bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of heavy-section ductile iron fracture toughness based on machine learning
Authors: Song Liang , Zhang Hongcheng , Zhang Junxing , Guo Hai
Published: November 2023

The preparation process and composition design of heavy-section ductile iron are the key factors affecting its fracture toughness. These factors are challenging to address due to the long casting cycle, high cost and complex influencing factors of this type of iron. In this paper, 18 cubic physical simulation test blocks with 400 mm wall thickness were prepared by adjusting the C, Si and Mn contents in heavy-section ductile iron using a homemade physical simulation casting system. Four locations with different cooling rates were selected for each specimen, and 72 specimens with different compositions and cooling times of the heavy-section ductile iron were prepared. Six machine learning-based heavy-section ductile iron fracture toughness predictive models were constructed based on measured data with the C content, Si content, Mn content and cooling rate as input data and the fracture toughness as the output data. The experimental results showed that the constructed bagging model has high accuracy in predicting the fracture toughness of heavy-section ductile iron, with a coefficient of coefficient (R2) of 0.9990 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.2373. Therefore, the design requirements of high fracture toughness heavy-section ductile iron, such as nuclear spent fuel storage and transportation containers, wind power generation bases and high-speed railroads, are satisfied.
Yield productivity enhancement through reduced plant spacing and pruning tolerance of Jatropha hybrids
Authors: Arunyanark Anuruck , Foytong Kanniga , Jompuk Choosak , Srini Peerasak , Tanya Patcharin
Published: November 2023

Reducing plant spacing and pruning Jatropha hybrids may increase yield. The study aimed to investigate the effect of reduced plant spacing on yield productivity, assess pruning tolerance, and discover the relationship between yield and growth traits of Jatropha hybrids. Fourteen Jatropha hybrid genotypes evaluated yield with narrow and standard plant spacing for two years. After the first year, the Jatropha hybrid plants were hard-pruned and allowed to regrow in the second year. It found that although narrower plant spacing might reduce Jatropha hybrid growth and yield per plant, increasing plant density by reducing plant spacing could increase fruit yield, seed yield, and oil yield by up to 65.46%, 64.73%, and 63.25%, respectively, when compared to standard spacing. Furthermore, hard pruning could improve the growth of Jatropha hybrids, and pruning tolerance varied between genotypes. Under narrow spacing, KUJL110 and KUJL70 had the highest yields after pruning, and KUJL110, KUJL30, and KUJL23 had the highest pruning tolerance index (PTI). It discovered a correlation (ranging from 0.49** to 0.86**) between yield traits and plant height, canopy width, and the number of secondary branches. Additionally, a correlation (ranging from 0.51** to 0.83**) was found between oil content and shelling, as well as 100 seed weight. As a result, these traits may serve as an indirect tool for selecting Jatropha genotypes with high-yield traits.
Appropriate choice of Capacitive sensor bandwidth
Authors: Ghemari Zine , Belkhiri Salah , Saad Salah
Published: November 2023

To optimize the accuracy of a capacitive sensor, a suitable choice of frequency margin is essential. The frequency margin refers to the difference between the resonant frequency of the sensor and the operating frequency.
The choice of frequency margin should consider the material properties of the target being sensed. Different materials have varying dielectric constants, which affect their capacitance. A wider frequency margin may be required for materials with high dielectric constants to ensure accurate measurements.
Preliminary establishment and validation of the inversion method for growth and remodeling parameters of patient-specific abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Peng Chen , He Wei , Luan Jingyang , Yuan Tong , Fu Weiguo , Shi Yun , Wang Shengzhang
Published: November 2023

Background
Traditional medical imaging studies and biomechanical researches have limitations in analyzing the long-term evolution process of AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, AAA). The HCMT (Homogenized Constrained Mixture Theory, HCMT) allows for quantitative analysis of the changes of the three-dimensional morphology and composition of AAA. However, the accuracy of HCMT still requires further clinical verification.
Objective
This study aims to establish a patient-specific AAA growth model based on HCMT, simulate the long-term G&R (Growth and Remodeling G&R) process of AAA, and validate the feasibility and accuracy of the method using two additional AAA cases with 5 follow-up data.
Methods
The media and adventitia of the aorta were modeled as mixtures composed of elastin, collagen fibers, and SMC (smooth muscle cells, SMC). The strain energy function was used to describe the continuously generation and degradation of the mixture during the AAA G&R process. Multiple sets of growth parameters were applied to finite element simulations, and the simulation results were compared with the follow-up data for gradually selecting the optimal growth parameters. Two additional AAA patients with different growth rates were used for validating the method, the optimal growth parameters were obtained using the first two follow-up imaging data, and the growth model was applied to simulate the subsequent four time points. The differences between the simulated diameters and the follow-up diameters of AAA were compared to validate the accuracy of the growth model.
Results
The growth parameters, especially the stress-mediated substance deposition gain factor Kσi, is highly related to the AAA G&R process. When setting the optimal growth parameters to simulate AAA growth, the proportion of simulation results within the distance of less than 0.5 mm from the follow-up model is above 80%. For the validating cases, during the 5 follow-up processes, the mean difference rates between the simulated diameter and the real-world diameter are within 2.5%, which basically meets the clinical demand for quantitatively predicting the AAA growth in maximum diameters.
Conclusion
This study simulated the growth process of AAA, and validated the accuracy of this growth model. This method was proved to be used to predict the G&R process of AAA caused by dynamic changes in the mixtures of the AAA vessel wall at a long-term time scale, assisting accurately and quantitatively predicting the multi-dimensional morphological development and mixtures evolution process of AAA in clinic.
Comparative transcriptomic study on the ovarian cancer between chicken and human
Authors: Zhu Guoqiang , Wang Xinglong , Wang Yajun , Huang Tianjiao , Zhang Xiao , He Jiliang , Shi Ningkun , Chen Juntao , Zhang Mao , Li Juan
Published: November 2023

