bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digitalisasi Pelayanan Publik Melalui Program Kalimasada Di Kelurahan Keputih, Kota Surabaya
Authors: Zuraida Nadia Afny , Hendrati Ignatia Martha , Wardaya Wirya
Published: September 2023

Adanya globalisasi membuat pelayanan publik diharapkan dapat berdampingan dengan perkembangan teknologi. Inovasi aplikasi Klampid New Generation (KNG) merupakan salah satu inovasi berupa aplikasi dari Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil Kota Surabaya yang sudah membuat pelayanan publik lebih cepat, mudah, tepat, dan efisien. Penerapan aplikasi dalam pelayanan administrasi kependudukan diharapkan meningkatkan kesadaran penduduk terhadap administrasi kependudukan. Kelurahan Keputih menjadi salah satu kelurahan yang menggunakan aplikasi ini untuk melakukan pelayanan administrasi kependudukan. Selain itu adanya program KALIMASADA (Kawasan Lingkungan Masyarakat Sadar Administrasi Kependudukan) membuat masyarakat di wilayah Keputih mulai melengkapi dokumen kependudukan yang dimiliki. Tanpa adanya data kependudukan yang valid maka kebijakan-kebijakan dibuat oleh pemerintah juga akan kurang tepat sasaran. Oleh karena dari itu, penting sekali melakukan pelaporan peristiwa kependudukan sebagai upaya tertib dalam administrasi kependudukan.
Konseling Remaja Mengenai Bahaya dan Dampak Penyakit dari Perilaku Seks Bebas
Authors: Dedyansyah Achmad Farid , Ulfa Maria Arista , Wardani Greshela Ayudya
Published: September 2023

Remaja merupakan proses peralihan dari anak-anak ke proses peralihan dewasa, dimana masa ini sangat produktif dan riskan terhadap perilaku-perilaku menyimpang, dikarenakan faktor keinginan mereka mendapat identitas yang diakui di kalangan teman. Salah satu perilaku menyimpang yaitu perilaku seks bebas, dimana rasa kasih sayang yang tinggi membuat beberapa remaja melakukan tindakan seks bebas tanpa memikirkan dampak penyakit yang dialami. Banyaknya kasus yang didapatkan dari beberapa wilayah menjadi salah satu alasan dilaksanakan program konseling remaja mengenai dampak buruk seks bebas. Adapun tujuan pengabdian ini untuk mengantisipasi penyakit menular dan kerugian remaja apabila melakukan tindakan seks bebas. Pengabdian ini dilakukan di Desa Pulungdowo Kabupaten Malang dengan metode pelaksanannya menggunakan Participatory Action Research (PAR), dimana metode ini melibatkan masyarakat untuk memecahkan suatu masalah yang ada di dalam lingkungan. Berdasarkan kegiatan ini para remaja mendapatkan pemahaman tentang akibat seks bebas.
Peningkatan Analisis Desain Eksperimen Dosen Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Jambi Guna Menunjang Kualitas Penelitian
Authors: Kholijah Gusmi , Rarasati Niken , Sormin Corry , Z Gusmanely
Published: September 2023

Salah satu kewajiban dosen adalah melaksanakan penelitian yang tertuang dalam undang-undang. Namun, dalam penelitian tidak jarang dosen menemukan kendala. Salah satu kendalanya adalah analisis data penelitian. Terkadang analisis yang dilakukan tidak sesuai dengan sifat dan jenis dari data penelitian sehingga menghasilkan kesimpulan yang keliru dan berdampak penolakan artikel penelitian saat publikasi. Tim pengabdian memperoleh informasi mengenai kendala tersebut dialami oleh dosen Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Jambi mengenai analisis data tentang rancangan percobaan. Permasalahan ini ditemukan pada saat memberikan perlakuan kepada objek pengamatan dari beberapa sampel berbeda untuk pengulangan dan pada saat pengolahan analisis data dari rancangan percobaan. Percobaan dengan pengulangan terhadap objek pengamatan dengan perlakuan tertentu termasuk dalam ranah desain eksperimen. Tujuan dari desain eksperimen ini untuk dapat melihat perbedaan antar objek pengamatan. Tim pengabdian mengadakan pengabdian di Politeknik Kesehatan KEMENKES Jambi. Kegiatan ini dilakukan dalam bentuk pelatihan kepada para dosen. Kegiatan pelatihan yang telah dilaksanakan diperoleh bahwa para peserta menunjukkan perhatian dan antusias yang tinggi terhadap materi yang disampaikan, dengan hasil yang diperoleh yaitu para peserta memahami dan dapat menerapkan analisis eksperimen yaitu Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dan Rancangan Acak kelompok (RAK) untuk penelitian pelatihan tentang analisis eksperimen meningkatkan pengetahuan peserta tentang Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK).
Pelatihan Analisis Butir Soal Berdasarkan Teori Tes Klasik Berbantuan Iteman untuk Meningkatkan Kualitas Instrumen Penilaian
Authors: Ismiyati Ismiyati , Raharjo Teguh Hardi , Tusyanah Tusyanah , Sholikah Mar'atus
Published: September 2023

