bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reversal of Conditioned Food Aversion Using a Cognitive Intervention: A Sham-Controlled, Randomized, Parallel Study
Authors: Nieto Adoracion , Livovsky Dan M. , Azpiroz Fernando
Published: November 2023

Background: Aversive conditioning weakens the gratifying value of a comfort meal. The aim was to determine the effect of a cognitive intervention to reverse aversive conditioning and restore hedonic postprandial response. Methods: This was a randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, parallel study that was conducted on 12 healthy women (n = 6 in each group). The reward value of a comfort meal was measured on different days: at initial exposure, after aversive conditioning (administration of the same meal with a masked fat overload on the previous day) and after a cognitive intervention (disclosing the aversive conditioning paradigm in the test group vs. no explanation in the control group). The primary outcome, digestive wellbeing, was determined using graded scales at regular intervals before and after ingestion. Results: At initial exposure, the comfort meal produced a rewarding experience that was impaired using aversive conditioning; upon re-exposure to the original meal, the cognitive intervention increased meal wanting and liking; improved digestive wellbeing and mood; tended to reduce postprandial satiety, bloating/fullness; and abolished discomfort/pain, thereby restoring the hedonic value of the comfort meal. By contrast, sham intervention had no effects, and the postprandial sensations remained like the responses to the offending meal. Conclusion: In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that in healthy women, a mild, short-term acquired aversion to a comfort meal can be reversed using a cognitive intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05897411.
Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Incorporation in Polyurethane Foams: A Solution for Future Antimicrobial Materials?
Authors: Fierascu Radu Claudiu , Lungulescu Eduard-Marius , Fierascu Irina , Stan Miruna S. , Voinea Ionela C. , Dumitrescu Silviu Ionel
Published: November 2023

With the technological developments witnessed in recent decades, nanotechnology and nanomaterials have found uses in several common applications and products we encounter daily. On the other hand, polyurethane (PU) foams represent an extremely versatile material, being widely recognized for their extensive application possibilities and possessing a multitude of fundamental attributes that enhance their broad usability across various application fields. By combining the versatility of PU with the antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles, this emerging field holds promise for addressing the urgent need for effective antimicrobial materials in various applications. In this comprehensive review, we explore the synthesis methods, properties and applications of these nanocomposite materials, shedding light on their potential role in safeguarding public health and environmental sustainability. The main focus is on PU foams containing metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, but a brief presentation of the progress documented in the last few years regarding other antimicrobial nanomaterials incorporated into such foams is also given within this review in order to obtain a larger image of the possibilities to develop improved PU foams.
Automatic Crop Classification Based on Optimized Spectral and Textural Indexes Considering Spatial Heterogeneity
Authors: Wang Xiaomi , Liu Jiuhong , Peng Peng , Chen Yiyun , He Shan , Yang Kang
Published: November 2023

Crop recognition with high accuracy at a large scale is hampered by the spatial heterogeneity of crop growth characteristics under the complex influence of environmental conditions. With the aim to automatically realize large-scale crop classification with high accuracy, this study proposes an automatic crop classification strategy considering spatial heterogeneity (ACCSH) by combining the geographic detector technique, random forest average accuracy model, and random forest classification model. In ACCSH, spectral and textural indexes that can quantify crop growth characteristics and environmental variables with potential driving effects are first calculated. Next, an adaptive spatial heterogeneity mining method based on the geographic detector technique is proposed to mine spatial homogeneous zones adaptively with significant differentiation of crop growth characteristics. Subsequently, in view of the differences in crop growth characteristics and key classification indexes between spatial homogeneous zones, correlation analysis, and random forest average accuracy are combined to optimize classification indexes independently within each zone. Finally, random forest is used to classify the target crop in each spatial homogeneous zone separately. The proposed ACCSH is applied to automatically recognize crop types, specifically wheat and corn, in northern France. Results show that kappa coefficients of wheat and corn using ACCSH are 15% and 26% higher than those of classifications at the global scale, respectively. In addition, the index optimization strategy in ACCSH shows apparent superiority. Kappa coefficients of wheat and corn are 5–18% and 9–42% higher than those of classifications based on non-optimized indexes, respectively. In general, ACCSH can automatically realize crop classification with a high precision that suggests its reliability.
Quality Control for Ocean Current Measurement Using High-Frequency Direction-Finding Radar
Authors: He Shuqin , Zhou Hao , Tian Yingwei , Huang Da , Yang Jing , Wang Caijun , Huang Weimin
Published: November 2023

