bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing Crop Yield Prediction: Data-Driven Analysis and Machine Learning Modeling Using USDA Datasets
Authors: Yadav Ravindra , Seth Anita , Dembla Naresh
Published: April 2024

This research uses a variety of machine learning models and exploratory data analysis (EDA) to forecast crop yields using USDA information from 2003 to 2013 in an effort to achieve precision agriculture. Not only did we want to predict agricultural output, but we also wanted to identify the underlying factors that affect yield. By means of thorough EDA, which encompassed a wide range of agricultural data, including weather patterns and USDA-sourced soil composition, we were able to gain important insights into the variables that impact differences in crop output. The thorough investigation that followed served as the basis for our machine learning modelling. We thoroughly assessed and contrasted the performance of a variety of machine learning algorithms, including Bagging Regressor, KNN, Decision Trees, Gradient Boost, Random Forest, and Linear Regression. The accuracy of the models varied noticeably, as the results showed: the Random Forest, Decision Trees, and Bagging Regressor models showed great accuracy, with respective values of 98.56%, 97.62%, and 98.59%. Conversely, KNN and Linear Regression showed reduced accuracy, indicating their limits in this situation. The robustness of our results was further improved by applying k-fold cross-validation, highlighting the significance of model validation in crop yield prediction. Some models showed changes in accuracy during cross-validation, which revealed more about their dependability. In addition to providing a thorough investigation of the variables affecting agricultural productivity, this study highlights the diverse forecasting powers of machine learning models. Our findings provide a path for well-informed agricultural decision-making by utilizing technology to optimize crop production estimates. The ultimate goal of this research is to support stakeholders in optimizing agricultural productivity and enable sustainable practices.
Isolation and Molecular Profiling of Halotolerant Plant Growth Promoting Rhizosphere Fungi from Salt affected Agroforestry Plantation
Authors: K Saranya Devi , V Mohan
Published: April 2024

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stress that adversely affects plant growth, and productivity. About 20% of irrigated lands are affected by salinity worldwide; In India, there are 6.74 million hectares of salt-affected lands. Salt-tolerant Plant Growth Promoting (PGP) microorganisms can enhance the growth of plants in such salt-stressed areas. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the diversity of beneficial fungal communities, screen for their ability to support plant growth, and evaluate the production of various essential compounds in view of plant growth in salt-stressed lands. A total of 68 fungal colonies were isolated from 5 different agroforestry plantation sites in Karur, Tamil Nadu, South India at quarterly intervals. The isolates were screened for sodium chloride (NaCl) tolerance (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% concentration). A total of 7 isolates showed considerable salt tolerance and were tested qualitatively in-vitro, for PGP traits such as phosphate, potassium, and zinc solubilization, nitrogen fixation, hydrogen cyanide production, siderophore production, and ACC deaminase production. Finally, 5 isolates with maximum values for PGP properties under 20% NaCl concentration were tested for the quantity of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) and Exo-polysaccharide (EPS) production. All 5 isolates were identified up to the species level using 18S rRNA gene sequencing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on isolating saline-tolerant PGP Fungi (PGPF) from the rhizosphere region of Casuarina equisetifolia and Eucalyptus camaldulensis in Karur, Tamil Nadu, India. In the future, the bioformulation of PGPF and its application will boost the cultivation of tree saplings in this salt affected regions.
An Empirical Analysis of the Adoption of Hi-Tech Farming Techniques Among the Farmers of the Eastern Uttar Pradesh Belt
Authors: Bhatt Shweta
Published: April 2024

Like in every sector, the agriculture sector also shows numerous technological advancements every now and then and it is expected from farmers to incorporate the same and increase the crop yields and keep themselves up-to-date for meeting up any type of competitions & contingencies as well. A lot has been done in the agricultural sector to improve cultivation but Indian farmers still rely on the traditional practices. Farming is still not regarded as a secure source of income in India. For Indian agriculture to become more profitable and sustainable, smart farming is essential. The farmer breed will soon go extinct without getting into smart and high-tech farming. Though Agropreneurs have started taking baby steps in India with respect to smart farming, it is still a silent revolution in India as compared to other countries because of lack of awareness and confidence. In this paper a study has been conducted in order to identify the inclination of farmers towards new technologies when it comes to agriculture from the Eastern Uttar Pradesh belt. At the same time farmers have also been inquired about the limitations and the challenges faced by them in the traditional farming system. During the survey of this study farmers have also been made aware how innovative modern agricultural practices doubles the crop yield which is not only beneficial to meet the domestic needs but can also be exported worldwide adding to the GDP of the country which could be of economic importance to the nation.
Thyroid Functionsand Thyroid Lesions in Children with Hodgkin Lymphoma and Central Nervous System Tumors Who Received Radiotherapy to the Head and Neck Region
Authors: Sanrı Emre , Akça Gülfer , Sanrı Aslıhan , Emir Suna
Published: April 2024

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess thyroid function and lesions after radiotherapy to the head and neck region in children with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) or central nervous system (CNS) tumors.

Material and Methods: The study included children diagnosed with HL or CNS tumors who were in complete remission at least one year after completion of chemotherapy (CT) and who had all received radiotherapy (RT) to the head and/or neck. All patients were requested to undergo thyroid function tests and thyroid ultrasonography (USG).

