bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of HLA Mismatch on Post-Transplant Infections in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation with PTCy-Based GvHD Prophylaxis
Authors: Marra John , Galli Eugenio , Giammarco Sabrina , Chiusolo Patrizia , Metafuni Elisabetta , sora federica , laurenti luca , Innocenti Idanna , Autore Francesco , Limongiello Maria Assunta , Fresa Alberto , bacigalupo a , Sica Simona
Published: February 2023

The aim of the study was to assess the risk of infections in the first 100 days in patients grafted from haploidentical donors (HAPLO) (n=116) or HLA-matched donors (MATCHED) (Related, n=29; unrelated n=39): all patients received graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy), mycophenolate, and cyclosporine. The two groups had comparable age, intensity of conditioning, and disease status; the stem cell source was bone marrow for HAPLO and peripheral blood for MATCHED transplants. HAPLO patients had an increased risk of bloodstream infections (BSI) (HR 2.54; 95% CI 1.39-4.62; p=0.002), in particular gram-positive BSI (HR 4.42; 95% CI 1.57-12.5; p=0.005). HAPLO patients also had increased CMV infection/reactivation (HR 3.51; 95% CI 1.79-6.87; p<0.001) and a trend for increased invasive fungal infections (HR 1.80; 95% CI 0.90-3.57; p=0.10) and EBV infection/reactivation (HR 2.07; 95% CI 0.44-9.70; p=0.35). Overall, post-transplant infections were more likely to result in infection-related mortality in HAPLO grafts (p=0.03). In this single-center study, patients with HAPLO grafts had an increased risk of BSI and CMV infection/reactivation and a trend for increased IFI and EBV infection/reactivation, compared with MATCHED grafts. These findings call for diligent monitoring of infections in patients undergoing a HAPLO transplant.
A Retrospective Analysis of Risk Factors and Patient Outcomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bloodstream Infections in a Chinese Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Peng Suqin , Xiong Jianqiu , Gu Shumin , Hu Longhua , Hang Yaping , Chen Yanhui , Fang Xueyao , Xiao Yanping , Cao Xingwei , Luo Hong , Zhu Hongying , Zhong Qiaoshi
Published: February 2023

Purpose
Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA) is a common pathogen that causes bloodstream infections (BSI).This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and clinical outcomes of BSI caused by PA.
Methods
A single-center retrospective study was conducted to analyze the risk factors and outcomes of PA BSI at a Chinese tertiary hospital over a 10-year period. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who received a sequential organ function assessment (SOFA) score < 4 were compared with those of patients who received a SOFA score ≥4.
Results
During the 10-year period, 174 eligible patients with PA BSI were included in the study, 95 of whom had a SOFA score of < 4. Multivariate analysis revealed that Pitt score, adjusted Charlson comorbidity index > 6 points, and empirical imipenem treatment were independent risk factors for 14-day treatment failure in patients with PA BSI having a SOFA score ≥ 4 points. Empirical imipenem treatment and ICU admission were independent risk factors for 14-day treatment failure in patients with PA BSI having a SOFA score < 4. Prior exposure to antimicrobials and SOFA score were significantly associated with 30-day mortality in the PA BSI population. Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, we found no significant difference in clinical outcomes between patients receiving definitive β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (BLICs), and carbapenems (P=0.874).
Conclusion
The empirical use of imipenem was an independent risk factor for 14-day treatment failure. Our results suggest that clinicians empirically treat patients based on a combination of their condition, history of antibiotic exposure, and the likelihood of drug susceptibility to the most likely pathogens. No significant divergence in clinical outcomes was observed between patients treated with carbapenems and BLICs as definitive treatment for PA bacteremia.
Shear-wave Elastography Measures of Pelvic Floor Muscle Correlated with Transabdominal Ultrasound Measures of Bladder Displacement for Assessing Pelvic Floor Function
Authors: Do Yerim , Lim Youngeun , Lee Suhyeon , Lee Haneul
Published: February 2023

Purpose
This study primarily aimed to investigate the association between levator ani elasticity on shear-wave elastography and bladder base displacement using transabdominal ultrasonography for evaluating pelvic floor muscle function.
Methods
Forty-two nulliparous women were included in the study. Kegel exercises were used for educating how to contract pelvic floor muscles. The elasticity of the levator ani muscle at rest and during contraction using shear-wave elastography and bladder base displacement using transabdominal ultrasonography were obtained, simultaneously.
Results
The intraclass correlation coefficient for repeated measures of levator ani elasticity was 0.906 at rest and 0.687 during contraction. The mean levator ani elasticity was 24.7 ± 4.5 kPa at rest and 62.1 ± 10.4 kPa during contraction, mean bladder base displacement was 7.2 ± 2.5 mm, and normalized bladder base displacement was 0.3 ± 0.1 mm. Additionally, a moderate correlation coefficient was found between bladder base displacement and levator ani elasticity differences between contraction and rest (r = 0.486, p = 0.001).
Conclusion
Transperineal shear-wave elastography is reliable for assessing the elasticity of levator ani by providing a non-invasive evaluation of pelvic floor muscle function. Additionally, the study findings suggest shear-wave elastography as a promising technique for establishing appropriate treatment plans for pelvic floor disorders.
“Everyone needs a Deb”: what Australian Indigenous women say about breast cancer screening and treatment services
Authors: Christie Vita , Green Deb , Skinner John , Riley Lynette , O'Shea Ross , Littlejohn Karen , Pyke Christopher , McCowen Debbie , Rambaldini Boe , Gwynne Kylie
Published: February 2023

