bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants for male involvement in family planning and contraception in Nakawa Division, Kampala, Uganda; An urban slum qualitative study
Authors: Wambete Sarah Namee , Serwaa Dorcas , Dzantor Edem Kojo , Baru Ararso , Poku-Agyemang Evelyn , Kukeba Margaret Wekem , Bashiru Yussif , Olayemi Oladapo O.
Published: May 2024

Current evidence shows that male involvement in family planning (FP) is crucial to women’s contraceptive use decisions. This study explored the reasons for male involvement in FP and contraception in slum areas in Nakawa Division, Kampala, Uganda. A qualitative study was conducted among sexually active males in a slum area in Nakawa Division, Kampala. A purposive sampling technique was utilised to recruit 40 men for a Focus Group Discussion (FGDs), and 2 key informants (KI) for critical perspective interviews. A semi-structured FGDs and interview guides were used to collect the data. The FGDs were conducted in both English and the local language, Luganda. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts for both FGDs and KI interviews were imported into the NVivo Qualitative Data Analysis Software version 10 application, and thematic data analysis was conducted. The findings show that males’ involvement in FP and its decisions were minimal. The findings also show that several factors emerged as contributing to male’s participation in FP and utilisation of contraceptives. Inadequate understanding of FP and contraceptives, lack of clarity on males’ role in FP, unfriendly healthcare environment and community members’ perceptions of male involvement in FP were reported as reasons contributing to male participation in FP and contraction. There is limited involvement of males in FP. There is a need for renewed efforts that will positively alter the factors that impact male involvement favourably. Promotion and education about FP for males will significantly address issues of limited understanding and clarity of males’ role in FP services.
Children’s sex composition and modern contraceptive use among mothers in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Md. Nuruzzaman , Khanam Shimlin Jahan , Billah Md Arif , Khan Md Mostaured Ali , Islam M Mofizul
Published: May 2024

Background

The stagnation and relatively low use of modern contraceptives are ongoing public health concerns in Bangladesh and other low- and middle-income countries. Although a cultural preference for sons may be linked to the current use of contraceptives, this linkage has not been adequately explored in the Bangladesh context. We investigated the effects of child sex composition on the current use of modern contraceptives.

Methods

We extracted and analysed data from 17,333 women who participated in the 2017/18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variable was the current use of modern contraceptive methods. The study factor was the parity and sex composition of the living children. We used multilevel logistic regressions to determine the association between the study factor and outcome variables, adjusting for potential covariates at the individual-, household-, and community-levels.

Results

Women with relatively high parity had higher odds of currently using modern contraceptives. Among the individual parities, compared to women with no live sons, women with one or more live sons were more likely to report currently using modern contraceptives. However, this association is significant for women up to three children. When examining both parity and children’s sex composition in a regression model, in each parity category, the likelihood of using modern contraceptives tend to rise with an increasing number of sons compared to women with just one daughter.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that while the use of modern contraceptives by women increases with the increasing number of children and son preference is prevalent in Bangladesh, women also want to have a mixed composition of son and daughter. The study findings can be used in family planning programmes to customise contraceptive promotion and counselling messages.
Developing a selective culturing approach for Campylobacter hepaticus
Authors: Sakur Sheaaz G. J. , Williamson Sarah L. , Pavic Anthony , Gao Yuanshuo K. , Harris Taha , Kotiw Michael , Muir Wendy Isabelle , Groves Peter John
Published: May 2024

Campylobacter hepaticus, the causative agent of Spotty Liver Disease (SLD) is an important disease in cage-free egg producing chickens causing mortality and production drops. C. hepaticus is a slow growing Campylobacter easily overgrown by fecal bacteria. It is currently only reliably isolatable from bile samples. A selective media for isolation from feces or environment would assist diagnosis and impact assessment. Growth of five Australian C. hepaticus isolates was studied using Horse blood agar (HBA), sheep blood agar (SBA), Bolton, Preston and Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) base media. Blood and/or bile were added to Bolton, Preston and BHI medias. C. jejuni was used as a positive control. Plates were incubated in duplicate under microaerophilic conditions at 42°C for 10 days and examined at days 3–5 and 7–10 of incubation. Each isolate was examined for sensitivity to 14 antimicrobials using HBA sensitivity plates. Growth was inhibited by BHI and by added bile, while blood improved growth. Further replicates using SBA, HBA, Bolton and Preston media showed best growth on Bolton agar with blood. All five C. hepaticus isolates were resistant to trimethoprim and vancomycin, while four were also resistant to rifampicin and bacitracin. Media based upon Bolton plus blood supplemented with vancomycin and trimethoprim might be used as the most appropriate media for selective growth of C. hepaticus. The addition of bile to media for C. hepaticus isolation and growth will inhibit growth and is not advised.
Regression models from portable NIR spectra for predicting the carcass traits and meat quality of beef cattle
Authors: Veloso Trópia Nathália , Reis Vilela Rizielly Saraiva , de Sales Silva Flávia Adriane , Andrade Dhones Rodrigues , Costa Adailton Camêlo , Cidrini Fernando Alerrandro Andrade , de Souza Pinheiro Jardeson , Pucetti Pauliane , Chizzotti Mario Luiz , Filho Sebastião de Campos Valadares
Published: May 2024

