bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling the Transmission Routes of Hepatitis E Virus as a Zoonotic Disease Using Fractional‐Order Derivative
Authors: Osman Shaibu , Lassong Binandam Stephen , Dasumani Munkaila , Boateng Ernest Yeboah , Onsongo Winnie Mokeira , Diallo Boubacar , Makinde Oluwole Daniel
Published: May 2024

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the emerging zoonotic diseases in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Domestic pigs are considered to be the main reservoir for this infectious disease. A third of the world’s population is thought to have been exposed to the virus. The zoonotic transmission of the HEV raises serious zoonotic and food safety concerns for the general public. This is a major public health issue in both developed and developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 44,000 people died in 2015 as a result of HEV infection. East and South Asia have the highest prevalence of this disease overall. In this study, we proposed, developed, and analyzed the transmission routes of the infection using a fractional‐order derivative approach. The existence, stability, and uniqueness of solutions were established using the approach and concept in Banach space. Local and global stability was determined using the Hyers–Ulam (HU) stability approach. Numerical simulation was conducted using existing parameter values, and it was established that, as the susceptible human population declines, the number of infected human populations rises with a change in fractional order . When the susceptible pig population increases, the number of infected pig populations rises with a change in . It was observed that a few variations in the fractional derivative order did not alter the function’s overall behavior with the results of numerical simulations. Moreover, as the number of recovered human populations increases, there is a corresponding increase in the population of recovered pigs with a change in . The exponential increase in the infected pig population can be controlled by treatment of the infected pigs and prevention of the susceptible pigs. The authors recommend policymakers, and stakeholders prioritize the fight against the virus by enforcing the prevention of humans and treatment of infected pigs. The model can be extended to optimal control and cost‐effectiveness analysis to determine the most effective control strategy that comes with less cost in the combat of the disease.
Response of Soil Chemical Properties under Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) Field to Integrated Application of Lantana camara L. Weed Vermicompost and NPS Mineral Fertilizer
Authors: Tekulu Kinfe , Gebrehiwot Weldegebriel , Kahsu Gebresemaeti , Tadele Tsadik , Berhe Tewolde , Mebrahtom Solomon
Published: May 2024

Recently, the beauty of the environment, native forest plants, and crops were encroached with invasive weeds, and thus scientific community was concerned with searching for optional management of these horrible weeds. Accordingly, vermicomposting of invasive weeds with the purpose of utilization management was evaluated as an alternative option and cost-effective management. Utilization management included keeping the environment safe from expanding invasive weeds by using these weeds as vermicomposting materials. Consequently, vermicompost was produced from L. camara invasive weed and this produced vermicompost was interactively used with chemical fertilizer to appraise its effect on soil chemical properties after the tef crop was harvested. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a factorial combination with three replications. Four levels of L. camara vermicompost amendment (0, 2, 4, and 6 t·ha−1) and four levels of NPS fertilizer (0, 100, 150, and 200 kg·ha−1) were used in the combination of the treatments. Disturbed composite soil sampling at a depth of 20 cm was carried out, one sample before planting and 48 samples after harvesting of the tef crop. The results showed that the combined addition of vermicompost and NPS fertilizers at the rate of 6 t·ha−1 and 200 kg·ha−1, respectively, significantly increased plant-available phosphorus (Av. P). Reversely, the pH of the soil remained unchanged when the soil was treated with the integration of vermicompost and NPS fertilizer or at their separate individual application. Most of the soil chemical properties, i.e. soil organic carbon (SOC), electrical conductivity (EC), Av. P, total nitrogen (TN), carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C : N), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were found to be improved when the soil was amended with the highest dose of sole L. camara vermicompost fertilizer. The two-year consecutive organic fertilizer fertilization rate increased SOC from 63.64% to 107.56%, EC from 8.70% to 22.22%, Av. P from 40.87% to 143.13%, TN from 50% to 100%, C : N ratio from 8.14% to 11.58%, and CEC from 42.11% to 63.67% versus untreated plot. Single-application NPS chemical fertilizer has only an encouraging effect on Av. P and CEC of soil. The principal driving factor for any change in soil chemical properties was the L. camara vermicompost amendment. Therefore, using L. camara weed as a vermicompost can enhance soil fertility. This study offers the opportunity to convert the large biomass of L. camara weed into vermicompost through vermicomposting.
Effect of DNMT3A R882H Hot Spot Mutations on DDX43 Promoter Methylation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Tabatabaei Tahere , Rezvany Mohammad Reza , Ghasemi Bahare , Vafaei Farzane , Zadeh Masoumeh Kiani , Zaker Farhad , Salmaninejad Arash
Published: May 2024