Background
The laying hen is the only spontaneous model of ovarian tumor. But no studies have systematically compared the molecular mechanisms of ovarian cancer in hens and women.
Methods
We performed RNA sequencing of nine chicken ovarian tumor samples and four normal ovarian samples, which has been deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus under accession number GSE246604. Together with five public datasets (GSE21706, GSE40376, GSE18520, GSE27651, GSE66957), we conducted a comparative transcriptomics study.
Results
In our RNA-seq data, a total of 549 and 2654 differentially expressed genes were identified in early-stage ovarian cancer vs. normal and late-stage ovarian cancer vs. normal, respectively. And molecular signals from nine cancer hallmarks, twenty-five KEGG pathways, and three hundred and sixty-nine GO pathways exhibited abnormalities in ovarian cancer compared to normal ovaries. In the comparative transcriptomics analysis, we have uncovered the conservation of eighty-one pathways between chicken and human using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Moreover, a total of one hundred seventy-four genes were identified for the core enrichment of these pathways.
Conclusions
We are the first to report the differential expression profiles of ovarian cancer in early and late stages in domestic chickens, which contributes to our understanding of the development of ovarian cancer in domestic chickens. Through comparative transcriptome analysis, we also disclosed for the first time molecular pathways and core genes of ovarian cancer shared between hens and women, which informs model animal studies and gene-targeted drug development.
The Gut Microbiome in End-stage Lung Disease and Lung Transplantation
Authors: Zhang Shuyan , Swarte J. Casper , Gacesa Ranko , Knobbe Tim J. , Kremer Daan , Jansen Bernadien H. , Borst Martin H. , Harmsen Hermie J.M. , Erasmus Michiel E. , Verschuuren Erik A.M. , Bakker Stephan J.L. , Gan C. Tji , Weersma Rinse K. , Björk Johannes R.
Published: November 2023

Background
Gut dysbiosis has been associated with impaired outcomes in liver and kidney transplant recipients but the gut microbiome of lung transplant recipients has not been previously studied.
Methods
We assessed the gut microbiome in 64 faecal samples from end-stage lung disease patients before transplantation and 219 samples from lung transplant recipients after transplantation using metagenomic sequencing. To identify dysbiotic microbial signatures, we analysed 243 faecal samples from age-, sex- and BMI-matched healthy controls. By unsupervised clustering, we identified five groups of lung transplant recipients using different combinations of immunosuppressants and antibiotics and analysed them in relation to the gut microbiome. Finally, we investigated the gut microbiome composition of lung transplant recipients in different chronic lung allograft dysfunction stages and longitudinal gut microbiome changes after transplantation.
Results
We found 108 species (58.1%) in end-stage lung disease patients and 139 species (74.7%) in lung transplant recipients that were differentially abundant compared with healthy controls, with several species exhibiting sharp longitudinal increases from before to after transplantation. Different combinations of immunosuppressants and antibiotics were associated with specific gut microbial signatures. We found that the gut microbiome of lung transplant recipients in chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) stage 0 was more similar to healthy controls compared to those in CLAD stage 1. Finally, the gut microbial diversity of lung transplant recipients remained lower than the average gut microbial diversity of healthy controls up to more than 20 years post-transplantation.
Conclusions
Gut dysbiosis, already present before lung transplantation was exacerbated following lung transplantation, including decreased microbial diversity, reduced abundances of important metabolic pathways and higher prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors.
Study on the Effect of Cinder Ash as Auxiliary Additive Mineral in Hydrated Lime Treatment for Expansive Subgrade Soil for Road Construction
Authors: Bassa Abrham , Bekele Belay
Published: November 2023

