bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO AMIDO DA AMÊNDOA DA SEMENTE DA MANGA (Mangifera Indica L.) VARIEDADE TOMMY ATKINS
Authors: Iana Mascarenhas Oliveira Carneiro  , Renato Souza Cruz
Published: June 2024

O amido, polímero natural, é composto basicamente por amilose e amilopectina. Devido às suas propriedades funcionais, como poder de inchamento e solubilidade, capacidade de absorção de água e óleo e capacidade de formar gel, é de grande importância para a tecnologia de alimentos (Mirmoghtadaie, Kadivar e Shahedi, 2009).
Desenvolvimento de software para monitoramento da análise da caminhada antropomórfica
Authors: Rodrigo de Matos Ferreira  , Armando Sanca Sanca
Published: June 2024

A fusão de sinais é o método de integração para sinais vindos de diversas fontes, cujo objetivo é obter a melhor estimativa para a grandeza física de interesse. Na maioria dos casos, as fontes de informações provêm de sensores heterogêneos ou de dispositivos que permitem a percepção ou a medição de variáveis físicas.
PEGADA HÍDRICA DA CARNE CAPRINA - ETAPA DE CRIAÇÃO
Authors: Saraline Francisca de Almeida  , Eduardo Henrique Borges Cohim Silva
Published: June 2024

A água potável é de grande importância para a indústria de alimentos, já que influencia diretamente a qualidade do produto. Independentemente da planta processadora se houvesse o uso de água não potável em qualquer etapa, comprometeria a qualidade sanitária do produto final. Em certos alimentos a água de abastecimento da indústria é incorpora ao produto, sendo de extrema importância garantir sua potabilidade (CUNHA, 2016).
AVALIAÇÃO DO TRATAMENTO DE LODO POR SECAGEM EM SISTEMA DE LEITOS PLANTADOS
Authors: Victor Cabral Carneiro  , Eduardo Henrique Borges Cohim Silva
Published: June 2024

O gerenciamento do lodo tem se tornado um importante aspecto a ser estudado no que tange o saneamento em todo o mundo. A priori, o processo de tratamento dos resíduos apresenta como um produto um volumoso contingente de lodo como resíduoou subproduto. Ademais, o processo de gestão de tais resíduos apresenta desafios complexos no que envolve a instalação de sua estrutura. De maneira geral, durante o tratamento das águas residuais o lodo criado por esse processo, que consiste empredominância de líquido, contém apenas 0,5% a 15% de sólidos totais (ST).
OBTENÇÃO E CARACTERIZAÇÃO DE NANOCRISTAIS DE CELULOSE DA PARTIR DE RESÍDUO AGROINDUSTRIAL
Authors: Victória Yasmine Santos da Silva  , Geany Peruch Camilloto
Published: June 2024

As tendências mais recentes na indústria de embalagens têm demonstrado bastante avanço devido as influências dos consumidores e preferências globais. O foco desse progresso é a melhoria da qualidade e segurança do alimento. Apesar dos desafios envolvidos, a nanotecnologia emerge como uma solução capaz de atender a esses requisitos (Idumah; Hassan; Ihuoma, 2019).
Modelagem de cidades inteligentes considerando zonas de conectividade para detecção de emergências
Authors: Wagner Alexandre Ferreira Júnior  , Thiago Cerqueira de Jesus
Published: June 2024

Uma cidade Inteligente é caracterizada principalmente pela presença de dispositivos interconectados para a coleta de informação a fim de gerenciar recursos e ativos de maneira eficiente, a fim de melhorar a segurança e qualidade de vida nestas cidades, é necessário aumentar a velocidade de resposta a emergências, portanto, foi pensada a implementação de sensores de vigilância, dispositivos responsáveis por monitorar áreas de risco e de se comunicarem através de uma rede de conexão
Das DFG-Projekt „Deutsche Orgelpredigtdrucke zwischen 1600 und 1800 – Katalogisierung, Texterfassung, Auswertung“ an der Universität Regensburg
Authors: Braun Lucinde , Umbreit Janosch
Published: June 2024

Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt zwei Aspekte des DFG-Projekts „Deutsche Orgelpredigtdrucke zwischen 1600 und 1800 – Katalogisierung, Texterfassung, Auswertung“ (Universität Regensburg) vor, das gedruckte Einweihungspredigten für Orgeln auf einem digitalen Portal ediert. Zum einen werden erste Versuche einer digitalen Datenanalyse am Beispiel der geografischen Verteilung präsentiert. Zum anderen geht es um Probleme der Katalogisierungund Quellenerfassung im Umgang mit musiktheologischen Kasualdrucken der Frühen Neuzeit.
Konzeption und Einrichtung eines Makerspace in einer öffentlichen Musikbibliothek am Beispiel von NEXT LEVEL in der Stadtbücherei Augsburg
Authors: Gründler Felix
Published: June 2024

