bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of bacteria in potential mutualism with toxic Alexandrium catenella in Chilean Patagonian fjords by in vitro and field monitoring
Authors: Yarimizu Kyoko , Mardones Jorge I. , Paredes-Mella Javier , Perera Ishara Uhanie , Fujiyoshi So , Fuenzalida Gonzalo , Acuña Jacquelinne J. , Ruiz-Gil Tay , Campos Marco , Rilling Joaquin-Ignacio , Calabrano Miranda Pedro , Vilugrón Jonnathan , Espinoza-González Oscar , Guzmán Leonardo , Nagai Satoshi , Jorquera Milko A. , Maruyama Fumito
Published: June 2024

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella is a well-known paralytic shellfish toxin producer that forms harmful algal blooms, repeatedly causing damage to Chilean coastal waters. The causes and behavior of algal blooms are complex and vary across different regions. As bacterial interactions with algal species are increasingly recognized as a key factor driving algal blooms, the present study identifies several bacterial candidates potentially associated with Chilean Alexandrium catenella. This research narrowed down the selection of bacteria from the Chilean A. catenella culture using antibiotic treatment and 16S rRNA metabarcoding analysis. Subsequently, seawater from two Chilean coastal stations, Isla Julia and Isla San Pedro, was monitored for two years to detect Alexandrium species and the selected bacteria, utilizing 16S and 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding analyses. The results suggested a potential association between Alexandrium species and Spongiibacteraceae at both stations. The proposed candidate bacteria within the Spongiibacteraceae family, potentially engaging in mutualistic relationships with Alexandrium species, included the genus of BD1-7 clade, Spongiibbacter, and Zhongshania.
Prediction of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical expenditures associated with Diabetes Mellitus type II based on clinical risk
Authors: Gonzalez-Rodriguez Javier-Leonardo , Franco Carlos , Pinzón-Espitia Olga , Caballer Vicent , Alfonso-Lizarazo Edgar , Augusto Vincent
Published: June 2024

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of different machine learning models in estimating the pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical expenditures associated with Diabetes Mellitus type II diagnosis, based on the clinical risk index determined by the analysis of comorbidities.

Materials and methods

In this cross-sectional study, we have used data from 11,028 anonymized records of patients admitted to a high-complexity hospital in Bogota, Colombia between 2017–2019 with a primary diagnosis of Diabetes. These cases were classified according to Charlson’s comorbidity index in several risk categories. The main variables analyzed in this study are hospitalization costs (which include pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical expenditures), age, gender, length of stay, medicines and services consumed, and comorbidities assessed by the Charlson’s index. The model’s dependent variable is expenditure (composed of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical expenditures). Based on these variables, different machine learning models (Multivariate linear regression, Lasso model, and Neural Networks) were used to estimate the pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical expenditures associated with the clinical risk classification. To evaluate the performance of these models, different metrics were used: Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Coefficient of Determination (R2).

Results

The results indicate that the Neural Networks model performed better in terms of accuracy in predicting pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical expenditures considering the clinical risk based on Charlson’s comorbidity index. A deeper understanding and experimentation with Neural Networks can improve these preliminary results, therefore we can also conclude that the main variables used and those that were proposed can be used as predictors for the medical expenditures of patients with diabetes type-II.

Conclusions

With the increase of technology elements and tools, it is possible to build models that allow decision-makers in hospitals to improve the resource planning process given the accuracy obtained with the different models tested.
Systematic review and meta-analysis: Evaluating the influence of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy on obstetric and neonatal outcomes
Authors: Huang Xuexia , Gu Huifeng , Shen Pinghua , Zhang Xiaoxing , Fei Anping
Published: June 2024

Background

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a serious liver conditions that negatively impacts obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Elevated levels of bile acid, particularly glycine conjugate, may compromise blood flow and cause functional hypoxia-ischemia.

Aims

This meta-analysis aims to assess the association between ICP and key pregnancy outcomes including emergency caesarian sections (C-sections), preeclampsia, hemorrhage, preterm birth, small for gestational age, admission rate to neonatal intensive care union (NICU), gestational age, and stillbirth.

Materials and methods

Literature search across five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science) was done to detect relevant studies published up until June 2023. Meta-analysis of the identified studies was done using a random-effects model, and the results presented as Odds ratio (OR).

Results

A literature search identified 662 studies. Of them, 21 met the inclusion criteria. There was a significant association between ICP and odds of C-section (OR: 1.42, p <0.001), preeclampsia (OR: 2.64, p <0.001), NICU admission (OR: 2.1, p <0.001), and pre-term birth (OR: 2.64, p <0.001). ICP was not associated with postpartum hemmorhage (OR: 1.31, p = 0.13), small for gestational age (OR: 0.87, p = 0.07), stillbirth (OR: 1.49, p = 0.29).

