bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Landslide susceptibility assessment of Kure City (Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan) with machine learning random forest and frequency ratio methods using XRAIN radar-acquired rainfall data
Authors: Maria Dos Santos Rodrigues Neto Jose , Bhandary Netra Prakash
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we perform an efficiency comparison between two methods of producing landslide susceptibility maps (LSM): the machine learning technique random forest (RF), which is evidenced to be the most efficient for landslide susceptibility assessment tasks (Yilmaz, 2009; Youssef & Pourghasemi, 2021) and the statistics-based frequency ratio (FR) method. The area considered for this study is southern part of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan, an area known to suffer from rainfall-induced landslide disasters, the most recent one in July 2018. Both the above methods require a collection of landslide conditioning factors (LCFs), which in this study are: 1) geology, 2) altitude, 3) slope angle, 4) slope aspect, 5) drainage density, 6) land use, 7) distance from lineaments, and 8) mean annual precipitation. The rainfall LCF data comprise of XRAIN (eXtended RAdar Information Network) radar records, which are novel in this task of LSM production. The accuracy of the produced LSMs was assessed by the receiver operating characteristic’s (ROC) area under curve (AUC), which is 0.84 for the FR method and 0.92 for the RF method. It is also noteworthy that the RF method is substantially swifter and more practical than the FR method, and it allows for multiple and automatic experimentations with different parameters, providing fine and accurate results with the given data. The results also evidence that machine learning techniques such as the RF method are most advisable for dealing with hazard assessment problems such as the one exemplified in this study, and that XRAIN radar-acquired mean annual precipitation data are effective when used as a LCF in producing LSMs.
MPI+X:Massive Parallelization and Dynamic Load Balance of a Production-level Unstructured DSMC Solver
Authors: Zhe Dai , Liang Deng , Jin Li , Yueqing Wang , Ruitian Li , Jian Zhang
Published: June 2023

This paper presents implementing and balancing a production-level unstructured DSMC solver using two variants of the hybrid programming model. Both approaches can be implemented with minimal modifications to the source code. Specifically, we port and optimize RariHV, a production-level unstructured DSMC application, to scalable homogeneous and heterogeneous systems using two variants of the hybrid MPI+X programming model: MPI+OpenMP and MPI+OpenACC. Additionally, a physics-awared mesh repartition during the execution is proposed to alleviate the load imbalance issues. Results demonstrate that the load balancing strategy has an improvement in performance of up to 50%, and the hybrid MPI+X parallelism method can provide considerable scalability benefits on multi-core and many-core platforms.
Alteration of Twilight Sky Brightness Profile by Light Pollution
Authors: Faid Muhamad Syazwan , Nawawi Mohd Saiful Anwar Mohd , Saadon Mohd Hafiz Mohd , Wahab Raihana Abdul , Ahmad Nazhatulshima , Shar Nur Nafhatun Md , Hamidi Zety Sharizat
Published: June 2023

The phenomenon of twilight been stipulated as naturally dependent on the variables of solar depression, aerosol concentration and ozone composition. The unique color spectrum of twilight is attributed by ozone layer and aerosol, whereas its brightness is heavily relying on the altitude of sun below horizon. While all the natural dependent is being researched extensively, the impact of light pollution on the brightness of the twilight is not being explored thoroughly. The objective of this study is to find out the alteration of light pollution towards the natural behaviour of twilight sky brightness. Total of 84 data of twilight brightness was collected from 2014 until 2022 using Sky Quality Meter, and the specific location with profile classified as urban, suburban and pristine is investigated to study the impact of light pollution on twilight brightness. The result demonstrates that the stability of twilight brightness, which naturally factored by solar depression within the range of 18°, discovered to be heavy influenced by the zenith light pollution of the location sky, as evidenced by location that has zenith pollution of 17.11, 19.77, and 21.39, has horizontal twilight brightness of 14.84, 19.55 and 21.2 and solar depression during brightness stability at 11.5°, 15.67° and 17.49°.
Identification and Validation of a m5c-related lncrna signature predict prognosis and immune response of clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Ao Shan , Liang Leqi , Yang Riwei , Chen Zugen , Peng Lei , Deng Tuo
Published: June 2023

Objective
M5C-related LncRNAs (Long non-coding RNAs) were related to the occurrence and development of tumors. In this study, we investigated whether m5C-related LncRNAs could predict the prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients.
Methods
Co-expression analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to construct prognostic features, and then a series of model validation was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of the model. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome Enrichment (KEGG), immune-related function and tumor mutation burden (TMB) analyses were also performed. Finally, the potential sensitivity of drugs to ccRCC was predicted.
Results
A total of 9 m5C-related LncRNAs were obtained and a prognostic model was established. Our model has independent prognostic value and is closely related to tumor immune characteristics and immune escape, which can be used to predict the sensitivity of drugs including Entinostat, SB216763, and Sapitinib. Our in vitro experiments showed that GNG12-AS1 inhibited cell proliferation and migration in ccRCC cell lines.
Conclusions
In summary, the 9 m5C-related LncRNAs can accurately predict the prognosis of ccRCC patients, which may provide new ideas for clinical application and immunotherapy of ccRCC patients, and GNG12-AS1 is a promising prognostic biomarker for predicting survival outcome of ccRCC.
Comprehensive Feature Extraction Model to Classify Interacting and Non-Interacting Proteins in Human Viruses using Random Forest Classifier
Authors: Raj Sini S , S Vinod Chandra S
Published: June 2023

