bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expectativas sobre os preços da Economia e o crédito para investimento do PRONAF: uma avaliação exploratória
Authors: Bertolino da Silva Gabriel , Fagundes Carrara Aniela
Published: June 2024

O Programa Nacional de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar - PRONAF, no decorrer de mais de duas décadas de existência, consolidou-se como um dos programas de política agrícola de extrema relevância, devido ao número de pessoas atendidas  e ao quantitativo de recursos concedidos. Frente a sua importância para o desenvolvimento rural e em específico para a agricultura familiar, o presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar se existe alguma relação significativa entre as expectativas que se tem sobre o nível de preços da economia e a quantidade de crédito fornecido pelo PRONAF para a modalidade investimento, posto que a expectativa de inflação é um importante canal de transmissão da política monetária brasileira e tem impacto em diversas decisões, inclusive na tomada de crédito. Para tanto foi estruturado um modelo de séries temporais, que ao ser estimado por meio de Vetores Autorregressivos com Correção de Erros, gerou resultados que indicam que quando maior for a expectativa de inflação para um período a frente, menor será o montante de crédito concedido para investimento via PRONAF.
Mystery and Performance in Barry Unsworth's Morality Play
Authors: Martínez Alfaro María Jesús
Published: June 2024

The aim of this paper is to analyse Barry Unsworth's Morality Play (1995) in the light of the patterns that make up the formula of classical detective fiction. Unsworth's novel is approached as a tale of mystery and detection that advances through a series of performances devised as a morality play. The motif of performance is thus used to relate the patterns of the detective story with those of the medieval moralities, while simultaneously questioning in the end the grounds on which both of them were based.
Extended Thematic Progression
Authors: Pablo Ortega Gil
Published: June 2024

Traditional and contemporary accounts of speech acts (Searle 1969, 1979; Wierzbicka 1987) display a great deal of variation regarding the categorization of the acts of threatening, inviting, and offering as either directive or commissive. Given that these three illocutionary types include both directive and commissive features, some speech act theorists, like Bach and Harnish (1979) and Hancher (1979), has postulated the existence of a borderline category of directive-commissive acts, whose members are equally directive and commissive. My aim in this paper is twofold. First, I provide arguments supporting the claim that, in contrast to Bach and Harnish’s and Hancher’s predictions, the illocutionary force of threats, invitations and offers is not directive and commissive in equal proportions. Second, I argue that it is not necessary to posit the existence of a new ad hoc category of directive-commissive speech acts. In the light of cognitive linguistics and prototype theory, the three illocutionary types under consideration can be accommodated as just borderline cases which occupy different intermediate positions along the continuum between the superordinate categories of directive and commissive illocutions.
The Two Sides of a Single Coin: Karun Rasa and Tragic Feeling
Authors: Nagar Anupam
Published: June 2024

The paper begins by discussing the Indian idea of Karun Rasa as interpreted by Abhinavgupta, Nagendra, Visvanath, Bhattnayak, Gunchandra, Ramchandra and Raja Bhoja, and then compares it with the Western concept of Tragic Feeling as explained by Aristotle, Hume, Leavis, Schopheneur, Hegel, Nietzsche, Faguet, Butcher, Langer, Dickson, Thorndike, and Murry. Finally it is concluded that the extraordinary opinions of Abhinavgupta, Bhattnayak and Leavis are of outstanding importance in the present context.
Speech versus Writing in the Discourse of Linguistics
Authors: Robert de Beaugrande
Published: June 2024

The relation between spoken language and written language has long remained a clouded and delicate issue. Apart from the classical rhetoric of the ancient Greeks, traditional studies generally just assumed that written language was the obvious field of inquiry. As if in defiance of tradition, “modern linguistics” declared itself to be solely devoted to spoken language, especially to build upon the foundation all successes of phonetics and phonology, but found this principle impractical to sustain. The result has been a rather narrow and incomplete picture of language, deprived of due concern for intonation and prosody. The present paper proposes and briefly demonstrates a more constructive dualism.
Factores de incidencia en la percepción del docente de Educación Secundaria griego hacia la educación inclusiva
Authors: Reche Urbano Eloísa , Boli Eirini , Sampedro Requena Begoña E. , Quintero Ordóñez Belén
Published: June 2024

La educación inclusiva sigue siendo uno de los retos a afrontar por el profesorado que imparte su docencia en las aulas ordinarias, siendo la atención a la diversidad uno de los factores condicionantes del proceso de aprendizaje y del desarrollo de las habilidades sociales en la escuela. En este ámbito, los aspectos actitudinales del docente hacia la inclusión y la eficacia que faciliten la igualdad de oportunidades al alumnado son aún motivo de estudio. En esta línea se ha llevado a cabo la presente investigación, cuya finalidad fue analizar el nivel de eficacia docente del profesorado de Educación Secundaria de Grecia para atender a la diversidad del alumnado en el aula ordinaria y determinar los factores que afectan a las sensaciones, las actitudes y las inquietudes de dichos docentes para cumplir con esta labor. Este estudio responde a un diseño no experimental, descriptivo y correlacional, en el que se ha utilizado un cuestionario para la recogida de información. Han participado 339 docentes de 39 escuelas de la Prefectura de Kavala (Grecia). Los resultados revelan que estos se sienten capacitados para responder a las especificidades del alumnado, siendo los factores que median en las sensaciones e inquietudes la eficacia en las estrategias de instrucción y la diferenciación en los resultados de aprendizaje. Además, se ha comprobado que la eficacia de la participación del estudiante afecta directamente a la actitud hacia la inclusión, así como a la inquietud del docente.
Different Demand Response Programs with its Implementation in Various Countries and the Role of TOU DR in the Context of Nepal
Authors: Sapkota Madhav , Karki Rajesh , Karki Nav Raj
Published: June 2024

