bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Syirkah Maza'arah Business Model for Economic Recovery: A Case Study of D'Durian Park
Authors: Fauji Imam , Masruchin Masruchin , Krisnaningsih Diah , Aprilia Yohana , Rahmansyah Panji
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic's profound impact on the global economy and Indonesia's growth necessitates innovative solutions. This study investigates the efficacy of the syirkah maza'arah business model for fostering microeconomic growth and accelerating economic recovery. Through a qualitative case study approach, the research examines the implementation of the syirkah maza'arah theory in the context of D'Durian Park, an agribusiness in Jombang. The park operates under a cooperative system between landowners and managers, contributing to a balanced profit-sharing mechanism. The study offers insights into the applicability of this Islamic business concept in rejuvenating economies, particularly in times of crisis, and highlights its potential for wider adoption.
Highlight:

Global Economic Impact: This study addresses the far-reaching consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and Indonesia's growth, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions.
Syirkah Maza'arah Model: Investigating the effectiveness of the syirkah maza'arah business model, the research delves into its potential to foster microeconomic growth and expedite economic recovery.
Real-world Application: Through a qualitative case study of D'Durian Park, the study demonstrates how the syirkah maza'arah theory is applied in an agribusiness context, showcasing a cooperative profit-sharing system between landowners and managers. The research highlights the concept's relevance in revitalizing economies during crisis and suggests its broader adoption as a viable strategy.

Keyword: COVID-19 Pandemic, Syirkah Maza'arah, Microeconomic Growth, Economic Recovery, Qualitative Case Study
Effect of Liquid Organic Fertilizer (POC) Pineapple Peel and Trichoderma Sp. on the Growth and Yield of Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum Frutescens) Variety Ori 212
Authors: Farabi Ahmad Al , Prihatiningrum Andriani Eko
Published: August 2023

This study aims to determine the interaction of the effect of giving liquid organic fertilizer (POC) pineapple peel and giving Tricoderma sp. on the vegetative growth of cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens) ORI 212 variety. This study uses a quantitative method with a Randomized Group Design (RAK) arranged factorially, consisting of 2 factors, namely the dose of organic fertilizer (POC) Pineapple peel and Thricoderma sp, repeated 3 times. The observation variables that will be calculated in this observation include Plant Height (cm), Stem Diameter, Fruit Weight, Number of Branches, Number of leaves, Flowering Age (days), Number of Flowers (flowers) and Number of Fruits (fruits). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (anova), if there was an effect, it was continued with the honest real difference test (BNJ). The results showed that there was an interaction effect of giving liquid organic fertilizer (POC) pineapple peel and Thricoderma sp, on vegetative growth, namely plant height, fruit weight, number of branches, number of leaves, flowering age, number of flowers and number of fruits of cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens) ORI 212 variety, but there was no effect on the observation of stem diameter.
Exploring the experience of Year 10 South Korean students’ English language learning in immersive virtual reality.
Authors: Restall Greg , Yao Yixuan , Niu Xueying
Published: August 2023

A prescribed English language textbook often directs classroom teaching practices in secondary school classes in EFL contexts, such as in South Korea. The textbook is often accompanied by multimedia resources which are delivered to students as input at a regulated pace with limited opportunities for communicative interaction or spoken output. Such opportunities are further limited in the community outside of the English classroom. Immersive virtual reality (i-VR) has the potential to situate learners in a real-world context for authentic application of textbook language learning. English teachers in the formal classroom focus on linguistic competence development within time constraints by teaching new vocabulary and grammatical items in decontextualised forms. By comparison, i-VR environments focus on learning to construct meaning in communicative events in contextualised, real-world settings based on students’ existing linguistic knowledge and ability. In a small-scale pilot study, two teachers of Year 10 English classes in Seoul implemented four i-VR language learning modules in their classes: one as a self-directed learning experience that extended beyond formal classroom learning, and the other as a teacher-facilitated learning experience within the formal classroom. Both teachers were interviewed after the two-week implementation to seek their views on their perceptions of the value of such i-VR learning for their students. Beyond the motivational and entertainment value, the teachers viewed the i-VR experience as capable of incorporating pedagogical structures using the embedded multimodal resources that is not possible in other immersive forms of language learning. Moreover, the teachers believed that incorporation of authentic conversations and interactional opportunities could further enhance the learning potential.
Gregory, S. & Wood, D. (2018). Authentic virtual world education: Facilitating cultural engagement and creativity
Authors: Tebb Jarrod
Published: August 2023

Gregory, S. & Wood, D.

