Significant Bodies Research Articles

‘Taking the router shopping’: How low-income families experience, negotiate, and enact digital dis/connections

Within digital media scholarship, there are significant bodies of literature investigating forced disconnection (‘digital exclusion’) and voluntary disconnection (‘digital disconnection’) but there is little research addressing entanglements between them. This article explores how bringing together these bodies of literature through an empirical study offers new pathways and considerations for both areas. In doing so, we draw on qualitative data about the forms of disconnection experienced, negotiated, and enacted by low-income families in regional Australia before and during their participation in a digital inclusion initiative that provided them with Internet connections and laptops. We argue that their experiences illustrate the complex interplay of voluntary and involuntary factors that shape socially situated practices of disconnection. We also identify further implications for inclusion and disconnection research, including the need to recognise that within digital inclusion initiatives, participants’ non-use of provided technologies does not necessarily indicate failure but may instead be a positive outcome.

Integrated seismic inversion for clastic reservoir characterization: Case of the upper Silurian reservoir, Tunisian Ghadames Basin

Deltaic petroleum systems are often complex and heterogeneous. Delineation of sandstone bodies in such complex depositional settings constitutes a crucial challenge in reservoir exploration. However, reservoir characterization based on conventional well-logs and stratigraphic interpretation in complex settings often leads to uncertainties. In this work, we present an integrated quantitative interpretation to reveal heterogeneity and the reservoir properties in a complex deltaic environment. The study benefits from integrating borehole lithology logs, electrical well logging, and a 3D post-stack seismic cube. To demonstrate the practical application and effectiveness of our proposed approach, seismic inversion has been applied to the Acacus Formation in the Ghadames Basin of southern Tunisia. We estimate the acoustic impedance volume from 3D seismic data using a stochastic inversion algorithm. This algorithm enables the generation of multiple realizations, accounting for uncertainties and providing a more comprehensive understanding of subsurface impedance. Then, the porosity model is computed by establishing a functional relationship between acoustic impedance and porosity. The analysis of the relationship between acoustic impedance and different rock properties helped to differentiate lithological units of sandstone and claystone. This lithology classification is used to estimate the lithofacies model. Finally, the obtained porosity and lithofacies models are validated with well data. The crucial correlation between facies distribution and porosity allows for accurate mapping of individual thin sandstone bodies and their property distribution beyond well control. The lithofacies model shows significant sandstone bodies in the Acacus A and C units that constitute good reservoirs. The porosity model confirms this, as these sandstone facies exhibit high porosity (20%). The proposed approach has proven to be powerful in reservoir delineation, characterization, and exploration, and can be applied in similar geological setting basins, and frameworks.

Sensitivity of the global agricultural sector to changes in climate policy - EU countries compared to the rest of the world

Abstract There has been a decline in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per capita in all world regions since the 1990s. In developing countries, this decline has been attributed to population growth and an increase in absolute emissions, while in developed countries, the trend is mainly due to a decrease in absolute emissions combined with minor population changes. This paper aims to delve into the intricacies of global GHG emissions, with a spotlight on the agricultural sector. This paper assesses the patterns and reasons behind the decline in GHG emissions per capita since the 1990s across different regions. In particular, it addresses the concept of the “sustainable intensification of agriculture” and the debate between intensive vs. less-intensive production in the context of GHG emissions. Despite having high emissions per hectare, we argue that European countries show lower emissions in relation to production value, highlighting the region’s production intensity and efficiency. Compelling visual data representations and references from significant international bodies, such as the IPCC and EEA, bolster the paper’s findings and conclusions.

