bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An innovative iterative approach to solving Volterra integral equations of second kind
Authors: Hussein Mohammed Abdulshareef , Jassim Hassan Kamil , Jassim Ali Kareem
Published: May 2024

Many scientists have shown great interest in exploring the realm of second-kind integral equations, offering many techniques for solving them, including exact, approximate, and numerical methods. This paper introduces the Hussein-Jassim method (HJ-method) for solving Volterra integral equations of the second kind (VIESKs). The foundation of this approach lies in the principle of Maclaurin expansion. The algorithm of the method was derived, and its convergence was analysed. Furthermore, the method was applied to various Volterra integral equations, encompassing linear, nonlinear, homogeneous, and nonhomogeneous cases. Ultimately, the proposed method successfully addressed these equations, with the approximate solutions converging toward the exact solution.
Barbie - od przedmiotu do rzeczy
Authors: Woźniak-Czech Ewelina
Published: May 2024

Barbie, the doll-symbol, the pop culture icon and significant prop on the artistic, political, social and business scenes, has been arousing emotions in subsequent generations for several decades. It is worth noting, however, that today Barbie is no longer just a passive instrument illustrating desired ideas, but has become a factor creating reality independent of her creators. In the present discussion, the author focuses on the interpretation of the phenomenon of Barbie perceived as an object and a thing in the sense of the Italian philosopher Remo Bodei. The article attempts to trace the transformation of the image of the Barbie doll from its creation to modern times, when its popularity peaked thanks to the excellent marketing strategy accompanying the distribution of Greta Gerwing’s 2023 film Barbie.
VIII Światowy Kongres Polonistów w Krakowie
Authors: Deja Katarzyna
Published: May 2024

The article offers an account of VIII World Congress of Polish Studies that took place in Cracow in July 2023. It explains the idea of the Congress as well as this year’s main topic, explains the significance of the Congress for both local and international polish studies centers and presents its program: key lectures, thematic sections, and additional special events.
O filozofii formalnej Miguela Ángela Asturiasa
Authors: Szubert Irmina
Published: May 2024

This paper analyses the linguistic structure, creative modes of expression and stylistic properties of Miguel Ángel Asturias’s Legends of Guatemala (Leyendas de Guatemala, 1930). Furthermore, it attempts to classify Asturias’s prose fiction, which is often multifaceted, by defining the unique character of its complex linguistic mechanisms that create his debut short-story collection. All texts in Legends contain references not only to events of the Mayan cosmogony, mythological tropes and motifs (that have been developed and put into a new context), but also to their mimetic relationship with the ritual language used in the Popol Vuh. The word order variations and certain combinations of vowels and consonants, as well as the specific syntactic parallelisms and enumerations (stylistic and lexical “props”) imitate formulaic phrases which are important elements in oral style. Pre-Columbian themes – especially those chosen by the Guatemalan writer for the narrative content of his works – are full of visual symbols with rich folk meanings; the melodic sound of Asturias’s narration (and its internal rhythm) seems attuned to the worldview belonging to both particular and universal human communities.
„Ciało wiersza” – corpus (alter) ego poety – artefaktualizacja tekstu. Psyche lirycznej persony Eugeniusza Tkaczyszyna-Dyckiego
Authors: Koniuszy Przemysław
Published: May 2024

The article is an analysis of Ciało wiersza [The Body of the Poem], a poetic volume by Eugeniusz Tkaczyszyn-Dycki, in the light of psychoanalysis, somatopoetics and philosophy of the body. The author juxtaposes the category of the “body of the poem” with Jean-Luc Nancy’s Corpus. In this context he presents Ciało wiersza as a collection of texts describing the situation of a subject embodying the content of its psyche, transgressing and being on the verge of mental entropy or schizophrenia. Close to Freud’s cathartic method, Tkaczyszyn-Dycki treats the poem as a reservoir of psychogenic material and a projection instrument. The somatext, as embodied unconsciousness, analyzed through the prism of basic Freudian tools (defense mechanisms, regressive shifts), appears as a resultant of the dialectic of repression and the imperative of commemoration, which channels libidinal energy through imaginative displacements. Referring to the recurring leitmotifs of Tkaczyszyn-Dycki’s imagination in Ciało wiersza, the author traces how the poet reflects in the poetic text the workings of the psychic apparatus and the “multiple names” of schizophrenia.
Learner corpus research: a critical appraisal and roadmap for contributing (more) to SLA research agendas
Authors: Paquot Magali
Published: May 2024

Over the past decade, learner corpora have gained recognition as valuable data sources in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research. This development can be attributed to significant progress in Learner Corpus Research (LCR). However, there is still substantial work to be done. This article highlights key issues essential for sustaining the relevance of learner corpora in SLA. More particularly, I focus on the need for more diverse types of learner corpora, stress the importance of detailed metadata, and advocate for multifactorial study designs. I then revisit ongoing debates regarding the role of the native speaker in LCR and propose a practical solution to address this thorny issue. Finally, I also readdress the need for improvement in the quantitative methods and statistics, arguing that the importance of robust quantitative analysis cannot be overstated. In conclusion, I envision an ambitious learner corpus compilation project that adheres to the FAIR principles, with the goal of further elevating study quality in LCR.
Logistics distribution route optimization of electric vehicles based on distributed intelligent system
Authors: Luan Rui
Published: May 2024