2018

Springer
Communication Conflict in the Inculturation of Saparan Bekakak Custom in Ambarketawang Village
Authors: Anshori Muhammad , Ridho Ali , Amri Yasirul , Masri Muhammed Sharin Haji
Published: August 2023

In various regions of Indonesia, cultural communication disputes are frequent, and the very existence of culture serves as a symbol for preserving that culture. Differences in beliefs are the source of conflict during cultural inculturation at the Saparan Bekakak traditional event; as a result, communication issues need to be resolved for the sake of culture, existence, and sustainability. The Ambarketawang Village, Sleman Regency, residents, and the village government were interviewed, observed, and documented in this descriptive qualitative research method. First, this study found community conflicts over how the Saparan Bekakak traditional event made communicating difficult for people with different cultural beliefs. Second, differences in interpretation of the Saparan Bekakak event make cultural inculturation a problem; third, the non-verbal arguments that arise from the symbols used in the traditional Saparan Bekakak event; fourth, the village government's role as an arbitrator or communicator in resolving Saparan Bekakak-related communication disputes. The disagreement over communication will be resolved, preventing any misinterpretation of meaning and preserving the traditional culture of Saparan Bekakak.
ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF JAMU GENDONG IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE KULON PASAR COMMUNITY JEMBER KIDUL VILLAGE
Authors: Hasanah Rafiatul , Kurniawan Rivo Alfarizi , Rifa'i Mochammad Ricky
Published: August 2023

Plants have beneficial values for the people of Indonesia. Not a few of the people who use plants as traditional medicine. One traditional medicine that is still there and has been passed down from generation to generation is jamu carrying. The purpose of this research is to describe the local knowledge (ethnobotany) of jamu gendong in the community perspective of Kulon Pasar Desa Jember Kidul. This research was conducted in Kulon Pasar, Jember Kidul Village, Kaliwates District, Jember Regency. The method used in this research is qualitative, with the takeover technique in the form of purposive sampling technique. In addition, it also uses interview and observation techniques to collect data. The results of this study indicate that the people of Kulon Pasar work as jamu sellers. The jamu gendong sold includes kencur rice, keys suroh, ginger, tamarind turmeric, and sinom. Plants that are used in the manufacture of carrying herbal medicine include kencur, ginger, lock, green betel, turmeric, and tamarind. There are five types of herbal medicine from the Zingiberaceae family, two types of herbal medicine from the Fabacae family, one type of herbal medicine from Poaceae, and one type of herbal medicine from the Piperaceae family. Parts of the plant used in the manufacture of carrying herbal medicine are pulp, rhizome, leaves and fruit. Jamu carrying which has benefits to improve body health.
ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL OF VIRTUAL LAB RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN SCIENCE LEARNING WITH THE BIBLIOMETRIC METHOD
Authors: Yanti Meili , Rahayu Dea Santika , Rizal Haryanti Putri
Published: August 2023

The development of scientific fields is possible through communication between researchers. This communication can be established with a medium called the Scientific Journal. Through the media, each researcher searches for articles that have been researched on the same topic. So that they will easily update or develop the topic. This method is known as the bibliometric analysis method. Therefore this study aims to carry out the same analysis on the virtual lab theme. This is important in learning development, especially in science learning. The data obtained was in the form of many articles from the SCOPUS database, which several criteria had previously defined to capture them. These criteria are related to the year of publication, keywords and language selection. The application used in this study is the VOS Viewers application. The results show that research related to virtual labs in science learning is still very possible considering many limited lab facilities in some schools. However, it should be noted that virtual labs cannot replace traditional laboratories because traditional laboratories can give students hands-on practical experience. It is better if the virtual lab is considered as a supplementary to science learning
EXPLORING THE TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT OF PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING MODELS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS ON STUDENTS' RATIONAL THINKING ABILITY ACROSS GENDER
Authors: Sholikhah Khoirotus , Irawan Edi , Wijaya Tommy Tanu
Published: August 2023

The rational thinking abilities of students require development through effective learning strategies. This study investigates the effectiveness of a STEM-based Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model in enhancing students' rational thinking abilities, with consideration for gender differences. This research uses a quantitative approach and a quasi-experimental design. Data analysis involved the application of Two-Way ANOVA and Scheffe tests utilizing SPSS software. Participants consisted of Class VII students from MTs Ma'arif Balong Ponorogo. The findings indicate the following: (1) the initial rational thinking abilities of the experimental and control groups were comparable; (2) the STEM-based PBL model demonstrated superior effectiveness in improving students' rational thinking skills when compared to conventional learning methods; (3) no significant disparity in rational thinking abilities were observed between male and female students; (4) an interaction effect between the learning model and gender was detected, influencing students' rational thinking abilities. Specifically, female students displayed superior rational thinking abilities when exposed to the STEM-based PBL model. Conversely, no gender-based discrepancy in rational thinking abilities was observed among students utilizing the conventional model. These findings underscore the potential of the STEM-based PBL model as an alternative approach to foster students' rational thinking abilities.
Omnibus Law Sentiment and Its Impact on The Halal Certification Program in Indonesia
Authors: Efendi Mohamad Nur , Yuni K Kusnul Ciptanila , Hanifuddin Iza , Prasetiyawan Arian Agung
Published: August 2023

