bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A shellabration of early life : exploring the taphonomy, diversity, and distribution of small shelly fossils surrounding archaeocyathid reef systems in the Harkless System, Death Valley, NV
Authors:   , Bennett Cassandra Caitlyn
Published: October 2023

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 8/1/2024] Cambrian archaeocyathid reef systems represent the earliest metazoan-dominated topographically complex bioconstructions in the rock record and provide valuable insights into community composition with respect to the major framework builders and their small shelly fossil (SSF) inhabitants. This study focuses on lower Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 4) SSF assemblages from the Harkless Formation in southern Esmeralda County, Nevada, as a comprehensive systematic and quantitative analysis of these communities is currently lacking. The thesis is separated into two primary contributions addressing different challenges in the interpretation of SSF paleoecology at this locality. The first study aims to quantify the degree of bias introduced by the intersection of overlapping morphology and taphonomic features specifically of coniform fossils and discuss the implications for accurate taxonomic identification and paleoecological studies. Morphometric data and taphonomic scores were collected using a combination of light, electron scanning, and X-ray tomographic microscopy to survey coniform taxa. Well-preserved fossils were found to be the most abundant in the sample and could be identified with more confidence than those that were poorly preserved; however, µCT volume imaging confirms that external morphological features are insufficient alone to differentiate species from other similar coniform fossils. The second study investigates changes in SSF richness and diversity in relation to proximity to biohermal facies based on lithology and composition of SSF assemblages. Combining petrographic and quantitative analyses with a systematic review of the SSFs reveals a low diversity, but abundant assemblage. Trends in diversity and richness of species show no consistent patterns in distance from the reef across the measured sections. However, lithology serves as a major control in determining SSF biofacies, with select fauna exhibiting evidence of additional taphonomic controls.
Edge computing - enabled road condition monitoring : system development and evaluation
Authors:   , Daud Abdulateef Ajibola
Published: October 2023

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 8/1/2024] Real-time pavement condition monitoring provides highway agencies with timely and accurate information that could form the basis of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation policies. Existing technologies for pavement condition monitoring rely heavily on manual data processing, are expensive and therefore, difficult to scale for frequent, network level pavement condition monitoring. Additionally, these systems require sending large packets of data to the cloud which requires large storage space, are computationally expensive to process, and results in high latency. The current study proposes a solution that capitalizes on the widespread availability of affordable Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors, edge computing and internet connection capabilities of microcontrollers, and deployable machine learning models (Tiny ML) to (a) design an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled device that can be mounted on axles of vehicles to stream live pavement condition data (b) reduce latency through on-device processing and analytics of pavement condition sensor data before sending to the cloud servers (c) facilitate participatory crowd-sensing of pavement condition data at the societal level. In this study, three machine learning models including Random Forest, LightGBM and XGBoost were trained to predict International Roughness Index (IRI) at every 0.1-mile segment. XGBoost has the highest accuracy with an RMSE and MAPE of 16.89in/mi and 20.3 percent, respectively. In terms of the ability to classify the IRI of pavement segments based on ride quality according to MAP-21 criteria, our proposed device achieved an average accuracy of 96.76 percent on I-70EB and 63.15 percent on South Providence (MO-163). Overall, our proposed device demonstrates significant potential in providing real-time International Roughness Index (IRI) data to State Highway Agencies (SHA) and state Department of Transportation (DOTs) with a satisfactory level of accuracy.
PERANAN KELOMPOK TANI PADI ORGANIK DALAM PENINGKATAN STATUS SOSIAL EKONOMI
Authors: Suswadi Suswadi , Prasetyo Agung
Published: October 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis peranan Kelompok Tani terhadap peningkatan status sosial ekonomi petani padi organik di Gentungan, Mojogendang, Karanganyar. Selain itu, penelitian ini juga bertujuan untuk mengetahui dan menganalisis hubungan penggunaan padi organik terhadap peningkatan status sosial ekonomi petani. Metode pengambilan sampel dilakukan dengan menggunakan teknik random sampling, dengan jumlah responden sebanyak 30 petani yang tergabung dalam Kelompok Tani. Hasil analisis dan pembahasan menunjukkan bahwa peranan Kelompok Tani berada dalam kategori baik dalam meningkatkan status sosial ekonomi petani padi sawah. Adanya kelompok tani membantu meningkatkan status sosial ekonomi petani yang menggunakan padi organik. Selain itu, terdapat hubungan signifikan antara peranan kelompok tani dan peningkatan status sosial ekonomi petani padi organik di Gentungan, Mojogendang, Karanganyar. Rekomendasi yang dapat diberikan berdasarkan hasil penelitian ini adalah terus meningkatkan peranan kelompok tani dalam mendukung petani dalam menerapkan metode pertanian organik. Hal ini diharapkan dapat terus meningkatkan status sosial ekonomi para petani dan memberikan manfaat yang lebih besar bagi masyarakat di sekitar wilayah penelitian.
Análise Epidemiológica, Clínica e Patológica de Crianças com Neoplasias do Sistema Nervoso Central Tratadas com Radioterapia no Instituto Nacional de Câncer
Authors: Magalhães Guilherme Araújo , Magalhães Denise Maria de Araújo , Bellas Gabriela Oigman , Figueiredo Junior Israel
Published: October 2023

