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The paper proposes an analysis of the regularisation procedure introduced by the Decreto-Legge 34/2020, so called “Relaunch Decree”, addressing some of its many contradictions. Secondly, the paper shows how the “special protection”, after the reform with Decreto-Legge 130/2020, could have overcome the limits of this instruments, representing a permanent channel of regularisation, and how the Decreto Legge 20/2023, also called “Cutro Decree”, has stopped these positive outcomes.

Abstract The face serves as a crucial cue for self-identification, while the sense of agency plays a significant role in determining our influence through actions in the environment. The current study investigates how self-identification through facial recognition may influence the perception of control via motion. We propose that self-identification might engender a belief in having control over one’s own face, leading to a more acute detection and greater emphasis on discrepancies between their actions and the sensory feedback in control judgments. We refer to the condition governed by the belief in having control as the exploitation mode. Conversely, when manipulating another individual’s face, the belief in personal control is absent. In such cases, individuals are likely to rely on the regularity between actions and sensory input for control judgments, exhibiting behaviors that are exploratory in nature to glean such information. This condition is termed the explorative mode. The study utilized a face-motion mixing paradigm, employing a deep generative model to enable participants to interact with either their own or another person’s face through facial and head movements. During the experiment, participants observed either their own face or someone else’s face (self-face vs. other-face) on the screen. The motion of the face was driven either purely by their own facial and head motion or by an average of the participant’s and the experimenter’s motion (full control vs. partial control). The results showed that participants reported a higher sense of agency over the other-face than the self-face, while their self-identification rating was significantly higher for the self-face. More importantly, controlling someone else’s face resulted in more movement diversity than controlling one’s own face. These findings support our exploration–exploitation theory: When participants had a strong belief in control triggered by the self-face, they became highly sensitive to any sensorimotor prediction errors, leading to a lower sense of agency. In contrast, when the belief of control was absent, the exploration mode triggered more explorative behaviors, allowing participants to efficiently gather information to establish a sense of agency.

There is a lot of evidence that people used stone in the construction of buildings, as well as for other purposes in the municipality of Livno throughout history, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. Ever since the Bronze and Iron Ages, and through the Roman, medieval and Turkish periods, stone has been the main building material in these regions. In recent times, two dimension stone quarries have been opened on the territory of the municipality of Livno, one in the locality of Pogledala, east of the city, and the other in the locality of Kik, located between the Kamešnica and Dinara mountains. Both quarries were opened in massive limestones of Upper Cretaceous age. High-quality limestone with the commercial name "Silit light" is being exploited at the Pogledala quarry, and at the Kik site exploitation has been interrupted, but there is a great possibility of its continuation.

Abstract Background Human trafficking is a human rights violation and urgent public health challenge. It involves the exploitation of a person by means of force, intimidation or deceit and causes severe health risks. Though it occurs all over the world, its true extent is still unknown. Refugees are especially vulnerable to human trafficking due to language barriers and difficult living conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and design a screening tool to identify survivors of all forms of human trafficking among refugees in a German state registration and reception centre. Methods In cooperation with the local authorities and the Ministry of Justice and for Migration Baden-Württemberg, we interviewed newly arrived refugees at an initial reception centre in Southern Germany to assess the prevalence of human trafficking. We used both a combination of the Adult Human Trafficking Screening Tool and a publication by Mumma et al. to assess all forms of human trafficking. Results In total, 13 of the 176 refugees had experienced trafficking, which corresponded to a prevalence of 7.3% (95%-CI = [3.5%, 11.3%]). Across all languages the questionnaire had a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 84.0% at a recommended cut-off of six positive responses. The recommended cut-off differed slightly for the Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, and English version. In an exploratory descriptive analysis on subregions, refugees from West Africa had a substantially higher prevalence (33.3%, 8 out of 24) for human trafficking within our sample, especially women. However, when we excluded this region from our analysis, we found no significant gender difference for the rest of the sample. Conclusions The high prevalence of trafficking in most regions, regardless of gender, suggests that more effort is needed to identify and protect all trafficked persons. The designed screening tool seems to be a promising tool to detect an especially vulnerable group of refugees and provides assistance in identifying survivors of human trafficking.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of quality-oriented human resource practices (QHRP) on organizational ambidexterity. Furthermore, the mediating role of ambidextrous culture in the relationship between QHRP and organizational ambidexterity was assessed. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on data from 350 green agro-food companies with two respondents in each company, structural equation models were used. Findings – This paper has been drawn up to provide some responses to the needs of the companies to be ambidextrous while applying QHRP. The findings show that there is a positive effect of QHRP on organizational ambidexterity. In addition, ambidextrous culture mediated the relationship between QHRP and organizational ambidexterity. Practical implications – This research reveals key managerial aspects for QHRP implementation that facilitate firms to be more ambidextrous, and thus more efficient and innovative. Originality/value – The authors illustrate the connection between quality-oriented human resource practices (QHRPs) and organizational ambidexterity under the dynamic capabilities theory. The findings contribute to the empirical evidence on the antecedents of organizational ambidexterity, and suggest that these specific QHRPs influence an organization's baseline beliefs and values and support the development of ambidextrous capabilities by means of an ambidextrous culture. 研究目的 – 本文擬探討以質量為本的人力資源實務對組織雙元性的影響; 本文亦擬評定雙元性文化在以質量為本的人力資源實務與組織雙元性之間的關係上所扮演的中介角色。 研究設計/方法/理念 – 數據取自350間綠色農產食品公司,而每間公司則有兩名應答者; 研究人員以結構方程模型進行分析。 研究結果 – 草擬本文的目的,是要為那些於採用以質量為本的人力資源實務時需要成為雙元性的公司提供回應。我們的研究結果顯示,以質量為本的人力資源實務,對組織的雙元性是有積極和正面的效應。研究結果亦顯示,雙元性文化在以質量為本的人力資源實務與組織雙元性之間的關係上,起著中介調和的作用。 實務方面的啟示 – 本研究展現了、若企業欲推行以質量為本的人力資源實務,以促進其雙元性,繼而成為更有效率和更具創新能力的企業,它們需致力於哪些關鍵性的管理事務呢? 研究的原創性/價值 – 我們闡明了在動態能力理論下,以質量為本的人力資源實務與組織雙元性之間的關聯。我們的研究結果,就組織雙元性的先例,提供了經驗性證據,就此,研究作出了貢獻。研究結果亦暗示,有關的特定以質量為本的人力資源實務,不僅會影響組織的基線信念和價值觀,還會通過雙元性文化,為雙元能力的發展提供支援。

