bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variation in Post-Transplant Cancer Incidence among Italian Kidney Transplant Recipients over a 25-Year Period
Authors: Piselli Pierluca , Serraino Diego , Cimaglia Claudia , Furian Lucrezia , Biancone Luigi , Busnach Ghil , Bossini Nicola , Todeschini Paola , Iaria Maurizio , Citterio Franco , Campise Mariarosaria , Veroux Massimiliano , Tisone Giuseppe , Cantaluppi Vincenzo , Mangino Margherita , Simone Simona , Argiolas Davide , Ambrosini Andrea , Pisani Francesco , Caputo Flavia , Taborelli Martina
Published: February 2023

This cohort study examined 25-year variations in cancer incidence among 11,418 Italian recipients of kidney transplantation (KT) from 17 Italian centers. Cancer incidence was examined over three periods (1997–2004; 2005–2012; and 2013–2021) by internal (Incidence rate ratio-IRR) and external (standardized incidence ratios-SIR) comparisons. Poisson regression was used to assess trends. Overall, 1646 post-transplant cancers were diagnosed, with incidence rates/1000 person-years ranging from 15.5 in 1997–2004 to 21.0 in 2013–2021. Adjusted IRRs showed a significant reduction in incidence rates across periods for all cancers combined after exclusion of nonmelanoma skin cancers (IRR = 0.90, 95% confidence interval-CI: 0.76–1.07 in 2005–2012; IRR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60–0.87 in 2013–2021 vs. 1997–2004; Ptrend < 0.01). In site-specific analyses, however, significant changes in incidence rates were observed only for Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS; IRR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.24–0.57 in 2005–2012; IRR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.04–0.18 in 2013–2021; Ptrend < 0.01). As compared to the general population, the overall post-transplant cancer risk in KT recipients was elevated, with a decreasing magnitude over time (SIR = 2.54, 95% CI: 2.26–2.85 in 1997–2004; SIR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.83–2.16 in 2013–2021; Ptrend < 0.01). A decline in SIRs was observed specifically for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and KS, though only the KS trend retained statistical significance after adjustment. In conclusion, apart from KS, no changes in the incidence of other cancers over time were observed among Italian KT recipients.
Forging Local Energy Transition in the Most Carbon-Intensive European Region of the Western Balkans
Authors: Young Jasminka , Macura Aleksandar
Published: February 2023

To close an existing literature gap, we explore the conditions critical for the enactment of local energy transition and the shift to decarbonized renewable heating systems in the public sector of the most carbon-intensive European region of the Western Balkans. We select and then analyze the municipality of Priboj, which stands out among 150 municipalities in Serbia due to its effective promotion of local energy transition. The analysis provides a rich empirical illustration of a specific path that enables the local level to embark on a tailor-made energy transformation in an underdeveloped and path-dependent national policy framework. By linking a multi-level perspective of sustainability transitions to accounts of path dependency, we advance the understanding of the critical determinants and frameworks of local energy transition. Our analysis is enhanced with an investigation of the role of key actors and governance modes. A shared understanding of innovative solutions and existing local heating regime problems, and a shared vision of economically and environmentally viable opportunities based on available and unutilized local biomass, encouraged the local leaders to embark on a long and novel journey to decarbonize the local heating system. These observed factors coalesced with local political stability anchored in both the local- and national-level contexts. The effective coordination and cooperation across national- and local-level decision makers, financial institutions, and utilities was facilitated by a specific geographical and political context out of the reach of powerful gas network advocates. With these factors present, the synchronized entrepreneurial multi-level efforts served as the vehicles to develop and implement a shared vision of energy transition that became a learning platform for other regional actors.
Diabetes Monitoring System in Smart Health Cities Based on Big Data Intelligence
Authors: AlZu’bi Shadi , Elbes Mohammad , Mughaid Ala , Bdair Noor , Abualigah Laith , Forestiero Agostino , Zitar Raed Abu
Published: February 2023