The data management system of health cloud authentication plays an important role in the optimization of logistics vehicle routing. It can not only help logistics vehicles choose the best distribution path, but also save time and cost and improve economic efficiency. At present, logistics has not yet formed a complete service system. High distribution costs and low distribution efficiency limit the development of the entire logistics. The reduction of logistics costs and the improvement of distribution efficiency have become the top priorities of the society. The optimization of the distribution route is the key to cost saving and distribution logistics. It is particularly important to study and optimize the distribution route, because the distribution route affects the logistics transportation efficiency and the loss cost during transportation. Therefore, this paper adjusted the scheduling system of logistics vehicles through a distributed intelligent system, and optimized the path of logistics vehicles according to the improved genetic algorithm, thereby reducing the transportation cost of logistics and improving the efficiency of logistics distribution. This article first explains the definition, classification, and main components of the delivery vehicle routing problem. Then, using cloud authentication path optimization, a distributed intelligent system is constructed. Finally, an improved ant colony algorithm is used to analyze and study the distance constraints of vehicles. By improving the ant colony algorithm, it can be seen that the optimized path pheromone concentration and the optimized sub-function have gradually increased with time. The mean pheromone concentration was 40 %, and the seventh day was 15 % higher than the first. The mean value of the optimized subfunction was 0.34 %, and the seventh day was 20 % higher than the first. The distribution cost and distribution efficiency of the optimized logistics vehicle distribution path were much higher than those of the traditional logistics distribution path. Moreover, the distribution cost of the logistics distribution path was 9 % lower than the traditional one, and the distribution efficiency was 13 % higher. The average smoothness of the optimized logistics path is about 90 %, and the seventh day is 11 % higher than the first day. The average fitness of the optimized logistics path is 88 %, and the seventh day is 14 % higher than the first day. In a word, the data management system can uniformly schedule logistics vehicles and improve the efficiency of distribution.
Shifts in digital media usage before and after the pandemic by Rusyns in Ukraine
Authors: Wood Jack
Published: May 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic touched every corner of the globe, even impacting the sphere of linguistics in terms of communication, lexis, and how linguists conduct their research. However, Rusyn, a minority language in Ukraine’s Transcarpathian region, took advantage of this period in a new attempt at revitalization. Rusyn is spoken in several European countries and has the privilege of being recognized and protected in most of them. Ukraine does not, however, consider Rusyn to be a language, and, therefore, does not protect it. There have been several movements for recognition and autonomy in the past, but all have been unsuccessful. The pandemic gave this small community of speakers a new chance to elevate their work towards boosting the language’s vitality and status through digital platforms such as YouTube and collective writing projects. This paper looks at the before-and-after of the pandemic in relation to Rusyn in Transcarpathia, focusing on the shift in digital approaches to protecting and promoting the language. It concludes that, in fact, a shift has occurred in terms of utilizing digital media in order to promote the language.
Spione, Agentinnen, Vertrauensleute
Authors: Fügen Maximilian , Pöhlmann Markus
Published: May 2024

Spionage steht bis heute in der öffentlichen wie auch in der geschichtswissenschaftlichen Wahrnehmung oftmals gleichbedeutend für den militärischen Nachrichtendienst. Dabei macht sich dieses verkürzte Verständnis an dramatischen und prominenten Einzelfällen fest. Der Aufsatz zielt darauf ab, Spionage als militärische Aufgabe für die Gründungsphase der militärischen Nachrichtendienste durch eine empirische Untersuchung der Akteursgruppe besser zu verstehen. Dazu erschließen die Autoren erstmals die Zahl, das soziale Herkommen und die besonderen Einsatzarten der Agentinnen und Agenten im Dienst des preußisch-deutschen Heeres während des Ersten Weltkrieges.
Primary omental infarction – a benign cause of acute abdomen
Authors: Pemmada Vikas , Shetty Athish , Koteshwar Prakashini , Rajpurohit Siddesh , Bhat Ganesh
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Omental infarction (OI) is an uncommon cause of acute abdominal pain. A high index of clinical suspicion is required for diagnosis of OI as the incidence is less than 1 %, presenting with abdominal pain. We report primary OI’s clinical and radiological profile from a single tertiary care hospital in India.

Methods

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the electronic medical and radiology records of patients with abdominal pain were reviewed over seven years (2015–2022). Variables were systematically collected and analyzed.

