bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification assay for monitoring parasite load in patients with kala-azar and post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis
Authors: Roy Madhurima , Ceruti Arianna , Kobialka Rea Maja , Roy Sutopa , Sarkar Deblina , Wahed Ahmed Abd El , Chatterjee Mitali
Published: April 2023

Background

The potential reservoirs of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in South Asia include asymptomatic and relapsed cases of VL, along with patients with post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). Accordingly, accurate estimation of their parasite load is pivotal for ensuring disease elimination, presently targeted for 2023. Serological tests cannot accurately detect relapses and/or monitor treatment effectiveness, and therefore, parasite antigen/nucleic acid based detection assays remain the only viable option. An excellent option is the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) but the high cost, technical expertise and time involved precludes its wider acceptability. Accordingly, the recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay operated in a mobile suitcase laboratory has emerged not simply as a diagnostic tool for leishmaniasis but also to monitor the disease burden.

Methodology/Principal findings

Using total genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood of confirmed VL cases (n = 40) and lesional biopsies of PKDL cases (n = 64), the kinetoplast-DNA based qPCR and RPA assay was performed and parasite load expressed as Cycle threshold (Ct) and Time threshold (Tt) respectively. Using qPCR as the gold standard, the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of RPA in naïve cases of VL and PKDL was reiterated. To assess the prognostic potential of the RPA, samples were analyzed immediately at the end of treatment or ≥6 months following completion of treatment. In cases of VL, the RPA assay in terms of cure and detection of a relapse case showed 100% concordance with qPCR. In PKDL following completion of treatment, the overall detection concordance between RPA and qPCR was 92.7% (38/41). At the end of treatment for PKDL, 7 cases remained qPCR positive, whereas RPA was positive in only 4/7 cases, perhaps attributable to their low parasite load.

Conclusions/Significance

This study endorsed the potential of RPA to evolve as a field applicable, molecular tool for monitoring parasite load, possibly at a point of care level and is worthy of consideration in resource limited settings.
A routing method with adaptively adjusting memory information based on local routing history
Authors: Kimura Takayuki , Shimada Yutaka
Published: April 2023

Finding the shortest paths for packets from sources to destinations in packet-switched communication networks is an inevitable problem in building a future high-speed information society. A routing method with memory information has already been proposed to alleviate the congestion of large volumes of packet flow. This routing method shows a high transmission completion rate even for large volumes of packet flows in communication networks with scale-free properties. However, the method exhibits poor performance for networks with local triangular connections and long distances between nodes. To overcome these problems, in this study, we first enhanced the routing performance of the conventional communication network models by using the betweenness centrality of nodes, which is one of the network centralities that measures the number of shortest paths that pass through each node in the networks. Subsequently, we adaptively changed the transmitting paths of packets by using only local information. Numerical simulations indicated that our routing method performs successfully for various topologies of communication networks by avoiding the congested node, and effectively using the memory information.
Analysis of the effects of isolation piles on the basal stability of foundation pits against upheaval based on continuous velocity fields
Authors: Zhou Yi , Shao Yu , Ma Shaokun
Published: April 2023

The upper bound limit analysis method is one of the main approaches to check the basal stability of foundation pits against upheaval. However, existing studies have often failed to consider the effects of external supporting structures, including isolation piles and others, on basal stability against upheaval. This study derives a formula for the coefficient of basal stability against upheaval under the action of isolation piles by simplifying the pile-soil relationship and systematically examines the impact of isolation pile parameters on basal stability against upheaval using the theory of continuous velocity fields and the upper bound limit analysis method. A comparison of simulation results indicates that this technique can accurately identify the variation trend of basal stability against upheaval under the influence of isolation piles and achieve high calculation precision under the operating conditions of wide foundation pits and short isolation piles. Accordingly, a moderate increase in isolation pile parameters produces a significant supporting effect for narrowed foundation pits. Whereas for wide foundation pits, the supporting capacity of isolation piles can be maximized when pile length equals excavation depth.
Data-driven evaluation of the Boston marathon qualifying times
Authors: Albrecht Laura , Ring-Jarvi Ross , Hammerling Dorit
Published: April 2023

The Boston Marathon is one of the most prestigious running races in the world. From its inception in 1897, popularity grew to a point in 1970 where qualifying times were implemented to cap the number of participants. Currently, women’s qualifying times in each age group are thirty minutes slower than the men’s qualifying times equating to a 16.7% adjustment for the 18-34 age group, decreasing with age to a 10.4% adjustment for the 80+ age group. This setup somewhat counter-intuitively implies that women become faster with age relative to men. We present a data-driven approach to determine qualifying standards that lead to an equal proportion of qualifiers in each age category and gender. We had to exclude the 75-79 and 80+ age groups from analysis due to limited data. When minimizing the difference in proportion of men and women qualifying, the women’s times for the 65-69 and 70-74 age groups are 4-5 minutes slower than the current qualifying standard, while they are 0 to 3 minutes faster for all other age groups.
How much behaviour change is required for the investment in cycling infrastructure to be sustainable? A break-even analysis
Authors: Candio Paolo , Frew Emma
Published: April 2023

Background

Active travel has gained traction among policy makers as a promising solution to physical inactivity. Returns on active travel investments, including cycling infrastructure, crucially rely on resulting improvements in population behaviours. Estimating the expected economic value that an additional regular cyclist will generate and being able to identify the behaviour change required at the population level to offset the intervention costs is important to inform future investment decisions.

