bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Qualitative Appraisal of the Teaching Methodology Approaches in PhD Coursework
Authors: Sood Ashish , Sharma Girish , Abbas Jibran , Pandey Rajat , Nagvenkar Tejas
Published: June 2024

A comprehensive understanding of research methodologies is necessary to conduct relevant research. Instructing adult scholars is difficult due to their prolonged absence from formal education. To tackle this issue, the university addressed in this paper devised a ‘research methodology’ course specifically designed for those who are employed, including a combination of adult learning principles and traditional teaching methods. An effective evaluation methodology guarantees continuous and fruitful learning. This article provides a qualitative analysis of the technique used by the university to develop research foundations for adult scholars, demonstrating that a blend of andragogy and pedagogy leads to favourable results. Scholars employed management principles to acquire new skills and effectively manage the delicate equilibrium between their professional and personal obligations.
Higher Education Landscape in India: Government Expenditure and Its Implications on Growth and Access
Authors: Borthakur Prapti , Nath Suresh Kumar , Chakraborty Sagartirtha
Published: June 2024

India’s higher education system grapples with myriad challenges perpetuated by scarcity of resources. This study seeks to analyse the quantitative growth of India’s higher education since independence, particularly focusing on the post-reform period. The research employs regression models, including the semi-log, Gompertz and multiple linear models, to determine growth rates and forecast variables up to 2035. The study reveals a significant expansion of higher education during the examined period, though it falls short of meeting the increasing demands. To achieve the goal of a 50 per cent Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by 2035, the Government of India must take steps to boost its expenditure on higher education. The analysis powerfully underscores that despite the extensive proliferation of higher education in India, its efficacy might be limited without concurrent implementation of robust policies directed towards amplifying government expenditure within the sector.
Leveraging LDA Feature Extraction to Augment Human Activity Recognition Accuracy
Authors: Vazan Milad , Sharifi Elaheh , Farahani Hadi , Madadi Sadegh
Published: June 2024

This research introduces a hybrid feature extraction approach that combines Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) methods to address the challenges of reducing feature vector dimensionality and accurately classifying smartphone-based human activities. Moreover, to refine activity classification accuracy, Support Vector Machine (SVM) optimization with Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) is employed. LDA, a statistical tool, is leveraged to derive a new feature space for data projection, enhancing class separation and test feature label prediction. The proposed approach, named LMSS, was evaluated using the UCI-HAR dataset and compared with state-of-the-art models. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach outperformed the best-performing method over this dataset. It achieved an accuracy rate of 99.52%, precision of 99.55%, recall of 99.53%, and an F1-score of 99.54%, highlighting the effectiveness of the proposed method in accurately classifying the data.
Flood Segmentation: Self-Supervised Knowledge Transfer from Optical to SAR
Authors: Pignato Sebastiano , Marino Armando
Published: June 2024

Our world is increasingly challenged by managing the impacts of natural disasters, particularly floods, which are frequent, dangerous, and costly. Traditional flood mapping methods, reliant on Optical satellites (MSI), struggle under cloud cover which is typical during such events. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) offers a promising alternative with its cloud-penetrating capability, though its use has been limited due to complexity and data labeling challenges. This project aims to develop a SAR-based flood segmentation model that can rapidly and accurately map floods globally, with high adaptability to different flood types and regions. By utilizing deep learning and a novel transfer-learning technique that combines the strengths of Optical/MSI and SAR data, the model seeks to bypass the challenges of manual labeling and improve mapping accuracy. Initial results show the model's effective generalization across various flood events, with superior performance indicated by an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 0.72, outperforming existing methods and demonstrating promising capabilities in precise flood mapping.
Economic Burden of Acne Vulgaris: A Cost of Illness Analysis
Authors: Muhammad Ali Syed , Anam Tayyaba , Mustafa Maria Batool , Arif Nimra , Zafar Fiza , Sarwar Sonia , Aamir Muhammad , Kalam Muhammad Nasir
Published: June 2024

Background & Objective: Acne Vulgaris is a common skin disease, with 5 % prevalence in Pakistan and has a significant physiological, psychological, emotional and social impact on the population, our study aims to estimate its annual economic burden per person in Pakistan.Methodology: Economic burden was estimated by using Cost of Illness analysis. All types of costs, including direct medication costs, direct non-medical costs and indirect costs due to loss of work. Data were collected from online databases and literature reviews. Results: Cost of illness analysis estimated that the cost of Acne Vulgaris treatment varies for mild, Moderate and severe acne. Acne is causing an annual economic burden of PKR 1,92,366 PKR per person (direct cost is PKR 1,86,366 and indirect cost 6,000) for an expensive treatment and PKR 53,550 (direct cost is PKR 47550 and indirect cost 6,000) for a cheap treatment. Limitation: Being an LMIC, Pakistan needs extensive study on the pharmacoeconomic analysis of Acne for proper and rational allocation of resources. Conclusion: Acne has a significant economic burden in Pakistan. Even with significant impact of Acne, there is very minute work done about Acne in Pakistan.
Incidental Findings Following Dental Implants Procedures in Mandible: A New Post-processing CBCT Software Analysis
Authors: Garrote Marcel da Silva , Alencar Ana Helena Gonçalves de , Estrela Cyntia Rodrigues de Araújo , Estrela Lucas Rodrigues de Araújo , Bueno Mike Reis , Guedes Orlando Aguirre , Estrela Carlos
Published: June 2024