Conclusions

Our results confirm the adverse effects of ICP on co-existing pregnancy complications, obstetric and neonatal outcomes. ICP in associated with severe complications including increased rates of preeclampsia, emergency C-sections, preterm births, l gestational periods and higher rates of NICU admissions. These results may assist healthcare professionals in formulating comprehensive care guidelines for expectant mothers and newborns.
Young People, Radical Democracy And Community Development, Janet Batsleer, Harriet Rowley and Demet Lüküslü (eds) (2022)
Authors: Moxon Dan
Published: June 2024

Review of: Young People, Radical Democracy And Community Development, Janet Batsleer, Harriet Rowley and Demet Lüküslü (eds) (2022)

Bristol: Policy Press, 256 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-44736-276-0, h/bk, £85
O bacalhau na mesa do povo em Portugal na Época Moderna
Authors: Proserpio Ana Maria Ramalho
Published: June 2024

O presente artigo tem como objetivo dar a conhecer a relevância do bacalhau nas mesas mais humildes, desde o início da sua pesca pelos portugueses na Época Moderna (finais do século XV e XVI). Procurou-se, com o auxílio de fontes documentais coevas, atestar da sua importância no seio deste grupo social, analisando as referências históricas e literárias que lhe são feitas, para, depois de certificada a sua importância, procurar as razões dessa apetência que se revelou sempre em crescendo, mesmo quando os portugueses deixaram de pescar o bacalhau, passando a comprá-lo aos estrangeiros, em meados do século XVII. Os resultados da nossa análise permitiram-nos concluir que este consumo se deve não só ao seu preço acessível (como era também o da sardinha), mas igualmente à grande importância dada na época aos interditos alimentares preconizados pela religião católica, que ditava vários dias de abstinência por ano, em particular na Quaresma, momento em que o consumo de carnes era tido como pecado grave e condenável aos olhos de toda a sociedade. Interrogámo-nos, também, sobre a conotação negativa que na época este pescado detinha junto dos grupos sociais privilegiados, frequentemente aludida nas fontes. Investigaram-se as razões para tal, tendo-se verificado que, na sua base, estava a associação desse pescado ao povo, a que se somava o facto de estar ligado aos dias de abstinência (que apelavam ao sacrifício e à privação, tão indesejados entre os mais privilegiados). Também o facto de não ser um pescado consumido fresco, estado em que as elites, já desde a Antiguidade Clássica, mais o valorizavam e apreciavam, deverá ter determinado a conotação do bacalhau como um bem alimentar representativo dos grupos sociais mais humildes.
Legitimando la violencia de manifestantes y policías en protestas sociales: El caso de Chile, 2019-2022
Authors: Ross Zbinden Maximiliano Agustín , Navia Patricio Daniel
Published: June 2024

A partir de una discusión sobre la legitimación de violencia política, postulamos 4 hipótesis sobre los determinantes de legitimación de actos de violencia cometidos por manifestantes y por agentes estatales. Las testeamos con 3 encuestas del Centro de Estudios Públicos realizadas entre 2019 y 2022 en Chile. Se legitiman más las marchas que otras formas de violencia ejercidas por manifestantes. Disminuye la legitimación de la violencia de manifestantes y aumenta la legitimación de violencia por agentes del estado en 2021 y 2022 respecto a 2019. Los que confían menos en Carabineros y creen que las fuerzas de orden violaron los derechos humanos legitiman más todas las formas de violencia de manifestantes y menos la violencia de agentes estatales. Los de derecha legitiman más la violencia de agentes del Estado y los de izquierda legitiman más la violencia de manifestantes y menos la de agentes del Estado.
¿Transhumanismo “contra” educación?
Authors: Gaviria José Luis
Published: June 2024

En este artículo se argumenta que es posible una versión ‘humana’ del transhumanismo, que la eliminación de limitaciones físicas o fisiológicas no atenta contra la posibilidad de la educación, y que la verdadera educación no queda disminuida con el transhumanismo.
En la primera parte se muestran las principales corrientes del transhumanismo, y los argumentos a favor y en contra de este. En la segunda parte, desde una postura logocéntrica, se trata de mostrar que el transhumanismo no es incompatible con la educación y que no tiene por qué haber una transgresión de códigos morales en el mismo. Al final se proponen algunos criterios para juzgar cuándo las intervenciones biotecnológicas en los seres humanos son aceptables y cuándo no.
Reimaginando la educación ambiental en la era del Antropoceno: una reflexión ética
Authors: Díaz-Romanillos Esther
Published: June 2024

