bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Технология усиления оснований
Authors: Соколов Н.С.
Published: February 2024

Проблема повышения несущей способности основания всегда является актуальной проблемой в современном геотехническом строительстве. При существенных внешних нагрузках, передаваемых на основание использование традиционных технологий не всегда оправданно. Часто возникает настоятельная необходимость применения нестандартных способов усиления оснований. Во многих случаях геотехническая ситуация усугубляется наличием в инженерно-геологических разрезах слабых подстилающих слоев с неустойчивыми физико-механическими характеристиками. При усилении таких оснований с помощью традиционных свай последние могут получить негативное трение, существенно уменьшающее их несущую способность по грунту, достигающие иногда до нулевых значений. Это может привести к дополнительным осадкам возводимого и возведенных в зоне геотехнического влияния объектов. Использование свай ЭРТ в большинстве случаях успешно решает многие сложные геотехнические проблемы.
Сравнительный анализ CAD-систем
Authors: Янгель Д.А. , Гулякин Д.В.
Published: February 2024

Дизайн продукта должен быть продуман до мельчайших деталей перед запуском в производство. Традиционно для этого требовалось ручное рисование и проектирование с использованием бумаги и карандаша. Сегодня использование CAD значительно сокращает объем работ. Создание 3D - моделей и 2D-чертежей происходит быстрее и проще, чем когдалибо прежде, но на современном рынке существует большое количество САПР, поэтому стоит в них разобраться, чтобы подобрать для себя подходящую.
Квантовые технологии – новый век вычислений и безопасности
Authors: Васильева Т.Г. , Филимоненков М.Х. , Лукьянчик В.Н. , Сарафанников В.С.
Published: February 2024

В статье рассмотрены понятия квантовые вычисления, квантовые технологии и их сферы применения. С каждым днем наше общество производит и обрабатывает огромные объемы данных, что требует мощных вычислительных ресурсов, в результате чего возникает необходимость в эффективных системах безопасности. Квантовая криптография позволяет обеспечить безусловную безопасность передачи данных.
Эволюция аспектно-ориентированного программирования: основные тенденции и направления развития
Authors: Коновалов Г.Г.
Published: February 2024

В статье проведен анализ эволюции аспектно-ориентированного программирования (АОП), показаны его ключевые концепции и современные тенденции, включая интеграцию с другими парадигмами программирования, а также расширение области применения в сферах микросервисов, кибербезопасности, искусственного интеллекта. Затронута проблематика, с которой сталкиваются разработчики при использовании АОП. Рассмотрены перспективы развития АОП, включая автоматизацию, интеграцию в интеллектуальные системы и его роль в будущем программирования.
Применение элементов искусственного интеллекта на ретрансляторах связи с носителями легче воздуха
Authors: Басыня В.А. , Мельник В.Н. , Лукьянчик В.Н. , Чеботарь И.Т.
Published: February 2024

Анализ вопросов организации и обеспечения связи военного назначения в особых условиях позволяет сделать вывод, что многие вопросы, сопровождающие решение этой задачи, связаны с необходимостью развертывания ретрансляторов связи. Часть задач управления функционированием таких ретрансляторов может быть возложена на программы и технические устройства, обладающие функцией искусственного интеллекта
Efecto de la aplicación de microorganismos fijadores de nitrógeno en el desarrollo del cultivo de maíz (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Rivero Herrada Marisol , Quimi Villanueva Darío Javier , Marín Cuevas Carmen Victoria , Vélez Ruíz Mayra Carolina
Published: February 2024

La aplicación de microorganismos fijadores de nitrógeno ha demostrado beneficios en la nutrición de las plantas. La investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto de la aplicación de microorganismos fijadores de nitrógeno en el crecimiento del cultivo de maíz (Zea mays L.). En el experimento se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar (DBCA) en arreglo factorial 3x3 +1 tratamiento control, con tres repeticiones. Los tratamientos aplicados fueron: T1. Paenibacillus polymyxa 2 L ha-1; T2. P. polymyxa 3 L ha-1; T3. P. polymyxa 4 L ha-1; T4. Azotobacter 2 L ha-1; T5. Azotobacter 3 L ha-1; T6. Azotobacter 4 L ha-1; T7. P. polymyxa + Azotobacter 2 L ha-1; T8. P. polymyxa + Azotobacter 3 L ha-1; T9. P. polymyxa + Azotobacter 4 L ha-1 y T10. Control (sin aplicación). Las variables evaluadas fueron: altura de la planta, diámetro del tallo e inserción de la mazorca. Los resultados mostraron que a los 55 días después de la siembra (DDS) del cultivo se obtuvo un buen crecimiento de las plantas de maíz con altura de 182,01 cm y diámetro del tallo de 20,14 mm con la aplicación del tratamiento T9. Paenibacillus polymyxa + Azotobacter en dosis de 4,0 L ha-1. Además, la inserción de la mazorca también fue a los 120 cm de altura de la planta, para este mismo tratamiento.
Constraints of Acid Sulfate Soils and Practical Use for the Improvement of Farming in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam: A Review
Authors: Minh Vo Quang , Hung Tran Van , Vu Pham Thanh
Published: February 2024

