bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) on image quality in pediatric cardiac CT datasets type of manuscript: Original research
Authors: Cho Hyun-Hae , Lee So Mi , You Sun Kyoung
Published: August 2024

Bakground

To evaluate the quantitative and qualitative image quality using deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) of pediatric cardiac computed tomography (CT) compared with conventional image reconstruction methods.

Methods

Between January 2020 and December 2022, 109 pediatric cardiac CT scans were included in this study. The CT scans were reconstructed using an adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASiR-V) with a blending factor of 80% and three levels of DLIR with TrueFidelity (low-, medium-, and high-strength settings). Quantitative image quality was measured using signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The edge rise distance (ERD) and angle between 25% and 75% of the line density profile were drawn to evaluate sharpness. Qualitative image quality was assessed using visual grading analysis scores.

Results

A gradual improvement in the SNR and CNR was noted among the strength levels of the DLIR in sequence from low to high. Compared to ASiR-V, high-level DLIR showed significantly improved SNR and CNR (P<0.05). ERD decreased with increasing angle as the level of DLIR increased.

Conclusion

High-level DLIR showed improved SNR and CNR compared to ASiR-V, with better sharpness on pediatric cardiac CT scans.
Use of routinely collected blood donation data for expanded HIV and Syphilis surveillance in Blantyre district, Malawi
Authors: Singogo Emmanuel , Hartney Thomas , Bourdin Sarah , Chagomerana Maganizo , Kudowa Evaristar , Puerto-Meredith Sydney , M’baya Bridon , Kadewere Godfrey , Platt Lucy , Rice Brian , Hargreaves James R. , Weir Sharon , Hosseinipour Mina C.
Published: August 2024

The World Health Organization recommends that all blood donations be screened for transfusion transmissible infections; these data are currently not incorporated into national disease surveillance efforts. We set out to use routinely collected data from blood donors in Blantyre district, Malawi to explore HIV and syphilis prevalence and identify sero-conversions among repeat donors. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of blood donation data collected by the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service from 2015 to 2021. All blood donations were routinely screened for HIV and syphilis. We characterized donor demographics as well as screening outcomes, including identifying sero-conversions among repeat donors who previously tested negative on their last donation. A total of 23,280 donations from 5,051 donors were recorded, with a median frequency of donations of 3 (IQR:2–6). Most donors were male (4,294; 85%) and students (3,262; 64.6%). Prevalence of HIV at first donation was 1.0% (52/5,051) and prevalence of syphilis was 1.6% (80/5,051); 52 HIV sero-conversions and 126 syphilis sero-conversions were identified, indicating an incidence rate per 1,000 person-years of 5.9 (95% CI: 4.7, 7.4) and 13.3 (95% CI:11.4, 15.4) respectively. Students had a lower prevalence of HIV and syphilis but higher risk of syphilis seroconversion. While blood donors are generally considered a low-risk population for HIV and syphilis, we were able to identify relatively high rates of undiagnosed HIV and syphilis infections among donors. Routinely collected data from national blood donation services may be used to better understand local HIV and syphilis epidemiology, with the potential to enhance disease surveillance systems. These findings may be used to identify priority prevention areas and populations in Blantyre district that can inform targeted interventions for improved disease prevention, testing and treatment.
Structure of higher-order interactions in social-ecological networks through Q-analysis of their neighbourhood and clique complex
Authors: Raj Udit , Banerjee Arnab , Ray Santanu , Bhattacharya Sudeepto
Published: August 2024

This paper studies higher-order interactions in social-ecological networks, which formally represent interactions within the social and ecological units of an ecosystem. Many real-world social ecosystems exhibit not only pairwise interactions but also higher-order interactions among their units. Therefore, the conventional graph-theoretic description of networks falls short of capturing these higher-order interactions due to the inherent limitations of the graph definition. In this work, a mathematical framework for capturing the higher-order interactions of a social-ecological system has been given by incorporating notions from combinatorial algebraic topology. In order to achieve this, two different simplicial complexes, the clique and the neighbourhood complex, have been constructed from a pairwise social-ecological network. As a case study, the Q-analysis and a structural study of the interactions in the rural agricultural system of southern Madagascar have been done at various structural levels denoted byq. The results obtained by calculating all the structural vectors for both simplicial complexes, along with exciting results about the participation of facets of the clique complex at differentq-levels, have been discussed. This work also establishes significant theorems concerning the dimension of the neighbourhood complex and clique complex obtained from the parent pairwise network.
Depressive symptoms and the processing of unexpected social feedback: Differences in surprise levels, feedback acceptance, and “immunizing” cognition
Authors: Kirchner Lukas , Rief Winfried , Müller Lilly , Buchwald Hannah , Fuhrmann Kari , Berg Max
Published: August 2024