El surgimiento del concepto Antropoceno y su expansión en ciencias sociales, dentro del marco de la crisis ecosocial, plantea cuestiones esenciales para la educación en cuanto a nuestras interacciones como seres humanos con el mundo. La tesis principal que sostiene este artículo es que la Educación para el Desarrollo Sostenible supone un enfoque insuficiente en el Antropoceno, era que nos hace entender los límites planetarios que existen y donde hemos de situar nuestra acción educativa. Para ello, en primer lugar, se realiza una revisión del concepto de Antropoceno para comprender sus controversias e implicaciones que encierra. A continuación, se lleva a cabo una revisión del origen de los conceptos e ideas que envuelven la Educación Ambiental, especialmente aquellas relacionadas con la idea de desarrollo sostenible, señalando una serie de problemas éticos y epistemológicos vinculados a este paradigma. Posteriormente, se plantea la cuestión sobre qué tipo de educación sería adecuada en esta era para enfrentar la crisis ecosocial, y así, nos centramos en cuestiones éticas y aspiraciones para construir una Educación Ambiental en el Antropoceno. Por un lado, se explora el concepto de bienestar posmaterial en contraposición a la noción de bienestar. Tomando la teoría de la razón cordial de Adela Cortina contextualizada en el principio de simetría de Bruno Latour, se busca ampliar la perspectiva ética más allá de lo humano considerando otros seres y entidades. Por último, se ofrecen una serie de apuntes para una propuesta de Educación Ambiental adecuada y comprometida con la crisis ecosocial y situada en la era del Antropoceno.
SIRA: uma Arquitetura para Recuperação de Informação sem Servidor
Authors: Luiz Rodrigues Thiago , Barreiras Kochem Ana Cristina , Nacamura Júnior Luiz
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTThe growing need for efficient and scalable information retrievalsystems has driven the search for new approaches and architectures.This work proposes the Serverless Information Retrieval Architecture(SIRA) for information retrieval on a serverless computingplatform. The architecture is divided into two steps: document indexing,which includes processing, metric extraction, and the creationof inverted indexes; and document retrieval, which involves searchingfor relevant documents, classifying the documents throughmetrics, and presenting the results to the user. The performance ofthe SIRA architecture is compared to Elastic Search (ELS) on theTREC-COVID test collection. In addition to having the advantageof consuming resources only on demand, the SIRA architecturedemonstrates more effectiveness in retrieving relevant documents,indicating its potential as a solution in the field of informationretrieval.
Detecção de desistência de estudantes em disciplinas ofertadas com apoio do ambiente MOODLE: uma abordagem de análise implícita
Authors: Dalfovo de Souza Bernardo , Grando Moreira Benjamin
Published: June 2024

RESUMOSchool dropout is a matter of great relevance due to its significantsocial, economic, and personal repercussions. This study focuseson the issue of course attrition in higher education, a significantcontributing factor to dropout rates. Here, we present the analysisof 216 results, obtained from combining nine different preprocessingand three sampling methods, as well as eight machine learningalgorithms, based on student attendance, grades, and completion ofevaluative activities, extracted from the MOODLE learning environment.The results of this study, obtained through implicit analysis,reveal a combination of methods capable of identifying studentattrition with a recall of 95.31% and accuracy of 92.67% in just 25%of semester’s duration.
Fechando o Circuito e conectando Futuras Engenheiras
Authors: Tezza Bardini Yasmim , Bolan Frigo Luciana , Freitas Moro Francielli , Sabedra Bordin Andréa
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTEncouraging women in STEM has been promoted by severalinitiatives. This work aimed to present an initiative carried out byMeninas Digitais Project – UFSC. In this case, two electrical circuitworkshops were held with girls from Elementary School II at aMunicipal School in Araranguá - SC, during the second half of2023. This initiative aims to instigate girls' interest in STEM areasand present a replicable solution for other groups. The experiencesand results obtained through the activities carried out are presentedin this work. At the end of the experiment, through data collection,it was possible to confirm that hands-on workshops help to engagegirls in the area.
Era Uma Vez: Relato de processo de design de um jogo de tabuleiro empático baseado em estudos sobre a Doença de Alzheimer
Authors: Souza Liriel , Ribeiro Marcos , Silva Giorgio , Napoleão Eduardo
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTThis study aims to provide relevant information on the process ofcreating a board game based on the main characteristics ofAlzheimer's disease. During the research step, it was consideredthat approximately 2% to 4% of elderly people over the age of 65are affected by this disease. This project aims to raise awarenessof the disease, with a focus on reflection and empathy throughgame design, as there is a stigma hanging over the elderly withAlzheimer's disease, caused by ignorance and lack of knowledge,leading them to social exclusion. A mixture of three designmethodologies was used in its development: Munari's method,Andrew Looney's game development process, and Brian Winn'sDPE (Design, Play and Experience) methodology. In the end, itwas possible to balance the concepts of play and empathy in thegame "Once Upon a Time".
Avaliação de usabilidade em aplicativo para coleta de indicadores de antropização
Authors: Henrique do Vale Guimarães Pedro , Guilherme dos Santos Fernandes José , César da Rocha Seruffo Marcos
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTThis work presents the results of usability tests of the Antropindicadoresapplication, which aims to support a project of collection andanalysis of anthropic indicators in the Brazilian Amazon Region.Usability tests based on the PSSUQ method are used for obtainingend-user opinions, as well as heuristic evaluation for finding usabilityproblems. In general, the obtained data showed good results inthe usability tests, obtaining an average grade of 1.19 in the heuristicsand 1.27 in the PSSUQ, which can be classified as an "A+"gradeby the Curved Grading Scale method.
Sentiment Analysis in Social Networks during the 2021 and 2022 Formula 1 Seasons: A Study Using Natural Language Processing on Twitter
Authors: Mileski Matheus , Prado Campos Daniel , Fernando Carvalho Luiz , Gomes Mantovani Rafael
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTSentiment Analysis is an emerging research area that focuses onextracting semantic and emotional inferences from natural language,paving the way for analyses that deal with a high volume oftextual data. The growing importance of data in strategic decisionmakingand the recognition of social networks as vast repositoriesof public opinion have propelled this study, which aimed to explorethe interaction between human emotions and motorsport events.Thus, this study focused on applying Natural Language Processingto extract and analyze sentiments expressed in tweets about Formula1. Advanced machine learning and deep learning techniqueswere employed to train various models in the sentiment classificationtask. Among these, Logistic Regression and LSTMs stood out,achieving accuracies of 78.21% and 78.08%, respectively. The LSTMmodel, in particular, was implemented on a public dataset of tweetscollected during the 2021 and 2022 Formula 1 seasons. The modelwas used to classify the sentiments expressed by fans, allowingfor an exploratory analysis of data correlated to specific events ofthe races. The findings revealed significant engagement patterns,with notable spikes in emotional reactions coinciding with criticalmoments of the seasons. These discoveries illustrate how particularevents can profoundly influence the emotions and behavior of fans.From a detailed analysis of expressed sentiments, valuable data canbe obtained that may be leveraged for developing more effectivemarketing and communication strategies in the sport.
Um Analisador mórfico-morfêmico: aplicação web para verbos regulares do português
Authors: Ferreira Lima Wagner , Renata Sachs C. de Barbosa Cinthyan Renata Sachs C. de Barbosa
Published: June 2024

