Particulate Matter in an Urban–Industrial Environment: Comparing Data of Dispersion Modeling with Tree Leaves Deposition

Particulate matter represents a serious hazard to human health, and air quality models contribute to the understanding of its dispersion. This study describes particulate matter with a ≤10 μm diameter (PM10) dynamics in an urban–industrial area, through the comparison of three datasets: modeled (TAPM—The Air Pollution Model), measured concentration (environmental control stations—ECS), and leaf deposition values. Results showed a good agreement between ECS and TAPM data. A steel plant area was used as a PM10 emissions reference source, in relation to the four sampling areas, and a distance/wind-based factor was introduced (Steel Factor, SF). Through SF, the three datasets were compared. The SF was able to describe the PM10 dispersion values for ECS and leaf deposition (r2 = 0.61–0.94 for ECS; r2 = 0.45–0.70 for leaf); no relationship was found for TAPM results. Differences between measured and modeled data can be due to discrepancies in one district and explained by a lack of PM10 inventory for the steel plant emissions. The study suggests the use of TAPM as a suitable tool for PM10 modeling at the urban scale. Moreover, tree leaves are a low-cost tool to evaluate the urban environmental quality, by providing information on whether and when data from leaf deposition can be used as a proxy for air pollution concentration. Further studies to include the re-suspension of particles as a PM10 source within emission inventories are suggested.

The Relationship Between Risk and Firm Performance

The relationship between risk and return is a crucial point in typical decision making, and empirical previous studies can help related stakeholders in this process. Henceforth, this chapter aims to present some fundamental theoretical concepts and interpretations of the relationship between risk and firm performance. Accordingly, this chapter offers a review of some highlighted studies in this field by presenting methodologies used and developed by several scholars. The chapter provides a timely reference source for a range of target audience from both academia and industry who have common interests to decompose and examine the relationship between risk and firm performance.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behaviors: A study on gen-z in Indonesia

Pandemic crises affect economic conditions both in terms of supply and demand. New post-pandemic attitudes and behavior patterns called The New Normal will change consumer behavior in the long run. The companies and manufacturers need to understand the changes in consumer behavior to maintain and increase market share. The study aims to examine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on changes in Gen-Z behavior. The results explain and predict changes in Gen-Z behavior as reference material for marketing strategy design and a reference source for future research. This research uses a qualitative approach that is focus group discussion. The study was conducted in Indonesia in April 2021 with the younger generation as informants. This study specifically selected Generation Z as the target because this generation has unique characteristics and is currently the largest consumer. The results showed that the Covid-19 pandemic requires Gen-Z to adapt quickly and perform various activities that they usually do in digital ways, such as studying, working, shopping, physical exercise at home online. Covid-19, which has plagued the world in the long run where solutions are still not formulated, has Gen-Z with concerns about the future and health. Gen-Z becomes more concerned about physical health by paying attention to food intake and consuming more vitamins. To balance mental health, Gen-Z used online applications that are entertaining, such as online games, online concerts, and online recreation. Gen-Z's new behaviors and habits tend to consume more social media or apps that they can use to develop themselves.

Knowledge Mapping of Text Linguistics: Discourse Analysis, Text Analysis and Social Media

Text linguistics is becoming a significant reference source for theorist as well as practitioners in information fusion, decision making and operations, given its research focus ranging from discourse analysis, text analysis and social media-inspired analysis. This article reviews and maps academic literature in the subject of text linguistics using a cutting-edge scientometrics approach. It recognizes major research outputs, themes, and authors in this way. It compares data harvests to discuss the field’s future trends. The work is the first systematic mapping of the subject of text linguistics, and it has important implications for using the scientometrics method to review academic publications.