This study aims to determine the sentiments of scholars in Indonesia regarding research and studies that address the topic of Omnibus Law. The data analyzed was in the form of research publications related to the Omnibus Law, with as many as 60 articles spanning 2017 to 2020. Based on the analysis results, the assessment of texts related to Omnibus Law in Indonesia shows a positive sentiment of 40%, a neutral sentiment of 32%, and a negative sentiment of 28%. The optimistic view discusses the importance of the Omnibus Law, which summarizes the bureaucracy and solves the many overlapping regulations. Negative sentiment has given much criticism about the passage of the Omnibus Law, which is inappropriate, not transparent, and controversial, such as the Job Creation Bill. Meanwhile, neutral sentiment is in an intermediary position, namely discussing the positive sides of the Omnibus Law but also criticizing things that are not quite right and providing solutions and suggestions. Intellectual sentiment shows the highest positive and contrasts public sentiment in demonstrations due to disappointment with implementing the Omnibus Law. As an effort to cut bureaucracy, the Omnibus Law also discusses and regulates halal certification. The Omnibus Law's existence has positively influenced accelerating the halal certification process in Indonesia, especially targeting the micro and small business sectors. This aligns with Indonesia's optimistic mission to become the center of the world's halal industry in 2024
Peran Orang Tua dalam Mendidik Anak Perspektif Alqur'an
Authors: Eka Eka , Afendi Achmad Ruslan
Published: August 2023

Setiap anak berhak untuk mendapatkan bimbingan dan arahan yang berkenaan denganpembentukan sikap, karakter dan akhlak mulia, setiap orang tua wajib mendidik mereka berkenaan dengan hal itu agar mereka benar-benar dapat menjadi pribadi yang lebih baik. Tujuan dari penulisan artikel ini yaitu untuk menggambarkan bagaimana peran orang tua dalam mendidik anaknya dalam tinjauan atau perspektif Alqur’an. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu studi pustaka dengan mengacu pada Alqur’an, buku dan jurnal yang berkenaan dengan pendidikan anak. Analisis data dilakukan dengan reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Anak dalam perspektif Alquran dipandang memiliki kemuliaannya tersendiri, ia lahir dalam keadaan bersih, suci dan sangat berharga bagi orang tuanya melebihi harta apapun. Adapun dalam mendidik anak perspektif Alqur’an dapat mengacu pada kisah Luqman dalam mendidik anaknya yang diabadikan dalam surah Luqman ayat 13-18 yang berisi tentang bagaimana mendidik anak utamanya yang berkenaan dengan aqidah, akhlak dan hubungan sosial dengan orang lain.
Blockchain Enabled Decentralized Application for Securing Electronic Medical Records with Smart Contracts
Authors: PAKKALA RITHESH , B SHAMANTHA RAI , R AKHILA THEJASWI , RAI PRAKHYATH
Published: August 2023

The Electronic Medical Records of patients maintained needs to be ensured that privacy is preserved and must be accessible to authorized users such as doctors. Most of the health care systems use the traditional centralized database platforms for these data management; which is neither secure nor easy to maintain. These platforms can be replaced by distributed, efficient, and much more secure platforms which are backed by blockchain technology. In this work, a Decentralized application (dApp) is developed which allows users to upload and download medical data to and from the distributed file storage system. The application’s logic is written in solidity programming language in the smart contract. The application uses IPFS – Interplanetary File System, which is a distributed file storage system to store the medical records. Each file is broken down into pieces and each piece is given a hash which is stored on the blockchain. The user with right authentication has the privilege to access these hashes on the blockchain helping them in downloading the desired file. The application is tested through different nodes on the network which successfully resulted in securely storing and downloading the files from the distributed network. The results envision that the data stored in the IPFS is immutable, distributed across its network which makes it impossible for anyone to just access it. The dApp developed is tested with two performance metrics i.e. the number of transactions per unit time and the time taken to search records in the blockchain network and also the scalability issue pertaining to blockchain is also discussed.
Multi-temporal morphological analysis coupled to seismic survey of a mass movement from southern Italy: a combined tool to unravel the history of complex slow-moving landslides
Authors: Gioia Dario , Corrado Giuseppe , Amodio Antonio Minervino , Schiattarella Marcello
Published: August 2023

Impressive and large-scale slow-moving landslides with a long-term evolutionary history of activity and dormancy are a common landform in the southern Apennines mountain belt. The spatial and temporal evolution of a multi-stage complex landslide located in a catchment of the frontal sector of the southern Apennine chain was reconstructed by multitemporal geomorphological analysis, near-surface seismic survey, and DEM comparison. The Tolve landslide shows a multi-decadal evolution characterized by intermittent periods of activity and dormancy. Geomorphological evidences suggest that the initial failure of the large-scale landslide has a multi-millennial age and can be related to a roto-translational movement that evolved in an earthflow. Recent evolution is associated with a major reactivation event in the middle and lower sectors of the larger complex landslide, which probably is related to a heavy rainfall event occurred in January 1972. Recent evolution is mainly associated with minor movements in the source area, toe advancements, and widespread shallow landslides along the flank of the earthflow. Our results demonstrate the need to integrate traditional geomorphological analysis with multi-source data to reconstruct the evolution of slow-moving landslides and to identify their main predisposing and triggering factors.
Statistical analysis plan for the phaco TIp position during clear corneal Phacoemulsification Surgery (TIPS) randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kaup Soujanya , Kondal Dimple , Shivalli Siddharudha , Buchan John
Published: August 2023

