bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Konstrukcje zamienne warstw ochronnych podtorza
Authors: Pawłowski Michał
Published: July 2024

Konstrukcje wzmocnień górnej strefy podtorza, projektowane na podstawie wyników punktowych geotechnicznych badań podłoża, nie zawsze są adekwatne do stwierdzonych na budowie rzeczywistych warunków gruntowych. Konieczne jest wówczas przyjęcie i zastosowanie odpowiednich konstrukcji zamiennych. W artykule przedstawiono dwie podstawowe konstrukcje wzmocnień górnej strefy podtorza (dwu- i jednowarstwową) oraz trzy najczęściej stosowane rozwiązania zamienne (konstrukcję o zwiększonej grubości, konstrukcję zbrojoną geosiatką oraz konstrukcję z warstwą gruntu stabilizowanego spoiwem hydraulicznym). Przeanalizowano wpływ zastosowania wymienionych konstrukcji zamiennych na możliwość zmniejszenia wymaganych wartości wtórnych modułów odkształcenia gruntów podtorza przed wzmocnieniem, pozwalających na osiągnięcie docelowych wartości po zastosowaniu danego wzmocnienia. Omówiono warunki stosowania rozpatrywanych konstrukcji zamiennych oraz ich przydatność w zależności od występujących na budowie warunków gruntowych. Dwie z analizowanych konstrukcji – o zwiększonej grubości oraz zbrojona geosiatką – są przydatne w przypadku wystąpienia małych różnic pomiędzy rzeczywistymi a projektowymi wartościami wtórnych modułów odkształcenia gruntów podtorza. Konstrukcja z warstwą gruntu stabilizowanego spoiwem hydraulicznym jest użyteczna w razie stwierdzenia na budowie znacznego niedoboru wartości wtórnych modułów odkształcenia gruntów podtorza.
Analiza kosztów cyklu życia jako narzędzie zarządzania infrastrukturą drogową – wybrane zagadnienia
Authors: Świtała Marcin , Regulska Katarzyna
Published: July 2024

Artykuł ma charakter przeglądowy, a jego głównym celem jest opisanie problematyki analizy kosztów cyklu życia inwestycji drogowych (LCCA) oraz wskazanie korzyści, które płyną z zastosowania takiej analizy w zarządzaniu infrastrukturą drogową – ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem nawierzchni drogowych. Mimo iż omawiana koncepcja zyskuje na znaczeniu w światowej literaturze naukowej i praktyce inżynierskiej, rzadko wykorzystywana jest w pracach polskich specjalistów inżynierii drogowej. Ze względu na obszerność tematu oraz złożoność samej metody, w artykule ograniczono się do przedstawienia kilku wybranych problemów ilustrujących zagadnienie. Zdefiniowany został zakres zarządzania infrastrukturą drogową; zwrócono także uwagę na znaczenie podejścia charakterystycznego dla zarządzania projektami w przypadku infrastruktury nowo projektowanej. Opisany został przebieg cyklu życia drogi z uwzględnieniem aspektów związanych z gospodarką obiegu zamkniętego oraz zarządzaniem ryzykiem. Wskazano na użyteczność LCCA jako metody rozwiązywania problemów związanych z wyborem najlepszego wariantu kosztowego, z podziałem na główne kategorie kosztów, tj. koszty użytkowników dróg oraz koszty zarządców. Przedstawiono także przykłady wykorzystania LCCA w projektach infrastrukturalnych. Literatura przedmiotu wskazuje, iż metoda ta może być z powodzeniem wykorzystywana do różnych celów związanych z zarządzaniem aktywami drogowymi. Główne korzyści wynikające z jej użycia związane są z praktycznymi aspektami oceny efektywności kosztowej porównywanych wariantów inwestycji.
Badanie procesu starzenia asfaltu modyfikowanego polimerami przy zastosowaniu zmodyfikowanej metody cienkiej warstwy w aspekcie recyklingu
Authors: Farid Miftah , Król Jan
Published: July 2024

Asfalt modyfikowany polimerami (PMB) to szeroko stosowany materiał do budowy dróg. Powszechnie asfalt modyfikowany polimerami wytwarzany jest poprzez mieszanie bitumu z różnymi rodzajami kopolimerów styrenowo-butadienowo-styrenowych (SBS) oraz, w razie potrzeby, z innym dodatkiem, takim jak środek sieciujący, w celu poprawy wydajności materiału. Proces starzenia asfaltów modyfikowanych polimerami jest bardziej złożony niż niemodyfikowanego asfaltu ze względu na interakcje molekularne między asfaltem a polimerem. Wcześniejsze badania sugerują, że modyfikator polimeru dominuje w degradacji chemicznej asfaltów modyfikowanych polimerami podczas starzenia krótkoterminowego, podczas gdy starzenie długoterminowe jest zdominowane przez utlenianie bitumu. W rezultacie destrukt asfaltowy zawierający asfalt modyfikowany polimerami jako spoiwo nadal zawiera polimer w swoim składzie chemicznym, co podkreśla potrzebę kompleksowego zrozumienia procesu starzenia asfaltów modyfikowanych polimerami. W obecnej praktyce destrukt asfaltowy jest podgrzewany przed zmieszaniem z materiałami pierwotnymi, aby umożliwić reaktywację jego starzejącego się spoiwa. W niniejszym badaniu zaproponowano metodę cienkiej warstwy (TFOT) jako metodę symulacji starzenia, ze zmianami czasu i temperatury w celu symulacji starzenia podczas procesu mieszania destruktu asfaltowego. Zjawisko utleniania bitumu przeważnie dominuje w procesie starzenia. Z analizy wskaźników ilościowych wynika, że w warunkach krótkiego czasu trwania i niższej temperatury degradacja polimeru pomaga w krótkim czasie ograniczyć proces starzenia. Co więcej, badanie DSR wykazało, że starzenie spowodowało wzrost złożonego modułu asfaltu modyfikowanego polimerami przy jednoczesnym zmniejszeniu kąta fazowego, co wskazuje na utwardzenie i przesunięcie w kierunku bardziej elastycznego zachowania. Najbardziej widoczny efekt starzenia można zaobserwować w niższej temperaturze testowej dla kąta fazowego i wyższej temperaturze testowej dla modułu zespolonego. Ogólnie rzecz biorąc, temperatura warunków starzenia odgrywa bardziej znaczącą rolę w dyktowaniu wpływu starzenia na asfalt modyfikowany polimerami niż czas jego trwania.
Bezkontaktowa metoda pomiaru deformacji w badaniach wybranych materiałów stosowanych w budownictwie drogowym
Authors: Górszczyk Jarosław , Malicki Konrad
Published: July 2024