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body is unable to properly regulate blood sugar levels. It can occur when the body does not produce enough insulin or when cells become resistant to insulin’s effects. There are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2, which have different causes and risk factors. Early detection of diabetes allows for early intervention and management of the condition. This can help prevent or delay the development of serious complications associated with diabetes. Early diagnosis also allows for individuals to make lifestyle changes to prevent the progression of the disease. Healthcare systems play a vital role in the management and treatment of diabetes. They provide access to diabetes education, regular check-ups, and necessary medications for individuals with diabetes. They also provide monitoring and management of diabetes-related complications, such as heart disease, kidney failure, and neuropathy. Through early detection, prevention and management programs, healthcare systems can help improve the quality of life and outcomes for people with diabetes. Current initiatives in healthcare systems for diabetes may fail due to lack of access to education and resources for individuals with diabetes. There may also be inadequate follow-up and monitoring for those who have been diagnosed, leading to poor management of the disease and lack of prevention of complications. Additionally, current initiatives may not be tailored to specific cultural or demographic groups, resulting in a lack of effectiveness for certain populations. In this study, we developed a diabetes prediction system using a healthcare framework. The system employs various machine learning methods, such as K-nearest neighbors, decision tree, deep learning, SVM, random forest, AdaBoost and logistic regression. The performance of the system was evaluated using the PIMA Indians Diabetes dataset and achieved a training accuracy of 82% and validation accuracy of 80%.
Characterization of phi112, a Molecular Marker Tightly Linked to the o2 Gene of Maize, and Its Utilization in Multiplex PCR for Differentiating Normal Maize from QPM
Authors: Singh Alla , Karjagi Chikkappa , Kaur Sehgeet , Jeet Gagan , Bhamare Deepak , Gupta Sonu , Kumar Sunil , Das Abhijit , Gupta Mamta , Chaudhary D. P. , Bhushan Bharat , Jat B. S. , Kumar Ramesh , Dagla M. C. , Kumar Manoj
Published: February 2023

Quality Protein Maize (QPM) contains higher amounts of essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan. The QPM phenotype is based on regulating zein protein synthesis by opaque2 transcription factor. Many gene modifiers act to optimize the amino acid content and agronomic performance. An SSR marker, phi112, is present upstream of the opaque2 DNA gene. Its analysis has shown the presence of transcription factor activity. The functional associations of opaque2 have been determined. The putative transcription factor binding at phi112 marked DNA was identified through computational analysis. The present study is a step towards understanding the intricate network of molecular interactions that fine-tune the QPM genotype to influence maize protein quality. In addition, a multiplex PCR assay for differentiation of QPM from normal maize is shown, which can be used for Quality Control at various stages of the QPM value chain.
Influence Factors of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Micro-Enterprises in the Cross-Border E-Commerce Platforms
Authors: Chen Wei-Hung , Lin Yao-Chin , Bag Anima , Chen Chun-Liang
Published: February 2023

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are frequently exposed to a variety of difficulties during global epidemic crises like coronavirus (COVID-19), which may even threaten their lives. The purpose of this study explores the influencing factors of Taiwan’s companies between small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises on the choice of the cross-border e-commerce platform. The findings are defined as taking into account small and medium-sized businesses and microenterprises when choosing cross-border e-commerce through a literature review and an examination of secondary data among the 10 participating businesses through interviews in various regions and business sectors in Taiwan. In this case we used study-based research, which included five small, medium-sized, and micro-enterprises, as well as five cross-border e-commerce projects and the company’s management senior officers. According to the study’s emphasis on the economic, social, technological, and legal aspects of various firms, these factors lead to a variety of decisions regarding the best cross-border e-commerce platform. The case study approach was utilized in this investigation to confirm the consideration of micro-and small-sized businesses that took part in cross-border e-commerce project counseling. This study summarizes five types of enterprises with different capabilities: product enhancement, marketing enhancement, cross-border potential, knowledge-based enhancement, and cross-border start-up. According to the results, it was found that different enterprise capabilities will affect the choice of cross-border e-commerce platforms. These five capabilities also have different types of consideration factors; among them, SMEs pay attention to marketing, pricing, market analysis, culture, customer service, payment, logistics, certification, taxation, etc. In addition to theoretical implications, this research also gives small and medium enterprises and micro-enterprises practice when choosing cross-border e-commerce platform, as well as suggestions for future research.
New Damage Accumulation Model for Spall Propagation Mechanism in Bearing Raceways
Authors: Ohana Ravit , Klein Renata , Shneck Roni , Bortman Jacob
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the spall propagation mechanism in ball bearing raceways using physics-based models. Spalling is one of the most common types of bearing failures that can lead to catastrophic failure. This research takes a step forward toward developing a prognostic tool for ball bearings. It is first necessary to understand the spall progression process in order to formulate a constitutive law of spall deterioration and to estimate the amount of remaining useful life. Fragment formation in the vicinity of the spall edge was found to consist of surface and sub-surface cracks that eventually coalesce, and a fragment is released from the raceway, based on naturally-developed spalls. Here, we describe a physics-based model, integrating a dynamic model with a finite element one to simulate this process. A continuum damage mechanics (CDM) approach and fracture mechanics tools were embedded into the finite element model to simulate the damage propagation. The formation of cracks in the vicinity of the spall (surface and sub-surface cracks) were studied using this effective stress CDM model, and the propagation of the cracks was examined using two approaches: a fracture mechanics approach and an accumulated inelastic hysteresis energy CDM approach. The latter also predicts the overall process of a single fragment release. The simulation results of the spall propagation models are supported by experimental results of spalls from both laboratory experimental bearings and an in-service Sikorsky CH-53 helicopter swashplate bearing. The results obtained show that the impact of the ball on the spall edge affects the crack propagation and the appearance of the surface and sub-surface cracks. Both release the residual stresses and cause crack propagation until a fragment is released.
Enhanced Luminescence of Yb3+ Ions Implanted to ZnO through the Selection of Optimal Implantation and Annealing Conditions
Authors: Ratajczak Renata , Guziewicz Elzbieta , Prucnal Slawomir , Mieszczynski Cyprian , Jozwik Przemysław , Barlak Marek , Romaniuk Svitlana , Gieraltowska Sylwia , Wozniak Wojciech , Heller René , Kentsch Ulrich , Facsko Stefan
Published: February 2023

