bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Realization of Amyloid like Aggregation as a Common Cause for the Pathogenesis in Diseases
Authors: Naskar Soumick , Gour Nidhi
Published: May 2023

Amyloids were conventionally referred to as extracellular and intracellular accumulation of Aβ42 peptide which causes the formation of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles inside the brain leading to the pathogenesis in Alzheimer’s disease. Subsequently, amyloid-like deposition was found in the etiology of Prion diseases, Parkinson disease, Type II Diabetes and Cancer which was attributed to the aggregation of Prion protein, α-Synuclein, Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Protein and p53 protein respectively. Hence, traditionally amyloids were considered as aggregates formed by the proteins or peptides exclusively. However, since the last decade it has been discovered that other metabolites like single amino acids, nucleobases, lipids, glucose derivatives etc. have propensity to form amyloid-like toxic assemblies. Several studies suggest direct implications of these metabolite assemblies in the patho-physiology of various Inborn errors of metabolisms like Phenylketonuria, Tyrosinemia, Cystinuria and Gaucher’s disease to name a few. In this review, we present a comprehensive literature overview which suggests amyloid-like structure formation as a common phenomenon for the disease progression and pathogenesis in multiple syndromes. The review on this topic is urgently required to create awareness about the understanding of fundamental molecular mechanism behind the origin of diseases from an amyloid perspective and possibly look for a common therapeutic strategy for the treatment of these maladies by designing generic amyloid inhibitors.
Conducting and Reporting Meta-analysis: A Checklist for Reviewers
Authors: GHOSAL SAMIT
Published: May 2023

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have become an important way to summarize data. The hierarchy of evidence-based medicine confers a high platform to meta-analyses. Hence, it is imperative that the analytical and reporting strategy associated with a meta-analysis be standardized. The modern tradition of reporting and publishing a meta-analysis is riddled with several methodological flaws. The most common of these flaws involve the choice of the model used to conduct the meta-analysis and the way that the heterogeneity of studies is assessed. The use of the I2 statistic as a means of detecting within-study heterogeneity is a common methodological flaw encountered in reporting summary statistics.One of the ways to rectify the above flaws is to arm reviewers with an objective way to scrutinize the manuscript. This narrative review enlists six checklists for reviewers to improve the reporting of meta-analyses. The first two checklists address reporting of the risk of bias and assessment of publication bias with the help of a funnel plot. Checklists 3, 4, and 5 address the choice of model selected for the meta-analysis, the method to assess the confidence interval, and the measures of heterogeneity. The final checklist addresses the question asked in the meta-analysis, binary versus an effect size estimate. Although there are many more aspects which can help improve the assessment of a manuscript, these basic checklists can be employed by reviewers without the need for an external statistical analysis to enhance and improve meta-analyses.
Educational Intervention Effects on Depression and Anxiety in Patients After Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zhamaliyeva Lazzat M. , Zhamankulova Damira G. , Abenova Nurgul A. , Koshmaganbetova Gulbakit K.
Published: May 2023

Depression and anxiety in cardiovascular disease worsen the prognosis of patients. Treatments for these disorders often provide limited improvement. The present study aimed to test, for the first time, the impact of educational technology on anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program. A 12-month randomized controlled trial was conducted, in which 207 patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental (n=76) or control (n=69) groups. The intervention involved a structured patient education program provided by medical students who had undergone specially designed training in cardiac rehabilitation. The primary outcomes were death, hospitalization, heart failure, and recurrent myocardial infarction. The study also assessed anxiety and depression. A year later, the experimental group showed a statistically significant decrease in anxiety and depression on the HADS scale, with reductions of 2.0 and 1.9 points respectively (p<0.05). The control group showed reductions of 1.5 and 1.2 points (p<0.05). The difference in depression (HRDS) between the groups at 12 months was -1.29 in favor of the main group (95% CI, -0.7 to -1.88), and the standardized effect size (SMD) was 0.36 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.69). No treatment-related adverse events were observed. The results suggest that educational interventions can have a positive impact on mental health. The study's strengths include a structured intervention, randomization, and long-term follow-up. Limitations include the lack of blinding of study participants and a relatively small sample size.
Research of the Pre-processing Strategy Influence on the Tribological Properties of PEI Processed by Fused Filament Fabrication Technology.
Authors: Mitaľ Gerhard , Gajdoš Ivan , Spišák Emil
Published: May 2023

The paper investigates experimentally the influence of the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) pre-processing strategy on the tribological properties of parts made of PEI (polyetherimide), investigating the difference in the weight loss of the samples caused by abrasive wear before and after the test. The samples were tested for abrasive wear resistance on a tribometer constructed according to ASTM G65/16 (dry sand). Two types of specimen printing orientation along X-axis (lengthwise) and along Z-axis (heightwise) were tested in the study. Three types of path generation strategies were used for manufacturing "X" and "Z" specimens and totally 18 samples were made and tested. Path deposition strategy was carried out with path deposition width of 0.5mm and parallel paths in all slicing layers. In order to reduce the voids in volume, deposition path axes in subsequent layers were shifted by 0.25mm offset. Garnet abrasive Fe3Al2(SiO4)3 was used for this test. The analysis of the experimental data shows the relationship between the samples building direction (X, Z), applied deposition strategies (1X - 3X and 1Z - 3Z) on the resulting resistance to abrasive wear.Keywords: PEI, FFF, path generation strategy, abrasive wear
Gender: a Postmodern idea Developed in Association with the Modern Concept of Sex; Implications for Evolving Sexuality
Authors: Nash Carol
Published: May 2023

