bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Agility in Pre-Adolescent Basketball: A Comparative Analysis of CODAT, IAT, and RAT
Authors: Deliceoğlu Gökhan , İbiş Okan , Tortu Erkan
Published: April 2024

Background: In basketball, agility is essential, characterized by the ability to change direction swiftly and accelerate. Traditional tests like the Illinois Agility Test (IAT) and the Reactive Agility Test (RAT) may not fully capture the agility demands specific to basketball. Purpose: This study aimed to introduce the Change of Direction and Acceleration Test (CODAT), designed specifically for young basketball players. It evaluates CODAT’s effectiveness by comparing it with IAT and RAT through comprehensive analysis. Methods: We assessed 87 pre-adolescent male basketball players, aged 9 to 13 years, with an average biological age of 11.2 years and an average estimated Peak Height Velocity (PHV) of 12.5 ± 0.5 years, using CODAT, IAT, and RAT. We employed regression analysis and the Bland–Altman method to determine CODAT’s reliability and validity. Results: The findings indicate that CODAT offers superior reliability and validity in measuring basketball-specific agility. Consistent scores highlight its potential as an effective tool for agility assessment in basketball training and talent identification. Conclusions: CODAT represents a significant advancement in agility assessment for young basketball players, advocating for its integration into sports science practices to better address the specialized demands of basketball agility.
Histological Bone-Healing Evaluation of Critical-Size Defects Filled with β-Tricalcium Phosphate in Rat Tibiae
Authors: Vasques Ana Maria Veiga , Bueno Carlos Roberto Emerenciano , Guimarães Maria Rosa Felix de Souza Gomide , Valentim Diego , da Silva Ana Cláudia Rodrigues , Benetti Francine , Santos João Miguel Marques , Cintra Luciano Tavares Angelo , Dezan Junior Eloi
Published: April 2024

Bone defects may be a result of different pathologies and represent a challenge in different fields of dentistry. Techniques for the correction of bone defects involving the use of several types of grafts have been proposed. This study evaluated bone repair in rat tibiae after surgically created critical-size defects were filled with β-tricalcium phosphate (RTR®, Septodont, FR). Critical-size bone defects were created in the tibiae of 32 male Wistar rats, which were divided into four groups (n = 8): Control 30 days, Control 90 days, RTR® 30 days, and RTR® 90 days. After the experimental period, the animals were euthanized and specimens were collected, embedded in paraffin, serially cut, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to evaluate the inflammatory and repair response. Two parameters were analyzed: neoformed bone tissue areas (NBA) and neoformed cortical areas (NCA). Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). The RTR® group demonstrated superior bone healing compared with the control group in both analyzed parameters (NBA and NCA), with repair of the cortical bone and bone-tissue formation in the central region of the defect, which showed partial repair in the defect area (p < 0.05). RTR® enhanced bone neoformation in the adopted experimental model and may be a useful biomaterial to boost healing in cases of critical-size bone defects.
Exploring High-Order Skeleton Correlations with Physical and Non-Physical Connection for Action Recognition
Authors: Wang Cheng , Ma Nan , Wu Zhixuan
Published: April 2024

Hypergraphs have received widespread attention in modeling complex data correlations due to their superior performance. In recent years, some researchers have used hypergraph structures to characterize complex non-pairwise joints in the human skeleton and model higher-order correlations of the human skeleton. However, traditional methods of constructing hypergraphs based on physical connections ignore the dependencies among non-physically connected joints or bones, and it is difficult to model the correlation among joints or bones that are highly correlated in human action but are physically connected at long distances. To address these issues, we propose a skeleton-based action recognition method for hypergraph learning based on skeleton correlation, which explores the effects of physically and non-physically connected skeleton information on accurate action recognition. Specifically, in this paper, spatio-temporal correlation modeling is performed on the natural connections inherent in humans (physical connections) and the joints or bones that are more dependent but not directly connected (non-physical connection) during human actions. In order to better learn the hypergraph structure, we construct a spatio-temporal hypergraph neural network to extract the higher-order correlations of the human skeleton. In addition, we use an attentional mechanism to compute the attentional weights among different hypergraph features, and adaptively fuse the rich feature information in different hypergraphs. Extensive experiments are conducted on two datasets, NTU-RGB+D 60 and Kinetics-Skeleton, and the results show that compared with the state-of-the-art skeleton-based methods, our proposed method can achieve an optimal level of performance with significant advantages, providing a more accurate environmental perception and action analysis for the development of embodied intelligence.
Prediction of Ground Vibration Velocity Induced by Long Hole Blasting Using a Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Xie Lianku , Yu Qinglei , Liu Jiandong , Wu Chunping , Zhang Guang
Published: April 2024

