bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does firm size improve firm growth? Empirical evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Bentzen Jan , Tung Le Thanh
Published: August 2023

This study aims to examine the relationship between firm size and firm growth in Vietnam. The literature does not in general give support to Gibrat’s Law stating that the expected increase in firm size is proportionate to its initial size, or that firm growth rates are independent of firm size. The present study relies on a sample of 578 listed Vietnamese companies representing eight different industries and covering the period 2010 to 2020. The analysis reveals that growth in firm revenues does not give support to a hypothesis of independence of initial firm sizes. When the firm size is measured by total assets the opposite result appears, i.e. the Gibrat’s Law is not rejected. When including also the age of the firms in the test methodology the conclusion will be that firm growth – measured by revenue or assets – in all cases will decrease with firm size.
Zróżnicowanie poziomu rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego gmin w układach obwarzankowych w województwie wielkopolskim – analiza porównawcza
Authors: Kozubek Dawid
Published: August 2023

Głównym celem artykułu jest określenie zróżnicowania poziomu rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego gmin w układach obwarzankowych. Zakres przestrzenny pracy dotyczy województwa wielkopolskiego, zakres czasowy obejmuje natomiast lata 2011 i 2021. Postępowanie badawcze służące realizacji głównego celu pracy składa się z trzech etapów. W pierwszym etapie dokonano charakterystyki społeczno-gospodarczej gmin obwarzankowych w województwie wielkopolskim. W drugim etapie pracy wskazano różnice i podobieństwa w poziomie rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego między tymi gminami a miastami będącymi siedzibami tych gmin w zakresie przyjętych do badania kategorii: (1) ludność, (2) gospodarka, (3) infrastruktura społeczna, (4) infrastruktura techniczna i mieszkalnictwo oraz (5) kapitał ludzki i społeczny. W tym celu posłużono się wskaźnikiem syntetycznym Perkala (Ws), który obliczono oddzielnie dla zbioru gmin wiejskich i miejskich w badanym województwie, co umożliwiło przedstawienie pozycji analizowanych jednostek na tle gmin danego rodzaju. W ostatnim, trzecim etapie sformułowano wnioski końcowe na podstawie przedstawionej w pracy analizy porównawczej i podjęto dyskusję na temat rozpatrywanego zagadnienia. Przeprowadzone badania wskazują, że podstawowe różnice między gminami obwarzankowymi a miastami obejmują: (a) większą rozpiętość wewnętrzną wskaźnika syntetycznego Perkala (Ws) w zakresie przyjętych kategorii rozwojowych w gminach obwarzankowych niż w miastach; (b) większy wzrost ogólnej wartości wskaźnika syntetycznego Perkala (Ws) w gminach obwarzankowych niż w miastach; (c) większe zmiany pozycji na skali poziomu rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego w gminach obwarzankowych niż w miastach; (d) przeciętne skorelowanie ogólnego rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego z kategorią kapitał ludzki w gminach obwarzankowych, a słabe w przypadku miast; (e) słabą współzależność między ogólnym rozwojem społeczno-gospodarczym a kategorią gospodarka w gminach obwarzankowych, a przeciętną w przypadku miast, a także (f) relatywnie wyższy poziom rozwoju gmin obwarzankowych niż miast w kategorii ludność, a niższy w pozostałych kategoriach. Z kolei podstawowe podobieństwa między gminami obwarzankowymi a miastami obejmują: (a) zbliżoną rozpiętość ogólnej wartości wskaźnika syntetycznego Perkala (Ws); (b) tendencję do wzrostu ogólnej wartości wskaźnika syntetycznego Perkala (Ws); (c) tendencję do zmiany pozycji na skali poziomu rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego; (d) przeciętne skorelowanie ogólnego rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego z kategoriami infrastruktura techniczna i mieszkalnictwo oraz ludność, a także (e) słabą współzależność między ogólnym rozwojem społeczno-gospodarczym a kategorią infrastruktura społeczna.
Serviço Social, Assistência Social e Proteção Social: Entrevista com a Professora Ivone Pereira da Silva
Authors: Silva Ivone Pereira , Alves Alan Loiola , Santos Rosemeire
Published: August 2023

Ivone Pereira da Silva is a Social Worker, graduated in Social Work - Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas (1978). Master in Social Work from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (1995). She worked as a Social Worker at the São Paulo City Hall for over 30 years. She has experience in the research area, with emphasis on the themes: home care, family caregiver, social assistance and dependent elderly. She is dedicated to delving into social assistance policy and research in this area. She has teaching experience in graduation and specialization in Social Work. She taught for 19 years in higher education. She is currently retired.
On the first Belgian record of the Eifelian (Middle Devonian) ammonoid cephalopod Subanarcestes (Suborder Anarcestina)
Authors: GOOLAERTS Stijn
Published: August 2023