Protein-protein interactions are crucial for the entry of viruses into the cell. Understanding the mechanism of interactions is essential in studying human-virus association, developing new biologics and drug candidates, as well as viral infections and antiviral responses. Experimental methods to analyze human-virus protein-protein interactions are time-consuming and labor-intensive, so machine learning based methods are being developed to predict interactions and determine large-scale interactomes between species. The present work highlights the importance of features in the classification of interacting and non-interacting proteins. To achieve this, we have extracted all possible features like Amino Acid Composition (AAC), Dipeptides Composition (DPC), Grouped Amino Acid Composition (GAAC), Pseudo-Amino Acid Composition (PAAC) etc. that can be fetched from a protein sequence which lies in a higher dimension space. We have used a random forest classifier to understand the biological relevance of these high-dimensional features and thereafter to decide whether these features really contribute to the protein-protein interactions. As part of this, the classifier was applied to three datasets, two with dimensionality reduction and one without dimensionality reduction. The datasets in which dimensionality reduction is applied produce 100% accuracy and one without dimensionality reduction gave 85% accuracy. Thus it is evident that dimensionality reduction fails to capture the complexity of biological relevance and the underlying associations between human and viral proteins.
ZIP genes are involved in the retransfer of zinc ions during the senescence of zinc-deficient rice leaves
Authors: Ma Yangming , Wen Yanfang , Wang Cheng , Wu Ziniu , Yuan Xiaojuan , Xiong Ying , Chen Kairui , He Limei , Zhang Yue , Wang Zhonglin , Li LeiLei , Yang Zhiyuan , Sun Yongjuan , Chen Zhongkui , Ma Jun
Published: June 2023

Zinc (Zn) is essential for human health, but rice often lacks sufficient amounts. Leaf senescence is a vital developmental stage during which nutrients are redistributed to other organs. However, Zn retransfer during deficiency is often overlooked. In this hydroponic experiment, we studied the effect of Zn deficiency on rice seedlings, specifically focusing on the fourth leaf under control and deficient conditions. Growth phenotype analysis showed that the growth of rice nodal roots was inhibited under Zn deficiency, and the fourth leaf exhibited accelerated senescence and increased Zn ion transfer. We conducted transcriptome analysis on the fourth leaf at two time points. The fourth leaf at the second time point under control conditions was used as the control and compared to when Zn ion content markedly decreased under control and deficiency conditions. Analyzing differentially expressed genes showed that Zn deficiency regulates more ZIP family genes involved in Zn ion retransfer in the leaves. OsZIP3 upregulation under Zn-deficient conditions may not be induced by Zn deficiency, whereas OsZIP4 is only induced during Zn deficiency. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that Zn-deficient leaves mobilized more biological pathways (BPs) during aging, and the enrichment function differed from that of normal aging leaves. The most apparent “zinc ion transport” BP was stronger than that of normal senescence, possibly due to Zn-deficient leaves mobilizing large amounts of BP related to lipid metabolism during senescence. These results provide a basis for further functional analyses of genes and the study of trace element transfer during rice leaf senescence.
Design of wearable antenna sensors and Path loss Modeling for Internet of Wearable Things applications
Authors: Amiri Marwen , Hamdi Abdelaziz , Meddeb Aref
Published: June 2023

The Internet of Wearable Things (IoWT) is a revolutionary technology of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN). IoWT applications are widely employed in diverse sectors including medical, civil, and military domains. In these emerging applications, human bodies are equipped with wearable and interconnected sensors, which can be used on, inside, or around the human body. However, the deployment of these devices in close proximity of the human body faces several electromagnetic factors such as channel fading due to several reasons like energy absorption, reflection, multipath, and shadowing by the body. These electromagnetic phenomena can degrade the quality of the communication link budget between wearable sensor systems in WBAN. Therefore, investigation in channel modeling between wearable sensors has become a major challenge in Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN), especially when using these devices for real-time monitoring and remote control of vital signs and physiological data of patients in medical applications.
This paper presents a novel approach of a rigorous and effective mathematical voxel-based channel model for channel modeling between wearable wireless antenna sensors in free space and human body environments. Also, this work presents a design flow and performance analysis of the proposed 3D-voxel human body model and the designed wearable antenna at 2.4 GHz. Moreover, a performance evaluation studies between IEEE 802.15.6 CM3 channel model based on the proposed analytical voxel based-human body at 2.4 GHz for various distances between the coordinator and the on-body wearable antenna sensors are presented. These studies reveal a good agreement between IEEE 802.15.6 CM3A and our model.
Does Surgical Resection Improve the Survival of Patients with Gastric Cancer Liver Metastases? A Population-Based, Propensity Score–Adjusted Analysis
Authors: Yuan Zheping , Li Xiawei
Published: June 2023