Introdução: As neoplasias de sistema nervoso central representam 21% do câncer infantojuvenil, sendo a principal causa de morte nessa população em países desenvolvidos. Avanços na neuroimagem têm melhorado seu diagnóstico, e a combinação de terapias tem permitido a cura, com maior preservação neurológica. A cirurgia é o principal tratamento, frequentemente combinada com radioterapia e quimioterapia. Objetivo: Descrever achados socioeconômicos, sinais e sintomas, e aspectos histológicos dos tumores cerebrais pediátricos, tratados com radioterapia. Método: Estudo transversal e descritivo, utilizando prontuários de 257 crianças e adolescentes portadores de neoplasias de sistema nervoso central, tratados com radioterapia no Instituto Nacional de Câncer, no Rio de Janeiro, de 2012 a 2020. As variáveis foram divididas em sociodemográficas, clínicas e patológicas. Resultados: Crianças brancas do sexo masculino foram as mais prevalentes, com mediana de idade de 7,5 anos no diagnóstico e de 8,0 anos na radioterapia. A maioria possuía casa própria com infraestrutura básica e renda familiar de até um salário-mínimo. Os sintomas mais comuns foram cefaleia, vômitos e alterações na marcha, variando de acordo com a localização do tumor e a idade da criança. A radioterapia foi utilizada em 64% dos pacientes, principalmente para meduloblastoma, tumores de tronco cerebral e ependimoma anaplásico. Conclusão: Estudos específicos sobre crianças e adolescentes com neoplasias cerebrais tratados com radioterapia são raros na literatura. Quando comparados com a população em geral, apresentam perfis sociodemográficos e clínicos semelhantes, com diferenças notáveis apenas na frequência dos tipos tumorais.
Improve Finish Honing of Volume Removal and Surface Roughness with Different Types of Abrasive Material
Authors: Awan Gilang , Fitri Muhammad , Mizan Adlan , Rafi Muhammad Miftah , Anugrah Hasan
Published: October 2023

Honing is a method for finishing in manufacturing industries. For the finishing process, a long process would be the challenge. One of the parameters that affected the time of process is volume removal from the surface of the product. The experiment to increase volume removal used several abrasive materials like sandpapers, alumina stone, white alumina stone, and diamond. The quality of the product was determined by the roughness of the surface. The result of this experiment was that the honing process with diamond and white alumina stone had the best volume removal compared to basic honing. The volume removal was raised up to 3 times. The volume removal was 127 mm3/minutes and increased to 344 mm3/minutes for diamond and 382 mm3/minutes for white alumina grinder cup. Quality of surface from honing process with diamond was as good as basic honing with the value of 0.2 µm for basic honing and 0.7 µm for diamond and white alumina has surface roughness much higher than basic honing with the value of 3.2 µm
Use of Balters’ Bionator in the treatment of anterior crossbite in deciduous dentition: a case report
Authors: Pessoa Juliana Victória de Sousa , Araújo Marhia Eduarda Vilela de , Campos Gabrielly Caldeira , Costa Maria Beatriz Tavares da , Araujo Priscila Pinto Brandão de , Alves Filho Ary de Oliveira
Published: October 2023

Malocclusion is the third most important oral health issue, affecting children, adolescents, and adults. It has a multifactorial etiology, compromising aesthetics, function, and quality of life. Anterior crossbite occurs when the lower teeth occlude in front of the upper teeth. Early treatment, when correctly diagnosed, is always recommended. The purpose of this work was to describe a clinical case of facial orthopedic treatment in a five-year-old female patient, presenting a complete set of deciduous dentition along with anterior crossbite and deep bite. The treatment was carried out using a modified Bionator de Balters appliance for Class III treatment, with a duration of six months. The use of this appliance aimed at maxillary expansion, vestibularization of upper incisors, and control of mandibular growth. This approach achieved favorable results in the treatment of the condition. However, there is still a recommendation for the continuous use of the appliance due to the patient’s growth period and transition between dentitions. The appliance is cost-effective, causes minimal discomfort, and is easy to use. This study demonstrated the importance of early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of anterior crossbite, with a successful clinical outcome in interceptive and orthopedic treatment, preventing complications, future treatments, and difficulties in subsequent interventions.
Comparison of nestling diet between first and second broods of great tits Parus major in urban and forest habitats
Authors: Sinkovics C. , Seress G. , Pipoly I. , Vincze E. , Liker A.
Published: October 2023