Mithilfe einer Förderung des Deutschen Bibliotheksverbands konnte die Stadtbücherei Augsburg Anfang 2022 einen Teil der Musikabteilung zu einem Musik-Makerspace umfunktionieren. Er besteht aus einem Raum zum Arbeiten und für Veranstaltungen, aus Arbeitsplätzen für die Musikproduktion und Digitalisierung, einer Bibliothek der Dinge im Bereich Instrumente und Medientechnik und einem Musikraum mit Mini-Tonstudio. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die Ausstattung des Bereichs, zieht ein erstes Zwischenresümee über die Zeit nach der Eröffnung und zeigt beispielhaft auf, welche Punkte bei der Konzeption eines Musik-Makerspace besondere Beachtung finden sollten.
Simulation Exercises in Police Education, Why and How? A Teacher's Perspective
Authors: Sjöberg David
Published: June 2024

Context: This study is about the teaching method of simulation exercises and is set in a police education context. Simulation exercises are a central part of Swedish police education, and therefore it is of interest to explore how they are used, and for what purpose, by investigating police teachers' perceptions of this teaching and learning method. Police teachers are police officers who work as teachers at a police education unit on contracts lasting a few years, but which can be extended, and they usually lack any formal pedagogical training. 
Approach: In this study, the exploration of the use of simulation exercises was conducted through an inductive approach which included semi-structured interviews with 12 police teachers. The analysis was carried out in several steps. To promote impartiality in the initial data analysis the researcher first stayed close to the data and connection with the findings of previous studies was only considered in the latter stages of this analytic process. 
Findings: The findings show that the police teachers perceive that the overall purpose of simulation exercises is for students to apply specific content taught in courses, both physical techniques and methods, and more theoretical knowledge, in the fluid context of scenarios relevant to police work. The results also show that the teachers are aware that the purpose of the exercises is stated in the planning documents, but because they inherit the designs from previous teachers, they may not be aware of the underlying details of it or what is to be achieved in the scenario. The findings also demonstrate that the teachers learn the craft of designing and performing simulation exercises and develop their roles as teachers through an informal workplace learning process that involves tacit knowledge developed through working together, and by talking to and observing each other. 
Conclusion: The paper contributes to the field of simulation exercises in vocational (higher) education in that the findings can provide educated arguments for the need for scholarly discussions on simulation exercises as a pedagogical tool that supports student learning, as well as arguments for why formal pedagogically-oriented continuing education on the design and implementation of simulation exercises where learning is in the foreground may be needed to support police teachers' professional development.
Gaps
Authors: Lee-Chi Leung
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This essay chronicles various stories of a life lived and the painful moments within it. The ‘gaps’ the narrator experiences are in a multitude of forms. They are there to teach the narrator about pain and how it can drive a person along in their lives. The essay further examines the forgetfulness and loss that can be paired with pain. A prominent section of the text revolves around the imagery of the human body and the gaps that can hold pain within it.
Dual light source compensation method for improving the quality of LC-SLM holographic displays
Authors: Hu Chi , Sun Guobin , Jiang Dacheng , Zhang Jin
Published: June 2024

The inherent “grid” effect of LC-SLM in holographic displays can lead to issues such as the presence of zero-order spots and multi-level diffraction images, resulting in a decrease in the quality of reconstructed images. In this Letter, a dual light source compensation method is proposed to address this problem. By analyzing the influence of the LC-SLM “grid” effect on the diffraction field and the rule of change of light intensity distribution and position of the reconstructed image, the dual light source is introduced on the basis of the rule of change of energy distribution at the symmetric position of the reconstructed image so as to compensate for the quality of the display results. The results show that the method not only avoids the influence of zero-order spot and multi-level diffraction image on the holographic display results but also especially highlights that the uniformity of light energy distribution of the reconstructed image is greatly improved, which provides a reference for LC-SLM to perform a higher-quality holographic display.
A Modeling Framework and LSTM Nonlinear Dynamics Predictor for Accelerating Data Generation in Ultrafast Optics and Laser System Design
Authors: Hirschman Jack , Wang Minyang , Abedi Erfan , Carbajo Sergio
Published: June 2024

Ultrafast optics and high-power laser systems are the backbone of nearly every major industry from semiconductor manufacturing and telecommunications to advanced medical procedures and next-generation energy and defense solutions. With the increasing integration of machine learning (ML) into laser system design, there is a growing demand for efficient data generation to aid experiment design, perform in-situ optimization, and improve the efficacy of system-wide digital twins. Toward this end, we present a novel start-to-end (S2E) modeling framework for complex laser systems that can be tailored to specific applications for large data generation. The simulation output can then be used in a wide variety of ML tasks from predicting pulse propagation behavior and laser system controls optimization to diagnostic characteristics extraction. However, the models, by necessity, can involve solving several coupled partial and ordinary differential equations including the Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation (NLSE), gain dynamics, and Maxwell’s equations, depending on the framework configuration. These complex cascaded nonlinear systems of equations become a significant time bottleneck in generating large quantities of data. To demonstrate a broad impact application of ML enhancing ultrafast optics simulations, we aim our studies on using long short-term memory (LSTM) networks to replace solving the NLSE for sum-frequency generation, a nonlinear optical process involving the interaction of three fields. We show how these models can provide significant speed-up for large data generation and can ultimately enable an S2E framework to be applied broadly across applications in the ultrafast optics field. Finally, we discuss a metric for assessing the performance of these networks in the context of the optics domain.
Evaluation of copromicroscopy, multiplex-qPCR and antibody serology for monitoring of human ascariasis in endemic settings
Authors: Mugo Robert M. , Rausch Sebastian , Musimbi Zaneta D. , Strube Christina , Raulf Marie-Kristin , Landt Olfert , Gichuki Paul M. , Ebner Friederike , Mwacharo Jedidah , Odiere Maurice R. , Ndungu Francis M. , Njomo Doris W. , Hartmann Susanne
Published: June 2024

