bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Geospatial Distribution of Peat Layer Thickness Using Machine Learning and Aerial Laser Scanning Data
Authors: Ivanovs Janis , Haberl Andreas , Melniks Raitis
Published: April 2024

Organic horizons including peat deposits are important terrestrial carbon pools, and various chemical, biological, and water exchange processes take place within them. Accurate information on the spatial distribution of organic soils and their properties is important for decision-making and land management. In this study, we present a machine learning approach for mapping the distribution of organic soils and determining the thickness of the peat layer using more than 24,000 peat layer thickness measurements obtained from field data, airborne laser scanning (ALS) data and various indices obtained from therein, as well as other cartographic materials. Our objectives encompassed two primary aims. Firstly, we endeavored to develop updated cartographic materials depicting the spatial distribution of peat layers. Secondly, we aimed to predict the depth of peat layers, thereby enhancing our understanding of soil organic carbon content. Continentality, a wet area map, latitude, a depth to water map with catchment area of 10 ha, and a digital elevation model were the most important covariates for the machine learning model. As a result, we obtained a map with three peat layer thickness classes, an overall classification accuracy of 0.88, and a kappa value of 0.74. This research contributes to a better understanding of organic soil dynamics and facilitates improved assessments of soil organic carbon stocks.
Organ-Specific Mitochondrial Alterations Following Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury in Post-Cardiac Arrest Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Nakamura Eriko , Aoki Tomoaki , Endo Yusuke , Kazmi Jacob , Hagiwara Jun , Kuschner Cyrus E. , Yin Tai , Kim Junhwan , Becker Lance B. , Hayashida Kei
Published: April 2024

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction, which is triggered by systemic ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury and affects various organs, is a key factor in the development of post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). Current research on PCAS primarily addresses generalized mitochondrial responses, resulting in a knowledge gap regarding organ-specific mitochondrial dynamics. This review focuses on the organ-specific mitochondrial responses to IR injury, particularly examining the brain, heart, and kidneys, to highlight potential therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction to enhance outcomes post-IR injury. Methods and Results: We conducted a narrative review examining recent advancements in mitochondrial research related to IR injury. Mitochondrial responses to IR injury exhibit considerable variation across different organ systems, influenced by unique mitochondrial structures, bioenergetics, and antioxidative capacities. Each organ demonstrates distinct mitochondrial behaviors that have evolved to fulfill specific metabolic and functional needs. For example, cerebral mitochondria display dynamic responses that can be both protective and detrimental to neuronal activity and function during ischemic events. Cardiac mitochondria show vulnerability to IR-induced oxidative stress, while renal mitochondria exhibit a unique pattern of fission and fusion, closely linked to their susceptibility to acute kidney injury. This organ-specific heterogeneity in mitochondrial responses requires the development of tailored interventions. Progress in mitochondrial medicine, especially in the realms of genomics and metabolomics, is paving the way for innovative strategies to combat mitochondrial dysfunction. Emerging techniques such as mitochondrial transplantation hold the potential to revolutionize the management of IR injury in resuscitation science. Conclusions: The investigation into organ-specific mitochondrial responses to IR injury is pivotal in the realm of resuscitation research, particularly within the context of PCAS. This nuanced understanding holds the promise of revolutionizing PCAS management, addressing the unique mitochondrial dysfunctions observed in critical organs affected by IR injury.
Refined Detection and Classification of Knee Ligament Injury Based on ResNet Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Voinea Ștefan-Vlad , Gheonea Ioana Andreea , Teică Rossy Vlăduț , Florescu Lucian Mihai , Roman Monica , Selișteanu Dan
Published: April 2024

Currently, medical imaging has largely supplanted traditional methods in the realm of diagnosis and treatment planning. This shift is primarily attributable to the non-invasive nature, rapidity, and user-friendliness of medical-imaging techniques. The widespread adoption of medical imaging, however, has shifted the bottleneck to healthcare professionals who must analyze each case post-image acquisition. This process is characterized by its sluggishness and subjectivity, making it susceptible to errors. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a frequently injured knee ligament, predominantly affects a youthful and sports-active demographic. ACL injuries often leave patients with substantial disabilities and alter knee mechanics. Since some of these cases necessitate surgery, it is crucial to accurately classify and detect ACL injury. This paper investigates the utilization of pre-trained convolutional neural networks featuring residual connections (ResNet) along with image-processing methods to identify ACL injury and differentiate between various tear levels. The ResNet employed in this study is not the standard ResNet but rather an adapted version capable of processing 3D volumes constructed from 2D image slices. Achieving a peak accuracy of 97.15% with a custom split, 96.32% through Monte-Carlo cross-validation, and 93.22% via five-fold cross-validation, our approach enhances the performance of three-class classifiers by over 7% in terms of raw accuracy. Moreover, we achieved an improvement of more than 1% across all types of evaluation. It is quite clear that the model’s output can effectively serve as an initial diagnostic baseline for radiologists with minimal effort and nearly instantaneous results. This advancement underscores the paper’s focus on harnessing deep learning for the nuanced detection and classification of ACL tears, demonstrating a significant leap toward automating and refining diagnostic accuracy in sports medicine and orthopedics.
Curcumin as a Multifunctional Spice Ingredient against Mental Disorders in Humans: Current Clinical Studies and Bioavailability Concerns
Authors: Spanoudaki Maria , Papadopoulou Sousana K. , Antasouras Georgios , Papadopoulos Konstantinos A. , Psara Evmorfia , Vorvolakos Theofanis , Solovos Evangelos , Chrysafi Maria , Psallas Michalis , Mentzelou Maria , Ourda Despoina , Giaginis Constantinos
Published: April 2024