Results: A total of 37 patients were included. The mean age was 13.7±3.8 years. The mean follow-up time was 5.09±2.5 years. All patients had CT and RT. Seven (18.9%) patients had subclinical hypothyroidism, and 7 (18.9%) had thyroid USG abnormalities. None of the patients had thyroid malignancy. Age under 10 years at diagnosis, follow-up time of 3 years or more, and an RT dose of 25 Gy or more were found as effective factors for subclinical hypothyroidism development. Only an RT dose of 25 Gy or more was found to be related to thyroid USG abnormalities.

Conclusion: Thyroid function tests and thyroid imaging should be routinely examined in any patient who has been treated for cancer to evaluate thyroid dysfunction regardless of clinical findings and the follow-up of these patients should be lifelong.
Magnetic resonance imaging findings of radiation-induced breast angiosarcoma: A case report
Authors: Wu Wen-Pei , Lee Chih-Wei
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Breast conservation surgery (BCS) with adjuvant radiotherapy has become a gold standard in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer, significantly reducing the risk of tumor recurrence. However, this treatment is associated with adverse effects, including the rare but aggressive radiation-induced angiosarcoma (RIAS). Despite its rarity and nonspecific initial presentation, RIAS presents a challenging diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of imaging techniques for early detection and accurate diagnosis.

CASE SUMMARY

We present a case of a 48-year-old post-menopausal woman who developed skin ecchymosis on the right breast seven years after receiving BCS and adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer. Initial mammography and ultrasound were inconclusive, showing post-treatment changes but failing to identify the underlying angiosarcoma. Contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed diffuse skin thickening and nodularity with distinctive enhancement kinetics, leading to the diagnosis of RIAS. This case highlights the crucial role of MRI in diagnosing and determining the extent of RIAS, facilitating timely and appropriate surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION

Breast MRI is crucial for detecting RIAS, especially when mammography and ultrasound are inconclusive.
Propuestas de actualización de contenidos gramaticales a partir de dos obras académicas de referencia
Authors: Carrasco Gutiérrez Ángeles , Horno Chéliz María del Carmen
Published: April 2024

Esta contribución recoge propuestas fundamentadas de actualización gramatical para las aulas y manuales de secundaria y bachillerato en las que se apuesta por la simplicidad y por destacar aspectos esenciales de las lenguas naturales, como su naturaleza jerárquica y composicional. Se presta atención a estructuras que carecen de un sujeto expresado fonéticamente, al fenómeno de la doble naturaleza categorial de algunos sustantivos, al comportamiento de los núcleos sintácticos y a la reconsideración de las funciones sintácticas a la luz de la relación que guardan entre sí los constituyentes seleccionados o no seleccionados semánticamente por un predicado.
Beyond Sinophilia and Sinophobia: Tocqueville and Mill in the Continuum of the European Reception of China
Authors: Takó Ferenc
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Various approaches have been taken recently to a reinterpretation of the European reception of China and the sinophilia-sinophobia dichotomy (Hung 2003, Millar 2010, Jacobsen 2013). In the present article, a nineteenth-century approach to China is examined using Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859) and John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) as examples. It will be argued that this approach differs from earlier attitudes. First, the central currents will be surveyed in the European reception of China between the Jesuit missionaries and early nineteenth-century philosophies of history, introducing an interpretational framework that differentiates between various approaches to China, namely a universalistic and a progression-based approach . Then, first Tocqueville's and then Mill's depictions of China in comparison with the concepts of preceding centuries will be analyzed. It will be argued that Tocqueville and Mill's understanding of China represents a third view that I will call relation-based .
hydroSIM: super-resolution speckle illumination microscopy with a hydrogel diffuser
Authors: Gao Zijun , Han Keyi , Hua Xuanwen , Liu Wenhao , Jia Shu
Published: April 2024

Super-resolution microscopy has emerged as an indispensable methodology for probing the intricacies of cellular biology. Structured illumination microscopy (SIM), in particular, offers an advantageous balance of spatial and temporal resolution, allowing for visualizing cellular processes with minimal disruption to biological specimens. However, the broader adoption of SIM remains hampered by the complexity of instrumentation and alignment. Here, we introduce speckle-illumination super-resolution microscopy using hydrogel diffusers (hydroSIM). The study utilizes the high scattering and optical transmissive properties of hydrogel materials and realizes a remarkably simplified approach to plug-in super-resolution imaging via a common epi-fluorescence platform. We demonstrate the hydroSIM system using various phantom and biological samples, and the results exhibited effective 3D resolution doubling, optical sectioning, and high contrast. We foresee hydroSIM, a cost-effective, biocompatible, and user-accessible super-resolution methodology, to significantly advance a wide range of biomedical imaging and applications.
Circularly coherent vortex beams optimized for propagation through turbulence
Authors: Shiri Arash , Qi Rui , Gbur Greg
Published: April 2024