Pelatihan tentang analisis butir soal berdasarakan teori tes klasik berbantuan software iteman dilatarbelakangi dari pemahaman dan kemampuan para pendidik dalam menganalisis butir soal yang masih rendah sehingga menjadi kendala dalam memberikan proses pembelajaran yang efektif. Untuk itu, tujuan kegiatan ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pemahaman dan kemampuan para pendidik dalam mengolah data jawaban peserta didik menggunakan aplikasi iteman. Dengan butir soal yang telah dianalisis, para pendidik dapat memberikan soal yang berkualitas dan terukur sehingga akan berpengaruh terhadap kualitas pendidikan. Kegiatan pelatihan analisis butir soal ini dilaksanakan dalam bentuk pendampingan selama satu kali pertemuan dengan total peserta sebanyak 57 orang pendidik di MTs. Tarbiyatul Banin Winong. Metode pelaksanaan ini menggunakan pendekatan partisipatif. Hasil kegiatan diperoleh adanya peningkatan kemauan dan kemampuan para pendidik dalam melakukan pengolahan data dan menganalisa butir soal menggunakan aplikasi iteman. Dengan demikian, kegiatan ini telah menjawab permasalah mitra terkait peningkatan mutu pendidikan melalui evaluasi pembelajaran.
Role and Cultural History of Human Olfaction and Smell
Authors: Kim Byung Guk
Published: September 2023

The olfaction is not a degraded sense, but it plays an important function not only in survival but also in human senses, emotions, memories, and social functions. It is a complex and difficult characteristic of the olfaction that has only recently been scientific development. Although interest has increased recently, the characteristics and functions of human olfactory function are not well known, and medical research are also focused on disease. In fact, interest in medical aspects such as the cause of olfactory diseases, olfactory function tests, treatments, and olfactory rehabilitation has only recently grown, and other odors, olfactory characteristics, functions, and humanities have little interest. Therefore, beyond the medical perspective on human olfaction and smell, we intend to increase our understanding and interest in the olfaction, which has been underestimated in importance, through humanistic considerations. The olfaction is also a sense of a person, and its value should be paid attention again. It’s never an inferior sense. Understanding the functions of the underrated human olfaction and re-discovering the lost olfaction and smell culture will enrich life.
Pattern of Agricultural Progress in India’s North-East and the Contributing Factors: An Econometric Analysis
Authors: KUMAR DE Utpal , TAMANG Ratna Kumari
Published: September 2023

Despite being blessed with rich agro-climatic conditions, the largest agrarian state in India’s North-East, Assam recorded relatively poor agricultural growth, since independence. The question of agricultural performance in terms of use of factors and growth pattern always arise that seems to vary in different stages of policy shift. Agricultural diversity increased in the initial phase with the expansion of agricultural area but slowed down in the later stages. However, the nature of agricultural diversity and use of resources including land allocations reflects the adaptation of farming community, absorption of labour force and sustainability of earning of farmers. The objectives are to analyze: i) the pattern of agricultural growth, diversity; ii) relative contribution of crop diversification, yield and area towards output growth in the pre-Green Revolution, Green Revolution and Post-Reform period; iii) association of various factors with crop yields in the short run and the adjustment process in the long run. Using secondary data, semi-log linear and spline regression functions we examined the growth and stationarity of growth processes is checked by ADF test. Times series analyses like cointegration and ARDL bound testing approach has been followed to examine the relation of various factors with yield of various crops in the short and long run. The ECM also provides the process of adjustment and CUSUM(Q) test is used for checking fitness of the models. Changes in diversity are analyzed through Herfindahl Index and the additive decomposition technique is employed to examine changing contribution of growth of yield, area and cropping pattern and their interactions. The result reveals varied impacts of main weather variable (rainfall), technological factors and cropping intensity on the yields of crops in different phases since 1950-51. Area effect on output and cropping pattern growth though declined, yield growth contributed increasingly in successive sub-periods in Assam. However, the contribution of modern technology towards the growth has not been uniform in the three major stages of agricultural transformation in Assam.
Effects of Plant Growth Regulators on the Usage of In Vitro Stem Disc Culture for Mass Seedling Production in Kahramanmaraş Garlic (Allium sativum L.)
Authors: GÜLÇEBİ Ayşe , AKINCI İrfan Ersin
Published: September 2023