The aims of this study were to predict carcass and meat traits, as well as the chemical composition of the 9th to 11th rib sections of beef cattle from portable NIR spectra. The 9th to 11th rib section was obtained from 60 Nellore bulls and cull cows. NIR spectra were acquired at: P1 –center of Longissimus muscle; and P2 –subcutaneous fat cap. The models accurately estimated (P ≥ 0.083) all carcass and meat quality traits, except those for predicting red (a*) and yellow (b*) intensity from P1, and 12th-rib fat from P2. However, precision was highly variable among the models; those for the prediction of carcass pHu, 12th rib fat, toughness from P1, and those for 12th rib fat, a* and b* from P2 presented high precision (R2 ≥ 0.65 or CCC ≥ 0.63), whereas all other models evaluated presented moderate to low precision (R2 ≤ 0.39). Models built from P1 and P2 accurately estimated (P ≥ 0.066) the chemical composition of the meat plus fat, bones and, meat plus fat plus bones, except those for predicting the ether extract (EE) and crude protein (CP) of bones and the EE of Meat plus bones fraction from P2. However, precision was highly variable among the models (–0.08 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.86) of the 9th and 11th rib section. Those models for the prediction of dry matter (DM) and EE of the bones from P1; of EE from P1; and of EE, mineral matter (MM), CP from P2 of meat plus fat plus bones presented high precision (R2 ≥ 0.76 or CCC ≥ 0.62), whereas all other models evaluated presented moderate to low precision (R2 ≤ 0.45). Thus, models built from portable NIR spectra acquired at different points of the 9th to 11th rib section were recommended for predicting carcass and muscle quality traits as well as for predicting the chemical composition of this section of beef cattle. However, it is noteworthy, that the small sample size was one of the limitations of this study.
Clinic-level complexities prevent effective engagement of people living with HIV who are out-of-care
Authors: Dutta Srija , Pulsifer Brendan H. , Dance Kaylin V. , Leue Eric P. , Beaupierre Melissa , Lowman Kennedi , Sales Jessica M. , Strahm Melanie , Sumitani Jeri , Colasanti Jonathan A. , Kalokhe Ameeta S.
Published: May 2024

Approximately half of people living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States are not retained in HIV care. Although numerous studies have identified individual-level barriers to care (i.e., substance abuse, mental health, housing, transportation challenges), less is known about institutional-level barriers. We aimed to identify clinic-level barriers to HIV care and strategies to address them to better engage PLWH who have been out of care (PLWH-OOC). As part of a larger qualitative study in a Ryan White-funded HIV Clinic in Atlanta, which aimed to understand the acceptance and feasibility of community-based HIV care models to better reach PLWH-OOC, we explored barriers and facilitators of HIV care engagement. From October 2022-March 2023, 18 in-depth-interviews were conducted with HIV-care providers, administrators, social workers, and members of a Community Advisory Board (CAB) comprised of PLWH-OOC. Transcripts were coded by trained team members using a consensus approach. Several clinic-level barriers emerged: 1) the large burden placed on patients to provide proof of eligibility to receive Ryan White Program services, 2) inflexibility of provider clinic schedules, 3) inadequate processes to identify patients at risk of disengaging from care, 4) poorly-resourced hospital-to-clinic transitions, 5) inadequate systems to address primary care needs outside of HIV care, and 6) HIV stigma among medical professionals. Strategies to address these barriers included: 1) colocation of HIV and non-HIV services, 2) community-based care options that do not require patients to navigate complex transportation systems, 3) hospital and community-based peer navigation services, 4) dedicated staffing to identify and support PLWH-OOC, and 5) enhanced systems support to help patients collect the high burden of documentation required to receive subsidized HIV care. Several systems-level HIV care barriers exist and intersect with individual and community-level barriers to disproportionately affect HIV care engagement among PLWH-OOC. Findings suggest several strategies that should be considered to reach the remaining 50% of PLWH who remain out-of-care.
Prevalence and change in alcohol consumption in older adults over time, assessed with self-report and Phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 —The HUNT Study
Authors: Tevik Kjerstin , Skråstad Ragnhild Bergene , Benth Jūratė Šaltytė , Selbæk Geir , Bergh Sverre , Eldholm Rannveig Sakshaug , Krokstad Steinar , Helvik Anne-Sofie
Published: May 2024

Background

Changes in alcohol consumption may affect older adults’ health. We examined prevalence and changes in the alcohol consumption of older women and men (≥65 years) in Norway over a 24-year period.