Wysokie wymagania stawiane materiałom stosowanym w budownictwie drogowym powodują konieczność stosowania nowoczesnych metod oceny ich parametrów mechanicznych. Jedną z takich metod jest metoda cyfrowej korelacji obrazu (Digital Image Correlation – DIC). W artykule zaprezentowano możliwości wykorzystania bezkontaktowej metody DIC do pomiaru deformacji w badaniach wybranych cech mechanicznych próbek mieszanki mineralno-asfaltowej oraz kompozytu wykonanego z matrycy polimerowej zbrojonej siatką z włókien szklanych – (fiber reinforced polimer – FRP). W pracy pokazano analizy deformacji całych obserwowanych powierzchni badanych próbek. Stwierdzono też, że pod względem wytrzymałości statycznej na rozciąganie praca taśmy FRP jest podobna do zachowania geosiatek stosowanych do wzmacniania konstrukcji nawierzchni drogowych. Omówione wyniki badań własnych oraz badań opisanych w literaturze potwierdziły przydatność metody DIC w badaniach materiałów stosowanych w inżynierii lądowej.
Selected issues of the ecobalance analysis of recycled materials used in road construction
Authors: Kamińska Ewa , Świtała Marcin , Kamiński Tomasz
Published: July 2024

The paper presents road project issues in terms of environmental and cost analyses. Comprehensive assessment of the environmental and economic performance of engineering structures is based on quantitative environmental and economic information and draws on the results of life cycle assessment, life cycle cost and whole-life cost (WLC) analyses. The paper highlights the issue of the potential environmental impact of materials used in road construction, including those derived from the recycling process, in the context of life cycle assessment (LCA). The paper also outlines the requirements of a circular economy for the management of such materials. Attention was drawn to LCA as an important tool for obtaining comprehensive information on the environmental impact of the materials under study. Another element addressed in the paper is the topic of assessing the cost-effectiveness of road infrastructure. Attention was given to the total cost concept and the principle of cost interdependence. The problem of costs and benefits of road projects is described using the LCCA as an example.
Application of dynamic complex stiffness modulus master curves of HMA with recycled materials in the mechanistic-empirical design of road pavement structures
Authors: Zborowski Aleksander , Otkałło Kamil
Published: July 2024

The main objective of the paper is to present the possibilities and advantages of advanced methods for determining the viscoelastic properties of asphalt mixtures produced using recycled materials in individual mechanistic-empirical pavement design. The use of various types of materials in asphalt mixture production can significantly alter their functional parameters, such as the dynamic stiffness modulus. In addition, this parameter changes with the change in the temperature of the road pavement and the speed of vehicles. In order to determine the durability of the pavement structure in an informed manner and minimize the risk of error, it is necessary to investigate and describe as precisely as possible this variability in the behavior of asphalt layers as a result of changes in the properties of input materials, e.g. by the addition of recycled materials and under the influence of changes in temperature and load velocity of the pavement. The most effective approach involves the application of master curves of the dynamic complex stiffness modulus of asphalt mixture, constructed based on research results conducted at different temperatures and loading frequencies. This allows for the determination of stress and deformation states of the pavement construction under various climatic conditions, utilizing seasonal or average monthly temperatures and considering the specific characteristics of pavement operation, such as different vehicle speeds for main routes, connectors, or street intersections. The paper compares the changes in dynamic modulus master curves for different types of asphalt mixtures with and without the addition of waste or recycled materials such as reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), rubber from used tires, or synthetic fibres and changes impact on the estimated durability of the pavement structure due to different approaches to determining climatic conditions and movement speed.
Statistical learning shapes pain perception and prediction independently of external cues
Authors: Onysk Jakub , Gregory Nicholas , Whitefield Mia , Jain Maeghal , Turner Georgia , Seymour Ben , Mancini Flavia
Published: July 2024

