bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEATH DUE TO ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN MUARO JAMBI REGENCY IN 2019-2021
Authors: Adiningsih Silvia , Halim Raden , Kalsum Ummi
Published: June 2024

Background: Traffic accidents can cause morbidity and mortality so preventive action is needed to overcome them. Purpose: to find out the factors associated with deaths from traffic accidents in Muaro Jambi Regency in 2019 to 2021. Methods: the type of research was case control. Secondary data was collected from the Muaro Jambi Resort Police Traffic Unit with a total sample 483 consist of 161 cases and 322 controls (1:2). The variables studied were the victim's age, sex, victim's role, vehicle’s type, direction of collision, day of accident, time of accident, weather, road surface’s type, traffic flow, availability of road markings, and shape of the road to the variables of death due to traffic accidents. To analysis the data, chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used. Results: The risk factors for death due to traffic accidents in Muaro Jambi Regency were age, the role of victims, traffic flow, and road shape. The dominant factor was the victim’s role (OR = 3.14; 95% CI = 1.87-5.44) controlled by variables of victim’s age (>30 years-old OR = 1.61; 95% CI = 0.85-3.04; 18-30 years-old OR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.01-3.68), traffic flow (OR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.03-2.62), and road shape (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 0.77-2.00). Conclusion: Driver aged 18-30 years, moderate to busy traffic flow, and straight roads increase the risk of death from traffic accidents. Drivers should wear traffic safety equipment such as helmets, seat-belt and increase alertness and caution when driving.
DETERMINANTS OF PARTICIPATION SURVIVORS COVID-19 AMONG ≥45 YEARS OLD TO COVID-19 THIRD DOSE VACCINATION
Authors: Wahidah Putri Djamilah , Wardani Hartati Eko , Alma Lucky Radita , Gayatri Rara Warih
Published: June 2024

Background: Booster vaccinations are a way to keep the body protected against COVID-19. Mojolangu Health Center is one of the densely populated areas which is part of the Lowokwaru sub-district and borders the Belimbing sub-district; the two sub-districts are ranked 2nd and 1st with the highest CFR (Case Fatality Rate) in Malang City. Therefore, examining public perceptions of vaccination to evaluate immunization programs and raise performance goals is essential. Purpose: To determine the relationship between the Health Belief Model components (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barrier, and cues to action) and the participation of COVID-19 booster vaccination in survivors of COVID-19 aged ≥45 years. Conducted from April to November 2022, this research was located in the working area of Mojolangu Health Center (Mojolangu, Tunjungsekar, Tunggulwulung, and Tasikmadu village). Methods: This quantitative research used a case-control design study. This research sample comprised 82 people, selected using the purposive sampling technique with a 1:1 ratio for case and control. Data analysis was done using the Chi-Square test and Binary Logistics Regression tests. Results: The respondents were dominated by the middle age group (45-59 years), primarily entrepreneurs with a monthly income of more than IDR 3.5 million and domiciled in Mojolangu village. The perceived benefits variable showed p=0.04 (aOR=2.67; 95% CI=1.03-6.91) and perceived barriers p=0.01 (aOR=3.60; 95% CI=1.39-9.28), while perceived vulnerability p=1.00 (cOR=1.00; 95% CI= 0.32 – 3.16), perception of cues to act p= 0.18 (cOR= 1.82; 95% CI= 0.75 - 4.40). Conclusion: Factors related to booster vaccination participation are perceived benefits and barriers.
China’s Strategic Narrative About International System and its Adaptations to Different National Audiences
Authors: Soboleva E. , Krivokhizh S.
Published: June 2024

States seek to attribute preferable meanings to international order and its different dimensions and thus shape policy choices of other international actors. During the presidency of Xi Jinping, the PRC has accelerated the development of its discourse power, which includes attempts to promote its own vision of international order. While the contents of China’s strategic narratives about the international system have been quite well summarized and discussed in the existing scholarship, other aspects of China’s external communication have received less attention. This article aims to fill this gap and analyzes how China adapts its messages to different national audiences. We approach this question by comparing China’s strategic narratives about the international system disseminated by the PRC diplomats serving in the African Union, Kazakhstan, Russia and the US. Our analysis demonstrates that there is general coherence between the narratives that Chinese diplomats project. Appeals to the selected past experiences are used to question the fairness and inclusiveness of the contemporary world order dominated by western countries. Global challenges complicated by the exiting unfairness requires the new leader that can guide united response and fix the injustices. Despite the obvious similarities, the Chinese diplomats add details and emphasis to the narratives to fit in different communication environments. In particular, they use local jargon and appeal to different historical experiences and political myths. We show that local beliefs and values are incorporated in Chinese narratives to generate new shared meanings that accommodate China’s diverse foreign policy goals. For instance, in the case of African Union, colonialism and decolonization are examples of past experience most often used in China’s narrative, while in case of Russia these are appeals to Great Patriotic War.
Corporate Consolidation in The U.S. Oil and Gas Sector: Implications for the Global Oil Market
Authors: Kopytin I.
Published: June 2024