Expansive soils are one of a major challenging soil for road construction in all over the world, the swelling and shrinkage behavior of expansive soil response to changes in moisture content and as a consequence it's leading to pavement failure. From the chemical additives, hydrated lime is one of a common improver used to stabilize expansive soils, but the use of it can be expensive and lead economical limitation and also require a long curing time. A Cinder ash is both a naturally and industrially byproduct available mineral which has been the most likely auxiliary additive mineral for hydrated lime stabilization of expansive soils. This research work is designed to analyze the improvement of the problematic sub-grade soil with the conjugation of random distributed local natural cinder ash in the proportion of 20 to 35% with a 2 to 5% proportion of hydrated lime. The subgrade soil treated with the conjugation of cinder ash and hydrated lime indicated appropriate improvement in the engineering properties of the soil compared to the native subgrade soil. However, the test result showed a reduction in moisture content, swelling properties, and liquid limit, which were noted in all cinder ash and hydrated lime composites. The samples of soil and cinder ash are collected from Wolaita region Kindo Didaye Woreda Belle Keble of Ethiopia. The MDD, OMC, CBR, and UCS values of the untreated soil were 1.429g/cc, 25.71%, 2.85% and 36.5kpa respectively. The method of characterization is done as per AAS HTO and ASTM test methods, which are recommended by the Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA). The proportion used to treat expansive subgrade soil for characterization was, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35% for cinder ash, and 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%, for hydrated lime are used accordingly. The analysis presented that, MDD increased and OMC decreased with increased percent of cinder ash and hydrated lime. The three-point soaked CBR test indicated that the value increased from 2.7–12.8%, this result shows that the CBR value is increased by 374% from the native soil CBR value when the expansive soil is treated with the mixture of 35% of cinder ash and 5% of hydrated lime. 4.54 kg surcharged swell value is decreased from 3.56–0.38% as a percent of 20 to 35 of cinder ash and 2 to 5 percent of hydrated lime are conjugated on an expansive soil. Besides, the developed simple linear regression analysis of a statistical model indicated a good agreement with the experimental study. Results from the current study concluded that stabilizing problematic subgrade soil with cinder ash and the hydrated lime mix was an economical and environmentally friendly investigation method to improve expansive subgrade soil. It can be shown from the conducted experimental results, developed excel graphs, and statistical model, the improvement method formed conjugation with successful environmental grip between cinder ash and hydrated lime composite was obtained.
Der Prototyp „Freiform“ als curriculare Antwort auf die Herausforderungen der „future skills“
Authors: Kunz Regula , Hatsikas-Schroeder Nina
Published: November 2023

Die Zukunft stellt die Hochschulen und ihre Bildung vor ganz neue Herausforderungen. Anhand des Gedankenexperimentes von EHLERS (2020), wie Bildung aufgrund der „future skills“ zukünftig gestaltet sein soll, wird ein Prototyp eines Curriculums beschrieben. In der Essenz ist er für alle Bildungskontexte nutzbar. In einem Design-Thinking-Prozess wurde dieser zusammen mit Studierenden und Expert:innen der Praxis entwickelt und in vier Jahren erprobt. Ab Herbst 2023 ist er in ein reguläres Studienangebot überführt. Eine Evaluation des innovativen Curriculums zeigt den Erfolg wie auch weiteren Entwicklungbedarf auf.
Competition meets Collaboration – Podiumsdiskussion als methodisches Format
Authors: Sailer-Frank Sabrina , Annen Silvia
Published: November 2023

Spielerische Designs (z. B. Planspiele) gewinnen zunehmend an Beliebtheit, um Studierenden fachliche sowie soziale Kompetenzen zu vermitteln. Der vorliegende Beitrag befasst sich mit der Förderung von Kollaboration innerhalb des Formats Podiumsdiskussion. Dieses Format stellt eine weiterentwickelte Form des Planspiels dar und vereint sowohl kompetitive als auch kollaborative Phasen. Die empirische Begleitung eines Bachelorkurses im Sommersemester 2021 an der Universität Bamberg ermöglicht eine Überprüfung des Formats hinsichtlich der Wirksamkeit. Ziel ist die Ableitung respektive Diskussion von Empfehlungen für kollaborative sowie kompetitive Ansätze in der Hochschullehre.
ANALISIS BIBLIOMETRIK PENELITIAN PARIWISATA SYARIAH HALAL DI INDONESIA MELALUI DATABASE SCOPUS
Authors: Harmoko Irfan
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this research is to analyze the bibliometric characteristics and trends in scholarly publications on halal tourism in Indonesia based on the Scopus database. Data collection was conducted in March 2023, using the search keyword "halal tourism in Indonesia." The data was retrieved from the Scopus database from 2016 to the first quarter of 2023. The data was processed using the Vos Viewer application. The study results indicate that the number of scholarly publications in the Scopus database related to halal tourism in Indonesia has increased. The most popular journal in this field is the Journal of Islamic Marketing. The dominant document type is articles. The most influential authors are Wardi Y., Abror A., and Trinanda O., affiliated with Universitas Negeri Padang, with seventy-four citations. There are six research clusters based on keyword searches. The keywords "economic growth" and "perceived value" emerged as significant in the latest research in 2022. These keywords are strongly related to halal tourism, indicating that future research opportunities using these keywords have a high level of novelty. Additionally, this research also provides nine recommendations for future studies on the theme of halal tourism in Indonesia.
Brand building and relationships between marketing communication perceptions and brand personality of the Bangsaen 42 Chonburi Marathon running event
Authors: Sonchan Saralee , Sonchan Wirat
Published: November 2023