Anatolia is one of the important production areas of garlic. Garlic production is conducted by using the head or the cloves inside the heads, which are actually the consumed part of the garlic, as propagation material. However, due to the use of cloves, which are the most valuable part of the market, as reproduction material, the profit is reduced by about 10%. The study aims to provide an alternative propagation material to reduce the losses resulting from this practice in local Kahramanmaraş garlic production. For this purpose, generating plantlets directly from stem discs of the garlic cloves in vitro and the effects of different growth regulators have been studied. For this, the plant growth regulators added to MS media as BAP (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg l-1), GA3 (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg l-1), 2-IP (0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 mg l-1); kinetin (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mg l-1) and TDZ (0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 mg l-1) were tested. In the study number of explants, number of infected explants, number of healthy explants, number of developed explants, healthy explant rate, developed explant rate, number of callused explants, callus growth rate, number of proliferated explants, proliferation rate, proliferation number, number of rooted explants, rooting rate and number of roots were investigated. However, shoot ratios, shoot numbers, and callus formation were the main focus. The highest rates of proliferation were found in 2-IP (53.8%, 45.5%, and 40.0% at 1.00, 0.75, and 1.25 mg l-1 dosages, respectively) and Kinetin (35.3% at 2.00 mg l-1). The maximum shoot number was reached with 2-IP at the dose of 1.00 mg l-1 as 1.9 shoot/explants. Kinetin at 3.00 mg l-1 and 2IP at 1.25 mg l-1 were the other successful applications with 1.8 shoots. This study indicated promising results to obtain plantlets directly from the clove’s stem discs and including them into seedling production for the mass production of garlic.
Effect of Addition of Different Gums on The Technological and Rheological Properties of Fish Gelatin
Authors: YILMAZ Oylum Şimal , GÜMÜŞ Tuncay , KAYNARCA Gülce Bedis , ALTAN KAMER Deniz Damla
Published: September 2023

Technological and rheological properties of fish gelatin (FG) with the addition of different gums (xanthan gum, gellan gum, agar-agar, locust bean gum, carrageenan, guar gum, gum arabic) were determined. Increase in the storage modulus (Gʹ) and loss modulus (Gʺ) was observed with the addition of gums to FG. The elastic structure of FG became stronger and showed a significantly higher gel property (Gʹ>Gʺ). The addition of gum arabic was seen to adversely affect the structure of FG, causing a decrease in gel strength and a more viscous structure. The highest gel strength was achieved with the addition of gellan gum (7.50%). The melting temperatures, gel strength, and consistency index of FG were increased with the addition of all gums, except gum arabic. Addition of 5.00% xanthan gum to FG resulted in an increase in the melting temperature to 15.93ᵒC, which was the highest melting temperature obtained with FG. Similarly, an increase in the melting point was detected with the addition of gellan gum, agar-agar, carrageenan, and carob gum compared to the control. Different hydrocolloids enhanced Kgel, G,G, consistency index, gel strength, and melting temperature of FG. Bloom values for Bovine Gelatin (BG) and FG were 247.16 and 31.29 g, respectively. The bloom value increased to 409.363 with the addition of gellan gum and changed between 8.11-131.08 with the other gums. The water holding capacity (WHC) was found to be 784.36% in BG and 35.14% in FG. The highest WHC among all the mixtures was determined as 232.5% with the addition of 5.00% xanthan gum. The best overall results were obtained with the addition of gellan gum. Gellan gum added to FG could potentially make it suitable for usage in the food industry.
MODERNIZATION OF THE RUSSIAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW AS A VITAL INSTRUMENT OF LEGAL REGULATION
Authors: Shatalov Aleksander
Published: September 2023

The reason for writing the article was the date – 20 years from the date

of entry into force of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. This

circumstance was used as a pretext to study the current state of its scope and the limits

of legal regulation. Against the background of some historical generalizations and mention

of radically changed fundamental provisions, he considered the theoretical concept and

the most significant innovations of the Russian criminal procedure legislation, thanks

to which changes in the content and forms of law enforcement activity could occur, as

well as positive changes in the mechanism of observance of human and civil rights and

freedoms in criminal proceedings. The criminal procedure legislation itself is regarded

as the expected result of many years of scientific research and painstaking legislative

work. It has everything necessary for public recognition for many years, and recognizes

the absence of ideological dogmas, which were saturated with its predecessors, as an

important stylistic innovation. We believe that the Code needs to improve its wording. It

is difficult to use it because of the many references in one article to others, the lack of

detail of individual regulations and a number of systemic shortcomings.
Queer Constellations in the Big Easy: Making Space in New Orleans
Authors: Brunet Perrin
Published: September 2023

This article explores LGBTQ+ space-making practices and spaces in New Orleans, Louisiana. It analyzes spaces to understand why, how, and for whom they were made. I conducted interviews with LGBTQ+ New Orleanians and utilized queer geographical theory, to present LGBTQ+ spaces across New Orleans as "queer constellations" of time and space on the map of the city marking places of importance to individuals and/or the broader LGBTQ+ community. To differentiate between the various types of spaces found, I divided them into four categories: lost space, transient space, explicitly queer space, and non-explicitly queer space. Through an intersectional lens of gender, race, sexuality, and socioeconomic status, this article attempts to examine whether the diversity and globality of the city were reflected in its queer spaces.
Noncoding RNAs as an emerging resistance mechanism to immunotherapies in cancer: basic evidence and therapeutic implications
Authors: Wang Man , Yu Fei , Li Peifeng
Published: September 2023