The U. S. oil and gas sector is experiencing a new wave of mergers and acquisitions. The world’s largest private vertically integrated oil and gas companies are adding the best assets from the tight oil and deepwater shelf sectors to their production portfolios. At the same time, the consolidation of so-called independent producers is taking place. The consolidation of U.S. oil companies will have a significant impact on the global oil market through several channels. First, the concentration of tight oil production in the hands of a small number of large companies will make it more resistant to price shocks, both to a decrease and an increase in oil prices. Second, the anticipated increase in oil prices will open up opportunities for OPEC countries in the second half of the current decade to increase oil production while simultaneously receiving sufficient revenue from its export to support the required budget expenditures. Third, the redistribution of the domestic oil market in the United States in favor of American oil companies will continue, as oil imports are reduced in favor of domestic production. Fourth, the concentration of American oil production in the hands of a limited number of companies will lead to an even greater increase in the export of crude oil and petroleum products from the United States. Fifth, the consolidation will push faster growth in oil production in the Western Hemisphere – the USA, Canada, Guyana and Brazil. Sixth, the consolidation of American oil companies will encourage scaling up of business by national state oil companies in OPEC countries.
“Green Deal” as a Trigger of Deepening of Integration in the European Union
Authors: Kaveshnikov N.
Published: June 2024

The article examines the implementation of the European Green Deal in terms of the normative and regulatory framework development and the transformation of the governance system in the European Union. The study demonstrates that the Green Deal is a political response to societal demands and is based on the significant achievements of two previous decades. The Green Deal goes far beyond the climate/energy policy and provides for a fundamental transformation of the economic model. The incorporation of the sustainable development concept into all aspects of economic policy, if successfully implemented, may launch the transition to the third stage in the development of the EU economic model. The study concludes that by now, the European Union has formed the major part of legislative framework and the governance system necessary to achieve proclaimed goals. The reforms have radically strengthened the complexity of the policy course, de facto increased EU competence and regulatory powers of the European Commission, established new obligations for member states and formed more stringent mechanisms to influence national policies. Despite the change in the political situation in 2023–2024, the social base of the Green Deal remains significant. Accumulated experience and the reformed system of governance in the area of green transformation provide sufficient inertia. Taking into account all the features of the Green Deal and the momentum gained, the successful implementation of this project has a great chance to give impetus to new integration dynamic in the European Union.
Enhanced Naive Agent in Angry Birds AI Competition via Exploitation-Oriented Learning
Authors: Miyazaki Kazuteru
Published: June 2024

The Angry Birds AI Competition engages artificial intelligence agents in a contest based on the game Angry Birds. This tournament has been conducted annually since 2012, with participants competing for high scores. The organizers of this competition provide a basic agent, termed “Naive Agent,” as a baseline indicator. This study enhanced the Naive Agent by integrating a profit-sharing approach known as exploitation-oriented learning, which is a type of experience-enhanced learning. The effectiveness of this method was substantiated through numerical experiments. Additionally, this study explored the use of level selection learning within a multi-agent environment and validated the utility of the rationality theorem concerning the indirect rewards in this environment.
Filtering Function to Mitigate the Impact of Cyber Attacks in Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control
Authors: Fujimoto Takuma , Sawada Kenji , Minami Yuki , Sando Katsuhiko
Published: June 2024

Among automated driving technologies, adaptive cruise control (ACC), which controls the distance between vehicles and their relative speed, is becoming popular. Cooperative ACC (CACC) uses vehicle-to-vehicle communication and sensors to control the distance between vehicles. Recently, cyber attacks against automated driving systems have been a focus, in which information on pedestrians or preceding vehicles obtained from LiDAR and sensors is disguised. Such cyber attacks enable attackers to obtain accurate information on preceding vehicles and pedestrians. This can result in accidents. The purpose of this study is to develop a filtering function to reduce the impact of cyber attacks using available information. The contribution lies in proposing a filtering function for situations in which sensor offsets and communication delays arise owing to cyber attacks.
Use of Mixed Reality in Attachment of Surgical Site Measurement Robot to Surgical Bed
Authors: Asano Miho , Yamada Yoshito , Kunii Takahiro , Koeda Masanao , Noborio Hiroshi
Published: June 2024