Epigenetic alterations have been observed in many hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Many of these alterations result from mutations in DNA methyl transferase (DNMT) enzymes, disabling them to methylate target genes in a proper way. In this case-control study, we investigated the association between R882H mutation in DNMT3A gene and DDX43 gene methylation in patients with AML. 47 AML patients and 6 controls were included in this study. After DNA extraction, amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR was used to evaluate R882H mutations in DNMT3A gene. The high-resolution melting (HRM) method was used to determine the methylation changes of the DDX43 gene promoter. R882H mutation was only found in 10.6% (5 out of 47) of AML patients. The frequency of DDX43 gene methylation was significantly higher in patients without R882H mutations compared to patients with R882H mutations (P<0.05). The DNMT3A R882H mutation is typically present in a minority of AML patients. Nevertheless, this mutation is associated with a reduced frequency of methylation in the DDX43 promoter region.
Cytoprotection as an Innovative Therapeutic Strategy to Cardiogenic Shock: Exploring the Potential of Cytidine-5-Diphosphocholine to Mitigate Target Organ Damage
Authors: González-Pacheco Héctor , Amezcua-Guerra Luis Manuel , Franco Martha , Arias-Mendoza Alexandra , Ortega-Hernández Jorge A. , Massó Felipe
Published: May 2024

Background: Preservation of organ function and viability is a crucial factor for survival in cardiogenic shock (CS) patients. There is not information enough on cytoprotective substances that may delay organs damage in CS. We hypothesize that cytidine-5-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) can act as a cytoprotective pharmacological measure that diminishes the target organ damage. So, we aimed to perform a review of works carried out in our institution to evaluate the effect of therapeutic cytoprotection of the CDP-choline. Summary: CDP-choline is an intermediate metabolite in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine. It is also a useful drug for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases and has shown an excellent pharmacological safety profile as well. We review our institution’s work and described the cytoprotective effects of CDP-choline in experimental models of heart, liver, and kidney acute damage, where this compound was shown to diminish reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias, oxidative stress, apoptotic cell death, inflammation, lactic acid levels and to preserve mitochondrial function. Key Messages: We propose that additional research is needed to evaluate the impact of cytoprotective therapy adjuvant to mitigate target organ damage in patients with CS.
Fatores de risco que levam estudantes de medicina a desenvolver maus hábitos de vida
Authors: Gomes Anna Carollina Barbosa , Borges Gustavo Henrique de Oliveira Carmo , Bastos Carla Santos , Silva João Marcos Luiz da , Kanuf Vinicius Salermo , Oliveira Emily Carolina Assis , Arruda Jalsi Tacon
Published: May 2024

Medical students are subjected to a stressful routine, associated with unhealthy habits such as skipping meals, restricting food intake or binge eating, and even drug addiction. These are some of the risk factors that have aggravated the appearance of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCCDs). Therefore, this study evaluated the risk factors that lead medical students to develop bad lifestyle habits that will be incorporated into their daily lives. This is an integrative review based on original studies obtained from PubMed and the Virtual Health Library. The analyzed studies corroborate the implementation of actions in medical schools capable of offering specific training in stress management, healthy nutrition, and physical activities for the prevention of NCCDs. The need to create prevention strategies is considered, which aim to reduce exposure to the main risk factors related to lifestyle that develop at the beginning of university life and can be perpetuated over the years. These university students will be the future health professionals and are more likely to understand the relationship between healthy lifestyles and NCCDs, improving their skills to act in the doctor-patient relationship, and having confidence in their ability to advise patients on positive behavioral changes.
Desiderata for Normative Models of Synaptic Plasticity
Authors: Bredenberg Colin , Savin Cristina
Published: May 2024

Normative models of synaptic plasticity use computational rationales to arrive at predictions of behavioral and network-level adaptive phenomena. In recent years, there has been an explosion of theoretical work in this realm, but experimental confirmation remains limited. In this review, we organize work on normative plasticity models in terms of a set of desiderata that, when satisfied, are designed to ensure that a given model demonstrates a clear link between plasticity and adaptive behavior, is consistent with known biological evidence about neural plasticity and yields specific testable predictions. As a prototype, we include a detailed analysis of the REINFORCE algorithm. We also discuss how new models have begun to improve on the identified criteria and suggest avenues for further development. Overall, we provide a conceptual guide to help develop neural learning theories that are precise, powerful, and experimentally testable.
Associative Learning of an Unnormalized Successor Representation
Authors: Verosky Niels J.
Published: May 2024

The successor representation is known to relate to temporal associations learned in the temporal context model (Gershman et al., 2012), and subsequent work suggests a wide relevance of the successor representation across spatial, visual, and abstract relational tasks. I demonstrate that the successor representation and purely associative learning have an even deeper relationship than initially indicated: Hebbian temporal associations are an unnormalized form of the successor representation, such that the two converge on an identical representation whenever all states are equally frequent and can correlate highly in practice even when the state distribution is nonuniform.
An information-theoretic framework for conditional causality analysis of brain networks
Authors: Ning Lipeng
Published: May 2024

