bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging Trends and Innovations in the Treatment and Diagnosis of Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Disease: A Comprehensive Review towards Healthier Aging
Authors: Alradwan Ibrahim , AL Fayez Nojoud , Alomary Mohammad N. , Alshehri Abdullah A. , Aodah Alhassan H. , Almughem Fahad A. , Alsulami Khulud A. , Aldossary Ahmad M. , Alawad Abdullah O. , Tawfik Yahya M. K. , Tawfik Essam A.
Published: August 2024

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are classed as diseases of aging, which are associated with an increased prevalence of atherosclerotic lesion formation caused by such diseases and is considered as one of the leading causes of death globally, representing a severe health crisis affecting the heart and blood vessels. Atherosclerosis is described as a chronic condition that can lead to myocardial infarction, ischemic cardiomyopathy, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease and to date, most pharmacological therapies mainly aim to control risk factors in patients with cardiovascular disease. Advances in transformative therapies and imaging diagnostics agents could shape the clinical applications of such approaches, including nanomedicine, biomaterials, immunotherapy, cell therapy, and gene therapy, which are emerging and likely to significantly impact CVD management in the coming decade. This review summarizes the current anti-atherosclerotic therapies’ major milestones, strengths, and limitations. It provides an overview of the recent discoveries and emerging technologies in nanomedicine, cell therapy, and gene and immune therapeutics that can revolutionize CVD clinical practice by steering it toward precision medicine. CVD-related clinical trials and promising pre-clinical strategies that would significantly impact patients with CVD are discussed. Here, we review these recent advances, highlighting key clinical opportunities in the rapidly emerging field of CVD medicine.
Beyond the “Death of God”: The New Indestructible Humanity without a Model by Sarah Kofman
Authors: Negri Federica
Published: August 2024

For many 20th century philosophers, the “death of God” became an opportunity to rethink the limits of the human, eliminating its claims to a transcendent foundation in order to start again, more modestly, “from below”. The new humanity, freed from the burdens of the old metaphysics, becomes able to reappropriate responsibility, rediscovering in the other an irreducible presence. The human and philosophical story of Sarah Kofman offers the possibility of following an original development in this sense, starting from the unspeakable event of the Shoah towards a new possibility for human kind.
Affordable Highly Sensitive Fiber Optical Sensor Based on Coupled Fibers with Harmonically Varying Refractive Index
Authors: Granot Er’el
Published: August 2024

Optical fiber sensors consist of multiple Mach–Zehnder (MZ) interferometers and are common in the protection of different compounds. These sensors are very sensitive to any intrusion or threat. However, the spatial resolution is proportional to the number of MZ interferometers along the sensor. Consequently, a long sensor with a high resolution can be costly. In this paper, we suggest replacing the cascaded MZ interferometers with a couple of adjacent fibers, each of which have a harmonically varying refractive index. In this theoretical study, it is shown that two fibers with varying refractive indices demonstrate a sensitivity equivalent to that of multiple MZ interferometers. Furthermore, when the coupling coefficient between the fibers is weak, an analytical expression can be derived for the transmission between the fibers. This transmission reveals a quantization rule for which the light coupling between the two fibers vanishes.
Improvement of Laser Damage Resistance of Fused Silica Using Oxygen-Aided Reactive Ion Etching
Authors: Shao Ting , Zhang Jun , Shi Zhaohua , Li Weihua , Li Ping , Sun Laixi , Zheng Wanguo
Published: August 2024

Reactive ion etching (RIE) with fluorocarbon plasma is a facile method to tracelessly remove the subsurface damage layer of fused silica but has the drawback of unsatisfactory improvement in laser damage resistance due to the induction of secondary defects. This work proposes to incorporate O2 into the CHF3/Ar feedstock of RIE to suppress the formation of secondary defects during the etching process. Experimental results confirm that both the chemical structural defects, such as oxygen-deficient center (ODC) and non-bridging oxygen hole center (NBOHC) defects, and the impurity element defects, such as fluorine, are significantly reduced with this method. Laser-induced damage resistance is consequently greatly improved, with the 0% probability damage threshold increasing by 121% compared to the originally polished sample and by 41% compared to the sample treated with conventional RIE.
Influence of Voltage Rising Time on the Characteristics of a Pulsed Discharge in Air in Contact with Water: Experimental and 2D Fluid Simulation Study
Authors: Herrmann Antoine , Margot Joëlle , Hamdan Ahmad
Published: August 2024