The Policy of Forming the Nomenclature in Soviet Armenia (in the 1920s)

Key words: Bolshevik power, the Central Committee of C(B)PA, presidium, secretariat, nomenclature, norms’ and laws’ field, political monopoly After conquering the power in Russia (November 1917), the Bolshevik Party began to strengthen its leading role in all aspects of Soviet life: socio-political, socio-economical, judicio-legal etc. Any of the constitutions approved during the Soviet era did not formulate the concept that the Communist Party must govern all aspects of Soviet life. However, implementing the principle of autocratic governance, the Bolshevik Party became the real highest body leading and governing the Soviet country. The Communist (Bolshevik) Party of Armenia was a regional faction of the Communist (Bolshevik) Party of Russia. So, it was natural that the above-mentioned Bolshevik principle began to be implemented in Soviet Armenia also. The decisions of the Presidency of the Central Committee of C(b)PA were not only related to the cadre policy of central government bodies of the Armenian SSR, but also their financial issues, activities of local government bodies etc. Organizing and leading the process of establishment of the Soviet power, the Central Committee of the Armenian Communist Party created significant bodies of power in the provinces formed after the establishment of the Soviet regime. The purpose of the latter was to establish the Soviet power in the places.

Connecting Planetary Gods (9 Grahas) with Fetal Development (9 Months) to Gods of Management (9 Ms)

Purpose: The primary goal of carrying out this research is to trace and discover Planetary Gods (9 Grahas) with Fetal Development (9 Months) to Gods of Management (9 Ms), characteristics, and relationships with Hindu Mythologies and to make novices in management education. Objective: The primary objective is to analyze the degree of relationship of Planetary Gods (9 Grahas) with Fetal Development (9 Months) to Gods of Management (9 Ms). Design/Methodology/Approach: The study is based on both secondary and primary evidence. The hypothesis is stated for the variables selected and thus analyzed to prove or disprove the same without any errors. Findings/Results: The researchers identify Planetary Gods (9 Grahas), Fetal Development (9 Months) & Gods of Management (9 Ms.) playsimilar relations by: • Venus (Shukra) = 1st Month: Fertilization = Money (Non Monetary) • Mars (Kuja) = 2nd Month: Flesh & Brain Formation = Machine • Jupiter (Guru) = 3rd Month: Legs, Hands & Energy = Money (Monetary) • Sun (Ravi) = 4th Month: Stomach & Backbone = Man • Moon (Chandra) = 5th Month: Skin= Methods • Saturn (Shani) = 6th Month: Hair, Nails, Blood Vessels & Openings = Motivation • Mercury (Budha) = 7th Month: Eyes, Ears, Nose & Sense Organs = Management • Neptune (Rahu) = 8th Month: Hunger, Thirst, Re-Incarnation Memories & Circulation = Market • Moon (Chandra) = 9th Month: Birth = Methods Note** • Pluto (Ketu) & Earth (Bhoomi) are not considered in the fetal development. Research Limitations/Implications: In the present research an attempt is made by the researchers to understand the research gap in the area, to advance significance to discover the degree of relationship of nine significant heavenly bodies or Planetary Gods (9 Grahas) with Fetal Development (9 Months) to Gods of Management (9 Ms). Originality/New Knowledge/Interpretation/Value: Thus, it can be said if we apply the best practices of Hindu Mythologies to the best practices of Management, we will have fresh associates and can function better in the coming years and make an organization look and function better in the years to come. Paper Type: The present study made an effort to find the degree of relationship of nine influential heavenly bodies or Planetary Gods (9 Grahas) with Fetal Development (9 Months) to Gods of Management (9 Ms). The study is based on both secondary and primary evidence.

ENHANCING WHITE OYSTER MUSHROOM CULTIVATION THROUGH LIGHT STIMULATION USING WHITE LED

This study aims to investigate the impact of different illumination durations on the yield of white oyster mushrooms cultivated in a controlled environment mushroom chamber, with a focus on the advantages of LED lighting over conventional lighting methods. The experiment considered various time exposures: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 24 hours per day, while fluorescent light exposure for 12 hours per day served as the control group. Parameters such as mushroom weight, pileus diameter, stipe diameter, and stipe length were measured. Results indicated that the most significant fruiting bodies in terms of pileus diameter (105.76 mm) and stipe diameter (15.26 mm) were observed with a 15-hour illumination exposure. Conversely, the 12-hour exposure using fluorescent lamps resulted in the smallest pileus diameter, averaging 79.70 mm. Notably, a 3-hour exposure demonstrated the most substantial impact on yield, resulting in 182.4 g over two harvest cycles. In conclusion, treating white oyster mushrooms with white LED lighting can enhance productivity. This is primarily due to the excessive heat and higher light intensity generated by fluorescent lights, which can inhibit growth during the fruiting development stage. Therefore, adopting white LED lighting systems offers greater control over the ideal light intensity required for optimal mushroom growth.