The Bangsaen 42 Chonburi Marathon is the most attended full-marathon event in Thailand and a high-standard running event classified as the World Athletics Elite Label Road Race. The increase in runners reflected the response from both regular and new runners. This mixed methods study aimed to analyze branding processes, marketing communication perceptions, brand personality, and the relationships between perceptions of marketing communication and brand personality. The qualitative approach involved in-depth interviews with three key informants. A quantitative approach was applied to the questionnaire. The sample included 400 runners who participated in this event using nonprobability sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation statistics, with a significance level of 0.05. The results showed three brand-building processes: 1) strategic brand analysis of runners’ needs, organizing marathon running events in Thailand, and self-analysis; 2) brand identity system under the only marathon running event in Thailand with world-class standards under the concept of “The passion of world-class marathon” and brand value of “You will run a full marathon with world-class standard;” 3) brand identity implementation systems through various media to demonstrate sound management. This sample group perceived marketing communication at a moderate level, and the perceptions of brand personality of the marathon met the competence the most. The relationships between marketing communication and perceptions of sincerity were positively correlated, with a correlation coefficient of 0.46 and a statistical significance of 0.05.
AcknowledgmentA research grant from the Faculty of Sport Science, Burapha University supports this study.
Solar Energy in Kurdistan, Iraq: A Comprehensive Review of Economic and Environmental Implications, Policies, and Advancements
Authors: VAZİRİ Roozbeh
Published: November 2023

This review article prepares an evaluation of the role that solar energy plays, in Kurdistan, Iraq. Specifically, it concentrates on the implications for the region’s economy and environment. By considering sources and empirical studies this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of solar energy adoption in Kurdistan. In addition, it explores the associated policy framework. Evaluates both the economic effects, within this specific context. The initial analysis discovers the network of policies and regulations that shape the energy landscape in Kurdistan. It prepares insights, into the opportunities and challenges associated with these policies. The study also considers the advancements in photovoltaic systems, energy storage, and grid integration in this region. These advancements play a significant role in ensuring efficient solar power generation.
Moreover, this review thoroughly evaluates the impact of energy. It emphasizes how cost-effective it is and highlights its potential to increase energy security mitigate reliance on fuels and stimulate growth, in Kurdistan. It also discovers the barriers to adoption, offering insights into financing mechanisms and investment strategies essential for unlocking the full economic potential of solar energy. In the realm of environmental considerations, this review evaluates the profound effect of solar energy adoption in terms of reducing carbon emissions, reducing air pollution, and promoting sustainable development. The results emphasize the regional commitment to a cleaner and more environmentally responsible energy infrastructure.
Finally, this article underscores the multifaceted opportunities and challenges that solar energy presents in Kurdistan. Preparing a balanced evaluation of policy, technology, economics, and environmental aspects, equips policymakers, scholars, and industry stakeholders with valuable insights for fostering the widespread integration of solar energy in this dynamic region. Through critical analysis and nuanced recommendations, this review contributes to the current discourse on Kurdistan's transition toward a sustainable and economically viable energy landscape.
Resilience enhancement of water distribution networks under pipe failures: a hydraulically inspired complex network approach
Authors: Hajibabaei Mohsen , Yousefi Azadeh , Hesarkazzazi Sina , Minaei Amin , Jenewein Oswald , Shahandashti Mohsen , Sitzenfrei Robert
Published: November 2023

The resilience of water distribution networks (WDNs) should be proactively evaluated to reduce the potential impacts of disruptive events. This study proposes a novel hydraulically-inspired complex network approach (HCNA) to assess and enhance WDN resilience in the case of single-pipe failure. Unlike conventional hydraulic-based models, HCNA requires no hydraulic simulations for resilience analysis. Instead, it quantifies the failure consequences of edges (pipes) on the WDN graph by incorporating topological attributes with flow redistribution triggered by failures. This HCNA procedure leads to the identification of critical edges (pipes), as well as impacted ones, representing edges more susceptible to the failure of others. The impacted edges are then systematically resized by integrating HCNA with a graph-based design approach, obtaining a wide range of resilience enhancement solutions. A comparative study between HCNA and a hydraulic-based model for three WDNs confirms HCNA's effectiveness in identifying the most critical pipes in various network sizes. Furthermore, HCNA provides comparable resilience enhancement solutions with a hydraulic-based evolutionary optimization but with significantly lower computational effort (1,400 times faster). Thus, it can efficiently be used for resilience enhancement of large-scale WDNs, where the application of conventional optimizations is limited due to the intensive computational workload.
An Insight into Hepatitis C Virus: In Search of Promising Drug Targets
Authors: Dwivedi Manish , Dwivedi Aditya , Mukherjee Debalina
Published: November 2023

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a global health concern, chronically infecting over 70 million people worldwide. HCV is a bloodborne pathogen that primarily affects the liver, and chronic
HCV infection can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure over time. There is an urgent
need for more effective approaches to prevent and treat HCV. This review summarizes current
knowledge on the virology, transmission, diagnosis, and management of HCV infection. It also
provides an in-depth analysis of HCV proteins as promising targets for antiviral drug and vaccine
development. Specific HCV proteins discussed as potential drug targets include the NS5B polymerase, NS3/4A protease, entry receptors like CD81, and core proteins. The implications of HCV
proteins as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are also explored. Current direct-acting antiviral
therapies are effective but have cost, genotype specificity, and resistance limitations. This review
aims to synthesize essential information on HCV biology and pathogenesis to inform future research on improved preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies against this global infectious
disease threat.
Efficacy of Rituximab on Refractory Organ Involvements in
Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
Authors: Hajishah Hamed , Amini Mohammad Javad , Chadeganipour Amir Shayan , Salehi Seyyed Amirhossein , Kazemi Danial
Published: November 2023