Background

The standard diagnosis of Ascaris lumbricoides and other soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections relies on the detection of worm eggs by copromicroscopy. However, this method is dependent on worm patency and shows only limited accuracy in low-intensity infection settings. We aimed to decipher the diagnostic accuracy of different antibodies using various Ascaris antigens in reference to copromicroscopy and quantitative PCR (qPCR), four months after national STH preventative chemotherapy among school children in western Kenya.

Methodology

STH infection status of 390 school children was evaluated via copromicroscopy (Kato-Katz and mini-FLOTAC) and qPCR. In parallel, Ascaris-specific antibody profiles against larval and adult worm lysates, and adult worm excretory-secretory (ES) products were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody cross-reactivity was evaluated using the closely related zoonotic roundworm species Toxocara cati and Toxocara canis. The diagnostic accuracy of each antibody was evaluated using receiver operating curve analysis and the correspondent area under the curve (AUC).

Principal findings

Ascaris was the predominant helminth infection with an overall prevalence of 14.9% (58/390). The sensitivity of mini-FLOTAC and Kato-Katz for Ascaris diagnosis reached only 53.5% and 63.8%, respectively compared to qPCR. Although being more sensitive, qPCR values correlated with microscopic egg counts (R = -0.71, P<0.001), in contrast to antibody levels. Strikingly, IgG antibodies recognizing the ES products of adult Ascaris worms reliably diagnosed active Ascaris infection as determined by qPCR and microscopy, with IgG1 displaying the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75–0.91).

Conclusion

IgG1 antibody responses against adult Ascaris-ES products hold a promising potential for complementing the standard fecal and molecular techniques employed for monitoring Ascaris infections. This is of particular importance in the context of deworming programs as the antibody diagnostic accuracy was independent of egg counts.
Identification and development of Tetra-ARMS PCR-based screening test for a genetic variant of OLA1 (Tyr254Cys) in the human failing heart
Authors: Dubey Praveen K. , Dubey Shubham , Singh Sarojini , Bhat Purnima Devaki , Pogwizd Steven , Krishnamurthy Prasanna
Published: June 2024

Obg-like ATPase 1 (OLA1) protein has GTP and ATP hydrolyzing activities and is important for cellular growth and survival. The human OLA1 gene maps to chromosome 2 (locus 2q31.1), near Titin (TTN), which is associated with familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In this study, we found that expression of OLA1 was significantly downregulated in failing human heart tissue (HF) compared to non-failing hearts (NF). Using the Sanger sequencing method, we characterized the human OLA1 gene and screened for mutations in the OLA1 gene in patients with failing and non-failing hearts. Among failing and non-failing heart patients, we found 15 different mutations in the OLA1 gene, including two transversions, one substitution, one deletion, and eleven transitions. All mutations were intronic except for a non-synonymous 5144A>G, resulting in 254Tyr>Cys in exon 8 of the OLA1 gene. Furthermore, haplotype analysis of these mutations revealed that these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are linked to each other, resulting in disease-specific haplotypes. Additionally, to screen the 254Tyr>Cys point mutation, we developed a cost-effective, rapid genetic screening PCR test that can differentiate between homozygous (AA and GG) and heterozygous (A/G) genotypes. Our results demonstrate that this PCR test can effectively screen for OLA1 mutation-associated cardiomyopathy in human patients using easily accessible cells or tissues, such as blood cells. These findings have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiomyopathy.
Exploration of Type III effector Xanthomonas outer protein Q (XopQ) inhibitor from Picrasma quassioides as an antibacterial agent using chemoinformatics analysis
Authors: Revanasiddappa Prasanna D. , Gowtham H. G. , G. S. Chikkanna , Gangadhar Suchithra , A. Satish , Murali M. , Shivamallu Chandan , Achar Raghu Ram , Silina Ekaterina , Stupin Victor , Manturova Natalia , Shati Ali A. , Alfaifi Mohammad Y. , Elbehairi Serag Eldin I. , Kollur Shiva Prasad , Amruthesh Kestur Nagaraj
Published: June 2024