Methods

Data from three population-based health surveys (The Trøndelag Health Study—HUNT2 1995–97, HUNT3 2006–08, HUNT4 2017–19) were used. Alcohol consumption was measured using self-reported measures and an objective measure of alcohol consumption (Phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1, PEth). Self-reported lifetime abstinence, former drinking, current drinking, frequent drinking (≥4 times/week), and risk drinking (≥8 units/week) were measured. The PEth concentrations were stratified: <0.03 μmol/l (abstinence/very low level of alcohol consumption); >0.06 μmol/l (indicating >1 unit/day); >0.10 μmol/l (indicating >3 units/day), and >0.30 μmol/l (heavy alcohol consumption).

Results

In HUNT4, the prevalence of self-reported lifetime abstinence, frequent drinking, and risk drinking was 5.2%, 4.4%, and 5.6%, respectively, while prevalence of PEth <0.03 μmol/l was 68.1% and PEth >0.06 μmol/l was 21.2%. Over the course of the three surveys, the prevalence of self-reported lifetime abstinence decreased, while the prevalence of frequent drinking and risk drinking increased. Men were less often abstainers and more often frequent and risky drinkers than women in all three surveys. Gender differences for abstinence and current drinking reduced with time. From HUNT3 to HUNT4, the prevalence of PEth <0.03 μmol/l decreased, while the prevalence of PEth >0.06 μmol/l increased. Men compared to women, had less often PEth <0.03 μmol/l and more often PEth >0.06 and >0.10 μmol/l in HUNT3 and HUNT4. Women and men ≥75 years were just as likely to have PEth >0.30 μmol/l in HUNT4. The gender differences in PEth concentrations were reduced in HUNT4 among those aged 70–74 years or ≥75 years.

Conclusion

Alcohol consumption has increased among Norwegian older adults over a 24-year period, but at a slower pace during the last decade.
Carboxamide-based Fluorescent Sensor for the Detection of Mg2+ and Ni2+ Ions
Authors: Singh Netra Pal , Singh Maitreyi , Ratnam Anand , Kumar Anuroop
Published: May 2024

In this work, pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide based ligand was synthesized by reacting pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid with a thiazole derivative. The synthesized ligand was characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR, IR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry. The UV-visible spectrum accompanied with fluorescent spectral studies, binding constants and limit of detection proved efficient sensing abilities. The ligand was found to bind with one equivalent of an M2+ ion as validated by Job’s plot and binding parameters. The novel fluorescent probe based on amide ligand exhibits precise and selective response to Mg2+ and Ni2+ ions in HEPES buffer solution showing the detection limit to be 2.1502 × 10–8 mol/L and 4.8007 × 10–8 mol/L, respectively. The binding stoichiometry of amide ligand with Mg2+ and Ni2+ was estimated by Job’s plot method and found to be 1:1, which is further confirmed by mass spectrometry.
The Relationship between Smartphone Addiction, Difficulties with Emotional Regulation, and College Life Adaptation among Paramedic Students - Mediating Effects of Mindfulness -
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Han Song Yi , Park Jeong Mi
Published: May 2024

This study focused on the influencing factors of smartphone addiction and difficulty with emotional regulation as a way to improve the adaptation of paramedic students to college life. Smartphone addiction and difficulty with emotional regulation mean an individual's negative psychological state, so we tried to find out the effects of mindfulness that can control individual psychology in a positive way, and whether each variable affects college life adaptation. Smartphone addiction and difficulty with emotional regulation had a positive correlation and were found to have a negative effect on college life adaptation. It was confirmed that mindfulness had a complete mediating effect between difficulty with emotional regulation and adaptation to college life. Therefore, in order to increase to college life, universities were proposed to strengthen smartphone addiction suppression programs, establish a system for linking acceptance and commitment therapy, and open liberal arts courses related to mindfulness meditation in universities.
The Effect of Chemo-Entrepreneurship-Based Chemistry Learning Integrated with Values Education on Eleventh-Grade Students’ Learning Outcomes and Motivation
Authors: Ningrum Sutria , Suprihatiningrum Jamil
Published: May 2024

Chemistry learning innovations must be continuously pursued to prepare students for Era Society 5.0 and overcome academic and non-academic problems, including juvenile delinquency. One of the chemistry learning innovations carried out by this study is the application of chemo-entrepreneurship-based chemistry learning integrated with Values Education (VE). This study aimed to offer evidence for developing student learning outcomes and motivation through integrating values education into chemo-entrepreneurship-based chemistry learning. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to determine the effect of chemo-entrepreneurship-based chemistry learning integrated with VE on learning outcomes (affective and cognitive domains) and the motivation of grade XI students at Senior Secondary School Ajisaka, Tulang Bawang, Lampung. The sample was selected using a saturated cluster random sampling technique to determine the control group (XI-1) and the experimental group (XI-2). Students learning outcomes on the affective domain and motivation were measured by the Mann-Whitney test while learning outcomes on the cognitive domain was measured by independent sample t-tests on pretests and posttests taken by students. The study demonstrated that students exhibited a statistically significant change in learning outcomes and motivation due to these treatments.
The Effectiveness of Ground Transportation Modes on the Smooth Flow of Container Traffic in Cargo Shipments at PT Berkah Multi Cargo Logistics
Authors: Chuanda Pricilia Anastasya
Published: May 2024