Results

A total of 22 patients diagnosed with primary OI were included in this study. Male preponderance (63.6 %) was noted with a mean age of 47.45 years (SD ± 13.84; range: 18–72 years). Most patients belonged to class I obesity (according to the Asia-Pacific body mass index classification) with a mean BMI of 26.56 kg/m2 (SD ± 3.21 kg/m2). All patients had abdominal pain as the primary symptom, with a mean duration of 8.64 days (SD ± 10.15; range: 1–42 days). The most common locations of pain were the right hypochondrium (27.3 %) and diffuse (27.3 %), followed by the right iliac fossa (18.1 %). Most (95.45 %, n=21/22) patients were treated conservatively, and only one required surgical intervention.

Conclusions

Primary OI is a rare and benign cause of acute abdomen. Obesity is a risk factor but does not correlate with the size or severity of OI. Radiological imaging, like a computed tomography (CT) scan, is essential for diagnosis. A conservative management line should be the first approach in treating primary OI before considering surgical options.
Effect of basalt fiber length on the behavior of natural hydraulic lime-based mortars
Authors: Cobo Escamilla Alfonso , Bautiste Villanueva Purificación , Prieto Barrio María Isabel , González García María de las Nieves , Vázquez Bouzón Analía
Published: May 2024

The number of studies aimed at the characterization of reinforced lime-based mortars for use in the rehabilitation of historic buildings is still very small. This fact contrasts with the growing interest of the industry in these products as substitutes for cement mortars, both for their constructive advantages (compatibility requirements) and their lower cost (economic and environmental). For this reason, this study investigates the effect of basalt fiber length on the physical, mechanical, and durability properties of reinforced natural hydraulic lime mortars and provides criteria for selecting optical blends to meet the various performance requirements for their use as building materials for traditional and contemporary structures. Specimens with 1% volume of basalt fibers and lengths of 6, 12, 18, and 24 mm have been tested. The results in fresh mortar show that increasing the fiber length decreases the consistency and bulk density, as well as increases the air content. Regarding the durability properties of hardened mortar, no direct relationship is observed between fiber length and the decrease in the water absorption coefficient of reinforced mortars. Nor is there a clear relationship between fiber length and the increase in Shore hardness and the decrease in adhesive strength in the reinforced mortars. On the contrary, for small lengths (up to 12 mm), there is a direct relationship between fiber length and the increase in other fundamental mechanical properties such as flexural and compressive strength. Based on the results obtained, a predictive model is proposed to determine the amplification factor of flexural and compressive strength as a function of fiber length.
Students as co-producers
Authors: Dargahi Shilan , Horne Jessica , Smith Susan
Published: May 2024

To engage students with academic research is recognised as a high-impact activity that supports the development of valuable critical thinking skills. Various approaches have been developed to promote student research both in and outside the curriculum. By incorporating the perspectives of both students and academics, this qualitative study evaluates the extent to which a research partnership is formed through an institutional research scheme called the Junior Research Associate. Our findings indicate that it is critical to move beyond the entrenched academic hierarchies of supervisor/supervisee to develop a negotiated research relationship. Challenges identified include the short timeframe to establish the conditions for successful partnership and differential expectations of partners at the outset of the scheme. It is also important to safeguard against such initiatives being instrumentalised by academics seeking to further their personal research agenda. The findings help to inform strategies to scale up such initiatives.
Students priming students for success
Authors: Balakumar Paary , Fice Heather , Richer Samuel , Western Tamara , Yao Jacqueline
Published: May 2024

Introductory science courses can be a struggle for instructors and students not only because of the challenging nature of the material, but also due to differences in the background knowledge of students. Provision of pre-lecture resources reviewing or introducing key concepts is recommended to support diverse students. In this paper, we describe the iterative design, implementation, and assessment of pre-lecture PRIMERs in a large, introductory genetics course. The development of PRIMERs was conceived, driven, and performed by a student-staff team. Data over 2 years demonstrate that most students considered that PRIMERs supported their learning of the lecture material. Student comments revealed that they found the summaries and practice problems useful, and that they used PRIMERs both as lecture preparation and examination review resources. These results suggest that the students-as-partners model is an effective way to create and refine course resources.
Students as partners for effective change
Authors: Dara Drake
Published: May 2024

My journey as a student partner began in the summer of 2020, amidst overwhelming COVID-19 hysteria and an opportunity to explore a new kind of online learning. I was doing research with a professor of mine and invited to a workshop about Pedagogical Partners with Alison Cook-Sather. When I learned how impactful my work could be as a student partner, I was hooked. For many years, I had felt as though students were not listened to, heard, or respected. I wanted students to be able to play an active role in their own learning. My freshman year, I became an undergraduate teaching assistant (UTA). The experience truly changed my college experience - I mended my troubled relationship with school and learning and came to love it.
Now, in my final year of college, I’ve been a UTA every semester since my freshman year. I’ve done research on the number of UTAs across the country and on campus at Syracuse University (SU). At SU, UTAs were few and far between, just about 10% of classes had one. The most common answer as to why UTAs weren’t used was that there was no money to pay them, so I created my own class that gave students 3 credits to be a UTA and partnered up with two close faculty mentors of mine to teach it. We reflected, dished out advice, and made important bonds with faculty and each other. After one very successful semester, we combined with the Partnership for Inclusive Education (PIE) Program through the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence to merge the UTA program with a student consultant program. This semester, I am enjoying the best of both worlds as a UTA as well as a lead student consultant. Over the course of my college career, I have learned what a true partnership means, experienced the two-way learning it provides, and worked to make courses more inclusive, understanding, and student-centered. I’ve fought hard to put students in decision-making roles and mentored countless students into fantastic student partners that have changed campus for the better.
An authentic discussion of the students-as-partners framework
Authors: Ferguson Brittany
Published: May 2024

