bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving the elements of cultivating technology for Sarepta mustard (Brassica juncea L.) on leached blackearth of Western Ciscaucasia
Authors: Zanozina O. D.
Published: March 2024

Increasing interest among agricultural producers in Sarepta spring mustard as a promising, multi-purpose crop requires improving the elements of its cultivation technology to obtain consistently high yields. The current study was carried out in 2021–2022 on the experimental fields of the central experimental base of the FSBSI “FRC “All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Oil Crops by the name of Pustovoit V. S.”. The purpose of the research was to study and scientifically substantiate individual elements of the technology (sowing time, seed sowing rate and level of mineral nutrition) for Sarepta mustard’s cultivation on seed productivity of the crop grown on leached blackearth (chernozem) of Western Ciscaucasia. There has been established that the highest yield (1.42 t/ha) and oil yield (0.60 t/ha) of the crop is obtained at an early sowing time (the first term (early) is in the 2nd decade of April) with a minimum seed sowing rate (1.3 million units/ha). Sarepta spring mustard’s single feeding of with ammonium nitrate at a dose of N60 in the seedling phase has helped to obtain maximum yield of 2.08 t/ha and 0.87 t/ha of oil. But the largest oil content in seeds (47.1 %) was identified in the variant with the application of nitrogen fertilizer at a dose of N30 fractionally in equal parts, i.e. in the stages of germination (N15) and booting (N15). Foliar treatment of Sarepta spring mustard with helium mixtures (Micro gel at a dose of 1 l/ha and Brassica gel at a dose of 2 l/ha) in the booting stage allowed obtaining the highest yield of 1.85 t/ha, with 47.9 % of oil in seeds and 0.80 t/ha of oil yield.
The effect of sowing dates and sowing rates of wintering pea varieties on protein percentage and yield of nutrients
Authors: Metlina G. V. , Vasilchenko S. A. , Ashiev A. R. , Kravchenko N. S.
Published: March 2024

There have been presented the study results on determining the quality of grain of wintering peas varieties ‘Fokus’ and ‘Zimus’ depending on agricultural methods. The purpose of the current study was to determine protein percentage and yield of basic nutrients in grain of wintering peas, depending on sowing dates and rates. The current study was carried out at the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2019–2021. The soil of the experimental plot was represented by ordinary carbonate heavy loamy chernozem. The forecrop was winter wheat. Weather conditions during the years of study were characterized by increased air temperatures in autumn and the return of cold weather in spring, which led to significant damage and thinning of crops. The amount of productive precipitation during the period of grain filling had a positive effect on productivity formation. There has been found that the greatest collection of basic nutrients was obtained in the second ten days of October with a sowing rate of 1.2 and 1.4 million pcs/ha for the varieties ‘Fokus’ and ‘Zimus’, respectively. For the variety ‘Fokus’, the highest crude protein percentage was 25.42 %, with 2.58 t/ha of feed units, 0.557 t/ha of crude protein, 25.31 GJ/ha of metabolic energy, with 189 g of a supply of a feed unit with digestible protein. For the variety ‘Zimus’, the highest crude protein percentage was 25.46 %, with 2.57 t/ha of feed units, 0.555 t/ha of crude protein, 24.62 GJ/ha of metabolic energy, with 190 g of a supply of a feed unit with digestible protein. The studied varieties according to digestible protein percentage were at the level of 205–219 g per a kg of grain.
Ausencia de gelatina de Wharton
Authors: Romero Rojas Nery
Published: March 2024

La ausencia de la gelatina de Wharton es una entidad rara que consiste en quelos vasos del cordón umbilical se separan del cordón parcial o totalmente. Estárelacionada con importante morbimortalidad fetal. Desde su primera comunicaciónen 1961 a la fecha solo se han documentado 12 casos. Presentamos dos casos deesta entidad. El primero ocurrió en una primigesta de 21 años en cuyo estudiode ultrasonido se halló circular de cordón y oligohidramnios. Nació un neonatomasculino de 2,620 g que falleció a las pocas horas. El segundo caso fue en unamultigesta de 31 años con antecedente de positividad a VIH y aborto. Ella presentóun óbito fetal, masculino, de 375 g, con agenesia renal izquierda y hemorragiaabdominal y cerebral. En estos casos se halló segmento de arteria umbilical de 9 cmy 7,8 cm, respectivamente, separado del cordón umbilical.
МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ МОРОЗОСТІЙКОСТІ КОМПОЗИЦІЇ ЛЕГКОГО КАРБОНАТНО ШЛАКОВОГО БЕТОНУ
Authors: Боровіков С.М. , Назаренко О.М. , Березовська А.О., , Залевський В.І., , Ліфаненков О.О., , Гарбар В.Я.,
Published: March 2024