Criminally exploited young people are often found with tangible evidence of criminality, challenging traditional notions of the victim offender dichotomy. This paper presents criminally exploited young people’s narratives regarding their lived experiences in Wales. It offers a nuanced perspective of victimhood by drawing on their personal accounts of how they were offered a false sense of hope by individuals who manipulated their unmet needs and limited resources to garner their trust. Young people appeared resigned to exploitative relationships and violence because of their powerlessness and lack of opportunities but rationalised their involvement rather than acknowledging themselves as victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain efficiency is a major challenge in today's business environment, where efficient resource allocation and coordination of activities are essential for competitive advantage. Traditional efficiency strategies often struggle for resources for the complex and dynamic network. In response, bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithms have emerged as powerful tools to solve these optimization problems. Referring to the random search nature of metaheuristic algorithms and emphasizing that no metaheuristic algorithm is the best optimizer for all optimization applications, the No Free Lunch (NFL) theorem encourages researchers to design newer algorithms to be able to provide more effective solutions to optimization problems. Motivated by the NFL theorem, the innovation and novelty of this paper is in designing a new meta-heuristic algorithm called Bobcat Optimization Algorithm (BOA) that imitates the natural behavior of bobcats in the wild. The basic inspiration of BOA is derived from the hunting strategy of bobcats during the attack towards the prey and the chase process between them. The theory of BOA is stated and then mathematically modeled in two phases (i) exploration based on the simulation of the bobcat's position change while moving towards the prey and (ii) exploitation based on simulating the bobcat's position change during the chase process to catch the prey. The performance of BOA is evaluated in optimization to handle the CEC 2017 test suite for problem dimensions equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100, as well as to address CEC 2020. The optimization results show that BOA has a high ability in exploration, exploitation, and balance them during the search process in order to achieve a suitable solution for optimization problems. The results obtained from BOA are compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The findings show that BOA has been successful in handling the CEC 2017 test suite in 89.65, 79.31, 93.10, and 89.65% of the functions for the problem dimension equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100, respectively. Also, the findings show that in order to handle the CEC 2020 test suite, BOA has been successful in 100% of the functions of this test suite. The statistical analysis confirms that BOA has a significant statistical superiority in the competition with the compared algorithms. Also, in order to analyze the efficiency of BOA in dealing with real world applications, twenty-two constrained optimization problems from CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems have been selected. The findings show that BOA has been successful in 90.90% of CEC2011 test suite optimization problems and in 100% of engineering design problems. In addition, the efficiency of BOA to handle SCM applications has been challenged to solve ten case studies in the field of sustainable lot size optimization. The findings show that BOA has successfully provided superior performance in 100% of the case studies compared to competitor algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this study, a multi-objective version of the recently proposed cheetah optimizer called multi-objective cheetah optimizer (MOCO) has been proposed. MOCO draws inspiration from the targeted hunting strategy employed by cheetahs, which involves a sequence of actions: searching for prey, patiently waiting for the right moment to attack, swiftly launching the attack, and then retreating from the prey and returning to their habitat. MOCO is the result of modification and enhancement from its single-objective counterpart, utilizing a Pareto dominance-based approach. This adaptation allows MOCO to efficiently handle multiple objectives, explores and exploits promising areas in the optimization landscape, and identifies non-dominated solutions, offering valuable tradeoff choices for decision-makers. To demonstrate its practical applications, the MOCO method has been employed to address five intricate structural design problems. These problems involve a pair of competing objectives: the minimization of structural weight and the reduction of maximum nodal displacement. To gauge the efficacy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm, a comparative analysis is conducted against three alternative state-of-the-art multi-objective algorithms. Furthermore, a rigorous evaluation is carried out utilizing hypervolume testing. The findings reveal that the MOCO algorithm surpasses the performance of the other algorithms, underscored by its capacity to uncover a diverse array of non-dominated solutions. To delve deeper into the experimental results, statistical analysis employing Friedman’s rank test is employed. The solutions generated and the convergence patterns exhibited by the MOCO approach underscore its exceptional proficiency in resolving intricate design problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three studies explore the relation between victim sensitivity—the sensitivity to being a victim of injustice – and anti‐immigration attitudes and behaviour. Based on theoretical considerations and prior research, we hypothesized that victim sensitivity positively predicts anti‐immigration attitudes and behaviour over and above political orientation and ideology. Results from a longitudinal study (Study 1; N = 1038), a computerized online experiment (Study 2; N = 299), and a laboratory experiment (Study 3; N = 178) provide support for this hypothesis. Studies 2 and 3 indicate that a heightened fear of exploitation mediates the effect of victim sensitivity on anti‐immigration attitudes and behaviour even though attempts to scrutinize this mechanism by 'switching off' the psychological process were unsuccessful. We discuss methodological and theoretical implications and possible avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moth search algorithm (MSA) is a meta-heuristic optimization technique inspired by moth behavior, has shown remarkable efficacy in solving optimization challenges. However, its poor exploration capability results in an imbalance between exploitation and exploration. To address this issue, this research introduces a new mutation operator to enhance exploration by increasing population diversity. The proposed enhanced moth search algorithm (EMSA) aims to expedite convergence and improve overall robustness by exploring new solutions more effectively. Evaluation on ten benchmark functions demonstrates EMSA's superior exploration capabilities, efficiently tackling optimization problems and yielding more optimal solutions within the search space. Compared to conventional MSA and other established algorithms, EMSA delivers well-balanced results, showcasing its effectiveness in optimizing the search space. In the future, the EMSA could potentially find applications in addressing real-world engineering optimization challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) has drawn attention due to its widespread use in scientific and engineering fields. However, it suffers from a major limitation which is its slow exploration capability leading to stagnation. To overcome this limitation, various algorithms have been hybridized to improve the exploration phase of PSO but still there is a need to improve it further. Keeping this in mind, this paper proposes a novel hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm called the Hybrid Pelican-Particle Swarm