The increasing knowledge in the field of oncoimmunology has led to extensive research into tumor immune landscape and a plethora of clinical immunotherapy trials in cancer patients. Immunotherapy has become a clinically beneficial alternative to traditional treatments by enhancing the power of the host immune system against cancer. However, it only works for a minority of cancers. Drug resistance continues to be a major obstacle to the success of immunotherapy in cancer. A fundamental understanding of the detailed mechanisms underlying immunotherapy resistance in cancer patients will provide new potential directions for further investigations of cancer treatment. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are tightly linked with cancer initiation and development due to their critical roles in gene expression and epigenetic modulation. The clear appreciation of the role of ncRNAs in tumor immunity has opened new frontiers in cancer research and therapy. Furthermore, ncRNAs are increasingly acknowledged as a key factor influencing immunotherapeutic treatment outcomes. Here, we review the available evidence on the roles of ncRNAs in immunotherapy resistance, with an emphasis on the associated mechanisms behind ncRNA-mediated immune resistance. The clinical implications of immune-related ncRNAs are also discussed, shedding light on the potential ncRNA-based therapies to overcome the resistance to immunotherapy.
Assessing the effect of regular swimming exercise on the micro- and macrovascular physiology of older adults (ACELA II study)
Authors: Klonizakis M. , Mitropoulos A.
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the main cause of death in the Western world. Our recent findings demonstrate potential CVD risk reduction in older adults who undertake regular swimming exercise. Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether an exercise intervention based on swimming is feasible and effective prior to a wider implementation of a CVD risk prevention strategy.

Methods: This was a pragmatic, two-group, randomised controlled trial. A total of 40 older adults were randomly split into two groups (n = 20 per group). The swimming exercise group consisted of participants who engaged in swimming exercise (2–3 days/week, for 8 weeks). The control group did not perform any exercise. Flow-mediated dilation (%FMD) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included raw cutaneous vascular conductance. Feasibility outcomes (e.g., recruitment, adherence, and attrition rates) were also assessed.

Results: Statistically significant macrovascular (%FMD; swimming group: 9.8% ± 4.2%, p <0.001; control group: 4.6% ± 2.5%) and microvascular function (raw cutaneous vascular conductance; swimming group: 4.1 ± 0.9, p <0.01; control group: 3.2 ± 1.1) improvements were observed in the swimming group compared to the control group. Compliance to twice and thrice weekly in an 8-week swimming exercise was 92.6% and 88.4%, respectively, with no dropouts.

Conclusion: Our 8-week, community-based, pragmatic swimming exercise intervention is a feasible and effective exercise programme that could be implemented in older adults for the prevention of age-related CVD. These findings suggest that swimming exercise could significantly reduce CVD risk in older adults, and a large research clinical trial is warranted to establish these findings.
Parenting stress and associated factors in healthcare workers after the second wave of COVID-19 in India: a two-center cross-sectional study
Authors: Kalrao Vijay , Srivastava Leena , Kumar Shruti
Published: September 2023

Background

High parenting stress (PS) in members of the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic was exacerbated by work-, family-, and child-related factors. However, the negative effects of PS on the mental health and work participation of healthcare workers (HCWs) have received limited attention. This study aimed to examine the proportion of severe PS among HCWs and identify its contributory factors.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey was conducted in two COVID-19-care hospitals attached to medical colleges in India between November 1 and December 24, 2021, following the delta variant-driven second wave of COVID-19. The study recruited 662 HCW parent and child dyads (aged 1.5–18 years) and assessed workplace, family, and child-related characteristics. The Parenting Stress Scale (PSS) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used to identify severe PS and child behavioral issues, respectively. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyzes were used to identify the significant and independent risk factors associated with severe PS, respectively.

Results

Equal proportions of medical and paramedical HCWs completed the survey [mean age: 36.96 ± 5.89; female: 466 (70%)]. The median PSS score of HCWs was 33 [interquartile range (IQR): 28–39], and 23% (155/662) of the HCW parents experienced severe PS. The independent predictors of severe PS included the female sex [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.31; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.74–6.29], HCWs with >15-day postings in COVID-19 care (aOR: 3.74; 95% CI: 1.53–9.16), having children with behavioral issues (aOR: 3.49; 95% CI: 1.29–9.48), HCWs at the Dehradun center (aOR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.24–4.10), having an HCW spouse simultaneously working in COVID-19 care (aOR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.01–3.49), and HCWs with joint families (aOR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.17–3.18).

Conclusion

Overall, 23% of the cohort of HCWs continued to experience severe PS after the second COVID-19 wave driven by the delta variant in India. Routine screening of HCWs for PS using the PSS or similar measures, anticipatory guidance for parenting, and targeting at-risk HCWs with appropriate supportive measures may help reduce the incidence of severe PS and optimize the participation of HCWs in the fight against current and future pandemic-like situations.
The Governance of Core Competencies for Public Health: A Rapid Review of the Literature
Authors: Sandhu Harman Singh , Otterman Victoria , Tjaden Lynda , Shephard Rosemarie , Apatu Emma , Di Ruggiero Erica , Musto Richard , Pawa Jasmine , Steinberg Malcolm , Betker Claire
Published: September 2023

