bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalized Alexander quandles of finite groups and their characterizations
Authors: Higashitani Akihiro , Kurihara Hirotake
Published: March 2023

The goal of this paper is to characterization generalized Alexander quandles of finite groups in the language of the underlying groups. Firstly, we prove that if finite groups G are simple, then the quandle isomorphic classes of generalized Alexander quandles of G one-to-one correspond to the conjugacy classes of the automorphism groups of G. This correspondence can be also claimed for the case of symmetric groups. Secondly, we give a characterization of generalized Alexander quandles of finite groups G under some assumptions in terms of G. As corollaries of this characterization, we obtain several characterizations in some particular groups, e.g., abelian groups and dihedral groups. Finally, we perform a characterization of generalized Alexander quandles arisingfrom groups with their order up to 15.
Foot-and-mouth disease Non-Structural Protein seropositivity in cattle and pigs in Cambodia
Authors: Kong Lida , Siengsanan-Lamont Jarunee , Tum Sothyra , Sanyakamdhorn Sriwanna , Selleck Paul W. , Areerob Jeeranan , Young James R. , Gleeson Laurence J. , Blacksell Stuart D.
Published: March 2023

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a contagious transboundary animal disease that causes economic loss and obstacles to international trade. Frequent FMD outbreaks in Cambodia negatively impact farmers and smallholder incomes. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of FMD Non-Structural Protein (NSP) antibodies, which are indicator antibodies raised during a natural infection rather than those which may be vaccine-derived and analyzed by enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: Sample collection from cattle and pigs (n=2,238) was performed at ten abattoirs in seven provinces between October 2019 and December 2020. Overall seroprevalence in cattle and pigs was 43.2% (n=839) and 0.6% (n=1,399) respectively. In cattle, the abattoir with the highest seroprevalence was in Battambang (54.5%, n=110), followed by the abattoirs in Siem Reap at 52.3% (n=109), Prey Veng 45.1% (n=31), Phnom Penh 40.2% (n=547) and Takeo 37.5% (n=32). For pig samples, all 9 FMD NSP sero-reactors were detected only in two provinces, namely Takeo at 1.0% (n=191) and Phnom Penh at abattoirs Boeng Salang (0.4%; n=245), Damnak Thum (1.6%; n=185), and Trea Boun (1%; n=295). The seropositive pigs originated from Kampong Speu (0.8%; 5/603) and Thailand (1.6%; 4/250). Only the cattle dataset was included in the risk factor analysis as the prevalence of sero-reactors was too low in the pig dataset to be analysed. Significant risk factors identified by the logistic regression model included province of origin (p=0.02), body condition score (BCS) (p=0.0002) and sex (p=0.0007). Odds ratios of the significant risk factors were 7.05 (95%CI 1.43-34.67; p=0.02) for cattle that originated from Kampong Thom, 1.41 (95%CI 1.05-1.89; p=0.02) for female cattle, and 3.28 (95% CI 1.06-10.12; p=0.04) for animals with BCS of 3/5.
Conclusions: The study revealed that the seroprevalence of FMD NSP in cattle presenting at the abattoirs was high, while the FMD NSP seroprevalence in abattoir pigs was very low. Further investigation is required to map the disease distribution in Cambodia, especially the serotypes and strains causing clinical disease. These findings call for the extension of work on effective disease prevention measures, such as vaccination, early outbreak detection and movement restriction during outbreaks.
Macrocyclic bisazo-dipyrrolmethane crown ether: synthesis, crystal structure and anions recognition
Authors: Sun Jialin , Zhai Qingqing , Zhang Hui , Yin Zhenming
Published: March 2023

A bisazo-dipyrrolmethane based macrocycle with crown ether part, compound 2, was synthesized and its structure was characterized by X-ray crystallography. In the crystal, the molecules of compound 2 self-assembled into tubular structures through included solvents and C-H…N hydrogen bonds. The Powder X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the crystal continue to has the tubular structure after remove the solvents. The selective fluoride ion detection of 2 in DMSO solution was also studied by UV-Vis and 1H NMR titration experimental.
The Paradox of Talent: how Chance affects Success in Tennis Tournaments
Authors: Zappalà Chiara , Biondo Alessio Emanuele , Pluchino Alessandro , Rapisarda Andrea
Published: March 2023

Individual sports competitions provide a natural setting for examining the relative importance of talent and luck in achieving success. The belief that success is primarily due to individual abilities and hard work rather than external factors is especially strong in this context. Thus, individual talent is regarded as the most important – if not the only – component in ensuring a successful career for players. In this study, we test this belief through detailed data analysis and comparison with an agent-based model, using tennis as a case study due to its popularity and competition structure in direct-elimination tournaments. Our dataset covers the last decade (2010-2019) of main international events in the ATP circuit and consists of tourney results and annual rankings for professional male players. We show that our agent-based model, calibrated on the dataset, can reproduce the main stylized facts observed in real data, including the results of single tournaments and the development of players’ careers in the ATP community. The strength of our approach lies in its simplicity: it requires only one free parameter a to determine the importance of talent in scoring every single point: a = 1 indicates the ideal scenario in which only talent matters, whereas a = 0 represents the opposite limit case, in which the outcome of each point is entirely due to chance. We find a good agreement with data when talent weights substantially less than luck, i.e. when a is around 0.20. A posteriori, we notice that this surprisingly important role of chance in tennis tournaments is not an exception. On the contrary, it can be explained by a more general paradoxical effect that characterizes highly competitive environments, particularly in individual sports. In other words, when the difference in talent between top players is minimal, chance becomes determinant. Our findings highlight the impact of the – too often underestimated – external factors on athletes’ performance in individual tournaments and their careers. Our work points out the unfairness of the “winner-takes-all” reward system that enhances the disparities between the first classified players and the others in major competitions.
Intelligence Differences Between Genders based on Multiple Intelligence (MI) Theory
Authors: Hasan Kazi Sakib
Published: March 2023