In the context of plasma–liquid interactions, the phase of discharge ignition is of great importance as it may influence the properties of the produced plasma. Herein, we investigated the influence of voltage rising time (τrise) on discharge ignition in air as well as on discharge propagation on the surface of water. Experimentally, τrise was adjusted to 0.1, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 kV/ns using a nanosecond high-voltage pulser, and discharges were characterized using voltage/current probes and an ICCD camera. Faster ignition, higher breakdown voltage, and greater discharge current (peak value) were observed at higher τrise. ICCD images revealed that higher τrise also promoted the formation of more filaments, with increased radial propagation over the water surface. To further understand these discharges, a previously developed 2D fluid model was used to simulate discharge ignition and propagation under various τrise conditions. The simulation provided the spatiotemporal evolution of the E-field, electron density, and surface charge density. The trend of the simulated position of the ionization front is similar to that observed experimentally. Furthermore, rapid vertical propagation (<1 ns) of the discharge towards the liquid surface was observed. As τrise increased, the velocity of discharge propagation towards the liquid increased. Higher τrise values also led to more charges in the ionization front propagating at the water surface. The discharge ceased to propagate when the charge number in the ionization front reached 0.5 × 108 charges, irrespective of the τrise value.
Composites Based on Eucalyptus Nitens Leaves and Natural Rubber as a Valuable Alternative for the Development of Elastomeric Materials with Low Microbiological Impact
Authors: Aguilar-Bolados Héctor , Rosales-Charlin Natacha , Pérez-Manríquez Claudia , Torres-Galan Solange , Dahrouch Mohamed , Verdejo Raquel , Hernández Santana Marianella , Becerra Jose
Published: August 2024

The forest industry produces several low-value by-products, such as bark, sawdust, limbs, and leaves, that are not ultimately disposed of and remain in the forests and sawmill facilities. Among these by-products are leaves, which contain not only cellulose fibers and lignin but also essential oils such as terpenes. These are biosynthesized in a similar way as cis-1,4-polyisoprene. In this context, this work evaluates the use of screened and unscreened dried Eucalyptus nitens leaves in natural rubber. Among the most relevant results of this work is a significant increase in mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and elongation at break, reaching values of 9.45 MPa and 649% of tensile strength and elongation at break, respectively, for a sample of natural rubber containing sieved dried leaves of Eucalyptus nitens. In addition, it is observed that the content of this vegetable filler allows for inhibiting the antibacterial effect of vulcanized rubber against several bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli K 12, Escherichia coli FT 17 and Pseudomonas fluorescens. These results are promising because they not only add value to a by-product of the forestry industry, improving the mechanical properties of natural rubber from a sustainable approach but also increase the affinity of rubber with bacterial microorganisms that may play a role in certain ecosystems.
Impact of the Three-Dimensional Arrangements of Polyhydroxylated Crosslinkers on the Resulting Properties of Chitosan-Based Hydrogels
Authors: Díaz Bukvic Gema , Ojeda Henriquez Martin , Rodríguez Vannini Agustín Brandon , Fidalgo María Marta , Salvay Andrés Gerardo , Rossi Ezequiel , Errea María Inés
Published: August 2024

Chitosan was subjected to a crosslinking reaction with three polyhydroxylated diacids (glucaric (GlcA), mannaric (ManA), and mucic (MucA) acids) that only differ in the spatial orientation of their hydroxyl groups. This work aimed to obtain experimental evidence of the impact of the three-dimensional arrangement of the crosslinkers on the resulting properties of the products. In all the cases, the products were hydrogels, and their chemical structures were fully elucidated by FT-IR spectroscopy and conductometric titration. Thermogravimetric and morphological studies were also carried out. The specific surface area of all the products was similar and higher than that of native chitosan. Moreover, all hydrogels were characterized in terms of viscoelastic properties and long-term stability under external perturbation. Furthermore, their lead adsorption efficiency and swelling capacity were assessed. Despite the resemblant chemical structure in all the hydrogels, Ch/ManA exhibited the highest lead adsorption capacity, (Ch/ManA: 93.8 mg g−1, Ch/GlcA: 82.9 mg g−1, Ch/MucA: 79.2 mg g−1), while Ch/GlcA exhibited a remarkably higher swelling capacity (i.e., ~30% more than Ch/MucA and ~40% more than Ch/ManA). The results obtained herein evidenced that the selection of the polyhydroxylated crosslinker with the appropriate three-dimensional structure could be crucial to finely adjust the final materials’ features.
Production of Volatile Fatty Acids from Cheese Whey and Their Recovery Using Gas-Permeable Membranes
Authors: Molinuevo-Salces Beatriz , da Silva-Lacerda Viviane , García-González María Cruz , Riaño Berta
Published: August 2024

The use of anaerobic fermentation to produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is an environmentally sustainable alternative for cheese whey (CW) valorization. This study evaluates the effect of pH control on the conversion of organic matter to VFAs from CW and assesses VFA recovery using a novel approach based on gas-permeable membranes. VFA bioconversion and composition were studied with initial and sequential control of pH, both in acidic and alkaline conditions. Bioconversion efficiencies for assays with initial pH control were 36% and 45% for acidic and alkaline conditions, respectively. Sequential control of pH resulted in an increase in bioconversion to 54% under acidic conditions. Under acidic conditions, a variety of VFA was produced (mainly butyric, acetic, and propionic acids), while under alkaline conditions the majority was acetic acid. VFA recovery using a novel system of tubular gas-permeable membranes accounted for 15% and 100% of the total VFA from effluent 1 (butyric, acetic, and propionic acids) and effluent 2 (mainly acetic acid), respectively.
Is Declined Cognitive Function Predictive for Fatal Accidents Involving Aging Pilots?
Authors: Boyd Douglas D. , Stolzer Alan J.
Published: August 2024