RESUMOO Processamento da Linguagem Natural pode apoiar o ensino da morfologia dos verbos regulares do português com analisadores morfológicos. Contudo, os analisadores baseados em modelos de linguagem são muito generalistas, tal que se mostram insuficientes para o cumprimento de tal tarefa. Assim, propõe-se um analisador coerente com a abordagem da morfologia estrutural. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar o “Analisador mórfico-morfêmico”, uma aplicação web que recebe verbos conjugados como entrada e retorna uma série de informações metalinguísticas sobre eles. Ele consegue cobrir a infinidade de verbos de 1ª, 2ª e 3ª conjugações. Conclui-se que essa ferramenta é mais adequada ao ensino formal da morfologia.
Sistema de Baixo Custo para Auxílio de Detecção de Obstáculos para Pessoas com Deficiência Visual
Authors: Scarduelli Prudencio Augusto , Menezes Pimenta Pedro , Lau Jim , Carlos Sobieranski Antonio
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTIn this work, a prototype for a low-cost application was developedaiming to assist vision impaired individuals. The prototype is awearable device, equipped with a Raspberry Pi for image processingof the frames captured from a camera strapped to the user’schest. The feedback is provided by means of vibration motors, attachedto an armband, allowing to distinguish obstacles accordingto its proximity. The obtained preliminary results demonstrated thefeasibility of the proposed approach, collaborating with a bettermobility process with low-cost setups to assist the detection ofobstacles.
Rating systems for the sustainability assessment of infrastructure
Authors: Lakusic Stjepan
Published: June 2024

In light of global changes and in line with the principles of sustainable development, there is a need to find criteria for assessing the sustainability of infrastructure in the construction sector. This paper provides an overview of the theory of sustainability in general and in the construction sector, as well as the policies and strategies at the global and national levels that aim to achieve sustainable development. Various rating systems for the sustainability assessment of infrastructure are listed as a methodology for evaluating the implementation of sustainable approaches in the realisation of new infrastructure projects. The three rating systems for sustainability assessment Envision, BREEAM Infrastructure and Infrastructure Sustainability (IS), which can be used to assess the sustainability of all types of infrastructure and to obtain a certificate for the application of sustainability principles, are presented and discussed in more detail.
The mineralogy and textural characteristics of a section of Gondo Well, Niger Delta, Nigeria.
Authors: Ekhalekha Raphael
Published: June 2024

The sands of the Agbada Formation were studied to deduce their mineralogy, tectonic provenance, and textural and reservoir characteristics. The study is based on 40 DITCH CUTTING SAMPLES retrieved from a section of a Gondo well in the Niger Delta Basin. Thin sections were prepared from the samples taken at inconsistent intervals (feet) from the core samples of the well. The study, which was based on quantitative analysis of the detrital minerals, shows that the clastic sediments (mostly sand and tiny sandstones) are predominantly made up of quartz, with the minor occurrence of a variety of feldspar and rock fragments, as revealed in the modal analysis of the results. Among the detrital framework, quartz constitutes about 50%, feldspar 22%, and lithic fragments 29%. The dominance of quartz grains with few feldspars and generally medium- to fine-grain, poorly to moderately sorted sand suggests matured sediments. The QFL (Quartz-feldspar-lithic fragments) ternary diagrams indicate that the sandstones were derived from recycled or quartzose source rocks. This possibly revealed that most of the sandstones might have been derived from the weathering and erosion of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Few polycrystalline quartz occur, which suggests that the sands of the Agbada Formation are just being subjected to diagenesis. Additionally, the information deduced from the provenance chart suggests that the majority of the sediments come from an arid environment, which is practically demonstrated by the present-day linkage of the River Niger with the Futajalon highland, a semi-arid region. Based on the few clay minerals and the textural characteristics of the sediments, it can be concluded that the well has a fair reservoir quality that will not significantly favor hydrocarbon exploration.

