bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategic analysis of Bayburt in terms of organic agriculture
Authors: Yıldız Pınar , Esmer Yusuf
Published: September 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study is to make a strategic analysis of Bayburt province, which has an important potential in terms of organic agriculture, in terms of organic agriculture and to develop strategies for the sector.
Design/Methodology/Approach: In the study, SWOT analysis was conducted with 25 people (engineers, civil servants, agricultural technicians, farmers and academicians) using the interview technique within the scope of qualitative research method. All SWOT analysis data obtained were subjected to content analysis and summarized into a single SWOT matrix, and strategies were developed based on the situation matrix and expert opinion.
Findings: In the study, a total of 12 strategies were developed, three for each SWOT analysis component. Some of these strategies are; conducting studies to recognize the value of organic agriculture by protecting the natural structure of the region, encouraging organic agriculture entrepreneurship and management in the region and ensuring the participation of young entrepreneurs in the sector, ensuring the establishment of cooperatives and unions operating in organic agriculture in the region, and developing policies to unify fragmented lands.
Originality/Value: This study is valuable in that the strategies developed in this research can guide provincial agriculture and forestry directorates, agricultural enterprises, managers and researchers in the strategic management of organic agriculture.
Bazı Avrupa Birliği ülkelerinin organik tarım performanslarının TOPSİS yöntemiyle değerlendirilmesi
Authors: Çukur Tayfun , Işın Ferruh
Published: September 2024

Amaç: Tüm dünya ülkelerine benzer şekilde Avrupa Birliğinde de organik tarıma önem verilmekte ve organik tarım desteklenmektedir. Avrupa Birliği ülkelerinin organik tarım potansiyelleri arasında önemli farklılıklar bulunmaktadır. Bu nedenle araştırmanın amacı, bazı Avrupa Birliği ülkelerinin belirlenen kriterler itibariyle organik tarım performanslarını karşılaştırmaktır.
Tasarım/Metodoloji /Yaklaşım: Avrupa Birliği ülkelerinin organik tarım performansları çeşitli kriterler itibariyle (organik tarım alanı, organik üretim yapan üretici sayısı vb.) değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırmada ülkelerin organik tarım performansları değerlendirilirken TOPSIS yöntemi kullanılmıştır.
Bulgular: Yapılan TOPSIS analizi sonuçlarına göre 2017-2021 dönemi itibariyle ele alınan kriterler itibariyle organik tarım performansı en yüksek ülkenin Fransa olduğu belirlenmiştir.
Özgünlük/Değer: Organik tarımın bir taraftan düşük çevresel etkiye sahip olması diğer taraftan kaliteli gıdaya odaklanması gibi özellikleri nedeniyle Avrupa Birliği ülkeleri için oldukça önemli bir tarım sistemidir. Yeşil Mutabakatın “Çiftlikten çatala” stratejisi kapsamında Avrupa Komisyonu, 2030 yılına kadar Avrupa Birliği tarım alanlarının en az %25'inde organik tarım yapılması hedefini belirlenmiştir. Her üye devlet Avrupa Yeşil Mutabakatının tarım sektörüne yönelik hedefleri çerçevesinde Ulusal Ortak Tarım Politikası Stratejisini hazırlamıştır. Ortak Tarım Politikası Stratejik Planları Ocak 2023 itibariyle uygulanmaya başlamıştır. Planlar içinde ülkelerin organik tarım üretim alanlarındaki gelişme ve bu konudaki performansları önemli bir yer almaktadır. Bu araştırmada AB ülkelerinin hazırladıkları stratejik planlar öncesinde hedefler açısından önemli olan tarım ve kırsal alanlar ve organik tarım konusundaki performanslarının hesaplanması, karşılaştırılması ve 2017- 2021 yılları arasındaki gelişimlerinin ortaya konması önemli görülmektedir.
Effectiveness of Assessment in Law Enforcement Offenses of Narcotics Abusers
Authors: Alfarisi Salman , Andini Orin Gusta , Alfian
Published: September 2024

This study aims to describe the implementation of Integrated Assessment and assess the effectiveness of the assessment of criminal acts of narcotics abuse. The research method used is normative research method, supported by field data and in-depth interviews with respondents and sources relevant to the research topic. The results showed that not all cases involving narcotics offenders were given assessment recommendations due to differences in perception among law enforcement, and the high cost of assessment. The implementation of the assessment of narcotics abusers has not been effective because its implementation has encountered various obstacles. This article recommends that a review of the legal basis for handling narcotics is needed to ensure legal certainty in the implementation of assessments and the need for the government to take a health approach in handling narcotics in Indonesia.
The role of electronic arbitration in commercial dispute resolution
Authors: Alsamara Tareck , Ghazi Farouk
Published: September 2024

The article examines the role of electronic arbitration in settling commercial disputes. The article relies on the analytical approach to study legal texts and the comparative approach to examine the rules of international law and national laws in the field of electronic arbitration. In addition, the article discusses the concept of electronic arbitration and its distinction from traditional forms of arbitration. The article also explains the legal provisions related to it, especially those related to electronic arbitration agreements. Finally, the article explains the challenges related to its implementation how to take advantage of its benefits.
Investigating the impact of digital leadership on innovation performance of public universities in Yunnan, China
Authors: Yuan Fang , Khan Muhammad Shahid
Published: September 2024