Recently, we have observed that the digital potential function defined by the difference between the real and virtual organ depth images is globally stable where the real and virtual livers coincide. This globality is then used to overlay the real and virtual livers. In this study, we consider the installation of a robotic mechanical system for measuring the depth images of real organs in the surgical bed. In general, virtual organs measured by CT or MRI show the position and posture of blood vessel groups and malignant tumors, and if these can be presented to the physician during surgery, he or she can operate while confirming their positions in real time. Although this robotic mechanical system is designed such that the camera can be raised or lowered as necessary to avoid interfering with the movement of the doctor, assistant, or nurse during surgery, it may still shift owing to contact with the hands or head of the doctor or nurse. In this study, an experiment was conducted in which a surgical measurement robotic mechanical system was constructed in a VR environment, and an actual robot was installed using this as a model. In the experiment, a video image of a virtual object was superimposed on that of a real object to confirm whether the surgical robotic mechanical system was able to accurately measure the surgical site.
Function of Bi-Articular Femoral Muscles During the Transition from Sitting to Standing Up
Authors: Koide Takuya , Manno Masanobu , Takahama Hiroshi , Fujikawa Tomohiko
Published: June 2024

As the elderly population increases, independent living for the aged has become essential for extending a healthy life expectancy, and this requires the maintenance of mobility for daily activities, such as standing up and walking. Among these, standing up, a series of movements involved in getting out of a chair or bed, is the starting point of daily activities. Therefore, it is important to clarify the factors that contribute to accomplishing the transition from sitting to standing up. This study attempted to clarify the relationship between motor characteristics and the mechanism of muscle activity involved in the change from sitting to standing up. Specifically, we focused on the activity of the bi-articular muscles involved in the two joints simultaneously rather than joint torque that is the conventional standard for evaluating motion. We probed the mechanistic characteristics of bi-articular muscle activity as well as the main muscles that function during normal standing up motion, namely a natural standing up movement where the trunk is not vertically restricted, using electromyographic analysis, theoretical analysis using a link model based on the muscle arrangement of the lower limb, and experimental analysis using an actual model that reproduces the functions of these muscles to define the muscular activities of the thigh muscles.
Dataset Generation and Automation to Detect Colony of Morning Glory at Growing Season Using Alignment of Two Season’s Orthomosaic Images Taken by Drone
Authors: Hirata Yuki , Tsuichihara Satoki , Takahashi Yasutake , Mizuguchi Aki
Published: June 2024

Weed control has a significant impact on crop yield during cultivation. In this research, semantic segmentation is used to detect morning glories in soybean fields. By removing morning glory earlier in the growing season, the decrease in soybean crop yield can be minimized. However, it is difficult to create annotated images necessary for semantic segmentation at the growing season because soybeans and morning glories are both green and similar in color, making it difficult to distinguish them. This research assumes that morning glory colonies, once located at the growing season, remain stationary during the harvest season. The colonies of the morning glory at the growing season are identified by aligning the orthomosaic image from the growing season with the orthomosaic image from the harvest season because the leaves of the soybeans wither and turn brown during the harvest season. The proposed method trains a model of morning glory at the growing season based on its location at the harvest season and estimates the colonies of morning glory on the harvest season orthomosaic image. In this research, we investigated the accuracy of a deep learning-based morning glory detection model and discovered that the performance of the model varied depending on the proportion of morning glory areas on each image in the training dataset. The model demonstrated an optimal performance when only 3.5% of the proportion of the morning glory areas achieved an F2 score of 0.753.
Development and Application of Shape-Memory Polymer and Alloy Composite Sheets
Authors: Takashima Kazuto , Okamura Yuta , Nagaishi Junya , Cho Hiroki , Noritsugu Toshiro , Mukai Toshiharu
Published: June 2024

The authors previously developed a flexible and multi-degree-of-freedom pneumatic artificial rubber muscle that uses shape-memory polymer (SMP) sheets with an embedded electrical heating wire. The bending direction and initial shape of the muscle can be changed by utilizing the large difference in the elastic modulus below and above the glass transition temperature, shape fixity, and shape recovery of SMPs. In this study, to improve performance, we propose a shape-memory composite (SMC) sheet that consists of SMP sheets with an embedded shape-memory alloy (SMA) wire used as an electric heating wire. The mechanical properties of the previously developed SMP sheets and the proposed SMC sheets are compared through shape recovery, bending, and tensile tests using prototypes. The motion of the artificial muscle with various samples attached is evaluated through an isometric test and bending angle measurements. The experimental results confirm that the use of the SMA wire improves the production reproducibility and shape recovery of the SMP sheets without degrading other mechanical properties or actuator performance.
Clinical Outcomes Following Operative and Nonoperative Management of Odontoid Fractures Among Elderly Individuals with Dementia
Authors: Schoenfeld Andrew J. , Xiang Lingwei , Adler Rachel R. , Schoenfeld Alyssa L. , Kang James D. , Weissman Joel S.
Published: June 2024

Background:

The incidence of odontoid fractures among the elderly population has been increasing in recent years. Elderly individuals with dementia may be at increased risk for inferior outcomes following such fractures. Although surgical intervention has been maintained to optimize survival and recovery, it is unclear if this benefit extends to patients with dementia. We hypothesized that patients with dementia who were treated operatively for odontoid fractures would experience improved survival and lower rates of hospice admission but higher rates of delirium and of intensive interventions.