Keywords: Petrographic Analysis, Provenance, Reservoir Characteristics, Agbada Formation.
Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Meine Gilmara Coelho , Picon Rafael Veiga , Espírito Santo Paula Arruda , Sander Guilherme Becker
Published: June 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Ultra-processed food (UPF) intake has been associated with a higher risk of obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The initial data on the relationship between UPF consumption and cancer risk were derived from retrospective observational studies with conflicting results. This systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies aimed to investigate the association between UPF consumption and gastrointestinal cancer risk.

METHODS:

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for prospective cohort studies that compared the highest vs the lowest level of UPF consumption according to NOVA food classification and reported the risk of gastrointestinal cancers by subsite. The association with cancer was quantified as hazard ratios (HR) using a random-effects model.

RESULTS:

Five prospective cohort studies were included in this review comprising 1,128,243 participants (241,201 participants in the highest and 223,366 in the lowest levels of UPF consumption). The mean follow-up ranged from 5.4 to 28 years. The highest UPF consumption was significantly associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (HR 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.21; P = 0.01; I
2 = 31%), colon cancer (HR 1.12; 95% CI 1.02–1.23; P = 0.02; I
2 = 0%), and non–cardia gastric cancer (HR 1.43; 95% CI 1.02–2.00; P = 0.04; I
2 = 0%) compared with the lowest UPF intake. However, no association was found between high UPF consumption and hepatocellular, esophageal, pancreatic, gastric cardia, and rectal cancer.

DISCUSSION:

The highest level of UPF consumption was significantly associated with colorectal and non–cardia gastric cancer.
A Numerical Analysis Based Internet of Things (IOT) and Big Data Analytics to Minimize Energy Consumption in Smart Buildings
Authors: Zouhri Amal , EZ-ZAHOUT Abderahamane , Chakouk Said , EL MALLAHI Mostafa
Published: June 2024

The new wave of performant technology devices generates massive amounts of data. These devices are used in cities, homes, buildings, companies, and more. One of the reasons for digitalizing their tasks is that over the past few years, there has been an interest in reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency to create a friendly ecosystem and protect nature. One of which granted the explosion of data. After deploying these new devices, a significant increase in the use of the other face of energy to implement the components of the new devices was noticed. Above all, the interconnection of these intelligent devices is the central concept of the Internet of Things (IoT). This domain has widened the possibilities for the interconnection of building management systems (also named Smart Grids) and devices for better energy management. Furthermore, its potential is realized only after organizing and analyzing a large amount of data. Real-time management and maintenance of big data are critical to improving energy management in buildings. The benefits of big data analytics go beyond savings on electricity bills. It can provide comfort for building users and extend the life of building equipment, enhancing the value of commercial buildings. Intelligent interconnection of a building’s technical installations (lighting, heating, hot water, photovoltaic installations, etc.) not only allows for connected management of this equipment but also meets high energy efficiency criteria that indicate an increase in comfort and energy savings. With building automation, the technical installations of a building interact optimally. In this article, we will simulate an intelligent building based on the Cisco packet tracer software. To better manage the energy consumption of our project, we will focus on the processing of data in real-time, especially since we will have a massive amount of data generated by the sensors.
Design of Small-Phase Time-Variant Low-pass Digital Fractional Differentiators and Integrators
Authors: Sakow Mateusz
Published: June 2024

The design method and the time-variant FIR architecture for real-time estimation of fractional and integer differentials and integrals are presented in this paper. The proposed FIR architecture is divided into two parts. Small-phase filtering, integer differentiation, and fractional differential and integration on the local data are performed by the first part, which is time-invariant. The second part, which is time-variant, handles fractional and global differentiation and integration. The separation of the two parts is necessary because real-time matrix inversion or an extensive analytical solution, which can be computationally intensive for high-order FIR architectures, would be required by a single time-variant FIR architecture. However, matrix inversion is used in the design method to achieve negligible delay in the filtered, differentiated, and integrated signals. The optimum output obtained by the method of least squares results in the negligible delay. The experimental results show that fractional and integer differentiation and integration can be performed by the proposed solution, although the fractional differentiation and integration process is sensitive to the noise and limited resolution of the measurements. In systems that require closed-loop control, disturbance observation, and real-time identification of model parameters, this solution can be implemented.
Nikolaev Scientific and Practical School of Endocrine Surgery
Authors: Editorial Article
Published: June 2024

.
Awareness and Usage of E books Among Students of Panjab University, Chandigarh
Authors: Sood Seema , Singh Neeraj Kumar , Sumi Suman , Tewari Deepika
Published: June 2024