Human intelligence differs from person to person. Factors that are associated with intelligence were always an essential theme to discuss and so do the intelligence difference based on gender discrimination. Studying and discussion of the topic were important as it can show a clear view of which gender is worthy for which type of work. So that males and females do not face any physical or mental trouble while finishing their random or given tasks, either at the workplace or at home. In 1983, American psychologist Howard Gardner wrote a treatise titled "Frames of mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligence" and there he proposed the core eight abilities of an individual from where the term multiple intelligence was born. The eight core abilities are divided into subcategories based on task differences including visual efficiency, organ coordinations, analytical thinking etc. Since then, researchers began to study depending on the theory to find out the intelligence supremacy between male and female. In this study some recent research on multiple intelligence and their results are analyzed briefly to determine whether males or females have better intelligence than the opposite gender. Methodology of the study is divided into two steps. Each step gives an overview of an already done research on multiple intelligence theory where a number of individuals were participated upon whom several tests were given and finally both step research results are merged to reach the study conclusion.
Probable maximum flood: the potential for estimation in the UK using ReFH2
Authors: Haxton Tracey , Vesuviano Gianni , Pucknell Samuel , Kjeldsen Thomas Rodding
Published: March 2023

The current reservoir safety guidance within the UK recommends the use of the FSR/FEH rainfall-runoff model to estimate PMF (probable maximum flood) peak flows for reservoirs within the highest risk category (A). However, the FSR/FEH model has been superseded by the ReFH2 rainfall-runoff model for all other flood risk purposes in the UK. This study develops a new modelling framework for PMF estimation using ReFH2 by translating the assumptions made within the current FSR/FEH PMF procedure and applying these within the ReFH2 rainfall-runoff model. Peak flows from the methodology are compared with those from the FSR/FEH model for 400+ catchments. The study highlights the potential for ReFH2 to be used as the rainfall-runoff model for all return periods, up to and including the PMF, thereby paving the way for using the ReFH2 model for reservoir safety studies.
Estimating the safety and reliability of the control system of a locomotive with machine vision
Authors: Shubinsky I. B. , Rozenberg E. N. , Panfiorov I. A. , Boyarinova N. A. , Kuzmin A. I.
Published: March 2023

Abstract. Aim. The paper aims to evaluate the indicators of safety and reliability of the MALS suite of technology that ensures the control of locomotives. Increased indicators are achieved through the use of additional controls. As such, a second virtual channel is proposed. The latter allows detecting MALS failures without affecting the shunting engine control algorithms.

Methods. The paper uses the graph method. Using a modified topological semi-Markov method, formulas were deduced for calculating the mean time to failure and the safety factor.

Results. The paper individually examines the mean time of the automatic train operation system of a shunting engine remaining in at least SIL3 and mean time to hazardous failure. The authors research the dependence of the above indicators on the failure rate of the MALS equipment and the machine vision. Using the graph method, the level of the system’s functional safety was evaluated by calculating the safety factor and the danger factor. The dependence of the above factors on the system recovery time and probability of detection of component failures was examined.
Analytical methods for calculating the probability and mathematical expectation of a power shortage as part of identifying the optimal reserve capacity in a concentrated power system
Authors: Oboskalov V. P.
Published: March 2023

Abstract. Aim. The paper examines the methodological aspects of estimating the optimal reserve capacity in a concentrated electric power system. The sources of errors in the Markovich formula are identified. It is shown that the key requirement for the applicability of the Markovich formula is the assumption of absolute dependability of additional backup power units. The author analysed the mathematical procedures for identifying the probability and mathematical expectation (ME) of power shortage (PS). He proposed formulas that allow analytically identifying the MO and the PS variance. It is proposed to represent the schedule of scheduled repairs of main generation equipment as a deterministic component of the additional load, which allows abandoning the random processes model in favour of random variables. It is shown that there is an almost linear functional relationship between the probability and the ME of PS, which allows estimating the adequacy indicators based on the interval probability of the PS.
Effects of Diet with High Polyphenol and Protein Content and Diet with
High Boron Content on Microbiota in Obesity
Authors: Yılmaz Feray Çağıran , Türkoğlu Semra
Published: March 2023

It is now a known fact that microbiota needs to be regulated in order to prevent obesity,
which has become a global public health problem around the world. It is very important to
acquire sustainable and easy-to-apply eating habits for microbiota health. Studies show that the
type and amount of dietary protein, dietary polyphenol, and boron content can have positive effects
on the microbiota. In the light of the research studies examined as a result of this review, it
is thought that the microbiota health will improve with the acquisition of a diet with high protein,
polyphenol, and boron content, and thus, many chronic health problems related to nutrition, including
obesity, can be solved.
Nanocarriers and their Role in the Treatment of Breast Cancer
Authors: Kar Sidhartha S. , Dhar Arghya Kusum , Bhatt Shvetank
Published: March 2023

