bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Effect of Surface Temperature in accordance with the Composition of Land Cover Based on XAI SHAP
Authors:   The Korean Data Analysis Society, Lee Dongchan , Kim Keewhan
Published: October 2023

Recently, with the development of artificial intelligence architecture and the rapid improvement of hardware performance, various artificial intelligence models are attracting attention and their usefulness are increasing. However, unlike the rate of development of performance, the development of model's explanatory ability is slow to progress. The increasingly complex decision branching points of AI models are increasing exponentially, which hinders researchers' ease of model interpretation. Explainable Artificial Intelligence, XAI has emerged to solve the above complexity, and helps to improve interpretability and reliability by decomposing the black box of the model to a level that researchers can understand. This study estimates the surface temperature of a specific spatial unit using land cover data of a cell unit in Korea, Seoul. The limitations of the existing statistical model for high-dimensional data were examined, and the estimation results were compared using a machine learning model. Models used include Lasso regression(Least absolute linkage and selection operator), random forest regression, and XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) regression. Finally, based on the fitted result of the XGBoost regression model, XAI SHAP was carried out.
An effect of the misspecified technical inefficiency on the maximum likelihood estimation of the stochastic frontier model
Authors:   The Korean Data Analysis Society, Yang Hojin , Lee Jongmin , Lee Donghyuk
Published: October 2023

The stochastic frontier model is a widely used econometric method for assessing production efficiency concerning the maximum achievable output given a specific input, where the difference between the maximum and actual production is referred to as technical inefficiency. Statistically, the stochastic frontier model adjusts a standard regression model with normally distributed errors by introducing a non-negative random variable to account for technical inefficiency. By computing the probability density of the composed error, which defined by subtracting the non-negative random variable from the normal error, the maximum likelihood estimators (MLE) for the stochastic frontier model can be obtained. In principle, the technical inefficiency cannot be directly observed so that the distributional assumption is necessary to fit the model. Consequently, it is common to encounter model misspecification problem, which involves inaccurate assumption of the distribution of technical inefficiency. This research aims to explore limiting behaviors of the MLE in the stochastic frontier model under misspecified technical inefficiency distribution. We also investigate the minimizers of the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the true and misspecified model, wherein the MLE obtained from the misspecified model converges. Subsequently, we employ Monte Carlo experiments to examine the finite sample performance and to explain the similarity of MLE for slope parameters regardless of the distributional assumption of technical inefficiency as mentioned in the previous studies.
Issuance of Hybrid Securities by Insurers and Value Relevance
Authors:   The Korean Data Analysis Society, Cho Seokhee
Published: October 2023

This paper reviewed the financial effects of the issuance of capital securities, which began to be issued by domestic insurers since the mid-2010s, and analyzed the value relevance of hybrid securities presented as separate items of equity for insurer’s financial statements. Analysis results show that the proportion of the amount issued for hybrid securities and firm value had a significant negative relation, and the regression coefficient of hybrid securities showed a significant negative value as a result of the regression. As a result of analyzing whether there is a significant difference in the explanatory power of insurer's net assets and profits on firm value depending on whether hybrid securities are capitalized, the explanatory power of accounting information calculated by capitalizing hybrid securities was significantly lower than that of other cases. These results indicate that the capital nature of hybrid securities is denied in the capital market regardless of the classification method under IFRS and supervisory regulations. This study is meaningful in that it confirmed the capital market's evaluation of hybrid securities, whose issuance has recently increased significantly. These results are expected to be useful when considering environmental risks factors of hybrid securities in the capital market.
A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Simulation Practice for Nursing Students: Comparison of High Fidelity Simulator and Standardized Patient Utilization
Authors:   The Korean Data Analysis Society, Jho Mi Young
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study is to systematically analyze the effect of simulation practice education by dividing it into HFS(high-fidelity simulator) use and SP(standardized patient) use. A total of 20 studies were selected from domestic and foreign studies published from January 2000 to January 2023 and analyzed using the RevMan 5.4 program and the R program. The effect size was analyzed by dividing the effect of simulation practice into cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. In the case of using a HFS, it was effective in the cognitive and affective domains. The effect size showed a statistically significant in nursing knowledge and critical thinking in the cognitive domain, and self-efficacy, clinical performance ability, practice satisfaction, confidence in the affective domain. But there was no effect in the psychomotor domain. SP utilization practice had a statistically significant effect in cognitive areas and knowledge. As a result of meta-ANOVA with grade, intervention duration, and subject as control variables in the domains, statistical heterogeneity was found in the grade and subject in the cognitive domain when the HFS was used. Based on these results, I suggest that HFS and SP be appropriately selected and utilized in future simulation practice education design.
New data on the wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) of Iraq
Authors: Al-Khazali Azhar Mohammed , Al-Abbad Murtatha YM , Fomichev Alexander A. , Kachel Hamid Saeid
Published: October 2023

