bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus as a tool to develop climate change adaptation strategies: a case study of the Buffalo River catchment, South Africa
Authors: Dlamini Nosipho , Senzanje A. , Mabhaudhi T.
Published: November 2023

The Buffalo River catchment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has limited water resource infrastructure development, and climate change is predicted to increase its water supply deficits by exacerbating water distribution inequalities. This study evaluates and optimises current climate change policy plans on the Buffalo River catchments water system to aid in assessing the sustainability of policies that address the aforementioned challenges. The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus approach, which encourages system thinking by considering interconnections among water, energy, and food resources when developing integrated natural resource management strategies, was used to perform the evaluation. The water system's reliability in meeting projected domestic, agricultural, and energy water demands under climate change conditions was used for gauging the sustainability of the development plans. Findings projected the existing water policy plans to increase the domestic water provision by >70% under climate change; however, the <3% increase in irrigation and energy generation water demand coverage yielded a significant contrast in reliability between densely populated areas and regions with extensive agricultural activities. The optimised policy plans, which improved water provision for all considered sectors increased by >20% under climate change, are thus recommended for future water resource management research and dialogue in the Buffalo River catchment.
Integrated safety assessment of water–energy–food systems based on improved substance element extensions
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhou Hao , Tso Geoffrey Kwok Fai , Po Hsun Chen , Tua Chuang , Zheng Tao
Published: November 2023

To explore the integrated security of water-energy-food system, 26 indicators were selected from six aspects: water security, energy security, food security, water-energy system security, water-energy system security, energy-food system security; the frequency analysis method was used to construct the integrated security evaluation index system for water-energy-food systems. Then, the matter-element expansion model was refined and used to assess the overall security of the water, energy and food system in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The evaluation metrics used to assess the overall security of water, energy, and food system were examined and researched from two dimensions: time and space. This model adequately represents the overall security of the water-energy-food system, as demonstrated by empirical studies. Comparisons are made between the evaluation results of the modified model and those of the conventional matter-element inflationary model, confirming the feasibility and validity of the modified model. Finally, the main factors affecting the security of the water-energy-food system in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region are discussed using the index weight and obstacle degree model. Relevant suggestions are also provided to enhance the security of the water-energy-food system.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Nanovesicles Carry microRNA with Nephroprotective Proprieties Regardless of Aging
Authors: Convento Marcia Bastos , de Oliveira Andréia Silva , Boim Mirian Aparecida , Borges Fernanda Teixeira
Published: November 2023

Containing information molecules from their parent cells and inclining to fuse with
targeted cells, bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells-derived extracellular vesicles (MSCs-
EV) are valuable in nanomedicine.

Background:

The effects of aging on the paracrine mechanism and in the production and action
of MSCs-EV and their cargos of miR-26a and siRNA-26a for the treatment of tubular renal cells
under nephrotoxicity injury remain unelucidated.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate MSCs-EV of different ages and their ability
to deliver the cargos of miR-26a and siRNA-26ª to target renal tubular cells affected by nephrotoxicity
injury.

Methods:

In a model of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, renal tubular cells treated with
MSCs-EV expressing or not expressing microRNA-26a were analyzed. Western blotting was utilized
to evaluate cell cycle markers, and MTT assay was utilized to evaluate auto-renovation capacity.

Results:

Tubular cells under nephrotoxicity injury showed decreased proliferative capacity, but
the treatment in the tubular renal cells under nephrotoxicity injury with MSCs-EV expressing
microRNA-26a showed nephroprotective effects, regardless of EV age. While the treatment with
EV-mediated siRNA-26a failed to preserve the nephroprotective effects equally, regardless of
age.

Conclusion:

Mesenchymal stromal cell nanovesicles carry microRNA with nephroprotective proprieties
regardless of aging.
Liraglutide Improves Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Downregulation of
Cardiac Inflammatory and Apoptosis Markers
Authors: Gupta Polly , Ekbbal Rustam
Published: November 2023

Background::

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is one of the leading causes of mortality for
people with diabetes worldwide. The majority of the formalistic alterations in the heart associated
with diabetic cardiomyopathy have been found to be primarily caused by the ongoing oxidative
stress brought on by hyperglycemia, which leads to the dysfunctional reactions of apoptosis
and inflammation. Liraglutide, a long-acting counterpart of glucagon-like peptide-1, has
been demonstrated to have a number of therapeutic applications in medicine and other biological
processes.

Methods::

The PubMed database was searched using the terms liraglutide, DCM, and all associated
inflammatory markers.