Background
Breast cancer continues to be the second most diagnosed cancer and the most diagnosed cancer for women in Australia. While mortality rates overall have declined in recent years, Indigenous women continue to be diagnosed at more marginal rates (0.9 times) and are more likely to die (1.2 times). This is also the case for Indigenous women in high income countries globally. The literature provides a myriad of reasons for this; however, the voices of Indigenous women are largely absent. This study sets out to understand what is happening from the perspectives of Australian Indigenous women with a view to charting culturally safer pathways that improve participation in screening and treatment by Indigenous women.
Methods
This study was conducted using semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Snowball sampling for recruitment of Indigenous women and service providers who were subsequently consented into the study through the Aboriginal Health Service and the research team. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim, and data coded in NVivo12 using inductive thematic analysis.
Results
A total of 21 Indigenous women and 14 health service providers were interviewed from, predominantly from the same regional/rural area in NSW, with a small proportion from other states in Australia. Six major themes were identified: Access, Awareness, Community and Family, Lack of control, Negative feelings and associations and Role of services.
Conclusion
To improve access and participation of Indigenous women and ultimately improve mortality rates, breast cancer services must explicitly address cultural and community needs.
A supervised algorithm entirely trained on a synthetic dataset to segment granular suspension images
Authors: Paulovics David , Figliuzzi Bruno , Dumont Théo , Blanc Frédéric
Published: February 2023

We present in this article a novel methodology for segmenting experimental images of granular suspensions, which uses a convolutional neural network trained on synthetic images generated with a morphological model. In many image processing problems related to physical applications, the lack of annotated data prevents the use of state-of-the-art supervised algorithms. Our solution to overcome this issue is to alleviate the need for annotated images by using a generative morphological model to construct synthetic images subsequently used as training samples. When applied to actual images of a suspension, the convolutional neural network presents good generalization properties and surpasses the performances of traditional segmentation algorithms. This gain in accuracy is crucial to improve the estimation of the local concentration field in the suspension.
Human health risks of metals contamination in Shallow Wells around waste dumpsites in Abeokuta Metropolis, Southwestern, Nigeria
Authors: Okoye Harvester O. , Bankole Abayomi O. , Ayegbokiki Adedayo O. , James Abraham O. , Bankole Afolashade R. , Oluyege Damilola E.
Published: February 2023

Metals contamination in shallow wells through solid waste leaching is a serious environmental problem with potential contribution to the global cancer cases. This paper evaluated the health risks of metals in shallow wells around dumpsites in Abeokuta Metropolis, Nigeria. Five dumpsites were purposively selected to sample twenty-five shallow wells. In-situ and laboratory analysis for pH and Electrical conductivity, copper, lead, Cadmium, Iron, and Chromium were conducted following the APHA standard procedure. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for oral and dermal routes were evaluated for adult male and female, children, and infant. Findings show that all wells are highly acidic (pH = 4.08–5.24), with Fe and Cd concentration above the established limits. Wells around Obada, Obantoko, and Saje dumpsites have high EC (upto 1200µS/cm), Cu, and Pb concentration above the permissible limits. Non-carcinogenic risks for oral ingestion were significant (HI > 1) for all age groups, and the significance level across dumping area increases in the order: Saje > Obantoko > Obada > Idi-aba > Lafenwa. All wells assessed in Saje and Obantoko recorded significant HI of dermal exposure for children and infants. Cancer risks were significant (CR > 1.0E-04) for all age groups, and metal contributions followed: Cd > Cr > Pb. Overall trend of significant risks for non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic via oral and dermal routes are in the order: infant > children > adult female > adult male. This show that groundwater users within the studied areas may experience diverse illnesses or cancer in their lifetime, particularly children and infant.
An Effective Simple Question Answering Framework using Knowledge Graph Embedding
Authors: Chen Jiabao , Fan Yongquan , Zhou Tianyi , Li Linsen , Huang Huajing
Published: February 2023