This research examines the influence of ground transportation modes on the smooth flow of container traffic at PT Berkah Multi Cargo Logistics. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods, data was collected from various sources including literature reviews, interviews, and company records. The study identifies several factors contributing to the inefficiency of ground transportation modes, including inadequate fleet conditions, infrastructure limitations, and human resource constraints. Additionally, the research highlights the consequences of these inefficiencies, such as delayed deliveries leading to financial losses for cosignees, increased costs for consumers, and operational losses for the company. Despite efforts to adhere to company standards, the study suggests that improvements in ground transportation modes and infrastructure are necessary to enhance the efficiency of container traffic flow and mitigate associated challenges.
Strengthening the National Logistics Network: PT Kereta Api Indonesia's Impact in East Java Province
Authors: Rivaldi Rifki Satya
Published: May 2024

Railway transportation plays a pivotal role in Indonesia's economic development, serving as a catalyst for local growth while complementing existing transportation infrastructure. This paper explores the challenges and opportunities within Indonesia's logistics sector, focusing on infrastructure development, system implementation, stakeholder competency, and institutional coordination. Drawing on data from the Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia and the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), it highlights the significant impacts of infrastructure on logistics and economic growth, emphasizing the role of railways in driving regional economies. Particularly, the study underscores the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of railways for long-distance product transportation, citing their capacity advantages over trucks. Moreover, it discusses the commercial prospects of rail-based logistics and the complementary relationship between railways and other modes of transportation. By addressing these issues, Indonesia can harness its railway infrastructure to accelerate national economic growth and enhance its position in the global market.
Integration effect of artificial intelligence and traditional animation creation technology
Authors: Yuanliang Wei , Zhe Zhao
Published: May 2024

Despite the advancements in modern computer hardware and software, the creation of digital animation still demands a substantial investment of both manpower and time. This article aimed to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) technology can be combined with traditional animation creation techniques to achieve better integration effects. By combining intelligent character animation generation with hand drawing, a generative adversarial network was used to achieve high-quality animation generation. The generator generated realistic animations, and the discriminator measured the authenticity of the animations by comparing the differences between the generator-generated animations and the real animations, which was used for automated character animation generation. This can greatly reduce the cost and time of digital animation creation, improve the quality of digital animation, and provide more innovation for the application of traditional animation technology. The average number of audience attracted by characters through blended creation was 122.2% more than that of characters through traditional animation creation and 32.6% more than that of characters through AI creation. This not only helps animation producers complete animation production more quickly, but also enhances the creativity and artistic value of animation.
FBXO45 levels regulated ferroptosis renal tubular epithelial cells in a model of diabetic nephropathy by PLK1
Authors: Zhu Bingming , Hu Yongxuan , Wu Ruishan , Yu Quan , Wen Wangrong
Published: May 2024

Objective

This research aims to investigate the role and underlying biological mechanism of FBXO45 in regulating ferroptosis of renal fibrocytes in a diabetic nephropathy (DN) model.

Methods

C57BL/6 mice were fed with a high-fat diet and injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes. Human renal glomerular endothelial cells stimulated with d-glucose.

Results

Serum FBXO45 mRNA expression was found to be down-regulated in patients with DN. There was a negative correlation between the expression of serum FBXO45 mRNA and serum α-SMA, Collagen I, and E-cadherin mRNA in patients with DN. Additionally, the expression of serum FBXO45 mRNA showed a negative correlation with blood sugar levels. Based on a 3D model prediction, it was observed that FBXO45 interacts with polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) at GLY-271, ILE-226, GLY-166, LEU-165, ARG-245, and ASN-220, while PLK1 interacts with FBXO45 at TYR-417, ARG-516, HIS-489, TYR-485, GLN-536, and ARG-557. This interaction was confirmed through immunoprecipitation assay, which showed the interlinking of FBXO45 protein with PLK1 protein.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that FBXO45 plays a role in mitigating ferroptosis in DN through the regulation of the PLK1/GPX4/SOX2 pathway. This highlights the potential of targeting FBXO45 as a therapeutic approach to ameliorate ferroptosis in DN.
Compressive and tensile strength estimation of sustainable geopolymer concrete using contemporary boosting ensemble techniques
Authors: Zhou Ji , Tian Qiong , Ahmad Ayaz , Huang Jiandong
Published: May 2024