With the increasing trend of electricity consumption worldwide, it creates a cumbersome, reliable power system and necessitates the construction of new generator companies, transmission lines, and other infrastructures. Despite investing in new infrastructures to manage occasional peaks, utilities can use the demand response concept to effectively handle demand during such peak time intervals, and in doing so, it enhance the grid stability. This assists in balancing the supply and demand for electricity, making the grid more resilient to fluctuations, and reducing the risk of blackouts. This paper delves into the diverse DR programs across different countries and comparative analysis for finding the suitable DR method to make a more reliable electric power network in Nepal.
Determination of Motorcycle Equivalent Unit and Road Capacity: A Case Study of Selected Road Sections of Kathmandu Valley
Authors: Kasalawat Nirmal , Shahi Thusitha Chandani
Published: June 2024

The research focused on road congestion in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, caused by the prevalence of small motorized vehicles, especially motorcycles. The objective of the study was to quantify the impact of different vehicle classes on congestion by calculating Motorcycle Equivalent Units (MEU) and determining roadway capacity using speed and effective space parameters. The field data collected over two locations in Kathmandu Valley were analyzed using Speed Estimation from Video Data (SEV) software that revealed a strong correlation between vehicle speed and effective space, represented by a quadratic non-linear model. MEU values were determined for different vehicle classes, and fundamental speed-flow-density relationships were used to calculate roadway capacity. Vehicles like motorcycles, standard cars, big cars, utility, minibusses, buses, light commercial vehicles, two/three-axle trucks, and multi-axle trucks had MEU values of 1, 3.32, 4.91, 4.65, 9.22, 12.22, 6.72, 13.57 and 18.04 respectively. The study indicated peak capacities during the evening hours on specific road sections. For instance, the Gatthaghar-Kaushaltar and Balkumari-Gwarko sections reached their maximum capacities at 12,335 and 20,589 (motorcycles per hour per direction), respectively. The study emphasized the significant influence of speed on effective space and roadway capacity, suggesting further exploration of additional factors like driver characteristics, gender, age, income, road geometry, and level of service using MEU, along with the potential for developing a motorcycle simulation model in Kathmandu valley.
From Gestational Diabetes to Fatty Liver: Tracking the Journey to Prediabetes and Diabetes in Women – A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Behera Rajesh Ranjan , Kumari Manisha
Published: June 2024

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are recognized risk variables for the development of prediabetes and diabetes. Understanding the combined effect of these conditions on the progression to glucose intolerance is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies. The study aimed to examine the incidence of prediabetes and diabetes in females with a history of GDM and NAFLD, in contrast to those with only one or neither condition, and to identify key risk factors related with these outcomes.
Methods: 200 women were enrolled in a prospective observational study and allocated into four groups: Group A (GDM only), Group B (NAFLD only), Group C (both GDM and NAFLD), and Group D (control group with neither condition). Participants were followed for two years, with incidence rates of prediabetes and diabetes recorded. Baseline characteristics were assessed, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify significant risk factors.
Results: The highest incidence of prediabetes and diabetes was observed in Group C, with 60% developing prediabetes and 50% developing diabetes. Group A had 40% prediabetes and 20% diabetes incidence, Group B had 36% and 24%, respectively, and Group D had 20% and 10%. Higher BMI, family history of diabetes, history of GDM, and presence of NAFLD were significant risk factors, while healthy dietary habits were protective.
Conclusion: Females with a history of both GDM and NAFLD are at a considerably higher risk of developing prediabetes and diabetes. These findings underline the importance of targeted prevention and early intervention strategies in this high-risk population.
Recommendations: Healthcare providers should prioritize monitoring and managing women with both GDM and NAFLD to prevent the onset of prediabetes and diabetes. Regular screening and promoting healthy lifestyle modifications are essential to mitigate these risks.
Keywords: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Prediabetes, Diabetes, Risk Factors, Preventive Strategies
Designing of Project Management Information System for Web-Based OSIS Saturday Clean-Up Attendance Data
Authors: Syalsabilla Tasya , Yahfizham Yahfizham
Published: June 2024