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region contains a sizable amount of acid-sulfate soil, which has properties that harm plants, such as low pH, aluminum and iron toxicity, hydrogen sulfide and sulfate acid. The study aims to gather helpful information about the problems with acid sulfate soils’ chemical makeup so that suggestions can be made for improving these soils in the Mekong Delta. These methods mainly review studies and projects on the properties, constraints and management improvement of acid-sulfate soils and recommend the proper methods for sustainable use. The Mekong Delta contains many sulfidic or acid-sulfate-producing materials. Soils that contain acid sulfate are especially vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Therefore, evaluating and predicting how acidic soil impacts soil quality and the affected factors such as drought, water scarcity, rainstorms, floods and saltwater intrusion are essential. Selecting cultivars that can withstand acid sulfate or salt is easy and inexpensive. Designing appropriate farming models is necessary in the interim. To correctly manage and exploit acid sulfate soils in the current situation, one must also be aware of their distribution, physicochemical makeup and biological properties.
A Fala de Xálima e ideoloxías lingüísticas – algúns comentarios
Authors: Dondelewski Bartosz
Published: February 2024

O traballo fócase na Fala de Xálima, variedade da familia galaico-portuguesa con menos de 3.700 falantes (prov. de Cáceres). É unha variedade minorizada con formas vernáculas en desaparición e un número minguante de falantes (Ramallo, 2011). No estudo analízanse conversas mantidas con falantes da Fala que teñen influencia sobre a revitalización e o futuro esta variedade. O artigo basease nos principios da lingüística sociocultural (Bucholtz e Hall, 2004, 2010); analízanse algunhas orientacións indexicais, interaccionais e esencialistas que permiten comprender a relación entre a variedade local e o seu contexto socialmente significativo, ademais da súa importancia para a identidade local. Emprégase tamén a teoría da ideoloxía lingüística (Irvine e Gal, 2000) e a indexicalidade (Silverstein, 2003). Obsérvase como unhas dinámicas ideolóxicas recursivas e historicamente marcadas serven aos falantes para defender o status quo da variedade como inexistente no contexto político oficial e como aplican a estratexia de apagamento ao non admitir que A Fala corre perigo de desaparición e, así, perpetran a minorización da variedade local.
A Case Study of Familiar Gastrointestinal Pathologies at Risk of Cancer. Early Detection of Degenerative Signals by Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Authors: Ferreri Carla , Marone Maria , Confalone Elena , De Maio Anna , Bianchi Anna Rita , Chatgilialoglu Chryssostomos , Faraone Mennella Mariarosaria
Published: February 2024

Beyond factors such as smoking and obesity, the risk of getting gastrointestinal cancer is passed down from parents to offspring, inherited by a gene mutation, predisposing them to develop cancer in their lifetime. Here we describe the clinical history of family members affected by gastrointestinal pathologies often leading to cancer. In the epidemiological study, the cohort of members of this family shared a high risk of developing gastrointestinal diseases. The subjects were monitored from May 2006 to December 2017 by collecting periodically clinical and endoscopic data, and determining both auto-modification of lymphocyte Poly(ADP-ribose)Polymerase as early signal of DNA damage, and erythrocyte membrane lipid composition (Fat Profile). Both biomarkers were demonstrated to be non invasive and easy tools, to monitor over time family members, first the oldest members (nine siblings), and thereafter their offspring, whose cell status evolved from physiological even to cancerous one. All subjects developed gastrointestinal pathologies of different kind and seriousness. Some diseases evolved to cancer, sometimes as a sudden and lethal event. The results of the two molecular approaches, agreed and even predicted the clinical and imaging paths. This cohort study supported the hypothesis that both noninvasive molecular analyses can predict altered cell states and support clinical and imaging tests.
Living on the Edge: Navigating the Complex Landscape of Borderline Personality Disorder
Authors: Sadat Sharif Mohammed , Desai Dev , Malafi Maria Eleni
Published: February 2024

Individuals with BPD grapple with unstable relationships, marked by extreme emotional swings and interpersonal conflicts. Emotional instability, a distorted self-image, and impulsivity further complicate matters, often leading to self-harm and suicide attempts as desperate coping mechanisms. Genetics and adverse childhood experiences contribute to BPD's development, shaping brain function and emotional regulation. Diagnosis involves meticulous assessments, paving the way for personalized treatments like dialectical behavior therapy and, in severe cases, hospitalization. Early intervention, professional support, and societal understanding are pivotal for positive outcomes, and challenging mental health stigma.
Performance of a Solar Driven Photocatalytic Membrane Reactor for Municipal Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Constantin Mirela Alina , Constantin Lucian Alexandru , Ionescu Ioana Alexandra , Nicolescu Cristina Mihaela , Bumbac Marius , Tiron Olga
Published: February 2024