Self-focusing partially coherent beams with circular coherence have shown high potential for robust propagation through atmospheric turbulence. In this paper, we introduce a criterion to approximate the degrading effects of turbulence and we show how the coherence of the source can be optimized to generate a beam with the highest stability in turbulence. To test our prediction, we analytically compare the turbulence propagation of the OAM spectrum of circularly coherent Gaussian vortex sources with three different coherence parameters. It is shown that by satisfying the introduced optimizing conditions, we can minimize the adverse effects of turbulence on the OAM spectrum.
Polar-coded channel polarization for reducing complexity of soft-decision forward error correction
Authors: Song Zhiyuan , Koganei Yohei , Igarashi Koji
Published: April 2024

To reduce the computational complexity of soft-decision (SD) forward error correction (FEC), we propose a polar coding method with a low-complexity successive cancellation decoder. Polar coding induces channel polarization in which two bit-channels with lower and higher reliabilities are polarized. Only the less-reliable bit-channels are protected by SD-FEC, whereas the more-reliable bit-channels are offloaded, reducing the complexity of SD-FEC decoding. The degradation of the bit error ratio (BER) performance can be suppressed by designing the polar encoder structures for the successive cancellation decoder. We numerically demonstrate that the proposed method manages to both reduce the computational complexity by half and suppress the BER performance degradation by less than 0.6 dB, compared with the conventional method using only the SD-FEC.
Near-zero-field microwave-free magnetometry with nitrogen-vacancy centers in nanodiamonds
Authors: Dhungel Omkar , Mrózek Mariusz , Lenz Till , Ivády Viktor , Gali Adam , Wickenbrock Arne , Budker Dmitry , Gawlik Wojciech , Wojciechowski Adam M.
Published: April 2024

We study the fluorescence of nanodiamond ensembles as a function of static external magnetic field and observe characteristic dip features close to the zero field with potential for magnetometry applications. We analyze the dependence of the feature’s width and the contrast of the feature on the size of the diamond (in the range 30 nm–3000 nm) and on the strength of a bias magnetic field applied transversely to the field being scanned. We also perform optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) measurements to quantify the strain splitting of the zero-field ODMR resonance across various nanodiamond sizes and compare it with the width and contrast measurements of the zero-field fluorescence features for both nanodiamonds and bulk samples. The observed properties provide compelling evidence of cross-relaxation effects in the NV system occurring close to zero magnetic fields. Finally, the potential of this technique for use in practical magnetometry is discussed.
Higher-order exceptional points in parity-time symmetry and the optical gyroscope
Authors: Li Lingyu , Wang Zicheng , Wang Guochen , Zhao Jiaqi , Liu Xiaofu , Gao Wei
Published: April 2024

The practical application of integrated gyroscopes in engineering has not yet been fully realized due to the linear correlation between the Sagnac effect and dimensions. In recent demonstrations, gyroscopes operating near exceptional points (EPs) under parity-time (PT) symmetry have shown significant potential in enhancing their response to rotational rates. However, constructing higher-order EPs with refined physical properties poses a considerable challenge. Additionally, current methods for constructing higher-order EPs with robustness primarily rely on passive cavities, with almost no reports on constructing robust EPs using PT-symmetric systems that encompass both gain and loss. Here, we propose a robust design for a scalable fabrication of higher-order EP gyroscopes with PT-symmetric structure. We investigate the influence of perturbations on the frequency splitting of the higher-order EP gyroscope and demonstrate that it is possible to achieve a resonance splitting eight orders of magnitude higher than that obtained through the classical Sagnac effect. In comparison to the previously proposed PT-symmetric gyroscope, our solution allows a tunable frequency splitting by adjusting the phase shift, making it more measurable at the output power spectrum.
Phase unwrapping algorithm based on phase diversity wavefront reconstruction and virtual Hartmann–Shack technology
Authors: Zhang Ying , Bao Hua , Gu Naiting , Li Shuqi , Zhang Yiqun , Rao Changhui
Published: April 2024

Phase unwrapping (PU) algorithms play a crucial role in various phase measurement techniques. Traditional algorithms cannot work well in strong noise environments, which makes it very difficult to obtain the accurate absolute phase from the noisy wrapped phase. In this Letter, we introduce a novel, to the best of our knowledge, phase unwrapping algorithm named PD-VHS. This algorithm innovatively employs point spread function (PSF) filtering to eliminate noise from the wrapped phase. Furthermore, it combines a phase diversity (PD) wavefront reconstruction technology with a virtual Hartmann–Shack (VHS) technology for phase reconstruction and phase unwrapping of the filtered PSFs. In simulations, hundreds of random noise wrapped phases, containing the first 45 Zernike polynomials (excluding piston and the two tilt terms) and the wavefront RMS = 0.5λ and 1λ, are used to compare the classical quality-map guided algorithm, the VHS algorithm with decent noise immunity, with our PD-VHS algorithm. When signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) drops to just 2 dB, the mean root mean square errors (RMSEs) of the residual wavefront between the unwrapped result and the absolute phase of the quality-map guided algorithm and the VHS algorithm are up to 3.99λ, 0.44λ, 4.29λ, and 0.85λ, respectively; however, our algorithm RMSEs are low: 0.11λ and 0.17λ. Simulation results demonstrated that the PD-VHS algorithm significantly outperforms the quality-map guided algorithm and the VHS algorithm under large-scale noise conditions.
Surface relief VCSELs at 670 nm with integrated polymer microlens for highly collimated fundamental-mode emission
Authors: Engel Lena , Khamseh Farnaz , Zimmer Michael , Jetter Michael , Michler Peter
Published: April 2024