The rapid progression of technology in today's globalized era has created a heightened demand for efficiency and effectiveness in various aspects of life. This demand is particularly evident in the management of student activities, such as the OSIS clean-up events held on Saturdays. These events, while important for fostering a sense of community and responsibility among students, often face challenges due to manual and non-systematic data management processes. We developed a project management information system to manage attendance and data related to Clean Saturday activities, addressing these challenges. This system utilizes the waterfall method, a structured approach that allows for quickly identifying and resolving issues that may arise during the management process. By implementing this system, Clean Saturday activity management becomes more streamlined and efficient, resulting in improved overall effectiveness. The outcomes of this research are twofold. Firstly, it simplifies the data processing involved in managing attendance at Clean Saturday events, making it easier for OSIS personnel to track and analyze participation. Secondly, it enhances the overall efficiency of the OSIS clean-up program, allowing for better resource allocation and improved outcomes for both students and the community at large.
PERAN AYAH DALAM PERKEMBANGAN KEPRIBADIAN ANAK DALAM NOVEL "ONE BIG FAMILY": TINJAUAN PSIKOLOGI ANAK
Authors: Fahira Kayla Fitria , Ahmadi Anas
Published: June 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan mengeksplorasi peran ayah dalam psikologi perkembangan anak, menggunakan novel "One Big Family" sebagai studi kasus. Dua pertanyaan utama dikaji: bagaimana peran ayah dijelaskan dalam konteks novel ini, dan bagaimana pengaruhnya terhadap perkembangan anak? Metode yang digunakan adalah pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif yang mengintegrasikan teori sastra dengan perspektif psikologi anak. Data diperoleh dari studi pustaka, dengan analisis terfokus pada karakter-karakter dalam novel, menurut tahap-tahap perkembangan anak. Hasil menunjukkan peran ayah tidak hanya sebagai pemberi nafkah, tetapi juga sebagai sahabat dan pengasuh yang peduli terhadap anak-anak mereka. Pola asuh yang diterapkan ayah memengaruhi kepribadian dan perilaku anak. Keluarga Yanardi-Nauval dan Sudrajat-Fahri menunjukkan pola asuh sehat dengan penerimaan dan dukungan emosional, sementara Keluarga Hidayat-Bagas dan Komarudin-Khaisan menunjukkan pola asuh kurang sehat dengan ketegasan dan otoritarianisme. Penelitian ini memberikan wawasan tentang pentingnya peran ayah dalam perkembangan anak, berkontribusi pada pemahaman lebih dalam tentang dinamika keluarga dan pengaruhnya terhadap perkembangan anak.
Case report: Immunotherapy-based combination therapy achieving complete remission and prolonged survival in nasopharyngeal carcinoma with extensive bone marrow metastasis
Authors: Wang Xingran , Yuan Ying , Zhang Yan , Qiao Guanglei , Chen Shihong , Huang Wentao , Zhang Jianjun
Published: June 2024

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma with bone marrow metastasis presents a rare and challenging clinical scenario associated with exceedingly poor prognosis. While standard treatment regimens offer limited efficacy and tolerability in such cases, individualized approaches are increasingly necessary. We present the case of a 64-year-old male diagnosed with recurrent nonkeratinizing undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma with extensive bone marrow metastasis (rTxN0M1). Treatment was initiated with immunotherapy-based combination therapy, consisting of pembrolizumab and low-dose cisplatin, which resulted in an initial response. Subsequently, there was a transition to standard-dose nab-paclitaxel-cisplatin chemotherapy in combination with pembrolizumab, followed by maintenance therapy with pembrolizumab plus fruquintinib. The patient achieved a sustained response with renormalization of tumor markers, imaging findings, and bone biopsies, resulting in complete remission. This case highlights the successful management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with extensive bone marrow metastasis through an individualized treatment approach incorporating immunotherapy.
Predicting the individualized risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection among sexually active women in Ethiopia using a nomogram: prediction model development and validation
Authors: Tesfie Tigabu Kidie , Yehuala Tirualem Zeleke , Agimas Muluken Chanie , Yismaw Getaneh Awoke , Wubante Sisay Maru , Fente Bezawit Melak , Derseh Nebiyu Mekonnen
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Women are more vulnerable to HIV infection due to biological and socioeconomic reasons. Developing a predictive model for these vulnerable populations to estimate individualized risk for HIV infection is relevant for targeted preventive interventions. The objective of the study was to develop and validate a risk prediction model that allows easy estimations of HIV infection risk among sexually active women in Ethiopia.

Methods

Data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, which comprised 10,253 representative sexually active women, were used for model development. Variables were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Variables selected by LASSO were incorporated into the multivariable mixed-effect logistic regression model. Based on the multivariable model, an easy-to-use nomogram was developed to facilitate its applicability. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated using discrimination and calibration abilities, Brier score, sensitivity, and specificity. Internal validation was carried out using the bootstrapping method.

Results

The model selected seven predictors of HIV infection, namely, age, education, marital status, sex of the household head, age at first sex, multiple sexual partners during their lifetime, and residence. The nomogram had a discriminatory power of 89.7% (95% CI: 88.0, 91.5) and a calibration p-value of 0.536. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the nomogram were 74.1% (95% CI: 68.4, 79.2) and 80.9% (95% CI: 80.2, 81.7), respectively. The internally validated model had a discriminatory ability of 89.4% (95% CI: 87.7, 91.1) and a calibration p-value of 0.195. Sensitivity and specificity after validation were 72.9% (95% CI: 67.2, 78.2) and 80.1% (95% CI: 79.3, 80.9), respectively.