Background. Civil aviation comprises airlines/charters and general aviation (GA). Currently, airlines are experiencing a pilot shortage, partly reflecting scheduled retirements mandatory for airline (but not GA) pilots aged 65 years, fueling a debate as to whether the retirement age should be increased. Herein, using 16–40 years-of-age aviators as a reference, we determined whether GA pilots aged 60+ years (i) incurred an elevated accident rate, employing, for the first time, age-tiered flight time as a measure of risk exposure and (ii) carried an excess risk for cognitive deficiency-related fatal accidents. Methods. Airplane accidents (2002–2016) involving Class 3 medical certificated pilots were per the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) databases. Age-tiered pilot risk exposure represented a summation of flight hours per Class 3 medical applications. Cognitive decline measures were per NTSB field codes. Statistical analyses employed Chi-Square, Mann–Whitney, logistic regression, and binomial tests. Results. Using flight hours as the denominator, the fatal accident rate for older pilots (41–80 years) was unchanged compared with aviators aged 16–40 years. In the logistic regression, no cognitive deficiency measure was predictive (p = 0.11, p = 0.15) for pilots aged 61+ years who were involved in fatal accidents. Conclusion. These findings question the necessity of an automatic disqualification of air transport pilots at 65 years of age.
Biometric Vibration Signal Detection Devices for Swallowing Activity Monitoring
Authors: Kang Youn J.
Published: August 2024

Swallowing is a complex neuromuscular activity regulated by the autonomic central nervous system, and impairment can lead to dysphagia, which is difficulty in swallowing. This research presents a novel approach that utilizes wireless, wearable technology for the continuous mechano-acoustic tracking of respiratory activities and swallowing. To address the challenge of accurately tracking swallowing amidst potential confounding activities or significant body movements, we employ two accelerometers. These accelerometers help distinguish between genuine swallowing events and other activities. By monitoring movements and vibrations through the skin surface, the developed device enables non-intrusive monitoring of swallowing dynamics and respiratory patterns. Our focus is on the development of both the wireless skin-interfaced device and an advanced algorithm capable of detecting swallowing dynamics in conjunction with respiratory phases. The device and algorithm demonstrate robustness in detecting respiratory patterns and swallowing instances, even in scenarios where users exhibit periodic movements due to disease or daily activities. Furthermore, peak detection using an adaptive threshold automatically adjusts to an individual’s signal strength, facilitating the detection of swallowing signals without the need for individual adjustments. This innovation has significant potential for enhancing patient training and rehabilitation programs aimed at addressing dysphagia and related respiratory issues.
Sligpt: A Large Language Model-Based Approach for Data Dependency Analysis on Solidity Smart Contracts
Authors: Ren Xiaolei , Wei Qiping
Published: August 2024

The advent of blockchain technology has revolutionized various sectors by providing transparency, immutability, and automation. Central to this revolution are smart contracts, which facilitate trustless and automated transactions across diverse domains. However, the proliferation of smart contracts has exposed significant security vulnerabilities, necessitating advanced analysis techniques. Data dependency analysis is a critical program analysis method used to enhance the testing and security of smart contracts. This paper introduces Sligpt, an innovative methodology that integrates a large language model (LLM), specifically GPT-4o, with the static analysis tool Slither, to perform data dependency analyses on Solidity smart contracts. Our approach leverages both the advanced code comprehension capabilities of GPT-4o and the advantages of a traditional analysis tool. We empirically evaluate Sligpt using a curated dataset of Ethereum smart contracts. Sligpt achieves significant improvements in precision, recall, and overall analysis depth compared with Slither and GPT-4o, providing a robust solution for data dependency analysis. This paper also discusses the challenges encountered, such as the computational resource requirements and the inherent variability in LLM outputs, while proposing future research directions to further enhance the methodology. Sligpt represents a significant advancement in the field of static analysis on smart contracts, offering a practical framework for integrating LLMs with static analysis tools.
Point-Defect Segregation and Space-Charge Potentials at the Σ5(310)[001] Grain Boundary in Ceria
Authors: Usler Adrian L. , Heelweg Henrik J. , De Souza Roger A. , Genreith-Schriever Annalena R.
Published: August 2024