A presently ubiquitous idea, how gender is defined remains deeply indebted to modern thought, depending on the concept of sex as its reference point. Originating with practices arising with capitalism, modern thought’s concept of sex was enhanced with the search for the norm regarding standardization, then further refined through the research program of eugenics. Gender, in contrast to sex, has its roots in sexual practice changes from the second half of the twentieth century onward, developed in association with 1980s postmodern thought. The presuppositions of the two concepts differ radically. Understanding the difference between sex and gender matters because gender is now more than a critique of sex—it’s an idea accepted and understood in popular culture and affects how people interpret their sexuality. This review examines the foundations of modern and postmodern thought then focuses on sex and gender with respect to their history within these modes of thought. The conclusion, pointing to future research, is that a further reformulation of sexuality will be required for gender, as a postmodern idea, to truly separate itself from the presumptions of sex as a modern concept, permitting individuals to express their sexuality as they choose without negative social and psychological repercussions.
The role of w3 PUFFA in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Endothelial Dysfunction
Authors: Jankajova Monika , Pella Dominik , Zenuch Pavol , Zenuchova Zuzana , Toth Stefan , Kalanin Peter , Fedacko Jan
Published: May 2023

Aim: Evaluation of role of supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on endothelial function in patients with metabolic syndrome.
Methods: Total of 80 patients with metabolic syndrome were enrolled to two groups. We evaluated endothelial function in subjects before and after three-month treatment with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dose 2.4g daily (800mg 3 times a day) vs placebo. Using the Endo-PAT2000 device (Itamar Medical Ltd. Caesarea, Israel), reactive hyperemia index – a parameter of endothelial function and augmentation index– a parameter of arterial stiffness were measured. Plasmatic level of glutation peroxidase, homocysteine, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a) were also evaluated.
Results: The average values of reactive hyperemia index before the treatment with n-3PUFA was 1.62 ± 0.42 , whereas 1.96 ± 0.62 at the end of the study (p<0.005). Augmentation index changed from 14.66 ± 19.55 to 9.21 ± 15.64 after the treatment (p=0.003). We also observed statistically significant decrease of apolipopotein B (0.94 ± 0.36 vs 1.13 ± 0.35, p = 0.001) and homocysteine (19.31 ± 5.29 vs. 13.78 ± 3.05, p = 0.001) and increase of the glutathion perxidase plasma levels (41.65 ± 8.90 vs. 45.20 ± 8.01), p=0.001.
Conclusion: We have observed significant improvement of the endothelial function in subjects with metabolic syndrome treated with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dose 2.4g daily.
The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI): A New Biomarker for Determining Prognosis in Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Carcinoma
Authors: Ellez Halil İbrahim , Keskinkilic Merve , Semiz Huseyin Salih , Arayici Mehmet Emin , Kısa Erdem , Oztop Ilhan
Published: May 2023

Background: In this paper, it was aimed to evaluate the biomarker potential as well as the effect of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), which is calculated using the albumin level reflecting nutritional status and lymphocyte count reflecting immune status, in determining the prognosis of metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC).

Methods: This retrospective observational study included the complete data of 108 patients with mCPSC who were treated for at least three months between January 1, 2010, and June 1, 2021. The relationship between cancer specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and PNI was evaluated. Kaplan-Meier method for OS, PFS, and CSS, as well as univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used in statistical analyses.

Results: The median age of 108 patients included in the study was 68.54 (61.05-74.19) years. While 71.3% (n = 77) of the patient population were high-volume according to CHAARTED, 52.8% (n = 57) were high-risk based on LATITUDE. 49.75 was determined as the best cut-off point for the PNI. OS (months) was found to be significantly lower in patients with low PNI (median: 34.93, 95% CI: 21.52–48.34) compared to patients with high PNI (median: 65.60, 95% CI: 39.36–91.83) (p=0.016). Patients with high PNI (median: 48.20, 95% CI: 34.66–61.73) had significantly better CSS (months) than patients with low PNI (median: 27.86, 95% CI: 24.16–31.57) (p=0.001).