Rare earth-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:RE) systems are attractive for future optoelectronic devices such as phosphors, displays, and LEDs with emission in the visible spectral range, working even in a radiation-intense environment. The technology of these systems is currently under development, opening up new fields of application due to the low-cost production. Ion implantation is a very promising technique to incorporate rare-earth dopants into ZnO. However, the ballistic nature of this process makes the use of annealing essential. The selection of implantation parameters, as well as post-implantation annealing, turns out to be non-trivial because they determine the luminous efficiency of the ZnO:RE system. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the optimal implantation and annealing conditions, ensuring the most efficient luminescence of RE3+ ions in the ZnO matrix. Deep and shallow implantations, implantations performed at high and room temperature with various fluencies, as well as a range of post-RT implantation annealing processes are tested: rapid thermal annealing (minute duration) under different temperatures, times, and atmospheres (O2, N2, and Ar), flash lamp annealing (millisecond duration) and pulse plasma annealing (microsecond duration). It is shown that the highest luminescence efficiency of RE3+ is obtained for the shallow implantation at RT with the optimal fluence of 1.0 × 1015 RE ions/cm2 followed by a 10 min annealing in oxygen at 800 °C, and the light emission from such a ZnO:RE system is so bright that can be observed with the naked eye.
Optimal Stopping and Loading Rules Considering Multiple Attempts and Task Success Criteria
Authors: Wu Yaguang
Published: February 2023

Numerous engineering systems gradually deteriorate due to internal stress caused by the working load. The system deterioration process is directly related to the workload, providing opportunities for decision-makers to manage system deterioration by modifying the workload. As one of the most effective ways to control system malfunction risk, mission stopping has been extensively studied. Most existing research on mission stopping ignores the effect of working loads on the internal deterioration of safety-critical systems. The purpose of this work is to examine the optimal joint loading and stopping rules for systems subject to internal degradation under two types of mission success requirements (MSR). The problem is formulated using the recursive algorithm to minimize the expected cost over the mission. Mission reliability and system safety are assessed, and the optimal loading and stopping rules are investigated. The established models are illustrated by practical examples, and comprehensive policy comparison and parameter sensitivity analysis on the allowable mission time, mission duration and the number of mission tries are conducted. Our findings indicate that dynamic load level modification has a substantial effect on system deterioration and predicted long-term costs. For the purpose of decision-making, several managerial implications for the joint development of load adjustment and abort implementation are obtained.
TEER and Ion Selective Transwell-Integrated Sensors System for Caco-2 Cell Model
Authors: Sciurti Elisa , Blasi Laura , Prontera Carmela Tania , Barca Amilcare , Giampetruzzi Lucia , Verri Tiziano , Siciliano Pietro Aleardo , Francioso Luca
Published: February 2023

Monitoring of ions in real-time directly in cell culture systems and in organ-on-a-chip platforms represents a significant investigation tool to understand ion regulation and distribution in the body and ions’ involvement in biological mechanisms and specific pathologies. Innovative flexible sensors coupling electrochemical stripping analysis (square wave anodic stripping voltammetry, SWASV) with an ion selective membrane (ISM) were developed and integrated in Transwell™ cell culture systems to investigate the transport of zinc and copper ions across a human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayer. The fabricated ion-selective sensors demonstrated good sensitivity (1 × 10−11 M ion concentration) and low detection limits, consistent with pathophysiological cellular concentration ranges. A non-invasive electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis, in situ, across a selected spectrum of frequencies (10–105 Hz), and an equivalent circuit fitting were employed to obtain useful electrical parameters for cellular barrier integrity monitoring. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) data and immunofluorescent images were used to validate the intestinal epithelial integrity and the permeability enhancer effect of ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N’,N’-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) treatment. The proposed devices represent a real prospective tool for monitoring cellular and molecular events and for studies on gut metabolism/permeability. They will enable a rapid integration of these sensors into gut-on-chip systems.
Epicutaneous Sensitization and Food Allergy: Preventive Strategies Targeting Skin Barrier Repair—Facts and Challenges
Authors: Dębińska Anna , Sozańska Barbara
Published: February 2023