 Breast cancer is the most common disease in women worldwide, yet current
pharmacological therapy is far from ideal due to the high mortality rate among breast
cancer patients. Emerging nanomedicine is a viable therapy option for breast cancer.
Various potential organic and inorganic nanoparticles are promising drug nanocarriers
developed for targeted delivery in breast cancer therapy over the years, with evidence
established. Nanocarriers have passive and ligand-based targeting mechanisms that
allow them to accumulate preferentially in breast tumours. Besides many conventional
nanocarriers, polymer-based nanocarriers include the application of dendrimers,
polymersomes, polymeric nanoparticles, polymer micelles, polyplexes, polymer–lipid
hybrid systems, and polymer-drug/Polymer-protein conjugates to improve breast
cancer therapeutic efficacy, has expanded in the recent past. However, the concept of
nanocarriers with drug conjugates is constrained to the lab size. They must be scaled up
to generate active-targeted nanomedicine for clinical use against breast cancer. As a
result, the current chapter focuses on research that has recently been reported in the
exploration of emerging nanocarriers for breast cancer therapy.
Audyt krajobrazowy – czy jest potrzebny?
Authors: Wieczorek Anna
Published: March 2023

Celem artykułu jest przybliżenie czytelnikom zakresu stanowienia i zasad sporządzania audytu kraj­obrazowego. Autor uważa, że nie było potrzeby wprowadzenia audytu krajobrazowego do polskiego systemu prawnego, ponieważ: nie zmuszało nas do tego ratyfikowanie Europejskiej Konwencji Krajobrazowej; w 2006 r. i w 2015 r. mieliśmy, a w 2022 r. mamy wystarczającą liczbę narzędzi służących kształtowaniu i ochronie krajobrazu. Słowa kluczowe: audyt krajobrazowy, krajobraz, krajobraz priorytetowy, krajobraz kulturowy
Ageing: Longevity, Successful and Positive
Authors: Smithard David G
Published: March 2023

Ageing: Longevity, Successful and Positive
Componente socioeconómico: calidad de la canal y de la carne
Authors: Aguayo Ulloa Lorena
Published: March 2023

La canal, es el producto primario en el proceso de producción de carne. La canal, es la pieza de transición más importante entre el animal vivo y la carne siendo la unidad fundamental para el comercio del sector cárnico formal. Para evaluar la canal de manera comercial, los parámetros objetivos comúnmente usados son: el peso y el rendimiento centesimal.
Do Infrared Thermometers Hold Promise for an Effective Early Warning System for Emerging Respiratory Infectious Diseases?
Authors: Li Rui , Shen Mingwang , Liu Hanting , Bai Lu , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2023

Background

Major respiratory infectious diseases, such as influenza, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, have caused historic global pandemics with severe disease and economic burdens. Early warning and timely intervention are key to suppress such outbreaks.

Objective

We propose a theoretical framework for a community-based early warning (EWS) system that will proactively detect temperature abnormalities in the community based on a collective network of infrared thermometer–enabled smartphone devices.

Methods

We developed a framework for a community-based EWS and demonstrated its operation with a schematic flowchart. We emphasize the potential feasibility of the EWS and potential obstacles.

Results

Overall, the framework uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology on cloud computing platforms to identify the probability of an outbreak in a timely manner. It hinges on the detection of geospatial temperature abnormalities in the community based on mass data collection, cloud-based computing and analysis, decision-making, and feedback. The EWS may be feasible for implementation considering its public acceptance, technical practicality, and value for money. However, it is important that the proposed framework work in parallel or in combination with other early warning mechanisms due to a relatively long initial model training process.

Conclusions

The framework, if implemented, may provide an important tool for important decisions for early prevention and control of respiratory diseases for health stakeholders.
Condiciones y percepciones de (in)seguridad laboral en Monterrey: Una propuesta de medición de la seguridad socioeconómica de la OIT
Authors: Mancini Fiorella
Published: March 2023

El objetivo del artículo es analizar las condiciones y percepciones de (in)seguridad laboral en Monterrey (México) a partir de la propuesta de medición de la seguridad socioeco- nómica de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo. Para ello se define a la seguridad laboral como el nivel de certidumbre en las posiciones y reconocimientos sociales que provienen del trabajo, gracias a la estabilidad de éste y a la probabilidad de ascenso social provista por la institución laboral. La propuesta de medición contempla no sólo considerar tanto la dimensión material como subjetiva de la (in)seguridad, sino también siete aspectos centrales del mundo del trabajo en ambas esferas, tal como lo propone la oit: 1. Seguridad del mercado de trabajo; 2. Seguridad del empleo; 3. Seguridad pro- fesional; 4. Seguridad en el trabajo; 5. Seguridad de formación profesional; 6. Seguridad de ingesos; 7. Seguridad de representación. A partir de la construcción de índices y de su sometimiento a un análisis estadístico multivariado, los hallazgos de la investigación indican que: 1. La propuesta de medición de la (in)seguridad laboral es una alternativa válida para analizar la complejidad del mundo del trabajo actual en la medida en que no sólo contempla aspectos objetivos y subjetivos, sino que además es multidimensional y factible de ser aplicada a los diferentes tipos de trabajo contemporáneo (a diferencia de conceptos como precariedad o informalidad); 2. Los aspectos materiales y subjetivos de la (in)seguridad laboral se comportan de una manera autónoma pero interdependiente y pueden relacionarse entre sí, sobre todo, a partir de ciertas condiciones sociales de los trabajadores; 3. Los principales problemas en materia de inseguridad que atraviesa el mercado laboral regiomontano están relacionados con la seguridad de formación profesional y de representación.
Incertidumbre laboral entre generaciones: análisis de trayectorias en tres cohortes de trabajadores de Nuevo León
Authors: Damián Hernández Gerardo
Published: March 2023

