bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geometrized Vacuum Physics. Part I. Algebra of Stignatures
Authors: Batanov-Gaukhman Mikhail
Published: September 2023

This article is the first part of a scientific project under the general title "Geometrized Vacuum Physics". This study is based on two main postulates: 1) independence of the propagation velocity of electromagnetic waves in vacuum from their frequency; 2) the constancy of the averaged zero vacuum balance, associated with the assertion that only mutually opposite formations are born from vacuum, so that on average they completely compensate for each other's manifestations. In this part of the "Geometrized Vacuum Physics" the foundations of the Algebra of Stignatures are laid, which is the mathematical and logical foundation of the entire project. In the next articles of this project it will be shown that the Algebra of Stignatures can be used for the development of "zero" (vacuum) technologies, algebraic genetics, vacuum cosmology, the vacuum standard model of "elementary particles", vacuum gravity and levitation, vacuum energy, ethics and aesthetics and many other branches of knowledge. At the end of this article, one of the many possible applications of the Algebra of Stignatures is given, in particular, the basics of the stignature-spectral analysis are outlined, with the help of which the possibilities of communication channels can be significantly expanded.
Monkeypox (mpox): Clinical Outcomes and Impact of Vaccination in People with and without HIV: A Population-Wide Study
Authors: Martín-Iguacel Raquel , Pericas Carles , Bruguera Andreu , Rosell Gemma , Martinez Erica , Díaz Yesika , Alonso Lucia , Nomah Daniel Kwakye , Blanco Jose L. , Domingo Pere , Álvarez-López Patricia , Saumoy Maria , Vilades Laborda Consuelo , Mera Arantxa , Calzado Isbert Sonia , Johansen Isik Somuncu , Miró Jose M , Casabona Jordi , Llibre Josep M.
Published: September 2023

We investigated differences in mpox clinical outcomes in people with HIV (PWH) and without HIV (PWoH) and the impact of vaccination in Catalonia, Spain. We used surveillance data and the PISCIS HIV Cohort. We included all confirmed mpox cases (May-December 2022).
Of 2122 mpox cases, the majority had mild disease, 56% were Spanish, and 24% from Latin-America. Forty percent were PWH, with median CD4+T-cell 715 cells/µL, 83% had HIV-RNA<50 copies/ml and 1.8% CD4+T-cell<200 cells/L. PWH had no increased risk for complications, except in cases of immunosuppression. PWH with CD4+T-cell<200 cells/µL were more likely to be from Latin-America, had more generalized exanthema, and required hospitalization more frequently (p=0.001). Diagnosis of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was common, both at mpox diagnosis (17%) and 2 years before (43%). Dose-sparing smallpox vaccination was accompanied by a sharp decrease in mpox incidence in both populations (p<0.0001).
In conclusion, PWH were not at increased risk of severe disease or hospitalization unless immunosuppressed. Mpox is a marker of high-risk sexual behavior and was associated with high HIV and STI rates, supporting the need for screening in all mpox cases. Ethnicity disparities underscore the need for interventions to ensure equitable healthcare access. Dose-sparing smallpox vaccination retained effectiveness.
Adsorption of the Low Density Lipoproteins on the Azobenzene-containing Polymer Brush: Modelling by the Coarse-grained Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Ilnytskyi Jaroslav , Yaremchuk Dmytro , Komarytsia Orest
Published: September 2023

One of the strategies to reduce the contents of the low density lipoproteins (LDLs) in a blood is a hemoperfusion, in which case they are selectively retracted from plasma by an adsorber located outside the patient body. Recently, a photo-controllable smart surface was developed for this purpose characterised by high selectivity and reusability [C.Guo et al., ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2022, DOI:10.1021/acsami.2c07193]. We present a mesoscopic model for such a setup involving the azobenzene-containing polymer brush and the model LDL particles. The latter comprise an uniform spherical core covered by a shell of elongated particles representing phospholipids. The system is studied using the coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation. We examined the dependences of the binding energy on both the length of polymer chains and the grafting density of a brush, and established optimal conditions for the adsorption. These are explained by a competition between the concentration of azobenzenes and phospholipids in the same spatial region, flexibility of polymer chains, and excluded volume effects.
IDAF: Iterative Dual-channel Attentional Fusion for Automatic Modulation Recognition
Authors: Liu Bohan , Ge Ruixing , Zhu Yuxuan , Zhang Bolin , Zhang Xiaokai , Bao Yanfei
Published: September 2023

Recently, deep learning models have been widely applied to modulation recognition, which have become a hot topic due to their excellent end-to-end learning capabilities. However, current methods are mostly based on uni-modal inputs, which suffer from incomplete information and local optimization. To complement the advantages of different modalities, we focus on the multi-modal fusion method. Therefore, we introduce an iterative dual-scale attentional fusion (iDAF) method to integrate multimodal data. Firstly, two feature maps with different receptive field sizes are constructed using local and global embedding layers. Secondly, the feature inputs are iterated into the Iterative Dual Scale Attention Module (iDCAM), where the two branches capture the details of high-level features and the global weights of each modal channel, respectively. The iDAF not only extracts the recognition characteristics of each specific domains, but also complements the strengths of different modalities to obtain a fruitful view. Our iDAF achieves a recognition accuracy of 93.5\% at 10dB and 0.6232 at full SNR. The comparative experiments and ablation studies effectively demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the iDAF.
Preeclampsia and Their Impact on Human Milk Activin A Concentration
Authors: Coscia Alessandra , Riboldi Lorenzo , Spada Elena , Bertino Enrico , Sottemano Stefano , Barbagallo Ignazio , Livolti Giovanni , Galvano Fabio , Gazzolo Diego , Peila Chiara
Published: September 2023