В минулому столітті були відкриті гідравлічно в'яжучі властивості у з'єднаннях лужних металів, літію, натрію, калію, рубідії , цезію , на основі яких розроблені інші лужні та лужно земельні в'яжучі. Окремим випадком таких в'яжучих з'явилися шлакоземельні цементи . Використання бетонів на шлаколужних цементах дозволяє підвищити марку цементів, а також розширити діапазон заповнювачів, знизити витрату палива, енергії, транспортних коштів. Розробляються нові технології виробництва  силікатних конструкцій, на базі нових гідравлічно в'яжучих та бетонних сумішей контактного твердіння. В їх основу покладено виробництво товарів, що дозволяють надавати їм міцність і водостійкість у момент пресування. Це явище отримало назву ефекту упорядкування  структури силікатних систем. Спосіб дозволив не тільки принципово змінити технологію синтезу бетонного каменю, виключити опалубку з виробництва конструкції, але й гранично скоротити час отримання ними водостійкості, максимально механізувати та автоматизувати виробництво. Технологія отримання бетонів контактного твердіння відкриває необмежені можливості для вдосконалення виробництва будівельних конструкцій, а також для розширення сировиних баз будівництва за рахунок використання місцевих дисперсних грунтів, силікатних та лужних відходів промисловості. Композиційне в'яжуче на основі мелених шлаків та карбонатних порід, здатне утворювати міцні структури їх активацією, дозволяє здешевити виробництво будівельних матеріалів, стінових блоків, цегли, облицювальних плиток. Рішення технологічної схеми деяких енергоємних та екологічно забруднених процесів, розширення місцевої дешевої сировинної бази призводить до економії сировини, паливних ресурсів, електроенергії та збереження чистоти навколишнього середовища. Технології не вимагають значної реконструкції підприємств цегляного виробництва та можуть бути  впроваджені у широкому масштабі.
АНАЛІЗ ПАРЕТО ЧИННИКІВ, ЯКІ ВЛИВАЮТЬ НА ВЛАСТИВОСТІ ЛУЖНИХ ШЛАКОПОРТЛАНДЦЕМЕНТНИХ МАТРИЦЬ, НАПОВНЕНИХ НИЗЬКОАКТИВНИМИ ФЕРОЦИАНІД ВМІСТКИМИ РАДІОАКТИВНИМИ ВІДХОДАМИ
Authors: Гузій С.Г., , Забулонов Ю.Л., , Злобенко Б.П., , Лащівський В.В.,
Published: March 2024

В результаті математичного моделювання та аналізу Парето чинників на властивості компаундів встановлено, що бажаний результат по міцності досягається завдяки вкладенню 20% зусиль від прояву сумісної дії добутків факторів Х1Х2Х3 і фактору Х2, що дає змогу отримати 80% результат по нормативній міцності (13,2 МПа) компаунду на 28 добу тверднення. Такий результат досягається в компаунді, що містить в своєму складі 5 мас.% магнетиту (фактор Х1), 7,5 мас.% цеоліту (фактор Х2) та 10 мас.% радіоактивних відходів (фактор Х3). Добавка цеоліту (фактор Х2) в компаунді сприяє додатковому синтезу в лужно активованій шлакопортландцементній матриці натрієво-кальцієвих цеолітоподібних новоутворень, гідросодаліту та гідронефеліну, котрі є потенційними концентраторами елементів радіоактивних відходів і, незважаючи на прояв радіолізу, сприяють підвищенню міцності до нормативних вимог.
ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ФІЗИКО-МЕХАНІЧНИХ ВЛАСТИВОСТЕЙ ДРІБНОЗЕРНИСТОГО АСФАЛЬТОБЕТОНУ З РІЗНИМИ ВИДАМИ ДОБАВОК
Authors: Кузло М.Т , Гуйван Є.Ф.,
Published: March 2024

У статті наведені результати дослідження впливу добавок на фізико-механічні властивості асфальтобетону, гарячого, щільного, дрібнозернистого, типу А та його стійкості до колієутворення в лабораторних умовах.
СУМІШІ ДЛЯ 3D ДРУКУ З ВИКОРИСТАННЯМ МЕЛЕНОГО БЕТОННОГО ТА ЦЕГЛЯНОГО БОЮ
Authors: Марчук В.В., , Дворкін Л.Й., , Ніхаєва Л.І.,
Published: March 2024

У статті досліджено можливість отримання дрібнозернистих бетонних сумішей на основі меленого бетонного та цегляного бою придатних для 3D принтеру. Встановлено вплив складу на властивості дрібнозернистих бетонів з використанням меленого бетонного та цегляного бою в присутності добавки акриватора твердіння - гідроксиду натрію. Введення добавки NaOH сприяє підвищенню ранньої та марочної міцності. За допомогою математичного планування експериментів отримано комплекс поліноміальних моделей властивостей бетонних сумішей та бетонів.
РЕКОМЕНДАЦІЇ ЩОДО ПРОЄКТУВАННЯ ЗГИНАЛЬНИХ ЕЛЕМЕНТІВ З ЦІЛЬНОЇ ТА КЛЕЄНОЇ ДЕРЕВИНИ З ПАСИВНИМ ТА ПОПЕРЕДНЬО НАПРУЖЕНИМ КОМБІНОВАНИМ АРМУВАННЯМ
Authors: Бабич Є. М., , Гомон П. С.,
Published: March 2024