En este artículo se analizan los cambios generacionales en las condiciones objetivas y subjetivas de seguridad laboral. De acuerdo con la bibliografía, al final del siglo xx se incrementó la incertidumbre en esta dimensión, lo que ha afectado a generaciones más jóvenes al impedirles acceder a trabajos decentes y de calidad. Con la Encuesta sobre Inseguridad Laboral 2011 se analizan las trayectorias de inseguridad en el empleo de tres cohortes de trabajadores y trabajadoras de Nuevo León. Se construyen clústeres para conocer los tipos de inseguridad laboral a lo largo del curso de vida. Por último, se realiza una regresión logística para conocer qué características sociales influyen, en cada cohorte, para pertenecer al clúster con trayectorias laborales más inseguras. Así se prueba la hipótesis: ha ocurrido un incremento de la inseguridad e incertidumbre laboral objetiva y subjetiva para las generaciones más jóvenes. Los resultados aportan al debate sobre riesgo e incertidumbre en el curso de vida, pues aunque las condiciones objetivas se han deteriorado conforme observamoscohortes más jóvenes, las condicio- nes subjetivas no lo han hecho.
La “desaparición del hombre” como transformación epistémico-política: soberanía, disciplina y gobierno de vida
Authors: Botticcelli Sebastián
Published: March 2023

Muchos indicios señalarían la realización de la premonición con la que Foucault cerrara Las palabras y las cosas: la figura de “el hombre” se estaría borrando de nuestro plexo de sentidos históricos. Sumada al avance de tendencias como las nuevas intervenciones biotecnológicas, la renovación de los parámetros de acumulación del capital y la codifica- ción de las representaciones de lo viviente, esto significaría el fin del proyecto ilustrado y nos enfrentaría al desafío de componer una nueva base que permita repensar los vínculos sociales e intersubjetivos. El presente artículo se propone analizar algunas de las implicancias que esta “desaparición del hombre” supondría en cuanto al ejercicio de la soberanía, la disciplinarización de la fuerza productiva y el gobierno de la vida.
Reshaping Investor-State Dispute Settlement Before the Next Syndemic
Authors: Bas Vilizzio Magdalena
Published: March 2023

In the midst of a legitimacy crisis in investor-State dispute settlement regime, COVID-19 syndemic may lead States to the perfect storm as a result of the enlargement of the national policy space in order to tackle health, social and economic impacts. Thus, this piece aims to identify measures adopted by Latin American States which may be challenged by foreign investors’ claims. It also addresses the protection of national policy space and argues that the roadmap for reshaping the regime should include the following options: 1) moratorium on pending disputes and restriction on future claims related to Covid-19 measures;2) introduction of counterclaims as a general rule; 3) reference to right to regulate in investment agreements; 4) exclusion of protected areas or policies.
Fundamentos teórico-conceptuales de la Convención sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas: la teoría de los derechos humanos y el modelo social de la discapacidad
Authors: Damiani Pellegrini Luis Romano
Published: March 2023

El objetivo fundamental del trabajo es señalar y analizar algunos supuestos teóricos de la teoría de los derechos humanos y del modelo social de la discapacidad. En efecto, estas teorías constituyen la base teórica de la Convención de los Derechos Humanos de las Personas con Discapacidad, que junto al Protocolo Facultativo han sido adoptadas por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas en la resolución 61/106 el 13 de diciembre de 2006, vigente desde el 3 de mayo de 2008. La Convención es el primer texto jurídico de tutela internacional que caracteriza la discriminación contra las personas con discapacidad a causa de la discapacidad, como una violación de los derechos humanos. De acuerdo con nuestro criterio, el tratado es un texto que implica una revolución: es de hecho un nuevo paradigma interpretativo que transforma profundamente nuestra manera de explicar la relación entre el individuo con discapacidad y la sociedad a la cual pertenece porque plantea, por primera vez en la historia, que la discapacidad como fenómeno es esencialmente una construcción social, un hecho social cuya causa es esencialmente social.
Escisión y anexión de Estados. El caso de la República de Texas (1836-1845)
Authors: Cárdenas Gracia Jaime
Published: March 2023