Background: It is known that Preeclampsia affects the lactogenesis. However, data on effects of this pathology on the human milk neurobiomarkers composition are not available. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of this gestational pathology on Activin A levels, a neurobi-omarker known to play an important role in the development and protection of the central nerv-ous system. Methods: The women recruited were divided in two different study groups: preeclamptic or normotensive women. All the human milk samples were collected using the same procedure. Activin A was quantified using an ELISA test. To investigate the effect of Preeclampsia on the Activin A concentration in the 3 lactation phases, mixed linear model with unistructural covariance structure, mother as random effect, and fixed effects were performed. Results: Activin A was detected in all samples. There were no significant differences between Preeclamptic and Normotensive women. The only significant effect is related to the lactation phase: it is significant the difference between colostrum and mature milk (p<0.01). In conclusion these results allow us to affirm that breast milk beneficial properties are maintained even if preeclampsia occurs.
Theory of the Generalization of the Boltzmann’s Constant in Curved Space-Time. Shannon-Boltzmann Gibbs Entropy Relation and the Effective Boltzmann’s Constant
Authors: Flores Hector Gerardo , Gonçalvez de Souza Maria Isabel
Published: September 2023

Here we will model the curvature and contraction of space-time using as a basis the equation of state of an ideal gas and the Hawking´s equation for the temperature of a black hole. We will use this mathematical model to hypothesize that the Boltzmann´s constant depends on the state of matter, that is, there is a known Boltzmann´s constant for flat space-time and an effective Boltzmann´s constant for curved space-time. This model will allow us to quantify the structure of space-time and will serve as a basis to determine the origin of gravity and the origin of elementary particles. Using the Shannon-Boltzmann-Gibbs entropy relation, we will demonstrate that information is not lost and depends on the state of matter, the information is encoded and depends on the effective Boltzmann´s constant.
Removal of Pb2+ from Aqueous Media by Adsorption onto a Novel Coconut-Based Polyurethane-Activated Carbon Composite in a Fixed-Bed Column: Experimental Design and Breakthrough Curves Modelling
Authors: Fernandez Rubie Mae D. , Estrada Renz John R. , Tomon Tomas Ralph B. , Dingcong Roger Jr. G. , Amparado Jr. Ruben F. , Capangpangan Rey Y. , Malaluan Roberto M. , Dumancas Gerard G. , Lubguban Alona A. , Alguno Arnold C. , Bacosa Hernando P. , Lubguban Arnold A.
Published: September 2023

This study presents a novel polyurethane-activated carbon composite (PACC) as an effective and sustainable adsorbent for treating lead-ion-contaminated waters. The PACC was characterized using SEM-EDX, FTIR, BET, XRD, and TGA to evaluate its physicochemical and thermal properties. Furthermore, the PACC was employed in an experimental column adsorption setup to investigate its adsorption performance and to develop a dynamic method suitable for industrial implementation. Parameters such as bed height (50, 100, 150 mm), flow rate (4, 6, 8 mL min-1), pH (2, 4, 6), and initial metal ion concentrations (10, 50, 100 mg L-1) were examined. The experimental data exhibited strong agreement with the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models (R2 ≥ 0.96), indicating efficient adsorption mechanisms. Remarkably, the depleted adsorbent has the potential for facile regeneration without substantial loss in capacity. The PACC demonstrated excellent adsorption performance for lead ions in aqueous solutions in a fixed-bed column system. Thus, the novel PACC material holds potential for scalable application in industrial settings to address water pollution challenges, especially in regions with uncontrolled effluent discharge.
Characteristics of an Ising-Like Model with Ferromagnetic and Antiferromagnetic Interactions
Authors: Kryzhanovsky Boris , Egorov Vladislav , Litinskii Leonid
Published: September 2023

In the framework of mean field approximation, we consider a spin system consisting of two interacting sub-ensembles: spins interactions with in each sub-ensemble are ferromagnetic, while the inter-ensemble interactions are antiferromagnetic. We define the effective number of the nearest neighbors, and show that if the two sub-ensembles have the same effective number of the nearest neighbors, the classical form of critical exponents (, , , ) gives way to the non-classical form (, , , ), and the scaling function changes simultaneously. We demonstrate that this system allows for two second-order phase transitions and two first-order phase transitions. We observe that an external magnetic field does not destroy the phase transitions, but only shifts their critical points, allowing for control of the system’s parameters. We discuss the regime when the magnetization as a function of the magnetic field develops a low-magnetization plateau, and show that the height of this plateau abruptly rises to the value of one when the magnetic field reaches a critical value. Our analytical results are supported by a Monte Carlo simulation of a three-dimensional layered model.
Adaptively Learnt Modeling for a Digital Twin of Hydropower Turbines with Application to a Pilot Testing System
Authors: Wang Hong , Ou Shiqi(Shawn) , Dahlhaug Ole Gunnar , Storli Pål-Tore , Skjelbred Hans Ivar , Vilberg Ingrid
Published: September 2023