Conclusions: PNI calculated at the time of diagnosis strongly predicts OS and CSS but not PFS in patients with mCSPC.
Personalized Medicine of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Depression Treatment in Obese and Metabolically Dysregulated Patients
Authors: Wu Suet-Kei , Chen Wei-Jen , Chang Jane Pei-Chen , Guu Ta-Wei , Hsin Ming-Che , Huang Chih-Kun , Mischoulon David , Capuron Lucile , Su Kuan-Pin
Published: May 2023

The co-occurrence of depression and obesity has become a significant public health concern worldwide. Recent studies have shown that metabolic dysfunction, which is commonly observed in obese individuals and characterized by inflammation, insulin resistance, leptin resistance, and hypertension, is a critical risk factor for depression. This dysfunction may induce structural and functional changes in the brain, ultimately contributing to depression's development. Given that obesity and depression mutually increase each other's risk of development by 50-60%, there is a need for effective interventions that address both conditions. The comorbidity of depression with obesity and metabolic dysregulation is thought to be related to chronic low-grade inflammation, characterized by increased circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and C-reactive protein (CRP). As pharmacotherapy fails in at least 30-40% of cases to adequately treat major depressive disorder, a nutritional approach is emerging as a promising alternative. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) are a promising dietary intervention that can reduce inflammatory biomarkers, particularly in patients with high levels of inflammation, including pregnant women with gestational diabetes, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and overweight individuals with major depressive disorder. Further effort directed to implement these strategies in clinical practice could contribute to improved outcomes in patients with depression and comorbid obesity and/or metabolic dysregulation.
On the Use of Low-Intensity Ultrasonic Vibration for Enhancing the Laser Welding
Authors: Teyeb Ahmed , Salimi Mohamad , El Masri Evelyne , Hoque Samiul , Carr Phil , Balachandran Wamadeva , Gan Tat- Hean
Published: May 2023

This paper investigates the use of contactless power ultrasonic excitation to decrease the electrical impedance of the weld in laser welding. The literature extensively documents the impact of em-ploying contact power ultrasonic excitation on the microstructure morphology and refinement of grain in the weld. This study involves characterizing an industrial High Power Ultrasound Transducer (HPUT) by determining the optimal distance and angle for contactless excitation of the fusion zone in the weld, aiming to achieve the maximum amplitude. Subsequently, the transducer is integrated into the laser welding system, resulting in the creation of an ultrasonic-assisted welding system. To find the improvement due to the contactless vibration assistance, the welding area was char-acterised by an impedance ohmmeter device. The results indicate an approximately 6 % im-provement in the welding quality in terms of the impedance value, an important parameter for battery pack welding. In response to the issue of overheating in the industrial transducer during prolonged welding operations, an alternative transducer was proposed to overcome this challenge. Further investigations are carried out by the alternative transducer to find the effect of different wave types, namely, shear and compressional waves, on the welding quality. The contact vibration can excite the plate approximately 50 times higher in acceleration amplitude than contactless ex-citation. Nevertheless, enhancements of 10% and 6% are observed in the impedance value when utilising compressional and shear waves, respectively, as compared to the results obtained with contactless vibration.
Corrosion Failure Analysis of Duplex Stainless Steel Used as Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger with Seawater as the Cooling Medium
Authors: Ardy Husaini , Albatros Thomas , Sumboja Afriyanti
Published: May 2023

The present paper describes a study case of the failure investigation of Duplex stainless steel (UNS S31803) on the tube and tube sheet section of a shell and tube heat exchanger BEM TEMA type with seawater as the cooling medium. Although UNS S31803 offers high strength, high resistance to chloride-induced SCC, and high resistance to pitting attack in chloride environments, in this study case, the heat exchanger experienced some material degradation; 26 tubes were leaked and plugged on both sides, and scales plugged 76 tubes. The examination in this study case revealed the formation of biofilm inside the tubes, XRD examination revealed that the film contained aragonite (CaCO3), and by using microstructural examination on the inner surface of the tube, the austenite grains were preferentially attacked by crevice corrosion. In this case, the failure was caused by crevice corrosion, and crevice corrosion was enhanced by microbiological-induced corrosion (MIC). Recommendations to avoid similar failures are also suggested in this paper.
Dynamic Analysis and Control of Neural Networks: Stability, Oscillation, and Weight-Based Modulation
Authors: Zhang Lei
Published: May 2023

This paper investigates the dynamic properties of artificial neural networks using differential equations and explores the influence of parameters on stability and neural oscillations. By analyzing the equilibrium point of the differential equations, we identify conditions for asymptotic stability and criteria for oscillation in artificial neural networks. Furthermore, we demonstrate how adjusting synaptic weights between neurons can effectively control stability and oscillation. The proposed model offers potential insights into the malfunctioning mechanisms of biological neural networks implicated in neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease tremors and epilepsy seizures, which are characterized by abnormal oscillations.
Integrative Analysis of Transcriptomic and Lipidomic Profiles Reveal Differential Mechanism of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue among Ningxiang, Berkshire and Their Offspring Pigs
Authors: Deng Xiaoxiao , Zhang Yuebo , Song Gang , Fu Yawei , Chen Yue , Gao Hu , Wang Qian , Jin Zhao , Yin Yulong , Xu Kang
Published: May 2023