New data on the wolf spiders of Iraq are provided. Two species, Arctosa similis Schenkel, 1938 and Lycosa piochardi Simon, 1876, are reported from Iraq for the first time, and additional records and a redescription are provided for Evippa amitaii Armiach Steinpress, Alderweireldt, Cohen, Chipman & Gavish-Regev, 2021. Photographs of specimens of both sexes of all three species and their copulatory organs and habitats are provided, and the known distribution records for the last two species, are mapped.
DESAFIOS AO NÍVEL DA SEXUALIDADE APÓS EVENTO CARDÍACO
Authors: Mendes Eugénia , Azevedo Ana , Novo André
Published: October 2023

Com a evolução das ciências médicas e da tecnologia disponível, as pessoas com doença cardíaca crónica vivem mais anos e aquelas que têm episódios major de doença cardíaca aguda têm maior taxa de sobrevivência. Esta realidade traduz-se em pacientes com necessidades específicas que, com a intervenção da reabilitação cardíaca, podem viver de forma ativa e com qualidade. Um dos aspetos relevantes da qualidade de vida é a vivência plena da sexualidade, incluindo a relação sexual satisfatória para a pessoa e o seu parceiro. Estudos epidemiológicos sugerem que a atividade sexual tem um efeito favorável na saúde a longo prazo.
RUMO AO SUCESSO NA UTILIZAÇÃO DE SOFTWARES EDUCACIONAISPARA O ENSINO E APRENDIZAGEM DE CIÊNCIAS
Authors: Freitas Lilian Carla De , Kirner Tereza Gonçalves
Published: October 2023

Objetivo: O crescente número de softwares educacionais desenvolvidos, particularmente os direcionados para o ensino de ciências, torna a escolha de software uma tarefa complexa para os professores e educadores em geral. Tal cenário suscita uma questão importante: quais os fatores devem ser considerados como chaves para se conseguir o sucesso no uso dos softwares educacionais enfocados? Neste contexto, o trabalho ora apresentado busca fornecer subsídios para uma discussão sobre o problema e, contribuir para uma seleção mais acertada e uma utilização mais proveitosa desses softwares nas salas de aula. Métodos: Para responder à questão norteadora deste trabalho utilizou-se pesquisa bibliográfica e um estudo empírico com professores de ciências. Resultados: Como resultado da pesquisa definiu-se um modelo de fatores de sucesso de softwares para o ensino de aprendizagem de ciências que pode contribuir para a escolha e uso desse tipo de software. Conclusão: Softwares aplicados ao ensino de ciências devem atender aos requisitos de softwares educacionais, aos fatores de sucesso de softwares e às expectativas de professores de ciências.
PENTINGNYA STUDI KRITIK TEKS DALAM EKSEGESIS PERJANJIAN BARU
Authors: Putra Adi
Published: October 2023

This research is about the study of New Testament text criticism. Through this research, the importance of this study in the exegesis of the New Testament is put forward. Thus making text criticism a step that every interpreter must carry out. The main reasons for text-critical studies to be carried out are the damage to the original manuscripts of the New Testament, and the available copies contain so many variants. By using qualitative research methods or, more precisely, literature review, several research results were found related to this research topic. Text-critical studies help interpreters select texts or variants much closer to the damaged versions of the original NT texts to be used as reference texts in the exegesis studies conducted. The study of text criticism helps every interpreter to carry out a scientific interpretation but does not set aside its authority and authority as the revealed Word of God. Finally, through the study of New Testament text criticism, interpreters are taught to build their texts so that any result of the resulting interpretation is no longer in doubt, both in terms of the textual aspect and the theology produced.
THEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES ON INCEST FOR YOUTH CHRISTIAN
Authors: Harmadi Mariani , Karnawati  , Handayani Dwi Anugrahani
Published: October 2023

Incest is an iceberg phenomenon that is muted as it involves cultural, legal, economic, moral, psychological and human rights, where one and the other are interrelated, making it difficult to describe it. The purpose of this research is to observe the problem of incest from theological and cultural studies broadly concerning aspects of human life, both economic, social, educational, and biblical truth. The method used descriptive qualitative with theme analysis which will produce perspectives on incest broadly from cultural and theological studies based on Imago Dei's self-image, holiness and family according to God's design, the Creator of the household as a divine institution based on the Bible as the truth that absolute. The Old Testament records the emergence of cases of incest in the lives of the figures of faith which have the potential to cause ambiguity in adolescents, if Christian Education does not design the theme of incest in the curriculum as the context of teaching texts about holiness.
A Feminist Theory of Refusal, de Bonnie Honig
Authors: Flores Fabián
Published: October 2023

Reseña de Fabián Flores del libro A Feminist Theory of Refusal de Bonnie Honig. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2021.
A Study of Eight Visual-spectroscopic Southern Binaries Using Recent SOAR Observations
Authors: Docobo José A. , Campo Pedro P. , Gómez Jorge , Méndez René A. , Costa Edgardo
Published: October 2023