Food allergy represents a growing public health and socio-economic problem with an increasing prevalence over the last two decades. Despite its substantial impact on the quality of life, current treatment options for food allergy are limited to strict allergen avoidance and emergency management, creating an urgent need for effective preventive strategies. Advances in the understanding of the food allergy pathogenesis allow to develop more precise approaches targeting specific pathophysiological pathways. Recently, the skin has become an important target for food allergy prevention strategies, as it has been hypothesized that allergen exposure through the impaired skin barrier might induce an immune response resulting in subsequent development of food allergy. This review aims to discuss current evidence supporting this complex interplay between the skin barrier dysfunction and food allergy by highlighting the crucial role of epicutaneous sensitization in the causality pathway leading to food allergen sensitization and progression to clinical food allergy. We also summarize recently studied prophylactic and therapeutic interventions targeting the skin barrier repair as an emerging food allergy prevention strategy and discuss current evidence controversies and future challenges. Further studies are needed before these promising strategies can be routinely implemented as prevention advice for the general population.
Association between WHO First-Step Analgesic Use and Risk of Breast Cancer in Women of Working Age
Authors: Oh Hyun Sook , Seo Hwa Jeong
Published: February 2023

We assessed the association between breast cancer and analgesic use in women of a specific working-age group. The Korean National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort database (KNHIS–NSC) data were analyzed. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for patients’ cancer risk based on whether the women participated in economic activity (PEA or not PEA (NPEA) groups) and analgesic use. Additionally, breast cancer incidence variations by age group, and PEA or NPEAs, health behavior, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and analgesic use were evaluated. The PEA group had a higher cancer risk than the NPEA group (HR = 1.542, 95% CI: 1.345–1.768, p < 0.001). Breast cancer risk was high in the PEA, high income, and no history of exercise groups, but significantly reduced in the regular-use-of-analgesics group. Notably, the working age group of 40~49 years, within the PEA group, had the highest HR of breast cancer development (HR = 1.700, 95% CI = 1.361–2.124, p < 0.001); whereas regular analgesic use in those aged 25~39 years decreased breast cancer risk (HR = 0.611, 95% CI = 0.427–0.875, p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that individuals at a high-risk of comorbidity may benefit from regular use of analgesics, which may prove to be a useful strategy for breast cancer prevention in the Young-aged group.
Mucosal Genes Expression in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: New Insights
Authors: Alarfaj Sumaiah J. , Mostafa Sally Abdallah , Negm Walaa A. , El-Masry Thanaa A. , Kamal Marwa , Elsaeed Mohamed , El Nakib Ahmed Mohamed
Published: February 2023

Individual differences in IBD illness severity, behavior, progression, and therapy response are evident. Since a break in the intestinal epithelial barrier causes IBD to begin, mucosal gene expression in IBD is crucial. Due to its high sensitivity and dynamic nature, molecular analysis of biomarkers in intestinal biopsies is feasible and provides a reliable means of evaluating localized inflammation. The goal of this investigation was to discover alterations in gene expression in the inflamed mucosa of IBD patients undergoing treatment with 5-amino salicylic acid (5ASA) (N = 39) or anti-TNF drugs (N = 22). The mucosal expression of numerous IBD-related genes was evaluated using qPCR. We discovered that the levels of the proteins Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 (NOS2), Mucin 2 (MUC2), Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), and Trefoil factor 1 (TFF1), which are overexpressed in untreated IBD patients compared to non-IBD subjects, are decreased by both therapy regimens. On the other hand, anti-TNF medicine helped the levels of ABCB1 and E-cadherin return to normal in IBD patients who were not receiving treatment.
Polyimide-Derived Supramolecular Systems Containing Various Amounts of Azochromophore for Optical Storage Uses
Authors: Barzic Andreea Irina , Sava Ion , Albu Raluca Marinica , Ursu Cristian , Lisa Gabriela , Stoica Iuliana
Published: February 2023

The progress of digital technologies demands more speed and larger storage capacity. Optical storage systems have the advantage of being cheap, fast and capacious. This article explores the potential use of polyimide-based films as a recording medium for optical storage devices. The materials were designed through a host–guest approach that involves a cyano-containing polyimide precursor and an azochromophore combined in the following ratios: 1:0.25, 1:0.5, 1:0.75 and 1:1. After thermal treatment up to 200 °C, polyimide systems were formed with supramolecular structures constructed via hydrogen bonding as shown by molecular modeling and FTIR at around 3350 cm−1. The aspects arising from the variation of the azo-dye content in the polyimide samples and their impact on the vitrification temperature, colorimetric features, refractive index, band gap, non-linear optical susceptibility and birefringence were investigated for the first time. The thermal analysis indicated a slight decrease in the vitrification temperature from 190.84 °C for the sample without azo dye to 163.91 °C for the film containing the highest leading of azo dye. The morphology images revealed the occurrence of periodic structures in azo-derived materials exposed to a UV laser, which is accentuated by the addition of more azo dye molecules. Optical tests allowed observation of the increase in the dominant wavelength, refractivity and optical conductivity of the samples, produced by the incorporation of azochromophore and laser irradiation. The photo-generated birefringence increased from 0.014 (sample with 1:0.25) to 0.036 (sample with 1:1), which in combination with the created regular topography pattern, is essential for the use of these materials as recording media in optical storage applications.
Effects of Europium Complex on Thermal and Photoluminescence Properties of Polyurethane-Europium Materials
Authors: Gao Lijun , Li Liuyang , Li Yunqiu , He Congcong , Zhou Liming , Qu Xiongwei , Fang Shaoming
Published: February 2023