Methods:

We used Medicare claims data (2017 to 2018) to identify community-dwelling individuals with dementia who sustained type-II odontoid fractures. We considered treatment strategy (operative or nonoperative) as the primary predictor and survival as the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes consisted of post-treatment delirium, hospice admission, post-treatment intensive intervention, and post-discharge admission to a nursing home or a skilled nursing facility. In all models, we controlled for age, biological sex, race, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, Frailty Index, admission source, treating hospital, and dual eligibility. Adjusted analyses for survival were conducted using Cox proportional hazards regression. Adjusted analyses for secondary outcomes were performed using generalized estimating equations. To address confounding by indication, we performed confirmatory analyses using inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Results:

In this study, we included 1,030 patients. The median age of the cohort was 86.5 years (interquartile range, 80.9 to 90.8 years), 60.7% of the patients were female, and 90% of the patients were White. A surgical procedure was performed in 19.8% of the cohort. Following an adjusted analysis, patients treated surgically had a 28% lower hazard of mortality (hazard ratio, 0.72 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.53 to 0.98]), but higher odds of delirium (odds ratio, 1.64 [95% CI, 1.10 to 2.44]). These findings were preserved in the inverse probability weighted analysis.

Conclusions:

We found that, among individuals with dementia who sustain a type-II odontoid fracture, surgical intervention may confer a survival benefit. A surgical procedure may be an appropriate treatment strategy for individuals with dementia whose life-care goals include life prolongation and maximizing quality of life in the short term following an injury.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The Effect of Substance Abuse on Domestic Violence
Authors: Alhussein Zahraa Ali Abed , Alwan Eman Hussien
Published: June 2024

find out the relationship between drug abuse and domestic violence . descriptive study design. A sample of (50) couples were introduced. A two questionnaire self-report w used to gather data from drug users and abused women .data were gathered in 2024 between January and March The results indicate that the average age of the male is 27±4, then 24 ±4 female, are married, and (38%) were graduated from secondary school while 36% of their wives are graduated from intermediate schools. 82% of clients with substance use are working with free works while 78% of their wives are housewives. 42% of participants are within monthly income of 601000 – 900000 Iraqi dinars. 60% of wives betrayed by their clients with substance use problems. there is positive significant relationship between substance use among clients and domestic violence among their wives at p-value= .037.Among substance abuse and domestic violence are positive correlated, as shown by significant reverse correlation with p-valy67uue=. 037. Domestic abuse is prevalent and unacceptable in both lifetime and present times. Regardless of age, economic standing, or educational attainment, women will at some point in their lives become victims of abuse. Abuse of drugs increases the chance of violence. Spreading the culture of the danger of drugs and treatment from them by opening rehabilitation centers in various cities and villages  Focus on protecting women and developing work to protect them from the risk of violence in coordination with community police.
Strontium Isotopic Variations of Authigenic Calcite in Clastic Strata Record Its Sediment Provenance and Fluid−Rock Interactions
Authors: Kang Xun , Tan Jingqiang , Lu Feng , Hu Ruipu , Hu Wenxuan
Published: June 2024

Strontium isotopes of authigenic carbonate potentially record sediment provenance, fluid sources, and fluid–rock interactions, little was studied on this topic in clastic strata. This study investigated clastic rocks containing authigenic calcite in the Lower Triassic Baikouquan Formation in the Junggar Basin, northwestern China. Mineral compositional and fluid inclusion analyses were conducted to constrain the precipitation processes of authigenic calcite, and the Sr contents and isotope ratios of the calcite were also measured. The authigenic calcite was precipitated at 80–140°C as the final product of thermochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons and thus has high Mn contents and highly negative δ13CVPDB values (as low as −70‰). The calcite also exhibits anomalously low 87Sr/86Sr values (0.704827, 0.706612), which are lower than contemporaneous seawater and published 87Sr/86Sr values of carbonate cements in clastic sediments, and also much lower than 87Sr/86Sr values (0.722027, 0.736750) of alkali feldspar in the strata. These low 87Sr/86Sr values record the low 87Sr/86Sr of the dominant rocks in the provenance area, such as volcanic rocks. During diagenesis, especially mesodiagenesis, the charging of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids promoted abundant dissolution of orthoclase in the alkali feldspar detritus, releasing radiogenic 87Sr into the pore waters, and eventually increasing the 87Sr/86Sr values in the late-stage calcite that precipitated after this reaction. This inference is consistent with the positive correlation between the calcite 87Sr/86Sr ratios and the dissolution intensity of orthoclase. In regions that do not undergo hydrocarbon-charging and where orthoclase remains stable, the lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the calcite generally record the provenance. For authigenic calcite associated with intense fluid–rock interactions, the higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios reflect the enhanced dissolution intensity of 87Sr-rich minerals such as orthoclase. Therefore, combined with a petrological study, Sr isotopes of authigenic carbonate in clastic sediments can trace sediment provenance and intensity of fluid–rock interactions.
Evaluation of Rapid Antigen Testing (Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device) for COVID-19 Diagnosis in a Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Pabalan Danette , Delos Reyes-Murillo Pamela
Published: June 2024