Purpose The use of surgery in the management of patients with gastric cancer liver metastases (GCLM) has been debatable. We aimed to assess whether surgical resection is associated with improved patient survival.Methods Patients with GCLM were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2010 and 2015. Adult gastric cancer patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with liver metastases living longer than one month were eligible for this analysis. The overlap weighting method based on lasso regression with penalty factors (OW_pLasso) was applied to reduce the selection bias. The survival times of patients who underwent surgery and those who did not were compared using OW_pLasso adjusted Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models.Results A total of 3694 patients with GCLM were identified. Of those, 354 (9.58%) patients underwent cancer-directed surgery (CDS). After OW_pLasso adjustment, the median overall survival was 12 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 11–16] in the CDS group and 6 months [95% CI 5–6] in the Non-CDS group. In Cox regression analysis, primary cancer resection was associated with a significantly better overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) 0.562, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.482–0.656]. The benefit of surgical resection persisted in patients with worse conditions (large size and high-grade tumors, advanced T stages, and limited lymph node metastases).Conclusions In this population-based cohort analysis of patients with gastric cancer and liver metastases, surgical resection was linked to a better overall survival. As a result, surgery has the potential to be an option for treating patients with liver metastases.
Quantifying uptake and completion of pulmonary rehabilitation programs in people with COPD known to tertiary care
Authors: Hug Sarah , Cavalheri Vinicius , Gucciardi Daniel F. , Hill Kylie
Published: June 2023

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs (PRPs) are important for people with symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but program attrition is common. Among people with COPD who appeared appropriate for a PRP, we prospectively mapped the rehabilitation journey, captured attrition and explored factors influencing attendance to pre-program assessment. 391 participants consented, of which 123 (31% [95% confidence interval {CI}] 27 to 36) were referred to a PRP (mean±SD or frequency[%]: age 68±10yr, 62 males[50%], BMI 27±8kg/m2, FEV1 45±19%predicted). Of those referred, 94 (76% [69 to 84]) attended a pre-program assessment. Ex-smokers (odds ratio [95%CI]; 2.6 [1.1 to 6.1]) and those who had a healthcare professional explain they would be referred (4.7 [1.9 to 11.7]) were more likely to attend a pre-program assessment. Of those who attended, 63 (67% [58 to 77]) commenced and 35 (56% [43 to 68]) completed a PRP. Substantial attrition occurs throughout the PRP journey. Understanding how HCPs can best contextualise PRPs to encourage uptake is an important area for further work.
Effect of Drying Methods and Pre-treatments on Bioactive Potential of Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.)
Authors: Yildiz Elif , Yilmaz Aslihan , Gurbuz Ozan , Alibas Ilknur
Published: June 2023

In this research, persimmon samples (sliced, pureed) were dehydrated by convective (50 and 100°C) and microwave (100 W) drying techniques with different pre-treatment combinations of sugar addition (25%) and blanching (100°C, 5 min). Each pre-treatment consisting of sugar addition, slicing, and blanching resulted in a significant increase in color parameters compared to unpretreated samples. Color parameters measured at low drying temperatures were lower than high ones. Also, 100 W dried samples were higher in total anthocyanin content, and the pureed samples were 24.80% higher than sliced ones. The bioactive potential was evaluated regarding extractable, hydrolysable, and bioaccessible phenolic fractions (EPF, HPF, BPF) by total phenolic content and ABTS, CUPRAC, and DPPH antioxidant capacity assays. i) 50°C drying prevailed on drying at 100°C and 100 W, especially in terms of EPF and BPFs; ii) Sliced samples were higher for EPF and BPF, while pureed ones were higher in HPFs; iii) Blanched samples were relatively higher than unblanched ones in TPC. For antioxidant capacity assays, EPFs were higher in blanched samples and BPF in unblanched ones (TEACABTS, TEACCUPRAC). iv) Sugar addition negatively affected the bioactive potential in persimmon samples; no-sugar-added samples were higher, especially in BPF (p < 0.01; TPC, TEACABTS, TEACCUPRAC). v) The CUPRAC assay was the most appropriate method due to providing a view of more statistical distinction by picturing the same potential.
Polymer - Sn Composite : Development of Amperometric Hydrazine Sensor
Authors: Kempegowda Raghu G.
Published: June 2023

In the present work, an ease and green chemical protocol for the formation of polyaniline - Sn composite is proposed. The protocol involves the formation of composite by the simple mixing of tin nitrate and aniline at room temperature without using any agents for polymerisation process. The composite obtained has been well characterized with the aid of SEM with EDAX and XRD. Further, it has been used in the development of thin film electrodes on the surface of rigid glassy carbon electrode and subsequently employed as an electrochemical interface for the electroanalytical amperometric sensing of hydrazine model analyte system at trace concentration level. The developed interface showed good affinity towards the analyte in the dynamic range upto 400 µM with a detection limit of 0.1 µM (3ϭ). The stability, reproducibility has been proven to be good without any deviation in its electrochemical performance with least interference from commonly encountered foreign species. Finally, the practical utility of the developed sensor has been shown by determining the trace concentration levels of hydrazine from tap water.
Agreement of Two Biometers for Central Corneal Thickness Measurement in High Myopia Patients
Authors: Budiman Budiman , Tjokrovonco Ludwig Melino , Knoch Andrew M H , Sugiarti Emmy Dwi
Published: June 2023