A europium complex with double bonds was synthesized with crotonic acid as the ligand and a europium ion as the center ion. Then, the obtained europium complex was added to synthesized poly(urethane-acrylate) macromonomers to prepare the bonded polyurethane-europium materials by the polymerization of the double bonds in the complex and the poly(urethane-acrylate) macromonomers. The prepared polyurethane-europium materials had high transparency, good thermal stability and good fluorescence. The storage moduli of polyurethane-europium materials are obviously higher than those of pure polyurethane. Polyurethane-europium materials exhibit bright red light with good monochromaticity. The light transmittance of the material decreases slightly with increases in the europium complex content, but the luminescence intensity gradually increases. In particular, polyurethane-europium materials possess a long luminescence lifetime, which has potential applications for optical display instruments.
Mechanism of Water Use Behavior of College Students Based on the Improved TPB Model
Authors: Zhang Lan , Bai Xue , Liu Jialin , Bai Yan , Guan Jinxin
Published: February 2023

Colleges and universities are a typical service water consumers in China, i.e., with a dense population, single structure, and regular water use. This means it is crucial to strengthen the management of their water use behavior. In this paper, first of all, the main water devices and water use behavior of students were elucidated by investigating and analyzing the structure and scenarios of water use in colleges and universities. Then, a model of water use behavior of college students with sociodemographic and environmental characteristics was constructed based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). By investigating and analyzing the water use behavior, the theoretical judgment of the improved TPB model that “behavior is the result of interaction between individual and environmental characteristics” was proved, which provides a reference for studying the water demand requirements of college students and supports scientific water-use management in colleges, our results also help the exploration of potential water-saving solutions in order to construct water-conservative colleges and universities.
Multiscale Analysis of Reflected Radiation on Lunar Surface Region Based on MRRT Model
Authors: Liu Yunfei , Guo Qiang , Wang Guifu
Published: February 2023

The moon has stable luminosity. Radiometric calibration on the lunar region is a good step in the right direction with the expansion of instrument observation capabilities. The uneven composition and terrain types of the lunar surface make it possible for inaccuracies in albedo calculation from coarse-scale data if the within-pixel topology is overlooked. The expression between the region’s bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF) and the actual microtopography reflectance was established by the multiple reflections of radiation between terrains (MRRT) model. This research studied the radiation properties on the lunar surface region at various spatial resolutions (scales) based on the MRRT model. To determine the ideal scale of microtopography to be built, the scale-effect evaluation factor of albedo is established, and the scale-effect function is fitted. Experiments demonstrate that a microtopography with a spatial resolution of 60 m to 120 m, with 80 m being the most suitable scale, can be constructed for an area having (6000 × 6000) m2. This research adds to the MRRT model’s applicability analysis in multiscale DEM modeling, helps choose and build a radiation calibration field on the lunar surface, and lays the groundwork for employing the area of the lunar surface for radiation calibration.
Optimal Design and Operation of an Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System in Nigeria’s Rural Residential Area, Using Fuzzy Logic and Optimization Techniques
Authors: Afolabi Taofeek , Farzaneh Hooman
Published: February 2023

This study focuses on a technical and economic analysis of designing and operating an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) in a rural community called Olooji, situated in Ogun state, Nigeria, as a case study. First, a size optimization model is developed on the basis of the novel metaheuristic particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique to determine the optimal configuration of the proposed off-grid system on the basis of the minimization of the levelized cost of electricity, by factoring in the local meteorological and electricity load data and details on the technical specification of the main components of the HRES. Second, a fuzzy-logic-controlled energy management system (EMS) is developed for the dynamic power control and energy storage of the proposed HRES, ensuring the optimal energy balance between the different multiple energy sources and the load at each hour of operation. The result of the size optimization model showed that an LCOE for implementing an HRES in the community would be 0.48 USD/kWh in a full-battery-capacity scenario and 1.17 USD/kWh in a half-battery-capacity scenario. The result from this study is important for quick decision-making and effective feasibility studies on the optimal technoeconomic synopsis of implementing minigrids in rural communities.
Changes in Microfine Particle Migration of Ionic Rare Earth Ores during Leaching
Authors: Deng Yunchuan , Wan Yinhua , Yu Hongdong , Kang Shijie , Deng Yang , Yang Jie
Published: February 2023