Background
Cornea is the most important refractive media in the eye and damage to the corneal endothelium is one of the most common causes of poor visual outcome following cataract surgery, particularly in those with predisposing factors. The role of phaco tip position during phacoemulsification on corneal endothelial damage is ambiguous and there is no consensus regarding the most cornea-friendly phaco tip position (bevel-up or bevel-down). The objective of the trial is to compare the effect of phaco tip position (bevel-up vs. bevel-down) during phacoemulsification using direct chop technique on corneal endothelial cell count.
Methods and design
TIPS is a randomised, multicentre, parallel-group, triple-masked (participant, outcome assessor, and statistician) trial with 1:1 allocation ratio. A total of 480 eligible participants, aged >18 years with immature cataract will be randomly allocated into bevel-up and bevel-down groups at two centres. Randomisation will be stratified according to the cataract grade. The primary outcome is postoperative endothelial cell count at one month. Secondary outcomes are central corneal thickness on postoperative days 1, 15, and 30, and difference in intraoperative complications.
Conclusion
In this paper, we describe the detailed statistical analysis plan (SAP) for the TIPS trial, which was prepared prior to database lock. The SAP includes details of planned analyses and unpopulated tables, which will be reported in the publications. We plan to lock the database in July 2023 and publish the results later in the same year.
SAP Version 0.1 (Dated:28.04.2023)
Protocol version:2.0
Trial registration
Clinical Trial Registry of India CTRI/2019/02/017464. Registered on 5 February 2019;
https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pmaindet2.php?trialid=29764&EncHid=&userName=2019/02/017464
Experiment and optimization of axial air-suction roller seed metering device
Authors: Zhang Yuqian , Yang Wencai , Zhang Chengyao , Zhang Haidong
Published: August 2023

The seed metering device construction is adjusted to improve the negative pressure at the seed metering device type hole and hence the seed suction efficiency. To explore the link between the structural parameters of the seed metering device and the negative pressure of the type hole, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is integrated with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Grid independence was tested to assure the solution's dependability. The internal flow field of the seed metering device was investigated, and the negative pressure at the type hole's input was 56.71 Pa. The Central Composite Design (CCD) in the response surface method was employed to generate a more perfect negative pressure at the suction of the type hole. The diameter of the air chamber channel, the draft angle of the type hole, and the number of fan blades were employed as design factors, and the major target function was the negative pressure at the entrance of the type hole. According to regression research, the optimal point occurs when the air chamber channel diameter is 59.26mm, the draft angle of the type hole is 14.28°, and the number of fan blades is 9. The objective function predicts a negative pressure of 69.41 Pa at the type hole's inlet. The Central Composite Design (CCD) in the response surface method was employed to generate a more perfect negative pressure at the suction of the type hole. The diameter of the air chamber channel, the draft angle of the type hole, and the number of fan blades were employed as design factors, and the major target function was the negative pressure at the entrance of the type hole. According to regression research, the optimal point occurs when the air chamber channel diameter is 59.26mm, the draft angle of the type hole is 14.28°, and the number of fan blades is 9. The objective function predicts a negative pressure of 69.41 Pa at the type hole's inlet.
Valorization of xylose residues and crude glycerol for production of biopolyurethane foam
Authors: Fu Kai , Zhang Linda , Lin Yucheng , Zhang Weihong , Zhao Zigao , Chen Wei , Chang Chun
Published: August 2023

Currently polyurethane (PU) products are heavily dependent on petroleum resources, highlighting an urgent need to develop new bio-based materials. This study aimed to develop a sustainable method of utilizing low-cost and renewable xylose residues (XR) and crude glycerol (CG) for the production of biopolyols. Optimal synthesis conditions were determined to be 220 °C, 3 h, and 7% sodium hydroxide loading, resulting in biopolyols with a hydroxyl number of 505 mg KOH/g and an acid number of 1.7 mg KOH/g. The obtained biopolyols were used to produce bio-based polyurethane (PU) foams with compressive strength of 225 kPa, density of 0.048 g·cm-3, and thermal conductivity of 0.0355 W·m-1·K-1. Characterization analysis using FT-IR, 1H NMR, and TGA confirmed the excellent thermal stability and insulation properties of the bio-based PU foam. This study provides a valuable method for producing sustainable bio-based PU foam from XR and CG, thereby presenting a novel approach to realizing the high-value utilization of both resources.
Relationship Between Pentraxin 3 and Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An Observational Study
Authors: Song Song-song , Ge Tian-tian , Tong Jia-yi , Wang Tao , Xie Liang , Yu Fu-chao , Xu Xuan
Published: August 2023