Speckle observations performed between 2019 and 2022 with the HRCam attached to the 4.1 m SOAR telescope (Cerro Pachón, Chile) permitted to improve visual orbits of the southern binaries WDS 01243-0655 (BU 1163), WDS 09275-5806 (CHR 240), WDS 12114-1647 (S 643 AaAb), WDS 13317-0219 (HDS 1895), WDS 15282-0921 (BAG 25 AaAb), WDS 17304-0104 (STF 2173), WDS 19598-0957 (HO 276), and WDS 21274-0701 (HDS 3053). All of them are spectroscopic binaries, of which six are SB2, so relevant information about their individual masses has been obtained. Moreover, comparison between different values of their parallaxes (orbital, dynamic, and ANAPAR, a color-dependent model suitable for binary systems attending to the exact locations of the components on the MS in the HR diagram) with those provided by Hipparcos and Gaia missions, along with comments for each binary are presented. The luminosity determination of the 16 components allowed us to estimate their approximate age and position on the HR diagram as well.
Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging parameter changes as an early biomarker of tumor responses following radiation therapy in patients with spinal metastases: a systematic review
Authors: Mulyadi Rahmad , Putri Pungky Permata , Handoko Handoko , Zairinal Ramdinal Aviesena , Prihartono Joedo
Published: October 2023

Purpose: This systematic review aims to assess and summarize the clinical values of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameter changes as early biomarkers of tumor responses following radiation therapy (RT) in patients with spinal metastases.Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted on five electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Embase. Studies were included if they mentioned DCE-MRI parameter changes before and after RT in patients with spinal metastases with a correlation to tumor responses based on clinical and imaging criteria. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 was used to assess study quality.Results: This systematic review included seven studies involving 107 patients. All seven studies evaluated the transfer constant (Ktrans), six studies evaluated the plasma volume fraction (Vp), three studies evaluated the extravascular extracellular space volume fraction, and two studies evaluated the rate constant. There were variations in the type of primary cancer, RT techniques used, post-treatment scan time, and median follow-up time. Despite the variations, however, the collected evidence generally suggested that significant differences could be detected in DCE-MRI parameters between before and after RT, which might reflect treatment success or failures in long-term follow-up. Responders showed higher reduction and lower values of Ktrans and Vp after RT. DCE-MRI parameters showed changes and detectable recurrences significantly earlier (up to 6 months) than conventional MRI with favorable diagnostic values.Conclusion: The results of this systematic review suggested that DCE-MRI parameter changes in patients with spinal metastases could be a promising tool for treatment-response assessment following RT. Lower values and higher reduction of Ktrans and Vp after treatment demonstrated good prediction of local control. Compared to conventional MRI, DCE-MRI showed more rapid changes and earlier prediction of treatment failure.
Developing the Protocol Infrastructure for DNA Sequencing Natural History Collections
Authors: Ferrari Giada , Esselens Lore , Hart Michelle , Janssens Steven , Kidner Catherine , Mascarello Maurizio , Peñalba Joshua , Pezzini Flávia , von Rintelen Thomas , Sonet Gontran , Vangestel Carl , Virgilio Massimiliano , Hollingsworth Peter
Published: October 2023

Intentionally preserved biological material in natural history collections represents a vast repository of biodiversity. Advances in laboratory and sequencing technologies have made these specimens increasingly accessible for genomic analyses, offering a window into the genetic past of species and often permitting access to information that can no longer be sampled in the wild. Due to their age, preparation and storage conditions, DNA retrieved from museum and herbarium specimens is often poor in yield, heavily fragmented and biochemically modified. This not only poses methodological challenges in recovering nucleotide sequences, but also makes such investigations susceptible to environmental and laboratory contamination. In this paper, we review the practical challenges associated with making the recovery of DNA sequence data from museum collections more routine. We first review key operational principles and issues to address, to guide the decision-making process and dialogue between researchers and curators about when and how to sample museum specimens for genomic analyses. We then outline the range of steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of contamination including laboratory set-ups, workflows and working practices. We finish by presenting a series of case studies, each focusing on protocol practicalities for the application of different mainstream methodologies to museum specimens including: (i) shotgun sequencing of insect mitogenomes, (ii) whole genome sequencing of insects, (iii) genome skimming to recover plant plastid genomes from herbarium specimens, (iv) target capture of multi-locus nuclear sequences from herbarium specimens, (v) RAD-sequencing of bird specimens and (vi) shotgun sequencing of ancient bovid bone samples.
Biomonitoring with bryophytes in managed forested areas. Three examples from the southern Italian Apennines
Authors: Colacino Carmine
Published: October 2023

Three sites in the southern Italian Apennines were selected to assess correlation between forest structure and bryophyte flora. In two of the sites, the Index of Air Purity (IAP)–based on cover data of epiphytic bryophytes–was evaluated. The results show that bryophyte populations–and consequently IAP–are affected by forest structure and development, and that studies including different sites require a precise assessment of silvicultural characteristics to allow comparisons. Indicator values of mosses and liverworts were also taken into consideration in characterizing ecologically the three sites.
Penser la (petite) corruption dans certains pays d’Afrique Subsaharienne : l’apport de l’approche compréhensive
Authors: Mideso Narcisse
Published: October 2023