Ammonoid cephalopods are extremely rare in the Lower and Middle Devonian sedimentary rocks of Belgium, which contrasts with the neighboring sedimentary basins. However, searches in old collections and recent collecting efforts show that ammonoids do occur in these beds in Belgium, which allows to enlarge our knowledge of Lower and Middle Devonian ammonoid occurrences. Here, a record of the Eifelian (Middle Devonian) anarcestid ammonoid genus Subanarcestes is described for the first time from Belgium based on a specimen from the Jemelle Formation (Chavées Member). This specimen was collected more than a century ago by Eugène Maillieux at Trou Bodet near Couvin. It laid unrecognized as an ammonoid cephalopod for many decades in the collections of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, while being previously identified as Cryptoceras or ‘Nautilus’ fossil, which if correct, constituted Belgium’s oldest Nautilida fossil. Micro-CT imaging greatly helped in the taxonomic assignment of the specimen.
Event-triggered state estimation for complex networks under deception attacks: a partial-nodes-based approach
Authors: Zhou Lu , Li Bing
Published: August 2023

This paper addresses the issue of state estimation for a kind of complex network (CN) with distributed delays and random interference through output measurements. In the data transmission, the deception attacks are taken into account by resorting to a sequence of Bernoulli random variables with a given probability. Considering the complexity of the network, the fact that only partial output measurements are available in practical environments presents a new challenge. Therefore, the partial-nodes-based (PNB) state estimation problem is proposed. For the sake of data collision avoidance and energy saving, a general event-triggered scheme is adopted in the design of the estimator. A novel estimator is constructed to consider both cyber attacks and resource limitations, filling the gap in previous results on PNB state estimation. By using the Lyapunov method and several stochastic analysis techniques, a few sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the desired security and convergency performance for the overall estimation error. The estimator gains are obtained by solving a set of matrix inequalities with nonlinear constraints. At last, two examples and simulations are presented to further show the efficiency of the proposed method.
PLATÃO E SARTRE: A DIALÉTICA DO DESEJO E DO OLHAR
Authors: Almeida Rogerio Miranda de
Published: August 2023

Estas reflexões têm como objetivo principal mostrar as semelhanças que existem entre as concepções de Platão e de Jean-Paul Sartre relativamente ao “conhece-se a ti mesmo” e, principalmente, à questão da dialética do olhar e do desejo. Convém, no entanto, ressaltar que não se trata, de modo algum, de reivindicar a prioridade de Platão e demonstrar que Sartre, afinal de contas, não teria senão retomado e reinterpretado essa problemática adaptando-a à sua própria filosofia. Trata-se, antes, de relevar a convergência de intuições e de ideias em torno de um mesmo tema que, a partir de horizontes e perspectivas diferentes, dois filósofos souberam investigar e aprofundar. Notar-se-á, portanto, que ambos os pensadores recorreram às metáforas do espelho, dos olhos, da pupila e da imagem que, mutuamente, os indivíduos se reenviam quando são contemplados e, portanto, olhados face a face. Trata-se, em suma, de analisar o papel que representa a dialética do olhar e do desejo nas relações intersubjetivas tais como Platão e Sartre as consideraram e as examinaram.
Palavras-chave: Platão. Sartre. Lacan. Dialética do olhar. Desejo.
10-Port MIMO Inverted-F Antenna for LTE Bands 42/43/48/49 Bands Smartphone Applications
Authors: Zahid Muhammad , Khalid Aliya , Moazzam Hira , Sadaqat Hajra , Shoaib Sultan , Amin Yasar
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a design and performance analysis of a 10-element 5G massive MIMO antenna array for sub-6GHz mobile handsets, specifically for LTE bands 42 (3400-3600 MHz), 43 (3600-3800 MHz), 48/49 (3550-3700 MHz) applications. The proposed antenna array consists of 10 closely spaced linearly polarized inverted-F antennas with a compact size of 20 × 9 mm2 of a single element. The proposed antenna array provides high gain, high efficiency, and low correlation between the antenna elements, which results in improved channel capacity, increased data rate, and enhanced signal quality. The performance of the antenna array is evaluated in terms of the radiation pattern, gain, efficiency, and correlation coefficient. The simulation and measured results show that the proposed antenna array achieves an approximate peak gain of 3.1 dBi at the resonance frequency, a total efficiency of 65 %, and a low correlation coefficient of 0.06 between the antenna elements. Therefore, the proposed 5G massive MIMO antenna array is a promising candidate for sub-6 GHz mobile handsets, particularly for LTE bands 42/43/48/49 applications.
Kelleni’s Protocol Including NSAIDs and Nitazoxanide to Early Manage Dengue Virus Disease: A Novel Potential Broad Spectrum Antiviral Protocol
Authors: Kelleni Mina
Published: August 2023

The current recommendation to avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in management of dengue virus disease is, as it was adopted earlier in COVID-19, scientifically considered of very low to low certainty. In this perspective I argue, for the first time globally, basing on real-life practice that NSAIDs might be lifesaving in early management of dengue virus disease as I originally argued and proved rightful in COVID-19. Moreover, I also argue that the Egyptian immune-modulatory Kelleni’s protocol, including nitazoxanide as an integral component, can be safely and effectively used to early manage COVID-19, human metapneumovirus, dengue virus disease, Zika virus separate or co-infections similar to what has already been experienced and published with separate or conjoined infections with SARS CoV-2, influenza, RSV and Norwalk viruses without the need of prior serological or molecular investigations to determine the causative agent.
Spinors and Spatial Vectors Are Part of the Number System; They Are Extensions of Complex Numbers into Three-Dimensional Space
Authors: Mugeraya Srinivasa
Published: August 2023