Identifying directed network models for multivariate time series is a ubiquitous problem in data science. Granger causality measure (GCM) and conditional GCM (cGCM) are widely used methods for identifying directed connections between time series. Both GCM and cGCM have frequency-domain formulations to characterize the dependence of time series in the spectral domain. However, the original methods were developed using a heuristic approach without rigorous theoretical explanations. To overcome the limitation, the minimum-entropy (ME) estimation approach was introduced in our previous work (Ning & Rathi, 2018) to generalize GCM and cGCM with more rigorous frequency-domain formulations. In this work, this information-theoretic framework is further generalized with three formulations for conditional causality analysis using techniques in control theory, such as state-space representations and spectral factorizations. The three conditional causal measures are developed based on different ME estimation procedures that are motivated by equivalent formulations of the classical minimum mean squared error estimation method. The relationship between the three formulations of conditional causality measures is analyzed theoretically. Their performance is evaluated using simulations and real neuroimaging data to analyze brain networks. The results show that the proposed methods provide more accurate network structures than the original approach.
Population status of a nocturnal primate (the Philippine tarsier – Carlito syrichta, Linnaeus, 1758) in an agricultural area of Subayon, Bilar, Bohol
Authors: Wojciechowski Filip J. , Beaumont Maria C. , Nakaya Hikari , Duerst-Beamish Phoenix
Published: May 2024

The destruction of wildlife habitats due to the exponential growth of human population and its encroachment into wild areas is a major threat to many species around the world. In order to understand the effects of human disturbance on the Philippine tarsier (Carlito syrichta), we evaluated its population status by quantifying the species’ population density in an agricultural habitat and assessed the degree of human disturbance in the area. We did the study in Subayon, Bilar, Bohol, where we surveyed 32 ha out of the total 115 ha of the village between April and June 2017. We predominantly used vocal activity to identify the presence and absence of tarsiers, supplementing the data with incidental sightings. In addition, human disturbances were assessed and described qualitatively. We estimated the population density on 75 individuals per square kilometer. The human disturbance was evidenced in 28 out of 32 plots, which indicates that the entire area has already been disturbed. This study showed that the Philippine tarsier could inhabit highly altered habitats such as agricultural landscapes and suggest that Subayon village might be important for the conservation of this species. We provided another example of the ecological flexibility of otherwise specialised nocturnal primates able to inhabit agricultural areas. To avoid conflicts with humans and to conserve such a species in the future, education, outreach and active involvement of local people are essential.
Conversion to Judaism and Hostility toward Jews in the Roman Empire
Authors: Berthelot Katell
Published: May 2024

Hellenistic texts on Jews hardly ever refer to people converting to Judaism. Roman authors’ criticism and condemnation of people who had converted to Judaism thus appears as a new feature of anti-Jewish discourse. The relative prominence of references to Judaizers and converts in Roman literary texts may be explained by the number and visibility of proselytes in Rome, but also perhaps by the perception, within certain Roman circles, of conversion to Judaism as a betrayal of Roman values. Tacitus best illustrates this trend. This article seeks to shed light on his hostile remarks on converts through a comparison with Philo’s highly positive comments on proselytes. The comparison reveals surprising points of agreement between the two authors and helps us understand what was at stake in the phenomenon of conversion and how it could generate tensions between proselytes and their native environment.
Prophecy in Plutarch and Philo of Alexandria
Authors: Klem Matthew J.
Published: May 2024

David Winston distinguishes two types of Mosaic prophecy in Philo’s De vita Mosis, noetic and ecstatic. Noetic prophecy, which corresponds to Moses’s delivery of the special laws, is active and rational. Ecstatic prophecy, which corresponds to Moses’s predictive prophecies, is passive and irrational, though while some Greek authors view ecstasy in terms of a total possession by the god, Philo takes a more moderate view that can also be found in Plutarch. Winston’s appeal to Plutarch is the basis of this article. It explores ecstasy in Plutarch’s two dialogues on the Pythian oracle and applies Plutarch’s categories to Mosaic prophecy in De vita Mosis. In light of Plutarch’s discussion, noetic prophecy is actually passive, and ecstatic prophecy is actually active.
Diagnosing Decline
Authors: Edwards David R.
Published: May 2024

In this study, I argue that Josephus’ interpretation of the period of the biblical judges, following the conquest of Canaan and settlement in the land, mirrors Greco-Roman rhetoric that traced the origins of Rome’s decline to the middle and late republic. Survey of Greco-Roman writers shows that Josephus modelled his diagnosis of the decline of Israel during the period of the judges on the causes of Roman decline identified by many Greek and Latin writers, these being: (1) influx of foreign wealth; (2) discharge of veterans and turn toward agricultural living; and (3) growth of rural elite estates. Beyond serving as his own inspiration, this literary milieu informed Josephus’ elite Greco-Roman audience, thus ensuring that they would read his interpretation of the period of the judges in light of tropes about Roman decline that were popular in their day.
Decolonising the Selectivity Debate in Military Humanitarian Intervention
Authors: Rahmani Hesam
Published: May 2024