Effect of LED light on the production of fruiting bodies and nucleoside compounds of Cordyceps militaris at different growth stages of solid-state fermentation

BackgroundTimely harvesting of Cordyceps militaris fruiting bodies and their bioactive compounds can reduce production costs. This study examined the effects of LED treatments on the production of fruiting bodies and nucleoside compounds in C. militaris at different growth stages of solid-state fermentation. MethodsC. militaris was grown on oats under different LED light treatments. Harvested samples were divided into fruiting bodies and fermented oats to dry, grind, extract, and determine the contents of adenosine, cordycepin, and pentostatin during cultivation by high-performance liquid chromatography. Significant FindingsThe highest fruiting bodies yield (6.20 g dw/bottle), biological efficiency (92.75 %), adenosine (2.22 mg/g dw), and cordycepin (2.57 mg/g dw) content in fruiting bodies were achieved on the 56th day under T5 white, LED blue light, LED blue light, and LED red light, respectively. LED white (1.31 mg/g dw), LED blue (1.23 mg/g dw), and LED red (1.25 mg/g dw) lights during days 35 to 42 resulted in the highest pentostatin content in fruiting bodies. Optimal yields of C. militaris fruiting bodies and their nucleoside compounds can be achieved through appropriate LED lighting and timely harvesting.

High-resolution scan of the Pyrenean crustal structure combining magnetotelluric and gravity data

The Pyrenees have undergone complex geodynamic evolution starting with experiencing significant tectonic events during the Variscan Orogeny, followed by the intrusion of large granitic complexes during the late Variscan stage, then the collision between the Iberian and European plates during the Alpine Orogeny, and finally, Mesozoic extension. Despite extensive studies and the application of various geophysical methods (two-dimensional seismic reflection data, gravity, and long period magnetotellurics) to investigate the Pyrenean structure, there are still fundamental questions regarding its basement and cover architecture. Specifically, the geometry at depth of significant bodies such as the Late Variscan intrusive granites and Triassic evaporitic accumulations, remains unclear. To better understand these issues, we have conducted joint magnetotelluric and gravity surveys along a 60-km-long transect, spanning the boundary between the Axial and South Pyrenean Zones. Our final geological interpretation shows that the La Maladeta batholith consists of two distinct granitic bodies related to different intrusive pulses. In addition, we identify important Triassic evaporitic accumulations at depth. This work shows the high potential of integrating two geophysical models for understanding the geological evolution of structurally complex areas. The magnetotelluric and gravity data are complementary, with each dataset providing a different resolution for investigating the basement and cover architecture of the Pyrenees. These resolutions depend on the varied petrophysical properties of the rocks involved, including water content and deformation grade.

'Jumping through hoops': A metaphor for early career nurse researchers' experiences and resilience building as international collaborators.

To present and discuss our experiences of learning how to establish and maintain an international collaboration as early career nurse researchers residing in the United States and Australia. International research collaborations require additional startup time given the complexities of navigating cultural differences, obtaining ethics committee approvals in different countries and collecting human subject data. International collaborations may be daunting for early career researchers given their inexperience and pragmatic focus on research projects that lead to outputs achievable on short timelines for career advancement. Discussion paper. Evidence from international literature about global collaborations across numerous disciplines, including potential factors that could facilitate or constrain early career researcher efforts to engage in international collaborations, were combined with authors' lived experiences as early career researchers. Our collaboration began in July 2022 through a professional introduction spurred by a call for applications to fund global nursing education collaborations. Interpersonal, logistical and organizational factors played a role in our lived experiences of beginning an international collaboration. Our experiences are consistent with published literature about the time and complexity involved in conducting international research. Investing time building interpersonal relationships strengthens international research and supports collaborative learning and intercultural understanding. These professional relationships can be built over time to develop significant bodies of research with international impact. Early career researchers need to be resilient, persistent and tenacious as they 'jump through hoops' to establish international research collaborations. Building relationships during international research collaborations supports collaborative learning for intercultural understanding and strengthens research to address emerging global problems. International nursing research collaborations could encourage greater curiosity, innovative ideas and solutions to international problems that could not be achieved in isolation. There was no patient or public involvement in the design and development of this paper.