To understand why early broods tend to be more successful than late broods we investigated the nestling diet and reproductive success of great tit pairs that had both a first and a second brood in the same breeding season. We found that in forest habitats great tit parents delivered similar composition and amount of food per nestlings throughout the breeding season, resulting in similar nestling body mass and survival in both first and second broods. In urban habitats, however, although parents provided similar amounts of food to the second broods they tended to deliver fewer caterpillars. In parallel with this, we observed lower nestling survival in second urban broods than in first broods even though the body mass of surviving nestlings was similar to that of the first broods. These findings suggest that although parents produce smaller second broods in both habitats, they are able to compensate for lower food availability in forest habitats but not in urban habitats, thus leading to reduced food quality and lower offspring survival in urban second broods.
Power consumption distribution in a TMP refiner: comparison of the first and second stages
Authors: ILLIKAINEN MIRJA , HÄRKÖNEN ESKO , ULLMAR MATS , NIINIMÄKI JOUKO
Published: October 2023

Wood chips are broken rapidly into coarse pulp in the breaking zone in the feed of a first stage TMP refiner. In a second stage refiner the breaking zone is removed, because the feed is coarse pulp discharged from the first stage refiner. We studied the power consumption in a second stage refiner and calculated the power consumption distribution for the first and second stages. The results show that the power consumption in a second stage refiner increases along the radius, while in a first-stage refiner, the distribution is more even. The innermost part of the second stage refiner seemed to work with a very low energy consumption, compared with the outer parts.
Think-Pair-Share: A Strategy for Effective Student-Engaged Literature Classes
Authors: Hernando Mary Joy , Reponte-Sereño Raiza Rhea , Cuevas Gloria Con-ui , Pacaldo Joavanni
Published: October 2023

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Think-Pair-Share strategy in improving students' writing performances in literature classes. The researcher used a quasi-experimental design and randomly assigned 50 second-year education students to two groups: a control group and an experimental group. The control group used traditional methods, while the experimental group used Think-Pair-Share. The study employed the short story "Divide by Two" by Francisco Arcellana and a researcher-made rubric to assess students' performances. The experimental group had significantly higher post-test performances than the control group, suggesting that Think-Pair-Share is an effective strategy for improving students' writing performances in literature classes. In conclusion, the findings indicate that Think-Pair-Share effectively enhances students' writing performances in literature classes. This strategy can help students develop their cognitive and meta-cognitive skills, and it can also help them engage in more collaborative learning activities.
The Effect of Tax Avoidance on Audit Costs
Authors: Sira Haq Ibnu Syahid , Haliah  , Sukmawati Andi
Published: October 2023

This research aims to analyze the impact of tax avoidance on audit fees in Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) companies in 2013-2015. This research used book-tax differences and book-tax conformity as a proxy for tax avoidance. The result of book-tax differences as a proxy of tax avoidance showed a significant effect on audit fees, indicating that the bigger the negative book-tax differences, the more the audit fees. On the other hand, the result of book-tax conformity as a proxy of tax avoidance showed that there is no significant effect on audit fees. Thus, book-tax differences is preferable to book-tax conformity as a proxy for tax avoidance. This research does a difference test of the impact of large book-tax differences and small book-tax differences on the audit fees as an additional analysis. The result showed that large book-tax differences is more significant than the other. This research also does a difference test of the impact of large positive book-tax differences and large negative book-tax differences on audit fees. It indicates no significant difference between the effect of large positive book-tax differences and large negative book-tax differences on audit fees.
Intersectional contributions to critical race theory concerning health inequality
Authors: Szamosi Barna
Published: October 2023

Racial discrimination in the healthcare system of the United States is the product of the long nineteen century and present discriminatory institutional practices are indebted to the existing racially stratified society and its mechanisms. The intention of critical race theorists is to shed light on the historical embeddedness of racism, and by retaining the category of race as a cultural construct; they locate and challenge racial discrimination. Perhaps one of the main benefits of critical race theory is its history orientation, researchers are capable of pointing out the discursively produced nature of racism, however, it has a single category focus, and thus, intersectional theory can prove to be a positive tool that is sufficiently sensitive to address discrimination resulting from multiple sources of oppression. In this paper, some of the healthcare related benefits of the combination of these approaches will be discussed.
INFLUENCE OF STEM VALUE PERCEPTION ON STEM CAREER PREFERENCES AMONG AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY UNDERGRADUATES
Authors: Sheng Jianjun , Tian Peiyao , Sun Daner , Fan Yanhua
Published: October 2023

Currently, nations grapple with a noticeable shortage of STEM talent, particularly within fields like agroforestry. The study applied the structural equation modelling and the mediation effect model to analyze the mechanisms through which STEM value perception influences STEM career preferences, as well as the roles played by STEM self-efficacy and STEM learning interest among 1,604 undergraduates majoring in agroforestry. The results revealed that students’ STEM value perception was found to directly and positively correlate with their STEM career preferences. STEM value perception also has an indirect impact on STEM career preferences by influencing STEM learning interest and STEM self-efficacy. Furthermore, STEM value perception plays a sequential mediation role in promoting STEM learning interest, STEM self-efficacy and STEM career preferences. Based on these findings, it is recommended that institutions bolster STEM career education for students majoring in agroforestry from the outset of their enrollment, enhancing students' professional awareness and identity, by addressing gaps in students' value perceptions of STEM education. Furthermore, efforts to improve students' interest in relevant courses and their confidence in learning these subjects can be beneficial. Ultimately, such initiatives can contribute to a more balanced development of students' STEM career preference.
Keywords: STEM career preference, STEM learning interest, STEM self-efficacy, STEM value perceiving, Agroforestry undergraduates
Outcomes of limited stage primary bone diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era: a multicenter, retrospective study
Authors: Rezazadeh Alexandra , Szabo Aniko , Khurana Arushi , Inwards David J. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bartlett Nancy L. , Caimi Paolo F. , Rodgers Thomas D. , Barr Paul M. , Chowdhury Sayan Mullick , Epperla Narendranath , Mendries Hiruni , Hill Brian T. , Oh Timothy S. , Karmali Reem , Chang Julie E. , Goyal Gaurav , Parsons Benjamin M. , Isaac Krista M. , Portell Craig A. , Monahan Kathleen , Siker Malika , King David M. , Fenske Timothy S.
Published: October 2023

