bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT FOR BUILDING CONTRACTS
Authors: Vilkonis Arvydas
Published: March 2023

Rapidly rising prices of construction materials and machinery in the construction market are also pushing up the cost of construction service. The main problem is that construction investment projects have been prepared and contracts between Contractors and Customers have been concluded at previous price and it is therefore necessary to look for opportunities to index the price of the construction contracts. The aim of the study is to analyse the procurement documents for construction contracts published on the Central Public Procurement Portal between 2019 and 2021. The analysis focuses on the pricing selection and price conversion options for public procurement documents for construction contract works. The economic and global geopolitical situation in the construction sector is reviewed. The critical situation in the construction sector due to the drastic increase in the cost of construction materials creates a risk that some contractors may not be able to complete their works in accordance with the signed construction contract. The essence of the article is to propose to the contracting authorities, following an analysis of the procurement documents for construction contracts, solutions to the problem by adding conditions to the procurement documents which will help to minimise the possibility of disputes between the contractors and the client.
IMPACT OF GREEN SPACES ON HOUSE PRICES
Authors: Gaižauskienė Aistė
Published: March 2023

Studies around the world have shown that urban green spaces have a positive effect on house prices. The economic benefits of green spaces are an issue that still needs to be addressed. When analyzing scientific literature, it is problematic to compare studies on the influence of green spaces on house prices, due to the absence of a unified assessment system. Working on studies examining a similar categorisation of green spaces, the application of the same assessment methods and the use of a common set of variables would allow for more detailed and accurate analyses. Therefore, the aim of the work is to identify the categories of green spaces and the method of evaluation, which most accurately describes the impact of urban green spaces on housing prices. This work examined 8 studies, most of which were carried out in Europe. An analysis of studies has shown that the most commonly used method for determining the impact of green spaces on house prices is the hedonistic pricing method. When analyzing literature it was noticed that quite often the influence on the price of housing was measured only from a few types of green spaces, although the classification of green spaces is very wide. Most often, the studies did not analyse the sources of noise and pollution. Inclusion of these factors in the assessment would allow comparing the significance of noise and pollution sources and green spaces for the population. An analysis of studies has shown the importance of distance to the city center. In view of the shortcomings of the studies examined, a categorisation of green spaces and related elements has been brought up, which is proposed to be used in further studies on the impact of green spaces on the price of housing.
THE CONCEPT OF THE DIGITAL TWIN OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Grigorjeva Eva
Published: March 2023

The built environment is an area where there are buildings and other objects that meet people’s needs. One of the ways to differentiate people’s needs and satisfy them in real time is to use a digital twin (DT). The digitalization of the construction process uses building information modeling (BIM) methodology. When BIM is applied from the very beginning of the idea of implementing an object of the built environment, information about the object begins to be accumulated from the very beginning of the object’s life cycle. Accumulating information about the object is particularly important to extract the best version of the DT model. It is also important to understand that it is not enough to have a real object and digital information about it. The digital twin will work if information links between the real and virtual environment are provided.
Terminator Habitability: The Case for Limited Water Availability on M-dwarf Planets
Authors: Lobo Ana H. , Shields Aomawa L. , Palubski Igor Z. , Wolf Eric
Published: March 2023

Rocky planets orbiting M-dwarf stars are among the most promising and abundant astronomical targets for detecting habitable climates. Planets in the M-dwarf habitable zone are likely synchronously rotating, such that we expect significant day–night temperature differences and potentially limited fractional habitability. Previous studies have focused on scenarios where fractional habitability is confined to the substellar or “eye” region, but in this paper we explore the possibility of planets with terminator habitability, defined by the existence of a habitable band at the transition between a scorching dayside and a glacial nightside. Using a global climate model, we show that for water-limited planets it is possible to have scorching temperatures in the “eye” and freezing temperatures on the nightside, while maintaining a temperate climate in the terminator region, due to reduced atmospheric energy transport. On water-rich planets, however, increasing the stellar flux leads to increased atmospheric energy transport and a reduction in day–night temperature differences, such that the terminator does not remain habitable once the dayside temperatures approach runaway or moist greenhouse limits. We also show that while water-abundant simulations may result in larger fractional habitability, they are vulnerable to water loss through cold trapping on the nightside surface or atmospheric water vapor escape, suggesting that even if planets were formed with abundant water, their climates could become water-limited and subject to terminator habitability.
Lagrangian Stochastic Model for the Motions of Magnetic Footpoints on the Solar Wind Source Surface and the Path Lengths of Boundary-driven Interplanetary Magnetic Field Lines
Authors: Li Gang , Bian N. H.
Published: March 2023