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) serves as an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional concrete, offering a sustainable solution for construction needs. The ability to make on-site changes is dependent on the concrete’s strength after casting, which must be higher than the target value. To anticipate the concrete’s strength before it is poured is, thus, quite helpful. Three ensemble machine learning (ML) approaches, including gradient boosting, AdaBoost regressor, and extreme gradient boosting, are presented in this work as potential methods for forecasting GPC’s mechanical strength that incorporates corncob ash. To determine which modeling parameters are crucial, sensitivity analysis was employed. When the compressive strength and split-tensile strength of GPC were tested with ensemble ML models, R
2 values of more than 90% were discovered between the predicted and actual results. Statistics and a k-fold analysis based on the error and coefficient of determination were used to verify the developed models. Slag amount, curing age, and fine aggregate quantity were the three mix proportions that had the most impact on GPC’s mechanical strength, as shown in the sensitivity analysis. The results of this study demonstrated that ensemble boosting approaches could reliably estimate GPC mechanical strength. Incorporating such procedures into GPC quality control can yield significant improvements.
Archaeological consideration on the West capital(西京) of Balhae
Authors:   Institute of Korean Cultural Studies Yeungnam University, Ju Honggyu
Published: May 2024

This study aims to identify the location of the West capital(西京), especially among the 5京15府62州 of Balhae, focusing on archaeological material data, and to examine the timing of the contrast. Studying Balhae's 5京 is important in that it not only identifies Balhae's relations with China but also identifies Balhae's efficient local governance, and clearly understands the symbolism and history of Balhae's kingship. This study seeks to examine the location of Balhae the West capital(西京) from an archaeological perspective. Among the many materials left behind by the Balhae people, roof tiles, especially various pattern attributes and production techniques, were identified, so the location of 西京 was determined through the setting of the year, locality, and aspects of international exchange.
The Imgang(臨江) has been considered the most influential location of the West capital(西京) is known to have relics and sacred sites from the Balhae period. However, due to the lack of actual reports of excavated artifacts and remains, no specific verification of Balhae's relics was made, nor was the shape or structure of the site verified during the Balhae period. On the other hand, the Jian(集安) is the second capital of Goguryeo was found to have excavated the roof tiles of Balhae, similar roof tiles from 上京城, 西古城, and 八連城. Based on this, the location of the Balhae West capital(西京) was determined archaeologically.
As a result of analyzing the tiles excavated from the ruins of Balhae, it was possible to judge the location of Balhae the West capital(西京) as the area of the Jian(集安), not the area of the the Imgang(臨江). Front Roof-Tile from the Balhae period, which are excavated in the Jian(集安) region centered on the national inner fortress, can be called the Jian(集安) because the same tile was not excavated in other regions. Through these Balhae front Roof-Tile, it is possible to estimate the regional characteristics of tiled buildings that are different from the areas where the royal palace was located in the West capital(西京) area centered on the Jian(集安).
Heart-shaped tiles with strong independence of Balhae are thought to change from complex unit patterns to simple unit patterns depending on the period. Among the heart-shaped tiles, the tile, which has a heart pattern+center pattern, is believed to have been produced after 9C after Balhae transferred from 東京城 to 上京城. This suggests that 9C was the time when buildings linked to state power were installed and the West capital(西京), centered on the Jian(集安). It is difficult to know exactly when the West capital(西京) of Balhae was installed, but it is judged that at least at the 9C stage, the Jian(集安) area was functioning as the West capital(西京) of Balhae.
BRITISH POLICY TOWARDS CONFLICT IN YEMEN
Authors:   Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yaylyan Valentin
Published: May 2024

The article is dedicated to the role of the United Kingdom in the political crisis and the armed conflict in Yemen which has not been settled until now. Special attention is paid to military and technical, diplomatic directions as well as to international development assistance in the British foreign policy towards this country. Study of these directions allowed to identify their interrelation and priority to the United Kingdom, to determine the British attitude towards the settlement of the Yemen conflict and to identify main British goals in this armed confrontation. It has been found that first of all the United Kingdom strives to address the terrorist threat originating from Yemen and to ensure free maritime traffic around it. All three mentioned areas of British foreign policy to a greater or lesser extent are aimed at this goal. As for the issue of the settlement of the Yemen conflict, the United Kingdom moved from unambiguous support for the official government of Yemen and the Arab coalition to the actual recognition of status-quo.
GRSF1 deficiency attenuates mitochondrial function in aging granulosa cells
Authors: Wen Canxin , Jiang Linlin , Pan Ping , Huang Jia , Xie Yanxin , Ou Songbang , Li Yu
Published: May 2024

In brief

Ovarian aging results in reactive oxygen species accumulation and mitochondrial deterioration. During the aging process, GRSF1 deficiency attenuates mitochondrial function in aging granulosa cells.