The placebo and nocebo effects highlight the importance of expectations in modulating pain perception, but in everyday life we don’t need an external source of information to form expectations about pain. The brain can learn to predict pain in a more fundamental way, simply by experiencing ﬂuctuating, non-random streams of noxious inputs, and extracting their temporal regularities. This process is called statistical learning. Here, we address a key open question: does statistical learning modulate pain perception? We asked 27 participants to both rate and predict pain intensity levels in sequences of ﬂuctuating heat pain. Using a computational approach, we show that probabilistic expectations and confidence were used to weigh pain perception and prediction. As such, this study goes beyond well-established conditioning paradigms associating non-pain cues with pain outcomes, and shows that statistical learning itself shapes pain experience. This finding opens a new path of research into the brain mechanisms of pain regulation, with relevance to chronic pain where it may be dysfunctional.
Microstructural asymmetries of the planum temporale predict functional lateralization of auditory-language processing
Authors: Qin Peipei , Bi Qiuhui , Guo Zeya , Yang Liyuan , Li Haokun , Li Peng , Liang Xinyu , Luo Junhao , Kong Xiangyu , Xiong Yirong , Sun Bo , Ocklenburg Sebastian , Gong Gaolang
Published: July 2024

Structural hemispheric asymmetry has long been assumed to guide functional lateralization of the human brain, but empirical evidence for this compelling hypothesis remains scarce. Recently, it has been suggested that microstructural asymmetries may be more relevant to functional lateralization than macrostructural asymmetries. To investigate the link between microstructure and function, we analyzed multimodal MRI data in 907 right-handed participants. We quantified structural asymmetry and functional lateralization of the planum temporale (PT), a cortical area crucial for auditory-language processing. We found associations between PT functional lateralization and several structural asymmetries, such as surface area, intracortical myelin content, neurite density, and neurite orientation dispersion. The PT structure also showed hemispheric-specific coupling with its functional activity. All these functional-structural associations are highly specific to within-PT functional activity during auditory-language processing. These results suggest that structural asymmetry underlies functional lateralization of the same brain area and highlights a critical role of microstructural PT asymmetries in auditory-language processing.
Evolutionary rescue of spherical mreB deletion mutants of the rod-shape bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25
Authors: Yulo P Richard J , Desprat Nicolas , Gerth Monica L , Ritzl-Rinkenberger Barbara , Farr Andrew D , Liu Yunhao , Zhang Xue-Xian , Miller Michael , Cava Felipe , Rainey Paul B , Hendrickson Heather L
Published: July 2024

Maintenance of rod-shape in bacterial cells depends on the actin-like protein MreB. Deletion of
mreB
from
Pseudomonas fluorescens
SBW25 results in viable spherical cells of variable volume and reduced fitness. Using a combination of time-resolved microscopy and biochemical assay of peptidoglycan synthesis we show that reduced fitness is a consequence of perturbed cell size homeostasis that arises primarily from differential growth of daughter cells. A 1,000-generation selection experiment resulted in rapid restoration of fitness with derived cells retaining spherical shape. Mutations in the peptidoglycan synthesis protein Pbp1A were identified as the main route for fitness restoration with genetic reconstructions demonstrating causality. The
pbp1A
mutations targeting transpeptidase activity enhance homogeneity in cell wall synthesis on lateral surfaces, thus restoring cell size homeostasis in the population. Together our experimental approach emphasizes the new knowledge to be gained from strategies that exploit the power of natural selection to rescue fitness-compromised mutants.
Adventitial fibroblasts direct smooth muscle cell-state transition in pulmonary vascular disease
Authors: Crnkovic Slaven , Thekkekara Puthenparampil Helene , Mulch Shirin , Biasin Valentina , Radic Nemanja , Wilhelm Jochen , Bartkuhn Marek , Bonyadi Rad Ehsan , Wawrzen Alicja , Matzer Ingrid , Mitra Ankita , Leib Ryan , Nagy Bence M , Sahu-Osen Anita , Valzano Francesco , Bordag Natalie , Evermann Matthias , Hoetzenecker Konrad , Olschewski Andrea , Ljubojevic-Holzer Senka , Wygrecka Malgorzata , Stenmark Kurt , Marsh Leigh M , de Jesus Perez Vinicio , Kwapiszewska Grazyna
Published: July 2024

Pulmonary vascular remodeling is a progressive pathological process characterized by functional alterations within pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) and adventitial fibroblasts (PAAF). Mechanisms driving the transition to a diseased phenotype remain elusive. Utilizing a combination of transcriptomic and proteomic profiling, along with phenotyping of source-matched cells from healthy controls and individuals with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), our investigation uncovered that while PASMC and PAAF retained their original cellular identities, they acquired distinct disease-associated states. Though both cell types exhibited reduced mitochondrial content and hyperpolarization, IPAH-PASMC displayed heightened glycosaminoglycan production and downregulation of contractile machinery, contrasting a hyperproliferative phenotype of IPAH-PAAF. We investigated the involvement of cellular crosstalk in regulating cell state dynamics and identified pentraxin-3 and hepatocyte growth factor as potential modulators of PASMC phenotypic transition orchestrated by PAAF. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of pulmonary vascular mesenchyme dynamics in disease pathogenesis.
Developmental stage shapes the realized energy landscape for a flight specialist
Authors: Nourani Elham , Faure Louise , Brønnvik Hester , Scacco Martina , Bassi Enrico , Fiedler Wolfgang , Grüebler Martin U , Hatzl Julia S , Jenny David , Roverselli Andrea , Sumasgutner Petra , Tschumi Matthias , Wikelski Martin , Safi Kamran
Published: July 2024