In this work, we extend Leighton’s diffusion model describing the turbulent mixing of magnetic footpoints on the solar wind source surface. The present Lagrangian stochastic model is based on the spherical Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process with drift that is controlled by the rotation frequency Ω of the Sun, the Lagrangian integral timescale τ
L, and the root-mean-square footpoint velocity V
rms. The Lagrangian velocity and the positions of magnetic footpoints on the solar wind source surface are obtained from the solutions of a set of stochastic differential equations, which are solved numerically. The spherical diffusion model of Leighton is recovered in the singular Markov limit when the Lagrangian integral timescale tends to zero while keeping the footpoint diffusivity finite. In contrast to the magnetic field lines driven by standard Brownian processes on the solar wind source surface, the interplanetary magnetic field lines are smooth differentiable functions with finite path lengths in our model. The path lengths of the boundary-driven interplanetary magnetic field lines and their probability distributions at 1 au are computed numerically, and their dependency with respect to the controlling parameters is investigated. The path-length distributions are shown to develop a significant skewness as the width of the distributions increases.
Reconstructing the XUV Spectra of Active Sun-like Stars Using Solar Scaling Relations with Magnetic Flux
Authors: Namekata Kosuke , Toriumi Shin , Airapetian Vladimir S. , Shoda Munehito , Watanabe Kyoko , Notsu Yuta
Published: March 2023

The Kepler space telescope and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite unveiled that Sun-like stars frequently host exoplanets. These exoplanets are subject to fluxes of ionizing radiation in the form of X-ray and extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) radiation that may cause changes in their atmospheric dynamics and chemistry. While X-ray fluxes can be observed directly, EUV fluxes cannot be observed because of severe interstellar medium absorption. Here we present a new empirical method to estimate the whole stellar X-ray plus EUV (XUV) and far-UV (FUV) spectra as a function of total unsigned magnetic fluxes of stars. The response of the solar XUV and FUV spectrum (0.1–180 nm) to the solar total unsigned magnetic flux is investigated by using the long-term Sun-as-a-star data set over 10 yr, and the power-law relation is obtained for each wavelength with a spectral resolution of 0.1–1 nm. We applied the scaling relations to active young Sun-like stars (G dwarfs), EK Dra (G1.5V), π
1 Uma (G1.5V), and κ
1 Ceti (G5V) and found that the observed spectra (except for the unobservable longward EUV wavelength) are roughly consistent with the extension of the derived power-law relations with errors of an order of magnitude. This suggests that our model is a valuable method to derive the XUV/FUV fluxes of Sun-like stars, including the EUV band mostly absorbed at wavelengths longward of 36 nm. We also discuss differences between the solar extensions and stellar observations at wavelengths in the 2–30 nm band and conclude that simultaneous observations of magnetic and XUV/FUV fluxes are necessary for further validations.
Total evidence analysis elucidates the tangled systematic scenario within Fidicinini (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadidae)
Authors: Ruschel Tatiana Petersen , Bianchi Filipe Michels , Campos Luiz Alexandre , Carvalho Gervásio Silva
Published: March 2023

The Linnean, Wallacean, and Darwinian shortfalls are knowledge gaps about species taxonomy, distribution, and evolution, respectively. Fidicinini is a tribe of cicadas that suffers from these gaps. We assessed specimens of the tribe sharing similar male genital shape (uncus), but fitting the somatic morphology of either Dorisiana Metcalf, 1952 and Guyalna Boulard & Martinelli, 1996. We build a phylogenetic hypothesis by total evidence analysis and perform a character optimization of the uncus and timbal cover shapes, the last used as diagnostic for both genera. Dorisiana and Guyalna were recovered non-monophyletic. A new genus, Acanthoventrisgen. nov., and ten new species are proposed: A. charrua Ruschel sp. nov., A. claudiae Ruschel sp. nov., A. faustopsaltrius Ruschel sp. nov., A. iara Ruschel sp. nov., A. igneus Ruschel sp. nov., A. olivarius Ruschel sp. nov., A. phoenix Ruschel sp. nov., A. rubemi Ruschel sp. nov., A. tumidus Ruschel sp. nov., and A. viridinotatus Ruschel sp. nov.; and three new combinations A. densusus (Boulard & Martinelli, 2011) comb. nov., A. drewseni (Stål, 1854) comb. nov., and A. jauffreti (Boulard & Martinelli, 2001) comb. nov. We provide illustrated identification keys, occurrence maps, and discuss the distribution of the species in the new genus.
Revision of the genus Eotrechus Kirkaldy (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Gerridae), with descriptions of six new species
Authors: Tran Anh Duc , Zettel Herbert , Sites Robert W.
Published: March 2023

Species of the Asian genusEotrechusKirkaldy, 1902 (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Gerromorpha, Gerridae, Eotrechinae) are atypical water striders because they live on the near-vertical rock surfaces of waterfalls. The taxonomy of the genus is revised and six new species are described:E. steinerisp. nov.,E. kerberossp. nov.,E. thaisp. nov.,E. konkakinhsp. nov.,E. boukalisp. nov., andE. andersenisp. nov.Supplementary descriptions of the apterous female and macropterous male ofE. fuscusBasu, Chandra & Venkatesan, 2017 are provided. Additional and updated distribution data of species ofEotrechusare reported.Eotrechus fuscusis reported from Myanmar for the first time;E. brevipesis reported from Nepal for the first time;E. hygropetricusAndersen, 1982 is reported from southern Thailand for the first time, which extends the southernmost limit of the known distribution of the genus. A revised key to the species ofEotrechusis also provided.
Revisionary notes on Feuerborniella Vaillant, 1971, with the first record of the genus from the Afrotropical region (Diptera, Psychodidae)
Authors: Kvifte Gunnar Mikalsen , Jaume-Schinkel Santiago
Published: March 2023