Introduction:

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a type of Antineutrophil cytoplasmic
antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) characterized by necrotizing vasculitis affecting
small and medium-sized blood vessels. GPA affects various organs, with respiratory tract,
vasculitis and glomerulonephritis being the most common triad. Remission induction and maintenance
therapy for GPA traditionally involves corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. However,
treatment with rituximab, a monoclonal antibody that depletes B-cells involved in autoimmune disease,
has been successful in inducing remission in several studies. The purpose of this systematic
review was to investigate the efficacy of rituximab in treating various clinical manifestations of
GPA.

Methods:

In adherence to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, we carried
out a comprehensive review to investigate the effectiveness of rituximab on particular organ
involvement in GPA. We searched three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Embase) up until
November 6, 2022, for case reports on the topic. To ensure all relevant studies were included, we
manually screened the first 50 pages of Google Scholar's search results.

Results:

The review identified a total of 64 case reports and a case series of 113 cases, highlighting
the effectiveness of rituximab in treating refractory organ involvement in GPA. The review also
analyzed the effectiveness of rituximab in treating ocular, CNS, cardiac, pulmonary, cutaneous,
gastrointestinal, renal, and other organ involvements in GPA.

Conclusions:

Our results indicated that rituximab can be a promising therapy for treating specific
clinical manifestations of several organ involvements. However, more research is needed to determine
the long-term efficacy of rituximab in treating GPA.
Estimating the Size of the Hidden Population of COVID-19
Authors: Mehraeen Esmaeil , Akhtaran Fatemeh Khajeh , Faridrohani Mohammad Reza , Afzalian Arian , Mojdeganlou Hengameh , Ghanbari Zeinab , Fathzadeh Yasamin , Gholizadeh Mohadeseh , SeyedAlinaghi SeyedAhmad , Hackett Daniel
Published: November 2023

Introduction:

An asymptomatic population has the same infection as symptomatic individuals,
so these individuals can unknowingly spread the virus. It is not possible to predict the rate of
epidemic growth by considering only the identified isolated or hospitalized population. In this study,
we want to estimate the size of the COVID-19 population, based on information derived from patients
visiting medical centers. So, individuals who do not receive a formal diagnosis in those medical
centers can be considered as hidden.

Methodology:

To estimate the Bayesian size of the hidden population of COVID-19 a respondentdriven
sampling (RDS) method was used. Twenty-three people infected with COVID-19 seeds and
who had positive PCR test results were selected as seeds. These participants were asked whether any
of their friends and acquaintances who had COVID-19 did not visit a medical center or hid their illness.
Access to other patients was gained through friendship and kinship, hence allowing the sampling
process to proceed.

Results:

Out of 23 selected seeds, only 15 seeds remained in the sample and the rest were excluded
due to not participating in the further sampling process. After 5 waves, 50 people with COVID-19
who had hidden their disease and were not registered in the official statistics were included in the
sample. It was estimated that 12,198 people were infected with COVID-19 in Khalkhal city in 2022.
This estimate was much higher than recorded in the official COVID-19 statistics.

Conclusions:

The study findings indicate that the estimated 'true' numbers of COVID-19 patients in
one town in Iran were significantly higher compared to the official numbers. The RDS method can
help capture the potential size of infections in further pandemics or outbreaks globally.
An Overview of the Global Alarming Increase of Multiple Drug Resistant: A Major Challenge in Clinical Diagnosis
Authors: Alara John Adewole , Alara Oluwaseun Ruth
Published: November 2023

The increased spreading of antibiotic resistance among different infectious agents has been
a fast-growing public health challenge worldwide; this is because of the discovery of new resistance
mechanisms and the reduction in quality and effective treatments of general pathogenic infections.
This has caused unsuccessful microbial responses to standard therapy, which could lead to a higher
risk of mortality, prolonged illness, and more expenditures for health care. Most parasites, bacteria,
fungi, and viruses can produce a higher degree of multidrug resistance (MDR) with increased mortality
and morbidity. Moreover, the establishment of MDR can be a natural phenomenon, improper
utilization of antimicrobial drugs, lack of proper sanitary conditions, poor method of food handling,
and absence of infection prevention and control (IPC), which could be responsible for the further
spreading of MDR. Moreover, MDR helminth’s mechanism of action can occur via genetic alterations
in the drug transport, metabolisms and target sites. MDR bacterial mode of action such as cell
wall synthesis inhibitors, DNA synthesis inhibitors and so on. However, there have been different
approaches to managing and preventing multi-drug resistance. Hence, this review’s aim is to educate
the public about the global increase of multiple drug resistance and the danger ahead if appropriate
measures are not put in place to combat microbial infections.
The impact of authentic leadership on nurses’ locus of control and general self-efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Gonzales Analita
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to healthcare providers, significantly impacting their well-being. Recognizing the importance of supporting healthcare professionals, this study investigates the interplay between authentic leadership, locus of control, and general self-efficacy among nurses during the pandemic. Employing a descriptive cross-sectional approach, 268 staff nurses participated in this study, conducted in the Tabuk Region of Saudi Arabia, with King Fahad and King Khaled Hospitals as the primary referral centers. Convenience sampling was utilized, and data collection was carried out using a Google Form survey questionnaire from December 2022 to January 2023. The study revealed that participants perceived their leaders as effective and authentic, and they exhibited a stronger external locus of control and higher General Self-Efficacy (GSE). Significant differences were observed based on nationality, ward assignment, and authentic leadership, with associated implications for locus of control and GSE. Authentic leadership exhibited a moderate positive correlation with the external locus of control and a strong positive correlation with the internal locus of control. However, no significant correlation was found between authentic leadership and GSE. These findings emphasize the potential of leadership development programs to nurture genuine leadership skills among nurse managers, creating conducive work environments that foster self-efficacy and enhance retention of newcomers to the nursing profession.
The Necessity for Auditory Training with Idiomatic Expressions
Authors: Lee HyoIn , Shin Eun-Yeong
Published: November 2023

