bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hardware Implementation of FIR Filter for ECG Signal Processing: Design, Optimization, and Performance Analysis on an FPGA
Authors: Chessda Uttraphan  , Mohd Izzul Ariffi Ardani  , Chua Wee Heng  , Nabihah Ahmad  , Kok Boon Ching  , A Arul Edwin Raj
Published: February 2024

Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals are commonly used to diagnose heart-related diseases. However, noise induced during the measurement process can affect the accuracy of the diagnosis. Digital filters, such as the Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter, are widely used to filter out noise from the ECG signal. Nevertheless, the processing speed of software-based FIR filters is slow for large ECG datasets due to serial processing. This paper presents a hardware implementation of the FIR filter for ECG signal processing to overcome the processing speed issue. The filter is designed using the Kaiser Window method and implemented on the Intel Cyclone IV Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The filter is first designed in MATLAB to obtain the filter coefficients where the ECG data were obtained from Physionet database. From the difference equation, we designed the signal flow graph (SDFG) and then mapped into hardware logics to enable parallel processing. Simulation results of the software (MATLAB) and hardware (FPGA) implementations are obtained and compared. The results show that the FPGA-based FIR filter can process the ECG signal up to 1,250 times faster than software implementations. To further optimize the design and reduce hardware cost, we introduce optimized designs by applying the operation scheduling and constrained resource allocation techniques. The maximum operating frequency, logic utilization, and power consumption of each design were analysed and compared. This study demonstrates that custom-designed hardware logic for digital signal processing can significantly outperform software implementations due to its parallel processing capabilities. The proposed optimization techniques reduce the hardware cost while maintaining high processing speed and accuracy. The hardware implementation of the FIR filter for ECG signal processing has numerous applications in diagnosing heart-related diseases and real-time monitoring of ECG signals in critical care settings.
Peran Account Executive dalam Proses Perencanaan Iklan di Era Digital: Perspektif dan Tantangan
Authors: Kusuma Disa Prihantini , Swarnawati Aminah
Published: February 2024

The advertising industry is experiencing rapid development, with advertisements that were originally only present in conventional media such as television, radio, and print media, now expanding to digital media. Advertising is a dynamic field and always keeps up with the times according to market preferences. Account executives are responsible for the advertising communication system, so in planning advertisements, they must understand the process of persuasion and effective communication. This research uses the literature study method as the main approach to conduct research that aims to investigate the role of Account Executives (AEs) in the advertising planning process in the digital era. The results show that the role of the account executive (AE) in the advertising industry has undergone a profound transformation along with the rapid development of digital technology. The challenges faced by AEs in carrying out their role in the digital era are not small. They must be able to deal with various technological and algorithmic changes that occur rapidly, as well as respond to increasingly fierce competition in the advertising industry.
HPIC: The Habitable Worlds Observatory Preliminary Input Catalog
Authors: Tuchow Noah W. , Stark Christopher C. , Mamajek Eric
Published: February 2024

The Habitable Worlds Observatory Preliminary Input Catalog (HPIC) is a list of ∼13,000 nearby bright stars that will be potential targets for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) in its search for Earth-sized planets around Sun-like stars. We construct this target list using the TESS and Gaia DR3 catalogs and develop an automated pipeline to compile stellar measurements and derived astrophysical properties for all stars. We benchmark the stellar properties in the HPIC relative to those of the manually curated ExEP HWO Precursor Science Stars list and find that, for the 164 best targets for exo-Earth direct imaging, our stellar properties are consistent. We demonstrate the utility of the HPIC by using it as an input for yield calculations to predict the science output of various mission designs, including those with larger telescope diameters and those focused on other planet types besides Earth analogs, such as Jupiter-mass planets. The breadth and completeness of the HPIC is essential for accurate HWO mission trade studies, and it will be useful for other exoplanet studies and general astrophysics studying the population of bright nearby stars.
Solar Energetic Particle Charge States and Abundances with Nonthermal Electrons
Authors: Lee Jin-Yi , Kahler Stephen , Raymond John C. , Ko Yuan-Kuen
Published: February 2024

An important aspect of solar energetic particle (SEP) events is their source populations. Elemental abundance enhancements of impulsive SEP events, originating in presumed coronal reconnection episodes, can be fitted to steep power laws of A/Q, where A and Q are the atomic mass and ionic charge. Since thermal electron energies are enhanced and nonthermal electron distributions arise in the reconnection process, we might expect that ionic charge states Q would be increased through ionization interactions with those electron populations during the acceleration process. The temperature estimated from the SEPs corresponds to the charge state during the acceleration process, while the actual charge state measured in situ may be modified as the SEPs pass through the corona. We examine whether the temperature estimation from the A/Q would differ with various κ values in a κ function representing high-energy tail deviating from a Maxwellian velocity distribution. We find that the differences in the A/Q between a Maxwellian and an extreme κ distribution are about 10%–30%. We fit power-law enhancement of element abundances as a function of their A/Q with various κ values. Then, we find that the derived source region temperature is not significantly affected by whether or not the electron velocity distribution deviates from a Maxwellian, i.e., thermal, distribution. Assuming that electrons are heated in the acceleration region, the agreement of the SEP charge state during acceleration with typical active region temperatures suggests that SEPs are accelerated and leave the acceleration region in a shorter time than the ionization timescale.
Global Coronal Magnetic Field Estimation Using Bayesian Inference
Authors: Baweja Upasna , Pant Vaibhav , Arregui Iñigo
Published: February 2024