Negative social expectations are a key symptom of depression. It has been suggested that individuals with depressive symptoms tend to maintain these expectations by devaluing new experiences that do not fit prior expectations. However, our understanding of the role of such “immunizing” cognition in response to unexpected social feedback in depression, as well as the cognitive mechanisms involved, remains limited. This study investigated the association between depressive symptoms and the cognitive processing of unexpected positive or negative social feedback using a novel, video-based approach featuring naturalistic social stimuli in a subclinical online sample (N = 155). We also examined how surprise levels, feedback acceptance and immunizing cognition relate to other cognitive processes, such as attributional style and rumination, using cross-sectional network analyses. Robust multiple linear regression analyses revealed that depressive symptoms were associated with higher surprise levels (R2adj. = .27), lower feedback acceptance (R2adj. = .19), and higher levels of immunizing cognition (R2adj. = .09) in response to unexpected positive social feedback, but only partially to unexpected negative social feedback. The network analysis suggested that self-efficacy expectations for coping with negative feelings and acceptance of positive social feedback had the strongest expected influence on the different cognitive processes. Our study highlights the challenges that individuals with depressive symptoms face in utilizing positive social feedback to modify negative expectations. For clinicians, our findings suggest the importance of promoting acceptance of positive social feedback, while simultaneously inhibiting immunizing cognition and avoiding the use of overly positive feedback.
Integrated vegetation management within electrical transmission landscapes promotes floral resource and flower-visiting insect diversity
Authors: Kimmel Chase B. , de Bem Oliveira Ivone , Campbell Joshua W. , Khazan Emily , Bremer Jonathan S. , Rossetti Kristin , Standridge Matthew , Shaw Tyler J. , Epstein Samm , Tsalickis Alexandra , Daniels Jaret C.
Published: August 2024

Electrical transmission rights-of-way are ubiquitous and critical infrastructure across the landscape. Active vegetation management of these rights-of-way, a necessity to deliver electricity more safely, maintains these landscape features as stages of early successional habitat, a rarity in many regions, making these areas viable movement corridors for many taxa. The goals of this study were to (i) evaluate the effects of different electrical transmission landscape management practices on flowering plant and flower-visiting insect diversity parameters and (ii) generate conservation management inferences for these landscapes. In this study we tested the impact of three vegetation management levels across 18 electrical transmission sites. We evaluated the effects of treatment on bloom abundance and species richness as well as flower-visiting insect abundance and family richness. We identified 76541 flowers/inflorescences across 456 transects, including 188 species in 56 plant families. Additionally, we obtained data on 11361 flower-visitoring insects representing 33 families from 2376 pan trap sets. High vegetation management favored the reduction of coarse woody debris in the sites and harbored the highest level of abundance and richness of both floral resources and flower-visiting insects. We discuss that we can align social and ecological values of rights-of-way, ensuring their sustainability by applying regular and targeted integrated vegetation management. Thus, we can use rights-of-way landscapes not only as an effective management strategy for the delivery of essential human services, but also to provide conservation benefits for wild pollinators.
Description and genome analysis of a novel archaeon isolated from a syntrophic pyrite-forming enrichment culture and reclassification of Methanospirillum hungatei strains GP1 and SK as Methanospirillum purgamenti sp. nov.
Authors: Pradel Nathalie , Bartoli Manon , Koenen Michel , Bale Nicole , Neumann-Schaal Meina , Spröer Cathrin , Bunk Boyke , Rohde Manfred , Pester Michael , Spring Stefan
Published: August 2024

The archaeal isolate J.3.6.1-F.2.7.3T was obtained from an anaerobic enrichment culture, where it may play an important role in methane production during pyrite formation. The new isolate formed a species-level clade with Methanospirillum hungatei strains GP1 and SK, which is separate from the type strain JF-1T. Cultivation-independent surveys indicate the occurrence of this phylogenetic group in sediments and anaerobic digesters. The abundance of this clade appears to be negatively affected by high nitrogen loads, indicating a sensitivity to certain nitrogen compounds that is not known in M. hungatei JF-1T. The relatively large core genome of this Methanospirillum clade is indicative of niche specialization and efficient control of horizontal gene transfer. Genes for nitrogenase and F420-dependent secondary alcohol dehydrogenase contribute to the metabolic versatility of this lineage. Characteristics of the new isolate such as the ability to utilize 2-propanol as an electron donor or the requirement for acetate as a carbon source are found also in the strains GP1 and SK, but not in the type strain M. hungatei JF-1T. Based on the genomic differences to related species, a new species within the genus Methanospirillum is proposed with the name M. purgamenti sp. nov. The determined phenotypic characteristics support this proposal and indicate a metabolic adaptation to a separate ecological niche.
Individual-level social determinants of health and disparities in access to kidney transplant and waitlist mortality
Authors: Mupfudze Tatenda G. , Martinez Alina , Noreen Samantha M. , Stewart Darren E. , Schold Jesse D. , Cartwright Laura
Published: August 2024

Background

Comprehensive, individual-level social determinants of health (SDOH) are not collected in national transplant registries, limiting research aimed at understanding the relationship between SDOH and waitlist outcomes among kidney transplant candidates.

Methods

We merged Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data with individual-level SDOH data from LexisNexis, a commercial data vendor, and conducted a competing risk analysis to determine the association between individual-level SDOH and the cumulative incidence of living donor kidney transplant (LDKT), deceased donor kidney transplant (DDKT), and waitlist mortality. We included adult kidney transplant candidates placed on the waiting list in 2020, followed through December 2023.

Results

In multivariable analysis, having public insurance (Medicare or Medicaid), less than a college degree, and any type of derogatory record (liens, history of eviction, bankruptcy and/ felonies) were associated with lower likelihood of LDKT. Compared with patients with estimated individual annual incomes ≤ $30,000, patients with incomes ≥ $120,000 were more likely to receive a LDKT (sub distribution hazard ratio (sHR), 2.52; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.03–3.12). Being on Medicare (sHR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.42–1.57), having some college or technical school, or at most a high school diploma were associated with a higher likelihood of DDKT. Compared with patients with incomes ≤ $30,000, patients with incomes ≥ $120,000 were less likely to receive a DDKT (sHR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.51–0.71). Lower individual annual income, having public insurance, at most a high school diploma, and a record of liens or eviction were associated with higher waitlist mortality.