Objet d’étude de diverses disciplines scientifiques, la notion de corruption opère aujourd’hui un dépassement significatif des cloisonnements académiques. La présente contribution met en évidence l’enjeu épistémologique qu’implique le passage de l’approche normative de la corruption à l’approche compréhensive fondée sur les représentations des acteurs. Un accent particulier est mis sur le continent africain devenu depuis la seconde moitié du XX e  siècle un laboratoire grandeur nature des études sur la corruption. Malgré les différences que présentent ces approches telles que présentées dans la deuxième partie, et avant de proposer en conclusion une manière de les articuler à travers la théorie du pluralisme normatif, la première partie de cette contribution revient sur ce qu’il convient de considérer comme le noyau dur de la notion de corruption, caractéristique des pratiques de corruption peu importe l’approche disciplinaire abordée.
Optimal and near-optimal frequency-hopping sequences based on Gaussian period
Authors: Wang Yan , Fu Yanxi , Li Nian , Wang Huanyu
Published: October 2023

Frequency-hopping sequences (FHSs) have a decisive influence on the whole frequency-hopping communication system. The Hamming correlation function plays an important role in evaluating the performance of FHSs. Constructing FHS sets that meet the theoretical bounds is crucial for the research and development of frequency-hopping communication systems. In this paper, three new classes of optimal FHSs based on trace functions are constructed. Two of them are optimal FHSs and the corresponding periodic Hamming autocorrelation value is calculated by using the known Gaussian period. It is shown that the new FHSs are optimal according to the Lempel-Greenberger bound. The third class of FHSs is the near-optimal FHSs.
Kathy Acker’s Cuntemporary
Authors: Finch Claire
Published: October 2023

In this essay I talk about contemporaneity and avant-garde text practices, and the kinds of feminist interventions that we can do in literary theory or that have already been done but could be more central. Literary history has a way of forgetting where it intersects with feminism. Kathy Acker started writing in the late ’60s, at exactly the moment when feminism was becoming a legible social, academic, and literary presence in the United States and Europe. And she began writing at exactly the time—a time that still hasn’t been totally resolved or categorized—when what people were calling “modernism” was mingling with “postmodernism,” “avant-garde,” and “contemporary.” Reading several newly re-edited texts from this period, including “Diary Warmcatfur,” “Breaking Through Memory into Desire” and the transcripts for the Untitled Tapes, I argue that these early Acker experiments can reflect back the historical unease with which feminism and avant-garde textual practices collided. This interpretation of Acker’s work holds that Acker’s feminism isn’t just a radical side project of her experimentalism, but that her avant-garde innovations are the direct response to her entry into writing: an entry marked by the collision between history and female-identified embodiment.
Requiem: Aching for Acker
Authors: Mare Aline
Published: October 2023

Requiem: Aching for Acker (2018) is a body of work that is directly inspired by “Requiem” (1997), the last piece of writing by counterculture writer Kathy Acker, a friend of mine—on and off—for decades. It was published as part of an opera in London. A risk-taker and literary outlaw subversive, Acker was a hybrid of punk, postmodernism, feminism, and critical theory in her public identity as well as in her literary works. She died of breast cancer on November 30, 1997 at the age of 53, after a double mastectomy and turning her back on Western medicine. I was deeply moved to be a close friend to her in her final days. My series of photo-based multimedia works is an interpretation of the final poem in the opera, where Acker filters her cancer diagnosis through Greek mythology. Using a mix of alternative processes and technology, I weave nature-based iconography from other of my recent bodies of work: roots, seeds, fossils, and lichen fused together with actual artifacts of Acker’s. I use images of the body: with scars from survivors of breast cancer and from ancient tombstones, whose age and weathered surfaces add pathos to the stone hands and wings of angels. The imagery is suspended in a dense atmosphere of chromatic gradients, in a space full of subjectivity, memory and pain—an emotion-filled realm of magic and myth.
My Film Variety and Working with Kathy Acker
Authors: Gordon Bette
Published: October 2023

Bette Gordon recalls the creation of her film Variety and her collaboration with Kathy Acker. She refers to the vibrant NYC art scene of the early ’80s and reflects on the transgressive essence of Christine, her main character, as she tests the limits of conventional morality and appropriates the “male gaze.”
Kathy Acker’s Gift
Authors: Texier Catherine
Published: October 2023

On the occasion of a public marathon reading in New York of Kathy Acker’s Blood and Guts in High School in which she participated, the writer Catherine Texier recalls how she discovered the work of Kathy Acker when she first arrived in New York from her native France in the early 80’s. Later she attended Acker’s powerful and provocative performances and got to know her. In this essay Texier pays homage to Acker’s bold and free voice, and to the way she mixed appropriation, plagiarism, cut-up techniques inherited from Burroughs, like the true punk that she was. She also connects Acker’s work to that of French women writers often grouped in the movement of auto-fiction, like Camille Laurens, Christine Angot, Annie Ernaux and Catherine Cusset.
Enhancing Techno Economic Efficiency of FTC Distillation Using Cloud-Based Stochastic Algorithm
Authors: Haksoro Toto , Aisjah Aulia Siti , Sreerakuvandana  , Rahaman Mosiur , Biyanto Totok Ruki
Published: October 2023