Background. The Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved point-of-care test (POCT) used for SARS-CoV-2 detection which has met minimum sensitivity and specificity requirements by the World Health Organization (WHO). Objective. The study aimed to compare the clinical performance of a commercial lateral flow assay (LFA) to reverse transcriptase polymerase reaction (RT-PCR) in SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis Methodology. Clinical data and simultaneous LFA and RT-PCR samples collected from June 2021 to June 2022 were obtained to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of LFA compared to RT-PCR. Results. A total of 265 samples was obtained. 34.45% of RT-PCR positive samples were reliably detected by LFA. COVID-19 was reliably ruled out by LFA in 99.32% RT-PCR negative samples. LFA sensitivity among symptomatic patients with ≤7 days of illness was 51.61%, slightly higher than those with >7 days of illness (18.92%), and significantly higher than asymptomatic patients (16.67%). Asymptomatic subjects have a varied range of Ct-values, indicating different stages of infection or viral loads. Individuals with symptoms for more than 7 days have higher Ct-values, suggesting they are in later stages of infection or have lower viral loads. The probability of a positive LFA result decreases significantly when the Ct-value is beyond 28-30. Conclusion. The LFA evaluated in this study did not show significant sensitivity and specificity during the early disease course wherein viral loads are suggestively high. However, its utility to accurately rule out COVID-19 is quite reliable in subjects with symptoms that are >7 days since Ct-values are suggestively beyond 28-30 which implies a significantly decreased probability of a positive LFA result.
Performance Assessment of Bismuth Ferrite Nanoparticles in Enhancing Oilwell Cement Properties: Implications for Sustainable Construction
Authors: Khan Fahad , Bardhan Anirudh , Kumar Praveen , Yadawa Yogendra , Sharma Shivanjali , Saxena Amit , Ranjan Amit
Published: June 2024

Oilwell cement ensures wellbore stability and isolates zones while bearing casing load and formation pressure. Its properties, crucial in extreme downhole conditions, include compressive strength, fluid loss resistance, and durability. In the present work, bismuth ferrite nanoparticles (BFO NPs) were synthesized using the sol-gel method and used as an additive in oilwell cement. The synthesized BFO NPs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques to analyze the functional groups, crystalline structure, morphological features, and hydrodynamic size distribution. Tests at 70°C and 2,000 psi revealed that 1% by weight of cement (BWOC) BFO NPs increased compressive strength by ~136% and reduced fluid loss to ~64% compared with base cement. It can be conjectured that the exposed facets of BFO NPs containing oxygen act as nucleating sites that promote the ordering of the silicate tetrahedra, thereby increasing the strength and crystallinity and reducing the water loss. The experimental results confirm that the BFO NPs can improve the properties of oilwell cement slurry at high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. This research underscores the potential of BFO NPs as sustainable additives for optimizing oilwell cement performance under challenging HPHT conditions, paving the way for advancements in sustainable construction practices.
Role of Fracture Roughness in Fracture Surface Evolution During Acidized Corefloods of Calcareous Shales
Authors: Khan Hasan Javed , Al-Abdrabalnabi Ridha , Murtaza Mobeen , Aljawad Murtada Saleh
Published: June 2024

