Vital Asset Research Articles

FDPA internet of things system for forest fire detection, prediction and behaviour analysis

AbstractThe escalating issue of forest fires poses severe risks to ecosystems and human habitats, primarily due to the greenhouse effect and sudden climate changes. These fires, mostly occurring naturally, necessitate prompt detection and control. Addressing this, the authors introduce the Forest Fire Detection, Prediction, and Behaviour Analysis (FDPA) system, an innovative Internet of Things (IoT) solution. The FDPA system leverages a wireless sensor network to efficiently detect and analyse fire behaviour, providing real‐time data on fire spread, speed, and direction. Uniquely, it can anticipate natural fires hours before they occur by monitoring ecological parameters such as humidity, temperature, and using the Chandler Burning Index (CBI) for quantifying fire danger. Designed for the challenging forest environment, the FDPA system prioritises minimal power usage and simple components, crucial in areas with limited power resources. Its resilient design ensures the wireless sensor network and sensor nodes withstand harsh weather and fire conditions, maintaining functionality and reliability. Field tests of the FDPA system in various Jordanian forest locations, including Burgish–Ajloun, have demonstrated its effectiveness. The trials revealed the system's capability in early fire detection, low latency response, predicting fire behaviour, and determining fire spread direction. Continuous monitoring of the forest ecosystem and rapid detection allow authorities to act swiftly, preventing potential fires from escalating. Furthermore, the system tracks ecological changes within the forest, offering insights into imminent natural fires. This feature enables proactive measures to mitigate fire spread, safeguarding the environment and nearby communities. The strategic placement of sensor nodes and the use of durable yet straightforward components reduce the risk of system damage due to environmental extremities. Overall, the FDPA system emerges as a promising tool for forest fire management. Its ability to detect, predict, and analyse forest fires in real‐time positions it as a vital asset in minimising the detrimental impacts of forest fires on the environment and human settlements.

Towards a sustainable business model for rubber agroforestry in Indonesia

Agroforestry systems, particularly rubber agroforests, are crucial for Dayak communities in Indonesia, providing economic benefits and vital assets for their livelihoods. Two common types in Simpang Dua sub-district are tembawang (traditional fruit gardens) and rubber agroforests. Both have flourished for generations but they now face threats of conversion due to declining rubber prices and the oil palm boom. Tembawang is considered more resilient due to better protection of tenure rights under local customary law and its greater provision of socioeconomic benefits. In some instances, rubber agroforests are only maintained because of their deep rooted social and cultural importance, but they have potential to still be economically valuable. Rubber agroforests can provide a diversified income, offering resilience against volatile rubber markets, and although oil palm provides higher income in the short term, rubber agroforests can provide higher income over the entire system cycle. Long-term financing is essential to improve yields and product quality, to support smallholder rubber agroforests, but obtaining this type of financing is difficult. Obstacles include low rubber prices, poor-quality latex, a lack of productivity of agroforestry crops and low attention from investors, financiers, and markets. Non-commercial financial support, including technical support, could help strengthen farming practices and market-based instruments, including carbon payments, could help stabilise farmers' income. The expansion, however, of large-scale oil palm plantations has shifted the rural labour force from rubber smallholders to plantation workers. Efforts to address these challenges include the establishment of a rubber processing and collective marketing unit, UPPB, to improve market access and prices for smallholder farmers. Founded in 2022, the unit aims to arrange collective marketing and provide technical capacity for farmers to meet the specifications of Standard Indonesia Rubber. By aggregating rubber slabs, farmers can earn up to 25% higher prices than individual farmers, but irregular supplies from farmers and low prices are affecting their success. Despite facing challenges, local farmers' groups remain resilient in organising themselves to improve their systems with the support of NGOs. Commitment from government and private sector stakeholders is additionally needed to further promote sustainable and inclusive rubber agroforestry businesses.