The hydration mechanism between the leaching agent and ore surface during the leaching process of ionic rare earth ore is complicated, and the inter-particle bridge cementation is prone to fracture due to the existence of multiple forces and dispersion during ion adsorption and exchange, resulting in migration and rearrangement of microfine particles, and precipitation at the pore throat, producing blockage phenomenon and affecting the leaching efficiency of ionic rare earths. In order to reveal the migration law of microfine particles during in situ leaching of ionic rare earth ores and to find suitable regulation methods, this paper investigates the effects of leaching agent mass concentration, viscosity, flow rate, hydraulic gradient, ore body height, and ore body water content on the migration of microfine particles. We compared ionic rare earth ores as raw ores and rare earth ores with particle sizes ranging from 0.075 to 0.09 mm using the laboratory column leaching method. The results showed that the migration of microfine particles during ionic rare earth ore leaching was an important factor affecting leaching efficiency. Under the action of external forces, the microfine particles tended to migrate with the leaching agent during the leaching process.
Knowledge Management and Total Quality Management Impact on Employee Effectiveness in Emerging Industries: Case of Tunisian Small and Medium Enterprises
Authors: Lehyani Fatma , Zouari Alaeddine , Ghorbel Ahmed , Tollenaere Michel , Sá José Carlos
Published: February 2023

Employee effectiveness is highly important for all economic activities. Several factors can affect its degree, either positively or negatively. In this vein, this work aims to examine the impact of knowledge management and total quality management on employee effectiveness in the industry of emerging countries. For that, Tunisian small and medium enterprises were taken as an example. The proposed methodology consists first of providing a research model linking the correlation between knowledge management elements, total quality management practices, and employee effectiveness. Then, a survey was designed and broadcast to more than 3000 Tunisian small and medium enterprises. Hence, 206 responses were collected from several industrial fields, and collected data analysis was achieved by SPSS software. For testing research hypotheses, multiple regression analysis, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were employed. The finding points out that total quality management and knowledge management have a positive impact on staff effectiveness. This impact is highlighted through the roles of knowledge management elements and total quality management practices on human resources behavior and their ability enhancement. Consequently, a significant increase in productivity can be seen in the operational processes of the company. This work is one of the first studies to research total quality management and knowledge management impact on staff effectiveness in Tunisian small and medium enterprises. Besides, it reflects the maturity and the awareness of respondent companies’ managers to the practice of these concepts in emerging economies.
Contribution of Air Management to the Energy Efficiency of Water Pipelines
Authors: Tasca Elias , Besharat Mohsen , Ramos Helena M. , Luvizotto Edevar , Karney Bryan
Published: February 2023

Water conveyance systems are notorious for incurring considerable energy expenditures, either as losses of gravitational potential energy or as increased electricity consumption. Entrapped air pockets, originating from ineffective or nonexistent air management schemes, are common and often significant contributors to these energy costs. This work summarizes the detrimental influence of entrapped air on the energetics and conveyance capacity of pressurized pipelines and identifies those conditions that typically result in temporary or persistent air accumulations. Gravity and pumped lines are considered and gravity lines are shown to be more prone to the negative effects of entrapped air. In addition, initially robust air management strategies can gradually degrade if poorly adjusted to evolving circumstances. The paper critically assesses two common air management strategies: through employing air valves or by air removal by hydraulic means—that is, by considering a line’s configuration along with an attempt to predict the necessary flow conditions for the hydraulic removal of entrapped air.
Can Fintech Alleviate the Financing Constraints of Enterprises?—Evidence from the Chinese Securities Market
Authors: Lyu Yang , Ji Zheng , Zhang Xiaoqi , Zhan Zhe
Published: February 2023

Whether Fintech enabled by big data technology can improve the efficiency of credit allocation and how it would do has always been the focus in the capital market, especially the intermediary mechanism, which has not yet been convincingly explained. This paper empirically tests the logical relationship and micro mechanism between Fintech and the corporate financing constraint dilemma by using the data of China’s A-share non-financial listed companies from 2011 to 2018. The research found that Fintech has a significant mitigation effect on corporate financing constraints, and the coverage capability of Fintech has a stronger mitigation effect compared to the depth of use. Mechanism research shows that the “technology enabling” role of Fintech can alleviate the financing constraints of enterprises by reducing the degree of information asymmetry between capital supply and demand sides and reducing financing costs. Heterogeneity research shows that the mitigation effect of Fintech on corporate financing constraints is more significant in enterprises with private property, non-main board listing, senior executives with high financial literacy, and enterprises with strong competitive positions in the industry. Further research shows that, in order to identify the impact of Fintech on corporate financing types under an environment without internal control defects, Fintech enables enterprises facing financing constraints to obtain more commercial credit and bank loans; at a time when it is difficult to obtain bank loans, commercial credit has become an alternative financing method of bank loans, promoting the transfer of credit resources from traditional mortgage guarantees to enterprise commercial credit. This study provides a perspective for the research on how Fintech alleviates corporate financing constraints, and it reveals the characteristics of digital empowerment in the development of China’s capital market, providing a theoretical basis and evidence supporting the formulation of relevant policies.
Bioinformatic Tools for NGS-Based Metagenomics to Improve the Clinical Diagnosis of Emerging, Re-Emerging and New Viruses
Authors: Ibañez-Lligoña Marta , Colomer-Castell Sergi , González-Sánchez Alejandra , Gregori Josep , Campos Carolina , Garcia-Cehic Damir , Andrés Cristina , Piñana Maria , Pumarola Tomàs , Rodríguez-Frias Francisco , Antón Andrés , Quer Josep
Published: February 2023

