This document presents a simulation-based method for the polyhedra packing problem (PPP). This problem refers to packing a set of irregular polyhedra (convex and concave) into a cuboid with the objective of minimizing the cuboid’s volume, considering non-overlapping and containment constraints. The PPP has applications in additive manufacturing and packing situations where volume is at a premium. The proposed approach uses Unity® as the simulation environment and considers nine intensification and two diversification movements. The intensification movements induce the items within the cuboid to form packing patterns allowing the cuboid to decrease its size with the help of gravity-like accelerations. On the other hand, the diversification movements are classic transition operators such as removal and filling of pieces and enlargement of the container, which allow searching on different solution neighborhoods. All simulated movements were hybridized with a probabilistic tabu search. The proposed methodology (with and without the hybridization) was compared by benchmarking with all previous works solving the PPP with irregular items. Results show that satisfactory solutions were reached in a short time; even a few published results were improved.

The objective of this research is to investigate the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on improving the quality of financial reporting in the Islamic banking industry. The study is conducted within the theoretical framework of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The study utilized Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine the data collected from a sample of 364 professionals working in the field of Islamic banking. The results of our study suggest that Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, and Social Influence are important factors in predicting individuals' Behavioural Intention to use Artificial Intelligence (AI). Additionally, the presence of Facilitating Conditions further enhances the impact of these factors on individuals' actual Use Behaviour. Significantly, it was shown that Use Behaviour played a significant role in determining the perceived quality of financial reporting. Nevertheless, the study did not find empirical evidence to demonstrate the direct influence of Behavioural Intention on Financial Reporting Quality. This implies that the actual implementation of Artificial Intelligence is required to fully realize its advantages. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) into governance frameworks presents a potentially advantageous pathway for Islamic banks to uphold Shariah principles, while concurrently bolstering accountability and fostering ethical banking practices.

This research aims to analyze the relationship between compensation and supply chain performance and to analyze the relationship between organizational support and supply chain performance at the immigration office. The research method uses a quantitative associative survey method. The analysis used in this research is partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The population of this study were senior employees of government organization or immigration offices in Indonesia and the research respondents were 467 senior employees who were selected using a simple random sampling method. Research data was obtained by distributing online questionnaires via social media. The online questionnaire contains statement items and is designed using a 7 Likert scale. The Likert scale used in this research is (1) strongly disagree, (2) disagree, (3) quite disagree, (4) Neutral, (5) quite agree, (6) agree, (7) strongly agree. Data processing uses SmartPLS 4.0 software, and the data analysis stages are testing the outer model and inner model, testing the inner model by carrying out validity tests, reliability tests while the inner model tests hypothesis or significance tests. The results of this research are that compensation has a positive and significant relationship to supply chain performance at the immigration office and organizational Support has a positive and significant relationship to supply chain performance at the immigration office. By implementing a fair and good compensation system, it will encourage supply chains to improve their performance. Supply chains will try to improve their performance because the better their performance, the supply chain will receive better compensation. Work motivation has a positive and significant effect on supply chain performance. Organizational support is very important for supply chain behavior. The organization has an obligation to develop a climate that supports consumer orientation.

The present paper proposed the tri-potassium phosphate catalyzed synthesis of some novel series of Schiff bases (3a to 3l) derived from 2-aminopyridine using microwave technique. All synthesized Schiff bases were confirmed by different spectroscopic methods. Further all synthesized imines have been evaluated to screen for antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The compound 3c displays potent anti-inflammatory activity with 42.307%±1.322 inhibition of inflammation. The antioxidant activity data revealed that all synthesized Schiff bases exhibit potency to scavenge DPPH and nitric oxide radicals. Antimicrobial properties of these compounds showed moderate to excellent growth of inhibitory activity against various tested pathogens. Our observations and examination for pharmacological study towards the presence of active pharmacological functional groups present in the main structural nucleus of synthesized imines. Therefore, present study may lead to the development of a new class of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drugs with structural modification.

Issues of industrial waste recycling are very relevant for the entire global scientific community. The search for technological solutions that would allow the production of high-quality materials using industrial waste will not only reduce the environmental load, but also expand the raw material base for the production of gypsum materials. The study examined the possibility of improving the surface quality of molded gypsum samples by replacing the metal mold with a plastic one and introducing a surfactant into the raw mixture. As a result of the research, it was found that the use of a surfactant and a plastic mold allows to avoid defects on the surface of the samples. At the same time, the use of a plastic mold, which has low adhesion to the citrogypsum-based binder, helps to reduce the amount of adhesion friction and optimize the raw mixture compaction process. This makes it possible to obtain samples with improved physical and mechanical characteristics (compressive strength increases by 30–85.5%, average density - by 1.7–2.7% and water absorption decreased by 1.7–16%) or lower consumption of binder up to 20% compared to samples prepared in metal mold.

