bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catastrophic Ecological Projections in J.G. Ballard's The Drought
Authors: Ibrahim Musaab Natiq , Hasan Wasan Ali
Published: April 2024

James G. Ballard (1930-2009) is regarded as a strong critic of materialism and commercialization amid rapid industrialization and is connected with a new generation of dystopian fiction for creating a largely post-apocalyptic world. In his work, he speculates on the type of catastrophe that would befall humanity as a consequence of modifications in the inhuman ecosystem due to contamination and industrialization. Ballard attempts to highlight the impact of human actions on nonhumans and environmental catastrophes on humankind by producing apocalyptic books in which the planet is wrecked by drought, floods, windstorms, or crystalline lattice. Ballard depicts a desolate world intimidated by a drastic climatic transition in The Drought (1965), a dystopian narrative that was first authored in 1964 under the headline The Burning World. This was caused by the worldwide discharge of toxic substances and manufacturing effluents into river systems and ocean water, which prevented rain and evapotranspiration due to an oceanic sheet of plastic. This paper seeks to examine The Drought as an ecology apocalypse that examines the interaction between humanity and nature. To accomplish this, the Eco criticism concept will be used in Larchmont, a waterfront community on the U.S. east coastline, where a 10 years drought is taking place.
The Influence of Place and Ideas on the Creativity of the English Writer Virginia Woolf
Authors: Mahmoud Ihsan Mudhar
Published: April 2024

This study focuses on the importance of the role of the place or the geographical environment in shaping the personality of the writer, in addition to the nature of the ideas and concepts that prevailed in the time period in which the writer lived, and how they could be the aid or the source, which the writer cannot neglect . Our example in this study  was the English writer Virginia Woolf, who is the ideal model for the writer who simulates his/her geographical surroundings and is proud of it, but rather prefers it over other places, and this is one of Woolf's symbols of belonging . In addition to addressing the writer's style, which revealed to us the extent to which ideas and the general culture of society influenced her works.

         Perhaps the importance of the writer's output depends on the amount of real pictures the writer presents that show accurate details of the nature of his/her environment or his/her city, as they make the reader harmonize with a real lived reality, and feel through her what the writer recounts in his works .
On the question of the existence of abstractions
Authors: Kuzmin Vladimir
Published: April 2024

The given abstraction is investigated. The existence of its relational states (extensional or intensional reality) is revealed. Some types of abstraction are analyzed, in particular, the abstraction of identification, isolating, etc. It is shown that the first is given intensionally, and the second is extensional. It is concluded that abstraction and idealization are two sides of the same process. The interval methodology and the phenomenological approach (as interpreted by A. Meinong) are used. It is noted that for each "size" of the abstraction interval – and there are only three of them: "situation", "co-existence" (a set of subject–related situations) and "universe" - there are different types of abstractions. In particular, the abstraction of constructivization is given in a situation, and the isolating one is given in co–existence. It is concluded that the question of the existence of abstractions in itself is incorrect. The existence of objects (concrete or abstract) is just one of the many modes of being objects. Abstract objects are characterized by a weaker mode than those that actually exist. Existence, as one of the states of reality, is eliminated by itself in the modus interpretation. It is more appropriate to talk about the existence of any objects in a situation (in co-existence, in the universe) with some kind of mode for the "I" and/or for the Other (Others). Thus, abstract objects exist in the given just like any other, including those that actually exist.
“And There Is Hope on the Road”: Nomadland’s American West
Authors:   Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (Portugal), Carletto Alice
Published: April 2024

Jessica Bruder’s Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-first Century (2017) and Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland (2020) display a contemporary phenomenon which is growing in America, especially in the most western states: people who “choose” the road and mobility as a way of life, thus becoming nomads. The aim of this paper is to reflect on the topic of the American road within this book and movie, on its real and mythical sides, and on issues of mobility. This will inevitably lead to consider the contemporary American West, here too in its real and mythical features. Bearing in mind the strong connection between the American road and the American West, Nomadland contributes to a reimagination and a rethinking of American mobility.
Analisis Risiko Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja dengan Metode HIRARC pada Perawat di Instalasi Rawat Inap RSI Ibnu Sina Pekanbaru
Authors: Yusmaini Yusmaini , Rahayu Endang Purnawati , Alamsyah Agus
Published: April 2024