We establish a diagnosis for Feuerborniella Vaillant, 1971, based on a re-description of its type species, Feuerborniella obscura (Tonnoir, 1919) and comment on earlier diagnoses. Feuerborniella sinefurcata Kvifte & Jaume-Schinkel, sp. nov. is described, based on material from Tanzania, representing the second Afrotropical species of the genus following Psychoda morogorica Wagner & Andersen, 2007 which we treat as Feuerborniella morogoricacomb. nov. We furthermore review earlier combinations, transferring Philosepedon ensiger Quate, 1996 and Philosepedon longistylus Quate, 1996 to Feuerborniellacomb. nov., and briefly discuss generic limits with Quatiella Botosaneanu & Vaillant, 1970 and Nielseniella Vaillant, 1971.
A remarkable new genus of Nevrorthidae (Neuroptera, Osmyloidea) from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar
Authors: Nakamine Hiroshi , Yamamoto Shûhei , Takahashi Yui , Liu Xingyue
Published: March 2023

A remarkable new genus and species of Nevrorthidae, Sisyroneurorthus aspoeckorumgen. et sp. nov., is described from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber of northern Myanmar. This new species is the second Mesozoic representative of Nevrorthidae. The distal fusion of ScP and RA in the forewing of this new genus is shared by most Sisyridae. Given the probable sister-group relationship between Nevrorthidae and Sisyridae, our study sheds light on the evolution and morphological diversity of Nevrorthidae in the Mesozoic era.
The spirit of resistance
Authors: Lynch Mick , Younge Gary
Published: March 2023

Mick Lynch is general secretary of the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) and has been leading the union through a difficult strike period since June 2022. Here he is in discussion with Gary Younge, a journalist, author and professor of sociology at the University
of Manchester. Over a wideranging conversation they discuss Lynch's reasons for becoming a trade unionist, and why trade unions are so important; challenging the government's proposed draconian anti-trade union legislation as well as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act; the need for
broad alliances; class politics; Black Lives Matter; climate change; disability; the shift away from the Tories and towards resistance; public sector strikes; Keir Starmer's leadership; how to win the next general election for Labour; and Lynch's primary duty as general secretary of the RMT
to get a deal for RMT members.
'Protecting the NHS' - and its limits
Authors: Lorne Colin , Lambert Michael
Published: March 2023

There are limits in articulating political struggles around the NHS and the imagined geographies of the nation: struggles based on nostalgia for the post-war welfare state risk co-opting the NHS for an exclusionary, nationalist politics. In tracing the times and spaces of the health
service the article asks: when was the NHS? and where is the NHS? The idea of universal healthcare - and changing ideas of nation, state and welfare - are articulated in particular political conjunctures. The whereabouts of the NHS is more than a question of devolution and territorial politics
in an increasingly disunited Kingdom; there are also questions of borders, and of workers who are trained and drawn into the NHS from overseas: it is impossible to imagine the NHS without grappling with the ways in which colonialism is integral to the formation of the post-war national welfare
state. As both a residual of the national welfare state, and as an emergent site of political and cultural work, the NHS is continuously reworked within dominant politics; while it also offers an emotionally powerful political resource to galvanise popular public support that
resists such tendencies. We therefore insist on the need to get to grips with the complex and partial embedding of private interests and market logics within the organisation of healthcare - often framed, rather crudely, in terms of the 'Americanisation' of the NHS. But we also warn of the
analytical limits, and political dangers, of framing political struggles around national spatial imaginaries when seeking to 'protect' the NHS in these times of crisis.
Counter-hegemonic strategies for democratic alter- politics: critical notes on the experiences of 1990-2019
Authors: Kioupkiolis Alexandros
Published: March 2023

This article critically engages with the political strategies of the new social and political movements that emerged in Europe in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007-8. It takes issue with discussions of contemporary alter-political practice and theory that overlook the crucial
point that the creation of new social institutions and relations in the here and now - a central part of this politics - must itself be political: it argues for the need to tackle the whole question of the collective subject and agent of change. This leads into a discussion of the theory of
hegemony put forward by Gramsci, and, later, Laclau and Mouffe, and, drawing on this, a new strategy is proposed, for the construction of powerful collective subjects. Taking its cue from recent social movements such as 15M (the Indignados) and new municipalism in Spain and Italy, it looks
at new ways of configuring the strategy of hegemony, by making its concepts of leadership, unity and representation more participatory, bottom-up, accessible to ordinary people, plural and flexible. A historical transition to egalitarian democracies, solidary economies and environmental sustainability
is dependent on a wider counter-hegemonic project and contest. This needs to be carried out in all social relations and fields. It must energise critical masses on the ground, and conjoin institutional interventions with new social invention and multiple assaults on the status quo. The object
of a contemporary alter-political organisation should be to animate, bolster and help articulate the multi-faceted texture of current oppositional and constructive activities, re-instituting the social in all its far-reaching diversity and complexity.
Capacité technologique des pouvoirs publics et partenariats public-privé en matière de prestation de services numériques : observations dans des villes chinoises
Authors: Ma Liang , Christensen Tom , Zheng Yueping
Published: March 2023