In the development of a digital twin (DT) for hydropower turbines, dynamic modeling of the system (e.g., penstock, turbine, speed control) is crucial, along with all the necessary data interface, virtualization, and dashboard designs. Since the DT must mimic the actual dynamics of the hydropower turbine accurately, adaptive learning is required to train these dynamic models online so that the models in the DT can effectively follow the representation of the actual hydropower turbine dynamics accurately and reliably. This study presents an adaptive learning method for obtaining the hydropower turbine models for DT development of hydropower systems using recursive least squares algorithm. To simplify the formulation, the hydropower turbine under consideration was assumed to operate near a fixed operating point, where the system dynamics can be well represented by a set of linear differential equations with constant parameters. In this context, the well-known six-coefficient model for the Francis turbine was formulated as the starting point to obtain input and output models for the turbine. Then, an adaptive learning mechanism was developed to learn model parameters using the real-time data from a hydropower turbine testing system. This led to a semi-physical modeling in which the first principles and data-driven modeling are integrated to produce dynamic models for the DT development. Applications to a pilot system at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) were made, and the models learned adaptively using the data collected from the university’s pilot system. Desired modeling and validation results were obtained.
Redesigning the Hospital Evaluation Toolkit to Create a Better Healing Environment for Cancer Patients Beyond the Global North
Authors: Tekbiyik Tekin Bedia , Dincyurek Ozgur
Published: September 2023

Today, numerous studies have shown that the physical environment in hospitals can significantly influence patients' well-being, comfort, and recovery. However, this is currently neglected in hospitals in the Global South. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase the awareness to make it more applicable worldwide. Thus, this study focuses on improving the healing environment standards, by exploring the impact of evidence-based design and patient-centred care in hospitals for cancer patients; particularly the architectural space quality, on patient health outcomes as well as hospital staff health and wellbeing. In Global North countries, such as the UK, the Achieving Excellence Design Evaluation Toolkit (AEDET), is used by its National Health Services, to assess the effectiveness of various environmental attributes. However, these toolkits have not been designed for and do not work well within Global South countries, such as Northern Cyprus. To examine and compare the effectiveness of different physical environmental attributes and to evaluate user responses, the Post-Occupancy Evaluation Method and the AEDET toolkit have been used in the study. These were applied to both public and private hospitals in Northern Cyprus, involving cancer patients, staff, and professionals (n=220). The findings reveal the strength and weaknesses in terms of environmental comfort based on the aspects of evidence-based design of the hospitals such as natural light, air quality, noise, view, infection control, etc., to create a more optimal physical environment for better psychological outcomes. This is the first study to propose an adaptation of the AEDET toolkit to assist architects in designing healthcare facilities that are responsive to the requirements of hospital patients and staff; and to promote the quality of healing environment for improved health and well-being outcomes.
View Evaluation Based on Visibility and Economical Value of High-Rise Apartment Units in the Northern Area of Seoul
Authors: Park Hansol , Arai Takatoshi , Honma Kentaro , Imai Kotaro
Published: September 2023

This study addresses the challenge of objectively quantifying the value of specific views, known to provide psychological and physical benefits, from city center apartments. Unlike subjective evaluations, objective measurement is hindered by limited research and methodology. The research focuses on quantifying visibility by projecting rays from measurement points and determining whether they intersect with unobstructed views, such as the sky and natural elements. Two metrics are proposed to evaluate visibility: the number of view rays and the ratio of view rays to windows. The study analyzed 17 types of residential units in 12 complexes in northern Seoul, South Korea, with the aim of isolating the effect of views on housing prices from other factors. Correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between view and housing prices. The results indicated that valuations based on average visibility are more favorable than those based on maximum visibility. The amount of visibility showed a stronger correlation with apartment prices than the number of floors, suggesting the need to measure views across the entire space. The study's methodology can be applied to analyze views in different buildings and urban areas.
An Assessment Model for Sustainability City Using Crowdsourced Data Based on General System Theory: A Design Science Methodology Approach
Authors: Ependi Usman , Rochim Adian Fatchur , Wibowo Adi
Published: September 2023

Historically, the lack of comprehensive and real-time data is the main challenge in city sustainability assessments. However, with the increase in the availability of crowdsourced data over the last decade, a rich and real-time data source provides detailed images of urban systems. This has opened up new opportunities for practitioners, including geographers, social researchers, and data scientists, to gather and utilize social media data as a core source for studying cities and assessing their sustainability. This paper proposes an assessment model for the sustainability of cities based on crowdsourced data and the principles of General System Theory. The model aims to utilize crowdsourced data for the analysis and decision-making processes to enhance the sustainability and resilience of smart future cities.
Beam Transmission (BTR) Software for Efficient Neutral Beam Injector Design and Tokamak Operation
Authors: Dlougach Eugenia , Kichik Margarita
Published: September 2023