Core competencies for public health (CCPH) define the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of a public health workforce. Although numerous sets of CCPH have been established, few studies have systematically examined the governance of competency development, review, and monitoring, which is critical to their implementation and impact. This rapid review included 42 articles. The findings identified examples of collaboration and community engagement in governing activities (e.g., using the Delphi method to develop CCPH) and different ways of approaching CCPH review and revision (e.g., every 3 years). Insights on monitoring and resource management were scarce. Preliminary lessons emerging from the findings point towards the need for systems, structures, and processes that support ongoing reviews, revisions, and monitoring of CCPH.
A Multi-Step Precision Pathway for Predicting Allograft Survival in Heterogeneous Cohorts of Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Zhang Yunwei , Deng Danny , Muller Samuel , Wong Germaine , Yang Jean Yee Hwa
Published: September 2023

Accurate prediction of allograft survival after kidney transplantation allows early identification of at-risk recipients for adverse outcomes and initiation of preventive interventions to optimize post-transplant care. Many prediction algorithms do not model cohort heterogeneity and may lead to inaccurate assessment of longer-term graft outcomes among minority groups. Using data from a national Australian kidney transplant cohort (2008–2017) as the derivation set, we developed P-Cube, a multi-step precision prediction pathway model for predicting overall graft survival in three ethnic subgroups: European Australians, Asian Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The concordance index for the European Australians, Asian Australians, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples subpopulations were 0.99 (0.98–0.99), 0.93 (0.92–0.94) and 0.92 (0.91–0.93), respectively. Similar findings were observed when validating P-cube using an external dataset [Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipient Registry (2006–2020)]. Six sub-categories of recipients with distinct risk factor profiles were identified. Some factors such as blood group compatibility were considered important across the entire transplant population. Other factors such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR mismatches were unique to older recipients. The P-cube model identifies allograft survival specific risk factors within a heterogenous population and offers personalized survival predictions in a diverse cohort.
A DEMATEL-ISM Integrated Modeling Approach of Influencing Factors Shaping Destination Image in the Tourism Industry
Authors: Alqahtani Ammar Y. , Makki Anas A.
Published: September 2023

Tourism is an upcoming industry with a high potential for future growth. Many factors influencing destination image (DI) are affecting tourism development. Therefore, studying factors influencing DI is essential. This research study aims to model the factors influencing DI in the tourism industry. A total of 15 factors were the focus of the study. Data on the factors were collected from 10 tourism industry experts. An integrated modeling approach was adopted using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM). Interrelationships between the factors, causal effects, relative importance weights, ranks, and driving and dependence powers were analyzed to develop causal and interpretive structures. The developed model revealed that political stability is foundational to other aspects of DI. Then, factors related to safety and security, policy rules and regulations, tourism infrastructure, information and communication technologies, environment, economic development and affluence, fairs, exhibits, and festivals in a destination should be considered. These affect others related to health and hygiene, transport infrastructure, natural and cultural resources, human resources, quality of services, prices, hospitality, friendliness, and receptiveness aspects in a destination. The developed model provides a valuable framework for decision-makers in the tourism industry to enhance and shape the DI.
Biostimulants in the Production of Forage Grasses and Turfgrasses
Authors: Mackiewicz-Walec Ewa , Olszewska Marzenna
Published: September 2023

Biostimulants are becoming more prevalent in the production of forage and turfgrasses. Many can be classified as natural biostimulants, including humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA), protein hydrolysates (PHs) and seaweed extracts (SWE), in addition to chitosan, silicon, inorganic compounds, beneficial fungi, bacteria and synthetic biostimulants. The article reviews recent research on the effects of biostimulants in the cultivation of forage grasses (perennial ryegrass, annual ryegrass, Festulolium, Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass, orchard grass and timothy-grass) and turfgrasses (perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, red fescue and creeping bentgrass). Literature analysis suggests that biostimulants enhance the quality of grasses, augment their tolerance to environmental stresses, facilitate nutrient uptake and improve the visual aspect of grasses. While biostimulants cannot replace fertilisers, they can significantly improve crop effectiveness in utilising the nutrients present in the fertilisers. This paper also briefly describes the legal and regulatory status of biostimulants with a focus on the EU and PL.
Exploring the Potential Use of Sentinel-1 and 2 Satellite Imagery for Monitoring Winter Wheat Growth under Agricultural Drought Conditions in North-Western Poland
Authors: Jędrejek Anna , Pudełko Rafał
Published: September 2023

This paper presents analyses of the potential use of Sentinel-1 (S-1) and Sentinel-2 (S-2) imagery to generate models of winter wheat growth under agricultural drought vs. normal conditions identified based on potential yield losses calculated in the Agricultural Drought Monitoring System (ADMS). The analyses carried out showed the sensitivity of satellite images to agricultural drought conditions determined in ADMS. The study was conducted in a large region, the West Pomeranian Voivodeship (NUTS PL42), and the analysis covered about 22,935 polygons with winter wheat production that constituted a total area of about 108,000 ha in the period from the 1st of April to the 1st of July 2021. For S-1 data, VH and VV backscatter and the VH/VV ratio were calculated, and for S-2 data, NDVI and NDWI indices were calculated, which were used to build models of winter wheat growth under water stress and in normal conditions. The obtained results presented in this work include: (i) Development of a test version of a model describing the winter wheat crop’s growth, with a preliminary assessment showing the potential for recognizing water shortage effects; and (ii) identification of promising indicators of water scarcity for crops, calculated based on S-1 and S-2 images, that could be recommended for application in remote sensing (RS) of drought effects as complementary multispectral and radar observations. The results obtained in this work also gave many clues regarding the direction and method of including satellite remote sensing in national monitoring programmes, which involves operations on many types of big data sets.
Misconceptions and Knowledge Gaps on Antibiotic Use and Resistance in Four Healthcare Settings and Five European Countries—A Modified Delphi Study
Authors: Chalkidou Athina , Lambert Maarten , Cordoba Gloria , Taxis Katja , Hansen Malene Plejdrup , Bjerrum Lars
Published: September 2023