Spinors are used for the computation of probability in quantum mechanics. They are treated as elements of a complex vector space in contrast to a real vector space. Spinor theory is abstract mathematics with an ambiguous interpretation. The overall phase of spinors does not affect the computation of probability in quantum mechanics. If two spinors have an overall phase of imaginary number i, then they can be treated like vectors in a real vector space. The square of the magnitude of the number, which is the sum of dot product and the term having basis vector i of cross product of two such vectors, is equal to the probability computed using the corresponding spinors. Therefore, the geometry of such spinors can be easily depicted in a three-dimensional space like vectors in a real vector space. Spinors are not isotropic vectors in Hilbert space. The sum of dot product and cross product of two complex numbers is equivalent to the quotient of the division of one complex number by another. Similarly, the sum of dot product and cross product of two vectors is the quotient of the division of one vector by another. Using the rules of division of vectors, we can find the rules of multiplication of vectors. The rules of multiplication and division of basis vector i match the rules of multiplication and division of imaginary number i. Therefore, basis vector i is nothing but imaginary number i. Multiplication of dot and cross product of two vectors to the second vector will give us the components of the first vector that are parallel and orthogonal to the second vector. Vectors are also made up of complex numbers like spinors. The reason for finding dot product of complex numbers in the process of computing the probability is to ignore the overall phase in contrast to the phase difference. This is misconstrued as complex vector space in quantum mechanics. 3-D number which is nothing but a spinor with new notation is an extension of vector algebra. It can have a real number as a term in addition to the terms i, j and k. In all other respects, it is a vector. 3-D numbers are part of the number system like real numbers and complex numbers. The real numbers are one dimensional numbers, the complex numbers are two-dimensional numbers and the 3-D numbers as well as vectors and spinors are three-dimensional numbers. As polarisation and spin are one and the same, we can straight away apply 3-D numbers to polarisation of light. 3-D numbers will greatly simplify the study of areas of science where three-dimensional space is involved.
Making a Grammar Checker with Autocorrect Options Using NLP Tools
Authors: Bucea Manea Tonis Radu , Beteringhe Adrian
Published: August 2023

Our natural language approach concerns syntactic analysis using a dedicated Javascript library - wink-nlp - and semantic analysis based on Prolog programming language, facilitated by another Javascript library - tau-prolog - that allows defining logical programs, declaring rules and checking for goals inside Javascript language. Firstly, our program splits the original text into sentences, than into tokens and identifies each part of the sentence, dynamically maps entities into Prolog rules, then check the spelling accordingly to the Definite Clause Grammar (DCG) by querying the pre-defined program for initial goals (the sentence itself). Basically, we let the parser infer its own rules from the syntactic point of view, then check the grammar from a semantic perspective against the DCG inside the same work flow or pipeline of steps.The provided article combine the usage of wink-nlp and tau-prolog packages for natural language processing (NLP) and understanding (NLU), demonstrates the need of a supplementary logic layer based on beta reductions and provide a method to convert lambda abstractions into arrow Javascript functions.
Controls-kt, a Next Generation Control System
Authors: Nozik Alexander
Published: August 2023

In this article, we discuss problems that exist in modern SCADA systems and present a Controls-kt (formerly DataForge-controls) software development kit, that allows both to create a control system from scratch and provide integration with existing systems via Magix specification and connector.
Angiogenesis in Lung Cancer: Understanding the Roles of Growth Factors
Authors: Ngaha Tchawe Yvan Sinclair , Angelina V. Zhilenkova , Freddy Elad Essogmo , Uchendu Ikenna K. , Owoicho Abah Moses , Tabola Fossa Lionel , Sangadzhieva Zaiana D. , D. Sanikovich Varvara , S. Rusanov Alexander , N. Pirogova Yuliya , Boroda Alexander , Rozhkov Alexander , Kemfang Ngowa Jean D. , N. Bagmet Leonid , I. Sekacheva Marina
Published: August 2023

Research has shown the role of growth factors in lung cancer angiogenesis. Angiogenesis promotes lung cancer progression by stimulating tumor growth, enhancing tumor invasion, contributing to metastasis, and modifying immune system responses within the tumor microenvironment. As a result, new treatment techniques based on the anti-angiogenic characteristics of compounds have been developed. These compounds selectively block the growth factors themselves, their receptors, or the downstream signaling pathways activated by these growth factors. The EGF and VEGF families are the primary targets in this approach, and several studies are being conducted to propose anti-angiogenic drugs that are increasingly suitable for the treatment of lung cancer, either as monotherapy or as combined therapy. The efficacy results are encouraging, but a caution must be placed on the higher risk of toxicity, outlining the importance of personalized follow-up in the management of these patients.
Entrepreneurship Education in South Africa: Policy Implementation and Impact on Youth Empowerment
Authors: Maka Loquitur
Published: August 2023