Neutral beam injection (NBI) is used for thermonuclear plasma heating, non-inductive current drive, rotation, operation scenario control, and for plasma diagnostics in nuclear fusion devices. NBI is the main source of fast particles in plasma which transmit energy to thermal plasma during their slow-down. Steady-state tokamak operation is only possible when the sub-thermal particles energy is absorbed and effectively confined in plasma volume. While NBI purposes and applications vary through different fusion systems, the engineering tasks performed during research and development (R&D) stage of neutral beamline design have much in common. The NBI studies, especially addressing long pulse and high-power operation typically include a beam transmission analysis and power loads distribution at the structural components of the beamline. Thermo-structural analysis is applied next to heat removal circuits design. ‘Beam Transmission’ (BTR) code is a dedicated tool, developed by a physicist and used by NBI physicists and engineers. BTR was created and 1st applied during R&D phase of the world’s largest tokamak ITER. BTR code is intended for public usage and routinely applied for detailed simulations of neutral beam propagation through complex beamlines. BTR is flexible and intuitive in input, user-friendly and fully interactive. Thanks to visualization and high performance BTR looks and feels like a real NB flight simulator. Despite BTR ‘mature’ age, the code is still in evolution. Support is available to all new BTR users.
MicroRNA-30d—A Potential New Therapeutic Target for Prevention of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy after Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Boxhammer Elke , Paar Vera , Wernly Bernhard , Kiss Attila , Mirna Moritz , Aigner Achim , Acar Eylem , Watzinger Simon , Podesser Bruno K. , Zauner Roland , Wally Verena , Aiblinger Michael , Hackl Matthias , Hoppe Uta C. , Lichtenauer Michael
Published: September 2023

Abstract: (1) Background and Objective: MicroRNAs (miR) are biomarkers for assessing the extent of cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) and important predictors of clinical outcome in heart failure. Overexpression of miR-30d appears to have a cardioprotective effect. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate whether miR-30d could be used as a potential therapeutic target to improve post-MI adverse remodeling. (2) Methods and Results: MiR profiling was performed by next generation sequencing to assess different expression patterns in ischemic vs. healthy myocardium in a rat model of MI. MiR-30d was significantly downregulated (p<0.001) in ischemic myocardium and was selected as promising target. A mimic of miR-30d was administered in the respective treatment group, whereas control group received non-functional, scrambled siRNA. To measure the effect of miR-30d on infarct area size of left ventricle, rats were randomized and treated with miR-30d or scrambled siRNA. Histological planimetry was performed 72 hours and 6 weeks after induction of MI. Infarct area was significantly reduced at 72 hours and at 6 weeks by using the miR-30d (72 hours: 22.89±7.66% vs. 35.96±9.27%, p=0.0136; 6 weeks: 6.93±4.58% vs. 12.48±7.09%; p=0.0172). To gain insight into infarct healing, scratch assays were used to obtain information on cell migration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Gap closure was significantly faster in the mimic-treated cells 20h post-scratching (12.4% more than scrambled control after 20h; p=0.013). To analyze anti-apoptotic quality of miR-30d, the ratio between phosphorylated p53 and total p53 was evaluated in human cardiomyocytes using ELISA. Under the influence of miR-30d mimic, cardiomyocytes demonstrated a decreased pp53/total p53 ratio (0.66±0.08 vs. 0.81±0.17), showing a distinct tendency (p=0.055) to decrease apoptosis rate compared to the control group. (3) Conclusion: Using a mimic of miR-30d underlines the cardioprotective effect of miR-30d in MI and could reduce the risk for development of ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Recommendations for the Clinical Approach to Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Mingot-Castellano Maria Eva , Canaro Hirnyk Mariana , Sánchez-González Blanca , Alvarez-Roman Maria Teresa , Bárez-García Abelardo , Bernardo-Gutiérrez Ángel , Bernat-Pablo Silvia , Bolaños-Calderón Estefanía , Butta-Coll Nora , Caballero-Navarro Gonzalo , Caparrós-Miranda Isabel Socorro , Entrena Ureña Laura , Fernández-Fuertes Luis Fernando , García-Frade Luis Javier , Gómez del Castillo Solano María del Carmen , González-López Tomás José , Grande-García Carlos , Guinea de Castro José María , Jarque-Ramos Isidro , Jiménez-Bárcenas Reyes , López-Ansoar Elsa , Martínez-Carballeira Daniel , Martínez-Robles Violeta , Monteagudo-Montesinos Emilio , Páramo-Fernández José Antonio , Perera-Álvarez María del Mar , Soto-Ortega Inmaculada , Valcárcel-Ferreiras David , Pascual-Izquierdo Cristina
Published: September 2023

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a complex autoimmune disease whose hallmark is a deregulation of cellular and humoral immunity leading to an increased destruction and a reduced production of platelets. The heterogeneity of presentation and clinical course hampers personalized approaches for diagnosis and management. In 2021, the Spanish ITP Group (GEPTI) of the Spanish Society of Hematology and Hemotherapy (SEHH) updated a consensus document which had been launched in 2011. The updated guidelines have been the reference for diagnosis and management of primary ITP in Spain ever since. Nevertheless, the emergence of new tools and strategies makes it advisable to review them again. For this reason, we have properly updated the main recommendations. Our aim is to provide a practical tool to enable the integral management of all the aspects concerning primary ITP management.
Study on Thermal Crack Characteristics of Granite in Shandong Province, China under Different Temperatures and Heating/Cooling Treatments
Authors: Zhang Weiqiang , Li Wei , Zhang Xin , Qiao Wei , Wang Yangzhou , Xie Jinyu
Published: September 2023