The per capita availability of freshwater resources on a global scale is gradually decreasing due to population growth, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and modern lifestyles. In this situation, wastewater management becomes a major concern. Conventional treatment processes used to treat wastewater discharges are not adequate for the advanced removal of pollutants, especially refractory organic pollutants, which are mainly organic compounds that are not easily biodegradable in the environment. The use of photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs) for tertiary wastewater treatment has attracted much interest in recent periods, and various configurations have been investigated. The performance of a PMR using an iron doped titanium photo catalyst and Polysulfone-based polymeric membrane for municipal wastewater treatment was evaluated under natural and simulated solar light. Obtained results proved that solar driven PMRs can remove organic loading (COD) with high efficiencies and may represent a suitable alternative for the tertiary treatment step of municipal wastewater.
Embodimetrics: A Principal Component Analysis of the Combined Assessment of Cardiac, Cognitive and Mobility Parameters
Authors: Chellini Andrea , Salmaso Katia , Di Domenico Michele , Gerbi Nicola , Donati Marco , Iosa Marco
Published: February 2024

Some studies investigated the relationship between frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability and the cognitive performance at the Stroop task. We propose a combined assessment also of trunk mobility in 72 healthy women to investigate the relationship between cognitive, cardiac and motor variables based on a principal component analysis. We also assessed the change on this result after an intervention of two months aiming at improving the perception-action link. At baseline, the PCA correctly identified 3 components: one related to cardiac variables, one to trunk motion and one to the performance of Stroop task. After the intervention, only two components were found with trunk symmetry and range of motion, accuracy and time to complete the Stroop task and low frequency heart rate variability aggregated in a single component by PCA. It suggested that this protocol was effective in investigating the embodied cognition and we defined this approach as “embodimetrics”.
Virus-Like Particles as Viral Vaccines: From Inception to Contemporary Applications
Authors: Bissett Sara L , Roy Polly
Published: February 2024

Many protein expression systems are primary utilised to produce a single, specific recombinant protein. In contrast, most biological processes such as virus assembly rely upon a complex of several interacting proteins rather than the activity of a sole protein. The high complexity of the baculovirus genome, coupled with a multiphase replication cycle incorporating distinct transcriptional steps, made it the ideal system to manipulate for high-level expression of a single or co-expression of multiple foreign proteins within a single cell. We have developed and utilised a series of recombinant baculovirus systems to unravel the sequential assembly process of a complex non-enveloped model virus, Bluetongue virus (BTV). The high protein yields expressed by the baculovirus system not only facilitated structure-function analysis of each viral proteins but were also advantageous to crystallography studies and supported the first atomic level resolution of a recombinant viral protein, the major BTV capsid protein. Further, the formation of recombinant double-shelled virus-like particles (VLPs) provided insights into the structure-function relationships among the four major structural proteins of the BTV whilst also representing a potential candidate for a viral vaccine. The baculovirus multi-gene expression system facilitated the study of structurally complex viruses (both non-enveloped and enveloped viruses) and heralded in a new generation of viral vaccines.
Socially Haunted? Exploring Young People’s Views on Education and Marginalization
Authors: Robinson Lee , Clark Jill
Published: February 2024

This paper explores the views of a group of young men aged 16–18, studying towards a Level 1 diploma in music in the North East area of England. It uses the conceptualization of “social haunting” to focus our discussions about how Level 1 learners articulated their experiences in the context of their learning journeys and perceived marginalization. The research took place at a large Further Education (FE) college and included a series of five “research encounters” with the group of Level 1 learners. These encounters included a range of activities, resulting in a variety of data being collected, including several activity worksheets, structured and unstructured focus group interviews, and questionnaires. This paper focusses on the outcomes of a single research activity that focused on exploring the topic of marginalization. We present a discussion on social haunting as one of the emerging findings from this research encounter, outlining how the reality of the social and cultural legacy of the UK’s industrial past can shape today’s youth and their futures. We will talk about the young men’s views of marginalization, their school-to-work transitions, the formation of masculinity in post-industrial communities and the role of Further Education in it. The paper concludes by discussing some insights for practice and future research.
Mono-Specific Data Deficient Saltmarsh Species Has Climate Relevant Carbon Stocks From the East Coast of India
Authors: Mishra Amrit , Dey Arindam , Mishra Anjalis , Mohakud Sandip Kumar , Farooq Syed Hilal
Published: February 2024

Despite saltmarshes being considered as nature-based solutions (NbS) towards climate change mitigation, India’s saltmarsh ecosystems are least studied. This study quantifies the seasonal variation in carbon stocks mono-specific saltmarsh species (Porteresia coarctata) and its potential to play an important role in India’s climate change mitigation plans. Seasonal (pre-and post-monsoon) sampling of P. coarctata surface water, biomass and 30 cm sediment core was collected across four locations on the east coast of India to quantify sediment dry bulk density (DBD), organic matter (OM%), organic carbon (Corg%), Corg stocks of sediment and biomass, total carbon (C%) and nitrogen (N%) and stable isotopes of δ13C and δ15N. In general, the sediment DBD, OM and Corg of P. coarctata meadows was higher in post-monsoon and was influenced by salinity and pH changes. Isotope (δ13C) modelling of various sediment C sources suggested, particulate organic matter (POM) contribution was highest (0.04-0.79%) followed by P. coarctata (0.01–052%) and other macrophytes across our study locations. The seasonal variation of δ13C showed increased contribution of marine derived particulate and dissolved organic matter into P. coarctata meadows in post-monsoon season. Heavier δ15N values were observed in post-monsoon season suggesting anthropogenic input, that was utilized by P. coarctata to increase its above and below-ground biomass and shoot density. The combined ecosystem (30 cm sediment + biomass) Corg stocks of P. coarctata was 1.7-fold higher in post-monsoon (4021.20± 917 Mg C) compared to pre-monsoon (2297.36 ±647 Mg C) season among the four locations with a sediment Corg contribution >70%. Based on the International Panel for Climate Change Tier II assessment the P. coarctata meadows (443 ha) can help in avoiding the pre and post-monsoon emissions of 8431.34 and 14757.84 Mg CO2 respectively. The combined price of the total CO2 equivalent stored in P. coarctata meadows in pre- and post-monsoon is US$ 14.50 and US$ 25.38 million respectively. Further studies quantifying the NbS potential of P. coarctata mono-specific and mixed meadows of India’s coast is needed along with integration of saltmarsh ecosystems into India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change.
Characteristics of Urban Flood Resilience Evolution and Analysis of Influencing Factors: A Case Study of Yingtan City, China
Authors: Yuan Donghai , Wang Hui , Wang Chen , Yan Chenling , Xu Lili , Zhang Chunyang , Wang Jiazhuo , Kou Yingying
Published: February 2024