The heterogeneity of the physical environment determines the cost of transport for animals, shaping their energy landscape. Animals respond to this energy landscape by adjusting their distribution and movement to maximize gains and reduce costs. Much of our knowledge about energy landscape dynamics focuses on factors external to the animal, particularly the spatio-temporal variations of the environment. However, an animal’s internal state can significantly impact its ability to perceive and utilize available energy, creating a distinction between the ‘fundamental’ and the ‘realized’ energy landscapes. Here, we show that the realized energy landscape varies along the ontogenetic axis. Locomotor and cognitive capabilities of individuals change over time, especially during the early life stages. We investigate the development of the realized energy landscape in the Central European Alpine population of the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos, a large predator that requires negotiating the atmospheric environment to achieve energy-efficient soaring flight. We quantified weekly energy landscapes using environmental features for 55 juvenile golden eagles, demonstrating that energetic costs of traversing the landscape decreased with age. Consequently, the potentially flyable area within the Alpine region increased 2170-fold during their first three years of independence. Our work contributes to a predictive understanding of animal movement by presenting ontogeny as a mechanism shaping the realized energy landscape.
NK cell exhaustion in Wilson’s disease revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing predicts the prognosis of cholecystitis
Authors: Jin Yong , Xing Jiayu , Dai Chenyu , Jin Lei , Zhang Wanying , Tao Qianqian , Hou Mei , Li Ziyi , Yang Wen , Feng Qiyu , Wang Hongyang , Yu Qingsheng
Published: July 2024

Metabolic abnormalities associated with liver disease have a significant impact on the risk and prognosis of cholecystitis. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigated this issue using Wilson’s disease (WD) as a model, which is a genetic disorder characterized by impaired mitochondrial function and copper metabolism. Our retrospective clinical study found that WD patients have a significantly higher incidence of cholecystitis and a poorer prognosis. The hepatic immune cell landscape using single-cell RNA sequencing showed that the tissue immune microenvironment is altered in WD, mainly a major change in the constitution and function of the innate immune system. Exhaustion of natural killer (NK) cells is the fundamental factor, supported by the upregulated expression of inhibitory receptors and the downregulated expression of cytotoxic molecules, which was verified in clinical samples. Further bioinformatic analysis confirmed a positive correlation between NK cell exhaustion and poor prognosis in cholecystitis and other inflammatory diseases. The study demonstrated dysfunction of liver immune cells triggered by specific metabolic abnormalities in WD, with a focus on the correlation between NK cell exhaustion and poor healing of cholecystitis, providing new insights into the improvement of inflammatory diseases by assessing immune cell function.
Elucidating ATP’s role as solubilizer of biomolecular aggregate
Authors: Sarkar Susmita , Gupta Saurabh , Mahato Chiranjit , Das Dibyendu , Mondal Jagannath
Published: July 2024

Proteins occurring in significantly high concentrations in cellular environments (over 100 mg/ml) and functioning in crowded cytoplasm, often face the prodigious challenges of aggregation which are the pathological hallmark of aging and are critically responsible for a wide spectrum of rising human diseases. Here, we combine a joint-venture of complementary wet-lab experiment and molecular simulation to discern the potential ability of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as solubilizer of protein aggregates. We show that ATP prevents both condensation of aggregation-prone intrinsically disordered protein Aβ40 and promotes dissolution of preformed aggregates. Computer simulation links ATP’s solubilizing role to its ability to modulate protein’s structural plasticity by unwinding protein conformation. We show that ATP is positioned as a superior biological solubilizer of protein aggregates over traditional chemical hydrotropes, potentially holding promises in therapeutic interventions in protein-aggregation-related diseases. Going beyond its conventional activity as energy currency, the amphiphilic nature of ATP enables its protein-specific interaction that would enhance ATP’s efficiency in cellular processes.
Mining software insights: uncovering the frequently occurring issues in low-rating software applications
Authors: Khan Nek Dil , Khan Javed Ali , Li Jianqiang , Ullah Tahir , Zhao Qing
Published: July 2024

In today’s digital world, app stores have become an essential part of software distribution, providing customers with a wide range of applications and opportunities for software developers to showcase their work. This study elaborates on the importance of end-user feedback for software evolution. However, in the literature, more emphasis has been given to high-rating & popular software apps while ignoring comparatively low-rating apps. Therefore, the proposed approach focuses on end-user reviews collected from 64 low-rated apps representing 14 categories in the Amazon App Store. We critically analyze feedback from low-rating apps and developed a grounded theory to identify various concepts important for software evolution and improving its quality including user interface (UI) and user experience (UX), functionality and features, compatibility and device-specific, performance and stability, customer support and responsiveness and security and privacy issues. Then, using a grounded theory and content analysis approach, a novel research dataset is curated to evaluate the performance of baseline machine learning (ML), and state-of-the-art deep learning (DL) algorithms in automatically classifying end-user feedback into frequently occurring issues. Various natural language processing and feature engineering techniques are utilized for improving and optimizing the performance of ML and DL classifiers. Also, an experimental study comparing various ML and DL algorithms, including multinomial naive Bayes (MNB), logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), multi-layer perception (MLP), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), AdaBoost, Voting, convolutional neural network (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), bidirectional long short term memory (BiLSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU), bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU), and recurrent neural network (RNN) classifiers, achieved satisfactory results in classifying end-user feedback to commonly occurring issues. Whereas, MLP, RF, BiGRU, GRU, CNN, LSTM, and Classifiers achieved average accuracies of 94%, 94%, 92%, 91%, 90%, 89%, and 89%, respectively. We employed the SHAP approach to identify the critical features associated with each issue type to enhance the explainability of the classifiers. This research sheds light on areas needing improvement in low-rated apps and opens up new avenues for developers to improve software quality based on user feedback.
The osteology of the wrist of Heyuannia huangi (Oviraptorosauria) and its implications for the wrist folding mechanism
Authors: Qiu Rui , Du Yanli , Huang Zhiqing , Zhu Xufeng , Yang Xiaoli , Wang Qiang , Wang Xiaolin
Published: July 2024