High-frequency radars (HFRs) are important for remote sensing of the marine environment due to their ability to provide real-time, wide-coverage, and high-resolution measurements of the ocean surface current, wave height, and wind speed. However, due to the intricate multidimensional processing demands (e.g., time, Doppler, and space) for internal data and effective suppression of external noise, conducting quality control (QC) on radar-measured data is of great importance. In this paper, we first present a comprehensive quality evaluation model for both radial current and synthesized vector current obtained by direction-finding (DF) HFRs. In the proposed model, the quality factor (QF) is calculated for each current cell to evaluate its reliability. The QF for the radial current depends on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and DF factor of the first-order Bragg peak region in the range–Doppler (RD) spectrum, and the QF for the synthesized vector current can be calculated using an error propagation model based on geometric dilution of precision (GDOP). A QC method is then proposed for processing HFR-derived surface current data via the following steps: (1) signal preprocessing is performed to minimize the effect of unwanted external signals such as radio frequency interference and ionospheric clutter; (2) radial currents with low QFs and outliers are removed; (3) the vector currents with low QFs are also removed before spatial smoothing and interpolation. The proposed QC method is validated using a one-month-long dataset collected by the Ocean State Monitoring and Analyzing Radar, model S (OSMAR-S). The improvement in the current quality is proven to be significant. Using the buoy data as ground truth, after applying QC, the correlation coefficients (CCs) of the radial current, synthesized current speed, and synthesized current direction are increased by 4.33~102.91%, 1.04~90.74%, and 1.20~62.67%, respectively, and the root mean square errors (RMSEs) are decreased by 2.51~49.65%, 7.86~27.22%, and 1.68~28.99%, respectively. The proposed QC method has now been incorporated into the operational software (RemoteSiteConsole v1.0.0.65) of OSMAR-S.
Intercomparison of Landsat OLI and JPSS VIIRS Using a Combination of RadCalNet Sites as a Common Reference
Authors: Tahersima Mohammad H. , Thome Kurtis , Wenny Brian N. , Voskanian Norvik , Yarahmadi Mehran
Published: November 2023

Independent radiometric data collected from multiple ground sites as part of vicarious calibration activities can be combined to harmonize the data products of Earth observation sensors with different temporal, spectral, and spatial resolutions. Recent coordinated international efforts for open fiducial reference measurements have provided the worldwide user community with new ways to explore the calibration and harmonization of data produced by the sensors. To be correct, the results from each ground system must be traceable to the same well-understood standard system, and ideally to the international system of units (SI). Additionally, the calibration test site should be homogeneous over an area larger than the spatial resolutions of each sensor, so that ground measurements are representative of the area seen by the sensors being calibrated. Here, we use a combination of independent and SI-traceable radiometric data provided from two sites of the Radiometric Calibration Network (RadCalNet) to compare the radiometric response of sensors with different spectral and spatial resolutions that operate on different orbits. These sensors are Operational Land Imagers (OLI) of the Landsat-8 and Landsat-9 missions, and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites (VIIRS) of the Suomi-National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (SNPP) and Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1) missions. The sensor radiometric responses are compared via temporal averaging of the ratios of top-of-atmosphere reflectance values for each sensor to those reported by RadCalNet. Our intercomparison results show that these on-orbit sensors are calibrated within their absolute radiometric uncertainties. The absolute radiometric uncertainties of single-sensor over single-site intercomparisons at 550 nm is between 5% and 6%. Having the opportunity to look at the intercomparison results of Landsat-9 OLI compared to each calibration site individually and then in combination allowed us to investigate potential systematic site-dependent biases. We did not observe significant site-dependent biases in the behavior of the four on-orbit sensors compared to the calibration sites. The absolute radiometric uncertainty of a single sensor over multiple-site intercomparisons at 550 nm is 5.4%. We further investigated site-dependent biases by looking at the double-ratio calibration coefficients of the on-orbit sensors, calculated with reference to those sites.
Deep Learning Based CAPTCHA Recognition Network with Grouping Strategy
Authors: Derea Zaid , Zou Beiji , Al-Shargabi Asma A. , Thobhani Alaa , Abdussalam Amr
Published: November 2023

Websites can improve their security and protect against harmful Internet attacks by incorporating CAPTCHA verification, which assists in distinguishing between human users and robots. Among the various types of CAPTCHA, the most prevalent variant involves text-based challenges that are intentionally designed to be easily understandable by humans while presenting a difficulty for machines or robots in recognizing them. Nevertheless, due to significant advancements in deep learning, constructing convolutional neural network (CNN)-based models that possess the capability of effectively recognizing text-based CAPTCHAs has become considerably simpler. In this regard, we present a CAPTCHA recognition method that entails creating multiple duplicates of the original CAPTCHA images and generating separate binary images that encode the exact locations of each group of CAPTCHA characters. These replicated images are subsequently fed into a well-trained CNN, one after another, for obtaining the final output characters. The model possesses a straightforward architecture with a relatively small storage in system, eliminating the need for CAPTCHA segmentation into individual characters. Following the training and testing of the suggested CNN model for CAPTCHA recognition, the experimental results demonstrate the model’s effectiveness in accurately recognizing CAPTCHA characters.
Design of a Tension Infiltrometer with Automated Data Collection Using a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System
Authors: Morales-Ortega David Alberto , Cambrón-Sandoval Víctor Hugo , Ruiz-González Israel , Luna-Soria Hugo , Hernández-Guerrero Juan Alfredo , García-Guzmán Genaro
Published: November 2023