Les pouvoirs publics ont renforcé leur collaboration avec le secteur privé en matière de prestation de services publics, et leur propension à le faire est largement déterminée par leurs propres capacités internes. Dans cet article, nous théorisons et analysons la question de savoir si les gouvernements ayant une capacité technologique extrêmement faible ou extrêmement élevée sont plus susceptibles de collaborer avec des plateformes tierces afin de fournir conjointement des services numériques. Nous nous attendons à ce qu’il y ait une relation en forme de U entre la capacité technologique de ces gouvernements et leurs choix de partenariats public-privé. Une analyse empirique de la prestation de services numériques dans 290 villes chinoises au niveau de la préfecture corrobore cette hypothèse. Ces résultats nous permettent de mieux comprendre les motivations contradictoires qui animent le processus de partenariat public-privé. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens La collaboration public-privé a été largement adoptée pour promouvoir la prestation de services numériques. Cet article confirme la relation en forme de U entre la capacité technologique du gouvernement et la collaboration public-privé dans la prestation de services numériques au niveau de la ville. Pour encourager la collaboration, il est essentiel de cibler des pouvoirs publics aux capacités variées, ce qui semble plus facile dans les grandes villes ayant un rang administratif élevé et qui sont globalement matures sur le plan technologique et dans un environnement compétitif sur le plan technologique.
The impact of an integrated STEAM project delivered via mobile technology on the reasoning ability of elementary school students
Authors: Siregar Yulia Elfrida Yanty , Rahmawati Yuli , Suyono Suyono
Published: March 2023

The aim of this research is to describe the impact of implementing an integrated STEAM Project via mobile technology on the Mathematical Reasoning ability of elementary school students and to describe the process of designing an integrated STEAM Project and mobile application. A quantitative descriptive and quasi-experimental research design was used, with data collected by observation. A pre-test, and post-test was administered to determine the impact of the STEAM Project on students' reasoning abilities. A sample of 130 fifth grade students, 70 female students, and 60 male students from different elementary schools in Meuraxa District, Aceh Province, Indonesia participated in the research. Results show that an empirical analysis of mobile technology is valid and feasible for use with fifth grade elementary school students. Prior to implementing the STEAM Project, the average pretest of reasoning ability was 40.44 with a standard deviation of 10.27. After implementation, the average score improved to 84.01 with a standard deviation of 7.31. The results of a Paired Sample Correlation obtained a mathematical reasoning ability score before and after implementation of the STEAM Project of 0.452. The calculations in the N-GAIN test table for the implementation of the STEAM Project on Reasoning Ability found 76 students, or 58.46 %, in the high category, and 54 students, or 41.54%, in the medium category. The results of this study provide information, and recommendations for the development of learning models that could improve reasoning abilities. The project could be used as a reference template to accelerate the recovery of quality education during challenging times such as a pandemic.
Factors influencing the Supply Chain Management in e-Health using UTAUT model
Authors: Al Moteri Moteeb , Alojail Mohammed
Published: March 2023

Logistics in the healthcare industry involves coordinating the distribution of medical supplies and equipment across various departments and organizations. Supply Chain Management can help healthcare facilities identify weaknesses and devise strategies to address them. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the study investigates the motivations behind the individuals’ desire to use Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in healthcare. In order to better understand the factors that influence the use of IoT for e-HMS, a survey was administered to 210 healthcare IoT users. The study focuses on the potential medicinal applications of IoT technologies and incorporates the concepts of performance expectations, healthcare hazard, and trust (PHT) and perceived enabling circumstances (PFC) to complement past findings in the field. Overall, the study appears to be focused on contributing to the existing knowledge about the factors that influence the adoption of IoT technologies in healthcare, and it emphasizes the importance of considering theoretical constructs such as PHT and PFC in this context. The findings of the study can be used by IoT creators, medical experts, and vendors to optimize e-HMS and provide insight into the potential and limitations of UTAUT simulation to improve the logistic of Supply Chain Management in healthcare 4.0. The results have been analyzed by applying machine learning classifiers and have been visualized using different metrics.
Application of intelligent time series prediction method to dew point forecast
Authors: Jia Dongbao , Xu Zhongxun , Wang Yichen , Ma Rui , Jiang Wenzheng , Qian Yalong , Wang Qianjin , Xu Weixiang
Published: March 2023

With the rapid development of meteorology, there requires a great need to better forecast dew point temperatures contributing to mild building surface and rational chemical control, while researches on time series forecasting barely catch the attention of meteorology. This paper would employ the seasonal-trend decomposition-based simplified dendritic neuron model (STLDNM*) to predict the dew point temperature. We utilize the seasonal-trend decomposition based on LOESS (STL) to extract three subseries from the original sequence, among which the residual part is considered as an input of an improved dendritic neuron model (DNM*). Then the back-propagation algorithm (BP) is used for training DNM* and the output is added to another two series disposed. Four datasets, which record dew points of four cities, along with eight algorithms are put into the experiments for comparison. Consequently, the combination of STL and simplified DNM achieves the best speed and accuracy.
Semi-stable quiver bundles over Gauduchon manifolds
Authors: Chen Dan-Ni , Cheng Jing , Shen Xiao , Zhang Pan
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we prove the existence of the approximate $ (\sigma, \tau) $-Hermitian Yang-Mills structure on the $ (\sigma, \tau) $-semi-stable quiver bundle $ \mathcal{R} = (\mathcal{E}, \phi) $ over compact Gauduchon manifolds. An interesting aspect of this work is that the argument on the weakly $ L^{2}_1 $-subbundles is different from [Álvarez-Cónsul and García-Prada, Comm. Math. Phys., 2003] and [Hu-Huang, J. Geom. Anal., 2020].
Fixed point results of fuzzy mappings with applications
Authors: Albargi Amer Hassan , Ahmad Jamshaid
Published: March 2023