Intense climate change and rapid urbanization have increased the risk of urban flooding, seriously affecting urban economic and social stability. Enhancing the urban flood resilience (UFR) has required a new solution to cope with urban flood disasters. In this study, taking Yingtan city as an example, a system of indicators for evaluating UFR was constructed, with 17 representative indicators, comprising three subsystems: socio-economic, ecological and infrastructural. A hybrid (FAHP-EWM)-TOPSIS model was applied, to develop an index-based measurement to compare and evaluate UFR, and Gray Relational Analysis (GRA) was used to discover the main factors affecting UFR. In addition, the natural discontinuous method was innovatively used to divide the UFR grade interval into levels, and the grade change was evaluated based on the TOPSIS method. The results showed that (1) from 2010 to 2022, the UFR in Yingtan City increased by 80.69%, and the factors affecting UFR are highly correlated with urban infrastructure development. However, the ecological resilience in the subsystem showed a fluctuating downward trend, because of the influence of the surface area of lakes and rivers. (2) The grades of UFR for Yingtan City increased from Level III (2010 and 2016) to Level IV (2022), with local financial expenditures and the age structure of the population being the main factors currently limiting the development of UFR. The study provides a theoretical basis for the construction of an indicator system for assessing the UFR of Yingtan and proposes practical improvement directions for UFR.
Boro Nutrition in Coffee Improves Drought Stress Resistance and in Interaction with Calcium Improves Long-Term Productivity
Authors: Ramirez-Builes Victor Hugo , Küsters Jürgen , Thiele Ellen , Leal Varon Luis Alfredo
Published: February 2024

Coffee production around the world is under threat due to climate variability and change, and drought stress will increase in many coffee regions, nutrient management practices could enhance the adaptation capacity of coffee production. Considering that coffee is a sensitive crop to boron (B) deficiency, this research investigated how B nutrition improves resistance to drought stress in coffee under controlled conditions as well how with interaction with calcium (Ca+2) influences productivity, seed compositions, and soil fertility during a production cycle of 5 year. Under controlled conditions for seven months, coffee plants were submitted to water stress with and without B nutrition. In the field, coffee plantation was submitted to two B rates (0,6 and 1,1 kg. ha-1-year-1) with fixed calcium (Ca+2) rate and, a control without Ca+2 and B. After 9 months of growth and seven months of water deficit, under controlled conditions, the application of B significantly (p<0,05) reduced the negative effect of water stress on coffee growth. Under field conditions, after a production cycle of 5 years, the application of 0,6 kg B and 77 kg CaO. ha-1. year-1 yielded 14% more than the control without B and Ca+2. An increase of the B rate to 1.1 kg.ha-1.year-1 with the same Ca+2 rate increased the productivity significantly (p<0,05) by 37% compared to the control. B application also improved significantly (p<0,05) the B content in the soil at 0-30 cm. The B treatments influenced the biochemical composition of the green coffee beans, with a significant (p<0,05) inverse correlation between the B content of the green coffee beans with caffeine, and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) mainly, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids which are considered negative descriptors of the coffee quality.
Meat-Borne-Parasite: A Nanopore-Based Meta-Barcoding Workflow for Parasitic Microbiodiversity Assessment in the Wild Fauna of French Guiana
Authors: MATOUTE Adria , MAESTRI Simone , SAOUT Mona , LAGHOE Laure , SIMON Stephane , BLANQUART Helene , Hernandez Martinez Miguel Angel , PIERRE DEMAR Magalie
Published: February 2024

