bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioindicadores de calidad del agua en la cuenca baja del río Ocoña, departamento de Arequipa, Perú, utilizando diatomeas epilíticas y su relación con algunos parámetros ambientales
Authors: Motta Mamani Julia Cecilia , Ranilla Falcón César Augusto
Published: September 2024

Se determinó la riqueza y estructura de la comunidad de diatomeas epilíticas y su relación con parámetros físicos, químicos y microbiológicos en la cuenca baja del río Ocoña, Departamento de Arequipa, Perú, en tres puntos de muestreo, en los meses de enero, mayo y octubre de 2019. Se identificaron 52 taxa de la división Bacillariophyta. Del total de taxones, 12 presentaron una abundancia relativa superior al 2 % y se utilizaron para el análisis de correspondencia canónica. La mayor riqueza de especies (39) se presentó en el mes de octubre. Los valores de diversidad H’ (2.04 a 2.45 bit/cel) para enero y octubre representaron a una comunidad con una diversidad normal; mientras que los valores registrados en mayo (0.51 a 1.58 bit/cel) se asociaron a una diversidad baja. Según el Índice de Simpson la mayor dominancia (0.18) se presentó en el mes de mayo y estuvo representada por Nitzschia inconspicua, la equidad (J) mostró una distribución uniforme en la comunidad de diatomeas en los meses de enero (63 %) y octubre (69 %). Del análisis de correspondencia canónica, los taxones Diatoma moniliformis, Melosira varians y Nitzschia palea presentaron una relación positiva con los parámetros ambientales pH, dureza, SO4–2, P, K, Na y Mg; mientras que Cocconeis placentula presentó una correlación positiva con pH, dureza, Ca, Mg y Na. Asimismo, Epithemia sorex, Nitzschia sp.1 y Ulnaria ulna presentaron una relación positiva con las concentraciones más altas de Fe, mientras que N. inconspicua se relacionó positivamente con los coliformes termotolerantes.
Panel Surface Area Maximization for Increasing PV Performance
Authors: Okello Moses Oyaro
Published: September 2024

The amount of solar energy produced is directly proportional to the surface area of solar panels exposed to sun rays. To increase the productivity of solar panels, a number of techniques are proposed by curving the surface or protruding the panel surface to maximise the surface area, e.g. Protruding panel surfaces with shapes such as pyramidal, cone, spherical cap, sinusoidal wavy curve, etc. These techniques are analysed to determine whether the panel surface area increases. The geometrical design analysis showed that, depending on the chosen surface curving method, the panel can achieve a remarkable increase in surface area.The system advisor model was used to assess a sample of solar cells with standard measurements of 6 by 6 inches that were organised in a zigzag pattern with different angles of inclination (10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, and 35°). Overall, the maximum power pump and annual AC energy performance increase by 1.4%, 4.2%, 6.8%, 10.8%, 14.9%, and 21.6%, respectively, over a one-year period of productivity. However, by applying the concept of solar panel efficiency degradation due to tilting solar panels at an angle by Mamun et al. (2022), for each 5° increase in tilt angle beyond the ideal 10°, the efficiency decreases by approximately 0.76%. In conclusion, the overall efficiency is greater than that of standard flat solar panels, provided the tilt angle is within a reasonable range.
Enhancing Thoracic Surgery with AI: A Review of Current Practices and Emerging Trends
Authors: Aleem Mohamed Umair , Khan Jibran Ahmad , Asser Younes Asser Younes , Sabbah Belal Nedal , Saleh Waleed , Migliore Marcello
Published: September 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming integral to medical practice, potentially enhancing outcomes in thoracic surgery. AI-driven models have shown significant accuracy in diagnosing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), predicting lymph node metastasis, and aiding in the efficient extraction of electronic medical records (EMR) data. Moreover, AI applications in robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and perioperative management reveal potential in improving surgical precision, patient safety, and overall care efficiency. Despite these advancements, challenges such as data privacy, biases, and ethical concerns remain. This manuscript explores AI applications, particularly machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP), in thoracic surgery, emphasizing their role in diagnosis and peri-operative management. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the current state, benefits, and limitations of AI in thoracic surgery, highlighting future directions in the field.
Did the COVID-19 Crisis Reframe Public Awareness of Environmental Topics as Humanity’s Existential Risks? A Case from the UK
Authors: Troumbis Andreas Y
Published: September 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has not just gently nudged but forcefully thrust environmental issues into the forefront of public consciousness. This shift in awareness has been a long-time aspiration of conservation scientists, who have played a crucial role in advocating for recognizing nature’s contributions to human life and a healthy environment. We explain the advantages of using newly available tools and sources of digital data, i.e., the Absolute Search Volume in Google per flag keywords, i.e., biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability, and The GDELT Project that monitors the world's broadcast, print, and web news, as well as the Difference-in-Difference method comparing paired samples of public interest before and after the pandemic outbreak. We focus on the case of UK citizens’ public interest. Public interest in the flag keywords in the UK shows a highly significant increase during the pandemic. Results contradict hypotheses or findings presented elsewhere that the public interest is attenuated during -and because- the public health crisis. We support growing public awareness of the existential risks springing from human materialism misappropriating nature, environment, and resources. In conclusion, we advocate for a ‘new conservation narrative’ that could be fostered by the increased public interest in environmental topics during the pandemic.
Adolescents' Knowledge and Misconceptions about Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study in Middle School Students in Portugal
Authors: Abreu Catarina , Sá Luísa , Santos Paulo
Published: September 2024