Question answering over knowledge graph(KGQA) is an important research direction in question answering(QA) tasks. It is given a natural language question, which is answered by semantic understanding and parsing of the question using facts from the knowledge graph(KG).Currently, the main challenges for simple KGQA are the ambiguity of entities and the accuracy of relation linking. To bridge this gap, we propose an effective KG embedding based simple question answering framework (KGESQA) that embeds entity and relation in the KG into a continuous vector space, thus preserving the structural information in the KG while facilitating computation. We then used KG embedding to improve the effectiveness of entity linking and relation linking. The method uses entity type information to entity disambiguation, then embeds the subject entities of questions into the KG embedding space to find their corresponding entity, and uses the textual information of the word embedding and the structural information of the KG embedding to improve the accuracy of relation linking. Experiments conducted in a widely adopted benchmark test show that our proposed KGESQA outperforms state-of-the-art methods.
Usefulness of the Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System for laparoscopic colectomy for transverse colon cancer: a Japanese multicenter analysis
Authors: Ishimaru Kazuhide , Tominaga Tetsuro , Nonaka Takashi , Hisanaga Makoto , Takeshita Hiroaki , Fukuoka Hidetoshi , To Kazuo , Tanaka Kenji , Sawai Terumitsu , Nagayasu Takeshi
Published: February 2023

Purpose
Laparoscopic colectomy for transverse colon cancer (TCC) can be technically demanding due to the anatomical complexity of the region. In Japan, the Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System (ESSQS) was established to improve the skill of laparoscopic surgeons and further develop surgical teams. We examined the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic colectomy for TCC, and evaluated the effects of the Japanese ESSQS in facilitating this approach.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 136 patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy for TCC between April 2016 and December 2021. Patients were divided into an expert group (surgery performed by an ESSQS-qualified surgeon, n = 52) and a non-expert group (surgery performed by an ESSQS-unqualified surgeon, n = 84). Clinicopathological and surgical features were compared between groups.
Results
Postoperative complications occurred in 37 patients (27.2%). The proportion of patients who developed postoperative complications was lower in the expert group (8.0%) than in the non-expert group (34.5%; p < 0.017). Multivariate analysis revealed “Operation by ESSQS-qualified surgeon” (Odds ratio [OR] 0.360, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.140–0.924; p = 0.033), blood loss (OR 4.146, 95%CI 1.688–10.184; p = 0.002) and clinical N status (OR 4.563, 95%CI 1.814–11.474; p = 0.001) as factors independently associated with postoperative complications.
Conclusion
The present multicenter study confirmed the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic colectomy for TCC and revealed that ESSQS-qualified surgeons achieved better surgical outcomes.
Innovative low-cost engineered adsorbents based on waste eggshell for nickel removal from aqueous solutions
Authors: SEGNEANU Adina-Elena , TRUSCA Roxana , CEPAN Claudiu , MIHAILESCU Maria , MUNTEAN Cornelia , Grozescu Ioan
Published: February 2023

In the current circular economy, innovation is requisite for waste reuse into new efficient materials designed to minimize pollution and conserve non-renewable natural reserves. Water pollution is a global problem with health, quality of life and food security reverberations.In this study were prepared two newly low-cost engineered adsorbents from eggshells for nickel retention from aqueous solutions. SEM results showed that, in the first adsorbent (EZ), the zeolite nanoparticles were loaded in the eggshell pores. The preparation route for the second adsorbent led to the double functionalization of the eggshell with the nano-sized particles of zeolite and simultaneously eggshell pores and zeolite surface loading with FeOOH particles. The eggshell structural modification was confirmed by the BET analysis. These features enabled the proposed adsorbents to remove nickel with high performance and adsorption capacities of 321.11 mg/g and 287.9 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm data follow the Freundlich model (ΔG<0, ΔH<0; ΔS>0) and pseudo-second-order kinetics model. These results indicate that nickel adsorption on adsorbents is a multi-molecular layer, spontaneous and endothermic process. Subsequently, the desorption results exhibit the higher reusability of both adsorbents. This study's outcomes conclude the use of waste to design new, low-cost, and highly efficient engineered adsorbents.
DLGNet: Adversarial Reinforcement Learning for Disease Label Generation
Authors: Yang Ce , Chen Zhenghan , Wang Ye , Tang Xunzhu
Published: February 2023

International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding has been considered as a multi-label prediction problem, requiring the assignment of one or more codes to a detailed discharge summary. Existing automatic ICD coding algorithms struggle to effectively classify medical diagnosis texts representing deep sparse categories. We propose Disease Label Generation Network (DLGNet), a novel adversarial network that transforms ICD codes into a label generation challenge. This strategy faces three major challenges: (1) How to extract the relationship between clinical text and ICD codes? (2) What training methods should be used to improve the generalization and effectiveness of network? (3) How to evaluate the quality of disease labels generated by the DLGNet? For (1), we develop an information integration module (MIM) to encode the relationship between clinical text and ICD codes. For (2), we present adversarial training algorithms, such as reinforcement causal learning and adversarial perturbation regularization. For (3), we present a Label Discriminator (LD) that calculates the reward for each ICD code in the Label Generator (LG). In conclusion, DLGNet outperforms existing state-of-the-art approaches on evaluation measures such as micro-F1, leading to the formation of a new SOTA. The code is available at anonymous github link: https://anonymous.4open.science/r/DLGNet-787D.
The influence of sociodemographic factors on COVID-19 vaccine mandate acceptance: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Smith David , Zhu David T. , Hawken Steven , Bota A. Brianne , Mithani Salima S. , Marcon Alessandro , Pennycook Gordon , Greyson Devon , Caulfield Timothy , Graves Frank , Smith Jeff , Wilson Kumanan
Published: February 2023