Estimating the magnetic field strength in the solar corona is crucial for understanding different physical processes happening over diverse spatiotemporal scales. However, the high temperatures and low density of the solar corona make this task challenging. The coronal magnetic field is too weak to produce a measurable splitting of the spectral lines using the Zeeman effect, and high temperature causes spectral lines to become weak and broad, making it difficult to detect the small Zeeman splitting. Coronal magneto-seismology, which combines the theoretical and observed properties of magnetohydrodynamic waves, can be used to infer the magnetic field strength of oscillating structures in the solar corona, which are otherwise difficult to estimate. In this work, we use the Doppler velocity and density data obtained from the Coronal Multichannel Polarimeter on 2016 October 14 to obtain the global map of the coronal magnetic field using Bayesian inference. Two priors are used for plasma density, viz Gaussian and uniform distributions. Bayesian inference provides us with the probability distribution for the magnetic field strength at each location from 1.05 to 1.35 R
⊙. A comparison between the magnetic field obtained using simple inversion and Bayesian inference is also drawn. We find that the values obtained using simple inversion do not always match the maximum posterior estimates obtained using Bayesian inference. We find that the inferred values follow a power-law function for the radial variation of the coronal magnetic field, with the power-law indices for simple and Bayesian inversion being similar.
RR Lyrae Stars Belonging to the Candidate Globular Cluster Patchick 99
Authors: Butler Evan , Kunder Andrea , Prudil Zdenek , Covey Kevin R. , Ball Macy , Campos Carlos , Gollnick Kaylen , Olivares Carvajal Julio , Hughes Joanne , Devine Kathryn , Johnson Christian I. , Vivas A. Katherina , Rich R. Michael , Joyce Meridith , Simion Iulia T. , Marchetti Tommaso , Koch-Hansen Andreas J. , Clarkson William I. , Kuss Rebekah
Published: February 2024

Patchick 99 is a candidate globular cluster located in the direction of the Galactic bulge, with a proper motion almost identical to the field and extreme field star contamination. A recent analysis suggests it is a low-luminosity globular cluster with a population of RR Lyrae stars. We present new spectra of stars in and around Patchick 99, targeting specifically the three RR Lyrae stars associated with the cluster as well as the other RR Lyrae stars in the field. A sample of 53 giant stars selected from proper motions and a position on the color–magnitude diagram are also observed. The three RR Lyrae stars associated with the cluster have similar radial velocities and distances, and two of the targeted giants also have radial velocities in this velocity regime and [Fe/H] metallicities that are slightly more metal-poor than the field. Therefore, if Patchick 99 is a bona fide globular cluster, it would have a radial velocity of −92 ± 10 km s−1, a distance of 6.7 ± 0.4 kpc (as determined from the RR Lyrae stars), and an orbit that confines it to the inner bulge.
On the Magnetic Field Properties of Protostellar Envelopes in Orion
Authors: Huang 黄 Bo 博 , Girart Josep M. , Stephens Ian W. , Fernández López Manuel , Arce Hector G. , Carpenter John M. , Cortes Paulo , Cox Erin G. , Friesen Rachel , Le Gouellec Valentin J. M. , Hull Charles L. H. , Karnath Nicole , Kwon Woojin , Li Zhi-Yun , Looney Leslie W. , Megeath S. Thomas , Myers Philip C. , Murillo Nadia M. , Pineda Jaime E. , Sadavoy Sarah , Sánchez-Monge Álvaro , Sanhueza Patricio , Tobin John J. , Zhang Qizhou , Jackson James M. , Segura-Cox Dominique
Published: February 2024

We present 870 μm polarimetric observations toward 61 protostars in the Orion molecular clouds with ∼400 au (1″) resolution using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We successfully detect dust polarization and outflow emission in 56 protostars; in 16 of them the polarization is likely produced by self-scattering. Self-scattering signatures are seen in several Class 0 sources, suggesting that grain growth appears to be significant in disks at earlier protostellar phases. For the rest of the protostars, the dust polarization traces the magnetic field, whose morphology can be approximately classified into three categories: standard-hourglass, rotated-hourglass (with its axis perpendicular to outflow), and spiral-like morphology. A total of 40.0% (±3.0%) of the protostars exhibit a mean magnetic field direction approximately perpendicular to the outflow on several × 102–103 au scales. However, in the remaining sample, this relative orientation appears to be random, probably due to the complex set of morphologies observed. Furthermore, we classify the protostars into three types based on the C17O (3–2) velocity envelope’s gradient: perpendicular to outflow, nonperpendicular to outflow, and unresolved gradient (≲1.0 km s−1 arcsec−1). In protostars with a velocity gradient perpendicular to outflow, the magnetic field lines are preferentially perpendicular to outflow, with most of them exhibiting a rotated hourglass morphology, suggesting that the magnetic field has been overwhelmed by gravity and angular momentum. Spiral-like magnetic fields are associated with envelopes having large velocity gradients, indicating that the rotation motions are strong enough to twist the field lines. All of the protostars with a standard-hourglass field morphology show no significant velocity gradient due to the strong magnetic braking.
Evidence of High-latitude Emission in the Prompt Phase of GRBs: How Far from the Central Engine are the GRBs Produced?
Authors: Uhm Z. Lucas , Tak Donggeun , Zhang Bing , Racusin Judith , Kocevski Daniel , Guiriec Sylvain , Zhang Bin-Bin , McEnery Julie
Published: February 2024