Background/Objectives: Adolescence represents a period of heightened vulnerability to risky sexual behaviours. In Portugal, adolescents are initiating sexual activity at increasingly younger ages. Yet, there are no studies evaluating their knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases and prevention methods at an earlier stage of their development. Study how middle school ad-olescents define their sexuality and assess their level of information regarding sexuality, STI, and prevention methods. Additionally, it explores adolescents' sources of information on sexuali-ty-related issues.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving the application of a questionnaire to 750 9th-grade students of Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Portugal. The questionnaire covered topics such as perceptions of sexuality, knowledge of sexuality and STI, methods of transmission prevention, and sources of information.
Results: The mean age was 14.4 years, with 19.9% reporting having already initiated sexual ac-tivity. Overall, the knowledge about sexually transmitted infections is low, pointing to 7.08 out of a maximum score of 18. Condoms and immunisation are well-recognized preventive measures, but many misconceptions persist. Better knowledge is associated with better attitudes in the likelihood of having sexual intercourse.
Conclusions: This study reveals adolescents' limited sexually transmitted infections knowledge, misconceptions about prevention, and reliance on peers and the internet over trusted sources, highlighting the need for comprehensive sexual education in middle school.
Prediction of Heat Wave Risk Based on Thermal Stress Indicators of Lactating Cows in the Amazon Savanna
Authors: Paixão Henrique Nascimento , Oliveira Ana Luiza Santos , Paiva Jose Teodoro , Gomes Thalles Ribeiro , Nääs Irenilza de Alencar , Lima Nilsa Duarte da Silva
Published: September 2024

Thermal comfort indices are risk indicators for environmental conditions in livestock production. Predictive models based on these indices of heat stress, respiratory frequency, and presence of heat waves for lactating cows, comparing the prediction and correlation between these factors, generate responses that can improve animal management regarding physiological responses to heat stress during the incidence of heat waves. Therefore, the objective was to develop predictive models for heat wave risk alerts based on thermal stress indices, physiological responses, and surface temperature of lactating cows. The region's climatic conditions were evaluated based on data on temperature, air humidity, wind speed, black globe temperature, solar radiation, dew point temperature, and precipitation compiled from a meteorological station. In the processing phase, a data set was discretized into classes to apply machine learning techniques to generate a classification model with cross-validation of the data. The performance of the classifiers was evaluated based on the metrics: accuracy, precision, sensitivity (recall), and Kappa statistics. Predicting the risk of heat waves for lactating cows can meet the need to predict the frequency of heat waves for decision-making in environmental, nutritional, and health management to minimize adverse impacts on production. The accuracy of Decision Tree models (J48), Naive Bayes, and Logistic Regression was equal to 96.72%, 96.72%, and 98.36%, respectively. The performance in the evaluation metrics of the Logistic Regression prediction model was better than that of the decision tree and Naive Bayes models.
Assessment of Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity Using Dyes and Tracers
Authors: Munoz-Ballester Carmen , Golf Samantha , Heithoff Benjamin , George Kijana , Robel Stefanie
Published: September 2024

Under physiological conditions the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is required for regulating the passage of substances between the bloodstream and the brain. To date, disruption of the BBB has been associated with nearly all neurological diseases. Dye and tracer experiments have been used to assess BBB integrity for decades, yet quantitative assessment of these experiments has only recently been implemented. Further, interpretation of these results requires the consideration of tracer-specific properties. Here, we describe a protocol for evaluating BBB leakage using the small molecule cadaverine in quantitative way. We also cover advantages/disadvantages of using some reagents and highlight limitations in data interpretations based on assays used to assess BBB permeability.
Epigenetic Reprogramming and Inheritance of the Cellular Differentiation Status Following Transient Expression of a Nonfunctional DN Rb Mutant in Murine MSCs
Authors: Mikhail Baryshev , Maksimova Irina , Sasoveca Ilona
Published: September 2024