The Indo-Pacific Rivalry

The geopolitical reality of the twenty-first century acknowledges that geo-economic links and strategic competition have shifted towards a region that unites two of the most significant bodies of water bodies in an interconnected world. The Indo-Pacific is a concept and a melting pot of several countries’ interests, with many of the stakeholders being from outside the area, which complicates both internal and external dynamics. According to some well-known geopolitical analysts, the Indo-Pacific is largely a code for geopolitical schemata—America’s pivot to Asia and countering of China, India’s play for magnanimity, Japan’s desire to regain its former influence, Indonesia’s search for clout, Australia’s alliance-building, and so forth—and other states must safeguard their strategic interests through partnerships while acknowledging multipolarity as the hallmark of the new regional order. The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the historical background of the term “Indo-Pacific” and its significance in twenty-first-century geopolitics, the stakeholders and their strategic interests driving up the complexity of the region’s geopolitical environment, and the potential for cooperation and moving forward.

Antibacterial Properties of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles-An Overview

Nanotechnology has made a tremendous impact over a period of three decades in various facets of industrial and medical sectors and still find recent interests to exploit their characteristics for commercial applications. Nanobiotechnology is a field of using nanomaterials for biological applications. The preparation of nanomaterials from biological sources has been known as 'green' technology. Nanoparticles measure in the size range of 1-100 nm and possess unique characteristics than their bulk materials with potential applications in various biological, medical, industrial, agricultural and ecological fields. Using nanoparticles in antimicrobial applications has been explored since the early years of Nanotechnology development. However, few reports exist on the mechanisms of antimicrobial actions mediated by nanoparticles and their effects on environment and ecosystems. Several factors affect the antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles, which are quite important to understand the roles of their antimicrobial action. This review is aimed to discuss the antibacterial properties, the mechanisms and antimicrobial applications of Nanoparticles in medicine and allied areas. We have suggested that despite the several applications of nanomaterials, their production by biological methods and suitable applications also need to focus on the toxicity implications. Nanomaterial toxicity in the ecological niche is of significant concern and regulatory bodies should be organized to evaluate the successful use of nanomaterials for a wide variety of applications. The review significantly summarizes hot topics of interest in antibacterial activities, mode of action, biomedical applications of nanoparticles, their metabolic fate in vivo and toxicity effects in humans for further consideration of researches in Microbial Nanotechnology.

Toponyms: a neglected asset within the water framework and flood directives implementation process; the case study of Greece

Proxy data and qualitative information are important assets in water resources and floods management. In the research, the river water bodies with characteristic toponyms (hydronyms) in Greece that potentially reflect the water’s quality or the occurrence of floods are evaluated in comparison to the European Union’s (EU) Water Framework and Flood Directives implementation process outputs. For doing so, after identifying the river water bodies with characteristic toponyms which form the 10.2% of the Greek water bodies, the toponyms are cross correlated with the water bodies quality status as retrieved by the Directives’ databases to validate the existence of linkages between the names and the quality. Similarly, the significant floods, as derived from the Flood Directive, are spatially allied with the water bodies with characteristic toponyms to ground truth the connection between significant floods and water bodies whose toponyms imply flood prone areas. The research outputs indicate a high degree of correlation both in terms of water quality and floods, meaning that in almost all cases the water body toponym depicts the good or bad quality of the water body or the occurrence of flood events. Moreover, it is established that almost 90% of the water bodies with characteristic names are intermittent and ephemeral ones. The water bodies’ toponyms, hence, are proposed as an auxiliary criterion during the Directives implementation process that could foster increased water quality and flood-related knowledge, especially in intermittent and ephemeral water bodies which are generally lacking observations, and can be applied not only in all EU-Member States’ waters, but also in global scale.