Jleli and Samet introduced the notion of $ \mathcal{F} $-metric space as a generalization of traditional metric space and proved Banach contraction principle in the setting of these generalized metric spaces. The aim of this article is to utilize $ \mathcal{F} $-metric space and establish some common $ \alpha $-fuzzy fixed point theorems for rational ($ \beta $-$ \phi) $-contractive conditions. Our results extend, generalize and unify some well-known results in the literature. As application of our main result, we discuss the solution of fuzzy integrodifferential equations in the setting of a generalized Hukuhara derivative.
An application of $ p $-adic Baker method to a special case of Jeśmanowicz' conjecture
Authors: Dong Ziyu , Zhao Zhengjun
Published: March 2023

In 1956, Jeśmanowicz conjectured that, for any positive integer $ n $, the Diophantine equation $ \left((f^{2}-g^{2})n\right)^{x}+\left((2fg)n\right)^{y} = \left((f^{2}+g^{2})n\right)^z $ has only the positive integral solution $ (x, y, z) = (2, 2, 2) $, where $ f $ and $ g $ are positive integers with $ f > g $, gcd$ (f, g) = 1 $, and $ f\not\equiv g\pmod {2} $. Let $ r = 6k+2 $, $ k \in \mathbb{N} $, $ k\geq25 $. In this paper, combining $ p $-adic form of Baker method with some detailed computation, we prove that if $ n $ satisfies $ n\equiv 0, 6, 9\pmod{12} $, $ f = g+1 $ and $ g = 2^{r}-1 $, then the conjecture is true.
A fuzzy set theory-based fast fault diagnosis approach for rotators of induction motors
Authors: Zhang Tangsheng , Zhi Hongying
Published: March 2023

Induction motors have been widely used in industry, agriculture, transportation, national defense engineering, etc. Defects of the motors will not only cause the abnormal operation of production equipment but also cause the motor to run in a state of low energy efficiency before evolving into a fault shutdown. The former may lead to the suspension of the production process, while the latter may lead to additional energy loss. This paper studies a fuzzy rule-based expert system for this purpose and focuses on the analysis of many knowledge representation methods and reasoning techniques. The rotator fault of induction motors is analyzed and diagnosed by using this knowledge, and the diagnosis result is displayed. The simulation model can effectively simulate the broken rotator fault by changing the resistance value of the equivalent rotor winding. And the influence of the broken rotor bar fault on the motors is described, which provides a basis for the fault characteristics analysis. The simulation results show that the proposed method can realize fast fault diagnosis for rotators of induction motors.
The physical and psychological outcomes of art therapy in pediatric palliative care: A systematic review
Authors: Motlagh Elahe Ghayebie , Bakhshi Mahmoud , Davoudi Nayyereh , Ghasemi Ali , Moonaghi Hossein Karimi
Published: March 2023

Background:

The integration of art therapy in health care is a growing trend in the care of cancer patients. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the physical and mental benefits of art in children with cancer.

Materials and Methods:

A systematic review of English articles using Google Scholar, MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Web of Science was conducted. Relevant keywords for cancer, child, art therapy and their synonyms were used accordingly. All searches were conducted to December 31, 2021.Relevant articles were included studies published in English and involving children aged 0–18 years. Studies evaluated the effects of art therapy in children with cancer.

Results:

Seventeen studies had inclusion criteria, of which 12 studies were performed by clinical trial and 5 studies were performed by quasi-experimental method. Sixteen studies evaluated one type of art-therapy intervention, while one study used a combination of art-therapy approaches.The results showed that art-based interventions in the physical dimension lead to more physical activity, stability in breathing, and heart rate, and these children reported less pain. In the dimensions of psychology had less anxiety, depression, and anger but at the same time had a better quality of life and more coping-related behaviors.

Conclusion:

It seems that the use of art therapy in pediatric palliative care with cancer can have good physical and psychological results for the child, but it is suggested to evaluate the effects of these interventions in children at the end of life.
A study on the fungal rhinosinusitis: Causative agents, symptoms, and predisposing factors
Authors: Taghian Ebrahim , Abtahi Sayed Hamidreza , Mohammadi Abdolrasoul , Hashemi Seyed Mostafa , Ahmadikia Kazem , Dolatabadi Somayeh , Mohammadi Rasoul
Published: March 2023

Background:

In natural conditions, inhaled fungi are considered a part of the microflora of nasal cavities and sinuses. However, subsequent to the protracted use of corticosteroids and antibacterial agents, suppression of the immune system by chemotherapy, and poor ventilation, these fungi can become pathogens. Fungal colonization in the nose and paranasal sinuses is a prevalent medical issue in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients. In this study, we aimed to categorize fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) among immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients and identified the etiologic agents of disease by molecular methods.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 74 cases were evaluated for FRS. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed for sampling. The clinical samples were examined by direct microscopy with potassium hydroxide 20% and subcultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with chloramphenicol. Polymerase chain reaction sequencing was applied to identify causative agents.