Background/Objectives: To evaluate incidental findings in the mandible after the placement of dental implants using a new cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) software. Methods: The initial sample consisted of 2,872 CBCT scans of patients of both sexes. The parameters evaluated in this study were the location of the implants in the mandible, implant length, anatomical relationship of the implant with the mandibular canal, presence or absence of damage to the adjacent teeth, presence or absence of implant fractures, and presence or absence of bone support. Fisher's exact test was performed to compare the variables. The significance level was set at p = 0.05. Results: Out of 2,872 CBCT scans, 214 images of patients with an average age of 44.5 years were included. The most frequent location of the implants was the posterior region (93.5%), with 54% of the implants having a length between 9 and 14 mm. It was found that 92% of the implants were positioned above the mandibular canal. Three damage to adjacent teeth was observed, with no correlation with the implant positioning (p = 0.999). In 100% of cases of implants in the anterior region, there was bone support. Fracture was observed in 1.7% of implants with a length between 9- and 14-mm. Conclusions: The installation of implants in the mandible occurs more frequently in the posterior region, with a high presence of bone support and a low incidence of damage to adjacent teeth, anatomical structures, and fractures.
Exploring Sustainable Factors Shaping Sustainable Value Creation In Managing Transit Oriented Development Area Mass Rapid Transit: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Ardiansyah Zulfadli , Marimin Marimin , Yurianto Yurianto , Indrawan Dikky
Published: June 2024

This research aims to enhance scholarly understanding Analysis of potential Value Creation research on managing transit oriented that may arise from Mass Rapid Transit resources through an extensive literature review, analyzing 235 papers from the Scopus database spanning 2011-2024, with a specific focus on value creation managing transit-oriented area. Data collection was conducted on January 1, 2024, using Harzing's Publish or Perish tool. The selected studies are associated with keywords such as 'managing transit orientation (154 papers), Value creation MRT (45 papers), Innovation MRT (36 papers)/ In the filtering process, 235 papers were assessed, excluding those unrelated to the research focus on the cash flow statement. The inclusion of 31 carefully selected articles reflects a targeted approach, ensuring alignment with the research focus on value creation in managing transit orientation a relevant dataset for analysis. This article was created by accessing several scientific articles regarding the application of identification in managing transit orientation using Vos viewer. Value creation research in managing transit oriented is needed to explore the following areas: Long-term sustainability of identified core competencies, Competitive Imitation, Organizational Adaptability, Industry Specific Applications, Performance Measurement, Dynamic Capability Development, Cross-Cultural Perspective. Potential areas for further research include Incorporate additional contingent factors into the model, such as environmental dynamism and competitiveness, to test the validity of the Resource-Based View (RBV) model. Extend the analysis to small and medium-sized businesses to examine how organizational structure and competitive strategy impact performance in this context.
Non-conservation of momentum in the FMM method in the PHANTOM code
Authors: Potashov Marat Shamilevich
Published: June 2024

The article discusses the implementation of the fast multipole method (FMM) in the PHANTOM code. It has been demonstrated that for any given pair of mutual interaction cells in a kd-tree, Newton's third law holds. However, momentum is not preserved for the entire system as a whole.
Perceptions and Challenges of Undergraduate EFL Students’ towards Audiobooks and Textbooks on the Xreading Website
Authors: Widodo Jalu Wintang , Nugroho Him’mawan Adi
Published: June 2024

Based on PISA literacy test in 2022, Indonesia gains rank 70 which 5 points higher than previous period in 2018. However, it still needs more efforts to maximize the level of students’ literacy in Indonesia. The use of X-reading as the web-based book technology becomes the alternative tools to improve EFL undergraduate students’ literacy level. This research aims to explore the undergraduate students’ perception and challenge in using audiobook and textbook, that are provided by Xreading website during extensive reading activity. This research is conducted to EFL undergraduate students through qualitative method and purposive sampling technique. Three undergraduate students in Surabaya are involved by using descriptive qualitative method. The use of audiobook and textbook in Xreading website have some positive and negative impacts for students in developing their literacy competence. Audiobook is able to improve the students’ listening skill and understand the unfamiliar vocabularies. However, it has some weaknesses such as it needs strong internet data and connection and cannot control the audio speed. The textbook gives the students experience as reading the physical book and the grammatical understanding. Nevertheless, textbook is more time consuming especially for students who have the lower reading skill. Hopefully, this research will be developed into the low level of education not only in undergraduate level, but also in the secondary school and this website expanded into the intensive reading.
Bioactivity of essential oils of Dizygostemon riparius (Plantaginaceae) on Tetranychus neocaledonicus (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Ferreira Mirla Cristina , Nojosa Ellen Cristine Nogueira , Marques Izaías Santos , Brandão Clenilma Marques , Santos Djanira Rubim dos , Marques Georgiana Eurides de Carvalho , Cavalcante Kiany Sirley Brandão , Teles Rogério de Mesquita , Barbosa Douglas Rafael e Silva
Published: June 2024