Obtaining accurate basic parameters for long hole blasting is challenging, and the resulting vibration damage significantly impacts key surface facilities. Predicting ground vibration velocity accurately and mitigating the harmful effects of blasting are crucial aspects of controlled blasting technology. This study focuses on the prediction of ground vibration velocity induced by underground long hole blasting tests. Utilizing the fitting equation based on the US Bureau of Mines (USBM) formula as a baseline for predicting peak particle velocity, two machine learning models suitable for small sample data, Support Vector Regression (SVR) machine and Random Forest (RF), were employed. The models were optimized using the particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) to predict peak particle velocity with multiple parameters specific to long hole blasting. Mean absolute error (MAE), mean Squared error (MSE), and coefficient of determination (R2) were used to assess the model predictions. Compared with the fitting equation based on the USBM model, both the Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Random Forest (RF) models accurately and effectively predict peak particle velocity, enhancing prediction accuracy and efficiency. The SVR model exhibited slightly superior predictive performance compared to the RF model.
Deep Learning-Based Approach for Optimizing Urban Commercial Space Expansion Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Yang Dawei , Zhao Jiahui , Xu Ping
Published: April 2024

Amid escalating urbanization, devising rational commercial space layouts is a critical challenge. By leveraging machine learning, this study used a backpropagation (BP) neural network to optimize commercial spaces in Weinan City’s central urban area. The results indicate an increased number of commercial facilities with a trend of multi-centered agglomeration and outward expansion. Based on these findings, we propose a strategic framework for rational commercial space development that emphasizes aggregation centers, development axes, and spatial guidelines. This strategy provides valuable insights for urban planners in small- and medium-sized cities in the Yellow River Basin and metropolitan areas, ultimately showcasing the power of machine learning in enhancing urban planning.
Computational Fluid Dynamics–Discrete Phase Method Simulations in Process Engineering: A Review of Recent Progress
Authors: Yang Xiaolian , Xi Te , Qin Yebo , Zhang Hui , Wang Yongwei
Published: April 2024

Complex fluid–solid systems generally exist in process engineering. The cognition of complex flow systems depends on numerical and experimental methods. The computational fluid dynamics–discrete phase method simulation based on coarsening technology has potential application prospects in industrial-scale equipment. This review outlines the computational fluid dynamics–discrete phase method and its application in several typical types of process engineering. In the process research, more attention is paid to the dense condition and multiphase flow. Furthermore, the CFD-DPM and its extension method for comprehensive hydrodynamics modeling are introduced. Subsequently, the current challenges and future trends of the computational fluid dynamics–discrete phase method are proposed.
A Generalization of the First Tits Construction
Authors: Moran Thomas , Pumpluen Susanne
Published: April 2024

Let F be a field of characteristic, not 2 or 3. The first Tits construction is a well-known tripling process to construct separable cubic Jordan algebras, especially Albert algebras. We generalize the first Tits construction by choosing the scalar employed in the tripling process outside of the base field. This yields a new family of non-associative unital algebras which carry a cubic map, and maps that can be viewed as generalized adjoint and generalized trace maps. These maps display properties often similar to the ones in the classical setup. In particular, the cubic norm map permits some kind of weak Jordan composition law.
Magnetic Characterization of MR Fluid by Means of Neural Networks
Authors: Kowol Paweł , Lo Sciuto Grazia , Brociek Rafał , Capizzi Giacomo
Published: April 2024

Magnetorheological and electrorheological fluids manifest a change in rheological behavior when subjected to a magnetic or electric field, respectively, such that they require electrical and magnetic characterization. In this paper, a simple and accurate mathematical model based on a small number of parameters provides the relative magnetic permeability of magnetorheological fluids as a function of the applied magnetic field. Furthermore, for the testing and magnetic characterization of magnetorheological fluids, a new metering equipment setup is implemented. Starting with the achieved experimental data, the mathematical relation μr=f(B) is represented by means of a radial basis function neural network, with neurons having a Gaussian activation function; by means of post-training pruning procedures, the trained neural network is applied using the proposed data. Therefore, the obtained mathematical relation μr=f(B) is in good agreement with the experimental data, with an approximate error of 8%.
Recent Advances in Synthesis and Interaction of Speech, Text, and Vision
Authors: Orynbay Laura , Razakhova Bibigul , Peer Peter , Meden Blaž , Emeršič Žiga
Published: April 2024

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the conversion of images into audio descriptions. This is a field that lies at the intersection of Computer Vision (CV) and Natural Language Processing (NLP), and it involves various tasks, including creating textual descriptions of images and converting them directly into auditory representations. Another aspect of this field is the synthesis of natural speech from text. This has significant potential to improve accessibility, user experience, and the applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this article, we reviewed a wide range of image-to-audio conversion techniques. Various aspects of image captioning, speech synthesis, and direct image-to-speech conversion have been explored, from fundamental encoder–decoder architectures to more advanced methods such as transformers and adversarial learning. Although the focus of this review is on synthesizing audio descriptions from visual data, the reverse task of creating visual content from natural language descriptions is also covered. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the techniques and methodologies used in these fields and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. The study emphasizes the importance of various datasets, such as MS COCO, LibriTTS, and VizWiz Captions, which play a critical role in training models, evaluating them, promoting inclusivity, and solving real-world problems. The implications for the future suggest the potential of generating more natural and contextualized audio descriptions, whereas direct image-to-speech tasks provide opportunities for intuitive auditory representations of visual content.
Self-Switching Wireless Power Transfer System Design with Constant Current/Constant Voltage Output Features Based on LCC-LCL/S Topology
Authors: Song Tingting , Huang Wencong , Rao Tianbiao , Chang Yufang , Yan Huaicheng
Published: April 2024