Results::

There has been a lot of research on liraglutide's potential to protect the heart from cardiomyopathy
brought on by diabetes. Liraglutide's therapeutic actions as an antioxidant, antihyperglycemic,
anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory medicine may help to lessen diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Conclusion::

The most recent studies on the effects of liraglutide therapy on DCM are presented
in this review, along with an explanation of the underlying mechanisms.
Investigating and Identifying Fraudulent Behaviors of Medical Claims Data Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Naga Jyothi P. , Rama Rao K.V.S.N. , Rajya L. , Suresh S.
Published: November 2023

Healthcare is essential in pandemic times, but it is crucial for the well-being of daily life. Many countries allocate substantial funds towards providing high-quality healthcare services. As healthcare expenses escalate, policymakers and funders are increasingly focused on investigating the underlying factors driving the high costs of medical resources. A comprehensive analysis carried the required expenses towards identification, valuation, and measurement of resources utilized for the diagnosis process. The objective of the chapter is to provide how the data analysis is carried which helps to identify fraudulent behaviors. The generated model assists health management organizations in identifying suspicious behaviors toward claims. Healthcare fraud is a severe threat to global health results, and could lead to misuse, scarce resources, and negative impacts on healthcare access, infrastructures, and social determinants of health. Healthcare fraud is associated with increased healthcare costs in most of the leading countries. The proposed research work provides an estimation mechanism for utilizing health resources and their impacts on healthcare costs. This chapter proposes strategic ways of handling healthcare data to prevent future healthcare fraud, decrease healthcare expenditure, and adequately use resources to benefit the population. This chapter works on three primary datasets and a synthetic dataset aggregated from the primary datasets. The data preprocessing is carried out at different levels of the model, which truly enhances the data quality. The model is constructed at three levels; the first level analyzes datasets in which it extracts the primary features and provides constructive decisions and outcomes on the processing of data. Regressive analysis of the hierarchical grouping mechanism helps to know the detailed features that could affect healthcare and prevent resource misuse.
An Adsorption-Desorption Heat Engine for Power Generation from Waste Heat
Authors: Granovskiy Mikhail
Published: November 2023

According to the United States Department of Energy, waste heat recovery would allow up to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) emission. Most of the waste energy is discharged as a low-grade heat at temperatures less than 250°C. Therefore, the development of new technologies and the enhancement of existing ones to convert low-grade heat into electrical or mechanical energy are of great importance. The working principle of adsorption-desorption heat pumps with cyclic switching between adsorption and desorption is adapted in the proposed heat engine to generate electrical power from low-temperature heat. Thermodynamic analysis of the heat engine cycle is carried out for the pair adsorbant-adsorbent: CO2-activated carbon. Its efficiencies are calculated accepting the ideal gas law and an adsorption-desorption equilibrium at the key points of the cycle. The cycle consists of two isochores and two isotherms like the Stirling engine, but at the same temperature range and without heat regeneration, its thermal efficiency (work per heat supplied) can reach 11.3% vs. 5.0% and specific work 50.7 vs. 3.55 in the latter. The proposed unit has thermal efficiency in the range of Organic Rankine Cycle units and can be utilized in small-scale applications up to 40kWe, where manufacturing cost of turbines or expanders for ORCs increases dramatically. Accounting for quality (temperature) of utilized heat, the proposed cycle’s exergy efficiency, ζex = 34.5% approaches that of water-steam Rankine cycles utilizing natural gas or coal combustion.
Potential and Limitations of ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0 as a Source of COVID-19 Information: Comprehensive Comparative Analysis of Generative and Authoritative Information
Authors: Wang Guoyong , Gao Kai , Liu Qianyang , Wu Yuxin , Zhang Kaijun , Zhou Wei , Guo Chunbao
Published: November 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has necessitated reliable and authoritative information for public guidance. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been a primary source of such information, disseminating it through a question and answer format on its official website. Concurrently, ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0, a deep learning-based natural language generation system, has shown potential in generating diverse text types based on user input.

Objective

This study evaluates the accuracy of COVID-19 information generated by ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0, assessing its potential as a supplementary public information source during the pandemic.

Methods

We extracted 487 COVID-19–related questions from the WHO’s official website and used ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0 to generate corresponding answers. These generated answers were then compared against the official WHO responses for evaluation. Two clinical experts scored the generated answers on a scale of 0-5 across 4 dimensions—accuracy, comprehensiveness, relevance, and clarity—with higher scores indicating better performance in each dimension. The WHO responses served as the reference for this assessment. Additionally, we used the BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) model to generate similarity scores (0-1) between the generated and official answers, providing a dual validation mechanism.

Results

The mean (SD) scores for ChatGPT 3.5–generated answers were 3.47 (0.725) for accuracy, 3.89 (0.719) for comprehensiveness, 4.09 (0.787) for relevance, and 3.49 (0.809) for clarity. For ChatGPT 4.0, the mean (SD) scores were 4.15 (0.780), 4.47 (0.641), 4.56 (0.600), and 4.09 (0.698), respectively. All differences were statistically significant (P<.001), with ChatGPT 4.0 outperforming ChatGPT 3.5. The BERT model verification showed mean (SD) similarity scores of 0.83 (0.07) for ChatGPT 3.5 and 0.85 (0.07) for ChatGPT 4.0 compared with the official WHO answers.