Purposes:
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the expression and significance of plasma pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
METHODS:
We enrolled 90 patients with OSA and 40 patients without OSA as the control group at the same time. We measured plasma PTX3 levels in all patients. All patients underwent polysomnography and transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess diastolic function in all patients.
RESULTS:
Among the 90 patients, 23 had mild OSA and 67 had moderate-to-severe OSA, pentraxin3 levels in the moderate-to-severe OSA group were significantly higher than those in the mild OSA and control groups, with median levels of 3.68, 2.19, and 2.00ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.05). The pentraxin3 levels gradually increased with the aggravation of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction(p < 0.05). The age, systolic blood pressure, AHI, and pentraxin3 were significantly associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with ORs of 1.06 (95% CI = 1.01–1.11), 1.05 (95% CI = 1.00–1.08), 1.06(95% CI = 1.01–1.11), 2.08(95% CI = 1.18–3.66), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
Plasma PTX3 levels were significantly increased in OSA patients, and PTX3 was independently associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in OSA patients.
Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) functionalized sodium silicate for Naphtol Green B and Congo Red adsorption.
Authors: Fadimatou Ngoungoure Mandou , Fotsing Patrick Nkuigue , Mandjewil Albert , Siewe Jean Mermoz , vieillard julien , Dotto Guilherme , Woumfo Emmanuel Djoufac , Ngueagni Patrick Tsopbou
Published: August 2023

Removal of dyes using optimized and renewable adsorbent with high adsorption capacity remain a challenge. Rice husk was used as a raw material for the manufacture of a new CTAB-functionalized sodium silicate adsorbent. The adsorption capacity of raw rice husk, calcined rice husk (400, 600, 800, and 1000°C), and functionalized sodium silicate with CTAB (Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide) was investigated. SEM, FTIR, TGA-DSC and zeta potential characterized the modified rice husks. Adsorption tests were carried out using Naphthol Green B (NGB) and Congo Red (CR) as dyes. Results showed that the calcination temperature influenced the sodium silicate adsorption capacity and enhanced the effect of functionalization by CTAB at 600°C as the optimum calcination temperature. The maximum adsorption capacities of CR and NGB were 73.04 and 86.59 mg g-1, respectively, which were higher than those generally observed in the literature. The optimal adsorption condition was pH of 6, 0.1 g of Na2SiO3-CTAB, 30 min of contact time, and 303K. The desorption using a 50% acetone solution of 0.1g Na2SiO3-CTAB showed a desorption capacity of 96.21 % and 92.32 %, respectively, for CR and NGB. Desorption results show that a combination of hydrogen bonds and Van Der Walls interactions occurred. Four cycles of adsorption/desorption were done, and the desorption rate decreased to 42.23% and 13.93% for CR and NGB, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that sodium silicate modified with CTAB after calcination at 600°C is a potential low-cost adsorbent and renewable sorbent for the removal of dyes from industrial wastewater.
An Integrated Clinical-radiogenomic Screening Programfor the Identification of Brca 1/2 Carriers: a Cost-effectiveness Analysis (E-probe Study)
Authors: Pilla Andrea Di , Nero Camilla , Specchia Maria Lucia , Ciccarone Francesca , Boldrini Luca , Lenkowizch Jacopo , Alberghetti Benedetta , Fagotti Anna , Testa Antonia Carla , Valentini Vincenzo , Sala Evis , Scambia Giovanni
Published: August 2023

Importance: Current approach to identify BRCA 1/2 carriers in the general population is ineffective as most of the carriers remain undiagnosed. Radiomics is an emerging tool for large scale quantitative analysis of features from standard diagnostic imaging and has been applied also to identify gene mutational status.
Objective: To evaluate the clinical and economic impact of integrating a radiogenomics model with clinical and family history data in identifying BRCA mutation carriers in the general population. Design: This cost-effective analysis compares 3 different approaches to women selection for BRCA testing:
established clinical criteria/family history (model 1)
established clinical criteria/family history and the currently available radiogenomic model (49% sensitivity and 87% specificity) based on ultrasound images (model 2)
same approach used in model 2 but simulating an improvement of the performances of the radiogenomic model (80% sensitivity and 95 % specificity) (model 3).
All models were trained with literature data. Direct costs were calculated according to the rates currently used in Italy.
Setting: The analysis was performed simulating different scenarios on the generation of 18-year-old girls in Italy (274,000 people).
Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): The main outcome was to identify the most effective model comparing the number of years of BRCA-cancer healthy life expectancy (HLYs). An Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) was also derived to determine the cost in order to increase BRCA carriers-healthy life span by one year.
Results: Compared to model 1, model 2 increases the detection rate of BRCA carriers by 41.8%, reduces the rate of BRCA-related cancers by 23.7%, generating over a 62-year observation period a cost increase by 2.51 €/Year/Person. Moreover, model 3 further increases BRCA carriers detection (+ 68.3%) and decrease in BRCArelated cancers (-38.4%) is observed compared to model 1. Model 3 increases costs by 0.7 €/Year/Person. After one generation, the estimated ICER in the general population amounts to about 3,800€ and 653€ in model 2 and model 3 respectively.
Conclusions and Relevance: Model 2 has a massive effect after only one generation in detecting carriers in the general population with only a small cost increment. The clinical impact is limited mainly due to the current low acceptance rate of risk-reducing surgeries. Further multicentric studies are required before implementing the integrated clinical-radiogenomic model in clinical practice.
Reduction of settling time by multi-frequency pulsed parametric excitation
Authors: Ramírez-Barrios Miguel Luis , Dohnal Fadi
Published: August 2023