A liquefied petroleum gas plant facility (LPGPF) is a series of binary distillation columns used to separate natural gas into four alkanes: ethane, propane, butane, and pentane. The conventional distillation column design consists of three binary distillation columns and six heat exchangers to perform the process. Each heat exchanger consumes immense energy to heat up the reboiler and condense the distillate. There are several process technologies that can minimize distillation column energy consumption. In this research, a fully thermally coupled distillation column (FTCDC) was proposed to minimize energy consumption by reducing the number of heat exchangers and tray columns. An FTCDC has the capability to reduce capital expenditure, operational expenditure, and total annual cost (TAC). The complexity of the FTCDC arises from its process integration. In each column, the intersection composition depends on complex mass and energy balances at the column inlet and outlet and each tray. Process integration, including material recycling and heat recovery, increases the complexity significantly. Moreover, the decision variables are multi-intersection composition for each column to achieve optimum objective function, increasing the number and complexity of the computational load such that effective stochastic optimization algorithms are required. The proposed method was designed using a rigorous vapor liquid equilibrium (VLE) FTCDC model and incorporated with recent stochastic optimization algorithms, such as a genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization (PSO), an imperialist competitive algorithm, and a duelist algorithm, to determine hydrocarbon composition in the FTCDC intersection. To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the FTCDC optimization design, cloud computing was utilized. The result was compared with conventional methods such as Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland, a Fenske-Underwood-Gilliland modification, and VLE. The optimization objective function is to minimize TAC with hydrocarbon composition in the FTCDC intersection as decision variables. The optimization using the VLE-PSO method reduces TAC up to 26.28%. All designs were validated using a rigorous model with Aspen HYSYS commercial software. This study's primary goal is to improve the performance of FTCDCs using stochastic algorithms and cloud-based computing capacity. The large amount of computation is handled by cloud-based computing resources, enabling reliability and durability.
Mining and Analysis of the Traffic Information Situation in the South China Sea Based on Satellite AIS Data
Authors: Pu Tianyu
Published: October 2023

The loading of Automatic Identification System equipment on low-orbiting satellites can adapt to the demand of exchanging data and information with greater “capacity” brought by the AIS data information of ships in deep waters that cannot be covered by land-based stations. The information in the satellite AIS data contains a large number of potential features of ship activities, and by selecting the ship satellite AIS data of typical months in the South China Sea in 2020. Data mining, geographic information system, and traffic flow theory are used to visualize and analyze the ship activities in the South China Sea. The study shows that the distribution of ship routes in the South China Sea is highly compatible with the recommended routes of merchant ships, and the width of the track belt is obviously characterized. The number of ships passing through the southern waters of the Taiwan Strait has increased significantly, and the focus of traffic safety in the South China Sea should also focus on major route belt and important straits.
Analysis of English Translation of Corpus Based on Blockchain
Authors: Zhang Aiping , Zhu Xiaowei
Published: October 2023

Blockchain technology can create a shared platform for English translation and reserve a large number of practical corpus resources, thus improving the quality of machine translation. This paper first introduces the research status of foreign language corpus and blockchain English translation in China. Then it introduces the basic principles of BPNN and particle swarm optimization and constructs the PSO-BP model. Experiments show that the prediction accuracy of BPNN optimized by particle swarm optimization algorithm is greatly improved, the convergence speed is faster, and it will not fall into the local optimal trap. Finally, this paper proposes the implementation path of blockchain in corpus translation application: (1) build “blockchain+ AI” English translation corpus and (2) improve the machine English translation software of the “blockchain+ AI” English translation training platform.
Effect of Treatment and Incineration Temperature on Extraction of Silica from Rice Husk for Cement Replacement in Concrete
Authors: Azlan Nur Izzah , Farhan Syed Ahmad , Wahab Mohamed Mubarak Abdul , Husna Nadzhratul , Hamka Nur Aqila Mohd , Abd Razak Siti Nooriza
Published: October 2023

Utilization of rice husk ash (RHA) as a pozzolanic material is a viable solution for reducing air pollution that is caused by open incineration of rice husk. Treatment of the rice husk with high-concentration acid and subsequently subjecting the treated rice husk to controlled incineration at high temperature can produce RHA that contains silica of a high purity, which can contribute to a high pozzolanic reactivity of concrete. However, the dependence of high-concentration acid and high incineration temperature will have an adverse effect on the environment. Therefore, in the present study, effect of treatment and incineration temperature on extraction of silica from RHA was investigated by conducting analytical and compressive strength tests on concrete samples. Raw and treated rice husks were incinerated for an hour at 400, 500 and 600°C to produce untreated and treated RHA, respectively. Hydrothermal synthesis was performed to execute gelation of silica from the RHA. The silica gel was converted into powder and then incorporated into concrete mixes for preparation of samples. The samples comprise the control sample, which does not contain any of the silica extracted from the RHA, and those that contain 5% silica from the untreated and treated RHA. Findings indicate that the treatment was necessary to produce concrete with adequate compressive strength relative to that of conventional concrete. Incorporation of 5% silica from treated RHA at the incineration temperature of 600°C resulted in the highest compressive strength of 6.44 MPa, which is an increase of 8.5% from that of the conventional concrete.
Compressive and Splitting Tensile Strengths of Coconut-Coir-Fibre-Reinforced Concrete: Effect of Fibre Volume
Authors: Jaleel Faiyaz Ahmed Allif Imran , Wahab Mohamed Mubarak Abdul , Farhan Syed Ahmad , Abd Razak Siti Nooriza , Husna Nadzhratul
Published: October 2023