The present study was focused on exploring the efficient inhibitors of closed state (form) of type III effector Xanthomonas outer protein Q (XopQ) (PDB: 4P5F) from the 44 phytochemicals of Picrasma quassioides using cutting-edge computational analysis. Among them, Kumudine B showed excellent binding energy (−11.0 kcal/mol), followed by Picrasamide A, Quassidine I and Quassidine J with the targeted closed state of XopQ protein compared to the reference standard drug (Streptomycin). The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations performed at 300 ns validated the stability of top lead ligands (Kumudine B, Picrasamide A, and Quassidine I)-bound XopQ protein complex with slightly lower fluctuation than Streptomycin. The MM-PBSA calculation confirmed the strong interactions of top lead ligands (Kumudine B and QuassidineI) with XopQ protein, as they offered the least binding energy. The results of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis confirmed that Quassidine I, Kumudine B and Picrasamide A were found to qualify most of the drug-likeness rules with excellent bioavailability scores compared to Streptomycin. Results of the computational studies suggested that Kumudine B, Picrasamide A, and Quassidine I could be considered potential compounds to design novel antibacterial drugs against X. oryzae infection. Further in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of Kumudine B, Picrasamide A, and Quassidine I are required to confirm their therapeutic potentiality in controlling the X. oryzae infection.
Molecular temperature descriptors as a novel approach for QSPR analysis of Borophene nanosheets
Authors: Khan Abdul Rauf , Ullah Zafar , Imran Muhammad , Malik Sidra Aziz , Alamoudi Lamis M. , Cancan Murat
Published: June 2024

Borophene nanosheets appear in various sizes and shapes, ranging from simple planar structures to complicated polyhedral formations. Due to their unique chemical, optical, and electrical properties, Borophene nanosheets are theoretically and practically attractive and because of their high thermal conductivity, boron nanosheets are suitable for efficient heat transmission applications. In this paper, temperature indices of borophene nanosheets are computed and these indices are employed in QSPR analysis of attributes like Young’s modulus, Shear modulus, and Poisson’s ratio of borophene nanosheets and borophene β12 sheets. The regression model for the F-Temperature index is discovered to be the best fit for shear modulus, the reciprocal product connectivity temperature index is discovered to be fit for Poisson’s ratio and the second hyper temperature index is discovered to be fit for Young’s modulus based on the correlation coefficient.
Quality of science journalism in the age of Artificial Intelligence explored with a mixed methodology
Authors: Dijkstra Anne M. , de Jong Anouk , Boscolo Marco
Published: June 2024

Science journalists, traditionally, play a key role in delivering science information to a wider audience. However, changes in the media ecosystem and the science-media relationship are posing challenges to reliable news production. Additionally, recent developments such as ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) more generally, may have further consequences for the work of (science) journalists. Through a mixed-methodology, the quality of news reporting was studied within the context of AI. A content analysis of media output about AI (news articles published within the time frame 1 September 2022–28 February 2023) explored the adherence to quality indicators, while interviews shed light on journalism practices regarding quality reporting on and with AI. Perspectives from understudied areas in four European countries (Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) were included and compared. The findings show that AI received continuous media attention in the four countries. Furthermore, despite four different media landscapes, the reporting in the news articles adhered to the same quality criteria such as applying rigour, including sources of information, accessibility, and relevance. Thematic analysis of the interview findings revealed that impact of AI and ChatGPT on the journalism profession is still in its infancy. Expected benefits of AI related to helping with repetitive tasks (e.g. translations), and positively influencing journalistic principles of accessibility, engagement, and impact, while concerns showed fear for lower adherence to principles of rigour, integrity and transparency of sources of information. More generally, the interviewees expressed concerns about the state of science journalism, including a lack of funding influencing the quality of reporting. Journalists who were employed as staff as well as those who worked as freelancers put efforts in ensuring quality output, for example, via editorial oversight, discussions, or memberships of associations. Further research into the science-media relationship is recommended.
Procurement practices and value for money in State Corporations in Kenya
Authors: Waci John Muturi , Kariuki Peter Wang’ombe , Mwirigi Purity Mukiri
Published: June 2024

Public procurement related expenditure is approximately fifty to seventy percent of the national budget of developing countries and accounts for almost a third of the gross domestic product. Cognizant of the significant funds committed in public procurement, the quest for value for money is critical. This study sought to determine the effect of procurement practices on value for money in State Corporations in Kenya. Specifically, the study investigated the effect of procurement planning, supplier sourcing, supplies management and E-procurement on value for money. Data collected from 87 State Corporations in Kenya was used in this study. The results of the study indicated that procurement planning, supplier sourcing, supplies management and e-procurement positively and significantly affect the value for money in state corporations in Kenya. The study concluded that proper procurement practices positively and significantly affect the value for money in state corporations in Kenya. The findings of this study contributes to literature by providing an empirical examination on the impact of procurement practices and value for money from a developing country perspective.
Functioning and quality of life among treatment-engaged adults with psychotic disorders in urban Tanzania: Baseline results from the KUPAA clinical trial
Authors: Egger Joseph R. , Kaaya Sylvia , Swai Praxeda , Lawala Paul , Ndelwa Liness , Temu Joseph , Bukuku Eliasa Swata , Lukens Ellen , Susser Ezra , Dixon Lisa , Minja Anna , Clari Rosarito , Martinez Alyssa , Headley Jennifer , Baumgartner Joy Noel
Published: June 2024

Background

There is a treatment gap for those living with severe mental illnesses in low- and middle-income countries, yet not enough is known about those who are currently accessing clinical services. A better understanding of potentially modifiable factors associated with functioning and quality of life will help inform policies and programming.