A propósito de la República de Texas, en este ensayo se hace un estudio sobre el marco teórico jurídico de la secesión y creación de nuevos Estados, tanto en el derecho internacional del siglo XIX como en el derecho internacional de nuestro tiempo. En el derecho internacional del siglo XIX la secesión era fundamentalmente una cuestión de hecho. Y el aval definitivo era el beneplácito de la comunidad internacional, principalmente de las grandes potencias. Hoy en día es imposible admitir la secesión o anexión cuando interviene un tercer Estado o cuando esta intervención se realiza mediante la fuerza militar. Para que la secesión y anexión de Estados sea válida debe ser en cumplimiento de la legalidad internacional, en donde destaca la aceptación del Estado predecesor, el cumplimiento del principio de integridad territorial, salvo los casos en donde ese Estado vulnere los derechos de una población oprimida, y también se reivindica la garantía plena de los derechos humanos y del derecho humanitario.
Gaspar de Villafranca, un delator delatado
Authors: García-Molina Riquelme Antonio M.
Published: March 2023

El estudio se ocupa de analizar cómo una simple causa por blasfemia herética se enreda y convierte al reo, Gaspar de Villafranca, en un delator al servicio del Tribunal del Santo Oficio de México. Al mismo tiempo que se detallan las diversas fases del inacabable proceso, se realiza una aproximación a un tema de mucho calado, como es el marco legal y doctrinal de aquel delito.
Campesinos al derecho: movilización legal por la tierra y trabajo en Colombia
Authors: Coronado Sergio
Published: March 2023

El derecho ha denominado de diferentes formas al campesinado. Mientras algunas representaciones legales hacen énfasis en su condición de trabajadores agrarios, otras acentúan la aspiración legal de acceder a las tierras rurales. Las variaciones históricas en dichas representaciones indican las interacciones entre estructuras políticas y económicas y el campo jurídico. En Colombia, el actual reconocimiento de los campesinos como sujetos de especial protección constitucional está vinculado tanto con los procesos recientes de movilización legal del campesinado en el marco de la Constitución de 1991 y de los desarrollos recientes del derecho internacional de los derechos humanos como con las luchas históricas por la tierra como un elemento que posibilita el ejercicio del derecho al trabajo. Este artículo analiza las articulaciones de ambos procesos y señala algunas de las limitaciones de esta categoría emergente.
"Cambia la vida de un día para otro”: Experiencias de madres y padres al cuidado personal de un hijo/a hospitalizado por cáncer
Authors: Concha Méndez Camila , Vega Vega Paula , Vargas Celis Ivonne
Published: March 2023

Objetivo: Comprender el significado que atribuyen los padres y madres a la experiencia de estar junto a su hijo hospitalizado en una unidad de oncología de un hospital público de Chile. Metodología: Paradigma de investigación interpretativo, enfoque fenomenológico hermenéutico de Van Manen. Se realizó una entrevista en profundidad a 10 participantes y las narrativas se analizaron mediante un análisis temático con enfoque selectivo de lectura. El artículo fue aprobado por el comité de ética de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Resultados: La experiencia de hospitalización significó “cambiar la vida de un día para otro”; este resultado se conformó por dos estructuras: 1) “Cuando te dan el diagnóstico se te derrumba el mundo”, que contiene momentos difíciles como la hospitalización en que reciben el diagnóstico, los momentos en que el hijo/a sufre, las situaciones de riesgo vital, el cansancio de las madres y padres y los cambios que afectan a la familia, y 2) “Recibir una luz de ayuda durante la hospitalización”, que describe la importancia de un espacio físico tranquilo, de un equipo de salud con un trato cariñoso y de compartir experiencias con otras madres y padres. Conclusiones: La hospitalización representa una transformación en el mundo vida de los padres y madres, es vital que el equipo de salud atienda las necesidades físicas y emocionales que derivan de este cambio en el espacio y relaciones que estos vivencian.
Antiquorum Sensing Activity of Methanolic Seed (Nutmeg) Extract of Myristica Fragrans Against a Gram-Positive Bacterium
Authors: Bhavana M , Vidya Prabhakar Kodali
Published: March 2023

The increase in multidrug-resistant pathogens has created new anti-pathogenic and anti-virulence compounds. This is because of the behavioural changes bacteria acquire, such as increased antibiotic resistance and virulence capacity. This social behaviour is maintained through a signalling transduction pathway called Quorum sensing. The present study aims to evaluate the inhibition of quorum sensing in Bacillus subtilis with Myristica fragrans seed extract. The seed of M. fragrans is called nutmeg. Methanolic nutmeg extract was used to test the anti-quorum sensing activity of B. subtilis. Total flavonoid and phenolic concentrations of nutmeg were estimated. 10 μg/ml, 30 μg/ml, 50 μg/ml, 70 μg/ml and 90 μg/ml concentrations of nutmeg extract were used to check against bacterial motilities and biofilm formations. Inhibition of biofilm formation was observed under a fluorescence microscope, and inhibition of swimming and swarming motilities were observed on 0.3 % and 0.5 % agar plates, respectively. These observations suggest that the seed of M. fragrans showed anti-quorum sensing activity against B. subtilis. This research work helps to study and isolate natural quorum-sensing inhibitors from medicinal plants. These inhibitors can synthesize novel anti-pathogenic or anti-virulence drugs that combat bacterial infections by interrupting with quorum-sensing controlled phenotypes and decreasing bacterial virulence.
Efficacy of Alexander Technique Versus Progressive Relaxation Technique in Improving the Functional Activity of Security Guards with Mechanical Low Back Pain- A Randomized Experimental Trial
Authors: M Srinivasan , T Murugaraj , K Venkatesh , Hariharan N Sabarish , E Shanmugananth
Published: March 2023