Purpose
To compare the central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements made with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT)-based biometers and the Scheimpflug camera in patients with high myopia.
Methods
This study assess the agreement between CCT measurements with SS-OCT and the Scheimpflug camera. We included 44 eyes with high myopia that underwent CCT examinations with SS-OCT and the Scheimpflug camera. The Bland-Altman test was used to evaluate the agreement between the two devices.
Results
Forty-four eyes with axial lengths ranging from 26.05 to 34.02 mm based on SS-OCT examinations were included in this study. The mean CCT was 527.98 ± 36.049 mm and 525.64 ± 35.421 mm, based on SS-OCT and the Scheimpflug camera, respectively. The Bland-Altman plot revealed good agreement between both devices, with a mean difference of 2.3409 mm and a 95% limit of agreement ranging from -8.09864 to 12.78046 mm at a 95% confidence interval.
Conclusions
CCT measurements using SS-OCT and the Scheimpflug camera differed significantly among patients with high myopia. Our findings suggest that CCT measurements made with either device should be interpreted with caution and should not be used interchangeably.
Research on the Impregnation Process and Mechanism of Silica Sol/Phenolic Resin Modified Poplar Wood
Authors: 王 鸿兴 , 张 银良 , 里 慧杰 , 侯 浩杰 , 刘 米格利 , 里 春峰
Published: June 2023

Phenolic resin impregnated modified materials have partially reduced the toughness of the wood. In this study, organic-inorganic composite modifiers were used to modify the wood. Silica sol/phenolic resin composite impregnating solution was prepared by an in-situ polymerization method and used to impregnate poplar wood under vacuum pressure. Orthogonal experiments were conducted, and the impact toughness of the modified poplar wood was used as the evaluation index. The results showed that the best impact toughness was achieved when the average particle size of silica sol was 8-15 nm, the pressure was 1.2 MPa, and the pressure time was 3 hours. The impact toughness of the impregnated modified poplar wood was improved by 84.1% compared to the untreated material. FT-IR results revealed the characteristic absorption peak of Si-O-Si in the impregnated poplar wood, confirming the formation of new chemical bonds. XPS analysis indicated that a chemical reaction occurred between the impregnating solution and the wood, resulting in the formation of Si-O-C. Furthermore, DMA analysis revealed that this chemical reaction significantly improved the thermal stability and toughness of the impregnated material, surpassing the original poplar wood. In addition, TG analysis revealed a significant improvement in thermal stability of the impregnated material compared to untreated poplar wood. Finally, SEM analysis demonstrated the successful infiltration and filling of the poplar wood by the composite impregnating solution.
Statistical analysis of DNA methylation patterns of tumor suppressor genes for breast cancer
Authors: Sun Shuying , Pritchard Ashley , McFall Emma , Tian Christine
Published: June 2023

Background
Breast cancer is associated with DNA methylation, an epigenetic event in which a methyl group is covalently bonded to a cytosine-guanine (CG) pair. Although previous research has studied methylation patterns of individual tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), there has not been a comprehensive analysis of all available TSGs for breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to conduct the first-ever comprehensive statistical analysis of methylation patterns for all 1,217 TSGs. The authors analyzed publicly available Illumina 450K array data for 53 living (53-Alive) and 32 deceased (32-Dead) breast cancer patients. First, they studied the overall methylation distribution. They then identified differentially methylated (DM) sites between tumors and matched normal tissues in both Alive and Dead samples. They analyzed co-methylation patterns related to these DM sites and reported corresponding TSGs and non-TSGs.
Results
Below are the key findings of this study. First, tumor tissues had more heterogeneous methylation sites than normal tissues (40% vs. <10%) in both Alive and Dead samples. Second, there were significantly more DM sites in Dead than in Alive samples. Third, co-methylation patterns were investigated by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficients between each DM site and all 391,459 CG sites for both Alive and Dead samples. In normal tissues, some DM sites tended to have strong co-methylation with many other CG sites. In tumor tissues, some of these strong co-methylations were lost and some new co-methylation relationships were developed. These patterns were seen in both Alive and Dead data. Fourth, there were more co-methylation changes between normal and tumor tissues in Dead than in Alive samples. 30 TSGs and 92 non-TSGs were identified as having notable differences between Alive and Dead data. Finally, ESR1, PAX6, ZIC1, TP73, PPP1CA, POU6F2, and TFAP2A were involved in many different co-methylation changes between normal and tumor tissues. These 7 TSGs played a key role as hub genes in different networks.
Conclusion
Significant differences were identified for various methylation-pattern changes between normal and tumor as well as between Alive and Dead samples. These differences can be used to identify novel TSGs and biomarkers to improve breast cancer study.
Unveiling India's Ageing Mosaic: State-level Projections Revealing Regional Variations until 2031
Authors: Roy Chandan , Kumar Saurav , Sati Vishwambhar Prasad
Published: June 2023