Understanding the thermal cracks of rock caused by high temperature is of great help to the development of underground engineering, such as geothermal mining, underground coal gasification. Although there has been many study on thermal cracking, it is not systematic and in-depth enough. In order to deeply study the thermal crack mechanism of rock, this paper conducted thermal cracking experiments on granite at different temperatures and heating/cooling paths, and qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted on the crack initiation characteristics, propagation paths, and crack network morphology of rock thermal crack under different test conditions. The thermal crack mechanism was also analyzed from the perspectives of mineral petrology, fracture mechanics, thermodynamics, and other aspects. The research results show that there are two obvious mutation points in the study temperature range for samples with fast cooling paths (SF path: slow heating and fast cooling; FF path: fast heating and fast cooling), around 200-300 ℃ and 600 ℃, respectively, while for samples with slow cooling paths (SS path: slow heating and slow cooling; FS path: fast heating and slow cooling), there is only one mutation point around 600 ℃. The initiation positions of thermal cracking under all temperature paths are relatively similar, with intergranular crack located between particles at the edge of the sample or intercrystalline crack in the middle of feldspar or quartz aggregates. The initiation temperature of SF and FF path specimens is relatively low compared to SS and FS path specimens, and the number and size of cracks is small. The crack network structure formed by the SF path is the most complex, with the largest crack ratio and cumulative crack length; The crack network structure formed by the FF path is relatively complex, with a larger main crack size but relatively fewer secondary cracks; The FS and SS paths do not form a complex network with good connectivity. The process of thermal crack development can be divided into three stages: the development of small cracks, the joint development of main cracks and small cracks, and the connection of cracks into a network structure. The mechanism of thermal crack propagation is that the expansion and thermal conductivity between different crystals are different. The thermal stress caused by temperature gradient and the tension or shear stress caused by the inconsistent deformation of crystals form stress concentration in weak areas such as particles boundary, cleavage, and original cracks. Firstly, it causes some crystals with smaller strength or less rounded shape to crack, and when the combined stress is large, the cracks will gradually expand along the existing fine cracks. This also explains that the most main cracks of the SF and FF path specimens mainly surround some large mineral aggregates or between particles.
Reshaping the Canvas: Post-Pandemic Strategic Plan for Higher Education Institution
Authors: Eslit Edgar R.
Published: September 2023

In an ever-evolving landscape of higher education institution, the College of Arts and Sciences at St. Michael's College, Iligan City, Philippines, embarked on a strategic journey to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the post-pandemic era. This study, conducted in August 2022, delves into the multifaceted dimensions of their strategic planning processes. Through qualitative methods that use intensive in-depth reviews of literature, informal interviews, observation, and thematic analysis, this research unveils a narrative of adaptation, innovation, and internationalization. It explores how the institution resiliently adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, leveraged technological advancements to enhance educational delivery, fostered interdisciplinary collaboration at the nexus of arts and sciences, and embraced internationalization through partnerships and cultural exchange. Anchored in a robust theoretical framework, this study resonates with broader trends in higher education, echoing the global call for agile, student-centric, and forward-thinking institutions. As this institution's journey unfolds, its experiences and lessons resonate with academic leaders, administrators, faculty, students, and stakeholders, inviting reflection and dialogue on the future of higher education.
Bipartisan/Range Voting in Two Rounds Reaches a Promising Balance between Efficiency and Strategy-Resistance
Authors: Boudet Samuel
Published: September 2023

In the quest to develop a more effective and representative electoral system that offers a higher global satisfaction while also resisting strategic voting, this paper introduces the Bipartisan/Range method. This electoral system operates in two separate rounds: a first round where voters rank candidates, and if no Condorcet winner emerges, a second round where voters score candidates within a small head set known as the bipartisan set. The proposed method takes inspiration from randomized Condorcet voting system, probably the most strategy-resistant Condorcet methods, but eliminates the non-determinism while improving efficiency in the case of paradoxes. By introducing an unpredictable second round spaced in time and prohibiting predictive surveys, voters face difficulties in anticipating paradoxes, and insincere votes carry inherent risks. Furthermore, the Bipartisan set's limited size mitigates the range voting problem of exaggerated votes. Thus, the method has the potential to be both efficient in reflecting voters' preferences and resistant to strategic voting, exceeding expectations from Arrow's theorem. The method's versatility allows for extensions to multiple candidates, enhancing its applicability across various electoral contexts. Additionally, we have developed BipartiVox, an online platform specifically designed to conduct elections using the Bipartisan/Range method, making it accessible to a wider audience. In conclusion, the Bipartisan/Range method represents a substantial contribution to the field of voting systems, providing a practical, strategy-resistant, and efficient alternative that aligns closely with genuine voter preferences.
RCA-PixelCNN:Residual Causal Attention PixelCNN for Pulsar Candidate Image Lossless Compression
Authors: Jiang Jiatao , Xie Xiaoyao , Yu Xuhong , You Ziyi , Hu Qian
Published: September 2023