Introducing a time-periodicity into a system parameter leads to parametric excitation, which in general, may cause a parametric resonance with exponentially increased vibration. Applying the same parametric excitation but carefully tuning its frequencies to multiple parametric anti-resonance frequencies is investigated here. The parametric excitation is an open-loop control at the system boundary that allows for an energy flow into or from the system. A parametric anti-resonance successfully triggers an energy transfer between specific vibration modes of the system and occurs in systems with at least two degrees of freedom. Such an energy transfer increases the overall dissipation of kinetic energy of a lightly damped system. This contribution presents an approach to accelerate the mitigation of transient vibrations by applying a multi-frequency parametric excitation with two or more parametric anti-resonance frequencies. The potential application in a MEMS sensor arrangement consisting of two and more coupled flexible beams exemplifies the method. Starting from the minimum system with two degrees of freedom, the averaging method is applied to analyze the transient slow flow of the underlying physical system. This procedure allows for an analytical approximation of the transition time of a pulsed multi-frequency parametric excitation. For a specific example, a reduction of 96.7% of the transient vibrations is achievable.
Genetic causality between type 1 diabetes and arrhythmia: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Liu Yudi , Rao Jin , Hu Wei , Zhang Yufeng , Yu Yue , Wang Pei , Chen Xiangyu , Wang Zhinong
Published: August 2023

Background
Clinical studies have shown that cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are often atypical or asymptomatic. While diabetic cardiomyopathy has been confirmed, the link between T1D and arrhythmia remains unclear. To infer causality between T1D and arrhythmia at the genetic level, we conducted a Mendelian randomization study through the genetic tools of T1D.
Methods
In this study, we used genetic variables and summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and arrhythmia. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected based on the assumptions of instrumental variables (IVs). The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis to summarize the causal effects between exposure and outcome. The weighted median and weighted mode methods were used as secondary methods. We tested for horizontal pleiotropy using the MR-Egger method and detected heterogeneity using the Q-test. A leave-one-out sensitivity analysis was performed. Scatter plots, forest plots, and funnel plots were used to visualize the results of the MR analysis.
Results
In this study, we selected 28 T1D-related SNPs as instrumental variables. The IVW [odds ratio (OR) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.97 − 1.00, P = 0.008], weighted median (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96 − 0.99, P = 0.009), and weighted mode (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96 − 0.99, P = 0.018) analysis methods suggested a causal effect of T1D on arrhythmia. The MR-Egger method indicated no horizontal pleiotropy (P = 0.649), and the Q-test showed no heterogeneity (IVW, P = 0.653). Sensitivity analysis indicated that the MR analysis results were robust.
Conclusions
Our MR analysis revealed a causal association between T1D and the development of arrhythmia, indicating that patients with T1D had a higher risk of arrhythmia.
CircRNA_0044556 regulates paclitaxel resistance in triple-negative breast cancer by targeting miR-665
Authors: chen jingjing , shi peng , cui zhiqiang , jiang nan , ma jie , zhang jinghua
Published: August 2023

Background
CircRNAs have been significantly implicated in the development and resistance of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the association between circRNA_0044556 and TNBC paclitaxel (PTX) resistance is still limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of circRNA_0044556 on the biological function and PTX resistance of TNBC cells.
Methods
PTX-resistant TNBC cells (MDA-MB-231/PTX) were obtained by continuously exposing MDA-MB-231 cells to increased paclitaxel levels. First, the expression levels of circRNA_0044556 and miR-665 were measured by qRT‒PCR. Then, the regulatory relationship between miR-665 and circRNA_0044556 was verified by biological information website analysis and double luciferase reporter gene detection experiments. Finally, MTT assay, clonogenesis assay, flow cytometry and Western blot analysis were used to evaluate the influence of cell biological function.
Results
Elevated circRNA_0044556 was present in TNBC, and paclitaxel increased the expression of circRNA_0044556 in TNBC cells. In TNBC, circRNA_0044556 acts as a ceRNA for miR-665. In addition, low expression of circRNA_0044556 combined with miR-665 inhibited the proliferation of TNBC cells and paclitaxel-resistant TNBC cells while inducing cell death.
Conclusions
Our study demonstrated that downregulation of circRNA_0044556 inhibited the malignant progression of TNBC cells and paclitaxel resistance via miR-665. Thus, circRNA_0044556 may be a potential therapeutic target for TNBC paclitaxel resistance.
Photo- and pH-dually responsive hydrogel containing spirooxazine groups
Authors: 邹 钰龙 , Zou Yulong , Gao He , Su Chengdong , Wang Min , Gao Jun
Published: August 2023