The atomistic structure and point-defect thermodynamics of the model Σ5(310)[001] grain boundary in CeO2 were explored with atomistic simulations. An interface with a double-diamond-shaped structural repeat unit was found to have the lowest energy. Segregation energies were calculated for oxygen vacancies, electron polarons, gadolinium and scandium acceptor cations, and tantalum donor cations. These energies deviate strongly from their bulk values over the same length scale, thus indicating a structural grain-boundary width of approximately 1.5 nm. However, an analysis revealed no unambiguous correlation between segregation energies and local structural descriptors, such as interatomic distance or coordination number. From the segregation energies, the grain-boundary space-charge potential in Gouy–Chapman and restricted-equilibrium regimes was calculated as a function of temperature for dilute solutions of (i) oxygen vacancies and acceptor cations and (ii) electron polarons and donor cations. For the latter, the space-charge potential is predicted to change from negative to positive in the restricted-equilibrium regime. For the former, the calculation of the space-charge potential from atomistic segregation energies is shown to require the inclusion of the segregation energies for acceptor cations. Nevertheless, the space-charge potential in the restricted-equilibrium regime can be described well with an empirical model employing a single effective oxygen-vacancy segregation energy.
Patent Keyword Analysis Using Bayesian Zero-Inflated Model and Text Mining
Authors: Jun Sunghae
Published: August 2024

Patent keyword analysis is used to analyze the technology keywords extracted from collected patent documents for specific technological fields. Thus, various methods related to this type of analysis have been researched in the industrial engineering fields, such as technology management and new product development. To analyze the patent document data, we have to search for patents related to the target technology and preprocess them to construct the patent–keyword matrix for statistical and machine learning algorithms. In general, a patent–keyword matrix has an extreme zero-inflated problem. This is because each keyword occupies one column even if it is included in only one document among all patent documents. General zero-inflated models have a limit at which the performance of the model deteriorates when the proportion of zeros becomes extremely large. To solve this problem, we applied a Bayesian inference to a general zero-inflated model. In this paper, we propose a patent keyword analysis using a Bayesian zero-inflated model to overcome the extreme zero-inflated problem in the patent–keyword matrix. In our experiments, we collected practical patents related to digital therapeutics technology and used the patent–keyword matrix preprocessed from them. We compared the performance of our proposed method with other comparative methods. Finally, we showed the validity and improved performance of our patent keyword analysis. We expect that our research can contribute to solving the extreme zero-inflated problem that occurs not only in patent keyword analysis, but also in various text big data analyses.
Comparison of Methods for Addressing Outliers in Exploratory Factor Analysis and Impact on Accuracy of Determining the Number of Factors
Authors: Finch W. Holmes
Published: August 2024

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is a very common tool used in the social sciences to identify the underlying latent structure for a set of observed measurements. A primary component of EFA practice is determining the number of factors to retain, given the sample data. A variety of methods are available for this purpose, including parallel analysis, minimum average partial, and the Chi-square difference test. Research has shown that the presence of outliers among the indicator variables can have a deleterious impact on the performance of these methods for determining the number of factors to retain. The purpose of the current simulation study was to compare the performance of several methods for dealing with outliers combined with multiple techniques for determining the number of factors to retain. Results showed that using correlation matrices produced by either the percentage bend or heavy-tailed Student’s t-distribution, coupled with either parallel analysis or the minimum average partial yield, were most accurate in terms of identifying the number of factors to retain. Implications of these findings for practice are discussed.
Rosmarinic Acid Attenuates Testicular Damage via Modulating Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Albino Mice
Authors: Al-khawaldeh Omar , Al-Alami Zina M. , Althunibat Osama Y. , Abuamara Tamer M. M. , Mihdawi Afnan , Abukhalil Mohammad H.
Published: August 2024

Diabetes mellitus (DM) induces the production of reactive oxygen species, which may lead to cell injury and death. This study aimed to assess the effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) on testicular damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic albino mice. DM in four- to six-week-old BALB/c male albino mice was induced via 50 mg/kg STZ, IP for 5 days. Twelve mice were randomly assigned into each of following groups: a control group, a diabetic (DM) group, RA5 mg/kg and RA15 mg/kg groups, and DM + RA5 mg/kg and DM + RA15 mg/kg groups. RA doses were intraperitoneally injected six times a week for seven weeks. Diabetes increased blood sugar and HbA1c levels and decreased all assessed sperm parameters. Testicular tissues of the diabetic mice showed increased lipid peroxidation, decreased reduced glutathione levels and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and increased apoptosis associated with histological abnormalities. Both RA doses had no effects on final body weight, blood sugar, and HbA1c in the diabetic mice. It is concluded that the administration of the potent antioxidant RA to diabetic mice improved the redox status in testicular tissues, protected them from diabetes-induced oxidative damage, and improved the quality of spermatozoa, mostly in a dose-dependent manner, which suggests a potential application value of RA in treating DM-related testicular injury and perhaps other complications.
Research Trends and Development Patterns in Microgreens Publications: A Bibliometric Study from 2004 to 2023
Authors: Puente Luis , Char Cielo , Patel Devansh , Thilakarathna Malinda S. , Roopesh M. S.
Published: August 2024