Conclusions

Patients with adverse individual-level SDOH were less likely to receive LDKT, more likely to receive DDKT, and had higher risk of waitlist mortality. Differential relationships between SDOH, access to LDKT, DDKT, and waitlist mortality suggest the need for targeted interventions aimed at decreasing waitlist mortality and increasing access to LDKT among patients with adverse SDOH.
The dynamic threat from landslides following large continental earthquakes
Authors: Arrell Katherine , Rosser Nick J. , Kincey Mark E. , Robinson Tom R. , Horton Pascal , Densmore Alex L. , Oven Katie J. , Shrestha Ram , Pujara Dammar Singh
Published: August 2024

Earthquake-triggered landslides show three important characteristics: they are often responsible for a considerable proportion of the damage sustained during mountain region earthquakes, they are non-randomly distributed across space, and they continue to evolve in the years after the earthquake. Despite this, planning for future earthquakes rarely takes into consideration either landslides or their evolution with time. Here we couple a unique timeseries of mapped landslides between 2014–2020 across the area of Nepal impacted by the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha earthquake and a numerical landslide runout model overlain with building locations to examine how the distributions of both evolving landslide hazard and exposure intersect to generate a dynamic threat to buildings. The threat from landslide runout is shown to change in predictable ways after the earthquake, becoming more pronounced at mid- and lower-hillslope positions and remaining in the landscape for multiple years. Using the positions of our mapped landslides as a starting point, we can identify a priori the locations of 78% of buildings that were subsequently impacted by landslide debris. We show that landslide exposure and hazard vary from negligible to high, in relative terms, over lateral distances of as little as 10s of m. Our findings hold important implications for guiding reconstruction and for taking steps to reduce the risks from future earthquakes.
Network disruption via continuous batch removal: The case of Sicilian Mafia
Authors: Jia Mingshan , De Meo Pasquale , Gabrys Bogdan , Musial Katarzyna
Published: August 2024

Network disruption is pivotal in understanding the robustness and vulnerability of complex networks, which is instrumental in devising strategies for infrastructure protection, epidemic control, cybersecurity, and combating crime. In this paper, with a particular focus on disrupting criminal networks, we proposed to impose a within-the-largest-connected-component constraint in a continuous batch removal disruption process. Through a series of experiments on a recently released Sicilian Mafia network, we revealed that the constraint would enhance degree-based methods while weakening betweenness-based approaches. Moreover, based on the findings from the experiments using various disruption strategies, we propose a structurally-filtered greedy disruption strategy that integrates the effectiveness of greedy-like methods with the efficiency of structural-metric-based approaches. The proposed strategy significantly outperforms the longstanding state-of-the-art method of betweenness centrality while maintaining the same time complexity.
The impact of paediatric epilepsy and co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders on functional brain networks in wake and sleep
Authors: Junges Leandro , Galvis Daniel , Winsor Alice , Treadwell Grace , Richards Caroline , Seri Stefano , Johnson Samuel , Terry John R. , Bagshaw Andrew P.
Published: August 2024

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in children. Diagnosing epilepsy in children can be very challenging, especially as it often coexists with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD. Functional brain networks obtained from neuroimaging and electrophysiological data in wakefulness and sleep have been shown to contain signatures of neurological disorders, and can potentially support the diagnosis and management of co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions. In this work, we use electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from children, in restful wakefulness and sleep, to extract functional connectivity networks in different frequency bands. We explore the relationship of these networks with epilepsy diagnosis and with measures of neurodevelopmental traits, obtained from questionnaires used as screening tools for autism and ADHD. We explore differences in network markers between children with and without epilepsy in wake and sleep, and quantify the correlation between such markers and measures of neurodevelopmental traits. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the interplay between epilepsy and neurodevelopmental traits when exploring network markers of epilepsy.
Third-generation cephalosporin resistant Escherichia coli in dogs and cats in Germany in 2019–2021
Authors: Frenzer Stefanie Katharina , Feuer Leonie , Bartel Alexander , Bethe Astrid , Lübke-Becker Antina , Klein Babette , Bäumer Wolfgang , Merle Roswitha
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a worldwide challenge, threatening global health. The objective of this research was to determine the 3rdgeneration cephalosporin resistance (3GCR) proportion inEscherichia (E.) coliisolated from clinical samples of dogs and cats in Germany.

Methods

The study utilized result data from antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of isolates obtained from diagnostic samples collected from dogs and cats send in for bacterial examination. Data includes AST results from 3,491 veterinary practices in Germany spanning the years 2019 to 2021, representing 33.1% of practices and clinics nationwide. Out of 175,171 clinical samples, a total of 25,491E. colistrains (14,6%) were evaluated for their susceptibility to antimicrobials, in particular the 3rdgeneration cephalosporin cefovecin, but also aminoglycosides (gentamicin, GEN), fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin, ENR), tetracyclines (doxycycline), phenicols (chloramphenicol), folate pathway inhibitors (sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim), and nitrofurans (nitrofurantoin).

Results

The cefovecin resistance proportion was 11.6% in the study period. Geographical analysis showed local variations in 3GCR inE. coliof ±3%. Regarding allE. coliisolates investigated, resistance proportions were observed as follows: 12% for sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, 7% for enrofloxacin, 8% for chloramphenicol and 4% for gentamicin. Notably, 3GCRE. colishowed significantly higher resistance proportions, specifically 30% for sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, 28% for chloramphenicol, 18% for enrofloxacin and 14% for gentamicin.