Selectivity is often understood as global powers using military intervention in certain humanitarian crises but not in others based on perceived strategic interests at stake. Though the scholarship has acknowledged selectivity’s practice, more disputed has been its ‘problematic’ ascription. Critics have correctly identified selectivity as a problem of hypocrisy, while advocates have construed it as necessary and even pragmatic. Importantly, however, both camps have premised selectivity as a problem of ‘inaction’ towards ‘non-intervened’ crises. In contrast to this existing ‘bystander complicity’ paradigm of selectivity, this article argues that selectivity must be reinterpreted as a problem of global power ‘active complicity’ to better understand and appreciate its problematic ascription. The proposed active complicity paradigm reveals the neglected colonial and imperial underpinnings within selectivity. It destabilises and challenges the idea that global powers simply ‘stand by’ as onlookers to disassociated, faraway crises, and instead highlights their key role in enabling and perpetuating them.
New volvovirus isolate from Thai domesticated house cricket, Acheta domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)
Authors: Homchan S. , Gupta Y.M.
Published: May 2024

This study investigated the genomic characteristics of Acheta domesticus volvovirus (AdVVV) in a commercial cricket farming operation. BLAST analysis of the Acheta domesticus genome assembly identified sequences with high similarity to the AdVVV-Japan genome, suggesting AdVVV presence. PCR confirmed AdVVV infection in the A. domesticus breeding population from Nakhon Ratchasima farm, Thailand. The complete 2,516 nucleotide AdVVV-Thailand genome was reconstructed through targeted primer amplification and sequencing. It contained four open reading frames encoding hypothetical proteins, with a characteristic hairpin structure at the termini, consistent with other AdVVV isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed AdVVV-Thailand’s closer genetic affiliation with AdVVV-Japan compared to other isolates. Comparative analysis of coding sequences across five AdVVV isolates showed the highest variability in the hypothetical protein/putative capsid protein ORF1, with 64 variable sites out of 1086 bases, suggesting its significance in genetic diversity. In contrast, ORF2, ORF3, and ORF4 exhibited minimal variability. The majority of variations were singletons, with 85.33% confined to ORF1. This study confirmed AdVVV presence in a commercial cricket farm, reconstructed the AdVVV-Thailand genome, provided insights into its phylogeny and genetic diversity across isolates, highlighting the putative capsid protein’s role in driving variability. These findings enhance understanding of AdVVV genomics and evolutionary dynamics within cricket populations.
Storozhenkotettix, a new genus of Trusmaditetrigini (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) from Mindanao, with notes on Bolivaritettix
Authors: JR. ROMEO R. PATANO , SKEJO JOSIP , AMOROSO VICTOR B. , KASALO NIKO
Published: May 2024

The Philippine archipelago houses an incredibly diverse biota, among which are 122 species of pygmy grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae). Many of them belong to genera without proper taxonomic assignment and some genera, e.g., Bolivaritettix are so speciose and ill-defined that working with them is practically impossible. Here, we make a step toward the resolution of these problems by describing a new genus, Storozhenkotettix gen. nov. for Bolivaritettix amphinotoides, resulting in a new combination, S. amphinotoides comb. nov. This species does not seem to be closely related to the type species of Bolivaritettix, but rather to Trusmaditetrix, which is a member of the tribe Trusmaditetrigini. We provide new records of S. amphinotoides comb. nov., together with photographs of living specimens and habitat descriptions. The species was observed along the edges of montane forests and in the disturbed parts within forests. It seems to prefer partially shaded humid habitats.
Proteomics Data Classification Using Advanced Machine Learning Algorithm
Authors: Ramanaiah Preethi
Published: May 2024

Proteomics, the study of proteins and their functions within biological systems, has become increasingly data-intensive, presenting both opportunities and challenges. This project addresses the need for advanced data analytics and data integrity in proteomics research. Leveraging the power of machine learning (ML) and blockchain technology, this attempt aims to transform proteomics research. This work encompasses three key objectives. First, collect, clean, and integrate proteomics data from diverse sources, ensuring data quality and consistency. Second, employ ML algorithms to analyze this data, revealing crucial insights, identifying proteins, and predicting their functions. Third, implement blockchain technology to safeguard the authenticity and integrity of the proteomics data, providing an auditable and tamper-proof record. Implemented a user-friendly web interface, facilitating collaboration among researchers and scientists by granting access to shared data and results. This study included various classification methods for the investigation of protein classification, namely, random forests, logistic regression, neural networks, support vector machines, and decision trees. In conclusion, the proposed work is poised to revolutionize proteomics research by enhancing data analytics capabilities and securing data integrity, thereby enabling scientists to make more informed and confident discoveries in this critical field.
Modeling of the Complexity Propagation of Crack in a Ductile Material Under Complex Solicitation in Crack Tip: Introduction of a Matrix of Stress Intensity Factors of Bifurcation
Authors: Pola Pierre , Ntamack Guy , Kenmogne Fabien , Effa Joseph , Tchuente Stephane
Published: May 2024

