bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen Sulfide Alleviates Cadmium Toxicity in Chrysanthemum indicum L. by Modulating Photosynthesis, Mineral Homeostasis and Antioxidant Capacity
Authors: Liu Shuguang , Yue Liran , Chen Shengyan , Zhang Kaiyun , Ni Xingyu , He Miao
Published: October 2024

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), recognized as a third gaseous signaling molecule, plays a role in resistance to abiotic stress. However, the role of H2S during cadmium (Cd) resistance in Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum L.) remains uncharacterized. In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory role of H2S in Chrysanthemum under Cd toxicity. Our objective is to provide a theoretical foundation for utilizing H2S in combination with ornamental plants for the remediation of Cd pollution. We conducted hydroponic experiments to examine the effects of foliar H2S spraying on the growth, photosynthesis, chloroplast ultrastructure, and physiological attributes of various C. indicum seedlings under Cd stress. The results demonstrated that Cd toxicity had a substantial impact on photosynthetic parameters and the structural integrity of chloroplasts, when compared to non-cadmium conditions. It also elevated the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing disturbances in element uptake. However, the addition of H2S played a pivotal role in preserving chloroplast integrity, consequently improving photosynthetic performance and avoiding cadmium-induced ultrastructural damage. Additionally, H2S also positively promoted uptake of elements and regulated antioxidant enzyme activities on the one hand, and mitigated oxidative stress and reduced the accumulation of ROS on the other. In summary, our findings suggest that exogenously applied H2S can effectively alleviate the detrimental effects of Cd toxicity.
Assessment of immune-related rheumatological adverse events in a monovalent oncology center in Argentina
Authors: Collado María Victoria , Gandur María Natalia , Ranuncolo Stella Maris , Cugliari Silvana , Castro Mónica , Cuartero Viviana , Cáceres Valeria , Serrano Mercedes del Valle , Parera Ignacio Casas , Cinat Gabriela , Zerga Marta
Published: October 2024

Background
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has changed the outcome of oncology patients. They are being used in an increasingly number of different cancer types. As a consequence, there is an enhance report of toxicity ICIs associated, named immune related adverse events. Herein we focused on the description of the Immune related Rheumatologic Adverse Events (IrRAEs) in oncological patients treated with ICIs, determining the continuity of the oncological treatment following their development, and investigating whether pre-existing rheumatologic disease (PRD) was the reason for not initiating the ICI treatment.
Methods
it is a descriptive and retrospective study. Included 42 oncology patients, initiating or already undergoing an ICI treatment, who were referred to the Rheumatology Department during 2019–2022.
Results
40/159 (25%) patients that received ICI treatment at the Institute of Oncology “Ángel H. Roffo”, were evaluated by the Rheumatology Department. 16/40 experienced IrRAEs. Treatment of IrRAEs: 5/16 received non-steroidal anti-infammatory drugs, 11/16 corticosteroids (5/11 required additionally Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). The IrRAEs treatment outcome was complete response (9/16), partial response (2/16) and no response (5/16). As a consequence 7/16 patients (44%) were able to continue the ICI therapy, 3/16 (19%) experienced a temporary suspension and 6/16 (37%) a permanent discontinuation. Two patients did not iniciate ICIs due to PRD.
Conclusions
25% of the total ICI treated patients developed rheumatologyc symptoms. The IrRAEs were the cause of them in 16/40 patients. Therefore 10% (16/159) of the total ICI treated patients developed IrRAEs. Most of the IrRAEs observed were mild to moderate. Only one patient, who suffered myositis, experienced a severe life-threatening IrRAE. The patients´ evaluation at the time they started the ICI therapy allowed the diagnosis of PRD and to monitore exacerbations. More than half of the patients who developed IrRAEs were capable to continue their ICI treatment.
The selective and sensitive fluorogenic detection of hydrogen gas using a transition metal activator and a naphthalene-based dye
Authors: Mutus Bulent , Potter Mark , Debnath Suman , Mandapati Pavan , Schmidt Ken , Drover Marcus , Rondeau-Gagne Simon , Jansen Kathy
Published: October 2024

Hydrogen (H2(g)) is a viable green fossil fuel alternative as its combustion yields only water and energy. However, H2(g) is highly flammable, explosive, and lacks odor. These characteristics warrant sensitive and specific detection methods for its widespread use as an alternative fuel source. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the development of H2(g) sensors but there are still important limitations to current technologies, particularly in terms of ease-of-use and sensitivity. In this work, we show the first example of an optical fluorogenic hydrogen sensing platform which employes the use of a readily available dye molecule and a hydrogen-activating compound to engineer H2(g) gas selectivity with high sensitivity at room temperature and pressure. For this, the commercially available dye, azomethine-H (Az-H, 4-hydroxy-5-(2-hydroxy-benzylideneamino)-naphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid) and related naphthalene-based compounds, in conjunction with the hydrogen activator [{Ir(Cp*)(Cl)}2(thbpym)](Cl)2 (IrCp*, (Cp* = C5Me5-, thbpym = 4,4’,6,6’-tetrahydroxy-2,2’-bipyrimidine)), yields ~ 47–fold fluorescence enhancement when exposed to H2(g) in aqueous solution or ~ 2.4–fold in a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) hydrogel matrix, with an estimated detection limit of ~ 0.5% H2(g). Representing a major step forward, this signal enhancement is specific to H2(g) with no cross-reactivity observed for potentially contaminating gases such as nitrogen gas (N2(g)) and standard atmosphere. This work tackles existing challenges in the optical H2(g) detection space, offering simultaneously high sensitivity and specificity without cross-reactivity with other contaminant gases.
The Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Reducing Emergence Coughing in Thyroidectomy Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Azar Sonia Mahmoudi
Published: October 2024