Conclusions

This study represents the first of its kind to utilize an extensive dataset encompassing dogs and cats across Germany. Companion animals have close contact to their owners and transmission of 3GCR between them is likely as well as acquisition from other environmental sources. Resistance proportions (6.7%) against the antibiotic ceftazidime as reported by the German AMR surveillance for human medicine were lower than in our veterinary data. Our study provides an overview of the current 3GCR resistance proportion in Germany and demonstrates the importance of integrated AMR monitoring.
Genome-wide analysis of Brucella melitensis growth in spleen of infected mice allows rational selection of new vaccine candidates
Authors: Barbieux Emeline , Potemberg Georges , Stubbe François-Xavier , Fraikin Audrey , Poncin Katy , Reboul Angeline , Rouma Thomas , Zúñiga-Ripa Amaia , De Bolle Xavier , Muraille Eric
Published: August 2024

Live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) whose virulence would be controlled at the tissue level could be a crucial tool to effectively fight intracellular bacterial pathogens, because they would optimize the induction of protective immune memory while avoiding the long-term persistence of vaccine strains in the host. Rational development of these new LAVs implies developing an exhaustive map of the bacterial virulence genes according to the host organs implicated. We report here the use of transposon sequencing to compare the bacterial genes involved in the multiplication of Brucella melitensis, a major causative agent of brucellosis, in the lungs and spleens of C57BL/6 infected mice. We found 257 and 135 genes predicted to be essential for B. melitensis multiplication in the spleen and lung, respectively, with 87 genes common to both organs. We selected genes whose deletion is predicted to produce moderate or severe attenuation in the spleen, the main known reservoir of Brucella, and compared deletion mutants for these genes for their ability to protect mice against challenge with a virulent strain of B. melitensis. The protective efficacy of a deletion mutant for the plsC gene, implicated in phospholipid biosynthesis, is similar to that of the reference Rev.1 vaccine but with a shorter persistence in the spleen. Our results demonstrate that B. melitensis faces different selective pressures depending on the organ and underscore the effectiveness of functional genome mapping for the design of new safer LAV candidates.
Innovación organizacional y su influencia sobre la adaptabilidad de empresas manufactureras en Cajeme (Sonora, México)
Authors: Gómez-Álvarez Paloma Daniela , Ochoa-Ávila Eneida
Published: August 2024

Introduction/objective: Manufacturing industries are a key pillar for Mexico, regarded as a strategic sector that promotes economic balance and advanced technological use. This study aims to analyze how organizational innovation influences the adaptability of manufacturing companies in Cajeme, with a focus on innovation in management, commerce, products, and services. Methodology: A quantitative-correlational methodology was adopted, utilizing structural equation modeling. Six manufacturing companies from the automotive, aerospace, pharmaceutical, industrial, electronic, and chemical sectors were analyzed. Results: The findings indicate that manufacturing companies exhibit a positive influence of innovation on adaptability. These companies tend to prioritize process innovation over product innovation. Conclusions: Process innovation has a more significant impact on manufacturing companies, resulting in enhanced adaptability. Future research should focus on product and commercial innovation, as these areas demonstrated lower levels of influence and adaptability in this study.
Rhythmic and Poetic Qualities in Sinhala Speech. By Mahagama Sekera. Translated by Garrett Field and Ravinda Mahagamasekera.
Authors: Sekera Mahagama , Field Garrett , Mahagamasekera Ravinda
Published: August 2024

Mahagama Sekera (1929–1976) investigates how rhythmic qualities and poetics inhere in figurative language found in everyday Sinhala speech; the formation of original constructions in poetry and song lyrics; prosodic features in child storytelling; colloquial expressions generated from one light verb; aperiodic rhythms in context-specific utterances and proverbs; and the moraic structures of doublets (yugala pada).
 
Citation: Sekera, Mahagama. “Rhythmic and Poetic Qualities in Sinhala Speech.” Translated by Garrett Field and Ravinda Mahagamasekera; edited by Richard K. Wolf. Ethnomusicology Translations, no. 16. Bloomington, IN: Society for Ethnomusicology, 2024. DOI:
 
Originally published in Sinhala as pages 39–51 in chapter 2, “Rhythm and [Sinhala] Speech” in Sinhala Gadya Padya Nirmānayanhi Ridma Lakṣana (Rhythmic Qualities of Sinhala Prose and Verse), S. Godage & Brothers, 2007 [2001].
Compra compulsiva: revisión bibliométrica de la productividad científica desde 1985 hasta 2020
Authors: Soto Valenzuela Paulina , Denegri Coria Marianela , Pérez Sánchez Beatriz
Published: August 2024

En la sociedad de consumo, los deseos se transforman en necesidades y esto incide en la emergencia de compra compulsiva y sus efectos negativos a nivel personal y social. Por ello se requiere un esfuerzo de análisis y síntesis sobre el conocimiento científico existente, que mejore nuestra comprensión del área. El objetivo es analizar el desarrollo de la producción científica –artículos empíricos individuales y revisiones- sobre la compra compulsiva, hasta el año 2020 en cualquier idioma. Mediante un análisis bibliométrico con criterios PRISMA, se localizaron 971 publicaciones en las bases de datos Web of Science, Scopus y PsycINFO. Los resultados señalan un aumento de la productividad desde 2005; al inglés como idioma prevalente; EE. UU. es el país predominante; la palabra clave más frecuente es compulsive buying. Se identifican tres equipos de investigación principales, con un análisis de contenido de sus publicaciones. Se reportan los artículos más citados. Se concluye que existe poca precisión investigativa, pese al incremento de productividad anual.
SANAL KARAKTERLER VE MODA TASARIMI BAĞLAMINDA YAPAY ZEKÂ VE SÜRDÜRÜLEBİLİRLİK
Authors: Şen Atiker Ezgi
Published: August 2024