Perawat dalam pelaksanaan tugasnya memiliki risiko mengalami kecelakaan kerja atau mendapatkan penyakit akibat kerja. Berdasarkan data dari RSI Ibnu Sina Pekanbaru tercatat kecelakaan kerja yang terjadi pada perawat antara lain kasus tertusuk jarum suntik, terpeleset, petugas terjepit brankar, tersayat.
Tujuan penelitian ini untuk menganalisis identifikasi bahaya, penilaian risiko dan pengendalian risiko dengan Metode HIRARC pada Perawat di Instalasi Rawat Inap RSI Ibnu Sina Pekanbaru. Metode penelitian adalah kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus, dilakukan di RSI Ibnu Sina Pekanbaru dengan 10 orang informan.  Pengumpulan data menggunakan metode wawancara mendalam, observasi, dan telaah dokumen. Data diolah dengan menggunakan metode triangulasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan identifikasi bahaya yaitu luka tertusuk jarum suntik, tertular penyakit Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, postur tubuh yang salah dan cemas tertular penyakit menular, penilaian risiko tinggi pada pemberian obat injeksi, pemasangan infus, pengambilan sampel darah, dan pengendalian risiko yaitu substitusi, administratif dan alat pelindung diri.  Simpulan penelitian ini menyatakan identifikasi bahaya di Instalasi Rawat Inap yaitu bahaya  mekanikal, bahaya biologi, bahaya ergonomi dan bahaya psikososial. Nilai risiko tertinggi adalah bahaya mekanikal yaitu tertusuk jarum berdampak luka tertusuk jarum dan tertular penyakit menular. Pengendalian bahaya yang ada yaitu SPO dan alat pelindung diri. Saran perlu ditingkatkan pengawasan kepatuhan petugas, sosialisasi SPO, pemantauan pelaporan insiden, training ergonomic dan program pemeriksaan kesehatan rutin.
Langkah - Langkah Progresif dalam Intervensi Reduksi Stigma HIV di Komunitas Tenaga Kesehatan: Scoping Review
Authors: Triana Vivi , Effendi Nursyirwan , Prahastuti Brian Sri , Ilmiawati Cimi
Published: April 2024

Stigma berperan signifikan dalam menciptakan kesenjangan dalam layanan kesehatan yang dialami oleh ODHA, sehingga menjadi faktor penghambat bagi mereka untuk mengakses layanan pencegahan, perawatan, dan pengobatan. Oleh karena itu, peran tenaga kesehatan sangat krusial dalam konteks ini. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengkaji dan mengevaluasi secara kritis jenis serta ruang lingkup intervensi yang telah dilakukan untuk mereduksi stigma terkait HIV/AIDS di kalangan tenaga Kesehatan. Penelitian ini merupakan scoping review terhadap artikel dengan pedoman PRISMA. Pencarian artikel dilakukan melalui database elektronik, termasuk ScienceDirect, Perpustakaan Cochrane, Embase, Portal Garuda, PubMed, Scopus, dan Sage Journals.Terdapat 14 artikel dibahas dalam tinjauan ini. Intervensi yang berhasil menurunkan stigma yaitu dengan pendekatan individu melalui penyebaran informasi, interaksi dan pelatihan. Selain itu, terdapat pendekatan struktural melalui pengembangan dan penyebarluasan kebijakan di RS, penyediaan marerial untuk memfasilitasi praktek kewaspadaan universal, penambahan kurikulum di sekolah kesehatan. Hasil intervensi memberikan dampak yang signifikan dalam mereduksi stigma di kalangan tenaga kesehatan dengan pendekatan kombinasi menunjukkan keefektifan yang lebih tinggi dibanding pendekatan tunggal. Intervensi yang dilakukan untuk mereduksi stigma tidak cukup dilakukan dengan pendekatan berbasis individu, tetapi juga harus mempertimbangkan intervensi dengan pendekatan struktural. Saran untuk penelitian lebih lanjut dengan menganalisis atau menggali potensi sinergi antara kedua pendekatan ini.
PHYSICAL FITNESS PROFILE IN COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO FOLLOW WEIGHT TRAINING: YO-YO INTERMITTENT TEST LEVEL 1
Authors: Saputra Eko , Putra Martinez Edison , Rianto Louis , Tjahyanto Teddy , Widiyati Restu , Aziz Ishak
Published: April 2024

This study aims to determine the physical fitness of sports students who take part in fitness activities. This study uses a quantitative descriptive approach with a survey method, which in this study carried out tests and measurements of level 1 intermittent yo-yo tests. The population is sports students who are actively doing fitness activities on campus 3 of sports science, Tanjungpura University. The sampling technique used purposive sampling in order to obtain 13 students as samples. Analysis of percentage descriptive data with the help of Microsoft Excel 2013 software. This result can be seen from the percentage which shows 15% in the good category, 15% in the bad category and 70% in the medium category. The conclusion of this study is that the physical fitness of sports students who take part in fitness is in the moderate category, the results show that the activities carried out can have a positive impact on physical fitness
Accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Thyroid Compared to Final Histopathology in Total Thyroidectomy
Authors:   Department of Otolaryngology, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, KSA, Magboul Nasir A , Alghamdi Waleed ,   Department of Otolaryngology, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, KSA, Talat Khaled ,   Department of Otolaryngology, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, KSA, Rajah Areej ,   Department of Otolaryngology, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, KSA, AL-Qannass Ali ,   Department of Otolaryngology, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, KSA
Published: April 2024