Background: Mental disorders in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress are one of the major causes of burden globally. Over the last two decades, the use of plant-based substances in the treatment of mental disorders in combination or not with medication has increasingly attracted the interest of the scientific research community. However, even if there is a plethora of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, most of them have low bioavailability, rendering them unable to insert into the bloodstream to exert their biological activities. Methods: This is a comprehensive narrative review that critically summarizes and scrutinizes the new approaches to the treatment of mental disorders using curcumin, also highlighting its bioavailability properties. The most accurate were searched using effective and relevant keywords. Results: This narrative review reveals substantial evidence that curcumin can exert significant effects on several mental disorders. However, despite the low cost, the extensive and confirmed potency of curcumin and its involvement in signaling pathways and the scientifically confirmed data regarding its molecular mechanisms of action against mental disorders, this naturally occurring compound presents low oral bioavailability. Pharmaceutical technology has provided solutions to increase the bioavailability of curcumin. Combination with piperine, galactomannosides, liposomal formulation or nanoformulation overcomes the bioavailability and solubility disadvantages. Conclusions: Although curcumin demonstrates anti-anxiety, anti-depressive and anti-stress properties, studies on humans are limited and heterogeneous. Further research is highly recommended to determine the most functional formula, dose, duration, and possible side effects of curcumin on mental disorders in humans. Based on the current knowledge, the curcumin nanoformulation and Theracurmin, a form of colloidal submicroscopic particles, seem to be the most effective bioavailable formulations, which may be examined in future clinical human studies.
Adaptive Terminal Sliding Mode Trajectory Tracking Control for Autonomous Vehicles Considering Completely Unknown Parameters and Unknown Perturbation Conditions
Authors: Feng Chengyang , Shen Mingyu , Wang Zhongnan , Wu Hao , Liang Zenghui , Liang Zhongchao
Published: April 2024

In the actual implementation of autonomous vehicle controller and related applications, it is difficult to obtain all the actual parameters of the vehicle. Considering factors such as uneven pavement and different pavement conditions, it is difficult to accurately establish the vehicle dynamic system model. Based on the non-singular terminal sliding mode and adaptive control theory, this paper establishes a trajectory tracking control strategy for an autonomous vehicle with unknown parameters and unknown disturbances. Firstly, the complex trajectory tracking problem is decoupled from the position and heading angle tracking problem, and the preview error equation is established. Secondly, a non-singular terminal sliding mode (NTSM) controller is established to stabilize the trajectory tracking error to the origin in a finite time, and adaptive laws are proposed to estimate the unknown vehicle parameters to adapt to environmental changes. Through the CarSim–Matlab platform, typical working conditions are implemented to verify the proposed controller. Our experimental outcomes affirm that the NTSM controller effectively guarantees the autonomous vehicle’s accurate following of the reference path, ensuring smooth control inputs throughout the entire process.
Randomized Nonuniform Sampling for Random Signals Bandlimited in the Special Affine Fourier Transform Domain
Authors: Jiang Yingchun , Gao Ni , Li Haizhen
Published: April 2024

The nonuniform sampling and reconstruction of bandlimited random signals in the SAFT domain is discussed in the paper, where the nonuniform samples are obtained by randomly disturbing the uniform sampling. First, we prove that the concerned nonuniform problem is equivalent to the process of uniform sampling after a prefilter in the statistic sense. Then, an approximate reconstruction method based on sinc interpolation is proposed for the randomized nonuniform sampling of SAFT-bandlimited random signals. Finally, we offer the mean square error estimate for the corresponding approximate recovery approach. The results generalize the conclusions of nonuniform sampling of bandlimited random signals in the FrFT and LCT domains to the SAFT domain.
An Agile Super-Resolution Network via Intelligent Path Selection
Authors: Jia Longfei , Hu Yuguo , Tian Xianlong , Luo Wenwei , Ye Yanning
Published: April 2024