Methods

The WHO’s Health Economic Assessment Tool was employed to conduct a break-even analysis. A case study methodology was used which focused on a real-world construction project of a separated cycleway in the UK. The economic assessment considered physical activity benefits, air pollution, crash risk and carbon emissions in monetary terms. An iterative computational approach was applied to identify the behaviour change (cycling) requirements, and corresponding benefits valued using international dollars, to break even on the investment costs. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess robustness of the base-case results.

Results

Over a ten-year time horizon, an additional regular cyclist (i.e., someone cycling most days of the week) was found to generate $798 (₤533) per annum (international dollars). An additional 267 regular cyclists per km were required to break even on the construction of the new separated cycleway. Estimates were particularly sensitive to variations to age, cycling volume and evaluation time horizon.

Conclusions

Policymakers planning to invest in cycling infrastructure should consider using these reproducible, order-of-magnitude estimates to complement the more comprehensive transport appraisal and budget allocation processes. This would ensure that, when considering its health-related economic benefits, the investment is justifiable on economic sustainability grounds.
A Qualitative Study on Posttraumatic Stress Response of Crime Scene Investigators
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Kim Hae Sook , Kim Bora
Published: April 2023

This study aims to examine the posttraumatic stress response characteristics experienced by crime scene investigators after conducting crime scene identification work, and their personal coping efforts. Additionally, the study aims to identify organizational support measures desired by crime scene investigators through qualitative research, in order to provide differentiated support. A focused group interview was conducted in July 2022 with nine crime scene investigators, and additional information was supplemented through phone interviews when necessary. Six main themes emerged: painful scenes, unstable daily routines, challenging organizational aspects, personal coping efforts, supportive colleagues and seniors, and psychological support systems. Based on the findings, a psychological support system for the psychological pain of crime scene investigators was discussed, divided into stages of intervention.
Understanding Marketing Strategies of Private Schools in a Provincial Town in Rajasthan, India
Authors: Meo Saheed
Published: April 2023

This paper, based on empirical study of private schools (n=35) and the families (n=105) in select localities (n=3), explores the nature and growth of diversified school market(s) in Alwar city of Rajasthan in India. It observes that the private schools execute range of strategies, both ethical and unethical at times, to influence parents to attract admissions. School strategies range from the most modern methods such as advertising through local television channels, Whatsapp and Facebook, roadside-billboards, wall-painting, door-to-door visits, etc., to the invoking of primordial affiliations such as kinship ties, caste and religious identities to reach out to parents. The schools also use promises like better English medium education, ensuring safety and security of the child, better discipline and providing coaching to prepare students to get admission into prominent government schools, engineering and medical institutes of the country as marketing strategies to flourish and sustain in competitive education market.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography-based renal blood perfusion in brain-dead donors predicts early graft function
Authors: He Weiming , Xu Yuguang , Gong Chaoyang , Liu Xiaozhen , Wu Yuqiang , Xie Xi , Chen Jiazhen , Yu Yi , Guo Zhiyong , Sun Qiang
Published: April 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify renal microcirculatory perfusion in braindead donors using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), and to establish an accurate, noninvasive, and convenient index for predicting delayed graft function (DGF) post-transplantation.Methods: In total, 90 brain-dead donor kidneys (training group, n=60; validation group, n=30) examined between August 2020 and November 2022 were recruited in this prospective study. CEUS was performed on the kidneys of brain-dead donors 24 hours before organ procurement and time-intensity curves were constructed. The main measures were arrival time, time to peak, and peak intensity of the kidney segmental arteries, cortex, and medulla. Recipients were divided into DGF and non-DGF groups according to early post-transplant graft function. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess diagnostic performance.Results: The arrival time of the kidney segmental artery and cortex and the time interval between the time to peak of the segmental artery and cortex were identified as independent factors associated with DGF by multivariate stepwise regression analysis. A new index for the joint prediction model of three variables, the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography/Kidney Donor Profile index (CEUS-KDPI), was developed. CEUS-KDPI showed high accuracy for predicting DGF (training group: AUC, 0.91; sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 92.3%; validation group: AUC, 0.84; sensitivity, 75.0%; specificity, 92.3%).Conclusion: CEUS-KDPI accurately predicted DGF after kidney transplantation. CEUS may be a potential noninvasive tool for bedside examinations before organ procurement and may be used to predict early renal function after kidney transplants kidneys from donors after brain death.
Fatness Predicts Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Profile Better than Fitness in Healthy Men A Discriminant Analysis Approach
Authors: Chahar Pradeep Singh , Singh Abhimanyu , Yadav Hari Kesh , Chahar Bhawna , Chahar Trilok Singh
Published: April 2023

