcare expenditure in both the long and short terms. The significant ECT result implies a relatively slow adjustment speed toward equilibrium, indicating that deviations from the equilibrium level take almost 5 years to rectify. These results emphasize the importance of policymakers judiciously weighing the opportunity costs associated with health-care management goals. While extending health financing and promoting access are crucial objectives, the findings of this study emphasize the need to align these efforts with efficient resource utilization to prevent the inadvertent exacerbation of poverty. In conclusion, this study contributes valuable insights to the discourse on health economics, advocating for a balanced and holistic approach to health-care policy formulation and implementation.

Double Asymmetric Impacts, Dynamic Correlations, and Risk Management Amidst Market Risks: A Comparative Study between the US and China

Extreme shocks, including climate change, economic sanctions, geopolitical conflicts, etc., are significant and complex issues currently confronting the global world. From the US–China perspective, this paper employs the DCC-DAGM model to investigate how diverse market risks asymmetrically affect return volatility, and extract correlations between stock indices and hedging assets. Then, diversified and hedging portfolios, constructed by optimal weight and hedge ratio, are investigated using multiple risk reduction measures. The empirical results highlight that, first, diverse risks exhibit an asymmetric effect on the return volatility in the long term, while in the short term, the US stock market is more sensitive to negative return shocks than the Chinese market. Second, risks impact correlations differently across time horizons and countries. Short-term correlations are stronger than long-term ones for the US market, with the Chinese stock market displaying more stable correlations. Third, the hedging strategy is more effective in reducing volatility and risk for US stocks, while the diversification strategy proves more effective for Chinese stocks. These findings have implications for market participants striving to make their portfolios robust during turbulent times.

Assessing the Effectiveness and Security Implications of AI Code Generators

Students, especially those outside the field of cybersecurity, are increasingly turning to Large Language Model (LLM)-based generative AI tools for coding assistance. These AI code generators provide valuable support to developers by generating code based on provided input and instructions. However, the quality and accuracy of the generated code can vary, depending on factors such as task complexity, the clarity of instructions, and the model’s familiarity with the programming language. Additionally, these generated codes may inadvertently utilize vulnerable built-in functions, potentially leading to source code vulnerabilities and exploits. This research undertakes an in-depth analysis and comparison of code generation, code completion, and security suggestions offered by prominent AI models, including OpenAI CodeX, CodeBert, and ChatGPT. The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness and security aspects of these tools in terms of their code generation, code completion capabilities, and their ability to enhance security. This analysis serves as a valuable resource for developers, enabling them to proactively avoid introducing security vulnerabilities in their projects. By doing so, developers can significantly reduce the need for extensive revisions and resource allocation, whether in the short or long term.

Methodological aspects of investment and construction projects management based on IPD, BIM, LEAN. Foreign experience

Overexpenditure of cost and time resources is one of the most significant problems, and cost certainty is one of the key goals of the construction industry in Russia. Using the method of an analytical review of documents, the main problems of the European construction sector that exist in the process of its digital transformation were identified and characterized. Research has shown that the interdisciplinary synergy of BIM (Building Information Model, digital information model), Lean (lean manufacturing) and IPD (Integrated Project Delivery, integrated project execution) can benefit an investment and construction project (ICP) throughout its entire life cycle . However, such a synergetic approach is not currently applied in Russian projects. The article examines the impact of innovative international strategies for implementing COI and examines the obstacles to the implementation of these strategies in Russia.3 key takeaways:1) review of COI contracts to achieve the greatest synergy and increase trust between stakeholders;2) the BIM mandate is important to encourage the use of modern construction methodology in all ISPs in Russia;3) search for innovative methods of changing traditional thinking about construction.Consideration of three main ideas will accelerate the implementation of COI in Russia, leading to better results in the short, medium and long term for all stakeholders.