Low Back Pain is quite common in them. Changes in posture or poor body mechanics may cause the above spine-related problems, causing other muscles to be misused and become painful. However, mechanical Low Back Pain usually does not cause weakness or numbness in the lower extremities because the problem is not due to compression of the spinal nerves. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of the Alexander and progressive relaxation techniques in inducing relaxation and improving the functional activity of individuals with mechanical low back pain. It is a simple experimental study. For the study, 40 subjects were divided randomly into groups, namely group A and group B, each consisting of 20 subjects. Group A was given the Alexander technique, and Group B was given the progressive relaxation technique. The Visual Analogue Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index were used.: The collected data were recorded and tabulated. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 20 version – USA ) to present the study's findings. Comparison of pre-and post-visual analog scale (VAS) using the Alexander technique shows pre-VAS 6.75 and post-VAS reduced to 2.55, given t-value 20.03, thus providing significant results with p< 0.001 s.s. Comparison of pre and post-VAS using progressive relaxation technique shows pre-VAS at 6.9 and post-VAS reduced to 3.6. Given a t-value of 14.91 gives a significant result with a p< 0.001. This study concluded that the Alexander technique is more effective in mechanical low back pain subjects. This study will help select interventions in mechanical low back pain subjects.
Effect of Music Therapy On Pain Perception, Fatigue Level, And Physiological Variables in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis- A Prospective Randomized Interventional Trial
Authors: .R Sobana , K Jaiganesh , S Parthasarathy
Published: March 2023

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a severe and chronic illness that can significantly impact a person's quality of life. It is caused by various pathologies and can lead to multiple complications, including fatigue and chronic pain. Hemodialysis is a standard and lifesaving treatment for patients with CRF, but the prolonged immobilization required during this procedure can exacerbate fatigue and pain. Music therapy is a non-invasive treatment that has positively impacted patients undergoing hemodialysis. In the study we have done, the therapy consisted of passive listening and active participation in the form of deep breathing for eight weeks. To provide music therapy based on client preference to patients undergoing hemodialysis for chronic renal failure. To observe the fatigue and subjective pain perception level after eight weeks of musical intervention.The sessions began with a warm-up session of OM chanting, which was used to set the atmosphere and bring attention to the subject. Then, devotional songs were played for 10 minutes based on the patient's preferences, followed by 20 minutes of Indian classical Veena music. The therapy sessions were administered every third day, twice a week when the patients underwent hemodialysis. Each session lasted around 3 hours. Subjective parameters of fatigue and pain perception were assessed before the intervention, after four weeks, and after eight weeks of musical intervention. The results indicated that music therapy lowered these patients' fatigue and pain perception. The fatigue level, estimated by the CIS (Checklist Individual Strength) score, was reduced by 30%, and the pain perception score dropped from 8 to 6.5. The findings of this study suggest that music therapy can be an effective complementary treatment for patients undergoing hemodialysis, as it can help to reduce fatigue and pain perception. It is essential because these symptoms can significantly impact patients' quality of life and may impact adherence to treatment regimens. However, it's also worth noting that this study only assesses the effect in a small sample size. For a short period, more research is needed in a larger population with a longer duration. Exploring different music or other therapeutic techniques is also beneficial to find the most effective approach for individual patients.
Optimization of the Wire Electric Discharge Machining Process of Nitinol-60 Shape Memory Alloy Using Taguchi-Pareto Design of Experiments, Grey-Wolf Analysis, and Desirability Function Analysis
Authors: Adedeji Wasiu Oyediran , Adeniran Mofoluwaso Kehinde , Adedeji Kasali Aderinmoye , Rajan John , Oke Sunday Ayoola , Oyetunji Elkanah Olaosebikan
Published: March 2023

The nitinol-60 shape memory alloy has been rated as the most widely utilized material in real-life industrial applications, including biomedical appliances, coupling and sealing elements, and activators, among others. However, less is known about its optimization characteristics while taking advantage to choose the best parameter in a surface integrity analysis using the wire EDM process. In this research, the authors proposed a robust Taguchi-Pareto (TP)-grey wolf optimization (GWO)-desirability function analysis (DFA) scheme that hybridizes the TP method, GWO approach, and DFA method. The point of coupling of the TP method to the GWO is the introduction of the discriminated signal-to-noise ratios contained in the selected 80-20 Pareto rule of the TP method into the objective function of the GWO, which was converted from multiple responses to a single response accommodated by the GWO. The comparative results of five outputs of the wire EDM process before and after optimization reveals the following understanding. For the CR, a gain of 398% was observed whereas for the outputs named Rz, Rt, SCD, and RLT, losses of 0.0996, 0.0875, 0.0821, and 0.0332 were recorded. This discrimination of signal-to-noise ratio based on the 80-20 rule makes the research different from previous studies, restricting the data fed into the GWO scheme to the most essential to accomplishing the TP-GWO-DFA scheme proposed. The use of the TP-GWO-DFA method is efficient given the limited volume of data required to optimize the wire EDM process parameters of nitinol.
Estudos em Aquisição da Linguagem e Multimodalidade no Nordeste brasileiro (Studies in Language Acquisition and Multimodality in Northeast Brazil)
Authors: Fonte Renata Fonseca Lima da , Silva Paula Michely Soares da , Nóbrega Paulo Vinícius Ávila   , Cavalcante Marianne Carvalho Bezerra
Published: March 2023