Fitness is healthy and can help to reduce, but not eliminate, the negative effects of obesity. As a result,identifying variables for categorizing individuals into high-risk or low-risk groups is critical.The study’s goalwasto determine the relationship between fitness, fatness, and cardiovascular disease risk factors as well as to construct a discriminant model for categorizing individuals as high-risk or low-risk. A total of 120 in-service healthy armed forces personnel aged 25 to 49 years were randomly selected as subjects for this study and were measured for the selected fitness and fatness variables, namely cardio respiratory endurance, muscular endurance, muscular leg and back strength, flexibility, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, body mass index, waist to height ratio, and fat percentage. The findings revealed that fitness variables contribute little to CVD risk factors than specific fatness characteristics, which appear to play a larger role.Based on selected fitness and fatness indicators, a discriminant model was developed to classify subjects into high and low cardiovascular disease risk groups. The group centroid was found to be 0.829. The model validity was determined to be 80.6 per cent based on the classification matrix. Finally, the findings of the study suggest that age and waist circumference play an important role in distinguishing individuals with high and low CVD risk
An investigation of a 3D printed micro-wind turbine for residential power production
Authors: Shalby Mohammad , Salah Ahmad A , Matarneh Ghayda’ A , Marashli Abdullah , Gommaa Mohamed R.
Published: April 2023

The wind energy sector is rapidly growing and has become one of the most important sources of renewable power production. New technologies are being developed to increase energy production. This study focuses on developing and evaluating a 3-D printed micro-wind turbine system for residential electricity production. The effectiveness of using Poly Lactic Acid material for model production was assessed using the SolidWorks environment. Then, three–dimensional CFD model was developed to simulate a micro-wind turbine. The CFD model was validated in good agreement against scale physical model experiments performed in a wind tunnel. The results demonstrated that the 5-blade micro-wind turbine design was the most effective under the tested conditions, with a low cut-in speed and the ability to operate under torque up to 70 N.m. Finally, the currently available manufacturing processes for micro-wind turbines have been evaluated. Future work should evaluate the performance of the MWT system under realistic conditions in a site test to determine energy production and total efficiency
Cognition as a Driving Factor for Mobile Phone Technology Use by Public University Students in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Wasiaya O. C.
Published: April 2023

This paper examined cognition as a driving factor for mobile phone technology use by public university undergraduate students in Nairobi, Kenya. The objective of the study was: to examine the drive of cognition on undergraduate university students’ use of mobile phones. The research used the uses and gratifications theory and media technological determinism theory. The target population was 246,871 students in public universities in Nairobi, Kenya. The research design was quantitative. Findings indicated there was a correlation between extent of mobile phone technology use and cognition activities among undergraduate universities students. The research concluded that the more the need for cognition, the more the need for mobile phone technology use among university students. The research recommends to software developers that they could develop a specific mobile phone software for university students to use for cognition activities.
Development and validation wise assessment of genotype guided warfarin dosing algorithm in Indian population
Authors: Anand Aishwarya , Kumar Rupesh , Sharma Swati , Gupta Ankur , Vijayvergiya Rajesh , Mehrotra Saurabh , Kumar Basant , Lad Deepesh , Patil Amol N. , Shafiq Nusrat , Malhotra Samir
Published: April 2023

Objectives

A study was conducted to develop and validate the warfarin pharmacogenetic dose optimization algorithm considering the clinical pharmacogenetic implementation consortium (CPIC) recommendations for the Asian ethnicity population.

Methods

The present prospective observational study recruited warfarin-receiving patients. We collected a three ml blood sample for VKORC1, CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3, and CYP4F2 polymorphism assessment during the follow-up visits. Clinical history, sociodemographic and warfarin dose details were noted.

Results

The study recruited 300 patients (250 in derivation and 50 in validation timed cohort) receiving warfarin therapy. The baseline characteristics were similar in both cohorts. BMI, presence of comorbidity, VKORC1, CYP2C9*2, and CYP2C9*3 were identified as covariates significantly affecting the warfarin weekly maintenance dose (p<0.001 for all) and the same were included in warfarin pharmacogenetic dose optimization algorithm building. The algorithm built-in the present study showed a good correlation with Gage (r=0.57, p<0.0001), and IWPC (r=0.51, p<0.0001) algorithms, widely accepted in western side of the globe. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a sensitivity of 73 %, a positive predictive value of 96 %, and a specificity of 89 %. The algorithm correctly identified the validation cohort’s warfarin-sensitive, intermediate reacting, and resistant patient populations.