In fracture and damage mechanics, modeling of crack propagation has always been a source of difficulties. Numerous works have been carried out on this case at the crack tip, introducing new parameters: the Stress Intensity Factor (K); which is the local Irwin parameter, and also the Rice integral (J), the Griffith's energizing method, in which J and G are the global parameters around the crack tip. The problem of the crack remains very complex and difficult problem to be solved. Several methods are used to investigate the crack problem, namely the method of gradient, the numerical methods by finite elements, as well as the thermodynamic approach and the classical methods of Irwin, Griffith or Rice, according to the Intensity Stress Factor. This study adds to the work already carried out. Using the analytical analysis method of equations, we manage to show that the Stress Intensity Factor has a matrix of rank 3 at the crack tip, which is a better form since it includes complex combination cases of crack mode and bifurcation. Furthermore, when the material is subjected to complex stress, after analysis we emerge from a new singularity in (r) which is different from the classical mode. Finally, we are shown the new form of singularity, which is frequency dependent. This work can explain many situations, for example, the case of certain structural disasters showing the presence of cracks for complex or uncontrollable stress.
A Method for Solving the Generalized Weng Model
Authors: Hongwu Zeng , Qiuyu Xu
Published: May 2024

The Generalized Weng Model is one of the basic models for oil production forecasting. Professor Chen Yuanqian first proposed the linear iterative trial-and-error method to solve the generalized Weng Model, and scholar Zhao Lin proposed the method to solve the Weng model based on binary regression. In this paper, a new method for solving Weng Model is put forward. Taking Liaohe Oilfield in China as an example, the process and results of the three methods are compared, and the advantages and disadvantages of the three methods are analyzed. The results show that when the original linear iterative trial and error method solves the model, it needs to simulate the value of parameter b with computer software, and then select a judgment criterion to find the optimal b value. In this paper, a method based on binary regression is proposed which can directly calculate parameter b. The new method can directly calculate the parameter b better than the method based on binary regression. The method in this paper is to fit all the data at one time, avoiding the above two kinds of uncertainties, and the calculation workload is small and can be realized by EXCEL, which is convenient for technical personnel.
Noise Pollution Assessment, Spatial Noise Mapping and Associated Health Impacts in Dinajpur City, Bangladesh
Authors: Basak Shree , Nipa Nazmunnaher , Tuhin Touhidur , Uddin Mohammad
Published: May 2024

Noise pollution is one of the more prevalent types of pollution caused mainly by urbanization. It is characterized as noise propagating throughout a living being in a way that is to its physical and mental health. Along with the growth of the city, trade, business, shopping, education, and other activities have been accelerating. The main purpose of the study was to address the dangerous point of noise pollution in Dinajpur municipality and identify the causes of noise pollution. For this study, data sets on the amount of noise pollution at 35 different places throughout Dinajpur city have been analyzed. Three shifts of data collection were conducted: morning (8 am to 10 am), afternoon (12 pm to 2 pm) and evening (4.00 pm-6.00 pm). Using the ArcGIS 10.8 program, descriptive statistics tools and analysis of variance were carried out. The highest average noise level (105.7 dB) was found at Central Bus Terminal at the time of evening which is a mixed zone. The lowest average noise level (64 dB) was found at Chotogurgola and Balubari at the time of morning and evening respectively which is residential zone. The noise levels throughout the city vastly exceed both the WHO and DoE recommendations. The main causes of noise pollution are the expanding urban area, unregulated auto rice mills establishment, the heavy use of construction equipment, automobile engines, uncontrolled horns, and outrageous auto rickshaws etc. It is vital to take action to lower noise levels because prolonged exposure to noise has numerous negative effects. The development of comprehensive land use plans for this city would benefit from taking noise pollution into consideration.
Business Oriented R&D Model for Public Funded R&D Organizations
Authors: Sen Atul
Published: May 2024