The goal of auditory training is to improve comprehensive listening skills for the hearing impaired. Listening ability does not simply mean the level of recognizing speech sounds by distinguishing them, but also includes predicting the speaker’s intention according to the situation and context, and responding appropriately. Speakers create their utterances in a way that tries to convey their intended meaning with minimal effort under the economic principle, resulting in concise expressions that are contingent on the context and situation. Therefore, correct listening education and training should be structured to have the ability to fully understand the omitted implications and implications contained in the speaker’s speech. For auditory training for those with hearing impaired to be effective, speech perception training must extend beyond simple phonological perception by integrating one's background knowledge and communication schema within various situations and contexts. Therefore, auditory training using idiomatic expressions plays a crucial role in improving the ability to construct discourse meanings as well as comprehend the speech patterns encountered by hearing-impaired individuals in their daily communication. It is necessary to select idiomatic expressions frequently encountered in real-world communication situations and conduct auditory training by presenting transparent expressions to opaque expressions, facilitating the hearing-impaired's grasp of meaning with ease.
DEVELOPMENT, CHARACTERIZATION, AND EVALUATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF BIODEGRADABLE POROUS SCAFFOLDS LOADED WITH NATURAL VANILLIN
Authors: AKILA R. M. , JANANI M.
Published: November 2023

Objective: The study's objective is to create biodegradable porous scaffolds that are filled with natural vanillin and assess their in vitro antibacterial activity.
Methods: Scaffolds were fabricated by blending different ratios of chitosan and gelatin along with vanillin using the freeze-drying method. Then the following characterization and evaluation of scaffolds, such as FTIR, SEM, porosity, swelling behaviour, degradation studies, in vitro drug release, and antibacterial studies, were carried out.
Results: All of the scaffolds that were created had heterogeneous, well-connected pores and were pale yellow in color. This was validated by SEM, where the porosity is greater than 80% and the mean pore size ranges from 105.25±6.35 µm to 188.58±7.51 µm. With an increase in gelatin concentration, all of the scaffolds showed the maximum water absorption and retention capabilities of 760.15%±4.38% and 664.73%±5.82%. In the 7-day degradation investigation, all samples lost close to 60% of their mass. In the formulation CG11, the vanillin was released gradually over about 96 h. According to the present study, the developed scaffolds CG13-A and CG13-B, as well as CG11-A and CG11-B, displayed a higher zone of inhibition.
Conclusion: Due to its potent antibacterial capabilities, it may be inferred from the current research that vanillin clothed in chitosan-gelatin scaffolds would be a superior option for treating various wound infections, including diabetic wounds.
Migration of Data from RDBMS to NOSQL and Possibility of Implementing a Single Query Language for NOSQL Databases
Authors: Guliyev Amir , Kazazi Dr. Fjorda
Published: November 2023

Abstract: The migration of data from RDBMS to NoSQL database systems gains increasing popularity nowadays. This research assesses the possibility of implementing an application that would function with all NoSQL databases. Furthermore, it dives into the ways of developing a Single Query Language for all NoSQL databases. Findings suggest that the potential for specialized frameworks within such a language would simplify the usage of this language by programmers. Research also suggests that the language could be bolstered by collaborative efforts between database corporations and beta testing of the language to set a pathway towards achieving this unified language. This literature signifies how important it is to consider user feedback to achieve the expected result. As we can see from previous methods explored, UnQL ceased its existence.
Autorregulación del aprendizaje como predictor de la autoeficacia académica en universitarios del Ecuador
Authors: Regatto-Bonifaz Jacqueline del Pilar , Viteri-Miranda Víctor Manuel , Moreta-Herrera Rodrigo
Published: November 2023