Background
Emergence from anesthesia could be associated with complications such as bleeding. Such complications are more common among specific surgeries such as thyroidectomy. We aimed to study if a single-dose of dexmedetomidine given 10 minutes before emergence from anesthesia would decrease emergence cough among thyroidectomy patients.
Methods
This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients aged 18–68 years old referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia, Iran. The Ethics Committee of Urmia University of Medical Sciences approved the present study. Simple randomization was used in this study. The patients were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The baseline characteristics of the patients was recorded at baseline and systolic and diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial blood pressure were measured before the operation. In the ending 10 minutes of the operation, the intervention group received 0.5 micrograms/kg of dexmedetomidine and the control group received the same volume of saline. Then, the frequency and intensity of cough, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and shivering were measured. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were used for data analysis.
Results
Dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the frequency of coughing during recovery compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in heart rate, blood pressure, or shivering between the two groups.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dexmedetomidine administration during surgery under general anesthesia significantly reduced the frequency of coughing during recovery in thyroidectomy patients.
Trial registration
IRCT code IR20211209053338N1
Incomplete lineage sorting and introgression among genera and species of Liliaceae tribe Tulipeae: insights from phylogenomics
Authors: Zhang Zhihui , Wang Meizhen , Yang Zhaoping , Comes Hans Peter , Zhong Xin , Folk Ryan A. , Song Yigang , York Dana A. , Cameron Kenneth M. , Li Pan
Published: October 2024

Background: Phylogenetic research in Tulipa (Liliaceae), a genus of significant economic and horticultural value, has relied on limited nuclear (mostly nrITS) and plastid gene sequences, resulting in low-resolution phylogenetic trees and uncertain intrageneric classifications. The genus, noted for its large genome, presents discordant relationships among Amana, Erythronium, and Tulipa, likely due to incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and/or reticulate evolution. Thus, phylogenomic approaches are needed to clarify these relationships and the conflicting signals within the tribe Tulipeae.
Results: We newly sequenced 50 transcriptomes of 46 species of tribe Tulipeae (including multiple accessions of all four genera) and one outgroup species of tribe Lilieae (Notholirion campanulatum), and downloaded 15 previously published transcriptomes of tribe Tulipeae to supplement the sampling. One plastid dataset (74 plastid protein coding genes, PCGs) and one nuclear dataset (2,594 nuclear orthologous genes, OGs) were constructed, with the latter used for species tree inference based on maximum likelihood (ML) and multi-species coalescent (MSC) methods. To investigate causes of gene tree discordance, ‘site con/discordance factors’ (sCF and sDF1/sDF2) were calculated first, after which phylogenetic nodes displaying high or imbalanced sDF1/2 were selected for phylogenetic network analyses and polytomy tests to determine whether ILS or reticulate evolution best explain incongruence. Key relationships not resolved by this technique, especially those among Amana, Erythronium and Tulipa, were further investigated by applying D-statistics and QuIBL.
Conclusions: We failed to reconstruct a reliable and unambiguous evolutionary history among Amana, Erythronium and Tulipa due to especially pervasive ILS and reticulate evolution, likely caused either by obscured minority phylogenetic signal or differing signal among genomic compartments. However, within Tulipa we confirmed the monophyly of most subgenera, with the exception of two species in the small subgenus Orithyia, of which Tulipa heterophylla was recovered as sister to the remainder of the genus, whereas T. sinkiangensis clustered within subgenus Tulipa. In contrast, most traditional sections of Tulipa were found to be non-monophyletic.
Experimental study of sensorless direct torque control for induction motor based on Enhanced Second Order Generalized Integrator-Frequency Locked Loop
Authors: Boukhari Mohammed , Ghadbane Ismail , Bouzidi Riad , Mekhilef Saad , Belhouchet Khaled , Bendib Ahmed
Published: October 2024

This paper presents a cost-effective solution for speed estimation in induction motor system using the enhanced second-order generalized frequency-locked loop (ESOGI-FLL) technique as an estimator. The proposed solution delivers precise motor speed estimation, thanks to the inclusion of an FLL filter in the estimator. Additionally, this method is cost-effective in practice, requiring only a single current or voltage sensor, which is a significant improvement over traditional estimators that often need multiple sensors. Furthermore, the estimator is both easy to implement and maintain. It enhances performance by using the ESOGI technique to effectively estimate rapidly changing frequencies while also addressing the effects of DC disturbances and harmonics. The stability study of the proposed ESOGI-FLL technique has been successfully conducted based on lyapunov method. The proposed sensorless control has been experimentally tested and works effectively across a wide range of scenarios such as speed change tracking, load change as well as speed reversal scenario, resulting in good performance of the induction motor.
Impact of Digital Competitiveness on Sustainable Development: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Karwasra Nidhi , Aggarwal Vani
Published: October 2024