Entrepreneurship education in South Africa holds significant promise in empowering the youth and fostering economic growth. This article explores the impact of entrepreneurship education on youth empowerment, focusing on case studies of successful young entrepreneurs, evaluation of entrepreneurial skills development, and analysis of employment and economic outcomes. While effective models of entrepreneurship education emphasize experiential learning and collaboration with local businesses, resource constraints and infrastructure gaps pose challenges. Moreover, socio-cultural perceptions and gender disparities influence youth's willingness to engage in entrepreneurship, hindering inclusivity. Evaluating the long-term impact remains challenging, requiring robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The article concludes with recommendations to enhance the impact of entrepreneurship education, including increasing funding, challenging stereotypes, fostering collaboration, and developing evaluation mechanisms to support South Africa's youth in realizing their entrepreneurial potential.
Distribution and Management of the Invasive Swietenia macrophylla King (Meliaceae) at the Foot of a Protected Area in Luzon Island, Philippines
Authors: Coracero Ericson Esquibel
Published: August 2023

Invasive alien plant species (IAPS) pose one of the most significant threats to native biodiversity. Swietenia macrophylla, or big leaf mahogany, is among the most threatening invasive plants in the Philippines. This article aimed to formally document the presence of S. macrophylla along the edges of Mt. Banahaw de Nagcarlan, a protected area on Luzon Island, Philippines. The study also sought to identify the management strategies being implemented by various government institutions for addressing big leaf mahogany and other invasive plants. A total of 1591 individuals of S. macrophylla were documented in mixed land-use areas and roadsides. These were found to have been introduced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 1991 as a reforestation species. Fortunately, no individuals were observed beyond the buffer zone towards the protected area. The identification of management strategies for big leaf mahogany and other IAPS revealed that there is no established approach specifically addressing the presence of S. macrophylla at the site. However, some institutions advocate for the conservation of native plants through tree planting activities and educational campaigns. Furthermore, no collaborative efforts were observed among stakeholders and institutions. The results of this study highlight the urgent need for managing the S. macrophylla population. Planning and enforcement of strategies require collaborative efforts among stakeholders to prevent its entry into the protected area and ensure the preservation of native biodiversity.
ExhibitXplorer: Enabling Personalized Content Delivery in Museums using Contextual Geofencing and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Ivanov Rosen
Published: August 2023

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for personalized experiences in various domains, including the cultural and educational sectors. Museums, as custodians of art, history, and scientific knowledge, are seeking innovative ways to engage their visitors and provide tailored content that enhances their understanding and appreciation of the exhibits. This article presents ExhibitXplorer, a distributed architecture service that leverages geofencing, artificial intelligence, and microservices to enable personalized content delivery in museums. By combining implicit and explicit segmentation of museum visitors and utilizing the GPT API for content generation, ExhibitXplorer offers a dynamic experience to different visitor segments, including researchers, students, casual visitors, and children. The system utilizes push notifications triggered by visitor location changes, allowing seamless delivery of personalized information both indoors and outdoors. Tests were conducted to evaluate the user experience of visitors to an outdoor ethnographic museum. The results showed that 55% of the test participants were satisfied and 45% very satisfied with the way personalized content was delivered.
Evaluation of the Selenium, Iodine, and Supplementary Blue Light Influence on the Biochemical Compounds and Nutrients Content of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-gracum L.) Medicinal Plant
Authors: Ramezani Sadrollah , Yousefshahi Behnaz , Ramezan Dariush , Zargar Meisam , Pakina Elena , Bayat Maryam
Published: August 2023

The development and use of selenium and iodine elements in agriculture aim to enrich agricultural food products for humans. This study was carried out as a three-factor factorial experiment in a completely randomized design (CRD). Three concentrations of sodium selenate fertilizer (0, 2, 4 mg/l), three potassium iodate (0, 2, 4 mg/l), and two supplementary radiation levels (blue light and sunlight) were used. The results showed that the highest and the lowest (3.44 & 3.12 mg/g f.w) leaf protein value was related to blue light and sunlight treatments, respectively. In the blue light treatment, the maximum and the minimum (4.77 & 3.39 mg/g f.w) leaf sugar amount was observed at 4 and 0 mg/l of the iodine, respectively. At 0 mg/l of selenium, the highest and the lowest (8.63 & 5.34 mg/g f.w) leaf vitamin C amount was recorded at the 4 and 0 mg/l of iodine, respectively. In blue light + 0 mg/l of the selenium, the highest and the lowest (2.94 & 2.10 mg/g f.w) leaf flavonoid quantity was seen at 2 and 0 mg/l of the iodine, respectively. In the blue light conditions, (5.20%) leaf nitrogen content was achieved in the selenium 4 mg/l group. In the same conditions, the maximum and the minimum (3.09 & 2.18%) leaf potassium amount was attained at selenium 2 and 4 mg/l, respectively. Under blue light conditions, the highest and the lowest (0.58 & 0.24 mg/kg dry matter) leaf selenium level was observed at 4 and 0 mg/l, respectively. In sunlightradiation levels, the maximum and the minimum (0.36 & 0.25 mg/kg dry matter) leaf selenium level were found at 4 and 0 mg/l of selenium, respectively. In the blue light conditions, the most and the lowest (1.65 & 0.72 mg/kg dry matter) seed selenium content was related to 4 and 0 mg/l of the selenium, respectively. In the blue light conditions, the highest and the lowest (8.49 & 4.25 mg/kg dry matter) leaf iodine level was recorded at 4 and 0 mg/l of iodine, respectively. In the blue light conditions, the maximum and the minimum (30.56 & 20.62 mg/kg dry matter) seed iodine value was related to 4 and 0 mg/l of the iodine, respectively. In the sunlight, the most and the lowest (24.96 & 20.29 mg/kg dry matter) seed iodine amount was achieved at 4 and 0 mg/l of the selenium, respectively.
Pheromone Sensing in Mammals: A Review on the Vomeronasal System
Authors: Torres Mateo V. , Ortiz-Leal Irene , Sanchez-Quinteiro Pablo
Published: August 2023