In edge computing environments, limited storage and computational resources pose significant challenges to complex super-resolution network models. To address these challenges, we propose an agile super-resolution network via intelligent path selection (ASRN) that utilizes a policy network for dynamic path selection, thereby optimizing the inference process of super-resolution network models. Its primary objective is to substantially reduce the computational burden while maximally maintaining the super-resolution quality. To achieve this goal, a unique reward function is proposed to guide the policy network towards identifying optimal policies. The proposed ASRN not only streamlines the inference process but also significantly boosts inference speed on edge devices without compromising the quality of super-resolution images. Extensive experiments across multiple datasets confirm ASRN’s remarkable ability to accelerate inference speeds while maintaining minimal performance degradation. Additionally, we explore the broad applicability and practical value of ASRN in various edge computing scenarios, indicating its widespread potential in this rapidly evolving domain.
Shrinkage Testimator for the Common Mean of Several Univariate Normal Populations
Authors: Mphekgwana Peter M. , Kifle Yehenew G. , Marange Chioneso S.
Published: April 2024

The challenge of combining two unbiased estimators is a common occurrence in applied statistics, with significant implications across diverse fields such as manufacturing quality control, medical research, and the social sciences. Despite the widespread relevance of estimating the common population mean μ, this task is not without its challenges. A particularly intricate issue arises when the variations within populations are unknown or possibly unequal. Conventional approaches, like the two-sample t-test, fall short in addressing this problem as they assume equal variances among the two populations. When there exists prior information regarding population variances (σi2,i=1,2), with the consideration that σ12 and σ22 might be equal, a hypothesis test can be conducted: H0:σ12=σ22 versus H1:σ12≠σ22. The initial sample is utilized to test H0, and if we fail to reject H0, we gain confidence in incorporating our prior knowledge (after testing) to estimate the common mean μ. However, if H0 is rejected, indicating unequal population variances, the prior knowledge is discarded. In such cases, a second sample is obtained to compensate for the loss of prior knowledge. The estimation of the common mean μ is then carried out using either the Graybill–Deal estimator (GDE) or the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE). A noteworthy discovery is that the proposed preliminary testimators, denoted as μ^PT1 and μ^PT2, exhibit superior performance compared to the widely used unbiased estimators (GDE and MLE).
On the Oscillatory Behavior of Solutions of Second-Order Non-Linear Differential Equations with Damping Term
Authors: Mazen Mohamed , El-Sheikh Mohamed M. A. , Euat Tallah Samah , Ismail Gamal A. F.
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we discuss the oscillatory behavior of solutions of two general classes of nonlinear second-order differential equations. New criteria are obtained using Riccati transformations and the integral averaging techniques. The obtained results improve and generalize some recent criteria in the literature. Moreover, a traditional condition is relaxed. Three examples are given to justify the results.
Silicon-Nanowire-Based 100-GHz-Spaced 16λ DWDM, 800-GHz-Spaced 8λ LR-8, and 20-nm-Spaced 4λ CWDM Optical Demultiplexers for High-Density Interconnects in Datacenters
Authors: Jeong Seok-Hwan
Published: April 2024

Several types of silicon-nanowire-based optical demultiplexers (DeMUXs) for use in short-reach targeted datacenter applications were proposed and their spectral responses were experimentally verified. First, a novel 100-GHz-spaced 16λ polarization-diversified optical DeMUX consisting of 2λ delayed interferometer (DI) type interleaver and 8λ arrayed waveguide gratings will be discussed in the spectral regimes of C-band, together with experimental characterizations showing static and dynamic spectral properties. Second, a novel 800-GHz-spaced 8λ optical DeMUX was targeted for use in LR (long reach) 400 Gbps Ethernet applications. Based on multiple cascade-connected DIs, by integrating the extra band elimination cutting area, discontinuous filtering response was analytically identified with a flat-topped spectral window and a low spectral noise of <−20 dB within an entire LR-8 operating wavelength range. Finally, a 20-nm-spaced 4λ coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM)-targeted optical DeMUX based on polarization diversity was experimentally verified. The measurement results showed a low excessive loss of 1.0 dB and a polarization-dependent loss of 1.0 dB, prominently reducing spectral noises from neighboring channels by less than −15 dB. Moreover, TM-mode elimination filters were theoretically analyzed and experimentally confirmed to minimize unwanted TM-mode-oriented polarization noises that were generated from the polarization-handling device. The TM-mode elimination filters functioned to reduce polarization noises to much lower than −20 dB across the entire CWDM operating window.
Deficit Irrigation with Silicon Application as Strategy to Increase Yield, Photosynthesis and Water Productivity in Lettuce Crops
Authors: Villa e Vila Vinícius , Marques Patricia Angélica Alves , Gomes Tamara Maria , Nunes Alan Ferreira , Montenegro Victório Goulart , Wenneck Gustavo Soares , Franco Laís Barreto
Published: April 2024