Optimization (HPPSO) for solving complex optimization problems. The purpose of hybridization is motivated by the excellent exploration capability of the Pelican Optimization Algorithm (POA). The performance of the proposed HPPSO has been tested on 33 standard benchmark functions in MATLAB (R2023a). For evaluation, the obtained results of proposed HPPSO algorithm are compared with conventional PSO and POA along with other numerous hybridized algorithms of PSO (PSOGSA, HFPSO, PSOBOA, and PSOGWO). The results are analyzed statistically through convergence curves, boxplot and a non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test. These analyses show that the proposed HPPSO algorithm achieves a better optimum than other algorithms used in the present paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to elucidate the mechanisms through which this crime occurs and persists. This research employs an analysis of Political Economy and Market Analysis, focusing on the impacts of the crime. This study originates from the issue of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Sex Tourism) between Indonesia and Singapore. This research is a qualitative study that emphasizes a literature review. It employs Political Economic Analysis (PEA) theory and Theories of Change as analytical tools. The findings of this research indicate that the crime discussed in this study is caused by multidimensional factors, including political, economic, and market-driven aspects. Additionally, the impacts of this crime result in damage to institutions, particularly in the political aspects, as well as to individuals and society, affecting social, economic, and physical dimensions. Child sexual tourism crime is a part of CSEC, which is a crime against human rights and human exploitation. There is a need for serious collaboration to address and mitigate this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emerging theme in the entrepreneurial university (EU) literature is how universities should evolve to best reconcile their different missions, particularly research and commercialization, which often require different sets of resources. This tension is evident in the development of university spin-offs (USOs). In particular, the EU literature has generally overlooked how characteristics of university research affect USO's early-stage access to external equity. In this study, we embrace the characterization of university research offered by literature in terms of patterns, specifically, exploration and exploitation. Through the lens of the imprinting perspective, we study the effect of exploration and exploitation in university research on the early-stage equity financing of USOs on a unique dataset that covers a sample of 739 USOs from 39 Italian public universities founded from 2011 to 2019. Our results indicate that exploration (exploitation) in research has an overall positive (negative) impact on the likelihood of USOs obtaining early-stage external equity financing. Additionally, this exploratory study offers several conceptual and practical contributions to the EU literature. Plain English Summary: Using a unique dataset of 739 university spin-offs (USOs) from 39 Italian public universities, in this paper we show how USOs' early development in terms of early-stage equity financing is affected by research patterns in their parent universities. Entrepreneurial universities (EUs) face pressing challenges regarding the balance of different missions, particularly research and commercialization, which often require different sets of resources. To provide a better understanding of how EUs can tackle this tension, we explore how university research affects USO's early-stage access to external equity. Our results indicate that exploration and exploitation in originating universities' research have different and opposite effects on USOs' likelihood of getting early-stage external equity financing (overall positive for exploration and negative for exploitation). Hence, besides advancing research on the EU, our study offers practical implications to higher education institutions on how to better align university research and commercialization activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Digital transformation is a pivotal strategic pillar for companies. Despite its relevance, incumbent companies still face challenges in implementation due to the complex character of transformation processes. We provide a framework serving as guidance for leaders of digital transformations. Based on an explorative research design, we conducted 33 semi-structured interviews with experts of digital transformations of incumbent companies. Our findings indicate that leaders need to understand the terminologies related to exploration, exploitation, and digital transformation, and the complex interaction between all three areas. This includes digital literacy and being aware of differentiated treatment of exploration and exploitation in innovations and the relevance of both. Leaders must acknowledge that industry and organizational characteristics influence organizations' tendencies towards exploration or exploitation in innovations. Exploration in digital transformation is about using digital technologies to rethink business models. Using digital technologies to optimize existing processes, products, and IT infrastructure is associated with exploitation. In sum, we need different target settings and approaches for the required activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian women novelists have expanded the literary canon of India. Indian Writing in English has increased over a period of time and has observed numerous modifications in the forms of writing. Women writers have integrated the often-expressed women experiences into their writings, thereby influencing the cultural and linguistic moulds and models of Indian literature. This infusion of feminist ideologies has gradually started to shape English Literature in India over the years. Women's writing has been reflected on as an influential means of modernist and feminist statements. Women writers focus on both contemporary topics that are highly relevant to women and concerns that have long been in society. Their articles offer an insight into the inaccessible, uncharted feminine psyche. They also portray the psychological anguish of the dissatisfied women. Githa Hariharan's writings are found to be postmodern multi-layering of differences in feminism. She aspires to represent the struggle of women in the transition between tradition and modernity. This is very evident in Githa Hariharan's novel The Thousand Faces of Night. This Paper discusses how Hariharan's traditional and modern women in The Thousand Faces of Night employ survival strategies to overcome the challenging situations by accepting the harsh realities surrounding them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that prevailing accounts of structural injustice, which focus on the way our replication of social practices has unjust consequences for individuals, tend to be insufficiently attentive to the differential power relations within the institutions that structure these practices. For economic exploitation, a structural account would instead locate domination in the operation of the system itself, and would distinguish it from the general constraint characteristic of all social practices as given or inherited. The argument further suggests limits to unitary group agency approaches to corporations, and proposes construing them as artifacts as much as agents, while corporate responsibility would need to better track the division of power between top managers and workers within firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous sectors and institutions engage in 'predatory inclusion', purporting to satisfy the unmet needs of historically marginalized groups under exploitative terms. However, extant scholarship has yet