Adipose tissue composition contributes greatly to the quality and nutritional value of meat. Transcriptomic and lipidomic techniques were used to investigate the molecular mechanism of fat deposition difference among Ningxiang, Berkshire and F1 pigs. Transcriptomic analysis identified 680, 592 and 380 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing the groups of Ningxiang pigs vs Berkshire pigs, Berkshire pigs vs F1 pigs, Ningxiang pigs vs F1 pigs. Lipidomic analysis screened 423, 252, and 50 significantly changed lipids (SCLs) by comparing the groups of Ningxiang pigs vs Berkshire pigs, Berkshire pigs vs F1 pigs, Ningxiang pigs vs F1 pigs. Lycine, serine and threonine metabolism pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism related pathways were siginificant enriched in the groups of Berkshire pigs vs Ningxiang pigs and Berkshire pigs vs F1 pigs. The DEGs (PHGDH, LOC110256000) and the SCLs (Phosphatidylserines) may have a great impact on lycine, serine and threonine metabolism pathway. Moreover, the DEGs (FASN, ACACA, CBR4, SCD, ELOV6, HACD, CYP3A46, CYP2B22, GPX1, GPX3) and the SCLs (palmitoleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, icosadienoic acid) play important role in fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism. Thus, the fat deposition difference among Ningxiang, Berkshire and F1 pigs may be caused by the difference of the expression pattern of key genes in multiple enrichment KEGG pathways. The research presented multiple lipids that were potentially available biological indicator and screened key genes that were potentially gene targets for molecular design breeding. The research also explored the molecular mechanisms of fat deposition difference among Ningxiang, Berkshire and F1 pigs and provides insight into the selection of backfat thickness and fat composition of adipose tissue for future breeding strategies.
Wideband DOA Estimation Utilizing Hierarchical Prior Based on Variational Bayesian Inference
Authors: Li Ninghui , Zhang Xiaokuan , Zong Binfeng , Lv Fan , Xu Jiahua , Wang Zhaolong
Published: May 2023

Sparse direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation of wideband signal has attracted widespread researches for its unique high-resolution performance. Numerous existing methods based on sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) don’t possess the ability to enhance sparsity even if they have already enjoyed high favor among sparse recovery approaches. In view of this, we propose a novel hierarchical Bayesian prior framework that enhance sparsity evidently and derive its corresponding iterative algorithm. On analysis, the computational complexity of the iterative are less than most existing other state-of-the-art algorithms. Not only that, proposed method possesses high angular estimation precision and sparsity performance by utilizing joint sparsity of multiple measure vector (MMV) models. Last but not least, the method obtains the ability to stabilize the estimated values between different frequencies or snapshots such that flat spatial spectrum. Extensive simulation results are presented to prove the superior performance of our methods
Sensitivity of Optical Satellites to Estimate Windthrow Tree-Mortality in a Central Amazon Forest
Authors: Emmert Luciano , Negrón-Juárez Robinson Isaac , Chambers Jeffrey Quintin , Santos Joaquim dos , Lima Adriano José Nogueira , Trumbore Susan , Marra Daniel Magnabosco
Published: May 2023

Windthrow (i.e., trees broken and uprooted by wind) is a major natural disturbance in the Amazon. Images from medium-resolution optical satellites (mostly Landsat) combined with extensive field data have allowed researchers to assess patterns of tree mortality and monitor forest recovery over decades of subsequent succession in different regions. Although satellites with high spatial-resolution have become available for the Amazon in the last decade, they have not yet been employed for the mapping and quantification of windthrow tree-mortality. Here, we address how increasing the spatial resolution of satellites affects plot-to-landscape estimates of windthrow tree-mortality. We combined forest inventory data with Landsat 8 (30 m pixel), Sentinel 2 (10 m), and WorldView 2 (2 m) imagery over an old-growth forest in the Central Amazon that was disturbed by a single windthrow event in November/2015. Remote sensing estimates of tree mortality were produced with Spectral Mixture Analysis and analyzed together with forest inventory data using Generalized Linear Models. Windthrow tree-mortality measured in 3 transects (30 subplots) crossing the entire disturbance gradient was 26.9 ± 11.1% (mean ± 95% CI). Based on this ground truth, the three satellites produced reliable and statistically similar estimates (from 26.5% to 30.3% windthrow tree-mortality, p<0.001). The mean-associated uncertainties decreased systematically with increasing spatial resolution (i.e., from Landsat 8 to Sentinel 2 and WorldView 2). However, the overall quality of fit of models showed the opposite pattern, which may reflect the influence of crown damage not accounted for in our field study, and fast-growing regeneration of leaf area. Among the satellites studied, Landsat 8 most accurately captured field observations of variations in tree mortality across the disturbance gradient (i.e., lower under- and/or overestimation from undisturbed to extremely damaged forest). Although satellites with high spatial-resolution can refine estimates of windthrow severity by allowing the quantification of individual tree damage and mortality, our results validate the reliability of Landsat imagery for assessing patterns of windthrow tree-mortality in dense and heterogeneous tropical forests. Although high-resolution imagery may improve estimates of tree damage and mortality, these should be validated using field data at compatible scales.
Sentiment Analysis for E-commerce Product Reviews: Current Trends and Future Directions
Authors: Elzeheiry Salma , Gab-Allah Wael A. , Mekky Nagham , Elmogy Mohammed
Published: May 2023