We demonstrate the integration of a wet-chemically etched surface relief on a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) emitting in the red spectral range for higher-order mode suppression. With this relief, fundamental-mode emission is achieved over the entire power range from threshold beyond thermal rollover. For collimation of the emitted beam, we implement polymer microlenses fabricated on-chip by a thermal reflow technique. We reduce the angle of divergence for all injected currents to a maximum of 2∘. By measuring high-resolution spectra, we show that Gaussian beam profiles correspond to pure fundamental-mode emission which is preserved after implementation of the polymer microlens onto the etched relief, proving the compatibility of the two processes.
MCell4 with BioNetGen: A Monte Carlo simulator of rule-based reaction-diffusion systems with Python interface
Authors: Husar Adam , Ordyan Mariam , Garcia Guadalupe C. , Yancey Joel G. , Saglam Ali S. , Faeder James R. , Bartol Thomas M. , Kennedy Mary B. , Sejnowski Terrence J.
Published: April 2024

Biochemical signaling pathways in living cells are often highly organized into spatially segregated volumes, membranes, scaffolds, subcellular compartments, and organelles comprising small numbers of interacting molecules. At this level of granularity stochastic behavior dominates, well-mixed continuum approximations based on concentrations break down and a particle-based approach is more accurate and more efficient. We describe and validate a new version of the open-source MCell simulation program (MCell4), which supports generalized 3D Monte Carlo modeling of diffusion and chemical reaction of discrete molecules and macromolecular complexes in solution, on surfaces representing membranes, and combinations thereof. The main improvements in MCell4 compared to the previous versions, MCell3 and MCell3-R, include a Python interface and native BioNetGen reaction language (BNGL) support. MCell4’s Python interface opens up completely new possibilities for interfacing with external simulators to allow creation of sophisticated event-driven multiscale/multiphysics simulations. The native BNGL support, implemented through a new open-source library libBNG (also introduced in this paper), provides the capability to run a given BNGL model spatially resolved in MCell4 and, with appropriate simplifying assumptions, also in the BioNetGen simulation environment, greatly accelerating and simplifying model validation and comparison.
Validity conditions of approximations for a target-mediated drug disposition model: A novel first-order approximation and its comparison to other approximations
Authors: Byun Jong Hyuk , Jeon Hye Seon , Yun Hwi-yeol , Kim Jae Kyoung
Published: April 2024

Target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) is a phenomenon characterized by a drug’s high-affinity binding to a target molecule, which significantly influences its pharmacokinetic profile within an organism. The comprehensive TMDD model delineates this interaction, yet it may become overly complex and computationally demanding in the absence of specific concentration data for the target or its complexes. Consequently, simplified TMDD models employing quasi-steady state approximations (QSSAs) have been introduced; however, the precise conditions under which these models yield accurate results require further elucidation. Here, we establish the validity of three simplified TMDD models: the Michaelis-Menten model reduced with the standard QSSA (mTMDD), the QSS model reduced with the total QSSA (qTMDD), and a first-order approximation of the total QSSA (pTMDD). Specifically, we find that mTMDD is applicable only when initial drug concentrations substantially exceed total target concentrations, while qTMDD can be used for all drug concentrations. Notably, pTMDD offers a simpler and faster alternative to qTMDD, with broader applicability than mTMDD. These findings are confirmed with antibody-drug conjugate real-world data. Our findings provide a framework for selecting appropriate simplified TMDD models while ensuring accuracy, potentially enhancing drug development and facilitating safer, more personalized treatments.
Decolonising global health research: Shifting power for transformative change
Authors: Kumar Ramya , Khosla Rajat , McCoy David
Published: April 2024

Recent debates on decolonizing global health have spurred interest in addressing the power asymmetries and knowledge hierarchies that sustain colonial ideas and relationships in global health research. This paper applies three intersecting dimensions of colonialism (colonialism within global health; colonisation of global health; and colonialism through global health) to develop a broader and more structural understanding of the policies and actions needed to decolonise global health research. It argues that existing guidelines and checklists designed to make global health research more equitable do not adequately address the underlying power asymmetries and biases that prevail across the global health research ecosystem. Beyond encouraging fairer partnerships within individual research projects, this paper calls for more emphasis on shifting the balance of decision-making power, redistributing resources, and holding research funders and other power-holders accountable to the places and peoples involved in and impacted by global health research.
Spatio-temporal distribution of hospitalizations for chronic Chagas disease and risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality and surgical intervention in Chile
Authors: Atero Nicolhole , Torres Marisa , Domínguez Angélica , Diethelm-Varela Benjamín , Córdova-Bührle Francisca , Mardones Fernando O.
Published: April 2024