To meet the demand for constant current and constant voltage charging of batteries and to increase the system output power, the LCC-LCL/S-type self-switching wireless power transfer system is proposed. The system does not require communication between the primary and secondary circuits, and its output mode is controlled by simply changing the status of two switches on the secondary side. Notably, the system satisfies the zero phase angle characteristic before and after mode switching. The parameter design method is proposed based on the circuit topology and the maximum safe current constraint. To make the output voltage fluctuation as small as possible, the optimum load switching point for the system has been designed, and its optimality has been validated by simulation. Furthermore, the switching control strategy is proposed, considering the effects of the system no-load and load short-circuit in real situations. Finally, an experimental platform was built to achieve the high efficiency output of the system with the maximum output voltage of 46.21 V, the maximum output power of 180 W, and the maximum efficiency of 93.4%, which verified the applicability of the proposed method.
Effect of Different Hydrocolloids on the Qualitative Characteristics of Fermented Gluten-Free Quinoa Dough and Bread
Authors: Di Renzo Tiziana , Trivisonno Maria Carmela , Nazzaro Stefania , Reale Anna , Messia Maria Cristina
Published: April 2024

The aim of this research was to optimize the production process of fermented gluten-free quinoa bread. To this end, the effect of different hydrocolloids on the technological, fermentative, and nutritional properties of quinoa-based gluten-free doughs and breads was evaluated. For this purpose, 3% of four different hydrocolloids (sodium alginate, k-carrageenan, xanthan gum, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)) were used in gluten-free doughs composed of 50% quinoa flour, 20% rice flour, and 30% potato starch. The rheological and fermentative properties of the doughs were evaluated, as well as the chemical composition, specific volume, crust and crumb color, and alveolar structure profile of gluten-free breads. The results highlighted the differences in dough rheology during mixing and fermentation of the doughs. In particular, HPMC showed a good gas retention (93%) during the fermentation of quinoa dough by registering the highest maximum dough development height (Hm). The gluten-free quinoa breads obtained were characterized by significantly different quality parameters (p < 0.05). The use of 3% HPMC resulted in breads with the lowest baking loss, the highest volume, and the most open crumb structure.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Nasopharyngeal Endoscopic Resection and Skull Base Reconstruction
Authors: Rondi Paolo , Ravanelli Marco , Rampinelli Vittorio , Hussain Intan Zariza , Ramanzin Marco , Di Meo Nunzia , Borghesi Andrea , Tomasoni Michele , Schreiber Alberto , Mattavelli Davide , Piazza Cesare , Farina Davide
Published: April 2024

Background: Postoperative imaging after nasopharyngeal endoscopic resection (NER) and skull base reconstruction is quite challenging due to the complexity of the post-surgical and regional anatomy. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we included patients treated with NER from 2009 to 2019 and submitted to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 6 and 12 months after surgery. A radiologist with 15 years of experience analyzed all MRI scans. Results: A total of 50 patients were considered in this study, 18 of whom were excluded due to imaging unavailability, and 16 of whom were not considered due to major complications and/or persistent disease. Sixteen patients were evaluated to identify the expected findings. Inflammatory changes were observed in 16/64 subsites, and regression of these changes was observed in 8/64 at 1 year. Fibrosis was observed in 5/64 subsites and was unmodified at 1 year. The nasoseptal flap showed homogeneous enhancement at 6 months (100%) and at 1 year. The temporo-parietal fascia flap (TPFF) showed a decrease in the T2- signal intensity of the mucosal layer in 57% of the patients at 1 year and a decrease in enhancement in 43%. Conclusions: Identifying the expected findings after NER and skull base reconstruction has a pivotal role in the identification of complications and recurrence.
Salvage Ablative Radiotherapy for Isolated Local Recurrence of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma following Definitive Surgery
Authors: Dee Edward Christopher , Ng Victor C. , O’Reilly Eileen M. , Wei Alice C. , Lobaugh Stephanie M. , Varghese Anna M. , Zinovoy Melissa , Romesser Paul B. , Wu Abraham J. , Hajj Carla , Cuaron John J. , Khalil Danny N. , Park Wungki , Yu Kenneth H. , Zhang Zhigang , Drebin Jeffrey A. , Jarnagin William R. , Crane Christopher H. , Reyngold Marsha
Published: April 2024