The wrist of extant birds is highly specialized which permits folding of the forelimb in order to protect the pennaceous feathers when they are relaxed. This mechanism is absent in most non-avian theropods and is unknown in oviraptorosaurs because of the rarity of the specimens with well-preserved wrist. Here we give a detailed description of the wrist of two three-dimensionally preserved oviraptorosaurian Heyuannia huangi specimens from the Upper Cretaceous in Southern China. Heyuannia huangi possesses a highly specialized wrist with a strongly dorsoventrally compressed distal ulna, a larger radiale angle and a strongly convex semilunate carpal. The morphology of its wrist suggests that the distal ulna would not hinder the rotation of the manus, resulting in the smallest angle between the manus and the ulna being less than 90 degrees. The combination of the morphology of the wrist of oviraptorosaurs and the phylogenetic result indicates functional convergence in the wrist of oviraptorids and extant birds.
Predator in proximity: how does a large carnivore respond to anthropogenic pressures at fine-scales? Implications for interface area management
Authors: Mohan Manu , Sathyakumar Sambandam , Krishnamurthy Ramesh
Published: July 2024

Background

Driven by habitat loss and fragmentation, large carnivores are increasingly navigating human-dominated landscapes, where their activity is restricted and their behaviour altered. This movement, however, raises significant concerns and costs for people living nearby. While intricately linked, studies often isolate human and carnivore impacts, hindering effective management efforts. Hence, in this study, we brought these two into a common framework, focusing on an interface area between the critical tiger habitat and the human-dominated multiple-use buffer area of a central Indian protected area.

Methods

We employed a fine-scale camera trap survey complemented by GPS-collar movement data to understand spatio-temporal activity patterns and adjustments of tigers in response to anthropogenic pressures. We used an occupancy framework to evaluate space use, Bayesian circular GLMs to model temporal activity, and home range and step length analyses to assess the movement patterns of tigers. Further, we used predation-risk models to understand conflict patterns as a function of tiger presence and other habitat variables.

Results

Despite disturbance, a high proportion of the sampled area was occupied by 17 unique tigers (ψ = 0.76; CI [0.73–0.92]). The distance to villages (β ± SE = 0.63 ± 0.21) and the relative abundance of large-bodied wild prey (β ± SE = 0.72 ± 0.37) emerged as key predictors of tiger space use probability, indicating a preference for wild prey by tigers, while human influences constrained their habitat utilisation. Distance to villages was also identified as the most significant predictor of the tigers’ temporal activity (μ ± σ = 3.03 ± 0.06 rad) that exhibited higher nocturnality near villages. A total of 11% of tiger home ranges were within village boundaries, accompanied by faster movement in these areas (displacement 40–82% higher). Livestock depredation probability by tigers increased with proximity to villages (P = 0.002) and highway (P = 0.003). Although tiger space use probability (P = 0.056) and wild prey abundance (P = 0.134) were non-significant at the 0.05 threshold, their presence in the best-fit predation-risk model suggests their contextual relevance for understanding conflict risk. The results highlight the importance of appropriately managing livestock near human infrastructures to effectively mitigate conflict.

Conclusions

Shared space of carnivores and humans requires dynamic site-specific actions grounded in evidence-based decision-making. This study emphasises the importance of concurrently addressing the intricate interactions between humans and large carnivores, particularly the latter’s behavioural adaptations and role in conflict dynamics. Such an integrated approach is essential to unravel cause-effect relationships and promote effective interface management in human-dominated landscapes.
Unraveling habitat-driven shifts in alpha, beta, and gamma diversity of hummingbirds and their floral resource
Authors: Martínez-Roldán Hellen , Pérez-Crespo María José , Lara Carlos
Published: July 2024

Background

Biodiversity, crucial for understanding ecosystems, encompasses species richness, composition, and distribution. Ecological and environmental factors, such as habitat type, resource availability, and climate conditions, play pivotal roles in shaping species diversity within and among communities, categorized into alpha (within habitat), beta (between habitats), and gamma (total regional) diversity. Hummingbird communities are influenced by habitat, elevation, and seasonality, making them an ideal system for studying these diversities, shedding light on mutualistic community dynamics and conservation strategies.

Methods

Over a year-long period, monthly surveys were conducted to record hummingbird species and their visited flowering plants across four habitat types (oak forest, juniper forest, pine forest, and xerophytic shrubland) in Tlaxcala, Mexico. Three locations per habitat type were selected based on conservation status and distance from urban areas. True diversity measures were used to assess alpha, beta, and gamma diversity of hummingbirds and their floral resources. Environmental factors such as altitude and bioclimatic variables were explored for their influence on beta diversity.