Numerous goods and services are now offered through online platforms due to the recent growth of online transactions like e-commerce. Users have trouble locating the product that best suits them from the numerous products available in online shopping. Many studies in deep learning-based recommender systems (RSs) have focused on the intricate relationships between the attributes of users and items. Deep learning techniques have used consumer or item-related traits to improve the quality of personalized recommender systems in many areas, such as tourism, news, and e-commerce. Various companies, primarily e-commerce, utilize sentiment analysis to enhance product quality and effectively navigate today's business environment. Customer feedback regarding a product is gathered through sentiment analysis, which uses contextual data to split it into separate polarities. The explosive rise of the e-commerce industry has resulted in a large body of literature on e-commerce from different perspectives. Researchers have made an effort to categorize the recommended future possibilities for e-commerce study as the field has grown. There are several challenges in e-commerce, such as fake reviews, frequency of user reviews, advertisement click fraud, and code-mixing. In this review, we introduce an overview of the preliminary design for e-commerce. Second, the concept of deep learning, e-commerce, and sentiment analysis are discussed. Third, we represent different versions of the commercial dataset. Finally, we explain various difficulties facing RS and future research directions.
Evaluating Urban Solar Potential and BEV Charge Cycle Using Real-Data Techniques
Authors: Zerafa Steve , Azzopardi Brian , Mifsud Craig
Published: May 2023

Electric energy is one of the driving forces in every country. The supply of electrical energy continues to present various challenges, such as high costs associated with procuring raw materials for generation, sparsely populated areas that are not connected to the main grid, and the need for infrastructure to support generation and network delivery. These challenges have contributed to the growing adoption of renewable energy sources, particularly solar photovoltaics (PV).In this study, we have developed a practical method to assess the spatial PV potential in a selected urban area. The methodology combines data collected from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, Geographic Information System (GIS), and the energy output from three remote photovoltaic systems installed at different locations. The results obtained from this approach not only provide the energy generated per square meter, per year (kWh m-2 yr-1), but also provides a base to calculate the potential distance that electric cars could travel based on the energy generated. To illustrate the application of this method, two practical cases were selected: Senglea, Malta, and Munxar, Gozo. These examples highlight the versatility and effectiveness of our approach for evaluating and harnessing solar energy through photovoltaic panels in different contexts.
Finding IoT Anomaly using Rough Fuzzy Periodic Subspace Clustering Approach
Authors: Mazarbhuiya Fokrul Alom Alom , Shenify Mohamed
Published: May 2023

Finding anomalies in the real-time system is recognized as one of most challenging study in information security. It has so many applications like IoT, and Stock-Market. In any IoT system the data generated are real-time, and temporal in nature. Since due to the extreme exposure to Internet and interconnectivity of devices, the IoT systems often face issues like fraud, anomalies, intrusions etc. Discovering anomaly in such domain can be interesting. Clustering and rough set theory have been tried in many cases. Considering the time-stamp associated with IoT data, time-dependent patterns like periodic clusters can be generated which could be helpful for the efficient detection of anomalies by providing more in-depth analysis of the system. In this paper, a mixed method comprising of nano topology, a modified k-means clustering and an interval superimposition technique is used for finding fuzzy periodic clusters in the subspace generated by the nano topology. For every clusters there will be an associated sequence of time-intervals where it exists. The sequence time-intervals accompanying with each clusters may exhibit some remarkable patterns. For example, there may exist different types of periodicity namely yearly, monthly, daily, and hourly etc. For finding such fuzzy periodicity, an operation called interval-superimposition has been used. The time-intervals associated with each cluster are superimposed if they have reasonable overlapping. Each superimposed time-interval generates a fuzzy time-interval. The data instances are thought to be anomalous if they either belong to sparse clusters or don't belong to any clusters. The efficacy of the method can be assessed by means of both time-complexity analysis and comparative studies with existing clustering-based anomaly detection algorithms with a real-life and a synthetic dataset. It can been found experimentally that our method can extract anomaly with 98% of accuracy and it runs cubic time approximately.
Laser-induced Graphene in Polyimide for Antenna Applications
Authors: Sartanavičius Aivaras , Žemgulytė Justina , Ragulis Paulius , Ratautas Karolis , Trusovas Romualdas
Published: May 2023

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has gained considerable attention recently due to its unique properties and potential applications. In this study, we investigate using LIG in polyimide (PI) as a material for antenna applications. The LIG-PI composite material was prepared by a facile picosecond laser (1064 nm) irradiation process, which resulted in a conductive graphene network within the PI matrix. Furthermore, LIG formation was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and sheet resistance measurements. Finally, a patch antenna from LIG for 2.45 GHz microwaves was simulated, produced and tested. These findings suggest that LIG-PI composites have great potential for use in high-frequency electronic devices and can provide a new avenue for the development of flexible and wearable electronics.
IoT LoRaWAN-Based Tracking System in Egypt
Authors: Ahmed Abdelrahman , Elaasar Mahmoud , Abdelhady Ghada
Published: May 2023