Запропоновано рекомендації на основі проведених теоретичних та практичних досліджень, щодо конструювання згинальних елементів з цільної та клеєної деревини з пасивним та попередньо-напруженим комбінованим армуванням. Наведена поетапна послідовність виконання проєктування згинальних дерев’яних елементів з перевіркою за першою та другою групою граничних станів. Описана послідовність перевірки несучої здатності згинального елементу. Встановлено, необхідність у визначенні напружено-деформованого стану елемента з побудовою графіків залежності кривини від дії моменту.
КОЕФІЦІЄНТ УМОВ РОБОТИ – ВАЖЛИВИЙ ФАКТОР МЕТОДУ ГРАНИЧНИХ СТАНІВ
Authors: Пічугін С.Ф.,
Published: March 2024

У статті проведено аналіз еволюції коефіцієнта умов роботи в нормах проєктування сталевих конструкцій. Акцентовано увагу на конструктивній поправці – експериментальній основі цього коефіцієнта. Показано перспективність імовірнісних методів для обґрунтування коефіцієнтів умов роботи конструкцій різного призначення.
ОПТИМІЗАЦІЙНІ РОЗРАХУНКИ СИСТЕМ ВОДОПОСТАЧАННЯ - ПЕРШИЙ КРОК ДЛЯ ЗБЕРЕЖЕННЯ ЕНЕРГОРЕСУРСІВ.
Authors: Шадура, В.О.
Published: March 2024

Розроблення та запровадження схеми оптимізації сприятиме покращенню якос­ті очищеної води, підвищенню ефективності технологічних процесів та надійності роботи систем водопостачання, забезпеченню раціонального використання матеріальних і енер­ге­тичних ресурсів, зменшення спо­жи­вання енергії і експлуатаційних витрат  у водопровідно-каналізаційному господарстві.
ВИБІР ОПТИМАЛЬНОГО ВАРІАНТУ ПІДЛОГ ДЛЯ ЖИТЛОВОЇ БУДІВЛІ З КОМЕРЦІЙНИМИ ПРИМІЩЕННЯМИ
Authors: Бабіч Є. Є., , Гомон П. С., , Поляновська О. Є., , Шевчук М. Т.,
Published: March 2024

Проведений вибір оптимального варіанту підлог для житлової будівлі з комерційними приміщеннями.

Розглянуті варіанти влаштування підлоги для офісів, а саме: підлога з звичайної керамічної плитки; підлога з використанням паркету; ламінат; бетонне покриття. Розглянуті всі необхідні роботи, щоб облаштувати підлогу по чорновій стяжці. Приведений аналіз матеріалів, які будемо використовувати, в тому чи іншому варіанті підлог, для виконання порівняння вартості влаштування підлоги.

Зроблений розрахунок вартості матеріалів на 1 м2 підлоги та розрахунок капітальних вкладень в базу для виконання будівельних робіт.

Визначені річні експлуатаційні витрати на ремонт і відновлення підлог. Проведений розрахунок приведених витрат та зроблений висновок та обґрунтування вибору варіантів для подальшого пректування.
Finding possible diagnostic markers for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid tumors on example investigate of rheological properties
Authors: Javakhishvili I. , Sanikidze T. , Mardaleishvili K. , Momtselidze N. , Urdulashvili T. , Mantskava M. , Prantl L. , Jung F.
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

The functioning of the thyroid gland is a multi-component process that in some conditions may undergo alterations. The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system that produces the iodine-containing hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Thyroid hormones, control metabolism and energy, growth processes, maturation of tissues and organs, regulation of blood flow, and, therefore, providing vital functions of the body. The role of thyroid hormones in the regulation of blood flow is determined by the intensity of their production and the quantity in the blood. Presumably, in case of oncological and non-oncological diseases of the thyroid gland, the fluidity of the blood, which depends on the rheological properties, will be different.

OBJECTIVE:

Our aim was investigating rheological characteristics for studying of changes of rheology in patients with thyrotoxicosis, with benign tumor pathology of the thyroid gland, with thyroid cancer and finding possible diagnostic markers for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid tumors

METHODS:

In this regard, we examined, using modern methods accepted in clinical practice, a standard list of recommended diagnostic tests in the group of patients (thyrotoxicosis: n = 25; benign tumor: n = 47), thyroid cancer: n = 35) and control group ( n = 15), and with new original methods, parameters that describe the rheological properties of the blood, such as blood rheological index, volume, thickness, surface area of erythrocytes, erythrocyte aggregation index, deformation index, plasma viscosity, hematocrits.

RESULTS:

Against the background of relative changes in the studied values, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that erythrocyte aggregation in patients with a benign form and control, as well as in patients with a malignant form and control, differ significantly from each other, in addition, there is a significant difference between aggregation in the group of patients with benign and control aggregation. malignant forms of the disease. It is significant that aggregability differs in patients with thyrotoxicosis and in controls. This indicates that erythrocyte aggregation is particularly informative. The blood rheological index most clearly demonstrated the difference between benign and malignant forms of the disease. Significantly changed compared to control in various forms of thyroid diseases.