During the hydraulic fracturing process, an acidic hydraulic fracturing fluid (HFF) is injected at high flow rates to break the rock and enhance its flow potential. This rock-fluid interaction induces both physical and chemical alterations on the fracture surface, resulting in the formation of a “reaction-altered zone.” Recent research has revealed that the depth of reaction penetration is minimal, and most changes occur on the fracture surface. To gain a deeper understanding of how fracture roughness affects fracture aperture change, in this work we adopt an experimental approach. Two similar samples of carbonate-rich Wolfcamp shale with calcite-filled fractures are selected. One sample is cut through the center creating a smooth fracture (SF), while the other is fractured by parting along the calcite-filled fracture, generating a rough fracture (RF). The fracture surface topography, mineral distribution, fracture aperture, and rock hardness are characterized before a reactive coreflood using an equilibrated acidic brine is conducted. The pressure drop across the core is measured, and the effluent is periodically collected and analyzed using mass spectrometry. The temporal changes in the fracture surface are observed by conducting physicochemical surface characterization after the coreflood. The results indicate that calcite dissolution is the primary chemical reaction occurring on the fracture surface, weakening it. Furthermore, this dissolution decreases the fracture roughness, which results in fracture closure and ultimately a decrease in the fracture conductivity. The most significant change in the fracture aperture is observed near the inlet. These results highlight the potential impact of fracture roughness on the mechanism of fracture evolution during acidized corefloods. Higher fracture roughness is associated with increased fines migration and a more significant overall change in fracture aperture during injection. This research provides valuable insights into the intricate processes at play during hydraulic fracturing and aids in understanding the dynamics of fracture growth in such conditions.
Horticultural in the Post-Land Grant Era: Presidential Address1
Authors: Lineberger R. Daniel
Published: June 2024

Horticulture as the science and industry grew in parallel with the land grant system. From its beginnings as the science of fruit and vegetable production, the discipline branched into studies of floral and nursery crop production, landscape construction and maintenance, public gardening, floral design, and the study of human—plant interactions. Always retaining a close relationship with the fundamental plant sciences, horticulturalists of the twentieth century made major contributions to the study of plant anatomy, genetics, physiology, growth and development, metabolism and plant—environment interactions.
Investigating How Nontariff Measures Impact the Turfgrass Seed Trade
Authors: Petty Scott , Yue Chengyan , Watkins Eric
Published: June 2024

Turfgrass seed, a living organism, is facing more stringent trade regulations compared with nonliving products. We applied multiple empirical approaches to explore the impact of these regulations on trade flows in grass seeds. We constructed a series of novel variables to measure these regulations, such as environment regulation stringency, pre-shipment inspections, market conditions, and product requirements. Our results showed that nontariff trade measures had substantial impacts on the trade of grass seeds. These measures sometimes worked as barriers to trade and at other times worked as catalysts for trade.
Teaching English Speaking through Discourse in the State Islamic Universities in Borneo
Authors: Saadillah Saadillah , Fauzan Muhammad Hendrie
Published: June 2024

Introducing accurate discourses and understanding the discourses that students encounter in their daily lives is crucial for enhancing the teaching of spoken English language. To enhance students' linguistic proficiency, the method of teaching speaking through discourse involves immersing them in authentic dialogues and diverse communication scenarios. This is a descriptive qualitative research, employing a case study approach. The participants of the research are the teachers and students of the State Islamic University of Sultan Aji Muhammad Idris Samarinda and the State Islamic University of Antasari Banjarmasin. To collect data for the study, the researcher used a variety of research instruments, such as interviews, field notes, and questionnaires. This study's data analysis method adheres to the principles of qualitative research. The interactive model was used for the data analysis, which included stages for data collecting, data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. Research findings indicate that students have a preference for teachers who not only teach English language curriculum but also demonstrate how to achieve a successful future. For English teachers, it is important to teach students not only English-speaking materials but also proper behaviour and politeness. In terms of English language proficiency, students highlight that speaking is the primary skill in acquiring English since it demonstrates their mastery of the language.
Large N instantons from topological strings
Authors: Mariño Marcos , Miravitllas Ramon
Published: June 2024

The 1/N1/N expansion of matrix models is asymptotic, and it requires non-perturbative corrections due to large NN instantons. Explicit expressions for large NN instanton amplitudes are known in the case of Hermitian matrix models with one cut, but not in the multi-cut case. We show that the recent exact results on topological string instanton amplitudes provide the non-perturbative contributions of large NN instantons in generic multi-cut, Hermitian matrix models. We present a detailed test in the case of the cubic matrix model by considering the asymptotics of its 1/N1/N expansion, which we obtain at relatively high genus for a generic two-cut background. These results can be extended to certain non-conventional matrix models which admit a topological string theory description. As an application, we determine the large NN instanton corrections for the free energy of ABJM theory on the three-sphere, which correspond to D-brane instanton corrections in superstring theory. We also illustrate the applications of topological string instantons in a more mathematical setting by considering orbifold Gromov-Witten invariants. By focusing on the example of {\mathbb C}^3/{\mathbb Z}_3ℂ3/ℤ3, we show that they grow doubly-factorially with the genus and we obtain and test explicit asymptotic formulae for them.
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Published: June 2024

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The effect of adopting IFRS on the relevance of information: The case of Moroccan companies listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange
Authors: Oubahou Yassine , El Ouafa Khalid
Published: June 2024