The red mite, Tetranychus neocaledonicus (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most important agricultural pests that cause significant damage to crop productivity from family farmers to large rural producers, and chemical control, via pesticides, is widely employed. However, their continuous and exacerbated use presents numerous health and environmental risks. In this context, the secondary metabolites present in the essential oils of aromatic plant species have been gaining prominence as eco-efficient alternatives. For example, the terpene profile of the essential oil (EO) of the recently described species Dizygostemon riparius (Plantaginaceae) has gained attention. Initially, D. riparius was collected from the banks of the Rio Preto in São Benedito do Rio Preto, Maranhão, Brazil. The EOs were extracted using the hydrodistillation method and contained terpene classes, which, according to the literature, have shown significant biological activity. The EOs were then tested against T. neocaledonicus mites (Acari: Tetranychidae), demonstrating their toxic potential, with lethal concentrations (LC50) of 2.52 µL/mL and 4.17 µL/mL for the white and lilac floral morphotypes, respectively. The white morphotype showed 62% repellency at the two sublethal concentrations tested, whereas the lilac morphotype showed percentages of 76% and 66% for the LC20 and LC30, respectively. The present study is the first to report the acaricidal potential of the EO chemical constituents of the white and lilac morphotypes of D. riparius against T. neocaledonicus.
Characteristics of breeding and performance parameters of the different local types of moscovy duck (cairina moschata) reared in south Benin, West Africa
Authors: Libanio Daouda , Behingan Boris Milognon , Kinkpe Lionel , Mankpondji Frederic , Oseni Saidou , Chrysostome Christophe Archille Armand
Published: June 2024

Muscovy duck breeding is a critical component of food security and livelihoods in southern Benin, yet knowledge of breeding practices remains limited. This study characterizes Muscovy duck breeding systems across three agroecological zones using a participatory survey of 420 breeders. The survey revealed a male dominance (77.78%) among breeders, with the Fon ethnic group constituting the majority (85.86%). A consistent male bias was observed across zones in ducks exceeding 6 weeks of age. Free-grazing emerged as the dominant breeding system in Zone 5 (100%), while Zone 6 displayed a more diverse approach (free-grazing: 60%, semi-grazing: 30%, confinement: 10%). Zone 8 primarily utilized semi-grazing (56.25%), followed by free-grazing (31.25%) and confinement (12.5%). Housing also varied across zones, with simple shelters dominating in Zones 5 (100%) and 8 (97.92%), while Zone 6 relied more on duck houses (52.5%). Egg laying performance increased significantly with each breeding cycle, with the third cycle yielding the highest number of eggs (15.37). Hatching rate exhibited a different pattern, peaking during the second cycle (95.42%) and showing statistically significant variations across cycles (P < 0.05). Plumage color did not influence reproductive performance. Interestingly, plumage color was associated with duckling survival, with black ducklings exhibiting the lowest mortality risk (P < 0.05). Diseases were reported as the leading cause of mortality. Future research on morphometrics, whole genome sequencing, and immune function variations, particularly in black ducks, alongside MC1R-MITF gene interactions, can improve our understanding of duck breeding in Benin and optimize production and duckling health.
The causal relationship between Eubacterium and constipation: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Fan Dingwen , Zhang Liangliang , Liu Hongchang , Zhu Dan
Published: June 2024

Background: Constipation may be related to an imbalance in flora imbalance. In this study, univariate and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MR) studies were used to further understand the causal relationship between different members of genus Eubacteriumand constipation.
Methods: The constipation and genus Eubacterium datasets were obtained from the Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) Open Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) database. The causal effects between constipation and genus Eubacterium were analyzed using MR-Egger, Weighted median, Simple mode, Weighted mode and Inverse variance weighted (IVW). In univariate MR analysis (UVMR), genus Eubacillus was the exposure factor, constipation was the outcome. In addition, the reliability of UVMR analysis was assessed by sensitivity analyses (heterogeneity tests, horizontal pleiotropy tests and leave-one-out (LOO) analysis). Finally, the MVMR analysis was performed.
Results: In the UVMR analysis, genus Eubacterium rectale group id.14374 (p=0.043, OR=0.805) and genus Eubacterium brachy group id.11296 (p=0.036, OR=0.904) were all protective factors on constipation. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that UVMR analysis was reliable. In the MVMR analysis, genus Eubacterium rectalegroup was still a significant protective factor (p=0.007, OR=0.80), while genus Eubacterium brachy group was not a significant protective factor for constipation (p=0.151, OR=0.94) .
Conclusion: The results of study supported that genus Eubacterium rectale group had a significant causal relationship with constipation, and the increase of genus Eubacterium rectale group could reduce the risk of constipation.
The Joint Impact of Depression Status and TyG Index on Overweight Incidence: A cross-sectional Study based on CHARLS in 2015
Authors: He Feiying , Fu Zhaolin , Xu Xiangchun , Yu Hongwen , Liu Hualin , Chen Yanwu , Tang Ping , Chen Yuan Yao
Published: June 2024