French Guiana, located in the Guiana Shield, is a natural reservoir for many zoonotic pathogens that are of considerable medical or veterinary importance. Until now, there are few data available on the description of parasites circulating in this area, especially on protozoan belonging to the phy-lum Apicomplexa; conversely, the neighbouring countries describe a high parasitic prevalence in animals and humans. Epidemiological surveillance is necessary, as new potentially virulent strains may emerge from these forest ecosystems, such as Amazonian toxoplasmosis. However, there is no standard tool for detecting protozoa in wildlife. In this study, we developed Meat-Borne-Parasite, a high-throughput meta-barcoding workflow for detecting Apicomplexa based on Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform using the 18S gene of fourteen Apicomplexa-positive samples collected in French Guiana. Sequencing reads were then analysed with MetONTIIME pipeline. Thanks to a scoring rule, we were able to classify as Apicom-plexa-positive 10 samples out of 14 and reveal the presence of co-carriages. The same samples were also sequenced with Illumina platform, for validation purposes. On samples identified as Apicomplexa-positive by both platforms, a strong positive correlation at up to genus level was reported. Overall, the presented workflow represents a reliable method for Apicomplexa detec-tion, which may pave the way for more comprehensive biomonitoring of zoonotic pathogens.
Antibacterial Activity of Cyphostemma junceum and Senna singueana Extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Tesfay Teklemichael , Mulaw Guesh , Tadege Tekleweyni , Aregawi Gebremichael
Published: February 2024

The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of many pathogens is a serious threat and makes chemotherapy more difficult. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Senna singueana and Cyphostemma junceum plant extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The crude extracts of the selected medicinal plants were prepared and subjected to phytochemical screening using standard methods. Antibacterial activity was determined using the disc diffusion method. Therefore, the highest (15.41%) and lowest (0.91%) percentage yields were obtained from ethanol stem bark extracts and chloroform root extracts of Senna singueana, respectively. The maximum (14±1.0 mm) and minimum (7.5±0.5 mm) zones of inhibition were obtained from chloroform and distilled water leaf extracts of Senna singueana against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In addition, the highest (13.5±1.0) zone of inhibition was obtained from Cyphostemma junceun root extract at 125 µg/ml. No inhibition zones were recorded in the root extract of Cyphostemma junceun at 500 µg/ml. More rich secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, tennins, phenols, glycosides, terpenoids and sapnoids, were screened from distilled water leaf extracts, while flavonoids, tennis, phenols, glycosides, terpenoids, sapnoids and coumarins were screened in ethanol root extracts of Cyphostemma junceum. The leaves, stem bark and root of Senna singueana as well as the root of Cyphostemma junceun have strong antibacterial activity against both bacterial species. Thus, the two plant extracts could be used for healing and killing bacterial agents that can be potential sources for drug development.
Microbiome Dysbiosis Associates to Castration Resistance and Cancer Stemness in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Authors: Uzelac Matthew , Xin Ruomin , Ongkeko Weg M.
Published: February 2024

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in males in America, with advanced prostate cancers exhibiting a 5-year survival rate of only 32%. Castration-resistance is often developed during the course of treatment, though its influences require further understanding. This study explores the human microbiome for its implications in castration-resistance and metastasis in prostate cancer. RNA sequencing data was downloaded for bone and soft tissue biopsies of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. These sequences were mapped to bacterial sequences to yield species-level abundance approximations. Numerous species were found to correlate to the expression of known markers of castration-resistance, including AR, PI3K, and AKT. Castration-resistance-associated signaling pathways were also enriched with these species, including PI3K-AKT signaling and endocrine resistance. For their implications in cancer aggression and metastasis, cancer stem cell markers were further explored for relation to these species. EGFR and SLC3A2 were widely downregulated with greater abundance of most species. Our results suggest that the microbiome is heavily associated with castration-resistance and stemness in prostate cancer. By considering the microbiome’s importance in these factors, we may better understand the highly aggressive and highly invasive nature of prostate cancer, allowing for needed improvement in the treatment of this disease.
Genome-Wide Association Analysis for Yield-Related Traits and Candidate Genes in Vegetable Soybean
Authors: Gao Hongtao , Wu Guanji , Wu Feifei , Zhou Yonggang , Zhou Xunjun , Xu Keheng , Li Yaxin , Zhang Wenping , Zhao Kuan , Yan Jing , Feng Chen , Wang Nan , Li Haiyan
Published: February 2024

Owing to the rising demand for vegetable soybean products, there is an increasing need for high-yield soybean varieties to raise the output. However, complex correlation patterns among quantitative traits with genetic interactions bring a challenge for vegetable soybean breeding. Here, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was applied for six yield-related traits with 188 vegetable soybean accessions. A total of 81 SNPs were identified for pod length, plant height, pods number, pod thickness, pod width, and seed weight per plant by Blink model. Among these significant SNPs, 79 were novel SNPs, while 2 overlapped with previously reported SNPs. A total of 220 genes were found in 100 kb upstream and downstream regions of significant SNPs, of which 17 genes were functional proteins. Among these function proteins, four candidate genes, Glyma.13G109100, Glyma.03G183200, Glyma.09G102200, and Glyma.09G102300 were analyzed as significant haplotype variations, which encode MYB-related transcription factor, auxin-responsive family protein, F-box protein and CYP450, respectively. In addition, the relative expression with four candidate genes in the V030 and V071 (Among them, the plant height, pod number and fresh pod weight of V030 were lower than V071 strains) vegetable soybean were significantly different and these genes could be involved in plant growth and development via various pathways. Therefore, we proposed four genes from vegetable soybean germplasm that could be the key candidate genes for pod yield and plant height and these studies will accelerate the process of high-yield vegetable soybean breeding.
Iron-Loaded Carbonized Spent Bleaching Earth (Fe-SBE/C) Composite Used for Arsenic Removal from Water
Authors: Puji Siswanti , Guo Juntao , Zhang Yihui , Song Kexin , Wu Feng , Li Jing
Published: February 2024