This study highlights the importance of water infiltration in hydrological basin management, emphasizing its role in water services, water quality regulation, and temporal patterns. To measure this crucial function, this study introduces a portable and user-friendly tension infiltrometer designed for easy assembly and data collection. The tension infiltrometer, based on the 2009 design by Spongrová and Kechavarzi, offers a comprehensive characterization of the soil properties related to water flow. It eliminates the influence of preferential flow, providing accurate data. Additionally, it accommodates changes in pore size distribution within the soil, which is crucial for understanding water movement. This study discusses the challenges associated with traditional infiltration measurement tools, like double-ring infiltrometers and single rings, which are not easily transported and can lead to inaccuracies. In response, the proposed infiltrometer simplifies data collection, making it accessible to a broader range of users. This study also explores the use of the VL53L0X distance sensor in the infiltrometer, providing an innovative solution for measuring the water column height. The system’s user interface allows real-time data collection and analysis, significantly reducing the processing time compared to that of the manual methods. Overall, this work demonstrates the potential for advancement in hydrological basin management using user-friendly instrumentation and automated data collection, paving the way for improved research and decision making in environmental services, conservation, and restoration efforts within these ecosystems.
A Lightweight Model for Real-Time Detection of Vehicle Black Smoke
Authors: Chen Ke , Wang Han , Zhai Yingchao
Published: November 2023

This paper discusses the application of deep learning technology in recognizing vehicle black smoke in road traffic monitoring videos. The use of massive surveillance video data imposes higher demands on the real-time performance of vehicle black smoke detection models. The YOLOv5s model, known for its excellent single-stage object detection performance, has a complex network structure. Therefore, this study proposes a lightweight real-time detection model for vehicle black smoke, named MGSNet, based on the YOLOv5s framework. The research involved collecting road traffic monitoring video data and creating a custom dataset for vehicle black smoke detection by applying data augmentation techniques such as changing image brightness and contrast. The experiment explored three different lightweight networks, namely ShuffleNetv2, MobileNetv3 and GhostNetv1, to reconstruct the CSPDarknet53 backbone feature extraction network of YOLOv5s. Comparative experimental results indicate that reconstructing the backbone network with MobileNetv3 achieved a better balance between detection accuracy and speed. The introduction of the squeeze excitation attention mechanism and inverted residual structure from MobileNetv3 effectively reduced the complexity of black smoke feature fusion. Simultaneously, a novel convolution module, GSConv, was introduced to enhance the expression capability of black smoke features in the neck network. The combination of depthwise separable convolution and standard convolution in the module further reduced the model’s parameter count. After the improvement, the parameter count of the model is compressed to 1/6 of the YOLOv5s model. The lightweight vehicle black smoke real-time detection network, MGSNet, achieved a detection speed of 44.6 frames per second on the test set, an increase of 18.9 frames per second compared with the YOLOv5s model. The mAP@0.5 still exceeded 95%, meeting the application requirements for real-time and accurate detection of vehicle black smoke.
Effect of the Cultivation Method and the Distance from a Steel Mill on the Content of Heavy Metals in Bell Pepper Fruit
Authors: Mundała Paweł , Szwalec Artur
Published: November 2023

Vegetables grown in areas affected by industrial emissions may be subject to contamination with heavy metals. In the present study, this issue was investigated in sweet pepper grown using two different methods and at various distances from a steel mill. Four sites, designated Ko, Po, Wa, and Ru, located at distances of 3.5, 6, 11, and 18 km from a steel mill, were selected for the study. The contents of zinc, copper, nickel, manganese, cadmium, chromium, and lead were determined in the pepper fruits and in the soil. Peppers grown in the vicinity of a steel mill had acceptable contents of all the elements analysed; only cadmium concentrations were excessive for food plants. The study confirmed the effect of a plastic greenhouse on the concentrations of metals in the analysed pepper fruits, whereas the cultivation method had no statistically significant effect on the levels of the elements in the soil. The distance factor also affected the concentrations of metals in the peppers and soil, but to a lesser extent than the cultivation method. The combined effect of both factors was the least pronounced, for all elements in the fruits and in the soil.
Fiscal Policies on New Passenger Cars in Europe: Implications for the Competitiveness of Electric Cars
Authors: Danielis Romeo
Published: November 2023

The objective of this article is to review the fiscal policies applied to new passenger cars in 30 European countries. The fiscal policies considered include the value added tax, the vehicle registration tax, the purchase subsidy, the ownership tax, and the tax on fuels/electricity. The article illustrates their properties and their implementation in each country. In order to appreciate how the different national approaches translate into financial incentives/disincentives in relation to electric cars, each country’s fiscal policies were applied to the Tesla Model 3 and the Toyota Corolla. The resulting acquisition costs and fiscal burden were then calculated and compared with reference to the year 2023. The results indicate that in some countries the Tesla Model 3 is cost competitive already in the acquisition phase (up to EUR 8524 cheaper), while in others is much more expensive (up to EUR 6590). The difference in the fiscal burden between the two car models ranges from EUR 448 to EUR 16,022, depending on the country. These findings have strong implications for social welfare, state budgets sustainability, and the need for car fiscal policy adjustments in the European countries.
Critical Limit of Manganese for Soybean in Soils of Three Agro-Ecological Zones of Bangladesh
Authors: Rashed Harun Or , Jahangir Mohammad Mofizur Rahman , Hashem M. Abul , Ferdous Jannatul , Kader M. Abdul , Solaiman Zakaria M. , Hoque Tahsina Sharmin
Published: November 2023