Digital competitiveness and sustainable development have attracted significant attention from researchers in academia. This study explores the impact of digital competitiveness on sustainable development through a thorough review of existing literature. It analyzes and discusses how digital competitiveness influences sustainable development. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, the paper conducts a systematic literature review of relevant articles sourced from the Scopus database. A total of forty-one articles spanning between 2000 and 2023 were reviewed. A striking finding from the evaluation is the prevalence of both positive and negative impacts across the literature. The study's findings have the potential to assist corporations, firms, governments, regulatory bodies, technology providers, academic and research institutions, financial institutions, and policymakers in developing strategies to achieve sustainable development goals through an investigation into the effects of digital competitiveness on sustainability. Further research can explore this area in economies that are less studied, such as low and lower-middle-income countries.
JEL code: Q01, O30
The dilemma of palliative care nurses: A phenomenological inquiry into their lived experience with humanistic care
Authors: CHOI Sandy Pin Pin , CHAN Ka Man , YU Le Bing
Published: October 2024

Background: Previous research has delineated the roles and functions of palliative care nurses, but a gap remains in comprehending their lived experiences in delivering humanistic care. These nurses establish deep connections with patients and families, encountering emotional distress while witnessing their suffering. This emotional strain frequently leads to compassion fatigue and burnout. This study was conducted to fill the literature gap by examining the humanistic nursing practices and the dilemmas that palliative care nurses face when providing humanistic care.
Methods: A descriptive phenomenological approach was adopted. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 palliative care nurses working in Hong Kong public hospitals. They were invited to share their lived experiences of providing humanistic care in palliative care settings. Interview findings were analyzed using Van Kaam’s control explication method.
Results: The findings of this study revealed both positive and negative experiences encountered by palliative care nurses in their humanistic interactions with patients and families. Nurses emphasized the significant impact of their presence and care on patients and families, highlighting the importance of preserving dignity and alleviating suffering. The study underscored the challenges nurses face in forming genuine connections amid various constraints, such as heavy workloads and patient-related obstacles that impede compassionate engagement. Four themes emerged, showcasing dilemmas confronted by nurses: juggling between "creating bonds" versus "maintaining distance", choosing to "treasuring life more" versus "giving up life more easily", balancing "patients' interests" versus "families' interests", and weighing "patient rights" versus "public interest". The findings illuminated the complexities and emotional burden inherent in delivering humanistic care in palliative care.
Conclusions: The study's findings have offered deeper insights into Paterson and Zderad's Humanistic Nursing Theory, shedding light on the existential aspects of humanistic nurse-patient interactions. The study has uncovered the intricacies of the theory's fundamental elements, including genuine presence, authentic self-awareness, and the realization of potential in caregiving. It highlights the necessity for improved support and training for palliative care nurses, advocating for enhanced education and practice to navigate the complexity of end-of-life care and enhance the understanding of humanistic nursing principles.
Mechanical Properties of Alkali Activated Slag Binder-based Concrete Exposed to Elevated Temperature
Authors: Paswan Rajesh Kumar , Kumar Pramod , Kumar Virendra
Published: October 2024

Fire is a catastrophic event that significantly threatens structures. As a fire progresses, the strength of concrete deteriorates over time due to the high temperatures. Understanding how the concrete's strength diminishes under high temperatures. The present study is motivated by focusing on how alkali-activated concrete responds to elevated temperatures.There is a growing trend of using ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) as a constituent material in both normal strength and high-performance concrete. When combined with sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphate powder as activators, this material forms Alkali-activated Concrete(AAC). This research paper investigates the impact of high temperatures on the compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength of AAS concrete. Test specimens were subjected to temperatures of 100°C, 200°C, 300°C, 400°C, 500°C, 600°C, 700°C and 800°C.The research indicates that AACperforms better than regular binder concrete, making it a potentially better alternative.
Outlier detection for mixed data
Authors: GADACHA Houda , Kubicki Patricia , Niang Ndeye
Published: October 2024

Outlier detection is crucial in various sectors such as finance, insurance, medicine, and IT security. Its application helps to identify suspicious behaviors and enhance the robustness of statistical models. However, a common challenge arises when dealing with data that includes both numerical and categorical attributes, as most traditional outlier detection methods are applicable only to numerical data. To overcome this limitation, this study proposes to apply the Factor Analysis on Mixed Data (FAMD) method to transform both types of attributes into numerical Principal Components (PCs). Traditional outlier detection methods are then applied to these PCs. The proposed method is evaluated on classic datasets from the supervised classification literature and two simulated data contaminated by different types of outliers : (a) global outliers which significantly deviate from most data points, (b) local outliers which are not necessarily extreme values but are considered abnormal within their specific context or neighborhood, (c) rare outliers which have unexpected categories compared to the typical data distribution, and (d) mixed outliers which can be both global and rare, or local and rare.
A video dataset for hadal snailfish along with the benchmark
Authors: Zhang Jiushuang , Wang Yong
Published: October 2024