The study focuses on the crucial aspect of lossless compression for FAST pulsar search data. The deep generative model PixelCNN, stacking multiple masked convolutional layers, achieves neural network autoregressive modeling, making it one of the most excellent image density estimators. However, the local nature of convolutional networks causes PixelCNN to concentrate only on nearby information, neglecting important information at greater distances. Although deepening the network can broaden the receptive field, excessive depth can compromise model stability, leading to issues like gradient degradation. To address these challenges, the study combines causal attention modules with residual connections, proposing the Causal Residual Attention Module to enhance the PixelCNN model. This innovation not only resolves convergence problems arising from network deepening but also widens the receptive field. It effectively utilizes global features, particularly capturing vertically correlated features prominently present in subgraphs of candidates. This significantly enhances its capability to model pulsar data.In the experiments, the model is trained and validated using the HTRU1 dataset. The study compares the average negative log-likelihood score with baseline models like GMM, STM, and PixelCNN. The results demonstrate the superior performance of the our model over other models. Finally, the study introduces the practical compression encoding process by combining the proposed model with arithmetic coding.
Gastrointestinal Delivery of Bitter Hops Extract Reduces Appetite and Food Cravings in Healthy Adult Women Undergoing Acute Fasting
Authors: Walker Edward , Lo Kim , Gopal Pramod
Published: September 2023

Dietary restrictions or reductions such as fasting for weight loss, are often difficult to adhere to in the long term due to increased appetite and food cravings. Recently, gastrointestinal delivery of bitter hops extract has been shown to be effective at reducing appetite in men. Our aim was to determine the effect of bitter hops on appetite and cravings in women, using a day-long, water-only fast. Thirty adult women were recruited and required to fast for 24 h from 1800 h to 1800 h on three occasions and given an ad libitum meal to break each fast. Treatments of either a placebo or one of two doses (high dose; HD: 250 mg or low dose; LD: 125 mg) of a bitter hops-based appetite suppressant (Amarasate®) were given twice per day at 16 and 20 h into the fast. Treatment with both the HD and LD treatment groups exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in appetite and cravings for food. Two participants reported loose stools and one reported heart-burn while on the HD treatment, and one participant reported loose stools while on the LD treatment. These data suggest that appetite suppressant co-therapy may be useful in reducing hunger during fasting in women and shows that gastrointestinal delivery of bitter compounds may also be an effective method of reducing cravings for food.
EVALUASI PELAYANAN DALAM MENINGKATKAN KUALITAS PENDIDIKAN DI ERA PANDEMI COVID-19
Authors: Dea Farahdiba  , Nur Hikmah Andika Suci
Published: September 2023

Pandemi Covid-19 telah berdampak pada perubahan tatanan kehidupan sosial serta menurunnya kinerja perekonomian di sebagian besar negara di dunia. Di Indonesia, pandemi covid-19 juga berdampak pada beberapa perusahaan startup yang mulai berdiri pada tahun 2018. Salah satu Startup Teknologi Pendidikan yang berlokasi di Jakarta menghadirkan platform pembelajaran online untuk seluruh siswa di Indonesia tingkat SMP dan SMA. Platform tersebut dibuat untuk memudahkan belajar siswa dan lebih fokus di akses di mana saja. Namun, ada keluhan tentang masalah dan saran dari pengguna. Oleh karena itu, untuk meningkatkan kualitas layanan, perlu dilakukan evaluasi terhadap apa yang terdapat dalam aplikasi dan website untuk meraih pangsa pasar yang lebih besar di era pandemi covid-19, di mana sebagian besar setiap pekerjaan telah beralih ke work from home. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kendala yang paling sering dialami oleh pengguna dan bagaimana penerapan promosi yang dilakukan oleh start-up untuk meningkatkan jumlah pengguna. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan teknik observasi dan wawancara. Objek penelitian ini adalah perusahaan start-up di Jakarta. Penelitian yang telah dilakukan, menunjukkan bahwa implementasi promosi yang dilakukan meningkatkan jumlah pengguna dan rasa puas dialami oleh pengguna start-up.
ANALISIS PERENCANAAN TAMAN KERAJAAN NUSANTARA SEBAGAI POTENSI WISATA DI KABUPATEN KULONPROGO
Authors: Kuswadi Rustam
Published: September 2023