Sürdürülebilirlik bugünün ihtiyaçlarını karşılarken geleceğin olanaklarını tehlikeye atmama politikasını benimsemektedir. Teknoloji alanındaki hızlı gelişmeler sürdürülebilirliğin de temas noktaları genişletmiştir. Bu süreçte en güçlü araçlardan biri olan yapay zekâ iklim değişikliğinden yoksulluğa, eşitsizlikle mücadeleden, sorumlu üretim ve tüketime kadar çeşitli alanlarda kullanım potansiyeline sahiptir. Yapay zekâ ve sürdürülebilirlik çalışmaları birçok endüstride olduğu gibi moda alanında da kendini göstermektedir. Sürdürülebilirlik için yapay zekâ, moda endüstrisinin farklı yönlerinde çeşitli uygulamalara sahiptir. Bu çalışma yapay zekanın moda endüstrisindeki sürdürülebilirliğe nasıl katkı sağlayacağını sanal karakterler ve dijital moda tasarım ürünleri ekseninde ortaya koymaktadır. Moda tasarımında yapay zekâ destekli sanal karakterler BM (birleşmiş milletler) sürdürülebilir kalkınma hedeflerinden biri olan sorumlu üretim ve tüketim maddesini de desteklemektedir. Makalede sanal karakterlerin moda tasarımında sürdürülebilir adımlar atılmasına destek olduğu fakat sektörde işsizlik, etik ve güvenlik problemlerine de sebep olabileceği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Çalışmada nitel araştırma yöntemi kullanılmış olup, basılı ve elektronik kaynaklar incelenmiştir.
MAKRO FOTOĞRAF VE OYUNCAK FOTOĞRAFÇILIĞINDA KOMPOZİSYON
Authors: Bozhüyük Bayram
Published: August 2024

Oyuncak üretimi ve pazarlanması endüstriyel üretimin ve popüler kültürün bir aracı haline gelmiştir. Bu duruma ek olarak teknolojinin gelişmesi ile fotoğrafik görüntü elde etmek artık herkesin iyi ya da kötü bir uğraş alanı olmuştur. Bu durum sonucu makro dünyanın estetiği de fotoğraf çekenler için ilginç bir uğraş haline gelmiştir. Makro fotoğraf küçük ölçekli doğal ve yapay nesnelerin fotoğraflanması olarak tanımlanabilir. Yapay nesneler arasında oyuncaklar da makro fotoğrafçılığın yeni bir çalışma alanı haline gelmiştir. Fotoğrafçılığın yeni bir türü olan oyuncak fotoğrafçılığı giderek büyük bir rağbet görüyor. Oyuncak fotoğrafçılığı reklam amaçlı çekimlerinden, hobi amaçlı işlere, sanal alışveriş sitelerine ve ikinci el ürün satan mağazalara kadar geniş bir alana hitap etmektedir. Dolayısıyla oyuncak fotoğrafçılığı günümüz popüler kültürün ve reklamcılığın üzerinde durması gereken önemli bir alan haline gelmiştir. Bu önem bağlamında araştırmada makro çekim teknikleri hakkında kaynaklar ışığında bilgi verilmiş bazı oyuncakların çekim uygulamaları yapılarak ve sonuçlar incelenmiştir. Bu yolla oyuncak figürlerin çevresel alanda sahnelenmiş fotoğraflarının nasıl çekildiği hakkında bilgi verilmek istenmiştir. Uygulamanın yanında araştırma aynı zamanda oyuncak fotoğrafçılığı hakkında teorik bilgi vermeyi de amaçlamaktadır. Ayrıca makale oyuncak fotoğrafçılığı alanındaki bilimsel ve sanatsal literatürdeki eksikliğin giderilmesi ve kaynak teşkil etmesi için yazılmıştır.
ŞEYH GALİP’İN HÜSN Ü AŞK MESNEVİSİNDE NESNELER
Authors: Erdem Nebahat
Published: August 2024