For the last two decades, an increasing demand for low-cost adsorbents for drinking water treatment has been challenged in the rural areas of developing countries that have problems with arsenic (As) contamination. In this work, spent bleaching earth (SBE), a residual material that is formed during the process of refining vegetable oil, has been utilized to prepare the new magnetic adsorbent Fe-SBE/C by modifying its surface area through calcination and co-precipitation with iron. The experimental results demonstrate that Fe-SBE/C exhibits a substantial adsorption capacity towards both arsenite (As(III)) and arsenate (As(V)). Optimal pH conditions were found to be pH 10 for As(III) and pH 3 for As(V), resulting in adsorption percentages of 76.7% and 94.1%, respectively. Other experimental parameters such as calcination conditions, adsorbent dosage, iron-loading ratio, and the presence of co-existing ions were thoroughly investigated. The kinetic study revealed that the adsorption processes follow the Elovich and intraparticle diffusion models, suggesting a combined adsorption mechanism of boundary layer control and chemisorption. Furthermore, the isotherm followed the Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 202.61 μg g-1 for As(III) and 187.61 μg g-1 for As(V). Through thermodynamic analysis and reinforcement by activation energy data, this research validates that the observed adsorption process is indicative through chemisorption. The regeneration study revealed the potential for multiple cycles of arsenic removal, highlighting the practical applicability of Fe-SBE/C in environmental contexts. In conclusion, the findings of this study underscore the efficacy of Fe-SBE/C in arsenic removal and present it as a promising and environmentally friendly solution for mitigating arsenic pollution.
Blockchain in Finance: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Karadag Bulut , Zaim Abdul Halim , Akbulut Akhan
Published: February 2024

Many businesses, including finance, want to both understand and utilize blockchain technology. However, there is no detailed systematic literature review (SLR) analyzing blockchain technology in finance in order to understand it. This study emphasizes in detail the possible applications of blockchain in finance, its technical features, benefits and challenges. According to the literature review, blockchain technology has the potential to improve the efficiency of the financial sector, reduce costs and increase transparency and security. Regulatory constraints as well as concerns over scalability and interoperability are barriers that need to be resolved. In order to fully understand the potential of blockchain technology, this SLR explores the current state of research on blockchain in finance. In addition to analyzing the technical features of blockchain, the study also details its current and potential application areas, benefits and challenges. This research analyses the use of blockchain in finance in view of its infrastructure, technology, benefits and challenges for further research and application areas. In the study, 54 articles were evaluated and 34 of them were used for SLR questions. The usage of blockchain in finance is examined from a variety of aspects in this SLR. The study provides answers to nine questions about its application areas, benefits, infrastructure, technology, consensus methods, permission types, and challenges. In some cases, it also gives the correlation relationship between the answers.
Quantifying Inhaled Concentrations of Particulate Matter, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Nitric Oxide Using Observed Biometric Responses with Machine Learning
Authors: Ruwali Shisir , Talebi Shawhin , Fernando Bharana , Wijeratne Lakitha O. H. , Waczak John , Hathurusinghe Dewage Prabuddha Madusanka , Lary David J. , Sadler John , Lary Tatiana , Lary Matthew , Aker Adam
Published: February 2024

In this study, we adopt a unique approach by utilizing the responses of human autonomic systems to gauge the abundance of pollutants in inhaled air. Air pollution has numerous impacts on human health on a variety of time scales. This study uses biometric observations of the human autonomic response on the second timescale to investigate how the human body autonomically responds to inhaled pollutants in microenvironments, including particulate matter. PM1 and PM2.5, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitric oxide (NO) on small temporal and spatial scales. These pollutants are exemplars of the wider human exposome. We compare two experimental approaches that use a similar methodology, employing a biometric suite to capture the physiological responses of cyclists and sensors to monitor the pollutants in the air surrounding them. We employ machine learning algorithms to estimate the levels of these pollutants and decipher the body’s automatic reactions to them. We observed high precision in predicting PM1, PM2.5 and CO2 using a limited set of biometrics from participants. Although the predictions for NO2 and NO were reliable at lower concentrations, the precision varied throughout the data range. This discrepancy suggests the potential to improve our models with more comprehensive data collection or advanced machine learning techniques.
In Quest of BRST Symmetry and Observables in 4D Topological Gauge-Affine Gravity
Authors: BELARBI Oussama Abdelghafour , Meziane Ahmed
Published: February 2024

The realization of a BRST cohomology of the 4D topological gauge-affine gravity is established in terms of a superconnection formalism. Identification of fields in the quantized theory is occurred directly as usual in terms of superconnection and its supercurvature components with the double covering of the general affine group GA¯(4,R). Then, by means of an appropriate decomposition of the metalinear double-covering group SL¯(5,R) with respect to the general linear double-covering group GL¯(4,R) one can easily obtain the enlargements of the fields while remaining consistent with the BRST algebra. This leads to the descent equations allowing us to build the observables of the theory by means of the BRST algebra constructed using a sa¯(5,R) algebra-valued superconnection. In particular, we discuss the construction of topological invariants with torsion.
Nursery Cultivation Strategies for a Widespread Mangrove (Kandelia obovata): Evaluating the Influence of Salinity, Growth Media, and Genealogy
Authors: Zhou Jinghang , Yang Jingjun , Qin Jie , Li Jinhua , Liu Xiu , Wei Penglian
Published: February 2024