CONCLUSION:

Additional diagnostic markers for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid tumors may be consideredeerythrocyte aggregation index and blood rheological index.
Genetic Insights into the Association and Causality Between Blood Metabolites and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Zhai Modi , Zhang Yu , Yan Dongxue , Wang Yuzhen , Li Wenzhong , Sun Jie
Published: March 2024

Background:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an increasing public health concern with the aging of the global population. Understanding the genetic correlation and potential causal relationships between blood metabolites and AD may provide important insights into the metabolic dysregulation underlying this neurodegenerative disorder.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the causal relationship between blood metabolites and AD using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Methods:

Association data were obtained from three large-scale genome-wide association studies of 486 blood metabolites ( N = 7,824), AD (71,880 cases and 383,378 controls), early-onset AD ( N = 303,760), and late-onset AD ( N = 307,112). Causal associations between blood metabolites and AD were assessed using inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median methods. Bidirectional two-sample MR analysis was used to identify causal blood metabolites. MR-PRESSO, MR-Egger, and Cochran-Q were used to quantify instrumental variable heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.

Results:

Using MR and sensitivity analysis, we identified 40 blood metabolites with potential causal associations with AD. After applying false discovery rate (FDR) correction, two metabolites, gamma-glutamylphenylalanine (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06–1.24, p = 3.88×10–4, q = 0.09) and X-11317 (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08–1.26, p = 1.14×10–4, q = 0.05), retained significant associations with AD. Reverse MR analysis indicated no significant causal effect of AD on blood metabolites. No significant instrumental variable heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was found.

Conclusions:

This two-sample MR study provides compelling evidence for a potential causal relationship between blood metabolic dysregulation and susceptibility to AD. Further investigation of the biological relevance of the identified metabolites to AD and additional supporting evidence is warranted.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy Impacts Microglial Inflammatory Response without Modulating Amyloid Load in Female TgF344-AD Rats
Authors: Ceyzériat Kelly , Jaques Emma , Gloria Yesica , Badina Aurélien , Millet Philippe , Koutsouvelis Nikolaos , Dipasquale Giovanna , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Zilli Thomas , Garibotto Valentina , Tournier Benjamin B.
Published: March 2024

Background:

Low-dose radiation therapy (LD-RT) has demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies interesting properties in the perspective of targeting Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, studies were highly heterogenous with respect to total doses, fractionation protocols, sex, age at the time of treatment and delay post treatment. Recently, we demonstrated that LD-RT reduced amyloid peptides and inflammatory markers in 9-month-old TgF344-AD (TgAD) males.

Objective:

As multiple studies demonstrated a sex effect in AD, we wanted to validate that LD-RT benefits are also observed in TgAD females analyzed at the same age.

Methods:

Females were bilaterally treated with 2 Gy×5 daily fractions, 2 Gy×5 weekly fractions, or 10 fractions of 1 Gy delivered twice a week. The effect of each treatment on amyloid load and inflammation was evaluated using immunohistology and biochemistry.

Results:

A daily treatment did not affect amyloid and reduced only microglial-mediated inflammation markers, the opposite of the results obtained in our previous male study. Moreover, altered fractionations (2 Gy×5 weekly fractions or 10 fractions of 1 Gy delivered twice a week) did not influence the amyloid load or neuroinflammatory response in females.

Conclusions:

A daily treatment consequently appears to be the most efficient for AD. This study also shows that the anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory response to LD-RT are, at least partly, two distinct mechanisms. It also emphasizes the necessity to assess the sex impact when evaluating responses in ongoing pilot clinical trials testing LD-RT against AD.
MAO-DBN based membrane fouling prediction
Authors: Wang Zhiwen , Zhao Yibin , Shi Yaoke , Ling Guobi
Published: March 2024

Due to the complexity of the factors influencing membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBR), it is difficult to accurately predict membrane fouling. This paper proposes a multi-strategy of integration aquila optimizer deep belief network (MAO-DBN) based membrane fouling prediction method. The method is developed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of membrane fouling prediction. Firstly, partial least squares (PLS) are used to reduce the dimensionality of many membrane fouling factors to improve the algorithm’s generalization ability. Secondly, considering the drawbacks of deep belief network (DBN) such as long training time and easy overfitting, piecewise mapping is introduced in aquila optimizer (AO) to improve the uniformity of population distribution, while adaptive weighting is used to improve the convergence speed and prevent falling into local optimum. Finally, the prediction of membrane fouling is carried out by utilizing membrane fouling data as the research object. The experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper can achieve accurate prediction of membrane fluxes, with an 88.45% reduction in RMSE and 87.53% reduction in MAE compared with the DBN model before improvement. The experimental results show that the model proposed in this paper achieves a prediction accuracy of 98.61%, both higher than other comparative models, which can provide a theoretical basis for membrane fouling prediction in the practical operation of membrane water treatment.
Derivation of the Local Lorentz Gauge Transformation of a Dirac Spinor Field in Quantum Einstein-Cartan Theory
Authors: Kühne Rainer
Published: March 2024

I examine the groups which underly classical mechanics, non-relativistic quantum mechanics, special relativity, relativistic quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics, quantum flavourdynamics, quantum chromodynamics, and general relativity. This examination includes the rotations \(SO(2)\) and \(SO(3)\), the Pauli algebra, the Lorentz transformations, the Dirac algebra, and the \(U(1)\), \(SU(2)\), and \(SU(3)\) gauge transformations. I argue that general relativity must be generalized to Einstein-Cartan theory, so that Dirac spinors can be described within the framework of gravitation theory.
Dynamics of changes in the temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity of distilled water in conductometric cells during heating and cooling
Authors: Ageev I. M. , Rybin Yu. M.
Published: March 2024