In light of the issues pertaining to the rising cost of raw materials and depleting natural resources resulting from the production of conventional construction materials, as well as that pertaining to disposal of wastes in the agricultural industry, reinforcement of concrete with organic fibres has to be further explored. Coconut coir fibre is an organic fibre that has a high tensile strength and can potentially be employed in fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC). In view of the potential of employing coconut coir fibre in FRC, in the present study, effect of fibre volume on compressive and splitting tensile strengths of coconut‑coir‑FRC was investigated. Four mix designs with varying fibre volume, which comprises 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% by volume of cement were adopted for preparation of concrete samples. Compressive and splitting tensile strength tests were performed on the samples. Compressive strength tests were conducted at 7 and 28 days of curing, while splitting tensile strength tests were conducted at 28 days of curing. Addition of fibre has increased the compressive strength and the maximum compressive strength of 33.83 MPa was obtained at fibre volume of 1.5%. The splitting tensile strength increased from 2.434 to 2.750 MPa as fibre volume was increased from 0.0 to 1.0% but, as fibre volume was further increased to 1.5%, the splitting tensile strength reduced to 2.699 MPa. Bridging activity of the fibres across the cracks effectively restricts crack development and contributes towards increasing the strength of coconut-coir-FRC samples.
Effect of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in Development of Green Roller Compacted Concrete
Authors: Yaseen Mohammed Hazim , Hashim Syed Fuad Saiyid , Dawood Eethar Thanon , Megat Johari Megat Azmi
Published: October 2023

This paper aims to find out the possibility of development Green Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) by using local materials and study the behavior of RCC properties by adding different amounts of solid waste (Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) as volume fraction of cement content). To achieve this aims; Three laboratory tests were applied; Density, Compressive strength, and Flexural strength, that conducted to show the changes in the properties of concrete with existence of PET in the mixture. an approach for adding the PET in the concrete mixture. ranging from 1.0 % to 3.0 % with the variation of 1.0 %. Therefore, Three concrete mixtures was prepared to study the affect of adding (1.0 – 3.0 ) % of PET as volume fraction of cement content. On the other hand, one additional mixture designed without any inclusion of PET to be considered as a reference mixture. It can be observed in general from of the results that the increase in the percentage of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in the mix leads to decrease in the compressive strength to 15 %. Results show that The use of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) would enhance the flexural strength of LWAC to 69.4 %.
Polynapthalene Sulfonate Superplasticizer for Oil well Cementing: Effect on Compressive Strength
Authors: Zulkarnain Nurul Nazmin , Hamid Afif Izwan A. , Shafiq Nasir , Kamizan Noraini , Habarudin Mohd Firdaus
Published: October 2023

A superplasticizer or dispersant acts as a friction reducer to enhance the rheological properties of cement slurry, thereby eliminating the need for high pump pressure to pump the viscous slurry behind the casing. Polynaphthalene sulfonate (PNS) is a common dispersant for well cement; however, with the emergence of geopolymer technology for oil wells, the application of PNS in the industry has yet to be investigated. The focus of the research is to examine the influences of PNS on the early, medium, and final compressive strength of geopolymer cement cured at 3000 psi and 100 °C with PNS concentration ranging from 0.0 to 2.0 by weight of fly ash (bwof %). The findings show that PNS can increase the 8-hour compressive strength of geopolymer cement, but it can decrease the 24-hour compressive strength. However, only the sample with the highest concentration of PNS exhibits better compressive strength than the control sample at 48 hours. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the compressive strength of geopolymer cement with PNS increases with a longer curing duration. It is advisable to run a prediction plot to determine the optimum concentration that can result in high compressive strength for 8, 24 and 48 hours.
Extraction of Silica from Sugarcane Bagasse Ash for Cement Replacement in Concrete: Effect of Treatment and Burning Temperature
Authors: Hamka Nur Aqila Mohd , Husna Nadzhratul , Farhan Syed Ahmad , Wahab Mohamed Mubarak Abdul , Azlan Nur Izzah , Shafiq Nasir , Abd Razak Siti Nooriza
Published: October 2023