N/A
power of introspection
Authors: Kalwani Nikita , Ferguson Amanda , Goff Lori , Dej Kim
Published: May 2024

This article presents the results of collaborative autoethnographical (CAE) research that investigated the group dynamics and processes of an undergraduate student, a post-doctoral fellow, and two senior administrators engaged in a students-as-partners (SaP) project. The CAE methodology allowed us to systematically, collaboratively, and iteratively analyze reflections on key takeaways from our experiences. We identified empowerment through learning and support and putting values into practice as essential components of working with SaP in mixed-role groups. This CAE research also substantiates the importance of negotiating existing power dynamics, as we identified a hierarchical structure within our group that we did not address during the actual project. Based on our group’s dynamics, we suggest that active reflection and communication regarding intersecting identities, shared and individual values, and an openness to learning and growth for all group members are critical components of working toward equitable partnerships with SaP.
The Time-Course of Food Representation in the Human Brain
Authors: Moerel Denise , Psihoyos James , Carlson Thomas A.
Published: May 2024

Humans make decisions about food every day. The visual system provides important information that forms a basis for these food decisions. Although previous research has focused on visual object and category representations in the brain, it is still unclear how visually presented food is encoded by the brain. Here, we investigate the time-course of food representations in the brain. We used time-resolved multivariate analyses of electroencephalography (EEG) data, obtained from human participants (both sexes), to determine which food features are represented in the brain and whether focused attention is needed for this. We recorded EEG while participants engaged in two different tasks. In one task, the stimuli were task relevant, whereas in the other task, the stimuli were not task relevant. Our findings indicate that the brain can differentiate between food and nonfood items from ∼112 ms after the stimulus onset. The neural signal at later latencies contained information about food naturalness, how much the food was transformed, as well as the perceived caloric content. This information was present regardless of the task. Information about whether food is immediately ready to eat, however, was only present when the food was task relevant and presented at a slow presentation rate. Furthermore, the recorded brain activity correlated with the behavioral responses in an odd-item-out task. The fast representation of these food features, along with the finding that this information is used to guide food categorization decision-making, suggests that these features are important dimensions along which the representation of foods is organized.
Colloidal synthesis of ZnTe nanocrystals by laser ablation and fabrication of hybrid light emitting device
Authors:   Medical Physics, College of Science, Al Karkh University of Science, Iraq, Kadim A. M. , Abid M. K. ,   Medical Physics, College of Science, Al Karkh University of Science, Iraq
Published: May 2024

Zinc telluride (ZnTe) nanocrystals (NCs) have generated the interest of researchers as an electrode material in hybrid light emitting devices (HLEDs) due to its potentially high capacity. However, due to the restricted fundamental charging capacity of the electrode materials, the available energy of existing nanomaterial light emitting devices remains enough for a wide range of applications. In this research, ZnTe nanocrystals were synthesized using Nd: YAG laser at energy 600 mJ by 150 pulse number to form a battery device out of ITO/ZnTe/TPD/Ni. The spectra of the ZnTe NCs were assessed using ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) and photoluminescence (PL). The results proved that the synthesized NCs were nanocrystalline structures. The energy gap (Eg) within ZnTe NCs regarded as (PL) spectrum has been identified to be about 3.6 eV. ZnTe NCs produced via laser ablation enhance the functionality of the HLEDs by increasing the carrier's charge mobility and, as a further benefit, by facilitating recombination processes inside ZnTe NCs with TPD organic polymer. In addition to lighting at 3V, current-voltage (I-V) specifications establish suitable environment as well as formation.
Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) mediated synthesis of TiO2 with enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability
Authors:   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Gao J. , Chen Y. J. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Shuai J. T. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Liu X. Y. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Zou B. N. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Feng W. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Wang P. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Chen J. Q. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
Published: May 2024

Improving photocatalytic activity and stability of titanium dioxide (TiO2) is crucial for its application in wastewater treatment. Incorporating polymer ligands into the synthetic process is an important way to improve the catalytic performance of TiO2. In this work, a water-soluble, non-toxic, and non-ionic polymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), was used to regulate the synthesis of TiO2 by using hydrothermal method. It was observed that PVP-regulated TiO2 had enhanced photocatalytic performance comparing with the pure TiO2, mainly due to the enhanced light absorption, the suppressed charge recombination efficiency, the increased oxidation power of photogenerated holes and specific surface area. Additionally, the catalytic stability of the catalyst was also improved. As a result, TiO2 assisted with PVP exhibited a significant improvement in catalytic stability after four cycles of methyl orange degradation. Our research results can provide experimental and theoretical basis for the development of photocatalysts with excel-lent stable catalytic performance.
Estrogen stimulates fetal vascular endothelial growth factor expression and microvascularization
Authors: Aberdeen Graham W , Babischkin Jeffery S , Pepe Gerald J , Albrecht Eugene D
Published: May 2024