to robustly examine why they target certain groups. Drawing on Black feminist Marxism, I theorize how predatory inclusion depends on precarity, and I redefine 'precarity' as a structural position of vulnerability to violence based on excess responsibilities and the denial of means to meet them – or, 'alternativelessness'. I convey the usefulness of my definition of precarity and my theorization of the relationship between precarity and predatory inclusion through empirical sections that demonstrate how for-profit colleges ('for-profits') prey upon the alternativelessness of Black women, the race-gender demographic group with the highest rates of debt-financed enrollment in for-profits. By examining the training materials for admissions 'counselors' at for-profits, I illuminate how for-profits succeed at enrollment growth by manipulating the pain, urgency, and relationality of this precarity. I also reveal how descriptive statistics of Black women's enrollment and financial need in for-profits correspond to the sector's predation of precarity. I contend that precarity must be contested for the sake of ending the predatory inclusion of Black women and all others positioned alongside them as ideal prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well-established in the literature on the economic dimensions of US college sport that it has become a site of professionalized, value-producing work that does not equitably compensate the campus athletic workers responsible for the production of value therein. Yet, while these interventions make highly compelling political economic claims, few focus on how college athletes themselves experience the system and thus the exploitation they might endure. Drawing on testimony from semi-structured interviews conducted with 25 former college football players, we aim to expand discussions of exploitation beyond debates over compensation through our analysis of the contrast between 'work' and 'play' that exists in the lives of campus athletic workers. Utilizing a non-deterministic Marxian theory of exploitation, this paper explicitly interrogates the way capitalist ideology permeates college football by centering the important tension between 'work' and 'play' that contributes to that ideology as experienced and understood by college football players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species extinction and population extirpation are now widespread across aquatic ecosystems with many diadromous species, including Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), in decline throughout much of the North Atlantic. Declines can occur simultaneously at both large and small regional scales rendering factors driving the decreases more elusive. On the south coast of Newfoundland abundance of Atlantic salmon at Conne River fell by 92% over a period of almost four decades in contrast with most other populations in the region suggesting local factors may be contributing to the decline. Here factors potentially contributing to the long-term decline of salmon are reviewed by (1) examining long-term trends in abundance and survival at different life stages, (2) presenting a synopsis on the presence and absence of factors impacting survival and productivity of this population, (3) using a semi-quantitative two dimensional classification system, based on expert opinion, to rank factors potentially contributing to the decline, and (4) utilizing a quantitative Random Forest analysis to complement the expert opinion approach in identifying factors possibly affecting salmon abundance in this south coast Newfoundland population. Results from both qualitative and quantitative analyses identified factors associated with salmon aquaculture as a possible driver of the decline. Additional factors include the influence of both climate change and predation in freshwater and marine habitats. As various Atlantic salmon populations across the native range approach extirpation, the results further highlight the necessity of river-specific analyses in addition to long-term monitoring and fine-scale demographic and threat information in the prioritization of research necessary for conserving or restoring endangered populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swarm intelligence (SI) algorithms represent a class of Artificial Intelligence (AI) optimization metaheuristics used for solving complex optimization problems. However, a key challenge in solving complex problems is maintaining the balance between exploration and exploitation to find the optimal global solution and avoid local minima. This paper proposes an innovative Swarm Intelligence (SI) algorithm called the Four Vector Intelligent Metaheuristic (FVIM) to address the aforementioned problem. FVIM's search strategy is guided by four top-performing leaders within a swarm, ensuring a balanced exploration-exploitation trade-off in the search space, avoiding local minima, and mitigating low convergence issues. The efficacy of FVIM is evaluated through extensive experiments conducted over two datasets, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative statistical measurements. One dataset contains twenty-three well-known single-objective optimization functions, such as fixed-dimensional and multi-modal functions, while the other dataset comprises the CEC2017 functions. Additionally, the Wilcoxon test was computed to validate the result's significance. The results illustrate FVIM's effectiveness in addressing diverse optimization challenges. Moreover, FVIM has been successfully applied to tackle engineering design problems, such as weld beam and truss engineering design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research defined ambidexterity as a dynamic capability that allows companies to generate and orchestrate a balance between exploitation and exploration. Following this line of thought, this study delves deeper into the relationships between exploitation, exploration and ambidexterity, as well as into their different natures, functions and utilities. To explore this perspective, we empirically analyse data from 605 organic agro-food processing companies regarding their level of exploitation, exploration, and synergy practices, and investigate their effect on their market performance. This research contributes to the organisational literature by understanding ambidexterity as a higher-order dynamic capability that encompasses both balance and synergies between exploitation and exploration practices. It also provides some advice to managers to develop different ambidexterity configurations to improve their firm market performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea cucumbers, members of the echinoderm class Holothuroidea, are marine invertebrates with ecological significance and substantial commercial value. With approximately 1700 species, these organisms contribute to marine ecosystems through nutrient cycling and face various threats, including overfishing and habitat loss. Despite their importance, they are extensively exploited for diverse applications, from seafood to pharmaceuticals. This study investigates sea cucumbers' nutritional profile and bioactive elements, emphasizing their role as sources of essential compounds with potential health benefits. The demand for sea cucumbers, especially in dried form, is significant, prompting exploration into various drying techniques. Examining the global trade in sea cucumbers highlights their economic importance and the conservation challenges they face. Conservation efforts, such as awareness campaigns and international collaboration, are evaluated as essential steps in combating illicit trade and promoting the sustainable stewardship of sea cucumber populations. Practical Application: Around 1700 species of sea cucumbers were identified as vital ecological scavengers in the Holothuroidea class. High commercial value due to their health benefits, particularly their