In the era of rapid technological development, the integration of technology in education has become crucial (Hashim et al., 2022). The digital transformation of education requires universities to transform their traditional operational models, strategic directions, and teaching practices, re-examine their own value propositions, and promote high-quality innovative development in universities. Transformation and change bring challenges to organizational management, especially leadership. Can digital leadership positively influence the innovative behavior of university teachers? Can digital leadership improve organizational innovation performance by influencing innovation behavior? These questions urgently need to be answered through practical surveys of digital transformation in universities. From March 2024 to May 2022, we conducted a survey of 1142 participants from 12 universities in Kunming, southwestern China. Our research findings indicate that digital leadership has a positive impact on the innovation performance of university organizations; Innovation behavior plays a mediating role between digital leadership and organizational performance. These findings provide new insights into the potential mechanisms by which digital leadership influences organizational innovation in universities. The research findings emphasize that in the process of transforming traditional operational models, strategic directions, and teaching practices in higher education, in order to achieve high-quality innovative development, it is necessary to attach importance to digital leadership and continuously stimulate innovative behavior.
Architectural Evolution of Administrative Buildings for the Lithuanian Municipalities During the Interwar Period
Authors: Vilkončius Evaldas
Published: September 2024

During the period of Lithuanian independence, which lasted from 1918 to 1940, various institutions operating in the country needed modern and suitable buildings. Thus, during the period of more than twenty years, numerous new public buildings were built for schools, hospitals, banks, and cultural institutions. In addition, there was a need to build new administrative buildings for the newly established county, city and township municipalities of the country, as there was a lack of suitable premises for them. Therefore, this article, presenting the most characteristic and typical examples, analyses the architectural evolution of the administrative buildings built for the Lithuanian municipalities during the period of independence.
Possibility of Renewable Energy Solutions Usage in Rural Areas of Western Balkans: Fuzzy-Rough Approach
Authors: Jeločnik Marko , Puška Adis , Nedeljković Miroslav , Božanić Darko , Subić Jonel
Published: September 2024

Energy production, supply and consumption are global issue with many economic, environmental and social implications. Mentioned issue is even more expressed in remote rural areas, in particular in developing countries, as are the countries of the Western Balkans (WB). Renewable energy sources (RES) could represent optimal energy alternative for sustainable performing of agricultural and other activities, as well as for improving the current state of living conditions in rural communities. The main goal of research is to mark the most suitable RES alternative (six alternatives) for wider implementation in rural space of WB. The applied methodology framework implies experts’ opinion (engagement of eight experts) and the use of multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM), (specifically fuzzy-rough LMWA and fuzzy-rough CRADIS methods) under the predefined criteria (nine criteria). Derived results show that the implementation of the solar energy plants could play an optimal solution, while as the relatively unsuitable alternative could be marked the use of energy potential of watercourses. Gained final result, i.e. ranking order of the considered alternatives is additionally verified by the appliance of other MCDM methods, while the sensitivity analysis was also performed.
Effect of Ozone on Enterobacteriaceae Counts in Wheat Grain, Alfalfa, Radish, Broccoli Seeds and Sprouts
Authors: Bernate Ilze , Sabovics Martins
Published: September 2024

The sprouts of various seeds have garnered considerable regard amid consumers due to its verdure, crispiness, and germination potential, offering a cost-effective and straightforward process. The moist and warm conditions are very conducive to germination, fostering the growth of microorganisms and thereby raising food safety concerns. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of ozone on Enterobacteriaceae counts by subjecting wheat (Triticum aestivum) grains, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), radish (Raphanus sativus) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea) seeds to ozone gas treatment. Additionally, the grain and seeds were rinsed with ozonated water during germination. Three different treatment methods were employed for seeds and grains. In the first method, samples were exposed to ozone gas at 20 ppm for 10 minutes, with subsequent rinsing every 12 hours during germination until the rinse water appeared visually clean, at a concentration of 2.0 mg L−1 of ozone. The second method involved rinsing with ozonated water at a concentration of 2.0 mg L−1 for durations of 20, 40, and 60 minutes. The third method - treated with ozone gas at 50 ppm and the exposure time of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h. Untreated samples were used as controls. Evaluation of the samples revealed that Enterobacteriaceae was virtually undetectable in dry seeds. However, after 72 hours of germination in both the control and ozone-treated sprouts and following 7 days of storage at 4±2 °C, Enterobacteriaceae were found at an average of 7 to 8.1 log CFU g−1 in all samples, irrespective of the treatment method. Additionally, mould was observed only in wheat and radish sprouts during the assessment period. The study showed that there was no significant reduction in the number of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms, moulds and Enterobacteriaceae then treated with ozone gas.
Bridging Compassion and Commerce: Veterinarians’ Ethical Dilemmas in Providing Care for Homeless Animals
Authors: Šeiko Staņislavs , Možarova Aleksandra , Ņikišins Jurijs
Published: September 2024