We recently showed that the ratio of capillaries to myofibers in skeletal muscle, which accounts for 80% of insulin-directed glucose uptake and metabolism, was reduced in baboon fetuses in which estrogen was suppressed by maternal letrozole administration. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis, the present study determined the impact of estrogen deprivation on fetal skeletal muscle VEGF expression, capillary development, and long-term vascular and metabolic function in 4- to 8-year-old adult offspring. Maternal baboons were untreated or treated with letrozole or letrozole plus estradiol on days 100–164 of gestation (term = 184 days). Skeletal muscle VEGF protein expression was suppressed by 45% (P < 0.05) and correlated (P = 0.01) with a 47% reduction (P < 0.05) in the number of capillaries per myofiber area in fetuses of baboons in which serum estradiol levels were suppressed 95% (P < 0.01) by letrozole administration. The reduction in fetal skeletal muscle microvascularization was associated with a 52% decline (P = 0.02) in acetylcholine-induced brachial artery dilation and a 23% increase (P = 0.01) in mean arterial blood pressure in adult progeny of letrozole-treated baboons, which was restored to normal by letrozole plus estradiol. The present study indicates that estrogen upregulates skeletal muscle VEGF expression and systemic microvessel development within the fetus as an essential programming event critical for ontogenesis of systemic vascular function and insulin sensitivity/glucose homeostasis after birth in primate offspring.
Acercamientos y distanciamientos entre Costa Rica y la Revolución Cubana: algunas relaciones de hostilidad y deferencia
Authors: Barrera-Rivera Dan Abner
Published: May 2024

The article discusses how political ties between some governments in Costa Rica and Cuba have been since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution on January 1, 1959. Tensions, estrangement, and approximations between the two countries are shown. These relationships were conditioned by exacerbated anti-communism in the context of the Cold War and remained several years later. It is noted that, in all this time, the influence and interests of the United States were present in the relationships of these nations. Political (and personal) approaches that are not always recorded when talking about the links between these countries are taken into account. For this purpose, each government’s official statements and assertions regarding diplomatic ruptures and restorations in five decades are critically analyzed; it is also investigated in testimonial sources, videos and newspaper articles of some of the protagonists. They are two nations with different political regimes that, despite discordant situations, approaches, and collaborations prevailed over the sowing and cultivation of anti-communism
Pixies and Sexuality: The (Literary) Analysis of the Lyrics of an Alternative Rock Band
Authors: Boza Méndez David
Published: May 2024

This study delves into the lyrics of three songs by the North American band Pixies. These lyrics explore the subject of sexuality, but they present a series of non-standard or traditionally unaccepted sexual practices related to sexual taboos, otherness, sexual objectification, sexual violence, and the body. Literary analysis is the approach used to examine the lyrics and the subjects explored by the band. Given that the central focus of the analysis is rock lyrics, which is a non-traditional subject of literary analysis, this study also addresses fundamental questions related to the nature of literature and literary expressions. In this sense, this article aims to demonstrate the value of rock lyrics as literary texts with a connection to poetry, both of which have music as the foundation of their form.
Poéticas abyalenses en Centroamérica: propuesta de análisis literario en el contexto de las revistas digitales (Parte I)
Authors: Arroyo Carvajal Yordan
Published: May 2024

This research makes a proposal for a literary analysis of what is referred to here as the “abyalense poetics in Central America”,from the context of digital magazines. The study considers four digital magazines, New York Poetry Review, Ajkö Ki, Círculo de Poesía, and Altazor, and two poets per region. The cases of Nicaragua, Belize and Honduras are pending for the second part. In total there are sixty poems by authors from Costa Rica (Leonardo Porras Cabrera and Mariana Bejarano), Guatemala (Miguel Ángel Oxlaj Cúmez and Rosa Chávez), El Salvador (Guadalupe Estrada and Paula López), and Panama (Aiban Wagua and Arysteides Turpana). Categories such as indigenous, ladino and indigenist poetry and literary polysystem are developed and considered. As part of the results, different phenomena and aesthetic proposals are mentioned, among them, related to cases of linguistic hybridization, bilingualism, monolingualism, cosmovisions, ethnic resistance, and denunciation. It also opens the space for new proposals on this subject, exposes the lack of an anthology of contemporary Central American Abyalense poetics and presents some limitations of interest for future works.
Method for Determining the Level of Centralization in BTC Lightning Nodes: A Centrality Analysis of the Lightning Network
Authors: Atmanavičiūtė Laura , Vanagas Tomas , Masteika Saulius
Published: May 2024