Application of deep learning technology for deep-sea ecological studies is still in its infancy stage especially in the field of automatic taxonomic identification and statistics. In this study, we created a novel dataset containing annotated videos for the rare species of hadal snailfish inhabiting in >,6000 m depth, and conducted ablation experiments by combining models of different specifications and adding different attention mechanisms. We successfully generated a set of benchmark test data from a quantitative perspective. In addition, based on out of set data with completely different data distributions from the training and validation sets, the generalization ability of the model trained on the new dataset in real-world scenarios was qualitatively analyzed. Other researchers can continue to expand and supplement the dataset based on our benchmarks, or directly apply our results to actual deep-sea videos collected, and accurately identify and capture deep-sea snailfish in the videos. With this deep learning video processing technology, distribution pattern and biodiversity of the deep-sea organisms will be accomplished efficiently.
Escalating Climate Disasters in the Amazon (2006-2022): Vulnerabilities and Compound Risks
Authors: Pinho Patricia , Silvestrini Rafaella , Fellows Martha , Perez Letícia , Alencar Ane , Guyot Carol , Moutinho Paulo , Lapola David , Stringer Lindsay
Published: October 2024

The Amazon, a global biodiversity hotspot and home to ~30 million inhabitants, including numerous Indigenous ethnies, is increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts. Despite global evidence of climate-related disasters, the Brazilian Amazon's exposure remains underexplored. This study elucidates the spatiotemporal dynamics of socioeconomic vulnerabilities to climate disasters, including floods, droughts, heatwaves, fires, and landslides. From 2006 to 2010, an annual average of 540,000 people was affected by climate disasters in the Brazilian Amazon; by 2018-2022, this number surged to 1.78 million annually, a 229% increase. Financial losses rose 377%, from $132.8 million per year (2006-2010) to $634.2 million per year (2018-2022). Smaller municipalities with populations under 50,000, home to 61% of the Amazon’s Indigenous people, experienced an average economic growth loss of 9.58% from 2002 to 2020, along with lower Social Progress Index scores. Our findings highlight compound risks, revealing the urgent need for justice in adaptation for risk reduction. Addressing these vulnerabilities with justice and equity at the forefront is essential to mitigate further social and cultural losses in the Amazon.
Neuroprotective Role of Tocopherol Derivatives in Alzheimer’s Disease: Behavioral and Biochemical Analysis
Authors: Iqbal Zafar , Yousaf Faha , Drakhshaan  , Shahzad Sana , Anwar Fareeha , Shabbir Muhammad Danial , Waseem Syeda Hira
Published: October 2024

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a terminal disease that results from progressive loss of neurons in the brain leading to cognitive dysfunction, memory loss, and neuroinflammation. The purpose of this investigation was to establish the neurotrophic profile of a newly synthesized naphthalene tocopherol competitive to Vitamin E acetate in an AD mouse model. The learning and memory were examined by the following behavioral paradigms: Fear Conditioning Test, Barnes Maze Test, Elevated Plus Maze Test and Morris Water Maze Test. Immunohistochemical observations were made to assess markers of oxidative stress using MDA, SOD, and GSH and neuroinflammation using IL-6 and TNF-α. The effectiveness was evidenced through the reduction of oxidation stress, reducing cytokines that cause inflammation, and overall enhancements on cognitive functioning among the groups administered with the tocopherol derivative at the dosages of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg. These findings indicate that tocopherol derivatives could indeed have a more robust neuroprotective activity than the standard Vitamin E with an application in the treatment of AD. Carrying out similar experiments in human would be another approach to confirm these findings as well as determine the molecular basis of their effects.
Europe's Future Industrial Landscape: A Green Industrial Location Attractiveness Index
Authors: Grafström Jonas
Published: October 2024

Increased gas prices, constraints in nuclear power generation, and diminished hydroelectric production have introduced challenges for Europe, coinciding with an emerging green industrialization. Utilizing data from the European Commission and Eurostat, we introduce the Green Industrial Location Attractiveness Index, a tool designed to help assessing locations of future green industrial developments. Our findings highlight Sweden, Finland, and France as probable destinations for green industrial projects. A revealing geographical divide where northern European countries rank higher compared to their southern counterparts. This analysis enhances our understanding of Europe's changing industrial landscape amidst volatile electricity prices, offering insights for policymakers and investors. An overarching conclusion of the paper is that well-crafted energy policies help mitigate the economic impacts of energy price fluctuations on energy-intensive industries, ensuring that Europe's industrial landscape remain competitive.
JEL classification: Q41, L94, Q42, Q54.
Safety of Hypoxia-Primed Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Umbilical Cord and Adipose Tissuesin Animals
Authors: Dinh Nhung Thi-Hong , Nguyen Quyen Thi , Hang Ngo Thu , Dao Hong-Nhung , Son Le Duc , Ngan Giang Trang , Mao Can Van , Do Xuan-Hai , Hoang Van Thanh , Thanh Liem Nguyen
Published: October 2024