This research seeks to expand the in-depth knowledge on the ethical dilemmas veterinary doctors face while providing care for homeless animals, brought to clinics by volunteers. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with veterinary doctors in Latvia. The study reveals the complex emotions involved in the interactions between veterinarians and volunteers, as well as the factors affecting a veterinarian’s decision made about homeless animals. The results show a positive attitude towards the altruism of volunteers, but significant concerns around financial matters and the use of animals for fundraising. Debates about charging for stray care highlight potential disagreements between veterinarians and activists. Veterinarians prioritise education and advocacy, providing compassionate assistance to pet owners. Societal expectations strongly shape how they perceive their role, emphasising the reduction of animal suffering and the improvement of animal welfare.
Algorithm for Determination of Pepper Maturity Classes by Combination of Color and Spectral Indices
Authors: Vasilev Miroslav , Shivacheva Galya , Stoykova Vanya , Zlatev Zlatin
Published: September 2024

The aim of the present work is to propose methods and tools for classifying sweet pepper into groups according to their degree of maturity based on color and spectral characteristics extracted from color images on the surface of the vegetables. The investigated pepper is two varieties of sweet - red Banji and yellow Liri. Five groups were formed, depending on the degree of maturity, and 16 color and 11 spectral indices were calculated for each of the groups. By successively using the ReliefF and PLSR methods, a selection of informative features and subsequent reduction of the vector formed by them was carried out, thereby aiming to increase the predictive results and minimize the time for data processing. The obtained classification errors between the individual stages of ripening vary according to the type of pepper and depending on which of the two types of maturity the fruits are in - technical or biological. For red sweet pepper, the separation inaccuracy obtained using a discriminant classifier with a quadratic separation function is in the range of 8 - 19%, while for yellow it is from 5 to 23%. The results obtained in the present work for the classification of pepper into groups according to their degree of maturity would support decision-making in selective harvesting and overall more accurate and efficient management of the harvesting process from the point of view of precision agriculture. The work will continue with studies related to the prediction of various compounds indicating changes in the color of peppers, including chlorophylls, carotenes and xanthophylls. In this way, it is possible to increase the accuracy in determining the degree of ripeness, since in pepper the color does not always follow the same pattern of change from green to yellow to orange to red.
Exploring Intestinal Permeability: Concept, Diagnosis, Connection to Bowel Disease, and Iron Deficiency
Authors: Basina Olesja , Derovs Aleksejs , Derova Jeļena , Lejniece Sandra
Published: September 2024

Over the recent years, intestinal permeability has become a major feature of gut health. The objective of this paper is to present a literature-based overview of the current understanding on intestinal permeability. The concept of intestinal permeability started its development from the discovery of tight junctions — protein complexes that are separated between the epithelial cells. Histopathology is the main option of microscopic diagnosis, which allows to determine changes that occur in the tight junction, inflammation, and damaged epithelial cells. Additionally, intestinal fatty acid-binding protein I-FABP and zonulin are suggested as biomarkers of epithelial barrier abruption. As for visual detection, literature proposes capsule endoscopy and confocal laser endomicroscopy. Using the latter it is possible to produce images of small intestinal morphology and visualise the small intestinal luminal elements, cells, villi as well as crypts. However, advancements in digital capsule endoscopy are more applicable and aid in research of intestinal permeability and enteropathy, also giving promising results in treatment. Although damage to intestinal permeability can be classified as a certain enteropathy and then the association of some enteropathies with iron deficiency already has been established, direct association of iron deficiency and intestinal permeability is yet to be explored.
Analysing Clinical And Demographic Data From A Study On Oral Lichen Planus Patients
Authors: Kakar Jagriti , Sokolovska Lība , Dabuzinskiene Anita , Murovska Modra , Čēma Ingrīda
Published: September 2024

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a common mucocutaneous disorder affecting approximately 1–2% of the population, predominantly middle-aged women. This study aims to analyse the demographic and clinical characteristics of OLP patients treated at the Oral Medicine Centre of Institute of Stomatology, Rīga Stradiņš University. The cohort comprised adult patients diagnosed with OLP, who underwent structured clinical evaluations. The study identified significant patterns in age, gender distribution, clinical forms, and associated discomfort levels. Females constituted 75.76% of the cohort, with a mean age of 60 years. The reticular form of OLP was most prevalent, while the erosive form, associated with considerable discomfort, was more common in females. Treatment regimens varied, with Sol Kenalog 0.2% and Ointment Clobetasol 0.05% being the primary therapies. Sol Kenalog 0.2% was more effective in providing symptom relief and reducing relapse frequency. Chronic diseases and stress were prevalent among patients, complicating management and treatment outcomes. The study emphasises the need for personalised treatment strategies that consider the severity of the clinical form, patient comfort, and comorbid conditions. Further research is recommended to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms of gender differences and the impact of comorbidities on OLP. The insights from this study aim to enhance clinical practices and improve patient outcomes.
Successful TAVI-in-TAVI for degenerated bioprosthetic aortic valve with severe stenosis-a case report
Authors: Apostu Alexandra , Deleanu Dan , Parasca Cătălina , Capșa Răzvan , Dobrovie Monica , Popescu Bogdan Alexandru , Chioncel Ovidiu , Iliescu Vlad Anton , Jurcuţ Ruxandra
Published: September 2024