Şeyh Galip’in en önemli eseri olan Hüsn ü Aşk mesnevisi nesneler açısından oldukça zengindir. Bu çalışmada yer alan nesnelerin, kullanım amaçları belirlenip metindeki nesnelerin bir sınıflandırması yapılmıştır. Metinde yer alan somut nesneleri; estetik nesneler ve günlük hayatta kullanılan nesneler olarak; soyut nesneleri ise mecaz anlamda kullanılan nesneler, teşbih unsuru olarak kullanılan nesneler ve telmih unsuru olarak kullanılan nesneler şeklinde sınıflandırma yaparak beyitlerde nesnelerin kullanım amacının ne olduğunu, şiirin anlamında ve kurgusal yapısında katkılarının neler olduğunu ve nesnelerin şiire katkısını ortaya koymak bu bakımdan önem arz etmektedir. Şairler nesnelere ifade etmek istedikleri anlamı yüklerler. Örneğin şair nesnelerden kalemi kullanırken kalemi kişileştirerek tez canlı olma özelliği yükler. Şairin, bir başka nesnelerden defteri mertlik defteri şeklinde kullandığını görürüz. Şairler nesnelere yükledikleri anlamlarla onlara adeta ruh üflemektedirler. Her bir nesne belli bir duyguya hayat vermektedir. Şiirlerde sevgilinin güzellik unsurlarından kirpikler kişileştirilerek cirit oynayan biri olarak düşünülmüştür. Telmih unsuru olarak kullanılan hikâyelerde ise hikâyesi olan nesneler kullanılmıştır. Şairler bazen de ne istediğini anlatmak için tarihten ve dinler tarihinden faydalanmıştır. Örneğin Cem’in yüzüğü, İskender’in aynası, Yusuf’un zindana atılması vs. gibi olaylar, şiirlerde şairlerin düşünce dünyalarında kurdukları anlamları telmih yoluyla ifade etmişlerdir. Telmih unsuru olarak kullanılan nesneler önemli şahsiyetlerle birlikte de kullanılmıştır. Şiirlerde zindan ve kilit Yusuf peygamberle, ayna İskender’le, yüzük ise Cem’le birlikte kullanılmıştır. Şair bu vesileyle aşkın derinliğini ve güzelliğini nesneler aracılığıyla vermiştir.
The potential for kelp (order Laminariales) aquaculture in South Africa: a biological review
Authors: Bolton John J. , Rothman Mark D.
Published: August 2024

The Benguela upwelling region on the west coast of South Africa/Namibia has the only major kelp forests on the African continent. South Africa has four species of laminarian kelps; Ecklonia maxima, Laminaria pallida dominate kelp forests in the west coast Benguela upwelling system, with Macrocystis pyrifera occurring rarely in this region and Ecklonia radiata largely confined to the more nutrient-poor south and east coasts. Growth studies on these species have been limited to laboratory experiments and very few initial, small-scale coastal studies. As in other Atlantic regions, there is growing interest in the potential for kelp aquaculture in Southern Africa, and recent pilot initiatives. A comprehensive summary of available literature on South African kelps, their biology and ecology, distribution and growth parameters, is presented, and the potential for kelp aquaculture discussed in relation to recent developments elsewhere on Atlantic and Eastern Pacific coastlines. Recommendations are made with respect to the choice of potential species and sites.
Considerations for kelp aquaculture on South Africa’s west coast: geospatial analysis and research implications
Authors: Lück-Vogel Melanie , Bolton John J. , Rothman Mark D. , Bernatzeder Andrea , Macey Brett M. , Cyrus Mark D. , Arendse Dale C. Z. , Pillay Parsuramen J. , Brown-Webb Bernadette
Published: August 2024

The commercial use of kelp continues to gain interest worldwide. While in some East Asian countries kelp farming has a long history, the kelp industry in South Africa is based on harvesting of kelp from natural kelp forests or by beach-cast collection. This study examined the potential for kelp aquaculture on South Africa’s west coast, focusing on the three indigenous species of kelp, Ecklonia maxima, Laminaria pallida and Macrocystis pyrifera. Geospatial analysis was used to identify and assess nine potentially suitable areas for kelp farming, based on natural habitat conditions, and examination of potential conflicts with other users and enabling land-use factors. An assessment of the market, technical and financial aspects of a kelp farming opportunity indicated that a 4 ha kelp farm, with longlines producing 750 to 1,000 t of fresh kelp per annum, could be viable as an integrated aquaculture activity adjacent to an existing mussel or oyster farm. We recommend a detailed feasibility study for kelp aquaculture in South Africa, with market and technical research, and financial modelling. Current seaweed industry legislation is mostly concerned with the wild resource, and there is a need for specific policies relating to seaweed aquaculture to facilitate growth of the industry.
Reducing sludge formation by enhancing biological decay of biomass: a mathematical model
Authors: Alsaeed Salman S. , Nelson Mark I. , Msmali Ahmed H. , Edwards Maureen
Published: August 2024

We investigate a model for an activated sludge process that contains a chemical reactor unit attached to a bioreactor. Inside the chemical reactor unit, a process takes place which increases the decay coefficient of heterotrophic biomass. This mimics a number of experimental techniques which are used to decrease the mass of sludge. Such techniques are of growing interest as the activated sludge process produces large volumes of sludge; the costs associated with its disposal are significant. Our primary interest is to investigate how the operation of the chemical reactor unit changes the steady-state concentrations of both the total suspended solids within the biological reactor and the chemical oxygen demand in the effluent stream. The operation of a chemical reactor unit always increases the value of chemical oxygen demand in the effluent stream. The behaviour of the total suspended solids is more complicated; in some cases, the operation of the CRU increases the total suspended solids. For a fixed value of the chemical oxygen demand in the influent stream, we show that both the percentage reduction in the total suspended solids and the chemical oxygen demand in the effluent stream are increasing functions of the soluble substrate in the feed. The same trends occur when the influent composition is fixed, and the disintegration rate inside the chemical reactor unit is increased. This leads to dichotomic behaviour, decreasing the total suspended solids increases the chemical oxygen demand in the effluent stream. There are two consequences of this behaviour. Firstly, there are some waste streams that can not be cleaned using the process configuration considered in this paper. Secondly, the imposition of a target value for the chemical oxygen demand in the effluent stream imposes a maximum achievable reduction in the total suspended solids in the biological reactor. Higher reductions can not be achieved without causing the chemical oxygen demand in the effluent stream to exceed the target value.
Effects of resveratrol on rheumatic symptoms and hepatic metabolism of arthritic rats
Authors: Simões Mellina S. , Souza Ana Beatriz P. , Silva-Comar Francielli M.S. , Bersani-Amado Ciomar A. , Cuman Roberto K.N. , Peralta Rosane M. , Sá-Nakanishi Anacharis B. , Bracht Lívia , Bracht Adelar , Comar Jurandir F.
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Resveratrol has been studied as a potential agent for treating rheumatic conditions; however, this compound suppresses glucose synthesis and glycogen catabolism when infused in perfused livers of both arthritic and healthy rats. This study investigated the effects of oral administration of resveratrol on inflammation and liver metabolism in rats with arthritis induced by Freund’s adjuvant, which serves as rheumatoid arthritis model.