Population ageing is an inevitable consequence of demographic transitions and declining fertility causes a rising burden of ageing. The goal of the present study is to project the ageing index of various states across the country up to the year 2031. In addition, the study projects the year by which different states will reach the standard level of aging. Data for this study were taken from the 2001 and 2011 census of India. Using simple trend extrapolation techniques, we produced projections of ageing indices up to 2031; and then we projected when different states would reach the standard level of ageing (aging of Kerala in 2011). The results showed that there will be a change in the age structure of the population from 2011 to 2031, with an increase of 6% in the working-age group (15–59 years) and 5% in the older population (60 or more years), but a decline of 11.2% in the children ages 0–14 years. Southern and other states such as Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are likely to attain standard levels of ageing in the next few years. However, northern states are expected to take more years to achieve it.This is the time to start planning for the future burden of the old-age population across the country and arrange adequate health infrastructure for the older population in the future.
The Effect of an App-based Physiotherapeutic Exercise Regimen on Early Postoperative Compliance for Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty, Protocol of A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Hakam Hassan Tarek , Hofmann Hannes , Kersten Sebastian , Prill Robert , Becker Roland
Published: June 2023

Background: Physical therapy is an important factor determining the outcome of total knee arthroplasty. According to many studies, half of the patients are not active enough to maintain their physical health after total knee replacement. In our randomised controlled study, we are going to determine the effect of a mobile reminder application on compliance of the subjects with their prescribed physiotherapeutic exercises.
Methods: The trial will be monocentric and take place at the University Hospital Brandenburg/Havel. The participants will have undergone total knee replacement and be aged between 55 and 80 years. Recruitment will happen two weeks prior to surgery when the indication for elective total knee replacement will be determined. After randomization, the patients will be divided into two groups. One group will receive the physiotherapeutic exercise app while the other group will receive the same exercises in paper form and be instructed orally on when to complete the exercises. For the purpose of objectively analysing the compliance of patients, a knee sensor device will be used to track down the varying movements of the knee. Data regarding the outcome of the surgery like patient related outcome measures and performance based measures will be recorded. The hypothesis of the study is that app based inpatient physical therapy leads to higher compliance than a paper-based approach. A non-compliance questionnaire will be translated from English and given to the patients to uncover the motivation behind their non-adherence to their programmes. The analyst working with the knee sensors, the physicians measuring the outcome as well as the patients will be blinded. Between group differences will be analysed with t-test or non-parametric test according to distribution of results.
Discussion: The collected data that will be included in our results encompass the digital data of the sensors, the PROMs, the PBMs and the non-compliance questionnaire. It is assumed that patients having the reminder app will have a higher rate of compliance than the control group. The secondary objectives of this study might include the link between the rate of compliance and the outcome after surgery. Another secondary outcome might be the contrast between the actual compliance reported by the sensors and the patient reported compliance and new insides into sensor based monitoring are going to be collected in an exploratory way.
Trial registration: The trial was registered at the Deutsches Register Für Klinische Studien. (DRKS)
Measurement of colonic transit time in patients with refractory chronic constipation referred to a tertiary center
Authors:   Norouzi54@gmail.com, Livani Somayeh , Fatemi Alireza , Besharat Sima , Atefeh
Published: June 2023

Backgrounds: Measurement of colonic transit time (CTT) of different colon segments can help to find the subtype of constipation and the appropriate treatment. This study aimed to estimate the segmental and total CTT in patients with refractory chronic constipation who attended gastrointestinal clinics.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in patients with refractory chronic constipation according to ROME IV criteria with normal colonoscopy. Patients with underlying diseases, including diabetes, hypoparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, anemia, past intestinal surgery, metabolic disorders, and recent medication use with constipation complications, were excluded. Every patient took a gelatin capsule containing ten 1-3 mm angiographic catheters for six consecutive days. On the seventh day, an upright abdominal x-ray was performed. The remaining markers were counted in the three divided colonic segments, and the total CTT using radio-opaque markers was measured subsequently.
Results: 40 patients were eventually included in this study. Twenty-eight were female (70%), and 55% of patients had standard body mass index (BMI). The mean age of patients was 43±18 years, and the mean total CTT was 37.05±24 hours. Additionally, 60% had a normal CTT (≤45 hours), and 40% had abnormal and prolonged CTT.
Conclusion: Constipation as a complaint is more common in women than men. Total CTT is slightly higher in men than women, but there is no significant difference. CTT may be normal in patients with refractory constipation despite all investigations. Additionally, there was no correlation between BMI and prolonged total CTT.
The Place of Internet Communication in Information Warfare
Authors: Yablonskikh A. V. , Drobyshev D. V. , Chalenko D. A.
Published: June 2023