Over the past few decades, it has become evident that research and development (R&D) serves as a source of competitive advantage for both public (nations) and business organizations. Consequently, there has been a significant emphasis on R&D, involving a deep understanding of the R&D process and the efficient management of R&D organizations. Many researchers highlighted the pivotal role of the underlying management process to achieve more effective R&D outcomes. In the rapidly evolving landscape, the management of R&D organizations has become a continuously evolving process, requiring ongoing understanding of R&D organisations to maintain a competitive edge. R&D organizations encounter a major challenge in successfully delivering innovations, stemming from the inherent difficulty of maintaining focused and efficient activities throughout the entire R&D life cycle. This challenge is attributed to two main reasons. The first challenge arises from the difficulty for a single R&D organization to encompass all activities of the R&D life cycle under one umbrella. These activities, distinct in nature, require diverse types of manpower and different organizational environments for efficient execution. Consequently, the focus on innovation is lost during various stages of the R&D cycle as different organizations prioritize different activities. Secondly, R&D organizations differ from business organizations in two key aspects. Firstly, they lack direct interaction with the final customer until the end of the R&D cycle when the innovation reaches the end user. This absence of constant customer engagement results in a diminished customer focus, crucial for the efficient delivery of innovations. In contrast, business organizations continuously interact with and are evaluated by customers, who keep them strongly oriented toward customer needs and preferences. In this paper, the author advocates for the incorporation of the above two key characteristics of business organizations into public R&D entities, contending that such integration would significantly enhance the efficiency and speed of innovation delivery. To achieve this objective, the author introduces a novel concept termed as 'Business-oriented R&D Model for public funded R&D organisations'. Drawing upon extensive work experience within the Indian Ministry of Defence; Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), New Delhi, India, the model is elucidated through the lens of the author's specific experiences with DRDO.
Challenges Experienced by Caregivers in Communicating with Children with Severe to Profound Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Kanyane Emily , Maseko Nonhlanhla
Published: May 2024

Background: Children with severe to profound intellectual disabilities (SPID) may have complex and numerous disabilities, such as intellectual limits and severe deficits in bodily functions. This disorder is typified by issues with speech, language, mobility, agility, and emotional issues providing quality education in appropriate special care centres for children who present with such complex conditions is challenging. Objective: This study explored and described the experiences of caregivers in communicating with children with severe to profound intellectual disabilities in selected special care centres in Gauteng Province. Method: This study followed a qualitative approach and data collection was gathered through in-depth semi-structured interviews, observations in the classroom corroborated children and caregiver`s communication behavior, and document analysis. Eight caregivers were purposively selected to participate in the study. The theory underpinning this study are Ubuntu and Attachment theories. The theories provided the study's foundation and emphasized caring as the central component and influence communication. Result: The thematic analysis revealed the key areas of support needs. The following themes emerged and are as follows: Communication strategies used for children with SPID and, experiences of caregivers in supporting children with SPID. Through these themes the research questions were answered. Conclusion: The study revealed that caregivers' inadequate communication abilities prevent them from responding to the needs of children with SPID. To meet the communication needs of children with SPID, communication requires, relevant communication devices or resources, collaboration with other stakeholders and a qualified trained caregiver.
A Fast, Simple and Low-cost DNA Extraction Protocol from Common Ants and Beetles for Multiple Molecular Applications
Authors: Jiaying Wang , Junxia Cui , Li Liu , Yuanjing Wang , Shuyi Yan , Xianfeng Chen
Published: May 2024

The rapid development of molecular biology tools in insect systematics, invasion research, evolutionary ecology and biodiversity analysis has led to faster and greater progress in understanding insect behavior and biology. Efficient DNA extraction is the foremost step and serves as the vital foundation. Several rapid DNA extraction methods have been established, which are often time-consuming and labour-intensive. Here, a simple, fast, low-cost DNA extraction protocol for common insect samples was developed basing on 28 specimens of 16 insect species (7 ants, 9 bark and ambrosia beetles). The new protocol was shown to be feasible and highly efficient by comparison with commercial kit in terms of DNA yield, purity and PCR sensitivity. The concentration of DNA through the new rapid method was higher than that through commercial kit, whether in ant or beetle samples. A better quality of DNA extracted via kit was indicated by A260/A280 mostly ranging from 1.80 to 2.00. There was little difference between DNA extracted from adult and nymphal insects. PCR sensitivity of extracted DNA using both protocols was comparable. For nested PCR, amplification after two rounds yielded a bright signal using template DNA through both methods. But for PCR using primers of LCO1490 and HCO2198, the success ratio was lower (85.18%). Through BLAST, these amplicons were matched to related data with high identity. By combining this protocol with variable analysis platforms such as common PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, and high throughput sequencing, it could assist insect diagnostics, biological surveys and invasion researches.
Analysis and Design of Psychological Consultation Online Service System
Authors: Linge Hou , Changshun Yan
Published: May 2024

The pace of modern society is very fast, and people of different age groups will experience certain psychological problems. Psychological problems are different from physiological diseases and are a series of problems caused by internal psychological factors, which can indirectly change a person's personality, worldview, and emotions. Due to Chinese people's resistance to face-to-face psychological communication, online psychological communication is more easily accepted. Therefore, this paper combines the psychological assessment and psychological consultation process in the process of psychological consultation with the Internet, uses the web page development technology of the Internet, excavates the actual business process logic and other needs in the actual offline psychological consultation process, and develops the online psychological consultation service system. This system mainly includes four major modules: user permission management module, psychological problem resource management module, psychological problem detection module, and psychological diagnosis and treatment room module. The system has achieved online sharing of psychological problem resources, online psychological assessment, and online psychological counseling; Users can use their scattered time to browse and conduct psychological assessments that typically require psychological resources. he developed system can provide users with online psychological services, enhance the convenience of psychological counseling and other related businesses, thereby reducing the cost consumption of traditional psychological communication for inquiries and counselors, shortening the communication distance between the two, and enabling psychological counseling to be carried out anytime and anywhere.
Performance of Boran and Two Strains of Tanzania Short Horn Zebu Cattle Fed on Three Different Diets
Authors: Salum Khatibu , Laswai Germana , Mushi Daniel
Published: May 2024