The advancement of digital technologies has an impact on how information is disseminated and made accessible in the academic world. The use of digital resources has grown significantly, with e-books becoming a valuablemeducational resource. Panjab University library is spending a huge amount of money in terms of subscribing to a number of e resources to fulfill the information demand of faculty and students. PU library started subscribing to e-books from the year 2008 and presently a diverse collection of e-books from reputed publishers are available for the users. Since no such study has been conducted to examine the use and awareness of e-books, to determine level of relevance of e-books, subscribed by Panjab University, it is therefore imperative to investigate how Panjab University students use and are aware of their subscription to e-books. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed using a simple random sampling method and 202 responses were received. This paper also explores the usage, relevance and the difficulties encountered while accessing e-books. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted amongst post graduate students and research scholars of Panjab University. Majority of the respondents73 (66.4 %) are accessing e-books through University Library website. 72 (62.6 %) of respondents express thatfriends and teachers helped them to know about availability of e-books in the library. Respondents encountere problems i.e. difficulties to login the sites, low speed of internet and restrictions in downloading etc. while accessing e-books. This study offers some useful and practical suggestions that can help libraries to enrich their e-book collections. The findings of the study will be helpful in developing e-book collection while keeping user needs in mind to enhance overall digital learning experience.
Groundwater quality and health risk assessment of nitrate and fluoride in Al Qaseem area, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alharbi Talal , El-Sorogy Abdelbaset S.
Published: June 2024

Groundwater serves as the lifeline in arid regions, where aquifer overuse and climatic factors can substantially degrade its quality, posing significant challenges. The current study examines the drinking water quality in the Al Qaseem area and assesses the potential health risks from nitrate (

NO

3

−

{\text{NO}}_{3}^{-}

) and fluoride (F−) exposure to infants, children, and adults. This evaluation employs parameters such as the daily water intake, hazard quotient, and non-carcinogenic hazard index. Groundwater samples from 38 wells and boreholes were analyzed for major cations and anions. The water quality index and multivariate tools were utilized. The average concentrations of

SO

4

2
−

{\text{SO}}_{4}^{2-}

, Cl–, Ca+, Na+, Mg2+, and K+ exceeded acceptable limits. Among the 38 samples, 8 were unsuitable for drinking, with 5 categorized as very poor quality, 10 as poor, 14 as good, and 1 as excellent. Nitrate levels ranged from 1.30 to 108.00 mg/L, with a mean of 36.56 mg/L. Three wells exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines (50.00 mg/L). Fluoride ranged from 0.10 to 0.98 mg/L, with a mean of 0.71 mg/L and none surpassing WHO recommendations (1.5 mg/L). The HI values for adults, children, and infants were 0.993, 2.606, and 2.78, respectively. About 57.89% of the water samples exceeded the safety level of 1 for adults and 94.73% for both children and infants. Thus, the groundwater in the study area may pose non-carcinogenic health risks to infants, children, and adults when used as drinking water.
Risk-stratified analysis of sex risk behaviors and correlates among school-going adolescents in Argentina: insights from a national survey
Authors: Dadras Omid , El Saaidi Christina
Published: June 2024

Objectives

This study was conducted to address a critical gap in understanding adolescent sexual health risks in Argentina, a country that has undergone substantial socio-economic changes that made significant strides in education and healthcare.

Methods

A secondary data analysis of the 2018 Argentina Global School-based Student Health Survey was performed. In this study, 23,262 sexually active adolescents were categorized into four risk groups based on the predicted granular risk: number of sexual partners and condom use in their last sexual encounter.

Results

Males and older adolescents were more prone to high-risk sexual behaviors. Additionally, key psychosocial factors such as loneliness, anxiety, experiences of violence, and school absenteeism were significantly associated with high-risk sexual behaviors. Early alcohol use and recent experiences of hunger were also identified as strong predictors of heightened sexual risk behaviors. Conversely, positive parental engagement and awareness exhibited protective factors.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the necessity for policy interventions that focus on mental health support, parental involvement, and awareness of adolescent issues and activities.
Digitális bizalomépítés a B2B kapcsolatokban. Avagy: üzletember, küzdj és bízva bízzál!
Authors: Gyulai Zsófia
Published: June 2024

A TANULMÁNY CÉLJA
A tanulmány célja a digitális bizalomépítés folyamatának és jelentőségének vizsgálata a B2B kapcsolatokban, különös tekintettel az online információszerzés szerepére. A kutatás arra irányult, hogy feltárja, miként alakíthatnak ki a B2B vállalkozások bizalmat az üzleti partnereikkel online interakciók során, és milyen tényezők játszanak kulcsszerepet a bizalom kialakításában és fenntartásában.
ALKALMAZOTT MÓDSZERTAN
Tíz félig strukturált mélyinterjú készült olyan vállalati döntéshozókkal, akiknek a közelmúltban része volt olyan másik vállalattal kapcsolatos beszerzési döntésben, amelyet online információkeresés előzött meg. A mélyinterjúk mélyebb és árnyaltabb megértést adnak a B2B bizalom összetett jelenségéről.
LEGFONTOSABB EREDMÉNYEK
Az eredmények rávilágítottak, hogy a bizalom kialakításában az indirekt érintkezési pontok, mint például fórumok, blogok és partnerértékelések meghatározó szerepet töltenek be, különösen az online vállalkozások esetében. Az átlátható és következetes információs stratégia, a weboldalak és a hírlevelek megbízhatósága, valamint a digitális biztonsági intézkedések világos kommunikációja növelik a bizalom szintjét. A válaszadók kiemelték az árképzés és a kapcsolati adatok átláthatóságát, valamint a weboldalak esztétikai és tartalmi minőségét mint a bizalom erősítőit.
GYAKORLATI JAVASLATOK
A kutatás alapján javasolt, hogy a B2B-szektorban tevékenykedő vállalatok fokozott figyelmet fordítsanak az információs tartalom minőségére és megjelenítésére. A digitális biztonság és adatvédelem világos bemutatása, a kommunikációs csatornák diverzifikálása és az ügyfél-orientált szolgáltatások fejlesztése elengedhetetlen a digitális kor kihívásaihoz való alkalmazkodásban. A vállalatoknak ajánlott a szájreklám és az ajánlások előmozdítása, valamint a digitális érintkezési pontok – különösen az indirekt csatornák – aktív figyelemmel kísérése és kezelése. Az üzleti döntéshozatali folyamat támogatása érdekében átláthatóan és hozzáférhető módon kell kommunikálni az adatkezelési és fizetési feltételeket.
Gender Communication Differences on a Pediatric Provider Listserv
Authors: Allan Jessica M. , Black Erik , Lemieux Nina , Gilliam Courtney A. , Yardley Jeremy , Kim Juliann L. , Ganem Jorge , Black Nicole Paradise , Schroeder Alan R. , Ralston Shawn , Fromme H. Barrett
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Gender-based communication differences are described in educational online communities, but have not been rigorously evaluated in medical online communities. Understanding gender differences in communication may provide insight into gender disparities in the medical profession. Our objective was to describe gender differences in post frequency, content, and language styles on the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Hospital Medicine (SOHM) listserv.