Primary bone diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare variant of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) historically treated with induction chemotherapy followed by consolidative radiation therapy (RT). It remains unknown whether RT confers additional benefit following rituximab-based chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) induction in patients with limited-stage disease. We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients treated between 2005 and 2019 using rituximab-based CIT regimens with or without consolidative RT to discern whether consolidative RT adds benefit in patients with stage I-II disease that could be encompassed in one radiation field. A total of 112 patients were included: 78 received CIT and radiation (RT group), and 34 received CIT alone (no RT group). The OS at 10 years was 77.9% in the RT group and 89.0% in the no RT group (p = 0.42). The RFS at 10 years was 73.5% in the RT group and 80.3% in the no RT group (p = 0.88). Neither improved OS nor RFS was associated with the addition of consolidative RT. Subgroup analysis of patients only achieving a partial response after CIT suggests that these patients may benefit from consolidative RT.
On the Methodology of Modern Russian Law
Authors: Kozhevnikov Vladimir Valentinovich
Published: October 2023

An analysis of modern Russian literature made it possible to identify two equally negative tendencies in the methodology of jurisprudence. The first is that legal scholars pay little attention to methodology; the second is in attempts to introduce new methods into the methodology that are not used in practice.
Xây dựng thang đo cảm nhận hạnh phúc của nhân viên trong doanh nghiệp thuộc lĩnh vực khách sạn
Authors: Tạ Huy Hùng , Đỗ Vũ Phương Anh
Published: October 2023

Đại dịch Covid 19 ảnh hưởng tới sự phát triển của doanh nghiệp và người lao động. Sau đại dịch, doanh nghiệp lĩnh vực khách sạn cần thu hút và giữ chân nhân sự qua quan tâm tới cảm nhận hạnh phúc của nhân viên. Nghiên cứu này, tác giả sử dụng khung lý thuyết AMO (Năng lực - Động lực - Cơ hội) để xây dựng lý thuyết nền tảng về cảm nhận hạnh phúc nhân viên. Với phương pháp nghiên cứu kết hợp giữa định lượng và định tính, tác giả xác định được các yếu tố cấu thành cảm nhận hạnh phúc nhân viên trong lĩnh vực khách sạn, những đóng góp của nghiên cứu qua xây dựng thang đo và hoàn thiện cơ sở lý luận về cảm nhận hạnh phúc nhân viên theo tiếp cận cá nhân để đề xuất với doanh nghiệp hàm ý chính sách nhằm cải thiện cảm nhận hạnh phúc nhân viên và động lực làm việc của họ nhằm nâng cao kết quả công việc giai đoạn tiếp theo.
Estudio de la competitividad de la exportación del cacao ecuatoriano entre 2007-2019
Authors: Pauta Ortiz Juan Carlos , Abril Fajardo Ximena Catalina , Torres Dávila Antonio Fabián
Published: October 2023

El objetivo de la investigación fue analizar la competitividad del sector del cacao ecuatoriano en el mercado internacional. Los datos fueron recopilados de fuentes oficiales tales como: Banco Central del Ecuador, Trade Map y Foro Económico Mundial, información que permitió identificar los factores que intervienen en la competitividad internacional en la que consta Ecuador. El análisis fue posible gracias a la aplicación de modelos estadísticos que permitieron obtener una visión amplia de la recta entre valores reales y la estimación obtenida para predecir el valor de variable explicada FOB_exportado, en dependencia de la variabilidad del comportamiento de las variables explicativas consideradas. El contraste de las hipótesis planteadas sobre la competitividad permitió obtener conclusiones como la importancia y necesidad de comparación realizada que fue explicada por la relación y dependencia de factores cuantitativos y cualitativos, alcanzando la determinación de la posición competitiva del Ecuador frente a sus competidores en el mercado mundial.

Palabras Clave: Cacao fino de aroma, Competitividad, Foro Económico Mundial, Indicadores, Índice de competitividad.