Introduction
Vaccine certificates have been implemented worldwide, aiming to promote vaccination rates and to reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, they are not without controversy and have been criticized for infringing upon medical autonomy and individual rights.
Methods
We administered a national web-based survey exploring public attitudes towards vaccine mandates, vaccine acceptance, and demographic variables. We conducted a multivariate linear regression which revealed key social and demographic factors that were predictive of vaccine certificate acceptance in Canada.
Results
Self-reported minority status (p<0.001), rurality (p<0.001), political ideology (p<0.001), age (p<0.001), having children under 18 in the household (p<0.001), education (p=0.014), and income status (p=0.034) were significant predictors of attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines and mandates. We found that the most common reasons for COVID-19 vaccination included personal health and safety, protecting others, and travel/work requirements. In contrast, the most common reasons for refusing COVID19 vaccination include perceived violations of personal freedoms, health and safety concerns, and a lack of perceived threat of COVID-19.
Conclusion
The present findings are valuable for their ability to inform the implementation of vaccine certificate which may require targeted communication between public health agencies and under-vaccinated populations.
ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN UKRAINE
Authors: Ryabushka Lyudmila , Yusiuk Andrii
Published: February 2023

In today's world, FDI plays an important role for developing economies, as it not only transfers technology and capital, but also determines the dynamics and depth of economic growth and shows the speed of the process of transformation of the economic ecosystem at the national and global levels. Despite the above advantages, the inflow of FDI into Ukraine is not as great as in other countries of the region.
The purpose of this article is to analyze the factors influencing foreign direct investment in Ukraine. In this article, based on foreign experience, economic, institutional and other factors influencing FDI were analyzed. Also, the dependence of the inflow of foreign direct investment in the context of Ukraine was assessed, and the prospects and forecast of future investment income were described.
The results of the analysis carried out during the writing of this article made it possible to determine the factors that affect the inflow of FDI into the country's economy in order to assess their impact in the context of Ukraine. These include: market size measured by GDP, exchange rate, average wage, indicators of human potential, ease of doing business, level of corruption, tax burden, rule of law index, as well as the impact of regional trade agreements, in particular the free trade zone between Ukraine and EU, established in 2016.
Some factors influencing the inflow of FDI to Ukraine over the past 10 years were graphically analyzed, which allowed systematizing a large volume of researched data and became the basis for further analysis of Ukraine's investment situation. After that, regression equations were constructed for each of the influence factors and coefficients of determination were determined. Thus, it can be concluded that in the context of Ukraine, the following factors were statistically significant: institutional indicators, nominal GDP, which measured market potential, the exchange rate of the US dollar, as well as the regional trade agreement factor, which was measured by the volume of trade between Ukraine and the EU. While others show no significant effect or are not supported by the relevant theory. At the end of the article, forecasts of future FDI inflows to Ukraine after the end of the war were formed and described.
Regarding recommendations for further research on this topic, it would be useful to analyze the influence of corruption indicators on the inflow of foreign direct investment to Ukraine, as well as the influence of human development of Ukrainians on the attractiveness of investments in the state, as well as to conduct a study of how important labor costs are strength in attracting FDI to Ukraine.
Origin of gem-quality turquoise associated with quartz-barite veins in western Hubei Province, China: Constraints from mineralogical, fluid inclusion, and C-O-H isotopic data
Authors: Li Wen-Tian , Jiang Shao-Yong , Zhang Hao , Cui Pei-Long
Published: February 2023

Two types of turquoise, including homogeneous Cu-rich turquoise and oscillatory zoned turquoise-planerite series, are recognized in association with quartz-barite veins hosted by Cambrian carbonaceous slates from western Hubei Province of China. Combined fluid inclusion and Raman micro-spectroscopic data reveal that turquoise-bearing barite-quartz veins contain three types of fluid inclusions (pure CH4-N2, carbonic-aqueous, and aqueous), suggesting the responsible fluid is of carbonic-aqueous composition with low oxygen fugacity. Pressure-corrected homogenization temperatures in quartz and barite show a range from 325 to 485 °C and 186 to 391 °C, respectively. Carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen isotopic data suggest that the mineral-forming fluids have a mixed metamorphic-organic affinity, in which the fluids have δ18O and δD values of 15.0 to 18.8‰ and –111 to –93‰, respectively. Generally, the formation of quartz-barite-turquoise veins could be triggered by prior metamorphic devolatilization, followed by the interaction of fluids with country rocks enriched in carbonaceous material, which resulted in the leaching of Cu, Fe, P, and Al from chalcopyrite, pyrite, magnetite, monazite, xenotime, apatite, feldspar, and muscovite in the wall rocks. Decomposition of the organic matter in the carbonaceous slates, caused by regional metamorphism and deformation, could also promote the concentration and transportation of necessary metals for the turquoise. Thus, we propose a new model and suggest that the turquoise gem deposits in western Hubei Province of China belong to the non-magmatic hydrothermal vein type deposit, not the previously proposed supergene origin. The turquoise-forming fluids were characterized by the coexistence of two immiscible fluids of nonmagmatic affinity (i.e., moderate to high-temperature and low-salinity aqueous fluid and pure CH4-N2 fluid formed by interaction with carbonaceous slates). The bluish green homogeneous turquoise in the metamorphic quartz-barite-turquoise veins evolved toward the turquoise-planerite solid solution series as the metal-leaching capability of the aqueous fluids decreased.
Correlation between Hinckley index and stacking order-disorder in kaolinite
Authors: Rao Wenxiu , Liu Xin , Lv Guocheng , Liu Meng , Wang Lijuan , Niu Jinan , Li Zhaohui , Liao Libing
Published: February 2023