A 3x3 factorial experiment was carried out to assess the performance of Boran breed (BRN), Iringa Red (IRR) and Singida White (SWT) strains of cattle fed on three different diets (D1, D2, and D3) under a feedlot condition. The diets contained hominy feed plus molasses (D1 or control), molasses and cassava meal (D2) and rice polishing (D3) as main energy sources. In addition, they contained sunflower seed cake as protein source, minerals and vitamins premix. Fifty-four (54) bulls of equal numbers of each strain, aged between 2 and 2.5 years and average initial weight of 194 ± 12.6 kg were randomly allocated in the three diets and housed in a feedlot structure. They were fed individually with their respective dietary treatments for 80 days, during which data on feed intake and growth performance were recorded. Thereafter 45 bulls with equal number of strains were slaughtered, and carcass characteristics were assessed and gross margins computed. The CP contents (g/kg) in the diets were highest in D2 (155), followed by D1 (141.7) and lowest (130) in D3. There were no significant (P>0.05) interaction effect of diet and breed/strain in all the parameters assessed on performance. Bulls fed on D2 grew faster (0.99 kg/d) and attained greater final weight (269.9 kg) and heavier carcasses (140.8 kg) followed by those fed on D1 with mean values of (0.92 kg/d), (258.1 kg) and (131.5 kg), respectively. The average dressing percentage followed a similar trend, being higher (P<0.05) in bulls fed on D2 (52.4) compared to those on D1 (51.7) and D3 (51.1). The BRN bulls had faster growth rates (1.04 kg/d) followed by the IRR (0.83 g/d), which had similar (P>0.05) average daily gain to that of SWT (0.83 g/d). The final weight of BRN bulls (267.4 kg) was not different (P>0.05) from that of IRR (257.5 kg), which was also found to be similar (P>0.05) to that of SWT (251.2 kg). The hot carcass weights followed similar trend, BRN having carcass weight (138.2 kg) similar (P>0.05) to IRR (130.4 kg), which happened to be not different (P>0.05) from that of SWT (129.3 kg). The mean dressing percentage was higher (P<0.05) for BRN (52.2) than other strains. It is concluded that value of weight gains and slaughter characteristics of Iringa red are comparable to those of Boran, thus for feedlot finishing farmers should be advised to select and use Iringa red bulls to obtain high carcass and large profit.
Application of Clavien-Dindo Complications Classification in Cardiac Surgery Practice: A Narrative Review
Authors: Thuan Phan
Published: May 2024

Background: Cardiac surgery is a complex medical specialty known for its potential complications, necessitating accurate evaluation and reporting. Current prediction scales have limitations in capturing the full spectrum of complications experienced by patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The Clavien-Dindo Complications Classification (CDCC) and the Comprehensive Complications Index (CCI) have emerged as promising tools for assessing complications in various surgical specialties, including cardiac surgery. Method: This comprehensive review synthesizes the available literature to assess the application of CDCC and CCI in the context of cardiac surgery. The effectiveness of CDCC and CCI in measuring the nature and clinical impact of complications in this specialized field is explored. Additionally, methods from other medical specialties are reviewed to enhance our understanding of the practical implementation of these classification systems in cardiac surgery. Results: The present study, including significant contributions by Mélanie Hébert et al., highlights the potential of CDCC and CCI to quantify both the number and severity of complications in adult cardiac surgery. Their utility in this specialized field presents opportunities for robust data collection and outcome evaluation. Conclusion: While the application of CDCC and CCI in cardiac surgery shows promise, the notable scarcity of comprehensive evaluation studies has hindered the accessibility of these systems to clinicians. This study provides a clear and accessible reference for healthcare professionals seeking to integrate CDCC and CCI into their cardiac surgery practice. Additionally, we propose the need for guideline studies to address this gap in the field.
Optimization of Land Property Area for Construction Investments in the Aspect of CE - Circular Economy for Civil Engineering
Authors: Gwozdz-Lason Monika , Grzegorzek Jakub
Published: May 2024