Epidemics and pandemics have occurred since the beginning of time, resulting in millions of deaths. Many such disease outbreaks are caused by viruses. Some viruses, particularly RNA viruses, are characterized by their high genetic variability, and this can affect certain phenotypic features: tropism, antigenicity, and susceptibility to antiviral drugs, vaccines, and the host immune response. The best strategy to face the emergence of new infectious genomes is prompt identification. However, currently available diagnostic tests are often limited for detecting new agents. High-throughput next-generation sequencing technologies based on metagenomics may be the solution to detect new infectious genomes and properly diagnose certain diseases. Metagenomic techniques enable the identification and characterization of disease-causing agents, but they require a large amount of genetic material and involve complex bioinformatic analyses. A wide variety of analytical tools can be used in the quality control and pre-processing of metagenomic data, filtering of untargeted sequences, assembly and quality control of reads, and taxonomic profiling of sequences to identify new viruses and ones that have been sequenced and uploaded to dedicated databases. Although there have been huge advances in the field of metagenomics, there is still a lack of consensus about which of the various approaches should be used for specific data analysis tasks. In this review, we provide some background on the study of viral infections, describe the contribution of metagenomics to this field, and place special emphasis on the bioinformatic tools (with their capabilities and limitations) available for use in metagenomic analyses of viral pathogens.
Study on Genomics of the Bisphenol A-Degrading Bacterium Pseudomonas sp. P1
Authors: Li Shuaiguo , Tian Kejian , Qiu Qing , Yu Yue , Li Han , Chang Menghan , Sun Xuejian , Gu Jinming , Zhang Fenglin , Wang Yibing , Huo Hongliang
Published: February 2023

As a widespread pollutant, bisphenol A (BPA) has created a serious threat to ecosystem and human health. Therefore, expanding the available microbial resources used to screen highly efficient BPA-degrading bacteria with BPA as the sole carbon source is very important for the removal of this pollutant from the environment. In this study, the BPA degradation rate of Pseudomonas sp. P1 to 30 mg/L was 96.89% within 120 h. Whole genome sequencing showed that the genome of strain P1 was composed of a single circular chromosome with a full length of 6.17 Mb, which contained 5636 predicted coding genes. Comparative genomic analysis showed that strain P1 contained 210 functional genes related to BPA degradation. It was confirmed that BPA degradation genes ferredoxin (bisdA), P450 (bisdB), CotA and Lac in strain P1 were highly expressed under the induction of BPA. Combined with the identification of metabolites, the route of BPA degradation by Pseudomonas was proposed. A new metabolite, 4-vinylphenol, was detected for the first time in pathway Ⅰ. In pathway Ⅱ, BPA is directly oxidized to phenol and 4-isopropenyl phenol in the presence of laccase, which is rarely reported in the process of bacterial degradation of BPA. This study confirmed that strain P1 had good tolerance to various environmental factors at the gene level and enriched the degradation mechanism of BPA.
Transport of Sediment Mixtures in Steady Flow with an Extra Contribution of Their Finest Fractions: Laboratory Tests and Modeling
Authors: Zawisza Jerzy , Radosz Iwona , Biegowski Jarosław , Kaczmarek Leszek M.
Published: February 2023

This paper presents the results of experimental studies on the transport of water-sandy mixtures with the content of very fine non-cohesive fractions in steady flow. The flow and shear velocity measurements as well as the measurements of sediment amount in the trap and control area were conducted. A theoretical model of the vertical structure of both velocity and concentration of sediment non-cohesive fractions as well as vertical mixing and sorting is presented here for transport calculations. The interaction effects between fractions are included, especially the influence of fine fractions in the mixture on transport of coarser fractions. The model provides an agreement between measurements and calculations of transport rate and grain size distributions of poorly sorted mixtures within plus/minus a coefficient of two. Further, the present model is used for calculating the limited contribution of very fine fractions in sediment due to deficit of those fractions in the bed. Again, the compliance of the calculations of sediment transport according to measurements is achieved. The satisfactory agreement between the calculations of grain size distributions and measurements is also found.
Pharmacotherapy approaches to migraine prevention and treatment
Authors:   Kazan State Medical Academy — Branch Campus of the FSAEI CPE Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Kazan, Sirazutdinova A. R. , Zvegintseva A. A. ,   Kazan State Medical Academy — Branch Campus of the FSAEI CPE Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Kazan; SAHI Republican Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan; SAHI Kazan City Clinical Hospital No. 7, Kazan, Maksimov M. L. ,   Kazan State Medical Academy — Branch Campus of the FSAEI CPE Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Kazan; SAHI Republican Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan; FSAEI CPE Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow; FSAEI HE Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow
Published: February 2023