Hinckley index (Hi) can be used to characterize the crystallinity of kaolinite. Stacking order-disorder in kaolinite can considerably affect its crystallinity. However, the correlation between Hi and stacking order-disorder in kaolinite has not been reported thus far. Herein, the correlation between stacking order-disorder in kaolinite and Hi was investigated via experiments (XRD, IR spectroscopy, TG-DSC), molecular simulation, and structure refinement. First, we experimentally discovered that the stacking order-disorder in kaolinite changed the relative position between two adjacent structural layers, mainly affecting the interlayer forces. When the kaolinite layers are orderly stacked, the inter-layer force is higher and the stacking lattice energy is lower. The lattice energy of kaolinite in different stacking states was simulated and analyzed using first-principles calculation. It was determined that the kaolinite layers are orderly stacked when two kaolinite layers have zero shift and disorderly stacked otherwise. Finally, through structural refinements, we proposed a new crystallinity index based on stacking order-disorder in kaolinite (crystallinity index based on stacking, CIS). CIS was well fitted to Hi (R2 = 0.986), indicating that kaolinite crystallinity, characterized by Hi, is essentially the ratio of orderly stacking to total stacking (the sum of ordered and disordered stacks). Furthermore, measuring Hi is difficult when kaolinite crystallinity is poor; however, CIS can be used alternatively. This study of the crystallinity of kaolinite will have important significance for its industrial application.
Swarm intelligence machine-learning-assisted progressive global optimization of DNAPL-contaminated aquifer remediation strategy
Authors: Zhang Yunfeng , Chen Huanliang , Lv Minghui , Hou Zeyu , Wang Yu
Published: February 2023

Remediation projects of DNAPL-contaminated groundwater generally face difficulties of low contaminant removal rate and high remediation cost. Hence, a machine-learning-assisted mixed-integer multi-objective optimization technique was presented for efficiently programming remediation strategies. A swarm intelligence multi-kernel extreme learning machine (SI-MKELM) was proposed to build a reliable intelligent surrogate model of the multiphase flow numerical simulation model for reducing the computational cost of repetitive CPU-demanding remediation efficiency evaluations, and a hyper-heuristic homotopy algorithm was developed for progressively searching the global optimum of the remediation strategy. The results showed that: (1) The multi-kernel extreme learning machine improved by swarm intelligence algorithm significantly improved the approximation accuracy to the numerical model, and the mean residual and mean relative error were only 0.7596% and 1.0185%, respectively. (2) It only took 0.1 s to run the SI-MKELM. Replacing the numerical model with SI-MKELM considerably reduced the computational burden of the simulation–optimization process and maintained high computational accuracy for optimizing the DNAPL-contaminated aquifer remediation strategy. (3) The hyper-heuristic homotopy algorithm was capable of progressively searching the global optimum, and avoiding premature convergence in the optimization process. It effectively improved the searching ability of the traditional heuristic algorithms.
Hydrological performance of rain gardens having Calendula officinalis plant with varied planting mixtures
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Singh Krishna Kumar
Published: February 2023

The rain gardens (RGs) have been one of the best management practices in cities to reduce the impact of urban flooding. However, very little is known about various design parameters of RGs, viz., the type of plantation, planting mixtures, and RG dimensions. This study pertains to examining the influence of planting mixtures on the variations of percolation rates of the RG with Calendula officinalis plant and without plants. Six types of planting mixtures in different experimental RGs have been tried. It has been observed that the percolation rate increases with a higher percentage of compost in the planting mixture for RGs with and without plants. The percolation rate is highest for the planting mixture having 25% compost. The runoff rate reduces with a higher percentage of compost in the planting mixture for RGs with C. officinalis and bare surfaces. No runoff is produced in RGs with plant having a compost of more than 20% in the planting mixture. The outcome of the study will be useful in deciding the composition of the planting mixture which will keep the RG plant healthy and at the same time improve the hydrological performance leading to lowering urban flooding magnitude.
Tight Junctions in the Auditory System: Structure, Distribution and
Function
Authors: Gao Xiang , Chen Changsheng , Shi Shuai , Qian Fuping , Liu Dong , Gong Jie
Published: February 2023