Thyroid nodules considered as common clinical presentation in head and neck clinic with a prevalence of thyroid nodule ranging from 2%–6% within palpation, 19%–35% using ultrasound imaging, and 8%–65% in autopsy data [1]. Majority of patient presented with thyroid nodule appear to begin with fewer cases of neoplastic disease [2]. Details history and full head and neck examination is important to reach the accurate diagnosis and it must address the risk factor for malignancy like age of the patient, progression of disease and exposure to radiation [3]. A lot of diagnostic modalities have been mentioned in literature like ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration, histopathology, CT scan and even MRI [3].
Müllerian Cyst in the Posterior Mediastinum: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors:   Department of Anatomical Pathology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Alghamdi Rawan , Ali Rakan Mounla ,   Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Almutrafi Amna ,   Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Published: April 2024

A Müllerian cyst is a rare newly identified cyst of the posterior mediastinum. It is an important differential diagnosis to other more commonly known mediastinal neurogenic tumor or bronchogenic cyst. This current report represents a case of 51-year-old woman with an incidentally identified mediastinal Müllerian cyst with review of literature.
Cutaneous Horn of Knee: A Rare Case Report
Authors:   Department of Pathology North DMC & Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi, India, N Bhutani , K Kamlesh ,   GB pant institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER), Delhi, India, A Nadesan ,   Department of Pathology North DMC & Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi, India
Published: April 2024

Cutaneous horns are uncommon lesions consist of cornified elements, occurs predominantly in sun-exposed areas mainly in old patients. A six year old girl presented with painless non-tender horn-like protrusion over right knee. The lesion was removed via surgical excision and sent for histopathological examination which confirmed the diagnosis of cutaneous horn. Accurate diagnosis and early management are mandatory steps for the prevention of the risk of transformation to malignancy and psycho-social stress owing to the bizarre appearance.
Post-COVID Chest Disease Monitoring Using Self Adaptive Convolutional Neural Network
Authors:   Dept of ACSE, VFSTR Deemed to be University, Vadlamudi, India, Kakani Vamsi , Varun B ,   Dept of ACSE, VFSTR Deemed to be University, Vadlamudi, India, Bodapati Jyostna Devi ,   Dept of ACSE, VFSTR Deemed to be University, Vadlamudi, India, Sekhar Konda Raja ,   IEEE Senior Member, India
Published: April 2024

Due to the post-Covid effect, several people are experiencing respiratory problems, with Pneumonia being a common and frequent issue. Chest X-rays can easily identify this, but regular monitoring is necessary for older people with respiratory issues. To address this issue, we have developed a model that predicts four different class of chest diseases: Covid, Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, and Normal. The proposed transfer learning based convolutional neural network model utilizes a collaborative dataset consisting of all these four disease X-ray images and is trained using the early stopping approach to ensure optimal performance. The self-adaptive CNN achieves an accuracy of 95-97% on the train split and 90-95% on the test split. Our model performs well on the collaborative dataset of chest X-ray images, making it an effective tool for identifying respiratory problems in post-Covid patients and elder oldage people.
Exploring Diverse Presentations of Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia: A Case Series
Authors:   Department of Pulmonology, KIMS Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, India, VV Ramana Prasad , Shah Chirali ,   Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Minister Road, Secunderabad 500003, Kumar Kranthi ,   Senior Resident, Department of Pulmonology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Minister Road, Secunderabad 500003
Published: April 2024

Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia (COP), the idiopathic form of Organizing Pneumonia (OP) previously known as “bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia,” is a well-documented medical condition with distinct clinicoradiological features and diagnostic criteria. COP can exhibit a diverse range of radiological presentations, including multiple patchy alveolar opacities (typical pattern), a solitary focal lesion, or diffuse bilateral infiltration. Corticosteroid therapy is typically effective in achieving rapid clinical and imaging improvement, but caution must be exercised in cases of active infections where corticosteroids are contraindicated, posing a challenge for OP diagnosis. This case series emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to be knowledgeable about the various atypical clinical manifestations of COP, recognize the diverse and uncommon radiological presentations that may mimic other pulmonary pathologies, and consider COP in the differential diagnosis to ensure appropriate management and enhance patient outcomes.
A Procedure to Investigate the Efficacy of the Blood Donor Arm Disinfection Procedure for the Prevention of Blood Contamination
Authors:   Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Malta, A Debrincat , JP Gialanze ,   National Blood Transfusion Service, Malta, N Spiteri ,   National Blood Transfusion Service, Malta, V Zammit ,   Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Malta
Published: April 2024

The safety of blood products has improved drastically over the years especially when it comes to the detection of viral pathogens. Contamination by bacteria and fungi remains a concern since these lead to transfusion transmitted infections. This project aims to provide a protocol to determine the efficacy of the disinfection procedure used by Blood Establishments. This method is based on collecting swab samples from the antecubital fossa of donors before and after the application of the disinfectant and by culturing of blood collected from the diversion pouch. The colony counts obtained before and after disinfection from the selected Blood Bank were analysed statistically and it was found that the disinfectant regimen currently used was more than sufficient in obtaining the required bacterial reduction and that it eliminated any fungal organisms. From the blood cultures performed, three blood cultures resulted as positive. Upon further investigation using a MALDI-TOF MS based identification technique, the contaminant bacteria were identified. None of these organisms were deemed to have originated because of improper disinfection upon reviewing the identification results obtained from the after-disinfection swabs. This implies that the current disinfection procedure is performing as expected.
A Multifaceted Fungus Pig’s Ears: Gomphus clavatus Gray
Authors:   Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh, MS Parvin , ME Haque ,   University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
Published: April 2024