Zynq SoC FPGA-based water-immersible ultrasonic instrumentation for pipe inspection and gauging

Abstract A re-programmable Zynq system-on-chip (SoC) FPGA-based water-immersible 2-channel ultrasonic instrumentation has been designed and developed and it is mounted inside the IP67-grade enclosures, which is suitable for ultrasonic pipe inspection and gauging applications. The novel, compact Zynq SoC FPGA-based ultrasonic instrumentation system, powered by lithium-ion batteries for its operation over five hours, exhibits its adaptability for challenging environments, including its ability to travel through pipes carrying oil or water. One of the salient features of the 2-channel system is the capability to acquire echo signals using 12-bit/100 MSPS digitizer to provide highly accurate values of the inner diameter (ID) and wall thickness (WT) of the pipe under test. The system has been utilised to acquire and store 256 MB of A-Scan data in the DDR3 memory module of FPGA. Subsequent to five hours of acquisition, data was transferred to the computer to reconstruct B-Scan cross-sectional images for 300 mm nominal bore (NB) Stainless Steel (SS), and Carbon Steel (CS) pipes machined with volumetric and planar standard flaws. The B-Scan images could reveal both types of defects along with the location and size of these flaws. Such ultrasonic instrumentation has become an advanced tool to acquire a large volume of gauging data for pipes operating in harsh conditions, making it a vital asset for the inspection of pipes containing crude oil or processed water for petrochemical and nuclear industries. This paper provides brief details about the ultrasonic PIG instrument, with few inspection results obtained for SS and CS pipes.

The Evolution of Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Journey from Past to Present.

Lumbar interbody fusion procedures have seen a significant evolution over the years, with various approaches being developed to address spinal pathologies and instability, including posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF). LLIF, a pivotal technique in the field, initially emerged as extreme/direct lateral interbody fusion (XLIF/DLIF) before the development of oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF). To ensure comprehensive circumferential stability, LLIF procedures are often combined with posterior stabilization (PS) using pedicle screws. However, achieving this required repositioning of the patient during the surgical procedure. The advent of single-position surgery (SPS) has revolutionized the procedure by eliminating the need for patient repositioning. With SPS, LLIF along with PS can be performed either in the lateral or prone position, resulting in significantly reduced operative time. Ongoing research endeavors are dedicated to further enhancing LLIF procedures making them even safer and easier. Notably, the integration of robotic technology into SPS has emerged as a game-changer, simplifying surgical processes and positioning itself as a vital asset for the future of spinal fusion surgery. This literature review aims to provide a succinct summary of the evolutionary trajectory of lumbar interbody fusion techniques, with a specific emphasis on its recent advancements.

The Role of Teamwork and Employee Empowerment in Enhancing Organizational Performance in the Pakistan Software Industry

This study examines the impacts of human resource planning (HRP) practices relating to teamwork and employee empowerment on the organizational performance of software firms in Pakistan. While prior research shows bundles of HRP initiatives can benefit outcomes like innovation and financial growth, there is limited focus on specific mechanisms, especially in developing country IT sectors facing talent pressures. Through a survey of 105 software companies, regression modeling indicates teamwork and empowerment together explain 48.7% of performance variation. Both practices display significant positive relationships, validating social exchange, human capital, and ability-motivation-opportunity theories positing that progressive HR systems boost competencies, creativity, and motivation to drive organizational success. However, teamwork has a relatively stronger effect. These findings carry important implications. Theoretically, they provide granular insights beyond broad HRP bundles on how contextual practices like collaboration and autonomy-support stimulate software sector outcomes. For practice, they underscore the need for targeted investments in team initiatives, empowerment policies, and complementary HRM ecosystems beyond efficiency, as software human capital is a vital asset for innovation and growth. Nonetheless, limitations of the cross-sectional design point to opportunities for longitudinal and qualitative research on mediating mechanisms and integrative bundles tailored to software industry dynamics. Overall, by highlighting the performance returns of contextual HRP dimensions in Pakistan’s burgeoning software space, this study offers actionable guidance for harnessing human capital while also elucidating theoretical linkages between targeted HR practices and organizational effectiveness.

Capacity Assessment of Community Clinic (CC) as an Information and Support Hub during Future Outbreaks: Lessons Learnt from the COVID-19 Outbreak

The study delves into the potential of Community Clinics (CCs) in Bangladesh to function as crucial information and support hubs during pandemics and outbreaks. By examining both internal and external factors, including organizational structure, roles, responsibilities, infrastructure, skills, tools, existing organogram, government policies, and community clinic dynamics, the research assesses the capability of CCs in this role. Through a telephonic survey of 100 Community Health Care Providers (CHCP) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) with Community Based Health Care (CBHC) officials, valuable insights were gained. While the findings reveal that CCs may not be comprehensive treatment centers for pandemics, they can effectively serve as information and support hubs, aligning with their mandates. To enhance their efficiency in this role, upgrading the WASH sensitivity of CCs is recommended, along with other measures to improve their capacity during disease outbreaks. The study underscores the significance of recognizing CCs as vital assets in combating emerging health hazards, and strategic improvements can further strengthen their contributions in addressing public health challenges.
 The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 12(1), 2023, P 41-56

Machine Learning Made Easy (MLme): a comprehensive toolkit for machine learning-driven data analysis.