Conclusions

ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0 can generate accurate and relevant COVID-19 information to a certain extent. However, compared with official WHO responses, gaps and deficiencies exist. Thus, users of ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0 should also reference other reliable information sources to mitigate potential misinformation risks. Notably, ChatGPT 4.0 outperformed ChatGPT 3.5 across all evaluated dimensions, a finding corroborated by BERT model validation.
Evaluating the Impact of a Cream Containing Horse Placental Extract on Eye Corner Wrinkles in Healthy Women: Single-Blind Comparative Study
Authors: Watanabe Tsuyuko , Tahara Kentarou , Hirano Eiichi
Published: November 2023

Background

Placental extract has been mostly used in skin care for cosmetic purposes. However, the use of various placental extracts has been limited due to the lack of established and effective application methods.

Objective

In this study, we investigated the antiwrinkle effect of a cream formulation—LNC wrinkle eye cream (LNC-EC)—containing horse placental extract as the main ingredient.

Methods

A total of 24 healthy women, aged 37-54 years, with wrinkle grades 1-3, were treated with LNC-EC for 2 weeks. The cream was applied on one-half of the participants’ faces, and the results were compared with the untreated half of the face.

Results

Visual inspection, using the wrinkle grade standard, showed that the area treated with LNC-EC had a significantly lower wrinkle grade than the untreated area when comparing before and after the application of LNC-EC. In addition, replica analysis showed a significant reduction in both the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles in the LNC-EC–treated area in comparison to the untreated area before and after the application. These results suggest that LNC-EC has an antiwrinkle effect on the corners of the eyes based on parameters like the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles.

Conclusions

LNC-EC, with horse placental extract as its main ingredient, was shown to be effective in improving wrinkles at the eye corners, presumably due to a reduction in the maximum wrinkle width and the number of wrinkles. Interpretation of the results is limited because this study was conducted only in the intervention group. A randomized controlled trial with a placebo control group is necessary to verify the antiwrinkle effects of horse placental extract.
The Potential Influence of AI on Population Mental Health (Preprint)
Authors: Ettman Catherine K , Galea Sandro
Published: November 2023

UNSTRUCTURED

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life has galvanized a global conversation on the possibilities and perils of AI on human health. In particular, there is a growing need to anticipate and address the potential impact of widely accessible, enhanced, and conversational AI on mental health. We propose 3 considerations to frame how AI may influence population mental health: through the advancement of mental health care; by altering social and economic contexts; and through the policies that shape the adoption, use, and potential abuse of AI-enhanced tools.
Share Beijing Stories in the Context of Media Convergence
Authors: Jianuo Shi , Yunfan Gao
Published: November 2023

International Exchange Center is one of the “four centers” of Beijing’s strategic positioning. Accompanied by the continuous progress and development of media, Beijing’s city image is subject to increasingly frequent exchanges among cities of different countries, and the requirements for external communication are also increasing. How to effectively promote Beijing’s external communication in the cross-cultural context and share a good “Beijing city story” of the new era? One of the most important ways is to effectively shape Beijing’s city image through the media, to improve Beijing’s influence through the media, to adjust the way of Beijing’s international communication in a timely manner, and to create communication contents that are closer to the audience’s psychology, so as to achieve a better effect of the external communication of Beijing’s city image.
Survey and Research on the Current Situation of Rural Happy Old Age Stations in Mentougou District
Authors: Wang Wei , Bu Deqing
Published: November 2023

According to the 2020 Beijing Population Census Yearbook, rural areas in the Mentougou District of Beijing have long entered into a heavily aging society, but the construction of the pension service system and the station for happy old age, which are supposed to be appropriate, is lagging far behind. For this reason, this paper mainly adopts the field research method to carry out field research on the happy old age stations in the three most representative villages in Mentougou District, to understand the situation of the old age service system and the construction of happy old age stations in Mentougou, and to summarize, summarize and analyze the problems in the status quo. It will provide a reference basis for the subsequent construction of the pension service system and Happy Old Age Stations based on the integration of rural resources, so as to promote the improvement of the quality of life of the elderly in rural areas and the development of the healthy pension industry.
Propiedades fisicoquímicas, tecnofuncionales y antioxidantes de harinas de Pleurotus spp.
Authors: Torres-Martínez Brisa del Mar , Vargas-Sánchez Rey David , Torrescano-Urrutia Gastón Ramón , Esqueda Martín C. , Rodríguez-Carpena Javier Germán , Fernández-López Juana , Pérez-Álvarez José Ángel , Sánchez-Escalante Armida
Published: November 2023