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient for plants, which influences multiple physiological systems. Determination of the critical limit (CL) of Mn in the soil is necessary for Mn fertilizer application as this limit delineates the deficiency, optimum, and toxicity ranges of Mn. A pot experiment was performed in the winter season with 20 soils collected from three Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) of Bangladesh to determine the CL of Mn for soybean (Glycine max L.). Manganese was applied in soil @ 0, 1, 2, and 4 ppm, and the experiment was laid out in a factorial and completely randomized design with three replications. The CL of Mn was determined by the Cate-Nelson graphical and statistical approach and was found 3.60 and 3.55 µg g−1, respectively. Applying 1 µg g−1 Mn in soil significantly enhanced root and shoot weight, as well as seed yield of soybean compared to no Mn application. In field conditions, a significant positive response of soybean yield was found up to the CL of Mn. The findings of the study could help predict possible Mn deficiency in soil and soybean response to Mn fertilizer, which is important in decision-making for efficient fertilizer management practices to ensure the yield potential of soybeans.
The Role of Environmental Communication in Advancing Sustainability in Fisheries and Aquaculture: A Case Study of Latvia
Authors: Kalnbalkite Antra , Poca Paula , Laktuka Krista , Lauka Dace , Blumberga Dagnija
Published: November 2023

Latvia has abundant water resources, but the aquaculture sector has been slow to adopt technological advances and innovations. To address this gap, the Latvian Aquaculture Development Plan for 2021–2027 aims to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector. An essential component of this effort is the establishment of effective communication channels that bridge the knowledge gap between the general public, industry professionals and researchers. To promote consumer interest in sustainable aquaculture products, an environmental communication framework to assess their sustainability was used. This assessment utilised a multi-criteria analysis technique complemented by an online survey to formulate an effective communication strategy. According to the multi-criteria analysis, canned fish emerges as the most sustainable product, while fish oil, fish meal and spirulina show promise. The online survey identifies the most appropriate communication channels: social media, audio and video. To facilitate engagement and information sharing, we advocate for the practice of communication, which can effectively facilitate the sustainable use of biological resources and serve as a channel for knowledge sharing.
Hydrogel Based on Cashew Gum and Polyacrylamide as a Potential Water Supplier in Mombaça Grass Pastures: A Sustainable Alternative for Agriculture
Authors: Barros Dhiéssica Morgana Alves , Edvan Ricardo Loiola , Pessoa João Paulo Matos , do Nascimento Romilda Rodrigues , Camboim Luan Felipe Reis , Bezerra Leilson Rocha , de Araújo Marcos Jácome , de Sousa Heldeney Rodrigues , Silva-Filho Edson C.
Published: November 2023

Hydrogels are water-absorbing polymers that can hydrate forage plants in the soil. The objective was to evaluate the replacement of synthetic hydrogels derived from petroleum with biodegradable hydrogels in Mombaça grass pastures (Megathyrsus maximum). The experimental treatments consisted of no hydrogel (NH); synthetic commercial hydrogel (CH), made from a synthetic polyacrylamide product; and biodegradable test hydrogel (TH), obtained from cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale). The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with five replications and three treatments. The morphogenesis, production, chemical, and mineral composition of the Mombaça grass pasture were assessed. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparison using the Scott–Knott test at 5% probability. The leaf elongation rate showed 42.3 mm day−1 in the treatment TH, which was higher (p < 0.05) than NH (35.0 mm day−1). The green leaf mass yield was higher in TH than in NH and CH. On the other hand, hydration had no effect on the chemical composition. The mineral composition of Mombaça grass showed more Zn when TH was used. It can be concluded that biodegradable hydrogels can replace synthetic commercial hydrogels in pastures.
Green Energy Prospects of Electricity Generated from Short-Rotation Woody Crops—Quantifying the EROIg of Bioelectricity
Authors: Daaboul Jessica , Moriarty Patrick , Honnery Damon
Published: November 2023

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth assessment report (AR6) allocates 15% to 43% of global primary energy to biomass in 2050 across multiple mitigation scenarios. The report also emphasizes the importance of electrification. For increased reliance on electricity and on biomass, bioelectricity is expected to play a major role. It is therefore vital to know whether the energy generation potential of biomass electricity can support the removal of its environmental impact, particularly as generation at large scale is expected to rely almost solely on energy crops. This paper evaluates the potential of short-rotation woody crops in generating green electricity. This is performed using the “Green Energy Return on Investment (EROIg)” methodology, which indicates the net energy generated after investing in ecosystem maintenance energy (ESME). This study found that the EROIg of bioelectricity is marginally larger than unity when converted to its primary equivalent form (EROIg-PE). Three design options were proposed to improve bioenergy’s EROIg. Among these options, pelletizing wood chips has the largest advantage with an EROIg of 1.11 and an EROIg-PE of 3.17. We conclude with a discussion of the indirect advantages of growing energy crops, and discuss how this technique can be used alongside others to help generate cleaner energy.
An Application of Touchard Polynomials on Subclasses of Analytic Functions
Authors: Ali Ekram E. , Kota Waffa Y. , El-Ashwah Rabha M. , Albalahi Abeer M. , Mansour Fatma E. , Tahira R. A.
Published: November 2023