The problem of taking into account the influence of air on the properties of distilled water is considered, namely the lack of a single generally accepted method for calculating such an influence. The sensitivity of the structure of water to the influence of external factors is described and the possibility of recording and studying such factors by changes in the temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity of water is shown. The dependences of the temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity of distilled water on the rate of change in water temperature, the degree of filling of conductometric cells, as well as on the intensity of the exchange of carbon dioxide between water and air across their interface have been studied. It is noted that these metabolic processes are currently insufficiently studied. A hardware-software measuring complex has been developed and manufactured to study the temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity of water when its temperature changes within the range of 20–55 °C. The temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity of water in sealed conductometric cells was measured at different degrees of filling the cells with distilled water and the rate of heating and cooling of water. The degree of filling of the cells varied within the range of 10–100 %, the rate of change in water temperature varied within the range of 0.04–2.00 °C/min. With a constant heating and cooling time of 15 minutes in all experiments, the change in speed was achieved by changing the temperature of the heating element. The integral temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity is calculated based on the initial and final values of electrical conductivity and water temperature in each measurement cycle. The dependences of the temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity on the rate of change in water temperature at several constant degrees of cell filling were obtained. It has been shown that with a constant ratio of the volumes of water and air in the cell and an increase in the rate of heating of water, the temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity of water decreases by 19–22 %. It has been established that at a constant rate of water heating, with a decrease in the volume of water in the cell, the temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity of water decreases by 40–42 %. The results obtained can be used to quantify the dissociation coefficient of carbonic acid, the mobility of hydrogen ions, as well as the intensity of the gas exchange process under various external influences on water. Refinement of data on the electrical conductive properties of water and processes at the water/air interface is necessary for the development of models of atmospheric phenomena and climate change, as well as for the creation of sensors for weak changes in environmental parameters for the purposes of both environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics.
ANALISIS IKON DAN INDEKS DALAM SEMIOTIKA CHARLES SANDERS PIERCE PADA FILM DOKUMENTER “KAWALI, IDENTITAS LAKI-LAKI BUGIS”
Authors: Saifullah Saifullah , Asrullah Asrullah , Asrifan Andi , Zain Suardi , Yusmah Yusmah , Rasyid Rustam
Published: March 2024

This study aims to describe Icons and Indexes in Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotics in the documentary film “Kawal, Bugis Male Identity”. This study uses the theory of Charles Sanders Peirce which is often referred to as the "Grand Theory" in semiotics. Grand theory consists of three elements, namely sign, object, and interpretant. The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method. The data in this study are in the form of a documentary film "Kwali, Bugis Male Identity" which was uploaded on Youtube "Colle Malli" on April 5, 2016. The source of this research data is written documents regarding kawali and making kawali both thesis and articles on the internet. The data collection technique used is literature study. The data analysis technique used is according to the Miles and Hubermen model, namely:data reduction, data presentation, conclusion drawing. Based on the research results from the documentary film "Kwali, Bugis Male Identity" on aspects of semiotics which include icons and indexes using Charles Sanders Peirce theory, it can be concluded as follows: from the results of the research, the data obtained reached 29 data consisting of 4 data icons with a percentage 13.80% and an index of 25 data with a percentage of 83.20%.
The Effect of Brand Equity on Brand Loyalty to Skincare Products Mediated By Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Idemon Anggia Febriyana , Chairun Nisa Puspita
Published: March 2024

Maintaining and increasing brand loyalty is paramount due to a decrease in product differentiation and an increase in product market uncertainty. Therefore, brand loyalty is a measure of a company's business performance that affects the market share of a product. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of brand equity and brand loyalty on mediated by customer satisfaction and to confirm the significant dimensions of brand equity. The population of this study are Scarlett skincare users who live in Jakarta and Bekasi whose numbers are unknown. Respondents of this study were 115 respondents with the criteria of Scarlett skincare users aged 17-30 who have bought and used Scralett Skincare in the last 6 months. The analysis method used is Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling. The results stated that perceived quality and perceived cost value can increase customer satisfaction, perceived quality and customer satisfaction have a positive effect on brand loyalty, however, brand identification, brand trust and lifestyle alignment have no effect on customer satisfaction. Perceived quality and perceived cost value on brand loyalty are mediated by customer satisfaction, while brand identification, brand trust and lifestyle alignment are not proven. Future research is expected to expand the range of regions and add other variables related to brand loyalty such as brand image.
Universal Islamic Education in the Regulation of Da’wah Orientation of Majelis Taklim in Indonesia
Authors: Widoyo Agus Fatuh , Islamy Athoillah , Zulihi Zulihi , Susilo Adib
Published: March 2024