This article presents a general overview of scientific publications in the field of microgreens using bibliometric tools. Data were collected from the Web of Science database (from Clarivate Analytics) in the period from 2004 to 2023, covering 20 years of scientific publications. The results are presented in the form of tables, graphs, and charts to analyze the development of microgreens publications. The countries with the greatest influence on the microgreens topic are the USA, Italy, and India, which have the highest number of publications in the analyzed period with 133, 76, and 38 publications, respectively. On the other hand, the authors with the highest number of publications are Raphael, Y. (University Naples Federico II-Italy), De Pascale, S. (University Naples Federico II-Italy), and Luo, Y. (ARS, Food Quality Laboratory, Environmental Microbial & Food Safety Lab, USDA-USA). The journals with the highest productivity in microgreens are HortScience (American Society of Horticultural Science), Horticulturae (MDPI), and Foods (MDPI), with publication numbers of 49, 27, and 23, respectively. Regarding the relationship of the documents in this study with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the large majority of documents can be linked to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), followed by SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well Being). As a final remark, the mapping, trends, and findings in this work can help to establish logical paths for researchers in the field of microgreens.
Consumer Theory-Based Primary Frequency Regulation in Multi-Microgrid Systems within a P2P Energy Management Framework
Authors: Martinez-Polo Dagoberto , Romero-Quete David , Cortes Camilo A.
Published: August 2024

This paper presents a novel primary frequency regulation strategy for multi-microgrid (MMG) systems, utilizing consumer theory within a peer-to-peer (P2P) energy management framework. By coordinating photovoltaic (PV) systems and energy storage systems (ESS), the proposed method ensures a rapid and effective response to frequency deviations. Unlike conventional approaches, this strategy minimizes the curtailment of renewable energy sources by prioritizing the use of ESS, allowing excess energy to charge the ESS for later use during under-frequency events. This not only enhances energy efficiency but also maximizes renewable energy utilization. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves lower frequency deviations and faster stabilization compared to traditional droop and virtual inertia methods. These results highlight the potential benefits of integrating consumer theory-based models into primary frequency regulation, significantly enhancing system stability and efficiency in power systems with high levels of renewable energy penetration.
Climate Change, Anthropogenic Pressure, and Sustainable Development of Karst Geosystems (A Case Study of the Brestnitsa Karst Geosystem in Northern Bulgaria)
Authors: Nojarov Peter , Stefanov Petar , Stefanova Dilyana , Jelev Georgi
Published: August 2024

This study examines climate change, anthropogenic impacts, and their relationship with the sustainable development of the Brestnitsa karst geosystem. It is representative of the karst in Bulgaria, which is developed on a quarter of its territory. The geosystem approach was used to reveal the interrelationships in a typical karst territory. The data were collected from more than 10 years of integrated monitoring of the geosystem, including continuous instrumental monitoring in the show cave Saeva Dupka, which is part of the geosystem. Various data from other sources were also used, such as satellite observations (a digital terrain model, land cover, and satellite images and products), ground data, and climate reanalyses. A spatial analysis of the karst geosystem in the context of climate change and sustainable development was conducted using a complex of remote sensing methods, geographic information systems, and statistical methods. The main results include the state and trends in the climate of the area, changes and trends in the speleoclimate and gas composition of the air in the Saeva Dupka cave, and changes in land use in the territory of the geosystem. Conclusions about the connections between climate change, current karstogenesis, and the carbon cycle in the geosystem, as well as the response of the geosystem to the consequences of the combined impact of climate change and human activities, have been made. All these impacts on the karst geosystem have been assessed in order to make adequate management decisions to guarantee its sustainable development in the future.
Creative Environments for Sustainability in Organizations Promoting the Education of Vulnerable Groups
Authors: Ricoy María-Carmen , Delgado-Parada Joseba , Díaz-Pereira María del Pino , Feliz Sálvora
Published: August 2024

Developing creativity in socio-educational organizations facilitates progress towards sustainability, benefiting its professionals and users. The objective of this work is to analyze the creative climate in organizations that intervene with vulnerable groups to promote sustainability through Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). A descriptive–correlational study was conducted with 203 professionals from associations, foundations, and social services councils. The CPPC-17 scale was applied, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, and cluster analysis. The results showed that the professionals presented high levels of creative potential. The opportunity to participate in work groups and the freedom to perform tasks favored creativity in the organizations. The main obstacles to creativity were the lack of incentive to take risks and of rewards for creative ideas. The profile of professionals with high levels of creative climate was mainly composed of association workers and those trained in Education, Psychology, and Speech Therapy. Significant differences were obtained in variables related to the organization (e.g., typology) and in personal variables, such as the academic background of the trainers. These findings should be considered to improve the creative climate in these organizations with a view to providing quality, egalitarian, and equitable education.
Institutional Environment, Institutional Arrangements, and Risk Identification and Allocation in Public–Private Partnerships: A Multilevel Model Analysis Based on Data from 31 Provinces in China
Authors: Yang Lei , Hu Longji , Li Yifan
Published: August 2024