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been applied to treat various diseases. Research has shown that hypoxic conditions (2-9% oxygen) that closely reflect the physiological milieu of numerous human tissues, can enhance the biological activities of MSCs in vitro. While many studies highlight the advantages of hypoxic MSCs in vitro, less is known about their effects in vivo. This study assessed the safety of hypoxia-primed MSCs derived from adipose tissues and umbilical cords (AD-MSCs and UC-MSCs, respectively) in healthy animals.
Methods: MSCs were isolated from human adipose tissues and umbilical cords, designated as AD-MSCs and UC-MSCs, respectively. These cells were cultured under hypoxic conditions with 5% oxygen to induce priming. For safety evaluation, the primed cells were administered to healthy animal models, including rabbits, Swiss mice, and rats. The safety assessments included analyses of vascular and muscular stimulation, systemic hypersensitivity, acute toxicity, and subchronic toxicity.
Results: Our data indicated that UC-MSCs induced vascular stimulation but not muscular stimulation, whereas AD-MSCs caused neither. Additionally, neither AD-MSCs nor UC-MSCs affected hematopoietic parameters (white blood cell, red blood cell, platelet, or hemoglobin levels), altered the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α), or induced allergenic responses in rabbits. Furthermore, intravenous injection of either UC-MSCs or AD-MSCs at a dose of 50 × 106 cells/kg did not cause acute toxicity in mice. However, injections of higher doses of these cells led to intravenous thrombosis and embolism in various organs of experimental animals, ultimately resulting in animal death. Finally, according to the subchronic toxicity assay, the administration of MSCs generally did not impact liver, kidney, or spleen function in rats.
Conclusions: Hypoxic MSCs are safe for therapeutic use with consideration of thrombogenic risk and could be alternatives to normoxic MSCs for disease treatment.
Linguistic Precision in Large Language Models with Adaptive Disambiguation and Efficient Monte Carlo Tree Search for Contextual Clarity
Authors: Geline Evan , Evans Robert , Russo Elizabeth , Richardson Daniel , Steinmetz Samuel , Johnson Catherine
Published: October 2024

The ability to accurately interpret ambiguous linguistic structures has long been a fundamental challenge in constructing models capable of generating human-like text. Standard approaches to word sense disambiguation have traditionally struggled to maintain precision in contexts where words can carry multiple meanings depending on surrounding content. Introducing an adaptive disambiguation mechanism, enhanced through the integration of Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS), allows for real-time exploration of word sense possibilities and the dynamic refinement of interpretations as additional contextual information becomes available. This combination of probabilistic weighting and structured search enables the model to prioritize the most relevant meanings while efficiently managing computational resources, making it highly adaptable to complex language tasks. A modified Llama model incorporating this approach demonstrated significant improvements in disambiguation accuracy across a range of linguistic benchmarks, including multilingual and domain-specific tasks. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of MCTS in balancing the trade-offs between linguistic precision and computational efficiency, providing a scalable solution to challenges in understanding and generating contextually accurate language.
Climate driven shifts in Antarctic phytoplankton groups: Implications of widespread diatom decline
Authors: Hayward Alexander , Wright Simon W. , Carroll Dustin , Law Cliff , Wongpan Pat , Gutiérrez-Rodriguez Andrés , Pinkerton Matthew H.
Published: October 2024

The high biomass of diatom-dominated phytoplankton communities is critical for sustaining the iconic Antarctic marine food web. Among Southern Ocean phytoplankton, the abundance of diatoms is particularly important as this group is selectively grazed by krill — which are the crucial prey of whales, penguins, and fish. Diatoms also play a key role in biogeochemical cycling and carbon export. Here we show drastic changes in the taxonomic composition of Antarctic phytoplankton over the past 26 years, driven by factors such as declining sea ice concentration, reduced iron availability, and warming. Using a machine learning approach trained on 14,824 historic pigment samples, we show that the proportion of Antarctic diatoms has substantially declined by 18% (-7% per decade), whilst the proportion of other smaller, less-grazed phytoplankton groups, such as haptophytes and cryptophytes, increased by 6–10%. We find that 65–74% of the Antarctic continental shelf had statistically significant trends in the proportion of one or more phytoplankton taxonomic groups (p < 0.05). These recent shifts in phytoplankton assemblages will have reduced food availability for grazers and thus Antarctica’s top predators, whilst also diminishing the biological pump and export, likely increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels.
Impact of Information Systems on Sales Growth: A Case Study of Iranian Oil Manufacturing Companies
Authors: Parvin Mohammad , Ramyar Fatemeh
Published: October 2024