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected parasitic zoonotic disease that affects over 6 million people worldwide. We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the spatiotemporal trends and risk factors for hospitalization rates of CD with cardiac and digestive diagnoses in Chile. We used the Mann-Kendall analysis for temporal trends, Global Moran’s Index, and Local Indicators of Spatial Association to identify spatial autocorrelation, and regression models to determine the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality and surgical intervention. Between 2010 and 2020, a total of 654 hospitalizations were reported, corresponding to 527 individuals. The hospitalization rate steadily decreased over the years (t = -0.636; p = 0.009). The Global Moran’s I for the study period showed a positive spatial autocorrelation for hospitalization municipality and for residence municipality of CD patients (I = 0.25, p<0.001 and I = 0.45, p<0.001 respectively), indicating a clustering of hospitalizations in northern municipalities. The most frequent diagnosis was a chronic CD with digestive system involvement (55.8%) followed by a chronic CD with heart involvement (44.2%). The highest percentage of hospital discharges was observed among males (56.9%) and in the 60–79 age group (52.7%). In-hospital mortality risk was higher with increasing age (OR = 1.04), and in patients with cardiac involvement (OR = 2.3), whereas factors associated with the risk of undergoing a surgical intervention were sex (OR = 1.6) and diagnosis of CD with digestive involvement (OR = 4.4). The findings of this study indicate that CD is still a significant public health burden in Chile. Efforts should focus on improving access to timely diagnoses and treatment, reducing disease progression and hospitalization burden, and supporting clinicians in preventing complications and deaths.
Comfort food concepts and contexts in which they are used: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Pereira Juliana Miranda , Guedes Melo Rute , de Souza Medeiros Joyanne , Queiroz de Medeiros Anna Cecília , de Araújo Lopes Fívia ,   on behalf of Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
Published: April 2024

Objective

The objectives of this study are to clarify the scientific definition of comfort food, identify which methodologies are being used in research on this topic and which factors are associated with the consumption of comfort food.

Introduction

The consumption of comfort foods is subjective and influenced by individual experiences, as they are known and appreciated by the person. However, divergences about the definition of comfort food in the scientific literature reflect the heterogeneity of the methods used in the research, and consequently identification of possible factors associated with the consumption of this type of food, which can influence the knowledge about the consumption of these foods and their potential effects on the health of those who consume them.

Inclusion criteria

Works with a qualitative and quantitative approach published in full in indexed sources or in gray literature, available online in the databases consulted, without restriction on language or year of publication will be included.

Methods

The protocol was built based on the methodological recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for scoping reviews and the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The Participants, Concept and Context (PCC) mnemonic strategy was built: general population, comfort food concept and world context. Based on this, search strategies were developed for different databases. Instruments were also developed for recording documents, extracting data, justifying the exclusion of documents and not obtaining access to content. A Pilot Study was conducted to test the developed methodology and instruments. The protocol has been registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF) (https://osf.io/gnza4/). The results will be presented in the review resulting from this protocol in three ways: accounting of the documents will be recorded in a PRISMA Flow Diagram, the main information of the studies and their frequencies will be presented in a table, and the union of these outcomes will be presented visually in a Graphical Abstract.
Effects of a dietary intervention on cardiometabolic risk and food consumption in a workplace
Authors: Shrestha Archana , Tamrakar Dipesh , Ghinanju Bhawana , Shrestha Deepa , Khadka Parashar , Adhikari Bikram , Shrestha Jayana , Waiwa Suruchi , Pyakurel Prajjwal , Bhandari Niroj , Karmacharya Biraj Man , Shrestha Akina , Shrestha Rajeev , Bhatta Rajendra Dev , Malik Vasanti , Mattei Josiemer , Spiegelman Donna
Published: April 2024

Background

Worksite-based health programs have shown positive impacts on employee health and have led to significant improvements in cardiovascular risk factor profiles. We aimed to determine the effect of cafeteria intervention on cardio-metabolic risk factors diet in a worksite setting (Dhulikhel Hospital) in Nepal.

Methods

In this one-arm pre-post intervention study, we recruited 277 non-pregnant hospital employees aged 18–60 with prediabetes or pre-hypertension. The study was registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03447340; 2018/02/27). All four cafeterias in the hospital premises received cafeteria intervention encouraging healthy foods and discouraging unhealthy foods for six months. We measured blood pressure, fasting glucose level, glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol in the laboratory, and diet intake (in servings per week) using 24-hour recall before and six months after the intervention. The before and after measures were compared using paired-t tests.

Results

After six months of cafeteria intervention, the median consumption of whole grains, mono/polyunsaturated fat, fruits, vegetable and nuts servings per week increased by 2.24(p<0.001), 2.88(p<0.001), 0.84(p<0.001) 2.25(p<0.001) and nuts 0.55 (p<0.001) servings per week respectively. The median consumption of refined grains decreased by 5.07 servings per week (p<0.001). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 2 mmHg (SE = 0.6; p = 0.003) and 0.1 mmHg (SE = 0.6; p = 0.008), respectively. The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was significantly reduced by 6 mg/dL (SE = 1.4; p<0.001).