Circular Economy (CE) is receiving increasing attention worldwide and is increasingly seen as a major policy agenda item and a testing challenge, for the construction sector. New construction investment management models in the CE trend is analyzed by new designs building constructions with new output data for constructions with the use of new building materials containing a part of the recycling materials. This research paper aims to determine the enablers of a CE for sustainable development in designing and making upgrade of engineering solutions that include current projects for the protection of our planet from the thermal effect. Construction is a resource-intensive industry where a circular economy (CE) is essential to minimize global impacts and conserve natural resources. Research into the use of retaining walls and the use of recycled materials allows for the continuous development of the field of retaining structures. The article presents a method for optimizing the development area in mountainous areas by leveling the terrain and using a slab-angular retaining wall. The main topic of the article is land leveling, designing a retaining wall and presenting the use of recycled raw materials. The publication presents patterns and methods for designing a reinforced concrete slab-angular structure in accordance with EC7, as well as the possibilities of using recycled materials.
Chinese-English Translation of Curse Words in A Dream of Red Mansions: Literal Versus Free Translation
Authors: Chen Yang
Published: May 2024

This research paper delves into the translation strategies for curse words from Chinese to English within the context of literary works, specifically focusing on "A Dream of Red Mansions," a classic Chinese novel. The study acknowledges the cultural aversion to curse words due to their offensive nature and association with negative emotions. However, it emphasizes the importance of these words in literature, where they contribute to the authenticity and expressiveness of the text. The paper is structured into three main sections. The first section provides a comparative analysis of curse words in English and Chinese, highlighting their common offensive traits and the cultural nuances that differentiate their usage. The second section presents a detailed examination of various translation strategies applied to curse words in the novel, including literal translation and free translation. The third section discusses the challenges translators face when bridging cultural barriers and offers recommendations for achieving faithful and expressive translations. The study underscores that curse words extend beyond their everyday negative connotations and are integral to the literary expression. It concludes that translators must possess a deep understanding of both the source and target languages' cultural contexts to effectively translate curse words. The recommended approach involves understanding the literal and extended meanings of curse words, considering the context, and employing a combination of literal and free translation strategies to maintain the essence and emotional impact of the original text.
Knowledge of Production Conditions and the Quality of Raw Milk Produced in Burundi
Authors: Albert Iribagiza , Gérard Niyonsaba , Napoleon Munyaneza , Mélance Ntunzwenimana
Published: May 2024

In Burundi, despite the socio-economic importance and health impact of milk and dairy products, few researchers are interested in this sector. The few studies concerning the sector are related to the increase in the productivity of dairy cows. However, among all the actions that promote the development of the dairy sector, the improvement of the quality of dairy products constitutes an added value. In view of the above, the objective of this study is to know the production conditions and the quality of raw milk produced in the communes of Kayanza, Ngozi and Bubanza provinces and at the point of reception of raw milk of the Modern Dairy Burundi industry. To this end, a surveys were conducted in 40 dairy farms and carried out physico-chemical measurements on 84 samples of raw milk. The results revealed satisfactory hygiene in 40 farms monitored. The averages were: (i) fat: 46 ± 4g / l, (ii) protein: 29.9±4.7g/l, (iii) pH: 6.7 ± 0.07, (iv) density: 1.031 ± 0.006 and (v) lactic acidity: 16.63 ± 0.92 °D. The antibiotic residues were found in 9 of the 84 samples analyzed, 4 out of 84 samples were positive for alcohol test. It should be remembered that the presence of antibiotic residues in raw milk is an obstacle to processing, especially in the fermentation process. This study aims to contribute to the awareness of stakeholders to adopt good practices throughout the milk production chain in Burundi to better protect the health of consumers.
Effective Gravel Pack Technique for Well Completion
Authors: Macdonald Indighe , Adimie Elvis
Published: May 2024

Sand production occurs when oil and gas is produced alongside reservoir formations at some point in the productive lifecycle of a well, understanding why reservoir produces sand is a crucial step towards managing sand production, the objective of this research is to improve the quality of produced fluid (oil/gas) for easy separation, the study method of this research work was basically a laboratory based sieve analysis of formation sand of a well in consideration, this is designed to achieve the most effective gravel pack grain size to be used, from the result analyzed with careful interpretations as presented, the Niger Delta Well-X formation comprise grain sizes of 0.0788” – 0.0025” range as captured from the available set of sieves used, the concentration of percentage retain falls within grain size 0.0197” – 0.007 1” with 0.0197” having about 41.4% retain by weight with the total grain weight of 737grams to stand at 305grams, while grain size 0.0118” had a percentage retained of 25.5% having a weight of 188grams and 0.0071” had a percentage retain of 12.9% with a weight of 95% respectively, keeping all other size to be 20.1%, for the sorting, 9.4 was calculated from the analysis of this research which makes the gravel pack to be well sorted. Therefore, permeability and plugging challenges are not a problem. The range of gravel size recommended for the gravel pack was kept at a minimum of 0.0727” and a maximum of 0.1639”. A screen size of 55 gauges was calculated to enable effective gravel pack placement operation, which is practical solution to sand production for the well investigated if properly managed.