Peran Kader Koordinator Jumantik dalam Sosialisasi Program Gerakan Satu Rumah Satu Jumantik (G1R1J) di Kelurahan Patih Galung, Kota Prabumulih, Sumatera Selatan

The One House One Jumantik Movement Program (G1R1J) involves the family as the smallest social unit in society in controlling dengue fever. G1R1J socialization in Prabumulih City was carried out in 2019, namely in Patih Galung Village. The role of the jumantik coordinator cadre in implementing a program is very important, especially in socialization in the community. This study aims to determine the perception of the jumantik coordinator cadre on the G1R1J and DHF programs that can affect the behavior of the community in implementing the G1R1J program in their environment. Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The informants of this research are jumantik coordinator cadres in Patih Galung Village. The data is processed based on thematic analysis with the Health Belief Model (HBM) approach. The results of this study describe the role of the jumantik coordinator in disseminating G1R1J to the community, which is strongly influenced by the presence of community leaders who also act as jumantik coordinators, coupled with the jumantik coordinator's understanding of the concepts of DHF and G1R1J and the benefits of the G1R1J program itself. Lack of response or rejection from some communities can have an impact on the motivation of cadres to carry out their roles. For this reason, external support is needed in the form of assistance either by health workers as a reference source of health information, as well as from regional stakeholders, such as the head of the RT, Lurah or Camat to the jumantik coordinator to maintain the motivation and confidence that has been formed.

A Noise Control Method Using Adaptive Adjustable Parametric Array Loudspeaker to Eliminate Environmental Noise in Real Time

Long-term exposure to environmental noise is dangerous to human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to suppress or eliminate environmental noise. Due to the limitation of environmental space, the use of reverse sound waves emitted by loudspeakers for noise elimination has been widely used in noise control. However, because of the omni-directionality of sound propagation, a traditional voice coil loudspeaker (VCL) is used as a secondary source (emission reverse sound wave). It is easy to increase the sound pressure in non-target areas and form significant acoustic feedback to the reference source. Therefore, we propose an online secondary path modeling method using an adjustable parametric array loudspeaker (PAL) based on ultrasounds to eliminate environmental noise in real time. According to the different distance of the target, the size of the PAL is adjusted adaptively to realize the noise control of different long-distance targets. The distribution of quiet areas is discussed. The experimental results showed that a PAL as a secondary source had the same noise reduction effect as a traditional VCL, but it had longer propagation distance, smaller sound feedback and a more regular and controllable distribution of quiet areas. These research findings have great potential for improving environmental noise and creating a quiet environment.

ALI JUM'AH SUFISTIC THINKING AND ITS RELEVANCE ON ISLAMIC EDUCATION (PAI) IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Strengthening spiritual values through the dimensions of tasawwuf learning is one of the efforts to improve changes in students' moral mentality. Sheikh Ali Jum'ah as a charismatic cleric at Al-Azhar University and a former Mufi of Egypt, one of the international scholars who payed attention to the discourse, according to him, instilling modern Sufistic values of Sufism in the young generation can be a supporter of forming a young age who is religious and has good intellect. This article aims to examine and explore the Sufistic concept of Alī Jum'ah to increase individual piety and discuss the relevance of its Sufistic theory to the learning of Islamic Religious Education in Higher Education. Using a literature review approach, his works are collected from various sources and studied interactively through the Islamic studies approach. The primary reference source is his work entitled At-Tharīq Ilā Allah, while the second reference refers to other books. The Sufistic concept of Alī Jum'ah is built on six main principles where the axis is Allah Al-Makshd Al-Kulli. At the practical level, repentance, tafakkur, tadabbur, and consistency in dhikr are the primary tools for ma'rifatullah. Manhaj, the existence of a Murshid and a Salik are the essential pillars in the world of Sufism. Its sufistic relevances in PAI learning which substantially impacts on strengthening the five main components, namely learning objectives, learning materials, learning approaches, lecturers, and students in higher education.Abstrak: Memperkuat nilai-nilai spiritualitas melalui dimensi pembelajaran tasawwuf merupakan salah satu upaya untuk memperbaiki perubahan mentalitas akhlak pada siswa. Syeikh Ali Jum’ah sebagai ulama kharismatik Universitas Al-Azhar dan manfat Mufi Mesir salah satu ulama internasional yang menaruh perhatian terhadap diskurus tersebut dimana menurutnya menanamkan nilai-nilai sufistik tasawwuf modern terhadap generasi muda dapat menjadi penyokong membentuk generasi muda yang religius serta memiliki intelektualitas baik. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menelaah serta menjelajahi konsep sufistik Alī Jum’ah dalam rangka meningkatkan kesalehan individu serta mengkaji relevansi teori sufistiknya terhadap pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam di Perguruan Tinggi. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan literature review, karya-karya beliau dikumpulkan dari berbagai sumber serta dianalisis secara interaktif melalui pendekatan Islamic studies. Sumber rujukan primer diambil dari karyanya berjudul At-Tharīq Ilā Allah sedangkan rujukan sekunder merujuk kepada kitab-kitab yang lainnya. Konsep Sufistik Alī Jum’ah dibangun atas enam kaidah utama dimana porosnya adalah Allah Al-Makshūd Al-Kulli. Tataran praktisnya, aktivitas taubat, tafakkur, tadabbur, dan konsistensi dalam dzikir menjadi alat utama menuju ma’rifatullah. Manhaj, keberadaan Mursyid dan Seorang Salik merupakan rukun-rukun esensial dalam dunia tasawwuf. Relevansi sufistiknya dalam pembelajaran PAI berdampak kuat terhadap penguatan empat komponen utama yaitu tujuan pembelajaran, metode pembelajaran, dosen, serta mahasiswa di perguruan tinggi.