Conclusion

Overall, we found a decrease in consumption of refined grains and an increase in consumption of whole grains, unsaturated fats, fruits, and nuts observed a modest reduction in blood pressure and LDL cholesterol following a 6-month cafeteria-based worksite intervention incorporating access to healthy foods.
When I am sixty-four… evaluating language markers of well-being in healthy aging narratives
Authors: Meier Tabea , Mehl Matthias R. , Martin Mike , Horn Andrea B.
Published: April 2024

Natural language use is a promising candidate for the development of innovative measures of well-being to complement self-report measures. The type of words individuals use can reveal important psychological processes that underlie well-being across the lifespan. In this preregistered, cross-sectional study, we propose a conceptual model of language markers of well-being and use written narratives about healthy aging (N = 701) and computerized text analysis (LIWC) to empirically validate the model. As hypothesized, we identified a model with three groups of language markers (reflecting affective, evaluative, and social processes). Initial validation with established self-report scales (N = 30 subscales) showed that these language markers reliably predict core components of well-being and underlying processes. Our results support the concurrent validity of the conceptual language model and allude to the added benefits of language-based measures, which are thought to reflect less conscious processes of well-being. Future research is needed to continue validating language markers of well-being across the lifespan in a theoretically informed and contextualized way, which will lay the foundation for inferring people’s well-being from their natural language use.
The impact of diabetes on physical and mental health status and patient satisfaction after total hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Power J. Denise , Trifoi Flaviu , Canizares Mayilee , Perruccio Anthony V. , Shanmugaraj Ajaykumar , Gandhi Rajiv , Davey J. Roderick , Syed Khalid , Mahomed Nizar N. , Veillette Christian , Rampersaud Y. Raja
Published: April 2024

Objective

To assess the impact of diabetes on physical and mental health status, as well as patient satisfaction, one-year following knee and hip total joint arthroplasty (TJA) for osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

Participants were 626 hip and 754 knee TJA patients. Pre-surgery data were collected on socio-demographics and health status. The 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) was collected pre- and one year post-surgery, and physical (PCS) and mental component (MCS) summary scores computed. One-year patient satisfaction was also recorded. Four regression models tested the effect of diabetes on: 1) PCS change score; 2) MCS change score; 3) achieving minimal clinically important improvement (MCII) on PCS; and 4) patient satisfaction (‘Somewhat or Very Satisfied’ vs. ‘Somewhat or Very Dissatisfied’). An interaction between surgical joint and diabetes was tested in each model.

Results

Self-reported diabetes prevalence was 13.0% (95% CI: 11.2%-14.7%) and was more common in knee 16.1% (95% CI: 13.4%-18.7%) than hip 9.3% (95% CI: 7.0%-11.5%) patients. In adjusted analyses, change scores were 2.3 units less on the PCS for those with diabetes compared to those without (p = 0.005). Patients with diabetes were about half as likely to achieve MCII as patients without diabetes (p = 0.004). Diabetes was not significantly associated with satisfaction or changes in MCS scores. Diabetes effects did not differ by surgical joint.

Conclusions

Findings support that diabetes has a negative impact on improvements in physical health after TJA. Considering the growing prevalence of OA and diabetes in the population, our findings support the importance of perioperative screening and management of diabetes in patients undergoing TJA.
Seriphidium herba-alba (Asso): A comprehensive study of essential oils, extracts, and their antimicrobial properties
Authors: Aqel Hazem , Farah Husni
Published: April 2024

Seriphidium herba-alba (Asso), a plant celebrated for its therapeutic qualities, is widely used in traditional medicinal practices throughout the Middle East and North Africa. In a detailed study of Seriphidium herba-alba (Asso), essential oils and extracts were analyzed for their chemical composition and antimicrobial properties. The essential oil, characterized using mass spectrometry and retention index methods, revealed a complex blend of 52 compounds, with santolina alcohol, α-thujone, β-thujone, and chrysanthenone as major constituents. Extraction yields varied significantly, depending on the plant part and method used; notably, methanol soaking of aerial parts yielded the most extract at 17.75%. The antimicrobial analysis showed that the extracts had selective antibacterial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, and broad-spectrum antifungal activity against organisms such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus spp. The methanol-soaked extract demonstrated the strongest antimicrobial properties, indicating its potential as a natural antimicrobial source. This study not only underscores the therapeutic potential of Seriphidium herba-alba (Asso) in pharmaceutical applications but also sets a foundation for future research focused on isolating specific bioactive compounds and in vivo testing.
A Review of Cloud Security Issues and Challenges
Authors: Agarwal Anamika , Verma Satya Bhushan , Gupta Bineet Kumar
Published: April 2024

The advancement of information technology today depends on cloud computing. Every cloud consumer continues to search for the best services available, particularly in terms of security. The absence of uniform standards in the security architecture of the cloud, especially within the cloud computing community, has become an ongoing problem. Most cloud service providers automatically follow the best security practises and actively protect the operation of their systems. Enterprises are required to independently judge the security of their data, apps, and the cloud’s workload. The complexity of security concerns is increasing as the digital environment develops. Virtualization, multi-tenancy, security controls, rules, and risk profiling are all concepts in cloud security. DoS, service injection, user-to-root attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, data loss leakage andloss, identity theft, and backdoor channel attacks are a few of the dangers associated with cloud computing. Cloud platforms, data outsourcing, data storage standardisation and security, data backup, and data recovery are all examples of cloud security services. Data storage, computation, untrusted computing, and virtualization security challenges are all a part of the cloud.
Estructura y coyuntura: políticas y desigualdad de ingresos en Argentina y Colombia en tiempos de COVID-19
Authors: Trujillo-Salazar Lucía
Published: April 2024