Los hongos comestibles son considerados una fuente importante de componentes nutricionales y funcionales; por ello, se han propuesto como ingredientes potenciales para los alimentos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las propiedades fisicoquímicas, tecnofuncionales y antioxidantes de dos harinas de Pleurotus spp. (P. ostreatus y P. pulmonarius). En cuanto a las propiedades fisicoquímicas, las harinas de Pleurotus spp. mostraron (p<0.05) valores de pH cercanos a la neutralidad en comparación con la proteína de soja (control), y en todas las muestras el color fue ligeramente marrón. En cuanto a sus propiedades tecnofuncionales, retuvieron agua y aceite, hubo hinchamiento, formación de espuma y gelificación (p<0.05). Los resultados demostraron la presencia de metabolitos primarios (carbohidratos y proteínas) y secundarios (fenoles, flavonoides y ácido clorogénico), así como capacidad antioxidante (eliminación de radicales libres y cationes, y poder reductor) dependiendo del disolvente utilizado en la extracción (p<0.05). Además, todos los extractos de las harinas de hongos disminuyeron (p<0.05) la oxidación lipídica de los homogeneizados de carne sometidos a un tratamiento térmico. En conclusión, se confirma que las harinas de P. ostreatus y P. pulmonarius son útiles como ingredientes funcionales para los productos cárnicos.
Pinole de la Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua, México: caracterización sensorial y correlación con perfil de olor y compuestos volátiles
Authors: Severiano-Pérez Patricia , González-San José María Luisa , Jaime Isabel , Rodríguez-Díaz Fernando , Linares Edelmira , Bye Robert
Published: November 2023

El pinole es una harina fina hecha con base en maíz reventado, tostado y es el alimento predominante en la dieta Rarámuri. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo avanzar en el mapeo sensorial del pinole de la Sierra Tarahumara de Chihuahua, México y evaluar su aroma. Se analizaron tres muestras del producto utilizando el Perfil Flash modificado, la cromatografía de gases-la espectrometría de masas con extracción dinámica en la fase sólida de espacio de cabeza (HS-SPDE) y la nariz electrónica (e-nose). En el análisis de la nariz electrónica hubo pocas diferencias significativas entre los pinoles. En los resultados del perfil sensorial las características descriptivas (diecisiete atributos en total)discriminaron cada muestra, como una consecuencia de las ligeras diferencias en los procesos tradicionales aplicados. Se identificaron cuarenta y nueve compuestos volátiles en las tres muestras, de los que veintidós se habían determinado previamente en las palomitas de maíz y en otros productos de maíz. El Análisis Factorial Múltiple mostró correlaciones de varios compuestos volátiles (p. ej., los compuestos heterocíclicos formados durante el tostado y el ahumado) y las respuestas de los sensores con dos tipos de atributos: de olores sensoriales como maní, maíz, tostado, dulce y pinole, y los de sabor como tostado, pinole, dulce y maíz.
Predicting Pancreatic Cancer using AIML Techniques
Authors: S Mr. Raghavendrachar , P Jahnavi , K Kushal , S Jnanesh A , Patil Ananya
Published: November 2023

Abstract: The late diagnosis and low survival rates associated with pancreatic cancer make it a substantial global health challenge to detect at an early stage. The aim of this study is to explore the potential of deep learning methods in enhancing the early identification of pancreatic cancer. To build a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to detect early indications of pancreatic malignancies, we employed medical images from a computed tomography (CT) scan dataset. By illuminating the potential of deep learning as a tool, our discoveries bring hope for enhanced patient survival rates by aiding in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The importance of artificial intelligence in medical imaging and its revolutionary effects on cancer diagnosis are emphasized by this research. Pancreatic Tumor stands as a global leader in responsible death rates caused by cancer. Curing pancreatic cancer is possible when detected early
Assessing the accuracy of population estimation methods for vulture populations: a case study from the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Manigandan S. , Byju H. , Kannan P.
Published: November 2023

Two resident and two local migratory vulture species are reported in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The early population estimates from the region are either scanty or crude. Vulture population estimation was performed using three different methods based on their breeding seasons and regional movements between 2019 and 2021. Road transect counts, nest counts, and carcass monitoring counts were used for population assessments. The road transect survey and nest site counting during the breeding season were conducted in all three years, while carcass monitoring was done in 2019 – 2020. For population estimation, three nest site colony counts were conducted for the resident Gyps bengalensis and for Gyps indicus. The other two methods, carcass monitoring and the road transect survey, were used for all four focal vulture species of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve – Gyps bengalensis, Gyps indicus, Neophron percnopterus and Sarcogyps calvus. Significant variation in vulture population count was observed with different assessment methods.
Association between Spirodela polyrrhiza and blue green algae in aquatic habitats and in vitro conditions in relation to metabolite concentrations under monoculture and co-culture
Authors: Gupta Santanu , Sil Sudipta Kumar
Published: November 2023

Spirodela polyrrhiza samples were collected from various locations within the geographical periphery of Malda district in West Bengal, India. Samples collected from all sites were associated with algal colonies comprised of diatoms and blue green algae. Such association of different algal groups and greater duckweed in their natural habitat occurred in the lower epidermis of the fronds. Among the members of Cyanophyceae, Oscillatoria sancta was found to be abundantly associated with the fronds under in vivo conditions. To mimic the in vivo association, axenic monocultures of both S. polyrrhiza and O. sancta were maintained separately or by co-cultivation. Association with O. sancta under in vitro growth conditions prolonged the stationary growth phase of greater duckweed significantly. A growth-promoting association between the two species was shown by increased concentration of some metabolites of S. polyrrhiza. Correlation between growth of the two species were confirmed.
Analisis Upaya Guru Mewujudkan Profil Pelajar Pancasila Pada Dimensi Gotong Royong di Sekolah Dasar
Authors: Alfinda Oktaviani Ella , Maryono Maryono , Sherly Pamela Issaura , Warosatul Ulum Muhammad
Published: November 2023