Machine learning (ML) has emerged as a vital asset for researchers to analyze and extract valuable information from complex datasets. However, developing an effective and robust ML pipeline can present a real challenge, demanding considerable time and effort, thereby impeding research progress. Existing tools in this landscape require a profound understanding of ML principles and programming skills. Furthermore, users are required to engage in the comprehensive configuration of their ML pipeline to obtain optimal performance. To address these challenges, we have developed a novel tool called Machine Learning Made Easy (MLme) that streamlines the use of ML in research, specifically focusing on classification problems at present. By integrating 4 essential functionalities-namely, Data Exploration, AutoML, CustomML, and Visualization-MLme fulfills the diverse requirements of researchers while eliminating the need for extensive coding efforts. To demonstrate the applicability of MLme, we conducted rigorous testing on 6 distinct datasets, each presenting unique characteristics and challenges. Our results consistently showed promising performance across different datasets, reaffirming the versatility and effectiveness of the tool. Additionally, by utilizing MLme's feature selection functionality, we successfully identified significant markers for CD8+ naive (BACH2), CD16+ (CD16), and CD14+ (VCAN) cell populations. MLme serves as a valuable resource for leveraging ML to facilitate insightful data analysis and enhance research outcomes, while alleviating concerns related to complex coding scripts. The source code and a detailed tutorial for MLme are available at https://github.com/FunctionalUrology/MLme.

Fostering employee engagement and knowledge sharing through artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is the field that growing at a rapid pace which involves the development of intelligent machines that perform tasks with the aid of human intelligence. The implementation of Artificial Intelligence has led to significant advancements in various business fields. It has the potential to transform the businesses and improve the process in many ways. Knowledge is the vital asset of any person, while its shared, it becomes an asset for many. Sharing of knowledge involves the exchange of information and expertise among the individuals in an organization. Knowledge sharing can help organizations to identify and the address problems effectively and swiftly. Engaging employee in an organization becomes a vital aspect for organizational productivity and organizational success as well. Once when an employee becomes emotionally attached to their organization, they feel responsible about their work and will work with involvement. Artificial Intelligence has the potential to promote employee engagement and knowledge sharing. Through personalized learning and development opportunities, it fosters employee engagement, whereas through real-time communication and collaboration technologies it facilitates knowledge sharing within the organization. This review article aims at discovering how Artificial Intelligence facilitates sharing of knowledge and engaging employees in the organization by undertaking a secondary method of data collection. This review article's primary goal is to add to the body of knowledge already available on the subject. The study found that adoption of Artificial Intelligence creates work environments that maximize knowledge sharing and enhances employee engagement

ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ЦИФРОВОГО МЕНЕДЖМЕНТУ В УПРАВЛІННІ ПІДПРИЄМСТВАМИ

The article delves into the elements of management technologies, in the corporate world. In today’s paced era of advancements and heightened market competition digital management technologies have emerged as vital assets for efficient enterprise administration. These innovative tools enable the automation and optimization of business management technologies have emerged as vital assets for efficient enterprise administration. These innovative tools enable the automation and optimization of business operations empowering organizations to adapt to changes and make well informed managerial choices. A key advantage of employing management technologies is the enhancement of staff productivity and efficiency. Through process automation employees are ableto execute their tasks accurately resulting in superior quality products or services and reduced production expenses. Supplementary advantages of integrating management in enterprises encompass decision making processes. By granting access to real time data and analytics digital technologies empower managers to promptly make decisions fostering improved planning and resource allocation that ultimately boosts overall operational efficiency within the enterprise. Moreover digital management technologies foster enhanced. Collaboration within settings. Utilizing tools such as project management software and communication platforms enables employees to collaborate irrespective of their physical locations thus cultivating a more united and productive work environment that enhances employee satisfaction levels and retention rates.Another advantage lies in the ability to enhance customer experience. Enterprises can gain an understanding of their customers needs and preferences by utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) systems and data analytics. This strategy enables them to customize products and services to align with customer requirements fostering loyalty, among customers. In addition, digital management technologies can improve risk management and compliance.