With the vast amount of goods being shipped around the world, there is a need to track and manage various types of assets, particularly shipping containers. Logistics industries dealing with small facilities, shipments, equipment, and vehicles must be tracked. There are many applied asset tracking systems such as Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacon, and Long-Range Radio (LoRa). This paper presents these systems and focuses on locating assets using LoRaWAN technology, which has a positive impact on the responsive and sustainable cities in Egypt. IoT-based Long Range (LoRa) is a low-power, wide-area communication technology that uses radio frequencies to transmit data over long distances. The extended range, low power consumption, low maintenance, and the ability to store location data when the end node that needs to connect to the asset is out of the gateway's coverage make LoRa a good choice for developing asset-tracking applications. This paper introduces a real-time tracking experiment as a result of a project implementation, whose goals are aligned with industry, innovation, and infrastructure and Sustainable Cities and Communities, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 9 and 11.
Montane Ecoclines as Social Aggregation Zones in Ancient Central Asia: Agropastoral economies in Jukuu, Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Chang Claudia , Ivanov Sergei S. , Spengler III Robert N. , Mir-Makhamad Basira , Tourtellotte Perry Alan
Published: May 2023

This paper uses preliminary studies of archaeological sites (burial mounds and settlements) from the Iron Age through Medieval periods (ca. 800 BCE to 1200 CE) in the Juuku Valley on the South side of Lake Issyk-Kul to model land-use across vertical mountain zones. To do so, we have established a radiometric chronology, conducted test excavations of an Iron Age settlement and a Turkic period burial, undertaken preliminary archaeobotanical research, and pedestrian surveys. Seed remains of wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), broomcorn millet (Panicum milaceum) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and legumes were recovered in very small quantities from an Iron Age upland settlement at 2100 m asl and a Turkic period burial mound at 1934 m asl. These preliminary archaeobotanical results are compared to the Talgar Iron Age settlements on the north side of the Tian Shan Mountain range in Kazakhstan studied earlier by Robert Spengler. Small samples of faunal remains found at the Turkic period kurgan and from a profile at the upland Iron Age settlement indicate livestock herding of sheep/goats, cattle, and horses in Juuku Valley. The goal of this paper is to test the hypothesis that pastoral transhumance and agropastoralism were economic strategies used by ancient societies during the Iron Age through Medieval periods in mountain-river valley areas between 750 m to 2500 m asl. These economic strategies that combined the pasturing of sheep, goats, cattle and horses with the cultivation of cereals were adapted to the use of different vegetational zones along a vertical gradient. This paper based on preliminary research of upland sites of the Juuku Valley in Kyrgyzstan, initiates a long-term research study of four millennia of settlements that ranged from pastoral transhumance, pastoral nomadism, and combined mountain agriculture using survey data and test excavations.
Exploring the Feeling Experienced by the Families of Terminally Ill Patients in Intensive Care Units When Signing Do-Not-Resuscitate Consent
Authors: Lin Hsiao-Yi , Huang Hsin-Shu
Published: May 2023

All humans will experience the process of birth, old age, illness, and death. However, when faced with life-sustaining decisions, the families of patients are often faced with medical decisions as surrogates. In recent years, the families of patients have started to value the importance of the right to palliative care, although this often requires lengthy discussions. Therefore, this study explored the predictability of factors that affect the feeling experienced by patients’ families when signing Do-Not-Resuscitate Consent. This study used a cross-sectional study and interviewed 90 family members using a structural questionnaire. The study hypotheses were tested using a t-test, one-way analysis of variance, product–moment correlation, and hierarchical regression analysis. Attribute variables of family members, such as gender and whether they live with the patient, are predictors that affect the family member’s feeling experience when signing Do-Not-Resuscitate Consent. The emotional support from medical professionals to family members helps the family member to express their negative feelings on signing Do-Not-Resuscitate Consent; more informational support information provided to family members by medical professionals can alleviate negative feelings felt by family members when signing Do-Not-Resuscitate Consent. This study identified that family members’ knowledge about Do-Not-Resuscitate acquired from medical professionals is relatively low. It is suggested that critical care units regularly conduct training on hospice palliative care, implement standard care procedures of hospice palliative care at critical care units, and provide detailed medical information about advanced decisions to family members so as to reduce their emotional stress. This will ensure that intensive care units can also achieve the goal of critically ill hospice palliative care.
Carcass and Cooked Meat Acceptance of Broilers Chickens Fed the Diet Containing Fermented Moringa with the Addition Corn and Fishmeal
Authors: Zulfan Zulfan , Fitri Cut Aida , Husna Asmaul , Siapudan Nurganti
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the organoleptic acceptance on the carcass and cooked meat of broilers fed the diet containing the fermented moringa leaves and yellow corn with the addition of fish meal or none.This study used 100 broiler chicks strain MB 90 and a commercial diet CP511 Bravo (CD). The substitute feed ingredients were composted of fermented domesticated Moringa oleifera leaf(FDMOL), yellow corn (YC), rice bran (RB), top mix (TM), and local commercial fish meal (FM). The study was performed in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with subsampling consisting of 5 treatments, 4 replicates, and 2 subsamples. The experimental diets were C 1 = 100% CD, C 2 =84.5% CD + 7.5% YC + 7.5% RB + 0.5% TM, C 3 = 84.5% CD + 5% YC + 5% RB + 5% TM + 0.5% TM, MCR= 84.5% CD + 5%FDMOL + 5% YC + 5% RB + 0.5% TM (moringa+), and MCF= 84.5% CD + 5% FDMOL + 5% YC + 5% FM + 0.5% TM (moringa++). The results indicated that carcasses from broilers fed the moringa-base diets were significantly higher (P<0.05) yellow coloration than those fed the control diets but the panelists’ acceptances for carcass organoleptic either fresh or cooking were not significantly different (P>0.05). In conclusion, there were no impacts on the acceptance of fresh carcass characteristics(conformation, color, and odor) or cooked meat (color, flavor, and taste) from the broilers fed the diets containing the moringa leaves compared to the control.
Association and Polymorphism of the APOA5 Gene Related to Carcass Characteristics and Lamb Quality in Sheep
Authors: Anggraeni Novita Nur , Listyarini Kasita , Harahap Ratna Sholatia , Sumantri Cece , Gunawan Asep
Published: May 2023