Conclusions

Validation and comparisons of the warfarin pharmacogenetic dose optimization algorithm have made it ready for the clinical trial assessment.
Effects of ground plane on a square graphene ribbon patch antenna designed on a high-permittivity substrate with PBG structures
Authors: BENDAOUDI Amina , BERKA Mohammed , DEBAB Mohamed , MAHDJOUB Zoubir
Published: April 2023

In this paper, a wide bandwidth (20 GHz) and small sized (200 × 200 × 50 µm3) terahertz (THz) square graphene ribbon antenna using Photonic Band Gap (PBG) substrate are investigated in the 0.6–0.8 THz band. The proposed antenna consists of graphene as radiating patch mounted on four types of ground plane. The important aim of this work is to eliminate the second resonance frequency by utilize a several types of ground plane and keep a single frequency by improving the performance of the proposed antenna. The effect of change ground plane on the performance of antenna is compared, in terms of reflection coefficient, bandwidth, directivity and radiation pattern. The antenna has achieved good gain (7.62 dB) and good directivity (6.38 dB) in comparison to work reported in the literature.
The effect of different plant extracts on the oxidative stability of microencapsulated anchovy oil
Authors: Yeşilsu Ahmet Faruk , Alp-Erbay Esen , Kutlu Sebahattin , Özyurt Gülsün
Published: April 2023

Lactose and sodium caseinate were used as wall materials in microencapsulation of fish oil by spray drying. Thyme, rosemary, and laurel extracts were utilized to enhance oxidative stability. Efficiency of antioxidant capacity of plant extracts was compared with BHT. Fish oil encapsulates with rosemary extract exhibited better protection against lipid oxidation (0.36 mmol MDA/kg) than the control group (2.92 mmol MDA/kg) at +4 °C. Hue angle properties of encapsulated fish oil with the laurel extract showed the highest change. The lowest peroxide value (PV) was detected in the 1500 ppm rosemary group (5.13 mEq O2/kg oil) and 250 ppm BHT group (5.90 mEq O2/kg oil) after the spray drying. Also, these groups had the lowest TBARs values during the storage. It was observed that the pAV of CG2 (BHT Control), RE1 (1000 ppm rosemary extract), RE2 (1500 ppm rosemary extract), and LE2 (1500 ppm laurel extract) groups remained below six during 8 months of storage. Volatile components of encapsulated fish oil were the highest in control, thyme and laurel extracts compared to the microcapsules with rosemary extracts in terms of total aldehyde generation. Sensory analysis showed that fresh fish odor was better preserved with rosemary extract compared to other plant extracts. It was concluded that microencapsulation of fish oil with sodium caseinate and lactose as wall material and rosemary and laurel extracts as antioxidants enhanced the oxidative stability of the microcapsules.
Differences in venous, capillary and interstitial glucose concentrations in individuals without diabetes after glucose load
Authors: Pleus Stefan , Schauer Sebastian , Baumstark Annette , Beil Alexandra , Jendrike Nina , Link Manuela , Zschornack Eva , Beltzer Anne , Haug Cornelia , Freckmann Guido
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Differences between capillary and venous glucose concentrations have been reported in the past. In continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system performance studies, comparator measurements are often performed in venous samples, despite CGM systems typically aiming at providing capillary-like values. In this study, differences between venous, capillary and interstitial glucose concentrations, measured with a laboratory analyzer, a self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) system and an intermittent-scanning CGM system were investigated in subjects without diabetes after glucose load.

Methods

During the study, an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) was performed with 41 participants who had no known history of diabetes (mean age 25.5 ± 9.7 years). Venous blood samples for measurement with a laboratory analyzer were collected before drinking the standardized 75 g glucose solution and after 60 and 120 min. In parallel, capillary blood was obtained for measurement with a laboratory analyzer and an SMBG system, and interstitial glucose values were measured with an intermittent-scanning CGM system.

Results

Glucose concentrations in the fasting state were slightly different for the three different compartments whereas considerable differences (some median differences exceeding 30 %) in glucose concentration were observed 60 and 120 min after the start of the oGTT.

Conclusions

Marked differences with a high inter-individual variability between venous, capillary, and interstitial fluid glucose concentrations were found especially after glucose load. These differences can affect perceived CGM accuracy in performance studies depending on the specific comparator method used, and they are potentially relevant in clinical practice, like diabetes diagnosis.
Photoprotection strategies with antioxidant extracts: a new vision
Authors: Ayad Radia , Lefahal Mostefa , Makhloufi El Hani , Akkal Salah
Published: April 2023