Aims

To describe the functioning and quality of life for a psychiatric treatment-engaged population living with psychotic disorders in two urban areas of Tanzania, and to explore their respective correlates.

Methods

This study analyzed cross-sectional data from 66 individuals enrolled in the Kuwezeshana Kupata Uzima (KUPAA) pilot clinical trial who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, recent relapse, and who were receiving outpatient treatment. Baseline functioning (WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0) and quality of life (WHO Quality of Life BREF scale) were measured. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to determine correlates of functioning and quality of life.

Results

Adjusted analyses indicated that higher disability was associated with higher food insecurity, more symptomatology, more self-stigma, less instrumental support, less hope, lower self-efficacy, and/or lower levels of family functioning. Higher quality of life was associated with higher levels of self-efficacy, more hopefulness, more instrumental support, less self-stigma, and better family functioning.

Conclusions

Identification of factors associated with disability and quality of life can help clinicians and policymakers, as well as consumers of mental health services, to better co-design and target psychosocial interventions to optimize their impact in low-resource settings.

Trial registration

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT04013932, July 10, 2019.
Exploratory mapping of tumor associated macrophage nanoparticle article abstracts using an eLDA topic modeling machine learning approach
Authors: Brown Chloe , Bilynsky Colette S. M. , Gainey Melanie , Young Sarah , Kitchin John , Wayne Elizabeth C.
Published: June 2024

The role of macrophages in regulating the tumor microenvironment has spurned the exponential generation of nanoparticle targeting technologies. With the large amount of literature and the speed at which it is generated it is difficult to remain current with the most up-to-date literature. In this study we performed a topic modeling analysis of 854 abstracts of peer-reviewed literature for the most common usages of nanoparticle targeting of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) in solid tumors. The data spans 20 years of literature, providing a broad perspective of the nanoparticle strategies. Our topic model found 6 distinct topics: Immune and TAMs, Nanoparticles, Imaging, Gene Delivery and Exosomes, Vaccines, and Multi-modal Therapies. We also found distinct nanoparticle usage, tumor types, and therapeutic trends across these topics. Moreover, we established that the topic model could be used to assign new papers into the existing topics, thereby creating a Living Review. This type of “birds-eye-view” analysis provides a useful assessment tool for exploring new and emerging themes within a large field.
Evaluation of agreement between a noninvasive method for real-time measurement of critical blood values with a standard point-of-care device
Authors: Ettrich Rudi H. , Caballero Joshua , Sakharkar Prashant , Ahmed Sultan , Hurlston Traci , Parmar Jayesh , Deb Subrata
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this work was to investigate the degree of agreement between two distinct approaches for measuring a set of blood values and to compare comfort levels reported by participants when utilizing these two disparate measurement methods. Radial arterial blood was collected for the comparator analysis using the Abbott i-STAT® POCT device. In contrast, the non-invasive proprietary DBC methodology is used to calculate sodium, potassium, chloride, ionized calcium, total carbon dioxide, pH, bicarbonate, and oxygen saturation using four input parameters (temperature, hemoglobin, pO2, and pCO2). Agreement between the measurement for a set of blood values obtained using i-STAT and DBC methodology was compared using intraclass correlation coefficients, Passing and Bablok regression analyses, and Bland Altman plots. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 37 participants were included in this study. The mean age of the participants was 42.4 ± 13 years, most were male (65%), predominantly Caucasian/White (75%), and of Hispanic ethnicity (40%). The Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) analyses indicated agreement levels ranging from poor to moderate between i-STAT and the DBC’s algorithm for Hb, pCO2, HCO3, TCO2, and Na, and weak agreement for pO2, HSO2, pH, K, Ca, and Cl. The Passing and Bablok regression analyses demonstrated that values for Hb, pO2, pCO2, TCO2, Cl, and Na obtained from the i-STAT did not differ significantly from that of the DBC’s algorithm suggesting good agreement. The values for Hb, K, and Na measured by the DBC algorithm were slightly higher than those obtained by the i-STAT, indicating some systematic differences between these two methods on Bland Altman Plots. The non-invasive DBC methodology was found to be reliable and robust for most of the measured blood values compared to invasive POCT i-STAT device in healthy participants. These findings need further validation in larger samples and among individuals afflicted with various medical conditions.
Green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles and its efficacy against Rhizoctonia solani, a fungus causing sheath blight disease in rice
Authors: Islam A. K. M. Sahfiqul , Bhuiyan Rejwan , Nihad Sheikh Arafat Islam , Akter Rumana , Khan Mohammad Ashik Iqbal , Akter Shamima , Islam Md. Rashidul , Khokon Md. Atiqur Rahman , Latif Mohammad Abdul
Published: June 2024