Results

For flowering plants, gamma diversity encompassed 34 species, with oak forests exhibiting the highest richness, while xerophytic shrublands had the highest alpha diversity. In contrast, for hummingbirds, 11 species comprised the gamma diversity, with xerophytic shrublands having the highest richness and alpha diversity. Our data reveal high heterogeneity in species abundance among habitats. Notably, certain floral resources like Loeselia mexicana and Bouvardia ternifolia emerge as key species in multiple habitats, while hummingbirds such as Basilinna leucotis, Selasphorus platycercus, and Calothorax lucifer exhibit varying levels of abundance and habitat preferences. Beta diversity analyses unveil habitat-specific patterns, with species turnover predominantly driving dissimilarity in composition. Moreover, our study explores the relationships between these diversity components and environmental factors such as altitude and climate variables. Climate variables, in particular, emerge as significant contributors to dissimilarity in floral resource and hummingbird communities, highlighting the influence of environmental conditions on species distribution.

Conclusions

Our results shed light on the complex dynamics of hummingbird-flower mutualistic communities within diverse habitats and underscore the importance of understanding how habitat-driven shifts impact alpha, beta, and gamma diversity. Such insights are crucial for conservation strategies aimed at preserving the delicate ecological relationships that underpin biodiversity in these communities.
Awareness of Turkish Secondary Education Accreditation Standards and Being Ready for the Change That This Awareness Will Create
Authors: ÜKER Hanifi , ÇETİN Münevver
Published: July 2024

Bu çalışmada Türk kültürüne özgü geliştirilen akreditasyon standartlarının farkındalığı ve buna bağlı olarak okulların değişime hazır olma durumları analiz edilmiştir. Betimsel analiz ile birlikte, Yapısal eşitlik modeli (YEM), yol
analizi (PATH) kullanılan bu çalışmada araştırmaya uygun 610 örneklem yer almıştır. Sistematik örnekleme modeli ve çok aşamalı tabakalı örnekleme modeli, nicel örnekleme stratejileri olarak kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada iki ölçme
aracına yer verilmiştir. Tüm ölçeklere, normallik testi ve YEM’in ilk aşaması olan DFA yapılmış veri ile orijinal ölçek yapısının uygunluğu test edilmiştir. Daha sonra gizil ve gözlenen değişkenler arası yapısal eşitlik oluşturulmuş
ve araştırma soruları test edilmiştir. Bu sorular doğrultusunda daha önceden geliştirilmiş olan akreditasyon standartları farkındalığı ortaya koyulmuş ve okulların hazır olma durumu arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. Çalışmada Türk
kültürüne özgü uluslararası özellikler taşıyan ortaöğretim akreditasyon farkındalığı ne düzeydedir? Türk kültürüne özgü uluslararası özellikler taşıyan ortaöğretim akreditasyon farkındalığı ile bu farkındalığın oluşturacağı değişime
hazır olma arasındaki ilişki nasıldır? Sorularına cevap aranmıştır. Bu çalışma okulların kültürel özelliklerini göz önünde bulundurarak uluslararası akreditasyon standartlarına ayak uydurabilme yeteneğini göstermiştir. Bununla
beraber Türk kültürüne özgü uluslararası özelliklere sahip ortaöğretim akreditasyonunun farkındalığı ile değişime hazırlanma arasında anlamlı bir bağlantı olduğu görülmüştür. Bu bağlantı, akreditasyon algısının ve değişime hazır
olma durumunun birbirini desteklediğini göstermektedir. Çalışma, Türkiye’ye özgü uluslararası akreditasyon sisteminin farkındalık düzeyi ve okulların bu standartları uygulamaya hazır olma durumları açısından oldukça önemlidir.
Assessment of Post-harvest Losses and Preservation Techniques among Artisanal Fisher-folks in Oyan Dam, Ogun State
Authors: O.B. Adelodun, , O. Adeosun, , A.F Bankole, , B.O Awofodu,
Published: July 2024

This study was carried out to assess the post-harvest losses among fisher-folks in Oyan dam. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select Ninety (90) respondents from the fishing communities. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire, and the collected data were subjected to descriptive and multiple regression analysis. The result revealed 53.30% of the fisher-folks were between the age of 40-59years, 80% of the fisherfolks interviewed were married, while 41.11% and 37.78% had primary and no formal education respectively. 64.44% of the fisher-folks had alternative jobs and their average total catch/effort is 30kg. The result also revealed that 48.89% and 35.56 experienced 10-20% and <10% post-harvest losses. Theft (83.33%), weather condition (56.67%) and lack of cold storage facilities (51.11%) were the major factors contributing to postharvest losses in the fishing communities. Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed that gender and experience are statistically significant (p<0.05) with postharvest losses. In conclusion, there’s a need for reduction in the postharvest losses in these fishing communities in order to enhance food security and sustain the environment.
BRIDGING BOUNDARIES: ADVANCING LEARNING THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP IN AN EVOLVING ACADEMIC LANDSCAPE
Authors:   Grand Canyon University, Dyer Thomas D. ,   Editor-in-Chief, Kuban Jenny ,   Managing Editor
Published: July 2024

The scholarship of teaching and learning focuses on improving student outcomes by lever- aging research on education, instructional design, and pedagogy (Boyer, 1990). Scholars use analytical frameworks to inform innovative classroom policies and practices that enhance the learning experience and promote student success. The Boyer Model of Scholarship not only pro- motes a student-centered learning approach but also inspires faculty members to engage in research activities that inform best practices in teaching and learning. This model recognizes teaching as a significant form of scholarship that influences student development. However, challenges arise when the scholarship of teaching and learning is not explicitly integrated into institutional research plans and frameworks (Simmons et al., 2021). Teaching- focused faculty often face barriers such as limited funding and a lack of collegial support for their scholarly endeavors, hindering the recognition of SoTL as legitimate research (Simmons et al., 2021).
PORTFOLIOS FOR PROFESSIONAL WRITERS: A REFLECTION ON PREPARING CAPSTONE STUDENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL WRITING
Authors:   Grand Canyon University, Westerson Kimbel , Zafonte Maria ,   Grand Canyon University
Published: July 2024