Introduction: The rate of isolated locoregional recurrence after surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) approaches 25%. Ablative radiation therapy (A-RT) has improved outcomes for locally advanced disease in the primary setting. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of salvage A-RT for isolated locoregional recurrence and examine the relationship between subsequent patterns of failure, radiation dose, and treatment volume. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all consecutive participants who underwent A-RT for an isolated locoregional recurrence of PDAC after prior surgery at our institution between 2016 and 2021. Treatment consisted of ablative dose (BED10 98–100 Gy) to the gross disease with an additional prophylactic low dose (BED10 < 50 Gy), with the elective volume covering a 1.5 cm isotropic expansion around the gross disease and the circumference of the involved vessels. Local and locoregional failure (LF and LRF, respectively) estimated by the cumulative incidence function with competing risks, distant metastasis-free and overall survival (DMFS and OS, respectively) estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method, and toxicities scored by CTCAE v5.0 are reported. Location of recurrence was mapped to the dose region on the initial radiation plan. Results: Among 65 participants (of whom two had two A-RT courses), the median age was 67 (range 37–87) years, 36 (55%) were male, and 53 (82%) had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy with a median disease-free interval to locoregional recurrence of 16 (range, 6–71) months. Twenty-seven participants (42%) received chemotherapy prior to A-RT. With a median follow-up of 35 months (95%CI, 26–56 months) from diagnosis of recurrence, 24-month OS and DMFS were 57% (95%CI, 46–72%) and 22% (95%CI, 14–37%), respectively, while 24-month cumulative incidence of in-field LF and total LRF were 28% (95%CI, 17–40%) and 36% (95%CI 24–48%), respectively. First failure after A-RT was distant in 35 patients (53.8%), locoregional in 12 patients (18.5%), and synchronous distant and locoregional in 10 patients (15.4%). Most locoregional failures occurred in elective low-dose volumes. Acute and chronic grade 3–4 toxicities were noted in 1 (1.5%) and 5 patients (7.5%), respectively. Conclusions: Salvage A-RT achieves favorable OS and local control outcomes in participants with an isolated locoregional recurrence of PDAC after surgical resection. Consideration should be given to extending high-dose fields to include adjacent segments of at-risk vessels beyond direct contact with the gross disease.
Fluoroscopy-Guided Transgluteal Pudendal Nerve Block for Pudendal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Levin Danielle , Van Florcke Daniel , Schmitt Monika , Kendall Lucinda Kurzava , Patel Alopi , Doan Lisa V. , Kirpekar Meera
Published: April 2024

Background/Objective: Pudendal neuralgia is a distressing condition that presents with pain in the perineum. While a positive anesthetic pudendal nerve block is one of the essential criteria for diagnosing this condition, this block can also provide a therapeutic effect for those afflicted with pudendal neuralgia. There are multiple ways in which a pudendal nerve block can be performed. The objective of this study is to share our results and follow-up of fluoroscopy-guided transgluteal pudendal nerve blocks. Methods: This is a retrospective case series. Included were 101 patients who met four out of the five Nantes criteria (pain in the anatomical territory of the pudendal nerve, pain worsened by sitting, pain that does not wake the patient up at night, and no objective sensory loss on clinical examination) who did not respond to conservative treatment and subsequently underwent a fluoroscopy-guided transgluteal pudendal nerve block. Therapeutic success was defined as a 30% or greater reduction in pain. Success rates were calculated, and the duration over which that success was sustained was recorded. Results: For achieving at least 30% relief of pain, using worst-case analysis, the success rate at two weeks was 49.4% (95% CI: 38.5%, 60.3%). In addition to pain relief, patients experienced other therapeutic benefits, such as reductions in medication use and improvements in activities of daily living. Conclusions: Fluoroscopy-guided transgluteal pudendal nerve block appears to be effective in patients who have pudendal neuralgia that is resistant to conservative therapy, with good short-term success.
Chronic E. Coli Drug-Resistant Cystitis Treated with a Sequence of Modulated Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields: A Randomized Study of 148 Cases
Authors: D’Agostino Ivan , Marelli F.
Published: April 2024

(1) Background: This study investigated the effects of sequenced electromagnetic fields, modulated at extremely low frequencies and intensities, in the treatment of drug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli)-induced chronic bacterial cystitis. (2) Methods: A total of 148 female participants, aged 18 to 80 years diagnosed with chronic bacterial cystitis caused by drug-resistant E. coli, were recruited for this study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group (n = 74) with osteopathic palpation and assessment treated with a sequence of electromagnetic fields, and a control group (n = 74) receiving a placebo treatment. Both groups were assessed at this study’s outset, 4 weeks after eight applications, and at 12 weeks for symptomatic presentation and laboratory parameters. (3) Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, a significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding D-DIMER levels, IL-6 levels, erythrocyte levels, leukocyte levels, and E. coli levels (p < 0.001). By the 12th week, the experimental group continued to exhibit a significant reduction in the examined parameters compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Additionally, the treatment did not induce any side effects in the patients in the experimental group. (4) Conclusions: Treatment with coherently sequenced electromagnetic fields, modulated at an extremely low frequency and intensity, not only appears to provide an effective alternative for the symptoms of chronic bacterial cystitis caused by drug-resistant E. coli but also demonstrates a potent antibacterial effect.
Effect of Wear on Alternating Bending Fatigue Life of 20CrNi2Mo Martensitic Steel
Authors: Qin Xinmao , Liu Xixia , Huang Huaze , Yin Cunhong
Published: April 2024