Conclusion

A new prediction model that quantifies the individualized risk of HIV infection has been developed in the form of a nomogram and internally validated. It has very good discriminatory power and good calibration ability. This model can facilitate the identification of sexually active women at high risk of HIV infection for targeted preventive measures.
Variation in Grain Yield Losses Due to Fall Armyworm Infestation among Elite Open-Pollinated Maize Varieties under Different Levels of Insecticide Application
Authors: Kenyi James J. , Mengesha Wende , Abe Ayodeji , Menkir Abebe , Meseka Silvestro
Published: June 2024

Maize is an important food and industrial cereal crop that serves as the main source of energy for millions of low-income people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but its production and productivity are constrained by many constraints, among which the fall armyworm (FAW) is the major one. The use of insecticides is the most effective control measure for the FAW. However, excessive use of chemical insecticides has environmental and health implications, and it can be expensive for resource-poor farmers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of variation in yield losses due to the FAW among some elite maize open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) under two levels of insecticide application and control (0 application). In a two-year field study, 10 elite maize OPVs were evaluated under two levels of emamectin benzoate (5% WDG) applications and the control: 75 and 150 mL of spray solution per 20 L of water. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. The data were collected on grain yield (GY) and FAW leaf damage rating (LDR). The LDR was conducted on a 1–9 scale and used to categorize the maize varieties as resistant (1–4), moderately resistant (4–6), and susceptible (6–9). Significant varietal differences were obtained for GY and LDRs. The GY of the varieties under control (0 mL), 75 and 150 mL insecticide applications ranged from 3.3 t ha−1 (DTSTR-Y SYN-13) to 4.6 t ha−1 (PVA SYN-3), from 4.5 t ha−1 (DTSTR-Y SYN-13) to 6.4 t ha−1 (PVA SYN-13), and from 4.2 t ha−1 (DTSTR-Y SYN-13) to 6 t ha−1 (DTSTR-Y SYN-14), respectively. No significant differences in GY were found between the application of 75 and 150 mL of insecticide application. The relative loss in GY among the varieties under control (0 mL) differed with an increase in the level of insecticide application. The relative GY loss at the 75 mL insecticide application ranged from 18% (PVA SYN-3) to 38% (DTSTR-Y SYN-15) with a mean of 27%, whereas at the 150 mL insecticide application, it varied from 13% (PVA SYN-3) to 42% (DTSTR-Y SYN-15), with a mean of 26%. All the varieties exhibited moderate resistance to FAW, except DTSTR-Y SYN-14, which was susceptible. The varieties PVA SYN-3 and PVA SYN-13 were the most consistent in GY across the three insecticide treatment levels. The mean performance of the varieties for FAW leaf damage ranged from 4.0 (SAMMAZ-15) to 6.2 (DTSTR-Y SYN-14), from 4.5 (SAMMAZ-15) to 6.3 (PVA SYN-6), from 4.5 (SAMMAZ-15) to 6.3 (DTSTR-Y SYN-14), and from 3.5 (SAMMAZ-15) to 5 (DTSTR-Y SYN-14) for LDR 1, LDR 2, LDR 3, and LDR 4, respectively. The use of moderately resistant varieties, combined with timely spraying of emamectin benzoate at 75 mL provided adequate management for the FAW infestation and sustained high maize grain yield.
An Undersampling Method Approaching the Ideal Classification Boundary for Imbalance Problems
Authors: Zhou Wensheng , Liu Chen , Yuan Peng , Jiang Lei
Published: June 2024

Data imbalance is a common problem in most practical classification applications of machine learning, and it may lead to classification results that are biased towards the majority class if not dealt with properly. An effective means of solving this problem is undersampling in the borderline area; however, it is difficult to find the area that fits the classification boundary. In this paper, we present a novel undersampling framework, whereby the clustering of samples in the majority class is conducted and segmentation is then performed in the boundary area according to the clusters obtained; this enables a better shape that fits the classification boundary to be obtained via the performance of random sampling in the borderline area of these segments. In addition, we hypothesize that there exists an optimal number of classifiers to be integrated into the method of ensemble learning that utilizes multiple classifiers that have been obtained via sampling to promote the algorithm. After passing the hypothesis test, we apply the improved algorithm to the newly developed method. The experimental results show that the proposed method works well.
Recognition of Food Ingredients—Dataset Analysis
Authors: Louro João , Fidalgo Filipe , Oliveira Ângela
Published: June 2024