Rice (Oryza sativa) stands as a crucial staple food worldwide, especially in Bangladesh, where it ranks as the third-largest producer. However, intensified cultivation has made high-yielding rice varieties susceptible to various biotic stresses, notably sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani, which inflicts significant yield losses annually. Traditional fungicides, though effective, pose environmental and health risks. To address this, nanotechnology emerges as a promising avenue, leveraging the antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles like silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This study explored the green synthesis of AgNPs using Ipomoea carnea leaf extract and silver nitrate (AgNO3), and also examined their efficacy against sheath blight disease in rice. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized through various analytical techniques such as UV-vis spectrophotometer, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Particle size analyzer, Zeta potential, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) for confirming their successful production and crystalline nature of nanoparticles. The results of UV-visible spectrophotometers revealed an absorption peak ranging from 421 to 434 nm, validated the synthesis of AgNPs in the solution. XRD, DLS, and TEM estimated AgNPs sizes were ~45 nm, 66.2nm, and 46.38 to 73.81 nm, respectively. SEM and FESEM demonstrated that the synthesized AgNPs were spherical in shape. In vitro assays demonstrated the significant inhibitory effects of AgNPs on mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani, particularly at higher concentrations and pH levels. Further greenhouse and field experiments validated the antifungal efficacy of AgNPs against sheath blight disease in rice, exhibiting comparable effectiveness to commercial fungicides. The findings highlight the potential of AgNPs as a sustainable and effective alternative for managing rice sheath blight disease, offering a safer solution amidst environmental concerns associated with conventional fungicides.
Chunk boundaries disrupt dependency processing in an AG: Reconciling incremental processing and discrete sampling
Authors: Lo Chia-Wen , Meyer Lars
Published: June 2024

Language is rooted in our ability to compose: We link words together, fusing their meanings. Links are not limited to neighboring words but often span intervening words. The ability to process these non-adjacent dependencies (NADs) conflicts with the brain’s sampling of speech: We consume speech in chunks that are limited in time, containing only a limited number of words. It is unknown how we link words together that belong to separate chunks. Here, we report that we cannot—at least not so well. In our electroencephalography (EEG) study, 37 human listeners learned chunks and dependencies from an artificial grammar (AG) composed of syllables. Multi-syllable chunks to be learned were equal-sized, allowing us to employ a frequency-tagging approach. On top of chunks, syllable streams contained NADs that were either confined to a single chunk or crossed a chunk boundary. Frequency analyses of the EEG revealed a spectral peak at the chunk rate, showing that participants learned the chunks. NADs that cross boundaries were associated with smaller electrophysiological responses than within-chunk NADs. This shows that NADs are processed readily when they are confined to the same chunk, but not as well when crossing a chunk boundary. Our findings help to reconcile the classical notion that language is processed incrementally with recent evidence for discrete perceptual sampling of speech. This has implications for language acquisition and processing as well as for the general view of syntax in human language.
Dependency-aware action planning for smart home
Authors: Kim Jongjin , Lee Jaeri , Yun Jeongin , Kang U.
Published: June 2024

How can a smart home system control a connected device to be in a desired state? Recent developments in the Internet of Things (IoT) technology enable people to control various devices with the smart home system rather than physical contact. Furthermore, smart home systems cooperate with voice assistants such as Bixby or Alexa allowing users to control their devices through voice. In this process, a user’s query clarifies the target state of the device rather than the actions to perform. Thus, the smart home system needs to plan a sequence of actions to fulfill the user’s needs. However, it is challenging to perform action planning because it needs to handle a large-scale state transition graph of a real-world device, and the complex dependence relationships between capabilities. In this work, we propose SmartAid (Smart Home Action Planning in awareness of Dependency), an action planning method for smart home systems. To represent the state transition graph, SmartAid learns models that represent the prerequisite conditions and operations of actions. Then, SmartAid generates an action plan considering the dependencies between capabilities and actions. Extensive experiments demonstrate that SmartAid successfully represents a real-world device based on a state transition log and generates an accurate action sequence for a given query.
Label-free single-vesicle based surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy: A robust approach for investigating the biomolecular composition of small extracellular vesicles
Authors: Liu Zirui , Ng Martin , Srivastava Siddharth , Li Tieyi , Liu Jun , Phu Tuan Anh , Mateescu Bogdan , Wang Yi-Ting , Tsai Chia-Feng , Liu Tao , Raffai Robert L. , Xie Ya-Hong
Published: June 2024

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are cell-released vesicles ranging from 30-150nm in size. They have garnered increasing attention because of their potential for both the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The diversity of sEVs derives from their biological composition and cargo content. Currently, the isolation of sEV subpopulations is primarily based on bio-physical and affinity-based approaches. Since a standardized definition for sEV subpopulations is yet to be fully established, it is important to further investigate the correlation between the biomolecular composition of sEVs and their physical properties. In this study, we employed a platform combining single-vesicle surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and machine learning to examine individual sEVs isolated by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The biomolecular composition of each vesicle examined was reflected by its corresponding SERS spectral features (biomolecular “fingerprints”), with their roots in the composition of their collective Raman-active bonds. Origins of the SERS spectral features were validated through a comparative analysis between SERS and mass spectrometry (MS). SERS fingerprinting of individual vesicles was effective in overcoming the challenges posed by EV population averaging, allowing for the possibility of analyzing the variations in biomolecular composition between the vesicles of similar and/or different sizes. Using this approach, we uncovered that each of the size-based fractions of sEVs contained particles with predominantly similar SERS spectral features. Indeed, more than 84% of the vesicles residing within a particular group were clearly distinguishable from that of the other EV sub-populations, despite some spectral variations within each sub-population. Our results suggest the possibility that size-based EV fractionation methods produce samples where similarly eluted sEVs are correlated with their respective biochemical contents, as reflected by their SERS spectra. Our findings therefore highlight the possibility that the biogenesis and respective biological functionalities of the various sEV fractions may be inherently different.
Evaluation of comprehensive early warning for higher education institutions’ cloud model of simulated enterprise management cockpit
Authors: Fan Weixing , Li Zhifeng
Published: June 2024