The most harmful to biological compounds is ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun. UVC rays (100–280 nm) are extremely harmful to the skin. Fortunately, it is primarily absorbed in the earth’s troposphere by molecular oxygen and ozone. Although UVB (290–320 nm) accounts for only about 5 % of terrestrial UVR, its effects are typically much stronger than those of UVA (320–400 nm). UVR’s clinical effects on normal-appearing human skin can include erythema, pigmentation, suppression of acquired immunity and enhancement of innate immunity, all caused by UVB, and blood pressure reduction caused by UVA. Long-term effects include photocarcinogenesis and photoaging. All of these effects are supported by molecular or cellular effects such as DNA damage, ROS generation, melanogenesis, and the expression of numerous genes and related proteins. The use of sunscreen and avoiding prolonged sun exposure are the first lines of defense in photoprotection. Sunscreens with the appropriate SPF and protection spectrum are now the mainstay of many studies on UV damage. A variety of novel strategies for developing better sunscreens have been proposed. It has been proposed that incorporating antioxidant phenolic extracts into sunscreens can provide additional photoprotective qualities and provide greater protection by replenishing the skin’s natural reservoirs. Thus, the goal of this study was to look into the use of antioxidant extracts from medicinal plants in sunscreens and cosmetic formulations to boost photoprotection, with a particular emphasis on green extraction of these antioxidants from their complex matrices.
SIMULATION OF THE SEGMENT FILLING INSERTION FABRICS AT THE YARN LEVEL
Authors: FANG JIAHUI , KYOSEV YORDAN KONSTADINOV , LI YULING , MA YANXUE
Published: April 2023

Fabrics with segment filling insertion are finding application in several traditional luxurious textiles, clothing, and in the latest time as well for smart textiles. Segment filling allows the integration of conductive yarns for contacting areas, keeping the textile character of the structures. This work presents a method for 3D modeling woven structures with segment filling at the yarn level. The pattern image is analyzed by an image processing tool, written in Python, and used to create the initial weaving information. After that, the different regions are filled with suitable preselected weave types, such as plain, twill, or others. Finally, this data is used to compute the 3D coordinates of the weft and warp yarns, and saved in a suitable format. The 3D visualization is done by the TexMind Viewer, which allows its advanced version export in various formats for FEM, CFD, and other computations.
INTELLIGENT TEXTILE AND FIBER REINFORCED MPC COMPOSITES FOR SHM
Authors: YOSEF LIDOR , GOLDFEL YISKA
Published: April 2023

This study develops novel intelligent composite structural elements combining three advanced technologies: magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) matrix, smart-self sensory carbon-based textile reinforcement system, and additive short-dispersed fibers. In such system, the carbon rovings simultaneously serve as the main reinforcement system and the sensory agent. The material properties of the MPC matrix include minimization of environmental effects, high flexural strength and enhanced rheological properties which is an advantage in textile reinforcement system. From the sensory point of view, MPC is electrically insulated matrix which enhances the measured electrical signal from the carbon rovings. Experimental investigation demonstrates the advanced capabilities of the new hybrid structures. The investigation compares between the structural and electrical responses of textile reinforced MPC elements and TRC elements under flexural loading. The structural-electrical correlation enables to further explore new composite configurations and to develop enhanced smart self-sensory systems. The study demonstrates that by merging MPC mixture with textile and fiber reinforcement systems, it is possible to design and construct thin-walled, elements with advanced structural and self-sensing capabilities.
FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ELECTROSPUN ANTHOCYANIN-LOADED POLYLACTIDE NANOFIBERS
Authors: PALAK HANDAN , KAYAOGLU BURÇAK KARAGÜZEL
Published: April 2023

In this study, morphological, chemical and thermal characteristics of biobased and biodegradable anthocyanin-loaded polylactide (PLA) nanofibrous membranes were investigated. To prepare electrospinning solutions, PLA was dissolved at a concentration of 10% (wv-1) in a solvent system of chloroform/dimethylformamide (75/25% vv-1), and anthocyanin at different concentrations (1, 2, and 3% wv−1) was added into the polymer solutions. The prepared solutions were electrospun by using a single syringe electrospinning setup. The morphological, chemical and thermal structure of the neat and anthocyanin-loaded PLA nanofibrous membranes were characterized via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The FT-IR spectra proved the incorporation of anthocyanin into nanofibrous membranes successfully. It was observed that when anthocyanin was added into the polymer solution; bead-free nanofibers were produced, and when the concentration of anthocyanin was increased, mean fiber diameter increased as well. In addition, anthocyanin loading did not affect the crystallization behavior of PLA; however, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the nanofibrous membranes including no anthocyanin in the structure was higher than those of the other membranes including anthocyanin.
IMPROVING LOCAL THERMAL COMFORT IN BUILDINGS: A STUDY OF PROPERTIES OF HEATING TEXTILE COMPOSITES IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Authors: KANIA ANNA , BARBURSKI MARCIN
Published: April 2023