Gomphus clavatus, commonly known as pig’s ears, is a species of fungi in the genus Gomphus, family Gomphaceae native to Eurasia and North America. Pig’s ear derives its name from the funnel-shaped and folded fruiting body, which resembles a pig’s ear in shape and texture. Gomphus clavatus mushrooms are edible; these are used as soup, sauce and baking dishes. Gomphus clavatus Gray is not only used as a nutritious food but also might be an important source of biologically active compounds with potential additional medical value. In recent research, the fruit bodies of Gomphus clavatus Gray were collected from the wild. A novel heteropolysaccharide, namely ‘GCG-1’, from the fruit bodies of Gomphus clavatus Gray was isolated through Sephadex G-200 and DEAEcellulose columns. Fungal polysaccharide is a type of active organic compound that is composed of long chains of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages. Recently, an increasing number of fungal polysaccharides have been identified to show a variety of biological activities, including antitumor and antioxidant properties. Antioxidation test in GCG-1 in vitro showed that it has strong free radical scavenging activity. It suggests that Gomphus clavatus can be considered as a medicinal food with antioxidant activities.
Influences on Stress Load in Young Girls with Major Depression
Authors:   University of Trier, Frauenstr 7, 54290 Trier, Germany, L Reinhold
Published: April 2024

Based on former empirical studies and theoretical models the present study investigated, whether stress symptoms, stress coping, and activity of HPA axis are different in girls with major depression compared to non-depressed controls. 148 girls with a mean age of 15 years were studied twice with 6 months between the two assessments. 74 fulfilled DSM IV criteria for major depression at first assessment. Stress symptoms and stress coping were measured with validated German questionnaires. The cortisol awakening response was analyzed by collecting saliva samples. Depressed girls showed a greater stress load, which was significantly influenced by stress coping strategies. HPA axis activity was heightened in depressed girls, but does not seem to have an influence on stress load.
Diagnosis of Growth Hormone Deficiency: Ethical Aspects
Authors:   Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Children Hospital Dr. Robert Reid Cabral, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Morla Elbi
Published: April 2024

The diagnosis of Growth Hormone (GH) deficiency involves measuring the concentration of this hormone at baseline and after stimuli. However, the greatest use of the hormone occurs in situations where the concentration of the hormone is normal and does not need to be measured. The administration of growth hormone stimulants to measure it includes potentially harmful compounds and is contrary to the basic principle of bioethics of “Do no harm” when we have other parameters that together, without injuring the child, suggest that there is a deficit of the hormone so we consider these stimulus tests should be avoided.
New Genetic Socio-Control Measure for Overcoming Indiscriminate Gun Shooting in the United State of America and Elsewhere
Authors:   Bio System Engineer, and Charter of New theme Food is medicine, India, Yadav RC
Published: April 2024

With time severity of crime as well as modality and numbers of cases have taken un imaginable scenarios. The worsening situations create worry about what to do and how to do, in indiscriminate gun shooting in U.S.A. and elsewhere in the worldly countries. This study identified bio-factor which builds magnified bad personality. The bio-factor quantum increases prompting the bad personality, the criminals go on intensifying heinous crime because it takes form of mania. Severe cases on prevailing topic in audiovisual media were cited so that situation gets easily comprehended by the readers. Live in relation is globally getting regulated. Ayurvedic science the nature of ailments are deemed to be vaat. Such ailments need moderation of angularity in bad manias of would be couple to revert back to normal personality, where social measure. The study came with social punishment so that the bad punished personality criminals remain as a real moving model exemplifying the crime and social punishment to get social humiliation for one self and onlookers take lessons to restrain from involving in such anti social activities. The study, in addition to identification of bio factor, attempted to fix categories of criminals and their interrelationship with various crime levels and features creating opportunities to implement reforming measures for their improvements. Thus, this study created a novel genetic-socio measure for overcoming crimes as a new visionary initiative.
Functional Connectivity, Physical Activity, and Behavioral Abnormality in Patients with Vascular Cognitive Impairment
Authors:   Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, Chang Ya-Ting , Liu Chun-Ting ,   Department of Chinese Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, Hsu Shih-Wei ,   Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, Lee Chen-Chang ,   Department of Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan, Huang Pei-Ning ,   Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan
Published: April 2024