Bending fatigue failures are commonly related to the wear behavior in an active system. The surface wear and plastic deformation of the tribolayer play crucial roles in the wear–bending fatigue behaviors of steels. In particular, the lamellar structure of martensitic steel leads to its unique wear–bending fatigue behavior. In this work, the wear–bending fatigue testing method and device were introduced to explore the wear–bending fatigue behavior of the martensitic steel. The effect of wear on the alternating bending fatigue life of 20CrNi2Mo martensitic steel was studied under low and high fatigue stress. The influence of wear debris on the fatigue life at two different sliding speeds was also analyzed. The results show that the fatigue life decreased with the wear load increased under high bending stress. Moreover, for systems with nanoscale wear debris on the steel surface, the wear–bending fatigue lifetimes are significantly enhanced compared with large wear debris.
A Theory of Functional Connections-Based hp-Adaptive Mesh Refinement Algorithm for Solving Hypersensitive Two-Point Boundary-Value Problems
Authors: Drozd Kristofer , Furfaro Roberto , D’Ambrosio Andrea
Published: April 2024

This manuscript introduces the first hp-adaptive mesh refinement algorithm for the Theory of Functional Connections (TFC) to solve hypersensitive two-point boundary-value problems (TPBVPs). The TFC is a mathematical framework that analytically satisfies linear constraints using an approximation method called a constrained expression. The constrained expression utilized in this work is composed of two parts. The first part consists of Chebyshev orthogonal polynomials, which conform to the solution of differentiation variables. The second part is a summation of products between switching and projection functionals, which satisfy the boundary constraints. The mesh refinement algorithm relies on the truncation error of the constrained expressions to determine the ideal number of basis functions within a segment’s polynomials. Whether to increase the number of basis functions in a segment or divide it is determined by the decay rate of the truncation error. The results show that the proposed algorithm is capable of solving hypersensitive TPBVPs more accurately than MATLAB R2021b’s bvp4c routine and is much better than the standard TFC method that uses global constrained expressions. The proposed algorithm’s main flaw is its long runtime due to the numerical approximation of the Jacobians.
WaveSegNet: An Efficient Method for Scrap Steel Segmentation Utilizing Wavelet Transform and Multiscale Focusing
Authors: Zhong Jiakui , Xu Yunfeng , Liu Changda
Published: April 2024

Scrap steel represents a sustainable and recyclable resource, instrumental in diminishing carbon footprints and facilitating the eco-friendly evolution of the steel sector. However, current scrap steel recycling faces a series of challenges, such as high labor intensity and occupational risks for inspectors, complex and diverse sources of scrap steel, varying types of materials, and difficulties in quantifying and standardizing manual visual inspection and rating. Specifically, we propose WaveSegNet, which is based on wavelet transform and a multiscale focusing structure for scrap steel segmentation. Firstly, we utilize wavelet transform to process images and extract features at different frequencies to capture details and structural information in the images. Secondly, we introduce a mechanism of multiscale focusing to further enhance the accuracy of segmentation by extracting and perceiving features at different scales. Through experiments conducted on the public Cityscapes dataset and scrap steel datasets, we have found that WaveSegNet consistently demonstrates superior performance, achieving the highest scores on the mIoU metric. Particularly notable is its performance on the real-world scrap steel dataset, where it outperforms other segmentation algorithms with an average increase of 3.98% in mIoU(SS), reaching 69.8%, and a significant boost of nearly 5.98% in mIoU(MS), achieving 74.8%. These results underscore WaveSegNet’s exceptional capabilities in processing scrap steel images. Additionally, on the publicly available Cityscapes dataset, WaveSegNet shows notable performance enhancements compared with the next best model, Segformer. Moreover, with its modest parameters and computational demands (34.1 M and 322 GFLOPs), WaveSegNet proves to be an ideal choice for resource-constrained environments, demonstrating high computational efficiency and broad applicability. These experimental results attest to the immense potential of WaveSegNet in intelligent scrap steel rating and provide a new solution for the scrap steel recycling industry. These experimental results attest to the immense potential of WaveSegNet in intelligent scrap steel rating and provide a new solution for the scrap steel recycling industry.
Effect of Stevioside (Stevia rebaudiana) on Entamoeba histolytica Trophozoites
Authors: Ortega-Carballo Karla , Gil-Becerril Karla , Acosta-Virgen Karla , Casas-Grajales Sael , Muriel Pablo , Tsutsumi Víctor
Published: April 2024

Human amoebiasis still represents a major health problem worldwide. Metronidazole has been used as the most common drug to treat the disease; however, it is also known that the drug causes undesirable side effects. This has led to the search for new pharmacological alternatives which include phytochemical compounds with antiamoebic effects. We analyzed the amoebicidal activity of stevioside (STV), a diterpene glycoside present in Stevia rebaudiana, on trophozoites of E. histolytica. Different concentrations of STV were tested, and an inhibitory concentration of 50% of cell viability (IC50) was determined with an exposition of 9.53 mM for 24 h. Trophozoites exposed to STV showed morphological changes evidenced by the decrease in the basic structures related to the movement and adherence to the substrate, as well as ultrastructural features characterized by a loss of regularity on the cell membrane, an increase in cytoplasmic granularity, and an increase in apparent autophagic vacuoles. Also, the decrease in cysteine protease expression and the proteolytic activity of trophozoites to degrade the cell monolayer were analyzed. A histological analysis of hamster livers inoculated with trophozoites and treated with STV showed changes related to the granulomatous reaction of the liver parenchymal tissue. Our results constitute the first report related to the possible use of STV as a therapeutic alternative in amoebiasis.
Biochemical Responses in Populus tremula: Defending against Sucking and Leaf-Chewing Insect Herbivores
Authors: Pastierovič Filip , Kalyniukova Alina , Hradecký Jaromír , Dvořák Ondřej , Vítámvás Jan , Mogilicherla Kanakachari , Tomášková Ivana
Published: April 2024