Tox and Detox

Tox and Detox

Air and water health: industrial footprints of COVID-19 imposed lockdown

Overall lockdown limitations toward the start of the year 2020 are credited to the annihilation and fatalities worldwide because of COVID-19. Most of the nations revealed rapid growth of COVID-19 cases and subsequently declared lockdown in several stages. Because of these lockdowns, industries had to stop producing goods other than the actual merchandise needed to survive. The air quality and natural water quality witnessed a noticeable improvement from limited human activity. This paper presents an investigation demonstrating this improvement under various lockdown periods, specifically for the Indian subcontinent. The rivers and atmosphere of Indian settings have been utilized here as a contextual analysis associated with industrial pollution. This work aims to study the associations and interrelationships between lockdowns during COVID-19 and their effect on air and water quality. The paper presents then and now an analysis of the Indian atmosphere based on various particulate matters and river health based on the biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and dissolved oxygen. The study indicated a significant dip in air and water pollution levels and a significant improvement in the atmosphere and rivers’ quality during this period. Significant water bodies witnessed the pH level of 7.5 amidst lockdown, which is a good indicator of improved water health since the pH level of drinkable water is 7. The analysis carried out in this paper can also be mapped to other countries and landscapes of the world.

Is Ghana’s Democracy Counterproductive to Development? Democratic Short-Termism and the Politics of Development Planning in Ghana

Research on the bi-directional relationship between political regimes and economic development has increased tremendously since Lipset’s (1959) seminal examination of the implications of economic development on political regimes. While some scholars oppose modernizationists who tie the prospects for democracy to economic growth, significant bodies of literature have argued that since democracies consistently outperform autocracies in growth and development indexes, democracy rather is a sine qua non for development. Others also highlight the counterproductive effect of democratic politics and judge it to be present-bias and unrepresentative of future interest. This article relooks at the conversation of whether the pursuit of long-term development policies is feasible under democracies, with an empirical focus on Ghana. Aside from its enviable democracy track record, Ghana is touted as the first country in the developing world to roll out a development plan. Using long term planning as a proxy for transformative development, I investigate how elected political elites in Ghana respond to the dilemma of choosing between winning the next election by pursuing voter-pleasing short-term policy goals, and embarking on long-term structural transformation with short-term electoral disadvantages. I argue that competitive elections and associational liberties affect the pursuit of long-term policy planning in Ghana. The incentive to implement or abandon long term plans is shaped by the rational calculations of the country’s political elites in response to the short-term preferences of electorates. Keywords : Democracy, Development planning, Present-bias, Elections, Associational liberties, Ghana DOI: 10.7176/DCS/12-2-01 Publication date: February 28 th 2022

Land cover change and its implication to hydrological regimes and soil erosion in Awash River basin, Ethiopia: a systematic review.

The Awash River basin is one of the most developed basins in Ethiopia, and its water resources are crucial to development. The collective impact of land cover (LC) changes has driven a difference in the hydrological components, substantially impacting the availability of water resources and demand. This review aimed (i) to examine the extent of change quantitatively and its effects; (ii) to analyze the relationship with a mean annual rainfall that would further reveal the causes and potential LC type response to hydrologic variables in the Awash River basin, Ethiopia. The results have revealed that urbanization and agricultural activities in the basin are the most trending types of LC, while the forest, shrubland, grassland, and pasture land have been decreasing significantly in the subbasins. As a result, the change in these subbasins has triggered hydrologic variations (runoff, groundwater flow, base flow, and evapotranspiration), and its impacts on downstream basins have mostly been flood and drought. In addition, farmland, urbanization, and shrubland trends showed a significant positive interaction, while forest and water bodies had a substantial and slight negative relation to mean annual rainfall, respectively. Vegetation, bareland, urbanization, and agriculture/farmland are directly responsible for the hydrologic variation. LC change significantly affected hydrologic regimes and the distribution of spatial rainfall is correlated significantly to LC change pattern. Besides, due to the lack of LC management practices, the impact continues to propagate. Hence, this review helps to portray the potential implications and extent of effects of changes in LC on the hydrological regimes. As a result, the implementation of sound water management strategies and practices in response to changing environments to resurrect water scarcity and mitigate flood and sediment are needed straightaway.