The cross-disciplinary virtually simulated platform for enterprise management in universities’ new business courses is an initiative practical framework based on scenario-driven tasks. However, there is a prominent conflict between the rapid operating cycle of simulation enterprises plus their fierce competitions and the strategic demand for real-time analysis for operational data. Based on such demand, this study takes the development method of the simulated enterprise management cockpit from Guangzhou Huashang College as an example. It adopts the combined weighting method based on cloud models to determine indicator weights, then qualitative and quantitative data analyses are conducted from five aspects: “business, finance and operation”, “customer management and marketing”, “internal operational objectives”, “product development strategy”, along with “team building and management”. This approach achieves a comprehensive evaluation and early warning of the enterprise management process. Specifically, the subjective weights are determined by the Analytic Hierarchy Process, while the objective weights by the entropy weight method, finally verified by cloud model evaluation of its overall indicator performance. The design can evaluate the comprehensive performance of enterprise management indicators and students’ activity participation through the cloud-based application and the digital cockpit, so as to fully presents the enterprise’s overall management level, along with judgement of whether it is reasonable through pointers in different colors. In addition, apparent indicator-related characteristics are also utilized to assess future decision-making directions. Finally, this comprehensive approach can timely optimize operation strategies and facilitate budget allocation for future development.
Regulatory problems and associated factors among infants in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance system sites, southern Ethiopia
Authors: Bante Agegnehu , Ayele Gistane , Alamirew Birhanu , Ahmed Muluken
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Infant regulatory problems are a common source of concern for parents, and they increase the risk of impaired infant-caregiver bonding. Despite their impact, they are often overlooked in Ethiopia. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of infant regulatory problems in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance System sites in southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 451 mother-infant pairs from February 15 to March 15, 2022. Regulatory problems were assessed using diagnostic interviews for regulatory problems. The data was collected using an open data kit Android application and analyzed with Stata version 17.0. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed to identify factors associated with each infant regulatory problem. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05.

Results

In this study, four hundred forty-nine mother-infant pairs were involved, with a response rate of 99.5%. The prevalence of excessive crying, feeding problems, and sleeping difficulties was 14.03% [95% CI: 10.95, 17.59], 20.04% [95% CI: 16.44, 24.05], and 13.59% [95% CI: 10.55, 17.11], respectively. Attending primary education (AOR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.22, 5.32), high perceived social support (AOR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.89), feeding problems (AOR: 5.0, 95% CI: 2.65, 9.45), and depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) symptoms (AOR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.19, 5.98) were associated with excessive crying. In addition, a family size of above five (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.22), excessive crying (AOR: 3.76, 95% CI: 1.85, 7.65), sleeping problems (AOR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.13, 4.65), comorbid DAS symptoms (AOR: 3.42, 95% CI: 1.64, 7.11), alcohol abuse (AOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.42), and late initiation of complementary feeding (AOR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.22, 5.88) were associated with feeding problems. Furthermore, attending primary education (AOR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.77), feeding problems (AOR: 3.47, 95% CI: 1.86, 6.48), and comorbid DAS symptoms (AOR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.53, 6.84) were associated with sleeping problems.

Conclusions

Approximately one-third of infants encountered at least one regulatory problem. Level of education, perceived social support, feeding problems, and DAS symptoms were associated with excessive crying. Large family sizes, excessive crying, sleeping problems, comorbid DAS symptoms, alcohol abuse and, late initiation of complementary feeding increase the likelihood of feeding problems. Moreover, attending primary education, feeding problems, and comorbid DAS symptoms increase the odds of sleeping problems. Continuous guidance and support on infant soothing techniques, cognitive and behavioral therapy, and counselling on appropriate coping strategies for postpartum women are imperative to reduce the burden of infant regulatory problems.
Evaluation of serum MIP-1β and MCP-2 levels in major depressive disorder: A case-control study
Authors: Akter Mariya , Roknuzzaman A. S. M. , Shahriar Mohammad , Islam Sardar Mohammad Ashraful , Ahmed Bhuiyan Mohiuddin , Qusar M. M. A. Shalahuddin , Kabir Eva Rahman , Islam Rabiul
Published: June 2024

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and debilitating mental illness characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in daily activities. The objective of this study was to investigate whether levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β) and macrophage chemoattractant protein-2 (MCP-2) in the blood were associated with the pathophysiology and development of MDD compared to healthy controls (HCs).