This review delves into the significance of chemical communication in mammals, with an emphasis on the role of the vomeronasal system in sensing pheromone-mediated interactions. The vomeronasal system shapes a variety of social and sexual behaviors, including reproduction, hierarchy formation, maternal bonding, and species recognition. Intriguingly, this system presents a vast degree of evolutionary variability, more so than variations observed in the olfactory system. This adaptive diversity underscores the challenges in studying the vomeronasal system, emphasizing the need for detailed research into its neuroanatomy and functional morphology. This review traverses an array of topics central to our understanding of chemical communication in mammals. We begin with the foundational role and basic concepts of chemocommunication. This is followed by an in-depth exploration of the olfactory systems. Subsequently, the neuroanatomical underpinnings of the vomeronasal system are juxtaposed against those of the olfactory system. Our focus then shifts to an exhaustive study of the sensory element of the vomeronasal system, the vomeronasal organ, and the integrating center of this information, the accessory olfactory bulb. The discussion extends to secondary projections of both the olfactory and vomeronasal systems in the light of the dual olfactory hypothesis. The review culminates with a detailed look at four specific models of vomeronasal system organization belonging to four evolutionarily distinct mammalian families: rodents, marsupials, herpestids, and bovids. These have been meticulously analyzed by the authors, aiming to spotlight the significant morphofunctional differences stemming from the adaptive changes imprinted on the system.
Groups of Symmetries of the Two Classes of Synthetases in the Four-Dimensional Hypercubes of the Extended Code Type II
Authors: José Marco V. , Morgado Eberto R. , Bobadilla Juan R.
Published: August 2023

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) originated from an ancestral bidirectional gene (mirror symmetry) and through the evolution of the genetic code the twenty aaRSs exhibit a symmetrical distribution in a 6-dimensional hypercube of the Standard Genetic Code. In this work, we assume a primeval RNY code, and the Extended Genetic RNA code type II which includes codons of the type YNY, YNR and RNR. Each of the 4 subsets of codons can be represented in a 4-dimensional hypercube. Altogether these 4 subcodes constitute the 6-dimensional representation of the SGC. We identify the aaRSs' symmetry groups in each of these hypercubes. We show that each of the four hypercubes contains the following sets of symmetries for the two known Classes of synthetases: RNY: dihedral group D2; YNY: binary group Z2; YNR: amplified octahedral group Oh; and RNR: binary group Z2. We demonstrate that for each hypercube, the group of symmetries of Class 1 is the same as the group of symmetries of Class 2. The biological implications of these findings are discussed.
Bioactive Endodontic Hydrogels: From Parameters to Personalized Medicine
Authors: Lévêque Marianne , Bekhouche Mourad , Farges Jean-Christophe , Aussel Audrey , Sy Kadiatou , Richert Raphael , Ducret Maxime
Published: August 2023

Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) aim at recreating dental pulp tissue using biomaterials such as hydrogels. Their bioactivity is mostly linked to the nature of biomolecules or chemical compounds that will compose the endodontic hydrogel. However, many other parameters, such as hydrogel concentration, type, bioactive molecules solubility, of apex size were reported to influence the hydrogel behavior, leading to the inability to predict the clinical outcome. This lack of knowledge and the various parameters that should be considered, suggest that biological activity of endodontic hydrogel is impossible to anticipate and could hinder the bench to bedside transition. We formulated in this article our opinion that most of these parameters could be identified, described, and studied. A second part of the document lists some challenges and perspectives, including development of future mathematical models able to explain and predict the bioactivity of these endodontic hydrogel in clinic.
Contemplation of Improvement Efforts to Manage Combined Sewer Overflows
Authors: Jung Younghan Edwin , Jeong Michael Myung , Smith Trevor
Published: August 2023