The modern condition of business environments has made use of some processes and systems to control effects of such environments and continuity of activity through the organizations “inevitable”. From among these processes and systems, it can be referred to the most important one i.e. sales and marketing information system. This research was carried out with the aim of studying role of sales and marketing information systems in increase of companies’ sales rate through the use of descriptive-survey research method. The present study includes seven (7) hypotheses. Senior managers and marketing managers of five vegetable oil production companies are considered subject of this study, in which, its sample size was calculated 93 persons through the use of Cochran Formula. Simple random sampling method was used for selecting sample.
Questionnaire was used for collecting data. The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained 0.96 through Cronbach’s Alpha Method. The results of statistical tests showed that sales and marketing information systems are effective in increase of companies’ sales rate.
Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Environmental
Detection System
Authors: Wang Xiaoyin
Published: October 2024

This paper presents a novel approach to improve the accuracy of environmental detection and prediction by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) technology into existing detection systems. At the heart of our approach lies the combination of a complex AI model with the hardware and software components of the inspection system. This combined approach can significantly improve the accuracy of detection systems through greater ability to predict environmental changes and events, underscoring the superior performance of hardware and software combined with AI technology. This paper delves into the details of hardware and software design, and discusses measurement implementation methods using a build-down machine. We also explore the practical application of AI models within the framework described above. In addition, this paper also describes the implementation of communication protocols to ensure the effective data exchange between the system network and the artificial intelligence model. These protocols are essential for the real-time processing and analysis of environmental data, enabling systems to respond quickly to detected changes.
Problematic Social Media Use and Depression among Addis Ababa University Students, Ethiopia: Institutional based Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Mekonnen Haileleul , Yacobe Bemnet , Assafaw Assamin , Aberra Hiwotemedhin
Published: October 2024

Background
Problematic social media use (PSMU) and its potential link to depression among university students have become significant areas of concern. This study aims to explore the prevalence of PSMU and its relationship with depression symptoms and identify demographic factors associated with level of depression among undergraduate students at Addis Ababa University's main campus.
Methods
An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 316 students using a stratified random sampling method from March to April 2024. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires, including the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were employed to analyze the data.
Results
The study found that 17.1% of the respondents exhibited problematic social media use. Additionally, the prevalence of depression was found to be 77 (24.3%:95% CI :19.7-29.5) with 4.4% of the participant found to have severe depression.
The odds of depression are 1.6 times higher in those compared to non-problematic social media users (AOR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.4-1.8; p < 0.0001). Moreover, individuals who frequently use social media to watch pornography have a 14 times greater likelihood of experiencing depression compared to those who do not watch pornography at all. Compared to men, female students report greater levels of depression.
Conclusions
The findings indicate a high prevalence of PSMU among undergraduate students at Addis Ababa University and a significant association with depression symptoms. These results highlight the need for targeted interventions to address PSMU and its mental health implications among university students.
Nonlinear optimal control of the 6-DOF parallel Stewart robotic platform
Authors: Rigatos Gerasimos , Cuccurullo Gennaro , Siano Pierluigi , Abbaszadeh Masoud , AL-Numay Mohammed , Zouari Farouk
Published: October 2024

A new nonlinear optimal control method is proposed for solving the problem of control and stabilization of the 6-DOF parallel Stewart robotic platform. This parallel robotic platform is proven to be differentially flat. The dynamic model of this robotic system undergoes first approximate linearization around a temporary operating point that is updated at each iteration of the control algorithm. The linearization takes place through first-order Taylor series expansion and through the computation of the Jacobian matrices of the system's state-space description. For the approximately linearized model of the parallel robotic platform an H-infinity feedback controller is designed. Actually, the H-infinity controller stands for the solution of the optimal control problem for the parallel robotic platform's dynamic model under uncertainty and external perturbations. For the computation of the feedback gain of the H-infinity controller an algebraic Riccati equation is solved at each time-step of the control method. The stability properties of the control algorithm are proven through Lyapunov analysis. First, it shown that the control scheme achieves the H-infinity tracking performance which signifies elevated robustness for the control loop of the 6-DOF robotic platform against model uncertainties and external perturbations. Next,it is also shown that the control loop of the parallel robotic platform is globally asymptotically stable. The proposed control method achieves fast and accurate tracking of setpoints under moderate variations of the control inputs.
Cu Esaslı Metal Matris Kompozit Kaplamaların Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ve Aspergillus Niger Ortamlarındaki Korozyon Davranışlarının İncelenmesi
Authors: Karahan Buğra , Malayoğlu Uğur , Tekin Kadir Cihan , Şahiner Aslı
Published: October 2024