The main biochemical traits were estimated in poplar leaves under biotic attack (aphids and spongy moth infestation). Changes in the abundance of bioactive compounds in genetically uniform individuals of European aspen (Populus tremula), such as proline, polyphenolic compounds, chlorophylls a and b, and volatile compounds, were determined between leaves damaged by sucking insects (aphid—Chaitophorus nassonowi) and chewing insects (spongy moth—Lymantria dispar) compared to uninfected leaves. Among the nine analyzed phenolic compounds, only catechin and procyanidin showed significant differences between the control leaves and leaves affected by spongy moths or aphids. GC-TOF-MS volatile metabolome analysis showed the clear separation of the control versus aphids-infested and moth-infested leaves. In total, the compounds that proved to have the highest explanatory power for aphid-infested leaves were 3-hexenal and 5-methyl-2-furanone, and for moth-infested leaves, trans-α-farnesene and 4-cyanocyclohexane. The aphid-infested leaves contained around half the amount of chlorophylls and twice the amount of proline compared to uninfected leaves, and these results evidenced that aphids influence plant physiology more than chewing insects.
Genome-Wide Identification of GAST Family Members and Their Potential Roles in Epicotyl Dormancy in Chinese Cork Oak (Quercus variabilis)
Authors: Wang Yaochen , Huang Yifei , Chen Yixin , Yu Zhaowei , Liu Puyuan , Li Guolei , Yang Qinsong
Published: April 2024

Chinese cork oak (Quercus variabilis Blume) is a widespread tree species with high economic and ecological values. Chinese cork oak exhibits epicotyl dormancy, causing emergence heterogeneity and affecting the quality of seedling cultivation. Gibberellic acid-stimulated transcript (GAST) is a plant-specific protein family that plays a crucial regulatory role in plant growth, development, and seed germination. However, their evolution in Chinese cork oak and roles in epicotyl dormancy are still unclear. Here, a genome-wide identification of the GAST gene family was conducted in Chinese cork oak. Ten QvGAST genes were identified, and nine of them were expressed in seed. The physicochemical properties and promoter cis-acting elements of the selected Chinese cork oak GAST family genes indicated that the cis-acting elements in the GAST promoter are involved in plant development, hormone response, and stress response. Germinated seeds were subjected to gibberellins (GAs), abscisic acid (ABA), and fluridone treatments to show their response during epicotyl dormancy release. Significant changes in the expression of certain QvGAST genes were observed under different hormone treatments. QvGAST1, QvGAST2, QvGAST3, and QvGAST6 exhibited upregulation in response to gibberellin. QvGAST2 was markedly upregulated during the release of epicotyl dormancy in response to GA. These findings suggested that QvGAST2 might play an important role in epicotyl dormancy release. This study provides a basis for further analysis of the mechanisms underlying the alleviation of epicotyl dormancy in Chinese cork oak by QvGASTs genes.
A Novel Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set-Based Risk Priority Number Method for Solving Chemical Experiment Risk Evaluation
Authors: Chung Hsiang-Yu , Ting Tzu-Hao , Chang Kuei-Hu
Published: April 2024

Scientific experiments cover a wide range of fields—from basic to applied scientific research. Chemical experiments are the basis for cultivating chemical knowledge in scientific experiments and are an important way to cultivate scientific thinking and methods. However, due to the toxicity or flammability of the chemical substances in the experiments, hazardous events often lead to personal injuries and environmental damage. Exactly assessing risk factors and reducing the risk of hazards to protect the experimenters and ensure environmental safety are crucial in chemical experiments. However, while the traditional risk evaluation method cannot consider the weight of risk evaluation criteria, it also cannot effectively address problems through hierarchical analysis, as well as imprecise and ambiguous information inherent in human cognition. Therefore, this paper proposed an approach based on failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to assess the risk of chemical experiments in a fuzzy information environment. The approach combines the typical analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the risk priority number (RPN) of FMEA, and the intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS) methods to evaluate risks associated with chemical experiments and consider the damage recovery in chemical experiments. This study applied the case of a university chemistry experiment, “preparation of hydrogels”, to validate the reasonableness and correctness of the proposed approach and compare its numerical verification results with those from the typical RPN, the AHP-RPN, and the AHP-fuzzy risk priority number (AHP-FRPN) methods. The finding demonstrates that the proposed method can more effectively address risk evaluation problems in chemical experiments than the other methods. This result serves as an important reference for reducing chemical experiment risk occurrences.
A Comparison of the Immunogenicity and Safety of an Additional Heterologous versus Homologous COVID-19 Vaccination among Non-Seroconverted Immunocompromised Patients after a Two-Dose Primary Series of mRNA Vaccination: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Nangsue Chatchaya , Srisurapanont Karan , Sudjaritruk Tavitiya
Published: April 2024