Background
Depressive status and triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) have both been reported to be associated with the development of overweight. However, there is a paucity of literature exploring the joint effect of TyG changes and depressive status on the occurrence of overweight. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between depression status and TyG index with the incidence of hypertension, and to analyze the combined effect of depression status and TyG index on the incidence of overweight.
Methods
We conducted a prospective cohort study using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a nationwide population-based study. Occurrence of overweight was determined among eligible respondents to CHARLS in 2015 on the basis of 10-item scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10). logistic model was used to calculate the relationship between depressive status and TyG index and the incidence of overweight. Logistic regression model was used for subgroup analysis of smoking variables. In addition, after propensity score matching, the logistic model was re-applied to calculate the relationship between depression status and TyG index and the incidence of overweight. Finally, the multiplicative interaction between depression status and TyG index was calculated.
Results
In the results, the risk of overweight in those with depression was 79% of that in those without depression (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: (0.66,0.95)),The risk of overweight with a TyG index > 5 was 302% of that with a TyG index of 4–5 (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: (2.45,3.73))。There was a significant interaction between depression status and TyG index, except for the presence of a depressive state plus a TyG index of 4–5 this combination (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: (0.55,0.86)) had a negative combined effect on the development of overweight, the other factors showed a positive combined effect on overweight, and the combined effect of depression and TyG index > 5 (OR = 3.6, 95%CI: (2.27,5.73)) was the largest.
Conclusion
Our research findings further confirm that the TyG index and depression have a significant impact on the occurrence of overweight. To reduce the high medical expenses caused by obesity and overweight, We need to pay more attention to psychological status and insulin resistance status.
Special attribute-based cross-modal interactive fusion network for RGBT tracking
Authors: Shao Xiaoqiang , Li Hao , Lyu Zhiyue , Ma Bo , HAN Zehui , Liu Mingqian
Published: June 2024

Due to the strong robustness of RGBT object tracking, which is less susceptible to the effects of illumination and occlusion, it has been widely used in the fields of video surveillance and automated driving. In this paper, an effective tracking network is constructed by fully interacting with both modal information using challenging attributes in infrared and visible images. The network consists of three parts: the special attribute fusion(SAF) module, the common attribute fusion(CAF) module, and the cross-modal interaction(CMI) module. The SAF module enables the network to extract unique challeng attribute information from two modalities, fully leveraging the advantages of different modal information. The CAF module extracts features from attributes matched in both modalities, and adaptively aggregates them, assigning corresponding weights to each challenging attribute to enhance the tracker's adaptability. The CMI module facilitates modal interaction between the infrared and visible image modalities, integrating common modal information with the specific modal information of each, thereby enhancing the network's robustness. The proposed network is tested on GTOT, RGBT234, and LasHer datasets, respectively. The results show that our tracker outperforms other trackers, proving the superiority of our method.
Energy Consumption-Coverage Optimization for Node Deployment: Using Hybridized FOA-BAO Algorithm in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs)
Authors: Marco Kadoke , Goyal Sonia , Kaur Ranjit
Published: June 2024

Coverage and energy consumption are critical issues in underwater wireless sensor networks due to the unique challenges posed by the aquatic environment. This study introduces a hybrid fruit fly-bat optimization algorithm (FOA-BOA) for sensor node deployment in underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs). This technique leverages both fixed and mobile sensor nodes to enhance network connectivity and coverage. By developing a novel fitness function that incorporates coverage quality, connection cost, and network lifetime, the algorithm optimizes sensor node placement using modified bat and fruit fly optimization models. Probability detection and a hybrid FOA-BOA-based multipoint search are utilized to determine the optimal deployment configuration. Simulation results, compared with three existing algorithms, show that the proposed method significantly improves network coverage, reduces energy consumption, and extends network lifetime. These findings underscore the potential of this hybrid optimization technique to enhance UWSN performance in environmental monitoring applications.
Machine Learning Algorithms Optimize Prediction Accuracy in Submersible Ballast Tank High-pressure Air Blowing Processes
Authors: HE Xi-Guang , HUANG Bin , LOU Jing-jun , CHEN Jia-bao , PENG Li-kun
Published: June 2024