As an important part of market-based reforms, the issue of “risk” has always been a part of the public–private partnership (PPP) debate, and the way in which risks are managed determines the sustainability of market-based reforms. This study systematically examines how the institutional environment and institutional arrangements affect the effectiveness of PPP risk identification and allocation. The study aims to establish a multi-source database of all publicized PPP projects in 31 provinces during the period of 2017–2021 in China, and it incorporates different levels of influencing factors, such as the institutional environment and institutional arrangements, into a framework. Through the application of a multilevel model, the impact of the political–institutional structure at the provincial level and institutional arrangements at the social capital and project levels on PPP risk identification and allocation is judged hierarchically. It is found that only social capital at the institutional environment level can directly and positively contribute to the effective identification and allocation of PPP risks, while both the degree of potential market competition and the degree of integration at the project level have a positive effect on its risk profile. In addition, there are cross-level moderating effects, with social capital, government transparency, and government–business relations positively improving risk allocation and identification through the degree of market competition, with no significant coordinating effect on the degree of contractual integration. This study goes beyond the existing one-dimensional risk profile analysis and risk typology to dismantle the “black box” of risk identification and allocation, which is a process of continuous negotiation, and to provide a sustainable governance mechanism for the market-oriented reform of public services in the institutional arena.
The Trans-Olecranon Approach for a Concomitant Radial Head Arthroplasty and Internal Fixation of the Ulna in Monteggia-Equivalent Fractures
Authors: Zari David Shaked , Ron Itay , Norman Doron , Dabbah Jihad , Peskin Bezalel , Ghrayeb Nabil , Shapira Jacob
Published: August 2024

Background: Monteggia-equivalent fractures are similar to Monteggia fractures but involve different patterns and locations. When these fractures include a severe radial head fracture, radial head arthroplasty (RHA) should be considered. RHA can be performed using Kocher’s approach or the less commonly used trans-olecranon approach, which has been less studied. This study evaluates the clinical and radiological outcomes of the trans-olecranon approach for RHA over 15 years. Methods: In this retrospective study, 45 cases of Monteggia-equivalent fractures were analyzed, focusing on patients over 18 with radial head fractures, treated by the same surgeon with RHA and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the proximal ulna via the trans-olecranon approach. Results: The cohort of 45 patients showed a mean flexion of 112.37° ± 13.7°, mean extension of 24.27° ± 17.9°, mean supination of 57.63° ± 28.9°, and mean pronation of 62.16° ± 29.07°. Clinical and radiographic measurements indicated satisfactory results, with acceptable complication and secondary procedure rates. Conclusion: The trans-olecranon, single-incision approach is effective for managing fractures involving the proximal ulna and radial head, offering adequate access to lateral elbow structures while minimizing damage to surrounding soft tissue. Therefore, this approach should be considered for patients presented with a Monteggia-equivalent fracture and an indication for RHA.
Super-Wideband Monopole Printed Antenna with Half-Elliptical-Shaped Patch
Authors: Zulkifli Fitri Yuli , Wahdiyat Aditya Inzani , Zufar Abdurrahman , Nurhayati Nurhayati , Setijadi Eko
Published: August 2024

Super-wideband (SWB) antennas have emerged as a promising technology for next-generation wireless communication systems due to their ability to transmit and receive signals across a wide frequency spectrum. A half-elliptical-shaped patch antenna for a super-wideband antenna is proposed in this paper. The proposed antenna was composed of a half-elliptical-shaped patch with a microstrip feedline and a partial ground plane with a triangular inset and a bent edge ground plane. This proposed antenna was designed using Taconic TLY-5 with a dielectric permittivity of 2.2 and a total dimension of 200 × 220 × 1.57 mm3. The proposed antenna demonstrates a bandwidth of 23 GHz (from 0.5 GHz to 23.5 GHz) with a bandwidth ratio of 47:1.
Phosphorus Fraction in Hydrochar from Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of Swine Manure and Rice Straw: An Optimization Analysis Based on Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Su Xiaohua , Zhang Tao , Zhao Jingyang , Mukherjee Santanu , Alotaibi Nahaa M. , Abou-Elwafa Salah F. , Tran Huu-Tuan , Bolan Nanthi S.
Published: August 2024

Livestock manure and crop residues are significant sources of phosphorus. However, the ineffectiveness of current processing technologies often leads to the suboptimal recovery of this phosphorus, causing considerable resource wastage and environmental pollution. Recently, global research has increasingly been focused on the resource recovery of organic waste materials using hydrothermal carbonization technology. This study investigated variations in phosphorus forms in the hydrochar produced from swine manure and rice straw, employing diverse hydrothermal carbonization conditions and applying the Box–Behnken response surface methodology and Hedley’s phosphorus fractionation method. The results indicated that inorganic phosphorus predominates in the hydrochar, with organic phosphorus comprising 5–30% of the total phosphorus. Furthermore, the study found that the available phosphorus content, as measured by NaHCO3 extraction, decreased as the reaction time and temperature of the hydrothermal carbonization process increased. The concentrations of H2O-P and NaHCO3-P fractions decreased with increasing reaction times and temperatures but increased with a higher swine manure-to-straw ratio. Conversely, the concentrations of NaOH-P and HCl-P fractions showed an increasing trend with rising reaction temperature, prolonging reaction time, andusing a high swine manure-to-straw ratio. Consequently, this study offers vital theoretical and practical insights into the resource utilization of livestock manure and crop straw, significantly contributing to the challenges of waste management and environmental sustainability in agriculture.
Energy Management of a Fuel Cell Electric Robot Based on Hydrogen Value and Battery Overcharge Control
Authors: Radmanesh Hamid , Farhadi Gharibeh Hamed
Published: August 2024