Combined sewer overflow (CSO) is a significant environmental concern and public health (e.g., water contamination, eutrophication, and beach closure). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program to regulate and address this matter. This program mandates the control of CSOs for more than 700 municipalities obligated to devise Long-term Control Plans (LTCPs) to curb combined sewer overflows and bring them down to safe levels. LTCP involves diverse strategies, including sewer separation, green infrastructure improvements, and conventional gray infrastructure upgrades. This study investigates several municipalities’ solutions for CSO problems in conventional methods and wireless sensor technology as real-time control. The investigation mainly focuses on a comparative analysis of two cities, Richmond, Virginia, and South Bend, Indiana, such as average rainfall, the frequency of overflows, and the capacity of treatment plants. The findings indicate that integrating sensor technology could significantly enhance modeling endeavors, bolster the capacity of existing structures, and substantially enhance preparedness for storm events. The EPA’s Storm Water Management Modeling (SWMM) software is utilized. Through an analysis of SWMM data, the study suggests the potential for leveraging wireless sensor technology to achieve more robust control over CSOs as a part of LTCPs.
Piezo1 Activation Prevents Malignant Melanoma Spheroid Formation
Authors: Vasileva Valeria , Khairullina Zuleikha , Chubinskiy-Nadezhdin Vladislav
Published: August 2023

Melanoma is a highly aggressive type of skin cancer produced by malignant transformation of melanocytes and it is usually associated with a poor prognosis. Clinically, melanoma has several stages associated with migration and invasion of the cells through the skin layers, rapid cell spreading and formation of tumors in multiple organs. The main problem is the emergence of resistance of melanoma to the applied methods of treatment, thus it is of primary importance to find more crucial signaling pathways that control the progression of this type of cancer and could be targeted to prevent melanoma spreading. The main life-threatening stage of melanoma is metastasis formation, and 3D cell spheroids are better suited for the study of this process. Using a combinative approach (RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, patch-clamp and calcium imaging) we showed the functional expression of mechanosensitive Piezo1 channels in SK-MEL-2 aggressive melanoma cell line. We found that chemical activation of Piezo1 by its selective agonist Yoda1 completely prevents melanoma spheroid formation, and could be considered as a novel approach for the prevention of melanoma development.
Using LLM Models and Explainable ML to Analyse Biomarkers at Single Cell Level for Improved Understanding of Diseases
Authors: Elsborg Jonas , Salvatore Marco
Published: August 2023

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has significantly advanced our understanding of

the diversity of cells and how this diversity is implicated in diseases. Yet, translating these findings across

various scRNA-seq datasets poses challenges due to technical variability and dataset-specific biases. To

overcome this, we present a novel approach that employs both an LLM-based framework and explainable

machine learning to facilitate generalization across single-cell datasets and identify gene signatures to

capture disease-driven transcriptional changes.

Our approach uses scBERT, which harnesses shared transcriptomic features among cell types to establish consistent cell-type annotations across multiple scRNA-seq datasets. Additionally, we employ a

symbolic regression algorithm to pinpoint highly relevant yet minimally redundant models and features

for inferring a cell type’s disease state based on its transcriptomic profile. We ascertain the versatility

of these cell-specific gene signatures across datasets, showcasing their resilience as molecular markers to pinpoint and characterize disease-associated cell types.

Validation is carried out using four publicly available scRNA-seq datasets from both healthy individuals

and those suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC). This demonstrates our approach’s efficacy in

bridging disparities specific to different datasets, fostering comparative analyses. Notably, the simplicity

and symbolic nature of the retrieved gene signatures facilitate their interpretability, allowing us to

elucidate underlying molecular disease mechanisms using these models.
Analysis of P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2 Ratio and Other Perfusion Markers in a Population of 98 Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Taiana Matteo , Tomasella Irene , Russo Alessandro , Lerose Annalisa , Graziadei Marcello ceola , Corubolo Luisa , Rama Jacopo , Schweiger Vittorio , Vignola A , Polati Enrico , Luciani Giovanni Battista , Onorati Francesco , Donadello Katia , Gottin Leonardo
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUNDː The so-called Low Cardiac Output Syndrome (LCOS) is one of the most common complications in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease undergoing corrective surgery. LCOS requires high concentrations of inotropes to support cardiac contractility and improve cardiac output, allowing for a better systemic perfusion. To date, serum lactate concentrations and central venous oxygen saturation (ScVO2) are the most commonly used perfusion markers, but they are not completely reliable to identify a state of global tissue hypoxia. The study aims to evaluate whether the venoarterial carbon dioxide difference/arterial-venous oxygen difference ratio [P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2] can be a good index to predict the development of LCOS in the aforemen-tioned patients, so as to treat it promptly. METHODSː This study followed a population of 98 children undergoing corrective cardiac surgery from June 2018 to October 2020 at the Department of Cardiac Surgery of University Hospital Inte-grated Trust and their subsequent admission at the Postoperative Cardiothoracic Surgery Intensive Care Unit. During the study, central arterial and venous blood gas analysis were carried out before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (pre-CPB and post-CPB), at admission to intensive care unit, before and after extubation and at any time of instability or modification of the patient’s clinical and therapeutic conditions. RESULTSː The data analysis shows that 46.9% of the children developed a LCOS (in line with the current literature) but that there is no statistically significant association between the P(v-a)CO2/C(a-v)O2 ratio and LCOS onset. Despite the limits of statistical significance, however, a 31% increase in the ratio emerged from the pre-CPB phase to the post-CPB phase when LCOS is present. CONCLUSIONSː This study confirms a statistically significant association between the most used markers in adult patients (serum lactate concentration, ScVO2 and oxygen extraction ratio-ERO2) measured in the pre-CPB phase and the incidence of LCOS onset, especially in patients with he-modynamic instability before surgery.
Solid-State Lithium Batteries with Cathode-Supported Composite Solid Electrolytes Enabling High Rate Capability and Excellent Cyclic Performance
Authors: Chang Kang-Feng , Hsieh Chien-Te , Panda Pradeep Kumar , Yang Po-Chih , Kataria Navish , Khoo Kuan Shiong
Published: August 2023