demonstrated inhibitory effect against various types of cancer. "Beche‐de‐mer" holds a 90% market share and is regarded as a luxury food item in Southeast Asian countries. Due to overexploitation, the species is classified as Schedule I under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) in India, prompting the implementation of a blanket ban on their harvesting to ensure its conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the thirty years since Massey and Denton's American Apartheid, sociological scholarship on segregation has proliferated, calling attention to the ways in which the social geography of the United States both drives and is shaped by racial and economic inequality. More recent work has focused on the role that institutional actors play in the reproduction of residential segregation and its disparate impacts on communities of color. In this article, we describe different conceptualizations of segregation and how it has been used as a tool for exclusion and exploitation. We review literature on housing and institutional marginalization, highlighting the historical and contemporary mechanisms that perpetuate inequality and necessitate continued research on this topic. We conclude with a discussion of additional considerations and opportunities for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the theoretical basis of Myers (1977) and Ohlson (1995), this study explored the effect of R&D expenses as a company's exploratory activities and advertising expenses as an activity that utilizes existing capabilities on corporate value. As a way for companies to explore new capabilities, the effect of R&D expenses on corporate value is examined, and as a method for strengthening existing capabilities and strengthening market competitiveness, the effect of advertising expenses on corporate value is considered. The empirical analysis subjects of this study are companies listed on the Korean stock market from 2011 to 2021. Ultimately, the number of sample data used in the empirical analysis of this study is 9,220 firm-year, and all are extracted from the KIS-VALUE DATABASE. In an empirical analysis using a regression model, the relationship between R&D and advertising R&D expenses on corporate value is investigated. The results of the regression analysis showed that both R&D expenses and advertising expenses had a positive effect on corporate value. An increase in R&D expenses increases corporate value by increasing future growth opportunities beyond a company's present value, and an increase in advertising expenses maximizes product or service value and enhances corporate value by strengthening market competitiveness. In addition, it is found that the impact of R&D expenses on corporate value is greater than that of advertising expenses, indicating the importance of R&D as a company's exploratory activities. These results provide important implications for corporate strategic management. Companies can achieve corporate value improvement through strategic investment and management of R&D and advertising expenses. Companies can strengthen their competitiveness through R&D as a future exploration activity and through advertising to create results in the existing market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, Humaniora dan Politik (JIHHP) is the property of Dinasti Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, a new metaheuristic algorithm called Sculptor Optimization Algorithm (SOA) is introduced and designed, which imitates the sculpting process. The main idea in SOA design is derived from (i) making extensive changes to the sculpture material and (ii) making small and detailed changes to the sculpture. SOA theory is expressed and then mathematically modeled in two phases of exploration and exploitation. The performance of SOA in handling optimization applications has been evaluated to optimize the CEC 2017 test suite. The optimization results show that SOA, with its high power in managing exploration and exploitation during the search process, has been able to achieve suitable solutions for optimization problems. In addition, the quality of SOA results has been compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. Analysis of the simulation results shows that SOA has provided superior performance compared to competing algorithms by achieving better results for most of the benchmark functions. Simulation findings show that compared to competing algorithms, SOA has been successful in handling 100% of unimodal functions, multimodal functions and hybrid functions, as well as 70% of composite functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new human-based metaheuristic algorithm called Carpet Weaving Optimization (CWO) is introduced, which is inspired by human skills when weaving a carpet. The main source of inspiration in the design of CWO is taken from the communication between the carpet weaver and the map reader who try to weave a carpet according to the given pattern. The theory of CWO is stated and then mathematically modeled based on the simulation of the carpet weaving process. The effectiveness of CWO in optimization has been assessed across twenty-three standard benchmark functions encompassing unimodal, high-dimensional multimodal, and fixed-dimensional multimodal categories. The optimization outcomes underscore CWO's capability to yield favorable results across various optimization challenges, adeptly navigating between exploration, exploitation, and achieving a balanced search process. Comparative analysis against twelve rival algorithms demonstrates CWO's superior performance, consistently outshining competitors across all twenty-three benchmark functions and securing the top rank as the premier optimizer. Moreover, the efficacy of CWO in real-world applications has been scrutinized through its optimization of four engineering design quandaries. Simulation findings corroborate CWO's commendable performance in real-world and engineering contexts, as evidenced by its capacity to deliver superior values for design variables and objective functions compared to competing algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the link between conflict and human trafficking having been globally recognised, academic inquiry investigating how the two interact continues to be limited. Given the recency of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022, this lack of literature is even more pronounced in understanding how the risks of trafficking are developing in the current context. This paper examines extant academic literature to explore what is already known about the relationship between conflict and human trafficking, situating this within the theoretical framework of routine activity theory (RAT). It analyses governmental and non-governmental organisation reports emerging from Ukraine to contextualise the risk that is specific to those affected by the war. The paper identifies four key drivers of risk facing those in, or fleeing, Ukraine, which can heighten their vulnerability to human trafficking, before offering a novel and innovative typology of the ways that human trafficking can manifest as a result of conflict. The typology gives consideration to the direct and indirect links between conflict and trafficking, the geographical spaces in which trafficking can occur, and the specific forms that exploitation can take. By situating the paper within RAT and contextualising it with evidence from the war in Ukraine, the findings of this paper provide both theoretical and empirical insights which help to expand existing knowledge on how conflict situations can increase the risk of THB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Organizational ambidexterity has long been in the focus of understanding how organizations address tensions between exploitation, which implies building new competencies in order to drive radical change, and exploitation, which implies building on