The optimization of prediction accuracy in the high-pressure air blowing processes of submersible ballast tanks is crucial for enhancing the safety and efficiency of submersible operations. This study presents a comparative analysis between machine learning algorithms and traditional numerical simulation methods for predicting the dynamics of air blowing in submersible ballast tanks. The investigation focuses on the performance of the Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and the Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN), employing a series of experimental data to train and validate the models.The results indicate that while traditional numerical simulations exhibit a maximum relative error of 124.805%, the RBFNN, in particular, achieves a remarkable linear correlation coefficient of 1, a mean square error of 5.6758e-23, and a mean absolute percentage error of 7.4888e-11. These findings demonstrate the superior predictive capability of the RBFNN, suggesting that machine learning algorithms can significantly improve the accuracy of predictions concerning the high-pressure air blowing process. The study advocates for the adoption of machine learning techniques in submersible engineering, potentially transforming the reliability and safety of deep-sea exploration endeavors.
RETRACTED: Extraction and characterization of cellulose from cotton flower burr: a noble cellulose source from agro-waste
Authors: Rashid Mohammad Mamunur , Islam Shahidul , Ali Ayub , Siddique Abu Bakr
Published: June 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Determinants of Academic Performance of Armed Forces Schools: Perceptions of Teachers of Ghana Armed Forces Basic Schools
Authors: Boye Eric Sefa , Agyei Douglas Darko
Published: June 2024

The purpose of the study was to investigate the determinants of academic performance of armed forces basic schools from the perspectives of teachers of Ghana Armed Forces basic schools. A concurrent mixed method approach was used and this allowed the authors to use qualitative and quantitative evidence to define relationships among variables. Specifically, the study employed the use of structured questionnaires and interviews to collect data from sixty-one (61) participants for the study. The outcomes of the study revealed that prescribed school uniforms for teachers, effective supervision/inspections, motivation for teachers, parental concern as well as safety and security of armed forces schools contribute to the academic performance of armed forces schools. Other determinants identified include conduciveness of the school environment, good leadership and discipline among learners, teachers and school administrators. The authors suggested that the study should be extended to other armed forces schools to marry up the findings and also help come out with recommendations to inform theory, policy and practice.
Torque Regression Using Machine Learning Techniques in Automotive ECUs
Authors: Canal Rafael , Bonomo João Paulo Araujo , de Carvalho Rodrigo Santos , Gracioli Giovani
Published: June 2024

With the modernization of the automotive industry, a large amount of data is generated by vehicles during operation. When interpreted analytically, it can result in advances in several areas, such as safety, durability, production efficiency, fuel consumption, and gas emissions. In this work, we focus on engine torque and its regression, to enable the understanding of its behavior and help improve the performance of engines and vehicles, mainly in product development and testing. In addition, it highlights the relationship between torque and misfire for optimizing engine components by showing their impacts, as it is a common failure in combustion engines that impairs engine performance. After a rigorous process of feature selection relevant to torque, we collect data directly from a vehicle's ECU to train and evaluate machine learning algorithms to perform torque regression without relying on synthetic data or public datasets, using misfire detection as one of the inputs to the algorithms. In a car that reaches a torque of 144 Nm, our results reached up to an RMSE of 3.3830 (Nm)², MAE of 2.1620 (Nm), and R² of 0.99. Furthermore, our methodology acquired and processed data in real-time at a cloud server, that detects faults and calculates torque with the vehicle in motion, using less computationally demanding algorithms. These findings not only highlight our ability to predict the engine's torque and its relation with misfires but also our competence in analyzing additional parameters essential to vehicle performance.
Numerical Simulations to Illuminate the Sufficient Conditions of Integral Approximation Theorems
Authors: Hernadi Julan
Published: June 2024

One of the crucial issue in the mathematical reasoning is that many students do not really understand the mathematical rules underlying the conditional statement p → q, whereas most of mathematical theorems are of this pattern. They believe that the falsity of p implies the falsity of q. This is tantamount to presuming that implication is equivalent to the inverse, but that’s not the case. This fact suggests that students have not been able in distinguishing the sufficient and the necessary conditions of a conditional statement. This article is concerned with this problem by investigating the sufficient conditions on the basic quadrature formulas of integral approximation and their implication to the convergence order attainable. In order to instill students’ critical thinking skills, theorems relating to the convergence orders of three basic methods are proven. Furthermore, the cases where the sufficient conditions are fulfilled as well as cases where they are not satisfied are examined by a series of numerical simulation.
Mathematics Subject Classification: 03F03 , 65D30 , 65D32 , 65G50 , 65Y20
Network pharmacology, computational biology integrated surface plasmon resonance technology reveals the mechanism of salidroside in alleviating diabetic amyotrophy
Authors: Wang Hejie , Yousaf Wafa , Haseeb Abdul , Wang Ziyang , Zheng Jiangang
Published: June 2024