La autorregulación del aprendizaje (ARA) y la autoeficacia académica (AA) forman parte de la teoría social cognitiva y del aprendizaje, y cumplen un rol fundamental en el contexto educativo. Este trabajo tiene por objetivo identificar el potencial explicativo de la ARA en la AA en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios del Ecuador. Se utilizó una metodología cuantitativa, descriptiva y explicativa por medio del modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM). La muestra la comprenden 570 estudiantes de dos universidades públicas del Ecuador. El 76 % son mujeres y el 24 % son varones, con edades entre los 17 y los 56 años (M = 25.29). Los resultados reflejan que existe una correlación positiva y moderada entre la ARA y la AA. Además, no se presentan diferencias significativas por género (p > .05) en ambos atributos. A nivel de influencia, la ARA explica en un 23.8 % los cambios de la varianza de la AA mediante de técnicas SEM. Se concluye que la ARA es un predictor moderado de la AA en universitarios del Ecuador.
Ethnopharmacology Study of Traditional Herbs as Anti-dandruff and Anti-baldness in Amarasi District, Kupang Regency
Authors: Upa Muhamad Satria Mandala Pua , Bessi Marce Inggritha Taku , Korassa Yulius Baki , I.M. Indrawati Maria
Published: November 2023

Backgrounds: Hot weather in Indonesia can cause problems with hair and scalp health, including dandruff (seborrheic) and cause hair roots to become weak, making it easier for hair loss or alopecia to occur. The Amarasi people still do hair and scalp treatments with traditional plants. Objectives: This study aims to determine the ethnopharmacology of herbs as anti-dandruff and anti-baldness in Amarasi sub-district, Kupang district, including plant names, plant properties, plant parts, processing methods, usage methods and usage rules. Methods: This research is a qualitative descriptive study with an exploratory observational design. The data was obtained in the form of a survey by interviewing respondents with the help of a questionnaire. The sample in this study was a traditional healer (Hatra) who understood the use and use of anti-dandruff and anti-baldness drugs. Sampling was carried out using a purposive sampling techniq namely Hatra who were over 20 years old and had experience as a hatred for more than 3 years and above. The sample in this study was 17 traditional healers (Hatra). Results: result research shows that there are 18 plants consisting of 8 single plants and 16 herbs that are used and efficacious as anti-dandruff and anti-baldness. The plant parts used are leaves, fruit, seeds, sap/mucus, tube and oots. the method of processing plants for hair and scalp care by burning, splitting, fryinsqueezing and g, mashing, then, how to use it is washed, smearing, washedmassagingsaged. Rules for using plants 1-2 times a week. Conclusion: The Amarasi community has traditional plants and herbs that can be used as a treatment for scalp problems, including anti-dandruff, preventing hair loss and nourishing hair (anti-baldness). These plants based on research literacy studies conducted by previous researchers proved to have potential in the treatment of anti-dandruff and antibody.
Phytochemical and Antioxidant Activity Evaluation of Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) Juice Powder
Authors: Rahmiati Nur , Sari Retno , Wahyuni Tutik Sri
Published: November 2023

Background: Many chronic diseases that occur in society can be caused by free radicals. Excessive free radicals in the body can contribute to oxidative stress. Therefore, the role of antioxidants in needed to inhibit the effects of free radicals. Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) is a plant that contains several active compounds. The lime juice was reported to contain flavonoids and ascorbic acid which have several bioactivities including antioxidants. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the chemical compounds and determine antioxidant activity in the lime juice powder of lime fruit collected from Ujung Pangkah, Gresik. Material and Methods: Lime was squeezed and dried by a freeze-dryer to remove the water content. The phytochemical profile of lime juice powder was evaluated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) method and ascorbic acid content in lime juice powder was determined further. The antioxidant activity was analyzed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) method. Results: The results of the study showed that lime juice powder contained flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, and steroids. The ascorbic acid content was 0.38 mg/100mg. Antioxidant activities revealed strong antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 32.59 mg/mL, while an IC50 value of ascorbic acid showed 8.57 mg/mL. Conclusions: Lime juice powder has potential as an antioxidant with an IC50 value of lime juice powder being categorized to possess very strong antioxidant activity.
Proof-of-concept of a robotic-driven photogrammetric scanner for intra-operative knee cartilage repair
Authors: Bertelsen Álvaro , Iribar-Zabala Amaia , Otegi-Alvaro Ekiñe , Benito Rafael , López-Linares Karen , Macía Iván
Published: November 2023

This work present a proof-of-concept of a robotic-driven intra-operative
scanner designed for knee cartilage lesion repair, part of a system for
direct in vivo bioprinting. The proposed system is based on a
photogrammetric pipeline, which reconstructs the cartilage and lesion
surfaces from sets of photographs acquired by a robotic-handled
endoscope, and produces 3D grafts for further printing path planning. A
validation on a synthetic phantom is presented, showing that —despite
the cartilage smooth and featureless surface— the current prototype
can accurately reconstruct osteochondral lesions and their surroundings
with mean error values of 0.199 ± 0.096 mm but with noticeable
concentration on areas with poor lighting or low photographic coverage.
The system can also accurately generate grafts for bioprinting, although
with a slight tendency to underestimate the actual lesion sizes,
producing grafts with coverage errors of -12.2 ± 3.7, -7.9 ± 4.9 and
-15.2 ± 3.4 % for the medio-lateral, antero-posterior and craneo-caudal
directions respectively. Improvements in lighting and acquisition for
enhancing reconstruction accuracy are planned as future work, as well as
integration into a complete bioprinting pipeline and validation with ex
vivo phantoms.
“Mille-Feuille”-like Flexible MXene Hybrid Films with Tuned Silver Nanowires Framework for Asymmetric Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Joule Heating Performance
Authors: Xia Zhongmei , Zhang Tianyi , Tian Longlong , Tian Bin , Ni Jian , Hou Fuhua , Li Tiantian
Published: November 2023