Seiring perkembangan dunia yang kian cepat dan teknologi yang semakin canggih, gotong royong mulai dilupakan dan ditinggalkan. Gotong royong sebagai salah satu dimensi profil pelajar pancasila diharapkan mampu menghidupkan kembali karakter gotong royong yang memudar. Guru mempunyai tugas untuk mewujudkan profil pelajar pancasila. Penelitian ini bertujuan mendeskripsikan pembiasaan dan keteladanan, hasil dari pembiasaan, faktor pendukung dan kendala dalam mewujudkan profil pelajar pancasila pada dimensi gotong royong di sekolah dasar. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif. Subjek pada penelitian ini yaitu guru dan peserta didik. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah wawancara, observasi dan dokumentasi. Data dianalisis melalui reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian ini pembiasaan yang dilakukan yaitu memungut sampah, piket kelas, infaq, kerja bakti, kerja kelompok, P5 dan keteladanan yang ditunjukkan guru yaitu ikut serta dalam kegiatan yang diadakan sekolah. Hasil dari upaya yang dilakukan yaitu 38,46% berkembang sesuai harapan, 46,15% mulai berkembang dan 15,38% sedang berkembang. Faktor pendukung yaitu kepribadian peserta didik yang baik, keteladanan guru dan kerjasama guru . Kendalanya yaitu kepribadian peserta didik, kegiatan kurang terlaksana secara konsisten dan sarana prasarana. Berdasarkan temuan hasil maka dapat disimpulkan dalam mewujudkan profil pelajar Pancasila dimendi gotong royong melalui berbagai pembiasaan dan keteladanan oleh sekolah dan guru
Nano-curcumin ameliorates arsenic induced hepatotoxicity in female rats
Authors:   Department of Toxicology, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut-250 004, India, Vashistha L.M. , Singh M. ,   Department of Toxicology, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut-250 004, India, Verma Y. ,   Department of Toxicology, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut-250 004, India, Rana S.V.S. ,   Department of Toxicology, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut-250 004, India
Published: November 2023

Aim: To determine the protective effects of curcumin and nanocurcumin against arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity in female rats, using liver function tests and oxidative stress parameters. Methodology: Arsenic trioxide (4 mg kg-1 b.wt.), curcumin and nano curcumin (50 mg kg-1 b.wt.) were administered to healthy rats as a chronic treatment for 60 days through gavage. The liver tissue samples of exposed rats were examined for histopathological alterations, liver function tests viz. alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin (BIL) and a lipid peroxidation product-malonaldehyde (MDA). Results: Treatments with both forms of curcumin could significantly (p 0<0.05) improve liver function as indicated by serum enzyme biomarkers viz. AST, ALT, ALP and LDH. Hyper-bilirubinemia was also diminished. Fibro-proliferation caused by arsenic in the liver was also controlled by curcumin (s). Histopathological observations of liver showed significant improvement in its morphology post treatments. Interpretation: Present results suggest that curcumin and nanocurcumin both express hepatoprotective effects in arsenic treated rats. However, nanocurcumin was found to offer better protection than curcumin. Key words: Arseniasis, Fibrosis, Lipid peroxidation, Liver function, Nanocurcumin
Molecular engineered xanthene-based AIE dyes for tunable fluorescence switch
Authors: Guo Rui , Song Wenhui , Yoo Jiyoung , Yoon Changyu , Ai Yinhu , Yin Yan , Kim Jong Seung , Lin Weiying
Published: November 2023

The dyes with the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties are
significant for a wide range of studies. However, the existing AIE dyes
still lack a readily tunable fluorescence switch. Herein, we described a
type of structurally distinct dye family (named as XD dyes) with AIE
properties. Significantly, the new XD dyes exhibit the advantageous
feature over the traditional AIE fluorophores by possessing the
intrinsic spirocyclization as a regulatable fluorescence switch. The AIE
properties of XD dyes were examined by the spectroscopic studies,
particle size analysis, transmission electron microscope, scanning
electron microscope, and solid fluorescence. Furthermore, the quantum
chemical calculation, molecular dynamics simulation and recombination
energy calculation provide the insights into the structural
characteristics and the aggregation process of XD dyes. The development
of this unique class of dyes could afford new perception and insights
for the development of supreme functional fluorescent dyes and probes.
Change point analysis to detect the effect of pruning severity on tree growth
Authors: Iguchi Yutaka
Published: November 2023