This study explores the Bitcoin Lightning Network (BLN), a Layer 2 solution for faster and cheaper transactions. Concerns about centralization have emerged due to the increasing concentration of power among specific nodes, named “hubs.” Statistical measures like the Gini coefficient reveal a trend towards centralization, challenging the LN’s decentralized nature. Consequently, further research is necessary to address this issue and ensure the integrity of the LN architecture. This paper aims to establish a method for determining the level of centralization within the BLN by applying centrality analysis techniques. Study revealed that over the six-year period Gini coefficient increased from 0.87 to 0.955, indicating significant inequality and apparent centralization of BLN nodes.
Extracting TLA+ Specifications Out of a Program for a BEAM Virtual Machine
Authors: Maliuginas Andrius , Petrauskas Karolis
Published: May 2024

Formal specifications are mathematical descriptions of the desired system functionality. Since they are usually written separately from the software itself, it is important to ensure that the software implements what the specification requires. A common approach to achieve this is to have a specification detailed enough to generate source code but those are rarely written due to expertise required. If code is not generated, then currently there is no straightforward way to reliably show that implementation conforms to initial formal specification. This research attempts to define a way to extract formal TLA+ specification by translating Elixir source code and generating detailed specification to give the system developer the ability to show that it refines the initial one.
Machine Learning Approaches in Atrial Fibrillation Detection
Authors: Butkus Deividas , Bernatavičienė Jolita
Published: May 2024

Atrial fibrillation (AF) characterized by rapid and irregular electrical activity in the atria represents a prevalent form of cardiac arrhythmia that significantly challenges healthcare systems due to its links to heightened mortality and morbidity rates. Early detection of AF is critical for accurate and effective management and treatment. In response to this pressing need, numerous researchers have used machine learning (ML) to enhance the precision and efficiency of AF detection. By analyzing available datasets, signal lengths, preprocessing techniques, and a diverse array of ML approaches, this paper aims to cover methodologies of AF detection using electrocardiogram (ECG) data and ML.
Formalizing IOTA Extended UTXO in Isabelle
Authors: Dlugauskas Edvardas , Petrauskas Karolis
Published: May 2024

The IOTA Extended UTXO (IOTA EUTXO) model extends the UTXO blockchain to include features like smart contracts and non-fungible tokens. In this work, we show that the IOTA EUTXO model maintains the base correctness properties of the UTXO model while extending it with extra functionality. We achieve this by specifying and verifying the essential concepts of the base UTXO model and the extensions proposed by IOTA using the Isabelle proof assistant. The specification is designed to be modular and extensible, meaning it can be used as a foundation for further research of the UTXO and IOTA EUTXO models.
Semantic Segmentation for Change Detection in Satellite Imaging
Authors: Kömürcü Kürşat , Petkevicius Linas
Published: May 2024

Change detection is a common and actual problem in the field of remote sensing. The classical approaches using raw pixel information are very sensitive to noise. In this study we propose the usage of additional semantic information for change detection. We use the semantic segmentation methods like geospatial Segment Anything Model and encoder based U-Net to evaluate the predictions and tracing the semantic information as well as raw information in change detection. Later the multidimensional time series data is used via the Vector Autoregression model to predict the future changes in the landscape. The observations which fall out of the prediction interval are considered as the changes in the landscape. The proposed method is evaluated on the dataset of the random locations across the Baltic region. The research is accompanied by the data and reproducible code at Github repository.
Using feature analyst & NAIP imagery to conduct a statewide tree canopy assessment of Georgia
Authors: Bailey Allison J , O Bailey Charles
Published: May 2024

Background: A collaboration between agencies to conduct a statewide canopy assessment of Georgia was formed in order to develop a baseline dataset from 2015 NAIP imagery to be used as comparison to archival data and future data analysis to measure canopy growth/loss over time. Using Feature Analyst software, analysts processed the imagery running a minimum of 1 iteration on each tile, checking for accuracy at 70% or higher. If under 70% accuracy, up to 4 additional iterations were conducted until accuracy confirmed for some tiles at 90%. Random point checking was conducted by field foresters to confirm accuracy of the binary: canopy/no canopy. Due to size of the imagery on a statewide scale, the state was divided into 24 physiographic regions as specified by the Department of Natural Resources and then into 269 tiles to create manageable data files. This article will summarize the process for analyzing imagery to generate a statewide canopy assessment and recommend ways in which to use the results to manage forestry resources or to conduct further comparative analysis.
Land use land cover changes on soil carbon stock in the Weshem Watershed, Ethiopia
Authors: Taddese Girma , Seyum Senait , Mebrate Tesfaye
Published: May 2024