Aortic stenosis is one of the leading causes of valvular disease requiring surgery or transcatheter intervention, with a rising prevalence due to the aging population. Current guidelines recommend transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) as the first-line treatment for patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis and high surgical risk. The indications for TAVI have expanded to low-surgical-risk patients due to increased operator experience and improved implanted devices with a dramatic reduction of complications. Considering the limited durability of bioprostheses, TAVI-in-TAVI procedures have been successfully performed as an alternative to surgery.

We present the case of an elderly patient who underwent a successful TAVI-in-TAVI for a degenerated bioprosthetic valve with severe stenosis. Multimodal imaging, including transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and cardiac computed tomography, played a crucial role in demonstrating the degeneration of the aortic bioprosthetic valve with severe stenosis. Excellent short- and long-term results were achieved by reducing transaortic gradients and improving the functional NYHA class.

This case highlights the importance of proper patient selection using multimodality imaging and suggests the need for TAVI-in-TAVI to become an available and safe option for the management of a failed bioprosthesis valve.
The Rule of Law Threatened by Environmental Governance: A Reading Applied to Environmental Policy of Minas Gerais
Authors: Padovani Vinicius Papatella , Ribeiro Gabriel Costa
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This article recalls and analyzes social events that took place between 2012 and 2017 and that marked the daily life of environmental policy in the state of Minas Gerais.
 
Theoretical Framework: Identified with the critical construction of Political Ecology and collated with empirical elements, it explores the notions of field and environmental injustice to argue that the logic of Environmental Governance in Minas Gerais constituted a threat to the Rule of Law.
 
Design/Methodology/Approach: The methodological procedures consist of bibliographical and documentary research, as well as direct observation of thematic events held at the time.
Findings: To support the hypothesis, the foundations of the Environmental Rule of Law are presented, and then it is argued how the main existing territorial-environmental management instruments, as a rule, have contributed to the constitution of an Environmental Rule of Law of appearance.
 
Implications: The focus is on Latin American methodologies and research that map conflicts and communicate them on the World Wide Web, allowing free access to details of the environmental conflicts identified, from a perspective that raises issues of our time and place.
Nota editorial
Authors: Ceballos Gutiérrez Germán , Pace Riccardo
Published: September 2024

Según Alán Arias Marín (Ensayos críticos de derechos humanos, 2016), los derechos humanos transitan hoy por una situación paradójica, acusados de utopía y urgentes de aplicación. No hay duda, en efecto, de que son uno de los tópicos de una época, la nuestra, de resistencia y emancipación; aun así, están en el ojo del huracán, como lo prueban las polémicas que prenden el debate sobre su esencia, pertinencia y alcance.
Vicente Quirarte (Sel. y est.). (2023). Rubén Bonifaz Nuño: Rubén por nosotros
Authors: Fernández Ángel José
Published: September 2024

Vicente Quirarte (Sel. y est.). (2023). Rubén Bonifaz Nuño: Rubén por nosotros. 246 pp. ISBN: 978-607-99517-1-9/978-607-8923-44-1/978-607-30-8190-0/978-607-7874-64-5. Ciudad de México: Fundación para las Letras Mexicanas/Universidad Veracruzana/Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México/El Equilibrista. Imágenes fotográficas de la colección de Paloma Guardia Montoya.
En 2003, cuando Rubén Bonifaz Nuño iba a cumplir 80 años preparó un grupo de «calaveras», que dio a la estampa bajo el título Calacas. Este cuaderno fue impreso por El Colegio Nacional (2003, 44 pp.), institución a la que pertenecía desde 1972. Con Calacas, refrendaba, por su contenido explícito e irónico, el humor y el talante de quien se asumía como un simple mortal en vísperas de tránsito. El poeta de Córdoba, Veracruz, que viviría casi diez años aún, ya no volvió a publicar más en verso. A propósito, Quirarte anotó en su prólogo: “Rubén Bonifaz Nuño tuvo la cortesía de darnos tiempo para despedirnos lentamente de él. Desde hace varios años le dijo adiós a la vida y soportó con estoicismo la proximidad de la muerte, escribiéndole versos en un volumen muy mexicano y muy clásico, juguetón desde el título: Calacas” (p. 12).
Urban Regeneration Strategies for Enhancing Livability: A Case Study of the Chaktai Commercial Area, Chattogram, Bangladesh
Authors: Haque Sarah Binte , Roy Moumita , Tanha Zereen Afroz
Published: September 2024