The focus of this study is to analyze heating and insulating properties of textiles utilized in the construction industry. Research regarding textile heating composites typically centers around their use in the fashion industry and personal thermal comfort. Therefore, the study focuses on the application of textile heating composites as a method for improving the local thermal comfort of the user. The aim of this project was to analyze and describe the heating and insulating properties of electroconductive yarns and insulating textiles used in the construction industry. This goal was achieved by building physical samples that underwent heating tests. The next step was to compare the examined properties and select the best combination of yarn and fabric, which was then tested in the target environment. It was concluded that the best heating results are achieved with steel thread embroidered on fiberglass mesh and combined with extruded polystyrene that can be used to improve the local thermal comfort of the user.
DESIGN AND INVESTIGATION THE OPERATION OF TEXTILE BASED ELECTRODES FOR ELECTROTHERAPY
Authors: AGHADAVOOD ROYA , SHAHBAZ ZAHRA , KHEIRI TAHEREH , SHANBEH MOHSEN , MARTINEK RADEK
Published: April 2023

Electrostimulation is a way of treatment various nerve and muscle injuries as well as acute and chronic pain conditions. The electrotherapy which is increasingly used in physiotherapy, muscle is exposed to an electrical pulse in order to activate excitable tissue using external electrodes with the aim of building muscle strength, enhancement healing, improvement in patient’s mobility or reducing painTextile based electrodes are significantly noticed in the aspects of being flexible and re-usable and no needs of hydrogels, thereby avoiding skin irritation and allergic reactions and enhancing user comfort. This article presents a kind of textile based electrodes made of conductive yarns containing stainless steel/plyester blend fiber. The embroidery technique was used to prepare the textile based electrodes.Samples were examined on 10 people with pain in their bodies in a hospital without being moisturised. The purpose of this study is to asses the performance of 3 different textile based electrodes, considering the conductivity of the yarns which have been used to produce textile based electrodes, the usfulness of them for electrotherapy and comparing them with rubber electrodes commonly are used in clinics regularly.
CHITOSAN ADDED COMPOSITE VISCOSE YARN AND ITS POTENTIAL APPLICATION FOR DENIM FABRIC DEVELOPMENT
Authors: KORKMAZ AHMET , BABAARSLAN OSMAN
Published: April 2023

The rapid increase in consumption has led to the decrease and even extinction of natural resources on earth. The textile industry also has an important place in terms of consumption. The transition to more sustainable biodegradable products instead of established fossil-based materials has increased rapidly due to textile manufacturers and related industries, legal regulations, social responsibility commitments and increasing ecological awareness of customers. Developing new environmentally friendly, biodegradable material groups with new technologies or by modifying existing technologies has been the main goal of many researchers. In this context, we aimed to develop denim fabric that is effective against strong hospital bacteria by using the yarn containing biopolymer chitosan as a weft in denim production. Chitosan finds wide application in the textile industry due to its biodegradability, antibacterial activity and many more functionalities. Chitosan is used in biomedical textile applications in the textile industry, either as a wound healing, hemostatic (blood stopper), antibacterial, antifungal, either alone or modified to various derivatives or combined with other materials. In this context, instead of using chitosan as a coating material in our studies, chitosan-containing yarn was used in the production of denim fabric in order to distribute the chitosan more homogeneously and to increase the washing resistance. As a result, it was determined that the denim fabric developed by using chitosan-based yarn in weft in denim production reduces hospital bacteria (MRSA-Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) by > 99%.
POLYACRYLONITRILE NONWOVENS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CARBON MATERIALS SUPPORTING THE REGENERATION OF BONE AND CARTILAGE TISSUES
Authors: BOGUŃ MACIEJ , ŚLEDZIŃSKA KATARZYNA , GIEŁDOWSKA MAŁGORZATA , KRÓL PAULINA , KAMIŃSKA IRENA , MAGDZIARZ SYLWIA
Published: April 2023

The influence of the change in surface weight on the physical properties of oxidized polyacrylonitrile precursor nonwovens intended for the production of carbon materials used in tissue engineering was studied. Thermal insulation properties of the nonwovens and their behavior during incubation in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were investigated. Initial carbonization tests showed that from the point of view of carbonization and further application of carbon materials, the most effective was the use of a surface weight of about 120 g/m2. At the same time, for the research conducted on the incubation of nonwovens in PBS, no significant change in the pH of the solution was found.
SURFACE ROUGHNESS OF POLYAMIDE KNITTED FABRICS
Authors: TOMOVSKA ELENA , HES LUBOS
Published: April 2023