Tight junctions act as a barrier between epithelial cells to limit the transport of the paracellular substance, which is a required function in various tissues to sequestrate diverse microenvironments and maintain a normal physiological state. Tight junctions are complexes that contain various proteins, like transmembrane proteins, scaffolding proteins, signaling proteins, etc. Defects in those tight junction-related proteins can lead to hearing loss in humans which is also recapitulated in many model organisms. The disruption of the barrier between the endolymph and perilymph caused by tight junction abnormalities will affect the microenvironment of hair cells; and this could be the reason for this type of hearing loss. Besides their functions as a typical barrier and channel, tight junctions are also involved in many signaling networks to regulate gene expression, cell proliferation, and differentiation. This review will summarize the structures, localization, and related signaling pathways of hearing-related tight junction proteins and their potential contributions to the hearing disorder.
Aloe-emodin Quantification using HPTLC and RP-UHPLC in
Extracts and Commercial Herbal Formulations: Evaluation of
Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Effects
Authors: Ahmad Sufiyan , Dakne Ganesh , Taleuzzaman Mohamad , Sarafroz Mohammad , Yadav Pankaj , Khatoon Yasmin , Haque Ziyaul
Published: February 2023

Background:

High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) was
developed and validated for the determination of aloe-emodin in accordance with ICH
guidelines. In addition, a novel RP-UHPLC method was developed, and both methods
were used to analyse the herbal extract and herbal formulation.

Methods:

Separation was carried out on a silica gel 60 F254 HPTLC plate using the mobile
phase Toluene: Methanol (9:1). The linearity was good across the 800-4000 ng/spot
range. Validation results are within acceptable limits. The percent RSD for accuracy was
0.58-1.77, and precision was 1.10-1.97 and 1.45-1.94 for intraday and interday, respectively.
The percentage of aloe-emodin found in the herbal extract and aloe vera capsule
was 99.83 ± 1.19 and 99.53 ± 1.29, respectively, using this method.

Results:

Quantification of aloe-emodin in herbal extract and herbal formulation were
done using a novel UHPLC method with chromatographic conditions of orthophosphoric
acid Methanol (0.1 percent OPA): Water (65:35, v/v) and pH 3, a flow rate of 1.2
ml/min, and elute detection at 254 nm. At 6.32 minutes, a sharp and symmetric peak was
observed. The method developed was validated in accordance with ICH guidelines. The
percent RSD numerical value of accuracy was 0.304-0.576, and the inter-day and intraday
precision were 0.32-3.08 and 0.51-2.78, respectively. Herbal extract and aloe vera
capsule were analysed using the new UHPLC method. Aloe-emodin percentages were
reported as 100.3 ± 0.89 and 99.53 ± 1.29, respectively.

Conclusion:

The antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities of an aloe-vera herbal formulation
were studied, and the results were positive.
Introduction to the Problem of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Mickunas Algis , Pilotta Joseph
Published: February 2023

Chapter 1 introduces the problem of artificial intelligence (AI) as a human
doppelgänger. The logic of artificial intelligence is the control algorithm, dominated by
the tradition of two-value logic. We sketch out the consequences of such algorithmic
performance, which have had deleterious effects on the ecological landscape in the
broad sense of the term. We also report the findings of an interdisciplinary report from
Stanford University on the successes and failures of AI. The chapter ends with a
discussion of the key findings of an interdisciplinary conference, sketching out the
correlates of understanding. These can best be summarized by answering the questions:
How do we determine if a system understands? Does a lack of understanding make AI
systems susceptible to adversarial examples, and to what degree do systems need to
understand in order to be able to explain their decisions and predictions? By what
mechanisms do humans extract meaning from data or experience?
Phenomenology and Empirical Research
Authors: Mickunas Algis , Pilotta Joseph
Published: February 2023

This chapter provides the reader with the background necessary to
understanding the phenomenological perspective as it will be applied to artificial
intelligence in the chapters that follow. In doing so, we explain phenomenology’s
approach to empirical facts and logical reasoning, among other topics. We explain the
key importance of awareness as a starting point for phenomenological understanding,
as well as the key role that the “thing” plays in this philosophy. The importance of
language to awareness is described, and the concept of signification is addressed in
relation to the creation of meaning. This brings the discussion around the importance of
applying a concept of embodiment as well as that of the linguistic field. The chapter
concludes with a brief discussion of how these concepts relate to the theme of artificial
intelligence and its relationship to the lived world.
The Magic of Reason: Wild Metaphysics
Authors: Mickunas Algis , Pilotta Joseph
Published: February 2023