As wearable electronics and medical implants evolve, there is an
increasing demand for protective devices that provide both
electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and heating capabilities
while operating at weaker voltages to accommodate various power sources.
Herein, a simple, cost-friendly, step-by-step vacuum-assisted filtration
method is utilized to prepare asymmetrical layered “MXene-MXene@Silver
nanowires-MXene-Silver nanowires (AgNWs)” hybrid films, exhibiting a
“Mille-Feuille” like structure. This composite structure exploits the
excellent electrical and thermal conductivity of AgNWs together with the
notable EMI shielding performance of MXene (SE/t = 112967 dB cm-1). By
tuning the MXene layer and AgNWs framework, the multi-layer structured
film achieves excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (SE/t = 68825 dB
cm-1). Due to the introduction of the AgNWs layer, its interface
reflection properties lead to differential electromagnetic waves (EMWs)
consumption in the structure, resulting in asymmetric EMI shielding
(56.66 dB from the AgNWs surface and 62.08 dB from the MXene surface
with the film thickness of 9.02 μm). The enhanced EMI shielding is
attributed to the AgNWs layer interface reflection, which significantly
increases the effective consumption pathway of incident EMWs. Moreover,
its Joule heating performance reaches 227.7 ℃ at 1.0 V, exhibiting
superior ultra-low voltage drive characteristic. The flexible and
self-supported composite film has significant potential applications in
protecting human body implants, such as cardiac pacemakers from the
influence of EMI pollution. Furthermore, it can be utilized in extreme
weather conditions for de-icing, de-fogging, and anti-freezing purposes.
Homogeneous selection and stochasticity overrule heterogeneous selection across biotic taxa and ecosystems
Authors: Soininen Janne , Roza Caio Graco Rodrigues Leandro
Published: November 2023

Deterministic and stochastic factors shape ecological communities.
However, a quantitative synthesis of the factors underlying the balance
among different assembly processes is lacking. Here, we synthesized data
from 149 datasets covering major biotic groups and ecosystem types
globally. We used a null model approach based on Raup-Crick
dissimilarities and Bayesian meta-regression to analyze the data. We
found that communities were more under homogeneous selection than
heterogeneous selection across biotic taxa and ecosystems. Environment
selected species homogeneously more often at small scales while
heterogeneously more often at large scales. Stochasticity also showed
scale-dependence as stochastic community assembly increased with study
scale. Homogeneous and heterogeneous selection were strongest at high
latitudes while stochastic factors were strongest in tropics. Marine
systems had the highest degree of homogeneous selection and the lowest
stochasticity. We provide the first analysis of community assembly
across taxa and ecosystems which should be important for a better
understanding of how communities respond to environmental change.
Futuro em crise
Authors: Malta Pereira Elenita
Published: November 2023

A década de 1970 foi rica em ativismos e em impulsionar a escrita de textos programáticos por militantes de diversas áreas. Houve a emergência de uma série de obras sobre Ecologia, escritas sob o gênero textual Manifesto, em diversos países. O objetivo aqui é analisar alguns dos principais textos produzidos naquele contexto. Foram selecionados seis manifestos ecológicos, publicados entre 1972 e 1976. Por meio da aproximação entre história ambiental e história do tempo presente, a análise desses textos nos possibilita compreender melhor as diferentes formas de tratar os problemas ambientais daquele momento, bem como a circulação de ideias, conceitos, percepções e representações importantes para os movimentos ambientalistas da época.
A atividade expositiva no Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi
Authors: Borroto Rodríguez Iván , Santos da Silva Ana Claudia dos , Mello Britto Zeneida
Published: November 2023

O artigo analisa as concepções sobre a atividade expositiva de membros das equipes expositivas do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi durante o século XXI. A pesquisa se desenvolve no âmbito do paradigma qualitativo. Para tanto, alguns membros das equipes expositivas foram entrevistados mediante um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada. Também foi efetuada a análise documental das informações sobre a atividade expositiva de 2004 até 2019, presentes no sistema virtual de gerenciamento documental (Pergamum). Em termos gerais, constata-se uma profícua atividade expositiva não representativa das diversas áreas de conhecimento do Museu. Nota-se, que embora os membros das equipes expositivas cooperem na criação das exposições, são os cientistas-curadores que detêm o poder de decisão sobre a atividade expositiva. Identificou-se, entre os entrevistados, uma preocupação pela recepção da mensagem expositiva que não se traduz em concepções e estratégias que garantam a real participação dos públicos. Por outro lado, a função educativa da exposição se mostra como um assunto sustentado em uma compreensão superficial do fenômeno.