The effect of pruning severity on tree growth was analyzed by change
point detection using segmented regression. The present study applied
this analysis to a well-known published data set including diameter
growth response, tree age, pruning severity and pretreatment crown size.
First, multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the effect
of tree age, pruning severity and pretreatment crown size on diameter
growth response. Next. segmented regression analysis was performed to
assess the effect of pruning severity on diameter growth response. The
results of the multiple regression showed that diameter growth response
was significantly influenced by pruning severity and pretreatment crown
size. The results of the segmented regression showed that in the whole
data set, an abrupt change toward a decrease in diameter growth response
was detected at 25% of the live crown removed. However, in the group of
fully crowned and open-grown, diameter growth response continuously
decreased with increasing pruning severity with no significant abrupt
change, whereas in the group of 70-90% live crown, diameter growth
response did not significantly decrease up to the break point (53%
crown removed) and then abruptly decreased. This may be the first study
to show the numerical evaluation of the effect of pruning severity on
tree growth by change point analysis.
Renewable Energy Integration with Sustainable Materials and Technologies
Authors: Abera Yonatan
Published: November 2023

The revolutionary synergy between renewable energy sources and
sustainable materials and technology is investigated in this article.
The research digs into the important interaction between renewable
energy generation and eco-friendly materials, investigating the
underlying concepts, technical advancements, environmental advantages,
and economic prospects that result from this integration. The importance
of cutting-edge technology in improving renewable energy systems and
their components, such as solar panels and wind turbines, is emphasized
in the study. It also looks into the economic benefits, such as job
development, green sector expansion, and energy security. Furthermore,
the paper examines issues such as technology constraints and regulatory
impediments, as well as solutions for overcoming these restrictions. The
study highlights effective examples of renewable energy integration with
sustainable materials through informative case studies, giving important
real-world examples. This study adds to the conversation on sustainable
energy solutions by underlining the critical role of combining renewable
energy sources with environmentally aware materials and technology to
create a greener, more sustainable future.
Demography, Growth, and Robots in Advanced and Emerging Economies
Authors: Gravina Antonio Francesco , Lanzafame Matteo
Published: November 2023

This paper estimates the impact of demographic change on labor productivity growth. The analysis covers a panel of 90 advanced and emerging economies over 1961-2018 and produces three main findings. First, increases in the young and old population shares exert significantly negative effects on labor productivity growth, working via various channels. Second, population aging has a greater negative impact on emerging economies than on advanced economies. Third, automation reduces the negative effects of unfavorable demographic change—in particular, population aging.
Damages on hazelnut kernels caused by Penicillium spp.
Authors:   Agricultural University-Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Boneva Desislava
Published: November 2023

The presence of Penicillium spp. was observed during a laboratory examination of nuts (Corylus avellana L.) collected from April 2019 to April 2023 from hazelnut trees, grown in different regions of Bulgaria. The obtained isolates were identified following the Koch’s postulates and their cultural and morphological characteristics were studied. Three-hundred ninety seven (397) samples, with suspected presence of pathogen, were taken from nuts. Penicillium spp. strains were identified as a cause for damages in approximately 2% of all examined kernels. Keywords: Penicillium spp., hazelnut, pathogenicity
First report of leaf spot on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) caused by Alternaria alternata in Bulgaria
Authors:   Agricultural University-Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Daradzhanska Ivelina
Published: November 2023

For the first time in Bulgaria, leaf spotting on sweet potatoes was investigated, and the causative agent, Alternaria alternata, was reported. The collected morphological data aimed to determine the identity of the fungus. According to Koch, the primary isolates from the damaged parts are identical to those produced from pathogenicity tests. In a laboratory we tested sixty-two leaves which had similar symptoms, with slight to medium-sized lesions with concentric circles and a yellowish halo. In general, the attack from Alt. alternate affected 7% of all plants and 32% of the examined leaves. The pathogen tests proved that the pathogen could also cause damage to tubers during storage. Knowing the etiology of diseases is essential for taking preventive measures and thus preserving the quality and quantity of agricultural production. Keywords: Alternaria alternata, sweet potato, leaf spots, pathogen, pathogenicity
Effect of vermicompost and biochar amendments on uptake of heavy metals, micro and macroelements by Sedum Plumbizincicola
Authors:   Agricultural University-Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Ezeifeka Onyinye , Angelova Violina ,   Agricultural University-Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Published: November 2023

Comparative research on the impact of organic amendments on the uptake of heavy metals and micro and macroelements of Sedum Plumbizincicola has been carried out. Experiments have been implemented in controlled conditions. The soil used in this experiment was sampled from the vicinity of the Non-Ferrous Metals Work near Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The pot experiment was a randomised complete block design containing five treatments and three replications (15 pots). The treatments consisted of a control (no organic amendments) and vermicompost and biochar amendments (added at 5% and 10%, respectively, recalculated based on dry soil weight). Applying organic additives to the soil influences the physicochemical properties. It leads to increased organic matter, electrical conductivity and content of macroelements (P, K, Ca and Mg) and microelements (Fe, Mn, Zn) in the soil. Applying organic additives to the soil affects the uptake of heavy metals and micro and macro elements by Sedum Plumbizincicola. Organic additives affect yield, influenced by the type of additive and dose. Cd and Zn yields were up to 3 times higher in the variant with 10% vermicompost application. Application of 10% biochar resulted in a negligible increase. Keywords: phytoextraction, organic amendments, contaminated soils, Sedum Plumbizincicola
Theoretical and Conceptual Perspectives on Employee Work-Life Balance & Imbalance
Authors:   Department of Business Administration Caleb University Imota, Lagos State, Nigeria, Fasuyi Olufunso I. , Adeyemo Felicia S.
Published: November 2023