One of the difficulties in nailing down the physical mechanism of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) comes from the fact that there has been no clear observational evidence on how far from the central engine the prompt gamma rays of GRBs are emitted. Here we present a simple study addressing this question by making use of the “high-latitude emission” (HLE). We show that our detailed numerical modeling exhibits a clear signature of HLE in the decaying phase of “broad pulses” of GRBs. We show that the HLE can emerge as a prominent spectral break in F

ν
spectra and dominate the peak of ν
F

ν
spectra even while the “line-of-sight emission” (LoSE) is still ongoing. This finding provides a new view of HLE emergence since it has been believed so far that the HLE can show up and dominate the spectra only after the LoSE is turned off. We remark, however, that this “HLE break” can be hidden in some broad pulses, depending on the proximity between the peak energies of the LoSE and the HLE. Therefore, this new picture of HLE emergence explains both the detection and nondetection of HLE signature in observations of broad pulses. Also, we present three examples of Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor GRBs with broad pulses that exhibit the HLE signature. We show that their gamma-ray-emitting region should be located at ∼1016 cm from the central engine, which places a constraint on the GRB models.
Inherited Stanford A DeBakey I Aortic Dissection: Unveiling Genetic Predispositions and Surgical Management
Authors: Firdaus Muhammad , Handari Saskia Dyah , Sembiring Yan Efrata
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection refers to the disruption of the medial layer of the aorta caused by intramural hemorrhage. This leads to the separation of the layers of the aortic wall, resulting in the establishment of a true lumen and a false lumen, which may or may not be connected. The prevalence of aortic dissection ranges from 0.2% to 0.8%. Additionally, a notable percentage, surpassing 20%, of individuals exhibit a familial inclination towards thoracic aorta dissection.
CASE PRESENTATION: A male patient in his middle age, 41 years old, with risk factors of uncontrolled hypertension, obesity, and a familial propensity to aortic dissection, presented to the emergency department exhibiting symptoms of chest pain. It characterized the sensation as having a tearing quality and indicated that it extended towards the abdomen region. The results of the test revealed several notable findings. A blood pressure reading of 235/133, a wider mediastinum and cardiomegaly on the chest X-ray, a slight increase in Hs-Troponin levels, and an electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm with left ventricular hypertrophy. He underwent a computed tomography scan, which revealed the existence of an aortic dissection that extended from the ascending to the descending aorta without any aortic valve involvement. He was assessed with a Stanford A. DeBakey I aortic dissection, and underwent successful therapy for aortic arch replacement with the elephant trunk procedure, and plans to undertake an endovascular procedure for the descending aorta in the upcoming period.
CONCLUSION: Aortic dissection is a pathological disorder that may exhibit hereditary inheritance, and the choice of surgical technique is dependent on the specific underlying disease.
Modified artificial rabbits optimization combined with bottlenose dolphin optimizer in feature selection of network intrusion detection
Authors: Li Fukui , Xu Hui , Qiu Feng
Published: February 2024

For the feature selection of network intrusion detection, the issue of numerous redundant features arises, posing challenges in enhancing detection accuracy and adversely affecting overall performance to some extent. Artificial rabbits optimization (ARO) is capable of reducing redundant features and can be applied for the feature selection of network intrusion detection. The ARO exhibits a slow iteration speed in the exploration phase of the population and is prone to an iterative stagnation condition in the exploitation phase, which hinders its ability to deliver outstanding performance in the aforementioned problems. First, to enhance the global exploration capabilities further, the thinking of ARO incorporates the mud ring feeding strategy from the bottlenose dolphin optimizer (BDO). Simultaneously, for adjusting the exploration and exploitation phases, the ARO employs an adaptive switching mechanism. Second, to avoid the original algorithm getting trapped in the local optimum during the local exploitation phase, the levy flight strategy is adopted. Lastly, the dynamic lens-imaging strategy is introduced to enhance population variety and facilitate escape from the local optimum. Then, this paper proposes a modified ARO, namely LBARO, a hybrid algorithm that combines BDO and ARO, for feature selection in the network intrusion detection model. The LBARO is first empirically evaluated to comprehensively demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm, using 8 benchmark test functions and 4 UCI datasets. Subsequently, the LBARO is integrated into the feature selection process of the network intrusion detection model for classification experimental validation. This integration is validated utilizing the NSL-KDD, UNSW NB-15, and InSDN datasets, respectively. Experimental results indicate that the proposed model based on LBARO successfully reduces redundant characteristics while enhancing the classification capabilities of network intrusion detection.
A note on equivalent conditions for majorization
Authors: Bruno Roberto , Vaccaro Ugo
Published: February 2024