Nowadays, food waste is seen as a complex problem with effects on the social, economic, and environmental domains. Even though this view is widely held, it is frequently believed that individual acts have little to no impact on the issue. But just like with recycling, there may be a significant impact if people start adopting more sustainable eating habits. We suggest using a cutting-edge convolutional neural network (CNN) model to identify food in light of these factors. To improve performance, this model makes use of several strategies, such as fine-tuning and transfer learning. Additionally, we suggest using the Selenium library to create a dataset by employing the web scraping technique. This strategy solves the problem that many open-source datasets have with the overrepresentation of foods from the Asian continent by enabling the addition of foods to the dataset in a customized way. First, using the PRISMA methodology, a thorough examination of recent research in this field will be carried out. We will talk about the shortcomings of the most widely used dataset (Food-101), which prevent the ResNet-50 model from performing well. Using this information, a smartphone app that can identify food and suggest recipes based on the ingredients it finds could be developed. This would prevent food waste that results from the lack of imagination and patience of most people. The food recognition model used was the ResNet-50 convolutional neural network, which achieved 90% accuracy for the validation set and roughly 97% accuracy in training.
An Enhanced Aircraft Carrier Runway Detection Method Based on Image Dehazing
Authors: Li Chenliang , Wang Yunyang , Zhao Yan , Yuan Cheng , Mao Ruien , Lyu Pin
Published: June 2024

Carrier-based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (CUAV) landing is an extremely critical link in the overall chain of CUAV operations on ships. Vision-based landing location methods have advantages such as low cost and high accuracy. However, when an aircraft carrier is at sea, it may encounter complex weather conditions such as haze, which could lead to vision-based landing failures. This paper proposes a runway line recognition and localization method based on haze removal enhancement to solve this problem. Firstly, a haze removal algorithm using a multi-mechanism, multi-architecture network model is introduced. Compared with traditional algorithms, the proposed model not only consumes less GPU memory but also achieves superior image restoration results. Based on this, We employed the random sample consensus method to reduce the error in runway line localization. Additionally, extensive experiments conducted in the Airsim simulation environment have shown that our pipeline effectively addresses the issue of decreased detection accuracy of runway line detection algorithms in haze maritime conditions, improving the runway line localization accuracy by approximately 85%.
A New AI Approach by Acquisition of Characteristics in Human Decision-Making Process
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Khatibi Siamak
Published: June 2024

Planning and decision making are closely interconnected processes that often occur in tandem, influence and informing each other. Planning usually precedes decision making in the chronological sequence, and it can be viewed as a strategy to make decisions. A comprehensive planning or decision strategy can facilitate effective decisions. Thus, understanding and learning human decision-making strategies has drawn intensive attention from the AI community. For example, applying planning algorithms into reinforcement leaning (RL) can simulate the consequence of different actions and select optimal decisions based on learned models, while inverse reinforcement learning (IRL) learns a reward function and policy from expert demonstration and applies them into new scenarios. Most of these methods work based on learning human decision strategies by using modeling of a Markovian decision-making process (MDP). In this paper, we argue that the property of MDP is not fit for human decision-making processes in the real-world and it is insufficient to capture human decision strategies. To tackle this challenge, we propose a new approach to identify the characteristics of human decision-making processes as a decision map, where the decision strategy is defined by the probability distribution of human decisions that are adaptive to the dynamic changes in the environment. The proposed approach was inspired by imitation learning (IL) but with fundamental differences: (a) Instead of aiming to learn an optimal policy based on expert’s demonstrations, we aimed to estimate the distribution of decisions of any group of people. (b) Instead of modeling the environment by an MDP, we used an ambiguity probability model to consider the uncertainty of each decision. (c) The participant trajectory was obtained by categorizing each decision of a participant to a certain cluster based on the commonness in the distribution of decisions. The result shows a feasible way to capture human long-term decision dependency, which provides a complement to the existing machine learning methods for understanding and learning human decision strategies.
Therapeutic Potential of Hydrogen Sulfide in Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Sun Xutao , Wu Siyu , Mao Caiyun , Qu Ying , Xu Zihang , Xie Ying , Jiang Deyou , Song Yunjia
Published: June 2024

Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury, a prevalent pathological condition in medical practice, presents significant treatment challenges. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), acknowledged as the third gas signaling molecule, profoundly impacts various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Extensive research has demonstrated that H2S can mitigate I/R damage across multiple organs and tissues. This review investigates the protective effects of H2S in preventing I/R damage in the heart, brain, liver, kidney, intestines, lungs, stomach, spinal cord, testes, eyes, and other tissues. H2S provides protection against I/R damage by alleviating inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress; inhibiting apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial autophagy and dysfunction; and regulating microRNAs. Significant advancements in understanding the mechanisms by which H2S reduces I/R damage have led to the development and synthesis of H2S-releasing agents such as diallyl trisulfide-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DATS-MSN), AP39, zofenopril, and ATB-344, offering a new therapeutic avenue for I/R injury.
Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Antiviral Strategies of Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation during Coronavirus Infection
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhou Liying , Wu Xiaohan , Yang Shixing , Wang Xiaochun , Shen Quan , Liu Yuwei , Zhang Wen , Ji Likai
Published: June 2024