Logically, the provision of work-life balance facilities should benefit all, irrespective of positions occupied in a place of work. However, when such facilities or schemes are in a way jeered towards the top management staff, it becomes a course of concern. In this paper, we reviewed work-life balance and imbalance and employees’ job performance form the theoretical and conceptual perspectives. We evaluate what options are open to employees and employers as well as the effect of imbalances and time/change management. We conclude by identifying gaps in the research domain as a way of setting the stage for further research on the subject matter Keywords: Work-life, Job Performance, Imbalances, Change Management, Family Life, Employees Journal Reference Format: Fasuyi, Olufunso I. & Adeyemo, Felicia S. (2023): Theoretical and Conceptual Perspectives on Employee Work-Life Balance & Imbalance Journal of Behavioural Informatics, Digital Humanities and Development Research. Vol. 9. No. 3, Pp 43-70 Available online at https://www.isteams.net/behavioralinformaticsjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/BHI/V9N3P3
Knowledge Gaps in Employee Motivation and Organizational Productivity Research
Authors:   Department of Business Administration Caleb University Imota, Lagos State, Nigeria, Oluyombo Olawale F , Adeyemo Felicia S.
Published: November 2023

The issue of motivation has repeatedly posed significant challenges to companies around the world, especially in manufacturing companies, where a high level of productivity plays an important role in determining profitability, growth, development, stability and future growth. The organization plays a role in the success of a company. Therefore, to successfully gain a competitive advantage over your competitor and avoid a steady decline in the productivity of your employees, you must ensure that the employees are properly motivated. The main purpose of this study is to examine the effect of employee motivation on organizational productivity. We reviewed extant literature on employee motivation. theoretical antecedents, conceptual frameworks and empirical review were conducted to be able to identify knowledge gaps in literature. Our objective is to set the stage for further studies on motivation using an identifiable case study. Keywords: Motivation, Productivity, Organization, Employees, Employers, Stability, Growth, Development Journal Reference Format: Oluyombo Olawale F. & Adeyemo, Felicia S. (2023): Research Gaps in Employee Motivation in Organizational Productivity Research. Humanities, Management, Arts, Education & the Social Sciences Journal. Vol. 11. No. 4, Pp 37-56. www.isteams.net/humanitiesjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/HUMANITIES/V11N4P4
Excellent Customer Services and Tax Revenue Generation: A Theoretical and Conceptual Review
Authors:   Department of Business Administration Caleb University Imota, Lagos State, Nigeria, Obadeyi Juliana A. , Adeyemo Felicia S.
Published: November 2023

Revenue generation from taxpayers is one prime and important component of government fiscal acquisitions. Taxation is the process of levying and collection of tax from taxable persons and organizations or establishments. The objectives of government using taxation include revenue generation to help the government to finance increasing public sector expenditure and to promote social, economic and good governance through provision of merit goods. Merit goods include health and education that must not be left solely to private hands, though private participation should also be encouraged. Revenue generated from tax can also be used to provide commonly consumed goods and services for which individuals cannot be levied. Public goods include internal security through maintenance of law and order by police and other security agencies, external security through defense against external aggression by Navy, Army and Air Forces, and provision of basic amenities such as pipe borne water, street lights and roads. We reviewed tax customer services provided by internal revenue agencies and explore options that are available for excellent customer services to be provided in this parlance. We conclude by identifying gaps in the research domain as a way of setting the stage for further research on the subject matter Keywords: Revenue, Government, Tax, Taxation, Public Good, Fiscal, Finance, Security, Customers Journal Reference Format: Obadeyi Juliana Adepeju & Adeyemo, Felicia (2023): Excellent Customer Services and Tax Revenue Generation - Theoretical and Conceptual Review. Social Informatics, Business, Politics, L:aw, Environmental Sciences & Technology Journal. Vol. 9, No. 3. Pp 9-20 www.isteams/socialinformaticsjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/SIJ/V9N3P2.
Cobalt recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries by leaching in H2SO4-N2 and H2SO4-O2 systems followed by electrochemical deposition
Authors: Medic Dragana , Tasic Zaklina , Nujkic Maja , Dimitrijevic Silvana , Djordjievski Stefan , Alagic Sladjana , Milic Snezana
Published: November 2023