Data Dinas Pariwisata menunjukkan, wisatawan yang singgah di Yogyakarta untuk waktuyang lama masih sangat kurang. Kekurangan inilah yang akan ditambal dengan adanyadestinasi wisata baru yang akan membuat wisatawan lebih lama tinggal di Yogyakarta.Untuk itu dilaksanakan penelitian analisis perencanaan taman kerajaan nusantara sebagaipotensi wisata di Kabupaten Kulonprogo dengan tujuan mengetahui potensi wisata danmenemukan strategi terkait dengan rencana TKN di Kabupaten Kulonprogo. Metodepenelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dan kuantitatif dengan sampel individuyang dianggap ahli dan kompeten seperti aparat pemerintah daerah terkait, kelompokmasyarakat terkait dan tokoh masyarakat setempat. Terpilih sebanyak 21 responden yangditentukan secara sengaja (purposive). Analisis data menggunakan analisis diskriptif dananalisis SWOT dan matriks analisis SWOT. Hasil pembahasan diperoleh total IFAS lebih kecildari EFAS, artinya secara keseluruhan faktor internal memiliki nilai strategi yang lebihrendah. Untuk itu, dalam menyusun strategi perencanaan pembangunan TKN, sebaiknyalebih memperhatikan faktor internal. Di sisi lain nilai Strenght (S) lebih besar dari Weakness(W) dengan selisih 1,26 dan nilai Opportunity (O) lebih besar dari Threat (T) dengan selisih0,11. Dengan demikian alternatif pilihan strategi yaitu menggunakan kekuatan denganmemanfaatkan peluang atau disebut dengan strategi agresif. Dengan demikian perencanaanTKN di Kabupaten selain menjadi potensi daya tarik wisata di Kabupaten Kulonprogo dapatpula menjadi potensi terangkatnya kearifan lokal sosial, budaya dan ekonomi sehingga akanmenjadi potensi peningkatan kesejahteraan masyarakat dan potensi peningkatan PADKabupaten Kulonprogo.
PENGARUH KOLABORASI SEPATU AEROSTREET TERHADAP MINAT BELI KONSUMEN
Authors: Navilah Irfa Atin , Wardani Ayu Kusuma , P Iqball Bima , A Muhammad Salman , A Prayoga Predestiya
Published: September 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh dari kolaborasi yang dilakukan oleh Aerostreet terhadap minat beli dari konsumen. Variabel dalam penelitian ini terbagi menjadi dua jenis. Variabel independen dalam penelitian ini adalah kolaborasi sedangkan variabel dependen dalam penelitian ini adalah minat beli. Penelitian ini dilakukan menggunakan metode survei dengan menyebarkan kuesioner melalui Google Form dan menggunakan metode kuantitatif. Teknik sampling yang digunakan yaitu non-probability purposive sampling dengan kriteria responden mengetahui brand Aerostreet dan berusia antara 17-26 tahun. Sampel yang dibutuhkan dalam penelitian ini berjumlah 100 responden. Data yang diperoleh dari hasil penyebaran kuesioner di analisis dengan, uji validitas, uji reliabilitas, uji korelasi spearman, uji parsial (t), uji koefisien determinasi dan uji regresi linear sederhana kemudian data tersebut diolah menggunakan program SPSS versi 20. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa kolaborasi yang dilakukan oleh Aerostreet dengan brand, seniman atau tokoh masyarakat memiliki pengaruh yang positif terhadap minat beli konsumen.
The Renewable Energy Performances of Black Sea and Balkan Countries: An Application of Grey Principal Component Analysis
Authors: KOÇAK Deniz , ÇALIŞKAN Abdulkerim
Published: September 2023

Renewable energy, accepted as a solution to global energy needs, is an environmentally benign energy source that contributes to the economic development of countries, protects natural resources, and reduces pollution. Dependency on non-renewable energy sources raises serious concerns such as environmental degradation, energy security problems, and supply shortages. This study aims to evaluate the renewable energy performances of 14 Balkan and Black Sea countries with similar historical, cultural, and structural characteristics. For this purpose, the data on countries’ renewable energy indicators in 2020 is used in the grey principal component analysis that integrates grey system theory and principal component analysis. Thanks to the grey principal component analysis, it is possible to measure the countries’ existing state in renewable energy and evaluate the performance of countries comparatively. Results indicate that countries such as Russia and Türkiye, which stem from their potential in renewable energy indicators, or European Union member countries such as Greece and Romania, which are expected to fulfill certain obligations on renewable energy, rank first in the reference year. On the other hand, countries such as Bosnia–Herzegovina and Serbia, which have critical shortcomings in renewable energy applications, are in last place in the performance evaluation.
Holocene Earthquake Cycles of an Active Tectonic Block Boundary Fault Zone: A Case Study in the Qilian–Haiyuan Fault Zone, Northeastern Tibet Plateau
Authors: Liang Shumin , Zheng Wenjun , Zhang Dongli , Peng Hui , Sun Xin , Wei Shiqi
Published: September 2023

Fault zones along active tectonic block boundaries are a significant source of devastating continental earthquakes. Strong earthquakes produce disruptions of sediment and induce characteristic sediments near the fault, which serve as valuable sedimentary evidence for identifying and dating of paleoearthquakes. In this study, we aimed to reconstruct the earthquake history of the Qilian–Haiyuan fault zone in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau during the Holocene. We reanalyzed forty-four trenches and used the sedimentary sequences, event indicators, and age constraints to determine the earthquake history. Our analysis revealed the paleoearthquakes of 6 subsidiary faults of the Qilian–Haiyuan fault zone with accurate event ages and rupture extents. Based on the spatial and temporal distributions of strong earthquakes since 10 ka, we identified five earthquake clusters around the central-eastern Qilian–Haiyuan fault zone including seven rupture cascades where the earthquakes migrated gradually from east to west. The existing seismic gap reveals that the latest migration may not yet be complete and suggests a high probability of M ≥ 7 earthquakes occurring on the Jinqianghe fault, Maomaoshan fault, and the central part of the Lenglongling faults. We concluded that, in order to better understand earthquake cycles and seismic hazards, it is important to consider a fault zone as a whole, including multiple faults and their interaction on the earthquake triggering between nearby faults.
Self-Repair of Cement Paste with Gas-Sensitive Graft Polymer
Authors: Qi Yue , Yang Zhiguang , Yang Xiutian , Wang Xuguang , Jia Weijun , Liu Hao , Wu Guangxing , Xiao HaiDong
Published: September 2023