In this paper, we introduced novel characterizations of the classical concept of majorization in terms of upper triangular (resp., lower triangular) row-stochastic matrices, and in terms of sequences of linear transforms on vectors. We use our new characterizations of majorization to derive an improved entropy inequality.
Migrer dans un pays idéal ? Démocratisation de la migration japonaise vers la France
Authors: Hayakawa Miyako
Published: February 2024

Depuis quelques années, on observe une nette augmentation du nombre de Japonais vivant en France. Alors que seule une minorité privilégiée pouvait autrefois faire le voyage vers cette destination prisée, on assiste aujourd’hui à une diversification de la population japonaise en France, constituée massivement de classes moyennes et non plus seulement d’une élite. Basé sur une enquête ethnographique, cet article porte sur la démocratisation de l’accès à la mobilité vers la France pour les Japonais. Une attention particulière est accordée à la dégradation du statut des expatriés, à l’investissement des Japonais dans leurs études en France, ainsi qu’à l’aspiration à vivre à la française.
Impact of hydroxyurea on clinical and biological parameters of sickle cell anemia in children in Abidjan
Authors: YAYO- AYE MIREILLE , Adjambri Adia Eusèbe , Kouakou Boidy , N'guessan-Blao Rebecca , Adjé Louis Missa , Kamagaté Taïratou , Yapo Vincent , Sawadogo Duni
Published: February 2024

Background: The lives of individuals affected by sickle cell disease are marked by painful crises sometimes accompanied by complications. Curative treatments such as bone marrow transplantation or gene therapy exist, but are not currently performed in Côte d'Ivoire. Treatment with hydroxyurea remains an effective alternative. The aim of our study is to contribute to improving the management of children with sickle cell disease.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study from November 2017 to April 2019 at the at the Yopougon University Hospital. Children aged 5 to 15 years experiencing at least 3 vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) per year were included in the study after obtaining informed and written consent from their parents. Each patient received a daily dose of 15mg/kg of hydroxyurea.

Results: The mean age of the children was 9 years. More than 75% of patients were  homozygous SSFA2 major sickle cell individuals. After 6 months on hydroxyurea, our study observed rates of 84.4%, 100%, and 97.8%, respectively, for the absence of vaso-occlusive crises, hospitalization, and transfusion. Biologically, from M0 to M12 the mean hemoglobin level increased significantly, from 7.24 to 8.55 g/dL; white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts decreased; Fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) increased significantly from 10.3% to 19.7%. Biochemical parameters within normal ranges, except for a moderate treatment-related increase in transaminases.

Conclusion: The induction of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) production through hydroxyurea intake is the primary mechanism by which hydroxyurea modifies the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease
Madresahs and Moravians. Muslim educational institutions in the Cape Colony, 1792 to 1910
Authors: Shell Robert
Published: February 2024

The vigorous revival of Christian missionary activity after 1792 with the return of the Moravians and the arrival of the London Missionary Society had little effect on Cape Town Muslims. By 1793 the Dorp Street school (madrasah) was established. By then, many of the males slaves and the free black population in Cape Town were securely Muslim. The success of the Cape Town Muslim clerisy owed much to the schools the imams established in all the colonial ports and some inland towns during the nineteenth century. In academic discussions of the “first” or “oldest” school in the country only European schools are mentioned. There is no reason for this omission. The author reviews the rise of the Cape madrasahs.”
Quality parameters determining the buyer behavior toward purchase of bakery product (cake)
Authors: Lakshmi E. , Selvi K. Silambu , Fathima S. Riyas , M Damini
Published: February 2024

Context: Bakery products, especially cake, has evolved from being seen as a tea-time snack to becoming a daily requirement in the typical Indian household. The quality of the ingredients in cake baking has a considerable impact on the finished product and consumers’ intention to purchase. Aims: The aims of the study was to assess the quality parameters of the flour used in baking cake and to determine buyer behavior and preferences for quality criteria in cake. Materials and Methods: The quality parameters of cake flour used in baking were experimentally determined according to IS 1979 guidelines. The characteristics of consumer behavior with regard to purchase of cake were evaluated using a questionnaire. Results: The moisture content of cake flour was 0.2% lower than IS 1979 standards (13%). The key factors in choosing the cake were appearance, tase, and soft texture, scoring the highest (1.4) on the Likert scale. The least score (0.7) was given for nutrient content. Conclusions: There was a significant difference in the purchase of cake by attributes, as the calculated value was higher than the table value.
Contemporary Insights into Intractable Epilepsy in Children
Authors: Saad Khaled , Eldaly Emad H. , Abdelall Hazem M. , Abdelgabaar Nahed M. , Zaki David M. , Dailah Hamad G. , Shams-Eldeen Ahmed , Mahmoud Khalid H.
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