Este artículo examina las interacciones entre la estructura social, las políticas públicas y su incidencia en la desigualdad de las fuentes de ingreso de los hogares, en los casos de Argentina y Colombia, desde una perspectiva comparada. El periodo de estudio abarca desde antes de la pandemia del COVID-19 hasta la crisis generada por el virus y la fase de recuperación posterior. Los resultados demuestran que durante la crisis los gobiernos de Argentina y Colombia implementaron políticas de ingresos similares en términos generales. Sin embargo, se argumenta que la estructura de los mercados laborales y la institucionalidad de protección previa, en conjunto con el diseño de las políticas públicas específicas en cada país, son determinantes de la diferencia en la dinámica distributiva. Se pone en evidencia el impacto regresivo de los ingresos laborales y, a su vez, el rol compensador de las transferencias monetarias en los ingresos no laborales, aunque con matices entre ambos países.
Comparative study analysis of different microchannels heat sinks for enhancing the performance of photovoltaic (PV) thermal system
Authors: Shalash Jarah
Published: April 2024

PV panels are the most significant way for electricity generation. Further research is still required to increase the performance of PV panels. The temperature of the PV panels is a main factor behind getting higher efficiency. A comparison is made between different channels and different fluid mediums to get the maximum efficiency by using the variable heat flux. This study involves the temperature distribution analysis and the efficiency calculations of different heat sink configurations like circular, rectangular, and dimple with different fluids.
O relato de Sicsú sobre a recepção do pensamento keynesiano no Brasil e sua repercussão na economia da saúde
Authors: Wazima Cinthya Midori , Puopolo Giovanna Renelo , Souza Lívia , Oliveira Mercia Liane de
Published: April 2024

Analisou-se a recepção do pensamento keynesiano no Brasil à luz do relato de Sicsú no texto “Como Keynes e suas ideias chegaram ao Brasil”, e como este pensamento econômico influenciou a saúde, por meio da análise do artigo de Hésio Cordeiro intitulado “Financiamento do setor saúde: proposta para a transição democrática”. Assim, este artigo foi estruturado em quatro partes. Inicialmente, fizemos um resgate biográfico intelectual e político-institucional dos autores João Sicsú e Hésio Cordeiro. A segunda parte apresenta os argumentos que Sicsú desenvolve ao entendimento da ampla aceitação das ideias de Keynes no Brasil. A terceira parte busca explorar a hipótese de Sicsú, por meio da análise da obra de Cordeiro, buscando ali elementos que a identifiquem ao pensamento keynesiano. Por fim, as considerações finais ressaltam a influência de Keynes nas ideias de Cordeiro e na construção do que viria a ser o Sistema Único de Saúde no Brasil.
O patrimônio industrial e o teatro: ocupações de galpões desativados utilizados para práticas cênicas em diferentes conformações espaciais
Authors: Furquim Werneck Lima Evelyn
Published: April 2024

O artigo propõe discutir práticas artísticas, em especial as teatrais, que têm se apropriado de estruturas industriais, portuárias, agrícolas e ferroviárias, partindo de ocupações de diferentes possibilidades espaciais em galpões industriais desativados de valor patrimonial. Tais ocupações buscam assegurar uma relação participativa entre palco e plateia e estabelecem papel relevante na fruição entre o corpo e o espaço, fora do edifício teatral específico. À luz da fundamentação teórica selecionada entre pesquisadores anglo- saxões que elaboram conceitos sobre o tema, tais como Marvin Carlson, Juliet Rufford e Andrew Filmer, a questão argumentativa deste recorte da pesquisa foi investigar como estruturas industriais vêm sendo apropriadas na cena brasileira como espaços de performance de distintas configurações.
“outra coisa”
Authors: Andraus Mariana
Published: April 2024

Este artigo tem por objetivo refletir sobre relações entre dança e tecnologia dentro do período do isolamento social imposto pela pandemia covid-19, procurando analisar repercussões da transposição do formato presencial para o remoto.
Multiletramentos e Educação Inclusiva
Authors: Sá Martins Ana Patrícia , Pagliarini Cristina
Published: April 2024

A pandemia mundial desencadeada pelo Covid – 19 implicou uma série de transformações nas mais diversas esferas da sociedade. As instituições educacionais, já tão assoladas por problemas de distintas naturezas, precisaram convocar discentes e docentes a se reinventarem. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho visa analisar como práticas multiletradas podem oportunizar maior inclusão de alunos com paralisia cerebral em seu processo de aprendizagem, mesmo em contextos de ensino remoto. Sob o aporte dos Novos Estudos do Letramento e da Educação Inclusiva, desenvolvemos uma pesquisa-ação interventiva, durante o segundo semestre letivo de 2020, com um aluno da rede municipal de ensino da cidade Balsas, no Sul do Maranhão, diagnosticado com paralisia cerebral. A partir dos resultados gerados através de entrevista e observações on-line com a mãe do aluno, bem como das proposições pedagógicas desenvolvidas, é possível afirmar que o aluno com paralisia cerebral precisa de acompanhamento multidisciplinar, para que possa ter sucesso no processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Argumentamos também que os recursos tecnológicos, quando didaticamente adaptados, podem transformar-se como instrumentos fundamentais no processo de ensino-aprendizagem, pois facilitam e contribuem para o desenvolvimento de múltiplas práticas letradas na ação educativa, possibilitando às crianças com deficiência a inclusão no espaço escolar e no convívio social.
ensino sobre o Cerrado:
Authors: Ferreira da Silva Bruno , Lopes Ferreira Gustavo
Published: April 2024