Os estudos da linguagem nos processos iniciais de crianças típicas e de atípicas vêm ocorrendo em um crescimento bastante produtivo nos últimos anos. Nosso objetivo é apresentar pesquisas em Aquisição da Linguagem desenvolvidas no Nordeste brasileiro, especificamente nos Estados da Paraíba e de Pernambuco no âmbito da multimodalidade. Para isso, a partir do banco de dados de laboratórios de estudos desses estados nordestinos, discutiremos algumas investigações qualitativas e longitudinais que contemplam diferentes contextos: iniciativas de interação de crianças atípicas, considerando a especificidade da Síndrome de Down e o Transtorno do Espectro Autista, e relato do gênero receita por crianças de diferentes nacionalidades. A coleta de dados das pesquisas aconteceu em diferentes loci, incluindo clínica, grupo de convivência e ambiente domiciliar. Os resultados mostram como tem sido profícuo o desenvolvimento do campo Aquisição da Linguagem com diferentes corpora analisados a partir da perspectiva linguística multimodal.
Discussion on preparation of millimeter-size struvite and growth mechanism
Authors: Zhou Tong , Chen Guangyuan , Zhang Meng , Tang Haiying , Lu Xiaohua , Feng Xin , Wang Changsong
Published: March 2023

Struvite, an insoluble salt, has the problem of slow crystal growth and
fine size, which affects sewage treatment and fertilization
efficiencies. This study investigated the crystallization process of
struvite by changing the precursors and analyzed the growth mechanism.
The results showed that the prepared precursor compound with Mg(OH)2 @
MgHPO4 (labeled as P-3) could slowly release Mg2+, PO43-, and OH− to
keep the dimensionless ionic product (Asp) in the narrow metastable zone
width (MSZW). Moreover, the surface reaction and diffusion resistances
were 8977 and 1859 min/mol respectively when P-3 as a precursor, which
considerably exceed those of other precursors, avoiding explosive
nucleation and enabling a continuous growth of the crystals in the
surface reaction zone. Consequently, rod-shaped with a length of 5–6 mm
(a maximum of 1 cm for the largest presently known) and the average
growth rate with 3.8 × 10−8 m/s could be obtained for struvite crystals.
Screening of Transition Metal Oxides for Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia at High Currents
Authors: Wu Qiongfei , Zhu Weijie , Wang Zhoucheng , Liang Hanfeng
Published: March 2023

Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NtrRR) towards ammonia, as
an emerging and appealing technology alternative to the energy-intensive
Haber-Bosch process and inefficient nitrogen reduction reaction, has
recently aroused wide concern and research. However, the current
research of the NtrRR towards ammonia lacks the overall performance
comparison of various electrocatalysts. Given this, we here make a
comparison of 12 common transition metal oxide catalysts for the NtrRR
under a high cathodic current density of 0.25 A cm-2, wherein Co3O4
catalyst displays the best NtrRR selectivity towards ammonia with a
highest Faradaic efficiency (85.15%) and a moderate NtrRR activity.
Other external factors, such as nitrate concentrations in the
electrolyte and applied potential ranges, have also been specifically
investigated for the NtrRR. This work can provide constructive guidance
to engineer the NtrRR electrocatalysts with higher activity, selectivity
and stability in the future.
TAXONOMIC IDENTIFICATION OF MICROALGAE OF DISTRICT JHELUM THROUGH LIGHT MICROSCOPY
Authors: Jabeen Amber , Mumtaz Adbul , Kaleem Muhammad , Anjum Lubna , Ullah Nabi
Published: March 2023

In the present study, Microalgal flora of various sites of district
Jhelum was assessed to explore diversity of algal species. Different
species of algae were investigated through microscopic observations on
the basis of characteristics such as cell shape, size, chloroplast
shape, presence or absence of pyrenoid and its number within
chloroplast, presence or absence of cell wall ornamentations and
presence of unique features like flagella, barite vacuole etc. Overall,
thirty species were recorded on the basis of morphology and investigated
species were belonged to 21 genera, 19 families, 16 orders and 5
divisions. Among these two species were assigned to phylum Cyanophyta,
two to Volvophyta, two to Euglenophyta, ten to Bacillariophyta and
fourteen species to phylum Chlorophyta were investigated.
Historical human activity shapes the genomic landscape of urban and forest túngara frogs
Authors: Moran Peter , Bosse Mirte , Marien Janine , Halfwerk Wouter
Published: March 2023