This paper is focused on cobalt valorization from the cathode material of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by using leaching and electrochemical deposition methods. During the leaching experiments, the degrees of cathode material dissolution in H2SO4-N2 and H2SO4-O2 systems were compared. Maximal degrees of cobalt extraction were 40 % in the former and 47 % in the latter system under following experimental conditions: H2SO4 concentration of 2 mol dm-3, nitrogen/oxygen volumetric flow of 2 L min-1, solid phase concentration of 33 g L-1, and temperature of 85?C. The rate of cobalt extraction from the cathode material in both investigated systems was the most favorable in the first 15 min, after which there was a sudden decrease in the reaction rate. Cobalt from the leaching solution was deposited on a copper substrate by galvanostatic electrochemical deposition with a current efficiency of 84 %. The energy consumption was 5.8 kWh kg-1 of deposited Co. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) method was used to determine the potential of cobalt deposition, as well as side reactions taking place in the system. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry has shown that during the process of electrochemical deposition agglomeration of cobalt particles occurred (in the shape of cauliflower), while the metal was deposited in its elemental state, which was also confirmed by the results of X-ray diffraction analysis.
Herbarium Wolnyanum: Botanical collection in Sremski Karlovci Grammar School
Authors: Rat Milica
Published: November 2023

Herbaria as botanical collections have an interesting historical back?ground.
What was considered a traditional old-school field of science in the 20th
century has become one of the focal points of interest in new-age science at
the beginning of the 21st century, closely related to biodiversity,
molecular screening and many other topics. Follow?ing the trend of
rediscovering botanical collections, the Serbian scientific community
in?vested in the process of acknowledging, renewing and presenting
collections of national importance. The herbarium of the Sremski Karlovci
Grammar School, protected under the name ?Herbarium of Andreas Wolny?, is
the oldest herbarium collection in Serbia, dating back to the 18th century.
It was established as a collection for obvious and practical teaching, but
it grew beyond this scope due to the first systematic discoveries of the
plant species of Srem and Fruska Gora Mountain. The most famous collector is
Andreas Wolny, but besides him important teachers and botanists are ?arl
Georg Rumy, Grigorije Lazic, Dimitrije Petrovic, Teofil Dimic and Jovan K.
Borjanovic. Although only a few data are of floristic importance (data that
include both the location and date of collection), there is no doubt about
the botanical and historical importance of this collection. Moreover, this
botanical collection provides an overview of the events under which
education and the first scientific and mu?seum collections were developed in
Serbia during the 18th and 19th centuries, and is thus an important
cultural-historical document.
Diversity and the Evaluation of Talent in the Accounting Profession: The Enigma of Merit
Authors: Anderson-Gough Fiona , Edgley Carla , Robson Keith , Sharma Nina
Published: November 2023

SYNOPSIS

While accounting firms are facing recruitment and retention problems, regulatory bodies are calling for efforts to improve diversity to be more effective, especially at senior levels. In this paper, we discuss “merit” and assumptions about “meritocracy” in processes of performance evaluation and career progression. Based on interviews in medium and large professional services firms in the United Kingdom, we explore how the language/practices of merit can inhibit moves to improving diversity. Merit has two aspects: “technical” notions of core competencies associated with merit and cultural notions of social fit, which have the effect of favoring the progression of the elite groups embedded within firms. The latter creates a loop in understanding merit, enacted within firm culture over time, that is difficult to disrupt. As such, efforts to improve diversity are unlikely to bring about change without considering how organizational beliefs about merit have unintended consequences.
Postprandial Metabolite Profiles and Risk of Prediabetes in Young People: A Longitudinal Multicohort Study
Authors: Goodrich Jesse A. , Wang Hongxu , Walker Douglas I. , Lin Xiangping , Hu Xin , Alderete Tanya L. , Chen Zhanghua , Valvi Damaskini , Baumert Brittney O. , Rock Sarah , Berhane Kiros , Gilliland Frank D. , Goran Michael I. , Jones Dean P. , Conti David V. , Chatzi Leda
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVE

Prediabetes in young people is an emerging epidemic that disproportionately impacts Hispanic populations. We aimed to develop a metabolite-based prediction model for prediabetes in young people with overweight/obesity at risk for type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In independent, prospective cohorts of Hispanic youth (discovery; n = 143 without baseline prediabetes) and predominately Hispanic young adults (validation; n = 56 without baseline prediabetes), we assessed prediabetes via 2-h oral glucose tolerance tests. Baseline metabolite levels were measured in plasma from a 2-h postglucose challenge. In the discovery cohort, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression with a stability selection procedure was used to identify robust predictive metabolites for prediabetes. Predictive performance was evaluated in the discovery and validation cohorts using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Two metabolites (allylphenol sulfate and caprylic acid) were found to predict prediabetes beyond known risk factors, including sex, BMI, age, ethnicity, fasting/2-h glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. In the discovery cohort, the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of the model with metabolites and known risk factors was 0.80 (95% CI 0.72–0.87), which was higher than the risk factor-only model (AUC 0.63 [0.53–0.73]; P = 0.001). When the predictive models developed in the discovery cohort were applied to the replication cohort, the model with metabolites and risk factors predicted prediabetes more accurately (AUC 0.70 [95% CI 40.55–0.86]) than the same model without metabolites (AUC 0.62 [0.46–0.79]).

CONCLUSIONS

Metabolite profiles may help improve prediabetes prediction compared with traditional risk factors. Findings suggest that medium-chain fatty acids and phytochemicals are early indicators of prediabetes in high-risk youth.