In regions where water is a limited resource, lettuce production can be challenging. To address this, water management strategies like deficit irrigation are used to improve water-use efficiency in agriculture. Associating this strategy with silicon (Si) application could help maintain adequate levels of agricultural production even with limited water availability. Two lettuce crop cycles were conducted in a completely randomized design, with a factorial scheme (2 × 3), with three irrigation levels (60%, 80% and 100%) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and with and without Si application. To explore their combined effects, morphological, productive, physiological and nutritional parameters were evaluated in the crops. The results showed that deficit irrigation and Si application had a positive interaction: lettuce yield of the treatment with 80% ETc + Si was statistically similar to 100% ETc without Si in the first cycle, and the treatment with 60% ETc + Si was similar to 100% ETc without Si in the second cycle. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, transpiration rate and total chlorophyll content increased under water-stress conditions with Si application; in the first cycle, the treatment with 80% ETc + Si increased by 30.1%, 31.3%, 7.8%, 28.46% and 50.3% compared to the same treatment without Si, respectively. Si application in conditions of water deficit was also beneficial to obtain a cooler canopy temperature and leaves with higher relative water content. In conclusion, we found that Si applications attenuate water deficit effects and provide a strategy to ameliorate the yield and water productivity in lettuce crops, contributing to more sustainable practices in agriculture.
Parametric Energy Efficiency Impact Analysis for Industrial Process Heating Furnaces Using the Manufacturing Energy Assessment Software for Utility Reduction
Authors: Bisht Prakash Singh , Gopalakrishnan Bhaskaran , Dahal Rupesh , Li Hailin , Liu Zhichao
Published: April 2024

Industrial process heating furnace operations consume considerable energy in the U.S. manufacturing sector, making it crucial to identify energy efficient strategies due to the growing need to minimize energy usage and emissions. It is important to identify the potential impact of these factors to enable process engineers to operate process heating systems at the maximum possible efficiency. This study examines and identifies the key impact factors that influence the efficiency of process heating systems using MEASUR (v1.4.0), the DOE software tools such as the insulation effectiveness, the burner stoichiometry, cooling medium, thermal storage, and atmospheric gases. Data from a two-fuel-fired heat treatment furnace and an electric arc furnace (EAF) for steelmaking were employed to establish the baseline heat balance models in MEASUR. The fractional factorial design experiment was developed with two-level parameter values and energy efficiency strategies for the heat input into industrial furnaces. The three most significant parameters for the heat input for a fuel-fired industrial furnace, Industrial Furnace A, are excess air percentage or the oxygen percentage in flue gas (OF), average surface temperature (ST), and combustion air temperature (CT). Similarly, for an electric industrial furnace, Industrial Furnace B, the parameters are charge temperature (CHT), average surface temperature (ST), and time open (TO). A comparative analysis was carried out for the fuel-fired and equivalent electric resistance furnaces to identify the prospect of electrification of industrial furnaces relying upon fossil fuels. The study aims to assist industries and designers in making informed decisions regarding industrial furnace upgrades, process optimization, and maintenance investments, resulting in substantial energy and cost savings, and a reduced environmental impact.
Use of MTM, RAV and ZAK Methods in Determining Working Methods and Time Norms in Technological Operations of Sewing Clothes
Authors: Kirin Snježana , Hursa Šajatović Anica , Firšt Rogale Snježana
Published: April 2024

The paper presents the application of MTM, RAV and ZAK methods in the determination of working methods and time norms for the technological process of sewing. The technological operation of sewing the back sleeve seam on a men’s jacket is used for the study. The paper presents the designed workplace in a real production process. In addition, the appropriate working method and the time norm are determined using the MTM (Method Time Measurement), RAV (determination of sewing time for straight seams) and ZAK (determination of sewing time for curved seams) methods. The aim of the study was to combine the methods for determining different types of time (manual, machine-hand and machine) for performing technological operations and precisely calculate the time norms. For the described methods of determining the production time, computer programs were developed that speed up the calculation of the time norm. If the working method is defined in advance and the characteristics of the sewing machine are known, the time norm for each technological operation can be determined in advance. Based on these calculations, it is possible to determine the total time for the production of clothing in advance and thus to plan and schedule the production process and plan the delivery dates to customers. The results show that the technical equipment of the sewing machine and the working method have an influence on the structure of the technological sewing process. By choosing an appropriate working method, the workload and fatigue of the workers is reduced, as an appropriate number of auxiliary hand sub-operations are used. In this way, the appropriate time required to perform the technological operation is achieved.
Deployment Protection for Interference of 5G Base Stations with Aeronautical Radio Altimeters
Authors: Duan Zhaobin , Ma Zhenyang , Bai Jie , Wang Peng , Xu Ke , Yuan Shun
Published: April 2024