Migraine is considered one of the most important causes of disease-related disability worldwide, contributing to functional disorders as well as significant social and economic burden [1]. Although there are several medications used to treat migraine patients, many such patients either cannot tolerate the side effects or do not respond to oral migraine prevention medications. Up to 78 % of migraine patients are known to experience treatment failure [2,3].
Input force and floor impedance measurement for the standard tapping machine and the standard impact ball
Authors: Girdhar Sunit , Barnard Andrew , Blough Jason , LoVerde John , Dong Wayland
Published: February 2023

The current ASTM and International Standards Organization (ISO) standard im- pact test method for floor-ceiling assemblies does not require the test engineer to measure the input force during the impact. A standard tapping machine or a standard impact ball is used for these tests, but
these input sources usually do not have any provision to measure the input force. In this work, the input force of these impact methods was measured on seven different assemblies, and a modal hammer was used as a “control” source. The input force and average floor impedance were
measured and compared to each other. The peak input force levels due to the tapping machine vary by approximately 38 dB from one floor to the other, and the frequency excitation bandwidth varies widely based on the type of floor construction. This shows that there is a need to measure the
input force and scale the output sound quantity with the input force to get a frequency response function (FRF)-like quantity to compare different floor-ceiling assemblies. For the impact ball, the variation in low-frequency input force levels is almost non-existent, but the impact ball has
a poor measurement signal-to-noise ratio above 80 Hz one-third octave band. The impedance measured using the impact ball matches closely with the control impedance measured using the modal hammer.
Sandwich theorems for radiant functions
Authors: Mustăța Costică
Published: February 2023

We show that between two graphs, one of a radiant function and the other  of a coradiant, both dened on a real interval containing 0, there exists at  least one line which separates the graphs. The conditions for the uniqueness of a separating linear function are also established.
Sätze vom Bohman-Korovkin-Typ für lokalkonvexe Vektorverbände
Authors: Gonska Heiner
Published: February 2023

Two Korovkin-type theorems inspired by the work of Scheffold are given concerning the approximation of a continuous lattice homomorphism \(P\) by a sequence of certain positive linear operators \(T_n\). The first result is used to prove a generalization of a proposition of Muller dealing with approximation in Banach function spaces.
Existence and approximation of a solution of boundary value problems for delay integro-differential equations
Authors: Cherevko Igor , Dorosh Andrew
Published: February 2023

The properties of a solution of the boundary value problems for delay integro-differential equations are investigated, the conditions for the existence and uniqueness of their solution are found. An iterative scheme of finding an approximate solution using cubic splines with defect two is suggested. The sufficient conditions for the convergence of the iterative scheme are obtained.
Effect of the gelatin extraction method from tilapia skin and its application as a coating
Authors: Maia Monique de Oliveira , Da Costa Juliana Nascimento , Braga Renata Chastinet , Araújo Rinaldo dos Santos , Do Egito Antônio Silva , Damaceno Marlene Nunes , De Souza Bartolomeu Warlene Silva , Sá Daniele Maria Alves Teixeira
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study was to analyze gelatins extracted from tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) skin and evaluate its effect as a coating on fish fillets of the same species. Four gelatin extractions from tilapia skins were prepared in acidic and alkaline conditions, followed by filtration and freeze drying. The samples were analyzed for moisture, lipids, ash, proteins, color parameters, viscosity, spectrophotometry and the coatings made with fish gelatin (FG) and commercial gelatin (CG) were sensorially tested. The protein content and the viscosity of the FG were influenced by the extraction method. The fillets coated with FG showed less moisture than those coated with CG. The sensorial acceptance of the fillets was not influenced by the use of the coatings. Therefore, the use of fish gelatin appears as a sustainable alternative to use tilapia skin after disposal in industrial processing.
Poet R. Meenakshi’s Social Progress
Authors: M Saburamma , S Sahul Hameed
Published: February 2023

Writers in their works highlights many events related to relationship system with the hope that the people in the society should live in harmony. Similarly, R. Meenakshi's poems is about the inequalities among the people, social concern, women's progress, individual human morality, self-sacrifice and humanity. There is nothing equivalent or comparable to the love and affection of a mother. Poets play an important role in such social progress. The article explores the strategies that Meenakshi put forward in the human society by removing the ignorance and ups and downs embedded among the people.