top of existing competencies in order to deliver persistent incremental improvements. Research has shown that, at the organizational level, established incumbent organizations tend to avoid exploration. In this paper, we focus on understanding which cognitive profiles tend to get promoted to the highest management positions in established incumbent organizations. To address this research question, we used a data set on 176 key decision‐makers at five multinational organizations. Results indicate that inherent biases in promotion decisions at the highest levels of the established incumbent organizations favor pattern‐recognition cognitive profiles of managers, thus influencing organizational preference for exploitation over exploration. Results have implications for theory, explaining neurocognitive underpinnings of preference for exploitation in case of established incumbent organizations which arise from biases in promotional decisions; and for practice, implying the importance of debiasing promotion decisions to ensure organizational ability to deliver on explorative strategies, favoring innovations and new market creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil played a significant role in fuelling the sociopolitical and economic development of Middle Eastern nations, attracting mass migration from South Asian nations. The article draws a nexus between the energy dynamics and labour exploitation within these petroleum-rich nations. It undertakes a close reading of the text Birds from Deepak Unnikrishnan's novel Temporary People as it depicts the lives of migrant labourers who navigate an exploitative petro-capitalist system. The fictional text employs a narrative strategy juxtaposing elements of magic and realism, opening up a space for multilayered marginalised voices. The article engages with energy theories and interweaves Mbembe's theory on necropolitics to grasp oil's sovereign influence in delineating the boundaries between life and death in migrant lives. The surplus energy generated through fossil fuel extraction contributes to notions of boundless growth, coupled with technical and economic progress, which conceals the intensive manual labour underpinning these petrocultures. The magical property alluded to oil and the spectral absence of labour in the socio-cultural imagination co-constructs an exploitative and dehumanising labour regime for migrants. The migrant body is kept alive, and their existence is contingent upon the instrumental value of their labouring body, which constructs them as easily disposable and expendable as they are positioned outside the formal boundaries of citizenship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human trafficking is a human rights violation and urgent public health challenge. It involves the exploitation of a person by means of force, intimidation or deceit and causes severe health risks. Though it occurs all over the world, its true extent is still unknown. Refugees are especially vulnerable to human trafficking due to language barriers and difficult living conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and design a screening tool to identify survivors of all forms of human trafficking among refugees in a German state registration and reception centre. Methods: In cooperation with the local authorities and the Ministry of Justice and for Migration Baden-Württemberg, we interviewed newly arrived refugees at an initial reception centre in Southern Germany to assess the prevalence of human trafficking. We used both a combination of the Adult Human Trafficking Screening Tool and a publication by Mumma et al. to assess all forms of human trafficking. Results: In total, 13 of the 176 refugees had experienced trafficking, which corresponded to a prevalence of 7.3% (95%-CI = [3.5%, 11.3%]). Across all languages the questionnaire had a sensitivity of 76.9% and a specificity of 84.0% at a recommended cut-off of six positive responses. The recommended cut-off differed slightly for the Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, and English version. In an exploratory descriptive analysis on subregions, refugees from West Africa had a substantially higher prevalence (33.3%, 8 out of 24) for human trafficking within our sample, especially women. However, when we excluded this region from our analysis, we found no significant gender difference for the rest of the sample. Conclusions: The high prevalence of trafficking in most regions, regardless of gender, suggests that more effort is needed to identify and protect all trafficked persons. The designed screening tool seems to be a promising tool to detect an especially vulnerable group of refugees and provides assistance in identifying survivors of human trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals have evolved to seek, select, and exploit food sources in their environment. Collectively termed foraging, these ubiquitous behaviors are necessary for animal survival. As a foundation for understanding foraging, behavioral ecologists established early theoretical and mathematical frameworks which have been subsequently refined and supported by field and laboratory studies of foraging animals. These simple models sought to explain how animals decide which strategies to employ when locating food, what food items to consume, and when to explore the environment for new food sources. These foraging decisions involve integration of prior experience with multimodal sensory information about the animal's current environment and internal state. We suggest that the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is well-suited for a high-resolution analysis of complex goal-oriented behaviors such as foraging. We focus our discussion on behavioral studies highlighting C. elegans foraging on bacteria and summarize what is known about the underlying neuronal and molecular pathways. Broadly, we suggest that this simple model system can provide a mechanistic understanding of decision-making and present additional avenues for advancing our understanding of complex behavioral processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives thought to the exploitation of Niger's natural resources by France, the European Union (EU), and the United States (US), among other countries. The objective of this paper is to deconstruct the exploitation of Niger's uranium, gold, and coal, among other natural resources, and the surge in terrorism. This paper adopts qualitative secondary research as its methodology and resource curse theory as its theoretical framework. The gap that the paper bridges is that most research about the exploitation of Niger's natural resources and the rise in terrorism ignores the involvement of France among other Western countries. Findings that develop from this paper reveal that France has exploited Niger's natural resources since colonisation. Similarly, the EU and the US, among other countries, have been accomplices in the exploitation of Niger's natural resources. Additionally, Western countries, namely France, the EU, and the US, including Britain and Russia, have been involved in supporting administrations or terrorists that advance their interests in Niger, among other issues. Further results show that successive administrations in Niger and those that took control through the coup in July 2023 enjoy the support of the major global powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral and bacterial infection diseases are the most common things caused by microbes. Infection diseases are serious issues because of the growth of COVID‐19. Because of the current living situation, clinical pathogens are difficult to identify. Therefore, biosensors have been widely utilized to sense the biomolecules relevant to viruses and bacteria. The biosensors observe the nanoparticles from the pathogens and help improve the infection analysis. The sensor information is processed using machine learning techniques