Methods

Holtzman rats, both healthy and exhibiting arthritic symptoms, were orally treated with resveratrol at doses varying from 25 to 500 mg/kg for a 5-day period preceding arthritis induction, followed by an additional 20-day period thereafter. Paw edema, arthritic score and hepatic myeloperoxidase activity were assessed to evaluate inflammation. Glycogen catabolism and gluconeogenesis from lactate were respectively evaluated in perfused livers from fed and fasted rats.

Results

Resveratrol decreased the liver myeloperoxidase activity at doses above 100 mg/kg, and decreased the paw edema and delayed the arthritic score at doses above 250 mg/kg. The hepatic gluconeogenesis was decreased in arthritic rats and resveratrol did not improve it. However, resveratrol did not negatively modify the gluconeogenesis in livers of healthy and arthritic rats. Glycogen catabolism was in part and slightly modified by resveratrol in the liver of arthritic and healthy rats.

Conclusions

It is improbable that resveratrol negatively affects the liver metabolism, especially considering that gluconeogenesis is highly fragile to changes in cellular architecture. The findings suggest that resveratrol could serve as alternative for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Nevertheless, prudence is advised regarding its transient effects on liver metabolism.
Open Network for Digital Commerce in India: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Islam Muhammad Idrees ul , Lone Umer Mushtaq , Bhat Irshad Ahmad , Aamir Sheikh , Salau Ayodeji Olalekan
Published: August 2024

The primary objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the open network for digital commerce (ONDC), an innovative initiative by the Indian government. The study aims to explore the potential impact of ONDC on India’s digital commerce sector, focusing on how it seeks to democratize digital commerce and create an environment characterized by fair competition, innovation, and inclusivity. Our methodology involves an extensive review and thematic analysis of relevant literature. This approach includes a detailed examination of ONDC’s core objectives, its technological underpinnings, and the role of the government in facilitating its growth and adoption. The study is designed to provide a holistic view of ONDC, considering various aspects such as technology, policy, and market dynamics. The analysis suggests that ONDC could revolutionize India’s digital commerce ecosystem. Key findings indicate that ONDC can enhance interoperability, empower small businesses and local retailers, and diversify consumer choices. The initiative’s reliance on existing digital frameworks like the Unified Payments Interface and the Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture is crucial in streamlining transactions and bolstering data security. However, the realization of ONDC’s full potential is contingent upon its effective implementation and widespread acceptance among stakeholders. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by comprehensively analysing ONDC, a relatively new and underexplored area in digital commerce research. It offers original insights into the initiative’s potential to transform India’s digital commerce landscape. The article also identifies gaps in current research, such as the limited scope of existing studies, the absence of primary data, and the influence of external variables. It suggests avenues for future research, including longitudinal studies, international comparisons, and primary data collection, to understand ONDC better and its long-term impact on India’s digital commerce sector.
Anaximander on basic substances and the desiccation of the sea
Authors: Salles Ricardo
Published: August 2024

This paper deals with the physics of Anaximander and argues that, in his theory, the drying up of the sea cannot be accounted for in terms of the kind of conflict envisaged in his main fragment between the four basic substances: the hot, the cold, the wet and the dry (DK 12B1). In so doing, the paper takes issue with a classic interpretation of Anaximander’s cosmology advocated by Jaap Mansfeld (2011). This issue also brings us to a wider philosophical problem: are meteorological phenomena in general amenable to this conflict according to Anaximander? In the conclusion, a few conjectural remarks are made regarding what may have been the real explanandum of this theory.
Plato on the Power of Dialectic and the Necessity of Forms
Authors: Granieri Roberto
Published: August 2024

In the Parmenides Plato claims that by relinquishing Forms one would entirely destroy tên tou dialegesthai dunamin. I argue that this peculiar phrase does not indicate, as often suggested, the power or possibility of all discourse or thought, but the power of dialectic, i. e. the highest science; and that its preservation is, for Plato, a decisive reason for the necessity of the Forms.
A Note on the Translation of Ezra 4:12
Authors: Moore James D. , Becking Bob
Published: August 2024

This article provides a philological assessment of the statement in Ezra 4:12b and offers a new translation. We focus on the word יַחִיטוּ. We propose to construe the form as originally *יְחִיטוּ, G-stem prefixing conjugation of חיט, »to inspect«. In order to substantiate our proposal we refer to a series of cognates in Aramaic and other Semitic languages. Two newly edited Aramaic documents from Elephantine are mentioned, as well as texts from Bactria, passages from the Gilgamesh Epic, and the story on the Tower of Babylon.
Resuscitating »Wisdom Literature«
Authors: Frish Rachel
Published: August 2024