Results:

Thirty-three patients (44.6%) had FRS. Principal predisposing factors were antibiotic consumption (n = 31, 93.9%), corticosteroid therapy (n = 22, 66.6%), and diabetes mellitus (n = 21, 63.6%). Eyesore (n = 22, 66.6%), proptosis (n = 16, 48.5%), and headache (n = 15, 45.4%) were the most common clinical manifestations among patients. Rhizopus
oryzae (n = 15, 45.4%) and Aspergillus
flavus (n = 10, 30.3%) were the most prevalent fungal species.

Conclusion:

Diagnosis and classification of FRS are crucial, and a lack of early precise diagnosis can lead to a delay in any surgical or medical management. Since there are a variety of treatments for FRS, accurate identification of etiologic agents should be performed based on phenotypic and molecular methods.
Expanders are counterexamples to the $\ell^p$ coarse Baum–Connes conjecture
Authors: Chung Yeong Chyuan , Nowak Piotr W.
Published: March 2023

We consider an

\ell^p

coarse Baum–Connes assembly map for

1 < p < \infty

, and show that it is not surjective for expanders arising from residually finite hyperbolic groups.
Prevalence and methodological quality of systematic reviews in Korean medical journals
Authors: Kim Seong Jung , Han Mi Ah , Jung Jae Hung , Hwang Eu Chang , Kim Hae Ran , Yoon Sang Eun , Kim Seo-Hee , Kim Pius , Kim So-Yeong
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to assess and evaluate the prevalence and methodological quality of systematic reviews (SRs) published in major Korean medical journals (KMJs). The top 15 journals with the highest Korean Medical Citation Index, published between 2018 to 2021, were selected. We assessed the methodological quality of SRs using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2). In total, 126 SRs were included, with an average of 32 SRs being reported annually. The overall prevalence of SRs in KMJs was 2.8%, with an increase from 2.6% in 2018 to 3.4% in 2021. Overall, the methodological quality of SRs was low (9.5% low, 90.5% critically low). More than 80% of the studies adhered to critical domain items such as a comprehensive literature search and risk of bias assessment, but for items such as protocol registration and listing excluded studies and the justification for exclusion, the adherence rate was less than 15%. While the number of SRs in KMJs steadily increased, the overall confidence in the methodological quality was low to critically low. Therefore, in order to provide the best evidence for decision-making in clinical and public health areas, editors, reviewers, and authors need to pay more attention to improving the quality of SRs.
The association between obesity and glaucoma in older adults: evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Authors: Zhao Xiaohuan , Bo Qiyu , Sun Junran , Chen Jieqiong , Li Tong , Huang Xiaoxu , Zhou Minwen , Wang Jing , Liu Wenjia , Sun Xiaodong
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the association between obesity and glaucoma in middle-aged and older people. A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.METHODS: Glaucoma was assessed via self-reports. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and a Cox proportional hazards model were used to assess the relationship between obesity and glaucoma risk.RESULTS: Older males living in urban areas who were single, smokers, and non-drinkers were found to have a significantly higher incidence of glaucoma (all p<0.05). Diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease were also associated with higher glaucoma risk, while dyslipidemia was associated with lower risk (all p<0.05). After the model was adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related variables, obesity was significantly associated with a 10.2% decrease in glaucoma risk according to the Cox proportional hazards model (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 0.97) and an 11.8% risk reduction in the multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.97). A further subgroup analysis showed that obesity was associated with a reduced risk of glaucoma in people living in rural areas, in smokers, and in those with kidney disease (all p<0.05). Obesity also reduced glaucoma risk in people with diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia more than in healthy controls (all p<0.05).CONCLUSIONS: This cohort study suggests that obesity was associated with a reduced risk of glaucoma, especially in rural residents, smokers, and people with kidney disease. Obesity exerted a stronger protective effect in people with diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia than in healthy people.
Learning languages from parallel corpora
Authors: Graën Johannes
Published: March 2023

This work describes a blueprint for an application that generates language learning exercises from parallel corpora. Word alignment and parallel structures allow for the automatic assessment of sentence pairs in the source and target languages, while users of the application continuously improve the quality of the data with their interactions, thus crowdsourcing parallel language learning material. Through triangulation, their assessment can be transferred to language pairs other than the original ones if multiparallel corpora are used as a source.
Several challenges need to be addressed for such an application to work, and we will discuss three of them here. First, the question of how adequate learning material can be identified in corpora has received some attention in the last decade, and we will detail what the structure of parallel corpora implies for that selection. Secondly, we will consider which type of exercises can be generated automatically from parallel corpora such that they foster learning and keep learners motivated. And thirdly, we will highlight the potential of employing users, that is both teachers and learners, as crowdsourcers to help improve the material.
Crowdsourcing and language learning habits and practices in Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia and Poland in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods
Authors: Hatipoğlu Çiler , Delibegović Džanić Nihada , Gajek Elżbieta , Miloshevska Lina
Published: March 2023