While most children with epilepsy find their seizures manageable through medication, some continue to experience seizures despite trying multiple drugs. Failure of medical treatment often becomes apparent early on, and for these cases, it is advisable to seek further treatment options at a specialized epilepsy center. Such centers offer additional treatments like epilepsy surgery, vagus nerve stimulation, and ketogenic diets. There is no universal definition for what constitutes “medically intractable” epilepsy. A proposal by a task force from the International League Against Epilepsy suggests that drug-resistant epilepsy could be defined as the inability to control seizures even after two adequate treatment attempts with well-chosen and tolerated medications, either alone or in combination. In this review, the authors discussed the management of intractable epilepsy in children.
Assessment of Patient Satisfaction and Functional Outcomes in Orthognathic Surgery
Authors: Alam Mohammad K. , Elbeshbeishy Rana , Abutayyem Huda M. , Sghaireen Mohammed G.
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Orthognathic surgery is a surgical procedure performed to correct severe jaw misalignments that can affect a patient’s facial aesthetics and functional occlusion. While the primary goal of orthognathic surgery is to improve functional outcomes and facial appearance, it is essential to assess patient satisfaction as a crucial aspect of overall treatment success.

Materials and Methods:

Patient selection: We conducted a prospective study involving 50 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery. All patients had a confirmed diagnosis of severe jaw misalignment, as determined by clinical and radiographic assessments. The surgical procedures performed included maxillary advancement, mandibular setback, or a combination of both, depending on the patient’s specific diagnosis. Preoperative orthodontic treatment was provided to align the teeth and prepare the patient for surgery. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at postoperative intervals of 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year.

Results:

Patient satisfaction scores and functional outcomes were as follows: aesthetics of facial profile (1-year post-op): mean score = 4.6, chewing function (1-year post-op): mean score = 4.4, speech function (1-year post-op): mean score = 4.3, and overall satisfaction with surgical outcome (1-year post-op): mean score = 4.5. Objective assessments revealed a significant improvement in occlusion and facial aesthetics. The mean reduction in overjet was 4.8 mm, and the mean reduction in overbite was 3.2 mm. Additionally, the mean postoperative ANB angle improved by 3.7°, indicating a better facial balance.

Conclusion:

Orthognathic surgery in our cohort of 50 patients resulted in high levels of patient satisfaction with both functional outcomes and facial aesthetics. Objective measurements also indicated significant improvements in occlusion and facial balance.
Frequent Inactivation of Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 2 during the Development of Cervical Carcinoma: Identification of Susceptible Alleles and Clinical Implications
Authors: Samadder Sudip , Pal Debolina , Roychowdhury Anirban , Dutta Arindam , Basu Mukta , Dutta Sankhadeep , Roy Anup , Mandal Ranajit Kumar , Roychoudhury Susanta , Panda Chinmay Kumar
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

In this study, importance of SFRP2, wnt stem cell renewal pathway antagonist, in the development of cervical cancer (CACX) was evaluated.

Aims and Objectives:

Alterations (expression/ methylation/ deletion) of SFRP2 were analysed in primary cervical lesions of different clinical stages followed by their correlation with different clinicopathological parameters. Then, susceptible allele(s) of SFRP2 was identified through case control study followed by and in vitro validation.

Results:

The mRNA expression of SFRP2 was gradually reduced with progression of CACX. In immunohistochemistry, SFRP2 membrane expression was mainly present in the spinous layers of normal cervical epithelium and its reduced protein expression in CACX samples showed concordance with mRNA expression. Frequent deletion/ methylation of SFRP2 were seen to be associated with development of cervical cancer. Methylation of SFRP2 was prevalently associated with early invasive lesions (stage I/II) while, deletion with late invasive lesions (stage III/IV). Overall alterations (deletion/ methylation) of SFRP2 were significantly increased from premalignant CIN to stage-I/II samples followed by comparable change to the next stage (stage III/IV) samples. Moreover, deletion and/or methylation of SFRP2 were associated with poor prognosis of the patients. In a case control study, out of its seven microsatellite alleles infrequent SFRP_CA15/16 alleles along with frequent SFRP_CA17 allelewere found to be associated with CACX development. Comparatively reduced expression (mRNA/ protein) of SFRP2 was seen in the tumor adjacent normal cervical epithelium having SFRP_CA15/16 alleles than the other alleles. This has been further validated in in vitro luciferase promoter activity assay where SFRP_CA16 repeat showed high reduced activity followed by SFRP_CA15 repeat than the other repeats.