The retinoblastoma gene product (Rb1), a master regulator of the cell cycle, also plays a prominent role in cell differentiation. Previously, by analyzing the differentiation of cells transiently overexpressing the ΔS/N DN Rb1 mutant, we demonstrated that these cells fail to differentiate into mature adipocytes and that they constitutively silence Pparγ2 through CpG methylation. Here, we demonstrate that the consequences of transient expression of ΔS/N DN Rb1 are accompanied by retention of Cebpa promoter methylation near the TSS under adipogenic differentiation, thereby preventing its expression. The CGIs of the promoters of the Rb1, Ezh2, Mll4, Utx and Tet2 genes, which are essential for adipogenic differentiation, have an unmethylated status regardless of the cell differentiation state. Moreover, Dnmt3a, a de novo DNA methyltransferase, is overexpressed in undifferentiated ΔS/N cells compared with wild-type cells, and in addition to Dnmt1, Dnmt3a is significantly upregulated by adipogenic stimuli in both wild-type and ΔS/N cells. Notably, the chromatin modifier Ezh2, which is also involved in epigenetic reprogramming, is highly induced in ΔS/N cells. Overall, we demonstrate that two major genes, Pparγ2 and Cebpa, which are responsible for terminal adipocyte differentiation, are selectively epigenetically reprogrammed to constitutively silent states. We hypothesize that the activation of Dnmt3a, Rb1 and Ezh2 observed in ΔS/N cells may be a consequence of a stress response caused by the accumulation and malfunctioning of Rb1-interacting complexes for epigenetic reprogramming of Pparγ2/Cebpa and prevention of adipogenesis in an inappropriate cellular context. The failure of ΔS/N cells to differentiate and express Pparγ2 and Cebpa in culture following the expression of the DN Rb1 mutant may indicate the creation of epigenetic memory for new reprogrammed epigenetic states of genes.
Electromovility and Energy Transition in Cuba
Authors: Castro Fernández Miguel , Vilaragut Llanes Miriam , Hernandez J.C.
Published: September 2024

The large-scale introduction of renewable energy, replacing fossil fuels, is presented as an essential part of the energy transition; this substitution is being observed in electrical systems, but it will also be necessary to introduce them in other sectors, such as transportation, either by incorporating renewable energy sources in the sector's facilities, including automotive service centers, or by electrifying transportation technology. The introduction of electromobility in a country is associated with a group of technologies that are required to make this introduction feasible. In Cuba, the introduction of electric vehicles, electric charging stations and charging points, including residential charging points, could increase the current demand by about 330 MW, based on the prospects for the introduction of electrification in the country's transportation system. Taking all of the above as a point of reference, this article addresses the basic elements of an energy transition proposal in the transportation sector, arriving at a proposed Roadmap to achieve the required synergy between energy transition and electromobility.
Further Development and Validation of an Interpretable Deep Learning Model for IR Image Based Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Mirasbekov Yerken , Aidossov Nurduman , Mashekova Aigerim , Zarikas Vasilios , Zhao Yong , Ng Eddie Yin Kwee , Midlenko Anna
Published: September 2024

Breast cancer remains a global health problem requiring effective diagnostic methods for early detection in order to achieve WHO’s ultimate goal of breast self-examination (BSE). A literature review indicates the urgency of improving diagnostic methods and identifies thermography as a promising, cost-effective, and non-invasive and adjunctive and complementary detection method. This research explores the potential of using machine learning (ML) techniques, specifically Bayesian Networks (BN) combined with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to improve breast cancer diagnosis at early stages. Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) aims to clarify the reasoning behind any output of artificial neural networks based models. The proposed integration adds interpretability of the diagnosis, which is particularly significant for a medical diagnosis. We have constructed two diagnostic expert models. In research model A, combining thermal images after XAI process together with medical records, an accuracy of 84.07% has been achieved, while model B, that includes also CNN prediction, achieved an accuracy of 90.93%. These results demonstrate the potential of XAI to transform breast cancer diagnosis, increasing accuracy and reducing the risk of misdiagnosis.
Leveraging Blockchain Technology for Cyber Security: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Biplob Md. Badiuzzaman , Zannat Tasnia , Ahmed Arif , Konika Mahmuda Samia , Ahsan Kazi Mohammad Moinul
Published: September 2024

Blockchain is a shared, unchangeable, decentralized ledger that allows transactions to be recorded securely and transparently via a network of computers. In addition to its significant contributions to cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology has shown promise as a game-changing advancement in cyber security. This study offers a thorough analysis of how blockchain technology is strongly linked to defending against cyber security risks in the modern world. This research clarifies the primary mechanisms of decentralization, immutability, transparency, and cryptographic security by which blockchain improves cyber security through a review of the literature and case studies. Furthermore, the study addresses the difficulties and constraints associated with incorporating blockchain technology into cybersecurity frameworks and proposes potential directions for future research.
An Experimental and Numerical Study on the Lateral Stiffness Limits of Straddle-type Monorail Tour-transit Systems
Authors: Zhang Hong , Wang Pengjiao , Li Qin , Jin Junhui , Wei Shiqi , Guo Fengqi , Feng Cheng , Deng Qun
Published: September 2024