Objective
To explore the target and mechanism of Salidroside (SDS) in the treatment of Diabetic amyotrophy (DPN) employing network pharmacology, computational biology, and surface plasmon resonance verification. Method: The target associated with SDS was acquired from the ChEmBL database and DPN-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards database. Relevant targets were imported into the Venny platform to generate a Venn diagram, and their intersections were visualized. The target protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING, DAVID database, and Cytoscape software, and core targets were screened. After subjecting the targets to GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis, a network "target-pathway for SDS in alleviating DPN" was set up. The Schrodinger Maestro 13.5 software was utilized for molecular docking in order to ascertain the binding free energy and binding mode between SDS and target proteins. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed using the Desmond program. Saturation mutation analysis was performed using Schrodinger's Maestro 13.5 software. Finally, SPR technology was used to explore the affinity between SDS and Caspase3 protein.
Results
Network pharmacological analysis showed that there was a total of 61 intersection proteins, among which TNF, APP, Caspase3, PPARG, NQO1, HDAC1, BCL2, SRC, HDAC6, ACE, MAPK3, HSP90AA1, ATM, and REN were potential core targets for SDS to alleviate DPN. The enrichment analysis of GO function and KEGG pathways revealed that the targets primarily participated in diverse biological processes, cellular components alteraions, and molecular functions associated with apoptosis, neurons and transmitters, as well as metabolic pathways involved in lipid and atherosclerosis, apoptosis, and neurodegenerative pathways. Based on the crystal structure of the potential core protein, the complex structure model of the core target-SDS was created using molecular docking (XP mode of flexible docking), and the MMGBS analysis was carried out. Finally, the molecular dynamics simulation was carried out. The Δaffinity of Caspase3 was highest in 206 (TRP→GLY), 206 (TRP→LYS), and 206 (TRP→ALA). The corresponding values were 10.847 kcal/mol, 10.008 kcal/mol, and 9.725 kcal/mol. The SPR results data demonstrated specific binding and kinetic compatibility between the SDS and Caspase3 proteins.
Conclusion
Caspase3 is a potential target for SDS to alleviate DPN which may eventually play a role in alleviating DPN by regulating apoptosis-related pathways and providing a theoretical basis along with clues for the research and development of SDS as anti-alleviating DPN drugs.
Convective drying and quality attributes of osmo-dehydrated banana slices using coconut sugar and sucrose as osmotic agents
Authors: Araújo Cintia da Silva , Macedo Leandro Levate , Vimercati Wallaf Costa , Osório Vanessa Moreira , Saraiva Sérgio Henriques
Published: June 2024

Dried fruits have gained more and more space in the food market. Osmotic dehydration (OD) can be applied as a pre-treatment to convective drying, aiming to produce foods with different characteristics. Therefore, the present study evaluated the OD process of banana slices using coconut sugar and sucrose, as well as its influence on convective drying (CD) and the physicochemical parameters of the product. Osmotic solutions at 40 and 60% were prepared, and OD was conducted at 30 and 50°C. OD and CD kinetic parameters were analyzed. The dried product was characterized by moisture, water activity, shrinkage, texture, color, bioactive and volatile compounds. The higher concentration (60%) and higher temperature (50°C) resulted in higher values of water loss, solid gain, and weight reduction during OD for both sugars. CD time varied between 225 and 345 minutes. OD as pre-treatment reduced drying time by up to 65%. The dried banana had low moisture content and low water activity. The shrinkage was up to 73.44%, associated with the higher concentration treatment and higher temperature during OD. OD reduced product hardness after CD. In general, using coconut sugar resulted in greater changes in color parameters and higher levels of bioactive compounds in dried bananas. Volatile compounds highly related to banana flavor were present after drying. Coconut sugar proved a good alternative for producing osmo-dehydrated dried banana slices.
Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) Population of Particular Ecosystem in the Urban and Periurban Area in Morocco
Authors: FOUAD OUANAIMI , BOUSSAA SAMIA , BOUMEZZOUGH ALI
Published: June 2024

The Khettara is an abandoned irrigation system localized in Marrakech region, where no entomological investigations have been made. In the present study, sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) were collected with the aim to determine its abundance and species composition in this particular ecosystem. A total of 477 specimens were collected belonging to six species; Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi (28.72%) was the predominant species followed by Sergentomyia (Grassomyia) dreyfussi (23.06%), S. (Sergentomyia) fallax (18.87%), S. (S.) minuta (10.69%), P. (Larroussius) longicuspis (9.85%), and P. (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti (8.81%). When, S. (G.) dreyfussi was collected for the first time in the urban area of Marrakech. The results showed important sand fly diversity in Khettara ecosystem compared to sand fly composition in urban area of Marrakech. In addition, of the six species of phlebotomine sand flies caught, three are proven vectors of leishmaniasis in Morocco. Thus, Marrakech region, and especially its Khettara ecosystem, should be regarded as a potential focus for leishmaniasis.
Identifying troublesome behavior in the classroom: Greek teachers’ and parents’ views
Authors: M.Kouimtzi Eleni , Frosi Labrini , Kolias Pavlos
Published: June 2024

According to the systems perspective, the influence of various systems (e.g., family, school, community) on children's behavior at school is highly acknowledged. It is therefore accepted that problem behavior in the classroom originates from social interactions (Upton & Cooper, 1990), providing a conceptual framework where problems are seen as indicative of dysfunction within the system, thus removing blame from the individual child, the teacher or the parents (Dowling, 2003). Addressing the importance of the interactions among students, teachers and parents in this microsystem, the present study aimed at identifying and comparing the types of behaviors that Greek primary and secondary teachers and parents view as problematic in the classroom. A sample of 378 teachers and 69 parents were asked to identify which behaviors are considered troublesome. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 5 categories of behaviors perceived as problematic by parents and teachers, Externalizing behaviors, School Difficulties, Internalizing behaviors, Attention seeking behaviors and Hyperactivity/attention difficulties. Both teachers and parents considered externalizing behaviors to be more troublesome than other types of behavior. Teachers tend to worry less than parents about all types of children’s behaviors, except for school difficulties. Findings emphasize the significance of considering multiple perspectives of the school microsystem in designing interventions to meet the specific needs of school communities and encouraging collaboration among all members of the school system.
OSG’s Healing Cottage Design with a Cozy Retro Vintage Style
Authors: Dhifa Nadhifa Syadira Surya
Published: June 2024