In this manuscript, we present a novel deployment protection method aimed at safeguarding aeronautical radio altimeters (RAs) from interference caused by fifth-generation (5G) telecommunication base stations (BSs). Our methodology involves an integrated interference model for defining prohibited zones and utilizes power control and angle shutoff methods to mitigate interference. First, to ensure reliable protection, we define both horizontal and vertical prohibited zones and investigate their variations to immunize RA against 5G interference. Second, we validate the effectiveness of the model in various operational scenarios, analyzing the influence of factors such as base station types, antenna parameters, flight altitude, and aircraft attitudes to cover a wide range of real-world scenarios. Third, to mitigate interference, we propose and analyze the power control and angle shutoff methods through simulation for the RMa prohibited zone. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of the deployment protection method in safeguarding RAs from 5G interference, providing guidance for interference protection during civil aviation operations and base station deployment near airports.
Comparison of Refractive Index Matching Techniques and PLIF40 Measurements in Annular Flow
Authors: Rivera Yago , Bascou Dorian , Blanco David , Álvarez-Piñeiro Lucas , Berna César , Muñoz-Cobo José-Luis , Escrivá Alberto
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates non-invasive techniques for annular two-phase flow analysis, focusing on liquid film characterization to understand the interfacial phenomena that are crucial for heat and mass transfer. Limited methods allow the study of the temporal and spatial evolution of liquid film, such as Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF). However, this method possesses optical challenges, leading to the need for improved techniques to mitigate refraction and reflection, such as Refractive Index Matching (RIM). This study utilizes an experimental annular flow facility to analyze both RIM and non-RIM PLIF over a range of liquid Reynolds numbers from 4200 to 10,400. Three configurations—PLIF RIM90, PLIF RIM40, and PLIF nRIM40—are compared from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. In the quantitative analysis, key variables of the liquid film are measured, namely mean film thickness, disturbance wave height, and frequency. Variations in the analyzed variables indicate minor deviations, which are not likely to be caused by the technique used. However, all three methodologies exhibited errors that are estimated to be within a maximum of 10%, with a mean value of approximately 8%.
Replicating Spectral Baseline for Unambiguous Frequency Locking in Resonant Sensors
Authors: Setiono Andi , Nelfyenny  , Nyang’au Wilson Ombati , Peiner Erwin
Published: April 2024

Electrothermal piezoresistive resonant cantilever sensors have been fabricated with embedded actuating (heating resistor) and sensing (piezo resistors) parts, with the latter configured in a Wheatstone bridge circuit. Due to the close spacing between these two elements, a direct thermal parasitic effect on the resonant sensor during the actuating-sensing process leads to asymmetric amplitude and reversing phase spectral responses. Such a condition affects the precise determination of the cantilever’s resonant frequency, f0. Moreover, in the context of phase-locked loop-based (PLL) resonance tracking, a reversing phase spectral response hinders the resonance locking due to its ambiguity. In this work, a replica of the baseline spectral was applied to remove the thermal parasitic effect on the resonance spectra of the cantilever sensor, and its capability was simulated through mathematical analysis. This replica spectral was subtracted from the parasitized spectral using a particular calculation, resulting in optimized spectral responses. An assessment using cigarette smoke particles performed a desired spectral shifting into symmetrical amplitude shapes and monotonic phase transitions, subsequently allowing for real-time PLL-based frequency tracking.
A Novel Experimental Apparatus for Characterizing Flow Regime in Mechanically Stirred Tanks through Force Sensors
Authors: Magos-Rivera Miguel , Avilés-Cruz Carlos , Ramírez-Muñoz Jorge
Published: April 2024

Pressure fluctuations in a mixing tank can provide valuable information about the existing flow regime within the tank, which in turn influences the degree of mixing that can be achieved. In the present work, we propose a prototype for identifying the flow regime in mechanically stirred tanks equipped with four vertical baffles through the characterization of pressure fluctuations. Our innovative proposal is based on force sensors strategically placed in the baffles of the mixing tank. The signals coming from the sensors are transmitted to an electronic module based on an Arduino UNO development board. In the electronic module, the pressure signals are conditioned, amplified and sent via Bluetooth to a computer. In the computer, the signals can be plotted or stored in an Excel file. In addition, the proposed system includes a moving average filtering and a hierarchical bottom-up clustering analysis that can determine the real-time flow regime (i.e., the Reynolds number, Re) in which the tank was operated during the mixing process. Finally, to demonstrate the versatility of the proposed prototype, experiments were conducted to identify the Reynolds number for different flow regimes (static, laminar, transition and turbulent), i.e., 0≤Re≤ 42,955. Obtained results were in agreement with the prevailing consensus on the onset and developed from different flow regimes in mechanically stirred tanks.
Assessment of Different Dimensions of Loneliness among Adults Living with Chronic Diseases
Authors: Babić Dijana , Benko Meštrović Snježana , Bertić Želimir , Milošević Milan , Kamenečki Gordana
Published: April 2024

