bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
History of Gemeente Probolinggo 1918-1942
Authors: Maulana Afif , Handayani Sri Ana , Krisnadi IG
Published: January 2024

This thesis discusses the history of gemeente Probolinggo in 1918-1942. The problems in this thesis are (1) the reasons why the Dutch East Indies government made Probolinggo a gemeente (2) how was the process of forming gemeente Probolinggo (3) What was the impact of the determination of gemeente on the socio-economic status of Probolinggo. The theory used is public policy theory with a social sociology approach and the method used is the historical method. The factors that made Probolinggo a gemeente by the Dutch East Indies were the strategic location of Probolinggo surrounded by sugar factories, tobacco plantations, coffee and ports. Probolinggo got gemeente status on July 1, 1918 (based on Staatsblad van Nederland Indies 322-1918). The impact of the determination of the Probolinggo gemeente is the development of infrastructure facilities that occur in Probolinggo. the development of infrastructure facilities, among others, such as the development of car and bus transportation. In terms of education also experienced developments, namely initially in Probolinggo there were only two schools then in 1929-1930 in Probolinggo there were 7 schools. From the socio-economic point of view, the majority of the population of Probolinggo are Javanese and Madurese, while the Madurese migrated to Probolinggo due to the opening of plantations by the Dutch East Indies government.

Keywords: Gemeente, Development, Infrastructure, Economy, Probolinggo
The Effects of System Parameters on Inception of Flashing using Relap5
Authors:   M.Sc., College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China, Olubunmi Bello Mary , Minjun Peng ,   Prof., College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China, Genglei Xia ,   PhD, College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China
Published: January 2024

Natural circulation systems (NCS) are prone to instabilities, they are more unstable compared to forced circulation systems as a result of the low driving head and nonlinearity of the system. Flashing instability is prominent in these systems at low pressure due to the presence of a long nonheated riser to enhance the driving force. RELAP5 code has been identified as one of the Best Estimate (BE) codes used in the analysis of the systems. The studies by different authors showed that the effects of system parameters on instability generally have gained the attention of researchers in recent years. However, these studies have not discussed how these parameters prevent or enhance the commencement of flashing instability. This we sought to achieve in this work, by zeroing in on the inception of flashing instability, by comparing what happened at different heat fluxes. The objective of this work is to investigate the effects of system parameters on the inception of flashing instability in a natural circulation system using the RELAP5 code. With the increase in inlet subcooling and height of the riser, flashing moved to the outlet of the riser, stabilizing the system. However, an opposite effect was observed with an increase in the inlet resistance.
Quenching Behavior of the Solution for the Problems with Sequential Concentrated Sources
Authors:   Ph.D., Professor, Department of Information Management, Tatung University, Taipei, Taiwan, China, Liu H.T.
Published: January 2024

This article studies the diffusion problems with a concentrated source which is provided at a sequential time steps in 1 dimensional space. The problems are considered for both Gaussian and fractional diffusion operators. For the fractional diffusion case, Riemann-Liouville operator with fractional order is used to describe the model with diffusion rate slower than normal time scale, which is known as sub diffusive problems. Due to this sub diffusive property, the existence and nonexistence behavior of the solution will be studied. Since the forcing term will experience a concentrated source at a sequence of time steps, the frequency, the time difference and strength of the source may affect the growth rate of the solution. Criteria for these effects which may cause for the quenching behavior of the solution will be given. The existence of the solution is investigated. The monotone behavior in spatial will be given. The quenching behavior of the solution will be studied. The location of the quenching point will be discussed.
Exploring innovative scale-up solutions for light integration in textiles using electroluminescent fibres
Authors:   Castros S. A., Rua da Igreja Velha, São Félix da Marinha, Portugal, Ben Sedrine Nabiha , Melo Amanda ,   CeNTI - Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, R. Fernando Mesquita, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, Goth Albertino ,   CeNTI - Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, R. Fernando Mesquita, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, Duraes Nelson ,   CeNTI - Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, R. Fernando Mesquita, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, Silva Ricardo ,   CeNTI - Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, R. Fernando Mesquita, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, Silva Pedro ,   CeNTI - Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, R. Fernando Mesquita, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, Mendes Paulo ,   CeNTI - Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, R. Fernando Mesquita, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
Published: January 2024

In this work, we present our results on one-dimensional (1-D) light-emitting devices and their textile integration. Indeed, light integration in textiles is very challenging and thanks to their unique 1-D configuration for possible miniaturization in the lateral direction, light-emitting fibres are promising since they present higher flexibility and adaptability than planar devices and can be easily integrated into textile processes. Therefore, this work is dedicated to studying and optimising these structures to achieve flexibility, stability, suitability for large-scale production and their integration into textiles. 1-D light-emitting devices consisting of electroluminescent (EL) fibres with different structures will be studied. Although the dip-coating method presents several challenges, it turns out that this method is the most promising for the scalability of the process.
Topology Optimization of Package Sealer Jaw Chassis of Automatic Packaging Machine
Authors:   Doctoral Student, Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Department, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey, Erez Arif Sercan , Filik Alim ,   Mechanical Engineer, R&D Center Department, Athapack Inc., Izmir, Turkey, Temizel Volkan ,   Design Expert, R&D Center Department, Athapack Inc., Izmir, Turkey
Published: January 2024

