Study on Comparative Advantage of Mining Sector in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Mining sector is an important sector that contributes to regional development therefore, it has to be managed sustainably. This became basis of this study. Problem examined was comparative advantage of  mining toward South Sulawesi. This study used multidimensional scaling and input-output analysis. Those analyses used input-output table data of 2010 in classification of 11 economic sectors and GDRP of 24 districts/cities of South Sulawesi in 2012-2016 which was obtained from BPS (Central Bureau of Statistics) South Sulawesi. Results showed that final value of the mining sector in South Sulawesi was Rp9,007,814,000,000, describing role of mining sector as relatively small compared to other sectors. Shift share described economic growth of mining sector in Luwu Timur was faster than other districts. Export base (LQ) and shift share ere indicators that showed that Luwu Timur was superior to other districts. LQ value from Luwu Timur was 9.39 indicating that mining sector was self-sufficient and able to fulfill its need from its own production. Multidimensional scaling analysis in perceptual map showed that the mining sector in East Luwu had comparative advantage based on LQ and shift share. Perceptual Map showed that Luwu Timur was the district that held the largest role in mining sector in economy of South Sulawesi when compared to other. This role was due to existence of the operated largest nickel laterite mining company in Indonesia

Exceptionally high work density of a ferroelectric dynamic organic crystal around room temperature

Dynamic organic crystals are rapidly gaining traction as a new class of smart materials for energy conversion, however, they are only capable of very small strokes (<12%) and most of them operate through energetically cost-prohibitive processes at high temperatures. We report on the exceptional performance of an organic actuating material with exceedingly large stroke that can reversibly convert energy into work around room temperature. When transitioning at 295–305 K on heating and at 265–275 K on cooling the ferroelectric crystals of guanidinium nitrate exert a linear stroke of 51%, the highest value observed with a reversible operation of an organic single crystal actuator. Their maximum force density is higher than electric cylinders, ceramic piezoactuators, and electrostatic actuators, and their work capacity is close to that of thermal actuators. This work demonstrates the hitherto untapped potential of ionic organic crystals for applications such as light-weight capacitors, dielectrics, ferroelectric tunnel junctions, and thermistors

Gender differences and risk factors for smoking among patients with various psychiatric disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The higher prevalence of smoking among psychiatric patients is well established. However, gender-specific associations have rarely been the focus of studies among patients with various psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to estimate the gender-specific prevalence of current smoking by psychiatric patients and its association with various psychiatric disorders and the use of psychotropic medications. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was performed between July 2012 and June 2014. Patients were recruited from six hospitals located in the five regions of Saudi Arabia. Results Of the 1193 patients, 402 (33.7%) were current smokers. The incidence of current smoking was much higher among males than females (58.3% versus 6.7%, p < 0.001). In one or both genders, current smoking was associated with marital status, education, family income, residence, obesity, physical activity, substance abuse, inpatient status, previous psychiatric hospitalization, and age at onset of psychiatric illness. In both gender, smoking was higher in patients who had a secondary psychiatric disorder (66.7% versus 37.5%, respectively), those who had a primary psychotic disorder (63.7% versus 12.3%), and those taking antipsychotic medication (64.1% versus 8.3%) but lower in patients who had a primary depressive disorder (40.3% versus 4.3%), those who had a primary anxiety disorder (45.8% versus 0.0%), and those taking antidepressant medications (53.7% versus 3.6%). In a multivariate analysis adjusted for demographic/clinical characteristics and psychiatric disorders, current smoking was independently associated with primary psychotic disorders in females (OR = 3.47, 1.45–8.27, p = 0.005) but not in males. In a multivariate analysis adjusted for demographic/clinical characteristics and psychotropic medications, current smoking was independently associated with antipsychotic medication use in males (OR = 1.79, 1.10–2.93, p = 0.020). Current smoking was strongly associated with substance abuse in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Conclusion The prevalence of current smoking is high with marked gender difference in a large sample of mixed psychiatric patients in Saudi Arabia. Smoking-cessation programs may be urgently needed for these vulnerable patients

Mesomorphic, Computational Investigations and Dyeing Applications of Laterally Substituted Dyes

Two groups of laterally substituted non-mesomorphic and liquid crystalline materials bearing monoazo group were prepared and investigated via experimental and theoretical techniques. The molecular structures of the designed dyes were evaluated by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic analyses. Mesomorphic examinations for all synthesized dyes were investigated by polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results revealed that, the thermal and optical properties of investigated compounds are mainly dependent on their molecular geometry. The optimized geometries of the azo derivatives and their electronic absorption of the dyes were carried out using the B3LYP/6-311G level of the DFT method. The azo dyes were measured for their dyeing performance on polyester fabrics. The dyed fabrics have excellent fastness properties with a color strength of 1.49&ndash;3.43 and an exhaustion rate of 82&ndash;64%. The chemical descriptor parameters of disperse azo dyes in gas phase were calculated and correlated with dyeing parameters

An integrated methodology for the documentation and protection of cultural heritage in the MENA region: a case study from Libya and Tunisia

This paper presents the methodology and overall outcomes from the Training in Action project (TinA), funded by the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund between 2017 and 2019, which has built capacity among 72 employees of the Department of Antiquities of Libya (DoA) and the Institut National du Patrimoine de Tunisie (INP). It highlights the integrated and comprehensive nature of the training based on an innovative approach designed to increase value and impact. The integrated methodology, combining documentation, conservation and management, serves as a reproducible and sustainable model for other capacity-building projects. TinA was developed and carried out collaboratively by academics at Durham University, King's College London and University College London, and in partnership with the DoA and INP

Sequence variants in four genes underlying Bardet-Biedl syndrome in consanguineous families.

Purpose: To investigate the molecular basis of Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) in five consanguineous families of Paki&shy;stani origin. Methods: Linkage in two families (A and B) was established to BBS7 on chromosome 4q27, in family C to BBS8 on chromosome 14q32.1, and in family D to BBS10 on chromosome 12q21.2. Family E was investigated directly with exome sequence analysis. Results: Sanger sequencing revealed two novel mutations and three previously reported mutations in the BBS genes. These mutations include two deletions (c.580_582delGCA, c.1592_1597delTTCCAG) in the BBS7 gene, a missense mutation (p.Gln449His) in the BBS8 gene, a frameshift mutation (c.271_272insT) in the BBS10 gene, and a nonsense mutation (p.Ser40*) in the MKKS (BBS6) gene. Conclusions: Two novel mutations and three previously reported variants, identified in the present study, further extend the body of evidence implicating BBS6, BBS7, BBS8, and BBS10 in causing BBS