The economy of Bali heavily relies on the tourism sector, leading to economic vulnerability. There are numerous challenges in Bali's economy, with COVID-19 being one of the most prominent examples. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bali's economy experienced the deepest contraction and slowest recovery compared to other provinces in Indonesia. Amid this economic vulnerability, it is important to conduct research on the financial resilience of SMEs in Bali. This research aims to analyze the influence of financial literacy on financial resilience, as well as the mediating role of financial performance and fintech adoption on the impact of financial literacy on financial resilience among SMEs in Bali. The research method used is a quantitative approach with a sample of 177 SMEs in Bali, selected through non-probability sampling techniques. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with SEM-PLS in SmartPLS 3.0 program. The test results indicate that financial literacy has a positive and significant influence on financial resilience, financial performance, and fintech adoption. Financial performance and fintech adoption also have a positive and significant impact on financial resilience. Furthermore, financial performance and fintech adoption can partially mediate the influence of financial literacy on financial resilience in SMEs in Bali. The findings of this research are beneficial for the development of Knowledge-Based View theory and Technology Acceptance Model, as well as for SMEs in Bali and the government as policy makers in efforts to enhance financial resilience.

It is argued that managers took advantage of Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns and remote auditing and used earnings management (EM) practices extensively. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic created new unsearched crisis-related incentives. This study, therefore, tests whether Covid-19 created a new incentive for managers to manipulate earnings. It also examines the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and board independence and EM during Covid-19. A data set of 384 firm-year observations from 2018 to 2021 of non-financial firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) was investigated. Results indicate that Jordanian firms engaged in EM during Covid-19 considerably more than when compared to pre-Covid-19, suggesting that Covid-19 created a new incentive for managers to manipulate earnings. Furthermore, Jordanian firms used income-increasing EM much more when compared to income-decreasing EM. However, when taking Covid-19 into account, no significant association was found between board independence and EM. In addition, the ability of CSR to constrain EM decreased. This adds to the current debate in the literature that even well-established monitoring mechanisms like board independence and CSR are unable to constrain EM practices in a unique business environment caused by Covid-19.

A series of new pyrrole-coupled carboxamide derivatives had been synthesized and amply characterized by various techniques, viz FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and LCMS. All these compounds had undergone evaluation for their PASS, BBB, pharmacophore model, ADME, and bioactive score. The antibacterial properties of all the derivatives were examined and compound 5i demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against MRSA. A membrane damage investigation supported by SEM pictures, cellular content leakage, potassium efflux, and bacterial respiration suppression showed that compound 5i had anti-MRSA properties. A good binding score of -9.11 was found for compound 5i against the MRSA protein 6FTB in an in silico molecular docking analysis, compared to a score of -10.25 for streptomycin. Based on these findings, compound 5i can be further studied in order to develop it as a drug to treat MRSA infections.

Over time, the number of smart grids installed worldwide is gradually increasing. However, the major portion of the required electricity is still being produced by traditional large-scale and centralized power systems. The main requirement, then, is to study and develop mathematical methods that attend the integration between the two systems previously announced. In this paper, a novel model that addresses this issue is presented. The model minimizes the total operating cost of the large-scale system considering the participation of the smart grid as a dynamic entity, entailing a close relationship between both systems. This approach distinguishes the novel proposal from others that solve similar situations by taking into account the two systems in isolation. Besides, the models that represent the most common organizational structures of the smart grids are also presented in this paper. They are needed to develop the integrated model. Many similar problems in the literature are solved by implementing decomposition techniques, which might obtain a local optimum different from the global one. By contrast, problems with this proposal are solved by using mixed-integer linear programming models that ensure the reaching of a global optimum. The real test case is the integrated Argentine large-scale system and the Armstrong smart grid. Results indicate that the novel model can reach solutions that are 5% lower in comparison with the traditional techniques of considering in isolation. Efficient CPU times enable the possibility of promptly obtaining solutions if there is any change in the parameters. In addition, other benefits, apart from the economical reductions, are also achieved. Operating information closer to the reality of both systems is obtained because it considers the effects of the smart grid in large-scale system solving.

Offshore oil exploration in deeper waters has necessitated the development of lighter mooring systems to replace traditional steel cable and chain platforms. This study focuses on evaluating the mechanical behavior and fatigue degradation mechanism of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibers in yarn-on-yarn abrasion tests. Initial characterization tests, including linear density, rupture force, and thermal analysis, were conducted on HMPE yarns. Yarn-on-yarn abrasion tests were performed under dry, wet, and salty conditions, with varying loads, while statistical analysis examined the influence of environmental factors and load levels on yarn performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis provided insights into material degradation mechanisms. Results showed superior performance in freshwater-immersed yarns due to cooling and lubrication effects, while dry conditions led to material melting. SEM analysis revealed critical degradation zones, particularly in interwoven regions, where increased friction and heat concentration caused material fusion. Degradation evolution mechanisms highlighted fatigue-induced rupture of yarns, knot formation, and material melting near failure points. This comprehensive analysis enhances understanding of HMPE yarn performance and degradation in offshore mooring applications, laying the groundwork for developing advanced mooring systems capable of withstanding deep-sea environments.