The apolipoprotein A-V (APOA5) gene is a candidate gene that plays an important role in carcass characteristics and lamb quality. This study aimed to association and polymorphism of the APOA5 gene with carcass characteristics and lamb quality in sheep. The breed of sheep were used 100 sheep consisting of Thin Tailed Sheep (TTS) (n=55), Compass Agrinac Sheep (CAS) (n=10), Garut Sheep (GS) (n=18), Garut Composite Sheep (GCS) (n=8), and Barbados cross sheep (BCS) (n=9). Identification of APOA5 gene polymorphism was performed using PCR-RFLP method and association study was performed using GLM analysis. The results showed that the APOA5 (g.26929941 C>T) gene polymorphism was polymorphic in TTS, CAS, GS, and GCS, while BCS was monomorphic. The APOA5 gene has three genotypes (CC, CT, and TT). Association showed that the APOA5 was a significantly (P<0.05) associated with carcass percentage and carcass length. The polymorphism of the APOA5 (g.26929941 C>T) was also significant (P<0.05) associated with lamb quality of the pH dan tenderness. The TT genotype showed greater carcass length and pH than the CC and CT genotypes. The CT genotype showed a greater percentage of carcass and tenderness than the CC and TT genotypes. The APOA5 gene helps improve sheep carcass characteristics and lamb quality.
What Factors Are Associated with Clinical Trial Discontinuation in Orthopaedic Surgery
Authors: Hecht Christian J. , Guyler Maura R. , Shah Aakash , Burkhart Robert J. , Kamath Atul F.
Published: May 2023

Background:

Clinical trials play a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge and have the potential to change standards of care. The present study evaluated the prevalence of discontinued clinical trials in orthopaedic surgery. Additionally, we sought to identify the study characteristics associated with and the rationale behind trial discontinuation.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey of orthopaedic clinical trials using the ClinicalTrials.gov registry and results database was performed for trials between October 1, 2007, and October 7, 2022. Interventional trials listed as “completed,” “terminated,” “withdrawn,” or “suspended” were included. Study characteristics were collected and clinical trial abstracts were reviewed in order to assign the appropriate subspecialty category. A univariate linear regression analysis was performed to determine whether the percentage of discontinued trials changed between 2008 and 2021. Univariate and multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to identify factors associated with trial discontinuation.

Results:

A total of 8,603 clinical trials were included in the final analysis, of which 1,369 (16%) were discontinued, with the highest rates of discontinuation found in oncology (25%) and trauma (23%). The most common rationales for discontinuation were insufficient patient accrual (29%), technical or logistical issues (9%), business decision (9%), and lack of funding or resources (9%). Industry-funded studies were more likely than government-funded studies to be discontinued (HR: 1.81; p < 0.001). There was no change in the percentage of discontinued trials for each orthopaedic subspecialty between 2008 and 2021 (p = 0.21). As shown on multivariable regression analysis, trials for devices (HR: 1.63 [95% confidence interval, 1.20 to 2.21]; p = 0.002) and drugs (HR: 1.48 [1.10 to 2.02]; p = 0.013) as well as Phase-2 trials (HR: 1.35 [1.09 to 1.69]; p = 0.010), Phase-3 trials (HR: 1.39 [1.09 to 1.78]; p = 0.010), and Phase-4 trials (HR: 1.44 [1.14 to 1.81]; p = 0.010) had a higher likelihood of early discontinuation. However, pediatric trials were less likely to be discontinued (HR: 0.58 [0.40 to 0.86]; p = 0.007).

Conclusions:

The results of the present study suggest the need for continued efforts to ensure the completion of orthopaedic clinical trials in order to limit publication bias and to employ resources and patient contributions more efficiently for research.