Methods

This case-control study was conducted involving 50 MDD patients and 38 HCs. We performed a comprehensive assessment to match age, sex, BMI, and socio-demographic profile between the groups. The study excluded participants with chronic infection, inflammatory diseases, coexisting psychiatric disorder, history of liver and kidney diseases, and individuals who are under antipsychotic medications. A professional psychiatrist diagnosed MDD patients and evaluated HCs based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) criteria. The severity of depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression (Ham-D) rating scale. Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to quantify the serum MIP-1β and MCP-2 levels.

Results

The results indicated elevated serum MIP-1β levels (207.73±24.24 pg/ml) in MDD patients compared to HCs (58.77±9.14 pg/ml). This difference in concentration is positively correlated with severity of disease symptoms (r = 0.451; p<0.001). Similarly, the levels of MCP-2 were found to be elevated in patients compared to controls (143.61±19.92 vs. 56.84±4.02 pg/ml; p = 0.003), with a positive correlation with the Ham-D scores (r = 0.373; p = 0.004).

Conclusion

According to this study, elevated levels of MIP-1β and MCP-2 may be associated with the pathophysiology and development of MDD. These increased serum MIP-1β and MCP-2 levels could be used as risk assessment tools for MDD. The present findings urge further research and the development of therapeutic and diagnostic approaches for depression.
Definir las fronteras de la América meridional en el periodo colonial tardío: cartografía, informantes indígenas y conocimiento geográfico.
Authors: Herreros Benita
Published: June 2024

Este artículo estudia las formas en que la cartografía se utilizó e interpretó por parte de los gobernadores de Mato Grosso y Paraguay en sus disputas sobre la determinación del límite fronterizo de los imperios ibéricos en las regiones que gobernaban a finales del siglo XVIII, ofreciendo un análisis que contribuye a comprender cómo las fronteras eran interpretadas y presentadas en los discursos coloniales y en la propia producción cartográfica. Asimismo, se indaga sobre la actividad de los miembros de la partida de demarcación enviada a la región tras la firma del Tratado de San Ildefonso (1777), subrayando la centralidad que las contribuciones de informantes e intérpretes indígenas tuvieron tanto para la construcción de conocimiento geográfico sobre un área fronteriza que permanecía en su mayoría fuera del control efectivo de ambas coronas ibéricas, como para su materialización en forma de mapas en los que su presencia fue, sin embargo, silenciada.
A Gold Ounce for Every Throat Cut
Authors: Kleiser Randal Grant
Published: June 2024

Peace in the Banda Oriental, at the borders between the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Río de la Plata region, marks one of the major developments in the political geography of Latin America from 1777-1801, yet the subject has not been studied rigorously. This chapter explores how this peace came about after failing several times previously. Both Spanish and Portuguese colonial agents and policy-makers affected such peace by overcoming resistance to imperialism. A Luso-Hispanic policy of removal resulted in the Jesuits’ loss of power in South America. Several successful mapping expeditions reduced Iberian dependence on native guides, limiting indigenous control over European colonization. Near extermination of cattle in the region and increased Spanish and Portuguese patrols over grazing lands curbed much of the illicit cattle hunting in the Río de la Plata. And the Spanish conquest of Colonia del Sacramento, a key contraband base, decreased smugglers’ activity in the region. As the power of these non-governmental actors diminished, Iberian empires augmented their claims to sovereignty in the region and could finally affect the peace that Lisbon and Madrid so desired. This moment demonstrates a brief apogee in Iberian colonial control in the late eighteenth century.
Baqueanos y lenguaraces en las fronteras tardocoloniales de la Pampa y la Patagonia
Authors: Antón Rivas Andrés Severo
Published: June 2024

El presente artículo estudia dos figuras decisivas en la intermediación cultural desarrollada entre las sociedades fronterizas indígenas e hispanocriollas de Pampa y Patagonia durante la época tardocolonial: los baqueanos y los lenguaraces. Los baqueanos manejaban información geográfica, actuando como guías conocedores de rutas y recursos, mientras que los lenguaraces eran intérpretes diestros en el empleo de idiomas. La historiografía les ha dedicado poca atención por su presencia marginal en las fuentes, pero aquí se ofrece un estudio que contribuye a subsanar esta carencia y subraya su protagonismo en el contexto fronterizo mediante el análisis de sus perfiles sociales y las funciones que ejercieron.
Comércio, contrabando e demarcação de fronteiras na Amazónia ibérica (c.1780-c.1790)
Authors: Bastos Carlos Augusto
Published: June 2024

Durante a execução das demarcações de fronteira determinadas pelo Tratado de Santo Ildefonso (1777), as relações comerciais legais e ilegais realizadas por portugueses, espanhóis e populações indígenas nas fronteiras amazónicas envolveram diferentes produtos e atores. Esse comércio foi especialmente importante para abastecer de víveres a comissão espanhola. Além disso, os protestos contra o contrabando luso-espanhol nas fronteiras amazónicas indicam o papel desempenhado por autoridades locais nessa atividade. A partir de evidências em documentação portuguesa e espanhola, este artigo analisa a presença das redes de comércio e contrabando envolvendo as zonas amazónicas da Audiência de Quito e o Estado do Grão-Pará e Rio Negro durante as décadas finais do século XVIII.