The presence of the Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation in regulating the da’wah activities of the Majelis Taklim in Indonesia has reaped resistance. There are some negative opinions by Muslims who consider the Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation contains intervention, discrimination, and even bad stigma against the da’wah activities of the Majelis Taklim in the community. This qualitative study with a normative-philosophical approach aims to identify the content of universal Islamic Education values in the da’wah orientation of the Taklim Council in Indonesia in the Regulation of the Minister of Religious Affairs no. 29 of 2019 concerning the Majelis Taklim. Study data were collected through documentation techniques. Meanwhile, data analysis through reduction, presentation, and verification.This study concludes that there is a content of universal Islamic education values in regulations on the orientation of the Majelis Taklim in Indonesia, including the value of tafahum on the development of personality characters that respect human values, and religion. Furthermore, the value of tasamuh in the development of personality characters that respect social pluralism. Next, takaful value in the development of personality characters that maintain the integration of state life. This study affirm that the values of universal Islamic education can be disseminated in the Indonesian government's policy regarding the orientation of educational institutions and Islamic da’wah in a plural social life.
Redesigning the Learning Plan of the English for Islamic Banking Course
Authors: Putra Purnama , Adara Reza Anggriyashati , Tirtajaya Mas Deden , Primasari Winda
Published: March 2024

The development of Islamic Banking both nationally and globally has experienced a significant increase in both the amount of assets managed and their performance. This development is marked by the spread of Islamic banking offices and networks throughout Indonesia. Such development requires the support of human resources who have skills and knowledge related to Sharia-based banking practices as well as able to compete with the global world. In this regard, language skills, especially English language as a global language become important. Nevertheless, there is a dearth in textbooks that specifically teach people how to conduct Sharia banking practices in English. Thus, this research aims to redesign and improve the language skills of employees and prospective employees of Islamic banking through learning plans and learning objectives that suit industry needs. The present study conducted a needs analysis toward employees, lecturers, college alumni, Sharia-based bank guilds. The present study composed a textbook which consists of eight units to teach employees of Sharia-based banks to conduct banking practices in English. The learning materials are also equipped with learning objectives, aiming to improve the language skills of learners.
Quantum dark energy in a seven-dimensional universe
Authors: Kesanasetty Sasidhar
Published: March 2024

This paper explains the dark energy and acceleration of the universe by quantizing the space in hidden dimensions, which provides the basis and background for the gravitational force through the curvature of space-time. Space-time is considered to be made of a four-dimensional elastic grid in a seven-dimensional universe in which matter also expands along with the universe. Each cube of the grid is considered a quantum of hidden three-dimensional space of Planck volume containing Planck charge, which makes the universe seven dimensional. The dark energy is explained by the electrostatic repulsion between Planck charges in each quantum of the hidden space. Mathematically, this electrostatic repulsion is related to the Hubble constant, which explains the accelerated expansion, dark energy, and increase in the cosmological potential energy of the matter. Expansion of space-time is considered not due to the creation of the new space but due to the stretching of the existing space-time itself like an elastic ruler where the proper length and volume remain constant. The relative values of the Planck constant, gravitational constant, permittivity of free space, and Boltzmann constant are shown to vary owing to the expansion or contraction of space-time in the cosmological, gravitational, and relativistic frameworks. This theory also builds a framework for the relativistic Newtonian theory of gravity, the relativistic MONDian (Modified Newtonian dynamics) gravity, identifies a valid reason for the transition of Newtonian gravity to MOND at a0 and explains the dynamics of galaxy clusters without the dark matter.
The Reliability, Validity and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Turkish Version of Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Health Professions Students
Authors: Günay İsmailoğlu Elif , Özdemir Kadirhan , Tuğral Alper , Bakar Yeşim
Published: March 2024

Objective: The study is aimed to study for the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural adaptation of the Turkish version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for undergraduate health profession students (JSE-HPS).

Methods: Cultural adaptation of JSE-HPS was carried out in 5 stages according to the protocol of Beaton et al.JSE-HPS was administered to students who educated in the departments of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nursing and Health Management. The reliability of JSE-HPS was evaluated by internal consistency and test-retest analysis using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Criterion validity assessed by comparing the scores of JSE-HPS and Emphatic Tendency Scale (ETS). An analysis of construct validity was carried out by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed the presence of three factors that explain 44.68% of the total variance and that correspond to the dimensions of the original scale. Following factor structures were obtained as “Perspective taking”, “Compassionate care” and “Standing in patient's shoes”. Turkish version of JSE-HPS total score were significantly correlated with the ETS total score (r=0.187, p=.005). The Cronbach’s Alpha internal consistency coefficient was found α = .793. The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.86. The confirmatory factor analysis verified a good fit of the model (χ2/df = 1.776).

Conclusion: The Turkish version of JSE-HPS is a valid and reliable scale for evaluating empathy levels of undergraduate health professions students.
The Effects of Antenatal Education on Level of Exclusive Breastfeeding in the First Two Months
Authors: Gökçeoğlu Sonay , Koruk İbrahim , Beyaz Emine
Published: March 2024

Objective: Breastfeeding is a wonderful event that requires strength and dedication from mothers. Effective breastfeeding education provided to pregnant women in the prenatal period can increase the success and level of breastfeeding. This study aimed to determine the effect of prenatal education intervention on the first two-month exclusive breastfeeding level.

Method: This experimental study was carried out at a primary family health center between July 2019 and February 2020. One hundred thirty-three pregnant women were included in the study’s control and intervention groups. The Prenatal and postnatal information form, the Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) were used to collect the data.