Background: Loneliness has become a growing public health problem. Adult people who live with chronic health problems often experience more severe consequences of this condition. The purpose of this research is to determine the level of loneliness and differences in dimensions of loneliness in adults living with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Methods: The study was conducted in the Magdalena Clinic for Cardiovascular Diseases. The selected sample consisted of a group of patients admitted for short-term hospital treatment. The data were collected using the 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS). Differences in outcomes with respect to gender, educational level and marital, work and living status, as well as medical diagnoses of the participants, were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test or the Mann–Whitney U test. Spearman’s rho coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between the independent variables and the total score on different categories of loneliness. Results: A moderate level of loneliness (SD = 3.53; M = 3.0) was determined in almost half of the participants (N = 52; 49.1%). A statistically significant positive correlation was confirmed in the relationship between the emotional dimension of loneliness and the gender of the participants. The participants that had a lower education level showed a higher level of emotional loneliness, but also a higher overall level of loneliness. The age of the participants correlated negatively with the level of social loneliness (rho = −0.029). Conclusions: Loneliness is present among adults living with cardiovascular diseases in different dimensions and intensity. Although the connection between loneliness and health outcomes needs to be further investigated, the negative impact of this psychosocial problem on cardiovascular health cannot be ignored.
Social Disability as Disaster: Case Studies of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People Living with Disabilities
Authors: Connon Irena L. C. , Crampton Alexandra , Dyer Christopher , Hu Rita Xiaochen
Published: April 2024

Social disability is a process or event that significantly disrupts, paralyzes, or prevents the formation and/or sustaining of interpersonal social relations required for meeting human needs. When prolonged, the ‘disabling’ of essential human interrelationships can have a destructive impact. This is especially true in communities where people are highly interdependent and where individuals living with disabilities rely upon social relationships to prevent isolation and decline in overall wellbeing. Meanwhile, disaster response systems have developed to first rescue or protect individuals’ ‘bare life’ and immediate, bodily needs. We argue that these systems, intended to mitigate disaster, can exacerbate social disability as a kind of collateral damage. We explore this problem as it unfolded amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in two research sites: one located in rural, northern Scotland and another located in rural, Midwestern United States. The Scottish research focuses on experiences, causes and risks of social disability for adults living with disabilities within a small rural community, while the U.S. research focuses on emergence of and resistance to social disability among residents of a continuing care retirement community for 55+ aged adults. We conclude with implications and recommendations for disaster intervention and future research.
Security Analysis of the Symmetric Cryptosystem TinyJambu
Authors: Fúster-Sabater Amparo , Pazo-Robles M. E.
Published: April 2024

Symmetric cryptography provides the best examples of cryptosystems to be applied in lightweight environments (e.g., IoT). A representative example is the cryptosystem TinyJambu, one of the ten finalists in the NIST Lightweight Cryptography Standardization Project. It is an authentication encryption with associated data scheme that is extremely lightweight and fast. In this work, we analyze the security of TinyJambu from two distinct and non-symmetric points of view: (1) the improvement of the best cryptanalytical attack found in the literature and (2) a randomness analysis of the generated sequences. Concerning item (1), we launched a differential forgery attack with probability 2−65.9487, which was improved considerably compared with previous numerical results. Concerning item (2), we analyzed the degree of randomness of the TinyJambu keystream sequences with a complete and powerful battery of statistical tests. This non-symmetric study shows the weakness of TinyJambu against cryptanalytic attacks as well as the strength of TinyJambu against statistical analysis.
Numerical Study of the Influence of the Structural Parameters on the Stress Dissipation of 3D Orthogonal Woven Composites under Low-Velocity Impact
Authors: Xu Wang , Zikry Mohammed , Seyam Abdel-Fattah M.
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the effects of the number of layers, x-yarn (weft) density, and z-yarn (binder) path on the mechanical behavior of E-glass 3D orthogonal woven (3DOW) composites during low-velocity impacts. Meso-level finite element (FE) models were developed and validated for 3DOW composites with different yarn densities and z-yarn paths, providing analyses of stress distribution within reinforcement fibers and matrix, energy absorption, and failure time. Our findings revealed that lower x-yarn densities led to accumulations of stress concentrations. Furthermore, changing the z-yarn path, such as transitioning from plain weaves to twill or basket weaves had a noticeable impact on stress distributions. The research highlights the significance of designing more resilient 3DOW composites for impact applications by choosing appropriate parameters in weaving composite designs.
Accidental Aluminum Phosphide Intoxication Successfully Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: A Case Report
Authors: Hájek Michal , Chmelař Dittmar , Tlapák Jakub , Rybárová Veronika , Ondra Peter , Halouzka Vladimír
Published: April 2024