AbstractThe research objective was to analyze the competitiveness of the Ecuadorian cocoa sector in the international market; data werecollected from official sources such as: Central Bank of Ecuador, Trade Map and World Economic Forum, information that allowed identifying the factors involved in the international competitiveness of Ecuador. The analysis was possible through the application of statistical models that allowed obtaining a broad view of the line between real values and the estimate obtained to predict the value of the explained variable FOB_exported depending on the variability of the behavior of the explanatory variables considered. The contrast of the hypotheses raised on competitiveness allowed obtaining conclusions such as the importance and necessity of a comparison that was explained by the relationship and dependence of quantitative and qualitative factors, reaching the determinationof the competitive position of Ecuador against its competitors in the world market.Keywords: Fine Flavor Cocoa, Competitiveness, World Economic Forum, Indicators, Competitiveness Index.
Impacto de las remesas sobre el consumo de los hogares y la inversión público-privada en Ecuador: Aplicación de un Modelo Vectorial Autorregresivo y función impulso-respuesta
Authors: Jaramillo Brito María Gabriela , Vélez María Emilia , Tonon Ordóñez Luis Bernardo
Published: October 2023

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue medir el impacto de los componentes de la demanda agregada, consumo e inversión, generado por cambios en los flujos de remesas que ingresaron al Ecuador en el periodo 2000-2020 empleando un modelo de Vectores Autorregresivos, a través de la función impulso-respuesta. Los resultados demostraron que las remesas disminuyeron el consumo de los hogares y la inversión público-privada en el corto plazo. No obstante, el impulso del flujo de remesas que ingresaron al país en el periodo analizado, incrementó ambas variables, tanto en el mediano como en el largo plazo. Concluyendo así que, los hogares receptores de remesas, una vez que reciben este ingreso de sus familiares, tardan en tomar una decisión sobre el destino que le darán, por lo que su consumo no se adapta ni se modifica en los primeros trimestres, sino con el paso del tiempo, cuando pasa a ser utilizado para el gasto final de los hogares.

Palabras clave: VAR, remesas, demanda agregada, consumo de los hogares, inversión.

AbstractThe objective of this research was to measure the impact of the components of aggregate demand, consumption, and investment, generated by changes in the remittance flows that entered Ecuador in the period 2000-2020, using an Autoregressive Vector model, through the impulse-response function. The results showed that remittances decreased household consumption and public-private investment in the short term. However, the impulse of the flow of remittances that entered the country in the period analyzed increased both variables, in the medium 7and long term. Thus, it concludes that households receiving remittances, once they receive this income from their relatives, take time to decide about the destination they will give it, so their consumption does not  adapt or change in the first quarters, but with time when it becomes used for the final expenditure of households. Keywords: VAR, remittances, aggregate demand, household consumption, investment.
PRE-ECLAMPSIA DIAGNOSIS EXPERT SYSTEM USING FUZZY INFERENCE SYSTEM MAMDANI
Authors: Manek Siprianus Septian , Mada Grandianus Seda , Kelen Yoseph P.K.
Published: October 2023

Various institutions utilize computer information systems to analyze and process data. An expert system is an information system that is used to help analyze and determine decisions on a problem based on rules determined by experts. This research focuses on creating a prototype expert system for diagnosing pre-eclampsia or pregnancy poisoning in pregnant women based on measuring blood pressure and checking proteinuria. The existing data is then analyzed using the Mamdani system's fuzzy inference method. Supporting theory regarding the fuzzy inference system of Mamdani, pre-eclampsia and its examination indicators will be used as a basis for creating this expert system prototype. The data used were secondary data on preeclampsia patients in the form of medical records of blood pressure measurements, proteinuria examinations and doctor diagnoses of preeclampsia patients at two Regional General Hospitals (RSUD), namely Atambua and Kefamenanu, totaling 20 samples. The interface or user interface of this prototype system is made as simple as possible so that it can be operated by all ordinary people. The programming language used is Visual Basic (VB) with the Visual Studio 2010 developer application. The initial prototype of this system will continue to be developed until it can become a Information systems or real applications used in hospitals. The results of this research are that the expert system for diagnosing preclampsia can be used well and easily by hospital staff and show congruence between the system diagnosis results and the diagnosis results from obstetricians or experts in the 20 processed data.
Antimicrobial Activity of The Ethanol Extract of Coffea canephora L. Seeds Against Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes
Authors: Sinaga Siska Elisahbet , Paundanan Matius , Masikki Maharani Farah Dhifa Dg , Widiastuti Diana
Published: October 2023

Acne is a skin disease that causes humans to lack confidence in carrying out activities. Besides being sick, acne worsens the beauty of human skin. The cause of acne is gram-positive bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes. Many studies reported that Coffea canephora L can inhibit the growth of bacteria. The objective of this study is to establish the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ethanol extract of robusta coffee seeds in inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The ethanol extract of C. canephora L seed was obtained by maceration method using 96% ethanol. The extract obtained was evaluated for its antibacterial activity using the agar diffusion method with perforation techniques. The extract was divided into five various concentrations (50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, and 3.125%). The results of this study indicated that the ethanol extract of coffee seeds with a concentration of 50% resulted in a wider diameter of the zone of inhibition of bacterial growth in S. aureus, 30.00 mm compared to P. acnes, 26.22 mm. The MIC of ethanol extract for S. aureus at 3.00%  while P. acnes was 6.00%.  In conclusion, the antibacterial effect of the ethanol extract of coffee seeds at 50% concentration was stronger against S. aureus bacteria than P. acnes. The greater the concentration of the extract, the wider the resulting inhibition zone.
Formulation of Mouthwash Honje Laka (Etlingera Hemisphaerica (Blume) R.M.Sm.) Flower Extract Against Streptococcus Mutans
Authors: Rahmiyani Ira , Rolita Pasa Aneu Nia , Amin Saeful , Yuliana Anna
Published: October 2023