Highly pathogenic coronaviruses have caused significant outbreaks in humans and animals, posing a serious threat to public health. The rapid global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in millions of infections and deaths. However, the mechanisms through which coronaviruses evade a host’s antiviral immune system are not well understood. Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a recently discovered mechanism that can selectively isolate cellular components to regulate biological processes, including host antiviral innate immune signal transduction pathways. This review focuses on the mechanism of coronavirus-induced LLPS and strategies for utilizing LLPS to evade the host antiviral innate immune response, along with potential antiviral therapeutic drugs and methods. It aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding and novel insights for researchers studying LLPS induced by pandemic viruses.
Where Will Older Adults Reside: Understanding the Distribution of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities in Australia
Authors: Shu Bodi , Xia Bo , E Jiaxuan , Wang Xuechun
Published: June 2024

Most older individuals prefer to age in place during their later years; however, achieving this aspiration presents significant challenges. Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) represent a potential option for promoting healthy aging, both from the perspective of meeting seniors’ real needs and cost-effectiveness. This article aims to analyze the distribution of NORCs in Australia and compares census data from 2011 to 2021 to understand the overall distribution patterns and changes across the nation, by providing a localized analysis of the hotspot distribution of NORCs in eight Greater Capital Cities. The study employs methods of geovisualization, Global Moran’s I, and Getis-Ord Gi* analysis to examine the spatial correlations and clustering effects of NORCs. The results indicate that NORCs are rapidly growing in Australia, with their distribution primarily influenced by sea change and urbanization. Understanding the trends in NORC distribution can assist the government in developing effective and localized policies and interventions to help older Australians to better age in place.
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) for Structural Capacity Enhancement of RC Beams Incorporating Innovative Side Hybrid (SH) Technique
Authors: Hosen Md. Akter , Shammas Mahaad Issa , Kaaf Khalid Ahmed Al , Jumaat Mohd Zamin , Alengaram U. Johnson , Sulong Nor Hafizah Ramli , Hashim Huzaifa Bin
Published: June 2024

Reinforced concrete (RC) infrastructure is an essential part of modern civilization. However, the serviceability of RC infrastructure in extreme weather has become challenging due to the susceptibility of the initiation of cracks. Hence, the demand for strengthening and retrofitting RC infrastructure is rapidly increasing. The RC specimens strengthened with existing externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) and near-surface mounted (NSM) techniques; however, they suffered a prematurely brittle or debonding failure. Hence, the merging of side near surface mounting (SNSM) and side externally bonded reinforcement (S-EBR) methods ended up resulting in the development of an innovative side hybrid (SH) strengthening approach that is designed to overcome these drawbacks. In this investigation, six rectangular RC beam specimens were flexurally strengthened utilizing carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) with the SH technique, and then four-point bending experiments were performed to failure. The beam specimens were categorized into two types: (I) control specimens and (II) specimens strengthened with the SH technique applying CFRP varying bonded length from 1600 mm to 1900 mm. The initial cracking, yield, and ultimate load-bearing capabilities, deflection, failure modes, cracking characteristics, stiffness, energy absorption capacity, and strain on the utmost fiber of concrete, the tensile strain of major steel rebars, SNSM bars, and S-EB plates were assessed from the experimental investigation. The SH technique substantially improved the flexural performance of the beam specimens. The initial cracking load, yield, and ultimate load-bearing capabilities were enhanced remarkably by 387%, 108%, and 163%, respectively, over the reference specimen. The flexural stiffness and energy absorption capacity substantially improved by 120% and 103%, respectively, compared with the reference specimen.
Estimating the Single Shear Strength Performance of Joints Using Screws and Nails with Decayed Wood
Authors: Mori Takuro , Inoue Ryo , Tanaka Kei
Published: June 2024

To enable the long-term use of existing wooden structures, appropriately evaluating the extent of damage of the biodeterioration of structural performance, including members and joint systems, is necessary. To give one example, accurately estimating the single shear strength performance of nail and screw joints with decay is crucial. Therefore, this study proposes a method to model this by dividing wood into multiple layers with different strength performance, considering the grade of deterioration in a cross-section of decayed wood. The model was used to differentiate the sound layer and three decayed layers (multilayer) according to the extent of the damage. The estimated values, which were produced using the proposed model, were compared to the single shear strength of screw and nail joints with decay using two species of wood, namely Abies sachalinensis (Todomatsu) and Cryptomeria japonica (Sugi). The results point to a good fit between the average value of the experimental results and the estimated values of the proposed model. Compared with the existing (single-layer) model, the proposed model improved the accuracy of estimating the strength of wood undergoing early deterioration and therefore was considered usable.
Structural Characterization of Enzymatic Interactions with Functional Nicotinamide Cofactor Biomimetics
Authors: Rocha Raquel A. , Wilson Liam A. , Schwartz Brett D. , Warden Andrew C. , Guddat Luke W. , Speight Robert E. , Malins Lara , Schenk Gerhard , Scott Colin
Published: June 2024