The development of straddle-type monorail tour-transit systems (MTTSs) has received keen attention, raising the need for revisions on related design codes. This work presents a comprehensive assessment of the lateral stiffness limit of steel substructures in MTTSs. Firstly, a wind‒vehicle‒bridge coupling model was established, integrating multibody dynamics and finite element methods. This model was then validated against field test results, considering measured track irregularities as the excitation. Afterwards, a trend analysis and a variance-based sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the effect of various factors on the dynamic response of MTTS. Referring to existing specifications, an evaluation index for the lateral stiffness of pier columns and track beams was proposed. Results indicate that the pier height significantly impacts the lateral displacement of the pier top, accounting for 87% of the first-order sensitivity index and 75% of the total sensitivity index. In comparison, the lateral stiffness of track beams contributes over 70% to the maximum lateral acceleration and displacement at the mid-span. Finally, the lateral limited values for the displacement at the pier top and the deflection–span ratio of the track beam were determined as 8.04 mm and L/4200, respectively. These findings can serve as valuable references for future research and designs in this field.
Blind Cyclostationary Based Carrier Number and Spacing Estimation for Carrier-Aggregated Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Cellular Signals
Authors: Görçin Ali
Published: September 2024

Automatic and blind parameter estimation based on the inherent features of wireless signals is a major research area due to the fact that these techniques lead to the simplification of receivers, especially in terms of coarse synchronization, more importantly reduce down the signaling load at the control channels. Thus, in the literature many techniques are proposed to estimate a vast set of parameters including modulation types and orders, data and chip rates, phase and frequency offsets and so on. In this paper, a cyclostationary feature detection based method is proposed to estimate the carrier numbers and carrier spacing of carrier-aggregated direct sequence spread spectrum cellular signals blindly. The particular chip rate of the signal is also estimated through the process jointly. In the paper, after the proposed method is formulated, the measurement setup which is developed to collect the data for the validation of the proposed method is introduced. The measurement results are post-processed for performance analysis purposes. To that end, the method is investigated in terms of SNR values, different channel conditions, and measurement durations. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed method is compared with that of energy detection. Measurement results indicate superior performance of the proposed method under significant wireless channel impairments and in low-SNR regions.
Preclinical Validation of MIN-T: A Novel Controlled-Released Formulation for the Adjunctive Local Application of Minocycline in Periodontitis
Authors: Benedyk-Machaczka Małgorzata , Mydel Piotr , Mäder Karsten , Kaminska Marta , Taudte Nadine , Naumann Marcel , Kleinschmidt Martin , Sarembe Sandra , Kiesow Andreas , Eick Sigrun , Buchholz Mirko
Published: September 2024

Adjunctive treatment of periodontitis lacks solutions allowing enough time for wound healing in the periodontal pockets by avoiding a fast re-colonization. Such a solution might be an antibiotic containing formulation with a controlled release over weeks. Here, a recently described minocycline containing approach is qualified for further clinical development by focusing on proof-of-concept, systemic burden, resistance development and degradation studies. Animal studies were done in two different (mouse-chamber, rat Porphyromonas gingivalis challenging) models, including effects on inflammation markers, bone loss and bone structure. Also, serum concentrations of minocycline after local application were determined by HPLC-MS/MS. The resistance status of bacterial clinical isolates against minocycline was investigated and the degradation of the formulation was characterized by laser scanning- and scanning electron microscopy. Animal studies clearly demonstrated the applicability of the new formulation in the investigated models. Inflammation markers decreased dosage dependent and reduced bone loss compared to non-treated group was observed. Thereby, the systemic burden of the antibiotic was neglectable. Minocycline is still effective against oral pathogens; resistance development was not seen. The biodegradable thread was first swollen and subsequently degraded over weeks. The results support the continued clinical development of this new formulation. A phase I clinical trial is planned to further evaluate its safety and efficacy.
A Cloud Infrastructure for Health Monitoring in Emergency Response Scenarios
Authors: Orro Alessandro , Geminiani Gian Angelo , Sicurello Francesco , Modica Marcello , Augello Antonio , Botteghi Matteo
Published: September 2024

Wearable devices have a significant impact on society and recent advancements in modern sensor technologies are opening up new possibilities for healthcare applications. Continuous vital sign monitoring using IoT can be a crucial tool for emergency management, reducing risk in rescue operations and ensuring the safety of workers.The massive amounts of data, high network traffic, and computational demands of a typical IoT monitoring application can be challenging to manage with traditional infrastructure. Cloud computing provides a solution with its built-in resilience and elasticity capabilities.This article presents a cloud-based monitoring architecture for remote vital sign tracking of paramedics and medical workers through the use of a mobile wearable IoT device. It enables the management of ECG, breathing patterns, and other vital signs during work sessions, and sends real-time alarm events to a personnel management center. The platform was extensively used and tested in a large-scale monitoring application for tracking the activities of emergency room and ambulance workers, and the results of this testing are presented.
HIV Protein Nef Induces Cardiomyopathy through Induction of Bcl2 and p21
Authors: Kondrachuck Olena , Ciccone Pierce , Ford Nicole , Hong Kim , Kimura Yuka , Zi Jorgo , Yusuf Sumaya , Alkousa Aya , Tailor Nishit , Rajakumar Rithvik , Rappaport Jay , Gupta Manish
Published: September 2024