Results: The first two-month exclusive breastfeeding level was 33.1% in the control group and 68.7% in the intervention group (p
The Validity and Reliability of the Postpartum Symptom Inventory in Turkish Women
Authors: Aksoy Sena Dilek , Dutucu Nafiye , Kaynar Büşra , Şolt Kırca Ayça
Published: March 2024

Objective: Postpartum period is a significant period that covers approximately 6 weeks after childbirth, progresses with various symptoms, and affects the life of the woman. The study was conducted in order to test the validity and reliability of the Postpartum Symptom Inventory (PSI-20).

Methods: The study was conducted on 310 participants with a descriptive, cross-sectional, and methodological design. The study data were collected through Identifying Information Form, Postpartum Symptom Inventory, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale as a parallel form. In the analysis of the data, factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and item-total score correlations were used.

Results: The scale consisted of 20 items under 6 subscales with a variance of 71%. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the Turkish version of the scale was 0.86. According to split-half test reliability, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the first and second halves were found to be 0.71 and 0.73, respectively, Guttman split-half coefficient was 0.94, and the correlation coefficient between the halves was determined as 0.88. According to confirmatory factor analysis, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation Index (RMSEA) 0.072, Goodness of Fit index (GFI) value was 0.89, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) value was 0.94, Relative Fit Index (RFI) was 0.89, Incremental Fit Index (IFI) was 0.94, and Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) value was found as 0.93.

Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was determined that the Turkish version of the Postpartum Symptom Inventory (PSI-20) was a valid and reliable tool in order to measure postpartum symptoms in Turkish women.
History of pollutant adjuvants in respiratory allergy
Authors: Shusterman Dennis
Published: March 2024

Combined exposures to allergens and air pollutants emerged as a topic of concern in scientific circles by the 1980's, when it became clear that parallel increases in respiratory allergies and traffic-related air pollution had been occurring during the 20th century. Although historically there has been a tendency to treat exposure-related symptoms as either allergic or toxicologic in nature, cross-interactions have since been established between the two modalities. For example, exposure to selected air pollutants in concert with a given allergen can increase the likelihood that an individual will become sensitized to that allergen, strongly suggesting that the pollutant acted as an adjuvant. Although not a review of underlying mechanisms, the purpose of this mini-review is to highlight the potential significance of co-exposure to adjuvant chemicals in predicting allergic sensitization in the respiratory tract. The current discussion emphasizes the upper airway as a model for respiratory challenge studies, the results of which may be applicable—not only to allergic rhinitis—but also to conjunctivitis and asthma.
Influence of cathode materials on thermal characteristics of lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Ma Qian , Zhang Xiangqian , Zhang Fan , Song Xiangning , Xin Hongchuan , Zhu Guiru , Zhang Hongzhe
Published: March 2024

In this work, the thermal stability of four types of 18,650 lithium-ion batteries with LiCoO2 (LCO), LiFePO4 (LFP), LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) and LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA) materials as cathodes are experimentally investigated by the accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) and the isothermal battery testing calorimeter (iso-BTC) under adiabatic and isothermal conditions, respectively. The thermal runaway danger level of these batteries can be ranked as LCO > NCA > NCM811 >> LFP by judging from the values of Tmax and HRmax, nominal. The higher the nickel and cobalt content, the higher the lithium-ion battery capacity, but the worse the thermal stability. The Qtotal of NCA is the largest in the complete standard charge and discharge process, due to that the capacity of NCA is significantly higher than that of the other three batteries, resulting in remarkable increase in Qirre proportioned to the square of the current. When the ambient temperature rises, the energy release decreases owing to the decrease in the internal resistance of the battery. These studies are expected to have important implications for the subsequent safe design of commercial lithium-ion batteries with different cathode materials.
Brucella infection and Toll-like receptors
Authors: Yu Hui , Gu Xinyi , Wang Danfeng , Wang Zhanli
Published: March 2024

Brucella consists of gram-negative bacteria that have the ability to invade and replicate in professional and non-professional phagocytes, and its prolonged persistence in the host leads to brucellosis, a serious zoonosis. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the best-known sensors of microorganisms implicated in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. In particular, TLRs are transmembrane proteins with a typical structure of an extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR) region and an intracellular Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain. In this review, we discuss Brucella infection and the aspects of host immune responses induced by pathogens. Furthermore, we summarize the roles of TLRs in Brucella infection, with substantial emphasis on the molecular insights into its mechanisms of action.
Receptor-mediated transcytosis for brain delivery of therapeutics: receptor classes and criteria
Authors: Haqqani Arsalan S. , Bélanger Kasandra , Stanimirovic Danica B.
Published: March 2024