Dental and oral health is an important part of physical health that requires our attention. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is known as a cariogenic microorganism because it breaks down sugar and forms tooth substances for energy production. One of the preventive measures against the occurrence of chemical dental plaque is the use of mouthwash. Therefore, a mouthwash formulation from natural ingredients was developed. The potential plant for natural mouthwash is the honje laka flower (Etlingera hemisphaerica (Blume) R.M.Sm.) which contains flavonoids, polyphenols, quinones, monoterpenoids, and sesquiterpenoids as antibacterial. This study aims to determine the potential of honje laka flower extract in inhibiting the growth of S. mutans and as an ingredient in mouthwash. The procedure of this research started from the extraction of honje laka flower using 96% ethanol solvent followed by phytochemical screening test and antimicrobial test with a well diffusion method. The concentration of honje laka flower extract used for MIC test were 5%, 10%, and 15%. Evaluation of honje laka extract mouthwash preparations were organoleptic test, pH test, centrifugation test, cycling test, and bacterial inhibition zone test. The results showed the ethanol extract of honje laka flowers has activity against S. mutans with a MIC at a concentration of 5% and inhibition zone at 9.22±0.115 mm, while the mouthwash formula at a concentration of 15% has an inhibitory zone at 9.35±0.02 mm. As a conclusion, ethanol extract from honje laka flower can be used as a mouthwash and can inhibit the activity of S. mutans.
C4.5 Algorithm Implementation to Predict Student Satisfaction Level of Lecturer’s Performance in the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ledoh Juan Rizky Mannuel , Andreas Ferdinandus Elfanto , Pandie Emerensye Sofia Yublina , Amos Pah Clarissa Elfira
Published: October 2023

Implementation of education during the emergency period of Covid-19 in Higher Education was carried out at home through online/distance learning. The lecturer is one of the key holders of success in the learning process. Lecturer performance is a main factor needed to improve education and service quality in online learning. In this study, the authors implemented the C4.5 algorithm using RapidMiner 9.10 app to predict student satisfaction with lecturer performance during the Covid-19 pandemic. The data in this study were obtained from a questionnaire distributed to active students in the Computer Science Study Program (class of 2016 - 2021) at the University of Nusa Cendana with 942 records. The attributes used in this study were the lecturer's age, gender, suitability of learning media (SLM), and the competencies of Pedagogic Competence (PeC), Professional Competence (PrC), Personal Competence (PsC), and social competence (SC), with the level of student satisfaction as the target class divided into two, namely Satisfied and Dissatisfied. The dataset is processed using RapidMiner and produces 11 decision rules which show that the attribute PeC has the most significant influence on the level of student satisfaction with lecturer performance during the Covid-19 pandemic and the test results of the decision tree model using cross-validation. The test results show that the C4.5 algorithm has a good performance in predicting levels of student satisfaction with an accuracy rate of 94.8%, precision for the prediction class Dissatisfied and Satisfied of 92.23 % and 95.52%, and recall of the actual Dissatisfied and Satisfied classes of 85.2% and 97.77%.
Proof of Concept for increasing the rolling stock velocity at curvatures by shifting the body frame toward the center of curvature.
Authors: Singh Chauhan Aakaash
Published: October 2023

When rolling stock rounds a curve, if the rails of the track are at the same elevation (ie two tracks are at the same level) the combination of Centrifugal Force (F.c) and the weight of the rolling stock (F.g) will produce a resulting force F.r that does not coincide with the center line of track, thus producing a downward force on the outside rail of the curve that is greater than the downward force on the inside rail. The greater the velocity or the smaller the radius of the curve becomes, the farther the resulting force (Fr) will move away from the center line of the track. Maximum Velocity a train could negotiate a curve is when the Resulting Force (Fr) is acting directly on the outside rail, if the Resultant Force (Fr) acts beyond the outside rail then the rolling stock is at risk of “falling” off the track or overturning. As long as The center of mass and the Resultant Force (Fr) should stay between the rails to prevent overturning. Keeping these parameters into consideration the proof of concept is defined for shifting the frame of rolling stock to increase turning velocity.
Models for a hydropower plant: a review
Authors: Nepal Tajana , Bista Diwakar , Øyvang Thomas , Sharma Roshan
Published: October 2023