because it consists of several learning patterns. However, the existing methods have multi‐objective optimization problems while analysing the changes in the nanoparticles. This work utilizes a mayfly optimized convoluted neural network (MOCNN) to overcome this research issue. The grid uses the fully convolution layer that processes the extracted biosensor features to determine the infections. The network performance is optimized by applying the exploitation and exploration properties of nuptial dance that help to escape from the local optima solutions. The effective utilization of the optimized training patterns improves the convergence speed and convergence rate compared to traditional methods. From the results, MOCNN ensures 98.97% accuracy, 0.388 error rate, and 0.322833 convergence rate on various iterations with different learning rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature confirms that organizational ambidexterity (OA) is the key to increasing an organization's prospects for survival and success in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous (VUCA) international environment. A critical review of this literature reveals that the conceptualization of OA is disorganized and ambiguous when it establishes and labels relevant aspects of this construct, such as its development and implementation. This study provides a conceptual framework for OA and its dimensions and explains the mechanisms for building and implementing OA. The most important contribution resides in providing research guidelines to improve the consistency and rigour of OA conceptualization in the VUCA international context. To develop this research agenda, we use the VUCA framework, which allows us to identify possible future research and the application of theories and methodologies not previously used. Thus, in general terms, to respond to volatility, studies must be carried out on the agility of organizations. For uncertainty, the topics of knowledge and information management are interesting. To respond to the complexity, topics on restructuring are interesting. And to avoid ambiguity, studies on experimentation would be ideal. Based on this generality, this study proposes multiple future lines of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lot of evidence that people used stone in the construction of buildings, as well as for other purposes in the municipality of Livno throughout history, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. Ever since the Bronze and Iron Ages, and through the Roman, medieval and Turkish periods, stone has been the main building material in these regions. In recent times, two dimension stone quarries have been opened on the territory of the municipality of Livno, one in the locality of Pogledala, east of the city, and the other in the locality of Kik, located between the Kamešnica and Dinara mountains. Both quarries were opened in massive limestones of Upper Cretaceous age. High-quality limestone with the commercial name "Silit light" is being exploited at the Pogledala quarry, and at the Kik site exploitation has been interrupted, but there is a great possibility of its continuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jiu Valley is in an extensive transition process from an area rich in coal deposits to an area with 0 Carbon emissions. Coal mining was carried out in 14 mining perimeters arranged along the Jiu Valley. At the same time, the extraction of the useful mineral substance resulted in waste material that was stored in tailings dumps. Out of the total of 49 landfills, 25 have been greened, 15 are inactive and 9 are active. The total area occupied by them is approximately 210 ha, arranged near mining operations, in the valleys of some streams and even in the vicinity of human settlements. The paper aims to identify the potential for soil contamination due to inactive tailings dumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale particle swarm optimization (PSO) has long been a hot topic due to the following reasons: Swarm diversity preservation is still challenging for current PSO variants for large-scale optimization problems, resulting in difficulties for PSO in balancing its exploration and exploitation. Furthermore, current PSO variants for large-scale optimization problems often introduce additional operators to improve their ability in diversity preservation, leading to increased algorithm complexity. To address these issues, this paper proposes a dual-competition-based particle update strategy (DCS), which selects the particles to be updated and corresponding exemplars with two rounds of random pairing competitions, which can straightforwardly benefit swarm diversity preservation. Furthermore, DCS confirms the primary and secondary exemplars based on the fitness sorting operation for exploitation and exploration, respectively, leading to a dual-competition-based swarm optimizer. Thanks to the proposed DCS, on the one hand, the proposed algorithm is able to protect more than half of the particles from being updated to benefit diversity preservation at the swarm level. On the other hand, DCS provides an efficient exploration and exploitation exemplar selection mechanism, which is beneficial for balancing exploration and exploitation at the particle update level. Additionally, this paper analyzes the stability conditions and computational complexity of the proposed algorithm. In the experimental section, based on seven state-of-the-art algorithms and a recently proposed large-scale benchmark suite, this paper verifies the competitiveness of the proposed algorithm in large-scale optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Child exploitation is a serious global issue with devastating consequences for the children who experience it. Child exploitation can take many forms, including child labor and human trafficking. Purpose: The aim of this research is to understand the role of law in preventing the exploitation of children in child labor and human trafficking. Method: This study used qualitative research methods. The data collection technique in this research is literature study. The data that has been collected is then analyzed in three stages, namely data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions. Results: The research results show that the law has an important role in preventing child exploitation. Laws can be used to prohibit and punish child exploitation, protect children's rights, support victims of child exploitation, and prevent future exploitation of children. However, there are several challenges in enforcing laws to prevent child exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial outright rejection of shorter working hours by many employers has been replaced by their sustained campaign to recoup lost time by raising the work intensity of their employees and its impact on fixed capital. But longer working hours imposed in some countries as part of the neoliberal globalized attack on the living standards of workers since the 1980s, have called into question both marginalist and Marxist explanations of the reasons behind falling and rising working hours. This article investigates—from a Marxist standpoint—the combined impact of shorter working hours, rising productivity and labour intensity both theoretically and in practice, during the first two decades of this century in Chile. This article investigates the probable impact on the economy and its division into wages and profits, of a cut in the working week and changes in labour flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Mountain Gazelle Optimization (MGO) and Gazelle Optimization Algorithm (GOA) algorithms, which have been newly proposed in recent years, were examined. Although MGO and GOA are different heuristic algorithms, they are often considered the same algorithms by researchers. This study was conducted to resolve this confusion and demonstrate the discovery and