The delivery of therapeutics into the brain is highly limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Although this is essential to protect the brain from potentially harmful material found in the blood, it poses a great challenge for the treatment of diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Substances from the periphery that are required for the function of the brain must rely on active mechanisms of entry. One such physiological pathway is called receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT). In this process, ligands bind to specific receptors expressed at the luminal membrane of endothelial cells composing the BBB leading to the internalization of the receptor-ligand complex into intracellular vesicles, their trafficking through various intracellular compartments and finally their fusion with the abluminal membrane to release the cargo into the brain. Targeting such RMT receptors for BBB crossing represents an emerging and clinically validated strategy to increase the brain permeability of biologicals. However, the choice of an appropriate receptor is critical to achieve the best selectivity and efficacy of the delivery method. Whereas the majority of work has been focused on transferrin (Tf) receptor (TfR), the search for novel receptors expressed in brain endothelial cells (BECs) that can deliver protein or viral vector cargos across the BBB has yielded several novel targets with diverse molecular/structural properties and biological functions, and mechanisms of transcytosis. In this review, we summarize well-studied RMT pathways, and explore mechanisms engaged in BBB transport by various RMT receptors. We then discuss key criteria that would be desired for an optimal RMT target, based on lessons-learned from studies on TfR and accumulating experimental evidence on emerging RMT receptors and their ligands.
Ozanimod-mediated remission in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is associated with enhanced activity of CNS CD27low/- NK cell subset
Authors: Kamyan Doua , Hassane Maya , Alnaqbi Alanood , Souid Abdul-Kader , Rasbi Zakeya Al , Tahrawi Abeer Al , Shamsi Mariam Al
Published: March 2024

Background

Ozanimod (RPC1063) is an immunomodulator that has been recently approved by the FDA (2020) for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). It is a selective agonist of the sphingosine-1-phophate receptors 1 and 5, expressed on naïve and central memory T and B cells, as well as natural killer (NK) cells, and is involved in lymphocyte trafficking. Oral administration of ozanimod was reported to result in rapid and reversible reduction in circulating lymphocytes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, however, only minimal effect on NK cells was observed. In this study, we sought to investigate the effect of ozanimod on NK cells and assess whether they play any role in ozanimod-induced remission in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of MS.

Methods

Active EAE induction was done in C57BL/6 female mice, followed by daily oral treatment with ozanimod (0.6mg/kg) starting at disease onset (score 1). Flow cytometry of blood and CNS was performed 24 hours after the last oral dose of ozanimod treatment in diseased mice. Histological analysis of lumbar spinal cord was performed for evaluating the level of inflammation and demyelination. Depletion of peripheral NK cells was done using anti-NK1.1 mouse antibody (mAb) at day 5 post-EAE induction.

Results

Ozanimod was effective in reducing the clinical severity of EAE and reducing the percentage of autoreactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells along with significant inhibition of lymphocyte infiltration into the spinal cord, accompanied by reversed demyelination. Furthermore, ozanimod treatment resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of total NK cells in the blood and CNS along with upregulation of the activating receptor NKG2D on CD27low/- NK cell subset in the CNS. The effectiveness of ozanimod treatment in inhibiting the progression of the disease was reduced when NK cells were depleted using anti-NK1.1 mAb.

Conclusion

The current study demonstrated that ozanimod treatment significantly improved clinical symptoms in EAE mice. Ozanimod and anti-NK1.1 mAb appear to function in opposition to one another. Collectively, our data suggest that ozanimod-mediated remission is associated with an increased percentage of total NK cells and CD27low/- NK cells expressing the activating receptor, NKG2D in the CNS.
TIGIT acts as an immune checkpoint upon inhibition of PD1 signaling in autoimmune diabetes
Authors: Trivedi Prerak , Jhala Gaurang , De George David J. , Chiu Chris , Selck Claudia , Ge Tingting , Catterall Tara , Elkerbout Lorraine , Boon Louis , Joller Nicole , Kay Thomas W. , Thomas Helen E. , Krishnamurthy Balasubramanian
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Chronic activation of self-reactive T cells with beta cell antigens results in the upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules that keep self-reactive T cells under control and delay beta cell destruction in autoimmune diabetes. Inhibiting PD1/PD-L1 signaling results in autoimmune diabetes in mice and humans with pre-existing autoimmunity against beta cells. However, it is not known if other immune checkpoint molecules, such as TIGIT, can also negatively regulate self-reactive T cells. TIGIT negatively regulates the CD226 costimulatory pathway, T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling, and hence T-cell function.

Methods

The phenotype and function of TIGIT expressing islet infiltrating T cells was studied in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice using flow cytometry and single cell RNA sequencing. To determine if TIGIT restrains self-reactive T cells, we used a TIGIT blocking antibody alone or in combination with anti-PDL1 antibody.

Results

We show that TIGIT is highly expressed on activated islet infiltrating T cells in NOD mice. We identified a subset of stem-like memory CD8+ T cells expressing multiple immune checkpoints including TIGIT, PD1 and the transcription factor EOMES, which is linked to dysfunctional CD8+ T cells. A known ligand for TIGIT, CD155 was expressed on beta cells and islet infiltrating dendritic cells. However, despite TIGIT and its ligand being expressed, islet infiltrating PD1+TIGIT+CD8+ T cells were functional. Inhibiting TIGIT in NOD mice did not result in exacerbated autoimmune diabetes while inhibiting PD1-PDL1 resulted in rapid autoimmune diabetes, indicating that TIGIT does not restrain islet infiltrating T cells in autoimmune diabetes to the same degree as PD1. Partial inhibition of PD1-PDL1 in combination with TIGIT inhibition resulted in rapid diabetes in NOD mice.

Discussion

These results suggest that TIGIT and PD1 act in synergy as immune checkpoints when PD1 signaling is partially impaired. Beta cell specific stem-like memory T cells retain their functionality despite expressing multiple immune checkpoints and TIGIT is below PD1 in the hierarchy of immune checkpoints in autoimmune diabetes.