Purpose of the research: Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPSs) can negatively impact the survival and quality of life in Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) patients. Physical Activity (PA) has been shown to reduce NPSs in dementia patients, possibly by influencing synaptic plasticity. This study investigates the relationship between NPSs, Default Mode Network (DMN), and PA in patients with VCI. Methods: The study included 42 VCI patients. Functional Connectivity (FC) within the DMN and neurobehavioral performance was assessed. NPSs were categorized. The severity of Hyperactivity and Behavioral Symptoms (HBS) was quantified using a Hyperactivity and Behavioral Composite Score (HBCS). Patients’ PA levels were measured using Fitbit Charge 2. Principal results: After accounting for disease severity, increased FC between the left Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC) seed and the right inferior parietal gyrus was linked to more severe HBS. There was an inverse correlation between HBCS and average step counts per day (steps/d) as well as average distance per day (km/d). This suggests that higher levels of PA were associated with less severe HBS. HBCS was also inversely correlated with steps/d and km/d, reinforcing the idea that increased PA was linked to reduced symptom severity. Major conclusions: The study concludes that increased FC within the DMN is associated with more severe HBS in VCI patients. Greater levels of PA (measured by step counts and distance) were associated with a reduction in the severity of HBS. This suggests that FC within the DMN may play a role in the modulation of HBS by PA in VCI patients.
Density Fitted Fragment Embedding – Principles and Applications
Authors: Sun Yi
Published: April 2024

We demonstrate how a density fitted fragment embedding framework can be constructed using both non-overlapping fragments and overlapping fragments to perform energy evaluations. We then implement the framework to first perform energy calculations on water clusters using a polarised 3-zeta basis set to demonstrate the observed scaling of the algorithm, which is O(N^2.61) and is capped at O(N^3.57) in the large fragment limit. We then perform numerical structural optimisations on cyclic water and hydrogen fluoride clusters using this theory. The optimised structures and the binding energies are then compared with results using the corresponding all-electron solver, which is CCSD in this work. It turns out that BE1-DF-CCSD is able to recover at least 94% of the hydrogen bonding energy in both water and hydrogen fluoride clusters. This work therefore provides foundations for the efficient generation and quality of fragment embedding energy data in large, weakly interacting systems.
Multivalent Inhibition of the Aspergillus fumigatus KDNase
Authors: Scalabrini Mathieu , Loquet Denis , Rochard Camille , Assailly Coralie , Brissonnet Yoan , Daligault Franck , Saumonneau Amélie , Lambert Annie , grandjean cyrille , Deniaud david , lottin Paul , Pascual sagrario , Fontaine Laurent , Balloy Viviane , gouin sebastien
Published: April 2024

Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprophytic fungus and opportunistic pathogen often causing fatal infections in immunocompromised patients. Recently AfKDNAse, an exoglycosidase hydrolyzing 2-keto-3-deoxynononic acid (KDN), a rare sugar from the sialic acid familly, was identified and characterized. The principal function of AfKDNAse is still unclear, but a study suggest a critical role in fungal cell wall morphology and virulence. Potent AfKDNAse inhibitors are required to better probe the enzyme’s biological role and as potential antivirulence factors. In this work, we developed a set of AfKDNAse inhibitors based on enzymatically stable thio-KDN motifs. C2, C9-linked heterodi-KDN were designed to fit into unusually close KDN sugar binding pockets in the protein. A polymeric compound with an average of 54 KDN motifs was also designed by click chemistry. Inhibitory assays performed on recombinant AfKDNAse showed a moderate and strong enzymatic inhibition for the two classes of compounds, respectively. The Poly-KDN showed more than a nine hundred fold improved inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.52 ± 0.37µM, 17-fold in a KDN molar basis) compared to a monovalent KDN reference, and is to our knowledge, the best synthetic inhibitor described for a KDNase. Multivalency appears to be a relevant strategy for the design of potent KDNase inhibitors. Importantly, poly-KDN was shown to strongly decrease filamentation when co-cultured with A. fumigatus at micromolar concentrations, opening interesting perspectives in the development of antivirulence factors.
Fuel-Driven Dynamic Combinatorial Peptide Libraries
Authors: Späth Fabian , Stasi Michele , Soria-Carrera Héctor , Sastre Judit , Kriebisch Brigitte , Boekhoven Job
Published: April 2024

Dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) creates libraries of molecules that are constantly interchanging in a dynamic combinatorial library. When a library member self-assembles, it can displace the equilibria, leading to emergent phenomena like its selection or even its replication. However, such dynamic combinatorial libraries typically operate in or close to equilibrium. This work introduces a new dynamic combinatorial chemistry fueled by a catalytic reaction cycle that forms transient, out-of-equilibrium peptide-based macrocycles. The products in this library exist out of equilibrium at the expense of fuel and are thus regulated by kinetics and thermodynamics. By creating a chemically fueled dynamic combinatorial library with the vast structural space of amino acids, we explored the liquid-liquid phase separation behavior of the library members. The new versatile chemistry enables simple and complex coacervation and creates structures with significantly longer lifetimes than other chemically fueled examples.
Early-Stage Biosynthesis of Phenalinolactone Diterpenoids Involves Sequential Prenylation, Epoxidation, and Cyclization
Authors: Alsup Tyler , Li Zining , McCadden Caitlin , Jagels Annika , Łomowska-Keehner Diana , Marshall Erin , Dong Liao-Bin , Loesgen Sandra , Rudolf Jeffrey
Published: April 2024