The aim of this work is to discuss some conditions for Touchard polynomials to be in the classes TBb(ρ,σ) and TKb(ρ,σ). Also, we obtain some connection between Rη(D,E) and TKb(ρ,σ). Also, we investigate several mapping properties involving these subclasses. Further, we discuss the geometric properties of an integral operator related to the Touchard polynomial. Additionally, briefly mentioned are specific instances of our primary results. Also, several particular examples are presented.
PDIA4 Is a Host Factor Important for Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection
Authors: Xu Mengwei , Xu Huan , Wan Weiwei , Jian Xiaoqin , Jin Runming , Wang Lin , Wang Jingshi , Xiao Gengfu , Zhang Leike , Chen Hongbo , Wen Yuxi
Published: November 2023

Mammalian arenaviruses are rodent-borne zoonotic viruses, some of which can cause fatal hemorrhagic diseases in humans. The first discovered arenavirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), has a worldwide distribution and can be fatal for transplant recipients. However, no FDA-approved drugs or vaccines are currently available. In this study, using a quantitative proteomic analysis, we identified a variety of host factors that could be needed for LCMV infection, among which we found that protein disulfide isomerase A4 (PDIA4), a downstream factor of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), is important for LCMV infection. Biochemical analysis revealed that LCMV glycoprotein was the main viral component accounting for PDIA4 upregulation. The inhibition of ATF6-mediated ERS could prevent the upregulation of PDIA4 that was stimulated by LCMV infection. We further found that PDIA4 can affect the LCMV viral RNA synthesis processes and release. In summary, we conclude that PDIA4 could be a new target for antiviral drugs against LCMV.
Defining the Cynomolgus Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) Animal Model for Aerosolized Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis: Importance of Challenge Dose and Viral Subtype
Authors: Burke Crystal W. , Gardner Christina L. , Goodson Aimee I. , Piper Ashley E. , Erwin-Cohen Rebecca A. , White Charles E. , Glass Pamela J.
Published: November 2023

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) outbreaks occur sporadically. Additionally, VEEV has a history of development as a biothreat agent. Yet, no FDA-approved vaccine or therapeutic exists for VEEV disease. The sporadic outbreaks present a challenge for testing medical countermeasures (MCMs) in humans; therefore, well-defined animal models are needed for FDA Animal Rule licensure. The cynomolgus macaque (CM) model has been studied extensively at high challenge doses of the VEEV Trinidad donkey strain (>1.0 × 108 plaque-forming units [PFU]), doses that are too high to be a representative human dose. Based on viremia of two subtypes of VEEV, IC, and IAB, we found the CM infectious dose fifty (ID50) to be low, 12 PFU, and 6.7 PFU, respectively. Additionally, we characterized the pattern of three clinical parameters (viremia, temperature, and lymphopenia) across a range of doses to identify a challenge dose producing consistent signs of infection. Based on these studies, we propose a shift to using a lower challenge dose of 1.0 × 103 PFU in the aerosol CM model of VEEV disease. At this dose, NHPs had the highest viremia, demonstrated a fever response, and had a measurable reduction in complete lymphocyte counts—biomarkers that can demonstrate MCM efficacy.
Development of Membrane Filter Colorimetry for Determining Tap Water Discoloration Using a Spectrocolorimeter
Authors: Kim Dong-Heon , Lee Jong-Geum , Kwon Jin-Hong , Kim Sang-Woo , Jun Hang-Bae
Published: November 2023

In this study, we aimed to develop a novel method to quantify residual colorants in the water supply using a spectrocolorimeter. Cross-tests of color and turbidity showed that standard color solutions of 1–50 color units had a turbidity of ˂0.094 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) and turbidity standard solutions of 0.1–5 NTU had color measurements of 0 true color unit, indicating limitations in measuring colorants using conventional methods. Therefore, the samples were diluted stepwise to 1 L and filtered through a 0.45 μm cellulose membrane; then, the residuals colorants were measured using membrane filter colorimetry (MFC) with a spectrocolorimeter to determine the color difference. The color difference exhibited a high correlation with turbidity. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry analyses of the same samples confirmed that the main components of the colorants were iron and manganese; the concentration of these substances in the samples was measured using MFC with the standards Fe2O3·H2O and MnO2. The results confirmed a high correlation between the color difference (△E*ab) and concentration of the samples and standard substances. Our findings suggest that MFC is a promising approach for measuring colorants in drinking water.
A Novel Estimation of the Composite Hazard of Landslides and Flash Floods Utilizing an Artificial Intelligence Approach
Authors: Wahba Mohamed , El-Rawy Mustafa , Al-Arifi Nassir , Mansour Mahmoud M.
Published: November 2023