No doubt, instrumental reason seems to be well-suited to creating progress
in all areas, and it is regarded as beneficial to various peoples globally. But a question
of its attractiveness, despite all the negative consequences for the environment, rapid
transportation that can spread any virus, or displace people due to lost jobs, is not
answered. Resultantly, we must open another dimension of awareness which is as
ancient as human understanding of the world and the way we relate to it. In this
chapter, we address the ways in which magical structures (in the Gebserian sense)
pervade modern rational thought and serve as a basis for artificial intelligence. The
contemporary importance of the concept of identity is addressed, and its logic is
disclosed as it plays a fundamental role in forming the background of the magic of
reason, which we suggest is a needed correction to the idea of “instrumental reason”.
The magical aspects of modern society and metaphysics are explained with examples
taken from Christianity, the imagery popular among the Nazi movement, and even
modern sporting events. These concepts are then applied to the current movement
towards globalization. 
Machine Logic and Values as a Self-Generating System
Authors: Mickunas Algis , Pilotta Joseph
Published: February 2023

Scientific practice, both in the broad sense and in the specific case of
computer science, cannot demonstrate how the constituted logic of a given consistent
system translates into an empirically constructed system without the assumption of
other conditions which may also be logically constituted through modes of praxis that
are already technically available. Computer science is premised on a technically laden
life-world and, indeed, on an interpretation of the entire environment as accessible to
technical management. In this sense, there is a pre-understanding that allows a given
population to regard both science and computer science as “value free”. Yet, it is
precisely the technologically interpreted environment that is imbedded in valuations. In
this chapter, we explicate: (a) the principles that establish scientific objectivity on the
basis of the objectivity of logics; (b) how those logics are connected to the resources of
the environment; (c) how the environment itself is technical and valuative; and (d) how
a particular modern value context pervades the technical, logical, and scientific
enterprises.
The Multi-Discursive Subject
Authors: Mickunas Algis , Pilotta Joseph
Published: February 2023

Starting from the premise that formal-mathematical modes of awareness are “discourses”, this chapter traces the connections between postmodernism, the rise of the instrumentalist mode of thinking that has enabled the creation of artificial intelligence, and the attack on the notion of identity, the combination of which tends to strip away the humanity from the modern “subject”, which is apprehended as “selfcreating” from this perspective. It then describes how nations and cultures are sucked into the all-encompassing technologization trap through the promise of better living through technology, reinforced by the trends of globalization, even if that means accepting the poison pill of dehumanization on an individual level. What follows is a discussion of “traditional” cultures which reject this ideology of self-creating subjects in favor of their traditional religious beliefs. We then discuss the value of transcendental subjectivity in opposition to both of the afore-mentioned ideologies, pointing to the ways that this mode of awareness embraces multiplicities and rejects the totalizing or encompassing mathematization of experience. The chapter concludes with an exposition of the importance of meaning-making—that is, the signitive—to all these modes of perception, and its actual foundation in transcendental subjectivity.
Radical Embodied Truths for Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Mickunas Algis , Pilotta Joseph
Published: February 2023

Embodiment distinguishes between two bodies, which are the body regarded
as a physiological entity, and the phenomenal body, which is not just somebody, some
particular physiological entity, but my or your body as it is experienced. It is
understood as a phenomenal body. Nobody is an entity. Typically, one experiences
one’s body and potential capacity for doing this and that. Moreover, the sense that I
have my own body capacities is expressed in bodily confidence. It does not depend on
understanding the physiological process involved in performing the action in question.
The distinction between the objective and the phenomenal body is central to
understanding the logical treatment of embodiment. Embodiment is not a concept that
pertains to the body grasped as a physiological entity, but rather it pertains to the
phenomenal body in the role played in oriented experience. Fundamental to
embodiment is space/time/motion and its manifestation of circularity of AI research/AI
researched.
Methods of Islamic Da'wah
Authors: Shapiah Shapiah , Mudhiah Mudhiah , Emroni Emroni , Risa Risa
Published: February 2023

This study was carried out to review the approaches and methods of Islamic da'wah in spreading Islam so that today Indonesia is one of the regions with the most significant number of Muslims in the world. The approach to this study was carried out in a descriptive qualitative manner which utilized all publications that had been published by various literary sources such as books and academic scientific works, which we then reviewed systematically to gain an understanding of the various approaches and methods that had been taken when preaching Islam to the archipelago. We found this data with a Google search to find relevant literature addressing issues that were more or less 10 to 12 years ago. The approach we took in the study included coding the data, evaluating and testing the data to gain understanding, and occasionally interpreting it so that the friend is genuinely valid and has validity and reality in answering the problems and hypotheses in this study.
División de Vanguardia del Ejército Patriota: organización logística para la campaña de 1818-1819
Authors: Cuesta Huertas Blas Martín , Salamanca Orcasitas Andrés Humberto
Published: February 2023

Con el fin de contribuir en las diferentes posturas frente a los hechos históricos del naci-miento de la República de Colombia, este capítulo analiza la organización logística, con una pers-pectiva técnico-táctica, de la Campaña del Ejército Patriota en el período 1818-1819. Se reconstruye la estructura de aquella organización que logró el mantenimiento de las líneas de abastecimiento para toda la campaña, a fin de demostrar cómo toda esta serie de actividades se orientaron hacia el cumplimiento de la misión, y plasmar cómo el apoyo logístico se cumplió según la directriz doctri-naria de un ejército a la luz del empleo del Manual de los ayudantes generales y adjuntos empleados en los Estados Mayores divisionarios de los exercitos, del barón Thiebault, y la importancia de los Estados Mayores en el planeamiento, adquisición, organización y desarrollo de las operaciones.
Liderazgo transformacional femenino
Authors: Céspedes Quimbayo Edgar Mauricio , García Riaño María Clara
Published: February 2023