Urbanisation is rapidly altering ecosystems, leading to profound
biodiversity loss. To mitigate these effects, we need a better
understanding of how urbanisation impacts dispersal and reproduction.
Two contrasting population demographic models have been proposed which
predict that urbanisation either promotes (facilitation model) or
constrains (fragmentation model) gene flow and genetic diversity. Which
of these models prevails likely depends on the strength of selection on
specific phenotypic traits that influence dispersal, survival or
reproduction. Here, we examine the genomic impact of urbanisation on the
Neotropical túngara frog (Engystomops pustulosus), a species known to
adapt its reproductive traits to urban selective pressures. Using
whole-genome resequencing for multiple paired urban and forest
populations we examined genomic diversity, population connectivity and
demographic history. Contrary to both the fragmentation and facilitation
models, urban populations did not exhibit substantial changes in genomic
diversity or differentiation compared to forest populations and genomic
variation was best explained by geographic distance rather than
environmental factors. Moreover, both urban and forest populations
appear to have undergone population declines which are coincident with
extensive human-activity around the Panama Canal during the last few
centuries rather than recent urbanisation. Overall, our study
underscores the importance of considering the historical context in
urban evolution studies as anthropogenic effects may be extensive and
impact non-urban areas on both recent and older timescales. Failure to
take this into account when interpreting comparisons between urban and
non-urban areas may underestimate the impact of urbanisation.
Evaluating the use of lake sedimentary DNA in palaeolimnology: A comparison with long-term microscopy-based monitoring of the phytoplankton community
Authors: Thorpe Amy , Mackay Eleanor , Goodall Tim , Bendle James , Thackeray Stephen , Maberly Stephen , Read Daniel
Published: March 2023

Palaeolimnological records provide valuable information about how
phytoplankton respond to long-term drivers of environmental change.
Traditional palaeolimnological tools such as microfossils and pigments
are restricted to taxa that leave sub-fossil remains, and a method that
can be applied to the wider community is required. Sedimentary DNA
(sedDNA), extracted from lake sediment cores, shows promise in
palaeolimnology, but validation against data from long-term monitoring
of lake water is necessary to enable its development as a reliable
record of past phytoplankton communities. To address this need, 18S rRNA
gene amplicon sequencing was carried out on lake sediments from a core
collected from Esthwaite Water (English Lake District) spanning
~105 years. This sedDNA record was compared with
concurrent long-term microscopy-based monitoring of phytoplankton in the
surface water. Broadly comparable trends were observed between the
datasets, with respect to the diversity and relative abundance and
occurrence of chlorophytes, dinoflagellates, ochrophytes and
bacillariophytes. Up to 20% of genera identified in the microscopy
record were also detected using sedDNA, and sedDNA revealed a previously
undetected community of phytoplankton. However, a substantial proportion
of genera identified by microscopy were not detected using sedDNA,
highlighting the current limitations of the technique that require
further development such as reference database coverage. These results
suggest that sedDNA can be used as an effective record of past
phytoplankton communities, at least over timescales of less than 100
years, but the taphonomic processes which may affect its reliability,
such as the extent and rate of deposition and DNA degradation, require
further research.
On Outdoor Testing Procedures of Large Samples of PV Modules
Authors: Moretón Rodrigo , Lorenzo Eduardo , Solorzano J. , Martínez Francisco , Pozo M. del , Muñoz M.
Published: March 2023

STC power control of PV modules supply requires testing large samples of
modules with low uncertainty. This paper analyses the feasibility of
outdoor measurements with the modules kept at their operating positions.
The classical procedure of recording I-V curves and translating
them to STC in accordance with IEC 60891 using the cell temperature
directly observed at a few points of the rear of the module entails
uncertainties larger than 3% (k=2), which is too much for this
procedure being accepted in quality controls with contractual
consequences. A convenient procedure for overcoming this barrier
consists in comparing the I-V curves of a tested and a reference module
of the same type, both working under the same operating conditions. The
latter is mostly secured if they are in adjacent positions. However,
when the procedure is applied to large samples of PV modules kept in
their operating position, the distance between both modules can reach
tens of meters and significant inter-module temperature differences can
arise. An artifice for counterbalancing these differences consists of
estimating the temperature of the tested module and the “true”
temperature of the reference module, as deduced from the V OC
measurement, by the temperature difference observed at their respective
back-sheets in a central position. This allows the measured power values
to be corrected and provides clues to estimating the uncertainty of the
results. This procedure has been applied in seven testing campaigns,
carried out at commercial PV plants. Dedicated instrumentation, based on
two radio linked I-V tracers, allowing the simultaneous
measurement of the I-V curves and of the temperature at the
centres of the reference and the tested modules, has been developed for
that. The resulting uncertainties are slightly larger than those
corresponding to high-quality solar simulators, but still low enough for
dealing, in practice, with strict quality control requirements.
On hyponormality of the sum of two composition operators
Authors: Kim Yoenha , Ko Eungil
Published: March 2023

In this paper we study some properties of the sums of two composition
operators on the Hardy space. In particular, we investigate hyponormality of
the sums of two composition operators. We also provide some conditions for
which the sums of composition operators with linear fractional symbols are
hyponormal.
The infinite-time ruin probability for a bidimensional risk model with dependent geometric Lévy price processes
Authors: Wang Bingjie , Cheng Dongya , Yan Jigao
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we focus on a bidimensional risk model with heavy-tailed
claims and geometric L?vy price processes, in which the two claim-number
processes generated by the two kinds of business are not necessary to be
identical and can be arbitrarily dependent. In this model, the claim size
vectors (X1,Y1), (X2,Y2),... are supposed to be independent and
identically distributed random vectors, but for i ? 1, each pair (Xi,Yi)
follows the strongly asymptotic independence structure. Under the assumption
that the claims have consistently varying tails, an asymptotic formula for
the infinite-time ruin probability is established, which extends the
existing results in the literature to some extent.