METHODS

Posts were obtained from publicly available SOHM listserv archives. The first month of every quarter of 2019 and 2020 were reviewed. Two reviewers assigned a post topic (clinical, research, etc) and format (question vs statement) to all deidentified original posts (K = 1.0 topic, 0.89 format). Six trained reviewers assigned language styles (intraclass coefficient = 0.73, indicating good agreement).

RESULTS

We analyzed 1592 posts: 287 original posts and 1305 responses. Frequency: Women authored 50% of posts. The 9 most frequent posters (7 men, 2 women) accounted for 19.5% of posts. Content: Men’s posts had more words than women’s (132.51 vs 112.3, P ≤ .01). Men were more likely to post about health policy and research (P < .001). Men were more likely to post statements compared with women (39% vs 21%, P < .001). Style: Men’s posts were more likely to be coded adversarial (12.3% vs 5.5%, P < .001) authoritative (12.2% vs 6.5%, P < .001) or self-amplifying (6.5% vs 3.6%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Women contribute disproportionately fewer posts to the American Academy of Pediatrics SOHM listserv compared with their percentage in the subspecialty. We noted significant gender differences in language style and content, which may impact career development and online community inclusion.
Implementing of digital models in marketing, impact and perspectives
Authors: Tchanturia Nino , Dalakishvili Rusudan , Mushkudiani Zurab , Gulua Ekaterine
Published: June 2024

The paper aims to study digital marketing models and their impact. Partly in response to the new digital age and partly due to the emergence of new marketing methods. Companies need to use different models to control their digital marketing plans. Due to the growing need for digital marketing models, they have investigated what models are in use today and whether it is possible to offer a new model to the market to make things easier for marketers. A new model was created based on one of the companies that use different digital tools. Marketers can learn helpful information from models when developing a digital marketing strategy, conducting an audit, or reviewing online communications. Company leaders must be aware that the marketing strategies they have adopted in the past year will not work under current conditions, which means they should be adapted to current trends.
Monetary policy and risk of commercial banks in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Dang Quang , Dang Van Dan
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the bank risk-taking channel of monetary policy transmission by comprehensively analyzing multiple bank risk measurements amid monetary policy shocks in Vietnam. Using banking data for 2008–2021, a dynamic panel model is estimated to examine the risk exposure of 30 Vietnamese commercial banks. The paper employs the annual M2 money supply growth as a monetary policy variable, besides two policy interest rates established by the central bank. We find that an expansion of monetary policy benefits the quality of loan portfolios; however, reduced interest rates or an extended money supply increase insolvency risk. We also document that heightened economic growth corresponds to a reduced likelihood of credit and insolvency risks, while a surge in the inflation rate leads to an escalation in insolvency risk, manifested by a decline in the Z-score index. Overall, the findings on different risk dimensions in this paper are expected to draw a comprehensive picture of banks’ risk appetite and behavior in response to monetary changes.
Legal environment as a factor in the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment: Case of Serbia
Authors: Marjanović Darko , Domazet Ivana , Vukmirović Valentina
Published: June 2024

The economic growth and development of a country depend on the inflow of foreign direct investment, and the legal environment factors play an important role in securing it. Compared to other countries in South-Eastern Europe, Serbia has achieved remarkable results in terms of FDI inflows over the last ten years. The research examines the impact of the legal environment on FDI inflows in Serbia. The study was conducted using a quantitative approach and a survey technique based on a structured questionnaire. The basic set of the research consists of the 300 most prominent foreign investors (response rate of 28%) who invested capital in Serbia in the period 2011-2019. The results of the conducted research show that ownership in Serbian companies is the most important factor in the legal environment that influences a foreign investor's decision to invest capital in these companies. The results show that labor legislation, law enforcement, and confidence in the legal system can significantly contribute to a foreign investor's decision to invest capital in Serbia. The legal environment's implications influence investor decisions and shape the overall investment climate of a country. A well-structured and investor-friendly legal framework will increase Serbia's competitiveness and attractiveness for foreign investments.
Radical and incremental innovations performance in Eastern European SMEs: An empirical study of developed and emerging economies
Authors: Sufyan Ali , Asad Arif Ibne , Novák Petr
Published: June 2024