Misconceptions and knowledge gaps about antibiotics contribute to inappropriate antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to identify and prioritize misconceptions and knowledge gaps about antibiotic use from a healthcare professionals’ perspective. A modified Delphi study with a predefined list of statements, two questionnaire rounds, and an expert meeting was conducted. The statements were rated by healthcare professionals from France, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, and Spain, and from general practice, out-of-hour services, nursing homes, and pharmacies. A total of 44 pre-defined statements covered the following themes: (1) antimicrobial resistance in general, (2) use of antibiotics in general, (3) use of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections, and (4) use of antibiotics for urinary tract infections. Consensus was defined as ≥80% agreement between the professionals during the second Delphi round. For 30% of the statements, professionals from the four settings together reached consensus. In each setting individually, at least 50% of the statements reached consensus, indicating that there are still many misconceptions and knowledge gaps that need to be addressed. Six educational tools (leaflets, posters, checklists) were developed to address the knowledge gaps and misconceptions. These can be used by patients and healthcare professionals to improve the use of antibiotics in practice.
Remediation Opportunities for Arsenic-Contaminated Gold Mine Waste
Authors: Besedin Julie A. , Khudur Leadin S. , Netherway Pacian , Ball Andrew S.
Published: September 2023

Arsenic (As)-contaminated gold mine waste is a global problem and poses a significant risk to the ecosystem and community (e.g., carcinogenic, toxicity). Arsenic concentrations of 77,000 mg/kg and 22,000 mg/kg in mine waste have been reported for Canada and Australia, respectively. Research is investigating environmentally sustainable techniques to remediate As-rich mine waste. Biological techniques involving plants (phytoremediation) and soil amendments have been studied to bioaccumulate As from soil (phytoextraction) or stabilise As in the rhizosphere (phytostabilisation). Identified plant species for phytoremediation are predominately fern species, which are problematic for arid to semi-arid climates, typical of gold mining areas. There is a need to identify native plant species that are compatible with arid to semi-arid climates. Arsenic is toxic to plants; therefore, it is vital to assess soil amendments and their ability to reduce toxicity, enhance plant growth, and improve soil conditions. The effectiveness of a soil-amending phytoremediation technique is dependent on soil properties, geochemical background, and As concentrations/speciation; hence, it is vital to use field soil. There is a lack of studies involving mine waste soil collected from the field. Future research is needed to design soil-amending phytoremediation techniques with site-specific mine waste soil and native plant species.
Differences and Similarities between the Wood of Three Low-Density and Homogenous Species: Linden, Balsa, and Paulownia
Authors: Avram Anamaria , Lunguleasa Aurel , Spirchez Cosmin , Ionescu Constantin Stefan
Published: September 2023

The use of woods with a low density and good structural uniformity has intensified in recent decades, paving new ways for their superior valorization. This research study aimed to examine the wood of three deciduous wood species with low densities and great uniformity of structure, namely linden wood, with an oven-dried density of 461 kg/m3, paulownia wood, with an oven-dried density of 304 kg/m3, and balsa wood, with an oven-dried density of 118 kg/m3. The physical and mechanical properties of these species were studied using various methodologies. The obtained results show that, although they have significant differences in terms of densities and mechanical characteristics, the coloristic properties of the three analyzed species obtained using the CIELab are almost similar. As a general conclusion, based on all the properties found in this research, it can be concluded that paulownia wood is more appropriate than linden or balsa for use, being able to replace linden in its uses.
Corrosion Fatigue Assessment of Bridge Cables Based on Equivalent Initial Flaw Size Model
Authors: Liu Zhongxiang , Guo Tong , Yu Xiaming , Niu Shilei , Correia José
Published: September 2023