Innovative Behavior as a Mediating Impact of Work Ethic in Improving the Performance of Business Actors in South Minahasa Regency in the Era of Global Economic Recession

Human resources are an essential and vital asset in an organization. An organization cannot function without human resources. Facing the continuous development of the times and the increasingly evident technological disruption, business competition and competition for human resources are becoming more intense, including for business actors. They are required to have a high work ethic, be adaptable, responsive to innovation, exhibit innovative behavior, and be open to technological changes. Business actors must also be aware of fundamental changes in generating new ideas and value. To achieve this, business actors need a high work ethic through innovative behavior to improve their performance in maintaining and developing their businesses. This phenomenon is relevant in the current era of global economic recession, where many business actors are experiencing bankruptcy, closure, or insolvency, including in various regions. This study aims to analyze and develop variables and instruments that can identify indicators influencing the performance improvement of business actors in the current global recession era. The research method includes observation, population identification, sample determination (business actor respondents), surveys, questionnaire distribution, and data collection through closed and open-ended questions to obtain accurate results. The data obtained are then processed and evaluated for seminars and publication. The results of the study indicate that a high work ethic has a positive and significant direct effect on the innovative behavior of business actors, a high work ethic positively and significantly affects business performance, innovative behavior positively and significantly affects business performance, and a high work ethic affects business performance mediated by innovative behavior. This research is expected to contribute positively to all stakeholders (academics, businesspeople, government) in enhancing competitiveness and business sustainability amid the challenges of the global economic recession.

The Impacts of Physical Workplace Environment (PWE) on Employees Productivity

The paper reviews the impacts of the physical workplace environment (PWE) on employees' productivity, focusing on the pivotal role of the physical environment and its implications for employee well-being. The study emphasises that the physical environment is a critical factor influencing the activities of employees concerning global issues, thereby impacting productivity, efficiency, satisfaction, and absenteeism. The paper employs analytical reviews of the related articles to justify the impact of the physical workplace environment (PWE) on employees' productivity. The content analysis is used to analyse the literature framework of the article. The findings revealed the significance of the physical environment within the workplace, elucidating its profound influence on employee well-being, productivity, and satisfaction. The findings highlight the substantial role of employers in shaping the physical workplace environment and its reflecting impact on employee focus and productivity. A well-designed, comfortable, and conducive workplace has a positive influence on employee satisfaction, recognising employees as a vital asset in achieving organisational success. Consequently, creating an excellent physical workplace environment can significantly enhance employee productivity, encouraging employers to prioritise and provide such an environment, thus contributing to sustainable environmental health and fostering safe workplace practices.

Comparing different approaches of agent-based occupancy modelling for predicting realistic electricity consumption in office buildings

Having a good grasp on modelling the dynamics of occupants for estimating electricity consumption in office buildings is a vital asset for realistic predictions. Nowadays, agent-based models are widely used for this purpose. Previous approaches to modelling dynamics of occupants in multi-floor office buildings simplified the models by teleporting agents between zones during transitions without considering the routes used to reach their final destination such as going through corridors, stairways and hallways, thus, underestimating the potential energy usage during those transition period. This paper proposes a more realistic approach by incorporating detailed routes of agent movement when transiting from one zone to another. To demonstrate the case, detailed routes and route choice preferences are used as inputs within the model for the agents to make independent decisions when transiting from one place to another within the simulated office building. The route choice preferences are computed from data gained from an earlier extensive real world occupancy detection trial conducted within the model office building using state of the art indoor positioning system. The simulation experiments compare the previous approach against the proposed approach and based on the evaluation it is found that there is approximately 19% underestimation of electricity consumption per day when detailed routes are not considered. The research demonstrates, the proposed approach is applicable to any office buildings and will produce predictions which will be much more realistic and closer to the real world electricity consumption level.

Employer Branding in Tourism: How to Recruit, Retain and Motivate Staff

A fierce "war for talent" has emerged, particularly in the tourism industry, with labour shortages and high turnover rates. This situation challenges employers to secure strategic competitive advantage through their most vital asset, people. Simultaneously, firms must invest in their human capital to increase their value, heightening the significance of employer branding. This paper hence investigates employer branding and does so in the unique context of family businesses, the dominant form of tourism firms, where employer branding takes on a distinct dimension as the family's influence fuses corporate and familial identities. Extending prior research findings that indicate that labour issues often stem from leadership inadequacies and human resource management shortcomings, this paper aims to comprehensively examine these multifaceted challenges and their relevance in the tourism industry. This study employs a qualitative approach utilizing 28 semi-structured interviews with managers, successors, and HR managers in Tyrol, an established tourism region in Austria and Europe. The results reveal that the integration of family values and qualities, as well as the identity and value-based self-image and brand strategies of a business, are important factors in recruiting and retaining employees. This study contributes to deeper insight into the importance, opportunities, and challenges of employer branding in family-run tourism businesses.