The chemical logic associated with assembly of many bacterial terpenoids remains poorly understood. We focused our efforts on the early-stage biosynthesis of the phenalinolactone diterpenoids, demonstrating that the anti/anti/syn-perhydrophenanthrene core is constructed by sequential prenylation, epoxidation, and cyclization. The functions and timing of PlaT1–PlaT4 were assigned by comprehensive heterologous reconstitution. We illustrated that the UbiA prenyltransferase PlaT3 acts on geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) in the first step of phenalinolactone biosynthesis, prior to epoxidation and cyclization. Finally, we isolated eight new-to-nature terpenoids, expanding the scope of the bacterial terpenome. The biosynthetic strategy employed in the assembly of the phenalinolactone core, with cyclization occurring after prenylation, is rare in bacteria and resembles fungal meroterpenoid biosynthesis. The findings presented here set the stage for future discovery, engineering, and enzymology efforts in bacterial meroterpenoids.
Epitaxial Core/Shell Nanocrystals of (Europium-Doped) zirconia and hafnia
Authors: Seno Carlotta , Reichholf Nico , Salutari Francesco , Spadaro Maria Chiara , Ivanov Yurii P. , Divitini Giorgio , Gogos Alexander , Herrmann Inge , Arbiol Jordi , Smet Philippe F. , De Roo Jonathan
Published: April 2024

A careful design of nanocrystal architecture can strongly enhance the nanocrystal function. So far, this strategy faced a synthetic bottleneck in the case of refractory oxides. Here, we demonstrate the epitaxial growth of hafnia shells onto zirconia cores, and pure zirconia shells onto europium doped zirconia cores. The core/shell structures are fully crystalline. Upon shelling, the optical properties of the europium dopant are dramatically improved (featuring a more uniform coordination and a longer photoluminescence lifetime), indicating the suppression of non-radiative pathways. These results launch the stable zirconium and hafnium oxide hosts as alternatives for the established NaYF4 systems.
DOGMA AND DOXOLOGY. THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF HYMNOLOGY IN ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY
Authors:   Faculty of Orthodox Theology, ", MIHAI HIMCINSCHI ,   1 Decembrie 1918",   University, Alba-Iulia ROMANIA
Published: April 2024

The subject proposes a rather complex theme. Therefore, the present study can only be considered a prelude to what implies a complementary relationship between theology and doxology in the Orthodox Church, which, as complex as it is, is at the same time subtle because the translation of the dogmatic content into poetic hymns, or worship songs, took shape following a direct charismatic experience between their authors and the work of the Holy Spirit
MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY AND ITS IMPACT ON MODERN SCIENCE
Authors: CHUNG-CHONG Jaw , MUHAMMAD Amran
Published: April 2024

This article challenges the conventional narrative of medieval Europe as a period characterized by scientific stagnation, offering a nuanced exploration of the vibrant intellectual landscape that thrived during this era. Focusing on medieval natural philosophy, the research paper reveals a dynamic interplay between theology and scientific inquiry, where figures such as Thomas Aquinas and Roger Bacon engaged in rigorous debates to reconcile Aristotelian principles with Christian doctrines. This ignored relationship provided a fertile ground for scientific exploration. The study traces the evolution of philosophy's scope across ancient Greece, the medieval period, and the early modern age, highlighting shifts in focus and interpretation. It emphasized the unique contributions of medieval natural philosophy in shaping the trajectory of science development. The article contends that medieval scholars, far from being confined by religious constraints, actively nurtured the seeds of scientific inquiry. By delving into specific questions about nature and embracing empirical observations within a theological framework, they laid the groundwork for the empirical methods that define modern science. The research challenging the argument on the limitations of traditional historiography, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of science's evolution that recognizes the contributions of diverse historical periods. Finally, paper concludes by calling for a reexamination of the narrative surrounding medieval natural philosophy, portraying it not as a period of stagnation, but as a crucial and dynamic phase where the foundation of modern science were laid. Through this critical historiographical review, an impactful understanding of the complex history of science emerges, acknowledging the rich legacies that continue to influence our world
I GAME, THEREFORE I AM”: AN EXPLORATION OF VIDEO GAME EPISTEMOLOGY AND ITS ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS
Authors: ANH CHAU Tuan , WHITE Tristan
Published: April 2024