Bridge cables under traffic loads are more prone to failure during the service life due to the corrosion–fatigue coupling effect. In this study, a novel lifespan model based on the equivalent initial flaw size (EIFS) theory is established to analyze the various stages of the lifespan of steel wires. Additionally, a comprehensive corrosion-fatigue lifespan calculation method for parallel steel wire cable is established based on the series–parallel model. A case study of the Runyang Suspension Bridge is conducted to evaluate the evolution of corrosion-fatigue damage in bridge cables during the service life. The results indicate that under the action of corrosion-fatigue, steel wires are more prone to crack initiation, and their fracture toughness is further reduced. In cases where the corrosion level is relatively low, the steel wires of the bridge cables experience no corrosion-fatigue fracture. When the steel wires have initial defects and are subject to corrosion-fatigue conditions, their fracture lifespan is dependent on the severity of the corrosive medium. The reduction in the service life of the cables under the corrosion environment is much greater than that under heavy loads. This research may contribute to the understanding of corrosion-fatigue damage in bridge cables, involving assessment, maintenance, and replacement for bridge cables.
Design and Implementation of an Accessible 3D Bioprinter: Benchmarking the Performance of a Home-Made Bioprinter against a Professional Bioprinter
Authors: D’Atanasio Paolo , Fiaschini Noemi , Rinaldi Antonio , Zambotti Alessandro , Cantini Lorenzo , Mancuso Mariateresa , Antonelli Francesca
Published: September 2023

The tremendous application potential of 3D bioprinting in the biomedical field is witnessed by the ever-increasing interest in this technology over the past few years. In particular, the possibility of obtaining 3D cellular models that mimic tissues with precision and reproducibility represents a definitive advance for in vitro studies dealing with the biological mechanisms of cell growth, death and proliferation and is at the basis of the responses of healthy and pathological tissues to drugs and therapies. However, the impact of 3D bioprinting on research is limited by the high costs of professional 3D bioprinters, which represent an obstacle to the widespread access and usability of this technology. In this work, we present a 3D bioprinter that was developed in-house by modifying a low-cost commercial 3D printer by replacing the default extruder used to print plastic filaments with a custom-made syringe extruder that is suitable for printing bioinks. The modifications made to the 3D printer include adjusting the size of the extruder to accommodate a 1 mL syringe and reducing the extruder’s size above the printer. To validate the performance of the home-made bioprinter, some main printing characteristics, the cell vitality and the possibility of bioprinting CAD-designed constructs were benchmarked against a renowned professional 3D bioprinter by RegenHu. According to our findings, our in-house 3D bioprinter was mostly successful in printing a complex glioblastoma tumor model with good performances, and it managed to maintain a cell viability that was comparable to that achieved by a professional bioprinter. This suggests that an accessible open-source 3D bioprinter could be a viable option for research and development (R&D) laboratories interested in pre-commercial 3D bioprinting advancements.
Strain Gauge Neural Network-Based Estimation as an Alternative for Force and Torque Sensor Measurements in Robot Manipulators
Authors: Kružić Stanko , Musić Josip , Papić Vladan , Kamnik Roman
Published: September 2023

When a robotic manipulator interacts with its environment, the end-effector forces need to be measured to assess if a task has been completed successfully and for safety reasons. Traditionally, these forces are either measured directly by a 6-dimensional (6D) force–torque sensor (mounted on a robot’s wrist) or by estimation methods based on observers, which require knowledge of the robot’s exact model. Contrary to this, the proposed approach is based on using an array of low-cost 1-dimensional (1D) strain gauge sensors mounted beneath the robot’s base in conjunction with time series neural networks, to estimate both the end-effector 3-dimensional (3D) interaction forces as well as robot joint torques. The method does not require knowledge of robot dynamics. For comparison reasons, the same approach was used but with 6D force sensor measurements mounted beneath the robot’s base. The trained networks showed reasonably good performance, using the long-short term memory (LSTM) architecture, with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 1.945 N (vs. 2.004 N; 6D force–torque sensor-based) for end-effector force estimation and 3.006 Nm (vs. 3.043 Nm; 6D force–torque sensor-based) for robot joint torque estimation. The obtained results for an array of 1D strain gauges were comparable with those obtained with a robot’s built-in sensor, demonstrating the validity of the proposed approach.
Production of Biogas and Biomethane as Renewable Energy Sources: A Review
Authors: Mignogna Debora , Ceci Paolo , Cafaro Claudia , Corazzi Giulia , Avino Pasquale
Published: September 2023

An economy based on renewable energy sources is the hallmark of responsible companies. Climate policy and energy crisis commitments have led to a search for alternative ways to produce energy. Bioenergy is considered the most consistent renewable energy source due to its economic and environmental benefits. Biogas and biomethane are promising forms of renewable energy derived from widely available evergreen raw materials. Agricultural, animal, industrial and food wastes are excellent substrates used to produce clean and sustainable energy in a circular economy context. Their conversion into biogas and biomethane through the anaerobic digestion (AD) process is an efficient solution to the treatment of waste of different origins. The production and use of biomethane favor important environmental advantages, such as the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with those deriving from the use of conventional fossil fuels. This review would like to highlight modern trends and approaches to evaluate processes and strategies to control biogas and biomethane production. In particular, the use of livestock waste for the digestion process and the reuse of the by-product as fertilizer, as well as the potential development of biogas and biomethane as prospects for the improvement and optimization of renewable energy sources, are discussed.
An Innovative Look into Ammonium Nitrogen Removal Using Algae and Zeolites as an Element of a Circular Bioeconomy
Authors: Zabochnicka Magdalena
Published: September 2023