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the immunogenicity and safety of an additional heterologous (viral vector) versus homologous (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine dose among non-seroconverted immunocompromised patients after a two-dose primary series of mRNA vaccine. We searched studies published up to 21 June 2023 in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. The meta-analysis was conducted to compare the seropositivity rates based on anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG (anti-S IgG) and SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell immune response rates, assessed by interferon-γ release assay at 4 weeks, and the incidences of serious adverse events (SAEs) within 28 days between the two vaccine regimens. In four included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), there were no statistically significant differences in the seropositive rate of anti-S IgG (risk ratio [RR]: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.48–1.29) and the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 interferon-γ (RR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.96–1.48) between heterologous and homologous regimens. The heterologous regimen exhibited a significantly lower incidence of injection pain (RR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.45–0.69), but a higher incidence of headache (RR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.02–2.02) compared with the homologous regimen. No vaccine-related SAEs were reported within 28 days following vaccination. An additional heterologous or homologous COVID-19 vaccine dose was well tolerated and demonstrated a comparable vaccine immunogenicity among non-seroconverted immunocompromised patients who were initially vaccinated with a two-dose COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. This finding supports the recommendations of an extended primary series of COVID-19 vaccination in immunocompromised persons.
O consumo no romance Mãos de Cavalo, de Daniel Galera
Authors: Siqueira Luiz
Published: April 2024

O romance Mãos de Cavalo, de Daniel Galera, alterna seus capítulos narrando a infância, adolescência e vida adulta de seu protagonista, ressaltando os seus aspectos físicos, morais e psicológicos. Ao longo do trajeto formativo narrado, notam-se menções a marcas publicitárias extradiegéticas, isto é, não fictícias. Uma vez que, conforme Lajolo (2001), a literatura mergulha no imaginário coletivo e o fecunda, e, segundo Gregorin Filho (2011), há uma diversidade de imagens disponíveis para escolha identitária do jovem, reflete-se sobre a importância concedida ao consumo das personagens nessa obra. Com uma abordagem essencialmente bibliográfica, destaca-se o modo como essas marcas publicitárias se articulam ao texto literário, buscando compreender tais manifestações à luz de perspectivas teóricas em relação ao consumo. Conclui-se que as marcas, percebidas como extradiegéticas, acrescentam informações à narrativa; os objetos são mais que utilitários, são comunicadores. À luz dos pressupostos teóricos de Bauman (2008) e Candido (2007), entre outros, entende-se que a recorrência às marcas publicitárias extradiegéticas nesse romance utiliza a cultura material como uma via de acesso aos indivíduos, ao mesmo tempo em que imprime à obra um sentimento de verdade.
Perspectivas de desenvolvimento e a construção da identidade no território Geoparque Quarta Colônia
Authors: Rebellato Mauricio , Carvalho Luciomar de , Filho Flavi Ferreira Lisboa
Published: April 2024

Estar inserido em um determinado território não é condicionante para que os indivíduos compartilhem dos mesmos interesses, costumes e vivências daquele meio. Mas, quando isso ocorre e há uma identificação mútua, os indivíduos tendem a se agrupar, legitimando identidades, que através de uma ação coletiva, podem resultar em benefícios coletivos. Todavia, sabe-se que essas identidades são construídas através de relações de poder. Desse modo, a partir de uma revisão de literatura, discute-se neste texto a construção da identidade de indivíduos pertencentes ao território do Geoparque Mundial Unesco Quarta Colônia. Parte-se do pressuposto de que existe uma identidade territorial formada por elementos e características em comum que vinculam os indivíduos a determinados espaços geográficos. Para isso, considera-se também que os patrimônios culturais e naturais auxiliam na formação dessa identidade coletiva e podem reforçar o sentimento de pertença ao território. Ao longo do artigo, fica evidente que elementos positivos comuns ao território, como as manifestações culturais e ambientes naturais, podem construir e fortalecer uma identidade coletiva visando ao desenvolvimento sustentável. Neste sentido, a comunicação é vista não como uma ferramenta tecnicista, mas como meio articulador junto ao território, pois além de difundir a informação, cria vínculos e fortalece identidades.
The effect of planting distance on the growth and yield of sweet potato clone Arf-03 on alluvial soil
Authors: Advenia Desti , Supriyanto  , Arifin Nur
Published: April 2024

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L) is one of the alternative foods for food diversity. The need for sweet potatoes is increasing as consumption of materials and industrial raw materials have bright prospects, so various efforts are needed to increase production. One of the efforts to improve cultivation techniques to increase sweet potato production is by setting optimal planting spacing so that plant needs are met. Spacing is very closely related to nutrient absorption and photosynthesis processes, so plant growth increases. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of planting distance on the growth and yield of ARF-03 clone sweet potatoes on alluvial soils and obtain optimal planting spacing for the growth and yield of sweet potatoes. The planting distance treatment given in this study was P1 = 20 cm × 100 cm, P2 = 30 cm × 100 cm, and P3 = 40 cm × 100 cm, using RAK as a reference for the placement of experimental units. The results of the growth of ARF-03 sweet potato plants on planting distance treatment showed that planting spacing had a significant effect on the length of the main tendrils, the number of branches, the fresh weight of the plant header, the dry weight of the plant header, the weight of tubers per plant, and the weight of tubers per bed. However, it has no real effect on the variables of the number of tubers, the length of the tubers, or the diameter of the tubers. The plant reaches its highest growth rate at a distance of 40 cm × 100 cm and its highest yield at a distance of 30 cm × 100 cm, with a bulb weight of 425.75 g per plant.
Virtual Voices for Sustainable Values: Exploring Content Themes and Advocacy Strategies in the Sustainability Promotion of Virtual Influencers
Authors: Duong Hoai Lan , Tran Minh Tung
Published: April 2024