Con el fin de caracterizar el liderazgo transformacional femenino en la División de Aviación Asalto Aéreo del Ejército Nacional de Colombia (Davaa), se aplicó el instrumento Multifactor Leadership Questionary MLQ 5X Corto, relacionándolo con el desarrollo y el desem-peño laboral. Se visibiliza el liderazgo transformacional de las mujeres oficiales y suboficiales en la Davaa desde las características de liderazgo, para el perfil requerido en cargos como jefes de opera-ciones, segundas al mando (ejecutivas) y comandantes de Unidades Tácticas, con responsabilidades de tipo estratégico, organizacional, manejo de personal y responsabilidades administrativas. Según el estudio, las características singulares de las mujeres oficiales y suboficiales de la Davaa son similares, quizá por sus roles en específico o responsabilidades y cargos administrativos que tienen cercana similitud, siendo el liderazgo transformacional parte activa de cada una de las variables estudiadas.
Empoderamiento profesional de las mujeres civiles de la Escuela Militar de Cadetes “General José María Córdova”
Authors: Alvarado Yeimmy Constanza , Gutiérrez Garay Oskar
Published: February 2023

El presente capítulo presenta las dificultades en el empoderamiento profesional de las mujeres civiles de la Escuela Militar de Cadetes “General José María Córdova” (Esmic), cuyo obje-tivo es comprender las disposiciones administrativas que llevan a que dichas mujeres sigan ejerciendo labores como auxiliares administrativas en distintas áreas de trabajo de la Esmic sin los debidos ascensos. Para ello, la metodología tuvo un enfoque cualitativo, desde la perspectiva descriptivo-com-prensivo de estudio de caso, no experimental, inductiva, con técnica de observación y entrevistas a fuentes primarias. La población de estudio fueron las mujeres administrativas activas auxiliares y las mujeres que pertenecieron a la Esmic. Las técnicas utilizadas fueron: revisión documental, entre-vistas semiestructuradas y entrevista estructurada. Una de las conclusiones principales es que existen falencias que no permiten el empoderamiento por parte de las mujeres vinculadas en labores admi-nistrativas en la institución, debido a la falta de comunicación efectiva y colaboración, de no tomar en cuenta la capacitación ni la preparación profesional de las mujeres civiles, entre otros factores
Invernadero
Authors:   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, Bogotá (Colombia),   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

Con el fin de fortalecer la capacidad científica, el desarrollo tecnológico y la innovación, CORPOICA construye invernaderos de última tecnología en cinco de sus Centros de Investigación.
La papa
Authors:   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, Tolima (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

La papa tiene 50.000 productos derivados, y varios tipos de comercialización, en este clip se muestra el proceso de mejoramiento y productividad de la papa.
Manejo de empaque para berenjena
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

Actualmente el mercado internacional demanda frutos de calidad que puedan conservar sus características durante el tiempo que permanecen en postcosecha. En este clip se dan las recomendaciones para el correcto empaque de berenjena en el departamento de Córdoba.
Manejo de la fertilización en berenjena
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

Las plantas requieren de una buena nutrición de suelo para crecer bien y que el fruto se produzca con éxito. en este clip se da a conocer el manejo de la fertilización en berenjena.
Manejo de malezas en cítricos
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

En este clip se muestra el paso a paso para el correcto manejo de malezas en el cultivo de cítricos.
Manejo del mildeo velloso en los cultivos de cebolla de rama
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

En este clip se presenta el manejo del mildeo velloso en los cultivos de cebolla de rama en el departamento de Boyacá.
Cosecha de berenjena
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

La berenjena esta lista para recolectar de 70 a 90 días después del trasplante. En este clip se muestran las recomendaciones tecnológicas para cosechar berenjena.
Cosecha de cilantro
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

Los cultivos de cilantro tienen una producción constante. En este clip se enseña cómo cosechar el cilantro.
Cosecha de ajo
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

Luego de cinco meses de sembrado el ajo tiene cosecha, este video clip enseña a identificar el momento ideal para cosechar ajo en el departamento de Cundinamarca.
Cosecha de ají
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

Reconocer el momento ideal para cosechar es una prioridad de los productores, es importante tener presente la maduración del fruto, el tamaño y el color. En este clip se enseña la cosecha manual de ají.
Cosecha de los cítricos
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

En este clip se presenta el paso a paso de cosecha de cítricos.
Cosecha de mora
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

En este clip se da a conocer cómo se realiza la recolección de los frutos de mora.
Cosecha en acelga
Authors:   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Bogotá (Colombia),   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria, (Colombia)
Published: February 2023

La acelga es una de las verduras que posee excelentes nutrientes. En este clip se presentan las recomendaciones para la cosecha de acelga.