In this study, robust composite solid electrolytes were developed and employed them to enhance the performance of Li-metal batteries significantly. The robust composite solid electrolytes are composed of a soft polymer, poly(ethylene oxide), a Li salt, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and super ionic conductive ceramic fillers such as Li1.5Al0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3 (LATP), and Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO). The main goal of this study is to enhance the electrochemical stability and ionic conductivity. The ionic conductivities of the composite solid electrolytes were found to be 2.08 × 10-4 and 1.64 × 10-4 S cm-1 with the introduction of LATP and LLZTO fillers, respectively. The results prove that the fabricated solid electrolyte was electrochemical stable at voltage exceeding 4.25 V vs. Li/Li+. The internal resistance of the solid electrolyte significantly reduced as compare to gel electrolyte. This reduction can be attributed owing to the alleviation of bulk electrolyte, charge-transfer, and interfacial electrolyte/electrode impedance. When LiFePO4 cathode sheets are coated with a composite solid electrolyte containing LATP powders, the resulting Li-metal battery displays high capacity at 5 C (with a capacity retention of 65.2% compared to the original capacity at 0.2 C) as well as superior cyclic stability and excellent Coulombic efficiency (> 99.5%, over 200 cycles). These results confirm that the composite solid electrolyte acts as a protective layer which have ability to prevent the growth of Li dendrites. Consequently, the fabricated electrolyte configuration can be engineered to enable high energy/power density and electrochemical stable cyclability in Li-metal batteries.
Ship Roll Prediction and Parameter Identification under Unknown Ocean Disturbances
Authors: Lee Sang-Do , Kim Hwan-Seong , Long Le Ngoc Bao , Phuc Bui Duc Hong , You Sam-Sang
Published: August 2023

This paper investigates the roll parameter estimation of periodic disturbances where the amplitude, frequency, offset, and phase are hardly recognized in real practice. The key problem is to make an estimation that could eliminate the unknown disturbance parameters. An adaptive mechanism applies these four parameters to the globally exponential convergence using linear second-order filters and parameter estimation errors. Then, a backstepping controller is employed to make an exponential convergence to zero of the state variables. Moreover, reservoir computing is used to forecast chaotic roll motions to support predictability using Lyapunov exponents and the Poincaré map. Numerical simulations are demonstrated to validate the dynamical behaviors and efficacy of the proposed control scheme with machine learning.
Diminished Self Reference Effect in Memory for Individuals with Dementia
Authors: Briscoe Francesca , Kumar Sanjay
Published: August 2023

Dementia is a public health priority, in which memory impairments are prevalent and affects an individual’s daily activities. Research has tried to find ways to support memory problems of individuals with dementia. Self reference effect (SRE) has been shown to benefit memory in healthy, non-dementia group. The study aimed to investigate if SRE will improve memory performance of individuals with dementia. We used ecologically valid Ownership Procedure and the Remember/Know Paradigm to examine the Self-Reference Effect (SRE) on memory. It was hypothesised that participants living with dementia will perform differently in the recall of items that were self-referentially encoded compared to items other-referentially encoded and that the memory will be different in control participants than in those that live with dementia. The research found that self-referential processes did not have effect on memory in individuals with dementia. We suggest that impaired self-awareness may have contributed to the lack of this effect. However, we had a small sample size and these findings should be treated with caution.
University-Business Collaboration for the Design, Development and Delivery of Critical Thinking Blended Apprenticeships Curricula: Lessons Learned from a Three-Year Project
Authors: Rebelo Hugo , Christodoulou Panagiota , Payan-Carreira Rita , Dumitru Daniela , Mäkiö Elena , Mäkiö Juho , Pnevmatikos Dimitrios
Published: August 2023

University-Business partnership for collaborative curriculum design, development and delivery is possibly the less explored dimension of University Business Collaboration (UBC). Even if some models for curricular design and development might be available, scarce information exists on how the partnership is constructed, the new curricula are designed, developed and how they are implemented. This article intends to present and discuss the experience obtained during a three-year European funded Project, namely Think4Jobs. This project exemplifies the significance and benefits of UBC in the design, development and delivery of curricula that meet the evolving demands of the labour market while promoting Critical Thinking (CT) as a foundational 21st century skill to contribute to graduates' employability. Think4Jobs project brought together a multidisciplinary team of researchers and business organisations from five European countries (Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Portugal and Romania) with interests in promoting and developing CT and mitigating eventual competence gaps. The project's success was attributed to key practices, including defining a common conceptualization of CT, employing participatory co-design, and providing common training for university and business partners. Clear objectives, explicit roles, effective communication, and ongoing evaluation further enhanced the collaboration. Experiential learning, real-work problems, and case studies reinforced the curricula, bridging the gap between academia and the labour market. By embracing these insights, future UBC initiatives can empower graduates with the necessary skills to stand out in an ever-changing labour market, contributing to enhanced education and successful careers.
Cranial Neural Crest Specific Deletion of TNAP Causes Abnormal Chondrocyte Maturation and Deficient Cranial Base Growth
Authors: Ohkura Naoto , Nam Hwa Kyung , Liu Fei , Hatch Nan
Published: August 2023