Mangrove plant seedling cultivation is crucial for the protection, management and restoration of mangrove ecosystem. In this study, we focused on Kandelia obovata, a typical mangrove, and evaluated nursery cultivation with different combinations of three salinity levels (S1: 0 ppt, S2: 10 ppt, and S3: 20 ppt), three genealogies (EZD, JX, and YZ), and five growth media (M1: 100% loess, M2: 100% sandy, M3: 50% loess + 50% sandy, M4: 40% loess + 40% sandy + 20% peat, and M5: 40% loess + 40% sandy + 20% coir), by measuring the growth parameters such as mortality rate, seedling height, diameter, and biomass partition. These growth indexes were significantly affected by salinity and medium, and genealogies also had significant effects on mortality rate and biomass accumulation. S2 or S3 both had lower mortality and higher growth indexes than S1. M1 was the medium that increased seedlings height, diameter and biomass the most and had the lowest death rate. EZD and JX were also higher levels than YZ in these indicators, but the difference between them was not obvious. S3, M1, and EZD consistently performed well in fuzzy evaluation and quality assessment. Furthermore, combinations involving these treatments also produced highly favorable results. These results furnish both a theoretical and practical foundation for advancing nursery cultivation techniques and germplasm breeding of K. obovata in mangroves.
Renewable Distillation of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Authors: Böhm Dominik , Czerski Konrad , Weißbach Daniel , Gottlieb Stephan , Huke Armin , Ruprecht Götz
Published: February 2024

Nuclear waste is one of the most important environmental problems of nuclear power plants. A novel renewable distillation method has been proposed for an on-site recycling of the spent nuclear fuel and separation of its valuable components from the fissile isotopes, which is especially applicable for reactors using liquid fuels.
Design, Synthesis and Molecular Modeling of Benzofuran-8-Hyroxyquinoline Hybrids as Multi-Target Inhibitors and Potential Anti-Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Radwan Awwad , Alanazi Fars , Abdel Rahman Anas M.
Published: February 2024

Cholinesterase (ChE) and secretase (BACE) inhibitors, and fibril- and β-amyloid-suppressing medicines are used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) symptomatically. The prevalence and complex nature of AD have increased the urgent need for multi-targeted directed ligands (MTDLs). This is because MTDLs can prevent potential drug-drug interactions during poly-therapy and have a better therapeutic profile than single targeted agents. Using piperazine linker or spacer and two primary scaffolds, benzofuran and 8-hydroxyquinoline, a unique class of multi-targeted medicines was recently reported by our group. These compounds showed re-markable effectiveness in inhibiting Aβ1-42 aggregation and acting as iron chelators.The results prompted us to synthesize an additional series of compounds as multimodal anti-AD agents and investigate its inhibitor activities to ChE (AChE/BChE) and BACE1 enzymes. The resulting in-hibitory effects suggested that the compounds under study might be used to improve cognitive function. The docking analysis' findings revealed that the compounds bind to AChE and BChE by forming H-bond interactions with amino acid residues at binding sites and µ-stacking inter-actions with aromatic residues, whereas the binding to BACE1 only revealed H-bond interac-tions with amino acid residues at binding sites.
The Human Phospholipase B-II Precursor (HPLBII-P) in Urine as a Novel Biomarker of Glomerular Activity in COVID-19 and Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Xu Shengyuan , Hultström Michael , Larsson Anders , Lipcsey Miklos , Lindskog Cecilia , Bülow Sara , Frithiof Robert , Venge Per
Published: February 2024

The human phospholipase B-II precursor (HPLBII-P) was originally purified from white blood cells but is also found in other cellular structures such as kidney glomeruli and tubuli. The objective of this report was to investigate the relationship of HPLBII-P in urine to acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19 Methods Urine was collected at admission from 132 COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICU) because of respiratory failure. HPLBII-P was measured by a sensitive ELISA. For comparison, HNL was measured in urine, by the ELISA configured with mabs 763/8F, as a sign of tubular affection in addition to routine biomarkers of kidney disease Results Overall, the concentrations of urinary HPLBII-P were almost 3-fold higher in COVID-19 patients as compared to healthy controls (p
Design of a Transtibial Prosthetic Pylon Using Auxetic Metamaterials: Simulation and Experimental Validation
Authors: Lenggana Bhre Wangsa , Fardan Muhammad Faris , Ubaidillah U. , Choi Seung-Bok , Susilo Didik Djoko , Aljabri Abdurrahman , Khan Sohaib Zia
Published: February 2024