Bangladesh has been experiencing rapid urbanization and economic growth, motivating people to move towards the cities. Consequently, commercial areas of the cities are becoming highly occupied.  The issue of overpopulation leads to congestion and shortage of open spaces, both reserved and publicly accessible, in such areas of the cities, affecting the physical and mental health of the users of these areas. To understand this situation, Chattogram in particular, the Chaktai commercial area is identified as the case study area for further investigation and research. This study will examine the present scenario of this densely built commercial area through an empirical analysis and field survey, focusing on collecting data related to major land-use types, street characteristics, major activities, traffic analysis, and environmental conditions. Additionally, an observational approach will be employed, along with one-to-one interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD), to gather user feedback on the space. By examining urban regeneration strategies for Asadganj, this study offers guidelines to improve conditions for its users including residents, business holders, and workers, to enhance the area's quality of life.
Revisiting Religion and Homophobia: Narratives of Agency and Resilience in Nigerian Queer Fiction
Authors: Onanuga Ayobami
Published: September 2024

Religion, especially Christianity and Islam, continues to be indicted for fomenting anti-queer tenors and validating the ostracisation of queer-identifying and gender non-conforming people. The interrogation of the roles of African Traditional Religions (ATRs) in queer narratives is important; thus, I examine Buki Papillon’s An Ordinary Wonder, a text which characterises an intersex protagonist, to underscore the ways ATRs are projected as supportive of diversity and encouraging of agency and resilience against oppressive and defining structures in Nigerian fictional narratives. Drawing from Gloria Anzaldúa’s theories on queerness and spirituality, I submit that ATRs are intricately tied to belief systems and cultures, and may thus avail positive outcomes in the discourse of religions and non-normative identities. As an attempt towards queer advocacy, Papillon’s work is an intervention to decolonise non-normative identities in a society that still suffers from the demonisation of African traditional beliefs and religions.
Unforeseen Developments, GATT Obligations and South Africa’s Safeguard Investigations
Authors: Brink Gustav
Published: September 2024

South Africa is one of the oldest users of trade remedies in the form of anti-dumping and countervailing, but is a newcomer to the use of safeguards. Since increasing its use of safeguards in 2012, the country has become one of the biggest users of safeguards. To date, South Africa has completed nine safeguard investigations, six of which resulted in the imposition of safeguard measures. In conducting safeguard investigations, attention must be given to various aspects. This article considers the requirements that there must have been a surge in imports as a result of unforeseen developments and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT) obligations. While several of the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (the Commission) reports set out the current tariff position, few of them indicate what South Africa’s GATT obligations are, thus falling short of the requirements to impose measures. The article shows that few, if any, of South Africa’s safeguard investigations have evaluated unforeseen developments in line with the requirements of GATT, as interpreted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body, as many of these alleged developments either did not relate to the subject product or were not, in fact, unforeseen. The article further shows that the Commission has failed, in every investigation, to link the unforeseen developments and GATT obligations to the surge in imports, as often the unforeseen developments occurred years prior to any increased imports. Finally, the article proposes that the Commission amend its method of analysing unforeseen developments and increased efforts be made to establish the link between these developments and GATT obligations and the increased imports.
Twists and turns: Unraveling unusual cervical instability in a case of prior neck infection
Authors: Gupta Aanchal , Tandon Anupama
Published: September 2024

This case report describes a 17-year-old girl presenting with headaches, neck pain, and restricted neck movements, ultimately diagnosed with Grisel syndrome (GS) concurrent with basilar impression (BI). On initial admission, she was found to have retropharyngeal and paravertebral abscesses. Empirical treatment led to clinical recovery, but subsequent stiffness and restricted neck movements prompted further investigation. Imaging revealed rotatory atlantoaxial subluxation along with BI. This case underscores the importance of considering GS and/or BI in patients with neck infections and emphasizes early recognition and appropriate management to prevent neurological complications.
Uncommon Case of Supernumerary Teeth and their Management: A Rare Clinical Case Report
Authors: Dayakar M.M , Dayakar Anitha , Hemanth Pooja
Published: September 2024

Supernumerary teeth are often classified into four groups: conical, supplemental, tuberculate, and odontomas. Supernumerary teeth of the tuberculate kind typically have many cusps or tubercles on the tooth crown. This sporadic eruption into the oral cavity may lead to the maxillary central incisors impaction. The purpose of this article is to discuss surgical management, various problems associated with dental overcrowding, and the need to detect excess teeth early on, as they can cause space loss and impaction of the incisors.
Radiofrequency interference in magnetic resonance imaging: Identification and rectification
Authors: Kwok Wingchi Edmund
Published: September 2024

Radiofrequency (RF) interference artifact is a common type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) artifacts caused by the presence of unwanted RF field inside the scanner room. The artifact has the appearance of parallel bright lines or bands that resemble zippers, which can mimic pathology, obstruct the viewing of underlining tissues, and lower image signal-to-noise ratio, affecting the diagnostic evaluation of the image and sometimes even rendering it non-diagnostic. Due to the presence of multiple possible sources of RF interference in MRI and potential nonrelated MRI artifacts that resemble RF interference artifact, it may be difficult to effectively and timely resolve the artifact problem. The objective of this paper is to provide a review of RF interference in MRI and to offer guidance in the prompt and correct identification of the associated image artifacts as well as efficient approaches to resolve and prevent RF interference problems. This article should serve as a useful educational reference to magnetic resonance (MR) technologists and radiologists in dealing with MR image artifacts that may be caused by RF interference.
HILIC-LC-MS assisted oxidative three-component on-DNA click reactions
Authors: Hu Yun , Dequina Hillary , Huang Minxue , Ding Yun , Vestling Martha , Chai Jing , Schomaker Jennifer
Published: September 2024