Conclusion:

Thus, our data showed that presence of the infrequent susceptible alleles along with deletion/methylation might have synergistic effect on frequent inactivation of SFRP2 during development of CACX.
Learning and adaptation of strategies in automated negotiations between context-aware agents
Authors: Kröhling Dan Ezequiel , Chiotti Omar J. A. , Martínez Ernesto C.
Published: February 2024

This work presents the hypothesis that guided the research efforts and a summary of the contributions of the doctoral thesis '`Aprendizaje y adaptación de estrategias para negociación automatizada entre agentes conscientes del contexto'. Succinctly, the thesis focuses on agents for automated bilateral negotiations that make use of the context as a key source of information to learn and adapt negotiation strategies in two levels of temporal abstraction. At the highest level, agents employ reinforcement learning to select strategies according to contextual circumstances. At the lowest level, agents use Gaussian Processes and artificial Theory of Mind to model their opponents and adapt their strategies. Agents are then tested in two Peer-to-Peer markets comprising an Eco-Industrial Park and a Smart Grid. The results highlight the significance for the automation of bilateral negotiations of incorporating the context as an informative source.
Middle Miocene (Late Badenian) microvertebrates from Hidas, SW Hungary
Authors:   Municipal Museum of Pásztó, Pásztó, Hungary, Hir János , Venczel Márton ,   Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca; Țării Crișurilor Museum, Oradea, Romania, Sebe Krisztina ,   HUN-REN–MTM–ELTE Research Group for Palaeontology, Budapest, Hungary
Published: February 2024

Up to the present, no terrestrial vertebrate fauna has been published from the pre-Pannonian Miocene of SW Hungary. In 2022 a microvertebrate assemblage was unearthed from a lime mud bed of the Middle Miocene Hidas Formation, in an abandoned coal mining field close to Hidas in the Mecsek Mts. The herpetofauna and the rodent material are described here. Fossil findings point to the Late Badenian MN 7+8 Zone, which, together with the earlier results based on the marine mollusc fauna, narrows the age of the unit to ~13.5–13.3 Ma. The amphibians and reptiles are aquatic, semiaquatic or periaquatic forms. Sedimentary features and the accompanying freshwater gastropod fauna are indicative of a shallow pond or a paludal depositional environment. Crocodylian finds reported earlier from the Hidas Formation indicate a subtropical climate, just before the end of the Miocene warm period in Central Europe. Among the rodents, glirids and flying squirrels as well as Democricetodon and Megacricetodon indicate the presence of humid arboreal vegetation around the site. The rodent taxa are well known from the Middle Miocene faunas of northern Hungary, western Romania and from the Upper Freshwater Molasse of southern Germany and Switzerland. The rodent material does not show characteristics of an insular fauna, e.g. gigantism or endemism. Consequently, although the coeval palaeogeography of the region has been described as an archipelago in the Central Paratethys, with the Mecsek Mts. being one of the islands, the area must have had ecological connections towards the northern and eastern parts of the Pannonian Basin, and the marine areas within the archipelago did not form a barrier against the distribution of microvertebrates. The corridor could have been located towards the NE from the Mecsek Mts., across the elevated basement blocks of central Hungary.
The impact of ketamine on outcomes in critically ill patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Abdildin Yerkin , Tapinova Karina , Nemerenova Assel , Viderman Dmitriy
Published: February 2024

Background: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of ketamine in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients.Methods: We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library; the search was performed initially in January but was repeated in December of 2023. We focused on ICU patients of any age. We included studies that compared ketamine with other traditional agents used in the ICU. We synthesized evidence using RevMan v5.4 and presented the results as forest plots. We also used trial sequential analysis (TSA) software v. 0.9.5.10 Beta and presented results as TSA plots. For synthesizing results, we used a random-effects model and reported differences in outcomes of two groups in terms of mean difference (MD), standardized MD, and risk ratio with 95% confidence interval. We assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane RoB tool for RCTs. Our outcomes were mortality, pain, opioid and midazolam requirements, delirium rates, and ICU length of stay.Results: Twelve RCTs involving 805 ICU patients (ketamine group, n=398; control group, n=407) were included in the meta-analysis. The ketamine group was not superior to the control group in terms of mortality (in five studies with 318 patients), pain (two studies with 129 patients), mean and cumulative opioid consumption (six studies with 494 patients), midazolam consumption (six studies with 304 patients), and ICU length of stay (three studies with 270 patients). However, the model favored the ketamine group over the control group in delirium rate (four studies with 358 patients). This result is significant in terms of conventional boundaries (alpha=5%) but is not robust in sequential analysis. The applicability of the findings is limited by the small number of patients pooled for each outcome.Conclusions: Our meta-analysis did not demonstrate differences between ketamine and control groups regarding any outcome except delirium rate, where the model favored the ketamine group over the control group. However, this result is not robust as sensitivity analysis and trial sequential analysis suggest that more RCTs should be conducted in the future.
Aluminum Alloy, Centrifugal Castings 5.6Zn - 2.5Mg - 1.6Cu - 0.23Cr (709.0-T61) Hot Isostatically Pressed, Solution and Precipitation Heat Treated
Authors:   AMS D Nonferrous Alloys Committee
Published: February 2024

This specification covers an aluminum alloy (see 8.5) in the form of centrifugal castings.
SAE Instrumented Arm User’s Manual
Authors:   Dummy Testing and  Equipment Committee
Published: February 2024

This user’s manual covers the instrumented arm for the Hybrid III 5th Percentile Small Female dummy as well as the SID –IIs dummy. It is intended for technicians and engineers who have an interest in assessing arm injury from the use of frontal and side impact airbags. It covers the construction, disassembly and reassembly, available instrumentation, and segment masses.
Driver-Vehicle Interface Considerations for Lane Keeping Assistance Systems
Authors:   Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Committee
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for the implementation of DVI for momentary intervention-type LKA systems, as defined by ISO 11270.