The development of a low-cost and multifunctional sensing and monitoring device would be a meaningful endeavor. In this research, a novel spirooxazine with a double double-bonded structure, designated as (1-butyl-3,3-dimethylspiro[indoline-2,3'-naphtho[2,1-b][1, 4]oxazine]-5,8'-diyl)bis(methylene)bis(2-methylacrylate) (SO-DB), was successfully synthesized and incorporated as a functional cross-linker into a polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate hydrogel system. Notably, this hydrogel system based on a single responsive component exhibits photo-pH dual responsiveness, which avoids the addition of multiple components that may affect other properties of the hydrogel. Particularly, in comparison to traditional surface grafting and physical blending, crosslinking with SO-DB leads to the formation of a denser and stronger three-dimensional polymer network in the stimuli-responsive hydrogel. Under UV light irradiation, spiropyran absorbs energy and undergoes cleavage of the Cspiro-O bond, transforming the molecule from a colorless closed-ring state to an open-ring PMC state. Under acidic conditions, hydrophobic spirooxazine undergoes a reversible protonation open-ring reaction, forming a stable intermediate form (PMCH). Furthermore, the addition of SO-DB as a crosslinking agent to the hydrogel system increases its stability and fatigue resistance, and maintains good repeatability over 24 light cycles and 7 pH cycles without performance loss. Such approach to generate stimulus-responsive hydrogels could have great potential in both wearable biosensors and food packaging field.
NDR-UNet: Segmentation of Water Bodies in Remote Sensing using Nested Dense
Authors: Surekha Jonnala Naga , gupta neha
Published: August 2023

The identification and accurate delineation of water bodies in remote sensing satellite images have significant implications for scientific research and various applications such as natural disaster forecasting, drought and flood detection, and monitoring disappearing water bodies. However, this task poses challenges due to complex spectral variations caused by factors like aquatic vegetation, different colors of lakes/rivers, mud along the sand, and shadows from surrounding plants. To address these challenges and improve water body extraction from high-resolution and moderate high-resolution remote sensing images, we propose a method called D3net (Nested Dense Residual Network). The Adam optimizer is employed to train the satellite images, minimizing the associated losses. The activation function and the number of nodes in each layer are optimized to achieve the best performance. To ensure data integrity and protect the identified water bodies during transmission, we utilize the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm as a security component. This algorithm creates a digital signature for the projected area of water bodies, providing data protection. For our study, we used a dataset consisting of 5682 Sentinel-2 satellite images, including 2841 images and their corresponding masks. The masks were generated using the Normalized Water Difference Index (NWDI) for a specific geographic location in Europe. The suggested model achieves a performance IOU (Intersection over Union) of 93.27% and a recall rate of 95.60%. Additionally, the model can be applied to tasks such as edge detection, blurry image recognition, and low resolution image detection. It exhibits reliability and accuracy in its predictions, although it may require more memory due to the utilization of high-resolution and moderate high-resolution images for segmentation.
Soil Remediation, Waste Valorization and Biofuels from Cement Kiln Dust Landfills
Authors: Zeman Frank , Ghazizade Maryam , Ellis Colton
Published: August 2023

Bioenergy is viewed as a potential solution to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. A sustainable deployment will depend on targeting marginal lands, particularly brownfield and degraded lands. In contrast, industrial remediation is often uneconomical or even desirable, especially if degraded lands passively return to a nature like state. Cement kiln dust landfills, containing saline solids, are such degraded lands that can be remediated biologically. Phytoremediation uses plants to transport a pollutant from contaminated soil into standing biomass. After harvest, it can be processed to separate salt, biofuel and process water. Work showed that salt recovery was preferential for large liquid to solid ratios with little effect for longer durations and higher temperatures. Elevated temperatures require additional energy while co-leaching more biomass, thus reducing total biomass to the kiln. Repeated soaking of smaller volumes of room temperature water also led to effective recovery. A multi stage design was investigated to reduce water consumption. The three stage counter current soaking method produced similar recovery while consuming 25% less water. The product is biomass with sufficient energy density for use as a solid fuel in the cement kiln at a carbon price below $20/t CO2. Long term remediation of cement kiln dust stockpiles is feasible on the century time scale while producing biofuel for the cement plant. Each square kilometer planted can substitute 5% of a cement kiln’s fuel while returning the waste to the kiln. This represents an early opportunity for combined remediation, waste valorization and bioenergy.
Emerging Threats in Urinary Tract Infections: Unveiling Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Resistance Patterns of Developed Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases Producing E. coli.
Authors: Mansoor Noor us Saba , Dilshad Huma , Sheikh Javeria
Published: August 2023