The synthesis of DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) is a critical drug discovery technology that enables the rapid generation of billions of DNA-tagged compounds. However, a barrier to on-DNA reaction development in academic laboratories is the need for dedicated instrumentation for ion-pairing reversed-phased liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (IP-RP LC-MS), which is required for reaction monitoring and analysis. In this work, we report the use of a hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) LC-MS method with an MS-friendly mobile phase as a convenient way to desalt and resolve crude mixtures. This approach allows academic labs to easily translate reaction and sample preparation protocols directly from the literature. HILIC-LC-MS analysis was employed in diverse oxidative three-component click reactions on-DNA that display broad substrate tolerance and observable damage to the DNA. This work not only provides access to new heterocyclic compounds libraries, but offers new tools and inspiration for continued on-DNA reaction development by academic labs due to its ease of setup and analysis.
Tailoring Molecular Space to Navigate Phase Complexity in Cs-based Quasi-2D Perovskites via Gated-Gaussian-Driven High-Throughput Discovery
Authors: Um Minsub , Sanchez Sheryl L. , Song Hochan , Lawrie Benjamin J. , Ahn Hyungju , Kalinin Sergei V. , Liu Yongtao , Choi Hyosung , Yang Jonghee , Ahmadi Mahshid
Published: September 2024

Cesium-based quasi-two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskites (HPs) offer promising functionalities and low-temperature manufacturability, which are suited to stable tandem photovoltaics (PVs). However, the chemical interplays between the molecular spacers and the inorganic building blocks during crystallization cause substantial phase complexities in the resulting matrices. To successfully optimize and implement the quasi-2D HP functionalities, a systematic understanding of spacer chemistry, along with the seamless navigation of the inherently discrete molecular space, is necessary. Herein, by utilizing high-throughput automated experimentation, the phase complexities in the molecular space of quasi-2D HP films are explored, thus identifying the chemical roles of the spacer cations on the synthesis and functionalities of the complex materials. Furthermore, we introduce a novel active machine learning algorithm leveraging a two-stage decision-making process, called gated Gaussian process Bayesian optimization (Gated-GPBO), to navigate the discrete ternary chemical space defined with two distinctive spacer molecules, 1,4-butanediammonium and phenethylammonium. Through simultaneous optimization of photoluminescence intensity and stability of quasi-2D HPs which ‘tailors’ the chemistry in the molecular space, a ternary-compositional quasi-2D HP film realizing excellent optoelectronic functionalities, as well as the high PV performance is demonstrated. This work not only provides a pathway for the rational and bespoke design of complex HP materials but also sets the stage for accelerated materials discovery in other multifunctional systems.
Is BigSMILES the Friend of Polymer Machine Learning?
Authors: Qiu Haoke , Sun Zhao-Yan
Published: September 2024

Computational methods, exemplified by machine learning (ML), have provided theoretical guidance and solutions for the development of sustainable polymers, accelerating advancements in materials for societal needs such as equipment, environment, health, and green energy. In previous polymer ML workflows, the Simplified Molecular-Input Line-Entry System (SMILES) notation has consistently served as the primary representation of polymer structures, though the inherent randomness of polymers has long posed challenges for SMILES in the representation learning of polymer ML. Recently, BigSMILES and its extensions have paved the way for more versatile and concise representation of polymer structures. However, whether BigSMILES outperforms SMILES in polymer ML workflows has yet to be systematically explored and demonstrated. To fill this scientific gap, we conducted extensive experiments investigating this question, encompassing a variety of polymer property prediction and inverse design tasks based on both image and text inputs. Our findings reveal that in 11 tasks involving homopolymer systems, BigSMILES-based ML workflows exhibit performance comparable to or even exceeding that of SMILES, underscoring the efficacy of BigSMILES in representing polymer structures. Furthermore, BigSMILES offers a more compact textual representation compared to SMILES, significantly reducing the computational cost of model training, particularly for large language models. Through these comprehensive experiments, we for the first time demonstrate that BigSMILES can achieve performance on par with SMILES, while also facilitating faster model training and reducing energy consumption, which could have a substantial impact on a wide range of polymer tasks in the future, including property prediction (and classification) and polymer generation across various polymer types.
Localization of CuO, NiO, and Co3O4 sintering additives in dense proton-conducting perovskite ceramics based on BaSnO3
Authors: Starostin George , Akopian Mariam , Vdovin Gennady , Starostina Inna , Medvedev Dmitry
Published: September 2024