Alkaloids as Photosensitisers for the Inactivation of Bacteria

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy has emerged as a powerful approach to tackle microbial infections. Photodynamic therapy utilises a photosensitiser, light, and oxygen to generate singlet oxygen and/or reactive oxygen species in an irradiated tissue spot, which subsequently react with nearby biomolecules and destroy the cellular environment. Due to the possibility to irradiate in a very precise location, it can be used to eradicate bacteria, fungus, and parasites upon light activation of the photosensitiser. In this regard, natural products are low-cost molecules capable of being obtained in large quantities, and some of them can be used as photosensitisers. Alkaloids are the largest family among natural products and include molecules with a basic nature and aromatic rings. For this study, we collected the naturally occurring alkaloids used to treat microorganism infections using a photodynamic inactivation approach. We gathered their main photophysical properties (excitation/emission wavelengths, quantum yields, and oxygen quantum yield) which characterise the ability to efficiently photosensitise. In addition, we described the antibacterial activity of alkaloids upon irradiation and the mechanisms involved in the microorganism killing. This review will serve as a reference source to obtain the main information on alkaloids used in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.

FACILITY FOR CALIBRATION OF PHOTOMETERS FOR TEMPORAL LIGHT MODULATION

We developed a facility for calibration of TLM (temporal light modulation) photometers. The facility is based on a laser-fed reference source, of which the radiance can be modulated with an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). A system of photodiodes, amplifiers, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is used to sample the temporally modulated radiance of the source. With the facility a TLM photometer was calibrated for display contrast ratio RMS (root mean square) with an absolute combined standard uncertainty of 0,037 %. In addition, the facility has been characterised with the aim of measuring flicker and stroboscopic effect, considering the Ecodesign ‘Single Lighting Regulation’. The frequency response of the facility shows to be sufficient to accommodate measurements of flicker and the stroboscopic effect.

Introduction to Special issue: Brazilian Criminology in the 21st Century

This article introduces the special issue “Brazilian Criminology in the 21st Century” that is composed of seven studies of contemporary security problems and related public security initiatives in Brazil. They are multidisciplinary contributions employing a large variety of methods, written by researchers based on Brazilian universities or research executed in cooperation with international colleagues. This is a unique and valuable reference source for researchers interested in Brazilian and Latin American security challenges as well as attempts to address them. By recognizing current barriers in knowledge production and sharing, the special issue calls for the creation of new opportunities for joint knowledge from the “criminologies” of the Global South and those from the Global North, befitting an inclusive global criminology worthy of the 21st century.