The popularity of online crowdsourcing platforms was slowly increasing among language learners before the pandemic, but COVID-19 changed the educational systems worldwide. This study aims to uncover whether or not, and if ‘YES’, how the attitudes and habits of language learners concerning the use of crowdsourcing materials in Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia and Poland changed during the pandemic.
To compare the pre-and during the covid crowdsourcing tool usage, the cross-culturally appropriate questionnaire utilised in the pre-COVID-19 period was used again. The collected data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively to identify the differences between the periods.
The study’s findings showed that the shift from face-to-face to online learning significantly affected the development of crowdsourcing platforms worldwide and their employment in the studied countries. The results also demonstrated that a combination of factors, such as reduced interactions with teachers and peers, an increase in workload, and a lack of support on the part of institutions, led to students taking responsibility for their learning. The number and characteristics of the popular platforms changed from country to country since expectations from students varied.
Seasonal evaluation of yield and yield component traits of thirteen okra genotypes in a derived savannah
Authors: Enyi J.I. , Agbo C.U. , Onyia V.N. , Chukwudi U.P. , Okechukwu E.C.
Published: March 2023

Ten improved okra genotypes obtained from National Institute for Horticultural Research and Training, Okigwe, Nigeria and three local cultivars were evaluated under early and late planting seasons of 2014 and 2015. The aim of this study is to estimate the relationship and magnitude of direct effects among the traits as well as determine the degree of heritability and variability among the genotypes. Genotypic stability analysis was also performed on the yield and the two traits most related to yield. ‘Ele Uhie’ genotype had the highest values for most of the parameters measured for both early and late planting seasons. Among the improved genotypes, ‘TAE 38’ had relatively appreciable yield. In both seasons, all the traits studied showed positive and significant (p < 0.01) correlation with total fruit yield, although number of fruits/plant and plant height at maturity had the strongest relationship. The yield stability estimates showed that the genotypes independently expressed their traits in the four different stability groups. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of fruits/plant and plant height at maturity had higher positive and higher magnitude of direct effect than the direct effects of the associated parameters studied for both planting seasons. Thus, selecting ‘Ele Uhie’, ‘Ele Ogwu’, ‘Ele Ndu’ and ‘TAE 38’ genotypes with relatively stable and high number of fruits/plant and plant height at maturity would have greater impact in sustaining high yields in okra.
Computational solution of advanced stochastic time-delay differential equations using hybrid block extended Adams Moulton methods for customer’s satisfaction when using electronic payment systems in Nigerian banks
Authors: Chibuisi C. , Ogbogbo C. P. , Osu B. O.
Published: March 2023

This study examined the implementation of Hybrid Block Extended Adams Moulton Methods (HBEAMM) for the computational solution of Advanced Stochastic Time-Delay Differential Equations (ASTDDEs) through the use of various electronic payment systems such as ATM, POS and internet banking offered by the Nigerian banks. This work attempts to proffer solution to customer challenges in using the ATM of most banks in Nigeria. The challenges are considered in this work as capable of resulting to advanced time-delay and volatility noise. It is therefore modeled as advanced stochastic time-delay differential equation (ASTDDE) and solved using Hybrid Extended Block Adams Moulton Methods (HEBAMMs). The discrete schemes of the proposed method (HBEAMM) were obtained by continuous formulations of multistep collocation method by matrix inversion approach. The necessary and sufficient conditions for convergence and stability of the method were analyzed and proved satisfactory. The discrete schemes obtained were applied in solving some advanced stochastic time-delay differential equations and the results obtained revealed the degree of customers’ satisfaction in the use of e-payment systems. The accuracy of the method is compared with other existing methods and presented graphically to prove its superiority.
Safe duration of silicon catheter replacement in urological patients
Authors: A. Oyortey Mawuenyo , A. Essoun Samuel , A. Ali Mahamudu , Abdul-Rahman Mubarak , Welbeck James , C. B. Dakubo Jonathan , E. Mensah James
Published: March 2023

Objectives: This study compared the infection rates, degree of encrustation, symptoms, and complications in patients regarding the duration of urethral catheterisation (three weeks, six weeks, and eight weeks).Design: A cross-sectional study with stratified simple random samplingSetting: Urology Unit, Korle Bu Teaching HospitalParticipants: One hundred and thirty-seven male patients with long-term urinary cathetersInterventions: Participants were grouped into 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 8 weeks duration of catheter replacementsPrimary outcomes measures: Symptoms due to the urinary catheters, urinalysis, urine and catheter tip cultures, sensitivity, and catheter encrustations were assessed.Results: Eighty-six patients had a primary diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 35 had urethral strictures,13 had prostate cancer, two had BPH and urethral strictures, and one participant had bladder cancer. There was no difference in the symptoms the participants in the different groups experienced due to the urinary catheters (p > 0.05). The frequency of occurrence of complications (pyuria, p = 0.784; blocked catheter, p=0.097; urethral bleeding, p=0.148; epididymo-orchitis, p=0.769 and bladder spasms, p=1.000) showed no differences in the three groups. There was no statistical difference in the urinalysis for the three groups (p>0.05) and the degree of encrustations (3 weeks: 0.03 ± 0.06, 6 weeks: 0.11±0.27 and eight weeks: 0.12 ±0.27) with p=0.065.Conclusions: In this study, the duration of urinary catheterisation using silicone Foley’s catheters did not influence the complication and symptom rates; hence silicon catheters can be placed in situ for up to 8 weeks before replacement instead of the traditional three-weekly change.
Ophthalmic services utilisation and associated factors in the Ashanti region, Ghana
Authors: Mohammed Abdul-Kabir , J. Munsamy Alvin
Published: March 2023