Ovarian aging critically influences reproductive potential, with a marked decrease in oocyte quality and quantity and an increase in oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study elucidates the role of guanine-rich RNA sequence binding factor 1 (GRSF1) in the aging of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs). We observed a significant reduction in GRSF1 within GCs correlating with patient age, utilizing clinical samples from IVF patients. Using an siRNA-mediated knockdown technique, we established that diminished GRSF1 expression exacerbates mitochondrial dysfunction, elevates reactive oxygen species, and impairs ATP production. Furthermore, RNA immunoprecipitation revealed GRSF1’s interaction with superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) mRNA, a key antioxidant enzyme, suggesting a mechanism whereby GRSF1 modulates oxidative stress. Downregulation of SOD2 reversed the protective effects of GRSF1 overexpression on mitochondrial function. These insights into the role of GRSF1 in ovarian aging may guide the development of interventions to improve fertility outcomes in advanced age.
THE FIRST FINDING OF CHONDRULE WITH AN UNORDINARY RIM IN THE KRYMKA METEORITE (LL3.1): MINERALOGICAL FEATURES AND GENETIC ASPECTS
Authors: Semenenko V.P. , Shkurenko K.O. , Kychan N.V.
Published: May 2024

The results of structural, mineralogical and chemical studies of a chondrule with a fine-grained silicate-sulfide rim in the Krymka meteorite are given. A porphyritic texture, the presence of metal-troilite globules and the forsterite composition of olivine indicate іt`s high-temperature origin and belonging to a rare, but ordinary component of the Krymka meteorite. The chondrule is surrounded by an unusual wide (up to 200 μm) fine-grained rim, which is typical for chondrules of carbonaceous chondrites, but hasn`t been observed for ordinary chondrites. The rim contains high-temperature minerals, two generations of chromite grains, is essentially enriched in iron sulfide and is characterized by extreme xenomorphism of troilite grains, which attest their heating to the melting point, and by complete oxidation of troilite in inner and significant one in external zone of the rim. Supposition about oxidation of the iron sulphide in space rather than in terrestrial conditions has been made. According to SiO2/MgO ratio in a bulk chemical composition, the rim differs from silicate rims of chondrules, transparent and opaque matrix of the Krymka chondrite, but is close to its carbonaceous xenoliths. The data attests an accretion of dust by the chondrule in an area of fine-grained carbonaceous xenoliths formation and unlike that not of chondrule rims. The presence of a thick rim is an additional evidence of the origin and existence of the chondrule in a denser environment, enriched with a dust of a protoplanetary nebula different from other chondrules of the meteorite. The chondrule penetrated into agglomeration zone of a parent body of the Krymka meteorite with consolidated, compacted fine-grained rim, and relatively at low velocity, that contributed to its preservation in the meteorite.
Peran Sistem Pemerintah Berbasis Elektronik (SPBE) Dalam Meningkatkan Aksesibilitas Pelayanan Publik di Indonesia
Authors: Choirunnisa Laili , Oktaviana Try Hajar Caesar , Ridlo Ahmad Ainur , Rohmah Elva Imeldatur
Published: May 2024

Efficient and accessible public services are an essential aspect of the development of a country. In Indonesia, as a country with a large and diverse population and a large area, the challenge of providing equitable accessibility of public services for all people is complex. However, with the rapid advancement of information and communication technology, electronic-based government systems have emerged as a potential solution to improve the accessibility of public services in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze the role of electronic-based government systems in improving the accessibility of public services in Indonesia and the resulting benefits. This research uses an analytical descriptive approach by collecting data through literature study and analysis of related documents. The results show that the electronic-based government system is vital in improving the accessibility of public services in Indonesia. By reducing physical barriers, increasing efficiency, and providing co-benefits such as transparency and more active public participation, these systems can speed up public service processes and increase community satisfaction. To optimize the role of electronic-based government systems, joint efforts between the government, the private sector, and the public need to be made to improve infrastructure, digital literacy, and data protection.
Problematika Surat Edaran Mahkamah Agung Nomor 2 Tahun 2023 Tentang Pelarangan Pencatatan Nikah Beda Agama Dalam Perspektif Hak Asasi Manusia
Authors: Habiburrahman Muhammad , Maskur Moh. , Shalihah Aini
Published: May 2024

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia issued a Supreme Court Circular Letter (SEMA) Number 2 of 2023 concerning the Prohibition of Registration of Interfaith Marriages. However, the rules reap the pros and cons. Various international agreements on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights as well as conventions on the elimination of discrimination against women have given men and women the right and freedom to marry without any religious restrictions. The purpose of this writing will be to answer the formulation of the problem, namely to find out the complexity of recording interfaith marriages from a human rights perspective with material for analysis of the Supreme Court Circular Letter Number 2 of 2023. The research method in this paper uses normative law with a statutory and conceptual approach. The results of the research show that there is SEMA No. 2 of 2023 guided by the Marriage Law No. 1 of 1974 (Marriage Law) which has a standard that regulates the complete rejection of the legality of marriage for all religions and beliefs. Even though these various international conventions are contradictory, it needs to be understood that Indonesia has rules regarding marriage which are contained in Law Number 1 of 1974 which should be the main legal rule (lex specialist) in its implementation. Meanwhile, the rules or norms contained in international conventions conflict with Law Number 1 of 1974. Therefore there is no legal problem with the existence of Law No. 1 of 1974 is different from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a fundamental instrument of human rights.
Enabling human-multi-robot collaborative visual exploration in underwater environments
Authors:   ,   Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jamieson Stewart C. ,   Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Published: May 2024