After the Covid-19 epidemic, the need to reach hygienic and sealed packaged food products has gained importance and the packaging machinery sector has become an important sector. In this context, the need for special packaging machines has increased. The jaw mechanism of the packaging machine developed within the scope of the study performs the package closing function by opening and closing 200 times per minute, and the jaw chassis carrying the jaw mechanism is exposed to the same series of movements. The design of the jaw chassis should be as light as possible so that no additional load is placed on the motors that provide the movement, while its strength should be high since it carries the entire load from the jaw plates to the motors. To solve this problem, a structural optimization solution called topology optimization, which regulates the distribution of the elements in the design volume within the framework of the determined constraints, is used. With the performed topology optimization study, it has been determined that the new solid model, which continues to provide sufficient strength when exposed to 5000 N force, provides 11% weight gain. This work has been a pioneer for new research to obtain lightweight designs.
Analisis daya tampung dan kemampuan treatment settling pond berdasarkan data curah hujan di PT Adaro Indonesia
Authors: Febriyanti Sonia , Riswan Riswan , Arief Muhammad Zaini
Published: January 2024

Manajemen air penting untuk diperhatikan dalam industri tambang, sehingga dilakukan suatu metode sistem penyaliran tambang untuk penanganan air yang akan mencemari sungai, danau, maupun lingkungan sekitar dengan cara pembuatan kolam pengendapan (settling pond). Adapun perhitungan debit air yang masuk pada inlet kolam pengendapan sebesar 264, Perhitungan debit air yang masuk pada inlet kolam pengendapan sebesar 264,805 m³/detik dan dengan jam hujan maksimal selama 1 jam sehingga material padatan yang terlarut dalam air tidak semuanya terendapkan. Padatan yang berhasil terendapkan dalam waktu sehari dengan jam hujan maksimal per hari adalah 1 jam yaitu, pada bulan Oktober berhasil mengendapkan sebesar 278,54 m³/hari dengan rata-rata 8,99 m³/hari, pada bulan November berhasil mengendapkan sebesar 439,80 dengan rata-rata 14,66 m³/hari, dan pada bulan Desember berhasil mengendapkan sebesar 951,82 m³/hari dengan rata-rata 30,70 m³/hari. Berdasarkan perhitungan kolam pengendapan ideal, persentase pengendapan, kolam tersebut mampu mengendapkan material secara baik. Dikarenakan setiap harinya hanya mengendapkan kurang dari 200 mg/l sesuai baku mutu yang ditetapkan peraturan daerah. Sehingga kemampuan treatment tersebut mampu mengendapkan sesuai dengan kapasitas kolam yaitu 40.000 m³.
Analisis dan evaluasi parameter kualitas batubara pada stock ROM dan crushing plant PT Jorong Barutama Greston
Authors: Meliyana Meliyana , Nurhakim Nurhakim , Noor Rudy Hendrawan
Published: January 2024

Kualitas batubara merupakan parameter utama dalam menentukan sebuah kegiatan baik pengolahan maupun pemanfaatan bahan galian. Kualitas suatu batubara ini juga dapat ditentukan dengan menganalisa parameter kualitas batubaranya baik secara fisik maupun secara kimiawi. Kualitas batubara juga dipengaruhi oleh kondisi geologi daerah penambangan, baik batubara dengan kadar tinggi, sedang, maupun rendah. Kehadiran karbon di setiap lapisan bervariasi dalam kualitas dan kuantitas. Untuk memperjelas, perusahaan memperkenalkan kontrol kualitas batubara berdasarkan parameter kualitas batubara untuk mengontrol kualitas batubara dari depan tambang hingga penyimpanan, sehingga berbagai metode parameter batubara diuji untuk memenuhi permintaan konsumen. Permasalahan yang timbul dari kualitas batubara ini adalah adanya keluhan konsumen tentang kualitas batubara yang menyimpang dari standar kualitas batubara yang telah disepakati bersama. Oleh karena itu perlu dilakukan analisis kualitas batubara di area pit, stock ROM serta crushing plant untuk mengetahui kualitasnya dan faktor apa yang menjadi penyebab perbedaan kualitas batubara tersebut, sehingga dapat dilakukan upaya untuk mengurangi atau meminimalisir kualitas batubara yang menyimpang tersebut.
Analisis faktor yang mempengaruhi efisiensi kerja pada produktivitas alat gali-muat overburden di PT Multi Tambangjaya Utama
Authors: Rizki M. Rizali , Hakim Romla Noor , Putri Karina Shella
Published: January 2024