The article represents the authors’ analysis of historical and modern approaches to the definition of the concept of information warfare and to the tools of its conduct. The classification systems studied in the material were taken into account when conducting a structured content analysis of cases of information wars in Russia and abroad. Internet technologies (of a digital and social nature), their significance in various types of information wars and the tool base were chosen as the key marker of content analysis. The authors have made and confirmed the hypothesis about the intensification of the practice of information warfare in the context of the development of Internet communications, while it should be noted that technologies born in the Internet environment (both digital and social) can be both an instrument of attack and a means of protection in modern information warfare.
Impact of information technologies on the development of ecological communication
Authors: Panova E. V.
Published: June 2023

The article is devoted to the analysis of the influence of information technologies on the transformation of ecological communication, as well as to the assessment of the ongoing social changes related to the development to ecological / environmental discourse. The paper considers the main stages of technological, social and media changes, and the development of public discourse around the topic of the environment. The author carried out a theoretical analysis of the works of modern researchers (McLuhan, Mansell, Wilson, McChesney, Neuman, Gil-Garcia, Karlsson, Agin, Hase, Hofman, Grimmer, etc.). In the research based on the analysis of the Telegram messenger the author examines the features of ecological communication in the digital age and the role of “big data” in shaping today’s environmental agenda (46 public TG channels related to ecology and environment). Attention is paid to both the content and the degree of demand for certain messages. The author notes that politics gives additional publicity to information, polarization of opinions or a conflict of interests contribute to the popularity of messages, than after attracting the necessary attention of the target audience, communication moves to another level, which is non-public, or secondary. At the end, the author comes to the conclusion that in the modern period “big data” is becoming a navigator that provides a sense of direction in a huge flow of information and events in whatever field of communication.
Breaking into the international market: Net income and margin improvement for Spanish SMEs
Authors: Ditta Geoffrey
Published: June 2023

This study examines the dynamics of internationalization and globalization efforts of Spanish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study aims to assess the number of Spanish SMEs engaged into international trade and benefits and risks (e.g., associated with the COVID-19 pandemic) such a process can bring. Empirical analysis of data from the Spanish Ministry of Industry provides an overview of the percentage of SMEs engaging in international activities, i.e., exporting their products and services. The results capture the critical differences between exporters and those companies that target only domestic customers and confirm that the number of newly established SMEs is growing. However, the number of exporters is decreasing or range at the same level. Only 5.48% of Spanish SMEs actively participate in international activities, and very few are involved in real internationalization. The results confirm the existence of economic growth for exporting companies that significantly impact regional and international efficiency, especially those who previously worked on research and market performance. The larger the exporting company, the higher its revenue. In addition, exporters are far more significant and considerably more productive than those companies that choose not to engage in exports.
AcknowledgmentThis study is funded by Nebrija University.
La innovación y la regulación de los videojuegos: retos en materia tecnológica en Colombia
Authors: Roncancio Bedoya Andres Felipe , Lopera Diaz Daniel , Carrillo Benítez Cristian Camilo
Published: June 2023

Actualmente, existe un desarrollo constante y vertiginoso en la industria de los videojuegos y de las nuevas tecnologías, situación que ha forzado a distintos Estados a presentar normas, y desarrollar al mismo paso. Sin embargo, gran parte de naciones no han tomado las acciones pertinentes al respecto, sin prever la crisis social y jurídica que podrá darse en la materia hacia un futuro.
Entendiendo así, como las nuevas tecnologías, en especial la inteligencia artificial, ha permitido que industrias como la de los videojuegos, presenten estrategias de marketing que no se encuentran reguladas en los estados, y, por consiguiente, ello, atenta contra la integridad de los consumidores debido a la falta de normatividad en la materia, no solo en Colombia, también en gran parte del mundo.
De manera tal, que tras entender ello, es menester entonces identificar aquellas consecuencias socio jurídicas derivada de la falta de regulación por parte del Estado. Y así, comprender lo idóneo para que los Estados, en materia jurídica respondan a esta posible crisis hacía un futuro de no ser reguladas, las nuevas tecnologías.
Derechos humanos e interculturalidad. Los desafíos de una comprensión hermenéutica diatópica
Authors: Brevis Cartes Priscilla
Published: June 2023

El presente artículo aborda desde una perspectiva hermenéutica los desafíos de la comprensión-aplicación intercultural de los derechos humanos, a la luz de las críticas sobre su posible etnocentrismo y los desafíos de interculturalidad que le plantean los debates políticos actuales. En ese marco se propone un criterio de interpretación jurídico diatópico, proyectando los postulados sociológicos de la hermenéutica diatópica, la tradición dialógica de la antropología y la tópica jurídica. Desde allí se hace una proyección de sentido, siguiendo el propio círculo hermenéutico, para proponer un criterio que guíe la interpretación jurídica intercultural de los derechos humanos.
Survival Outcomes in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Cancer Center in Medellin - Colombia
Authors: Lema Mauricio , Preciado Beatriz , Lema Camila , Rodríguez Daniel , Pineda Mateo , Egurrola Jorge , Ospina Juan Pablo , Calle Esteban , Luján Mauricio , Yépes Andrés , Morán Diego
Published: June 2023