Objective: This survey determined the utilisation of eye care services and associated factors among adults in the Ashanti region of Ghana.Design: A population-based cross-sectional descriptive studyMethod: Data for this study was collected from 1615 randomly selected individuals in the Ashanti region of Ghana, using a structured, pretested interviewer-guided questionnaire. Information regarding the accessibility and determinants of, and barriers to, eye care services was based on self-reports, using the WHO Eye Care Services Assessment Questionnaire. Inferential analyses were performed using the chi-square test for statistical significance, set at p=0.05.Setting: Ashanti Region, GhanaParticipants: One thousand six hundred and fifteen randomly selected adultsResults: Public eye care facilities were used by 58.2% of the participants for their last eye exam. Of the participants, 47.0% had travelled less than five kilometres for their last eye exam. Waiting time and service cost were participants’ most frequently cited challenges in seeking care. No need felt (40.1%), self-medication (37.7%) and cost (22.2%) were the most frequently mentioned barriers to seeking ophthalmic services.Conclusion: The major challenges encountered in seeking eye care services were waiting time and cost of service. Major barriers to ophthalmic services utilisation were no need felt, self-medication and cost. Factors such as cost, lack of felt need and self-medication, which serve as barriers to utilising eye care services, should be addressed by stakeholders through eye health education and promotion.
TẠO DÒNG GEN ERNS CỦA VIRUS GÂY BỆNH DỊCH TẢ HEO - HƯỚNG TỚI TẠO VACCINE TIỂU ĐƠN VỊ PHÒNG CHỐNG BỆNH DỊCH TẢ HEO
Authors: NGUYỄN MINH NAM  , NGUYỄN THỊ PHƯƠNG BÌNH  , LẠI CÔNG DANH  , NGUYỄN NGỌC HẢI
Published: March 2023

Virus dịch tả heo cổ điển (CSFV) được cấu tạo gồm 4 protein cấu trúc, trong đó Erns là một yếu tố độc lực quan trọng trong chẩn đoán huyết thanh học và chế tạo vaccine. Nghiên cứu này được tiến hành nhằm tạo ra các dòng tế bào E. coli mang đầy đủ trình tự gen Erns và bước đầu đánh giá tính khả thi trong việc tạo ra protein Erns tái tổ hợp. 21 trình tự của gen Erns đã được thu thập, chèn vào plasmid, và được biến nạp vào các tế bào E. coli khả nạp. Plasmid từ những dòng vi khuẩn được chèn gen thành công được ly trích và giải trình tự nhằm đánh giá hiệu quả của phương pháp tạo dòng. Kết quả giải trình tự cho thấy, nghiên cứu đã tạo thành công 21 dòng E. coli mang gen Erns của các chủng thực địa. 21 trình tự này có độ tương đồng rất cao về nucleotide (88,99 – 98,38%) và amino acid (87,67 – 99,56%) với 100 trình tự có độ tương đồng cao nhất trên NCBI.
NGHIÊN CỨU CẤU TẠO GIẢI PHẪU VÀ HOẠT TÍNH KHÁNG KHUẨN CỦA CAO CHIẾT ETHANOL TỪ THÂN RỄ CÂY SÂM ĐÁ KBANG (Curcuma singularis Gagnep.)
Authors: LÊ THỊ THU TRANG  , VÕ PHÁT THỊNH  , HỒ THIÊN HOÀNG
Published: March 2023

Nghiên cứu này tiến hành mô tả đặc điểm về cấu tạo giải phẫu của các bộ phận (rễ, thân rễ, bẹ lá, phiến lá) của cây Sâm đá Kbang (Curcuma singularis Gagnep.), một loài mới được ghi nhận ở Việt Nam năm 2016. Hoạt tính kháng khuẩn của cao chiết ethanol từ thân rễ cây Sâm đá Kbang được xác định bằng phương pháp khuếch tán đĩa thạch, phương pháp xác định nồng độ ức chế tối thiểu (MIC) và nồng độ diệt khuẩn tối thiểu (MBC). Hình ảnh cấu tạo giải phẫu Sâm đá kbang cho thấy cấu trúc đặc trưng của thân rễ với nhiều bó vết lá nằm rải rác trong vùng vỏ; mô mềm ở rễ và thân rễ có nhiều tế bào chứa chất tiết màu vàng; bẹ lá và phiến lá với nhiều bó dẫn xếp thành hàng, biểu bì ở phiến lá có nhiều lông che chở đa bào.  Cao chiết ethanol từ thân rễ cây Sâm đá Kbang thể hiện hoạt lực kháng mạnh với một số chủng khuẩn kiểm định như MRSA, MSSA; kháng trung bình với chủng Pseudomonas aeruginosa và Escherichia coli.