This work focused on the potential of simultaneously removing ammonium nitrogen from industrial wastewater using immobilized microalgae and powdered zeolite. Experiments were performed with different species and doses of microalgae embedded in spherical hydrogels in semicontinuous conditions. Ammonium nitrogen uptake by microalgae promoted the slow release of previously adsorbed ammonium nitrogen from zeolite that was then also absorbed by microalgae. Results showed that immobilized microalgae can reach a removal efficiency of up to 60% (C. vulgaris) and 42% (S. armatus). A higher removal efficiency was obtained for zeolites and immobilized C. vulgaris or S. armatus up to 86% and 79%, respectively. Moreover, a higher maximum sorption capacity for C. vulgaris (13.8 mg/g) was achieved than for S. armatus (5.5 mg/g). The recycling of spent hydrogel, zeolite, and wastewater is possible. Such an approach represents a circular bioeconomy loop.
Automated Aviation Wind Nowcasting: Exploring Feature-Based Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Alves Décio , Mendonça Fábio , Mostafa Sheikh Shanawaz , Morgado-Dias Fernando
Published: September 2023

Wind factors significantly influence air travel, and extreme conditions can cause operational disruptions. Machine learning approaches are emerging as a valuable tool for predicting wind patterns. This research, using Madeira International Airport as a case study, delves into the effectiveness of feature creation and selection for wind nowcasting, focusing on predicting wind speed, direction, and gusts. Data from four sensors provided 56 features to forecast wind conditions over intervals of 2, 10, and 20 min. Five feature selection techniques were analyzed, namely mRMR, PCA, RFECV, GA, and XGBoost. The results indicate that combining new wind features with optimized feature selection can boost prediction accuracy and computational efficiency. A strong spatial correlation was observed among sensors at different locations, suggesting that the spatial-temporal context enhances predictions. The best accuracy for wind speed forecasts yielded a mean absolute percentage error of 0.35%, 0.53%, and 0.63% for the three time intervals, respectively. Wind gust errors were 0.24%, 0.33%, and 0.38%, respectively, while wind direction predictions remained challenging with errors above 100% for all intervals.
Advancing Plastic Waste Classification and Recycling Efficiency: Integrating Image Sensors and Deep Learning Algorithms
Authors: Choi Janghee , Lim Byeongju , Yoo Youngjun
Published: September 2023

Plastics, with their versatility and cost-effectiveness, have become indispensable materials across various industries. However, the improper disposal and mismanagement of plastic waste have led to significant environmental issues, including pollution, habitat destruction, and threats to wildlife. To address these challenges, numerous methods for plastic waste sorting and recycling have been developed. While conventional techniques like near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) have been effective to some extent, they face difficulties in accurately classifying chemically similar samples, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and PET-glycol (PET-G), which have similar chemical compositions but distinct physical characteristics. This paper introduces an approach that adapts image sensors and deep learning object detection algorithms; specifically, the You Only Look Once (YOLO) model, to enhance plastic waste classification based on the shape of the waste. Unlike conventional methods that rely solely on spectral analysis, our methodology aims to significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of classifying plastics, especially when dealing with materials having similar chemical compositions but differing physical attributes. The system developed using image sensors and the YOLO model proves to be not only effective but also scalable and adaptable for various industrial and environmental applications. In our experiments, the results are strikingly effective. We achieved a classification accuracy rate exceeding 91.7% mean Average Precision (mAP) in distinguishing between PET and PET-G, surpassing conventional techniques by a considerable margin. The implications of this research extend far and wide. By enhancing the accuracy of plastic waste sorting and reducing misclassification rates, we can significantly boost recycling efficiency. The proposed approach contributes to a more sustainable and efficient plastic waste management system, alleviating the strain on landfills and mitigating the environmental impact of plastic waste, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
A Robust Lightweight Network for Pedestrian Detection Based on YOLOv5-x
Authors: Chen Yuanjie , Wang Chunyuan , Zhang Chi
Published: September 2023

Pedestrian detection is a crucial task in computer vision, with various applications in surveillance, autonomous driving, and robotics. However, detecting pedestrians in complex scenarios, such as rainy days, remains a challenging problem due to the degradation of image quality and the presence of occlusions. To address this issue, we propose RSTDet-Lite (a robust lightweight network) for pedestrian detection on rainy days, based on an improved version of YOLOv5-x. Specifically, in order to reduce the redundant parameters of the YOLOv5-x backbone network and enhance its feature extraction capability, we propose a novel approach named CBP-GNet, which incorporates a compact bilinear pooling algorithm. This new net serves as a new backbone network, resulting in significant parameter reduction and enhancing the fine-grained feature fusion capability of the network. Additionally, we introduce the Simple-BiFPN structure as a replacement for the original feature pyramid module based on the weighted bidirectional feature pyramid to further improve feature fusion efficiency. To enhance network performance, we integrate the CBAM attention mechanism and introduce the idea of structural reparameterization. To evaluate the performance of our method, we create a new dataset named RainDet3000, which consists of 3000 images captured in various rainy scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate that, compared with YOLOv5, our proposed model reduces the network size by 30 M while achieving a 4.56% increase in mAP. This confirms the effectiveness of RSTDet-Lite in achieving excellent performance in rainy-day pedestrian detection scenarios.