The energy management system of a fuel cell electric robot should be highly responsive to provide the required power for various tactical operations, navigation of different routes, and acceleration. This paper presents a new multi-level online energy management strategy for a fuel cell electric robot based on the proposed functions of equivalent hydrogen fuel value evaluation, classification of the battery state of charge via the squared combined efficiency function, identification of the robot maneuver condition based on the proposed operation state of robot function, improvement of the overall energy efficiency based on the proposed function of the battery overcharge control, and separation of the functional points of the fuel cell based on the operational mode control strategy. The simulation study of the proposed online multi-level energy management strategy was carried out with MATLAB R2018b software to verify its superiority by comparing with other strategies. The results indicate a reduction in hydrogen consumption, reduction in fuel cell power fluctuations, prevention of battery overcharging, and incrementation in the total energy efficiency of energy storage systems compared to other energy management strategies.
Electrochemical Degradation with Real Textile Effluent with UV Using Platinum-plated Titanium Anode
Authors: Wang Chao , Li Yongqiang , Wan Junnin , Hu Yi , Cen Hongyang , Qiu Jiangen
Published: August 2024

In order to investigate the performances of electrochemical degradation with ultraviolet (UV) at 254 nm for real textile effluent, a cylinder electrolyzer with a titanium cylinder cathode was adopted to optimize initial pH, flow rate, initial Na2SO4 concentration, degradation time and cell voltage with a commercial UV lamp at 254 nm located in the center of the platinum-plated titanium cylinder anode. The experimental results illustrated that the COD of textile effluent could reduce from 120.4 mg L−1 to 80.3 mg L−1 with corresponding current efficiency of 91.60%, electrical consumption of 34.1kWh kg−1 and carbon emission of 19.4 kg CO2 kg−1 COD by electrochemical degradation with UV at 254 nm at degradation of 10 min. Additionally, degradation performances of real textile effluent by electrochemical degradation with UV at 254 nm was more effective than those of electrochemical degradation alone and UV at 254 nm alone. Therefore, electrochemical degradation with UV at 254 nm was promising for the degradation of real textile effluent in the industrial application.
Perfil epidemiológico da violência contra mulheres no estado da Paraíba de 2009 a 2019
Authors: Costa Gabriela Maria Cavalcanti , Celino Suely Deysny de Matos , Almeida Francisca das Chagas Alves de , Leite Francisco Akison , Silva Luís Augusto Pereira , Souto Rafaella Queiroga
Published: August 2024

O objetivo desse estudo é traçar o perfil epidemiológico das notificações de violência contra mulher no estado da Paraíba, no período de 2009 a 2019. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, realizado por meio de consulta online ao Sistema de Informação TabNet na seção de Doenças e Agravos de Notificação através do campo violência interpessoal. Como parte dos resultados, identificamos que a violência mais frequente é a física 45,2%. Foi observado que o maior número de queixas envolve mulheres negras, com 60,11% dos casos; na faixa etária de 20 a 29 anos, 22,71%; com ensino fundamental incompleto, 14,21%. Ademais, 59,2% das situações de violência contra a mulher ocorre, predominantemente, em locais residenciais. Quanto aos encaminhamentos ao setor de saúde, os achados revelam que, nesse item, em 54,15% dos registros é definido como ignorado. O estudo apontou uma grande fragilidade nos registros de dados sobre violência, tanto pela falta de informações quanto pelo preenchimento inadequado das fichas. Por isso, é crucial reforçar a importância do preenchimento adequado das fichas de notificação compulsória e a qualificação dos profissionais para fornecer evidências precisas sobre o problema e subsidiar a gestão para os enfrentamentos.
Logic T.E.I, um jogo educacional para auxiliar no processo de aprendizagem de Matemática Discreta
Authors: Gonçalves Ivanylson , Braga Regina , Campos Fernanda , Scortegagna Liamara
Published: August 2024

Este artigo apresenta o jogo educacional "Logic T.E.I, um jogo educacional para auxiliar no processo de aprendizagem de Matemática Discreta”. O objetivo é explorar o desenvolvimento e a eficácia do jogo educacional Logic T.E.I como ferramenta auxiliar no ensino de Matemática Discreta. Ao longo do texto, serão abordados os fundamentos teóricos que embasam o jogo educacional, os objetivos propostos para sua criação, a metodologia empregada no desenvolvimento, os resultados obtidos com sua aplicação e as possíveis contribuições do Logic T.E.I para a melhoria do processo de ensino-aprendizagem da Matemática Discreta. Serão discutidos também os desafios enfrentados pelos estudantes nessa disciplina e como o jogo pode auxiliar na superação dessas dificuldades, promovendo uma aprendizagem mais interativa e estimulante. Por meio deste artigo, busca-se destacar a importância da gamificação e dos jogos educacionais como estratégias pedagógicas inovadoras, capazes de tornar o ensino de conceitos complexos mais acessível e envolvente para os estudantes. O estudo do Logic T.E.I representa uma contribuição para a área de educação em Matemática Discreta, apresentando uma abordagem diferenciada para o aprimoramento do processo de ensino-aprendizagem nessa disciplina.
A new European Shag Gulosus aristotelis colony discovered near Ura-Guba in the Barents Sea, Russia
Authors: Bannikova Iuliia , Menshakova Mariya
Published: August 2024