Introduction: survival outcomes of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) reported in the literature may not apply to patients in a real-life scenario in Colombia. This study aims to describe these in a cohort of patients with NSCLC treated at Clínica de Oncología Astorga, in Medellín, Colombia. Methods: this is an observational study with survival analysis. Patients with advanced NSCLC established from January 1/2019 treated at the Institution were included. Medical records were analyzed retrospectively. Kaplan Meier method was used to estimate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). To compare the survival distributions log-rank test was performed. Results: fifty-two patients were included. Median age was 70.1 years (IQR:64.6-77.2). Adenocarcinoma in 57.7%. First-line treatment was chemotherapy (48.1%), immunotherapy (40.4%), and anti-ALK/EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI) (9.6%). One patient was enrolled in a clinical trial. Median PFS and OS for the entire cohort were 6.0 months (95%CI:4.8-7.1) and 11 months (95%CI:6.7-15.3), respectively. Median OS for performance-status (PS) 1-2 was 14.5 months (95%CI:7.3-21.7) and 4.7 months (95%CI:2.7-6.7) for PS 2-4 (P=0.002). Median PFS for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and TKI were 3.3 months (95%CI:0.8-5.8), 9.9 months (95%CI:4.6-15.2), and not reached, respectively (P<0.001). Median OS for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and TKI were 6.0 months (95%CI:1.9-10.0), 9.9 months (95%CI:8.1-11.8), and not reached, respectively (P=0.080). Conclusion: clinical outcomes in Real-World-Setting in advanced NSCLC in Colombia, a Low-Middle-Income-Country, can better inform patients and providers in regards to setting-specific survival expectations. Advanced disease with poor PS and lack of access to state-of-art therapy are challenges yet to be addressed.
Implementing Quotas in GTAP Using GEMPACK or How to Linearize an Inequality
Authors: Bach Christian Friis , Pearson Ken
Published: June 2023

The methods described in the paper below have been automated as part of Release 8.0 of GEMPACK. This new version of GEMPACK (which is being beta tested by several modellers now and will be officially released later in 2002) makes it very easy to implement quotas (including import/export quotas and tariff rate quotas). This means that many of the implementation details in the technical paper below are no longer required. To implement quotas etc in GEMPACK, please follow the methodology documented in chapter 16 of GEMPACK User documentation GPD-3, which you can find at http://www.copsmodels.com/gpdoc.htm. If unsure, please contact support@gempack.com.au. 1996, September. This document describes how explicit import and export quotas can be implemented and solved in the GTAP CGE trade model. The techniques described here apply equally well to other general and partial equilibrium models implemented and solved using the GEMPACK software. They also generalise to procedures for handling other inequalities in models solved via GEMPACK (even though GEMPACK does not allow explicit inequalities in the algebraic representation of models). In this document we review some recent applications of GTAP in which explicit import and export quotas have been modelled, and discuss how important it was for these applications to have explicit treatment of quotas. Accompanying this document are various computer files containing the ingredients of examples that readers can carry out for themselves while reading this paper. These files can also be used as a starting point for those who wish to explicitly model quotas in their own models.
Disaggregating Labor Payments by Skill Level in GTAP
Authors: Liu Jing , van Leeuwen Nico , Vo Tri Thanh , Tyers Rod , Hertel Thomas
Published: June 2023

This paper outlines an approach to disaggregating labor payments in the GTAP, global economic data base. The split between low- and high-skilled labor is based on occupational data. High-skilled labor is assumed to consist of managers, administrators, professionals, and para-professionals. Data are gathered on this occupational split, by sector, in fifteen different economies, and these are mapped to GTAP sectors. Regression analysis shows a systematic relationship between GDP per capita and the national stock of tertiary and secondary educated labor on the one hand, and the sectoral labor payments split on the other. This model is used to predict labor splits, by sector, in the remaining GTAP regions. The results are evaluated in terms of the implied economywide skilled -unskilled labor payment ratio. Overall, the results seem promising enough to warrant inclusion in the GTAP, version 4 data base.
Modeling Country Risk and Capital Flows in GTAP
Authors: Malcolm Gerard
Published: June 2023

This paper describes how the standard GTAP framework may be used to assess the short-run impacts of changes in international capital market conditions. It describes a technique that can be used to examine the short-run effects of changes in country risk. In the standard GTAP model investment demand is spread across regions according to a simple rate-of-return-equalizing rule. By making the risk premium in this rule explicit, we are able to examine the effects of changes in these risk premium. This work was originally developed as part of the course material for the South African GTAP short course in January 1998. South Africa has experienced a series of dramatic changes during the last decade, and these have had very significant effects on the capital account. Thus, this paper also contains an application of the technique developed to the recent South African experience, and an assessment of how well the simulated changes in this application match actual outcomes. Technical Paper Number 13 can be downloaded in PDF format. To print this you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Replication of the results in this technical paper may be readily accomplished using the latest version of the RunGTAP software. For those interested in further analysis of the implications of the capital inflow for the South African economy, as well as for the rest of Southern Africa, please download this file in MS Word format.
GTAP-M: A GTAP Model and Data Base that Incorporates Domestic Margins
Authors: Peterson Everett
Published: June 2023