HIV-associated cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of death in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Although antiretroviral drugs suppress the viral load, they fail to remove the virus entirely. HIV-1 Nef protein is known to play a role in viral virulence and HIV latency. Expression of Nef protein can be detected in different organs, including cardiac tissue. Despite the established role of Nef protein in HIV-1 replication, its impact on organ function inside the human body is not clear. To understand the effect of Nef at the organ level, we created a new Nef transgenic (Nef-TG) mouse that expresses Nef protein in the heart. Our study found that Nef expression caused inhibition of cardiac function and pathological changes in the heart with increased fibrosis, leading to heart failure and early mortality. Further, we found that cellular autophagy is significantly inhibited in cardiac tissue of Nef-TG mice. Mechanistically, we found that Nef protein causes the accumulation of Bcl2 and Beclin-1 protein in the tissue, which may affect the cellular autophagy system. Additionally, we found Nef expression causes upregulation of cellular senescence marker p21, and senescence-associated -galactosidase expression. Our findings suggested that Nef-mediated inhibition of autophagy and induction of senescence markers may promote aging in the PLWHA. Our mouse model could help us to understand the effect of Nef protein on organ function during latent HIV infection.
Solving the B-SAT Problem Using Quantum Computing: Smaller Is Sometimes Better
Authors: Bennakhi Ahmad , Byrd Gregory T. , Franzon Paul
Published: September 2024

This paper aims to outline the effectiveness of modern universal gate quantum computers when utilizing different configurations to solve the B-SAT(Boolean Satisfiability) problem. The quantum computing experiments are performed using Grover’s Search algorithm to find a valid solution. The experiments are performed under different variations to demonstrate their effects on the results. Changing the number of shots, qubit mapping, and using a different quantum processor are all among the experimental variables. The study also branches into a dedicated experiment highlighting a peculiar behavior that IBM quantum processors exhibit when running circuits with a certain number of shots.
Design of Small-Type Permanent-Magnet Linear Motors and Drivers for Automation Application
Authors: Ho Chia-Hsiang , Hwang Jonq-Chin
Published: September 2024

This paper designs and fabricates a small-type permanent-magnet linear motor and driver for automation applications. It covers structural design, magnetic circuit analysis, control strategies, and hardware development. Magnetic circuit analysis software JMAG is used for flux density distribution, back electromotive force(back-EMF), and electromagnetic force analysis. To address end effects and cogging force, auxiliary core structures and control strategies are proposed. The motor has a three-phase, six-coil, seven-pole configuration, achieving a peak phase voltage of 3.621 V at 1.0 m/s with a total harmonic distortion(THD) of 0.49 % and the voltages of each phase are balancing a phase voltage error of -0.002 V. The average electromagnetic force is 5.46 N/A. The driver uses a three-phase inverter with voltage space vector pulse width modulation(VSVPWM), dq-axes current closed-loop control, electromagnetic force control, and S-curve motion trajectory control. Simulations with JMAG-RT models in MATLAB/Simulink verify the control strategies. A microcontroller (TMS320F280045) serves as the control core, and a magnetic encoder with a 488 nm resolution provides position feedback. Each phase winding has an equivalent resistance of approximately 3.0 Ω and an inductance of approximately 1.98 mH. The S-curve motion trajectory control achieves a maximum position error of approximately 5.0 μm and a speed ripple of approximately 0.03 m/s at steady speed. With cogging force improvement, the maximum electromagnetic force is 4.90 N, and the q-axis current compensates around 1.05 A based on mover position. S-curve motion trajectory control results in highly stable and responsive performance. Practical tests show that the designed small-type permanent-magnet linear motor and its driver provide efficient, stable, and high-precision solutions for automation applications.
Exploring the Western Shoreline of the Nuclear Chart: What Precision Mass Spectrometry with TITAN-TRIUMF Can Teach Us About Nuclear Existence
Authors: Czihaly Annabelle , Beck Soenke , Bergmann Julian , Brown Callum L. , Brunner Thomas , Dickel Timo , Dilling Jens , Dunling Eleanor , Flowerdew Jake , Hockenbery Zach , Jacobs Andrew , Kootte Brian , Malbrunot-Ettenauer Stephan , Maldonado Millán Fernando , Mollaebrahimi Ali , Leistenschneider Erich , Lykiardopoulou Eleni Marina , Mukul Ish , Paul Stefan F. , Plaß Wolfgang R. , Reiter Moritz Pascal , Scheidenberger Christoph , Tracy, Jr. James L. , Kwiatkowski A. A.
Published: September 2024