The discussion regarding ethical implications of entertainment and arts has been an age-old story in the world of philosophy, dating as far as Plato and Aristotle. Ancient Rome’s citizens during the third century BCE and the fourth century BCE got treated to the format of gladiatorial combat in which prisoners of war and slaves duked it out with deadly weapons to become the ultimate survivors, as a popular form of entertainment. The spectators of the civilized Rome were indirectly exposed to the gory altercations of violence and endless slaughter. In the modern world, spectacles like gladiatorial combat scenes or fight scenes have been meticulously replicated and rendered realistically in various forms of graphic portrayals and photorealism – specifically in video games; and of course, the themes for video games span beyond historical depictions, taking inspirations from different slices of life. Nonetheless, instead of having indirect exposition to the events depicted, the user – or player – of video games actively acts out their part in the happenings of the designated story. The simulated quasi-realism of the game world allows the players, while not being intoxicated directly by the consequences of their actions (by following the story line), to directly experience and influence the actions of the in-game avatars and the environment of the game world. This research firstly addresses how a human’s epistemological engagement – the process of meaning-making – in video games is not entirely different from real-world interactions; more specifically, applying the theory of the extended and embodied mind, the video games’ simulations extend the human’s mind into the game, thus allowing phenomenological interactions. Secondly, this research aims to elaborate on how video games bring up ethical implications by making the player an ethical agent for in-game scenarios
ON THE ESSENTIAL INSTABILITY THESIS OF SCIENCE
Authors: VENUKAPALLI SUDHAKAR
Published: April 2024

The hitherto philosophers of science assumed that justification had a thoroughgoing logic and therefore a philosophical account of discovery must be in terms of a logic of discovery. However the recognition that it is impossible to provide an algorithmic or semi-algorithmic scheme and the recognition that justification itself if viewed more in terms of historical authenticity is un-amenable to a logical articulation and more than that, the realization that discovery has a philosophical relevance independent of its relation to justification have replaced the "logic of discovery" by the "methodology of discovery". This paper begins with the category shift from the idea of an unchanging set of principles that is supposed to underlie and persist through the changing content of science to the idea of radical instability of science, according to which nothing remains stable in the shifts that scientific theorizing undergoes. Thus, it is a categorical shift from the idea of an essentially stable core of science to the idea of an essential instability of science. This replacement of stability by instability is one of the hallmarks of post-Positivist philosophy of science. An attempt is made in this paper to discuss the views of Dudley Shapere who very effectively enunciates the thesis of essential instability of science.
Percolation Driven Flooding for Energy Efficient Routing in Dense Sensor Networks
Authors: Vakulya Gergely , Simon Gyula
Published: April 2024

Simple flooding algorithms are widely used in ad hoc sensor networks either for information dissemination or as building blocks of more sophisticated routing protocols. In this paper a percolation driven probabilistic flooding algo- rithm is proposed, which provides large message delivery ratio with small number of sent messages, compared to traditional flooding. To control the number of sent messages the proposed algorithm uses locally available information only, thus induces negligible overhead on network traffic. The performance of the algorithm is analyzed and the theoretical results are verified through simulation examples.
Higher Order Cumulants for Identification and Equalization of Multicarrier Spreading Spectrum Systems
Authors: Safi Said , Frikel Miloud , Zeroual Abdelouhab , M’Saad Mohammed
Published: April 2024

This paper describes two blind algorithms for multicarrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) system equalization. In order to identify, blindly, the impulse response of two practical selective frequency fading channels called broadband radio access network (BRAN A and BRAN E) normalized for MC-CDMA systems, we have used higher order cumulants (HOC) to build our algorithms. For that, we have focussed on the experimental channels to develop our blind algorithms able to simulate the measured data with high accuracy. The simulation results in noisy environment and for different signal to noise ratio (SNR) demonstrate that the proposed algorithms are able to estimate the impulse response of these channels blindly (i.e., without any information about the input), except that the input excitation is i.i.d. (identically and independent distributed) and non-Gaussian. In the part of MC-CDMA, we use the zero forcing and the minimum mean square error equalizers to perform our algorithms. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Characteristics of Measured Rainfall Rate at Ogbomoso, Nigeria for Microwave Applications
Authors: Semire F. A. , Raji T. I.
Published: April 2024

Characteristics of rainfall rate useful in the estimation of attenuation due to rain are presented. Rain data collected at Ogbomoso between January–October, 2009 were used in the analysis. Result shows that power law relationship exists between the equiprobable rain rates of two different integration times. The value of conversion factor CE and CR obtained for Ogbomoso are 0.28(60) and 0.64(90) respectively. Our result then shows that different conversion factor is required for different location even within the same climatic region.
A Software Platform for Research on Auction Mechanisms
Authors: Kamola Mariusz , Niewiadomska-Szynkiewicz Ewa , Malinowski Krzysztof , Stańczuk Wojciech , Pałka Piotr
Published: April 2024

The platform for research on auction mechanisms is a distributed simulation framework providing means to carry out research on resource allocation efficiency mechanisms and user strategies. Both kinds of algorithms examined are completely user-defined. Interaction of algorithms is recorded and pre-defined measures for the final resource allocation are calculated. Underlying database design provides for efficient results lookup and comparison across different experiments, thus enabling research groupwork. A recognised, open and flexible information model is employed for experiment descriptions.
Multi Queue Approach for Network Services Implemented for Multi Core CPUs
Authors: Hasse Marcin , Nowicki Krzysztof , Woźniak Józef
Published: April 2024