Evaluasi produktivitas alat mekanis dalam penambangan menjadi penting karena kemampuan kerjanya menjadi pertimbangan dalam perencanaan dan pencapaian produksi. Komponen faktor yang mempengaruhi produktivitas spesifik pada alat gali muat antara lain bucket fill factor dan swell factor (faktor nilai tetap), serta cycle time dan efisiensi (faktor nilai berubah). Faktor mana yang paling berpengaruh dalam setiap evaluasi pencapaian target menjadi pertimbangan untuk penanganan kondisi yang sama. Metodologi penelitian terdiri dari pengumpulan data berdasarkan faktor pengaruh, perhitungan efisiensi dan produktivitas, kemudian membandingkannya dengan target, menganalisis faktor mana yang paling mempengaruhi produktivitas berdasarkan nilai korelasi (r), dan rekomendasi prioritas penanganan masalah berdasarkan diagram pareto. Data diambil untuk fleet PC1250 (No. Unit 5035) selama 16 hari. Berdasarkan hasil perhitungan diperoleh rata-rata produktivitas aktual sebesar 658,32 BCM/jam dengan target sebesar 670 BCM/jam, sehingga diperoleh ketercapaian sebesar 98,27%. Hasil korelasi antar variabel menunjukkan yang paling berpengaruh terhadap produktivitas adalah efisiensi (r = 0,86), dan yang paling mempengaruhi efisiensi adalah delay time (r = -0,96). Permasalahan efisiensi kerja yang diprioritaskan untuk ditanggulangi adalah alat gali muat dalam kondisi gantung menunggu alat angkut dan merapikan front (kumulatif frekuensi kejadian 100% dan kumulatif durasi 96%).
Perbandingan kuantitas batubara menggunakan metode draught survey dan UAV drone DJI phantom 4 advanced
Authors: Harsiga Edwin , Hardianti Siti , Dani Rahmad
Published: January 2024

Pengukuran kuantitas batubara di stockpile menggunakan UAV drone dji phantom 4 advanced  dan metode draught survey, dari kedua metode ini sering terjadi selisih seperti pada bulan februari,  jumlah kuantitas batubara hasil draught survey yang ada di stockpile adalah 63.541,736 MT, sedangkan dari hasil  UAV drone  adalah 62.073,119 MT, dari kedua metode tersebut terdapat selisih sebesar 1.468,617 MT. Oleh sebab itu, perlu dilakukan penelitian menggunakan kedua metode tersebut. Sisa stockpile pada bulan Februari adalah 62.073,119 MT dan batubara masuk pada bulan maret adalah 191.419,55 MT sehingga total isi stockpile pada bulan maret adalah 258.600,008 MT dengan total bedding 6.107,339 MT. Perhitungan kuantitas batubara menggunakan metode draught survey pada bulan Maret dengan jumlah pengiriman sebanyak 26 tongkang sebesar 200.895,260 MT. Sehingga sisa stockpile pada akhir maret sebesar 58.704,748 MT, Sedangkan untuk hasil perhitungan UAV drone pada bulan maret sebanyak 57.248,186 MT. Maka dari kedua metode terdapat selisih 1.456,562 MT. Faktor penyebab terjadinya selisih antara lain adanya pengurangan draft tongkang, adanya kegiatan penyamplingan, tidak dilakukannya pengujian densitas air, faktor hujan, penempatan titik ground control point (GCP) yang kurang tepat, dan proses editing yang kurang maksimal
La visita de Giancarlo De Carlo a Brasil: una lección vigente = The visit of Giancarlo De Carlo to Brazil: A still current class
Authors: De Carlo Giancarlo , Sobral Anelli Renato Luiz , Graner Mônica
Published: January 2024

AbstractIn April 1985, architect Giancarlo De Carlo, returning from Argentina to Italy, made a stop in São Paulo, his only visit to Brazil. He gave a lecture to students at a renowned architecture school in São Paulo and granted an interview to some students and young architects. At that time, the Italian architect was already recognized in Latin America, mainly for his editorial work and participation in CIAM and Team X. However, his ideas about modern architecture, participatory design experiences, and interventions in historical Italian cities were not widely known in the Brazilian academic environment and caused a certain impact among the students. The testimony was transcribed in 1985 and published in 1992 in the magazine Óculum under the title «Depoimento de um Arquiteto Italiano - Sobre a Arquitetura do Pós-Guerra (Testimony of an Italian Architect - On Post-War Architecture)». This article presents the transcription of Giancarlo De Carlo’s testimony in Spanish, with a brief introduction.ResumenEn abril de 1985, el arquitecto Giancarlo De Carlo, regresando de Argentina a Italia, hizo una escala en São Paulo, su única visita a Brasil. Impartió una conferencia para estudiantes en una prestigiosa facultad de arquitectura paulista y concedió una entrevista a algunos estudiantes y jóvenes arquitectos. En ese momento, el arquitecto italiano ya era reconocido en América Latina, principalmente por su trabajo editorial y su participación en CIAM y Team X. Sin embargo, sus ideas sobre arquitectura moderna, sus experiencias de diseño participativo y sus intervenciones en las ciudades históricas italianas eran poco conocidas en el ambiente académico brasileño y causaron cierto impacto entre los estudiantes. El testimonio fue transcrito en 1985 y publicado en 1992 en la revista Óculum con el título «Depoimento de um Arquiteto Italiano - Sobre a Arquitetura do Pós-Guerra». Este artículo presenta la transcripción del testimonio de Giancarlo De Carlo en español, con una breve presentación.
Sex Work Policy in Poland and Its Impact on the Lived Experience of Sex Workers
Authors: Ratecka Anna
Published: January 2024