Hydro Power plant (HPP), being one of the most convenient options for power generation, has been modelled considering very wide aspects of their application. A model is simply a mathematical representation of a system and it may serve different purposes like dynamic simulation of hydro power, energy systems modelling involving policy making, condition monitoring, etc. The purpose of modelling HPPs may lead to various kind of models for a single Hydropower. This paper aims at reviewing hydropower models developed using different methods along with the purpose for modelling them. This will provide brief insights about state of the art on hydropower modelling and its emerging techniques. Furthermore, this paper presents in more detail about tracking the advancements in dynamic models for classical and variable speed hydropower plants highlighting the need for the development of more accurate models. The work mainly involves narrative review of published works on hydro power modelling techniques. Also, it includes systematic reviews about dynamic representation of hydropower plants. As this paper aims at presentation of hydro power models in a classified manner based on purpose of modelling, the areas of improvement in each type of model have been discussed. Models for control can be made to be more accurate by including more realistic featured like penstock dynamics, uncertainties, etc which further help in design of advanced control systems. There are several potential benefits of HPP modelling, such as optimizing plant performance, improving control, reducing maintenance costs, and enhancing overall system efficiency and reliability.
Tinnitus as central noise revealed by increased loudness at thresholds
Authors: Zeng Fan-Gang , Turner Katie E.
Published: October 2023

Tinnitus is an auditory sensation in the absence of external sounds; its neural mechanisms remain unclear. An active loudness model suggests that tinnitus is a result of increased central noise while hyperacusis is that of increased central gain. To the extent that loudness reflects the system-level neural activities, this active model predicts that tinnitus increases loudness at thresholds but does not increase the slope of loudness function. To test this prediction, the present study compared loudness growth of various stimuli between tinnitus and non-tinnitus subjects. The stimuli were tested at frequencies without hearing loss and both tinnitus and non-tinnitus subjects had unremarkable hyperacusis. Consistent with the prediction, the loudness at threshold in tinnitus subjects were 2.3 times greater than that in non-tinnitus subjects; there was no significant difference in the slope of loudness growth between these two groups of subjects. The present result shows that traditional psychophysics, originally developed to investigate relationships between subjective sensation and physical stimulation, can also help delineate neural mechanisms underlying tinnitus and other disorders.
Salicylic acid treatment and overexpression of a novel polyamine transporter gene for astaxanthin production in Phaffia rhodozyma
Authors: Jia Jianping , Li Feifei , Luan Yifei , Liu Siru , Chen Zhitao , Bao Guoliang
Published: October 2023

Phaffia rhodozyma represents an excellent microbial resource for astaxanthin production. However, the yeast’s low astaxanthin productivity poses challenges in scaling up industrial production. Although P. rhodozyma originates from plant material, and phytohormones have demonstrated their effectiveness in stimulating microbial production, there has been limited research on the effects and mechanisms of phytohormones on astaxanthin biosynthesis in P. rhodozyma. In this study, the addition of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) at a concentration as low as 0.5 mg/L significantly enhanced biomass, astaxanthin content, and yield by 20.8%, 95.8% and 135.3% in P. rhodozyma, respectively. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis showed that SA had discernible impact on the gene expression profile of P. rhodozyma cells. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in P. rhodozyma cells between the SA-treated and SA-free groups were identified. These genes played crucial roles in various aspects of astaxanthin and its competitive metabolites synthesis, material supply, biomolecule metabolite and transportation, anti-stress response, and global signal transductions. This study proposes a regulatory mechanism for astaxanthin synthesis induced by SA, encompassing the perception and transduction of SA signal, transcription factor-mediated gene expression regulation, and cellular stress responses to SA. Notably, the polyamine transporter gene (PT), identified as an upregulated DEG, was overexpressed in P. rhodozyma to obtain the transformant Prh-PT-006. The biomass, astaxanthin content and yield in this engineered strain could reach 6.6 g/L, 0.35 mg/g DCW and 2.3 mg/L, 24.5%, 143.1% and 199.0% higher than the wild strain at the SA-free condition, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into potential targets for genetic engineering aimed at achieving high astaxanthin yields, and such advancements hold promise for expediting the industrialization of microbial astaxanthin production.
Stem cell models of Angelman syndrome
Authors: Camões dos Santos João , Appleton Carolina , Cazaux Mateus Francisca , Covas Rita , Bekman Evguenia Pavlovna , da Rocha Simão Teixeira
Published: October 2023

Angelman syndrome (AS) is an imprinted neurodevelopmental disorder that lacks a cure, characterized by developmental delay, intellectual impairment, seizures, ataxia, and paroxysmal laughter. The condition arises due to the loss of the maternally inherited copy of the UBE3A gene in neurons. The paternally inherited UBE3A allele is unable to compensate because it is silenced by the expression of an antisense transcript (UBE3A-ATS) on the paternal chromosome. UBE3A, encoding enigmatic E3 ubiquitin ligase variants, regulates target proteins by either modifying their properties/functions or leading them to degradation through the proteasome. Over time, animal models, particularly the Ube3amat−/pat+ Knock-Out (KO) mice, have significantly contributed to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AS. However, a shift toward human pluripotent stem cell models (PSCs), such as human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), has gained momentum. These stem cell models accurately capture human genetic and cellular characteristics, offering an alternative or a complement to animal experimentation. Human stem cells possess the remarkable ability to recapitulate neurogenesis and generate “brain-in-a-dish” models, making them valuable tools for studying neurodevelopmental disorders like AS. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art human stem cell models of AS and explore their potential to become the preclinical models of choice for drug screening and development, thus propelling AS therapeutic advancements and improving the lives of affected individuals.
Mechanism of carbon nanotube growth in expanded graphite via catalytic pyrolysis reaction using carbores P as a carbon source
Authors: Wang Yilong , Zhang Wenli , Chen Yuejun , Zeng Xiongfeng , Huang Jiankun , Wei Hengyong , Tu Junbo
Published: October 2023