Sintering additives have been widely employed to achieve good sinterability of barium-based proton-conducting perovskites (based on BaZrO3, BaCeO3, BaTiO3, BaHfO3, BaThO3, and BaSnO3). This is of particular importance for the fabrication of multilayered ceramic cells, in which the thin-film electrolyte layer can be primarily densified at relatively low sintering temperatures (1350–1500 °C). The introduction of sintering additives facilitates the fabrication of gas-tight ceramics; however, the precise nature of their localization and their effects on the functional properties remain uncertain and even questionable. In this study, we present a comprehensive characterization of ceramic materials based on Y-doped BaSnO3 prepared with the addition of three sintering additives (copper, cobalt, and nickel oxides) at 1 wt%. Although these introduced oxides belong to a group of compounds with similar physicochemical properties, each additive exerts a distinct influence on the microstructural and electrochemical properties of the ceramics owing to their own chemical localization features. These features are discussed in detail in the present work, providing useful information in the field of using sintering additives for the preparation of oxide ceramics for high-temperature applications.
Discrimination between Purine and Pyrimidine-rich RNA in Liquid-Liquid Phase Separated Condensates with Cationic Peptides and the Effect of Artificial Crowding Agents
Authors: Moller Anika L. , Middleton Isis A. , Maynard Grace E. , Wang Anna , Li Hsiu Lin , Thordarson Pall
Published: September 2024

Membraneless organelles – often referred to as condensates or coacervates – are liquid-liquid phase separated systems formed between non-coding RNAs and intrinsically disordered proteins. While the importance of different amino acid residues in short peptide-based condensates have been investigated, the role of the individual nucleobases or the type of hetero-cyclic structures; the purine viz pyrimidine nucleobases, is less researched. The cell’s crowded environment has been mimicked in vitro to demonstrate its ability to induce the formation of condensates, but more research in this area is required, especially with respect to RNA-facilitated phase separation, and the properties of the crowding agent, (poly)ethylene glycol (PEG). Herein we have shown that whether the nucleotide base sequence of RNA, can greatly influence its propensity to undergo phase separation with cationic peptides, with the purine-only RNA decamer (AG)5 readily do so while the pyrimidine-only (CU)5 does not. Furthermore, we show that the presence and size of a PEG macromolecular crowder affects both the ability to phase separate, and the stability of condensates formed. This work may shed light on the presence of low complexity long purine- or pyrimidine-rich non-complementary repeat (AG or CU) sequences in various non-coding RNAs found in bi-ology.
Micromolar concentration affinity study on a benchtop NMR spectrometer with secondary 13C labeled hyperpolarized ligands
Authors: Cala Olivier , Bocquelet Charlotte , Gioiosa Chloé , Torres Felix , Cousin Samuel F. , Guibert Sylvie , Ceillier Morgan , Busse Venita , Decker Frank , Kempf James G. , Elliott Stuart J. , Stern Quentin , Bornet Aurélien , Jannin Sami
Published: September 2024

Benchtop NMR is becoming an increasingly important tool, sometimes providing a simple and low-cost alternative to high-field NMR. The Achille’s heel of NMR and even more critically of benchtop NMR is its limited sensitivity. However, when combined with hyperpolarization techniques, the sensitivity boost can provide excellent sensitivity that can even make benchtop NMR compatible with affinity studies for drug discovery. Hyperpolarization by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (dDNP) provides a route to enhancing 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensitivity by more than five orders of magnitude for a wide range of small molecules on a benchtop NMR system. We show here how ligands can be secondarily labeled with 13C tags and hyperpolarized with conventional dDNP methods. These hyperpolarized ligands display long nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time constants and can therefore be used to probe interactions with target proteins in conventional dDNP settings. The boost in sensitivity combined with the simplicity of the 13C spectra (one peak per ligand) enables detection on an 80 MHz benchtop NMR spectrometer at micromolar concentrations, which may ultimately provide a way of improving and accelerating the discovery of new drug candidates.
An Extension of the Stern-Volmer Equation for Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) Photocatalysts
Authors: Limburg Bart
Published: September 2024

Fluorescence quenching experiments are essential mechanistic tools in photoredox catalysis, allowing to elucidate the first step in the catalytic cycle that occurs after photon absorption. Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) photocatalysts, however, yield non-linear Stern-Volmer plots, thus requiring an adjustment to this widely used method to determine the efficiency of excited state quenching. Here, we derive an extension of the Stern-Volmer equation for TADF-fluorophores that considers quenching from both the singlet and triplet excited states, and experimentally verify it with fluorescence quenching experiments using the commonly employed TADF-photocatalyst 4CzIPN with three different quenchers in three solvents. The experimental data is perfectly described by this new equation, which in addition to the Stern-Volmer constants of quenching allows for the determination of the product of intersystem and reverse intersystem crossing quantum yields, a quantity that is independent of the quencher.
SYNERGY OF ADVANCED MACHINE LEARNING AND DEEP NEURAL NETWORKS WITH CONSENSUS MOLECULAR DOCKING FOR ENHANCED POTENCY PREDICTION OF ALK INHIBITORS
Authors: Trinh The-Chuong , Phan Tieu-Long , To Van-Thinh , Pham Thanh-An , Truong Gia-Bao , Le Hoang-Son , Tran Xuan-Truc , Truong Tuyen Ngoc
Published: September 2024