The most common pesticide agents are organophosphates and phosphides, aluminum phosphide (ALP) in particular. ALP is a major cause of suicidal poisoning in many countries. In other countries, the problem of accidental, mainly occupational-related, poisoning is also real and actual. Almost two thirds of individuals in poisoning cases have died. This case report describes a case of a patient with accidental ALP intoxication. The origin of the poisoning was the fumigation of stored grain in an agricultural building adjacent to the building in which patient was temporarily housed, while both buildings were connected by an underground corridor, through which the released poison gas penetrated. The case was originally presented by the rescuers as well as healthcare professionals of the local hospital as carbon monoxide intoxication, which has a similar symptomatology as ALP intoxication. The patient was treated comprehensively, including using the HBOT method, which is very unique in the case of phosphine intoxication in human medicine, with an excellent final clinical outcome. This was the first described case of HBOT for ALP intoxication in clinical medicine, although the HBOT indication itself became a coincidence in this case. Further studies must be undertaken to demonstrate the effectiveness of HBOT in treating patients with ALP poisoning.
APORTES PARA DISCUSSÃO DA CONSERVAÇÃO ON FARM E EX-SITU
Authors: Fachini Cristina , Veiga Juracilda , Paterniani Maria Elisa Ayres Guidetti Zagatto , Domene Maria Paula , Cursi Patricia Ribeiro , Factor Thiago Leandro
Published: April 2024

O Tratado Internacional de Recursos Fitogenéticos para Alimentação e Agricultura – TIRFAA considera as estratégias ex situ e on farm importantes para conservação da diversidade genética. A conservação on farm depende, portanto, de interlocutores e instituições parcerias de apoio ao processo dinâmico de conservação. Os programas de conservação dos recursos genéticos ex situ muitas vezes atuam de forma paralela, com baixa interação entre eles. Esse artigo visa discutir a importância dos milhos para a cultura Kaingang e descreve, a partir de um estudo de caso, a importância da complementariedade nas ações de conservação da diversidade genética de milhos indígenas. No caso em questão, a conservação do material genético ex situ, foi importante uma vez que houve perda de material genético nas aldeias. Há que se pensar, entretanto, que essa não deve ser a única estratégia de conservação a ser adotada, pois o armazenamento em bancos de germoplasma corta a relação do material com o meio e o constante processo de adaptação das práticas e saberes associados. Torna-se importante a criação de políticas públicas que promovam a complementariedade nas ações de conservação da diversidade genética de milhos indígenas, a interação e diálogos institucionais entre a conservação ex situ e on farm.
Process approach to improving the quality of medical care for patients suffering with hypertension disease
Authors:   SBHI SR «Consultative and Diagnostic Center of the City of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk», Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, Velmyakina N. A. , Guseva L. V. ,   FSBEI HE «Samara State Medical University» of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia,
Published: April 2024

The relevance of the study is determined by the search for new approaches to organizing the provision of medical care to the population, from the standpoint of the principles of ensuring and continuously improving the qualit y of medical ser vices. Target. To study the effectiveness of the influence of the process approach on the quality of medical care provided to patients suffering from arterial hypertension and, on this basis, to develop recommendations for increasing the ef ficiency of nursing staf f. Results. The theoretical and methodological foundations of the quality management system in healthcare were studied with the actualization of the process approach; the quality of outpatient care provided was assessed using a process approach; based on expert assessment, problems were identified in the provision of medical services; the results of implementing the process approach were analyzed. Conclusion. The expert assessment of the activities of nursing staff made it possible to identify inconsistencies, analyze the reasons for their occurrence, develop corrective actions, and plan actions aimed at improving the performance of the process and the final ser vice.
Implementation of an inclusive approach in African countries as a direction of international cooperation within the SDGs
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution «Omsk State Pedagogical University», Omsk, Russia, Yakubenko O. V. , Frolova P. I. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution «Omsk State Pedagogical University», Omsk, Russia, Ivanova D. A. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution «Omsk State Pedagogical University», Omsk, Russia
Published: April 2024

The article analyzes the implementation of the principle of social inclusion in relation to people with disabilities in African countries. The features characteristic of the crisis countries belonging to the Sahel zone are described. The paper outlines the ways of possible cooperation with the Russian Federation on the way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, i.e. ensuring an inclusive and fair right to social ize people with disabilities through education and encouraging learning opportunities for people with disabilities. The interaction of the countries can be aimed at training personnel for the special education system of African countries, developing adapted educational programs for people with disabilities, and organizing early care for children with developmental disorders of sensory systems. These programs require political, economic, scientific, technological, and socio-cultural cooperation between Russia and African countries. According to the United Nations, the African continent includes 54 independent states. Most of them were colonized and had external control of major European countries — Great Britain, France, and others. In the middle of the 20th century, the process of gaining the independence of African countries began. African countries have a large gap in socio-economic indicators and are heteroge neous. Among them, progressive countries can be distinguished — those with positive experience in achieving the SDGs. Such countries include the Republic of Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Tunisia, and so on. Along with progressive countries, there are countries that have many socio-economic problems and low per capita incomes. In addition, health and education systems have not been formed in such countries. Such countries include Niger, Mali, Chad, Gabon, and others. Therefore, cooperation within the framework of BRICS will allow organizing interaction aimed at more effective implementation of the inclusive model in A frican countries.
Analysis of the results of histological examination of unilateral nasal polyps
Authors:   Central City Hospital named after N.A. Semashko, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Sarkisyan N.G.
Published: April 2024