In this era of modernization, many changes have been made to humanlifestyles.The effects of modernization have had many changing impacts, one ofwhich is the dominance of the use of foreign culture in the architectural andinterior fields, both in houses, cottages, hotels and other accomm odation. Thisresearch discusses the design of cottage interior designs related to foreign culturalissues that dominate in the era of modernization. By applying OSG's healincottageconcept with a cozy retro vintage style which aims to create a comfortable andcalming room atmosphere, this design uses the concept of a combination of Osingculture because it has a variety of aesthetics and cultures that are rarely found aswell as classic concepts such as retro vintage which supports an antique andelegant impression with a few gold accents applied in various corners of the room.This design uses materials that are soft and easy to care for. The aim of thisresearch is to maintain one's own cultural traditions, but not eliminate theelements of modernization and introduce Indonesian culture to citizens both athome and abroad.
BIBE Chair Space Filling Elements as a Form of Tropical Style Dayak Culture Implementation
Authors: INAYA ALIFIA FABIANI INAYA , Rahman R Ayu Firdausi Novita
Published: June 2024

In the interior of a room there are filling elements such as floors, walls, and ceilings or forms of space-filling such as furniture and aesthetic elements in it. A design or shape of a room filler describes the concept of what is in a building, if the impression of a room is appropriate it can certainly be accepted from a human point of view, then this can influence the function and emotion in creating a room atmosphere. This design methodology starts from a data collection method containing literature data and typology data, followed by an analysis method in the form of design to the final design. Based on the method described, the design of interior space-filling elements refers to the cultural diversity of the Dayak tribe which is implemented with a modern concept with a tropical theme. The Dayak tribe is of course very closely related to nature based on its geological location, therefore in this design, a lot of wood is used in the material elements to make it suitable. Meanwhile, to add tropical elements, of course, it is necessary to add tropical motifs or patterns to it. The purpose of writing this design is to identify the factors that form the elements of a room that implement Dayak culture in a tropical style. The benefit of this research is to find out what factors influence the design elements of Dayak culture. This design produces structured space-filling elements or refers to concepts analyzed based on literature data and typology.
Impact of Brand Identity on the Formation of the Interior Concept of Splendid Inn Malang Hotel: Design Thinking Method
Authors: Kusuma Ribka Xantia , Kurniawan Bambang Kartono
Published: June 2024

The Splendid Inn Hotel is a cultural heritage building in Malang City which was founded from two Dutch colonial houses in 1975 and has a unique collection of memorabilia from its visitors. This hotel consists of rooms, living room, lobby area which is attached to the restaurant, minibar and billiard area. Currently, this restaurant area has not been operating since the pandemic due to a significant decrease in visitors. The emergence of new hotels with more affordable prices and competition with other older hotels that have mature brand identities has led to a decline in hotel users. Based on previous research, it can be found that there is a need for a mature interior design concept to attract visitors and the interior design concept is influenced by brand identity. Therefore, this research aims to find the right interior concept by exploring the correct brand identity using three stages of the design thinking method. Through these three stages, a brand identity can be found with a slogan that represents the hotel and the right concept for the Splendid Inn hotel, so it is hoped that it can be applied to design and testing to increase visitor attraction.
Caries prevalence and associated factors in children from public versus private schools: Cross-sectional study
Authors: Guedes Ieda Xavier , Forte Franklin Delano Soares , Pereira Valdelias Xavier , Nascimento Marcelle Matos , Laporta Gabriel Zorello
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Childhood caries remains a major public health issue in Brazil’s impoverished communities. Although government-sponsored programs have targeted improvement of oral health in children from public schools, more information is needed on the effectiveness of these programs. Objective: The objective was to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with caries in children aged 5 and 12 years in public versus private schools. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 857 children aged 5 (n=509) and 12 years (n=348) who attended public (n=416) or private (n=441) schools in Patos, PB-Brazil. Between March–September 2018 we examined caries from this study population using the DMFT/dmft index and obtained data on its demographics, toothbrushing frequency, socioeconomic status and schools’ oral health program and services via questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed using multiple logistic regression (p<0.05). Results: Among 5-years-old children from public vs private schools, untreated caries prevalence was 51.5% (n=117) vs 28.4% (n=80) and dmft index, 2.34 vs 1.04. In 12-years-old children, untreated caries prevalence of 41.3% (n=78) and DMFT index=0.99 in public and of 22% (n=35) and DMFT index=0.50 in private schools were observed. Public school children showed 2.19 (5-years-old) and 2.41 (12-years-old) higher caries odds than private school children (p<0.01). Among 5-years-old children, caries odds were 3.6 higher in low-income households (p=0.025) and 42% lower in children who received periodical dental visits at schools (p=0.011). Conclusion: Children aged 5 and 12 from public schools had higher caries odds than children from private schools. At 5 years old, households with higher incomes and access to dental care in public schools can decrease the odds of dental caries.
KAYBETMENİN ZARAFETİ: “AH’LAR AĞACI” ŞİİRİNDE DİDEM MADAK’IN POETİKASININ İZLERİNİ SÜRMEK
Authors: Doymuş Aybala Selcen , Yıldız Sevinç
Published: June 2024