Isotopes at the limits of nuclear existence are of great interest for their critical role in nuclear astrophysical reactions and their exotic structure. Experimentally, exotic nuclides are challenging to address due to low production cross-sections, overwhelming amounts of contamination, and lifetimes typically less than a second. To this end, a Multiple-Reflection Time-of-Flight mass spectrometer at the TITAN-TRIUMF facility was built to determine atomic masses. This device is a preferred tool to work with exotic nuclides due to its ability to resolve the species of interest from contamination and short measurement cycle times enabling mass measurements of isotopes with millisecond half-lives. With a relative precision of order $10^{-7}$, we demonstrate why the TITAN MR-TOF MS is the tool of choice for precision mass surveys for nuclear structure and astrophysics. The capabilities of the device are showcased in this work including new mass measurements of short-lived tin isotopes ($^{104-107}$Sn) approaching the proton dripline as well as $^{89}$Zr, $^{90}$Y, and $^{91}$Y. The last three illustrate how the broadband surveys of MR-TOF MS reach beyond the species of immediate interest.
An Integrated Literature Review on Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Lim Hong-A , Song Yeoungsuk
Published: September 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore effects of cardiac rehabilitation programs for coronary artery disease patients.Methods: A systematic search was performed using domestic search engines such as RISS and KISS and foreign search engines such as PubMed and CINAHL guided by preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis. The searched literature was classified according to the subject and purpose. For the quality of the literature, Mixed Method Apprasial Tools (MMAT) was used.Results: The number of final selected literature were 9, and the contents of the heart rehabilitation program included a study on how to increase the participation rate in heart rehabilitation, a comparative study between specialized and general centers, and a study incorporating smart devices and education. The effectiveness of the heart rehabilitation program was significant in the morbidity and mortality of the disease, and in the hemodynamic, physical, social, and mental state. In addition, quality of lie, waist hip ration were improved.Conclusions: Various programs using cardiac rehabilitation have been shown to be positive for the physical, social, and mental conditions, including self-management and quality of life of patients with coronary artery disease. Therefore, the development and distribution of various programs using cardiac rehabilitation should be carried out.
Comparison Study of Biological Age Estimation Methods Using Korean National Health Bigdata
Authors: Cho Chang Jin , Son Youngeun , Jeon Geonmin , Yoon Dayeong , Kim Dong Wook
Published: September 2024

Objectives: The objective of this study is to estimate and compare indicators facilitating objective health assessment by utilizing biological age, a fundamental component of health metrics, through various estimation methods.Methods: In this study, data from the National Health Insurance Service health examinations were utilized, and various methods for estimating biological age were employed. These methods include multiple linear regression, principal component analysis (PCA), and Klemera-Doubal method (KDM), which are based on statistical approaches, as well as RF and XGB, which are based on machine learning. In this study, ANOVA and regression were performed using the SAS 9.4 program.Results: Among statistical methods, the standard deviation for KDM’s BA-CA is the smallest at 8.6894, while machine learning methods exhibit similar values of approximately 5 for both approaches. Regarding disease diagnosis accuracy, KDM demonstrates the highest accuracy rates in hypertension and dyslipidemia, while PCA excels in diabetes diagnosis.Conclusions: This study can serve as a valuable health indicator, shedding light on the extent of aging within a population.
CODE-SWITCHING AND CODE-MIXING PHENOMENA IN ENGLISH LEARNING PROCESS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH EDUCATION
Authors: Rahmanika Febria , Anastasia Faurina
Published: September 2024

Based on the preliminary research, the researcher found that English students commonly used codeswitching and code-mixing during the English learning process at the Department of EnglishEducation UIN Suska Riau. The researcher aimed: 1) to investigate the types of code-switching andcode-mixing, and 2) to find out why the students used those codes in the English learning process.This research used a qualitative descriptive method. The data was collected from the fifth semesterof English Education students selected based on purposive sampling technique. The finding of thisstudy showed that the students uttered three types of code-switching, such as inter-sentential, intrasentential, and tag switching. Then, there are two types of code-mixing uttered by the sample, suchas intra-sentential mixing and intra-lexical mixing. Furthermore, the reasons for uttering those codesare; 1) talking about a particular topic, 2) repetition for clarification, 3) the intention of clarifyingthe speech content for the interlocutor, 4) English as a foreign language, and 5) the student lessconfidence when speaking.
Identification of septicaemia causing bacteria in forest-based tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta D
Authors: G Manjappa , Prabhu I. G. , Baig M. M.
Published: September 2024

Tropical tasar Sericulture is an important livelihood avenue for tribal inhabitant of the North and Eastern Indian states. Tasar silkworm (Antheraea mylitta D.) is reared in natural condition i.e., outdoor on its preferred food plants i.e., Terminalia arjana and T. tomentosa. The outdoor rearing exposes silkworm to many diseases and prone to crop loss, this impacts significantly the livelihood of local inhabitants. To make the tasar sericulture more profitable, it is highly essential to provide effective disease management and constantly identify emerging silkworm pathogens. Keeping this in view, in present investigation SBP-1, a new bacterial pathogen was isolated from a naturally diseased second instar larvae, which is showing new symptoms and causing higher mortality. Pathogenicity of isolated strain was confirmed through Koch’s law. Pathogen was identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Sequence analysis revealed that it has more sequence similarity (> 99%) with Serratia nematodiphila strain PDRT. The colony was tiny, raised, opaque, slimy, circular convex shaped with shining creamy colour on nutrient agar. Cells are gram negative, rod shape with round ends. SBP-1 strain mainly infect at young stage and causes high mortality up to 96% in second instar, however cause less mortality in later larval instars (11.1% in 3rd and 4.4% in 4th instar). SBP-1 produces septicaemia like symptoms when fed artificially to the healthy larvae. The median lethal concentration (LC50) of the pathogen was 0.676 × 105 cfu/ml. This is the first report on bacteriosis showing septicemia symptoms in tropical tasar silkworm and also the first report of S. nematodiphila strain SBP-1 causing septicaemia. Further studies are essential to design preventive and control measures against this highly virulent strain. Constant studies are required to identify unknown pathogens causing various bacteriosis symptoms in tropical tasar silkworm.
Experimental Validation of the Driving Force in a Spiral Drive System for Non-Blocking Pipe Detectors
Authors: Zhang Fenna , Yi tiantian , Ma Mingwei , Jing Chuankai , Wang Bin
Published: September 2024