This thesis presents novel approaches to vision-based autonomous exploration in underwater environments using human-multi-robot systems, enabling robots to adapt to evolving mission priorities learned via a human supervisor’s responses to images collected in situ. The robots model the spatial distribution of various habitats and terrain types in the environment using semantic classes learned online, and send image queries to the supervisor to learn which of these classes are associated with the highest concentration of targets of interest. The robots do not require prior examples of these targets, and learn these concentration parameters online. This approach is suitable for exploration in unfamiliar environments where unexpected phenomena are frequently discovered, such as coral reefs. A novel risk-based online learning algorithm identifies the concentration parameters using the fewest possible number of queries, enabling the robots to adapt quickly and reducing the operational burden on the supervisor. I introduce four primary contributions to address prevalent challenges in underwater exploration. Firstly, a multi-robot semantic representation matching algorithm enables interrobot sharing of semantic maps, generating consistent global maps with 20-60% higher quality scores than those produced by other methods. Next, we present DeepSeeColor, a novel real-time algorithm for correcting underwater image color distortions, which achieves up to 60 Hz processing speeds, thereby enabling improved semantic mapping and target recognition accuracy online. Thirdly, an efficient risk-based online learning algorithm ensures effective communication between robots and human supervisors, and, while remaining computationally tractable, overcomes the myopia which would cause previous algorithms to underestimate a query’s value. Lastly, we propose a new reward model and planning algorithm tailored for autonomous exploration, together enabling a 25-75% increase in the number of targets of interest located when compared to baseline surveys. These experiments were conducted with simulated robots exploring real coral reef maps and with real, ecologically meaningful targets of interest. Collectively, these contributions overcome key barriers to vision-based autonomous underwater exploration, and enhance the capability of autonomous underwater vehicles to adapt to new and evolving mission objectives in situ. Beyond marine exploration, these contributions have value in broader applications, such as space exploration, ecosystem monitoring, and other online learning problems.
Temporal Network Analysis of Email Communication Patterns in a Long Standing Hierarchy
Authors: Barnes Matthew Russell , Karan Mladen , McQuistin Stephen , Perkins Colin , Tyson Gareth , Purver Matthew , Castro Ignacio , Clegg Richard G.
Published: May 2024

An important concept in organisational behaviour is how hierarchy affects the voice of individuals, whereby members of a given organisation exhibit differing power relations based on their hierarchical position.
Although there have been prior studies of the relationship between hierarchy and voice, they tend to focus on more qualitative small-scale methods and do not account for structural aspects of the organisation.
This paper develops large-scale computational techniques utilising temporal network analysis to measure the effect that organisational hierarchy has on communication patterns throughout an organisation, focusing on the structure of pairwise interactions between individuals.
To this end, we focus on one major organisation as a case study --- the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) --- a major technical standards development organisation for the Internet.
A particularly useful feature of the IETF is a transparent hierarchy, where participants take on explicit roles (e.g., Area Directors, Working Group Chairs), and because its processes are open we have visibility into the communication of people at different hierarchy levels over a long time period.
Exploiting this, we utilise a temporal network dataset of 989,911 email interactions among 23,741 participants to study how hierarchy impacts communication patterns.
We show that the middle levels of the IETF are growing in terms of their dominance in communications.
Higher levels consistently experience a higher proportion of incoming communication than lower levels, with higher levels initiating more communications too. We find that, overall, communication tends to flow "up" the hierarchy more than "down".
Finally, we find that communication with higher-levels is associated with future communication more than for lower-levels, which we interpret as "facilitation".
We conclude by discussing the implications this has on patterns within the wider IETF and the impact our analysis can have for other organisations.
Rank, Pack, or Approve: Voting Methods in Participatory Budgeting
Authors: Gelauff Lodewijk , Goel Ashish
Published: May 2024

Participatory budgeting is a popular method to engage residents in budgeting decisions by local governments. The AnonPB Platform is an online platform that has been used to engage residents in more than 150 budgeting processes. We present a data set with anonymized budget opinions from these processes with K-approval, K-ranking or knapsack primary ballots. For a subset of the voters, it includes paired votes with a different elicitation method in the same process. This presents a unique data set, as the voters, projects and setting are all related to real-world decisions that the voters have an actual interest in. With data from primary ballots we find that while ballot complexity (number of projects to choose from, number of projects to select and ballot length) is correlated with a higher median time spent by voters, it is not correlated with a higher abandonment rate.