Electronic Taxpayer Education and Tax Compliance of Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi City County, Kenya

To enlighten taxpayers regarding their tax information, the Kenyan tax authorities have made tax education a top concern. To promote voluntary tax compliance and boost national revenue, this kind of education is essential. Low tax compliance among SMEs limits revenue generation from the government and, consequently, inefficient government expenditure since it makes it harder for the state to amass family earnings, which are vital assets for speculating. This study sought to investigate how electronic taxpayer education affects the compliance with tax laws of manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study used a descriptive research approach and 641 manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi were the study's targeted audience. Output showed that electronic taxpayer education positively affected tax compliance in a significant manner as it relates to manufacturing SMEs. The conclusion arising from this outcome is that electronic taxpayer education plays an important role in manufacturing SMEs' tax compliance as most of them can access tax information electronically in their comfort zones. Policy makers should increase the utilization of electronic means to educate taxpayers on the need to pay taxes and the consequences of non-compliance to tax laws in Kenya. It is recommended that the Kenya tax authority should enhance the education of taxpayers via electronic means as most of the participants in the manufacturing SMEs are said to easily access electronic media that would enhance their competitive advantage over other firms in Kenya.

Building student loyalty in higher education: the role of corporate reputation

Background Reputation is a vital asset for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as it constitutes a source of competitive advantage because it works as a quality sign for the stakeholders. Because of globalisation, decreasing funding and the changing environment in the Mozambican higher education market, HEIs need to build a favourable reputation to stay relevant. This research aims to study how a university’s reputation can influence student loyalty. Methods Utilizing a descriptive and analytical methodology, a quantitative investigation was carried out by surveying 402 students enrolled in higher education institution (HEI) courses in Mozambique. The research employed a survey questionnaire to directly collect information from the study participants. Results The study concluded that university reputation affects student loyalty, as the relationship between both variables is statistically significant. All dimensions of HEIs reputation, namely, academic competence, social attractiveness, and responsible management, positively impact student loyalty. Although, the latter variable did not have a statistically significant impact, contradicting the current theoretical framework. Conclusions The study’s findings suggest that corporate reputation has a favorable impact on student loyalty, demonstrating a significant relationship between the two factors. Therefore,improve student retention, HEIs should seek to enhance their academic competence and social attractiveness. Furure research The study suggests future research should address sample composition issues by increasing representation from underrepresented groups. It recommends a more in-depth exploration of the responsible management construct, advocating for the inclusion of context-specific indicators. Furthermore, the study proposes investigating additional factors to enhance the understanding of the relationship between university reputation and student loyalty.

Building student loyalty in higher education: the role of corporate reputation.

Reputation is a vital asset for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as it constitutes a source of competitive advantage because it works as a quality sign for the stakeholders. Because of globalisation, decreasing funding and the changing environment in the Mozambican higher education market, HEIs need to build a favourable reputation to stay relevant. This research aims to study how a university's reputation can influence student loyalty. Utilizing a descriptive and analytical methodology, a quantitative investigation was carried out by surveying 402 students enrolled in higher education institution (HEI) courses in Mozambique. The research employed a survey questionnaire to directly collect information from the study participants. The study concluded that university reputation affects student loyalty, as the relationship between both variables is statistically significant. All dimensions of HEIs reputation, namely, academic competence, social attractiveness, and responsible management, positively impact student loyalty. Although, the latter variable did not have a statistically significant impact, contradicting the current theoretical framework. The study's findings suggest that corporate reputation has a favorable impact on student loyalty, demonstrating a significant relationship between the two factors. Therefore,improve student retention, HEIs should seek to enhance their academic competence and social attractiveness. The study suggests future research should address sample composition issues by increasing representation from underrepresented groups. It recommends a more in-depth exploration of the responsible management construct, advocating for the inclusion of context-specific indicators. Furthermore, the study proposes investigating additional factors to enhance the understanding of the relationship between university reputation and student loyalty.