Clinical Relevance:

Discontinued trials contribute to publication bias, which limits the comprehensiveness of the literature available to support evidence-based patient care interventions. Therefore, identifying the factors associated with and the prevalence of orthopaedic trial discontinuation encourages orthopaedic surgeons to design future trials to be more resistant to early discontinuation.
Integrated Workflow with Static and Dynamic Geomechanical Modelling for Hydraulic Fracturing Optimization
Authors: Ma Jun , Wang Junping , Fan Qinghu , Jiao Shujiang , Chen Liang , Guo Changyong , Hu Zhangming , Liu Xiaodong , Jiang Xinmiao , Wang Yuan , Huang Xingning , Xu Hanbing
Published: May 2023

How to realize the efficient development of tight oil reservoir is a key and difficult problem for the unconventional resources of China. To realize the effective development of tight oil reservoir, it is necessary to the reservoir stimulation technology to improve the seepage capacity of low permeability reservoirs and increase the productivity of wells. Reservoir geomechanics is one of the main factors affecting hydraulic fracturing effect. Domestic and foreign experts have conducted a large number of studies on the characteristics of reservoir geomechanics. However, most of them studied the regional geomechanical characteristics based on logging data, lithology characteristics and three-dimensional seismic. Such static geomechanics studies can better reflect the in-situ stress characteristics of reservoirs before hydraulic fracutring but also have limitations and uncertainties in the understanding of regional geomechanical characteristics. Based on the one-dimensional geomechanical study, this paper uses structural characteristics and seismic attributes to study the three-dimensional mechanics spatial distribution characteristics of reservoirs. On this basis, this paper performs dynamic (4D) stress field simulation combined with real-time fracturing treatment and microseismic monitoring data. The research results can be used to guide the design of horizontal wells fracturing design and provide strong technical support for the production capacity construction. This paper studies the static and dynamic geomechanics of Baikou Quan Formation in Da 13 block, Junggar Basin and describes the research methods and processes and applies them to the design and optimization of reservoir stimulation schemes. The research results can help reduce operational costs and improve the efficiency of measures and serves as technical support for the efficient development of tight reservoirs in China.
Successful Applications of Insert Valve Carrier System in Reinstating Downhole Safety Valve Functionality
Authors: Sulaiman A. Y. , AlHammadi I. , Al Ali S. , El-Sheikh H. , Al Ghafeli S. K. , Shokry A. , Abdi R. M. , Abdulla M. F. , Yakovlev T. , Ross S.
Published: May 2023

As wells completed with wireline retrievable downhole safety valves are becoming mature, issues related to seal bore and nipple profile tend to develop, causing the safety valve to be non-integral. Without a fully functioning downhole safety valve, these wells cannot produce and must be shut in. One option to overcome this issue is to utilize an Insert Valve Carrier (IVC) connected to the existing downhole safety valve (DHSV). The IVC has an anchoring mechanism to hang the system on depth, replacing the function of the damaged nipple. Also, it is equipped with upper and lower sealing elements to seal across the existing control line outlet in the tubing providing hydraulic fluid to operate the safety valve. An electronic setting tool sets the anchors at the pup joint slightly above the safety valve nipple while positioning the sealing elements across the control line outlet. The system is simple to use and can easily be set with Slickline, Electric Line, or Coiled Tubing with CCL capability for correlation or a No-go assembly.

Several successful jobs were conducted between 2021-2022 in 4-1/2″ and 7″ completions in the Offshore Abu Dhabi field. Before mobilization, System Integrity Test is performed to ensure the system passes the pressure test and the safety valve functions properly. In this operation, the IVC and the safety valve were set using an Electric Line, taking advantage of real-time reading from the CCL for correlation. Once on depth, a signal was sent from the surface, setting the anchors and sealing elements. A normal procedure to apply pressure in the control line was performed. When the pressure holds, it provides a positive indication that the packing elements seal properly. An inflow test on the flapper was performed to confirm its integrity. Following the installation, flow tests were performed at different rates to ensure the system worked fine and evaluate the potential. This system has successfully restored the downhole safety valve functionality, which permits the wells to produce again after being inactive for a long time. In addition, the success of this system eliminates the need for expensive workovers.
Domestic Cat as an Exotic Predator – Report of Predation of Native and Invasive Species in an Urban Area in Southern Brazil
Authors: de Freitas Luiza Isaia , Lanzanova Thais Ito Isaia , Shibuya Fabio Yuji , de Andrade Gabriela Monteiro , Barraza Vanessa Cirinéa Tapia , Dilkin Paulo , Botton Sônia de Avila , Santos Helton Fernandes dos
Published: May 2023

Domestic cats (Felis catus) are listed among the 100 worst invasive species with the most impact on the environment and conservation, threatening a variety of native and even threatened animal species. Data indicate that they are responsible for the extinction of 33 species of birds. The objective of this work is to describe the predation of native and exotic species of fauna by a wildered domestic feline, specifically to bring data from the preyed species and data from the existing bibliographic of the predation by felines in the country. This is an observatory study, where the prey slaughtered and brought by the community cat were cataloged and listed over a period of 30 days in the summer of 2020. The animal brought the prey to the feeding place and dormitory, in front of one of the houses in which it received care. The study site is in the Camobi neighborhood, in the municipality of Santa Maria, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Geographical location 29°41'47.9"S 53°44'20.4"W. This is the first report of the predation of two bird species (Falco sparveriusandLeptotila verreauxi)and two Squamatas (TupinambisandPhilodryas olfersii)in Brazil. The results obtained may contribute to reduce the lack of information regarding the impacts ofFelis catusand support the need to implement management policies and environmental education, aiming to combat the abandonment of domestic animals and encourage practices such as castration and responsible adoption of animals.