O trabalho destina-se a analisar os livros de Ciências da Natureza aprovados pelo PNLD no ciclo 2021-2023 e entender como os conteúdos relacionados ao bioma Cerrado são apresentados em tais materiais após a reforma do ensino médio e a adequação às diretrizes da BNCC. Além de perceber como essa nova configuração do ensino médio influencia na educação significativa dos alunos. A partir da abordagem usada para tratar sobre o bioma Cerrado em tais livros, é possível entender que há ainda uma discrepância entre o que se propõe contemplar como habilidades e competências da BNCC e os conteúdos apresentados nos livros. Verificou-se que há uma supressão dos conteúdos em decorrência da nova carga horária, que impacta diretamente no aprendizado  dos alunos e seu desempenho em avaliações e vestibulares.
Blogs no ensino e formação de professores de inglês
Authors: Oliveira Fonseca Hejaine
Published: April 2024

Este artigo discute as contribuições de um curso on-line, voltado para a produção do gênero digital blog, para a formação do professor de inglês. Fundamentamo-nos no Modelo de Operação Global da Formação de Professores de Línguas e em estudos sobre gêneros digitais e multimodalidade. Participaram do curso estudantes de Letras, Educação do Campo e professores da Educação Básica. Selecionamos uma amostra de seis blogs em que analisamos o processo de criação, priorizando as condições de produção e as ações de design. Os resultados demonstraram que os participantes foram capazes de desenvolver um blog para o ensino de inglês no contexto da Educação Básica, além de se tornarem mais críticos a respeito do processo de criação desse gênero digital. Isso aponta a importância de cursos de formação voltados para os gêneros digitais para o desenvolvimento do perfil e da prática pedagógica do professor, o que se mostra mais relevante em tempos pandêmicos, em razão da necessidade da adoção dos gêneros digitais no ensino remoto.
Padrão Espacial de Ocorrência de Plantação de Mandioca na Amazônia Brasileira: a Região Oeste do Estado do Pará
Authors: Pacheco Flávia Domingos , Escada Maria Isabel Sobral , Souza Anielli Rosane de
Published: April 2024

Os principais sistemas de monitoramento do uso e cobertura da terra no Brasil não distinguem a agricultura de pequena escala, categoria que inclui áreas de plantação de mandioca na Amazônia. Gerar informações sobre a distribuição espacial desses sistemas historicamente invisibilizados é fundamental para o desenvolvimento de políticas que visem fortalecer essa economia. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar áreas potenciais de ocorrência de plantação de mandioca em municípios do Oeste do Pará, com o uso de técnica de inferência geográfica fuzzy. A área de estudo corresponde aos municípios de Aveiro, Belterra, Santarém e Mojuí dos Campos. Foram utilizadas variáveis associadas a áreas de plantação de mandioca: proporção de área de vegetação secundária e de mosaicos de ocupação, proximidade de vilas e corpos d’água, presença de unidades de conservação de uso sustentável (UCUS) e de projetos de assentamento (PA).  As variáveis foram inseridas em uma grade regular de células de 2 x 2 km e combinadas por meio do operador espacial fuzzy gamma. Os resultados indicaram um acerto de 70% na classificação de áreas de médio e alto potencial de ocorrência de plantação de mandioca. Essas áreas estão mais presentes no município de Santarém (58 – 81%), seguido por Mojuí dos Campos (11 – 14%), Aveiro (9 – 14%) e Belterra (9 – 10%). As áreas de plantação de mandioca concentram-se em áreas ribeirinhas. Nessas áreas também se localiza a maior parte das UCUS e dos PA. Esse método se mostrou robusto e pode ser replicado em períodos intracensitarios, apoiando a compreensão sobre a dinâmica e a distribuição espacial, importantes para políticas públicas.
INFORMATION MODELING AT THE STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION PLANNING
Authors: Tumanov S. , Gushchina Y. , Makrushin N. , Risunov A. , Kalinovsky S.
Published: April 2024

Buildings and structures are complex technical systems described by a number of criteria. Information modeling enables high-quality visualization of the process and the dependence of calculated data on construction plan-ning to be combined. The process of choosing the most optimal variant of space-planning, design, and technological so-lutions in information modeling is significantly accelerated. The model allows for spatial-temporal intersections to be analyzed and factors depending on such intersections to be adjusted. This in turn enables real-time display of changes in all construction indicators throughout the construction of the object, both broadly (similar to the currently used ca-lendar and network plans) and more precisely, in terms of how the implementation of specific technological operations or their adjustments can change the market value and duration of a property as a whole. In this paper, the main problems that arise when using existing information modeling methods are considered and recommendations are derived which will make it possible to implement more successful decisions on optimizing the design and construction of residential buildings, namely visibility, structural reliability and safety, minimizing possible cost, and reducing the construction period.