In this reflective practice piece, two instructors grapple with the unexpectedly disappointing results of a culminating digital portfolio in a professional writing program. Instructors had hoped students would approach the digital portfolio as a tool in the job market to showcase their writing skills and interests. Instead, we found that despite the program-wide emphasis on crafting and selecting pieces for this final capstone project, students’ portfolios did not reflect the level of professionalism we anticipated regarding the selection of work and overall design. We were concerned that students viewed this as just another assignment instead of a tool that would support them in the job market. In reflecting on the disconnect between our expectations and the student’s approach to the project, and in conversation with the theory of self-focus in the life-stage of emerging adulthood (Arnett, 2016) and the need for additional guidance on large projects such as these (Lam, 2020; Ring et al., 2017), we instituted portfolio check-ins. These one-on-one meetings with the instructor augmented the peer reviews already in the course to provide the perspective of how a possible employer might evaluate their portfolio and other considerations for strengthening their work. Future research will look to survey program graduates to get a better sense of if and how the portfolios are used post-graduation. Keywords: digital portfolios, ePortfolios, capstone, professional writing, writing, undergraduate, career readiness, emerging adulthood
Dating violence experienced by young people from a public university in Brazil / Violência no namoro vivenciada por jovens de uma universidade pública no Brasil
Authors: Lourenço Fernandes Beatriz , Villas Boas Teixeira Selma , Regina Alves Yamê , Pereira Maia de Oliveira Luíza , Teoli Nunciaroni Andressa , Rangel da Silva Leila
Published: July 2024

Objetivos: identificar a violência no namoro vivenciada por jovens universitárias e discutir as formas de violência vivenciadas Materiais e Métodos: Descritivo, exploratório e qualitativo, com 50 jovens universitárias de 19 a 24 anos, que afirmaram estar ou já ter estado em um relacionamento com homem ou mulher por no mínimo 6 meses, matriculadas em uma universidade pública no município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. As entrevistas foram semiestruturadas, individuais, entre setembro de 2019 e fevereiro de 2020. Tratamento dos dados realizado por análise temática. Resultados: A maioria era parda ou preta, possuía religião e heterossexuais. Do total de participantes, 39 afirmaram vivenciar alguma forma de violência no namoro perpetrada por homens. A violência psicológica foi relatada pela maioria das participantes, seguida da moral, física, sexual e patrimonial. Discussão: As jovens universitárias não estão isentas de vivenciar a violência de gênero nas relações de namoro. Situação que reforça a importância de desmistificar mitos e estereótipos sobre essa etapa no relacionamento do casal. Conclusão: A violência no namoro em universitárias é uma realidade sustentada por moldes patriarcais, favorecendo repercussões negativas na saúde e vida acadêmica das jovens. Destaca-se a necessidade de se promover no meio universitário, ações de prevenção e enfrentamento a violência de gênero.
The benefits of regular physical activity/exercise in high-risk pregnancies: a bibliometric review / O benefício da atividade/exercício físico regular na gestação de alto risco: uma revisão bibliométrica
Authors: Pureza Sebilio Zatorski Ana Clara , Santos Claudia , Mendes Araújo Silva Vivianne , Roehrs Hellen
Published: July 2024

Objetivo: quantificar e analisar as principais características da produção científica sobre o benefício da atividade/ exercício físico durante a gestação de alto risco entre os anos de 2013 e 2023. Método: trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, do tipo bibliométrico, cuja proposta principal é analisar a produção científica através da observação quantitativa das publicações, desenvolvendo indicadores estatísticos confiáveis para determinada temática estudada. Resultados: foram analisados 316 artigos. Observou-se que o maior número de publicações sobre o tema foram realizadas no ano de 2022 com 51 (16,13%) artigos, seguido do ano de 2021 com 38 (12%) artigos e 2020 com 37 (11,7%) artigos publicados, o que corresponde a uma taxa de crescimento anual de publicação de 4,62%. Conclusão: os estudos precisam continuar sendo desenvolvidos para que as recomendações sejam constantemente atualizadas e contribuindo para a qualidade de vida materno infantil.
A comparison of intensity‐based demand distributions and the seismic demand hazard for seismic performance assessment
Authors: Bradley Brendon A.
Published: June 2013

This paper compares the seismic demands obtained from an intensity‐based assessment, as conventionally considered in seismic design guidelines, with the seismic demand hazard. Intensity‐based assessments utilize the distribution of seismic demand from ground motions that have a specific value of some conditioning intensity measure, and the mean of this distribution is conventionally used in design verification. The seismic demand hazard provides the rate of exceedance of various seismic demand values and is obtained by integrating the distribution of seismic demand at multiple intensity levels with the seismic hazard curve. The seismic demand hazard is a more robust metric for quantifying seismic performance, because seismic demands from an intensity‐based assessment: (i) are not unique, with different values obtained using different conditioning intensity measures; and (ii) do not consider the possibility that demand values could be exceeded from different intensity ground motions. Empirical results, for a bridge‐foundation‐soil system, illustrate that the mean seismic demand from an intensity‐based assessment almost always underestimates the demand hazard value for the exceedance rate considered, on average by 17% and with a large variability. Furthermore, modification factors based on approximate theory are found to be unreliable. Adopting the maximum of the mean values from multiple intensity‐based assessments, with different conditional intensity measures, provides a less biased prediction of the seismic demand hazard value, but with still a large variability, and a proportional increase the required number of analyses. For an equivalent number of analyses, direct computation of the seismic demand hazard is a more logical choice and provides additional performance insight. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Insulin induces C2C12 cell proliferation and apoptosis through regulation of cyclin D1 and BAD expression
Authors: Xiong Cheng‐Juan , Li Ping‐Fa , Song Yang‐Liu , Xue Li‐Xiang , Jia Zhu‐Qing , Yao Chun‐Xia , Wei Qing‐Xia , Zhang Shu‐Feng , Zhang Shan‐Feng , Zhang Yan‐Yan , Zhao Ji‐Min , Wang Tian‐Qi , Guo Mao‐Feng , Zang Ming‐Xi
Published: June 2013