To solve the problem of annular gas channeling in natural gas well cementing, isoprene rubber was used as graft matrix material, natural gas absorbing methyl methacrylate and octadecyl acrylate were used as functional monomers, a gas-inspired expansion graft polymer was prepared by graft copolymerization, and a natural gas-triggered self-repair cementing slurry was developed. The structure of gas-sensitive grafted polymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and the effects of monomer concentration and copolymer feed ratio on equilibrium swelling degree were investigated. For the cement stone (ring) samples with microcracks and microgaps, the gas-triggered repair performance of the system was evaluated by using a self-designed testing instrument. The results show that the gas-sensitive material can increase the gas channeling resistance of fractured cement paste by one to two orders of magnitude. The material system has been applied to 20 deep gas wells in Daqing Field, and the test results show that the system can guarantee the effective sealing of the cement sheath.
A Method for Distinguishing Flight Calls of Several Western Birds
Authors: Mathers-Winn Cedar , Leick Debbie , Stone Kate
Published: September 2023

Billions of birds migrate under the cover of darkness, making them difficult to detect except by calls given in flight. Recording and identifying these calls can document the species of birds passing overhead and provide an index to their numbers. However, flight calls of some species are quite similar and difficult to tell apart. We investigated a method of identifying calls of several species whose calls are difficult to distinguish: the Solitary (Tringa solitaria) versus Spotted (Actitis macularius) Sandpipers and the White-crowned (Zonotrichia leucophrys) versus Brewer’s (Spizella breweri) and Clay-colored (S. pallida) Sparrows. We generated audiospectrograms of diurnal flight calls of known identity and inspected these for qualitative criteria by which the calls could be distinguished without the need for measurements or statistical software. We then tested the efficacy of these criteria on a new set of previously identified flight calls. Consideration of multiple criteria allowed identification of ~50% of one of the two types of sandpiper calls analyzed and ~60% of the sparrow calls, so a significant fraction remained unidentifiable by this method. Nevertheless, we hope researchers and sound recordists will apply this guide to improve our understanding of migration throughout western North America. We also encourage recordists to contribute additional visually verified recordings to allow us or others to perform similar tests on other species and species groups.
Extensive Prealternate Molts in Peruvian Kelp Gulls
Authors: Adriaens Peter , Ayyash Amar , Muusse Mars
Published: September 2023

According to current literature, the Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) matures at the same rate and molts according to the same patterns as most other large gulls, such as the American Herring (L. argentatus smithsonianus) and Western (L. occidentalis). The Kelp Gull, however, is widespread through the Southern Hemisphere, with separate populations occupying no fewer than four different climate zones and breeding at different times of the year; the molt of some of those populations appears to have not been studied yet. Here we demonstrate that many immature Kelp Gulls of the Peruvian population undergo much more extensive first and second prealternate molts than has been known so far and achieve an adult-like plumage aspect in as soon as 2.5 years rather than the usual 4. In these respects, these Kelp Gulls recall the Yellow-footed Gull (L. livens) or subspecies heuglini and fuscus of the Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. fuscus).
Pragmatic Return to Effective Dental Infection Control through Triage and Testing (PREDICT): A feasibility study to improve dental office safety
Authors: Fredericks-Younger Janine , Feldman Cecile , Allareddy Veerasathpurush , Funkhouser Ellen , McBurnie MaryAnn , Meyerowitz Cyril , Ragusa Pat , Chapman-Greene Julie , Coker Modupe , Fine Daniel H , Gennaro Maria Laura , Subramanian Gayathri
Published: September 2023

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for practitioners to enhance workflows to increase safety and mitigate risk. As dental practice creates a highly aerosolized environment, pre-visit testing for SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to be an effective mitigation strategy to minimize disease transmission in dental offices. The Pragmatic Return to Effective Dental Infection Control through Testing (PREDICT) Feasibility Study examined the potential, logistics, and impact related to laboratory-based PCR viral testing and point-of-care (POC) antigen testing.
Methods
Dental healthcare workers (DHCWs) and patients in four dental offices within the National Dental Practice-based Research Network participated in this prospective study. In addition to electronic surveys, participants in two offices completed POC testing, while participants in two offices used lab based PCR methods to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection. For this feasibility study, analysis was limited to descriptive measures. Median and interquartile ranges were reported for Likert scale responses and mean and standard deviation for continuous variables
Results
Forty-one of forty-three consented patients and twenty-eight of twenty-nine DHCWs completed the protocol. Descriptive statistics calculations including median and interquartile ranges revealed (1) saliva, tongue epithelial cells and nasal swabs were the most desirable specimens for testing for groups (2) both LAB and POC protocols took similar amounts of total time to complete the full testing protocol and (3) DHCWs and patients reported feeling more comfortable when both groups were tested.
Conclusions
This feasibility study suggests that pre-visit SARS-CoV-2 testing can be effectively implemented into dental practice workflows and positively impact perception of safety for DHCWs and patients, though a larger scale, network study is necessary for generalizability of results. As new virulent infectious diseases continue to emerge, preparing dental personnel to employ an entire toolbox of risk mitigation strategies, including testing, may have the potential to decrease dental practice closure time, maintaining continuity of dental care services for patients.
Trial Registration
This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05123742.