This essay offers a novel framework for the definition of biblical wisdom as a genre by suggesting self-presentation as a key to understanding the genre’s dynamics. By framing the material as sapiential, the authors/editors provide a hermeneutical tool for readers, based on a set of shared conventions. Forming the scarlet thread of the genre, this »self-identification« is »thickened« by a set of fluid features – many of which are related to the labile conventions associated with the wise. This spinal cord links later works to the tradition even when expectations change.
The Climax-Decline Pattern in the Book of Kings
Authors: Klein Neriah
Published: August 2024

The Book of Kings is the main source for reconstructing the chronology of the monarchic period in Israel, but it contains many contradictions and raises difficulties that make the reconstruction disputed to this day. The prevailing approach tends to attribute historical credibility to the biblical data, while few have suggested that some of the numbers have been deliberately manipulated to create symbolic or meaningful schemas. The purpose of the present study is to reinforce the artificiality of these numbers by presenting two cases of a »climax-decline pattern« at key points in the Book of Kings’ chronology, in which a king with the longest reign in the history of a kingdom is followed by a period of deterioration towards disaster over the same duration. If these regnal years have been reworked to incorporate them into the book’s literary design, then they may mislead the historian who wishes to use them to reconstruct a relative or absolute chronology.
Georg Lorenz Bauer’s
Biblische Moral des Alten Testaments
: The First »Old Testament Ethics«?
Authors: Keefer Arthur J.
Published: August 2024

Georg Lorenz Bauer (1755–1806) is known for coining the term »historical-critical« and writing one of the first works of Old Testament theology, but he is hardly remembered for publishing what is arguably the first independent work of Old Testament ethics. His two-volume Biblische Moral des Alten Testaments (1803) still ranks among the most extensive publications on the subject. This article situates Bauer’s work within the history of OT ethics research, arguing that it was the first of its kind, while providing an overview of its contents, methodology, and reception.
Examining the Effects of Dynamic and Isometric Resistance Training on Knee Joint Kinetics During Unplanned Sidesteps in Elite Female Athletes
Authors: Kadlec Daniel , Jordan Matthew J. , Alderson Jacqueline , Nimphius Sophia
Published: August 2024

Kadlec, D, Jordan, MJ, Alderson, J, and Nimphius, S. Examining the effects of dynamic and isometric resistance training on knee joint kinetics during unplanned sidesteps in elite female athletes.J Strength Cond ResXX(X): 000–000, 2024—The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 4-week block of isometric (isometricRT) and dynamic resistance training (dynamicRT) on kinetic variables associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk during unplanned sidesteps in elite female athletes. Twenty-one elite female athletes competing for a women's international rugby union team were recruited with 15 (n= 15; age: 23.4 ± 4.7 years; 170.7 ± 8.4 cm; 84.4 ± 15.4 kg) completing assessment of knee flexion moment, knee valgus moment (KVM), knee internal rotation moment (KIRM), knee joint power during unplanned sidesteps, and lower limb strength before and after a 4-week intervention. Linear mixed effects models and one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping assessed the effect of the interventions. Statistical significance was set atα= 0.05. Postintervention the isometricRTgroup revealed reduced peak KVM during early stance (p= 0.04) while the dynamicRTgroup decreased peak KIRM (p< 0.01) and KIRM over 8.8–86.6% (p< 0.01) and 96.9–98.5% (p= 0.047). An exploratory combined group analysis revealed reductions in KVM over 7.9–21.8% (p= 0.002) and in KIRM over 8.3–90.5% (p< 0.01) and 96.2–98.5% (p= 0.046). Most lower limb isometric and dynamic strength measures increased after both resistance training interventions. Overall, both groups increased lower-body maximum strength while reducing kinetic knee joint variables associated with ACL injury risk during unplanned sidesteps. These results highlight the importance of increasing single-joint and multijoint strength in female athletes to mitigate the mechanical knee joint demands during sidestepping.
Ovariectomy and Estradiol Supplementation Prevents Cyclophosphamide- and Doxorubicin-Induced Spatial Memory Impairment in Tumor-Bearing MMTV-PyVT Mice
Authors: Botelho Robert , Philpot Rex M.
Published: August 2024

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairments (CRCIs) encompass cognitive deficits in memory, attention, and executive function that arise during and following chemotherapy. CRCI symptoms are predominantly reported by female cancer patients but also occur in males. These impairments may involve reduced estradiol levels, which then increases vulnerability to the impact of tumors and chemotherapy on cognition. This study utilized the MMTV-PyVT mouse model of breast cancer to test the hypothesis that impaired ovarian function and associated estradiol levels play a critical role in CRCI susceptibility. Mice were either ovariectomized (OVX) or underwent sham surgery. The OVX group then received supplemental estradiol (E2)ad libitumin the drinking water to maintain physiological hormone levels. After tumor development, mice were trained in the Morris water maze to assess spatial memory, and subsequently, they received weekly injections of either saline or a combination of cyclophosphamide (CYP; 66.7 mg/kg, i.v.) and doxorubicin (DOX; 6.7 mg/kg, i.v.) for 4 weeks. Spatial memory was reassessed 10 d and then 35 d, after the final injections. Results demonstrated a significant disruption of normal ovarian cycling in sham-operated mice treated with CYP + DOX, as well as significant spatial memory impairments when compared with OVX mice supplemented with E2. This study suggests that chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage and the consequent drop in circulating estrogens significantly contribute to vulnerability to CRCIs, underscoring the importance of estradiol in mitigating CRCI risks.