Fabrics are never ideally smooth. Their texture varies between fine and coarse, quantified through the surface’s vertical deviation. Fabric roughness, or its opposite smoothness, is employed as measure of the surface texture of fabrics. In general, texture depends upon fiber properties, yarn count, yarn twist, and fabric structure and fabric design). This research aims to determine the limitations in visual perception of surface roughness in comparison to objective surface roughness measurements of low weight polyamide fabrics. Subjective evaluation is used for the visual assessment, while instrumental measurement of the properties was conducted using a noncontact laser profilometer. Subjective evaluation was conducted by a panel of forty untrained evaluators on a sample of seven polyamide knitted fabrics with different yarn count and composition. The roughness profile parameters were measured using Talysurf CLI 500 according to ISO 4827. Although the surface roughness measured as arithmetic mean deviation (Ra) and roughness through visual inspection of the fabric are correlated, instrumental measurements of roughness are more precise. Differences in the surface roughness arising from significantly different yarn structures will be observed, while those due to the knitted fabric structure are negligible in visual inspection.
The 10 Elements of Agroecology interconnected: Making them operational in FAO’s work on agroecology
Authors: Bicksler Abram J. , Mottet Anne , Lucantoni Dario , Sy Mouhamed Rassoul , Barrios Edmundo
Published: April 2023

Since 2014, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has played a leading role in facilitating agroecology discussions and dialogues among many different regions and stakeholders. FAO’s engagement with agroecology as one promising way of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was confirmed in 2018 with the launch of the Scaling Up Agroecology Initiative. FAO’s function is of a dual but interconnected nature: that of normative operational work. This is reflected in FAO’s work on agroecology, which combines the normative and operational aspects to create synergies through their linkages, thus creating a policy bridge for transformation. Undergirding this work is the framework of the 10 Elements of Agroecology, which was approved by FAO Governing Bodies in November 2019 and has been expanded to include its use in visual narratives to describe plausible theories of change to facilitate food systems transformation. The 10 Elements serve as the foundation for the normative and operational aspects of the Scaling Up Agroecology Initiative (SUAI), which include various tools, knowledge pieces, projects, policy initiatives, and sharing platforms. Nowhere is this foundation of the 10 Elements clearer than in the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE), a tool for assessing the multidimensional performance of agroecology. TAPE relies upon the 10 Elements to characterize the level of agroecological transition of production systems in agriculture at scale and in time. Upon this snapshot of transition, criteria of quantitative performance are assessed. Recent utilization of TAPE across the globe has strongly shown how TAPE can help actors make data-driven decisions to elicit transformational change at all levels of the territory, when it is linked to the other aspects of the SUAI underpinned by the 10 Elements, thus effectively bridging policy and praxis.
A tale of two Hippo pathway modules
Authors: Han Han , Wang Wenqi
Published: April 2023

The Hippo pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway with crucial roles in development, organ size control, tissue homeostasis and cancer. Over two decades of research have elucidated the core Hippo pathway kinase cascade, but its precise organization has not been fully understood. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Qi et al (2023) report a new model of two modules for the Hippo kinase cascade, providing new insights into this long‐standing question.
Female infertility from oocyte maturation arrest: assembling the genetic puzzle
Authors: Ding Xinbao , Schimenti John C
Published: April 2023

Assisted reproduction procedures often encounter an issue called oocyte maturation arrest (OMA), which is manifested as failed IVF/ICSI attempts using oocytes from some infertile women. In this issue of EMBO Molecular Medicine, Wang et al identify infertile women bearing novel DNA sequence variants in a gene called PABPC1L, which is essential for translation of maternal mRNAs. By conducting a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, they demonstrated certain variants as being causal for OMA, confirming a conserved requirement for PABPC1L in human oocyte maturation. This study offers a promising therapeutic target for treating OMA patients.
VIVIR CON DIGNIDAD EL PROCESO DE LA MUERTE: UNA MIRADA DESDE EL BIODERECHO
Authors: Araya Gonzáles María De los Ángeles
Published: April 2023

El presente artículo pretende compartir algunos aspectos sobre el aporte del bioderecho con respecto al derecho humano de morir dignamente. Busca abrir un espacio de reflexión, el cual permita percibir el desafío que implica regular la acción humana en la búsqueda de un campo común, para dilucidar el quehacer ante las situaciones del final de la vida. La contribución del bioderecho en este accionar es fundamental, ya que, como rama del derecho, representa una forma de comprender y resolver los conflictos planteados por la era moderna sobre el derecho que tiene todo ser humano a morir dignamente. En primera instancia, texto intenta explicar el origen y significado de algunos términos relacionados con la temática y luego analiza componentes relacionados con los efectos normativos de alcance legal y vinculante al derecho que tiene toda persona de tener una muerte digna. En su desenvolvimiento, se destacan elementos como el valor intrínseco de la vida, la compañía, la soledad, la compasión; sobre cómo conservar la dignidad humana hasta la muerte, el fundamento legal existente que regula el accionar en el proceso del bien morir, los principios de autonomía, justicia, beneficencia y no beneficencia en este proceso hacia el final de la vida. El tema por desarrollar no se centra en la eutanasia, más bien, busca reflexionar sobre qué hacer, cómo dilucidar y regular las situaciones ocurridas al final de la vida, de tal manera que posibiliten a todos y todas morir dignamente.
DISCURSOS RELIGIOSOS JUSTIFICADORES DE LA VIOLENCIA DE GÉNERO EN UN GRUPO DE MUJERES UPALEÑAS: SACRIFICIO, CULPA Y ESPIRITUALIDADES
Authors: Argüello Brenda Jiménez , Montoya Hernández María Auxiliadora
Published: April 2023