We use vote pairs with different voting methods to analyze the effect of voting methods on the cost of selected projects, more comprehensively than was previously possible. In most elections, voters selected significantly more expensive projects using K-approval than using knapsack, although we also find a small number of examples with a significant effect in the opposite direction. This effect happens at the aggregate level as well as for individual voters, and is influenced both by the implicit constraints of the voting method and the explicit constraints of the voting interface. Finally, we validate the use of K-ranking elicitation to offer a paper alternative for knapsack voting.
Sensemaking about Contraceptive Methods across Online Platforms
Authors: McDowall LeAnn , Antoniak Maria , Mimno David
Published: May 2024

Selecting a birth control method is a complex healthcare decision. While birth control methods provide important benefits, they can also cause unpredictable side effects and be stigmatized, leading many people to seek additional information online, where they can privately find reviews, advice, hypotheses, and experiences of other birth control users. However, the relationships between their healthcare concerns, sensemaking activities, and online settings are not well understood. We gather texts about birth control shared on Twitter and Reddit—popular communities with different affordances, moderation, and audiences—to study where and how birth control is discussed online. Using a combination of topic modeling and hand annotation, we identify and characterize the dominant sensemaking practices across these platforms, and we create lexica to draw comparisons across birth control methods and side effects. We use these to measure variations from survey reports of side effect experiences, highlighting topics that social media users discuss more than expected online. Our findings characterize how online platforms are used to make sense of difficult healthcare choices, including analyzing risks, calculating timing and dosages, hypothesizing about causes of side effects, and storytelling about painful experiences. We contribute both to understanding unmet needs of birth control users and to exploring context-specific patterns in social media discussions.
Does It Matter Who Said It? Exploring the Impact of Deepfake-Enabled Profiles on User Perception towards Disinformation
Authors: Ruffin Margie , Seo Haeseung , Xiong Aiping , Wang Gang
Published: May 2024

Recently, deepfake techniques have been adopted by real-world adversaries to fabricate believable personas (posing as experts or insiders) in disinformation campaigns to promote false narratives and deceive the public. In this paper, we investigate how fake personas influence the user perception of the disinformation shared by such accounts. Using Twitter as an exemplary platform, we conduct a user study (N=417) where participants read tweets of fake news with (and without) the presence of the tweet authors' profiles. Our study examines and compares three types of fake profiles: deepfake profiles, profiles of relevant organizations, and simple bot profiles. Our results highlight the significant impact of deepfake and organization profiles on increasing the perceived information accuracy of and engagement with fake news. Moreover, deepfake profiles are rated as significantly more real than other profile types. Finally, we observe that users may like/reply/share a tweet even though they believe it was inaccurate (e.g., for fun or truth-seeking), which could further disseminate false information. We then discuss the implications of our findings and directions for future research.
Characterizing Online Criticism of Partisan News Media Using Weakly Supervised Learning
Authors: Shivaram Karthik , Bilgic Mustafa , Shapiro Matthew , Culotta Aron
Published: May 2024

We propose novel methods to identify tweets that criticize partisan news sources. Prior work suggests that criticism, ridicule, and distrust of news media all play important roles in hyperpartisanship, misinformation, and filter bubble formation. Thus, understanding the prevalence and temporal dynamics of media-targeted criticism can provide us with updated tools to assess the health of the information ecosystem. There is a scarcity of labeled data for this task, and we develop a weakly supervised learning approach that leverages multiple noisy labeling functions based on both the content of the tweet as well as the historical news sharing behavior of the user. Using this classifier, we explore how tweets expressing criticism vary by user, news source, and time, finding substantial spikes in media criticism during politically polarizing events, such as the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections and the 2017 "unite the right" rally in Charlottesville. This type of media-targeting criticism is also more likely to occur after users have been exposed to unreliable and hyperpartisan media.
Node Attribute Prediction with Weighted and Directed Edges on Single and Multilayer Networks
Authors: Zhang Yiguang , Altenburger Kristen M. , Zhang Poppy , Okano Tsutomu , Hill Shawndra
Published: May 2024

With the rapid development of digital platforms, users can now interact in endless ways from writing business reviews and comments to sharing information with their friends and followers. As a result, organizations have numerous digital social networks available for graph learning problems with little guidance on how to select the right graph or how to combine multiple edge types. For example, while user-to-user interactions are directed in nature, many graph learning approaches use the undirected version of the network. In this paper, we introduce edge direction, edge weight, and multi-relational data for node prediction tasks. We first adapt an existing node attribute prediction method for binary prediction, LINK-Naive Bayes, to account for both edge direction and weights on single-layer networks. We compare predictive performance metrics across various node attribute prediction tasks for an ads click prediction task on Facebook and for a publicly available dataset from the Open Graph Benchmark (OGB). We observe meaningful predictive performance improvements when incorporating edge direction and weight, and performance that's competitive with the OGB Leaderboard. We then introduce an approach called MultiLayerLINK-NaiveBayes that can combine multiple network layers during training and observe superior performance over the single-layer results. Ultimately, whether edge direction, edge weights, and multi-layers are practically useful will depend on the particular setting. Our approach enables practitioners to quickly combine multiple layers and edge types.