Bone growth plate abnormalities and skull shape defects are seen in hypophosphatasia, a heritable disorder in humans that occurs due to deficiency of Tissue Nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase (TNAP, Alpl) enzyme activity. Abnormal development of the cranial base growth plates (synchondroses) and abnormal skull shapes have also been demonstrated in global TNAP-/- mice. To distinguish local vs. systemic effects of TNAP on skull development, we utilized P0-Cre to knockout TNAP only in cranial neural crest derived tissues using TNAP flox mice. Here we show that TNAP deficiency in cranial neural crest leads to leads to skull shape defects and deficient growth of the intersphenoid synchondrosis (ISS). ISS chondrocyte abnormalities included increased proliferation in resting and proliferative zones with decreased apoptosis in hypertrophic zones. ColX expression is increased, indicative of premature differentiation in the absence of TNAP. Sox9 expression is increased in both resting and prehypertrophic zones of mutant mice. Expression of PTHrP and IHH were also increased. Finally, cranial base organ culture revealed that inorganic phosphate (Pi) and pyrophosphate (PPi) have specific effects on cell signaling and phenotype changes in the ISS. Together, these results demonstrate that TNAP expression in growth plate chondrocytes is essential for normal development, and that the mechanism likely involves Sox9, PTHrP, IHH and PPi.
System Dynamics Model of Decentralized Household Electricity Storage Implementation. Case Study of Latvia
Authors: Gravelsins Armands , Atvare Erlanda , Kudurs Edgars , Kubule Anna , Blumberga Dagnija
Published: August 2023

Increasing of renewable energy share in total energy production is a direction that leads towards European Union’s aims of carbon neutrality by 2050, as well as increases energy self-sufficiency and independence. Some of the main challenges to increase renewable energy share while providing efficient and secure energy supply are related to optimization and profitability of de-centralized energy production systems. Integration of energy storage systems in addition to decentralized renewable energy production, for example, by solar panels, leads to more effective electricity supply and smart energy solutions. The modelling of such complex dynamic system can be performed using system dynamics method. The aim of the article is to forecast the practice of electricity storage in Latvia in the coming decades. A system dynamics model predicting the implementation of battery storage in private households was created for the case study of Latvia. Modelling results reveal that under the right conditions for electricity price, investment costs and with the right policy interventions battery storage technologies combined with PV panels have high potential for utilization in household sector. Model results show that in baseline scenario with no additional policies up 21 422 households or 10.8 % of Latvian households could have combined PV and battery system installed in 2050. Moderate subsidy policy can help to increase this number up to 25 118.
The Improved Microwave Absorption Performance of the 3D Porous (Ni@NO-C)n/No-C Composite Absorber
Authors: Jia Xinmeng , Li Zhigang , Ruan Chao , Lian Yongfu
Published: August 2023

Microwave absorbers with lightweight, good stability and high eﬃciency have attracted much attention for their applications in many contemporary fields. In this work, the 3D porous (Ni@NO-C)n/NO-C composite absorber was prepared by a wet chemistry method with Ni chains and melamine as precursors, in which NO-C (N,O-doped carbon) encapsulated Ni particles are homogenously dispersed in the 3D porous networks of NO-C in the form of (Ni@NO-C)n chains. The special microstructure of the as-prepared material is proved to be benefit for the improvement of its microwave adsorption performance. The as-synthesized (Ni@NO-C)n/NO-C composite ab-sorber exhibited an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.1 GHz and an extremely large reflection loss of -72.3 dB. The excellent microwave absorbing performances can be ascribed to the coopera-tive consequence of dielectric loss and magnetic loss along with the balance between attenuation capability and impedance match.
Evolving Role of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer: Where Do We Stand?
Authors: Mohamad Issa , Karam Irene , Elsehemy Ahmed , Gheida Ibrahim Abu , Al-Ibraheem Akram , AL-Assaf Hossam , Aldehaim Mohammed , Alghamdi Majed , Alotain Ibrahim , Ashour May , Bushehri Ahmad , Elhaddad Mostafa , Hosni Ali
Published: August 2023

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a precise and conformal radiation therapy (RT) that aims to deliver a high dose of radiation to the tumor with sparing surrounding normal tissue, making it an attractive option for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients who are not suitable for traditional long course of RT with comprehensive RT target volume. Definitive SBRT for HNC has been investigated in different settings, including early stage glottis cancer, and as alternative to brachytherapy boost after external beam RT. It also used as a primary treatment option for elderly or medically unfit patients. More recently, SBRT combination with immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting for HNC showed promising results. Salvage or adjuvant SBRT for HNC can be used in appropriately selected cases. Future studies are warranted to determine the optimum dose and fractionation schedules in any of these indications.