exploitation success of both algorithms. While MGO developed the exploration and exploitation ability by being inspired by the behavior of gazelles living in different groups, GOA model was developed by being inspired by the behavior of gazelles in escaping from predators, reaching safe environments and grazing in safe environments. MGO and GOA were tested on 13 classical benchmark functions in seven different dimensions and their success was compared. According to the results, MGO is more successful than GOA in all dimensions. GOA, on the other hand, works faster than MGO. Additionally, MGO and GOA were tested on three different engineering design problems. While MGO was more successful in the tension/compression spring design problem and welded beam design problems, GOA achieved better results in the pressure vessel design problem. The results show that MGO improves the ability to explore and avoid local traps better than GOA. MGO and GOA are also compared with three different heuristic algorithms selected from the literature (GSO, COA, and ZOA). According to the results, MGO has shown that it can compete with new algorithms in the literature. GOA, on the other hand, lags behind comparison algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell therapies have emerged as a miracle cure that could treat diseases and conditions. The past decade has seen the rapid growth of private clinics in some nations, including Australia, offering stem cell treatments largely untested and unsupported by clinical trials. These putative treatments have caused adverse events, some of which were serious and even fatal. The unscrupulous businesses exploit vulnerable and desperate patients who falsely believe these unproven therapies are their only salvation to cure different illnesses and conditions. This article emphasises the importance of strict oversight to ensure that only safe stem cell products reach patients, given the largely vulnerable patient base and the magnitude of risks involved. It examines the effectiveness of Australia's regulatory environment governing stem cell therapies to restrict the advertisement of dangerous and unproven stem cell therapies and the enforceability of these measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking thrives in the shadows, and the rise of social media has provided traffickers with a powerful and unregulated tool. This paper delves into how these criminals exploit online platforms to target and manipulate vulnerable populations. A thematic analysis of existing research explores the tactics used by traffickers on social media, revealing how algorithms can be manipulated to facilitate exploitation. Furthermore, the paper examines the limitations of current regulations in tackling this online threat. The research underscores the urgent need for collaboration between governments and researchers to combat algorithmic exploitation. By harnessing data analysis and machine learning, proactive strategies can be developed to disrupt trafficking networks and protect those most at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NGOs play a crucial role in safeguarding human dignity, especially in developing countries like Indonesia, where they strategically work to address pressing human rights issues. However, NGOs encounter various challenges that impede their efforts. This research specifically focuses on the challenges faced by NGOs working in human trafficking and exploitation in Indonesia. The analysis is based on data obtained from interviews conducted with four NGOs and an independent worker specializing in the exploitation and trafficking of underage individuals. Moreover, this study delves into the socio-economic problems underlying human trafficking in Indonesia. Drawing inspiration from Marxist theories of labor and poverty, it posits that the issue of human trafficking in Indonesia is closely intertwined with socio-economic instability— particularly affecting the most impoverished segment of the population. The research identifies poverty as a key factor fueling exploitation and trafficking in Indonesia. Furthermore, the study reveals implementation challenges and a lack of alignment with international conventions, such as the Palermo Protocols, in enforcing Indonesia's national law against human trafficking (Law No. 21/2007). These issues are particularly apparent in cases involving underage victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to the ABA coming into existence in 1967, the NBA enjoyed a monopsony in the market for professional basketball talent in the United States. One would predict that a monopsony would be able to exploit the talent employed. The arrival of the ABA, though, theoretically should have dramatically reduced the ability of the NBA to exploit its players. The question this study seeks to answer is how long the monopsonistic power of the NBA survived after the arrival of a rival league. Beyond this question, this study will also examine the link between pay and performance in the ABA. In the end, this study will show that for a few years, basically no one in the NBA or ABA was paid what they were worth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bat-inspired algorithm (BA), as one of the swarm intelligence algorithms, has a high potential for solving global optimization problems. This algorithm possesses an additional inherent capability compared to other swarm intelligence algorithms, which is the inclusion of a local search mechanism. Although this increases the convergence speed of the algorithm, excessive focus on exploitation, especially in the initial iterations, may lead to premature convergence and stagnation at the local optimum. In this paper, to address this drawback and strengthen the exploration capability while also achieving a balance between it and the exploitation capability, an improved version of BA, called fractional-order BA (FOBA), is introduced. The development of velocity and position vectors in FOBA, using the concept of fractional-order derivatives, extends the memory related to the previous behaviors of artificial bats and controls the convergence of the algorithm. To evaluate the proposed algorithm, ten well-known benchmark functions are used, and the results are compared with standard and state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms that have been introduced recently. Experimental results show that FOBA performs better than all compared algorithms. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm is used to optimize the weights and bias of the MLP neural network using six classification datasets. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of FOBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport has undergone a data revolution. The unrelenting extraction of athlete data has become a topic of controversy and the focus of recent public campaigns and policy proposals. However, research and governance are lagging in addressing the full scope and complexity of sport's data ecosystem and the commercial assemblage involved in the generation and subsequent exploitation of athlete data. This paper examines the need to move beyond the current emphasis on the role and use of data as a product of situated surveillance practices in the sporting workplace to the capitalist orientation at the centre of a burgeoning data economy. In so doing, two interdependent theoretical concepts – surveillance culture and surveillance capitalism – are introduced as an analytical framework to shape future research, policy and debate aimed at understanding and protecting the rights of athletes in the light of their exposure to highly surveillant digital technologies used in the production of elite performance, and sport as a multi-mediated form of consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Djoussour El-maarefa is the property of Association of Arab Universities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)