Synthetic nicotinamide biomimetics (NCBs) have emerged as alternatives to the use of natural cofactors. The relatively low cost and ease of manufacture of NCBs may enable the scaling of biocatalytic reactions to produce bulk chemicals (e.g., biofuels and plastics). NCBs are also recognized by only a subset of NAD(P)/NAD(P)H-dependent enzymes, which potentially allows access to orthogonal redox cascades that can be run simultaneously within a single reactor. In the work presented here, a series of NCBs was prepared and tested for activity with alcohol dehydrogenases and ene-reductases. While the NCBs did not support enzymatic activity with the alcohol dehydrogenases, the observed rate of the ene-reductases with NCBs was greater than when incubated with the natural cofactor (consistent with previous observations). We obtained the structures of an ene-reductase and an alcohol dehydrogenase with an NCB bound in their active sites. While the NCB bound to the ene-reductases in a productive position and orientation for hydride transfer to the isoalloxazine ring of the flavin cofactor, the NCB failed to adopt a catalytically competent binding mode in the alcohol dehydrogenase.
Exploring Augmented Reality Integration in Diagnostic Imaging: Myth or Reality?
Authors: Lastrucci Andrea , Wandael Yannick , Barra Angelo , Ricci Renzo , Maccioni Giovanni , Pirrera Antonia , Giansanti Daniele
Published: June 2024

This study delves into the transformative potential of integrating augmented reality (AR) within imaging technologies, shedding light on this evolving landscape. Through a comprehensive narrative review, this research uncovers a wealth of literature exploring the intersection between AR and medical imaging, highlighting its growing prominence in healthcare. AR’s integration offers a host of potential opportunities to enhance surgical precision, bolster patient engagement, and customize medical interventions. Moreover, when combined with technologies like virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics, AR opens up new avenues for innovation in clinical practice, education, and training. However, amidst these promising prospects lie numerous unanswered questions and areas ripe for exploration. This study emphasizes the need for rigorous research to elucidate the clinical efficacy of AR-integrated interventions, optimize surgical workflows, and address technological challenges. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, sustained research efforts are crucial to fully realizing AR’s transformative impact in medical imaging. Systematic reviews on AR in healthcare also overlook regulatory and developmental factors, particularly in regard to medical devices. These include compliance with standards, safety regulations, risk management, clinical validation, and developmental processes. Addressing these aspects will provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in integrating AR into clinical settings, informing stakeholders about crucial regulatory and developmental considerations for successful implementation. Moreover, navigating the regulatory approval process requires substantial financial resources and expertise, presenting barriers to entry for smaller innovators. Collaboration across disciplines and concerted efforts to overcome barriers will be essential in navigating this frontier and harnessing the potential of AR to revolutionize healthcare delivery.
Development of an Underwater Detection Robot for the Structures with Pile Foundation
Authors: Zhang Wenwei , Zhu Kun , Yang Zhichun , Ye Yunling , Ding Junfeng , Gan Jin
Published: June 2024

Addressing the challenges for detecting underwater damage to the structures with pile foundation, this study presents the design of an adsorption-operated robotic system. Initially, a prototype is proposed for an adsorption-operated robot that is equipped with an automatic movement mechanism. To account for the disturbance of the drag force in the control system, a hydrodynamic numerical model for the detection robot is established. The numerical results of the drag force are then integrated into the control system, leading to the design of a force-redeemed active disturbance rejection controller. Furthermore, a novel detection algorithm based on the image segmentation network UNet is developed for the automatic identification of damages. The performance of the controller and detection algorithm is evaluated against traditional methods. The results indicate that the proposed force-redeemed active disturbance rejection controller outperforms traditional PID and ADR controllers in terms of overshoot and adjustment time. Moreover, the developed detection algorithm exhibits superior performance in precision, F1 score, and mean intersection over union compared to the traditional algorithms of FCN, PSPnet, Deeplabv3, and UNet. Overall, this paper advances the technology of autonomous robots for underwater detection in the structures with pile foundation.
A Case Series and Literature Review of Alveolar Echinococcosis in Kashmir, India: An Emerging Endemic Zone for Echinococcus multilocularis
Authors: Khuroo Mohammad Sultan , Khuroo Naira Sultan , Rather Ajaz Ahmad
Published: June 2024