Pengaruh Nasionalisme Soekarno Terhadap Ketatanegaraan dan Politik Islam di Indonesia

This article analyses the influence of Soekarno's secular nationalism in forming the Indonesian state. Soekarno, as one of Indonesia's proclaimers of independence and its first president, had a key role in shaping the new country's national identity and political direction. This article describes how Soekarno's secular views influenced the struggle for independence and the formation of the Indonesian state and how this vision of secular nationalism was reflected in various policies and programs of his government. In his writings, Soekarno emphasized the importance of Pancasila as the basis of an inclusive state ideology and reflected the spirit of secular nationalism. Soekarno's vision of secular nationalism was also reflected in his efforts to advance social and economic equality among the Indonesians and promote national independence through industrialization and the nationalization of vital assets. However, this article also highlights the controversy and criticism that Soekarno faced regarding his approach, which tended to be authoritarian in dealing with political opposition and resistance from certain religious groups. At the end of his reign, Sukarno's secular nationalist views began to be challenged by various groups who emphasized religious identity in political discourse. Overall, this article presents a comprehensive picture of the influence of Soekarno's secular nationalism in forming the Indonesian state. Although some aspects of his political approach are controversial, the legacy of Soekarno's secular nationalism remains an important part of Indonesia's national identity. It is relevant in facing the nation's future challenges.

Business Models and Strategies for Managing Indigenous-based Natural Tourism in and around Danau Sentarum National Park (Ecotourism Meliau Hamlet)

Danau Sentarum National Park (DSNP), situated in West Kalimantan's Kapuas Hulu region, stands out as a unique destination. Meliau Hamlet, located within and around DSNP, servesasasettlementfortheDayak Ibantribe, preserving theirdistinctcustoms. The surrounding area boasts captivating landscapes, including lakes, swamps, rivers, and hills, drawing both domestic and international tourists. Recognizing this potential, the Melemba Village government established KPP Kaban Mayas, an ecotourism initiative. However, challenges such as limited human resources, insufficient infrastructure, and management issues hindered Meliau Hamlet's ecotourism operations. This research aimed to assess ecotourism development feasibility, economic viability, and community engagement. It also outlined the ecotourism management's business model and strategies. Data was gathered through field visits, interviews, and surveys. Analysis encompassed scoring tourist attractions, evaluating stakeholders, financial assessments, and community capital. The Business Model Canvas (BMC) described the business model, while strategies were formulated using SWOT analysis, Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM), and Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS). Results underscored natural resources as vital assets for ecotourism. Meliau Hamlet's ecotourism could thrive by focusing on value proposition, keyresources, keyactivities, and keypartnerships.

Technological Perspectives of Countering UAV Swarms

Conventional AD systems have been found less effective for countering UAVs and loitering munitions. Thishas necessitated the development of counter-UAV systems with different functionalities. A cluster of armed UAVsas swarm formations has further rendered the conventional AD systems far from effective, emphasizing the need to consider countering swarms as the most crucial element in new-generation aerial threat mitigation strategies. In this paper, the capabilities of UAV swarms and vital military assets exposed to such attacks are identified. To protect the vital assets from aerial swarm threats, ideal system characteristics of a counter-UAV (C-UAV) swarm system to overcome the challenges are discussed. Currently available acquisition & engagement technology is analyzed and the application of these systems to counter swarm applications is brought out. New requirements are discussed and a conceptual design of a layered system is derived which can handle a large spectrum of aerial threats including a swarm of UAVs. This system is expected to have a higher rate of engagement and can be designed with low-cost network-integrated systems.

“Khuruj Fi Sabilillah” (Traveler in Faith) And Its Implications on Household Harmony of Tabligh Jamaat in North Gorontalo Regency, Indonesia

“Khuruj fi sabilillah” (Traveler in faith) by the followers of Tabligh Jamaat requires the husband not to physically and mentally support his wife for a particular time. Whereas conceptually, fulfilling physical and mental maintenance is one of the instruments to maintain household harmony. This research is qualitative and descriptive and uses a sociological approach. Data were obtained through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results showed that the husband's departure to do khuruj fi sabilillah did not adversely affect their household harmony. The fulfillment of the physical livelihood of the family members left behind is resolved through the concept of deliberation and good planning, while the fulfillment of inner livelihood is also not a severe problem because the wives have let go of their husbands, who are believed to be preaching jihad for good. The spaciousness of the heart to let go of the husband is a vital asset for the wife so that the unfulfillment of inner sustenance is no longer a problem. This study shows that followers of the Tabligh Jamaat in North Gorontalo marriage age has lasted for a long time is a sociological reason in itself, so inner maintenance is no longer a priority in life.