Multiple core processors have already became the dominant design for general purpose CPUs. Incarnations of this technology are present in solutions dedicated to such areas like computer graphics, signal processing and also computer networking. Since the key functionality of network core components is fast package servicing, multicore technology, due to multi tasking ability, seems useful to support packet processing. Dedicated network processors characterize very good performance but at the same time high cost. General purpose CPUs achieve incredible performance, thanks to task distribution along several available cores and relatively low cost. The idea, analyzed in this paper, is to use general purpose CPU to provide network core functionality. For this purpose parameterized system model has been created, which represents general core networking needs. This model analyze system parameters influence on system performance.
Self-Adaptive Differential Evolution with Hybrid Rules of Perturbation for Dynamic Optimization
Authors: Trojanowski Krzysztof , Raciborski Mikołaj , Kaczyński Piotr
Published: April 2024

In this paper an adaptive differential evolution approach for dynamic optimization problems is studied. A new benchmark suite Syringa is also presented. The suite allows to generate test-cases from a multiple number of dynamic optimization classes. Two dynamic benchmarks: Generalized Dynamic Benchmark Generator (GDBG) and Moving Peaks Benchmark (MPB) have been simulated in Syringa and in the presented research they were subject of the experimental research. Two versions of adaptive differential evolution approach, namely the jDE algorithm have been heavily tested: the pure version of jDE and jDE equipped with solutions mutated with a new operator. The operator uses a symmetric α-stable distribution variate for modification of the solution coordinates.
Evolutionary Algorithm that Designs the DNA Synthesis Procedure
Authors: Michalak Maciej , Nowak Robert
Published: April 2024

Chemical synthesis of nucleotide chains is very erroneous for long sequences. Often a gene is constructed from short fragments joined with the use of complementary helper chains. The number of possible potential solutions for a long gene synthesis is very large, therefore a fast automated search is required. In the presented approach a modified method of long DNA construction is proposed. A computer program that searches for an optimal solution in the space of potential synthesis methods has been developed. This software uses an evolutionary algorithm for global optimization and a hillclimbing algorithm for local optimization. The long DNA construction method was tested on random sequences. The results are very promising. The next step is to perform experiments in a biotechnological wet laboratory involving DNA strand synthesis using the method designed by the presented software.
ocalization in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Heuristic Optimization Techniques
Authors: Niewiadomska-Szynkiewicz Ewa , Marks Michał , Kamola Mariusz
Published: April 2024

Many applications of wireless sensor networks (WSN) require information about the geographic location of each sensor node. Devices that form WSN are expected to beremotely deployed in large numbers in a sensing field, and to self-organize to perform sensing and acting task. The goal of localization is to assign geographic coordinates to each device with unknown position in the deployment area. Recently, the popular strategy is to apply optimization algorithms to solve the localization problem. In this paper, we address issues associated with the application of heuristic techniques to accurate localization of nodes in a WSN system. We survey and discuss the location systems based on simulated annealing, genetic algorithms and evolutionary strategies. Finally, we describe and evaluate our methods that combine trilateration and heuristic optimization.
Benchmarking Procedures for Continuous Optimization Algorithms
Authors: Opara Karol , Arabas Jarosław
Published: April 2024

Reliable comparison of optimization algorithms requires the use of specialized benchmarking procedures. This paper highlights motivations which influence their structure, discusses evaluation criteria of algorithms, typical ways of presenting and interpreting results as well as related statistical procedures. Discussions are based on examples from CEC and BBOB benchmarks. Moreover, attention is drawn to these features of comparison procedures, which make them susceptible to manipulation. In particular, novel application of the weak axiom of revealed preferences to the field of benchmarking shows why it may be misleading to assess algorithms on basis of their ranks for each of test problems. Additionally, an idea is presented of developing massively parallel implementation of benchmarks. Not only would this provide faster computation but also open the door to improving reliability of benchmarking procedures and promoting research into parallel implementations of optimization algorithms.
Enhancement of Power Efficiency in OFDM System by SLM with Predistortion Technique
Authors: Sharma Pankaj Kumar , Nagaria R. K. , Sharma T. N.
Published: April 2024

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is considered as a strong candidate for future wireless communication because it is marked by its higher frequency multiplicity and greater immunity to multipath fading. However, the main drawback of OFDM is its high amplitude fluctuations measured by peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), which leads to power inefficiency and requires expensive high power amplifier (HPA) with very good linearity. In this paper, we propose selected mapping (SLM) with predistortion technique to decrease the nonlinear distortion and to improve the power efficiency of the nonlinear HPA. In the proposed method SLM reduces the PAPR and improves the power efficiency, the predistorter improves the bit error rate (BER) performance of the system. The PAPR reduction is possible with SLM when compared with original OFDM. After reducing the PAPR with SLM the data goes into the HPA with and without predistorter. The BER performance curves of SLM method with or without predistorter shows that, predistorter operates more effectively in SLM method than original OFDM system. At 4 dB IBO (input backoff) the conventional method with predistorter achieves 1.8 dB SNR gain than conventional method without a predistorter and at 6 dB IBO the BER performance is towards the ideal linear amplifier. The proposed system will be evaluated for OFDM system in the presence of a nonlinear power amplifier.