Bu çalışmada CA (%100 Cu-Al2O3), CNZA15 (%85 Cu-Al2O3+%15 Ni-Zn-Al2O3), CNZA30 (%70 Cu-Al2O3+%30 Ni-Zn-Al2O3) ve CZA (%100 Cu-Zn-Al2O3) olmak üzere 4 farklı kompozisyondaki kaplama tozu kullanılarak farklı kalınlıklardaki Cu esaslı metal matris kompozit (MMK) kaplamalar düşük basınç soğuk dinamik gaz püskürtme (SDGP) prosesi ile 7075 alüminyum alaşımı (AA) üzerinde üretilmiş, kompozisyon ve kalınlığın kaplamaların mikrobiyolojik korozyon davranışları üzerindeki etkisi araştırılmıştır. X-ışını difraksiyonu (XRD) paternleri ile kaplama tozları ve bu tozlardan üretilen kaplamaların benzer faz içeriklerine sahip olduğu bulunmuştur. Ayrıca kaplama prosesi esnasında tozların yüksek sıcaklıklara (T>~300°C) maruz kalmadığı ve termal etkinin herhangi bir faz dönüşümüne neden olmadığı sonucu ortaya çıkarılmış ve enerji dağıtıcı X-ışını spektrometresi (EDS) ile donatılmış taramalı elektron mikroskobu (SEM) kullanılarak doğrulanmıştır. Diğer taraftan optik mikroskop (OM) ve SEM analizleri ile kaplama mikroyapılarında baskın metal matrisin bakır olduğu ve Al2O3 partiküllerinin metal matrisine homojen bir şekilde dağıldığı tespit edilmiştir. Mikrobiyolojik korozyon testleri bir Gram-negatif bakteri olan Pseudomonas aeruginosa ve bir küf türü olan Aspergillus niger referans strainleri kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. İnkübasyon süresi sonunda en etkili antibakteriyel ve antifungal etkiyi CZA kaplamaları göstermiştir. Ayrıca CZA kaplamaları için Aspergillus niger ortamında inhibisyon zonu tespit edilmiş ve zon çapı 7 mm olarak ölçülmüştür. Sonuçlar kaplamaların mikrobiyolojik korozyon davranışları üzerinde kompozisyonun etkili olduğunu ve hem bakteri hem de küf ortamında CZA kaplamalarının başarılı sonuçlar ortaya çıkaracağını göstermiştir.
Bir Hava Temizleme Cihazının Sayısal ve Deneysel Yöntemlerle İncelenmesi
Authors: Kırmızıgöl Fatih , Uçar Mehmet
Published: October 2024

Kapalı veya açık ortamlarda artış gösteren hava kirliliği insan vücudu üzerinde çeşitli hastalıklara yol açabilmekte ve zaman içerisinde Covid19 gibi yeni bir pandemik reaksiyona sebebiyet verebilmektedir. Kapalı ortamlardaki hava kirlilik oranı, açık ortamlara göre daha fazladır ve günlük hayatımızın büyük bir bölümü kapalı ortamlarda geçtiği için bu ortamların temizlenmesi gerekmektedir. İnsan yaşamının temiz hava ihtiyacını gidermek ve ortamların kirlilik oranını azaltmak için hava temizleme cihazları giderek artan bir ilgi görmeye başlamıştır. Çalışma kapsamında 200 m^3/h hacimsel debi kapasitesi olan bir hava temizleme cihazı incelenmiştir. Ortam şartları, filtre basınç-debi grafikleri ve motor dönüş hızı Hesaplamalı Akışkanlar Dinamiği (HAD) sayısal çalışmasına sınır şartı tanımlanarak Deney-HAD karşılaştırması yapılmıştır. Deneysel olarak ayrıca Ses Basınç Seviyesi (SPL) ölçümlenmiştir. HAD sayısal çalışmaları SolidWorks Flow Simulation (SWFS) ticari yazılımı kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Hava giriş-çıkış bölgesine ortam basınç değeri (P_s=101235 Pa), sıcaklığı (T_o=20°C) ve motor dönüş hızı (2000 RPM) tanımlanırken havalandırma cihazının çıkışındaki hacimsel debisi deney doğrulama parametresi olarak kullanılmıştır. SWFS yazılımında bulunan k-ℇ Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) türbülans modeli seçilmiş ve doğrulanan ağ yapısında cihaz içerisinde oluşan türbülanslı bölgeler, tersinir akışlar ve sadece akışkana bağlı akustik ses gücü şiddeti iyileştirilerek ortaya yeni bir model konmuştur. İyileştirilmiş model ile mevcut model arasında ses basınç seviyesinde 2,7 dB(A) ve harcanan güçte %10,52 oranında azalma tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında mevcut ses yalıtım malzemesine ek olarak 2 farklı ses yalıtım malzemesi daha deneysel olarak incelenmiş toplamda 3 farklı ses yalıtım malzemesi ses basınç seviyesi arasında 6,4 dB(A) fark olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
The Association Between Lifestyle Factors and Mental Well-being among Dental Students
Authors:   Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, MALAYSIA, Lim Shea Lee , Bakar Noraini Abu ,   Department of Orthodontics, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, MALAYSIA, Basri Nadzirah Ahmad ,   Department of Psychiatry, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, MALAYSIA, Ludin Salizar Mohamed ,   Critical Care Nursing Department, Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, MALAYSIA
Published: October 2024