Didem Madak, kısa ömrüne sığdırdığı üç şiir kitabıyla birçok okura seslenmiş, belleklere yerleşmiş önemli bir şairdir. Hayatının gölgesinin düştüğü dizelerde an ve anılar arasında kurduğu imge dünyasını ironi ile kaynaştırmıştır. Madak’ın şiirleri, çocuk denebilecek bir yaşta annesini kaybedişiyle, bu olayın öncesi ve sonrasındaki çocukluk anılarıyla önemli ölçüde şekillenmiştir. Şiir onun için hep bir sığınak olmuştur. Şiirlerinde yaşam, varoluş, özlem, ölüm, yalnızlık, yabancılaşma, aşk, uyumsuzluk, toplumsal çatışma gibi hususları kendine özgü bir dil ve imgelemle ele alır. Şiir, onun evreninde hayata karşı bir duruş ve meydan okumadır. Bu çalışmada şairin şiir kitaplarından ikincisine adını veren “Ah’lar Ağacı” adlı şiiri, şairin yaşam öyküsünün izleri sürülerek poetikasının ışığında incelenmiştir. Sonuçta “Ah’lar Ağacı” şiirinin şairin hayatından önemli ölçüde izler taşıdığı ve genel anlamda şairin şiir poetikasıyla uyumlu olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bununla birlikte her o9kumada şiir, okuyucusuyla yeniden bir yola çıkar; okur ile şiir birbirini etkiler ve böylece her şiir her okurda yeni bir menzile varır.
İndirgen (Redüksiyon) Ortamda Lüster Pişirim Teknikleri ve Ham Sırüstü Lüster Uygulaması
Authors: Kılıç Atilla Cengiz
Published: June 2024

Lüster pişirim tekniği, seramik pişirim yöntemleri içerisinde önemli bir yere sahiptir. Bu teknikte, sırlı yüzeyde gözlemlenen değişik renklerden oluşan ışık oyunları vardır. Uygulama tekniğine bağlı olarak objelerin yüzeyinde oluşan görsel efekt zenginliği, seramikçileri ve izleyicileri yoğun olarak etkilemiştir. Lüster tekniği uygulamasında, birçok farklı yöntem bulunur. Her uygulama yöntemi, farklı görsel etkinin oluşumuna sebep olabilir. Bu çeşitlilik, diğer seramik uygulamalarına göre lüster teknik uygulamasını çok daha etkili kılmaktadır. Lüster teknik uygulamalarında en belirgin fark indirgen ve yükseltgen ortamda uygulanmasıdır. Yükseltgen ortamlarda, rezinat lüsterleri yapılırken, indirgen ortamda sır içi, sır altı, sır üstü vb. birçok daha farklı yöntem uygulanmaktadır. Lüster tekniğinde, indirgenen metal oksitlere ve indirgeyicilere ihtiyaç bulunmaktadır. Her ne kadar farklı uygulama yöntemleri olsa da temelde indirgeyiciler ve indirgenenler aynıdır. Bu çalışma yeni bir uygulama yöntemi denemesi üzerinde olacaktır. Bu uygulama, “ham sırüstü lüster” uygulaması olarak tarafımca adlandırılmıştır. Bu yöntemden edilen uygulama sonuçları, reçeteler ve örnekler verilerek üzerinde değerlendirmeler yapılmıştır.
Drug Targeting and Nanotherapeutic Advancement in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Recent Progress in Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Deshmukh Rohitas
Published: June 2024

Pain and swelling in the joints, increased synovial thickness, and bone and cartilage
degeneration are all symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Anti-rheumatic medications,
which are used in conventional treatment plans for RA, need high doses, frequent administration,
and long-term use, all of which increase the risk of major adverse effects and low patient compliance.
Drug Delivery Systems (DDS) have been developed for RA treatment in an effort to
avoid these obstacles and improve clinical efficacy. There have been many successful experimental
RA models using these techniques. There has been a notable uptick in the study of RA
nanotherapies as a prospective improvement over conventional systemic therapy. In order to
overcome the limits of traditional treatments, researchers have begun looking into nanotherapeutic
approaches, notably drug-delivery nanosystems. The precise delivery and concentration of
therapeutic drugs in the affected regions are made possible by the passive or active targeting of
systemic administration. Several new DDS for treating RA have been addressed here. Therefore,
nanoscale drug delivery devices increase drug solubility and bioavailability while decreasing the
need for higher doses.