Landslides and flash floods are significant natural hazards with substantial risks to human settlements and the environment, and understanding their interconnection is vital. This research investigates the hazards of landslides and floods in two adopted basins in the Yamaguchi and Shimane prefectures, Japan. This study utilized ten environmental variables alongside categories representing landslide-prone, non-landslide, flooded, and non-flooded areas. Employing a machine-learning approach, namely, a LASSO regression model, we generated Landslide Hazard Maps (LHM), Flood Hazard Maps (FHM), and a Composite Hazard Map (CHM). The LHM identified flood-prone low-lying areas in the northwest and southeast, while central and northwest regions exhibited higher landslide susceptibility. Both LHM and FHM were classified into five hazard levels. Landslide hazards predominantly covered high- to moderate-risk areas, since the high-risk areas constituted 38.8% of the study region. Conversely, flood hazards were mostly low to moderate, with high- and very high-risk areas at 10.49% of the entire study area. The integration of LHM and FHM into CHM emphasized high-risk regions, underscoring the importance of tailored mitigation strategies. The accuracy of the model was assessed by employing the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve method, and the Area Under the Curve (AUC) values were determined. The LHM and FHM exhibited an exceptional AUC of 99.36% and 99.06%, respectively, signifying the robust efficacy of the model. The novelty in this study is the generation of an integrated representation of both landslide and flood hazards. Finally, the produced hazard maps are essential for policymaking to address vulnerabilities to landslides and floods.
New rules - new aspects of application
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Russian Economic University named after G. Plekhanov”, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia, Lebedev V.A. , Lebedeva E.I. ,   Non-profit Partnership “Institute of Professional Accountants and Auditors of Russia”, Moscow, Russia
Published: November 2023

The new Rules that have come into force for the provision of paid medical services by medical organizations for at least the next three years have determined the format of the relationship between the patient and the medical organization. The key points of these changes are considered, in particular, clarification of the legal status of the patient as a consumer of paid medical services, which ensures his rights established not only by industry legislation, but also by the Law of the Russian Federation “On Consumer Rights Protection”. The main changes in the regulation of paid medical services are considered from the point of view of general civil norms that ensure the rights and interests of the consumer of paid medical services, regardless of where he applied for medical help, to a private clinic or a budget medical institution; an analysis of consumer rights, in particular, means and methods of protecting violated rights.
Extraction of the Food Additive Tartaric Acid Using Octanol, Methyl Isobutyl Ketone, Kerosene, Mustard Oil, And Groundnut Oil
Authors: Bhanot Lalitha , Kumar Anuj , Shende Diwakar , Wasewar Kailas
Published: November 2023

Tartaric acid (TA) is a dicarboxylic acid found in bananas, grapes, apples, papaya, cherries, pineapple, pears, mangoes, and tamarind. Due to its widespread use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, it is an essential carboxylic acid. Tartaric acid is produced commercially from wine-industry byproducts and is also present in the industry's effluent. Separating tartaric acid from wastewater is challenging. In this research, tartaric acid was separated from the aqueous phase using chemical and organic solvents such as groundnut oil, mustard oil, kerosene, octanol, and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Experiments were conducted at 298 K to determine the extraction efficiency (E%) and distribution coefficient (KD). The maximum extraction efficiencies of tartaric acid were found to be 49.01, 25.62, 16.73, 15.89 and 14.29% when using MIBK, octanol, kerosene, mustard oil and groundnut oil, respectively. The results demonstrate the significance of solvent choice in the extraction of tartaric acid with solvents such as MIBK and octanol being more effective at extracting TA from aqueous solutions. On the other hand, the sustainability of the method for separating tartaric acid was highlighted when organic solvents were applied.
Efecto de dos probióticos en la supervivencia, crecimiento y concentración de proteínas en la hemolinfa de Penaeus vannamei Boone 1931 enfrentado a desbalance iónico
Authors: Basurto Aguirre Alexander Javier , Bermúdez-Medranda Alexandra Elizabeth , Cruz Quintana Yanis , Vélez-Chica Juan Carlos
Published: November 2023