This study addresses the urgent need for novel Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) treatment, focusing on the ALK-positive mutation variant (5% of the cases). As only five Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved ALK inhibitors are on the market, the demand for effective drugs persists. Leveraging the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) including machine learning (ML), and deep learning, our research aimed to expedite the screening of novel ALK inhibitors. Notably, the machine learning-based XGBoost algorithm exhibited compelling results with an external validation (EV)-f1 score of 0.921, and an EV-Average Precision (AP) of 0.961, alongside a cross-validation (CV)-f1 score of 0.888±0.039 and a CV-AP of 0.939±0.032. Besides, the deep learning-based Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model demonstrated excellent performance with an EV-f1 score of 0.930 and an EV-AP of 0.955, complemented by a CV-f1 score of 0.891±0.037 and a CV-AP of 0.934±0.040. The present study undertook a comparative analysis between the traditional ML models, the ANN model, and the Graph Neural Network (GNN) model, which is a product of our recent research endeavors. The findings reveal that, despite the advancements in neural network models, traditional machine learning models exhibited superior performance over the GNN model. During this research, these models were employed in conjunction with a consensus molecular docking model to screen a total of 120,571 compounds virtually, leading to the identification of three promising ALK inhibitors: CHEMBL1689515, CHEMBL2380351, and CHEMBL102714. The study recommends further molecular dynamic simulations, in vitro tests, target-specific experimental data acquisition for active learning, and application of advanced AI models like geometric interaction GNN and generative AI for molecular optimization.
Morphological differentiation of Limnozetes Hull, 1916 (Acari: Oribatida: Limnozetidae) in the light of ontogenetic studies
Authors: Seniczak Anna , Seniczak Stanisław
Published: September 2024

Morphological variability of Limnozetes Hull, 1916 was investigated in light of the ontogeny of L. lustrum Behan-Pelletier, 1989 and L. rugosus (Sellnick, 1923). The adults of this genus are similar, but the nymphs are differentiated, either boatshaped, with thick and stiff posterior gastronotal setae and rather smooth cuticle, as in L. lustrum, or stocky, with thin gastronotal setae and plicate cuticle, as in L. rugosus. The adult of L. lustrum has ten pairs of notogastral setae, while that of L. rugosus has 10 or 11 pairs, which is noted here for the first time in Limnozetes and has phylogenetic importance. The morphology of juvenile stages of presented species has not been investigated so far. Moreover L. lustrum is recorded for the first time from Europe. Morphological groups within Limnozetes are proposed: ‘ciliatus group’, with L. lustrum and ‘rugosus group’, with L. rugosus.
Cosmological Dynamics of Anisotropic Kaniadakis Holographic Dark Energy Model in Brans-Dicke Gravity
Authors: Prasanthi A. Vijaya , Suryanarayana G. , Aditya Y. , Divya Prasanthi U.Y.
Published: September 2024

The present study examines the Kaniadakis holographic dark energy in the context of the Brans-Dicke scalar-tensor theory of gravity (Phys. Rev. 124: 925, 1961). This paper focuses on a background with an anisotropic Kantowski-Sachs space-time that is homogeneous in space. Under these circumstances, the Brans-Dicke scalar field denoted as ϕ is used as a function of the average scale factor a(t). Using a graphical model to analyze the model's physical behaviour is part of the inquiry into the Universe's accelerating expansion. We evaluate the cosmological parameters such as the scalar field, the equation of state parameter and the deceleration parameter. Furthermore, the models' stability is assessed through the application of the squared sound speed (ν2S). For our models, we derive the widely accepted cosmic planes such as ωkde-ω'kde and statefinder (r,s) planes. It is found that the scalar field is a decreasing function of cosmic time and hence the corresponding kinetic energy increases. The deceleration parameter exhibits accelerated expansion of the universe. It is mentioned here that the equation of state parameter lies in the phantom region and finally attains the ΛCDM model. Also, the ωkde-ω'kde plane provides freezing and thawing regions. In addition, the statefinder plane also corresponds to the ΛCDM model. Finally, it is remarked that all the above constraints of the cosmological parameters show consistency with Planck observational data.
Mathematical Modeling of Uranium Neutron-Producing Target of Subcritical Assembly NSC KIPT
Authors: Gann V.V. , Gann G.V. , Borts B.V. , Karnaukhov I.M. , Parkhomenko O.O.
Published: September 2024

This work is devoted to calculating the rate of radiation damage production in a uranium target irradiated with high-energy electrons with an energy of 100 MeV. The Monte Carlo program MCNPX was used to perform a complete mathematical modeling of a complex of processes occurring in a uranium target when irradiated with high-energy electrons: the development of an electromagnetic shower, the production of photoneutrons, the transport of particles in the target and the creation of radiation damage in it. The analysis showed that fragments of U-238 photo-fission give the main input into the rate of damage production in a uranium target which reaches the value of 100 dpa/year. The expected service life of a uranium target under irradiation is 3 years of operation at full accelerator power.