This article discusses the model of sex work regulation in Poland. Officially ‎being an abolitionist one, it criminalises directly third parties, while in practice the whole working environment is criminalised, pushing sex workers into ‎shadow economy and precarious working conditions, and exposing them to ‎heightened risks of violence. At the same time, the Polish state does not provide any support programmes for sex workers. As such, it misrecognises sex ‎workers, who are not seen as workers or victims. This article looks at the prostitution policy from the perspective of sex workers’ rights. It also shows how ‎complicated sex work policy is, since the law includes contradictory rules and ‎values, which all have a negative impact on sex workers’ lives, and how these ‎contradictory rules contribute to misrecognition of sex workers, as workers, ‎subjects of rights and citizens, and to their stigmatisation.
Officer in the Line of Duty, Client, Third Party. Female Sex Workers’ Interactions with the Police in Poland
Authors: Ślęzak Izabela
Published: January 2024

The purpose of the article is to analyse the experiences of sex workers in Poland in terms of their encounters with police officers. Much as the very provision of sexual services is not criminalised or penalised in Poland, binding ‎legal regulations (criminalising third parties who organise, coordinate, and ‎facilitate the provision of sexual services for financial gain) bring sex workers ‎within the purview of the operational activities of police officers. This factor ‎sets a specific backdrop for all interactions that occur between sex workers ‎and police officers.‎In this article, I discuss the three main roles in which police officers interact with sex workers: as a client, as a third party or as an officer in the line of ‎duty. I set out to demonstrate that the disparate modes of enacting these roles ‎by police officers reinforce sex workers’ distrust and reluctance to interact ‎with the police. ‎I discuss the aforementioned issues drawing on qualitative interviews con ducted with female sex workers providing a range of sex services in Poland.
Survival Sex (Work) in Croatia
Authors: Antić Marija , Krnić Rašeljka , Štojs Brajković Tihana
Published: January 2024

This paper explores experiences of persons engaging in survival sex in Croatia. While research on commercial sex in Croatia is generally scarce, there is ‎an absence of qualitative inquires into the life stories and experiences of per sons selling sexual services for subsistence needs. The study is grounded in ‎a thematic analysis of interviews conducted with adult persons engaging in ‎survival sex across the three largest Croatian cities. It examines their life stories marked by difficult childhood and drug use, and explores the conditions ‎and risks associated with their engagement in survival sex. It also discusses ‎agency in this specific setting, pointing at possible policy implications. In ‎conclusion, the authors advocate for a more nuanced understanding of agency in this context and call for future research to be directed towards a more ‎in-depth exploration of this issue.
Politička stabilnost u duboko podijeljenim društvima
Authors: Vukojević Stefan
Published: January 2024

Ovaj članak istražuje uzroke političke stabilnosti u duboko podijeljenim društvima. Oslanjajući se na literaturu o konsocijacionalizmu i postkonfliktnom upravljanju, na slučaju postdejtonske Bosne i Hercegovine (BiH) utvrđuju se periodi političke stabilnosti i objašnjavaju njihovi uzroci. Prema široko rasprostranjenim argumentima o BiH, konsocijacijski institucionalni dizajn je preslikao i učvrstio duboke etničke podjele i pojačao centrifugalne i nacionalističke politike, dok su istovremeno spoljašnji akteri kroz svoj intervencionizam nastojali državu učiniti stabilnom i funkcionalnom. Kada su spoljašnji akteri ublažili svoj intervencionistički pristup početkom 2006. politička situacija se počela pogoršavati. Cilj članka je da se periodi političke stabilnosti objasne putem utvrđivanja uzroka nastalih u međuodnosu između spoljašnjih aktera i lokalnih elita u ograničavajućem strukturalnom i institucionalnom kontekstu. U članku se tvrdi da politička stabilnost pored uticaja spoljašnjih aktera zavisi i od toga koje su stranke u vlasti, odnosno da li su u pitanju umjerene ili tvrdolinijaške stranke.
Different antibacterial modes of plant flavonoids to gram-negative from to -positive bacteria
Authors: Yan Yu , Xia Xuexue , Fatima Aiman , Zhang Li , Yuan Ganjun , Lian Fengxian , Wang Yu
Published: January 2024

The antibacterial activities of plant flavonoids have increasingly paid a more attention to. The antimicrobial quantitative structure-activity relationship was established for plant flavonoids against gram-positive bacteria, and its major action site was confirmed as the cell membrane in our previous works. To understand whether there are similar antibacterial modes of plant flavonoids against Gram-negative to -positive bacteria, here the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of thirty-seven plant flavonoids to Escherichia coli were determined using microdilution broth method, and then the correlation between their lipophilic parameter ACD/LogP or LogD7.40 values and their MICs were analyzed. Combined with those correlations analyses from forty-six plant flavonoids reported, the results showed that there is significantly correlation between their LogP values and MICs to Gram-negative bacteria. However, it is difficult to predict the MICs of plant flavonoids against gram-negative from their lipophilic parameters like against Gram-positive bacteria. After compared the characters of two regression curves established from plant flavonoids against gram-negative and -positive bacteria, it was further found that the antibacterial activities of most plant flavonoids to Gram-negative bacteria are greater than to Gram-positive bacteria when their LogP values are less than about 3.0, but less than which when their LogP values are more than about 3.6. Moreover, different from mainly acting on the cell membrane of Gram-positive bacteria, the comparison of both two curves proposed that there are multiple action modes of plant flavonoids against Gram-negative bacteria, while among them the cell membrane is also an important action site. Combined the analyses for reported data, it was further suggested that the DNA gyrase is another important target of plant flavonoids against Gram-negative bacteria.
Collaborative Monitoring of Plant Biodiversity and Research of Sweet Acorn Oaks within Paths of Knowledge and Sustainability Education
Authors: Soddu Pirellas Antonino , Ballero Mauro , Porcu Sebastiano , Serra Giovanna , Sanna Francesco , Puxeddu Michele
Published: January 2024