Increasing amounts of agricultural and industrial wastes have prompted researchers to re‑use the wastes as prospective cement replacement materials. Sugarcane bagasse is an agricultural waste that is widely available as a by-product of sugar and ethanol industries. As sugarcane bagasse possesses a high pozzolanic reactivity owing to its high silica content, the potential of extracting silica from sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) for cement replacement has to be explored. In the present study, analytical and compressive strength tests were performed on concrete samples to determine the effect of replacing cement with silica extracted from SCBA. Influences of treatment and burning temperature for conversion of sugarcane bagasse to SCBA on the analytical and compressive strength test results were also investigated. Raw and treated bagasse were burned in a muffle furnace for one hour at 600, 700 and 800°C to produce untreated and treated SCBA, respectively. Hydrothermal synthesis was performed on the SCBA for extraction of silica gel. Three types of concrete samples were prepared, which are the control sample that does not contain any cement replacement material and samples that contain 5% silica from untreated and treated SCBA. Compressive strength tests were performed on the samples after seven days of curing. Findings indicate that treatment of the bagasse was essential to produce SCBA of adequate silica content that can improve the compressive strength of the concrete. The increase in compressive strength is at its highest at the burning temperature of 700°C, where a change of +8.05% was achieved.
Graphene-Enhanced Cement Mortar as a Repair Material for Concrete: Effect on Compressive Strength
Authors: Lim Yue Sheng , Farhan Syed Ahmad , Shafiq Nasir , Ismail Fouad Ismail , Husna Nadzhratul
Published: October 2023

Cracks could develop and propagate into the full depth of concrete, if disregarded. Repair of the concrete can be performed by filling the cracks with cement mortar as a repair material. With the advent of graphene, which is a nano-material that possesses remarkable properties, a graphene‑enhanced nano-cement composite can potentially be employed as a repair material for concrete. Effect of incorporating graphene nanoplatelets (GnP) into cement mortar at contents of 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1 wt.% of GnP to total weight of cement on repair performance was investigated. Cylindrical concrete samples with a strength grade of 35 MPa were prepared and cured for 3, 7 and 28 days. The samples were cracked by subjecting them to compressive loading until failure. The mortar was then employed to repair the cracked samples. Compressive strengths of the sample before and after repair were recorded. Findings reveal that the graphene‑enhanced cement mortar was more aggressive in retaining as much compressive strength of the concrete as possible after crack and repair than plain cement mortar. However, concrete that was repaired with graphene-enhanced mortar was not able to retain the initial compressive strength. Nonetheless, the GnP content of 0.02 wt.% resulted in the best repair performance.
United airways disease among florists
Authors: Akpinar-Elci Muge , Elci Omur Cinar , Odabasi Aygul
Published: October 2023

Previously we observed an excess risk for occupational asthma among florists with rhinitis. To further evaluate the link between upper and lower airways, we investigated united airways disease in the same occupational group. Occupational history, symptoms and atopy were investigated among 128 florists. Age-, smoking-, and gender-adjusted risks were calculated using logistic regression models comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. The prevalence of work-related rhinitis symptoms was 13.3%, conjunctivitis symptoms and asthma-like symptoms were 14.1%. We observed an excess risk of work-related asthma symptoms among florists with work-related conjunctivitis (OR: 8.5, 95% CI: 2.4-29.9) and rhinitis (OR: 13.1, 95% CI: 3.0- 58.0). Florists with positive allergen skin test for flower mix were 13.0 times more likely to have work-related rhinitis and 12.5 times more likely to have work-related conjunctivitis. The observed relationship between work-related asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis is supportive of the concept of the united airways disease.
Drug-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease in a patient treated with a combination of palbociclib and fulvestrant
Authors: Licata Maria Angela Vittoria , Porro Lucia Maria , Sgalla Giacomo , Richeldi Luca
Published: October 2023

A 59-year-old patient without a history of pulmonary disease presented with episodes of hemoptysis and acute respiratory failure after being treated for metastatic breast cancer with fulvestrant and palbociclib. The high-resolution chest CT revealed diffuse ground glass opacities and diffuse smooth thickening of the interlobular septa and peribronchovascular interstitium, consistent with drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DIILD). A few days of high-dose steroid treatment increased the patient's PaO2/FiO2 from 75 to 200. Following hospital discharge, the oncologist resumed fulvestrant therapy, with no further adverse events occurring during subsequent follow-up.
Evaluation of inflammation by level of Interleukin 4 in exhaled breath condensate in patients affected by bronchial asthma treated according to GINA guidelines
Authors: Valerio Giuseppe , Bracciale Pierluigi , Valerio Fabio
Published: October 2023

GINA guidelines suggest that optimal asthma control can be gained by regular monitoring of symptoms, rescue medication use, airways obstruction and variability upon time of airways flows. Our aim was to check if therapy according to GINA rules is able to lower airways inflammation, measured by the level of IL4 in expired breath condensate (EBC). One hundred patients affected by bronchial asthma in different levels were recruited as they come to the ambulatory ward. They were cured according to GINA guidelines for one year, using inhaled fluthicasone as inhaled steroid. Symptoms were monitored by asthma control test score (ACT), airways obstruction by FEV1, bronchial reactivity by PD20, airways inflammation by IL4 in EBC. ACT showed complete control in the first three GINA levels, improving incompletely in the GINA level 4 (from 20±2 to 21±12; from 17±2 to 22±2; from 14±4 to 18±3; from 10±3 to 14±3 units respectively in the first to fourth levels of asthma). FEV1 improved, but both baseline and after therapy levels were worst in severe persistent asthma (from 96±5 to 96±4; from 92±6 to 93±3; from 74±6 to 83±8; from 45±10 to 60±5% of normal standards respectively from the 1st to 4th level). PD20 and IL4 were fairly normalized by therapy in the s and third levels, improved in the last one (PD20 from 437±329 to 460±269, from 364±308 to >1600, from 436±252 to 890±220; from 45±25 to 60±40 mcg respectively, IL4 in EBC from 60±6 to 40±12, from 65±10 to 41±9, from 72±8 to 45±6, from 78±20 to 52±5 respectively). IL4 and PD20 were significantly related. Experimental data allowed the assessment of the correlation of inflammation with bronchial reactivity and the relevance of addressing therapy upon IL4. Severe persistent asthma behave as a different entity with worst baseline inflammation, partially refractory asthma and persistent inflammation, needing specific immunologic weapons. Bronchial inflammation was fairly reduced but not normalized after one year of therapy.
Psoas muscle tuberculosis in Greece: report of two cases
Authors: Grigorakos Leonidas , Sgountzos Vassilis , Simopoulou Sophia , Lazarescu Daria , Mavropanou Domenica , Georgiadou Anthi , Tamvakis Vassilis
Published: October 2023