This paper proposes a new spiral drive system that utilizes the impeller to absorb the kinetic energy of the fluid, which has many advantages, which has many advantages, such as stable operating speed, small required start-up flow rate, large pulling force, and strong barrier-crossing ability. In order to verify the practical feasibility of this assumption, this paper firstly constructs a theoretical framework based on momentum-leaf vein analysis, and analyzes the force on the drive system. Subsequently, the tensile force test is conducted on the test prototype through the experimental platform, and the motion trajectory of the prototype and related data are recorded. The experimental results show that the main power source of the drive method is the torque generated by the impeller, while the impact force of the airflow has relatively little effect on the drive system. What's more, the drive system is able to obtain more sufficient power, thus fully proving that the impeller-driven spiral walking drive method is completely feasible.
A Framework for EO-Based National Agricultural Monitoring (EO-NAM)- For the African Context
Authors: Nakalembe Catherine , Kerner Hannah , Zvonkov Ivan , Humber Micheal , Galvez Antonio , Makabe Esther , Venturini Sara , Becker-Reshef Inbal
Published: September 2024

Monitoring agriculture is imperative for food security and measuring progress toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. Earth-observations (EO) have unmatched potential to provide the required data at scale. However, without significant investments in human capacity and technology adoption through policy, realizing functioning and robust monitoring systems is unattainable for many developing countries, particularly in Africa, where investments are still limited. We present a framework for EO-based agriculture monitoring systems that emerged from implementing several national EO-based agriculture monitoring systems in Africa leveraging the best available data, systems, and existing country structures. A key conclusion is that implementation should be phased, and commitment and internal resources at the national level are necessary for long-term sustainability and adopting new advances.
Quantum Simulation of Oscillatory Unruh Effect with Superposed Trajectories
Authors: Tian Zehua , Cheng Xu , Li Yue , Zhao Xingyu , Hou Waner , Zhu Mingdong , Yan Lin , Rehan Kamran , Qin Xi , Lin Yiheng , Du Jiangfeng
Published: September 2024

The Unruh effect predicts an astonishing phenomenon that an accelerated detector would detect counts despite being in a quantum field vacuum in the rest frame. Since the required detector acceleration for its direct observation is prohibitively large, recent analog studies in quantum simulation platforms help in revealing various properties of the Unruh effect and thus to explore the not-yet-understood physics of quantum gravity. To further reveal the quantum aspect of the Unruh effect, analogous experimental exploration of the correlation with respect to the detector and the field, and the consequences for coherent quantum trajectories of the detector that without classical counterparts, are essential steps but currently missing. Here, we utilize a laser-controlled trapped ion to experimentally simulate an oscillating detector coupled with a cavity field. We observe joint excitation of both the detector and the field in the detector’s frame, matching with the coordinated dynamics predicted by the Unruh effect. Particularly, we simulate the detector moving in single and superposed quantum trajectories, where the latter case shows coherent interference of excitation. Our demonstration reveals properties of quantum coherent superposition of accelerating trajectories associated with quantum gravity theories that have no classical counterparts, and may offer a new avenue to investigate phenomena in quantum field theory and quantum gravity. We also show how a generalization of the method and results in this work may be beneficial for direct observation of the Unruh effect.
Crop Production Efficiency in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia
Authors: Degfachew Tegegn Nigussie , Dilnesaw Melkamu Mada , Massa Malebo Mancha
Published: September 2024