Breeding European Shag Gulosus aristotelis in in the Russian part of the Barents Sea was first noted in 1932, but the population has remained small. Currently, breeding sites are known from the Seven Islands, the Gavrilovsky Islands, the Ainovy Islands, the Bazarnaya Guba, and the Pechenga Guba. Here we report the breeding of this species near Ura-Guba and in parts of the Barents Sea coast where it has not been found before.
ANALISIS PENGARUH KUALITAS PRODUK, HARGA, DAN PROMOSI TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIAN YANG DIMEDIASI OLEH CITRA MEREK SMARTPHONE OPPO
Authors: Andika Bagus Saktiawan  , Wiyadi
Published: August 2024

This study aims to analyze the effect of product quality, price, and promotion on purchasing decisions mediated by brand image. This study uses a survey of 110 students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta who have purchased Oppo smartphones as research objects. The findings of the study indicate that product quality, price, and promotion significantly affect brand image. However, the effect of price on brand image is not significant. In addition, this study reveals that brand image significantly mediates the effect of product quality and promotion on purchasing decisions. These findings emphasize the importance of having a positive brand image in influencing consumer purchasing decisions. The conclusion of this study is that companies should prioritize building a positive brand image and providing high-quality products at attractive prices. By promoting products effectively, companies can influence consumer perceptions and ultimately increase sales. This study provides valuable insights for companies in designing more effective marketing strategies and optimizing factors that influence consumer purchasing decisions.
Investigating Some Biological Parameters in Patients with Diabetes to Diagnose the Disease Using a Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Norozi Parvin , Shahanipour Kahin , Rastegari Ali Asghar
Published: August 2024

Background: Diabetes has several complications and late diagnosis of this disease leads to an increase in the complications. The present study aimed to investigate the possibility of predicting diabetes using machine learning techniques. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study. The population included the people referred to Falavarjan Social Security Center in Isfahan province in Iran in 2020 for diabetes screening. Blood samples were collected from 250 diabetic patients and 100 healthy non-diabetic samples. Then, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were measured and some characteristics such as height, weight, age and gender were collected from patients’ records. Finally, the data were analyzed and compared using the k-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm, artificial neural networks (ANNs), support vector machine (SVM), Naive Bayes, and decision tree (DT). All analyses and modeling were performed in Python programming environment. Results: In all criteria, the best results were obtained by SVM with an accuracy of 0.98, followed by ANNs with an accuracy of 0.96, respectively. Then, the K-NN algorithm with an accuracy of 0.87, Naive Bayes with an accuracy of 0.87, and DT with an accuracy of 0.76 were considered. Conclusion: Both ANNs and linear SVMs are recommended as superior final models for the diagnosis of diabetes due to their higher performance (accuracy) in final decision-making.
The Effects of Type of Exercise on Ventilatory Efficiency (VE/VCO2) in 11-16-Year-Old Healthy Individuals: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Alizadeh Rostam , Rezaeinezhad Najmeh
Published: August 2024

Background: The ventilatory equivalent for CO2 (VE/VCO2 ) is the simplest way to predict ventilatory efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the impact of treadmill and cycle ergometer exercise tests on ventilatory outcomes in healthy adolescents. Methods: In this clinical trial with cross-over design, 52 adolescents aged 11-16 years old (age: 13.8±0.17 years, height: 157.4±0.95 cm, weight: 51.73±1.24 kg, represented as mean±standard error), went through treadmill and cycle ergometer exercise tests with a 6-day wash-out during July-August 2019, Tehran, Iran. Through a RAMP (raise, activate, mobilise, and potentiate) protocol, participants were asked to perform the maximal treadmill or cycle ergometer exercise and continue the test until exhaustion. Gas exchange and heart rate (HR) were obtained breath by breath during the test. Time, HR, VE/VCO2, minute ventilation) VE), end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PetCO2), and dead space (VD) to tidal volume (VT) ratios (VD/VT) were transferred to the computer and recorded. All data were reported at two-time points: Anaerobic threshold (AT) V-slop method and peak. Independent t-test was then performed to compare the two types of exercises using SPSS 16, and P˂0.05 was considered significant. Results: The results showed a significant difference in two points regarding the type of exercise for Time and VE/VCO2, but for HR (P=0.004), VE (P=0.0001), PetCO2 (P=0.008), and VD/VT (P=0.004), a significant difference was only observed in AT point. Conclusion: Several physiological mechanisms that occurred during the development stage could affect individuals’ respiratory parameters; however, in general, the type of exercise test affected VE/VCO2.