Numerous studies have shown the multiple benefits of plant biodiversity and the crucial role of resident’s awareness in conservation and land management. Plant biodiversity is investigated in an analytical monitoring report conducted jointly with local population engaged in livestock activities and the young residents who are shifting toward hospitality and tourism. The study area, covering over 800 km2 in Sardinia, is half forested and has landscape interest. During the research, genotypes of Quercus ilex L. with sweet acorns and richer in polyphenols were discovered, the oldest ecosystem services in those rural communities. Collaborative monitoring focused attention on the benefits of plants in different habitats: 53% of these have been known to livestock farmers as food for local breeds of goats and pigs; 15% are officinal and 13% endemic. They have also been used in human nutrition within the Mediterranean diet, and they have landscape and garden interest. The study analyzes numerical data from a critical and educational perspective. These data serve as indicators of ecosystem health for the purpose of sustainable management policies, and attest to collaborative monitoring as a tool for analyzing human activities and the necessary balance between profit and biodiversity conservation, given the current challenging climate change conditions.
Underwater Acoustic Monitoring: A Comprehensive Approach to Enhance MFCC Robustness and Classification Accuracy
Authors: Nsalo Kong Darryl Franck , Shen Chong , Tian Chuan , Zhang Sheng Rong
Published: January 2024

Passive marine listening, involving the acoustic monitoring of underwater environments, has become increasingly vital for scientific research, environmental monitoring, and defense applications. However, the success of such applications critically depends on the ability to extract meaningful information from the often noisy and dynamic underwater acoustic environment. In this context, Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) have emerged as an essential tool for feature extraction, capturing the spectral characteristics of marine sounds and making them ideal for species identification and sound event detection. This research presents an innovative approach to enhance the robustness of MFCC-based passive marine listening through adaptive noise reduction techniques. The proposed approach utilizes dynamic spectral subtraction to counter underwater noise, resulting in enhanced signal-to-noise ratios for desired sounds. This adaptive system adjusts to dynamic underwater noise, allowing it to concentrate on target sounds and suppress interference effectively. The experimentation further validates the effectiveness of the proposed approach, with results reaching 99% on the full dataset of 570 mammals and vessels, demonstrating the effectiveness of SVM and Random Forests in the classification of underwater audio.
Antecedent of Employee Engagement Among Police Officers in Indonesia
Authors: Gananta M. , Aldhi Ian Firstian , Suhariadi Fendy , Thalib Prawitra , Nadia Fiona Niska Dinda , Supriharyanti Elisabeth , Hardaningtyas Dwi
Published: January 2024

This study aims to determine the Antecedent of employee engagement among police officers in Tanjung Perak Police Station. The approach used in this research is quantitative with survey and correlation methods. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling which obtained by respondents as many as 146 employees of Police officers in Tanjung Perak Police Station which include all the population. The data analysis technique used in this research is descriptive statistics and inferential statistical analysis. Inferential statistical analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach using Smart PLS application. Furthermore, the measurement of the model (outer model). The test findings suggest that internal and external job transitions improve capital mobility. Movement capital boosts internal employability. Movement capital boosts external employability. Employee engagement and participation are negatively impacted by perceived external employability.
They Have Always Called Us Sick: Heterosexism and Medical Inequality for Queer Americans with Chronic Illness and a Potential New Direction for AIDS Discourses
Authors: Harden B. Garrick , Favors Andre A.
Published: January 2024

HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 discourses are often compared; however, theorizing them together in terms of political efficacy and possibility is more novel. The collective of academics, activists, artists, and others–What Would an HIV Doula Do? (WWHIVDD) which for years has responded to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, has turned their attention to experiences of living with COVID-19. Through a qualitative analysis of two texts–a zine and a guide for authors writing about these pandemics–that specifically address experiences of/with COVID-19 by WWHIVDD, we examine how HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 discourses can productively be considered as chronic illness/COVID discourses that have the potential for more fruitful collective/political action and scholarly theorization of people living with pandemics.
Method for the Identification and Classification of Zones with Vehicular Congestion
Authors: Reyes Gary , Tolozano-Benites Roberto , Lanzarini Laura , Estrebou César , Bariviera Aurelio F. , Barzola-Monteses Julio
Published: January 2024

Vehicular traffic in urban areas continues to be a constant challenge today, due to the continuous population growth and the increase of vehicles in circulation. Vehicular congestion, as a recurrent problem, generates a negative impact on urban mobility and citizens’ quality of life. It is hypothesized that a dynamic clustering method of vehicle trajectory data can provide an accurate and up-to-date representation of real-time traffic behavior. To evaluate this hypothesis, data were collected from three different cities: San Francisco, Rome and Guayaquil. A dynamic clustering algorithm was applied to identify traffic congestion patterns and an indicator was applied to identify and evaluate the congestion conditions of the areas. The results show a high precision and recall in congestion classification compared to a method based on static cells.
Next-Generation HER2-Targeted ADCs for Treatment of Breast Cancer: Precision Oncology’s New Frontier
Authors: Zimmerman Brittney S , Esteva Francisco J
Published: January 2024

The HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) improved outcomes in breast cancer. Novel combinations and sequential approaches are under investigation to overcome resistance to T-DM1 and T-DXd. Furthermore, the landscape of HER2-targeted therapy is rapidly advancing with the development of ADCs designed to attack cancer cells with greater precision and reduced toxicity. Disitamab Vedotin (RC48) incorporates a HER2 antibody with unique binding epitope and a potent microtubule inhibitor as its cytotoxic moiety. ARX-788 comprises a non-cleavable linker and a novel maytansinoid derivative as the cytotoxic drug, engineered for increased stability and a higher drug-to-antibody ratio. SYD985, a duocarmycin-based ADC, is designed to be activated only in the acidic environment of the tumor, thus reducing off-target effects. BL-M0701 targets a different epitope on the HER2 protein, which might be beneficial in circumventing resistance that affects the binding of other ADCs and incorporate a camptothecin derivative as its payload. Zanidatamab zovodotin (ZW25) is an ADC that binds to two different HER2 epitopes simultaneously, enhancing the internalization and delivery of its cytotoxic payload. These and other ADCs in phase I trials hold the potential to improve outcomes for HER2-positive and HER2-Low breast cancer and possibly other solid tumors.
Usefulness Assessment of Automated Strabismus Angle Measurements Using the Innovative Strabiscan Device
Authors: Grudzińska Ewa , Durajczyk Magdalena , Grudziński Marek , Marchewka Łukasz , Modrzejewska Monika
Published: January 2024

Background: The variability of the obtained results of manual tests assessing the angle of strabismus depends on the experience, skills, and training of the examiner. The authors hope that the new measuring device will provide a more sensitive and repeatable method for detecting small strabismus angles compared to the gold standard – PCT. The purpose of this article is to present an innovative strabismus angle demonstration device, called Strabiscan, to present automated measurements of eye deviation, and to compare the obtained results of these measurements to the traditional manual method. Methods: In patients with the manifest strabismic disease (n = 30) and a group of healthy subjects (n = 30), a detailed history was taken and routine ophthalmologic examinations were performed, including best-corrected distance visual acuity, assessment of refractive error using an autorefractometer after cycloplegia, biomicroscopic evaluation of the anterior segment of the eye, and evaluation of the eye fundus by indirect ophthalmoscopy. Subsequently, each patient and healthy subjects were subjected to a prismatic cover-uncover test using a manual method, and then the presence of strabismus was detected and its angle assessed using demonstration Strabiscan device. Results: In the control group, using the Strabiscan demonstration device, small-angle latent strabismus ≤3DP was diagnosed in 83% of patients, and >3DP in 13%. In contrast, using the prismatic cover-uncover test, latent strabismus ≤3DP was diagnosed in only 13% of patients, and latent strabismus with an angle >3DP in 13% of patients. No statistically significant differences were noted in the measurements of strabismus angles made by the different methods. Conclusions: The Strabiscan demonstration device allows quick and accurate assessment of the strabismus angle. Compared to the prismatic cover-uncover test, it has a higher sensitivity for detecting low-angle latent strabismus. Measurements with the Strabiscan do not require the presence of additional co-assistants for the test.
Hierarchical Semantic-Guided Contextual Structure-Aware Network for Satellite Image Dehazing
Authors: Yang Lei , Cao Jianzhong , Wang Hua , Dong Sen , Ning Hailong
Published: January 2024

Haze always shrouds satellite images, obscuring valuable geographic information for military surveillance, natural calamity surveillance and mineral resource exploration. Satellite image dehazing (SID) provides the possibility for better applications of satellite images. Most of the existing dehazing methods are tailored for natural images and are not very effective for satellite images with non-homogeneous haze since the semantic structure information and inconsistent attenuation are not fully considered. To tackle this problem, this study proposes a hierarchical semantic-guided contextual structure-aware network (SCSNet) for satellite image dehazing. Specifically, a hybrid CNN-transformer architecture integrated with a hierarchical semantic guidance (HSG) module is presented to learn semantic structure information by synergetically complementing local representation from non-local features. Furthermore, a cross-layer fusion (CLF) module is specially designed to replace the traditional skip connection during the feature decoding stage, so as to reinforce the attention to the spatial regions and feature channels with more serious attenuation. The results on the SateHaze1k, RS-Haze, and RSID datasets demonstrate that the proposed SCSNet can achieve effective dehazing and outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods.
Ad-Hoc Mesh Network Localization using Ultra-Wideband for Mobile Robotics
Authors: Juston Marius F. R. , Norris William R.
Published: January 2024