LKA systems provide driver support for safe lane keeping operations via momentary interventions. LKA systems are SAE Level 0, according to SAE J3016.

LKA systems do not automate any part of the dynamic driving task (DDT) on a sustained basis and are not classified as an integral component of a partial or conditional driving automation system per SAE J3016. The design intent (i.e., purpose) of an LKA system is to address crash scenarios resulting from inadvertent lane or road departures. Drivers can override an LKA system intervention at any time. LKA systems do not guarantee prevention of lane drifts or related crashes. Road and driving environment (e.g., lane line delineation, inclement weather, road curvature, road surface, etc.) as well as vehicle factors (e.g., speed, lateral acceleration, equipment condition, etc.) may affect the operation of the LKA system.

As used in this document, the term “LKA” refers to lateral control driver assistance that automatically intervenes to address a lane departure if the driver either does not signal intent to change lanes (e.g., via turn signal activation) and/or does not initiate corrective steering action to prevent the lane departure. LKA is temporary in nature and distinct from lane centering assistance, which performs sustained steering adjustments to maintain the vehicle’s lateral position within a given lane.

This document addresses DVI parameters for original equipment LKA systems on light-duty vehicles (i.e., passenger cars and light trucks) with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of less than 10000 pounds. This document does not apply to the installation of aftermarket LKA systems or those on motorcycles or medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. This document does not address system or operational requirements for LKA systems, which are specified by ISO 11270. The responsibility for the safe operation of the vehicle always remains with the driver.
Effets de différentes doses d’engrais inorganiques sur le rendement et la performance économique du cotonnier
Authors: Kouyate Aliou Badara , Kone Souleymane , Dembele Sidiki Gabriel , Famanta Mahamoudou
Published: February 2024

La baisse constante de la fertilité des sols est la contrainte abiotique majeure qui limite la productivité du coton au Mali. L’objectif de  cette étude était d’identifier une formule de fertilisation adéquate pour la culture du coton sur sol ferrugineux tropical. Pour ce faire un  dispositif factoriel en bloc randomisé complet en 3 répétitions a été installé. Le facteur étudié était la formule de fertilisation minérale  avec 4 niveaux de variation. Les résultats ont montré une corrélation positive entre la hauteur des plants, le nombre de ramifications et le  rendement grain avec l’apport de dose croissante de nutriments au cours des deux années de l’expérimentation. La formule de  fertilisation minérale pour un rendement coton grain supérieur á 1000 kgha-1 est de 30 kgha-1 d’azote, 20 kg de P2O5 ha-1 et 20 kg de  K2O ha-1 associée à une dose d’engrais organique de 2,5 t ha-1 en apport annuel est techniquement performant et économiquement  rentable. Il est nécessaire de tester cette formule avec les agriculteurs pour la confirmation de son efficacité.

English title: Effects of  different doses of inorganic fertilizers on cotton yield and economic performance 

The steady decline in soil fertility is the major abiotic  constraint that limits cotton productivity in Mali. The objective of this study was to identify an adequate fertilization formula for cotton  cultivation on tropical ferruginous soil. To do this, a complete randomized block design in 3 replications was carried out. The factor studied was the mineral fertilization formula with 4 levels of variation. The results showed a positive correlation between plant height,  number of branches and grain yield with the increasing dose of nutrients during the two years of the experiment. The mineral  fertilization formula for cotton grain yield greater than 1000 kgha-1 is 30 kgha-1 of nitrogen, 20 kg of P2O5 ha-1 and 20 kg of K2O ha-1 associated with a rate of organic fertilizer of 2.5 t ha-1 in annual input is technically efficient and economically profitable. There is need for  testing this technology further together with farmers to evaluate its effectiveness.
Anémie et infection palustre chez des enfants de moins de 15 ans vivant en zone endémique du paludisme au Burkina Faso
Authors: Ouedraogo Oumarou , Kambire Dinanibe , Zida Sylvie , Savadogo Boubacar , Soulama Issiaka , Zoure Abdou Azaque , Sagna Tani , Compaore Tegwinde Rebeca , Soubeiga Serge Theophile , Zongo Dramane , Ouedraogo Henri Gautier , Traore Yves , Diagbouga Serge , Kouanda Seni , Sirima Sodiomon , Nebie Issa
Published: February 2024

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Adoption des semences certifiées de variétés améliorées de riz dans la région du Centre au Burkina Faso : Enjeux et défis
Authors: Zonou Bienvenu , Nacoulma Yero Roger , Guengane Rigobert , Sanogo Souleymane
Published: February 2024