Transportation, wholesaling, and retailing activities are a significant segment of economic activity in many economies. The magnitude of these activities can vary greatly between products, users, and regions. However, in most applied general equilibrium (AGE) analyses, these marketing activities are not tied to specific commodities. This paper develops a model framework and database that incorporates domestic marketing margins on domestic and imported goods going to final demand or used as intermediate inputs, and margins on exports, into the standard GTAP Model. The effects of incorporating domestic marketing activities into an AGE model are illustrated by comparing the results of the standard GTAP Model to the new GTAP-M Model for several different technological change scenarios. The comparison yields two main results. First, tying the domestic marketing activities to specific commodities changes the degree of price transmission from producers to users, compared to a model that does not include margin activities explicitly. The second main result is that the magnitude of the elasticity of substitution between commodities and the composite marketing activity is very important. Allowing variable margins creates a new source of demand-responsiveness for commodities which can significantly alter the results of policy simulations.
GTAP-POV: A Framework for Assessing the National Poverty Impacts of Global Economic and Environmental Policies
Authors: Hertel Thomas , Verma Monika , Ivanic Maros , Magalhaes Eduardo , Ludena Carlos , Rios Ana R.
Published: June 2023

The goal of this technical paper is to provide sufficient detail to permit readers to bring into the GTAP poverty framework additional countries for which suitable household data are available. With the inputs from processed household data – as per the guidelines provided here – the poverty framework can be readily used to assess the likely poverty impacts of global economic policies across a wide range of developing countries, in a fashion which enables systematic cross-country comparisons.
Uma pequena coleção de ossos da avifauna quaternária do Abismo Ponta de Flecha, Vale do Ribeira de Iguape, sudeste do Brasil
Authors: Artur Chahud
Published: June 2023

O Abismo Ponta de Flecha é uma gruta vertical dividida em galerias laterais (denominadas jazidas) que contém abundante quantidade de material fóssil e subfóssil. O presente trabalho identifica o material osteológico de aves. O espécime com maior quantidade de partes ósseas preservadas (11 ossos) pertenceu a um Tinamidae da espécie Tinamus solitarius. Os outros espécimes são representados por dois tarsometatarsos e um úmero de Tinamidae indeterminado, um úmero de pequeno Psittacidae e um fragmento de tarsometatarso de Passeriformes. Apesar de o Abismo Ponta de Flecha possuir remanescentes ósseos da fauna extinta pleistocênica, os espécimes aqui identificados são de famílias viventes que ainda habitam a região.
First record of Leucophaeus atricilla (Linnaeus, 1758) on the southern coast of Santa Catarina
Authors: Samira Effting  , Pedro Volkmer De Castilho
Published: June 2023

On November 8, 2021, an adult individual of the laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) was observed on a stretch of sandy beach in the municipality of Imbituba, State of Santa Catarina (SC), between the beaches of Vila and Itapirubá Norte. The second record took place on November 12, 2021, in the municipality of Laguna, also in SC. These are the first records of this species for the State, on the southern coast of Brazil, demonstrating the potential for southern displacement of Leucophaeus atricilla, pointing to a possible expansion of its non-reproductive distribution area on the Brazilian coast. The present observations can serve as a pioneer indication of the establishment of new populations in this new region of occurrence.
Florivoria e sítio reprodutivo de Pelidnota sumptuosa (Rutelinae, Scarabaeidae) em flores de Rourea induta (Connaraceae) no cerrado central do Brasil
Authors: Joicelene Regina Lima da Paz  , Isabela Batista Duarte Dourado  , Wagner Pereira Silva
Published: June 2023

O consumo e a predação de peças florais constituem um comportamento comum de espécies de besouros e podem comprometer o sucesso reprodutivo da planta herbivorada. Este trabalho reporta a florivoria e o sítio reprodutivo de besouros Pelidnota sumptuosa em flores de Rourea induta, espécie distílica do cerrado central brasileiro. Para tal, 100 flores e botões foram investigados quanto à presença de danos e de estádios imaturos de insetos, além de observações das interações entre besouros e flores, entre setembro e outubro de 2017. Os besouros foram observados alimentando-se das anteras de tecidos florais, tanto em flores abertas quanto em botões, de plantas brevistilas, que exibem anteras mais expostas do que flores longistilas. Notaram-se também prováveis cópulas. O comportamento de cópula identificado promoveu danos às flores e possibilita que futuras larvas ali depositadas possuam alimento e local para a maturação. A presença de estádios imaturos de insetos foi vista em apenas dez botões florais (n = 20 indivíduos e quatro morfotipos), sem diferença entre os morfos florais. Embora o impacto da herbivoria de P. sumptuosa no sucesso reprodutivo de R. induta não tenha sido testado, as diferenças observadas na atratividade em flores dependentes de polinizadores podem impactar negativamente o fitness reprodutivo da planta.