Using sample data collected from 384 sample households in Eastern Amhara, North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia, and this study analyzes the technical, allocative and economic crop production efficiency of farmers as well as the key factors influencing it. A combination of descriptive and econometric methodologies were used to analyze the data. With the exception of oxen, all input variables (improved seed, cultivated land size, chemical fertilizer and labor days) had a positive and 1% significant effect on production, based on the maximum likelihood parameter estimates obtained from the stochastic frontier analysis. According to the analysis, crop-producing farmers' mean technical efficiency was 62.48%. This suggests that by operating at full technical efficiency, production in the study area can be raised by 35.2% at the current level of inputs and technology. Farmers in the research area had an average allocative efficiency of 86.47%, with ranging from 27.44–98.76%. This suggests that crop producer farmers can reduce their present input costs by 13.53% by using resources efficiently. The sample households' average economic efficiency was 54.11%, with the lowest and maximum efficiency ratings being 6.25% and 82.21%, respectively. The Tobit model's result indicated that technical efficiency was affected significantly by age of the head of the family, access to social networks, cultivated land area, irrigation involvement, agricultural experience, and alternative revenue sources. Additionally, the number of oxen, age of household head, access to social networks, agricultural experience, irrigation use, extension services, and other sources of income were significant variable impacting the economic efficiency of crop-producing farmers in the study area. The amount of the cultivated area and agricultural experience both have a major significant factors for allocative efficiency. According to the study's findings, smallholder farmers in Ethiopia's Eastern Amhara region may greatly increase the productivity of their crops by implementing new technology and better land management practices. This will improve their earnings and general standard of living, since farming is the community's primary source of livelihood. It is important that development organizations and governments back these initiatives aimed at raising the region's agricultural output.
Lightweight Tea Bud Detection Method Based on Improved YOLOv5
Authors: Zhang Kun , Yuan Bohan , Cui Jingying , Liu Yuyang , Zhao Long , Zhao Hua , Chen Shuangchen
Published: September 2024

Tea bud detection technology is of great significance in realizing automated and intelligent plucking of tea buds. This study proposes a lightweight tea bud identification model based on modified Yolov5 to increase the picking accuracy and labor efficiency of intelligent tea bud picking while lowering the deployment pressure of mobile terminals. The following methods are used to make improvements: the backbone network CSPDarknet-53 of YOLOv5 is replaced with the EfficientNetV2 feature extraction network to reduce the number of parameters and floating-point operations of the model; the neck network of YOLOv5, the Ghost module is introduced to construct the ghost convolution and C3ghost module to further reduce the number of parameters and floating-point operations of the model; replacing the upsampling module of the neck network with the CARAFE upsampling module can aggregate the contextual tea bud feature information within a larger sensory field and improve the mean average precision of the model in detecting tea buds. The results show that the improved tea bud detection model has a mean average precision of 85.79%, only 4.14M parameters, and only 5.02G of floating-point operations. The number of parameters and floating-point operations is reduced by 40.94% and 68.15%, respectively, when compared to the original Yolov5 model, but the mean average precision is raised by 1.67 percentage points. The advantages of this paper's algorithm in tea shot detection can be noticed by comparing it to other YOLO series detection algorithms. The improved YOLOv5 algorithm in this paper can effectively detect tea buds based on lightweight, and provide corresponding theoretical research for intelligent tea-picking robots.
The application of Rawls’ Theory of Justice in providing equitable free Health services to Geriatrics in Tanzania
Authors: Kayagula  , Lameck Wilfred
Published: September 2024

Everyone has the right to a standard of living and adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including medical care and necessary social services, although health services to elders are compromised. The study aimed to examine application of Rawls Theory of Justice in understanding the institutional arrangements, internal policy and legal framework, the established mechanisms from selected two local government authorities. The study used pragmatism paradigm with concurrent research design and a sample size of 300 respondents were selected through purposive sampling techniques and convenience sampling. A desk based review methods and field data collection approach using questionnaire and interviews was employed to collect data The study found that there was social welfare committee that deals with social matters though specific responsibilities to geriatrics' health services were not explained. Respondents from 30 interviews revealed that they don't know about free health accessibility to geriatrics. Additionally, the elders' councils are not formed as well as absence of social assistance. Older people are not clearly identified in the villages and there is no proper registration in the village executive offices in recent years and general meetings and poster announcement as mechanisms to sensitization which isn't effective.
Overexpression of TpGSDMT promotes high levels of glycine betaine and enhances the tolerance to salt and low-temperature in rice
Authors: Yu Jinde , Zhang Zihan , Zhao Ning , Feng Xiaofei , Zong Dan , Li Jing
Published: September 2024

Glycine betaine (GB) is an important osmoprotectant that enables plants to resist abiotic stresses such as salinity, low-temperature and drought. GB can be synthesized in many organisms, including animals, plants and bacteria. In higher plants, GB is synthesized through two-step oxidations of choline.However, rice, an important food crop, cannot synthesize GB. Recently, an enzyme , encoded by TpGSDMT gene finding in a diatom Talassiosira pseudonana, which can catalyze the three successive methylation steps of glycine to form GB. And this biosynthetic pathway for GB synthesis is also the simplest in living organisms. Here, TpGSDMT gene was isolated from Talassiosira pseudonana and cloned into overexpression vector pBWA(V)HS that contains CaMV 35S promoter, and then the constructed vector was introduced into rice(Oryza sativa L. ssp. Japonica).The GB content in transgenic rice that overexpression TpGSDMT was significantly increased , and the tolerance to salt and low-temperature was markedly enhanced in thses transformants.These results indicate the TpGSDMT gene can be used for genetic improvement of crop plants resistance to abiotic stress.