A prospective study on 110 patients with echinococcosis at Dr. Khuroo’s Medical Clinic, Srinagar, Kashmir, India, from March 2019 to April 2024 identified 12 cases (4 males, 8 females; mean age of 46.58 ± 11.97 years) of Alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Two patients were detected through ultrasound examinations carried out for unrelated causes; one presented with features of liver abscess, and nine had pain in the right upper quadrant for a mean period of 2.2 ± 1.79 years. All had the liver as the primary organ involved, with 15 tumor masses of a mean maximum diameter of 9.22 ± 3.21 cm and volume of 426 ± 374.61 cm3. Tumors placed centrally had invaded vessels and the biliary tract in eight patients, and those placed peripherally had invaded the liver capsule and adjacent organs in nine patients. Histologic examination of liver biopsies or resected organs revealed necrotic lesions, calcifications, and granulomatous inflammation with slender, thin-walled vesicles of bizarre configuration that stained strongly eosinophilic with periodic acid Schiff. Two patients had segmental liver resections; one was treated with liver aspiration, while the other nine with advanced disease received chemotherapy with albendazole along with praziquantel. Patients showed clinical improvement on a median follow-up of 12 months (range 1 to 60 months); however, MRI T2-weighted images and 18F-FDG-PET-CECT scans in two patients showed active disease on follow-up at one and five years, respectively. A systematic review detected 146 cases of AE in India from 1980 to April 2024. Twenty cases were from foreign countries, mostly from Central Asian republics, and 118 (93.65%) of the remaining 126 Indian patients were permanent residents of Kashmir Valley. The disease affected a population of 79,197 residing in 22 villages from 5 border districts of the valley. These villages were either high in or adjacent to the Himalayan mountain range. Disease prevalence in the affected population was 146.47/105 (males 131.53/105 and females 163.18/105) and the incidence was 12.41/105/year (males 11.16/105/year and females 13.81/105/year). Possible causes of the emergence of AE are discussed, and future directions for research to face this challenge arebeen identified.
Short Course Antibiotic Therapy for Catheter-Related Septic Thrombosis: “Caveat Emptor!”: Duration of Therapy Should Not Be Set a Priori
Authors: Maraolo Alberto Enrico , Ceccarelli Giancarlo , Venditti Mario , Oliva Alessandra
Published: June 2024

There is a growing body of evidence showing no significant difference in clinical outcomes in patients with uncomplicated Gram-negative bloodstream infections (BSIs) receiving 7 or 14 days of therapy. However, the scenario may differ when complicated forms of BSI, such as catheter-related BSIs (CRBSIs) burdened by septic thrombosis (ST), are considered. A recent study showed that a short course of antimicrobial therapy (≤3 weeks) had similar outcomes to a prolonged course on CRBSI-ST. From this perspective, starting from the desirable goal of shortening the treatment duration, we discuss how the path to the correct diagnosis and management of CRBSI-ST may be paved with several challenges. Indeed, patients with ST due to Gram-negative bacteria display prolonged bacteremia despite an indolent clinical course, requiring an extended course of antibiotic treatment guided by negative FUBCs results, which should be considered the real driver of the decision-making process establishing the length of antibiotic therapy in CRBSI-ST. Shortening treatment of complicated CRBSIs burdened by ST is ambitious and advisable; however, a dynamic and tailored approach driven by a tangible outcome such as negative FUBCs rather than a fixed-duration paradigm should be implemented for the optimal antimicrobial duration.
Trueperella Pyogenes—Strain Diversity and Occurrence in Dairy Herds
Authors: Wente Nicole , Leimbach Stefanie , Woudstra Svenja , Krömker Volker
Published: June 2024

Trueperella (T.) pyogenes is a mastitis-causing pathogen formerly known to cause severe clinical mastitis (CM), especially during the summer, leading to milk losses and low recovery rates. Unfortunately, its transmission behavior within herds is unclear. The diversity and occurrence of T. pyogenes were monitored to gain an initial insight into the infection transmission behavior of T. pyogenes in dairy herds and to lay a foundation for following targeted investigations. CM milk samples were collected from German herds, and one Swedish farm was sampled for isolates from subclinical mastitis. All in all, 151 T. pyogenes isolates from 16 herds were isolated, identified by MALDI TOF analysis and typed with RAPD PCR. Of these, 17 isolates originated from subclinical mastitis cases. We found that T. pyogenes mastitis occurred year-round, and clinical mastitis cases were caused by multiple strains (31 affected animals/28 strains). Instances of multiple cows being infected with the same T. pyogenes strain were rare and typically only involved a small number of animals at a time. However, if several quarters of a cow were affected, it was likely the same strain. Unlike clinical infections, subclinical T. pyogenes infections, in one investigated farm, harbored a dominant strain. Additionally, we found that T. pyogenes infections tended to persist and stay within a herd for a minimum of 7 months in the same or different cows.
Fixation of Sacral Ala Fracture Using a Midfoot Mesh Plate as a Cannulated Screw Washer: A Case Report
Authors: T. Degenova Daniel , Pharis Hunter , Anderson Mike , Turnow Morgan , Spencer Peter , Mehta Vishvam , Taylor Benjamin C. , Scheschuk Joseph
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Sacral fractures are rare but are increasing in incidence among trauma patients. They are associated with a wide variety of complications, most commonly neurologic defects. Case Report: A 59-year old woman initially underwent open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for a sacral fracture, after which the patient developed an infection, wound complications, and hardware failure. The revision of the iliosacral screws proved challenging in that the standard screw and washer could not achieve sufficient compression of the fracture. Therefore, a modified midfoot mesh plate was cut to size and used as a washer to gain more surface area, achieving fixation. The plate was applied laterally and cut to cover as much surface area as possible without unnecessary bony overhang. A trans-iliac trans-sacral screw was then inserted in the standard fashion, thus allowing the plate to act as a washer. This resulted in an excellent outcome with appropriate fracture healing. Conclusion: We describe the case of an iliosacral screw revision in which a modified midfoot mesh plate was used as a washer. This resulted in appropriate fixation in the revision settings. The principles described to achieve this fixation can be broadly applied in the setting of orthopedic fractures.