This article explores the implementation of high accuracy GPS denied Ad-Hoc localization. There is little research on Ad-Hock UWB-enabled localization systems with mobile and stationary nodes. This work aims to demonstrate the localization of bicycle-modeled robots in a non-static environment through a mesh network of mobile, stationary robots and ultra-wideband sensors. The non-static environment adds a layer of complexity when actors can enter and exit the node’s field of view. The method starts with an initial localization step where each unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) uses the surrounding, available anchors to derive an initial local or, if possible, global position estimate. The initial localization uses a simplified implementation of the iterative multi-iteration Ad-Hoc Localization System (AHLos). This estimate was refined using an unscented Kalman filter (UKF) following a constant turn rate and velocity magnitude model (CTRV). The UKF fuses the robot’s odometry and the range measurements from the Decawave ultra-wideband receivers stationed on the network nodes. Through this position estimation stage, the robot broadcasts to its neighbors its estimated position to help the others further improve their localization estimates and localize themselves. This wave-like cycle of nodes helping to localize each other allows the network to act as a mobile Ad-Hoc localization network.
The Delta-Homotopy Perturbation Method
Authors: Huseen Shaheed N.
Published: January 2024

Homotopy perturbation and analysis methods have been widely used to obtain both approximate and exact so-

lutions to nonlinear problems. In general, these two methods are based on the Taylor series with respect to an

embedding parameter. Many researchers have compared the two methods and raised more concerns on the homo-

topy perturbation method (HPM) because the homotopy analysis method (HAM) contains a convergence-control

parameter ~: For this reason, in this article, a more general form of HPM is introduced as the -homotopy per-

turbation method (-HPM), which contains a control parameter : The introduction of parameter in this new

modication gives a better way to adjust and control the convergence region and the rate of the series solution.

We conrm through the given examples in this study that the HPM is a special case of the -HPM. The error and

convergence analysis of this proposed method are also presented
A Multi-Step Ensemble Approach for Energy Community Day-ahead Net Load Point and Probabilistic Forecasting
Authors: Ruano Maria da Graça , Ruano Antonio
Published: January 2024

The incorporation of renewable energy systems in the world energy system has been steadily increasing during the last years. In terms of the building sector, the usual consumers are becoming increasingly prosumers, and the trend is that communities of energy, whose households share produced electricity, will increase in number in the future. Another observed tendency is that the aggregator (the entity that manages the community) trades the net community energy in public energy markets. To accomplish economically good transactions, accurate and reliable forecasts of the day-ahead net energy community must be available. These can be obtained using an ensemble of multi-step shallow artificial neural networks, with prediction intervals obtained by the covariance algorithm. Using real data obtained by a small energy community of four houses located in the South region of Portugal, one can verify that the deterministic and probabilistic performance of the proposed approach is at least similar, typically better than using complex, deep models.
A Review on Geophytes Micropropagation: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Yasemin Sara , Beruto Margherita Irene
Published: January 2024

This comprehensive review scrutinizes tissue culture and micropropagation methodologies in geophytes, focusing on bulbous plants. The examination encompasses key stages, including somatic embryogenesis, bulb growth, dormancy breaking, and planting. Studies underscore the pivotal role of plant growth regulators in plant regeneration and bulb growth. Bioreactor systems for healthy plant regeneration, rooting methods, acclimatization strategies, and considerations for ex vitro survival are elucidated. The review also delves into somaclonal variation dynamics and acknowledges the burgeoning field of genetic editing, particularly CRISPR studies, as a promising avenue for enhancing valuable compound content in geophytes. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of a multifaceted approach integrating biochemistry, physiology, and molecular biology to address existing challenges and propel tissue culture protocols for diverse geophyte species.
Development of Ciprofloxacin-loaded Electrospun Fibre Yarns of Application Interest as Antimicrobial Surgical Suture Materials
Authors: Teno Jorge , Pardo-Figuerez Maria , Evtoski Zoran , Prieto Cristina , Cabedo Luís , Lagaron José M.
Published: January 2024

Surgical site infections (SSI) occur very frequently during post-operatory procedures and are often treated with oral antibiotics, which may cause some side-effects. This type of infections could be avoided by encapsulating antimicrobial/anti-inflammatory drugs within the surgical suture materials so that these can more efficiently act on the site of action during wound closure, avoiding post-operatory bacterial infection and spreading. This work was aimed at developing novel electrospun biobased anti-infective fiber-based yarns as novel suture materials for preventing surgical site infections. For this, yarns based on flying intertwined nanofibers were fabricated in-situ during the electrospinning process using a specially designed yarn collector. The electrospun yarn sutures were made of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) with different contents of 3HV units and contained ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CPX) as the antimicrobial active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The yarns were then analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry and in vitro drug release. The yarns were also analyzed in terms of antimicrobial and mechanical properties. The material characterization indicated that the varying polymer molecular architecture affected the attained polymer crystallinity, which was correlated with the different drug-eluting profiles. Moreover, the materials exhibited the inherent stiff behavior of PHBV, which was further enhanced by the API. Lastly, all the yarn sutures presented antimicrobial properties for a time release of 5 days against both gram positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. The results presented highlight the potential of the herein developed antimicrobial electrospun fiber yarns as potential innovative suture materials to prevent surgical infections.
Development of FSW Process Parameters for Lap Joints Made of Thin 7075 Aluminum Alloy Sheets
Authors: Lacki Piotr , Derlatka Anna , Więckowski Wojciech , Adamus Janina
Published: January 2024