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) had potential applications in energy conversion and storage devices, and it could be prepared by expanded graphite loaded with catalyst at high temperature, however, the mechanism of carbon nanotube growth in expanded graphite need further confirmation. In this work, carbon nanotubes’ in situ growth in expanded graphite (EG) were prepared via catalytic pyrolysis reaction using carbores P as a carbon source and Co(NO3)3•6H2O as a catalyst. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS) indicated the carbon nanotubes could generate in, EG with the presence of carbores P as a carbon source and cobalt nitrate as a catalyst. More interestingly, the growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes could be concluded by the results of differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (DTA-TG-MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The pyrolysis products of carbores P were mainly hydrocarbon gas such as CH4 gas, which reacts with Co(NO3)3·6H2O catalyst to reduces CoOx to Co particles, then the carbon form pyrolysis was deposited the on the surface catalyst Co particles and, after continuous solid dissolution and precipitation, carbon nanotubes were at last generated in EG at last.
Investigation of anti-diabetic effect of a novel coenzyme Q10 derivative
Authors: Tan Xiaojun , Yang Xinyi , Xu Xun , Peng Yuwei , Li Xin , Deng Yongxing , Zhang Xueyang , Qiu Wenlong , Wu Dudu , Ruan Yongdui , Zhi Chen
Published: October 2023

Introduction: The rising incidence of type 2 diabetes has seriously affected international public health. The search for more drugs that can effectively treat diabetes has become a cutting-edge trend in research. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has attracted much attention in the last decade due to its wide range of biological activities. Many researchers have explored the clinical effects of CoQ10 in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, CoQ10 has low bio-availability due to its high lipophilicity. Therefore, we have structurally optimized CoQ10 in an attempt to exploit the potential of its pharmacological activity.

Methods: A novel coenzyme Q10 derivative (L-50) was designed and synthesized by introducing a group containing bromine atom and hydroxyl at the terminal of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and the antidiabetic effect of L-50 was investigated by cellular assays and animal experiments.

Results: Cytotoxicity results showed that L-50 was comparatively low toxicity to HepG2 cells. Hypoglycemic assays indicated that L-50 could increase glucose uptake in IR-HepG2 cells, with significantly enhanced hypoglycemic capacity compared to the CoQ10. In addition, L-50 improved cellular utilization of glucose through reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells (IR-HepG2) and regulation of JNK/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, resulting in hypoglycemic effects. Furthermore, the animal experiments demonstrated that L-50 could restore the body weight of HFD/STZ mice. Notably, the findings suggested that L-50 could improve glycemic and lipid metabolism in HFD/STZ mice. Moreover, L-50 could increase fasting insulin levels (FINS) in HFD/STZ mice, leading to a decrease in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and hepatic glycogen. Furthermore, L-50 could recover triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (T-CHO), lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels in HFD/STZ mice.

Discussion: The addition of a bromine atom and a hydroxyl group to CoQ10 could enhance its anti-diabetic activity. It is anticipated that L-50 could be a promising new agent for T2DM.
Distributed photovoltaic power output prediction based on satellite cloud map video frames
Authors: Shaohua Han , Xin Fang , Xiuru Wang , Chenyu Zhang , Fuju Zhou , Jiaming Wang
Published: October 2023

To address the challenge of predicting distributed photovoltaic (PV) power output for improved system integration and stability, this study proposes a novel method. Given the expanding scale of distributed PV systems and their economic constraints, accurate power output prediction becomes pivotal. Conventional prediction methods are hindered by the lack of meteorological stations at most distributed PV stations. In response, we present a dynamic convolutional generative adversarial network (DC-GAN) approach coupled with satellite cloud map video frames. By extracting shading features from satellite cloud images and utilizing DC-GAN, our method forecasts short-term cloud shading effects on future radiation. We further integrate radiation data from centralized PV stations, spatial correlations of distributed PV stations, and cloud shading characteristics. This information is used to construct a predictive model combining Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Long short-term memory (LSTM), enhancing prediction accuracy. Comparative experiments confirm the superiority of our proposed method over traditional approaches, substantiating its effectiveness and practicality. Our method achieves notable accuracy improvements, establishing its value in predicting distributed PV power output. This research’s findings offer a valuable contribution to the field of renewable energy integration. In numerical assessments, our method demonstrates a significant increase in prediction accuracy, outperforming conventional techniques by 3.3%. This underscores the practical relevance and efficiency of our proposed approach in enhancing distributed PV power output prediction.