As the concept of sustainability has gained significant attention in recent years as a critical response to escalating environmental challenges and societal shifts, the influence of virtual influencers in promoting sustainability has become a focal point of inquiry. The purpose of this research is to explore the prevalent content themes utilised by virtual influencers to promote sustainability and examine the communication and advocacy strategies they employed in conveying messages related to social and environmental causes. With a qualitative approach and content analysis methodology, the study selects four virtual influencers known for advocating sustainability and analyses a dataset of 137 Instagram posts spanning two years (2022, 2023). Findings indicate that virtual influencers actively engage in advocating for wildlife and nature conservation as the most popular theme, with two distinct communication strategies identified: raising awareness by problematising threats to wildlife and showcasing the beauty of nature and conservation efforts. Additionally, the research uncovers specific tactics employed by virtual influencers, including storytelling, visual content, interactive questions, and inspiring statements, to effectively communicate and advocate for sustainability. This research contributes valuable insights to the dynamic landscape of virtual influencers’ sustainability promotion efforts on social media.
Kyjev or Kyjiv? Use of Ukrainian City Names in Slovak Media as an Expression of Solidarity
Authors: Rabina Daniel
Published: April 2024

At the time of our study, more than five hundred days had passed since the beginning of the Russian occupation of Ukraine. Given the sufficient time gap and the significant amount of media output, I can thus analyse a unique phenomenon that appeared in the Slovak media shortly after the beginning of the occupation – the appearance of previously unused variants of the names of the cities Kyjev or Kyjiv [Kyiv], Charkov or Charkiv [Kharkiv], and Ľvov or Ľviv [Lviv]. Through a quantitative analysis, we focused on media content across publishing houses N Press (Denník N), Petit Press (SME), OUR MEDIA SR (Pravda) and news portals www.tasr.sk and www.sita.sk. As a follow-up to the performed analysis, I directly confronted representatives of individual media with the findings, including ascertaining the motivations and reasons that led the editors to change, or persistence in using the original names. In the study, I also point out the phenomenon of the emerging language problem, which is already occupying the attention of linguists today.
ANALISIS KUALITAS LAYANAN LIVIN’ BY MANDIRI MENGGUNAKAN ELETRONIC SERVICE QUALITY DAN KANO (Studi Kasus : PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk, KCP Pekanbaru Panam)
Authors: Sari Tri Novita , Ahmad Nofan Hadi , Muti Asri Amalia
Published: April 2024

The increasingly rapid competition for digital services in industry 4.0 is no exception in the banking world, encouraging every bank to continue to innovate in its digital services. PT Bank Mandiri as one of the largest banks in Indonesia strives to continue to innovate in its digital services, one of which is Livin' by Mandiri which is useful for making transactions easier for customers anytime and anywhere. However, there are still customer complaints regarding the use of Livin' by Mandiri, including customers at PT Bank Mandiri KCP Pekanbaru Panam demanding quality improvements. Quality analysis of Livin' by Mandiri services using Electronic Service Quality (E-ServQual) and Kano is expected to help in improving the quality of digital services owned by Bank Mandiri. A total of 75 customers as respondents with 28 attributes/questions related to the Livin' by Mandiri, the concluded are "The login feature application with user ID and password before being used by customers for all transactions" is the main service that must be maintained, while the "Cardless Cash Withdrawal Feature Application" is a service that must be prioritized for repairs first.
Application of an Expert System with the Breadth First Search (BFS) Method in Diagnosing Areca Plant Diseases
Authors: Pane Ferry Juliandri , Rianti Eva , Marfalino Hari
Published: April 2024

Current technological developments are growing very quickly and have produced a lot of software or systems that can make things easier for humans. Continuous scientific progress drives extensive technological development. One form of information technology known is an information system. One popular type of information system is an expert system, which can be used to improve various services. An expert system is a program that combines human knowledge into a computer to help solve problems that are usually solved by experts.  This research aims to identify gaps in research that has been conducted, as well as encourage the development of new ideas and increase capabilities in utilizing existing research resources. Areca nut is a high agricultural resource so it has many benefits in the pharmaceutical industry. . The method that will be used in this research is Breadth First Search (BFS). The algorithm carries out the search process on all nodes that are at the same level or hierarchy one by one. An algorithm that performs a wide search that visits nodes in preorder, that is, visits a node first. There are 16 data on areca plant diseases here and have 33 symptoms which will be processed using the Breadth First Search Method. By diagnosing areca plant diseases using an expert system, it is hoped that we can find more in-depth information about diseases in areca palm trees.