This improper land use extremely affected the Weshem Watershed in Ethiopia. Moreover, land use and land cover changes are linked with human intervention. The human intervention has caused disturbance of the natural ecosystem and decline of soil organic matter (SOM) and soil carbon stock. To under these changes we focused on the effects of the land use/cover changes, on soil carbon stock of the Agricultural land (A), forestland (F), and open grazing land (G) in the Weshem Watershed, Ethiopia over the three decades period of 2001, 2009 and 2017. Using integrated use of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS).Soil samples were taken from each land use from 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm soil depths. Soils physicochemical were determined using standard laboratory procedures. The result showed that from 2001-2017 years forestland area showed an increasing trend as compared the agriculture and open grazing lands. The SOCst in forestland was higher than both agriculture and open grazing lands. Total organic matter and CEC were high and the soil bulk density was low in forestland as compared to other land use types. The highest soil SOCst (9.99 Mg ha-1) value was recorded in forest-to-forest land use changes, and low value of SOCst (5.78 Mg ha-1) was obtained in agriculture land. The lowest SOCst value was in land use changes from agriculture to agriculture.
Mechanisms of influence of forest ecosystems on the aggregate composition and water stability of soil aggregates in the semi-arid area of southeast Ukraine
Authors: Gorban V. A. , Poleva J. L. , Bilova N. A. , Hunko S. O. , Kotovych O. V.
Published: May 2024

Modern processes of climate change are accompanied by a number of negative factors, which include aridization, desertification, soil degradation and erosion. The research was were carried out on the territory that is the southern border of the distribution of the late glacial phase of the Dnieper glaciation (Middle Pleistocene, 100–230 thousand years ago). The influence of forest ecosystems on the aggregate composition and water stability of soil aggregates, the features of which determine the protection of soils from erosion and other degradation processes in semiarid conditions, was assessed. It has been established that luvic chernozems of forest ecosystems are characterized by an increased content of aggregates of fractions 2–3, 1–2 and 0.5–1.0 mm, as well as water-stable aggregates of fractions > 5, 0.5–1.0 and 0.25–0.5 mm in the 0–20 cm layer compared to ordinary chernozems of steppe ecosystems. The content of soil organic matter is a determining factor on which the aggregate composition and content of water-stable aggregates in luvic chernozems of forest ecosystems depends. The existence of close direct relationships has been established between the content of soil organic matter and the content of aggregates of the 0.5–1.0 mm fraction, as well as between the content of soil organic matter and the content of water-stable aggregates of fractions 3–5, 2–3 and 1–2 mm in chernozems of steppe and forest ecosystems. The existence of close direct relationships between the sand content and the content of water-stable aggregates of fractions 3–5 and 2–3 mm was revealed. The established increase in the content of soil organic matter and sand in luvic chernozems of forest ecosystems compared to ordinary chernozems of steppe ecosystems is the reason for the improvement in the aggregate composition and the increase in the content of water-stable aggregates. This is a key aspect of increasing the resistance of soils in forest ecosystems to various negative factors, such as desertification, degradation, wind and water soil erosion.
Toxicity parameters of a new 1,2,4-triazole derivative when subcutaneously injected to guinea pigs
Authors: Zazharskyi V. V. , Bigdan O. A. , Parchenko V. V. , Karpenko Y. V. , Zazharska N. M. , Mykhailiuk Y. O. , Kulishenko O. M. , Davydenko P. O. , Kulish S. M. , Gutyj B. V.
Published: May 2024

The results of the literature analysis indicate a wide spectrum of biological activity of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives. Low toxicity, reactivity, and high biological activity of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives make this class of compounds very attractive. The obtained data determine the relevance of further studies of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives to find new highly effective biologically active substances that can become the basis for new medicines. Our further work aimed to study some toxicity parameters of 3-(3-fluorophenyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7H-[1,2,4]-triazolo-[3,4-b][1,3,4] thiadiazine when administered subcutaneously to guinea pigs, which is a necessary condition for further implementation in practice of this compound. In this work, we observed an absence of toxic effects after a single subcutaneous injection to guinea pigs at a dose of 40 mg/kg experimental drug. The results of macro- and microscopic examinations of internal organs 14 days after a single subcutaneous injection of the studied compound at a dose of 20, 40 mg/kg showed the absence of any anatomical and morphological disorders in the tissue structures of guinea pigs. The calculated value indicates a high degree of safety of 3-(3-fluorophenyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7H-[1,2,4]-triazolo-[3,4-b][1,3,4] thiadiazine and its prospects for use in veterinary practice as an effective and safe tuberculocidal agent.
ОПТИМІЗАЦІЯ ПРОЦЕСУ ОЧИЩЕННЯ СТІЧНИХ ВОД ВІД ОРГАНІЧНИХ БАРВНИКІВ ЗА ДОПОМОГОЮ ФЕРИТНОГО КОМПОЗИТУ
Authors: Даценко Віта В. , Хоботова Еліна Б.
Published: May 2024