Los probióticos son comúnmente utilizados en acuicultura por sus beneficios para el crecimiento, la prevención de enfermedades y reducción del estrés. Sin embargo, los beneficios de los probióticos en camarones cultivados a baja salinidad han sido poco estudiados aun cuando este tipo de cultivo se ha incrementado considerablemente en la última década. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo evaluar el efecto de dos probióticos en la supervivencia, incremento en peso y talla, y concentración de proteínas totales en hemolinfa de Penaeus vannamei enfrentado a desbalance iónico. Se aplicó un diseño experimental completamente aleatorizado con 288 juveniles de P. vannamei (9,80 ± 1,33 g; 12,11 ± 1,06 cm) distribuidos en 24 acuarios de 40 L. Se utilizó un control a 30 ‰ y tres tratamientos a 2 ‰ (n = 8) con tres réplicas cada uno; todos los tratamientos fueron duplicados y se agregó probióticos (Aquablend C® o HLBAC®) a uno de los duplicados. Para generar el desbalance iónico, a uno de los tratamientos a 2 ‰ se le incrementó del magnesio y a otro se le incremento el potasio. El bioensayo tuvo una duración de 96 h, se alimentó con una ración equivalente al 4% de la biomasa cada 8 h y se registraron los parámetros de calidad de agua, talla y peso inicial y final, mortalidad diaria y proteínas totales en hemolinfa, para comparar entre tratamientos. La supervivencia se redujo significativamente con el desbalance iónico; en los tratamientos a 2 ‰ con modificación de iones, la supervivencia fue significativamente mayor cuando se incorporó probióticos. El incremento en talla y peso en los tratamientos a baja salinidad fue significativamente menor que en los tratamientos a 30 ‰. La concentración de proteínas totales en hemolinfa no varió significativamente entre tratamientos. El uso de probióticos mejoró significativamente la supervivencia de P. vannamei frente a desbalance iónico a 2 ‰, lo que abre una nueva línea de investigación para el desarrollo de protocolos de cultivo de camarón a baja salinidad.
Management of Solid Waste from Jaipur City;Seasonal Variation of City Waste Corporation and Features
Authors: Sharma Dr. Neha
Published: November 2023

Solid waste management is one of Jaipur's major environmental concerns. Solid waste creation in cities is increasing as a result of exponential urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. Solid waste neglect can have negative environmental consequences, pose a public health concern, and cause other socioeconomic issues. This document summarises the current state of concerned authorities' initiatives and researchers' efforts to identify more areas for improvement.
Adoption of Mobile Health (m-Health) Services by Patients for Sustainable Healthcare Development: A Qualitative Exploration
Authors: Kurhade Mr. Nikesh
Published: November 2023

Mobile health technology will enhance people's lives through raising healthcare awareness and knowledge, expanding the reach of healthcare services, and building a workforce of digitally competent healthcare workers. The adoption of mobile health is limited due to a lack of awareness, information, and interest among patients.Objective: This study aimed to explore stages of adoption process and factors impacting adoption of mobile health applicationsMethodology: The study was conducted in Mumbai. In total, 20 in-depth interviews were conducted. Respondents included users of fitness apps, people using mobile apps for online consultation and monitoring health parameters. Considering qualitative exploration, this study approached the investigation with three domains: stages in adoption process, hierarchy of involvement steps and various factors impacting adoption of mobile health applications.Results: Patients expressed their interest in mobile health applications specially related to fitness. Mobile Health is considered to be good option for monitoring various health parameters. Patient's attitude towards health plays an important role in adoption of mobile health applications. Various critical factors like trust on healthcare application, facilitating conditions and usefulness are driving adoption of mobile health applications. Contribution: This study will be useful for other researchers in the field of digital healthcare services. This will provide directional cues for developing m-health applications for enhancing adoption of such applications amongst patients which can be further validated through quantitative study.
The Impact of Employment of Women on ESG Scores
Authors: Viswanath Ms. Kanthi
Published: November 2023

Women are an important aspect of the society and corporates. As per the ESG guidelines disclosures have to be made for Environmental, Social and Governance aspect. ESG scores reflect the quality of these disclosure. Diversity and Inclusion form an essential aspect of such reporting whereby the representation of women employees in corporates is reflected. Representation of women must be a deliberate effort by the corporates not only it is essential for well-being of the society but because it improves ESG scores and attracts investors and in the long run the value of the organisation. Objective: The objective of this research is to find out women's representation in corporate.To study prevailing employment practices of corporate especially with respect to womenTo study the impact of women employees on corporate sustainability, performance and value
A Study of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Disposition of Waste
Authors: Pradeep Shetye Ms. Maitrayee
Published: November 2023

API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) means the active ingredient which is contained in medicine. For example, an active ingredient to relieve pain is included in a painkiller. Developing and producing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) includes various processing steps, such as reaction, crystallization, separation and purification, solvent swap, and solvent exchange. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients or APIs are also known as bulk drugs and a term that is often heard in business news. An active ingredient is the ingredient in a pharmaceutical drug or pesticide that is biologically active. The similar terms active pharmaceutical ingredient and bulk active are also used in medicine, and the term active substance may be used for natural products. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients are the active ingredients contained in a medicine. The issue of disposal of wastes from these API companies, as well as the development and implementation of efficient collection strategies, is an important concern. This research looks into the factors that have an impact on the disposition of wastes from these companies, and how are these addressed by local government bodies. The pharmaceutical industry discovers, develops, produces, and markets drugs or pharmaceutical drugs for use as medications to be administered to patients with the aim to cure them, vaccinate them, or alleviate symptoms. Pharmaceutical companies may deal in generic or brand medications and medical devices. They are subject to a variety of laws and regulations that govern the patenting, testing, safety, efficacy using drug testing and marketing of drugs.
La Cuestión de la naturaleza en el pensamiento de Donna Haraway
Authors: Lucero Guadalupe , Billi Noelia , Fleisner Paula
Published: November 2023