Since the introduction of IFRS in the European context and various countries worldwide, several studies have examined the impact of this new approach to asset and liability valuation on financial ratios and company values. The present study attempts to determine whether accounting figures prepared in accordance with this new international accounting regime better reflect the market value of companies listed on the Moroccan market compared to those prepared under Moroccan accounting standards. Empirically, the study is based on association studies using the returns model and covers a sample of 27 companies listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange for the period 2015–2020, i.e., 162 observations. The regression results show that accounting figures prepared according to IFRS standards better reflect stock market profitability than those prepared according to local standards, with the explanatory power increasing from 16.76% to 23.64% for the pre-IFRS period compared to the post-IFRS period. This means that by adopting IFRS standards, accounting values tend to be closer to stock market values, thus confirming the hypothesis that IFRS standards deliver a better information content of accounting figures.
Corpus Interpretation of English Ecological Discourse: Linguistic Regularities and Functional Features
Authors: Barkovich Aleksandr
Published: June 2024

English-language environmental speech has its own linguistic features. Ecological discourse is a relevant, self-sufficient, and highly identical communication continuum. This article introduces a corpus analysis of the English-language environmental discourse with its linguistic patterns and functional interpretation. The texts were considered not as static linguistic objects, but as a system of functional features in speech. The English-language research material was authentic and featured various environmental issues. Corpus analysis is a popular and reliable tool for big linguistic data while the corpus-discursive methodology proved to be an effective interdisciplinary tool. It was applied to the EuroNews Green Corpus, aggregated from 506 English-language texts on environmental issues. This innovative type of corpus can be qualified as instrumentally independent. The research proved the effectiveness of universal case managers or case shells of open architecture, e.g., Sketch Engine. Not only did it manage to collect the data, but also performed quite a complex structure analysis, interpreting, and discourse modeling. Corpus linguistics is looking for qualitatively new opportunities to identify complex linguistic relations. The case study provided a comprehensive description of environmental discourse as an object of linguistic research. Based on statistic details, the authors analyzed the categories of tokens, keywords, and terms to structure them as lemmas, collocations, and n-grams, which were presented as metadata. The metadata modeling provided concordances, thesauruses, and frequency glossaries. Environmental discourse had a pronounced lexical and semantic uniqueness resulting from specific ecological terminology. However, the multidimensional corpus analysis revealed an extremely low frequency of the key concept of ecology. Thus, this corpus study of the English-language ecological discourse demonstrated a good potential for further linguistic research.
Urban Intellectual Network Clusters: Board Game Communities in the City of Ufa
Authors: Bresler Mikhail G. , Demichev Ilya , Kuskildin Timur
Published: June 2024

Intellectual network clusters are an essential factor of urban development. The authors studied the formation of board game community in the city of Ufa, Russia. The research objective was to identify the trends, problems, and risks of urban network cluster development that, in their turn, affect the development of local intellectual communities in particular and urban development in general. The information and communication approach made it possible to perform a socio-philosophical analysis of board game communities with their online discourse. The authors developed MegaNet software to study the communication structure of network communities. The cluster-network analysis showed that board game fans are a relatively closed structure that unites active users, few of whom possess enough connections to maintain an efficient information exchange, which delays the development of the cluster as a whole. A low proportion of passive participants reduces the opportunities for growth and development. The developed method and the data obtained can be applied to other urban intellectual communities. The research may be of interest to stakeholders in the development of the domestic board game market.
Virtual Reality and Cultural Interaction: Digital Virtual Technologies in Promoting Chinese Culture Abroad
Authors: Ouyang Ruogu
Published: June 2024

The article describes virtual digital personages as new means of communication and promoting Chinese culture in the global media environment. Virtual digital personages are a new communication tool. They perform various roles, functions, and tasks by connecting individuals with various scenarios and providing feedback on these scenarios. Their experience helps people complete new learning and socialization processes. The author used communicative properties of virtual digital personages to examine their communication tools in practice. The article introduces some cases when virtual personages represented Chinese culture in different scenarios. Virtual personages proved an effective representation and promotion tool that improves the image of Chinese culture abroad. They show that virtual digital technologies are important for cultural communication and possess great potential in promoting cultural values globally. Virtual digital personages play a key role in the digitalization of cultural communication, thus providing new options for the dissemination and preservation of China’s cultural heritage on a global scale.
Mesothelin-Mediated Paclitaxel Phase-Shifted Nanodelivery System for Molecular Ultrasound Imaging and Targeted Therapy Potential in
Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Wan Yujie , Luo Li , Xu Xinzhi , Fu Qihuan , Li Ying , Huang Kaifeng , Zhou Hang , Li Fang
Published: June 2024

Background:

Ovarian cancer presents a substantial risk to women's health and lives,
with early detection and treatment proving challenging. Targeted nanodelivery systems are
viewed as a promising approach to enhance the effectiveness of ovarian cancer treatment and ultrasonic
imaging outcomes.