Background and Objective of the Study:
The main aim of the study was to assess antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance developed by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli. responsible for causing urinary tract infections and to identify effective antibiotic choices in these organisms.
Method
A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in which 200 clinical uropathogenic E. coli isolates were gathered and screened for antimicrobial resistance by the Kirby buyer method and confirmation testing for identifying ESBL producers was performed by a double disc synergy test.
Results
This study shows that females (82%) and adults (50%) are more prone to such infections because of different anatomical and behavioral changes. Antibiotics such as imipenem, amikacin, fosfomycin, and tazobactam/piperacillin exhibit 98.5%, 91.0%, 84.5% and 86% sensitivity patterns against collected E. coli isolates; hence, they can be the preferred choice of treatment against UTIs caused by E. coli. Forty-six percent of isolates out of 65 were found to be multidrug resistant. Fifty-five percent (107) of isolates were identified as ESBL producers after initial screening through an antimicrobial susceptibility test and were further confirmed as 60.7% (65) isolates positive for ESBL producers and 39.2% (42) negative for ESBL producers by a double disc synergy test. A statistically significant correlation was found between the MDR/non-MDR profile and the ESBL-negative/positive profile, as its p value was found to be 0.000, which is less than 0.05.
Interpretation and Conclusion:
It was concluded that although E. coli has developed resistance against many drugs, there are certain antibiotic choices that can be considered while prescribing. Females and adults are more prone to these infections and must be sufficiently educated to avoid them.
Prediction of Porosity, Hardness and Surface Roughness in Additive Manufactured AlSi10Mg Samples
Authors: Alamri Fatma , Maalouf Maher , Barsoum Imad
Published: August 2023

Despite the advantages of additive manufacturing, its widespread adoption is still hindered by the poor quality of fabricated parts. Using advanced machine learning techniques to predict part quality can improve repeatability and open up additive manufacturing to a wider range of industries. This study aims to accurately predict the relative density, surface roughness, and hardness of AlSi10Mg samples produced by selective laser melting with respect to process parameters such as scan speed, layer thickness, laser power, and hatch distance. For this purpose, data including porosity, surface hardness, and roughness were extracted from the literature and additional measurements were conducted on additive manufactured samples in the current work. In this work, five supervised machine learning algorithms are compared including; artificial neural network, support vector regression, kernel ridge regression, random forest, and Lasso regression. These models are evaluated based on the coefficient of determination and the mean squared error. Based on the computational results, artificial neural network outperformed in predicting relative density, surface roughness and hardness. Feature importance analysis on the compiled dataset using ANN revealed that laser power, and scan speed are the most important features affecting relative density (e.g., porosity) and hardness, while scan speed and layer thickness significantly impact the surface roughness of the parts. The study identified an optimal laser power and scan speed region that achieves a relative density > 99%, surface roughness < 10 µm, and hardness > 120 HV. The outcomes presented in this study provide significant advantages for additive manufacturing, potentially reducing experimentation costs by identifying the process parameters that optimize the quality of the fabricated parts.
Periplogenin attenuates LPS-mediated inflammatory osteolysis through the suppression of osteoclastogenesis via reducing the NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways
Authors: Liu Qian , Gan Kai , Lian Haoyu , Yang Tao , Huang Jian , Chen Junchun , Su Yuangang , Zhao Jinmin , Xu Jiake
Published: August 2023

The key target for treating inflammatory osteolysis is osteoclasts. In an inflammatory environment, osteoclast differentiation increases, and bone resorption is enhanced. Periplogenin (Ppg) is a traditional Chinese medicine. It has anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects, but its impact on inflammatory osteolysis is unknown. This study found that Ppg prevented LPS-induced skull osteolysis by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines and osteoclast production. In vitro, Ppg blocked the RANKL-induced generation of osteoclasts, the development of pseudopodia bands, and bone resorption. Ppg also attenuated the expression of NFATc1, c-Fos, CTSK, and Atp6v0d2 proteins by inhibiting the NFATc1 signaling pathway. Additionally, Ppg inhibited the expression of osteoclast-specific genes, including NFATc1, c-Fos, CTSK, Atp6v0d2, and Mmp9. Moreover, Ppg also inhibited NF-κB and MAPK pathways. In vivo, Ppg reduced the number of osteoclasts on the surface of the bone and suppressed LPS-induced osteolysis of the skull. These outcomes suggest that Ppg can serve as a new alternative therapy for treating inflammatory osteolysis by inhibiting inflammation and osteoclasts.