Para Donna Haraway, la naturaleza es, a la vez, un topos (un lugar) y un tropos (una figura literaria). A partir de esta convergencia entre espacio y tiempo (una narrativa que emerge de la configuración del mundo que se materializa como corporalidades de trayectorias múltiples y desordenadas), Haraway medita sostenidamente acerca del deseo manifiesto por aquel “lugar común” que la naturaleza señala, e intenta reformular lo común “natural” en términos que desafían el patriarcado y el capitalismo. Si el capitalismo puede ser comprendido como el proyecto de una creciente abolición del espacio debido a la aceleración del tiempo, su intervención en torno a la espacialidad común resulta particularmente sugerente. en efecto, disputando la sensibilidad a la tradición clásica (que geometriza el espacio y hace de la naturaleza algo externo), Haraway ofrece un repertorio de herramientas para pensar la co-habitación en términos capaces de dar cuenta tanto de la relacionalidad siempre tensional (de la que surge lo que existe) como de las narrativas que tejen espacio y tiempo, mundo y relato. Para abordar estas ideas, en primer lugar, delimitaremos lo que entendemos por materialismo posthumano; en segundo lugar, mencionaremos las principales implicancias de la noción kantiana de naturaleza; y, en tercer lugar, consideraremos los aportes de Haraway a esta discusión.
Las Geo-grafías posthumanas de la tejuela de alerce
Authors: Achondo Moya Pedro Pablo
Published: November 2023

La tejuela de alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) ha sido comprendida a partir de su uso, diseño e interés cultural, y ha devenido uno de los principales materiales y formas empleadas en la construcción de viviendas, iglesias y edificaciones en el sur de Chile y, en particular, en el archipiélago de Chiloé. Sin embargo, ¿qué es exactamente una tejuela de alerce? O mejor dicho, ¿qué cúmulo de historias, relaciones y temporalidades alberga? El presente artículo busca profundizar, desde el materialismo vitalista y las geografías posthumanas, en la intrincada red de relaciones que rodea a este material: desde el bosque que le da origen, pasando por los territorios que atraviesa, el oficio artesanal que la moldea, las diversas rutas que sigue hasta su destino y la serie de interacciones y ecologías afectivas que la nutren y fortalecen. A partir de un trabajo etnográfico en los territorios habitados por los alerces y tejuelas, se presentan las vibraciones de una tejuela y con ello geografías otras asociadas a su materialidad vegetal.Dado que el alerce es un árbol endémico del sur de Chile y la Argentina, protegido y declarado monumento natural en 1976, tanto la tejuela como el oficio asociado a su creación conforman un territorio que se torna cada vez menos accesible.
Vuela con Aerocene Pacha
Authors: Isla Raffaele Maria Laura
Published: November 2023

Reseña de la proyección del documental Vuela con Aerocene Pacha, dirigido por Tomás Saraceno y Maximiliano Laina, en el Centro Cultural Kirchner el 5 de agosto de 2023. En el marco de la llegada del Tercer Malón de la Paz a la Ciudad de Buenos Aires se organizó este evento que contó con la presencia de la filósofa y socióloga Maristella Svampa, el abogado ambientalista Enrique Viale, las representantes de las comunidades indígenas de Salinas Grandes y Laguna de Guayatayoc Verónica Chávez y Ofelia Cañari, y con la conducción de Claudia Aboaf, coguionista de la película.
Altergeopolítica
Authors: Koopman Sara
Published: November 2023

En una época de creciente (in)seguridad estatal, existen grupos que se están uniendo por su cuenta para construir seguridades alternativas noviolentas. Establecen conexiones a través de la distancia y la diferencia que se centran en la seguridad de los cuerpos (a menudo con moverlos), y aterrizan la geopolítica en la vida cotidiana. El término antigeopolítica se refiere a la resistencia a la geopolítica hegemónica (material o discursiva), más que en este tipo de esfuerzo por construir algo nuevo. La geopolítica feminista es una forma de antigeopolítica que no solo desmonta, sino que también junta las piezas de nuevas maneras, con definiciones más amplias de seguridad para más cuerpos en más lugares. Sin embargo, por lo general no se ha examinado esta práctica fuera del ámbito académico. Propongo el término altergeopolítica para un tipo de geopolítica feminista, para así ampliar los conceptos de antigeopolítica y geopolítica feminista. Defiendo el término como un recordatorio de fijarnos en las prácticas de base, en las formas en que los grupos hacen geopolítica en las calles, en los hogares, en las selvas y en muchos otros espacios “fuera de la página”. Aunque no consideren su trabajo como geopolítica, enmarcarlo de este modo puede abrir conversaciones fructíferas. Como académicos, tenemos mucho que aprender y ofrecer a través del pensamiento colaborativo con estos grupos sobre temas de seguridad. He estado haciendo esto con acompañantes internacionales en Colombia y acá presento su trabajo, y el de la comunidad de paz de San José a la que acompañan, como formas de altergeopolítica.