Unilateral rhinosinusitis (primary or secondary) is the most common process among diseases that cause the formation of polyps or polyp-like masses in one side of the nose. However, histological analysis in these cases often reveals non-inflammatory diseases. A retrospective analysis of the results of histological examina tion of unilateral nasal polyps in 42 patients revealed benign and malignant tumors in 16.7% of cases. These results indicate the need for histological studies in unilateral processes, since this reduces the risk of late malignancy detection.
Clinical evaluation of long-term results of adenoidectomy
Authors:   OOO “Meditsina AlfaStrakhovaniya”, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Kalinkina M.I.
Published: April 2024

Adenoidectomy is the most common surgical intervention in pediatric otorhinolaryngological practice. Adenoids are detected in 65-80% of frequently ill children and cause many comorbid pathological conditions and diseases. Notably, when deciding on the need for adenoidectomy, there is always a concern that removal of the pharyngeal tonsil, which is the main producer of interferon and secretory IgA, may lead to an increase in acute inflam matory diseases of the upper respiratory tract or aggravation of their course. We analyzed the long-term results of adenoidectomy in 45 children. It was found that adenoidectomy led to the complete disappearance of all pathological manifestations in 73% of children and significant clinical improvement in 27%. The most significant result was obtained in the group of frequently ill children.
Vibration disease in combination with deforming osteoarthritis (on the role of clinical data and instrumental research methods in diagnosis and prognosis)
Authors:   FSBEI HE Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Babanov S.A. , Kiryushina T.M. ,   FSBEI HE Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Published: April 2024

The article describes the features of working conditions, the clinical picture, and the state of the neuromuscular system in assemblers-riveters with vibration disease from the effects of local vibration and its combination with deforming osteoarthritis using elec troneuromyography. It has been established that patients with vibration disease caused by exposure to local vibration and its combination with deforming osteoarthritis are character ized by changes in the excitability and functional mobility of the sensorimotor system, and the formation of autonomic-sensory polyneuropathy, depending on the severity of vibration disease and combination with deforming osteoarthritis.
Portraits of scientists. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nikolai Alekseevich Mukhin
Authors:   FSBEI HE Samara State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Babanov S. A.
Published: April 2024

PhD in Medicine, professor Nikolai Alekseevich Mukhin (December 4, 1936, Moscow — January 28, 2018, Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian primary care physician, academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMS) since 1999 and of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) since 2011, director of the Clinic of Nephrology and Internal and Occupational Diseases named after E. M. Tareev, head of the Department of Therapy and Occupational Dis eases, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, head of the Department of Internal Diseases, Lomonosov Moscow State University, vice-president of the Russian Scientific Medical Society of GPs, president of the Scientific Society of Nephrologists of Russia, laureate of USSR State Prizes, and an honored scientist of the Russian Federation.
Methods and indicators for assessing the level of product quality
Authors:   CS Rostest, Ural, Russia, Ekaterinburg, Kurbatova E.D.
Published: April 2024

The article discusses the goals and features of product quality assessment, the methods used for this, and the indicators being verified. How can you understand that a product is of high quality? From the author’s point of view, this can be done using analysis methods that will provide objective information for the consumer about the characteristics of the product, its safety and properties.
Quality management system in the field of education
Authors:   TRTS24 portal, Russia, Ekaterinburg, Lazareva A.M.
Published: April 2024

The article defines the quality management system (QMS) in the field of education, describes its main components: quality policy, planning, monitoring, measurement, analysis and improvement. The provisions of the standards that can be used in the implementation of QMS in educational institutions are considered.
Digital transformation of industrial enterprises in Russia
Authors:   LLC «NTR», Russia, Moscow, Kazantseva Ya.Yu.
Published: April 2024

The article examines the impact of digital transformation on the Russian business sector. Describes the widespread use of digital technologies in various industries, such as industry, construction, and retail. Examples of the use of technologies to optimize production processes are given. The importance of the development and implementation of digital technologies is noted.
Modern educational technologies and their use in training technical specialists of industrial enterprises
Authors:   Docs Evolution online school for certification and labeling of food products, Ivanova A.P.
Published: April 2024

In this article, the author offers an analysis collected from the results of the online school’s activities and describes which modern educational technologies produce successful results. A description of audience demand is provided, collected on the basis of statistics during the operation of the online school. A description of the tools used and the reasons for their effectiveness in modern education are givenes