Assessing the effectiveness of radical and incremental innovation in SMEs in Eastern European countries is a significant issue in regional economics. In contrast, radical innovation entails the creation of wholly novel goods or organization processes that establish new markets. Progressive enhancements to current goods and processes are referred to as incremental innovation.   This study explains the influence of incremental and radical innovation on performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in Eastern Europe. Employing EUROSTAT data from 2012 to 2021 using regression analysis and a graphical model, we examined basic, radical, and incremental innovation and total researcher performance in SMEs, which could enormously affect business performance in Eastern European countries. Our findings indicated that radical, incremental innovation and total research are all favourably related to the performance of SMEs and an approach to studying various innovations and their impact on SMEs. The particular performance effects of radical and incremental innovations in Eastern European SMEs might vary considerably. To give more specific knowledge and suggestions for SMEs, empirical investigations and comprehensive research are required. Our results can contribute to SMEs both theoretically and practically, providing fresh theoretical perspectives for scholars and helpful management consequences for administrators of SMEs in developing countries.
Inscriptions in stone, literacy in question: The confusion between  and  in inscriptions from Roman Africa
Authors: Tamponi Lucia
Published: June 2024

In this paper, a quantitative and qualitative analysis is conducted on the / alternations found in the epigraphic texts from three representative subsets of Roman African inscriptions from both urban centres and more peripheral areas (1st century BCE – 7th century CE). The distribution of the confusion has been related to the dating and provenance place of the inscriptions and the level of literacy of those involved in their crafting. The results show a difference in the distribution of / confusions in the three areas examined, with a higher incidence in later inscriptions from Sabratha. Thus, it is discussed whether the different distribution of the / confusions observed in the different regions might be a cue for internal diatopic variation.
Production of Instant Noodles with The Addition of Catfish Bone (Pangasius sp.)
Authors: Panjaitan Pola S.T. , Tanjung Anasri , Sopha Detia
Published: June 2024

Processing of catfish in general will produce by-products, mostly heads, viscera, skin, spines, and bones. This study aimed to determine the preference level after the addition of catfish bones (Pangasius sp.) to instant noodles by using a hedonic test and to determine the chemical quality of instant noodles with the addition of catfish bones (Pangasius sp) such as water content, protein content, and calcium The process of making instant noodles was carried out with four treatments of fish bones addition as follows 7%, 10%, and 13%. The processing steps of making instant noodles with the addition of catfish bones begin with receiving raw materials, washing the bones, steaming the bones, smoothing the bones, mixing the dough with the addition of catfish bone, grinding, molding, steaming, slicing and frying. The results of the chemical quality test for water content met Indonesian National Standards SNI 3551-2012 concerning "Instant Noodles" for F1 of 7.52%. The protein content in the F1, F2, and F3 formulations complied with the Indonesian National Standards SNI 3551-2012, and the calcium levels in the catfish bone instant noodles (Pangasius sp.) were able to meet the calcium levels in the F1 356.78, F2 416.81 and F3 565.03. The best formulation of instant noodles with the addition of catfish bones (Pangasius sp.) was obtained in the F3 formulation (13%).
Structure of Plankton Communities on The Kalianda Coast, South Lampung
Authors: Kusriyati Kusriyati , Lestari Septiana Widi , Indrayati Artin
Published: June 2024

The presence of plankton is very important for aquatic ecosystems. Kalianda Coastal Beach has direct access to the open sea. Its water condition can experience changes including physical, chemical, and biological conditions. Moreover, the beaches in the Kalianda coastal area are widely used for vannamei shrimp breeding, ferry port, fishery and trade port. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the structure of the plankton community, including abundance and species composition, diversity index, uniformity, and dominance. This study used data from water sources in three vannamei shrimp nurseries located in Kalianda Coastal Beach, South Lampung. Water parameters observed in Kalianda Coastal were plankton, salinity, pH, nitrate, ammonia, dissolved solids (TSS), and phosphate. The results showed that the plankton found in Kalianda coastal area consisted of four classes, phytoplankton namely Bacillariophyceae (78.75%) and Dynophyceae (9.85%), zooplankton Ciliata (7.79%) and Crustacea (3.61%). The range of phytoplankton abundance is 2392-3029 cells/l, while the abundance of zooplankton is 279-414 ind/l. Plankton diversity and uniformity indices are high meaning that the plankton community in Kalianda Coast is very diverse and stable, low dominance means that there are plankton that dominate, namely from the Bacillariophyceae class. The structure of the plankton community in Kalianda Coastal Beach shows a stable condition at the time of the research. To know the plankton community structure more thoroughly, it is necessary to take plankton samples every season with more station points.