The article describes machine learning using artificial neural networks (ANN) to develop the parameters of the friction stir welding (FSW) process for three types of aluminum joints (EN AW 7075). A total of 608 experimental data were used to build the ANN. Two types of networks were built: the first one was used to classify good/bad connections with the MLP 7-19-2 topology, the second one was used to regress the tensile load-bearing capacity with the MLP 7-19-1 topology. Selected parameters of the FSW process were used as input data for ANN training: rotational speed, welding speed, joint and tool geometry. Based on a case study, the quality of the FSW joint was assessed in terms of microstructure and mechanical properties. The usefulness of both trained neural networks has been demonstrated. For the regression network, the quality of the validation set was approximately 93.6%. In the case of confusion matrix for the test set, errors never exceeded 6%. Only 184 epochs were needed to train the regression network. The quality of the validation set was approximately 87.1%. On their basis, predictive maps were developed and presented in the work allowing for the selection of optimal parameters of the FSW process for three types of joints.
Generalization of the Standard Model. Theory of Everything (T.O.E.)
Authors: Flores Hector Gerardo , Gonçalves de Souza Maria Isabel , Jain Harshit
Published: January 2024

Here, applying the theory of the generalization of the Boltzmann constant in curved space-time, we will model the mechanism by which elementary particles are formed. We will determine the relationship between gravity and each of the elementary particles that form the standard model following analogies to that of stellar bodies. In order to achieve our goal, we will propose new models for photons, quarks and gluons; with this, we will demonstrate why there are stable and unstable elementary particles; why the first family of elementary particles forms hadrons and why the second and third families cannot form hadrons; why the fermions comply with the Pauli exclusion principle and why the bosons do not comply with the Pauli exclusion principle, etc. Finally, we will analyse the generalization of the ADS/CFT correspondence and propose a theory of everything (T.O.E.).
A Unified Relativistic Theory of Electromagnetism and Gravity
Authors: Friedman Yaakov , Scarr Tzvi
Published: January 2024

This article lays the foundation for Extended Relativity (ER) – a unified geometric approach to the electromagnetic and gravitational field and relativistic dynamics in them. We explain here the basic tenets of ER, including the influenced spacetime of an object and the Extended Principle of Inertia. These two new ideas enable a unified theory of these fields. We introduce local scaling functions for describing the geometry of a spacetime influenced by a field and construct a simple, universal local scaling function which unifies electromagnetism and gravity. We recover the full electromagnetic theory, including Maxwell’s equations. For gravitation, ER passes all of the tests of General Relativity. Despite the non-linearity of relativistic gravitation, we obtain a method of combining fields from multiple sources. Finally, we identify the differences in the relativistic treatment of the electromagnetic field by Special Relativity and of the gravitational field by General Relativity and indicate how these differences are resolved in ER.
Current role and future prospects of Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/Computed Tomography (CT) in Management of Breast Cancer
Authors: Robson Nicole , Thekkinkattil Dinesh
Published: January 2024

Breast cancer has become the most diagnosed cancer in women globally with 2.3 million new diagnosis each year. Accurate early staging is essential for improving survival rates with metastatic spread from loco regional to distant metastasis decreasing rates by 50%. Current guidelines do not advice the routine use of Positron Emission Tomography (PET)-Computed Tomography (CT) in staging of early breast cancer in the absence of symptoms. However, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that PET-CT used in this early stage can benefit the patient by improving staging and as a result treatment and outcome as well as psychological burden without increasing costs to the health service. Ongoing research in PET radiomics and artificial intelligence is showing promising future prospects in its use in diagnosis, staging, prognosticatication and assessing response to treatment in breast cancer. Furthermore ongoing research to address current limitations of PET-CT by improving techniques and tracers is encouraging.
Placental Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Prompt Assessment after SARS-CoV-2 Infection during Pregnancy—Our Perspective over a Small Group
Authors: Popescu Daniela Eugenia , Roșca Ioana , Jura Ana Maria Cristina , Cioca Andreea , Pop Ovidiu , Lungu Nicoleta , Popa Zoran Laurentiu , Ratiu Adrian , Boia Marioara
Published: January 2024

Research indicates compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission as a result of placental pathology. Background: This study offers an approach on histopathological and immunohistochemical placental observations from SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers compared negative ones. Methods: Out of 44 examined placentas, 24 were collected from patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and 20 without infection. Results: The disease group showed strong SARS-CoV-2 positivity of the membranes, trophoblast and fetal villous macrophages. Most infections occurred during the third trimester of pregnancy (66.6%). Pathology revealed areas consistent with avascular villi (AV), thrombi in the chorionic vessels and umbilical cord in the positive group, suggesting fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM). Other observed features included infarction (17%), perivillous fibrin deposition (29%), intervillous fibrin (25%), delayed placental maturation (8.3%), chorangiosis (13%), chorioamnionitis (8.3%) and meconium (21%). The negative control group revealed only one case of placental infarction (5%), intervillous fibrin (5%), delayed placental maturation (5%), chorioamnionitis (5%) and two cases of meconium (19%). Our results were consistent with literature. Conclusions: This study shows SARS-CoV-2 has an impact on coagulation, demonstrated by fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (p=0.01) and fibrin deposition (p=0.01). Further research is necessary to establish whether SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of vascular pathologies during pregnancy.