MAPPING COLOURED DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER IN MANILA BAY USING SENTINEL-3 AND WASI

Abstract. Manila Bay is one of the most significant bodies of water in the Philippines; it has abundant natural resources that have been the source of livelihood and center of socio-economic development for centuries. However, Manila Bay is affected by multiple environmental problems and challenges. These include increased organic and nutrient loading from untreated domestic, industrial, and agricultural wastes and deterioration of marine habitats threatened by anthropogenic activities. Regular water quality monitoring is ideal in these situations, however, sampling by traditional field methods would not be enough to assess the spatial and temporal variation of water quality in Manila Bay. Gathering field data for the whole bay can also be very challenging due to its extent and logistic constraints. Remote sensing fills the need for a frequent full view of Manila Bay’s water quality. This study makes use of existing bio-optical models to estimate colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Manila Bay. CDOM is the mixture of organic molecules from decayed higher plants, algae, and bacteria, and is the colored portion of the total dissolved organic matter. Sentinel-3 images with concurrent field sampling on 19 July 2021 was used to calibrate and validate the bio-optical models implemented in WASI. The parameterization output showed an R2 = 0.579 and RMSE of 1.274 m−1 from lab-measured CDOM fluorescence converted to absorption. The same parameter set was used on a different image with a concurrent water quality survey on 19 May 2021 and resulted to an R2 of 0.72 with the spectrofluorometer yellow substance concentrations.

Remote Sensing and GIS based site suitability analysis for tourism development in Vaishali block, Bihar

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing are presently recognized generally as an improve instrument for overseeing, breaking down, and showing gigantic volumes of fluctuated information suitable to numerous neighborhood and provincial arranging exercises. Because of the composite idea of the travel industry arranging issues, the planned of GIS in settling these issues is progressively perceived. This paper will think a portion of the conceivable outcomes of GIS applications in the travel industry arranging. For the most part, GIS applications in the travel industry have been tight to recreational office stock, the travel industry situated land the board, and diversion untamed life strife; and have been thin by absence of financing, and awkward techniques. Utilizing the case of site wellness investigation for the travel industry improvement and mapping, this paper features a few uses of GIS in the travel industry arranging in vaishali square, Bihar. According to our present investigation; the most reasonable the travel industry site recognized by the examination is inside significant towns. The urban focus with plausibility to develop into the travel industry focuses. The rest of the land shows a low appropriateness scale because of absence of significant appreciation for make a solid force factor. Availability is an essential for the travel industry advancement. Great street organize availability with closeness to railroads station or air terminal demonstrated solid vacationer potential site, this combined with proximity to grand magnificence delineates high appropriateness. Significant vacation destinations, for example, legacy locales, gardens and water bodies or lake demonstrated high appropriateness. This can be corresponded to the way that legacy destinations and other high appropriate highlights are converted into reasonable the travel industry site.

Introduction to the symposium: A reexamination of southern distinctiveness through the lens of firearm policy

AbstractObjectiveThis article reviews the extant literature on southern politics and gun/firearm ownership in the South as a precursor to three symposium papers.MethodsWe employ standard literature review techniques to synthesize two significant bodies of literature. The latter part of the article introduces the three papers in the symposium.ResultsWe find that the papers in this symposium share two common themes: continued southern distinctiveness, and the importance of the role of race in southern politics and policy‐making.ConclusionWe find support for a hypothesis that the South remains distinctive as a region in the policy arena of gun ownership/firearm policy.

The What, Who and Where of World Politics? Two Different Conceptions of ‘the International’

Limitations pertaining to the discipline of International Relations (IR) in its approach to the non-core parts of the world have been debated over the last several decades. This paper looks at the contributions of two significant bodies of scholarship, namely Third World IR and postcolonial IR, to this conversation and questions whether there have been any differences regarding how ‘the international’ is understood in these two bodies of scholarship. Such an analysis is significant, argues the paper, because their conceptions of ‘the international’ inform how the limitations of IR and the place of the non-core in world politics can be understood. To this end, the paper looks at questions that constitute conceptions of ‘the international,’ namely, the what, who, and where of world politics. We conclude by enumerating the commonalities and differences between these two bodies of scholarship and discussing the implications of our findings for studying non-core and world politics.