Objective:

A phase-shifted nanodelivery system (NPs) loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) and further
conjugated with avidin (Ab) was studied, with the goal of investigating the effects of targeted nanodelivery
strategies on the in vitro therapeutic efficacy and ultrasonic imaging of ovarian cancer.
This study provides a foundation for future in vivo treatments utilizing this approach.

Methods:

PTX-NPs were prepared using the single water-in-oil (O/W) emulsion solvent evaporation
method, with avidin coupling achieved through biotin-avidin affinity. The encapsulation efficiency
and release profile of PTX were analyzed using UV spectrophotometry. The phase-shift
properties of the Ab-PTX-NPs delivery system were evaluated, and the targeting efficiency, cytotoxicity
against SKOV3 cells, and in vivo biosafety of various nanodelivery systems were assessed.

Results:

The prepared nanodelivery system showed a stable and uniform structure with a good particle
size distribution and exhibited favorable release characteristics under ultrasound exposure. In
vitro experiments revealed that the nanodelivery system displayed excellent targeting and cytotoxic
effects against SKOV3 cells, indicating the potential of the Ab-PTX-NPs delivery system for
targeted ovarian cancer therapy. In vivo safety studies demonstrated the high biosafety of the prepared
nanodelivery system.

Conclusion:

A novel nanodelivery system was developed, and the experimental results obtained
provide a solid experimental basis for further research on in vivo ultrasound molecular imaging
technology, offering new insights into targeted ultrasound molecular imaging and the treatment of
ovarian cancer.
Low Expression of GRIM-19 Correlates with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Tian Feng , Lv Long , Liu Zonglin , Guan Sheng , Jiang Fengze , Wang Qi , Kalvakolanu Dhan V , Jiang Sixiong , Sun Weibing
Published: June 2024

Purpose:

This study aimed to clarify the expression of a gene associated with Retinoid-
Interferon-Induced Mortality-19 (GRIM-19) in Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma
(UUTUC) and its prognostic significance for UUTUC patients.

Materials and Methods:

Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was used to determine the
GRIM-19 expression in 70 paired samples. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and Cancer-Specific
Survival (CSS) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The independent prognostic factors
for PFS and CSS were analyzed by multivariable Cox regression models.

Results:

IHC staining showed that GRIM-19 expression was significantly decreased in UUTUC,
and its cellular location changed from being both cytoplasmic and nuclear to only cytoplasmic. Kaplan-
Meier analysis revealed that the patients with tumors expressing low GRIM-19 had a significantly
higher risk for tumor progression (P = 0.002) and cancer-specific mortality (P < 0.001)
compared to those with high GRIM-19 levels. The Cox regression showed that both GRIM-19 expression
(P = 0.025) and lymph node metastasis (LN) (P = 0.007) were independent predictors of
progression in the muscle-invasive (MIC) subgroup. GRIM-19 expressions (entire cohort: P =
0.011; MIC subgroup: P = 0.025), LN (entire cohort: P = 0.019; MIC subgroup: P = 0.007), and
progression (entire cohort: P < 0.001; MIC subgroup: P < 0.001) were independent predictors of
cancer-specific survival.

Conclusion:

Low expression of GRIM-19 in patients with UUTUC had significantly shorter PFS
or CSS compared to those with high GRIM-19-expressing tumors. High GRIM-19 expression was
also strongly associated with longer PFS in MIC patients. It indicates that GRIM-19 might serve
as a promising prognostic biomarker for UUTUC patients.
YADA - Reference Free Deconvolution of RNA Sequencing Data
Authors: Livne Dani , Snir Tom , Efroni Sol
Published: June 2024

Introduction:

We present YADA, a cellular content deconvolution algorithm for estimating
cell type proportions in heterogeneous cell mixtures based on gene expression data. YADA utilizes
curated gene signatures of cell type-specific marker genes, either obtained intrinsically from
pure cell type expression matrices or provided by the user.

Methods:

YADA implements an accessible and extensible deconvolution framework uniquely capable
of handling marker genes alone as inputs. Adoption barriers are lowered significantly by relying
solely on literature-supported cell type-specific signatures rather than full transcriptomic profiles
from purified isolates. However, flexible inputs do not necessitate sacrificing rigor - predictions
match metrics of current methodologies through an integrated optimization scheme balancing multiple
inference algorithms. Efficiency optimizations via compiled runtimes enable rapid execution.
Packaging as an importable Python toolkit promotes community enhancement while retaining codebase
extensibility.

Results:

Validation studies demonstrate that YADA matches or exceeds the performance of current
deconvolution methods on benchmark datasets. To demonstrate the utility and enable immediate usage,
we provide an online Jupyter Notebook implementation coupled with tutorials.

Conclusion:

YADA provides an accurate, efficient, and extensible Python-based toolkit for cellular
deconvolution analysis of heterogeneous gene expression data.