Este trabajo indaga la violencia que sufren cinco mujeres de la zona de Upala en Costa Rica, desde espacios como el cultural, la familia y las instituciones religiosas. Ante esto, se examinan nociones determinantes en la legitimación de esa violencia como el sacrificio, la culpa, sus espiritualidades liberadoras y la visión de un dios como quien resuelve problemas. Para ello, se usaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a modo de herramienta recolectora de datos en la investigación cualitativa. De esta manera, se evidencia cómo la violencia cultural es legitimada a través de imaginarios y discursos religiosos que llegan a repercutir en la vida de las mujeres, al justificar muchas de las situaciones agresivas que viven y al contribuir en la construcción de subjetividades arraigadas a la pasividad, la obediencia, el sacrificio y la entrega. Además, se muestra cómo analizar discursos religiosos opresores puede ser favorable ante la postura que las mujeres tengan frente a situaciones violentas sustentadas en un lenguaje religioso inmerso en lo cultural. Así, el texto permite conocer, desde la historia de estas cinco mujeres que forman parte de un grupo femenino víctima de violencia, el impacto de una sociedad, la cual mantiene estructuras que violentan a las mujeres y son sostenidas por medio de imperativos religiosos.
Reflexiones y experiencias del Programa de Capacitación, Actualización y Divulgación de la Escuela de Geografía, Universidad de Costa Rica en el periodo 2015-2021
Authors: Reyes-Chaves Jonnathan , Masís-Campos Ramón , Retana-Quirós Daniela , Álvarez-Vargas Lisbeth , Pérez-Briceño Paula Marcela , Vargas-Picado Huberth , Fernández-Arce Mario
Published: April 2023

Teaching extensions are one of the functions of the Vicerrectoría de Acción Social at the Universidad de Costa Rica. Through this modality an academic exchange between teachers. and communities is offered to improve the welfare of society through the transfer of knowledge in an agile and direct way. These activities are beneficial for communities and contribute to the country's social and economic development. The Training, Update and Dissemination Program of the School of Geography (PROCADI) was created to promote geographical trade through teaching extension, attending non-formal educational needs aimed at companies, institutions, career graduates, university students, professionals and technicians from various competencies. Through a systematization of data associated with the PROCADI that are administered from the Academic and Budget Information Management System of the Vicerrectoría de Acción Social (BITE) in the 2015-2021 period it was determined that the PROCADI issues annually on average between 10 and 15 activities such as: courses, conferences, forums, seminars, among others that correspond to the themes of geomatic, society and population, environment, teaching and research, ordering and territorial planning. In general, the development of geomatic activities in the last 7 years predominate in quantity and frequencies. Traditionally, the PROCADI and the School of Geography have developed their in-person training in different spaces such as in the field, in laboratories, in auditoriums and in classrooms. However, the Covid-19 pandemic required a methodological change towards virtuality with the support of digital platforms. Among the challenges for the PROCADI, it is identified the ability to offer greater opportunities in training in the fields of territorial ordering and planning, environment, society and population, in addition to consulting and articulating the professional demands of the target audiences, as well as internationalization.
Población femenina en calle: avances y retos de las organizaciones de sociedad civil en la aplicación de la PNPSAC
Authors: López-Céspedes Sharon
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this article is to present the progress of the research project “Women in homelessness situation and their experience of their human rights”, carried out by the Institute of Latin American Studies (IDELA) of the Universidad Nacional. In this first moment, we present a general overview of the situation of women experiencing homelessness and the extent to which the actions of NGOs respond to the objectives established in the National Policy for Comprehensive Attention to People in Situation of Abandonment and Homelessness, 2016 - 2026, and thus, conclude with some of the organizational lessons, needs and challenges to guarantee women a thorough experience of their human rights.
Impacto de sesiones de actividad física virtual sobre el bienestar de personas adultas mayores: el valor de la extensión universitaria
Authors: Solano-Mora Luis , Rodríguez-Coronado Franscini , Gamboa-Méndez Esteban , Gutiérrez-Quirós Alison Valeria , Rojas-Álvarez Yosimar
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this study was to carry out an exploratory analysis of the value of on-line physical activity sessions proposed from the university extension on the well-being of a group of older adults. Methodology: A protocol for physical activities focused on virtual sessions for older adults was developed. 12 sessions were applied and at the end, both the participants and the instructors were sent a digital questionnaire to provide their impressions of what they experienced in this period. Results: The participants showed in general, a better physical state and a positive response when doing physical activities on-line, and instructors expressed their satisfaction with the on-line modality. Conclusion: The participants indicated that the on-line sessions felt very good and helped them improve their physical condition, so the university should consider this strategy in its actions to be developed from the university extension.