Insulin is a secreted peptide hormone identified in human pancreas to promote glucose utilization. Insulin has been observed to induce cell proliferation and myogenesis in C2C12 cells. The precise mechanisms underlying the proliferation of C2C12 cells induced by insulin remain unclear. In this study, we observed for the first time that 10 nM insulin treatment promotes C2C12 cell proliferation. Additionally, 50 and 100 nM insulin treatment induces C2C12 cell apoptosis. By utilizing real‐time PCR and Western blotting analysis, we found that the mRNA levels of cyclinD1 and BAD are induced upon 10 and 50 nM/100 nM insulin treatment, respectively. The similar results were observed in C2C12 cells expressing GATA‐6 or PPARα. Our results identify for the first time the downstream targets of insulin, cyclin D1, and BAD, elucidate a new molecular mechanism of insulin in promoting cell proliferation and apoptosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 2708–2717, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rotavirus genotypes in children in the community with diarrhea in Madagascar
Authors: Razafindratsimandresy Richter , Heraud Jean‐Michel , Ramarokoto Charles Emile , Rabemanantsoa Sendraharimanana , Randremanana Rindra , Andriamamonjy Nelson Seta , Richard Vincent , Reynes Jean Marc
Published: June 2013

In the context of the possible introduction of a preventive vaccine against rotaviruses in Madagascar, the G and P genotypes distribution of the rotaviruses circulating in the children in Madagascar was studied, and the presence of emerging genotypes and unusual strains were assessed. From February 2008 to May 2009, 1,679 stools specimens were collected from children ≤5 years old with diarrhea. ELISA was used for antigen detection, and molecular amplification of VP7 and VP4 gene fragments was used for genotyping. Rotavirus antigen was detected in 104 samples (6.2%). Partial sequences of VP7 and VP4 genes were obtained from 81 and 80 antigen‐positive stools, respectively. The most frequent G and P types combinations detected were G9P[8] (n = 51; 64.6%), followed by G1P[8] (n = 15; 18.9%), and G1P[6] (n = 8; 10.1%). A few unusual G‐P combinations, such as G4P[6] (n = 3; 3.8%), G9P[6] (n = 1; 1.3%), and G3P[9] reassortant feline human virus (n = 1; 1.3%) were identified. Both VP4 and VP7 sequences in one of the three G4P[6] isolates were closely related to those in porcine strains, and one was a reassortant human porcine virus. These findings give an overview of the strains circulating in Madagascar and should help public health authorities to define a vaccine strategy. J. Med. Virol. 85:1652–1660, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Liver transplantation with a strongly positive crossmatch: Case study and literature review
Authors: Leonard Garrett R. , Shike Hiroko , Uemura Tadahiro , Gaspari Justine L. , Ruggiero Francesca M. , Shah Riaz A. , Riley Thomas R. , Kadry Zakiyah
Published: June 2013

A positive crossmatch has been associated with increased risk in liver transplantation. To study the clinical significance of preformed donor-specific human leukocyte antigen antibodies (DSAs) in liver transplantation, we reviewed patients who underwent liver transplantation with a strongly positive flow cytometry crossmatch. DSAs were evaluated with a Luminex solid phase assay. The complement-fixing ability of DSAs was tested with a complement component 1q (C1q) assay. Using an assay correlation between complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch, flow cytometry crossmatch, and DSA results, we reviewed the effects of DSAs on the outcomes of our patients as well as reported cases in the literature. Five of 69 liver recipients had a strongly positive crossmatch: 4 had a positive T cell crossmatch [median channel shift (MCS) = 383.5 ± 38.9], and 5 had a positive B cell crossmatch (MCS = 408.8 ± 52.3). The DSAs were class I only in 1 patient, class I and II in 3 patients, and class II only in 1 patient. Cholestasis, acute rejection, or both were observed in 3 of the 4 patients with a positive T cell crossmatch with an MCS approximately greater than 300. The C1q assay was positive for 3 patients. Two had either persistent cholestasis or early acute rejection. One patient who was treated with preemptive intravenous immunoglobulin had an unremarkable outcome despite a positive C1q result. One of the 2 patients with a negative C1q assay experienced persistent cholestasis and early and recurrent acute rejection; the other had an unremarkable outcome. None of the patients died or lost a graft within the first year of transplantation. Our study suggests that human leukocyte antigen antibody screening, flow cytometry crossmatch MCS levels, DSA mean fluorescent intensity levels, and C1q assays may be useful in assessing the risk of antibody-mediated rejection and timely interventions in liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 19:1001–1010, 2013. © 2013 AASLD.