Prosthetic device is designed to function as a replacement for a missing limb and typically consists of suspension, liner, socket, pylon and foot components. The objectives of this research are to design a pylon component of a transtibial prosthetics by implementing auxetic metamaterial and to also validate performance of the designed pylon under quasi-static and dynamic conditions. The design and analysis processes are conducted using the finite element analysis and its effectiveness is validated by experimental testing of the prototype pylon sample. In the design process, the pylon structure is formulated by rearranging 2D re-entrant hexagon model into 3D model. It is identified from the design evaluation that the pylon exhibits the stiffness of the value of 79.24, 2371.6, and 13344 kN/m for the ligament thickness variation of 0.3 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm, respectively. This directly indicates a capability of the stiffness tuning of the pylon by changing the ligament thickness. It is evaluated that the pylon with the ligament thickness of 0.3 mm causes the deformation of 0.53 cm during a single period of gait cycle, while the ligament thickness of the 1 mm causes the deformation of 0.4 cm. The deformation physically indicates the energy absorption of the pylon structure and hence the thinner ligament, the higher energy absorption provides. It is also found from the deformation transition of the primary and secondary bends, the negative Poisson’s ratio is occurred in 3D model transformed from 2D re-entrant hexagon.
Enhancing Amharic Speech Recognition in Noisy Conditions through End-to-End Deep Learning
Authors: Ejigu Yohannes Ayana , Asfaw Tesfa Tegegne
Published: February 2024

Speech recognition, also known as automatic speech recognition (ASR), is a technology that enables software to transcribe spoken language into text. However, existing Amharic ASR methods require multiple separate blocks, such as language, acoustic, and pronunciation models with dictionaries, which can be time-consuming and influence performance. This study proposes an approach that replaces much of the speech pipeline with a single recurrent neural network (RNN) architecture. Our proposed architecture is based on a hybrid approach that combines a convolutional neural network (CNN) with a recurrent neural network (RNN) and a connectionist temporal classification (CTC) loss function. We conducted several experiments with noisy audio data that contain 20,000 valid sentences. The model was evaluated using the word error rate (WER) metric, achieving impressive results of 7% WER on noisy data. This approach has significant implications for the field of speech recognition, as it reduces the human effort required to create dictionaries and improves the efficiency and accuracy of ASR systems, making them more practical for real-world applications.
Paramedic Willingness to Report Violence Following the Introduction of a Novel, Point-of-Event Reporting Process in a Single Canadian Paramedic Service
Authors: Mausz Justin , Braaksma Michael-Jon , Johnston Mandy , Batt Alan , Donnelly Elizabeth A.
Published: February 2024

Violence against paramedics is increasingly recognized as an important occupational health problem, but pervasive and institutionalized underreporting hinders efforts at risk mitigation. Earlier research has shown that the organizational culture within paramedicine may contribute to underreporting and researchers have recommended involving paramedics in the development of violence prevention policies, including reporting systems. Eighteen months after the launch of a new comprehensive violence reporting system in Peel Region, Ontario, Canada, we surveyed paramedics about their willingness to report violent encounters. A total of 204 (33% of eligible) paramedics chose to participate, of whom 67% (N=137) had experienced violence since the launch of the new reporting process, with 83% (N=114) reporting the incidents at least some of the time. In choosing to report, participants cited the accessibility of the new reporting process and the desire to promote accountability among perpetrators while contributing to a safer workplace as motivating factors. Their decisions to file a report, however, could be influenced by the perceived ‘volitionality’ and severity of the violent encounters, particularly in the context of (un)supportive co-workers and supervisors. Ultimately, the participants’ belief that the report would lead to meaningful change within the service was a key driver of reporting behavior.
Holistic Environmental Risk Index for Oil and Gas Industry in Colombia
Authors: De Luque-Villa Miguel A. , Robledo-Buitrago Daniel Armando , Gómez-Rendón Claudia Patricia
Published: February 2024

Risk management for technological hazards mainly focuses on the consequences on human lives. Although technological risk analysis evaluates environmental vulnerability, it does not reflect the consequences on environmentally exposed elements, such as rivers, water springs, flora, and fauna. This paper's objective was to propose a conceptual framework and create a multidisciplinary evaluation model for environmental risk analysis in the oil and gas industry. Initially, the problem was approached from a global perspective to justify the necessity of a holistic environmental risk analysis methodology in the oil industry, using environmental risk factors as well as underlying factors, such as environmental fragility and lack of resilience. The holistic assessment was carried out based on probabilistic risk analysis methodologies to obtain a holistic environmental risk index, HERI. This methodology was applied to an oil and gas industry company in Colombia. This allowed greater disaggregation of the results to establish priorities for risk reduction actions and identify the company's weaknesses.
A Timeline of Kashmir Conflict from 1947-2019
Authors: Siddiqua Ayesha , Abid Sobia , Bilal Zahid
Published: February 2024

The significance of Kashmir conflict as one of the world’s longest running conflicts has frequently drawn the attention of both communication and international relations’ scholars which makes it an important issue from the perspective of interdisciplinary approach. The researchers have attempted to assemble a brief history of the Indian held Jammu and Kashmir Conflict from the time of partition in 1947 to the developments which took place till 2019 in the light of the available literature. The paper provides substantial historical context of the important events like instrument of accession, UN resolutions on Kashmir conflict, Simla Accord, Gawkadal Massacre , Lahore Declaration, Kargil War, killing of Burhan Wani, Uri attack and Article 370’s abrogation .