Dentistry can be considered a challenging field, with dental students often experiencing high levels of stress and poor mental health. Hence, maintaining mental well-being is important so that dental students can cope with their stressors effectively. Lifestyle factors like physical activity, sleep problems, and addictions impact the levels of mental well-being. This paper aimed to identify the association between dental students’ lifestyle factors and mental well-being. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among all the undergraduate dental students at a university in Malaysia. Data were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire [which included questions on demographic background, lifestyle factors, and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS)] and analysed using SPSS (version 26.0). Out of the surveyed students, 83.2% responded. The mean WEMWBS score for this study population was 46.09 ± 7.93. The results showed that engagement in physical activity positively affected mental well-being scores, while the presence of sleep-related problems was associated with lower mental well-being scores. Encouraging the adoption of healthier lifestyle factors, such as regular physical activity and practising good sleep hygiene along with the intervention of sleep-related problems, could improve mental well-being levels among dental students significantly.
Análise Epidemiológica e Demográfica da Toxoplasmose Gestacional nas Mesorregiões do Rio de Janeiro entre 2019 e 2023
Authors: Araújo Pedro Carvalho , Rodrigues Matheus Motta
Published: October 2024

Este estudo realizou uma análise epidemiológica e demográfica dos casos de toxoplasmose gestacional notificados nas mesorregiões do estado do Rio de Janeiro entre 2019 e 2023. A pesquisa investigou a distribuição temporal e espacial dos casos, além de explorar a relação entre a incidência da toxoplasmose e fatores demográficos como faixa etária, raça e escolaridade. Os resultados indicaram um aumento consistente no número de casos ao longo dos anos, com maior concentração nas mesorregiões Metropolitana e Centro Fluminense. A maioria dos casos ocorreu entre gestantes pardas e com ensino médio completo. Esses achados destacam a importância de políticas de saúde pública que considerem as desigualdades regionais e sociodemográficas, visando à prevenção e ao controle eficaz da toxoplasmose gestacional.
Relationship between the Human Development Index and public social spending: European experience for Ukraine
Authors: Artyukhov Artem , Hrytsenko Larysa , Dekhtyar Nadiia , Pihul Nataliya , Deineka Olha , Daňo Ferdinand , Krnačova Paulina
Published: October 2024

This study focuses on the relationship between the Human Development Index (HDI) and public social expenditures, analyzing socio-economic models using the examples of selected European countries and Ukraine. The study used the values of the HDI, GDP, and indicators of public expenditures for social purposes, namely, healthcare, education, leisure, culture and religion, and social protection for the period from 2010 to 2021. The analysis targeted 13 European countries using data sets from Eurostat, the Office for National Statistics of the United Kingdom, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine. The input time series were checked for lagged values using the STATISTICA software.Empirical evidence suggests a relationship between HDI and public social spending. An increase in the share of public social expenditures in GDP leads to an increase in HDI and vice versa. European countries with a social-democratic model of development have the highest level of centralization of public expenditure in GDP (34.72%) and the highest HDI (0.930), while countries belonging to the Southern European model have the lowest share of socially oriented public expenditure (30.41%) and the lowest HDI (0.873). In addition, there is a time lag between the investment of public funds in healthcare, education, leisure, culture and religion, and social protection and their impact on HDI changes. Thus, ensuring a high level of HDI is achieved, among other things, through state financial support for the relevant components of the social sphere and social protection.
AcknowledgmentThe study is funded by the EU NextGenerationEU through the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Slovakia under project No. 09I03-03-V01-00130.
The effectiveness of complex treatment of endothelial dysfunction in patients with primary open angle glaucoma
Authors: Dusmukhamedova A. M. , Tuychibaeva D. M. , Khadzhimetov A. A.
Published: October 2024

Currently, endothelial vascular dysfunction, leading to ischemia of the optic disc and compression of the optic nerve axons, is considered to be one of the main mechanisms underlying the development of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Purpose: to assess the severity of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in patients with different stages of POAG receiving complex therapy. Material and methods. 94 POAG patients were divided into three groups depending on the type of treatment. Group 1 (29 patients, control) received traditional therapy: 1 % emoxypine parabular injections, 5 % pyridoxine hydrochloride and 5 % ascorbic acid intramuscularly, and piracetam tablets.  Group 2 (34 patients) additionally received combined therapy: Clexan 4000 iu, 0.5 mg lymphotropically and Omega-3 capsules. Group 3 (31 patients) received, in addition to traditional therapy, Clexan 4000 iu, 0.5 mg lymphotropically, intravenous injections of 10 ml Cytoflavin dissolved in 200 ml of 5 % glucose solution (later to be replaced by tablets), and 1 capsule of Omega-3 three times a day for one month. Before and after the course of treatment, levels of endothelin-1, VEGF and Willebrand factor in blood serum were measured by immunoenzymatic assays using Human test systems (Germany). Results. Traditional treatment of the patients’ cohort provides an insignificant reduction of endothelin-1 but does not affect endothelial dysfunction. Complex therapy with the addition of Clexan and Omega-3 helped reduce the amount of endothelin-1 and the Willebrand factor. The most pronounced changes were observed when cytoflavin was added: from 42.9 ± 3.4 ng/ml to 34.9 ± 2.9 ng/ml and from 50.8 ± 4.7 ng/ml to 32.1 ± 2.4 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusion. An increased level of endothelin-1 and Willebrand factor, as well as a low VEGF level in POAG patients indicate the role of these pathogenetic factors in the formation of endothelial dysfunction. The correction of ED marker levels in patients with different POAG stages using the proposed compound therapy confirm its effectiveness.