Актуальність роботи пов’язана з вирішенням екологічних проблем, виникаючих при збільшенні кількості стічних промислових вод, забруднених органічними барвниками. Мета роботи полягала в оптимізації процесу очищення стічних вод від органічних барвників – метиленового синього, метилвіолету і Конго червоного, за допомогою мідно-цинкового фериту при урахуванні зміни у часі його механізму і варіюванні параметрів процесу: концентрації розчинів барвників або маси фериту. Визначено кількісні кінетичні характеристики процесу очищення розчинів від органічних барвників феритним композитним матеріалом складу Zn0.875Cu0.1Fe4.42O4 за різних масових співвідношень n = «феритний композитний матеріал : органічний барвник». Доказано, що очищення стічних вод від органічних барвників протікає за механізмами фотокаталітичних перетворень і сорбції і кінетичні характеристики фотокаталітичних процесів на порядок вищі за аналогічні показники для адсорбції барвників. Створено експериментальну базу даних щодо очищення стічних вод від барвників за кожним механізмом окремо. Розраховано кінетичні рівняння залежності концентрації барвників від часу і співвідношення n. Процес очищення оптимізовано за протіканням одного або двох механізмів процесу при варіюванні часу процесу, вихідної концентрації барвника або маси фериту залежно від необхідності досягнення певних швидкості процесу і глибини очищення. Запропоновано схему способу оптимізації процесу очищення стічних вод від органічних барвників за допомогою мідно-цинкового феритного композиту. Результати спрямовані на підвищення ефективності та повноти проведення процесу очищення. Прогнозується значне збільшення економічного ефекту при запровадженні процесу очищення, оскільки для виробництва мідно-цинкових феритів пропонується використовувати відходи гальванічного виробництва.
ВИКОРИСТАННЯ РЕГЕНЕРОВАНИХ ВІДХОДІВ ВИРОБНИЦТВА СОНЯШНИКОВОЇ ОЛІЇ У СКЛАДІ ЕЛАСТОМЕРНИХ КОМПОЗИЦІЙ ДЛЯ ВИГОТОВЛЕННЯ ЕЛЕМЕНТІВ ШИН
Authors: Соколова Ліна О. , Суха Ірина В. , Панфілова Олександра А. , Овчаров Валерій І. , Тищенко Валерія О.
Published: May 2024

Одним з проєктів екологічної економіки України є використання відходів виробництва соняшникової олії у складі гумових сумішей, що дозволяє поліпшити властивості композиційних еластомерних матеріалів та знизити негативний вплив на навколишнє середовище. Завдяки унікальному складу відпрацьованих фільтрувальних матеріалів стадії вінтеризації виробництва соняшникової олії, отримані після регенерації продукти можуть знайти широке застосування у якості поліфункціональних інгредієнтів еластомерних композицій. Досліджувана жиро-, восковмісна фракція, використана у складі гум для виготовлення елементів шин, дозволила до 20 % підвищити адгезійні властивості гумових сумішей (клейкість та когезійну міцність), на чверть зберегти пружньо-міцносні властивості гум після теплового старіння та покращити на 30 % їх динамічні властивості.
Raynaud-szindróma, 2024
Authors: Fábián Balázs , Csiki Zoltán
Published: May 2024

Összefoglaló közleményünkben áttekintjük a Raynaud-szindrómával kapcsolatos azon
legújabb eredményeket, amelyek a 2011-ben közölt áttekintésünk óta eltelt 13
évben megjelentek. Bemutatjuk a kórkép fő jellemzőit, diagnosztikai és terápiás
lehetőségeit. Az összefoglalóban külön hangsúlyt fektetünk a kórképpel
kapcsolatos releváns kérdésekre és tisztázatlan pontokra. Részletesen tárgyaljuk
a téma további kutatási lehetőségeit, bízva abban, hogy inspirálni fogja a
Raynaud-szindróma jobb megértését célzó vizsgálatokat. Orv Hetil. 2024; 165(17):
643–651.
Sveriges politiska partieroch Israel-Palestinafrågan: En analys av svenska partiers agerande 2006–2021
Authors:   ,   Linnaeus University, Owiredu Maria
Published: May 2024

This thesis studies political parties in Sweden and their attitudes toward the Israel-Palestine issue during the period from 2006-2021. The analysis assumes that political parties act strategically, guided by their party goals across different arenas: parliamentary, internal, and electoral. Five key party goals—policy, vote-seeking, position, party cohesion, and international credibility—are used to analyze the strategic behavior of these parties. The Israel-Palestine issue holds strategic relevance for several political parties. Left-leaning parties (such as the Green Party, Social Democrats, and Left Party) benefit the most from strategically engaging with this issue. Even parties like the Christian Democrats and the Liberal Party recognize strategic relevance in addressing the Israel-Palestine issue. Notably, the Center Party påsy the least attention to this issue. The most relevant party goals are policy and international credibility. The study also reveals significant relationships between parties and their sympathizers. In addition, the results offer concrete examples of how the party strategy works within the political parties, thus contributing to party strategy research, Swedish foreign policy and the Israel-Palestine issue in a Swedish context. In conclusion, the Israel-Palestine issue is deeply ideological. While it serves as a political tool in foreign policy debates, its impact is even more pronounced in domestic discussions, where parties use it to underscore their ideological stances. Overall, the Israel-Palestine issue remains to be one of the most polarized topics in the Swedish foreign policy debate.