Between January 2013 and January 2014, two patients with lower left abdominal pain were admitted to Sotiria Chest Diseases Hospital, Athens, Greece. They were diagnosed with psoas muscle tuberculosis based on the results of clinical evaluation, laboratory tests and radiological findings from chest X-rays and computed tomography. Administration of antitubercular chemotherapy reduced the inflammation, while clinical symptoms significantly improved within the first three weeks. Patients were discharged from the hospital two months later. Their follow-up consists of monthly check-ups, while continuing the anti-tuberculosis treatment successfully. We underline the importance of keeping a high suspicion of muscle tuberculosis in patients with psoas abscess, which, although not a seldom phenomenon, it should be taken into consideration as an etiology of muscular disease not only in regions where tuberculosis is endemic but also in countries with high incidence of immigrants or refugees originating from such areas.
Epidemiology of interstitial lung disease in Palestine: first national data
Authors: Yamin Hasan S. , Alastal Amro Y. , Bakri Izzedin
Published: October 2023

Significant progress has been made in recent years in understanding the epidemiology of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) across the world, but the amount of information available is still small compared to other respiratory diseases like obstructive lung diseases or lung cancer. In this study we tried to explore the epidemiology of ILD in a virgin area of the world (Palestine), by describing a retrospectively collected cohort of newly diagnosed ILD cases in a single – and the only – Pulmonology center in Palestine over two years.
Lactic acid bacteria from artisanal raw goat milk cheeses: technological properties and antimicrobial potential
Authors: Nunes Silva Beatriz , Fernandes Nathália , Carvalho Laís , Faria Ana Sofia , Teixeira José António , Rodrigues Carina , Gonzales-Barron Ursula , Cadavez Vasco
Published: October 2023

In cheese-making, a starter culture composed of adequately chosen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) may be suitable to ensure the rapid acidification of milk, improve textural and sensorial characteristics, and avoid pathogen proliferation. In this work, 232 LAB isolates collected from artisanal goat’s raw milk cheeses produced in Portugal were evaluated for their antimicrobial capacity (at 10 and 37°C), as well as their acidifying and proteolytic properties. Among the 232 isolates, at least 98% of those isolated in De Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) agar presented antagonism against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, or Staphylococcus aureus, whereas less than 28.1% of M17-isolated LAB showed antagonism against these pathogens. M17-isolated LAB displayed better results than MRS ones in terms of acidifying capacity. As for the proteolytic assay, only two MRS isolates showed casein hydrolysis capacity. Principal component analyses and molecular characterization of a subset of selected isolates were conducted to identify those with promising capacities and to correlate the identified LAB genera and species with their antimicrobial, acidifying, and/or proteolytic properties. Lactococcus strains were associated with the highest acidifying capacity, whereas Leuconostoc and Lacticaseibacillus strains were more related to antimicrobial capacities. Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus lactis, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei were the predominant organisms found. The results of this work highlight various strains with pathogen inhibition capacity and suitable technological properties to be included in a customized starter culture. As future work, it is necessary to appropriately define the starter culture and implement it in the cheese-making process to evaluate if the in-vitro capacities are observable in a real food system.
A clinical case of late diagnosis of PAP with good response to whole lung lavage
Authors: Cardone Maria , Capitelli Ludovica , Squillante Francesco , Ricciardiello Filippo , Bocchetti Marco , Mirizzi Angela Irene , Russo Giuseppe , Perna Francesco
Published: October 2023

Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) is a rare syndrome characterized by the accumulation of surfactant in alveoli and terminal airways resulting in respiratory failure. PAP comprises part of a spectrum of disorders of surfactant homeostasis (clearance and production). We describe the case of a 54 years-old woman hospitalized in March 2017 with diagnosis of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to pulmonary interstitial disease. In our case, the patient arrived at our observation after developing a severe respiratory insufficiency although a long term history of respiratory symptoms. This diagnostic delay suggests that alveolar proteinosis should always be considered as a possible diagnosis in patients with dyspnea, cough and crazy paving at HRTC. In spite of this the disease resolved with a cycle of total lung lavage and the symptomatology has improved with the resolution of the radiological picture without any other therapeutic approach.