Au Burkina Faso, face au défi de la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle, les efforts de vulgarisation des semences certifiées de variétés  de riz n’ont pas amélioré les rendements. L’objectif de la présente étude était d’éclairer la problématique de l’adoption de semences  certifiées de variétés améliorées de riz au Burkina Faso. Les données collectées, à travers des enquêtes auprès de 163 riziculteurs, dix (10)  responsables de sociétés coopératives simplifiés et cinq (05) agents d’appui-conseil de bas-fonds aménagées, ont fait l’objet  d’analyses descriptives pour déterminer le taux d’adoption des semences et apprécier le niveau d’application des techniques culturales.  Le modèle Logit a été utilisé pour identifier les facteurs qui influencent l’adoption. Les résultats ont montré que le taux d’adoption est de  42,9%, avec un faible niveau d’application de l’itinéraire technique. Aussi, les producteurs ont une perception favorable de l’importance  des semences. L’âge, la formation, le rendement et la précocité de la variété sont les facteurs qui influencent favorablement l’adoption.  L’accès difficile aux semences (52,7%), leur non disponibilité à temps (37,6%), la méconnaissance des variétés (9,7%) constituent les raisons de la non-adoption. La prise en compte des raisons citées dans les approches de diffusion pourrait améliorer le taux d’adoption  des semences certifiées des variétés améliorées de riz dans cette région. 

 

English title: Adoption of certified seed of improved rice varieties in the Centre region of Burkina Faso: Issues and challenges 

In Burkina Faso, faced with the challenge of food and nutritional security, efforts to disseminate certified seed of rice varieties have not  improved yields. The aim of this study was to shed light on the adoption of certified seed of improved rice varieties in Burkina Faso. The  data collected through surveys of 163 rice farmers, ten (10) managers of simplified cooperative societies and five (05) advisory support  agents from managed lowlands, were subjected to descriptive analyses to determine the rate of seed adoption and assess the level of  application of cultivation techniques. The Logit model was used to identify the factors influencing adoption. The results showed that the  adoption rate is 42.9%, with a low level of application of the technical itinerary. Also, growers have a favorable perception of the  importance of seeds. Age, training, yield and earliness of the variety are the factors that favorably influence adoption. Difficult access to  seed (52.7%), untimely availability (37.6%) and lack of knowledge of varieties (9.7%) are the reasons for non-adoption. Taking these  reasons into account in dissemination approaches could improve the adoption rate of certified seed of improved rice varieties in this   region.
Numerical Analysis of the Thermodynamic Response of a Hollow Concrete Cylinder
Authors: Akano T.T. , Onovo H.O. , Osasuyi O.S. , Alabi S.A.
Published: February 2024

The stability and durability of concrete materials are essential factors in the construction industry. Environmental conditions, such as  temperature affect the tensile strength and durability of concrete structures. This work investigates the thermodynamic behaviour of  hollow cylindrical concrete using the finite element method (FEM). By deploying ANSYS®, the element mesh was created, and the  temperature distribution inside the hollow cylinder was calculated. The effect of the hollowness of the concrete on its heat absorption is  determined. The findings demonstrate that the temperature profiles changed radially throughout the concrete thickness. Moreover, it  was discovered that the temperature distribution was impacted by the airflow into the cylinder. The numerical experiment in this study  was essential in providing a comprehensive understanding of the behaviour of the concrete, particularly when exposed to higher heating  rates. This study contributes to the knowledge of the performance and stability of concrete materials. It also demonstrates that the  hollowness of the concrete enhances its heat-shielding performance. Furthermore, the inflow of air into the cylinder affects the  temperature distribution, with a higher influx of air resulting in lower temperatures. These findings can be utilised to develop appropriate  measures to enhance the performance and durability of concrete structures.
Implementation of School Safety Policy in Primary and Secondary Schools
Authors: Masekela Ngoako Alfred , Ngobeni Elias Tsakane , Sepeng Percy
Published: February 2024

The educational environment within schools serves as a conduit for achieving the educational goals and objectives of each country. Research conducted over a period suggests that effective teaching and learning can only occur in a safe and secure environment. Yet, even with existing laws, policies, regulations, and programs on school safety, teachers and learners face persistent threats  to their safety both inside and outside the school grounds in Naboomspruit Circuit Schools. This study examined the implementation of school safety policies in primary and secondary schools within the Naboomspruit circuit in the Waterberg District in Limpopo Province. The study population consisted of principals, teachers, school governing body members, and learners from five (5) schools within Naboomspruit circuit. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, including two schools from quintiles 1 to 3 (representing poor communities), two schools from quintiles 4 to 5 (representing affluent communities), and one combined school covering grades 1 to 12. The study's key features encompassed evidence-based practices to address school safety challenges. Codes were employed to protect the identities of participants and schools involved in the study. The study's trustworthiness was assessed through criteria like credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. The study findings revealed that schools partially implemented school safety policies, often without communicating them to learners and/or stakeholders. The study concluded by offering recommendations for addressing school safety challenges, grounded in contextual factors. The findings and recommendations are relevant to education managers, NGOs, parents and stakeholders who possess full or partial interest in the field of education or school safety.